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Can output rise without incentives?

There is an across the political divide consensus on ensuring private sector as the engine of growth with the historic modus operandi being to extend...

previous day 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The evolving new world order benefitting us

“Sometimes our enemies help us.” “India is not helping us though, to be honest, Indian pervasive influence in international relations is kinda...

21.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: It’s just not cricket to lie to a friend

“Cricket is a game and should be played like a game.” “Correct, and there is a spirit of cricket that must be honoured at all cost, so said the...

20.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The three pillars that are not firmly anchored

“So, how many pillars of state are there?” “You being facetious?” “No.” “You sticking your neck out dangerously.” “How do you come...

19.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Rubio nursing ambitions to become US President?

“So while the Arabic and Muslim countries were condemning Israeli attacks, Marco Rubio was in Tel Aviv reaffirming US’ unflinching support for...

18.09.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: There was a time when our economy was compared to India’s

“The way to steal cash…how can I put it…” “Legally you mean?” “Well, there is no legal cover when you are stealing cash.” “There...

17.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

Pakistan’s ‘charter of economy’

There have been periodic calls for continuity in economic policies, regarded as critical by successive economic team leaders, to achieve development...

16.09.2025 40

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Nawaz Sharif’s action copied by President Trump?

“So we are a nation of contraries.” “Contraries?” “Yes.” “I thought we are a nation of trailblazers – look at the West’s deep state...

14.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Floods expected to reverse gains made by economic team

“So, what’s the fallout?” “Well, the floods in the country would reverse the painstaking economic gains by the economic team leaders...

13.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Why does she always wear heavy makeup?

“What happens if a policeman goes rogue?” “You…promote him!” “You need to expand your horizon, my friend.” “There have been many in...

12.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Romance with MoUs

“More memoranda of understanding (MoU) or are they binding contracts?” “Look at the glass as half full.” “We signed over 20 billion dollar...

11.09.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The difference between ‘good narrative’ and ‘bad narrative’

“What’s the difference between a good narrative and a bad one?” “Depends on how you define bad?” “As not crediblex.” “Oh, I thought...

10.09.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

Floods: budget deficit and/or mini-budget

The flood damage is rising by the day – both in terms of fatalities and financial losses (private and state owned) with the last monsoon rains...

09.09.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Modi did not wish to hurt Japanese sentiments?

“Our Prime Minister stood out.” “I do hope you are not being sarcastic – and if you are drawing comparisons to Maryam Nawaz’s trip to Japan...

06.09.2025 5

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Abbasi of the ephedrine fame attacking Asif of the Usman Dar’s mum’s fame

“Hmmmm.” “Be careful of what you say.” “Hey I am not Nawaz Sharif – I do not make the same mistake again and again and again just to...

05.09.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Where’s Jahangir Tareen by the way?

“The European Union President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane’s GPS was jammed.” “Was the plane a la Maryam Nawaz type, or was it a la...

04.09.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Bahria versus Park View?

“The deluge in Punjab…” “It is not Maryam Nawaz’s fault, for Pete’s sake. There is a lot that is her fault but surely…” “I agree,...

03.09.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

State of the economy

Statements of support for progress achieved in stabilising the economy and advancing structural reforms agreed under the ongoing upfront, extremely...

02.09.2025 50

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘What if Ursula offers Pakistan EU membership?’

“President Trump says he is not happy about Russia’s attacks on several Ukrainian cities.” “Not happy? Isn’t that an understatement?”...

31.08.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The criticality of a balancing act

“The Chief Minister of Punjab has issued directives…” “They all issue directives – the incumbents and the previous federal and provincial...

30.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: French President, German Chancellor, Pakistani PM in same boat?

“Not fair.” “Excuse me?” “Not fair, I say, you can’t accuse people of corruption without an investigation.” “True but where...

29.08.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: All power stakeholders are in love?

“Over the years Japan has issued several statements of apology — to Myanmar and Australia in 1957, to South Korea in 1960, China in 1970, and a...

28.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: PM Shehbaz ought to have gone to Dhaka

“Much to Modi’s chagrin…” “Yeah, he is still angry at the lunch invite by the US President to our Chief of Army Staff…” “Indeed but...

27.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

The cost of climate change

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a fund for the flood victims, as he did during the 2022 floods, and has vowed to mobilise resources in...

26.08.2025 50

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Ukrainian President has no cards without US

“Was it a bad news day?” “I don’t understand.” “When it’s a bad news day then any news that is no news is presented as a big news, if...

24.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: But that’s the way the cookie crumbles

“What do you do when a position becomes more important than one’s legacy!” “Excuse me but if you are referring to what I think you are...

23.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Blame It on the Boogie

“I have a question but don’t get mad at me.” “I have told you once, I have told you a million times do not, I repeat do not, challenge ground...

22.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Ducks in a row?

“Could someone brief our leadership on the plummeting voice of Europe in international relations.” “Well you were wrong you said it was a Jirga...

21.08.2025 30

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: A jirga member has to be accepted by all

“I reckon it’s a jirga.” “A Jirga is when all the elders get together to resolve a dispute and perhaps the definition of a village elder may...

20.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

Is Gold Standard coming back?

Several countries have begun to trade in currencies other than the dollar as the US-led West continues to use punitive sanctions as a foreign policy...

19.08.2025 30

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: What’s the ‘Nawaz Sharif doctrine’?

“Do you want my philosophy in life?” “No, not really.” “You may learn something from it.” “Doubt it my friend – I mean what are you?...

17.08.2025 7

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: A constitution is a living document

“I would like to petition…” “Constitutional petition or…” “I am not sure – with all the amendments recently approved by parliament...

16.08.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: President Trump is a kind man, a man of peace?

“President Trump has placed portraits of those of his most recent predecessors with whom he had a contentious relationship to less prominent...

14.08.2025 30

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: A man of the highest integrity?

“I don’t understand why people don’t adjust their narratives to the prevailing situation.” “I agree there are reports that the Interior...

13.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

Good governance remains elusive

There is a widespread perception that in Pakistan there are a plethora of very well researched papers but gathering dust in government offices, penned...

12.08.2025 40

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Have the sons ever stayed with daddy in Banigala?

“Visas, so stated Talal Chaudhary, would be given on merit.” “If this statement relates to the sons of the Man Who Must Remain Nameless and...

10.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Punjab CM certainly one of the stakeholders

“The Chief Minister of Punjab says that the police waited for the protesters, but no one turned up.” “That statement could possibly have been...

09.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Towards overcoming hurdles to FBR reforms

“The Prime Minister has ordered that all hurdles to Federal Board of Revenue reforms be removed.” “He can order all he wants, but…” “Hey,...

08.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: There are those who speak for Pakistan and there are those who don’t anymore

“So there was an inadvertent confluence of dates right?” “Dates as in events occurring on a particular date? I mean given the history of the...

07.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Why did Iran’s President go to Lahore first?

“Very successful trip of the Iranian President…” “Why did he go to Lahore first?” “Not for what you are thinking.” “And what am I...

06.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

3 policy decisions in the dock

Three news items this week past should be a source of serious concern to the country’s stakeholders: SBP’s decision to purchase USD 8 billion from...

05.08.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Prosecution not always necessarily weak

“When one door opens and the other closes, you are probably in jail.” “Hey, I hope that is not a backhanded comment on recent judicial...

03.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Our bureaucrats dress better than our politicians

“I remember the sayings of the wise man!” “Who? Jinnah the father of our nation said to the civil servants that you have to do your duty as...

02.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Our bureaucrats dress better than our politicians

“I remember the sayings of the wise man!” “Who? Jinnah the father of our nation said to the civil servants that you have to do your duty as...

02.08.2025 3

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The elite capture

“Plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose.” “What do you mean?” “Well, if you prefer the American way the expression is same o same.”...

01.08.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The elite capture

“Plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose.” “What do you mean?” “Well, if you prefer the American way the expression is same o same.”...

01.08.2025 4

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘If a degree is a degree be it fake or not then protein is protein’

“A horse, a horse my kingdom for a horse.” “I would be careful if I were you.” “How come? I am merely quoting a great writer, William...

31.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The West has much to learn from us about the criticality of forms

“President Trump said no one thanked the US for giving food aid to Gaza?” “We all have our own perspective on…” “And he said that…”...

30.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

Discount rate as a policy tool

Economic stability has been achieved, and the country will not be deterred from implementing the reform agenda agreed with the International Monetary...

29.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘Have we ever been rated as investment grade?’

“Hallelujah!” “Hallelujah is Hebrew and can be broken down into two words – halel means joyous song, praise, and Yah is a shortened form of...

27.07.2025 10

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Can output rise without incentives?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The evolving new world order benefitting us

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: It’s just not cricket to lie to a friend

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The three pillars that are not firmly anchored

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Rubio nursing ambitions to become US President?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: There was a time when our economy was compared to India’s

Anjum Ibrahim

Pakistan’s ‘charter of economy’

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Nawaz Sharif’s action copied by President Trump?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Floods expected to reverse gains made by economic team

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Why does she always wear heavy makeup?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Romance with MoUs

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The difference between ‘good narrative’ and ‘bad narrative’

Anjum Ibrahim

Floods: budget deficit and/or mini-budget

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Modi did not wish to hurt Japanese sentiments?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Abbasi of the ephedrine fame attacking Asif of the Usman Dar’s mum’s fame

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Where’s Jahangir Tareen by the way?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Bahria versus Park View?

Anjum Ibrahim

State of the economy

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘What if Ursula offers Pakistan EU membership?’

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The criticality of a balancing act

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: French President, German Chancellor, Pakistani PM in same boat?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: All power stakeholders are in love?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: PM Shehbaz ought to have gone to Dhaka

Anjum Ibrahim

The cost of climate change

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Ukrainian President has no cards without US

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: But that’s the way the cookie crumbles

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Blame It on the Boogie

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Ducks in a row?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: A jirga member has to be accepted by all

Anjum Ibrahim

Is Gold Standard coming back?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: What’s the ‘Nawaz Sharif doctrine’?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: A constitution is a living document

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: President Trump is a kind man, a man of peace?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: A man of the highest integrity?

Anjum Ibrahim

Good governance remains elusive

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Have the sons ever stayed with daddy in Banigala?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Punjab CM certainly one of the stakeholders

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Towards overcoming hurdles to FBR reforms

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: There are those who speak for Pakistan and there are those who don’t anymore