Pakistonomy

The last few days have been a whirlwind for Afghanistan and its people. With the Taliban seizing control over Kabul and America withdrawing from its longest war, there are fears that regional instability will only increase in the coming days. In this episode, Uzair talks to Fahd Humayun about what the Taliban's military win mean for Pakistan. Fahd Humayun is a PhD candidate at Yale University and frequently writes on South Asian affairs. He has recently written two must-read articles on this topic, which are a must read: - https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/17/5-ways-talibans-takeover-afghanistan-will-hurt-pakistan/ - https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/8/20/us-pak-cooperation-is-more-necessary-today-than-ever-before?sf149454561=1 Fahd's reading recommendations are: - Afghanistan and Pakistan: Conflict, Extremism, and Resistance to Modernity by Riaz Mohammad Khan - No-Win War: The Paradox of U.S.-Pakistan Relations in Afghanistan's Shadow by Zahid Hussain - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Bangladesh has had the fastest rate of economic growth during the pandemic in the subcontinent, despite the fact that its export sector has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Despite its success story, however, the country continues to face serious challenges which may upend the country's growth story. In this episode, Uzair talks to Atif Ahmad about the Bangladeshi economy's outlook beyond 2021. Atif Ahmad is a DC-based researcher of South Asian affairs. He was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh where he lived for nearly two decades prior to coming to the US to study at Rutgers University for his undergraduate degree. He is passionate about all things South and Central Asia and studied these regions while pursuing his Masters at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Follow him on Twitter @atifjahmad. Book Recommendations: - Ghost Wars by Steve Coll - Blood Telegram by Gary J. Bass - Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill - Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant

Uzair talks to Omair Ansari, CEO and Co-Founder of Abhi, about the startup's mission, growth plans, and how younger folks can set themselves up to thrive in Pakistan's startup ecosystem. Abhi is a Karachi-based salary advance platform that has recently raised $2 million in a seed round. Founded by Omair Ansari and Ali Ladhubhai Abhi enables employees to withdraw their accrued wages anytime through its web or mobile app. The product is Shariah-compliant and charges employees a small transaction fee for these advances. Reading Recommendations: - Siddhartha: A Novel by Herman Hesse - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal

This episode digs deep into Pakistan's wheat market, discussing the recent output figures, why the government wants to import additional wheat, buildup of commodity debt, and the utter lack of detailed data to help policymakers plan for a sector that has a tremendous impact on tens of millions of households across the country. Note: Adil made an incorrect claim about a Rs 200 billion wheat subsidy for Punjab. This is the budgeted expenditure for state trading of wheat, not a subsidy. The error is regretted. Adil Mansoor is an agricultural policy analyst who does some brilliant research for BR Research. He recently wrote about the wheat sector and the below article is a must-read for anyone who is looking to develop a detailed understanding of the sector. https://www.brecorder.com/news/40105049 If you like this podcast, please don't forget to rate, subscribe, and share with your friends and family.

Uzair talks to Azmat Khan about his banking career, which started at the BCCI in the 1970s. In the 1990s, Azmat Khan played a pivotal role in building the personal relationships that deepened Pakistan's strategic ties with the UAE, following which he helped setup and expand Bank Alfalah in Pakistan. This conversation records the history of Khan's career, things he learnt along the way, and his views on Pakistan's own economic journey and potential.

Uzair talks to Sameer Lalwani about the evolving situation in Afghanistan, prospects for peace following the U.S. withdrawal from the country, and the role regional powers are and can play in ensuring peace and stability in the country. Sameer Lalwani is a Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center where he researches nuclear deterrence, interstate rivalry, national security decision making, crisis behavior, and counter/insurgency. He is also a term member with the Council on Foreign Relations, a Contributing Editor to War on the Rocks, a non-resident fellow with the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at George Washington University (GWU), and a 2019 National Asia Research Program Fellow. His reading recommendations are: - Shaping Strategy by Risa Brooks - Inadvertent Escalation by Barry Posen - Pakistan A Hard Country by Anatol Lieven - Nonstate Warfare: The Military Methods of Guerillas, Warlords, and Militias by Stephen Biddle

Uzair talks to Dr. Ilhan Niaz about the structural underpinnings of Pakistan's political economy and how things are eerily similar to the way the economy functioned during the British colonial era. This conversation focuses on Dr. Niaz's recently-published paper "Pakistan's search for a successful model of national political economy" which you can read using this link: https://www.academia.edu/47785779/Pakistans_search_for_a_successful_model_of_national_political_economy Reading recommendations: - Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas - The Water Kingdom: A Secret History of China by Philip Ball - Islam in Pakistan: A History by Muhammad Qasim Zaman

Uzair talks to Halima Iqbal, Founder and CEO of Oraan, a startup committed to the financial enablement of the underserved. This conversation focuses on how Oraan is digitizing committees, the barriers women face in terms of accessing formal financial services, and how Oraan is looking to scale its business to bridge the digital and financial divide. Reading Recommendations: - Ride of a Lifetime Robert Iger - Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Uzair talks to Faseeh Mangi and Samiullah Tariq about Pakistan's 2021-22 budget during this discussion. Participants on Twitter also share their comments, questions, and insights about the budget and what they liked and / or didn't like about it.

Pakistan's vibrant media landscape has been facing increasing curbs in recent years. From attacks on journalists to forcing media outlets to not cover certain issues, the media industry is facing unprecedented pressures. In this episode, Uzair talks to Wajahat Khan about how the media industry operates, its structural weaknesses, and how overt and covert influence is exerted to force journalists and outlets to toe a certain line. Wajahat Khan is Nikkei Asia’s Digital Editor in New York City, reporting on Indo-Pacific security. A graduate of the Columbia University School of Journalism and the University of Michigan, Wajahat has reported from 16 countries covering conflict, diplomacy, politics and media for digital, cable and network news, on and off camera. An Emmy-nominee for producing breaking news, Wajahat was bureau chief in Afghanistan and Pakistan for NBC News for most of the last decade, and covered South Asia for The Times, India Today and leading Pakistani networks. He has also authored the 2019 Amazon sports bestseller, “Game Changer: Being Shahid Afridi.” Reading Recommendations: - Neuromancer by William Gibson - The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy - The Battle for Pakistan: The Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighbourhood by Shuja Nawaz If you like Pakistonomy, then check out Dragon Road, a new Tabadlab podcast covering China's growing global influence. Dragon Road is hosted by Arif Rafiq and season one is out now. Click the link below to listen to the first episode: https://soundcloud.com/tabadlab-dragonroad/s01-e01-how-china-does-aid