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Lessons from the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial
Trade, according to economists, is not a zero-sum game because it makes all parties better off. This is true in essence, although in a changing world the application of static theory is far from straightforward. Thus, low-income countries need to protect their policy space to enable industrialization until they are ready to compete, as was done in the past by the currently high-income countries......more ....
Undercurrents
The statement that "Pakistan is soon going to join water scarce nations" is made in the latest United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) State of the Environment report. This is confirmed by the World Bank's latest publication on the Pakistan water situation, titled Pakistan: running dry.........more....
Forestry Partnerships: An Anodyne for Government Failure?
The bulk of Pakistan’s primary forests are situated in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), with over half of the total forested area within the province lying in the Malakand and Hazara divisions. It is common knowledge that forest cover is depleting irreversibly – both in terms of reduced areal coverage and productivity.......more....
Regulating Industrial Pollution Control Through Effective Collaboration Between Stake-holders and SMART
The self-monitoring and reporting (SMART) program for the industrial sector across the country was formally launched by the Minister of Environment, Government of Pakistan on March 8, 2006. However, more than two months later there has been no action by the provincial EPAs in implementing the program in the provinces.......more....
About People, Without People
Like many other things, 'trade policy' has turned into an annual ritual in Pakistan. Replete with ambitious phrases, it revolves around rapid export growth strategy (REGS). It has turned into a tool for implementing budgetary provisions related to import and export, while in reality, it ought to be a strategic document providing a long-term vision and a framework for what Pakistan would like to achieve through trade........more....
Police and Gender Crimes: Protection vs. Perpetration
Pakistan inherited its police system from the British in 1947. The system, designed in 1861, was primarily a colonial instrument for coercion to control the public by intimidation, rather than a public-friendly organization with a mandate to prevent and detect crime through just and impartial law enforcement........more....
Women's Empowerment through Education
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are often criticised on the basis of their idealistic targets. In this context some view MDGs as yet more capitalist rhetoric with the likes of the WTO and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. Nevertheless, there is not much controversy over the stand the MDGs have taken regarding many urgent development issues........more.....
Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing: A Corporate Social Responsibility Perspective
Advancement in modern technology in recent years, the increased use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge related to these resources in science and industry has raised a number of questions, which are summarized by the term “access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge as well as benefit sharing from commercial utilization........more.....
Gas Price Hike, an Economic Cul-de-sac
Being a son of this land, the current state of affairs of the country has invoked in me emotions that I have seldom voiced. However, time moulds us all and I am no exception. The Arabian crude oil prices have decreased yet the price of oil still remain high in the countryt........more....
Large Scale Planting of Eucalyptus: A Threat to the Environment
Eucalyptus, an evergreen aromatic tree, was introduced to Pakistan one hundred years ago from Australia. Nowadays it is widely planted in many parts of NWFP and Punjab, including Firdousabad, Sharifabad, Tahkhtbai, Shergarh, Chakdara, Yar Hussain, Foujoon, Azeemabad, Mansehra, Chamla, Buner and Gujrat (PTC, aforestation audit report, 2002)........more....
Ninth Sustainable Development Conference
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) will be holding its Ninth Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) from 13 to 15 December 2006 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Each SDC is designed to be a forum for dialogues on sustainable development with practitioners, civil society and policy-makers........more.....
