Author: Uzma Ehtasham

By Uzma Ehtasham The confrontation between the United States and Iran has reached a point where neither side can easily claim that continued conflict serves its interests. The military and economic costs are mounting, the wider Middle East remains exposed to further instability and the international community is increasingly concerned about the consequences of another prolonged crisis. Yet ending a war is often harder than starting one. Governments can order military action within hours, but rebuilding trust, negotiating compromises and persuading domestic constituencies to accept them can take months or years. The greatest danger now is that the conflict develops…

By Uzma Ehtasham The confrontation between the United States and Iran shows little sign of ending. Both sides have already paid a heavy price in lives, resources and economic disruption, while the wider world has watched the conflict with growing alarm. There are now compelling reasons for Washington and Tehran to recognize that the fighting must end. Yet the most difficult obstacle to peace is often not the absence of a diplomatic route, but the presence of interests that have learned to thrive on confrontation. The Middle East has too often been trapped in precisely this cycle. Every escalation creates…

Thar coalfields emerge as Pakistan’s energy cornerstone, transforming Sindh’s resources into a powerful symbol of development, investment and national progress By Uzma Hashmi KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said Thar had undergone a remarkable transformation, moving from a drought-affected and neglected region into Pakistan’s largest energy and mining hub. He said the development of the area had demonstrated the power of investment, modern technology and responsible resource management. Addressing the country’s first-ever Mining Technical Conference 2026 at a local hotel, the chief minister highlighted the importance of innovation and sustainable practices in expanding Pakistan’s mining sector. He…

By Uzma Ehtasham The latest session of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Trade Committee in Islamabad was far more than another scheduled meeting between two neighboring countries. It arrived at a moment when the Middle East continues to experience one of its most uncertain periods in recent years, making every diplomatic exchange carry greater weight than usual. Co-chaired by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Atabak, the meeting reflected a shared determination to deepen economic cooperation despite an increasingly fragile regional environment. More importantly, Iran publicly acknowledged Pakistan’s diplomatic support during its recent…

By Uzma Hashmi KARACHI: The Sindh government had moved towards introducing a new legal framework for the management of state land, with the provincial cabinet reviewing the draft Sindh Government Lands Management Bill 2026 during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The proposed legislation was aimed at creating a modern, transparent and comprehensive system for the management, allotment and utilization of government land across the province. Officials told the cabinet that the new law would provide a structured mechanism to address long-standing challenges linked with state land management. The meeting was informed that the bill was…

By Uzma Ehtasham KARACHI: The Sindh government has approved a decision to close all public and private schools across the province on Saturdays, giving students a two-day weekend on Saturday and Sunday. The decision was approved by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah as part of the provincial government’s austerity measures and efforts to make more effective use of available resources. Under the new arrangement, teaching hours will be extended by one hour from Monday to Friday to ensure that academic activities continue effectively despite the additional weekly holiday. The decision comes after Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali…

By Uzma Ehtasham           Pakistan and Iran have once again pledged to deepen economic cooperation, using the 10th Joint Trade Committee meeting in Islamabad to reaffirm their commitment to expanding bilateral trade, investment and private-sector collaboration. Co-chaired by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, Dr Mohammad Atabak, the meeting highlighted a shared recognition that the economic relationship between the two neighbors has never reflected its true potential. Despite decades of close political engagement, cultural affinity and a long shared border, commercial ties have remained modest, constrained by regulatory hurdles, inadequate infrastructure and shifting…

By Uzma Hashmi KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved the launch of a facial recognition-based attendance system for government schools, saying the initiative would strengthen monitoring, improve accountability and support efforts to raise standards in the province’s education sector. The decision was taken during a meeting of the School Education Department chaired by the chief minister to review the proposed Facial Recognition Attendance Monitoring and Evaluation System, known as FRAMES. Senior officials briefed the meeting on the project’s objectives and its expected role in improving attendance management across schools in Sindh. Officials said the system had been…

By Uzma Ehtasham KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to launch an electric vehicle (EV) taxi service in September and introduce 50 new double-decker buses in Karachi in October as part of efforts to modernise public transport in the province. The decisions were taken during a meeting of the Transport and Mass Transit Department chaired by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon. A department spokesperson said the government also planned to introduce 1,000 electric buses in phases from the end of this year. New People’s Bus Service routes will also be launched between Larkana and Qambar, and Qambar and Shahdadkot. Memon…

By Uzma Ehtasham The reported disruption of access to Qatar-based international broadcaster Al Jazeera’s website and live streaming services in parts of Pakistan has revived a long-running and increasingly significant question facing governments around the world: how can states protect legitimate national interests while ensuring that citizens retain their right to access information freely? In an age where news travels across borders in seconds and digital platforms have become central to public discourse, restrictions on access to information inevitably attract attention. Reports from several parts of Pakistan suggested that users were facing difficulties reaching Al Jazeera’s digital platforms, with some…