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Germany to overhaul laws to allow energy bailouts

Germany’s government will have the power to take stakes in utilities and impose emergency levies on consumers under proposed legal changes now under discussion, three sources told Reuters, as Berlin…

Straightening the spine of the state

The republic never designed its regulators to be mere file-keepers or penalty machines. They were created as sentinels: watchtowers of public trust. They were meant to see what line ministries…

Energy transition worth its salt

The expression ‘worth its salt’ has ancient origins, referring to the high value of salt in Roman times, when soldiers were partially paid in this essential mineral. In today’s context,…

Global hypocrisy

Both developed and developing nations increasingly see peaceful nuclear technology as essential for achieving long-term energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This shift is recognised in international frameworks which…

Budget 2025-26: read the fine print?

Ever wondered why Pakistan’s Economic Survey is released just a day before the federal budget (finance bill) is presented to parliament? If the survey serves as a diagnostic report on…

Budgets must be carefully crafted

Preparing a budget is always a difficult and daunting task for policymakers, especially in a country that relies on foreign borrowing. The challenge lies in managing liquidity due to maturities,…

Delhi’s IWT move is dangerous

Following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Occupied Kashmir, India announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a water-sharing agreement with Pakistan that has endured wars, crises…

Choking growth

Pakistan has reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF, meaning the economy gets to stay afloat for another six months. However, behind the superficial macroeconomic stability is only economic stagnation…