Epaper_24-05-27 ISB

terrorists involved have been apprehended He revealed that the suicide attack on March 26 targeting Chinese engineers was orchestrated by TTP terrorists with operations coordinated from Afghanistan We have irrefutable evidence of this he said Naqvi expressed serious concerns about the use of Afghan soil for attacks on Chinese nationals “This is a matter of grave concern for us ” he stated He said that the Pakistan government had requested the interim Afghan government to arrest Bakhtiar Shah Qari Asadullah and Khan Lala and especially TTP

Ameer Noor Wali Mehsud TTP Malakand Commander Azmatullah Mehsud and other senior leaders of the TTP

The interior minister said that Pakistan wanted good ties with Afghanistan and it was possible when Afghanistan would support Pakistan and not allow its soil to be used against Pakistan On March 26 a vehicle-borne suicide bomber targeted a convoy escorting Chinese engineers in the remote Besham area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, killing six people, including the vehicle’s driver

The Chinese engineers were en route to their camp in Dasu – the district headquarters of the Upper Kohistan district of K-P – from Islamabad Their vehicle was hit by an explosive-laden vehicle, coming from the opposite direction, near Lahore Nala on the Karakoram Highway Islamabad has long accused Kabul of

failing to take action against TTP terrorists who allegedly hide and operate from Afghanistan Kabul denies the accusations The interior minister said that Pakistan has raised the issue with Afghanistan’s interim government, urging them to take action against these terrorists but so far there has been no positive response He said that terrorists including those from TTP are being supported in border areas by the neighbouring country We have numerous pieces of evidence supporting this,” he asserted Naqvi said that the TTP is operating against Pakistani interests and is involved in attacks on Chinese citizens and other acts of terrorism He warned that terrorists are exploiting the weaknesses of Afghanistan s interim government, escalating threats to Pakistan’s security from across the border “These cross-

of Kashmir who had been subjected to brutal occupation and denial of fundamental rights for the past seven and a half decades During the conversation both leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in various sectors including trade investment education, and renewable energy They also recognized the important role played by Norwegians of Pakistani origin in creating a vital connection between Pakistan and Norway and contributing to the economic development of both nations

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch and to meet soon, possibly on the margins of the UNGA Session later this year The Prime Minister also extended a most cordial invitation to Prime Minister Store to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, at his earliest convenience, it was added

over

border threats are increasingly compli-

cating our national security he said In light of these attacks the minister said that Pakistan has intensified border surveillance, although terrorists still manage to find ways to infiltrate “The government of Pakistan is well aware of the forces trying to undermine PakistanChina relations Naqvi noted He emphasised the critical importance of Pakistan-China relations, stating that the security of Chinese nationals is a top priority “We have implemented new standard operating procedures (SOPs) and are enforcing them strictly he added We are taking all possible measures to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals National Counter-Terrorism Authority Coordinator Muhammad Tahir Rai gave detailed briefing about the investigation done related to Besham (Shangla) terrorist attack on March 26 He said entire incident was planned in Afghanistan and objective was to harm Pakistan and China relations He said that 11 accused namely Adil Shehbaz, Shafiq Qureshi, Zahid Qureshi, Nazeer Hussain, Faizullah, Fasihullah, Imran Swati Sakha Ullah Abdullah Abdul Rehman and Kamal Khan had been arrested The arrested culprits were in police custody on physical remand He said that the arrested accused would face trial in local anti-terrorism court where challans would be submitted after completing legal formalities Tahir Rai said that remaining accused belonging to the network including Hazrat Bilal would be arrested soon

TISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions

Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, Engr Amir

Muqam has said that Pakistan accommodates largest number of refugees for last four decades and international community needs to acknowledge our efforts in that regard

While talking to a delegation led by Chief of Mission for the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Pakistan, Ms Mio Sato which called on him on Sunday, the federal minister commended the services of IOM rendered to Afghan citizen card holders and the host community Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Mohammad Abbas Khan Joint Secretary of SAFRON and other senior officials were also present on the oc-

casion Engr Amir Muqam expressed the desire for Afghan refugees to return their country with dignity noting that there had been no incidents of forced expulsion or harassment He emphasized the need for screening to determine their locations and activities Pakistan was aware of the business activities, education, and relationships of Afghan refugees within the country he said and highlighted that many Afghans were involved in businesses that are beneficial to both Pakistan and its citizens

The minister said I will travel to Geneva in June at the invitation of the High Commissioner of UNHCR, and also planned to meet with the DG of IOM ” Chief of Mission MIO Sato expressed gratitude to the minister for meeting despite the holiday and stated her intention to maintain close contact with the Ministry

KP food authorit y continues crackdown counter feit food produc ts

Politic al will essential for successful urban regeneration: speakers

facilitate rather than hinder business activities, thereby enhancing economic productivity and fostering investor confidence

Speakers at the second and last day of 3rdEconFest on Sunday emphasized that political will was essential for successful urban regeneration as politicians played a key role in city development

The event was jointly organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Research for Social Transformation and Advancement (RASTA) and the Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE) They stressed that urban regeneration was crucial for all Pakistani cities and must adhere to proper rules and regulations, which should be publicized Additionally, they pointed out that unlike many foreign cities, Pakistani cities were lacking efficient public transport systems, which were vital for urban regeneration

At the EconFest 2024 the panel noted that the original vision for Islamabad as a Garden City has faded with a notable decline in gardens and public spaces

In another session the experts stressed the urgent need for deregulation to foster economic growth, citing PIDE Sludge audit reports that identify excessive regulations as barriers to GDP growth

Led by anchor Muhammad Malik the session featured Mukarram Ansari Ahmad Waqar Qasim and M Ahsan Malik who highlighted how Pakistan s 122 federal regulatory authorities impose unnecessary licenses, excessive tax burdens, and redundant requirements that stifle business operations and deter investment

The speakers called for the removal of these impediments advocating for modernized regulations that

The experts discussed the future of Pakistan’s bureaucracy focusing on making it more efficient and affordable

Hamza Haroon emphasized reducing bureaucratic roles in city governance, aligning incentives with economic performance, and fostering competition within civil services

Namra Awais highlighted the colonial roots of the current system and advocated for downsizing and modernizing the bureaucracy to better suit Pakistan s complex society She pointed out inefficiencies in the hiring and skills of Grade 1-16 officers and the lack of job descriptions for Grade 17-22 officers

Rana Muhammad addressed pension system leakages and stressed the need for aligning job responsibilities with perks The speakers agreed on the necessity of monetizing non-monetary benefits but noted that salaries must first be competitive

Mukarram Ansari the first speaker highlighted that while regulatory authorities worldwide are meant to facilitate businesses, in Pakistan, they often create obstacles through unnecessary licenses and excessive tax burdens stunting business growth

He pointed out that resistance to reforms such as those attempted by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) exacerbates the issue Ansari stressed that deregulation does not mean eliminating all regulations but rather removing unnecessary ones that hinder business operations, citing India’s “End of License Raj” as a successful example

The district emergency service-Rescue 1122 has launched an awareness campaign to educate people about precautionary measures against heatstroke and the adverse effects of extreme heat

According to the Rescue 1122 spokesman the awareness drive has been launched in line with Director General Rescue 1122 Dr Ayaz Ahmad Khan and Director Operations South Imran Yusufzai under the supervision of District Emergency Officer Engineer Faseeh Ullah across the district In this regard, the spokesman said various measures were being taken to educate the public through this campaign He added that the pamphlets and brochures were being distributed among citizens a

door-to-door campaign and community-based efforts were underway Similarly he said that social media platforms were also being utilized to safeguard lives of people by spreading awareness about the heatstroke He

T

IPakistan’s happiness insights

over time underscore the need for measures that foster a more optimistic outlook Happiness is crucial as it is closely tied to mental and

TH E World Happiness Report 2024 has been released to rank a total of 143 countries across the globe The list of top 10 countries has remained unchanged since before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic Finland remains at the head of the pack with Denmark in close succession According to the report all five Nordic countries (Denmark Finland Iceland Norway, and Sweden) secured spots in the top 10 The Gallup World Poll (GWP) surveyed the national average response to life evaluations Happiness revolves around an individual’s evaluation of his or her own life The respondents were asked Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you, and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time?” This measure is commonly known as the Cantril life ladder or simply the life ladder Pakistan secured a ranking of 108 on the scale with a score of 4 657, as per the report In the South Asia region, Pakistan has been performing exceptionally well Currently, India ranks at 126, Sri Lanka at 128, Bangladesh at 129, and Afghanistan at 143 Nepal has secured an impressive 93rd position and is leading in terms of happiness among the South Asian economies Pakistan stands out in terms of happiness in South Asia following Nepal The report s findings have two significant implications for Pakistan, among others First, according to the report’s findings, globally, younger individuals tend to be happier than their older counterparts Despite having a significant portion (64 per cent) of its population under 30 Pakistan has struggled to achieve a higher ranking in terms of youth happiness Pakistan s global ranking for youth happiness came in at 107 Second, in comparing the happiness scale points of the 2021-23 survey round with those of the 200610 round a noticeable decrease of 0 479 scale points in happiness has been observed This dynamic pattern highlights the changing trends in happiness over time It implies that the declining happiness scores among young people and the overall decrease in happiness

B r i d g i n g t h e g e n d e r g a p

Tackling education disparit y in Pakistan

Mir

Eand

144th

and 98th in political empowerment indices out of 156 countries Educated women are more likely to make informed decisions about their health and the health of their families, leading to improved maternal and child health outcomes Conversely, lack of education contributes to higher rates of maternal mortality malnutrition and preventable diseases Education is a catalyst for social empowerment and enables individuals particularly women, to participate more fully in civic and political life Excluding girls from educational opportunities can undermine Pakistan’s potential for inclusive and equitable social development Strengthening legal frameworks and policies to promote gender equality in education is needed including measures to eliminate genderbased discrimination Implementation of Article 25 of constitution of Pakistan in true spirit must be done that says There should be no discrimination on the basis of sex alone” Ensure equal access to education and address barriers to girls’ retention and completion of edu-

Pakistan requires a range of shor t-term and long-term policy measures to enhance the happiness of its citizens. It focuses on implementing shor t-term measures like fostering community engagement, improving access to mental health services and basic infrastructure, and addressing corruption. Long-term policy measures include investing in education and health, fostering economic growth, bridging social inequality, and promoting good governance .

cation Pakistan is a signatory of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women that binds the government to take all forms of measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all walks of life By Improving school infrastructure including the construction of safe and accessible school buildings provision of clean water and sanitation facilities, and enhancement of transportation networks to ensure safe access to schools Community Engagement is also very crucial to challenge the traditional gender norms To Work closely with communities religious leaders and local stakeholders to raise awareness about the importance of girls education and promote positive attitudes towards gender equality Lastly, taking initiatives like girls Empowerment Programmes to implement targeted interventions, such as girls’ mentoring programmes, scholarships, and vocational training initiatives to encourage girls and provide them with the skills and support they need to pursue and complete their education Education gender disparity in Pakistan is a complex and deeply entrenched issue that requires sustained efforts at the policy, community, and individual levels By addressing the root causes of disparity investing in girls’ education and fostering an enabling environment for gender equality It is imperative that all stakeholders including government agencies civil society organizations, and international partners, work together to bridge the gender gap in education and ensure that every child, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to fulfill their educational aspirations and contribute to society

The writer is a freelance columnist

Waqas shair

Why India should be declared a terrorist countr y

Its bad behaviour violates international law

IN D I A has consistently engaged in espionage and terrorist activities abroad, and has a documented history of interference in the internal affairs of others, particularly neighbours such as Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal Sri Lanka and the Maldives The imperative of respecting the sovereignty of other nations and refraining from involvement in their internal matters becomes paramount

The primary rationale for non-interference lies in the profound respect for a nation’s sovereignty Sovereignty a fundamental tenet of international law asserts a nation s right to self-governance free from external interference

Upholding this principle not only conforms to global standards but also fosters a harmonious global order Thus, a non-interference policy serves as a preemptive measure reducing the likelihood of diplomatic crises and hostilities

By refraining from meddling in internal matters nations can maintain open channels of communication and seek diplomatic resolutions to global challenges, fostering negotiation and compromise for peace and cooperation Additionally, a non-interference policy enhances bilateral relations signaling respect for the autonomy of other countries often leading to more cordial and productive relationships based on shared interests and cooperation

The alignment with international norms and principles is evident in the United Nations Charter which underscores the significance of refraining from involvement in others internal matters Adherence to these

Electoral

norms strengthens the global framework for peaceful and lawful international relations Furthermore a non-interference policy upholds the right to self-determination, allowing countries to shape their governance, culture, and policies without external pressures promoting peaceful coexistence

Interfering in another country’s affairs can result in unintended and adverse consequences Therefore a non-interference policy helps avert these inadvertent negative outcomes, contributing to global stability

Through the embrace of a non-interference policy, nations play a pivotal role in fostering a world characterized by peaceful coexistence and diminished potential for international disputes and hostilities India has been involved in interventionist endeavours across various nations, utilizing RAW as a tool to extend its influence beyond its borders RAW, the Research and Analysis Wing India’s external intelligence agency has long been cloaked in secrecy and speculation due to its clandestine operations abroad Its activities abroad have raised objections as they infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations It is entrusted with gathering intelligence and executing covert operations overseas Established in 1968 RAW’s fundamental objective is to safeguard India s national security by gathering information on external threats encompassing both military and non-military aspects, and executing operations to protect and advance India’s interests globally However allegations have surfaced regarding RAW’s activities outside India One of the enduring accusations is its purported support for insurgent groups and separatist movements in neighbours, with Pakistan a prominent example

RAW has allegedly provided material and financial assistance to various insurgent factions thereby fueling regional instability

Additionally RAW has faced accusations of espionage in foreign countries involving the gathering of sensitive intelligence and jeopardizing their national security These allegations have frequently strained India s relations with its neighbours RAW has been implicated in covert operations aimed at destabilizing governments and promoting political change in neighbors contravening

the principle of non-interference It has been linked to acts of sabotage in foreign countries including cyberattacks and terrorism resulting in significant diplomatic repercussions

RAW has been accused of supporting terrorist activities within Pakistan, such as the case of Kulbhushan Yadav implicated in espionage and terrorism in Balochistan Yadav was apprehended by Pakistani security forces in 2016 based on information provided by the ISI RAW has allegedly operated from neighbouring countries territories with the aim of destabilizing Pakistan

Pakistan has borne the brunt of India’s alleged efforts to foment division along ethnic lines enduring prolonged unrest and conflict in regions such as Balochistan and KPK

The Indian media s involvement in what can be called media terrorism extends to spreading false propaganda and misinformation about Pakistan, orchestrated by India and its leadership Attempts to mislead the people of Pakistan and AJK are continuous

The populace of AJK dismisses statements from Indian politicians and media especially those attempting to draw parallels between IIOK and AJK Recent protests in AJK, misinterpreted as hostility towards Pakistan have led Indian politicians and media to suggest AJK align with India Indian Home Minister Amit Shah claimed AJK residents are unhappy with Pakistan while Indian intellectuals anchors and journalists have proposed AJK secede to India

However, AJK residents largely see these statements as jests In reality, they express considerable satisfaction with Pakistan appreciating its special autonomous status Recent protests in AJK were focused on basic demands not against Pakistan AJK residents enjoy full rights within Pakistan, contrasting with India s history of unrest, particularly in Indian-occupied Kashmir Allegations of human rights abuses and political repression persist in regions like Indian-administered Kashmir exacerbated since Article 370 s revocation

India should address grievances in Kashmir and other parts of the country instead of scapegoating Pakistan It’s crucial for India to address dissent within its own territories, including Indian Punjab Kashmir and Ladakh Recent statements from Indian politicians intellectuals anchors and journalists are condemned by AJK people as unwarranted interference and a disregard for

In his bid for re - elec tion, the Indian PM is ramping up sec tarian rhetoric and weaponising state agencies against his opponents

India’s internal unrest Canada has also experienced the repercussions of Indian involvement in alleged terrorism Recent disputes between Canada and India have drawn international attention, particularly following Canada s announcement of credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia which significantly strained diplomatic relations Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in an emergency statement to the House of Commons, firmly asserted that any foreign government’s involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen constitutes “an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty ” The victim Hardeep Singh Nijjar aged 45 was fatally shot outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver Nijjar was a vocal proponent of an independent Khalistan and was officially labelled a terrorist by India in July 2020 Trudeau stated that Canadian security agencies had actively pursued credible allegations suggesting a potential connection between Indian government agents and Nijjar s death He noted that he had directly raised the issue of the murder with Indian PM Narendra Modi during the G20 summit in New Delhi and urged the Indian government to cooperate with Canada in a thorough investigation In response to these developments Canada also took the unprecedented action of expelling India s top intelligence official in the country It s noteworthy that the Khalsa movement has gained momentum in Canada, with Khalsa Day celebrations fuelling support for the Khalistan movement Trudeau has pledged to protect the rights of Sikhs while actively engaging in Sikh community events The attempted killing of US citizen and Sikh activist Gurpatwantt Singh Pannu was allegedly sanctioned by the then-chief of RAW Sumant Goyal According to reports from American media outlets American intelligence agencies claim that hired assassins were contacted by RAW officer Vikram Yadav The directive for the assassination was allegedly issued by RAW while Narendra Modi was visiting the US on June 23 Goyal, according to American media reports was reportedly under significant pressure to eliminate Sikh separatists operating outside India US agencies assert that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was aware of this plan

Vikram Yadav purportedly designated the assassination as a priority and provided the hired

region So, what is it like to stand as an opposition candidate in today’s India? Let me give you a sense of what we have to contend with The first line of defence is the election commission of India (ECI) which is supposed to ensure free and fair elections but has become a helpless spectator The ECI’s members were always appointed by the government of the day but the institution has never before appeared so partisan This is the r that the supreme court last year that election commissioners sh henceforth be chosen by a pa which the government does no have a majority To this end, it rec ommended a three-member pan comprising the prime minister leader of the opposition and I highest-ranking judge Modi how passed a law that made the third member of the panel merely another government minister, and then pushed two appointments through this flawed panel an action which the supreme court declined to stop

It is no wonder then that th ECI has been largely silent on al legations of egregious violatio the electoral law by Modi and v members of his ruling party th

More important it has refused to intervene in the face of the government s blatant harassment of opposition parties by various official agencies during the campaign season – something previously unseen On the eve of the election, the income tax authorities – controlled by the ministry of finance – froze the accounts of the Congress party India s largest opposition party (The authorities said it was a routine procedure against defaulters ) This denied it access to party funds for the campaign The enforcement directorate, the economic offences wing of the finance ministry has arrested two opposition chief ministers and keeps issuing summons against opposition politicians in what are decried as unsound cases Under the constitution, the ECI has a sweeping mandate to intervene whenever government agencies at the federal or state level engage in actions that can affect electoral outcomes While the election commissioners are keen to act against opposition-run state governments at the slightest provocation, Modi s apparent misuse of federal agencies does not appear to concern them

But nothing illustrates the unlevel playing field that India s opposition is forced to operate in better than the Modi government s electoral bonds scheme – an opaque, anonymous political funding system In March, India’s supreme court finally came down hard on it banning the scheme and ordering the country’s largest government-owned bank the State Bank of India as well as the election commission, to publicly release all details of donors and their funding to specific parties Introduced in 2017 by Modi in the face of strong reservations by India’s central bank and the ECI the scheme effectively

allowed shell companies and anonymous donors to give huge sums of money to political parties

The largest chunk of the money almost 50% of the total, went to Modi s BJP The State Bank of India at first refused to release the compromising data until it was rapped hard on the knuckles by a persistent three-judge bench

The results though astonishing to some seemed to confirm what India s opposition had been saying for years: that the scheme operated in the BJP s interests Indian media has since reported on several companies that bought electoral bonds after being raided by central government agencies – leading to allegations of extortion Opposition politicians have also made quid pro quo allegations about companies that donated to the BJP and received government contracts Apart from outspending the opposition in every election the BJP has suborned large sections of the media and launched a blitzkrieg of propaganda to minimise the importance of every burning national issue, such as joblessness and inflation, the incursions by China into Indian territory, and a civil war-like situation in the eastern state of Manipur that has taken the lives of more than 200 people and which Modi has failed to address In place of critical scrutiny, big media propitiates Modi s personality cult “What is that power that gives you this strong resolve to move forward?” a major TV news channel asked him this week God has probably sent me to do this work Modi replied Unfortunately for Modi, his gamble of a lengthy election during which he hoped to tire out the opposition may well turn out to be his undoing The first four phases showed a marked reduction in voter turnout which doesn t bode well

Rnow, two competing versions of the internet are evolving The US-based version is dominated by companies such as Meta Alphabet and Apple which are leading consumption and commerce The Chinese internet on the other hand is designed as a service and surveillance platform Chines companies such as ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent have almost unrestricted market sovereignty in this internet The Chinese version is being promoted by Beijing as the “Digital Silk Road ” as a digital arm of the wider Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) A recent report from the London-based think Article 19 on China s exporting of digital repression in the Indo-Pacific says China is seeking to influence global norms through technical standards and multilateral forums,” by, for example, organizing the annual “World Internet Conference ” which has been held in China since 2014 “China’s ambition to become a global technological superpower by developing the technology and policy to reshape global norms, the report says The Chinese model emphasizes digital sovereignty, a concept that promotes internet fragmentation “in contrast to the universality of human rights and internet freedom principles ” China’s idea of the internet also rests on state control and focuses on cybersecurity censorship and surveillance the report adds HOW CHINA IS REINING IN ITS TECH TITANS

There are two different worldviews behind these two versions of the internet, which becomes evident when looking at differences in how the internet is regulated in the United States and China In a recent essay “Variants of Digital Capitalism: A comparison of China and the US Stefan Schmalz a sociologist at the University of Erfurt in Germany, wrote that the difference is based on guaranteeing entrepreneurial freedom in the United States, while in China national security, and, therefore, political considerations, play a key role Both versions of the internet are still based on the same basic technology (HTML TCP/IP etc ) However they have diverged in the age of Web 2 0 In Web 2 0 which has existed since the turn of the millennium, easy-to-use applications provided by tech giants such as Instagram, WhatsApp and Amazon dominate the landscape Parallel platforms have been developed in China WhatsApp is WeChat in China For the vast majority of users both versions represent two separate worlds that do not communicate with each other CHINA CUTS ITS OWN DIGITAL PATH China

basit alvi

DESPITE MILITARY DRILLS, TAIWAN’S PRESIDENT SAYS WANTS TO WORK WITH CHINA

Four children among 27 dead in India amusement park fire

INCREASED CROPS’ PRODUCTION REKINDLE

UBL announces winners of 11th UBL Literature & Ar ts Awards

S TA F F R E P O R T

The 11th UBL Literature and Arts Awards were held in Karachi at a five-star hotel attended in large numbers by writers, literary and media personalities, socialites, and celebrities At every event, the celebrated awards recognize and celebrate the best of Pakistani writers and artists honoring a longstanding commitment to arts and literature

The various award categories received hundreds of nominations from all over Pakistan The competition was open to all Pakistani authors who had published their original work in 2021 and 2022 Entries were shortlisted by an esteemed panel of judges The jury members in the Urdu categories were Dr Asghar Nadeem Syed, Dr Arfa Syeda Dr Anwaar Ahmed Ms Kishwar Naheed and

Dr Nasir Abbas Nayyar while jury members for the English categories included Dr Naazir Mahmood, Dr Aroosa Kanwal and Mr Harris Khalique The awards also included a special category to celebrate the wide reaching impact of a celebrated artist

Pak istan set to witness robust economic growth: seminar

enrolled in this program have completed their education in a relatively short time S TA F F R E P O R T LCCI Polls 2024: PIAF continues to enjoy suppor t of more trade bodies

LAHORE: For upcoming elections of Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)

mentioned that Pakistani

development of Gulf

The international conference also hosted various sessions on economic growth entrepreneurship, the role of SMEs in the economy, and climate change President and VC of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Dr

Zubair Shaikh said the business graduates of our country should envision setting up a business to generate jobs instead of searching for a job for themselves In this regard the universities could play an integral role in transforming the mindsets of the stu-

police reached the Rawalpindi prison and recorded Qureshi’s statement in the case ‘L AW L E S S N E S S M A K I N G N E W H I G H S’: Reacting to the implication of Qureshi in more cases, a spokesperson of the PTI said that the court had already granted bail to the former ruling party’s vice-chairman in these cases Law was flouted again to keep Qureshi behind bars by making the court s order ineffective practically The spokesperson said that Qureshi was being punished for firmly sticking with the ideology of the PTI founder Lawlessness was reaching new highs in the country he added The Khanfounded party, the spokesperson said, would take every possible action against the cruel act CYPHER CASE CONVICTION: On Jan 30 a special court established under the Official Secrets Act handed down both former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi 10 years in jail in the Cypher case The Cypher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency s charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran The PTI claimed the document contained a threat from the United

Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan support for the Chinese stance on Taiwan reiterating its commitment to the One China, policy As an iron-brother and a strategic partner of China Pakistan has always extended its principled support to the Chinese position on Taiwan and will continue to do so, the prime minister wrote on his official X timeline He said the so-called elections or transition of the self-proclaimed government in Taiwan did not change the objective facts on the Taiwan issue Pakistan adheres to ‘One China’ policy regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of the People s Republic of China

Talat

a veteran film TV and radio artist In a message the prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty to elevate the ranks of the departed soul in paradise and grant courage to the bereaved family members to bear this loss with equanimity He said Talat Hussain was a legendary actor whose

Army officer, solider embraced mar tyrdom in Peshawar IBO: ISPR

(ISPR) the operation resulted in the elimination of five terrorists and injuries to three others The statement noted that during the intense exchange of fire Captain Hussain Jahangir aged 25 and a resident of Rahim Yar Khan District made the ultimate sacrifice while leading his troops from the front Havildar Shafiq Ullah aged 36 and a resident of Karak district was also martyred while fighting gallantly Captain Jahangir, who served in the Pakistan Army for four years, leaves behind grieving parents and siblings Havildar Shafiq Ullah who dedicated 18 years to defending the nation leaves behind his wife, one son, and two daughters A sanitization operation is underway to ensure the complete elimination of any remaining terrorist presence in the area The security forces of Pakistan remain determined to eradicate the menace of terrorism added the ISPR Earlier on May 14 an army officer sacrificed his life leading a successful IBO in Balochistan s Zhob district to eliminate three terrorists

Meanwhile, on April 18, unidentified gunmen ambushed a team of Customs Intelligence officials in the Dera Ismail Khan district martyring five officials and two civilians including a five-year-old girl, before escaping from the scene, police confirmed ISPR also released a statement on April 13 confirming that two soldiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred during an IBO conducted in the Buner district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP)