Madrid, (Unib Rashid) __ The passport system at the Pakistan Embassy in Madrid, Spain, has been fully restored, allowing esteemed members of the Pakistani community to submit their passport applications at the Embassy. According to an official announcement, passport services had been temporarily suspended due to technical issues. The system is now fully operational. The Pakistan Embassy in Madrid has...
Economic and Institutional Aftershocks of PIA Privatization.
The stalled privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has produced economic and institutional aftershocks that extend far beyond the fate of a single loss-making enterprise. What was projected as a confidence-building reform instead exposed deep-rooted weaknesses in Pakistan’s governance framework, policy credibility, and institutional capacity, raising serious questions about the country’s broader reform trajectory. From an economic standpoint, PIA’s financial...
UK Prime Minister Holds Talks with Trump, Zelenskyy and European Leaders on Ukraine Peace Efforts.
London, (Special Correspondent) __ UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held a high-level telephone conversation on December 28 with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and several European leaders to discuss ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. According to a statement issued by 10 Downing Street, the talks focused on recent...
Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) Elects Zafar Masud as Chairman and Constitutes 16-member Executive Committee.
Karachi, (Unib Rashid) __ Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) elected and constituted a new 16-member Executive Committee, including two female members and eight newly inducted member banks, marking a strategic shift toward greater inclusivity and broader industry representation. Following the elections, the Executive Committee unanimously elected Mr. Zafar Masud, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of Punjab, as Chairman...
Benazir Bhutto’s 18th Death Anniversary Commemorated in Brussels.
Brussels, (Unib Rashid) __ The 18th death anniversary of former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, was commemorated in Brussels under the auspices of Pakistan Peoples Party Belgium. The commemorative event was held at the residence of senior PPP leader and former President PPP Belgium, Haji Waseem Akhtar. Party leaders, workers,...
NFC Award in Pakistan: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Path Forward.
The National Finance Commission (NFC) Award is the backbone of Pakistan’s fiscal federalism and a constitutional mechanism designed to ensure equitable distribution of financial resources between the federation and the provinces. Under Article 160 of the Constitution, the NFC Award determines how revenues from the federal divisible pool are shared vertically between the center and the provinces, and horizontally among...
Criminalizing Dissent in Kashmir: Property Confiscation and the Politics of Fear
Dr. Ghulam Nabi FaiChairmanWorld Forum for Peace & Justice December 27, 2025 The principle that an occupying power does not become the sovereign owner of the territory it controls is well-established in international law. An occupier’s role is temporary administration, not ownership, domination, or the rewriting of the political identity of a people. Yet in Kashmir today, we witness a...
Recent Bidding of PIA: Reform Milestone or Contested Privatization?
The recent bidding and partial privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) marks a significant development in Pakistan’s economic reform agenda. After decades of mounting losses, operational inefficiencies, political interference, and repeated bailout packages, the government’s decision to offload a majority stake in the national flag carrier has been presented as a bold and unavoidable step toward fiscal discipline and efficiency....
Advice to IRU: A Pakistan Perspective on TIR Execution Challenges.
Pakistan’s experience with TIR—particularly on corridors involving China, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia—shows that TIR underperformance is not caused by weak legal frameworks or lack of political support. It is caused by execution-level resistance. A key operational reality observed in Pakistan is this: No government will facilitate a system if its own enforcement officers recommend against it. At borders, the...
Lyallpur Gur Mela 2025 to Celebrate Punjab’s Rural Heritage in Faisalabad.
Faisalabad, (TW News) __ The vibrant spirit of Punjab’s rural culture will come alive at Lyallpur Gur Mela 2025, scheduled to take place from December 26 to 28, 2025, at Pind Punjab Da, Khurrianwala, Faisalabad. The three-day cultural and agricultural festival aims to promote traditional Punjabi village life, agritourism, and indigenous food culture, with a special focus on the live...