Parachuted manifestos
The election manifestos of all major parties have now been released. I went through them with an eye on education priorities. If education is an election issue for you that…
Education and manifestos
DO party manifestos show intentions? Going by past record, they do not. Hardly ever have parties adhered to manifestos. But manifestos do show what parties want the people to know…
The land where time stands still
A few weeks ago, I was invited to a panel on the issue of harassment on university campuses. The audience comprised students, 20-something-year-old men and women, from various public universities…
In the grip of struggle
Pakistan is blessed with an energetic young population which can lead the country to transformative change. However, beneath the veneer of dynamism, the challenges etched into the narrative of the…
How a language dies
A language dies when nobody speaks it anymore. Why a language dies is a pertinent question asked by linguists and activists alike. Linguists and activists across the world have shown…
Children’s rights matter
If there is one single solution to most of our woes, it will definitely be quality education, especially at the school level. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) took…
The missing ingredients in Pakistan
Since the 18thCentury, one country after another has experienced what Harvard economist Rostow called a “take off into sustained growth”. Rostow stated that, every once in a while, something happens…
The legacy that lingers
August 17 marks the death anniversary of General Ziaul Haq, Pakistan’s longest serving ruler. Having ousted the country’s hitherto most popular leader ZA Bhutto in a coup on July 5,…
HEC, Holi and identity crises
Changing the world for future generations is one of the primary tasks of education, more so of higher education. A recent letter by the executive director (ED) of the Higher…
All hail the SNC
I was on a road trip to the northern areas with friends. We were at a rest stop, our black off-road utility vehicle parked on the side of the road,…
