“Gender Gap Widens in Bangladesh, Coca-Cola Ad Faces Backlash, Pakistan Boosts Defence Spending”

byAmogh Dev Rai (Director Research- ASIA), Priyanka Garodia, Aurko Chakrabarti and Bhupesh Upadhyay

16 minute read

De/Cypher Data Dive 📈

The 2024 Global Gender Gap Index (146 countries) shows that while no country has achieved full gender parity, 97% of the economies have closed more than 60% of their gap, compared to 85% in 2006.

Bangladesh’s Global Gender Gap Index rank dropped to 99 in 2024 from 59 in 2023. Women’s representation in senior leadership roles has decreased.

Gender Parity in South Asia: The Gender Gap Report 2024

Written By Kusum Kali Pal, Kim Piaget, and Saadia Zahidi, Published in World Economic Forum

Analysed by Priyanka Garodia, Geopolitical Research Analyst – South Asia

The World Economic Forum released the Global Gender Gap Report (2024), a report that addresses gender equality in the global economy. The report studies 146 economies of countries and based on available data, the index aims to evaluate gender differences between men and women in terms of economic, educational, health, and political outcomes. The global score for attaining gender parity is 68.5%, with Iceland at the top of the index. It is the only economy that has closed the gender gap to nearly 90%. If current trends continue, gender parity will be reached in 134 years, meaning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) target will not be met.

The South Asian Situation

6 out of the 7 South Asian economies rank below the top 100. Bangladesh is ranked 99th, and Pakistan is 146th.
Southern Asia ranks 7th out of the eight regions with a gender parity score of 63.7%. While improving its score by +3.9% since 2006, it ranks last in the economic participation and opportunity score.
It has low labour-force participation for women and significant discrepancies in leadership roles.
Pakistan and Nepal, notably, suffer from disparities in education.
Political participation has declined by 0.7% from 2023 to 26%, indicating a huge gap in the access that women have to ministerial and parliamentary positions.

Women account for less than one-third of workers in senior positions including legislative roles, managerial, and senior officer holders. The proportions of men and women in professional and technical roles are more evenly distributed, although there is a significant economic disparity in these roles. Sri Lanka is more equitable in professional and technical roles for women at 96.8%, whereas Pakistan has an abysmal score of 35.8% parity.

Read the full analysis here.

Asia View

Trouble in Paradise for Pakistan?

Written By Priyanka Garodia, Geopolitical Research Analyst – South Asia

Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China was intended for Pakistan to secure more big-budget infrastructural projects with the Chinese, allowing it room to recover from its economic perils. The visit proved to be next to futile as China has grown skeptical of its investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC corridor plan was a cornerstone project for Beijing and Islamabad. Pakistan sought to benefit from the $50 billion investment, and China was to enjoy the merits of the strategic location of the corridor for its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Pakistan was hoping for a realignment of the CPEC agreement with additional funding of $17 billion for energy projects, but China does not share the same enthusiasm for further investments. Islamabad’s request for investment in the Karakoram Highway that connects Pakistan and China was also not agreed to with wholehearted enthusiasm. However, a series of events have led to Beijing growing skeptical of its project.

Firstly, Pakistan’s economic problems are voluminous, and its circumstances are far from improving. While it has been in talks with the IMF for financial aid, unless major economic reforms at the micro and macro levels are introduced, the economy will continue to suffer. Despite making changes to its economic policies, recovery has been sluggish. Secondly, the presence of terrorist outfits and attacks in recent times has led to China taking note of the security implications of the CPEC on the ground. Recent attacks on Chinese nationals working on the CPEC in Pakistan have made Beijing weary of Pakistan’s ability to deliver on its promises of security.

While the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China is seeing signs of strain due to economic and security problems, one cannot deny that Pakistan remains China’s biggest asset in South Asia, and its geostrategic location is imperative for China’s expansionist goals. However, unless Pakistan rectifies its economic path, continued favour might run out eventually, even from the best allies.

Yes, Everyone Really Is Sick a Lot More Often After Covid

Summarized by De/Cypher Team

Jinshan Hong and Bhuma Shrivastava write in Bloomberg that in the aftermath of Covid-19, a notable increase in 13 communicable diseases has been observed globally, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This surge is attributed to several factors: pandemic-induced declines in immunity as lockdowns limited exposure to common pathogens, disruptions to vaccination programs, and the compounding effects of climate change. Diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and influenza have seen significant upticks, straining healthcare systems worldwide. The resurgence highlights broader challenges including social inequality and healthcare infrastructure strain, exacerbating disease transmission. Efforts to rebuild public trust in vaccines are critical in addressing these outbreaks effectively. Experts emphasize the need for sustained vaccination campaigns and enhanced healthcare infrastructure to mitigate future health crises.

The Beautiful, Dumb Dream of McDonald’s Peace Theory

Summarized by De/Cypher Team

Paul Musgrave writes in Foreign Policy about the flawed optimism of 1990s American foreign policy, epitomized by Thomas Friedman’s “Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention.” This theory, popularized in Friedman’s book “The Lexus and the Olive Tree,” suggested that countries with McDonald’s franchises would not go to war with each other due to shared economic interests.

Musgrave critiques this simplistic view, noting recent conflicts involving McDonald’s countries like Serbia during the Kosovo War, which exposed the theory’s limitations. He argues that economic globalization alone does not deter conflict; instead, complex geopolitical factors, such as nationalism and territorial disputes, often override economic incentives.

The 1990s marked a period of American hegemony and optimism, fueled by perceived economic and cultural dominance. However, subsequent events like 9/11 and ongoing conflicts in regions like Nagorno-Karabakh challenge this narrative. Musgrave warns against overconfidence in American influence and urges a more nuanced understanding of global politics that considers diverse cultural and geopolitical dynamics.

Ultimately, he advocates for a deeper engagement with international relations theories that recognize the complexities of global conflicts and the diverse motivations of nations beyond mere economic incentives. This perspective, he argues, is crucial for navigating a world where American dominance is no longer assured, and where global stability requires more than economic integration to prevent conflict.

Af-Pak De/Cypher

17 June, 2024

Economy

Pakistan raises defense budget by 17.5% to $6.15 billion amid surge in militancy

Arab News reports that Pakistan’s finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, announced a 17.5 percent increase in the country’s defense budget on Wednesday, saying the government had decided to allocate Rs 2.12 trillion ($6.15 billion) for the country’s security needs in view of its geopolitical situation. Pakistan’s defense budget consistently attracts media attention due to the military’s substantial role in both the political and economic arenas of the country. The allocation of significant funds to defense sparks debates over the balance between security needs and other critical public services, such as education and health care. Media coverage and public discussions also reflect concerns about transparency, with governments only mentioning the overall figure without sharing further details.

Wet testing of CPEC’s first hydropower unit kicks off

*Suki Kinari Hydropower project in northwest Pakistan.* **Photo:** *Getty Images*

The Express Tribune reports that the first unit of the China-built Suki Kinari Hydropower project in northwest Pakistan was started up and formally entered the wet testing phase on Sunday. It marks that the project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) stepped into the final sprint stage and is one big step closer to operation and power generation. Cheng Dan, general manager of China Energy Construction Overseas Investment Company Ltd., which invests in and implements the project, told Xinhua that the first unit successfully passed a series of tests after starting up with a smoothly running state, and met the design requirements.

Internal Politics 🏛️

Government accuses ex-PM Khan party of sponsoring resolutions in US to halt Pakistan’s military aid

Arab News reports that the Pakistani government on Sunday accused former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of hiring lobbyist firms in the United States (US) to move resolutions in the US Congress that sought to halt Pakistan’s military aid. The PTI began a “concentrated smear campaign” against Pakistan in foreign countries after the ouster of Khan in a parliamentary no-trust vote in 2022, according to Aqeel Malik, a Pakistani government spokesman. The resolutions tabled last year urged Washington to limit US military assistance to Pakistan until the South Asian country ensured free and fair elections, an independent judiciary and reasserted separation of powers. During a press conference, Malik stated that the US House of Representatives had rejected the resolutions that Khan’s party had sponsored in an attempt to advance an “anti-Pakistan agenda and narrative.”

Poliovirus found in samples from Loralai

*The poliovirus has been detected in sewage samples from three districts, namely Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Loralai.* **Photo:** *The Express Tribune*

Ikram Junaidi writes in Dawn about the polio virus being found in Loralai district, taking the number of districts hit by the virus to 45 in the current year as compared to last year, when the number of infected districts was 28. Moreover, the total number of positive environmental samples, for the current year, has reached 176 as compared to 126 samples last year. According to an official of the polio programme, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of Type-1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) in Loralai and two already infected areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Security

Four die in Kurram IED explosion

Dawn reports that a minimum of four members of a family were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in the Kurram tribal district on Sunday, while police claimed to have gunned down a militant commander during an operation in Lakki Marwat. A vehicle was caught up in the IED explosion in Kurram’s Teendo area as it was passing through Korram Road. As a result, four people travelling in the vehicle were killed and another was injured, with the vehicle being destroyed in the explosion.

5 terrorists killed in IBO in KP’s Khyber district: ISPR

Iftikhar Shirazi writes in Dawn that five terrorists were killed after security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khyber district on Sunday. Security forces effectively engaged with the terrorists, and five terrorists were killed as a result. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians.

Pakistan And The World🌐

PM Shehbaz, Turkish president pledge to bolster bilateral ties

*PM Pakistan and PM Turkiye talked on phone and exchanged greetings on Eid ul Adha.* **Photo:** *APP*

The Express Tribune reports that Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including trade, investment, defense, and tourism, on sunday. They celebrated the strong bonds of friendship and brother-hood between Pakistan and Turkiye that were deeply rooted in shared values, history, and cultural affinities.

Protection of Chinese citizens Pakistan’s top priority: Mohsin Naqvi

*Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday met Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong to discuss the protection and security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.* **Photo:** *The Express Tribune*

The Express Tribune reports that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Sunday to discuss the protection and security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan. Upon arriving at the Chinese embassy, Ambassador Zaidong warmly welcomed Naqvi. He highlighted that the recent visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China has strengthened ties from both ends. He also emphasised getting support from the prime minister, president, and other top leaders of China. The interior minister outlined the measures for protecting Chinese citizens across Pakistan and discussed the security plan for Chinese engineers and staff working on CPEC and other projects.

Afghanistan Update

Afghan Taliban government to attend third round of UN-hosted Doha talks

Arab News reports that the Taliban authorities would attend the third round of United Nations-hosted talks on Afghanistan in the Qatari capital, a government spokesman told AFP on Sunday, after snubbing an invitation to the previous round. The participation of the Taliban authorities in the two-day conference of special envoys on Afghanistan had been in doubt after they were not included in the first round and then refused an invitation to the second round in February.

349 prisoners pardoned in Afghanistan before Eid

*349 prisoners pardoned by Afghan caretaker government’s Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.* **Photo:** *BBC*

Xinhua reports that the Afghan caretaker government’s Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has pardoned 349 inmates before Eid al-Ahda, according to a statement from the country’s Supreme Court on Saturday. The statement noted that 279 other inmates were also exempted from their remaining prison sentences.

What happened to the women who took on the Taliban?

*Parwana Ibrahimkhail Nijrabi was imprisoned after protesting against the Taliban*. **Photo:** *BBC*

Mahjooba Nowrouzi writes in BBC that Afghan Service about the women who protested the Taliban’s restrictions on Afghan women’s ability to work, learn and go out in public. Some women initially defied these new rules, taking to the streets to protest. The Taliban beat, tortured, imprisoned, and threatened them with death by stoning after violently subduing them. Mariam, Parwana and Zakia were three of the many women who protested the Taliban’s rule and the open violence that women faced under their regime. They were subject to inhumane conditions when in custody, and no measures were taken to ensure sanitation and safety for prisoners. The Taliban regime has come under international scrutiny for the apparent gender apartheid being waged in the country. Human Rights Watch corroborated much of what the BBC reported in their own interviews.