“Lahore L’hore ay” – but is Lahori culture good for business?
Lahore seems to have some natural advantages when it comes to business. Why is Karachi still far ahead? It’s all about the culture.
Why tax-to-GDP is a farce
Pakistan’s economy has been in a chokehold for the past two years. The problem is that there are too many elephants in...
Letting go
Everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. But it takes knowing your limitations and a big heart to make small, family business into large international companies.
On KLF manels, and why financial inclusion for women matters
Think of this as the Profit female reporters’ manifesto on calling out corporate fluff.
Change the sheriff, do not increase our taxes
About 60 million uneducated children will enter our labour force over the next decade. All of us should focus our attention to...
The State Bank’s silent payments revolution
How the SBP's latest circular could have far-reaching consequences for the state of digital Pakistan
The problem of revenue is bad tax policy, not cheating
Revenue generation is important but not top priority as in last 3 decades. Much effort and money has been spent in collecting...
The mechanics of privatisation
We hear the same things over and over again. You can open the headlines from half a century ago and they will...
To privatise or not to privatise?
On a recent trip to London, I could not help but follow the media coverage of the upcoming general election in the...
How valuable is your bureaucracy?
For decades now the issue monetization of perks has been on the table. No action has been taken because the powerful secretaries...
Why Jeffrey Sachs is wrong about Reko Diq
It started with the usual leftie / “anti-imperialism is the ultimate moral good” crowd. An article written by American economist Jeffrey Sachs...
The trader’s dilemma
The trading community and the government came to some semblance of an agreement on tax issues recently, after months of simmering tensions...
Automotive industry feels the pinch
Pakistan’s auto industry is the quintessential oligopoly, with only three major players assembling a handful of automobiles: Honda, Indus Motors (Toyota) and...
Reform! What, why and for who?
Pakistan was made with a commitment to democracy and development but soon after the founding generation succumbed to greed and politically expediency...
Political will or bad policy and reform design?
Reform remains an elusive and little understood concept in Pakistan. The word is seldom used on TV. It is used even less...