Apr 232008
 

Devaluation is usually undertaken as a means of correcting a deficit in the balance of payments. Some analyst are of the view that weakening the value of currency could actually be good for the economy – since a weaker currency will boost exports, which in turn will lift employment and all this will set in motion economic growth and keep the economy going
By Parveen Zaiby Continue reading »

 Posted by at 8:15 am
Apr 232008
 

Abid Hasan

The writer is a former operations adviser for the World Bank.

Like all developing countries, Pakistan is facing a huge crisis as a result of abnormally high commodity prices. But Pakistan’s crisis has been seriously exacerbated by irresponsible economic management over the last two or thre years and a fundamentally flawed growth strategy relying on domestic consumption as the main driver of growth. Continue reading »

 Posted by at 8:12 am
Apr 232008
 

The government’s six-point agreement with the TNSM comes as no surprise. The mainstream political parties, including the ANP, had consistently declared during and after the election that they would try to establish peace in the NWFP and the FATA areas through a multi-pronged strategy which would include dialogue. On the April 3, when the Army chief General Kiyani gave his presentation to the leadership of the ruling coalition he categorically stated that in Swat the Army operation had brought relative peace. General Kiyani specifically turned to the ANP leadership, encouraging them to use the political route to take forward the process of establishing peace. Continue reading »

 Posted by at 7:50 am
Apr 232008
 

The combination of heavy work pressure and high authority may take a toll on some women’s heart health. Researchers from Chile, conducted a study of more than 3,000adults ages 18 to 77 found that over 10 years, women in demanding jobs with high levels of autonomy or authority had an increased risk of developing heart disease, BBC radio reported. Continue reading »

 Posted by at 7:24 am
Apr 232008
 

By Mohammad Malick

It was as if someone had thrown a cat amongst the pigeons. One MQM parliamentarian after another sprang up from his seat, shouting and gesticulating angrily at an ‘irritatingly’ calm Federal Housing Minister, Rehmatullah Kakar. The cause: the minister had openly charged his MQM predecessor Minister Safwanullah of orchestrating an over a trillion rupee theft of state-owned property.
Continue reading »

 Posted by at 7:11 am
Apr 232008
 

Benazir Bhutto was the first woman ever to lead a Muslim state. She was prime minister twice. Her dream was to bring genuine democracy and rid Pakistan of ignorance and poverty. She did bring democracy, but gave her life doing so. The return of democracy is a lasting tribute to Benazir. With democracy she had dreamt to empower the poor, and create an educated Pakistan with a powerful middle class.  Continue reading »

 Posted by at 6:59 am
Apr 222008
 

By Azfar A. Khan

Pakistan is experiencing the worst energy crisis these days. Due to energy shortage, massive load-shedding is on in almost all the cities of the country. The public has been warned that they should be mentally prepared to face load-shedding for much longer hours per day, than what is being experienced now, in the forthcoming summer season. Continue reading »

 Posted by at 7:01 pm
Apr 222008
 

ECONOMISTS almost never factor in politics in their attempt to understand how public policy is made. They consider theirs to be the superior science. “It’s the economy, stupid” James Carwell, Bill Clinton’s political adviser told his candidate as he was campaigning for the American presidency. Clinton got the message and when on to win the presidency. Continue reading »

 Posted by at 1:58 pm