All Hail Extremism
Raja Abdullah addresses the prevailing extremism, and its detrimental impact on the sociopolitical environment in Pakistan.
He observes that extremism (religious and political) started growing roots since the early years of the state’s inception. The full extent of that extremism now threatens to engulf the people of Pakistan.
Redefining Development in Pakistan
Aleena Khan opines that the term ‘development’ usually exhibits Western ideas.
She argues that the reproduction of the Western ideals of development would be structurally and culturally unviable for developing countries, particularly Pakistan.
To remedy this, she urges the citizens of Pakistan to redefine ‘development’ in a way that reflects their values.
Politics in Pakistan: A Sight for Sore Eyes?
Shahwar Akbar finds the current political climate of Pakistan unsettling. He observes that the level of political discourse has been shrinking over time as the electorate is more concerned with which candidate can be aesthetically portrayed.
Tax Evasion: Poison for Agriculture
Afflicted by tax evasion, Pakistan has had a difficult time generating sufficient revenue.
Raja Abdullah notes that a substantial amount of income tax is evaded from the agriculture sector’s sub-sector, the crop section. Many have unjustifiably employed Article 41 of the 2001 Income Tax Ordinance to be eligible for tax exemption.
Could There Have Been a Replacement for Vladimir Lenin?
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary who became the head of the first Soviet state.
Minaal Khan ponders Lenin’s identity and argues that anyone capable would have replaced Lenin.
However, to bring about the political revolution in Russia just as Lenin did, the individual would most likely have needed Lenin’s education, vision, and dedication.
No Peace for Afghan Women
Hamra Tariq is unsettled by the way Afghan women have been exploited, both by the US and the Taliban.
She believes that a deeper look into colonialism and the feminist ideology of the Global South has to be considered. This is needed in order to reframe the opinion about Afghan women and to unveil the stakes of larger geopolitical feminist epistemology.
Napoleon Bonaparte: The Devil in Disguise
Revered for his military prowess and contributions to the French Revolution of 1789, Napoleon Bonaparte has been considered no less than a hero by some. The de facto leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804, and then Emperor of the French, from 1804 until 1814 and again in 1815, Napoleon’s ambition was second only to his lack of empathy. Sharing the same view as his critics, Adeena Noor exposes Bonaparte’s cruel and unscrupulous ways.
Pakistan’s Current Economic Situation: From the Devastating Floods to the IMF
After being struck by devastating floods, Pakistan’s already struggling economy is expected to further slow down in the next year. Aamina Ikram analyzes Pakistan’s current economic situation, highlighting the Asian Development Bank’s report on the state’s shrinking economy. She argues that in a state affected by political turmoil, economic instability, and environmental catastrophe, the IMF has played a significant role in crisis management.
The Woes of Public Transport in Pakistan
Abrish Nayyar discusses some of the main concerns people have with reference to public transport in Pakistan, its current conditions, and future plans.
She bemoans the current public transportation infrastructure: factors like the limited routes and the poorly maintained buses, among others.
Political Polarization in Pakistan and the 2022 Floods
In their attempts to undermine their opponents, Pakistan’s political elite have polarized the citizens of the state. Hamra Tariq notes that this political polarization has prevented the state of Pakistan from reaching an agreement on matters of national security. She takes the case of the 2022 floodings in Pakistan to demonstrate the impact of this divide on the effective management of the crisis, and on the formulation of a climate policy.
Pakistan’s Varying Political Scenarios
In today’s Pakistan, we are gripped with a politico-economic situation that is increasingly becoming untenable. Brig Syed Mushtaq Ahmed (Retd) believes that the country is abuzz with a lot of speculations, foretelling different scenarios: a downside scenario, an obverse scenario and a prospective scenario. Which one of these will last or emerge depend on the role of the invisibles.
Imran Khan—Challenger of the Status Quo
Former leaders took advantage of the inchoate state, and marred Pakistan by insulating themselves.
Mir Adnan Aziz considers Imran Khan’s political existence, and PTI’s unswerving influence the perfect opportunity for the citizens to resolve the pitiful state of the country themselves.
Are Digital Currencies & China’s Yuan Causing the US Dollar to Decline?
Since the Bretton Woods system was first introduced, the US dollar has established itself as the world’s largest reserve currency. However, with the increasing popularity of non-traditional currencies, questions have arisen about the possible decline of the dollar’s dominance. Liza Wasique attempts to answer these questions while acknowledging the declining trust in the US currency, and the competition between the dollar and China’s yuan.
Media Bias Against the Palestinian Issue
The power dynamics between states are often apparent in the dissemination of information. As such, Western hegemonic discourse tends to prevail over weaker counter-narratives. Hamra Tariq analyzes the case of the Israel-Palestine conflict to showcase the US and Western media’s bias towards Israel. She argues that this media bias has spread misinformation and shaped public opinion in the favor of Israel – a Western ally – disregarding the ground reality.
Lords of Misrule
Mir Adnan Aziz discusses the blatant disregard for disaster management by the former and current governments in Pakistan. He stresses that the innumerable casualties and massive destruction caused by the recent natural disasters were certainly preventable. This gross negligence by the lords of misrule has left the people of Pakistan walking on a tightrope.
A Cyclical Disaster: The 2022 Floods of Pakistan
Having experienced severe political and climatic storms this year, Sarmad Ishfaq laments the difficult times ahead for Pakistan.
These devastating floods are putting the economy under even more pressure. There is a strong possibility that food costs and unemployment will now surge to record highs.
The Role of Local Governments in Development
Seeing the pitiful state of development in Pakistan, Adnan Rafique pitches for robust local governments in the country. He believes that a bottom-up approach must be implemented in true letter and spirit, for people to attain maximum health and security. He considers the reasons for the lagging local governments to be the non-observance of Article 140A, inadequate zoning laws, and the unsatisfactory tax collection system – among others.