g THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO KUALA LUMPUR AIMS AT EXPANDING COOPERATION IN IT, HALAL INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, AND DIGITAL ECONOMY
g HIGH-LEVEL TALKS TO COVER TRADE, IT, HALAL INDUSTRY, DIGITAL ECONOMY, AND EDUCATION SECTORS
g MALAYSIAN PM ANWAR IBRAHIM WELCOMES PREMIER SHEHBAZ WITH ROYAL PROTOCOL ON ARRIVAL
g AGREEMENTS AND MOUS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF COOPERATION
g PAKISTAN EYES GREATER ACCESS TO A SEAN MARKETS, ESPECIALLY HALAL MEAT EXPORTS
the signing of agreements and MoUs for cooperation in several existing and new sectors,” the FO said in a statement, describing the visit as a reflection of the “strong and enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and Malaysia rooted in mutual respect shared interests, and close cooperation across a wide range of sectors Malaysia is one of Pakistan’s key partners in the ASEAN region and a leading supplier of palm oil to the country During the visit both sides are ex-
Pakistan weighs demolition of New York ’s Roosevelt Hotel amid IMF-led asset reforms
pected to explore new opportunities to boost Pakistan’s exports, especially halal meat, which remains a largely untapped area of bilateral trade Last month PM Shehbaz directed his administration to formulate a plan to enhance exports to Malaysia citing enormous potential in the food and agriculture sectors Pakistan and Malaysia established diplomatic ties in 1957, soon after Malaysia’s independence and have since cooperated closely in multilateral forums such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Commonwealth In April, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that Pakistani investments in Malaysia had reached about $397 million while in May Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani highlighted the two countries collaboration in combating challenges faced by the Islamic world, including Islamophobia “The visit underscores Pakistan’s continued commitment to strengthening ties with Malaysia the FO statement added It also reaffirms the importance both countries place on working together to promote peace, stability, trade and investment, and sustainable development Meanwhile, on the occasion
be much better than the last time He added: This time God willing India will get buried under the rubble of its own jets The defence minister ’s comments followed a terse warning from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) which said provoca-
PAKISTAN EASES USED CAR IMPORT RULES, TAKES LESSONS FROM REGIONAL PRACTICES
Tvarious crypto ventures that have added to his personal wealth Trump’s embrace of digital assets has given the industry a political boost further propelling the market
OFIT s tA f f r e p o r t Pakistan s services exports posted double-digit growth in the first two months of FY26, reaching $1 396 billion an increase of 11 73 per cent from $1 250bn in the same period last year official data showed The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported that services exports in August stood at $671 98 million, up from $619 94m a year earlier, marking an 8 41pc annual increase In rupee terms exports rose by 9 85pc to Rs189 662bn against Rs172 651bn in August FY25 However on a month-on-month basis services exports fell 7 30pc compared to July
The sector ’s expansion has been largely driven by information tech-
nology and business-related services State Bank of Pakistan data shows exports of telecommunications computer and information services climbed to $691m in July–August FY26 up 18 32pc from $584m in the same period last year Exports of other business services also rose 16 66pc to $301m compared to $258m previously By contrast transport services exports slipped 4 62pc to $124m from $130m while travel services recorded a steep fall of 18 91pc, dropping to $90m in 2MFY26 against $111m a year ago Services exports began the fiscal year on a strong note with July registering an 18 27pc year-on-year increase In FY25 overall the sector had grown by 9 23pc, reaching $8 39bn from $7 68bn The upward trend has
from $824m, but travel imports more than doubled, surging 103 6pc to $735m compared to $361m in the same period last year As a result the services trade deficit widened to $707 23m in July–August FY26, up 16 94pc from $604 79m in the corresponding period of FY25
the progress made so far and encouraged continued efforts to ensure that social and environmental commitments remain aligned with engineering and construction milestones During the visit the Social Resettlement & Environment Unit of DHPP, along with consultants and Chinese contractors, briefed the delegation on resettlement progress, environmental safeguards, and social development initiatives The World Bank team also toured construction sites to review on-theground implementation of safeguard practices The mission emphasized the timely execution of resettlement plans, meaningful engagement with local communities, and robust environmental monitoring This marks the second such visit this year, following a review mission in April 2025 that also praised progress on community engagement and compliance with international standards In August 2025 the Deputy Commissioner Upper Kohistan distributed compensation cheques to displaced families under the Enhanced Self-Managed Relocation (ESMR)
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i o n , P C A A a l s o d i r e c t e d S e r e n e A i r t o s u r r e n d e r a l l r e l e v a n t c e r t i f i c a t e s f o r e n d o r s e m e n t S e r e n e A i r w h i c h e n t e r e d P a ki s t a n s a v i a t i o n m a r k e t i n 2 0 1 7 w i t h f i v e B o e i n g 7 3 7 a i r c r a f t h a s b e e n g r o u n d e d f o r w e e k s a s i t s e n t i r e f l e e t r e m a i n s u n s e r v i c e a b l e T h e a i r l i n e h a d a l r e a d y b e e n s t r u g g l i n g t o s u st a i n o p e r a t i o n s a m i d f i n a n c i a l c o ns t r a i n t s R e s p o n d i n g t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t , S e r e n e A i r d e s c r i b e d t h e s u s p e n s i o n a s t e m p o r a r y T h i s i s a s h o r t - t e r m p a u s e a n d o u r t e a m i s w o r k i n g d i l ig e n t l y w i t h a u t h o r i t i e s t o e n s u r e a s w i f t r e t u r n t o s e r v i
Medical miracles in Moldava
Hamas shows flexibilit y
Even as the government says ‘it wasn’t our draft ’
JUST as Hamas announced its readiness to release all remaining hostages,US President Donald Trump pressed Israel to stop bombing Gaza At the same time Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq dar were quick to distance themselves from Mr Trump s 21point peace plan, which he claimed they supported, saying that it differed from the draft they had presented, and the one they had agreed to with other Islamic countries in the recent meeting they had had with him in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Mr Dar while distancing the country from the plan, told the National Assembly that the USA remained the best hope for peace in Gaza Meanwhile, Hamas asked for more time to consider the plan but Mr Trump warned that they only had until Sunday, after which he warned that all hell would break loose on them It was good that Mr Dar did not forget the Pakistanis on the Samud flotilla who had been detained by Israel though he did not detail what measures were being taken to get them released
More important, perhaps, is how long Hamas will take to agree on its political suicide In the context of what else is being asked of it, it has itself accepted that the Gaza Strip will be administered by Palestinian technocrats It may be trying to fend off the condition that it disarm and that arrangements be put in place to ensure that there is no future arming That seems like the Israeli policy, joined by the USA, of bombing the Iranian nuclear programme: destined for failure
What neither the USA nor Israel seem to realize is the visceral nature of Palestinians objection to being deprived of a homeland by having aliens superimposed on them to form an artificial state At the same time, as the last two years have shown, Israel is backed steadfastly by the USA, and is ruthless in its determination to avert the Palestinians getting their right of self-determination The peace does not depend so much on anything as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s need for war Stopping the slaughter of children is a wish for all Western governments but it has been for a long time and Mr Netanyahu, backed by Mr Trump, has kep the flames going because it suited his political convenience
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Pto climate-induced disasters highlighting gaps in infrastructure resilience, anticipatory planning, and disaster response
The reported scale of destruction in 2025 is alarming Since late June, the cloudbursts and torrential downpours have triggered flash flooding across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Punjab AJK and Gilgit–Baltistan Record monsoon rains up to 80 percent above average in Punjab and Balochistan have displaced people, submerged villages, and claimed hundreds of lives In Punjab alone, more than 4 4 million people have been affected with about 2 4 million evacuated and over 4 500 villages submerged Nationwide fatalities have surpassed 900 with more than 1 000 injured alongside the destruction of about 1,700 buildings, roads, bridges, and vast agricultural assets The economic fallout is dire, with early estimates warning that GDP growth for 2025–2026 may dwindle to as low as zero to one percent far below the targeted 3 6–4 2 percent due to an agricultural collapse and surging food prices
This massive devastation however is not unprecedented Unfortunately, Pakistan has a tragic legacy of climate-related disasters Whether it s the 2010 super floods that displaced over 20 million people or the catastrophic 2022 floods that submerged one-third of the country killing over 1 700 and causing damages exceeding $30 billion the climate-induced disasters seem to prevail in a recurrent pattern Each disaster is followed by pledges, donor conferences, and short-lived responses, yet little systemic change takes place in planning zoning infrastructure and risk management The 2025 floods are part of this painful spiral where lessons from the past tragedies re-
DEVELOPMENT of sports requires an active role of government but years of practice of Neoliberalism has meant a diminishing role of the public sector, both in terms of provision of institutional environment– in terms of giving meaningful governance, and incentive structures– for the underlying organizations and markets
Moreover an associated phenomenon with Neoliberalism is the overboard practice of austerity policies whereby aggregate demand is wrongly seen as the primary determinant of inflation, rather than seeing a more balanced role of both aggregate demand, and supply-side policies in reining in inflation Hence monetary and fiscal austerity policies as a consequence only provide at best short-term relief from inflationary pressures high cost of capital and lowering development expenditure negatively impacts sports in terms of adequate funding This, together with a diminishing role of the public sector, results in sub-optimal productive, and allocative efficiencies in the economy which includes sports economics– a field that encompasses both the skills and the financial side of sports Overall lack of development expenditures especially in terms of creating a resilient society, and economy, also negatively feeds into the initial pool of players, and managers of the game in terms of sub-optimal capacity for instance in terms of learning, adapting, and communicating Lack of traditionally low investment in sports and overall social sectors like health education sports infrastructures and welfare aspects of soci-
tional design of
main unlearned Several interlinked factors drive these disasters both at the global and national levels Despite international commitments under the Paris Agreement and repeated COP summits including COP29, global follow-through remains insufficient At the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva (2023), over $10 98 billion was pledged for post-flood recovery; however as of April 2024 only $2 8 billion had actually been disbursed representing less than a third of the promised amount Worse still, much of the finance has come in the form of loans rather than grants, deepening Pakistan s debt burden This stark under-delivery underscores a lack of political will and meaningful action at the global level turning disaster recovery into a chronic fiscal trap instead of a genuine support mechanism At the national level several structural factors amplify the impact of climate disasters The country s flood-prone geography spanning mountainous valleys and river-fed plains is exacerbated by unchecked deforestation encroachments on waterways and unplanned urban sprawl Weak governance means early warnings rarely translate into effective evacuation or infrastructure reinforcement On top of that, poverty and inequality leave marginalized communities, daily-wage labourers, women-headed households, and remote mountain groups utterly exposed without safe housing or the resources needed to recover Together these national vulnerabilities combine with global inaction to trap Pakistan in an ever-deepening cycle of flood-induced destruction Securitization of climate change implies framing it as a national security priority requiring the same urgency and resources as traditional security threats This involves integrating climate risks into core national planning ensuring that early warning systems translate into immediate action, budgets, and coordination across federal and provincial institutions Pakistan’s National Security Policy (NSP) already recognizes climate change as a non-traditional security threat while the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) outlines measures for adaptation and resilience However the gap lies in the weak implementation and lack of integration between the two The NSP frames climate shocks as risks to national stability, but it does not translate this into concrete resource alloca-
sports economics in the country
That decline apparently became all the more steep in the wake of fast-unfolding of climate change crisis, and the related covid-19 pandemic, whereby climate, and health related catastrophes– including smog intensification– further dented the economic situation of both individuals and the country with negative spillovers into an already struggling sports economy Hence while it is important to identify the microlevel aspects of individual sports in terms of needed interventions, it is in this holistic sense of rolling back the neoliberal, and overboard, austerity assault that is needed to provide a meaningful and long-term solution to sports economics; where sports economics is not an end in itself as it is a major contributor to overall economic growth in the country
Therefore, it is important to see a non-neoliberal role of government, whereby it plays a pro-active, and well-capacitated role in collaborating with the private sector, and in co-creating underlying organizations and markets within the sports sector
Highlighting the need for enhancing the role of public sector in general internationally renowned economist Mariana Mazzucato in her recent Project Syndicate (PS) published article Restoring public-sector capacity where it counts which she co-authored with Rainer Kattel, pointed out in this regard ‘After years of underinvestment governments around the world are struggling to keep pace with growing demands The consequences are now widely evident as underfunded and unprepared public agencies falter whenever crises strike The problem is not slimming government down, but rather rendering it more capable, strategic, outcomes-oriented, and a good partner in solving the greatest problems of our time: providing adequate housing for all strengthening climate resilience and ensuring that technology makes our lives better not just a few bros richer Today s intertwined crises demand a new public-sector economics that regards the state as a proactive market shaper, cocreating innovation, public services, and sociotechnical systems for inclusive sustainable and resilient futures An important aspect of governance for both the economic in general and also for sports economics is to provide needed focus in this regard at the municipal or local level The Mariana Mazzucato-led project at the ‘University College London Institute of Innovation and Public Purpose’ (UCLIPP)
and
tion or operational mechanisms Similarly, while the NCCP provides sectoral roadmaps, it suffers from chronic underfunding, fragmentation and weak enforcement at the provincial and district levels Smart securitization offers a way to bridge this gap linking the NSP s security lens with the NCCP s policy tools, ensuring climate risks are treated not only as environmental concerns but as existential threats to livelihoods, fiscal stability, and national cohesion Critical lifelines such as roads bridges power grids and healthcare facilities must be hardened against floods and storms to protect communities and sustain recovery Civilian leadership should remain central, supported by the logistical capacity of security forces under a coordinated climate command Anticipatory measures such as pre-authorized cash transfers and insurance schemes can minimize losses before disaster strikes Meanwhile redundant hyper-local communication networks and rapid post-disaster assessments ensure that communities stay informed and adaptive In this way, securitization can channel urgency into resilience-building rather than reactive firefighting The 2025 flash floods are yet another wakeup call Pakistan can no longer afford to treat climate disasters as seasonal aberrations Securitizing climate change is not optional; it is a timely necessity Through smart securitization and reframing the climate crisis as a crucial national security challenge Pakistan can marshal the urgency institutions and resources needed to protect its citizens Climate change is the battlefield of our age and securitizing it is the only way to ensure the survival and well-being of the populace in a future where floods, droughts, and heatwaves will only intensify The writer has been associated with the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Pakistan as a Research Fellow She can be reached at saherliaqat2000@gmail com and tweets @thesaherrajput
Moreover, an associated phenomenon with Neoliberalism is the overboard practice of austerity policies, whereby aggregate demand is wrongly seen as the primary determinant of inflation, rather than seeing a more balanced role of both aggregate demand, and supplyside policies in reining in inflation
Beyond par t y lines
Dr Omer JaveD
TRUMP SAYS HAMAS FACES ‘COMPLETE OBLITERATION’ IF IT INSISTS ON STAYING IN POWER
Pentagon’s Hegseth says he has ever y authorisation needed for Caribbean strikes
fanning the flames of hostility and undermining every effort aimed at regional peace The APHC spokesman said these provocations are part of the Modi government’s diversionary tactics to deflect attention from its internal failures and uprising in occupied Jammu and Kashmir
The spokesman urged the international community to take serious notice of India s
the continued arrest and harassment of Kashmiris of all ages and genders by Indian forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir
The APHC spokesman said the BJP regime and its forces have intensified their campaign of harassment arbitrary arrests torture property confiscations and dismissal of government employees since August 5 2019 Even academics journalists and human rights and social
postponed the vote in three provinces held by minority groups – leaving 19 seats in parliament empty Critics have slammed these moves, saying a partial and indirect vote is unrepresentative and too centrally managed
dead in Nepal, as heav y rain triggers flash floods
CM MARYAM ORDERS STRICT KPIS FOR DCS ON E-BUS UPKEEP, FLOOD SURVEY AND CIVIC REFORMS
can acquire modern skills Referring to the Bell of Hope initiative, Governor Sindh said that every citizen can lodge their complaints without any fear, as the doors of the Governor House are always open for the public He
Polic y consistenc y, educ
mentioned that during the past three years of Ramadan, over 1 3 million people have attended
as this is the need of the hour He further emphasised the importance of correction instead of criticism and proposed the establishment of a Primary Education Commission in Pakistan terming it a vital need of the time
ation key to national progress: Ahsan Iqbal
Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof Ahsan Iqbal has said that sustainable national development is only possible through continuity in policies educational reform and a collective commitment to peace and stability Speaking at the Global Education Conference and International School Awards held at a local hotel on Sunday, Ahsan Iqbal said that if Pakistan maintains consistency in national policies and prioritises education for the next decade it can join the ranks of developed nations The event brought together leading educationists, institutional
heads, and representatives from various educational organisations across the country The planning minister said that under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s leadership the government is pursuing the Uraan-e-Pakistan vision aimed at setting the nation on a path toward long-term prosperity and reform Highlighting the role of teachers ahead of World Teachers Day he said teachers are the architects of national progress Parents bring a child into the world, but a teacher teaches how to live in it, he remarked, acknowledging his own mentors for shaping his career and character Ahsan Iqbal stressed that education is the most valuable investment any nation can make the foundation for eliminating poverty,
creating employment, and ensuring social stability He warned that Pakistan’s frequent policy disruptions have hindered progress saying the country has already suffered three major economic setbacks and cannot afford another He called for adopting longterm, evidence-based planning and learning from countries that achieved success through sustained reform and institutional stability Quality education and dedicated teachers are the true engines of national development, he said, urging global collaboration through teacher exchange programs student partnerships and joint research initiatives to raise academic standards and strengthen mutual understanding among nations
IRAN ENVOY CALLS PAKISTAN KEY PARTNER IN NEW GEO ECONOMIC ORDER THROUGH REGIONAL CONNECTIVIT Y
Delivering
ing regional integration and global economic participation through multi-dimensional connectivity projects the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Sunday In the new regional geo-economic shift, our security boundaries have become trade borders Pakistan and Iran are key partners that can link continents through connectivity corridors Dr Moghaddam observed Those
Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the “highest point” in bilateral cooperation adding that relations between the two countries had reached their strongest level in recent years Our Presidents and Prime Ministers have exchanged visits, inaugurated joint border projects, and maintained regular communication Our Foreign Ministers are in continuous contact on all bilateral regional and international matters he said Highlighting the growing trade potential, the ambassador said Pakistan can export meat, rice, corn, livestock and summer foods to Iran, while Iran can supply petroleum construction materials and other goods “Fifty to sixty percent of our product needs can be traded between both sides he noted adding that Iran currently imports meat from distant countries, making Pakistan a natural and cost-effective source Dr Moghaddam identified three main hurdles to enhanced cooperation: border terrorism lack of banking channels and bureaucratic delays Despite these challenges he said border trade continues to grow, and both sides are striving to keep customs operations open 24 hours a day “We are also working toward signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA),” he said, expressing optimism that trade volume which has increased
and Prime
zone and frequently experiences moderate to strong earthquakes Earlier this year, on June 30, a 5 5-magnitude quake struck Musakhail district, injuring five people and damaging dozens of mud houses Two weeks earlier, on June 15 a 3 2-magnitude tremor was felt in Pasni and Karachi underscoring the region’s continued seismic vulnerability
Cyclone Shakti spins southwest of Karachi as Met office warns of strong winds, rough seas KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t
Fishermen along Sindh s coast have suspended deepsea operations following an advisory from the Cyclone
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz
Naeemur Rehman on Sunday urged the nation to take to the streets on October 7 in a powerful show of solidarity with the people of Palestine warning that any deviation from Pakistan s historic policy on the issue defined by Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah would not be tolerated under any circumstances
Addressing a massive Gaza
Solidarity March organized by the JI on Karachi s Sharea Faisal, the party chief said Pakistan must reaffirm its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and reject any foreign pressure to normalize relations with Israel Participants of the march carried banners and placards chanting slogans against Israel and its supporters over what Rehman described as an ongoing genocide in Gaza People from all walks of life joined the march and formed a symbolic human chain in solidarity with their Palestinian brethren
The Pakistani nation will not allow any shift in Pakistan s stance on Palestine, the JI chief declared On March 23, 1940, two resolutions were passed one for Pakistan and another for Palestine There is only one state: Palestine; and only one leadership in Gaza: Hamas Rehman called on the government to officially recognize Hamas as the legitimate leadership of Gaza claiming that the movement represented the will of the Palestinian people He also warned the rulers against joining the Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and several Arab states, and urged Pakistan to remain firm on its founding principles
sistance movement born from the will of the people, but the ruling class fears such movements because they challenge American and Israeli influence
movement whose resistance fell within the framework of the UN Charter, and demanded the government abandon hypocrisy and
“Israel has failed militarily in Gaza It could not rescue its captured soldiers and continues to seek engagement with Hamas for their release, he said Hamas is a re-
PESHAWAR
s ta f f r e p o r t
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
cabinet has approved the withdrawal of several cases registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters in connection with the May 9 2023 riots terming them “false” and “politically motivated ” At the time of the riots a caretaker government led by Mohammad Azam Khan was in place in KP following the dissolution of the provincial assembly by the PTI earlier that year
“For the public’s information I want to inform that 29 false cases were registered on May 9 2023 in anti-terrorism courts based on political victimisation, lack of evidence, and misuse of authority, said KP Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel in a video statement
He said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had taken notice of the issue after courts had acquitted or discharged most of the suspects with some cases already transferred from anti-terrorism to civil courts
This proves that all the antiterrorism cases were illegal, unconstitutional, and based on political victimisation,” Uthmankhel stated, adding that the home department had been directed to proceed with the formal withdrawal process
It remains unclear whether the cabinet s recommendation covers all 29 cases or only a portion of them
According to Uthmankhel, the cabinet also appointed Additional Advocate General Muhammad Inam Yousafzai as the special prosecutor for the cases Yousafzai has already appeared in court and submitted a withdrawal application, with arguments scheduled for October 15
Letters from the KP Home and Tribal Affairs Department to the Advocate General’s office, seen by Dawn com confirm that the cabinet’s approval was granted on an urgent basis following Uthmankhel s recommendation to Chief Minister Gandapur
A letter dated October 3 permitted the withdrawal of prosecution in a case registered in Mardan under Section 7(c) of the KP Prosecution Service Act 2005 read with Section 494 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
The May 9, 2023 riots broke out after the arrest of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan during which military installations and public property were vandalised Thousands of PTI workers and leaders were later detained across the country in connection with the violence
