Unpacking Trump
THE Trump administration is around the corner. What we know so far about its composition, ideas, and power structure can give us some sense of US-Pakistan relations, however vague at…
Deeds not words
Words matter only if buttressed by deeds. The sublime phrase acta non verba - deeds not words – is attributed to Julius Caesar. Chaucer reiterated it in his General Prologue…
Palestinians turn to local soda in boycott of Israel-linked goods
In a red box factory that stands out among the drab hills of the West Bank, Chat Cola’s employees race to quench Palestinians’ thirst for local products since the Gaza…
Human rights begin with women
On December 10, as the world commemorates Human Rights Day, Pakistan finds itself at the intersection of two critical anniversaries: the celebration of universal human rights and the ongoing battle…
Protecting women
AS Pakistan embraces the digital age, women face a troubling new reality: technology-facilitated violence. Digital platforms, intended to open opportunities in education, employment, and civic engagement, have also become instruments…
Protecting Chinese investments
THERE are two critical dialogues taking place between the governments of China and Pakistan. One of them concerns the rescheduling of payables owed to Chinese project sponsors by the government of Pakistan.…
PIA sell-off challenge: crash-landing was long in the making
Six months ago, the buzz in Islamabad was that foreign airline giants were lining up to acquire a seemingly beleaguered Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The authorities, concerned at potential fallout,…
Empowering Gilgit-Baltistan
THE Gilgit-Baltistan region, the neglected mountainous expanse within the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, has recently risen to prominence. Previously perceived as a remote liability and officially referred to as…
Censorship with impunity
X, FORMERLY known as Twitter, was blocked in Pakistan on Feb 17, 2024. It took more than a month and several petitions in high courts across the country for the…
Have faith in facts
I SUSPECT many will agree about the benefits of a digital detox, ie a break from the constant stream of information on mobile devices. I enjoyed my break last week…
