In a move signalling a profound shift in Pakistan’s infrastructure financing and geopolitical posture, China has withdrawn from financing the pivotal Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, a cornerstone of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)
A new report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) warns that as demand for energy surges, regional cooperation will be crucial to meeting development and climate goals.
The crisis has been compounded by the rise of hardline Islamist groups since the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s long rule. Women’s rights activists warn that these groups are contributing to an atmosphere of communalism and hostility towards women, exacerbating their vulnerability.
At the heart of the campaign were the fishermen and residents of the Negombo lagoon region – people for whom the wetland is more than land or water; it’s the lifeblood of their daily existence.
The study urged that the Rohingya crisis not be seen in isolation but as a social, economic, and humanitarian challenge requiring integrated responses that combine humanitarian action, climate resilience, and peace-building.
The move comes amid growing criticism over delays in fulfilling the administration’s ambitious anti-corruption and economic promises made during last year’s presidential campaign.
Beyond new project approvals, the department cleared 10 share purchase or subscription agreements worth Rs 1.69 billion and 20 technology transfer agreements during the month.
The economic burden is substantial: Aedes-borne diseases alone impose an estimated average annual global cost of nearly $1.2 billion through healthcare spending, lost productivity and social disruption.