The rise and fall of Asad UmarBy: Hassam Waheed on April 22, 2019Given his build-up, one could predict as early as April 2012 that Asad Umar was going to be the federal finance minister whenever Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf won an election and formed a government. From grassroots PTI workers, of who many showed no signs of understanding macro-economics, to Imran Khan himself, everybody swore by his business acumen. Once the party took power in August 2018, there … [Read more...] about The rise and fall of Asad Umar
Islamophobia and roots of extremismBy: Naila Tasneem on April 22, 2019The aftermath of the recent terrorist attack in Christ Church, New Zealand, has restored many people's faith in humanity. For this Prime Minister Jacinda Arden deserves special credit. However, the general public, too, showed admiarable solidarity with the vicitms of the attack and their families. Telecasting the Firday call for prayers the very next week was a wonderful gesture to promote peace, … [Read more...] about Islamophobia and roots of extremism
State must act now to save HazarasBy: Baber Ali Bhatti on April 22, 2019A bomb blast in Quetta's Hazarganji market recently killed 20 people and left another 48 people injured. The martyrs included nine Hazara people, apparently the intended target of the terrorists, one Frontier Corps official and 10 other citizens. For more than a decade now, the Hazara people have been the target of a ruthless campaign of violence.A National Commission for Human Rights report … [Read more...] about State must act now to save Hazaras
High court practiceBy: Zaeem Mumtaz Bhatti on April 22, 2019Justice hurried is justice crushed and buried, so goes the saying. There is no gainsaying that Article 37(d) of the Constitution lays down that inexpensive and expeditious justice is to be meted out to the litigants. Be that as it may, by no stretch of imagination does 'expeditious' mean bypassing the substantial and procedural due process woven in the warp and woof of Articles 4 and 10-A of the … [Read more...] about High court practice
What governments owe the labourBy: Akhtar Hussain Syed on April 22, 2019The budget process has started and the associations representing various kinds of businesses are sharing their proposals with the government. The absence of a pro-poor perspective in these consultations is a huge challenge for the decision makers as major issues concerning the poor may get neglected. These include the matter of minimum wages. It may be recalled that there has been no revision of … [Read more...] about What governments owe the labour
Wishing for a return to smiles and cheersBy: Iftikhar Ahmad on April 22, 2019Being next-door neighbours, India and Pakistan cannot remain aloof. This has been famously reiterated recently by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi but is the fact not known to us all?Whoever is up to something good should be an example for others to follow. We should not shy away from speaking out against deceit, prejudice, inequality, violence, terrorism and all sorts of … [Read more...] about Wishing for a return to smiles and cheers
A case of broken promisesBy: Umer Orakzai on April 21, 2019The 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was greeted in the region until recently referred to as the Federally Administred Tribal Areas, with great enthusaism. It extended the Political Parties Act to the region and raised hopes of being integratred into the national mainstream. The credit for the development belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party.This was not the first time a … [Read more...] about A case of broken promises
Structural reforms: the only way to escape the poverty trapBy: Dr Aqeel Ahmed Bazmi on April 21, 2019Despite progress with service delivery, improvement in social policies and improving economic conditions, many analysts acknowledged the persistence of poverty as an issue requiring more direct actions. Economic reforms are typically split into two categories: macroeconomic reforms, often pursued under the patronage of the IMF; and structural or price reforms designed to improve resource … [Read more...] about Structural reforms: the only way to escape the poverty trap
Wellness genie: miracles of walkingBy: Aliya Agha on April 21, 2019Walking, a basic human mobility action, is now on doctors' prescription. A daily 30 minute walk has become an integral part of prescribed medical programmes worldwide, for heart patients, diabetics and people suffering from blood pressure and autoimmune diseases.There can be no doubt that walking is the fountain of youth and longevity. If everybody understood the benefits of walking, very few … [Read more...] about Wellness genie: miracles of walking
Why Afghanistan has been a battleground for so longBy: Dr Rajkumar Singh on April 20, 2019The modern Afghanistan emerged during the 19th century as a buffer state between the Russian and the British empire. From the beginning it was a theatre for battles between them. It has witnessed incessant coups and counter-coups, civil strife and invasions. Since early 1970s it has remained a conflict zone. Decades of conflict have shattered government and social structures in the country, the … [Read more...] about Why Afghanistan has been a battleground for so long
