Forced conversions of Pakistani Hindu girls on September 19, 2017Up till now, the attempts to bar forced conversions through specific laws have fallen flat. The proposed bill against forced conversions was tabled in November 2016 in the Sindh Assembly. However, the bill got stalled due to strong objections from certain religious hardliners, and has not been ratified Jinnah’s August 11 speech has been quoted time […]
Remembering our non-Muslim heroes on September 8, 2017In September, for a few days, Pakistan’s atmosphere is charged with gaiety and nationalistic fervour. 7th September is celebrated as the Pakistan Air Force day remembering the sacrifices of its heroes. It is a time to honour, remember and marvel the accomplishments of people who were true nationalists. This writing space is dedicated to those […]
Pakistan Census 2017 and right questions to ask on August 28, 2017The provisional results for Pakistan’s sixth population census, carried out in 2017, are out! Some significant takeouts from the Census are that Pakistan’s men are more than women; that there are 105 men to 100 women. Moreover, Sindh is the most urbanised province having 50.02 percent urban population. This census is very important for Pakistan: […]
Urdus journey to oblivion 70 years on on August 23, 2017My fondest childhood memories are trips to small bookshops to purchase the 25 paisa Urdu story books of Umro Ayar and his mischievousness. These small stories platitude in my childhood have long since disappeared into oblivion. The closure of iconic Ferozsons in Lahore and Saeed bookstores of my vibrant childhood in Peshawar have created small […]
Substantive female representation in civil service on August 17, 2017An info graphic by the UN Women on UN Public service Day joyously announced that the number of women at the civil service academy, Pakistan has increased from 10 percent in 1984 to 40 percent in 2017. This certainly is a cause of festivities, however the celebration is short lived. Today, women of Pakistan have […]
Women and workplace harassment on August 7, 2017Imagine this. An official government Whatsapp group sees a supposedly respectable senior male officer pass a lewd comment. This was appreciated by a rather young and modern male contemporary. And in this virtual space sat many women. As if this were not enough, insult was added to injury when it transpired that the former was […]
Improving menstrual health to improve girls education on July 31, 2017Pakistan, along with the world, recently observed Menstrual Hygiene Day 2017. In Pakistan; this day generally passed in silence except for some IGO events. Discussion of menstrual health remains a taboo subject in eastern as well as some western cultures. Pakistan has retained its position as the second worst performing country for gender equality. It […]
Pakistani students and the glass ceiling on July 23, 2017An unusual advantage of belonging to a third world country is that, a truckload of brilliance coupled with some smart planning and self-marketing can land you a hefty scholarship and a place at a foreign university. A student on way to her dream education in a foreign land goes through various stages of struggle. The […]