On 30 July 2023, a suicide blast killed 46 civilians and 215 injured during the Worker’s Convention of a political party (JUI-F) at Khar (Bajaur), KPK. More than 500 supporters were gathered near a market for the rally, which was being held ahead of elections expected later this year. JUI-F Member National Assembly (MNA) Maulana Jamaluddin and Senator Abdul Rasheed were also present during the convention.
Dr. Khalid Mahmood Shafi is an academician and a practitioner with over thirty years of assorted experience. Dr. Khalid has a diverse academic background in social sciences, having attained a Master's degree in Strategic Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, and International Relations. Additionally, he holds an MPhil and PhD degree in Peace and Conflict Studies with an interest in Global Climate Crisis; has been educating students at the university level. Dr. Khalid in a leadership role has served in the field where in addition to actively countering terrorism, he carried a passion to contribute to people-centric sustainable development and addressing environmental concerns. His publications in national and international journals are based on diverse topics of Policy reforms, Climate Change, Human Security, Civil Society, Air Pollution, COVID-19, UN, Peacebuilding and Non-Traditional Security Threats. He has also served in the United Nations. Dr. Khalid has authored two books titled "The Climate and COVID-19: Global Challenges and Responses" and "Now or Never: Realizing Global Green Regime."
Pakistan, like other developing economies of South Asia; grapples with the persistent challenge of corruption and misgovernance, which is deeply rooted in its social and governmental fabric. The Corruption Perception Index report by Transparency International highlights the pervasiveness of corruption across all levels of society and government in Pakistan, that has plagued country’s economy with serious challenges, including surging inflation, escalating commodity prices, and notable declines in foreign reserves and investment. The report paints a bleak picture of its struggling economy, underscoring the pressing need for innovative approaches to address these critical challenges.
“Project launched to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and improve governance in Balochistan”, Sohail Anwar Hashmi, Director General, ACEB
The ILO reports that Pakistan has 8.5 million domestic workers, with women comprising over half of the informal labor force. However, domestic workers are not entitled to benefits like minimum wage, which is only preserved for other workers. This results in women and young girls receiving only a pittance for their labor, insufficient to cover rent and other household expenses.
The recent tragedy of losing lives to human trafficking is a moment of reflection and much neglected Feminist perspectives is well-suited for this purpose. Feminist analyses of the economic causes of human trafficking of men in Pakistan looks at the exploitative economic system and structural inequalities which make men vulnerable to economic exploitation and trafficking.
After the 9th May vandalism on the state's military installations, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) faces a massive crackdown. PTI leaders are leaving the party one after another and those staying face arrests and a pending trial in the controversial military courts. As PTI awaits a potential permanent ban and its Chairman Imran Khan may be tried in a military court and disqualified, the uncertainty around general elections in 2023 grows further in a politically unstable Pakistan.
Pakistan is the Fifth-largest youth country in the world, with 60 percent of youth under 30. According to a study by the Pakistan Institute of Economic Development (PIDE), 31 percent of youth is unemployed. Currently, the youth of Pakistan is facing significant challenges like a lack of opportunities, limited career counseling options, mental health issues, and flaws in the educational system. These rising challenges have created frustration and stress among the youth, which can be seen as a lack of acceptance, resentment, and hostility in their behavior and on social media platforms (...)
Have you ever noticed how information on social media and WhatsApp groups can explode within seconds? Disinformation, misinformation, and fake news have caused multiple devastating consequences in Pakistani society. We have been observing a peak amount of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news related to the Polio virus, COVID-19, Minorities' rights, [...]
For many years in Pakistan, the voices of our youth expressing their concerns about their due rights have remained unheard. The majority of them did not get an adequate platform due to inefficient governments and a lack of the rule of law. In addition, the Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index ranks Pakistan 140 out of 180 countries, citing corruption and the absence of accountability as two significant indicators of poor governance; these factors often result in chaos, instability, and other challenges for the state and its citizens (...)
