Author: Uzma Ehtasham

By Uzma Ehtasham Pakistan’s unequivocal condemnation of threats by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea reflected a careful attempt to uphold its strategic commitments while preserving its long-standing belief that diplomacy remains the only lasting answer to regional conflict. The government’s statement carried a clear message. Pakistan would not tolerate attacks on Saudi territory or on vessels sailing under its own flag. At the same time, it stopped short of embracing the language of confrontation, instead reaffirming that dialogue, respect for international law and political engagement offered the only realistic path towards lasting…

By Uzma Ehtasham History is rarely confined to the past. Certain dates continue to shape political identity, influence public memory and define the aspirations of entire generations. For many people in Jammu and Kashmir, 19 July is one such date. Kashmir Accession Day is not simply an annual commemoration. It represents a political position that has endured for decades despite conflict, changing governments and repeated efforts to redefine the future of the disputed region. Nearly eight decades after the resolution adopted by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1947, the debate it symbolizes remains as contested as ever.…

By Uzma Hashmi KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed law enforcement agencies to further strengthen operations against criminal elements, saying that no negligence would be tolerated in maintaining law and order across the province. The directives were issued during an important security meeting chaired by the chief minister, which was attended by provincial ministers, senior government officials, police leadership and representatives of relevant security agencies. The meeting reviewed the overall security situation in Sindh and received a detailed briefing on measures taken to improve public safety. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the protection of citizens’…

By Uzma Ehtasham The latest figures on measles in Sindh should leave no room for complacency. The deaths of 53 children in the province during the first half of this year are not simply another set of troubling health statistics. They represent lives cut short by a disease that modern medicine has long known how to prevent. When more than half of the country’s 102 reported measles deaths have occurred in a single province, it signals a public health emergency that demands urgent and sustained action rather than temporary concern. The numbers reveal the scale of the challenge. Sindh has…

By Uzma Ehtasham Pakistan’s successful hosting of the Ninth Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Women has placed the country at the center of a significant global conversation about the future role of women in the Muslim world. The event was more than a diplomatic gathering; it was an opportunity for Pakistan to present itself as a country willing to engage with one of the defining questions of modern development — how societies can ensure women are not only included but empowered to shape economic, political and social progress. With Pakistan assuming the presidency of the…

By Uzma Ehtasham The world’s natural resources have always shaped the rise and fall of nations. They have powered economies, sustained civilizations and lifted millions out of poverty. Yet history also offers countless examples of oil, gas, minerals and water becoming sources of rivalry, conflict and instability instead of prosperity. As the global race for strategic resources intensifies, the challenge before the international community is no longer simply about securing supplies. It is about ensuring that these resources are governed fairly, responsibly and in accordance with international law so they become instruments of cooperation rather than catalysts for confrontation. Pakistan’s…

By Uzma Ehtasham KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday directed authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards negligence in healthcare services after a number of HIV cases were detected at the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI)-run Kulsum Bai Valika Hospital in Karachi. Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, Murad Ali Shah expressed serious concern over the reported cases and sought detailed briefings from health officials and relevant departments. He said protecting patients from preventable infections was the government’s foremost responsibility and no compromise would be accepted in maintaining healthcare standards. The…

By Uzma Ehtasham The guns have fallen silent, for now. After two days of intense aerial and missile exchanges between the United States and Iran, following discussions at foreign ministerial level, a temporary ceasefire has taken hold. According to international news agencies, diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, Qatar and Oman have succeeded in de-escalating tensions in the Middle East, reviving fragile hopes for the resumption of US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Sources familiar with these diplomatic initiatives indicate that the mediating nations are pressing both parties to refrain from further attacks and return to the negotiating table over contentious issues, particularly shipping through…

By Uzma Ehtasham The deadly attack on a police post in Balochistan’s Ziarat district, which reportedly claimed the lives of nine police officers, is another grim reminder that terrorism remains one of Pakistan’s most pressing national security challenges. Every such attack represents not only a human tragedy for the families of those killed but also an assault on the state’s ability to protect its citizens and maintain public confidence in the rule of law. According to official statements, the assault was followed by a security operation in which several terrorists were killed, while military officials said that police personnel taken…

By Uzma Ehtasham Pakistan’s latest glacial flooding in Upper Chitral is another stark reminder that the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat but an unfolding national emergency. The sudden surge of water in the Yarkhun Valley, triggered by accelerated glacial melt, swept away the only bridge connecting thousands of residents, leaving communities isolated and exposing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in one of the country’s most climate-sensitive regions. While the immediate concern is restoring access and providing relief to affected communities, the larger challenge lies in recognising that such disasters are becoming part of a dangerous new reality…