Adnan Aamir

6 days ago | asia.nikkei.com | Adnan Aamir

ISLAMABAD -- For nearly 20 years, a restaurant called Monal was a go-to fixture for well-heeled diners in Pakistan's capital. Perched high above Islamabad's center in the cool hillside air of a giant, verdant park, the main appeal of the vast eatery was the vistas it offered, a window onto a fast-growing city. Now, all that remains of Monal, which once could host up to 1,500 diners at a time, is rubble.

1 week ago | asia.nikkei.com | Adnan Aamir

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's appointment of Zhao Changpeng, founder of Binance, as strategic adviser to its new crypto council has raised concerns, given that he was jailed in the U.S. last year over money laundering charges. The China-born Canadian billionaire and founder of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange was appointed strategic adviser to the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) last week.

1 week ago | thefridaytimes.com | Adnan Aamir

A recent statement by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi sparked widespread backlash and reignited a long-running debate over Gwadar and its place in the larger issue of Balochistan’s grievances. In a controversial remark, Abbasi claimed that ‘Gwadar is not a property of anyone’s father or grandfather.’ He added that it was purchased by Pakistan from Oman in 1958 by paying money. This comment drew strong reactions, particularly from voices in Balochistan.

1 week ago | asia.nikkei.com | Adnan Aamir

ISLAMABAD -- The continuous rollover of debt to China is keeping Pakistan's economy afloat while Islamabad's debt service to Beijing is expected to hit a record this year. Experts say that Islamabad's economic reliance on China could jeopardize Pakistan's self-reliance policy that has prevented Chinese security personnel from being able to protect their nationals in Pakistan.

2 weeks ago | asia.nikkei.com | Adnan Aamir

ISLAMABAD -- Sugar prices in Pakistan jumped nearly 30% to their highest level in a year during Ramadan, with experts blaming mills for intentionally squeezing domestic supplies. One kilogram of sugar costs around 180 rupees (65 cents) now, compared with 140 rupees a year ago, hitting the pockets of Pakistanis, who each consume more than 25 kilograms of sugar annually. The price rise was particularly painful during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ended March 30.