Pakistan-India relations in 2019: harbinger for 2020? on January 1, 2020Pakistan-India relations in 2019 were extremely rocky. At year’s end, trade and diplomatic ties were attenuated. Bilateral relations were probably in the worst condition of this decade. In November, there was a little cause for optimism that there might be a potential thawing of the relations. That was because of the opening of the Karpartur […]
Pakistani startup landscape in 2019 & success secrets for promising entrepreneurs (Part-II) on December 23, 2019From a collective point of view, resolving regulatory issues faced by local and foreign investors is the key; and the government grants for investment in early-stage startups are vital for reducing chances of failure. Ongoing measures – including tax reforms, improving legislation for local fund registration and licensing, catering payment issues as well as flow […]
Pakistani startup landscape in 2019 & success secrets for promising entrepreneurs (Part-I) on December 22, 2019Though Pakistan has recently improved its ranking in World Bank Doing Business Index 2020, jumping up 28 positions to 108 out of 190 countries, still various reports indicate that large number of Pakistani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) collapse at very early stages after their startup. But it would be helpful to review the startup […]
Pakistani startup landscape in 2019 & success secrets for promising entrepreneurs (Part-II) on December 13, 2019From a collective point of view, resolving regulatory issues faced by local and foreign investors is the key; and the government grants for investment in early-stage startups are vital for reducing chances of failure. Ongoing measures – including tax reforms, improving legislation for local fund registration and licensing, catering payment issues as well as flow […]
Pakistani startup landscape in 2019 & success secrets for promising entrepreneurs on December 11, 2019Though Pakistan has recently improved its ranking in World Bank Doing Business Index 2020, jumping up 28 positions to 108 out of 190 countries, still various reports indicate that large number of Pakistani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) collapse at very early stages after their startup. But it would be helpful to review the startup […]
Opening the Kartarpur Corridor, opening hearts and minds on November 24, 2019On November 9, 2019, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor in a ceremony at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. This Corridor will allow Indian Sikh pilgrims without a visa to visit the Gurdwara which is the last resting place of Nanak Dev, the founding guru of the Sikh religion. At the inauguration of […]
Thoughts on job creation in Pakistan on October 30, 2019Pakistan is in a tough recessional period. Job creation is essential to ending this recession. This is why many citizens were surprised when Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawwad Chaudhry asked the people not to look to the government for jobs stating that it is the private sector’s responsibility to provide employment. If this […]
Our Not So United Nations on October 9, 2019In the period between September 17 and September 30, most of the 193 U.N. member state countries convened in a General Assembly of the United Nations. At the Assembly, they engaged in discussion, dialogue and debate on a wide range of topics such as development, peace and security, and international law. Since it was established, […]
Reflections on Imran Khan’s 1st Year in Office on September 12, 2019Two of the key points that Imran Khan stressed on August 19, 2018 in his first speech as Prime Minister were an emphasis on peace in the region and progress for the people of Pakistan. As an Indian American, I was heartened by these expressed priorities – recognizing that achieving improved relations with India and […]
Green and White wishes for Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14, 2019Pakistan’s flag is green and white. The green color represents Muslims and the color white represents religious minorities. On this Independence Day, my wish for Pakistan is that those colors of green and white also be seen to represent courage, compassion and creativity in continuing to build Pakistan as a country committed to principles of […]