February 2024

An up-to-date and informed analyses of key issues of Pakistan.
On February 8, Pakistan made history as its citizens cast their votes to choose members for the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies. Though political parties, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf raised concerns about fairness, the process was largely peaceful, as observed by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), and

Redefining Perspectives on State-Owned Enterprises of Pakistan
Privatization has remained a controversial issue in least-developed countries. So is the case in Pakistan as the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) including the World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) repeatedly demand the government of Pakistan to privatize the loss-making State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) so the financial burden on the annual

Navigating Uncertainty: Pakistan’s Post-Election Landscape and the Path Forward
The recently concluded general elections in Pakistan, initially scheduled for November 2023 but held on February 8, have unveiled a fragmented political scenario. After four days of tense anticipation, results unveiled amidst allegations of irregularities showcasing a divided political landscape. Despite speculation about possible election delays, a crackdown against Pakistan

Charting Progress: Roadmap for Human Rights Institutions in Pakistan Post-February 2024 Elections
Each day, Pakistan media inundates readers with reports of numerous human rights violations in Pakistan, ranging from enforced disappearances and honour-based killings to abductions, forced displacement, illegal detentions, sexual and physical violence, land grabbing, the existence of ghost schools, and substandard quality of education, among others. Over the past two decades,

Coal, Climate Capitalism, and Community: Exploring the Impacts of Resource Extraction in Pakistan’s Thar Desert
Pakistan’s Thar Desert, a densely populated vast expanse stretching 22,000 square kilometers across Pakistan’s Sindh province, stands as a battleground for conflicting visions of development and environmental preservation. At the heart of this debate lies the contentious issue of coal extraction—a perceived panacea for Pakistan’s energy and economic insecurities, yet
