Good afternoon,

Happy Independence Day! 🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰

Today’s Biscuitt is a special edition in collaboration with Goup, a multi-disciplinary design studio. 

For August 14th, we've covered five noteworthy stories this year that deserve a closer look. Goup collaborated with us to create the artwork for these pieces, which will also be shared on our social media.

If you see us on Instagram today, give us a shout-out! 😌

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

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Pakistan In Numbers

Why is this an important story for me? We’re the fifth most populous country in the world with over 242 million people, expected to double by 2050. Pakistan in numbers is our way of understanding the composition of our population and pretty much everything that happens (or has the potential to happen) in our country.

Tell me more. Last month, the government of Pakistan released the 7th Population and Housing Census, conducted after 2017, and here are some numbers we found interesting:

1. We have the highest population growth rate in South Asia at 2.55% 

2. In 2023, 67% of our population was under 30, 80% under 40, and only 3.55% were 67 or older — we’re young and will remain young until at least 2050!

3. Balochistan has the highest annual population growth rate at 3.2%

4. There are 32.8 million persons with disabilities or functional limitations in Pakistan

5. In 2017, there were 14 cities with a population of 500,000 or above. Six years later, there are 22 (woah)

6. In 2017, 87.87% of all households — 28.04 million — reported grid electricity as the power source for their homes. In 2023, the percentage reduced to 84.03% or 32.17 million households

You can find the census and more data here.

So, what’s next? The most striking figure in this data is the sheer magnitude of Pakistan’s young population—these percentages are unprecedented in the country's history. At no point before has Pakistan's youth made up such a significant portion of the overall population. This makes young people the most crucial demographic economically, socially, and politically for at least the next three decades. While this information isn’t necessarily news to anyone, what’s exciting are the possibilities of what can happen, even if things go just a little right. As this is an Independence Day edition, we’ll keep any skepticism in check and hope for the best. 

For a little more hope, we recommend reading this and this. 

Wait, Your Internet’s Down Too?

Yes, it’s down. Pakistan has 111 million internet users and 71.7 million social media users, all actively tweeting their opinions and commenting on issues, living rent-free in the government’s head.  

What happened? Well, we’re getting the boot, so to speak. Three major things are happening this year: 

• Telecom companies in Pakistan have been using a mass surveillance system, intercepting and recording customer data without regulatory oversight

• The government is implementing a national firewall to tighten control over online communication. This firewall will include an inspection to monitor and potentially censor internet traffic, keyword filtering, and regulation of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

• The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has proposed a framework requiring all major Over-The-Top (OTT) services, like YouTube, Netflix, WhatsApp, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), to register locally for 15 years

What’s next? This conversation is deeply political. Internet disruptions and censorship violate fundamental rights to freedom of expression and access to information. They’re bad for democracy, bad for political engagement, and bad for business. We’re concerned—and you should be too.

For more insight into the specifics of what’s happening, read this and this.

Mahrang Catalyzes The Baloch Movement

Why is this an important story? Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and most resource-rich province, is grappling with deep neglect. Education is failing, healthcare is scarce, and poverty is rampant, worsened by high unemployment and inflation. 

On the other side of this coin is the relentless violence faced by the Baloch people. Over the past 20 years, unlawful arrests, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings have become routine. Since the early 2000s, thousands have been forcibly disappeared and hundreds brutally murdered, including students, journalists, and human rights defenders.

Tell me about the movement. While the Baloch movement is multifaceted and cannot be confined to a single narrative, we'll focus on the most prominent one currently led by Dr. Mahrang Baloch. Dr. Baloch, whose father and brother were forcibly disappeared, leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a human rights group advocating against state oppression in Balochistan. The BYC recently held the Baloch Raji Muchi gathering in Gwadar, which faced a severe crackdown and resulted in the arrest of participants.

What’s next? Covering the Baloch movement is challenging due to historical state suppression and cautious mainstream media coverage. Nevertheless, experts say that the movement is gaining momentum, marking a new chapter in the Baloch struggle for justice in Pakistan. Despite ongoing suppression, it is not fading, and we can anticipate increased attention and coverage in the coming months.

For more context, watch this and read this. 

Energy, IPP’s And What The Hell’s Going On?

⁠⁠Why are my electricity bills so high? It’s not just you, the average electric bill today is more than 30% of the average disposable income in the country. This is bad news for us bill-payers and the national economy because we’re paying for electricity that we aren’t using and paying taxes on top of that which reduces our purchasing power. 

 (Learn more about household electricity consumption in Pakistan here.)

What even are the IPPs and why is everyone talking about them? Independent Power Producers (IPPs) sell electricity to the government. Since the early '90s, Pakistan has signed contracts with IPPs to boost power generation, but these deals heavily favor IPPs, leading to high consumer costs. A major issue is capacity charges, where consumers pay for electricity even when it’s not being produced. 

While IPPs make up a part of the problem, the energy conversation is a little bit more nuanced than what’s being discussed in mainstream media. 

Tell me more. Over the past 5-7 years, Pakistan's modest economic growth and rising electricity prices have led to stagnant electricity demand. This means that fixed costs are spread over fewer units of electricity, driving up the cost per unit. Additionally, despite significant power generation capacity, only about half is effectively available for distribution due to inefficiencies like line losses and theft. So it’s not just IPPs that are the problem, it's our energy supply chain. 

What’s next? The future of the IPP crisis is uncertain. The government is considering terminating some IPP contracts, but that will not solve the entire problem. What Pakistan's power market really needs is a good old-fashioned redesign — think renewables, efficient taxation, restructuring power sector debt, and deregulating the market to allow direct transactions between producers and consumers. 

The conversation around energy is complex and while mainstream news will often tilt towards one problem or solution, we suggest looking at it a little like a house of cards, where the problems are stacked and the solutions will require a delicate balance.

To know more about the crisis through expert eyes, we recommend reading these: 1,2,3 and 4)

The Olympic Medal That Came Home

A new hope. Arshad Nadeem has been a household name since last Thursday night when he clinched the nation’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal and ended a 32-year medal drought for Pakistan. He also shattered an Olympic record when he launched a throw of 92.97m and returned for a final-round throw of 91.79 meters, cementing his victory.

Bringing back the good vibes. There has been much to warm our hearts since his win. Since reaching Pakistan, Nadeem has stuck to his roots as he speaks about education for girls, more funding for sports, and the love for his family and his village. 

This win has also brought to light the friendship, despite fierce competition, between Nadeem and Indian Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. Representing moms everywhere, Nadeem and Chopra’s mothers both have said their son’s competitor is like their own child and celebrate their wins wholeheartedly.

What should be next for us and him? Olympians in Pakistans have historically risen from brick mud homes and adversity. A week ago, Arshad Nadeem was the best he could be with barebones resources and virtually no systemic support. If nothing else, this victory should be a reality check to the powers that be for reforms that need to happen. Our athletes are winning medals in weightlifting, taekwondo, and many alternative sports. They need better facilities, more support, and widespread appreciation to see more of these wins on a global stage. 

We know almost every news outlet is brimming with Arshad Nadeem, but we couldn’t resist ending this edition on such a high note. Read more about his historic journey here, here, and here.

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