The year 2025 emerged as a defining period of political and financial stress, in which governance uncertainty and economic fragility reinforced each other and deepened instability. Prolonged political polarization, weak consensus-building, and frequent disruptions in policymaking reduced the state’s capacity to address mounting economic challenges. As political attention remained absorbed in contestation rather than reform,...
The stalled privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has produced economic and institutional aftershocks that extend far beyond the fate of a single loss-making enterprise. What was projected as a confidence-building reform instead exposed deep-rooted weaknesses in Pakistan’s governance framework, policy credibility, and institutional capacity, raising serious questions about the country’s broader reform trajectory. From...
The National Finance Commission (NFC) Award is the backbone of Pakistan’s fiscal federalism and a constitutional mechanism designed to ensure equitable distribution of financial resources between the federation and the provinces. Under Article 160 of the Constitution, the NFC Award determines how revenues from the federal divisible pool are shared vertically between the center and...
The recent bidding and partial privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) marks a significant development in Pakistan’s economic reform agenda. After decades of mounting losses, operational inefficiencies, political interference, and repeated bailout packages, the government’s decision to offload a majority stake in the national flag carrier has been presented as a bold and unavoidable step...
Pakistan’s experience with TIR—particularly on corridors involving China, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia—shows that TIR underperformance is not caused by weak legal frameworks or lack of political support. It is caused by execution-level resistance. A key operational reality observed in Pakistan is this: No government will facilitate a system if its own enforcement officers recommend...
The relationship between democracy, governance and poverty is complex, deeply interconnected and critical for sustainable development. Across the developing world, particularly in countries like Pakistan, poverty cannot be understood in isolation from the quality of democratic institutions and governance structures. Weak democracy leads to poor governance, and poor governance in turn entrenches poverty, creating a...
Economic growth and long-term sustainability in Pakistan are directly dependent on political stability. The experience of developed and emerging countries demonstrates that without a stable political system, neither a strong economy can be built nor sustainable development achieved. Despite Pakistan’s strategic location, natural resources, young population, and substantial agricultural and livestock sectors, the country has...
Poverty in Pakistan is not merely an economic condition; it is a reflection of deep-rooted governance failures. Despite possessing fertile land, abundant natural resources, and a large youthful population, a significant proportion of citizens continues to struggle for basic necessities such as food, healthcare, education, and dignified employment. This persistent contradiction underscores a fundamental reality:...
Pakistan’s location gives it natural corridor advantages linking South Asia with Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Yet transit trade performance remains inconsistent despite multiple agreements, infrastructure investments, and the availability of tools like TIR. The core problem is not geography or treaties. It is execution. Through corridor-level analysis, one conclusion becomes clear: transit...
Islamabad, the world’s second most beautiful capital, has long faced serious public health risks due to the absence of a formal slaughterhouse. Despite repeated announcements and promises over many years, the capital still lacks a modern slaughterhouse, forcing meat traders to slaughter animals in homes, streets, or open areas. This informal practice not only violates...
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