Business Recorder op-ed writer Shabir Ahmed is undoubtedly one of the very few writers in Pakistan who write on economics and finance with genuine conviction. In one of his articles "Stock market: A bumpy ride ahead?", the writer, for example, makes his opening statement in the following manner: "Turbulence at high altitudes is not uncommon. Volatility that recently stalked the PSX index as it soared to 50,000 shouldn't come as a surprise either. The market pundits call it 'correction', a fancy word for profit taking. For the suave (and well-connected) investor it is an opportunity - skim the cream and re-enter at lower levels. For the ordinary (follow the crowd) investor it is a threat - how long before he is left holding the bag."
That the writer has a facility for language as well is a fact that could be easily discerned from how he concludes his argument. According to him, "The 'bumps' are unavoidable. They cannot be priced, but they create opportunities. What would a market be without the roller-coaster ride? That is how fortunes are made. Let the good times roll - until the bell tolls." As newspaper readers my friends and I just cannot avoid reading his articles on Wednesdays. It has become a weekly habit.