Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during his China visit and would hold another meeting on July 20 The prime minister said the government had launched solarisation of 28 000 tube-wells in Balochistan to save bleeding of annual Rs80 billion He also appreciated the Balochistan Chief Minister and other relevant ministries and departments for taking the project to the implementation stage He told the meeting that the finance ministry had been tasked with working out a business plan for solarisation of a million tube-wells in the country currently running on imported fuel putting a burden of $3 5 billion in form of foreign exchange The prime minister highlighted that Pakistan had immense solar energy potential which must be exploited to save energy costs and provide low-cost electricity to the farmers
“Time is running fast and we are racing against
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he remarked He also highlighted that
of
and imports but Pakistan National Shipping Corporation was running a fleet of just 12 ships while getting Rs5 billion for salaries This is in contrast to around 600 ships run by Bangladesh and around 1500 ships by India
The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the action plan for abolition of the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) and decided the formation of a Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company (PIDC) to oversee federal development projects and Asset and Facility Management Company (AFMC) for repair and maintenance works The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also decided to hand over the federal government projects in the provinces to the relevant provincial departments Similarly the AFMC would be established to carry out the repair and
S A u d I S w A r n G -
Large numbers of traders, tourists cross border
On
PUNJAB CM ANNOUNCES 1,224 FREE FL ATS FOR WORKERS IN TA XIL A , SUNDAR
K han urges apex cour t to dismiss appeal against nullification of NAB amends
Ashura is observed on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year which marks the great martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala S TA F
Fruits of A zm-i-Istehkam?
The spate of attacks on KP shows the need to deal with terrorism resolutely
Z M-I-I S T E H K A M was announced with great fanfare after a meeting of the National Action Plan Apex Committee, but the bristly reaction of some opposition parties and the Defence Minister s loud protests have made it seem that there is some doubt about its need However a spurt of violence in North and South Waziristan, as well as in Lakki Marwat, has made it clear any further delay will only lead to the need for a bigger operation involving more effort more lives and greater resources
While the two actions in Waziristan showed that the Army was carrying out what had already been announced, an increase in intelligence-based operations the attack in Lakki Marwat showed how the police are being targeted There was another attack in Tappi in North Waziristan on a police officer s house, which left three women injured Clearly the level of conflict in KP is increasing and whether the PTI, which rules the province, likes it or not, action will have to be taken The federal government will also have to take up the matter of safe havens with the Taliban government in Afghanistan The troubled area is apparently limited to the two Waziristan ex-tribal areas, and the adjoining settled areas of Bannu and Lakki Marwat This may be too close to home for the liking of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur (whose native Dera Ismail Khan division includes South Waziristan), while Lakki Marwat falls within neighbouring Bannu division which also includes North Waziristan However the problem has to be faced squarely The militants operating in this area generally belong to the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan, and are apparently closer to the Afghan Taliban than their much-vaunted handlers for they continue to give them material support both in the form of abandoned American arms, as well as safe havens The crackdown on militants will only succeed if they are based on good intelligence and are not shots in the dark The keen edge of professionalism may not be there which means that intelligence-based operations may end as did those in North and South Waziristan, with t5he killing of young men who joined the Army for something else Indeed the death of a civilian bearer in the South Waziristan attack indicates that military personnel are being attacked Policemen alone are not being attacked, but their families are too So far military personnel s families are safe However unless tackled the terrorists may reach out to safer areas Instead of chasing after political opponents, intelligence on terrorists must be sought
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
O n q u e s t i o n s a n d t h e i r a n s w e r s
And the ar t of thinking
WH Y are we here? Now that we are, what is our best course of action? What would supreme success for man look like? Why is there so much suffering? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why wickedness and unconscientiousness appear to prosper? If God is the Creator of everything, is He the creator of evil deeds too? Or (if He creates good only), where does evil come from? Men, at any rate thoughtful individuals among them, cannot help seeking answers to questions such as these Humans are strange creatures though Way too many of them are happy to simply get answers to such questions as and when needed; very few having the desire or the appetite for developing the competence to be able to figure out the answers for themselves, or at least to be able to assess the quality of the answers they receive The analogy that comes to mind is that of men not interested in learning how to fish merely being content perpetually receiving fish as charity instead A man may be informed that a given problem is described by a particular differential equation, as well as told the solution to that differential equation That does not mean however that he knows differential equations For whenever he encounters a different problem he will fail to derive the relevant equation for it much less solve it Similarly memorizing the correct answers to all questions in a past examination paper does not mean that one knows that subject, for the subject is much more than a few right answers To know a subject, one requires the tools and the ability to tackle problems one has never seen before This is what education is all about What is true of differential equations /////(or any other area of knowledge) is true of fundamental philosophy as well Unfortunately, way too many people prefer solutions simply given to them over learning the much more useful art of how to think, which would enable them to figure out how to address issues themselves This intellectual lethargy is especially hard to explain on the part of Muslims considering the emphasis the Quran places on its readers educating themselves instead of merely parroting correct answers that they have memorized It is curious how it never occurs to an overwhelm-
ing majority of Muslims to open the Quran to see what it has to say Although they claim that it is the unadulterated verbatim speech of God for responses to any and all questions (or objections from critics) they rely on other sources (anything but the Quran) instead A strange state of affairs, to say the least Some of these questions are: Can non-Muslims enter Paradise? Is Islam fourteen centuries old? Was it in the Hijaz in the seventh century A D that the daily prayers were first made mandatory? Is praying alone acceptable or one must always pray in congregation? Will people of the Fire dwell therein till eternity? Under what circumstances is repentance acceptable? Are men superior to women in Islam? Can prophets make mistakes? Are the descendants of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) superior to ordinary folks by virtue of their lineage alone? This may surprise many Muslims but all of these questions (and more) are addressed in the Quran Most Muslims are content to read the Arabic text (without knowing any Arabic) for blessings, despite the Quran explicitly stating that it has been revealed to guide mankind The man who does not read the Quran with a view to understanding it, does not know why the Quran was revealed And since he does not know the answer to this question he feels no motivation to read it in order to understand it A vicious circle if ever there was one! Knowing correct answers is a relatively minor part of education To be educated is to be able to address new questions relevant to unfamiliar situations This is precisely how the Quran educates Not only
IP a k i s t a n ’ s p o t e n t i a l f o r d e p l o y i n g
5 G
pouches
take coordinated motion to get the right of entry to obstacle which includes price, literacy, and infrastructure obstacles in an effort to get near the virtual hole Furthermore, utilizing 5G to address social issues like agriculture, schooling, and healthcare transport will open up innovative possibilities for equitable increase Pakistan can even use the new 5G technology in order to accelerate its digital transformation through an enabling environment of innovation, investment, and growth ” It offers a great opportunity for Pakistan, but actualization would however require a holistic approach that transcends infrastructure construction and policy change improved technology and development promotion Getting 5G right would mean collaborative working with telecom companies, government agencies, businesses, gamers, and regular people Pakistan can even use the new 5G technology in order to accelerate its digital transformation through an enabling environment of innovation investment and growth
The writer is currently working as a researcher in Mehran UET, Jamshoro and can be reached at: yaqoobalibaloch4@gmail com
It offers a great oppor tunity for Pakistan, but actualization would, however, require a holistic approach that transcends infrastructure construction and policy chang e , improved technology, and development promotion Getting 5G right would mean collaborative working with telecom companies, government ag encies, businesses, gamers, and regular people Pakistan can even use the new 5G technology in order to accelerate its digital transformation through an enabling environment of innovation, investment, and growth
YAQOOB ALI BALOCH
Protests of a Civilized Societ y
IN democratic societies considered civilized worldwide the right to peaceful assembly and protest is fundamental Nevertheless governments establish rules and regulations to manage protests in order to preserve public order, ensure citizen safety, and uphold the rule of law These regulations are designed to strike a balance between the rights of protesters and the broader societal interests In the USA the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech however, demonstrations are typically subject to local laws and regulations Permits are commonly required for large gatherings or activities that could impact public safety or traffic Law enforcement collaborates with organizers to uphold orderly and peaceful protests Instances of violence or damage to property may result in arrests and legal repercussions for those involved, while peaceful demonstrators are safeguarded by constitutional rights In the United Kingdom the right to protest is safeguarded under the human Rights Act 1998 which incorporates the european Convention on human Rights into UK legislation Demonstrations generally require advance notification to the police under the Public Order Act 1986, particularly if they are expected to surpass specified thresholds in terms of size or disruption Authorities have the authority to impose conditions on protests to prevent disorder ensure safety and protect the rights of others Unlawful assemblies or violent acts can lead to arrests and prosecution under criminal law Germany regulates protests under the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) and the Assembly Act (Versammlungsgesetz) While freedom of assembly is protected organizers are typically required to notify authorities in advance for public demonstrations Police may impose restrictions or prohibit assemblies if there are concerns about public safety or potential violence Violent protests or actions that threaten public order can result in arrests and legal
consequences The focus remains on balancing the right to protest with the responsibility to maintain public order and safety In Canada, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of peaceful assembly and expression Public assemblies including protests are generally lawful as long as they remain peaceful and comply with legal requirements Organizers may need permits for large gatherings or protests that could impact public safety or traffic Law enforcement agencies have the authority to manage protests ensure public safety and prevent violence Individuals engaging in unlawful behaviour during protests may face charges under criminal law Australia protects the right to peaceful protest under its Constitution and various state and territory laws Authorities may require permits for protests in public spaces to manage logistics and ensure public safety Police have powers to oversee protests enforce conditions and prevent disruptions to public order Acts of violence vandalism or obstruction can lead to arrests and prosecution under criminal law The legal framework aims to strike a balance between the right to protest and the obligation to maintain law and order In democratic societies the right to peaceful protest is a foundational aspect of civic engagement and serves as a potent means of advocating for change Nevertheless, along with this right comes a set of duties that protesters must fulfil to ensure their actions positively contribute to public discourse and uphold social harmony
Maintaining peaceful resolution is paramount as exemplified by numerous instances from around the world
The People Power Revolution in the Philippines illustrates a non-violent mass movement that ousted a dictator In February 1986 millions converged at eDSA in Manila demanding President Ferdinand Marcos’ resignation and supporting military defections ultimately restoring democracy through peaceful demonstrations and solidarity
The Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia further demonstrates the peaceful overthrow of communist rule in eastern europe Beginning in November 1989 mass protests and strikes demanded political reforms and an end to one-party rule led by dissident figures like
Václav havel hundreds of thousands peacefully gathered in Prague s Wenceslas Square and other cities, contributing to transformative political change The revolution led to the Communist government’s resignation and paved the way for democratic elections The Baltic Way was an extraordinary display of non-violent protest involving around two million people across estonia Latvia and Lithuania On 23 August 23, marking the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, citizens of the Baltic states formed a human chain stretching over 600 km from Tallinn to Vilnius holding hands and singing national songs they peacefully expressed their desire for independence from Soviet rule The Baltic Way endures as a symbol of solidarity and peaceful resistance against oppression In Chile, starting from October 2019, a series of massive protests erupted demanding social and economic reforms Initially sparked by a hike in subway fares the protests swiftly expanded to encompass broader grievances about inequality healthcare education and constitutional reforms dating back to the Pinochet dictatorship Millions marched peacefully through the streets of Santiago and other cities participating in demonstrations for months Following contested presidential elections in August 2020 Belarus witnessed extensive protests against the longstanding regime of President Alexander Lukashenko Known as the Revolution of Dignity, demonstrators peacefully assembled in Minsk and other cities, advocating for fair elections,
respect for human rights and an end to authoritarian governance The demonstrations upheld a commitment to non-violence
In contrast, the situation in Pakistan diverges significantly from more orderly societies Unfortunately, Pakistan has experienced several instances of violent protests in recent years These protests characterized by their intensity and occasional outbreaks of violence highlight underlying complexities within Pakistani society and the challenges of addressing these issues through peaceful means Incidents of violent protests often resulted in casualties and injuries among protesters, law enforcement personnel and bystanders
The loss of life and physical harm underscores the seriousness and potential dangers associated with escalated demonstrations Blockades of roads, acts of vandalism, and damage to public and private property disrupt daily life and essential services Such disruptions affect businesses schools and transportation networks impacting livelihoods and economic stability Persistent incidents of violent protests can exacerbate political polarization and deepen social divisions within Pakistani society Debates surrounding the legitimacy of protests responses by authorities and media coverage can further heighten tensions Continued unrest and violence may also deter both domestic and foreign investment potentially stalling economic growth and developmental initiatives Stability and predictability are critical for sustained economic progress
It is important to note that Pakistan has laws and regulations designed to protect lives and property and stringent measures are in place to address instances of violence These include provisions such as Obstructing public way (Section 283 PPC), Wrongful restraint or confinement (Section 342 PPC), Criminal intimidation (Section 506 PPC), Assault or violence (Sections 322 323 324 PPC) Unlawful assembly or rioting (Sections 141-149 PPC) Causing hurt or grievous hurt (Sections 319-338 PPC) Wrongful occupation of public space or land (Section 297 PPC), encroachment on public roads or spaces (Section 297 PPC), Creating public nuisance (Section 290 PPC) and Disobeying lawful orders (Section 188 PPC) etc These offences related to obstruction of public pathways are punishable under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), allowing police to arrest sus-
pects without
in Ukraine destroying a children’s hospital in Kyiv But Modi would not let that derail the summit he is playing for higher stakes Modi knows well how to opportunistically turn someone else s war to his advantage his objective, after all, is to raise India’s profile – and his own – in the hope of becoming an indispensable power, one equally courted by democrats and dictators Modi s geopolitical acrobatics is nothing new India s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru (of whom Modi is a bitter critic) was the original author of India s longstanding policy of nonalignment,
pockets with hard cash for the war in Ukraine estimated to have saved about $7 9bn just between April 2023 and March 2024, India has become the second biggest importer of Russian oil, just behind China, which has similarly benefited from steeply discounted prices Delhi’s response to critics has been to say that by buying up Russian oil it is helping keep global oil prices low Meanwhile Modi s courting of Putin has dealt another blow to the notion that Russia can or will be globally isolated Indeed, the summit is a part of a broader trend In the days before meeting Modi, Putin schmoozed with central Asian countries at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Kazakhstan (India has also become a member) where he exchanged views with a western sometimes-ally Turkey s president, Recep Tayyip erdoğan Before that, Putin had another meeting with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, whom he generally refers to as his “dear friend” (fully reciprocated by Xi); and welcomed Viktor Orbán a self-appointed mediator in the Ukraine war to Moscow It is almost as if there is a queue of international statesmen eager to knock on the Kremlin s gates Putin clearly cherishes every opportunity to prove that his vision for the world – he predicts the inevitable decline of the US and the rise of multipolarity – has been spot on But he is also sending a signal to Beijing By showing that it has other international partners – including a robust relationship with one of China s greatest adversaries, India – Putin hopes to ensure China does not take its relationship with Moscow for granted The game is not without risks China has enormous economic leverage over Russia one that India comes nowhere close to matching Nearly half of Russian oil and gas exports end up in China which also serves as an essential supplier of industrial equipment and electronics
The Chinese yuan is now the main currency traded on the Moscow stock exchange Yet so far, Xi has been very patient with Putin whom he values as an important strategic partner in the context of the rising threat of a Sino-American confrontation Whatever jealousies he may have over Putin s flirtation with Modi, Xi will probably put them aside in the name of his broader strategic purpose he may even do a better job engaging Putin, for example by finally delivering on the promise to contract for another big gas pipeline from Russia to China thus throwing a lifeline to the pitiful Gazprom that has lost access to its former european markets Xi certainly will not put Putin under any stress over Russia s continued war of aggression against Ukraine Modi, by contrast, has been rather critical of the Russian invasion he even reportedly told Putin during their get-together that when innocent children are killed the heart bleeds and that pain is very terrifying Still judging by the outcome of the summit, the Indian prime minister survived this pain, and found comfort in Putin’s friendly embrace Sergey Radchenko is Wilson E Schmidt
Th e sight of the children buried under the rubble salvaged by older children, is enough for me and, I am sure, for anyone who was ever silenced by the lobby, not to cave in but to overcome any hurdles they put in our way of speaking truth to power Nine months into the Israeli genocidal assault on the Gaza Strip it seems that its parallel attack on freedom of speech on Palestine is continuing with intensity making it difficult for the general public to appreciate the reality in Palestine beyond the manipulated and distorted coverage offered by mainstream media It is clear that we are facing a coordinated campaign led by the pro-Israeli lobby and aimed at continuing the historical denial of the ongoing Nakba The campaign began with a warning to many journalists and academics in the West not to mention the historical let alone moral, context to the hamas assault on Israel on October 7 A warning was even directed at the General Secretary of the United Nations for merely mentioning the historical context Analyzing the unnoticed acts of repression put in place since October 7 is very important because it allows us to raise an important question: is the pro-Israeli lobby still powerful enough to silence free speech on Palestine or has the October 7 events exposed its deficiencies?
This question prodded me to write a 500-page history of the lobby, as I believe the answer can be best given by providing a historical context, which enables us to appreciate the nature of the lobbying efforts today and predict their future impact Immediately after October 7 not only it was prohibited to mention the context but also any criticism of the Israeli actions in Gaza was silenced All over the global north, universities ousted students simply for being members of outfits such as Students for Justice in Palestine They even disinvited academics or authors who dared to criticize Israel Similar actions were taken against journalists and people in public services even those who accompanied their criticism with a condemnation of the hamas attack on October 7 2023
In the first wave of suppression, some venues across the United States canceled pre-planned film festivals or annual conferences on human rights It felt like being back in the 1960s when the word ‘Palestine’ in the US was equated with terrorism This equation at least in the US is not valid anymore among the general public painfully only once the full picture of the horrors of Gaza reached the American television screens The censorship and suppression, however, are still there The assault on freedom of speech on Palestine also appeared in cyberspace Meta, which runs most of the social media platforms was and still is active in silencing voices in support of the Palestinians on both Instagram and Facebook The non-governmental organization human Rights Watch recorded more than 1 000 takedowns of Palestine-related content on these two platforms by the end of 2023 According to the organization, only one of the contents removed could have been considered inappropriate What is even more worrying is the claim by the organization that the suppression of free speech by Meta is systematic and global Suppression was also intensified at a legislative level The American Congress is discussing a bill under the name antiSemitism Awareness Act There are already bills against antisemitism, so the aim of the new legislation is merely to weaponize antisemitism and remove any criticism of Israel from the categories protected by the First Amendment
Unbelievably, according to the new bill, antisemitism can also be defined as accusing someone of double standards over Israel or “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination” Such legislation was translated into brutal police actions in many parts of the world against pro-Palestinian protests and encampments This was accompanied by
H A M A S T R U C E
AT R I S K A S I S R A E L I S T R I K E K I L L S O V E R T W O
leave
saying Video on social media showed families packed onto donkey carts and in the backs of trucks piled with mattresses and other belongings making their way through Gaza City s streets to flee areas under Israeli evacuation orders Gaza City is being wiped out This is what is happening Israel is forcing us to
BMW hit-and-runcase: Main accused’s father sacked as Shiv Sena deput y leader
Chinese, Guinea-Bissau presidents hold talks, elevate ties
r e s t e d M i h i r S h a h f r o m Vi r a r o n Tu e sd a y t w o d a y s a f t e r t h e s h o c k i n g i n c i d e n t H e h a d b e e n a b s c o n d i n g a f t e r t h e c a r h e w a s a l l e g e d l y d r i v i n g h i t a s c o o t e r o n D r A n n i e B e s a n t R o a d i n Wo r l i o n S u n d a y J u l y 7 F o u r t e e n t e a m s w e r e f o r m e d b y M u m b a i p ol i c e t o n a b h i m T h e p o l i c e h a d a l s o a r r e s t e d R a j e s h S h a h a n d h i s d r i v e r R a j r i s h i S i n g h B i d a w a t w h o w a s a l l e g e d l y i n t h e B M W a t t h e t i m e o f t
n t China and Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday elevated their relations to a strategic partnership Chinese President Xi Jinping and Umaro Sissoco Embalo president of the Republic of GuineaBissau announced this during their talks in Beijing Noting that the bilateral relations between China and Guinea-Bissau have deepened in recent years, political mutual trust has strengthened pragmatic cooperation has expanded and international coordination has been enhanced, Xi said China supports Guinea-Bissau in independently exploring a development path that suits its national conditions
Xi said China is willing to work with Guinea-Bissau to inherit the traditional friendship, consolidate political mutual trust expand pragmatic cooperation continuously enrich the connotation of the strategic partnership between the two countries and help Guinea-Bissau achieve better national development
He said China stands ready to strengthen friendly
exchanges with GuineaBissau at all levels, enhance experience-sharing on governance and expand cooperation in areas such as agriculture mining infrastructure construction and the blue economy under the guidance of the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Xi said China wel-
comes high-quality agricultural products from Guinea-Bissau to enter the Chinese market and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and carry out cooperation in GuineaBissau and help GuineaBissau transform its resource potential into development momentum China is willing to continue to provide support within its capacity for Guinea-Bissau s domestic construction and will continue to send its rice experts and medical teams to assist Guinea-Bissau in ensuring food security and developing public health he said Xi called on the two sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, youth and other fields to bring the two peoples’ hearts closer
China, Bangladesh elevate ties in President Xi ’s meeting with PM Hasina
C o r r e S p o n d
n t China and Bangladesh on Wednesday elevated their relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was on an official visit to China announced the upgrade during a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Xi noted that China and Bangladesh are close and friendly neighbors whose friendly exchanges date back over a thousand years He said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, the two countries have always shown mutual respect and support treated each other on an equal footing and engaged in win-win cooperation This has set a good example of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries, especially between Global South countries, Xi said He said China is ready to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year as an opportunity to deepen the high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) expand cooperation across the board in intensity and reach and advance the sound and steady development of the China-Bangladesh comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership Xi emphasized that the two sides should carry forward the fine tradition of mutual support and deepen political mutual trust China supports Bangladesh in adhering to an independent foreign policy
Indiscriminate operations against electricit y thieves, defaulters ongoing in HESCO Region
Putin, Modi stress peaceful resolution of Ukraine crisis
KSE-100 INDEX SLIDES OVER 1%, GOES BELOW 80,000 AMID SELLING PRESSURE
CORPORATE CORNER
Climb2Change, a global initiative integrating the bank’s comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts and milestones Through the initiative Mashreq has undertaken a mission to scale and clean up 14 of the world s mightiest mountains with the aim of reaching 7 peaks and the base camps of the remaining 7 mountains The expedition in Pakistan, spanning from June to August 2024, will witness renowned climbers, Maria Conceicao and Naila Kiani, actively engage in cleaning up two prominent peaks K2 and Broad Peak (K3) and the base camps at Goro2 and Concordia
was the chief guest, and QS
Regional
ager Rami Oud attended as the guest of honor The event was also attended by UOL Deputy Chairman Board of Governors Uzair Rauf, Rector Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf Director QEC Syed Faizan Haider Senior Consultant QS Zaeem Siddiqui Vice Chancellor of King Edward Medical University Prof Dr Mehmood Ayaz Vice Chancellor Rauf Azam Talat Naseer Pasha and over 30 vice chancellors and faculty members from various universities In his address, Dr Shahid Munir noted that Pakistani universities have improved their standings in QS and Times Higher Education rankings over the past three years competing globally He mentioned the creation of a local ranking system to further enhance the quality of education Highlighting that the oldest university in Pakistan, Punjab University, is around 140 years old, he stated that higher education started developing in Pakistan in 2005 Emphasizing the importance of research alongside teaching he urged Pakistani universities to bridge the gap between academia and industry and move towards applied research He also mentioned that only 38% of youth in Pakistan have access to higher education and cited terrorism as a barrier to attracting international students and faculty
Rami Oud the guest of honor expressed his pleasure at visiting Pakistan particularly the University of Lahore He acknowledged the progress Pakistani universities have made in higher education, noting that 14 universities have achieved global rankings The University of Lahore, a private sector institution, secured the second position in the QS World Ranking He stressed the need for Pakistani universities to focus on research to compete internationally and highlighted the bright future of Pakistani universities and students Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf mentioned the addition of three new indicators to the QS ranking criteria, improving the ranking process He stressed the importance of focusing on both teaching and research At the end of the ceremony award certificates were distributed to the vice chancellors and representatives of the ranked universities
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan s largest Data Hackathon, the Jazz Digital Squad, has concluded with a grand finale in Islamabad This pioneering initiative led by Jazz the country s leading digital operator invited university students nationwide to get creative and visualize key insights using the data visualization software, Tableau The event aligns with Jazz's vision of developing Digital Pakistan and its commitment to digitally upskilling the country s youth The Jazz team visited universities across Pakistan, conducting interactive sessions to educate students about the program and the significance of data in driving innovation and decision-making The top five teams that presented their datasets at the finale included Bhit Datawits from IBA Data Dazzlers from LUMS Team Luna from FAST NUCES, Data Dragons from IBA, and The Data Aficionados from NUST While Data Dragons and Team Luna secured the third and second positions, respectively The Data Aficionados claimed the winning title Ali Naseer Chief Data & Strategy Officer at Jazz commented Jazz believes in the power of data, and as the custodian of one of the largest data lakes in Pakistan, we are convinced that data prowess holds the potential to transform our society The Jazz Digital Squad is more than just a hackathon; it s a step towards cultivating a data-driven mindset among our youth The future of Pakistan's digital economy lies in the hands of these bright men
and women, and we are proud to support them on their journey Harnessing data effectively is crucial for driving innovation and progress in today s digital age Also speaking on the occasion, Tazeen Shahid, Chief People Officer at Jazz, commented, “At Jazz, we believe in nurturing talent and providing opportunities for growth The Jazz Digital Squad not only paves the way for improved talent acquisition by establishing a new early pipeline, but also strengthens our recruitment process through robust industry-academia linkages
Malir Expressway so that its first phase (one segment) could be opened for the public in the second week of August He also directed the Water Board to start work on the rehabilitation of the Hub Canal project on the first of August so that it could be completed within a year The CM issued these directives while
S TA B L I
IHC ’s Justice Jahangiri receives ‘suspicious c alls and messages’
source said On Monday last IHC CJ had declared that the court cannot tolerate any malicious campaign against any judge any longer as he led the full court bench hearing matter of social media campaign against the high court judge A smear social media campaign was launched against Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri terming his academic degree invalid Subsequently a reference was also filed on the same matter in the Supreme Judicial Council The IHC took action in a similar matter earlier as well but nobody learnt a lesson from it, the IHC chief justice said, warning that whoever was involved in the campaign would be brought to justice"
The IHC CJ's remarks came during the contempt of court proceedings that the court started against those involved in the smear campaign against the IHC judge
The high court s full bench headed by the IHC CJ and comprised Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani Justice Mian-
gul Hassan Aurangzeb, Justice Babar Sattar, Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz Justice Jahangiri was not a part of the bench It should be noted that Jahangiri was a member of the IHC judges group who wrote a letter on March 25, calling upon Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa to convene the judicial convention to consider the matter of alleged interference of intelligence operatives in the judicial functions or "intimidation" of judges in a manner that undermined the independence of the judiciary PETITION FILED AGAINST JUSTICE
JAHANGIRI
A petition was filed in IHC on Wednesday urging the court to bar Justice Tariq Jahangiri from work until his academic degrees are verified
The petitioner urged the IHC to summon Justice Jahangiri and ask him under what authority he is still performing his duty as a judge with fake degrees Mian Dawood Advocate filed the petition against Justice Tariq Jahangiri in the IHC
15 dead, 2 injured as passenger jeep plunges into river bank in A JK
Wednesday allegedly due to a technical fault The overloaded Muzaffarabad-bound jeep was carrying 16 passengers including the driver all from Lawat Bala, a village 100 kilometers from Muzaffarabad The vehicle veered off the road near Devlian, 35 kilometers from Muzaffarabad and tumbled down to the riverbank stopping short of the river Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad Nadeem Ahmed Janjua indicated that a broken tie-rod caused the driver to lose control Rescuers found 14 people dead at the scene, while two children survived
with critical injuries Victims included Muhammad Ashraf, 50; Ghulam Yasin, 60; Muhammad Farid Butt, 24; Salma, 16; Salim Butt, 12; Resham Jan, 65; Majid Khan, 27; Tariq Mir 25; Zardana Bibi 45; Zeenat Bibi 13; Saima Bibi 40; Rafique Butt 19; Ishrat Bibi 14; and Tanzeel Butt 12 Survivors were Ahsan Farooq, 10, and Nabeel, 7 Ulfat Bibi, 45, a resident hit by the tumbling vehicle, was also injured All injured were taken to CMH Muzaffarabad, where Ahsan later succumbed to his injuries Nabeel remains in critical condition but Ulfat is out of danger Road accidents are common in AJK s mountainous areas often blamed on faulty public transport vehicles altered to carry more passengers These vehicles, despite their condition, receive fitness certificates from authorities On June 9, 17 people drowned when a similarly modified vehicle plunged into the Neelum River
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has strongly supported phone tapping by security agencies, emphasizing its necessity in the ongoing war against terrorism Asif ’s remarks came amid heated debates and criticism from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party especially from party leader Omer Ayub In an interview with a foreign media outlet, Khawaja Asif underscored the importance of phone tapping for national security
“We
Iddat Case: Khawar Maneka files two petitions in Islamabad Sessions Cour
followers find the same thing hateful Asif remarked Asif reiterated that phone tapping is crucial for combating terrorism and safeguarding national security “I will support phone tapping under current circumstances It is necessary in the war against terrorism ” he said He also called on critics to consider the broader implications of
