Corporate power
Economic inequalities within countries have increased significantly in most states that have seen decent growth over the last few decades. But this is usually seen by policymakers as an unavoidable…
Truman’s worst fears
As narrated by Stephen Kinzer, the phrase “America’s Gestapo” was first used by President Harry S Truman in a letter in which he expressed apprehensions about the CIA acquiring too…
Natural justice and tax proceedings
It is a well-established principle that statutory authorities, while exercising statutory powers vested in them, have to observe the principles of natural justice. This is more than necessary especially where…
For an assertive EC
The decision of the Election Commission to nullify the by-election to the Tando Muhammad Khan constituency of the Sindh Provincial Assembly, which the PPP candidate Waheeda Shah had won according…
The worst is still to come
With the fifth most turbulent year (2012) in Pakistan’s economic history drawing to a close yesterday, the year 2013 has just begun. Far from being a fresh start, there are…
All national languages
Commendable moves are under way in Peshawar where the provincial cabinet committee on the teaching of mother tongues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently approved a multi-lingual formula. Pushto, along with Hindko,…
The irrelevance of macroeconomics
I have been talking about the irrelevance of the western models of economics and finally Pakistan has been made to understand that the western economic system has missing links that…
Misconceptions about aid
Foreign aid evokes much scepticism in Pakistan. Many argue that it creates dependence, undermines sovereignty, increases debt, encourages corruption and discourages local initiative. They find Pakistan`s use of foreign aid…
No fear of accountability
The Victorian chimney sweep in Britain, the first industrial nation, was once an even bigger symbol of inhumanity than the bonded child labourer and sex-trafficked women of Pakistan and India…
Devolution reform
The fate of the devolution initiative is likely to be decided by the end of this year, regardless of the presidential sanction to the provincial draft proposal -- currently in…
