The rationality deficit
The Pakistani brand of democracy showed its colours yet again when, despite their serious differences on a variety of issues, especially on probing the Panama Leaks, the parliamentarians were in…
The tenth IMF review
The tenth review of the 6.64 billion dollar Extended Fund Facility between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team and the Pakistan authorities began in Dubai this week past. There is…
In praise of informal economy
Two headlines on the front page of Business Recorder (January 2, 2016) were chicken soup for the soul of this Shakespearean fool. First dollop: "SBP regulations for the debt-property swap". Delicious. Good…
‘Charter of Economy’
Presenting the budget FY2016-17, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar renewed his call to all political parties to frame a 'Charter of Economy' similar to Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed some years…
The voluntary tax compliance scheme
The Government has presented to the National Assembly a bill on a voluntary tax compliance scheme (VTCS) for traders. This is the outcome of extended deliberations with the trading community…
Maligning taxpayers
Our politicians and their crony bureaucrats keep on maligning taxpayers while the so-called "informed" analysts and all-knowing (sic) TV anchors join the bandwagon with often-repeated popular jargon that only "1%…
Acid survivors and Facebook updates
How can I not love Orya Maqbool Jan, civil servant turned columnist and media celebrity, who makes me feel that Pakistan is not only equal to the somewhat developed but…
Rethinking justice
The killing of at least 20 students and staff of Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, disturbingly reminiscent of the attack a year ago on the Army Public School in Peshawar,…
PM’s claims and the realities
On January 22, while addressing a group of investors in Davos, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif painted a glamorous picture of Pakistan - an achievement for which his speech writer deserves…
Why America is hated
One hears a good deal of whining in Washington about how the United States has no real friends in the developing world. I don’t know why people here are surprised…
