AQI and population growth
The recent rise in Lahore’s smog levels were anything but unprecedented; the city is perhaps the most polluted in the world as it ranks above 100 on the Air Quality…
Beyond growth: Pakistan’s war against poverty, privilege, and the digital divide
Let’s not sugarcoat it — Pakistan is a land of jarring contrasts. In one part of town, a billionaire is escorted in a bulletproof Land Cruiser. Across the bridge, a…
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…
The population paradigm
For decades, Pakistan’s population discourse has been anchored in an outdated narrative: the country’s growing numbers are viewed as the primary obstacle to development. With a population exceeding 242 million,…
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…
Will wage growth revival feed inflation?
With economic stabilization on the horizon, pressure from employers, particularly from white-collar urban workers, is mounting for wage increases. Wages are likely to rise in 2025, which will stimulate overall…
Stabilisation without growth: ventilators are not for recovery
No doubt, macroeconomic indicators are improving. The current account is stable, with a surplus expected in FY25. Inflation has fallen to single digits, and food inflation is under 5 percent.…
Pakistan’s economic outlook 2025: inflation, growth, & debt
Among macroeconomic indicators, primarily inflation has come down drastically over recent months, whereby consumer price index (CPI) has fallen from a high of 28.8 percent in January to 4.9 percent…
Unplanned urban growth
Islamabad, once hailed as a model of urban planning, is now struggling under the weight of its expansion. What was envisioned as a serene, green, and orderly capital has succumbed…
