German public mood darkens on Greece
As the Greek debt drama careers toward a dangerous climax, the mood in Germany has deteriorated to the point where a slight majority now believes Athens should leave the eurozone.…
Rational over-optimism?
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in his budget speech 2015-16 maintained that the first budget he presented was focused on saving the country from default, the second budget to achieve…
Modi calls again
Whether we like it or not, India’s Narendra Modi is in the driver’s seat at least in controlling the ‘temperature’ in Islamabad. He just has to ask his ministers to…
The economic consequences of ethics
Governance in modern times has been subjected to three aspects that of responsiveness, accountability and open administration. Democracy is all about meeting the requirements of these elements. But this has…
Rule without taking over
A foreigner visiting our land these days would be forgiven for mistaking, even if for a while, Pakistan for Thailand or Egypt – where muscular militaries have politicians by the…
Some sanity this time in budget
The federal government unveiled its fiscal budget for the year 2015-16 with a total outlay of Rs 4.3 trillion. With eyeing 5.5 percent growth, 7.5 percent raise in pays &…
Budget in elitist economy – I
In the coming days, the government of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), having a majority in National Assembly, will get the Finance Bill 2015 passed, without any difficulty, ignoring many sensible…
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…
Embracing Punjabi
Rabindranath Tagore was once asked why he got the Nobel Prize for literature and Allama Iqbal did not. Tagore replied “Probably because I write in my mother tongue and Iqbal…
Saudi diplomacy in Pakistan
When Saudi Arabia lost a monarch to assassin’s bullets on March 25, 1975, Pakistan mourned his death like the demise of a national hero. Murdered only a year after mentoring…
