Salman Ali

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in the Russian city of Ufa earlier this month, in an effort to restore cordial ties — but sadly, the situation went back to square one when a top Pakistani diplomat said that no dialogue process will take place with India sans the […]

There is no doubt that women in Pakistan continue to be a marginalised part of society having been denied basic rights and opportunities to develop and contribute productively. Ranked 135 out of a total of 177 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI), Pakistan faces an uphill task to ameliorate its social indicators. The patriarchal […]

The incumbent government is about to complete two years in office and claims to have improved the economy but the ground realities indicate harsh times for the people. In the general elections of 2013, this government promised to end power cuts within six months, improve law and order and reduce prices but its priorities have […]

Throughout the years of my life I have gained interest in various career fields — law, medicine and even government office — but it has all come down to one passion, writing. I believe that becoming a journalist is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. My obsession with journalism has inspired me to believe in […]

All political parties in Pakistan agree in principle that education is the basic human right of every child. In their election manifestoes, they place education in their priority lists but nothing has ever been done. Pakistan’s Constitution also declares it an obligation of the state to educate all children without any discrimination. Article 25-A of […]

Seventeen people were killed and 80 injured in two churches during the Youhanabad incident, which happened because of an acute failure of leadership and worsened for the same reason. It was a sad incident that left the entire nation in mourning. We all expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of innocent lives. We […]

The word slavery evokes images from history from when slaves were driven by their masters like cattle and treated worse than animals. With the passage of time, this evil tradition has died down but its remnants still linger in many dark corners of the civilized and uncivilised world. There are institutions and research groups that […]

Every year, on December 25, Christians around the world gather to celebrate Jesus’ birth. In autumn, when the leaves on trees change their colour and begin falling, the event signals the year reaching its maturity and a harvest ready for reaping. December is an important month in the Christian community because it is a month […]

All of Pakistan’s state-owned or private television channels keep playing catchy songs and paid advertisements about Pakistan-China friendship. It goes something like this: Pak-Cheen dosti zindabad, zindabad, zindabad, zindabad. During war and peace, through good times and bad, despite turbulent ups and downs in regional and international relations, Pakistan-China friendship is one shining lamp that […]

Investing in education should be the government’s single, most effective strategy for reducing global poverty. Prioritising education is also helpful in accomplishing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). If all the children in low-income countries could read, it has been estimated in countless surveys that global poverty would drop by a whole 12 percent. Similarly, girls […]