Why it matters
There have been plenty of false dawns before. There have even been plenty of instances when we have welcomed judicial saviours. Is this time any different? Or are we destined…
Afghanistan matters
While the world’s media is focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the daily horrors inflicted on Ukrainian civilians caught up in the conflict, there is an even greater…
Why Afghanistan matters even more
Exit and forget. Escape and regret. These are the two modes and moods many countries are conducting themselves vis-a-vis Afghanistan. The first reaction of these countries was shock and disbelief.…
Why a national image matters
PRIME MINISTER Imran Khan made a number of assertions recently at the launch of a documentary film about the irrelevance of promoting a ‘soft image’ of the country. These statements warrant comment…
Sectarianism & civil society
NOTHING is more challenging for a state than maintaining social harmony during times of religious discord and hatred. The challenge becomes more uncertain when civil society and other stakeholders become…
The myth of civil service
These days many people seem to be hurling unnecessary taunts at government servants, asking them to be thankful that they are still getting paid while more competent and better educated…
Civil-military power matrix
SECURITY briefings for a newly elected prime minister may not be unprecedented, but the excitement over Imran Khan’s intensive parleys at GHQ and the ISI headquarters certainly are. Our hyper-animated…
Reengineering the civil service
The room is packed with an eager audience of journalists. Advocate Khurshid Hassan Meer, newly-appointed minister for establishment of the PPP, is presenting his government’s plan for reengineering the country’s…
Civil service reforms that work
The newly-installed PTI government has constituted a task force on civil-service reforms. Over the years our governments have tried a number of times to reform the civil service but for…
Politicisation of civil services
Last week we had commented on the 'obvious and not so obvious' issues of civil service reforms, suggesting the civil service is often the victim of 'friendly fire'. We had…
