Our sad realities
On February 15, the FBR released the first-ever Tax Directory of the parliamentarians. In his covering letter, the Finance Minister confirmed that, while all members of the parliament had finally…
Privatisation or the sale of the century?
The regressive fiscal measures taken by the PML-N government in its first nine months in power make it abundantly clear that PM Sharif’s ‘most experienced’ team has no interest in…
The illusionists
Like a doctor examining a seriously sick patient, the IMF staff is supposed to evaluate the underlying conditions of the health of the economies of its member countries. While providing…
A minister’s job
It has been reported in the press that on January 1, 2014 the federal finance minister gave a briefing to the cabinet on the state of the economy. If the…
Monetary Policy Decision
While the challenges for macroeconomic stability in the external sector remain, the fundamentals of the economy going forward in the backdrop of the recent policy and reform measures appear stable.…
The balance of payments outlook
In response to questions by journalists about the costs and benefits of entering into a new loan arrangement with the IMF, the finance minister rightly pointed out that the country…
Hundred days of economic management
During the five-year tenure of the PPP-led government, loadshedding became rampant affecting the productive activities and daily lives of people, growth rate declined to an annual rate only slightly higher…
The balance of payments outlook
In response to questions by journalists about the costs and benefits of entering into a new loan arrangement with the IMF, the finance minister rightly pointed out that the country…
MPS: introspection, at last
The period beginning September 5 has been significant because, first, the World Economic Forum released its Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2013-14 showing Pakistan's slide from 124th place in global ranking…
Failings of the State Bank
All over the world, central banks perform three main functions. First, they formulate and conduct monetary policy with the objective of keeping monetary expansion and inflation under control, and channelling…
