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Dawn editorials Section

Srinagar G20 boycott 08

Fact-book: Facts and Figures from Editorials ✍️ 40-42

International Articles

1 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

 National Articles

2 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

 Current affairs MCQS Compilation

What does Defence Minister Khawaja Asif consider the recent A. Younis Khan
statement by IMF Pakistan chief Nathan Porter? B. Andrew Puttick
C. Misbah-ul-Haq
A. An interference in Pakistan’s political matters D. Mickey Arthur
B. A constructive suggestion for the country’s economy
C. A positive assessment of Pakistan’s rule of law Who is the current Team Director of the Pakistan National
D. An indication of IMF’s support for the government Men’s Cricket team?

Who is the current Batting Coach of the Pakistan National A. Darren Lehmann
Men’s Cricket team? B. Mickey Arthur

3 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

C. Grant Bradburn C. Muhammad Ali Sadpara
D. Andrew Puttick D. None of These

What is the punishment for the contempt of Majlis-e-

Shoora( Parliament)? Who became the second Pakistani woman to climb Mount
Everest ?
A. No imprisonment and only 2 million fine
B. 1 year imprisonment A. Naila Kiani
C. six months imprisonment and 1 million rupees fine B. Numaira Saleem
D. None of these C. Alisha Mahjbeen
D. None of these
National Assembly (NA) passed the ________ bill May 16,
2023? When PM Imran Khan was arrested from inside the High Court
in Islamabad by National Accountability Bureau on the charges
A. The Pakistan Ruet-e-Hilal Act, 2023 of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir University Trust?
B. The Contempt of Majilis-e-Shoora (Parliament) Bill, 2023
C. National Accountability (Amendement) Act, 2023 A. 9 May 2023
None of these B. 10 May 2023
C. 11 May 2023
Who is Current Head Coach of Pakistan Cricket Team? D. None of These

A. Inzimamul haq For Which case Former Pakistani PM Imran Khan was arrested
B. Grand Bradburn at Islamabad high court?
C. Saqlain Mushtaq
D. Misbah ul Haq A. Toshkhana
B. Money laundering
Who became the first Pakistani to summit Mount Everest C. Al-Qadir University Trust
without the support of supplemental oxygen on 14 May, 2023 ? D. None of These

A. Sajid Ali Sadpara

B. Shehroze Kashif

4 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Which Country hosted 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign
Ministers’ Dialogue ? After how many years has the foreign minister of Pakistan
visited India?
A. China
B. UAE A. 09
C. Pakistan B. 11
D. Afghanistan C. 12
D. 14
According to the World Press Freedom Index, in which position
did Pakistan rank in 2022? ________ establishes the country’s first-ever women anti-riot
police unit?
A. 150
B. 157 A. Punjab
C. 161 B. KPK
D. 180 C. Sindh
D. Balochistan
What is the Rank of Pakistan in Press Freedom Index In
“Reporters Without Borders” 2023 report: Which country received highest funding from Asain
Development Bank ADB in 2022 ?
A. 130
B. 135 A. Pakistan
C. 150 B. Bangladesh
D. None C. Sri Lanka
D. None of them
According to the Pakistan Press Freedom Report, what
percentage increase in threats and attacks against journalists Who becomes second-fastest Asian batter to score 12000 runs?
was reported in Pakistan over the past year(2022)?
A. Babar Azam
A. 40% B. Virat Kohli
B. 50% C. Fakhar Zaman
C. 60% D. None of These
D. 70%
5 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Who became first Pakistani to receive prestigious honorary Who is the Current Prime Minister of AZAD JAMMU AND
Fellowship award by Oxford University KASHMIR?

A. Malala Yosuzai A. Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi

B. Kirshna Kumari Kohli B. Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq
C. Sherry Rehman C. Sardar Tanveer Ilyas
D. Abida Parveen D. Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan

Agricultural woes | Dawn

THE government has proposed a raft of incentives in the FY2024 budget to boost the productivity of the agriculture sector and
encourage investments in the agro industry.

Details: based industry. On the face of it, all these measures appear to be
Among the steps announced by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday populist, aimed at pleasing a large electorate associated with
is a significantly large increase in loans for farmers — from Rs1.8tr agriculture. However, it remains unclear — and doubtful — whether
Rs2.2tr — the allocation of Rs50bn to shift 50,000 tube wells to solar these actions will have a meaningful impact on the lives of farmers,
power, the withdrawal of duties on seed import, and duty exemption on especially the smallholders. Nor is it clear if they are effective enough to
the import of combine harvesters. The budget also proposes the address long-standing issues such as the rising cost of inputs, climate
removal of duties on rice planters, seeders and dryers, in addition to change, water shortages, etc, that are pulling down the farm sector and
setting aside Rs16bn for concessional loans and tax relief for agro-
6 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
hampering value addition in a part of the economy on which depend,
directly or indirectly, two-thirds of the population, for their livelihoods.
Critical evaluation:
Agriculture is a large and diverse segment of the economy which
remains criminally neglected, poorly organised and highly inefficient.
Its problems are too complex to be dealt with the incentives announced
in the budget. With the country trying to cope with a level of hunger
that is described as serious by the Global Hunger Index, and having
suffered massive damage to its farmlands last year due to climate
change-induced floods, a complete rethink of obsolete agricultural
policies that focus on fixing the prices of crops and doling out subsidies
is needed. Studies have shown that the current policies protect the
interests of big landlords, speculators and middlemen. Policies and
fiscal interventions on behalf of a small group of large growers are the
main reasons for growing rural poverty, low crop value addition, and
Vocabulary in context
Difficult words:
1. Raft: In this context, "raft" refers to a large number or collection of things. It is
used to describe a significant number of incentives proposed by the
government.
2. Agro industry: It is a term used to describe the industry or sector related to
agriculture, including the production, processing, and distribution of
agricultural products.
7 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
rising food insecurity. No policy initiative or incentive can turn the
agriculture sector around if it doesn’t put the smallholder farmers at its
centre.
Wayforward for the government:
This means that the government must invest heavily in agriculture
research, set up initiatives to encourage the formation of cooperatives
and adoption of technologies, and mitigate the impact of climate
change. It should also design programmes to enhance the small
growers’ access to cheaper formal credit, give them crop insurance, and
link them to the markets to eliminate the role of the middleman, thus
raising their incomes. A well-developed agriculture sector can
contribute a lot to economic development and alleviate poverty. For
this to happen, the policymakers need to clean up the mess they have
made in this important sector.
3. Tube wells: Tube wells are wells or boreholes equipped with a tube or pipe
through which water is extracted from underground sources, such as aquifers.
4. Concessional: Concessional refers to something provided or granted on
special terms or conditions, often at a reduced or favorable rate. In this case, it
refers to loans provided with favorable terms for the recipients.
5. Value addition: Value addition refers to the process of enhancing the value or
quality of a product or service, often through additional steps in production,
processing, or packaging.
Phrasal verbs:
1. Set aside: In this context, "set aside" means to allocate or reserve something
for a specific purpose or use. The budget proposes setting aside Rs16bn for
concessional loans and tax relief.
2. Pull down: In this context, "pull down" means to hinder or negatively impact.
The rising cost of inputs, climate change, and water shortages are pulling down
the farm sector and hampering value addition.
Idiomatic expressions or idioms:
1. On the face of it: This idiom means based on what something initially appears
to be, without considering deeper or underlying factors. The measures
proposed in the budget may seem beneficial on the face of it.
2. Criminally neglected : This phrase means that something has been severely
and unjustly neglected. The agriculture sector is described as criminally
neglected, indicating the seriousness of the negligence.
3. Put (someone/something) at its center: This phrase means to prioritize or
focus on someone or something as the main concern or focal point. The
agriculture sector needs to put smallholder farmers at its center to address its
problems effectively.
4. Clean up the mess: This idiom means to rectify or resolve a situation that is
disorganized, chaotic, or problematic. The policymakers need to clean up the
mess they have made in the agriculture sector, suggesting the need for
significant improvements and reforms

Deadly bond | Dawn

IT is not often the Afghan Taliban claim a major scalp on the terrorism landscape, considering they are seen as giving sanctuary
to a number of violent extremist groups on their soil. But in the case of Sanaullah Ghafari, emir of the Islamic State’s Khorasan
chapter, they got it right.

Details: Pakistan too has reason to be pleased; last December, IS-K had carried
One of the most wanted terrorists internationally, Ghafari out an attack on its embassy in Kabul to directly target the country’s
was reportedly killed in an operation by Taliban security forces, though envoy. The 14th report of the UN’s Analytical Support and Sanctions
some news reports claim he was executed in Kabul. The significance of Monitoring Team dilates at some length about Ghafari, who was then
this development can be gauged by the $10m reward the US State alive, describing him as “the most ambitious leader of the affiliate”.
Department had offered for information about Ghafari’s whereabouts. Ghafari, it says, was different from other IS-K leaders in that he was
well-educated and had recruited more educated individuals into the
organisation and even extended recruitment to non-Salafists.
8 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Critical evaluation: not consider TTP a threat to Afghanistan, but rather as part of the
For Pakistan, however, the main source of concern is the TTP which emirate.”
has an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 fighters inside Afghanistan. Since
The Taliban’s main rival in Afghanistan is IS-K, which has carried out
it announced an end to the ceasefire with Pakistan, the TTP has carried
some high-profile attacks on international and domestic targets in the
out more than 100 attacks in this country. But despite the Pakistan
country. In the current climate, especially with key decisions
government making its displeasure known, to the extent of the defence
increasingly being taken by the ultra-conservative, isolationist Taliban
minister warning of strikes on terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan,
leadership in Kandahar, it appears unlikely the TTP in Afghanistan will
the Afghan Taliban have yet to take coercive measures against the
be restrained in any significant manner.
group.
Pakistan’s folly in not recognising how the Afghan Taliban’s ideological
Repeated admonishment from world capitals about the Kabul regime
affinity with the TTP would play out will continue to haunt us.
reneging on the counterterrorism measures it had pledged in the Doha
talks has fallen on deaf ears. The UN report notes: “The Taliban [do]

Vocabulary in context

Difficult words: 5. Salafists: Salafists are followers or proponents of Salafism, a conservative and
puritanical movement within Sunni Islam that seeks to emulate the practices
1. Scalp: In this context, "scalp" refers to a significant achievement or success,
and teachings of the early Islamic generations.
especially in relation to defeating or eliminating an enemy or rival.
Phrasal verbs:
2. Emir: An emir is a title used in Arabic and Islamic cultures to refer to a leader,
ruler, or prince. 1. Carry out: In this context, "carry out" means to perform or execute an action
or task. IS-K had carried out an attack on Pakistan's embassy in Kabul.
3. Khorasan: Khorasan is a historical region that encompasses parts of present-
day Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In this context, it refers to 2. Fall on deaf ears: This idiom means that something, such as a warning or
the Islamic State's chapter operating in the region. admonishment, is ignored or not taken seriously. Admonishments from world
capitals about the Kabul regime's counterterrorism measures falling on deaf
4. Dilates: In this context, "dilates" means to elaborate or provide detailed
ears suggests that they were not heeded or taken into consideration.
information or discussion on a particular topic.

9 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Idiomatic expressions or idioms: 3. Reneging on: This phrase means to go back on or fail to fulfill a promise,
commitment, or agreement. The Kabul regime is accused of reneging on the
1. Give sanctuary to: This phrase means to provide a safe haven or protection
counterterrorism measures it had pledged in the Doha talks.
to someone or a group of people. The Afghan Taliban are seen as giving
sanctuary to a number of violent extremist groups on their soil. 4. Play out: This phrase means to unfold or develop in a certain way. Pakistan's
folly in not recognizing how the Afghan Taliban's ideological affinity with the
2. Main source of concern: This phrase refers to the primary or most
TTP would play out means that the consequences or outcomes of this affinity
significant cause of worry or apprehension. For Pakistan, the TTP is the main
would become apparent or manifest.
source of concern, indicating that it is the primary focus of worry or attention.

Looking east | Dawn

THE PDM coalition may have failed to set a direction for the flailing economy in its rather unimaginative second budget, but
trade and industry leaders have been quite clear about how they believe Pakistan can chart a way out of its present crisis.

Details:  rightsizing the bloated machinery of the state,

They have been pointing out some common-sense measures that  and forcing it to divest from businesses that have become a
successive governments have failed to implement, which include steps burden on the public exchequer.
like;
Critical discussion:
 fixing the country’s justice system, The right interventions in these areas, most experts agree, can help
 improving education delivery, create more wealth for both the citizenry and the government.
 reforming the bureaucracy, Unfortunately, as the past year has shown, the country’s managers have
 enforcing contracts,

10 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

seemed clueless about where to begin despite finding themselves in the
midst of a major crisis.
The chairman of one of the largest conglomerates in the country, in
a recent interview to Dawn, pointed to India as a case study. New Delhi
implemented tough reforms following its last IMF programme some
three decades ago, and is now reaping the rewards for its labours. He
also echoed what many have been urging for a while now — that the
revitalisation of trade with India, along with other regional economies,
is a prerequisite to Pakistan’s long-term economic stability.
Unfortunately, Pakistan seems to have shut itself off to importing both
good ideas or cheap goods from its eastern neighbour. Urging the
government to reconsider, many have reasoned that when other
countries with historical rivalries do not refuse to engage economically
with each other, why should Pakistan and India? It is difficult to
disagree.
Indeed, if one were to thoroughly account for the costs and benefits of
Islamabad’s decision to suspend trade with India, the bottom line
Vocabulary in context
Difficult words:
1. Flailing: In this context, "flailing" means struggling or failing to perform
effectively or succeed. The PDM coalition failed to set a direction for the flailing
economy, indicating its lack of success or effectiveness.
11
would reflect a net loss for our people. Perhaps it is time for our foreign
policy pundits and decision-makers to reconsider their stance and
decouple trade from geopolitical disputes.
From food to pharmaceuticals, Pakistan can import much from India
and at far cheaper rates than from anywhere else in the world. Yet, we
refuse to do so. With inflation crushing our citizens, the question ‘why’
must be revisited.
Wayforward for Pakistan:
The state can keep pursuing its principled differences with New Delhi
even while the two countries trade. It did so, for most of the two
countries’ history.
Meanwhile, goods that can be bought for cheaper than the options
available in the market should be allowed in so that the inflationary
pressure can be relieved. Trade and geopolitics should be treated as
independent components of international policy. Politicking on the
matter is selfish and does no service to our people. Both our state and
our politicians need to agree on this
2. Common-sense: Common-sense refers to practical and reasonable thinking
or actions that are based on practical judgment rather than specialized
knowledge. The trade and industry leaders have been pointing out common-
sense measures that successive governments have failed to implement.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 3. Rightsizing: Rightsizing refers to the process of determining and
implementing the appropriate size or staffing levels for an organization or
government. It involves optimizing resources and eliminating unnecessary or
excessive positions.
Phrasal verbs:
1. Reap the rewards: This phrase means to enjoy the benefits or positive
outcomes of previous efforts or actions. India is now reaping the rewards for
the tough reforms it implemented after its last IMF program.
Idiomatic expressions or idioms:
1. Chart a way out: This phrase means to find a path or course of action to
escape or overcome a difficult or challenging situation. Trade and industry
Rising Rape | Dawn
THE safety and value of women defines the moral compass of a nation. But depressingly, Pakistan finds itself on shaky ground.
Details:
Just a few days ago, Lahore police recorded eight incidents of rape in
48 hours, including a teenager, maid and a nurse. They were
blackmailed, coerced and trapped on the pretext of lucrative
12
leaders have been clear about how they believe Pakistan can chart a way out of
its present crisis.
2. Shut itself off: This phrase means to isolate or cut off oneself from
something or someone. Pakistan seems to have shut itself off to importing both
good ideas or cheap goods from India.
3. Bottom line: The bottom line refers to the final or ultimate result or
outcome, often in financial terms. Thoroughly accounting for the costs and
benefits of Islamabad's decision to suspend trade with India would reflect a net
loss for the people, as indicated by the bottom line.
4. Crush (someone): In this context, "crushing" means causing severe
hardship or distress to someone. With inflation crushing our citizens, the
question 'why' must be revisited.
5. Politicking: Politicking refers to engaging in political activities or maneuvers,
often with an emphasis on gaining personal advantage or promoting one's own
interests. Politicking on the matter is selfish and does no service to our people,
highlighting the negative impact of engaging in political activities instead of
prioritizing the people's interests.
employment by the accused. Then two suspects violated a 14-year-old
mentally challenged girl in Hafizabad.
 In 2022, the country ranked 145th on the gender equality
index owing to data that showed a “rape epidemic” — a rape
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 occurs every two minutes chiefly because of an abysmal 3pc
conviction rate. The same year, Sindh’s rape cases shot up by
200pc with a conviction rate of under 1pc; the highest figure of
185 came from Karachi East.
Critical evaluation:
In our blinkered milieu, sensitised, informed discourse can set the tone
for congruence. For this, the focus on raising a male child to respect
women and the concept of consent should erase victim-blaming and
supervision of women. Our national leaders and institutions turn rape
into insipid drollery as demonstrated by PPP’s Nabil Gabol in April,
Imran Khan’s outdated notion of advocating purdah since ‘men are not
robots’ and a high court setting aside a life sentence as the perpetrator
agreed to marry his victim. Little surprise then that amid apathy from
13
influential voices and fora, victims, and not the crime, are censured.
While radical amendments in rape laws have tackled archaic clauses,
edicts that use ‘virtue’ to argue sexual assault persist, alongside the
misogyny of law enforcers and officers of the court. Such language
leads to crimes that, in turn, violate ideals of justice. Moreover,
criminal inclinations guide rapists; it’s a crime of power and revenge,
not sex.
Wayforward:
Therefore, a woman confined within the home is far from safe; she is
vulnerable to offences like marital rape. Pakistan cannot continue its
cavalier approach; safe spaces, aware citizenry, rapid accountability is
past due
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Vocabulary in context
Difficult words:
1. Depressingly: In this context, "depressingly" means in a discouraging or
disheartening manner, indicating a sense of sadness or disappointment.
2. Pretext: A pretext is a false reason or justification that is used to conceal the
true motive or intention behind an action.
3. Abysmal: Abysmal means extremely bad or of very poor quality. The 3%
conviction rate for rape cases is described as abysmal, highlighting its
exceptionally low level.
Phrasal verbs:
1. Shoot up: In this context, "shoot up" means to increase rapidly or
significantly. Sindh's rape cases shot up by 200%, indicating a significant and
alarming increase.
2. Set aside: In this context, "set aside" means to disregard or dismiss
something, typically a decision or judgment. A high court set aside a life
sentence as the perpetrator agreed to marry his victim, implying that the
sentence was disregarded or invalidated.
Idiomatic expressions or idioms:
1. Moral compass: The moral compass refers to a person's or a nation's sense
of right and wrong, guiding their ethical decisions and actions. The safety and
14
value of women define the moral compass of a nation, emphasizing the
importance of treating women with respect and dignity.
2. Blinkered milieu: This phrase refers to a narrow-minded or limited
environment in which people are unaware or unwilling to consider different
perspectives or ideas. In this context, it suggests that the prevailing mindset is
limited or lacking in awareness when it comes to addressing issues related to
the safety and value of women.
3. Victim-blaming: Victim-blaming refers to the tendency to hold victims
partially or entirely responsible for the crimes committed against them, instead
of holding the perpetrators accountable. Erasing victim-blaming means
eliminating the practice of blaming and criticizing victims of sexual assault.
4. Rapid accountability: Rapid accountability refers to swiftly and effectively
holding individuals accountable for their actions, ensuring that justice is served
promptly. Safe spaces, aware citizenry, and rapid accountability are past due,
suggesting that there is an urgent need for swift and effective actions to address
the issues mentioned.
5. Cavalier approach : A cavalier approach refers to an indifferent, careless, or
nonchalant attitude or behavior towards a serious matter. Pakistan cannot
continue its cavalier approach, indicating that a more serious and committed
approach is needed to address the safety and value of women.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Embrace Equity | Dawn
INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women in their battle for gender equality; of course, every
society on account of its unique history is at a different point in that quest. Nor is there always linear progression in this struggle.
Details:
In our own neighbourhood, Afghan women’s rights have waxed and
waned over the years; at present, the violently misogynistic Taliban
regime is trampling (walking over) on the gains they made during the
two decades preceding. Across the world as well, the trend is rather
disheartening.
 According to a new World Bank report, the global pace of reforms
towards equal treatment of women under the law has fallen to a
20-year low, with only 34 gender-related legal reforms recorded
across 18 countries — the least since 2001. At the current rate,
women in many countries entering the workforce today will retire
without gaining the same rights as men. Essentially, the game of
catch-up for them will never end. In a speech on Monday, the UN
secretary general said the goal of gender equality will take 300
years to achieve.
Critical evaluation:
Encouragingly however, as per the World Bank report, Pakistan
registered a higher score this year because it enacted legal reforms in
15
the entrepreneurship sector that enable women to register a business in
the same way as men. Specifically, since December 2021, a married
woman no longer needs to present her husband’s name in order to
register a business. Such changes of course augment a woman’s agency,
which has a salutary ripple effect on many other aspects of her life, and
they deserve to be lauded.
At the same time, this is where the relevance of this year’s theme of
International Women’s Day, #EmbraceEquity comes in. Equal
opportunities alone aren’t enough to raise women’s status, because
each woman starts at a different place. For females in a patriarchal
society, day-to-day challenges hamper their ability to be productive
citizens, let alone be in a position to start a business. Domestic
violence, underage marriage, sexual harassment in the workplace,
restrictions on choice of career or having a career at all — these are
some of the issues that prevent many females in Pakistan from
reaching their full potential.
Way forward:
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
To address these gaps, equitable measures must be taken to provide a expansion of financial access for women, provision of safe public
level playing field. These include implementation of pro-women laws, transport, etc

Vocabulary in context

1. Misogynistic - displaying hatred or prejudice against women

2. Salutary - producing good effects; beneficial

Phrasal verbs:

1. Wax and waned - to increase and decrease in a regular cycle

2. Catch-up - to reach the same level or position as someone or something else
3. Lauded - to praise highly

Idiomatic expressions:

1. Battle for gender equality - a struggle to achieve equal rights and opportunities for men and women
2. At a different point - at a different stage or level of progress
3. Linear progression - continuous progress in a straight line without any setbacks or interruptions
4. Game of catch-up - a struggle to achieve the same level or position as others
5. Ripple effect - a spreading effect or impact on other aspects or areas

16 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Land irregularities | Dawn
THE Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment has sought the land acquisition records of several housing schemes launched,
managed and maintained by the Lahore Development Authority in order to probe allegations of widespread fraud and
corruption during the last five years.
Details:
The anti-corruption agency wants to look into various aspects of the
land business pertaining to these projects — from acquisition of land to
sale and allotment of developed plots to the plot exchange policy to
changes in the original layout of schemes, etc.
 An internal LDA inquiry has revealed that at least 100 residential
plots in Johar Town, one of the largest housing schemes in
Punjab’s capital, which are still owned by the authority on paper,
have been allotted and sold, probably multiple times, through
forged documents and duplicate files. It is suspected that some
LDA officials connived with external elements to prepare bogus
files for these plots to make a quick buck.
Critical evaluation:
It isn’t for the first time that LDA officials have been suspected of
scheming with property mafias to commit fraud through forged
documents and facilitate land grabs by powerful persons with
significant clout in almost every major political party. There have been
17
numerous occasions previously, too, when LDA employees and land
grabbers illegally sold the same plot to scores of people, leading to long
litigations by buyers and the loss of their life savings. That is not all.
The ‘plot exchange policy’ is also frequently misused, and the rules of
‘land use’ are often changed to benefit wealthy private developers and
realtors and allow them to convert residential plots into commercial
ones for their schemes.
Under the Buzdar administration in Punjab, LDA by-laws were
changed drastically, apparently to help private developers make
truckloads of easy money.
Wayforward:
The anti-corruption agency should not limit its probe to just LDA
schemes or the authority’s employees; it must also expand its task to
investigate how the LDA has benefited private developers to the
disadvantage of the common people.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Vocabulary in context

1. Allegations - claims or accusations that someone has done Phrasal Verbs:

something wrong or illegal
1. Look into - to investigate or examine something
2. Widespread - happening or existing over a large area or among
2. Allotted and sold - distributed and sold
many people
3. Misused - used inappropriately or illegally
3. Connived - secretly cooperated or conspired in wrongdoing
4. Changed drastically - changed significantly or substantially
4. Bogus - fake or counterfeit
Idiomatic Expressions:
5. Litigations - legal disputes or lawsuits
1. Make a quick buck - to earn money quickly and easily, often by
6. By-laws - rules and regulations governing an organization or
taking advantage of others
community
2. Truckloads of easy money - a large amount of money earned
easily and quickly, often through unethical means
3. To the disadvantage of - to the detriment or harm of

18 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Counterterror talks | The Express Tribune

Pakistan and the US are turning a new leaf in their counterterrorism collaboration. It is a good omen that both the countries are
aware of the changing strategic realities, especially in the backdrop of Washington’s hurried withdrawal from Afghanistan, and
the challenges that Taliban 2.0 non-inclusive government is facing at home and abroad.

Details:
Moreover, the regrouping of terror outfits in the landlocked country
has compelled the State Department to review its policy. The fact that
Islamabad is eager to strike a new chord with the White House, and
work on pivotal issues such as improving defence cooperation,
preventing and countering violent extremism and terror-financing has
set the ball rolling. The resolution is to prevent the region from slipping
into anarchy and abject terrorism.
Critical evaluation:
The two-day dialogue is a great beginning, as it confirms the ground
realities of immense cooperation as Pakistan and Afghanistan see a
new wave of terror attacks. This huddle of counterterrorism officials,
incidentally, has come days after a US report categorically stated that
the TTP is regrouping with other militant outfits in Pakistan, and is
determined to overthrow the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
province that borders Afghanistan. The intention of the TTP, and their
likes, to establish their own brand of Shariah has come as an
immediate security threat to the whole region. Thus, this dialogue and
the outcome to cooperate by reviving the level of understanding that
existed in the wake of 9/11 attacks is a befitting response to
unscrupulous elements who are out to hamper trade and development.
Surely, the path of intermingling won’t be that easy for both the states.
The first required element is to buoy the trust factor between Pakistan
and the US, and not to highlight controversial issues that go on to
infringe the sovereignty factor. Access to the US in terms of land and
airspace, in its endeavour to oversee the southwest Asian region, had
already created ripples.
Way forward:
This new understanding must be result-oriented and pro-security,
rather than an agenda of hegemony.

19 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

 Vocabulary in context
 turning a new leaf: starting a new chapter or beginning anew
 counterterrorism collaboration: working together to combat
terrorism
 changing strategic realities: new circumstances or conditions
that affect strategic decisions and actions
 regrouping of terror outfits: the reorganization of terrorist
groups
 strike a new chord: to establish a new relationship or
connection
 pivotal issues: important and central concerns
 set the ball rolling: initiate a process or action
 prevent the region from slipping into anarchy and abject
terrorism: prevent the area from descending into chaos and
extreme terrorism
 ground realities: the actual situation or circumstances
 new wave of terror attacks: a recent increase in terrorist
incidents
 overthrow the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province: to
remove the current government in the province
20
 establish their own brand of Shariah: to impose their own
interpretation of Islamic law
 immediate security threat: a pressing danger to security
 level of understanding that existed in the wake of 9/11 attacks:
the degree of mutual understanding between Pakistan and the US
after the 9/11 terrorist attacks
 unscrupulous elements: dishonest or immoral actors
 hamper trade and development: impede economic and
social progress
 buoy the trust factor: strengthen the level of trust
 controversial issues that go on to infringe the sovereignty factor:
contentious matters that violate the principle of national
sovereignty
 endeavour to oversee the southwest Asian region: aim to
supervise the area of southwest Asia
 created ripples: caused disturbances or disruptions
 result-oriented and pro-security: focused on achieving
outcomes that enhance security
 agenda of hegemony: a plan aimed at establishing dominance
or control
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Afghans’ misery | Dawn
WHEN one thinks of the people of Afghanistan, it is impossible not to be consumed by a deep sense of pessimism. Living in the
shadow of war and broken governance for decades, generations in our neighbouring country have been repeatedly disappointed
by those who have vowed to find solutions.
Details:
Last week, a senior UN official highlighted that Afghanistan remains
the world’s largest humanitarian crisis this year, notwithstanding the
devastating earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria. The situation is abysmal;
girls have been gradually withdrawn from schools by the Taliban and
not allowed to return. Women are kept out of the workplace. Though
women have been allowed to teach, and partake in the medical field to
provide services, they are only allowed to do so in the presence of a
mahram.
Despite the international community’s criticism and pressure, the
Taliban’s outlook on women’s rights remains unchanged. Worse, the
effects of climate change and economic difficulties have plunged
Afghans further into turmoil, with 28m people now dependent on aid
for survival. As GDP falls, food costs rise and unemployment increases,
families are left to spend most of their earnings on food.
21
Critical evaluation:
Every report coming from Afghanistan paints a picture of suffering,
neglect and despondency. What is the future of Afghanistan, when the
hopes of its people and their abilities to work towards a better life are
crushed? The international community, and especially countries like
the US, must remember why Afghanistan is in this sorry state, and
continue to provide assistance to its people at any cost. The Taliban are
stubborn, but this must not discourage rights organisations and
political leaders from attempting a breakthrough by constantly
reminding them of human rights.
Conclusion:
The Afghans have suffered for far too long, and have faced the harshest
realities of war. There is no clear solution to their misery, and certainly
no shortcut, but consistent engagement, support and pushback are
critical to give Afghanistan’s people some hope.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Vocabulary in context
1. Gender equality - the state of equal rights, opportunities, and
treatment for people of all genders
2. Misogynistic - having or showing a dislike or hatred towards
women
3. Taliban regime - a political group in Afghanistan that follows a
strict interpretation of Islam and is known for their oppressive
treatment of women
4. Pace - the speed at which something is happening or progressing
5. Reforms - changes made to improve or update a system or law
6. Patriarchal society - a society in which men hold more power and
are dominant in social, political, and economic spheres
7. Domestic violence - violence or abuse that occurs within the
home or family
8. Underage marriage - marriage of a person who has not reached
the legal age of marriage
9. Sexual harassment - unwanted sexual advances or behavior
towards someone
10. Equitable - fair and just, giving everyone equal
opportunities and treatment.
Phrasal verbs:
22
1. Wax and wane - to increase and decrease in intensity or size
2. Catch up - to reach the same level or status as someone or
something else
3. Augment - to make something greater or more significant by
adding to it
4. Level playing field - a situation where everyone has an equal
chance or opportunity to succeed
5. Implement - to put into effect or action
6. Expand - to make something larger or more extensive
Idiomatic expressions:
1. On account of - because of
2. Trend is rather disheartening - the current situation is not
encouraging or positive
3. Game of catch-up - the struggle to reach the same level as others
or overcome a disadvantage
4. Ripple effect - a chain reaction or series of consequences
resulting from an initial action or event
5. Hamper their ability - to prevent or limit someone's ability to
do something.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Bail for women | Express Tribune
It is a welcome judgment by the Supreme Court that women accused of offences, which are otherwise held to be non-
bailable under the relevant laws, are to be granted bail as per rule.
Details:
This rule also applies to disabled and those under 16 years of age. Only
under exceptional circumstances can bail be rejected. The judgment
came as the top court was dealing with an appeal against rejection of
bail plea by a maid arrested for house robbery.
Critical evaluation:
The decision to grant bail to the woman will indeed set a precedence for
future cases dealing with such an issue, especially at the lower courts
where non-bailable offences are treated without any exception. Such
judgments are important for clarification of nuisances present in the
law and help strengthen the legal system as oftentimes influential
people seek to use their power to suppress their opposition by taking
advantage of legal loopholes and vague laws. Apart from that, it will
also go a long way in protecting accused women and juveniles who
23
eventually spend a long time languishing in jails for petty crimes or acts
they haven’t even committed.
Pakistan has a weak penal system and jails across the country are
overcrowded as thousands of cases remain pending in courts. The
situation doesn’t just affect the lives of prisoners, who are not provided
with proper food or sanitation, but it also uses up whatever little
resources these jails have.
Conclusion:
Therefore, providing bail would equally help reduce prison populations
and in some cases speed up the legal process. While the court must
ensure justice is served, it also has to be cognizant of the rights of
prisoners and the specific situation that each case presents. The
judgment will urge judges to consider expectational circumstances,
such as the probability of crime reoccurring, in each case.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Vocabulary in context
Meaning of Difficult Words:
1. Non-bailable - An offence for which bail is not granted as a
matter of right, and the accused has to apply to a court for release
on bail.
2. Precedence - An earlier event or action that is regarded as an
example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar
circumstances.
3. Nuisances - Small or minor aspects of something, usually
perceived as irritating or troublesome.
4. Loopholes - A way of evading a rule, law or obligation, by
exploiting a technicality or omission in it.
5. Juveniles - Young people who are not yet legally adults, typically
under the age of 18.
6. Penal system - The system of laws, courts, and prisons designed
to deal with criminal offenses and to punish offenders.
7. Overcrowded - Occupied by too many people or things, beyond
the capacity of what is intended or appropriate.
8. Cognizant - Aware or conscious of something, especially a fact or
situation.
Phrasal Verbs:
24
1. Dealing with - To handle, manage, or cope with a problem or
situation.
2. Languishing in - To remain in a miserable or unhappy condition,
often for a prolonged period.
3. Use up - To consume, exhaust, or deplete a resource.
4. Speed up - To increase the rate or pace of something, to make it
happen more quickly.
5. Take advantage of - To exploit or use something for personal
gain.
6. Set a precedence - To establish a standard or example for future
cases or events.
Idiomatic Expressions:
1. Without any exception - Without making any distinctions or
allowances, without any deviation from a norm or standard.
2. Go a long way - To have a significant or far-reaching effect, to
make a substantial contribution to something.
3. Serve justice - To administer or provide justice, to ensure that the
right action is taken in response to a wrongdoing.
4. As a matter of right - As something that is guaranteed by law or
by a set of rules, without any need for negotiation or special
consideration.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Homeless children | Express
In 2022, the National Commission on the Rights of Child revealed that there are 1.5 million street children in Pakistan and
the number is rapidly rising.
Details:
The phenomenon of homeless or street children is a consequence of
social neglect. These children spend their time out of their homes and
schools in unsafe conditions. In a bid to protect homeless children and
enhance their prospects, the Punjab police have signed an MoU with
four government and private institutions working for the rights and
welfare of children.
Critical evaluation:
Most street children receive insufficient nutrition and water and lack
medical care. They become easy prey for exploitation by beggar mafias,
human and drug traffickers, and other wayward elements. Early
exposure to violence and abuse affects their overall growth and
development. The majority of these children fall into drug abuse and
other criminal activities. They remain trapped in poverty and
deprivation. Under the rehabilitation programme, orphan girls will be
taken to SOS village and other homeless children will be referred to the
child protection bureau. Children involved in begging will be brought
to
25
schools of the Care Foundation and justice will be sought for crimes
against children and children involved in crimes.
This is a commendable initiative as it aims to support children during
their formative years, which shape their personalities and behaviours
and ultimately impact societal development. The comprehensive nature
of the programme has brought different institutions working for
children’s welfare together allowing them to effectively address and
potentially end the problems faced by homeless children.
Way forward:
The Punjab police must lead by example by ensuring the success of this
initiative to encourage other provincial police departments to
undertake similar initiatives. We must realise that we cannot achieve
prosperity or equality by neglecting the less fortunate. Homeless
children should be allowed to become useful citizens and welcomed
into mainstream society.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Vocabulary in context

Difficult Words:
1. Consequence - the result or effect of an action or event
2. Deprivation - a state of lacking something that is necessary for normal human development or functioning
3. Formative - relating to or affecting the development of something, especially a person's character or personality
4. Commendable - deserving praise or approval
5. Wayward - difficult to control or predict because of unusual or perverse behavior

Phrasal Verbs:

1. Fall into - to begin doing something, especially something bad or illegal, without intending to
2. Bring to - to take someone or something to a particular place or situation
3. Undertake - to agree or promise to do something

Idiomatic Expressions:

1. In a bid - attempting or trying to achieve something

2. Lead by example - to behave in the way that you want others to behave
3. Less fortunate - those who are not as wealthy, privileged, or lucky as others

26 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Chinese prescription | Express
Beijing’s outlook of world view is in contrast with the Western perceptions. Though China is very much part of the global
capitalist entrepreneur economy, it takes a departure when it comes to fundamentals of poverty alleviation and
development.
Details:
This is why a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry took no
qualms in stating that ‘certain developed countries’ have not lived up to
the expectations of buckling up underdeveloped states, and their
policies had rather led to stagnation in growth. This is no new synopsis,
and is evident from the approach that China has for interacting with
developing countries as its aid and assistance does not come with
strings attached. Whereas, the West is in with an agenda and behind
the excuse of reforms, there is much that the poor recipient members
have to suffer in the long run.
It is not clear as to what entailed China to come up with such a
categorical utterance at this point of time. While it referred to Pakistan,
the assumption is that it is hinting at the plethora of conditionalities
that Islamabad is being made to accept by the IMF, as the former goes
on to strike a new deal in restructuring its loans.
27
 As Pakistan sits on the edges of an imminent default, and with
Western credit rating agencies simply writing off the country’s
tangibles, there is a fear that it could lead to severe ramifications
on the international financial index. On the other hand, China,
which has rolled over its cash tranches with Pakistan to help it
avert bankruptcy, has pointed out the enigma of walking away as
the Fund and other lenders are accustomed to. It is an undeniable
fact that the US, despite being an ally, has not pumped in any
succour and that is what the communist giant has pointed out.
Wayforward:
There is a cue to be picked from China i.e. all international creditors
must evolve a proactive lending policy, and developing states must be
provided with space to operate. There is no tailor-made prescription,
and developing countries should be free to reorient their policies as per
their needs and requirements.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Vocabulary in context
 in contrast with: different from or opposite to
 takes a departure: deviates from or differs from
 poverty alleviation: the act of reducing or eliminating poverty
 developed countries: countries with advanced economies and high
standards of living
 underdeveloped states: countries with less developed economies
and lower standards of living
 stagnation in growth: a situation where there is little or no growth
or development
 strings attached: conditions or requirements that come with
something
 enigma of walking away: the mystery or puzzle of abandoning or
withdrawing support
 succour: help, support or relief
 categorical utterance: a clear, unambiguous statement
 strike a new deal: negotiate a new agreement
 imminent default: a situation where a borrower is expected to
default on their debt soon
28
 credit rating agencies: organizations that assess the
creditworthiness of borrowers
 tangibles: physical assets or property
 severe ramifications: serious consequences or outcomes
 international financial index: a measure of the financial
performance of countries in the global economy
 rolled over its cash tranches: extended or renewed the loan
agreements
 avert bankruptcy: prevent or avoid bankruptcy
 an ally: a friend or supporter
 communist giant: a reference to China's status as a communist
country with a large population and a significant influence in the world
 evolve a proactive lending policy: develop a strategy for
lending money that is proactive or anticipates potential challenges
 developing states: countries with less developed economies and
lower standards of living
 tailor-made prescription: a customized solution or
recommendation
 reorient their policies: adjust or realign their policies
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Facts and figures

29 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

 FACTS AND FIGURES
Compiled From Editorials

 Proposed incentives in the FY2024 budget for the agriculture sector:


 Increase in loans for farmers from Rs1.8 trillion to Rs2.2 trillion
 Allocation of Rs50 billion to shift 50,000 tube wells to solar power
 Removal of duties on seed import
 Duty exemption on the import of combine harvesters
 Removal of duties on rice planters, seeders, and dryers
 Rs16 billion set aside for concessional loans and tax relief for agro-based industry

 Concerns and challenges in the agriculture sector:

 Rising cost of inputs
 Climate change impacts
 Water shortages
 Complex problems in the agriculture sector that cannot be solved by the proposed incentives alone
 Protecting the interests of big landlords, speculators, and middlemen
 Growing rural poverty, low crop value addition, and rising food insecurity

 Importance of investing in agriculture research and initiatives:

 Need for investment in agriculture research
 Encouragement of cooperatives and adoption of technologies
 Mitigation of the impact of climate change
 Enhancing small growers' access to cheaper formal credit
30 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
  Providing crop insurance and linking them to markets to eliminate the role of middlemen

 Significance of Sanaullah Ghafari's death:

 Sanaullah Ghafari, emir of the Islamic State's Khorasan chapter, was killed by Taliban security forces.
 The US State Department had offered a $10 million reward for information about Ghafari's whereabouts.
 Ghafari was described as the "most ambitious leader" of the Islamic State's Khorasan chapter.
 Pakistan had been targeted by IS-K, and the TTP remains a major concern for Pakistan.

 Recommendations for economic stability and trade:

 Common-sense measures: fixing the justice system, improving education delivery, reforming the bureaucracy, enforcing contracts, rightsizing
the state machinery, and divesting from burdensome businesses.
 Comparison with India's economic reforms and revitalization of trade.
 Call for Pakistan to reconsider its stance on trade with India and engage economically despite geopolitical disputes.
 Potential benefits of importing goods from India at cheaper rates.
 Trade and geopolitics should be treated as independent components of international policy.

 Incidents of rape in Lahore:

 Eight incidents of rape were recorded by Lahore police in a span of 48 hours.
 The victims included a teenager, maid, nurse, and a mentally challenged girl.

 Rape epidemic and low conviction rate in Pakistan:

 Pakistan ranked 145th on the gender equality index in 2022.
 A rape occurs every two minutes in Pakistan.
 The conviction rate for rape cases is abysmal at 3%.

 Rise in rape cases in Sindh:

 Sindh witnessed a 200% increase in rape cases in 2022.
 The conviction rate for rape cases in Sindh is under 1%.
31 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
  Karachi East reported the highest number of rape cases with a figure of 185.

 Issues contributing to the prevalence of rape:

 Victim-blaming and lack of supervision of women.
 Insensitive comments and outdated notions from national leaders and institutions.
 A high court setting aside a life sentence when the perpetrator agreed to marry the victim.
 Misogyny among law enforcers and officers of the court.
 Language and attitudes that use 'virtue' to argue sexual assault.

 Nature of rape as a crime:

 Rape is a crime of power and revenge, not sex.
 Women confined within the home are vulnerable to offenses like marital rape.

 Need for action:

 Radical amendments in rape laws have been made, but there are still archaic clauses and misogynistic attitudes.
 Safe spaces, an aware citizenry, and rapid accountability are necessary to address the issue of rape in Pakistan.

32 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

The Illusion of China’s AI Prowess │ Foreign Affairs
JEFFREY DING
JEFFREY DING is Assistant Professor of Political Science at George Washington University.
Outlines of the article

I. Introduction
A. Concerns about the impact of AI systems on economic and social life
B. Flurry of hearings and negotiations in Congress regarding AI regulation
C. Fear of geopolitical cost if AI industry is regulated in the United States

II. Overblown Fears of Chinese AI Prowess

A. Chinese LLMs lag behind U.S. counterparts and rely on American research and technology
B. Chinese AI developers face stringent political, regulatory, and economic environment
C. China is not poised to surge ahead in AI development

III. U.S. Strength in AI Development and Regulation

A. U.S. companies building and deploying AI tools at a rapid pace
B. Policymakers in a position of strength, seeking guidance from Washington
C. Harms from AI systems will multiply without regulation
D. Chinese AI lagging behind, U.S. should take necessary action

IV. Chinese LLMs and Their Limitations

33 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
A. Chinese labs following U.S. and British companies, but lacking real substance
B. Chinese AI researchers depend on reproducing and tweaking research from abroad
C. Examples of WuDao 2.0 and Ernie Bot's shortcomings
D. China trails years behind international competitors in LLM development

V. External Factors Impeding Chinese AI Innovation

A. Chinese semiconductor industry lagging behind, reliance on high-end chips from U.S. firms
B. Economic and technological pessimism affecting Chinese AI efforts
C. Thicket of speech restrictions and demanding regulatory regime in China

VI. Need for Regulation and U.S. Advantage

A. China's speech restrictions and heavy-handed regulations as an impediment
B. Overestimating Chinese AI development akin to Cold War misconceptions
C. Industry leaders proactively calling for regulation in AI sector
D. U.S. policymakers in a better position than assumed, draft frameworks for managing AI risks
E. Urgent questions and policy attention needed for legislation on AI regulation

VII. Conclusion
A. Fears of Chinese AI mastery should not deter regulation efforts
B. Failure to regulate AI industry would hurt U.S. interests and prosperity

34 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

The artificial intelligence revolution has reached Congress. The
staggering potential of powerful AI systems, such as OpenAI’s text-
based ChatGPT, has alarmed legislators, who worry about how
advances in this fast-moving technology might remake economic and
social life. Recent months have seen a flurry of hearings and behind-
the-scenes negotiations on Capitol Hill as lawmakers and regulators try
to determine how best to impose limits on the technology.
But some fear that any regulation of the AI industry will incur a
geopolitical cost. In a May hearing at the U.S. Senate, Sam Altman, the
CEO of OpenAI, warned that “a peril” of AI regulation is that “you slow
down American industry in such a way that China or somebody else
makes faster progress.” That same month, AI entrepreneur Alexandr
Wang insisted that “the United States is in a relatively precarious
position, and we have to make sure we move fastest on the technology.”
Indeed, the notion that Washington’s propensity for red tape could
hurt it in the competition with Beijing has long occupied figures in
government and in the private sector. Former Google CEO Eric
Schmidt claimed in 2021 that “China is not busy stopping things
because of regulation.” According to this thinking, if the United States
places guardrails around AI, it could end up surrendering international
AI leadership to China.
In the abstract, these concerns make sense. It would not serve U.S.
interests if a regulatory crackdown crippled the domestic AI industry
while Chinese AI companies, unshackled, could flourish. But a closer
look at the development of AI in China—especially that of large
35
language models (LLMs), the text generation systems that underlie
applications such as ChatGPT—shows that such fears are overblown.
Chinese LLMs lag behind their U.S. counterparts and still depend in
large part on American research and technology. Moreover, Chinese AI
developers already face a far more stringent and limiting political,
regulatory, and economic environment than do their U.S. counterparts.
Even if it were true that new regulations would slow innovation in the
United States—and it very well may not be—China does not appear
poised to surge ahead.
U.S. companies are building and deploying AI tools at an
unprecedented pace, so much so that even they are actively seeking
guidance from Washington. This means that policymakers considering
how to regulate the technology are in a position of strength, not one of
weakness. Left untended, the harms from today’s AI systems will
continue to multiply while the new dangers produced by future systems
will go unchecked. An inflated impression of Chinese prowess should
not prevent the United States from taking meaningful and necessary
action now.
THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY
Over the past three years, Chinese labs have rapidly followed in the
footsteps of U.S. and British companies, building AI systems similar to
OpenAI’s GPT-3 (the forerunner to ChatGPT), Google’s PaLM, and
DeepMind’s Chinchilla. But in many cases, the hype surrounding
Chinese models has masked a lack of real substance. Chinese AI
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
researchers we have spoken with believe that Chinese LLMs are at least
two or three years behind their state-of-the-art counterparts in the
United States—perhaps even more. Worse, AI advances in China rely a
great deal on reproducing and tweaking research published abroad, a
dependence that could make it hard for Chinese companies to assume a
leading role in the field. If the pace of innovation slackened elsewhere,
China’s efforts to build LLMs—like a slower cyclist coasting in the
leaders’ slipstream—would likely decelerate.
Take, for instance, the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence’s
WuDao 2.0 model. After its release in the summer of
2021, Forbes thrilled at the model as an example of “bigger, stronger,
faster AI,” largely because WuDao 2.0 boasted ten times more
parameters—the numbers inside an AI model that determine how it
processes information—than GPT-3. But this assessment was
misleading in several ways. Merely having more parameters does not
make one AI system better than another, especially if not matched by
corresponding increases in data and computing power. In this case,
comparing parameter counts was especially unwarranted given that
WuDao 2.0 worked by combining predictions from a series of models
rather than as a single language model, a design that artificially inflated
the parameter count. What’s more, the way researchers posed
questions to the model helped its performance in certain trials appear
stronger than it actually was.
A fear of Chinese AI prowess should not stop the United States from
regulating the technology.
Baidu’s “Ernie Bot” also disappointed. Touted as China’s answer to
ChatGPT, the development of Ernie Bot was clearly—like that of
WuDao 2.0—spurred by pressure to keep up with a high-profile
36
breakthrough in the United States. The Chinese bot failed to live up to
aspirations. Baidu’s launch event included only prerecorded examples
of its operation, a telltale sign that the chatbot was unlikely to perform
well in live interactions. Reviews from users who have since gained
access to Ernie Bot have been mediocre at best, with the chatbot
stumbling on simple tasks such as basic math or translation questions.
Chinese AI developers struggle with the pressure to keep up with their
U.S. counterparts. In August 2021, more than 100 researchers at
Stanford collaborated on a major paper about the future of so-called
foundation models, a category of AI systems that includes LLMs. Seven
months later, the Beijing Academy of AI released a similarly lengthy
literature review on a related subject, with almost as many co-authors.
But within a few weeks, a researcher at Google discovered that large
sections of the Chinese paper had been plagiarized from a handful of
international papers—perhaps, Chinese-language media speculated,
because the graduate students involved in drafting the paper faced
extreme pressure and were up against very short deadlines.
Americans should not be haunted by the specter of an imminent
Chinese surge in LLM development. Chinese AI teams are fighting—
and often failing—to keep up with the blistering speed of new research
and products emerging elsewhere. When it comes to LLMs, China trails
years, not months, behind its international competitors.
HEADWINDS AND HANDICAPS
Forces external to the AI industry also impede the pace of innovation in
China. Because of the outsize computational demands of LLMs, the
international competition over semiconductors inevitably affects AI
research and development. The Chinese semiconductor industry can
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
only produce chips several generations behind the latest cutting-edge
ones, forcing many Chinese labs to rely on high-end chips developed by
U.S. firms. In recent research analyzing Chinese LLMs, we found 17
models that used chips produced by the California-based firm NVIDIA;
by contrast, we identified only three models built with Chinese-made
chips.
Huawei’s PanGu-α, released in 2021, was one of the three exceptions.
Trained using Huawei’s in-house Ascend processors, the model
appears to have been developed with significantly less computational
power than best practices would recommend. Although it is currently
perfectly legal for Chinese research groups to access cutting-edge
U.S. chips by renting hardware from cloud providers such as Amazon
or Microsoft, Beijing must be worried that the intensifying rhetoric and
restrictions around semiconductors will hobble its AI companies and
researchers.
More broadly, pessimism about the overall economic and technological
outlook in China may hamper domestic AI efforts. In response to a
wave of regulatory scrutiny and a significant economic slowdown in the
country, many Chinese startups are now opting to base their operations
overseas and sell to an international market instead of selling primarily
to the Chinese market. This shift has been driven by the increasing
desire among Chinese entrepreneurs to gain easier access to foreign
investment and to escape China’s stringent regulatory environment—
while also skirting restrictions imposed on Chinese companies by the
United States.
HAL, MEET BIG BROTHER
37
China’s thicket of restrictions on speech also pose a unique challenge to
the development and deployment of LLMs. The freewheeling way in
which LLMs operate—following the user’s lead to produce text on any
topic, in any style—is a poor fit for China’s strict censorship rules. In a
private conversation with one of us (Xiao), one Chinese CEO quipped
that China’s LLMs are not even allowed to count to 10, as that would
include the numbers eight and nine—a reference to the state’s
sensitivity about the number 89 and any discussion of the 1989
Tiananmen Square protests.
LLM providers everywhere are still figuring out how to navigate this
tradeoff, but the potentially severe ramifications of a misstep in China
force companies there to choose a more conservative approach.
Popular products such as the Microsoft spinout XiaoIce are prohibited
from discussing politically sensitive topics such as the Tiananmen
Square protests or Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Some users we spoke to
even claim that XiaoIce has gotten less functional over time, perhaps as
Microsoft has added additional guardrails. Journalists have likewise
found that Baidu’s Ernie Bot gives canned answers to questions about
Xi and refuses to respond on other politically charged topics. Given the
wide range of censored opinions and subjects in China—from the
health of the Chinese economy to the progress of the war in Ukraine to
the definition of “democracy”—developers will struggle to make
chatbots that do not cross redlines while still being able to answer most
questions normally and effectively.
In addition to these political constraints on speech, Chinese AI
companies are also subject to the country’s unusually detailed and
demanding regulatory regime for AI. One set of rules came into force in
January 2023 and applies to providers of online services that use
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
generative AI, including LLMs. A draft of further requirements, which
would apply to research and development practices in addition to AI
products, was released for comment in April.
Some of the rules are straightforward, such as requiring that sensitive
data must be handled according to China’s broader data governance
regime. Other provisions may prove quite onerous.
FEAR OF THE CHIMERA
Despite the difficulties it currently faces, Chinese AI development may
yet turn a corner and establish a greater track record of success and
innovation. Americans, however, have a history of overestimating the
technological prowess of their competitors. During the Cold War,
bloated estimates of Soviet capabilities led U.S. officials to make policy
on the basis of a hypothesized “bomber gap” and then “missile gap,”
both of which were later proved to be fictional. A similarly groundless
sense of anxiety should not determine the course of AI regulation in the
United States. After all, where social media companies resisted
regulation, AI firms have already asked for it. Five years ago, Facebook
founder Mark Zuckerberg warned Congress that breaking up his social
media company would only strengthen Chinese counterparts. In AI, by
contrast, industry leaders are proactively calling for regulation.
If anything, regulation is the area where the United States most risks
falling behind in AI. China’s recent regulations on generative AI build
on top of existing rules and a detailed data governance regime. The
European Union, for its part, is well on its way to passing new rules
about AI, in the form of the AI Act, which would categorize levels of
risk and impose additional requirements for LLMs. The United States
has not yet matched such regulatory efforts, but even here, U.S.
38
policymakers are in better shape than often assumed. The federal
government has already drafted thorough frameworks for managing AI
risks and harms, including the White House’s Blueprint for an AI Bill of
Rights and the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s AI
Risk Management Framework. These documents provide in-depth
guidance on how to navigate the multifaceted risks and harms—as well
as benefits—of this general-purpose technology. What is needed now is
legislation that allows the enforcement of the key tenets of these
frameworks, in order to protect the rights of citizens and place
guardrails around the rapid advance of AI research.
There are still plenty of issues to work through, including where new
regulatory authorities should be housed, what role third-party auditors
can play, what transparency requirements should look like, and how to
apportion liability when things go wrong. These are thorny, urgent
questions that will shape the future of the technology, and they deserve
to receive serious effort and policy attention. If the chimera of Chinese
AI mastery dissuades policymakers from pursuing regulation of the
industry, they will only be hurting U.S. interests and imperiling the
country’s prosperity.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Netanyahu Can’t Have It All | Foreign Affairs
Amos Yadlin
AMOS YADLIN is the former head of military intelligence for the Israel Defense Forces.
Outlines of the articles

Title: The Strained Relationship between the US and Israel under Netanyahu's Leadership

Introduction III. Disagreements between US and Israel

 Trying times for the US-Israeli relationship, despite being defined
as ironclad
 Benjamin Netanyahu's return to power as Israel's prime minister,
facing off against Joe Biden
 Netanyahu's actions in legalizing outposts and building settlements
in the West Bank and undermining Israel's independent judiciary,
actions that the Biden administration has strongly criticized
 Hesitation to clearly support Ukraine in its fight against Russia and
fostering closer Chinese-Israeli ties during his previous terms
 Biden does not agree with Netanyahu's stances on the Palestinian
territories, internal Israeli politics, and on Ukraine
 Biden's objections on Netanyahu's stances on these issues and the
possibility of complicating Netanyahu's life
 Biden is the only world leader capable of taking steps that will stop
Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon and giving the Saudis
the security guarantees they demand to normalize ties with Israel
IV. Netanyahu's Priorities

II. US Officials' Visits to Israel  Netanyahu's international priorities in his speeches

 Israel hosted a succession of senior US officials who reaffirmed the
importance of the US-Israeli relationship
 Jake Sullivan, William Burns, and Antony Blinken's visits to discuss
the main issues on the countries' joint agenda, such as how to
coordinate policy against Iran
39
 Creating pressure on Iran to force the country into compromising
on its nuclear program and curtailing its regional aggression
 Fully normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia, building on the Abraham
Accords that he signed in 2020, which established diplomatic
relations between Israel and Bahrain, Israel and Morocco, and
Israel and the United Arab Emirates
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
V. US and Israel Strategy on Iran
 US willing to take a harder line against Iran
 Coaxing Biden into helping Netanyahu coordinate a better
campaign of maximum pressure, including by credibly threatening
military action against Tehran
 Formal declaration that the nuclear deal was dead and that stronger
penalties were coming to convince Iran to stop advancing its
nuclear program and agree to a "longer and stronger" deal
 Jointly deter Iran from escalating, for instance, by making it clear
they will use military force if Tehran crosses certain redlines, such
as enriching uranium to 90 percent, withdrawing from the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty, or taking steps to militarize its nuclear
program
40
 The United States could also work with Israel to internationally
isolate Iran, forming a broad coalition of states to help and
encourage the domestic protests in Iran, and establish the
foundations of a new Middle East security architecture in which
participants share intelligence, air defenses, logistics, and other
resources to protect freedom of navigation and coordinate
additional steps against Tehran.
VI. Conclusion
 Netanyahu will have to make tradeoffs to make headway on his top
security and foreign policy goals by compromising on aspects of
Israel's domestic and foreign policy and making goodwill gestures to
get Biden's full partnership
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
These are trying times for the U.S.-Israeli relationship, which the U.S.
government often defines as ironclad. Benjamin Netanyahu has
returned to power as Israel’s prime minister in a governing coalition
that is the country’s most right-wing and religious in history. He is
facing off against Joe Biden: a Democratic U.S. president who,
although a true friend of Israel, remembers Netanyahu’s fraught
relations with former U.S. President Barack Obama.
At home, Netanyahu is legalizing outposts and building in settlements
in the West Bank and undermining Israel’s independent judiciary,
actions that the Biden administration has strongly criticized.
Internationally, Netanyahu has hesitated to clearly support Ukraine in
its fight against Russia, much to the consternation of U.S. officials. And
during his previous terms, Netanyahu fostered closer Chinese-Israeli
ties.
Within Netanyahu’s first month of taking office, Israel hosted a
succession of senior U.S. officials, all of whom reaffirmed the
importance of the U.S.-Israeli relationship. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s
national security adviser, visited on January 18 to discuss the main
issues on the countries’ joint agenda, such as how to coordinate policy
against Iran. William Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence
Agency, arrived on January 26 to discuss operational issues, most likely
with regard to Iran and the Palestinians. Secretary of State Antony
Blinken followed just four days later. Netanyahu, then, has had many
opportunities to get Washington’s help advancing his top two
international priorities: stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons
and normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia.
But these U.S. officials made it clear that Biden did not agree with
Netanyahu’s stances on the Palestinian territories, on internal Israeli
41
politics, and on Ukraine. Indeed, Blinken made lodging the president’s
objections a central part of his visit. Such disagreements could greatly
complicate Netanyahu’s life. Biden is the only world leader who is
capable of taking steps that will stop Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear
weapon, and he is the only leader who can give the Saudis the security
guarantees they demand to normalize ties with Israel. But the U.S.
president will not be able to dedicate substantial time to these two
issues when the Palestinian theater is aflame, and he will struggle to
convince his administration to help the Israeli government when Israel
is distancing itself from the West (by not firmly supporting Ukraine)
and weakening its democracy (by passing judicial reforms that will
politicize the judiciary and undermine the rule of law).
In order to make headway on his top security and foreign policy goals,
then, Netanyahu will have to make tradeoffs. He will have to
compromise on aspects of Israel’s domestic and foreign policy and
make goodwill gestures in order to get Biden’s full partnership.
OBSTACLES AND OPPORTUNITIES
In his speeches, Netanyahu has made his international priorities
readily apparent. The prime minister wants to create as much pressure
on Iran as he can to force the country into compromising on its nuclear
program and curtailing its regional aggression. He also wants to fully
normalize ties with Saudi Arabia, building on the Abraham Accords
that he signed in 2020, which established diplomatic relations between
Israel and Bahrain, Israel and Morocco, and Israel and the United Arab
Emirates.
Just two years ago, Netanyahu may have struggled to advance this
agenda, especially when it came to Iran. When Biden entered office, he
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
was determined to resurrect the Iran nuclear deal—a step that would
have required loosening sanctions. But times have changed. Given
Iran’s refusal to return to the nuclear agreement, its decision to provide
Russia with weapons, and its violent suppression of antigovernment
protests, Biden is willing to take a harder line against the country.
Netanyahu knows this, and he hopes he can now coax Biden into
helping him coordinate a better campaign of maximum pressure,
including by credibly threatening military action against Tehran.
It is easy to see why Netanyahu is so keen on obtaining U.S. support. If
both states formally declared that the nuclear deal was dead and that
stronger penalties were coming, they might be able to jointly convince
Iran to stop advancing its nuclear program and agree to the kind of
“longer and stronger” deal that Blinken has said the administration
wants. They might deter Iran from escalating, for instance, by making
it clear they will use military force if Tehran crosses certain redlines,
such as enriching uranium to 90 percent, withdrawing from the
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, or taking steps to militarize its
nuclear program. Washington might also exert more economic
pressure on Iran to change Tehran’s calculus, including by significantly
increasing the enforcement of existing sanctions.
Washington is still maintaining some distance from Israel’s Iran
strategy.
The United States could also work with Israel to internationally isolate
Iran. Israel and the United States, for example, might point to Iran’s
cooperation with Russia to get the European Union to extend its
conventional weapons embargo on Iran. The two allies could also form
a broad coalition of states to help and encourage the domestic protests
in Iran. Together, Israel and the United States could even establish the
42
foundations of a new Middle East security architecture in which
participants share intelligence, air defenses, logistics, and other
resources to protect freedom of navigation and coordinate additional
steps against Tehran.
The Biden administration has recently signaled that it is willing to
adopt a harder line on Iran, which coincides with Netanyahu’s vision:
both agree that they want to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear
weapons and on the need to deter it from doing so.
 Israel and the United States, for example, conducted joint
military exercises earlier this year, indicating their combined
resolve. But Washington is still maintaining some distance from
openly embracing Israel’s strategy. The United States has denied
having any involvement in the late January drone strikes on an
Iranian drone factory in Isfahan or on Iranian weapons convoys
at the Iraqi-Syrian border. It clearly remains anxious and
concerned that Iran will retaliate, and this anxiety undermines
Washington’s ability to deter Iran from attacking U.S. forces,
partners, and allies—and to deter Iran from seeking nuclear
weapons.
Washington is not as worried about promoting Israeli-Saudi ties. But
even there, the Biden administration’s positions could complicate
Netanyahu’s efforts. There are considerable—and growing—tensions
between Biden and Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman, whom Biden once deemed a “pariah.” The
Abraham Accords were dependent on support from Washington, which
was willing to provide the United Arab Emirates with advanced
weapons such as F-35 jets (the Biden administration halted that deal
due to the United Arab Emirates’ ties with China) and change U.S.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
policy on Western Sahara (a self-governing territory that Morocco
claims) to get the participating states to establish relations with Israel.
Frosty U.S.-Saudi relations will make the path toward normalization
with Riyadh harder and perhaps put it out of reach. Before signing off
on any agreement with Israel, for example, the Saudis will likely want
the Biden administration to provide solid security guarantees,
unhindered supplies of advanced weapons, and an agreement to help
build the country’s civilian nuclear infrastructure. Unless Netanyahu
becomes more flexible and generates goodwill with Biden, it is hard to
see Washington making such promises.
A FRIEND IN NEED
Netanyahu understands that preventing a nuclear Iran is a herculean
task that requires American support. He is also well aware that the
clearest road to Israeli-Saudi relations runs through Washington.
Netanyahu should therefore know that if he wants the United States to
invest its capital in support of his policies, he will have to align his own
policies with Washington’s interests and values.
He can start with China. The United States’ great-power rivalry with
Beijing is at the top of Biden’s international agenda and is one of the
few issues on which there is bipartisan consensus within the United
States. Although Netanyahu advanced pro-Chinese economic policies
during the last decade, he clarified in December 2022 that Israel’s
economic ties with Beijing are subject to national security
considerations. It is a statement that suggests his government may be
willing to constrain Israel’s relations with China to better address U.S.
concerns. Indeed, Israel’s economic policies are already moving in a
more pro-Western direction, including by reducing the country’s
43
technological exposure to Beijing, establishing an oversight mechanism
for foreign investment, and increasing public awareness about the risks
of working with Chinese entities.
Still, Israel may have to do more than just cooperate over China and
Ukraine if it wants renewed support from Washington. During his visit
to Israel, Blinken made it clear that Israel’s behavior toward the
Palestinians was the greatest threat to the U.S.-Israeli relationship.
This needle will be extremely difficult for Netanyahu to thread. The
prime minister, like his predecessors, has a duty to protect Israel from
terror, and the level of terrorism in the Palestinian territories has been
on the rise since March 2022. Netanyahu’s government is also awash
with far-right ministers who want to annex more Palestinian territory,
expand Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, collapse the
Palestinian Authority, and inflict a decisive victory over the Palestinian
enemy. Yet Netanyahu can help improve ties with Washington by
engaging in a quiet dialogue with the White House, away from the
public eye, in which he clarifies his policies, explains the limits on the
power of his ministers, and demonstrates that he is willing to improve
the lives of the Palestinians while still countering rising terrorism in the
Palestinian territories and in Israel.
NETANYAHU’S RUBIK’S CUBE
Netanyahu does not have to join with Biden on every issue. The two
politicians lead different countries with varied interests: sometimes
their paths will diverge. Yet such differences are at play in almost every
alliance based on shared values, and they usually do not preclude close
cooperation. If Netanyahu can make tradeoffs with Washington, his
and Biden’s disagreements do not have to impede their partnership.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Some of these tradeoffs could be reciprocal. Netanyahu’s government,
for example, could decide that Israel will increase its contribution to
the United States’ innovation base, improving Washington’s position in
its technological competition with Beijing even if Israel itself does not
begin competing with China.
Israel could also denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and help the
latter protect against Russian attacks and Iranian arms. In exchange,
the United States and Israel could work jointly against Tehran’s
regional aggression and weapons proliferation, including by building a
plan for military action if deterrence fails. Israel’s new policies on
Beijing and Moscow would have to be carried out carefully in order to
protect Israel’s economic ties with China and its interests in Syria and
elsewhere. Yet the course correction would be worth it should it result
in help from Washington.
And in many cases, the agreements between Israel and the United
States would be mutually beneficial. By expanding the Abraham
Accords to include Saudi Arabia and making the agreements more
44
durable, Washington could provide better regional security while also
fostering a pro-American coalition that would be less amenable to
Chinese and Russian influence in the Middle East. By avoiding more
escalation with the Palestinians, Netanyahu could decrease the danger
to Israel’s own population and help Washington (and other countries)
focus on Iran instead of the Palestinian territories.
None of this will be easy. Netanyahu is faced with a political and
strategic Rubik’s cube. To achieve his international goals—containing
Iran and normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia—he will need strong
support and understanding from Washington, which in turn requires
taking steps opposed by his radical coalition partners both domestically
and on the Palestinian front. But ultimately, to solve the most critical
face of the cube, Netanyahu must prioritize coming to terms with the
United States. No matter how angry Israeli officials may be with
Washington’s overtures to Iran or criticisms about Israeli domestic
politics, the United States is indispensable to Israel’s safety and
security.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
 Vocabulary in context
1. Ironclad - very strong and cannot be changed
2. Fraught - filled with anxiety or tension
3. Hesitated - paused before saying or doing something because of
uncertainty or unwillingness
4. Consternation - feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at
something unexpected
5. Coax - persuade someone gradually or gently to do something
Phrasal verbs:
1. Facing off against - confronting or competing against someone
2. Legalizing outposts - to make something legal or acceptable,
especially when it was previously forbidden or disapproved
3. Building in settlements - to construct homes or structures in a
specific area, typically a place where people live permanently
45
4. Pass judicial reforms - to put a new law or system into effect
that affects the court system
5. Curtailing its regional aggression - to limit or reduce its
actions in a specific area
Idiomatic expressions:
1. Right-wing - a political belief or movement that supports
conservative or traditional values and opposes social or political
change
2. Undermining Israel’s independent judiciary - to weaken or
damage the power of the court system that operates independently
of the government
3. Aflame - in a state of intense emotion or activity
4. Joint military exercises - a training exercise or practice
conducted by two or more countries' military forces together
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Why Asia – and the World – Must Stand with Ukraine | The Diplomat
Elbegdorj Tsakhia
Elbegdorj Tsakhia is currently the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow at Stanford University.

Outlines of the articles

Title: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom and Global Support

I. Introduction Kremlin causing devastation and suffering to vulnerable populations

Russian authorities committing genocide against their own citizens
Ukraine will rebuild and celebrate freedom and peace Ethnic minorities used as cannon fodder for Kremlin’s special operation
Belief in the power of freedom and unity against authoritarianism Free-minded people in Russia catastrophically diminished

II. The Power of Freedom V. Mongolia’s Historical Example

Dictators offer limited solutions and opportunities that only benefit themselves Mongolian support of the Soviet Union during World War II
Putin’s fear of a free Ukraine as a threat to his regime Mongolia’s stance against Putin’s attack on Ukraine
War between autocracy and democracy raging worldwide Call to support those fighting for their right to exist

III. Global Support VI. Conclusion

Ukrainians fighting for their right to exist and be free Need for global support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom
Global support necessary and unconditional Reminder of historical examples of solidarity in the fight against oppression
Ukrainian victory will bring encouragement to freedom-loving people worldwide

IV. Evils of the War

46 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Ukraine will be glorious again. To the wounded hills of Ukraine, life
will be returned. The destroyed homes and streets will be rebuilt.
Separated families and loved ones will be united. Ukraine will celebrate
freedom and peace along with the rest of the world.
I have great trust in standing together as one, totally united. I have a
firm conviction in the power of freedom. No power, authoritarian
dictator, or militant junta can stand against the will of people
determined to be free. The voice of the people and their resolve are far
more powerful than any gunfire. Freedom is non-negotiable when it
faces extermination.
Freedom is an opportunity for all; despots offer solutions and
opportunities that only comfort themselves. They claim they bring
justice, but their justice is selective. They dictate their chosen way of
life to others. In truth, they worry more about the regime’s and,
ultimately, their own survival and longevity. Dictators are usually
desperate, servicing their corrupted web of crooks and pleasing the
vultures that are flying around them.
I know Vladimir Putin does not tolerate freedom. I have sat with him
on many occasions. He despises differences and competition. He fears
a free Ukraine. As a deep narcissist, he cannot abide more successful
and prosperous neighbors. He envisioned that a free, civil Ukraine
could represent a grave danger for his regime.
The Russian aggression against Ukraine did not happen out of the blue.
It was a pinnacle of long-fought rivalries between ideas of freedom and
fists of suppression. The dimensions of this war are much broader,
longer, and more profound than the geographical bounds of Ukraine.
The fiery frontline runs throughout Africa, Asia, America, and the
47
Middle East. This war is raging between the free world and the
suppressed, between autocracy and democracy.
Many ask why most Asian countries tend to have a neutral position
compared to Europe. The answer is simple: All they can do is watch
with a heavy heart. Sadly, the continent of Asia is also full of self-
proclaimed rulers. In most cases, Asian governments lack legitimate
representation.
Ukrainians are fighting not only for their country, but they are also
fighting for our right to exist and be free. Their fight is global. As a
result, our support should be global and completely unconditional.
Ukrainian victory will bring unprecedented encouragement to all
freedom-loving people on this planet. Autocrats everywhere will be
knocked down and devastated. If Russia prevails, however, dictators
will march in full swing.
We all must contribute as we can.
The evils of this war have no limit. The Kremlin is bringing devastation
and suffering to the most vulnerable: children, elders, and families.
This horror is not solely present in war-torn territories; it is also found
in Russia itself. The Russian authorities are even committing a
genocide against their own citizens.
Putin’s so-called partial mobilization brought fear and tears to the most
vulnerable. The ethnic minorities who live in Russia are
disproportionately drafted and thrown to the frontline.
The Buryats, Kalmycks, Tuvans, and other marginalized minorities
have been used as cannon fodder. The remote regions where ethnic
minorities live have almost run out of military-age men. By local
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
accounts, the Kremlin is committing textbook ethnic cleansing under
the umbrella of its “special operation.”
In addition, the outspoken and brightest in Russia are mostly silenced.
In any nation, free-minded people are fundamental to offering
differences and better solutions. But, unfortunately, this very part of
society in Russia has catastrophically shrunken, if not dried out. The
remaining brave people in Russia are still fighting against corruption
and the deeply intimidating war while facing torture and jail.
Therefore, the world is not against the Russian people but against the
Kremlin’s kleptocracy and atrocities.
Some observers are disappointed with Asian countries’, including
Mongolia’s, stance on the war against Ukraine. Due to its geography,
tightly squeezed between Russia and China, the government of
Mongolia is forced to perform a balancing act. However, public opinion
in Mongolia is resolutely against the brutal attack against the sovereign
nation of Ukraine.
 In this regard, I would like to remind the world of a historical
example. When Nazi leader Adolf Hitler attacked the Soviet
Union, the people of Mongolia united against this fascist invader.
They showed solidarity with the Soviet people and spared
nothing. Nomadic herders sent more than half of their livestock
to the Soviet Union. A quarter of all the horses on the frontline
during World War II came from Mongolia. In the days following
the war’s end, it was not rare to see a skinny but sturdy Mongol
horse standing together with victorious Allied forces in the ruins
of Berlin.
48
Horses were logistical lifelines, moving heavy equipment and weaponry
through mud and rough terrain, including mined ground. In
challenging circumstances, Mongolian horses were at times the only
means of transportation – and sometimes a much-needed source of
nourishment. Mongolian herders supplied over half a million horses to
the Soviets.
When Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, Mongolians stood with
their northern neighbor as best as they could. When Putin’s Russia
attacked Ukraine, from day one, the people of Mongolia stood against
the brutal invasion. My point here is: Do what the Mongols did. Offer
support and contributions to those fighting for the right to exist.
Sadly, most of the decisions by the West are always one step behind
Russian aggression in terms of supporting Ukraine. Ukraine’s
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, from the first days of the war, asked
not for an escape plane but for more weapons. War-torn Ukraine is still
begging for fighter jets and longer-range missiles.
Ukrainians are paying the ultimate price for freedom. They are
suffering, shedding blood, and sacrificing everything precious to them.
Ukrainians are fighting to restore the damaged world order. They are
fighting day and night to secure global peace and freedom.
U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz might
have time to wait, but a wounded Ukraine does not.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
There is no time to wait in the face of this blatant aggression and
destruction. Ukraine needs aircraft and missiles to delete, deplete, and
defeat the invading forces. Putin will only stop fighting once he
exhausts all his arsenals. And Russian aggression will only stop with its
defeat.
As one family, as humanity, we all must support Ukraine because its
people are paying the ultimate price. We must stand shoulder-to-
shoulder with Ukraine, not only until its total liberation but also until
its complete rebuilding.
Vocabulary in context
Watch with a heavy heart: Observe with sadness and regret.
Out of the blue: Suddenly, unexpectedly.
Stand against: To resist or oppose.
Knocked down: To defeat or bring down.
Run out of: To exhaust or use up completely.
49
No one in this day and age should ever attempt what Putin is doing in
Ukraine. As a result, Ukraine’s victory is a non-negotiable for the global
community, to prove that war is obsolete.
If Ukraine stops fighting, freedom and the free world will face
continuous intimidation and further extermination. However, if
Ukraine is victorious, freedom will prevail. The whole of humanity will
pass the test of time and the test of dignity. The free world has no right
to lose.
Shrunken: To become smaller in size or number.
Balancing act: To manage or cope with two difficult situations at the
same time.
Spare nothing: To make every effort, to do everything possible.
Standing together: To work together or be united.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
ChatGPT in China's Tech Ecosystem Looks Very Different | Foreign Affairs
Rishi Iyengar
Rishi Iyengar is a reporter at Foreign Policy.
Outlines of the articles
Title: The Battle of Chatbots: US and China’s Race in Artificial Intelligence
I. Introduction
 ChatGPT is a popular AI chatbot developed by OpenAI based in California and used by
more than 100 million people worldwide.
 Microsoft invested multibillion dollars in OpenAI to integrate the technology into
Bing, and Google is developing its own chatbot.
 Chinese tech companies such as Baidu, Alibaba, and JD.com have developed chatbots
of their own, and China has been investing in AI capabilities since 2017.
 However, US-China tensions on the technology front may be shrinking the room for
collaboration between the two countries.
II. ChatGPT and China’s AI Ambitions
 China aims to become a “global innovation center” in AI by 2030.
 The competition and collaboration between US and Chinese scientists and companies
on AI have taken place through labs set up by companies such as Baidu, Tencent, and
Alibaba in Silicon Valley.
 Beijing’s AI “Sputnik moment” occurred in 2016 when a Google AI program defeated a
Chinese grandmaster in the board game wei qi.
 Graham Webster of Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center says that defining the
chatbot moment in overly nationalistic terms can be misleading, as OpenAI is a
company with its own values and ambitions.
III. National Differences in AI Regulation
50
 OpenAI’s Chinese counterparts will have to hew to Beijing’s rules on how the product
affects national security, which may require content moderation or censorship.
 China views AI as a critical technology that requires a regulatory framework, whereas
the US tends to approach AI as an added element of already regulated sectors.
 ChatGPT has not been made available in China, and Beijing has reportedly restricted
Chinese tech firms from using or offering its services to the public.
 The Chinese government is attempting to justify ChatGPT restrictions and broader
censorship by depicting it as part of the broader US-China rivalry.
IV. Challenges and Opportunities for Chinese Tech Companies
 Baidu’s chatbot Ernie was trained on English-language information from Wikipedia
and Reddit, which are both blocked in China.
 Companies operating in China’s tech space are used to navigating government
regulation and censorship requirements on their other products.
 Beijing will also likely use AI to produce propaganda and fake news at speed and scale
that may not be possible with people.
V. Conclusion
 US-China tensions on the technology front may limit collaboration in AI development.
 ChatGPT and Ernie represent a competition between the US and China in AI, but
defining it as a nationalistic race can be misleading.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
  Chinese tech companies face challenges in navigating government regulation and
censorship requirements, but they also have opportunities to innovate and create AI
products that can benefit the world.
If you are reading this on the internet, then you’ve probably heard of
ChatGPT. The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, made by California-
based company OpenAI, has taken the world by storm. More than 100
million people around the world are estimated to have used it in the
two months since it launched, and Microsoft has made a “multiyear,
multibillion dollar investment” in OpenAI to integrate the company’s
technology into its search engine, Bing (with some initially frightening
effects). Google is developing its own chatbot named Bard.  Howell, who researches technology and national security at the
The furor around ChatGPT and similar alternatives has prompted a
scramble in China’s tech sector to join the party. Baidu, China’s leading
search engine, said it plans to roll out its “Ernie Bot” in March while
other Chinese tech giants, such
as Alibaba and JD.com, announced chatbots of their own.  ChatGPT is a far cry from the kind of tech that has traditionally been
China has spent years developing its artificial intelligence capabilities,
outlining its ambitions in a 2017 plan that sought to make the country a
“global innovation center” in the field by 2030. Those goals have
engendered competition but also collaboration between U.S. and
Chinese scientists and companies, including through labs that the likes
of Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba have set up in Silicon Valley. But as the
relationship between the world’s two largest economies becomes
increasingly adversarial—particularly on the technology front—the
room to work together on technologies such as artificial intelligence
may rapidly be shrinking. The Biden administration’s restrictions last
October on the export of advanced semiconductor chips to China,
51
aimed in part at China’s AI capabilities, was a major broadside in a
relationship that has only become more acrimonious. 
 The 2030 goal was set months after what could be described as
Beijing’s AI “Sputnik moment,” when a Google AI program beat a
Chinese grandmaster at the ancient board game wei qi, also
known as Go. “That really set off China’s AI revolution,” said Sam
Center for a New American Security. 
But defining the chatbot moment in overly nationalistic terms can be
misleading, said Graham Webster, a researcher and editor in chief of
the DigiChina Project at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy Center.
developed in U.S. government labs. “I don’t think that one should view
ChatGPT as a win for the United States in some kind of race,” Webster
said. “OpenAI is a company, but it is not the United States. … It has its
own ambition and values that may sometimes align with most
Americans and may sometimes not, and it’s simply not directed by
national interest.”
But national wrinkles still play a big part. OpenAI’s Chinese
counterparts will have a different calculus because of Beijing’s often
restrictive tech regulations, its vast censorship apparatus, and its
broader government control of the private sector. In China, generative
AI will have to hew to Beijing’s rules on how the product affects
national security, Webster said. 
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
“So there’s an automatic responsibility, essentially, to conduct what
you could consider content moderation or censorship—it’s frankly
both,” Webster added.
There’s also a major difference in how China approaches regulation of
artificial intelligence, according to Paul Triolo, senior vice president for
China and technology policy lead at the Albright Stonebridge Group,
adding that the United States tends to approach AI as an added
element of already regulated sectors.
 “Chinese officials on the other hand view AI as a critical
technology that requires a regulatory framework, both to control
the negative aspects of AI algorithm deployment but also to
provide technology companies with a clear sense of where the
regulatory lines will be drawn to encourage innovation in the
sector,” Triolo said.  “They’re basically fake news generators, so they can be used to generate
ChatGPT has not been made available in China, and Beijing
has reportedly restricted Chinese tech firms from using or offering its
services to the public. The Chinese government is attempting to justify
ChatGPT restrictions and broader censorship in China by depicting it
as part of the broader U.S.-China rivalry, said Angeli Datt, who
researches Chinese censorship at free expression group PEN America.  equipment needed to make them—to Chinese companies. Those chips
“When really, it’s the sheer fact that uncensored and free information
outside of the firewall counters Chinese Communist Party propaganda,
misinformation, and disinformation” about any number of sensitive
issues, like human rights in Xinjiang, Datt said.  “The restrictions will take time to bite, as Chinese organizations and
An official at the Chinese Embassy in Washington said Beijing is
focused on keeping AI useful and safe.
52
“China is committed to building a community with a shared future for
humanity in the domain of AI and efforts to advocate a people-centered
approach and the principle of AI for good, ensure that AI is safe,
reliable, controllable, and capable of better empowering global
sustainable development and enhancing the common well-being of all
humanity,” the official wrote via email. 
Ironically, Baidu’s chatbot Ernie was trained on English-language
information from Wikipedia and Reddit, which are both blocked in
China. “It’s going to be a difficult balancing act for Chinese companies
to find ways to use generative AI technology without running afoul of
Chinese censors,” said Paul Scharre, who recently wrote Four
Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
Beijing will also likely use AI to produce propaganda, Scharre said.
state propaganda or fake news at speed and scale that may not be
possible with people.” 
More impactful than Beijing’s censorship regarding China’s ability to
develop its AI ecosystem could be U.S. export controls last year that all
but cut off the sale of the most advanced semiconductor chips—and the
are crucial to the development of advanced AI models, and the export
restrictions could be the “biggest single impact of U.S.-China
technology competition on China’s AI development,” Triolo said. 
firms have stockpiled some chips. But over time, if Chinese companies
cannot find workarounds, they will be at an increasing disadvantage in
terms of training AI algorithms on cutting-edge hardware,” Triolo
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
added. “This is particularly the case with large language models, which “China has made significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) in
are best trained on the most advanced hardware.” recent years, and its capabilities in this area are rapidly advancing,” the
chatbot told Foreign Policy, referencing China’s aforementioned 2030
Not unlike the fight over global leadership of other advanced benchmark. “China’s strengths in AI include natural language
technologies, such as 5G mobile networks, there is more at stake than processing, computer vision, and machine learning. The country has
leadership in technologies that can write clever texts on demand.  made significant progress in developing AI-powered applications for
various industries, such as healthcare, transportation, and finance,” it
“Competition over AI—and emerging tech broadly—carries added. It wasn’t all praise though: The bot also called out China’s
consequences that extend beyond the digital domain. A country that “policies and initiatives aimed at collecting and analyzing large
leads in AI is going to reap significant economic benefits and also gain amounts of data, which has raised concerns about potential misuse and
a national security advantage,” Howell said. “What’s at stake here is not infringement on privacy.” 
just who leads in artificial intelligence but also who sets the rules for
how it’s going to be used around the world—so democratic values and “Overall, China’s AI capabilities are rapidly advancing, and the country
the concept of open societies are at stake in the AI race.”  is poised to become a major player in the global AI landscape,”
ChatGPT said. “However, it will be important for China to address
What does ChatGPT itself think about China’s AI capabilities? concerns about privacy and ensure that AI is developed and used
responsibly.”

53 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

 Vocabulary in context
1. ChatGPT: an AI chatbot created by OpenAI, a California-based company.
2. Multiyear, multibillion dollar investment: Microsoft has made a
significant investment in OpenAI to integrate the company’s technology into its
search engine, Bing.
3. Artificial intelligence (AI): a field of computer science that involves
developing algorithms and models to perform tasks that would usually require
human intelligence.
4. Bard: a chatbot being developed by Google.
5. Ernie Bot: a chatbot created by Baidu, China’s leading search engine.
6. Silicon Valley: a region in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, known
for being a hub of technology companies and startups.
7. Advanced semiconductor chips: computer chips that use advanced
technology to process data faster and more efficiently.
8. Wei qi: an ancient board game also known as Go.
9. Nationalistic terms: terms used to describe something in a way that is
overly focused on a particular country or nation.
10. DigiChina Project: a research project at Stanford University’s Cyber Policy
Center that focuses on technology and digital innovation in China.
54
11. Generative AI: AI that is capable of creating new content, such as text or
images.
12. Content moderation: the process of monitoring and controlling user-generated
content on an online platform.
13. Censorship: the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films,
news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to
security.
14. Albright Stonebridge Group: a global strategy and business advisory firm.
15. Propaganda: information that is biased or misleading, usually with the aim of
promoting a particular political cause or point of view.
16. Regulatory framework: a set of rules and regulations governing a
particular sector or industry.
17. People-centered approach: an approach that puts the needs and well-
being of people at the center of technological development.
18. AI for good: the use of AI to solve social and environmental problems and
promote positive change.
19. Xinjiang: a region in western China that has been the subject of controversy
due to allegations of human rights abuses
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
55 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Forests, trees as carbon offsets | Dawn
Aijaz A. Nizamani: The writer is a retired secretary of the forest & wildlife department and ex-chief conservator of forests.
Outlines of the article
I. Introduction
A. Advocacy for sustainable economic development by ecologists and
environmentalists
B. Balancing development with the well-being of the planet
II. Unsustainable development and carbon dioxide emissions
A. Massive carbon dioxide emissions from countries and companies
B. Cumulative emissions from 1850 to 2021 exceeding 2.5 trillion tonnes
C. Increased awareness and preparedness to address carbon dioxide emissions
III. Disproportionate impact on poor countries and communities
A. Rich countries responsible for climate disaster
B. Poor countries and communities bearing the brunt of unsustainable development
C. Examples of climate change impacts in Pakistan and increased risks for vulnerable
populations
IV. Fossil fuels, temperature rise, and existential threats
A. Historical use of fossil fuels and the Industrial Revolution
B. Rapid temperature rise and its impact on global temperatures
C. Warning of unhabitable regions in the future, including South Asia
D. Areas in Pakistan already experiencing extreme heat, such as Mehar and Kachho
56
V. Response from policymakers and businesses
A. Leadership influenced by climate science
B. Pledges and commitments for net-zero emissions by various countries
C. Business strategies for progressive reduction of emissions and net-zero plans
VI. Addressing existing greenhouse gases and nature-based solutions
A. Challenges of reducing trillions of tonnes of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
B. Embracing nature-based solutions and the role of trees and forests
C. Carbon offsets and the economic value of trees in the international market
D. Sindh government's example of carbon offset transaction from a mangrove forest
E. Technology-based options like Direct Air Capture (DAC) and Carbon Capture and
Storage (CCS)
VII. Synergy between technology and nature-based solutions
A. Collaboration between technology and nature-based approaches
B. Utilizing computing power, satellites, and monitoring mechanisms for afforestation
C. Importance of forests for sustainable agriculture in Pakistan's economy
VIII. Conclusion
A. Need for new business models and enabling policies for investments in forestry
B. Recognizing the urgency to address the climate crisis and pursue sustainable
solutions
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
ECOLOGISTS and environmentalists have, for many decades,
advocated for sustainable forms of economic development. The world
has been on an expansive yet destructive development path over the
last century. While there can be no denying the benefits to humanity of
this rapid development and economic expansion — particularly after
1850 and the discovery of oil — environmentalists have been rightly
arguing that improving humanity’s living standards need not be at the
cost of the planet.
Unsustainable development and carbon dioxide
emissions:
The most glaring manifestation of unsustainable development is the
carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 40 billion tonnes a year which
countries and companies have been pumping into the atmosphere.
These make for cumulative emissions of over 2.5 trillion tonnes from
1850 to 2021. Finally, there now seems to be some hope, as both global
policymakers and business leaders are a little more prepared to
respond to existential risks associated with carbon dioxide emissions.
There can be no denying that rich people in rich countries have brought
the world to the brink of climate disaster. It is the poor people in poor
countries who have borne the brunt of their unsustainable
development.
The rains in Pakistan in 2022 were attributable to climate change.
Over a third of the country at one stage was under water, resulting in
several hundred casualties and the displacement of millions of poor.
57
Similarly, villagers beneath the glaciers in Pakistan’s north remain at
increased risk solely due to anthropocentric reasons.
We hear stories of entire villages being decimated by a moving glacier,
the risk of which has increased in a warmer world.
Fossil fuels, temperature rise, and existential threats:
Human civilisations have used fossil fuels for over a millennium,
starting with coal. Still, the Industrial Revolution and the discovery of
oil changed the scenario rapidly. The world temperature, which had
been stable for hundreds of years, suddenly started rising with fossil
fuel-based economic expansion, creating an existential threat to
humanity. There has been a 1.28 degrees Celsius increase in average
global temperatures, and scientists have warned that parts of the globe,
including South Asia, will become unhabitable over the coming few
decades. In Pakistan, areas like Mehar and Kachho along the right bank
areas of the Indus, which were flooded last year, are already routinely
above 50°C in summer.
Led by climate science, policymakers and businesses are responding to
the emissions issue.
Response from policymakers and businesses:
The good news is the world at last seems to be grappling with the
challenge. Led by climate science, policymakers and businesses are
responding to the emissions issue. Voters in the democratic world are
pressuring their leaders for concrete action. The world is on the path of
zero emissions over the next 50 years. OECD members like the US and
EU have pledged to be net zero by 2050, China by 2060 and India by
2070. Similarly, businesses are strategising net-zero plans whereby
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
their emissions would be progressively reduced to zero, corresponding
to host country pledges.
Global leaders are currently grappling with the question that, even in a
net-zero world, trillions of tonnes of greenhouse gases will still be in
the atmosphere. There has to be a policy and business case to take
these emissions back from the atmosphere and store them in trees or
the geological locations where they were taken from.
Addressing existing greenhouse gases and nature-
based solutions
The world is looking at nature-based solutions. What we learned in
primary school is that trees and plants, while growing, absorb carbon
dioxide and emit oxygen into the atmosphere. There is a major rush of
businesses investing in raising forests which would sequester carbon
dioxide and allow investing companies to offset their emissions (or
trade them) against forest-based carbon offsets. This new science and
economics model places a monetary value on a tree in the form of the
carbon stored in it while it is alive and which can be traded as a carbon
offset in the international market. The price of a carbon offset can vary
— as low as $10 a tonne to over $100, considering the offset’s quality
(which is basically documentation and transparency).
The Sindh government has completed one such transaction through
Sindh Forest department, whereby a carbon offset from a mangrove
forest in the Indus delta has been sold to international buyers. This is
such a novel approach that some of Pakistan’s generalist policymakers
initially thought the companies would cut and remove the forest to take
carbon out of it and complete the transaction! The reality is the amount
raised, which runs into millions of dollars each year, will ensure more
58
investment in raising forests and for the betterment of local
communities. The transacted forest will not only continue to stand and
grow but also give more carbon offset revenue for the next 60 years to
the government.
Synergy between technology and nature-based
solutions:
Scientists and technologists have also created technology-based
options for what is called ‘Direct Air Capture’ or ‘Carbon Capture and
Storage. Currently, the world’s largest DAC system has a capacity of
only 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (imagine that against emissions of
40bn tonnes) and costs well over $1,000 per tonne. Compared to that,
nature-based solutions or forest-based removal costs are just a few
dollars a tonne, and it comes with immense biodiversity and
community benefits. However, we should not underestimate human
ingenuity: technology-based carbon removal costs will eventually come
down, as we have seen in the case of computing power and the cost of
solar energy.
As public policy, it should not be about technology versus nature-based
solutions. The two should reinforce each other. The vast computing
power we have today and technologies like satellites can be hugely
helpful in afforestation, monitoring and verification mechanisms to sell
carbon offsets.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s economy is overwhelmingly dependent on irrigation and
raising deep-rooted trees like the Kikar, which removes excess water
through higher evapotranspiration rates. The 2022 rains reminded
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
farmers that agriculture cannot be sustainable without forestry in viable proposition. New business models and an enabling policy are the
irrigation plains. This crisis has created unique international and local need of the hour.
convergence that makes investments in forestry on private farmlands a

59 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Barometer of change | Dawn
Aijaz A. Nizamani: The writer is
Outlines of the article
I. Introduction
A. Significance of the Pakistan Economic Survey as a flagship report on the economy
B. Recognition of climate change as a cross-cutting subject in the survey
II. Lack of integration of climate change into development goals
A. Climate change as the foremost development challenge
B. Insufficient mention of climate change in most chapters, excluding the chapter on
'Energy'
C. Climate risks' impact on development costs, productivity, GDP growth, and poverty
levels
D. Limited efforts to link sectors with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
III. Inadequate attention to climate change in specific chapters
A. Chapter on 'Growth and Investment' lacking actionable points for the national
economy
B. Chapter on 'Agriculture' overlooking climate adaptation despite flood losses
C. Missed opportunities in the chapters on 'Manufacturing and Mining', 'Fiscal
Development', 'Capital Markets and Corporate Sector', and 'Trade and Payments' to
address mitigation costs, alternative technologies, energy transitions, and carbon
tariffs
60
D. Neglected aspects in chapters on 'Public Debt', 'Transport and Communication',
'Information Technology and Telecommunication', and 'Social Protection' related to
mobilizing capital, sustainable transport, air quality, innovative technologies, and
local-level disaster relief institutions
IV. Limited progress in addressing climate change
A. Only the 'Energy' chapter refers to Pakistan's commitments and adherence to
environmental guidelines
B. Incomplete reporting on the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)
C. Emphasis on planned initiatives without clear links to the NCCP or NDC
V. Conclusion
A. Need for greater attention to climate change in the Economic Survey
B. Importance of integrating climate change into development planning and
investment priorities
C. Opportunities for growth and investments through a low-emissions and resilient
development pathway
D. Call for leveraging the climate ministry's mandate and capabilities in addressing
climate change in the survey
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
THE Pakistan Economic Survey is a flagship report on the state of the
economy. The latest for 2022-2023 was issued last week by the
Ministry of Finance. It provides the most authoritative information and
commentary on the overall performance of the country’s economy,
macroeconomic trends, and such indicators as GDP growth rate and
the rate of inflation. The Economic Survey has recognised climate
change as a cross-cutting subject. How well is it integrated into the
country’s development goals? This is an important question,
particularly since the national economy is still bleeding from the big hit
of $30.13 billion it took in July last year, owing to the flooding
triggered by the erratic monsoons.
Lack of integration of climate change into development
goals:
The Economic Survey measures the degree of integration of climate
change into the country’s development planning. Climate change has
emerged as the foremost development challenge. It goes beyond
humanitarian and relief services, spearheaded by the National Disaster
Management Authority and its provincial counterparts.
It is no longer just about the speedy disbursement of cash that the
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has been charged to
undertake. It is now certainly more than a task of rehabilitation and
reconstruction under the failed rubric of ‘build back better’, for which
the nation still has no risk transfer or insurance mechanisms in place.
Clearly, climate change now takes centre stage when it comes to
proactively planning for resilience development — to build climate-
smart communities, infrastructure, ecosystems and economy.
61
Inadequate attention to climate change in specific
chapters:
This year’s Survey has 17 chapters, including one on climate change.
Except for the chapter on ‘Energy’, none of the remaining chapters has
mentioned climate change, let alone engaged in such issues as
adaptation and mitigation, technology transfer, or climate financing.
None of the chapters has highlighted how climate risks are adding to
the cost of development, reducing productivity, stunting the GDP
growth rate and raising commodity prices and inflationary trends,
while pushing people below the poverty line. In fact, except for Chapter
10 on ‘Education’, there were hardly any efforts to link other sectors
with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Limited progress in addressing climate change:
The very first chapter on ‘Growth and Investment’ records climate
change as a “threat to future global economic growth”, but this
pedagogical statement is not translated into action points for the
national economy in this or any subsequent chapter. Climate change
indeed poses several threats, but it also offers many opportunities for
growth and investments. The chapter has, however, not acknowledged
how it has stunted economic growth or what opportunities it offers for
investment if the country decides to follow a low-emissions and
resilient development pathway. The chapter has not only set the
direction for the Economic Survey, but has also failed to capture the
heartbeat of the global development discourse and national
vulnerabilities and investment priorities.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Climate change has not been given the attention it deserves in the
‘Economic Survey’.
The second chapter on ‘Agriculture’ also shies away from any
reference to climate adaptation, even if the sector suffered a loss of
$12.9bn in last year’s massive floods. Food security hinges on following
what is called climate-smart agriculture. The changing weather is
impacting cropping patterns, yields and even the suitability of certain
crops, but the chapter has not referred to it. No lessons from the recent
flood losses have been drawn, no recommendations made, no future
direction set and no priority areas of investment identified. Ironically,
in analysing the challenges to agriculture and livestock, the chapter did
not even mention the role that women play and how acutely their
vulnerabilities have increased because of climate-triggered disasters.
The chapters on ‘Manufacturing and Mining’, ‘Fiscal
Development’ and ‘Capital Markets and Corporate Sector’ are central to
planning growth, mobilising the private sector, and accessing the
international climate finance. Yet, they missed an opportunity of
mentioning the costs of mitigation, alternative technologies and energy
transitions. Collectively, they failed to build Pakistan’s business case for
climate-compatible development. The chapter on ‘Trade and Payments’
narrowed its interest to “investment climate” but without factoring in
the emerging threats from some of Pakistan’s trading partners in the
shape of carbon tariffs or carbon intensity per unit of production.
Frequent disasters have begun to affect the affordability as well as the
availability of domestic and international finance. In discussing the
Pakistan Investment Bonds, the chapter on ‘Public Debt’ did not
provide any guidance on how to mobilise private capital or forge public
62
private partnerships to build upon Wapda’s experience with green
bonds for wastewater management or urban rejuvenation.
The chapters on social sectors, ‘Education’, ‘Health & Nutrition’ and
‘Population, Labour Force and Employment’ have maintained their
siloed approach and not explained how their delivery is impacted by
climate-induced migration, urbanisation, and demographic trends. The
chapter on ‘Transport and Communication’, oddly, makes no
references to the need for investments in public or mass transit
systems, cleaner fuels to reduce emissions, or how to improve air
quality for human health.
The chapter on ‘Information Technology and
Telecommunication’ draws attention to cybersecurity but not on
how to enable a better, safer, more sustainable future through the use
of innovative technologies. The chapter on ‘Social Protection’ has
shown how the delivery institutions needed for climate disasters are
still absent at the local level and how the role is given to the BISP that
was not designed to support natural disaster relief.
The chapter on ‘Energy’ is the only chapter that has specifically
referred to the commitments made by Pakistan in its Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDC). It claims to adhere to the
environmental guidelines of multilateral development banks that have
invested heavily in the sector and have spurred action through lists of
prior actions and Disbursement Linked Indicators.
Finally, the chapter on ‘Climate Change’, presents a long list of 20-plus
initiatives, but only three mentioning actual allocations. All other
projects, even if important, are only ideas in the pipeline. Instead of
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
reporting progress on the National Climate Change Policy or NDC, both
approved by the cabinet, more than two-thirds of the chapter has listed
a long list of planned initiatives without always linking them with
NCCP or the NDC.
Conclusion:
63
This includes the implementation of the National Clean Air Policy,
National Inventory for Short-lived Climate Pollutants, or initiatives
emanating from successful participation in COP-27, setting up the
voluntary carbon market, developing net-zero goals, and the Living
Indus Initiative. They all beg for space in other chapters of the
Economic Survey. Is this beyond the climate ministry’s mandate or
beyond its ability to leverage?
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Confrontation or co-existence | Dawn
Maleeha Lodhi: The writer is a former ambassador to the US, UK and UN.
Outlines of the article
I. Introduction
A. Recent military tensions between the US and China in the Taiwan
Strait
B. Efforts to stabilize the relationship amid the potential for inadvertent
conflict
II. Exchange of tough statements and messages
A. Near collision between Chinese warship and American Navy destroyer
B. Strongly worded statements during the Shangri La security dialogue
C. China's warning against Western militaries' presence in Chinese waters
and airspace
D. US defense chief's criticism of China's actions and call for military
dialogue
III. Attempts to reduce tensions and mend ties
A. Unannounced visit to Beijing by the CIA chief Bill Burns
B. Emphasis on maintaining open lines of communication in intelligence
channels
C. Planned visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing
D. Washington's desire to improve relations and economic strategy with
China
64
IV. De-risking vs. decoupling from the Chinese economy
A. G7's economic strategy to reduce dependence on China
B. Acknowledgment that complete decoupling is unrealistic
C. Criticism and dismissive response from China
V. Challenges and contentious issues
A. Differences and disputes over Taiwan, trade, technology, and military
postures
B. Red lines on Taiwan and warnings of intervention from the US
C. US efforts to contain China through alliances and technology
restrictions
VI. Future trajectory and potential risks
A. Varying assessments on the intensity of competition and tensions
B. Potential for unintended descent into war through miscalculation
C. Importance of coexistence and addressing core concerns for stability
VII. Conclusion
A. Need for the US to be less insecure about China's rise
B. Importance of China's responsiveness to core US concerns
C. The fate of the world depending on the ability of the two powers to
coexist
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
WHILE there has been a recent flare-up in military tensions between
the US and China in the Taiwan Strait, efforts have also been underway
by officials of the two global powers to stabilise the world’s most
consequential relationship. That Taiwan remains a dangerous
flashpoint in their confrontation was laid bare last week when there
was a near collision between a Chinese warship and an American Navy
guided-missile destroyer. This underscored what many countries in
Asia and beyond have long feared — an inadvertent drift into a conflict
that neither side wants but may be unable to avert in a region bristling
with heightened military activity.
Exchange of tough statements and messages
This prompted an exchange of toughly worded statements between the
top defence officials of the two countries. They used the platform of the
Shangri La security dialogue organised every year by a London-based
think tank in Singapore to send each other strong messages. The
statement by China’s Defence Minister Li Shangfu was especially sharp.
Referring to “navigational hegemony” being used on the pretext of
“freedom of navigation”, he warned of a “whirlpool of conflict” if
Western militaries did not stay out of Chinese waters and airspace.
For his part, the American defence chief Lloyd Austin assailed China
for risky aerial actions over the South China Sea and warned of a US
response to “threatening actions”, “bullying or coercion”. But he also
called for resumption of military dialogue especially in view of the fact
that Beijing turned down a bilateral meeting between Li and him in
Singapore until the removal of sanctions imposed on the Chinese
official for his role in the purchase of Russian weapons.
65
Attempts to reduce tensions and mend ties
Although this exchange of words only reinforced tensions. the
unannounced visit to Beijing last month by the CIA chief Bill Burns
marked an effort to bring down the temperature and mend ties.
Explaining the nature of the trip, a US official was quoted as saying it
aimed at emphasizing to his Chinese counterparts “the importance of
maintaining open lines of communications in intelligence channels”.
He was the highest-level official of the Biden administration to visit
China. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now expected to go to
Beijing in the coming weeks. His visit in February was called off amid
rising tensions.
De-risking vs. decoupling from the Chinese economy:
Washington’s desire to halt the slide in ties was also evidenced in the
statement by President Joe Biden at the Group of Seven (G7) summit
last month that he expected an imminent thaw in relations with China.
The summit’s May communique also laid out the US-led economic
strategy for ‘de-risking’, rather than ‘de-coupling’ from the Chinese
economy. The term is owed to Ursula von der Leyen, the European
Commission president, who used it a few months ago. She had said that
“it is neither viable — nor in Europe’s interest — to decouple from
China. Our relations are not black or white — and our response cannot
be either. This is why we need to focus on de-risk — not decouple”.
Challenges and contentious issues:
The notion is generally understood to mean business can continue with
China so long as dependence is reduced on the Chinese economy, and it
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
involves curbs on technology exports as well as diminishes China’s
control of global supply chains. In one sense, it is acknowledgement
that decoupling is an unrealistic goal. It may also be recognition of the
reluctance by America’s European allies, whose largest trading partner
is China, to be pushed too far in constraining their economic ties with
Beijing without harming themselves. But as several others have also
pointed out, the notion is imprecise and would be open to differing
interpretations by America’s alliance partners especially in
implementation. The Chinese, however, criticised the G7 statement and
were unmoved by the seemingly new strategy. Their response has been
dismissive, saying the change in nomenclature was meaningless as
actions still targeted China and aimed at its containment.
Future trajectory and protentional risks:
66
Although Biden and President Xi Jinping had agreed in their first in-
person meeting last November in Bali, on the sidelines of the G20
summit, to decelerate tensions and manage their competition
“responsibly”, that has been easier said than done. Differences have not
narrowed over the contentious issues and disputes that divide them —
Taiwan, trade, technology curbs and military postures. Indeed, both
sides then and later have been spelling out their respective red lines on
Taiwan. Although the US has repeatedly reiterated its commitment to a
One China policy, it has sounded warnings over what it sees as China’s
coercive posture on Taiwan. Biden has even told US forces would
intervene to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. The US
has also been cementing an anti-China coalition by its Indo-Pacific
strategy and through Quad, AUKUS security partnership and the Five
Eyes group. This has strengthened Beijing’s belief that the US under
Biden insists on pursuing a strategy to contain China, which has
prompted an assertive response from Beijing.
Washington is also engaged in a battle to maintain supremacy in
technology with an intense ‘chip war’ underway. It has imposed
sweeping measures to bar American companies and allied countries
from exporting chips and advanced chip equipment to China in order
to cripple its semiconductor industry, that manufactures chips and
circuits for modern electronics ranging from supercomputers and
smartphones to automobiles. These restrictions have further worsened
relations.
Conclusion:
Where does this dangerous confrontation leave the world’s most
important bilateral relationship? Assessments vary about its future
trajectory. Some experts see intense competition and tensions as
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
inescapable, while others warn that unmanaged competition can put
the two global powers on a collision course with unpredictable
consequences. Still others see the danger of an unintended descent into
war through miscalculation. As Henry Kissinger put it in a recent
interview with The Economist, “both sides have convinced themselves
that the other represents a strategic danger”. He rightly stressed that
the fate of the world depends on whether the two powers can learn to
coexist. But that in turn would depend on whether the US can persuade
itself to be less insecure about China’s rise. And equally important, on
how responsive an increasingly assertive China will be to core US
concerns.

67 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Unwinnable war | Dawn
Aizaz Ahmad Chudhry: The writer is
Outlines of the article
I. Introduction
A. Russia's military operation in Ukraine and the current state of the war
B. Exploring the genesis of the war and its underlying causes
II. Shared history and overlapping influences
A. Historical, political, economic, cultural, and familial ties between Russia and
Ukraine
B. Ukraine's interest in joining the European Union and NATO
C. Russia's concerns about NATO's eastward expansion and Ukraine's potential
membership
III. Escalation and conflict
A. Ousting of pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych and Russia's annexation of
Crimea
B. Russia's troop build-up and demands regarding NATO and Ukraine
C. Preparations for war and the fratricidal conflict that ensued
IV. Consequences and ongoing stalemate
A. Economic sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine from the West
B. Devastation, displacement, and rising costs for both Ukraine and Russia
C. Lack of readiness to cease hostilities and no end in sight
V. Missed opportunities for peace
A. Failure to address Russia's security concerns about Ukraine joining NATO
68
B. Unsuccessful attempts at peace negotiations during 2022
VI. Endgame and potential solutions
A. Russia's limitations and desire for an end to the war
B. Ukraine's need for peace to rebuild and repatriate displaced populations
C. The US's limitations and concerns about the war's implications
D. International community's concerns about the world economy and stability
VII. Negotiating an end to the war
A. Addressing Russia's security concerns
B. Reconciling Ukraine's aspirations with pro-Russia sentiments
C. The role of the West as a mediator to resolve the conflict peacefully
VIII. Concerns for Pakistan and the global implications
A. Pakistan's unfortunate timing with the invasion during a visit by the prime minister
B. Impacts of the war on Pakistan, including energy and grain crises
C. The importance of preventing larger countries from attacking smaller neighbors
and occupying territory
IX. Conclusion
A. Emphasizing the need to negotiate an end to the war
B. Addressing security concerns, reconciling aspirations, and mediating the conflict
C. Recognizing the global implications and the importance of a peaceful resolution
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
RUSSIA’S ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine, launched on Feb
24, 2022, is morphing into a long, drawn-out war. Initially, Russia
made substantial territorial gains, but the Ukrainians fought back and
liberated several regions of their country. Nearly a year and a half later,
the war is deadlocked. There are no prospects of either side securing a
decisive military victory. How will this war end? The answer might lie
in the genesis of the war and why it began in the first place.
Shared history and overlapping influences:
Russia and Ukraine have a shared history of political, economic,
cultural and familial ties. The Russians consider Ukraine as central to
their identity. However, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in
1991, Ukraine became an area of overlapping influence between Russia
and the European Union. With the EU admitting several countries
from Eastern Europe into its ranks, and Nato expanding eastward,
Ukraine became keen to join both organisations.
Escalation and conflict:
Initially, Russia’s leadership did not show much concern about Nato’s
eastward expansion, even though many in Russia and the West were
familiar with the quote “not one inch eastward”, attributed to US
secretary of state James Baker as an assurance to Mikhail Gorbachev in
February 1990. However, when Nato’s eastward expansion continued
in the direction of Russia’s borders, Moscow’s anxieties swelled, and it
sounded a warning that if Nato were to admit Ukraine into its ranks, it
would be a red line for Russia.
Consequences and ongoing stalemate:
69
Political developments in Ukraine further heightened Russia’s security
concerns. Pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych, who had
suspended association talks with the EU and revived economic ties
with Moscow, was ousted in 2014 through street protests. Within days,
Crimea was seized by Russia. Since the Ukrainian leadership continued
to express its intent to join Nato and the EU, Russia began to amass
troops along the border with Ukraine. In December 2021, Russia
demanded a “legally binding guarantee” that Nato would not admit
Ukraine as a member and scale down military activity in eastern
Europe. The US reiterated that the decision was the prerogative of Nato
and Ukraine. As the Russian troop build-up continued, President
Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine whipped up national sentiments to
prepare his country for war. The stage was thus set for a fratricidal war
in Europe.
After the Russian invasion, the West intensified its economic sanctions
against Russia while extending material support to Ukraine’s war
effort. Russia began to lean towards China. Meanwhile, the human and
financial costs of the war have been rising for all. Ukraine has been
devastated and millions of Ukrainians have been displaced. The conflict
is also taking a heavy toll on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
With neither side ready to cease hostilities, there is no end in sight.
Could the war have been averted? An opportunity for peace was lost
when Ukraine and the West failed to address Russia’s security concern
about Ukraine joining Nato. As mistrust deepened, several rounds of
peace attempts between Ukraine and Russia during 2022 failed.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Endgame and potential solutions:
There could be two possible explanations for Russia’s military venture.
One perspective is that Russia was provoked into invading Ukraine
because the West refused to address its security concerns. The other is
that this was Putin’s design to resurrect Russia’s glory and re-establish
its area of influence. Regardless, the question now is: what endgame do
the parties have in mind? Russia cannot annex Ukraine and would
welcome an end to the war because its own human and financial costs
are rising steeply. Ukraine cannot defeat Russia and needs peace to
reconstruct the devastated country and bring home the millions who
had to flee. The US cannot provide an endless supply of military
hardware, intelligence and training in a war that is not directly under
its control. The international community is also concerned about the
severe implications the war has for the world economy, particularly
energy and grain supplies.
70
The only reasonable solution is to negotiate an end to the war. Russia’s
security concerns should be addressed. Ukraine must accept the
ground reality and reconcile its desire to join the EU and Nato with the
pro-Russia leanings of a segment of its population. The West should
stop stoking a proxy war, and, instead, play the role of mediator to stop
hostilities and resolve issues peacefully.
Concerns for Pakistan and the global implications:
For Pakistan, Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine on the very day our
then prime minister was in Moscow as his guest was unfortunate. The
energy and grain crises triggered by the war have affected Pakistan as
well. Importantly, Pakistan should also be deeply concerned that the
war lends itself as a precedent of a larger country attacking a smaller
neighbour and occupying a part of its territory.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Artificial horizons | Dawn
Mahir Ali: The writer is

Outlines of the article

I. Introduction
A. Pervasive discussions on the risks and benefits of generative AI in Western news
outlets
B. Apocalyptic concerns and calls for regulation contrasted with skeptical viewpoints
II. AI's potential benefits within a different social and economic order
A. Naomi Klein's perspective on deploying AI for human benefit and planetary
protection
B. Highlighting the need for a transformative social and economic framework
III. Historical context of moral panic and technological innovation
A. Past instances of societal concerns and moral panic surrounding revolutionary
technologies
B. Examples: Gutenberg printing press, radio, TV, public internet, and social media
A. The profit-driven nature of capitalism and its implications for AI development
B. Greenwashing in the fossil fuel industry as an analogy to AI adoption
VIII. AI's potential in a society meeting essential human needs
A. Acknowledging the potential benefits of AI in reducing intellectual drudgery
B. Emphasizing the gap between the current reality and the realization of an AI-
enabled society
IX. Conclusion
A. The need to critically evaluate and regulate AI within a broader socioeconomic
context
B. Recognizing the challenges in harnessing AI's potential for the benefit of humanity

IV. Technological innovations as tools and their impact on humanity

A. The role of human use and application in determining the benefits or drawbacks of
technology
B. Examples of misuse: weaponization of radio, TV, and social media platforms

V. Risks and limitations of AI

A. Concerns regarding OpenAI's ChatGPT and reliance on unverified information
B. Recognizing the need to understand AI's limitations and possibilities

VI. Job displacement and socioeconomic implications

A. Historical parallels with the Luddite movement and fear of job loss
B. The impact of AI on various industries, such as copywriting, and the role of
capitalism

VII. The influence of neoliberal capitalism on AI adoption

71 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

OF late, it has become almost impossible to navigate a Western news
outlet without coming across an opinion about the risks posed by
generative artificial intelligence (AI), or its potential benefits.
AI’s potential benefits within a different social and
economic order:
All too often, the dangers are expressed in apocalyptic terms, with the
possibility of unregulated AI portending human extinction a common
concern among many so-called godfathers of AI. A public letter signed
by several tech overlords calling for a six-month ban on advancing AI
elicited a withering response from Stephen Marche, who plausibly
argued: “Silicon Valley uses apocalypse for marketing purposes: they
tell you their tech is going to end the world to show you how important
they are.”
Fellow Canadian writer Naomi Klein added sensible nuance: “There is a
world in which generative AI, as a powerful predictive research tool
and a performer of tedious tasks, could indeed be marshalled to benefit
humanity … But for that to happen, these technologies need to be
deployed inside a vastly different economic and social order than our
own, one that had as its purpose the meeting of human needs and the
protection of the planetary systems that support all life.”
Beyond the growing evidence that humanity appears to be creating the
circumstances for its own extinction anyhow, given the half-hearted
response to the threats posed by climate change, even a cursory survey
of the past serves as a reminder that almost every potentially
72
revolutionary technological innovation has been greeted with dismay
by a segment of society.
Historical context of moral panic and technological
innovations:
An associated moral panic in almost every instance can also be
discerned, going back to the Gutenberg printing press in the 15th
century. Almost 600 years later, concerned citizens are still railing
against published material, with books being banned in that self-
proclaimed bastion of freedom, the US.
The 20th century offered plenty of scope for such worry as radio and
TV disrupted the status quo, followed decades later by the advent of the
public internet and its multiple offshoots, from email to social media.
The thing to remember is that all these technological innovations,
developed through human intelligence or even genius, are merely tools.
Whether they benefit humanity depends entirely on how they are used
by human beings. The record over the past 100 years leaves much to be
desired. Most such tools are both useful to humanity and open to
abuse.
For many decades now, both radio and TV have been weaponised to
spew hatred and misinformation. Social media has descended from a
means of keeping in touch with friends into a tool for disseminating
rubbish. For many years now, I have wondered how Facebook’s
mysterious algorithms decide what takes priority in my newsfeed, given
that it bears no resemblance to what I would like to see first. Twitter
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
has become a key source for journalists, with all too many newspaper
outlets annoyingly not only quoting tweets but supplementing them
with screenshots.
Risks and limitations of AI:
Chatbots are not the only culprits, but they serve as a reminder that
variations of AI have been around for a long time. The latest moral
panic was sparked late last year by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which scours
the internet for data and then throws up unverified information. The
biggest risk lies in treating its output as the gospel truth, or the sum of
all human knowledge.
Advances are constantly being made, of course, and any reliance on AI
ought to recognise its limitations without ignoring its possibilities. It’s
useful to recall that the Luddites in 19th-century Britain revolted
against the automated loom because they rightly feared it would take
away their jobs. AI likewise threatens a range of jobs, and the process
has already been witnessed, with copywriters being made redundant
because of cost-free reliance on AI.
73
It boils down to what the Luddites were responding to: the fact that
capitalism afforded them no alternative paths to maintaining their
livelihood when technology disrupted their workplace. The dynamic
was not all that different in the following century, when their des-
cendants were thrown out of work because Margaret Thatcher’s regime
found cheaper alternatives to British coal in the 1980s.
Britain’s 1980s may not have particularly been associated with
technological advances, but that is not the point. The backdrop is
neoliberal capitalism. It will not find too many flaws with AI as long as
there are huge profits to be made, much as the fossil fuel industry relies
on greenwashing to cover up its continued reliance on gas, coal and oil
to generate billions of dollars in revenue, with precious little tax in any
jurisdiction.
Conclusion:
In a society where essential human needs are taken care of, AI could
serve as a phenomenal benefit for those engaged in intellectual
drudgery. But such a society remains a dream, and it’s far from clear
whether AI will help us get there.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Trade and Climate adaptation | Dawn
Ali Tuqeer Sheikh
The writer is an expert on climate change and development.
Outlines of the article
I. Introduction
A. Importance of adaptation to climate change for Pakistan's growing population
B. Lack of demonstrated capacity to adapt to climate change while increasing
adaptation and reducing emissions without compromising economic growth and
poverty reduction
C. Need for Pakistan to weave commerce and trade into its adaptation strategies and
mechanisms
II. The complex interaction between trade and climate change
A. The challenge of agriculture for food security
B. Rising temperatures and frequent disasters affecting food security and trade
C. Trade as an important buffer to manage supply and demand to avoid societal
disruptions
D. The role of strengthening environmental goods and services to enhance adaptive
capacities
III. Barriers to trade and climate adaptation in Pakistan
A. High tariff and non-tariff barriers
B. Random and contradictory policy instruments
C. Restrictive standards and certifications
74
D. Lack of technical capacity for environmental standards in concerned ministries and
departments
IV. Carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs)
A. Introduction of taxes on carbon
B. Effort to augment growing carbon trading in voluntary and regulated markets
C. Perception of CBAMs as an exercise in protectionism
D. Expected shift in demand towards less carbon-intensive products
V. Co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation for trade and commerce
A. Corrective measures in Pakistan's projected emissions to protect long-term trade
interests
B. Aiming for co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation for trade and commerce
C. Need for structural reforms to reduce loss, damage, waste, and system inequities
and inefficiencies
VI. Conclusion
A. Linkages between climate adaptation and trade
B. Need for Pakistan to build an institutional ecosystem to address trade and climate
adaptation barriers
C. Co-benefits that adaptation and mitigation ensure for each other and for economic
and social development
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
ADAPTATION to climate change is the defining element for the
subsistence (existence) of Pakistan’s growing population. While
Pakistan is repeatedly hit by climate disasters, it still has to develop its
adaptation plans and policies in sectoral policies at the national and
provincial levels. Small wonder that the cost of climate change is
constantly increasing and the country has not as yet demonstrated any
convincing capacity to adapt to climate change while increasing
adaptation and reducing emissions without compromising the twin
objectives of ensuring economic growth and poverty reduction.
Pakistan needs to weave commerce and trade into its adaptation
strategies and mechanisms to benefit from the nexus that exists
between trade and climate adaptation and mitigation.
The complex interaction between trade and climate
change:
Trade and climate change interact in several complex ways. Agriculture
typifies the challenge. It makes food security even more of a challenge
than it already is. As the recent floods in 2022 have shown, rising
temperatures and frequent disasters threaten food security and affect
cropping patterns and trade. Damage to standing crops in many areas
adversely affected not only our foreign exchange earnings, but also
increased pressure to import commodities to meet immediate
consumer demands, placing further pressure on our foreign reserves.
Such occurrences add to the price hikes and inflation. They add to
political instability. Let’s see if long-term and consistent responses can
be considered.
Trade adds to climate emissions, but can also contribute to climate
adaptation and mitigation. International trade plays an even larger role
75
in addressing food security in the changing climate: farmers require
better access to new and better markets, technologies, machineries,
and seeds — all this while meeting both adaptation and mitigation
objectives. Changing land use and deforestation for urban settlements
and agriculture have a direct bearing on Pakistan’s domestic commerce
and international trade. With negligible reserve and storage capacities,
trade offers an important, perhaps critical, buffer to manage supply
and demand to avoid societal disruptions.
Barriers to trade and climate adaptation in Pakistan:
Strengthening environmental goods and services to enhance adaptive
capacities can help reduce the cost of production as well as the cost of
doing business. Instead, there are still several barriers in the country.
Tariff and non-tariff barriers are typically high.
They are a victim of random and contradictory policy instruments. The
tariffs on renewable energy — for example, solar panels, wind turbines,
EVs — have frequently and abruptly changed several times in recent
years. In most instances, standards and certifications are restrictive
and the tariffs high on environmentally preferable products. If green
technologies are the hardware, the technical capacity for environmental
standards in the concerned ministries and departments is the software.
Since Pakistan’s share of regional and international trade has been
declining, the challenges ahead for these departments are even more
serious. The global move towards net-zero emissions will not wait for
them to prepare themselves to meet these challenges. Trade adds to
climate emissions, but can also contribute to climate adaptation and
mitigation.
Carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs):
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
New carbon border adjustment mechanisms, led mostly by the EU but
keenly followed by others, are on the horizon. They envision taxes on
carbon. There is a steady effort to introduce CBAMS, to augment the
growing carbon trading in voluntary and regulated markets. Many
countries continue to view CBAMs as an exercise in protectionism.
Still, they are expected to shift demand towards less carbon-intensive
products. In the meanwhile, the private sector’s business carbon-
management schemes and carbon-labelling initiatives are becoming
more widespread.
Studies have shown that this will result in diversification of trading
partners.
 For example, the recent introduction of green technology in
textiles in Bangladesh would give the latter an edge and stable
access to the international market compared to countries that
have not transitioned towards green technologies and fuels. For
many developing countries like Pakistan, it becomes imperative
to not only reduce carbon emissions in its production line,
transportation and packaging, but also introduce carbon
labelling. Most importantly, we have to keep an eye on emerging
trends set by trading partners and competitors who are exporting
similar products to similar markets.
According to the Nationally Determined Contributions in 2021,
Pakistan releases more emissions from agriculture and forestry than
from energy and industrial processes. In this context, energy and
manufacturing industries, together with transport, have a direct
bearing on the carbon intensity of products, as do livestock, agriculture
and land use for agricultural products. Some corrective measures in
76
Pakistan’s projected emissions will be in order to protect its long-term
trade interests. Assuming a fantastic nine per cent economic growth
rate, Pakistan’s NDC has projected 280pc growth in carbon emissions
between 2018 and 2030. The World Bank has recently estimated 7pc to
9pc GDP loss on account of climate-induced disasters or up to 20pc
GDP loss by 2050. This revisiting of the carbon value can give us
carbon competitiveness and an edge in access to such markets.
Co-benefits of adaptation and mitigation for trade
and commerce:
Specific measures to reduce emissions, as well as the suppressed rate of
economic growth over the last several years, will probably cut the exact
emissions’ growth rate to less than half the projected figures. But more
importantly, Pakistan needs to aim at co-benefits of adaptation and
mitigation for its trade and commerce, particularly since its agriculture
is part of its mitigation story. Almost half of Pakistan’s total emissions
come from agriculture and their growth rate is higher in comparison to
several comparable economies.
Ironically, the country’s adaptation policies are driven by three genetic
fallacies. First, Pakistan, as a developing country, needs to prioritise
adaptation and leave mitigation for the developed countries to worry
about. Second, Pakistan can achieve adaptation without undertaking
mitigation measures. Third, adaptation can happen on its own, without
mainstreaming in policy planning, resource allocations and
establishing local governments.
Conclusion:
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
The co-benefits that adaptation and mitigation ensure for each other, have progressed sufficiently in the last three decades to reveal the
and for economic and social development, can make way for much- linkages between climate adaptation and trade. It is time for Pakistan
needed structural reforms to reduce loss, damage, waste and system to build an institutional ecosystem to take advantage of the co-benefits.
inequities and inefficiencies. Climate science, politics and technology

77 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

A lesson from the Taliban | Dawn
Muhammad Aamir Rana The writer is a security expert.
Outlines of the article
Title: Pakistan's concerns about TTP's terror onslaught from Afghanistan and its implications for regional engagement
I. Introduction
 Pakistan's high-profile delegation led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif visited
Kabul on Feb 22 to convey concerns about the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP).
 Taliban showed diplomatic skills but did not deliver anything substantial,
similar to their dealings with the US and the world since signing the Doha deal.
 Pakistan delivered a cold message to the Taliban calling for stern action against
the TTP and warned of targeting TTP hideouts in bordering areas inside
Afghanistan.
 Taliban denied the TTP's presence in Afghanistan, but Pakistan presented solid
proof to contradict the claim.
 Mullah Baradar argued against allowing political and security concerns to affect
economic relations between the two countries.
II. Pakistan's approach towards Afghanistan
 Pakistan has been failing to use its leverage over Afghanistan in a progressive
way.
 Frequent border closures and restrictions on visas for Afghans prove
counterproductive.
 Afghanistan is both a challenge and an opportunity for Pakistan, and state
institutions need to change the challenges into an opportunity.
78
 A myopic approach involving either full cooperation or no cooperation will
complicate affairs between the two states.
III. Multi-level engagement with the Taliban regime
 Pakistan needs to engage the Taliban regime on multiple levels.
 Security cooperation should be the top priority, but progress on transnational
developmental cooperation and bilateral economic ties should go side by side.
 Afghanistan and Pakistan have been involved in talks related to barter trade,
and the scope can be expanded to trade in local currencies.
 State institutions need to accommodate new ideas in their broader policy
spectrum.
IV. Taliban's demands for financial assistance
 Taliban regime has demanded financial assistance from Pakistan to disarm and
relocate TTP militants from the border areas.
 State institutions must exploit such opportunities.
 Transformation process might be slow, but Pakistan can have a robust
engagement plan with the Taliban.
 Regional and international stakeholders, especially China, Iran, and the Central
Asian states, can be involved in certain initiatives.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
V. Implications for eradicating the use of religion or ideology for
political purposes
JUST a week before the third anniversary of the Doha Agreement, a
high-profile delegation from Pakistan led by Defence Minister Khawaja
Asif visited Kabul on Feb 22.
It was not there to greet the Taliban leadership but to convey Pakistan’s
serious concerns about the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),
which has intensified its terror onslaught against this country while
operating from Afghan soil. The Taliban received the delegation very
warmly, while displaying their diplomatic skills effectively but without
delivering anything substantial; they have been dealing with the US
and the world in a similar manner since they signed the Doha deal on
Feb 29, 2020.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, acting deputy prime minister of
Afghanistan who had signed the Doha Agreement on behalf of the
Taliban, led the negotiations with the Pakistani delegation. Reportedly,
Pakistan has delivered a cold message to the Afghan Taliban
leadership, calling for stern action to prevent the TTP from launching a
spring offensive inside Pakistan. Some media reports claimed Pakistan
had warned the Taliban that their failure to stop the TTP from
perpetrating cross-border attacks would leave Pakistan with no choice
but to target TTP hideouts in bordering areas inside Afghanistan.
The Taliban have also expressed their concerns with the visiting
Pakistani delegation about the US drone strike that killed Al Qaeda
chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul last year using Pakistani airspace,
and other border security-related affairs. As expected, the Taliban
79
 Pakistan must eradicate any minor symptoms left in its security doctrine
regarding the use of religion or ideology for political purposes.
 An ideological partnership works only when the interests of both stakeholders
coincide.
denied the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan. Pakistan has reportedly also
presented a file containing solid proof to contradict the Taliban claim.
However, an interesting argument came from Mullah Baradar that
Pakistan should not allow political and security concerns to affect
economic relations between the two countries.
The argument sounds familiar as India had once offered similar advice
to Pakistan, but Islamabad maintained its position that the Kashmir
issue be resolved first. Ironically, the Pakistani delegation conveyed to
the Taliban that bilateral cooperation in other areas, including the
resumption of TAPI, and railway projects, will depend on how the
Afghan Taliban address Pakistan’s concerns about the TTP presence in
their country.
Pakistan's approach towards Afghanistan:
Pakistan has been failing to use its leverage over Afghanistan in a
progressive way.
No doubt, Pakistan’s apprehensions about the TTP presence in
Afghanistan are genuine, and direct and formal communication over
the issue with the Taliban regime is the right strategy. But showing a
rigid approach and conditioning security issues on economics reflects
the same policy mindset that has produced little in the past.
The Taliban have remained the Pakistani establishment’s blue-eyed
boys for a long time. Pakistan also takes the credit for delivering them
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
to the negotiating table in Doha. As it appears now, Pakistan had very
high expectations but the Taliban’s policies have shattered that
delusion, triggering frustration among the architects of its Afghan
policy. Here, state institutions made a similar error, and despite
focusing on new approaches to deal with the emerging challenges, their
attitude has been based on knee-jerk reactions. Security and foreign
policy are still exclusive domains, and neither parliament nor the
political parties have gotten involved in the process. The result is that
the Taliban’s image as a more pragmatic actor is growing.
Pakistan has been failing to use its leverage over Afghanistan in a
progressive way. Frequent border closures, and restrictions on visas for
Afghans, who want to visit Pakistan for treatment and trade and
transit, are proving counterproductive. Afghanistan is a challenge and
an opportunity for Pakistan at the same time, and it depends on the
state institutions to change the challenges into an opportunity. A
myopic approach involving either full cooperation or no cooperation
will complicate affairs between the two states.
Multi-level engagement with the Taliban regime:
Pakistan needs to engage the Taliban regime on multiple levels.
Security cooperation should be the top priority, but progress on
transnational developmental cooperation and bilateral economic ties
should go side by side for multi-level engagement that can help
accomplish difficult tasks.
 For instance, the Taliban regime has introduced a monetary
policy to regulate foreign currency and trade, hurting Pakistan’s
economy the most. Afghanistan and Pakistan have been involved
80
in talks related to barter trade, and the scope can be expanded to
trade in local currencies.
Dozens of ideas and options are available to address trade and transit
issues. However, state institutions do not work towards
accommodating them in their broader policy spectrum; if the state
gives some space to new ideas, these are spoiled by an inefficient
bureaucracy and mafias thriving on informal and illegal economic
structures.
Taliban's demands for financial assistance:
A few media reports also indicate that the Taliban regime has
demanded financial assistance from Pakistan to disarm and relocate
TTP militants from the border areas. Though the Taliban denied such
reports, if there is indeed some substance to them then the state
institutions must exploit such opportunities. This is another indication
that the Taliban know the value of non-state actors present on their
soil, and they may bargain with any international or regional actor in
return for favours.
One must not ignore the ideological bond between the Afghan Taliban,
TTP and Al Qaeda. The Taliban will try to find a solution to Pakistan’s
and others’ concerns without compromising on their ideology. The
hardliners within their ranks may oppose such initiatives, but their
strength can decrease if their regime secures some economic and
political interests.
Eradicating the use of religion or ideology for political
purposes
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
The transformation process might be slow, but Pakistan can have a
robust engagement plan with the Taliban, and regional and
international stakeholders, especially China, Iran and the Central Asian
states, can be involved in certain initiatives. All the neighbours can help
the Taliban dislodge their ideological burden. However, for Pakistan, it
is of utmost importance to eradicate any minor symptoms left in its
81
security doctrine regarding the use of religion or ideology for political
purposes. It gives false hope to the state and its people and kills
pragmatism.
What Pakistan can learn from the Taliban regime is that an ideological
partnership works only when the interests of both stakeholders
coincide. The rest is mere fallacy.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Intolerable tides | The Express Tribune
Eric Shahzar
The writer is Phd candidate.
Outlines of the article
Title: Accelerated Climate Change Driving Massive Scale Climate Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis

I. Introduction
 Ecological disruption leads to a significant increase in the number of climate refugees
 Climate change is expected to create more refugees than war
 Developing countries are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change
II. South Asia
 Pakistan: the number of climate refugees expected to skyrocket to 2 million by 2050
 Bangladesh: over 19 million people will become internal climate refugees by the end of 2050
 Maldives: rising sea levels threaten the existence of the world's lowest-lying nation
III. Africa
 Droughts, violence, and loss of agriculture activities in the Lake Chad region create a major humanitarian crisis
 Somalia faces a bleak future with piracy becoming common and fisheries on the decline
IV. The Need for Preparedness
 Governments and policymakers must invest in preparedness to mitigate future protection needs
 Waiting is not an option
V. Conclusion
 Accelerated climate change is driving displacement and exacerbating the vulnerability of those already forced to flee
 The ignored climate emergency is the most defining crisis of our time

82 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

With ecological disruption in place comes an intolerable tide of people,
forced to become refugees. In the future, more refugees will be created
by climate change, not war. Since 2018, a whopping 21.5 million people
have been forcibly displaced by climate-induced disasters such as
floods, storms, wildfires and extreme temperatures. While climate
trauma sees no boundaries, most shockwaves are now felt in
developing countries — which have contributed little to nothing to the
climate crisis we face today.
South Asia:
The number of climate refugees in Pakistan is expected to skyrocket
from 680,000 in 2020 to a whopping 2 million by 2050. Communities
in vulnerable situations, children, women, persons with disabilities and
those living in climate hotspots are disproportionately at risk from
adverse impacts of accelerated climate change. With fast melting
glaciers, torrential rains and floods becoming the norm, massive scale
climate-displacement remains on the cards.
Bangladesh, also called Asia’s next tiger, remains one of the most
vulnerable countries to accelerated climate change. According to World
Bank, more than 19 million people in Bangladesh will become internal
climate refugees by the end of 2050. Around 2000 climate-displaced
people move to Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, on a daily basis.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) states that around
70% of Dhaka’s slum-dwellers moved there fleeing some sort of
83
environmental shock. The question is: for how long will Dhaka, which
is already overpopulated, host climate refugees?
Another South Asian country which is most vulnerable to climate-
induced displacement is Maldives. Located in the Indian Ocean,
Maldives is the world’s lowest-lying nation, which indicates that rising
sea levels and soil erosion threaten its very existence. According to the
World Economic Forum, more than 80% of the country’s land area lies
at less than one metre above sea level. Rising seas will force out
millions to leave their homes, inevitably creating a massive climate
refugee crisis.
Africa:
While South Asia’s humanitarian crisis is expected to quadruple with
the making of climate refugees, another region which faces the same
fate is Africa. With extreme weather temperatures and lack of rainfall,
the African continent is facing record-breaking droughts on a daily
basis. With limited resources, fierce competition between local
communities is out in the open. What’s more disturbing is that violence
between Boko Haram, a terrorist organisation, and the Nigerian state
has dwindled agriculture production since 2009, sparking a major
humanitarian crisis. Ecological disruption, Boko Haram’s extremist
moves, extreme hunger, disease and poverty are converging on an
already vulnerable community in the Lake Chad region.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
As climate change gains momentum with chronic droughts and loss of refugees, who now look towards counterproductive means, such as
agriculture activities, more Somalians are moving towards piracy, piracy, as a source of livelihood.
violence in the Gulf of Aden region. Somalia’s once thriving illegal
fishing industry also witnesses a bleak future. Over the last 50 years, The Need for Preparedness:
the world has lost half of its coral reefs. It is crucial to point out that
Today’s ignored climate emergency is the most defining crisis of our
around 30% of the world’s fisheries depend on coral reefs. With the fish
time, impacting every region across the planet. Accelerated climate
count on a downward trajectory, Somalia inevitably faces a huge dent
change is driving displacement and exacerbating the vulnerability of
in its fishing industry, which is now forcing locals to move towards
those already forced to flee. Governments and policymakers must
piracy. With piracy becoming common and fisheries on the decline,
invest in preparedness to mitigate future protection needs and prevent
Somalia is moving towards a massive humanitarian crisis. It is evident
further climate caused displacement. We’ve already witnessed
that accelerated climate change is quadrupling the number of climate
destructive climate-induced disasters. Waiting isn’t an option anymore.

84 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

The depth of India’s strategic vision | Daily Tim
Sharjeel Siddiqiue
The writer is
Outlines of the article
Title: India's Great Leap Forward: Its Achievements, Leadership, and Lessons for Pakistan

I. Introduction
 India's current great leap forward in terms of its economy, infrastructure,
and foreign policy
 Domestic issues with Hindu nationalism and human rights violations in
Jammu & Kashmir
 India's strategic vision as a major player in the world
II. India's Revamp of Air India: A Major Development in the Aviation
Industry
 Tata Company's purchase of Air India for $2 billion and decision to buy
500 passenger planes
 The significance of this development in India's strategic vision for global
communication, travel, and technology
III. India's Role in Global Affairs: Presidency of G-20 and Influence of
Indian Diaspora
 India's upcoming G-20 summit and hosting of global events
 Influence of Indian diaspora in major world capitals
IV. India's Economic and Technological Achievements in the Last
Three Decades
85
 Dr Manmohan Singh's role in opening up India's economy to foreign direct
investment
 Eradication of poverty, illiteracy, and empowerment of women and youth
 India's IT exports, remittances, and tourism
V. Leadership and Ownership in India's Great Leap Forward
 Importance of leadership in shaping a country's destiny
 Contributions of S Jaishankar in India's foreign policy and strategic
thought process
 India's political stability and focus on governance and economy
VI. Lessons for Pakistan
 Differences in political stability and economic chaos between India and
Pakistan
 India's growing confidence in projecting its power in the world today
 The need for Pakistan to put its own house in order
VII. Conclusion
 India's achievements, leadership, and lessons for Pakistan
 India's position as a major player in the world today
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
A ‘great leap forward’ is being witnessed in India today in terms of its
vibrant economy, modernisation of its infrastructure and leadership
role in the realm of foreign policy. Barring its domestic fault lines
viewed in the context of Hindu nationalism and severe human rights
violations in illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir, the depth of India’s
strategic vision is able to neutralise negative images and focus on
transforming the country as a major player in the world today.
India's Revamp of Air India: A Major Development in the
Aviation Industry:
In January 2022, Tata Company of India bought Air India for $2
billion. Interestingly, the Indian government had nationalised Air India
after the partition when it was owned by Tata Company but after
around 70 years it purchased the same airline and decided to buy 250
airbuses and another 250 other passenger planes at a cost of $100
billion. Tata’s decision to revamp Air India by purchasing 500 planes in
coming eight years is a major development in world aviation industry
and reflects a great leap forward in India’s strategic vision to compete
internationally in major fields of communications, travel and
technology.
India's Role in Global Affairs: Presidency of G-20 and
Influence of Indian Diaspora:
Likewise, India holds the presidency of G-20, a major international
group of industrialized countries, and the group’s 18th summit will be
held in New Delhi on 9-10 September 2023. Whereas the G-20 Foreign
Ministers’ meeting held in the Indian capital in early March this year is
another opportunity for the sitting government to host an event of
86
global significance. How this surge in Indian diplomacy and economy
should be a lesson for Pakistan is not difficult to gauge.
India's Economic and Technological Achievements in the Last
Three Decades
India was way behind Pakistan in key economic indicators five decades
ago. Its currency was lower than Pakistan’s and its per capita income
along with economic growth rate lagged behind ours, but the ‘great leap
forward’ took place in 1991 when Dr Manmohan Singh took charge as
Economic Affairs Minister and opened up his country’s economy
attracting several hundred billion dollars of foreign direct investment.
Indian foreign exchange reserves which were less than $6 billion in
1991 are now more than $600 billion. PIA, which was world’s finest
airline 5 decades ago, has now touched the rock bottom with a debt of
$100 billion. Indian railways has the world’s largest network with high
speech trains connecting various cities. In 1984, Calcutta (now Kolkata)
became the first South Asian city to have underground metro train
which is now available in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
There is a long list of India’s achievements made in the last three
decades along with several hundred billion dollars worth of IT exports,
remittances and tourism.
India, like China, focused on the policy of self-reliance and a simple
lifestyle which paid off as the two Asian giants are the world’s second
and fifth largest economies. Eradication of poverty, illiteracy,
empowerment of women, youths and transforming majority of
population from liability to an asset made it possible for China and
India to influence global economy, technology and politics. The Indian
diaspora has had a notable impact on the policies of major world
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
capitals which is reflected in their placement in influential positions
like the US Congress as well as EU and NATO headquarters in Brussels.
The depth of India’s strategic vision which has transformed it as the
world’s fifth largest economy and an influential player in global affairs
is because of three main reasons.
Leadership and Ownership in India's Great Leap Forward:
First, it is not only Dr Manmohan Singh who is credited of countless
achievements in Indian economy but also its current Minister of
External Affairs S Jaishankar who is the brain behind his country’s
‘great leap forward’ in the arena of foreign affairs. From any stand-
point, it is the leadership which is responsible for either destroying or
making a country. Imbued with skills, competence, integrity and other
leadership qualities, Jaishankar, the son of former Indian strategic icon
K Subrahmanyam, has a major contribution to shaping his country’s
foreign policy and strategic thought process with an aim of countering
challenges and projecting India’s image and power in the world today.
It is because of Indian leadership since 1947 that military has not
usurped power and is under a civilian control. One can criticise the
Modi regime over its projection of Hindu nationalism and usurping the
rights of religious minorities, but its adherence to political process and
focusing on governance and economy is helping India take centre stage
in global affairs.
Second, ownership and strategic vision in transforming India as a
major power is a reality. In the last 32 years, like China, India has
managed to pull millions of people from poverty; modernize
infrastructure; provide opportunities in the field of information
technology; and focus on scientific education. As a result, if China is
87
world’s second largest economy, India is the fifth and is set to overtake
Japan and Germany to become the world third largest economy by
2029. Will India be able to maintain its current economic growth and
modernisation of infrastructure depends on its leadership both in the
government and in opposition.
Lessons for Pakistan:
Unlike Pakistan, where political stability has long been non-existent,
resulting in economic chaos, in India things are different where despite
cleavages, political parties do not compromise on the country’s
integrity and stability. Pakistan’s dismal performance in economy and
unabated political polarisation reflects its failure to put its own house
in order. Few years ago, the Indian PM in a public address challenged
Pakistan to compete in poverty alleviation, economy and governance
and ridiculed that his only western neighbour is unable to control
things in Sindh, Balochistan, K-P and in G-B. While there may be
exaggeration in India’s comparing with Pakistan but pragmatic public
perception does reflect New Delhi’s growing confidence projecting its
power in the world today.
 Buying 500 passenger planes for Air India in coming eight years
is just one example of the booming Indian aviation industry.
Manufacturing of electric buses and cars in order to offer clean
and cheap energy is another evidence of how innovation is
patronised by the Indian government in order to improve quality
of life of its people.
Conclusion: Third, individuals and institutions — with foresight,
vision, competence and clarity — brought about a miracle in India in
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
just three decades, transforming the country into the world’s fifth prejudices and unrealistic and negative perception about its perceived
largest economy. Facts on the ground should be the yardstick to judge 'enemy'.
the performance of Pakistan’s eastern neighbour rather than holding

88 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

IMF and the Future of Pakistan | Express
Sharjeel Siddiqiue
The writer is a Fulbright PhD candidate at Texas A&M University and a graduate of the University of Tokyo

Outlines of the article

Title: The Culture of Borrowing in Pakistan: A Vicious Cycle

I. Introduction  Pakistan owes the world $100 billion and will have to repay $70
 Pakistan's 13th balance-of-payments crisis since 1988 and 23rd IMF billion in the next three years
programme since 1958  Dependency on soft creditors leads to economic, social and moral
 The question of why Pakistan relies on financial help from other decline
countries  External locus of control perpetuates belief in lack of agency

II. Endemic Culture of Borrowing V. Long-term Solutions

 Pakistani society's tendency to live beyond means and rely on loans
 Little remorse for not repaying loans
 Envy towards personal success and financial independence
III. Diplomacy and National Success
 Diplomatic relations focused on borrowing money and maintaining
good terms with lenders
 National success measured by amount of foreign loans, deferred
payments and aid
IV. Growing Debt and External Locus of Control
 Tax collection remains low despite repeated identification of the
problem
 Imports are shrinking while consumer-oriented society continues to
import non-essential items
 The government needs to change the culture of borrowing and
promote entrepreneurship
VI. Conclusion
 Failure to address the problem could lead to exhaustion of lenders
 Pakistan's reliance on borrowing may become a case study of the
failure to address financial problems.

89 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

As Pakistan inches towards another IMF programme, in tatters with a
crippled economy, the hope to get long-term relief may just be a farce
for a country that is experiencing its 13th balance-of-payments crisis
since 1988 and is in its 23rd Fund programme since 1958.
Endemic Culture of Borrowing:
However, between all the panic of going bankrupt and having a fragile
sigh of relief at the expected IMF programme, the question lingers on
especially in the minds of cognitively active: Why do we beg? Has it
become our second nature as a society to make ends meet by relying on
financial help from other people? Why do we feel ourselves entitled for
help from the others and have an intrinsic aversion from work?
Discussions in the offices are no different where people spend the
entire day lamenting the skyrocketing inflation and their struggle to
make the ends meet. However, if you pass through any busy road in the
metropolitans of the country, the restaurants and malls will be found
filled to capacity. People in our society take loans to spend
extravagantly on things they do not need at all – a cultural mistake that
is costing us our peace of mind and self-respect at every level.
It’s endemic in our society that we don’t live within our means and are
always ready to extend our arms for asking financial help with almost
no intention to repay. People find it almost impossible to budget their
house expenses and don’t shy away from asking for loans and feel
almost no remorse for not paying them back.
90
On the other hand, personal success is always envied. Successful
businessmen are always termed materialistic, and the desire to be
financially independent is looked down upon. The buck unfortunately
does not stop at the individual level.
Diplomacy and National Success:
Our diplomacy is now seemingly focused on borrowing money and
maintaining good terms with potential lenders abroad. Even at the
national level, our success at home is gauged by how much foreign
loans, deferred payments and aid we can amass. The irony – this is
even celebrated!
Growing Debt and External Locus of Control:
Currently, Pakistan owes the world about $100 billion and has to repay
$21 billion to foreign lenders during the current fiscal year. And during
the next three years, it will have to return similar or larger amounts
each year totaling about $70 billion. So, what happens four years from
now? Will we have repaid about $90 billion to our creditors and owe
only $10 billion? Sadly, no. We have no resources to repay our lenders.
We will just have to try to borrow from one creditor to pay off another.
From the US to China, Russia to EU, and Saudi Arabia to Turkey; our
‘friendships’ are pinned on the anticipation of finding a soft creditor.
The tendency resulting in our economic, social and moral slip down the
hill.
It’s not hard to guess that with every passing year the country is going
to sink deeper into the quagmire of debts leaving us with no option but
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
to borrow even more loans. International Financial Institutions have
already slashed the projected growth of Pakistan in half in the coming
years, but no political seriousness is in sight.
This is a textbook example of what psychologists call an external locus
of control, referring to the belief in some individuals and societies that
they do not have agency over what happens to them, and that their life
outcomes are determined by external factors beyond their control.
Long-term Solutions:
Despite the repeated identification of the (same) problems, tax
collection has doggedly remained mired at around 10% of GDP for over
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seven decades. Imports are shrinking and our spending habits have
created a consumer-oriented society where we are importing
extravagantly non-essential items. Work is for the underdogs!
Way forward:
It’s time the government should look for a long-term solution of
changing a culture of living on borrowing, and promoting a friendly
perception in society for businessmen and entrepreneurs; else the
world will be tired of lending to us and someday Harvard Business
School may have a case study on us: why did they beg; despite no
apparent reason?
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Islam and the feminist movements | Express Tribune

Sharjeel Siddiqiue The writer is a consultant dentist and social activist.

Outlines of the article
Title: Islam and Feminism: An Unacknowledged Relationship

I. Introduction  Women accompanied men in battles and were part of decision-

 The feminist movement began in 1848 in New York, demanding
voting rights and gender equality
 The movement has spread globally and is divided into four waves
 Islam's contributions to feminist ideas and movements have often
been overlooked
making processes
 The Quran addresses humans, not just men, and emphasizes the
importance of knowledge and learning
 Islam grants property rights and heirship to women and shuns
discrimination based on class, creed, and color

II. Waves of Feminism IV. Good and Bad in Feminism

 The first wave called for voting rights, political representation, and
education
 The second wave called for an end to violence against women and
gender equality
 The third wave called for legal reforms and progressiveness
 The fourth wave called for an end to discrimination V. Conclusion
III. Islam and Feminism
 Prophet Muhammad's teachings and actions supported women's
rights and gender equality
 Khadija was the first believer and financier of Islam, and Sumaiya
was the first martyr
 Zainab binte Ali assumed leadership roles at Karbala centuries ago
 Some clauses of the fourth wave that promote delinquent behavior
contradict Islamic teachings
 Cultural affiliations may hinder understanding the true relationship
between Islam and feminism
 Islam's contributions to feminist ideas and movements are often
overlooked
 Understanding the true relationship between Islam and feminism
requires looking at authentic sources

92 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)

Year 1848 marked the inception of feminist movements as women
gathered in New York to demand voting rights. Suffragists went on
asking equal wages and an entire change of customary attitudes
towards women in political, social and economic spheres. The
movement gained support and has now spread globally — from
developed to developing countries — achieving significance.
Waves of Feminism:
Divided into four waves, the movement kept coming with new
postulates. In the first one, women called for voting rights, political
representation and education; for gender equality and end to violence
in the second one; legal reforms and progressiveness in the third; and
end to discrimination in the fourth. It is to wonder why Islam is not
accredited for pioneering these waves for it voiced for all the
aforementioned demands centuries earlier.
Mary Wollstonecraft is celebrated as the founder of feminism as she, in
1792, advocated for women education and civil rights through her
writings. But what seems bigotedly ignored in the pages of history is
that some 1,200 years before Wollstonecraft rose her voice for the
cause of women, a female child was even devoid of the right to live and
was buried alive just minutes after birth. And the revered soul who
fought and succeeded in its abolition goes unnoticed. In a society where
female infanticide was rampant, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon
him) prophesied heaven for the one raising daughters well and termed
them God’s gift.
Islam and Feminism:
93
Islam is often labeled as anti-feminist while it goes ignored that its first
believer and financier was Khadija and first martyr was Sumaiya. The
first wave of feminism centred around demands for women’s role in
legislation and leadership in the early 19th century, but history fails to
notice how Zainab binte Ali, a granddaughter of Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), assumed the leadership role at Karbala centuries ago. Two
amongst the few believers who took the pledge of allegiance at al-
Aqabah were women, meaning they were part of the decision-making
and pursuance. Women believers also accompanied men at wars, right
in the battlefield and in assistance or planning.
A prophet is by birth a prophet; however it is at a certain stage that he
announces prophethood. Therefore, all his life, he never goes astray;
hence his entire life serves as a role model. Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) worked for Khadija as a tradesman with impressive honesty.
This indicates the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) support for businesswomen
and how one should deal with them in all fairness — the foremost
demand raised in the second feminist wave.
Amongst the demands in the third wave was gender neutrality in
speech and writings. Words like mankind was successfully substituted
for humanity, chairman for chairperson, etc. Worthy to notice is that
the Quran, revealed 1,400 years ago, is throughout gender-neutral. It
generally addresses “Ya ayuhan naas” translating to “O humans” or at
other places it specifies its address on the basis of ideology i.e. “O you
who believe”, but never does it address as “O men”.
The Quran commenced with the word “read” and discussed paper and
pen right after. It has necessitated the believers to learn and says,
“Could those who don’t know be equal to those who know.” The Holy
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Prophet (PBUH) in a gender-neutral saying made it mandatory for
every believer to obtain knowledge. He would set public meetings with
believing women so he could teach them about the religion. He
rewarded freedom to war captives after they spent some time teaching
Muslim girls and boys and declared learning as virtue. The Prophet
(PBUH) prepared his wives and other believing women to be his
representatives in knowledge. He delegated the authority to convey on
his behalf and declared teaching an exalted profession.
Islam holds women in high esteem. The Quran uses the word “wahi”
for revelation and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a whole book. The
Holy Book says the Almighty had sent revelations to the mother of
Jesus and the mother of Moses. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH)
progeny is traced by his daughter Fatima who is held in towering
admiration. The Prophet (PBUH) would stand in her respect and
admonished the believers to seek his happiness in the happiness of
Fatima and vice versa.
For a mother, the Prophet (PBUH) said heaven lies beneath her feet.
For a daughter, the Prophet (PBUH) promised heaven. For a wife, the
Prophet (PBUH) said to men that the best amongst you are those who
94
are best to their wife. For a sister, the Prophet (PBUH) commanded
love and strictly ordered for her property rights to be taken due care.
Islam is first amongst the world religions to grant property rights and
heirship to women and safeguards it with all means possible.
The Prophet (PBUH) in his last address shunned all sorts of
discrimination on the basis of class, creed and colour. This has been in
the charter of demand of the black feminism.
Conclusion:
One must look into the authentic sources for accurate learning. It could
be that some cultural affiliations have hindered the viewing of the
rightful picture. Therefore, there could be no denying that it was
actually Islam that coined the feminist ideas. However, as any code of
conduct has yays and nays, similarly, the Quran ordains the good and
forbids the vices. Clauses of the fourth wave which speak on queer-
meaning delinquent behaviour are totally in contradiction and
therefore abandoned while the rest are but the voice of Islam.
It could be that some cultural affiliations have hindered the viewing of
the rightful picture.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
Unilateral modification impermissible under IWT | The Express Tribune
Maham Naveed
The writer is Chair, Lawfare & International Law at IPRI
Outlines of the article
Title: India Calls for Modification of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan
I. Introduction
 India issues notice to Pakistan to modify the Indus Waters Treaty
1960 (IWT) on January 25, 2023.
II. Background of the IWT
 The IWT was signed between Pakistan and India with the help of
the World Bank as a broker in 1960.
 The Treaty divided the water of the Indus Basin between Pakistan
and India according to Articles II and III of the IWT.
 Both countries are "under an obligation to let flow" the waters of the
rivers designated to the neighboring country.
III. Dispute Over Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects
 In 2016, Pakistan and India had a disagreement over the designs of
the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects.
 Pakistan made a request for empanelment of the Court of
Arbitration under Annexure G of the IWT, and India made a request
for appointment of a Neutral Expert under Annexure F of the IWT.
 The World Bank paused the dispute resolution mechanism of the
Treaty due to problems related to continuing with both processes
concurrently.
95
IV. World Bank's Decision and India's Response
 In April 2022, the World Bank decided to continue with both
empanelment of the Court of Arbitration and appointment of the
Neutral Expert.
 India responded by issuing a notice to Pakistan, calling for a
modification in the IWT and asking Pakistan to respond within 90
days.
V. Legality of Modifying the IWT
 The IWT can only be modified through another treaty drafted for
that purpose, with the consent of both Pakistan and India.
 The IWT is state-specific and binding on both states equally, with
no unilateral exit provision.
VI. Consequences of Unilateral Action by India
 If India unilaterally claims to have modified the IWT and refuses to
abide by any of its provisions, Pakistan will have recourse to the
Court of Arbitration.
 Unilateral action by India will have consequences beyond the legal
realm and must be answered politically
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)

On 25 January, 2023, India issued a notice to Pakistan, calling for the
modification of the historic Indus Waters Treaty 1960 (IWT).
Background of the IWT:
The water sharing arrangement was signed between the governments
of Pakistan and India, following negotiations spanning nine years
between the then newly formed states. Thirteen years after the
partition of the Indian subcontinent, the IWT was signed, with the
World Bank acting as a broker. The backdrop of this Treaty included
more than a decade of hostility and mistrust between both countries
amidst multiple other disputes that erupted following the creation of
Pakistan and India.
The water of the Indus Basin was divided amongst Pakistan and India
according to Articles II and III of the IWT. According to Article II,
India has been given the waters of the Eastern Rivers, which include
the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi. According to Article III, Pakistan has been
given the waters of the Western Rivers, which include the Indus,
Jhelum and Chenab. With regard to the waters of the other country,
both countries were “under an obligation to let flow” the waters of the
rivers designated to the neighbouring country.
Dispute Over Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects:
Following a disagreement on the designs of the Kishenganga and Ratle
hydropower projects, in 2016, Pakistan and India both made two
different requests to the World Bank. Pakistan made a request for
empanelment of the Court of Arbitration under Annexure G of the
96
IWT. This was followed by India’s request for appointment of a Neutral
Expert under Annexure F of the IWT. Although Pakistan’s request was
first in time, the World Bank decided to start both processes
simultaneously. However, due to problems related to continuing with
the two processes concurrently, in December 2016, the World Bank
“paused” the dispute resolution mechanism of the Treaty.
However, a settlement could not be reached between the two countries,
primarily owing to India’s intransigent behaviour. Thus, in April 2022,
the World Bank decided to continue with both — empanelment of the
Court of Arbitration and appointment of the Neutral Expert.
World Bank's Decision and India's Response:
As a response to this, two days before the hearing of the Court of
Arbitration in The Hague, India sent a notice to Pakistan, calling for a
modification in the IWT and asking Pakistan to respond to the notice
within 90 days. India has taken issue with the simultaneous processes
being initiated by the World Bank.
Legality of Modifying the IWT:
Legally, the IWT can only be modified, through another treaty,
particularly drafted for that purpose. Article XII of the Treaty, dealing
with termination and modification, clearly states that neither
modification nor termination can take place without the consent of
both Pakistan and India. Article XII(3) states, “[t]he provisions of this
Treaty may from time to time be modified by a duly ratified treaty
concluded for that purpose between the two Governments.” The Treaty
is clear that a modification treaty has to be drafted by both states and
then ratified by both, to change the IWT.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
It would be correct to assert that the IWT is not regime-specific, but
rather state-specific. It will not expire or be changed with regime
change. It is binding on both the states equally and offers no unilateral
exit provision. Therefore, so far as the question of IWT is concerned,
neither India nor Pakistan can unilaterally modify or revoke it unless it
consults with the other party and obtains its consent in the form of a
written agreement to that effect.
Consequences of Unilateral Action by India:
In the event that India unilaterally claims to have modified the IWT
and refuses to abide by any of its provisions, the effect of that will be
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that the Treaty will remain valid in its original form and a violation of
the Treaty would have taken place.
Legally, this would give Pakistan recourse to the Court of Arbitration,
as provided in Article IX and Annexure G of the IWT. The entire
dispute resolution mechanism will have to be followed to bring India to
task for violating the Treaty.
However, it needs to be understood that such a unilateral action by
India will have consequences that go beyond the legal realm and will
have to be answered politically as well.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
The last workforce | The Express Tribune
Farukh Khan
The writer is an Islamabad-based TV journalist.
Outlines of the article
The Denial-Based Immunity to AI's Potential Displacement of Human Workers
I. Introduction
 Discussion of a scene from the dystopian sci-fi TV series, Revolution, to
highlight the shock value of irreversible changes in our lives
 Explanation of the irreversible changes brought about by the internet and
smart machines
 Countless professions already displaced by technology
II. The Potential Rise of Artificial General Intelligence and
Tech Displacement
 AI's potential to replace human workers in jobs is of greater concern than
the potential rise of artificial general intelligence
 The human race's denial-based immunity to the prospect of tech
displacement is a recipe for disaster
 The need to demolish the facade of denial around the subject
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III. The Failure of Counter-arguments
 Simplistic counter-arguments that new jobs will emerge as old jobs
vanish do not hold water
 Lack of specificity in arguments and optimism is not a policy
IV. Inevitability of Displacement
 AI's evolutionary cycles are shorter than humans
 The customizability of AI when installed in bodies or exoskeletons
 Infinite reach of AI through mobile telecommunications and cloud
unlimited retentive and processing power
 AI's ability to turn every smart machine a part of its collective and
reproduce physically due to 3D printing
V. Conclusion
 AI will soon make the human race redundant
 Qualification of the assertion with reasons to be offered later
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
In the dystopian sci-fi TV series, Revolution, where an unknown
phenomenon causes the permanent shutdown of electricity worldwide
(implausible, bordering on stupid, I know), there is a scene which
merits mentioning here. The power has just gone out. Our protagonist
knows it is a permanent outage and lets his children finish the stored
ice cream with the full knowledge that they will never have it again. The
absolute finality of that scene gets to you. And the emotive appeal of
that scene is precisely the reason behind its inclusion.
And this shock value of this scene is exactly the reason why I brought it
up. In case you have not noticed, humongous and likely irreversible
changes have been occurring in our lives for the past three decades.
These changes have been driven by the internet and smart machines
like your phone, tablet or laptop. And these changes have already
gobbled up countless professions without raising any serious alarm.
The photoshop next door, which developed your pictures in dark
rooms, gone. The video store and the music record shop down the lane
vanished without a trace. Many bookshops disappeared from the face
of the planet. All of them were once considered permanent fixtures of
civilisation. When you are determined not to pay attention, come hell
or high water, you don’t.
The Potential Rise of Artificial General Intelligence and Tech
Displacement:
Today’s piece is a continuation of our discussion on the subject of AI.
As I have often pointed out, the potential rise of artificial general
intelligence, which you see in films, does not concern me much. We
have it on good authority that such an eventuality might be far away.
However, as I have repeatedly pointed out, the prospect of tech
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displacement certainly does. And it seems the human race has
developed denial-based immunity and is not too keen to pay much
heed. This is a recipe for disaster.
The Failure of Counter-arguments:
Since my piece “Ready to lose your job?” dated April 26, 2018,
appeared in this space, I have done everything to keep my readers
interested in the question. An interview with ChatGPT, the budding AI-
powered language model, last week seems like a culmination point of
this effort. Today, I want to demolish the facade of denial around the
subject. There are reasons for us to believe that no matter what we do,
workwise, the human race will soon be redundant. And there is no
rocket science about it. It looks like we, or at best, our children, will be
the members of the last active workforce. Dramatic pronouncement,
you say? Well, not quite.
I will offer reasons to qualify my assertion a bit later. For now,
however, I need to highlight how simplistic the counter-arguments are.
For the last five years, I have tried to read as many books, research
papers and articles on the subject as I could. The question was simple.
If machines took all our jobs, what would humanity do for a living?
Remember, in such a scenario, the employers would inevitably be
humans. Hence a small class of super-rich. But what would the rest of
us, the working people, do? In response, the researchers offer their
belief that new jobs would emerge. To advance this argument, they cite
the example of past transitions when humanity seemed just as clueless
or fearful.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
After the discovery of fire, the invention of agriculture, industrialisation
and finally, the cyber age, there were dire predictions about humanity
losing its utility, but that did not happen. Old jobs did vanish, but new,
better-paying jobs took their place, and as a result, humanity had more
leisure time and longevity. All true. But their operationalising of this
argument in our current study does not hold water. When they say new
jobs will most certainly emerge, the question then arises what kind of
jobs. This is where their arguments fail the test of specificity. Optimism
is not a policy. The previous transitions might have amended some
aspects of human life but never impeached its unique selling
proposition, the human mind. Fire, domestication of animals and
plants, mastery over industrial machinery and finally, computer
connectivity all seemed to complement human existence, not seek to
supplant it. That cannot be said about our current friends.
As if in a daze, we are next told that AI’s use in the economy will create
a boom. Since the business owners will make more money, they, in
collaboration with governments, will be able to offer regular
remunerations to all citizens. Capital idea. Except have you met any
entrepreneurs or politicians? Also, explain how this entire idea of an
economic boom will work when the workforce has been made
redundant and has no purchasing power. You amaze me.
Inevitability of Displacement:
Now a word on the inevitability of this displacement. Let me cite Max
Tagmark’s Life 3.0 again to remind you where we are on the
evolutionary scale. Life 1.0 is amoeba and such life forms that can
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neither reprogramme their hardware nor software. Life 2.0 are us. We
can change our software but not our hardware. Our eyes can’t zoom in
or out, and we cannot add more eyes to our bodies — the same for our
limbs or other parts. And since our brains are encased in our skulls, we
can’t augment them with more living tissue. Life 3.0 is AI. Its
evolutionary cycles are incredibly shorter than ours. It doesn’t need a
climate to breathe, and when installed in bodies or exoskeletons, it is
totally customisable.
But that is not all. Thanks to mobile telecommunication, it has almost
infinite reach, owing to cloud unlimited retentive and processing
power, courtesy internet of things, the ability to turn every smart
machine a part of its collective and an ability to reproduce physically
due to 3D printing. With all of this going for AI, do you really think it
will not be able to replace you in any job? You are told it will be cost-
prohibitive. Not really. Technology cost does not matter in an economy
of scale.
Since my last piece, Facebook has launched its AI-powered language
model called LLaMA. Google’s Apprentice Bard is taking long
evolutionary strides. Microsoft has incorporated ChatGPT into its
search engine Bing and now testing it in robots. At a time when all
humanity should be coming together to mull over its future, we are
busy fighting wars and spreading hate. Hate is one element that the
new technology should not be introduced to, but you know who cares
before the problem becomes too big. So, in other words, we are about
to be redundant. And judging by the priorities of our political overlords
doomed.
(ICEP Dawn Magazine)
101 (ICEP Dawn Magazine)