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By S.M. Inam Pakistan and Uzbekistan are poised at the threshold of a new economic chapter, one that promises to redefine trade, investment, and industrial collaboration in Central and South Asia. On Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Uzbek business firms to explore opportunities across Pakistan’s textile, pharmaceutical, mining, agriculture, and tourism sectors, while private sector entities from both countries signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth $3.4 billion for business-to-business cooperation. The forum, held alongside Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s two-day state visit to Islamabad, reflected more than ceremonial diplomacy; it was a tangible effort to convert historic goodwill into concrete…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak Islamabad, long regarded as a symbol of Pakistan’s administrative stability, has been jolted by a tragic reminder that no city is immune to the scourge of militancy. On Friday, a suicide attack at the Khadijat-ul-Kubra Imambargah in Tarlai claimed the lives of at least 31 people and left 169 others injured, turning what should have been a sacred space into a scene of horror. The blast, which occurred during Friday prayers, shattered windows of surrounding buildings and sent shockwaves of fear across the capital, leaving a community—and a nation—grappling with grief, anger, and anxiety. Eyewitness accounts…

By Dr Zawwar Hussain Pakistan is often described through the familiar lens of four provinces and four seasons. But such simplifications conceal a more complex reality, one that has profound implications for the country’s education system. Beyond Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan lies Gilgit-Baltistan—a region that is not merely a geographical periphery but a linchpin of Pakistan’s water security and ecological balance. Beyond the usual seasonal cycle, Pakistan experiences a fifth season: the monsoon, which, for all its life-giving qualities, brings disruption, danger, and profound challenges for schools and communities alike. Understanding these complexities is not a matter of…

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…