Significance of Pakistan in SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 with the intention to overcome the common problems through mutual cooperation involving south asian countries i.e, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. In April 2007, Afghanistan became its 8th member on the ocassion of association's 14th summit. According to the statistics one-fifth of the world population comprises of the population of SAARC countries. Below are the videos discussing the opportunities for Pakistan, regarding current economic crisis. The expert is renonwed economist Dr. Khuwaja Amjad Saaed, moderated by Syed Azhar Bukhari and produced by Syed Nabeel Tirmazi.

Women Enterpreneurship in Pakistan

According to Staticians, 59.8% of Pakistan's population consists of 15-64 years of men and women, while having a median age of 21.2, out of which 50,807,705 are women. In other words it can be said that 28.6 % of our population is based on such women who can actively participate in country's economy either directly or indirectly. But unfortunately, Pakistani people, in the state of dilemma that whether women should actively participate in our economy or not due to many so-called taboos, as a result this segment of population remained largely inactive.

Due to recent economic recession, it is now felt hard that women should be trained in technical and financial skills through proper channels, in order to enhance their productivity regarding their conventional skills. This is the topic discussed in below videos which I produced for Apna News in program Maeshat Nama, the participants are, Dr. Shela Javed Akram,President of Central and North Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Miss Maimoona Sattar, Project Manager of Women Business Center, while the show is modrated by Syed Azhar Bukhari.

Literacy Rate and participation of Women in Pakistani Economy



Business and Financial Skill in Pakistani Women



Women entrepreneurship and International Marketing

Pak-Iran relations & Pakistani Economy

I was quite surprised to see the history of Pak-Iran gas pipeline to the fact that it was thought in 1950s by an Pakistani engineer Malik Aftab Ahmed Khan, the person died in 1999 but his idea presented progressed quite slowly facing many disturbances involving both internal and external affairs of the countries involved.

There was a strong opinion by economists that Pakistan-Iran relationships should flourish with its full potential so that it can benefit both the countries and now, when Pakistan is facing many economic crisis it is necessary to join hands with neighbors in good terms.

Initially the gas pipeline project was to be done with participation of Iran, Pakistan and India but after much discussion over 14 years, finally Pakistan and Iran signed the agreement without India. According to the agreement, Iran will provide 750 million cubic feet per day in next 25 years. What will be the impact of this project in Pakistan's economy and what will be the future of Pakistan and Iran relationship despite of the bans imposed by superpowers on Iran and Pakistan being acting submissively to them, the topic was discussed recently in my program Maeshatnama, involving renowned Economist Dr. Qais Aslam and Engr. Iftikhar-ul-Haq and hosted by Syed Azhar Bukhari.

Part-1



Part2



Part3

Budget 2010-2011 A Journalistic Appraoch

The much awaited pessimisms related to Budget 2010-2011 has revealed. As always govt. are happy with the budget presented, opposition busy in criticism and masses are disappointed, but the most important thing that industrial sector isn’t even happy with the budget. The central information Secretary Fauzia Wahab has said (as always justifying PPP) that recently presented budget is the "best budget" ever presented in Pakistan. By increasing 1% in General Sales Tax to 17% is the right decision and minor inflation will be experiences by the masses (1% seems 1 but in economics obviously the after effects are quite bigger than just merely number 1).

According to the shows conducted on the Pakistani television channels none of the entities (masses, classes, industrial sector etc.) is happy the way things are announced, the people are saying that neither it is public friendly budget nor indstry friendly the is only IMF-friendly.

Below is the video of my program maeshat-nama moderated by Syed Azhar Bukhari discussing Flaws and Opportunities in this budget 2010-2011 with Sudhir Ch. (Daily Times) and Rizwan Ali (Apna News).



There is also a pessmistic appraoch towards development programs in Pakistan. Experts are commentng that figures presented in PSDP is as always an illusion and wont do any pracitical results.



After the 18th Amendment much of the responsibility is on the shoulders of Provinces and now it is to observe that what they have to tell us. Also video below has renowned economist Dr. Shahid Hassan Sidiqui commenting the after effects of Budget 2010 and predicting that there may be a Mini-Budget observed in Pakistan in October of this year.



The only things that was regarded and appreciated heavily was the 50% increment in Govt. employees (though theses are very few in numbers as compared to population of Pakistan), but majority of basic needs of population has been severly avoided, discussed below by renowned Economists and ex. Finance Minister Dr. Salman Shah.



Now on conclusion of this program, I managed to talk with Omer Ayub Khan, ex. finance minister of Pakistan, that what are the views of Opposition regarding this budget.



As far as whole scenario is observed, I personally think that despite of global recession and effect of terrorism in Pakistan along with energy crisis, the government may think that they had presented the "best budget" but of course one can not deny that many things are avoided which are basic needs of population of Pakistan, and obviously political parties are playing with these issues on there political battlefield as always.

Some News Links related to Budget 2010-2011

Budget Highlights in Daily Times
Budget Highlights in Daily Nation
Budget Highlights in Daily Dawn

Can Value Added Tax benefit Pakistan's Economy

There has been lots of buzz about value added tax (VAT) lately in Pakistan's economic environment. The officials are saying that Pakistan must impose VAT to gain help from IMF and sources are also commenting that widespread tax evasion will be observed as a protest from businesses and a public that has been ill-prepared for the change as both of the entities aren't given enough awareness about the subject.

So with lots of questions about VAT, that whether it could really benefit our economy and will prove a good solution to our long term fiscal problems, I had conducted program based on the subject, inviting renowned economists, Dr. Shahid A. Zia and Dr. Qais Aslam. So below are the videos discussing the subjects. Waiting for your comments.

Significance of Value Added Tax in Pakistan's Economy



Affect of VAT on Pakistan's economy



Benefits of VAT

Shortage of Petrol?

Today in morning the recording of one of my program (Aye Public Aye) was scheduled, but me and my host Rizwan Ali both were vague that what topic should we cover today. As soon, we went by near fuel station for gas refilling of the car, we saw that a hustle bustle was going on at the side of petrol filling area of the station.


We suddenly recalled our minds that Government has announced an increase in fuel prices from 1st of May 2010, and due to that petrol pumps have created an illusion of shortage of the fuel just in order to store the petrol till the high prices are announced, and most of petrol pumps were closed and their officials were saying that they are short of fuel.

According to the news , due to 8% increase in oil prices in global market, Pakistani government has announced Rs.2.40 in petrol and Rs.5.0 in diesel which will be applicable from 1st of May 2010.

This is not the first time that people had to face such tension, every time the Government announces a rise in fuel prices, the petrol stations creates a temporary shortage. Here what people said about the shortage of petrol in Lahore today:

Government should create such check and balances in order to avoid such depressive situations which people had to face in search of fuel. Most of the people consuming petrol are the ones who own motorcycles and are from lower middle class and are related to job sector, now the thing is that our country is already facing much economic disaster in the shape of mismanaged policies, and if such situation persists by these private companies just to benefit thier pockets how come the wheel of economy will run smoothly .

Another important aspect of this news is that, according to Daily News, Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) has opposed this proposed increase in petroleum prices and said that it will hit hard the industrial sector which is currently facing heavy crisis and again due to such governmental policies they are forced to cut down their expenses (and one form of it, is downsizing of employees). Now observing all these aspects, I am thinking that can we afford such kind of black mailing by the petroleum companies which are saying "Fuel out of stock".

Aid influenced Pakistani Economy

Last few years have been proved very disappointing for Pakistani economy. Our stock market felt drastically from 18,000 points to approx 6000+- points, the rate of dollar increased from Rs. 60's to Rs. 80's and due to that, rate of inflation, unemployment rate and high costs in productions have been observed by the industries.

Government had always tried to rely mostly on foreign aid when it comes to deal with such crisis, but the question is that whether an economy can really become stable or can come out of crisis with the help of only foreign aids and not building investment friendly policies.

Another important factor is that in 2009 according to statistics the Expenses bore by Pakistani treasure was $30.05 Billion Est. while its revenues were of $23.21 billion. These are the topics discusses in this shared episode of Maeshat Nama, which was aired on 24th of April 2010 on Apna News, and renowned Economist and Educationists Dr. Shahid Zia and Shafqat Saeed Paracha had participated in the program.

Aid affected Pakistani Economy Part 1



Aid affected Pakistani Economy Part 2



Aid affected Pakistani Economy Part 3