Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW)

Next Govt asked to focus on reviving industry in tribal areas

Click here to View Printed Statements

Terrorism to resurface if tribal areas ignored by policymakers
Call for facilitating businesses in tribal areas to ensure peace
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Wednesday asked the next government to escalate the revival of industrial activities in tribal areas.
After years of unrest some peace has been restored and life has becoming normal which calls for renewed efforts to support people of tribal areas living miserably, it said.
New wave of terrorism can resurface in the tribal areas if government continued to ignore the revival of business activities in Fata and Pata, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
He said that business community and overseas Pakistanis should also invest in militancy-hit and cash-starved tribal areas while government should ensure conducive environment, proper communication facilities and smooth supply of energy.

read more…

Ignoring IMF a recipe for economic disaster: Traders

Click here to View Printed Statements

Wishful thinking of leaders can lead Pakistan to default: PEW
Leaders of the trading community on Tuesday said ignoring the advice of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and delaying negotiations with the lender is a recipe for economic disaster.
Early negotiations with the international lender will be good for reputation of the country while delay will hurt standing, currency and rating of Pakistan, they said.
President All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran Khalid Pervaiz and President Anjuman-e-Tajran Lahore Shahid Bilal said that the economic managers of the incoming government should not pin hopes on expected inflow of money.

read more…

Differences between ministers behind unprecedented loadshedding

Click here to View Printed Statements

Power sector revival linked to reforms, increased tax collection
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Monday attributed continued worst loadshedding across the country to the differences among caretaker federal ministers.
The ministry of water and power wants Rs 22 billion to reduce crisis while the finance ministry, despite directives of the PM, is not ready to pay the money to annoy IMF by increasing deficit, it said.
The loadshedding has not only compromised growth but added to frustration of masses to an extent that many gave started taking against the country, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President of the PEW.

read more…

IT can alleviate poverty, transform society and economy

Click here to View Printed Statements

Incoming governemnt asked to promote IT to ensure national development
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday said information technology can help alleviate poverty and transform our society and economy.
Pakistan can accelerate economic growth to get rid of many problems by improving its talent pool with the help of technology, it said.
The incoming government should initiate expanded online learning programmes to better serve students and extend the benefits of education to tens of thousands of others, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President of the PEW.

read more…

Sparing corrupt politicians to hit credibility of new govt: Wardag

Delaying Kalabagh dam is a serious crime: Dr Murtaza Mughal

Click here to View Printed Statements
Govt must act before masses question merits of a system that cannot deliver
Rehmat Khan Wardag, President Tehreek-e-Istaqlal on Sunday said plunderers of national wealth should not be spared so that no opportunist can follow their suit in future.
The corrupt cabal that ruled country for five years brought economy to its knees and made life impossible for majority deserves no mercy, he said.
Talking to Dr Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch, he said that masses have voted out incompetent political band known for dysfunction, negligence and mismanagement.
However, it is now responsibility of the incoming government to make an example out of them so that masses can take a sigh of relief otherwise it will risk losing credibility and fail the uphill task of revamping the country’s economy.

read more…

Business community want Shahbaz as energy minister

Click here to View Printed Statements
Pakistan needs widely credited politician to resolve energy crisis
Central General Secretary of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Naeem Mir on Friday said business community want Shahbaz Sharif as energy minister to resolve energy crisis.
We have full faith in skills and selflessness of the former chief minister Punjab who can resolve the crisis engineered by the former government, he said.
Talking to Dr Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch, Naeem Mir said that Pakistan braved massive mismanagement and corruption for years which triggered inflation, unemployment and economic meltdown.
The former governments wasted billions of rupees of taxpayers’ money only to further deteriorate ailing power sector and public sector enterprises.

read more…

Masses hope Nawaz Sharif will spark economic revival

Click here to View Printed Statements

Credit of successful elections goes to masses, judiciary and ECP
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Monday said the credit of successful elections goes to undeterred masses, judiciary and the Election Commission.
The failure of PPP is being attributed to unabated corruption, energy crisis, destruction of independent institutions and decisions of some advisors with dual nationality, it said.
After unexpected surge in the National Assembly, the PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif should initiate nation building by prioritising economic revival, make taxation system just, and reverse policy of taxing poor to please rich, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
Otherwise, PML-N will meet the fate of PPP in the next elections scheduled in 2018. PTI Chief Imran Khan should also walk his talk to save country from becoming a failed state, he said.

read more…

Voters warned of handing victory to failed politicians

Click here to View Printed Statements

Incompetent cabal cannot revive recession-bound economy
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said masses would be responsible for country’s failures in future if they again elected leaders without vision and basic competence.
A weak government will not be able to overcome challenges or initiate reforms which will accelerate economic contraction paving way for default, it said.
We must blame nobody but ourselves for sad state of education system, collapsing healthcare system, an overfed yet inefficient civil service, pervasive crime and terror, and corruption that has become endemic, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
That is because we had elected a government believed and behaved like it was unaccountable, he said while talking to Baig Raj, President Punjab Forum.

read more…

Powerful business lobbies attempting to influence outcome of elections

Click here to View Printed Statements

A change can end the bonanza of influential industrial groups
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday said some influential industrial lobbies are trying to influence the outcome of the upcoming Parliamentary elections.
The highest-spending lobbyists are pumping heavy amounts into political campaigns while most of the money is flowing towards candidates who have helped them earn billions over the last five years, it said.
The attitude of the rulers who favour influential business groups over the national interests is an open secret which speaks of the extraordinary influence these lobbies enjoy over the policy-making process, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
The leading business lobbies view a change after elections as detrimental to their interests as it can result in a policy change jeopardise their bonanza, he added.

read more…

Concern expressed over victimisation in Quaid-i-Azam University

Click here to View Printed Statements

Students losing interest in QAU, moving to private institutions
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday expressed grave concern over politics and leadership crisis in the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU).
Promotion of politics, nepotism and harassment of students since years is bringing the graph of QAU down which was once ranked as number one institution in the public sector by the Higher Education Commission, it said.
The Quaid-i-Azam School of Management Sciences (QASMS), providing quality and affordable education to middleclass has suffered the most in last two years, said Abdullah Tariq, SVP PEW.
Talking to a group of students, he said that a good number of highest achieving students get admission but fails to make it which is worrying.

read more…

Gold Bubble Burst: PEW concerned over receding gold, silver prices

Click here to View Printed Statements

Precious metals retreat sign of global slump
Violent gold fall seen as failure of capitalism
Islamic financial system getting attention
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Wednesday expressed concern over receding gold and silver prices terming it a sign of shrinking economic activity on the global scale.
Contracting economic activity is because of incoherent policies of western banks causing falling demand, is said.
Sharpest decline in gold prices in 30 years is a turning point on the global economic map since financial crisis in 2008 after which investors lost interest in paper money and shifted towards gold, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President Pakistan Economy Watch.
He said that gold tripled in value in last three years before a recent downturn which is amazing as no government can print gold like their currencies.

read more…

Hung parliament after polls to step up political, economic instability

Click here to View Printed Statements

Weak government to harm economy in the years to come
Increased horse-trading to disappoint masses
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday said the upcoming elections will result in a fragmented government which will result in continued political and economic instability hurting millions more.
The uncertainty may not be settled after elections as another era of horse-trading will take toll on the limping economy, it said.
Majority of those who supported PPP in 2008 elections are disappointed due the hardships inflicted upon them in the name of democracy, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President Pakistan Economy Watch.
He said that the divided rivals of PPP are busy in luring masses and using issue of energy crisis which has unnerved people but none has a concrete plan to resolve outstanding issues.
Dr Murtaza Mughal said that politicians are issuing contradictory statements and promising a change which is unlikely to happen in the current set of circumstances.

read more…