Verbose failure
Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the fourth finance minister of the present regime, resigned from his post on February 19. He remained the finance minister for almost three years and presented…
Transatlantic trade
For some in Brussels, plans to create a vast Europe-America free-trade area which will generate jobs, more transatlantic investment flows and seal an alliance which under President Barack Obama has…
Gender-sensitive policing
Worldwide perceptions regarding women’s participation in law enforcement are changing, but in Pakistan policing is still a male-dominated career. In Pakistan, the origin of women policing can be traced to…
Wise monkeys
As the story goes, one day a young man told his mother that soon one of the members of the family would disappear. Next morning, when the family woke up,…
Has reconciliation been advanced?
The trilateral summit hosted in London by Prime Minister David Cameron, judging by the joint statement his office released, has been an outstanding success. Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed on…
Land rights and democracy
Some months ago, Dr Muzaffar A. Issani, writing to this paper, had taken a critical view of how land rights are understood. While his take on feudalism might have been…
The truth about Balochistan
The power-hungry sardars and nawabs widely visible on Balochistan’s political scene are a by-product of the establishment’s long-term policies. These sardars derive their legitimacy from the civil-military establishment, and they…
The informal economy
New estimates indicate that Pakistan’s informal economy is larger than previously approximated, and is expanding at a rapid pace. On the other hand, the formal sector appears to be on…
Creeping anarchy
Originating from multiple sources, the creeping anarchy in the country is systematic and constant. Democracy (‘the best revenge’) being a convenient camouflage for their ulterior motives, different militant groups have…
N is for Khan
Say hello to me. I am a liberal fascist and I am not amused. First of all, Imran Khan is back and he is back with a bang. Did you…
