The “I” in AIESEC

From the summer of 2011 to the spring of 2014, I was a part of AIESEC, a global youth organization working towards leadership development. 2.5 years later, I look back at some things I’ve learned from the experience.

The Great Divide

As we struggle to wrap our minds around the outcome of the Pakistan elections and reconcile reality with the expectations, aspirations, hopes and dreams associated with the ballot, one question remains. What’s worse? That the 2013 elections were rigged on such a massive scale, or that Pakistan’s “educated class” has completely lost touch with the masses?

Making Jest

In the absurdities of the last few days over the Long March in Pakistan and what can only be called the resulting chaos, while news channels and dime-a-dozen analysts revel in the cha-ching of advertising money as the nation tunes in to watch the political primetime drama, most of Pakistan seems to have lost sight of the realities of life in the country.

One Thing To Fix Them All

In our search for someone to blame, we have tried everything and everyone. Can this One Problem be identified and eliminated? Or are we destined to remain as we are, forever running in circles and never moving forward while the rest of the world leaves us behind?

A State, Islamic

The debate over whether or not Pakistan was meant (or supposed) to be an Islamic State is as old as the country itself. But what exactly do we mean by “islamic state,” and what good would the label do any of us if we chest-thump for implementation but never actually practice ourselves?

Two Months in Romania

If you had asked me at the beginning of this year what I’d be doing this summer, I would probably have shrugged and mumbled something about taking an extra course at university. Instead, I found myself in Romania, taking part in an ambitious educational project to help young people realize their potential in an increasingly competitive yet interdependent world: gROw, 2011.

‘Pious’ Justice

Governor Salman Taseer’s murder at the hands of his own bodyguard has certainly rocked the proverbial Pakistani boat. Just four days into a new year – which the astrologers on the television told us would be a good one for Pakistan – a police guard turned his gun on the governor, riddling him with 26 bullets. The assassin was led away, smiling ear to ear at his accomplishment and leaving a trail of utter madness in his wake.