Pakistonomy

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Bilal Khatri about his journey from Iqra University to Freiburg, where he is currently doing cutting-edge scientific research. We talked about the difference in how sciences are taught in Germany and Pakistan, why teaching the scientific method is important, and how innovation is going to transform our society. We also talked about how young students from places...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Tuqa Nusairat about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its key drivers and the path forward. We also talked about the regional responses so far and how the Biden administration has engaged with key partners in recent days. Tuqa Nusairat is the director for strategy, operations, and finance at Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs. Sinc...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zafar Masud about Pakistan’s economy, how to reduce cash in circulation, and why fiscal deficits are the core problem that need resolution. Zafar Masud is an international banker and entrepreneur currently serving as the President and CEO of The Bank of Punjab. Previously, he has been employed at senior positions by multinational banks across Pakistan and abroad. Yo...

Uzair talks to Zeeshan Salahuddin about the climate crisis and its impact on Pakistan. We focus on the fallout from the catastrophic floods in 2022, why the response was weak and the path forward for the country. Zeeshan is the Director for the Center for Regional and Global Connectivity (CRGC) at Tabadlab, a think tank and advisory services firm that works with businesses, international organisat...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Asim Kidwai about Pakistan’s tourism sector and LOKAL, a startup that is helping scaling an affordable tourism ecosystem in the country. We talk about his journey as an entrepreneur, how the startup is growing its presence across Pakistan, and the company’s expansion plans for the GCC. Asim Kidwai is co-founder and CEO at LOKAL. He graduated from the University of M...

In this episode we talk about Mexico’s ongoing economic growth story, which has taken off due to increasing investments in light of the US-China competition. Uzair talks to Beatriz Navarro about what’s going on in the country, its politics, and the expectations around the upcoming elections. Beatriz is a lawyer and international public affairs specialist. She also served as an appointed diplomat a...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ammar Khan about the ongoing electricity and dollar crises in the country. We also touch on ways to resolve these issues and why they are linked to competence and willingness to make decisions. Ammar has written extensively on these topics and you can read some of his pieces using the links below: - https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=ammar+khan+atl...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about what is going on with the rupee and why money supply growth is actually the real driver of the ongoing weakness of the currency. We also talk about why Khurram has a bleak outlook for the economy, what it will take to stop the vicious cycle, and his views on the SIFC. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:25 What is causing PKR weakness? 20:15 Political...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Asfandyar Mir about the evolving political and security situation in Afghanistan. We also talked about the terror landscape in the country and its impact on regional powers. Finally, we talked about the growing terror threat in Pakistan and why the Afghan Taliban have been unwilling to stop the TTP from using Afghan soil to target Pakistsan. Dr. Mir is a senior...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ammar Ali Jan about the last five years of democratic rule in Pakistan, the outlook for the next twelve months, and why the country is likely to face growing instability. We also talked about Ammar’s own political work in Lahore and why left-wing politics is necessary as an alternative means to engage people at the grassroots level. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:20...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Mutaher Khan about the state of Pakistan’s startup ecosystem and the outlook for the next 12-18 months. Mutaher is a technology and business journalist, and co-founder of Data Darbar. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:45 State of the ecosystem 18:18 Why did big startups collapse? 29:05 Talent demand for tech 40:50 Impact of legislation and policy 52:20 Outlook for next...

Access to quality healthcare is a major challenge across Pakistan. This is especially true for those of us who are abroad and need to find quality healthcare for our loved ones back home. Human-Healthcare aims to solve this problem, providing a one-stop concierge service for healthcare needs in the country. In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Atif Zafar about the startup, how and why it was founde...

We have talked a lot about the role of Pakistani elites in the ongoing crises the country is facing, but not a whole lot on the role of the international order in influencing elite choices and Pakistan’s political economy. In this episode, Uzair talks to Azeema Cheema about the global drivers of Pakistan’s prolonged crises and the ways in which international actors have encouraged autocracy in the...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Adnan Ansari about India’s Digital Data Protection Bill and what it means for internet users in the country. We also talked about the impact of this legislation on businesses and the investments India is looking to make in Digital Public Infrastructure. Adnan Ahmad Ansari is an Associate Vice President with The Asia Group’s South Asia Practice. Adnan brings extensiv...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Fahd Ali about the recent deal Pakistan reached with the IMF and what comes next. We also talked at length about the taxation challenges in Pakistan, whether the country needs debt restructuring, and what he would like to see policymakers focus on in the next 12 months. Dr. Fahd Ali is Assistant Professor and Dean of Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences at th...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ashok Malik about Modi’s visit to the United States and the future of US-India relations. We also talked about India’s foreign policy in the Middle East, and prospects of trade between India and Pakistan. Ashok Malik is a Partner at The Asia Group and Chair of its New Delhi-based subsidiary in India where he leads the firm’s in-market business strategy and services....

In this episode, Uzair talks to Mahim Maher about her career in journalism and digital media, what she found covering the problems of Karachi, and things that aspiring and young journalists should focus on. Mahim most recently served as a digital editor at Aaj and has several years of experience across multiple news organizations in Pakistan. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:50 Mahim’s career traject...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Tanvi Madan about how India is dealing with a rising China and the current state of India-China relations. We also talked about what tensions between India and China mean for the country’s relations with the United States. Dr. Tanvi Madan is a senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program, and director of The Indi...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Hassan Abbas about his latest book, The Return of the Taliban: Afghanistan After the Americans Left. Dr. Hassan Abbas is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Strategic Studies Centre (NESA), National Defense University in Washington DC. He has also authored The Prophet’s Heir: The Life of Ali ibn Abi Talib (Yale Universi...

In this episode, we dive deep into fiscal deficits in Pakistan and how they wreak economic havoc. In addition, we talk about the linkages between the fiscal deficit, higher interest rates, and external sector vulnerabilities. Dr. Derek H. C. Chen joined the World Bank in 2000 where he has held a number of positions. Currently, he is the Senior Economist for Pakistan, based at the World Bank office...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Ilhan Niaz about what is going on in Pakistan today and what we can learn from history to understand the present and what may come in the future. We also talked about why the political class is morally bankrupt, how the judiciary has ceded space, and why the military has been able to reassert itself in the country’s political economy. Dr. Niaz is chair of the hi...

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Ayyaz Malick about the ongoing crises in Pakistan and where he sees things going. Dr. Malick is a university lecturer, with research interests in Marxist and post-/anti-colonial theory. He has recently written a must-read essay on the ongoing crisis which can be read at the link below. https://jacobin.com/2023/05/imran-khan-arrest-pakistan-politics-crisis-milita...

We continue our special series on the US-China strategic competition this week by looking at Australia’s evolving foreign policy with Professor Jane Golley. Professor Jane Golley is an economist at the Crawford School of Public Policy at The Australian National University (ANU). Jane is an ANU graduate (BEc, Hons, 1993). Jane's life-long interest in China began with a brief stint in the Asia Secti...

We continue our special series on the US-China strategic competition this week by looking at the deepening military ties between Pakistan and China with Sameer Lalwani. Sameer Lalwani is a senior expert on South Asia at the U.S. Institute of Peace. He is also a non-resident senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. From 2015 to 2022, Dr. Lalwani was a senior fellow for...

Over the next few episodes, we are going to be focusing on the US-China rivalry and what it means for the world. In addition, we will try to bring to the forefront a diverse set of views on this rivalry and what key actors are concerned about and trying to do. To start things off, I spoke to Andrew Small on China’s rise, what are the key things concerning countries in East Asia, and where he sees...