Achieving National Security through Democratic Dispensation

“Without governance and development in democracy, National Security will face more daunting problems and herculean challenges.”Dr. Ahmed Adam Okene. Talk at College of Arts and Sciences, Malaysia 1 Oct 2011 AbstractNational security is the vital part of the policy to ensure existence of Pakistan. This is primarily because the threat that Pakistan has historically experienced…

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Budgetary Woes

Brimming with excitement bordering on the histrionics that one normally associates with political rallies, trusted Mian Nawaz Sharif kinsman, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, presented what he insists is a “poor-friendly” Federal budget in the National Assembly (NA) on June 5. Detractors do not share the palpable enthusiasm of our “man for all seasons”, they…

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Exorcising the Budget

The yearly Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) compiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked Pakistan 129th out of 144 countries in 2014-15, this compares with 133rd out of 148 last year. GCR ranks countries on 15 pillars of competitiveness, the risks include (1) Basic Requirements (2) Institutions (3) Infrastructure (4) Macroeconomic environment (5) Health…

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Electoral Perceptions

Some interesting perceptions have emerged from the recent NA-246 by-elections, and subsequently elections for the Local Bodies (LBs) in 42 cantonments. Give Rangers credit, alongwith Karachi police they enforced extraordinary security arrangements. Given the MQM’s strength in organizing their voters in their stronghold, the NA election result was not a surprise. In contrast some voters…

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