PM AL ARMED
g COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING NEEDED TO ENSURE OUR GROWING POPULATION, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH, BECOMES A PRODUCTIVE PART OF ECONOMY: PM
g EMPHA SIZES GOVT TAKING SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO EMPOWER THE YOUTH AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO COUNTRY ’S ECONOMIC MAINSTREAM
tiatives to empower the youth and integrate them into the country’s economic mainstream “Opportunities are being created to enable our youth to play a central role in national development he added Speaking on gender inclusion, Shehbaz underlined the critical importance of women’s participation in the workforce
“Women constitute a significant portion of our human capital We must ensure greater employment opportunities for them he said The premier instructed the formation of a committee to develop a comprehensive and effective national policy in close collaboration with provincial governments
During the meeting, the premier was briefed on various proposals and recommendations to manage population growth Officials stressed that any long-term solution would require active provincial collaboration and public engagement at the grassroots level
Pakistan is home to a vast population of over 251 million, according to World Bank figures In 2023 the population growth rate was reported to have reached around 2 55 per cent However almost forty-five percent of Pakistan s population lives below the poverty line, according to a World Bank report
g STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF NATIONWIDE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT IMPLICATIONS OF UNCHECKED POPULATION GROWTH
lauds $2.7b expor ts in first fiscal month as highly encouraging
the most valuable asset for our country He emphasized that the government was taking several ini-
“A unified and strategic response is the need of the hour ” he said calling for a coordinated federal-provincial framework to tackle population-related issues He also stressed the importance of launching a nationwide awareness campaign to educate citizens about the implications of unchecked population growth, especially in the context of sustainable economic development
Last month, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said that population growth in Pakistan has reached an alarming level He highlighted the wide-ranging consequences of the demographic challenge including over 25m children currently being out of school and overcrowding at government hospitals In June, parliamentarians unanimously approved a resolution on population stabilisation and vowed to table it in the National Assembly
‘2nd in less than two months’: Field Marshal Asim Munir to visit US this week: repor t
M
ISLAMABAD
t
Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed
Asim Munir is scheduled to travel to the United States this week, his second visit in less than two months, foreign media reported on Thursday No official announcement from either side has been made so far regarding any engagement during Field Marshal Munir s trip to the US
s Dabkot area and Fareedun Zubair from Birmal tehsil Lower South Waziristan s District Police Officer (DPO) Tahir Khan stated that the wounded were immediately taken to the Wana District Headquarters Hospital “Security forces cordoned off the area after the blast and initiated a search operation to trace the perpetrators DPO Khan added Investigation was also underway to determine the nature of the bomb used the officer noted The incident follows residents complaints of the open display of firearms and the free movement of armed men in Wana’s Rustam Bazaar, an important commercial hub of Lower South Waziristan The DPO said that no one was allowed to roam Rustam Bazaar openly carrying weapons and that strict measures would be implemented soon to curb the practice Separately, a cop was injured as police and civilians repulsed a late-night terrorist attack on the Khuni Khel police post in KP’s Bannu district “Police personnel responded strongly to the terrorist attack while showing bravery and determination ” Bannu DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi said in a statement A policeman got injured by the terrorists firing and was taken to a hospital, the officer added, noting that residents also joined the police and took up positions against the attackers
The reports claimed that the COAS will attend the retirement ceremony of US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla who was noted for publicly praising Pakistan and was even awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) during his recent visit to the country by President Asif Ali Zardari on July 26
The army chief visited the US back in June, and held a rare one-on-one meeting
with US President Donald Trump at the White House Cabinet Room with Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff and Islamabad s national security adviser also in attendance The visit also came against the backdrop of the armed Pakistan-India conflict, which saw Washington brokering a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after New Delhi launched attacks inside Pakistan under the pretext of targeting terrorists which it said were responsible for the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) India’s attacks prompted Pakistan to launch Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos after downing six Indian Air Force fighter jets including three Rafales in response to Indian unprovoked aggression The 87-hour-long conflict which
included cross-border strikes by both countries left 40 civilians and 13 armed forces personnel martyred in Pakistan The huddle apart from discussing the then-worsening Iran conflict also saw COAS praising Trump s constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire with India With Field Marshal Munir lauding Trump’s statesmanship and his ability to
‘ W ish, Not reality ’: Kh Asif debunks ‘resignation repor ts’
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday debunked reports circulating on social media about him stepping down from his position as rumors, saying, “These could be wishes, but no reality ” The defense minister clarified the matter after an X user named Zubair Ali Khan in a series of posts on the platform late Wednesday night alleged that Kh Asif had handed in his resignation over a controversy but had withdrawn it and was now unreachable
Replying to the post that levelled the allegations against him Asif wrote “With apologies this gentleman has written his wishes in this tweet Not reality ”
He shared a screenshot of the post thread, edited with a red stamp marking it as “FAKE ” The X user a former journalist had alleged that the minister resigned due to “intensified controversy regarding the arrest of the additional deputy commissioner revenue (ADCR) of Sialkot a few days ago on charges of alleged financial corruption In the resignation sent to Dr Tauqeer Shah, advisor to the prime minister ’s office, Khawaja Asif stated that either the ADCR should be released or his resignation should be accepted ” the post alleged Khan also suggested that an influential person was behind the arrest who was a subordinate of the defence minister s department
comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community, the US president, in return, also hailed the former ’s leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics During the meeting which extended to over two hours, both sides also discussed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development mines and minerals artificial intelligence energy cryptocurrency and emerging technologies Following the army chief s visit Pakistan and Washington have since then reached a much-awaited trade agreement as well The breakthrough came during
bill
ernment
Pulses
fuss with neither plots nor foreign citizenship because they have to contest elections The largest role in providing shelter to bureaucracy and other elites in Portugal is being played by Mr Virk,” he said ‘2nd in less than two months’: Field Marshal Asim Munir to visit US this week: repor t CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh and Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul were also present Under the agreement there will be a reduction in tariffs particularly on Pakistani exports to the US, and a fresh start in economic cooperation between the two countries Although specific details have not surfaced either from Islamabad or Washington on the trade deal, the Ministry for Finance said that the agreement “will result in a reduction of reciprocal tariff especially on Pakistani exports to the US The trade deal was confirmed by Trump himself who took to social media saying that the two countries will work together on developing their massive oil reserves” and are currently “in the process of choosing the oil company” that will be leading this partnership Under the said understanding Pakistan and the US will also focus on energy minerals information technology cryptocurrency and other key areas
India-US spat over trade and Russian oil purchases threatens wider fallout
PA K I S TA N should profit from the example US President Donald Trump is setting of India, and instead of any sort of triumphalism, should be glad that it is not in the same boat After all, India was favoured until recently as the USA s regional counterweight to China Now, it is being punished first because it runs a trade surplus with the USA and because it is buying oil from Russia Some in Pakistan may feel that India is being driven off by the USA because its recent confrontation with Pakistan showed that it was unable to play the role of a regional counterweight This should revive memories in Pakistan of how the USA used it, not one but twice, over Afghanistan, and then discarded once its use was over It would thus be useful not to place too much reliance on US friendship particularly when it is offered by a loose cannon like President Donald Trump Pakistan should remember that it tried its best to get discounted Russian oil It even imported one shipment, and it was only because it was not really compatible with refining equipment that import was not started It is not difficult to understand India s motive in importing discounted oil It was in the national interest The accusation, that India was selling it on at full prices again indicates patriotism or at least good oldfashioned capitalist profiteering rather than some malign intent such as providing Russia the foreign exchange it needed to prosecute its war with Ukraine Pakistan may find two points at which it may bump into US wishes: Iran, and China Pakistan needs to consider how it will respond of a US attempt to punish it by penal tariffs or some other economic means It is true that the tariffs may create opportunities for Pakistani businesses for the $87 billion worth of Indian exports taxed are in the textile footwear gems and jewellery sectors in all of which Pakistan has a presence However, the most salutary reminder that can emerge from this whole affair is that nothing is permanent in economics If it had been, the British would still be exporting opium to China, and that too at gunpoint It is perhaps simplistic to see what is happening as merely the whims of an unstable character It is more akin to the death-throes of a large animal before the end What has happened to India is not an bilateral affair, but is a lesson for all US interlocutors to learn from
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Tbeing evolved to explain Donald Trump’s foreign policy It
not postulate that he is mad
accuse
his
of being but that he simply behaves as if he is mad being
dictable and illogical in his foreign policy decisions However, two threads have been constant in his foreign policy: it is more transactional than ever, and it focuses on economics to the exclusion of politics If anything Pakistan has benefited from the Madness Theory for the transactionalism component worked against India For some time the USA had been priming India to act as its regional policeman to be its regional counterweight against China The main symbols of that were its civilian nuclear agreement with the USA, giving it access to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and its membership of the Quad a military alliance just short of an alliance alongside the USA itself Japan and Australia Quad was crucial because it was a security dialogue which was supposed to be the USA s main tool in the Indo-Pacific region against China
The clash with Pakistan showed that it could not handle Pakistan, let alone China The USA could either prop up India further, by supplying it with its latest technology such as stealth aircraft and air defence systems or cut it loose There were multiple disadvantages to giving India the technology These are two areas where the USA has an edge over other military powers Giving India those technologies would create a demand among other allied powers for the same treatment Another is that India might mess up another confrontation with Pakistan It would not look good for the PAF using Chinese technology to down IAF stealth fighters or overcome US-supplied air defence systems The deterrent value of US armaments in the Taiwan theatre would go down immediately It should be noted that India has already decided to make its own stealth aircraft, while Pakistan is buying the Chinese stealth fighter the F35 with induction slated for as early as next month In other words India does not have to be kept close by giving it any advantage in trade negotiations Well, nor does Pakistan actually, particularly as it has shown a distressing loyalty to China, as well as to Iran However, Pakistan showed a readiness to do what Trump so elegantly described at a White House dinner as ‘kissing my ass’ It seems that part of the whole tariff announcement and negotiation process was to get a show of respect Why Trump needs that show of respect should be left to psychologists, but it did mean that Pakistan had to respond by such equally crude gestures as nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize The result has been that Pakistani tariffs are lower than India’s India’s do show some of the tangles Trump is getting into because India is being penalized for non-economic reasons mainly its Russian alliance That means Pakistan could find itself the
target of Trump’s ire, especially because it is refusing to abandon Iran It should be noted that Pakistan has acquiesced in what amounts to abandonment of the World Tariff Organization mechanism Trade is no longer to be governed by a rules-based order, but the decisions of a single player There is nothing to stop the European Union, Russia, Australia or Upper Volta from imposing tariffs according to their will The only force to stop them will be the market There there is a disconnect: the market does not set tariffs governments do A rules-based mechanism like the WTO was needed for precisely that reason so that a mechanism existed to enforce rules on the state imposing them That said, the prospect of a renewed US effort in oil exploration is to be welcomed A previous effort only recently went down so Trump clearly knows more than has emerged Again there seem to be geopolitical considerations for the situation will develop in a number of ways It puts US oil company personnel in Balochistan, presumably competing with Iran Further, the personnel will also be in the same area as Chinese nationals working for Chinese companies It is interesting that there will be a comparatively large influx of Americans in a province with Gwadar as its main port Trump also tweeted about the possibility that Pakistan might even end up exporting oil to Iran That harks back to the notion promoted by the USA among others, that the path to normalisation with India
It was perhaps inevitable that the deal was concluded in haste . After all, while the USA is PakistanÊs larg est surplus-trade par tner, its $3 billion surplus is the 33rd highest of the USAÊs trade par tners. China, on the other hand, is the highest, with a $295 billion surplus.
PAny perceived transgression, whether it s a woman daring to choose her own life partner, a fleeting rumour, or even an utterly baseless accusation, can ignite an explosion of extreme often lethal reactions Honour killings forced marriages agonizing acid attacks and soul-crushing social ostracism are not mere aberrations; they are the horrifying, systemic manifestations of this deeply entrenched, deeply flawed system Let us be clear: these are, unequivocally, crimes against humanity masquerading under a flimsy veil of cultural legitimacy
The true stomach-churning tragedy lies in the grotesque moral paradox these actions present How can murder, how can coercion, how can torture, how can the systematic denial of fundamental human rights ever, in any sane universe, be deemed “honourable”? When a father extinguishes his daughter ’s life when a brother murders his own sister when a husband disfigures his wife all in the name of honour they are not safeguarding any noble principle They are committing heinous acts of moral depravity that would make the angels weep Such deeds strip away the very essence of human decency, leaving behind an unbearable trail of grief an icy grip of fear and a profound gaping wound of injustice The suffering inflicted upon these victims often already vulnerable and marginalized stands in searing, agonizing contrast to any notion of righteousness or virtue
This tragic reality is echoed in countless incidents that continue to plague the nation Just
one of the most
of this moral inversion is when the very individuals expected to protect their children become complicit in their demise Heartbreakingly, there have been documented instances where a mother her own spirit perhaps broken by societal pressure or fear concedes to or even actively participates in the killing of her own daughter for perceived honour Imagine, if you can, the raw, brutal impact of a statement chillingly detached from natural maternal instinct, asserting something to the effect as such This tragic complicity rips apart the very fabric of humanity It reveals how deeply ingrained and corrosive this culture is corrupting even the most fundamental and sacred bonds So, what is the only path forward from this moral abyss? It is nothing less than a courageous, collective, soul-deep reclamation of the very essence of our true religious and moral values This is no detached academic exercise; this is an existential fight for the soul of our society a battle for the dignity and very lives of our daughters and sisters Education, then, is not merely important; it is the burning torch that must illuminate this darkness We must fiercely challenge the chains of ingrained patriarchal interpretations fostering a bold independent spirit of critical thinking among our populace Only then can we dismantle these brutal norms not with a sudden blow but brick by agonizing brick, until they crumble into dust and humanity can finally breathe But let us be unequivocally clear: religious re-education while vital cannot stand alone against this tide of barbarity We demand legal frameworks yes but not merely ink on paper we demand their unwavering uncompromising enforcement, a commitment as unyielding as the mountains themselves Pakistan has, commendably, etched new words onto its legal books against honour killings Yet, the true, agonizing challenge lies in breathing life into those statutes ensuring that justice real visceral undeniable justice is not a distant ideal
but a living breathing force for the broken survivors and the grieving families This means shielding the vulnerable with every fibre of our being and pursuing every perpetrator with a relentless, unforgiving hand, offering no quarter, no leniency This is not a choice; it is a moral imperative Civil society organizations, government agencies and international partners must forge an unbreakable alliance their unity a bulwark against this inhumanity Together they must carve out an environment where the rule of law stands as an unassailable fortress, where barbaric customs crumble before its mighty presence, where every human life is cherished as sacred, and where dignity is recognized as the birthright of every soul not a privilege to be granted or denied We are not so naive as to believe that these words alone will instantly shatter the deeply ingrained, often deadly, interpretations of honour that permeate our communities This is but a potent spark aimed at igniting a muchneeded inferno of introspection and change a critical step on a challenging yet absolutely essential journey But let me reiterate: honour culture with its tragic litany of moral turpitudes, stands as an affront to humanity and a profound misrepresentation of genuine religious and moral values The road ahead is long, etched with the passage of years perhaps even decades A journey that may well extend beyond my lifetime Yet this daunting timeline must not deter us Instead it must galvanize us for the moment has come for an
When law fails
Bullying in white coats
Trump goes after India
Sarmad Sattar
IN a rare shift of focus from its usual marginal position in US discourse, Pakistan has recently found itself in the headlines in the USA for all the right reasons Normally overshadowed by stories of political chaos power tussles, and institutional heavy-handedness against dissent, the narrative has now turned toward Islamabad’s surprising diplomatic manoeuvring and its growing importance in Washington’s strategic calculations
While Pakistan s domestic politics remain fraught with Imran Khan and his party under relentless state pressure and critics of the deep state still facing crackdowns the country has suddenly carved out space on the global stage This pivot began in earnest just before the USA carried out precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow and other nuclear sites
The catalyst was an unprecedented meeting: on June 18, when President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for a private lunch at the White House, an event widely covered by the international media It was one of the most significant diplomatic engagements of Trump s second term and the first time a US president hosted Pakistan s military chief without civilian leadership present At the press briefing following the meeting, Trump openly acknowledged Field Marshal Munir ’s role in averting disaster during the recent five-day India-Pakistan conflict saying:
The reason I had him here I wanted to thank him for not going into the war ending it Two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war; that could have been a nuclear war ” (NDTV, June 2025)
This meeting reverberated across South Asia creating political tremors in India Rahul Gandhi leader of the opposition Congress Party seized the moment in a fiery parliamentary speech, lambasting Prime Minister Modi s government for failing to secure equivalent US attention In India’s parliament even some pro-government lawmakers admitted that New Delhi had been outmanoeuvred diplomatically losing ground to Islamabad in Washington s halls of power
The reasons for this shift are not hard to
Pakistan’s moment in Washington
discern While India has long been touted as the USA’s counterweight to China its policy choices have frustrated Washington New Delhi s unrelenting purchase of Russian oil now exceeding 1 5 million barrels a day and acquisition of Russian arms has provided Moscow with critical liquidity to sustain its war effort against Ukraine Arms deals alone totaled over $5 billion in 2024 undermining Western sanctions Trump and senior Republicans like Marco Rubio publicly criticized this stance framing it as opportunism detrimental to US and NATO interests In this context, Pakistan s alignment with US priorities, however cautious, has not gone unnoticed On Palestine Pakistan has walked a fine line Publicly and diplomatically Islamabad has been vociferous in condemning Israeli atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, echoing global outrage at what many now call a “slaughterhouse ” Yet, unlike Iran or other Muslim-majority states, Pakistan has avoided providing material or military support to Palestinian resistance factions preventing open friction with Washington or Tel Aviv This careful positioning has kept Pakistan in the good books of the US administration while still satisfying domestic demands for moral solidarity with Palestine
newfound goodwill is Pakistan
willingness to open its mineral-rich
visit, Field Marshal Munir
e g y t o l o ck i n t h i s g o o d w i l l , i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e i t s g a i n s , a n d a l i g n i t s d o m e s t i c g ov e r n a n c e w i t h g l o b a l e x p e c t a t i o n s , t h e w i n d o w w i l l cl o s e a s q u i ck l y a s i t o p e n e d Tr u m p Ês a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a s o f f e r e d I s l a m a b a d a s e a t a t t h e
Padministration regardless of the outcome of the 2028 presidential election Looking ahead to the next decade, US tariffs and broader industrial policies, including tax breaks and subsidies, will continue to underpin trade policy Support for tariffs exists not only among MAGA Republicans but also among many Democrats especially in the growing progressive wing of the party Due to its geopolitical influence and market size the United States will continue to set the tone of the international system Diminished trade and efficiency, higher inflation, and increased national self-reliance will characterize the system In addition regional groupings arising from great power influence proximity and lower trade costs will become relatively more important vehicles for trade The role of the dollar will gradually diminish both in settlements and as a reserve currency Lastly, a growing group of nations in the Global South will play a crucial role in the new system
THE FREE-TRADE SYSTEM IS DEAD: The current system is dead The United States won t lead it anymore and neither China nor any other nation will take control of it This leaves two possible scenarios: the United States joins a group of democracies (the G7) to form a trading bloc, or more likely a tariff-based system will emerge
the MAGA movement is now an indigenous feature of the US political system Recent polling suggests 49 percent of Republican voters and nearly one-sixth of adults identify as MAGA Trumpism will survive Trump The key to Trump s electoral coalition is his gains among blue-collar white voters including
A n e w w o r l d o r d e r o f t a r i f f s
The c urrent system is dead The United States won’t lead it anymore, and neither China nor any other nation will take control of it
All economists agree that tariffs have large and long-lasting negative effec ts on produc tivit
and
cies
A
States
GLOBAL TRADE
not
on
tion and stability Beijing is calling for a new trading system without the United States But there are three reasons why China will not lead a new order Public opinion of China around the world is generally negative China might try to lead, but few nations would follow Second China is not a global power; its diplomacy at least in the Middle East and parts of Latin America is underdeveloped China lacks the capability to lead a global system and also the necessary willpower Lastly a system that excludes the United States, the world s largest market, which accounts for roughly 30 percent of global household spending and about a quarter of global GDP, would face enormous challenges The EU is the only other candidate to lead a free trade system But many EU decisions require a unanimous consensus among its 27 member states Governance is too difficult for the organization to lead a new system
Since neither the United States nor any other country can lead a global free-trade system, two scenarios remain possible Either the United States leads a large bloc of relatively free-trading nations or the world devolves into a status characterized by a lack of a large trade structure and weak regional groups The former option could involve a tight US-led structure including the G7 nations India the EU, and the Gulf countries However, this structure would be too capacious an alliance for a MAGA president A SYSTEM OF TARIFF-BASED INDUSTRIAL POLICY: Having ruled out other possible scenarios the most likely course of action entails a tariff-based system with weak regional trading blocs Given the current trajectory of trade talks the effective US tariff rate on all imports at the end of this year will be on the order of 15 percent this is broadly in line with other expert forecasts, notably those cited here This assumes a 10–15 percent effective rate on most key US trading partners with higher rates applied to China India and some smaller countries These levels will be unprecedented since the 1930s They will likely stick for years to come for the reasons explained above US policy will remain the main driver of global trade interactions over the next decade While Trump is in office, his personality will favor impetuous and threatening policy positions to gain leverage over other countries A Democratic successor to Trump would be far less likely to mimic his style and would bring more predictability and concern for the business environment The reaction of other countries to this high-tariff system would further define the new system They would seek to avoid a new trade conflict with the United States and eschew tariff increases on US imports Geopolitical alignment with the United States as well as the presence or absence of non-tariff trade irritants would also be relevant to bilateral trade relations Countries, especially emerging markets, would still protect national champions, nascent industries, or areas of perceived national security vulnerability However, in a tariff-based system, the headroom to enact new tariffs in a way that does not significantly harm trade or anger the
United States will be limited Other countries broader industrial policies, including tax incentives and subsidies, will both be the norm and a source of tension with the US Lastly, some countries will react to US policy via a hedging strategy Hedging is a defensive, risk management strategy that seeks to protect against Washington’s unreliability by developing more robust trade relations with countries other than the United States Other countries will pursue a policy of multi-alignment HOW TARIFFS WILL CUT GLOBAL GROWTH:
A global trade environment shaped by tariff-based US industrial policy and the reactions of other countries will lead to a new equilibrium with several core characteristics Higher tariffs are a regressive tax that disproportionately affects lower-income consumers They will decrease global trade and disrupt supply chains Lastly, virtually all economists agree that tariffs have large and long-lasting negative effects on productivity, inflation, and economic growth
A new mercantilist system will appear The tools of this new system go well beyond tariffs they will include purchase agreements investment agreements subsidies and directed regulatory and tax policies
Gone is the post-Bretton Woods intrinsic respect for markets; it has been replaced by the belief that tariffs and other forms of industrial policy are measures needed to improve the condition of blue-collar voters Domestic politics and self-reliance not comparative advantage will be the primary drivers of trade policy
US-CHINA RELATIONS UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM:
US-China relations will serve as a further brake on global commerce, infusing the new system with traderestrictive views of national security Decoupling is likely to occur in high-tech biotech critical minerals pharmaceuticals and green technologies In many of these sectors countries will have to choose between the US and Chinese ecosystems Export controls from both the United States and China will be a destabilizing overlay to the high-tariff trading system
While decoupling and reduced interdependence will be the trend the United States and China are unlikely to engage in another trade war for the foreseeable future
THE ADVENT OF WEAK REGIONAL GROUPINGS: Amid this high tariff system, weak regional groupings are likely to form Great powers have influence over their regions and the ability to shape trade relations with their neighbors In addition, trade costs are lower and supply chains are generally safer when trading with neighbors
These groups will feature lower tariff and non-tariff barriers
One grouping will revolve around the United States by far the dominant power in the Americas A zombie version of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is likely to exist, in which US tariffs on Mexico and Canada persist and new ones are threatened Still, duties are kept low enough to facilitate relatively high levels of trade Central America and the
QamaR bashiR
ports that the two Southeast Asian nations held the Extraordinary Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) in Malaysia earlier in the day reaching mutual understanding on mechanisms for
The spokesperson said the latest meeting followed the consensus reached by Cambodian and Thai leaders in Kuala Lumpur on July 28 adding that the meeting lays the foundation for realizing an effective ceasefire and cementing lasting peace between the two sides
Noting that the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border continues to deescalate, the spokesperson said, “This fully proves that dialogue and consultation is the right way to resolve disputes China upholds a just and fair position ”
The spokesperson reiterated that China upholds a just and fair position supports Cambodia and Thailand in enhancing communication and resolving differences
ers, fishermen and dairy farmers ” He added “I know I will have to pay a heavy price for it personally and I am ready for it India is ready for it Modi did not directly refer to the US tariffs or trade talks Earlier in its reaction, Indian External Affairs Ministry
NESPAK to Design International Standard Cricket Stadium in Islamabad
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has entrusted the National Engineering Services Pakistan Pvt Limited (NESPAK) with the prestigious task of designing and supervising the construction of an international standard cricket stadium in F-9 Park, Islamabad The announcement was made by NESPAK s Managing Director, Muhammad Zargham Eshaq Khan This landmark assignment has been awarded on a government-to-government basis and marks a significant step toward enhancing Pakistan s sports infrastructure The
Director (Lab/NEQS), Pakistan Environment Protection Authority (Pak-EPA) who delivered their presentations on different topics
It is because of
UZBEKISTAN ENVOY URGES PAK, UZBEK BUSINESS
COMMUNIT Y TO BENEFIT FROM NEW AGREEMENT
regional connectivity, trade and economic relations, energy, agriculture, and joint infrastructure projects he said Amb Alisher Tukhtaev said that President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed a Joint Declaration and a Protocol on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership Council’ at the highest level Terming Regional economic connectivity a key he said and Uzbekistan intends to utilize the ports of Karachi and Gwadar as strategic gateways to global markets aiming to enhance regional connectivity and ensure the smooth flow of goods to and from South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond The envoy said that all these initiatives will be discussed in greater detail during the upcoming meeting of the Uzbekistan-Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission which is scheduled to take place later this year To further expand bilateral trade and diversify exports, ‘Uzbekistan-Pakistan Trade Houses’ were opened in Lahore (February) and in Karachi (May) he said The Ambassador said that in order to enhance mutual payment mechanisms with Pakistan a delegation from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, accompanied by representatives of leading Uzbek commercial
banks, visited Karachi in April this year
During the visit in-depth discussions were held with the State Bank of Pakistan and major commercial banks – including Bank Al-Habib Limited HBL Meezan Bank, Habib Metropolitan Bank, UBL, Askari Bank, and Soneri Bank – focusing on settlement procedures in bilateral trade and export-import operations, he said
He said that in parallel both governments are working closely to finalize a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) which is expected to significantly reduce tariffs and simplify customs procedures for key commodities Our partnership is based on shared history, culture, religion, and mutual respect-and we are committed to deepening our cooperation across political economic trade investment transport education tourism and people-to-people areas he said
The leadership of Uzbekistan and Pakistan has also paid special attention to enhancing transport connectivity and fully utilizing the region’s transit potential he said Although Uzbekistan currently has separate transit trade agreements with both Afghanistan and Pakistan a proposal has been made to introduce a trilateral transit trade agreement to further facilitate regional trade, he said
The Ambassador said that to increase cargo turnover both sides have agreed to establish a joint transport and logistics company Our countries plan to increase the number of goods covered under the Preferential Trade Agreement from 17 to 100, he concluded
July 2025 ranked as earth’s third-hottest month on record, say EU scientists
Service
third warmest July ever recorded with a national temperature record set in Turkey of 50 5 C (122 9 F) This extreme heat continues the trend of rising global temperatures, attributed largely to human-induced climate change The Copernicus Climate Change
(C3S) reported that the global average surface temperature in July reached 16 68 C which is 0 45 C above the average for the month from 1991-2020 While not surpassing the record temperatures of July 2023 or the second-hottest July of 2024 this past month was still 1 25°C above the preindustrial average which is the reference period before widespread industrial emissions
Carlo Buontempo director of C3S acknowledged that while July did not break further temperature records, the effects of climate change remain undeniable, with significant heatwaves and catastrophic floods taking place globally This doesn t mean climate change has stopped Buontempo stated
The period from August 2024 to July 2025 was 1 53°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, surpassing the 1 5°C threshold set in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming This threshold was considered crucial for avoiding the most severe consequences of climate change Despite the global community s efforts, some experts argue that staying below this limit may no longer be feasible, urging governments to speed up reductions in CO2 emissions
The findings reinforce the need for urgent action on climate change as the world continues to experience rising temperatures and extreme weather events The C3S has been tracking global temperatures since 1940, with data extending back to 1850
Netanyahu confirms Israeli support to India during Operation Sindoor
TEL AVIV ag e n c e s
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed his country’s role in providing support to India during Operation Sindoor in May, when India attacked Pakistani sites under the guise of targeting “terrorists ” Benjamin Netanyahu in a post on X announced that he met the Indian ambassador to Israel JP Singh in Jerusalem on Thursday where they discussed strengthening and expanding cooperation between Israel and India, particularly in the fields of security and economics
“Afterward, I held a meeting with a group of senior journalists from India and answered their questions ” the Israeli leader wrote
According to an Indian television channel Netanyahu confirmed the use of Israeli weapons during India s military operations in May including the deployment of HARPY drones and the Barak-8 missile, which is jointly developed with India The things we provided before worked very well on the field we develop our weapons in the field and they are battle-tested ” the Israeli Prime Minister was quoted as saying by the TV “They worked fine and we have a pretty
Investigators have uncovered WhatsApp messages and calls demanding
million in ransom from Mustafa
mother during his disappearance, with Armaghan identified as the prime suspect authorities revealed on Thursday Police
KARACHI