ISLAMABAD, Feb 25: The issue of renaming the NWFP is likely to be agitated especially by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal in the National Assembly during its 4th session beginning on Wednesday.

The ruling coalition on the other hand has prepared its own strategy to foil the opposition’s attempts to force the Speaker to take up the relevant resolution already submitted to the NA Secretariat by Amir Muqam, MNA from Shangla district of the Frontier province.

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani recently announced that he agreed to the proposed renaming of the province, but he wants a consensus name instead of Pukhtunistan, which he says reflects aspirations of only one ethno-political section of the province.

Acting Speaker Sardar Mohammad Yaqub, when contacted for the official position on Mr Muqam’s resolution, said: “Since the House will be engaged in a debate on Iraq, it will not be possible for taking up the said resolution at least in the 4th session”.

“The speaker’s secretariat right now is stuck up with

the task of setting up House standing committees and appointment of parliamentary secretaries,” said the acting speaker.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

THE FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth ...
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...