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Dec 29, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
Pakistan’s commercial banks have been having a bit of a party, but it seems nearly the entire private sector missed the invitation. The numbers are quite astounding. The banking sector saw extraordinary profits on the back of government securities, arbitrage, and last-minute lending surges to avoid tax penalties.
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Nov 9, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
Constantly pointing out the flaws in Pakistan’s power sector may seem repetitive, but the magnitude of its challenges keeps it in the headlines. In early November, the Government of Pakistan announced its Circular Debt Management Plan (CDMP) for the power sector. While the projected growth in debt liability is a modest 1.5%, the outstanding liability has already reached Rs2.4 trillion, and these projections rest on some generous assumptions that warrant closer examination.
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Nov 3, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
Pakistan’s power sector is a cautionary tale of economic mismanagement. Like a patient on perpetual life support, it survives only through massive government subsidies and stopgap measures, prompting renowned economist Dr. Atif Mian to label it a “zombie sector” – an apt metaphor for an entity that continues to drain the nation’s resources while showing few signs of life.
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Oct 24, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
In 2023, Pakistan was in the spotlight. At the COP 28 conference in Dubai, the entire world was looking towards Pakistan both as an example and an opportunity. The year before in 2022 historic monsoon rains had devastated Pakistan, causing over $30 billion in losses and damages. The entire episode was a stark reminder of Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change.
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Oct 7, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
The Government of Pakistan is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in liquidity, both domestically and in its international reserves. This favorable position is partly due to the International Monetary Fund’s recent disbursement of a $1 billion loan tranche. More notably, the local liquidity situation received a significant boost from a record Rs2.7 trillion dividend announced by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
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Aug 12, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
In recent years, the term “subsidies” has become a flashpoint in Pakistani economic discourse, sparking heated debates and policy clashes. A prime example is the 2022 controversy when the outgoing PTI government extended petroleum subsidies against IMF advice, nearly derailing Pakistan’s extended fund facility. Despite the frequent mentions of subsidies in public discussions, a detailed analysis of their scope and breakdown is often lacking.
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Aug 5, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
Cleantech is having a moment in Pakistan’s startup scene. From energy initiatives to sustainable agriculture solutions, innovative ventures are sprouting up across the country at an unprecedented rate. But what’s driving this green revolution in the entrepreneurial landscape? Recent months have seen a flurry of activity in the sector.
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Jul 29, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
The landscape of microfinance banking in Pakistan is a complex one, combining both skepticism and optimism. The sector faces challenges due to its exposure to economic shocks that can impact low-income borrowers. It is essential to carefully analyze the vulnerabilities of institutions operating in this segment. Nevertheless, the pivotal role of the microfinance banking sector in providing financial services to underserved populations in Pakistan is a notable accomplishment.
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Mar 18, 2024 | 
profit.pakistantoday.com.pk | Ahtasam Ahmad
There is a lot of talk about climate financing in Pakistan. The floods of 2022 and the ensuing attention Pakistan has gotten at COP27 and COP28 have made it clear that there is a dire need for some sort of monetary interventions to help fix the climate crisis. But many have felt that the focus over the years has been more on financing on a government level from international agencies. There is some point to this as well.
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Jan 11, 2024 | 
thefridaytimes.com | Zalmay Azad |Asif Mohmand |Ahtasam Ahmad |Riaz Missen
Similar to many developing nations, Pakistan grapples with the endemic challenges of political corruption, pervasive double standards, and a questionable commitment to the well-being of its citizens. Within the intricate tapestry of Pakistani politics, a disconcerting reality emerges — politicians, rather than championing societal progress, appear to prioritize the accumulation of personal wealth.
