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By Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal As the fierce heat of early June settles across the plains of South Asia, it arrives not merely as another season but as a reminder of a reality that has shaped generations. In Pakistan and neighbouring countries, the relentless sun scorches fields, dries rivers, and hardens the earth long before the monsoon clouds appear. For centuries, people have adapted to this harsh climate with remarkable endurance, turning resilience into an inseparable part of daily life. Yet the summers of today are no longer simply a familiar hardship. They are becoming longer, hotter and increasingly dangerous, driven…
By Atiq Raja There is something quietly profound about a single drop of water. On its own, it appears fragile and insignificant, easily overlooked beside the vastness of an ocean. Yet every ocean is nothing more than an immeasurable gathering of such drops. Remove them one by one, and the mighty sea ceases to exist. This simple truth offers one of nature’s most enduring lessons: what appears small is often inseparable from what appears great. Modern life encourages people to measure worth through scale. Bigger cities, larger economies, greater wealth and louder achievements are frequently presented as the only meaningful…
By Mirza Hassan Raza In Pakistan, the elite class loves calling domestic workers “part of the family” until it comes to giving them the rights that an actual family member would enjoy. Behind polished dining tables, expensive cars and imported furniture, there is often a driver sleeping in a garage, a cook working through illness, a maid raising someone else’s children while barely seeing her own, and a security guard standing outside for 12 hours in unbearable heat with little dignity or protection. Their work keeps households running, yet their contribution is rarely recognised beyond the services they provide. Somehow,…
By Prof Dr Sheikh Akram Ali In international politics, geography cannot be changed, but diplomacy can shape a nation’s future. For a country such as Bangladesh, located at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia and surrounded by competing regional and global powers, foreign policy is not simply about choosing friends. It is about balancing relationships, protecting sovereignty and advancing national interests without becoming overly dependent on any single power. Since the end of the Second World War, global diplomacy has largely been shaped by rivalry among major powers. During the Cold War, the world was divided between two ideological…
Pakistan’s Finance Minister has presented the near doubling of federal tax revenues over the past two-and-a-half years as evidence that economic reforms are beginning to deliver. On paper, the figures appear impressive. According to the government, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected more than Rs13 trillion during the 2025-26 fiscal year, surpassing its target of Rs12.83 trillion. Officials point to improved fiscal discipline, a narrowing budget deficit, expanded digitalisation and record tax refunds as proof that Pakistan’s revenue machinery is finally becoming more efficient. There is no question that improving tax collection is essential for a country that has…
By Bindia Ishaq India has long projected itself as the world’s largest democracy, a nation whose constitutional foundations are built on secularism, pluralism and equality before the law. Elections involving hundreds of millions of voters remain a remarkable democratic exercise. Yet democracy is measured by far more than the ballot box. Its true strength lies in the protection it offers to minorities, the impartiality of its institutions and the confidence every citizen has that the law will be applied equally, irrespective of religion or ethnicity. It is against this broader standard that growing concerns over the treatment of Muslims under…
Pakistan’s reported diplomatic role in easing tensions between Iran and the United States has undoubtedly strengthened its international standing and reinforced the perception that Islamabad remains an important player in regional diplomacy. Whether acting as a facilitator or a trusted intermediary, Pakistan demonstrated that constructive engagement, discreet communication and sustained dialogue still have a place in an international environment increasingly dominated by military confrontation and geopolitical rivalry. For a country that has often found itself defined by security challenges rather than diplomatic achievements, the episode offered an opportunity to project a different image: one of a responsible regional actor capable…
By Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal Terrorism remains one of Pakistan’s most persistent security challenges, continuing to claim the lives of soldiers, police officers and civilians while undermining the country’s efforts to strengthen stability and economic recovery. Every attack is a reminder that violent extremism has not disappeared from the region and that those charged with protecting the public continue to bear a heavy burden. The latest assault on security personnel in Karachi once again highlights the determination of militant groups to strike at the institutions responsible for maintaining law and order. Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagement on regional issues has also drawn…