Awami Workers Party in collaboration with Senior Journalists Forum is holding a public dialogue to offer a national alternative approach to Pakistan’s economic crisis next week Herald Report Pakistan is set to begin its 13th International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme since the late 1980s, purportedly to curb twin deficits and structurally adjust the economy to ‘promote long term growth, …
Aasim Sajjad Akhtar Many readers will recognise that the title of this column is borrowed from an online marketplace that is increasingly popular in Pakistan. This refrain is emblematic of the ideas that dominate our society and world, ideas that most of us endorse uncritically on a daily basis. My question is: what’s the difference between the slogan ‘Bech de!’ …
Displaced from their land by multinational mining companies, nomadic herders defied the odds to preserve their heritage for future generations by Rod Austin Just 10 years ago, the district of Khanbogd, in southern Mongolia’s Omnogovi province, was a barely known region of eastern Asia. That changed with the discovery of gold and copper deposits below the seemingly endless Gobi desert, home to a …
Professional bodies of teachers, students, workers, doctors and political activists reject IMF’s bailout prescriptions, cut in PSDP Herald Report Academics, students, workers, young doctors and progressive activists have rejected the proposed plan of privatisation of key sectors of education, health and cut in education budget. The recent decisions of privatizing health sectors and cut in budget for Higher Education Commission …
Herald Report Experts, academics and government representatives have called for sustainable exploration of mineral deposits and safeguarding the interests of indigenous communities and environment. They discussed the environmental and economic challenges in mining sector at a roundtable conference organised by the University of Central Asia’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA) of the Graduate School of Development in Bishkek, …
New Perspectives on Pakistan’s Political Economy: State, Class and Social Change has been edited by Matthew McCartney and S Akbar Zaidi (Cambridge University Press, April 2019) Farman Ali A new book titled: “New Perspectives on Pakistan’s Political Economy:State, Class and Social Change” will soon hit the market. Edited by Matthew McCartney, Director of South Asian Studies and Associate Professor in the …
Trophy hunting has introduced a market ethic whereby the animal is seen in purely utilitarian terms. Shafqat Hussain The recent news about trophy hunting of markhor and ibex in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has sparked intriguing public debates. Many have questioned the ethics of this practice, while others have asked about its social, ecological and economic impact. The question of ethics in …
A new kind of left-wing doctrine is emerging. It is not the answer to capitalism’s problems AFTER THE collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the 20th century’s ideological contest seemed over. Capitalism had won and socialism became a byword for economic failure and political oppression. It limped on in fringe meetings, failing states and the turgid liturgy of the …
Do we want recognition or should we focus on ending our growing social marginalization and economic inequality? Sultan Abbas Outsiders perceive Hunzukutz (people of Hunza) as a closely-knit community, rarely mingling with others, mostly self-absorbed and largely boasting of their marginal achievements. This self-delusional culture has allowed the evolution of an internal competition on flimsy and superficial pretexts. We appear …
ISLAMABAD: As the government investigates gas price hike controversy amid criticism from domestic consumers, a serious shortage has hit the country with delay in the berthing of Q-flex cargo of Pakistan State Oil (PSO), affecting almost all sectors of economy. “The situation is very serious. Gas supply to power plants, fertiliser plants, general industry and CNG sectors has already been …
