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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,...

yesterday 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...

previous day 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...

wednesday 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 2

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

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘The world is gray, my friend, very gray’

“Popularity is one thing that can evaporate pretty quickly.” “Unless buttressed by, how shall I put it, actions that are…” “You are no...

26.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn

“There is one thing our politicians can learn from The Master.” “The Master as in…in…” “I am warning you - don’t think local.”...

25.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House

“Michael Wolff, author of the best-selling book titled Fire and Fury, made an interesting observation based on his unprecedented access to what...

24.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

Sanctions eroding USD’s global reach

History may hold US President Donald Trump responsible for undermining the pervasive influence of his country in several international agencies dating...

22.07.2025 30

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS We’re still struggling to deport illegal Afghans

“The Americans have so much to learn.” “You mean that a multipolar world is emerging, and the US is no longer the sole superpower?” “No...

20.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The system is in place so shut up or put up

“Why are you in mourning?” “The death…” “Inna Lillahi wainnailaihiraji’un” (we belong to Allah and to him we will return).“...

19.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ZULFIQAR AHMAD

x“There is briefing and then there is briefing.” “What an inane observation.” “Say what you will, there is a difference between who is...

18.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The greater the threat perception, the larger the stopper

“I can understand.” “I can’t – you give an ultimatum to Russia that unless they accept a ceasefire without considering or negotiating the...

17.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The profundity of filial sentiment

“I can’t understand the logic behind the move.” “You don’t need logic but understand filial sentiment as far as the decision of the...

16.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

WTO: Struggling for survival

Questions are being raised about the present day relevance of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) established in 1995 subsequent to Trump...

15.07.2025 50

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Let it be with Caesar

“So is everyone on the same page or not?” “Talal Chaudhary, rewarded for his loyalty to the Heir Apparent…” “Who is the heir apparent?...

13.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Has Dar read a certain IMF document?

“So Dar has announced a Special Economic Zone for Turkish entrepreneurs in Karachi.” “My question to him is: has he read the International...

12.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: We are not the only ones who define stabilisation as success in borrowing

“We are the trailblazers.” “Right, we are the only ones who define economic stabilisation as getting access to external loans.” “That’s...

10.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The deep state in power in most of world’s democracies?

“So going back to a former Interior Minister…” “Granted that he did not win the 2024 elections…your cough is as artificial...

05.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The difference between ‘same page’ and ‘same side’

“So thank the Lord all our acting chief justices have been confirmed.” “So the glass is half full hunh?” “As The Man Who Must Remain...

04.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Putting both feet into the one mouth

“It takes a while to adjust to changed circumstances.” “IF you are referring to the Man Who Must Remain Nameless and Faceless…” “No.”...

03.07.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: How many constitutional clauses are followed in letter and spirit?

“A star is born.” “I heard Chaudhary Nisar was visited by the Prime Minister at his home.” “Two things, first he is not born – or reborn...

02.07.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

Budget FY2025-26 passed

The budget passed without any hiccups as expected reflecting a high degree of confluence of parliamentary opinion that included party (Pakistan Muslim...

01.07.2025 50

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘Do scouts have honour?’

“What’s the difference between US politicians and their Pakistani counterparts?” “The bravado about ending the hold of the deep state...

29.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Theatre is not always make believe

“So Tarar says during meetings of standing committees as well as in parliament the Opposition keeps on seeking a meeting or bail or release of The...

28.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The abusive language Trump used publicly against Israel

“How ridiculously fawning must you be to get Trump’s attention?” “I would say, on a scale of one to ten, ten.” “Right, and we achieved...

27.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Israel did learn a valuable lesson

“The theatre of war.” “Did you mean fog of war, where claims are not backed by ground realities…” “No, I meant theatre of war.” “How...

26.06.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘The US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, have we condemned it?’

“The Man Who Must Remain Nameless and Faceless got it wrong.” “You have to narrow it down – he has got many things wrong.” “Except that...

25.06.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

Provincial budgets – constraints

Provincial budgets are formulated under constraints sourced to the federal budget on two counts: how much of the budgeted taxes imposed by the Centre,...

24.06.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: There is a need for structural changes in taxation system

“Chairman FBR urged the Senate body to abolish the Seventh Schedule of the Income Tax Ordinance…” “Which incidentally dates back to 2001.”...

22.06.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Field Marshal Asim Munir got to meet US President

“How would you define victim?” “That depends.” “Really? How come?” “Well, you could be a victim of domestic abuse that some may term as...

21.06.2025 30

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The trend in this country is not to invest in Pakistan but outside

“Trump dished the French President.” “Dished? Like what? As in barbecue, curry?” “Or pizza – Nawaz Sharif does like pizza doesn’t...

20.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Bravado never ever serves anyone well

“So bravado aside…” “Stop right there.” “I am not…” “Whatever you planned to do, stop right there, my friend. Bravado never ever...

19.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Ministry of Finance operates like President Trump

“So, is plausible deniability, people specific?” “I think the right question is whether it is individual specific or portfolio specific.”...

18.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

The assumptions in FY26 budget

The budget 2025-26 makes one implicit and three explicit assumptions that enable its architects to present a set of expenditure and revenue targets in...

17.06.2025 30

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: We in the Subcontinent don’t take preemptive actions

“So the operative word is pre-emptive.” “What?” “It’s a good word. It justifies taking an action that does not have merit at the time it...

15.06.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘We don’t talk shoes, we talk pages’

“The word blitzkrieg comes to mind.” “Whatever do you mean?” “Blitzkrieg means lightning war – an offensive warfare method responsible...

14.06.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Why did FBR Chairman cancel usual press conference after budget speech?

“A universal rule prevails: lessons need not be learned if they go counter to a declared strategy.” “I would have you know I do learn lessons -...

13.06.2025 20

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Our economic signers have never required anger management courses

“Do we have any anger management classes in this country?” “I have never heard of such classes, why do you ask?” “Well many world leaders...

12.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS

‘Operation Spiderweb’ “I learnt that 10,000 additional votes are referred to as an injection.” “Really! Who said that?” “Well informed...

06.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: IG Sindh says Malir jail houses mainly drug users and…

“What’s the difference between judicious and judiciary?” “Hey, there is no relationship between the two words that I know of. And if this is...

05.06.2025 10

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: We don’t have royalty in this country

“There are reports that Prince Harry explored the option of taking his mother’s last name.” “Ooops.” “What?” “Well if he is a Spencer...

04.06.2025 20

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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

Anjum Ibrahim

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

Anjum Ibrahim

3 policy decisions in the dock

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Prosecution not always necessarily weak

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Our bureaucrats dress better than our politicians

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Our bureaucrats dress better than our politicians

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The elite capture

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The elite capture

Anjum Ibrahim

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

Anjum Ibrahim

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

Anjum Ibrahim

Discount rate as a policy tool

Anjum Ibrahim

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

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘The world is gray, my friend, very gray’

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House

Anjum Ibrahim

Sanctions eroding USD’s global reach

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS We’re still struggling to deport illegal Afghans

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The system is in place so shut up or put up

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ZULFIQAR AHMAD

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The greater the threat perception, the larger the stopper

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The profundity of filial sentiment

Anjum Ibrahim

WTO: Struggling for survival

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Let it be with Caesar

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Has Dar read a certain IMF document?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: We are not the only ones who define stabilisation as success in borrowing

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The deep state in power in most of world’s democracies?

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The difference between ‘same page’ and ‘same side’

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Putting both feet into the one mouth

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: How many constitutional clauses are followed in letter and spirit?

Anjum Ibrahim

Budget FY2025-26 passed

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘Do scouts have honour?’

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Theatre is not always make believe

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: The abusive language Trump used publicly against Israel

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Israel did learn a valuable lesson

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘The US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, have we condemned it?’

Anjum Ibrahim

Provincial budgets – constraints

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: There is a need for structural changes in taxation system

Anjum Ibrahim

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Field Marshal Asim Munir got to meet US President