Opinion

Change in the OECD’s definition of official development assistance will influence how UN & World Bank think about aid

It is one thing to agree with de-weaponisation in principle and quite another to actually get down to making it happen

The power and influence of the female narrative in journalism is inevitable and dates back to the nineteenth century

When attacking a woman becomes a crime — sticks, stones or even punches — people call it a landmark law

Internet access has made youth vulnerable to the ocean of extremism. Children are susceptible to online radicalisation

Film, as a medium, can educate, inspire and awaken, and in the process of doing so, amplify uncomfortable issues

Pakistan is not comfortable with powerful women, and it never quite made up its mind about Benazir Bhutto either

NAB and the NRO when studied side-by-side, are a splitting image of pulp

Poor nutrition for mothers during pregnancy is one of the major causes of malnutrition in Pakistan

Popular perception remains Qadri's hanging was meant to appease foreign powers rather than follow norms of justice

The new bill is designed to remove bureaucratic hurdles that normally make it impossible for women to file complaints

Hamid Karzai looms large over the political scene in Afghanistan and is revered by the majority as ‘Rahbar’

Acknowledging each ethnicity & province, and recognising its uniqueness & history could be exactly what Pakistan needs

India is taking too long in acting against those who masterminded terrorist attack on Samjhota Express

While the world revels in the odyssey of discovery, Pakistan is busy unravelling the mystery of Khula

In our society, there is honour in murder, not of an aggressor or a tyrant, but of an innocent

University rankings may mislead parents of prospective students, who may choose solely based on these rankings

Lahore Literary Festival was generally rated a success, with 100,000-strong amazingly well-behaved audience

Among the many pluses of the Eighteenth Amendment, a sure failing was devolving human rights to the provinces

There is a strong belief among many that some of the problems world faces today can be solved by technological means

If we want healthier lives, we need to move towards healthier food choices

So if we do not even desire a dark child, how could we have a soft corner for stray dogs?

We are told that the earlier assumption of 50 per cent of the population lives in Punjab does not hold true anymore

Our police personnel were never trained as marksmen; nor did they learn to exercise initiative, except in corruption

In the days before prohibition in Karachi, of the great forms of entertainment for rich and poor was horse racing

The way we practice religion now revolves around the ‘actions’ associated with piety or religious practice

Do we, in India, respect freedom to question the government & will those who stand up for others’ rights be protected?

For the people of Karachi, the Green Line may be gift. For the rulers of Karachi it is definitely a warning: Bus Karo!

Nawaz Sharif, literally monarch of most undemocratic political party of Pakistan has, some say, the luck of the devil

Since Pakistan is in a make-or-break stage of its economic career, any engagement will make it more viable as a nation

How protecting mothers, sisters, and wives against domestic abuse is ‘anti-Islamic’ and anti-nationalist, is a...

The textile industry could diversify its product portfolio by exploring new markets such as Africa and Russia

Successive governments continue the colonial era patron-client relationship between the rulers and the people

For true democracy to exist in Pakistan, there must first exist a culture of democracy, freedom of thought and action

International aid is often tied to several vested interests

There are no affordable quick-fixes here as Pakistan’s own base of fossil fuels is limited

Madrassas are better equipped, organised and disciplined than schools in the public sector

Pakistan has had several transformational moments yet it has always fallen short of taking a leap of faith

My time of time poverty coincides with many of the services that I need to avail myself of having an extended siesta

The Bold and outrageous comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is out with his latest offering, 'Grimsby'

Extraordinary airplane turbulence 35,000 feet in the air is God’s way of reminding us who’s really in charge

This year two festivals were held in Pakistan's different cities but with varied clientele, audience and expectations

Most Pakistanis, especially in Los Angeles, have built a very trusting relationship with law enforcement since 9/11

Suspicions over Kashmiri leadership’s intentions of wanting to keep G-B as its ‘colony’ have further gained currency

I had to cough up embassy funds to entertain guests accompanying former PM Shaukat Aziz on his several visits abroad

Sahibzada Yaqub Khan once advised me "To draw from the heart of tragedy the vital impulses of life"

Establishment is sending a clear message that the parties must learn to survive without their top leadership

The fact that you have Kevin Pietersen donning a Quetta jersey, Pakistan seems to have come a long way with the PSL

Despite being in majority among students in our schooling system, society creates barriers for women to progress

Only way out now is to play around with print medium as its nature at times has been more powerful than its message