Economic Affairs & National Development

Fixing Pakistan’s Budget

The question of fiscal sustainability has long haunted the Federal Budget of Pakistan. As deficits have widened over consecutive years, reform efforts have been piecemeal and trivial at best, and counterproductive at worst. What Pakistan’s budgetary architecture requires, however, is a systematic overhaul. By contrast,

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Strategic Foresight

Democracy in the 21st Century:Exploring Contemporary Trends

In the aftermath of the Cold War, a wave of democratisation, coined by American political scientist Samuel Huntington as the ‘Third Wave’ swept across the world. The wave refers to the transition of several non-democratic setups to democratic ones, promising a future where democratic ideals would grow.

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Foreign Policy

Future-Proofing Pakistan’s Foreign Policy in an Evolving Geopolitical Context

Situated in the heart of South Asia and central to significant economic corridors, Pakistan’s ambition to enhance regional connectivity and integration is contingent upon a foreign policy that adeptly navigates ever-evolving geopolitical dynamics. These include the Sino-US rivalry, instability in Afghanistan, India’s aggressive posture,

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Cyber

Governing the Digital Frontier : Cyberspace as the New Global Common

Cyberspace is commonly defined as ‘the online world of computer networks, particularly the Internet.’ Its utilisation spans both personal and professional domains, encompassing activities from entertainment and communication to business and the arts, thereby accommodating the full spectrum of contemporary human endeavours

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Economic Affairs & National Development

Potential of Pakistan’s IT Industry: A SWOT Analysis

In recent years, Pakistan’s IT industry has shown significant potential for growth while confronting various challenges. This Working Paper presentsa comprehensive SWOT analysis to assess the industry’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats in detail. It identifies a young demographic base; large freelancing sector; and financial attractiveness for offshore outsourcing of IT services as the major strengths of Pakistan’s IT industry.

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Nuclear

Challenges for Iran Nuclear Deal’s Revival and its Likely Impact on the Global Non-Proliferation Regime 

The revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal, is a daunting test of diplomacy, especially for the Biden Administration as well as Iran’s clerical regime. Back in 2015, this Deal faced a chorus of criticism from detractors who described it as having sunset clauses, which merely postpone Iran’s development of nuclear arsenal.
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Economic Affairs & National Development

Global Economic Slowdown (2023) and Way Forward

Globally, an economic downturn has been observed in 2023, and the global growth forecasts for the year have been downgraded from their 2022 levels. The present working paper aims to explore causes and consequences of the global economic slowdown in 2023, highlight the potential sources of upside and downside risks to the global economy, and analyse the future growth outlook for 2024 and beyond.
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