Last year’s economic performance was marginal; most of the macro-economic targets were missed, some widely others narrowly. Unless requisite structural reforms are implemented, this trend is likely to continue. The budget envisages 5.5% GDP growth target for the next financial year, which seems to be substantially higher than 4.24% that the country could achieve during…
Most recently, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko visited Pakistan and inked many meaningful agreements and MOUs. This was the first ever visit of any Belarusian President to Pakistan which showed its multidimensional importance. During his stay he met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Mamnoon Hussain and discussed matters of mutual interests. Both sides agreed…
“Without governance and development in democracy, National Security will face more daunting problems and herculean challenges.”Dr. Ahmed Adam Okene. Talk at College of Arts and Sciences, Malaysia 1 Oct 2011 AbstractNational security is the vital part of the policy to ensure existence of Pakistan. This is primarily because the threat that Pakistan has historically experienced…
With India’s Foreign Minister Ms. Sushma Swaraj declaring the Corridor “unacceptable”, Mian Nawaz Sharif finally decided enough was enough, he did not mince words at the APC convened in Quetta by Balochistan’s CM Dr. Abdul Malik after the Mastung massacre as to the motivation behind the concerted campaign. Accompanied by the Army Chief, the Pakistani…
Chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Qaim Ali Shah, the Apex Committee was recently told by the DG Rangers Maj Gen Bilal Akbar, that out of the nearly Rs.230 billion collected illegally from hapless Karachi-ites annually on one pretext or other, a fair amount of it was being used to fund terrorism. This extraordinary generation…
Yet another tragedy of horrendous proportion struck Karachi when 45 Ismailis were massacred on 13th May in Safoora Goth; children were also among the injured. Over the past decade various sectarian and militant outfits have wreaked havoc through acts of extreme violence that have claimed thousands of lives, including personnel of the armed forces and…
A flurry of activities about Afghanistan during the month of May, capped by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit, have, once again, brought this country under international focus. Former President Asif Zardari led his party delegation to Kabul, Commander United States Forces in Afghanistan General John F Campbell called on the Army Chief, General Raheel Sharif,…
A debate has been going on amongst political leaders, social media, civil society and veterans regarding the CPEC route. The controversy has set in after some maps were displayed showing the route passing through Lahore. To add to the confusion some of the PML-N ministers, mostly kept ignorant by their masters, said that it was…
Economics of Pak-China Friendship is unique and has strategic importance. It has multidimensional aspects and is not confined to better political understanding and sharing of similarities on different regional and international issues. It covers all aspects of human survival and industrial production and ranges from close economic cooperation to massive foreign direct investments, joint ventures…
Stephen P. Cohen describes geo-strategic significance of Pakistan as “While history has been unkind to Pakistan, its geography has been its greatest benefit.”(1) 1. The month of April has witnessed the historic signing of China-Pak Economic Corridor and other MOUs between friendly nations of Pakistan and China. The long awaited signing ceremony also fortified the…
