Winds of change in Iran
It seems a thaw is taking place between US and Iranian relations which were at loggerheads for the last three decades. In fact, interplay of Iran's internal developments and foreign…
Curse of corruption
After an inordinate delay Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has been appointed the NAB chairman. A credible bureaucrat with an impeccable record, he has the right CV. The unfortunate controversy about his…
Why we break lines and why it matters
For as long as I can remember, I have been hearing the argument that we Pakistanis just cannot stand in lines. The argument is usually made in conjunction with the…
Reprofiling teachers
I was sitting in the office of a headteacher of a trust school and suddenly saw 20 four-year-olds crawl into the office all bright-eyed and faces painted as mice –…
Nairobi drama and a lesson
The Nairobi drama holds a lesson or two for Pakistan, especially when we see the differences between Al Shabab and the Pakistani Taliban. The duration of Al Shabab’s control of…
Government, gas and winter
The slogans of pessimism and dialogue of criticism have almost become nature of Pakistani society due to the charged atmosphere by the media and the general environment prevailing around us.…
Gender and diversity in financial services
There is a raging debate in western corporate circles regarding the percentage of women in leadership positions including corporate boards, parliaments, multilateral and educational institutions. With the arena of the…
Extreme myopia
In the land where thousands of Sufis are buried and thousands are alive, where scores of Sufi orders thrive, where the likes of Buddha, Nanak and Ram have walked, where…
The fairness principle
Pakistan's regional problems are due to the negligence of our policy makers. This is a criticism that is across the board. The policymakers have taken opinions of powerful persons as…
German plan may weaken European banking union
A German plan to scale back a major element of European banking union may reinvigorate the ambitious project, but also threatens to compromise its ability to prevent future crises. If…
