The population debate
The controversy generated by a contraceptive advertisement run by various TV channels – and the subsequent decision to take it off-air – highlights how divided our society is on the…
Education emergency
Pakistan faces several developmental challenges that have been left unaddressedfor far too long. Among the most debilitating from the perspective of the economy`s performance over the long run are: unchecked…
An elitist Pakistan
The sufferings of Pakistani poor and less privileged classes will not end unless elitist structures are dismantled and the society is restructured on the principles of equity, fairness and justice…
The viability of agri income tax
The new government has many burning issues to deal with. Some of these have been highlighted by the media and some by the politicians themselves. The budgetary constraint that is…
Faulty gas distribution to invite food crisis
Power shortage haunts Pakistan and its political leadership with increasing intensity as Pakistan's majority the Muslim population enters the holy month of Ramazan. The experts estimate that electricity shortages cost…
A fantastic dream
It was a pleasant sunny morning on May 18, 2013 when I found myself at the Ritter Ice Arena, attending the graduation ceremony of the Rochester Institute of Technology/National Technical…
The LNG scam or non-scam?
LNG is again in the news; firstly a high-level Pakistani delegation went to Qatar in the hope of getting a direct and concessionary LNG deal from government of Qatar; secondly,…
Exploit the bulge
“The annual labour of every nation is the fund which originally supplies it with all the necessaries and conveniences of life…” Adam Smith (“Wealth of Nations) ADAM Smith was more…
An ambitious budget
Turning to current expenditure, debt servicing is expected to increase by Rs125 billion, defence by Rs57 billion, grants by Rs3 billion and civil administration by Rs23 billion. On the other…
Tax proposals – II
Initial developmental efforts are generally marked by inflationary tendencies in an economy. Inflation, if uncontrolled, may thwart all development plans and bring misery to the poor. A reasonable degree of…
