14 Newborn Babies Killed in Fire at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD: Fourteen newborn babies were killed when a fire broke out in the neonatal unit of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday morning, raising serious questions about fire safety and emergency response arrangements at one of the country’s major public hospitals. According to officials, the fire erupted at around 6:45…
Despite International Oil Price Drop, Pakistan Raises Petroleum Prices
Riaz HussainPeshawar: Despite a decline of more than two percent in international crude oil prices amid hopes of a possible US-Iran agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan has increased domestic petroleum prices, raising diesel by Rs2.40 and petrol by 39 paisa per litre with effect from Tuesday. Following the latest revision,…
Oil Prices Steady as Pakistan Cuts Diesel Price by Rs32.63 per Litre
By Riaz Hussain : Global oil prices remained broadly steady in early trading on Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for the US-Iran conflict and uncertainty surrounding the security of shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures for October delivery rose 25 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to $91.87 a barrel…
After Deadly Floods, Pakistan’s Most Climate-Battered Province Bets on Prevention
Muhammad Younas | Peshawar, Pakistan : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has introduced Pakistan’s first provincial disaster risk reduction policy, a year after floods killed hundreds in the country widely ranked as the world’s most climate vulnerable nation. The day after flash floods tore through Buner district in northern Pakistan last August, a Reuters photographer came upon a…
Rising Oil Prices Threaten to Deepen Inflationary Pressures in Pakistan
Riaz Hussain : Rising international oil prices and higher domestic petroleum rates are threatening to add to Pakistan’s inflationary pressures, as uncertainty over the Middle East conflict and disruptions in shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz raise concerns about the country’s energy import bill. Oil prices rose for a third consecutive session on Tuesday…
Not for a Nobel Prize, but for a Noble Cause
By Ibn-Taha and Syed Ahmer Raza KARACHI- The students were jubilant, parents proud and teachers visibly moved as the Summer Teacher Training Program 2026 came to a close. For the organizers, however, the ceremony represented something larger than the completion of a professional course: a belief that lasting educational change begins with the people standing…
Makkah defence pact: A new strategic equation in the Middle East?
By Shamsul HaqThe Middle East is passing through one of the most critical phases in its recent history, with war, diplomacy, energy security and shifting strategic alliances increasingly intertwined. Against this backdrop, the defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye in Makkah carries significance far beyond the three signatories. It could potentially contribute…
New Provinces or Better Governance? Rethinking Pakistan’s Federal Structure
By Shamsul Haq : Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent call for a national debate on the creation of new provinces has once again brought one of Pakistan’s oldest constitutional and political questions to the forefront. His argument is that the country’s current administrative structure is no longer capable of effectively serving a population of…
Pakistan’s Tobacco Dilemma: Balancing Farmers’ Livelihoods, Industry Interests and State Regulation
By Shamsul Haq Every summer, as tobacco leaves begin to mature across the fertile plains of Mardan, Swabi and Charsadda, a familiar dispute resurfaces. Farmers demand higher prices for their crop, tobacco companies complain of overproduction and regulatory constraints, while the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) finds itself accused by both sides of failing to ensure…
Oil Prices Climb as U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates, Raising Fears Over Global Supply Routes
Reuter Oil prices rose on Friday as escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran heightened concerns over disruptions to global energy supplies through two of the world’s most critical shipping routes—the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.Brent crude futures gained 70 cents, or 0.83%, to $84.93 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas…
