Epaper_23-09-25 ISB

TIES WITH ISRAEL DEPEND ON NATIONAL , PALESTINIAN INTERESTS: FM JIL ANI

Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani Sunday said that Pakistan s decision regarding establishing relations with Israel would be determined with consideration of both Pakistan’s national interests and those of the Palestinian people

The statement came in response to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen s remarks regarding normalisation of Israel s relations with the Muslim world Cohen, as reported by Israeli media outlet Kan News, suggested that “six or seven” Islamic nations were likely to normalise ties with Israel following Saudi Arabia’s potential inclusion in the Abraham Accords which already involved the United Arab Emirates Bahrain Morocco and Sudan

The Israeli minister also claimed to have met with leaders from several Muslim countries who have not recognised Israel yet Jalil in response to the Israeli FM’s assertion clarified that Cohen has not met with any Pakistani official in recent times

In 2005 during the tenure of former president General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan s then-foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri met with his then-counterpart Silvan Shalom in Turkey, Istanbul

This was the first meeting that took place publicly and was a result of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s efforts However no such meetings at the level of foreign ministers or higher have been reported in the media since then

A senior Pakistani diplomat, on the condition of anonymity, hoped that Pakistan would not have to make a decision on this matter in the near future

In his address at the 78th United Nations General Assembly this week Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said peace with Saudi Arabia means peace between the Muslim world and Jews

Netanyahu also claimed Israel is on the cusp of normalising ties with Saudi Arabia while holding maps showing the West Bank, Gaza, and Golan Heights as part of Israel His statement has since sparked a new debate about which Muslim countries after the UAE Bahrain Morocco and Sudan will establish relations with Israel

It should be noted that Cohen has claimed that six or seven Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, will soon recognise Israel However, he did not mention the names of those seven countries due to the situation in Libya international affairs experts believe

A significant diplomatic issue with Libya was sparked less than a month ago by Cohen whose office disclosed that then-former foreign minister of Libya Najla Mangoush, had met with him in Rome

Mangoush was fired as a result of the discovery, which also caused widespread protests in North Africa, and fled to London Following his error US officials reprimanded Cohen for killing the conduit of communication with Libya The Cradle reported

Govt deter mined to take countr y out of economic crisis: Dr Shamshad

sions are offered to the investors to increase investment in the country

The Sindh Governor said on the occasion lauded the steps being taken by the government for the deal with economic challenges confronted to the nation

UNGA: Kakar vociferously spells out Pakistan’s views on regional, global perspectives

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Karkar has emphatically conveyed Pakistan s views on key regional and global issues, during his recently concluded five-day visit to New York, where he addressed the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly besides holding sidelines meetings with the world leaders

Contrary to the impression created by a section of media regarding the prime minister s visit, the State news agency, APP, claimed that the successfully marked visit drew immense interest among the world leaders and governments representatives” who harkened to the prime minister’s forthright viewpoints which were broadly highlighted by the international media

The visit was also marked with prominence amidst Canadian prime minister announcing Indian state s role behind a gruesome murder of Khalistan Sikh leader in Canada

In New York PM Kakar told the world leaders about ‘India’s rogue behaviour ’ which vindicated Pakistan’s persistent stance about alarming rise of extremists ruling saffron junta of RSS-inspired BJP whose religious fanatics are not only hell bent upon persecuting the minorities in India, but also the growing Hindu supremacist trend poses an existential threat to the regional and global peace

Dr Tayyaba and Services Hospital’s Prof Dr Mohsin

According to reports diabetic patients in Lahore Kasur and Jhang districts were administered Avastin injections to address retinal damage However, these injections led to severe infections, ultimately resulting in the loss of eyesight of approximately 12 patients including the brother of senior PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor and his friend

Taking to social media platform

X (formerly Twitter) today, Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin

Naqvi said a crucial meeting was held with the health department and doctors to address the Avastin-related blindness cases and an action plan for devised As per the plan immediate strict action would be taken against drug inspectors responsible for the availability of non-sterile injections with a pending inquiry

Naqvi said the government of Punjab would provide free treatment to all the patients and a high-powered inquiry team had been formed for swift investigation

“The police have been instructed to ensure the arrests of those responsible ” the CM added

I n j e c t i o n r e s p o n s i b l e f o r l o s s o f v i s i o n r e c a l l e d : D r N a s i r

LAHORE

A locally

University has been appointed as the committee s convener Other members include Director General Drugs Control Muhammad Sohail, Dr Muhammad Moin from Mayo Hospital Lahore, Dr Tayyaba from Lahore General Hospital, and Dr Mohsin from Services Hospital Caretaker Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Dr Jamal Nasir informed the media that stocks of the infection-causing injection had been withheld and sealed He also mentioned that drug inspectors across Punjab were mobilized to halt the sale and purchase of the injection

A directive was issued to all doctors and patients, advising them not to use that specific drug Medical stores wholesalers and distributors were prohibited from selling it and the drug was sent for laboratory testing

ing the injection “The Punjab Health Department has sent a sample of the injection to the lab for testing, and the test report will be available in two to three days ”

Such reports have been received from Multan Kasur Lahore and Sadiqabad

A five-member committee was formed a day prior to assess the situation concerning the spread of this eye infection It’s primary objectives include submitting a comprehensive report within three days and providing recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future Dr Asad Aslam Khan from King Edward Medical

Concurrently, a case was registered at the Faisal Town Lahore Police Station upon the request of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) The case specified that the conjunctivitis treatment injection was manufactured in Faisal Town and prepared in a private hospital laboratory Police are currently conducting raids to apprehend the lab owners Naveed Abdullah and employee Bilal Rasheed The FIR indicates that Bilal supplied the fake injections in Kasur, in violation of the DRAP and the Drug Act of 1976 and 2012 The accused were involved in manufacturing and stockpiling unlicensed drugs and selling unregistered injections

SBP TO PROVIDE INTEREST-FREE LOANS TO UNEMPLOYED WOMEN FOR STARTING BUSINESSES

port of the SBP

DI KHAN S ta f f R e p o R t

TH E State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is making it possible to provide unemployed women interest-free loans for starting large scale businesses in order to ensure their economic stability

This was stated by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Chief Manager in Dera Ismail Khan Fazal Muqeem while addressing a one-day seminar titled ‘Women bankability and banking on equality’ organized by the SBP here at Government Polytechnic Institute (GPI) for women of Dera Ismail Khan the other day

Gov t to establish 5,000 e-working centers for freelancers, startups

ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has announced to establish 5,000 e-working centers equipped with the latest facilities to facilitate freelancers and startups across the country Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Dr Umar Saif said that the government will establish joint e-working centers to create new employment opportunities across the country While presiding over the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) meeting he emphasized the need to establish joint e-centers across the country He said that the establishment of joint e-centers will increase investment in the country and create new employment opportunities Dr Saif said that he will soon visit Saudi Arabia in connection with the establishment of joint e-centers, while interest-free loans will also be given to freelancers and startups working in the said centers The establishment of e-working centers is a welcome move by the government It will provide freelancers and startups with a dedicated workspace where they can work and collaborate with others It will also help to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan airspace fully covered with state of the ar t Radar system: CA A

B y s t a r t i n g t h e i r o w n b u s i n e s s e s , F a z a l M u q e e m s a i d t h a t w o m e n w o u l d be able to support their parents and families besides providing good education to their children

He was of the view that the current wave of inflation affected the whole society including the rich and poor However, he said, it becomes difficult for the poor to manage the expenses of routine life as their income resources are very much limited The employment opportunities are also limited in the country therefore starting of own business is the only way to handle such a situation, he added

He informed that the prime minister introduced different policies with the sup-

make its students skillful so that they could become self-sufficient and useful citizens of the society She said many women would get benefit of this SBP s policy in future She expressed the hope that such type of useful seminars would be organized in future so that poor and eligible women of Dera Ismail Khan could be benefitted

On this occasion, GPI for women Prin-

cipal Sarah Khan SBP Dera Ismail Khan

Assistant Chief Manager Muhammad Amir Ejaz Assistant Director Muhammad Zubair Rizwanullah Shah GPI (women) Placement Officer Zafar Awan, a good number of teachers and female students were present on the occasion

S arah Inam’s father laments delay in legal proceedings, c alls for speedy trial

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The father of Sarah Inam, a Canadian national who was allegedly murdered by her husband in Islamabad a year ago on Sunday complained about the delay in legal proceedings in his daughter s murder case and called for a speedy trial

The main accused in the case, Sara s husband and son of renowned journalist Ayaz Amir, Shahnawaz Amir, is in police custody He was arrested on September 23 last year for allegedly killing his wife at a farmhouse in Islamabad s Shahzad Town only a day after her arrival in the country from Dubai where she had been working

He was initially remanded to police custody a day after his arrest and the period of his physical remand was extended several times While his father was discharged from the case Shahnawaz was later sent on a judicial remand His mother Sameena Shah, nominated as co-accused in the case, was granted post-arrest bail in November last year but later on December 5 both Shahnawaz and his mother were indicted in the case

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad today flanked by Shaukat Mukadam, father of slain Noor Mukadam, Inamur Rahim said a year had passed to his daughter ’s death

IHC to hear Imran Khan’s bail plea in cypher case today

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed for hearing former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan s bail application in the cipher case The Islamabad High Court’s registrar office has issued the cause list for the next week The PTI chairman’s bail application is scheduled for hearing on Monday which will be heard by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq The court has issued a notice to the FIA for arguments It should be noted that the Official Secrets Act Special Court had rejected the bail application of the PTI chairman Apart from this, the Islamabad High Court reserved the decision on PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s request to transfer the trial of his case from Attock to Adiala Jail and fixed the case for re-hearing Chief Justice Farooq will hear the petition on Sept 25 Staff RepoRt

Illegal immigrants should be depor ted as soon as possible:

IGP Sindh

KARACHI: Pakistan Airspace is fully covered with state of the art Radar system for the provision of Air Traffic Services to all Aircraft including transit, landing and taking off while operating through Pakistan, it started in a press release The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Spokesperson stated that all the equipment provided by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority are ground based equipment for which VOR (VHF Omnidirectional range) is a navigation aid (navaid) that provides azimuth information for high and low altitude routes and Airport approaches On the other hand another ground based equipment called ILS (Instrument landing system) which is a precision runway approach aid to provide Pilots with vertical and horizontal guidance during the landing he stated As far as GPS (global positioning system) is concerned it s a USA owned utility that provides users with positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services GPS is a network of satellites and currently 31 GPS Satellites are orbiting around the Earth providing users with accurate information on position velocity and time anywhere in the World There may be a reason of space weather event (Ionospheric disturbance) which may impact on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) performance, possibly leading to loss of GNSS Signals and/or degradation of timing and positioning performance This Ionospheric activity has no link with any ground based equipment S ta f f R e p o R t

Intending pilgrims will get more facilities: minister

KARACHI: The intending pilgrims from Pakistan, which will perform Haj in 2024, will get additional facilities as compared to the past years This was stated by Caretaker Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Aneeq Ahmed as he held a meeting with Saudi Arab’s Minister for Haj and Umrah Dr Tawfiq AlRabiah in Riyadh according to a statement on Sunday The meeting was held to finalise the arrangements for pilgrims The meeting was also attended by Pakistani Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq The Caretaker Federal Minister said that arrangements would soon be finalised for the lodging messing and travelling facilities of the intending pilgrims He said the flight schedule for the intending pilgrims from Pakistan would soon be finalised The accommodation facilities for the Pakistani pilgrims will be located near the holiest sites in Saudi Arabia The Road-toMakkah project will be launched from other cities of Pakistan apart from Islamabad He expressed gratitude to the Saudi Arab rulers for providing patronage to the Saudi Ministry for Haj and Umrah for providing the best facilities to the pilgrims The Saudi Minister for Haj and Umrah said that his government would extend maximum cooperation to the pilgrims from Pakistan He said that new steps had been taken by the Saudi government to facilitate the pilgrims He said that an unlimited number of private tour operators from 80 countries of the world could now send people to Saudi Arabia p p I

“It was the most difficult year of my life Talking about the case proceedings Rahim thanked police personnel for their efforts and support

However, he blamed the defence counsel for causing delays in proceed-

ings which he said kept witnesses waiting Rahim recalled that lawyers were often either late to case hearings or did not show up to court at all

“Now we don’t know if this was a deliberate act or if he [the defence counsel] was so busy that he could not manage his time Rahim reiterated that the defence counsel always made up some excuse and was found missing whenever the hearing date arrived, adding that several witnesses came to court to record their testimonies but left without being heard He lamented that an “open and shut case was stretched for an entire year Sitting alongside Rahim Shaukat Mukadam called on the chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the Sarah Inam murder and other similar cases He asserted that speedy trials should be

conducted and culprits should be given exemplary punishments This is a very serious case and such cases of gender-based violence need to be stopped There is only way until there is punishment, boys from influential families will think of themselves to be above the law so a message needs to be sent that no one is above the law he said Shaukat added that the message won t be sent until five to six depraved people are hanged” He requested that the family in the Sarah Inam murder case be provided justice by all levels of the judicial system During the press conference Shaukat also mentioned the passage of the Noor Mukadam murder trial and broke down into tears while recalling the challenges he faced

tives

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The prime minister s views were acknowledged by his diverse audience as the Western countries voiced their concerns over the Indian state sponsored murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Sikh leader and Canadian citizen after the irrefutable evidences keep emerging

The prime minister mentioned Kashmir, Islamophobia, financial inequality, Covid triggered inflation, climate change, peace in Afghanistan, UN role and reforms and terrorism issues in his address to the UNGA session

Being the first interim prime minister to represent Pakistan at the world body, Kakar held important discussions with Iranian President, UN Secretary General, Chinese Vice President, President of Uzbekistan and heads of different financial institutions on the sidelines of the UNGA 78

In a bilateral meeting with President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi, the caretaker prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to further strengthen and deepen ties with the brotherly country Caretaker PM Kakar and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the UNGA session, expressed their firm commitment to continue working together to realize CPEC’s

shared objectives

The prime minister and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the bilateral discussions reiterated their commitment to promote regional economic integration and resolved to play an active role for inter-regional connectivity

He also met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and briefed him on India s ongoing human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)

In a meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the prime minister apprised her of various measures taken by the Government of Pakistan to stabilize and revive the country s economy

The prime minister also addressed high level dialogue on Global Development Initiative (GDI) and highlighted the need for adequate financing

He called for action in key areas to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan support to China s Global Development Initiative (GDI) that focused on cooperation and partnerships and addresses such issues as extreme poverty food security and climate change

In Climate Ambition Summit 2023

the caretaker PM urged the world to extend financial and technical support to developing countries like Pakistan to help them achieve ambitions on climate change

While in his candid views, in a high level meeting on prevention of global pandemics, preparedness and response, the prime minister underlined the need that scientific research should be put at the disposal of all humanity ensuring access to all the scientific breakthrough or discovery which was essential to save human lives, irrespective of the intellectual property rights

The caretaker prime minister also met Bill Gates co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session and discussed polio eradication, gender equality, nutrition, and financial inclusion

Besides, he met with Association of Physicians of Pakistani-descent of North America (APPNA) U S Pakistan Business Council (USPBC) and CEO of Rio Tinto Group Jakob Stausholm

During his interviews with various US think tanks and media outlets, the prime minister elaborated interim government’s economic revival plans political social regional and global issues and the arrangements for the upcoming general elections in the country

KARACHI: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Riffat Mukhtar on Sunday directed top police officers to ensure the deportation of Illegal immigrants as soon as possible This he directed at a meeting of top Sindh police officers held under his chairmanship at Central Police Office Karachi regarding law and order Additional IG Karachi/Special Branch Khadim Hussain Rind delivered a point-to-point briefing on the ongoing policing measures in the city against illegal immigrants smuggling and prevention of street crimes The IGP Sindh instructed officials at the meeting that the illegal immigrants should be deported as soon as possible and comprehensive recommendations should be prepared and sent to the Sindh government with overall measures regarding the illegal immigrants He said that the establishment of a joint task force consisting of FIA Nadra ANF and police should also be made a part of the recommendations The process of allocation of holding centers at different places should also be included in the recommendations regarding the deportation of illegal immigrants The IGP Sindh said that there is a declaration of war against street criminals so the eradication of street criminals must be ensured in all circumstances He urged the police to make a weekly progress report on the comprehensive performance of police against street crimes and he would take this report himself He said that strict supervision and monitoring of transportation from border areas should be ensured adding that smuggling through those areas should be stopped in all circumstances by developing strong coordination with the relevant institutions The Additional IG Karachi told the meeting that new police teams had entered the field against crimes and adopted a zero-tolerance policy against crimes and criminals, adding no criminal would be spared p p I

Bandits kidnap two farmers from Sadiqabad

SADIQABAD:

A gang of bandits abducted two farmers from Ahmadpur Lamma police jurisdiction here police said on Sunday Bandits have fled to katcha area along with two hostages family members of victims said Heavy contingent of police reached the crime scene Police team was searching for recovery of abductees The riverine forests in Sindh and southern belt of Punjab popularly known as katcha area have historically remained a hotbed of bandit gangs involved in kidnappings for ransom and other crimes on both banks of the Indus River These areas are inaccessible and virtually a no go area for police and other law enforcement agencies So as, remain an ideal refuge for the fugitives and bandit gangs operating in the region The Rangers and Police in a joint operation in interior of Sindh arrested seven facilitators of bandits in katcha area The law enforcement agencies recovered three SMGs, seven SMG magazines and two 30 bore pistols from them, Rangers spokesman stated “A knife, two mobile phones eight motorbikes and drugs were also recovered from them spokesman said Rangers spokesman stated that the arrested suspects were linked with criminal gangs of Laloo Jamro, Lalan Jan and Qadeer Jamro The operations were conducted at Gul Mohammad Jamro Goth and Thull Kotdiji in Khairpur district spokesman said p p I

operation’ against Katcha area outlaws continues, 7 arrested

The Rangers and Police in a joint operation in interior of Sindh arrested seven accused citing a spokesperson stated According to media reports, accused were facilitators to bandit gangs in katcha area, a spokesperson of Rangers said here The law enforcement agencies recovered three SMGs seven SMG magazines and two 30 bore pistols from them spokesman stated A knife two mobile phones, eight motorbikes and drugs were also recovered from the accused, spokesman said Moreover, rounds of different arms and 20,560 rupees were also recovered from their possession Rangers spokesman stated that the arrested suspects were linked with criminal gangs of Laloo Jamro Lalan Jan and Qadeer Jamro The operations were con-

ducted at Gul Mohammad Jamro Goth and Thull Kotdiji in Khairpur district, spokesman said

The accused have been identified as Shaaban Jamshed Ali Banho Nazeer Ahmed Khan Mohammad Amjad and Abdul Ghaffar The Sindh government has decided to launch a law enforcement operation in katcha areas (riverine forests) along the Indus River in upper Sindh districts to curb bandit gangs and other outlaws involved in rampant kidnapping for ransom and other crimes in the region

Earlier seven robbers hiding in katcha area of interior Sindh were arrested in a joint operation of ranger and police Sophisticated weapons, ammunition and looted valuables were seized The

‘Grand

UNGA: Kak ar vociferously spells out Pakistan’s views on regional, global perspec

N I N G X I A , P U N J A B G O V E R N M E N T S S

I G N S I S T E R - C I T I E S A G R E E M E N T

NI N G X I A province China and Governments of Punjab have signed two agreements during visit of Punjab’s caretaker

Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to China

These agreements established Sahiwal & Wuzhong as well as Bahawalpur & Zhang Wei as sister cities

The signing ceremony took place in Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia province, with Minister for Industry and Agriculture SM Tanvir representing the Punjab government according to Gwadar Pro

The ceremony was attended by provincial ministers Azfar Ali Nasir and Ibrahim Hasan Murad, as well as Secretary Finance Mujahid Sherdil, alongside senior officials from Ningxia

These agreements are aimed at fostering strong and friendly ties between Bahawalpur Sahiwal and their Chinese

Jamal Shah leaves for Qatar to attend 12th OIC Culture Ministers Conference

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah on Sunday departed for Qatar to participate in the 12th Conference of the Culture Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being held from September 25 to 26 in Doha, Qatar The minister was jointly invited by the Minister of Culture of State of Qatar and Director General of the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) of OIC Jamal Shah will represent Pakistan at the conference which will be focusing on cultural issues with a view to enhancing joint cultural action in the areas of cultural planning and development indicators and addressing the illicit trafficking of cultural property etc I N P

Bringing economic stabilit y top priorit y of gov t: PM

counterparts

Under the terms of the agreement mutual understanding and collaboration will be promoted through the exchange of delegations and cooperation efforts

Additionally the sister cities will extend support to each other across various sectors including the fields of economy trade, science, and technology F u r t h e r m o r e , s e n i o r o ff i c i a l s a n d

First Pakistani couple summits world’s 8th highest peak in Nepal

line departments from these sister cities will share expertise and engage in reciprocal visits

Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed his warm welcome to these agreements and recognized their significance in the context of Pakistan-China relations

He conveyed his gratitude to the party secretary and senior officials of Ningxia, highlighting these agreements as pivotal milestones in enhancing and promoting bilateral relations between the two provinces

Chief Minister Naqvi also emphasized that the people of Punjab will reap the benefits of these agreements

Provincial Minister SM Tanvir underscored that these agreements with two of China’s most modern cities hold great promise and potential Minister Azfar Ali Nasir affirmed that this agreement will open doors for cooperation across various facets of life Similarly, Provincial Minister Ibrahim Murad emphasized that the sister cities’ agreement marks a significant achievement

Pakistan PM’s speech at UNGA moralebooster for Kashmiris: Masarat Alam

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), while hailing Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar ’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly said Pakistan is true champion of the Kashmir cause and has once again forcefully raised the Kashmiris right to self-determination at the global forum

According to Kashmir Media Service the jailed APHC Chairman Masarat Alam Butt in a message from New Delhi s Tihar jail said the powerful speech of the Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister at the UN is a morale booster for the oppressed Kashmiris confronting Indian state terrorism “Kashmiris are indebted to Pakistan for representing them at international forums and expressing unequivocal support to the just struggle of right to self-determination he added

He also thanked the President of

Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for their full support and interpretation of the fundamental right right to self-determination of the Kashmiris at the UN General Assembly Masarat Alam Butt called upon the world community to uphold its commitments viz-a-viz Kashmiris right to self-determination and the UN should send a clear message to the Modi

regime to halt its illegal actions aimed at changing the demography culture and identity of IIOJK

Meanwhile another APHC jailed leader Bilal Siddiqi in a message from Central Jail, Srinagar, said Kashmir and Palestine are the oldest global disputes present on the UN agenda, and the continued loss of life in the two regions betrays utter failure of the World Body when it comes to these two grave issues Kashmir and Palestine disputes he added, will continue to put a question mark on the UN credibility unless these issues are resolved as per the World Body’s resolutions and aspirations of the people of Kashmir and Palestine

Other Hurriyet leaders Khadim Hussain Sibte Shabbir Qummi and Maulana Musaib Nadvi in their separate statements in Srinagar stressed the world to come forward for peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute as emphasized by the Pakistan Prime Minister in his address at UNGA

ISLAMABAD: Lahore-based couple, Ahmed Uzair and Anum Uzair, have become the first Pakistani couple to summit the world’s eighth-highest peak Mt Manaslu 8 163 metres tall in Nepal According to mountaineering company Seven Summit Treks, which spearheaded the climb, the husband-wife duo successfully climbed the peak today along with three Sherpas Alpine Club of Pakistan Secretary Karrar Haidri told Dawn com that the couple “have created history by becoming the first Pakistani couple to summit the peak Pakistan feels incredibly proud of this outstanding accomplishment by Ahmed and Anum,” he said Pakistani climber Shehroze Kashif, who himself summited Manaslu recently also congratulated the couple On Thursday Pakistani climbers Naila Kiani and Sirbaz Khan had also successfully completed the ascent of Manaslu peak The two climbers had commenced their summit attempt on Wednesday from camp 3 Kiani had achieved the milestone of becoming the first Pakistani woman to conquer nine out of the 14 highest mountains in the world with her Manaslu summit S ta f f R e P o R t

Neelum Valley receives first snow fall of the year

MUZAFFARABAD: The Neelum Valley on Sunday received the first snowfall of the year Ratti Gali Lake, Baboon Valley and Shounter Lake have received snowfall The first snowfall has ushered in winter in the upper areas of Neelum Valley

The rain with wind-thundershower is expected in Neelum valley Tourists in large numbers were seen at Ratti Gali Lake Baboon Valley, Chitta Katha Lake, and Patlian Lake According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, rain/windthundershower (with few moderate to heavy falls) is expected in Kashmir (Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Poonch Hattian Bagh Haveli Sudhanoti Kotli Bhimber Mirpur), Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin Hafizabad Gujranwala Gujrat Sialkot Narowal Lahore Kasur Sheikhupura Chitral Dir Swat Shangla Buner Kurram Mansehra Kohistan Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi and Nowshera with occasional gaps P P

Three brothers held for street crime, robberies

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHCAJK) chapter has thanked the Pakistan government and the Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar for strongly highlighting the atrocities of Indian soldiers on innocent Kashmiris in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the Kashmir dispute in the United Nations General Assembly and at the international level APHC-AJK Information Secretary

Imtiaz Wani in a statement issued in Islamabad said Pakistan has always exposed the war crimes of Indian soldiers in occupied Jammu and Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has stated that bringing economic stability in the country is foremost priority of the government In an interview with the US-based weekly magazine Newsweek he said a comprehensive economic revival plan is in force in this regard Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said the caretaker government is deeply concerned about the situation of stability although at the moment it is much under control He said the government is trying to improve the situation With respect to Pakistan s relations with Afghanistan, he said it would take some time to get relations better with the neighbouring de facto government in Kabul The Prime Minister said the government is trying to manage the relations with Afghanistan in a manner which is mutually beneficial to both countries I N P

Jammu and Kashmir has its own forest law He demanded that the United Nations agencies take immediate action on the war crimes committed by the Indian Army in the occupied territory He demanded of the United Nations agencies to take immediate action on the war crimes committed by the Indian troops in the occupied territory He said

India is violating international laws and regulations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir but the Kashmiri people will continue their struggle until the Kashmir dispute is resolved according to the resolutions of the World Body and aspirations of the Kashmiri people

Imtiaz Wani also praised the members of the Contact Group of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Kashmir who raised their voice against the ongoing Indian atrocities in the oc-

cupied territory He also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for highlighting the Kashmir issue in the United Nations General Assembly

He said India has turned Jammu and Kashmir into a military garrison and the Indian soldiers are killing innocent people in the territory on daily basis He appealed to the United Nations to play its role in resolving the Kashmir dispute according to its relevant resolutions to free Kashmiris from Indian state terrorism

SNGPL disconnec ts 7,187 illegal gas connec tions in Punjab, KP

In an effort to curb gas theft, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines

Limited (SNGPL) continues its crackdown

The SNGPL has disconnected a total of 7,187 illegal gas connections in Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad According to the details Sui Northern – as part of its crackdown – disconnected over 7 000 connections and slapped a fine of over Rs406 million to the violators SNGPL spokesperson said in Peshawar fine of Rs190,000 was imposed on the violators and Rs110,000

in Rawalpindi

In Mardan fine of Rs529 000 was slapped over gas thieves and Rs178 000 in Gujranwala

Earlier in twin cities of Pakistan the crackdown led to the disconnection of 23 illegal gas connections while in Sialkot and Sargodha, 17 connections were met a similar fate

Furthermore, the spokesperson for SNGPL reported that 75 gas connections were disconnected in Gujranwala, Lahore Sheikhupura and Sahiwal Meanwhile in Bahawalpur and Multan 34 gas connections were disconnected due to their illegal use

20 injured as two trains collide near Ferozewala

they did not change the railway track They added that all the injured have been shifted to a hospital while those with minor injuries were administered first aid on the spot

It may be noted that at least 10 coaches of the Hazara Express had derailed near Nawabshah last month as a result of which 30 passengers were killed and more than 40 injured

KARACHI: Timuriya police arrested three brothers involved in street crimes after an encounter on Sunday SHO Taimuria Zarulfaqar Haider said that the three arrested brothers were identified as Syed Arsalan, Syed Salman and Syed Shah Mir, sons of Syed Furqan Hussain They are residents of Manghopir and are involved in several looting incidents in District Central 3 TT pistols 3 mobile phones laptops and 2 stolen motorcycles were recovered from the possession of the accused which were stolen from Temuria and Hydari police station limits SHO Haider said that the arrested accused are habitual criminals who have been arrested and jailed before Cases have been registered against them in Gulistan Johar Shariah Faisal Gulshan Iqbal Azizabad Liaquatabad Temuria Rizvia New Karachi Industrial Area, In CTD, New Karachi and Soldier Bazar, under other provisions including recovery of illegal weapons, robbery and theft The arrest of the three brothers is a major success for the Karachi police in their fight against street crime It is hoped that the arrest will deter other criminals from engaging in such activities S ta f f R e P o R t

the accident happened due to the alleged negligence of the railway station staff as

A day before the Nawabshah accident the Allama Iqbal Express had escaped a major disaster when two of its coaches derailed near the Padidan railway station, resulting in suspension of traffic on the affected railway track It should be noted that railway accidents occur due to dilapidated railway tracks old railway structures malfunctioning signals wrong crossings absence of gates on railway lines, mistakes of drivers, and other similar technical reasons

‘Pakistan has always exposed India’s war crimes in occ upied K ashmir ’

COMMENT

The blind leading the blind

Physician, heal thyself!

AN injection made directly into the eyes of diabetes patients has led to the blinding of 12 and damage to the eyesight of another 28, including the brother of PPP leader Ch Manoor Ahmad, who was among those losing his sight One of the fears of diabetics actually materialized, because of the very means of treating it Apart from Lahore, there have been cases in Kasur, as well as Multan and Sadiqabad The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has already recalled the drug from the markets, and the Punjab government has appointed a five-member inquiry committee headed by a senior ophthalmologist The possibility of the drug import being contaminated is being examined as is that of syringes not being properly sterilized There is also the problem of the drug being received in large vials, while small doses are needed, with the result that 70 injections are prepared from a single vial The committee will also examine the procedures followed in administering the injections, which, being directly in the eye, are more complicated than the more common jab in the arm

The entire episode which is by no means over shows that there seems to be insufficient regulation What regulation there is, favours the pharma giants, not the patients as greater and greater price increases are granted without any check on what is going on The manufacturers might not be at fault, for the problem seems to be with injections distributed by one person, without complaints coming from other distributors goods However it does seem a little excessive that distribution defects are only suspected after so many people lost their eyesight The bottom line is that the method of oversight over the medical and pharmaceutical fields itself is in need of investigation and improvement Expertise is all very well, but a committee of doctors, eye specialists to boot, to investigate this episode, seems vaguely incestuous

Those who have already lost their sight should not be ignored It has been reported that three or four patients recovered their sight after being operated upon The government should ensure that all patients who can benefit thus are operated on and that the operation is made free It should not a case of the blind leading the blind, which is how so much government is run There must be light at the end of the tunnel

Need for adopting non-austerit y policies

tries in terms of climate change vulnerability Here as rightly pointed out by the interim prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in its annual session significant progress was needed with regard to climate finance inflows pledged internationally, on account of catastrophic flooding in the country last year The interim

PM indicated ‘Pakistan is gratified by the commitments of over $10 5 billion for the country’s comprehensive plan for recovery rehabilitation and reconstruction with resilience– the 4RF Plan– at the Geneva Conference last January I hope our development partners will accord priority to allocation (release) of funds for our resilient recovery plan, which has been costed at $13 billion

lating climate emergency and a global debt crisis calls for a new fit for climate global financial architecture are growing louder throughout the developing world

The urgent need for decisive action has been underscored by Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley s Bridgetown Initiative, the V20 group of climate-vulnerable countries, and the recent Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact This week’s Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi presented a unique opportunity to promote much-needed measures to support low-income countries in pursuing sustainable growth

TH E Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its most recent economic assessment, through its publication ‘Asian Development Outlook’ (ADO) indicated low growth and a high level of inflation facing the country It indicated in this regard In Pakistan growth is estimated to have slowed to 0 3% in FY2023 (ended 30 June 2023) In Pakistan, growth is forecast at 1 9% in FY2024, slightly below the April projection Average inflation in Pakistan will soar from 12 2% in FY2022 to 29 2% on higher food prices caused by supply shortages continued currency depreciation import restrictions and fiscal stimulus for post-pandemic recovery Normalized food supplies and lower inflation expectations, albeit tempered by higher power and gas tariffs and likely currency depreciation, could ease inflation somewhat in FY2024, but Pakistan’s inflation rate is now expected to remain at 25 0% in FY2024, substantially higher than forecast in April ’ Hence given the stagflationary situation that the country finds itself in it is important to understand that the source of inflation is not just demand-pull but also cost-push, and mainly through the channel of both overboard monetary tightening, and global aggregate supply-caused, and weak domestic currency induced imported inflation It is therefore important that the current policy of monetary austerity should be reined in for both reducing the significant impact on costpush inflation but also in terms of higher expenditures being incurred by the government, on account of higher interest payments on domestic debt High expenditures, in turn, also put greater demands on the government to adopt fiscal austerity, which most often than not means cutting otherwise much-needed development expenditures; given the underlying weak domestic resource mobilization effort overall

A high level of monetary and fiscal austerity has meant that necessary development and welfare spending is not being made While this has a multisectoral, economy-wide negative impact, two exceedingly important areas which require a lot of spending for creating needed levels of resilience are climate change and the Pandemicene phenomenon This is because Pakistan is among the top ten coun-

Lack of fiscal space , once again, makes it difficult to make needed public health sector related development spending, and leaves it a lot under-prepared in case another pandemic hits

Having said that the policy of over-board monetary austerity internationally is also making it difficult for developing countries to have greater fiscal space since high interest rates have put significant external and domestic debt distress on developing countries in general, including Pakistan Yet, there is little revision of the current practice of overboard monetary austerity by major central banks globally as pointed out by an article Central banks will push economies into recession says Hunt adviser published by The Guardian on August 29 as follows: Jerome Powell, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank, and Ben Broadbent, one of the Bank of England’s deputy governors all told the Jackson Hole event that it was too soon to say whether interest rates had peaked Moreover lack of fiscal space once again makes it difficult to make needed public health sector related development spending, and leaves it a lot under-prepared in case another pandemic hits

A September 8 Project Syndicate (PS) published article ‘A new financing pact for climate-vulnerable countries highlighted with regard to much-needed climate finance for developing countries: Amid an esca-

BRICS and the India-Pakistan equation

terested in joining BRICS Reports abound, asserting that China, Pakistan’s close ally, is lobbying on Islamabad’s behalf These claims have raised eyebrows and sparked discussions on whether such assertions are rooted in reality or political manoeuvring It s important to note that at this point these reports are speculative and no concrete evidence has surfaced to confirm such efforts from China or Pakistan

Experts suggest that while the obstacles are substantial, the potential gains from BRICS membership might outweigh the challenges for Pakistan The prospect of economic growth technological advancement and increased regional influence could be an incentive to seek a diplomatic resolution

Having said that, a recent Oxfam published report Are G20 countries doing their fair share of global climate mitigation?’ pointed out a rather lacklustre attitude of G20 countries in terms of dealing with the climate change crisis The Report indicated in this regard The assessments of the fair share benchmarking approaches show that the G20– both collectively and almost all of them individually– are failing to achieve their fair share of ambitious global mitigation required to limit global temperature increase to 1 5°C The assessments from all three approaches also show that none of the individual NDC [Nationally Determined Contributions] targets of high-income G20 countries represent the level of ambition required for a 1 5 C global mitigation pathway, and their shortfalls are generally much bigger than for middle-income countries

The writer holds PhD in Economics degree from the University of Barcelona and previously worked at International Monetary Fund Prior to this he did MSc in Economics from the University of York (United Kingdom) and worked at the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Statistics (Pakistan) among other places He is author of Springer published book (2016) The economic impact of International Monetary Fund programmes: institutional quality macroeconomic stabilization and economic growth He tweets @omerjaved7

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

Letters to Editor Pakistan Today 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Remote healthcare

IN the realm of geopolitics alliances and partnerships play a pivotal role in shaping the course of nations One such consortium that has garnered attention on the global stage is BRICS– an acronym that stands for Brazil Russia India China and South Africa

Initially established in 2001 as BRIC and expanded to include South Africa in 2010 BRICS has evolved into a significant bloc with economic political, and geopolitical implications

The recent announcement of new member additions, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia Egypt Argentina and the UAE from January 1 has brought the spotlight back onto BRICS As the world watches the unfolding dynamics one question looms large: Will Pakistan seek membership in BRICS, and how does India s presence impact this potential move?

While several countries are reportedly expressing interest in joining BRICS Pakistan finds itself at a crossroads Though no formal request has been made by Islamabad to join the grouping the spectre of India s presence casts a shadow over Pakistan s contemplation Given the historical tensions and the complex relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, the question of Pakistan’s inclusion in BRICS requires careful analysis As the two South Asian neighbours grapple with historical disputes and security challenges another pressing question arises: Can BRICS accommodate both nations while fostering cooperation and unity?

India s objections to Pakistan s membership within the alliance are not merely based on historical tensions They are also rooted in strategic considerations India has sought to position itself as a counterbalance to China s dominance within BRICS and Pakistan s inclusion could disrupt that balance Pakistan is indeed closely following the developments surrounding BRICS The nation’s leadership is assessing the potential benefits and implications of joining the bloc However as of now Pakistan has yet to make a formal commitment This deliberation is understandable given the intricacies of global politics and the need to consider not only economic advantages but also diplomatic ramifications

In contrast, the Indian media has been actively propagating the idea that Pakistan is in-

As the world anticipates the integration of new members into BRICS in 2024 the geopolitical landscape is set to shift Saudi Arabia Iran Ethiopia Egypt Argentina and the UAE are poised to formally join the group expanding its reach and influence This expansion underscores the continued appeal of BRICS as a platform for emerging economies to collaborate on shared challenges and opportunities However, this growth also intensifies the considerations for potential new entrants like Pakistan

Pakistan s hypothetical inclusion in BRICS raises complex questions On one hand the nation stands to benefit from enhanced trade, economic cooperation, and a larger voice on the global stage The collaboration within BRICS could provide access to resources investment opportunities and a platform to address common developmental issues On the other hand the presence of India within the group introduces a diplomatic conundrum Given the historical tensions between the two countries, the question arises: can India and Pakistan put aside their differences and cooperate within a multilateral framework?

The role of China in this equation cannot be understated As a close ally of Pakistan and a pivotal member of BRICS, China’s involvement could prove decisive in shaping Pakistan’s decision China’s diplomatic clout economic prowess and willingness to mediate could potentially bridge the gap between India and Pakistan However, the onus ultimately lies on the two South Asian neighbours to determine the trajectory of their relationship

The intricate interplay of geopolitics, historical animosities and diplomatic manoeuvres will ultimately shape the trajectory of Pakistan s bid for membership and the broader dynamics of the BRICS bloc Other BRICS members might face a dilemma, as supporting Pakistan s inclusion could risk alienating India, a major player in the alliance Conversely, denying Pakistan’s entry could perpetuate regional tensions and hinder the alliance’s goal of fostering global cooperation The geopolitical dynamics in South Asia and beyond are set for a potential reshaping, and BRICS stands at the crossroads of this transformation

The writer can be reached at skhattak792@gmail com

The intricate interplay of g eopolitics, historical animosities, and diplomatic manoeuvres will ultimately shape the trajector y of PakistanÊs bid for membership and the broader dynamics of the BRICS bloc Other BRICS members might face a dilemma, as suppor ting PakistanÊs inclusion could risk alienating India, a major player in the alliance

I T is surprising to know that a developed country like Australia has realised the importance of rural and remote healthcare to provide universal coverage to its population For this purpose fellowship diploma is given to those who desire to settle and practise in Australia as generalist doctors who are known as general practitioners (GPs) in Pakistan and cater to everyday healthcare needs of 80 per cent of national population

In order to provide rural and remote healthcare, Australia has opened a state-of-the-art medical college, the Australia College of Rural and Remote Medicine I suggest this should be replicated in Pakistan and a diploma or degree programme in rural and remote medicine should be started We would do well to remember that even in the Middle East there is a desert medicine subspecialty The recent outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera in Sheedi Goth owing to contaminated water has highlighted the need for remote healthcare system in Pakistan which can save lives The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP), Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Health should discuss initiating the new speciality of rural and remote healthcare in the country DR HUSSAIN BUX KOLACHI HYDERABAD

Oversized plates

T H E Excise and Taxation Department in Punjab has started issuing insanely oversized registration number plates especially for motorcycles The number plates look like more of a whiteboard in a classroom rather than a number plate on a motorcycle

One of the major drawbacks of these oversized number plates is that many motorcyclists tend to avoid fixing them on their vehicles Instead, they opt to purchase smaller more aesthetically pleasing plates from unauthorised vendors This not only leads to non-compliance with the legal requirements but also results in a loss of revenue for the government Promoting the use of legally compliant number plates will also save costs on materials for the government Oversized plates require more materials, which can be avoided by adhering to standard specifications The funds saved can be utilised for other essential projects and initiatives that will benefit the people of Punjab Moreover, implementing this change will encourage motorbike owners to willingly comply with the law and fix the legal plates on their vehicles The Excise and Taxation Department should review the current policy and make necessary adjustments to ensure the issuance of proper-sized and standardised number plates for motorbikes MUHAMMAD SHAHROZ KHAN BAHAWALPUR

A bleak future

As if the case of child violence involving minors was not enough of an eyeopener for society, we witnessed the horrific incident of mob frenzy in Jaranwala And just as people were trying to find a way to recover emotionally and psychologically there came further reports about continuous torture against minor children; one of them even lost her life

Is there absolutely no law to protect our young generation? And why is it that most of these cases of torture against minors are carried out by the socalled educated and well-off in society? It is the responsibility of all the stakeholders, especially the media and the state, which should not only sensitise the nation, it should also make it clear through all possible channels that employing a minor or physical assault is a criminal felony that carries stern punishments Thousands of children have to go through the torture of working for these so-called elite on a daily basis while losing all their youth All their lives they keep walking towards a dark and bleak future

Shafiq KhattaK

Dr Omer JaveD

WH E N Chinese Premier Li Qiang embarked on a test ride aboard the JakartaBandung High-Speed Railway a monumental project within the realm of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on September 7, it signified the inauguration of a fresh chapter in the ongoing BRI narrative

This remarkable project, emblematic of the ChinaIndonesia Belt and Road partnership stands as a groundbreaking feat It represents the very first international high-speed railway project to wholeheartedly embrace China s cutting-edge railway systems technology and industrial components

Moreover, it also marks Indonesia s inaugural foray into the realm of high-speed rail, an achievement that resonates throughout Southeast Asia The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway project one of hundreds of development initiatives spanning the entire Belt and Road Initiative route stands as a beacon of connectivity and a testament to the transformative power of the Belt and Road Initiative launched by China in the autumn of 2013

This endeavour encapsulates the spirit of international cooperation and infrastructural progress, illuminating the path forward for nations eager to embrace progress and prosperity The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) signaled a pivotal turning point in China s global engagement representing its emergence on the world stage Over the past decade, it has undeniably reshaped the global landscape, affirming its profound impact on the world

For five apparent reasons, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has orchestrated a profound transformation on the world stage Firstly it has elevated the discourse on development to a paramount global concern Secondly it has fostered an unprecedented rapport between China and the developing nations Thirdly it has paved the path toward a fresh global alignment and, consequently, a novel paradigm of global politics Fourthly, it has introduced core principles of Chinese philosophy to the global arena Fifthly it has birthed an entirely novel breed of international institution offering a glimpse into a world order where the welfare of the majority takes precedence over the minority an extraordinary reimagining of global dynamics The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) must be perceived as a dynamic entity, perpetually

A transformative global journey COMMENT 05

The belt and road initiative revisited

evolving in harmony with the evolving global landscape

In its inception the focal point was colossal infrastructure ventures Yet concurrently the BRI has seen the ascension of small and medium-sized enterprises environmental sustainability climate considerations digital innovation, and green initiatives While the covid-19 pandemic precipitated a temporary slow down, the BRI has since rebounded with renewed vigour as the world returns to a semblance of normalcy This resilience showcases the BRI s adaptability to fluctuating global conditions The BRI remains a resilient and responsive force mirroring the ever-changing contours of the world it engages with Evidently, the global community is increasingly embracing the initiative, signifying a notable shift in global policy orientation This transformation bodes well for global progress The initial iteration of the BRI has served as a foundational platform Beyond its original scope of collaboration with developing nations it has spurred the emergence of the Global Development Initiative Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative

These progressive offshoots represent a deliberate evolution of the initial concept, offering diverse and robust approaches to bolstering global development and fortifying the achievements of the BRI This multi-pronged strategy heralds a promising era for global advancement

Southeast Asia recognized as a pivotal nexus for both maritime and land routes within the BRI is poised to witness a surge in infrastructure expansion, particularly in rail connectivity While conventional infrastructure development persists, the burgeoning role of digital connectivity is set to instigate substantial demand for digital infrastructure across the region This digital frontier is expected to assume a central role in the forthcoming phase of BRI implementation Simultaneously the green and blue economies emerge as twin catalysts likely to dominate the China-ASEAN economic cooperation agenda These multifaceted developments herald a promising trajectory for

regional progress and collaboration

In tandem with the burgeoning digital economy, prominently exemplified by e-commerce the green economy stands out as a pivotal force in the ASEANChina Free Trade Area 3 0 framework Likewise the blue economy s prominence is underscored by the ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Blue Economy in 2021

These developments foreshadow a multifaceted evolution of China-ASEAN collaboration, encompassing enhanced human connectivity and cultural engagement These strides align harmoniously with the objectives laid out in the ASEAN 2025 Vision

The true essence of the BRI resides in its enduring legacy particularly when it reaches its full fruition Completion of this ambitious endeavour promises a wealth of knowledge exchange, idea dissemination, and the cultivation of innovative concepts It is an extensive journey not confined to a mere decade but rather a long-term commitment As more nations become intertwined with the BRI they recognize the multitude of developmental needs waiting to be addressed Consequently the BRI is akin to an everlasting, towering mountain, with each ascent revealing greater vistas, ideas, and awareness

In the span of the past decade, China has embarked on

a g a i n s t t h e B R I h av e b e e n f a n n e d by t h e U S a n d i t s a l l i e s , w i t h cl a i m s o f i t b e i n g a „ d e b t t r a p , ‰ a n ew fo r m o f c o l o n i a l i s m , a n d e nv i ro n m e n t a l ly h a r m f u l . Ye t , t h e s t a n c e o f p a r t i c i p a t i n g n a t i o n s d i s p rov e s t h e s e a l l e g a t i o n s . R o bu s t c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d a mu l t i t u d e o f o n g o i n g p ro j e c t s w i t h i n t h e B R I f r a m ewo r k d e m o n s t r a t e t h e mu t u a l b e n e f i t s d e r i v e d f ro m t h i s p a r t n e rs h i p

an ambitious journey, collaborating with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations to co-build the BR)

This monumental effort has seen the realization of more than 3 000 cooperation projects under the BRI banner amounting to a substantial investment of nearly $1 trillion

The impact has been nothing short of transformative sparking robust economic growth in partner nations

These BRI projects span an array of crucial areas, from poverty alleviation to advancements in agricultural technology and vocational education Notably, many of these endeavours have made significant strides in improving the quality of life for countless individuals Furthermore the ripple effects of these transportation-related BRI projects are poised to yield substantial global benefits Projections indicate that by 2030, these projects alone will elevate global income by a remarkable 0 7-2 9 percent and, more importantly, lift a staggering 7 6 million people out of the grip of extreme poverty These figures underscore the profound and positive impact of China’s commitment to international cooperation and development through the BRI

In our interconnected world possibilities for peace progress, and prosperity multiply Whether through physical infrastructure like roads, pathways, skyways, or bridges, the act of bringing people together enhances global security, well-being, and productivity Personal acquaintance with diverse cultures values and objectives promotes a harmonious world where individuals work together for a common good Awareness of others priorities alters perspectives and engenders supportive collaboration, fostering a better world that accommodates everyone s aspirations

Accusations against the BRI have been fanned by the US and its allies with claims of it being a “debt trap ” a new form of colonialism and environmentally harmful Yet the stance of participating nations disproves these allegations Robust collaboration and a multitude of ongoing projects within the BRI framework demonstrate the mutual benefits derived from this partnership

The writer is a freelance columnist

T h e w e s t ’ s M o d i p r o b l e m

Lisa Cur tis at CNAS says she does not believe the allegations will have a long-term impac t on US-India ties because the Biden administration has invested heavily in enhancing its relationship with India under Modi Canada’s state broadcaster CBC, citing unnamed government sources, repor ted that officials had “amassed both human and signals intelligence” around Nijjar ’s death for months, including communications involving Indian officials The government also sought New Delhi’s co - operation in the investigation before making its claims

hind closed doors in the broader interest of a valued strategic relationship But if Canada’s allegations of an Indian state-backed, extraterritorial assassination are found to be true they will struggle to keep quiet

ON September 10 Narendra Modi led Joe Biden Rishi Sunak

Justin Trudeau and other world leaders on a morning wreath-laying visit to Rajghat, a New Delhi memorial to India s slain independence hero Mahatma Gandhi The spectacle, on day two of the G20 summit of the Indian prime minister leading the world’s most powerful people either barefoot or slippered and wearing shawls produced striking images that reinforced both Modi s image domestically and India s ascent globally as a diplomatic and economic power

But behind the scenes, a conflict was brewing that within a week would escalate into an acute diplomatic crisis, alarming India s western allies, and raising fundamental questions over the image the country curated at the summit of itself as vishwaguru, or teacher to the world

Later that day Modi and Trudeau held a “pull-aside” talk where the two leaders exchanged sharp words

Modi confronted Trudeau about anti-India activities among Sikh separatists in Canada who favour creating an independent state of Khalistan in India s Punjab These extremist elements had incited violence against diplomats and missions, he charged, threatening the Indian community in India”

Back home in Ottawa this Monday Trudeau dropped his own bombshell into Canada-India relations by publicly announcing that Canadian intelligence had credible allegations that Indian agents were involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar a Sikh separatist shot dead in a Vancouver suburb in June

The Financial Times reported early on Friday that, even as they were heaping praise on Modi for hosting a successful G20, Biden and other western leaders privately raised concerns about Canada’s allegations with the Indian leader during the summit Canada and India have now both expelled diplomats and India has stopped providing visas to citizens of a country with one of the world s largest Indian diasporas with about 700 000 Indian citizens and another 1 6mn people of Indian descent Both countries on Thursday claimed their diplomats in each other s countries faced security threats India has dismissed Canada’s accusations of involvement in the killing as “absurd”

But something bigger than bilateral relations between two G20 members is now at stake: the all-in geopolitical bet the US UK Australia and other countries are making on India as a democratic ally that also opposes China India is becoming one of America s most important foreign partners as a bulwark against China The US has invested heavily in bolstering relations with New Delhi as part of its broader strategy of enhancing relationships in the Indo-Pacific region The push has accelerated this year, with partnerships spanning areas from defence and high-tech manufacturing to artificial intelligence Biden granted Modi the high diplomatic honour of a state dinner at the White House in June

When and if evidence emerges that might support Canada s claim Washington will face a balancing act between its closest neighbour and a significant rising ally

Other allies are in a similar bind The UK is in advanced stages of negotiating one of its biggest post-Brexit free trade agreements with New Delhi India is the world’s largest importer of arms and Emmanuel Macron of France now India s second-largest arms supplier in July invited Modi as his guest of honour at its Bastille Day parade India is a member of the Quad strategic security initiative, which also includes Australia, the US, and Japan

These countries have vested much of their geopolitical wager not only in India, but in the person of Modi

During nine years in office Modi has built a formidable political base and sought to project greater power overseas including in its intelligence operations But the Indian leader and key figures in his Bharatiya Janata party have also been accused by critics both in India and abroad of stoking sectarianism, undermining India s secular values and hindering or targeting journalists and civil society groups actions that have led some of its partners to question its democratic standards India’s western democratic allies have mostly kept their comments about these concerns compartmentalised aired in brief remarks or be-

“I’m concerned that if the India-Canada imbroglio continues to escalate then we could see western nations begin to choose sides and it is likely to be Ottawa [that wins] placing New Delhi s partnerships with countries like the US, Australia, and UK in greater jeopardy, says Derek Grossman, a senior defence analyst at Rand Corporation The rationale would be that Modi and his BJP government are simply untrustworthy ”

A wider schism would also threaten India’s slow move into the US orbit as tensions with China escalate This “wouldn’t be a good outcome for all concerned Grossman adds especially against the backdrop of an increasingly assertive China in the Indo-Pacific and globally

Making the challenges even more fraught Indian public opinion in a country of 1 4bn people has mostly rallied behind Modi in demanding evidence from Canada to support its claims

Many Indians are especially sensitive to foreign criticism, but Trudeau’s allegations dropped at an unusually delicate time days after India’s shining G20 moment and months ahead of a general election in which Modi will be campaigning in part on his efforts to lift India s international standing They are snuffing out the afterglow Modi had enjoyed following his successful shepherding of the G20 summit, says Lisa Curtis, an India expert at the CNAS think-tank in Washington India’s western partners must consider the “solid reasons” why it is a valued ally, says Nirupama Menon Rao, a former Indian foreign secretary and ambassador to the US and China “India has shown itself to be a solid dependable trustworthy and dependable partner and it has many attributes that make the relationship important for the rest of democracy She adds:

That is not to be trifled with

RISING

TENSIONS: For Canada, the stakes could not be higher: it is now at odds with the world’s two most populous countries It already has a poor relationship with China the main focus of a public inquiry it launched this month into foreign interference in recent elections

Ties with India were already frayed before this week s bust-up Trudeau had been a relative rarity among G20 leaders willing to openly criticise the Modi government s policies, as he did during 2020 protests in which farmers, many of them from Punjab, torpedoed the prime minister s planned agricultural reforms

India, in turn, had long accused Canada of harbouring extremists under the banner of free speech including Sikh “Khalistani” separatists who have staged unruly protests outside Indian missions and threatened Indian diplomats in Canada

A breakdown in relations with India could be costly Canada s bilateral trade in goods and services with India exceeds $16bn, and Canadian pension funds have invested more than $55bn in India, according to India s high commission in Ottawa The Trudeau government froze talks on a free trade agreement with India after the G20 summit one working day before Trudeau made the allegations “Canada is in a difficult position here ” says Vincent Rigby Trudeau s former national security adviser I don t think they had a choice but to come out Ultimately if another country does this on your soil you have to hold them to account, but Canada doesn t hold a lot of cards I think India holds all the cards

Canada’s western allies were initially circumspect in their response UK foreign secretary James Cleverly said that Britain had been in touch with Canada about the “serious allegations” Australia said it had raised the issue with New Delhi

The Biden administration has faced questions about why it had not been more vocal in the aftermath of Canada s explosive claim The morning after Trudeau made his spectacular allegation, the White House said it was deeply concerned about the situation People familiar with the administration s thinking say the US had not wanted to say anything that might be construed as meddling in an ongoing Canadian investigation

But as the week proceeded the White House has been forced to become more forthright in its support for Canada Jake Sullivan the national security adviser said on Thursday that no country got a special exemption for the kind of actions that Trudeau alleged: Regardless of the country, we will stand up and defend our basic principles, he said He rejected the notion that there was a “wedge” between the US and Canada

over the issue

However the allegations have created discomfort for the administration by reviving questions that were asked when Modi visited Washington in June about why it was not taking a tougher stance on human rights in India

These concerns have dogged Modi for almost two decades Until he was elected prime minister he was denied a visa to visit the US over his alleged failure to stem communal violence when he was chief minister of Gujarat

But Curtis at CNAS says she does not believe the allegations will have a long-term impact on US-India ties because the Biden administration has invested so heavily in enhancing its relationship with India under Modi “Only if Prime Minister Trudeau releases credible evidence of Indian involvement might Biden respond ” Curtis says “Even then the Biden team which sees India primarily through a China prism would seek to limit the fallout and keep relations on a relatively even keel

The narrow path being trod by India s western partners might be harder to toe if more damaging revelations emerge

While Trudeau has been vague about what intelligence it has, Canada s state broadcaster CBC, citing unnamed government sources, reported on Thursday that officials had “amassed both human and signals intelligence” around Nijjar ’s death for months including communications involving Indian officials The government also sought New Delhi s co-operation in the investigation before making its claims CBC said

While India s foreign allies weigh their words there is no sign of any domestic blowback for Modi By Friday, Indian news channels, many of which mostly take a nationalist and pro-Modi line, had moved on to other stories, including images of women cheering the prime minister in parliament after his government won overwhelming support on Thursday for a bill reserving a third of seats for female MPs “This highlights the inherent tensions in the burgeoning partnership between the west and India says Hervé Lemahieu research director with Australia s Lowy Institute There are still big differences between how the west views the world and India views the world, and that will continue to be a source of tension in years to come ”

Dr imran KhaliD

IS R A E L I Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has claimed that six or seven” Muslim nations will sign normalization agreements with Israel once Saudi Arabia follows in the footsteps of the UAE Bahrain Morocco and Sudan in joining the Abraham Accords Cohen made this statement during an interview with KAN News on Friday He did not disclose the names of the nations, but mentioned that he had met with officials from Muslim nations with which Israel does not have formal diplomatic ties

It s worth noting that less than a month ago Cohen s talks with former Libyan foreign minister Najla Mangoush in Rome sparked a diplomatic crisis with Libya, resulting in protests and Mangoush’s dismissal US officials and Israeli media criti-

cized Cohen for the damage caused to relations with Libya Cohen s recent interview followed

Mushaal lauds PM for raising voice for oppressed Kashmiris at UNGA

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Human Rights and Women Empowerment Mushaal Hussain

Mallick extoled the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwaarul Haq Kakar for raising voicing for the oppressed Kashmiris in his address at the UN General Assembly session

Mashaal Hussain Mallick addressing the award ceremony arranged by Bright Future Society said that

I am grateful to the PM for highlighting the state terrorism in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at global stage

She said that PM s address in the General Assembly not only helped exposed the Indian fascist and notorious face before the world but it would also encourage the Kashmiri brothers and sisters that Pakistan never missed the chance to bring to lime light the brutalities of the Indian brutal forces before the world

She went on to say that the PM as the ambassador and advocate of Kashmiris highlighted the worst human rights violations in the occupied valley before the international community

Mushaal vowed that Pakistan will continue to expose India s Hindu fascist regime at every forum globally

The SAPM said that the oppressed Kashmiris see Pakistan as the center of their hopes for achieving their right to self-determination as India fascist Narendra Modi led government turned the scenic Kashmir valley into a killing field

She said that all top Hurriyat leaders including her husband Yasin Malik was in Indian Illegally and unlawful incarceration as they were detained in fake fabricated and politically motivated cases to silence their just voices

Moreover, she said that Hindutva regime even subject other minorities to worst state oppression

Mushaal said that Indian government was not only involved in state terrorism in IIOJK but its notorious agency carried out terrorist activities across the world

A total of 31 gold medals were awarded in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou east China’s Zhejiang Province on Sunday

Twenty of them went to athletes from China

South Korea had five golds followed by Japan and China s Hong Kong with two top honors each Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping finished the rowing lightweight women’s double sculls final in 7:06 78 securing the first gold of the Asian Games and for China Chinese rowers continued to dominate the sport after that pocketing another five golds thanks to excellent performances by Fan Junjie and Sun Man in the lightweight men s double sculls, Lu Shiyi and Shen Shuangmei in the women’s double sculls Liu Zhiyu and Zhang Liang in the men’s double sculls Zhang Shuxian Liu Xiaoxin Wang Zifeng and Xu Xingye in the women s four event as

Nagorno-Karabakh’s 120,000 Armenians will leave for Armenia, leadership says

ARMENIA

R E U T E R S

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s address at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York where he

China to deepen all-round prac tic al cooperation with Brazil: senior CPC official

BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T

China is ready to work with Brazil to deepen all-round practical cooperation cement coordination within such multilateral mechanisms as BRICS and the Group of 20, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind said a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) during his visit to Brazil

Li Xi a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

Li paid an official friendly visit to Brazil from Monday to Friday

Noting that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and Brazil, Li said that the two countries should build on their past achievements and forge ahead with deeper political mutual trust as well as continuous mutual support on issues concerning each other s core interests and major concerns

The CPC is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with the Workers Party of Brazil, jointly explore the modernization path in line with their respective national conditions and promote the in-depth development of China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership Li said

For his part, Lula said Brazil and China are good friends and partners, embracing fruitful bilateral cooperation in such fields as politics economy and trade party-

to-party relations and collaboration on international affairs

Noting that the Workers Party of Brazil and the CPC have maintained close contacts Lula said he is willing to play a positive role in deepening bilateral relations and the friendship between their people

During the visit Li also met with Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Brazilian Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco, President of the Workers’ Party of Brazil Gleisi Hoffmann

Khalistan Referendum to continue despite assassinations and seizures: Pannun

announced that Israel is on the cusp of normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia During the speech, Netanyahu displayed two maps indicating Israel’s claim over the occupied Palestinian territories – the West Bank Gaza and Syria s Golan Heights Netanyahu also mentioned a limited window of opportunity for reaching agreements in the coming months, seemingly referring to the rush to secure normalization deals before the 2024 US election season begins He expressed willingness to consider benefits for Palestinians without compromising Israel s peace Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) echoed Netanyahu’s sentiment, suggesting that a normalization deal is “getting closer ” However the Saudi foreign minister emphasized that any peace treaty with Israel is contingent on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state OTTAWA A G E

Pro-Khalistan Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh

Pannun has asserted that India s attempts to silence and coerce him through asset seizures in Indian Punjab and false cases will not deter the Khalistan Referendum movement, which continues despite challenges Gurpatwant Singh Pannun spoke after India s federal anti-terror agency said it has confiscated the properties of Pannun whom it accuses of terror activities in India

following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public and shocking accusation that India was behind the assassination of proKhalistan Canadian leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was a friend and ally of Pannun

SFJ General Counsel Pannun said that India was desperate and in a state of shock over the success of Khalistan Referendum campaign which has mobilised tens of thousands of Sikhs in UK Canada Europe and America through Khalistan Referendum voting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said on the seizure of his property

well as Li Wenlei, Chen Xianfeng, Xu Qiao, Lyu Yi Ji Gaoxing Cai Pengpeng Ni Xulin Nie Yide and Liang Weixiong in the men s eight event

36-year-old veteran Zhang Liang became a gold medalist for the fourth consecutive edition of Asian Games He was a champion in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province in 2010 in Incheon

South Korea in 2014 in Jakarta Indonesia in 2018 and this time around in Hangzhou in 2023 Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun won the first gold for China s Hong Kong in the rowing men’s pair event The young generation of Chinese shooters were ready to carry on the team’s glory in the sport Huang Yuting 17 set a new Asian Games record of 252 7 points in the 10-meter air rifle women event to win gold

She also joined her teammates Han Jiayu and Wang Zhilin to win the 10-meter air rifle team women final with 1,896 6 points

in Punjab by the NIA: The issue at the heart of the conflict with India is not the properties of an individual – Pannun The issue is about the land of the Sikh people – Punjab – that is forcefully occupied by India and the resources of the indigenous people of Punjab that are being plundered by Delhi Khalistan Referendum 2025 loaded with millions of “votes” is going to be ‘Sikhs’ Surgical Strike’ against India that will liberate Punjab to create Democratic Republic of Khalistan (DRK) where people of all religions are going to have equal status, rights and freedoms

In 2020, India asked Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Pannun alleging him to be a terrorist but After review of the case Interpol rejected India s request on the grounds that India has failed to produce any evidence linking Pannun with any act of violence or terrorism anywhere in the world including India Interpol further held that India is seeking RCN against Pannun because of his human rights activism and his political campaign – the Khalistan Referendum

Over the last few years, India has asked the USA and Canada to take action against Pannun but

these govts took no action due to lack of evidence and failure of India to back up its claims

Tensions between India and Canada have escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada had credible intelligence linking Indian government agents to the murder in Canada in June of Nijjar who was President of Khalistan Referendum chapter in Canada, under the banner of Sikhs For Justice which has been spearheading the voting campaign

This isn t the first time India has acted against Pannun He has faced several cases in India over the last several years According to Indian media reports, the New York based lawyer faces over 25 criminal cases in India

The NIA in its latest action seized properties of Pannun in Chandigarh, and Amritsar

Last week, Pannun called on the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immediately expel India’s High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma from Canada after the Canadian prime minister confirmed that the Indian government was behind Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination in Vancouver around three months ago

Chinese athletes claimed both golds in wushu on Sunday as well Veteran Sun Peiyuan won the men s changquan title for the third straight time in the Asian Games The women s taijijian gold went to his compatriot Tong Xin At the end of Sunday, Chinese swimmers became the best-glittering stars in the Asian Games They won the golds in all seven events while Zhang Yufei Wang Shun Li Bingjie Pan Zhanle and Xu Jiayu set new records with their performances in the finals Zhang Yufei broke the Asian Games record in the women s 200-meter butterfly event by finishing in 2:05 57; Wang Shun had the Asian record of 1:54 62 in the men’s 200meter individual medley event; Li Bingjie set the new Asian Games record of the women

The 120,000 ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will leave for Armenia as they do not want to live as part of Azerbaijan and fear ethnic cleansing, the leadership of the breakaway region told Reuters on Sunday

Armenia’s Prime Minister also said the Karabakh Armenians were likely to leave the region and that Armenia was ready to take them in following a defeat last week at the hands of Azerbaijan in a conflict dating to the fall of the Soviet Union

The Armenians of Karabakh, a territory internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but previously beyond Baku’s control were forced to declare a ceasefire on Sept 20 after a lightning 24hour military operation by the much larger Azerbaijani military Azerbaijan says it will guarantee their rights and integrate the region, but the Armenians say they fear repression

“Our people do not want to live as part of Azerbaijan

Ninety-nine point nine percent prefer to leave our historic lands ” David Babayan an adviser to Samvel Shahramanyan the president of the self-styled Republic of Artsakh told Reuters

The fate of our poor people will go down in history as a disgrace and a shame for the Armenian people and for the whole civilised world,” Babayan said “Those responsible for our fate will one day have to answer before God for their sins ”

The Armenian leaders of Karabakh said in a statement that all those made homeless by the Azerbaijani military operation and wanting to leave would be escorted to Armenia by Russian peacekeepers Babayan said it was unclear when the population would move down the Lachin corridor which links the territory to Armenia where Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has faced calls to resign for failing to save Karabakh

In an address to the nation Pashinyan said some humanitarian aid had arrived but the Armenians of Karabakh still faced the danger of ethnic cleansing

If real living conditions are not created for the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in their homes and effective mechanisms of protection against ethnic cleansing then the likelihood is increasing that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh will see expulsion from their homeland as the only way out Armenia will lovingly welcome our brothers and sisters from Nagorno-Karabakh, Pashinyan said, according to Russia s TASS news agency

A mass exodus could change the delicate balance of power in the South Caucasus region a patchwork of ethnicities crisscrossed with oil and gas pipelines where Russia the United States Turkey and Iran are jostling for influence

A Z E R B A I J A N V I C TO RY: Last week s

Azerbaijani victory appears to bring a decisive end to one of the decades-old “frozen conflicts” of the Soviet Union’s dissolution President Ilham Aliyev said his iron fist had consigned the idea of an independent ethnic Armenian Karabakh to history and that the region would be turned into a paradise as part of Azerbaijan Armenia says more than 200 people were killed and 400 wounded in the Azerbaijani military operation

The fate of the ethnic Armenian population has raised concerns in Moscow Washington and Brussels Nagorno-Karabakh known as Artsakh by Armenians lies in an area that over centuries has come under the sway of Persians Turks Russians Ottomans and Soviets It was claimed by both Azerbaijan and Armenia after the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917

In Soviet times it was designated an autonomous region within Azerbaijan

As the Soviet Union crumbled the Armenians there threw off nominal Azeri control and captured neighbouring territory in what is now known as the First Karabakh War From 1988-1994 about 30 000 people were killed and more than a million people, mostly Azeris, displaced

In 2020, after decades of skirmishes, Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey won a decisive 44-day Second Karabakh War recapturing territory in and around Karabakh That war ended with a Russian-brokered peace deal which Armenians accuse Moscow of failing to guarantee

The Armenian authorities in the region said late on Saturday that about 150 tons of humanitarian cargo from Russia and another 65 tons of flour shipped by the International Committee of the Red Cross had arrived in the region

Karachi On the occasion of opening ceremony of Pakistan Tap Ball Premier League Chief Guest Leader MQM Dr Muhammad Farooq Sattar with President PTPL Khurram Majeed, President Defakleria Johar Iqbal, Chairman Sindh Realtor Noor

IBA K arachi and Synapse organize second large assembly to foster effec tive communic ation

K A R A C H I: The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi in collaboration with Synapse, Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, organized a second large assembly at the IBA, Main Campus to emphasize the impact of effective communication on mental wellbeing on an individual and organizational level

Speakers at the event included Founder and CEO Synapse Dr Ayesha Mian; Group Managing Director, Jang Group and IBA alumnus, Mr Shahrukh Hasan; and Advocate, High Court of Sindh, Ms Khushbakht Jillani

The second large assembly focused on Communication active listening understanding and responding which is a key skill for a student s personal and professional development It is critical that academic institutions develop this skill set At the IBA Karachi, the aim is to foster a climate of safe communication, acceptance, and innovation, where active dialogue on varying perspectives can take place PR

A shrafi addresses K ashmir, Palestine issues at Mauritania conference

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman,

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, addressing an international conference held in Mauritania highlighted the issues of Kashmir and Palestine in a resounding manner the other day

Representing Pakistan wholeheartedly he gained widespread praise for his concise and insightful thoughts from global leaders attending the conference, said a statement received here on Sunday The conference attended by delegates from 65 Islamic countries included the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr Mohmmad bin

Abdulkarim Al-Issa Ashrafi highlighted that the issues of Palestine and Kashmir were concerns for the Muslim Ummah (community), and unity was essential to resolve them He expressed faith in peaceful negotiations stating that the Muslim Ummah valued dialogue but could not tolerate the desecration of its sacred scriptures He pledged unwavering support for the oppressed Kashmiri and Palestinian brethren, vowing to raise their voices on every international platform Ashrafi emphasized that the current challenges facing the Muslim Ummah could be resolved through negotiations promoting dialogue between all religions and sects as a pathway to peace

He stressed that Pakistan was not alone in this struggle as the entire Islamic world stood by it I N P

INDUSTRIALISTS DEMAND SINGLE DIGIT POLICY INTEREST RATE TO BOOST INDUSTRIALIZ ATION

ISLAMABAD

P R

Adelegation of Islamabad Industrial Association (IIA) led by its President Muhammad Ahmed Waheed visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) to congratulate Ahsan Zafar

Bakhtawari President ICCI for one year extension in his tenure and called upon the government to reduce 22 percent policy interest rate to single digit level that would help boost industrialization, enhance exports create jobs and revive the economy

Addressing the delegation Ahsan

Zafar Bakhtawari President Islamabad

Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that 22% central bank s interest in Pakistan was highest in the whole Asia as interest rate in Japan is -0 1% Taiwan

1 88% Thailand 2 25 Malaysia 3% China was 3 4 % Vietnam 4 5% and Indonesia & Hongkong 5 75% Bangladesh and India 6 5% He said that the high interest rate has made our industry uncompetitive in the national market due to which our exports are also suffering He said that the best way to revive the economy is to focus on export-led growth of the economy for which single digit interest rate is the key requirement Muhammad Ahmed, President, Islamabad Industrial Association said that it has

become almost impossible for industry to get credit from banks at such high interest rate due to which expansion of industries has halted He said that the high interest rate was also a major hurdle in promoting new investment in Pakistan and stressed that the government should look into this serious issue to facilitate the growth of business and investment in the country Khalid Iqbal Malik, ICCI Group Leader said that many investors are keen to set up industries in the Islamabad region but due to absence of a new industrial zone they are unable to make new investments He emphasized that the government should extend full cooperation to ICCI for the establishment of a new industrial estate in the

M A R P O L a t 5 0 : C h a r t i n g t h e F u t u r e o f S u s t a i n a b l e M a r i t i m e P r a c t i c e s

In just a few days the world will unite in celebration of a remarkable milestone: the 50th anniversary of the MARPOL Convention Conceived with a singular mission, i e to shield our invaluable marine ecosystems from the scourge of ship-induced pollution this historic accord stands as a testament to our enduring commitment It finds resonance in this year's poignant World Maritime Day theme:

"MARPOL at 50 - Our commitment goes on "

Shipping as the linchpin of global trade leaves an indelible imprint on our marine domains Regrettably, it has also played a significant role in the pollution of our seas through greenhouse gas emissions, oil spills, and the proliferation of ship-generated refuse Yet over the past half-century the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has stood as a bulwark against these ecological ravages Assisted by the comprehensive regulatory framework of MARPOL, the IMO has tirelessly toiled to mitigate these adverse effects Their unwavering commitment

to fostering sustainable maritime practices is a testament to their vision and dedication As we stand on the cliff of MARPOL s 50th anniversary it is imperative that we chart a course towards a more sustainable maritime future Here are some key strategies and initiatives that can be adopted to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable maritime sector; Transitioning from traditional fossil fuels to cleaner and more sustainable alternatives such as LNG (liquefied natural gas) and hydrogen embracing advanced technologies and ship design improvements to enhance energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption and emissions implementing effective waste management practices on ships ensuring that ships comply with ballast water management standards that prevents spread of invasive species, which can harm native marine ecosystems, mandating real-time monitoring and reporting of emissions for transparency and accountability in the maritime industry exploring the integration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power into ship propul-

sion systems, continued investment in research and development, promoting awareness and providing training for maritime personnel on sustainable practices and encouraging cooperation among nations industry stakeholders and organizations like the IMO

As governments, organizations, and stakeholders convene to celebrate MARPOL's half-century of achievements and deliberate on the path ahead the imperative of sustainable maritime practices has never been more apparent These practices not only serve as custodians of our marine ecosystems but also underpin the sustainability and resilience of the global maritime sector

The legacy of MARPOL and the IMO s unflagging dedication to a greener maritime future inspire us to rally together towards a world where our marine ecosystems thrive, our seas remain unsullied and our commitment to sustainable maritime practices stands as a beacon for future generations As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of MARPOL let us remember that our commitment endures, stronger than ever before, in both spirit and action

region as this important project would yield multiple benefits for the economy

Faad Waheed Senior Vice President and Engr Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI said that the economy of Pakistan is facing multiple challenges and the government should focus on promoting investment and industrialization that would help revive the economy and overcome economic problems of the country Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG Pakistan said that Ahsan Bakhtawari has already held meetings with Governor Punjab Industry Minister of Punjab Punjab Industrial Estate Development & Management Company, Chairman CDA

Securit y beefed up ahead of Eid

Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) celebrations in A JK

MIRPUR

I N P

The authorities of Mirpur division have restructured and beefed up the security across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to maintain already prevailed complete law and order during the most sanctified day of Eid Milad un Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) to be celebrated on September 29 official sources said on Sunday The indication to this effect was given by official sources about intensification of the security arrangements on the eve of the scheduled world-over enthusiastic celebration of the holy day of Jashan e Eid MIlad un Nabi (PBUH), the birth day of the last Holy Prophet Muhammad (S A W)

In the wake of the measures to tighten the security checking at all the routes leading to AJK including all the exit and entry points at Mangla Kohala Azad Pattan Gujrat-Bhimbher Road and Dhan Galli has been intensified

The district police chiefs (SSPs, SPs) of all ten districts of AJK have been issued special directives to keep the police contingents alert and vigilant to maintain peace and order during Eid Milad un Nabi (PBUH) processions and other sacred Eid Milaad un Nabi (PBUH) congregations

I S L A M A B A D: Islam is a religion of tolerance peace and security, the education of Muslims begins with peace, tolerance, patience, and non-violence, we have forgotten these Islamic teachings while the West is following these teachings” said Dean Faculty of Education Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Prof Dr Tanzila Nabeel while addressing the closing ceremony of the four-day international workshop on teacher training Renowned experts from Canada and the Philippines participated online in this training workshop and emphasized that we collectively need to raise our voices in society for the betterment of education and global citizenship They urged make a global consensus on education for peace and human rights There is a dire need to prepare citizens equipped with values attitudes knowledge, abilities, and skills to participate in all dimensions of social development actively and responsibly at the local, national, and global levels Other speakers including the Chairman Department of Early Childhood Education and Teacher Education Dr Fazal ur Rahman Dr Muhammad Ajmal Chaudhry and Dr Mubashera shared their views that the workshop focused on real education that Pakistan needs and this workshop has been successful in achieving its objectives They also expressed their gratitude towards the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood for providing support and mentoring At the end of the ceremony certificates were distributed among the teachers who completed the training PR

Pa k i s t a n N av y Co m m i s s i o n

s Fi r s t M i l g e m S h i p P N S B a b u r

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Commissioning ceremony of 1st Pakistan Navy MILGEM Ship PNS BABUR was held at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Turkiye Minister of National Defence Turkiye

Mr Yaşar Güler and Defence Minister of Pakistan Lt Gen (Retd) Anwar Ali Hyder graced the occasion as Chief Guests Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi also attended the ceremony

While addressing on the occasion Turkish Defence Minister termed the brotherly Pakistan-Turkiye relations as exemplary and acknowledged the potential for further collaboration in the field of defence production

He lauded the efforts and remarkable work done by Istanbul Naval Shipyard and M/s ASFAT (Turkish Firm)

He also thanked the Govt of Pakistan and Pakistan Navy for exceptional support during recent devastating earthquakes at Turkiye

During his address, Defence Minister of Pakistan admired the collaboration of Ministry of Defence Production Pakistan, Ministry of National Defence of Turkiye M/s ASFAT and Pakistan Navy for synergized efforts to make the project a success and congratulated all teams on successful commissioning of 1st MILGEM Ship He added that relationship between Pak-

Parents appealed to vaccinate children against diseases

ISLAMABAD

I N P

istan and Turkiye is unique because of deep rooted historical ties between the two brotherly countries, hence cooperation shall continue in future as well

Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi underlined that PN MILGEM Ships fitted with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors will play a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region He expressed his gratitude for enhanced collaboration in defence production especially in Maritime domain between the two countries The Admiral stated that in line with Govt Policies, Pakistan Navy has adopted indigenization of platforms and hence it is very satisfying to see modern warships being built in collaboration with brotherly country Turkiye

Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan on Sunday appealed to parents to get their children vaccinated against various deadly diseases In a video message about immunization of children the minister said that effective measures are being taken to ensure 100% immunization coverage He said that the ministry of Health is determined to ensure universal health coverage Dr Nadeem Jan said “Innocent children are our future and they need regular medical care particularly their safety against various diseases through regular vaccination He said that frontline health workers are the real heroes of our immunization program, who perform their duties with dedication and devotion

PML-N to nominate coordinators to prepare for successful power show on Nawaz’s return

MULTAN

during the forecast period

ISLAMABAD I N P

Rain with wind and thundershower is expected in Punjab, Pothohar region, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the next the twentyfour hours Isolated heavy falls are also likely in Punjab Potohar region and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Temperature of some major cities recorded on Sunday morning

Islamabad twenty-three degree centigrade Lahore twenty-five Karachi twenty-nine Peshawar twenty-four Quetta twelve Gilgit and Murree sixteen and Muzaffarabad twenty degree centigrade

According to weather forecast for Indian Illegally Occupied

S

R a i n w i t h t h u n d e r s h owe r ex p e c te d i n Pu n j a b, I senger coach found 150 bags of urea that were illegally being smuggled to Afghanistan via Balochistan In a raid in Quetta the Customs department seized huge quantities of urea in Quetta

Jammu and Kashmir, partly cloudy weather with chances of rain-windthundershower is expected in Srinagar Leh Pulwama Anantnag Shopian and Baramula while partly cloudy weather in Jammu

h i k a r p u r : Po l i c e fo i l s u g a r, u re a s m u g g l i n g to Afg h a n i s t a n

C A spokesperson for the department said that 300 bags of urea and sweet supari (betel nuts) worth Rs60 million were seized during a search of container and trailer at the Lakpas Chckpost of Customs in Quetta

I N P

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to nominate coordinators in each provincial constituency of Lahore for a successful power show on the return of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif

The coordinators along with former MPAs will be bound to mobilise the PML-N workers A performance report of former MNAs, MPAs, Union Council (UC) chairmen and councillors will also be prepared The coordinators in every constituency will be required to visit UCs and wards of each constituency They will make a list of active and inactive chairmen and councillors in the party The coordinators will also have to prepare a report of all the constituencies and submit it to the PML-N Lahore president by October 1, 2023 The coordinators will monitor political activities in the constituencies till October 21, 2023

Mercury drops to 10 degree Celsius in Quetta

QUETTA

I N

Blowing cold winds in Quetta and other areas of Balochistan on Sunday morning, announcing about upcoming winter in the region Temperatures going down in the morning and evening times in Quetta Balochistan s capital city as people have started keeping fans off

Abrijo and other guests group photo PR

MUHAMMAD UMAR PARVAIZ*

O C T O B E R 2 1 W O N ’ T B E A G O O D D AY, FA I S A L VAW D A WA R N S N AWA Z S H A R I F

SE N I O R politician Faisal Vawda while warning Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif that October 21 will not be a good day for him said that the country cannot progress unless 18 political leaders are punished

Speaking in a private Tv channel program he said he is the one who will decide which party to join emphasizing that no party will make that choice for him Rejecting the rumors that he had sought governorship position, he said that there is misinformation circulating about him Vawda clarified that he is currently not affiliating with any political party and asserted that he will make his political decisions independently, based on his own understanding and assessment of the situation

Expressing his views on the political landscape he acknowledged interim Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar as a prominent figure and mentioned that current political developments are of a temporary nature, with the upcoming government expected to serve for a duration ranging from 12 to 17 months, pri-

Skyrocketing inflation, insecurit y hit business in Peshawar

PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T

Inflation and insecurity have robbed Peshawar of business customers, with 70 to 80 percent of businesses in the city affected Shopkeepers have opened their shops, but customers are non-existent

Traders say that the recent inflation has hurt business so much that they cannot even pay a day’s wages to salesmen They blame inflation wrong taxation policies and other factors for the decline in business

The Peshawar Traders Association has appealed to the government to provide relief to businesses, or they will be forced to close down

The city of Peshawar is the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which has been plagued by insecurity in recent years The province has been a target of terrorist attacks and the Pakistani military has been conducting operations against militants in the region

The combination of inflation and insecurity has created a difficult environment for businesses in Peshawar Traders are struggling to stay afloat, and many are on the verge of bankruptcy

The government needs to take steps to address the concerns of the business community in Peshawar It needs to provide relief to businesses and create a more secure environment for them to operate in Otherwise, the city will lose more businesses and jobs

FBI alerts US Sikh community after Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing by Indian agents

CALIFORNIA

STAFF REPORT

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents visited several Sikh people in California this summer with an alarming message their lives were also at risk

According to a report by The Intercept FBI alerted Sikh community after the assassination of Khalistan leader a Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia

Pritpal Singh a US citizen and coordinator for the American Sikh Caucus Committee said that he and two other Sikh Americans received calls and visits from the FBI after Nijjar s death

In a shocking revelations, similarly, Sukhman Dhami, co-ordinator of Ensaaf, a California-based nonprofit group said Sikhs throughout the US received police warnings about political threats Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an unexpected diplomatic move Canada expelled New Delhi s head of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) India s foreign intelligence agency stationed in Ottawa accusing India s involvement in the killing of a Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June

The already strained relations between Ottawa and New Delhi took a dramatic new low Canada expels top Indian diplomat over killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance is made up of Australia Canada New Zealand the United Kingdom and the United States

marily influenced by the wishes of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Terming the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as homeopathic he said that the previous elections were not transparent, and the next elections will not be transparent either The senior politician went on to say

that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa are the hope for the country adding that Pakistan shouldn t be disappointed with the Chief Justice He also predicted that Arshad Sharif case will be reopened, adding that the real faces of some people will be exposed Regarding PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif s return to Pakistan Vawda said that October 21 will not be a good day for him

The new Chief Justice and Army Chief have sparked hope after 75 years, he said and added the Army Chief ’s decisions have caused the value of the dollar to decline Furthermore he asserted that the country cannot develop without bringing 18 political leaders to the justice Faisal Vawda said PTI doesn t have popularity of its own, and PTI chairman is popular due to hatred of PDM, while Sheikh Rasheed is a sensible person ” Additionally he mentioned that Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Ali Mohammad Khan are notable figures within the party

J o u r n a l i s t K h a l i d J a m i l s e n t t o j a i l o n 1 4 - d ay j u d i c i a l r e m a n d

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

A local court in Islamabad on Sunday sent journalist Muhammad Khalid Jamil to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in a case pertaining to spreading provocative narrative against the state institutions through social media platforms

The journalist was presented in an Islamabad district and sessions court Sunday after completion of a two-day physical remand

During the hearing the FIA sought more physical remand of Jamil which was rejected by Islamabad court

After hearing arguments, he was sent to jail on 14-day judicial remand

Khalid Jamil the bureau chief of a private news channel was

taken into custody from his residence at Media Town, Islamabad

According to the First Information Report (FIR) the accused was found sharing and spreading highly intimidating content/tweets on social media platforms including X

The FIR invoked Section 505

‘Accountabilit y of generals’: Senator Mushahid urges Nawaz to ‘forgive, forget & move on’

PML-N Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Sunday advised party supremo Nawaz Sharif to exhibit “generosity” and pursue a forward-looking approach of “forgive forget and move on” regarding accountability of former army generals After four years in London Nawaz is set to return to Pakistan on October 21 With a month left before his arrival, the PML-N supremo does not seem in any mood to abandon his long-standing demand for the ‘strict accountability’ of generals and judges former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, ex-spymaster Faiz Hamid and former chief justices Asif Khosa and Saqib Nisar for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to oust him from power in 2017

The abrupt change in Nawaz s stance towards former army generals and retired judges is causing unease among party ranks, with many leaders fearing that such a bold engagement could invite the wrath of the establishment

Questioned about the matter today during an interview on a TV talk show Mushahid Hussain

Sayed recalled that the late Nelson Mandela had told him that the biggest quality of a statesman was generosity He said Hazrat Ali (AS) had also espoused generosity when it came to justice and revenge

Forgive, forget [and] move on There should be a forward-looking approach If you get stuck in the past yes there should be accountability Nawaz’s anger is justified ” the senator said

(statement conducing to public mischief) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) It also included Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca)

The FIR asserted that the journalist was found to cause harm to Pakistan

However he advised the PML-N chief against opting for what was a tried tested and failed formula Hussain also questioned the outcome of PML-N government s accountability proceedings against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf “He was protected by the military establishment, provided security and given a safe exit during our own government and you were helpless the senator recalled

The military establishment in Pakistan will protect its chief, no matter how controversial he is he will be given full military honours They will not allow till now this situation has not come about, I cannot say about tomorrow that they allow some outsider a civilian to try their soldier ” he asserted The senator said there were ups and downs in life and a politician should look at what was in the national and public interest

If you get trapped in this [process of vengeance] then you won’t be able to govern,” Hussain said, warning that if affairs continued the same way, then “there will be a military coup ”

The provincial metropolis is currently grappling with a significant rise in cases of Pink Eye during the ongoing rainy season

The health department officials reported 85 new cases of conjunctivitis, commonly known as Pink Eye, within the past 24 hours

People afflicted with this infection are finding it difficult to venture outdoors due to the adverse effects of sunlight and dust on their eyes

Noted eye surgeon, Dr Intizar Hussain Butt, shared his recommendations with this scribe, urging affected individuals to use prescribed eye drops cold water and

tissues for eye cleansing

Dr Butt explained that conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane, known as the conjunctiva, which lines the eyelid and covers the eyeball He emphasised the importance of avoiding physical contact with infected individuals and refraining from sharing personal items such as handkerchiefs, pillows, and makeup Dr Butt also advised those affected to wear sunglasses and take a temporary leave from their official or private duties for a few days Self-medication was discouraged and joining gatherings was to be avoided Frequent handwashing with soap was recommended

Symptoms of Pink Eye include redness a gritty or scratchy sensation in the eye, and itching Dr Butt further noted that many individuals with conjunctivitis experience eye discharge leading to the formation of crusts on the eyelashes particularly at night

T h e s e s y m p t o m s c a n b e c a u s e d b y v a r i o u s f a c t o r s , i nc l u d i n g i n f e c t i o n s , a l l e rg i e s , o r irritants Meanwhile, the Punjab Health Department reported over 8 5 c a s e s i n L a h o r e h o s p i t a l s ’ o u t p a t i e n t d e p a r t m e n t s i n t h e past 24 hours

Dr Bushra from Services Hospital stated that 40 per cent of patients in the outpatient department were seeking treatment for this infection Dr Bushra emphasised the importance of precautionary measures and recommended the use of eye drops She advised affected individuals to maintain stringent hygiene practices, including keeping their personal items such as towels and toiletries separate from others Patients were directed to use prescribed eye drops and tissues for eye cleansing with the option o f u s i n g c o l d w a t e r f o r t e m p or a r y r e l i e f T h e p r o v i n c i a l g o ve r n m e n t h e a l t h d e p a r t m e n t s t r e s s e d t h e n e e d t o u s e h a n d s a n i t i s e r s a n d c a u t i o n e d a g a i n s t t o u c h i n g o n e s e y e s w i t h o u t washing hands thoroughly

Not only PML-N leaders but some former allies have also been asking the elder Sharif to have a change of heart in his stance Both the PPP and the Istehkham-iPakistan Party (IPP) have already dropped a word of caution to the Sharifs in this regard

Soldier mar t yred in Nor th Waziristan IBO laid to rest

RAWALPINDI

S TA F F R E P O R T

The funeral prayer for Sepoy Shakeel Shafqat who embraced martyrdom yesterday while fighting against terrorists in Mir Ali area of KhyberPakhtunkhwa s North Waziristan district, was offered on Sunday in his native village of Kabirwala in Punjab’s Khanewal district

The martyr was laid to rest with full military honours said military s media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Military and civil authorities relatives of the martyr and people from different walks of life participated in the funeral prayer, it added

Earlier this month, another soldier of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in a gun battle with terrorists in the same area Last month at least six soldiers were martyred in a skirmish with terrorists in the Asman Manza area of South Waziristan district ISPR said

The military s media wing added that at least four terrorists were also killed while two were injured in the fighting

elections within the mandated 90-day period

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) launched a robust response on Sunday to Caretaker

Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar ’s recent statement concerning the legitimacy of holding elections without Imran Khan who is currently incarcerated in Attock jail

Kakar had suggested that the country could proceed with elections even in the absence of the former prime minister

In a strong rebuttal, the PTI spokesperson contended that excluding PTI’s chief from contesting elections would render the entire electoral process unconstitutional

During an interview with AP on Friday PM Kakar had stated that the thousands of law-abiding members within Khan s party would continue to engage in the political process and participate in elections He made reference to the May 9 violence that erupted following Imran Khan’s arrest In that case

several individuals are facing military court proceedings for their alleged involvement in attacks on military installations and Lahore Corp Commander House also known as Jinnah House Elections can take place without Imran Khan or hundreds of members of his party who are incarcerated due to unlawful activities,” Kakar had remarked

Meanwhile, the PTI spokesperson has viewed the interim PM’s statement as a manifestation of his disregard for the Constitution democracy and national interests

The PTI is the largest political party in Pakistan, and Imran Khan is the most popular political leader, the spokesperson affirmed in response to the PM’s interview

He added, “The consequences of removing political leaders and parties with extraordinary public support through artificial undemocratic and unconstitutional means are always disastrous emphasising that the Constitution, law, democracy, and morals

preclude the caretaker prime minister from participating in any unnatural, undemocratic, and unconstitutional plan to influence politics and election outcomes

The caretaker PM during the Friday s interview also declined to play any role in recommending judges to overturn Imran s conviction in the Toshakhana case In response to a question, he emphasised non-interference with judicial decisions and stressed that the judiciary should not be used as a tool for political purposes

We are not pursuing anyone with personal vendettas Kakar asserted But we will ensure that the law is upheld Anyone, whether it s Imran Khan or any other politician, who violates the country’s laws in their political conduct, must be held accountable We cannot equate this with political discrimination ” Earlier this month the PTI also expressed concerns over statements made by Caretaker Prime Minister Kakar criticising his silence on the crucial issue of ensuring free and fair

The party spokesperson expressed surprise and concern over the interim prime minister’s stance on the May 9 incidents noting his vocal stance on various matters while remaining silent on this critical issue

Furthermore, the PTI spokesperson emphasised the nation’s demand for an impartial and high-level judicial inquiry into all aspects of the May 9 incidents They dismissed the narratives presented thus far and called for a credible evidence-based investigation

Pink eye c ases surge in L ahore: 85 new infec tions repor ted