Page 20 - Pakistan Link - November 19, 2021

P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – NOVEMBER 19, 2021 COMMENTARY
Malala: What Will Married Life Look Like? the potential of a progressive Pakistan, while
n By Radhika Sanghani For some, she is a standard bearer for
Today marks a precious day in my life. among others she is loathed for having be-
Asser and I tied the knot to be partners come a tool of Westerners who want to por-
“for life. We are excited to walk together tray the country and Islam as backward and
for the journey ahead.” With these words, violent.
Malala Yousafzai, the 24-year-old women’s Her comments on marriage caused par-
rights campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize oxysms from religious hardliners and even
winner, stunned the world last week as she photos of her wearing jeans have been criti-
announced her marriage to Asser Malik, a cized.
Pakistani cricket executive. Yousafzai continues to speak longingly
The news that the couple celebrated of herhomeland and has admitted that
their nikah – an Islamic marriage ceremony she de-bates returning to Pakistan. Yet
– at home in Birmingham on Tuesday was so far, she has only been able to return for a
celebrated by hundreds of thousands, none brief three-day visit in 2018. For that trip, she
of whom knew that the activist was in a re- was accompanied by a military escort, and the
lationship, let alone close to marriage. Even scale of the security arrangement highlighted
Yousafzai’s parents have said that while they the potential difficulties of her moving there
knew about their daughter’s relationship for to start her married life.
the past year, talk of marriage only came about For that trip, Yousafzai was accompanied
recently. by a military escort and the scale of the se-
“It has come as a wonderful surprise,” curity arrangement highlighted the potential
says 26-year-old Khadija Siddiqi, a barrister difficulties of her moving there to start her
and activist, and friend of the couple. Like married life. Siddiqi, who herself has a secu-
Yousafzai, she survived a brutal attack in Paki- rity guard provided by the Pakistani govern-
stan – in 2016, she was stabbed 23 times in ment, as her attacker was released from jail
broad daylight as she collected her six-year- Oxford University), and he runs a grassroots kai, was a love match. after serving only two years, believes it is pos-
old sister from school – and now lives in the franchise called Last Man Stands in Pakistan Christina Lamb, who co-wrote sible. “The Pakistani government would make
UK. that aims to make organized cricket accessible Yousafzai’s autobiography, I Am Malala, and sure Malala has the requisite safety at all times
She first met her in 2019, at a cricket to all. spent months with Yousafzai and her family and wouldn’t have to fear anything if she came
match in Birmingham, where Pakistan played “He’ll be a really supportive partner for at home, points out: “Malala’s grown up seeing back.”
in the World Cup. “It was a social occasion her,” says Siddiqui. “They both care about ac- parents that truly love each other but also have It remains to be seen where Yousafzai de-
that a mutual friend of ours had invited us to, tivism, and I think when they work together in a very affectionate, joking relationship – which cides to settle into married life – whether it’s in
and Asser was also there. He’s so fun-loving their respective fields, it will be brilliant.” is something that has kept Malala so down to her homeland of Pakistan, her ‘second home’
and kind-hearted, and he and Malala were Some have expressed shock that Yousafzai, earth. They laugh a lot and don’t take them- of Birmingham as she’s referred to it ever
laughing together the whole day. I can’t say for who has been working with the UN since her selves too seriously. since her family moved there almost a decade
sure, but I have a feeling that’s when they met teens, has chosen to marry so young, sharing “She’s grown up seeing what a happy mar- ago, or if she moves to the US for a fresh start,
for the first time. It was a really special day.” an interview she gave to Vogue magazine in riage can do. If it’s the right person, it can be where she already has a multi-year program-
Malik, who is believed to be in his early July, voicing her misgivings around marriage: very helpful for her to have a partner in her ming deal with Apple TV+.
30s, thus far has a low public profile. He at- “I still don’t understand why people have to get life. And the good thing about her marriage is “I’m very excited to see what she does
tended Lahore’s distinguished Aitchison Col- married. If you want to have a person in your she’s found someone who appreciates her for next,” says Lamb. “She’s still campaigning for
lege – nicknamed “Pakistan’s Eton” and boast- life, why do you have to sign marriage papers; who she is and won’t clip her wings at all – not girls and women’s education with the Malala
ing alumni including Imran Khan – before why can’t it just be a partnership?” that it would be very easy to do that.” Fund, and it’s more important than ever in the
studying economics and political science at Some critics are asking if the marriage Nimco Ali, a fellow activist, who advises wake of the pandemic and in light of what’s
Lahore University of Management Sciences, was arranged. But Siddiqi says this isn’t true: the Government on tackling violence against happening in Afghanistan. She has talked in
one of the country’s most prestigious insti- “Malala is very wise and true to her words women and girls, thinks Yousafzai’s decision the past of going into politics, so it wouldn’t
tutions. He went on to work for Coca-Cola and her cause. She wouldn’t do something she to marry right now could be deliberate. “I surprise me if one day she did that. I think
before becoming involved in cricket entrepre- didn’t want to do. She’s right about being in a think she’s setting herself up to get into Paki- she’d be a great addition to the political scene.
neurship. partnership, and Asser offers that to her. She’s stani politics. I’m sure she’s happy and in love, “But having seen her go from a girl to a
“He’s cricket mad, but so is Malala,” says obviously going to continue doing more won- so I wish her all the luck, but at the same time, grown-up young woman, she’s still the same
Siddiqi. “She has such a passion for it, and that ders for the world – she’s so cause-orientated this could be helpful if she goes for a career in Malala she always was. She was always ma-
day we all played cricket together in the enclo- and will keep her focus no matter what people Pakistani politics, where you can’t always be a ture beyond her years, and the amazing thing
sure at the stadium.” on social media are saying – and Asser will be single woman and educated and powerful.” about her is that all the way through, with all
The newlyweds are so into the sport that by her side.” Malik is currently based in Lahore for his the extraordinary things she’s gone through,
they are putting their honeymoon on hold to Her father Ziauddin Yousafzai has always work, and there is talk of whether Yousafzai she’s still stayed really down to earth. She
stay in London to watch Pakistan play Austra- been an advocate for women’s rights and has would move to continue her career there. But hasn’t changed, and I don’t think she ever will.”
lia in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup. previously spoken about marriage being en- while she is one of the most celebrated women - Telegraph
Malik is a big supporter of women’s crick- tirely his daughter’s choice in every way. His around the world, she’s still a divisive figure in Additional reporting by Ben Farmer
et (a sport Yousafzai played herself while at own marriage to Yousafzai’s mother, Toor Pe- her homeland.
Global Food Security Index 2021: Food in Pakistan More Affordable Than India, Bangladesh, Nepal

n By Riaz Haq dia ranked 101st among 116 countries.
CA Pakistan’s other South Asian neighbors
are ranked better: Nepal (76), Bangla-
ood is more affordable in desh (76), Myanmar (71).
Pakistan than in Bangladesh Pakistan has been reducing hun-
Fand India, according to the ger at a faster rate than India but slower
Global Food Security Index 2021. than other South Asian neighbors like
Earlier in 2021, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Global Hunger
Index report also COVID-Induced Inflation
ranked Pakistan Global supply-chain disruptions
better than India. and economic recovery from COV-
Numbeo Grocery ID19 pandemic have driven up prices
Index reports that of all commodities, including food and
the food prices in Pakistan are the fuel, worldwide.
second cheapest in the world.
Summary: Food and fuel prices
Global Food Security in Pakistan are among the lowest in the
Pakistan (with 52.6 points) has world. The fact remains that everyone
scored better than Bangladesh (48.8), is feeling the pinch of rising global pric-
Nepal (48.3) and India (50.2 points) in es. It is particularly painful for people
terms of food affordability. Sri Lanka in developing countries like Pakistan.
scored higher with 62.9 points in this In overall food security, Pakistan 53.7 points in 2021 from 46.7 points in The cost of living in Pakistan is These prices are beyond the control of
category on the GFS Index 2021, ac- ranked 75th with a score of 54.7, ahead 2012) and Bangladesh by 4.7 points (to the world’s lowest despite recent infla- any one national government. What
cording to a global report released by of Sri Lanka (77), Nepal (79) and Ban- 49.1 in 2021 from 44.4 points in 2012). tionary trends, according to the Cost of governments like Pakistan can, and
Economist Impact and Corteva Agri- gladesh (84), but behind India ranked China’s score improved by 9.6 points Living Index for mid-2021 as published should do, is to protect the poorest and
science recently. 71st with a score of 57.2 points on the to 71.3 in 2021 from 61.7 in 2012, the by Numbeo. Numbeo Grocery Index most vulnerable people in their coun-
Ireland, Australia, the UK, Fin- GFS Index 2021 ranking 113 countries. report said. “The GFSI looks beyond reports that the food prices in Pakistan tries. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s plan
land, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Pakistan improved its GFS score hunger to identify the underlying fac- are the second cheapest in the world. to deliver targeted food subsidies worth
Canada, Japan, France and the US by 9 points (to 54.7 in 2021 from 45.7 in tors affecting food insecurity around $700 million should help reduce the
shared the top rank with the overall 2012) while India’s score improved only the world,” said Tim Glenn, Executive Global Hunger Index pain. This $700 million package is in
GFS scores in the range of 77.8 and 80 by 2.7 points to 57.2 in 2021 from 54.5 Vice-President and Chief Commercial Global Hunger Index 2021 report addition to more than a billion dollars
points on the index. in 2012. Nepal improved by 7 points (to Officer, Corteva Agriscience. has ranked Pakistan 92nd, ahead of In- distributed under the Ehsaas program.
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