2026-08-06-12-48

Expectations from a development state

In recent articles for Business Recorder, I had argued that the existing governance system in Pakistan needs to be... Published 06 Aug, 2026 04:55am

How Pakistan lost three decades while its neighbours rewrote the rules of global trade

Pakistan’s export story is one of extraordinary promise undermined by decades of policy inconsistency. Once regarded... Published 05 Aug, 2026 09:30pm

2026-08-05-12-37

The shape of the future grid

For more than a century, electricity systems have been built around a simple proposition: a handful of large power... Updated 05 Aug, 2026 06:33am

2026-08-05-12-37

Pakistan’s economy doesn’t need more experts; it needs one owner

Pakistan’s economic crisis is not a shortage of talent. It is a surplus of ownership, so much of it that none of it... Published 05 Aug, 2026 05:45am

2026-08-05-01-14

The cost nobody budgets for

The taxes we see… and the taxes we don’t Finance Minister Muhammad Aura ngzeb recently congratulated the Federal... Published 05 Aug, 2026 05:45am

Elephant and ostrich of the leadership jungle

• Problem with leaders is their inability to address issues

Published 04 Aug, 2026 05:42pm

2026-08-04-12-37

Pakistan’s international rankings

The good news is that Pakistan’s credit rating has been improved recently by the Standard and Poor’s from B- to B.... Published 04 Aug, 2026 03:37am

2026-08-04-12-37

Liquidating the aquifer: the true cost of Pakistan’s rice exports

Every metric tonne of Pakistani rice exported from Karachi carries with it thousands of litres of water, much of it... Published 04 Aug, 2026 03:37am

2026-08-04-01-10

PWD in Purple Economy

According to the World Health Organization, 15 percent of the total global population comprises People With... Published 04 Aug, 2026 03:37am

2026-08-03-12-30

Borrowing to live beyond their means

Credit is widely regarded as an engine of growth – an input used by public and private sectors to engage in economic... Published 03 Aug, 2026 02:22am

2026-08-03-12-30

Pakistan’s refinery upgrade is a bet the world is already unwinding

After two decades of deliberation, Pakistan has finally approved a policy to upgrade its refineries. The timing... Published 03 Aug, 2026 02:22am

2026-08-03-12-32

JPY: significant volatility expected

The Federal Reserve has decided to maintain its interest rate unchanged for the fifth consecutive meeting. A total... Published 03 Aug, 2026 02:22am

2026-08-03-12-32

Deemed duty: Pakistan’s hidden tax on fuel consumers

Pakistan’s petroleum pricing system has many visible burdens: petroleum levy, margins, freight, exchange-rate... Published 03 Aug, 2026 02:22am

2026-08-02-12-54

Cotton research institutions matter a lot

Pakistan’s cotton history demonstrates that whenever the country achieved exceptional production, it was primarily... Updated 02 Aug, 2026 05:25am

2026-08-02-12-54

Smart climate-budgeting: digitizing the architecture of green finance in Pakistan

Pakistan is facing an estimated USD 348 billion climate financing gap through 2030; therefore, it’s imperative to... Updated 02 Aug, 2026 05:30am

2026-08-01-01-19

Foreign investment: the governance test

“Foreign investors don’t fear risk - they fear bureaucracy, and foreign investors don’t leave markets - they leave... Published 01 Aug, 2026 05:59am

2026-08-01-01-19

The menace of mobile snatchers

In the early days of mobile snatching, it used to be big news but nowadays and after years of living with this... Updated 01 Aug, 2026 06:36am

2026-08-01-01-19

SEZ 2.0: From tax holidays to performance-based incentives

For more than a decade, Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones have operated on a simple promise: approved zone... Published 01 Aug, 2026 05:59am

2026-07-31-12-36

Punjab’s digital tax ‘illusion’

Punjab’s latest experiment with restaurant and other vendors’ service taxation, receiving payment through digital... Published 31 Jul, 2026 05:44am

2026-07-31-12-36

Learning from China’s economic philosophy and policy – I

May 21 marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. A proud moment indeed for the... Updated 31 Jul, 2026 09:38pm

2026-07-31-12-36

The rails are built - now comes the credit

The op-ed emphasises that the State (SBP, Government) has built the rails, but private-sector institutions must run... Published 31 Jul, 2026 05:44am

2026-07-31-01-06

AJK election results reflect public trust in PML-N

The people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir have once again demonstrated their confidence in the Pakistan Muslim... Published 31 Jul, 2026 05:44am

A misleading approach to creating a knowledge-based economy

In its millennium edition, The Economist, London, had proudly mentioned that the West had made a great contribution... Published 30 Jul, 2026 06:21pm

2026-07-30-02-44

To a layman, ‘imputed income’ term confusing

This author wrote an article for this esteemed paper last week when the draft for the special regime for retailers... Published 30 Jul, 2026 05:15am

2026-07-30-02-44

SC closes the limitation door on share-register fraud

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has now settled one of the most consequential questions in... Published 30 Jul, 2026 05:15am

2026-07-30-12-45

Pakistan’s fintech landscape

In the first quarter of current year, the Annual Payment Systems Review issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)... Updated 30 Jul, 2026 06:28am

2026-07-29-12-54

Managing is not building

Why stability alone cannot deliver prosperity Every nation seeks prosperity, but only a few consistently move up the... Updated 29 Jul, 2026 06:20am

2026-07-29-12-54

The geopolitics of exhaustion

“Debt is the worst poverty.” (Thomas Fuller) Pakistan has formally requested a 10 billion dollar Bilateral Exchange... Updated 29 Jul, 2026 06:16am