Since the beginning of 2026, ‘centrists’...]]> ]]> Two recent developments should force Pakistan to rethink its approach to infrastructure and governance. First, the EIU’s Global Liveability Index 2026 placed Karachi...]]> ]]> On July 11, the world observed World Population Day. The day is very important because the world population is more than 8.3 billion. It is particularly relevant to Pakistan, which has...]]> ]]> As debate continues on Budget 2026–27, the most concerning aspect is not the size of the budget, but the adherence to the same fiscal philosophy. The arguments are the same as in the last five budgets since 2021 – more...]]> ]]> In a week that was bubbling with big events, what should this column be about? Technically, I have to make this choice every week. Usually, several options are available. Sometimes there is no escape from something...]]> ]]> The Indus Waters Treaty remained in force over the years – despite the wars of 1965, 1971 and Kargil. The treaty survived military mobilisations, diplomatic ruptures...]]> ]]> India's conduct on water sharing fails a second...]]> ]]> A war is unfolding on Pakistan's rivers. It is waged through dams, diversions, withheld data and...]]> ]]> The digital revolution has transformed communication in Pakistan. Applications such as WhatsApp have become indispensable. While these platforms have enabled instant communication, they...]]> ]]> The World Bank's detailed examination of Pakistan's public finances, in its new report 'Strengthening Fiscal Federalism in Pakistan' , delivers a message that Islamabad would do well to absorb.

The 18th...]]> ]]> In the 1980 American election, Ronald Reagan ran against incumbent President Jimmy Carter. Reagan, a right-wing candidate, was initially considered unlikely to win.

However, Reagan understood a...]]> ]]> The crime: India has weaponised water. On 23 April 2025, following the Pahalgam terrorist...]]> ]]> The ink was barely dry on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding when it ran into difficulties — a painful reminder that peace between the two sides...]]> ]]> As Pakistan enters another budget season, the familiar flood of figures has returned. For economists and financial analysts, these numbers outline the government's fiscal priorities....]]> ]]> The recent visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took...]]> ]]> Pakistan’s successful mediation between Iran and the US has done more than halt a dangerous conflict in West Asia. It has elevated Pakistan’s diplomatic profile, secured its relevance in international...]]> ]]> National security is no longer defined solely by territorial defence, as nation-states are increasingly tested by their ability to provide water, food, energy,...]]> ]]> For many Pakistanis, the annual climate negotiations held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change often...]]>