Author: S.M. Inam

By S.M. Inam ISLAMABAD: The federal government has eliminated 54,000 vacant positions across various departments, a move projected to save the national exchequer around Rs56 billion annually, Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb announced on Thursday. Speaking at an event in Islamabad, the minister said the reforms aimed to strengthen economic stability, financial discipline, and competitiveness. He highlighted positive signs in the economy, noting that investor confidence had risen according to the latest OICCI survey. Aurangzeb said global firms in energy, mining, and the automotive sector were showing increased interest in Pakistan, and that the country’s tax system was rapidly…

By S.M. Inam The fragile calm descending on Gaza has, for the first time in months, inspired a tentative sense of hope. After years of conflict, siege, and repeated military escalations, even the smallest gestures toward stability are being closely watched by a world fatigued by violence. Yet hope, in this context, must be tempered by realism. History is replete with examples of agreements imposed from above—brokered by distant powers—that unravel quickly, leaving communities once again at the mercy of force. The challenge today is to ensure that optimism does not slip into complacency, and that any progress made is…

By S. M. Inam KARACHI: A briefing for journalists was held at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, known as the Russian House, in Karachi. The session marked the arrival of a delegation from the Ural State Pedagogical University and the launch of the selection campaign for Russian government scholarships. The delegation was led by Dr Roman Porozov and Anton Dolgov. The Ministry of Education of Russia, the Ural State Pedagogical University, the Foundation for the Support of the Humanities “My Story”, and the Russian House in Karachi have announced free courses in Russian language and culture. Registration for…