Editorial

The recent tragedy at a Lahore university campus must act provide the necessary impetus to focus on mental healthcare in the country. For according to WHO, some 6,000 people take their lives here in Pakistan; annually. And experts say that 90 percent of such cases are directly linked to mental health issues going unchecked. Thus a good place for the government to start is with legislation. … [Read more...] about Prioritising mental health

Imran Khan has hit back at the mixed reception to his latest economic plan. And his trump card appears to be that Bill Gates came up with the very same idea of giving rural women chickens to help lift themselves out of poverty. To be sure, there is some science behind this. Poultry is both easy and inexpensive to look after. Eggs, of course, are a good form of protein; which is essential to … [Read more...] about Egging on ad hoc policymaking

The G20 summit had a little something for everyone. But it was Donald Trump who stole the show. At least as far as financial markets are concerned. For in the run-up to talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, the American president had threatened to escalate the bilateral trade war. Had this gone ahead, it would have resulted in increased tariffs for Beijing; up from 10 to 25 percent. … [Read more...] about Trump’s tariff truce

World AIDS Day was observed at the beginning of this month. There are reportedly some 36.9 million people globally who have tested HIV-positive. Meaning that this in time could develop into full-blown AIDS; an incurable auto-immune disease. Here in Pakistan, around 20,000 new HIV infections are registered annually. Indeed, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) warns, the country suffers the … [Read more...] about World AIDS Day

The Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) are due to face the long arm of the law. Ostensibly for going on the rampage last month and threatening to do the same a mere week ago. Indeed, had this been allowed to go ahead, Khadim Rizvi and his cohorts would have treated the country to a repeat performance. Likely involving yet more damage to private property and calls for insurrection from within the … [Read more...] about TLP booked

The financial markets rang in the completion of the first 100-days of the PTI government in their own way. Resulting in a five-percent-fall of an already weakened rupee; thereby plunging it to an all-time low. Indeed, this latest fluctuation represents the sixth devaluation over the last 12 months. And now there is renewed attention of how this is the worst performing currency in all of Asia. That … [Read more...] about Currency woes

Indian farmers are on the march again. And this time they have gone all the way to New Delhi. Some 80,000 reportedly participated in the two-day rally to demand better deals in terms of debt waivers and higher crop prices. This is but the latest in a line of such protests staged this year. But given that the Modi government has entered the last days of its current tenure, the pressure this time … [Read more...] about Indian farmers

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) published an important report this week. It is one that ranks Pakistan as one of least big spenders when it comes to social protection, education and healthcare. Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific: Poorly Protected places this country in the South and South-West Asia (SSWA) bracket that includes India, … [Read more...] about Social protection

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has this week increased the basic minimum wage in his country by 150 percent. This represents the sixth such readjustment this year. Though it is hard to see it tackling the urgent problem of hyperinflation; which, according to the IMF ran at 1,350,000 percent this year. Such economic dire straits at home have prompted what has been described as the world’s … [Read more...] about Venezuelan exodus

Two senior leaders from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) have been temporarily arrested before being released. That Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir are both MNAs (from North Waziristan) sends a worrying signal about the role and status of parliamentarians in today’s Pakistan. Both men had been scheduled to visit Dubai to participate in an event celebrating Pashtun culture. In other words, … [Read more...] about PTM targeted. Again