The issue of millions of out-of-school children in Pakistan is a critical problem that needs immediate attention. An estimated 28 million children are currently out of school, and it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about an entire generation at risk. To address this, the central government has sent a letter to provincial ministers, urging them to create a unified national strategy. The effectiveness of this initiative largely depends on provincial governments due to the decentralized nature of the education sector. In the past, various efforts have been made to get these children into schools, but they have not yielded satisfactory results. Poverty and a lack of awareness are at the core of the problem. Many low-income families can’t afford to send their children to school as they rely on child labor to make ends meet. Even if children are » Read More…
September 2023 is marked as one of the hottest September ever recorded, with a sudden temperature surge of over half a degree Celsius. This drastic increase in temperature reaffirms the insurmountable challenge of climate change. Earth is now 1.7°C to 1.8°C warmer than pre-Industrial Revolution levels, and it is predicted that this year will witness a 1.4°C increase. This unrelenting warming is exacerbated by the El Niño weather system, intensifying global warming. This situation has led to catastrophic weather events across the globe, including devastating » Read More…
The author examines the recurring advice provided by institutions like the World Bank, IMF, and local think tanks on reforming Pakistan’s economy. While the advice generally offers good policy options, it tends to repeat ideas from the past. The blame for this repetition partly lies with the government’s failure to heed such advice. The author suggests that advisers should consider the political context that often hinders the implementation of standard reform ideas. As an alternative, they should propose second-best, unorthodox policy options tailored to the unique challenges in Pakistan. The author emphasizes that these policies should prioritize the interests of the poor. However, most reform advice lacks a holistic vision and may inadvertently harm elite interests, making them difficult to implement. The article critiques recent advice from » Read More…