Economic recovery dilemma
When Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled the Economic Survey 2026, he painted a hopeful picture of recovery. The headline numbers do support his optimism: growth has rebounded from…
The Public Purview
Editorial
Coalition talks in GB
The recent elections in Gilgit‑Baltistan have placed the Pakistan Peoples Party in a strong position to form the next government, with early results showing…
Fiscal tug of war
Budget delays are not unusual in Pakistan, given the difficulty of reconciling competing demands from various lobbies. Yet the current impasse is of a…
AJK unrest deepens
Azad Jammu and Kashmir has once again been thrust into turmoil following the proscription of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) by the regional…
Trader concessions
The government’s Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200 million has been presented as a pragmatic alternative…
JAAC ban tensions
Tension has once again engulfed Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where the administration has proscribed the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) just days…
Pakistan faces heatwaves
World Environment Day arrives at a time when the planet is sliding deeper into climatic uncertainty. Global temperature records are being broken with alarming…
Budget uncertainty
The government’s decision to postpone the announcement of the FY27 budget has sparked widespread speculation, as no official explanation has been offered. In the…
GB polls dynamics
The political temperature in Gilgit‑Baltistan has risen sharply as the region prepares to head to the polls. In recent days, the country’s scenic north…
Confused strategy
The latest US strikes on Iranian targets have injected fresh uncertainty into an already volatile Middle East. Washington insists the attacks were carried out…
Violence mars Eid
Eid festivities in Quetta were overshadowed by grief and mourning after a devastating suicide bombing on Sunday claimed numerous lives and left scores injured.…
Climate risks rising
For communities across northern Pakistan, the sound of heavy rain has taken on a new and ominous meaning. What was once a natural rhythm…
Hormuz crisis diplomacy
The fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States has slowed the pace of fighting, but the underlying conflict remains unresolved. Interior Minister Mohsin…
Retail sector favoured
The federal and provincial governments have chosen to extend significant concessions to the retail sector ahead of Eidul Azha, temporarily lifting restrictions on market…
US‑China cautious talks
The recent summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping was never expected to deliver sweeping breakthroughs. Years of…
Growth below target
Pakistan’s latest GDP figures present a mixed picture of recovery and restraint. The economy is projected to expand by 3.7 percent in the current…
US‑China summit
Donald Trump’s arrival in Beijing marks a moment of considerable weight in international diplomacy. It is the first visit by a sitting US president…