Population explosionn on November 2, 2014Pakistan has been going through an unprecedented demographic shift. Rapid population growth is a major problem confronting Pakistan as it lies at the centre of the country’s social, economic and political problems. This situation will burden its limited resources making it difficult for the country to meet the requirements of its people. Due to increasing […]
Population explosion on November 1, 2014Pakistan has been going through an unprecedented demographic shift. Rapid population growth is a major problem confronting Pakistan as it lies at the centre of the country’s social, economic and political problems. This situation will burden its limited resources making it difficult for the country to meet the requirements of its people. Due to increasing […]
For whom the bells toll on October 12, 2014US involvement in the conundrum that is now Iraq, Levant and the greater Middle East is a desperate attempt to stop the spread of the Islamic State (IS), with every member in the coalition that has taken form, including Saudi Arabia, fearing the militant group. The kingdom fears IS the most, given the widely prevalent […]
Freedom of expression: woolgathering on September 21, 2014Freedom of expression is a dream in the nascent democratic system in Pakistan. The country has a diversity of political perspectives and there are definitions and norms set in the constitution that deal with religious bigotry, blasphemy laws and partisan strife. These form the key components within a framework for advancement of and managing the […]
The democracy we live in on August 31, 2014There has been continual turmoil in the country since the 2013 general elections, including demands for reforms and an end to certain state repression that has caused bloodshed. Recent events have occurred to trigger movements and marches invoking the causes of freedom and revolution. Begun over charges and suspicion on the transparency of the 2013 […]
The economics of slavery on August 24, 2014Ancient thinkers have concentrated mainly on the ethical aspects of slavery. Aristotle considered, for example, that “some men are by nature free, and others slaves, and that for the latter slavery is both expedient and right” (Aristotle, Book I). The global integration of economies, including labour markets, has brought many opportunities for workers and businesses. […]
Gender in agricultural labour on August 17, 2014Though agriculture is the single-largest contributor to the gross national product (GNP) and also the biggest sector for employment, agricultural workers, specifically women, are badly exploited and form an oppressed class of rural society. Powerful zamindars (land owners) often treat them worse than slaves and pay them their wages that are not in cash but […]
India moving forward to tackle climate change on August 12, 2014There is no doubt that India is now a fast emerging economy with a huge burgeoning market, rapid industrial development and a better standard of living. But, alongside this progress, the people of this country are facing a plethora of humanitarian and environmental issues. Climate change is one of the significant issues faced by the […]
The curse of bondage on August 3, 2014We cannot hide the fact that forced labour and human trafficking is happening in Pakistan on a large scale. Besides trafficking within the country, Pakistan also serves as a transit route for exporting men, women and children to other countries, e.g. the Middle East, Africa and even Europe for forced labour and sexual exploitation. Internally, […]
Gender dimensions of bonded labour in brick kilns on July 27, 2014In Pakistan, bonded labour exists in several forms, especially in the rural areas and in certain disadvantaged geographic regions. The bonded labour problem is a consequence of poverty, backwardness, illiteracy and old customs. Workers in the brick kiln industry are among the most vulnerable segments of the workforce. Invariably located on the outskirts of many […]