Posts

Why Pakistan has emerged as the pivotal mediator in the Iran conflict

Ever since the US-Israeli war on Iran broke out on February 28, Pakistan's efforts to advance mediation have been difficult to ignore. The federal government has shuttled multiple peace proposals between both capitals, stretched its diplomatic bandwidth to get conflicting parties to the negotiating table, and, despite limited success in early April talks in Islamabad, it continues to acquire considerable support from both Iran and the United States in brokering a consensus on the path to de-escalation. The value of having no skin in the game These dynamics merit a deeper understanding of what constitutes Pakistan's role as a pivotal mediator in the conflict and the drivers that propel it to that status. First, Islamabad does not carry some of the constraints associated with Gulf countries and traditional US-focused mediators. For instance, Islamabad does not host any US military bases, making it a critical player in earning the trust of Tehran, which has attacked Middle Eastern...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cabinet approves Pakistan’s first National Vaccine Policy

Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday announced that the federal cabinet approved Pakistan’s first-ever National Vaccine Policy, paving the way for local vaccine production in the country. The approval was granted during a meeting of the federal cabinet held in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. Speaking on the occasion, the minister termed the development a major milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system. He noted that the country had, until now, lacked a comprehensive national policy on vaccines, adding that the newly approved framework was developed through extensive consultations with key stakeholders to ensure a robust and sustainable approach. Kamal highlighted the role of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Minister of State for Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) in shaping the policy...
Post a Comment
Read more

OPEC exit: Why the UAE is leaving and what it means?

The United Arab Emirates' decision to withdraw from the Organisation ​of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and OPEC+ gives Abu Dhabi greater control over its oil production policy and could increase pressure on the producer alliance over time. However, its immediate impact on commodity markets is likely to be limited, as the ongoing war involving Iran and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to dominate supply concerns, experts said. The UAE’s move marks a significant shift for one of OPEC’s most important Gulf producers, which has invested heavily in expanding its production capacity in recent years and has repeatedly sought more room to raise output. Read: UAE leaves OPEC and OPEC+ in huge blow to global oil producers' group Carole Nakhle, CEO of Crystol Energy, said the decision had been “building for some time”, driven by Abu Dhabi’s discomfort with output constraints and uneven compliance among members of the producer group. “The UAE has invested heavily...
Post a Comment
Read more

K-P jirga rejects drone strikes, announces emergency assembly session

In a rare display of political unity, a joint jirga led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday unanimously condemned ongoing drone strikes in tribal districts, deciding to convene a series of gatherings on the issue. The jirga, which included lawmakers from both government and opposition benches representing tribal districts, was told that relentless drone attacks continued to result in repeated civilian casualties and damage to local property. Participants agreed that the current situation was no longer tolerable, with innocent lives being lost to both terrorism and drone strikes. They agreed to hold a special provincial assembly session on Thursday, a cabinet meeting on Friday, and a grand tribal jirga at the Chief Minister’s House on Saturday. وزیر اعلی خیبر پختونخوا کی سربراہی میں حکومت اور اپوزیشن کا مشترکہ جرگہ، ڈرون حملوں کی مشترکہ مخالفت#CMKP #tribalaffairs #peaceinkp pic.twitter.com/uWjqVFkL05 — Information Department KP (@infokpgovt) April 29...
Post a Comment
Read more

Babar Azam’s 57-ball hundred sends Zalmi into PSL final

Captain Babar Azam struck a fluent 57-ball hundred as Peshawar Zalmi outclassed Islamabad United by 70 runs in the first qualifier of the 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League at the National Stadium, Karachi, sealing a place in the final for a record fifth time. Put into bat after Islamabad United won the toss and opted to field, Zalmi made a strong start as Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris laid a solid foundation, taking the score to 68 inside the powerplay. United struck their first breakthrough in the seventh over when Haris, who made 35 off 16 balls, failed to find the gap and was caught at long-off by Mark Chapman. Peshawar Zalmi cruising to cover 200+👀#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/YsJE6r3jiM — PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026 Babar then anchored the innings alongside Kusal Mendis, with whom he has formed several productive partnerships this season. The pair added 84 runs for the second wicket, blending control with acceleration to keep Zalmi o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Trump approval sinks to new low as war with Iran drives cost-of-living concerns

President Donald Trump's approval rating ‌fell to the lowest level of his current term, as Americans increasingly soured on his handling of the cost of living and an unpopular war with Iran, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The four-day poll completed on Monday showed 34% of Americans approve of Trump's performance in the White ​House, down from 36% in a prior Reuters/Ipsos survey, which was conducted from April 15 to 20. The majority of ​responses were gathered before the Saturday night shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, ⁠where Trump was due to speak. It remains to be seen if the incident, in which a gunman was stopped before he ​could enter a hall where Trump was dining, might affect people's views of the US leader. Federal prosecutors have charged the accused ​shooter with attempting to assassinate the president. Trump's standing with the US public has trended lower since taking office in January 2025, when 47% of Americans gave...
Post a Comment
Read more

Punjab Assembly passes bill fixing minimum marriage age at 18 for males, females

The Punjab Assembly passed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2026 by a majority vote on Monday following a detailed and heated debate between treasury and opposition members, alongside key legislative business and a question hour session. The session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, began with a delay of 53 minutes. Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari termed early marriages harmful to girls’ health and education, stressing that young girls should be allowed to complete their education rather than being married off prematurely. During the proceedings, Uzma raised strong concerns, stating that for the first time, members were not provided copies of the bill. She stressed that it was essential for all lawmakers to have access to the draft legislation before its passage. On her complaint, the speaker directed that copies of the bill be immediately distributed among members. Read More: Punjab amends child marriage law Speaking on the bill, Uzma emphasised that early m...
Post a Comment
Read more