A social contract
WATCHING the news recently, I heard the IG of Punjab Police berating women for having the audacity to be out protesting in public. He used the damning word ‘modern’ to…
Social security for all
The province of Sindh, characterized by its diverse economic framework, encompasses a substantial labour force integral to its industrial and service sectors. According to the most recent Labour Force Survey,…
Towards a new eco-social contract
At the recent UNFPA Asia-Pacific Leadership Conference, I had the honour of moderating a panel discussion on demographic diversity. The panel discussion delved into the complexities of developing new business…
Textile sector: sustainable business practices
One of the most important industrial sectors, the textiles industry contributes significantly to national economies, job creation, and exports in developing nations such as Pakistan. The size of the global…
Pandemic stirs Wall Street’s social conscience
Worker welfare is having a moment on Wall Street. The need to restart production lines and reopen offices idled by the coronavirus pandemic mean issues such as sick pay and…
Plot practices
PANDEMONIUM has been unleashed in the print and electronic media regarding the allotment of prize land parcels in Islamabad territory to members of the judiciary, bureaucracy and high-ups in government.…
Now censorship of social media
The insecurity and paranoia of the establishment increasingly on display is about to ‘conquer’ new heights (or lows, if you prefer). Having muzzled and gagged the mainstream media through financial…
Poverty and social protection
Last week I met with some senior officials of an international financial institution at the Cabinet Division in Islamabad. We discussed, at length, some core issues related to poverty alleviation…
Best practices
Perhaps you have seen news stories about international studies that evaluate countries on their levels of happiness, equality, health, openness, freedom, opportunity, and being a good place to live. In…
Our social policy choices
Pakistan is an emerging democracy that has tremendous potential to overcome its political and socioeconomic problems. The democratic process over the past decade has helped improve Pakistan’s image as a…
