Inflation and its discontents
PAKISTANIS are experiencing the most severe cost-of-living crisis in their lifetime. Since April last year, official consumer price inflation has recorded a cumulative increase of 33 per cent (annualised). This…
Riven by discord
“IN a country riven by discord, the extent of disagreement among people, their political representatives and their media outlets feels simultaneously intransigent [and] untenable… . Not only are we bad…
Trafficking scourge
MODERN-DAY slavery takes different forms. In many places, it eludes attention because of the crafty methods employed to impose it. Trafficking in persons (TIP) involves the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring…
Improving ties with Moscow
PRIME MINISTER Imran Khan is visiting Moscow on the latter’s invitation amidst rising tensions in a region on the brink of a full-scale military conflict that can have massive global…
Should the PM have gone to Moscow?
IT was a tough choice. But Prime Minister Imran Khan made the right one by going to Russia. Here’s why: 1- The visit to Moscow and meeting with President Vladimir Putin was finalised…
SCO’s future
ON Oct 15-16, Pakistan will host the heads of government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. It would be an occasion to review the SCO’s progress towards fulfilling the promise…
Sedition and its discontents
WHEN charged with sedition by the British colonial government in 1922 for his articles published in a local magazine, Gandhi famously said: “Section 124A, under which I am happily charged,…
Autumn of discontent
THE recent leaks about the army chief’s meetings with politicians have generated a maelstrom. There have been some collective interactions with the political leaders but there were some private ones…
Summer of discontent
IT appears that we are approaching a season where no one is entirely satisfied. This is not an estimation of the inner turmoil within Pakistan — which nevertheless fits the…
IPPs: currents of discontent
With the recent increase in electricity tariffs, there is renewed debate over the rationality of capacity payment charges (CPC) to independent power producers (IPPs). Previously, only a few voices raised…
