After the complete surrender by the PMLN-led coalition government to meeting the IMF conditions for the revival of the programme, the financial market looks firm that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) would increase the interest rate in the range of 150 to 200 basis points in the next monetary policy to be announced on Monday. State Minister for Finance Aisha Ghouse Pasha said on Thursday that t
Can the general elections expected this year open up the path that leads to a turnaround in the political economy? Or will we just see business as usual despite the newly elected federal government in the saddle? The earliest sign to show in which direction the country would move after elections will be whether the election campaign is focused on how the nation’s key challenges are to be addres
The State Bank of Pakistan has finally picked its winners of the five digital banking licenses from the 20 contenders that had tossed their hats in the ring over nine months ago. Or rather, it issued them no-objection certificates, and they will now have to undergo a long process. For those in the fintech and startup circles, this triggered mixed reactions. It was quite like a reality show wher
The year 2022 was difficult for oil-importing countries, including Pakistan, as commodity prices shot through the roof. The steep increase in the cost of refined products, such as diesel, placed a significant strain on their trade balances and left consumers feeling the pinch at the pump. With a volatile global market, government officials in Pakistan must take proactive measures to mitigate any p
Enough has been said, written and read about the problems in the country. The blueprints are elementary in developmental economics textbooks. It doesn’t require rocket science knowledge to uplift a debt-stricken country with a GDP per capita of $1,700 to a more respectable $3,000 per capita. While the economic solutions are plenty and multi-pronged but require political will and resolve. Hence,