Punjab government’s populist vision

Multiple stories, published in various newspapers, about Punjab government’s much-touted yellow cab scheme cast dark shadows on its success. According to latest reports, the provincial government has once again lowered the criteria for eligibility of applicants for the scheme. The decision was reportedly made after it was discovered that most of the applicants did not meet the current criteria. The government has now waived the requirement of having a valid driving license for one year prior to applying for a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) license.

Saving Pakistan’s progeny

Children are the biggest victims of war and conflict in terms of the lost opportunity they represent for the future. This was proven again when the news surfaced of a nine-year-old girl, Sohana Javed, who was abducted from Peshawar and forced into becoming a possible suicide bomber in Lower Dir. Initial reports reveal remarkable presence of mind on Sohana’s part when, seeing an opportunity, she ran away from her captors and sought help from the Frontier Corps personnel at a nearby check-post—the alleged target of her attack. This incident has revealed a possible shift in the strategy of the terrorist groups who, till now, had relied primarily on men and teenage boys to carry out their attacks. It has also highlighted the lengths to which the militants will resort in carrying out their agenda with no regard of the universal and Islamic principle of safeguarding children from acts of war.

Refusing American Aid

At face value, the idea of relying on one's own resources and renouncing foreign aid rings a patriotic bell. However this move must be looked at within the framework of practical implication and political mileage.

Education can cause some problems: Prime Minister Azad Kashmir

At a time when a state of education emergency has been declared in Pakistan, I present to you a statement (allegedly) by Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan. Alleged because I don't know the source or the date of publication. However, at face value, it seems fairly recent given the event at which the PM spoke. I'm just reproducing the image of the new story below with translation. (Thank you Abid Hussayn for sending it to me and helping with its translation.)