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Misinformation as lethal as lack of information amid COVID-19 pandemic, stress Youth Leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan
Afghan Studies Center (ACS) goes virtual with its first ever online dialogue on the theme “Impact of COVID-19 on Pakistan and Afghanistan and the Role of Youth”. Over 20 participants from different parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan and two from UK joined the session to discuss the subject theme and put forward their recommendations in this regard. Youth from both the sides were of the view that we have to look after each other as there is no longer a “me” and a “you”. There is only us. The young lot needs to be determined and committed. We can defeat this virus by banding together and taking it seriously. We have to come up with ideas to help raise awareness. Youth really has to come together to contribute solutions to this problem, and we must convince our peers to do the same, instead of creating additional issues, remarked participants from both countries. Hizbullah Baryal from Afghanistan stated that modern solutions are needed for education in Afghanistan - a sector deeply impacted by this global crisis. Perhaps it is time to use this as an opportunity to revamp our educational systems. Adding to this Ahsan Hamid Durrani from Pakistan said that as we implement online solutions, we need to be mindful that the availability of the internet is not uniform for all students in both countries. The education system needs to come up with alternative ideas as well, instead of just sticking to virtual education prototype. Danyal Hayat from CECOS University Peshawar, while sharing employment side of the COVID 19 impact, stated that at least half a million textile and garment industry workers had been dismissed in Punjab province alone. 12.3 million and 18.5 million people in various sectors may lose their jobs. A lack of written labor contracts, inadequate legal protections, and poor enforcement of labor laws and regulations could heighten the problems during this crisis. Aleena Shah, President Youth General Assembly (YGA) Pakistan and Safia Ibrahimkhel from Afghanistan...
Q1 Security Report – 2020
Casualties from Violence in Pakistan – Q1, 2020 Pakistan suffered 224 violence-related casualties (140 fatalities and 84 injuries) during the first quarter of 2020. Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) recorded the highest number of fatalities by a wide margin. Balochistan had the second highest number of fatalities (40), followed by Punjab (14), and Sindh (9). Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) had three fatalities while Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) reported no incidents of violence (table 1). [docxpresso file="https://crss.pk/wp-content/uploads/CRSS-Security-Report-Q1-2020-2020.odt" comments="true" SVG="true"]
COVID-19 Myths Vs Truth
Myth 11: The hand sanitizer is as good as soap and water. Truth: The virus is weak, and will die from hand sanitizer, but there is no substitute for soap and water. For Cleaning surfaces, most cleaning products will work. A Public information Campaign by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
COVID-19 Myths Vs Truth
A Public information Campaign by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). Myth 1: the virus will die in Warm/hot Weather. Truth: There is no data to Support this. It is likely that hot weather will help in that the virus will not survive long on hot surfaces, but it will not die altogether.
Weekly Report on Coronavirus Cases
Global cases - March 16-24, 2020 Since the outbreak of Coronavirus (officially labeled SARS-COV-2) in China, the world has watched in horror as this disease has spread through 186 countries. Initially it was believed to remain confined to China and it would be brought under control very soon. In less than three months, it has become the most threatening pandemic of our lifetimes engulfing almost every part of the world. The data maintained by the Worldometer website covers some of the most important aspects of this pandemic. We have used their data to prepare this report. The table below shows the African continent as the least affected of this disease while the European continent has now surpassed Asia, the continent or origination. North and South Americas emerge as the third most affected continent. [docxpresso file="https://crss.pk/wp-content/uploads/Weekly-Report-on-Coronavirus-cases-3-26-2020-1.odt" comments="true" SVG="true"]
You Need WAR ROOMS to fight COVID19 Mr. PM
Published: March 23, 2020 5:29 pm Open Letter to PM Khan By: Imtiaz Gul Respectable Prime Minister Imran Khan, Keeping in view the rapid surge in COVID-19 cases, and your concern for the poor of Pakistan, your government needs a smart response mechanism that tracks, identifies, and quantifies the number of people likely to be affected in the virus-induced socio-economic crisis. The “COVID-19 News Bulletin-1” put out by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) reckons that about 10 million families may be directly affected, requiring the government to cough up Rs. 55.25 billion for one quarter, which can be covered under the Rs.180 billion Benazir Income Support Prgoramme (BISP). Additionally, daily wage workers need to be taken into account as well. Although the federal and all provincial governments are doing their best to deal with the impending socio-economic crisis, Centre for Research & Security Studies (CRSS) proposes professionally coordinated management of the situation through round-the-clock COVID-19 War Rooms at the federal and provincial levels. The lynchpins for these War Rooms should be the Deputy Commissioners of Pakistan’s 154 districts – who can identify all the vulnerable groups of population, i.e., low income families, daily wage workers, construction laborers, restaurant workers and contract hotel staff etc. Once the numbers are at hand the 3,200 post offices and 23,000 extra departmental sub-offices of the Pakistan Post across the country can be used to disburse cash payments to the needy – even as far as Khunjeraab up north. The DC’s must be made responsible and accountable for the legitimate distribution of these funds. CRSS suggests cash-grants only because using another institutional layer such as the Utility Stores Corporation, which not only gobbles up administrative funds but also are a source of pilferage.
Intra-Afghan dialogue; a window of opportunity but a tougher nut to crack, concludes Pak-Afghan Track II moot in Islamabad
Islamabad has been extending an olive branch to Kabul for long, but Afghans look at it with sheer suspicion. In contrast, often, Afghanistan first asks Pakistan to get involved in the peace process, but the moment Pakistan jumps in, Afghan government gets upset with it. This contradictory approach needs to be decoded. On the other side, Pakistan sees its interest being threatened from the Afghan soil. So, amid all this, people to people contact is of sheer importance and forums like this help in clearing such notions, says moderator Kathy Gannon, Pakistan-Afghanistan Expert and Senior Journalist at Associated Press, while speaking at the sixth meeting of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Committee Member (PAJC) - under the Centre for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) Pakistan-Afghanistan Track 1.5/II initiate - Beyond Boundaries. The meeting was structured for discussion around the dynamics of intra-Afghan dialogue, the fears regarding the future of Afghanistan in the wake of possible new set-up post intra-Afghan talks, regional interests attached to Afghan peace process, the future of Afghanistan’s economic viability, Pak-Afghan bilateral relations, people to people contacts, along with other important factors that comes into the equation. The meeting was attended by the influentials on both sides, including senior parliamentarians, former ambassadors, ex-military officials and experts on the subject matter. With the signing of US-Taliban peace deal and recent election fiasco in Afghanistan - two rival Presidents swearing-in at the same time - there are fears over the sustainability of the peace deal and concerns over its long-term consequences. This prompts cautious optimism and wary cynicism, in particular considering that the next step - an intra-Afghan dialogue - will be a bumpy road to ride through. Delegates from both sides, shared the view that first and foremost, without internal impetus to change the existing state of affairs within Afghanistan cannot go...
Collaborative Workshops and Debates-March 4-5, 2020, Kohat
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) conducted the fourteenth two-day PACE Collaborative workshops and debates for university students, on March 4-5, 2020, in Kohat. The workshop was held at Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST). It was conducted under the umbrella of the Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE), a counter-radicalization, pluralistic values focused project, in collaboration with the Dutch Government. Participants included students from KUST. Project Manager, Ms. Farhana Kanwal started off the workshop with an introductory session and welcomed the participants to the workshop. Ms. Kanwal said that PACE is a counter radicalization initiative by CRSS which was started in September, 2015 and completed its first phase in September, 2018. The core objective of PACE is to indoctrinate the habit of questioning and critical thinking among the youth of Pakistan. She added that the purpose of such activities is to bring together the youth at one platform and discuss about critical issues of multiculturalism, diversity, democracy and accountability. Youth is the shaper of future and whole objective of reaching out to them is to prepare a cadre of young people equipped with the tools of critical thinking. We believe that today’s younger generation has the ability to adopt new ideas and question preconceive narrative of intolerance. She stressed on questioning to start the process of positive transition of a society. She also stressed on including all the marginalized groups for a greater cause of peacebuilding and social cohesion. Ms. Farhana elaborated on the success and achievements of PACE in its first phase and also the objectives of PACE Evolution. Dr. Jamil Ahmed, Vice Chancellor KUST, formally opened the session and thanked CRSS for conducting the workshop at their university. He said that students need to be engaged in extra-curricular activities. The kind of impact these workshops have...
Change Yourself and Witness the World Changing Around You: Speakers at Peace Summit
Youth is an energetic state of mind and not just an age related phenomenon. Power lies in education where with power of pen, one can never be oppressed and tyrannized. Democracy is the best system that Pakistan can ever have and it warrants equal citizenry. By harnessing their potential, youth can not only achieve goals critical to their personal growth but also communal and national development. As future leaders, youth should not only have a vision of a bright future but also take others on board for shared goals of development and prosperity and show them that vision’s brightness. While it is important to see a dream of a bright and connected future, equally important is to make conscious efforts to get there. The remarks were made by Syed Akhter Ali Shah, Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the Ulasi Taroon Youth Summit held by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) at University of Peshawar. Former IGP added that it is better that the law should rule than one of the citizens. The notion of rule of emphasizes the importance of broader national interest over than selfish personal interests of any particular group. As per the foundational tenets enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan, every individual and institution is subject to and accountable before law, indiscriminately. Good governance comes through representativeness, transparency, effectiveness, accountability etc. Ensuring social peace and security is critical to the provision of fundamental human rights. Pakistani youth - with over 60% of the country’s overall population, is an opportunity not to be missed and crucial for development. Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, stressed that there is a dire need to inculcate critical thinking skill in youth s to equip them with the intellectual tools vital to dialogue and participation. Change comes from within, it, more importantly than the national change, is about individual change. Collective efforts...
Pakistani, Afghan Entrepreneurs Join Hands To Boost Bilateral Business Cooperation
Around 20 youth entrepreneurs from Pakistan and Afghanistan belonging to various fields came together in the federal capital under a well-conceived plan to boost business cooperation between the two neighboring countries. The entrepreneurs gathered here on Thursday in a conference with business mentors in the field of the digital economy and information technology to highlight an alternative in the form of the digital space for continuing businesses which can bypass most of the logistical, bureaucratic, and administrative hurdles that are conventionally faced by the business community in both countries. The conference was organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) as part of its ongoing Pak-Afghan Trade and Economic Connectivity initiative since 2017 aimed to improve business cooperation and explore ways of developing partnerships and joint ventures. Due to a lack of communication between the two governments, political upheaval in Afghanistan that does not allow the private sector to develop freely, bilateral trust deficit and negative perceptions, and issues faced by businessmen in transit trade, business opportunities between Pakistan and Afghanistan have fairly suffered. As a result of the limited contact between the two governments, particularly, Naqibullah Safi, Executive Director, PAJCCI, Afghanistan, stated. He said that there is also a lack of awareness of the new trade policies and regulations that are emerging on both sides as well. Further, the negative role played by the media and issues in visa issuance, have also affected the prospects of joint collaborations or investments that the two countries can greatly benefit from, he added. Naeem Zamindar, former Chairman, Board of Investment (BoI), Pakistan, advised the youth entrepreneurs of both sides to build positive people to people connections and urged them to explore micro-entrepreneurship. He stated that no idea is small; however, what is required are will power, persistence,...
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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.