PM REITERATES STANCE ON PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD WITH PRE-1967 BORDERS, AL QUDS AS CAPITAL
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the authorities concerned to ensure complete transparency and strict adherence to timelines at every stage of the construction of the Jinnah Medical Complex (JMC) describing it as a flagship healthcare initiative aimed at providing world-class medical services to the people
Chairing a high-level review meeting on the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre the prime minister emphasized that the project must be executed with the highest professional standards and free of any procedural lapses He said the government was determined to deliver a state-of-the-art medical and research facility that would set new bench-
bedrock of Pakistan s Middle East policy and will remain so the prime minister wrote Reflecting on what he described as the “potentially transformational nature” of the summit, Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s foremost priority was the immediate cessation of the genocidal campaign in Gaza He added that Pakistan was deeply en-
marks in healthcare delivery and medical education
The meeting was informed that the design consultant for the JMC project had been selected while the contract process with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) was currently in progress The federal cabinet it was noted had already approved the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the complex to ensure timely initiation of operational planning
Officials further apprised the meeting that the geotechnical study of the project site had been completed while hydrology and seismic studies were expected to be finalized by next month
The advertisements for the selection of experts for third-party validation of the project would also be issued soon to ensure transparency and quality assurance at all stages – directs complete transparenc y, timely execution of Jinnah Medical Complex project
gaged in the diplomatic process and, alongside other brotherly nations continued to advocate for a durable ceasefire and humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza
ISLAMABAD
AIMS
into logistics and IT services, with a sister company active in the UAE and exploring partnerships in Saudi Arabia to provide AI cloud services and software solutions The group also intends to raise funds through the Pakistan stock exchange to finance expansion of its dairy business The announcement comes amid challenges for Pakistan’s
PAKISTAN SEEKS WORLD BANK RESTRUCTURING TO KEEP TARBEL A HYDROPOWER PROJECT RUNNING AMID FUNDING GAP
TDirector Behzad Amir Memon, the first phase of the digital licensing and payment system has already been completed Within less than three months Sindh has earned Rs5 million in revenue through digital applications and payments, he told The Express Tribune Memon said the project will be executed
COMMENT
Th E first condition of the Gaza ceasefire went into effect on Monday with an exchange of hostages and prisoners between hamas and Israel marking the end of combat between the two which had begun just over two years before, on 7 october 2023 The presence of the Kings of Bahrain and Jordan, of the Prime Ministers of the UK, Spain, Italy and Pakistan, the Chancellor of Germany, the Presidents of Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, added credence to the occasion but mostly this happened because of the presence of US President Donald Trump Mr Trump was the subject of fulsome praise from Mr Shehbaz Sharif who spoke on the occasion, in which he expressed the country s unshakeable support for the Palestinian people, as well as praise for the role Mr Trump had played however, the conflict has left behind many questions which Mr Trump’s 21-point proposal does not answer fully The foremost is how Gaza is to be reconstructed To that end the UK is hosting a three-day conference which was scheduled to start on Monday within hours or less of the signing of the ceasefire The hosting by the UK probably reflected how ex-PM Tony Blair will be the head of the Gaza administration until the handover to the Palestinian Authority The Palestinian Authority has apparently withdrawn its objections to his appointment so the conference could go ahead attended by representatives of the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany and Italy, the World Bank, the European Development Bank and other development and financial institutions It still remains to be determined which countries are contributing troops to the proposed International Stabilization Force which is supposed to take over from Israel
The role Pakistan is supposed to play is not yet clear though the meeting of Mr Sharif on the sidelines of the Summit with the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which was trilateral, might be an indication of which way the wind may be blowing however, before Pakistan commits anything, it would be appropriate to remember that Pakistan has had a firm policy of staying out of Arab lands only an invitation from a competent Palestinian authority should make it move and as things stand there does not seem to be one Pakistan must be careful not to let the deire to please Mr Trump lead it to get carried away, and making any commitments that are not in line with its national interests
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
PCo o r Syria! That s an inauspicious start but it s honest as the country is facing myriad problems, internal and external, none of which can easily be resolved From the beginning of the modern era, Syria has been a victim of the machinations of others It went from ottoman rule to being a remnant left after the French and British carved the Arab East to satisfy their imperial designs Because of poor governance and sectarian rifts like its other half (Lebanon) Syria became a playground for the deadly games of neighbours and others In recent years, Israel, Iran, Turkey, russia, the USA Arab donors to Muslim groups Lebanese and Palestinian factions and militias Kurds and of course ISIS all were involved in some degree of meddling in Syria militarily and politically Like reckless kids engaged in a dangerous game, these outsiders paid no attention to the consequences of their behaviour When Syria’s war on itself began in 2011, those who warned that nothing good could come of it were ignored When the numbers of dead rose to 5 000 and there were calls in the USA and in the Arab World to arm the Syrian opposition others cautioned that more weapons for the regime s opponents would only increase the weapons the Assad regime s allies would provide to protect them And so, the spiral continued with the sectarian factions and the Assad regime each drawing in allies until the country was drenched in blood and fractured And then after 13 years of conflict the group once associated with al Qaeda, that had controlled the northern Syrian province of Idlib for many years, marched into Damascus toppling the Assad regime, which by then had been largely abandoned by its russian and Iranian backers Many in Syria and around the world celebrated But in reality there was nothing to celebrate Estimates of those killed in the war range from 560 000 to 680,000 Much of Syria s infrastructure has been destroyed, more than half of its population has gone into exile or been internally displaced, and the country’s already fragile social and political cohesion has
ranked the sixth-largest solar market in the world It has expanded its renewable output by nearly 50 percent, demonstrating an appetite for clean energy solutions This green momentum provides a fertile ground for international collaboration especially in areas such as solar energy expansion, digital water governance, and climateresilient agriculture The challenge, however, is not just about local willingness but also about international support While institutions like USAID and the Green Climate Fund have extended assistance the scale and speed of help remain insufficient Given the scale of the crisis and Pakistan s limited financial cushion, what s needed is not more loans or conditional aid, but grant-based financing, direct technology transfers, and institutional capacity-building The case for a stronger US–Pakistan climate partnership extends beyond environmental altruism It is a strategic necessity For the USA, bolstering Pakistan s climate resilience offers multiple benefits: it strengthens ties with a key regional player, counters China’s growing influence in the green development space and solidifies America’s leadership on climate diplomacy especially within the Global South China has already made significant inroads through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which includes a number of energy projects While some are renewable, many have also relied heavily on coal drawing criticism for their environmental impact A US-led green partnership could present an alternative development model one that prioritizes sustainability and long-term resilience over short-term growth
Moreover, climate security is rapidly becoming an axis around which regional stability revolves In South Asia where nuclear powers like India and Pakistan face growing water stress and agricultural volatility the risk of climate-induced conflict is real By helping Pakistan adapt to climate change, the USA would be contributing not just to humanitarian relief but to long-term regional peace What would an effective US–Pakistan cli-
been shattered once installed in the capital the group formerly deemed a terrorist organization has put on suits and ties and moderated its speech in an effort to demonstrate that it could be responsible stewards of the new Syria But to be honest, the tasks they face may be insurmountable They may control Damascus but the rest of the country remains fractured Iran and its allied militias may have left or been weakened and russia has consolidated its position along the coast to protect its Mediterranean port and airbase, but Israel and Turkey have dug in deeper Israel has been especially aggressive in seizing land, aggravating sectarian strife, and bombing much of Syria’s defence and internal security capabilities Add to this the internal challenges from Syria’s diverse ethnic and sectarian communities who remain uncomfortable with the new regime s past and distrust that they ve really changed Signs continue to indicate that the new government in Damascus doesn t have full control of some armed militias that fought alongside them during the long war Early on the new rulers of Damascus made predictable mistakes that have if anything made their job
If there were ever a situation where the world needed a strong and effective United Nations, this is it. Absent a neutral mechanism to assist in the resolution of conflicts and the enforcement of the rule of law, Syria, its people , and its new rulers are left to their own devices and the whim of malign regional forces.
mate partnership look like? First it must centre on technology transfer particularly in areas like heat-resistant crop varieties, energyefficient irrigation, and AI-based water resource management The US has cutting-edge capabilities in these sectors; sharing them would enable Pakistan to build climate resilience from the ground up Second, both countries should prioritize grid modernization and green energy ventures Pakistan’s energy transition is already underway but it lacks the financial and technical capacity to scale Direct investment public-private partnerships and concessional financing from the USA could unlock massive growth and help decarbonize the economy
Third, the partnership must embrace institutional cooperation, particularly in governance data sharing and policymaking Creating joint research centres facilitating educational exchanges and training climate scientists could form a long-term foundation for mutual learning Finally, the USA should advocate for Pakistan’s voice in global climate forums As a country on the frontlines of the crisis Pakistan has moral authority and lived experience that should be heard in climate negotiations Empowering Pakistan in this way also boosts the USA s credibility as a champion of the Global South
The climate crisis is reshaping geopolitics, development priorities, and the meaning of national security For Pakistan, the choice is stark: act decisively or suffer increasingly devastating consequences For the USA the opportunity is equally clear: invest in a key partner s resilience deepen regional influence and lead the global fight against climate change
A robust climate partnership between the USA and Pakistan is no longer a diplomatic nicety it is a strategic imperative Together the two nations can forge a future that is not only sustainable but also secure equitable and geopolitically wise Climate collaboration is not just about saving the planet; it s about reshaping alliances for a more stable world
The writer can be reached at asadmalik2008@gmail com
Substandard cancer drugs
The vanishing guardrails of nuclear deterrence
ICold War The consequences have been corrosive Verification has been weakened, dialogue narrowed, and trust hollowed out With New START set to expire the world risks drifting into an era with no enforceable constraints on nuclear arsenals whatsoever This is the backdrop for Putin s announcement At first glance, it may seem paradoxical: a leader often accused of nuclear brinkmanship volunteering to uphold arms control limits But the move is less about benevolence than calculation Russia has modernized more than 90 percent of its nuclear triad It is confident in its deterrent By signalling restraint Putin can project responsibility while putting the burden of rejection squarely on Washington If the USA responds positively, then a narrow space for dialogue will remain open But if it refuses Russia can claim that it tried diplomatically In either case Moscow will position itself not as a spoiler but as a stakeholder in stability, and the message will resonate in parts of Europe, Asia, and the Global South The US response was not strong enough Moreover the strained relations between Washington and the Kremlin after the stalemate of Ukraine negotiations have put the issue off the table A demand is growing consistently to bring China into this agreement In principle, this makes sense, because China is rapidly expanding its strategic arsenal But in practice the demand acts as a fig leaf to avoid the negotiation strategy China has made clear it has no intention of joining a bilateral framework it views as a US-Russia construct The risk here is obvious By holding out for an unattainable multilateral treaty, Washington could let the existing bilateral one collapse That would not bring Beijing to the table It would simply remove the last remaining
and the Open Skies Treaty These US moves have pushed the world to the edge of new arms control races that were established after the
o w ‘ s a i n t ’ M a l a l a f o r g e d a n e w i d e n t i t y
W h y i s I n d i a p r o s e c u t i n g M u s l i m s w h o s a i d ‘ I l o v e M u h a m m a d ’ ( P B U H ) ? START must be saved
Time is running out. The current treaty is set to expire next Februar y. Each month of delay brings us closer to an unregulated, uncer tain future If world leadership remains in stalemate , future g enerations will remember September 2025 as a wasted and regrettable oppor tunity
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keeping up with the international speaking engagements that pay her parents mortgage She has little time to do any reading let alone turn in assignments on time Her tutors send her increasingly stern letters
But she does find time to fall in love Central to the book is the story of Malala s tender courtship with Asser a handsome cricket executive from Lahore When she develops a passing interest in astronomy, he buys her a telescope When she tells a national magazine she’s sceptical about the institution of marriage he gets on the phone with her irate parents to back her up and talk them down Malala takes a long time to conclude she s ready for marriage, but when she finally takes the plunge it brings her “profound happiness” Good for her The clarity of Malala s childhood conviction that girls have an unassailable right to be educated is what thrust her on to the international stage, but it’s also what, for a time, took away her ability to define herself When she woke up from a coma after she was attacked her face was halfparalysed but even more disconcertingly her real-life identity, as a mischievous classmate and annoying sister, had been overwritten by the narrative of a “mythical heroine virtuous and dutiful” – “a serious and shy girl a wallflower forced to speak out when the Taliban took away her books
It was an impossible sainthood Meanwhile an army of online trolls found her every move reprehensibly un-Islamic Finding My Way sees Malala wresting back the story of her own life – rejecting the constrictions and contradictions of a sheltered childhood and sudden fame At Oxford
she gives her security guards the slip to climb the Lady Margaret Hall bell tower She celebrates Galentines day with her girlfriends
She finds a therapist to address her PTSD She falls perilously behind on her work, then slowly cultivates more studious habits She even goes through a phase of constantly ordering TGI Fridays ribs not realising they re pork (whoops) It s all an education These days, on her Instagram stories, you can find Malala in a bucket hat, nodding along to Oasis performing Roll With It, Asser
FO R the last month, Indian police have raided multiple markets and homes, arresting Muslim men in states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party Some of their homes have been bulldozed The genesis of their alleged crime is common: writing, I Love Muhammad , a reference to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on posters, t-shirts, or in social media posts The authorities say the expression is threatening “public order” So far at least 22 cases have been registered against more than 2 500 Muslims WHAT’S HAPPENING? On September 4, Muslims living in Kanpur city of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh were observing Eid al-Milad al-Nabi the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when a neighbourhood put up an illuminated board saying I love Muhammad But the board, mimicking the popular I Love New York signage that has been copied all over the world drew criticism from some local Hindus Initially their complaint alleged that the illuminated board was a new introduction to traditional festivities on the occasion, when Uttar Pradesh s laws bar new additions to public religious celebrations About 20 percent of Kanpur ’s population is Muslim However based on complaints the police filed a case against two dozen people on much more serious charges: promoting enmity on the grounds of religion The charge carries a punishment of up to five years in jail if the accused individual is convicted The Kanpur episode drew widespread criticism from Muslim political leaders and protests against the police action spread to other states including Telangana in southern India Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west, and in Uttarakhand and Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in the north The “I love Muhammad” hoardings and writings came up across the country – from people’s social media handles to t-shirts Nearly 270km (168 miles) away from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh s Bareilly a group of people participating in a demonstration called by a local imam against the Kanpur arrests, violently clashed with the police on September 26 The police hit back with a crackdown arresting 75 people including the imam Tauqeer Raza his relatives and his aides At least four buildings belonging to the accused individuals
More than 2,500 people have been charged, as an initial crackdown on the expression has spawned broader protests
IS
have been bulldozed by the local authorities India’s Supreme Court has observed that demolitions cannot be used as a form of extra-legal punishment warning that state authorities must give prior notice before razing any property Yet on the ground, that order is often not followed, say activists Meanwhile, dozens of other Muslims have been arrested in different states – including some in Modi s home state of Gujarat – for social media posts and videos carrying the I love Muhammad slogan IS IT ILLEGAL? India s constitution guarantees the freedom of religion and the right to express it Article 25 protects every individual’s freedom to practise their religion Citizens are also protected under Article 19(1)(a) which guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression unless it directly incites violence or hatred In the cases of people arrested as part of the “I Love Muhammad” crackdown, the police have mostly charged them under legal provisions that bar large gatherings aimed at committing mischief or for acts that allegedly provoke religious tensions However, these provisions have been applied against those arrested for social media posts, or wearing t-shirts with “I Love Muhammad” emblazoned on them Nadeem Khan the national coordinator of APCR the nonprofit that has been tracking these cases has fought previous lawsuits against government officials for similarly targeting Muslims for social media expressions, or when their homes have been bulldozed Khan told Al Jazeera that authorities were carefully using legal provisions that focus not on the I Love Muhammad expression itself but on alleged offences carried out by those who used the expression or protested against related police crackdowns They know that there is no law that criminalises just the mere expression of ‘I Love Muhammad’ ” Khan said Khan noted that across India images of Hindu gods wielding their traditional weapons have long been commonplace These images are at every corner of the country; should it also offend or threaten all Muslims then?” he asked “Everyone should understand that the government cannot criminalise a religion like this he added referring to Islam Since 2014 when Modi took over the power in New Delhi India has consistently slid in a range of international democratic indices Criminalising people s right to freedom of expression and religious belief sets a deeply troubling precedent said Aakar Patel the chair of Amnesty International India s board Targeting people for slogans such as I Love Muhammad which is peaceful and devoid of any incitement or threat, does not meet the threshold for criminal restriction under either Indian constitutional law or international human rights law ” Patel told Al Jazeera “Public order concerns must be addressed proportionately and cannot justify the blanket suppression of religious
analyst based in Delhi There is an entire ecosystem in place, from pliant media to social media organisation, to spread this hate rapidly,” said Ali “And the law is read in such a way that any expression of religious identity especially of Muslims can be seen as inciting religious hatred he added After
Trump expec ts Thailand– Cambodia ceasefire at ASEAN summit: Malaysia
underlining four demands made by Bangkok
These include the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border landmine clearance in disputed territories, cooperation in combating transnational crime and encroachment in some areas, according to Thai officials
“Right now the negotiations are moving forward Sihasak said A Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters The East Asia Summit, to be held during this month’s ASEAN meeting, will issue a chairman’s statement rather than a joint statement as the United States had objected to use of the word inclusivity Mohamad added without elaborating
Leaders of all 10 members of the grouping and trading partners, such as China Japan Russia and the United States will attend the summit
Iran condemns Trump’s ‘baseless’ remarks, US complicit y in Israeli crimes
TEHRAN Ag e N c i e s Iran on Tuesday denounced “baseless claims” made by United States President Donald Trump calling Washington the largest sponsor of terrorism Addressing Israel s Knesset on Monday ahead of joining an international peace summit in Egypt’s
CM MEETS SPEAKERS OF TÜRKIYE'S GRAND ASSEMBLY, A ZERBAIJAN'S MILLI MA JLIS
SYED HASSAN BIN HAMMAD
I am here to argue a point that s of paramount importance: the International Monetary Fund, the IMF, doing more harm than good to Pakistan While the IMF is often viewed as a financial savior, it's essential to delve deeper into the implications of its interventions for Pakistan s economy and society Pakistan has had a long history of IMF engagements Whenever Pakistan faces economic challenges, the IMF appears as a lender of last resort However the consequences of these loans often outweigh the benefits making the IMF s impact more detrimental to Pakistan
The IMF s intentions are like a glimmer of hope in the darkest of nights They seek to offer a lifeline during Pakistan's economic struggles just as a guiding star shines in the midst of a storm However the price we pay for this support is like a treacherous path fraught with peril The conditions tied to IMF loans demand painful economic and structural reforms The result is a burden on the average Pakistani citizen with reduced government spending on essential services like health and education Do we accept a scenario where the burden falls disproportionately on the poor and vulnerable?
do we keep accepting IMF loans that only perpetuate Pakistan's debt crisis? IMF loans serve as a shortterm remedy but create long-term problems The mounting external debt levels are like a sword of Damocles constantly hanging over Pakistan, affecting future generations, and weakening the nation s sovereignty
What about the social and political implications? Are we comfortable with the idea that IMF interventions lead to a disheartened populace and potentially social unrest and political instability? It's not just about numbers; it's about the lives the hopes and the dreams of the Pakistani people
Some of the conditions and policies associated with IMF programs such as austerity measures, the exchange rate policy which affects imports and exports monetary policy reduced subsidies and social unrest can indirectly contribute to inflation in Pakistan Why
The IMF's insistence on a freemarket approach sometimes seems to favor multinational corporations and foreign investors over our own local industries and small businesses, endangering our economic self-sufficiency and long-term development, much like a powerful wind that threatens to uproot the very foundation of our dreams
US tariffs slash Indian textile expor ts by 50%:
Repor t
NEW DELHI s ta f f r e p o r t
Following the imposition of 50% tariffs by US president Donald Trump on Indian goods India s textile and clothing exporters have witnessed an equivalent 50% drop in their US business, leading to mounting inventories and delayed orders, an industry-wide survey has revealed The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) reported that around onethird of the respondents in the survey have said that turnover of their US business has decreased by more than 50% For around 85% of these respondents, the reduction in orders has resulted in inventory buildup, reported Indian English language business newspaper Financial Express The survey also found that around two-thirds of exporters have had to offer discounts of up to 25% to remain competitive while 82% are grappling with extended credit cycles across the supply chain due to the tariffs Over half of these exporters reported that the credit period has stretched by 3 to 6 months, placing a substantial strain on liquidity,” CITI said in a statement Additionally approximately 40% of respondents indicated a rise in working capital requirements by more than 30% underscoring the growing financial burden on the sector The US accounts for 28% of India s total textile and apparel exports, making it the single largest market for the industry
Worse still, accepting IMF assistance can feel like a surrender of our economic sovereignty much like a caged bird yearning to soar freely It means handing over decision-making power to international institutions and, in turn, making us reliant on external guidance, much like a compass that dictates our direction instead of allowing us to choose our path I implore you to consider the plight of Pakistan s people and the lasting impact of our relationship with the IMF It is my fervent belief that we can achieve sustainable economic growth and self-reliance while safeguarding the welfare of our fellow citizens In conclusion we should look beyond the mirage of quick financial relief and focus on the longterm well-being of Pakistan The IMF s conditionalities the escalating debt crisis the unsuitable economic policies and the social and political implications all scream that Pakistan deserves better than this
Siddique Kamyana affirmed the police s firm commitment to supporting the ongoing anti-theft drive He instructed all field officers to continue operations without delay and to ensure immediate response to complaints of electricity theft, while maintaining close coordination with relevant departments The CCPO emphasized that no leniency should be shown to any individual involved in electricity theft regardless of status or influence He further directed that all cases be vigorously pursued and with the support of the Prosecution Department, brought to their logical and timely conclusion in court
SA AD RIZVI ‘TRACED, EXPECTED TO BE ARRESTED SOON’ AFTER RAWALPINDI FIR
LJUI-Fchief offers mediation to
the federal capital were marked by violent clashes with the police leaving at least three TLP workers and one bystander dead, though social media claims of higher casualties remain unverified The Punjab police have registered an FIR at Rawat Police Station, Rawalpindi, against Saad Rizvi Qari
down Pak-Afghanistan border tensions
Punjab government to digitize all toll plazas for improved transparenc y
The Punjab government has announced plans to digitize all toll plazas
remains the only Pakistani political leader to have met Taliban supreme leader Shaikh Hibatullah Akhundzada said he was already in touch with the Afghan leadership They want to resolve the issues through understanding,” he said, adding that continued recriminations could further strain the situation
Karachi faces water supply disruption during
construction energy conservation and urban beautification Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved five major road projects to be developed through public-private
