In defence of BISP and NFC
The crushing fiscal constraints currently facing Islamabad are forcing moves in various directions to tame the deficit. A number of options can be available. One rational way would be to…
BISP and institutional reforms
In the social protection debate we usually play down the role of short-term relief work in alleviating human suffering when emergencies hit, or during a situation of crisis. The social…
BISP’s progress under PML (N) govt
BISP has made commendable progress under the PML-N government during the last four years highlighting the commitment of the government to the poor and vulnerable of the country. The budget…
In defence of BISP
With the recent steps taken by the government regarding the Benazir Income Support Programme, there are fears that the 120 billion rupees annual allocation is considered an avoidable drain of…
BISP and social protection
The more than ten-year old social protection scheme, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), has survived its second transfer of power since it was launched in 2008 by the PPP government.…
Who should lead a debate on BISP?
Between 1999 and 2005, General Musharraf had sanctified a dramatic expansion of the responsibilities of the officer corps of the army. As Waziristan was coming under the control of what…
Budgetary outcome in first quarter
The information on fiscal operations in the first quarter of 2023-24 by the Federal and the four Provincial governments has been released recently by the Federal Ministry of Finance. The…
Reliance on foreign loans
Economic Affairs Division in its foreign economic assistance (FEA) data disclosed a 58 percent rise in foreign loan inflows in the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year compared…
Clear message of no more business as usual—I
Change is taking place slowly and subtly. Recent Cabinet Committee on Economic Reforms’ (CCER’s) deliberations on Sept 25, 2023 highlight increasing interdependency, thereby necessitating a Planning Commission on the lines…
We need a ‘Charter of Society’
Lately, there has been an extensive talk about various charters of sorts - the Charter of Democracy, the Charter of Economy and even there has been a discussion on the…
