World in Focus

Justice Gulzar Ahmed The 27th Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmed was born on February 2, 1957, in Karachi, to Noor Muhammad, a renowned lawyer of that time. Justice Ahmed completed his elementary schooling from the city’s Gulistan School. He then went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Government National College, Karachi, after which he ... Read More »

NATIONAL Nov. 16: The Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad initially for a period of four weeks, extendable on the basis of medical reports. Nov. 16: The tenth session of the European Union-Pakistan Joint Commission concluded in Brussels, Belgium. The European Union offered technical assistance to Pakistan for implementation of the Financial Action ... Read More »

International  Nov. 16: US President Donald Trump granted full pardons to two American military officials and restored the rank of a third—although all three were found guilty of committing war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nov. 16: Finland qualified for the Euro 2020 finals—first major tournament in their history—with a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein. Nov. 17: Dubai Air Show 2019 ... Read More »

INTERNATIONAL Oct. 16: Etihad Airways and Air Arabia agreed to jointly set up Abu Dhabi’s first low-cost airline “Air Arabia Abu Dhabi”. Oct. 16: Kenya opened a $1.5 billion Chinese-built railway line linking Nairobi to Naivasha. Oct. 17: Qatar’s government adopted a new minimum wage law that will scrap mandatory exit visas for all workers. Oct. 17: US Vice President ... Read More »

NATIONAL Oct. 16: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) was recognised as the “7th most effective regulator” by the World Economic Forum in its ‘Global Competitiveness Report-2019’. Oct. 16: Pakistan and Egypt agreed to work out measures for capturing untapped economic potential and promoting bilateral trade. Oct. 16: With 20.3 percent of its population undernourished, Pakistan ranked 94th ... Read More »

National July 16: World Health Organisation (WHO), during a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, recommended patient safety standards for Pakistan. July 16: Pakistan fully reopened its airspace for all civilian traffic, following months of restrictions imposed in the wake of a standoff with India in February. July 16: The State Bank of ... Read More »

National June 16: Pakistan Army announced postings and transfers of three-star officers, appointing Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed as new Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). June 16: Pakistan’s former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif was granted first extension in his service as Commander of 39-country Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC). June 16: Eminent poet Zehra ... Read More »

Power Play in the Indian Ocean The Great Game Moves to Sea Magazine Desk India, China and the United States, the three major powers, which together account for nearly half of the global economy, are vying for influence in the Indian Ocean arena. All three of them view the region through their own geostrategic frameworks, ensuring intense jostling at best ... Read More »

The Federal Budget 2019-20 Rarely if ever, except perhaps during the initial years after our independence in 1947, has Pakistan faced such dire economic straits as those that confront it today. Consequently, the template of the federal budget was cast by the IMF programme terms that the country recently agreed with the Fund at the staff-level and has duly complied ... Read More »

   European Elections Young people chose Europe! The European Parliament elections are over, with the liberal wing sighing with relief, while the right wingers can smugly point to the increase to 25% of representation in the world’s second largest democratically-elected parliament. The good news is that the elections gained something of a new momentum. Since its first-ever direct elections in ... Read More »