Omer Azhar

The ceasefire may have ended the shooting, but exposed a new strategic reality: in a region shaped as much by perception as by raw power, diplomacy matters as much as deterrence. Pakistan understood that better — and played it to their advantage. My piece. asiatimes.com/2025/05/indias…

Pakistan has correctly assessed the geopolitical dimension of the Iran war. Many are focusing on the immediate issues. Pakistan knows that this is changing geopolitics in the region and it's trying to organise this change: @ProfessorPape tells @Fahdhusain youtube.com/watch?v=-STslN…

Am surprised at all the emotional discourse around the return of UAE deposit. Pakistan&UAE have had and will continue to have strong, fraternal ties. Both are mature nations & respect each other s interests & decisions. Pakistan is grateful to the UAE for its consistent support.

With $3.5 billion returning to UAE this month from thin SBP reserves & global oil price surge, fresh pressure on rupee is building fast. Sitting near Rs279, another rupee devaluation is all but certain. Only thing to see is whether it falls gradually or fast. Tough months ahead.

Pakistan sees fuel prices soar nearly 77% in a month, driven by government taxes that nearly double global rates. Rising inflation sparks criticism of politicians accused of ignoring citizens’ struggles. Al Jazeera’s Osama bin Javaid reports from Karachi.

Return with grace and thanks the money borrowed for a year and used for decades. Show respect to the lender. Don't behave like a cheap borrower & don't drag politics to a financial deal. It's not the last loan.

The International Monetary Fund has allowed Pakistan to allocate Rs830 billion for power subsidies in the new budget. The amount includes Rs300 billion to pay for electricity theft and poor bill recovery. The lender also imposed a new condition to increase electricity prices in January 2027, according to government sources. tribune.com.pk/story/2600950/…

Massive news: government of Pakistan has reversed additional levy of 80 Rs/litre bringing petrol down to 380 Rs/litre. The correct decision at the right time. People have been heard.

Matter were close "...twice within the last ten days, to hosting a critical meeting. Unfortunately, on both occasions, Iran reconsidered and did not send its team.” tribune.com.pk/story/2600898/…

The current round of negotiations led by Pakistan between Iran and U.S has reached a dead end as confirmed by Iranians to Wall Street journal. Implication being no ceasefire happening anytime soon.

A high powered U.S. delegation led by J.D Vance was ready to arrive in Pakistan on no less than 2 occasions in the past 2 weeks but Iranians backed out twice at the last moment. Scoop by @Kamran_Yousaf. tribune.com.pk/story/2600898/…

In 2018, federal cabinet under Shahid Khaqan Abbasi decided to deregulate the pricing of petroleum products. High Octane was deregulated and for other products, petroleum ministry was given time to prepare. To this day petroleum ministry hasn’t deregulated petroleum prices. What’s the loss to consumers. First, Pakistan uses Singapore Platt’s motor gasoline and diesel indices to set prices. Normally Brent, WTI, Dubai Crude, Platt’s index etc all move together and using one index or another to set prices doesn’t matter much. But these days the price of refined products on Platt’s, especially diesel, has skyrocketed compared to crude oil where the price increases have been relatively less. This means that our refineries are buying crude at more reasonable prices and selling refined diesel and petrol at the much higher prices (as set on Platt’s). Under deregulated pricing, however, refineries would’ve been forced to sell their products cheaper due to competition. Second, by setting fixed margins for OMCs, petrol pumps and transportation, we are giving way too much profit to the trade and transporters. Some OMCs sell products near the refinery gate but charge for selling in far off places like Gilgit and thus overcharge. All these costs are finally transferred to the consumers. Under an open market system, with same taxes, it’s safe to think that diesel today would have been Rs 40 to Rs 50 cheaper and petrol Rs 20 cheaper.

Breaking! Pakistan has decided to return the $3.5 billion debt of the United Arab Emirates this month, a senior cabinet minister said in a background briefing on Friday, ending speculations about the fate of the debt that Abu Dhabi had started rolling over only for a month. tribune.com.pk/story/2600892/…

"458 روپے فی لیٹر کی قیمت پر، پاکستان اب آمدنی کے لحاظ سے دنیا میں پیٹرول کے لحاظ سے دوسرا سب سے زیادہ مہنگا ملک بن گیا ہے۔ صرف ایتھوپیا — جہاں روزانہ اجرت 1.50 ڈالر اور فی لیٹر ایندھن 1.30 ڈالر ہے — اس سے بدتر درجہ رکھتا ہے۔ دیگر تمام ممالک، بشمول ایشیا اور افریقہ کے سب سے غریب، اس پیمانے پر پاکستان کے پیچھے ہیں۔"عمر اظہر @OmerAzhar96 خبر کا سورس لنک جاننے کیلئے QR Code سکین کریں۔۔

India’s economic news is worrying. Youth unemployment is very high: 15.6%. Unemployment among young graduates is even higher. GDP growth is mostly going to the rich. The rupee is falling. Such things happen when politics replaces policy. Sad for a country with so much potential.

Apocalyptic economic fallout. NHK confirms Trump's disastrous war has completely paralyzed India's massive textile industry. With 90% of their LPG imports choked off at the Strait of Hormuz, HALF A MILLION workers just lost their jobs. The global supply chain is collapsing.

In light of the surge in international oil prices driven by ongoing global crises and conflict, pressure on domestic fuel costs has become unavoidable. To mitigate this impact, Punjab has introduced a targeted monthly subsidy: Rs. 70,000 for registered goods transport vehicles, Rs. 80,000 for large transport vehicles, and Rs. 100,000 for public service buses. As this relief has been extended to ease your operational burden, transporters across Punjab are urged to act responsibly and refrain from passing the increased costs on to consumers and passengers. I will closely monitor and regulate the situation to ensure that the full benefit of this subsidy is passed on to the public. This is a time for collective responsibility, compassion, and unity in the national interest.

Some relief for the masses as CM Maryam Nawaz announces free public transport in all cities of Punjab. This includes Orange Line Train, Metro Bus, Speedo Bus, Green Electric Buses Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also announces free transport for Islamabad for 30 days.

On the directions of the Prime Minister, all public transport in Islamabad will be made free of cost for the general public for the next 30 days, starting tomorrow. The Ministry of Interior will bear the expenditure of Rs. 350 million for this public relief initiative. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Govt's economic policies are a total catastrophe. It now wants to use a global emergency to hide its failures and shift the economic burden onto working class families. For how long will the salaried classes keep sacrificing to support the incompetence & luxuries of the elites?

The new price of petrol is Rs 458.41 per litre. It was increased by Rs 134 per litre last night. This increase includes an increase of Rs 55 in petroleum levy. So the government decided to increase tax on petrol by Rs 55 at the same time it was raising prices. So let’s understand this. The government last night raised petrol prices by Rs 79 per litre but at the same time also decided to raise taxes on petrol by Rs 55 for a total increase of Rs 134 per litre. And it keeps saying it doesn’t want to burden the people and wants to lift the burden itself. Theek ho gaya.