The political trajectory is clear. Asim Munir is now prepared to convict and sentence Imran Khan for instigating a rebellion against the army chief, with no possibility of mercy.
RBI data shows 26 states and Union Territories couldn’t regain pre-pandemic foreign tourist footfalls in 2024, but domestic tourism surged 27 percent compared to 2019.
Of the total package, $649 million will be utilised for additional hardware, software, and support services, and the remaining for Major Defence Equipment (MDE).
None of Pakistan’s PMs has lasted 5 years. That the current PM has given Asim Munir 5 years shows that of all military dictatorships history has seen, Pakistan’s is most creative.
Giving ATF on credit or cutting some slack by AAI is a very temporary, partial relief. That is also how KFA started slithering to the bottom. Most costs – barring staff salaries and airport charges – are in USD, the revenues almost all in INR, so currency depreciation is a savage blow. 2. Perhaps Minister for Civil Aviation – who also “ owns “ Air India in a sense – could convene emergency meetings with major domestic airlines and try to work out how best the government can support and aid the industry at a time of distress. First on the agenda should be a gentlemen’s agreement – with the full knowledge of the CCI – that airlines will stop playing games with pricing of tickets. Never mind what it does to one player’s market share or the rate of growth of the industry, passengers must pay the true cost of air travel. That includes a recent initiative by the government to boost regional air connectivity by capping fares and creating another maze of cross subsidies. Let the industry grow at a pace where profitability and affordability can be harmonised. 3. There are similar problems in other industries, telecom for example. Agreed it is not the government’s job to tell businessmen how to run their companies profitably, but if an entire industry is tottering, placing at risk jobs, taxes and amounts borrowed from banks, the government can and should play the role of a mentor.
Giving ATF on credit or cutting some slack by AAI is a very temporary, partial relief. That is also how KFA started slithering to the bottom. Most costs – barring staff salaries and airport charges – are in USD, the revenues almost all in INR, so currency depreciation is a savage blow. 2. Perhaps Minister for Civil Aviation – who also “ owns “ Air India in a sense – could convene emergency meetings with major domestic airlines and try to work out how best the government can support and aid the industry at a time of distress. First on the agenda should be a gentlemen’s agreement – with the full knowledge of the CCI – that airlines will stop playing games with pricing of tickets. Never mind what it does to one player’s market share or the rate of growth of the industry, passengers must pay the true cost of air travel. That includes a recent initiative by the government to boost regional air connectivity by capping fares and creating another maze of cross subsidies. Let the industry grow at a pace where profitability and affordability can be harmonised. 3. There are similar problems in other industries, telecom for example. Agreed it is not the government’s job to tell businessmen how to run their companies profitably, but if an entire industry is tottering, placing at risk jobs, taxes and amounts borrowed from banks, the government can and should play the role of a mentor.