Author: HeraldStar

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded in Beijing this week, setting the course for the nation’s long-term economic and social trajectory. Over four days of deliberations, the meeting reviewed the progress made during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025) and laid the groundwork for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). As the meeting concluded, the emphasis was clear: China seeks to advance toward a phase of “high-quality development” — one defined not merely by the pace of growth, but by innovation, sustainability,…

By Wania Tahir A recent study by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has reignited debate over the United States’ pharmaceutical vulnerability. According to the report, nearly 700 American active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) — the essential compounds that make drugs effective — depend on at least one chemical sourced entirely from China. These range from antibiotics and heart medications to cancer and HIV treatments. Even the humble antihistamine found in everyday cold medicine traces its molecular origins back to Chinese factories. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is not a single process but a complex chain spanning continents. It begins with Key Starting Materials (KSMs), the…

By Wania Tahir As global politics enters a period of accelerated change, Pakistan once again finds itself navigating the competing pulls of the world’s two major powers. In this complex landscape, Pakistan’s strategic calibration must rest on a clear understanding of who offers genuine partnership and who views it merely as a regional instrument. Over the past decade, China has demonstrated what a true economic partnership looks like. The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor has already transformed infrastructure, expanded energy capacity, and stimulated new industries across Pakistan. The vision underpinning these efforts is grounded in shared prosperity and mutual respect. Chinese investments…

By Sania Afzal The United States economy today appears to be coasting on borrowed time. Federal debt has exploded past $38 trillion (well over 125 percent of GDP), and interest payments are surging toward $1 trillion a year – already second only to Social Security and Medicare in the budget. Such debt levels are historically unprecedented and crowd out productive investment, even as political leaders double down on fiscal stimulus. In effect, vast sums of money are trapped in financing obligations rather than fueling genuine growth. The famed investor Ray Dalio warns the country is at a “debt-induced economic heart attack” point, a sentiment…

The event was jointly organised by Centre for Regional Connectivity with Shared Future (CRCSF), Daily ITTEHADMedia Group & Embassy of Republic of Uzbekistan in Islamabad . The event was graced by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mr. Atta Ullah Tarar as the Chief Guest. Among the Guests of Honour were Mr. Murtaza Solangi Media advisor and spokesperson to the President of Pakistan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Mr Talha Burki, the Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Turkmenistan His Excellency Atad jan Molamov and Ambassador of Uzbekistan Mr. Ali Sher Tukhtaev. Distinguished speakers included Mr.…

Mr Qaiser Nawab, Chairman of Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD), today called on H.E. Fatou Harerimana, High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, during which they held a wide-ranging discussion on avenues for enhanced cooperation between their two nations. The meeting focused on collaboration across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, digital economy, youth empowerment and people-to-people ties. Rwanda, recognised as a key country in Africa for future growth, was emphasised by Chairman Nawab as a strategic partner for Pakistan in its outreach to the African continent. Mr Nawab appreciated the visionary leadership of H.E.…

By Hadia Safeer Choudhry Financial tremors are once again rippling across the United States, echoing a familiar anxiety that periodically haunts Wall Street — the fear that hidden credit risks might erupt into a wider banking crisis. The latest concerns emerged after unexpected losses and alleged loan frauds at two regional banks sent investors scrambling for safety. The episode has reignited fears that America’s regional lenders — often considered the backbone of local economies — remain fragile in the post-pandemic financial landscape. Just days after JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon cautioned against what he termed “credit cockroaches,” stocks of Zions…

The Global Governance Roundtable for SCO Countries 2025 was held in Beijing on October 16. The event was hosted by China International Communications Group (CICG), the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), and organized by the CICG Center for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications) and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS). More than 150 representatives from the SCO Secretariat, UN agencies in China, and think tanks, media outlets and international organizations of SCO countries participated in discussions centered on “Implementing the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) for building a…

By Qaiser Nawab In recent months, the global trading environment has entered a new phase of uncertainty, largely driven by unilateral tariff actions spearheaded by the United States. Once regarded as the champion of free trade, Washington’s increasing reliance on tariffs as a policy tool is now reshaping the structure of international commerce — with far-reaching consequences for developed and developing economies alike. According to the latest forecasts by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global trade growth is slowing at a pace not witnessed since the early 2000s. The WTO recently downgraded its global…

By Hadia Safeer Choudhry The sudden wave of layoffs across key U.S. federal agencies this month has not only exposed deep cracks in Washington’s administrative machinery but also raised concerns about the global implications of domestic policy failures in the world’s largest economy. What began as an internal bureaucratic mishap has quickly become a case study in governance breakdown, public-sector instability, and declining institutional credibility. In mid-October, court documents revealed that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had “wrongfully laid off” hundreds of employees after a technical error triggered thousands of dismissal notices overnight. The agency initially…