State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has released data of lending by financial institutions to farmers for the six months period ending December 31, 2013. On the face value it appears that the financial institutions have achieved 44% of the indicative lending trend. However, a deeper probe suggests that challenges like high non-performing loans, inadequate infrastructure and overall security and macroeconomic conditions are the reasons for the lackluster performance. The …

  It is often said that share of agriculture in Pakistan’s GDP has reduced to less than one-fourth, which is partly right and partly wrong. The key reason is that the country has failed in achieving higher value additions in the sector. With the reduction in average income of rural population there has been huge migration to urban areas, which has its own repercussions. Therefore, there is a need to …

  The European Union (EU) has granted Pakistan GSP plus status despite resistance from India. At the best Pakistan will be able to add another one billion dollars to its exports. Local manufacturers will have to face stiff competition from other countries of the region particularly China, India and Bangladesh. After grant of GSP Plus status, Pakistan will enjoy increased access to the EU market. Pakistan has been trying to …

  Pakistan is among world’s those countries which have the lowest savings to GDP ratio, which is mainly because of poor purchasing power. Nearly one-third of total population lives below poverty line. Over the last ten years the gap between rich and poor has widened. Thanks to money whitening policies introduced with regular interval that encourages people to conceal their income. There exists huge undocumented economy and its estimates vary …

  The existing size of Muslim population around the globe and its faster growth rate but more importantly superior quality standards of Halal food are responsible for enormous growth of Halal food market. Apart from Muslim countries many non-Muslim countries now share significant percentage of global trade of Halal food. The factors driving global Halal food trade include: 1) growth in Muslim population, the primary market for Halal food, 2) …

  Gone are the days when imparting education was considered an Ibadat, now it is a billion dollar industry in Pakistan. While many complaint about high cost of education, they actually support those who rip them in the name of education. Be it a small school, a chain of schools or private university the sole motive is money minting. It may not be out of context to say many of …

  Though, many generation have passed away Pakistan continue to suffer from the legacy of British Raj, which never encouraged people from their colonies to get education. It was taken very conveniently as an extension of cast system followed in Indian subcontinent for centuries. Ideally, the education system in Pakistan should have changed after independence but it seems British Raj has been replaced by the local feudal system. One factor …

  If one sits down to take an account of how technology has become part of his/her life it may be difficult to think from where to begin. Almost everything what is done is driven my some sort of micro processor by it the wake up alarm set in a mobile phone, tea maker/toaster, unlocking of car to step in, elevator, biometric attendance, working at desktop or laptop computer and …

  Over the years Pakistan has witnessed boom in information technology and telecommunication. The successive governments kept the lowest possible import duty on computers, which increased number of users of computer manifold. This was followed by induction of cellular telephony, the latest being introduction of 3G and 4G technology. With smart phones also being available at affordable cost now the users can receive/send e-mail, complete bank transactions, pay their utility …

  Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) has remained focus of investors, both local and foreign. Some analysts attribute this to the long history, offering ease in trading and diversity of scrips offering attractive return. But there is a consensus that deployment of technology, offering smooth and efficient settlement system and above all creation of paperless environment facilitates for investors from all over the country to trade through KSE. Pakistan’s capital market …