News

Suffocating under industrialisation

In Syed Nagar near Alipur Chatta in the Gujranwala district, hapless families remain trapped in a cycle of polluted air, persistent foul odours, and low visibility, further worsening the already difficult lives of ordinary people. A proper evaluation of air quality in this area is necessary to confirm the pollution levels, but the air likely contains harmful particles and chemicals, putting res

To BE(V) or not to BE(V)

Let’s be honest: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or just pure electric vehicles (EVs) are hyped up everywhere, thanks to Tesla and the Chinese EV brands. People are talking about how they are the future, how they’ll save the environment, and how they’ll revolutionise car ownership. But here’s the burning question for us: Is Pakistan even ready for EVs, or are we chasing a dream that’s too big for

Why the SCO meeting matters

As Pakistan gears up to host the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Head of Government meeting, the event holds immense geopolitical significance for both the country and the broader South Asian region. The SCO, a multilateral organisation founded to foster cooperation on security, economic, and political fronts among its member states, has evolved to address issues ran

Coping with the inflation cycle

The structural theory of inflation says inflation is caused by a ‘structural’ weakness in a country’s capacity to produce goods or maintain an adequate flow of supply. General under-productivity creates imbalances between supply and demand. Inflation that stems from structural issues may not be easily changed by monetary policy. “The inflation rate is falling faster than we expected, which is a

IMF support and government reforms

Growth is up, inflation is down, and the economy is on a sound path,” stated International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva while announcing the approval of Pakistan’s 25th loan, worth $7 billion, for the next three years. Nevertheless, the IMF cautioned that Pakistan still faces challenges, including a difficult business environment, an outsized state role, and a narr