The F9 Incident
Pakistan’s constant ranking as the worst or second worst in the Global Gender Gap Report should have been the clarion call for urgent action.
However, the recent incident in which two men gang-raped a woman in one of the most prominent and supposedly safe parks in the country tells a somber story of criminal negligence and inaction.
PML-N’s Future: Abbasi’s Resignation and Maryam Nawaz’s Elevation
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s resignation in the wake of Maryam Nawaz’s appointment as senior VP and chief organiser led to speculations about his continued membership of the party.
Would this resignation and appointment widen the intra-party divisions, leading to prospective defections of senior members of PML-N?
Pakistan-IMF: The Ninth Economic Review
As the international market continues to become competitive, countries such as Pakistan are increasing their dependence on the IMF.
The loan programs come with terms and conditions highlighting austerity for rebalancing the government’s books. However, these deals have been observed to exacerbate economic inequality in Pakistan.
Following the current political turmoil in Pakistan, the interim set-up has negotiated yet another deal that has directly affected the exchange rates.
In order to understand the current situation, Zainab Haseeb gives an overview of the 9th economic review of a $7 billion loan program.
Combatting Street Crimes in Pakistan
Pakistan’s Citizen Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) reported an unprecedented spike in street crime, at a time when the country is gripped by political instability, crippling inflation, climate change, food insecurity, energy predicament, and economic crises.
The uptick in street crimes has created even more uncertainty and fear in the country, one that has a flawed social control mechanism and a weak criminal justice system.
Then & Now: The Human Rights Violations in IOJK
Under the ill-conceived move of August 05, 2019, the BJP-led government of India, which draws its ranks from Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), introduced a new domicile law in IOJK titled “Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificates (Procedure) Rules, 2020”.
Noman Waheed argues that the perennial conflicts about Kashmir go all the way back to the Radcliffe Award. He also charts a way forward for the policymakers in Islamabad.
Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, and Pakistan’s Historical Opposition to Israel
There is a belief that Pakistan is solely opposed to Israel due to the latter’s post-independence atrocities against Palestine, but this is not the complete picture.
Pakistan’s opposition to Israel can be traced back to the founding fathers like Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal who, through their speeches and policies, laid the groundwork for the nation’s pro-Palestine stance long before Pakistan or Israel came into existence.
Reality Check: Economic Crisis in Pakistan
Pakistan is currently facing a political impasse, a dwindling economy, surging inflation, escalating terror threats, and the possibility of a worldwide recession. Concerns about the status of Pakistan’s economy are mounting as foreign reserves dwindle, the local currency weakens, and inflation persists at levels not seen in decades.
A government exists in Pakistan that is unable to exercise or relinquish power. Bitter, the opposition is sticking to its rhetoric of fire and brimstone. Neither are aware of their ultimate goal. The government avoided a default earlier this month, but now its foreign exchange reserves have fallen to $4.3 billion, the lowest since 2014.
Although the finance minister acknowledges that the economy is in a “tough spot”, he simultaneously dismisses fears of Pakistan’s default and calls it propaganda from the opposition. The truth is, the country remains a hair’s breadth away from the bleak prospect.
The Sad Reality of Companies Closing Down in Pakistan
The previous year proved to be very bleak for various industries and companies in Pakistan, with several expecting to shutdown and suffer huge losses this year as well.
Some industries have already shut down operations, while others are expected to follow the trend thus projecting industrial growth to be a negative 4% in FY23.
Assessing Nuclear Security in Pakistan & India
In South Asia, Pakistan has been subjected to growing criticism over the insecurity posed by its nuclear infrastructure. However, what’s commonly ignored is that the region houses another nuclear state—one that presents greater and deadly nuclear concerns.
The Plight of Afghan Women Under the Taliban
With Afghanistan having already become the victim of immense sanctions imposed upon it by the West, the Taliban’s recent ban on women’s education will only continue to disrupt the lives of the people of Afghanistan. Myra Imran Rafiq recommends intervention and engagement by international actors to minimize the cost of human suffering.
Greening Skills: TVET Sector’s Response to Environmental Issues
Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly important and hence they require our immediate attention. There is a need for young people to be trained in greening skills.
This article explores the importance of greening skills and how Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector can play a pivotal role in addressing major environmental issues.
Why Pakistan Refuses to Sign the NPT
Of the nine nuclear-weapon states, only the P5 states have consented to be bound by the Non-Proliferation Treaty or the NPT. Pakistan, India, North Korea, and Israel are not parties to the treaty.
In this piece, Hurria Binte Abdullah describes the three major reasons behind Pakistan’s resistance to the treaty.
The first reason is mistrust and disappointment with the US as a strategic and security ally, the second is India’s non-acceptance of the NPT, and the third is the fact that there are inherent loopholes within the NPT itself that raise concerns about future commitments and effectiveness of the treaty.
Prospects of a Technocratic Government in Pakistan
Rumors of technocracy have been echoing in Pakistan for a few weeks as the country’s economic plight worsens with each passing day.
A technocratic government is a form of government in which the ministers of the government are not politicians by career and do not necessarily belong to any political party.
Pak-Afghan Clashes at the Chaman Border
The Taliban regime came into power by overtaking the Afghan government in August 2021. Despite the fact that Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the Taliban government, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained contentious since then.
Deadly cross-border exchanges at the Chaman border on 13th November, 11th December, and 15th December have alarmed the people of the two states who fear a dramatic escalation of the conflict.
Pervaiz Elahi & PML-Q: Kingmakers in Pakistan
In a political wrestling match, we have a ruling party and an opposition—and more often than not, both form coalitions with other political parties and independents.
Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the Punjab and KP assemblies has further polarized the political parties.
In such critical times, the kingmaker of the country—PML-Q—has found its place on the political stage once again. Raja Abdullah shares how PML-Q came to power, and eventually emerged as a kingmaker for its own political survival.
Deepfake or Real? Here’s How to Tell the Difference
Deepfake, as the name suggests, uses deep learning technology to create convincing yet fake digital media. In this article, Shahzeb Rizwan Raja enumerates specific characteristics that distinguish between an actual and a deepfake video and image.
Impact of PTI Government’s Afforestation Initiatives
While there has been a significant improvement in the number of trees and the creation of jobs through PTI’s tree-plantation initiatives, these activities are causing more damage to the country.
Seemal Nadeem does not deny the positive impact of the green programs, but she recommends greater reliance on adaptation policies.
