The anatomy of trade deficits
In the first 10 months of the outgoing financial year (FY 2017), a $19.93 billion trade deficit was registered on account of exports worth $17.91 billion and imports that amount…
Budget 2016-17: The accountant’s tool box is empty
The Accountant's body language spoke louder than his budget speech. The accent was on frivolity as he pleaded for applause from the opposition and treasury benches alike. The budget contents…
Understanding current account balance
There is a general perception among economic reporters and economic analysts in both print and electronic media that surplus in current account is highly desirable and a sign of economic…
Swatting away the deficit
Back in January of this year, the State Bank had cautioned that foreign inflows were dwindling even as foreign exchange reserves increased, and pointed to the problems that this scenario…
‘2015: the year of accountant’: MoF’s response
This refers to an article published in Business Recorder titled "2015: the year of accountant". The article is more political than economic and financial, but the language is uncomplimentary by calling the…
The true budget deficit
What is the true budget deficit for the year 2013-14? Can we say that Pakistan has achieved fiscal consolidation in 2013-14 under an IMF programme? Is budget deficit number announced…
Overcoming fiscal deficit
Pakistan is in serious fiscal difficulties. The politics of sit-ins creating instability is bound to worsen the already pathetic economic situation. In fiscal year 2013-14, the original tax target of…
Ingenious accounting
The results of fiscal operations by the federal and provincial governments have been released recently. In the first nine months, July to March, of the current fiscal year the consolidated…
Defending deficits
Now don’t get me wrong. It’s not my job to take away the punch bowl just as the party gets going, if you’ll excuse the metaphor given the circumstances obtaining…
The way out of elite capture
Pakistan possesses immense potential, particularly in the realms of solar, wind, and hydropower – with the capacity to generate an impressive 2900 GW of solar power, 340 GW of wind…
