2011

High inflation has badly hit the rich and the poor alike, but the poverty stricken class is the worst target. Inflation discourages savings by reducing the real rate of return on financial assets leading to lower investment and growth. Inflation is defined as the persistent rise in the general price level. A number of theories explain the causes of inflation. …

The Quaid gave us the watchword ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’but we ruthlessly butchered it at the altar of factionalism, racialism and provincialism. Where do we stand today after the expiry of almost six-and-a-half decades since independence? I think we stand nowhere but on the brink of a deep abyss’ an abyss of ideological schizophrenia, a loss of cultural identity, an …

Unfortunately, the sapling of democracy in Pakistan has not taken its roots. Pakistan suffers from a number of social, political, and economic problems. With a population roughly half that of the United States in an area slightly less than the size of two California’s, Pakistan is experiencing unwanted growth. While projections indicate that the population growth rate of Pakistan may …

It is becoming manifest that India is expanding the envelope of its allowable usage over the Jhelum and Chenab waters, sanctioned by the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) to severely impinge upon Pakistan’s water share, which is gross violation of the underlying spirit of the Treaty. A thought provoking report; Avoiding Water Wars: Water Scarcity and Central Asia’s Growing Importance for …

The Muslims are in the claws of western powers not because the West is more powerful and we have less energy but because we lack unity and the guts to say no to power and wealth. Talking about Muslim Ummah is like walking through a path of risky ventures and unparalleled achievements. Like any civilisation, it had its falls and …

The importance of media as institutional pillars of society and State is unmatched by any other pillar. Consequently, the independence of media needs to be made so secure and authentic that independent media became as sustainable as an independent judiciary. The factors that will impact upon national development through the 21st century include geo-political, economic, technological, social and cultural conditions …

A Guide to Mideast Policy from Harry Truman to Barack Obama The first time a Western power got soaked in the politics of oil in the Middle East was toward the end of 1914, when British soldiers landed at Basra, in southern Iraq, to protect oil supplies from neighbouring Persia. At the time the US had little interest in Middle …

Apparently, the ISI has the upper hand over the CIA, though a heavy cost might incur by that move. Historically the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has always worked as credible agency for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The subservient relation of ISI with CIA has immensely damaged the reputation of Pak army and Pakistani government. The imposition of US policies in Pakistan …

Some people may argue that the Western military intervention is aimed at grabbing Libya’s vast oil and gas reserves, but Qaddafi’s stubborn refusal to step down has also facilitated the West in making this intervention possible. Having an area of 1,757,000 square kilometres and population of 6,173,579, Libya is North Africa’s largest oil producing country, having a society with strong …

The Japanese government has ordered all nuclear facilities to upgrade their safety procedures (CNN) and is reviewing whether to remove a safety agency from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry because it may be too cozy with the nuclear industry. Two weeks following Japan’s March 11 earthquake, at least four of the six reactors at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant …