Category Human Development Studies

Poverty-related projects face closure

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) total loan commitment to Pakistan since commencement of its operations in 1968 and up to December 31, 2006, comprised 239 public sector loans amounting to $16.3 billion. The sectoral composition of this assistance was: 21.5…

Subsidy to benefit rich farmers

The subsidy for the agriculture sector announced by the government in the budget for the current fiscal year aims at increasing farm output but does not attack rural poverty. Though most view the subsidy on farm inputs as an official…

Issues in agricultural pricing

AGRICULTURAL pricing is a subject of lively debate. It has evoked divergent views, ranging from a forceful advocacy of support prices for key agricultural commodities and subsidies for major inputs to complete liberalisation of prices and reliance upon the market…

Will Safta get launched January 1?

WILL Safta get launched January 1? Will it become operational as stipulated? It’s a big question mark, even after years of preparations and rhetoric to get going and expand regional trade through South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta). When the…

Small growers at the mercy of middlemen

MIDDLEMEN are individuals/business concerns who perform various marketing functions involved in the purchase and sale of goods as these move from producers to consumers. They are classified as commission agents, brokers, wholesalers and retailers. The middlemen play the role of…