Author: Admin

The recent revelation by the Auditor General of Pakistan that 324 government officials embezzled over Rs37 million from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) funds is a stark reminder of the systemic corruption eating away at the nation’s social safety net. According to AGP officials, BISP staff from Grade 1 to Grade 22, or literally every level of seniority and qualification, were involved in graft. BISP was designed to provide a lifeline to millions living in poverty, but has repeatedly been undermined by corruption and malfeasance at multiple levels. The Rs37 million graft is merely the tip of the iceberg.…

Serious education reforms are being pushed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but they reflect the scale of decay in the province’s schools. The government has chosen to replace the outdated annual examination system up to grade 8 with a two-semester model. Officials argue that this will reduce the burden on students, prevent months-long learning gaps and lighten schoolbags with smaller books. Yet, education experts note that the measure stems not from foresight but from necessity as majority of students are failing their middle school examinations, exposing the depth of the crisis. More significantly, the government is considering outsourcing and privatising thousands of public…

As a society, we are not too mindful of sanitary workers who are unfortunately treated as pariahs. But that is not the case in literal sense, as these marginalised, poor and ignored workers are one of the prime contributors in civic edifice, and their job is worth appreciating. A latest report by the National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) has brought to the fore the discrimination, bias and neglect faced by sanitary workers across the country. Incidentally, most of them belong to the Christian community and are also a victim of apartheid when it comes to compartmentalising the community on…

Pakistan’s green spaces — particularly its forests and mountainous regions — are in a desperate struggle for survival. They face a double threat: an increasingly volatile climate and a ruthless timber mafia. Both forces, one natural and the other man-made, are devastating precious tree cover. While nature’s fury may be beyond human control, the human predators are not — yet those tasked with reining them in often act as their protectors. No surprise, then, that a well-entrenched nexus of vested interests — corrupt officials, their political patrons and greedy timber traders — has placed the fast-depleting forests of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at the heart of what may…

There’s something unsettling about watching the world’s largest democracy learn the tricks of the world’s most authoritarian regimes, and doing it with a smile. That’s what makes the clash between Elon Musk’s X and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government more than just a corporate dispute. It’s a test case for whether democratic countries can slowly choke free speech without tearing up their constitutions. India’s new weapon is the “Sahyog” portal. On paper, it’s a system to remove harmful or illegal online content. In reality, it’s a fast-track censorship machine, letting almost any government body, from city police to federal ministries,…

The recent flash floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have unleashed unprecedented destruction in many parts of the province. Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, was also paralysed by the onset of heavy rains and urban flooding. Drainage lines were blocked, traffic systems collapsed and a large part of the city remained in the dark due to prolonged power outages. These events have added to the long list of climate-related disasters that have struck Pakistan in the year 2025. Summers in Pakistan began with an intense and protracted heatwave with temperatures reaching as high as 52 degrees Celsius and a death toll of…

Just when I thought I was out… they pulled me back in. Or, as they say, it is in the nature of bizarre things that you cannot look away. When I wrote last week about Modi's black box (newsflash: it is getting blacker), I thought this week I would move on to better things. But not a chance. Things got more bizarre and fascinating in India. Last week, the assumption was that given India's massive bureaucracy and diplomatic muscle, the country would be saved by the bell and somehow manage to dodge the twenty-five per cent additional tariffs as a penalty…

Sabrina Carpenter spills secrets of Barry Keoghan breakup in new albumSabrina Carpenter appeared to reveal details of her split from Barry Keoghan through her new album Man’s Best Friend. The release quickly sparked speculation among fans who believed several songs on the project were inspired by the actor and their troubled romance.Although the singer did not mention Barry by name, listeners were quick to connect the songs to her most recent relationship.  The closing track Goodbye stood out most, where Sabrina sang, “Broke my heart on Saturday. Guess overnight your feelings changed. And I have cried so much I almost fainted.” The…

ISLAMABAD: The price of petrol is likely to slash by Re0.61 for the next fortnight from September 1. According to sources, the prices of other petroleum products are also expected to see downward revision as high-speed diesel (HSD) price may go down by Rs3.13 per litre. Similarly, the price of kerosene is expected to drop by Rs1.57 per litre, and light diesel oil (LDO) may become cheaper by Rs2.61 per litre. Officials said the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will finalise its pricing calculations and forward the working paper to the Ministry of Petroleum, which will then share it…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar addressing a press conference on August 29, 2025. — X@ForeignOfficePk ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday said Pakistan is going through “one of the most active phases in its recent diplomatic history.”Speaking at a media briefing at the Foreign Office, he shared details of his visits, policy talks, and international meetings held during July and August. He explained Pakistan’s foreign policy goals, focusing on peace in the region, better global connections, revival of trade, and standing firmly on key international issues.Dar pointed out Pakistan’s…