The writer is Research Fellow and heads Policy solutions Lab at Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad.
A weak government is on the cards. A common agenda can stabilise it to some extent
The new government in the New Year must have a strategy to protect people from the side effects of stabilisation measures
With elections imminent, gains from several policies may be compromised
The State Bank of Pakistan has been forced to face and make some tough choices
Lack of social mobility condemns children of poor parents to poverty
The SBP needs a major shift from the policy of stabilisation to a policy for stagflation
What can the upcoming federal budget bring us?
The economic agenda must prioritise improving the living standards of the people
The State Bank has to be more robust in its assessments, more open to debate and discussion and clearly focused on price stability
Given its strongly recommended independence, the State Bank must deliver with its monetary policy. It must be held accountable if it does not
The SBP must expand its research agenda to explore how its actions can affect social outcomes, such as poverty and inequality
As Pakistan is recovering from Covid-19 and moving towards export-led growth, the idea of economic governance needs a new think
The first and foremost challenge following the budget is the uncertainty about negotiations with the IMF
Budget 2022 will determine the pace of post-pandemic economic recovery
Given its nature and composition, a higher growth rate has done little to lower poverty
A weak rupee should result in an improvement in balance of trade. Why did that not
Economic recovery will require continuity of expansionary fiscal policy, for next 2 to 3 years
Against the backdrop of Covid-19 and the locust attack, the budget 2020-21 fails to address concerns over economic recovery
The situation demands momentous decisions. The fear of error must not stop policy makers from making tough choices
The government has to revive price control committees, and make them effective, to control inflation