The Trade Facilitation Network (TFN) has released a comprehensive research paper on the unfolding maritime disruption in the Persian Gulf—and the findings are both alarming and transformative. The Strait of Hormuz is no longer functioning as a free commercial artery. It has effectively become a selectively controlled corridor, where access is dictated not just by...
The ongoing conflict involving Iran, United States, and Israel has created a crisis that refuses to be contained. What began as calculated military strikes has erupted into a sprawling confrontation that crosses borders, erodes established limits, and threatens to redraw the strategic map of the Middle East. Every day, the conflict intensifies, pushing the region...
Public experience with policy implementation in Pakistan shows that most initiatives, no matter how well-intentioned, quickly run into weak execution, administrative gaps, and backdoor distortions that undermine their objectives. Since independence, it has been extremely difficult to implement government policies effectively, particularly when large numbers of citizens are involved. Influential and affluent segments of society...
A quiet yet potentially historic geopolitical shift may be unfolding in our region. As trust in traditional intermediaries appears to erode, Iran is increasingly seen as placing confidence in Pakistan as a credible facilitator for backchannel engagement with the United States. In this context, Islamabad could emerge as a discreet and effective venue for dialogue....
Pakistan’s oil dependency is both structural and unavoidable. The country consumes approximately 18–20 million tons of petroleum products annually, equivalent to 130–150 million barrels, with 80–85% met through imports. This makes petroleum the single most sensitive component of the external account. Over recent years, the oil import bill has fluctuated sharply: $10–11 billion in FY2021,...
In recent months, a striking and deeply concerning claim has repeatedly appeared in media discourse suggesting that Pakistan is accumulating around $40,000 of debt every minute, Media report. While this figure is not an official statistic, it reflects a broader fiscal reality derived from Pakistan’s rising debt trajectory. According to recent fiscal estimates, Pakistan’s total...
EXPO Centre Lahore | January 24–26, 2026 The SME Expo 2026, organized by SMEDA in collaboration with the Ministry of Industries and Production, has powerfully highlighted the central role Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play in Pakistan’s economic future. With over 174 micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs showcasing products and innovations, the Expo demonstrated how...
Eid ul Fitr comes this year at a moment when the global landscape is deeply unsettled, marked by escalating conflicts, shifting alliances, and growing humanitarian crises. From the ongoing tensions involving major powers such as Iran, Israel, and the United States to the broader ripple effects on global stability, energy markets, and regional security, the...
Among Pakistan’s best trades of 2025 was the Great Wheat Hustle. Those who bought wheat from farmers at Rs 2,200 per maund on May 15 and sold to flour millers at Rs 4,500 per maund on August 30 laughed louder than anyone in the agriculture sector. That’s doubling your money in three months or so—an...
The recent decision by the federal government to replace Kamran Tessori with Nihal Hashmi as Governor of Sindh has sparked widespread debate across the country. The development did not occur in isolation; it came amid visible tensions within coalition politics and growing criticism from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which has long sought recognition and...
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