Pakistan’s flood: The economic cost
We look at Pakistan’s economy, the BlackBerry ban, and stranded workers in Dubai.
Pakistan’s economy was in a desperate state before the floods devastated large swaths of the country.
Its fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban has cost it more than $35bn, and the government has been forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial assistance.
Pakistan is on track to get $11.3bn and it received billions more from the international community.
Kamal Hyder is in South Punjab, an economically important region as it is the bread basket of the country.
We also speak to Sayem Ali, an economist at Standard Chartered, who reveals this could have all been avoidable.
Counting the Cost also looks at the battle between BlackBerry and a whole host of nations from the United Arab Emirate (UAE) to India over access to the smartphone-maker’s communications networks. Who will crack first?
And the dream of a better life has driven many to travel overseas to find work. But what is the reality?
Last week Dan Nolan came across workers in Dubai who had been stranded after their employer ran off with their passports and pay. But that has not stopped more workers from India wanting to travel to the Middle East. Prerna Suri had their story from Kerala.
Counting the Cost can be seen each week at the following times GMT: Friday: 1430, 2130; Saturday: 0430, 1230, 1900; Sunday: 0230, 1630; Monday: 0830.