KARACHI: Pakistan today stands at a striking crossroads of perception and reality. On the surface, headline numbers tell a story of revival – the stock market is scaling record highs, inflation has cooled from recent peaks, and the government proudly points to a stabilised economy under the IMF programme. Yet beneath these upbeat indicators lies…
KARACHI: Despite repeated reforms, Pakistan continues to collect only about 10% of its GDP in taxes, a ratio that has barely moved for decades and remains among the lowest in South Asia. We frequently hear calls from policymakers, economists, and business circles that the tax base should be expanded, and that existing taxpayers should not…
KARACHI: Pakistani citizens and policymakers are rightly excited. Not only is Pakistan getting into the good books of President Trump, but the economy also seems to be moving in the right direction. Inflation is back in single digits, the currency has remained stable for two and a half years, interest rates are down to 10-11%,…
KARACHI: The notification of the National Tariff Policy (NTP) 2025-2030 at the start of the current fiscal year has sparked significant debate between those who call for a more open and freer trading economy with minimal government interventions and those who recommend protection for ‘infant industries’ to promote domestic industrialisation. The Economic Advisory Group stands…
LONDON: Rangers dropped more points in the Scottish Premiership as a 1-1 draw at lowly Falkirk on Sunday piled more pressure on beleaguered manager Russell Martin, while Celtic grabbed a dramatic win over Motherwell. Martin has managed just one win from his first seven league games in charge. Rangers fans sat down in an attempt…
ISLAMABAD (International Desk) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly directed Pakistan’s federal government to halt funding for development schemes in flood-affected regions, insisting that provincial governments should finance rehabilitation efforts from their own resources. The directive comes as IMF and Pakistani officials continue crucial talks in Islamabad as part of the ongoing economic…
KATHMANDU/BEIJING (International Desk) — More than a thousand climbers and support staff have been stranded on Mount Everest due to severe snowfall affecting both Nepal and China, according to international media reports. Authorities confirmed that around 350 people trapped on the Chinese side of the mountain have been moved to safer locations. However, rescue operations…
Veteran actress Sandhya Shantaram, remembered for her unforgettable performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema, passed away on October 4, 2025 at the age of 94 after a prolonged illness. A celebrated screen presence of the 1950s through the 1970s, she leaves behind a legacy intertwined with some of Indian cinema’s most iconic works. Born Vijaya…
Hailee Steinfeld has confirmed that ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ is officially back in active production, providing the first concrete update on the long-delayed animated sequel. The actress, who voices Gwen Stacy, shared the news during a recent interview with Variety, giving fans reassurance that the highly anticipated conclusion to the Spider-Verse trilogy is moving forward….
Among the misuses of technology, one is its use for publicity stunts and self-advertising gimmicks. People who are the anthropomorphic expressions of TS Eliot’s hollow men resort to self-exhibitionism, which is perpetrated today through the digital rectangle, advertising panaflexes and billboards. They also adopt the avatar of influencers on social media to warp the public…
