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…
A recipe for economic growth
PAKISTAN has a history of sacrificing economic growth for short-term macroeconomic stabilisation. At its core, structural weaknesses of the economy — the low tax-to-GDP ratio and foreign exchange deficit —…
A budget for growth
As Pakistan prepares for its upcoming Budget 2025-26, it finds itself once again caught between the stringent demands of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and the aspirations of a…
China’s growth amid headwinds
The just-concluded annual sessions of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, endorsed the main economic targets proposed by Premier Li Qiang in the Government Work Report, including a GDP…
Fintechs and crypto companies seek bank charters for growth
Financial technology firms and crypto companies are seeking to become state or national banks in a bid to expand their business under the Trump administration that they view as more…
US economic indicators: growth and business activity tapering
The sudden change in the US President’s plan to implement tariffs starting March 4 instead of next month has unsettled the markets, leading traders to reevaluate their risk portfolios and…
Both welfare and growth
LAST week on these pages, Khurram Husain wrote about the rapidly diminishing viability of Pakistan’s bailout-dependent economic strategy. Global political realignments under the new Trump administration may very well usher…
Export-led growth and effective tax management: Leveraging Digital Product Passport
As the EU tightens its regulations, many countries view compliance as a mere obligation, but the implications of this can have benefits far beyond maintaining trade relations. By aligning with…
Strong stock and bond markets at odds over global growth
It looks like something has to give in global markets. Stocks and bonds around the world have rallied atypically together since the start of the year, rewarding investors both bullish…
Reviving real estate: balancing growth and regulation
Lately, there has been a surge of excitement in the real estate market, particularly in upscale urban areas. The initial wave of optimism stems from discussions about a potential real…
