Nawaz in Wonderland
PML-N’s 2013 elections manifesto brings to mind the fairy-tale ‘Alice in Wonderland’. “If you don’t know where you are going, then it doesn’t matter which way you go”. This seems…
Smart move on the eve of election
The internal Monetary Policy Committee of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was unanimous in its decision for keeping the discount rate unchanged and the Board conveniently approved that stance. The…
Checks on immigration
Immigration has been a highly emotive issue in British politics since Enoch Powell made his famous 1968 “rivers of blood” speech which sketched a picture of Britain inundated with immigrants.…
A new IMF programme
The International Monetary Fund team is seemingly all set to revisit Islamabad soon armed with a new programme for our acquiescence, as we struggle to discharge our dues to them…
Pipeline economics
A G00d deal of excellent comment has appeared recently on the geopolitics of the Iran-Pakistan (IP) natural gas pipeline. But what about the economics of it? Contrary to most expectations,…
New leaders, old problems
The world is watching closely as China`s 12th National People`s Congress prepares to confirm the appointment of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang as the country`s president and premier respectively. China`s…
Sanctions and pipelines
Place your bets. Will Pakistan risk inviting American and European Union sanctions upon itself, as well as the ire of its key ally Saudi Arabia, in return for Iranian help…
FATF and AML compliance requirements
1. Legal Measures: Criminalization of Offences, Investigations and Prosecutions: FATF recommendations require Criminalization of money laundering through domestic legislation.1 The recommendations also provide to specify the scope of liability in…
Power tariffs: Role of competition and transparency – I
This appears to be an electricity generation tariff setting season, for at least three major tariff proposals are being reviewed by Nepra, apart from smaller applications. It may be useful…
The office of denial
There is a difference between a good and a bad finance minister: the former keeps his nation informed about the true state of the economy and prepares public opinion for…
