Malnutrition crisis
The prospects of turning over the current state seem extremely grim. This comes as no surprise since the issue of malnutrition has barely been on the political agenda with almost…
PML-N Quaid’s ‘alternative facts’
Ousted prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif addressed a large public gathering the other day in Swat where he vented his anger at his arch rival, Imran Khan, calling him 'Ilzam…
Alarming numbers
‘FOOD, water and energy’ is a regular theme at conferences. The nexus is very important and needs to be highlighted but it is time now to also start talking about…
Demystifying microfinance
A narrow track towards south-east, almost 17-km from Chakwal leads to a typical Punjabi village of Dheedwal. A large banyan tree and a small pond, a nostalgic scene resisting change,…
Supporting LHWs
THE Lady Health Workers Programme is the only pro-poor initiative in the country today directly delivering critical health services, but LHWs have been designated as a dying cadre in Punjab.…
International Women’s Day: Remembering Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah
March 8 marks Interna-tional Women's Day. On this day, while highlighting the issues faced by women all the world and in Pakistan, we must remember Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, who not…
Rich-poor widening gap
A number of studies confirm that rich-poor divide in Pakistan is widening alarmingly. According to conservative estimates, 63% of poor in Pakistan are in the category of 'transitory poor'. The…
Real education reform
On listening to the federal minister for education in meetings and at events, one gets the sense that he understands the fundamental issues facing the education system in Pakistan. His…
The first 1000 days
Pakistan’s population has crossed the 200 million-mark and is projected to reach 400 million by 2050 under most scenarios. More than 68 percent of this population is under 29 years…
Door to development
In my previous column, ‘Europe and the BRI’ (August 26) I had mentioned that the UN has also welcomed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by stating that “there are…
