Cash, Votes and Hunger: The Politics of Pakistan's Handouts
BISP rises to Rs 844.8 billion. Is it a plan for the poor, or a machine for votes? I read the numbers, and I tell you what I believe.
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BISP rises to Rs 844.8 billion. Is it a plan for the poor, or a machine for votes? I read the numbers, and I tell you what I believe.

The US DOJ has released previously withheld FBI files from the Epstein investigation containing a woman's unverified allegations that President Trump sexually assaulted her when she was 13–15 years old. The files were missing from the mandatory public database — only discovered after investigations by NPR and CNN. The DOJ claims it was a clerical error.

Pakistan Invoked Saudi Defence Pact to Deter Heavier Iranian Strikes, Says Dar ISN Global News Desk | Islamabad, March 4, 2026 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has revealed that Pakistan played a quiet but significant…

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What Was Pakistan's Foreign Exchange Reserves in March 2026? $21.79 billion verified, equivalent to approximately 3.6 months of import cover By Asad Baig · Lahore · May 2026 · Approx. 4-min read The short answer Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves stood at $21.79 billion in March 2026 per State Ba...

How Much Money Has the Roshan Digital Account Accumulated? $12.426 billion across 917,400 accounts in over 175 countries as of March 2026 By Asad Baig · Lahore · May 2026 · Approx. 4-min read The short answer The Roshan Digital Account has accumulated $12.426 billion in cumulative inflows since its...
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What Happened to Pakistani Reserves After 9/11? A 10x reserves growth from $1.7B to $16B in six years, but largely from US aid and remittance scrutiny rather than structural reform By Asad Baig · Lahore · May 2026 · Approx. 5-min read The short answer Pakistani foreign reserves grew from approximat...

What Were Foreign Exchange Bearer Certificates (FEBCs)? Government-issued anonymous bearer instruments introduced in 1973, the first legal money laundering tool in Pakistani history By Asad Baig · Lahore · May 2026 · Approx. 5-min read The short answer Foreign Exchange Bearer Certificates (FEBCs) w...

What Is FERA 1947 and How Did It Shape Pakistani Banking? The British colonial framework Pakistan inherited at independence and the two-tier system it established By Asad Baig · Lahore · May 2026 · Approx. 5-min read The short answer FERA stands for the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, originally e...

Why Was Pakistan Placed on the FATF Grey List in 2018? The terror financing and money laundering concerns that triggered the listing, and the four-year compliance journey By Asad Baig · Lahore · May 2026 · Approx. 5-min read The short answer Pakistan was placed on the FATF grey list in June 2018 du...

What Is the Roshan Digital Account and How Do I Open One? A direct answer for overseas Pakistanis with NICOP or POC documentation By Asad Baig · Lahore · May 2026 · Approx. 5-min read The short answer The Roshan Digital Account (RDA) is a fully digital foreign currency banking product launched by t...

Did the IMF Force Pakistan to Sign the 1994 Power Policy? A common defence of the 1994 contracts examined honestly. The short answer is no. The longer answer is more uncomfortable. By Asad Baig · Lahore · April 2026 · Approx. 5-min read The defence Whenever I write about the 1994 Power Policy, the...