SOEs in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh
State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are a common feature in the economic landscapes of developing countries such as Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. The performance of these SOEs has been a topic of…
Reko Diq
In the early 1990s, Pakistan’s biggest gold and copper reserve was discovered at Reko Diq in Chaghai District of Balochistan. Two international world-class mining companies - Barrick Gold Company and…
Gas tariffs and reforms—II
However, some increase in small and medium category tariff will have to be, willy-nilly, done to cover the costs. In Bangladesh, minimum monthly charge is PkRs 1380-1500 per MMBtu for…
No more business as usual—II
Known solutions to our problems start with merit-based governance and justice system adhering to our Constitution. Structural changes need to be made to existing layers of governance of local governments,…
This crisis is a moment: Part – II
The austerity measures being considered by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Revival (CCER) could save Rs424 billion by creating a Single Treasury Account, Rs54 billion in six months by a…
SOE conundrum: To be, or not to be…
State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) have become a subject of heated debate in Pakistan, with conflicting opinions on their impact. Detractors argue that SOEs drain national resources through inefficiencies and misappropriation, while…
Evolution, challenges, and prospects of oil and gas exploration sector
Pakistan’s oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) sector has traversed a fascinating path since the first oil well was drilled during British colonial times in the late 19th century…
Rethinking natural gas allocation and pricing: challenges and path to sustainable solutions
The allocation and pricing of natural gas have been contentious issues in Pakistan, with the government historically granting top priority to domestic consumers, often at the expense of other economically…
The false narrative around SOEs
Selling state companies is a bad idea. But despite failing repeatedly in practice this idea has resurfaced in the 2023-24 budget proposals, which say that next year the government will…
Hydrogen initiatives
The good news is that two hydrogen initiatives have been announced in Pakistan recently; one by NEECA and the other by petroleum industry. NEECA (National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority)…
