A civilization in decline?
In a significant move, the Chinese government has allowed couples to have three children. The permission replaces the two-child policy introduced in 2016. Until then, a one-child policy had remained…
Environment and life
In a fast-changing world where development is linked to technology and decision-making is influenced by social media, it is important to take cognizance of non-traditional threats to human security and…
Looking for the black cat
It is not often that a column elicits such a response as ‘On reading’ did last week. There was a steady stream of emails and messages – from abroad and…
Constitution and the SNC
A lot has been written about the proposed Single National Curriculum (SNC) and how it is detrimental to the 18th Constitutional Amendment which has devolved education at all levels to…
Rebel with a cause
Those of us who believe in scientific reasoning as a core base of analysis in the development of human society and individuals, would not buy the general beliefs about ‘gifted…
The Chakwal test
THE Government Postgraduate College for Boys Chakwal (GPGC) is now a just a memory. An institution that had educated a generation of students from middle, lower-middle and poor backgrounds —including…
Vocation and education
THERE are 196 chartered general-purpose universities in Pakistan. Most of these universities offer courses in the humanities and social sciences (HSS), including history, philosophy, sociology and political science. A brief…
A rowdy public debate
BACK in 2005, private news channels were still a new phenomenon in Pakistan and there were just a handful of them. Hence, the channels were experimenting with show formats and…
Youth volunteers
THE Corona Relief Tiger Force is set to begin assisting the police and district administrations in relief efforts from today. The initiative has been under discussion for some time. Early…
The coming battle
Why, after living in quarantine for nine months while the economy and our mental health crashes around us, after over 300,000 Americans are dead, is getting the vaccine even a…
