On the occasion, he directed the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to prioritize installation of latest scanners on Pakistani ports
The prime minister said that the customs authorities in collaboration with the ports authorities should ensure immediate steps for complete utilization of the sea ports in Pakistan
The prime minister was briefed that process for installation of latest scanners on ports by the FBR was in the final stages which would enable rapid scanning of containers in the shortest time with the assistance of latest gadgets and artificial intelligence
He said for increasing country’s exports the government was taking measures on priority basis
Federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Jam Kamal Khan, Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, Ahad Khan Cheema, Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah chairman FBR and other relevant officials accompanied the prime minister
The prime minister was apprised that Hutchison Port, South Asian Pakistan Terminal was amongst the few global terminals located in deep seas which was being automatically operated upon
The terminal had been equipped with latest technology and scanners and its operations were of the international standards
The prime minister was further informed that port had the capacity to handle the shipment of 35 00 000 containers annually
The prime minister appreciated the latest operations of the port
G
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that a new era of cooperation with China commenced in the areas of information technology, communication, minerals and mining, and energy, which would boost economic progress, regional connectivity and bilateral ties
Chairing a meeting to review the implementation of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the two countries reached during the PM s recent visit to China, the premier said that he would not tolerate any disruption in their implementation and would personally supervise the process
Referring to the longstanding Pakistan-China friendship he said that China
had always supported Pakistan in difficult and hard times China has emerged as the strongest economic power and Pakistan can emulate its development, he added
The PM observed that recently a delegation of Chinese shoe manufacturing companies visited Pakistan to discuss the relocation of their plants adding that such companies had the capacity to invest about $5-8 billion the PM Office s media wing said in a statement
He said that the local shoe manufacturers’ association was in constant contact with the Chinese companies in that regard Moreover PM Sharif said about 12
' Pe r s i s te n t i n c re a s e i n p owe
educate their children; they have not even been able to provide milk and bring food to the table, he noted
which the country s security may be at stake, he underlined
Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Shadbad (PTS) Dr Muhammad Hanif Mughal has said that persistent increase in cost of electricity is destructive for masses and economy as well Talking to party workers here on Sunday he said that continuous raise in power tariff was a reprehensive business practice which has destroyed the economy and turned nation mentally ill Dr Hanif Mughal said that politicians and bureaucrats were the slaves of those who own IPPs; therefore, they were making decisions that were putting the nation's security at risk He said that constant rise in electricity prices was extremely dangerous for the country s future The power sector is destroying the economy as rising inflation and unemployment have made people's lives miserable Commoners have not been able to
The PTS chairman was of the view that people were forced to pay huge bills even after being deprived of electricity Despite this electricity prices were continuously increasing so that the interests of politicians and IPP owners can be furthered, he added
He said that the basic electricity tariff has been increased by 7 rupees 12 paisa per unit while taxes and fixed charges continuously increase The government has also started increasing the prices of petroleum products, making the lives of the masses difficult
Dr Hanif Mughal said that the present government has no clear strategy to run the country which affects its credibility Increasing the privileges of the elite and the burden of taxes on the common man has risked the political future
Such decisions were sinking Pakistan into a quagmire, and as a result of
The PTS chairman said that the budget had reflected the true nature of the rulers Half of the population of the country was living below the poverty line and their patience was running out
He expressed concern over the disproportionate taxation policies, asserting that such measures often lead to significant reductions in disposable income for the average citizen
Dr Hanif Mughal said Pakistan's interest payments had reached unmanageable levels due to irresponsible spending
He also criticized the lack of measures to combat smuggling and the absence of economic benefits reaching the people of remote areas
The PTS chairman warned that if timely measures were not taken public unrest and protests will increase, which could prove dangerous for the country's stability
Karachi to experience monsoon rains from today
KARACHI s tA f f R e P o R t Karachi is expected to get some respite from the sweltering weather as monsoon rains have been forecast from July 8 to 10 in the city, a weather expert revealed Weather expert Owais Haider said the metropolis was expected to receive drizzling in the evening or night today (Sunday) He said “a thunder-cell” was expected to take shape in the northeast
However temperature was expected to hover between 37°C to 39 °C, as heat intensity was likely to increase during the day, he said On the other hand, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has
also confirmed that Karachi may receive drizzling today evening or night Nevertheless, overall weather would remain hot and humid in the next 24 hours it said The Met Office said winds were blowing at a speed of 17 kilometres from the west and humidity in the air was recorded 74% It predicted the mercury to rise as high as 37 °C In view of upcoming monsoon spell the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) of Karachi on Saturday imposed rain emergency in areas falling under its jurisdiction by appointing special teams for timely drainage of rainwater A CBC spokesperson said in a state-
ment 1 288 staffers have been appointed on special duties under its rain emergency plan, including 638 in seven sectors while 650 other staffers will work for the drainage of rainwater The board also spotted low-lying areas which could be affected after downpours Special teams have been assigned for performing specific tasks in DHA Phase-I to Phase VIII, Clifton Block 8, 9 and the market area
It added that heavy machinery would be deployed in the affected areas whereas additional teams would be deployed at commercial avenues of Khayaban-e-Shujaat Khayaban-e-Shehbaz, Khayaban-e-Badar and Khayaban-e-Tariq
MARYAM NAWA Z ALERTS ADMIN, WASA TO ‘IMPENDING’
RAINS EMERGENCIES ACROSS PUNJAB
Faisalabad
ISLAMABAD
A staggering 5 641 dog-bite cases have been reported across Pakistan in just one week according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) officials
Azad Kashmir and 6 in Gilgit-Baltistan sources added Last month, a shocking increase was reported in the number of dog bite cases as 7 957 cases were reported in one week across Pakistan
disputes O ver 5,641 dog-bite cases registered nationwide during past week
According to NIH data, Punjab topped the list with 3,264 cases, followed by Sindh with 1 601 cases Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 615 cases while Balochistan saw 80 cases Meanwhile 75 cases were reported in
Costly
In a significant development the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) in Karachi launched its own anti-rabies vaccine (ARV), namely DowRab, for the dog bites victims in Sindh The reports indicated that around one million individuals in Pakistan are bitten by stray dogs every year leading to an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 deaths from rabies
fuelling
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad the country needs over 2 million doses of antirabies vaccine (ARV) on an annual basis with a significant portion being imported from India Currently, Pakistan is grappling with a critical shortage of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) attributed to
says PDP chief
in critical condition Meanwhile a tragic accident on the National Highway occurred near Sakrand in Nawabshah where a trailer overturned, resulting in the death of one person The deceased has been identified as 50-year-old Rashid Ali who was a resident of Sadiqabad According to the Motorway Police the trailer was travelling from Karachi to Lahore and overturned during an overtaking manoeuvre near Sakrand The accident has significantly disrupted traffic flow on the National Highway s ta f f r e p o r t
IHC Bar stands against 'malicious campaign' targeting Justice Jahangiri
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Bar Association on Sunday condemned a social media campaign targeting Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri and described the campaign as malicious and harmful In a statement issued here the IHC Executive Committee said that a meeting has been convened on July 9 to discuss the campaign, saying that no one would be allowed to undermine the independence of the judiciary and integrity of the honourable judges According to the announcement Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri is recognized as a competent and diligent judge with a distinguished career as a lawyer and Deputy Attorney General The Bar Association praised his dedication and professional achievements The Islamabad High Court Bar Association reaffirmed its commitment to judicial independence and autonomy in its statement underscoring the importance of supporting the judiciary against baseless attacks In response to a letter circulating on social media purportedly from the Karachi University s (KU) controller of examinations regarding the law degree of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, and the subsequent filing of a reference with the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) the IHC is expected to issue an official statement to the campaign against the judge s ta f f r e p o r t
on PIA s privatisation
However, it seems that CAA has been rather undeterred and involved in grave irregularities in the key appointment of Additional Director Aero Medical
It has come to light that the doctor who recently vacated the said office suffered from hearing impairment and was in fact disabled in one ear and was ironically responsible for assessing pilots’s hearing ability
The doctor was appointed the post on “favouritism” despite the Human Resource (HR) department s reservations Furthermore CAA sources say that the official was sent abroad and another physically fit doctor was presented in his
Aletter from the Prime Minister s Office calls on all ministries to justify themselves or else be reformed out of existence On the other hand, a letter to the PMO from the Speaker of the Nstional Assembly might help explain why the government needs reform in the first place The Speaker s letter says that the Public Accounts Committee needs to reconcile thousands of audit objections between 1985-19866 and 2022-2023, involving billions of rupees and needs the PMO’s assistance in making the various ministries and divisions comply
The PMO s letter seems to be merely making the ministries go through motions already gone through before, at the time of the Eighteenth Amendment, and the transfer of functions to the provincial governments There are two areas which the ministries are asked to consider: which bodies or organisations are performing functions which should be handed over to the provinces, and which can be made subject to public-private partnership The result of such an exercise will be to reduce the federal government s headcount but not in absolute terms merely transfer it to the provinces or the private sector The steps do not include any measures of improving productivity so that headcounts could be reduced because the same work had become possible with less people The shrinking of government is something that the PTI government promised, though the Institutional Reforms Committee headed by former SBP Governor Dr Ishrat Hussain ran into a brick wall and Dr Ishrat resigned The present government has set up a fresh reform committee, but if political will continues to be lacking nothing will come of it yet again
One of the strongest proponents of reform is the IMF which seems interested in shrinking the government primarily because it reduces the salary bill Because the government is so desperate to obtain a fresh IMF package, it is barely possible that reforms will be pushed against the counterpressure of the bureaucracy which has empirebuilding tendencies so strong that it has ensured that the posts earmarked for abolition
How societies become democratic
all his activities
It
a
and
TH E Orange Line train has been serving the public in Lahore for the last couple of years
Recently, I got the chance to travel on it as my vehicle was out of order Being a literate person, I was easily able to manage all the activities at the station by following the instructions
But despite all my efforts I still looked like a firsttimer at the station As I was inquiring about the different stations at the reception to find the one nearest to my location, a simple-looking man standing near me said, “Brother, I think you are traveling for the first time” I said, Yes The simple-looking man, who was a factory worker took his ticket entered the main area of the station picked up the train and went away There is a perception among people that development for the elites is sustainable and effective while for the poor it is a waste of money Similarly, it is said that the general public misuses facilities provided by the government while elites benefit from it and pay back to the government However I observed from my interaction with that simple factory worker that it is training that matters and creates the difference It is training that makes an ordinary man benefit from
ities are
Despite being more
and
with technology
I was
and a
when I first traveled on the orange
man
But the
B r i d g i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r u n d e r p r i v i l e g e
tural
ical
and
with malnutrition and preventable diseases such as polio remaining prevalent Child labour persists due to
necessity further entrenching
by denying children educational opportunities and a nurturing environment essential for their growth Comparative analysis with other regions highlights varying approaches to poverty alleviation Other South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh have implemented targeted policies and international collaborations leading to significant reductions in poverty rates in some areas However intra-country disparities persist within these nations reflecting uneven political commitment and resource allocation European nations generally boast lower poverty rates thanks to robust social welfare systems, universal healthcare, and strong education frameworks The Middle East with its economic diversity and geopolitical complexities also faces poverty challenges influenced by oil economies and regional conflicts
To uplift impoverished children in Pakistan and foster sustainable development, strategic interventions focusing on skill development are essential Education investment is paramount requiring improvements in access quality and relevance to labour market demands Vocational training programmes tailored to local needs can enhance youth employability and income prospects, contributing significantly to poverty alleviation and economic growth Collaborative efforts involving government, civil society, and the private sector are crucial to expanding access to healthcare and social protection
Strengthening social safety nets can mitigate the impact of economic shocks on vulnerable families and prevent children from sliding deeper into poverty Promoting gender equality is integral to poverty alleviation efforts, empowering girls through education and economic opportunities Addressing cultural barriers and stereotypes that perpetuate gender disparities is essential for achieving long-term societal trans-
training is given to the untrained, no matter who they are, they will become trained Training is the most important thing in life This is just one aspect In our lives, we lack training in every aspect of life The people of Pakistan are said to lack civic and political sense People lack social and political wisdom But in reality people have not been trained to develop social and political wisdom It is said that the public is not aware of the importance of their opinion and vote But, have we made them realize that their vote or opinion matters and has worth in the political crisis in the country? By depriving
formation and inclusive growth
The training and skill development programme for poor children can be structured to ensure effective outcomes This approach focuses on both technical and soft skills with continuous support mentorship and monitoring being crucial for their long-term success and sustainability
The methodology for skill development includes assessment and needs identification, designing tailored training programmes, collaborating with educational institutions and NGOs incorporating life skills and financial literacy offering mentorship and guidance arranging practical experience and internships monitoring progress and ensuring sustainability and scalability
Skills critical for poverty alleviation include technical and vocational skills aligned with market demands such as in agriculture construction information technology and entrepreneurship These skills not only enhance employability but also empower individuals to generate income thereby breaking the cycle of poverty Linking skill development with earnings potential is crucial For instance, vocational training in sectors like agriculture can improve farming techniques leading to higher crop yields and increased income for rural families
Digital literacy is provided through training on basic computer skills internet usage and familiarity with digital tools that can open doors to remote work opportunities and global markets, expanding earning potential beyond local limitations Financial literacy educates children about personal finance savings budgeting and the basics of financial planning empowering individuals to manage their finances effectively and plan for the future
Informed by regional and international best practices, poverty in Pakistan must be addressed via comprehensive policies spanning all sectors Giving kids the tools they need to grow into capable adults is essential because it improves their own chances while also contributing to the stability and advancement of society as a whole Pakistan s pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development goals requires persistent dedication, creative thinking, and multisectoral cooperation Pakistan can ensure that all children have the chance to flourish and make valuable contributions to the progress of society in the future by investing in its young especially the most marginalised ones
PakistanÊs pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development goals requires persistent dedication, creative thinking, and multisectoral cooperation. Pakistan can ensure that all children have the chance to flourish and make valuable contributions to the progress of society in the future by investing in its young, especially the most marginalised ones.
Breaking
cycle
violence and intolerance in Pakistan
Dr ZAfAr KHAn SAfDAr
MUHAMMAD ALI ALVI
Impor tance of legal aid in dispensation of justice
A system must be put in place
mated poverty rate was 37 2 percent in 2023 in Pakistan Legal aid thus assumes enormous importance in the context of access to justice where deviance and discrimination are deeply rooted in the socio-political milieu Despite nearly 77 years of independence, Pakistan s legal aid system remains in a state of crisis The Constitution explicitly guarantees the right to affordable and efficient justice, free from discrimination, yet the State has failed to effectively implement this fundamental right The legal aid system continues to struggle leaving many citizens without access to justice In Pakistan, a large section of the population is unable to access the formal legal system mainly for want of financial resources and general lack of awareness of the law and legal rights Although the State recognizes the need and importance of legal aid to ensure access to justice for the needy by incorporating provisions of legal assistance in some laws and rules, a lot more needs to be done A review of the current legal aid system shows that there is no comprehensive and uniform legal framework for legal aid which means that accessing the formal legal system is still an unaffordable luxury for the majority of people in Pakistan A comparative analysis of the legal aid systems in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka reveals that, despite facing similar challenges to Pakistan these countries have successfully established organized structures for legal assistance For example Bangladesh has made significant strides in this regard with the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office being established in 2015 to provide legal aid in both civil and criminal cases The country’s legal aid system is structured under the supervision of the Supreme Court with a four-tiered approach comprising; (a) Supreme Court legal aid (b) District legal aid
committees (c) Upazila (sub-division) legal aid committees (d) Union council legal aid committees The National Legal Aid Services Authorities Act 1987 of India provides for an organized structure of legal aid and services The chief justice of the Supreme Court of India is the patron-in-chief of NALSA and a retired judge of the Supreme Court works its executive director Likewise, there are state district and sub-divisional legal aid service authorities on a similar pattern In Sri Lanka The Legal Aid Act 1978 created the Legal Aid Commission consisting of nine members, three nominated by the justice ministry and six by the bar council of Sri Lanka The LAC provides legal aid services through regional district committees and clinics and also works to promote legal awareness training and reforms Pakistan s legal aid structures face significant challenges The District Legal Empowerment Committees (DLECs), established in 2011 by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) to provide district-level legal aid suffer from a lack of ownership and support from high courts and district judiciary Additionally effective monitoring evaluation and performance management mechanisms are absent Furthermore, the disbursement rate of legal aid funds under DLECs is alarmingly low with a substantial portion of allocated funds remaining unutilized across regions
46 percent in Punjab 40 percent in Sindh 55 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 60 percent in Baluchistan, and 52 percent in Islamabad The lack of transparency is further evident in the absence of updated data on DLECs from all provinces, with information only available up to 2020 on the LJCP website This opacity extends to the underutilization of funds allocated for DLECs
poorly on accessibility and affordability, lagging behind most countries, highlighting a critical need to improve access to justice
According to the World Bank, the esti-
Different political, legal and social theorists defined justice differently For Plato, justice was class division and functional specialization Kant defined justice as a vir tue through which respect of othersÊ freedom, autonomy and dignity could be ensured J S Mill sought justice in qualitative utilitarianism to foster human liber ty John Rawls analyz ed justice in terms of maximum equal liber ty of all members of a society
What’s at stake on Modi’s Russia trip
Russia and prepare for long-term commitments The anticipated Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, along with the development of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) could significantly boost economic cooperation Trading in local currencies will also enhance bilateral engagements Despite transactional challenges, the presence of Russian banks like SBER, VTB, and Gazprombank in India, alongside Indian banks in Russia provides stability for importers and exporters
annually, resulting in a disappointingly low rate of legal aid disbursement Moreover, DLECs primarily focus on providing legal aid to under-trial prisoners despite no rule limiting their scope to this category The Pakistan Bar Council under the Free Legal Aid Rules 1999, also has the mandate to provide legal aid and create awareness about legal rights Under these rules, the Pakistan Bar Council manages central provincial and district free legal aid committees However these committees lack the capacity and support to perform the roles assigned to them The Punjab Legal Aid Agency, established in 2019 under the Punjab Legal Aid Act 2018, aims to provide legal assistance to financially disadvantaged individuals particularly women involved in family disputes However the agency has yet to be fully operationalized as intended In a recent ruling on Writ Petition No 126306 of 2017, the full bench of the Lahore High Court directed the Government of Punjab to establish the agency within three months Despite the court’s order announced on February 13 2024 the Government of Punjab has failed to take any action demonstrating a lack of priority in providing effective legal aid to the public It is crucial that the relevant authorities recognize their responsibility to provide effective legal aid to the masses and promptly implement the directives of the honorable Lahore High Court To achieve this the Ministry of Law Justice & Human Rights must take the lead in engaging not only provincial law ministries and the Pakistan Bar Council but also the superior judiciary and civil society to reform the legal aid system and ensure access to justice for all As a first step there is a need for a national legal aid authority with clear institutional structures at the Centre and the provinces down to the level of each sub-division, to ultimately each union council The District Legal Empowerment Committees (DLEC) rules need to be re-examined to improve engagement collaboration and performance management of the DLECs in coordination with the LJCP and the respective high courts This will help in building ownership of the DLECs especially at the provincial level with the high courts and down to the district courts The most recent development in this context involves amendments to the District Legal Empowerment Committees Rules of 2011 This amendment signifies a significant change: an increase in the professional fee of legal practitioners from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000, as well as a revision of the eligibility criteria for legal practitioners from five
Despite a superficial makeover the National Rally (RN) remains fundamentally the successor and heir of the National Front founded in 1972 by people nostalgic for Vichy and French Algeria It inherited its programme, its obsessions and its personnel It is deeply rooted in the history of the French far right, shaped by xenophobic and racist nationalism antisemitism violence and contempt for parliamentary democracy Let us not be fooled by the rhetorical and tactical prudence with which the RN is preparing its seizure of power This party does not represent the conservative or national right but poses the greatest threat to the republic and democracy
Bardella openly admire such as that of Viktor Orbán in Hungary give us an idea of their project: an authoritarian populism where checks and balances are weakened, opposition muzzled and the freedom of the press restricted There is no democracy without a free and dynamic public space without quality information independent of political or financial interference The privatisation of public broadcasting which is included in the RN s programme would destroy an essential part of our public life Can we imagine [the
infrastructure
goods and
or
using these
Another possibility is undertaking
large-
projects with Indian partners in other friendly countries Despite facing sanctions, Russia has transitioned from an upper-middle-
to a high-income economy The
recently elevated Russia to the
category citing substantial growth in military-related activities trade (up 6 8%), finance (up 8 7%), and construction (up 6 6%) These factors contributed to a 3 6% increase in real GDP and a 10 9% rise in nominal GDP with Atlas GNI per capita growing by 11 2% This is an opportune moment for Indian SMEs to explore Russia s potential across various sectors Many challenges, such as information gaps, logistics, and language barriers, can be addressed through increased bilateral exchanges Indian businesses should seriously consider new opportunities in
SMEs play a crucial role in any country s economic development The Russian government is actively working to improve the entrepreneurial climate through the national project ‘Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Support for Individual Entrepreneurial Initiative initiated in 2020 under the Presidential Decree aiming at national development goals until 2030 Russia offers a vast market, abundant natural resources, and a highly educated workforce There are numerous opportunities in large-scale infrastructure projects With a population nearing 150 million it presents significant market potential Many niche markets in Russia have opened up due to the exit of European and American companies under governmental pressure Opportunities exist across various sectors such as manufacturing energy healthcare transportation, financial services, and agriculture Indian investors and companies might find automotive, textiles, IT, and banking particularly appealing Additionally there are prospects for businesses aiding Russia s transition to a low-carbon economy The upcoming summit between Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin seeks to address trade imbalances and further strengthen the multifaceted Indo-Russian partnership Economic stakeholders on both sides will be watching closely as the meeting promises to deepen cooperation in areas beyond energy and defense Alok Kumar, Honorary Governing
The RN citizenship policy known as “national preference” renamed “national priority” remains the ideological heart of its project This is contrary to the republican values of equality and fraternity and its implementation would require the amendment of the French constitution
If the RN wins and implements its declared programme, the abolition of the right to French nationality of those born in France will introduce a profound break in our republican conception of nationality since people born in France and who have always lived here will no longer be French and their children will not be French either Similarly, the exclusion of dual nationals from certain public functions will lead to intolerable discrimination between several categories of French people Our national community will no longer be based on political adherence to a common destiny on the everyday plebiscite evoked by the 19th-century historian Ernest Renan but on an ethnic conception of France
Beyond that, the RN’s programme includes an escalation of security measures that would undermine civil liberties There is no need to delve into the distant past to become aware of the threat Everywhere when the far right comes to power through the ballot box it hastens to bring justice the media, education and research to heel The governments that Marine Le Pen and Jordan
GUARDIAN
SAJJAD HUSSAIN NEKOKARA
TI S E 3 8 , 0
S S A U LT E N T E R S 1 0 T H M O N T H
children, who were killed in Israeli strikes had arrived at AlAqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah
Paramedics also said Sunday that six people had been killed in an Israeli strike on a house in a northern area of Gaza City The day before, the health ministry in Gaza said 16 people had been killed in a strike on a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) that was sheltering displaced people in Nuseirat in central Gaza The Israeli military said its aircraft had targeted terrorists operating around the Al-Jawni school
The military earlier said it had conducted operations across much of the Gaza Strip, including Shujaiya in the north, Deir al-Balah, and Rafah in the south Shujaiya is among the areas the military had previously declared to be cleared of Hamas but where fighting has since resumed Gaza s media office and paramedics said four journalists working for local media outlets were killed in strikes overnight into Saturday, and UNRWA said two of its employees had been killed UNRWA which coordinates much of the aid delivered to Gaza says 194 of its employees have been killed in the onslaught Ball in Israel s court
The United States, which has mediated ceasefire negotiations alongside Qatar and Egypt has talked up the prospects of a deal saying there is a “pretty significant opening”
for both sides US President Joe Biden announced a pathway to a truce deal in May that he said had been proposed by Israel It included an initial six-week truce an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza s population centres and the freeing of hostages held by Palestinian fighters Talks subsequently stalled, but a US official said Thursday that a new proposal from Hamas “moves the process forward and may provide the
A S I S R A E L I
UK's Starmer scraps Rwanda's depor tation plan
Last November, the UK Supreme Court declared the policy unlawful, saying Rwanda could not be considered a safe third country prompting ministers to sign a new treaty
and
legislation to
of
fix the nation s problems but he gave few specifics about what he planned Asked if he was willing to take tough decisions and raise taxes if necessary,
Starmer said his government would identify problems and act in areas such as tackling an overstretched prisons system and reducing the long waiting times to use the state-run health service "We're going to have to take the tough decisions and take them early, and we will We will do that with a raw honesty " he said "But that is not a sort of prelude to saying there's some tax decision that we didn t speak about before Starmer said he would set up and chair different mission delivery boards to focus on so-called missions or priority areas such as the health service and eco-
was being challenged by charities and
in the
The British government has already given the Rwandan government hundreds of millions of pounds to set up accommodation and hire extra officials to process the asylum seekers money it cannot recover Starmer has said his government would create a Border Security Command that would bring together staff from the police, the domestic intelligence agency and prosecutors to work with international agencies to stop people smuggling
Pakistani scientist to be one of first recipients of Saudi citizenship
TOURISM SECTOR POISED TO SOAR WITH $30BN REVENUE FORECAST
PFamily Mango Festival-Exhibition in full swing
Business communit y delegation visits NUST
itime Museum in
According to a report this festival and exhibition were organized with the support of the Pakistan Maritime Museum TCN Executive Forum, farms and various institutions The festival was inaugurated by Provincial Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar, along with Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam s Vice Chancellor Dr Fateh Marri Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University Sukkur s Vice Chancellor Dr Tahmina Mangan, DG Maritime Farooq Azam, and DG Research Noor Muhammad Baloch The exhibition featured stalls showcasing mangoes and their byproducts from various institutions including the Institute of Food Sciences and Horticulture Department of Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Agriculture Research
Engagement Par t y at Russian Friendship House
An engagement party was organized at the Russian Friendship House in Karachi This event was attended by prominent personalities from Karachi s business social educational governmental journalistic and media circles Famous chefs from Karachi participated in the event, presenting dishes prepared from their experiences to the guests The guests appreciated the chefs' skills and praised them wholeheartedly The Vice Director of the Russian Friendship House Mr Ruslan M Pirkov attended and mingled with the guests He inspected the chefs stalls and appreciated their dishes The attending guests included Majeed Aziz Balagam, Ahmed Chinoy (CPLC), Obaid Natiq, Shariq Jamal (MPA Malir MQM), Ghulam Muhammad (Director CSR Commissioner Karachi), Zulfiqar (UBL), Sarfraz Ahmed Turab Shah Mudassar Akhtar Shaheen Mukhtar Ahmed Faisal Hameed Magan Singh Mujahid Tauseef Ahmed Khan Advocate Azeem Ahmed Khan Babar Siddiqui (UNICEF Health Project), Zubair Qazi (Radio Pakistan), Ustad Salamat Hussain (Pride of Performance Pakistan), media personalities Ali Muhammad Brohi, Syed Sajjad Ali Shah Rafiq Photographer
Sindh, Sub Campus Umerkot, Horticulture Institute Mirpurkhas, MH Panhwar Farms, Palh Farms Tando Allahyar and others There were also mango grafting demonstrations Sindhi cultural stalls and food stalls
In his inaugural address, Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, stated that climate change is impacting mango orchards in Sindh He said: "Efforts are being made to establish modern research centers for mango production in Sindh Additionally, they plan to introduce new varieties of mangoes to other countries to increase the global export of Sindh's mangoes " Mr Mahar urged the Sindh Agriculture University to train the youth of Ghotki and establish a center there Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Dr Fateh Marri said that the purpose of this festival and exhibition was to highlight the potential business opportunities in agriculture and the agricultural industry in Sindh and other regions of Pakistan He said next year, a larger
mango show would be organized in Karachi in collaboration with the Sindh government and Maritime Museum DG Pakistan Maritime Museum Captain Farooq Azam expressed his gratitude to the minister for attending the mango festival He said he was happy to hold the festival He also announced a plan to organize a date festival in collaboration with the Sindh government on August 14 this year Mr Azam: Sindhri mangoes are highly popular in the USA and other countries, and there is a need to increase the export of these kind of mangoes " The event was attended by Agriculture Secretary Rafiq Ahmed Buriro Secretary of Universities Sindh Abbas Baloch Chairman Sindh Higher Education Commission SM Tariq Rafi, former minister Muhammad Nauman Sehgal, former VC Dr AQ Mughal, TDAP DG Abdul Karim agricultural leader Dr Zulfiqar Yousfani Nabi Bux Satiu Ghulam Sarwar Panhwar Dr Wali Muhammad Baloch Dr Mujahid Leghari, Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi, Shehryar Ahmed, and others
G aza’s students in Pakistan to be facilitated in medic al educ ation: PMDC
made by the PMDC Council on the request of Pakistani High Commissioner in London to adjust the students of Gaza in Pakistan keeping in view the Gaza’s current situation He said that the decision will Gaza students to continue their medical education in Pakistan on humanitarian grounds, ensuring that their studies are not interrupted due to the challenging circumstances in their home country It should mentioned here that the High Commission proposed that the students will be coming in batches of 20-30, with an expected number of 100 students and upon completion of their clinical placement in Pakistan, these students will graduate from universities of Gaza for clinical rotations in Pakistani medical colleges and attached teaching hospitals in the public sector as a special case Prof Dr Rizwan Taj said that a committee will be constituted headed by President PMDC to smoothly execute induction of these students into Pakistani medical education system in the corresponding years
Massive base tariff hike puts additional burden of Rs580b on consumers: PIAF
LAHORE staff report
While criticizing the government’s decision to make another raise in electricity tariff the PIAF Chairman Faheemur
Rehman Saigol has urged the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority to reverse the proposed jump in power charges, as it has notified an additional fuel cost adjustment of Rs3 33 per unit for May after a massive base tariff hike a day earlier putting an additional burden of least Rs580 billion annually In a statement issued here on Sunday the PIAF chairman said the government s decision to increase the electricity tariff is anti-industry and the PIAF strongly condemns the government s move and calls on it to rescind it He urged the power ministry to identify system constraints and communicate targets to all concerned departments in order to launch a wartime effort to upgrade the transmission system Faheem Saigol said that move would further burden the financially strained trade and industry, as this adjustment of Rs 3 3287/kWh shall be applicable to all the consumer categories except Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) and lifeline consumers
R E S I D E N T, P M A N D S P E A K
sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his loyal companions, underscoring the true objective of life's struggles, which involves sacrificing everything in the path of religion In a message on the new Islamic year 1446 Hijrah Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed his good wishes to the nation and
C TD ’s DSP assassinated in K arachi, say police
KARACHI s ta f
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) CTD Investigation and a security guard were killed ‘apparently in a target-killing incident in Karimabad area Sunday night police and hospital officials confirmed Senior CTD officer Raja Umer Khattab confirmed the incident, saying CTD s DSP Ali Raza was martyred in an assassination attempt by unknown suspects at Shakeel Corporation, Karimabad, Block 1
A security guard who belonged to a private security company was also injured in the firing and later succumbed to wounds during treatment at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) he added Khattab said that the martyred officer had worked extensively against members of banned outfits such as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), sectarian groups and sub-nationalist groups as well He recalled that the DSP had also remained a close aide of the then Superintendent of Police (SP) Crime Investigation Department (CID) Ch Aslam Khan who was killed in a suicide attack in the metropolis While he was leaving in his bullet proof vehicle, two suspects on a motorcycle arrived and opened indiscrim-
inate firing before fleeing he said Khattab said Raza suffered critical injuries and was transported to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) where
doctors pronounced him dead on arrival
Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed informed that the DSP had suffered “multiple gunshot injuries to chest, neck and head ” A bullet was recovered
who arrived in Pakistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021 The UNHCR chief also met Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Amir Muqam in Peshawar in Peshawar, the minister s office in Islamabad said SAFRON ministry also deals with Afghan refugees “Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for 40 ears despite serious economic difficulties an official statement quoted the SAFRON minister as telling Grandi This is the first visit of the UNHCR chief to Pakistan after the country announced a repatriation plan for illegal foreigners” in October last year Taliban rulers in Afghanistan had angrily reacted to Pakistan’s decision to expel what Pakistan call illegal Afghans and called for a halt to the operation According to an estimate nearly 500 000 Afghans who did not have legal documents have been repatriated to Afghanistan since November 1, 2023 Officials had earlier stated that about 1 7 million illegal Afghans are living in Pakistan “The refugee issue is becoming complicated across the world Conflicts are leading to refugee issues and attention must be paid to resolve conflicts Minister Muqam told the UNHCR chief Grandi-led UNHCR delegation praised Pakistan for taking care of Afghan refugees for a long time, the statement further said An official said that the UN refugee agency delegation will hold formal talks in Islamabad on Monday, the second day of his three-day visit The UNHCR had raised concerns over Pakistan s announcement for undocumented foreigners to leave as the policy also put pressure on Afghans including registered refugees and others with valid documents However, Afghan Refugee Commissioner Abbas Khan quashed rumour media reports that Pakistan has started sending back those who have Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) There are over 800 000 ACC holders according to UNHCR s data
