Govt decides to ban Pti, tRy ex-PM alonG with ex-PResident foR tReason:
PTI strongly reacts to govt decision
E S
R
p o R t President Asif Ali Zardari received diplomatic credentials from the envoys of
from the
of Zimbabwe Mr Titus Mehliswa Jonathan Abu-Basutu; Ambassador-designate of Tajikistan Mr Sharifzoda Yusuf Toir; High Commissioner-designate of Rwanda, Ms Harerimana Fatou; Ambassador-designate of Argentina, Mr Sebastian Sayus; Ambassador-designate of Myanmar Mr Wunna Han; Ambassador-designate of Cambodia Mr Sok Chea; and Ambassador-designate of Botswana to Pakistan Dr Batlang Comma Serema Following the ceremony, President Zardari held individual meetings with each envoy In discussions with the new diplomats President Zardari highlighted Pakistan s abundant investment opportunities and urged foreign countries to capitalize on its investmentfriendly environment He encouraged
istration, and other relevant agencies to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain order He emphasized that the security plan encompasses the three major districts of the Hazara region: Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra The deployment includes district police elite commandos traffic staff Frontier Constabulary (FC) Frontier Reserve Police (FRP) Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) lady police, canine units, bomb disposal units, and ministerial staff To bolster security, CCTV cameras
have been installed along all procession routes with live monitoring from a central control room The police are also conducting search
ISLAMABAD
KP GOVT TO ROLL OUT FREE MEALS IN SCHOOLS TO BOOST ENROLLMENT
Tfans and inverters He also noted that while the province generates electricity at Rs 6 to Rs 7 per unit, it is sold at Rs 27 per unit by WAPDA, underscoring the economic efficiency of the local power generation
Cement dealers launch nationwide strike over increased taxes
Ex-KP CM to challenge scrapping Swat projec ts in cour t
Former Chief
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarian (PTIP) Mahmood Khan has announced plans to legally challenge the provincial government’s decision to terminate over 18 billion rupees worth of development projects approved during his tenure in Swat district
Speaking from his residence in Matta, Mahmood Khan expressed disappointment over the local assembly members’ inaction as critical development projects are being scrapped He warned that if Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur does not reinstate the halted projects and release necessary funds for
Swat and the broader Malakand Divi-
sion he would initiate legal action Mahmood Khan detailed that all relevant project information has been compiled, legal counsel has been engaged, and a court application is being prepared He emphasized the breadth of the projects during his administration
Sania Zehra murder case: Parents demand justice after forensic repor t suggests suicide was cause of death
NEWS DESK
in the new fiscal year
PML-N files review plea against full cour t bench verdict on reser ved seats ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court (SC), against the full court bench verdict, terming the PTI eligible for reserved seats The PML-N in the petition filed through Advocate Haris Azmat contends that PTI was not a party to the original case calling into question the basis for awarding seats to the party It highlights
Parents of Sania Zehra a mother of two who was allegedly torture and murdered by her husband and in-laws in Multan, have rejected the forensic report that suggests the cause of death was suicide
The report also state that the victim was not pregnant at time of death
On Saturday police exhumed the body of Zehra who was allegedly murdered by her husband in Multan after a court had ordered the exhumation and collection of post-mortem samples for a forensic report to investigate the al-
leged murder of religious leader Asad Shah s daughter
Syed Asad Abbas Shah, Sania’s father claimed that her sudden death was not a suicide but an alleged murder He stated that his daughter s in-laws were disguising the alleged murder as a suicide, contrary to the crime scene
Multan City Police Officer Sadiq Ali Dogar stated that the preliminary postmortem report suggests that the woman’s death was due to suicide by hanging The investigation also revealed that the woman had married at the age of 14 and had a history of sui-
which spanned education, health, communication, water supply, tourism, and more, noting that these initiatives had received funding but are now discontinued by the current government He also highlighted the cancellation of the Khyber Medical University Swat Campus project, which had progressed to the construction phase before being inexplicably stopped Khan criticized the current Chief Minister for halting progress on projects that were not only crucial to his own hometown but vital for the development of the entire Malakand division Concluding his remarks he reiterated his commitment to reversing these cancellations through the courts if the government fails to act, underscoring that these projects were meant for the public benefit not personal gain
vestigate the matter
PTI strongly reac ts to govt decision to ban par ty
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
He asserted that the government has no option to impose a ban, as it would violate Article 17 Even for banning a terrorist party the government must go to the Supreme Court He questioned under which constitution and law Article 6 is being invoked expressing regret over the situation Barrister Ali Zafar emphasized that all members joined PTI based on ideology, and no ban can be imposed unless the Supreme Court approves The Election Commission must comply with the Supreme Court s decision and there is no justification for invoking Article 6 against the Chief Election Commissioner and members He called for the Chief Election Commissioner and members to resign following the Supreme Court s decision warning that if they do not a reference will be filed in the Supreme Judicial Council PTI leader Salman Akram Raja also
responded, stating that they would confront the government at every level both publicly and legally He accused the government of fraud saying they knew their deceit was about to be exposed and they would not support hiding the fraud Raja further dismissed the notion that PTI is acting against national integrity asserting that the government’s intent is to silence public voice and democracy He expressed surprise at the government s foolishness
He mentioned that PTI has not backed down from negotiations, is present in parliament, and is engaged in discussions at every level He refrained from commenting on backdoor talks emphasizing that the government was openly acting against them PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the government had used every tactic against PTI and now appeared desperate He noted that the Supreme Court’s decision had shaken the government He vowed to continue their struggle and challenge the govern-
ment at every forum Senator Shibli Faraz also reacted calling the government press conference ridiculous He said there was nothing worth watching in the press conference only listening He criticized the government for failing to find any other way to stop PTI, and now attempting to ban the party He labeled the government as negative-minded yet calling themselves democratic parties Faraz urged the PPP to prove itself as Bhutto s party, accusing the government of driving the country towards more chaos, warning that such a decision would create immediate political instability He criticized the government’s lack of awareness about the consequences of their actions stating that after consulting the core committee they would formally respond to the government He lamented that no one seemed to care about the country It is noteworthy that the government has decided to proceed with actions to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
against Imran Khan, the minister said the ruling alliance had also decided to move a reference against the then-prime minister then-president Arif Alvi and then former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri He said that this reference under Article 6 of the
archy, he said, adding the video and audio evidences were available with the government “We have irrefutable evidence and strong grounds to ban the party,” he noted Speaking about the time when the thengovernment decided to dissolve the assemblies during the no-confidence motion
massive remittances A resolution would be passed in the House to take action against such elements, he added For the last some days, he said an orchestrated campaign was underway to create a volatile situation in the country The whole nation witnessed how an impression was being created that whatever worst one does, it could be forgone, he said referring to the relief given to what he described as “perpetrators of the May 9, orchestrators of cipher conspiracy against country and patrons of those who
R I M E M I N I S T E R Shehbaz Sharif made his intentions clear last week with regards to cutting down the size of the federal government In a letter to five different ministries including health and IT the prime minister asked each to justify their existence by preparing a detailed summary of their duties and budgets
It is an interesting move from a prime minister who had a cabinet of over 80 members in his last tenure as PM Back then he claimed it was a necessary evil of a coalition government But this time around his coalition is even weaker and he has trimmer his cabinet down to a lean 20 members in total Some of this may have to do with the IMF which wants Pakistan to reduce the size of its government
The American influence in the IMF is clear Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States famously said that government was not the solution, it was the problem In Regan s mind, the American government was too big, it spent too much money, and was far too involved in the lives of its citizens In Pakistan s context a big problem is that despite the 18th amendment devolution of powers has not taken place in letter or in spirit Provincial governments are empowered with matters such as health, education, and agriculture but the federation holds ministries for all three as well as the fact that no local governments exist
Just look at the issue of taxation The government’s revenue division collects tax through the FBR and it is even divided through the NFC awards Constitutionally taxation needs to be devolved not to the provinces but also local governments In fact, property tax, agricultural tax and many others are supposed to be collected and spent by local governments
While shedding the weight of the federal government is a good step, it is only one step True balance can only be reached through devolution
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Insaf alI Bangwar
o m p e t i t i o n f o r i n f l u e n c e i n t h e R e d S e a
Meanwhile, China’s presence near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait a critical maritime route linking the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea is expanding With a military base in Djibouti China has expanded its naval operations exemplified by the presence of an Iranian spy ship nearby signaling deepening military engagement in the region
Dr MuhaMMaD akraM Zaheer
E C E N T reports indicate that the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Russian government are on the verge of finalizing a significant military and economic agreement This potential deal underscores Russia s strategic interest in gaining access to ports along the Red Sea, a move aimed at bolstering its naval capabilities and expanding its geopolitical influence in the region Moreover, Russia seeks to forge stronger political and military alliances across Africa using partnerships with countries like Sudan to enhance its global stature counter Western influence and explore new economic opportunities Lieutenant General Yasir alAtta confirmed in late May the nearing conclusion of negotiations between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Russia The proposed agreement would allow Russia to establish a naval support facility on the Red Sea marking a pivotal step in their bilateral relations In exchange Sudan would receive weapons and ammunition reflecting Sudan s strategic maneuvering amid dissatisfaction with Western Nations for their perceived inaction against external support to their adversaries particularly the Rapid Support Forces involved in Sudan’s civil conflict Initially slated for completion since February 2023 progress on the agreement was hindered by Sudan s internal strife Russia s motivation also lies in strengthening ties with African nations facing sanctions from Western powers However, regional tensions, notably involving the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar concerning Sudan’s conflict, as well as ongoing issues in the Red Sea have complicated matters These complexities have impeded effective responses to challenges like the Houthis attacks highlighting the geopolitical intricacies influencing both the agreement and regional stability
Simultaneously, Russia and China are intensifying efforts to consolidate their positions in the Red Sea area Russia, in collaboration with Eritrea, is advancing plans to establish a naval facility at Massawa port a development affirmed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during his visit to Eritrea in January 2023 This move underscores Russia s ambition to secure additional strategic ports in the Red Sea beyond Sudan
Pedagogically paralyzed teachers, corrupt and heist-supporting recruitment mechanism, undue advantage to influential in recruitment process merit negation and bid promotion are some of the centrifugal forces pushing literacy privilege away from the underprivileged destituted population and that is perhaps the only weapon the penurious populace can battle with against abject poverty and backbreaking inflation
franchisement
These concerted efforts by Russia and China to enhance their influence in the Red Sea area are viewed as challenges to the policy objectives of the Biden administration in Africa As both powers assert their presence through strategic partnerships and military expansions they are reshaping the geopolitical landscape, potentially altering traditional spheres of influence and global power dynamics in Africa Critics, such as Senator James Risch, argue that the current U S approach is ineffective Risch proposes strengthening ties with Somaliland as a countermeasure against China and Iran s growing influence
The recent maneuvers by Russia and China underscore the strategic significance of the Red Sea in terms of both military dominance and economic control Russia, leveraging attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial vessels, seeks to bolster its influence by offering safe passage to ships under the Russian flag Furthermore there are concerns that Russia may collaborate with the Houthis to deploy sea mines disrupting maritime traffic and potentially coercing ships to seek safety under Russian jurisdiction Additionally, Russia might forge alliances with various factions in the Horn of Africa to evade international sanctions, facilitating illicit trade in oil and grain, which could alleviate energy and food shortages exacerbated by U S sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine Russia has also employed grain diplomacy supplying significant amounts of grain to several African nations, including Somalia, and forgiving substantial debts, such as $684 million owed by Somalia This assistance is particularly appealing to Somalia, grappling with financial constraints
To mitigate these risks, the Biden administration must adopt a robust response , revisiting initiatives like the Somaliland Par tnership Act. This proposed legislation advocates for the formal recognition and suppor t of Somaliland, praised for its stable governance and strategic positioning.
The writer is a freelancer He can be reached @insafalibangwar98@gmail com A n u n s o l v a b l e p u z z l e ?
to manipulation and a means of extra leverage Since the actions aforementioned have consequences, the final degree achieved by the student is eligible to be dumped in since the minimal requirements is what usually falls short to be hired despite years of investment of time and resources The very intent to eliminate the educational malaise has been missing,
The very means of negating schism education between the privileged and underprivileged has been in play to bring greater schism between the two The very apparatus to transcend the traditional bulwarks of division has brought nought except turning into a centripetal force to bring back the square one Education has traditionally been a medium of modernization an apparatus of leading far in terms of socio-economic and political affairs and a mediator in bringing peace between the archaically separated, now arch rivals marginalised and empowered Conversely, in the land of the pure, that very medium has been in reverse mode Though the system is systematically deprived of potentializing the untapped capabilities on a larger scale narrowed down rural area s moguls add another veneer of restrictions for their reign longevity, and personal privilege Pakistan’s mechanism of educating the population has always been a source of personal gain in a hierarchical order and that in response fuels social stratification inequality and disen-
Ineffective curriculum, copy culture, absence of egalitarian treatment of all trainees cognitive bias in classes contemporary skills deprived tutors tutelage results in unskilled educationally handicapped unbearable debris for the government, and society Education, in its true sense, is a means of training the previously equaled Kingdom Animalia individual to get fitted in a civilised human society However the difference is nought after and before finishing higher education Racking one s brain implies it is sure as shooting the education system won t be right as rain unless the competent and skilled are not given the education portfolio previously handed to incompetent, unskilled influentials The complex, expanded education departments serves as the wherewithal of depriving the already deprived and fuels an ambiance of looting public funds transferred for the public good Seven and a half decades and counting educating the public, an otherwise easily solvable, remains an unsolvable puzzle for successive incumbents since the intention to educate is missing right from the start The repercussions of leaving the public in illiteracy lurch are horrifyingly frightening particularly in rural regions since all feudals are shaping an environment and setting a stage for reigning supreme in the exact same way mediaeval European monarchs did: divide right to rule
Racking oneÊs brain implies it is sure as shooting the education system wonÊt be right as rain unless the competent and skilled are not given the education por tfolio previously handed to incompetent, unskilled influentials The complex, expanded education depar tments ser ves as the wherewithal of depriving the already deprived and fuels an ambiance of looting public funds transferred for the public good
Telecom investment
holistic process of personality development A skill development process or program encompasses the domains of abilities competencies techniques and coping strategies required for effective performance in a certain occupation Along with specific technical skills for a specific area it also includes soft skills such as time management, communication, problem solving, stress management, innovation etc I believe that with appropriate skill training we can equip youth with required competencies and out look to participate in society as a productive and positive member The same is true for youth with disabilities I have had the privilege of working with youth having special needs I have witnessed that young boys and girls with neurodiversity including intellectual disability autism and cerebral palsy show marvelous results in skill training No doubt it requires longer period of time, lots of patience and they might not succeed in becoming fully skilled Yet with all these impediments this effort is worth it because it changes their entire outlook towards life Creates a positive selfimage and transforms them from a dependent persons with challenges to a con-
tributing and valuable individual On youth skill day I want to shed light on challenges associated with vocational skill training of youth with special needs Since they represent 15 percent of a population,
Is Iran about to open up to the West?
Pezeshkian’s ascent ver y much suggests a different approach to the West: an attempt to de - esc alate and to reach a deal to alleviate the sanc tions on the Iranian economy
Pezeshkian could not have campaigned on a more different agenda Even Iran s economic ties with countries such as China hinged on sanctions being lifted he asserted He complained about the fact that Iran has been forced to give huge discounts on exports to Beijing and other third countries in order to circumvent Western sanctions He advocated a return to diplomatic engagement with the West a path previously tested by the centrist Hassan Rouhani, who was president from 2013 until 2021 and is still loudly hated by hardliners Personnel speaks louder than words and Pezeshkian’s front team shows his different approach Acting effectively as Pezeshkian s running mate was Javad Zarif the foreign minister under Rouhani No other Iranian statesman symbolises a desire to negotiate with the West, and particularly the US, more than the American-educated Zarif who has the rare distinction of being both a confidante of Khamenei and a favourite of the regime s reformists Zarif has already been appointed chair of president-elect Pezeshkian s foreign policy working group His old comrade-inarms and deputy Abbas Araghchi is likely to be appointed foreign minister in the new cabinet Khamenei s own world-view is much closer to Jalili than Pezeshkian
But one reason he might have secretly rooted for the latter ’s victory is his strategic sense that Iran is becoming too dangerously pressed by the West and its sanctions The possible return of Donald Trump to the White House was repeatedly mentioned on the Iranian campaign trail One hardliner candidate even accused his opponents of fanning “Trump-phobia” to justify their own return to power
But Iranians also closely watched the UK elections where Keir Starmer s sweeping victory has been expected for months A nation s move from the centre right to centre left usually augurs well when it comes to diplomatic engagement with Tehran, but this might not be quite the case this time
In the final run-off round of voting the two remaining candidates presented sharply different directions for the country For Pezeshkian s rival, the fundamentalist Saeed Jalili, Iran s isolation from the West and the crushing sanctions imposed on the Iranian economy weren’t a concern He believes Iran should sharply turn to an anti-Western alliance and cement its relationship with countries such as Russia One idea he repeatedly touted in televised presidential debates was Iran exporting vegetables to Russia to make up for the latter ’s disruption of trade with the European Union He alleged this business idea would be worth $11bn although fact-checkers disagreed
Many opponents of the Iranian regime have welcomed Starmer s victory since he has pledged to put the militia Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on the UK s list of terrorist organisations, something the Tories never did To herald Starmer ’s victory right-leaning Persian-language outlet Kayhan London ran the headline
Opponents of IRGC s terrorist designation fall from power , while leftleaning Amsterdam-based Zamaneh wondered if Starmer ’s rise to power would bring about “a harsher foreign policy against Iran” Meanwhile Iran’s state media has spent years attacking Starmer while praising his predecessor as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who once regularly appeared on Tehran s English-language mouthpiece Press TV
Those advocating for an even more hawkish policy on Iran thus hope to have an ally in Starmer “The Labour
Party has pledged to proscribe Iran’s IRGC ” the DC-based outfit United Against Nuclear Iran recently declared adding and this will be Sir Keir Starmer s first real policy test on antiSemitism The hawks might even dream of a possible Trump-Starmer partnership, united against Tehran This would be wishful thinking What’s lost on many hawkish fans of Trump is the former president s aversion to the neoconservative past of his party While in office, he adopted a policy of maximum pressure against Iran, but he repeatedly said he had no desire for regime change and wanted to make a deal with the Islamic Republic under the same leaders In short even if the Starmer-Trump duo does become the Atlanticist team countering Iran they ll likely engage in the negotiations advocated by Pezeshkian and Tehran s new diplomatic helm Not that such talks will be easy Roadblocks will include not just Iran s rapidly advancing nuclear programme but its support for anti-Israel militias such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis Such support is fundamental to the regime’s foundations and Khamenei’s outlook, and in this area the new reformist president-elect doesn t appear ready for change Pezeshkian has already written to Hezbollah s secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah pledging continued support He also spoke on the phone with Vladimir Putin and, according to Kremlin, declared a readiness to “expand mutual collaboration Putin might not be happy with the return of Zarif whose dislike for a cosy Tehran-Moscow relationship is not a secret (Others in Rouhani s orbit, including a former chair of Iranian parliament’s national security committee, have gone much further harshly criticising Iran’s support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine and even its support for the anti-Israel militias ) But the president-elect s team of advisers also includes Mehdi Sanayi, a former ambassador to Moscow who speaks Russian and is well-liked in Russian diplomatic and security circles He is likely to receive a position in the new government For now the Islamic Republic s deep-seated anti-West and anti-Israel positions – as well as its support for militias across the region – are not likely going anywhere But Pezeshkian’s ascent very much suggests a different approach to the West: an attempt to de-escalate and to reach a deal to alleviate the sanctions on the Iranian economy Like much else in the country, the shape and tenor of this new approach will be influenced by constant battles inside the establishment Arash Azizi is a historian
As Charles de Gaulle put it, an effec tive ruler ‘does not arrest Voltaire ’ While Roy sits in a prison cell, Modi will be thrown in the global doghouse. It is not too late to wise up and call off the prosecution Roy ’s case risks showcasing all the most unattrac tive features of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s government The BJP wants to send a tough message to dissenters within India: conform or else
Llieutenant governor of Delhi granted the police permission to prosecute Indian activist and prize-winning author Arundhati Roy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) Back in 2010, Roy said that Kashmir which was experiencing unrest at the time is not “an integral part of India ” Accusations of sedition quickly followed but it is only now that she will face prosecution Advocating secession is illegal in most countries, and India is no exception In fact, secession is a particularly fraught topic in India, because the wounds from its previous partition, carried out by the departing British in 1947, still have not healed Against this backdrop Roy’s statement was both provocative and unwise It was also wrong: there is overwhelming historical evidence showing that Kashmir has long been an integral part of India To claim otherwise suggests either ignorance or innocence, neither of which is desirable when making controversial pronouncements on sensitive topics As much as I admire Roy as a person and a writer I do not always rate her political views and judgements highly and this was a case in point Roy defended herself against accusations of disloyalty to her country What I say comes from love and pride, she wrote at the time Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds ” Whether or not one finds her motivations convincing prosecuting her for comments 14 years after she made them smacks of overkill
Even in 2010 prosecution seemed excessive at least to the Indian National Congress which was then the government party While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), then in opposition, demanded that Roy be prosecuted, the central government (of which I was a minister) was engaged in a peaceand-reconciliation dialogue aimed at restoring normalcy in Indian Occupied Kashmir; putting Roy on trial would be a needless distraction The uproar over Roy s remarks died down soon enough And while
Nabila Chaudhry
AFTER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, TRUMP AND BIDEN SEEK CALM, UNIT Y
a halting June 27 debate performance The FBI said there were no known threats to the Republican convention –which kicks off on Monday – or anyone attending while the Secret Service said they do not anticipate any changes to the security plan
MOGHADISHU
A G E N C I E S
A total of 16,231 new cases of cholera and 134 related deaths have been reported in Somalia since January this year with cases spreading due to recent prolonged rainfalls and flash floods the government said Monday
The Ministry of Health and Human Services said 10,273 cases, or 63 percent of the total, were classified as severe “Regrettably 134 deaths were recorded during this reporting period emphasizing the severity of the outbreak the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia
The ministry also attributed the rising cholera cases in Somalia to a growing number of people who lack access to safe water and proper sanitation
Several districts in Somalia have been severely affected by the cholera outbreak, with the district of Kismayo registering the highest number of cases accounting for 2 567 cases or 16 percent of the
MOGADISHU A G E N
The convention will feature televised speeches by rising Republican stars and Trump s choice for a yet-to-be-announced vice presidential running mate while highlighting the party s stance on such topics as abortion, immigration and the economy
The FBI identified Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park Pennsylvania as the suspect and said the shooting was being investigated as an attempted assassination
total cases, said the ministry, noting that these statistics underscore the geographical distribution of the outbreak and the urgent need for targeted interventions in these high-risk areas
In response to a cholera outbreak, a comprehensive oral cholera vaccination campaign was implemented targeting a total of 920 913 individuals across several hot-affected districts the ministry said The campaign, targeting three age groups children aged 14 years those aged 5-15 years and individuals over 15 years successfully vaccinated 895 680 people achieving an overall coverage rate of 97 percent, according to the ministry Somalia has had uninterrupted AWD (acute watery diarrhea)/cholera transmission since 2022 and in the Banadir region since the drought of 2017 according to the World Health Organization (WHO)
CORPORATE CORNER
Ibrahim Murad emphasizes crucial role of skilled youth in peace-building
LAHORE: In recognition of World Youth Skills Day the President University of Management and Technology (UMT) Ibrahim Hasan Murad highlighted the significance of empowering the young generation with the skills necessary for employment and entrepreneurship This year's theme
Sky-high priceS and record financing rateS dampen f y24 auto SaleS:
NEA, PEG form alliance for upcoming PEC elections 2024
KARACHI:
President International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Dr Hathal Hamoud Alotaibi on Monday inaugurated the newly established software engineering, computer labs established with cooperation of Saudi Arabia
OGR A takes ac tion against mixing of CO2 with LPG
pacts CO2 has higher pressure than LPG which can cause serious safety concerns as equipment calibrated for LPG may not function
activities, sealed all the sites immediately, and lodged FIRs against the concerned individuals LPG is highly flammable and the mixing of CO2 poses fatal risks including adverse environmental im-
Faizan Soharwardy attending Majalis-e-Aza, a
moment with Allam Shahinsha
FINANCE MINISTRY TIGHTENS DISBURSEMENT SCHEDULE TO MEET IMF FISCAL TARGETS
S TA F F R E P O R T
TH E Ministry of Finance has adjusted its funding strategy, opting for staggered releases of federal funds for development and recurrent expenditures to ensure compliance with the IMF s fiscal surplus targets
According to a news report under the new policy, the distribution of funds for approved development projects through the Ministry of Planning, De-
velopment and Special Initiatives will see significant changes this fiscal year For the current fiscal year only 15% of the funds for development projects will be released in the first quarter (JulySeptember), with subsequent increases to 20% in the second quarter (OctoberDecember) 25% in the third quarter (January-March) and 40% in the final quarter (April-June) This approach is part of a broader $7 billion bailout agreement
Cour t issues non bailable arrest warrant for Sher Afzal Mar wat in construction violation case
A non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued for former PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat by
to a notification by PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Marwat s continued infractions of party discipline and his damaging statements against party leadership led to his suspension The notification highlighted that his actions have adversely affected the party and its leaders and he has not provided satisfactory justifications for his conduct Previously a show-cause notice was issued to Marwat by PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan for making irresponsible statements deemed harmful to the party s image The notice demanded explanations for these statements, which contravened the party s discipline, within three days Failure to respond adequately could result in further disciplinary actions Sanam Javed granted bail by
IHC; police barred from arresting her in any case
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed, preventing the Islamabad Police from arresting her in any case until Thursday In a brief judgment, IHC judge Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb barred Sanam from leaving Islamabad until Thursday and instructed her to remain silent This development comes a day after the Islamabad Police rearrested the PTI activist shortly after her release by an Islamabad
Sanam in a case related to the May 9 riots registered against her in Gujranwala Sanam challenged her physical remand in a new case from Gujranwala after bail was granted to her in all cases registered against her in Lahore However she was rearrested by Islamabad Police as soon as she stepped out of the Central Jail of Gujranwala on Saturday
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has or-
dered the formation of a committee to reactivate the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project and demanded the immediate completion of the investigation report regarding the closure of the hydel power project During a review meeting on the progress of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project here at the PM House, the prime minister was briefed in detail that a pressure drop in the right and left head race tunnels on April 29 2024 reduced the power generation from the project The place where the fault occurred was the rock burst zone The prime minister was apprised that a preliminary investigation report was presented in the meeting by former Federal Interior Secretary Shahid Khan, the head of the investigation committee investigating the recent faults in the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project
The meeting was informed that the closure of the project is causing a loss of billions of rupees to the national exchequer During the PTI regime in 2021 due to an abnormal drop in pressure in the headrace tunnel, a significant decrease in power generation was seen from the hydel project but that change in pressure was ignored and not reported “The matter was suppressed deliberately ”
The meeting was informed that power generation was fully suspended in 2022 due to a fault in the tailrace tunnel of the project Geophysical and seismic factors were also Ignored in the construction of the NeelumJhelum Hydropower Project and adequate concrete lining of the head race tunnel was also not done Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued the directives to immediately complete the investigation report regarding the recent closure of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project and identify those responsible for the defects in the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project and take strict action against them
He added that experts pointed out that there were defects in the design and the concrete lining was not done how unfortunate that such a big and important project was neglected He questioned why a detailed geological survey had not been conducted Criminal negligence was committed by not doing third-party validation of the project, the prime minister added
The meeting was attended by Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema Information Minister Ata Ullah Tararr Power Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan, Coordinator to PM Rana Ehsaan Afzal, Chairman WAPDA Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani, former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan and other high officials
PSX bouys up by IMF deal as KSE-100 Index crosses 81,000 mark for first time
P R O F I T: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a vibrant start to Monday’s trading as its benchmark Index closed above the 81 000 mark for the first time in its history This rise was influenced by investor optimism following the recent staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The benchmark index touched the day s highest level of 81 428 43 points up by 1484 34 points as the market saw broad-based buying across various sectors and most stocks traded in the green zone At the day’s close the KSE100 settled at 81 155 60 points with an increase of 1211 51 points or 1 52% compared to the previous close of 79,944 09 points Market sentiment has been buoyant since the recent budget announcement, which did not intro-
duce new taxes on capital markets This sentiment was further enhanced over the weekend when the IMF confirmed a new 37-month $7-billion bailout package for Pakistan on Friday night This loan agreement is anticipated to boost Pakistan s struggling economy, which secured a $3billion loan under the Stand-By Arrangement last year Last week the market remained volatile due to uncertainty surrounding the Supreme Court s verdict on reserved seats Consequently, the benchmark KSE-100 Index closed with a loss of 269 points or 0 33% WoW closing at 79 944 points on Friday However despite the verdict announced on Friday being in the favor of the opposition party, the market managed to hold its ground In negotiations with the IMF, the lender demanded the abolition
Meanwhile HRCP termed the government s decision to ban the PTI shocking, calling
a flagrant violation of party members right to association under Article 17 of the Constitution and a blow to democratic norms, especially when the Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the PTI is a political party Govt could not ban a political party Reacting to the govt s decision to ban PTI former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the government had no mandate to impose ban on a political party
of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (PSWF) along with the implementation of a 45% tax on agricultural income Additionally the Prime Minister s announcement of a PkR 50 billion subsidy for residential power consumers (up to 200 units category) has
elicit
AKD Research said in
note on Friday that the
is expected to
a
outlook despite the potential for a short-term lackluster impact from recent political developments The rally overall is anticipated to persist due to the market’s attractive valuations with the forward P/E continuing to remain below 4 0x Meanwhile, market participants focus would remain on upcoming inflation figures and the next MPC meeting N E W S D E S K
Convener Awam Pakistan Party (APP) talking to media said that if the Article six invoked against anyone than those in government today could also face it He was commenting on the government’s decision to ban the opposition’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) “This is the time to unify the country are you want more grouping and chaos he questioned An year and two months have passed to the May 9 incidents, the government didn t prosecute, he said Three days after
