Ahmed S Cheema

Pakistan has had long-standing relationships with Saudi Arabia and Iran, two key regional players that have been at loggerheads with each other. Pakistan has historically close ties with Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has frequently helped Pakistan wither difficult economic hardships, has invested in Pakistan’s economy and is home to millions of Pakistani expatriates who rely […]

Since 2008, Pakistan has been grappling with an acute energy crisis that has hindered economic growth, stalled development, prevented industrialization, reduced productivity and increased unemployment. During the past decades, the country’s power sector has been facing significant challenges, primarily due to the shortage of electric supply, resulting in load shedding and power outages. Electric demand […]

Over the last two years, 1.5 million Pakistanis have emigrated in search of better prospects. The country faces the spectre of highly skilled individuals leaving for greener pastures – a brain drain on steroids. The loss of talented professionals, scientists and intellectuals have significant repercussions for the country’s socio-economic growth. Many developing countries struggle with […]

Anthropogenic activity has increased carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere to unprecedented levels; approximately 414 parts per million just last year. Fossil fuel consumption for electricity, transport, heating and industry contributes 3.7 gigatons of CO2 annually. Consequently, global warming devastates our climate, demonstrated recently by heat waves in Europe and flooding in South Asia. […]

In August 2021, China completed an experimental Thorium-based nuclear reactor in the Gobi Desert. If the tests underway are successful, the Chinese plan on following up with another reactor capable of powering 100,000 houses. India, which has the largest proven reserves of Thorium, plans to generate 30% of its electricity via Thorium by 2050. The […]

No on is addressing the long-term consequences of the Ukrainian conflict: expect a world where security guarantees are worthless, nuclear disarmament is inconceivable and countries expand their nuclear stockpiles. On October 19, Vladimir Putin formally declared martial law in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, four Ukrainian regions Russia annexed last month. This measure tightens Russia’s […]

The decision by OPEC+ to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day indicates that there might be strains in the US – Saudi relationship. The proposed cut would increase oil prices globally, distress consumers during the winter and propel the global economy towards a recession. Industrialized countries would face an economic slump but […]

North Korea recently launched a ballistic missile over Japan. This is conceivably the last thing the world needed, with the global economy still recuperating from Covid and the Ukrainian conflict taking its toll. Trump once remarked that Japan and South Korea should develop nukes to deter North Korea. Military tacticians who view the world from […]

Pondering about the nature of war, Roman statesman Marcus Cicero observed, “The Sinews of War are infinite Money.” Though still applicable today, his statement could be revised to include technological supremacy and scientific prowess. Since 1945, the US has been the predominant superpower, exercising global hegemony with its military might, economic power and industrial strength. […]