Author: HeraldStar

By Wania Tahir A newly published study, Voice of Balochistan’s Youth: Identity, Development and Geopolitical Perspectives, offers a valuable window into the minds of young people in Pakistan’s largest province. Authored by researchers from institutions in Quetta and based on surveys and discussions with youth across urban and rural districts, the paper reveals a generation that is proud of its Baloch heritage, committed to Pakistani identity, and deeply frustrated by persistent development gaps. Rather than viewing these voices through a lens of grievance alone, Pakistan should treat them as a practical roadmap for more effective provincial policy and national cohesion.…

By Hadia Safeer Choudhry As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), the focus has shifted from declaring victory over absolute poverty in 2020 to the harder, quieter work of consolidation and expansion. After lifting nearly 100 million rural residents out of extreme poverty, the challenge now lies in preventing relapse, raising incomes sustainably, and narrowing the persistent urban-rural divide. The recently released 2026 No. 1 Central Document outlines a pragmatic path: regular and targeted assistance, stronger industrial support for farmers, and steady progress toward modern living conditions in the countryside. This transition from intensive campaign to institutionalised support…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD From the world’s first fully automotive-grade, fully redundant L4 autonomous light truck, to smart cockpits that can understand driver intent within 150 milliseconds and chat with users in different personalities, to the world’s first 32Gbps in-vehicle SerDes display chip, to Blade batteries capable of charging from 10% to 97% in nine minutes…At the ongoing Beijing Auto Show, “intelligent cars” take center stage, with 181 vehicles debutting and 71 concept cars on display, showcasing how AI is transforming China’s auto sector at a stunning pace. Iyiou, a think tank, estimates that China’s AI-powered EV market reached…

By Hadia Safeer Choudhry Eight months after German auto giant Volkswagen announced a partnership with Chinese EV upstart XPeng on electronic and electrical architecture, the alliance has delivered results, debuting two brand-new battery-electric models this month. The second, unveiled at the ongoing Beijing Auto Show, comes equipped with Level 2 advanced driver-assistance systems—evidence of how legacy carmakers can reinvent themselves for the intelligent age. As global demand for electric vehicles accelerates amid volatile oil markets, automakers are flocking to the innovation frontier to keep pace with cutting-edge technology and close the gap in smart mobility. In its iX3 and i3…

By Hadia Safeer Choudhry Many developing countries continue to face chronic energy shortages. Frequent power cuts disrupt industries, limit access to healthcare and education, and slow economic progress. In Pakistan, load-shedding has long been a fact of life. Across sub-Saharan Africa, hundreds of millions still lack reliable electricity. Against this backdrop, equipment and expertise from China’s renewable energy sector have become an important source of practical relief. Chinese-made solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and related systems are reaching markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America at competitive prices, helping governments and private users add capacity faster and at lower cost…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD Recent data from the International Monetary Fund has offered a revealing snapshot of how the world’s financial architecture is quietly evolving. Global foreign exchange reserves held by central banks climbed 6.5 percent in 2025 to a record $13.1 trillion — the highest level since the IMF began tracking the figures in 1995. Yet within that impressive total lies a subtle but unmistakable shift: the US dollar’s share slipped from 58.52 percent in 2024 to 56.77 percent, its lowest point on record. For the 12th quarter running, the dollar has stayed below the 60 percent threshold.…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The release of China’s foreign trade data for the first quarter of 2026 offers a significant vantage point from which to observe the evolving architecture of global commerce. Reaching a total value of RMB 11.84 trillion—a 15 percent year-on-year increase—China’s trade sector has not only crossed the RMB 11 trillion threshold for the first time in a single quarter but has also recorded its highest growth rate in nearly five years.One of the most striking elements of the Q1 report is the geographic redistribution of trade. China’s trade with ASEAN and Latin America both grew…

By Qaiser Nawab In a world gripped by the chaos of the 2026 Iran war, where missiles flew, the Strait of Hormuz teetered on closure, and global oil markets trembled, Pakistan stepped forward as an unlikely but effective mediator. On April 8, 2026, just hours before a menacing deadline set by US President Donald Trump, a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Iran, and Israel took effect brokered through intense Pakistani efforts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the breakthrough, inviting delegations to Islamabad for direct talks starting April 10. US Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the American…

By Qaiser Nawab At a time when the world is witnessing deepening polarization, rising conflicts, and shrinking spaces for dialogue, Pakistan has stepped into a role that is both historic and necessary. The ongoing diplomatic engagements in Islamabad—bringing together key regional powers amid the escalating Iran crisis—reflect not only urgency but also opportunity. This is Pakistan’s moment to redefine its global image: from a frontline state in conflicts to a frontline state for peace. The current crisis, now entering a dangerous phase, is not limited to one country or region. It carries implications that stretch far beyond the Middle East.…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD At a sprawling clean-energy expo in China, European executives come looking for partners—and lower costs. “China leads the game in renewable hydrogen production capacity. Of the $110 billion committed investment globally in clean hydrogen, China accounts for nearly a third ($33 billion). We can open new trusted energy partnerships to keep driving our industries forward to ensure that we maintain industrial competitiveness, which means high quality jobs and booms for both the economy and the society,” Ivana Jemelkova, CEO of the Belgium-headquartered Hydrogen Council said at the Clean Energy Expo China (CEEC) held in Beijing…