Pakistonomy

Uzair talks to Wahaj Ahmed, co-founder of Retailo, about the startup, its growth plans, and how it is looking to digitize small businesses in Pakistan's retail sector. They also talked about what it takes to excel at a startup, and how recent graduates can get their foot in the door at a startup like Retailo. Wahaj's book recommendations are: - Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't by Jim Collins - Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Hussain Nadim about reforming institutions in Pakistan, why bureaucrats still use fax to send documents, and how data can be used to better inform policy. We also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan towards the tail end of the episode, where Dr. Nadim shared his views on Pakistan's role in the region and what may happen next. Dr. Nadim's reading recommendations are: - The Conference of the Birds by Attar of Nishapur - The Tragedy of Power by Ian Withrow - Avoiding Armageddon : America, India and Pakistan to the Brink and Back by Bruce Riedel - Directorate S by Steve Coll - Fighting to the End: The Pakistan Army's Way of War by C. Christine Fair

Ariba Shahid returns to the podcast to talk about what is going on in Pakistan, including the successee of the NCOC and Ehsas Program, as well as the constant changes in the finance ministry.

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