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COVID-19 pandemic is admittedly a black swan event. It was neither anticipated nor we can prevent it. Having been warned about global recession and the looming food crisis, governments across the world especially in the developing countries cannot afford to be complacent about the need for both food security and food safety. No amount of financial stimulus can save a state from social unrest if its food supply system is not functioning the way it should. Money can never be a substitute for food. Increasingly, warnings about global recession are accompanied by warnings of a looming food crisis. As the coronavirus spreads and the number of its patients increases, the restrictions on mobility are mounting and economic and commercial supply chains are coming under serious strain. Lockdowns and impediments on the movement of goods and commodities will have – and perhaps are already having – a significant impact on the availability, or otherwise, of essential food items in many parts of the world. Most countries, therefore, are taking these warnings seriously. They are trying to prepare themselves as per the size of their purse by providing fiscal stimuli – varying from $ 2 trillion in the US to $ 8 billion in Pakistan. Multilateral and bilateral lenders, too, are proposing to shield vulnerable economies against tough economic times through debt relief and debt rescheduling.

After initial hiccups, there is finally a broader consensus in Pakistan that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would create a shared future for the federating units of Pakistan. The increased flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and completion of some of the early harvesting programmes is a good omen. However, the concept of "Special Economic Zones" (SEZs) under CPEC umbrella has led to some murmuring, especially around the "fear of unknown" among the private sector of Pakistan.

Have you ever asked a tailor to stitch clothes without telling the age, height, weight, and other measurements? Yes, the whole idea sounds absurd. How can one stitch clothes for someone without knowing the basic measurements? The same holds when governments formulate and implement their plans without an updated census. Pakistan has been living with this absurdity since 2008. Without knowing the number, age, geographical distribution, ethnic, religious, and gender composition, educational level, income level, employment level and other key indicators of its population, successive governments have been planning and executing policies, ranging from economic, social, political, foreign, environmental to defence.

Maintaining food supply is usually most challenging for governments during crises and disasters such as COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, how different countries face and counter such challenges can provide us with useful insights for the timely and appropriate measures. Globally, COVID-19 has certain implications on food security and food supply chains such as availability of labour and transport, spread of wrong signals about food shortages, and contamination of food (from the virus) thus leading to hoarding and bulk purchase. Likewise, lockdown situations or strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) may cause food price hike, and undermine the negotiating power of farmers and consumers. This is particularly true for countries where people are living in dense urban and peri-urban agglomerations and relay on transitional food supply chains. However, with some measures that are adopted and practiced globally helped minimize the impact of COVID-19 on food security and supply chains.

Rise of China as a major political, economic and security player at global landscape keeps on inviting the interest of international community in governance system of China. The state once accused of having extractive political and economic institutions made a place in international arena due to unique governance system. governance system is entrenched in guidelines set under the overarching ideology: 'Socialism with Chinese Characteristics'. The ideology entails leading and guiding role of Communist Party in running the government with the commitment to raise and sustain good living standards of people (Jinping, 2014). Reforms were introduced by Communist Party to turn the idea into reality. Prominent feature of reforms was that it was a mix of communist and liberal ideas, practices and values. The apex role of Communist Party is backed by Constitution of China, thus reducing the role of other parties in governance. This enables the Party to legislate, introduce major reforms along with electing major officials of the state. It also gives the Party highest level of decision making authority; therefore China is also referred as a "Party- State".

Although scholars and practitioners have identified explicit structural impediments that constrain countries' efforts to alleviate poverty and promote sustainable social development, there has been limited research conducted to identify the specific barriers to development that prevail in Pakistan today. The authors of Development Challenges Confronting Pakistan go far toward filling this void, articulating the unique blend of factors that affect Pakistan's ability to eliminate poverty and promote social justice