Amna Nawaz's Blogs

  • Filling a gap in Pakistan’s school system

    KARACHI, Pakistan – No one is exactly sure how old Taimur Muslim is.

    A soft-spoken, lanky lad with a chipped front tooth and eyes undecided between green and gray, Taimur told me that school is his favorite part of the day, that he hates having to watch over his younger siblings at home, and that he wants to join the Army when he's older.

    "I’m not very good in classes," he said through a shy smile. "But I don’t want to be a loafer. Teacher says we musn't be loafers."

    Taimur

    Read More

  • Pakistan’s growing olive industry stymied by security





    From NBC's News World Blog

    ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – I came to Pakistan for the olives. I am on a fellowship from the International Reporting Project, and I am working on a story about an agricultural development project launching an olive oil business here.

    Pakistan is not in a region normally associated with olives. The Mediterranean Basin comes to mind, as do parts of North Africa and the Middle East.

    But olives, as I’ve learned, are a sturdy fruit. There are hundreds of

    Read More

  • A Man on a Mission: Former General Turns His Attention to Pakistan’s Educational System

    In determining their country’s future, I’ve heard Pakistanis joke that the “Three A’s “ rule: the Army, America, and Allah. The future of the country’s badly bruised education system may depend to some degree on all three, but so far it is an Army man who is making impressive strides.

    In the office of Quality Schools Foundation, an education-focused, non-profit based in Islamabad, I am greeted by this very man.

    At 72-years old, retired Lt. General Sabeeh

    Read More

  • Video: A Man on a Mission

    In determining their country’s future, I’ve heard Pakistanis joke that the “Three A’s “ rule: the Army, America, and Allah. The future of the country’s badly bruised education system may depend to some degree on all three, but so far it is an Army man who is making impressive strides.

    In the office of Quality Schools Foundation, an education-focused, non-profit based in Islamabad, I am greeted by this very man.

    In this video retired Lt. General Sabeeh Qamar-uz-Zaman

    Read More

  • ‘Sweet blessings’ and moon sightings in Pakistan

    LAHORE, Pakistan – Religious piety isn’t something you normally associate with McDonald’s. But during the holy month of Ramadan, everybody gets into the game.

    For one month every year, Muslims around the world fast from dusk-to-dawn during the ninth month on the Muslim lunar calendar. Every day, from sun up to sun down, millions aim to practice restraint by abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in anything in excess.

    It’s meant to be a time of

    Read More

  • Pakistan’s New Normal

    The rattling in the backseat is hard to ignore.

    After a few minutes, I ask my colleague, Shahid, about the noise as he drives us through the streets of Islamabad.

    “Oh that?” he says. “That’s just my AK.”

    It’s not the answer I expect. I swivel all the way around to confirm what I heard. On the floor, lying just behind the front passenger seat, is a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, or AK-47, its black metal frame rattling against the carpet as the car moves along. Why, I

    Read More

Your donation helps continue the IRP's work to inform the public about international issues.

Make a Gift

Are you a journalist?

Apply for a fellowship trip or a gatekeeper trip