Author Archives: S. Akbar Zaidi
2 days ago
More than one ‘conservatism’
AN argument doing the rounds suggests that a ‘right-wing wave’ has swept Pakistan’s recent general elections.
AN argument doing the rounds suggests that a ‘right-wing wave’ has swept Pakistan’s recent general elections.
31st December, 2012
Suitcase economists
IN a rare moment of bold, honest, reflection, on Dec 24, members of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, which included at least one prominent PPP member, demanded the resignation of
IN a rare moment of bold, honest, reflection, on Dec 24, members of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, which included at least one prominent PPP member, demanded the resignation of
1st December, 2012
Reasons or excuses?
AT the recently concluded 28th annual general meeting and conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists, organised by what is now the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE)
AT the recently concluded 28th annual general meeting and conference of the Pakistan Society of Development Economists, organised by what is now the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE)
15th October, 2012
Lahore’s domination
KARACHI is the most developed economic and social administrative entity (district/ division) in Pakistan. In almost every single category of economic and social indicators, it tops the list of Pakistan’s districts. Although
KARACHI is the most developed economic and social administrative entity (district/ division) in Pakistan. In almost every single category of economic and social indicators, it tops the list of Pakistan’s districts. Although
24th September, 2012
Singh should visit
VISAS, peace accords, even trade treaties between India and Pakistan pale into insignificance without the icing on the cake, a visit by Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, to meet the President of Pakistan,
VISAS, peace accords, even trade treaties between India and Pakistan pale into insignificance without the icing on the cake, a visit by Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, to meet the President of Pakistan,
3rd September, 2012
Economic myths & our elite
THE more one talks to Pakistan’s educated elite, the more one realises just how uneducated it is about many things, especially Pakistan’s economy. This is partly not their fault, for many economists are equally
THE more one talks to Pakistan’s educated elite, the more one realises just how uneducated it is about many things, especially Pakistan’s economy. This is partly not their fault, for many economists are equally
13th August, 2012
The power of land
SOME economists have shown empirically, that land reforms in rural areas, may not lead to economic growth, and hence have argued that such reforms are not worth pursuing.
SOME economists have shown empirically, that land reforms in rural areas, may not lead to economic growth, and hence have argued that such reforms are not worth pursuing.
2nd July, 2012
The strongest institution?
THERE has never been any doubt, that for more than 50 years, from the mid-1950s to almost exactly the end of 2007, the single-most powerful and dominating institution in Pakistan’s body politic has been the
THERE has never been any doubt, that for more than 50 years, from the mid-1950s to almost exactly the end of 2007, the single-most powerful and dominating institution in Pakistan’s body politic has been the
11th June, 2012
But what if it wins?
EVERY government is a political government, even a military dictatorship, a fact which most analysts and commentators forget.
EVERY government is a political government, even a military dictatorship, a fact which most analysts and commentators forget.
21st May, 2012
The worst ever?
BEFORE the budget of the next financial year is announced within the next few weeks, the Ministry of Finance is, as every year, expected to reveal its Economic Survey for the on-going fiscal year 2011-12.
BEFORE the budget of the next financial year is announced within the next few weeks, the Ministry of Finance is, as every year, expected to reveal its Economic Survey for the on-going fiscal year 2011-12.
30th April, 2012
Taxing elites
ELITES are taxing in any context and in any environment. In Pakistan, however, their behaviour makes matters doubly worse.
ELITES are taxing in any context and in any environment. In Pakistan, however, their behaviour makes matters doubly worse.
9th April, 2012
The new intellectuals
IT seems impossible to imagine a society, even such as ours, without intellectuals. They have existed from time immemorial, in every society, at different layers of the social strata interacting with, and frequently changing, the course of history, and of the future.
IT seems impossible to imagine a society, even such as ours, without intellectuals. They have existed from time immemorial, in every society, at different layers of the social strata interacting with, and frequently changing, the course of history, and of the future.
19th March, 2012
The biggest failure
UNDOUBTEDLY, the biggest success of the present government as it celebrates four years in power is precisely that: it is actually in a position to celebrate having completed four years in power.
UNDOUBTEDLY, the biggest success of the present government as it celebrates four years in power is precisely that: it is actually in a position to celebrate having completed four years in power.
27th February, 2012
A new strategy, please
THE prime minister of Pakistan has asked his economic team, to prepare next year’s budget and to focus on “job creation for youth, provision of basic services like health, education, clean drinking water and civic
THE prime minister of Pakistan has asked his economic team, to prepare next year’s budget and to focus on “job creation for youth, provision of basic services like health, education, clean drinking water and civic
8th February, 2012
Locating South Asia
AS Pakistan achieved its series victory in the cricket fields near the sand dunes of the Gulf, perhaps for the first time ever beating the top-ranked side in a Test series, and that too without scandal, allegation or accusation, a
AS Pakistan achieved its series victory in the cricket fields near the sand dunes of the Gulf, perhaps for the first time ever beating the top-ranked side in a Test series, and that too without scandal, allegation or accusation, a
20th January, 2012
Judicial invasion
FOR a country which is notorious for not following the law, in any manifestation of its practices — constitutional, civic or corporate — we are now faced with a judicial invasion and an onslaught of lawyers and
FOR a country which is notorious for not following the law, in any manifestation of its practices — constitutional, civic or corporate — we are now faced with a judicial invasion and an onslaught of lawyers and
16th January, 2012
Not 1999
A MILITARY coup was never likely, and is still not, despite the wishful thinking of a few probable beneficiaries.
A MILITARY coup was never likely, and is still not, despite the wishful thinking of a few probable beneficiaries.
23rd December, 2011
The core contradiction
THE core political economy question facing Pakistan today is whether the military in Pakistan has a place in civilian affairs, or whether it should be permanently removed to the barracks and be made answerable to a
THE core political economy question facing Pakistan today is whether the military in Pakistan has a place in civilian affairs, or whether it should be permanently removed to the barracks and be made answerable to a
9th December, 2011
Missing the point
JUST because one can make strong arguments that Pakistan’s economy is not as bad as many newspaper columnists make it out to be does not mean that the economy is in good shape and does
JUST because one can make strong arguments that Pakistan’s economy is not as bad as many newspaper columnists make it out to be does not mean that the economy is in good shape and does
25th November, 2011
Perplexing economy
PAKISTAN`S economy continues to defy conventional logic. The general consensus and narrative continues to be that the economy has collapsed
PAKISTAN`S economy continues to defy conventional logic. The general consensus and narrative continues to be that the economy has collapsed
