Should anyone trust the IMF? (Part-II)on February 9, 2020Pakistan was economically prosperous during the 1980s, and today it is among the poorest. Its current GDP growth is estimated close to 2 percent, barely sufficient to keep pace with population growth. As I stated in my Op-Ed published in Daily Times (Dec. 2019), Pakistan is bankrupt. Last year, the sum of interest payments due […]
Should anyone trust the IMF?on February 8, 2020The mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is “to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.” IMF makes loans to countries experiencing economic distress to prevent or mitigate financial crises. IMF funds are often conditional on recipients’ making […]
Imran Khan at the Helm: Pray for Pakistanon January 23, 2020I do not know much about Imran Khan except what I read in Daily Times and Dawn online. In most of my op-eds, published in Daily Times, about his economic policies and corruption in Pakistan, I have referred to Khan as too naive to ask tough questions when his sycophants suggest policies to benefit themselves. […]
Pakistan’s hoodlum lawyers: they finally showed their colors! (Part-II)on January 11, 2020A lawyer’s conduct should conform to the requirements of the law, both in professional service to clients and in the lawyer’s business and personal affairs. A lawyer should use the law’s procedures only for legitimate purposes and not harass or intimidate others. A lawyer should demonstrate respect for the legal system and for those who […]
Pakistan’s hoodlum lawyers: they finally showed their colors (Part-I)on January 10, 2020A concerned Lahori wrote in a letter to Dawn (Dec. 25, 2019) that all over the world, lawyers are held in high esteem. To become a lawyer in other countries is not easy; only students with high distinction are admitted into law schools. In Pakistan, only students at the bottom are admitted to law schools. […]
Costs of corruption (Part-II)on December 28, 2019The public sector leadership is considered the most corrupt. Irregular payments and bribes are commonly exchanged because public services and licenses can often only be obtained by payment of bribes. Fifty percent of Pakistanis believe local government officials are corrupt. The lack of accountability and punishment, along with incompetent employees and leadership, are reasons for […]
Costs of corruption (Part-I)on December 28, 2019Corruption is prevalent in developing and developed countries. The evil robs people of their wealth, dignity, and life. Unfortunately, corruption is happening openly in many countries, including the United States of America. Regardless of religion, region, and economic status, human greed is the cause of corruption. Some countries have laws that are strongly enforced against […]
Causes of Corruption ( Part II)on December 20, 2019Sumah (2018) considers a lack of professional ethics, deficient laws regulating corruption, and the lack of prosecution and sanctions against it are an important cause for the emergence and spread of corruption. Ineffective sanctions against corruption only increase the possibility of continuing the corrupt actions of those involved, creating a strong likelihood that others will […]
Causes of corruption (Part-I)on December 18, 2019Corruption has many definitions, such as the one by cleangovbiz.org: “Corruption is the abuse of public or private office for personal gain. It includes acts of bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, or state capture. It is often associated with and reinforced by other illegal practices, such as bid rigging, fraud or money laundering.” Corruption is a form […]
Plagiarism in academia — a major cause for concernon December 2, 2019Plagiarism is a very serious, common problem everywhere. Students, professors, politicians, and writers, when caught with plagiarized material in their articles, speeches, and books, are punished by being dismissed or fired from their institutions, while others admit, apologize, and move on. In one case, a faculty member who had plagiarized her dissertation not only lost […]