People, economics and security
The slight improvement in Pakistan's economy is welcome — especially as it comes some months before the next budget is due. Everyone in Pakistan wishes for nothing more than an…
Tribal issues
Tribal feuds in Upper Sindh have turned the region into a battlefield, claiming hundreds of innocent lives and exposing the alarming absence of the writ of the law. The recent…
Unpacking Sindh’s dacoit crisis
The riverine stretch of the Indus River, from Guddu to Kotri Barrage, and the Kirthar Range in Sindh have historically been a hotbed for dacoits and outlaws. During the 1980s…
What drives crime?
Crime disrupts the societal fabric, undermining peace and stability. Understanding the factors that lead individuals to adopt criminal behavior is crucial. A personal survey of 150 inmates in the central…
Apocalypse now
MAKE no mistake, we are currently in the midst of the greatest ‘natural’ disaster we have ever experienced. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), over 900 people are…
District disparities and gender shifts
The Council of Common Interest (CCI) approved the summary findings of the 7th Population and Housing Census during its 50th meeting on August 5, 2023. A gazette notification was made…
Religious minorities’ woes
Amidst all the kerfuffle about general elections looming on the horizon, our attention has been diverted (inadvertently or deliberately?) from the continuing plight of religious minorities in our society. Consider.…
Travesty of justice
The traditional council, or ‘jirga’, is known by different names in different languages in Pakistan – ‘faislo’ in Sindh and ‘panchayat’ in Punjab. The word ‘jirga’ is derived from the…
Rivals and revivals
The recent local government elections in Karachi are a testament to one undeniable fact: the city has had a change of heart and the Pakistan Peoples Party has emerged victorious.…
Local bodies in Sindh
As the PPP celebrates its thumping victory in the first phase of Sindh’s local government elections held in 14 districts on June 26, the opposition parties are crying foul after…
