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Diversification of Muslim economies over the years

From oil and remittances to fintech and green sukuk, Muslim economies have evolved into a diversified global ecosystem. When we talk about the "Ummah economy," we refer not to one country or bloc but to a vast collective - the economic life of Muslim-majority nations and the global ecosystem built around Islamic finance, halal trade, sukuk markets, remittances, and diaspora capital flows. It is

Policy framework and structural change

The macroeconomic policy framework of successive regimes is composed of fiscal prudence and tight monetary policy to achieve low inflation rate. These so-called good macroeconomic fundamentals have hindered the desired structural change in the economy. These macroeconomic fundamentals have a great impact on the followings. Tight fiscal and monetary policies give rise to an over-valued rupee vis

Diverging trade strategies at ASEAN

Two important developments took place on the sidelines of the 28th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, late last month. They involved the world's two largest economies and reflected their contrasting approaches to global trade. China advanced its push for trade liberalisation and regional integration, upgrading its free trade agreement with th

FDI: big market, small confidence

Pakistan's debate over foreign direct investment (FDI), reignited by multinational exits and sporadic inflows, has revived an old question: why does one of the world's largest markets still struggle to inspire investor trust? The truth is; Pakistan's problem is not potential; it is predictability. Pakistan is the world's fifth-largest nation, home to over 240 million people – a vast consumer ba

Pakistan receives $3.4bn in remittances in October 2025

The inflow of overseas workers’ remittances into Pakistan stood at $3.4 billion in October 2025, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data showed on Friday. Remittances increased by nearly 12% year-on-year (YoY), compared to $3.1 billion recorded in the same month last year. On a monthly basis, remittances were up over 7%, compared to $3.2 billion in September. During the first four months of th