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…
Economic reform agenda
In the first part of this article (April 30) I summarized the economic challenges that the new government will inherit, suggesting ways to address them particularly in the light of…
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…
Challenge of GDP growth
Lacklustre economic growth and large fiscal and external imbalances (with declining rates of growth also contributing to poor growth in revenues) have made macro-economic management a challenging task. Still-high inflation…
Perceptions of national power
Apologists may downplay it, but the fact is that power is the core attribute of a state, defining its position in international politics by giving it the leverage to influence…
Interim economic management
By every reckoning it was going to be a tricky job — managing the politics of the moment, keeping unwanted intrusions at bay, and handling an economic situation moving towards…
Questions needing answers
The coalition partners, who ruled Pakistan during the past five years, claim (except MQM) that their term in office marked the epitome of democracy because it undid what 'dictator' Musharraf…
Pakistan’s economy – II
Lessons of experience Positive policy actionsThe above brief economic history narrative suggests several points. Political leaders, both civil and military, have had a major impact on the course of economic…
A futile debate
According to recent media reports, opinions in the Planning Commission (PC) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) are poles apart over how to sort out the current fiscal and…
Hafeez caretaker PM?
Dr Hafeez Sheikh's resignation as the Federal Minister for Finance has generated considerable speculation as to its reason. What fuelled these speculations was the fact that the Presidency issued a…
