Avsnitt
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Uzair talks to Muhammad Faisal about the fallout from the recent terror attack in Kashmir and the options both India and Pakistan have moving forward. We talk about the nuclear stability risks in the region as well as potential off-ramps that can help deescalate the situation.
Muhammad Faisal is a Research Fellow at the University of Technology in Sydney and an expert in strategic stability and India-Pakistan relations.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:30 What led to this crisis?
15:40 Options for both sides
33:30 Off ramps and deescalation -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Adil Husain about his perspective on how AI is going to disrupt the labor market and create new opportunities for young talent in markets like Pakistan. Adil is an entrepreneur and strategist based in Washington.
You can read his full piece here - https://adilhusain.substack.com/p/the-real-ai-threat-is-a-27-year-old
If you want to get in touch with Adil, message him on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilhusain -
Saknas det avsnitt?
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In this episode, Uzair talk to Abdul Moiz Jaferii about the frivolous cases against journalist Farhan Mallick, who was arrested during Ramzan and given bail after Eid. We discussed the ways in which a process was used to deliver punishment against him, and how the state of Pakistan is moving towards criminalizing thought in the country.
Abdul Moiz Jaferii was part of the legal team that is continuing to represent Mr. Mallick in his ongoing cases. -
Uzair talks to Zahid Husain about the worsening security situation in Balochistan, which has led the army chief to assert that Pakistan must become a “hard state.” We discussed what can be defined as a hard state, and also try to understand the reasons for why Zahid Husain calls Pakistan a “predator state.”
Zahid Husain is an author and journalist who writes a weekly column for Dawn. You can read his latest column titled “A Predator State” here: https://www.dawn.com/news/1900408
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:40 What is a predator state?
15:10 The state’s colonial mindset
24:10 Difference in KPK and Balochistan
33:50 Anti-military sentiment in Punjab
38:10 Evolving views on military intervention -
Uzair talks to Adil Mansoor about the state of Pakistan’s agriculture sector and the outlook for the year. We focused on the wheat and sugar markets, whether deregulation is here to stay, and the ways in which farmers have dealt with collapsing wheat prices.
Adil Mansoor is an agriculture analyst and writes for Business Recorder Research.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:40 Water shortages
4:10 Wheat outlook
18:00 Food inflation coming back?
24:20 Sugar prices
36:50 Storage and supply chain issues
42:00 Market reforms -
Uzair talks to Arifa Noor about the mood in Islamabad after the Jaffer Express terror attack in Balochistan. We discussed the failures of Pakistan’s Balochistan policy, why political elites have continued to cede space to the military on key topics, and the decline in parliament’s standing over the years.
Arifa Noor is a journalist at Dawn and host of the TV show Newswise.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Jaffer Express fallout
13:10 PPP pushes back against canal projects
23:10 PTI and an opposition alliance
31:30 Media blackouts and conspiracy theories -
This episode focuses on the ongoing and worsening crisis in Balochistan, where militancy is rising and the political process shows no signs of improving. Rafiullah Kakar joins Uzair to explain what is going on in the province, the root causes of the insurgency, and why a number of political problems have added fuel to the burning fire in Balochistan.
Finally, Rafiullah also discusses his research on the structural and constitutional drivers of the core political economy issues in the province, with the conversation concluding on what can be done to alleviate the crisis in Balochistan.
Rafiullah Kakar is a policy analyst currently pursuing a PhD at Cambridge University, where he is seeking to understand the political economy of sub-national state capacity through a comparative study of education policy in two Pakistani provinces: Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
You can read Rafiullah Kakar’s paper that was discussed on the podcast here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14662043.2024.2382458
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Worsening militancy in Balochistan
17:10 Engaging with young political leaders
25:50 India’s role in the insurgency
32:20 Is the status quo secure?
36:10 Structural drivers of the issues
47:20 Devolution of power
56:00 Competition in politics -
This episode focuses on the latest developments in Pakistan’s startup and innovation ecosystem Uzair talks to Sarah Munir about the latest findings from invest2innovate’s 2024 Startup Ecosystem Report.
Sarah is CEO at invest2innovate and has over 15 years of experience in driving impact and fueling growth. invest2innovate supports startup communities in growth markets and has been working in Pakistan since 2011.
You can read the full report here - https://invest2innovate.com/ecosystem-reports/
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
3:50 Key findings and learnings
11:30 Learnings for young entrepreneurs
14:30 Learning for investors
17:20 Policy and regulatory issues
23:10 Cultural shifts around entrepreneurship
27:10 Critical thinking and innovation
30:00 Opportunities for growth
33:30 Going beyond maturity
37:08 Reading recommendations
Reading Recommendations:
- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
- Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
- Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark
- Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Qamar Cheema about Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities, including relations with Afghanistan and the United States. We also talked about whether Donald Trump will intervene in Pakistan’s affairs to help release Imran Khan.
Dr. Qamar Cheema is Executive Director of the Sanober Institute, a think tank based in Islamabad.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Afghanistan relations
18:20 Trump releasing Khan?
26:10 Pakistan-Iran relations
31:05 Erdogan’s trip to Pakistan
37:20 Chinese disappointment -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about the PML-N government’s economic performance over the last year. We talked about how IMF stabilization is the easy part, why generating growth risks creating the same problems for the country, and the ways in which business interest groups are advocating for a return to past policies.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:20 Performance review
8:10 Reasons for lack of reforms
20:30 Stabilization a big achievement?
29:40 SBP’s role in killing inflation -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Amir Husain about DeepSeek’s innovations in the world of artificial intelligence, which has been described as a “Sputnik Moment” by many in the technology world. We also talked about how DeepSeek achieved these innovations and what they tell us about China’s innovation ecosystem. Finally, Amir shares his view on export controls on cutting-edge technology and whether it helps achieve U.S. national security goals.
Amir Husain is a serial entrepreneur, veteran AI technologist, and author based in Austin, Texas. He has received widespread acclaim for his pioneering work, including Austin’s Top Entrepreneur award and inclusion in Austin’s 40 Under 40.
In 2013, Amir founded SparkCognition, now Avathon. Under Amir’s leadership, the company achieved a unicorn valuation, marking a significant milestone in its journey. As the Founder and Executive Board Member of this award-winning AI company, Amir led the firm as CEO from its inception until the end of 2023.
Amir has been awarded over 30 patents in AI and distributed systems. He serves on UT Austin’s Computer Science Board, NATO’s Innovation Advisory Board and the Board of Global Venture Bridge, fostering international entrepreneurial collaboration. He is the author of the best-selling book “The Sentient Machine,” a co-author of “Hyperwar: Conflict and Competition in the AI Century”, and has recently published “Generative Art”, “Generative AI for Leaders” and “Serious Machines.”
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:10 What did DeepSeek achieve?
19:20 US-China Chip Wars and Export Controls
33:10 Sputnik Moment and Choices for America -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Ankur Bhardwaj about India’s economic slowdown and its root causes. We also talked about what options the government has to stimulate growth through the budget, and the reasons why the Indian Rupee has been weakening in recent weeks. Finally, we touched on major structural reforms that are needed in India and whether the Modi-led BJP government can push them through.
Ankur Bhardwaj is Web Editor at Business Standard.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:30 Slowing growth in India
10:10 Navigating the budget cycle
14:50 Reform priorities
19:20 Promoting exports
23:30 Navigating the politics of reforms
26:50 Risks in the near-term -
In this episode Uzair talks to Ali Nazari about the current state of affairs in Afghanistan, the status of the resistance against the Taliban, and the ways in which the Taliban are allowing transnational terrorism to occur from Afghanistan.
Ali Nazari is Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF). Ali began his career in communications at Khorasan TV, hosting a weekly show on politics and current affairs in Afghanistan. He then was Director of Media Affairs for Abdullah Abdullah's 2014 presidential campaign. As tensions between the Taliban and the government grew amidst the drawdown of NATO forces from Afghanistan, Nazary served as a chief foreign policy advisor and a liaison between Ahmad Massoud and foreign diplomats up until his departure from Kabul a few days after August 15, 2021. Since then, Nazary has served as Head of Foreign Relations for the NRF.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:50 The NRF and state of play in Afghanistan
6:50 Life under the Taliban
12:40 Pakistan’s bet on the Taliban
17:40 How can Pakistan change its Afghanistan policy?
24:30 Regional strategy
29:50 NRF and Pakistan relations
38:40 Expectations from Trump administration
43:40 Reading recommendations
Reading recommendations:
- In the Name of my Father: Struggling for Freedom in Afghanistan by Ahmad Massoud
- Afghanistan: A History from 1260 to the Present by Jonathan L. Lee
- Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations: Pitfalls and the Way Forward edited by Huma Baqai and Nausheen Wasi -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Sardar Awais Leghari, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), about the recently announced incentives for electric vehicle charging in Pakistan because of which tariffs will be cut by almost 45 percent. We spoke about why this announcement was made and what impact Minister Leghari anticipates as an outcome of these policy incentives.
We also spoke about near-term reform priorities in the power sector for 2025 and the minister’s views on uniform and competitive pricing for electricity in Pakistan.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:39 EV charging incentives
8:20 Solar net metering
16:20 Reform priorities for 2025
20:50 Competitive pricing -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Amb. Asif Durrani about the state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and why they have soured. Amb. Durrani is the former special representative to Afghanistan and Senior Research Fellow at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute.
You can read his recent article here - https://stratheia.com/choose-between-pakistan-or-ttp/ -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about what 2024 was like for Pakistan’s economy and the outlook for 2025. We discussed how stability was restored on the economic fronts, its associated costs, and why no real reform has happened so far under the current setup.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:58 Stability restored
7:10 Finance minister’s performance
16:47 Investor confidence in Pakistan
23:20 Outlook for 2025 -
In this episode, Uzair talks Junaid Iqbal about his experience on Shark Tank Pakistan and the businesses that have excited him the most. We talked about valuations for businesses, the talent in the country, and the role Shark Tank can play in exciting next-generation talent in the country to be entrepreneurs.
We also talked about Junaid’s project @Pakistan&Counting, which is making excellent and nuanced content on business and economic topics.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:24 Shark Tank experience
9:45 Valuations for businesses
17:08 Pakistan & Counting
24:00 Pakistan’s power crisis and opportunity
38:45 Doing the right things in the economy
53:18 Conclusion
Links:
- https://www.youtube.com/@PakistanAndCounting
- https://youtu.be/rGioFk29o4U?si=yiIX43KfEZ9YTfZL
- https://youtu.be/_IhB6LkQXLU?si=MQk6N_QNbRr8ezv9
- https://youtu.be/5KX1uNFsvks?si=rdKmQJLGUQ5DkClY -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Zaigham Khan about PTI’s final call protest which ended in failure on November 26. We talked about the reasons for this failure, the current regime’s own weaknesses, and why the PTI and Imran Khan ought to reconsider their strategy.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:20 Politics of dharna
9:30 Failure of coalition building
14:40 Why didn’t people come out?
23:08 PTI’s mistakes
32:47 Establishment’s weaknesses
39:20 General Munir’s strengths
45:02 Conclusion
Recommendations:
Imran Khan’s interview where he accepts using the ISI: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/news/transcripts/read-imran-khans-full-atlantic-council-interview-on-failed-peace-with-india-pakistans-plight-and-his-own-fate/
Imran Ismail’s podcast with Kamran Khan: https://youtu.be/cYdfWto0Cqc -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Sunil Dahiya about the air pollution crisis in India and its key causes. We talked about what is being done to resolve this issue, why public pressure has not materialized in a big way, and how this current season marks an inflection point.
Sunil is founder of Envirocatalysts and has been conducting research and advocacy on air pollution and environmental improvements for years.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:20 Causes of the crisis
12:10 Vehicle testing and controls
18:20 Public pressure
30:10 What needs to happen
41:00 Reading recommendations
43:30 Conclusion
Reading recommendations:
- Choked by Beth Garner
- Breathless by Jennifer Niven
- Under the Dome (Documentary on YouTube) -
In this episode, Uzair talks to Mishal S. Khan about the ways in which doctors are incentivized to over-prescribe medications to patients in Pakistan. This is something many of us have known about anecdotally, but now we have research to tell us about how widespread this problem could be.
Mishal S. Khan is a Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK and Visiting Faculty at Aga Khan University, Pakistan.
Guest’s profile link - https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/aboutus/people/khan.mishal-s
More details about the study - https://www.patientsnotprofits.org
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
2:00 Key findings
6:50 Does ethics training help?
11:30 Local v. international companies
14:40 Methodology
18:10 Pressure by patients
21:00 Policy recommendations
24:50 What can individuals do?
28:39 Reading recommendations
Reading recommendations:
- Why we sleep by Matthew Walker
- Poems by Faiz - Visa fler
