A budget with a road map
The finance minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, presented the first budget of the newly elected government on June 12, 2013. The budget has attracted mixed reactions, which was expected. Some are…
Not asking for the sky
So the big day is here. The right thing to do is to go out and vote. Shelve scepticism for today at least. You`ll have five long years to rekindle…
Pakistan and leadership transition in China
Since the 1990s, China's top leaders serve a maximum of two five-year terms. With the last batch of leaders having reached the end of their second term last year, there…
Fixing the economy
As a nation we seem to believe that there is either a magic wand that will make our problems disappear or that undertaking reforms is like fixing an electricity fuse…
Squandered funds
The idea of community participation in education has now evolved from parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and parent-teacher committees (PTCs) in some areas, into school management committees (SMCs). But despite this evolution,…
Nawaz has a lot to learn
With the polling date less than two weeks away, the election campaign has now reached its peak. The selective targeting of the ANP by the TTP and the continuing violence…
Economic reform agenda
If everything goes well, Pakistan should see a new post-election government taking charge of the state soon. The new government will inherit numerous economic and social problems – the redressal…
Old & disabled ignored
General elections in Pakistan are round the corner. Politicians and political parties are crying themselves hoarse promising change, an improved economic situation for the people, freedom from debt and slavery…
Manifestos and women
Women once again dominate the election scene not by virtue of their presence being a determining factor in the outcome of the coming contest. It is the “women’s issue” that…
FX & Gold – weekly outlook – February 25-March 1: Germany under pressure again
After an eventful week with Germany earlier responding well to economic measures taken by their economic mangers, it is once again under pressure as German economy was unable to maintain…
