Pakistan is urged to redefine its approach to the environment, moving beyond a passive recipient of international aid to an active steward of its natural legacy. Despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, the country faces severe climate-related challenges, leading to environmental disasters. Recent climate-induced calamities caused significant human and economic losses. Pakistan’s heavy reliance on international climate aid, often limited to small grants, proves insufficient. The article emphasizes the need for a comprehensive land use policy to address environmental challenges, covering agriculture, nature conservation, industrial practices, and » Read More…
The editorial criticizes the recent decision by the authorities in Islamabad to block access to X (formerly Twitter), a popular digital platform for self-expression. Describing the move as a desperate attempt to control public discourse, the editorial highlights the repressive nature of such actions in the current era where millions of people worldwide use platforms like X to exchange news and views. The authorities, fearing the public’s influence on the narrative agenda, have resorted to cutting off access. The editorial points out the hypocrisy of caretaker ministers who, despite the ban, continue to post on X using VPN services. It particularly criticizes the IT minister for celebrating the growth of Pakistan’s IT industry without addressing the sudden denial of access to a globally popular social medium. The editorial questions the impact of such actions » Read More…
The article addresses the challenges faced by the incoming government in Pakistan, emphasizing issues in fiscal management, human development, and governance. On the fiscal front, the country grapples with high inflation, a budgetary deficit exceeding 7% of national income, energy crises impacting industry and consumers, substantial foreign and local debt repayments, and a sluggish export sector. In the realm of human development, Pakistan struggles with alarming infant mortality rates, high female fertility rates, significant child malnutrition, a large out-of-school population, and widespread poverty. Governance concerns include an ineffective local government system, inefficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs), a cumbersome bureaucracy, prolonged court cases, and a beleaguered police force. The author proposes several reforms for the incoming government, including urgent population control measures, revisiting the National Finance Commission (NFC) award for balanced tax distribution, empowering local governments constitutionally, privatizing and regulating SOEs, » Read More…