The Pakistani Rupee has been on a downward slope for almost 3 years now and needless to say that not only is this tangibly eroding connectivity of an average Pakistani with the outside world, it is also at the same time very punishing for the common man economically. Pakistan’s economic system—at least in theory—works on market principles, is compliant with WTO trading rules and regulations that call for an open economy for imports and is…
Posts published in “Pak Media comment”
The writer is a business and economy journalist.HERE we go again. One more time we are witness to a familiar spectacle: a government flying into a political and an economic crisis at the same time. The TLP rioters marching up GT Road, the quiet but meaningful ending of the notification saga and the impending economic crisis (temporarily postponed due to a critical injection of $3.2 billion from Saudi Arabia) are now raising the same question…
The writer is a veteran journalist.It seems efforts are underway, once again, to drag Pakistan into an oft-repeated game which has historically left everyone empty-handed at its bitter end. It is obvious that losers have the most to part with, but winners are often found wanting as well. The opposition is taking to the streets, the PDM parties are holding sit-ins everywhere. Although the PPP and the ANP have left the opposition alliance, they haven’t…
The writer is a journalist based in the US.Pakistani officials who were on a long official trip to the US, which started in early October, for negotiating the revival of the $6 billion loan IMF package kept promising ‘good news’ for Pakistan. In their press talks, they would confidently imply that the IMF could announce the next tranche for Pakistan as soon as the next day. On the other hand, IMF officials kept their silence…
The writer is an analyst and commentator.This weekend PPP leader Khurshid Shah was released from Sukkur jail after over two years of incarceration. His NAB troubles are not over, but the wrath of the system has subsided. Could his release from jail signify anything more than the majesty (sic) of the judicial process proceeding as per usual? Since December 2007, the PPP has taken a beating perhaps unlike any other political party in the country…
The writer is a journalist.PEOPLE say there is a fifth season in Pakistan. It comes when the summer has packed up the worst of the heat to make way for a bit of cooler weather and political parties are confident their workers are ready to brave the elements and invade Islamabad. The TLP has already been on this annual outing and after having set off the panicked debate about its impending rise, it has now…
A Foreign Office reeling from weak leadership; confused policy has touched a new low. If media reports are to be believed, and a journalist no less than Mujeeb ur Rehman Shami has claimed amongst others, the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Lt General (retd) Bilal Akbar, who was posted to Riyadh just a few months ago, is apparently being removed. It may be recalled that the former Corps Commander had been posted to Saudi Arabia to…
The good news is that at the end of a three-day meeting on October 22, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) did not place Pakistan in the black list. In fact, with regard to completing two concurrent action plans, Pakistan has moved to the enhanced follow-up status from the enhanced (expedited) follow-up category as it ‘has made notable progress in addressing the technical compliance deficiencies’ and has been re-rated on twenty-two recommendations. The bad news…
Pakistan and Afghanistan are naturally agrarian countries. Fresh fruits and vegetables are reportedly the most important sector of Afghan agricultural activity, providing a good source of livelihood for millions of farmers for ensuring food security and provision of raw materials for the dried fruit sector. There are many healthy and mouth-watering fresh products in the country. Some well-known horticulturists consider Afghanistan to be the cradle of global fruit production because the country has many varieties…
The foundation of bilateral relations was laid down in 1951 when a treaty of friendship was signed between two countries; Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Shah Saud visited Pakistan in 1954, followed by Shah Faisal, Shah Khalid, Shah Fahad, Shah Abdullah and recently Muhammad Bin Salman, the crown prince. In 1967, a defence cooperation pact was signed between the two counties to impart training to Saudi military forces. During the 1965 and 1971 wars, Saudi Arabia…
Media control authority and dissenting voices: op-ed by Dr Syed Akhtar Ali Shah in The Express Tribune, Sept 29th, 2021.
The writer is a practising lawyer. He holds PHD in Political Science and heads a think-tank ‘Good Governance Forum’.The incumbent government’s proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority Ordinance is considered yet another attempt to stifle dissenting voices and freedom of expression. The proposed bill went viral on mass media because if enacted it will be a blatant proclamation of war against journalists. It will stamp out the diversity of opinion, which is essential for a thriving…