“So reports that the government has secured additional funds from three friendly countries – two old and one new – have been proved not right.”
“Good Lord why can’t you look at the glass as half full. True that United Arab Emirates has recalled the 3.45 billion-dollar loan but…”
“But Finance Minister Aurangzeb said in Washington DC while attending the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank that the country will issue Panda bonds of 5 billion dollars in lieu of the UAE loan recall – so 1.5 billion dollars more so eat your heart out.”
“Speaking of heart I do love Dubai and Abu Dhabi, great places for tourism….why are you laughing?”
“Shows which income category you belong to?”
“You mean because I am not going further afield?”
“No because the rich have flats there, I reckon out of our thirty plus cabinet at least 76.5 percent own real estate….”
“Precisely 76.34 percent?”
“The more you go into decimals the more credible the statistic is seen to be. Anyway last I heard the UAE real estate market had plummeted by over 50 percent due to Iranian counterattacks.”
“And I would hope that Aurangzeb would recognize their loss and not, I repeat not, impose any taxes on these poor over-burdened super rich.”
“You being facetious?”
“No just presenting an opinion that I bet you will be endorsed by the Budget Makers, the Finance Minister, the Secretary Finance and the entire unit, who will receive extra pay for the work that they are mandated to perform.”
“What about the Finance Minister’s driver?”
“Excuse me?”
“Remember Hafeez Sheikh thanked his driver during the budget speech whose salary was paid at the taxpayers’ expense.”
“Can I suggest we adjust the 800 million dollars due from Etisalat for the privatization of PTCL…”
“Stop it right now.”
“Why?”
“Did you not hear me say that 76.34 percent…”
“Shut up.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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