Swinging Quetta – 1950s/60s
In 2007, my niece suggested that a family entourage drive up to Quetta/Ziarat over a long weekend. I tried to dissuade her, suggesting instead Dubai. But she prevailed (one can't…
Where is Brand Pakistan?
We live in a world of brands. The cars we drive, mobile phones we use, outfits and colognes we wear, accessories we carry, and fancy foods we consume are mostly…
Monopolies and markets
One frequently reads or hears about the need for the structural transformation of the economy by means of which the institutions or people advocating such reforms usually emphasise changes in…
Bureaucracy in turmoil
The manner in which politicians and civil servants in Punjab have protested against NAB’s decision to arrest a senior government functionary reeks of the tailspin into which our bureaucracy has…
The secret to happiness
America’s oft-quoted Declaration of Independence, when discussing “unalienable rights,” focused on “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Although “happiness” is rarely referred to by today’s government officials, the general…
Towards a quasi military-civilian regime
he prime minister is embroiled in a crisis every other day as real power slips away from him and shifts to a powerful and consistent space-grabber. Are we witnessing a…
Gender and knowledge production
Several months back, a conference on the subject of Islamic thought was held at my university, featuring some of the most preeminent scholars in the field. While the organisers were…
Devaluation and the ego
There is a sense amongst many prominent policymakers in Pakistan, particularly the finance minister, that Pakistan’s currency, in particular its exchange rate, is a sign of one’s ego. Official statements…
Soul of education
The education system in Pakistan is deeply flawed. It produces graduates who are either incapable of representing our socio-cultural ideals or incompetent to do anything worthwhile in the field of…
Era of strategic adjustment
At a time of shifting global power dynamics, a conference organised by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) offered an instructive tour d’ horizon of the world’s strategic…
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