Privatization is not the answer
Financial pundits have been sharing half-truths to make a case for the neoliberal agenda, especially the privatization of state-owned entities. They distort facts and conceal information that can explain the…
Privatization ordinance
The cabinet has approved the ‘Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions Ordinance, 2022’ which gives the federal government sweeping powers to privatize state assets. Surprisingly, there is very little public discussion on the…
Loss-making PSEs: Restructuring versus privatization
The PTI government has finally announced its policy of opting for the restructuring and turnaround of its main loss-making state enterprises as against their privatisation. The government has accordingly earmarked…
‘Wealth Fund’ for privatization
The PTI government has decided to create a 'Wealth Fund' to turn loss-making public sector enterprises (PSEs) into profit-making entities before their sell-off. The list of PSEs that would merit…
Our existential threat
What does the constitution say? How is it to be interpreted? Who gets to rule; who knows what to do and how best to do it; who is corrupt and…
Austerity and the threat of another pandemic
‘During the peak of the Omicron wave in January 2022, US congressional leaders across the political spectrum were frustrated by the need to transform the country’s pandemic response. “We can…
Economics over politics
It is quite interesting to see how losses in the economy are playing havoc with gains in politics. World politics is passing through a different and difficult phase of bickering…
Policies and their implementation
Policies in Pakistan’s multiple sectors are well researched, many compiled with donor funding which enables international and national sector experts to take account of international best practices as well existing…
Energy sector reforms
Our fiscal space is wafer thin. The economy is starting to pull back from a precipice. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) is around the corner and has…
Crimes against logic
In August 1985, at a conference in Havana, Fidel Castro laid out the facts and figures and indeed the mathematical impossibility of the Third World ever being able to repay…
