Pakistan’s journey since inception has been turbulent with continuous change in regimes, regressive policies, too much debt, an ever-increasing trade deficit, thepractice of privatization and nationalization, perpetually swelling nondevelopment expenditures, a nonexistent tax system and rampant corruption. This brought the country on the brink of economic precipice and meltdown. The Pakistani economy has become considerably…
As a cultural event the Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF) has come to occupy a distinctive position in the cultural, educational, and literary life of Pakistan. A young city, Islamabad vibrates with the energies of the Pakistani youth, its naturally beautiful location makes it an ideal place for literary, cultural, and creative inspiration to flourish. Oxford…
Context When all seemed set and done and all that was pending was the signing of the agreement, the Afghan peace talks suddenly collapsed with a dramatic announcement from President Trump on September 7th. The debate about the cause of this sudden change of heart started in earnest. Was the deal too lopsided in favor…
With the ardent patriotic zeal that sprouts up with each gazetted national holiday portrayed by ad campaigns and arbitrary quotes in mass media which dies down soon after, I wrote this article after everything passed, so that the impact of such would although be seemingly random, would not let the conversation die down and maybe…
America faces another Vietnam moment over the Afghan conflict. Pulling out of the peace process and talks of use of more military power by President Donald Trump resonate with what President Lyndon B Johnson did during Vietnam conflict. According to Brian Willson, a Vietnam era USAF night security commander, American military action “left 26 million…
With its multiple ethnicities, languages and sub-nationalisms a subcontinent rather than a country, India was bound to face many tensions and even centrifugal tendencies from its very beginning. This recognition by the early rulers notwithstanding multiple separatist movements have developed over the years. Consecutive Indian governments have tackled the problem to a large extent by…
The features of corruption and nepotism that the Quaid-e-Azam had warned against has been going on unabated for decades, over time these methods have acquired a kind of legality and rightfulness. Everybody today seems to accept the fact that sitting in a position of power makes one entitled to take payment for favours. The weak…
Over the decades corruption has become deeply entrenched in the institutions of the state and in the business of fighting corruption, it is one of the most important objectives of the current PTI government. Corruption has damaged the Pakistani state, its social fabric, its economy and its national security. Fighting corruption therefore remains one of…
Pakistan’s image in the international community is rather negative, over the years and even after decades this has not much improved. We have never paid much attention to our image-building, whatever done was done a clumsy way. Pakistan’s negative image was further disparaged by the very successful and never relaxing anti-Pakistan propaganda by India at…
Contrary to general world perception, India’s economic woes are increasing by the day. India’s once-impressive economic growth, averaging above 8 per cent over some time, slowed to below 5 per cent in the last year while inflation rocketed into double digits. Maryam’s Uncle Modi’s changing of the status of the autonomous state of Jammu &Kashmir…
