Blaze News - Pakistan

Justice delayed may not always amount to justice denied, but it inevitably comes at a cost that no court order can fully repair. More than three decades after a Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC) bus struck and permanently disabled a young pedestrian, a civil court has finally ordered the Sindh government to pay Rs10 million in compensation to the victim. The verdict is significant because it sends a clear message that negligent driving and institutional irresponsibility carry consequences. The judgment is important because it reinforces the principle of accountability. Reckless driving is frequently dismissed as an unfortunate accident rather than the predictable outcome of negligence. Every year, countless families lose loved ones or see them permanently disabled. Yet meaningful accountability remains rare. Criminal prosecutions are often delayed and civil claims languish for years while victims are left to shoulder the financial and emotional burden alone. A substantial compe...

Despite escalating hostilities across the Gulf region, more than 300,000 Pakistanis sought employment in Middle Eastern countries during the first five months of 2026 alone. Saudi Arabia absorbed over 143,000 workers, even as reports emerged of Iranian strikes targeting American facilities on its territory. Thousands more continued to queue outside the Dubai consulate in Karachi. For many, the danger was simply less frightening than the economic reality at home. On the other hand, the state takes comfort in these numbers. Remittances reached a record $4.2 billion in May, and total inflows for FY26 are expected to exceed $40 billion. These figures are routinely celebrated as signs of economic resilience. Yet behind them are millions of workers who only left because they had few alternatives. Their families live with constant uncertainty, their children spend months or years separated from them, and their safety in foreign lands can never be taken for granted. For decades, Pakista...

The launch of Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) could herald a new era of innovation and economic potential. After years of flipflopping and indecisiveness over the legality and regulation of cryptocurrencies, Pakistan can now be considered among the more proactive countries in the world, embracing blockchain technology and digital assets in ways that could bring exponential gains, possibly even positioning the country as a leader in the global digital economy. By fostering an environment of regulation and innovation, the council aims to create a framework that protects investors while simultaneously nurturing the growth of the burgeoning crypto sector. This dual approach — regulating for security, while promoting entrepreneurial spirit - ensures that Pakistan can leverage blockchain technology's benefits without compromising its financial system's integrity. Recent initiatives in the global crypto market - from the UAE's massive investment in the crypto exchange Binance to US ...

As authorities indulge in stock-taking of terror fissures in the backdrop of Jaffar Express hijacking, a convenient finger has been pointed at the neighbourhood. It is no secret that Afghanistan and India are in cahoots, and have a vested agenda to nurse by bleeding and destabilising Pakistan. Thus, the military spokesperson in the Friday's presser was on the mark as he rightly traced the epicentre of terrorism from across the western frontiers. This open-and-shut complicity is in need of being exposed effectively by Islamabad at diplomatic forums, leading to singling out of the terror sponsoring regimes by the world community. The daredevil train hijacking episode manifested a broader agenda to not only sow the seeds of dissent among Pakistanis, but also to purport the BLA outfit as a viable entity. In doing so the dispensation in Kabul was at its beck and call, as is evident from the handlers making use of satellite phones and disseminating AI-concocted video clips to spread disi...

When the enforcers of the law become its violators, the very foundation of public trust crumbles. The recent arrest of a serving policeman, allegedly the mastermind behind a gang stealing luxury vehicles in Karachi's upscale neighbourhoods, is a damning indictment of the rot within the police force that enables, protects and, in many cases, promotes such individuals. The revelations are as predictable as they are disturbing. Karachi's residents have long suspected that elements within law enforcement are complicit in the very crimes they are tasked with preventing. But how does a criminal network thrive under police watch unless the police themselves are involved? The breakdown of law and order does not stop there. A transporter from North Karachi learned this the hard way when he was robbed at gunpoint last month - only to be further harassed and intimidated by the police when he sought justice. The Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell may have arrested one of its own, but it is unlikely...

Is To say US President Donald Trump's foreign policy during his second term has been all over the place would be an understatement. His first few weeks in charge have seen him tear up traditional alliances and take U-turns on his own positions, both long-held and new. Moving away from his tariff wars and refusal to assist Ukraine in an actual war, Trump is now claiming that he wants to open nuclear talks with Iran in the hope of ensuring that the Islamic republic never gets a nuclear weapon. These talks would probably have been unnecessary if Trump, during his first term, had not taken the unprecedented step of withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The deal ensured that Iran would not pursue nuclear weapons for at least 15 years in return for removal of longstanding sanctions on the country and its return into the global financial system. Iran had been adhering to the deal, even giving up some of its highly-enriched nuclear materials; but Trump, who famously does not read hi...

The enigma of power sector circular debt is no less than a white elephant. Year after year, the government's piecemeal measures to get away with it force it further down a quagmire of debt. The root cause is an inflated and insane deal with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that has put the successive governments – as well as the general masses who are made to pay by their blood and sweat – in a quandary. The power sector circular debt today sits at Rs2.4 trillion, and is growing. There is, nonetheless, an emergency payment hovering over the heads to the tune of Rs1.5 trillion in principal amounts to eliminate the debt stock. Thus, the government's decision to borrow Rs1.25 trillion from the commercial banks is another recipe to stay afloat and does not come to guarantee a long-term solution. The new loan sought at less than 11% interest rate is said to be 5% cheaper than the existing liquidity facility that the government ensures for making timely payments for energy purc...

India's prime spy agency has been repeatedly caught off guard. The sensational, but cautiously documented, revelation in The Washington Post that RAW has been working against dissident elements, busy taking them out abroad, should raise alarms. This is the second of its kind investigative report close on the heels of a story in The Guardian newspaper of Britain which had spilt the beans saying that Indian sleuths are operating in Pakistan and had murdered more than 20 people since 2020. This charge-sheet of gun-running in various foreign capitals was also seconded by American and Canadian authorities who went on record to castigate New Delhi, bringing their diplomatic ties to the brink. This orchestrated covert campaign had also led to the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, and a plot to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. Both the prestigious newspapers had simply pushed the envelope in professionalism, which should come as a grim reminder to t...

A broad-based political reconciliation is a must if the country has to step back from the brink. With Pakistan's governance genesis being parliamentary in essence, an indiscriminate participation of all political forces is desired. After prolonged trial and tribulations, especially in the last two years, it is good to hear from a PML-N stalwart, former interior minister Rana Sanaullah that talks should take place between Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Imran Khan for ending the reigning stalemate on way to reviving true democracy in the country. Sanaullah's gesture is appreciated, and one hopes he has the consent of his party at his disposal, as he has minced these words. The good point is that after long last, the recognition that Imran Khan and his party too should be part of the solution is a welcome development, and the initiative must see the light of the day. Huddling of political bigwigs in the form of an All Parties' Conference has been a constant, but has lacked the...

Next month, the European Union’s landmark rules on artificial intelligence (AI) will come into force, following the endorsement by EU countries of a political deal reached in December. This AI Act is poised to set a global benchmark for the regulation of a technology that is rapidly becoming integral to business and daily life. Unlike the United States’ light-touch voluntary compliance approach or China’s state-controlled framework aimed at maintaining social stability, the EU’s comprehensive legislation hopes to ensure not just accountability but also ethical use of AI. The AI Act, first drafted by the European Commission in 2021 and refined by EU lawmakers over the past two years, introduces stringent transparency obligations for high-risk AI systems. This encompasses AI applications in critical sectors such as healthcare, transportation and law enforcement, where the potential for harm is significant if these systems malfunction or are misused. The implications of this legislation e...