Cost-to-capability
Pakistan spends $11,590 per active-duty soldier per year – a figure derived by dividing the country’s total defence budget by the size of its active military personnel. By comparison, Iran…
The ‘Soft Power Brigade’
Soft Power. Hard Power. America is master of both. America’s soft power flows from Hollywood, Brands, Corporations, Universities, etc. Hard power comes from the Pentagon. Till recently soft power ascendant.…
Islamic banking dilemmas
In a groundbreaking move, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has committed to converting the country’s entire banking system into a Shariah-compliant Islamic model by December 2027. This ambitious step…
Banking shortcomings
SYSTEMS in Pakistan often operate below potential. We could be close, but remain mired in red tape, beholden to power structures and burdened by hidden and friction costs. Despite an…
Pakistan’s economic opportunities in the SCO
Being part of a regional organization greatly benefits countries by improving their global trade position while ensuring sustainable economic development. As Pakistan tries to be a part of regional integration,…
Caretaker by any other name
NOW that the people have voted and been outwitted, a new parliament is in place, and a new president and prime minister have reached Constitution Avenue. All of last week,…
Elite finance ministers
“I COMPLETELY empathise and sympathise [with the people],” remarked Pakistan’s finance minister as the tax-loaded Finance Bill 2024 was passed by the National Assembly. In a country where more than…
The way forward for Pakistan
“Rather than going cap-in-hand asking for new finance, the new government and its backers in the establishment and business would need to design first their own plans worth investing in,…
Aurangzeb has his work cut out for him
In understanding the nation’s economy, there’s a clear distinction between an economist serving as the finance minister and a commercial banker taking the helm at the exchequer. An economist in…
Equity mutual funds: a half year of turmoil
The first half of fiscal year 2023 has come to an end, and will be remembered as a time where Pakistan lurched from crisis to crisis. The cacophony of political…
