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Iftekhar A Khan
Iftekhar A Khan

The writer is a freelance columnist based in Lahore.

  • December 09, 2025

    High taxes, low incomes

    A representational image shows a tax written on a calculator. —...

  • October 06, 2025

    Privatising PIA

    An aeroplane of the Pakistan International Airlines is seen in this...

  • September 04, 2025

    New provinces

    An undated image of a protest for Siraiki Province. —TheNews/FileThe...

  • August 21, 2025

    Bureaucratic entitlement

    Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. — AFP/FileDefence...

  • August 11, 2025

    Power crisis

    A man fixing a solar panel near his makeshift home in a slum. —...

  • July 30, 2025

    Wasting public funds

    A representational image of PIA airplane. — AFP/FileHow would taxpayers...

  • July 30, 2025

    Wasting public funds

    A representational image of PIA airplane. — AFP/FileHow would taxpayers...

  • July 21, 2025

    Overpopulation

    A crowd of people along a makeshift market in Karachi. —...

  • July 21, 2025

    Overpopulation

    A crowd of people along a makeshift market in Karachi. —...

  • July 08, 2025

    Beautifying Lahore

    A general view of Minar-e-Pakistan, a national monument in Iqbal Park is...

  • July 08, 2025

    Beautifying Lahore

    A general view of Minar-e-Pakistan, a national monument in Iqbal Park is...

  • July 08, 2025

    Beautifying Lahore

    A general view of Minar-e-Pakistan, a national monument in Iqbal Park is...

  • June 23, 2025

    Traffic discipline

    Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz has shown genuine commitment to reforming provincial administrative system

  • June 05, 2025

    Forgetting the past

    It is the moral duty of the fabulously wealthy countries to help poorer nations financially

  • May 23, 2025

    Could we do better?

    Most serious question is whether we are poor nation because of lack of natural resources or due to mismanaged affairs

  • May 06, 2025

    Mines and minerals

    Baloch have usually been under strong influence of Baloch chieftains

  • April 23, 2025

    Cricket mania

    Despite the poor performance of the national cricket team, its salaries are unbelievable

  • March 31, 2025

    Spending beyond means

    But Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority building near Thokar Niazbeg on Multan Road stands out

  • February 27, 2025

    Taming the traffic

    Motorcyclists, who behave like rudderless missiles, pose immense traffic hazards to themselves and other motorists

  • January 27, 2025

    Poor nation, rich lifestyles

    If we are indeed a poor developing nation, the lifestyles of our ruling classes speak in a radically opposite manner

  • December 26, 2024

    Austerity plans?

    MPAs ask for their salaries and benefits to be at par with high court judges and exempt from tax

  • December 06, 2024

    Misplaced priorities

    Installing a solar panel system is no ordinary matter; it costs a fortune

  • November 04, 2024

    Unplanned future

    Financial mismanagement, especially during tenure of PTI government, pushed country into abyss of heavy debt

  • August 21, 2024

    Resizing the bureaucracy

    Country has a huge bureaucracy that needs a drastic reduction in its size given the struggling economy

  • March 28, 2024

    The privatization enigma

    PIA put up its worst performance at the end of last year when it cancelled around 80 local and international flights in a week because its fuel supplier

  • December 19, 2023

    Ease of doing business

    Pakistan has remained an underdeveloped country despite possessing many...

  • December 05, 2023

    Why don’t we progress?

    They say democracy is the best form of government. We have tried all...

  • November 29, 2023

    Election excitement

    As the general elections draw near and political activity builds up,...

  • November 21, 2023

    Privatization plans

    Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza...

  • June 02, 2023

    Financial inequality breeds contempt

    Our society essentially stands divided into three classes. The elite...

  • May 13, 2023

    Rise of BRICS

    Fleeting momentsThe waning influence of the United States as a superpower...

  • July 25, 2022

    The exploding population

    Iranian authorities recently deported 140 illegal Pakistani migrants. The...

  • March 29, 2021

    Spring in Lahore

    Those who visit the Model Town Park to walk on the track or just sit...

  • March 16, 2021

    Heavy at the top

    Are the government departments in the country overstaffed? While the...

  • March 09, 2021

    Politicising the public

    Politics have touched a feverish pitch in the last many months. Political...

  • February 25, 2021

    Traffic nightmare

    The purpose of holding sports events is to provide entertainment to the...

  • January 18, 2021

    Fortune diggers

    Any episode that creates suspense and thrill quickly grabs public...

  • December 26, 2020

    Shrinking print

    The newspaper print industry is facing a rapid decline. This phenomenon...

  • December 09, 2020

    Remembering traffic victims

    The UN General Assembly proclaimed the Decade of Action for Road Safety...

  • November 19, 2020

    Trump’s exit

    Amid thundering crowds and glaring lights, US President-elect Joe Biden...

  • November 10, 2020

    Withdrawal before Christmas

    Whenever the peace talks to end the decades-old war in Afghanistan appear...

  • October 17, 2020

    Public anxiety

    A strange sense of unease pervades the air. It is palpable on many faces....

  • October 09, 2020

    Revamping the bureaucracy

    The government has decided to reform the bureaucracy. Far-reaching...

  • October 03, 2020

    Turning accident-prone

    Some tragic incidents resulting in loss of precious human lives have...

  • September 14, 2020

    Will the peace endure?

    The handshake between US Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad with the newly appointed...

  • September 08, 2020

    A new province

    The South Punjab secretariat has been made functional. A list of senior...

  • September 03, 2020

    Protests in Belarus

    When an event reminds of another event that took place thousands of miles...

  • August 19, 2020

    Rethinking cities

    The prime minister has announced the launch of the Rs5 trillion Ravi City...

  • August 01, 2020

    Cellphone mania

    The cellphone has become part of everyone’s life. The little gadget...

  • July 21, 2020

    Exodus to cities

    The movement of people from backward areas to main cities has increased...