Good governance remains elusive
There is a widespread perception that in Pakistan there are a plethora of very well researched papers but gathering dust in government offices, penned by sector experts (domestic and international)…
Why we need to shift from survival to scale
This article links directly to my article, ‘The real contest of growth’, published in these pages on September 11, where I argued that America invents while China executes. The US…
Positive indicators & challenges ahead
The recent indicators of Pakistan’s economic performance point to a cautious but welcome recovery, signaling a phase of renewed optimism for future. The economic growth rate of 2.68 percent for…
Before you panic about aliens
“Wow”, scribbled Jerry Ehman, encircling the mysterious 72-second burst from the stars, a signal so sharp and unearthly that he could hardly believe his telescope had caught it. In the…
Trapped in the past
IN the 21st century, a university’s role goes far beyond lectures and exams. Globally, campuses drive tech revolutions, seed start-ups and shape public discourse. But in Pakistan, most public universities…
Return of hard power
HARD power has returned with a vengeance to centre stage in geopolitics. Not that its importance ever diminished. That will not happen. Military force will remain a key power resource…
A SMART civil service
The evolving domestic and international environment has significantly augmented the complexity and importance of governance, necessitating comprehensive civil service reforms. The largely urban, educated, middle-class, young and tech-savvy citizenry –…
Careem’s exit from ride-hailing market
In June 2025 Careem, the Dubai-based ride-hailing pioneer (now part of Uber), announced it would suspend its Pakistan operations on July 18 after nearly a decade in business. In a…
Tariffs & export expansion
NO country has achieved prosperity by relying solely on its domestic markets. The spectacular success of China, despite having a large market of 1.4 billion people, is primarily attributed to…
Autonomy within
SOMETIME ago, a letter in this paper claimed that 38 million people were involved in begging in the country and they collectively earned billions a day. If verified, these figures…
