LHC to hear appeal of Junaid Hafeez against life sentence
The Lahore High Court (LHC) will hear an appeal on March 19, 2025, challenging the death sentence of former university lecturer Junaid Hafeez. Authorities arrested Hafeez on March 13, 2013, for alleged blasphemous Facebook posts. He had previously worked as a visiting faculty member in the Department of English Literature at Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) […]
Trump gives Pakistan 60 days to avoid U.S. travel restrictions
Previously, President Donald Trump introduced plans for a new travel ban targeting Afghanistan and Pakistan, citing security concerns. That policy, expected to take effect within weeks, was part of a broader immigration crackdown. Advocacy groups raised alarms, particularly for Afghans awaiting resettlement, as the administration signaled tougher restrictions on visa issuance. Now, the Trump administration […]
Jaffar express hijacking sparks political clash
In a recent development, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of politicizing the Jaffar Express hijacking incident, alleging that the party misinterpreted the situation on social media and overlooked national security concerns while blaming the government and establishment. The Jaffar Express hijacking has been a significant event, drawing attention to the […]
Pakistan gender pay gap among the highest globally, says ILO
Pakistan has one of the widest gender pay gaps (GPG) globally, according to a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Women earn significantly less than men across most sectors, with many wage differences unexplained by education, skills, or experience. This suggests the presence of gender-based discrimination. The Extent of the Pay Gap The report […]
Pakistan among the most air polluted countries
In 2024, Pakistan faced a severe air pollution crisis, ranking among the world’s top five most polluted countries. Alongside Chad, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and India, Pakistan’s pollution levels remained alarmingly high. The country’s average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) far exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit of 5 micrograms […]
Women farmers in Matiari demand fair wages and climate justice
On March 8, 2025, over 70 female agricultural workers gathered in Matiari, Sindh, to mark International Women’s Day. They demanded climate justice and better occupational safety in the agriculture sector. The Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) and the Commonwealth Foundation organized the event, providing a platform for these women to voice their concerns. Many spoke about […]
Pakistan sets deadline for Afghan citizen card holders to leave
Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has set March 31 as the final deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave voluntarily. After this date, authorities will begin mass deportations, raising concerns among international organizations about potential forced repatriations. Government’s stance on Afghan nationals The Interior Ministry stated that the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme (IFRP), launched on […]
Iran rejects Trump’s nuclear talks proposal, denies receiving letter
Iran has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for nuclear negotiations. Officials deny receiving any formal communication. This highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. On March 7, 2025, President Trump announced he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The letter proposed talks to curb […]
Afghans face U.S. travel ban as Trump targets Pakistan too
President Donald Trump plans to introduce a new travel ban that may restrict entry for Afghans and Pakistanis. The policy could take effect as early as next week, according to sources. The move follows a government review of security protocols and vetting measures. This ban would resemble Trump’s previous travel restrictions, which targeted majority-Muslim countries. […]
IMF optimism fuels 1,400-point PSX surge
On Thursday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a significant surge, with the benchmark KSE-100 index rising by 1,459.41 points, or 1.3%, to close at 113,713.17. This bullish momentum is largely attributed to optimism surrounding the ongoing discussions between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the first biannual review of the $7 billion […]
