The hunger challenge
The 2025 Global Hunger Index ranks Pakistan 106th out of 123 countries, with a score of 26.0, indicating a serious hunger situation. Nutrition International reports that around 37.5 million people…
HEC reforms to align universities with global knowledge economy: chairman
Newly appointed Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, on Thursday expressed confidence that initiatives being undertaken by the commission would help position Pakistan’s universities to…
HEC launches mandatory skills test for IT graduates
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has urged universities to ensure participation of their advanced-level computing students in the National Skill Competency Test tentatively set for April. “Aimed at aligning academic…
Young and restless
PAKISTAN’S population is among the youngest in the world. It will also stay a young country for at least the next two decades. But who are the young? What do…
Fix the fundamentals
For years, Pakistan’s economic debate has revolved around a single question: when will interest rates come down? The assumption has been simple: cheaper money will revive industry, restore business confidence…
Police reforms: missed opportunity
IN May 2018, when public confidence in the criminal justice system (CJS) was visibly eroding, nine retired and seven serving inspectors general of police, under the aegis of the Law…
Police reforms: missed opportunity
IN May 2018, when public confidence in the criminal justice system (CJS) was visibly eroding, nine retired and seven serving inspectors general of police, under the aegis of the Law…
Untapped ESG
The global ESG conversation has largely been shaped by Western frameworks, international rating agencies and sustainability standards designed for mature markets. Pakistan, like much of the Global South, has adopted…
Whistleblowing and accountability
The ultimate dream of any law-abiding citizen is to live their life with fairness, dignity, and integrity. These are reasonable and basic expectations in any civilised society, and when the…
Dreaming of universal enrolment
I was recently in a meeting on Pakistan’s SDG commitments. The language was familiar, which we have been hearing for many years now. Education emergency. Learning crisis. SDG-4. SDG-4. And…
