A thought-provoking discussion on Pakistan’s rapidly growing population and its implications took center stage at the 16th Karachi Literature Festival. A distinguished panel of experts analyzed the challenges and opportunities linked to the country’s demographic trends. Moderated by Naeem Sadiq, the panel included Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Lubna Naz, Rehana Ahmed, and Khalid Masud. They debated whether Pakistan’s demographic trajectory was a ticking time bomb or a potential economic advantage, stressing the need for immediate policy action. Pakistan, the world’s fifth most populous country, faces alarming statistics: 26 million children are out of school, 3.3 million are engaged in child…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
https://youtu.be/84ZyXfVQTuw?si=hMdsNrNdE0n0gc08 Kartik Aaryan to Host Historic 25th IIFA Awards in Jaipur! By: Raja Zahid Khanzada Jaipur, Rajasthan – The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) is set to make history with its grand Silver Jubilee edition, celebrating 25 years of Indian cinema’s global legacy. Scheduled for March 8th to 9th, 2025, the grand event will unfold in the Pink City, Jaipur, promising a spectacular fusion of Bollywood glamour and Rajasthan’s rich cultural heritage. Adding to the excitement, Bollywood heartthrob Kartik Aaryan will make his highly anticipated debut as an IIFA host. Sharing his enthusiasm, Kartik expressed, “I am thrilled to celebrate…
Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake a two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 10-11 to participate in the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai. A spokesperson from the Foreign Office stated on Sunday, “The Summit will bring together a large number of Heads of State/Government, global policymakers, and leading private sector figures to discuss the future of governance, innovation, and international cooperation.” This will be Prime Minister Shehbaz’s second visit to the UAE since taking office in March 2024. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister…
Karachi: In a move aimed at benefiting citizens, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab announced on Sunday that no parking fees will be charged at sites under the administrative control of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). Wahab explained that the decision, which is in the public interest, comes after the financial stability of the KMC. With over Rs2 billion in its bank account, the corporation no longer needs to collect the usual Rs40-50 million in parking fees. He further elaborated that the KMC had achieved a remarkable financial milestone, earning a record-breaking Rs2.3 billion in just seven months, which represented a 300%…
Karachi: US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson has urged President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to release former Prime Minister Imran Khan, stating that his freedom would strengthen US-Pakistan relations. Joe Wilson, who represents South Carolina’s 2nd congressional district and serves as an assistant majority whip, made this appeal in a letter, which he publicly shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on February 7. He wrote, “Grateful to send this letter today to the political and military leaders of Pakistan to Free Imran Khan.” In his letter, Wilson emphasized…
Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is likely to secure a chief secretary of his choice as the federal government has reportedly agreed to appoint Shahab Ali Shah to the key post. A senior government official stated that Gandapur had been pushing for the appointment of both a police chief and a chief secretary of his choosing for quite some time. However, this had been delayed due to PTI’s agitation for the release of party founder Imran Khan. Upon assuming office, Gandapur demanded the replacement of Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and proposed the appointment of senior…
Rawalpindi: Former first lady Bushra Bibi refused to record her statement in cases related to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demonstrations without first consulting PTI founder Imran Khan and her lawyer. Following her request, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi ordered the authorities to permit her meeting with her incarcerated husband at Adiala Jail. On Saturday, police brought Bushra Bibi before Judge Amjad Ali Shah in connection with 31 cases registered after the November 26 protests in Islamabad. She requested the court to allow her to consult Imran Khan and her attorney, Salman Safdar, before participating in the investigation. The cases against…
Karachi: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) is facing internal discord following the allocation of organisational positions, with several senior leaders expressing dissatisfaction. This unrest led to a large protest by party workers at the Bahadurabad headquarters against the recent structural changes. On Saturday, the party issued a circular announcing new organisational responsibilities, which intensified internal disagreements and triggered a strong reaction from workers and some leaders. Senior leaders Anees Qaimkhani, Aminul Haq, and Dr Farooq Sattar were inducted into the Central Organising Committee. Protesters at the Bahadurabad headquarters voiced their concerns, chanting slogans in support of party Chairman Khalid Maqbool…
Karachi: In response to the rising number of fatal accidents involving dumpers and other heavy vehicles in the metropolis, the Sindh government has decided to restrict their entry into Karachi, particularly during rush hours. As per the new directives, dumpers will only be allowed to enter Karachi between 11 PM and 6 AM, effectively banning them during daytime in the country’s financial hub. The move comes amid a surge in fatalities caused by heavy vehicle accidents, including dumpers, in recent weeks. At least three people lost their lives in Ibrahim Hyderi after being hit by a dumper on Saturday, while…
Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, has ruled out the possibility of resuming talks between the former ruling party and the incumbent government. “The chapter of talks is now closed,” Ayub stated on Saturday, emphasizing that political negotiations are not based on mere wishes but require firm commitments, which the government failed to demonstrate. Criticizing the coalition government’s approach to negotiations, the senior PTI leader said that his party’s committee had initiated discussions in good faith. However, the other side neither displayed goodwill nor seriousness, leading to a deadlock. His remarks…
