Pakistonomy

Understanding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Conversations around the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in mainstream media end up in a “are you a patriot” or “are you a traitor” binary. There is no doubt about the fact that Pakistan has doubled down on its strategic relationship with China in recent years: Prime Minister Imran Khan recently saying in an interview that Pakistan’s future is tied to China.

But what is CPEC all about? And how does it fit into China’s overall regional and geopolitical ambitions?

To talk about this, Uzair Younus invited Dr. Tayyab Safdar, a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Virginia’s Department of Politics and East Asia Center. His research investigates the effects of increasing Chinese investment in infrastructure projects on economic development in countries located along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

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Pakistan is facing a pension crisis which is straining the country’s fiscal resources. In a recently published article for Business Recorder, Ali Khizar wrote that pension spending has gone from “Rs 164 billion in FY 11” to “Rs988 billion in FY21.”

To talk about this crisis, Uzair Younus spoke to Ali Khizar and discussed what is going on and why it is important that Pakistan prioritize pension reforms.

If you are interested in diving deep into this topic, read Ali Khizar’s articles below:

Defusing the pension bomb - https://www.brecorder.com/news/40013934

How pension turned into a bomb - https://www.brecorder.com/news/40014859

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Ethnic cleavages have created unique challenges for Pakistan's political economy since 1947. Since the passage of the 18th Amendment, the conversation has changed substantially.

To talk about how these issues affect Pakistan's political system and its economy, Uzair Younus spoke with Dr. Farhan H. Siddiqi. Dr. Siddiqi is an Associate Professor at the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad and has done in depth research on ethnic issues in the country.

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Stocks Make a Comeback (Urdu)

The KSE-100 has been rallying in recent weeks, increasing optimism among investors about the prospects of Pakistan's economy. While the stock market is not fully indicative of the real economy, it provides us with insights about where the economy is headed and the sentiment among investors.

To talk about this ongoing rally, Uzair Younus spoke with Bilal Moon. They talked about whats driving the recent momentum, why foreign investors have been net sellers, and what retail investors should do to maximize their long-term returns.

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Renegotiating Power Contracts (Urdu)

Uzair speaks with Ammar Khan about the government's successful negotiations with IPPs and what it means for Pakistani consumers.

If you want to dive deeper into this topic, listen to the podcast Uzair hosted with Ammar on the power sector:

https://soundcloud.com/tabadlab/pakistonomy-episode-15-pakistans-power-sector

Pakistan has been able to successfully flatten the COVID-19 curve and that has had a positive impact on the economy, with some key indicators turning positive over the last few weeks.

Uzair Younus spoke with Ariba Shahid, a business journalist at Profit by Pakistan Today, about this nascent recovery. We also spoke about Karachi's governance challenges, Punjab's chief minister, and her predictions for the next 3-6 months.

Views expressed in this video are personal and do not reflect the employer’s views.

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India’s Growth Story: Astute Planning or an Accident?

Shankkar Aiyar is a political economy analyst, columnist, and the author of several books, including Accidental India: A History of the Nation's Passage Through Crisis and Change, which is a must-read for anyone who wants to fully understand what it took for India to push through transformative structural reforms.

Uzair talked to him about India's reforms, why crises are an opportunity for pushing change, and how COVID-19 creates new opportunities for India and other emerging markets.

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Careem has transformed mobility in Pakistan and around the world and Junaid Iqbal played a key role in making that possible. In this episode, Uzair Younus talks to Careem's former MD about how the startup was able to succeed, his views on Pakistan's digital payments ecosystem, and a whole lot more.

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A Conversation with Shuja Nawaz

Shuja Nawaz is author of The Battle for Pakistan: The Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighbourhood. This book is a fascinating account of Pakistan's troubled relationship with the United States and is based on detailed interviews with key US and South Asian leaders, access to secret documents and operations, and the author's personal relationships and deep knowledge of the region.

In this discussion, Uzair talks to the author about recent developments in Pakistan, how Pakistan should navigate the US-China confrontation, and what Pakistan needs to do to transform itself from being a problem that must be managed into an opportunity that benefits its people, South Asia, and the rest of the world.

If you are interested in learning more about Pakistan's role in the War in Afghanistan, you should read his book The Battle for Pakistan: The Bitter Us Friendship and a Tough Neighbourhood.

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Airlift recently raised $10m in a funding round and has set its sights on transforming Pakistan’s mobility landscape. By provided affordable, safe, and comfortable rides to its users in major cities, the startup is making a big impact. It has also entered the grocery business and its promise to deliver goods to households within 45 minutes is going to fundamentally disrupt e-commerce in the country.

To learn more about the startup’s vision and its growth plans, Uzair spoke to Saba Abid, who is General Manager at Airlift. This was a wide-ranging discussion that includes tips about what younger people need to do in order to be successful entrepreneurs or succeed at a company like Airlift

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