Ashwin Makhija

While local governments are at the forefront of the current Covid-19 crisis the world over, in Pakistan these institutions are largely disengaged from its citizens. Either there is a complete absence of a local authority in most of the districts or the governance style that it follows, wherever it marginally exists, is authoritative and reactive in nature. Whatever the case may be, the essential state-society social contract is being undermined, which may lead to marginalization, group grievances, and conflict and social resistance as put by the 'Covid-19 Pakistan Socio-economic Impact Assessment and Response Plan' released by the UNDP. The report goes on further to warn about the potential perils that perhaps the virus will wreck on the people: the impacts may reach deep into society and on the behavior of individual, and affect well-being and mental health. Against this likely scenario, a weak coordination mechanism and platform at the local level is already rendering relief ...

It goes without saying that work during Covid-19 has received an abysmal blow. Employees everywhere are facing abrupt layoffs, and thus are encountering overwhelming miseries, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. Against this backdrop, however, there are a couple of countries that have operationalized extensive plans, embodying creativity and innovation, to cushion workers from the unprecedented shocks of the day as well as of tomorrow. In the similar vein, it is imperative for Pakistan to realize the gravity of current circumstances and hence bring forward a long-term plan to overhaul the employment sector. For that the state must initially work on building a consensus among various stakeholders in the concerned quarters. After having done with that, the key priority ought to be given to economic growth. Although achieving a sustained rate of recovery is challenging, it is the key to the pains of workforce in the country. Some part of the solution also lie in income gener...

The current challenging times necessitate that the state must come forward with a pragmatic policy to ensure that everyone has timely access to food. A plan in this direction should include a variety of flexible options to augment the reliability of food accessibility. The key factor of poverty rate should also be given sufficient consideration while working on any such policy draft. First and foremost, the potential scheme needs to target at supplementing the government's relief packages so that the marginalized could, at least, benefit from this temporary aid. The second in this line should be a plan for contingency food stocks. These must be reinforced and prepositioned at strategic locations to avoid any uncertainty in future. Similarly, a provision of either food or unconditional cash assistance in both urban and rural areas would be highly desirable. In this regard, whatever the kind of assistance would be chosen needs to be sensitive to the needs of women who have assumed a ...

The current times of pandemic expose workers in Pakistan to a great many of dangers. Those working in both formal and informal sectors risk loosing their incomes as well as jobs. As lockdowns hit the markets, businesses would be forced to shutdown, producing uncertainty for employees. In particular, informal sector, comprising 70 percent of economy in Pakistan, is precarious and vulnerable to shocks, as workers in this quarter are not entitled with any labour relief schemes. Similarly, those employed in authorized firms are not any immune to prevailing circumstances. They are prone to a greater casualisation of the workforce, for their employment is usually based on casual contracts offering little to no worker benefits. Above all, poor labour law enforcement, inadequate skill development schemes, and underdeveloped demand and supply side of labor market are supposed to add to the misery of the affected. On the firm's side, there are also concerns about macroeconomics, energy-relat...

Pakistan must take a lesson from countries that have so far shown success in dealing with the virus. In this regard, there are a couple of nations from which the leadership in the country can take an inspiration.  Consider Vietnam first. It is one of those nations that, despite having few resources, have stood out as a champion in controlling the pandemic. Its response was timely and effective, and it emphasized home-grown solutions to keep the number of cases to minimum. Some of the steps taken there are formation of contact-tracing teams, regular inspections of the infected by neighborhood wardens, and strict scrutiny of fake news circulating on social media platforms.  Nevertheless, officials in Pakistan, to absolve themselves of their missteps, may argue that Vietnam's success story depended chiefly upon its authoritarian and one-party system. To counter any such arguments, they must be introduced to another example of Sierra Leone, a not-very-rich country in Africa. It's ...

Although the human is in a learning process throughout his life, he is chiefly responsive to his surroundings in his adulthood. Particularly in this period, he is more susceptible to bad inspirations, and he feels greatly rebellious by nature when things do not conform to his will and desire. First and foremost, corrupt content affects minors severely. Such type of material is present everywhere today. Whether it is home or school, children somehow get in touch with the demoralizing stimulants which leave permanent scars on their conscience. Additionally, societies we live in have also become troubled as traditional norms have been weakening gradually. With the inception of modernity, it is now common to openly talk about murder, sex, violence, brutality, and so forth, on social media and through smartphones. Many comic books and television shows, as well, unrestrictedly institutionalize obscenity and sins among children. Even more, modern problems of migration, atrocities, poverty, ...