Economistan - Economic Analysis Think Tank

Saad Sarwar Muhammad

SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | GOVERNMENT | OCTOBER 27, 2009
Pakistan has Given Reverse Aid to the US Worth $5.1 billion Since
2006
"Military Expense" Incurred by the US or "Military Aid"
Much hue and cry has been made out of the Aid US has given to Pakistan over the 
years. However, all this Aid amounts to pittance when we realize that US has given 
Pakistan over a period of 60 years only $8.9 billion dollars in economic assistance. 
This amount is less than even the remittances...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | RELIGION | AUGUST 20, 2009
Management Theories from Islam
Managing and Leading in Islam
The management theories of Islam as espoused and practiced by the pioneers of 
Islam, might be centuries old but they still hold to this day as some of the best 
ways of managing and leading.The concept of theory Y managers is demonstrated 
by the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) personal...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | ECONOMY | AUGUST 12, 2009
Pakistan's Energy Crunch Hits Harder
Harnessing the Enormous Power of Nature to Propel Pakistan into the Future
Pakistan is facing an acute energy shortage mainly caused by lack of proper 
planning and vision for the future. Pakistan can become a strong and vibrant 
economy only if we have a vision for Pakistan as a “fossil  fuel-less” country. 
If we just ponder for a second... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | POLITICS | AUGUST 8, 2009
Billion Dollar US Embassy in Islamabad and the Threat to 
Pakistan's Sovereignty
It is Time for the US to Go Home and Leave Pakistan Alone
It has been reported that the United States has been  involved in creating and 
supporting secessionist movement in Balochistan along  with promoting unrest 
in northern Pakistan by supporting some Taliban elements  in Swat. Many news 
sources have mentioned that the insurgency... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | FOOTLOOSE | AUGUST 3, 2009
My Journey to Iowa - Part I
The I-35 Expedition
My friend from high school had invited me to visit Iowa. He  had visited me
in Oklahoma while I was studying in the University of  Central Oklahoma. My friend
had recently transferred to Iowa State University  for a bachelor degree in Computer
Engineering from Pakistan. My  university on interstate I-35 was... Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | JUNE 11, 2009
Sherwood Forest Has Never Been Greener: Rise of the Open 
Source Movement 
Netbooks and the New Open Source Movement Converts
The Open Source Movement (OSM) has come a long way since the  inception of 
the concept by computer geeks and programmers as an alternative to proprietary
software where intellectual property rights are not impugned with  the use and free 
distribution of the software.... Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | CURRENCIES AND COMMODITIES | MARCH 14, 2009
Currency Anomalies and Commodity Boom 
Rise and Fall of Currencies
Currency markets have had a rough year for the past twelve  months where all the
major currencies have declined with respect to the US  dollar. Chinese Yuan is the 
only exception amongst major currencies. The reason  for the appreciation for the
Chinese currency is the strength of its export related... Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | BANKING AND FINANCE | FEBRUARY 20, 2009
Islamic Banking and Finance: Historical Perspective and Future
Orientation 
Profiting from Prophetic Teachings
Islamic  banking and finance had its major beginnings in the year 1975 with the  
establishment of the Islamic Development Bank. Islamic banking has flourished in
various countries since then with Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, Pakistan and Saudi 
Arabia being in the forefront. Islamic banking has also... Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | FREE MARKETS | NOVEMBER 17, 2008
Opportunities for Pakistan in the Global Financial Slump 
Light at the End of the Tunnel
The whole world is undergoing a major financial crisis which has caused  the 
downturn of almost all the developed world economies with job  losses, bailouts 
and financial losses becoming the order of the day. In  such unprecedented times 
of financial trouble the developed world is... Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | FREE MARKETS | OCTOBER 10, 2008
Pakistan's Market Policy
"No" to Floor Removal from KSE
Pakistan’s  main index, the Karachi Stock Market (KSE) has witnessed a dramatic
fall in  market capitalization during the year 2008; falling from a high of approx 16,000
points in April in a steep fall to 9,000 points in a span of a few  months. Resultantly,
the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE)...Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
Commies in Washington?
End of Free Markets
When Pakistan’s central bank blocked foreign currency  accounts to control the
flight of capital to foreign banks in the aftermath of  nuclear tests that it conducted,
it was considered as interventionist and the  measures were considered anti-economy
and opposed to what free markets were all  about. A similar thing...Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | SEPTEMBER 12, 2008
Pakistan's New Strategy
Curtailing supplies as a mean
 of deterrence.
In the light of the worsening situation at Pakistan's tribal areas and the repeated
violation of the international border of Pakistan by the US, it is imperative that Pakistan
evolve a strategy that would stop the gung-ho American crusader cowboys at their
tracks. American policy of attacking Pakistan's...Read More
SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | ENERGY | JULY 14, 2008
Pakistan's Energy Crunch
How to work through Pakistan's high
energy demands?
Cheap and reliable sources of energy are the driving force for any economy. In the
current climate of the world where the limited supply of fossil fuels and the high
energy demands is already causing havoc to the world economy, it is about time
we thought of alternative sources of energy...Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | APRIL 29, 2008
Pakistan: A Case for Small Government
Who will monitor the monitors?
“Who will monitor the monitors?”, a famous quote from the movie “Enemy of the State" 
starring Will Smith fits well with the case for small governments all around the world.
Pakistan’s way of dealing with its problems of ensuring quality is the same. Create
one authority after another...Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | GLOBALIZATION | APRIL 27, 2008
China, the World's Factory: From a Producer to a Consumer Economy
When a sale is not good enough.
They say that making a thing is easy, but selling it is the more difficult part. China
not only makes products for the entire world but sells it too. It is no surprise that
China’s economy has been growing with a double digit growth rate for the past 
twenty years...Read MoreSAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD | ECONOMY | APRIL 26, 2008
Pakistan's Currency's Downward Spiral
How to save the spiraling rupee?
Pakistani rupee has been spiralling downwards against the dollar in the past few 
weeks touching Rs. 65 to a dollar. This at a time when most currencies in the world,
including those of the developing countries are showing a rise in value to the dollar.
Some of this decline...Read More


	Saad Sarwar Muhammad SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| GOVERNMENT \| OCTOBER 27, 2009 Pakistan has Given Reverse Aid to the US Worth $5.1 billion Since 2006 "Military Expense" Incurred by the US or "Military Aid" Much hue and cry has been made out of the Aid US has given to Pakistan over the years. However, all this Aid amounts to pittance when we realize that US has given Pakistan over a period of 60 years only $8.9 billion dollars in economic assistance. This amount is less than even the remittances...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| RELIGION \| AUGUST 20, 2009 Management Theories from Islam Managing and Leading in Islam The management theories of Islam as espoused and practiced by the pioneers of Islam, might be centuries old but they still hold to this day as some of the best ways of managing and leading.The concept of theory Y managers is demonstrated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) personal...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| ECONOMY \| AUGUST 12, 2009 Pakistan's Energy Crunch Hits Harder Harnessing the Enormous Power of Nature to Propel Pakistan into the Future Pakistan is facing an acute energy shortage mainly caused by lack of proper planning and vision for the future. Pakistan can become a strong and vibrant economy only if we have a vision for Pakistan as a “fossil fuel-less” country. If we just ponder for a second... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| POLITICS \| AUGUST 8, 2009 Billion Dollar US Embassy in Islamabad and the Threat to Pakistan's Sovereignty It is Time for the US to Go Home and Leave Pakistan Alone It has been reported that the United States has been involved in creating and supporting secessionist movement in Balochistan along with promoting unrest in northern Pakistan by supporting some Taliban elements in Swat. Many news sources have mentioned that the insurgency... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| FOOTLOOSE \| AUGUST 3, 2009 My Journey to Iowa - Part I The I-35 Expedition My friend from high school had invited me to visit Iowa. He had visited me in Oklahoma while I was studying in the University of Central Oklahoma. My friend had recently transferred to Iowa State University for a bachelor degree in Computer Engineering from Pakistan. My university on interstate I-35 was... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY \| JUNE 11, 2009 Sherwood Forest Has Never Been Greener: Rise of the Open Source Movement Netbooks and the New Open Source Movement Converts The Open Source Movement (OSM) has come a long way since the inception of the concept by computer geeks and programmers as an alternative to proprietary software where intellectual property rights are not impugned with the use and free distribution of the software.... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| CURRENCIES AND COMMODITIES \| MARCH 14, 2009 Currency Anomalies and Commodity Boom Rise and Fall of Currencies Currency markets have had a rough year for the past twelve months where all the major currencies have declined with respect to the US dollar. Chinese Yuan is the only exception amongst major currencies. The reason for the appreciation for the Chinese currency is the strength of its export related... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| BANKING AND FINANCE \| FEBRUARY 20, 2009 Islamic Banking and Finance: Historical Perspective and Future Orientation Profiting from Prophetic Teachings Islamic banking and finance had its major beginnings in the year 1975 with the establishment of the Islamic Development Bank. Islamic banking has flourished in various countries since then with Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia being in the forefront. Islamic banking has also... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| FREE MARKETS \| NOVEMBER 17, 2008 Opportunities for Pakistan in the Global Financial Slump Light at the End of the Tunnel The whole world is undergoing a major financial crisis which has caused the downturn of almost all the developed world economies with job losses, bailouts and financial losses becoming the order of the day. In such unprecedented times of financial trouble the developed world is... Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| FREE MARKETS \| OCTOBER 10, 2008 Pakistan's Market Policy "No" to Floor Removal from KSE Pakistan’s main index, the Karachi Stock Market (KSE) has witnessed a dramatic fall in market capitalization during the year 2008; falling from a high of approx 16,000 points in April in a steep fall to 9,000 points in a span of a few months. Resultantly, the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE)...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| SEPTEMBER 22, 2008 Commies in Washington? End of Free Markets When Pakistan’s central bank blocked foreign currency accounts to control the flight of capital to foreign banks in the aftermath of nuclear tests that it conducted, it was considered as interventionist and the measures were considered anti-economy and opposed to what free markets were all about. A similar thing...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 Pakistan's New Strategy Curtailing supplies as a mean of deterrence. In the light of the worsening situation at Pakistan's tribal areas and the repeated violation of the international border of Pakistan by the US, it is imperative that Pakistan evolve a strategy that would stop the gung-ho American crusader cowboys at their tracks. American policy of attacking Pakistan's...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| ENERGY \| JULY 14, 2008 Pakistan's Energy Crunch How to work through Pakistan's high energy demands? Cheap and reliable sources of energy are the driving force for any economy. In the current climate of the world where the limited supply of fossil fuels and the high energy demands is already causing havoc to the world economy, it is about time we thought of alternative sources of energy...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| APRIL 29, 2008 Pakistan: A Case for Small Government Who will monitor the monitors? “Who will monitor the monitors?”, a famous quote from the movie “Enemy of the State" starring Will Smith fits well with the case for small governments all around the world. Pakistan’s way of dealing with its problems of ensuring quality is the same. Create one authority after another...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| GLOBALIZATION \| APRIL 27, 2008 China, the World's Factory: From a Producer to a Consumer Economy When a sale is not good enough. They say that making a thing is easy, but selling it is the more difficult part. China not only makes products for the entire world but sells it too. It is no surprise that China’s economy has been growing with a double digit growth rate for the past twenty years...Read More SAAD SARWAR MUHAMMAD \| ECONOMY \| APRIL 26, 2008 Pakistan's Currency's Downward Spiral How to save the spiraling rupee? Pakistani rupee has been spiralling downwards against the dollar in the past few weeks touching Rs. 65 to a dollar. This at a time when most currencies in the world, including those of the developing countries are showing a rise in value to the dollar. Some of this decline...Read More