Current Projects
Turning Crises into Opportunities | CRSS Ulasi Taroon Workshops
The latest rounds of Ulasi Taroon Online Workshops featured Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, Nuclear Physicist and Renowned Academic, and Dr. Jamil Ahmad Chitrali, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Peshawar, for discussion with around 40 youth leaders from different public and private sector universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The events were held as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) efforts to continue to cultivate the young through online conduits for communication, in the absence of physical platforms of youth engagement and development. In the fifth round, Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy discussed the Innovation in Education and Social Cohesion and noted that the quality of education in the country must be of a most critical concern to those at helm of the educational policy and it should be measured up to the international standards. It doesn’t merely require increased financial allocation for the sector but careful consideration of the issues that concern the educational needs of the country. The teachers as gatekeepers of the society should be cognizant of their onus and be acquainted with the broader purpose of education as it means much more than the achieving quantitative milestones. However, such quantitative benchmarks of success in education are contrary to the global standards, where education means open-mindedness, and critical thinking and inquiry skills as prerequisites to create to new knowledge, and not just limited to securing good marks. Therefore, both quantitative and qualitative indicators better indicate as to how efficient and inclusive the system. The most crucial period is early years education as students are highly receptive to new ideas in their formative period. Gone are the days of one-to-many lectures as they are not conducive to active learning in the class. We must encourage asking questions in the class to develop future leaders. We have such an overwhelming focus on English that all other languages...
Virtual Pak-Afghan Women Leaders Conference
In continuation of its ongoing women-led exchanges as part of its Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II diplomacy – Beyond Boundaries, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), in collaboration with its Afghan counterpart, Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP), organized a virtual Pak-Afghan Women Leaders Conference on June 15, 2020 on the theme, “Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Women in Pakistan and Afghanistan”. A nine-member Afghan women leaders’ delegation, led by Member of Parliament, Ms. Shinkai Karokhail, included Shukria Barakzai, Former Ambassador to Norway; Fawzia Ehsani, Former Deputy Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation; Momina Yari, Former Commissioner, Afghan Independent Election Commission; Parwarish Oriakhail, Vice President, Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI); Parasto Yari, Senior Advisor to Minister for Peace; Ghazalan Koofi, Director General, Statistics Affairs; Freshta Zuhal Rahman, Commercial Attorney and Zahra Formuly, Media Representative (RTA). Pakistan’s women-led delegation, headed by Member of National Assembly, Ms. Mehnaz Akber Aziz, included Ambassador Tasnim Aslam, Former Special Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Samina Fazil, Founder and President of Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IWCCI); Dr. Shabana Fayyaz, Head, Department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS), Quaid-i-Azam University; Sameena Durrani, Senior Development Professional; Ammara Durrani, Public Policy and Human Security Expert; Amina Khan, Director, Centre for Middle East & Africa (CMEA) and Afghanistan, Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI); Mome Saleem, Development Professional and Consultant, PM Youth Programme, and Samima Durrani, Development Professional and Independent Consultant. At the end, the delegates came up with joint policy recommendations. At the outset, CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul welcomed both delegations to the forum and stated that adding the...
Connecting Pak-Afghan Youth Leaders in Times of COVID-19
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Islamabad, as part of its efforts to improve people to people contact and promote positive and constructive narratives between Pakistan and Afghanistan, organized a Pak-Afghan Youth Leaders’ Webinar, in collaboration with Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP), Kabul, under its Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/II project “Beyond Boundaries” via Zoom, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, with over 20 youth leaders in the fields of politics, social development sector, private sector, media, entrepreneurs, writers, graphic designers and youth activists, from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The theme of the webinar was: “Connecting Pak-Afghan Youth Leaders in Times of COVID-19”. The session was further divided into three parts. First, where the keynote speakers, one each from Pakistan and Afghanistan delivered keynote addresses on the theme “Opportunities for Cooperation between the Youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan during COVID-19 Pandemic”. Afterwards, there was an interactive session, followed by joint policy recommendations session. Amina Khan from Pakistan and Shoaib A. Rahim from Afghanistan were invited as key-note speakers and also as moderators for joint policy recommendations and interactive sessions respectively. Amina Khan is the Director, Center for Middle East and Africa (CMEA) as well as Afghanistan at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), while Shoaib A. Rahim is a development practitioner and also an Assistant Professor at Kardan University, Afghanistan. Pakistani participants included: Aleena Shah, President, Youth General Assembly (Islamabad Chapter); Saba Hurrium, Lecturer, Quaid-i-Azam University; Ayesha Zahir, Former Youth Cultural Ambassador to US; Ambreen Gul, Doctor of Pharmacy; Muhammad Akbar Khan, Legal Counsel at Pakistan State Oil; Sundas Khan, Youth Activist, RJ and Media Worker; Kashmala Mazhar, Artist and Graphic Designer; Wajih Ullah, Researcher at Institute of Peace and Diplomatic...
Connecting Pak-Afghan Youth Leaders in Times of COVID-19
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Islamabad, as part of its efforts to improve people to people contact and promote positive and constructive narratives between Pakistan and Afghanistan, organized a Pak-Afghan Youth Leaders’ Webinar, in collaboration with Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP), Kabul, under its Pak-Afghan Track 1.5/II project “Beyond Boundaries” via Zoom, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, with over 20 youth leaders in the fields of politics, social development sector, private sector, media, entrepreneurs, writers, graphic designers and youth activists, from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The theme of the webinar was: “Connecting Pak-Afghan Youth Leaders in Times of COVID-19”. The session was further divided into three parts. First, where the keynote speakers, one each from Pakistan and Afghanistan delivered keynote addresses on the theme “Opportunities for Cooperation between the Youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan during COVID-19 Pandemic”. Afterwards, there was an interactive session, followed by joint policy recommendations session. Amina Khan from Pakistan and Shoaib A. Rahim from Afghanistan were invited as key-note speakers and also as moderators for joint policy recommendations and interactive sessions respectively. Amina Khan is the Director, Center for Middle East and Africa (CMEA) as well as Afghanistan at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), while Shoaib A. Rahim is a development practitioner and also an Assistant Professor at Kardan University, Afghanistan. Pakistani participants included: Aleena Shah, President, Youth General Assembly (Islamabad Chapter); Saba Hurrium, Lecturer, Quaid-i-Azam University; Ayesha Zahir, Former Youth Cultural Ambassador to US; Ambreen Gul, Doctor of Pharmacy; Muhammad Akbar Khan, Legal Counsel at Pakistan State Oil; Sundas Khan, Youth Activist, RJ and Media Worker; Kashmala Mazhar, Artist and Graphic Designer; Wajih Ullah, Researcher at Institute of Peace and Diplomatic...
Pak-Afghan Regional Economic Connectivity – Stakeholder Consultation Session
As part of Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) ongoing Pak-Afghan Trade and Economic Connectivity initiative since 2017 aimed to improve business cooperation, enhance and strengthen the regional economic connectivity, CRSS along with Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber and Commerce (PAJCCI) and Organization for Economic Studies and Peace (OESP) organized a virtual Pak-Afghan stakeholders consultation session on 22nd June,2020. The idea behind this session was to highlight the current challenges that are impeding the transit as well as bilateral trade amid COVID-19. Furthermore, to bring all the relevant issues of the traders into the notice of Pakistan and Afghan governments, recently appointed Pakistan’s Special Representative to Afghanistan, Mr. Sadiq Khan was invited along with the Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Atif Mashal. In addition to Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq Khan and Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Atif Mashal, delegates from Pakistan and Afghanistan included PAJCCI Chairman, Zubair Motiwala; Former President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce, Junaid Makda; Co-Chairman, PAJCCI, Khan Jan Alokozay; Former Afghan Deputy Trade Minister, Mozammil Shinwari; Former Vice Chairman, Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Vice President, PAJCCI, Haji M. Younas Mohmand; Secretary General, PAJCCI (Pakistan), Faiza Zubair; Executive Director, PAJCCI (Afghanistan), Naqeebullah Safi; CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul and CRSS Program Manager, Junaid Khan. Speaking to the participants, Mr. Sadiq Khan affirmed that the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan should be led by trade diplomacy which will automatically resolve all other issues between the two countries. He further stated that to resolve the issues faced by traders on both sides of the border, both transit and bilateral trades should be addressed separately with distinct mechanisms put in place for their effective...
Virtual Meeting of Beyond Boundaries’ Pakistan Core Group Members
As part of CRSS’ efforts to improve Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations under its ongoing Track 1.5/II initiative Beyond Boundaries, a 12 member Pakistan core group met virtually on June 10, 2020, to review the situation in Afghanistan following the power-sharing deal signed between President Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah in mid-May, developments in the peace process, Pak-Afghan bilateral cooperation after the political settlement, and bilateral/transit trade amid the pandemic. Members included Mehnaz Akber Aziz; Member National Assembly, Dr. Shoaib Suddle; Former IG Police, and former Federal Tax Ombudsman, Lt. Gen. (retd) Asif Yasin Malik; Former Defense Secretary, Maj. Gen. (retd) Athar Abbas; Former DG Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Former Ambassador Ayaz Wazir, Former Ambassador Qazi Humayun, Former Ambassador Asif Durrani, Former Ambassador Mian Sanaullah, Rehman Azhar; Senior Journalist and Anchorperson Express TV, Ammara Durrani; Public Policy and Human Security Expert, Tahir Khan; Senior Journalist and Anchorperson GTV News and Hasan Khan; Senior Journalist and Anchorperson AVT/Khyber TV News. CRSS was represented by Executive Director Imtiaz Gul, Junaid Khan; Program Manager, Sitwat Waqar Bokhari; Program Manager, and Saad Gul; Research Fellow at CRSS. At the outset, all members welcomed the appointment of Mohammad Sadiq as the Special Representative for Afghanistan, terming it as a timely and positive decision by Pakistan as most regional countries have also employed a special envoy for Afghanistan. Expressing optimism on his ability to positively utilize the platform for constructive resolution of all issues, members affirmed that Ambassador Sadiq, who also previously served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2008 to 2014, was both well connected with the government and private stakeholders and acquainted with Afghan politics and the regional dynamics. Members hoped that, keeping his experience and past record in Afghanistan,...
Afghan women leaders seek technical assistance in e-commerce and e-learning from Pakistan: CRSS Dialogue
Pakistan, to consolidate its positive overtures towards Afghanistan, has appointed former Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq as Pakistan’s special envoy to Kabul, a completely new office, to what the government describes will play an effective role in strengthening ties between the two nations. Sadiq is respected on both sides and has very cordial relations across the border, as well. So, we can say, things are very much moving in the right direction, stated Mehnaz Akbar Aziz, Member of the Parliament, Pakistan, while speaking to distinguished Pak-Afghan delegates, in a virtual cross-border women’s dialogue on “Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Women in Pakistan and Afghanistan”. The dialogue was organized by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), as part of its Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II diplomacy – Beyond Boundaries. Mehnaz also shared another encouraging news regarding Afghan President Ghani, who recently said that Afghanistan now has “the closest alignment” with Pakistan on the peace process and he also hoped that it would translate into cooperation in other areas as well. Though, she was of the opinion that additionally appointing a woman co-ambassador or deputy ambassador would be a tangible gain. This would help in resolving women related issues across the border in a swift manner. Commenting on the global pandemic, she said that for COVID-19 approaches to be responsive and to address the gendered impact, women must be at the center of COVID-19 recovery efforts. This starts with women’s equal representation and participation in decision-making. She also suggested formulation of a Pak-Afghan working group on COVID-19. Shinkai Karokhail, senior Afghan politician and rights activist, stated that COVID-19’s impact has doubled or tripled women’s responsibilities in Afghanistan and it will slow down the access of girls to education even more. It is feared that because of the economic impact of COVID-19, families will further prioritize educating boys...
Ulasi Taroon Online Workshops Continue to Empower Youth During Pandemic
The third and fourth rounds of Ulasi Taroon Online Workshops discussed the topics of Rule of Law and Interfaith Harmony, respectively, with around 40 youth leaders from different public and private sector universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The events were held as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) efforts to continue to cultivate the young through online conduits for communication, in the absence of physical platforms of youth engagement and development. The third round discussed the challenges of rule of law especially during the COVID-19 times and the role of youth as responsible citizens and the hope of the nation. Mr. Waqar Ahmad Kharal, SSP Operations, Mardan, said that the concept of rule of law - since its inception - has underscored that everyone is subject to law no matter how powerful, an idea that underpins equality and indiscriminate accountability in the society. Discussing the fundamental principles of rule of law, Mr. Kharral said that equality before the law is most essential prerequisite for rule of law and the law should be implemented across the board. We can’t expect rule of law to prevail in a country where there is no equality before the law and citizen’s equal entitlement to social, political and economic rights and opportunities. The public participation in the decision-making processes is another essentiality for rule of law as it develops the public trust in government, enhances public accountability and leads to transparent and inclusive decision making. Access to justice is also one of the basic principles of the rule of law. The citizens’ voices, rights and inclusion suffer the most in the absence of accessible justice. Rule of law requires the right of equal access to justice for all and transparent, non-discriminatory and accountable services. Propagating knowledge and information about the citizen’s constitutional rights also improves their access to justice as empowered citizens and ultimately...
Devising Digital Strategies For Young Entrepreneurs Amid And Post COVID-19 Pandemic
As part of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) ongoing Pak-Afghan Trade and Economic Connectivity initiative since 2017 which is aimed at improving business cooperation and exploring ways of developing partnerships and joint ventures, CRSS organized the second virtual Pak-Afghan Youth Entrepreneurs Conference on May 18, 2020, on Zoom. The idea behind this conference was to invite enthusiastic and eminent youth entrepreneurs from Pakistan and Afghanistan as keynote speakers; allowing them to share their knowledge, experience, and strategies amongst the other entrepreneurs. An additional objective was to provide the participating entrepreneurs with the opportunity to adapt to the ideas discussed in the conference and devise digital strategies for their businesses amid the global pandemic. Around fifteen entrepreneurs from Pakistan and Afghanistan attended the event. Addressing the conference, Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS welcomed all the participants. He expressed his gratitude regarding the youth entrepreneurs of both countries willingness to participate in such virtual conferences to share their expertise with fellow businesspersons even during the ongoing global crises. Through these webinars, many youngsters can obtain the strategies required to augment their businesses amid the current COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, Mr. Imtiaz Gul shared how the closure of the Pak-Afghan border proved to be a major challenge in recent times as the cease of trade operations via the border was denting both the traders and the local Afghans. However, since the issue has been highlighted by CRSS on various television programs, print/social media platforms and several meetings with relevant government stakeholders have taken place, the Pakistan government has decided to open its borders for transit and bilateral trade around the clock at Torkham and Chaman borders. One of the keynote speakers, Ms. Fatima Anila, CEO & Director Alishverish Enterprises...
How COVID-19 Can Impact Democracy |CRSS Ulasi Taroon Workshop
Every crisis has a profound impact on our way of living and governance. Same is the case with COVID-19 which poses a number of public health, economic and democratic challenges not only for Pakistan but globally. Despite all the devastating effects of COVID-19, it gives us the opportunities of innovations like we see in the public health and many other sectors, to think outside the box, rethink strategies and explore new venues where the ones first to scramble to harness these opportunities will the ones to reap the early benefits. The remarks were made by Prof. Dr. Aamer Raza, Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar during the second round of Ulasi Taroon Online Workshops organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) to discuss the Impact of COVID-19 on democracy. The workshop was digitally attended by around 20 youth leaders from different public and private sector universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and held as part of the Center’s efforts to continue to cultivate the young through online conduits for communication, in the absence of physical platforms of youth engagement and development. Dr. Aamer said that democratic governance is where the will of the public is the core consideration and reflected in the matters of governance. Whether its war, financial crises or an epidemic like COVID-19, extraordinary situations and challenges force to take inevitable extraordinary and emergency measures. While these situations may last for a certain period of time, but the measures thus taken can become a new normal which - in case of COVID-19 - can be pose a threat to democracy. Incase of COVID-19, some of the mitigation measures can pose a threat to democracy if they are continued beyond the crises period where the citizens continue to be deprived of some of their fundamental rights that they temporarily vested with the government given the seriousness of the crises. The powers vested with the government during such crises should...
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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.