ISLAMABAD: 9th June 2011, Jinnah Institute organized a seminar on Pakistan's economic needs and realities where senior politicians and media people discussed the grave challenges faced by the Pakistani economy. Participants agreed that Pakistan needs to overhaul its taxation regime and the rich need to contribute their fair share to the economy. The burden of running Pakistan cannot be on its 3 million registered tax payers and few corporate entities.

Sherry Rehman, President of the Jinnah Institute noted that Pakistan's economy was in dire straits due to a combination of internal and external shocks. She highlighted that Pakistan is still reeling from the effects of the floods that devastated large parts of rural Pakistan in 2010 and the backlash from the war on terror that has cost Pakistan $68 Billion in the last ten years. She also stressed the need for politicians to declare how much tax they pay and lead by example. She also noted the need for creating more awareness in the media and citizens about the state of the economy so that citizens can exercise their democratic right and conduct oversight of government expenditures.

Farooq Sattar, MNA (MQM) also stressed the need for increasing the tax base and consider taxing agricultural income while lowering taxes on the corporate sector to encourage more investment in Pakistan. He also said that all political parties need to come together to develop and economic charter for the country.

21st March, 2011: Jinnah Institute organized a roundtable on peaceful bilateral relations between India and Pakistan on 21 March, 2011. The event was attended by a delegation of Indian parliamentarians, journalists and civil society actors. They discussed strategies for peace, with the aim of laying down a sustainable and inclusive framework for preventing crisis, increasing regional peace and economic exchange and building greater trust and cooperation. Jinnah Institute has been leading efforts in Indo-Pak Track II diplomacy in Pakistan and this event provided an avenue to further engage participants from both sides.

Sherry Rehman, President of the Jinnah Institute, stressed the need for voices from both sides of the border to engage in a sustained dialogue to mitigate conflict. She urged the delegation to focus on key fundamentals for change so that governments of both nations could be convinced to push for peace. Rehman pointed out the necessity to initiate a dialogue that addressed the very different challenges faced on both sides of the border and stated that the political left in India and Pakistan had much more in common than the conservative right. Mr. Kuldip Nayyar, veteran journalist and former member of parliament, pointed out that war is no more a solution to the problems of India and Pakistan and any dialogue undertaken must move in that direction.

Islamabad, November 30: Members of civil society, religious scholars, lawyers, NGO representatives and the Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, gathered to discuss the amendments to the Blasphemy Laws in light of the recent case of Aasia Bibi and the blatant abuse of the legislation to persecute minorities. The event, organized solely by the Jinnah Institute without the involvement of foreign donors, led to a lively and informed debate.

Under discussion also, was a bill submitted by Sherry Rehman, former federal minister, and President Jinnah Institute. The Bill seeks to amend the Blasphemy Laws, sections 295A-C and 298 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCrP) as amended under General Zia. It is intended, that the Bill will ensure that all citizens of Pakistan have an equal right to constitutional protection and that miscarriages of justice in the name of Blasphemy are avoided at all costs.

Islamabad, October 22: Pakistan needs to sensitize its security forces for responding to gender issues during conflicts and crises both at home and abroad. Despite being the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping force, Pakistan is one of the lowest contributors when it comes to female peacekeepers. There are only 22 women peacekeepers among a force of over 10,000.

The role of women in conflict resolution and their special needs during conflicts was discussed at a stakeholder consultation organized by the Jinnah Institute on Gender and Peacekeeping on the 22nd of October 2010 at the Marriot Hotel, Islamabad. Given the deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan, the Jinnah Institute believes it is important for not only peacekeepers but all security personnel to undergo gender sensitization training.