When train was the public transportBy: Mohammad Zubair on October 18, 2018A walk down memory lane will bring us to the feeling that travel by train was associated with romantic connotations. Even with people of young and older ages. The train travel used to provide a really wonderful opportunity to enjoy and celebrate the trip with family and dear ones. Interaction with people from different walks of life was a prominent feature of it. Passengers in almost every … [Read more...] about When train was the public transport
Stand up for the victims of blasphemy lawBy: Ailia Zehra on October 18, 2018Supreme Court reserved its judgement on blasphemy convict Aasia Bibi’s appeal against her death sentence last week and the verdict is likely to be announced in the coming days. Extremist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik, which evidently enjoys impunity across the country, has not only warned of launching country-wide protests but also threatened the judges of consequences if Aasia Bibi is released. Their … [Read more...] about Stand up for the victims of blasphemy law
Women and waterBy: Daanish Mustafa on October 18, 2018I have been following with some interest the ongoing debates on social media regarding the lack of women’s representation on the government’s ‘Task Force to Prepare Roadmap, Action Plan for a Water Secure Pakistan’. I do share the discomfort of many of my colleagues regarding the lack of women’s representation on the task force, and in the entire water sector decision making in Pakistan. Again, … [Read more...] about Women and water
The justice withheldBy: Mohammad Nafees on October 17, 2018On 8th October 2018, the judgment on one of the most infamous blasphemy cases, popularly known as Asia Bibi’s case, was withheld by the Supreme Court for the reasons only known to the court as it specifically ordered TV channels not to make any speculation on the case. Asia Bibi, Christian and a poor working woman from Katanwala village in Nankana Sahib was accused by a prayer leader that she had … [Read more...] about The justice withheld
Pak dealings with Yemen and Syrian crisesBy: Asif Durrani on October 17, 2018There has been a sharp criticism of the US policy on Syria and Yemen largely described as "a policy of inaction and disengagement". In the Middle East context, the Syrian crisis, which erupted seven years ago, has caused grave human tragedies and a mass migration of Biblical proportions. The crisis continues unabated but with a difference; Russia and Iran have emerged as major actors in the … [Read more...] about Pak dealings with Yemen and Syrian crises
Imran Khan’s ambitious housing program is fraught with uncertaintiesBy: Faraz Ahmed on October 17, 2018On Wednesday October 10, Prime Minister Imran Khan unveiled the most ambitious housing project in Pakistan's history. Named 'Naya Pakistan Housing Program', the project aims to build five million homes for people belonging to the lower-income strata of the society or in Khan's words, those who earn between Rs 10,000 and 25,000 a month. If implemented properly, the project will provide housing … [Read more...] about Imran Khan’s ambitious housing program is fraught with uncertainties
The ‘untouchable’ Malik RiazBy: Ikram Sehgal on October 17, 2018In 2013, Shoaib Suddle, the Federal Tax Ombudsman investigating Malik Riaz and Arsalan Iftikhar, son of former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to recover of Rs 119 billion owed by real estate tycoon Malik Riaz in taxes. No surprise that this was set aside by then president, Asif Ali Zardari. The key to most of Malik Riaz's successes since 2008, was to … [Read more...] about The ‘untouchable’ Malik Riaz
No pit is deep enoughBy: Raoof Hassan on October 16, 2018When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I … [Read more...] about No pit is deep enough
To IMF and beyondBy: Nabeel Qadeer on October 16, 2018The World War II changed the global economic-political order. The war saw two powerful alliances fight each other for economic dominance and political influence. It resulted in nearly all countries siding with either, with only a few staying neutral like Afghanistan. With the victory of the allied powers, the US and Soviet forces emerged as the new super powers. It also saw the establishment of … [Read more...] about To IMF and beyond
Rethinking foreign investment and policy capture in PakistanBy: Dr Ahmed Abdullah Khan on October 16, 2018Recently the English High Court has ruled against Pakistan’s National Transmission and Distribution Company (NTDC) on choice of law, and seat of arbitration proceedings. Atlas Power versus National Transmission and Distribution Company Limited was originally instituted in 2015, in the London Court of Investment Arbitration (LCIA). This case is a classic illustration of how Pakistan continues to … [Read more...] about Rethinking foreign investment and policy capture in Pakistan
