Hunter turns protector for Pakistan’s rare markhor on July 11, 2024Asadullah Bazai, Pakistan’s former national shooting champion and a veteran hunter, is on a mission to save the country’s rare Sulaiman markhor, a straight-horned goat that was once on the verge of extinction due to extensive hunting and poaching. Bazai, 55, and his team have devoted a great deal of time – and a good […]
How landslides fueled a climate warrior’s forestation drive on July 5, 2024Nestled on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the remote Bajaur tribal region, which was once a poster child for militancy, is currently in the headlines for a different reason: a feel-good success story of a climate warrior. Until recent years, landslides would regularly strike the tiny village of Maulana Khan Zaib, located on the foothills of a […]
Naila Kiani sets sights on even greater heights on June 8, 2024Naila Kiani exudes confidence, the kind that only comes at the dizzying heights of success she has – quite literally – reached. She is the only woman in Pakistan to have summited 11 of the world’s 14 mountains higher than 8,000 meters (over 26,240 feet), and only the third Pakistani who has managed to do […]
‘All eyes on Rafah,’ tens of thousands rally in Karachi on June 3, 2024Tens of thousands of protesters packed the main road in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Sunday to denounce the Israeli offensive of Gaza that has killed over 36,400 people, mostly children and women, since last October. Organized by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the country’s mainstream religiopolitical party, and attended by thousands of women and children as […]
‘Only unpredictability is certain’ as climate extremes grip Pakistan on May 30, 2024The sprawling plains of Pakistan and neighboring India are currently in the grip of a scorching heat wave, which has hit the region quite late this year but will be more severe, according to environment experts. Pakistan’s weather agency has forecast the ongoing spell of abnormally hot and humid weather to continue until at least […]
Naila Kiani becomes 1st Pakistani woman to summit 11 peaks above 8,000 meters on May 6, 2024Pakistan’s Naila Kiani on Sunday summited Makalu, the world’s fifth-tallest mountain, located in Nepal, making her the first Pakistani woman to scale 11 peaks above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet). “After a challenging climb through the night, Kiani has achieved another historic milestone by successfully summiting Makalu, the 5th highest peak in the world at 8,485 […]
Fresh casualties dampen hopes for revival of kite festival on March 29, 2024Fresh casualties caused by sharp glass-coated strings used to fly kites in several parts of Pakistan have further dented hopes for the revival of Basant, a traditional festival celebrated with the advent of spring. Netizens took to social media platforms to express their anger over the latest casualty last week – a 22-year-old boy whose […]
New setup in sight but rocky road ahead for Pakistan’s new govt on February 18, 2024As major political forces continue efforts to string together a coalition after the Feb. 8 elections, a myriad of challenges awaits whoever eventually takes over Pakistan’s government. Analysts agree the top three priorities for any incoming government will be the faltering economy, rising political instability and the looming threat of a resurgence of terrorism. Amid […]
Smaller parties take center stage on February 14, 2024As Pakistan’s three mainstream political forces rush to stitch together coalitions after the Feb. 8 general elections, smaller parties find themselves playing an unexpected make-or-break role in the formation of the next government. Several regional and religiopolitical parties with a few seats between them will be crucial in determining who gets to head the central […]
Who are the frontrunners in Pakistan’s crucial elections? on February 8, 2024Tough contest is expected between three mainstream political parties: Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan People’s Party Millions of Pakistanis will head to the polls on Thursday amid a grinding combination of economic and political crises. Over 128 million people, 45% of them between the ages of 18 and 35, are eligible […]