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Pak istan, Indonesia reaffirm deeper strategic par tnership as President Subianto wraps up visit

Marking a milestone in their long-standing relationship, Pakistan and Indonesia on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to substantially expand political, economic defence and cultural cooperation as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto concluded his two-day official visit to Islamabad at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, with both sides pledging a forward-looking partnership aligned with regional stability economic growth and people-centric development In a joint statement issued at the end of the visit both sides said the trip carried special significance, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two brotherly nations

President Prabowo held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Asif Ali Zardari and was also called on by Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir President Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country s highest civilian award, on the visiting dignitary in recognition of Indonesia’s longstanding friendship with Pakistan The leadership of the two countries noted that bilateral ties predate their independence and reaffirmed their resolve to build on this historic foundation by adopting a forwardlooking agenda Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of relations and agreed to deepen collaboration across political diplomatic economic trade security defence cultural education scientific and health sectors

Bilawal

rules out more Constitutional changes, says ‘two amendments are enough’

LAHORE S ta f f r e p o r t Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday firmly opposed any further constitutional amendments, declaring that the 26th and 27th amendments passed earlier this year were sufficient and that “no room” remained for additional changes in the current parliamentary term Speaking to senior journalists in Lahore, Bilawal stressed that the Constitution was not a document to be altered repeatedly His remarks come amid intensifying speculation over a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment fuelled in part by state-

ments from Prime Minister s Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah, who has publicly hinted that the government intends to table the amendment soon Bilawal s resistance carries significant political weight While the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) commands a simple majority in the National Assembly with 131 seats, it still depends on the PPP’s support to reach the two-thirds majority 224 votes required for any constitutional amendment The ruling coalition also includes lawmakers from the MQM-P, PML-Q, IPP and several smaller parties, along with independent members, while the opposition holds 89 seats In the Senate

the government similarly needs a two-thirds majority 64 votes to pass any amendment The ruling alliance currently controls 61 seats compared to the opposition’s 35

The proposed 28th Amendment is said to focus on education population management and local government reforms, according to Sanaullah’s earlier statements ‘Make South Punjab a province first’

Addressing the long-standing debate over new provinces Bilawal said that before any further proposals were considered the resolution already passed by the Punjab Assembly for creating a South Punjab province should be implemented

Punjab Assembly passes resolution seeking ban on PTI for ‘anti-state’ activities

and insisting that Imran was “not a security threat”

The Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi, has issued new Customs values for 11 medical items imported from China, revising the assessment rates used to calculate duties and taxes

The adjustments were notified through Valuation Ruling No 2030 of 2025 which re-determines Customs values for Alcohol Swabs/Pads Heparin Caps Nebulizer and Oxygen Masks Nasal Oxygen Cannulas/Tubes 3way Stopcocks (with and without tubes), Spinal Needles, Aneroid devices, Disposable Skin Staplers, ECG Electrodes and 3-ball Spirometers

The revised values will not apply to international brands such as Omron Rossmax Certeza Beurer Citizen Accu-Chek Accusure and B Braun even when manufactured in China

In its order, the Director General instructed the valuation directorate to conduct a fresh assessment within four weeks, using the valuation methodology outlined in Section 25 and consulting all stakeholders

Following the directive notices were issued and stakeholders including importers participated in meetings to reconsider the values Importers submitted documents and proposed values, including two additional items they requested be re-evaluated after the previous

smuggling and safeguard the public from dangerous narcotics

90-day period had lapsed Customs authorities stated that valuation methods based on identical or similar goods could not be applied due to limited comparable import data Market surveys under Section 25(7)

inapplicable, as

was

under

facturers

cost data from the exporting country was unavailable Ultimately the directorate determined Customs values under Section 25(9) read with

the destruction of numerous enemy tanks and significantly altered the course of the battlefield In the midst of this heroic effort he embraced shahadat after being struck by enemy fire, leaving behind a legacy of unmatched devotion, duty, and patriotism Sowar Muhammad Hussain Shaheed’s sacrifice continues to stand as a symbol of steadfast resolve and an enduring reminder of the commitment of Pakistan s Armed Forces to defend the nation s sovereignty at all costs His courage inspires generations of soldiers who remain ready to uphold the security and dignity of the motherland As the nation pays heartfelt tribute to this gallant son of Pakistan, we reaffirm our collective resolve to honor the sacrifices of all our martyrs heroes whose bravery selflessness and unwavering dedication illuminate the path for a stronger and secure Pakistan

in SBP debt in five months of

n e w s D e s k

Government borrowing from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) stayed in negative territory during the first five months of FY26, as Islamabad continued to retire central bank debt and rely on commercial banks to meet its financing requirements

The federal government retired Rs877 23 billion between July 1 and November 28 2025 compared with net borrowing of Rs32 billion in the same period last year During the same five months, the government raised Rs115 4 billion from scheduled banks whereas a year earlier it had repaid Rs1 681 trillion to them

Analysts said the trend reflects ongoing fiscal consolidation and adherence to the SBP Act s prohibition on central bank borrowing They noted that a record budget surplus and disciplined cash-flow management enabled early repayment According to Finance Ministry adviser Khurram Schehzad the government s approach supports policy credibility and will create fiscal space for development social protection, and growth-enhancing priorities For budgetary support specifically Islamabad retired Rs804 69bn during July–November down from Rs2 166tr in the same period last year The country recorded a 1 6% of GDP fiscal surplus (Rs2 1tr) in July–September FY26, compared to 1 7% in the corresponding quarter of FY25, largely due to substantial SBP profits of Rs2 42tr from large open-market operation positions

Despite the improved fiscal balance, revenue performance remained strained The Federal Board of Revenue collected Rs3 835 trillion in July–October, falling short of its Rs4 108tr target by Rs274bn mainly due to lower domestic sales tax receipts Year-on-year however collections were up 12% Meanwhile, bank credit to the private sector remained subdued Lending during July–November amounted to Rs186 81bn sharply lower than the Rs1 3tr extended in the same period last year despite improved financial conditions and signs of economic recovery Officials and analysts say the borrowing pattern underscores the government’s focus on reducing dependence on SBP financing while managing fiscal pressures amid weak revenue mobilisation

question regarding the possibility of a ban on PTI and the imposition of governor ’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa said “As a political worker I do not support that any party should be banned or that governor s rule should be imposed But she continued considering the state of affairs the PTI is pushing us to go in that direction On the one hand, KP remains most afflicted by terrorism, the police their remain understaffed; they do not yet have a Crimes Control Department (CCD) and police do not have the necessary equipment ” she said

CONTINUED FR OM PAGE 01

The prime minister assured the Indonesian president that Pakistan would work closely with Indonesia to achieve these targets and accelerate mutually beneficial initiatives During a ceremony for signing several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) PM Shehbaz highlighted agreements to promote cooperation in culture, medical health, education, and vocational training reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the “brotherly nation ” He announced that Pakistani doctors dentists medical professors, and experts would assist Indonesia, which is currently establishing a large number of medical colleges and universities “I assure you that whatever is possible for us in this regard we will do it without any delay and with great pleasure the premier said Historic Relations and Shared Values

PM Shehbaz reflected on the long-standing ties between the two nations noting that relations predate Pakistan s independence He recalled that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah supported Indonesia s independence movement while serving as president of the All India Muslim League The prime minister also lauded Indonesia’s unwavering support during the 1965 war with India calling it a rock-solid stance that has gone into the annals of history in golden words and will be remembered by the people of Pakistan for all times to come ” Highlighting Indonesia’s consistent support for Gaza and the Palestinian cause PM Shehbaz expressed appreciation for its role in halting bloodshed in the region By the grace of God bloodshed has stopped; however, Israel s ceasefire violations continue It is high time that we put our heads together to end this bloodshed once and for all ” he said The premier expressed optimism that the Pakistan-Indonesia

bond would continue to grow in strength, depth, and vision, noting that President Subianto’s visit would take bilateral relations to a much higher level He stressed that both countries are committed to working together for progress and peace in the region Nishan-i-Pakistan Conferred on President Subianto At a formal ceremony at the Aiwan-i-Sadr President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Nishan-i-Pakistan, Pakistan s highest civil award, on President Subianto The investiture ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir air force and navy chiefs federal cabinet members and other dignitaries

During their bilateral meeting, Presidents Zardari and Subianto discussed historic ties, shared values, and the long-standing foundations laid by Quaid-e-Azam Jinnah and then-Indonesian President Sukarno

WI T H the International Monetary Fund s Board of Directors giving approval on Monday, the decks have been cleared for the dispersal of Rs 1 2 billion to Pakistan being a $1 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility of $7 billion, and a $$200 million tranche under the Resilience and Support Fund programme of $1billion

It was the second review of the EFF and the first of the RSF At the beginning of this EFF, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced that it would be the last It is now about midway through the three year programme and it should have started to be discernible whether or not the economy is going to be on track for this The main issue is whether the country has got a pathway to avoiding the sort of crisis that forces it to turn to the IMF for a bailout

If one examines what forces Pakistan to turn to the IMF, it has been its difficulties in servicing its foreign debt While the IMF shakes its head and calls for Pakistan to carry out reforms it seems to have left vague the method by which increased foreign exchange generation is to take place The reforms are supposed to develop a virtuous cycle, where Pakistan piles up foreign exchange Actually all that is happening is that the IMF ensures that Pakistan is capable of paying off its creditors, including the IMF It issues a sort of Seal of Good Housekeeping which means only that the country is able to access the global money markets In short, incur more debt, which we are then going to have to service, at some stage going cap in hand to the IMF to tide us over There is the possibility that the IMF’s reform proposals are wrong I short, that the IMF doesn t know its economics Still, its proposed reforms are economic orthodoxy because Mr Sharif asked a British academic to make proposals (on which the URAAn proposals are based), and he came up with something very much like what the IMF proposed The Finance Ministry clearly does not have its economic theory right or the country would not be in the situation it is Maybe the IMF has got its economics wrong, because it does not show the path by which the country can get itself out of the debt trap it finds itself in Perhaps the government should see what happens if it carries out the reforms recommended, which start with businessmen and; arge landlords paying their fair whack

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

US voters attitudes towards the Israeli Palestinian conflict have changed, but media commentators and political consultants haven’t figured that out They are stuck in the past with outdated assumptions about the electorate and as a result continue to operate from an old playbook A feature article in last week s Washington Post Ones to Watch as the 2026 Midterm Races Kick Into Gear provides the best evidence of just how out of touch the analysts are The piece featured six races Post writers deemed worth watching next year One of the highlighted races was Arab American Dr Abdul El-Sayed’s bid for the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat from Michigan After describing El-Sayed s unapologetic progressivism that is, he supports Medicare-for-all and raising taxes on billionaires, and has been endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders the author delivers this blow:

“His views on foreign policy are perhaps his most controversial He has called Israel’s actions in

aid to Israel with only 13 percent wanting to see an increase in such aid Among Democrats the decrease/increase ratio is 58 percent to 4 percent Among Independents it s the almost the same Is Israel committing genocide? Among all voters, 44 percent say yes and 28 percent say no Among Democrats the ratio is 68 percent “yes” and just 8 percent “no ” And among Independents it’s 45 percent to 19 percent Other polls show voters affirming that they are more likely to support candidates who advance such positions and less likely to vote for those who defend Israeli policies and want to maintain current levels of military aid to Israel The obvious conclusion one can draw from this data is that candidates who take positions like those supported by El-Sayed are not at all controversial In fact they are a part of the new American mainstream As if to provide further evidence of this shift with less than a year before the midterm elections, it s striking to note that more than two dozen congressional candidates have already declared their intent to reject PAC contributions from pro-Israel groups This includes three sitting members of Congress all of whom have previously been strong supporters of Israel and have in previous elections been the recipients of millions of dollars from pro-Israel sources including PACs and dark

established just how extensive the changes in attitudes are The most recent and comprehensive of these polls of US public opinion was conducted by The Economist in August 2025 Here s some of what they found: • 43 percent of voters favor decreasing military

As we get closer to the 2026 midterm elections, we can expect more candidates to publicly distance themselves from Israeli policies. We can also expect that pro-Israel groups will panic and up the ante by pouring tens of millions into defeating candidates who are critical of Israel. My sense is that this may backfire because in 2026 what will be controversial are Israeli policies and pro-Israel campaign contributions, not the opposite . The sooner the analysts, consultants, and media figure that out, the better our politics will be .

Countries that have reduced preventable deaths from Turkey to Malaysia, did so by recognising safety as a core governance responsibility rather than a discretionary public service

Power shifts without Washington

oversight or worker protections Daily-wage labourers climb unsafe scaffolding construction workers operate machinery without training, and domestic workers handle electrical appliances without safeguards The cost of safety is often viewed by small businesses as unaffordable while regulators lack the resources to monitor compliance The result is a system where economic survival overrides institutional responsibility Public attitudes also play a role Years of exposure to unmanaged risks have normalised danger Citizens expect potholes, open ditches and dangling wires Fatal incidents are perceived as individual misfortunes rather than systemic failures This cultural desensitisation allows negligence to persist without political urgency

There are examples of improvement Punjab’s building control authorities have expanded inspections in major cities and the national Highway and Motorway Police continues to earn recognition for its professionalism Karachi s rescue and fire department, after years of neglect, received new equipment and training through public-private partnerships These initiatives show that progress is possible but they also reveal a key lesson: safety improves where institutions receive stable leadership dedicated budgets and legal authority Ultimately, the issue is not that Pakistan lacks the ability to enforce safety standards It is that public safety has not been framed as a political priority It does not shape electoral debates, budgetary allocations or annual performance metrics Without making safety a measurable governance target preventable deaths will continue to be recorded as isolated tragedies rather than indicators of systemic failure Pakistan s crises often dominate headlines, from economic pressures to political contestation Yet the quieter crisis of preventable deaths demands equal attention A society’s commitment to safety reflects its commitment to life Until public safety becomes a core pillar of national planning, Pakistan will continue to lose citizens to dangers that every functioning state has the capacity to prevent The writer is a transnational educational consultant freelance columnist and policy analyst based in Lahore

D eaths that can be avoided

Suleman Zia

C l a s h e s t h a t c o u l d i g n i t e a w a r

and precision suggest a shift in Pakistan’s approach The strikes reached closer to Kabul than any previous operation signaling a willingness to take risks beyond the border areas This has led some observers to question whether Pakistan might be seeking more than just retaliation, possibly a strategy to weaken the Taliban government or force a political recalibration in Kabul However regime change is a high-risk calculation The Taliban s hold on power remains firm despite internal divisions and economic hardship Any overt attempt by Pakistan to undermine the Taliban could unite Afghan factions against a common external enemy reigniting nationalist sentiment Moreover a direct confrontation would almost certainly inflame anti-Pakistan sentiment among Afghans and further damage Islamabad s standing in the Muslim world For Pakistan, the conflict is also tied to its domestic security concerns The resur-

gence of militant attacks inside its borders has fuelled public anger and political pressure on the military to act decisively Islamabad’s leadership faces a difficult balance to show strength without plunging into an uncontrollable regional war A full-scale war between Pakistan and Afghanistan would reverberate across South and Central Asia It could disrupt regional trade routes, fuel

The latest border violence is more than just a flare-up; it reflects the deep mistrust that has defined Pakistan-Afghanistan relations for g enerations. Unless both governments can find a way to separate their security fears from their political ambitions, the cycle of strikes, reprisals and denials will continue drawing the region ever closer to the brink. Restraint and dialogue remain the only durable path forward.

from a long-time senior friend who lived in the area and was then the president of the US chapter of Awami League He was hosting a dinner for Sheikh Hasina and told me clearly that this was not a party-political event He had invited a small group of non-political professionals living in the area whom Sheikh Hasina wished to meet I immediately told him: Brother I am not only nonpolitical Sheikh Hasina doesn t even know me When I declined, he kept insisting Since the host was a very old acquaintance, I finally agreed and went to the dinner I had seen and heard Sheikh Hasina earlier when she was Prime Minister at official events in Washington In fact the first time I ever saw her was as PM I had worked for several months as Special Assistant in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur rahman s office right after Bangladesh became independent Following that I had worked for three years with one of the leaders of the independence struggle, Mr Kamaruzzaman I have many memories of Mujib, and even more of Kamaruzzaman (I have recorded the events of those four years in my recently published book Unsettled Times ) At that time I never had the opportunity to meet Sheikh Hasina let alone speak to her Before and after becoming PM, and while she was Leader of the Opposition, Sheikh Hasina visited Washington privately several times Whenever she came, leaders of the US branch of Awami League would organize small discussion meetings at different venues in the Washington area The invitees were usually Bangladeshi professionals working in international organizations think-tanks or law-related institutions Most were non-political people, though vocal about democratic rights in Bangladesh I never had the chance to attend any of those gatherings That evening, when I reached my senior friend’s house I found several familiar Bangladeshi faces people working in various international organizations a few academics and some federal government employees To my knowledge almost everyone was non-political In all there were about 20 guests A little later, Sheikh Hasina arrived with her son Joy and four or five companions After introductions, Sheikh Hasina

dependence, the achievements of her government, and her hopes for the future As the conversation gradually moved to the current deplorable state of politics and the responsibility of the political parties I asked her a question I wanted to know whether she did not think that a change of leadership at the top of the country s political parties was necessary Did long tenure of the same leadership not make political activity lifeless?

Sheikh Hasina looked straight at me and replied

“Do you think I have grabbed the party leadership of my own accord (in her words sēdhe sēdhe)? Twenty thousand councillors voted for me and made me president I persisted like a stubborn child: But unless you step aside voluntarily, they will obviously keep wanting you The reply clearly did not please her She did not exchange another word with me after that comment

After some more discussion dinner was served I took my plate and saw that Sheikh Hasina was already seated and eating with Joy beside her When the hostess asked me to sit Sheikh Hasina surprised me by saying Come, sit here

When Joy suddenly stood up, the hostess signalled me to take the chair beside Hasina As soon as I sat down I told her that I had not meant any criticism about her presidency and hoped she had not taken offense She shook her head and said no she had not minded at all

Then I told her that I had never spoken to her before that evening; I had first seen her only after she became PM I added that right after independence I had worked for several months with her father, and later Mujib had sent me to Minister Kamaruzzaman as his private secretary I remained with Kamaruzzaman for as long as he was a minister Sheikh Hasina s face lit up Oh really?

We have just made Kamaruzzaman Saheb s son a member of the Awami Leag t l itt After the end of the her possible return to the caretaker governm turn At one point she whether the ban was re rested upon return was tonished at how calmly ban or arrest as if it next, though in jest, w She told us: “Ther turn home everyone th I am thinking I will firs a burqa and with their der and enter Banglade happens happens Sh it, and everyone laughe joke I was amazed spoke, even in jest, ab with India

Listening to her I Sheikh Hasina a ma words or a seasoned p That night, between fo talk, it got quite late b we left The subsequen tory is known to all caretaker governme was forced to lift th ban on her return and

she went back to Dhaka

But a few weeks later, in July 2007, both she and Khaleda Zia were detained Almost 11 months later in June 2008 she was released on parole for medical treatment and came to the United States again She stayed several months in virginia with her son That was when I met her the second time this time in Maryland, my own state The second meeting happened despite my reluctance I had felt somewhat embarrassed about the first encounter So when a month earlier a well-known local friend who was present in the previous meeting invited me to another dinner in honour of Sheikh Hasina I excused myself citing another commitment I thought I had escaped But two weeks later my friend called again and said, “This time you must come, because the “Leader” herself mentioned your name and asked that you be invited and to bring your wife as well ” I was stunned We had met only once a year earlier How did she remember me? Working with Mujib or Kamaruzzaman was hardly something so special that she would personally ask for me to be invited After consulting my wife, I informed the host that we would come This second dinner was larger in scale more peo-

dr MuhaMMad akraM Zaheer

I N G U P A M O N G M A R K ET S

Israeli forces raid UN Palestinian refugee agency building in East Jerusalem

The

“This is a substantial debt that required collection after repeated requests warnings and numerous opportunities given to settle it which were not answered it told Reuters

UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler said the East Jerusalem compound remained UN premises despite the Israeli ban on its operations and that the agency had no debts to the municipality The U N had contacted Israeli authorities several times to remind them of their obligations under a UN convention to which Israel is a signatory he said An Israeli government spokesperson did not respond to questions about the raid but reiterated Israel s criticism of the organisation The UN has said some of its employees may have been involved in the October 7 2023 Hamas attack on Israel

“We know UNRWA has been a stain on the United Nations,” said the spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian “There is a direct connection between UNRWA and Hamas inside the Gaza with nearly every terrorist that crossed into Israeli territory to commit genocidal acts against our people on October 7, in fact, a UNRWA school graduate Lazzarini said police motorcycles and trucks and forklifts were brought in and communications were cut IT equipment furniture and other property had been seized he said The UN General Assembly renewed UNRWA s mandate first established in 1949 for another three years on Friday Fowler declined to speculate on the timing of the raid He said Israel had been conducting a “sustained disinformation campaign” against UNRWA whose responsibilities it wants taken over by other UN bodies Palestinians view UNRWA s existence as enmeshed with the preservation of their rights as refugees, especially their hope of returning to homes from which they or their ancestors fled or were expelled in the war over Israel’s creation in 1948

ISRAELI CRITICISM Israel has alleged that some UNRWA staff were members of the Palestinian

2023

rael s war against Hamas in which

authorities say more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed UNRWA has fired several staff members but said Israel had not provided evidence

Florida follows Texas in declaring CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organisations

(L–R)

UPGRADES, BOOSTS AGRICULTURE

Pakistan honors leadership of women with disabilities at International D ay of Persons with D isabilities

event

s leadership as Sightsavers Pakistan, in collaboration with the National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) hosted a national event marking three major milestones: the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 40 years of Sightsavers work, and 15 years of the NFWWD s advocacy and movement-building

The gathering brought together government representatives especially Wajiha Qamar Minister of State Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training development partners, the EU Delegation, disability rights activists, and women leaders from across the country Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan Chairman of the Prime Minister s

Youth Programme, attended as Chief Guest and commended the event for spotlighting the contributions of women with disabilities to Pakistan’s social and economic development Pakistan s future depends on how well we include and support women with disabilities Their leadership is essential, not optional, for achieving national development

officers of 48th STP of Pakistan

Ser vice visit CDA

S ta f f r e p o r t

The Probationary officers and faculty of the 48th

Specialized Training Program (STP) of the Pakistan

Administrative Service (PAS) undertook a study visit to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Tuesday Member Administration Talat

Mehmood Member Environment Esfandyar

Baloch Member Finance Tahir Naeem along with other senior officers, welcomed the faculty and probationary officers at the CDA Headquarters Probationary officers were briefed on the administrative structure of CDA, functions and operations of its various wings The officers were given detailed briefing about the implementation of the Islamabad Master Plan and Zoning Regulations of the

goals, he said, calling for stronger institutional support, policy implementation, and youth-focused opportunities that remain inclusive and accessible Wajiha Qamar Minister of State Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training in her speech stressed, I commend Sightsavers and NFWWD for promoting disability inclusion

Philanthropists to drive nationwide education revolution with Green Crescent Trust

The leading Sindh-based educational charity Green Crescent Trust (GCT) is set to hold consecutive get-togethers in Lahore and Islamabad seeking philanthropic support from prominent businessmen and industrialists in Punjab and the federal capital to accelerate its mission of enrolling out-of-school children across Sindh GCT CEO Zahid Saeed will deliver a compelling presentation highlighting key facts and figures related to the current education crisis in Pakistan He will also outline a practical and impactful way forward proposing sustainable solutions to address the serious challenges facing school education particularly for underprivileged children through GCT s proven and scalable model For the past 31 years, GCT has been working tirelessly to eradicate illiteracy and provide quality education to children from underprivileged communities The trust has established a network of 173 charitable schools in remote and neglected rural areas of Sindh, with a total enrolment of 34,660 students, over 40 per cent of whom are girls Among these students, 2,150 orphans receive specialized support for both their education and welfare delivered by more than 2 000 qualified teachers committed to serving deprived communities The upcoming event in Lahore will be graced by Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman Probationar y

Pak istan tells UN oceans must not become arenas of domination

which Pakistan signed in July He stressed the need for fair benefit-sharing capacity-building and technology transfer in line with the principle of the common heritage of humankind particularly to support the Global South in maritime economic development Calling for a comprehensive regime for seabed exploitation, Zulfiqar Ali said rules on equitable benefit-sharing must be finalised before mining could begin in the Area the seabed and ocean floor beyond national jurisdiction

At the outset, the petitioners counsels emphasised that their clients were seeking nothing more than information Advocate Babar Asif said cases had been registered against the petitioners and the authorities were bound to provide the details Nihung, however, expressed concern that repeated applications for protective bail by some petitioners were hampering investigations He argued that several of the individuals had been on protective bail for nearly a year and urged the court to consolidate the cases before a single forum Justice Ali questioned how such consolidation could be done when the prosecution had already provided partial details The defence lawyers countered by highlighting practical obstacles in accessing case records Advocate Bashir Wazir representing the KP chief minister said investigators informed them of multiple FIRs, but when they approached the relevant offices, they were told that files were sealed and unavailable He maintained that the petitioners had consistently appeared