The real contest of growth
China’s modern rise began with Deng Xiaoping’s reforms after 1978. A handful of pragmatic changes turned an inward, centrally planned economy into an export superpower. Beijing created Special Economic Zones…
Why Kalabagh Dam is not an option
For decades, the Kalabagh Dam has been pitched as the silver bullet to Pakistan’s water and power challenges. By the numbers, it promises thousands of megawatts of hydropower and millions…
What was the SCO summit about?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s summit in Beijing unfolded in a climate of heightened regional expectations. What has long been viewed as a largely rhetorical platform for Eurasian cooperation is being…
An uninterrupted journey
Doom-laden narratives about Pakistan have always found eager audiences. The latest tells us that we are condemned to an eternal wait for Godot – forever trapped in elite capture, incapable…
What holds Pakistan back?
PAKISTAN is one of the most over-diagnosed countries in the world. It has long been apparent what needs to be done for the country to achieve its promising potential. Its problems are…
Three nations, three destinies
History moves in cycles – rising, pausing, reinventing. It rewards those who adapt and punishes those who wait. And in the story of nations, 30 years is more than enough…
Save, invest, reform
Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook reflects a paradox. On the surface, recent trends suggest stabilisation, with inflation easing and growth showing modest recovery. Yet beneath these fragile improvements lie structural weaknesses that…
The global trade race is on
Pakistan has a history of dropped catches. Just when opportunity swings our way, we let it slip through our fingers. Today, we face another critical moment – and this one…
Invest in innovation
Innovation is now the key driver of global economic growth, surpassing traditional factors like natural resources or cheap labour. Countries that invest in education, science, technology, and innovation (ESTI) while…
Reform or relapse
Pakistan has posted a $2.1 billion current account surplus in FY25, the highest in 22 years. Foreign exchange reserves have climbed to $14 billion, up from a dangerously low $3.5…
