Corona and the energy sector
The government continues to be in search of a way out for reducing or arresting the projected increase in gas and electricity tariff. I have also been arguing the need…
Changing dynamics of oil and gas industry
There is great opportunity for foreign exploration and production (E&P) companies as well as for domestic private sector business houses to participate in Oil & Gas ventures in Pakistan. Pakistan’s…
The ugly SSGC-KE row
With supply of gas from Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) to the metropolis' power utility, K-Electric (KE) far below that is required to run the KE's gas-fired power plants,…
State-Owned Enterprises: Hard to swallow, harder to spout
The prevalent view, informed or not, is that State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are bad news. They are perceived to be inefficient, anti-merit, and prone to cronyism and graft. They have a…
Reviving ailing PSEs – I
The Federal Cabinet last month decided to constitute "Sarmaya-e-Pakistan Company" to revive 193 state-owned entities and manage their affairs in an efficient manner. Reportedly, the Board of Governors, to be…
The PSE black hole
With public finance in disarray for decades, it is only right for the government to find ways to fill the gap between revenue and spending. One source of the deficit…
Rs3.7 trillion
Rs3,742,000,000,000: that is the accumulated amount lost by our 190 public-sector enterprises (PSEs) over the last five years. That means each and every Pakistani family has lost Rs125,000 in the…
Good news
The high volatility in the currency market is not good for business. The falling rupee means a higher cost of living. Not good. Gas prices have been jacked up. Electricity…
Disclosure of assets
The law Companies Act, 2017 (the 'Act') vide Section 452 'Companies' Global Register of Beneficial Ownership' introduced a new concept in corporate law, as no similar provision formed part of preceding…
Economic reforms: Part – IX
The second Benazir government (Oct 1993-Nov 1996) started off with considerable poise and maturity. The privatisation programme was to continue apace, despite numerous misgivings developed in the context of a…
