There are areas where, although China is willing to spend political capital on Pakistan’s behalf, it doesn’t like being repeatedly put in the position where it has to do so.
The FATF decision is bad and good news for Pakistan. Getting grey-listed is much less serious, particularly on reputational levels, than getting blacklisted.
This is the first time that China acceded to an Indian prompt at a global anti-terror forum. Pak foreign minister Khwaja Asif’s statement provided the opening.
Pakistan takes one step forward to get relief from international pressure, followed by two steps back once the pressure is off. When pressure resumes, another step forward.
For an industry globally classified as hazardous, protections such as health insurance and a provident fund for workers are necessities. In Sivakasi, they remain elusive.
The industry forecasts exports are set to grow 16% in 2025-26, boosted by surplus domestic production and a drive to push into 26 underserved global markets with strong potential.
Indigenisation level will progressively increase up to 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts being manufactured locally.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
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