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By Dr Akram Sultan The federal government’s decision to reduce taxes on the import of raw materials used in cancer medicines deserves broad support. In a country where serious illness often pushes families into financial distress, any measure that lowers the cost of life-saving treatment is a step in the right direction. Cancer treatment remains beyond the reach of many Pakistanis, with imported medicines placing a heavy burden on patients and their families. By reducing the tax burden on essential pharmaceutical ingredients, the government has acknowledged an important reality: access to healthcare should not be determined by a person’s financial…

By Ayesha Ibad Pakistan’s coastline, stretching more than 1,001 km along the Arabian Sea, represents a strategically significant yet underutilised marine asset base. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) hosts diverse biological resources, including seaweeds, shellfish, crustaceans, microorganisms and microalgae, with growing applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, biomaterials and environmental sectors. These uses are not merely hypothetical; marine-derived compounds already support well-known pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products on a global scale, especially omega-3-based formulations and other bioactive molecules derived from marine organisms. Within Pakistan, several researchers have highlighted the nutritional and commercial value of marine resources. A study published in Frontiers in Sustainable…

The government’s decision to impose a five percent withholding tax on income earned through social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok appears, on the surface, a modest fiscal measure but in reality it sends a discouraging signal to Pakistan’s growing community of digital entrepreneurs. For young freelancers content creators and small online businesses this policy risks turning a promising digital economy into a heavily regulated space that discourages innovation and limits opportunity at a time when Pakistan should be actively encouraging exports of digital services. The argument that the tax merely ensures “fair share” ignores the fragile…

I am writing to draw attention, through your esteemed newspaper, to the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which increasingly appear to threaten regional stability and broader international peace. The ongoing hostilities have already resulted in significant loss of life, damage to civilian infrastructure, and a deepening sense of insecurity across an already fragile region. If such developments continue unchecked, the consequences are unlikely to remain confined to the immediate theatre of conflict. Instead, they risk spilling over into wider geopolitical instability, with potential disruptions to global economic systems, energy markets, and international security frameworks. At a time when diplomatic…

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The possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran has once again focused global attention on one of the world’s most volatile regions. For decades, relations between Washington and Tehran have oscillated between confrontation, suspicion and intermittent dialogue. Every hint of progress has generated hope, while every setback has reinforced fears of renewed instability. Today, as reports emerge of intense diplomatic engagement and speculation grows about a possible agreement, the Middle East finds itself at another pivotal moment. Whether this moment ultimately becomes a turning point for peace or merely another missed opportunity will depend not on…

By Dr Zawwar Hussain The recent crude oil spill in Gwadar’s West Bay has unsettled not only environmental scientists but also policymakers who have long framed the Makran coast as central to Pakistan’s blue economy ambitions. What has unfolded along this once-pristine stretch of the Arabian Sea is more than an isolated ecological incident; it is a reminder of how fragile coastal systems can be when exposed to the intersecting pressures of maritime traffic, regional volatility and inadequate environmental safeguards. Initial assessments suggest that a significant portion of the shoreline, stretching across nearly 20 kilometres, has been coated in dense…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak The presentation of a national budget is often more than an accounting exercise. It is a statement of priorities, a reflection of political choices and, perhaps most importantly, a measure of how governments understand the daily realities faced by their citizens. Pakistan’s federal budget for 2026-27 arrives at a moment when the country is seeking to move beyond economic firefighting and towards a more durable path of growth. After years marked by inflation, fiscal pressures, currency instability and difficult negotiations with international lenders, the government is presenting this budget as the beginning of a new chapter.…