Author: Moez Pirzada

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said there was no restriction on Pakistan Muslim League-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to contest the election as he had completed his five-year disqualification period. “As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, that law is in the field now under which the maximum disqualification period is five years. There is no restriction on Nawaz Sharif as he has completed his five-year disqualification,” the prime minister said in an interview with a private television channel. He said the new law promulgated by the Parliament had overwritten the previous law which the Supreme Court has not…

A 50-member business delegation from ASEAN countries led by Secretary Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Dr. Farid Iqbal Qureshi called on Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman at the Governor’s House, here on Friday. The delegation comprised businessmen from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Laos. Speaking on the occasion, Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman said Pakistan wishes to enhance trade relations with other countries including its neighboring countries. He said people to people contacts and exchange of business delegations are necessary for strong relations among ASEAN member countries. The Governor Punjab said Pakistan has made a…

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a consultation urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to start fresh negotiations to break the ongoing deadlock on dealing with the issue of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and cross-border terrorism. The 9th round of consultation on the peace process was organised by Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based research and advocacy think tank, under the theme: “Afghan peace and reconciliation: Pakistan’s interests and policy options.” The speakers that included academics, politicians, journalists, religious scholars, and experts on Afghanistan affairs from Pakistan and Afghanistan, pointed out that Pakistan lacks continuity in its policies towards Afghanistan and that…

Pakistan, despite its contribution of only 0.9 percent to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. While the government of Pakistan has made commendable efforts in addressing environmental challenges through its current climate change policy, there are critical areas that require evaluation and improvement. Specifically, issues such as coal-based power generation, importation of used vehicles, operation of traditional brick kilns, rapid urbanization, and agricultural burning significantly contribute to pollution and environmental degradation in the country. To effectively tackle these challenges, a comprehensive policy reorientation at the national level is essential. Pakistan presently adheres…

Colombo (25/7 – 30.77) In his book “Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday Massacre: Lessons for the International Community,” terrorism expert Dr. Rohan Gunaratna emphasizes the importance of de-radicalizing Islamic ideology to effectively combat Islamic terrorism. He identifies Wahhabism or Salafism as the root of Islamic terrorism, rapidly spreading worldwide through modern communication tools. Gunaratna warns that merely arresting perpetrators after attacks is insufficient; the focus should be on preventing radicalization in the first place. The Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019, which claimed over 200 lives, were fuelled by extremist ideologies inspired by events in the Middle East and Islamic extremists…

Pakistan is the only country Gul Mohammad, a 42-year-old Afghan refugee, knows. He was born in a refugee camp in the teeming, sizzling northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. Eighteen years ago, he married a Pakistani woman, hoping to settle down in the city he calls home. Yet the father of four has not yet been able to get Pakistani citizenship even though the country’s laws allow him to obtain nationality because of his spouse. “I don’t want to go back to Afghanistan because my children will have no future there,” he told RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal about his war-ravaged homeland. But…

Nepal, which shares borders with several Indian states, but has no proper fencing, is becoming a safe passage for people from neighboring countries Pakistan and China as they infiltrate into India, and later indulge in illegal work. Nepal, which shares borders with several Indian states, but has no proper fencing, is becoming a safe passage for people from neighboring countries Pakistan and China as they infiltrate into India, and later indulge in illegal work. Recently, a Pakistani woman identified as Seema Ghulam Haider fell in love with an Indian man and illegally entered India through Nepal along with her four…

SHANGHAI/SINGAPORE – China cut its key lending benchmarks on Tuesday, the first such reductions in 10 months as authorities seek to shore up a slowing economic recovery, although concerns about the property market meant the easing was not as large as expected. The latest monetary loosening comes as a post-pandemic recovery in the world’s second-largest economy shows signs of losing the initial momentum seen in the first quarter. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was lowered by 10 basis points to 3.55%, while the five-year LPR was cut by the same margin to 4.20%. While all 32 participants in a…

ISLAMABAD: Once again all eyes are on a Supreme Court bench—comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and two other like-minded judges—which on Monday reserved its ruling on petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Act, 2023. The piece of legislation that widens the scope of review jurisdiction in cases decided under Article 184(3) of the Constitution was introduced by the coalition government, which has remained critical to the bench—also comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar–since February. In February, CJP Bandial took suo motu cognizance of a delay in announcement of elections for two…

On May 18-19, a first-ever China-Central Asia summit was held in the city of Xian, the symbolic origin of the ancient Silk Road trading route. The agenda was focused on breathing new life into the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Beijing’s massive infrastructure investment program launched in Kazakhstan by President Xi Jinping in 2013. Following an economic slowdown during the Covid-19 restrictions, the past couple of years have seen a revitalization of Chinese trade with Central Asia. China’s Ministry of Commerce said trade with the five Central Asian nations rose to $70 billion in 2022, a 40 percent jump over 2021. China is the largest…