Weekly Dawn Deconstruction April 10 to April 17, by M.Usman.pdf

(ICEP Dawn Deconstruction)
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Best Reading Experience
WEEKLY DAWN EDITORIALS &
OPINIONS DECONSTRUCTION
ICEP POLICY
We don’t own any of the articles included in this volume, every piece of writing is attributed to
the respective writer.
Knowing the current issues of Pakistan_ internal and external is imperative for Civil service
aspirants. Unlike India, in Pakistan no such digital platform or academic work is available for
aspirants' ease of preparation. Here you are given detailed deconstruction of important news and
articles. Read these editorials and Opinions carefully and keenly. These are important for
widening your knowledge base, improving language skills, understanding key issues, etc. This
section (Editorial/ Opinions) is very useful for English Essay, Current Affairs, Pakistan Affairs
– and sometimes Islamiat papers as the Exam emphasize more on analysis than giving facts.
💬 To the Point
✍️Presented By:
Mohammad Usman (WTSP# 03306344749)
▪ Competitive Exams
▪ Essay Writing
▪ Current Affairs
▪ Pakistan Affairs
▪ Global Issues
▪ Geopolitics
▪ International Relations
▪ Foreign Policy
Dated: April 10 to April 17

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TITLE PAGE
Ban is no answer 06
Our children 08
Afghanistan exit 10
TLP protests 12
Pakistan-India peace 15
Child abuse 17
Power to arrest 19
Unequal vaccine distribution 20
Improving ties with Russia 24
The one per cent 25
Banning landmines 26
Deconstructing rape 28
Vocabulary 31-33
Planning families 35
Beyond the ban 37
Governance problem 40
Women empowerment: a market-based approach 43
Diplomacy’s lens 46
Pakistan’s digital awakening 48
Will Artificial Intelligence and human intelligence complement or rival
each other?
50
Institutional autonomy in Pakistan 53
A dialogue on World Health Day 2021 56
Provincial status for Gilgit Baltistan 60
Reading the gender report 63
US revisiting relations with Iran 65
The HEC ordinance and the ideology war 68
Rural social systems 70
Welfare programmes and the developing world conundrum 74
China’s road to poverty alleviation 77
Heart of Asia conference on peace and development 80
To leave, or not to leave 83
Who has the lead role in the latest talks between the US and Iran? 86
A New Pivot to Asia 89
Competition With China Can Save the Planet 94
The Dangerous Impasse in Myanmar 104
Debunking the Western myths about women in Islam 110
Decentralization: a key of success for a democratic order in Pakistan 115
Democracy needs sustained dialogue 129
Ignorance is Bliss 121
Debunking China-Iran Comprehensive Agreement 124
Social Media and polarization of society 128
Warning signs for Africa: how Chinese investment is reshaping it 132

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This Week at a glance:_______________Major Developments
▪ The federal government on Thursday formally banned the Tehreek-i-Labbaik
Pakistan (TLP), whose supporters staged three days of violent protests across
the country this week after the arrest of their leader.A notification declaring
TLP as a proscribed organisation was issued by the Ministry of Interior shortly
after the federal cabinet approved a summary to ban the party.The notification
said the federal government "has reasonable grounds to believe that Tehreek
Labbaik Pakistan is engaged in terrorism, acted in a manner prejudicial to the
peace and security of the country, "Therefore, in exercise of the powers
conferred by Section 11B(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, the Federal
Government is pleased to list Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan in the First Schedule
to the said Act as a proscribed organisation for the purposes of the said Act," it
added.
▪ US President Joe Biden warned the Taliban on April 14, 2021 he would hold
them accountable on Afghanistan after the US exit and pressed nations,
including Pakistan, to play supportive roles. `We will hold the Taliban
accountable for its commitment not to allow any terrorists to threaten the US
or its allies from Afghan soil. The Afghan government has made that
commitment to us as well,` Biden said in a speech announcing the complete
pullout of US troops before Sept 11.
▪ Top intelligence officers from Pakistan and India held secret talks in Dubai in
January in a fresh effort to calm tensions over Kashmir, according to people
with close knowledge of the matter in New Delhi.But the two governments
have reopened a back channel of diplomacy aimed at a modest roadmap to
normalising ties over the next several months, the people said.Kashmir has
long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan, both of which claim all of
the region but rule only in part.
▪ The annual threat assessment report – 2021 was prepared by the office of the
US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and sent to Congress on Tuesday. It
identifies China’s “push for global power” as the number one threat to US
interests followed Russia’s provocative actions and threats from Iran.While
assessing possible threats from South Asia, the report warned that “under the
leadership of Prime Minister Modi India is more likely than in the past to
respond with military force to perceived or real Pakistani provocations.”The
report noted that “heightened tensions” in the region “raise the risk of conflict
between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with violent unrest in Kashmir or a
militant attack in India being potential flashpoints.”
▪ The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday asked the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to seek Indian response on the appointment of a lawyer for its spy
naval commander Kulbhushan Jadhav in order to implement the directives of
the International Court of Justice (ICJ).Chief Justice Minallah remarked that
it was not a question of jurisdiction or immunity since the objective was to
implement the ICJ’s directive.Jadhav illegally entered Pakistan on March 3,
2016 and was arrested by the Pakistani authorities during the course of a
counter-intelligence operation in Mashkel, Balochistan. He was awarded death
sentence by a military court in April 2017. However, the Indian government

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approached the ICJ against the sentence.The ICJ decision has highlighted the
non-compliance of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention that defines a
framework for consular relations between sovereign states.
▪ Pakistan captain Babar Azam dethroned Indian maestro Virat Kohli after more
than three years as the world`s number one batsman in One-day International
(ODI) rankings, the International Cricket Council announced on April 14,
2021.The 26-year-old becomes the fourth Pakistani batsmen to get the top
spot in ODIs and the first since Mohammad Yousuf in 2003.
▪ Pakistan, in a bid to tap economic potential with Germany, will soon open a
consulate in Munich, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced on
April 13, 2021.Talking to media personnel in the German capital, Mr Qureshi
said Pakistan and Germany had great prospects for cooperation in trade and
investment and expressed confidence that the new consulate would expedite
matters in this regard. The foreign minister said a consul general would be
appointed at the Munich mission to supplement the diplomatic efforts of the
country`s embassy in Berlin.
▪ Iran warned on April 13, 2021 it will start enriching uranium up to 60 percent
purity, two days after an explosion it blamed on Israel damaged its enrichment
plant in Natanz.The announcement cast a shadow over ongoing multinational
talks in Vienna aimed at salvaging the tattered 2015 nuclear deal between Iran
and world powers.Tehran has written to the UN`s International Atomic
Energy Agency to announce `that Iran will start 60 percent enrichment, the
state-run IRNA news agency reported.
▪ Foreign currency dealers in the open market have deposited more than $2.8
billion in banks during the first nine months of the current fiscal year
(9MFY21) indicating the deposits could touch an all-time high figure of $4bn
by the end of FY21. Inflows of foreign exchange from both the open market
and banking channels have increased signincantly during the current fiscal
year, with the total reserves of the country touching $20.68bn the highest
since July 2017.
▪ The government has appointed a senior officer of Inland Revenue Service
Asim Ahmad as new chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with a
clear direction to broaden the narrow tax base and facilitation of taxpayers
through automation.The notification was issued on Friday after the cabinet
approved his appointment as the chairman. Through another notification, the
federal government also gave additional charge of the revenue division
secretary to him.Mr Ahmad is the fifth FBR chairman appointed during the
two-and-a-half-year tenure of the PTI-led government. The post fell vacant on
April 9 when Javed Ghani, a grade-22 officer of the customs group, reached
superannuation.

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DAWN+ EDITORIALS SECTION

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Ban is no answer | Dawn Editorial
THE government has officially banned the Tehreek-i-Labbaik
Pakistan and issued a notification accordingly. This extreme
step comes in response to nearly three days of rioting by the
TLP after its leader Saad Rizvi was arrested. The government
was unable to stop TLP workers from blocking roads and
highways across the country and destroying public and private
property. The enraged workers also attacked policemen, leading
to the loss of precious lives.
The writ of the state was seriously damaged as TLP cadres ran amok without
facing any effective resistance from the law enforcers. When the government finally
took action, it chose to do so by banning the party. This has been the state’s modus
operandi in the past too when extremist groups it nurtured went out of control.
The difference is that the ultra-right TLP, for all its vitriol and predilection for
violence, is a political party registered with the ECP. It contested the 2018 elections
across the country and has representation in the Sindh Assembly. Can it then be
technically classified as a terrorist organisation — although its workers have
routinely unleashed violence that simply should not to be tolerated at any cost? A far
better option would have been for the government to use its administrative and legal
powers to hold the rioters accountable and make them face the law.
ECP-registered parties hold demonstrations that often result in the disturbance of
law and order. The PTI itself has been down this path. During the 2014 dharna, its
workers, along with those of Tahirul Qadri, had attacked the PTV centre and
manhandled law-enforcement personnel. But few would argue that the PTI should
have been banned. The law should not spare a single violent worker of the TLP but
banning it is no answer to the challenge it presents to the state.
The government must do some introspection: why did it feel compelled to
sign an agreement with the violent outfit a few months ago? This was a wrong step
and it is important that it acknowledges its mistake and holds all those officials
responsible who made that agreement possible and signed it.
It is an open secret that the TLP was nourished by the state for its vested
interests. If today it has spiralled out of control, the blame lies with those who
helped it grow into the threat it is today. But a blanket ban on the party is a futile
attempt to solve a complex problem, and is an acknowledgement that the
government does not want to take the difficult decisions needed to address the
challenge thrown up by the TLP. The ban will not dilute the narrative that fuels the
party, it may even fan it. The government would be advised to take a more nuanced
approach and desist from actions that are unlikely to produce the intended results.

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Vocabulary Description
cadres (noun) — activists, trained members of any group.
to run amok (phrasal verb) — to behave without control in a wild or
dangerous manner:
There were 50 little kids running amok at the snack bar.
vitriol (noun) — bitter and harsh criticism
political commentators spewing angry vitriol
predilection (for violence) (noun) — predilection means special tendency
and liking towards anything, as the TLP has for violence.
nuanced approach (noun) — nuance means refined, variant and more
meticulous approach towards something "having or marked by keen insight
and ability to penetrate deeply and thoroughly , by Merriam-Webster ;
emphasis added at "deeply and thoroughly".

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Our children | Tribune Editorial
Shocking children’s statistics |
Children are supposed to get an education and play. Unfortunately in
Pakistan, there are more than 2.5 million children living in streets
who toil hard to support themselves and their families. Domestic
violence caused by highly inadequate family incomes has forced
around 56% of them to leave their homes, 22% are out of school and
another 22% have to work to support their families. There are 28
million such helpless children across the world, most of them having
been rendered homeless by conflicts. The worst part of the whole
thing is that these children make up half of the world’s refugee
population.
The situation is depressing, outrageous and a serious moral indictment of human
society. This should attract the notice of humankind and rouse its indignation, but
the plight of street children continues to be ignored. As the numbers of these
children swell, so does their misery.
Sadly, this is the situation when most countries have signed the UN Conventions on
the Rights of the Child as sufficient efforts are not being made to improve the lot of
street children. In order to bring about a positive change in the lives of homeless
children, it is necessary to follow the measures recommended by the United
Nations.
Way forward |
Policies should be based on these four guidelines:
▪ commitment to equality,
▪ protection of every child,
▪ ensuring access to services,
▪ and devising specialised solutions.
However, successive governments in Pakistan have failed to ensure children’s rights
even though the country ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as far
back as in November 1990. The authorities seem to have developed cold feet with
regard to enforcement of laws relating to child nutrition, child labour, child
education, juvenile justice, child marriage, etc.
In Pakistan, a considerable number of children suffer from malnutrition. Around
33% are underweight, 44% are stunted, and 15% wasted. Overall, 50% are
anaemic. Under these conditions, it is unrealistic to expect proper physical and
mental development of children.

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moral indictment (noun) — indictment is a anything which shows a bad
side of something (like society) and which needs condemnation, a moral
indictment means refers to a morally bad side of our society.
indignation (noun) — indignity is the opposite of “dignity” or Respect, so
indignity or indignation which refers to the feelings of humiliation and
shame because of ill-treatment or circumstances.
The rape crimes should arise the feelings of indignation in our society, as
we have failed to protect our children and women.
developed cold feet (idiom) — If you get or develop a cold feet about
something, you become nervous or frightened about it because you can’t
manage it.
The Government is getting cold feet about
the reforms.
anaemic (adjective) — a person who lacking red blood cells, lacking blood
(Medicine); suffering from anemia disease.

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Afghanistan exit | Dawn Editorial
THE Biden administration has now given a more definite timeline
where the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is concerned.
While the US president had said that it would be “tough” to meet the
May 1 deadline agreed upon between the previous US administration
and the Afghan Taliban, American officials now say that
the withdrawal will be completed by Sept 11. While some may see this
as shifting the goalposts, it can also be viewed as a more realistic,
achievable date.
Analysis |
It is significant that the announcement has come ahead of Afghan peace talks
scheduled to be held in Istanbul from April 24. However, the Afghan Taliban have
said they will not participate in the event in Turkey “until all foreign forces withdraw
from our homeland”. But it is also true that much can change between now and
April 24 and we can expect hectic diplomatic activity to make the Istanbul event a
success, and bring the Taliban round to accepting the new date.
As has been stressed before in these columns, foreign involvement in Afghanistan
has been a major source of that country’s instability, though the Afghan political
class and warlords have also played a significant role in the destruction of their
homeland. However, the ‘forever war’ cannot continue, and the sooner foreign
forces leave Afghanistan and Afghans themselves take responsibility for their
country, the better. Washington must stick to the new date and ensure the process is
not delayed further. And while the Taliban are talking tough about the latest
development, they must show flexibility and continue to negotiate with the
government in Kabul.
The fact is that the Istanbul meeting presents a good opportunity for all Afghan
factions — the Western-backed government, the Taliban, other political and tribal
stakeholders — to try and push the peace process forward and set some doable
goals. And it would be a good idea for all factions, particularly the Taliban, to desist
from all acts of violence as a major confidence-building measure to show that they
come to the Turkish city in good faith. If the Taliban continue to display a rigid
stance and decide to boycott the meeting, it may affect the withdrawal of foreign
forces, and plunge Afghanistan into more uncertainty.
The fact is that Afghanistan has suffered for decades as powerful local players
have refused to compromise and have insisted on hogging power. That has resulted
in relentless misery for the people of that country. The US and its Western allies
appear to have had enough of the Afghan war — though some Republican figures
seem to want the US mission to continue indefinitely — and the onus is now on
the Afghans to take control of their destiny and rebuild their country. The weeks
ahead will show whether or not the principal Afghan players are willing to take up
the gauntlet.

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desist (verb) — You can use the verb desist as a way to say "stop" or "cease."
Explanation: Instead of yelling "Cut it out!" the new neighbor asked the
tween girls to desist from playing any more loud, screeching music.
If you want to insist that someone stop doing something, the word desist is a
solid choice. It's often used as part of a legal order called a "cease and
desist," which forces an action to come to a halt. "Cease" is a synonym for
desist, so using the two together says "stop it!" loud and clear — and kind of
redundantly. "
Hogging power (verb) — to hog something means to take all of something,
without sharing it. To hog power means to possess everything that gives you
power.
the onus is on (someone) (idiom) — the responsibility or duty of someone.
Explanation: Onus is a formal or sophisticated way to say "responsibility"
or "duty." It sounds a little like the unrelated word owner, so think about the
person with onus as owner of the responsibility. If the onus is on you to
organize something, you have to set the whole thing up.
to take up the gauntlet. (idiom) — to respond to a challenge by showing that
you accept it.
Explanation:
Gauntlet is an armored gloves used when you want to start a fight.

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TLP protests | Dawn Editorial
APPEASEMENT of reactionary forces amounts to playing with fire — and,
ultimately, to setting one’s own house alight. That reality is once again starkly
evident, with dozens of sites in urban areas held hostage by violent mobs suffused
with self-righteous rage and, even more dangerously, confident of their power to
bring the country to a halt.
Since Monday, TLP activists have been demonstrating against the
arrest of their leader, Allama Saad Hussain Rizvi. He was detained
after announcing countrywide agitation from April 20 to demand the
French ambassador’s expulsion and a ban on imports from France in
protest against the publication of blasphemous images in that country.
The right to protest is contingent upon doing so peacefully. In the ongoing
disturbances however, many people have been injured and several killed.
Critical Analysis |
Sadly, the state has carried out multiple experiments in nurturing or at least
tolerating ultra-right elements to achieve dubious short-term gains. The TLP is
merely the latest in a long line of such ill-conceived initiatives.
▪ Balochistan descended into an orgy of bloodletting after extremist outfits were
given virtual carte blanche to carry out their sectarian agenda in return for
countering the separatist, and largely secular, insurgency in the province. Even
the Pakistani Taliban were handled with kid gloves in the earlier years; ‘peace
deal’ after ‘peace deal’ was negotiated. Each one was violated by the militants,
but it succeeded in further strengthening their position against the state.
▪ During the Faizabad sit-in in November 2017, the TLP was similarly indulged,
perhaps on account of its potential to destabilise the PML-N government and
cut into the party’s vote bank. The dharna, based on an entirely specious
pretext, saw traffic between Rawalpindi and Islamabad brought to a halt for 20
days, causing huge inconvenience to citizens. The impasse was resolved only
after a humiliating climbdown by the government when an army-brokered
deal was negotiated with the protesters, who were given envelopes full of cash
for ‘travel expenses’. PTI chief Imran Khan, in the opposition at the time, took
an equivocal stance instead of condemning the TLP.
If he (Imran Khan) had paid heed to history, he would have realised that if his
ambition to come to power was realised, the ultra-right group would become a thorn
in his side as well. But that would have required a far-sighted clarity of thought.
Sure enough, when Asiya Bibi was acquitted of blasphemy in 2018, the group led
violent protests all over the country. The current unrest is a result of the PTI
government having promised TLP last November that they would take up the matter
of the French ambassador’s expulsion with parliament. Pandering to demands by
reactionary forces only emboldens them further, making the challenge to deal with
them ever greater. For the good of the country, and its image as a nation where
extremism has no place, such groups must be strictly reined in.

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reactionary forces (adjective) — In political science, a reactionary or
reactionist is a person or entity holding political views that favour a return
to a previous political state of society that they believe possessed positive
characteristics that are absent in contemporary society. As an adjective, the
word reactionary describes points of view and policies meant to restore a
past status quo.The word reactionary is often used in the context of the left–
right political spectrum, and is one tradition in right-wing politics.
suffused (noun) — be suffused with something: if someone is suffused with
a feeling, they are full of that feeling.
She was suffused with happiness.
to bring the country to a halt. (phrase) — to cause to stop it abruptly.
contingent upon (phrase) — dependent upon
orgy of bloodletting (noun) — orgy means something happens in excessive
manner, and bloodletting refers to the killing of people or bloodshed. So
combinedely the word means going on a lot of bloodshed.
The movie contains scenes of violence and bloodletting.
Extremist outfits (noun) — militant groups, outfit means a group of people,
it is also used for dress, 👗.
carte blanche (French-phrase) — Complete freedom or authority to act.
A blank paper, with a person's signature, etc., at the bottom, given to
another person, with permission to superscribe what conditions he pleases.
Hence: Unconditional terms; unlimited authority.

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Handle with kid gloves (phrase) — to deal with someone very gently or
carefully:
These athletes grow up being treated with kid gloves, and then they don't
know how the real world works.
cut into (phrasal verb) — reduce, cause a decline
specious pretext (adjective/noun) — on seemingly attractive but realistically
malicious grounds or reasons.
climb-down (noun) — a withdrawal from a position taken up in argument
or negotiation, typically by admitting that one was wrong:
a humiliating climbdown by the government over economic policy.
equivocal stance (noun) — equivocal means ambiguous and uncertain,
questionable in nature and Stance means position or view. Ambiguous
position.
Pandering (verb) — gratify someone's desires, cater to someone's wishes,
surrender
reined in (verb) —to stop something, to bring it to a halt, like pulling the
reins of the horse to stop it. 🐎

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Pakistan-India peace | Dawn Editorial
AS the Pakistan-India peace process — or at least the shaky beginnings of the latest
round — moves forward, several questions swirl over the direction it will take. Of
course, in a relationship as complex as this, and with disputes going back over seven
decades, peacemaking will not be easy, and there will be pitfalls aplenty before any
workable agreement is reached.
Even over the last few weeks there have been many ups and downs, with the first
positive sign in a long time coming in late February, when both sides agreed to
silence their guns along the LoC. This was followed by an exchange of pleasantries
and public pronouncements calling for peace in the region from the highest offices
in both capitals, along with a decision by Pakistan to import Indian sugar and
cotton. However, shortly afterwards, the trade plan was nixed.
Now, two fresh developments have posed further questions.
▪ Firstly, the Foreign Office has said the Saarc summit, due to be held in
Pakistan in October, can take place if “artificial obstacles” are removed, in a
thinly veiled reference to India.
▪ In the second, more ominous development, the US National Intelligence
Council has said Pakistan and India may “stumble” into a large-scale
war within the next five years.
Regarding the American assertion, while it has an alarmist ring to it, it is not
without substance. After all, just over two years ago both states came close to
conflict following India’s Balakot misadventure, while some of New Delhi’s top
generals have been issuing combative statements against Pakistan. Be that as it may,
for the time being it seems that temperatures are coming down, and the jury
remains out on what and who has triggered the latest desire for peace. The fact is
that the latest thaw offers both Islamabad and New Delhi a chance to show the
world that they are interested in long-term peace. And more than creating a soft
image for the international audience, both sides owe it to their people to forge a
peaceful path based on coexistence and friendship.
The Issue of Kashmir |
However, beyond rhetoric, there are some very serious issues standing in the way of
peace, namely Kashmir, as the FO has highlighted. For there to be long-lasting
peace, the Kashmir question will have to be addressed in a manner acceptable to the
people of the region. Experts note that everything — including Kashmir — can be
resolved if there is a will in both capitals. Indeed some, such as Manmohan Singh’s
special envoy Satinder Lambah, who was previously involved in backchannel talks
and was quoted in the papers the other day, have endorsed this form of secret
diplomacy. Perhaps the best option is to continue with such parleys in the hopes of
achieving a breakthrough that can be publicised at the right time, while reiterating
our stance that repression must end in held Kashmir.

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swirl over (phrasal verb) — spread over, go around, circulation
pitfalls aplenty (noun/adj) — unseen risks/challenges in large numbers
pleasantries (noun) — The definition of a pleasantry is a polite social
remark made as part of general conversation, or a little joke. When you and
your neighbor stand and chat politely and make little jokes for a while as
you both get the paper, this is an example of when you exchange
pleasantries. The point of pleasantries during a conversation is usually to
break the ice a bit.
nixed (noun) — denied, veto, nullified.
ominous (adjective) — delivering bad news; threatening _ ‫عالمت‬ ‫کی‬ ‫خطرے‬
The dark clouds moving into the area that we live in is an ominous sign
that a bad storm is about to happen.
Be that as it may, (phrase) — used to mean that you accept that a piece of
information is likely to be true but it does not change your opinion of the
subject you are discussing:
Building a new children's home will cost a lot of money but, be that as it
may, there is an urgent need for the facility.
I accept that he's old and frail; be that as it may, he's still a good
politician.
the jury remains out (idiom) — If the jury is (still) out on a subject, people
do not yet know the answer or have
not yet decided if it is good or bad:
The jury's still out on the question
who will lead the govt.
thaw (noun) — A thaw is a time when the temperature warms after a long
cold time, or A thaw is a time when the relationship between to people or
groups improves after a bad relationship.

17
Child abuse | Dawn Editorial
Astonishing statistics |
IN its annual report, the NGO Sahil found that there has been
a 4pc increase in documented cases of major crimes against
children (2,960 cases of child sexual abuse, kidnapping, missing
children and child marriages) in 2020 from the previous year.
Analysis |
To put this figure into perspective, this means that at least eight children were
abused each day last year. Whether this rise can be attributed to increased reporting
thanks to awareness and advocacy efforts to reduce stigmas for survivors, or due to
an actual rise in such cases (perhaps, in part, exacerbated by the pandemic), one
thing is certain. All evidence suggests that reported cases are only the tip of the
iceberg. How, then, can we address an issue that is so deeply prevalent? Are populist
calls for swift, brutal punishments for rapists, which are currently in vogue and also
being propagated by the government as a policy response, actually helping to make
this country safer for women and children? So far, there seems to be little evidence
of it.
The truth is, that for all the alarms raised by child rights and health experts as well
as by survivors, both state and society continue to bury their heads in the sand
rather than confront the bitter realities of sexual violence.
Both qualitative and quantitative data confirm the fact that, in the overwhelming
majority of sexual violence cases, the perpetrators are known to their victims. For
children, they are neighbours, family friends, teachers, even immediate relatives,
who are able to exert their influence to silence victims and those they might turn to
for help.
▪ What incentive do victims have to seek justice when the potential fallout of
reporting their own family members includes the loss of what little support
structure they might have?
▪ Harsher punishments for abusers to assuage society’s desire for retribution, or
expanded social safety nets to reduce harm and support the actual victims?
On Friday, the government issued a second statement regarding the prime
minister’s harmful remarks on sexual violence, in which it spoke of the importance
of addressing the “root causes” and taking a “holistic approach”.
Way forward |
We can start by looking at all the exhaustive research indicating that widespread
societal tolerance for violence, and gender and economic inequalities — ie,
acceptance of power imbalances — are key risk factors in child abuse. We ought to
start by listening to and learning from survivors and experts instead of dismissing
their testimony.

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to bury their heads in the sand (idiom) — to refuse to think about
unpleasant facts, although they will have an influence on your situation:
You've got to face facts here - you can't just bury your head in the sand.
assuage (verb) — to make an unpleasant feeling less painful or severe SYN
relieve | Nothing could assuage his guilt.

19
Power to arrest | Dawn Editorial
A SUPREME Court verdict announced on Thursday, spelled out what might be
considered a self-evident truth in any well-ordered society.
According to the five-page judgement authored by Justice Mansoor
Ali Shah, a police officer must have due cause to arrest an individual
without a warrant and place him under detention. The authority
afforded to him by the law to take this action is permissive, not
obligatory.
Details | At issue was a case concerning the murder of three people who were
shot dead in December 2019; five brothers and three unidentified individuals had
been nominated in the FIR as the assailants(attackers).
On March 3, 2020, a sixth brother, who was nominated as an abettor(helper in
crime), petitioned the Supreme Court against the cancellation of his pre-arrest bail
by the Lahore High Court. The LHC in its ruling had declared such relief to be
extraordinary, one that could only be extended to an innocent person implicated in
the case on mala fide grounds, but the accused, it said, had failed to prove such ill-
intent. The Supreme Court, however, has held that mala fide being a state of mind
cannot always be established through direct evidence and must be inferred with the
help of the circumstances of the case. The verdict points out that the relevant section
of Police Order 2002 lays down this legal position when it stipulates that it is the
duty of every police officer to “apprehend all persons whom he is legally authorised
to apprehend and for whose apprehension sufficient grounds exist”.
What might seem an obvious truth in a more equitable society needs to be
underscored in a country where the coercive power of the state is far too often
employed not to maintain law and order, but to control and suppress. A police in
service of various pressure groups can round up ‘troublesome’ citizens on the
strength of mere allegations or fake FIRs. Political opponents can be conveniently
silenced and removed from the public eye in the same way. The manner in which the
powers of arrest are exercised has a bearing on the fundamental rights to liberty and
due process and therefore must be used judiciously. The Supreme Court judgement
rightly asserts that pre-arrest bail acts as a check on the police’s power to arrest
people. By assessing whether the material
before it is incriminating enough to justify
arrest, the courts can be a bulwark
(defensive wall) against injustice.

20
Unequal vaccine distribution | Dawn Editorial
IT is in times of crisis that we often see the best — or worst — of humanity. In this
regard, the pandemic has put the world’s compassion to test. The rate at which rich
nations are buying up vaccines from manufacturers that have a finite supply has
been described by the WHO chief as “grotesque”.
This week, as the body missed its target of seeing vaccines being
administered in every country on the 100th day of 2021, Tedros
Adhanom once again called out the shocking imbalance in vaccine
distribution between rich and poor countries. He also noted that most
countries do not have enough vaccines to cover their health workers
or vulnerable groups.
Analysis |
Of the over 730m vaccines administered all over the world, some 49pc have been
injected in rich countries. In contrast, a mere 0.1pc have been administered in the
29 lowest-income countries.
The fact that developing countries are struggling to vaccinate even at-risk segments
of the population, while rich nations administer jabs to even young, low-risk citizens
is unacceptable.
▪ Israel, which has been lauded for its efficient vaccine roll-out and marvellous
Covid-19 recovery, has done so at the expense of the Palestinians, who were
deprived of vaccinations simply because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
wished to send doses to countries that had agreed to move their embassies to
Jerusalem.
▪ Though inequalities have always existed, the pandemic has underscored how
self-serving interests and discriminatory policies have further marginalised
vulnerable segments.
▪ Without equitable vaccine distribution, those in poor countries will suffer
greatly in the long run.
▪ In many of these countries, life expectancy is low and infant mortality high.
These factors coupled with low vaccination rates mean these countries will
take years to recover.
Way forward |
Economically strong countries ought to aid vaccine procurement and disbursement.
Though many leaders in countries with high vaccination rates are congratulating
themselves for ‘a job well done’, they ought to realise they are creating a false sense
of security. Covid-19 mutations will continue to be a threat, until the majority of the
world is vaccinated.

21
grotesque (adjective) — unpleasant, shocking, and offensive
It’s grotesque to portray peace campaigners as unpatriotic.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected WHO
Director-General for a five-year term by WHO Member States
at the Seventieth World Health Assembly in May 2017. In
doing so, he was the first WHO Director-General elected from
among multiple candidates by the World Health Assembly, and
was the first person from the WHO African Region to head the
world’s leading public health agency.
This person will be known in the history having a great role in
administering vaccine distribution and Covid-19 procurement.

22
Side Note: Covid-19 as compared to historical pandemics

24
Improving ties with Russia | Dawn Editorial
RUSSIAN Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov struck the right tone during
his visit to Pakistan. In a press conference along with Pakistani
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Mr Lavrov said Russia was
ready to promote bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields
including economy, trade and defence.
Critical Analysis |
The importance of his visit can be gauged from the fact that it is after nearly a
decade that the top diplomat of Russia has made a trip to Pakistan. In the last 15
years or so, both countries have made a concerted effort to improve ties and
establish solid grounds for building a stronger and mutually beneficial relationship
for the years ahead. The present times accord a good opportunity to undertake such
an endeavour.
Pakistan’s foreign policy is aligned with regional realities. In a strategically vital
neighbourhood, Pakistan is well placed to leverage its ties with key countries in
order to effectively pursue its national interests. Pakistan is doing well to avoid the
label of being in any one camp and it is important that it is recognised as a regional
player that is on good terms with major powers such as China, the US and Russia.
While Russia retains a global reach in its policy, it is one of the most influential
countries in our region and Mr Qureshi was right when he said that Russia is a
factor of stability in the region. This makes Pakistan’s ties with Russia crucial from
all aspects.
Pakistan has genuine policy interests in Afghanistan, India, Iran and the Middle
East. Russia wields significant influence in all these spheres. Pakistan has been
gradually investing in this relationship in recent years and the Russian foreign
minister’s productive visit appears to be one of the dividends(reward)of this
diplomatic investment. However, the real challenge for Islamabad is to translate this
improved relationship into tangible projects. The key project that requires
Pakistan’s highest priority is the North-South gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also highlighted the importance of this joint Pakistan-
Russia project in his meeting with Mr Lavrov. In addition, Russia has also shown an
interest in the Steel Mill which in fact had been initially set up by the USSR.
Pakistan can benefit from this renewed interest from Moscow.
Mr Lavrov also assured his counterpart that Russia would be sending more Sputnik
vaccine to Pakistan and this is a welcome gesture as vaccines are not easy to come by
in the international market. Similarly, defence cooperation is a key area. It was
announced that Russia would provide more counterterrorism equipment to
Pakistan which is perhaps an acknowledgement of Pakistan’s success in this area.
Five rounds of Pakistan-Russia military exercises have already taken place.
Pakistan-Russia ties are on an upward trajectory and it is important that
Islamabad put greater effort into strengthening them even further.

25
The one per cent | Tribune Editorial
Over the past decade, the world has moved into a new era of wealth accumulation
and concentration, with technology finally cementing itself at the top of the wealth
pyramid and thereby defining the new age that we all live in. The wealth from up
here is so bright that the darkness of poverty is completely invisible.
Recently, Forbes launched its annual list of billionaires. Strong at the
top are the new rulers of the world’s wealthiest individuals including
tech moguls Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. A combination of Bill Gates,
Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin rounding
out a technology-dominated list of the top ten wealthiest people in the
world.
Analysis |
What makes this list this year so special is that even though the whole world was
gripped by the Covid-19 pandemic, the cumulative net worth of the richest people in
the world nearly doubled. The number of billionaires in 70 countries of the world
grew to an unprecedented number, with the last year seeing nearly 500 new
billionaires emerge. The list typifies the gulf between the haves and the have-nots.
In a year when the uber-wealthy ‘profited’ off the pandemic, there were hundreds of
thousands who ended up losing their jobs — including many from the very
companies some of these people owned. Growth of commerce and industry —
especially technology — is good for overall growth but it only feeds the capitalistic
machine and draws resources away from the people. If these very people reinvested
the growth in their incomes from last year in keeping people employed or funding
Covid-19 research, the world would be in a better place.
Pakistan still does not feature on this list but with greater adoption of technology,
one would assume that the day is not far off. But when it does, it is unlikely that
taxes would be able to offer any balance just as it has failed in other countries. We
have a chance to think ahead and prepare better for the day when a Pakistani is on
the list of the wealthiest in the world.

26
Banning landmines | Tribune Editorial
Taking serious notice of the large-scale loss of human life and
disability caused by landmines, the UN Secretary General has
asked all countries to sign the international treaty prohibiting
the production, stockpiling and use of this weapon.
The most dreadful aspect of landmines is their invisibility since they are planted in
the ground below the surface. It is because of their invisibility that people
inadvertently tread on them and get killed or maimed. The most horrifying thing is
that most of the victims are children.
Till recent past anti-personnel landmines had been synonymous with Afghanistan,
even though this country has never produced landmines. The case of Afghanistan
shows the grave consequences of involvement of external forces in the internal
affairs of a country. From 1989 to November 2020, large numbers of civilians have
been killed in landmine explosions and blasts of explosive remnants of war (ERMs)
in Afghanistan. Children accounted for most of the recorded casualties. They fall
prey to ERWs because some of them are toy-shaped. The hidden threat is still
present in the war-worn country as indicated by periodic reports of deaths and
injuries. The South Asian country, a signatory to the treaty banning anti-personnel
mines, has destroyed most of the stockpiled mines.
Only 31 countries have fully removed landmines, and 32 states are yet to do so
despite their clearance obligations. The missile ban treaty came into effect in 1999
and many states have not yet signed it, including the US, Russia, China, India,
Israel, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar and Vietnam. Signatories are supposed to carry
out the conditions of the treaty within 10 years after they ratify the accord, though
the time limit can be extended. Vietnam, for its part, says it would need decades to
fully comply with the accord considering it had to fight two very destructive wars in
the 1960s and 1970s. Is it considerations of realpolitik that are holding back other
countries?

27
NOTES
What are landmines:
Antipersonnel landmines are explosive devices designed to injure or kill people. They can
lie dormant for years and even decades under, on, or near the ground until a person or animal
triggers their detonating mechanism.They can be activated by direct pressure from above, by
pressure put on a wire or filament attached to a pull switch, by a radio signal or other remote
firing method, or even simply by the proximity of a person within a predetermined distance.
Because no one controls the detonation of landmines, they can be referred to as victim-
activated weapons. Since mines are not aimed at a specific target they can indiscriminately
kill or injure civilians, including children, soldiers, peacekeepers, and aid workers.

28
Deconstructing rape | Tribune Editorial
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent statement linking incidences of rape to
obscenity, pointing particularly to the way women dress, has not gone down well
with the general public.
In light of the statement, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
has demanded an “immediate apology” from the PM and has asked for
“renewed commitment” by officials towards understanding and
addressing the issue. Furthermore, activists and rights campaigners
have also accused the PTI leader of “baffling ignorance”, claiming that
such statements are not just factually incorrect but also highly
dangerous.
Rape is perpetuated not because of Western attire but is primarily grounded on the
need to enforce power, authority and strength.
The views presented by the PM not only depict how twisted and trivialised the idea
of rape has become but it highlights the very real patriarchal mindset of the nation.
One cannot outright “blame the victim” by saying that it is difficult for men,
perpetrators, to control their urges. If this were the case then as many as 1,489
children wouldn’t have been abused in the first half of 2020; nor would victims, in
98 of these cases, be between the ages of one to five. According to a separate study, a
deplorable 0.3% of male rapists have been convicted in the past 6 years since victims
are often viewed with suspicion while most cases are settled by force. These glaring
statistics indicate that the underlying factors of rape are much more complex than
we care to believe.
Why rape?
Let us look at the issue from a different lens. Evolutionary psychologists believe
that men have evolved psychological mechanism that motivate them to rape: there
are disadvantaged men, specialised rapists, high-mating-effort rapists, opportunistic
rapists and partner rapists. Now, these psychological mechanisms are further
heavily dependent on societal norms and socio-economic conditions — ranging from
ideas of gender and sexuality to conditions of poverty, inflation and inequality. A
culmination of all of this gives rise to a culture of rape in which rape is pervasive and
normalised.
A modern welfare state should ideally be the opposite; a safe state where freedoms
and rights of all citizens, regardless of gender, are upheld. While the state has
started amending the archaic zina laws, it needs to seriously address the issue of
awareness.

29
Why is rape Psychologically damaging…?
Imagine, a random unattractive stranger, quiet big and definitely angry, grabs and
dislocates your arm and violently pushes you in the back of a car full of needles and
smelling like a brewery of narcotics.
He smacks you in the face a couple of times to make sure you will not show
resistance leaving you to pass out for a couple of minutes. Only for you to wake up
with a broken nose, and him hanging over you, whispering something
unrecognizable in a deep voice.
You can feel the heat, and smell the stank of his breath. You start screaming out
loud but there is no one in the area that can you hear your desperation.
He hits you some more until he reached the moment that you break physically - and
mentally. You decide to comply with his hunger and desire to destroy all your
preciousness that you have saved for the one your entire life.
He starts ripping off clothes and throws it in the back of the car while taking off his
pants. Your mind is left with no dignity at this point and you can decide whether you
want to get hit in the face some more, or don’t do anything…
You decide not to do anything because you know you don’t stand a chance against
the violator and the only thing on your mind at this point, is survival.
After the worst couple of minutes you have experienced in your entire life, a couple
of men come up to the car and you sigh in relief that it is all over and there is finally
help. You are being saved from this menace and he will be locked up in jail for ages,
but you are wrong…The group of people start doing the exact same thing as the
other guy has done just a couple of minutes ago.
The same horrible incidents starts all over again for another 30 minutes. Until they
are all satisfied, having fed their mental illness and hunger for power, and leave you
alone in the darkness of the streets in the rain.
You are naked… violated… destroyed… and lost all hope and faith in humanity…
You slowly start walking home, feeling pain in almost every part of your body. As
you are walking by yourself, you don’t feel or see any sign of remorse from the
perpetrators. They left you without knowing if they would actually care if you walked
away from it and lived… or just died right there in the cold streets.
They made you feel as if humanity on earth has left you abandoned. You never
imagined such events could happen to you. You were not prepared, caught by
surprise, and caught not expecting that this amount of cruelty could be done to you,
by anyone.
They violated your personal space, mutilated your private parts, and destroyed your
self esteem to a level where your mental state of mind is more fragile than an egg
being handled by toddlers. After 6 weeks of the happening, going through mental
ups- and down, visiting numerous psychologists, police officers, and hiding your
shame from friends, you start picking up your life and think that if you can survive
this; you can challenge the world. (copied from Quora)

30
DAWN VOCABULARY SECTION

31
IMPORTANT DAWN PHRASAL VERBS
IDIOMS MEANINGS
1. To add insult to injury ; To intensify a person
2. To be born with a silver To be born in a rich family Spoon in one’s
mouth;
3. A bolt from the blue ; An expected disaster
4. To blow one’s own trumpet; To boast
5. A bone of contention ; Cause of quarrel
6. To burn one’s fingers ; To suffer
7. To beat black & blue ; To beat mercilessly
8. To cast an aspersion ; To bring discredit
9. To cry over spilt milk ; To feel sorry for what has happened
10. To cut a sorry figure ; To make a poor impression
11. To die in harness ; To die while doing one’s duty
12. To end in smoke ; To fail
13. To go to the dogs ; To be ruined
14. To hang in the balance ; To remain undecided
15. To hit the nail on the head; To do the right thing at the right time
16. To hold water ; To sound logical
17. To live no stone unturned ; To try one’s level best
18. To live from hand to mouth ; To live with great difficulty
19. To make up one’s mind ; To decide
20. To see eye to eye with ; Agree
21. To play ducks and drakes ; Waste
22. To put the cart before the horse ; To do a thing in a wrong way
23. To have too many irons in the fire ; To have too many things in
hand
24. To read b/w the lines ; To try to understand the hidden
meaning
25. To turn over a new leaf ; To change for the better
26. To take the bull by horns; To face difficulties boldly
27. To win laurels ; To distinguish oneself
28. At daggers drawn ; At enmity or fighting
29. Blake and white ; Written
30. By leaps and bounds ; Very fast
31. In cold blood ; deliberately with emotionlessly
32. Laid up with ; Confined to bed
33. Ins and outs ; Full details
34. A black sheep ; Scoundrel; a bad person

32
35. A cock and bull story ; An absurd tale
36. A gala day ; A day of festivity; a holiday with
rejoicing
37. A hard nut to crack ; A difficult person or problem to deal
with
38. A turn coat ; One who changes one’s opinion or party
39. A fool’s paradise ; In a state of happiness founded on
vain hopes
40. Beat a retreat ; To retire before the enemy
41. To be on the horns of a dilemma; To have a choice b/w two equal
evils
42. To beat about the bush ; Approach a subject in a round about
method
43. Bury the hatchet ; To make peace
44. By fits and starts ; Irregularly
45. Capital punishment ; Death sentence
46. By hook or by crook ; By fair or foul means
47. Eat humble pie ; To face humiliation
48. Hit below the belt ; To act unfairly
49. In apple pie order ; In perfect order
50. Leave one in lurch ; To desert in difficulty
51. To make a clean breast of ; To confess fully one’s faults
52. To nip the evil in the bud ; To destroy an evil in early stage
53. Pick holes in another’s coat ; To find fault with another
54. Scot free ; To go unpunished
55. Smell a rat ; To have a reason to suspect
56. Through thick and thin ; Through every difficulty
57. True to one’s salt ; Faithful to one’s master
58. To turn the corner ; To begin to improve
59. With a grain of salt ; To accept a statement with doubt as
to its complete true
60. Worship the rising sun ; To respect one rising in power
61. A Herculean task ; An extremely difficult or dangerous task
62. A fish out of water ; In a wrong place
63. A leap in the dark ; An act of which we can’t force
consequences
64. A thorn in one’s side ; A constant source of annoyance
65. To be at one’s beck and call ; Under one’s absolute control
66. Bread and Butter ; Means of subsistence
67. Burn one’s fingers ; To get into trouble
68. Burn the candle at both ends; Use up too much energy
69. To cut the Gordian knot ; To solve the difficulty
70. Cut and dried ; Ready-made

33
71. Feather one’s own nest ; To make money by unfair means
72. To fish in troubled water ; To do something under very
unpromising circumstance
73. To give oneself airs ; Affected manners
74. To give the devil his due ; To allow even a bad man the credit due
75. To hang by thread ; To be in a critical condition
76. A henpecked husband ; A man habitually snubbed by his wife
77. Hush money ; Money given as a bribe to hush or
make one keep silent
78. Kick up a row ; Make a great noise
79. To let the cat out of the bag; To reveal a secret
80. Null and void ; Not valid; of no effect
81. On the spur of the moment; At once
82. Pay one back in one’s own coin ; To treat in the same way as one
has
been treated
83. Put in cold storage; To forget or neglect something
84. Pull wires ; To manage the show by secret
influence
85. Read b/w the lines ; To hit at the real meaning
86. Sit on the fence ; To avoid taking sides; to remain neutral
87. A square deal ; Justice
88. Sword of Damocles ; threatening danger
89. To take up the gauntlet ; To accept the challenge
90. To eat one’s heart out ; To suffer silently, bitterly
91. B/t the devil and the deep sea ; B/w two dangers equally harmful
92. A sweet tooth ; A liking for sweetmeat
93. A dark horse ; An unknown person
94. A bottleneck ; Anything that cause delays
95. To put one’s foot down ; To show determination
96. A wet blanket ; A grumbling, depressing person
97. To throw up the sponge ; To acknowledge defeat
98. A feather in one’s cap ; Something to be proud of
99. A red letter day ; An auspicious day
100. Bag and baggage ; With all one’s belongings

34
DAWN+ OPINIONS SECTION

35
Planning families | Dawn Opinion
Nikhat Sattar
The writer is an individual contributor with an interest in religion.
Rag picker
One who goes about to collect rags, bones,
and other waste material of some little value,
from streets, roads, dunghills, etc.
A WOMAN who provides education and other social services to those living in the
slums of Karachi ; mentioned an Afghan woman who gave birth to her 13th baby.
The father is a rag picker and his older sons help him in this trade.
People often say that the poor prefer to have large families because of the frequent
deaths of children due to sickness.The desire to have large families is not limited to
the poor. Well-to-do and educated people are just as likely to believe that they
should have as many children and as frequently as possible, because they are ‘God-
given’ blessings. An average family in Pakistan, for example, would have six to seven
children. Similarly, although laws have been passed against child marriages,
families eagerly await girls to reach their teens so that they can be ‘married off’,
producing their first baby within the year.
Young women are more fertile and have a higher child-bearing period, so these girls
become pregnant year after year, losing their health and youth early in life and have
to deal with problems of parenthood while they are still immature.
According to one projection, the world population growth is expected to be around
32 per cent over the next several decades as compared to 70pc for Muslims.
This difference is said to be partially due to conversion, and partially due to higher
fertility rates. Other than Iran, Turkey, Lebanon and Tunisia, many Muslim
countries have fertility rates above the global average of 2.4.

36
Contrary to what the general Muslim public has been led to believe, planning a
family is not against Islamic law or even values. The Quran enjoins people to
develop harmony, love and tranquillity in marriage.
The verse “And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves,
that you may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts.
…” (30:21) describes the main purpose of marriage. Thus, having children is
important, but this is not the only reason to marry. Childbirth must strengthen the
bond between spouses, not weaken it.
Many verses in the Quran say that God has placed no burden on humans: “God does
wish to lighten your difficulties” (4:28). No one would argue with the fact that frequent
births are a heavy burden on women, and having many children imposes financial
and emotional problems on both parents. They are unable to provide equal
education to daughters and sons and, in their effort to get their daughters married,
merely perpetuate the cycle of discrimination against girls and patriarchy. The verse
about breastfeeding a baby for two years is said to encourage space of at least two
years between children.
Some people disagree with family planning, saying that they must accept what God
has willed for them. This, however, does not have anything to do with planning for a
better future for their children. Having a longish period between successive children
would ensure that not only are the mother and children healthy and have access to
education and health, but that they also have the time and opportunity to attend to
and enjoy each other. Regulating the number of children and pacing them out using
various medical and other strategies ensures chances for a better future.
The Quranic verse “kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them
as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin” (17:31) is also often used as an
argument against family planning. It must be noted that this verse was revealed to
admonish some of the Arab men who buried children, mostly girls, because the
former did not wish to have the ‘burden’ of rearing them and then bearing the
expenses of their marriages.
Furthermore, the verse mentions killing, whereas family planning measures do not
include abortion after 120 days, which is the period of time after which the human
embryo develops into a full foetus. There is a vast difference between preventive
measures and those taken after a term of pregnancy has been reached.
Unfortunately, as with many other issues facing Muslims, family planning, too, has
become highly politicised. It is only when governments realise that, given their
burgeoning populations and dearth of resources along with their inability to provide
for everyone, an equitable future requires them to tighten their resolve against
regressive elements.
Way forward |
Muslim countries need to learn from Iran that has one of the most successful family
planning programmes in the Muslim world. It also provides counselling to couples
who intend to marry, thus preparing them for the responsibilities they will face. This
is supported by an adult literacy rate of 85pc. Pre-marriage counselling, family
planning and education must go together.

37
Beyond the ban | Dawn Opinion
Aasim Sajjad Akhtar
The writer teaches at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
A pitched battle is a battle in which both sides choose the
fighting location and time. Either side may have the option to
disengage before the battle starts or shortly thereafter.
FOR more than four days, the PTI government remained mum (silent) in the face
of pitched battles across Pakistan between activists of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik
Pakistan and local police that erupted after TLP chief Saad Rizvi was arrested from
Lahore. And then came the announcement by the interior minister that the
organisation was to be proscribed (banned).
The silver lining of two decades of the so-called ‘war on terror’, is that many
commentators are questioning whether banning the TLP will actually make a
difference. After all, groups like Sipah-i-Sahaba, Jamaatud Dawa and Tehreek-i-
Taliban Pakistan continue to function under some guise or the other despite being
outlawed at various junctures since 2001.
That formal bans do not translate into substantial dents (results) in the armour of
religious militancy is explained in part by the fact that our strategic planners have
not abandoned the policy of weaponising religion for political ends. At various
points since the geopolitical winds shifted in our region after 9/11, there has been
compelling and decisive evidence to suggest that the establishment and its organic
intellectuals will not give up old methods easily. The scorched-earth operations,
military tribunals and other spectacular initiatives aside, selective patronage of
religious militancy continues while state repression is reserved consistently for
progressives.

38
But irrespective of the establishment’s strategic designs, there is an urgent need to
interrogate the social bases of the now proscribed TLP, and of right-wing militancy
more generally. We are a country of over 220 million people, most of whom are
young. The rank and file of far-right militant groups remains mostly young boys and
men, often those from the lower rungs of the social ladder. It is certainly naïve to
pretend that proscribing an organisation equates to eliminating the causes of
militancy.
Formal bans do not translate into substantial
dents.
The imperative of thinking into the future is further heightened by US President Joe
Biden’s announcement that all US troops will withdraw from neighbouring
Afghanistan by Sept 11. By all accounts, the Afghan Taliban will be major power
players in whatever dispensation is put in place, and there is no gainsaying
(denial) the significant social impacts a Taliban-influenced regime will have on both
sides of the border.
In effect, it is folly to believe that the state— ours as well as regional and global
actors— is going to uphold the cause of peace any more today than it has in the past.
If the politics of hate is to be combated within our society — and this applies also to
Afghanistan, as well as Hindutva-battered India — we will have to address the
deeper societal cleavages that make hateful ideologies such an easy sell to millions of
young people.
Through the early years of the ‘war on terror’, the dominant narrative, often
parroted by the liberal commentariat, was that religious militancy is rooted in
Pakhtun regions. It was thus that urban middle-class support was cultivated for
military operations and other punitive actions in ‘remote’ peripheries like
Waziristan. But the TLP has put paid to the lazy notion that right-wing militancy is
particular to any ethnic group. Most of the dramatic violence that played out over
the past week took place in small-town Punjab, as well as Sindh’s urban centres.
While the TLP’s rise to prominence took place rapidly due in large part to state
leniency, the fact that it was able to mobilise such large numbers of youth in Punjab
confirms that extremely conducive conditions were already in place. The ideological
part of this story is well established; between the formal educational curricula, the
popular media, and the infrastructure of the religious right, a largely unchallenged
public discourse has taken root in which the weaponisation of religion, both home
and abroad, has been largely celebrated.
The other part of this story reflects demographic and class dynamics that continue
to be underemphasised in even critical accounts. If Pakistan is undergoing a youth
bulge, then it follows that Punjab is home to a majority of this youthful population.
Only a small percentage of this population is upwardly mobile. Most of the TLP
cadres involved in the violent protests this past week hail from precisely that
segment of youth that, even if it has aspirations for upward mobility, is imbued
(filled) with an almost existential rage against the ‘system’.
The TLP, like many other right-wing movements in Pakistan’s recent history, may
not have come into existence without the establishment’s machinations. But it is far
from an inorganic phenomenon that can be wished away by a ban. It is certainly
important to hold this and all other previous regimes to account for how the present

39
situation has come to pass. But the state will not forge progressive alternatives that
appeal to young and disenfranchised people in Punjab and the peripheries. A
critical mass to think and act beyond the ban is what we really need.

40
Governance problem | Dawn Opinion
Tasneem Noorani
The writer is a former civil servant.
MOST think that the country’s finances are its biggest problem. That is why all eyes
are always on the finance minister and his team. Few realise that our main
problem is not finance but governance.
▪ One definition of ‘governance’ is “the action or manner of
governing a state or organisation”. Now what is the
‘manner’ of our government?
In the last 32 months, the chairman FBR was transferred five times, commerce
secretary four times, chief secretary Punjab four times and IG Punjab six times,
while for the ministers, it was finance three times (with a fourth reported to be
coming up), food three times, information three times, etc.
If the head of the ministries and provincial governments are changed so frequently,
imagine the trickledown effect on the lower formations. The average tenure of lower
functionaries like SHOs is less than six months.
So how are the different cogs of the machinery going to deliver if they know they are
only in the post for a few months? The result is that the only way you can get
anything done through a government department is to pay money to the mid-level
underling who will ensure the expeditious movement of your application and its
approval.
At the macro level, take a look at the handling of the change of finance minister. The
government had a perfectly legitimate reason to change Hafeez Sheikh, as he had
failed to get elected and could not continue. When he tendered his resignation it was
refused but two weeks later he was relieved overnight and the first reason given was
that he could not control inflation.
How will different cogs of the machinery deliver?
For there to be any semblance of good ‘manner of governing a state’, there should
have been an announcement of the change, giving the reason of not being elected

41
and a graceful hand-over should have been arranged a couple of days later with the
prime minister dining him out.
Take the way the new, young and bright Finance Minister Hammad Azhar was
treated. How motivated would he be when on his very first day he is humiliated and
an important decision he has taken with the input of the concerned ministry is
reversed? The same day the news is leaked (and not denied) that the actual minister
is waiting for the court to accept his petition against NAB.
Now come to the announcement of the 25-member Economic Advisory Committee.
First those members of the previous expert advisory committee, such as Sakib
Sherani and Dr Ashfaque, who were vocal and had well-argued opinions, have not
been included.
Secondly, the committee will be chaired by the prime minister, which shows a lack
of confidence in the finance minister.
Thirdly, the role of the chairman of such a crucial committee cannot be to only
allot time to the speakers, but to decide which suggestion needs perusing and which
needs to be killed. If the prime minister has the competency to differentiate between
workable and unworkable suggestions, why have a finance minister?
fourthly have you seen a committee as large as 25 people coming to any intelligent
decision? These are all signs of poor governance by the decision-makers.
Out of a team of 50 federal ministers, ministers of state, advisers and special
assistants, one only hears from the ministers of finance, planning, education,
interior, science & technology, information, foreign affairs and climate change.
What are the other members of the prime minister’s team doing? Either they are not
doing anything or it is not worth sharing with the public. How can a government
machine running on eight out of its 50 pistons gather any momentum?
The most ignored part of governance is the bureaucracy. The government and media
think they are villains and when you talk to the bureaucrats they ask what can you
do in postings which last only months and in an environment where you can be
hauled up before court for anything done in your career without any time limitation;
when you and your family disgraced, even though it may be with ‘good intent’. In
most such cases, the officers are acquitted but after years of torture.
A law to protect actions not involving allegations of financial corruption and those
based on error of judgement was made but allowed inexplicably to lapse, before
confidence-building could gain momentum. There seems to be no urgency to attend
to the concerns of the bureaucracy.
The administrative reform set-up of the government has made many well-publicised
announcements but by all accounts they were superficial or else there would have
been an improvement in bureaucratic delivery.
The main headache of the government currently is the shortage of wheat, sugar and
natural gas, leading to a hike in prices. These are mostly due to poor and delayed
decision-making by the federal and provincial governments, accentuated by the
reluctance of the bureaucrat taking decisions.

42
All this covers only a few areas of poor governance. We have not even talked about
the sham that provincial governments have become with their musical chair mode of
governance.

43
Women empowerment: a market-based
approach | Tribune Opinion
Durdana Najam
The writer is a public policy analyst based in Lahore
The struggle for identification has been the source of both change and development
throughout different facets (aspects) of history. Unattainable things drew awe and
trepidation (fear). The sun, moon, giant trees, even a bull, because of its sheer
weight and heaviness, commanded respect. Anything that could not be controlled or
reached out or subordinated was considered worthy of being worshipped.
The God’s struggle |
On the other hand, God, call it by any name, had to work hard through His prophets
and saintly people to establish His identity as an all-powerful, omnipotent entity.
The ancient people had a clear notion of an unseen God; however, they had a
problem recognising His power. For them accepting a bull or moon or sun as a sign
of power was easy.
Even today, billions of people worship these objects of command. Education,
modernity and scientific revelations have done little to affect this belief system. The
same is true with women. Like God, they had to struggle to define themselves. It
took centuries to bring the world around to the simple fact that a woman has equal
mental prowess and deserves to be treated at par with her male counterpart. Though
the struggle for feminism has covered many milestones and women are much more
liberated and recognised for their abilities now, the race to stand at par is far from
over.
Every year millions of women come out on the street under the banner of the
Women’s March to highlight inequalities they still have to put up with. A clear
indication that women empowerment lacks ownership and is an unfinished
business. Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time in March 1911, with an
agenda to support women’s right to vote, hold public office, access vocational
training, and enter the labour force and participate without discrimination.
Ironically, a couple of countries in South Asia, like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka, had women heads of state while millions of women under their rule faced
discrimination and harassment at home and the workplace. More than talent, it was
their privilege to have been born in politically and financially powerful families that

44
helped them climb the ladder of success. The gap between the privileged and non-
privileged women, the latter most of the time flooded with the aptitude to excel, was
abridged at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, where
Hillary Rodham Clinton made a famous statement that “Women’s rights are human
rights.”
This awakening, coupled with the dramatic global rise of urbanisation and
technological revolution in information technology, gave every woman the privilege
to assert herself not as a unique spice but as a person of blood and flesh.
The role of NGOs and Organization in liberating women |
In this stride and struggle to give recognition to women’s participatory role in
society, the advocacy groups’ role has been remarkably significant. To influence
decision-making at the state level, they needed wheels, which the hierarchically
structured not-for-profit organisations provided both at the national and
international level. From financial assistance to linkages in government, the NGOs
helped rights advocates to sensitise women and the power yielders on women’s
rights. Different financial programmes have been launched over the years to
emancipate women from economic constraints that eventually gave them a voice
within their domains.
All these programmes have been designed in the context of the philanthropic
approach, which suffers whenever donor fatigue sets in, which usually does every
few years because of either global financial disruptions or projects taking too long to
materialise or when a competing issue becomes more favourable for donors.
Therefore, if philanthropic money is channelled using a market-based approach, it
may ensure a sustained supply of money.
In the market-based model the money received from donor organisations would be
invested in different investment ventures concerning and involving women, and the
donors would get interest on their investment.
The Cambridge-Edbiz Group of Companies is the first organisation to have
conceived this idea, which will be launched in August this year, by the name of
Womani Fund. It is an investment fund of proposed $100 million, which will be
used on feminal commercial opportunities. The funds will be invested in four
different areas:
▪ infrastructure development,
▪ talent development,
▪ business ventures,
▪ and investment in welfare activities.
Women would be actively participating in all these areas — from wealth creation to
investing in developing talents and opportunities for other women.
In infrastructure development, a digital platform would be created to involve
women in buying and selling products, as we do on Amazon or DarazPk. The women
talent development programme aims to select 20 women in the age bracket of 16 to
20 years and groom them over 10 years to make them professionals in their desired
fields. In the arena of business ventures, investment opportunities shall be explored
in businesses involving women. The fourth area is an investment in the activities
with a target of welfare enhancement for one million women over 10 years.

45
The project, besides targeting donor organisations shall also reach out to billionaire
and high-networking women to sensitise them to invest, rather than donate in
women development.
▪ There shall be three benefits of adopting a market-based approach to spending
donation money on women empowerment.
▪ One, it shall involve women in wealth creation at the grassroots level.
▪ Two, wealth management shall transcend the concept of empowerment from
mere attainment of power to exercising it.
▪ Third, women empowerment shall get ownership and push it towards
fulfilment.
Way forward |
The Womani model can contribute significantly to achieving the Sustainable
Development Goal-5. These goals concerning women empowerment and gender
equality shall remain unfulfilled because there is and shall never be enough money
to pursue them. Unless we want to see these goals transferred every 15 years to
another programme, a market-based approach to managing philanthropic money is
indispensable.

46
Diplomacy’s lens | Dawn Opinion
Jamil Ahmad
The writer is director of intergovernmental affairs, United Nations
Environment Programme.
What is multilateralism?
Robert O. Keohane defines multilateralism as ‘the practice
of coordinating national policies in groups of three or more states,
through ad hoc arrangements or by means of institutions. ‘He
identifies three distinguishing features. Multilateralism refers to
coordinating relations among three or more states in accordance with features of ‘(1)
generalized principles of conduct, (2)
indivisibility and (3) diffuse reciprocity.
TRADITIONALLY seen through the lens of peace and security, the diplomacy of
modern times covers the entire spectrum of international relations, from trade to
health.
The scope and scale of multilateralism was first enlarged with the establishment of
the United Nations after World War II. Naturally, the UN became the home of
multilateralism by enabling cooperation on development, trade, human rights,
health, education and science etc. Environmental subjects, however, remained
absent in this discourse until the UN Stockholm Conference in 1972 established the
UN Environment Programme and laid the foundation of what is now an elaborate
architecture of global environmental governance.
Today, there are more than 500 recognised multilateral environmental agreements
with legislative bodies on every dimension of the environment. The UN
Environment Assembly, with universal representation, serves as the world
parliament on environmental policies. The UN conventions on climate change,
biodiversity, desertification and ozone depletion etc, are part of a mosaic that keeps
expanding to address new challenges that transcend national boundaries.
The most recent global treaty in the series is the Minamata Convention on Mercury
of 2017 that aims to protect human health and the environment from the adverse
effects of mercury. A similar example is that of the ozone treaties, established in
1987, where governments and scientific and private sectors work in tandem to
prevent further depletion of the ozone layer caused by certain gases used in
refrigerators and air conditioners. As a result, the ozone layer that protects the earth
from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun is on its way to complete replenishment.
But the expansion of environmental multilateralism also poses operational
challenges for smaller countries. A heavy agenda and multiple meetings require
delegations to follow several overlapping processes simultaneously. It is no big deal

47
for resourceful nations but a hard task for countries with small diplomatic cadres. In
numerous countries, including Pakistan, professional diplomats normally take the
lead in such processes with technical input from ‘line ministries’. This, however, is
not an ideal arrangement. Around the world, the need for a specialised group of
environmental diplomats is now well acknowledged. Backed by institutional support
and equipped with knowledge and skill sets of multilateralism, qualified
environmental diplomats better serve national interests and also contribute towards
strengthening international environmental governance.
In the 50 years since the Stockholm conference, the global environmental
movement has matured into an influential powerhouse of scientific institutes, civil
society networks, academia, philanthropists and activists ranging from young Greta
Thunberg to nonagenarian David Attenborough. Others like the late Nobel Laureate
Wangari Maathai, Al Gore and Pugh Lewis have also strengthened and enriched
environmental multilateralism through their contributions.
However, much more needs to be done. Amidst humanity’s unrelenting war on
nature, environmental diplomacy is set for a tedious battle as the world marks the
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace on April 24. The UN
is poised to play a pivotal role, just as did 75 years ago, for enabling the world to
work collaboratively in responding to global challenges.
The UN Environment Assembly has reaffirmed “the urgency to continue our efforts
to protect our planet also in this time of crisis” calling for collective action as
“essential to successfully address global challenges”.
As the world faces growing poverty, rising inequality, social unrest, economic crisis
and the existential threats posed by environmental and climate emergencies, UN
Secretary General António Guterres has rightly called for a reinvigorated
multilateralism.
In recent years, nationalistic and fissiparous (splitting) tendencies have put a lot
of stress on multilateral endeavours, but the world at large appears to strongly
support inclusive multilateral collaboration. More than 1.5 million people in 195
countries were asked about the need for international collaboration and their
expectations of the UN in a survey conducted on the eve of UN’s 75th anniversary.
An overwhelming 97 per cent expressed faith in multilateralism; an immediate
expectation was the improvement in healthcare in the next 25 years while
environmental issues and climate change were identified as the biggest long-term
global challenges.
Though environmental multilateralism is and will remain an uphill battle, it will be
made easier by the environmentally conscious global citizenry who will keep the
proverbial torch burning.

48
Pakistan’s digital awakening | Times Opinion
M Akbar Vaid
The writer has over 10 years of International Financial Services and Tech experience.
Presenting statistics |
Pakistan, the world’s fifth most populous country, is witnessing an historic moment
in the Tech sector. About 20,000 graduates are entering the workforce annually
with a prevailing pool of more than 360,000 IT engineers; marking it as the fastest
growing freelance market. There is a phenomenal growth expectancy in the number
of IT engineers that is aiming to add a trajectory of $8.2 billion ($1.2 billion in Q1
2021, 46 percent up from 2019) to the exports industry within this decade. This is
no surprise given that the majority of the population (approximately 70 percent) is
under the age of 35 and speaks English as a common language after Urdu), thereby
compounding the growth prospects to be experienced sooner than the decade
optimistically.
In 1997, Technology was 1.5 percent of the MSCI (Emerging Markets Index). Today,
it accounts for 32 percent. While the numbers bode well for future confidence, one
must also look at infrastructure and the encouraging environment that propels these
developments. It was only in the year 2000 that Pakistan approved the country’s
first IT policy and implementation strategy, which became a cornerstone of
founding new industries and developing new technologies. A decade later, the
investments in of $4.6 billion (2012-2013) in IT projects (infrastructure, e-
government, 3G/4G and human resource development) boosted mobility on the
public side as well as major breakthroughs in government systems, such as law
enforcement agencies and NADRA, which has aided government institutions and
reduced inconsistencies.
The country’s IT sector is experiencing one of the
most phenomenal levels of growth, which is
reflected in consecutive record breaking funding
rounds
The current government’s push for ‘Digital Pakistan’ with the conviction of
‘knowledge based economy’ is an exemplary (and logical next step) measure for
early digital inclusion and timely adoption of cutting-edge technologies, leading to
the socio-economic wellbeing of the country. Additionally, possessing a progressive
regulator such as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the nation is trailblazing towards
the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan vision by issuing Electronic Money institutions
(EMI) approvals (increased approval activities in the last year, for example licensing
SadaPay), and actively pursuing reforms in financial frameworks, its pursuit is
gaining momentum.
Way forward for Govt |
The government should further prioritise broadening the access to high-quality
broadband networks, affordable services and smartphones. The focus on these will

49
lay the ground work (wirings) to connect and include all corners of Pakistan,
removing any physical proximity barriers. These would need to supported by an
environment that promotes the culture of licensing and associated taxation, which
will serve as a catalyst for the young workforce. The secondary effects would be the
social benefits associated with the connectedness, ensuring that no Pakistani is left
behind.
Furthermore, the government and its institutions will need to look at the wider
spectrum as regulatory reforms in isolation will be ineffective. The initiative (Digital
Pakistan) taken up by the Prime Minister will also need the support of the private
sector to instigate a shift in mindset, and establish a clear direction towards
realising this vision. It will require robust policies across-the-board that strengthen
institutional frameworks, raise literacy rates and, most importantly, act as an entity
that boosts progress of all connected sectors to achieve sustainability and prolonged
growth.
Additionally, supporting policies such as reform of Telecom sector taxations are
welcome moves that need to expand to the wider sector in order to speed up the
implementation of Digital Pakistan. The notable improvement regarding ease of
doing business (Doing Business 2020, World Bank, 2019) report is a welcome
reflection of multiple reforms and streamlining processes. These policies and
support should be pursued for the unforeseeable future without a dip in dedication
and commitment, which is not uncommon in a country like Pakistan especially
during a change in political regime. With innovation and entrepreneurship leading
the IT revolution, the government must not take its foot off the pedal in playing its
role through the continued implementation of regulatory and fiscal frameworks that
nurture tech start-ups and provide an environment that further propels its growth.
Additionally, the government department’s must deliver on actions set out within
the 2019 e-Commerce Policy, including facilitating company registration processes,
improving interoperability of payment platforms and ensuring consumer protection.
The country’s IT sector is experiencing one of the most phenomenal levels of
growth, which is reflected in consecutive record breaking funding rounds, similar to
what the Indonesian tech sector was experiencing over the last decade. The current
chain of events are promising but this rising progress needs careful support and
continued guidance. Pakistan witnessed its highest funding inflow ($65 million)
during the pandemic era, this only provides a glimpse into the industry’s potential.
This is even more impressive given the fact that the support and initiatives have
only significantly picked up pace during the last decade. The late entry of support
resulted in the positive consequences that we are starting to witness today, which
could have been achieved earlier however, this is even commendable (better late
than never).
Pakistan’s current government support, dedication and commitment along with a
trusted environment in which citizens, tech start-ups and enterprises can flourish
will ensure Pakistan’s IT sector’s phenomenal performance continuation, along with
steady advancement towards status as a South Asia digital powerhouse of South
Asia through advanced connectivity, greater mobile engagement and a skilled youth
population that has so far carried these efforts individually, to be supported and
propelled by the revolution led by the government’s digital vision to take the ‘Naya
Pakistan’ further forward.

50
Will Artificial Intelligence and human
intelligence complement or rival each other? |
Times Opinion
Brigadier M.Yasin
The writer is a senior advisor in the Sustainable Development Policy Institute Islamabad
The day may not be too far away when we may be faced with the challenge of
rivaling with Artificial Intelligence (AI). We Will be forced to determine if AI is help
or hinderance?.
A very large number of organizations and companies around the world are focusing
on AI because it promises to transform the world. Some forecasts say that in a few
years’ time, this technology could outpace human intelligence. Huge amounts are
being spent and research being prioritized for possible benefits and risks of AI.
In fact, AI is not a new phenomenon as it has been in practice in one form or the
other since the early fifties. There have been movies on robots performing various
tasks like humans and we have been reading fictions depicting the future world.
Now, the topic is real and popular.
Waht is Artificial Intelligence |
But what is AI? Simply stated, AI is the science and engineering of making
computers and machines that would think as intelligently as humans. It is
accomplished by studying how human brains think, learn, decide, and solve
problems and developing algorithms to enable the machines to act as humans.
Intelligent computers process large amount of data, information and pictures and
they learn and improve without any special programming to do so.
A subfield of AI is machine learning, which is an application AI. It provides systems
the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being
explicitly programmed. It focuses on the development of computer programmes that
can access data and use it to learn for themselves. Machine leaning again has a
subfield called deep learning which processes huge amount of data to detect
relationships and patterns that humans are often unable to detect. Deep means the
number of layers.
AI and machine learning is enhancing the hardware and software within computers
and smart phones thus making our lives easier with every update. “An average
individual looks at his/her mobile phone for more than 2.5 hours and makes about
35,000 decisions in a single day”, writes Ralf Lianasas, a tech writer and digital
marketing expert. Mobile phone marketeers study behaviours of mobile phone users
to find out customers’ needs. Mobile phones are now designed to conduct AI tasks
efficiently. Only three per cent phones had this capability in 2017, but in 2020 it was
35 per cent.

51
According to various studies, an average smart phone has around one dozen sensors
like accelerometers, GPS, microphone, camera, etc. For years, mobile phones have
been gathering data on us through these sensors. The camera, AI and machine
learning algorithms are capable of recognizing owner’s face. May be one day, the
35,000 decisions or at least some of them that the owner makes will be taken over
by the phones.
It is vital to innovate and create interface with
computers and upload our minds to computers
so that human and machine intelligence can
multiply
Now more and more mobile phones incorporate processors with deep learning
based on neural networks. A neural network seeks to initiate functioning of the
huma brain. This network can detect patterns and make decisions based on them.
However, currently only 10 per cent smart phones have built in deep learning
capacity, a feature that is forecast to reach 80 per cent by 2022.
Most people ask if AI can change the world with the innovations currently in vogue
in many countries? In the years to come, the AI technology could even replace
human intelligence. May be within 30 years, we will have flying cars, as huge
amounts are being invested in this technology. In the field of autonomous or self-
driving cars, according to Allied Market Research, the market is expected to hit
$556.67 billion by 2026 which means a compound annual growth rate of 39.4 per
cent. At the same time, developing completely autonomous cars is not an easy
undertaking because of security and safety issues. It may take more than 30 years
before such cars come on roads.
According to various studies, China may become the leading player in AI within a
few years. It has an ambitious goal of spending $150 billion by 2030 to promote this
technology. It is speedily developing its human resource in AI and many young
people are pursuing a career in this field. China is also working on erecting next-
generation cities for autonomous cars besides aggressively working in 5G networks.
For many years now, robots have been used across a wide range of industry. With
AI, work is being done effectively by employing robots in other areas like security of
installations and defence fields. However, developing completely intelligent robots
is a gigantic task, especially, when they must sense and negotiate the environment in
which they are operating. With the speed of development, very soon robots may be
working alongside humans to complement each other’s strengths.
The US Air Force Research Lab is working on building robots that will be co-pilots
in fighter jets and will take over if the pilot becomes incapacitated. Drones that are
being developed would be capable of making decisions while flying over the target
rather than being controlled remotely from the operation room. There have been
significant advances in curing serious diseases by discovering appropriate drugs.
The AI speeds up the process because it can identify complex patterns.
However, when all is said and done, there is a danger of significant technological
unemployment because machines will be as intelligent as humans and they will take
over most professions. The expectation is that robots will outperform humans.
There is, therefore, a need to explore how this transition from the present mode of

52
working to AI based modes will take place. What would need to be done to replace
present human skills with the ones that would work alongside machines.
It is vital to innovate and create interface with computers and upload our minds to
computers so that human and machine intelligence can multiply.
Pakistan and growing AI |
In Pakistan, it is heartening to note that there is now greater awareness of the
changes that AI would bring to us. Some of our universities are now offering
training in AI which would produce the required human resource to work in this
field. Pakistan has been able take advantage of AI in identifying the risks involved
because of the prevailing pandemic. Efforts are also on to use AI in the agriculture
sector, and monitoring weather. This would help forecast the impending disasters.
However, Pakistan is far behind in tapping the benefits of AI. The government,
under the Knowledge Economy Initiative, has allocated Rs 2500 million in the
federal budget 2019-20, but it is still in the air. The amount was to be spent on
research in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Allied Technologies.
Way forward |
We must focus on the research and development of AI lest we miss the boat and lag
many years behind in this fast-developing technology. Seeking Chinese assistance in
this field would be a wise step.

Weekly Dawn Deconstruction April 10 to April 17, by M.Usman.pdf

Weekly Dawn Deconstruction April 10 to April 17, by M.Usman.pdf

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