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By Ahsan Mughal KARACHI: Significant relief for Pakistan’s auto sector is expected in the upcoming federal budget, with reductions in taxes likely to make hybrid, electric, and fuel-powered vehicles more affordable. Officials say car prices could fall by as much as Rs2.5 million, signalling the gradual end of the dominance of large automobile companies. Speaking during an iftar dinner, Engineering Development Board CEO Hamad Mansoor said a fully electric “Made in Pakistan” vehicle is expected to enter the market by June this year, with prices potentially dropping below Rs1 million due to local manufacturing. Production of lithium batteries is set…

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have led to a significant increase in international flights over Pakistan, with air traffic rising by about 15%. Officials report that more than 700 aircraft now cross Pakistan’s airspace daily, generating higher revenue for the Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA). The increase has boosted daily earnings to approximately $800,000, up around $150,000 from normal levels. The surge comes as airlines adjust routes due to the security situation in the Middle East, taking advantage of Pakistan’s open air corridors. Under typical conditions, around 550–600 flights pass through Pakistan each day. Despite the…

By Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal There are moments in the life of nations which, though brief in duration, cast shadows long enough to shape both present anxieties and future reckonings. History is not merely a chronicle of bygone days; it is a vigilant sentinel, reminding statesmen and peoples alike that decisions taken in hours of peril may determine the destiny of generations. One such moment arrived in the cold and uneasy February of 1987, when intelligence reports reached Islamabad that India, under the cover of its vast military exercises known as Operation Brasstacks, had positioned formidable forces near Pakistan’s borders. The…

The public thanks extended to Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative at the United Nations, to Russia, Pakistan and China has stirred a familiar question in diplomatic circles: did Pakistan truly come to Iran’s aid, and if so, why does Tehran appear so keen to acknowledge it? The answer lies less in expressions of solidarity than in the evolving strategic realities of a region that has rarely remained static for long. In the complex political landscape of the Middle East, where alliances are fragile and rivalries deeply entrenched, Pakistan’s position has begun to carry a weight that many observers once…

By Mohammad Basir-Ul-Haq Sinha (Dhaka) For decades, the ruling families of the oil-rich Gulf have indulged in a deeply seductive illusion: that staggering wealth could translate directly into political influence in Washington. Billions have been poured into lobbying networks, iconic London properties have been acquired as symbols of status, and sovereign wealth funds have been carefully parked in Western equities—all under the assumption that financial clout guarantees political respect. The reality, however, has always been far harsher. Wealth buys attention, perhaps, but it does not buy leverage over the strategic imperatives that truly shape U.S. policy in the region. That…

By A Rehman Patel The doctor stood in his white coat. Modern machines were neatly arranged on the table, and the rows of letters on the wall stood like a silent examination before me. After completing the checkup, he smiled and said, “Haris, it’s remarkable… even at this age, your vision is perfectly 6/6.” I thanked him, yet a faint smile arose within my heart, because the person he had declared perfectly sighted was actually living in a world where everything is visible — and yet nothing is truly seen. He does not see old Kareem in his neighborhood, sitting…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Senator Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are both Islamic countries, therefore any war between them can neither be called jihad nor described as sacred. He said such tensions could instead lead to unrest and instability in the region. He said religious and political leaders in both countries carry a responsibility to strengthen geographical, cultural and religious ties, and to promote dialogue and reconciliation rather than confrontation. Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said Islam teaches peace and brotherhood, therefore promoting peace between the two brotherly Islamic countries should be the real sacred objective,…

By Mujeeb Rahman Qambran MESAR: Leaders of Shahri Ittehad Sindhi Buttra have protested against prolonged electricity load shedding on the Old Beto Feeder by SEPCO, even during the holy month of Ramadan. Wadero Aajiz Ajeebullah Qambrani, Syed Masoom Ali Shah, Noor Muhammad Jatoi, and Ashiq Qambrani reached the National Press Club Mehar and held a protest, expressing strong concern over the situation. Speaking to the media, they said the Old Beto Feeder is the only feeder connected to the Mehar Sub-Division and Mehar Grid Station, but it is being treated unfairly. They alleged that SEPCO officials, including the XEN and…

By Mujeeb Rahman Qambran MESAR: Following news reports by journalists of the National Press Club Mehar highlighting the issue of drugs and social evils, SSP Dadu Ameer Saud Magsi launched a crackdown against drug dealers. Police claim to have arrested 42 suspects involved in drug trafficking and recovered more than 10 kilograms of charas, 836 packets of gutka and betel nut, 11 kilograms of cannabis (bhang), and bottles of liquor. On the directives of DIG Hyderabad Tariq Razzaq Dharejo and SSP Dadu Captain (R) Amir Saud Magsi, police conducted raids against drug dealers across Mehar Taluka and various areas of…