Muhammad Ashfaq

A Bibliophile with interest in economic & social development. RTs are not endorsements

[Aamer Abdullah @AamerAbdullah]

The #pakid app of @NadraPak is basically useless as it won’t let the citizen sign into it due to a flawed fingerprint recognition module. There is no workaround for it and the complaint menu asks you to look up the homepage of the website

[Mind Mechanics @MindMechanicsX]

14 HARVARD TECHNIQUES to be better than 90% of people

1. The 5-second rule

[Muhammad Ashfaq @MASHFAQKHAN73]

Very interesting debate. Comments are welcome

[Yousuf Nazar @YousufNazar]

The World Bank's new report, *Strengthening Fiscal Federalism in Pakistan*, gets its own data wrong on the central claim. It says provincial revenues, including transfers, rose from under 4% of GDP to 6.5% between FY10 and FY24. But that measures gross receipts, not actual transfers as a share of total federal revenue — which has fallen over the past decade.

I am really surprised the World Bank analysts cannot do such a simple analysis. The table shows the correct position. The data is based on official budget documents available on the website of the ministry of finance.

Net of surplus, transfers to the provinces under the NFC have fallen on every measure over the past decade. As a share of GDP, they dropped from 5.86% in 2015-16 to 4.90% in 2025-26. As a share of total federal revenue, they fell from 44.2% to 34.3%. As a share of federal tax revenues, they fell from 56.1% to 47.8%.

The Bank never examines this distinction. Without it, the report's core diagnosis — that provinces got richer while the federal government starved — doesn't hold.

The World Bank also has no standing to lecture on tax reform. Its Tax Administration Reform Project (2005) had $150 million approved and was rated "moderately unsatisfactory" when it closed.

It followed with Pakistan Raises Revenue (2019), $400 million approved, later expanded to $470 million in 2025; only about $102 million had been disbursed by 2020, and tax-to-GDP fell from 13% to 11% in the project's first year.

A further fiscal reform programme, $600 million approved in December 2025 (part of a $1.35 billion package including $100 million for Sindh), has disbursed nothing and launched no activities as of May 2026. Three attempts, two decades — and Pakistan's tax-to-GDP ratio remains lower than when the lending began.

Given the World Bank’s own poor track record in advising the government, I wonder why the media gives so much importance and coverage to its analysis.

The deeper problem is federal debt, not provincial transfers. Why did we borrow $1.6 billion (out of total project cost of $2 billion) from Chinese banks for Lahore's Orange Line? Commercial foreign-currency loans should fund export-oriented investment only, not urban transit with no dollar earnings to service the debt.

Provincial spending quality is a separate subject. As I wrote last year in various articles, outcomes in education have barely moved in sixteen years despite the revenue increase the Bank itself documents.

Bottom line: the NFC debate misses the point: revenue-sharing formulas dominate the conversation while local governments remain unempowered, leaving fiscal federalism dysfunctional and distant from citizens.

https://t.co/BBjG510iq0

[🇺🇸 🦅Simple Man 🦅🇺🇸 @Soaringeagle45]

My wife texted me from work…

Her…Are you watching that new serial killer documentary on Netflix?

Me…I am…just started episode 3

Her…Great, pause it at 21 minutes and 8 seconds

Me…Ok, paused, it’s at the crime scene in the living room

Her…Right! Do you see the blood spatter on the wall near the fireplace?

Me…Yeah, it’s pretty gruesome

Her…Look just to the left of the fireplace mantle…do you see where the natural light is hitting the wall?

Me…Yes

Her…That’s the exact shade of sage green I want for the guest bathroom

[Pakistan Customs - DG Communications & PR @Pak_Customs]

For June 2026, Pakistan Customs achieved its highest-ever monthly revenue collection, exceeding its Customs Duty target by 10%. Total taxes on imports reached Rs. 467 billion, up 33%, while Customs Duty collection stood at Rs. 158 billion against a target of Rs. 144 billion.

[Aslam Chaudhry | Public Voice 🇵🇰 @AslamChaudhry3]

Has SR West (D-12) been forgotten?
For 5 years, residents have endured a damaged road that is destroying vehicles and risking accidents. If funds for complete recarpeting are unavailable, immediate patchwork is the least taxpayer deserves.Sir @SohailAshrafGor Please act now
#CDA

[Muhammad Ashfaq @MASHFAQKHAN73]

@Nabeel1124 I think it depends on the price, if it is viable in Pakistan, they may launch in a year or so.

[saud usmani @saudusmani]

دمک رہے ہیں سر دشت نقش ِپائے حسین
ہوا میں گونج رہی ہے ابھی صدائے حسین

اور اب تو حشر کے دن تک یہ دو مثالیں ہیں
وہ بے وفائی ِکوفہ ہے ، یہ وفائے حسین

دہکتی خاک پہ بادل بچھا دیا کس نے
پڑی ہے تپتی ہوئی ریت پر ردائے حسین
1/3
#سعودعثمانی

[World of Statistics @stats_feed]

⚽ FIFA World Cup Balls: Manufacturing Locations

2026 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2022 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2018 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2014 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
2010 — China 🇨🇳
2006 — Thailand 🇹🇭
2002 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1998 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1994 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1990 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1986 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1982 — Pakistan 🇵🇰
1978 — West Germany 🇩🇪
1974 — West Germany 🇩🇪
1970 — West Germany 🇩🇪
1966 — England 🇬🇧
1962 — Chile 🇨🇱
1958 — Sweden 🇸🇪
1954 — Switzerland 🇨🇭
1950 — Brazil 🇧🇷
1938 — France 🇫🇷
1934 — Italy 🇮🇹
1930 — Uruguay 🇺🇾

[Muhammad Ashfaq @MASHFAQKHAN73]

I am glad someone is trying to tell the other side of the story as well 👍

[Zehra Farooq @ZehraFarooq]

@81ShahbazRana Shahbaz sb., your questions reliably force a harder conversation than the one we default to. That is genuinely rare. Let me try to respond to this one not with popular rhetoric, but with established academic research, IMF-defined benchmarks, and global data. A thread. 🧵

[Blake Burge @blakeaburge]

Major cheat code for life: Learn to delay your reaction. Anger, fear, and impulse will try to make you move fast. There's power in pausing. In the pause, you see clearly, you respond wisely, and you avoid decisions you'll regret. Slow down to speed up.

[Musadaq Zulqarnain @MusadaqZ]

A very welcome step by the Govt. Complete abolition of Super Tax on export income, coupled with the PM’s clear direction to facilitate export-led growth, sends a strong positive signal to investors and exporters

The journey is not complete, but the direction is right
@PakPMO
@CMShehbaz
@Financegovpk
@jam_kamal
@Pak_MoIP
@betterpakistan
@BilalAKayani
@FBRSpokesperson
@sifcpakistan

[Muhammad Ashfaq @MASHFAQKHAN73]

A prompt action by CDA will be highly appreciated @ChairmanCda @SohailAshrafGor

[Aslam Chaudhry | Public Voice 🇵🇰 @AslamChaudhry3]

@CDAthecapital
Sir, @SohailAshrafGor
Most rain drain chambers & Nallah in D-12 and all drains on the Northern Strip of E-12 are blocked. Kindly arrange urgent cleaning before the monsoon to prevent damage to roads and streets.

Your kind intervention will be highly appreciated.

[Anas Mallick @AnasMallick]

Those who said words about Pakistan led mediation process and said that Qatar has taken over the process should see this picture.

This Picture of Pak PM holding the signed Islamabad MoU has just ONE other signatory besides the two parties, and that is Pakistan and not any other country.

[Muhammad Ashfaq @MASHFAQKHAN73]

@Nabeel1124 Ministry of Finance is not the problem

[Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz]

I am honoured to announce that the historic ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ has been electronically signed today between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Memorandum has been signed by honourable Presidents of both the countries and also endorsed by me as the mediator. The signing of this agreement at the highest level of the respective governments demonstrates the commitment of both sides to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict. Islamabad MoU shall enter into force with immediate effect and as a first step, Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade.

I offer my heartfelt congratulations and sincere appreciation to the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump whose steadfast commitment to diplomacy and preference for peaceful resolution have once again helped end a conflict that could have led to devastating consequences for the region and beyond. I also commend the dedication and tireless efforts of the United States negotiating team, including J.D. Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, for their invaluable contributions to this achievement.

I express my profound respect and appreciation to His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Islamic Republic of Iran and President Masoud Pezeshkian for their wisdom, foresight and statesmanship in embracing the cause of peace. I also wish to recognize the efforts of the Iranian negotiating team, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi and Eskandar Momeni, whose patience, perseverance and commitment to constructive engagement were instrumental in bringing this agreement to fruition.

I would especially like to acknowledge the sincere efforts and constructive engagement of the leadership of the State of Qatar in helping reach this point. I also highly commend the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Türkiye and the Arab Republic of Egypt for their indispensable role and invaluable contributions in this regard.

I would also like to make special mention of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, whose tireless efforts, selfless dedication and instrumental role were critical in facilitating this breakthrough and advancing the cause of peace and regional stability.

May this Memorandum of Understanding serve as an enduring foundation for greater understanding, mutual respect and shared prosperity for the complete region.

@realDonaldTrump
@JDVance
@SecRubio
@SteveWitkoff
@SEPeaceMissions
@drpezeshkian
@mb_ghalibaf
@araghchi

[Muhammad Ashfaq @MASHFAQKHAN73]

From Security of Islamabad point of view covering Sector D-12 with Safe City Cameras is very important. Hope it will be considered

[Aslam Chaudhry | Public Voice 🇵🇰 @AslamChaudhry3]

@MohsinnaqviC42
@MOIofficialGoP
@ICT_Police D-12 is covered by Safe City cameras at only one location (SR East), which is insufficient. Cameras should also be installed on Service Road North and West, as D-12 is open from all four sides and requires better security coverage.

[Iftikhar Firdous @IftikharFirdous]

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, said in an address to the National Assembly that Pakistan will host the official ceremony for the peace deal between the US and Iran in Geneva on June 19. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi held separate phone calls with Turkish, Egyptian and Iraqi foreign ministers to discuss the MoU with the US and to appreciate their role and positions in this regard.

[Muhammad Ashfaq @MASHFAQKHAN73]

Shukar Alhamdulillah

[Shehbaz Sharif @CMShehbaz]

Following intensive talks, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran has been REACHED. Both sides have declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

The official signing ceremony will be on Friday, 19 June in Switzerland.

We would like to thank the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in this mediation effort, the great leadership of State of Qatar, for their support in reaching this agreement. I would also especially thank the visionary leadership of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Republic of Türkiye for their immense contributions in this regard.

With the agreement now in place, mediators will facilitate a series of meetings this week. These pre-implementation discussions will lay the foundation for the technical talks and the official signing ceremony.

@realDonaldTrump
@JDVance
@SecRubio
@SteveWitkoff
@SEPeaceMissions
@drpezeshkian
@mb_ghalibaf
@araghchi