Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan’s economy is achieving stability at the micro level, citing a sharp drop in inflation and reduced interest rates, and lauded overseas Pakistanis for their crucial financial support. Speaking to the media in New York on Saturday after delivering a landmark address at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), he detailed the economic turnaround. “Just a few years ago, the country faced serious challenges,” he said. “When we took office, inflation was at 32%, and the policy rate was 22.5%. In just one and a half years, inflation has fallen into single digits, and the…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Once dismissed by critics as a “figurehead” merely following the dictates of Pakistan’s powerful establishment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has, against considerable odds, emerged as one of the country’s most active and impactful leaders on the global stage. From high-level meetings in the corridors of the White House to strategically vital interactions in Riyadh, Beijing, Ankara, Baku, and Tehran, PM Shehbaz has surprised both friends and foes by significantly elevating Pakistan’s diplomatic profile and skillfully steering the nation through some of its most turbulent periods. Few initially predicted that the man long characterized as an administrator rather than a visionary…
The government has announced a relief measure for registered pilgrims who are unable to perform Hajj due to “compelling circumstances.” The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a policy specifically for those who are severely ill or deceased, under which any other relative of that registered individual will be eligible to perform Hajj in their place. According to the official document, a person prevented from undertaking Hajj due to a necessary compulsion also has the option to nominate a substitute or choose to receive a full refund. The policy mandates that a solid reason must be provided for either requesting…
Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia have collectively voiced profound concern regarding the presence of terrorist organisations operating from Afghanistan, specifically naming Al-Qaeda, the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and other similar militant entities. The joint statement followed the fourth quadripartite meeting on Afghanistan, convened by Russia on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly session in New York. At the conclusion of the meeting, the four nations issued a joint statement reviewing the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and warning that the militant groups pose a grave threat to both regional and global security. They…
The 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) wrapped up in Beijing on Friday, marking a significant transition to CPEC Phase-II, yet failing to achieve a breakthrough on the long-standing issue of capacity payments owed to Chinese Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, declared the meeting a milestone that formally initiated Phase-II. He stated: “Together, these priorities will transform CPEC into a corridor of industrialisation, technology, sustainability, and shared prosperity.” The Phase-II agenda is anchored in the September 2025 action plan aimed at building a closer China-Pakistan community with a…
Citing sources, The News has reported that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has directed Pakistan to slash the fresh accumulation into the substantial power sector circular debt (CD) to zero starting from the current fiscal year. The persistent operational weaknesses of the Power Distribution Companies (Discos) continue to be a major concern. These inefficiencies resulted in Rs265 billion in losses in FY25, a slight improvement from Rs276 billion in FY24. Additionally, under-recoveries were recorded at Rs132 billion in FY25, a reduction from Rs315 billion in FY24. The IMF has received a briefing on the baseline tariff, scheduled for implementation from…
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) has clarified that the woman seated directly behind Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during his address to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) did not have official authorisation from Pakistani authorities, amidst rampant speculation on social media. This clarification follows a controversy surrounding the presence of columnist Shama Junejo at the September 24, 2025, UNSC session. Visuals showing Junejo seated immediately behind the defence minister during his speech triggered a significant backlash online. Critics swiftly accused the government of including her in the official delegation despite her alleged support for Israel, leading to widespread condemnation…
A constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) has asserted that its September 22 order regarding the degree of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Tariq Mehmood Jehangiri stands as a “judicial order” and remains valid. The court clarified that if the petitioners had any reservations about the order, the correct procedure was to challenge it before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The bench observed that no such challenge had been lodged, even after a lapse of almost a week. In issuing its order on identical petitions concerning the IHC judge’s degree, which were dismissed by the bench for non-prosecution…
The Echo of Pakistan in the Corridors of Washington! By Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada Between the darkness of night and the light of day, another moment was etched onto the canvas of history. In the cool winds of Washington D.C., the red carpet laid out at Andrews Air Base bore witness to the fact that the Prime Minister of Pakistan was not merely a visiting guest, but the representative of a state that had reached the very center of global power the place where decisions are made, and maps of the world are redrawn. As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif descended…
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promoted his government’s groundbreaking ban on social media for teenagers at an event in New York, stating that the challenges social media poses for children are “constantly evolving.” Starting in December, Australia is aiming to become the first country to block social media use for those younger than 16. Governments and tech companies worldwide are closely watching this effort. At the “Protecting Children in the Digital Age” event, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Albanese said the ban “isn’t foolproof, but it is a crucial step in the right direction.” European Commission…
