New Wave Pakistan

With 36 years of teaching English and interdisciplinary studies at City College San Francisco, Professor Abdul Jabbar joins host Amina Saqib to discuss the unprecedented surge in #islamophobia witnessed in recent weeks. It has been nearly two months since the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, causing global repercussions, particularly in the United States. Anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim s...

Steve Hanke, an American economist and professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, engages in a discussion with Nauraiz Rana regarding the economic performance of the United States as the year 2023 draws to a close. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. economy has been navigating challenging circumstances. Notably, as the largest economy globally and the second-larges...

Maryam Shabbir, an environmental expert, is joined by Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy at Climate Action Network International to analyze the key outcomes of COP28. They highlight the historic decision to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund on the first day while acknowledging certain flaws in the language around the fossil fuel transition. The conversation delves into crucial...

Michael Kugelman, an expert in foreign policy, joins Misbah Azam and Faraz Darvesh in a discussion about the recent visit of General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, to the United States. The visit, which extended beyond Washington included a meeting with the US Secretary-General in New York, marking a significant event given the considerable time since their last interaction. Desp...

Discussing cricket, football, hockey, and other sports involving Pakistan is truly enjoyable. In the 2023 sports roundup, Nauraiz Rana collaborates with Behram Qazi, an emerging sports journalist and sector expert. Pakistan cricket team engaged in various series, both home and away, yielding mixed results. Providing a holistic overview of Pakistan’s sports scene in 2023, the discussion delves into...

Since 2020, the Disinfo Lab, allegedly an independent entity, has disseminated reports accusing U.S.-based critics of Indian Prime Minister Modi. Despite claiming unbiased research, it's revealed to be run by an Indian intelligence officer aiming to discredit foreign critics of the Modi government. The Lab's material circulates widely among right-wing Indians, Hindu nationalists, and is en...

Faryal Shahzad is joined by Amina Masood, a human rights activist leading a petition to halt the crackdown on Afghans. In early October, Pakistan's interim government declared that all illegal immigrants must be repatriated within the month or face deportation. This has disproportionately affected millions of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers who have been residing in Pakistan for an extended...

Hosts Misbah Azam and Faraz Dervesh are in conversation with Dr. Ameena Zia, the founder of Blue Ridge Impact Consulting, delving into a recent congressional bill addressing human rights violations in Pakistan. The recently approved resolution, championed by a congressional leader from Georgia, signifies a positive stride in diaspora political involvement. The resolution begins by addressing the i...

Today's conversation with economist Nauraiz Rana (World Bank), and Rammal Hashmi delves into geopolitics and global alliances, with a focus on BRICS—the consortium comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Originally BRIC, coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill, it expanded in 2010 to include South Africa, challenging the established world order. Born out of...

Host Amina Saqib is joined by Prof. Junaid Ahmad, who teaches Religion, Law, and Global Politics and is the Director of the Center for the Study of Islam and Decoloniality, Islamabad, Pakistan. Children in Palestine are dying every 15 minutes, with schools and hospitals targeted. The Israeli Prime Minister claims these sites harbor Hamas, but doubts arise about the evidence. The discussion explore...

Ammar Ali Jan reflects on the challenges observed during his tenure in Pakistani universities, particularly at Government College and Punjab University. He shares his experiences witnessing the aspirations of brilliant young individuals from diverse backgrounds hampered by obstacles in education, extracurricular activities, and questioning authority. Ammar delves into the power dynamics on campuse...

Maryam Shabbir, an environmental expert, is joined by Harjeet Singh, Head of Global Political Strategy at Climate Action Network International to discuss the upcoming COP28. At COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, developing countries were finally successful in establishing the transitional committee for the operationalization of the loss and damage fund. The transitional committee met four times in a year a...

Harris Jalil Mir, General Manager of Islamabad United, joins Nauraiz Rana in reflecting on Pakistan's performance in the recently concluded cricket World Cup 2023. From a fan's perspective, it's undeniably disappointing for the entire nation, as cricket serves as a unifying force in Pakistan, with everyone eagerly anticipating this major event. However, from a sports marketing and mana...

Hosts Misbah Azam and Faraz Darvesh are joined by Dr Ameena Zia, professor of Political Economy and founder of Blue Ridge Impact Consulting, with a focus on sustaining policy matters; and Sumbul Aurangzeb, former head of district project of US congressman, Eddie Bernice Johnson, currently focusing on non-profit development of local politics. As the diaspora voice echoes in the U.S., a letter has b...

Harris Jalil Mir, General Manager of Islamabad United, joins Nauraiz Rana in reflecting on Pakistan's performance in the recently concluded cricket World Cup 2023. From a fan's perspective, it's undeniably disappointing for the entire nation, as cricket serves as a unifying force in Pakistan, with everyone eagerly anticipating this major event. However, from a sports marketing and mana...

Faryal Shahzad is joined with Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, a Pakistani diplomat and former ambassador to the US, Syria, Russia, and China, as well as former High Commissioner to India. He also served as the head of the UN Mission and special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Iraq and Sudan. He delves into the harrowing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, portraying it as a man-made apoca...

Sajid Tarrar and Faraz Darvesh join Misbah Azam to discuss the deeply distressing situation between Hamas and Israel. Israel's response appears to be disproportionately severe, with accusations of actions amounting to genocide, including attacks on hospitals, mosques, and churches – all considered categorical war crimes. Recent diplomatic efforts by the Arab League and OIC proved unsuccessful...

Fawzia Afzal Khan, a professor of English and former director of the Women and Gender Studies Program at Montclair State University, engages in a conversation with Amina Saqib on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. As we step into the second month of the Israel-Palestine conflict, there seems to be no resolution in sight, fostering a growing division. Those advocating for Palestine's cause are now u...

Al-Quds Hospital, managed by the Palestinian Red Crescent, is facing a critical humanitarian crisis. It has been isolated for six days, with roads destroyed and communication severed due to intense bombardments. Israeli forces are targeting ambulances and medical teams, making it perilous for healthcare workers to reach those in need. The hospital is running out of fuel, and urgent intervention is...

In this interview, Nauraiz Rana, an economist with the World Bank, engages with Jesse Franzblau, a senior policy adviser and vocal human rights activist, in an exploration of the complexities within the Israel-Palestine conflict. Against the backdrop of recent devastating attacks on residential complexes, Jesse delves into the nuanced narratives perpetuated by world leaders and the impactful impli...

Al-Quds Hospital, managed by the Palestinian Red Crescent, is facing a critical humanitarian crisis. It has been isolated for six days, with roads destroyed and communication severed due to intense bombardments. Israeli forces are targeting ambulances and medical teams, making it perilous for healthcare workers to reach those in need. The hospital is running out of fuel, and urgent intervention is...

There is deliberate and collective refusal to acknowledge and accept the cause of the ongoing violence which is rooted in Israel's brutal occupation and systematic subjugation of the Palestinians. Any omission of context from the prevailing mainstream narrative perpetuated by political and institutional actors, and Western media and politicians is shamefully misleading. In this video, we answe...

In his book, "Development Poverty and Power in Pakistan," Syed Muhammad Ali, a development anthropologist, delves into the political economy of Pakistan's agriculture. Collaborating with Naurain Rana in this interview, an economist at the World Bank, Syed Ali highlights key discoveries from his work. Pakistan's agricultural industry stands as a primary contributor to the GDP, acc...

Amina Saqib is joined by Professor Abdul Jabbar, who teaches English and Middle-Eastern Politics with a focus on Gaza-Palestine at the College of San Francisco and is a former professor of English at UC Berkeley. Dr Jabbar argues that Hamas, as the de facto authority in Gaza, has faced a complex set of choices over the years, driven by the unique challenges and circumstances of their situation. Si...

Amina Saqib is joined by Fawzia Afzal-Khan, a distinguished professor of English and former director of the Women and Gender Studies Program at Montclair State University. The discussion focuses on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's characterization of Gaza as a "city of evil" that serves to manipulate the laws of war. It's vital to recognize the humanity of every life l...