July 2019

A Synopsis of the current Muslim world When the Age of Enlightenment began in the West, dark clouds moved in over Islamic countries. This age rapidly led to a series of innovations in various fields, from politics and administration to economics and technology, and eventually brought about peace and harmony for Western countries. The strengthening of the Western industry and …

Think Availing the Tax Amnesty No place to hide! Bilal Hassan In view of a largely undocumented economy, the government has introduced a tax amnesty to enable all citizens of Pakistan, except public office holders and their dependents, to declare their undeclared assets and incomes. Under this amnesty, taxable persons may declare benami assets, foreign liquid assets, bank accounts, undisclosed …

The Menace of Honour Killings in Pakistan There is no honour in killing! Abdul Rasool Syed Woefully speaking, women in our country are subjected to various kinds of abuse and persecution. Rape, domestic violence, forced marriage, acid attacks and honour killing are the most common injustices that a Pakistani woman has to face in our patriarchal society. Of all these …

The SCO’s Bishkek Summit Pakistan’s Growing Prestige in International Arena The 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on 14 June. Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan; Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi; President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev; President of China, Xi Jinping; President of …

Pakistan Economic Survey 2018-19 Overview of the Economy The macroeconomic stability is a fundamental pre-requisite for sustained economic growth. Pakistan’s economy has experienced frequent boom and bust cycles. Typically, each cycle comprised of 3-4 years of relatively higher growth followed by a macroeconomic crisis which necessitated the stabilization programs. The inability to achieve sustained and rapid economic growth is due …

Current Political Situation of Pakistan Zainab Zahra The politics in Pakistan is done within the framework established by the constitution of the country. The country is a federal parliamentary republic in which provincial governments enjoy a higher degree of autonomy and power. Executive power is vested in the federal cabinet which is headed by the prime minister – the head …

US Containment of China America has High Expectations for India. Can New Delhi Deliver? Paul Staniland  India is a big deal in Washington these days. A wave of think tank reports, books and op-eds identify India as a key component of US grand strategy. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the US National Security Strategy heralded an important Indian …

Russia-China Bonhomie at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum The 23rd St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was held on June 6-8, 2019 with the motto ‘Creating a Sustainable Development Agenda’. This year’s forum was the largest in terms of a number and composition of participants. According to the SPIEF organizing committee, the event was attended by over 19,000 participants from 145 …

Neo-liberalism The lesson we never learned The triumphant march of neo-liberalism that has dominated the world over the last 40 years is rapidly fading after the costly defeat in the 2016 elections. It leaves behind a history of several major economic disasters, a dubious legacy of globalism, the erosion of the middle class, the widening gap between the rich and …

Looming Economic War Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed!  The tariff war with China unleashed more than a year back by the Trump administration in the United States threatens to turn into full-fledged economic war. The US claims that China is engaging in unfair trade practices and adopting coercive measures against US firms, undermining US economic interests. China not …