g PM SHEHBAZ CALLS HANIYEH ’S MARTYRDOM IN TEHRAN A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF INT ’L LAWS
g MEETING OF ALLIED PARTIES IN GOVT ALSO ANNOUNCES TO OFFER FUNERAL IN ABSENTIA FOR ISMAIL HANIYEH
g HUDDLE DECIDES ON TABLING A RESOLUTION IN PARLIAMENT TO EXPRESS FULL SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE OF PALESTINE
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
PR I M E Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday strongly denounced the attack that led to martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh, chief of Hamas Political Bureau in Tehran terming it a barbaric act that was a flagrant violation of international laws and rules
The extraterritorial assassination he said, had sparked widespread condemnation across the world including Pakistan, Turkiye, Russia, Iran, China and Malaysia which had denounced the attack in the strongest words Ismail Haniyeh s children and grandchildren had also been ruthlessly martyred, he added
The prime minister was chairing a meeting on the situation of Palestine which was attended by the parliamentarians representing the government’s allied political parties
Shehbaz Sharif said that the bloodshed in Palestine continued for last nine months claiming lives of many innocent Palestinians everyday Over 40,000 Palestinians including thousands of children had been martyred till date
The world is silent over this barbarism he said Such terrorism and extremism is highly condemnable
The prime minister said Netanyahu was out to destroy Palestine Despite clear verdicts of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and resolutions of the United Nations Israel could not be stopped from its barbaric acts
He expressed gratitude to the countries from the West such as Ireland and Spain who had openly supported the Palestinian cause and its two-state resolution Earlier, the allied parties in government decided that the nation would observe a day of mourning across the country on Friday (tomorrow) to express solidarity with the Palestinian brothers and sisters and to condemn the Israeli state-sponsored terrorism in Palestine
A consultative meeting of the allied parties on the deteriorating situation in Palestine in a joint declaration also announced that the funeral prayer in absentia for Ismail Haniyeh chief of Hamas Political Bureau, who was assassinated in Tehran on Wednesday, would be offered by the nation after Friday prayers The meeting which was presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also decided to present a resolution in the
Parliament to express full solidarity with the people of Palestine
The participants of the meeting strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli brutalities in Palestine for last nine months and expressed full solidarity with the Palestinian brothers and sisters
They also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh
They were of the view that the Hamas leader ’s assassination incident was a conspiracy to sabotage the efforts to get stopped the ongoing Israeli atrocities on the Palestinians and establish peace in the region Such incidents destroyed the world peace
The prime minister termed the ongoing Israeli state-sponsored terrorism in Palestine a tragedy for the Muslim Ummah
The meeting demanded to ensure immediate provision of humanitarian aid to
the unarmed Palestinians
It was decided that Pakistan would continue to provide relief goods besides taking effective measures for the medical assistance of the oppressed Palestinian brothers and sisters It was further decided that the injured Palestinians would be brought to Pakistan for treatment
The meeting also decided that Palestinian medical students would be admitted to medical colleges in Pakistan with financial support to continue their education
The participants were of the view that with the ongoing genocide and statesponsored terrorism in Palestine, Israel was violating the resolutions of the United Nations the decisions of the International Court of Justice and international laws, while the world community remained a silent spectator
They asked the international community to adopt a clear stand against the Israeli brutalities as otherwise it would be a question mark against viability of international laws and institutions for future generations The meeting also urged the international community, including the United Nations to break their silence and immediately get stopped the ongoing genocide of the oppressed Palestinians by the Zionist forces and bring Israel to justice for war crimes Leaders and senior representatives of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan Muslim League-Q Pakistan Muslim League Zia and National Party attended the meeting
Nepra war ns against revisiting power sector contracts, urges adoption of new technologies
on the occasion, Omar Ayub urged the public to attend the Swabi gathering on August 5 in large numbers to show solidarity with the former prime minister and PTI Ayub stated that during their meeting Imran Khan strongly condemned the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and criticised the West for failing to stop Israel s atrocities against Palestinians He called for the international community to take effective steps to ensure peace in Palestine and end Israeli brutality in Gaza Addressing criticism over PTI’s demand for negotiations Ayub clarified that no discussion took place regarding dialogue
rates specified in the appended schedule it notes According to the Minimum Wages Act 2015, the minimum
disclosed alarming issues within the council He revealed that a mafia has taken control of PEC focusing on personal gains and business interests leading to serious irregularities and unethical practices Sarwar explained that PEC s policies have enabled a thriving trade in engineers’ licenses “No contractor, consultant or company can participate in
practice where many companies instead of providing actual employment purchase engineers licenses for a year For civil engineers the annual rate is 100 000 PKR and for mechanical and electrical engineers it s 25 000 PKR, he said This reduces an engineer s monthly value to just 2,000 PKR Parents invest heavily in their children’s engineering education but these qualifications are being
Sarwar
IHC SEEKS PL AN TO BAN PROTESTS IN D-CHOWK AND RED ZONE
within hours of the rain halting The rain spell has been ongoing since the morning and Wasa s drainage operation is continuing without interruption ” The Punjab chief secretary also visited Lahore’s Services Hospital where he assessed the drainage operations a statement issued by the Lahore Civil Secretariat said He visited various wards of the hospital including the Emergency Ward, and ordered Wasa to install more pumps to drain the rainwater as soon as possible Meanwhile, the PDMA advised citizens to take precautionary measures, such as avoiding unnecessary travel carrying a raincoat and an umbrella and driving slowly while avoiding making sudden brakes and turns It further suggested that people avoid electricity wires and poles unplug electrical appliances not live in dilapidated buildings, and not allow children to take baths in accumulated rainwater in low-lying areas
The authority also urged private and government offices to prioritise work-from-home arrangements In a statement issued by Punjab Rescue Emergency Services Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer reiterated the
above advice He asserted that rescuers across the province were actively working to help those in need Statistics measured have shown a staggering 362 mm rainfall at the airport while other areas of the metropolis including Nishtar Town 227mm Gulshane-Ravi 210mm Lakhsmi Chowk 191mm Upper Mall 182mm, Tajpura 180mm, and Mughalpura 173mm rainfall A heavy downpour in several areas of the inundated roads and streets in the provincial capital and motorists faced immense difficulties while trying to carry out their routine HEAVY RAIN DISRUPTS FLIGHT OPERATIONS AT LAHORE AIRPORT
The heaviest rain in Punjab s capital also disrupted flight operations partially at Lahore airport
The planes at the Lahore airport are currently parked in the accumulated rainwater at the airport However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) staff is working to clear the runway and adjoining area for take-offs and landings of the aircraft HEAVY RAIN LASHES PARTS OF KARACHI
On other hand, heavy rain lashed various parts of Sindh s metropolis Karachi on Thursday Significant downpours were reported in areas including MT Khan Road, Sultanabad, Hijrat Colony, and Keamari Shahra-e-Faisal Gulistan-e-Jauhar Scheme 33 Safoora Goth Hasan Square Saddar I I Chundrigar Road M A Jinnah Road and other parts also experienced significant rainfall Nazimabad,
Preparations for a battle royal
The Election Laws Amendment Act foes through Committee
THE Election Laws Amendment Act went through the committee stage on Wednesday, with the debate in the House potentially taking shape, as the PTI members strongly opposed, as it passed the committee by eight votes to four The PPP member did not attend while the JUI(F) member did not attend, thereby perhaps signalling what the respective parties might do when the House debates It will be entirely up to Law Minister Shahid Nazir Tarar when the bill is reported back to the House and when is is passed It will then have to go the Senate for passage, before it can become law, but the committee proceedings gave a fair view of how the PML(N) and the PTI would respectively argue the cases for and against the Bill
The bill proposes that no party would be allocated seats for the minority seats if it had not submitted a list on time This is clearly meant to stop the newly created PTI parliamentary party from claiming reserved seats on the basis of the parties that have come into existence after the recent Supreme Court decision
PML(N) members said that the law had been clarified, while PTI members said that the new law would represent a clash between the legislature and the judiciary If that is so It will be up to the Supreme Court to strike down the law and possibly even suspend its operation after passage as happened with the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedures) Act, which the Supreme Court ultimately accepted However, it should be noted that it is up to the courts to interpret the law but it is up to the legislature to change the law where it feels dissatisfied by any interpretation of the law by the Supreme Court It is also a truism in parliamentary systems such as Pakistan s that the Executive necessarily has a legislative majority so it is actually going to be a clash between the Executive and the Judiciary
It is perhaps a pity that clashes between these organs of state occur over their respective privileges and their composition The Supreme Court has never made any ruling over a subject involving public welfare which the Legislature has found needed for the passage of an Act Is the ordinary man merely the grass which gets trampled when elephants fight?
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Making the world a more dangerous place
promise of AI’s amalgamation with the concept of deterrence On the flip side however there are profound challenges including ethical dilemmas which accompany AI s ascent in this domain As states move forward in their technological pursuits, decision makers will have to contend with not only the advantages of leveraging this new technology, but its potential consequences as well
One of the core concepts of deterrence is that stronger defensive capabilities will lead to more effective deterrence by denial options which is considered to be the preferred deterrence model In this regard, AI has the potential to bolster precision, speed and reliability of defensive weapon systems By doing so it can dissuade potential aggressors from pre-emptive options
Beyond kinetic actions AI can also help improve states abilities to enhance the planning and execution of strategies for both offensive and defensive purposes AI can help states enhance their logistics, coordination, training, communication and deployment, thereby significantly improving the overall effectiveness of military operations As highlighted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine AI-driven back-office
Problems are unsolved
THE Jamaat Islami was at the forefront of the fight to keep East Pakistan in the federation, to the extent that is cadres took up the armed struggle against the Mukti
Awami League held
special distaste for the Ja-
been accused mainly by the government of trying to turn the anti-quota protests into protests against the government This may reflect the fact that the Jamaat and the PML(N) had once been in alliance together, but that was a long time agp
might be described as secular problems to which they have not propounded religious solutions but secular It might be noted that neither had formulated the problem, but had adopted existing prob-
agitating on the same issue True the Jamaat in Pakistan is in negotiation with the government over the issue of electricity tariffs while the Jamaat in Bangladesh so far has
n
, c
t h e r p a r t i e s b e s t o p p e d f r
p r e s e n t i n g t h e i r o w n s o l u t i o n s ? A s t h e J a m a a t s d i d n o t p r e s e n t t h e i r s , o n e c a n ’ t b e s u r e B u t s o l o n g a s t h e p r o b l e m s a r e a r o u n d , t h e y w i l l f i n d p r o p o n e n t s
systems governing the complexities of warfare can make coercive threats more robust persuasive, and feasible Moreover, AI can enhance the overall credibility of deterrence By providing accurate and timely intelligence AI systems can support more informed decision-making thereby strengthening the deterrent posture This capability is particularly important in the context of nuclear deterrence, where the stakes are exceedingly high Despite these clear advantages, the integration of AI into deterrence strategies is not without its challenges Innovations in warfare technologies and methodologies often lead to adversaries mimicking actions and AI-enhanced decision-making is likely to be no exception If one side in a conflict gains significant advantages owing to integration of AI, the other side is also likely to adopt similar technologies This could lead to a future where competing AI systems operating at machine speed offer only brief windows of advantage leading to a use-it-or-lose-it mentality among adversaries and altering traditional escalation calculations The opacity of AI algorithms presents another significant challenge Currently, there is a lack of transparency pertaining to how AI systems actually make decisions which can lead to mistrust among states Even among adversaries with deliberately ambiguous military or nuclear
A d d r e s s i n g t h e s e c o m p l e x i t i e s r e q u i r e s d e c i s i o n - m a k
policies there is an understanding of each other s thresholds and redlines Without a clear understanding of an adversary's decision-making processes, particularly those involving AI systems, the risk of misinterpretation and unintended escalation increases Dr James Johnson a specialist in AI and its strategic applications highlights that AI s propensity for unpredictability could undermine strategic stability rather than enhance it, especially if adversaries perceive decisions taken by AI as irrational or overly aggressive
In addition, AI systems, while highly advanced are not infallible They are susceptible to biases errors and cyber-attacks which could lead to unintended escalation Moreover the use of AI in deterrence postures also raises ethical and legal questions Delegating critical decision-making to AI challenges not only the ethical norms of deterrence but also the legal frameworks and norms governing the use of force The potential for AI to autonomously initiate military actions blurs the lines of accountability and responsibility raising concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law
Addressing these challenges requires multifaceted approaches Establishing robust AI governance and accountability frameworks at the international level is crucial This includes promoting transparency in the use of AI algorithms for deterrence purposes and ensuring that human oversight remains a cornerstone of critical decision-making in the military sphere
Addressing these complexities requires decision-makers to be more mindful to ensure responsible leveraging of AI technologies especially for deterrence purposes while aligning with established international and humanitarian norms This approach will be crucial in maximising the benefits of AI for augmenting deterrence while mitigating potential risks
The writer is a Senior Researcher at Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies Lahore She can be reached
Will Middle East Tensions Trigger Global War?
Ahave caused many other parts of the world to edge towards war or conflict The current situation is arguably the most fragile the world has experienced since the end of the Cold War Although tensions between Eastern and Western bloc powers are at an all-time high the catastrophic spectre of another world war has not yet materialized Nevertheless the fear remains The Middle East, in particular, has a long history of conflicts that are difficult to extinguish once ignited This is a major cause for concern As regional powers continually face off there is no assurance that these conflicts will remain contained Instead in my opinion if Donald Trump were to become the President of the USA, his ultra pro-Israel
stance might usher in a new era where Middle Eastern conflicts could erupt unpredictably and escalate rapidly
Examining the global situation over the past two decades reveals that countless lives have been lost in numerous bloody conflicts Wars continue to rage in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Sudan Moreover, the dire prospect of 'geopolitical and technological changes exacerbating superpower conflicts looms large Modern warfare has evolved beyond traditional battles; today conflicts are fueled by advanced technologies such as drones, robots, and private military contractors These developments have made urban areas the primary battlegrounds, as seen in Aleppo Syria and Mosul Iraq This new form of hybrid warfare' blurs the lines between combatants and civilians making conflicts more devastating and harder to resolve Historically, the world has rarely been without war and conflict However, recent wars seem particularly interminable These prolonged conflicts are especially detrimental to the developing world which is disproportionately affected The current global environment is often described as Volatile Uncertain Complex and Ambiguous This turmoiled world is becoming increasingly challenging for developing countries, which find themselves embroiled in conflicts not of their making These nations are struggling to navigate through an unpredictable landscape where the pathway to peace and stability remains unclear The dynamics of superpower involve-
Waiting for Iran’s response
Tthe patron of the so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes the aforementioned Palestinian group Opinions are divided between those who fear the response of the Islamic Republic and those who are convinced that the Iranian regime will not enter into a war to defend Hamas The former base their concerns on Iran’s official statements (“We consider it our duty to take vengeance ” said Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei) While the latter point to Iran s actions since October 7, in particular Tehran s measured response to the assassination by an Israeli missile of several Revolutionary Guard commanders in its Damascus consulate last April and the disregard with which it reacted to the subsequent bombing of a military base in Isfahan But Wednes-
day s attack (which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied respon-
ment in regional conflicts further complicate the situation The USA Russia and China are often seen as key players in many of these conflicts providing military aid political support or even direct intervention For instance, the USA has a longstanding alliance with Israel, while Russia and Iran have been key supporters of the Syrian government and Hezbollah China's growing influence in the Middle East adds another layer of complexity particularly through its Belt and Road Initiative which aims to enhance regional connectivity and trade These superpowers are driven by strategic interests that often clash with each other, creating a precarious balance of power The involvement of these external actors can both escalate and mitigate conflicts depending on their actions and diplomatic engagements This geopolitical chess game makes the prediction
ing just hours after the inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian as president, adds insult to injury Israel s ability to penetrate Iran’s anti-aircraft defenses is humiliating for a r e g i m e ment had been breaking up [Israeli secret service] Mossad’s infil-
to
’s neutrality in
of
to shocking “discrimination” according to Amnesty International and other human rights organisations which regard it as a breach of multiple obligations under international human rights treaties It has also sparked outrage among several female athletes from other countries who are able to take part in the Olympics with their hijabs But the exclusion doesn’t take place only on the track or in the stadium To make these Games happen Paris had to undertake a programme of intense social cleansing
According to an investigation by a collective named Le revers de la médaille (The other side of the coin), 12,545 people (including 3 434 minors) were evicted – some of them forcibly – across the Paris region between April 2023 and May 2024 which is a 38 5% increase on the 2021-22 period (twice as many as last year, and almost three times more than in 2021-22 for the minors) The group alleges that on top of evictions “harassment” of communities living near the sites hosting Olympic events
“There is an essential principle in secularism: the neutrality of public service Our athletes embody public service, she said In fact laïcité obliges the state and its agents
has been widespread Tightening security has become the pretext for a high level of violence and abuse by the police against sex workers and victims of human trafficking, particularly those whose administrative status in France may be precarious According to Mediapart the violence takes various forms: The presence of police dogs insults chases through the undergrowth forced removals from trucks and refusal to allow women to put their clothes back on Many working-class neighbourhoods have been affected including Aubervilliers one of the poorest cities in France located in the banlieues where part of the community gardens (which had been there for almost a century) were swallowed up by the construction of an Olympic swimming pool Another odious policy that has accompanied preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics is that homeless people have been hidden or driven away by such measures as the installation of anti-homeless urban furniture Almost 1,000 students were forced to vacate their university accommodation (provided by the official student services organisation) for police officers firefighters and healthcare workers on duty during the Games Many of them reported their shock at being met by utterly squalid conditions, including cockroaches, mould and mice In addition to the filth, what is shocking is that it has taken the Olympics to expose the living conditions of students despite repeated denunciation by their
unions The reconfiguration of roads for the Games meanwhile carries severe consequences for public health – for example, blocking access to one of the largest maternity hospitals in the region The authorities are now considering opening the reserved lanes for medical
AMID CALLS FOR REVENGE, IRAN HOLDS FUNERAL FOR HAMAS CHIEF HANIYEH
Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, General Hossein Salami, were present Haniyeh had been visiting Tehran for Pezeshkian s inauguration ceremony on Tuesday Senior Hamas figure Khalil alHayya the movement s foreign relations chief, vowed during the funeral ceremony that Ismail Haniyeh s slogan, We will not recognise Israel,’ will remain an immortal
TEHRAN: Top Iranian officials will meet the representatives of Iran’s regional allies from Lebanon Iraq and Yemen on Thursday to discuss potential retaliation against Israel after the killing of the Hamas leader in Tehran, five sources told Reuters The region faces a risk of widened conflict between Israel Iran and its proxies after Ismail Haniyeh s assassination in Tehran on Wednesday and the killing of Hezbollah s senior commander on Tuesday in an Israeli strike on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut Representatives of Iran’s Palestinian allies Hamas and the Islamic Jihad as well as Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi movement Lebanon s Hezbollah and Iraqi resistance groups will attend the meeting in Tehran, said the sources, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue “Iran and the resistance members will conduct a thorough assessment after the meeting in Tehran to find the best and most effective
Haniyeh )” “It is our duty to respond at the right time and in the right place,” he said in a speech with crowds chanting Death to Israel Death to America!
Israel’s Netanyahu says ready for any scenario amid escalating regional tensions
JERUSALEM A G E N C I E S
Israel is on a high state of alert, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, amid growing expectations that Iran or its allies will retaliate for the killing of senior leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas this week Israel is very prepared for any scenario – both defensively and offensively,” he said, according to remarks released by his office following a visit to the Home Front Command We will exact a very heavy price for any act of aggression against us from any arena
Meanwhile, Israel’s national security council warned Israelis to exercise extra caution when travelling abroad and said Iran or its al-
lies Hamas and Hezbollah could target Israeli or Jewish institutions outside the country
The warning, in a statement issued through the prime minister ’s office, came amid growing fears in Israel of a attack by its enemies in retaliation for the assassination of senior leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas this week
The region faces a risk of widened conflict between Israel, Iran and its proxies after Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran on Wednesday and the killing of Hezbollah s senior commander on Tuesday in an Israeli strike on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut
media Reports from various US and Canadian media outlets highlighted a Nov 3, 2023, police raid in Brampton, Ontario, which resulted in the arrest of five men on firearms charges The arrests occurred just a day before the son of a prominent member of the Sikh independence movement was to be married in the Toronto-area city Several well-known activists including New Yorkbased lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, were expected to attend the wedding The accused include Swaranpreet Singh, 21; Jobanpreet Singh, 21; Maninder Singh, 22; and Ramanpreet Singh 30 The fifth individual Amandeep Singh is also charged in connection with a killing that Canada has directly linked to the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Amandeep Singh was arrested four and a half months after the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh-Canadian
SRINAGAR
A G E N C I E S
Hurriyat leaders have reiterated their appeal to the Kashmiri people to observe August 5 as “Youm e Istehsal” (Day of Exploitation) to mark the third anniversary of India s Hindutva regime s decision to abrogate Article 370/35-A which granted special status to occupied Jammu and Kashmir
According to Kashmir Media Service, the leaders, including Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sopori Syed Bashir Andrabi and Khawaja Firdous in their statements issued in Srinagar termed the move a humiliating assault on Kashmiris identity and territorial integrity
They described it as a deeprooted conspiracy against the Kashmiri people aimed at changing the territory s demography and depriving its people of their resources, jobs, identity, and right to self-determination
The leaders condemned the Indian government s settler-colonialism policies, including the enactment of anti-Kashmiri laws, and urged the international community to take effective notice of India’s actions in occupied Kashmir They also denounced the brutal killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by Israel terming it state terrorism
The Hurriyat leaders extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Shaheed Ismail Haniyeh and the people of Palestine expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom and self-determination
Expired medicines worth millions dumped in IIOJK hospital washroom
In a shocking display of apathy and mismanagement a huge stockpile of expired medicines worth millions of rupees has been found dumped in the washroom of a hospital in Indian illegally occupied
Jammu and Kashmir According to Kashmir Media Service, the expired medicines, including iron supplements and antibiotics, were found discarded in the washroom of the New Type of Primary Health Center (NTPHC) in Bagtore village of Gurez Local residents have expressed concern over the shortage of medicines in the area, particularly for iron deficiency, which affects many women in the territory The incident has raised questions about the administration’s commitment to providing better healthcare facilities in border areas Residents have complained about the lack of medicines, forcing them to travel long distances for treatment This disturbing trend suggests that the authorities prefer to let vital resources rot rather than provide them to those who desperately need them exacerbating the suffering of the people in the occupied territory
the UN said that it had been nearly 300 days since the start of Israel s war in Gaza, which has gravely breached all tenets of international law and flagrantly violated the UN Charter “A war that threatens international peace and security Yet Israel is being permitted to wage this war in broad
ISLAMABAD:
efficiency
Customers can choose own price as Careem unveils Flexi Rides in Karachi KARACHI:
LAHORE: The Punjab government has planned the establishment of the biggest shrimp farm project during the current year as per the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz
According to officials here on Thursday, more than 1,000 tonnes of Shrimp Farming would be done on one thousand acres of land for the first time in Punjab The Punjab government would provide subsidies land and other necessary facilities for the shrimp farming project
On the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz
Sharif, a principle decision had been made to formally launch a research project for the fisheries and shrimp farming The Fisheries Farms Associations paid tributes to CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif on launching the shrimp farm project PR
Shaza declares data regulation, c yber-security govt ’s topmost priorities
I S L A M A B A D: Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja has declared the data regulation and cyber-security as top priorities of the incumbent government Addressing Roundtable on Open Data Flows & Pakistan s Digital Economy held at Ministry of IT on Thursday, she said, The Ministry of IT & Telecom is committed for the growth of IT sector, as taking IT exports up to $25 billion is our target ”Managing Director Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) Jeff Paine Google and Meta representatives attended the Roundtable session Convener
speaking to the media at the Governor House during the “First Sindh Plantation Day an initiative led by the Governor Addressing a question about the Jamaat-eIslami (JI) s sit-in outside the Governor House, Kamran Tessori invited them to protest within the Governor House premises rather than blocking the roads, which he noted causes inconvenience to the public PR Punjab to set up countr y ’s biggest shrimp farm projec t during current year
Colleges, universities students spend day with Pakistan Army at M alir
Chairman BOG OPF Syed Qamar Raza presents a bouquet to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar They discussed issues related to overseas Pakistanis during the meeting PR
N O M Y : P M
Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar announced on Thursday that as part of the current government’s reform agenda, the privatization process of distribution companies (DISCOs) has commenced following an amendment to the State-Owned Enterprises Act
Addressing a press conference alongside Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Mustafa Kamal the Information Minister highlighted the inefficiency and corruption within DISCOs that have persisted for decades
He stated that the decision was made to bring in competent and professional individuals from the private sector to run the DISCOs free from political interference
Tarar emphasized that the issues surrounding Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are not politically motivated and assured that ongoing discussions and reforms are addressing concerns over over-billing
He noted that electricity consumers using 200 units have been given a subsidy of 50 billion rupees for three months sourced from the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) budget, to provide re-
lief during summer Efforts to address over-billing and power theft in collaboration with provincial governments are also underway
The Minister confirmed that MQM Pakistan representatives, including Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mustafa Kamal, recently met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss IPP-related matters
He expressed gratitude to MQM for highlighting this critical issue and for their constructive approach and positive role in the government s reform agenda, including ending 18-hour load shedding and installing cost-effective power plants
Tarar reiterated that IPPs are not a political issue and that discussions are ongoing to make electricity more affordable He stated that the economic reforms agenda aims to create fiscal space to reduce power tariffs and criticized those attempting to politicize the matter emphasizing that all government allies share the common goal of making electricity more affordable
Responding to media questions, Tarar mentioned actions taken against those involved in the wheat import issue He highlighted the ongoing digitization process of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) with the cooperation of the Melinda Gates Foundation, noting that the government had not spent any funds on this
initiative Due to the government’s
efforts the number of tax filers has been increasing continuously Tarar also discussed the closure of the Pakistan Works Department (PWD), a move aimed at reducing government expenditures and saving hundreds of billions of rupees annually He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for this bold step as part of the economic reform agenda
The Minister mentioned the visit of an important Chinese delegation to Pakistan and emphasized the government’s commitment to implementing the reform agenda as quickly as possible
Tarar contrasted the economic situation during the PML-N s previous term with the current state criticizing the PTI s tenure for fostering hatred and violence He claimed that if the country had defaulted a civil war could have ensued He credited the PML-N and its allies for saving the country from default after coming into power following a no-confidence motion He announced that the prices of petroleum products were reduced last night to provide relief to consumers despite not implementing the Petroleum Development Levy He also noted that the rupee s stability and the decrease in the inflation rate were due to the current government s prudent policies
“The IMF calls for taxes on landlords but this has not been done If you tax landowners the whole country will move forward he argued Rehman accused previous administrations, including those of the PPP and Musharraf, of initiating and perpetuating corruption through IPPs He called for a clear stance from the international community against the atrocities in Palestine and condemned the government s inaction regarding the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh He criticised the silence on Israel s terrorism and America s backing of it, drawing parallels with Afghanistan s suffering Both America and Israel are terrorists,” he declared Rehman urged the public to remove American proxies from their societies and criticised the Pakistani government for failing to address the plight of Palestinians He demanded the recovery of missing persons across Pakistan and emphasised the need for a just legal system
