INGOs and the local factor
Restrictions on labour movement and the free flight of capital across national boundaries is the fundamental contradiction of globalisation. All visa regulations are driven by an unwritten principle which advocates…
Flight of the flamingos
According to the ‘standard’ theory on state formation and development, usually the first step in the emergence of a nascent ‘state’ historically has been when a ruler, more often than…
Pakistan’s poverty conundrum
The World Bank’s 2025 assessment delivers a sobering reality check: In 2025, the extreme poverty rate in Pakistan, measured by the World Bank’s $3.00/day poverty line, is 16.5 per cent.…
Aid-driven policies
RECENTLY, Dr Faisal Bari and a colleague published an insightful article in this paper (‘Evidence for policy’, Feb 14, 2025), raising a pertinent question: why is the vast amount of…
Nareri Lake’s silent decline
Local fisherman Aslam Mallah laments, “We used to make a decent living catching fish from the lake, but now it feels like there is nothing left for us. Even the…
In smoke and shadows
Pakistan is grappling with a critical issue – a rampant illicit cigarette trade, dominated by non-taxpaying local manufacturers. This underground market not only drains vital tax revenue but also undermines…
Myth defeats market
First, the ‘good news!’: Pakistan’s recent loss of a $20 million export contract to Sudan is not just a financial setback but a significant blow to its economy. This lucrative…
Out of breath
PICTURE yourself residing in a lavish mansion, boasting a multiple-digit price tag, in the heart of the city’s most exclusive neighbourhood. Despite the opulence, the very essence of life for…
Snakes without ladders
LAST week, the villagers of Pandhi Khan Khoso and Sakhi Humza Khoso were told that they should return to their villages. The water, they were told, had been drained. Their…
Karachi’s biophilia
‘BIOPHILIA’, a concept coined by Harvard naturalist Dr Edward O. Wilson, encapsulates the intrinsic human tendency to be drawn to life and lifelike processes. This inclination involves a profound connection,…
