Fiscal crisis and reset
Pakistan’s fiscal system has long been under immense strain due to the mounting pressure of borrowing and the substantial portion of revenue being diverted towards debt servicing, and 2024 was…
Democracy’s missing half
The global movement for gender equality has driven change across many sectors, but political representation remains one of the most formidable challenges. Although women make up nearly half of the…
Economic butchery
PAKISTAN is teetering on the edge of economic collapse due to its persistent struggle to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio, a crucial measure of its fiscal health. Despite numerous efforts, many…
IMF programme & reform priorities
The long-awaited US$ 7 billion 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF), finally approved by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on September 27, 2024, marks Pakistan’s 25th programme…
Challenges before FBR’s new chairman
FBR (Federal Board of Revenue) has failed to meet original tax targets for the last six fiscal years, three of the coalition government of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and rest under…
Judge, jury, executioner
RECENT years have seen a disturbing rise in the extrajudicial killings of blasphemy suspects — sometimes in police custody. Such cases reveal the increasing complicity of law-enforcement officials in the perpetuation of…
FATF evaluations
India’s progress in combating illicit finance was brought into focus on September 18, 2024, with the release of the Mutual Evaluation Report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). This…
Are more judges the answer?
The 1950s were a golden era for the American automobile industry. The advent of new technologies, the maturation of mass production techniques and an increase in consumer purchasing power catapulted…
Untangling energy crisis: the ‘misguided’ criticism of IPPs
The narrative dominating Pakistan’s discourse on electricity prices has painted Independent Power Producers (IPPs) as the villains responsible for the country’s escalating energy costs. Media outlets and public opinion frequently…
Emerging challenges to the economy
The budget 2024-25 formulated to qualify for the 25th IMF programme has been passed by the parliament. Now the IMF bailout programme is very much in sight. In the market,…
