Malgovernance: Pakistan’s hallmark?
In my column last week, I had expressed doubts about success of 'negotiations' between the PML-N regime and the PTI-PAT combine. These negotiations were bound to fail; large-scale arrests of…
Surmounting crises
Pakistan is in the grip of yet another crisis-this is a recurrent pattern in our history showing weaknesses in the system lacking socio-economic justice, and clash of various conflicting interests…
Tax revolt or tax justice
Imran Khan's call for civil disobedience, which in fact is incitation for tax revolt, has proved not only impracticable but also widely rejected. It confirms that our leaders act on…
Integrity management in tax administration
Similar to the socio-political culture of most public sector institutions in Pakistan, FBR is also in the 'integrity crises'. Given that the widespread publicity on this issue drives public opinion,…
Perils of religious economy
Though Operation Zarb-e-Azb is yet to be completed and assessing its impact could be postponed till a later stage, it has undeniably brought a sense of relief to Pakistanis who…
Goals and challenges for FBR
Internationally accepted, the primary role of tax authorities is to ensure compliance with tax laws; its effectiveness, however, depends on a variety of external factors including the state of the…
Our security disorder
THE battle to secure control of militant sanctuaries across North Waziristan was meant to proceed without distractions for the Pakistan Army. But the choice by the government to invoke Article…
Access to land reconsidered
Optimum allocation of resources is highly important for the development of a society. Economists say that resources are scarce and needs unlimited. This is true in case of land as…
Reading the IMF
It begins innocuously enough: “[t]he economy is showing signs of improvement”. Programme performance was “mostly positive”, the balance of payments is “improving, but remains delicate”. Reserves have also improved, although…
The heart of the matter
Last Wednesday, the newly created Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms held its first session and elected Ishaq Dar as its chairman. The committee has three months to finish its job.…
