In the grand theatre of Pakistani politics, few performances match the Pakistani Peoples Party’s masterclass in selective federalism. The PPP has long championed the creation of new provinces across the republic. Punjab is too big, they declare. Balochistan needs better governance units. Even the northern areas could use a bit of administrative surgery. Efficiency! Representation! Development! The slogans roll off the tongue like campaign promises after a long night at the party fundraiser. And then someone mentions Sindh. Suddenly the music stops. The progressive federalists clutch their pearls. Sindh, they insist, is sacred, indivisible, a civilizational jewel that must…
Author: Web Desk
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has accused the Pakistan Peoples Party of applying a double standard when it comes to carving out new provinces, pointing out that the party supports a Saraiki province in Punjab yet invokes Sindhudesh whenever wider administrative changes are proposed. Writing on X, Asif noted that the PPP has historically extended support, or at least sympathy, toward Saraiki province demands whenever the topic surfaces in Punjab. Yet, he observed, the moment conversations shift toward creating multiple provinces or administrative units beyond the current four, Sindhudesh enters the conversation instead. Asif Hints at Deeper Motives Behind PPP’s Stance…
Major General Faisal Naseer of the Pakistan Army has taken charge as the new National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority, commonly known as NACTA. The Establishment Division confirmed the three-year appointment in a notification. The posting carries immediate effect and has received formal clearance from the federal government. Major General Faisal Naseer joins NACTA on secondment, a move made under Section 9(1) of the NACTA Act, 2013. Details of the Notification Dated September 4, 2026, the Establishment Division’s order specifies that the officer will hold the NACTA National Coordinator role for three years under standard service terms outlined…
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari sat down for an extended five-hour discussion in London, addressing Pakistan’s current political climate and the party’s firm stance on Sindh’s territorial unity. The Bilawal Bhutto Zardari meeting took place at the president’s London residence. Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Bilawal’s sister, was present along with her children, making it as much a family gathering as a political consultation. Key Topics Discussed in the London Talks According to sources familiar with the discussion, much of the conversation centered on the broader political landscape back home in Pakistan. Party leader Faryal Talpur’s recent…
Pakistan’s security forces have confirmed that 12 terrorists were killed during a targeted intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Kalat district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Friday. The military’s media wing said the operation was launched on September 2 after intelligence reports pointed to the presence of militants linked to Fitna al-Hindustan, a group Pakistan accuses of receiving backing from India. ISPR stated that troops located and monitored the militants’ hideout before carrying out a swift and coordinated raid. All 12 India-sponsored terrorists were eliminated in the process, and a stockpile of weapons and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was…
Pakistan has firmly dismissed accusations from India regarding damage to a Hindu temple in Narowal, calling New Delhi’s statements “false and politically motivated.” The Foreign Office said on Friday that the temple’s structural damage was the result of torrential rainfall, not neglect or deliberate harm. The response followed a statement from India’s foreign ministry, which said it was “deeply concerned” over reports of alleged destruction at a historic Hindu temple located in Adda Siraj, a locality in Punjab’s Narowal district. FO Spokesperson Calls Out “Cheap Gimmicks” Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan addressed the controversy directly. “We categorically reject the…
Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for the creation of 12 to 15 new provinces in Pakistan, asking Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to set up a dedicated committee to examine the country’s administrative setup. “I have proposed that a committee be made, on administrative reforms, through the law minister that can at least start a national and political debate on what can and cannot be done,” Iqbal told reporters. He said he was holding off on raising the matter directly with the prime minister until Sharif returned from his trip to Kyrgyzstan. Why the Provinces Debate Has…
A fresh province-wide survey has uncovered a massive KP schools furniture shortage, with government schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa falling short by 1,494,287 seats. In an unexpected twist, the same survey found that certain schools are sitting on a surplus of 1,106,800 seats, far more than their students actually need. The Education Department’s findings suggest that if this surplus furniture were simply redistributed to schools that need it most, the province’s overall shortfall could shrink dramatically. 18,426 Schools Report Insufficient Seating According to the survey, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government schools currently enrol 5,539,495 students, while usable seating capacity stands at 5,152,008. Treated…
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan has completed its largest-ever single international bond transaction, raising $3 billion through a dual-tranche Eurobond, the Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday. The Pakistan Eurobond issuance drew nearly $6 billion in bids, roughly double the amount actually sold, with orders flowing in from a wide mix of institutional investors spread across several regions and markets. The deal was split into two parts: a $1.75 billion tranche with a 5.5-year maturity carrying a 7.5% coupon, and a $1.25 billion tranche with a 10-year maturity priced at 7.9%. Finance officials said the healthy appetite across both timeframes, especially the…
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani security forces eliminated 15 India-backed militants after intercepting an infiltration bid along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border facing North Waziristan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing confirmed on Thursday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), troops first spotted a group of Fitna al-Khawarij fighters attempting to slip into Pakistani territory during the night of August 31 into September 1. The North Waziristan terrorist attack unfolded after forces tracked the militants’ movement and responded with what ISPR described as a calculated, patient approach before launching their operation. The confrontation stretched across 36 hours, ending with all 15…
