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By S.M. Inam Pakistan’s struggle to stabilize its public finances moved into a harsher and more exposed phase this week, as fresh figures revealed the depth of revenue haemorrhaging from the country’s illicit cigarette trade. Few issues better illustrate the gap between state policy and state capacity. For years, the authorities have acknowledged the existence of a vast underground market in cigarettes, yet the latest estimates — that the exchequer is losing between Rs250bn and Rs300bn every year — have reopened a familiar debate: how does a government facing chronic fiscal constraints allow an entire parallel industry to flourish beyond…

The latest wave of disclosures emerging from the unsealed archives of the Epstein files has sent ripples through political circles across several countries, and India has found itself increasingly drawn into the turbulence. The suggestion that some sitting ministers, former ministers and current MPs may be implicated in documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein has unsettled a government that has spent the past decade constructing a narrative of moral rectitude and national strength. For the first time, the possibility of an international scandal colliding directly with the Modi administration appears uncomfortably real. At the heart of the storm lies a series…

By Syed Shamim Akhtar Human rights observers are increasingly sounding the alarm over Afghanistan’s mounting social and economic crisis, warning that the country is facing a profound erosion of its intellectual and civic foundations. Once home to a vibrant academic and media landscape, Afghanistan is now grappling with a systematic suppression of thought, compounded by crippling unemployment and a collapse in educational opportunities under the Taliban’s rule. Experts say these developments are not incidental but part of a deliberate program to consolidate control, silence dissent, and reshape Afghan society in accordance with a narrowly defined ideological vision. At the heart…

Pakistan and Russia are quietly edging toward a deeper commercial and strategic alignment, signaling a potential reshaping of economic and geopolitical dynamics across Eurasia. Moscow has indicated fresh interest in sectors ranging from energy and agriculture to industry and pharmaceuticals, reflecting a recalibration of partnerships at a time when both countries are seeking to expand influence and secure resources amid shifting regional landscapes. Sergei Tsivilev, the co-chair of the Russian-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission, said Russian oil and gas companies were “highly interested” in expanding their presence in Pakistan. Sergei Tsivilev described ongoing cooperation in hydrocarbon exploration and joint project development, noting…

By Dr Zawwar Hussain Humanity’s fascination with the cosmos has long been driven by engines, telescopes, and spacecraft. Rockets carry our ambitions beyond Earth, while satellites map the heavens and telescopes peer deep into the universe. Yet a quieter revolution is under way, one that may transform space exploration not through brute propulsion or fuel, but through time itself. Scientists in the United States and Australia have reported advances in atomic timekeeping so precise that they could fundamentally reshape our understanding of space and how we navigate it. At the heart of this breakthrough is the atomic clock, an instrument…

By Syed Ali Mardan Shah Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist is more than a novel; it is a timeless meditation on the pursuit of dreams, the courage to follow one’s heart, and the subtle, often mysterious forces that guide human destiny. First published in Portuguese in 1988, the book has since become one of the most translated and widely read works in literary history, speaking across cultures and generations with a deceptively simple yet deeply resonant message. Through the story of a young shepherd named Santiago, Coelho invites readers to explore the meaning of personal purpose, the language of the universe,…

By Atiq Raja In the quiet pens of a livestock farm, there exists a creature whose role is at once unassuming and sinister: the Judas Goat. Trained to lead other goats and sheep into the slaughterhouse, it strides ahead with apparent confidence, giving the herd a sense of security. The others follow, trusting its direction, oblivious to the doom that awaits them. The Judas Goat itself halts before the final point, spared each time, only to return and lead another group into the same fate. On the surface, it is an agricultural tactic. Beneath that, it is a profound and…

By Abdul Rehman Patel The recent shooting incident involving two security personnel in Washington, D.C., has thrust the United States back into that precarious space where national security, civil liberties, human rights, and global diplomacy intersect. In the immediate aftermath, former President Donald Trump announced sweeping new restrictions on immigration, travel, and security, targeting what he broadly described as “third world countries.” While the official list of affected nations remains unpublished, media reports suggest that up to nineteen countries could face tightened screening, visa suspensions, green card reviews, and politically driven immigration filtration. The message is unmistakable: borders are no…

By S.M. Inam Pakistan’s election as chair of the Economic Cooperation Organization’s Council of Ministers (ECO-COM) for 2026–2027 marks a moment of notable regional significance, one that has drawn warm acknowledgements from foreign ministers across the member states. On the virtual platform of the 29th ECO-COM session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar spoke with measured optimism, underscoring the need for collective action in a world increasingly defined by rapid technological change and shifting geopolitical currents. Drawing lessons from Kazakhstan’s recent presidency of the organization, he emphasized that economic divides across South and Central Asia must be…