Epaper_24-04-27 KHI

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

PR I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that the elements involved in the deeprooted menace of corruption and criminal negligence for denting the national economy would be held accountable “Lot of work needed to be done as the government will perform major surgical operation to get rid of the deep-rooted flaws in the country s economy, PM Shehbaz Sharif declared while chairing a meeting of the Cabinet at PM’s House here on Friday

Referring to the track and trace system agreement made in 2019 the prime minister said this system was nothing but a cruel joke to the nation as no improvement was seen in the tobacco, cement, sugar and fertilizer sectors He said the agreement was totally a fraud as even no penalty clause was included in it He said that he had ordered the formation of an inquiry committee in this regard that will present its report within 72 hours On the occasion, along with other

agenda items, the federal cabinet approved the validity of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghan refugees till June 30 with their repatriation set to begin in the third phase

The meeting, however, did not announce any date for repatriation of those refugees holding the PoR cards

There are around 1 3 million registered Afghans still living in Pakistan according to a spokesman for UN refugee agency UNHCR in Islamabad

On the recommendation of the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, the federal cabinet approved the extension of the validity of PoR cards of Afghan refugees from April 1 2024 to June 30

2024 said an official statement issued by the Prime Minister s Office

The PoR cardholders will be repatriated in the third phase of the plan that will begin after the repatriation of “illegal foreign nationals” residing in Pakistan is completed the statement added

The cabinet members were informed that PoR card holders avail schools bank accounts and other facilities in Pakistan

The statement said the first phase of repatriating foreign residents living in

SC forms new bench to take up judges letter

IHC the letter dated

about interference by intelligence agencies in judicial proceedings The Supreme Court, according to its cause list released on Thursday, has appointed a new six-member larger bench, headed by CJP Qazi Faez Isa, to hear the case on April 30 This bench will address the concerns raised by the IHC judges Earlier on April 3 a seven-member larger bench led by the CJP had begun hearing the matter, but Justice Yahya Afridi later recused himself from the case The remaining six judges, including CJ Isa, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan constitute the current bench The court roster issued by the committee under Section 2(1) of the SC Practice and Procedure Act reveals that the decision on the bench s composition was made in Karachi, with the signature of SC Registrar Jazeela Aslam During the initial hearing, CJP Isa hinted at the formation of a full court, while Justice Minallah referred to it in his separate note Lawyers supporting the IHC judges have expressed disappointment over the absence of a full court and urged the committee to reconsider The outcome of this case along with others will be closely scrutinized particularly in light of proposed judicial reforms and concerns regarding political interference in legal proceedings

PM directs committee constitution to consult provinces

on carbon credits policy

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to constitute a committee for consultation with the provinces for policy-making on guiding principles for carbon credits

While chairing the third meeting of Pakistan Council for Climate Change here remarked, the federal and provincial governments would work together to make policies regarding climate change Premier Shehbaz Sharif said Our challenges regarding climate change are increasing with every passing day He said without the consultation of provinces on all matters, there was no question of policy making of any kind on climate change The participants discussed in detail policy guidelines for foreign trading in carbon credits He instructed that a policy draft should be presented in the next meeting of the council after consultation with the provinces On the occasion, the chief ministers of the four provinces expressed their viewpoint regarding policy making and gave recommendations The prime Minister directed that provinces and all stakeholders should be taken into confidence regarding this important policy draft on climate change

Pakistan without any identity documents was in progress As regards the macroeconomic indicators the prime minister expressed satisfaction over the collective performance of both incumbent and the interim governments He said according to a recently published report on Pakistan economy, many indicators including IT export, re-

PM Shehbaz said Pakistan was one of the countries most affected by the adverse effects of climate change, adding the country was gravely affected by the rains in 2022 and the floods caused by them As a servant of Pakistan he said he worked for the relief and rehabilitation of the flood affectees and fought case of Pakistan all across the world regarding climate change He said Ahsan Iqbal and Sherry Rehman and all the relevant institutions and ministries took important steps to take Pakistan out of that difficult time and to build infrastructure in Pakistan regarding climate change The prime minister said he and the Pakistani nation were thankful to the friendly countries and the international community particularly Secretary General United Nations for coming to the aid of affected Pakistanis Federal ministers including Ishaq Dar Ahad Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Coordinator of Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam high level officers and experts from the public and private sectors attended the meeting Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan and the chief ministers of provinces attended the meeting through video link

mittances, capital market were showing positive results due to the prudent policies of the government PM Shehbaz Sharif informed that he completed the power sector review in four phases in which important decisions were taken to minimize power theft and line losses and to reduce prices of the electricity

SIC is second largest par ty in Lower House of Parliament, ECP tells NA secretariat

the SIC

9402 per kilowatt hour (kWh) under the head Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) of March 2024 And following this request the NEPRA called a public hearing on April 26 2024 NEPRA chairman Waseem Mukhtar while presiding over the hearing on FCA of March 2024 said that electricity demand has been decreasing consistently During the hearing, NEPRA’s Member Sindh highlighted consumer shifts to solar electricity due to the high cost of electricity Additionally officials from the National Power Control Center (NPCC) reported a 7 5 percent decrease in power demand in March 2024 Over the year, domestic consumer demand fell by 11 3 percent, and the industrial sector by 4 5 percent, according to CPPA officials

NEPRA officials pointed out that power consumers could have been benefitted of up to Rs580 million had electricity been generated through the Guddu Combine Power Plant (GCPP) Upon this, NEPRA s Member Sindh emphasized that NEPRA had received numerous complaints regarding violations of the economic merit order of power plants and assured that NEPRA was reviewing these complaints Officials from the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) informed NEPRA that electricity demand decreased by seven percent in March 2024

The CPPA, in its application, claimed that the total electricity generated with various fuels in March 2024 was recorded a 8 023 GWh at Rs8 3109 per unit The total cost of energy was Rs66 680 million The power generation with the hydel source was 2 217 GWh (gigawatt per hour) constituting 27 63 percent with zero cost of power generation while power production with coal-fired power plants was 862 GWh (local coal) and the total power generated for Rs14,459 million (Rs16 7779/unit) Similarly the power generation from gas-based power plants

PPP 71, MQM 21, JUI 11, PML-Q 5, IPP 4 and MWM, PKMAP, BNP, PMAP, BAP PML-Z each have one member in the house The Election Commission has clarified that no specific

(PTI) backed independent members of National Assembly (NA) cannot be considered lawmakers belonging to the Sunni Alliance Council (SIC) yet According to details the NA Secretariat said that it has not been conveyed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about independent MNAs joining

PAKISTAN, BANGL ADESH BLOCKING OVER $720M OF AIRLINE REVENUES: IATA

Tcertificates and a tax exemption certificate both of which cause unnecessary delays IATA said Bangladesh has more standardized processes, but aviation needs a higher priority from the Central

SBP-held reser ves decrease by $74m due to external debt repayments

SBP expec ted to hold rates in next MPC meeting ahead of IMF deal: poll

year before slowing down partly due to the base effect touching a record high of 38% in May 2023

Armed assailants gun down 3 workers, injure child in Shikarpur

SHIKARPUR S ta f f R e p o R t

Armed assailants launched a deadly assault on laborers toiling on the land claiming three lives, including those of two women, and leaving a child injured in Shikarpur According to police, the perpetrators, armed with sophisticated weaponry unleashed a sudden and indiscriminate barrage of gunfire catching the workers off guard and offering them no chance to defend themselves Prompt response from law enforcement saw a heavy police contingent swiftly reaching the scene, facilitating the transfer of the injured and deceased to medical facilities Authorities revealed that the attack stems from a longstanding blood feud between the Bhiu and Marfani clans in the Jagan area prompting ongoing raids to apprehend the culprits responsible for the brazen act of violence Distraught relatives of the victims recounted the harrowing ordeal, vehemently asserting their innocence and disavowing any involvement in the underlying conflict Urging swift justice the grieving families have called upon the Supreme Court of Pakistan to intervene decisively, ensuring the apprehension and prosecution of those responsible for the heinous attack

No one blocked Nawaz’s path to PM House: Ir fan Siddiqui

G o v t p l a n s u r e a i m p o r t t o s t a b i l i s e p r i c e s

R O F I T a p p Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday recommended the import of 0 200 million metric tons of urea fertilizer to stabilise prices and supply in the country during the Kharif season-2024 The decision was taken in the meeting of the Fertiliser Review Committee after analyzing consumption patterns available stock and future needs during the kharif season-2024 according to a news release The minister emphasised that the purpose of the import is to ensure food security in the country, increase productivity for the farmers, and reduce prices significantly thereby stabilizing the local urea fertilizer market The final decision to import urea fertilizer will be taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in the next meeting The Minister for Industries said that the demand for urea fertilizer has increased by 3 6% compared to the previous year with an anticipated demand of approximately 3442 metric tons for the Kharif season The available stock in the country is approximately 3192 metric tons, resulting in a shortfall To address this, 0 200 million metric tons of urea fertilizer will be imported while the rest will be met by increasing production in local fertilizer plants All local urea fertilizer plants will remain operational at full capacity to meet local demands, and the government is ensuring a smooth gas supply to the fertilizer industry

RDA inflows rise to $182 million in March 2024

basis-point (bps) cut, while two expect a 50-bps cut on Monday Eight respondents expect a rate cut before Pakistan signs a new programme with the IMF There is another MPC meeting on 10 June 2024 which is possibly before Pakistan gets another IMF Programme

The South Asian nation is seeking a new long-term larger IMF loan Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Islamabad will begin talks with the fund next month and could secure a staff-level agreement on the new program by early July Pakistan’s key rate was last raised in June to fight persistent inflationary pressures and to meet one of the conditions set by the IMF for securing the bailout Pakistan s Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March rose 20 7% from the

Tahir Abbas, head of research at Arif Habib Limited said that the central bank is unlikely to cut rates before getting a new IMF programme “The monetary policy will also consider the inflationary outcome of tensions in the middle east and its impact of fuel prices, along with the Fed s delay in monetary easing, he added “Expect a symbolic reduction in the current quarter (till June), with aggressive cuts to follow in the September quarter as the government has to roll over approximately 6 7 trillion rupees of maturing domestic treasury bills in the last quarter of the calendar year, said Mustafa Pasha, CIO of Lakson Investments He added that by then there will be greater clarity on inflation and FX inflows Historically the SBP has cut rates in the 1st year of an IMF program and we expect the policy rate to settle around 17% by December

ISLAMABAD

Independent analysts suggest that the exchange rate might have been below Rs250 per dollar without these interventions Sources from the government and the central bank said these acquisitions aimed to prevent reserves from dropping below $3 billion attributing the absence of significant foreign loan inflows The purchases reportedly exceeded $5 billion and were ongoing, with an estimated total of around $5 5 billion The SBP paid over Rs1 4 trillion in the interbank market to secure at least $5 billion Such extensive central bank purchasing activity surpasses the $3 billion IMF program initially intended to secure additional loans and boost reserves According to the Economic Affairs Division and the central bank, Pakistan has secured $9 7 billion in foreign loans during the first nine months of the fiscal year slightly more than half the annual budget estimates

Despite receiving $9 7 billion in foreign loans the country has struggled to cover its debt repayments and finance the current account deficit Government officials contend that without these dollar purchases, reserves would have dwindled to $3 billion potentially triggering higher inflation as seen before June 2022

Pakistan is currently negotiating a new IMF programme of at least $6 billion, with the central bank s recent purchases accounting for 85% of this proposed three-year programme Since adopting a market-based flexible exchange rate system in June 2019 the SBP s continued dollar purchases contradict the principle of market-determined exchange rates

A contributing factor to the central bank’s intervention was the Ministry of Finance’s inability to secure $6 billion from Eurobonds and foreign commercial loans

PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui on Friday, addressed speculations surrounding Nawaz Sharif ’s potential return to the Prime Minister ’s House He dismissed the notion that either an undisclosed force or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hindered Nawaz s fourth-term aspirations Siddiqui recalled his interactions with Nawaz before the 2024 general elections, noting a lack of eagerness on Nawaz’s part to reassume the PM Office He refuted media claims of Nawaz’s impatience for the premiership emphasizing that Nawaz himself announced the decision to pass the mantle to Shehbaz Following Nawaz s return from a self-imposed exile, Shehbaz assumed the prime ministership for the second time, nominated by the party after Nawaz opted out of contention This move signaled Nawaz’s apparent reluctance to lead a potentially fragile coalition government amidst economic challenges Senator Siddiqui addressed perceptions within the party, indicating that while some members anticipated Nawaz s return to power with a two-thirds majority, the essence of governance remained with the PML-N regardless of who held the premiership He clarified that there was no internal conspiracy against Nawaz within the party emphasizing that it would only qualify as such if Nawaz had actively sought power and failed Despite not holding governmental office, Nawaz continues to offer insights on various matters including economic recovery efforts Siddiqui highlighted discussions within the PML-N about separating political and governmental roles suggesting a potential return of Nawaz to the party s presidency Acknowledging Shehbaz s focus on economic recovery as PM, Siddiqui indicated that a decision regarding the party’s presidency would be made in due time Reflecting on the PML-N-led government s economic challenges upon assuming power Siddiqui praised Shehbaz s efforts in preventing economic collapse amidst adversity

Commerce minister stresses importance of intellectual property rights in achieving sustainable development goals

P U N J A B P O L I C E C L A R I F I E S

C M M A R YA M ’ S R I G H T T O W E A R U N I F O R M A M I D C O N T R O V E R S Y

As the first female to lead a provincial government CM Maryam

AKP govt proposes halving property tax, 400% hike in tobacco cess

PESHAWAR a z i z B u n e R

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to propose to the federal government to halve the provincial share of property tax and reduce the tax on property purchases of up to Rs 10 millions The provincial government has started considering increasing the tobacco cess by up to 400%, which is expected to generate revenue of more than Rs 2 billion annually for the province Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam told the media that the property tax in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is currently 23% with the provincial share being only 6% The federal government collects the remaining tax The proposal is to reduce the provincial tax to 3% from 6% The federal government will also be recommended to review its policy and reduce this tax The federal government currently charges 6 5% tax from tax filers while there is a 10% increase in tax for non-filers These conditions are the same for properties ranging from a few lakhs to billions of rupees Aslam further said that the federal government will be recommended to relax the tax conditions for properties up to Rs 10 million so that a poor citizen can buy a house for himself Earlier, a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance, Muzammil Aslam to discuss the tobacco development cess The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Irrigation Aqibullah Khan Director General Excise Akmal

Khatak, and a representative delegation of tobacco growers

The meeting approved a proposal to increase the tobacco development cess by

Rs 50 per kg for Virginia Rs 30 per kg for white leaf, rustica tobacco, and Rs 20 per kg for niswar tobacco The meeting was also informed that the tobacco development cess is not equal to the actual price of tobacco and various proposals are under consideration to increase it

During a meeting with a representative delegation of growers from Swabi, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Finance, Aslam, said that the provincial government is also preparing an action plan for tobacco exports so that better income can be obtained by exporting tobacco Provincial Minister for Irrigation Aqibullah Khan said that the tobacco development cess is being spent on the development of the relevant area, and the more cess funds the area receives, the more development work will be possible in the relevant areas

IMPACT ON FARMERS: The meeting informed the growers that in case of damage or destruction of tobacco a cess of 10% or less will be paid if no such incident is reported in the first three months If the fund is not sent in any way, it will be sent to other development sectors and will be used for sports or recreational activities for the youth in tobacco-producing areas It can also be used to provide clean drinking water The provincial government currently earns about Rs 500mn annually from the tax levied on tobacco With the said increase, the revenue from tobacco cess will increase to more than Rs 2 billion

amidst the public discourse, a citizen named Waqar Ali filed a plea against CM Maryam in a Lahore court, arguing against the wearing of institutional uniforms by individuals The court deferred the hearing to April 29 requesting additional documentation from the petitioner Among critics, National Assembly opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan denounced CM Maryam’s action as unserious lamenting its potential impact on the country’s image

Allocation of standing committees’ chairmanship based on parliamentar y strength agreed upon

ISLAMABAD

ta f f R e p o R t

The opposition and treasury benches have reached a consensus that chairmanships of standing committees in the National Assembly will be allocated according to the numerical strength of parliamentary parties This understanding was reached during a meeting chaired by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq attended by chief whips of all parties However, the final decision on this understanding will be made by the NA speaker next week, as the opposition has requested time for consultations on selecting committees for chairmanship Present at the meeting were Shazia Marri Malik Amir Dogar Mujahid Khan Naveed Qamar, Aijaz Jakhrani, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Gul Asfar Khan, Noor Alam Khan, Zain Hussain Qureshi, Aminul Haq, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Hafeezuddin, and Moin Aamir Sources indicated that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairmanship will

Elements involved in corruption, criminal negligence be held accountable: PM

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

be assigned to the opposition, while the treasury benches will lead the parliamentary committee on Kashmir The opposition leader will select a member from within its ranks to head the PAC Furthermore it was decided that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will chair 13 standing committees, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and independents supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will each chair eight The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) will chair two committees and Istehkam-e-Pakistan (IPP) and Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) will chair one each Smaller parliamentary parties will not receive chairmanships of standing committees The MQMP has reportedly sought chairmanship of three bodies instead of two from the PML-N Additionally rules for NA proceedings allocation of days for discussing the motion of thanks on the presidential speech, the budget session schedule, and the parliamentary year calendar were settled upon The business advisory body will be named by both opposition and government The NA is set to convene on April 29 Monday The motion of thanks will be discussed in the session starting May 13 2024 Five days will be dedicated to discussion with each sitting lasting five hours Members will have 10 minutes each to speak, with parliamentary leaders allotted more time During the first two days one member from each side will speak on the motion of thanks From the third day onwards two government members and one opposition member will speak An understanding was also reached on the budget session, likely to be held from June 6 to 28 The assembly will convene on Saturdays, with a six-day break for Eidul Adha No question hour will be held during the budget session with general discussion on the budget wrapping up on June 21 discussion on charged expenditure on June 22 cut motions from June 24 to 25, consideration and passage of the finance bill on June 26, and supplementary grants on June 27

KPITB and STZA ink agreement to declare Pakistan Digital City Haripur as a STZ

PESHAWAR

Besides he said the government had also decided in principle to divest the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) Shehbaz Sharif said the government is also implementing a comprehensive policy and taking steps to reduce electricity theft and lowering its prices He said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had old and obsolete systems which needed to be replaced to increase the tax to GDP ratio He pointed out that the FBR had the potential to earn extra revenues worth hundreds of billions of rupees by implementing reforms in its system We have to take tough decision in larger interest of the country and we will fully monitor the implementation phase ” the prime minister remarked As regards privatization of the State Owned Entities (SOEs) the prime minister assured that the process would be done without delay and in a transparent manner PM Shehbaz said the government was rigorously pursuing the agenda of economic reforms to steer the country out of prevailing challenges

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) and the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) signed an agreement in a ceremony devoted to the Zone Development Agreement of Pakistan Digital City Haripur (PDC) The event, which officially declared PDC Haripur as a Special Technology Zone, is a significant step towards fostering innovation and technology-driven growth in Pakistan Under this agreement PDC Haripur will enjoy tax incentives making it a taxfree zone for enterprises operating within its premises IT businesses affiliated with PDC Haripur will benefit from a 10-year tax exemption incentivizing investment and fostering a conducive environment for

technological advancements

Distinguished guests attending the ceremony include Mr Khalid Latif Khan Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Science & Technology and Information Technology; Mr Syed Muhammad Ali Shah, Secretary ST⁢ and representatives from STZA and KPITB During his address at the ceremony Mr Khalid Latif khan highlighted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government s commitment to digital transformation under Chief Minister Mr Ali Amin Gandapur s guidance The investment of 1642 million rupees in Pakistan Digital City overseen by NESPAK and National Logistics Cell signifies KP s vision to

Cutting buyback rates

Tr ying to discourage net metering shows power ful lobbies at work

TH E R E is a proposal to cut the buy back rate for net metering from Rs 21 per unit to Rs 11 per unit on the plea that the rich have benefited so far What happens is that when solar power is installed at a premises, WAPDA takes up all its production at Rs 21, then charges the electricity consumed at normal rates What usually ensues is that the consumer has a much lower bill than if he had remained dependent on WAPDA WAPDA is accusing the rich of benefiting, because conversion involves a significant investment Another plea taken is that the consumer should pay for the distribution costs, which can only be done by a lower buyback rate Actually WAPDA is facing the problem of solar power reducing its cashflow It needs the cash to pay the IPPs, which have been promised capacity payments, whereby they have been guaranteed payment even if they do not produce a single watt of electricity

There seem to be people in the Power Division who are opposed to the transformative revolution that solar power represents who would like it to remain used only by home consumers It is not a matter of renewables Wind power and hydel, for example need distribution like thermal but solar can be generated anywhere It means that the country’s oil import bill can be controlled Pakistan is ideally placed for solar generation, and if the problem of storage is solved, the way generation has been, transport can move onto it, and oil will return to being an unsightly sludge rather than being the black gold it has been for the last century and a half It may well be another WAPDA mistake that the country pays for The need to discourage solar power is because of the IPP agreements which were made when the government was desperate to get IPPs to come in, so that it made agreements which make the country scream One of the factors behind the sudden concern about WAPDA’s finances is IMF pressure It would be a true pity if the IMF was to make Pakistan do things opposed to its own policy of greening the economy

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

T h e e v o l v i n

The neighbours are building on their past ties

WI T H Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi wrapping up his three-day visit to Pakistan now is a perfect opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of cultural economic and geopolitical ties between these two countries Being the first visit since the Israeli-Gaza conflict began, this visit, with Raisi accompanied by senior Iranian officials and a commercial group represents a significant milestone While in Lahore and Karachi he also met with provincial authorities to further strengthen ties within the area The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral connections with a focus on trade, veterinary health, special economic zones, security, culture, science & technology, communication, energy, agriculture, and encouraging people-to-people contacts Talks about global and regional developments regional stability and terrorism were also covered during the visit Both countries understood that in order to create a path of cooperation and partnership in the 21st century, they needed to draw on their shared history and interests Iran and Pakistan have a rich history of cultural, economic, and geopolitical exchanges, dating back to antiquity The historical bonds between Iran and Pakistan trace back to antiquity with cultural and trade links flourishing along the ancient Silk Road These ties were further solidified by shared historical experiences, including the spread of Islam and subsequent cultural exchanges People-to-people relations between Iran and Pakistan have remained resilient with cultural affinities linguistic similarities and shared traditions fostering a sense of kinship Economic collaboration between Iran and Pakistan holds immense potential with both countries possessing abundant natural resources and complementary economies Initiatives like the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline aim to enhance energy cooperation and economic prosperity

The border between Iran and Pakistan represents the convergence of cultures and civilizations and both nations have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability along their shared

frontier Trade ties between Iran and Pakistan have seen steady growth bolstered by geographical proximity and shared economic interests Joint security exercises between Iran and Pakistan serve as a testament to their shared commitment to combating common threats Despite multiple challenges, both nations have consistently pledged to foster mutual understanding and cooperation Cultural exchanges form the bedrock of Iran-Pakistan relations fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other s heritage Religious pilgrimages to holy sites in Iran hold profound spiritual significance for Shia Muslims in Pakistan underscoring the importance of religious freedom and tolerance in bilateral relations Iran and Pakistan need to increase trade relations to lessen customs barriers and to focus on streamlining trade processes and removing obstacles with an emphasis on electronic information exchange Iran s annual export to Pakistan has increased by 39 percent in 2022-23, with over four million tons of non-oil products valued at over $2 billion exported from the country to Pakistan This represents a 23 and 39 percent increase in weight and value compared to the earlier year ’s corresponding period

The officials of the two countries have targeted to enhance bilateral trade by $10 billion and effective steps have been taken to spur trade between Tehran and Islamabad Iran plans to enhance agricultural ties with Islamabad, focusing on exporting urea, chemical fertilizers and agricultural machinery Pakistan plans to begin constructing the long-delayed IP pipeline from Gwadar port to the Iranian border soon Pakistan may redo the mapping and engineering process for the construction of an 80 km gas pipeline to the Iranian border The joint Iran-Pakistan gas project has been delayed for 10 years and was originally due to be completed in December 2015 with operations slated to start in January 2015 Pakistan and Iran

have agreed to establish a joint special economic zone to boost economic ties The federal cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding, with the zone to be located on the Ramdan-Gabad border This visit and the reaffirmation of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran marks a significant milestone in their enduring relationship Both countries recognize the importance of deepening their strategic partnership to address common challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities With a strategic geographic location bridging South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, Pakistan and Iran have immense potential to serve as regional anchors for stability and development

The visit will underscore a shared commitment to exploring new avenues of collaboration across various sectors including bolstering bilateral trade and investment, advancing energy cooperation, and enhancing connectivity through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Peopleto-people exchanges cultural diplomacy educational linkages and tourism promotion efforts are integral components of the broader strategy to deepen societal ties and enhance mutual appreciation of each other s rich heritage and traditions The agreements and talks made during the visit have set the stage for increased collaboration in a number of areas, which will be advantageous to both nations and promote peace and development in the region Through increased interaction and constructive communication to address shared concerns Pakistan and Iran are well-positioned to jointly steer a more prosperous and integrated future for both their peoples and the region The vision for Pakistan-Iran relations is one of shared prosperity, stability, and cooperation unlocking new opportunities for economic growth infrastructure development and regional integration

The writer has a PhD in Political Science and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar

o a d d r e s s s h a r e d c o n c e r n s , Pa k i s t a n a n d I r a n a r e

w e l l - p o s i t i o n e d t o j o i n t l y s t e e r a m o r e p ro s p e ro u s a n d i n t e g r a t e d f u t u r e fo r b o t h t h e i r p e o p l e s a n d t h e r e g i o n . T h e v i s i o n fo r

Pa k i s t a n - I r a n r e l a t i o n s i s o n e o f s h a r e d p ro s p e r i t y, s t a b i l i t y, a n d

c o o p e r a t i o n , u n l o ck i n g n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s fo r e c o n o m i c g ro w t h , i n f r a s t r u c t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d r e g i o n a l i n t e g r a t i o n .

S w i s s d e c i s

TH E Swiss government remains steadfast in its refusal to ratify and sign the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (TPNW) It believes it is more beneficial to participate within the parameters of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) In 2021 the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) came into effect It forbade the use threat of use production, stockpiling, acquisition, possession, deployment, transfer, testing, and support of nuclear weapons Originating from an international initiative on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons the TPNW formed in a 2013 meeting at Oslo that brought together 128 governments UN agencies, other international organizations, and civil society Four meetings were held in Vienna the following year, and then in Nayarit, Mexico The idea for a new international treaty banning nuclear weapons emerged from these meetings because in addition to their extreme devastation these weapons are the cruellest most inhumane, and most indiscriminate weapons ever made due to their radioactive fallout, which is genetically harmful and has a unique ability to persist and spread Although 70 nations have signed the TPNW at present the allies of nuclear-armed states have not done so In 2018 and 2019 the government of Switzerland already turned down the proposal to join Overall, it was determined that there were more arguments opposed to membership than in favour of it, taking into account the TPNW’s vague disarmament provisions A working committee that analyzed data across departments and evaluations from outside specialists served as the foundation for its most recent evaluation The Parliament adopted the postulate 22 3800 Impact of Switzerland s Accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on Switzerland’s Foreign and Security Policy” on 27 September 2022 after the start of the conflict in Ukraine

The Federal Council decided not to alter its stance in 2024 after reviewing the working group s report and its report in response to postulate 22 3800 Although Switzerland will no longer have access to the TPNW, it will still be an observer at States Parties meetings The government claims that “the use of nuclear weapons would hardly be compatible with international humanitarian law At the UN Security Council ten days ago, Switzerland made it clear that a nuclear war should never be permitted to break out since there would be no winners The Swiss government expressed clear support for a nuclear weapons-free world in

its Foreign Policy Strategy 2024–2027 Despite the present deadlock in nuclear disarmament Switzerland stated that it will persist in pushing the states to achieve their disarmament commitments The NPT which was ratified by 191 nations, including nuclear-armed nations like the USA, Russia, China, France, and the UK, has included Switzerland as a member since 1977

The NPT is thought to be the cornerstone of both the global security framework and nuclear weapons control The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released data from 2023 showing that nine states have nuclear weapons China has 410 warheads, followed by the USA with 5,244 and Russia with 5,889 The fact that the TPNW ignores security concerns and realities on the ground particularly those of the nine nuclear-armed states is a frequently expressed worry Even though all of the nuclear weapon states were excluded from the treaty s talks, the USA, Russia, China, France, the UK, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea have not yet ratified it because they believe it does not adequately “account for vital security considerations of each state ” Those who support the TPNW often ignore the reality that states have broken established international norms and rules throughout nuclear history even if the norm eventually becomes the standard For instance, Russia transferred nuclear reactors to India in 1998 even though India is not a party to the NPT despite Russia being a party to the treaty Similar to this the US has been growing closer to India in recent years because it sees India as a member of a coalition that will act as a check on China s rise The 2008 USAIndia Nuclear Deal, in which the USA gave India access to nuclear technology for dual use even though India is not a member of the NPT,

o n n o t

T

W

is an example of this Similarly, the USA has been endorsing India’s bid to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group even though established nuclear regulations forbid India from being a member of the NPT In Switzerland there is also a contentious internal political discussion about how to achieve the aim of a nuclear weapons-free world It seems uncertain that many will be satisfied if the treaty’s ratification vote is further delayed Under the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) the Swiss government contends that it would be more practical to commit to a world free of nuclear weapons The government feels that this is not the right time to make a change in course for several reasons Switzerland would be better off staying out of the TPNW given the present scenario of international affairs where fears over security policy have returned in the wake of the latest European war The prohibition on nuclear weapons has little impact because a majority of Western and European nations, as well as those that possess nuclear weapons, do not recognize it

The nuclear-weapon states will take some time to completely adopt the TPNW even in the best of conditions Even if it took more than 20 years China and France eventually joined the NPT Regarding the TPNW s future there are several good reasons for optimism A growing number of states possessing nuclear weapons now recognize that this treaty provides them with a legally-established path towards equitable and verifiable disarmament ultimately eliminating the existential threat that nuclear weapons represent to the global community

The writer is a Research Officer at Centre for International Strategic Studies, AJK She can be reached at Nsheikh536@gmail com

The nuclear-weapon states will take some time to completely adopt the TPNW, even in the best of conditions. Even if it took more than 20 years, China and France eventually joined the NPT. Regarding the TPNWÊs future, there are several good reasons for optimism A growing number of states possessing nuclear weapons now recognize that this treaty provides them with a legally-established path towards equitable and verifiable disarmament, ultimately eliminating the existential threat that nuclear weapons represent to the global community

Karachi’s crime rate

I am writing to express my concerns about the rising crime rate in Karachi and to advocate for stronger community policing strategies to promote safety and security in our neighborhoods As a student residing in Karachi, I have witnessed an alarming increase in incidents of theft, mugging, and other criminal activities, which have left many residents feeling unsafe and vulnerable in their own communities It is distressing to see Karachi becoming a hub for snatchers and goons where innocent people are constantly at risk of falling victim to crime We urgently need proactive measures to address this issue including increased police presence in high-crime areas community engagement initiatives to foster trust between law enforcement and residents, and collaboration with local authorities to implement effective crime prevention strategies By prioritizing community safety and crime prevention, we can create a safer and more secure environment for all Karachi residents It is crucial for our government and law enforcement agencies to work together with communities to identify and address the root causes of crime provide support to at-risk individuals and implement measures to deter criminal activity Together we can build stronger more resilient neighborhoods where everyone can live without the fear of crime QURATULAIN SHAIKH KARACHI

Technical content writing

TECHNICAL content writing involves the creation of clear concise and informative content aimed at conveying complex technical information to a specific audience Whether it s user manuals product guides technical documentation or online tutorials technical content writers play a crucial role in translating intricate technical concepts into accessible language that can be easily understood by non-experts This type of writing requires a deep understanding of the subject matter, as well as the ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple and straightforward manner Attention to detail, accuracy and organization are paramount in technical content writing to ensure that the information provided is accurate comprehensive and easy to follow Additionally technical content writers often employ visuals such as diagrams charts and illustrations

Stray dogs in Karachi

Dr Zafar Khan SafDar

Re g a i n i n g t h e l o s t g r o u n d s

The by- elec

results bucked up the PML(N)

GE N E R A L LY speaking, general elections as and when these are held, are regarded important and discussed before the people go to the polls throughout the process and after the results are discussed on the basis of which newly-elected governments are formed at the national level for the stipulated period of five years as provided in the Constitution But somehow the by-elections to the national and provincial assemblies held on April 21 have gained more importance and are being discussed more widely than the general election held on February 8 By-elections to 21 national and provincial seats were held, and the results had stunned and surprised not only the political and religious parties by and large but also the PML(N) leadership The PML(N) had won as many as 12 seats out of 21 seats for which bye-elections were held This was so because PML(N) had not only won back its own lost seats but also captured a couple of seats of other parties

Winning a large number of 12 national and provincial seats in the by-election was no less an achievement, because of which not only the winning candidates but the party leadership and workers and supporters at large have every right to be joyous and happy to say the least

The bye-election results belie the claims of the opposition parties leaders who have been accusing the ruling coalition headed by PML(N) President Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of not having won, but rather of having resorted to so-called rigging and malpractices

This victory in the bye-election was creditable for the PML(N) leadership in more than one way Previously, the party had been concentrating more on taking measures to avert the threat of default by the country

In the process the people were given bitter pills to swallow more than being provided with some relief As harsh measures were being taken by the federal government, the prices of essential articles and commodities went up soaring high and still higher The country’s impending threat of default was averted to a great extent no doubt but in the process the PML(N) popularity among the masses was eroded leading to the party s losing popularity to some extent After losing ground, and then regaining it after a while, was indeed creditable for the party leadership which had done some soul searching obviously pondering over the causes of losing public support and then rebounded as the country s threatened default had been averted and now was the time after the general election and forming PML(N)led coalition government at the national level and majority government in the Punjab to take appropriate measures in a continuous manner for providing relief to the masses at large The people at large appreciated the relief measures so being taken by the PML(N)

The people have reposed their greater confidence in the PML(N) leadership at the national and provincial levels for their propeople welfare measures and initiatives As a matter of fact, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the first-ever woman Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif who is the daughter of PML(N) supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had not wasted time and as soon as they had assumed responsibilities at the national and provincial levels, they had got down to work in a sincere and committed manner for providing all possible relief to the people at large particularly those hailing from the lower segments of the society within the available resources at the national and provincial levels They were also trying their level best to curtail the government expenses at the federal and provincial levels as much as possible and to spend the resources so saved on the initiatives and measures for the people s welfare Political and religious parties do win and lose in the general elections as well as also in the by-elections which are held, and by and large go unnoticed and talked about so much as were being discussed in the by-election to 21 national and provincial seats By-elections were held for 5 NA seats and 16 in the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan The PML(N) had by winning 5 NA and as many as 10 PA seats, not only gained its own lost seats but also grabbed other parties’ seats thus consolidating its position in the National Assembly and the Punjab Assembly

By-elections to 21 national and provincial seats were held, and the results had stunned and surprised not only the political and religious par ties by and larg e , but also the PML(N) leadership The PML(N) had won as many as 12 seats out of 21 seats for which bye-elections were held This was so because PML(N) had not only won back its own lost seats but also captured a couple of seats of other par ties

W h e r e i s t h e v o i c e o f t h e A r a b s t u d e n t m o v e m e n t s ?

VO I C E S are rising in numbers every day in universities all over the world denouncing the genocidal massacres that Israel has been committing in Gaza for over 200 days, moving towards forming a global bloc of universities creating the largest global student movement similar to the one the world witnessed in the 1960s and 1970s which led to stopping the wars in Algeria and Vietnam

The beginning of this new student movement began at Columbia University in the US, organised by the Students for Justice in Palestine movement, whose members set up their tents in the university’s courtyard on 17 April This led to the disruption of classes in all the university’s departments and prompted its president to call the police to arrest the demonstrators causing other students and faculty members to join the protestors encampment which was transformed into an American Hyde Park where lectures were being held and speakers would take turns addressing the students Activities range from chanting, singing and dancing to Palestinian Dabkeh tunes, with students saying they would remain there “chanting singing teaching watching praying reading debating and breaking bread” until their demands are met

The growing momentum of this movement after it started small with a handful of students prompted students from other universities in America to stand in solidarity with them, before the solidarity extended to reach universities all over the world, with big names in the world of politics, culture, thought and art joining in At the same time, the ceiling of the demands of the student movement rose and its demands went beyond a ceasefire and the return of their detained colleagues reaching demands to end every contract between the universities and the military companies that supply Israel with weapons and demanding that the universities boards reconsider all the agreements made with the Israeli military industries and research institutions given the institutions’ core values of justice, peace and human rights This student protest spread to other universities inside America and in the world in the face of the continued war continued silence and international collusion with criminals Many students around the world have come to view the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University in Washington as a heroic act that they seek to model in order to put pressure on their universities, and through that, on their governments to take action to stop the genocidal war committed by the Israeli occupation army against the defenceless innocent Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank In order to break this movement the traditional weapon of anti-Semitism is being brandished to silence every voice that criticises Israel and its criminal actions, but given the students’ awareness, this weapon is no longer effective, especially after the students confirmed that they will continue their protest until their voices are heard They declared that their movement is peaceful and follows in the footsteps of the civil rights and anti-war movements witnessed throughout American history Since the 1950s, student movements have become truly considered the engine of revolutions towards liberation and democracy, in various countries, from America to Europe to East Asia and in the Arab region during the Arab Spring occupying the place that Marxism used to have in the role of the working class in changing the world considering that class struggle is the motor force of history as the Marxists used to say However, due to the weakness, politicisation and corruption of the unions, the student movement has become the one capable of making change in its societies, because of its youthful energy and political independence from parties and interest groups and due to the great youthfulness that makes it the undisputed creator of the future However in our Arab region we can hardly hear the voices of students or universities, or at least, their voices have not echoed outside their countries, for unknown reasons In the case of Morocco, which is close to me, the senses of fear

and oppression are dominating the universities today University professors and staff are afraid to raise their voices loudly on campus to support the Palestinian cause On the other hand there is systematic repression against student movements that want to raise their voices denouncing the criminal war on Gaza Last month, the presidency of the Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Tetouan summoned security forces to besiege the campus and close it to students to prevent the sixth forum on Jerusalem which the National Union of Moroccan Students from being held at the university The forum was set to be held under the slogan Al-Aqsa Flood: the honour and pride of the nation, the symbol of its victory and liberation, but the university president decided to suspend classes and close all facilities for the three days the forum was scheduled to be held!

In the other more than 30 Moroccan universities not counting the colleges and higher education institutions silence tinged with fear prevails whether among the ranks of students or among the professors and teachers According to what a prominent university professor known for his progressive stances in support of just causes, most notably the Palestinian issue, told me, fear is what prevents Moroccan universities from taking action to advocate for the Palestinian cause and support the Palestinians He cited a conversation between himself and the president of his university which is a prestigious university in Rabat as evidence of this as when the professor proposed the idea of organising an educational event addressing the war on Gaza, the university president justified his fear of organising such an event by saying that the “higher authorities” in the state might not allow it, especially in light of the official normalisation of relations between the Moroccan state and the Zionist entity which also includes Moroccan universities Universities are a beacon of knowledge and leaders of society and in Morocco they have historically been present at all the major turning points, even in the darkest years of embers and bullets, when university students and professors were at the forefront of leading the social and political movements that defended freedom democracy and social justice However over the last two decades the presidents of these universities have become mere employees who are more concerned about their positions and benefits than their academic reputation and status within society They wait for the signals that come to them from the authority so that they can comply with them, and they do not hesitate to suppress all bothersome voices that might cause the authority to be angry and dissatisfied with them thus costing them their positions and crushing their hopes of climbing the ladders

As for the Moroccan student movement it has always been at the forefront of the struggle of the Moroccan people leading its civil movement, directing its political parties, and throughout Morocco s history, it has presented many heroic stances and great sacrifices to lead society towards change, progress and development During the popular movement periods that Morocco experienced whether during the February 20 Movement in 2011 or during the Rif Movement in 2016 university youth were the ones leading (and framing) the demonstrations that attracted thousands of young people from all groups and from all educational levels, giving these movements great momentum They would have had an impact within society had it not been for the authorities, the state, and the parties ganging up against them What is preventing the Moroccan student movement from expressing its voice loudly today is the wave of systematic repression that the Moroccan repression machine has succeeded in spreading to all voices of protest

While we are waiting for the conscience of the universities in our Arab region to awaken, the criminal war raging in Gaza has made many, even those far from the region and the issue, suffer from a deep moral crisis and if the world does not respond to the voices that are rising demanding an end to the tragedy this crisis will have terrible moral repercussions and devastating humanitarian consequences for the future of human coexistence based on values we are seeing being smashed before our eyes today while no one is acting This article first appeared in Arabic in the Palestinian Information Centre

n a f a c t f i n d i n g m a n n e r a n d t e l l i n g t h e

m a s s e s a t l a rg e t h e r e a l „ t r u t h ‰ o f t h e s e i n o rd e r t o s e t

t h e r e c o rd s t r a i g h t a n d c o n s o l i d a t e t h e p a r t y Ês ow n p o s i t i o n a m o n g t h e m a s s e s a t l a rg e

leadership at the national and provincial levels and this was duly reflected in the April 21 by-election result as PML(N) had secured a maximum of 12 NA and PA seats leaving the opposition parties guessing and wondering as to why they have lost the hitherto enjoyed people s confidence The PML(N) leadership should not just sit idle and go into deep slumber which would certainly not be advisable or appreciable The pace of taking initiatives and measures for the people s welfare should not just be maintained but rather accelerated to the maximum as things started becoming easy and resources availability was gradually improved Quite obviously, the people were now looking forward to the federal and provincial budgets for the new financial year 2024-2025 and hoping for the maximum relief to come their way soon In all fairness it will be commendable if the PML(N) leadership also ponders and looks into the charges and allegations of rig-

ging and irregularities being persistently levelled by the opposition political and religious parties in a fact finding manner and telling the masses at large the real truth of these in order to set the record straight and consolidate the party s own position among the masses at large

It may be reiterated here that the people want continuation of the welfare initiatives and measures to the maximum extent possible and also taking firm strong and harshest measures to keep checking prevailing sky-rocketing prices of essential articles and inflation and ensuring the genie of high prices is put back in the bottle at the earliest possible

The writer is Lahore-based Freelance Journalist Columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) Radio Pakistan Islamabad and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail com

H e re ’s w hat make s B linke n’s jo b in China so difficu lt

Behind the diplomatic niceties lies a deeper agenda: the concerted effort by the US and some of its allies to curb China’s economic and technological ascent This was laid bare when EU officials executed unannounced raids on the offices of a Chinese company in Poland and Denmark

particularly regarding China, signals a loose front aimed at constraining China’s global economic reach

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in China to kick off a threeday trip It is reported that he will speak with his Chinese counterpart and potentially with President Xi Jinping As the New York Times reported quoting officials privy to the visit, one of the main topics will be China’s alleged support of Russia, which includes the supposed sale of weapon components and dual-use products It also comes at a time of increased tensions Relations have shown a flicker of warmth since US President Joe Biden and Xi s encounter at the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco last year However, this visit comes sandwiched between significant moves by the Biden administration On the one hand Biden recently signed off on a hefty military aid package for Ukraine Taiwan and Israel coupled with a divest-or-

juggernaut, TikTok On the other, a historic tri-

the Philippines hints at potential formal military collaborations down the road with the US

e Philippines a move with unmistakable implications for China Blinken s trip also follows closely on the heels of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent visit to China, which coincided with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s presence in the country Lavrov’s visit underscored the enduring bond between Russia and China while Yellen s seemed to foreshadow potential trade tensions over what Beijing perceives as baseless accusations of overcapacity Behind the diplomatic niceties lies a deeper agenda: the concerted effort by the US and some of its allies to curb China’s economic and technological ascent This was laid bare when EU officials on Tuesday executed unannounced raids on the offices of a Chinese company in Poland and Denmark The European Commission said that its “unannounced inspections” are based on “indications that the inspected company may have received foreign subsidies that could distort the internal market pursuant to the Foreign Subsidies Regulation Despite this explanation it appears the EU is mirroring Washington s growing scrutiny of and hostility against Chinese firms The EU’s alignment with the US on trade policy,

The issue of Russia is also another excuse to limit China The bilateral partnership has been extraordinarily beneficial for both sides: their trade reached a record $240 1 billion in 2023 and Russia s economy grew by 3 6% the same year despite Western sanctions The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts Russia’s economy will grow faster than all advanced economies in 2024

This is due in no small part to trade with China the world s second-largest economy but it s also due to the fact that many other large countries, such as Brazil and India, have not joined Western sanctions on Russia – they just aren’t trading in strategic sectors of the economy like China is But even in those sectors the US and its allies have never revealed evidence that Beijing is directly helping Russia s war effort in Ukraine What it s really about was revealed in 2021 when US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated bluntly that “we (the US) need to work with Europe” to “slow down China’s rate of innovation ” Even during the administration of former President Donald Trump the US was strong-arming European countries to implement bans on Huawei and attempting to bully others into signing public tenders with US companies over Chinese competitors

The idea was that without the ability to compete globally Chinese firms in the high-tech sphere would inevitably become less profitable and thus less innovative But this is not the case in fact While Western countries attempt to control the narrative with accusations of unfair trade practices and military equipment sales, the reality is that Chinese firms continue to dominate global markets in crucial sectors like solar power telecommunications and electric vehicles They are simply implementing protectionist policies to prop up their own companies while failing to take concrete steps to actually compete in the market But for Europe, it should be noted how one-sided this is The continent is reliant on US tech; the EU’s GDP advantage has crumbled over the past decade-and-a-half since the 2008 financial crash; and it is becoming strategically compromised due to US influence and a lack of domestic innovation

In essence, the diplomatic dance between Blinken and his Chinese counterparts encapsulates a broader struggle for supremacy in a rapidly evolving world order Overcapacity is a myth; China has the best industrial base in the world and shouldn t be ashamed of it Accusations of assisting in war efforts – made even more absurd by America s open support for Israel s operation in Gaza, which has been credibly accused of genocide – are just noise The US and its underlings are simply just getting beat in almost every meaningful sphere which will make Antony Blinken s job especially tough this week

Bradley Blankenship an

American

journalist columnist and political commentator

tion

MuhaMMaD ZahiD rifat

XI TELLS BLINKEN US, CHINA MUST BE ‘PARTNERS, NOT RIVALS’

BEIJING

M I A N A B R A R

CH I N E S E President Xi Jinping met with U S Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday afternoon

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Xi said over the past 45 years, the relationship has gone through wind and rain, and the two sides can draw a few important lessons China and the United States should be partners rather than rivals; help each other succeed rather than hurt each other; seek common ground and reserve differences rather than engage in vicious competition; and honor words with actions rather than say one thing but do another Xi said he proposed mutual respect peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as the three overarching principles for the relationship which are both lessons learned from the past and a guide for the future Xi emphasized that in his phone call with President Joe Biden three weeks ago he shared his thoughts on how to stabilize and develop China-U S relations in 2024 and underlined that the two sides should value peace, prioritize stability, and uphold credibility

“The finer details will fall into place when they are aligned with the bigger picture ” Xi said he once stressed The world today is undergoing transformation not seen in a century How to respond to it is a question of the times and of the world Xi said his answer is to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has become a flag of China’s foreign policy and has been welcomed by many countries Planet Earth is only this big and humanity is faced with so many common challenges As an old Chinese saying goes, Passengers in the same boat should help each other,” he said “Today as I see it dwellers of the same planet should help each other We live in an interdependent world and rise and fall together With their interests deeply intertwined all countries need to build maximum consensus for win-win and all-win outcomes This is the basic starting point for China to view the

world and the China-U S relationship, Xi said Xi underlined his view that major countries should behave in a manner befitting their status and act with broadmindedness and a sense of responsibility He said China and the United States should set an example in this regard, undertake responsibilities for world peace, create opportunities for the development of all countries provide the world with public goods and play a positive role in promoting global unity Xi underscored that in his meeting with President Biden in San Francisco, he proposed five pillars for China-U S relations namely jointly developing a right perception jointly managing disagreements effectively jointly advancing mutually

They

ning for the mansion of China-U S relations When the overarching principles are established, specific issues will become easier to address, Xi said “China is willing to cooperate, but cooperation should be a two-way street China is not afraid of competition but competition should be about progressing together instead of playing a zero-sum game, Xi said China is committed to non-alliance, and the United States should not create small blocs While each side can have its friends and partners it should not target oppose or harm the other he added

open, prosperous and thriving United

a t

,

h e U n i t e d S t a t e s will also look at China’s development i n a p o s i t i v e l i g h t , ” s a i d t h e C h i n e s e president Xi stressed that as a Chinese saying goes No progress means regress it also applies to China-U S relations Noting that the stabilizing trend in China-U S relations did not come by easily, Xi said it is hoped that the two teams will continue working actively to follow through on the San Francisco vision he and President

C h i n a , U S re a c h f i ve - p o i nt co n s e n s u s fo l l ow i n g Wa n g - B l i n ke n m e e t i n g

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing Wang pointed out that although positive interactions in the bilateral relations have been increasing, negative factors in China-US relations continue to build up as China’s core interests are challenged warning that the US should not cross China s red lines on issues related to its sovereignty security and development interests China and the US reached five points of consensuses on Friday following the Wang-Blinken meeting

Scale of human rights abuses increased in Modi’s India: US repor t

Both agreed to continue following the guidance of the heads of state of both countries striving to stabilize and develop China-US relations The parties affirm the positive progress made in dialogue and cooperation in various fields between China and the US since the meeting in San Francisco, agreeing to accelerate the implementation of important consensuses reached by the heads of state in San Francisco Second both parties agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels They will continue to leverage the restored and newly established consultation mechanisms in diplomatic, economic, financial, and business sectors They will continue

military exchanges and further advance cooperation between China and the US in drug prohibition climate change and artificial intelligence

Third both parties announce that they will hold the first intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence between China and the US, continue to advance consultations on guiding principles of China-US relations conduct a new round of consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs and maritime affairs between China and the US and continue China-US consular consultations The China-US drug prohibition working group will hold a highlevel meeting The US welcomes Chinese Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs Liu Zhenmin’s visit to the country

WhatsApp threatens to halt operations in India over privac y regulations

CORPORATE CORNER inDrive Rozgar Initiative: Empowering Communities with S ustainable Livelihoods

KARACHI:

inDrive, a leading ride-hailing company, is proud to announce the launch of the inDrive Rozgar initiative This groundbreaking project aims to establish 100 SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in Karachi Lahore and Islamabad, with an investment of 7 5 million PKR from inDrive The partnership between inDrive and HANDS Pakistan signifies a significant step towards empowering communities and fostering economic independence Sidra Kiran PR and Communications Lead at inDrive Pakistan emphasized the significance of the partnership stating We are thrilled to partner with HANDS Pakistan to launch the

Rahul Gandhi joins race as India kicks off voting in second phase of election

DELHI

A G E N C I E S

Almost one billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase general elections that began on April 19 and concludes on June 1, with votes set to be counted on June 4

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a recordequalling third straight term on the back of his economic record welfare measures national pride Hindu nationalism and personal popularity Surveys suggest he will easily win a comfortable majority His challengers have formed an alliance of more than two dozen parties and are promising greater affirmative action more handouts and an end to what they call Modi s autocratic rule

scale of abuses has increased under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly since their reelection in 2019” “The United Nations, other intergovernmental organizations and numerous nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have conveyed similar concerns the CRS said in its latest three-page report CRS is an independent research wing of the US Congress, which prepares reports on issues of importance for the members of the Congress for them to make informed decisions The latest CRS report comes days after the State Department’s 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in which it said India is the site of numerous human rights abuses many of them serious some seen to be perpetrated by state and federal governments or their agents It also comes in the wake of a series of articles being published in the American media that are very critical of the human rights situation in India According to the latest CRS report, the 2023 Human Rights Report for the first time includes a section on India’s “transnational repression against individuals in another country noting the Indian government engaged in transnational repression against journalists members of diaspora populations, civil society activists, and human rights defenders

compelled to compromise message encryption as reported by an In-

media outlet

company s lawyer, Tejas Karia, informed the Division Bench that WhatsApp’s operations in India would come to a halt if it were forced to break encryption WhatsApp argued that its endto-end encryption provides crucial

chats and identification of message originators, actions that WhatsApp believes would weaken encryption and violate user privacy rights under the Indian Constitution

tution of India

Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 These rules mandate the tracing of

Karia highlighted the uniqueness of these rules noting that similar regulations do not exist elsewhere globally Compliance would require storing vast amounts of messages for extended periods posing significant logistical challenges WhatsApp argued that the rules not only undermine content encryption and user privacy but also infringe upon fundamental rights protected under the Consti-

In response, the Indian government’s lawyer defended the regulations stressing the necessity of tracing message originators particularly in current times

Acknowledging the complexity of privacy rights, the court noted the importance of striking a balance The petitions are scheduled for hearing on August 14 India represents WhatsApp’s largest market boasting over 400 million users Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously praised India s prominent role in embracing messaging technologies during Meta’s annual event last year

Friday s polling will be held for 88 of the total 543 seats in the lower house of parliament with 160 million people eligible to vote It will be spread across 13 states and federal territories in the world s most populous country More than half of those 88 seats are in the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka and the northwestern state of Rajasthan The campaign has changed tack since the first phase and become heated as Modi and the main opposition Congress party have faced off on communal issues with Modi accusing Congress of favouring minority Muslims, aiming to dilute affirmative action and planning to impose inheritance tax

“Congress which used to make noise in the name of the Constitution has now been badly exposed for its hidden agenda Modi posted on X late on Thursday Congress has denied the charges and said Modi is distracting voters from real issues such as unemployment, price rise and rural distress and fears losing R A H U L G A N D H I I N T H E F R AY

“We spoke to you we heard what was on your mind and drafted a revolutionary manifesto Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a video message on the eve of the vote This has been drafted by the Congress party but it is your voice Gandhi, former Congress president and the face of the party, is among the 1,200 candidates in the fray on Friday He is seeking re-election from Wayanad in Kerala and faces Annie Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP s K Surendran among others in the Left Front-ruled state In 2019, Gandhi defeated the CPI candidate by more than 400,000 votes, the highest margin in Kerala, although he lost his second seat to BJP in the family bastion of Amethi in north India India allows a candidate to contest from more than one seat but they can retain only one if they win from more

Israel prepares for Rafah assault as massive airstrikes end ‘weeks of calm’ in Gaza

CAIR O/ JERUSALEM

A G E N C I E S

Israeli warplanes pounded the northern Gaza strip for a second day on Wednesday in a fierce assault that has shattered weeks of comparative calm, and Israel said it was moving forward with plans for an all-out assault on Rafah in the south After an abrupt Israeli pullback at the start of this month Palestinians at both ends of the Gaza Strip were again fleeing for their lives from the bombing they described as some of the war s worst A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s government said Israel was moving ahead with its plans for a ground operation on Rafah but gave no timeline Western countries, including Israel’s closest ally the United States, have pleaded with it to hold back from attacking the city on Gaza’s southern edge which is sheltering more than half the enclave s 2 3 million people

wounded 86 the Gaza Health Ministry said In the US protests some broken up by police against Israel s campaign

White House walked a careful line on Wednesday Biden’s press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president believes free speech and nondiscrimination are important on college campuses and students should feel safe Residents in the north of Gaza, many of whom have started to return to homes abandoned in the first

a resident of Gaza City In Washington, Sullivan said the US has seen a marked increase in aid reaching Gaza and especially vulnerable north Gaza since Biden and Netanyahu spoke on April 4 Sullivan said the aid flow needed to increase further a repeated US demand The comment came after UN aid agency UNRWA said on Tuesday that the number of relief trucks entering the enclave had reached the highest point so far in the conflict In the Nasser hospital complex, the main medical facility in the south, authorities said they had recovered more bodies from a mass grave taking the total to 334

Ahsan Z afar Syed assumes office President & CEO of Engro Corporation

Ahsan Zafar Syed has assumed the office of President & CEO Engro Corporation after the completion of Ghias Khan s seven-year tenure at the Group He began his journey with Engro in 1991 as a young engineer, accumulating three decades of experience in operations project management and strategic leadership across the petrochemical energy and food & agriculture sectors Before his appointment as President and CEO of Engro Corporation, Ahsan led Engro's flagship fertilizer business Under his leadership Engro Fertilizers became the most valuable fertilizer company on the Pakistan Stock Exchange PR

TikTok par tners with Coke S tudio as O fficial

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Coc a- Cola invests an additional $22m in Pakistan

SINDH TO SHAME TA X EVADERS BY PUBLISHING NAMES IN NEWSPAPERS, FREEZES ACCOUNTS

TOECD Global Forum on Transparenc y and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes visits Pakistan

(International Taxes) In these sessions the assessment team appreciated the efforts of FBR in upholding international commitments made for protection of exchanged data PR

FUI advoc ates for health rights on World Health Day

ISLAMABAD

P R Foundation University Islamabad (FUI) hosted a landmark event at Jinnah Auditorium FUSH to observe World Health Day 2024 The event, under the banner My Health, My Right,” brought together prominent figures such as Rector FUI Maj Gen Muhammad Kaleem Asif HI(M) (Retd) and Director Dr Shumaila Humayun alongside Prof Dr Naila Azam, to spearhead discussions on pressing health issues The day was marked by insightful dialogues on gender-based violence, nutrition rights, and environmental conservation, featuring contributions from UNFPA’s Dr Rasheed Ahmad, FAO’s Florence Rolle and Brig Khalid Afridi of the Army Heritage Foundation The esteemed presence of WHO Country Rep Dr Luo Dapeng as Chief Guest accentuated the day’s importance Preceding the main event FUI had organized a series of community health education drives departmental initiatives, and a free medical camp from April 15 to April 23, reaffirming its dedication to enhancing community health and wellbeing In the end Director (FUSH) Maj General Imran Fazal HI(M) (Retd) presented souvenir to the Rector FUI

A sia's L argest Cattle Mandi 2024 set to elevate experience of Eidul A zha for K arachiites

Breaking Barriers: Jazz's digital empowerment paves way for schoolgirls to aspire IC T Careers

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congratulated Dr Chohan on this seventh book at CASS and emphasised the role of innovation and technology in economic development He urged young researchers to remain abreast of economic technologies and to make contributions to their advancement Given the scope and detail covered in the collective research endeavour he lauded the comprehensiveness of the book and expressed hope that the edited volume would serve as the definitive account of NFTs internationally for many years to come P R

FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan unveils Q1, 2024 results

Team Europe’s New Programme for Green Jobs

C reation in Pakistan

I S L A M A B A D : The inauguration ceremony of the EUR 64 million Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Sector Support Programme- Phase IV- took place at the Center of Excellence in Modern Technologies The event marked a significant milestone under the European Union’s Team Europe Initiative on building back better, aimed for the creation of green jobs in Pakistan and bringing together the EU France Germany and Italy Through this programme the European Union and the Government of Germany will support Pakistan s efforts towards improving technical education and employment prospects for its youth The Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui speaking as chief guestreiterated the Government of Pakistan s steadfast commitment to fostering job opportunities emphasising We are making all out efforts to create job opportunities, which is only possible with the economic growth of the country " The Minister assured that the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sharif is paying special attention to the skills development especially in high tech trades and emphasized the need for expanding the scope of these programmes to remote areas of the country P R

KE removes 2800kg of wire used in illegal connec tions in Lyari and F B area

K A R A C H I: Due to the rising circular debt and line losses national efforts are underway to curb electricity theft In that respect K-Electric is collaborating with law-enforcement agencies and other institutions to crack down on individuals and entities and pursuing relevant legal action against those involved in electricity theft This is to ensure safe and reliable electricity supply by removing illegal connections (kundas) from its network A recent drive to remove kundas was launched in various areas including FB Area and Lyari It is pertinent to note that more than 300 000 units of electric power is stolen annually in Lyari only The operation resulted in the removal of 2800kg of illegal connections The K-Electric Spokesperson reiterated that the company would continue its efforts to act against electricity theft in coordination with the customers local representatives and elected officials At the same time the spokesperson appreciated the collaborative efforts of the law-enforcement agencies and various organizations who support the company in curtailing electricity theft PR

Int ’l Symposium addresses c apacity-building for safe ship rec ycling in Pakistan

Nestlé Pakistan repor ts first quar ter sales

PAKISTAN ENGAGES WITH US ON ENERGY NEEDS AMIDST IRAN TRADE CONSIDERATIONS

FRaisi s visit to Pakistan We advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions, the spokesperson emphasized Baloch countered by highlighting the existing cooperation for trade on a preferential basis between Pakistan and Iran to meet Pakistan s vital needs She noted that discussions during President Raisi s three-day visit included the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline and were reflected in the subsequent joint statement Both nations deliberated on energy and electricity trade she elaborated

week a State Department

cautioned Islamabad

Iranian President Seyyed

U S a ffi r m s s t ro n g re l at i o n s h i p w i t h Pa ki s t a n d e s p i te s a n c t i o n s d i s p u te

US Department of State dismissed any notion of a rift between Islamabad and Washington following the imposition of sanctions on four commercial entities allegedly tied to Pakistan’s bal-

In a 28-point joint statement on April 24 Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed the significance of energy cooperation and electricity trade, despite hints from the United States regarding potential sanctions post-Raisi s visit Following the Iranian president s departure for Tehran from Karachi, the FO issued a joint statement outlining bilateral agreements including plans related to the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project Baloch also disclosed ongoing discussions with Iran regarding a free trade agreement, remarking on the politicization of export control The FO spokesperson noted discussions on the trade route between Gwadar and Chabahar ports with the Iranian president, underscoring the robust bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran Regarding Israel’s actions in Palestine, Baloch condemned Israel’s aggression and advocated for international investigation into Palestinians suffering under the apartheid state She affirmed Pakistan and Iran s unified stance on Gaza and Kashmir issues She dismissed the 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices” by the US State Department criticizing the methodology employed in its preparation

PTI demands CJP to constitute full cour t on judges’ letter

T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) take firm and immediate steps to constitute a full court to hear suo motu notices pertaining to the meddling by the country s security apparatus into judicial affairs detailing by six respected judges of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in their startling letter instead of shying away on the matter

PTI Spokesperson in a strongly-worded reaction over the CJP’s statement pertaining to the interference of intelligence agencies in judicial affairs under his watch and his visible reluctance to form full court on the judges letter issue, called the actions taken so far regarding the spy agencies interference in judicial affairs as a deliberate attempt to put the matter into a cold oven

He reiterated that the six judges’ letter was a very serious sensitive and grave issue; however the steps thus for taken by CJP were insufficient ineffective and very detrimental and dangerous for the future of the judiciary because intelligence agencies were digging the grave of democracy in Pakistan through open contempt of public mandate PTI Spokesperson went on to say that the Chief Justice tried to negate and defuse the matter during his speech in Karachi on Thursday which was unfortunate rather than taking any serious actions on the issue of very serious nature He alarmed that the illegal and undue interference of spy agencies’ officials in state institutions, especially the judiciary and executive, would open the gate of destruction of the country and the nation PTI Spokesperson noted that the intelligence agencies were digging the grave of democracy in Pakistan through open contempt of public mandate which was exposed by the Commissioner Rawalpindi in his public confessional statement He recalled that PTI boycotted the 2008 general elections for the independence of the judiciary, where even hundreds of the party’s workers along with PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan endured the hardship imprisonment to ensure supremacy of judiciary in the country PTI Spokesperson contended that despite being subjected to the history worst state oppression and fascism and unjust incarceration, PTI Founding Chairman and PTI were rendering unparalleled and matchless sacrifices for ensuring independence of the judiciary and upholding rule of law in the country He emphasized that PTI Chairman-for-life in his letter to the CJP also stressed the need for taking tangible and effective measures on the judges letter matter However, PTI Spokesperson lamented that the nation did not satisfied with the overall behavior of the CJP and the actions taken on the letter of the judges hitherto He asserted that it was a matter of future of the nation provision of justice to citizens and independence of the judiciary; hence the chief justice should instantly constitute a full court to on the issue instead of handing it over to a three, five and sevenmember bench

N aw a z S h a r i f t o ‘ t a k e b a c k P M L- N ’s d r i v i n g s e a t ’

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab President Rana Sanaullah on Friday announced that Nawaz Sharif would retake the ruling party s driving seat Nawaz Sharif has been requested to retake the party s leadership, Rana Sanaullah said while talking to journalists here on Friday The former interior minister said: “We would overcome our shortcoming [under the leadership of Nawaz] The PML-N would tow the narrative of Nawaz whether it is of resistance or reconciliation , he added His remarks came as the PMLN supremo got “clean chit” from the courts and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in multiple cases against him

During an interaction with journalists in Lahore following a meeting of the party’s leadership, the former security czar said:

Nawaz Sharif will lead the party

again and the party will move forward under his leadership

The PML-N supreme got “clean chit” from the courts Sanaullah added Nawaz stepped down as the country s prime minister in 2017 after he was disqualified for life from holding public office by the Supreme Court for not declaring a receivable salary Following his in the Panama Papers case the Supreme Court in February 2018 disqualified Nawaz as PML-N president

In its verdict, the top court had said that a person disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 cannot serve as the head of a political party The veteran politician however arrived back home from four years of self-imposed exile in London in October last year

On January 8, 2024, the top court scrapped lifetime bans on contesting elections for people with criminal convictions paving

the way for Nawaz to take a fourth shot at power Responding to a question, Sanaullah said that they had created the post of “Quaid” but the operational post in the party is that of the president Following his disqualification the PML-N bigwigs had chosen Nawaz Sharif as Quaid for life in 2018 Giving details about today’s meeting, he said that the PML-N leaders president effective proposals in connection with the country s current political situation

The PML-N supremo was working hard to steer the country out of the economic crisis, he added

Lauding the PML-N-led Punjab government’s performance he said that Maryam Nawaz was also trying her best to provide relief to the masses

The party s leadership expressed their satisfaction over the performance of PM Shehbaz and Punjab CM Maryam he added

Pakistan rejec ts unfounded claims by Indian leaders regarding IIOJK

ISLAMABAD

A P P

Arrest warrants issued for Mahmood Achakzai

A judicial magistrate in Quetta has issued arrest warrants for Pashtunkhawa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai in connection with an FIR registered at Gawalmandi police station in Balochistan s provincial capital this year over charges of illegal occupation of government land Achakzai, who recently emerged as the presidential candidate of the PTI, faced the scrutiny of the district administration when his residence was raided earlier in March this year Although he was not present during the raid the district administration alleged that it reclaimed land an area of 2 5 kanals encircled by a boundary wall, illegally occupied by the PKMAP chief It proceeded to register a case against him under Sections 447 and 448 of the Pakistan Penal Code pertaining to criminal trespass

Subsequently the judicial magistrate issued warrants for Achakzai s arrest because he did not appear before the authorities The police have been directed to arrest Achakzai and present him before the court on Saturday (today) A day earlier, Achakzai held a meeting of the sixparty opposition alliance – the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain (TTA) in Islamabad

The newly formed alliance of which he was elected the head of earlier this month includes his party the PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami, Sunni Ittehad Council, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, and BNP-M Speaking to the media after the meeting, he clarified that the opposition alliance was not cobbled together to spread hatred against any state institution including the army and intelligence agencies It has been created to save Pakistan because the country is going through its most dangerous period at the moment and it can only be saved from crises through social consensus, he added Reacting to the issuance of arrest warrants, the PkMAP criticised and government and police for what it described as the rulers’ tactics to silence Achakzai The PkMAP will continue its democratic struggle despite all odds the statement issued by the party read TTA spokesman Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai also condemned the issuance of the arrest warrants In a statement, the TTA spokesman said they wanted to assure those who were using the state machinery for these high-handed tactics against them that these measures would not back them down from their cause Our movement for public sovereignty as well as the supremacy of Constitution and law will carry on, he added The Quetta Bar Association (QBA) has termed the issuance of the arrest warrants against Achakzai “political victimisation”

Interior minister orders tight securit y for foreign hikers on Margalla trails

The spokesperson also condemned the ongoing vilification stigmatization and victimization of Muslims and other minorities in India To a question, Spokesperson Baloch said currently, there was no back channel diplomacy going on between Pakistan and India to normalize bilateral trade Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to attend a special meeting of the World Economic Forum on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development” in Riyadh on April 28-29 Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in her weekly press briefing told the media that the prime minister accompanied

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday highlighted a significant surge in provocative statements fueled by hyper-nationalism by Indian leaders over illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Pakistan rejected all unwarranted claims that pose threats to regional peace and stability, the spokesperson of FM Mumtaz Zahra told the media She urged the Indian politicians to cease the practice of dragging Pakistan into their internal discourse aimed at gaining electoral motives She said that despite Indian rhetoric and assertions, IIOJK remained an internationally recognized disputed territory as the UN Security Council’s resolutions clearly outlined that final status would be determined by the will of the Kashmiri people through a free plebiscite India would be wise to help implement those resolutions instead of harboring delusion of grandeur,” she remarked

by Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, would travel to the Kingdom at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab She said that the high-level participation in the Forum would provide an opportunity to highlight Pakistan s priorities in global health architecture, inclusive growth, regional collaboration and balance between growth and energy consumption besides interacting with the participating world leaders and heads of international organizations The prime minister will visit Gambia to attend the 15th session of the Islamic Summit Conference under the slogan “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development on May 4-5 2024 in Banjul the capital city of Gambia

Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi has announced plans to bolster security along the Margalla hiking trails in Islamabad particularly for foreign hiking enthusiasts

Interior Minister Naqvi said that the initiative–Margalla Trail Patrol–aimed to safeguard the scenic trails of Margalla Hills with a special focus on the security of foreign hikers The Federal Interior Minister said they are starting the Margalla Trail Patrol to secure the beautiful trails of Margalla Hills Mohsin Naqvi further said there would be deputed police trail motorbikes, police horses and police foot patrolling for more protection of Margalla hiking trails for foreigners Reportedly last July a woman who was a resident of Sheikhupura filed a complaint with Islamabad police saying she was raped by accused Noman at gunpoint at Margalla Hills hiking trail-3 The case under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) was filed at the Kohsar Police Station The woman has also appealed for a medical examination to confirm her allegations Later the Islamabad police accused the victim of not cooperating with them in the investigation process Islamabad Police said in a tweet that no evidence of abuse was found according to the plaintiff s medical report

PML-N, PPP strike reconciliator y tone in Senate as opposition decries ‘political victimisation’

leader He remarked that while separate political parties existed the “biggest party was Pakistan” Acknowledging that the opposition had its own emotions the PML-N leader said: If we were in pain yesterday today they are the ones; they will express that and we cannot stop that However, he added, it was imperative to settle on an environment where everyone was heard Stating that a great number of lawmakers had been elected on the name of the PTI founder who he said he mentioned with respect , Siddiqui highlighted there were a number of matters that both parties had different views on “In my opinion there is not even a single political prisoner in Pakistan ” he said adding that a political detainee was one who had been trapped and put in jail in fabricated cases based on their political affiliation Siddiqui went on to say: Even today, we extend our hand towards them Shake hands Leave politics