SochBichar

SochBichar

By Nadeem HaqueScienceSocial SciencesGovernment
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SochBichar episodes

  • Another take on Civil Service Reform (ENGLISH)
    As I keep saying in Pakistan we have worked very hard to maintain the colonial system for our brown elite that has inherited it. Not surprisingly the main beneficiaries of this colonial system are the ones mort invested in preserving it—the civil service, the judiciary and the army.
    Civil Service Reform remains a big issue and we will continue to explore it with as many people as possible.  I would urge all young people to think about it, research it and write about it. 
    Here we take up the issue with Hasaan Khawar a young Pakistani who has been a civil servant and is now a consultant and a development practitioner.
    We will have 3 conversations with him to try to keep the podcast shorter.
    Here is the first.
    21 min
  • What is policy and how is it made? (ENGLISH)
    People in Pakistan and many developing countries seem to think that policy is wishing. The belief is that the government has a magic wand and can make things happened. Today we talk on this subject to a professor of Public policy who has been teaching researching and writing about policy.
    I asked him to tell us what policy is and how we make it. As many of you know, I write extensively about the missing policy process in Paksitan and the lack of understanding what policy is. For example see here
    https://medium.com/@nadeemhaque/imran-khan-build-governance-not-raja-rule-bf5baf3c1328
    ‘Paul Cairney is Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of Stirling, UK (@Cairneypaul).  His research interests are in comparative public policy. His research spans comparisons of policy theories (Understanding Public Policy, 2012), methods associated with key theories (Handbook of Complexity and Public Policy, 2015), international policy processes (Global Tobacco Control, 2012), and comparisons of UK and devolved policymaking.’
    His website is here
    https://paulcairney.wordpress.com/cv/
    Listen to this and let us reinvigorate research and debate into change. 
    Listen to this fascinating discussion. There is much to learn and research here. 
    You can also look at my book “Looking Back: How Pakistan Became an Asian Tiger in 2050” now available in hard copy in Pakistan here http://www.libertybooks.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=Nadeem%20ul%20haque&category_id=0Soft copy here. https://www.amazon.com/Looking-Back-Pakistan-Became-Asian-ebook/dp/B06X94135J/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488133596&sr=1-1&keywords=nadeem+haque
    Listen and learn and write some papers on this subject.  Don’t forget to cite Soch Bichar
    Please subscribe to Soch Bichar if you like it. Tell you friends about it. That is the only way to grow a public discussion. And we need a wider conversation on these important subjects.
    25 min
  • Economics of Cheese (URDU)
    We are told that the Economic Advisory Council of Pakistan has after much controversy and fanfare engaged in ‘out-of-the box’ thinking. We learnt that cheese was an important indicator for the eminent group.
    This forced Anjum out of retirement to join me in reflecting on the importance of cheese. 
    We not only discussed, cheese but also BOP and even governance and healthcare, proving once again that the economy is a complex adaptive system. What emerged once again is that we must take a systemic view if we are to learn anything.
    36 min
  • Economics of Cheese

    We are told that the Economic Advisory Council of Pakistan has after much controversy and fanfare engaged in ‘out-of-the box’ thinking. We learnt that cheese was an important indicator for the eminent group.


    This forced Anjum out of retirement to join me in reflecting on the importance of cheese. 


    We not only discussed, cheese but also BOP and even governance and healthcare, proving once again that the economy is a complex adaptive system. What emerged once again is that we must take a systemic view if we are to learn anything. 

    36 min
  • Development Discourse in Pakistan (ENGLISH)
    Imran Ahmed Khan is a development practitioner with considerable experience in Pakistan and in the external environment. Currently researching in the US, he has some very interesting perspectives on development. 
    Listen to him to understand how the development world works and what we should do to better our development discourse.
    21 min
  • Institutional reform: the key is civil service reform (ENGLISH)
    Umer Gilani is a young lawyer who has been involved in litigation on behalf of engineers and professionals to end discrimination against them in contesting for senior government positions.
    In the current colonial system, all senior positions are reserved for the PAS/DMG, regardless of skill and training. Thus, Secretary WAPDA needs no specialized training, nor does Chairman FBR or any other leading positions.  All are reserved for PAS/DMG.
    In fact professionals including doctors have a short career horizon in government. They enter in grade 17 and mostly retire in grade 20. 
    Is this our government model for the challenges of 21stcentury?
    We discuss issues of civil service reform with Umer Gilani. 
    Listen to this very informative podcast.
    30 min
  • A New City Index. (URDU)
    Zia Banday has developed a new city index with Prime institute.  Zia is a multifaceted individual—a former naval officer,  ex investment banker, an entrepreneur, and now a city innovator. 
    Listen to how he came to value cities, what he thinks cites should be like and what his city index is.
    Cities are the most important resource a country has. They are the one resource that we neglect, and our bureaucrats use as their personal property and refuse to let develop. We will return again and again to understanding the complexity of cities.
    I urge you all to take up the issue of urban reform and make our cities for the people and not the elite and bureaucrats. 
    Listen to this and let us reinvigorate research and debate into change. 
    Listen to this fascinating discussion. There is much to learn and research here. 
    You can also look at my book “Looking Back: How Pakistan Became an Asian Tiger in 2050” now available in hard copy in Pakistan here http://www.libertybooks.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=Nadeem%20ul%20haque&category_id=0Soft copy here. https://www.amazon.com/Looking-Back-Pakistan-Became-Asian-ebook/dp/B06X94135J/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1488133596&sr=1-1&keywords=nadeem+haque
    Listen and learn and write some papers on this subject.  Don’t forget to cite Soch Bichar
    Please subscribe to Soch Bichar if you like it. Tell you friends about it. That is the only way to grow a public discussion. And we need a wider conversation on these important subjects.
    36 min
  • Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. (ENGLISH)
    Technology, Innovation and entrepreneurship is what economic development is all about. Yet even the best of Pakistani economists doesn’t understand this phenomenon. Instead they remain caught in the 60s preaching exports, valued added and industrial policy.  They are stuck in a planning approach to thinking economics. 
    We talk here to Yusuf Husain the CEO of Ignite.pk as well as an entrepreneur about technology startups and the role of the innovative Ignite. 
    This is a fascinating and broad discussion on several important concepts, the history of technology and startups. 
    It is a must for anyone interested in development and humanity. 
    Listen, reflect and listen again.
    1 hr 11 min
  • HC and higher education--a professor's viewpoint! (ENGLISH)
    Everyone agrees education is the most important need for development and growth.  We continue to argue education expenditures and for the government to do more for education. 
    HEC policy has set up 200 universities in Pakistan and research has picked up. Unfortunately, the lack of quality education and research continues to be a serious concern .
    Muhammad Hamid Zaman a professor at Boston and Harvard has thought a lot about this subject and continues to write about it. 
    https://tribune.com.pk/story/1780089/6-diaspora-higher-education/
    He has good advice, born out of his years as professor in prestigious universities, for HEC reform in Pakistan.
    Listen to him. Learn and debate higher education in Pakistan.
    42 min
  • HC and higher education–a professor’s viewpoint! (ENGLISH)

    Everyone agrees education is the most important need for development and growth.  We continue to argue education expenditures and for the government to do more for education. 


    HEC policy has set up 200 universities in Pakistan and research has picked up. Unfortunately, the lack of quality education and research continues to be a serious concern .


    Muhammad Hamid Zaman a professor at Boron and Harvard has thought a lot about this subject and continues to write about it. 


    https://tribune.com.pk/story/1780089/6-diaspora-higher-education/


    He has good advice, born out of his years as professor in prestigious universities, for HEC reform in Pakistan.


    Listen to him. Learn and debate higher education in Pakistan.

    42 min

About SochBichar

From the publisher's feed

Conversations on issues of development policy in Pakistan and the rest of South Asia. Political economy subjects that are seldom featured in the media will be taken up.