Yearly Archives: 2023

SUMMARY of the Article “Gender and population” by Nida Kirmani, Dawn [Published on December 23rd, 2023]

The 2023 census reveals Pakistan’s population surpassing 240 million, reflecting a significant increase of 33.8 million people since 2017. The growth rate, alarming at 2.55%, deviates from the intended downward trend, marking a failure in achieving the replacement-level population growth target of 2.1% by 2020. Comparatively, other countries in the region exhibit lower growth rates. The article emphasizes that high population growth is linked to poverty and underdevelopment, with Balochistan, the most underdeveloped province, having the highest growth rate and maternal mortality rate. Poverty is a key factor behind high growth rates, and despite technological advances, millions of women face unmet contraceptive needs, contributing to high abortion rates and maternal mortality. Gender inequality plays a role, with Pakistan ranking poorly in the Global Gender Inequality Index. The lack of women’s empowerment, education, decision-making power, and access to healthcare contributes to higher birth rates. The article argues that gender equality must be prioritized in the political agenda to effectively address » Read More…

SUMMARY of the Article “Facts, questions & solutions” by Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Dawn [Published on December 22nd, 2023]

The article delves into Pakistan’s critical issues, emphasizing the urgent need for a national transformation. With a population of around 240 million, 90% facing poverty and inadequate access to essentials, Pakistan’s major institutions, including the judiciary, executive, legislature, and military, have consistently failed to serve citizens’ welfare and protect human rights. The educated middle classes, media, bureaucracy, and political intelligentsia often opt for opportunistic complicity over principled opposition. These failures contribute to corruption, inequality, inefficiency, and a loss of hope, hindering the development of movements for national transformation. The author calls for integrity among the political intelligentsia and outlines the necessity for meticulous preparation, time, and a sympathetic government for national transformation. Advocating for a free, fair, and internationally monitored election, the article warns against repeating past mistakes and stresses the need for » Read More…

SUMMARY of the Article “Climate Resilience” by Naseer Memon, Dawn [Published on December 21st, 2023]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Pakistan to incorporate climate resilience into its development projects, emphasizing this shift in the FY2024-25 budget. The IMF advocates for a comprehensive approach, urging the alignment of the budget with climate change adaptation, green budgeting practices, and explicit documentation of the nexus between the budget and climate-related actions. The article underscores the need for a paradigm shift in development planning and budgeting, particularly to address climate concerns. Reflecting on last year’s floods that caused significant losses, the author highlights the importance of climate-sensitive planning and the reallocation of priorities to prevent and mitigate climate-related disasters. The concept of climate-sensitive budgeting extends beyond financial allocations, emphasizing the integration of climate change policies into sectoral planning and management. The author suggests applying a “climate lens” to development projects, focusing on adaptation at the sectoral and project levels. The article also proposes expanding environmental impact » Read More…

SUMMARY of the Article “Climate Opportunities” by Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Dawn [Published on December 21st, 2023]

The article highlights Pakistan’s strategic opportunities at COP28, setting the course for its climate agenda. Active participation by Pakistan in the climate summit, involving various ministries and regional governments, showcased unprecedented inter-ministerial collaboration. The nation secured positions on key committees, such as the Loss & Damage Fund (LDF) board and four committees of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These committees, including the Technology Executive Committee (TEC), Paris Committee on Capacity-Building (PCCB), Advisory Board of the Santiago Network (ABSN), and the Standing Committee on Finance (SCF), focus on diverse aspects of climate change, offering strategic leverage for Pakistan. The author emphasizes the need for inter-ministerial coordination to maximize the impact of these opportunities. Additionally, the article discusses COP28’s failure to reach agreements on carbon trading and phasing out coal and fossil fuels, providing Pakistan with opportunities to finalize its carbon trading policies and explore the » Read More…

SUMMARY of the Article “Weasel words,” by Mahir Ali, Dawn [Published on December 20th, 2023]

The COP28 summit in Dubai, a culmination of 28 years of UN-sponsored climate conferences, has been hailed as a landmark for finally acknowledging fossil fuels as the primary cause of global warming. Despite decades of reports pointing out their role, they were concealed, leading to greenwashing practices. The recent focus on transitioning away from coal, oil, and gas has been critiqued for its vagueness and the presence of loopholes. The article suggests that meaningful investments in solar and wind energy in the 1980s-90s could have altered Earth’s fate. However, COPs, influenced by reluctance and the need for consensus, failed to address the root cause. COP28 was seen as a slight improvement, yet specific actions to surpass fossil fuels as the primary energy source were lacking. The article criticizes the “UAE consensus” for its ineffectiveness, allowing major polluters to continue without constraint. The choice of a petrostate as the next host raises doubts about the conferences’ utility. Allegations about COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber’s interests in oil deals and doubts about fossil fuels being the main » Read More…