The cost of solar, hydropower, wind, and coal power plants was never analyzed according to global cost rates and is one of the reasons why the price of electricity is higher in Pakistan. A high-efficiency plant utilizes less fuel, gas, coal, or oil, to produce one unit of electricity but NEPRA has continued to grant licenses to inefficient plants, resulting in massive capacity payments.  It is imperative, before the IMF lends more funds, to revamp blood-sucking institutions such as NEPRA that are undermining consumer trust in the state and replace them with a few credible experts. Pakistan is in the midst of political and economic turmoil, with record inflation, primarily due to the high cost of electricity to the extent that it is now challenging national sovereignty while simultaneously slowing down GDP to levels like never seen before. The majority of Pakistanis pay bills that are far higher than their average monthly incomes. The cost hike is entirely due to circular debt in the power sector. In 2006, the threat of circular debt intensified the criminal oversight by the national power regulator, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The main goal of NEPRA was to provide a steady supply of electricity at a reasonable price as well as to address other issues facing the power industry, such as system losses, growing expenses, high tariffs, and generation capacity constraints. Regretfully, NEPRA has not only failed to accomplish its objectives but has also bankrupted the country. Pakistan was economically stable during its four major wars with India, yet NEPRA appears to be leading the country towards a financial calamity. While India had kept Pakistan united during the wars, NEPRA has now polarized the country.  Where did NEPRA make a Himalayan blunder to destabilize the nation? Below is a summary of misdoings: In the year 2012, a roadmap was handed over to NEPRA to reduce circular debt and Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses, now...

On March 7, 2024, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a press conference for the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), in Beijing. During the “two sessions”, the annual meeting of the national legislature and top political advisory body, he outlined Beijing’s positions on major global issues ranging from Gaza, Ukraine War, and Taiwan independence. Below is a breakdown of Yi’s key points: Gaza China has been sympathetic and supportive towards the Palestinian cause and a two -solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Wang reiterated his government’s demands for an “immediate ceasefire“, and called the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza “a tragedy for humankind and a disgrace for civilization.” “The international community must act urgently, making an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities an overriding priority, and ensuring humanitarian relief an urgent moral responsibility,” he said. Taiwan Wang stated that anyone who advocates “Taiwan independence” on the island will be held responsible. He also stated that anyone who supports or conspires to support “Taiwan independence” is undermining China’s sovereignty and that countries who insist on keeping formal relations with Taiwan are meddling in China’s domestic affairs. Furthermore, he pointed out that after the two elections in the Taiwan region in 2024, more than 180 nations and international organizations reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle, indicating that the idea has gained support from all corners of the international community. US-China relations Wang told the press, “If there is conflict or confrontation between two major countries like US and China, the consequences will be unimaginable.” Although he said relations have improved since the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden last year, Washington’s misperception about China still lingers. “If the US says one thing and does another, where is its credibility as...

Sun Xiaobo, Director General of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China stated that the nations with the largest nuclear arsenals should either negotiate a treaty prohibiting them from using nuclear weapons against one another or at least make a political declaration in this respect. On 28 February 2024, Sun Xiaobo, Director General of the Department of Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, urged nuclear states to fulfill their “special and priority responsibilities” on nuclear disarmament, at the U.N. Conference on Disarmament in Geneva (the World’s single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum). He stated that the nations with the largest nuclear arsenals should either negotiate a treaty prohibiting them from using nuclear weapons against one another or at least make a political declaration in this respect. Sun also proposed a universal, non-discriminatory, non-proliferation export control order as it would help to preserve the legitimacy of the arms control treaty system. Furthermore, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also highlighted that the conference was failing in its objectives and called on the countries to accelerate the implementation of all nuclear disarmament commitments. He acknowledged that the victories for peace were “hard-fought and hard-won” but added that these were not “miracles.” They happened because countries recognized that the key to disarmament could be found in cooperation for mutual benefit cooperation for mutual destruction,” he added. “Humanity needs the Conference on Disarmament to work successfully. The paralysis and deadlock that have come to define it is something that is not acceptable,” he added. Consisting of 65 Member States, including the five declared Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) States with nuclear capability (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States), the conference also invites non-members to participate in its work. At the moment, the only...