60 US Congress members wrote to President Joe Biden asking to pressure Pakistan into releasing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s founding chairman Imran Khan Reportedly in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 160 National Assembly legislators have condemned a letter from US Congress members, seeking to pressure Pakistan into releasing incarcerated Imran Khan from jail The MNAs including notable figures such as Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Naveed Qamar Mustafa Kamal Aasiya Naz Tanoli and Khalid Magsi expressed deep concerns over the perceived interference They called upon Prime Minister Sharif to formally convey to the US Congress that Pakistan is currently grappling with democratic challenges which have been compounded by what they labelled as disruptive politics The letter outlined accusations against Imran Khan asserting that he promoted political violence and made criminal threats against state institutions It specifically referenced the large-scale unrest on May 9 2023, during which protesters allegedly incited by Imran targeted buildings including Parliament, state-run television and Radio Pakistan The Pakistani lawmakers letter further stated that Imran Khan s tactics were not new citing previous incidents in August 2014 and May 2022 when his political moves allegedly paralysed the country The letter added that Imran Khan continues to provoke unrest and violence from jail, with particular reference to his use of social media for what the lawmakers described as digital terrorism
The letter also suggested that disgruntled expatriates in the US and UK have played a role in Imran Khan s negative campaign, leading to heightened concerns within both countries about the activities of their citizens
billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme The Privatisation Commission said it had asked the bidder to match the minimum bid Blue World City Chairman Saad Nazir however stood by its bid We wish the government all the best if they don’t want to accept our bid,” he said Officials from three groups that chose not to bid told Reuters on condition of anonymity that there were concerns about the government s ability to stand by agreements made for the flag carrier in the long term
One executive voiced concern about policy continuity once a new government came in The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is reliant on a coalition of disparate political parties The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the concerns The disposal of PIA is a step former governments have steered away from as it has been highly unpopular given the
NA BODY ON PETROLEUM EXPRESSES
SERIOUS CONCERN OVER CSR FUND MISUSE
23rd S hauk at K hanum C ancer Symposium draws exper ts from 14 countries
Khanum Hospitals, discussed the state of oncology in Pakistan and the hospital’s role in cancer care Professor Nick Maynard from Oxford University Hospitals UK addressed the impact of conflict on healthcare in Gaza
The symposium featured research presentations on various oncology topics, with awards recognizing outstanding contributions including the Ahsan Rashid Memorial award Bashir-Alavi award Begum Mir Nursing award and honors for the best free papers New additions this year included sessions on pediatric palliative medicine and a Young Investigators Forum
Dr Yusuf acknowledged the symposium s growth as a key event for advancing oncology in Pakistan and congratulated Dr Usman Ahmad and Dr Muhammad Faisal for their efforts as the organizing committee leaders
Pak-
Qatar
ties bringing mutual benefit to both nations: PM
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
He praised Qatar ’s humanitarian initiatives and diplomatic engagements aimed at resolving the conflict and easing the suffering of the people of Gaza The Prime Minister appreciated Qatar ’s role as a facilitator of dialogue and an advocate for a just resolution to regional conflicts recognizing its efforts as vital to promoting lasting peace in the Middle East
During the meeting, the Qatari Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s strategic importance in the region and expressed his enthusiasm for strengthening ties with Pakistan in line with Qatar ’s vision for economic growth and regional stability Both leaders agreed on the importance of continuing high-level exchanges to promote
understanding foster cooperation and identify new areas for growth The Prime Minister of Qatar showed his resolve to work with Pakistan for peace in the region including Afghanistan Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to Qatari investors to explore Pakistan s diverse economic sectors, including agriculture, Information Technology and tourism He outlined the Pakistani government’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for foreign investors and discussed potential incentives to facilitate their entry into
At a seminar hosted by Beaconhouse National University (BNU) in Lahore, experts urged Pakistan to take concrete steps toward extending the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan
The seminar titled “Regional Connectivity – BRI and CPEC Extension to Afghanistan and Beyond gathered eminent speakers and audiences from four Lahore universities to discuss regional connectivity and economic integration
The seminar included remarks from Ambassador Asif Durrani, former Minister of Investment Haroon Sharif ex-Governor of the State Bank Dr Ishrat
Hussain former Afghan Deputy Speaker Mirwais Yasini and former National Security Adviser Lt General Nasir Khan Janjua Prof Tang Jun from Inner Mongolia University in China also delivered remarks online The event was organized by Mansoor Ahmad Khan, former Ambassador to Afghanistan and BNU’s Center for Policy Research Director
Speakers explored opportunities for economic linkages through CPEC s potential extension to Afghanistan emphasizing regional benefits in infrastructure energy and trade connectivity While supporting the idea, they also discussed the considerable challenges posed by geopolitical tensions, especially from the U S -China rivalry and India’s opposition to CPEC and BRI initiatives Ambassador Durrani highlighted the notable progress made by CPEC in the past decade through significant Chinese investments but acknowledged impediments in extending CPEC to Afghanistan, including security concerns under the Taliban regime and strained regional relations Mirwais Yasini
emphasized that for
COMMENT
Saudi investment
Increase in S audi investment buttresses ties, and transforms them
Apart from attending the Future Investment Initiative Summit in Riyadh, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stayed over to witness the signing of seven Memoranda of Understanding between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan worth $600 million, adding to the 27 other MoUs signed recently, worth $2 2 billion This brings the total amount of investment up to $2 8 billion Though Saudi Investment Minister Khlid ibn Abdulaziz Al-Falih sid that Saudi Arabia was interested in importing Pakistan s skilled workforce, which tends to return relations to the old footing, it should be recognized that the relationship is being transformed The government’s slogan of ‘trade, not aid’ changes the nature of the relationship
As the home of the two holiest shrines of Islam the Harmain Sharifain Saudi Arabia has a special place in the hearts of the population, which is 96 3 percent Muslim As an expression of its commitment to Saudi security, it has long posted troops there Pakistanis have played a role in the development of Saudi Arabia, and have sent home remittances Has there been a realization that instead of unskilled and semiskilled labour Pakistan can now provide the educated and trained professionals, that Saudi Arabia has imported from other countries, mostly European Saudi Arabia has long helped whenever Pakistan has needed help, mostly with the $3 billion deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan, which helps keep Pakistan from default The rollover of this deposit was crucial to Pakistan obtaining the IMF package it so earnestly desired Instead of such financial transactions Pakistan will now seek Saudi investment That suits the Saudis better, for it means that there is a safe place to invest its oil proceeds, an outlet it needs now for its capital, piling up from its sale of oil Also, the return will be in the form of profits, rather than interest
Mr Al Fatih has said that this is just the beginning
This is not just a burst of enthusiasm Despite the religious and cultural ties uniting them this kind of interaction has been limited However, if Pakistani officialdom can be persuaded not to seek a cut, if investors are allowed to repatriate profits, if suitable opportunities are identified, it might well work Among the positives has been that previous MoUs have yielded results according to Mr Al Falih This should indicate that things are changing
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
The disastrous Iran-Israel calculus
In a nuclear scenario, it would not take much to destroy Israel, it is such a small country Countries smaller than potential opponents offer up fewer targets, like Pakistan which is smaller than India and after certain targets offers almost nothing Apart from counterforce targets like nuclear installations or bombsites only countervalue targets are left like dams or railway marshalling yards Or centres of population India poses the problem to Pakistani planners of many population centres large distances apart Similarly, Indian planners could opt for a number of population centres after exhausting other countervalue targets
Nasrallah on 27 September It must be noted that retaliations are not instantaneous That implies that each country carefully gauges the effects of its actions While that is not guarantee that either country will not climb up the escalation ladder, it is a helpful safeguard against nuclearisation of the conflict However there are two caveats First once a country is at the receiving end of a nuclear strike the pressure of the international community will be released Second the desire for revenge might incline the war leaders towards using their nuclear weapons This of course assumes that a decapitation strike has left a national leadership capable of exercising a nuclear option It also assumes that the enemy’s first strike has left a nuclear option capable of being exercised Even Israel has not developed a nuclear triad capable of surviving a first strike while Iran has probably not yet developed a weapon Even though it has not, the possibility that it may, makes Israel almost obliged to use it so long as it gives it a military advantage Clearly, the very use will indicate the failure of the political advantage Using it before Iran has developed a weapon makes a certain kind of sense It is unfortunate that the Israeli PM is exactly the sort of narcissistic shortsighted person, fixated on the immediate, who would use nuclear weapons Actually, Israel should have never gone nuclear in the first place It was a deterrent against much larger enemies for a small state But it was only going to work so long as those enemies didn t have a weapon of their own Iran poses that dilemma Can the Israelis risk Iran getting a weapon? Considering how it has been winning acceptance from the Arab countries (Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Sudan and Morocco have all recognized it recently, while Saudi Arabia was about to ) the deterrence was against Iran But if Iran got a weapon that deterrence would end The original reason for nuclearization its smallness would remain The real dilemma is that there are so many Jews in Israel, concentrated in a small space Of the world s 15 8 million Jews, 7 43 million live in Israel That is not the largest population of Jews in the world; that is still in the USA which has 7 46 million Third is France with 440 000 and fourth Canada with 398 000 The implication is that Israel nuclearization has set world Jewry up for another Holocaust: Jewry would survive, but millions of Jews would die horrible deaths
TA N G O L I: Colorful patterns adorn entrances, welcoming guests and prosperity D I WA L I S S P I R I T U A L S I G N I F I C A N C E A C R O S S R E L I G I O N S: For Hindus Diwali honors key legends, such as Lord Rama s return to Ayodhya and Lakshmi s blessings In Sikhism, it coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, marking Guru Hargobind’s release symbolizing liberation In Jainism it commemorates Lord Mahavira s enlightenment reflecting inner light Some Buddhists especially in Nepal celebrate it as Emperor Ashoka s conversion to Buddhism, symbolizing peace and compassion
D I WA L I I N S I N D H: In Sindh, Diwali, the Festival of Lights traces back to the ancient Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro civilizations where themes of light renewal and community were celebrated Today this heritage endures in Sindh s inclusive society, uniting people of all faiths Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, and Hindus Sites from the Indus Valley civilization, dating to around 2500 BCE reflect a culture that shaped festivals like Diwali In cities like Karachi and Hyderabad Diwali fosters interfaith dialogue and community events, with diyas, sweets, and rangoli celebrating Sindh s legacy of unity Local poets enrich
It is salutary to remember in the Iran-Israel context Japan s reason for surrender after Nagasaki It showed the government that Hiroshima was not a one-off, but the USA would go on relentlessly The Japanese also had no weapon to reply Iran will Interestingly, the US nuclear weapon was developed because Nazi Germany also had a nuclear programme but managed to win without using nukes However there was still Japan The rest is history Similarly Iran did not engage in its programme solely against Israel It also intended it for the region, including against Saudi Arabia One brake on Iran has been the fatwa, given by the present Supreme Leader, against nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons do not allow those using them to prevent use against civilian casualties So-called collateral damage is not permitted which means nuclear weapons cannot be used because even if nukes are used (as Pakistan and India postulate) in a desert against enemy armour, the radioactivity will spread to population centres
However, in a display of fine theological reasoning, Ayatollah Khamenei has permitted the development of these weapons as this act is itself an act of warfare against Israel Mind games with the enemy are apparently allowed even if you have promised not to use the weapon All Muslim schools contain the concept of declaring even apostasy or disbelief to escape being killed for being Muslim Further, there is a
the celebration by capturing its essence, making
Diwali a time for creativity and reflection
Look at the festival lamps the sea is aflame
Let us weep for the pain of separation
We will strike and still bring forth the sun s light (Shah Latif)
Yesterday you looked at me like a festival lamp
The city was full of lights illumination at every door (Sheikh Ayaz)
May good fortune come to your nights; tell all of them
Tonight, when we light the lamps, keep them high (Faiz Ahmad Faiz)
In the fragrance of Sindh the night is filled with colors
Holi and wedding celebrations both are beautiful (Sheikh Ayaz)
In the darkness of despair
Your smile is like the festival light
Let the courtyard be filled with joy let the heart celebrate the festival
Let there be light throughout the land of Sindh
Sometimes Eid in the courtyard sometimes Diwali
Shimmering Sindh forever remains bright
Actually Diwali s origins predate the Ramayana, symbolizing ancient societal conflicts of Aryans and Dravidians Diwali highlights different challenges, as labourers face economic hardships that limit their participation Commodification contrasts with these struggles emphasizing class divides True celebration calls for collective well-being and reflection on inequality Media often focuses on affluent celebrations, overlooking 80 percent of the population, including Scheduled Castes, Harijans, Dalits, and Adivasis, whose rich traditions are rarely shown This highlights economic inequality and limited recognition for Pakistan s Hindu community who lack media support despite a public holiday Political priorities often favor affluent Hindus, limiting broader representation
However, Diwali in Sindh reflects joy but also the struggles of marginalized communities
Acknowledging these diverse celebrations is essential for a society that honors and respects the contributions of its Hindu minority Diwali is a celebration of unity, hope, and renewal It transcends cultural and religious boundaries, encouraging all to embrace joy, reflect on virtues, and share in the universal triumph of light over darkness Diwali invites us to appreciate our shared humanity fostering a brighter more harmonious world
The writer is a freelance columnist
Gender equalit y
RAMesh RAjA
ACeasefire or Complicit y? The World’s Moral Failure in Gaza
significant on paper, is ultimately inadequate for Gaza’s long-suffering residents Analysts from The Washington Post and CNN emphasize that this pause could offer a temporary reprieve but will remain hollow unless it triggers more profound international action As history repeatedly shows, Gaza s wounds cannot be healed with a brief cessation of violence Without addressing the deeper, systemic issues at the root of this crisis, the cycle of destruction will inevitably resume The structural and historical forces that have trapped Gaza are no accident; they are the result of decades of geopolitical manoeuvring Gaza s plight has long been sacrificed on the altar of strategic alliances, with the Palestinian people paying the price for the West’s unwillingness to hold Israel accountable As Malik sharply points out this complacency from Western nations is tantamount to complicity The USA and its allies have shielded Israel from accountability, whether by vetoing UN resolutions or framing Palestinian resistance as “terrorism ” This uncritical stance has enabled policies that effectively turn Gaza into an open-air prison where human rights are systematically violated to serve political agendas
Journalist Robert Fisk, in his detailed analyses, argues that the peace process in the Middle East has become little more than a hollow phrase designed to pacify Western audiences while the reality on the ground worsens Western powers continue to rely on temporary ceasefires and empty promises to maintain a facade of diplomacy, ignoring the fact that these short-lived pauses only ensure Gaza will remain in perpetual crisis As
Malik emphasizes, ceasefires may temporarily halt the violence, but they do not bring peace; they merely delay the next onslaught For Burns’ ceasefire proposal to hold meaningful weight it must signal more than a brief lull in violence; it must be a call for the USA to finally assume responsibility for driving change Although the Biden Administration publicly champions human rights, it has been reluctant to confront Israel’s policies directly Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent remark about prioritizing domestic concerns over foreign interventions is emblematic of the selective morality that emerges when Palestinian lives are at stake This approach treats Palestinian suffering as secondary, a negotiable sacrifice for regional stability This troubling dynamic is epitomized in recent discussions around the so-called “Resettling Gaza initiative The very notion suggests a solution that contemplates forcibly moving Gaza s population rather than addressing the underlying injustice they face Malik highlights the disturbing rhetoric of Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir who has openly advocated for voluntary transfer as if it were a humane answer to the conflict Such language is a thinly veiled endorsement of ethnic displacement, showcasing the cynicism that permeates global discussions around Palestinian rights While leaders debate “solutions,” Palestinians are left to endure bombardment and the constant threat of displacement without meaningful international support Middle East experts like Rashid Khalidi and the late Edward Said have long forewarned that without an unequivocal commitment to Palestinian sovereignty and justice, Gaza will
remain a flashpoint of relentless injustice Burns’ ceasefire may offer Gaza a brief respite, but without tackling the deeper forces at play, it is ultimately ineffectual The time has come for the USA and other global powers to go beyond condemning violence in abstract terms They must demand accountability from all involved parties most critically, from
As BurnsÊ ceasefire proposal gains traction, it must not be mistaken for a lasting solution Instead, it should ser ve as a star ting point for a radical shift in approach one that centres human rights and honours the dignity of all people , regardless of political alliances Western powers, especially the USA, must abandon self-ser
policies and hold Israel to the same standards they demand from other nations
Defiant billionaire
or in the future Some of us have argued for newpapers to
political endorsements for decades The encouraging aspect of Bezos s column was that he not only recognized the corrosive effect of endorsements on maintaining neutrality as a media organization but he also recognized that the Post is facing plummeting revenues and readership due to its perceived bias and activism I used to write regularly for the Post, and I wrote in my new book about the decline of the newspaper as part of the “advocacy journalism” movement: “Our profession is now the least trusted of all Something we are doing is clearly not working Bezos previously brought in a publisher to save the Post from itself Washington Post publisher and CEO William Lewis promptly delivered a truth bomb in the middle of the newsroom by telling the staff “Let’s not sugarcoat it We are losing large amounts of money Your audience has halved in recent years People are not reading your stuff Right? I can t sugarcoat it anymore The response was that the entire staff seemed to go into vapors, and many called for Lewis to be canned Bezos stood with Lewis Now resignations and recriminations are coming from reporters and columnists alike In a public statement Post columnists blasted the decision and said that while maybe endorsements should be ended, not now because everyone has to oppose Trump to save democracy and journalism The statement produced some chuckles given the signatories including columnists Phillip Bump and Jennifer Rubin, who have been repeatedly accused of reckless rhetoric (Rubin later denounced Bezos for his “Bulls**t explanation” and said that he was merely “bending a knee” to Trump )
Bezos could do for the media what Musk did for free speech He could create a bulwark against advocacy journalism in one of the premier newspapers in the world Students in J Schools today are being told to abandon neutrality and objectivity since as former New York Times writer (and now Howard University journalism professor) Nikole Hannah-Jones has explained, “all journalism is activism ” After a series of interviews with over 75 media leaders Leonard Downie Jr former Washington Post executive editor and Andrew Heyward former CBS News president reaffirmed this shift in early 2023 in a report published by the Cronkite News Lab, called Beyond Objectivity As Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, editor-in-chief at the San Francisco Chronicle has stated: Objectivity has got to go Few can stand up to this movement other than a Bezos or a Musk However the left has long created their own monsters by demanding absolute fealty or unleashing absolute cancel campaigns Simply because Bezos wants his newspaper to restore neutrality the left is calling for a boycott of not just the Post but all of his companies That is precisely what they did with Musk A Bezos/Musk alliance would be truly a thing to behold They could give the push for the restoration of free speech and the free press a real chance to create a beachhead to regain the ground that we have lost in the last two decades The left will accept nothing short of total capitulation and Bezos does not
Instead, he could not just
but American journalism from itself For the rest of us, all I can say is welcome to the fight Jeff Jonathan Turley is a Fox News Media contributor and the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University He is the author of The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage (Simon & Schuster June 18 2024)
ing is whether this was intentional upon a specific request or not
territory the page has completely disappeared
In a move that has triggered a campaign whereby users are now canceling their subscriptions to the streaming platform Netflix suddenly removed its ‘Palestinian Stories’ collection The company has maintained that the move was standard and that it had simply discontinued the licenses to these films
In October 2021, Netflix announced that it would be streaming dozens of films that depicted various kinds of aspects of the struggles and creativity of Palestinians The streaming platform had stated that the Palestinian Stories collection is a tribute to the creativity and passion of the Arab film industry as Netflix continues to invest in stories from the Arab world However, overnight, 24 films were wiped from the platform, leaving only a single movie –Lina Al Abed’s 2019 documentary “Ibrahim: A Fate to Define” – for users in the United States
This is even though from the beginning of the collection s launch at least 34 films were flatted for selection by the platform, as others were said to be included at a later date While Netflix has maintained that its decision is standard and has nothing to do with the tremendous pressure campaign launched against them since 2021 to remove the Palestinian films there are still many questions that have gone unanswered For example while around the world, the Palestinian Stories page still exists, when accessing Netflix from within Israeli-held territory, the page has completely disappeared despite the fact that it once contained 28 films This would indicate that a special decision has been made specifically for Israeli Netflix the question remain-
In addition to this, the Israeli TV series called Fauda , or Chaos in English, is still streaming all its series on the Netflix platform This is despite the fact that the TV show depicts racist caricatures of Palestinians and is focused on Israeli
CHINA HAS ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTER, CONTRIBUTOR TO CAUSE OF UN: WANG YI
Nor th Korea test-fires its most power ful missile
Turkish Consulate in Karachi organized a ceremony on the occasion of 101st anniversary of Republic of Turkiye on Tuesday night Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, MPA Faryal Talpur, Speaker Sindh Assembly Syed Awais Qadir Shah and other personalities attended the program The Consul General of Turkiye in Karachi Cemal Sangu welcomed all the guests on arrival at the Consulate Addressing the ceremony, Cemal Sangu said the relations and friendship of Turkiye and Pakistan are based on commitment to peace cooperation and prosperity Both the countries always stood shoulder to shoulder and share each other s achievement, success and difficult times, Sangu added The Consul General said be it an earthquake in Turkiye or flood in Pakistan outpouring of support and sympathy is unprecedented He said our brotherhood is deeper than oceans and higher than K-2
ther integrating operations with federal government departments ” Since its launch in December last year the BFC has attracted 30 390 visitors with 6 846 individuals seeking expert opinions and 22 984 successfully submitting applications This month alone, the center served 4,363 visitors across Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad The BFC operates as a one-window facility providing a seamless experience for business owners It is staffed by dedicated Business Facilitation Officers (BFOs) and representatives from 26 Punjab Government agencies, including the Local Government and Community Development Department (LG&CD), Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Multan Development Authority (MDA) Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) Gujranwala Development Au-
thority (GDA), Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Environment Protection Agency, Home Department, Water and Sanitation Agency Lahore (WASA) Health Department Punjab Police Punjab Skills Development Authority (PSDA) Energy Department Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Parks and Horticulture Authority Lahore (PHA), Industries, Commerce, Investment and Skills Development Department (ICI&SDD) Tourism Department Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) Irrigation Department Forest Wildlife and Fisheries Department, Communication and
The European Union (EU) today officially launched its contribution to the ongoing Adaptive Social Protection (ASP) project, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of Germany s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development This partnership enables the project to expand its support to the Government of Sindh, with the key objective of strengthening the resilience of the population against natural hazards and climate
SNGPL MD visits Lahore Region
speaking
At Faysal
rooted in
aiming to
of
of
communities toward selfreliance and a better quality of life This solar-powered water filtration plant is not just a project but a vital lifeline for over 300 households in Ramiyo Gajju and beyond We remain committed to fostering a healthier future for these communities and the generations that follow Omar Zaman, CEO, Zaman Foundation, expressed his gratitude saying, “Access to clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right and this project marks a significant step in transforming the lives of villagers in Umerkot Thar
PHA conducts clean-up drive on Lahore greenbelts
LAHORE
A Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) on Thursday removed several illegal direction and promotional boards from greenbelts in various neighborhoods of Lahore a spokesperson announced Thursday The boards installed by private housing societies residences and educational institutions were located in Johar Town Canal Road Faisal Town, Allama Iqbal Town, and Raiwind Road Commenting on the development, Director General Muhammad Tahir Wattoo emphasised that illegal advertisement boards will not be tolerated and will be removed at any cost Such billboards pose a threat to human lives and detract from the city s beauty he
Managing Director SNGPL Amer Tufail visited the Lahore region to review key operational matters and customer service initiatives During his visit, he visited the Model Customer Service Center Lahore Region and closely observed its operations and role in enhancing customer service efficiency General Managers of the Lahore Region (East and West) briefed the Managing Director on the region s operational performance The briefing was primarily focused on TBS (Town Border Station) reconciliation and efforts to control Unaccounted for Gas (UFG) As part of the ongoing UFG reduction strategy, it was highlighted that metering systems have been installed on all TBSs across Lahore to monitor gas losses on a micro level and to identify areas with higher losses
Over $10m in business deals signed at Food Asia 2024
The 17th edition of the Plastic Packaging Corrugated and Food Asia International exhibition and conferences recorded over $10 million business deals between foreign and local companies in different segments, according to the organizers Various exhibiting companies from Vietnam, Thailand, Turkey China and Iran have received overwhelming responses from local delegates and visitors in the food and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced the restoration of student unions in the province aiming to empower the youth and foster leadership among students
The decision, he said, aligns with a broader vision to address societal issues through justice and self-determination
Addressing a gathering Gandapur emphasized that justice is key
to solving societal challenges, adding that social deprivation poses obstacles to national progress He voiced concern over Pakistan’s economic struggles noting Pakistan is in debt; we cannot make our own decisions, and called for a mindset focused on resilience, competition, and innovation
The chief minister also introduced an increase in scholarships for students to improve access to education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa He reiterated the importance of self-determination, asserting, We
cannot be free until true independence is achieved ” In his address Gandapur characterized the pursuit of genuine freedom as a continuous struggle This is a war for real freedom he said assuring that the fight for liberation would continue for future generations Warning of an impending “decisive battle,” he stated, “If we don’t come back read our obituaries ” adding True nobility is often unrecognized but red is the color of revolution underscoring the need for justice and transformative change
Pakistan urges UNSC to enforce ceasefire, impose arms embargo on Israel
Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza and consider punitive measures against Israel including an arms embargo
The appeal was made by Pakistan s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, during a day-long debate on the Middle East situation on Thursday Ambassador Akram stressed that global consensus is urgently needed to implement an immediate and unconditional ceasefire under Chapter VII of the UN Charter,
which enables the Security Council to take enforcement measures to maintain international peace He asserted that Israel’s actions are not only destabilizing the Middle East but also pose a broader threat to global peace and order Akram highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis citing the blockade on aid and a strategy of starvation that exacerbates suffering The Ambassador also condemned efforts to shut down the UN Relief and Works Agency which provides essential support to Palestinians describing it as part of an ongoing genocidal campaign Akram further warned that
The Anti-Terrorism Court Rawalpindi on Wednesday
ordered provision of documents of GHQ attack case of May 9 2023 riots to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
founder Imran Khan on November 8 ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah conducted hearing of the case at Adiala Jail, where charge sheets were handed to 32 accused, including prominent PTI leaders
Those who appeared in court included Shibli Faraz
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Usman Dar Sadaqat Abbasi
Waseq Qayyum Zartaj Gul Omar Ayub Raja Basharat
Kanwal Shauzab and Shireen Mazari The court was unable to provide Imran Khan documents as the scheduled jail trial session was canceled, and PTI lawyers declined to accept documents on his behalf without his explicit instructions “We cannot collect the documents for our founding chairman without direct guidance ” stated PTI
unchecked Israeli aggression against Lebanon, Syria, and Iran could lead to a wider regional conflict, a situation Pakistan has condemned He attributed Israel’s impunity to unimpeded weapons supplies and called for actions to uphold the UN Charter and international law urging the removal of Gaza s humanitarian blockade
The Ambassador also advocated for a political resolution that ensures Israel’s military withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories compliance with International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders, and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state
