The freedom to fly solo
Women in Pakistan grow up surrounded by the critical and toxic perspectives of everyone around them, the writer says.
Rafia Zakaria
Karachi — weighed down by urban atrocities
If smog is poisoning Lahore, it is perpetual neglect that plagues Karachi.
Silencing Afghanistan’s women
There is no doubt that many have had a role in Afghanistan’s destruction, but the question of who exactly is to blame for the country’s current condition is a thorny and…
Pakistan’s human exports
Travel to any European capital and you will see groups of immigrants huddled together on the streets. If one walks by them, it is possible to catch bits of Urdu and Punjabi.…
Inner truths
Our inner voices can be the instruments of our private rebellions, especially when they are weaponised, the writer says.
On writing
Writing is a monologue with the self; there is nothing between the person and the page, says the writer.
Cruelty towards animals is a sign of a society where no one is spared abuse
Research shows that a proclivity for animal abuse is a primary indication that the perpetrator is a psychopath and likely to act similarly towards human beings. If this is true,…
Climate catastrophes of the past
People in Pakistan are enduring the scalding heat, trying to find shade or water or respite and, like all optimistic humans, imagining better times ahead. Unfortunately, the data…
Pakistan’s no place for medics
The writer says that those who are smart begin to study for certification exams that allow them to go abroad where they can obtain employment.
Transforming slums
The redevelopment of slums is crucial to ensuring the health and hygiene of ordinary city dwellers, notes the writer.