Quarterly Newsletter No.
105
Quarter in Focus
During the quarter, IPS’ team remained mostly
busy in bringing forth a number of reports and
publications. Six major publications were finalized
and published during the period including three
books by IPS Press: Afghanistan: Mulla Umar se
Ashraf Ghani Tak; Hindutva—Rising Extremism in
India (2nd Revised Edition); and Rallying for
Rules: Parents Versus Private Schools. Two
research reports, Religious Educational Institu-
tions: Trends and Views of Madrassa about its
Role and Working, and Developing Objec-
tive-Based Index for Islamic Banks were
published online via Amazon. An issue of IPS
periodical Maghrib aur Islam themed Maghrib mai
Muashra, Idaray aur Khawateen (Society,
Institutions and Women in the West) also hit the
racks. While three policy briefs and three media
articles were also produced on important issues.
IPS continued its focus on the Kashmir crisis with
the sixth meeting of its Working Group on Kashmir
providing well deliberated policy input to the
stakeholders, whereas the Institute’s executive
president also spoke on the subject in two
conferences of Institute of Strategic Studies
Islamabad (ISSI) and once each in the sessions
organized by Bahria University, Islamabad, and
Legal Forum for Oppressed Voices of Kashmir
(LFOVK). In addition, an MoU with LFOVK was also
signed to facilitate its activities over the subject.
The policy dialogues held during the period
covered major regional developments such as the
US-Taliban peace deal and the situation of the
Middle East following an Iranian General’s
assassination in Iraq. Agricultural experts debated
issues related to food security and merits and
demerits of allowing genetically modified
organisms in Pakistan in two different seminars.
An ‘Education Dialogue Forum’ debated
implementation of uniform education system in
the country, and a heavily attended memorial
reference paid homage to the services of Justice
Rana Bhagwandas for Pakistan. A book launch of
IPS Press’ new arrival Negotiating the Power
Corridors: Forty Challenging Years of Civil
Service was also held. An MoU with Federal Urdu
University of Arts Science and Technology
(FUUAST) was also signed.
IPS LEAD – the Learning, Excellence and
Development program of IPS – organized three
sessions of its series The Living Scripts in the
period, apart from hosting the membership
awarding ceremony of Youth Association of
Pakistan and an exposure visit of the students
from Al-Kauthar University.
www ips.org.pk | ipsurdu.com
April - June 2020
‘National Agriculture and Food Security in Pakistan’
CPEC is improving Pakistan’s connectivity not
only with China, but with over 50 other BRI
countries as well. With the second phase of the
venture presenting opportunities to collaborate
in the social sector, substantial emphasis needs
be laid on the development of the country’s
agriculture, which offers huge prospects of
growth and trade.
The message emerged from a policy dialogue
‘National Agriculture and Food Security in
Pakistan’, which was held in collaboration with
Pakistan Agriculture Scientists Forum (PAS
‘Emerging Dynamics in the Middle East
Implications and Options for Pakistan’
Pakistan needs to devise a rational, compre-
hensive and well-thought out strategy keeping
in view its domestic, political and economic
interests in the wake of the fast deteriorating
situation in the Middle East after the assassina-
tion of top Iran geo-strategist, General Qasem
Soleimani, in a US air strike in Iraq. However,
the country cannot be a mere onlooker in the
worsening situation and it needs to be
proactive in creating solutions as a mediator.
These views were expressed by experts during
a roundtable meeting titled ‘Emerging
Dynamics in the Middle East: Implications and
Educational Dialogue Forum 2020 - ‘Uniform Education
System: From Conception to Implementation’
Analyzing the work
done so far for the
development of a
single national
curriculum,
academics and
education policy
experts deliberat-
ing at a day-long
seminar appreciat-
Muhammad Rafique Tahir ed the govern-
ment’s approach
01
Forum) on January 25, 2020. The session was
addressed by Dr Muhammad Azeem Khan,
chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research
Council (PARC); Professor Dr Anwar-ul-Hasan
Gilani, vice chancellor, University of Haripur and
ex-chairman, Pakistan Council for Science and
Technology (PCST); Professor Dr Amanullah
Malik, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad;
Khalid Rahman, Executive President IPS; and
Dr Abdul Wakeel, president, PAS Forum.
Presenting an overview of Pakistan’s agriculture
sector, Dr Azeem Khan emphasized the need of
Continued on Page 02
Options for
Pakistan’
(January 3, 2020).
The session was
addressed by
Ambassador (r)
Abrar Hussain,
Ambassador (r)
Naila Chauhan,
Pakistan former
ambassador to Amb (r) Naila Chauhan
Iran, EP-IPS Khalid Rahmn, Air Cdr (r) Khalid
Banuri, Air Cdr (r) Khalid Iqbal, Dr Syed
Continued on Page 02
for the purpose, while advising it to make the
consultation process more transparent and
inclusive by engaging more stakeholders.
They also warned the government to be wary
of certain elements who think a single
national curriculum would strengthen local
culture, history, values, and inhibit populariza-
tion of ‘secular’ thoughts; some of the elite
who want their children to have an edge over
children from other social classes; the people
who want certain culture to dominate the
Continued on Page 03
InstituteOfPolicyStudiesPakistan
 02
Sixth meeting of Working Group on Kashmir
The government of Pakistan has taken some
good steps for raising awareness of the Kashmir
issue internationally, but the lack of a compre-
hensive policy framework and a concrete action
plan is hindering further progress considerably.
This was the gist of the sixth meeting of the
working group on Kashmir established by IPS to
discuss the latest developments pertaining to
Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) post August 5,
2019. Held on February 28, 2020, the session,
was chaired by EP-IPS Khalid Rahman whereas
the participants of the meeting included
Continued from Page - 01
National Agriculture and Food
enhancing productivity of various potential sub
sectors of agriculture, not only with an aim to
address the country’s food security concerns,
but also to alleviate it for international trade.
Khan rued that Pakistan was a food exporting
country till 2013 but became a food importing
country thereafter. However, he observed that
the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic
Corridor offers a good opportunity to help the
agriculture sector recover, but the onus largely
lies with the nation to set targets and strategies
carefully in order to benefit from the forthcoming
opportunities.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/national-agriculture-and-food-security-in-pakistan/
Continued from Page - 01
Emerging Dynamics.....
Muhammad Ali, executive director, Centre for Peace,
Security and Developmental Studies (CPSP), Dr
Bakare Najimdeen, director, Centre for International
Peace and Stability at National Defence University
and senior IPS associate and security analyst
Brigadier (r) Said Nazir Mohmand.
The speakers were however unanimous that the
biggest threat faced by Pakistan was the military
deployment at its western border by India and the
worsening situation in Indian occupied Kashmir,
hence it was not in Pakistan’s interest to shift its
military and strategic focus from Kashmir completely.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/emerging-dynamics-in-the-middle-east-implications
-and-options-for-pakistan/
IPSTV
Ambassador (r)
Syed Ishtiaq
Hussain
Andrabi,
Farzana
Yaqoob, former
AJ&K minister,
Ambassador (r)
Syed Abrar
Hussain, senior
IPS research
fellow,
Amanullah
Khan, former president, Rawalpindi Chamber of
Commerce & Industry, Advocate Nasir Qadri,
international law expert and Dr Ayesha.
The panelists were unanimous that while the
recent discussions on Kashmir with the UN
Secretary General António Guterres during his
trip to Pakistan and international media coverage
of the issue do give an impression that
Islamabad has gained considerable diplomatic
ground in highlighting the dispute globally, but
there is still a lot that needs be done in this
regard. The absence of a comprehensive policy
and a concrete action plan from the government
‘Justice Rana Bhagwandas (1942-2015): Personality
and Services’
Many non-Muslim Pakistanis in recent history
have played a crucial role in the nation-building
as well as developing and strengthening the
state institutions of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan. It is imperative for the ideological
development of the country’s youth to acquaint
themselves with the instrumental role that
personalities like Justice Rana Bhagwandas
played in laying the foundations and setting the
direction of legal, judicial, constitutional and
socio-political development of the country.
This was the essence of a memorial seminar
‘Justice Rana Bhagwandas (1942-2015):
Personality and Services’, which was held as
part of the Pakistaniyaat sessions being
co-organized by the Council of Islamic Ideology
(CII) and IPS on February 11, 2020. The earlier
02
conveys the sense that either it is not clear about
any strategy or lacks the capacity to forge a solid
response altogether.
It was pointed out that the actual situation in
Indian Occupied Kashmir was much worse than
what was being projected globally, whereas India
is also preparing further ground to legalize its
illegal act by altering the status quo. One can
also not ignore the contemporary global scenario
where all the nations and in fact the whole
international system operates according to its
own interests. Pakistan, in the given situation,
must also realize the ground realities and try to
devise a strategy accordingly.
The speakers were critical of Pakistan’s
response so far stating that though a lot of
activities were taking place in the country
regarding Kashmir, they were not serving much
purpose except creating a transitory memory at
best. They emphasized that the onus of making
use of the narrative formed as a result of those
activities rests with the state institutions, but the
paralysis of both policy and action at their end is
only making the situation more perplexed.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/sixth-meeting-of-ips-working-group-on-kashmir/
sessions as part of
the seminar series
have covered
personalities such
as Justice AR
Cornelius, Allama
Muhammad
(Leopold) Asad
and Dr Mahmood
Ahmad Ghazi.
Held at IPS
premises, the
seminar was
addressed by Justice (r) Iftikhar Muhammad
Chaudhry, former chief justice of Pakistan, Dr
Qibla Ayaz, chairman CII, Khalid Rahman,
executive president IPS, Dr Ramesh Kumar
Vankwani, MNA, Maulana Abu Ammar
Zahid-ur-Rashidi, religious scholar, senior
lawyer Advocate Akram Sheikh, former
president, Supreme Court Bar Association of
Pakistan, Mahesh Kumar, president, Islamabad
Hindu Panchayat, Subhash Chandar, the
brother-in-law of Justice Rana Bhagwandas
and Riyazul Haque, former senior bureaucrat
and member IPS-National Academic Council. A
special message from Senator Raja Zafar ul
Haq was also read out by Syed Nadeem
Farhat, senior research officer at IPS.
For further details, visit:
justice-rana-bhagwandas-1942-2015-personality-and-services/
IPS_1979
 03
‘GMO Scene in Pakistan’
Deliberating on the positives and negatives of
permitting Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs) in Pakistan, agricultural experts
partaking in a moot were congruent over the
need of devising a comprehensive and consoli-
dated policy framework having proper rules and
regulations to deal with the import of GM seeds.
The necessity was stressed at a roundtable
discussion titled ‘GMO Scene in Pakistan’, which
was held on March 3, 2020. The session was
chaired by Executive President IPS Khalid
Rahman and addressed by Syed Abu Ahmad
Akif, former federal cabinet secretary, Farzana
‘US-Taliban Deal: Prospects of Peace in Afghanistan and
Way Forward for Pakistan’
The recently concluded agreement between the
US and Taliban contains various ambiguities that
could lead to the disruption of the Afghan peace
process and make the situation in the volatile
region uncertain again, highlighted experts at a
roundtable held in Islamabad.
The apprehensions were expressed at a session
Irtiqa Zaidi’s ‘Negotiating the Power Corridors’ launched
Speakers at the launch of Negotiating the
Power Corridors: Forty Challenging Years of
Civil Service – a compilation of interesting and
highly educative autobiographical notes by
veteran civil servant Syed Irtiqa Ahmed Zaidi –
termed the work as a must read for policy
practitioners, politicians, civil servants and
young aspirants of Pakistan Administrative
Services (PAS) as it carries a message that the
civil servants should always be subservient to
the state and not to the rulers no matter how
many challenges they face in discarding their
duties in the best interest of the country.
Alongside the book’s author Syed Irtiqa Ahmed
www ips.org.pk | ipsurdu.com
News in Brief
Altaf Shah, director general,
Pakistan Environmental Protection
Agency (Pak-EPA), Dr Abdul Rauf
Bhutta, former director general,
Federal Seed Certification &
Registration Department, Dr
Muhammad Fahim, associate
professor, Islamia College
University, Peshawar, and Ijaz
Ahmed Siddiqui, president,
Agriculture Reform Movement. A session with Sr. IPS Associate Ambassador (r) Abrar
Hussain was held on January 15, 2020. He briefed the
Dr Bhutta, in his opening speech, said though participants on his visit to Iran in which he represented
the Seed Act 1976 of Pakistan has no provision
IPS in a conference organized by Institute
for certification of GMOs, the multinational of Political and International Studies (IPIS), Tehran.
companies are still being given exemptions for
seed import in Pakistan Biosafety Rules 2005.
He was critical of the government departments
and regulatory authorities, stating that national
food security was one of the pillars of sovereignty
for any country, but there was no proper risk
assessment sector in Pakistan for the purpose
except National Biosafety Committee.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/gmo-genetically-modified-organisms-scene- A sitting with Inam ul Haq Mansoori, a US-Pakistani
in-pakistan/ academician and social scientist, was held on January
23, 2020. The speaker delivered a talk on 'Western
Hegemony and the Muslim Response'.
titled ‘US-Taliban Deal: Prospects of Peace in
Afghanistan and Way Forward for Pakistan’
(March 5, 2020). The deliberation was chaired by
EP-IPS Khalid Rahman whereas the speakers
included Pakistan’s former ambassador to
Afghanistan Syed Abrar Hussain, Brig (r) Said
Nazir, security analyst, Justice Dr Mohammad
Al-Ghazali, Jumma Khan Sufi, renowned author
and scholar, Abdul Hadi Mulla Khel and Tahir Dr Ghulam Muhammad Arif, former joint director, PIDE,
Khan, senior journalists and experts on Afghan addressing an in-house brainstorming session
affairs, and Dr Sadia Suleman, faculty member of ‘Alternative Economic Policy’ on March 5, 2020.
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
The speakers were unanimous that there were Continued from Page - 01
enough ambiguities and uncertainties in the
agreement which any of the involved stakehold- Educational Dialogue Forum
ers could exploit to further their own interests. social and political arena of Pakistan, as well
For further details, visit: as the commercial interest groups.
http://www.ips.org.pk/us-taliban-deal-prospects-of-peace-in-afghanistan The deliberations were held during the
-and-way-forward-for-pakistan/ Educational Dialogue Forum 2020 (EDF2020)
themed ‘Uniform Education System: From
Conception to Implementation’, which was
Zaidi, the held on February 15, 2020.
launch The seminar was addressed as chief guests
ceremony by Sajid Hasan, former federal secretary for
education, and Dr Anis Ahmad, vice chancel-
held on lor, Riphah International University (RIU),
January 8, whereas the main speakers included Muham-
2020 was mad Rafique Tahir, joint educational advisor,
addressed by National Curriculum Council (NCC), EP-IPS
EP-IPS Khalid Rahman, Dr Mian Muhammad Akram,
Khalid Rahman, Dr Zafar Qadir, former Chief Dr Waqar Masood, Prof Rao Jalil Ahmed, Dr
Secretary, Balochistan, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Arshad Saeed Khan, Dr Muhammad Salim, Dr
Executive Director SDPI, Asif Mahmood Jah, Ameer Nawaz Khan, Dr Muhammad Sharif Nizami
Chief Collector (North) Pakistan Customs and and Dr Salma Nazar Khan, among others.
IPS Fellow Dr Shahzad Iqbal Sham. For further details, visit:
For further details, visit: http://www.ips.org.pk/educational-dialogue-forum-2020-uniform-education
-system-from-conception-to-implementation/
http://www.ips.org.pk/irtiqa-zaidis-negotiating-the-power-corridors-launched/
03 InstituteOfPolicyStudiesPakistan
 04
Sharing Insights
Prof Khurshid Ahmad's condolence on the demise
of Naimatullah Khan Advocate and Dr Rafiq Ahmad
Veteran scholar and founding chairman of IPS
Professor Khurshid Ahmad expressed immense
grief and sorrow over the sad demise of
Naimatullah Khan Advocate, former Nazim
Karachi, former member of the Sindh Assembly,
and former president Al-Khidmat Foundation,
and Dr Rafiq Ahmad, former vice chancellor,
University of the Punjab, vice chairman,
IPS participates in a conference on ‘Uniform
National Curriculum’
IPS was represented by its Executive President
Khalid Rahman as a keynote speaker in a
national conference titled ‘Uniform National
Curriculum and Our Education System’, which
was organized by Iqbal International Institute for
Research & Dialogue (IRD) – an autonomous
unit of International Islamic University, Islamabad
(IIUI) – in collaboration with the University’s
Department of Education, on March 11, 2020.
Speaking on the occasion about knowledge, its
sources and importance of education, Rahman
said that unfortunately today students tend to
acquire good education in pursuit of better
degrees, which itself is aimed at getting better
IPS partakes in events on Kashmir
On the invitations of Institute of Strategic Studies,
Islamabad (ISSI), IPS was represented by its Executive
President in two ISSI events: a roundtable conference
'Self-Determination Day: Voices from Kashmir (January
10, 2020), and a roundtable with a 14 member All-Party
Parliamentary Kashmir Group (APPKG) delegation
titled ‘Changing Dynamics in Kashmir – A Challenge to
the World Conscience’ (February 19, 2020).
Inivited by the Department of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad, EP-IPS
Khalid Rahman participated in a conference
‘Kashmir: Heaven in Ashes’ on March 10, 2020.
Rahman delivered a presentation on the occasion
titled ‘Kashmir: At a Glance’, providing an overview
of the issue while urging the Pakistani countrymen
to stay positive and proactive in the wake of recent
challenges faced vis-à-vis Kashmir cause.
IPSTV
Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust, and former member of
IPS' National Academic Council (NAC).
Extending his condolences to the deceased
families though his messages on February 26
and March 25, 2020, respectively, the former
senator prayed to the Almighty to rest the
deceased souls in eternal peace, while giving
their families enough patience and strength to
bear the loss.
Calling the passing away of both statesmen a
national loss, Prof Khurshid said that the
vacuum the two have left behind them will not
be easily filled. Throughout their lives they
served in their respective domains with utmost
honesty, selflessness and devotion, and their
exemplary services for the country will always
be remembered and mentioned in golden
words, he added.
jobs. The real purpose of seeking knowledge –
which is to become a good, useful human being
– however gets lost somewhere far in the process.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/ips-represented-in-iiui-conference-uniform-national
-curriculum-and-our-education-system/
EP-IPS Khalid Rahman addressed the inaugural
session of LFOVK (Legal Forum for Oppressed
Voices of Kashmir)’s Moot Court Competition
(2020), titled ‘Pakistan vs India: A Case Pertaining
to Kashmir’ as a keynote speaker on February 20,
2020, and delivered a speech on the topic of
Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir post August 5, 2019.
MoU between IPS-LFOVK
Aimed at carrying out joint efforts for policy-ori-
ented research, dialogue and publishing
projects, a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) was signed between Legal Forum for
Oppressed Voices of Kashmir (LFOVK) and
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad on
February 27, 2020.
04
IPS-FUUAST ink MoU
IPS inked an MoU with Federal Urdu University of
Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) on
January 28, 2020, to hold joint seminars with the
University’s Department of International Relations.
The Agreement was signed by GM-IPS Naufil
Shahrukh and FUUAST Registrar Dr Sajid
Jahangir. Executive President IPS Khalid
Rahman, FUUAST’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof
Dr Arif Zubair, Islamabad Campus’ Incharge Dr
Hadiqa Kiyani, Additional Registrar Dr Matin and
IPS Deputy Manager Outreach Shafaq Sarfraz
were also present on the ocassion.
'Pak-Africa Military &
Defence Cooperation'
On the invitation of the Africa Desk of Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, IPS' Executive President Khalid
Rahman, GM-IPS Naufil Shahrukh and Research
Associates Ambassador (r) Tajammul Altaf and
Farzana Yaqoob participated in a roundtable titled
'Pak-Africa Military & Defence Cooperation' on
March 12, 2020, at the Foreign Office.
MNA Naureen Farooq visits IPS
Member of the National Assembly Ms Naureen Farooq
visited IPS on January 17, 2020, and had a perceptive
discussion with EP-IPS Khalid Rahman over various
matters of national significance, especiallly Kashmir.
A session with Abdul Malik
Mujahid
Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, a Chicago-based author,
producer, non-profit entrepreneur and religious leader
of the Muslim community of North America, visited IPS
on January 14, 2020, and had an interactive session
with the Institute’s team.
IPS_1979
 05
‘The Living Scripts’ | An oral history project to record life
and times of veteran civil servants
Javed Hasan Aly Masud Mufti
Aimed at acquiring tacit knowledge from
experienced practitioners of civil services and
imparting it to the audience as food for thought,
IPS LEAD – the learning, excellence and
development program of IPS – is organizing a
series of sessions titled The Living Scripts.
The idea behind the initiative is to pursue
accomplished personalities and eminent
individuals of national stature, providing them
a window to share invaluable experiences
and knowledge from their personal and
IPS hosts YAP membership awarding ceremony
IPS hosted the membership awarding
ceremony of YAP – Youth Association of
Pakistan – on January 26, 2020.
The event was addressed as chief guest by
Ali Muhammad Khan, Minister of the State for
Parliamentary Affairs, who maintained that
the future of Pakistan rests in the hands of
the country’s youth. He urged the students to
realize their potential and strive to achieve
excellence in whatever they choose to do in
their professional lives. He also stressed on
the importance of their engagement in social
www ips.org.pk | ipsurdu.com
Sajid Hasan
professional lives.
The sessions held within this quarter featured
Javed Hasan Aly, former federal secretary,
Establishment & federal secretary, Environ-
ment, on January 17, Masud Mufti, a former
civil servant (District Management Group),
intellectual and author, on February 28, and
Sajid Hasan, former federal secretary, Ministry
of Education, on March 13, 2020.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/ips-lead/the-living-scripts/
welfare activities aimed at playing a produc-
tive role in the society.
Executive President IPS Khalid Rahman also
spoke on the occasion, stating that the youth
of Pakistan is vibrant, full of ideas and
blessed with the power to put the country on
the path of prosperity. All they need now is an
enabling environment where they can
harness their potential and utilize their
abilities for the betterment of the country.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/ips-hosts-yap-membership-awarding-ceremony/
05
Session with students of
Al-Kauthar Islamic University
An exposure visit to IPS was arranged for its
students by Al-Kauthar Islamic University’s
Department of English on January 22, 2020.
The visitors were briefed about the background and
activities of IPS before having an interactive
session with Institute’s Executive President Khalid
Rahman on the matters of shared interests.
Rahman also apprised the students about different
ways of contributing to the Institute’s work when
they expressed their interest in doing so.
IPS TV | New Videos
www.youtube.com/ipstv
‘Emerging Dynamics in the Middle East:
Implications and Options for Pakistan’
‘Emerging Dynamics in the Middle East’ - A
summary by Dr Syed Muhammad Ali
‘Pakistan’s diplomatic mission to diffuse
Iran-Saudi tension’ - EP-IPS talks to VoA
Int'l seminar 'The Crisis in Kashmir amidst
Regional and Global Dynamics'
'Negotiating the Power Corridors' (Book
Launch)
Interactive Session with famous poet Prof
Inayat Ali Khan
EP-IPS Khalid Rahman explaining Pakistan’s
improved ranking in 'Happiness Index'
EP-IPS Khalid Rahman discussing Pakistan’s
policy on Kashmir at 'Moot Court Competition
2020'
Justice (r) Iftikhar Chaudhry speaking at the
memorial session on Justice Rana Bhagwandas
Dr Qibla Ayaz, chairman CII speaks at the
memorial session on Justice Rana Bhagwandas
'Brainstorming Research Ideas: International
Relations | Strategic and Diplomatic Studies’
Roundtable 'GMO (Genetically Modified
Organisms) Scene in Pakistan'
'Uniform Education System' is need of the
hour - EP-IPS Khalid Rahman
‘US-Taliban peace deal’ in the view of
Ambassador (r) Syed Abrar Hussain
InstituteOfPolicyStudiesPakistan
 06

Publications IPS Press is the publishing, bookselling and distributing arm of Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad. Along with the Institute’s
own research, it also publishes the scholarly work of individual authors and institutions independently.

Afghanistan: Mulla Umar se Hindutva: Rising Extremism in Reports

Ashraf Ghani Tak
A distinct publication
of IPS Press, the
book is an assorted
account of insightful
experiences and
observations of a
senior Pakistani
diplomat who has not
only witnessed many
important events
taking place, but also
remained a part of
many. The author
Ambassador (r) Syed
Abrar Hussain has
served as a Pakistani representative in
Afghanistan on more than one occasion,
whereas his services in the Foreign Ministry
also had a lot to do with the country’s affairs.
Rallying for Rules: Parents
Versus Private Schools
The book is an
account of parents’
struggle against the
private schools for
their exorbitant fee
hike. It contains all the
relevant material
concerning the rights
of parents and laws
safeguarding these
rights. At one level, it
records the struggle
including all the
milestones, rules,
regulations, judgments and correspondence
with school managements, while on the other
hand, it outlines the step by step process which
involved perseverance and constant follow up.
India (Second Revised Ed.)
India presents an
important case study of
exclusionist extremism
fueled by the Hindutva
religio-political ideology.
It was in this context
that IPS played host to
an international seminar
on the subject where
more than 20
presentations and
speeches dilating upon
a number of concerning
themes were presented.
The book documents the proceedings, providing
an insightful understanding of Hindutva and its
consequences not only for India but also the
wider region.
Maghrib aur Islam (Issue No. 47)
Maghrib mai Muashra, Idara
aur Khwateen
Maghrib aur Islam – a
bi-annual Urdu journal
of IPS – is a valuable
resource for
understanding
Western perceptions
about Islam and
building basis for
constructive dialogue
between the two
civilizations. Its 47th
issue titled Maghrib
mai Muashra, Idara
aur Khwateen (Society, Institutions and Women
in the West) is available now.
Developing Objectives-based
Index for Islamic Banks
The working paper Developing
Objectives-based Index for
Islamic Banks has been
produced under the UMT
fellowship at IPS. It attempts to
help contribute in developing a
framework to evaluate the
current practice of Islamic
banking sector on the basis of
the theoretical criteria of
Islamic economics developed
since 1970s.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/developing-objectives-based-index-for-islamic-banks/
Religious Educational Institutions
Trends and Views of Madrassa
about its Role and Working
The work highlights that the
significance of Madrassa as a
religious educational institution
as well as the provider of
religious and social leadership
in Pakistani society cannot be
denied. In Pakistan, there are
several questions over
Madrassas that continue to be
raised in the academic and
media discourses. In order to
get answers of such questions, IPS conducted
this statistical study covering 10 districts (49
Madaris) of Islamabad, KP and Northern
Punjab, designed to know and discern the
current scenario and changing trends.
For further details, visit:
http://www.ips.org.pk/religious-educational-institutions-trends-
and-views-of-madrassa-about-its-role-and-working/

IPS Briefs
Pakistan-IMF Support SDG 7 in Pakistan: Status, Growing Tension in the Middle
Arrangements and Way Towards Progress and the Way Forward East and Options for Pakistan
Sustainable Development Despite significant progress in recent years, The brief is prepared in the backdrop of the fast
The brief contains discussions and analysis till Pakistan is falling short of meeting the energy deteriorating situation in the Middle East after the
the developments revealed in the first review of targets set in the United Nations’ Sustainable assassination of top Iran geo-strategist, General
IMF Country Report No. 19/380 in December Development Goals (SDG) for 2030. Fixation on Qasem Soleimani, in a US air strike in Iraq on
2019 for the ongoing Extended Fund Facility merely improving electrification reliability would
not aid in getting traction of the goal. Instead, a January 3, 2020, comprehensively analyzing the
(EFF) program, which Pakistan has availed situation from different angles while suggesting
since July 2019. more sustainable framework equally focused on
all indices of the goal needs to be embraced. an appropriate response from Pakistan.
Institute of Policy Studies: Nasr Chambers, Plot No. 1, Commercial Centre, MPCHS, E-11/3, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Ph: +92 51 843 8391-3, Fax: +92 51 8438390, Email: ipsnews@ips.net.pk, Web: www.ips.org.pk, www.ipsurdu.com
Editor: Naufil Shahrukh, Asst Editor: Farhan S. | Layout: Asif Taimuri
IPSTV 06 IPS_1979