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…
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…
Yet another tragedy of horrendous proportion struck Karachi when 45 Ismailis were massacred on 13th May in Safoora Goth; children were also among the injured. Over the past decade various sectarian and militant outfits have wreaked havoc through acts of extreme violence that have claimed thousands of lives, including personnel of the armed forces and…
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…
Producing two hooded terror suspects before the media. Tahir Alias “Lamba” and “Mama” Junaid, purportedly from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), SSP Malir Rao Anwar claimed that they were trained in India by Indian spy agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing). That RAW has been engaged in terrorist attacks in Pakistan is not new nor…
Just when everything seemed to be coming good for Pakistan, the Army MI-17 crash in Naltar brought us literally and figuratively down to earth. What made this great tragedy different was that the Ambassadors of Norway and Philippines as well as the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian Ambassadors, lost their lives. Several other Ambassadors…
Dear Readers, After days of heated debate and argument, a joint session of Parliament passed a unanimous resolution to remain neutral and stay out of the Saudi-led air campaign targeting Shiite rebels in Yemen. However the resolution stated that Pakistan should be prepared to come to Saudi Arabia’s aid if the latter’s sovereignty or territorial…
Immersed in turmoil for various reasons ever since the Arab Spring started with Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in Tunisia on Dec 18, 2010, separating the permutations and combinations of allies and foes in the Middle East given any country or sub-region is mind-boggling. Beset with multiple crises ourselves, mostly of our own making, we are desperately…
Fast becoming increasingly dangerous for the region, and for Pakistan, the Yemen situation has inherent contradictions and complications that need to be addressed. The Saudis have not minced words in claiming our help – and fast. We can understand their impatience, for them it is a pretty straightforward transaction. They pay us for the manpower…
Pakistan’s geo-strategic crossroads location connecting China with South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia was confirmed by the signing of agreements pertaining to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Islamabad. Envisaging construction of roads, rails and power plants, nearly US$ 35 billion (of the US$46 million)…
