Adiala HIV outbreak

The disclosure that 148 inmates of Adiala Jail are HIV-positive should shame the Punjab prisons department and the provincial health authorities in equal measure. It is the single largest cluster detected in any prison across the province, and is a damning indictment of the conditions in which prisoners are being kept. With a sanctioned capacity […]

UN’s moral reckoning

The internal revolt at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) marks a critical juncture in the international response to the Gaza crisis. Hundreds of staff members are urging leadership to declare Israel’s offensive a genocide, arguing that the UN’s credibility is at stake if it remains silent any longer. […]

Why allegations alone will not cleanse governance

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s recent allegations against bureaucrats holding foreign citizenship and amassing billions in corruption have reignited a national debate on governance, integrity and the state’s willingness to clean its own house. These charges surfaced after the arrest of an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), reportedly close to the minister, who was accused of intimidating […]

US adds $250 ‘visa integrity fee,’ heightening pressure on travel industry

A new $250 “visa integrity fee” imposed on travelers to the United States risks piling more pressure on the struggling travel industry, as overseas arrivals continue to fall due to President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration and hostility to many foreign countries. Overseas travel to the US fell 3.1% year-on-year in July to 19.2 million […]

President Zardari gives go-ahead to change in NFC formation

President Asif Ali Zardari has approved a change in the formation of the 11th National Finance Commission (NFC) after Balochistan sought a revision in its nomination, Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday. The Balochistan government recommended Mahfooz Ali Khan as its non-ex officio member in the commission. The president approved this nomination, superseding his earlier approval. […]