By Muhammad Sohail Bhatti, from GUANGZHOU, China Usually, the world remains under the focus of media binoculars round-the-clock, but it was the media’s turn to be focused by the whole world when China’s city of Guangzhou hosted the 5th World Media Summit (WMS). The 5th WMS gathers over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream …

Once again true spirits of liberalized democracy are going to flourish in the upcoming presidential election in Indonesia. The biggest electoral battle will be fought on February 14, 2024. In this regard, Indonesia will hold the world’s largest single day election to elect a president and vice president, along with nearly 20,000 representatives to national, provincial, and district parliaments from …

By Zulkafil Hassan Khan Till today more than 12000 innocent Palestinians have been killed and still the joint meeting of OIC-Arab League is busy in cosmetic signaling and diplomatic posturing. No action plan, no concrete solution and no unified leadership of Muslim world to halt the worsening human situation in Gaza. It is indeed one of the most bitter lessons of human …

The White House’s confirmation of Xi-Biden meeting in San Francisco next week has become hot topic in the international media which has also swayed the social media around the globe. Since this meeting has strategic significance in terms of revival of socio-economic relations, removal of consequential geopolitical barriers and converging geostrategic trans-regional spheres, hopefully both leaders will try to stabilize …

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir’s visit to Baku is aimed at enhancing military-to-military cooperation and defence collaboration between the two brotherly countries. During the visit, COAS held detailed meetings with Azerbaijan’s military and civil leadership including President H.E. Ilham Aliyev, the defence minister, 1st deputy minister and chief of general staff and commander of air force. The matters …

Right from the beginning China’s neighborhood foreign policy has been standing for mutual sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful co-existence, international cooperation, economic globalization, immense regionalism through socio-economic integration, free trade, connectivity and above all political consultation, dialogue, diplomacy and development. Moreover, regional peace, prosperity, stability and harmony have been the cornerstones of its pragmatic foreign policy. It seems that China has …

State institutions, such as the Capital Development Authority and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in Islamabad, implicitly or explicitly support urban sprawl through regulations that limit the height of residential constructions. This is partly due to their limited capacity to manage high-rise buildings effectively, lacking the necessary equipment for rescue operations. At the same time, paradoxically, they have entered the real …

Out of Pakistan’s national budget of 14.46 trillion rupees for 2023-24, total revenue amounts to 6.9 trillion rupees. A substantial 7.3 trillion is earmarked solely for interest payments, equivalent to 5.7% of GDP. An additional 7.56 trillion rupees is designated for financing further debt. What strategies might the government consider to reduce this debt burden? If the government chooses to …

Most recently, the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the 21st meeting of the Secretariat of Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana on Oct. 11 which has once again “showcased” the true essence of its “Religious Diplomacy” and “Soft Image Projection”. Since centuries, Kazakhstan has been the “Land of Spirituality” and “Supreme Human Traits”. It has also been …

The 3rd BRI forum for international cooperation will be held on October 17-18 in Beijing in which the Chinese policy makers will share new priorities, plans, policies and projects to gear-up regional as well as global development through BRI which has been dubbed as “Project of the 21st Century”. In this regard, more than 120 countries have been confirmed their …

Most recently, President H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan showcased a “holistic” and “comprehensive” New Economic Model (NEM) for achieving the desired goals of Just Kazakhstan. It is timely, “integrative”, “interactive” and “futuristic” covering all possible fundamental factors and sectors of a stable and sustainable macro-economy, progressive society and pragmatic political system in the country. It is indeed a new strategic …

During the second day of the ongoing BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa the policy makers remarkably achieved one of the biggest goals by inviting Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Argentina and Ethiopia in the group which will hopefully further enhance its strategic orientation, socio-economic potential, financial integration, human capital, industrial cooperation, climate change and geopolitical significance in the days …

Unfortunately, on the 16th of August, 2023, many homes of Christian communities living in different part of Jaranwala were attacked and burnt. Even two Christians were also brutally killed by violent mobs of Muslims. In a mad chase of their own vested interests many Churches were also demolished indicating severe religious intolerance, widespread fanaticism creating serious problems for the State …

Taiwan has become a high voltage political drama of Bollywood with many twists. Chronic instigative conduct of the US has been trying to irritate China on the issue of Taiwan. Its constant and continued speculative connections with the authorities of Taiwan are creating serious problems of peace and stability in the region. In this regard, Pelosi’s ill-conceived trip to Taiwan …

A business ecosystem facilitates the growth and prosperity of firms by providing access to finance and an efficient value chain. Its objective is to ensure fair benefits across sectors, preventing undue advantage for any one sector at the expense of others. However, the current business ecosystem in Pakistan primarily favours feudal, urban elites, and semi-government corporations. Pakistan’s economic structure has …

Pakistan’s presence in global IT services exports is small but has seen significant growth, increasing from 0.17 per cent in 2017 to 0.30 per cent in 2021. Its overall IT export volume surged from 7.2 per cent in 2006 to an impressive 37.7 per cent in 2022. Ireland holds the top spot with over 28 per cent, followed by India …

According to the Central Election Commission elections Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was re-elected with 87.1 percent votes. More than 15 million voters participated in Sunday’s elections. The preliminary results shows that 15 million 651 thousand 405 voters, or 79.88 percent of the total voters, took part in the Uzbekistan Presidential Election. Candidate from UzLiDeP Shavkat Mirziyoev achieved the highest votes …

The 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held on July 4 in India via video. According to the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying President Xi Jinping will attend it via videoconference in Beijing. The SCO member states are facing numerous socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic challenges in shape of unending …

In near past, the Republic of Uzbekistan under the visionary leadership of its president H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev started its third renaissance by transforming the State, Society, Parliament, Administration, Governance, and last but not least, Judicial order in the country through the proposed “Constitutional Amendments” It now is striving hard towards more rigorous “politicization” and “democratization” through the expected introduction of …

The Chinese BRI remained the vision of greater regional connectivity, immense socio-economic prosperity, engine of global growth, stimulator of economic stability and sustainability and last but not the least, an ideal platform of eradication of poverty in the last decade. During these ten years, the BRI has been rated as a connecting hub and bridging force between the continents, communities …

The western media has been purposely propagating against BRI in Algeria and terming it as so-called poisoned chalice which does not have any evidence or scientific substance. It has been icon of socio-economic prosperity. In this regard, both countries have now entered into a new stage of holistic development, and they intend to deepen cooperation in the diverse sectors of …

China has been staunch supporter of openness, modernization, regional trade, investments and connectivity and full implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement vividly reflects the holistic spirits of Chinese community with shared future, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilizational Initiative. According to World Bank report (December 2022), the RECP comprises of 15 countries, covers 2.3 …

It seems that two different forces are competing in African continent. China represent spirits of cooperation, coordination and collaboration whereas, the West stands for conflict, contradiction and conspiracy. The BRI has entered into its tenth year and has become daisy of development and regional connectivity around the world especially in African continent. More than 150 countries have joined the BRI …

Undoubtedly, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has the potential to open up new development pathways through infrastructure development, stimulating investment and job creation and promoting economic transformation in Ethiopia. Under BRI China is cooperating with Ethiopia in infrastructure, green economy, agriculture and industrial park construction. All these mega projects are producing remarkable results, helping Ethiopia to rank among the …

The Chinese One Belt & One Road Initiative (BRI) was one of the main attractions of recently held China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an. The Chinese president Xi delivered a keynote speech highlighting the strategic importance, utility and scope of the BRI for the further socio-economic development and greater regional connectivity of all the Central Asian countries. He showcased new road …

  Most recently, China-Central Asia Summit was held in Xi’an during which the Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech. Xi pinpointed numerous X-factors for achieving the desired goals of greater regional connectivity, immense socio-economic integration, eradication of terrorism in the region. It seems that Xi’an, the city of human wisdom, hub of business & commerce, connecting point of …

The great contribution of the Uzbek ancestors to the development of world civilization and conceptual & contextual greater regional connectivity is well known to the whole world today. Uzbeks are great scientists, philosophers, socio-politico thinkers, religious leaders, military commanders and people’s friendly rulers too. They influenced the world by their genuinely inbuilt qualities of knowledge, wisdom, observation, good governance last …

Most recently Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the China-Central Asia Summit in Xi’an city and delivered a “keynote” speech during which he upheld that Central Asian countries and China have developed a “mature” relationship based on trust, respect and “mutual interest’. During his speech Mirziyoyev he rightly proposed the “goals” of further increasing the trade volume between Central Asian countries …

The Chinese Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) has introduced new means of regional as well as global connectivity. It has successfully created new “fascination”, “anticipation” and “trepidation” about digitalization among the member countries due to which process of e-commerce and internet economy is now at fast track, removing all physical, socio-economic hurdles, geopolitical limitations and geostrategic barriers to create a …

The real estate industry in Pakistan heavily relies on speculative motives, resulting in an excessive supply of property titles disconnected from actual land ownership. This has led to a situation where file ownership rather than land ownership is prevalent, and housing societies operate without necessary no-objection certificates (NOCs), further detaching the industry from reality. Unfortunately, obtaining a file does not …

by Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan The Republic of Uzbekistan has once again taken the decisive “lead” in introducing “pure” and “genuine” reforms of further “politicization” and “democratization” in the Central Asia Region. The successful holding and approval of the most recently referendum on April 30, 2023 has opened a new chapter and concept of “interactive” and “integrative” “People’s Democracy” …

The Chinese Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) has entered into its tenth year, making a new history of world class infrastructure development, regional connectivity, integrated transport, economic and sea corridors in the member countries. It adopted holistic and comprehensive models and modules of foreign direct investment (FDI) to finance numerous mega projects in the member countries around the globe. In …

China has achieved remarkable economic growth in the last four decades, following the implementation of economic reforms, free trade, and investment policies. Its real annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate has averaged 9.5%, making it one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The World Bank has lauded this growth as the fastest sustainable expansion by a major economy in world …

IN 1970, prominent sociologist Basil Bernstein asserted that education could not contribute to society. Because our education system is interwoven with and increasingly influenced by the economy, it is unable to rectify economic imbalances and thus ‘miseducates’. Educational theorist John Dewy defined ‘miseducation’ as a system that stifles children’s curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. Knowledge, according to him, is created …

Azerbaijan’s Leadership and Nation both became a living symbol of resilience and patriotic approach in recent past during the war imposed by Armenia which was overcome by the brave forces under the leadership of President Illham Aliyev and the great Azeri Nation. Since its independence from Russia (the then USSR) in 1991, Azerbaijan started its journey for socio-economic development alongside a long battle for maintaining peace …

With much fanfare and aplomb, the Indian Government unveiled its purported indigenous aircraft carrier INS VIKRANT on 2 September. The opportunity was used by both the Indian Government and its subservient media to showcase Indian prowess as a major defense products powerhouse. However, a closer look will instead substantiate that the Vikrant is actually a negation of all grandiose claims …

Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan despite warnings from various corners has catalysed the situation in Asia Pacific and with it has boosted the purpose of Quad and AUKUS. Although, the US administration also cautioned the Speaker to refrain from this visit yet they have been observed justifying it somehow. It appears that the visit was supported by the administration …

There is a consensus amongst our people that educating women would lead to increase in women workforce, notwithstanding the patriarchal ethos of society. However, the facts suggest otherwise even if we look at the healthcare profession which is highly coveted in Pakistan. According to research, 70 % of the medical students are girls but out of those only 20-30 % …

Afghanistan has always been at the epicenter of the ‘Great Game’. The Afghan humanitarian tragedy in consequence to forty-years’ war has been widely documented. Even then, after the globally acknowledged sufferings of the Afghans – with the political and economic axis of the globe shifting eastward – Afghanistan being at the crossroads of Eurasia still serves as the chessboard of …

India claims to be the largest democracy in the world. In addition to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and other religions live in India in large numbers, but the bright face of India is distorted when the citizens living in their own country are exploited because of their beliefs and ideas. Among these minorities are the people of the lower …