Social media and free speech
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference…
Country needs IMF bailout
The IMF negotiations for a $6 billion bailout package sought by Pakistan concluded this week on the following note: "We have covered 80 percent spadework in our parleys held with…
Social media as oppression
First off, let me briefly define social media so as to differentiate it from traditional media as well as ‘alternative media’. By social media I imply such outlets where the…
Strengthening growth with social equity
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has developed a new metric of national economic performance as an alternative to GDP - the Inclusive Development Index (IDI) - which focuses on living…
Our social policy choices
Pakistan is an emerging democracy that has tremendous potential to overcome its political and socioeconomic problems. The democratic process over the past decade has helped improve Pakistan’s image as a…
A social democratic alternative
The mainstream parliamentary parties are being eroded as the alignment of democratic forces breaks down and the Charter of Democracy evaporates at the altar of expediency. With this erosion, the…
Beyond social mobilisation
My previous article, titled ‘Making sense of suicides’ published in these pages on March 15, was an attempt to provide a sociological perspective of why people commit suicide in societies…
Catalysts for social transformation
The traditional approaches of service delivery adopted by NGOs are fast losing credence in a world that is shaped by a benign ideological coercion. NGO-led mega projects of social services…
Healthcare needs a warning label
Healthcare is dangerous to your health. Ask your neighbour for verification. You will likely hear more than one first-hand experience of someone dead who should be very much alive. This…
Social cohesion
The inhabitants of the newly formed state of Pakistan were filled with the ambition to make their own mark in the world, and to create a state that provided the…
