Kashmiris marK anniversary of indian cLamPdown today
Engineering (SAZEW), Faysal Bank (FABL) and Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim (FFBL) in the
Fauji Cement (FCCL)
is
its
last review threshold TRG (The Resource Group) Pakistan, however, does not meet the market capitalization requirement of $126 million with its cap ranging between $105-117 million over the past ten trading days Nonetheless the buffer rule might allow TRG to stay in the index MSCI is scheduled to announce its Quarterly Index Review (QIR) on August 12, 2024, with any changes taking effect from September 2 2024 During the last review in May 2024 the minimum thresholds for free float and market capitalization were raised from $57 million to $63 million and from $114 million to $126 million, respectively The four companies expected to join the FM index meet MSCI’s updated criteria for free float and market capitaliza-
tion Any changes to these thresholds will be revealed with the review results, which are typically updated quarterly “Any upward revision in the free float or market cap threshold by MSCI may affect our estimates ” Talreja noted Following the addition of these four companies and a 9% increase in the market cap of existing index constituents, Pakistan s weight in the FM index is projected to rise by 35-45 basis points, reaching 4 7-4 8% from the current 4 2-4 3% Talreja estimates that this increase could lead to gross inflows of $20-45 million assuming an asset under management (AUM) size of $510 billion tracking the MSCI FM index Anticipation of the forthcoming IMF extended fund facility (EFF) has already led international investors to increase their stakes in PSX-listed companies Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb recently confirmed that the IMF Executive Board is expected to approve the loan in August 2024, following a staff-
GOVT LEADERS HONOUR POLICE MART YRS, PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES
Federal minister calls for int’l involvement in resolving Kashmir crisis
Heav y rain expec ted across Pakistan, weather aler t issued
The Meteorological Department has is-
a solution through United Nations resolutions Muqam highlighted the ongoing efforts of the current government to bring global attention to the Kashmir issue effectively He detailed the severe impacts since August 5, 2019, noting that approximately 900 people have been killed and over 2 500 have been injured by Indian forces which also arrested numerous Kashmiri widows Criticizing India s stance on democracy while violating human rights and suppressing the self-determination rights of Kashmiris, Muqam pointed out the stark contradictions in its policies Furthermore the minister invited all parliamentary parties to join a protest march from Radio Pakistan to D Chowk in Islamabad on Youm-e-Istehsal-eKashmir, August 5 This date marks five years since the Modi government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 The annual observance aims to protest against this illegal action and to send a unified message from Pakistan s government and its people against the Indian government s policies Amir Muqam also described the severe measures India has implemented in the region, including demographic changes and political engineering, which threaten to disenfranchise the Kashmiri population He reported increased suppression including efforts to silence the media continued imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders and the Indian authorities seeking the death penalty for prominent leader Yaseen Malik Muqam concluded by condemning the routine harassment, arbitrary detentions, and extrajudicial killings faced by Kashmiris who are deprived of their rights to freedom of expression assembly and self-determination
According to the department s spokesperson rain is anticipated in Islamabad and its surrounding areas, with some places expected to experience heavy downpours Significant rainfall is predicted in the cities of Murree Guliyat Rawalpindi Attock Chakwal Tala Gang and Jhelum There is also a chance of rain in Chitral Dir Swat Kohistan Malakand Bajaur, Shangla, Bitgram, and Buner In Balochistan, heavy rain is likely in many cities, including Quetta, as well as Khuzdar Lasbela Makran Awaran Panjgur Barkhan Musa Khel Mastung Tezbalu Sibi Shirani Kohlu Bolan Harnai Nasirabad Jhal Magsi Jafarabad, Dera Bugti, Ziarat, Zhob, Gwadar, Pasni, Ormara, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, and Kalat
The Sindh region is also expected to experience significant rainfall particularly in Karachi Hyderabad Thatta Sukkur Khairpur Matiari Nowshehru
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Shehbaz Sharif said that digitization of FBR was main priority of the government and no disruption was acceptable in this regard Federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahad Khan Cheema Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik Coordinator of Prime Minister Ihsan Afzal and high level officials attended the meeting Tribute to Shaheed police officers, personnel on Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Police Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday paid tribute to the martyred police officers and personnel
Feroze, Jamshoro, Badin, Sanghar, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Mirpur Khas, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Jacobabad and Dadu
The forecast also includes chances of rain in Punjab specifically in Mandi Bahauddin Gujarat Gujranwala Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot Narowal Okara Pakpattan Kasur Khushab Sargodha Leh Bhakar Mianwali Bahawalpur Bahawalnagar
and said that their sacrifices in line of duty and eradication of crimes were unprecedented On the Youm-e-Shuhadae-Police the prime minister said that the day reminded them of the valour and bravery displayed by the police force In the fight against terrorism, the police force had always played a leading role and police personnel laid down their lives to secure and brighten the future of nation PM Office Media Wing said in a press release He further said that the entire nation was proud of its martyred police personnel and saluted them on their sacrifices The prime minister said that it was
Khanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rajanpur, and Rahim Yar Khan In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain is expected in Kohat Bajaur Mohmand Khyber Mansehra Abbottabad Haripur Peshawar Swabi Nowshera Mardan Charsadda Hangu Karam Orakzai, Waziristan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan Residents are advised to stay updated with the latest weather information and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during the expected heavy showers
the government’s responsibility to look after the bereaved families of Shaheed police officers and personnel and reiterated that no leniency in this regard would be tolerated The prime minister assured that the federal government would take all possible steps for the provision of education and health facilities to the children of shuhada, adding that the bereaved families would be taken care of in every possible way The prime minister further recollected that during his tenure as chief minister of Punjab, he and announced a big and historic package for the martyred police personnel
Imran says would be ‘ foolish’ not to have good ties with army
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PPP
ward relocations in Multan MULTAN S ta f f R e p o R t Parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People s Party (PPP) in Punjab Syed Ali Haider Gilani along with other local leaders has urged the provincial government to reconsider its decision to relocate the Neurosurgery and Orthopedic Wards from Nishtar Hospital to Nishtar Hospital phase-II During a press conference in Multan Gilani highlighted the challenges that the local population would face due to the transfer of these crucial departments The relocation of these major departments will cause significant inconvenience to the residents,” he stated Gilani emphasized the Gilani family’s long-standing commitment to the development of South Punjab particularly Multan which has historically supported the PPP Our family has consistently prioritized political affiliations and spearheaded development projects in the region, striving for the prosperity of its people, he added The PPP leader called for the Nishtar phase-II to be constructed as originally planned, with complete staffing across all departments and no reduction in the promised 1000 beds contrary to current plans which have reduced capacity to 500 He also pointed out the insufficient number of ICU beds at Nishtar Hospital and urged the provincial government to enhance medical facilities at both locations Gilani also appealed for a visit from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to assess the situation firsthand “A visit by the CM to Multan could lead to a better understanding of the local healthcare challenges he suggested Concluding his remarks Gilani reiterated the PPP s advocacy for a separate South Punjab province and expressed concerns about the
R I M E M I N I S T E R Shehbaz Sharif is about to
decide on a proposal to solve the circular debt issue by making a one-shot payment of Rs 1 trillion to eliminate the circular debt The advantage would be that it would enable a cut in electricity tariffs which enable the government to provide relief to the hard-pressed co0nsumer from the present punitive tariff Capacity payments are guaranteed to power plants no matter how much electricity is actually acquired from them In short, they are paid to have the ability to generate, irrespective of whether they generate any electricity or not One of the major components of the tariff is that of capacity charges
The IPPs were given guaranteed capacity charges so as to induce the Independent Power Producers to set up their plants in the first place There have been numerous proposals to get the IPPs off the consumer s backs, once it was realized that their capacity charges were behind the current crisis such as nationalization or simply revisiting their agreements which is a polite way of saying that the government a should twist their arms until they agreed to take less money
However nationalizarion would represent a return to the bad old days of the 1970s and would also mean that if IPPs had to be invited again no one would come as the sovereign guarantee of the government would have lost all meaning Revisiting the agreements had been done before, with the first generation of IPPs, and the present agreements are a result of that revisiting
One problem the government faces is to avoid the circular debt from recurring That may well require paying in advance It will also require converting the federal government making its departments pay their bills, which they are avoiding on the ground that the amounts of the bills need to be reconciled The government needs to scotch all attempts by WAPDA against solar power because it has alleged that its best customers switching to solar power has meant less money is being received for onward transmission to the IPPs However the entire proposal is still up in the air because the financing remains the headache of the Finance Ministry and it has already given the caveat that the IMF guidelines must be adhered to It might be remembered that a similar proposal was made before, but was shot down by the IMF, for vit involved the government exceeding its budget deficit target Something like that could happen again
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M
A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Investing in human development is essential
WH E N E V E R there has been a public discourse on our mainstream channels or in public or private institutions about how to overcome our contemporary challenges some eye-catching issues are brought up, like corruption, taxation, religious extremism terrorism rupee devaluation fiscal deficit among others Although each of them is a very salient issue and we must have discussions on these topics the importance of human development is often neglected in these discussions which is the main essence to figure out whether a nation or a society is thriving or not We hear our human development index is declining and our state is not putting much effort to tackle this matter We have seen over the years that Pakistan s human development index is staggeringly poor and no serious measures are taken by our governments to tackle these issues We have always taught that Pakistan has enormous opportunities because of the growing population we have It’s naivety to say that a youth bulge will ensure that a nation will prosper According to the United Nations Development Programme s National Human Development Survey the country currently exhibits the fifth-largest youth population worldwide; where roughly half of its population is below 25 years old while around 64 percent falls below the age of 30 This immense opportunity comes with countless challenges Few months ago United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) published another report which states that Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0 540 and global ranking of 164 out of 193 countries In the 2021/2022 Report Pakistan had a Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0 544 with a global ranking of 161 out of 191 countries If we compare ourselves within our region India s HDI value for 2022 is 0 644 positioning it at 134 out of 193 countries and territories Bangladesh is even better situated at 129th with 0 670 points while Sri Lanka, ranked 78th, is the top in South Asia with 0 780 points Afghanistan is at the bottom in the region at 182nd with 0 462 points It will be abysmal to compare ourselves with Afghanistan a country which was at war for the last four decades So that was only some numbers and what does it mean? How working on some index will ensure sustainable development? Human Development Index (HDI) is the average development in education, health and the standard of living The main root of every problem is linked with these three main factors specifically health and education Based on the Data compiled by UNICEF Pakistan has the second highest number of out-of-school children An estimated 22 8 million children aged 5-16 are out-of-school And the students who are getting education specifically in the public sector didn’t match the standards of the modern world For instance ac-
Five years ago today, K ashmir was deprived of its special status
securing the locality, these guards took an active part in making the security situation worse By taking part in attacking common civilians and attacking each other the VDGs increased security tensions in Kashmir In summary in Jammu and Kashmir since 5 August 2019, more than 900 people have been killed, around 25,000 arrested, more than 2500 critically tortured, 133 women raped, and 68 women widowed These numbers are a few indicators amongst others that explain the deteriorating security situation in Jammu and
cording to a study carried out by P@SHA every year approximately 25000 I T students graduate from institutions across the country Most of them are from public universities Out of 25000 students only 2500 are employable which makes only 10 percent% of total number How will we be able to compete in this digital world with t h e s
l y c o n c e r n t h e s t a t e s h o u l d
d e a l w i t h i f w e w a n t t o f i n d o u r s e l v e s i n t h e l i s t o f h a p p y n a t i o n s
Kashmir In the wake of this situation international institutions like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warned Indian authorities to refrain from their actions which are making the situation worse Along with these organizations the UN Commissioner for Human Rights also raised their voice against Indian authorities actions saying that the Indian authorities are misusing laws to shield their actions and termed Kashmir as a disturbed area The United States, United Kingdom, China, Pakistan, OIC, and the European Union also raised their concerns on the prevailing security situation in Jammu and Kashmir repeatedly
The severity of the security issues in Jammu and Kashmir is visible in the above-outlined data and international response to it because this does not affect only social, economic, and political aspects of common Kashmiri citizens but also threatens the security of the neighboring states and international geopolitics Indian authorities need to shift their attention from adopting short-term actions to long-term solutions Short-term actions like Search operations, arrests, killings, and VDGs are no solution to the problem of Kashmir rather they are worsening it India needs to understand that giving back the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and providing the Right to self-determination according to UN resolutions are the only available and practical solutions to the Kashmir issue
The writer can be contacted at abdullahsayyaf770@gmail com
S h o r t - t e r m a c t i o n s l i k e S e a rc h o p e r a t i o n s , a r r e s t s , k i
Reevaluating government depar tments
for increase in power tariff, and the authority after due deliberations’ makes some changes and accepts their demand Come to think of it, such a job can easily be done by our housewives who successfully bargain with shopkeepers, who cleverly ask for double the actual price and settle for less They both live happily thereafter It is only the husband who suffers just like the consumer suffers as NEPRA and KE bargain, settle and live happily hereafter Besides, another such department is the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) whose job is to carry out the instructions passed on by the government That being so, why can the government not do it directly?
There are several other such entities in the public sector that thoroughly deserve immediate government attention One hopes that they will get what they deserve MALIK UL QUDDOOS KARACHI
Verdict controversy
A monumental verdict given by the Supreme Court in the case related to reserved women s seats has altered the dynamics on the political chessboard Many have been left wondering how a verdict can be announced in favour of a political party whose main objective has always been to destabilise the country for its own vested interests The verdict in the case was announced with an 8-5 majority With as many as
aBdullah Sayyaf
Bilal Tariq
How China’s mediation is redefining Middle Eastern politics
reconciliation of both Saudi Arabia and Iran and ironically erode more of the USA s influence in the area The US concern is that Saudi Arabia is gradually moving closer to China which would decrease the influence of the USA in Saudi Arabia Moreover, China has remained an impartial player and has remained diplomatic enough to help in actualization of agreements that do not create a confrontation with the USA Palestine is also recognized by other european countries, most recently Spain, Ireland, and norway, thus changing the trends of the international solidarity that influence the US-Israel relations China has emerged as a very instrumental country in the Middle east in solving disputes besides being an arsenal and diplomatic problem solver in the Middle east for the USA
Speaking of netanyahu s visit to the USA, protesters got into the Capitol hill building and called for an end to the supplies of arms to Israel and a Gaza ceasefire US mainstream media sources indicate that Joe Biden has planned to sit down for a meeting with Benjamin netanyahu while Donald Trump is to do so with the same interlocutor Meanwhile, the United nations has applauded the peace deal that has been signed by China to solve conflicts within the Palestinian factions It is noteworthy that netanyahu has chosen the time for the visit to the USA when the presidential election campaign has begun Getting an audience with US President Joe Biden should not prove to be much of an issue as he is no longer a contender in the presidential race The focus of the visit is to see Donald Trump who according to the poll is a main contender for the presidency of the United States and possibly a main benefactor of Israel Indeed, Israel has been a problematic partner for the USA for many years now the intensity of conflict between the two countries appears during the Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip A proUS-Israel policy has always been a recurrent agenda issue for the Democrats and Republicans in Washington
Over the past several decades, power has shifted between the two major political parties in the USA, but one thing has remained steadfast: the extent of the commitment that is made by the USA to the state of Israel Both sides leaders are sure that Israel does not have a better friend than the USA and they cannot allow Israel to be unsafe On average, US aid to Israel accounts to $3 billion annually and has totaled $300 billion since the beginning of 1948 Based on calculations by the Council on Foreign Relations the majority of the assistance goes to the military services despite the country being home to only 9 55 million people After hamas fired rockets at Israel the USA provided arms to Israel, sent warships to the region and threatened to veto any ceasefire measures in the United nations Security Council US President Joe Biden has also overlooked conflicts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu and back up the country s defence by asserting that he knows the Israeli perception of the war on Gaza very well Over the course of several years, Israel has moved steadily to the right politically In this context religious extremists in Israel have gained more political power largely due to various government periods led by netanyahu Israeli efforts to normalize its control over Palestinian territories and Gaza have led to conflicts, especially with the US Democratic Party The US administration has also faced increasing criticism over the 40 000 civilian deaths in Gaza The American stance is now clear: it desires broad freedom opportunities, and democracy for both Israelis and
Palestinians however, Israel s expansion into Palestinian territories undermines the Biden administration’s vision The bombs raining down on Palestinians today are largely US-made and most of the aircraft delivering them are also American The artillery and drones used to kill Palestinians often bear the Made in America label The largest bombs used by Israel are also provided by the USA The USA quickly recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but when asked to acknowledge the Palestinian state it has promised it claims that the timing is not right It seems that the right time would only come once the entire Palestinian territory is settled and Palestinians are completely eliminated, rendering the need for a state moot The situation is changing as new powers in the world and the region challenge the American system The USA and Israel do not want
Fearing ChinaÊs influence, the USA is creating instability in various regions to strengthen its global position. To maintain its grip on Europe, Russia is prolonging the war in Ukraine, while it engages in violence against Palestinians, making Gaza a battlefield on its global agenda.
foster the
How nationalism changed a country
Bhatia provides a vivid portrait of how a nation turns callous and changes into something unrecognisable
s largest democracy to something more like the world s most populous country that regularly holds elections It is also a wake-up call to all those who pin their hopes on the institutions intended to safeguard democracy: the bureaucracy the law enforcement machinery the media and the judiciary By minutely observing the experiences of ordinary Indians – not the ones whose names make it into newspapers for what they have done but those whose lives are affected by the remarks and actions of pundits who fulminate on India s increasingly shrill and jingoistic television networks – Bhatia provides a vivid portrait of how a nation turns callous and changes into something unrecognisable Friends Bhatia knows from school, relatives others he has met casually and used to think of as regular people have begun expressing their bigotry openly in language they d once have been embarrassed by Their views are just that –views – devoid of facts, absent of logic They are shaped by relentless, biased propaganda parroted over social media by tens of thousands of accounts: if more people say something it must be true the recipient believes And it is difficult as Bhatia shows, to fight faith with reason, lies with the truth Reflecting a broader atomisation, he disengages; like many others (not only in India – this is a phenomenon seen also in the United States where I live and the United Kingdom which has been my home) he retreats into his own bubble And yet being the fine reporter that he is, he steps out of it in order to understand the other side The book is full of fascinating detail In an absorbing section explaining the hindu reverence for cows he shows how veneration of the animal has been mainstreamed for social and cultural reasons, not just religious ones Its pernicious effects can be seen in the form of increasingly harsh laws enforcing vegetarianism in large sections of cities, some during hindu festivals some permanently Those who eat meat which includes not only Muslims but many hindus too can find it hard to buy or rent property as a result
It is in that context that Modi s third term is critical he led the BJP to another victory earlier this summer and while he has retained most of his cabinet and is operating as if nothing has changed the fact remains that he lost more than 60 seats The BJP no longer has a majority, and is able to form a government only because of support it receives from minor parties Many constituencies in places of importance for hindus changed hands with the opposition securing impressive victories including in Ayodhya the town in northern India where the Babri Masjid, a 16th-century mosque, stood before hindu nationalists razed it in 1992 nearly three decades later the supreme
court permitted the construction of a temple on that site When the highest court essentially agrees that faith supersedes reason, there is not much that citizens who do not belong to the majority faith can do In January this year Modi oversaw the temple s inauguration Yet voters there still punished him Before the Babri Masjid s destruction, old certainties prevailed: the country was secular, as least by aspiration Despite the loss of the Soviet Union as a major market it had taken only tentative steps to transform its economy with socialistic rhetoric still prevalent The BJP emerged and thrived in that ideological vacuum, by pointing out that secularism hurt hindus (it didn’t), that socialism kept India poor (India was hardly socialist in the Scandinavian sense rather it was the poster child for a state-dominated economy that curbed entrepreneurs); and that aligning with the west was in India s interests (even if the west had let India down often during the Cold War) The majority of Indians alive now were born after 1992 the year Babri
Masjid was destroyed, and a large number since 2002, the year of the Gujarat pogrom They are used to a different India – on the path to prosperity GDP growing at 6% a year instead of 2% They aspire to travel abroad and are better connected with each other thanks to cheap Chinese-made mobile phones These Indians are not from the old towns, but live in burgeoning cities, and they are impatient for change Modi understands those people and responds to them even if he does not deliver the development they want And since he can t deliver, he offers the circus – the world s largest stadium, named after himself; the world’s tallest statue; 100 million followers on X he offers unabashed religious divisiveness to a young nation where there are few with living recollection of Mohandas Gandhi or Jawaharlal nehru he has had a great deal of success; now, it appears, the weakness of his strategy is beginning to show, and it remains to be seen what happens next Bhatia captures the whole phenomenon brilliantly painting a gloomy picture of what India has become
The New India: The Unmaking of the World s Largest Democracy by Rahul Bhatia is published by Abacus (£25)
Hand morally upright reconciliation among different parties and also connoted support for the public good Akbar himself was the ultimate arbitrator in these conversations, and he emphasized the need to find the truth through reason rather than depending on texts or traditions Kinra writes that another layer in the meaning of sulhi kull involved intellectual debate One concrete manifestation of this idea was the establishment of the ibādat-khāna or house of Faith in 1575 as a place for debate and dialogue Initially it was intended for people from different Muslim sects to discuss theological and legal matters, but it later came to include hindus, Jains, Christians, Zoroastrians, and others Akbar himself was the ultimate arbitrator in these conversations and he emphasized the need to find the truth through reason rather than depending on texts or traditions In a letter offering advice to Sha Abbas I the young
Syed ali Nawaz GilaNi GUARDIAN
the worst unrest of Hasina’s 15-year tenure
Troops briefly restored order but crowds returned to the streets in huge numbers this week in an all-out non-cooperation movement aimed at paralysing the government
On Saturday when hundreds of thousands of protesters marched in Dhaka the police were largely bystanders watching the rallies
The protests have grown into a wider anti-government movement across the South Asian nation of some 170 million people
The mass movement includes people from all strata of Bangladesh society including film stars musicians and singers and rap songs calling for people s support have spread widely on social media
“It is no longer about job quotas,”
Current army chief Waker-uz-Zaman spoke to officers at military headquarters in Dhaka on Saturday, telling them the “Bangladesh Army is the symbol of trust of the people”
“It always stood by the people and will do so for the sake of people and in any need of the state he said according to an army statement issued late Saturday The statement did not give further details, and did not explicitly say whether the army backed the protests
Rallies against civil service job quotas sparked days of mayhem in July that killed more than 200 people in some of
said Sakhawat a young female protester who gave only one name as she scrawled graffiti on a wall at a protest site in Dhaka calling Hasina a killer
What we want is that our next generation can live freely in the country Counter-protests supporting the government are also expected
Obaidul Quader general secretary of Hasina s ruling Awami League has
wards in Dhaka
M ilestone for Uk raine as F-16 fighter jets finally deployed for operations
been on Ukraine s wish list for a long time because of their destructive power and global availability They are equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles Talking to reporters on the tarmac of an airfield Zelenskiy said Ukraine still did not have enough pilots trained to use the F-16s or enough of the jets
NAQVI SAYS THESE EFFORTS FIRST SERIOUS AT TEMPT FOR CRICKET ’S DE VELOPMENT AT THE GR ASSROOTS LE VEL
themselves “The positive thing is that we are expecting additional F-16s many guys are now training he said It was important he said that Kyiv s allies found ways to expand training programmes and opportunities for both Ukrainian pilots and engineering teams ‘NEW AVIATION STANDARD’ Ukraine has previously relied on an ageing fleet of Soviet-era warplanes that are outgunned by Russia s more advanced and far more numerous fleet Russia has used that edge to conduct regular long-range missile strikes on targets across Ukraine and also to pound Ukrainian front line positions with thousands of guided bombs supporting its forces that are slowly advancing in the east This is the new stage of develop-
ment of the air force of Ukraine’s armed forces ” Zelenskiy said “We did a lot for Ukrainian forces to transition to a new aviation standard the Western combat aviation he added citing hundreds of meetings and unrelenting diplomacy to obtain the F-16s
“We often heard ‘it is impossible’ as an answer but we still made our ambition our defensive need possible ” he said It remains unclear what missiles the jets are equipped with A longer range of missile would allow them to have a greater battlefield impact, military analysts say Zelenskiy said he also hoped to lobby allied neighbouring countries to help intercept Russian missiles being launched at Ukraine through conversations at the Ukraine-NATO Council platform
Chairman OPF’s BoG reviews per formance of its educational institutions ISLAMABAD s
Education Division of OPF to review performance of its educational institutions During the meeting he expressed his firm commitment to prioritizing issues pertaining to OPF educational institutions and emphasized that officers of the Education Division to intensify their efforts to ensure the provision of quality education to the children of overseas Pakistanis at OPF educational institutions He highlighted the importance of quality education and assured to bring them at par with any other best educational institutions
CDA chief takes notice of fish mor talit y in Rawal Dam
ISLAMABAD s
INDIA’S ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE DISREGARD FOR INT’L L AW IN IIOJK: PRESIDENT Z ARDARI
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
RESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari
Commissioner spells measures to prevent water theft
s ta f f r e p o r t The City Administration will fully support the Water and Sewerage Corporation in its efforts to prevent water theft Deputy Commissioners will take effective measures
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
On the occasion of "Youm-eShuhda Police," the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) held a poignant ceremony to honor the sacrifices of Pakistan Police officers particularly those from NHMP who gave their lives in the line of duty Before the ceremony IG, Salman Chaudhary along with ASP Sohaib Amin son of the martyred Sub Inspector Muhammad Amin offered floral tributes to the martyrs at Yadgar-e-Shudhda monument The event was highlighted by Inspector General of NHMP, Salman Chaudhry, who recognized the bravery of the fallen officers and their families IG Salman Chaudhry addressed the audience underscoring the hero-
ism of the 49 NHMP martyrs, including a lady officer He expressed deep gratitude to the families of these heroes emphasizing their critical role in shaping NHMP into a beacon of excellence IG Chaudhry lauded the martyrs as exemplary figures of courage and resilience, and voiced his solidarity with their families
veyed their heartfelt thanks during the ceremony, acknowledging the support and recognition extended by the NHMP
Police mar tyrs are pride of entire nation: ADIG Police
t
Additional Inspector General Police Javed Alam Odho, was the chief guest at Police martyrs and there families on the Occasion of Shoulda day organised by Captain (R) Azfar Mahesar, DIG Police East Zone, and Touheed Rehman SSP Korangi an event to honor the Martyrs of the Police Service and their families
The event co-hosted by Danish Aman and Zahid Hameed was held at a local restaurant in Karachi In his speech Javed Odho, paid rich tributes to the martyrs, highlighting their pride not only for the police force but for the entire nation He emphasized that these brave individuals did not hesitate to fulfill their duties even at the cost of their lives Their sacrifices contribute to the relatively peaceful environment we enjoy today making it our responsibility to support their families During the event, the families of the martyrs received gifts and cheques in recognition of their outstanding services in maintaining peace and order in society
Other notables included Mr Zubair Habib Chief CPLC, Murad Soni Chief community policing Karachi, Zubair Chaya Patron in Chief KATI, Tariq Mustafa Senior Bureaucrat, Dr Zahid Ansari Senior Bureaucrat, Commander Dr Farhan Essa, Adnan Zahoor Bilal Ahmed Zahid Hameed representing civil society also paid homage to these champions of law enforcement who laid down their lives to provide a safe environment for the residents of Sindh Following the distribution of gifts and cheques, the family members were treated to a sumptuous lunch at
have started applying pro rata adjustments to bills for periods fewer than 30 days This has resulted in a significant number of consumers being reclassified from “protected” to unprotected categories, from lifeline to non-lifeline and from lower to higher tariff slabs which resulted in inflated bills According to the report pro rata adjustments were made for readings taken for periods under 30 days and subsequently scaled up to 30-31 days, with
Anjum Nisar observed that the
to be detrimental to the industries due to
of doing business and has also
the
of inflation In addition to making the electricity bills costlier and unaffordable for the consumers the hike in base tariff would escalate prices of all household goods being widely used in every household he added Quoting a report based on information and data provided by Power Information Technology Company he said that the scope of pro rata billing had been expanded beyond its original intent instead of solely revising bills for periods exceeding 30 days All power companies including Karachi Electric
KARACHI
s ta f f r e p o r t
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan will continue to extend its strong moral political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people till the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination In a message on Youm-e-Istehsal on August 5, 2024, he said the people and Government of Pakistan are observing the Youm-e Istehsal today This somber occasion reminds us of the grave consequences of India s illegal actions of 5 August 2019 vis-à-vis Indian Ilegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) On 5 August 2019, he said India took a series of steps to consolidate its occupation of
lIOJK Ever since India has been trying to convince the world that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of its territory However international law, historical facts, moral principles and the situation on the ground deny India’s baseless claims Today, in IIOJK, efforts are being made to silence the genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people and muzzle the media The number of political prisoners remains in the thousands while 14 political organizations have been outlawed Harassment of innocent people, arbitrary detentions, and the so-called ‘cordon and search operations have become a matter of routine The Indian forces are operating with impunity according to them under different draconian laws he added He said I however salute the indomitable courage of the Kashmiri people
that has enabled them to withstand every Indian attempt to subjugate them There is no doubt that India s coercive methods have failed to diminish their yearning for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination ”
“History has proven time and again that durable peace in South Asia remains contingent upon the settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute In the interest of lasting peace and security in South Asia, India must move from dispute denial to dispute resolution,” he added The prime minister said, “The international community must urge India to halt its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK; reverse its unilateral and illegal actions of 5 August 2019; repeal the draconian laws; and implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir
Resolution of Kashmir dispute key for lasting peace in region Meanwhile Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Sunday said that the resolution of the Kashmir dispute is
D issenting note raises impor tant points about reser ved seats verdic t: Tarar
s ta f f r e p o r t Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said that two honourable judges of the Supreme Court had raised important points in their dissenting note regarding reserved seats Addressing a press conference here, he said that on the issue of reserved seats, a party was provided relief which was not a petitioner He said that two honourable judges of the Supreme Court Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan have issued detailed dissenting notes and it said that after the passage of 15 days a detailed verdict of the case had not come He said, “Usually a detailed verdict comes within 15 days after a decision is announced Tarar said that some articles of the Cons t
adding that in the reserved seats case,
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t Senior PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan on Sunday hinted at negotiation with the PML-N PPP and MQM-P to resolve prevailing government and the opposition tension, saying they could talk to the three main parties if PTI’s demands are accepted Speaking to a private TV channel, Ali Muhammad Khan was asked whether the PTI would be open to talks with the three major political parties PPP PML-N and MQM-P to end the political turmoil and address issues In response he affirmed that negotiations are essential We can sit with our allies, the MWM (Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen) and the Sunni Ittehad Council, all day, but that will not produce any results ” he stated “You have to engage with those you have issues with so negotiations are necessary Last week while speaking to reporters at Adiala jail incarcerated Imran had laid down three preconditions for potential talks with the government: the return of his party s stolen mandate , the release of all detained party workers, and the holding of transparent elections Echoing the party founder ’s sentiments Ali Muhammad stated that the party was prepared to engage in negotiations based on certain conditions We want the cases [against our workers and supporters] withdrawn as they are politically motivated, he said They [the government] should apologize and acknowledge their mistake in filing all those FIRs ” Ali Muhammad reiterated that his party’s second and most important demand was the return of PTI’s mandate “The government and the opposition can agree on taking the matter to the Supreme Court so they can resolve it he said The less we negotiate and talk the worse the situation will become The lawmaker said that the PTI s last resort would be protesting if negotiations failed “Political instability (through protesting) damages the nation You can see the impact on law and order and the economy Talking and maintaining ties will keep the country strong against any threats Asked about the PTI founder s views on negotiations, the former minister said that Imran was not averse to talks with the government
the court had to
He said that it was a reality that if
22 dead as monsoon rains batter par ts of countr y
g KP, Balochistan worst hit with highest number of casualties in separate rain-related incident during 24 hours
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Torrential monsoon rains continued to play havoc in parts of the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and claimed at least 22 lives during the past 24 hours, besides causing widespread losses to property and infrastructure
Several plain and hilly areas of Balochistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sindh, and Punjab received heavy downpours, which flooded streams and rivers, as well as caused landslides in mountainous regions
In KP at least nine people died in separate rain-related incidents including four who drowned in a tide of flood in Karak city today The bodies of the victims were pulled out from the raging water during a search operation, rescue officials said In KP at least nine people died in separate rain-related incidents including four who drowned in floodwaters in Karak city today The bodies of the victims were recovered from the raging waters by the rescuers Many people, including women and children, sustained injuries after a house’s roof collapsed amid heavy rain in KP’s North Waziristan district
Separately another casualty was reported in Sindh by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Saturday Balochistan was the most affected province where rains and floods killed as many as 12 people in separate incidents in a day according to the Provicial Disaster
Management Authority (PDMA)
Cloudbursts, lightning strikes, and subsequent floods injured at least 32 people and damaged 263 houses of which 91 were completely destroyed
Rainwater entered houses and shops in low-lying areas in different cities, especially Mirpur Khas and Dadu
As a result of heavy flow of floodwater cracks appeared on two newly constructed bridges on a flood protection embankments in Dadu s Tehsil Johi Similarly, high-level flooding is reported in Gaj and Sol rivers Meanwhile, stormy rains in Balochistan inundated roads and lowlying areas of Chaman and Sibi whereas Toba Achakzai Killa Abdullah Muslim Bagh Badini Khanozai, Ziarat, and other areas
The roads leading to tourist spots above the Ziarat Valley were affected due to heavy rainfalls
According to local administration a high-level flood was passing through the Bolan River at the locality of Pinjra Bridge where Levies personnel were deployed for relief activities
Meanwhile, a high-level flood was also witnessed in Nari Headworks Talli River and Lehri River
The recent torrential rains in Balochistan not only affected 312 acres of crops and 19-kilometre of roads but also resulted in the deaths of 106 animals
In the wake of torrential monsoon
rains in the country, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of high to very high levels of flash flooding in Balochistan and south-western Punjab in the days to come
The alert from the country s top disaster control authority indicated that the hill torrents and local nullahs in the Zhob, Kalat, Nasirabad, and Sibbi divisions are expected to experience high to very high levels of flash flooding potentially damaging infrastructure
A similar forecast was issued for the hill torrents and local nullahs in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur
The NDMA has instructed all relevant departments to take necessary precautions to mitigate the possible effects of flooding and extreme weather
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said earlier this week that the current monsoon system will remain in the north-western province till August 6 resulting in heavy rains with strong winds in Khuzdar Lasbela Awaran Panjgur Barkhan, Musa Khail, Harnai, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Dera Bugti, Quetta, Ziarat, Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah and Kalat
The monsoon season as per the authorities statement issued on Friday has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people across Pakistan due to floods brought by torrential rains with Lahore witnessing almost 360 millimetres of rain which broke a 44year record