News

Grappling with an imbalanced economy

While the authorities struggle with structural policy reforms, regulatory and administrative measures have made some incremental gains. Owing to the rupee’s appreciation against the dollar over five consecutive weeks, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI ) said Pakistan’s external debt had reduced by a staggering Rs400 billion. The dollar trading at Rs336 on Se

The elusive dream of property ownership

Living the retirement plan as a real-estate owner seems unattainable in today’s Pakistan. And not buying coffee on the way to work won’t make a difference. Having worked (and saved) from an early age, commencing with an esteemed magazine during adolescence, followed by part-time employment while pursuing higher education, and working full-time with a lucrative take-home, it is a small wonder th

The endemic current account deficit

Pakistan’s economic growth has been persistently hampered by its current account deficit (CAD), a situation where the country’s imports exceed its exports, resulting in a shortage of foreign currency. This deficit has been escalating over several decades, posing significant challenges to Pakistan’s economic stability. The CAD issue is exacerbated by Pakistan’s dependence on international financ

Finance: Caught between hopes and fears

In just over three months of this fiscal year (between July 1 and October 6), the federal government’s borrowings from banks almost tripled to Rs1.835 trillion from Rs628 billion in the same period last year. Funds borrowed from banks are being used chiefly for debt servicing but also for meeting the high cost of running the day-to-day affairs of the government. Current bank borrowing of the go

Will the Middle-East conflict impact Pakistan?

The brazen disregard for civility and international law in the Middle East war zone has deeply saddened and incensed Pakistanis. Beyond its social and political implications, the corporate sector was troubled by the government’s lack of preparedness in dealing with the evolving situation to mitigate potential risks for the already fragile economy. “The vivid images depicting death, destructi