DEMOCRACY in Pakistan has yet to yield significant improvements in living standards and provide a stable environment for businesses to thrive. Despite this, the recent elections saw 60.5 million Pakistanis using ballots, more than ever before in the nation’s history. It indicates people’s profound trust in democracy and a belief, perhaps perceived irrational by many observers, that an elected g
The export of raw food products consecutively surging for the sixth month in the current fiscal year forcing local consumers to pay higher prices. The food export value more than doubled to $787.36 million in January, up 105.29 per cent from $383.54m in the same month last year, according to data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The new fiscal year began with negative growth of
Industrial bodies are up in arms over the government’s recent decision to increase gas tariffs, warning that this move could lead to the shutdown of numerous industrial units, a rise in unemployment, and a halt in exports unless the decision is reversed. In a concerted appeal, they have called on the government to retract the tariff increase for the sake of the national economy and to prevent t
A FAMILY was driving home from a wedding when they witnessed two masked men on a bike with guns snatch a laptop case from a person on a motorbike and zoom away. The incident took seconds. Sitting in the car, the wife promptly took off her gold jewellery and stowed it away at the back of the dashboard. Nobody batted an eye. In Karachi, everybody has several stories of muggings. Pakistan is not a
WILL the idea of a participatory coalition government — apparently an improved version of the Pakistan Democratic Movement setup — deliver political and economic stability? It would depend on how this somewhat different approach works and corresponds to the changing ground realities. To begin with, the next prime minister would be from the largest party. Shahbaz Sharif would be the joint candid