The informal economy
New estimates indicate that Pakistan’s informal economy is larger than previously approximated, and is expanding at a rapid pace. On the other hand, the formal sector appears to be on…
Costly appeasement
The past week has left the Pakistanis grappling with two serious issues: they cannot protect the Hazara Shias of Quetta, nor can they resist the armed extremists. The result of…
The care they can take
The constitution is silent on the precise role of the caretaker government. There is a general agreement that the caretaker setup should not take any action that favors one political…
No guilt or shame
High and rising debt constitutes a serious threat to economic prosperity for a number of reasons. It acts as a major impediment to growth and hence to employment creation and…
Soptlight: Donkey years? No, much worse!
In business concerns, whether industries or commercial enterprises, there is a two-word term used to describe an employee's experience whose length does not have much to show by way of…
Has the Allama lost the plot?
Allama Tahirul Qadri is no ordinary person. He is a phenomenon. Look at his accomplishments.He is an outstanding scholar of international repute, far too intelligent than those who may like…
Comment: report””s footnotes tell the real story
The footnotes published by the State Bank of Pakistan in its Annual Report 2011-2012, tell the real story of country''''s economy and not the heavily vetted analysis that was issued…
Reko Diq: technical knockout?
The honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan has finally declared the award of Reko Diq copper project's lease to a foreign joint venture Tethyan as illegal. This almost seals the fate…
2013: The year of innovation
The past year saw some highs and more than a few low points within Pakistan's telecom sector, as the cellular industry in particular faced various restrictions in the name of…
Our informal economy
According to the growth diagnostics framework I discussed in one of my previous articles, high taxation is one of the potential candidates for becoming a binding constraint to economic growth…
