This article is divided into two parts. The first part aims to introduce the key features of the proposed Gilgit-Baltistan Land Reforms Act 2023....
The recent collision between a Rawalpindi-bound passenger bus and a private car on the Karakoram Highway near Shatial in Gilgit-Baltistan –...
The energy predicament in Gilgit-Baltistan , characterized by frequent power outages and inadequate voltage supply, poses a significant challenge...
Gilgit-Baltistan is grappling with a severe energy deficit, which has far-reaching ramifications for its economic and societal progress.From a...
The 2022 monsoon rains caused a disaster of biblical proportions in Sindh, which is already struggling with issues like lack of good governance and...
The Local Government Acts for each province, in their current form, provide limited autonomy to local councils, concerning fiscal management and...
After a short democratic term under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , the military once again got control of state power through General Ziaul Haq’s military...
The motivation of writing a series of articles on local governance in Pakistan came from an insightful discussion on the subject organized recently...
It keeps us on our toes to defend the fortress of morality and keep the power of a shrewd politician far away from us. It keeps us engaged in a...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.In our era of neo-liberalism, the development...
The conventional wisdom of according an unquestionable role to microfinance in poverty alleviation has recently been challenged partly because there...
December 16 – which has just passed – prompts reflection, introspection and resolution for political course correction to build a federal...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.No reasons, explanations or lamentations on...
What has gone wrong with recent predictions about a possible tussle between the PTI government and state institutions? The controversy over the...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.Gilgit-Baltistan has become the hub of private...
During my recent visit to Karachi, I happened to talk with an ordinary resident, a father of two, about the dilemmas of conventional patriotism,...
While a 350,000 strong well-equipped Afghan National Army was disintegrating in the face of the Taliban offensive, a few brave Afghan girls stood...
Their beauty on the verge of being defaced and serenity being spoiled due to unplanned and unregulated tourism, the picturesque valleys of...
There is scant authentic research available on alternative and effective rural development approaches in Balochistan. In common development...
In my article of July 4, 2021 published in these pages as ‘Transition in Tharparkar’, I shared some of my thoughts about the contested nature of...
I am writing this piece on the last day of my weeklong enriching journey to the heart of Tharparkar in Sindh. I am pleased to share with readers...
War is the most undesirable action to resolve interstate conflicts. Modern theories of international relations revolve around diplomatic means to...
There has been a contested debate over the viability and consistency of policies adopted and actions taken by developing countries to attain the...
What keeps Balochistan poor was summarized succinctly by a local farmer of District Killa Saifullah while narrating stories of plight: “Our...
Many of us would not believe that the Leviathan state still exists as a political reality in many parts of the world today.The argument goes like...
In my last article ‘Development for Balochistan’ , I tried to outline an alternative development paradigm for Balochistan as a process of...
Balochistan is 44 percent of Pakistan in terms of its geography and is also the most resource rich province of the country. However, it seems as if...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.As a social development professional with 15...
The unfortunate incident of an attack on a passenger van and the killing of six people in the picturesque Naltar valley of Gilgit-Baltistan a...
In a previous article on these pages – published on Feb 20, 2021 – I had presented a summary of the evolution of land acquisition laws in...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.Pakistan has always seen conflicts over land...
History, in a patriarchal society, is all about romantic indulgence with the past which is full of demons, fairies and witches to be overpowered by...
Following the defeat of the PTI in the by-elections, there has been another shock for the ruling alliance: the PDM’s joint nominee Yousaf Raza...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.War is the most abominable act committed by a...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.Commonly referred to as ‘Allama Iqbal – the...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.In climate change research and practice,...
January 30, 2021 was a tragic day for those of us who lost a great friend, an upright human being, an avid reader and a Marxist thinker beyond...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.Contrary to the political narrative of...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.Amidst claims and counter-claims of transparency...
In my previous article, ‘Integrating GLOF into policy’ , I argued that increased frequency of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood makes it necessary...
Glaciers are considered to be a water tower for fresh water supply in the world and have become one of the most important subjects of discussion in...
It would have been a chilly Saturday with clouds of victory hovering over the defence lines of the Gilgit Scouts on November 1, 1947. It was a...
With all the colours of freedom of choice, liberal democracies have become more stringent and less tolerant of dissent and alternative politics....
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.According to the UNHCR, there are some 70.8...
The ongoing discussions about the political mainstreaming of Gilgit-Baltistan has captured media attention across the country. Bringing GB under...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.In my last article, ‘BISP and institutional...
In the social protection debate we usually play down the role of short-term relief work in alleviating human suffering when emergencies hit, or...
The writer is a social development and policy adviser, and a freelance columnist based in Islamabad.In my previous article, ‘Inclusive social...
