Author Archives: Khurram Husain
17 hours ago
No numbers game
SOME perplexing challenges await the incoming government. It’ll need every ounce of patience, every penny’s worth of wisdom scrapped from past experience to tackle things.
SOME perplexing challenges await the incoming government. It’ll need every ounce of patience, every penny’s worth of wisdom scrapped from past experience to tackle things.
16th May, 2013
Let the games begin
A COMPLICATED election has given us a simple outcome. With a single party in charge of things, perhaps one can hope for some stability in the government.
A COMPLICATED election has given us a simple outcome. With a single party in charge of things, perhaps one can hope for some stability in the government.
9th May, 2013
The political hiatus
THE fierce electoral contest unfolding in Pakistan has as its counterpart a relatively tranquil state of affairs in the interim set-up.
THE fierce electoral contest unfolding in Pakistan has as its counterpart a relatively tranquil state of affairs in the interim set-up.
2nd May, 2013
Prior actions and the IMF
IT’S entirely correct and appropriate for the interim government to hew to a minimalist line.
IT’S entirely correct and appropriate for the interim government to hew to a minimalist line.
25th April, 2013
The IMF carousel
GOING by the words of the interim finance advisor to the prime minister, Shahid Amjad Chaudhry, it appears that a bailout package of some sort is waiting on the other side of the elections.
GOING by the words of the interim finance advisor to the prime minister, Shahid Amjad Chaudhry, it appears that a bailout package of some sort is waiting on the other side of the elections.
18th April, 2013
Interim economic management
BY every reckoning it was going to be a tricky job — managing the politics of the moment, keeping unwanted intrusions at bay, and handling an economic situation moving towards a crisis.
BY every reckoning it was going to be a tricky job — managing the politics of the moment, keeping unwanted intrusions at bay, and handling an economic situation moving towards a crisis.
11th April, 2013
Is Pakistan sinking?
THE question of Pakistan’s viability as a state is at least as old as the country itself. Recently a sobering article written by a former American ambassador to Pakistan has reignited the question and left many wondering whether Pakistan’s “long-term trajectory is toward failure”.
THE question of Pakistan’s viability as a state is at least as old as the country itself. Recently a sobering article written by a former American ambassador to Pakistan has reignited the question and left many wondering whether Pakistan’s “long-term trajectory is toward failure”.
4th April, 2013
An interim agenda
By any standards the interim government, whose outlines are now beginning to appear, has a heavy agenda and a light mandate. This is a bad combination.
By any standards the interim government, whose outlines are now beginning to appear, has a heavy agenda and a light mandate. This is a bad combination.
28th March, 2013
Musharraf’s mirage
THE general is back, and this time not on horseback. Since he has offered to take us back to the Pakistan that he left behind, perhaps it’s a good idea to recall what the country looked like back when he made his unceremonious exit.
THE general is back, and this time not on horseback. Since he has offered to take us back to the Pakistan that he left behind, perhaps it’s a good idea to recall what the country looked like back when he made his unceremonious exit.
21st March, 2013
Trade ties with India
TO get a better idea of how Pakistan’s trade ties with India can develop, think of the difference between a long distance trek and a pole vault.
TO get a better idea of how Pakistan’s trade ties with India can develop, think of the difference between a long distance trek and a pole vault.
14th March, 2013
Sanctions and pipelines
PLACE your bets. Will Pakistan risk inviting American and European Union sanctions upon itself, as well as the ire of its key ally Saudi Arabia, in return for Iranian help in overcoming a crippling energy crisis?
PLACE your bets. Will Pakistan risk inviting American and European Union sanctions upon itself, as well as the ire of its key ally Saudi Arabia, in return for Iranian help in overcoming a crippling energy crisis?
7th March, 2013
Shutting cities down
MONDAY was a spooky day on the streets of Karachi. I had a chance to travel from Abbas Town to the old city area, visit the port and the banks and the Chamber of Commerce building right off I.I. Chundrigar Road.
MONDAY was a spooky day on the streets of Karachi. I had a chance to travel from Abbas Town to the old city area, visit the port and the banks and the Chamber of Commerce building right off I.I. Chundrigar Road.
28th February, 2013
The hidden economy
GOING by the numbers alone, it would appear that no significant economic activity takes place west of the Indus. Look at the provincial GDP numbers, the revenue figures and you see no movement, no activity on any significant scale.
GOING by the numbers alone, it would appear that no significant economic activity takes place west of the Indus. Look at the provincial GDP numbers, the revenue figures and you see no movement, no activity on any significant scale.
21st February, 2013
Conflict economics
A PARANOID style of thinking is entrenching itself in our country, and a bizarre reading of our economic challenges and destiny lies at the root of it.
A PARANOID style of thinking is entrenching itself in our country, and a bizarre reading of our economic challenges and destiny lies at the root of it.
14th February, 2013
The rupee rollercoaster
I FIRST heard about it in the summer 2010, from Dr Ehtesham Ahmed, who had served as adviser to the executive director for Pakistan on the board of the IMF, and was in Pakistan in those days to advise the government on the VAT legislation.
I FIRST heard about it in the summer 2010, from Dr Ehtesham Ahmed, who had served as adviser to the executive director for Pakistan on the board of the IMF, and was in Pakistan in those days to advise the government on the VAT legislation.
7th February, 2013
State Bank spin
THE State Bank is at risk of losing its moorings, and Pakistan stands to lose its only institutional voice of economic wisdom and common sense.
THE State Bank is at risk of losing its moorings, and Pakistan stands to lose its only institutional voice of economic wisdom and common sense.
31st January, 2013
India growling
HOW the tables have turned! For years it was India that held out the hand of trade and economic opportunity to us, and it was Pakistan that growled back defiantly, wedded to antiquated notions and primitive instincts.
HOW the tables have turned! For years it was India that held out the hand of trade and economic opportunity to us, and it was Pakistan that growled back defiantly, wedded to antiquated notions and primitive instincts.
24th January, 2013
Winter without gas
IN August, our petroleum ministry told us that the forthcoming winter would be better in terms of gas shortages.
IN August, our petroleum ministry told us that the forthcoming winter would be better in terms of gas shortages.
17th January, 2013
Of kings and pawns
WHAT do those who have choreographed the ridiculous events unfolding in Islamabad really want? Here’s my take.
WHAT do those who have choreographed the ridiculous events unfolding in Islamabad really want? Here’s my take.
10th January, 2013
Difficult to compare
HOW do you compare the economic track record and performance of one government with another? For example, if we want to determine whether or not the present government’s economic track record is better than that of a preceding regime, how does one best make that comparison?
HOW do you compare the economic track record and performance of one government with another? For example, if we want to determine whether or not the present government’s economic track record is better than that of a preceding regime, how does one best make that comparison?
