5G lifts prospects for local handset makers

Pakistan’s fast-growing mobile phone industry is preparing to benefit from the expected launch of next-generation 5G services by the middle of the year, as manufacturers step up readiness on both hardware and software fronts. “Local assembly and manufacturing capabilities have strengthened significantly, and manufacturers, particularly those producing leading brands, have already aligned their roadmaps with […]

Aid cut toll

The latest, most wide-ranging modelling published in The Lancet Global Health paints a stark picture of evidence that should immediately shake the general public out of slumber. It illustrates that if major donor countries like the United States and the United Kingdom continue down the path of cutting overseas aid, we are looking at up […]

Decentralising climate action

Climate change is no longer a distant threat for Pakistan; it is a lived reality. From catastrophic floods and prolonged droughts to urban heat stress and water scarcity, climate shocks are increasingly shaping livelihoods, growth prospects and social stability. Yet, despite rising international attention and climate finance commitments, a critical question remains unanswered: why does […]

When constitutional entitlements become grievances

The letter written by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is not merely an exchange of official correspondence over delayed fiscal transfers. It is a stark reminder of the widening gap between constitutional promises and fiscal practice in Pakistan’s federal system. When constitutionally guaranteed rights begin to resemble discretionary favours, the […]

UK’s Starmer expresses regret over Mandelson, says ex-ambassador ‘lied repeatedly’

Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed regret on Wednesday for appointing Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, saying the Labour veteran had created a “litany of deceit” about his ties to US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer ceded to pressure from the opposition Conservative Party to release documents on how Mandelson was appointed, but was forced […]