Pakistonomy

Uzair talks to Hamza Haroon, an independent candidate running in the national assembly elections in Pakistan from NA-46. Uzair talks to Hamza about his campaign strategy, the key issues facing Islamabad’s constituents, and what has he heard on the campaign trail.

You can follow Hamza on X @HamzaAliHaroon and on Instagram @hamzaaharoon.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

3:20 What is the election situation like?

7:50 Key issues of constituents

14:50 How people vote

24:10 Hamza’s electoral strategy

29:40 Islamabad’s governance challenge

33:30 Why younger people should enter politics

37:20 Reading recommendations

Reading recommendations:

- Leadership on the line by Marty Linsky and Ronald Heifetz

- For the Record by David Cameron

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Kamran Bokhari about Iran’s unprovoked attacks on Pakistan, Pakistan’s counterstrike, and what comes next. We talked about the broader issues in the region, Iran’s own calculus, and the ways in which the regional dynamics are altered in the wake of these escalations.

Dr. Kamran Bokhari is the Senior Director of the Eurasian Security and Prosperity portfolio at the New Lines Institute. Previously, he served as Director of Analytical Development Department from 2019 to 2023. Dr. Bokhari is also a national security and foreign policy specialist at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute. Bokhari has also served as the Central Asia Studies Course Coordinator at U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:30 Why did Iran attack Pakistan?

11:20 Assessing Pakistan’s response

20:20 Iran’s broader calculus

27:50 Did Pakistan strike the right balance?

43:50 What comes next?

Podcast on Iran protests - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpUPncr5Mrs

Reading Recommendations:

- https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react-whats-really-going-on-with-pakistan-and-iran-exchanging-attacks/

- https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/01/making-sense-iran-pakistan-cross-border-strikes

- https://amwaj.media/article/exclusive-inside-the-iranian-pakistani-exchange-of-fire-nbsp

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about Pakistan’s economic outlook in 2024, why he is concerned about the cycle of revenge, and things he will watch out for immediately after elections in 2024.

Reading Recommendations:

- https://www.dawn.com/news/1804904/reassembling-pakistan

- https://file.pide.org.pk/pdfpideresearch/discourse-2023-06-43-pakistan-and-the-imf.pdf

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:50 IMF review

13:05 Caretaker reforms

19:40 Elections and legitimacy

30:30 A new triumvirate and its implications

41:50 What to look for

Welcome to the 2024 season of Pakistonomy. We begin this season with as usual an outlook episode. Uzair talks to Arifa Noor, journalist at Dawn and host of the show Newswise, about the upcoming elections, the crisis of legitimacy, and the electoral dynamics in the country right now.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

3:50 State of media today

17:50 Elections outlook

23:30 PML-N’s strategy

27:12 PTI’s strategy

36:20 Scenarios and hybrid regime

41:10 New mandate and legitimacy

49:40 What is the vision for Pakistan?

55:05 Conclusion

Reading recommendations:

- Zahid Hussain’s latest piece - https://www.dawn.com/news/1783550/trying-for-a-fourth-term

- Arifa Noor’s article in Dawn - https://www.dawn.com/news/1802553/the-centre-cannot-hold

In this episode, Uzair talks to Sabina Khatri about her work in Lyari, where she has spent over two decades investing in the education of a young generation of citizens. We talked about how and why Sabina began working in Lyari, the ways in which trauma hardens young children, especially men, and how community engagement and education can help birth a new generation of leaders who have deep empathy and a passion to change things.

Sabina Khatri is the visionary Founder of Kiran Foundation (KF), a non-profit organization she established in response to a distressing incident of child abuse and domestic violence. Guided by an unyielding commitment to creating positive change, Sabina's journey began in 2004 and has since evolved into a transformative force in Lyari.

KF's innovative Mother and Child, Trauma-Informed Education System, rooted in values such as

compassion, ownership, responsibility, and empathy, reflects Sabina's dedication to holistic growth for both mothers and children. Over a decade of direct community involvement underscores her mission to provide marginalized families with a nurturing environment and quality education, transcending socio-economic barriers.

In 2020, she was awarded the 'Sitara-e-Imtiaz' by the government of Pakistan.

You can learn more about the Kiran Foundation here – www.kiranfoundation.org

Watch this video about the foundation’s graduates - https://youtu.be/d2RFHHBIqrQ?feature=shared

Reading recommendations:

- Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

- When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress by Gabor Maté

- Dibs in Search of Self by Virginia Axline

- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Bilal Khatri about his journey from Iqra University to Freiburg, where he is currently doing cutting-edge scientific research. We talked about the difference in how sciences are taught in Germany and Pakistan, why teaching the scientific method is important, and how innovation is going to transform our society.

We also talked about how young students from places like Pakistan can do cutting-edge research in Europe, with Bilal sharing some thoughts on how to go about settling in a non-English speaking country.

Bilal Khatri completed his Bachelors in Electronic Engineering from Iqra University, Karachi, Pakistan and his Masters in Microsystems Engineering from the University of Freiburg, Germany. In 2019, he completed his PhD on the development and characterization of functional composite materials for additive manufacturing (3D-printing) technologies. Since then, he is working as a postdoctoral researcher and academic at the Institute for Sustainable Systems Engineering (INATECH) at the University of Freiburg. His research interests include additive manufacturing, hybrid and composite materials with tailored properties, and the development of more sustainable materials and processes as well as circular strategies for materials used in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:20 Bilal’s educational journey

8:30 How to adjust to life in Germany

13:10 Education in Pakistan v. Germany

26:35 State of scientific research in manufacturing

43:30 Innovation and its potential for Pakistan

55:05 Risks from rapid innovation to developing countries

1:16:30 Reading recommendations

Reading recommendations:

- Materials and Sustainable Development by Michael F. Ashby

- No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz

- Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky

You can follow Bilal's gaming channel here - https://www.youtube.com/ @2GBananas

Other YouTube channels recommended by Bilal:

The B1M: https://www.youtube.com/@TheB1M

Real Engineering: https://www.youtube.com/@RealEngineering

Veritasium: https://www.youtube.com/@veritasium

Mark Rober: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRober

Kurzgesagt: https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagt

Astrum: https://www.youtube.com/@astrumspace

Computerphile: https://www.youtube.com/@Computerphile

Two Bit Da Vinci: https://www.youtube.com/@TwoBitDaVinci

Two Minute Papers: https://www.youtube.com/@TwoMinutePapers

Prof. Sabine Hossenfelder: https://www.youtube.com/@SabineHossenfelder

The Royal Institution: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRoyalInstitution

In this episode, Uzair talks to Tuqa Nusairat about the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its key drivers and the path forward. We also talked about the regional responses so far and how the Biden administration has engaged with key partners in recent days.

Tuqa Nusairat is the director for strategy, operations, and finance at Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs. Since joining the Council in 2012, she has played a key role in shaping the direction and growth of the Council’s Middle East related programming, publications, outreach and development and has been instrumental in advancing relationships with vital stakeholders including donors, board members, and high-level contacts. In addition to managing a team of Washington-based fellows and staff, her research focuses on political reform, civil society, and human rights broadly in the region, with a special focus on Jordan.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

2:35 Contextualizing this moment

8:45 Hamas’ strategic calculus

12:40 Palestinian views right now

17:10 Regional situation

21:33 Scenarios to keep in mind

25:30 Biden admin’s response

32:30 China’s response

36:08 Reading recommendations

Reading recommendations:

- The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi

- I Saw Ramallah by Mourid Barghouti

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zafar Masud about Pakistan’s economy, how to reduce cash in circulation, and why fiscal deficits are the core problem that need resolution.

Zafar Masud is an international banker and entrepreneur currently serving as the President and CEO of The Bank of Punjab. Previously, he has been employed at senior positions by multinational banks across Pakistan and abroad.

You can read the co-authored piece on cash economy here - https://www.dawn.com/news/1779399/comment-transitioning-away-from-a-cash-economy

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:10 Why is cash a problem?

21:50 Demonetization in Pakistan

31:44 Financial inclusion

42:30 Debt restructuring

52:55 Charter of society

1:05:13 Reading recommendations

Reading recommendations:

- If God was a Banker by Ravi Subramanian

- Gambling on Development by Stefan Dercon

- Time for Socialism by Thomas Piketty

- The Culture Map by Erin Meyer

- In an Uncertain World by Robert Rubin

Uzair talks to Zeeshan Salahuddin about the climate crisis and its impact on Pakistan. We focus on the fallout from the catastrophic floods in 2022, why the response was weak and the path forward for the country.

Zeeshan is the Director for the Center for Regional and Global Connectivity (CRGC) at Tabadlab, a think tank and advisory services firm that works with businesses, international organisations, and governments to solve their most pressing challenges.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:30 Overview of the climate crisis

6:40 Capital needs and debt

13:24 Taxing to become client resilient

17:00 Youth involvement

23:25 Capacity issues in Pakistan

26:50 Role of finance

32:20 Focus for 2024 and beyond

44:00 Optimizing the economy

51:10 Conclusion

In this episode, Uzair talks to Asim Kidwai about Pakistan’s tourism sector and LOKAL, a startup that is helping scaling an affordable tourism ecosystem in the country. We talk about his journey as an entrepreneur, how the startup is growing its presence across Pakistan, and the company’s expansion plans for the GCC.

Asim Kidwai is co-founder and CEO at LOKAL. He graduated from the University of Michigan and was part of the initial team at Kia Motors that was setting up their first automotive assembly plant in Pakistan.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:30 About LOKAL

7:05 Modernizing hotels across Pakistan

11:30 State of the tourism industry

14:05 Market growth strategy

19:00 Hiring the right talent

22:45 Growing across Pakistan

30:05 Scaling in an economic crisis

33:55 Reading recommendations

Reading recommendations

- The Last days of Night by Graham Moore

- World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever