Dangerous Vocation
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has revealed that Pakistan remains persistently dangerous for media workers, with six professionals killed in 2024. This was the first year since 2021 that Pakistan reported any journalist killings. The CPJ has called on the government to take decisive action against those responsible to ensure deterrence against the crime.
Industry Loss
The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association has claimed that hefty power bills, taxation woes have forced the closure of 187 textile mills in the country, mainly in Punjab. The organization has warned that if the situation persists, thousands will face unemployment, boosting poverty. It has urged the government to implement structural reforms and promote the sector to facilitate exports, industrial growth.
Endangering Stability
Echoing their previous attempts to torpedo Pakistan’s loan facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the PTI has submitted a “dossier” the global lender alleging poll rigging and seeking a consideration of governance issues in the country during an upcoming economic review. In 2022, the party had similarly written to the IMF saying it would not abide a commitment for a provincial surplus.
Judicial Rifts
Judges of the Islamabad High Court who had filed a representation against retaining seniority of transferred judges plan to challenge its rejection in the Supreme Court. The issue at hand is the appointment of Justice Sarfaraz Dogar as the new chief justice of the Islamabad High Court on the basis of the years he spent at the Lahore High Court. The dissenting judges believe a transfer resets seniority.
Salaried Burden
Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik has hinted at reducing the taxation burden on salaried individuals in the budget for the next fiscal year. Official data suggests Pakistan’s salaried class paid Rs. 285 billion, Rs. 100 billion more than the same period last year, in taxes in the first seven months of FY2024-25. This was also Rs. 25 billion more than the government’s estimates for full fiscal year.
No End in Sight
Pakistan has reported its second case of the poliovirus for 2025, from Badin district in Sindh. Last month, the first case of polio of the year was reported from Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. After a sustained reduction, the crippling disease resurged nationwide last year, with 74 cases recorded. The country just concluded its first nationwide polio campaign of 2025, with 99% of targets achieved.
Boosting Transparency
Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved an IMF-required measure for senior government officials to make public the details of their assets, as well as those owned by their family members. Aimed at boosting transparency and accountability, the initiative has been a longstanding demand of Pakistanis but could not be implemented earlier due to resistance from bureaucrats.
Criminal Actions
The United Nations human rights office has said it has reasonable grounds to believe the ousted Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh committed “crimes against humanity” in attempts to dampen protests against its rule. The U.N. has estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed, a majority at the hands of security forces. Bangladesh interim leader Mohammed Yunus has welcomed the report.
Adiala Post Office
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan plans to write a third “open” letter to Chief of Army Staff Gen. Asim Munir—despite receiving no response to his previous two missives. According to Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry, the latest letter will reiterate Khan’s grievances with the prevailing system and propose “reforms” aimed at resolving them.
Protesting PECA
Journalist bodies have set up “hunger strike” camps across Pakistan to demand the reversal of controversial amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. The symbolic hunger strikes will span three days. According to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, the next plan of action is an “indefinite” sit-in in front of Parliament.