Red Right Hand
THERE’S something about sitting safely behind a keyboard that brings out the worst in too many of us. And there’s something in our nature that inclines us to believe the…
Yuan at right level, disorderly capital flows unlikely
China’s yuan is at an appropriate level currently and two-way fluctuations in the currency will not necessarily cause disorderly capital flows, a senior official at the People’s Bank of China…
Tighter supply brightens outlook for phosphate fertilizer miners
Tightening supplies have brightened the outlook for often-overlooked fertilizer phosphate, suggesting shares of phosphate miners may be a stronger bet than producers of better-known crop nutrient potash. Last year was…
Privatisation: the right way
For countries like Pakistan, the privatisation argument is mostly based on two elements. First, the fiscal argument that governments improve their financial positions by selling public business enterprises. Second, that…
The charter we need
Without any doubt, Pakistan is in on an economic tailspin, swiftly spiraling downwards. The issue at the core is the politicization of the economy and consequent bad governance. Politics and…
Asad: between rock and a hard place
The beleaguered Finance Minister gets no respite. He is constantly in the line of fire; at times under friendly fire as well. He puts on a brave face, using his…
CPEC and industrial policy
As Pakistan enters the CPEC era, it is important we take a moment to reflect. Most people believe the initiative offers both Pakistan and China a unique opportunity to reshape…
The metaphor of cricket
Nowhere does any sport adequately reflect a nation’s reality than the game of cricket does in the case of Pakistan. As soon as Pakistan’s skipper Sarfraz Ahmad took the last…
The story of Pakistan
Every nation has its own national narrative that serves to legitimise the state and its interests. But in Pakistan, this ideology is premised on the deeply problematic notion of Hindu…
A most predictable coup
As certain as thunder accompanies rain, like water floods the plain, and like Trump rolled over on Ukraine, just as certainly the bureaucracy always seeks to extend its influence over,…
