On, Off, On
Amidst ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated threats of attacking Iran if it does not rein in its “proxies” in Lebanon. The latest threat follows reports of another closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the Iranian military, as talks on the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington continue in Switzerland.
Telecom Bill
Amidst mounting public criticism over provisions in the Telecommunication Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2026, P.M. Shehbaz Sharif has formed a high-level committee to review right-of-way access and submit recommendations without delay. The National Assembly passed the bill, but the Senate halted it, with lawmakers vowing to correct the controversy prior to it becoming law.
Taxing Traders
Concerns persist over the federal government’s latest attempt to bring small traders and shopkeepers into the tax net, as analysts say historical trends do not support authorities’ expectations of Rs. 50 billion in additional revenue. Key to the questions is the failure of past trader tax schemes in achieving any success, with shopkeepers often opting to remain outside the formal tax system.
PIA Handover
P.M.’s Adviser on Privatization Muhammad Ali has said Pakistan International Airlines will be fully and formally handed over to its new owners by the end of June, completing the privatization transaction initiated in December. The adviser has blamed the handover delay on global regulatory requirements, noting the IMF had also cleared the transaction.
Back to Normal
Following the rollback of various austerity measures introduced in the wake of the Iran war, the government has restored the speed limit for cars on motorways to 120km/hour, and that of heavy transport vehicles to 110km/hour. The decision follows the signing of a peace framework between Iran and the U.S., with hopes it will materialize into a formal deal by the end of its 60-day deadline.
Mango Exports
Mango traders in Pakistan have said they expect exports to decline by at least 30% this year due to low demand in key markets and soaring shipping costs caused by the Iran conflict. Even domestically, per the traders, sales have fallen due to inflationary pressures caused by the fuel crisis. Pakistan’s trade with key mango export hub Afghanistan also remains suspended due to tensions between the states.
Qatar LNG
Authorities in Qatar have said 54 people were injured and 18 others are missing after an explosion at the core LNG processing site of Ras Laffan. Doha has blamed the explosion on a “technical accident,” maintaining there is no threat to public safety. It remains unclear whether the explosion caused any damage to the plant, which supplies gas to the domestic market.
Praise for Pakistan
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has praised the roles of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in mediating peace between Washington and Tehran. Speaking with media in Switzerland, he expressed a desire to build on the current momentum of Pak-U.S. ties in future. He also said Washington desires regional peace.
GB Government
The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party has announced it will form a coalition government with the Pakistan Peoples Party in Gilgit-Baltistan, a day after the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the PPP agreed to a power-sharing formula in the region. Under the deal, the PMLN will secure the governor of GB, while the chief minister will come from the PPP.
More Convictions
An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore has sentenced four PTI leaders, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mehmoodur Rasheed, and Ejaz Chaudhry, to 10 years’ imprisonment each in a case related to the May 9, 2023 riots. The court also acquitted PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who was in Karachi at the time of the riots and has been found innocent of any role in the Lahore demonstrations.