Author: Kainat R

Pakistan Cost of Living 2026: Why a “Good Salary” Doesn’t Buy What It Used To

Kainat R
Pakistani rupee currency notes placed next to a household grocery bill and calculator, illustrating the cost of living squeeze

What Does a “Good Salary” Even Mean in Pakistan Right Now? Ask five different people in Pakistan what counts as a good salary and you’ll likely get five different answers, and all of them would be partly right. Pakistan’s cost of living has shifted so much over the past few years that older benchmarks for what qualifies as middle class in Pakistan no longer hold up. A number that felt comfortable five years ago barely covers essentials today. This piece breaks down what the numbers actually say about income, spending,…

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Netanyahu New York Visit Cut Short Over Security Fears

Kainat R
Benjamin Netanyahu arriving in New York for his UN General Assembly speech amid tight security

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slashed his New York visit down to just a handful of hours. He is set to land Thursday morning, deliver his UN General Assembly address, and fly straight back to Israel the same evening, skipping an overnight stay altogether. Why Netanyahu Shortened His New York Trip The decision didn’t come out of nowhere. Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 reported that senior security officials sat down with Netanyahu in recent days and pushed hard for a shorter trip, citing an “intelligence picture” that included specific warnings.…

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India Can’t Set Aside the Indus Waters Treaty When It’s Inconvenient, Says Dar

Kainat R
Ishaq Dar addressing the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir at the UN General Assembly

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that India cannot walk away from its international obligations simply because they’ve become inconvenient. Speaking at a UN General Assembly side event, he pointed to a recent court ruling that reaffirmed the Indus Waters Treaty is still very much alive, whatever New Delhi has been saying since last year. His comment lands at a tense moment. India put the 62-year-old water-sharing agreement “in abeyance” in April 2025, and the fallout from that decision is still playing out in…

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UNSC Condemns Kohat Terrorist Attack, Calls for Accountability

Kainat R
UN Security Council session condemning the Kohat terrorist attack in Pakistan

Council Calls the Assault “Heinous and Cowardly” The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the Kohat terrorist attack that struck a mosque inside the Old Police Lines complex in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In a press statement, the Council described the assault as heinous and cowardly, and it demanded that those behind the plot face justice without delay. Council President Jérôme Bonnafont, representing France, read out the statement on behalf of all member states. He said terrorism in every form remains one of the gravest threats to international peace, and he…

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Trump Praises Zohran Mamdani After New York Meeting

Kainat R
Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani shaking hands during their New York meeting

President Donald Trump had warm words for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Monday, saying he wants the young Democratic mayor to succeed. The remarks came after the two men held closed-door talks in Manhattan that focused on immigration enforcement and a multi-billion-dollar housing project. The meeting marked the third time the two leaders have appeared together publicly since Mamdani’s mayoral win last year. It also signaled a further thaw in what began as one of the most openly hostile relationships between a sitting president and a New York…

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Afghan Cyclist Fariba Hashimi Wins Silver at Asian Games in Nagoya

Kainat R
Afghan cyclist Fariba Hashimi racing in the Asian Games women's road race

An Afghan cyclist who once disguised herself as a man to train has won a silver medal at the Asian Games, a result she hopes will push other Afghan women toward sport at a time when the Taliban has all but shut the door on them. What Happened Fariba Hashimi finished second in the women’s road race at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, racing the Shinshiro Cycling Road Course in Aichi Prefecture. It’s the latest step in a career that began in secrecy back home and…

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Aleema Khan Detention Case: LHC Seeks Arguments on Petition Maintainability

Kainat R
Aleema Khan detention case hearing at Lahore High Court

Summary The Lahore High Court on Tuesday asked lawyers to argue whether a petition against Aleema Khan’s detention can be legally heard at all. Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, has been held since Sunday under a 30-day order issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner. The judge reserved her decision on maintainability and adjourned the case till September 25. Background Aleema Khan was picked up along with her driver, Muhammad Ameer, and both are currently confined at Lahore Central Jail. The detention order was issued under the Maintenance…

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Crackdown on IMEI Altering Intensifies as Lahore Police Target Stolen Phone Networks

Kainat R
Police officer checking a mobile phone IMEI number during a Lahore crackdown on stolen devices

Police Order Action Against IMEI Altering in Lahore LAHORE: Police have been directed to launch a comprehensive crackdown on elements involved in altering IMEI numbers of stolen mobile phones. The order came directly from the city’s top police officer during a high-level meeting on street crime. The move signals a fresh push against a trade that has let stolen handsets slip back into circulation for years, often untraceable once their identity numbers are changed. Background: A City Grappling With Street Theft Phone snatching and pickpocketing have remained a persistent complaint…

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Pakistan Airstrikes Target Terrorist Hideouts Near Afghanistan Border, Kill 28 Militants

Kainat R
Pakistani Air Force jet conducting airstrikes near the Afghanistan border region

Summary Pakistani fighter jets struck suspected militant hideouts in eastern Afghanistan early Monday. Pakistani security officials say the calibrated airstrikes killed 28 fighters linked to groups operating from Afghan soil. Kabul disputes this account, saying only three civilians died and four others were wounded. The strikes mark another sharp escalation in the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan border conflict, which has simmered since February 2026. Background Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have been building for months. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban government of sheltering Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders and allowing cross-border…

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US-Iran War Keeps Oil Market on Edge Despite Diplomacy Hopes

Kainat R
Oil tanker sailing near the Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran war tensions

The US-Iran war remains the single biggest force driving global energy markets this week. Even as oil prices ease on hopes of diplomatic movement, the underlying conflict is far from resolved, and fresh attacks over the weekend show just how quickly sentiment could reverse. Crude benchmarks slipped for a fourth consecutive session on Monday, with Brent trading close to $102 a barrel and WTI hovering just under $99. Yet officials on both sides have offered no confirmation that formal negotiations are actually underway. Background: A Conflict That Keeps Reshaping Energy…

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