Constituency-level Elections and Local Governments on August 17, 2019As the wisdom goes that all politics is local. We try to generalize the linkages between higher, national assembly by-election trends at the local constituency level, and the decentralization debate regarding empowering the local governments. In order to do so, this article refers to some literature (Javed 2012; Ali 2018) to illustrate the discussion. Most […]
The informal sector on August 8, 2019One keeps on seeing references to the informal sector scattered in the social science literature. It might be worthwhile to focus on the issues of the informal sector to bring them to the attention of policy-makers. This article refers to some literature (ADB 2008, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics 2019, Wilson 2010) to illustrate the discussion. […]
Democracy and its institutionalization at the local level on July 28, 2019The common understanding is that local government level democracy is only needed for better and effective local governance and delivery of services. However, actually, a credible institutionalization of local level democracy can strengthen the overall democratic project in the country. This article refers to some literature both on democracy in general and also the local […]
Women’s employment in the informal sector on July 24, 2019Pakistan has recently entered into its 13th IMF programme since 1988. Engagement with the IMF is euphemistically called the “structural adjustment”; it is actually the onset of the neoliberal economic agenda. Such ‘structural adjustment’ in the past has invariably had a bad impact on the poor. Though, now we have well-designed and effective social protection […]
Regulatory framework issues on July 22, 2019The better governance of the country is inextricably linked to the prevalence of an improved regulatory framework. As the old wisdom goes that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Similarly, a well-functioning regulatory framework ensures the separation of powers. We look at regulatory framework issues in this article by referring to some literature (mainly Sherani 2017; but […]
A Moment of Reconciliation – Political and Personal on July 16, 2019There are early signs that the establishment in Pakistan has decided to give a NRO to PML-N and Nawaz Sharif. It is also clear that neither Pakistani establishment is willing to publicly admit this reconciliation nor PML-N; it is being covered up through other face-saving means. There might be more twists and turns on the […]
Social sector development issues on July 13, 2019Social sector development is crucial to provide services for citizens. However, whenever there is an economic crunch in the country, social sector development is often under-prioritized. It might be worthwhile to review the social sector development issues. This article refers to some literature (Aisha Ghaus et al. 1996; Economic Survey of Pakistan 2018-19; State Bank […]
Women’s participation in labour force on July 1, 2019Women’s labour force participation is very low in Pakistan. Roughly a quarter of women work. There is need to both explore the causes behind low women’s labour force participation and come up with recommendations to increase it. This article refers to some literature (ADB 2016; Khan 2007) to illustrate the discussion. Mobility has a huge […]
Women in Politics on June 19, 2019Now that the third elected government has resumed charge of affairs of the country, at least at the de jure level, in the continuation of ‘transitional democracy’ since 2008; and women have been continuing to get elected on reserved seats for many years in the national and provincial assemblies and local governments; it might be […]
Poverty issues on June 11, 2019A new IMF economic package is in the pipeline and it has renewed focus on increasing poverty and unemployment due to contraction of the economy. This article refers to some literature (Chaudhry et al. 2015; Amjad 2004) to illustrate the discussion. An important point to make regarding the poverty in Pakistan is that the choice […]