A message from the ballot box
The outcome of the United States midterm elections has delivered a powerful political message to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. After months of growing public unease…
The Public Purview
Editorial
Electoral credibility first
The decision to form a parliamentary committee on electoral reforms offers another opportunity to address long-standing concerns surrounding Pakistan’s electoral process. While such initiatives…
A narrow path forward
With tensions between Iran and the United States once again casting a shadow over the Middle East, a fresh diplomatic initiative has offered a…
Silencing the Truth
A free and responsible press remains one of the strongest pillars of any democratic society. Yet across the world, journalists continue to face growing…
Provinces and priorities
Calls for creating new provinces have gained momentum in recent years, particularly in regions where citizens feel excluded from the benefits of development and…
Democratic reset needed
Parliament has once again become the stage for an important national debate about the future of democracy in Pakistan. Yet meaningful discussions alone cannot…
Strengthening local governance
Questions about administrative restructuring and the creation of new provinces continue to surface in Pakistan’s political discourse, often provoking strong reactions from stakeholders across…
Regional peace imperative
The recent gathering of senior defence officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Iran in Tehran has emerged as a noteworthy diplomatic development at…
Smarter Asset Strategy
The government’s plan to bring the Privatisation Commission and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) under a single institutional framework represents a pragmatic step towards…
Wheat market uncertainty
The Sindh government’s decision to announce an indicative wheat price of Rs4,500 per 40 kilograms has offered some reassurance to growers, but it falls…
Avoiding another regional crisis
As talk intensifies about the possibility of renewed military action against Iran, a growing number of influential states across the Middle East and Europe…
Policy without direction
Pakistan’s proposed Auto Policy 2026-31 sets out an attractive vision for the future of the automotive sector, promising cleaner mobility, stronger exports, increased competition…
Gulf security realities
The publication of the full text of the trilateral defence agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye has finally brought much-needed clarity to…
Fixing the tax system
Meaningful reform of Pakistan’s tax administration has remained an elusive goal for decades. Successive governments have announced ambitious plans to modernise the Federal Board…
Fragile pathways
The political temperature in Pakistan has risen sharply following the federal government’s decision to place Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under governor’s rule and emergency administration. The…
Climate migration challenge
Climate change is steadily reshaping human settlement patterns across South Asia, creating pressures that governments can no longer afford to treat as distant risks.…
Beyond Denials
The prospect of renewed diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan has once again drawn regional attention, particularly amid reports that Russia may be willing…