Stuck in a Loop: The Sisyphean Cycle of Pakistan’s Power Sector

Stuck in a loop: The Sisyphean cycle of Pakistan’s power sector

Albert Camus, a French philosopher, once wrote about Sisyphus, a king condemned by the Greek gods to push a boulder up a hill. Only, to his torment, the boulder rolled back down every time it reached the top, trapping him in an endless cycle. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s recent announcement of Pakistan’s largest financing arrangement — a Rs1.225 trillion deal with 18 local banks to settle power-sector arrears — echoes this tragic myth. …

The Sisyphean Task of Welfare Reform

e all know the Greek myth about Sisyphus, condemned to roll his boulder endlessly uphill, only to watch it tumble down each time he nears the summit. It comes to mind when I look at Louise Upston, the minister responsible for welfare (or “social development” as we call it in New Zealand). Few people have