Pakistonomy

Uzair talks to Dr. Ishrat Hussain about his new book and its key findings. We focused on Dr. Hussain’s view of why Pakistan fell behind India and Bangladesh, why policy stability matters, and things that he is watching for on the economic front. Dr. Hussain’s latest book Development Pathways 1947-2022 is now available in Pakistan and you can order it here - http://www.libertybooks.com/development-pathways-9786277626198 Dr. Ishrat Husain started his career as member of Civil Service of Pakistan and then spent over two decades at the World Bank 1979-1999, where among many key positions, he became the Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Director Poverty and Social Department, Country Director for Central Asian Republics. He completed two terms as Governor of State Bank of Pakistan 1999-2005 and has been appointed to chair various commissions and other boards. In addition to his role as public policy practitioner in national and international arenas he has also taken active interest in scholarly pursuits. He is author of twenty four books , prominent being Governing the Ungovernable and The Economy of an Elitist state published by Oxford University Press . He has been awarded several international and national awards including the highest civilian award of Nishan e Imtiaz. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 4:00 India’s reform success 12:00 Role of common sense economics 18:30 The role of unconstitutional interventions 30:45 Trading with India 35:50 Bangladesh’s keys to success 42:15 Military Inc and its role 46:20 Growing the pie v. distributing wealth 50:35 Outlook for Pakistan’s economy 56:10 Reading recommendations Reading Recommendations - Search for Stability edited by Maleeha Lodhi

National security expert Jasmine El-Gamal discusses Israel's campaign against Hamas, Western leaders' disconnect from public opinion, and the importance of empathy-based foreign policy. Topics include Israel's strategy, double standards in Washington, building coalitions, and impacts on US policy.

Khadija Shahper Bakhtiar, CEO of Teach For Pakistan, discusses the fellowship program and challenges in Pakistan's education sector. Topics include improving education outcomes, criteria for fellows, devolving education, and reading recommendations.

In this episode, Uzair talks to Mehu Sitepu about Indonesia’s recently held presidential elections and its outcomes. These elections had a lot of similarities with Pakistan, including the use of social media to woo young voters, allegations of rigging, and questions over Indonesia’s policy towards the US and China. Mehu Sitepu is an Associate at The Asia Group’s Southeast Asia practice, where she supports clients navigating the region’s complex political and regulatory environments to build business strategies across a variety of sectors, including banking and finance, hospitality, manufacturing, and technology. With almost a decade’s experience as a journalist in Indonesia, including three years in a senior role at BBC News, Mehu has a strong knowledge of Southeast Asia and a far-reaching network of contacts. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:40 Overview of the political landscape 24:50 Role of social media 30:01 Rigging allegations 35:28 Foreign policy implications 39:25 Economic policies 44:49 Reading recommendations 47:40 Role of the Indonesian military Reading recommendations: - Indonesia, Etc. by Elizabeth Pisani - Departure: A Novel by Nh. Dini - Indonesian Food by Sri Owen

In this episode, Uzair talks to Taimur Malik about his political campaign in NA-148, where he competed as a PTI candidate against PPP’s former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. The margin of victory for the PPP’s candidate was razor thin and Taimur is currently in the process of appealing the results. We talked about the vote count, what was it like to campaign in Multan given the constraints on the PTI, and what comes next for the party, both in the courts and in assemblies. You can follow Taimur on X @taimur_malik. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:50 Status of NA-148 election 12:30 PPP’s response to the results 19:00 Campaigning in Multan for the PTI 28:00 Overall appeals of the PTI 37:50 PTI’s alliance with the SIC 44:40 PTI’s strategy moving forward 49:38 Reading recommendations Reading Recommendations - The Constitution of Pakistan - Nuskha ha-e Wafa bu Faiz Ahmed Faiz - The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

In this episode, Uzair talks to Farieha Aziz about the ongoing curbs on the internet, with X facing recurring blocks for the last two weeks. We talk about what the courts have said about these blocks, the response from the PTA, and why the industry needs to be more vocal about arbitrary internet shutdowns. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:10 Current situation 4:30 What have the courts said? 11:05 The state’s response 20:01 The industry’s response 22:20 Legacy of past laws 29:50 Outlook for the near-term 37:00 Conclusion

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Ilhan Niaz about the 2024 elections and their implications for the country. We focused on what has occurred in the past and the various scenarios that could play out. We also talked about analog autocrats and their shortcomings, and how more repression could create further instability in the country. Chapters 0:00 Introduction 4:45 2024 elections analysis 15:20 Failures of the analog autocrats 24:40 What can we learn from history? 41:50 Potential political scenarios 51:05 Why no one wants to rule the federation 1:01:00 Conclusion

Uzair talks to Navid Goraya about Karandaaz’s ongoing work in Pakistan and their focus on improving access to finance for SMEs and women. We also talked about the outlook for the year and the key things that have to happen after elections to rebuild confidence in the economy. Navid Goraya is the chief investment officer of Karandaaz Capital. He has over 25 years of global experience in asset management, investment strategy, product development and corporate finance. Before joining Karandaaz as the CIO, he was leading a Strategic Advisory Firm, White Oak Advisors Inc, in New York where he was involved in serving private equity funds, family offices, banks and insurance companies in support of global investments in the US, Middle East, Southeast Asia and South Asia. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:50 What does Karandaaz do? 11:10 Barriers to financial inclusion 17:00 Role of the National Credit Guarantee Company 22:40 Bringing modern finance to women 28:40 What should happen after elections 34:10 Avoiding past mistakes 37: Reading recommendations Reading recommendations: - Buck Up, Suck Up . . . and Come Back When You Foul Up: 12 Winning Secrets from the War Room by James Carville

Uzair talks to Hamza Haroon, an independent candidate running in the national assembly elections in Pakistan from NA-46. Uzair talks to Hamza about his campaign strategy, the key issues facing Islamabad’s constituents, and what has he heard on the campaign trail. You can follow Hamza on X @HamzaAliHaroon and on Instagram @hamzaaharoon. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:20 What is the election situation like? 7:50 Key issues of constituents 14:50 How people vote 24:10 Hamza’s electoral strategy 29:40 Islamabad’s governance challenge 33:30 Why younger people should enter politics 37:20 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations: - Leadership on the line by Marty Linsky and Ronald Heifetz - For the Record by David Cameron

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Kamran Bokhari about Iran’s unprovoked attacks on Pakistan, Pakistan’s counterstrike, and what comes next. We talked about the broader issues in the region, Iran’s own calculus, and the ways in which the regional dynamics are altered in the wake of these escalations. Dr. Kamran Bokhari is the Senior Director of the Eurasian Security and Prosperity portfolio at the New Lines Institute. Previously, he served as Director of Analytical Development Department from 2019 to 2023. Dr. Bokhari is also a national security and foreign policy specialist at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute. Bokhari has also served as the Central Asia Studies Course Coordinator at U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:30 Why did Iran attack Pakistan? 11:20 Assessing Pakistan’s response 20:20 Iran’s broader calculus 27:50 Did Pakistan strike the right balance? 43:50 What comes next? Podcast on Iran protests - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpUPncr5Mrs Reading Recommendations: - https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react-whats-really-going-on-with-pakistan-and-iran-exchanging-attacks/ - https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/01/making-sense-iran-pakistan-cross-border-strikes - https://amwaj.media/article/exclusive-inside-the-iranian-pakistani-exchange-of-fire-nbsp