Frank F Islam

As the end of Ramadan draws near and Eid approaches, it is my privilege to wish that this blessed time and the upcoming year bring my Muslim brethren and all the citizens of Pakistan love, joy and enlightenment in every sphere of life. I say this with the full realization that this past year has […]

On March 8, International Women’s Day, Pakistan announced the launch of a new National Gender Policy Framework. As the program for the launch event stated, this Framework is important because “…of the dismal national standing against international gender development indices and a widening gender gap which is costing Pakistan PKR $500 billion annually and closing […]

While waves of inflation and Covid-19 economic and health aftereffects kept pushing masses to the wall in 2021, Pakistan and Pakistanis continued to persevere. By doing this, they were able to convert many of the challenges confronting the nation to opportunities. It is important to recognize and acknowledge these steps forward as 2021 draws to […]

Misinformation, hatred and emotional exploitation have always been favourite tools of instigators, miscreants and cults. Recently revealed Facebook Papers indicate that social media has become an important channel for utilizing those tools. The Facebook Papers, scrutinized by more than a dozen news organizations, indicate a systemic problem at policy and technical levels. Frances Haugen, the […]

On July 30, President Joe Biden named aMuslim American Rashad Hussain as America’s next Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom. The U.S. Senate confirmed thatHussain will become the sixthperson to serve in this position. As ambassador-at-large,the 41-year-old attorney will also head the Departmentof State’s Office of International Religious Freedomand serve as a non-voting member of the […]

The last remaining US soldiers stationed at the Bagram Air Base, once the symbol of US presence in Afghanistan, returned home on Friday July 2, just in time to spend the fourth of July weekend with their families. The transfer of the airfield – just 40 miles to the north of Kabul – to Afghan […]

On June 5, Pakistan, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), hosted World Environment Day under the banner of ‘Ecosystem Restoration’. This annual event has a four-decade long tradition involving more than 100 countries. That Pakistan was asked to play host signals acknowledgement of the country’s progress in ecosystem restoration – particularly, reforestation. […]

The World Health Organisation has reported that India is home to approximately 50 percent of all new Covid-19 cases, globally. In real terms, this means 19 million positive cases and 210,000 deaths, by May 1. As the second wave intensified, daily infections topped 300,000 for ten consecutive days and now exceeds 400,000 per day. This […]

Over a billion Muslims around are the world are observing the holy month of Ramadan, a 30-day serenity period which comes along with unprecedented philanthropic work and a 360-degree development. Muslim communities, here in United States and around the world, mark this month with devotion, civic activities and philanthropic works. I want to extend best […]

After years of tensions, it appears that there may be a glimmer of hope for peace between India and Pakistan. This hope has been precipitated by reports that the UAE helped to broker the recent India-Pakistan Kashmir border ceasefire and a road map to peace between these two nuclear-armed south Asian neighbours. The ceasefire was […]