Sunday, August 3rd, 2025
Pakistan monsoon death toll nears 300 as more rains likely from tomorrow
ISLAMABAD, AUG 3: At least 299 people, including 140 children, have lost their lives, and 715 others have been injured in flash floods and torrential rains that have swept through vulnerable areas of the country since June 26, according to the latest statistics issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The death toll also included 102 men and 57 women, according to the data. Among 715 injured, 239 were children, 204 were women, and 272 were men who sustained injuries. Since June 26, flash floods and torrential rains haveRead More
Climate Change and the crisis facing Pakistan
Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is a present and intensifying reality, especially for third world countries like Pakistan. While the global community is grappling with the consequences of rising temperatures, it is the economically weaker nations that bear the heaviest burden. These countries, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, are the most vulnerable to the climate crisis due to inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and socio-political challenges. Pakistan exemplifies this disparity. Ranked among the top ten countries most affected by climate change, Pakistan experiences frequentRead More
Time to Act on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline
The recent visit of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakistan has been marked by warmth, symbolic gestures of friendship, and a renewed resolve to strengthen bilateral ties. Multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, and both President Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed firm commitment to working together for peace, regional stability, and the elimination of terrorism. Yet, while these developments are promising, they also reflect a persistent and troubling omission: the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline — a critical project for Pakistan’s energy security — was neither mentioned inRead More
Political witch-hunting a threat to democracy
Opinion Ansar Mahmood Bhatti The ongoing political crisis in Pakistan, particularly the systematic marginalization of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), raises serious concerns about the future of democracy in the country. The recent court verdicts sentencing and disqualifying PTI’s top leadership from assemblies, coupled with the Election Commission’s hasty actions, suggest a deliberate attempt to sideline the country’s popular political party. While PTI’s actions on May 9—attacking military installations—were indefensible, the manner in which the party is being dismantled is undemocratic and counterproductive. This approach does not serve the long-term interestsRead More
Swiss community celebrates 734th National Day in Islamabad
Ambassador Georg Steiner welcomes guests at a vibrant evening of culture and camaraderie ISLAMABAD, AUG 3 /DNA/ – The Swiss community in Pakistan came together to celebrate the 734th Swiss National Day with enthusiasm and unity at a reception held at the Ambassador’s Residence in Islamabad. The event, hosted by the Swiss Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Georg Steiner, brought together Swiss nationals and friends of Switzerland for an evening of celebration, cultural appreciation, and warm hospitality. Ambassador Steiner warmly welcomed the guests and highlighted the enduring values that define Switzerland—peace,Read More
Pakistan’s Moment in Washington
By Qamar Bashir In a rare shift of focus from its usual marginal position in American discourse, Pakistan has recently found itself in the headlines in the United States for all the right reasons. Normally overshadowed by stories of political chaos, power tussles, and institutional heavy-handedness against dissent, the narrative has now turned toward Islamabad’s surprising diplomatic maneuvering and its growing importance in Washington’s strategic calculations. While Pakistan’s domestic politics remain fraught—with Imran Khan and his party under relentless state pressure and critics of the “deep state” still facing crackdowns—theRead More