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Is Pakistan ready to grant citizenship to its Afghan and Bengali refugees?
Policy and governance are most effective when idealism morphs into realism to tackle challenges and go after opportunities in the real world, while also aspiring for utopia. It is in the middle ground...
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When blood becomes cheap and police are the monsters our children need...
Another day, another victim – a child no less! A short while after the death of Amal Umer – 10-year-old girl who lost her life after a crossfire between the police and robbers – the police in Karachi...
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The Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme is a great initiative, but can it survive...
In keeping with the theme of ‘change’, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government recently launched the Naya Pakistan Housing Programme, aiming to build five million homes in five years. It is...
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To squat or not to squat?
I was one-year-old when my family moved from Pakistan to Botswana. Located in Southern Africa, Botswana is about the size of France, with an astonishingly low population of two-and-a-half-million...
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Fictitious yet familiar, ‘Typically Tanya’ narrates life in Karachi and all...
I enjoyed reading the book Typically Tanya by Taha Kehar, one of Pakistan's most exciting new writers, not just because it’s a book about journalists but because it is a book about life in Karachi,...
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Dear private schools, I am a parent but not an ATM
The Constitution of Pakistan has, via Article 25A, made it mandatory for the government to provide free education to all citizens who cannot afford to go to school otherwise. However, implementation of...
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Life after the British: If India can develop a thriving railway sector, why...
As a frequent traveller, whenever I visit another country my first preference is to take the train, and I have many reasons for doing so. Being an environmentalist, I am a conscious traveller, and...
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One would expect dhabas to have substandard food, not high-end restaurants...
In the aftermath of the tragedy in which two kids died after dining out and their mother remains hospitalised, what more can be said except that now eating out in Karachi is killing our children. The...
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Understanding encroachment and why its end will be a breath of fresh air for...
The city of Karachi is left with a handful of neighbourhoods where encroachment is not an issue yet, namely the Defence Housing Authority, Malir Cantt and few other housing societies. Rest of the city...
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Dhaba vs fine dining: A $60 meal at a Michelin star restaurant or a $2 meal...
Known for the fresh sub-continental food they serve in an open air atmosphere, dhabas can be dubbed as local fast food joints that offer patrons tasty, traditional dishes at an affordable price. The...
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Travelling the world amongst the roaring sea: Memories of a Pakistani sailor
Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Aspiring for a career and finally achieving employment is a blessing for anyone. When I was young, my dream, like many other kids, was to roam around the world,...
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Suhai Aziz Talpur: Celebrated worldwide but mocked in her own country?
A week ago, three armed men attacked the Chinese consulate in Karachi. Before they could reach the diplomatic staff inside, the militants were killed in a police operation led by SP Suhai Aziz Talpur....
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The sea is calling: The crumbling reality of Karachi’s Hawkesbay beach
With its 27-kilometre long coastline, Karachi is lined with beaches in the south. Dotted with fishing villages, these beaches are one of the main sources of recreation and entertainment for the...
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Perhaps pick another venue for IDEAS 2020?
The 10th edition of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2018 kicked off in Karachi on Tuesday, November 27th. Reportedly, 50 countries participated in the expo and around 522 exhibitor...
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In conversation with Faysal Manzoor Khan, the man behind Pakistan’s dramas...
Unsung heroes often work behind the camera, working relentlessly to ensure everything is on point. It starts with a paper and pen and ends with a compilation, a script. It is about time I shine the...
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“Nothing changes here! Pakistan was, is, and will always be the same”
In 2015, I left to pursue my Fulbright scholarship aspiring to conquer the world and change the landscape of research in Pakistan. I have always found the general pessimism that prevails in our country...
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While Balochistan’s natural gas keeps the rest of Pakistan warm, its own...
On a cool and sunny November afternoon, Ahmad Habib sat behind his shop, located in Quetta’s main Liaquat Bazar, accompanied by a handful of other local shop owners. They sat together, enjoying the...
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Did the government really think that one bike lane on Shahrae Faisal will...
The traffic problem in Karachi has gone from bad to worse to the absolute worst in a reasonably small expanse of time. No amount of signal-free corridors, bridges, underpasses and new roads have been...
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The year of the judge
Sylvester Stallone is a great actor, especially after he’s had a few punches to his jaw. If you were a kid growing up in the 80s, Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger were the primary Hollywood heroes...
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Ali Raza Abidi – Another sane voice silenced in a city marred with blood
Ali Raza Abidi’s cold blooded murder has left a huge void that will probably take ages to fill. His untimely death has not only taken away a young enterprising politician from us, but has also saddened...
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