JUST one day after his stunning comments in Helsinki, President Donald Trump attempted to backtrack. In the Finnish capital, standing next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a news conference, he had cast doubt on the conclusions of US intelligence agencies that Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Back in the White House on Tuesday, however, Trump argued that he …
Read More »From summits to strategic tensions
After the demise of the USSR, it was widely believed by people in the West that Nato would become democratic and work for peace. But to their utter surprise, the military alliance started blitzing various states. It emerged as a potent tool to topple the governments of a few ‘dictators and autocrats’. Reneging on their promises, Western countries also expanded …
Read More »Need Asian IMF
At a time when economic challenges are multiplying on account of external woes and the case for another bailout package is becoming stronger and stronger, there is a need to float an idea that could help Pakistan avoid this disaster that will only add to its chronic indebtedness. For making Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), unveiled by Chinese President XI …
Read More »Five pillars of the political structure
Belatedly economists have begun to appreciate that the strength of an economic system depends on the strength of the political structure. The elections of 2018 will determine whether the political structure Pakistan built over the last seven decades will be strengthened and survive into the future. If it does, it will aid the country’s economic revival and put its economy …
Read More »The battle of etiquette
Is technology changing the nature of audience behaviour? Or is this behaviour specific to a particular culture, time and place? As England played their matches in the World Cup soccer in Moscow, the fans back in Britain supported their side fully while being glued to their mobile phones. It so happened that they refused to switch off their phones even …
Read More »Water wars
Water mismanagement can lead to national and international conflicts Experts have been warning about water scarcity turning into a nontraditional security threat, and now military experts, including DG ISPR, have also alerted the nation that future wars would be fought on the issues of water. Unfortunately, it seems that these wars would be fought both within and across international boundaries. …
Read More »Fighting corruption
Multi-pronged approach needed to root out corrupt practices National Accountability Bureau (NAB), along with other state institutions, is pushing hard to process the cases and references on corruption. The case related to overseas properties acquired through apparently ill-gotten wealth by a former prime minister and his family has been decided by a court. Speedy action has been initiated against another …
Read More »NFC Award, taxes and new government
The taxation rights under the prevalent constitutional scheme need reconsideration allowing provinces to raise adequate resources In the recent months, many noted economists and reputed analysts have showed with facts and figures that the 18th Constitutional Amendment and 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award are harming fiscal stability. In a recent write-up, it is insinuated that “the imbalances triggered by …
Read More »Someone Should Tell Donald Trump About America’s High Tariffs
In accusing other countries of cheating the United States, the president misleads the public about a complicated subject. To hear President Trump tell it, every other country in the world is taking advantage of the United States by selling milk, cars, steel and other products to America while refusing to buy made-in-the-U.S.A. merchandise. His ceaseless complaint about trade — with …
Read More »Social media and elections
For a stable democratic society, the importance of a free and fair election cannot be denied. The credit for raising political awareness among people after a long struggle goes to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Political analysts are of the view that young activists of the PTI are utilising social media in a very efficient manner to convey the party’s message throughout …
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