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Jihad Revised

Pakistan, which is being torn apart by jihadists from within and across its border, needs to make this latest work by Fadl available widely in translation.

Fatima Jinnah Park – Metaphor for Pakistan's Problems and their Solution

Capital Development Authority (CDA) has carved out a large corner (6000 sq yards) of the Fatima Jinnah Park for McDonald's at a ridiculously low rental

Why Doxiadis Cries for Islamabad

A planned capital sinks through the neglect of its basic infrastructure at the cost of new wasteful projects

Complex Problems can have Simple Solutions

Cool roof systems with high reflectance (percentage of solar energy reflected back from the surface to the atmosphere without absorption ) and emittance (percentage of energy that is radiated back to the air after absorption) stay up to 70ºF (39ºC) cooler

Chief Justice’s Chess

The chess fable illustrates the consequence of exponential growth! It begins slowly and no one notices. But then before you know it you have reached the center of the chess board and things really begin to make an impact.

Ejecting Parasitic Armies – Sea Cucumber’s Lesson

The animal kingdom teaches some ingenious tricks on how to get rid of parasitic armies.

Indian Scholarships for Outstanding Pakistani Students

In the postwar years, the UK, US, USSR and to a lesser extent Germany provided generous opportunities for South Asian students to spend extended periods of study in their countries. They were the best ambassadors of goodwill on their return.

Demolishing the Circles of Dominance

Information glut is sinking us. Can the pundits by telling us the deeper reasons for out problems inspire us to become problem solvers rather than merely frustrated spectators?

The Height of Higher Education

Pakistan studies should become a part of the study of world history without recourse to jingoism and ‘patriotic excesses’. By doing so, two major sources of confusion and non-critical thinking will be removed from the domain of universities

Dam Mismanagement

So General Musharraf and his dam brigade shouting for large new dams ought to first begin showing that they can manage small dams, particularly those they themselves get water from

New Murree - New Ways to Ruin Water Supplies

But to put so much effort into providing 'safe' expensive bottled water -- that is mostly consumed by the elite -- overlooks the serious neglect of the water sector as a whole in Pakistan.

Fake Degrees for the Big Boys in Pakistan

Fake degrees have been sold in Pakistan for a long time. Now, though, the scope of it has enlarged considerably with many shady outfits offering degrees in return for little or no work.

Dubious Universities

For an unaccredited institution, the 14-year old American World University (AWU) does remarkably well with over 7,000 students globally. No one would guess that the hub of this hugely profitable enterprise is a posh apartment building in the Los Angeles

Mathematics for All University Students

The role of mathematics in science, and society generally, is misunderstood by common folk. Such lack of understanding is also prevalent in educational policy makers

How to get a Civil Award

If Mirza Ghalib (South Asia’s long-deceased great poet) were to have been nominated for an award, quipped a Net-acquaintance, somebody else would get it! The master just wouldn’t have pushed it through the merit-assessing bureaucracy.

General’s Dress Code Confusion

I maybe an inverted snob but am not so thick as not to understand what the General’s clothes are being set up to convey. If I am correct, it strikes me as a rather ill-founded strategy

The Scandal of Fake and Madrassa Degrees

a federal minister whose only real qualification is an O-level certificate

We Cut When Asked -- PTCL’s New Censoring Role

Our telephone company, the monopoly holder for conveying Internet traffic, has lately been working overtime as the morality policeman.

Smoking in PIA

one wishes that our decision makers were as sensitive as the smoke detectors

Pakistan and India - Lets Compromise

The program began by applauding Indian PM Vajpayee’s concession to meet Jamali, his Pakistani counter-part

Is IT the Panacea?

most high-end technologists in areas such as computer science will leave for better opportunities in the West

Should Pakistan start a Virtual University?

India, China and Malaysia have made considerable progress in providing university level course through the Net

Water Shortage -- A Way Out

the shortage affects mainly the poor

Bullock Cart to IT Bandwagon: India’s IT experience

Pakistan can learn much from India’s progress in Information Technology

Passive Smoking - Time to say NO!

Attitudes to smoke and smoking have changed worldwide

Thwarting Big Tobacco

Can a third world country defeat tobacco Goliaths? Lessons we can learn from Thai activists.

A Way Beyond Failed S&T Policies

The author reviews how national institutions have failed to present a viable vision for the Pakistan’s S&T sector. More active involvement of expatriot Pakistanis is suggested.

Teaching and Popularizing Science

Striking demonstrations that destroy deeply entrenched ideas are essential -- it is through them that minds open and newer pathways of understanding develop.

Q Isa Daudpota

• Articles on Chowk: 28
• First article: Oct 24, 1997
• Latest article: Sep 26, 2008
• Times read on Chowk: 224629