News

Demonising and scandalising CPEC

From time to time, we come across propaganda unleashed against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): that it is a debt-creating instrument, China is not keen to help Pakistan ride out its severe economic problems, and Beijing is using the corridor as a strategic ploy to put its stamp on the region. Such propaganda, however, is baseless. In order to appreciate CPEC and its implications fo

Aurangzeb deplores FBR’s ‘reputation for corruption’

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has criticised the country’s tax authorities for having a “reputation for corruption”, calling it the main reason why citizens don’t want to deal with it. In an interview with the Financial Times, he was critical of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), saying: “People don’t want to deal with the tax authority because of corruption, because of harassment, becau

Startup dreams drowned by economic woes?

As a country, Pakistan is all about momentary triumphs followed by prolonged periods of adversity. This permeates all spheres of our lives, be it moments of brilliance on the cricket field or symbolic wins for democracy. Even the startup ecosystem is beholden to the same patterns where any good news is sandwiched between long bouts of gloom. Not so long ago, the ecosystem did get that solitary

The future of digital transformation

Pakistan, the fifth-most populous country in the world, has undergone significant digital transformation over the last decade since the introduction of 3G/4G services. Mobile broadband access has provided most Pakistanis with endless opportunities to acquire knowledge, conduct online business, and engage in entertainment. This connectivity and high-speed internet have supported the growth of ne

FIA told to redress injustice to lifeline power users

LAHORE / RAWAL­PINDI: Taking notice of growing complaints of overbilling being made by protected consumers, Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday ordered legal action against the officers and staff involved in the practice. The minister directed all FIA directors to immediately redress the injustice being done to the electricity consumers using up to 200 units, says