Current Projects
Women Promoting Regional Economic Connectivity
Afghan women are considered to have strong nerves both physically and mentally as forty years of hardships and revolutions have taught them to stand on their own feet and solve their own problems. They excel at carpet-weaving, have cottage industries set up and are doing massive work with meager facilities. The governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan should facilitate and promote women-run businesses so women can play a greater role in the economy. At present, such steps can prove crucial and momentous for Afghanistan while the country faces a severe economic crisis.
Experts Urge Multitrack Dialogue to Improve Pakistan-Afghanistan Transboundary Water Cooperation
Pakistan and Afghanistan share waters of nine big and small rivers, with millions of people on both sides depending on shared water resources, but it is really unfortunate that there is no mutually agreed mechanism such as a water treaty to regulate the matters of water sharing and joint management of shared water resources. To avert the future water crisis, it is really important and only underlines the need for policy intervention and more research on the issue. These remarks were made by the member of Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ms. Ayesha Bano, during the first round of dialogue series on Pakistan-Afghanistan Transboundary Water Relationship organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), in partnership with USAID and IWMI. Ms. Ayesha Bano urged both countries for advances in their water relationship with a mutual benefit sharing approach as a core consideration. We should not let the political side of relationship affect the water side of it, and enhance water cooperation for accurate data and research around the water flows on both sides. She shared her plans to table a resolution in the KP assembly; urging the federal government to discuss the transboundary water sharing issues with Afghan government and maximize mutual benefit sharing. She said that while expecting parliamentarians to speak on issues of communal and national concern in the upper and lower houses of parliament, we must first sensitize them to enable them for policy intervention. In this regard, the role of organizations working on these issues with research and advocacy is extremely critical. While appreciating Center for its efforts to generate traction around the transboundary water issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan, she noted that the dialogue on the issue was an eye opener for her and other parliamentarians also need to be involved. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zubair Khan, Chairman, Department of Water Resources Management, University of Agriculture,...
Pakistan Close to Polio-Free Status?
For the first time, Pakistan has seen zero cases of polio in an entire year[i]. It is a monumental achievement, especially considering that Pakistan is one of the last two remaining polio endemic countries in the world, with over 20,000 children crippled every year in the 90s alone. The other endemic country is Afghanistan. This was achieved over nearly three decades of sustained effort. In 1994, the country recorded 25,000 cases. Despite incredible progress, and an expanded immunization program that operates with the help of a network of nearly 230,000 workers to help vaccinate 33.4 million children under the age of five in over 100 districts simultaneously, Pakistan seemed take several steps back, especially in 2014, and then again in 2017. It is a massive undertaking, one that requires a colossal amount of coordination, transparency and ownership for it to work properly. It finally seems to have paid off, with cases reducing from 84 in the year prior, to 0 this year. In a media inter-action, Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Adviser to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health spoke of Pakistan being close to complete eradication of poliovirus. He said that Pakistan has made significant improvements in polio surveillance and that the best strategy is to control the virus through sustained vaccination campaigns. Despite Covid since early 2020, Pakistan’s polio program has registered big success through excellent campaigns. During his visit to Dera Ismail Khan[ii] in the northwestern Khyber Pakthunkhwa province, he said that no polio case was reported during the last one year but there were still effects of poliovirus in the environment. All resources were being utilised for its complete elimination, he added. “We are close to eradicating polio. The government is already taking steps to address the legitimate demands and grievances of the people, so do not make these demands conditional with anti-polio vaccinations as anti-polio vaccines are also in public interest,” said Dr...
Blasphemy Cases in Pakistan: 1947 – 2021
a Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report by Senior Research Fellow Muhammad Nafees Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are controversial subject, with the public opinion in two distinct camps. One camp believes the laws to be absolutely essential, necessary for the protection of Muslims’ sentiments, especially as they apply to the finality of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The other camp believes the laws to be draconic, leveraged by vested interested to primarily target minorities, and used to settle personal vendettas and disputes. With a sudden upsurge in blasphemy allegations and cases, especially within the last two years, and major incidents of both lynching and sentencing to death of those accused of blasphemy, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has put together a comprehensive report that looks at the history of blasphemy allegations in the country, the number of people killed by vigilantes and charged mobs, the spread of this data across provincial, religious, gender, and socio-economic lines, and the principal complainants in blaspheming cases. This report hopes to document the bulk of the data associate with blasphemy accusations and killings, and provide a concise snapshot of the depth and breadth of the problem, in the hopes that the government of Pakistan addresses this pressing issue, and works to alleviate the problem. Background: 1947 - 2021 Overview The debate around Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws and their socio-political consequences ranges from the argument “people disrespecting Islam should be punished” to “people are falsely accused to settle personal scores”. One segment of the society demands review of the blasphemy laws to prevent and discourage its abuse. Others deny any egregious misuse of the law for personal gains, albeit evidence suggests otherwise. The latter arguments that most of the cases are either influenced by ideological inclinations or religious dogma. Often personal grudges morph into societal outrage with...
Shagufta Gul Program Manager Ms. Shagufta Gul is working as a Consultant and Lead Trainer at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Peshawar. Before joining CRSS, she served at the Peace Education and Development Foundation for a tenure of five years in different capacities. Ms. Gul has been in the development sector for 18 years, and previously, she has also been an educationist. She has offered her services as a consultant, facilitator, content developer, and lead trainer for Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion), an intervention to address extremism in KP and conflict-ridden (erstwhile FATA) tribal districts, and Beyond Boundaries, an initiative for Pak Afghan Regional Economic Connectivity. She has expertise in Radio Advocacy with thematic areas of Democracy and Good Governance Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution, Mainstreaming of NMD, erstwhile FATA, Gender Equality, Women Empowerment, Female Political Participation, Curriculum Reforms, Project Management, Coordination, Training, Peace, Conflict Resolution, and Access to Justice for the marginalized communities. She has also been associated with UN Women, IOM, Islamic Relief World, and Islamic Relief Pakistan as a consultant for their interventions in the NMDs. Her op-eds on social issues are often featured in Daily Times Lahore..
Junaid Khan Director Programs Junaid Yaqoob Khan is a Director Programs at CRSS and currently leads projects on Pak-Afghan Regional Economic Connectivity, and Afghan Peace Support Mechanism. He has over 13 years of experience in project management and coordination. Junaid holds a master's in project management and a bachelor's in computer science. He has previously worked with notable organizations such as Safer World, GIZ, and Handicap International. Being a project management professional, his professional expertise includes project planning and execution, monitoring and evaluation, analyzing project risks and drafting mitigation strategies, etc.
Minha Rana Research and Program Associate Ms. Minha works at the Center for Research and Security Studies as a Research and Program Associate. She is currently working on an action research project called "Assessment of health-seeking behavior," which is being implemented across Pakistan in 19 High Risk Union Councils. The study focuses on vaccine hesitancy and health-seeking behavior among residents of the study areas. Her responsibilities include project implementation and line management of 40 field researchers, as well as the preparation of project documentation such as monthly and quarterly progress reports, work plans, risk logs, quality assured field reports, qualitative analysis of the information derived through FGDs and KIIs. While ensuring that the project adequately addresses cross-cutting themes such as gender, human rights, and safeguarding. Minha has a bachelor's degree in International Relations with a major in Public Policy from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. She participated in an International Summer School on International and European Studies at Eberhard Karls University in Tubingen, Germany. Previously she has worked for UNDP Pakistan, WWF Pakistan, and the British Council Pakistan. Her areas of interest include human rights, the effects of climate change on health and gender, and promoting peace and youth engagement through environment friendly activities.
Displaced Afghans Long For Peace And Stability Amidst Volatile Times
Dr. Nasir Ahmad, an ophthalmologist hailing from Kabul, recalls his journey from Kabul to Islamabad after the Taliban takeover, “The border (Torkham) was in chaos… People had to wait for hours to cross. It was absolute mayhem!” Nasir had to flee Kabul along with his children and his ailing wife. After a massive toil, the family managed to rent a portion in the Pakistani capital. Having no means of livelihood in Islamabad amidst rising inflation, they find it hard to make both ends meet. “It is unfortunate that in these testing times, instead of easing the situation of Afghans on the move, more and more hindrances are created to delay the process of renting a house, granting/extending visas, etc.” Dr. Nasir further says that he understands that delays in visa issuance or extension happen because Pakistan is already dealing with such cases in ample amounts, but much is required to alleviate the miseries of Afghans and the world has to look at them with empathetic eyes. Many Afghans, crème de la crème, have sought refuge in other countries in pursuit of a better life. Distressed with the loss of skilled and intellectual personnel, Dr. Nasir said that it is a grave concern for the country already undergoing a social and political upheaval. “What would an eye specialist like me do in Kabul right now when nothing is certain and the future of my children is at stake? The healthcare workers who are currently in Afghanistan certainly do not have enough resources to treat their patients, government hospitals do not have sufficient medical aid, and with the current situation of Omicron spreading widely, this could get worse. I hope the international community will do more to help us combat this crisis.” he said. Like many others, Dr. Nasir believes that the current Afghan government will have to be pragmatic, discourage corruption, and pay heed to the vexing issues. “The only way Taliban can get recognised internationally is by showing some flexible approach, i.e....
Pakistan’s Public Procurement Regime
Saddam Hussein and Mohammad Shaaf Najib* Why Study Public Procurement Regimes? Governments across the globe are spending a significant portion of their budgets on procurement. Public procurement spending is estimated to account for 15% of the world's GDP. This is predominantly visible in developing countries with active infrastructure and social programs. Any attempt, therefore, to bring fiscal discipline by efficient allocation of resources and then pragmatically spending must consider procurement to be a fundamental part. Gains of a good public procurement framework make available additional resources for development and lead to better outcomes of expenditure by assigning the tasks to the best possible service provider. This eventually has a positive bearing on service delivery. Empirical evidence supports that procurement reforms improve spending efficiency by 1% of GDP. This means that this saving could be diverted to other pressing sectors like education, health, and municipal services. Thus, effective public procurement systems can help governments see better value for money, reduce pressure on public budgets, and leave agencies better prepared to invite private investments. Public funds are scarce and governments must invest with intention. Improving public procurement systems contributes to a vibrant private sector, helps governments get the most out of their investments, and supports growth. Background Historically, public procurement in Pakistan was traditionally regulated by three primary instruments as follows: The Purchase Manual of the defunct Department of Supplies and Disposal, which generally covered the purchase of commodities The West Pakistan Building and Roads Department Code which governs the construction of buildings and roads and the hiring of consultants for this purpose The General Financial Rules of the Federal Government and the delegation of financial power rules In the late 1990s, however, public procurement was now seen as a critical...
Zehra Zaidi Research Fellow and Program Coordinator Zehra Zaidi works as a Research Fellow and Program Coordinator at CRSS, where she is currently working on a project on Pak-Afghan Regional Stability. Previously, she contributed to a research project, “Assessment of health-seeking behaviour,” which primarily focused on vaccine refusal and health-seeking behaviour of target communities across Pakistan. Additionally, she has worked at CRSS’s Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE), a project countering violent extremism. Zehra is an MPhil graduate in International Development Studies. Prior to CRSS, she has worked for IMC Worldwide and Rozan. At CRSS, she oversees the planning and coordination of field research activities while creating and maintaining field reports, progress reports, project documentation, and additional research-related assignments. She is deeply passionate about working for the marginalized segments of society and broadening her horizon in the field of research.
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.