From diplomacy to connectivity
The visits of the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Pakistan mark a pivotal moment in South and Central Asian diplomacy. These high-level visits are beyond routine bilateralism; they reflect…
A smart economic plan
The economic reform agenda under the guidance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is not yielding the desired results. It has probably saved Pakistan from a possible sovereign default. Exports…
Bordering on connectivity
For decades, Pakistan’s borders have symbolised more control than connectivity. Every truck stopped at a dusty checkpoint, every queue snaking across Torkham or Chaman, told a story of missed opportunities.…
Withering geoeconomics
IT was almost exactly three years ago that a paper was published by Moeed Yusuf and his co-author Rabia Akhtar arguing in favour of a pivot away from geopolitics towards geoeconomics as…
‘Economic Resilience Act’ — II
Within economy, relegation of Ministry of Finance (MOF) to purely financial matters, and instead forming a ‘Ministry of Economy’ (MOEC) as the main ministry for the overall economic policy. Moreover,…
CAREC connectivity
Pakistan’s strategic location, at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, has long been described as a natural gateway for regional trade. However, being well-placed on the map has not…
Economic diplomacy is the way forward
This is the first of a two-part series detailing National Security Policy’s (NSP) foreign policy’s focus on economic diplomacy – a focus that is a challenge as the world moves…
IT boost for economic growth
Total world trade in IT services crossed $1 trillion in 2023 – and it is growing. IT services are now 14 per cent of all services trade, a big jump…
Geo-economics over geo-politics
The strategic shift from geo-politics to geo-economics is a welcome initiative. In a world where the relative importance of a nation is determined primarily by its economic strength, the focus…
Economic corridor: unfinished agenda
Although much steam out of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) has been let out, the unquestionable positivity demonstrated on it by Pakistan and China, from time to time, makes this…
