raiha

Episode 76 – Digitizing the Retail Industry

Uzair talks to Wahaj Ahmed, co-founder of Retailo, about the startup, its growth plans, and how it is looking to digitize small businesses in Pakistan’s retail sector. They also talked about what it takes to excel at a startup, and how recent graduates can get their foot in the door at a startup like Retailo….

Read More

Episode 75 – Institutional Reforms & the Afghanistan Situation

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Hussain Nadim about reforming institutions in Pakistan, why bureaucrats still use fax to send documents, and how data can be used to better inform policy. We also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan towards the tail end of the episode, where Dr. Nadim shared his views on Pakistan’s…

Read More

Episode 74 – Pakistan Outlook: 2021 and Beyond

Ariba Shahid returns to the podcast to talk about what is going on in Pakistan, including the successee of the NCOC and Ehsas Program, as well as the constant changes in the finance ministry.

Read More

Episode 73 – Impact of Taliban’s Takeover on Pakistan

The last few days have been a whirlwind for Afghanistan and its people. With the Taliban seizing control over Kabul and America withdrawing from its longest war, there are fears that regional instability will only increase in the coming days. In this episode, Uzair talks to Fahd Humayun about what the Taliban’s military win mean…

Read More

Episode 72 – Bangladesh Outlook: 2021 and Beyond

Bangladesh has had the fastest rate of economic growth during the pandemic in the subcontinent, despite the fact that its export sector has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Despite its success story, however, the country continues to face serious challenges which may upend the country’s growth story. In this episode, Uzair talks to Atif…

Read More

Episode 71 – Abhi: Improving Financial Wellness

Uzair talks to Omair Ansari, CEO and Co-Founder of Abhi, about the startup’s mission, growth plans, and how younger folks can set themselves up to thrive in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. Abhi is a Karachi-based salary advance platform that has recently raised $2 million in a seed round. Founded by Omair Ansari and Ali Ladhubhai Abhi…

Read More

Episode 70 – Wheat Production and Imports

This episode digs deep into Pakistan’s wheat market, discussing the recent output figures, why the government wants to import additional wheat, buildup of commodity debt, and the utter lack of detailed data to help policymakers plan for a sector that has a tremendous impact on tens of millions of households across the country. Note: Adil…

Read More

Episode 69 – From BCCI to Alfalah: A Banker’s Journey

Uzair talks to Azmat Khan about his banking career, which started at the BCCI in the 1970s. In the 1990s, Azmat Khan played a pivotal role in building the personal relationships that deepened Pakistan’s strategic ties with the UAE, following which he helped setup and expand Bank Alfalah in Pakistan.

Read More

Episode 68 – Afghanistan After The U.S. Withdrawal

Uzair talks to Sameer Lalwani about the evolving situation in Afghanistan, prospects for peace following the U.S. withdrawal from the country, and the role regional powers are and can play in ensuring peace and stability in the country. Sameer Lalwani is a Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center…

Read More

Episode 67 – Pakistan’s Political Economy

Conversation with Dr. Ilhan Niaz Uzair talks to Dr. Ilhan Niaz about the structural underpinnings of Pakistan’s political economy and how things are eerily similar to the way the economy functioned during the British colonial era. This conversation focuses on Dr. Niaz’s recently-published paper “Pakistan’s search for a successful model of national political economy” which…

Read More