Seeking Peace
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged India to proceed in its ties with Pakistan as a peaceful neighbor, stressing that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved to achieve regional peace and stability. He has noted that Pakistan and India have achieved nothing by fighting three wars, adding economic progress requires peace.
De-escalation
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has said that Islamabad and Delhi have agreed to a “structured mechanism for stage-wise de-escalation.” Hailing the ongoing ceasefire as a positive development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged India to adhere faithfully to the implementation of the plan. It has also reiterated Islamabad’s support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s intent to engage both countries.
Global Hunger
A new U.N.-backed report has warned that over 295 million people faced acute hunger in 2024, a new record driven by conflict and other crises. It has stressed that the outlook for 2025 is also “bleak,” as humanitarian aid falters. According to the report, the number of people facing famine globally climbed to 1.9 million, more than double the figure of 2023.
Cold War
While maintaining a ceasefire, India has ramped up efforts to hamper Pakistan’s development, with Defense Minister Ragnath Singh saying the IMF should reconsider its loan to Pakistan. Alleging the loans are used to “fund terror,” the Indian minister’s move follows a failed attempt by Delhi to prevent approval of the latest tranche of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility.
Trade Imbalance
Pakistan’s exports declined to Rs. 611,289 million in April against Rs. 740,800 million in March, as imports increased from Rs. 1,352,310 million in March to Rs. 1,575,176 million in April. The country’s primary export commodities are in the textiles and rice sectors, while its imports largely pertain to petroleum products and electrical machinery.
Free Market
The government has informed the National Assembly that it is no longer setting wheat prices, setting the stage for a free-market in the wheat sector. The decision to abolish the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation responsible for procurement has invited criticism from lawmakers, who claim it will leave farmers exposed to ruthless middlemen and global grain cartels.
Older Bureaucrats
The National Assembly has passed a resolution calling to increase the maximum age limit for candidates appearing in the Central Superior Services examination from 30 to 35 years, with the new policy set to take effect from 2026. Additionally, the resolution allows candidates five attempts at passing the CSS exam. Lawmakers have urged the government to implement these changes as soon as possible.
Out-of-Turn
The Sunni Ittehad Council has urged the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench to wrap up challenges to the 26th Amendment prior to deciding on the matters of reserved seats granted to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, despite the former becoming an issue several months after the latter. The SIC’s counsel has alleged judicial independence is compromised so long as the 26th Amendment remains in effect.
Downgrade
The Moody’s agency has downgraded the United States sovereign credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, citing concerns about the nation’s growing $36 trillion debt. This marks the first downgrade for the U.S. since 1919. Moody’s has noted the decision was motivated by successive U.S. administrations failing to agree on measures to reverse the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs.
Underage Marriage
The National Assembly has passed a bill setting a minimum age of 18 for all marriages contracted in the federal capital. The legislation aims to nullify underage marriages, as a lack of proper documentation had enabled marriages of underage individuals through data manipulation. Sindh also has a minimum marriage age of 18, while the remaining provinces allow for marriages of women aged 16.