Pandemic planning
WE finally have confirmation: at the time of writing, there are at least four confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Pakistan. One of the patients travelled to Iran and was exhibiting symptoms…
Local planning
ALL reforms are local and must be contextualised. Oft-quoted in the literature on local-level reforms, Micklethwait and Wooldridge point out that “the state is an incredibly blunt instrument; it gets…
Girls in the classroom
The PTI government has thankfully completed its first 100 days in office amid the commotion of lofty claims, the search for a way out of the woods, and an oscillation…
A time bomb of illiteracy
Undergoing a protracted politico-economic conflict with Islamabad, Balochistan is a ticking time bomb of multiple social disasters. With immense strategic importance, abundance of natural resources, an over 700km long coastline…
Investing in midwives
Pakistan observed the International Day of the Midwife on May 5, which also marked the 100th anniversary of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) that together with the UNFPA and…
Pakistan’s generational shift
Last year saw the publication of ‘Womansplaining – Navigating Activism, Politics and Modernity in Pakistan,’ a book edited by Federal Minister Sherry Rehman to which I was able to contribute…
Elevated whimsy
An elevated expressway has been planned from the middle of the city of Lahore to ease the exit from the center of the city, thus joining the Ravi toll plaza.…
The forever problem
Education is good! Everyone in the world, except people like the Taliban, agrees to that. The question that remains is: where do countries, particularly countries like ours that lag far…
Industry 4.0 in Pakistan
Industry 4.0 can be called the Fourth Industrial Revolution that introduces relevant improvements to be integrated into smart and future factories. This will lead to the fusing of the digital…
How to deal with heatwaves
Pakistan is facing record-breaking temperatures and a prolonged heatwave since March this year, leading to a major impact on society, environment, work hours and the economy. The city of Jacobabad…
