Editorial

Despite having 12 elections from 1970, it can be safely said that the electoral practice is of men, by men and for men, with occasional face-saving instances of having Benazir Bhutto as the first female prime minister of Pakistan. Elections are hardly an equal opportunity for all segments of the public. It is heartening to […]

Presidential pardons are a tool meant for state welfare, but their misuse undermines public trust. Recently outgoing US President Joe Biden pardoned his son, and the matter is being discussed all over the world. We see such instances in Pakistan, and do not take it a worthy of discussion. The discussion on Biden’s act highlights […]

The invention of smartphones powered by internet-run social media platforms has given a voice to citizens, breaking traditional barriers of censorship. However, this newfound freedom often comes with the peril of misinformation. In Pakistan, where concerns over ‘digital terrorism’ dominate official narratives, the lines between fact and fiction and news and propaganda blur alarmingly. Social […]

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif deserves credit for steering the economy towards recovery. Some critiques, however, praise the IMF-dictated policies, but the fact the annual consumer price index inflation rate was 4.9 per cent in November, if Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data is to be believed. Though markets and public sentiment are on the other […]

Sunday did not pass without leaving behind a line of terror. The day saw two incidents of terrorism which only highlights the persistent threat faced by the nation. The Pakistan Army and police forces successfully thwarted attacks, but the losses underline the heavy cost of security efforts. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two soldiers, including Captain Muhammad […]

Though there were no prior talk of shark attacks, but users across Pakistan faced internet disruptions on Sunday. Almost all of us struggled with slow speeds and felt frustrated with slow browsing, downloading and media sharing. It might be a peaceful day in local WhatsApp groups. Our digital setting’s ongoing struggle only shows deeper structural […]

The lifting of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ban on Pakistani airlines, particularly PIA is a welcome moment for our aviation industry. The ban which was initially for six months lasted nearly four and a half years. Consequences? Besides losing credibility, the airline suffered losses of Rs 450 billion. The good news is […]

History has shown that cricket can build bridges where politics has failed. Now, we are living in such an age when diplomacy has become a hurdle in the smooth conduct of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled in Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, 2025. As cricket fans across the subcontinent eagerly await this […]

This year has seen over 150 deaths in Kurram district, of which 90 were killed in the ongoing wave of violence. The violence is not about the toll; it is a reminder of the state’s failure to maintain order in its own territory. The ongoing hostilities are marked by mortar attacks and sporadic gunfights. The […]

Now when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) march has dispersed, and things should have turned to normalcy, the federal government has started contemplating imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The proposal is fraught with long-term risks that can harm the already fragile political environment in the country. While law and order concerns are valid, resorting […]