Occupational safety
ONE of the most neglected areas of governance in Pakistan is that of inspection and monitoring of the labour force employed in hazardous occupations. The highest incidence of injuries occurs…
Healthcare hazard
Hwalthcare acquired infection (HAI) is on the rise worldwide. This is an infection acquired by a patient in a hospital or other healthcare facility, meaning that the HAI was not…
Of ministers and secretaries
This piece is about the imperative need for harmony between politicians and bureaucracy. The unanimity must not be of protecting self-interest, but of the passion to serve selflessly the Nation. The…
The boy on the train
Some lives become mirrors of history, reflecting the great upheavals of their time not in grand gestures, but in quiet moments of loss, longing and unexpected grace. My father, Imtiazullah…
Adieu Khaled Ahmed!
My friend, Editor, journalist of 40 years standing, Khaled Ahmed passed away on Sunday night, November 17, 2024. He had been ill with an array of old age afflictions for…
A plethora of issues
Normally one tries to focus on one critical issue that appears to be central when sitting down to pen these columns. However, such is the state of things in Pakistan…
The unravelling of Imran?
As I waited for our luggage at the baggage carousel of the Karachi airport earlier this week, getting readjusted to local disorder, someone put his hand on my shoulder. “I…
What the worker says
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is an area where one would expect much better labour laws and working conditions compared to other parts of the country. Sadly, this is not…
Outdoor workers seek protection as heatwave scorches Europe
The death of a Madrid street sweeper from heatstroke during the heatwave gripping Europe shows the dangers outdoor workers face from extreme temperatures. With heatwaves predicted to become more frequent…
Safety rules
By a 6 to 3 vote, with liberal justices in dissent, the Supreme Court yesterday from enforcing a vaccine-or-testing mandate for large employers. (The court upheld a more modest mandate…
