New Bottle, Old Wine on January 14, 2024After spending four years in cold storage, the political resurrection of Nawaz Sharif, that too, months before a general election had caused many to wonder what masterstrokes he must have perfected to revive his party’s falling credentials and roar again. From the looks of it, the only lesson PML(N) seems to have learned is that […]
Taxation Loopholes on December 9, 2023From the looks of it, Pakistan’s top tax authority has yet to learn the adage, “Charity begins at home.” Standing in stark contrast to its ambitious schemes about increasing the tax net, a startling revelation making rounds on social media claims over 10,000 of FBR’s employees have failed to file tax returns in the last […]
Another Rape on June 13, 2023For years, we have grown accustomed to the ferocious patriarchy’s victim-blaming whenever any woman dares to step forward and lay rape allegations. A long list of embarrassing questions follows where they are asked all minute details about their wardrobe, whereabouts and circumstances that could possibly lead to this heart-wrenching crime. But since they are forced […]
Climate Shocks on June 11, 2023Cyclone Biparjoy is likely to intensify into an extremely severe cyclonic storm and is now less than 910 km away from Karachi. While there is uncertainty about its exact route, with some reporting landfall around the Makran-north Oman coast and others indicating its movement towards the Sindh-Indian Gujrat coastline, authorities in Sindh and Balochistan are […]
Wana worries on January 12, 2023On one hand, the fact that the Wana community in South Waziristan has taken a stand against terrorism is a positive development. The government must move quickly to respond to the citizens of Wana’s demands. Earlier, Gilgit-Baltistan also is experiencing large-scale protests. Prior to it, Swat protested militancy on the streets. In other places, we […]
The Israel Club on September 5, 2022Only last year, a Taliban spokesperson had confidently stood before a line of cameras and very straightforwardly ruled out any relations with Israel. Nothing out of the ordinary, because no Afghan government had ever shown any inclination towards recognition of the country. However, another face on Kabul’s team has now decided to go in another […]
Another Budding Crisis on August 29, 2022Mother nature is not in a mood to show any kindness to the city of lights because it had only begun to rise again after being battered by the heaviest rain in decades that the curse of killer mosquitos has come-a-knocking. Cases of malaria and dengue have begun to spread rapidly across Karachi as if […]
NAB Ex-Chief in Trouble on August 5, 2022Even a superficial glance at the controversial chronicles echoing in the Public Accounts Committee is enough reason for the entire nation to hand its head in shame. But there’s more, the distasteful tales of alleged misogynistic conquests are not of some vile sex offender but someone who headed the topmost accountability agency for years on […]
Relations with India on June 18, 2022The controversy and confusion surrounding Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s comments about the need to open things up with India aside, it is very important to clear the spirit of this debate; especially as it relates to the long term. Let’s be very clear that Pakistan and India are not the only two neighbouring states to […]
Fire in Balochistan on May 26, 2022The whole of Pakistan may try to deflect from the national catastrophe that ravaged the Koh-e-Suleman mountain range for nearly two weeks however it wants but simply closing its eyes would not undo the damage. Over 30 per cent of precious pine forests (already declared a heritage site by UNESCO) have been lost. While the […]