Aqdas Afzal

Stability-instability

Stability-instability

There will still be skirmishes but neither player will venture towards disturbing the new equilibrium. Updated 16 Mar, 2024 09:55am
Manchurian candidates

Manchurian candidates

Most democracies are now suffering from a "democratic regression". Updated 29 Jan, 2024 02:17pm
Devil is in the details

Devil is in the details

It seems that India and China have much to learn from each other. Updated 24 Nov, 2023 09:02am
Shackling artificial intelligence

Shackling artificial intelligence

Pakistan’s politics is no stranger to deepfakes with different political parties allegedly having used deepfakes to malign opponents. Updated 23 Sep, 2023 08:35am
The Anglo-Saxon burden

The Anglo-Saxon burden

We would need to follow in the footsteps of Anglo-Saxon policymakers to modify free trade policies that haven’t worked for us. Published 05 Aug, 2023 08:15am
A Greek tragedy

A Greek tragedy

Economic downturns are especially hard on the largely uneducated and poorly skilled young people. Updated 29 Jun, 2023 09:57am
Pakistan’s polycrisis

Pakistan’s polycrisis

Policymakers must address genuine economic concerns as the current stagflation has made life difficult for the vast majority of the people. Updated 09 Jun, 2023 08:48am
Road to perdition?

Road to perdition?

Pakistan must come to grips with the present polycrisis as the upheaval now seems to be entering a violent phase. Updated 06 Apr, 2023 09:23am
Political market

Political market

Only when heavy investment is channelled into human capital will Pakistan’s workforce be able to produce high-value products. Updated 27 Feb, 2023 09:36am
Superintelligence

Superintelligence

While dystopian scenarios carry instructive value, the talk of stopping progress in AI is alarmist. Published 21 Jan, 2023 06:35am
The narrow path

The narrow path

What could be driving the intense chatter regarding default? Updated 09 Dec, 2022 08:23am
Negotiating at Sharm El Sheikh

Negotiating at Sharm El Sheikh

The UN specifically advised Pakistan to negotiate debt relief with its creditors in order to ‘stem the climate-change-fuelled... Updated 28 Oct, 2022 08:51am
Collapse of civilisations

Collapse of civilisations

Reconstruction after the flood will require continuous public expenditure for years. Updated 23 Sep, 2022 08:45am
Democracy and prosperity at 75

Democracy and prosperity at 75

Lack of incentives for Pakistani elites and their domination of economy has much to do with regular interruptions in democracy. Updated 19 Aug, 2022 09:03am
The default response

The default response

Even though sovereign defaults are bad news, they, surprisingly, are very common. Updated 04 Aug, 2022 09:07am
America in turmoil

America in turmoil

Civil wars are more probable in those countries where the dominant group suffers a loss of status... Published 09 Jul, 2022 07:33am
From Colombo to Islamabad

From Colombo to Islamabad

Unpopular economic decisions such as oil price increases, import controls and fuel rationing are the need of the hour. Updated 03 Jun, 2022 01:35pm
Lessons from Lanka

Lessons from Lanka

Policymakers need to examine the reasons that led to the Sri Lankan economic catastrophe. Updated 21 Apr, 2022 08:22am
The beginning of history

The beginning of history

The world seems to be re-entering a Hobbesian phase — complex, chaotic and violent. Published 28 Mar, 2022 07:06am
Old wine in new bottles

Old wine in new bottles

Following neoliberal policies has only led to pernicious declines in the exchange rate thereby making everything expensive. Updated 10 Feb, 2022 08:11am