’ THE PATH OF TAKING UP PAKISTAN ’S OFFER FOR NEUTRAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO PAHALGAM INCIDENT
President Erdogan lauds Pakistan’s dialogue policy for resolving disputes
“We highly appreciate the
istani state that prioritizes
disputes Erdogan wrote on X responding to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s post in which he praised Turkiye s role in promoting peace in South Asia He said that Ankara attached great importance to Pakistan s peace, stability and prosperity Erdogan said that the “brotherhood” between Ankara and Islamabad “which is a rare blessing for only a few nations in the world was one of the most beautiful examples of true friendship Extending heartfelt greetings to the Pakistanis the Turkish leader expressed Turkiye s solidarity with Pakistan in both good times and bad ” Earlier Prime Minister Shehbaz had thanked President Erdogan for his strong support and unwavering solidarity with Pakistan Pakistan is proud of its long-standing time-tested and abiding fraternal ties with Turkiye that have grown stronger with each new challenge I am particularly grateful for His Excellency s constructive role and concerted efforts in promoting peace in South Asia,” the prime minister wrote on X, commenting on President Erdogan’s earlier comments before the cabinet meeting he chaired on Tuesday At the cabinet meeting he hailed the recently declared ceasefire between Pakistan and India urging both sides to avoid further provocations moving forward We took a very clear stance both on the heinous terrorist attack in (Indian-administered) Jammu and Kashmir and on the missile strikes targeting Pakistan While openly declaring our support for the brotherly people of Pakistan, we also made intense efforts to de-escalate the tension which had risen to very dangerous levels he said
in
of the
and
in South Asia Addressing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Riyadh, the Crown Prince praised the diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump in de-escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours We welcome the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, and we also support dialogue between the two countries to resolve their
No provision in IWT for suspension: WB president
ISLAMABAD Ag e n c e s World Bank President Ajay Banga has said that there is no provision in the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) for suspension in an interview with Indian broadcaster CNBC-TV18 Speaking in New Delhi, he said, There is no provision in the treaty to allow to be suspended, the way it (IWT) was drawn up it either needs to be gone or it needs to be replaced by another one That requires the two countries to want to agree The treaty is not suspended it s technically called something in abeyance, is how the Indian government worded it E
plained “The World Bank’s role is basically that of a facilitator if they disagree not by us making a decision but by us being the party that goes through a process to find a neutral expert or an arbitrator court to settle it
He further elaborated that the World Bank also has to pay for the process from a trust fund established during the treaty’s inception to cover the fees of potential arbitrators Meanwhile Pakistan has formally responded to India s recent communication regarding the Indus Waters Treaty affirming that the agreement remains fully operational and binding on both parties, according to the Foreign Office
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Foreign Office
spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that Pakistan has made it clear that any violation of the treaty will be deemed unacceptable
“The Indus Waters Treaty is a legally binding international agreement and both parties are obligated to uphold its provisions he said FO spokesperson said Pakistan reiterated that it would continue to defend its rights under the agreement at all international forums
Following the attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and shut down the Attari-Wagah border crossing a key point for trade and civilian movement between the two nations with immediate effect WHAT IS THE INDUS WATERS TREATY?
The origins of the IWT can be traced back to the Partition of British India in August 1947 when India and Pakistan became two independent nations Both countries now home to over 1 6 billion people have historically relied heavily on the rivers flowing from the Himalayas for irrigation and agriculture
The division of the Punjab province, which was extensively developed under British rule with an integrated irrigation system created an immediate need for an agreement on the equitable sharing of the river waters between India and Pakistan
Unresolved Kashmir dispute hurdle to sustainable peace in South Asia: Ambassador Sheikh
TIP URGES PM TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED SHARE TRANSFER VIOL ATIONS BY SPUD AND FHL
(-2 74%) was the biggest contributor to the downside, erasing 129 21 index points followed by MCB BAHL PSO and MARI On the flip side ENGROH FFC UBL MEBL and PPL helped cushion the fall Top gainers on the day included AGL, FCEPL,
CCP, NAB join forces to tackle bid rigging and collusion in public procurement
rigging a method that can complement NAB s more rigorous criminal investigations by providing actionable leads under the civil standard of proof employed by the Competition Act
In a significant move to tighten oversight on public procurement, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate against bid rigging collusive tendering and other anti-competitive practices The agreement was signed by Ms Marryum Pervaiz, Secretary CCP, and Mr Muhammad Tahir, Director General Operations NAB, at CCP’s headquarters The ceremony was witnessed by CCP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu and NAB Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Nazir Ahmed Butt along with senior officials from both institutions The MoU lays the foundation for joint efforts in investigation, information sharing and technical collabora-
tion It also envisions capacity-building initiatives, shared access to data, risk pattern identification and coordinated enforcement strategies to promote transparency and protect public resources
Speaking on the occasion CCP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu emphasised the need for systematic monitoring of collusive practices, noting that while the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY2023-24 stood at Rs1 1 trillion provincial Annual Development Plans (ADPs) totaled nearly Rs1 559 trillion an enormous volume of public spending that requires greater scrutiny
Despite the existence of PPRA’s eprocurement system (EPADS) Dr Sidhu pointed out a lack of robust mechanisms to detect and deter collusion He highlighted that CCP has developed software capable of analysing large datasets to identify patterns of bid
NAB Chairman Nazir Ahmed Butt lauded the initiative calling it a crucial step in combating mega crimes against the economy He stressed that anti-competitive practices in public procurement result in massive financial losses and must be addressed urgently Butt expressed hope that CCP’s data-driven insights would enhance NAB s enforcement capabilities and help uncover cartels exploiting regulatory loopholes
The partnership aims to blend CCP s economic and analytical expertise with NAB’s investigative and prosecutorial authority forming a comprehensive approach to tackling corruption and inefficiency in public tenders
Both institutions pledged to deepen cooperation and use the MoU as a platform for future joint actions to uphold economic integrity and transparency in Pakistan’s public sector
PIA POSTS FIRST ANNUAL PROFIT SINCE 2003, RESUMES EU FLIGHTS AFTER LONG HIATUS
cated in Balochistan, OGDCL holds
Limited holds 30% S U K H P U R-I I (2568-23): In Sindh, OGDCL holds 30% working interest with Prime Global Energies Limited holding 25% and Mari Energies Limited holding 30% and TPOC holding 15% Z I A R AT N O RT H (2966-3): In Balochistan, OGDCL holds a 24 87% working interest The JV includes Mari Energies Limited with 31 16% Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) with 24 87% Govern-
ment Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) with 7 10%, and Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) with 10% These blocks cover various regions in Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab, marking a significant development for OGDCL and its JV partners in expanding exploration efforts in Pakistan’s energy sector The exploration of these blocks is expected to contribute significantly to increasing Pakistan s oil and gas reserves, as well as enhancing its energy security The awarded rights come as part of the government’s continued push to increase local exploration and production with the aim of reducing dependency on imported energy sources and boosting domestic energy production The success of these exploration efforts could have significant economic and environmental benefits for Pakistan In addition OGDCL s partners including Mari Energies Limited Pakistan Petroleum Limited, and Prime Global Energies Limited, will play key roles in the development and operation of these blocks, with the intention to contribute to the country’s growing energy needs and reserves
COMMENT
IT seems that the government is putting the recent war-scare behind it The Prime Minister chaired two meetings with tax officials and exhorted the spreading of the tax net and the plugging of holes for evasion not because of the need for money for any war effort, but so as to meet the revenue targets set by the IMF However, it was Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal who chaired a meeting which dealt with another problem, and which could have long-term ramifications: the housing market, more specifically, the meeting examined mortgage finance
Mr Iqbal specifically mentioned the car financing model, which has been rendered Islamic by the payment of instalments as a form of rent-cumrepayment of loan
It is true that the main problem of housing is not really the existence of housing units though that remains an issue with the number of new housing units needed to meet population growth but financing the purchase of those units The model which the meeting seemed to endorse was that of housing mortgages, with monthly payments corresponding roughly to rental, resorted to by those who cannot afford to buy a house In this, the financial institution has a lien on the house, collecting a rent as well as a repayment of the principal It has happened in the car market that vehicles bought on installment have been res-sold, with the seller paying off his loan, or the buyer taking it over This model has not made much progress in the housing market which remains a strictly cash-only business Car dealers had begun car financing in addition to banks and if the trend begins in housing it will perhaps be a possibility that real estate dealers may need to start offering financing Mr Iqbal
There is no denying that God does guide many and misguide many Similarly He gives wisdom to some but not to everybody But is it all arbitrary? Certainly not! When man sincerely looks for guidance and heeds it wherever he finds it God gives him more and more of it Being guided, then, is not an event, but a process– a process that continues till
by God Despite what many people believe it does not follow, however, that God is necessarily pleased with all events Nor that man is merely a puppet that cannot do anything of his own accord That would make a joke of moral accountability Man has an important and unmistakable part to play in his
decisions The physical causes of events are always there which it is often profitable to analyse for the sake of future improvement On another level however, every event can be traced back to God, whose sanction (‘Be’) is a necessary condition for anything to
happen The chemical reaction between cigarette smoke and the lung tissue is based on Divine law But the smoker brings the damage to himself by the act of smoking From the point of view of responsibility one may (and often does) apportion blame and praise to individuals But all events ultimately can be attributed to God It is not a this-or-that question Consider a man who gets hanged The answer to the question ‘Who hanged him?’ depends on the point of view The hanging could be attributed to the hangman who tied the noose around his neck; to the jury who convicted him; to the judge who sentenced him; to the prosecutor who successfully pleaded the case; to the state that sanctioned capital punishment; to the murderer himself for having committed the crime; and to God who ultimately approves and brings into effect all deaths– natural or otherwise The inability to understand this has some extremely unfortunate consequences Atheists frequently cite and object to verses of the Quran to the effect that God guides whom He will and misguides whom He will, or He guides some and misguides others by the same verse What with the lack of focused thought and attention on their part it never occurs to them that their objection is not as unanswerable as they like to think it is Many theists being equally guilty of mental laziness find themselves stumped by it and end up being defensive and apologetic for their belief There is much more confusion on either side than there needs to be
c r e d i t a n d t o a t t r i bu t e h i s s u c c e s s t o G o d Ês i n f i n i t e
O p e r a t i o n B u n y a n - u m - M a r s o o s
A f i t t i n g re p l y t o a g g re s s i o n
TH E measure of a nation’s strength is not only found in its military might, but in the clarity of its purpose and the restraint with which it confronts provocation Real power is not proven through reckless escalation
remained firm in its stance: this is a response born out of necessity, not desire Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made it clear that Pakistan’s actions are defensive The nation had shown patience in the face of mounting aggression but there was a threshold and that threshold had been crossed While Pakistan did not seek war, it would never tolerate violations of its sovereignty The message is clear, Pakistan stands as a fortress of resilience, honour, and peace Its skies are guarded its land protected and its people united India s aggression has been met with a resolute proportionate and morally superior counteroffensive The enemy has been shaken its illusions dismantled, and its false sense of supremacy laid bare Yet, even amid conflict, Pakistan extends a hand of peace not from fear, but from dignity and strength Let it be understood: peace cannot be built on lies deceit or violence But should that hand be struck again the other will respond with justice with resolve and with victory In stark contrast, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence and strategic reck-
lessness betrayed a growing insecurity and desperation within India’s leadership Instead of introspection after repeated failures in diplomacy and military adventurism the Indian establishment continues to gamble with regional peace This isn t strength, it s strategic shortsightedness bordering on self-destruction Pakistan’s message is clear, we do not want escalation, we do not want war, but we are not weak Our will is forged in the fires of history and our purpose is anchored in humanity Pakistan s policy is not expansionist it is existential We want to live in peace but we will never live in submission It is time for Prime Minister Modi to take a long, hard look at the path he is treading His divisive domestic
grave truth he must confront with humility, before it is too late Pakistan is not acting out of vengeance but necessity Our responses are driven by national security not nationalism We seek no triumph in destruction but we will not allow our homeland to be desecrated Let the world bear witness,
Nuclear rivalr y
Air force excellence
Dr Zafar Khan SafDar
India’s miscalculation and Pakistan’s strategic victory
IN a defining moment of South Asian military history the May 2025 conflict marked a dramatic shift in the regional power balance A far smaller and economically constrained Pakistan demonstrated not only military and technological parity with India but also surpassed its rival in strategic planning diplomatic agility and psychological warfare What began as an act of hubris by New Delhi ended in national humiliation, with Islamabad emerging stronger and more respected on the global stage India’s offensive initiated under the assumption of swift success and limited backlash turned into a monumental miscalculation Prime Minister Narendra Modi buoyed by inflated domestic support and a self-image of regional dominance, underestimated Pakistan’s preparedness and resolve He hoped to win quick political dividends through a show of force especially ahead of crucial elections But Pakistan did not respond as expected Instead of reacting impulsively, Islamabad bided its time It waited for international consensus to identify India as the aggressor This restraint, seen as both wise and mature allowed Pakistan to garner global sympathy while preparing a precise and proportionate response When the counterstrike came it was devastating not in scale, but in effect Pakistan s military response was measured, disciplined, and surgically executed, exposing India’s vulnerabilities without breaching international law or targeting civilians Pakistan s advanced capabilities especially in electronic warfare missile guidance, and air defence were not just noticed by India, but also by Washington The USA, viewing India as a strategic ally and regional counterweight to China, was jolted by intelligence reports detailing the scope and sophistication of Pakistan s retaliation plans The potential damage to India had Pakistan fully unleashed its military might was
deemed catastrophic President Donald Trump convened his strategic team, led by Vice President JD Vance, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Real-time intelligence painted a grim picture: Pakistan s counteroffensive was not only imminent but could severely cripple India s command-andcontrol infrastructure, disrupt key economic hubs, and dismantle its air defence shield JD Vance was dispatched to urgently communicate this intelligence to Prime Minister Modi The message was blunt: any further escalation would result in irreversible consequences The strategic calculus shifted instantly Modi, once intoxicated with power and emboldened by false notions of invincibility, was brought to his senses The once defiant leader now faced the reality of defeat, and with surprising haste he accepted a ceasefire grasping at the lifeline extended by US diplomacy Pakistan s military response was not merely reactive it was the product of years of strategic planning and technological upgrades The Pakistan Air Force, often underestimated proved formidable It not only neutralized Indian air incursions but used advanced jamming techniques to cripple enemy communications rendering even India s most prized Rafale jets vulnerable In the fiercest aerial dogfights witnessed in South Asia, five Indian aircraft including three Rafales were shot down The weapon of choice: China-made PL-15 air-toair missiles deployed by JF-17 Thunder jets The event sent shockwaves through global defense communities How could lower-cost fighters and less-funded forces dismantle India s French-made fleet? The answer lay in pilot skill, tactical discipline, and superior command integration all areas where Pakistan excelled But it wasn t just the air force Pakistan s missile defense systems intercepted multiple Indian drones and neutralized misfired projectiles that tragically landed within Indian territory specifically in illegally occupied Kashmir
and
errors highlighted India’s lack of
ordination and systemic flaws within its military hierarchy India s narrative that Pakistan was the perpetual sponsor of cross-border terrorism fell flat The international community increasingly skeptical of India s claims, demanded verifiable evidence, which never materialized The UN and European Union called for restraint and transparency India’s allies grew uncomfortable with its unilateralism and recklessness
Even US officials while committed to India strategically, privately acknowledged that New Delhi had acted without a clear objective and had exposed its military and diplomatic inadequacies The global perception shifted: Pakistan was no longer the underdog or the provocateur It was a disciplined sovereign state defending itself with dignity and proportionality
The economic cost to India was immense Independent estimates suggest losses exceeding $2–3 billion during the short-lived but intense confrontation These losses stemmed from destroyed aircraft disrupted operations investor panic and infrastructural damage Insurance premiums soared Stock markets dipped Foreign direct investment froze The confidence of global investors in India’s stability took
I n d i a Ês
a l b l u s t e r w i t h o u t fo r e s i g h t i s s e l f - d e s t r u c t i v e . Pa k i s t a n Ês v i c t o r y w a s n o t j u s t o n t h e
b a t t l e f i e l d i t w a s i n t h e r e a l m o f p e rc e p t i o n , r e s t r a i n t , a n d n a t i o n a l d i g n i t y I t
t u r n e d I n d i a Ês m i s a d v e n t u r e i n t o a n i n f l e c t i o n p o i n t , o n e t h a t r e d e f i n e d t h e
s u b c o n t i n e n t Ês s t r a t e g i c c a l c u l u s
Ban on Awami League? Sorr y, Israel – Trump needs a win!
Histor y shows that dissolving par ties rarely heals nations. It more often deepens frac tures, stokes grievances, and makes mar t yrs of those who once stood accused
Intransigent Hamas, defiant Iran and hostile Houthis are cramping the US president’s style Guess who may pay the price Rumor has Trump preparing to unilaterally recognize a
exactly what it needs to recast its image from oppressor to oppressed The same party that wielded state power to silence dissent now gets to claim victimhood Then there is the legal dimension Bangladesh is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which clearly states that restrictions on political rights must meet the tests of legality necessity and proportionality A blanket party ban the most extreme form of political restriction can only be justified when all other less restrictive means have demonstrably failed The state still has powerful tools at its disposal: it can prosecute individual AL leaders credibly accused of crimes provide protection for witnesses and activists, disband violent factions, and even impose targeted political sanctions These mechanisms strengthen justice Justice demands that we punish the guilty not everyone who are not directly involved with them Collective punishment even when driven by righteous cause, undermines the very legitimacy of transitional justice History shows that dissolving parties rarely heals nations It more often deepens fractures, stokes grievances and makes martyrs of those who once stood accused Supporters of the ban may point to the student movements particularly the July uprising, as moral justification And indeed, the courage of Bangladesh s young protesters deserves admiration They braved arrests bullets and surveillance to demand change But no matter how noble we should not allow heroism to override the rule of law as the July uprising was meant to restore the rule of law and impart justice If we undermine democratic process to respond to just demands we risk destroying the very ideals we’re trying to restore
Perhaps worryingly this move sets a precedent Today it s the AL Tomorrow it could be any party deemed unacceptable Once the door to blanket political bans is opened, it becomes easier to silence dissent and concentrate power under the guise of legality Bangladesh deserves more than symbolic ruptures It deserves the hard principled work of imparting justice and institution-building Accountability must replace impunity We must also ensure political pluralism If we are to escape our past we must choose justice and democracy
Upon assuming office for the second time, Trump’s priority was to banish as much global conflict as possible so as to burnish his war-ending persona and draw a favorable contrast from his predecessor That didn t work so well with Russia and Ukraine but like virtually all previous US presidents, he knew he could pressure Israel into supporting American priorities – in this case, a ceasefire with Hamas It took Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by surprise but didn’t work out too badly for him since a substantial segment of the Israeli public supported the agreement s first phase and Netanyahu declined, without backlash, to pursue the far more controversial subsequent phases Since then, Trump has threatened Hamas with “hell to pay” if all hostages –or American hostages or right actually all hostages – were not released; unleashed substantial firepower against Yemen s Houthi rebels and threatened them with complete annihilation ; and reimposed “maximum pressure” sanctions against Iran while threatening to destroy their nuclear facilities These all bear the fingerprints of the muscular foreign-policy cadre
Hamas neither released any hostages nor faced hell, Iran remained defiant, and the Houthis still managed to mount attacks against ships in the Red Sea, including American naval vessels Plainly, none of this felt very much like winning Soon Trump was engaging in dialogue with Iran which obliged him by muzzling the Houthis to build momentum in the talks – i e to hand Trump a win he could boast of and a debt to be collected later The neo-isolationists now had the upper hand Unsourced statements suggested Trump might even be considering a return to the terms of Obama s disastrous nuclear deal with Iran which would please the neo-isolationists since they don t perceive Iran as a threat to US shores But it ignited a firestorm among right-wing commentators, who reminded Trump how mightily he inveighed against that deal before dramatically exiting it in 2018 Manhood check! Trump quickly pivoted to nicely or viciously and postponed further talks What happens next? Talks with Iran are back on The neo-isolationists perceive the vigor of Trump’s manly threats as cover for
these discordant voices and decides whose advice is likely, at a given juncture, to make him look like a winner And he goes with that until it no longer feels like winning Then he goes with someone else The underlying merits and the repercussions are secondary or irrelevant What counts is public perception or at least how he reads it
QaMar BaShir
CHINA , COLOMBIA SIGN COOPERATION PL AN ON BRI
The lifting of sanctions came despite deep Israeli suspicion of Sharaa’s administration worries initially shared by some US officials Israeli officials have continued to describe Sharaa as a jihadist though he severed ties with al Qaeda in 2016 Israel s government did not immediately respond to requests for comment
The decision is a major boost for Sharaa who has been struggling to bring the country under the control of the Damascus government after toppling former
s ta f f r e p o r t
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif distributed among talented students of Faisalabad Division the latest Core i7 (13th Generation) laptops besides launching Phase-II of Honahar Scholarship Program in Faisalabad Division She received an unprecedented enthusiasm, slogans and applause from Faisalabad students on her arrival in the ceremony held at Faisalabad’s historic Government College University where she presented laptops and Honhar Scholarship cheques to the talented students Madam Chief Minister responded to students’ welcome slogans at the ceremony by waving her hand at them Students of GC University presented her portraits pencil sketches and beautiful shawls as gifts Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met PML-N parliamentarians and ticket holders of Faisalabad Division on their seats She left her seat on the stage and sat among the students On her direction a well-dressed contingent of Ladies Police presented a guard of honor to the students She congratulated student Muhammad Abdullah Raza for beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran, and another student for presenting a sweet Naat She awarded the students for presenting the national anthem "My border is guarded by faith and herself joined the national anthem at the request of the students Madam Chief Minister was presented in the ceremony
EO Accelerator program introduced in Pakistan
KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) the world’s leading peer-to-peer network of successful business owners launched its global EO Accelerator program in Pakistan This powerful initiative is now available to early-stage entrepreneurs in the country, offering a structured pathway for business owners striving to scale their ventures beyond the $1 million revenue mark Yasmin Dadabhoy has been appointed as President for the Pakistan Chapter Usama Sultan Shamsi assumed the role of EO Accelerator Chair for Karachi and Dr
East-West Centre Alumni Association elects
new leadership
s
ISLAMABAD
t
14 May 2025: The Islamabad chapter of the EastWest Centre Alumni Association held its annual elections for the 2025-2026 term, bringing together alumni to elect new leadership A statement issued here said that elections were held through secret balloting under the supervision of the election committee Nominees were required to submit their candidacy a day prior to the election in accordance with the chapter s guidelines Afzal Khan Mandokhel was elected as the president with the majority of votes He was an alumnus of the 26th New Generation Seminar, a three-country EWC programme held in Honolulu Phnom Penh and Yangon in the year 2016 Muhammad Ashraf was elected unopposed as Vice President while Faiz Paracha a journalist by profession was elected as General Secretary
Death Notification Tools Across Healthcare Facilities
Baltistan, Syed Mehdi Shah said, Nestlé s N4HK program has been instrumental in creating awareness about nutrition in our schools and communities and we are delighted at its expansion in GB for the welfare of our communities ”
3 % / E u r o p e 2 2 % t h e y h a v e c a r e e r a m b i t i o n s t o b e e n t r e p r e n e u r s i t s c l e a r t h a t m a n y s e e a cc o u n t a n c y a s a n a t u r a l s p r i n g b o a r d t o e v e n t u a l l y t h e i r o w n
