The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a severe heatwave alert for the country from June 9 to June 12, 2025.
During this period:
* Daytime temperatures are expected to remain 5 to 7°C above normal in central and upper Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
* Temperatures may rise 4 to 6°C above average in upper and central Sindh, southern Punjab, and parts of Balochistan.
The PMD has advised the public, especially children, women, and senior citizens, to take precautionary measures to avoid heat-related illnesses, such as avoiding direct sunlight during the daytime and staying well-hydrated.

Based on the most recent information about Pakistan’s budget (Fiscal Year 2025-26), here’s what is expected to become cheaper, alongside what is expected to become more expensive:
Expected to become cheaper:
* Cigarettes and beverages: The budget has proposed a reduction in taxes on these items, which could make them cheaper. This is a change from the old trend of increasing taxes on cigarettes every year.
* Dining out (with digital payments): In the previous budget (FY24), the tax rate for dining out through debit/credit cards, mobile wallets, or QR scanning was reduced from 15% to 5%. This makes dining out cheaper if digital payment methods are used.
* Solar energy products: The previous budget also announced an exemption on customs duty for raw materials used in the production of solar energy products (inverters, solar panels, and batteries). This was aimed at promoting renewable energy and reducing costs for consumers.
Expected to become more expensive:
* Snacks and sodas: The budget proposes excise duty on items like chips, biscuits, cold drinks, and ice cream.
* Frozen meat, sauces, and cooked meals: A 5% excise duty is also proposed on these items.
* Processed items: Excise duty is proposed on several processed items.
* E-commerce: An 18% sales tax is proposed on e-commerce.
* Local vehicles up to 850 cc: The General Sales Tax (GST) rate is proposed to be increased from 12.5% to 18%, which may make small vehicles more expensive.
* Imported solar panels: An 18% sales tax is proposed on imported solar panels to promote domestically manufactured ones.
It’s important to note that the budget details are still being finalized, and the actual impact on prices may vary.

The high failure rate in Pakistan’s Civil Superior Services (CSS) exam is a persistent issue, with multiple contributing factors. Here’s a breakdown of the main reasons:
1. Weak English Language and Writing Skills:
* Poor Grammar and Composition: Many candidates struggle with basic English grammar, sentence structure, and coherent expression, which are crucial for the English Essay and English (Precis and Composition) papers – often the subjects where most candidates fail.
* Lack of Analytical and Critical Thinking: The exam demands more than rote memorization. Candidates often fail to analyze issues critically, develop strong arguments, and present their ideas with clarity and logical structure.
* Insufficient Writing Practice: Many aspirants do not practice writing full-length answers or essays under timed conditions, leading to slow writing speed, poorly structured responses, and incomplete papers in the actual exam.
* Reliance on Memorization over Understanding: Students often prioritize memorizing facts and information rather than developing a deep understanding of concepts and the ability to articulate their own reasoned perspectives.
2. Inadequate Preparation and Study Habits:
* Unstructured Preparation: Many students lack a proper strategic plan for their preparation, leading to disorganized study and inefficient use of time.
* Outdated Resources: Reliance on brief summaries, guidebooks, or outdated class notes is common. These resources often lack the depth, critical perspective, and updated information required to excel.
* Overloading New Topics: Attempting to cover excessive new material close to the exam instead of focusing on revision can disrupt retention and cause mental exhaustion.
* Poor Subject Selection: Candidates sometimes choose optional subjects based on trends or perceived scoring potential, rather than their prior knowledge or interest, leading to poor performance.
3. Systemic and Educational Challenges:
* Outdated Examination System: Critics argue that the CSS exam system is outdated and doesn’t adequately assess modern skills needed for civil service, with a lack of dedicated cadres for crucial modern sectors like technology or finance.
* Focus on Theoretical Evaluation: The exam heavily emphasizes theoretical knowledge through long essays and extensive syllabi, which may not fully reflect a candidate’s aptitude for practical administration.
* Quality of Coaching Academies: While many candidates rely on coaching academies, some officials criticize these institutions for promoting rote learning and memorization of likely questions rather than encouraging critical thinking and originality.
* Lack of Quality Teachers: The broader education system in Pakistan may not effectively prepare students with the necessary English language and analytical skills required for the CSS exam.
* Societal Pressure and Expectations: The immense societal and familial pressure associated with the CSS exam can lead to increased anxiety, stress, and self-doubt among candidates, hindering their performance.
* Low Passing Rate: The consistently low passing rate (often around 2-3%) itself creates a sense of discouragement and intensifies the pressure on aspirants.
4. Other Factors:
* Time Management Issues: Many candidates struggle with managing their time effectively during preparation and in the actual exam.
* Lack of Originality: Over-reliance on pre-packaged answers or ideas from guidebooks can stifle originality and creative thought, which examiners often look for.
* Test Anxiety: The fear of underperformance can lead to anxiety and loss of focus, impacting a candidate’s ability to perform effectively.
In essence, a combination of individual preparation deficiencies, systemic educational shortcomings, and the demanding nature of the exam itself contributes to the high failure rate in Pakistan’s civil service examination.

The decline in the quality of education in Pakistan is a complex issue with multiple interconnected factors. Here’s a breakdown of the primary causes:
1. Insufficient Funding and Resources:
* Low budget allocation: Pakistan consistently allocates a low percentage of its GDP to education, hindering infrastructure development, resource provision, and teacher salaries.
* Lack of facilities: Many schools, especially in rural areas, suffer from a severe lack of basic resources like sufficient classrooms, clean water, electricity, and up-to-date learning materials.
* Under-resourced institutions: Teacher training institutions and schools in impoverished areas often lack the necessary financial and human resources to provide quality education.
2. Poor Quality of Teachers and Teacher Training:
* Shortage of well-trained teachers: Despite increased hiring, a significant shortage of qualified teachers, particularly in public schools and for subjects like mathematics, science, and English, persists.
* Inadequate teacher training: Many teacher education programs are outdated, lack standardization, and offer limited practical training. In-service training is often infrequent, of low quality, and not systematically implemented.
* Demotivation and absenteeism: Factors like low salaries, poor working conditions, and a lack of professional development opportunities can lead to demotivated teachers and high absenteeism.
* Teachers teaching out of their field: Many teachers are assigned subjects outside their area of training, further compromising the quality of instruction.
3. Curriculum and Examination System Issues:
* Outdated and inconsistent curriculum: The curriculum often lacks uniformity across provinces and is frequently outdated, failing to meet local needs or incorporate modern pedagogical techniques.
* Lack of focus on critical thinking: The curriculum often emphasizes rote learning over critical thinking and creativity, hindering students’ overall intellectual development.
* Overloaded content: The curriculum can be overloaded, leading to a focus on covering vast amounts of information rather than ensuring quality learning.
* Substandard examination system: The examination system is often criticized for being unable to accurately measure the true qualities and understanding of students.
* Political influence and bureaucratic delays: Curriculum development is often subject to political interference and bureaucratic inefficiencies, preventing timely and effective reforms.
4. Socioeconomic Factors and Access Barriers:
* Poverty: Poverty is a major barrier to education. Many families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, or supplies. Economic necessity often forces children to drop out of school to work and support their families, perpetuating a cycle of illiteracy.
* High dropout rates: There are alarming dropout rates, particularly at the primary level, due to financial constraints, lack of interest, and perceived irrelevance of education.
* Gender and regional disparities: Significant disparities exist in literacy rates and access to education between urban and rural areas, as well as between genders, with girls and children in rural communities being disproportionately affected.
* Parental illiteracy and concerns: Illiteracy among parents and their concerns about safety, particularly for female students, can also contribute to low enrollment.
5. Governance and Policy Implementation:
* Political interference and corruption: Political interference in the education system, mismanagement of funds, nepotism in hiring, and bribery undermine the integrity and effectiveness of education policies.
* Weak accountability and supervision: Inadequate supervision and tracking of educational institutions lead to poor performance and a lack of accountability.
* Lack of consistent policy implementation: Despite numerous policies and ambitious targets, the government has struggled to effectively implement reforms and achieve universal primary education goals.
* Security threats: In some regions, security threats, including attacks on schools, create an unsafe learning environment and deter parents from sending their children to school.
Addressing the decline in education quality in Pakistan requires a comprehensive and sustained effort from the government, communities, and educators to tackle these multifaceted challenges.