3D printers and national security

04/05/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

3D printers and national security

Ali Salman

If curbs remain in place, digital divide between Pakistan and world will widen

ISLAMABAD: While the world is fighting a pandemic and preparing for an impending recession, it seems trivial to discuss 3D printers. But this trivial example does indicate bigger issues at work in public policy.

For starters, the 3D printing process builds a three-dimensional object from a computer-aided design model, usually by successively adding material layer by layer, which is why it is also called additive manufacturing.

The world is entering the fourth industrial revolution, which is mostly based on technologies like robotics and 3D printing. Engineers and designers are now already working remotely and making products with high precision using 3D printers.

3D printing offers an excellent avenue to improve housing, food supplies, healthcare and educational facilities. Due to the intricate nature of the emerging trend of Internet of Things (IoT), no country can afford to restrict the use of 3D printers.

While it is correct that some components of weapons can be made through this technology, 3D printing of the most important parts like the chamber or the barrel is extremely difficult, requiring high resistance to heat and explosion. It is much easier to make such parts from a milling machine than a 3D printer.

Countries like Jordan and Thailand, which had imposed restrictions, have now allowed the import to kick-start innovation in industries, healthcare and educational sectors. It is high time for Pakistan to take cue from these countries and allow the import of 3D printers with minimum restrictions.

Currently, Pakistan faces an acute shortage of ventilators amid Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the shortage of other healthcare products such as face masks and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers is also posing serious challenges.

In this regard, the 3D printing technology can play a pivotal role in meeting the high demand for such essential commodities. It will not only benefit the health sector but also other sectors such as academic institutions, industries and housing.

However, this is possible only if the government allows for and streamlines the import of 3D printers. In Pakistan, awareness of 3D modelling and printing is gradually increasing and members of the academia, along with industries, are now approaching the laboratory.

3D printers are being used in some areas of the educational, engineering and health sectors. For example, a group of volunteers in Lahore, which includes doctors, biomedical professionals, academics and engineers, has used 3D printing technology to design a device that allows a single ventilator to support multiple patients at a time.

It seems imperative that an ease in regulation rather than strict restriction should be the government’s priority when it comes to handling the proliferation of 3D printer technology, and any such platforms which allow more choices, more competition and more innovation.

Recently, the Ministry of Commerce has issued a notification, allowing the import of 3D printers to ensure the availability of ventilators.

However, it would take some time to see its benefits due to the time needed for import and setting up the technology. In fact, given global restrictions on supply chains, this may be already too late.

What are the bigger issues, which we can discern from this episode of myopic thinking?

If we continue to restrict the use of such technologies, the digital divide between us and the rest of the world will accentuate. We will lose many opportunities of experimentation, trial and innovation, which are preconditions for growth. The coronavirus pandemic is also a good reminder that the national security paradigm, which is cited for restrictions on this technology (and certainly not limited to Pakistan), needs radical transformation.

The security should be defined in terms of human welfare, individual freedom and freedom of technology instead of relying on archaic modes of governance that requires a top-down approach.

The writers are associated with an independent think tank, PRIME, based in Islamabad

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2020.

Pakistan Prosperity Report (PPR) April 2020

29/04/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME), launched second edition of Pakistan Prosperity Report (PPR), with the aim to provide a monthly review of Pakistan’s macro-economy based on the analysis of four variables: Industrial Production, Trade volume, Price Levels, and Private Sector Lending.

The concept of PPR is intuitive – higher level of industrial output, increases in trade volumes, more lending to the private sector and an improvement in purchasing power of individuals are indicators of a strong economy, signaling prosperity of both firms and households.

In its second edition, PPR covers time period from June 2019 to February 2020. The analysis reveals that economy’s prosperity has increased by 0.96 percent in February 2020 relative to January 2020 while experiencing an overall increase since June 2019. This increase in economic prosperity is largely attributable to a rise in purchasing power, a surge in long-term financing facility and an increase in trade volume between the two months. However, the output of large-scale manufacturing industries slightly declined between January and February 2020.

For February 2020, the month-on-month inflation rate and quantum index of LSMI decreased by 1 percent and 0.91 percent respectively. In contrast, the trade volume index and LTFF increased by 3.20 percent and 3.63 percent.

The report expects that amid the coronavirus pandemic, Pakistan’s trade volume will shrink as a result of the slowdown in global demand. The production of large-scale manufacturing industries is likely to contract due to partial lockdown which will adversely affect the trade volume. Meanwhile, inflation might increase due to decrease in domestic production and shortage of essential commodities. On the other hand, commercial banks’ lending to private sector for long-term fixed investment might further increase with the hopes to stimulate construction and export-oriented sectors. With the recent amnesty scheme announced for the construction sector which is awarded the status of an industry now, it is expected that the banking credit will flow more into this sector at the expense of other sectors. All in all, low purchasing power, fear of losing jobs and low returns on investments upholds the bearish sentiments among the stakeholders of the economy in the coming months. To read more, download the file attached below:

Pakistan-Prosperity-Report_April-2020 Download

Easing Import of 3D Printers

13/04/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Easing Import of 3D Printers

The world is entering the fourth industrial revolution which is mostly based on technologies like robotics and 3D printing. Engineers and designers are now already working remotely and making products with high precision through the use of 3D printers. 3D printing offers an excellent avenue to improve housing, food supplies, healthcare and educational facilities in developing countries.

Unfortunately, Pakistan has rather restrictive policies for the import of 3D printers, with the procedure being cumbersome and time-consuming. In 2016, Pakistan placed a ban on import of 3D printers, citing threats to national security as these printers could be used to manufacture illicit weapons. While it is correct that some components of weapons can be made through this technology, 3D printing of the most important parts like the chamber or the barrel is extremely difficult requiring high resistance to heat and explosion. It is pertinent to note that it is much easier to make such parts from a milling machine than a 3D printer. In any event, in Pakistan the manufacture of weapons is prohibited without a valid license and the penalty for doing so is up to 7 years in prison.

On the other hand, competing countries like UAE are becoming a hub for this state-of-the-art technology. Countries like Jordan and Thailand have also relaxed import regulations on 3D printers in order to kickstart their industries, health and education sector. Thus, it is high-time for Pakistan to take a cue from these countries and allow the import of 3D printers.

Currently, Pakistan faces acute shortfall of ventilators amid COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, shortage of other healthcare products such as facemasks and safety kits for medical experts is also posing serious challenges. In this regard, 3D printing technology can play a pivotal role in meeting the high demand for such essential commodities. It will not only benefit the health sector but also other sectors such as academic institutions, industries and housing sector. However, this is possible only if the government allows for and streamlines the import of 3D printers.

Recently, the commerce minister has issued a notification allowing import of 3D printers to ensure availability of ventilators. However, this is a late call as fatality is increasing with each day. For now, the numbers are expected to surge as it would take some time to manufacture ventilators from imported 3D printers. On a positive note, a group of volunteers in Lahore which includes doctors, biomedical professionals, academics and engineers have used 3D printing technology to design a device that allows a single ventilator to support multiple patients at a time.

In Pakistan, the awareness about 3D modeling and printing is gradually increasing and members of academia along with other industries are now approaching the laboratory. The 3D printers are being used in some of the education, engineering and health departments. Since it is a new field, it will require exposure and training with the proper availability of hardware and software.

Given the current situation, there are a few learning points. Due to the intricate nature of the internet of modern economies, no country can afford to completely abolish the use of 3D printers. Therefore, regulation rather than prevention should be government’s priority when it comes to handling the proliferation of 3D printing technology. It is imperative that the government withdraw tariff and non-tariff barriers on medical equipments at least till the time the crisis is over, and not just for three months. In order to facilitate the use of 3D printers for industrial, medical and academic purposes, trainings should be provided through public-private partnership.

If we continue to restrict use of such technologies, the digital divide between us and the rest of the world will accentuate. We need to embrace the technology rather than be left out.

COVID-19: Food market constraints threaten social fabric

06/04/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Ali Salman / BEENISH JAVED

No rules enacted to halt cartelisation, hoarding of essential commodities

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recently experienced flour, wheat and sugar crisis which is a result of bad policy, poor regulation and low private-sector capacity.

The Covid-19 pandemic has badly exposed constraints in Pakistan’s food commodity markets and supply chains. It threatens the very nature of social and political fabric of Pakistan.

Despite government’s assurance of consistent food and medicine supplies, there is shortage of essential commodities such as wheat, rice, sugar and medicines due to panic buying as well as supply-side constraints.

The response of the government also remains sluggish. In Sindh, for instance, factories have not received wheat from the government for the last 8 to 10 days, thus resulting in flour crisis.

At present, no rules have been enacted to halt cartelisation and hoarding of the said commodities.

In these rather straightforward economic transactions, bureaucrats should not be playing any role once a policy is defined. They cannot make quick decisions, especially when decision-making is likely to face penalties due to excessive outreach of accountability agencies in the country.

Tariff and non-tariff barriers to medical equipment and medicines are undermining efforts to treat the affectees and contain the spread of the virus. It should be recalled Pakistan has implemented an effective price control system for medicines in the past 20 years. The policy was relaxed a couple of years ago only to be resisted or reversed on the pressure of different quarters. Already, the worst losers of price control of medicines are the consumers.

The knee-jerk reaction of the government facing dual crisis of both constrained supply and excessive demand is to place price control and opt for rationing of supply.

It is certain to cause more harm than good. Very soon, we will see stocks vanish. We have seen it many times. It is high time for the government to reconsider its economic policies for mitigating adverse economic effects of the pandemic. In this regard, there are a few policy suggestions.

First, the government should resist the temptation of controlling prices as this provides wrong signals to both producers and consumers. When prices are controlled, consumers go for panic buying and producers stop investing in supply.

The government should still regulate, focus on supply and take measures against cartelisation and hoarding, especially when it comes to essential commodities such as food and medicines.

Second, as we have advocated in the past, open trade helps in a free flow of medicines and medical equipment, therefore, the government should withdraw tariff and non-tariff barriers at least till the time the crisis is over.

To provide a small example, if Pakistan was a signatory to the Information Technology Agreement (ITA), as we have recommended many a time, duty-free import of medical machinery would be possible today. However, it is noted that the government has relaxed import conditions given the crisis.

Third, the government should re-allocate its resources and should induce commercial banks to re-allocate capital to industries with plans to boost production of critical medical equipment such as testing kits, ventilators and hospital beds on a war footing.

Fourth, the government should announce a new regulation to ensure that the workers on daily wages, employed by the industry, continue to be paid during the closure of factories.

It is something that the government has already declared and it is hoped that the employers implement this, though it will not be sustainable without bringing any fiscal stimulus.

Lastly, the government should re-prioritise Zakat spending and should also encourage private foundations to create a pool of funds to provide cash to informal workers in industrial, agriculture and services sectors during the crisis.

The crisis like this provides a short window of policy reforms. In Indonesia, where strict controls on imports have been placed for the last many decades, the government has been forced to relax these controls, albeit temporarily.

One hopes that Pakistan’s government also learns some lessons. Whereas more investment is certainly needed in the healthcare system, we need to see lesser role of the government in food commodity markets.

For a population of 220 million, with a huge number living in poverty, a lack of access to food items can have the potential of threatening the political fabric of society, risking anarchy.

The writers are affiliated with PRIME, an independent economic policy think tank based in Islamabad

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2020.

Pakistan Prosperity Report (PPR) March 2020

31/03/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Pakistan Prosperity Report (PPR) March 2020

Indicators of prosperity exhibit improvement, face headwinds in the short term. Large-scale manufacturing and private sector investment improved, trade volume recovering, and purchasing power deteriorating.

Pakistan Prosperity Report (PPR) is a monthly review of Pakistan’s macro-economy based on the analysis of four periodic data sets- industrial production, trade volume, price levels, and private sector lending. The concept behind this report is intuitive- higher level of industrial output, increases in trade volumes, more lending to the private sector and an improvement in purchasing power of individuals are indicators of a strong economy, signaling prosperity of both firms and households.

It is pertinent to mention that we consider increase in trade volume more important than a change in trade balance. Increase in trade volume contributes to prosperity by enhancing the production and variety of goods available for consumption and industrial activities thereby increasing the income and employment opportunities. On the other hand, higher rates of inflation reduce prosperity by eroding purchasing power and incomes of individuals. Increase in industrial output enhances prosperity by increasing employment prospects and income. In contrast, provision of finance for long-term investment increases prosperity by boosting industrial capacity resulting in an increased output, employment and income opportunities.

The analysis in PPR (March 2020) is based on the data for December 2019 and January 2020. For a long- term view, data for the period of June 2019-December 2019 is separately covered.

To read more, download the file attached below:

Pakistan-Prosperity-Report_March-2020 Download

Social protection in Pakistan – from income to assets

02/03/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Ali Salman / Usman Ali

Success demands wide-ranging programme with right choice of beneficiaries, stringent monitoring

ISLAMABAD: According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2019 report, 21.5% of the population is living in severe multidimensional poverty while 12.9% are vulnerable to multidimensional poverty.

This suggests a relative decline in poverty as compared with 2018 when 24.7% of the population was living in severe multidimensional poverty.

However, Pakistan is still far from the target of Sustainable Development Goals, which is to reduce poverty up to 9% by 2030. To fight poverty, the government needs to come up with a proper poverty reduction strategy and it is time to rethink the whole social protection approach based on income transfer. The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) offers an unconditional cash flow of Rs5,000 per month to the deserving families. This amount merely covers the food expense as the price of the basket of food keeps on increasing.

When the families spend all the amount, they start waiting for the aid of the new month. It means they are dependent on government aid and has no proper income generation source. Recently, Prime Minister Imran Khan launched the Ehsaas Amdan programme that would give 200,000 livestock assets to the deserving families (60% women and 30% youth beneficiaries) to improve lives of 1.4 million people.

The total budget of the programme is Rs15 billion and it is a four-year programme that ends in 2023. The prime objective of the Amdan programme is to develop better livelihood opportunities for the deprived families.

It is commencing in 375 rural union councils in 23 of the poorest districts, which are selected on the basis of three parameters – level of human development, level of poverty and food insecurity. In the Ehsaas Amdan programme, deserving families will receive small assets, including livestock (goats, buffaloes and cows), agricultural inputs, rickshaw and inputs for small retail outlets and small enterprises. If put into proper use with an entrepreneurial mindset, these assets will help in income generation.

Ehsaas will help in alleviating poverty, especially in backward areas, and it is structurally different from BISP in the sense that it is offering assets, instead of income transfer.

In the short run, the families who will receive assets will have to bear the cost of maintenance, but in the long run, they can sustainably generate income from their animals and agricultural inputs. A question that arises here is whether offering livestock to families will be useful in poverty alleviation or will it result in an additional burden or just a one-off encashment opportunity?

Many families will find it challenging to bear the day-to-day operational cost. It may be the cost of feed, veterinary care and related expenses. In some cases, the livestock may put pressure on some families, which may lead them to sell their assets.

Secondly, not every family will be able to rear livestock. It can be due to shortage of space in the house or may be due to the illness of the family head. One can also observe changes in the livelihood patterns of rural families. There was a time when rural people were strong enough to do multiple tasks ie crop sowing and animal rearing. Now, many young people do not live or work in rural areas and these rural households are also shifting from farm income to non-farm income.

The government must ensure that there is a fully functional veterinary hospital or a care centre in those areas where livestock will be distributed. Moreover, necessary awareness programmes should be initiated that help the families to fight fatal diseases like the foot and mouth disease in livestock.

Now, let’s have a bird’s eye view of what China did to alleviate poverty. If you look at the poverty level in China back in 1978, you may find that 97.5% of the population in rural areas was living below the poverty line.

The Chinese government initiated different poverty alleviation campaigns to bring a positive change in the people’s lives. Currently, it is focusing on eliminating absolute poverty by the end of 2020. China’s government mainly focused on the provision of education, skill development and creation of employment opportunities near people’s homes. In this sense, Ehsaas is quite different because it is offering assets and interest-free loans that will help in the long run to earn a better living.

Even if some families misuse or underutilise this programme, it is likely to help in generating cash at the time of emergency. Success demands a comprehensive and wide-ranging programme with the right choice of beneficiaries and a stringent monitoring mechanism.

The writers are associated with PRIME – an independent think tank in Pakistan

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2020.

Domino Effect of Pakistan’s Wheat Crisis

10/02/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Domino Effect of Pakistan’s Wheat Crisis

Ali Salman / Beenish Javed

Fiscal deficit and food inflation will rise; farmers will be hurt by imports

ISLAMABAD: The supply of wheat – one of the major food crops of Pakistan – has faced another crisis, perhaps more severe than ever.

Over the course of a few months, wheat stocks plunged to approximately 4.2 million tonnes – barely enough to meet consumer demand for the next two months. In this article, we will unfold the domino effect of the current wheat scarcity.

The wheat scarcity should not come as a surprise. Mismanagement and uncalled-for state intervention have long been responsible for the dismal performance of various sectors including agriculture.

Government’s agricultural subsidies and procurement schemes have sent wrong signals to the producers. The unnecessary market intervention has opened avenues for hoarders and the black market.

It is pertinent to note that despite the ban on wheat export imposed in July 2019, the government allowed exports of 48,000 tons, which fueled price hike in the country.

Decisions like this are the reasons why such crises continue to emerge every now and then.

That said, the wheat deficit is likely to have certain repercussions for Pakistan’s economy and food security:

1) Increased fiscal deficit: Uncalled-for government intervention is followed by financing of these follies, which will further increase the fiscal deficit, and since imports are involved, the current account deficit will also widen.

2) Hurting farmers: Wheat import is likely to hurt the domestic wheat growers as a shipment of 300,000 tonnes is expected to reach Pakistan by mid-March, which is also the season when the crop gets ready in Sindh.

3) Altering cropping patterns: The wheat crisis, which was imminent from quite some time, is likely to spark a domino effect in other food crops by altering the cropping patterns.

In the face of water scarcity and in the hope of greater profits, the farmers are likely to substitute sugarcane production with wheat cultivation, thereby leading to its shortfall and a subsequent increase in its price. The recent surge in sugar price by Rs9 per kg is partially due to the substitution effect.

4) Sparking food inflation: Keeping in view the hike in prices of eatables, the food inflation is expected to rise further.

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) recorded an increase of 19.69% over a year ago. After the wheat and sugar crisis, the Pakistan Cattle Feed Association and Dairy and Cattle Farmers Association are also demanding an increase in prices of milk to Rs150 per litre.

Since wheat flour, sugar and milk are among the 51 essential items included in the basket of goods and services used for calculating the SPI, an increase in their prices will further inflate the indicator and adversely affect the lower income segments.

Ostensibly, the government intervenes in the agriculture sector in the name of food security. This intervention in the form of support prices for various agricultural commodities has so far been a source of distress for Pakistan’s food security.

Each day a new association or union is demanding a price increase, which will further the case of another government intervention.

It is high time for the policymakers to dig deeper into the root causes of the past and current wheat flour (and other) crises, learn lessons and spell out clearly for all stakeholders as to what precautionary measures need to be taken to avert similar anomalies in the future.

The most important lesson perhaps here is trust the market and allow it to deliver, however, make sure that markets are not distorted by bureaucratic and political influences.

The writers are affiliated with PRIME Institute, an independent economic think tank based in Islamabad

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2020.

Sino-Pak FTA-II: will Pakistan benefit?

13/01/2020by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Sino-Pak FTA-II: will Pakistan benefit?

Ali Salman / Beenish Javed

Joint efforts by govt, private sector will turn opportunities into concrete gains

ISLAMABAD: China and Pakistan have signed phase-II of the free trade agreement (FTA), which has become effective on January 1, 2020, 15 years after the phase-I was operationalised.

In this article, we weigh the possible benefits Pakistan can draw from this agreement.

China is already ranked as the second largest export destination for Pakistan with a share of 8% in Pakistan’s total exports, after the United States (17%).

Unsurprisingly, Pakistan’s exports to China are heavily concentrated in a few products such as cotton and rice, which account for 75% of Pakistan’s total exports to China.

China also occupies the largest share in Pakistan’s total imports at 29%. Since the Sino-Pak FTA, the trade volume between the two countries has increased from $2.2 billion in 2005 to approximately $15.6 billion in 2019.

Pakistan’s exports jumped to $1.74 billion in 2017-18 from $575 million in 2006-07. Correspondingly, China’s exports to Pakistan increased to $15.74 billion in 2017-18 from $3.5 billion in 2006-07.

The bilateral trade balance has remained tilted in China’s favour as Pakistan’s exports to China could not keep pace with its imports from the country.

In FY19, the trade deficit with China came down to $10.89 billion, which accounted for 34.22% of Pakistan’s total trade deficit.

According to Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, the FTA-II is targeted to generate an additional $500 million in exports in its first year of implementation. Hopes are high.

A review of the new FTA deal reveals that market access given to Pakistan is on a par with Asean member countries – something that was missing in the previous FTA and, therefore, was a major concern for Pakistani exporters.

It also seems that the private sector has been thoroughly consulted before operationalising the agreement.

The FTA-II offers new opportunities to the exporters. This calls for joint efforts by the government and the private sector to turn these opportunities into concrete gains for Pakistan, otherwise, this may become another case of GSP Plus status, which could not be leveraged substantially.

Some challenges to convert this opportunity into material gains are worth repeating.

A high cost of production and the subsequent lack of competitiveness has always been a setback for the major export industries such as textile and leather.

Industrialists should utilise the provisions under the new phase to import cheaper inputs and focus should also be placed on product branding and marketing as this remains a weak area of the country’s trade strategy.

It is pertinent to note that neither the new FTA nor the previous one catered to the stringent non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that restrain Pakistan’s agro-based exports to China.

According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in 2016 alone, China initiated and enforced 87 technical barriers to trade and 12 sanitary and phyto-sanitary cases on exports of certain products from Pakistan such as organic chemicals, oilseeds, meat, fruits, grains, seeds, animal fodder, etc.

Including a provision or two on the NTBs in the new FTA could have been beneficial for boosting agro-exports to China.

Since Pakistan will be lowering its tariffs for China on 5,237 items over time, there is a possibility of increased import bill given the nature of those items (high-value products). Not to mention, the devaluation of yuan amidst the US-China trade war is also not auguring well for Pakistan.

Therefore, we should proceed with caution since China has a strong manufacturing base for export of goods as compared to imports.

Nonetheless, the ball is in Pakistan’s court now. It needs to take certain measures so as to ensure exports grow in the long run.

Firstly, it is important that Pakistan examines the impact of reduced tariffs on each product and correspondingly rationalises its import tariffs to avoid trade diversion as happened previously.

Secondly, Pakistan needs to expedite the completion of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) so that Chinese investments can flow into the sectors that will benefit from the new FTA.

Thirdly, there are various internal barriers to trade that require attention such as cumbersome regulations, poor infrastructure, multiplicity of taxes, high energy prices, lack of research and development, just to name a few.

Therefore, unless the government improves the regulatory environment, enhances supply capacity, broadens export basket and takes measures to develop a footprint in global value chains, FTAs will do little to improve Pakistan’s struggling exports in the long run.

The writers are affiliated with PRIME Institute, an independent economic policy think tank based in Islamabad

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2020.

Another Bailout or a Debt Trap: Reasons for Going to IMF?

10/09/2019by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Another Bailout or a Debt Trap: Reasons for Going to IMF?

Any government performs better when acting relatively autonomous in execution of daily affairs of national and local governance. Democracy ensures that the campaign promises made by leading political party are translated into active policy making that may carry favorable results for empowering the common citizen. This strengthens democracy and legitimizes governance institutions in the eyes of the voters. However, due to external account challenges, democratic or autocratic governments have been approaching International Financial Institutions (IFIs) for short and long-term assistance. In this perspective, International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been instrumental in disbursement of short-term loans to Pakistan several times over the past 50 years. These loans were provided to bailout the country to finance its high budget deficits and trade imbalances. Nonetheless, these short-term loans are accompanied with conditionalities that stifle the autonomy of the government.

Click below to read full report:

IMF-BailoutDownload

Manufactured product exports (2016)

10/10/2016by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Manufactured product exports (2016)

This study was carried out from the 7th to 25th of July 2016 by PRIME (Policy Research Institute of Market Economy), Islamabad, as a part of a CUTS International and Australia Aid Project entitled “Geneva Trade and Business Connexion: South and South East Asia”. The main objective of the project is to improve the capacity of the private sector and to provide input into their government and their WTO delegations so as to make their negotiating positions fully aligned with on ground conditions faced by the private sector.

Manufactured-Products-Exports-Technical-Barriers-to-Trade-faced-by-Exporters-in-South-and-SEA-CountriesDownload

Technical barriers to trade (2016)

01/10/2016by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Technical barriers to trade (2016)

Click below to download the reports;

September-2016-Technical-Barriers-to-Trade-faced-by-Exporters-in-PakistanDownload

Manufactured-Products-Exports-Technical-Barriers-to-Trade-faced-by-Exporters-in-South-and-SEA-CountriesDownload

Mapping Business opportunities under CPEC

10/09/2016by PRIME Institute PRIME Institute No Comments

Mapping Business opportunities under CPEC

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is being developed as part of the strategic partnership between the governments of China and Pakistan. In principle, understanding on building the economic corridor from Pakistani port city of Gwadar to the Western Chinese city Kashgar was developed in 2007 between China and Pakistan but it was formally announced during the visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to China in July, 2013. CPEC is around 2,700km long within the territory of Pakistan, crossing snow-caped mountains, narrow valleys, lush green fields, sand dunes and dry hills. In addition, the corridor provides Chinese traders a link to deliver their goods to the international markets through the Gwadar Port. The $46 billion CPEC presents a package of energy, communication and infrastructure projects, knowledge and technology cooperation, cultural exchange, and many other facets of “shared prosperity” between China and Pakistan.

CPEC_September15Download