Coercive diplomacy
PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN relations have been on a downward trajectory. They plunged to a new low earlier this month when Pakistan carried out air strikes on hideouts of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan…
Self-imposed poverty
AMONG the comity of nations, Sweden stands out for its high standard of living, technological innovations (Spotify, Minecraft, Skype, Saab, Volvo, Ikea), outstanding environmental activists like Greta Thunberg and famous…
Rewiring humanity
IMAGINE a world where libraries fit in your pocket, where distant voices echo in real-time across continents, and where the collective knowledge of humanity streams at your fingertips. This isn’t…
Pakistan’s human exports
WHEREVER in the world you go, you are bound to come across Pakistanis in various states of despair. These days, travel to any European capital — Athens, Rome or Paris,…
Broken politics, broken budget
THE budget has come and gone, as far as parliament is concerned. The PPP showed much concern and made much noise but then quietly voted for it, while the PTI couldn’t even…
Each one to teach one
Education is a right, not a privilege, for every citizen of Pakistan. The country faces significant challenges in achieving universal literacy and numeracy, with approximately 70 million illiterate individuals. With…
Separation of powers in jeopardy?
A lot was said and debated over the past few weeks about a mysterious ‘constitutional package’ being introduced to amend the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the…
Travelling to India
Frankly, it’s unbelievable (especially to those who don’t live in either country) that Pakistan and India – countries with a collective population of approximately 1.7 billion and with tens of…
The media and the spectacle
In the age of information, the media has emerged as one of the most powerful pillars of society. The media not only presents facts but also shapes the perspective from…
Resurrection, 2024
IT is almost 45 years to the day that former prime minister Z.A. Bhutto was hanged on April 4, 1979, for a murder he did not himself commit. Since then,…
