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By Muhammad Arshad KARACHI: The 17th Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) 2026 opened on Friday under the theme “Literature in a Fragile World.” Organized by Oxford University Press Pakistan, the festival began on a somber note with a moment of silence for victims of the Gul Plaza fire and for those killed in Friday’s Islamabad bomb blast. The three-day event brings together writers, thinkers, and readers to explore literature and culture. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, the chief guest, highlighted the role of literature and culture in building an enlightened society. “In times of global uncertainty, literature provides stability and…

By Israr Ahmad Orakzai Hangu/Orakzai: Like other parts of the country, districts Orakzai and Hangu marked Kashmir Solidarity Day with vibrant events and rallies to express unwavering support for the people of Kashmir. In Orakzai, the main ceremony took place at the Lower Orakzai headquarters in Kalaya, attended by Deputy Commissioner Orakzai Muhammad Irfanuddin, DPO Shaukat Ali, government officials, tribal elders, teachers, and students from various educational institutions. A well-organized rally was held on the occasion, led by the Deputy Commissioner and DPO, with participation from district administration officials, police, tribal elders, students, lawyers, and hundreds of people representing diverse…

By Abdul Qadir Mahesar DADU: An important awareness session on the dangers of iodine deficiency was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Dadu under the auspices of Nutrition International. The session, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner Wajahat Ghafoor, brought together officials from the Health Department, Food Authority, local salt traders, and concerned citizens. Aurangzeb Panhwar, Zonal Manager of Nutrition International, highlighted the severe health impacts of iodine deficiency, including goiter, nervous system disorders, complications in pregnancy, and reduced mental development in children. He stressed that iodine is critical for newborns’ cognitive growth, learning, memory, and intellectual development. The Additional…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Kashmir Solidarity Day carried the unmistakable weight of a nation that continues to confront unresolved conflict. In a speech that was both solemn and stern, he sought to convey Pakistan’s unwavering stance on Kashmir, a region that has remained the epicenter of South Asia’s most protracted territorial dispute. Sharif’s message was clear: any provocation by India, in whatever form it may take, will be met with a corresponding response. The Prime Minister’s rhetoric reflected years of accumulated frustration, a frustration rooted in what he described as India’s…

By S.M. Inam The cost of living in Pakistan is rising at a pace that few can comfortably bear, and the latest data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics underscores just how severe the situation has become. Basic health services have grown more than seven percent more expensive over the past year, while education, a fundamental pillar of any progressive society, has surged by over ten percent. Housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuel are all inflating at 7.29 percent, with food prices climbing 7.53 percent. Perishable items, essential to daily nutrition, have been hit hardest, soaring nearly twenty percent, and…

By Atiq Raja Inequality is often presented as if it were an unchangeable law of nature. Some are naturally talented, some work harder, some are luckier—this is the comfortable story that societies tell themselves. Yet Thomas Piketty, in his book Nature, Culture and Inequality, challenges that assumption with an argument that is both unsettling and liberating: inequality is not a fixed feature of humanity. It is a human creation, shaped by culture, ideology, and the decisions societies make about power and wealth. At the heart of Piketty’s work is a simple but profound insight: inequality is not inevitable. Across history…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi Kazakhstan and Pakistan have agreed to significantly enhance their bilateral trade and economic cooperation, setting an ambitious target of increasing mutual trade volume to $1 billion within the next two years. The understanding was reached as part of broader efforts to elevate bilateral relations and strengthen regional connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia. According to official sources, current trade between the two countries stands at approximately $250 million, far below its actual potential. Despite geographical proximity and historical ties, trade has remained limited due to logistical constraints, the lack of direct transit routes, and insufficient…

By Shakeel Hussain Education has always been recognized as the backbone of civilized society. It empowers individuals, strengthens nations, and shapes moral and intellectual character. History is replete with examples showing that when education falters, societies decline. Knowledge is therefore not a privilege; it is a fundamental right, one that belongs to every human being, regardless of gender, social class, or background. Yet, the promise of education can only be fulfilled when the spaces in which learning takes place are safe, ethical, and just. Without these conditions, knowledge risks being reduced to a hollow exercise, and classrooms can become arenas…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s address to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Kashmir Solidarity Day carried the unmistakable weight of a nation that continues to confront unresolved conflict. In a speech that was both solemn and stern, he sought to convey Pakistan’s unwavering stance on Kashmir, a region that has remained the epicenter of South Asia’s most protracted territorial dispute. Sharif’s message was clear: any provocation by India, in whatever form it may take, will be met with a corresponding response. The Prime Minister’s rhetoric reflected years of accumulated frustration, a frustration rooted in what he described as India’s…

By Abdul Qadir Maheser DADU: Under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Dadu Syed Murtaza Ali Shah, a solidarity rally was taken out on February 5 to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, starting from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Dadu and proceeding to the Dadu Press Club. The rally was attended by SSP Dadu Captain (retd) Ameer Saud Magsi, DHO Dadu Syed Imdad Ali Shah, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Wajahat Ghafoor, District Information Officer Zeeshan Ali Laghari, along with officials from the revenue, education, local government and municipal administrations. Representatives of civil society, journalists and people from various walks of life also participated in…