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By Sudhir Ahmed Afridi The prolonged closure of the Torkham border crossing, alongside other key transit points such as Chaman, Ghulam Khan and Kharlachi, was not a sudden administrative decision but the outcome of armed clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces at multiple points on 11 October last year. Since then, Pakistan has maintained that Afghan soil has been used for militant infiltration into its territory and has insisted that borders will remain shut to movement and trade until international guarantees are provided that such incursions will cease. Islamabad’s position has echoed a wider concern voiced by the international community:…
By Dr Zawwar Hussain The centenary of the Sindh Boy Scouts Association is not simply a marker of institutional longevity. It is a reminder of a quieter, steadier tradition of nation-building that has unfolded far from the glare of politics and power. For a hundred years, scouting in Sindh has worked patiently at the level where societies are actually shaped: in classrooms, playgrounds, camps, relief sites and neighborhoods, where young people learn not what to demand from the world, but what they owe to it. In an age obsessed with speed, visibility and instant results, this kind of legacy can…
By Uzma Ehtasham Pakistan is approaching a demographic milestone that is as consequential as it is under-discussed. By 2026, according to the United Nations Population Fund, the country’s population is expected to exceed 225 million, placing it among the five most populous nations in the world. Numbers of this scale are often framed in alarmist terms, as an inevitable burden on a fragile economy and overstretched public services. UNFPA’s intervention challenges that reflex. Population growth, it argues, is not destiny. Managed wisely, it can be a strategic asset rather than a liability. Managed poorly, it will deepen inequalities that already…
Pakistan’s quiet expansion of biometric identity verification marks one of those policy shifts whose significance will only be fully understood years from now, when daily interactions with the state begin to feel either smoother or more intrusive. By amending national identity card regulations to formally widen the definition of biometrics beyond fingerprints to include facial and iris recognition, the federal government has laid the legal groundwork for a multi-biometric system that will eventually touch almost every citizen’s life. It is a move framed as technical and administrative, yet it carries social, ethical and political implications that demand wider public scrutiny.…
By Moin Ullah Shah KARACHI: Javed Alam Odho formally assumed the post of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh on 1 January 2026, following an official notification from the federal government. He is the 86th officer to hold the position in the province. Upon arrival at the Karachi Police Headquarters, Odho was received with a guard of honour by a well‑drilled contingent of the Sindh Police. He paid tribute at the police martyrs’ memorial, laying a floral wreath and offering prayers in honour of the fallen officers. Odho acknowledged the sacrifices of the police martyrs and prayed for the elevation…
By Uzma Ehtasham Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, underscored on Saturday that the pursuit of lasting peace in South Asia remains impossible without a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Speaking at a press conference reviewing the Foreign Ministry’s annual performance, Dar reiterated Islamabad’s condemnation of India’s continued illegal actions in the occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that the issue had once again captured international attention. Highlighting discussions at the United Nations Security Council, Dar drew attention to ongoing human rights violations in the region, insisting that a plebiscite involving the Kashmiri…
By Asghar Ali Mubarak As 2025 draws to a close, Pakistan finds itself reflecting on a year that will be remembered as a defining chapter in its history. The nation has expressed profound gratitude to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his exceptional leadership during Operation Bunyan Al-Marsoos, a military response that not only safeguarded Pakistan’s sovereignty but also reaffirmed its standing as a formidable regional power. The operation, which unfolded against a backdrop of unprovoked aggression, has left an indelible mark on the national psyche, illustrating both the courage of the armed forces and the resilience of the Pakistani…
By Amir Muhammad Khan As the sun rises on 2026, Pakistan steps into a new year filled with both hope and responsibility. The transition from one year to another is never just a celebration; it is a moment for reflection, a chance to consider the triumphs and trials of the past and to chart a course for the future. While the global New Year is marked in festive gatherings, for Muslims in Pakistan and around the world, it is also a time of prayer and contemplation, as many journey to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to seek blessings…