CPPG DISCUSSION PAPER: Bridging the Gender and Digital Divide in Post COVID-19 Pakistan: Empowering Women Through ICT

Digital technology opens up space for enormous economic opportunity and growth: can serve as a tool to bring about socio-political change, become an arena for entertainment, and serve as a medium for governance and law enforcement. From e-commerce and online banking to political revolutions and human rights agency, from online learning to remote robotic medical surgeries, all facets of human and societal life have been impacted by ICT. While the speed and efficiency for everyday tasks has improved, digital technology has also contributed towards both reducing inequality—enhancing the skills and livelihoods of some, and increasing it for some—making the social ladder steeper for others who do not have the right tools or accessibility. This paper attempts to decode the gender digital divide in Pakistan and explores the link between technology and human development. It evaluates the impact of Pakistan’s patriarchal culture on women’s access to technology including the issue of online harassment and argues that digital empowerment is a tool for human rights security. The study also comments on the nexus between education, economic empowerment and technological skills and how human capital development necessitates building digital literacy. Policy recommendations are provided based on three principles: expanding women’s digital capabilities through investments in education, improving their access to ICT tools and creating conducive environments for growth.

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CPPG Merit list Fall 2021

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How is the China Pakistan Media Collaboration Booming Under CPEC

This discussion paper aims to investigate three questions; how has media engagement between China and Pakistan taken shape under the CPEC canopy? Second, how is it transforming Pakistan’s mediascape and cinematic interactions? Third, how is ‘Islamic’ Pakistan and ‘Communist’ China’s cultural cohabitation evolving? This paper argues that media collaboration emerging through CPEC shows resilience of China-Pakistan ties and that it is an expression of Belt and Road Initiative’s (BRI) broader vision of expanding China’s culture and soft power across the ‘silk road’.

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Click here to read or download Quarterly 49-52
CPPG DISCUSSION PAPER: Bridging the Gender and Digital Divide in Post COVID-19 Pakistan: Empowering Women Through ICT

Digital technology opens up space for enormous economic opportunity and growth: can serve as a tool to bring about socio-political change, become an arena for entertainment, and serve as a medium for governance and law enforcement.

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Effective implementation of Punjab Local Government Act 2019 Consultations

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Research Fellow CPPG, Saba Shahid’s essay “Public Policy Lessons from Pakistan’s Experience with COVID-19” has been featured in Observer Research Foundation’s monograph Rebooting the World: Six Months of COVID-19. The monograph looks at countries hardest hit by the pandemic and the various economic, social and political dimensions of managing the disease. The essay which assesses Pakistan’s public policy challenges under the public health crisis can be found at the following link:

https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ORF_Monograph_RebootingTheWorld.pdf
Book Review “Federalism, Nationalism, and Development: India and the Punjab Economy by Pritam Singh”

Introduction of the Guest Reviewers & Author by Toheed Chatta, Young Historians Club Lyallpur

First Reviewer: Prof. Sucha Singh Gill (PU, Patiala)

Second Reviewer: Prof. Saeed Shafqat (FCC, Lahore)

Third Reviewer: Prof. Atul Sood (JNU, Delhi)

Author of the Book: Prof. Pritam Singh (Uni of Oxford)
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Creation of Pakistan

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Ensuring an Equitable Distribution of the Covid-19 Vaccine in Pakistan

Abstract: This study anticipates the possible challenges that are likely to arise as the Covid-19 vaccine is developed and distribution mechanisms are designed across governments. More specifically, it critically explores the governance aspects the Pakistani leadership should be considering while developing a Covid-19 vaccination program. It argues that equitable distribution be the guiding objective of such a program and this implies that the program is built around principles of anticipatory governance, relies on evidence-based decision making, and that invests in public health programs that are inclusive and representative of the Pakistani population’s varying sociocultural, economic and health needs.

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Hong Kong: Signposts Of New Cold War And The Emerging World Order

Abstract: The US and China are invoking threat and security concerns but the approach of the two is different. For the US, the issue is autonomy, freedom, and democracy. For the Chinese, it is terrorism, extremism and separatism from foreign collaboration. Thus Hong Kong is both a pretext and battleground for the Strategic Competition between the US and China.
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WORKING GROUP #1 REPORT ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

The Centre for Public Policy and Governance has been actively participating in the Lauder Institute’s Global Think Tank Town Hall initiative since the second Town Hall on the 13th of May 2020. This is part of the Think Tanks and Civil Society Program of the University of Pennsylvania. CPPG was thus amongst the 36 scholars constituting Working Group 1 but also amongst the 181 members overall from 96 countries that contributed to preparing the Town Hall’s final report in just 30 days.

The Third Town Hall, “Solidarity and Solutions to Save Lives and Livelihoods” took place on the 30th of June 2020, in which CPPG was part of the panel of presenters representing the first of five Working Groups, namely Addressing the Public Health Crisis (co chaired by CIGI and ORF). The consequent report is now available and can be downloaded through the link below

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Diamer-Bhasha Dam: Finally A Reality

”Water is the true wealth in a dry land; without it, land is worthless or nearly so. And if you control water, you control the land that depends upon it.” (Stegner in Gleick, 1993 a; 9) Click here to read full text article
COVID-19: Policy Options for Pakistan

The rapid spread of COVID-19 in Pakistan has led to several governance challenges. The public policy response during 2020 should prioritize relief in the short term, rehabilitation in the medium term and livelihood asset development in the long-term.
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The CPPG’s monograph “China Pakistan Economic Corridor: Demands, Dividends and Directions” has been published and is available for purchase at the Centre for Public Policy and Governance, Room E-017 Elahi Building Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) Lahore. It is also available at Readings 12 K 2, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Block K Gulberg 2, Lahore and other leading bookstores. Click here for more detail
Changing Dynamics of China-India Relations: CPEC and Prospects for Pakistan

CPPG’s seventh and latest Position Paper “Chaning Dynamics of China-India Relations: CPEC and Prospects for Pakistan” authored by Dr. Saeed Shafqat and Saba Shahid is now available online.

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CPPG Professor and Founding Director Dr. Saeed Shafqat awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz