Individualism & collectivism
In the last 100 years, the world has seen a unique struggle between the two ideologies of capitalism and communism. Only a generation ago hardly anyone could think that this…
Understanding the Taliban
The departure of most coalition forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 has generated a debate on the possible outcome for Pakistan, and in particular for its border areas.…
Limits of strategy
The government can influence the growth rate primarily by providing an adequate physical and social infrastructure and creating the policy and institutional environment for privatesector investment. The reasons for the…
Enemies within
The single most important factor that determines the fate of a nation and its state of socio-economic development is education. It is the scientists and engineers that are changing the…
Not a new entity
The battle for the youth vote, especially in Punjab, continues to rage in the run-up to the general elections. Each week, news outlets publish articles warning that youth ballots could…
Seize Kashmir
he recent developments in Kashmir and India offer Pakistan a fresh opportunity to redesign policy. We put Kashmir on the backburner for a decade, with very little return. The Indian…
Education and mobility
When I was in college, our undergraduate classes were allocated on the basis of student roll numbers. We were thus forced to interact with students who did not belong to…
Is Sharia immutable?
It is believed by millions of Muslims across the world that Sharia laws are immutable and represent divine will. This is based on serious misunderstanding. Sharia is not and cannot…
Challenge of new provinces
The debate on creating new provinces in Pakistan is gaining momentum with the proposal approved by the parliamentary commission to create a new province — ‘Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab’. But the…
Our Greek tragedy
In 399 BC, Socrates stood before a jury of 500 Athenians his peers accused of “refusing to recognise the gods recognised by the state” and “corrupting the youth.” The penalty…
