Balochistan cauldron
The latest blood bath in Quetta is yet another grim reminder of Balochistan’s dangerous slide into anarchy. The gruesome killing of women students and the subsequent siege of the Bolan…
Militancy and drones
THE debate in Pakistan on drone strikes has mostly revolved around two areas. First, that it violates Pakistan`s sovereignty; second, that it creates more jihadis. Both these arguments can easily…
Drums of victory
President Zardari made history - however small - on Monday by becoming the first Pakistani president to address a joint session of the National Assembly for the sixth time. Let’s…
Leave him alone
The ghosts that had taken hold of Pakistan in the last decade or so are making another appearance. Just as a new dawn rises and hope springs under a new…
Time to go to the IMF
Whenever a country faces a serious balance of payment crisis, it goes to the IMF to seek balance of payments support. While providing resources, the IMF asks the government to…
Taxing the taxed: Income Support Levy Act, 2013
In the current budget, the government has proposed to levy a wealth tax by proposing to enact a new law.1 The object of the tax is to provide financial assistance,…
View Point: Afghanistan peace talks
Following the opening of Afghan Taliban's political office in Doha the first round of direct, official talks between the US and the Taliban starts there today to end the 12-year-long…
Poverty status: Another dilemma for the new government
Announcing an official higher or lower poverty number by the country sends the following kinds of signals to the international stakeholders, ie, foreign governments, multilateral and bilateral donors, international NGOs…
Budget 2013-14: No will to tax the rich
By just tinkering with tax rates here and there and imposing or enhancing regressive taxes - fixing revenue collection target at Rs 2598 billion for fiscal year 2013-14 - the…
Iran moderate’s poll triumph is mandate for change
Iranian voters weary of years of economic isolation and tightening political restrictions threw down a blunt demand for change on Saturday by handing a moderate cleric a landslide victory in…
