Development strategy, not charter of economy on October 13, 2019Pakistan’s national assembly has a tradition of hosting the most interesting budget sessions. Similar political antics are replayed every year; providing one with the impression that the theatrics performed by the members are not spontaneous but rehearsed and orchestrated, even when they are not. The house erupts into a ruckus soon after the Finance Minister […]
Civil Service Reform (Part-II) on June 22, 2019Civil servants are not expected to perform specialized and technical jobs. Their forte is skills like administration, diversity, teamwork, public speaking and the ability to establish and maintain profitable business relationships, etc. Holding a separate examination for each service group that a graduate of any degree program, regardless of what specialization, can sit is different […]
Sivil Cervice Reform ( part I) on June 21, 2019Reforms of Pakistan’s civil service resemble my ‘reform’ of the words Sivil and Cervice in the title so that they are only spelled differently but give out the same sound and perform pretty much the same function as ‘civil’ and ‘service’. The work that the bureaucracy essentially does, the structure under which it delivers its […]
Review aka reform on December 31, 2018The hunger can be placed within the global inclination toward right-wing populism that has seen several reformists, some only so-called, to the highest offices. Jair Bolsonaro’s crowning in Brazil and Amlo’s in Mexico are two of the many recent examples where populists have secured the top office from often being nowhere in the initial polls […]
Develop humans and infrastructure alike on February 4, 2018The growth-related impact of infrastructure development is highly disputed in Pakistan. The two main parties (PML-N and PTI), both leaning right on the political spectrum, have long debated whether human development is a more significant imperative, or that of infrastructure. The similarity of their visions lies in the mutual opposition to the instruments that their […]
The Af-Pak theatre: a region of perennial conflict on October 18, 2017Christine Fair, an American foreign policy and international relations expert, is regarded as a bitter enemy of Pakistan by many but in my opinion she does something that most Pakistani scholars, politicians and academics fear doing — speaking the truth. There isn’t much doubt that she’s turned into a vehement critic of Pakistan and could […]
Ill-wish for the Kashmiris? on February 5, 2017The month of February was always a politically and socially charged one for Pakistanis — especially for us, the inhabitants of the lively, buzzing city of Gardens, Lahore. The zeal and fervor with which the Lahoris (mostly liberals)celebrated their most awaited and probably the only social festival of the year, “Basant”, and the political ambition […]
The Left is left alone and wanting on November 28, 2016An eminent left-wing stalwart and a die-hard PPP enthusiast, Jehangir Bader, passed away in the early hours of 14 November 2016. Mr Bader was one of the last living icons inspired by the democratic, constitutional and leftist struggle that had ensued in the aftermath of Z.A. Bhutto’s ignominious ouster from Ayub Khan’s cabinet in 1966. […]
Foreign policy: foreign to Pakistani diplomats? on August 8, 2016In the backdrop of the ongoing strife with Afghanistan over the alleged proxy wars, the souring relationship with the United States over the uninhibited prowess of the Haqqani network and like-minded groups in the north, and increasing bitterness with India over the slain Kashmiris, water disputes and the NSG membership, one can hardly find a […]