March 2020

Trade wars are huge threats to food security international trade has provided consumers with access to a more diversified and nutritious food basket. However, for trade to improve food security to the greatest number of people across the globe, greater international cooperation is necessary. More than 820 million people— equivalent to more than 10.0 percent of the world’s population—were hungry …

Climate Anxiety  Our climate is changing at an accelerated rate and continues to have profound impacts on human health. This change jeopardizes not only physical health but also mental health. Climate change harms mental wellbeing in a number of ways. From trauma and stress following disasters, to relationship damage caused by separation and displacement, the psychological effects of climate change …

Not a decade to spare for climate action Scientists have been sounding the alarm for decades that climate change is real and getting worse. As the adverse effects of unabated emissions keep mounting, the alarm is becoming deafening. But, at the same time, other current realities cannot be ignored. The imminent threat posed by climate change is coinciding with shifts …

How to Overcome Hurdles to CPEC? First, Pakistan is hobbled by a high fiscal and current account deficit, a large foreign debt and a resulting heavy debt repayment burden. Its ability to provide support funds for CPEC has lost to a great extent, and there is large financial pressure to expand infrastructure construction. IMF loans come with conditions and Pakistan …

UN Secretary-General’s Visit Pakistan’s New Global Image Shamshad Ahmad For decades, having been on the top of many negative lists including those of world’s most dangerous, most violent, most unsafe and most corrupt countries on earth, it was indeed heartening to see Pakistan being hailed by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, as a ‘trustworthy and benevolent nation’ committed to peace and …

Police Reforms vs Policing Reforms Police reforms are inward-looking and focus on the organizational aspects of police. For example, an axiomatic question is the constitutionality of police organizations, i.e. whether they operate under the federal or the provincial legal power. Needless to state that the constitutionality debate in Pakistan is much bipolar in its purport, and more often than not, …

President Erdoğan’s Visit to Pakistan Long Live Pakistan-Turkey Brotherhood! On 13th of February, President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reached Islamabad on a two-day visit to attend the sixth meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. The visit came at a testing time for both countries and it, indeed, speaks to the durable nature of the relationship. Although Turkey and …

Juvenile Justice System The United Nations General Assembly adopted Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 20th November 1989. So far, 190 nations have ratified the Convention. It provides for social, economic and cultural rights of the children. Being signatory to this Convention, the parties are bound to abide by its articles. Pakistan ratified CRC on 12th November …

FBR versus Traders Revival of CNIC condition and its effects on tax compliance Tax revenue plays a significant role in economic growth and development of a nation, which is evident from the fact that countries with higher tax-to-GDP ratios are more developed as compared to countries where these ratios are low. Pakistan is included among developing countries because it collects …

40 YEARS OF AFGHAN REFUGEES Predicaments and policy options for Pakistan Islamic Republic of Pakistan has completed 40 years of hosting Afghan brothers and sisters, with open arms, grateful hearts, smiling faces and tolerant minds, with minimal international support. They have been here since 1979 when the USSR invaded Afghanistan and compelled needy Afghans to take shelter in their second …