Managing Voter Expectations on May 2, 2019A friend and I have a regular habit of discussing public policy in Pakistan. We are no experts on many policy topics, but we share our opinions on government policies with utmost confidence. That, of course, does not mean that we are right. Naturally, Asad Umar’s resignation was a hot topic for us this recently. […]
Secularists versus Islamists in Pakistan on December 4, 2018“You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state” — August 11, 1947 “There are people who want to create mischief and make the propaganda that we will scrap the Sharia law. Islamic principles have no parallel” — January 26, 1948 What […]
Forced to flee: The heart-breaking tale of minorities in Pakistan on September 12, 2018Two Pakistanis waited for their Uber ride thousands of miles away from home in New York City. This was inarguably one of the most forgettable moments in their lives. Yet, this same moment was about to acquire unparalleled significance. As my friend and I settled into the comfortable leather seats of our Uber ride, we […]
Why should I pay my taxes? on August 31, 2018Every column dissecting the problem of taxation in Pakistan cites one particular statistic, expecting readers to gasp in horror. Less than one percent of Pakistanis file their Income Tax returns. Shocking, right? Except, it probably isn’t. More than 60 percent of Pakistanis have consistently had a low level of trust in government. Would you pay […]
Of whitening creams and shameless hypocrisy on April 3, 2018A dark-skinned woman wants to apply for a job as an airhostess to support her old and ailing parents. She is well-qualified for the job. But there is one slight problem. Her dark and reprehensible skin. Why would an airline ever consider hiring a dark-skinned and, resultantly, unattractive woman? That would be tantamount to blasphemy. […]
Pakistan an adjective on September 11, 2017As a young adult who has lived in Pakistan for all his life, I am used to reading articles about everything that is wrong with my home country. On the path to progress, every country faces challenges; and Pakistan is no exception to this rule. No one understands this more than Pakistani citizens who have […]