Policy Perspectives (Volume 17, No. 2, 2020)

25 Dec 2020

Policy Perspectives (Volume 17, No. 2, 2020)

IPS Press, Policy Perspectives, Policy Perspectives Issues, Publications Comments Off on Policy Perspectives (Volume 17, No. 2, 2020) 0

Editor-in-Chief: Khalid Rahman
Editor: Dr Atiq-uz-Zafar
Volume: 17
Number: 2
Retail Price (Pak): PKR600
Annual Subscription: PKR1000
Export Price: $60 (per copy)
Annual International Subscription: $120

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The latest edition of peer-reviewed IPS’ flagship journal Policy Perspectives—disseminating the research carried out by IPS and its associates, and experts on diverse range of current and evolving topics—is out now!

The first paper on  “Faith Conversions in Pakistan: Projections and Interpretations” reviews the depiction and the definition of ‘forced religious conversions’ that is discussed as a widespread phenomenon in Pakistan. It argues that the popular narrative of conversions being forced misses holistic view of the various factors which lead to religious conversion.

Author: Ghulam Hussain

https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.17.2.0005

The next paper  “Footprints of Fascism in India: Implications for Local Muslims” explores the problematic fascist tendencies in India and maintains that the current Indian government shares certain characteristics of classical fascist regimes in Italy and Germany, and the country is fast abandoning its secular and democratic values.

Author: Usama Hameed

https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.17.2.0027

The paper on  “China-Iran Relations: Prospects and Complexities” discusses the recent initiatives for cooperation between China and Iran. It evaluates various factors which contributed in evolving their bilateral relations. It looks at the historical and current trends which might impact the future of this partnership including internal dynamics and perceptions, major-power-middle power dynamics and the role of regional countries.

Author: Kulsoom Belal

https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.17.2.0047

The paper on  “Muslims’ Share of the Waves: Law, War and Tradition” deliberates on the contributions of Muslims in evolving maritime law and traditions. The paper discusses the historical events and outlines the issues and principles which underscored the utility of oceans and contributed to the conceptual debate on freedom of navigation.

Author: Tuba Azeem

https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.17.2.0067

The paper  “Net Metering and Solar PV Prosumage in Pakistan: Growth and Challenges” contends that 2015 net metering regulations in Pakistan did not fare well in encouraging consumers to contribute to power generation. Engaging with the stakeholders, the paper seeks to identify the barriers for distributed generation growth in the country. The paper offers a roadmap for overcoming the impediments to increase the solar prosumage.

Author: Naila Saleh and Sara

https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.17.2.0083

The last paper  “Decentralization of Environment in Pakistan: Issues in Governance” focuses on environmental governance post 18th constitutional amendment in Pakistan, which devolved several legislative subjects to provinces including the environment. The paper identifies the additional challenges that are instigated by weak fiscal decentralization and lack of coordination. It asks for enhanced inter-governmental and intra-provincial cooperation for optimal environment governance.

Author: Maryam Umer Khayam and Dr Iftikhar Ahmad

https://doi.org/10.13169/polipers.17.2.0101

“Afghanistan in Transition” presents the talk by former Afghan Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar delivered at IPS in the context of the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan. In the wake of the rising exclusionism and Islamophobic environment in Europe, this issue also includes the text of a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on “Religion and the Freedom of Expression in the European Context” with an introduction. Finally, this issue brings highlights of the discussions held at IPS on various subjects of contemporary significance.

Policy Perspectives is pleased to announce that it is going ‘Open Access’ very soon and go a step forward in promoting policy scholarship. The complete text of the Journal is freely available online on JSTOR. We are currently working out options for Open Access that work the best for the Journal, its contributors and the readers.

 

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Faith Conversions in Pakistan: Projections and Interpretations

 Ghulam Hussain*

 

Abstract

This paper evaluates the definition of ‘forced conversion’ as presented in various reports—mostly published by different non-governmental organizations (NGOs)—about Pakistan and its projection through social as well as print media outlets. Taking insights from the writings of Lewis R. Rambo, Nathaniel Roberts and Katy Sian, the paper compares the narrative in Pakistan with the studies undertaken in the West on conversion and its politics. It analyzes the political perspectives and their sources used to conceive the meaning of proclaimed forced conversion based on the age and maturity of alleged victims and perceived vulnerability. By presenting social media activism as the case study, this paper interrogates the narrative that relies on ambiguous definitions explicated in legislative bills on ‘forced conversion’ and the NGO reports. It argues that the narrative reflected in proposed bills, reports, and social media reinforces the role of patriarchy and caste as the social forces. The paper concludes that this narrative is politically motivated and does not take into account multiple push and pull factors that lead to religious conversion while defining the term.

* Doctoral Fellow, Department of Anthropology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan; Research Associate, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, Pakistan. This paper is part of an on-going IPS Research Program.

Footprints of Fascism in India: Implications for Local Muslims

Usama Hameed*

 

Abstract

Fascism, a twentieth century Eurocentric phenomenon, seems to be knocking at the world’s doors through a number of populist regimes. Distinguished among them is that of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) led Narendra Modi government in India, which shares many characteristics with classical fascist regimes of Italy and Germany. Under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, India is steadfastly moving from its secular constitutional values to a rigid and fascist future which is exclusive of everything disliked by the Hindutva forces. The Indian minorities — Muslims, Christians and Dalits — have the same status in a Hindu India which Jews had in ‘Nazi Germany’ and Communists in ‘Fascist Italy.’ This paper, while explaining the theoretical aspects of classical fascism, attempts to draw a comparison between classical fascist regimes and the present day India under the BJP’s rule. It also examines the argument that the institutional mechanism of the state is not only supporting this fascist agenda but is actively involved in it. The paper then goes on to briefly analyze the response by different segments of the society to this form of fascism prevailing in India.

* Junior Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, Pakistan

China-Iran Relations: Prospects and Complexities

Kulsoom Belal*

 

Abstract

China-Iran relations have steadily evolved and expanded in the domains of geopolitics, economics and diplomacy since the Iranian revolution. Presently, being increasingly isolated from the world under Donald Trump’s maximum pressure campaign, Iran has been further drawn towards China, which, in the long term, can significantly alter the existing regional security architecture of the Persian Gulf. The recent agreements and partnership between the two countries, which is reflected in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as the draft 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) will pave the way for a long term strategic cooperation between the two countries. In this context, the paper analyzes various factors that have systemically fostered friendly ties between the two countries. The paper also explores historical and contemporary trends that can impact the future of bilateral relations. Further, it evaluates the economic relations between the two countries outlining the trade in the oil sector as well as other sectors. Lastly, the paper examines the plausible challenges to the future of bilateral relations. For this, the paper relies on three variables: the internal dynamics and perception in Iran about its relations with China; the major power-middle power dynamics that can prove as a barrier in the relations; and the outlook and responses of the regional countries that may scuttle the process of strategizing bilateral relationship.

* Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad; and Lecturer, University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore, Pakistan.

Muslims’ Share of the Waves: Law, War and Tradition

Tuba Azeem*

 

Abstract

The Muslim jurists opted for a balanced, equitable approach in water resources, particularly the oceans, held and taken care of as a collective, shared, and common asset. They devoted several writings on the humane conduct of hostilities, safety of civilians, seaworthiness of ships and shipwrecks with the help of original sources of Islam and the commandments of Muslim governors. Their principles and practices had remarkably contributed to the law of the sea much before the development of the modern Western international law concerning the oceans. Numerous military expeditions undertaken by Muslims for naval warfare in the Mediterranean Sea (MS) and the Indian Ocean (IO) inspired intellectual engagement of these jurists vis-à-vis port cities and maritime trade routes. The coastal settings even caused differences in opinions among popular schools of thought in Islam. This paper discusses such events in history and outlines issues and principles that emphasized the utility of oceans and shaped the conceptual debate on freedom of navigation in the Muslim world. It tends to suggest that international bodies recognize the customary practices of Muslim littoral states to further refine and develop the modern law of the seas. It recommends that the Muslim countries should develop and promote comprehensive codes in accordance with the maritime principles and practices developed by early Muslim jurists for sustainable exploitation of the marine resources without discrimination.

* PhD Scholar, Faculty of Law, Victoria University of Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand.

Net Metering and Solar PV Prosumage in Pakistan: Growth and Challenges·

 Naila Saleh* and Sara**

 

Abstract

In the wake of on-going energy crisis in Pakistan, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) issued net metering regulations in 2015 in order to encourage consumers to contribute in power generation. Contrary to the anticipation of attracting large scale prosumers after the launch of these regulations, the overall capacity installed so far remains insignificant. Moreover, an uneven distribution in terms of issued licenses as well as installed capacity across the power distribution companies (DISCOs), wherein the growth is concentrated in three major cities of Pakistan—Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, is another challenge. Based on this insight, the study aims to probe the challenges to distributed generation (DG) in Pakistan. Primary data for this paper was collected from three primary stakeholders: the prosumers; the non-prosumers; and the DISCOs or the primary intermediaries. The findings indicate a number of the challenges hindering DG growth in Pakistan including cumbersome application process; serious financial barriers; inaction of DISCOs; low trust in technology; absence of awareness programs and absence of fee-for-service (FFS) models. Finally, the paper gives a roadmap to overcome the aforementioned challenges, and catalyzing the prosumage drive.

  • This paper is extracted from an ongoing baseline IPS study on “Barriers and Drivers of Solar Prosumage: A Case Study of Pakistan.”

* PhD scholar, Technische Universität Berlin [Technical University of Berlin] Berlin, Germany; Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, Pakistan.

** PhD scholar, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, Pakistan.

Decentralization of Environment in Pakistan: Issues in Governance

Maryam Umer Khayam* and Iftikhar Ahmad**

 

Abstract

Environmental governance in Pakistan, which although had never been strong in the past, has further debilitated post 18th amendment. This paper focuses on environmental governance post devolution. It analyzes who can effectively protect environment—the center or the provinces— and so shall be responsible for efficient environmental management in a federal state. Further, it highlights post-devolution challenges particularly the weak fiscal decentralization and lack of coordination in the area. Being a developing country facing fiscal constraints, it is very unlikely for environment to become a central subject, hence, the paper underlines possibilities on increasing inter-governmental, intra-provincial partnership especially focusing on participation by the local governments for optimal environment protection.

* Socio-legal Researcher, Human Rights Lawyer; Junior Research Officer, Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, Pakistan (2018-2020).

** PhD, Assistant Professor, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, Pakistan.