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Three diverse days of our Integrity Innovation Lab in Belize

We recently hosted an integrity training and friend-raiser in Belize with the Love Foundation, the Ministry of Public Service, and the US Embassy. Led by Jaco Roets, Programs and Learning Manager at Accountability Lab, this event brought together a diverse group, including accountapreneurs, government reformers, and mentors, providing a platform for participants to develop essential skills and strategies to advance good governance and accountability in Belize. "This training connects accountapreneurs, reformers, and governance mentors to promote collaboration and share knowledge for projects," Jaco said.  The training began with participants envisioning their life stories. This prompted discussions about their experiences in [...]

2024-04-16T15:02:30+00:0016th April 2024|

Pakistan’s labor quandary: comprehensive reforms and human rights protection needed

Labor Day is celebrated on May 1st and commemorates the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, United States of America, where many workers lost their lives fighting for eight-hour workdays. In response to this historical event, Pakistan has adopted this day as a public holiday. Every year, newspapers across the country display a picture of a laborer carrying bricks in the scorching heat, a kiln worker with a miserable expression, a security guard on the brink of exhaustion, or a sanitary worker staring at the camera lens with lifeless eyes. However, although it is a widely recognized holiday, most daily-wage laborers [...]

2023-12-18T16:33:24+00:0012th December 2023|

Combating violence against the transgender community in Pakistan

Written by Fouzia Khan Bhittani We live in a world encompassing different beliefs and cultures that generate specific attitudes and stances toward gender diversity. However, these attitudes define the marginalization of a particular community or people, like the transgender community in Pakistan, commonly referred to as the Khawaja Sira—a group of people that includes various forms of gender deviance. Khawaja Sira covers anyone that bends the societal construction of gender, including people who identify as transsexual, choose to cross-dress, identify as true hermaphrodites, are genderqueer youth, intersex people, and eunuchs. The transgender community has gained little visibility in Pakistan, as [...]

2023-06-14T11:53:25+00:0014th June 2023|

Deciphering Fake News and Its Implications

Written by Khadijah Saeed  Fake news refers to the deliberate spread of misinformation and often has an ulterior motive for political, social, economic, or personal gains. It is a fabricated expression disseminated systematically in an organized manner, which appears true. Such stories consist of nonfactual information and sources that often affect electoral behaviors and influence conditions of wars to promote divisive narratives. Fake news has emerged as a threat multiplier in a digitally interconnected world.   The motivation behind the dissemination of fake news by media houses stems from the attraction for sensationalism among the audience. Each burning geopolitical issue accompanies [...]

2022-12-12T14:42:40+00:0012th December 2022|

Experts stress on responsible journalism to counter effects of fake news, misinformation

Rawalpindi: In an Seminar arranged by the Accountability Lab Pakistan held at the Rawalpindi Press Club where speakers discussed the key drivers and impacts of fake news and disinformation upon Society, especially on our youth and Role of Journalism. The event was Chaired by Incharge Rawalpindi Press Club Ms Shakela Jalil: Ms. Shazia Mehboob Editor Digital Media Plat form “The PenPK.com, and Mr. Javed Rana senior journalist and analyst CEO/The Editor of The Digital Dispatch, an Investigative Multimedia Digital Magazine were among the key speakers. The event was attended by a large number of Journalist from various print and electronic [...]

2022-12-14T22:16:41+00:002nd December 2022|

Consolidating support for the transgender community

Written by Tirelo Makwela In May 2018, the Pakistan government passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, a comprehensive response to ensure the rights and welfare of the trans community are protected. It was hailed as a win for the transgender community but experience has shown that the law alone is not enough to ensure the safety and prosperity of transgender people. Many still face harassment, exclusion and violence in public spaces, even when trying to access government services. According to a report by the Guardian, 2021 was the deadliest year for the trans community, with more than 300 [...]

2022-12-07T14:32:41+00:0021st October 2022|

Collaborative approach to deal with effects of fake news and disinformation on freedom of expression

In an event arranged at the National Press Club by Accountability Lab speakers discussed the key drivers and impacts of fake news and disinformation on society and especially on youth. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Dean, Social Sciences Department, International Islamic University, Islamabad; Ms. Zill e Huma, Deputy Director at the Press Information Department, Iftikhar Sherazi, Bureau Chief, Dawn News and Dr. Sadia Kamal, who is senior journalist and former vice president of the NPC, were among the key speakers. The event was attended by representatives from local media, civil society and students from various academic institutions. In her opening remarks Dr. [...]

2022-11-10T06:46:16+00:0019th October 2022|

Design thinking in the public service – can innovation fix the police services in Pakistan?

Design thinking is a flexible methodology but provides a set of tools based on a mindset. The mindset is geared towards creativity and problem-solving. How problem-solving can be used in organizational thinking is a challenge for leaders. Umar Riaz, Director of the National Police Academy in Islamabad, takes a closer look.   While leaders in the corporate world have long embraced this concept to remain competitive and ahead of the curve, public sector adoption was long overdue. The private sector has been instrumental in using design thinking for its survival and having an edge over its competitors. But the public [...]

2022-12-07T14:36:05+00:008th September 2022|

The gender gap and economic participation of women in Pakistan

Pakistan presently ranks among the worst countries in the world in terms of gender parity, only performing better than Iraq, Yemen, and Afghanistan. According to the "Global Gender Gap Report 2021" published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistan ranked 153rd out of 156 countries on the gender parity index. Pakistan also ranked 7th among eight countries in South Asia, only doing better than Afghanistan. AL Pakistan accountapreneur, Syeda Yumna Hasny, takes a closer look.   Pakistan's gender gap has widened by 0.7 percentage points in just one year. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), Pakistan ranked 153rd in [...]

2022-11-10T06:46:17+00:0029th July 2022|

Workplace Diversity in Pakistan

Pakistan is a culturally rich country, incorporating 99% Muslim people and about 1% Hindi people.  However, despite the cultural diversity, there is still a lack of workforce diversity in Pakistan. This is partly due to social attitudes that discourage workers from different backgrounds from interacting and sharing ideas. Additionally, there is a shortage of skilled professionals in Pakistan, which has led to companies struggling to find employees who meet their specific needs. AL Pakistan accountapreneur, Bhoora Lal, takes a closer look.   There are many reasons to have a diverse workforce. First, it can help organizations become more innovative and [...]

2022-11-10T06:46:17+00:0028th June 2022|
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