Pakistan and China have been enjoying extremely close and mutually beneficial relations since 1951 when diplomatic ties were established between the two. During Beijing’s period of international isolation in the 1960s and early 1970s, Pakistan, that was one of the first countries, and the first Islamic state, to recognize the People’s Republic of China in…
Having raised the hopes of the country by apprehending a large number of target killers and subsequently going after those in the bureaucracy whose corruption and connections to organised crime fuels terrorism, the Rangers in Sindh have become prey to politics, a victim of their own success. One had hoped otherwise but this was to…
The National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (NABO) under Section 5 describes a “public office holder’ as an individual holding, or have held, an office or post in the service of Pakistan or in connection with the affairs of the Federation, or of a Province, or of a local council constituted under any Federal or Provincial law,…
Pakistan’s crowning glory this year (no, it’s not international cricket coming back to the country after a prolonged hiatus) is a little acknowledged achievement: winning the UNs endorsement for extension of Pakistan’s continental shelf up to 350 miles from the coastline (or baseline, to be more precise). This adds over 50,000 Sq kms of continental…
China has effectively checkmated American “Pivot to Asia” rhetoric by mobilizing the support of 57 countries for its economic venture, Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). We in Pakistan welcome the setting up of AIIB and view it as an instrument of regional development. At the same time caution is due for AIIB, it should watch…
Under treatment presently in a UK hospital, PTI’s Chief Counsel, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada tried his best to prove before the Judicial Commission (JC) that elections were selectively rigged by the ruling PML(N) in dozens of seats in the Punjab during the 2013 elections. Having sufficient reason to feel cheated, PPP’s legal counsel Sen Aitzaz Ahsan…
Brimming with excitement bordering on the histrionics that one normally associates with political rallies, trusted Mian Nawaz Sharif kinsman, Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, presented what he insists is a “poor-friendly” Federal budget in the National Assembly (NA) on June 5. Detractors do not share the palpable enthusiasm of our “man for all seasons”, they…
Dear Readers, The many ceasefire violations by Indian security forces on the Line of Control (LoC) over the last few months have caused at least go deaths and injuries, a majority being women and children. India has been whipping up hate against Pakistan for as long as one can remember; perhaps it has not forgiven…
The yearly Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) compiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked Pakistan 129th out of 144 countries in 2014-15, this compares with 133rd out of 148 last year. GCR ranks countries on 15 pillars of competitiveness, the risks include (1) Basic Requirements (2) Institutions (3) Infrastructure (4) Macroeconomic environment (5) Health…
It would be naïve to take Pakistan-Afghanistan relations for granted. Complexity demands continuous steering and frequent course corrections. Home to this reality, the leadership of the two counties is maintaining frequent contacts at various tiers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to Kabul on May 12, outlined three principles in the context of Pakistan-Afghanistan…
