Nasim Ashraf's autobiography unveiled
Nasim Ashraf, a distinguished Pakistani-American physician and former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman's autobiography titled "Ring Side" was recently unveiled at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
The book provides a first-hand account of a pivotal era in Pakistan's history, detailing Ashraf's close involvement in state affairs during President Pervez Musharraf's tenure. Offering unique insights into governance and Pakistan-U.S. relations, Ring Side captures the author's experiences at the heart of power and diplomacy.
Covering a vast span of events from Pakistan's role as America's indispensable partner in the War on Terror to the grassroots of human development in Pakistan, the author presents a primary source account of the country's external and internal policies. He remains more concerned about human development and takes no qualms in saying that Pakistan has not done enough in this realm.
The book also entails an evocative and fascinating account of military coups, intrigues and vested interests that have accented Pakistan's history. Amidst all those obstacles, the book pins that the author was able to implement a basic health and literacy scheme at the grassroots.
The book nail-bitingly accounts for the events that unfolded in diplomacy after the September 11, 2001, attacks, and the outcome it had on the diplomatic mosaic with Pakistan.
Ashraf made it a point to say that having worked closely with American authorities, he learnt the reality that citizens' rights are placed well above even those of the president of the United States. This is where we have to learn as we go on to buoy human confidence in the state, he observed.
In a one-liner on US-Pakistan ties, he said it has been infected with a "trust deficit", and there is a need to overcome this dilemma.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
KCCI sounds alarm on ‘camouflage' Budget 2025-26
Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG), Zubair Motiwala, while terming the federal budget 2025-26 a 'camouflage budget,' expressed serious reservations over its unrealistic targets and the absence of any meaningful relief for the business community or the common man. According to a press statement, he noted that while the budget includes various announcements related to digitalisation and promoting a cashless economy, these measures alone are insufficient to stimulate exports or drive industrialisation, which are critical for sustainable economic growth. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced Pakistan's federal budget 2025-26 'for a competitive economy' on Tuesday, targeting a modest 4.2% growth for the coming fiscal year, compared to 2.7% expected in the outgoing FY25. Addressing a press conference at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Chairman BMG criticised the government for setting 'overly ambitious goals' despite the country's poor economic performance in the previous fiscal year, during which all major targets, including GDP growth and fiscal consolidation, were missed. He questioned the rationale behind increasing the targets without providing any practical explanation of how these would be achieved, especially in a fragile economic environment dominated by uncertainty, high inflation, and IMF-imposed constraints. Missed Opportunity: OICCI slams Budget FY26 for ignoring informal economy Motiwala was joined at the press conference by Vice Chairman BMG Anjum Nisar, President KCCI Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, Senior Vice President Zia ul Arfeen, Chairman Policy Research & Advisory Council Younus Dagha, former presidents Junaid Esmail Makda, Muhammad Idrees, Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, and members of the KCCI Managing Committee. Chairman BMG pointed out that the government's approach to achieving the elevated tax collection target seems to rely largely on extracting more revenue from the existing pool of compliant taxpayers rather than expanding the tax base. Motiwala feared that instead of introducing meaningful reforms to bring untaxed sectors into the fold, the budget would result in increased discretionary powers for tax officials, further burdening documented businesses and discouraging economic activity. He warned that this strategy of squeezing the formal sector could result in shrinking economic output rather than expanding it. Chairman BMG lamented the lack of any significant policy direction aimed at boosting exports or industrialisation. He said the government appears to be moving towards an import-dependent model, ignoring the need to reduce the cost of doing business, especially in energy-intensive sectors like textiles. 'No announcement was made to address the high cost of gas, which continues to make Pakistani products uncompetitive in international markets. He emphasised that without reducing gas tariffs or easing the interest rate environment, the government's growth targets will remain unattainable,' said Motiwala. He criticised the negligible support provided to the export-oriented textile sector, which he noted is the backbone of the country's economy. A meaningful reduction in gas prices, particularly for industrial users, could have yielded positive results, but unfortunately, it was not announced. The allocation of only Rs1,000 billion for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) was also called out as woefully inadequate, particularly in light of the deteriorating state of infrastructure. While acknowledging that the budget was presented under strict IMF conditions, he said that despite being technically compliant, it fails to address the pressing needs of Pakistan's industrial sector or its citizens. Motiwala described the budget as one that may satisfy external lenders but does not offer any practical hope for businesses or the wider population. Meanwhile, President KCCI Muhammad Jawed Bilwani rejected the budget, stating it completely fails to offer any meaningful relief to the industrial sector or the general public. He said the government's claim of reduced inflation does not align with the realities faced by households, where electricity bills remain unaffordable and basic necessities are out of reach. Bilwani decried the lack of measures to reduce electricity tariffs and interest rates, which are key drivers of the high cost of doing business. Moreover, Bilwani expressed concern over the government's over-reliance on remittances and IMF programs to manage the economy, 'calling it an unsustainable and short-sighted approach'. He also criticised the minimal allocation for long-delayed infrastructure projects like K-IV, terming it a sign of the government's disregard for Karachi's needs and its vital contribution to the national economy. He added that despite repeated demands from the business community, no concrete steps have been taken to broaden the tax net or introduce structural economic reforms, which remain essential for long-term economic stability.
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business Recorder
India and US advance toward interim trade deal after four-day talks
NEW DELHI: Indian and U.S. negotiators made progress in their latest round of talks in New Delhi on Tuesday on a bilateral trade deal, having focused on market access for industrial and some agricultural goods, tariff cuts and non-tariff barriers, Indian government sources said. 'The negotiations held with the U.S. side were productive and helped in making progress towards crafting a mutually beneficial and balanced agreement including through achievement of early wins,' one of the sources said. The U.S. delegation, led by senior officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, held closed-door negotiationswith Indian trade ministry officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal. Both sides discussed increasing bilateral digital trade, by improving customs and trade facilitation measures, the sources said, adding that 'negotiations will continue' for early conclusion of the initial tranche of the trade pact. U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed in February to conclude a bilateral trade agreement by fall 2025 and to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. India, US push to finalise interim tariff deal as Trump's deadline nears The two sides are expected to sign an interim agreement by the end of the month, before the expiry of Trump's 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners, including a 26% tariff on India. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, currently in Switzerland for talks with European trade partners, said India is prepared to proceed with the deal by first addressing simpler issues. The next phase of negotiations could tackle more complex matters, with the goal of signing the first tranche of the bilateral trade pact by September or October, the officials added. India resisted U.S. demands to open its markets to wheat, dairy and corn imports, while offering lower tariffs on high-value U.S. products such as almonds, pistachios and walnuts, one of the sources said. India also asked the U.S to revoke its 10% baseline tariff. However, the U.S. side opposed this, noting that even Britain was subject to this under its recent bilateral trade agreement. Trump says US doing 'big deals' with Pakistan, India Additionally, India sought an exemption for its steel exports from a 50% tariff. A potential 26% tariff on India would be devastating to Indian goods - including rice, shrimp, textiles and footwear, which together comprise nearly one-fifth of India's merchandise exports - and could severely hit exports and dampen foreign investment inflows. India has pledged to increase purchases of American goods, including energy products like liquefied natural gas, crude oil, coal and defence equipment. India's exports to the U.S. rose 28% to $37.7 billion in the first four months of 2025, while imports increased to $14.4 billion, widening India's trade surplus, according to U.S. government data.
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
India disrupting Indus Water flows: Musadik Malik
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik accused India of using dams to disrupt the flow of the Indus River system reported Bloomberg on Tuesday. 'India is manipulating the flow of rivers that run into Pakistan by holding and releasing, holding and then flooding,' he was quoted as saying during an interview with Bloomberg. The minister added how India lacks the storage capacity to completely stop the water, noting that when the water was needed for crop sowing, 'it was not available' over the past month. He also said their neighbour was doing this 'to disturb crop patterns and the food security of Pakistan'. Following the April 22 attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered officials to expedite planning and execution of projects on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers, three bodies of water in the Indus system that are designated primarily for Pakistan's use, reported Reuters. About 80% of Pakistani farms depend on the Indus system, as do nearly all hydropower projects serving the country of some 250 million. Any efforts by Delhi to build dams, canals or other infrastructure that would withhold or divert significant amount of flow from the Indus system to India 'would take years to realise,' said water security expert David Michel of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. There will be no compromise on water, says Bilawal Meanwhile, in the interview, Malik added, 'Because they don't have storage dams, they have not been able to materially affect us.' 'If they start to build storage dams, it would be deemed as an act of war,' he said.
