Changing mindsets
When Sheema Kermani launched her play Zehreela Dhooan, she probably didn’t realise how formidable would be her battle against the cigarette. In this play a cast of eight earnest people…
Positive politics
Politics sits at the apex of a nation-state. It links the society to the state and acts as the supreme authority safeguarding the interests of both. A nation-state prospers and…
18th Amendment – fallacious argument
Pakistan has a democratic government? There is no need to talk about this anymore. That devolution has taken place as a result of the 18th Amendment to the constitution. Please…
Factory inspections – II
Techniques of inspection in each of the provinces: (a) At least one thorough inspection of each factory must be carried out once every six months and omissions or defects brought…
Merkel faces emboldened opposition after state poll loss
German Chancellor Angela Merkel starts an election year facing an emboldened opposition after her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) suffered a bitter defeat in a key state poll. The narrow victory…
Spotlight: Rediscovering Allama Qadri!
Now that the first and perhaps the most exciting phase of Allama Tahirul Qadri's campaign ("the 4-million March") is over, what have the people learnt from it? Well for one,…
The real threat to democracy
It is time to celebrate. The current democratic order, which appeared to be wobbling and on the brink in the wake of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s long march and four-day protest…
ECP: a case of acquired helplessness
For any system to survive, it must fulfil at least two minimum requirements. Meet the needs of its customers and have the capacity to improve itself. The first requirement relates…
School throws safety net to hungry Portuguese kids
It is hard to picture the scene in 21st-century Europe, but as debt-ridden Portugal heads into a new year of economic crisis, schools are stepping in to feed children who…
Shadow economy
A recent BR Research analysis points towards alarming growth in Pakistan's shadow economy. The story titled 'The shadows are growing longer' (published: 10 January 2013) estimated that the country's informal…
