Between boom and bust
It has become a theme now that may yet come to define this government’s economic story. Global voices such as those of the multilateral lenders and credit rating agencies, along…
Financial inclusion and poverty
Private investment in Pakistan is low. What are the factors behind such a low rate of private investment? One doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out the…
Denying the acceptance of forces that shape growth and investment
By growth we mean economic expansion as measured by any of a number of indicators such as GDP. Economic growth is an increase in the production and consumption of goods…
Dar and the TONS problem
The one thing the PML-N can legitimately claim, as an advantage over its competition, is the richness of talent at its disposal. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for all his limitations,…
Iran will need to spend most of any post-sanctions windfall at home
Iranians will demand their government spend a windfall from the lifting of economic sanctions on improving the quality of life at home, limiting the degree to which a future nuclear…
Understating tax expenditure
Tax expenditure is the revenue foregone due to exemptions and concessions, which are deviations from a normal tax regime. They are also referred to as tax loopholes. Tax expenditures are…
Water crisis in Karachi: Old issues needing a new look
The failure of Pakistan's development is a story of continuous failure in thought process. The factors that have compounded these problems are to do with conceptualisation of the issues and…
Budget 2015-16: Another ritualistic exercise! – II
In budget 2014-15, FBR target was fixed at Rs. 2810 billion, which was later reduced to Rs. 2605 billion. The worthy Finance Minister is full of praise for FBR's bosses…
Poor government, lavish expenses
Ishaq Dar, on assuming charge of Finance Ministry on 7th June 2013, promised that the PML-N government would not bring any mini budgets. He violated his resolve with impunity by…
Tax proposals for Budget 2015-16 – VII: Need for an NTA
The government of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), under the third-time elected Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, will announce its third annual budget for the fiscal year 2015-16 on June…
