The recent decline in Pakistan's inflation rate to 9.6% is a significant achievement, marking the lowest level in three years. This represents a 65% drop compared to August 2023. Hopefully, this should result in several economic benefits, such as enhanced consumer purchasing power, stabilised business costs, and improved government finances. It is time for the State Bank to consider a substanti
Although the stock market ended the outgoing week with gains due to hopes of an interest rate cut, uncertainty on the external financing front turned investors cautious about the economic outlook. AKD Securities Ltd said the market remained rangebound during the outgoing week as investors waited for key events, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board’s approval and the r
Lawmaking must be at the core of governance — defining powers, keeping checks in check, and ensuring public trust. Nonetheless, in Pakistan, lawmakers often swap their legislative hats for power-broker crowns. Instead of crafting laws, they’re busy chasing development funds and jockeying for influence. Elected to legislate and uphold the law, many Pakistani lawmakers seem more interested in the
Pakistan’s investment requirements for addressing its climate challenges are enormous, and then some. In its Country Climate and Development Report, the World Bank estimated that Pakistan — one of the world’s top 10 countries most affected by climate change — needs $348 billion to adequately address its climate challenges till 2030. This consists of $152bn (44 per cent) to support adaptation an
EVER since returning to power, the Shehbaz Sharif government has been pushing an austerity narrative like all previous dispensations. This narrative is mostly built around the announcement of superficial measures and is not backed by concrete policy. Recently, it has notified certain cost-cutting measures. The so-called austerity package contains some cosmetic measures, such as a temporary ban