The viability of agri income tax
The new government has many burning issues to deal with. Some of these have been highlighted by the media and some by the politicians themselves. The budgetary constraint that is…
An economy of shortages!
Austerity economics that has prevailed in Pakistan has created an economy shortage (a term coined by the Hungarian economist, Janos Kornai) and is choking growth and employment. This is not…
Myanmar’s beans and pulses industry survives changing times
During Myanmar's socialist era, private trade in pulses and beans was dampened by death threats. "State buyers would tell farmers that if they didn't sell them their beans they would…
Faulty gas distribution to invite food crisis
Power shortage haunts Pakistan and its political leadership with increasing intensity as Pakistan's majority the Muslim population enters the holy month of Ramazan. The experts estimate that electricity shortages cost…
Political idiocy
A type of Pakistani leftists is indulged in premature and idealistic analyses of critical issues such as Islamic radicalisation. Our insignificant left is majorly divided over the issues of religious…
Change the policy
I hate having to take off my shoes to go through airport security, don’t you? It’s really annoying, time-consuming and embarrassing (if you are like me and have holes in…
The energy challenge
OVERCOMING Pakistan`s energy crisis has been proclaimed as the highest priority by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif`s government. The recommendations issued by the Pakistan Visionary Forum`s energy experts at their Lahore…
Have we got our narrative wrong?: Tax to GDP ratio
Decades of fund involvement has changed the economic narrative permanently in Pakistan. Before IMF involvement we used to talk of growth and investment; now everyone talks only of tax/GDP ratio…
Elizabeth L. Littlefield: a profile
Elizabeth L. Littlefield was appointed by President Obama as the President and CEO of OPIC, the US Government's Development Finance Institution. Operating in 105 countries, OPIC manages a $16 billion…
Is more money good news?
All provinces have increased their budgetary allocations for education and as an educationist I am expected to be pleased by the development. I am not — might we not be…
