Here, you can seek Current Affairs MCQs of Pakistan and the World’s Current year important events, dates, accidents and issues in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Pakistan Current Affairs sample test and practise questions for job Test. Current Affairs of Pakistan, first in Pakistan, Important issues, current govt ministries etc. So, you will find in this category the updated 2022 Current affairs of Pakistan Mcqs.
The article “A Caring Economy” by Samia Liaquat Ali Khan, published in Dawn on July 25th, 2024, addresses the disproportionate burden of caregiving placed on women and its impact on their participation in the labor force, particularly in South Asia. The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report highlights how this imbalance caused female labor force participation rates to drop during and immediately after the Covid pandemic, with only recent improvements. Research by the World Bank indicates that extended maternity leave often leads to women not returning to work, while extended paternity leave for men positively influences women’s re-entry into the labor market. In Pakistan, many companies are hesitant to employ women due to perceived short-term financial costs and the need for ‘special’ treatment in a male-dominated environment. Women face numerous barriers to entering and staying in the workforce, including discriminatory job advertisements and interview practices, societal expectations regarding marriage and motherhood, and lack of support at home. As a result, women often leave the workforce, leading to a significant gender disparity in senior management positions. The article argues that societal perceptions of gender roles need fundamental reconfiguration, emphasizing the undervalued but crucial nature of care work. Economists Naila Kabeer and Nancy Folbre have highlighted the economic productivity of care work, which enhances human capabilities but is poorly compensated. The article suggests rewarding men for caregiving roles and providing better economic opportunities for women. Policies like flexible work hours, child care options, mandated paternity leave, and encouraging men’s involvement in caregiving are » Read More…
The article explores the notion of giving up through the lens of President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek re-election for a second term. This surprising move by the leader of the world’s most powerful nation serves as a starting point to discuss the broader theme of relinquishing goals or positions that one has worked for all their life. The piece highlights the rarity of powerful individuals voluntarily stepping down, as such roles often lead to a belief in their own indispensability. The central question revolves around knowing when to hold on and when to let go, even if it seems counterintuitive. People often justify quitting through various rationalizations, but the true challenge lies in recognizing when continuing is futile or harmful. The article uses the example of a neurosurgeon who, despite extensive training and a prestigious career, chose to leave the profession due to the moral injury of failing to relieve patient suffering. This narrative underscores that decisions to quit can be complex and » Read More…
In the article “Crisis of Governability,” Umair Javed explores the deteriorating control of the Pakistani state over its political and economic landscape, as analyzed by scholars Adeel Malik and Maya Tudor. They predict a deepening ‘crisis of governability,’ marked by the current regime’s low societal acceptance and diminishing ability to enforce its agenda. Actions such as coercion against PTI members, Imran Khan’s continued incarceration, and manipulation of the 2024 elections have led to widespread unpopularity and mistrust in the regime, extending to the military establishment. Economically, despite some positive indicators, public perception remains grim due to plummeting real wages and limited growth opportunities, exacerbated by rising taxes and electricity tariffs. The state is perceived as only proficient in self-benefiting practices, failing to achieve sustained economic growth or meaningful reforms. The regime’s struggle is evident in its inability to manipulate election outcomes effectively, with the judiciary emerging as a site of resistance. Scholars attribute this crisis to societal changes like » Read More…
The article discusses the recent decision by the Balochistan government to increase the budget for higher education institutions (HEIs), which is expected to resolve long-standing issues, such as delayed salaries for employees and the introduction of full scholarships for PhD students under the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Programme. Despite this positive development, the article highlights the ongoing crisis in the governance and management of HEIs in Balochistan, exacerbated by financial collapse and a heavy reliance on aid and grants. Mismanagement has led to spending on construction and salaries, with little investment in profit-making ventures, human development, or research. This has resulted in HEIs becoming financially unstable and unable to contribute effectively to society. The crisis is attributed to various stakeholders, including lawmakers, policy makers, and university administrations, who have prioritized quantity over quality, leading to financial mismanagement and demoralized teaching faculty. The article criticizes the increasing use of contractual staff, reduction in remunerations, rising student fees, and limited scholarships, which have further weakened the HEIs. It calls for a shift towards rational resource utilization, academic management, and profit generation, rather than expansion into remote areas. The article also emphasizes the need for the Higher Education Commission » Read More…
In commemorating NATO’s 75th anniversary at the Washington Summit, discussions were predominantly focused on the Russia-Ukraine war. The summit’s declaration strongly condemned Russia’s “brutal war of aggression” and its “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric.” NATO’s 32 members pledged enduring support to Ukraine, promising 40 billion euros for security assistance in the upcoming year. Furthermore, NATO has stationed over 500,000 combat-ready forces on its eastern flank and affirmed that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” committing to Ukraine’s full integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. The historical backdrop of NATO-Russia rivalry dates back to the Cold War, initiated by the North Atlantic Treaty signed on April 4, 1949, by 12 Western European and North American countries to counter the Soviet threat. The Soviet Union’s counteraction was the formation of the Warsaw Pact in 1955. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of this rivalry, but NATO’s eastward expansion continued to irk Russia. Despite the formation of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council in 1997 and Russia’s inclusion in the G8, Moscow remained concerned about NATO’s presence near its borders. NATO’s suspension of cooperation with Russia followed the annexation of Crimea in 2014, leading to the deployment of multinational battlegroups in Eastern Europe. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine heightened tensions, with NATO declaring Russia a direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security and supporting » Read More…
Chaos has gripped Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh following escalating anti-government protests, which intensified after several demonstrators were killed in clashes with security forces and government supporters. The unrest has led to the closure of educational institutions, media blackouts, and widespread internet disruptions. Approximately 40 people have died, and hundreds have been injured in the violence. The protests were initially sparked by the reinstatement of quotas in government jobs for the descendants of ‘freedom fighters’ from the 1971 war of independence, a decision that angered many young people, particularly students, who have been at the forefront of the demonstrations. The job quotas, which reserve nearly half of public sector employment, have become a contentious issue amid economic stagnation and high unemployment rates in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina Wajed, who secured a fourth term in elections earlier this year amid opposition boycotts and questions of legitimacy, has faced criticism for her heavy-handed approach to opposition forces and economic mismanagement. The current protests are a reflection of broader discontent with political disenfranchisement and economic » Read More…
Azhar Azam’s article critically examines the United States’ stance towards China, highlighting that for over a decade, the US has viewed China as an economic threat rather than a potential teacher. The article references former President Barack Obama’s 2011 State of the Union address, where he pointed out China’s advanced infrastructure compared to the US’s deteriorating one. The US’s approach of seeing China as a competitor has led to underinvestment in its own infrastructure while blaming China for its domestic shortcomings. Despite recent legislative efforts like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Inflation Reduction Act, America’s infrastructure funding remains inadequate, potentially widening to $3.7 trillion over ten years. The article suggests that rather than scapegoating China, the US should reconsider its policies, which have seen trillions spent on military campaigns instead of domestic improvements. In contrast, China’s focus on a multipolar world and infrastructure development has positioned it as a socio-economically effective model. The US’s interventionist foreign policy and quest for global dominance have hindered its development, leaving it with minimal high-speed rail compared to China’s extensive network. » Read More…
