Complex processes
THE least a state must know about its citizens is the date of their birth and the date they expire — also a legal requirement for all perishable products in…
Bureaucratic varsities
Public-sector universities are the only hope of those from the middle class for a better future in Pakistan. However, across Pakistan, varsities are facing financial cuts and their autonomy is…
The HEC’s outmoded processes
Every few days, former HEC officials lament the lack of funding to the HEC in the context of a burgeoning youth population. No amount of money is enough for them;…
PMDC under fire over fee structure of private medical colleges
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) came under severe criticism on Tuesday as members of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination questioned its authority…
Stuck in the Stone Age
Pakistan’s governance system seems proper stuck in the first half of the 20th century. While much of the world has embraced devolved governance and digital public service delivery mechanisms, citizens…
SOEs: performance & accountability
The World Bank’s recent report, titled ‘Pakistan Development Update, fiscal impact of Federal State-Owned Enterprises’, highlights a significant improvement in our economy, attributed mainly to enhanced and better management strategies,…
Data revolution for SDGs
Last month, I attended two workshops organized by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on user-producer dialogue to sense data needs and calibrate with statistical products – a commendable step…
How to reform trade
Pakistan’s economy faces a pivotal juncture, marked by the imperative need to reassess its import tariff structure. Recent trade data underscores the urgency for policy reforms to stimulate economic growth,…
The road forward
Pakistan today faces a myriad of problems that range from poor governance systems, lack of proper long-term planning, uncontrolled increase in population, and water shortages to a poor educational system,…
Aid as a development imperative
The US administration has threatened that aid to Pakistan will be scaled back further if their 'do more' instructions are met with a lacklustre response. Interestingly, the people of the…
