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Is Iran an ungrateful nation?

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On December 2, 2025, I flew to Tehran, Iran, for a tourism trip with two friends. We took a five-hour flight from Islamabad to Tehran. Upon arriving at Tehran Airport, we exchanged some dollars for Iranian rials and took a taxi to the city center.  Imam Khomeini International Airport , Tehran At the Tehran Grand Bazaar , I experienced a different side of Iran. I learned that the country has been under the control of the Islamic clergy since the revolution in 1979 . The people of Iran have been compelled by the clergy to follow a strict Islamic code of conduct, which includes wearing veils in public, a ban on music in taxis and shops, restrictions on the sale and consumption of marijuana, and limited freedom of movement. Golestan Palace, Tehran, Iran I was informed that the clergy has hindered the economic, social, and cultural well-being of the people. Iran suffers from unpaved roads and inadequate infrastructure. Cleanliness is lacking, food is often unhygienic, and homelessness i...
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Protest in the Sost Dry-port

Traders and people have been protesting for more than a month at the Sost dry port. On September 23, 2025, the Federal Government of Pakistan, the Gilgit-Baltistan government, and the traders' association agreed to end the protest, and it was decided to allow the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to trade up to 4 billion PKR with tax exemption. The agreement hasn't addressed structural challenges. This agreement opens the door for mega corruption, which has been widely practiced at the Sost Dry Port. It allows customs authorities and traders to manipulate tax exemptions. The people of GB demand two things: either they are integrated into the constitution of Pakistan as its fifth province, or there will be no tax on their business and income.  GB does not enjoy equal rights, and it is not a constitutional province of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It has been inaccurately associated with the Kashmir issues. Since 1947, GB has been governed by a primitive governance structure, where ...
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Book Review: Crime and Punishment

Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a literary genius. In Crime and Punishment, readers are immersed in the depths of human psychology, psyche, and emotions. The sequence and interplay of scenes and characters are fascinating and intriguing.  In this novel, the main character is not Ruskonovic; it is actually Dostoyevsky himself. It is remarkable how he immerses the reader in his thoughts, expressing them so vividly that each page feels alive and evokes curiosity. As a result, the reader experiences pleasure, excitement, and a sense of wonder with every turn of the page. Crime and Punishment is a unique work. Its composition, scenes, and stories are indirectly connected, and the reader is captivated by each moment. It keeps the reader engaged with subtle meanings and details of actions, human psychology, philosophy, and ethics. In this novel, I encountered a mix of emotions, including suspicion, thrill, joy, melancholy, and elements of crime. Every chapter is beautifully written and tells a diff...
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Civic Engagement Story: A Reflection on the YSALI Experience

Before participating in the Young South Asian Leadership Initiative (YSALI) civic engagement and entrepreneurship workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka, I was directionless. I started a non-profit in December 2024, but I struggled to meet my goals and objectives. My engagement with YSALI has provided me with direction and purpose for my future civic engagement initiatives in my community. I met young leaders from South Asia who are addressing significant developmental challenges in their regions. The YSALI leaders encouraged me to find courage, confidence, and motivation in pursuing community empowerment.   The sessions and in-person activities in Colombo were both intriguing and insightful. I was grateful for the opportunity to share my leadership story with my YSALI peers and on social media platforms. I interacted with various leaders and learned about their impactful initiatives. These exchanges with my peers boosted my confidence and allowed me to adopt a more critical approach to c...
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Global Governance

At the time of warmongering, an Indian passenger plane entered Pakistan’s airspace, landed, and returned safely to India. Global governance is a system of institutions, rules, and procedures that enable international cooperation on issues that cross national borders. Transparent and accountable global governance is the backbone of human prosperity. We need transparency, trust, and the rule of law for an inclusive and cosmopolitan world order.   Since the contemporary world has been transformed into a complex unit, the challenges and demands for global governance have risen significantly. The rising ethnic conflicts, diseases, climate change, food insecurity, wars, and other pressing threats are increasingly threatening global security and stability. It has prompted doubts about the ability of the current global governance order to respond to the challenges plaguing the 21st century. The lack of accountability and transparency in global governance leads to absolute power, corru...
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Looking for a Pen and finding Wisdom

I am trying to find my favorite pen, but I'm still unlucky. I am glad that I got excited again about writing after two months. Things are smooth and easy. However, one thing has been bothering me and dominating me: my constant thinking about the future and the uncertainty associated with it. I don’t let these thoughts roam freely. I want to guard and restrain them. I want to restore determinism and self-confidence. Life must not be lived through long desires. Life must learn to respect time, relationships, and the self. Any evil act or thought must be checked and guarded before it creates chaos. This power to see and comprehend the cause of evil and act upon it is known as love, faith, friendship, and God. Even Imam Ali (a.s) did not vividly describe God. He said you can find God by observing His creation. No knowledge can penetrate God's wisdom. I want to get hold of myself and my intellect. Now my search for God comes to an end. The best knowledge is to find an end to somethi...
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Shayan's Suicide

Shayan was just seventeen years old. He hanged himself from his room fan and died. When I heard the news, I didn't believe it. Naturally and rationally, it was not possible.  He was living a happy life. I started to observe him when he visited with his mother at our home in Islamabad. He was my nephew and knew about technology, computers, philosophy, and careers. He was ambitious and thoughtful.  His suicide shocked everyone. I spent a whole night outside the morgue where we kept him. His brother and sister were in Islamabad, and they were traveling to Gilgit.  The next day at 13:00, we took him to his home for the last time and carried him to his grave. I held his coffin for a mile, and later, my shoulder hurt for two days.  In the graveyard, after the prayers, we laid him down in his final resting place. There I was looking into his face, which was pale and silent. Above him, there was the first slip of the ceiling, and within no time, the ceiling covered his body....
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