On to the budget
WAR-war is over; talk-talk is happening in the subcontinent — not between the two nuclear-armed neighbours but with the world to our west. Indeed, each side has decided this is…
First line of defence
IF foreign policy is the country’s first line of defence it is disconcerting how successive governments have left the foreign ministry in an increasingly weakened state over the years. This…
After the budget
The budget has been passed. The applause has faded. Once again, Pakistan resumes its uneasy journey through economic difficulty this time, with a roadmap that feels more serious than in…
Defence and data
The determination of Pakistan’s defence budget should be guided by a mathematical, data-driven approach. This approach should rest on three pillars: optimising limited resources, quantifying threats, and balancing strategic trade-offs.…
Budget FY26: fiscal discipline without reform
Fiscal consolidation continues. FY26 is expected to be the third consecutive year of a primary fiscal surplus. This should help lower the public debt-to-GDP ratio and provide some cushion for…
Budget 2025–26: Between recovery and reality
As the government tabled the federal budget for FY2025–26 on June 10, it did so against a backdrop of cautious optimism. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2024–25 painted a picture of…
US defence firms chase European military spending wave
US defence giants, backed by a strong Congressional delegation from Washington, used the Paris Airshow to showcase cutting-edge technologies and court European partners as they seek to tap into rising…
Budget 2025-26: read the fine print?
Ever wondered why Pakistan’s Economic Survey is released just a day before the federal budget (finance bill) is presented to parliament? If the survey serves as a diagnostic report on…
Budget 2025-2026: No vision beyond fiscal survival
The federal budget for financial year 2025-26 presented on June 10, 2025, in the National Assembly, has laid bare both the ambitions and contradictions of Pakistan’s fiscal strategy. The total…
Defence first
The government’s preparations to present the federal budget for the new fiscal year in the National Assembly have entered the final stages. However, like every year, some analysts are raising…
