ISLAMABAD: In the realm of economics, numbers are meant to illuminate truth. Yet, in Pakistan, they increasingly cast shadow. From trade balances to growth rates, official statistics have become a battleground of narratives, where figures are not merely data points but instruments of persuasion. Misrepresentation of economic and trade accounts is no longer a peripheral…
KARACHI: Alleged irregularities have been unearthed in development projects after revelations that the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) awarded contracts worth Rs11.33 billion without following the mandatory tendering process. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered an immediate high-level inquiry into the matter. According to official sources, the Sindh Contractors Association lodged a formal complaint alleging…
With supply chains disrupted, market controls relaxed, Punjab faces steep price hikes on essential produce LAHORE: Following the closure of the Afghan border amid escalating tensions with the neighbouring country, fruit and vegetable prices have sharply increased across Punjab, particularly in major urban centres. The disruption in the supply of key produce — including grapes…
Suspect conspired with brother to kill victim after bringing her home from parents’ house VEHARI: A woman was allegedly poisoned to death by her husband with the help of his brother in a suburban area of Vehari, following a prolonged domestic dispute. Police registered a murder case and arrested the main suspect soon after the…
Muhammad Irfan’s custodial death is a grim reminder of Pakistan’s deep-rooted policing crisis The custodial death of Muhammad Irfan, a teenager from Karachi, is neither the first, nor will it be the last. Unfortunately! Excesses on the part of law enforcement agencies, especially the police, have become a new normal, proving the bitter reality that…
Babar Azam’s return offers Pakistan stability but also exposes its cricketing dilemma Pakistan’s performance in the recent T20 Asia Cup has once again exposed the gaps in its approach to the shortest format, particularly in terms of batting. It also clearly indicates the need for a senior, more experienced cricketing presence —and this may well…
. Women’s inclusion in the social sphere has always been an upwards struggle in Pakistan. From corporate to politics, finance and banking, to bureaucracy and beyond; women lag far behind, and the government is occupied in an endless game of cat-and-mouse for equality. Only recently, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed revealed figures relating to female banking,…
. The writer is an educationist based in Kasur City. He can be reached at m.nadeemnadir777@gmail.com The views expressed in my last article attracted a healthy difference of opinion, particularly from those who wield influence or profit from their expertise and skill. They opine that if a person remains in a position despite not being…
. The writer is a former caretaker finance minister and served as vice-president at the World Bank Writing about China’s rapid advancement in training its youth in high-grade science and technology takes me back to 1976 when I was appointed to lead the World Bank’s rapidly developing programme. The Bank’s involvement covered both policy reform…
. The writer is a Doctor of Philosophy in Semiotics and Philosophy of Communication from Charles University Prague. She can be reached at shaziaanwer@yahoo.com The first session of Islamabad Symposium 2025 was held on October 15, around the time Pakistan and Afghanistan were engaged in border clashes. The theme of the symposium was “Balancing Relationships…
