In the midst of the daily grind and bureaucratic hurdles, a recent visit to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) office in Peshawar provided a moment of inspiration and optimism. As I stood in a seemingly interminable line, surrounded by hundreds patiently awaiting their turn, my attention was captivated by a young boy who stood out […]
Op-Ed
Flawed Model of Development
The federation of Pakistan has hitherto adopted a faulty model of development for Gwadar. What the state bureaucracies fail to understand is the inability of infrastructure-led development without participation of the local population to achieve the intended outcomes. This is evident from a purely marginal impact the construction of a deep seaport and related road […]
Tuning In and Tuning Out
In delving deeper into the intricacies of headphone usage, it becomes evident that the repercussions extend beyond the immediate concerns of hearing loss. The very act of isolating oneself from the external environment, immersed in the cocoon of headphones, has sociological and psychological implications that merit exploration. The social dynamics of headphone use are multifaceted. […]
Pakistan was never a British Colony
When I first spoke my mind on the subject, I instantly got approval from the other participants in the program. The occasion was a Morning Show on a well-known TV Channel ‘Such TV Programme: Such Savara’ on the Birth Anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on December 25, 2023. I am of the firm opinion […]
Profiles In Cowardice
How about this thought experiment for 2024? Suspend for a moment the inherent limitations in transposing the past into the present. After all, how much has the world changed over even the past six, let alone sixty years? One superpower collapsed; another has risen. Consider US politics. One likely presidential candidate, age 78, has been […]
Blue Economy
The blue economy is one that is centred on ocean resources. The economics of harnessing the enormous seas and the diverse riches that lie under their surface. That is, if any maritime resource contributes to the country’s economy, it falls into the blue-economy stage. The blue economy has long been used in wealthy nations. The […]
Bazm-e-Mehdi Hasan
I feel happy to disclose that for the last month, my evenings have been taken over by PTV’s ‘Bazm-e-Mehdi Hasan, a tribute to the late Mehdi Hasan, the musical genius who died a couple of years ago. I have immensely enjoyed this music programme by the title of ‘Bazm-e-Mehdi Hassan from PTV’s popular channel to […]
Caging The Cornered Tiger
On March 11, 1992, Pakistan faced Australia in its famed Cricket World Cup campaign. Pakistan had already lost too many matches and only a win against Australia could keep its hopes alive when Pakistan’s captain; Imran Khan came for the toss wearing a shirt with a tiger on it. Imran won the toss, and told […]
Naked Propaganda
Over the past few days, there has been a propaganda campaign on social media by certain non-professional journalists, suggesting that the Baloch community is not being given the respect it deserves. They harbor grudges, linking the issues of disappearances in Balochistan to anti-Pakistan statements by hostile forces. Through this column, I will strive to highlight […]
AI and Critical Thinking
The profound aim and objective of teaching is to develop critical thinking among the learners vis a vis the acquisition of necessary skills and information, as is stressed by almost every syllabus. But in our country, things have always taken a different path in matters of progress and the same holds good for the Learners. […]