MAHWISH ARIF Environmental Challenges The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is the single most consequential environmental challenge of our era. Wind and solar energy are now the cheapest sources of new electricity generation in recorded history — cheaper, per unit of energy produced, than coal, gas, or nuclear at virtually every point…
By Usman Shahid In Lahore, smog does not arrive as a warning; you just feel it when it makes breathing difficult. A traffic warden at Liberty Chowk told me, He feels like he is standing near a burning building every morning; because of how smog disturbs his view. By late October and November,…
Mehwish Arif The world generates over two billion tons of solid waste annually, and the majority ends up in landfills or the open environment. AI transforms this burden into a solvable systems challenge. Waste management has long been one of the most logistics-intensive, inefficient, and environmentally harmful urban services. Trucks run fixed routes…
Mehwish Arif Cities cover just three percent of Earth’s land surface, yet account for more than seventy percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. As the United Nations projects that two-thirds of humanity will live in urban areas by 2050, the environmental performance of our cities is no longer a municipal concern — it is…
For decades, major negotiations involving Iran and the United States have traditionally been associated with capitals such as Geneva, Vienna, Muscat, or Doha. Yet recent developments suggest that Islamabad may now be positioning itself as a new diplomatic venue for one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical negotiations. Reports circulating in international and Iranian media…
By Usman Shahid Pakistan’s climate argument is easy to understand, but hard to finance. The country contributes less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it keeps paying for disasters. The 2022 floods remain the clearest example. They killed more than 1,700 people and affected 33 million. Estimated direct damages were…
Mahwish Arif Cities cover just three percent of Earth’s land surface, yet account for more than seventy percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. As the United Nations projects that two-thirds of humanity will live in urban areas by 2050, the environmental performance of our cities is no longer a municipal concern — it is…
The Indus Waters Treaty is once again in the spotlight—and not for a good reason. What was once considered one of the most resilient water-sharing agreements in the world is now facing a serious test after India’s unilateral suspension. From Pakistan’s perspective, this is not just a diplomatic issue—it’s a long-term strategic, agricultural, and humanitarian…
The recent ceasefire efforts between the United States and Iran has emerged as one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs of recent times. At a moment when global tensions were escalating rapidly and fears of a wider regional war were increasing, an unexpected force of stability emerged from South Asia. That force was Pakistan—acting quietly,…
ISLAMABAD (Sabahuddin Qazi / PNP): The final round of US–Iran Ceasefire Talks, held in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, concluded without a final agreement, leaving uncertainty over the fragile two-week truce. Despite 21 hours of intensive face-to-face discussions, led by US Vice President JD Vance, the talks failed to secure a clear commitment from Tehran on abandoning…
