Author Archives: Sakib Sherani
27th July, 2012
Investment environment
THE demise of my newly acquired house plants produced an admonishment to my gardener that ended along the lines of “this would never have happened in Karachi.” Even though I moved to Islamabad 14 years ago
THE demise of my newly acquired house plants produced an admonishment to my gardener that ended along the lines of “this would never have happened in Karachi.” Even though I moved to Islamabad 14 years ago
13th July, 2012
Pakistan & the US
IN a little over two years, US relations with Pakistan have moved from a high point of ‘strategic dialogue’ to a trough of ‘strategic near-divorce’.
IN a little over two years, US relations with Pakistan have moved from a high point of ‘strategic dialogue’ to a trough of ‘strategic near-divorce’.
29th June, 2012
Pakistan & the IMF
BY this time, few people in the country are under the illusion that Pakistan is not sleepwalking its way back to the IMF. Policy inaction spread over several years has been compounded by accommodative policy settings, a
BY this time, few people in the country are under the illusion that Pakistan is not sleepwalking its way back to the IMF. Policy inaction spread over several years has been compounded by accommodative policy settings, a
15th June, 2012
The defence budget
ONE of the most scrutinised and commented upon items in the budget is the allocation for defence spending. Depending on the ideological leanings of those doing the commentary, the number is either ‘too high’ or ‘too low’
ONE of the most scrutinised and commented upon items in the budget is the allocation for defence spending. Depending on the ideological leanings of those doing the commentary, the number is either ‘too high’ or ‘too low’
1st June, 2012
‘Innocent’ fraud
THE fifth consecutive budget of this government, to be presented to parliament later today, is more than likely to be yet another timid fiscal policy statement.
THE fifth consecutive budget of this government, to be presented to parliament later today, is more than likely to be yet another timid fiscal policy statement.
18th May, 2012
The debt volcano
AMONGST the many worrying elements in Pakistan’s current economic condition — faltering growth, record-low investment, historic inflation — it is perhaps a tough call to pick the one we should be most
AMONGST the many worrying elements in Pakistan’s current economic condition — faltering growth, record-low investment, historic inflation — it is perhaps a tough call to pick the one we should be most
4th May, 2012
Fiscal follies
AT this time of the year, Q block in the Pakistan Secretariat is the epicentre of budget activity (along with the FBR HQ).
AT this time of the year, Q block in the Pakistan Secretariat is the epicentre of budget activity (along with the FBR HQ).
6th April, 2012
The other Pakistan
My previous article on the rise of Pakistan’s middle class (which appeared in this newspaper on March 23), elicited a surprising response. It was the most ‘face-booked’ and ‘tweeted’ of all my op-eds since last year.
My previous article on the rise of Pakistan’s middle class (which appeared in this newspaper on March 23), elicited a surprising response. It was the most ‘face-booked’ and ‘tweeted’ of all my op-eds since last year.
23rd March, 2012
Consumption conundrum
AFTER a recent visit to Pakistan, friend Meekal Ahmed, a former senior economist at the Planning Commission and later the IMF (now settled in the US), emailed: “What am I missing? This place is rocking. The pizza parlours, coffee houses, swank new malls are all packed, brimming with consumers. It took us nearly
AFTER a recent visit to Pakistan, friend Meekal Ahmed, a former senior economist at the Planning Commission and later the IMF (now settled in the US), emailed: “What am I missing? This place is rocking. The pizza parlours, coffee houses, swank new malls are all packed, brimming with consumers. It took us nearly
9th March, 2012
Our Greek paradise
ON at least two occasions in the past few months, I have written on the need for a quick return to running the state as other responsible nations do: collecting taxes, spending wisely and dispensing justice – i.e. subjecting
ON at least two occasions in the past few months, I have written on the need for a quick return to running the state as other responsible nations do: collecting taxes, spending wisely and dispensing justice – i.e. subjecting
24th February, 2012
Voodoo economics
MANY educated and well-intentioned Pakistanis I have interacted with over the past few months have expressed a near-consensus of sorts: that the economy is in bad shape and needs to be kick-started as of yesterday. Fair enough.
MANY educated and well-intentioned Pakistanis I have interacted with over the past few months have expressed a near-consensus of sorts: that the economy is in bad shape and needs to be kick-started as of yesterday. Fair enough.
10th February, 2012
System of spoils
“Chaste to her husband, frank to all beside / A teeming mistress, but a barren bride ...” `SAVE the system` has become a rallying call of Pakistan`s elected kleptocrats over the past few weeks
“Chaste to her husband, frank to all beside / A teeming mistress, but a barren bride ...” `SAVE the system` has become a rallying call of Pakistan`s elected kleptocrats over the past few weeks
27th January, 2012
Managing the economy
WHILE a lot of focus has been garnered by the operational mismanagement of the economy by the PPP-led government and its coalition partners in the past four years, some structural weaknesses that have been
WHILE a lot of focus has been garnered by the operational mismanagement of the economy by the PPP-led government and its coalition partners in the past four years, some structural weaknesses that have been
13th January, 2012
A governance framework
AFTER the abysmal benchmarks for poor governance set by the current PPP-led government, it is unclear if any new government can take the level of maladministration and corruption any lower. However, what is
AFTER the abysmal benchmarks for poor governance set by the current PPP-led government, it is unclear if any new government can take the level of maladministration and corruption any lower. However, what is
30th December, 2011
Revisiting MFN status
AFTER years of hesitation, Pakistan has rushed headlong into granting MFN status to India, without robust prior consultation or study.
AFTER years of hesitation, Pakistan has rushed headlong into granting MFN status to India, without robust prior consultation or study.
16th December, 2011
The poverty debate
FOR the past several years, a debate has raged in the country regarding the ‘true’ number of people deemed to be below the poverty line.
FOR the past several years, a debate has raged in the country regarding the ‘true’ number of people deemed to be below the poverty line.
2nd December, 2011
Dial ‘F’ for FBR
GIVEN the advanced state of collapse of so many public-sector enterprises, which one institution or agency should we be most worried about?
GIVEN the advanced state of collapse of so many public-sector enterprises, which one institution or agency should we be most worried about?
18th November, 2011
Speaking Greek
AT a recent seminar on `How to Fix Pakistan`, one of the many conducted over the past one month or so which have provided a combination
AT a recent seminar on `How to Fix Pakistan`, one of the many conducted over the past one month or so which have provided a combination
