PM says Pakistan-türkiye ties on a ‘high trajectory of trust and cooPeration’
PM, President felicitate PeoPle, govt of türkiye on 102nd rePublic day
Askari Bank posts robust growth, announces second c ash dividend for 2025
NAB TO APPROACH PARLIAMENT TO REDUCE RS500 MILLION
PM says Pakistan-Türkiye ties on a ‘high trajector y of trust and cooperation’
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The prime minister recalled that Türkiye had consistently stood by Pakistan whether during wars or natural disasters such as the 2005 earthquake and the devastating 2010 floods Referring to the recent border hostilities with India he said Pakistan s armed forces led by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, had “taught India an unforgettable lesson ” noting that President Erdoğan once again stood firmly beside Pakistan like a rock He also thanked Türkiye for its consistent support on the Kashmir issue and reiterated Pakistan s backing for Türkiye s stance on Northern Cyprus Earlier, Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Irfan Neziroğlu read out President Erdoğan’s congratulatory message to the nation highlighting the historic significance of the Republic Day and Türkiye s economic and diplomatic achievements On the occasion Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also cut a commemorative cake to mark the celebrations PM, President felicitate people, gov t of Türkiye on 102nd Republic Day
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We take great pride in the accomplishments of our Turkish brothers and remain their steadfast partners in this journey of progress Pakistan and Türkiye are united by bonds of faith, history, and fraternity that transcend geography and time ” the premier remarked President Zardari: ‘Friendship anchored in faith history and mutual respect President Zardari also conveyed his warm greetings to President Erdoğan and the Turkish people, expressing confidence that the friendship between Pakistan and Türkiye would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead “This day marks a defining moment in world history when the resilient Turkish nation guided by the visionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk embarked on a path of reform progress, and renewal, the president said He noted that the courage and determination with which the people of Türkiye shaped their destiny continued to inspire generations around the world recalling how Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah admired the Turkish struggle for independence and the revolutionary reforms that followed
to the Prime Minister on Commerce, focused on advancing Pakistan’s digital economy Minister Jam Kamal Khan welcomed the Meta delegation and highlighted the country s rapid progress in digital transformation driven by its young population expanding connectivity, and a growing IT talent pool He noted that Pakistan s IT and ITeS exports had risen
C
aptain among six soldiers mar tyred as 7 khawarij neutralized in Kurram IBO: ISPR
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Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in KP and Balochistan, mostly targeting police, law enforcement personnel and security forces after the outlawed TTP ended a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022
On Sunday security forces foiled two major terrorist infiltration attempts from Afghanistan on 24-25 October 2025 killing 25 militants, including four suicide bombers, and seizing a large cache of weapons and explosives in separate operations in North Waziristan and Kurram districts, according to the ISPR “Our own troops effectively engaged these groups of Khwarij and as a result of precise and skilful engagements fifteen Khwarij including four suicide bombers belonging to [the] Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were sent to hell in Spinwam North Waziristan District the statement said PRESIDENT, PM LAUD SECURITY FORCES FOR ELIMINATING ‘KHAWARIJ’
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday lauded the security
forces for their successful operation against Fitna alKhawarij in Kurram’s Dogar area paying glowing tribute to the officers and soldiers who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty The president and the prime minister expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of Captain Dr Nauman Saleem and his five companions, who laid down their lives while leading the operation against the terrorists
“The nation feels immense pride in the sacrifices of its brave sons ” the President Secretariat Press Wing quoted President Zardari as saying in a statement
He commended the courage professionalism and unwavering resolve of Pakistan s security forces in eliminating terrorist elements and safeguarding national integrity “Under the vision of Azm-e-Istihkam, operations against the Indian-backed Khawarij insurgents will continue until terrorism is completely eradicated ” he reaffirmed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a separate statement issued by the PM Office Media Wing also hailed the forces for successfully neutralizing seven terrorists belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij during the Kurram operation
year-on-year (YoY) increase in throughput,
furnace oil, signaling a rebound in fuel consumption and
In response to rising domestic demand refineries increased their
Parco accounted for around 55% of the total industry output, maintaining strong performance with utilisation rates of 93% in April, 103% in June 81% in July and 84% in August before peaking at 98% in September Diesel and motor spirit (MS) sales saw an increase of 38 7% and 19 4% YoY, respectively Despite the positive trends, furnace oil (FO) demand continued its decline, falling 57 3% YoY to 99,000 tonnes The drop in FO sales was attributed to government-imposed petroleum levies which made furnace oil-based power generation increasingly unviable as prices soared by Rs85,000 per tonne, raising generation costs to Rs54 per kilowatt-hour at 40% efficiency Among individual refineries Na-
tional Refinery Limited (NRL) saw an 11 3% YoY increase in sales, reaching 108,000 tonnes Diesel sales increased by 30 6% and MS sales jumped by nearly 75% reflecting a shift toward higher-margin products On the other hand Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL) experienced operational constraints, resulting in a 26 4% YoY decline in total sales to 97,000 tonnes Despite a 18 4% increase in diesel sales its market share fell to 12% below its historical average of 14% Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) recorded a 10 2% YoY decline in total volumes, while Cnergyico (formerly Byco) saw the steepest drop, down 35 3%, driven by weaker diesel and FO demand
COMMENT
TH E World Bank latest Development update on Pakistan has mentioned two trends which could bode ill for the future, and which indeed throw into doubt the entire economic framework that is being applied by the Washington Consensus institutions including the World Bank, to Pakistan as well as to other developing countries On the one hand, exports, far from picking, form a declining proportion of the GDP while on the other declining poverty has not led to an improvement in living standards Though the theory of export-led growth leading to a decline in poverty, is being pursued by the government, it does not seem to be working
The theoretical basis for this is that of Comparative Cost Advantage, which says that every country (or rather economy), should produce only what it can sell abroad that it makes more sense to import cheaply than to produce at home dearly One problem with this is that people need not have settled where there was comparative advantage in anything, so states exist that do not have a comparative advantage in anything Pakistan needs to import edible oil fuel and pharmaceutricals Exporting textiles or such raw materials as wheat or ores does not apparently cover expenses so the country has to borrow or rely on remittances Remittances are actually the proceeds of exported labour However, labour exported also means consumption exported, for while overseas Pakistanis earn abroad their consumption is lost to the local economy Though poverty has gone down to 22 2 percent, and should reach 21 5 percent by the end of the fiscal year, it is not accompanied by a rise in living standards
The World Bank explains this by saying that there is insufficient growth in the economy to support a rise
This is a direct indictment of the supplyside economics being forced on the government by the Washington Consensus policies which have been imposed on other countries/ The World Bank does claim that the Pakistani economy contains potential for an additional $60 billion in exports and makes this dependent on actions by the Pakistan government such as lowering tariffs, reforming regulations, high energy rates and poor logistics While exports are necessary, the trend towards exporting raw materials rather than finished products is not healthy There must a revisiting of the policy of borrowing, for it is the policy that got it in its present indebted situation in the first place
M A Niazi
Bdrain among doctors
E N E AT H the crisp white coats and confident demeanors of doctors lies a harsh reality that is becoming harder to ignore The medical profession, once revered as noble and fulfilling, is now plagued by alarming rates of burnout dissatisfaction and a mass exodus of talent The human cost of these challenges extends far beyond the doctors themselves and is affecting patients the healthcare system and society at large It s time to confront the growing crisis threatening the very fabric of healthcare in Pakistan Burnout has become a defining feature of the medical profession Characterized by emotional exhaustion detachment and a sense of ineffectiveness burnout stems from relentless stress and overwork
Globally more than half of healthcare professionals report symptoms of burnout but the numbers in Pakistan are even more staggering According to the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 68 percent of healthcare professionals in the country experience burnout Doctors often work gruelling hours managing hundreds of patients in overcrowded hospitals with limited resources For many the boundaries between professional and personal life blur leaving little room for rest or mental well-being The effects of burnout are devastating Exhausted doctors are more prone to errors errors that can have life-altering or even fatal consequences for patients A misdiagnosis an overlooked symptom or a moment of inattentiveness can shatter lives Research has consistently shown that burnt-out doctors are twice as likely to make such mistakes Burnout also strips doctors of their empathy, turning what should be compassionate interactions into impersonal transactions Patients sense this, and the trust they once placed in their physicians begins to erode leading to a breakdown in the doctor-patient relationship
Adding to the crisis is the phenomenon of brain drain Faced with low pay limited career prospects and overwhelming workloads, thousands of Pakistani doctors are choosing to leave the country Over 17,000 doctors migrated to countries like the USA, the UK, and the Gulf states in the last decade, lured by better working conditions and higher salaries This exodus leaves the healthcare system even more strained with fewer doctors available to manage an ever-growing patient load The numbers speak volumes The World Health Organization recommends one doctor for every 1,000 people, yet in Pakistan, a single doctor often caters to over 1 200 patients annually This overwork takes a toll not only on doctors’ physical and mental health but also on their ability to provide quality care Rural areas already underserved face even greater challenges, with nearly 80 percent of healthcare facilities understaffed and under-resourced Financial strain further exacerbates the issue A house officer in Pakistan earns an average of Rs
the enemy if they do not know about its might National threats need a national approach to tackle the issue So far the topmost challenge that has shaken the whole apparatus of the country is climate change To take an example, agriculture is the backbone of a country s economy and the aftermath of climate change has destroyed the agriculture of Pakistan The economic damage of the 2010 and 2021 floods is in billions, and the damage of the recent floods has yet to be ascertained The challenge of food security eventually leads to the challenge of national security The quote from the book mentioned earlier truly depicts the situation of climate change for Pakistan Lieven writes If floods and other ecological disasters on this scale become regular events as a result of Climate Change, then Pakistan will be destroyed as a state and as an organised society ” Knowing the severity and the might of the challenge of climate change climate education is an integral part of adaptive measures Vulnerable countries have been raising voices for climate justice and climate finance In fact, where there is a need for climate justice, there is a need for access to climate education
50,000-70,000 per month, a sum that barely covers basic living expenses For many doctors, the years of dedication to medical education feel unrewarded leading to disillusionment with their profession High stress low pay and societal expectations form a toxic cocktail that drives many to abandon the field altogether The irony is stark: while doctors are celebrated as lifesavers, they often struggle to sustain their own lives
The consequences for patients are severe A burnt-out doctor is less likely to engage with patients, explain diagnoses thoroughly or empathize with their concerns This harms the doctor-patient relationship fostering mistrust and dissatisfaction Patients increasingly turn to alternative treatments or self-diagnosis, further undermining the healthcare system
Yet, this crisis is not without solutions Globally,
It is time to act, to acknowledg e that the well-being of doctors directly impacts the well-being of a nation By prioritizing reforms, fostering empathy, and investing in healthcare , we can restore dignity to the medical profession and rebuild trust in the doctorpatient relationship When doctors thrive , so does society
It must be considered as a matter of justice Pakistan is a country where there is no access to climate education It is not given due attention nor has it been made a part of the curriculum Alexia Leclercq a climate activist lamenting the education system across the world, said, Educational systems across the world are not preparing new generations to take action on climate change ” Among other mitigation and adaptive measures climate education must be the topmost priority for the nations It will make them resilient to its looming damages for decades Climate justice is an immediate need for countries that are badly affected by climate change Vulnerable countries that are prone to climate change are paying for what big powers are consuming The global governance system like the United Nations must urge the global powers to meet the pledges they made as soon as possible It is their moral obligation to save the world from a big collapse Pakistan’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is very low though it has faced its most devastating floods which have swept away everything Pakistan cannot bear the brunt of the damage caused by climate change The Global North must approach Pakistan with its financial assistance for the sake of the lives of millions, as the world’s fifth largest population is at risk due to climate change
The writer is a freelance columnist
PakistanÊs contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is very low, though it has faced its most devastating floods, which have swept away everything Pakistan cannot bear the brunt of the damage caused by climate change. The Global North must approach Pakistan with its financial assistance for the sake of the lives of millions, as the worldÊs fifth largest population is at risk due to climate change.
The tariff tightrope
Green goals, grey gaps
PA K I S TA N stands on the frontlines of a crisis it did not create While the global powers debate emission targets negotiate climate financing frameworks, and make lofty promises at international summits, the people of Pakistan are already enduring the catastrophic consequences of a changing planet
With a contribution of less percent to global carbon emissions Pakistan remains
fields and irrigation channels dry up The cycle of destruction and reconstruction has become the new normal for those living along Pakistan s river basins If the floods were a slow-moving catastrophe the heatwaves that followed turned Pakistan into a furnace In cities like Jacobabad, temperatures soared to 51°C, making it one of the hottest places on Earth The unbearable heat has rendered outdoor work almost impossible affecting agricultural labourers construction workers and the urban poor who lack access to cooling systems The irony is cruel Pakistan swings between the extremes of climate change One season brings devastating floods, the next brings suffocating droughts and heatwaves
This pattern of climate volatility has placed immense pressure on the country s food security Wheat rice and cotton the pillars of Pakistan s agricultural economy are being hit by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and pest outbreaks triggered by climate change Beyond the plains another silent crisis is unfolding in Pakistan’s northern regions The Himalayan and Karakoram glaciers numbering more than 7 000 are melting at an alarming rate These glaciers feed the Indus River system, which sustains the agriculture, drinking water, and energy needs of over 220 million people Yet rising global temperatures are accelerating glacial melt faster than nature can replenish it The result is twofold: sudden glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) that wipe out entire villages, and long-term reductions in water flow that threaten the very existence of Pakistan’s agriculture Communities in GilgitBaltistan and Chitral are already witnessing unpredictable weather patterns flash floods in one season water scarcity in the next If
glaciers continue to retreat at their current pace, Pakistan may face an irreversible water crisis within decades Meanwhile, the country’s air quality ranks among the worst globally with smog now a recurring hazard in major cities like Lahore and Karachi Lahore has repeatedly topped the list of the most polluted cities on Earth The toxic air not only obscures skylines it damages lungs, shortens lives, and weakens immunity, especially among children and the elderly Our rivers are choking under the weight of pollution and mismanagement Industrial waste untreated sewage and agricultural runoff contaminate the very waters that sustain millions As our farms dry up and aquifers deplete, the link between environmental degradation and poverty becomes painfully evident For a nation where agriculture employs nearly 40 percent of the workforce the climate crisis is not just an ecological issue it is a developmental emergency And while climate change is global, its impacts are deeply unequal The poorest and most marginalized communities in Pakistan those who neither drive SUVs nor operate factories are paying the highest price In the southern provinces women and children walk miles under a scorching sun to fetch clean water In Sindh and Balochistan farmers have lost not only their crops but also their cattle and land to recurring floods Climate change, therefore, is not only an environmental issue it is a social justice issue It exposes the structural inequalities that exist within societies and between nations The global North continues to emit disproportionately, while the global South bears the brunt of its consequences The suffering of Pakistan’s poor is not an act of fate; it is a direct outcome of global negligence and the failure of international systems to act equitably Pakistan has shown commitment to cli-
mate action through frameworks such as the Pakistan Vision 2050 the 5Es Framework for National Transformation and its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
malaria, and dengue The human cost of this tragedy cannot be measured merely in dollars it was about shattered livelihoods, lost futures and broken resilience Even today recovery remains incomplete Families continue to rebuild homes that were washed away often with little to no international support Farmers already on the edge of poverty face another year of uncertainty as heatwaves scorch their
The
If fairness truly exists in climate discourse, then justice must begin here with nations like Pakistan that are suffering not because of what they did, but because of what others failed to stop The world must move beyond empty pledges and photo-ops Climate justice demands action, funding, and solidarity PakistanÊs climate story is not just one of victimhood it is one of resilience Despite immense adversity, the people of Pakistan continue to rebuild, replant, and resist But resilience has its limits Without global suppor t, without justice, and without fairness, even the strongest nations will falter.
animalistic behavior of US envoy towards Lebanon intensifies
Those who gamble on American protec tion are, in truth, handing the keys of their homeland to the ver y hands that seek its destruc tion! Washington views any refusal to normalize with Israel as a defiance of its Middle Eastern blueprint, a challenge to be crushed rather than understood
N
IBarrack’s remarks are not isolated slips of the tongue They form part of a systematic pattern of coercion and blackmail that reflect the deeply entrenched arrogance of Washington s diplomacy towards sovereign nations Barrack s message to Lebanon was chillingly clear: submit to Washington’s will and normalize with Tel Aviv or face chaos, collapse and destruction This tone of political thuggery exposes what
the rhetoric of peace and stability the U S so often parades: a neocolonial project aimed at subjugation, not coexistence In one of his earlier interviews with Sky News Arabia, Barrack cynically declared, “There is no such thing as peace There is one party that wants to control and subjugate others This blunt confession unmasks the essence of American foreign
a philosophy of dominance cloaked in the language of diplomacy His
threats merely reaffirm that Washington’s vision for Lebanon is not one of partnership but of
to the American-Israeli axis Even more alarming Barrack s statements effectively undermine the November 2024 ceasefire agreement casting doubt on Washington s commitment to any negotiated settlement By linking the truce s continuation to Hezbollah’s disarmament, the U S envoy is weaponizing diplomacy itself transforming peace initiatives into instruments of blackmail His language has long transcended diplomatic decorum; it has become a direct declaration of economic, political, and military coercion According to Barrack s logic, the Abraham Accords are the new compass of American strategy in the region Washington views any refusal to normalize with Israel as a defiance of its Middle Eastern blueprint a challenge to be crushed rather than understood Lebanon therefore is being positioned as a testing ground for this imperial experiment: a nation coerced through hunger, sanctions, and threats of war until it capitulates This is not the first time Barrack has adopted the tone of a colonial overseer Since his appointment he has issued at least four explicit threats He once proposed annexing
missed the concept of peace entirely boasting of a plan for control rather than reconciliation On another occasion, he hinted at arming the Lebanese army to fight its internal opponents” a barely veiled reference to the Resistance His latest and most dangerous provocation warning of civil war if Lebanon does not normalize with Israel completes a pattern of sustained aggression The ultimate goal of this rhetoric is clear: to impose submission Yet, Barrack and his superiors seem oblivious to Lebanon s long history of defiance The Lebanese have faced Israeli occupation internal strife and economic siege but refused to kneel down Since 1982 the logic of resistance has been the only force capable of preserving the country s sovereignty and dignity Internally, the Lebanese government s response remains lukewarm, shackled by an economic crisis largely engineered by the same powers now preaching “reform” The Ceasefire Monitoring Committee supposedly established to ensure stability has turned into a platform to impose new Israeli conditions without any reciprocal obligations, such as withdrawal from occupied lands or the return of displaced civilians Besides, the so-called “step-by-step” policy has failed miserably as Israel has never sought peace Israel seeks violent expansionism full domination and the erasure of any resistance Washington as the principal sponsor of this charade, bears full responsibility for perpetuating Israeli aggression and sabotaging genuine peace Barrack’s economic threats, too, are hypocritical Crisis in Lebanon did not begin yesterday It was orchestrated in 2019 through Washington s financial blockade and punitive sanctions which crippled its economy and blocked potential relief from Iranian energy and reconstruction offers Meanwhile, Lebanon stands at a crossroads: to yield to the humiliating logic of normalization or to uphold its dignity and independence The choice however is not merely political it is existential! A people who once declared humiliation is out of our reach cannot be forced to choose between starvation and surrender History has shown that every time external pressure mounts, the Lebanese people’s attachment to resistance only deepens Barrack’s animalistic threats will not succeed in taming a nation forged in struggle The real response lies not in diplomatic complaints but in decisive action namely Lebanon s withdrawal from the failed ceasefire supervision committee and the reaffirmation of a national doctrine that places sovereignty above submission Dignity is not a negotiable currency; those who gamble on American protection are in truth handing the keys of their homeland to the very hands that seek its destruction!
WH E N seven Zimbabweans announced on October 4 that they were suing the Church of England for enabling the brutal abuse they suffered at the hands of John Smyth, a leading figure in its evangelical movement, their action was not only about justice for the past It was an indictment of an institution that has never reckoned with the violence it spread under the banner of faith Smyth was not an isolated predator He was part of the Church s powerful inner circle A respected British barrister as well as an evangelical leader, he oversaw Christian camps in the United Kingdom Zimbabwe and South Africa where more than 100 boys and young men were abused He embodied the authority and social privilege that shielded him from scrutiny When reports of his abuse first surfaced in England in the early 1980s, the Church chose silence over accountability allowing him to carry his cruelty to Africa In Zimbabwe his victims were boys from Christian camps among them 16-year-old Guide Nyachuru, who was found dead in a camp swimming pool in 1992 More than three decades later, Nyachuru’s family has joined six other survivors in a lawsuit against the Church demanding accountability for both the abuse and the Church s deliberate inaction That history has now returned to haunt the Church What began as the concealment of one man s crimes has become a symbol of a much older truth: the Church of England’s authority in Africa was never only spiritual It was built on conquest complicity and the sanctification of empire On November 7 2024 the Makin Review an independent inquiry established to investigate the abuse perpetrated by Smyth, delivered its long-awaited findings The report was damning It revealed how senior Church figures had systematically concealed his crimes for decades treating him as a problem solved and exported to Africa Four days later Archbishop Justin Welby resigned, accepting both personal and institutional responsibility for what survivors described as a decades-long conspiracy of silence His departure marked a symbolic moment of accountability but of-
fered little comfort to those who endured Smyth’s brutality With Sarah Mullally now archbishop-designate survivors have urged the Church to use this transition as an opportunity for real accountability rather than another gesture of regret My family grew up under the long shadow of the Anglican Church I was baptised in the Anglican Church in Kambuzuma and christened at St Paul’s in Marlborough For that reason I feel both bound to the Church and deeply ashamed of that bond Like many others I never fully confronted its past or present brutalities At independence from Britain in April 1980, Prime Minister Robert Mugabe a devout Catholic promoted a policy of reconciliation that urged forgiveness without truth and progress without justice After decades of colonial rule we were told to move on, never to look back and ask who we had been before the Berlin Conference of 1884 For 45 years since, there has been no serious effort to hold the Church accountable for its expansive role in Zimbabwe s colonisation In 1890 when Bishop George KnightBruce blessed the Pioneer Column a paramilitary expedition funded by the British South Africa Company (BSAC) to seize Mashonaland and Matabeleland for the empire the Anglican Church positioned itself as the spiritual arm of conquest Knight-Bruce and his successors saw empire and evangelism as inseparable tools of divine order They acquired extensive tracts of land seized by the BSAC while preaching salvation through submission to the colonial state By the turn of the 20th century the Anglican Church had established mission stations at St Augustine s St Faith s and St David s (Bonda) in Manicaland These were not schools at their inception but evangelical outposts, centres for conversion, settlement and the consolidation of colonial authority that later evolved into major educational and medical institutions They also trained and disciplined African labour for the colonial economy teaching obedience and industry as Christian virtues in the service of the empire The pulpit became a weapon of assimilation, and the classroom a tool of subtle erasure and indoctrination In sermon and scripture alike subjugation was camouflaged as enlightenment The colonisation of Zimbabwe was at its core, a commercial enterprise, and the Church of England profited morally, spiritually and materially from the bloodletting of local communities Children were taught to despise their culture and submit to an English
TEHRAN TIMES
hadia Safeer Choudhry
comments at a routine press conference on Wednesday when asked to comment on the prospects of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and what role will China play amid recent positive progress Recently positive progress has been made in the process of regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific The upgraded protocol of the China-ASEAN
Trump
Ag e n c i e s
aza
Free Trade Area (FTA) 3 0 was officially signed, and the fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders Meeting was held during which a joint statement was issued Meanwhile the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and others have also warned that although the Asia-Pacific remains the fastest-growing region in the world, rising tariffs and protectionism could exacerbate economic vulnerabilities Guo said that the Asia-Pacific is the world s most dynamic economic player and engine of growth and a forerunner in regional cooperation and economic integration More than three years since the entry into force of the RCEP economic cooperation and trade between member states has continued to deepen and regional economy has maintained relatively rapid growth China and ASEAN have been each other s
largest trading partner for five consecutive years The signing of the upgraded ChinaASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) 3 0 Upgrade Protocol is a major outcome that deepens bilateral economic relations and will provide more impetus and confidence for the Asia-Pacific and global economic growth, Guo said Guo said the latest report of the IMF estimates an economic growth of 4 5 percent this year in the Asia-Pacific which continues to outpace other regions Facts have shown that openness cooperation and integrated development are the key to the Asia-Pacific miracle and the only way for countries in the region to jointly meet challenges and create a better future Guo noted that as a responsible member of the Asia-Pacific family China has
CORPORATE CORNER
Khan Younis
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza was not at risk after Israel launched airstrikes in the enclave which killed 26 people in response to the killing of an Israeli soldier Israeli planes struck in Gaza on Tuesday after Israel accused the militant group Hamas of violating the ceasefire, the latest violence in the three-week-old deal brokered by Trump Gazan health authorities said the strikes killed at least 26 people, including five in a house hit in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip four in a building in Gaza City s Sabra neighborhood, and five in a car in
“As I understand it they took out an Israeli soldier Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One So the Israelis hit back and they should hit back When that happens, they should hit back, he added The Israeli military confirmed the soldier ’s death on Wednesday People gather during the search for the bodies of deceased hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 2023 attack on Israel amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, October 28, 2025 Photo: Reuters “Nothing is going to jeopardize” the ceasefire Trump said “You have to understand Hamas is a very small part of peace in the Middle East and they have to behave The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes, which followed a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying he had ordered immediate powerful attacks An Israeli military official said Hamas had violated the ceasefire by carrying
of Medicine delivered the plenary talk on Global Strategies for Equitable Cancer Care " The symposium showcased cutting-edge research presentations, with awards such as the Ahsan Rashid Memorial Award Bashir-Alavi Award Begum Mir Nursing Award and honours for top free papers recognising outstanding contributions to oncology research in Pakistan F
Launch of Prof Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad’s Book ‘Time: Scientific, Western and Islamic Concepts’ Held at UMT
LAHORE S ta f f r e p o r t The University of Management and Technology (UMT) hosted an elegant launch ceremony for the latest publication of UMT Press Time: Scientific, Western and Islamic Concepts, written by the late Prof Dr Hasan Sohaib Murad, an eminent educationist, visionary thinker, and reformer The book presents a remarkable intellectual journey through the nature of time from its measurable reality in science to its philosophical interpretation in Western thought and finally to its spiritual and moral dimensions in Islam The ceremony was graced by President UMT and Former Provincial Minister Ibrahim Hasan Murad, Dr Naushaba Hasan Murad, Provost UMT Dr Asghar Zaidi Prof Abid Sherwani DG UMT Ahmad Abdullah and Lt Gen (R) Javed Hasan Distinguished scholars and intellectuals including Prof Ahmad Javed Dr Khurshid Rizvi, Dr Amjad Saqib, Hafeezullah Khan Niazi, Syed Bilal Qutab, and Orya Maqbool Jan also attended, alongside a large audience of writers researchers teachers and students
CM MARYAM INVITES US INVESTORS TO EXPLORE PUNJAB’S
VAST OPPORTUNITIES
Magnificent ‘Pakistan Turkey
c ultural festival ’ begins at KIU on Turkey's National D ay
Karakoram International University Gilgit Baltistan organized a splendid Pakistan Turkey Regional Cultural Festival on the occasion of Turkey s National Day According to the KIU Public Relations Department the event promoted the strong relations brotherhood and educational and cultural ties between the two countries Held at the university s main campus, the ceremony also featured practical demonstrations of Turkish and Pakistani traditions Students wore traditional attire from both countries, while stalls displayed food, handicrafts, clothing, and other items from Turkey, Pakistan, and all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan University Director of Quality Enhancement Cell Professor Dr Abdul Razzaq along with other senior administrative and teaching officers, visited the exhibition
stalls set up by the students during the festival There, the students provided detailed presentations about their stalls The stalls set up by students and female students remained the center of attention KIU Provost Dr Qamar Abbas while shedding light on the historical and deep relations between the two countries, said that Pakistan and Turkey are not merely allies but a family This event further strengthens our shared values of resilience and hospitality He stated that this event will prove helpful in
understanding both countries more closely and forging lasting friends h i p s H
events are being organized under the vision of KIU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Ataullah Shah with the aim of familiarizing stu-
beloved country as well as brotherly nations It may be recalled that the event was organized by the KIU Provost s Office in collaboration with the KIU Department of Sociology and Anthropology
R andhawa, Lebanese envoy discuss strengthening bilateral ties
ISLAMABAD S
t
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa met with the Ambassador of Lebanon
H E Abdullaziz Issa at the CDA Headquarters on Wednesday Matters of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting, along with strengthening bilateral relations On this occasion, both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen urban-level relations and cooperation between Islamabad and Beirut
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that Pakistan holds its brotherly country Lebanon in high esteem and respect He expressed the desire to further solidify the sister city relationship between Islamabad and Beirut
The Ambassador of Lebanon, H E Abdullaziz Issa appreciated the measures taken by CDA for the beauty and development of Islamabad stating that Islamabad is an extraordinarily green and naturally beautiful city He remarked that the beauty greenery and cleanliness of Islamabad are surprisingly and unexpectedly remarkable
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that efforts are ongoing to make Islamabad an even more beautiful and greener city He mentioned that the
Margalla Hills further enhance the natural beauty of Islamabad Chairman CDA said that the Capital City Islamabad is a modern gridlock city established in 1960 under a master plan
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa informed that a plan is under consideration to relocate all diplomatic missions to the Diplomatic Enclave Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa while informing about the beautification and upgradation of the Diplomatic Enclave, further said that recreational and sports facilities are being increased alongside the beautification of the Diplomatic Enclave The meeting also reaffirmed the commitment to enhance cooperation in other areas of mutual interest and to further strengthen city level and cultural relations
SECMC becomes first mining company in Pakistan to win four mining technology excellence awards
SINDH
S ta f f r e p o r t
Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC),
NAQVI HAILS IRAN AS PARTNER FOR REGIONAL PEACE AMID AFGHAN BORDER TENSIONS
