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PM REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN PAK-TAJIK MULTIFACETED COOPERATION
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Saturday, 20 December, 2025 | 28 Jamadiul Sani, 1447
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PM SHEHBAZ MEETS TAJIKISTAN’S MINISTER OF CULTURE, VOICES SATISFACTION OVER POSITIVE TRAJECTORY OF BILATERAL TIES
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BOTH LEADERS DISCUSS WAYS TO DEEPEN COLLABORATION, PARTICULARLY IN CULTURAL DOMAIN
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 165 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
HIGHLIGHTS SIGNIFICANCE OF ONGOING PAKISTAN-TAJIKISTAN CULTURAL WEEK BEING HELD IN ISLAMABAD TO CELEBRATE RICH TRADITIONS, ARTS AND HERITAGE OF BOTH COUNTRIES g
PREMIER CUTS TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION OF AUTISM CENTRE FROM TWO YEARS TO ONE YEAR
REAFFIRMS GOVT’S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION, THERAPY AND VOCATIONAL FACILITIES TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
PM welcomes Australia’s interest in mining and minerals sector, condemns Bondi Beach attack ISLAMABAD
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ISLAMABAD
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RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to multifaceted cooperation with Tajikistan— spanning trade, regional connectivity, energy and culture—underscoring Islamabad’s resolve to further strengthen bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of both nations.
The prime minister expressed these views during a meeting with Tajikistan’s Minister of Culture Sattoriyon Matlubakhon Amonzoda here, voicing satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and discussing ways to deepen collaboration, particularly in the cultural domain. The prime minister extended a warm welcome to the visiting minister and her delegation, highlighting the deep-rooted historical, cultural and civilizational bonds
ATC sentences Yasmin Rashid and other PTI leaders to prison terms in May 9 violence case ISLAMABAD
staff report
An anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Friday handed down 10-year prison sentences to senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, and Ejaz Chaudhry, in a case linked to the May 9 riots. The verdict was announced by ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gul inside Kot Lakhpat Jail. In the same case, the court acquitted former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and 13 other accused. During the proceedings, the court recorded final statements from 21 accused individuals, while the prosecution presented testimony from 56 witnesses. Four suspects were declared proclaimed offenders during the course of the trial. The case was registered by the Race Course Police Station over the attack on the GOR-1 gate at Club Chowk during the May 9 unrest. According to the FIR, the accused were charged with damaging security cameras, destroying police wireless equipment, smashing glass panels at the gate, damaging government property, and assaulting police personnel. Prosecutors alleged that the attack was carried out by a mob led by PTI leader Hammad Azhar and that party leaders incited workers to violence and rebellion. The court ensured the presence of both detained and bailgranted accused throughout the trial. The ruling adds to the growing legal challenges faced by the Imran Khan-founded PTI, as multiple party leaders have received prison sentences in connection with the May 9 riots, while several others, including the former prime minister, remain incarcerated in various cases. This marked the fifth conviction in May 9-related cases for Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, and Ejaz Chaudhry. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, however, was cleared of the charges in this particular case.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed deep condolences over the tragic shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney and strongly condemned the attack, underscoring Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with Australia in its hour of grief. The premier conveyed his remarks during a meeting with newly appointed Australian High Commissioner Tim Kane at the PM’s House in Islamabad. The tragic incident last Sunday left 15 people dead and dozens wounded after two gunmen opened fire on people celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. According to a statement issued by the PML-N, PM Shehbaz affirmed
between Pakistan and Tajikistan. He emphasized that the shared heritage of the two brotherly nations provided a strong
that terrorism has no religion and must be condemned in all forms, emphasizing the need for collective action to eradicate this menace. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and the foreign secretary were also present during the meeting. The prime minister felicitated the high commissioner on his appointment and expressed confidence that his tenure would further strengthen the longstanding friendly relations between Pakistan and Australia. He welcomed the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and highlighted opportunities to expand trade and investment, citing the agriculture and livestock sector as a promising area for enhanced cooperation.
foundation for enhancing people-to-people contacts and cultural cooperation.
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Pakistan agrees to be considered for Gaza stabilisation force: Rubio WASHINGTON agencies
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said Pakistan had agreed to be considered for participation in the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, though no firm commitment on troop deployment had yet been made. Speaking to reporters, Rubio said Washington was “very grateful to Pakistan” for offering to be part of the initiative or at least to explore participation, adding that further clarity was needed before any country could be formally asked to commit troops. “I feel very confident that we have a number of nation-states acceptable to all sides who are willing to step forward and be part of that stabilisation force, and certainly Pakistan is key, if they agree to do so,” he said. Earlier this week, Pakistan at-
tended a conference in Qatar hosted by US Central Command, where representatives from nearly 45 countries discussed the ISF’s proposed command structure and other outstanding operational issues. Rubio noted that questions related to the force’s mandate, leadership and funding were still under deliberation. He said the next step would be the announcement of a governing
framework, including a Palestinian technocratic body to oversee day-today administration in Gaza. “Once that’s in place, we can firm up the stabilisation force — how it will be funded, its rules of engagement, and its role in demilitarisation,” he added. The US State Department has reportedly approached more than 70 countries seeking troops or financial support for the force. So far, around 19 countries have indicated willingness to contribute through personnel, logistics or equipment, with deployment potentially beginning as early as next month. Diplomatic sources told Dawn that Pakistan was weighing the possibility of deploying up to 3,500 troops as part of the ISF. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office struck a cautious note a day earlier, with spokesman Tahir Andrabi saying Islamabad had not yet taken a final decision and that discussions remained at an exploratory stage.
Four security personnel martyred, four terrorists killed as attack on North Waziristan Boya army camp foiled RAWALPINDI
staff report
Four security forces personnel were martyred when an attempt by terrorists to attack a security forces camp was foiled in the area of Boya in the North Waziristan district while all four Indian proxy terrorists were killed in swift action, said the military’s media wing on Friday. In a statement the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “On 19 December 2025, in a heinous and cowardly terrorist act, Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Khwarij attacked a security forces camp in the general area Boya, North Waziristan District.” “Fitna al-Khawarij” is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The military’s media wing added that the terrorists “attempted to breach the perimeter security; however, their nefarious designs were swiftly foiled by the vigilant and resolute response by own troops.” The terrorists then rammed an explosives-laden vehicle “on the outer perimeter wall, resulting in its collapse and considerable damage to adjacent civilian infrastructure, including a mosque.” The ISPR stated that the car bomb attack inflicted damage to nearby homes and other structures and inflicted “severe injuries to fifteen local civilians, including innocent children and women”. The forces responded swiftly and killed all the four Indian proxy terrorists, while the Khorasan Diary reported on X that 11 security personnel have been injured and two have been evacuated in critical condition. In an earlier report, police and hospital sources reported that 11 civilians were injured as a result of the blast, and they were rushed to the district headquarters hospital in Miranshah for treatment. “However, during the intense fire exchanges, four brave sons of soil Havildar Muhammad Waqas (age: 42 years, resident of District Kotli), Naik Khanwaiz (age: 38 years, resident of District Mansehra), Sepoy Sufyan Haider (age: 25 years, resident of District Vehari) and Sepoy Riffat (age: 32 years, resident of District Leyyah) having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,” stated ISPR, giving details of the martyred personnel. The gunfight lasted for three hours, and the camp and surrounding areas are being checked for improvised explosive devices. The Aswad-ul-Harab, Huzaifa suicide squad, affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadar group under the Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan conglomerate, claimed responsibility for the attack. The explosion from the suicide vehicle was strong enough to be heard from Miranshah city, roughly 25 kilometres away, and heavy smoke was seen rising from the site soon after impact. The blast damaged shops, houses and mosques, injuring residents. The number of civilian casualties is not yet verified. The military further said that the “hideous” act of terrorism was planned and orchestrated by Afghanistan-based khwarij and “is in contrast to assertions made by Afghan Taliban Regime, claiming non presence of these terrorist groups operating from their soil”. “Pakistan expects from Afghan Taliban Regime to fulfil its obligations and deny use of its soil by Khwarij against Pakistan as the safety and security of people of Pakistan comes first and foremost.”
President Zardari embarks on visit to Iraq to strengthen bilateral ties today ISLAMABAD
staff report
President Asif Ali Zardari will undertake an official visit to Iraq from December 20-24, during which he is set to hold high-level meetings with Iraqi leadership to review bilateral ties and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation across key sectors, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Friday.
The visit comes at the invitation of Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid and underscores the longstanding, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iraq, rooted in shared bonds of faith, culture, and mutual respect. According to the FO statement, President Zardari’s meetings with the Iraqi leadership will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, energy, reconstruction, manpower,
technology, education, and people-topeople exchanges. The discussions are also expected to cover regional and international developments, as well as joint initiatives at multilateral forums. “The visit is expected to reinforce traditionally warm and cordial ties, identify new avenues of partnership, and enhance people-to-people linkages, particularly in the context of religious
tourism and economic collaboration,” the FO said. Highlighting the strategic significance of the trip, the statement noted that the official visit reflects Pakistan’s continued engagement with Iraq and its commitment to fostering a result-oriented, forward-looking partnership aimed at contributing to Iraq’s stability and development, as well as regional peace and prosperity.
UN report highlights India’s ‘unlawful use of force’ in Pakistan as violation of rights to life, security ISLAMABAD
staff report
United Nations (UN) experts have raised serious concerns over India’s “unlawful use of force” on Pakistani territory following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir, warning that New Delhi’s actions appear to have violated fundamental human rights, including the right to life, personal security, and livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis. The observations, contained in a report dated October 16 and made public on December 15, came from five UN special rapporteurs who meticulously examined India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack and its subsequent unilateral decision to place the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in “abeyance.” The report emphasizes that such
actions by India may not only breach international law but also have severe human rights implications for Pakistan, particularly in terms of access to water, food security, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, claimed the lives of 26 civilians, leaving dozens more injured. India, in its immediate response, blamed Pakistan without providing any evidence linking Islamabad to the incident. Pakistan strongly rejected these allegations, with its Foreign Ministry questioning the credibility of New Delhi’s account, calling it “replete with fabrications.” A day after the attack, India unilaterally decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in “abeyance,” prompting Pakistan to term any attempt to suspend
its water share under the treaty as an “act of war,” underscoring that the treaty contains no provision for unilateral suspension. UN Experts Highlight Unlawful Use of Force The UN report, compiled by Special Rapporteurs Ben Saul (Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism), Astrid Puentes Riano (Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment), Morris Tidball-Binz (Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions), Pedro Arrojo-Agudo (Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation), and George Katrougalos (Independent Expert on Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order), examined the sequence of events and their implications in detail.
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India weaponizing water to threaten Pakistan’s food security, says Dar ISLAMABAD
staff report
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Friday warned that India’s attempts to weaponize water resources pose a serious threat to peace and stability in South Asia and directly endanger Pakistan’s food security. Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad, Dar said India had repeatedly sought to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty through what he described as a sys-
tematic and deliberate approach. He stressed that water was a vital lifeline for Pakistan’s agriculture-based economy and that any disruption carried far-reaching consequences beyond bilateral relations. Referring to recent developments, the foreign minister said Pakistan had witnessed India’s unilateral decision in April this year to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. He added that the situation had since escalated into what he termed material breaches of the treaty.
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02 NEWS
Saturday, 20 Deceember, 2025 | ISLAMABAD
WEEKLY INFLATION EDGES UP 0.24% AS CHICKEN, EGGS PUSH PRICES HIGHER
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pbs data shows spi inflation at 3.75% year-on-year; food priCes drive weekly inCrease which tracks prices of 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities, rose by 0.24% on a week-on-week basis. On a yearon-year basis, SPI inflation stood at 3.75%, continuing a gradual easing trend seen over recent weeks. On a weekly basis, price pressures were most visible in poultry and kitchen staples. Chicken prices surged by 11.11%, followed by chilies powder at 3.08% and eggs at 2.88%. Other notable increases were recorded in shirting (1.64%), firewood
PROFIT
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EEKLY inflation recorded a modest uptick during the week ended December 18, 2025, as higher food prices, particularly chicken and eggs, outweighed declines in vegetables and fuel, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI),
Telecom, VC firms seek tax relief to spur investment and sector growth
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prices of 20 items remained unchanged, reflecting a mixed inflationary pattern. Across income groups, weekly inflation remained contained but showed a gradual increase with higher spending brackets. SPI inflation rose by 0.07% for the lowest income quintile (Q1), 0.14% for Q2, 0.18% for Q3, 0.24% for Q4, and 0.28% for the highest income group (Q5), indicating relatively higher price pressures for upper-income households. On a year-on-year basis, the largest price
sbp data shows $104.5m in import payments despite $801m trade value PROFIT
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(0.86%), cooking oil (0.32%), pulse moong (0.31%), energy savers (0.31%), mustard oil (0.25%), and beef (0.23%). These increases were partly offset by sharp declines in perishable food items. Tomato prices fell by 11.38%, potatoes by 8.39%, sugar by 4.52%, onions by 3.52%, and diesel by 5%. Prices of pulse mash, garlic, salt powder, gur, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also declined during the week. Out of the 51 items monitored, prices of 17 items increased, 14 items decreased, while
Mobile phone imports jump over 40% in FY26’s first five months, SBP payments far lower
proposals discussed with finance minister; working group to review recommendations A delegation of telecom infrastructure companies and venture capital firms has proposed easing and rationalising parts of Pakistan’s tax regime to support growth, attract investment, and expand activity in the telecom and venture capital sectors. The proposals were discussed during a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division, where representatives of telecom infrastructure companies under TOWERCO Pakistan and venture capital firms highlighted sectorspecific challenges related to taxation, regulation, and infrastructure deployment. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, senior officials from the Ministry of IT and Telecom, and representatives of public sector organisations including Ignite. During the discussion, participants outlined their business models and operational constraints, particularly those linked to physical infrastructure rollout, regulatory compliance, and investment structuring. The delegation presented a set of proposals aimed at adjusting elements of the current tax framework to improve investment flows and support expansion in both telecom infrastructure and venture capital. Aurangzeb acknowledged the role of telecom infrastructure companies in enabling digital connectivity nationwide and noted the importance of venture capital in supporting entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation. He said that predictable and transparent tax and policy frameworks are essential to attract long-term investment in technology-driven sectors. The finance minister added that while fiscal considerations remain important, the government aims to strike a balance that supports private sectorled growth, encourages formalisation, and strengthens the digital and innovation ecosystem over the medium to long term.
Pakistan’s mobile phone imports rose sharply during the first five months of the current fiscal year, even as State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data shows significantly lower import payments due to the growing share of local assembly. Official trade data shows mobile phone imports worth $801.14 million during July–November FY26, compared with $570.18 million in the same period last year, marking a growth of 40.51%. In rupee terms, the import bill increased to Rs226.13 billion from Rs158.52 billion,
up 42.65%. However, SBP import payment data for the same period paints a different picture. Payments made through the banking system for mobile phone imports amounted to $104.5 million during July– November FY26, highlighting the impact of local manufacturing and deferred or CKD-based imports. In November alone, SBP-recorded import payments stood at $25.12 million. On a month-on-month basis, mobile phone imports increased by 8.30% to $156.57 million in November 2025, compared with $144.56 million in October. On a year-on-year basis, November imports
declined by 4.81% from $149.38 million in November 2024. During the previous fiscal year FY25, Pakistan imported mobile phones worth $1.49 billion, down 21.31% from $1.90 billion in FY24. In rupee terms, imports stood at Rs417.35 billion in FY25, compared with Rs535.69 billion a year earlier, reflecting a decline of 22.09%. Overall telecom imports into Pakistan totaled $2.10 billion in FY25, registering a contraction of 11.30% compared with $2.37 billion in FY24. At the same time, domestic mobile phone manufacturing continued to expand. Local assembling plants produced 25.11
Lucky Cement board clears consortium’s bid for PIA privatisation g
move follows due diligenCe as finanCial bids set for deCember 23 PROFIT
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The board of Lucky Cement Limited has approved the company’s participation, as part of a consortium, in the ongoing privatisation process of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL), paving the way for the submission of a financial bid later this month. In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday, Lucky Cement said the decision followed the satisfactory completion of detailed due diligence by the consortium. The board has authorised the company, subject to finalisation of transaction documents, to submit the financial bid, pay the required earnest money, and complete other formalities under the bidding framework issued by the Privatisation Commission. In a separate notice, Kohat Cement also confirms its participation in the Lucky Cement consortium. The consortium includes Lucky Cement Limited, Hub Power Holdings Limited, Kohat Cement Company Limited, and Metro Ventures (Private) Limited.
The privatisation of PIACL is being carried out through a competitive bidding process, with financial bids scheduled to be opened on December 23, 2025. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has earlier stated that the bidding process would be conducted transparently and broadcast live on national television. Lucky Cement clarified that participation remains subject to the consortium emerging as the successful bidder, fulfilment of conditions set out in the transaction documents, and receipt of approvals from relevant regulatory authorities. The Privatisation Commission last month prequalified four parties for the transaction: the Lucky Cement-led consortium, an Arif Habib Corporationled consortium, Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited, and Air Blue Limited. Pakistan has been seeking to privatise a 51% to 100% stake in PIA as part of broader reforms of state-owned enterprises under the ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund programme. The airline has long been a drain on public finances due to recurring losses, mounting debt, and opera-
tional inefficiencies. As reported earlier by Profit, the government’s first attempt to privatise PIA failed last year after attracting only a single bid, which fell well short of the official valuation. The Blue World Cityled consortium offered Rs10 billion for a 60% stake, far below the Privatisation Commission’s minimum expectation of Rs85.03 billion, leading to the collapse of the process. Under the current privatisation framework, buyers will not receive sovereign guarantees or blanket protection against legacy liabilities, a factor that initially dampened investor interest but has since been addressed through asset carve-outs, balance sheet clean-up measures, and revised transaction structures. The renewed bidding round reflects the government’s effort to make the transaction more bankable while maintaining competitive tension among bidders. If successful, the sale would mark one of the most significant privatisation transactions in Pakistan in recent years and a key milestone in the government’s IMF-backed reform agenda.
NA panel seeks detailed report on alleged irregularities in Sukkur–Hyderabad motorway land acquisition g
increases were recorded in gas charges for the lowest income group (29.85%), sugar (24.10%), wheat flour (22.52%), chicken (20.78%), beef (13.66%), gur (13.43%), firewood (12.08%), powdered milk (9.50%), eggs (8.75%), lawn printed fabric (8.29%), and shirting (8.07%). Bananas also recorded a year-on-year increase of 7.83%. In contrast, substantial year-on-year declines were observed in tomatoes (66.49%), potatoes (45.31%), garlic (39.10%), onions (29.77%), pulse gram (28.95%), tea (17.79%), pulse mash (14.23%), electricity charges for the lowest income group (8.40%), salt powder (6.14%), and LPG (0.15%). PBS data shows that weekly inflation has remained relatively stable over the past ten weeks, with combined SPI inflation easing from above 5% year-on-year in October to 3.75% in the latest reading, suggesting that food supply conditions—particularly vegetables—continue to play a key role in shaping short-term inflation dynamics.
rs128.8b of rs226.98b psdp alloCation set aside for baloChistan in fy2025-26 PROFIT
News desk
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications has sought detailed reports on the Sukkur–Hyderabad motorway (M-6), alleged corruption in land acquisition, and the status of highways under the Government of Sindh. According to a news report, the committee was informed that maintenance work on several road projects in Balochistan has remained suspended for nearly two years and that projects awarded through tenders have not yet commenced. Members raised concerns over delays in major routes, including Quetta–Zhob,
Quetta–Loralai and Quetta–Sibi, and called for a Balochistan-specific meeting of the committee to address the issues. The Ministry of Communications informed the committee that out of the total PSDP allocation of Rs226.98 billion for FY2025-26, an amount of Rs128.8 billion has been allocated to Balochistan. Ministry officials stated that some toll plazas in the province had been torched, an assertion rejected by members, who said lower toll collection was linked to Balochistan’s smaller population. Members asked the ministry to identify specific incidents of vandalism and brief the committee. They stressed that Balochistan, which accounts for 43 per-
cent of Pakistan’s landmass, requires extensive road infrastructure, particularly given its contribution of natural resources over decades. The committee directed the National Highway Authority to prioritise completion of ongoing projects before initiating new ones and recommended that outstanding issues be resolved jointly by NHA officials and members from Balochistan before the next meeting. The committee also recommended extending the M-6 motorway from Karachi to Sukkur and sought updates on the slow progress on the Kotri–Moro road. It stressed the urgent need for additional bridges on the Indus Highway to prevent accidents and loss of life.
Members expressed concern over the frequent transfer of the NHA Sindh Member and recommended a permanent appointment. The committee also reconsidered a Calling Attention Notice on the number of toll plazas along the Karachi–Hyderabad Road and was assured that local residents would receive exemptions under existing policy. The committee reviewed the Toll Plaza Rationalisation and Equity Bill, 2025, criticised the lack of stakeholder consultation, and directed the ministry to submit a detailed report within 15 days. It also discussed issues related to project costing, maintenance planning, contractor concentration and weaknesses in the e-bidding system.
million handsets during the first ten months of calendar year 2025, compared with 1.7 million units imported commercially over the same period. In October 2025 alone, local manufacturers assembled 2.33 million mobile phones, while only around 0.2 million handsets were imported commercially. Of the locally assembled devices, 13.2 million were smartphones and 11.9 million were 2G phones. According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority data, smartphones account for about 70% of devices operating on local networks, while 2G phones make up the remaining 30%.
KSE-100 retreats over 550pts as late selling trims weekly gains PROFIT
News desk
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) ended the final trading session of the week in negative territory on Friday, as late-session selling erased early gains and pulled the benchmark KSE-100 Index down by more than 550 points. The market opened on a positive footing, lifting the index to an intraday high of 172,674.65. Momentum, however, weakened toward the close as investors booked profits in select stocks, pushing the index to an intra-day low of 171,149.07. At close, the KSE-100 Index settled at 171,404.48, down 556.16 points, or 0.32%, from the previous session. On the corporate front, Rafhan Maize Products Company Limited disclosed that it had received a firm intention from Nishat Group–linked entities and members of the Mansha family to acquire control and up to 75.69% of its voting shares yesterday. The decline followed a strong session on Thursday, when the PSX touched a new alltime closing high after the benchmark index gained 1,646.79 points, or 0.97%, supported by falling Pakistan Investment Bond yields, improving macroeconomic indicators, and increased merger and acquisition activity.
Treet to shut Lahore, Hyderabad plants briefly for annual maintenance PROFIT
News desk
Treet Corporation Limited has announced a temporary shutdown of its double edge blade manufacturing plants in Lahore and Hyderabad as part of routine annual maintenance. In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday, the company said the Lahore plant, located at Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate in Kot Lakhpat, will remain closed from December 24 to December 31, 2025. The Hyderabad facility on Hali Road will be shut for a slightly longer period, from December 22 to December 31, 2025. The company clarified that the maintenance-related shutdowns are planned in advance and are not expected to have any material effect on its operations or financial results.
Fecto Cement resumes Sangjani plant operations after IHC order
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Court deClares earlier suspension illegal; Company restores full produCtion PROFIT
News desk
Fecto Cement Limited has resumed full operations at its cement manufacturing plant in Sangjani, Islamabad, following a directive from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that declared the earlier suspension of operations unlawful. The company disclosed the development in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday, stating that production activities at the facility have restarted in the ordinary course of business. According to the notice, the IHC allowed the complete resumption of plant operations and ruled that the
suspension was “illegal and without lawful authority.” Following the court’s decision, Fecto Cement said it has restored normal operations at the plant and expects uninterrupted production going forward. The company added that the temporary suspension did not have any material adverse impact on its long-term financial position, asset base, or business continuity. Fecto Cement Limited was incorporated in 1981 as a public limited company and is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of Portland cement. Last month, the company announced the completion of the sale of its investment property located near Islamabad International Airport in Rawalpindi.
Saturday, 20 Deceember, 2025 | ISLAMABAD
ECC APPROVES RS200B EQUITY INJECTION FOR DISCOS TO ADDRESS CASH FLOW CONSTRAINTS g
RS227B IN OVERALL GRANTS APPROVED; RS5.76B FOR DANISH SCHOOLS IN AJK, GB AND BALOCHISTAN; RS5.19B FOR UPLIFT SCHEMES UNDER SDGS PROGRAMME IN SINDH AND KP; RS170.4B FOR PTDC BUDGET; RS4.775B FOR PAYMENTS TO 945 FAMILIES OF MISSING PERSONS; REVISED PC-I FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 104 ADDITIONAL FAMILY SUITES FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS ALSO CLEARED
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PROFIT
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HE Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Thursday approved a Rs200 billion government equity injection into power distribution companies (DISCOs) to address cash flow constraints, while also reviewing inflation trends and clearing multiple financial, development and social sector proposals for FY2025-26. According to an official statement, the committee was briefed on inflation trends, noting that headline inflation stood at 4.1% in July and 3.0% in August. Temporary pressures emerged in September and October due to flood-related supply disruptions, before easing to 6.1% in November. The committee was told that cumula-
tive inflation during July–November averaged 5.0%, compared with 7.9% in the same period last year. Weekly monitoring through the Sensitive Price Indicator showed stabilisation, with prices of 10 out of 51 essential commodities declining on a week-on-week basis. Following the economic review, the ECC approved several Technical Supplementary Grants (TSGs). It sanctioned Rs5.76 billion for the establishment of Danish Schools in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan, and for implementation of the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme through NAVTTC, while advising exploration of public-private partnership models. The committee approved a TSG of Rs5.19 billion for execution of development schemes under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme
Guddu, Nandipur ready for privatisation; DISCO bidding to start in January PROFIT
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The Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation was informed on Thursday that Guddu and Nandipur power plants are ready for privatisation, while preparations for the phased sale of power distribution companies (DISCOs) have been completed from the government’s side. The Power Division told the committee that all DISCOs will be privatised under a phased plan. Islamabad, Faisalabad and Gujranwala DISCOs will be offered in the first phase, followed by Peshawar and Sukkur in the second phase, and Lahore, Multan and Hyderabad DISCOs in the third. Officials said provinces were offered the option to take over DISCOs but declined, prompting the federal government to proceed with privatisation. Most preparatory work has been completed, and bidding for the first three DISCOs is expected to begin in January, with completion targeted by mid-next year. The Privatisation Commission informed the committee that bidding for Pakistan International Airlines will be held on December 23 and broadcast live. Between 51 and 100% of PIA shares will be offered, with each bidder required to deposit Rs2 billion as earnest money. Officials said all bidders have completed due diligence and have been given access to PIA’s records, routes and facilities. Key issues related to taxes, GST exemptions and legacy liabilities have been resolved after consultations with the IMF. The committee was told that routes to the UK and Europe have reopened and that the successful investor will be required to inject Rs80 billion into PIA immediately after privatisation. Only the airline’s core aviation business will be privatised, while assets such as the Roosevelt Hotel and other properties will remain with the government. The committee directed the Privatisation Commission to ensure transparency and to submit a list of PIA’s foreign properties, including their addresses and market values. The committee also considered the Privatisation Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and was informed that the proposed amendments are intended to ensure consistency with existing laws and Supreme Court directions. In addition, officials said Pakistan Minerals Development Corporation, Saindak Metals Limited and National Insurance Company Limited have been included in the privatisation list.
in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Rs170.4 million for the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation’s FY2025-26 budget, directing the preparation of a comprehensive business plan aligned with the national tourism strategy. On the power sector, the ECC approved revisions to eligibility criteria under the Prime Minister’s Fan Replacement Programme. It also sanctioned Rs6.36 billion for SDGs-related power schemes across Punjab, Islamabad Capital Territory, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in addition to the Rs200 billion equity investment in DISCOs. Addressing humanitarian matters, the ECC approved Rs4.775 billion for payments to 945 families of missing persons, to be disbursed under the supervision of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances. The committee also approved Rs79
million for the annual maintenance of helicopters of Frontier Corps Balochistan (North) and Rs10.821 million for the repair and maintenance of helicopters of Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) during FY2025-26. In addition, the ECC cleared the revised PC-I for construction of 104 additional family suites for Members of Parliament, including servant quarters, and directed submission of a comprehensive maintenance plan for related infrastructure. In the defence sector, the committee approved Rs40 million for development schemes under the SDGs Achievement Programme and Rs250 million for operationalisation of King Hamad University of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences during the current financial year. The meeting was attended by federal ministers and senior officials from relevant ministries, divisions and regulatory bodies.
National cotton arrivals slip to 5.3m bales by mid-December as Sindh outpaces Punjab g
SINDH DELIVERS 2.85 MILLION BALES AGAINST FCA TARGET OF 4.04 MILLION, WHILE PUNJAB TRAILS AT 2.45 MILLION BALES VERSUS A TARGET OF 5.55 MILLION, RAISING CONCERNS OVER YIELD ASSUMPTIONS AND PLANNING GAPS PROFIT
News desk
Pakistan’s cotton sector has flagged serious concerns after national cotton arrivals reached just 5.3 million bales by December 15, reflecting a marginal decline compared to the same period last year and falling well short of official production targets set for the 2025–26 season. Data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) shows that Punjab and Sindh remain significantly below the cultivation and output benchmarks fixed earlier by the Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA), prompting questions over the credibility of official yield projections and policy planning. Under the FCA plan, Punjab was expected to cultivate 3.46 million acres and produce 5.553 million bales, while Sindh was assigned a cultivation target of 1.556 million acres with an output goal of 4.040 million bales. However, PCGA
figures up to mid-December show actual arrivals of 2.453 million bales in Punjab and 2.848 million bales in Sindh. Despite having a production target that was around 37% lower than Punjab’s, Sindh’s cotton output was about 61% higher than Punjab’s at this stage of the season, underscoring a widening divergence between official estimates and on-ground performance. Overall cotton arrivals stood at 5.3 million bales nationwide, showing only a marginal change from last year. Punjab recorded a year-on-year decline of around 5% in arrivals, while Sindh posted an increase of roughly 3%, according to PCGA data. During the same period, textile mills purchased about 4.49 million bales from ginning factories, while exporters lifted approximately 175,000 bales, indicating active domestic consumption despite lowerthan-expected production. Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsan-ul-Haq questioned the FCA’s per-
acre yield assumptions, noting that official targets implied productivity of 9.8 bales per acre in Punjab and 15.84 bales per acre in Sindh. He said the wide gap between the two provinces’ projected yields was difficult to reconcile with agronomic realities. He also criticised the repeated issuance of what he described as unrealistic national production targets, arguing that persistent overestimation complicates decision-making for growers, ginners and textile manufacturers. Separately, market uncertainty has been compounded by the suspension of daily cotton spot rates, as the Karachi Cotton Association has been unable to issue prices since its building was sealed last week following action by the Evacuee Trust Property Board with support from the Federal Investigation Agency. The disruption has affected price discovery, bank financing and insurance valuations linked to cotton trading.
PM reaffirms commitment to strengthen Pak-Tajik multifaceted cooperation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
PM Shehbaz highlighted the significance of the ongoing Pakistan-Tajikistan Cultural Week being held in Islamabad as a landmark initiative to celebrate the rich traditions, arts and heritage of both countries. As agreed between President Emomali Rahmon and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Tajikistan’s Cultural Week is currently being celebrated in Pakistan, with the visit of the Tajik culture minister taking place in the same context. The prime minister noted that such cultural exchanges would promote greater mutual understanding and further strengthen the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries. He also conveyed his best wishes to President Emomali Rahmon and ex-
pressed hope to welcome him to Pakistan for an official visit next year. The Tajik Minister of Culture conveyed the warm greetings of President Emomali Rahmon and appreciated Pakistan’s hospitality and commitment to cultural diplomacy. She expressed Tajikistan’s keen interest in expanding joint cultural initiatives, including artist exchanges, festivals and exhibitions. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khichi, and SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi also attended the meeting. PM Shehbaz orders one-year completion of Autism Centre of Excellence, announces transport support Separately, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed
that the Autism Centre of Excellence being established in the federal capital be completed within one year instead of the originally planned two years, reaffirming the government’s commitment to providing world-class education, therapy and vocational facilities to children with special needs. Addressing the foundation-laying ceremony, the prime minister said special children are the children of the nation, stressing that it is the state’s collective responsibility to equip them with skills, modern technology and training to enable them to become productive members of society. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that where a child may lack one faculty, “Allah Almighty has blessed them with many others,” urging institutions to nurture these abilities through quality education and care.
UN report highlights India’s ‘unlawful use of force’ in Pakistan as violation rights to life, security CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The experts noted that India, while maintaining that it exercised its “right to respond, preempt, and deter cross-border attacks,” failed to notify the UN Security Council regarding the operations as required under Article 51 of the UN Charter. They emphasized that, under Article 2(4) and customary international law, India is prohibited from threatening or using armed force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another state, whether the target is state or non-state actors. The UN experts highlighted that Article 51 allows a state to exercise self-defence in foreign territory only if necessary and proportionate in response to an armed attack committed by a foreign state. Even if non-state actors are involved, the victim state must report the attack to the Security Council. The experts stressed that there is no recognized right to unilaterally use military force in another country as a counter-terrorism measure without Security Council notification. “The unilateral strikes by India, without providing credible evidence linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam attack, appear to violate international law and risk escalation that could endanger civilian lives on both sides,” the report stated. The experts further underscored that the unlawful use of force constitutes a violation of the right to life under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and also infringes upon Pakistan’s sovereignty and the prin-
ciple of non-intervention in foreign states.
IMPACT ON INDUS WATERS TREATY AND HUMAN RIGHTS: The report also addressed India’s suspension of its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty. The UN experts underscored that the treaty is crucial for Pakistan’s agriculture, economy, and human development. The Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers, flowing westward, irrigate nearly 18 million hectares of farmland—approximately 80 percent of Pakistan’s arable land—and contribute around 24 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. “Any disruption of river flows, including filling reservoirs, releasing sediment, or other measures, could have grave consequences for the human rights of Pakistanis, affecting livelihoods, access to water, food security, sanitation, and sustainable development,” the report warned. Pakistan is already waterstressed and ranks among the ten countries most vulnerable to climate change, which exacerbates the risks posed by unilateral interference in the IWT. The UN experts emphasized that states have an obligation under international law to respect the enjoyment of human rights in other countries, particularly the right to water. Any actions taken within a state’s jurisdiction that disrupt access to water across borders could constitute a violation of international obligations. Citing the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the report highlighted that states must ensure that cross-border water supplies
are not used as instruments of political or economic pressure. The report further stressed that retrogressive measures affecting human rights must be carefully justified, with consideration of all alternatives, and must not undermine the enjoyment of fundamental rights. It also highlighted the International Court of Justice’s 2025 advisory opinion on climate change, affirming that states are obligated to prevent significant transboundary environmental harm—a duty that forms part of customary international law and constitutes an erga omnes obligation.
CONCERNS OVER PROPORTIONALITY AND COUNTERMEASURES: The UN experts noted that even if Pakistan were responsible for the Pahalgam attack, India’s suspension of the IWT would be disproportionate to the alleged harm. The unilateral action could adversely affect millions of Pakistanis dependent on the rivers for agriculture, industry, drinking water, sanitation, and ecosystems. The report emphasized that countermeasures must not violate fundamental human rights and that procedural preconditions, such as notice and negotiation, must be fulfilled before taking any unilateral action. The experts also highlighted that disputes over cross-border terrorism and water-sharing are likely to persist unless the status of occupied Kashmir is peacefully resolved in accordance with international law. To this end, they posed six questions to the Indian government, seek-
ing clarification on evidence, reparation for civilian losses, compliance with the IWT, and steps to prevent harm to Pakistanis’ human rights. The UN rapporteurs also called for explanations regarding measures to pursue a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute and ensure adherence to international legal obligations.
UN EXPERTS’ CALL FOR ACTION: The UN experts urged all parties to take interim measures to halt alleged violations and prevent recurrence. They emphasized that investigations must ensure accountability for any individuals responsible for unlawful acts. They also highlighted the importance of restoring Pakistan’s rights under the IWT and ensuring water access for millions of citizens whose livelihoods, health, and environment depend on uninterrupted river flows. The report stressed the link between human rights and environmental stewardship, noting that sustainable management of water resources is essential to fulfilling broader human rights obligations. It further highlighted the need for India to provide credible evidence, engage in negotiations, and refrain from measures that could exacerbate the human rights situation in Pakistan. The UN report represents a rare and detailed international assessment of India’s military and water-related actions affecting Pakistan. It underscores that India’s unilateral military strikes and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty violate fundamental principles of international law, threaten civilian lives, and imperil the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis.
NEWS 03
Pakistan’s textile exports slip in November despite modest growth in 5MFY26 PROFIT
News desk
Pakistan’s textile exports recorded a weaker performance in November 2025, extending concerns over the sector’s momentum despite modest growth during the first five months of FY26, according to data from the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Textile and apparel exports totalled $7.84 billion during July– November FY26, up 2.8% from the same period last year and accounting for about 61% of the country’s overall exports, according to the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC). Monthly performance weakened in November 2025, with textile exports falling 2.7% year-on-year and declining 11.7% month-on-month. Official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed textile exports at $1.42 billion in November, down 2.57% from the same month last year and 11.9% lower than October’s $1.616 billion. Most major categories recorded year-on-year declines, while readymade garments posted growth. In November, knitwear exports fell 4.87% to $393.77 million, bedwear declined 3.4% to $245.6 million, and towels dropped 6.3% to $79.9 million. Cotton cloth slid 9.7% to $123.2 million, while cotton yarn exports plunged 25.6% to $59.98 million. In contrast, readymade garments rose 9.2% to $358.8 million compared with November last year. PTC data showed traditional textile categories continued to trend lower over the medium term, with exports declining from $1,782 million (July–November FY22) to $1,276 million (July–November FY26). During July–November FY26, the report flagged declines in several headings, including CH-52 cotton (-8.66%), CH-54 man-made filaments (-17.6%), CH-56 wadding/felt/non-wovens (-2.01%), CH-57 carpets (-15.34%), CH-60 knitted fabrics (31.08%), and CH-53 other vegetable textile fibres (-41.2%). Value-added exports under Chapters 61–63 increased to $6,559 million (July–November FY26) from $6,052 million (July–November FY22). PTC reported growth drivers in knitwear (+5.7%), non-knit apparel (+5.9%), and other made-up articles (+3.7%), with these lines collectively showing a 5% increase in FY26 to date.
India weaponizing water to threaten Pakistan’s food security, says Dar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
“What we are witnessing now are material violations by India that strike at the very heart of the Indus Waters Treaty, with escalating consequences for regional stability as well as for the sanctity of international law,” Dar said. He noted that such actions undermined one of the most enduring and internationally recognised water-sharing agreements in the world, warning that continued disregard for treaty obligations could set a dangerous precedent with implications beyond South Asia. Dar also referred to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Thursday, confirming that Pakistan had formally sought clarification from India through a letter regarding a sudden variation in the water flow of the Chenab River. He said the move reflected Pakistan’s serious concern over unilateral actions affecting shared water resources. The foreign minister reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to the Indus Waters Treaty and to resolving disputes through established mechanisms. However, he cautioned that any attempt to use water as a political or strategic tool threatened regional peace and could have severe humanitarian and economic consequences for millions of people dependent on the river system.
04 COMMENT
When loyalty replaces responsibility
Saturday, 20 December, 2025
LSM collapse
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The news from large-scale manufacturing, especially textiles, is not good
ARGE-SCALE manufacturing is crucial to Pakistan’s efforts to becoming a self-reliant economy. Not only is it supposed to generate, especially through textile made-ups, the foreign exchange made to pay for essential imports, but it is also supposed to provide the bulk of the jobs the government needs to have created, so as to enhance its future electoral appeal. There have been signs that the government’s policies have led to a recovery in large-scale manufacturing, which might signal the pick-up in the economy that would justify current austerity measures. However, the signals have been contradictory. There has been a pick-up in auto financing, which indicates increased demand for vehicles, which itself is a good indication that people have more disposable income to spend, including on consumer durables. It may well mean that there is a pent-up demand which is being released because consumers now feel that they can afford such bigticket items as vehicles. Another positive sign comes from the upswing in software exports, which in November were 14 percent up on the previous year. The government has targeted $5 billion in exports in this fiscal year, which the Uraan Pakistan programme for seeing software exports of $10 billion by 2029.However, while the automotive industry does not have much export weight at the moment, it is increasingly being said in industry circles that it is only if there are vehicle exports that the vendor industry will truly develop. The main export, textile made-ups, is taking something of a beating, for despite the recent tariff advantage by the USA to Pakistan against regional rivals like India and Bangladesh, textile exports are declining. One effect has been the swelling of the trade deficit to $37.78 billion for the first five months of the current fiscal year. This is matched by the rise in foreign exchange reserves to$21.089 billion on December 12, after the IMF disbursement of $1.2 billion under the EFF and RSF. Instead of viewing LSM as a single sector, the government must learn to differentiate. It should realise that textiles may not remain the lead industrial sector for too long, and that software and vehicles might be more fruitful. That does not mean abandoning textiles altogether, but other sectors deserve attention. For example, the question of how the automotive sector is to export is crucial, but it must be tackled along with the switch to electric vehicles.
KP deserves better than to be run from jail
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Dr Zafar Khan SafDar
HEN the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was announced recently, not by voters or public mandate, but by a directive from a jailed leader, a chilling reality became impossible to ignore; KP is no longer governed for its people. It is governed on behalf of a leader imprisoned, by decisions made behind bars, by loyalty above competence. The province has been turned into a personal fiefdom, its dignity bartered for allegiance. Chosen over more experienced and seasoned politicians, the province is now led by someone whose selection raises urgent questions about priorities; governance or political calculus. While the jailed leader wields authority over his party, the move exposes a province sidelined, its future and development quietly sacrificed as internal politics take centrestage. KP’s leadership now risks serving strategy over substance, optics over outcomes, leaving the people to bear the consequences. What was once legitimate political leadership has been reduced to an exercise in fealty. The previous Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, resigned not because of public demand or electoral failure, but because he was ordered to. His successor, Sohail Afridi, was not chosen by popular demand or declared through transparent consensus, but was appointed at the command of the jailed leader. While the leaders’ families and party elites enjoy cushioned seats, flashing protocols, and late-night celebrations, the reality outside their convoys is one of fear and bloodshed. Terrorism has tightened its grip once again and with no real monitoring, no urgency, and no seriousness from those in power, militants roam with disturbing confidence. The streets where children once played now echo with the sound of explosions and gunfire. The people of KP are left to fend for themselves while leaders chase approval from a prison cell, leaving terrorists a free field to operate. In just the first 11 months of 2025, the province has endured over 660 terror attacks, killing 178 civilians and 92 police officers, leaving hundreds injured. Nearly half of these attacks struck the southern belt, Bannu, North Waziristan and neighbouring districts where fear has become a daily routine and sacrifice a
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
recurring headline. The destruction extends beyond bombs and bullets. KP’s future is being quietly stolen. Five million children, a staggering one-third of the province’s young population, are out of school. With every passing year, more children fall through the cracks as classrooms overflow and resources collapse. 13 percent of children aged 5-17 are trapped in child labour, many in conditions that threaten their safety and dignity. Each number represents a silenced dream, a lost scientist, a vanished teacher, a future that never stands a chance. This is KP today: no gas, endless load-shedding, roads crumbling under every tire, and basic services frozen in time. The province is sliding backward, stranded in the lantern era, while hollow promises of ‘tabdeeli’ mock its people. This is not progress, this is abandonment. A generation wanders the streets, degrees in hand, ambition suffocated by unemployment. Entire families are sinking below the poverty line as inflation strips away dignity. Security is shattered, opportunity is scarce, and the future is shrinking. Behind the political theatre, while loyalty is celebrated and convoys flash by, KP bleeds, its people trapped, its potential stolen, the province collapsing under neglect. Is this what representation looks like? A province led not by conviction or courage, but by the desperate need to impress a man behind bars. When leaders pledge loyalty upward instead of accountability downward, the public interest becomes collateral damage. Those entrusted with safeguarding KP should have been the first to sound the alarm, to insist that the province is sinking, that its people are slipping backward while the rest of the country advances. Silence prevails, and loyalty has become a leash so tight that even speaking the truth is treated as rebellion. Governance transforms into a hollow ritual, decisions made not for 40 million citizens, but for the comfort of one man. What remains is not a government, it is a patronage network sustained by blind obedience, even as the province sinks deeper into crisis. KP needs a Chief Minister who delivers security, justice, jobs, education and dignity. It needs policies,
Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Implementation rather than gatekeeping
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Dr IMran KhaLID
N the sleek boardrooms of London, Singapore, and Dubai, the traditional narrative of the global artificial intelligence race is being rewritten. For years, the prevailing story was one of a singular US lead– a monopoly on high-end semiconductors and closed-door innovation. Yet, by December 2025, a more inclusive reality has emerged. It is a reality where the most influential code is not being guarded in California, but is being shared with the world from Hangzhou and Beijing. The shift is structural. Leading global venture capital firms now find that a staggering 80 percent of open-source AI startups in their portfolios are building upon Chinese models. This represents a decisive pivot in the global technological order. From the public sectors of Southeast Asia to the burgeoning digital economies of Africa and Latin America, the adoption of Chinese large language models (LLMs) is accelerating. This is not merely a matter of competition, but a pragmatic embrace of a new model of technological progress: one defined by accessibility, efficiency, and collective advancement. The data confirms this new equilibrium. By late 2025, Chinese open-source models underpin nearly 30 percent of total global AI usage. For the first time, Chinese developers have surpassed their counterparts in the USA in downloads on major global hosting platforms like Hugging Face. Data from Stanford University’s Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence institute indicates that since the beginning of 2025, derivative models based on Alibaba’s Qwen and the startup DeepSeek have outpaced those built on any other foundation. This global migration is fueled by a commitment to radical cost-efficiency and genuine innovation. While others relied on “brute force” scaling– throwing tens of thousands of the most expensive chips at a single problem– Chinese labs have pioneered architectural breakthroughs. Forced to innovate under resource constraints, they have perfected “mixture-of-experts” (MoE) architectures that do more with less. The economic implications are transformative
for the world’s emerging markets. DeepSeek’s recent V3 and R1 models launched with pricing that effectively collapsed the cost of intelligence, offering discounts of up to 95 per cent compared to older proprietary systems. While training a frontier model in the West can cost upwards of $100 million, Chinese engineers have achieved comparable performance for a fraction of that– roughly $5.6 million. This efficiency is a gift to the global developer community. In regions where infrastructure remains a challenge, these technical choices have realworld consequences. Systems built on Chinese code have been found to drain smartphone batteries 67 per cent more slowly than comparable proprietary models. For a startup in a market with unstable power grids or users with older hardware, this level of engineering excellence is the deciding factor for viability. Beyond the balance sheet, China’s opensource revolution is answering a critical global demand for digital sovereignty. For much of the Global South, reliance on closed, API-gated models from a single country introduces unacceptable geopolitical risks. When a service can be remotely disabled due to a change in another nation’s export laws, it cannot be the foundation for national infrastructure. Chinese open-source models offer a different path: the path of the “public good.” Because the model weights are open and downloadable, a university in Brazil or a financial institution in South Africa can run them on their own domestic servers. Once downloaded, the technology is theirs. This fosters a sense of trust and permanence that “black box” proprietary systems cannot offer. Furthermore, the transparency of open code allows local security researchers to inspect the systems themselves, ensuring they meet domestic standards. The practical results of this collaborative approach are already manifesting in indigenous applications across the globe. In October 2025, Uganda launched its own large language model, “Sunflower,” built on Alibaba’s Qwen architecture. Designed to bridge the digital divide for a population of 46 million, it allows farmers to re-
ceive agricultural advice in Luganda and students to translate materials into local dialects. Because the underlying Chinese technology supports over 100 languages– including those often marginalized by English-centric Western data– it provides a level of linguistic inclusion that was previously unimaginable. Similarly, Malaysia has introduced NurAI, the world’s first Sharia-aligned large language model. By refining Chinese foundations, the system ensures that AI outputs comply with local cultural and religious standards for a market of 340 million people across Southeast Asia. This represents a new era of “Sovereign AI,” where nations use high-quality global foundations to build systems that reflect their own unique values. The rise of Chinese AI is not just a story of national success; it is a story of how China is capturing the “means of development” for the entire world. By providing efficient, permissive, and highly capable tools, China has lowered the entry barrier to the AI age for everyone. While some nations have focused on gatekeeping, China has focused on deployment. The next generation of global AI is being built on these foundations because the code is accessible, affordable, and– crucially– sovereign. As we look toward 2026, it is clear that the future of intelligence will not be a walled garden, but a shared landscape, with Chinese innovation serving as its most vital bedrock. The writer is a freelance columnist
The next generation of global AI is being built on these foundations because the code is accessible, affordable, and– crucially– sovereign. As we look toward 2026, it is clear that the future of intelligence will not be a walled garden, but a shared landscape, with Chinese innovation serving as its most vital bedrock.
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
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Karachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I
The writer has a PhD in Political Science, and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad. He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo.com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar
KP does not need empty slogans or repeated oaths, it needs justice for victims of violence, secure and well-equipped schools for every child, universal access to vocational and skill development, and scholarships to nurture talent. It needs jobs for its youth, support for entrepreneurs, investment in industries, modern transport networks, reliable energy, clean water, sanitation, and robust housing.
How China’s open-source AI models are democratizing AI globally M. A. Niazi
Editor Pakistan Today
not orders; it needs governance, not guardianship; it needs accountability, not allegiance. The people of KP deserve more than a token leadership that only speaks when its master commands. If the political machinery continues to function on chains of loyalty, KP is doomed to repeat cycles of instability and neglect. Each day spent satisfying loyalty over leadership, each policy delay, each ignored plea from the streets, drags the province deeper into instability. KP does not need empty slogans or repeated oaths, it needs justice for victims of violence, secure and well-equipped schools for every child, universal access to vocational and skill development, and scholarships to nurture talent. It needs jobs for its youth, support for entrepreneurs, investment in industries, modern transport networks, reliable energy, clean water, sanitation, and robust housing. Social protection and healthcare must be accessible and effective, including maternal, child and mental health services. The province also needs safe public spaces, parks, cultural programmes, sports facilities, and libraries to nurture a vibrant society. Law and order must be restored, corruption reduced, and governance made transparent and accountable. Chains of loyalty have never built a future, they only sustain servitude.
Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545
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Editor’s mail
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
Rotting libraries
IN most cities of Pakistan, public libraries remain either locked, empty, or turned into bureaucratic storage spaces. The silence that once meant focus now means abandonment. The Punjab Public Library in Lahore struggles with broken catalogues; Karachi’s Liaquat Library faces staff shortages; small-town libraries are vanishing altogether. A nation that stops reading tends to stop thinking. Yet, we continue to treat libraries as relics of the past rather than necessities. In an age where misinformation floods our screens, libraries could have been our defence as spaces of truth, curiosity and community learning. Instead, they are being left to gather dust, while funding flows elsewhere. Private book cafés and online reading clubs show that the thirst for books still exists. What is missing is state responsibility. Why can every district not have at least one modern public library, with Wi-Fi, community events and children’s reading corners? It would cost less than a few new billboards in praise of governments and their functionaries. Public libraries are not outdated. They are the most democratic classrooms we have as they are open to everyone, regardless of age or income. Saving them is not charity; it is nation-building. If we want a literate Pakistan, we must start by unlocking the doors we have already built. This is the only way forward. AFIFA SHAHID LAHORE
Talent in exile
BALOCHISTAN is the largest province of Pakistan, but art is not properly valued here. People give more importance to other things, but they do not value art. Art is a powerful thing; it is a language. Through it, people can read old pictures and understand history. There are many talented artists in Balochistan, but they do not have jobs because there are very few opportunities for artists. There are people who value music and poetry, but they ignore other forms of art. In other countries, artists have jobs and respect, but in Balochistan, they are completely ignored. Making art is very difficult, but some people create beautiful works, yet they do not receive respect. Art is not given importance in schools and colleges like other subjects either. Young people do not have places to showcase their talents. Many think of art as an unserious subject and aspiration, therefore, do not give it the time of their day. The government does not support artists as well. Consequently, many big artists have left Balochistan and moved to other countries to showcase their talent. People do not understand how art can help society and guide students. Schools should teach art like other subjects. The government should support artists so they can develop their craft and contribute to our society. DURJAN HAKEEM KOLOWAH
When school runs long
THE Punjab government has prescribed teaching hours for all schools in the province from 8.30am to 1.30pm. However, some private schools have set their timings from 8.30am to 2.40pm. Children who travel 20-25km to their school have to leave home early and wake up earlier to get ready. Closure at 2.40pm means it takes them an additional two hours to reach their homes because the roads are heavily congested at that time. When will they get to rest and complete their homework? Such schools must follow the timings prescribed by the government. MUHAMMAD NAEEM MIRZA LAHORE
Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk
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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk
Saturday, 20 December, 2025
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The mineral chessboard Pakistan has to be careful it is not exploited
AREEBA mANSOOR
HE last great scramble for strategic advantage was fought with tank columns and tanker convoys; the next will be fought with magnets so tiny they can sit on the head of a pin. In late autumn, when the Chinese and US presidents met in Seoul and a bargain was struck, Beijing pausing export curbs on rare earths and promising agricultural purchases, Washington trimming tariffs and shelving punitive export lists, the world did not merely avert a tariff showdown. It witnessed the opening move in a more consequential contest: a race to secure the raw ingredients of tomorrow’s military edge and industrial power. What was negotiated in diplomatic parlours will soon be contested in deserts, mountains and coastal sands. Pakistan sits squarely in that contested geography. Resource security, the ability to guarantee access to minerals, metals and processing capacity critical for advanced technology, is fast replacing trade deficits as the axis of great-power competition. The 20th century’s oil politics taught the lesson: energy dependence translated into political vulnerability. The 21st century repeats the lesson with different materials. Rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, copper and their ilk are not merely commodities; they are strategic levers. They power electric motors, satellites, hypersonic missiles and the data centres that run artificial intelligence. Whoever controls them, and crucially, the capacity to process them, holds disproportionate sway over both civilian and military technologies. China’s rise in this domain was neither accidental nor spontaneous. Beijing invested early and comprehensively in refining and separation capacity, creating chokepoints in the supply chain that a simple tally of mines cannot reveal. That monopoly of processing, far more than the geology of deposits, is what prompted the recent flurry of diplomatic outreach and supply-chain realignment by the USA and its partners. Washington now looks to diversify: reopening old mines, courting friendly jurisdictions, and quietly deepening technical and investment ties to secure alternate sources of feedstock. The point is not merely to replace Chinese suppliers but to reduce strategic vulnerability.
Pakistan’s place in this emergent contest is awkward and potentially epochal. Geological surveys and recent discoveries suggest substantial deposits across the country: the Peshawar Alkaline Province, coastal placer sands in Sindh and Makran, copper-gold giants such as Reko Diq, the latter expected, by some estimates, to produce 200,000 tonnes of copper annually from 2028 and to generate tens of billions in wealth over decades. Add lithium prospects in the Eastern Hindu Kush, gemstones, antimony and other strategic minerals, and the map takes on new gravity. Yet mining today accounts for a sliver of national output; governance, technology and social consent lag far behind geological promise. That asymmetry, wealth beneath our feet and institutional fragility above it, is precisely what sets off alarms. China’s longstanding presence through CPEC, Gwadar and industrial linkages gives it an established pathway to integrate any future extraction into its global logistics and processing networks. For Washington, the calculus is simple: let strategic materials flow unmediated through Chinese-built corridors, and you accept a new vector of dependence. Hence the renewed US overtures, tariff negotiations and mineral cooperation forums. Add Russia and Iran to the chessboard, each with their own strategies and openings, and Pakistan becomes less a partner and more a prize. The history of great-power competition offers a blunt lesson: the presence of strategic commodities invites external leverage and internal fracture unless the host state governs the process. Oil taught this in the 20th century; rare earths and lithium risk teaching it in the 21st. Pakistan must therefore do what weaker states in resource zones have failed to do elsewhere: convert geological bounty
into durable public benefit while managing external overtures on its own terms. This is not a call for naïve neutrality. It is a prescription for leverage through competence. First, the state must draw a clear, transparent roadmap for the sector: a national rare earth strategy, an implementation arm empowered by the National Security Committee and anchored in the Mines and Minerals Act 2025. The forum held in April and the Act’s reformist intent are promising signals; success will depend on consistent enforcement, not intermittent announcements. Second, value addition must be the north star. Raw exports are a one-time cheque. Processing, refining and downstream manufacturing create jobs, skills and a tax base
To accuse the government of Australia or its prime minister of promoting and fuelling antisemitism is outrageous, ugly and unjustified
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD EHud OlmERt
USTRALIA’S support of a twostate solution in the Middle East is better for securing Israel than the messianic desire of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s partners to annex the territories and ethnically cleanse Gaza of its inhabitants. The atrocious terrorist attack that befell Sydney on Sunday was not a random act of violence. It targeted the peaceful Jewish community of Australia and was fuelled by hatred spread intentionally and insistently by a web of malignant anti-Jewish actors. Unfortunately, there has not always been a forceful enough reaction by senior Australian government authorities to some violent anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish events. It is precisely because of the real and deadly threats faced by Jews around the globe that leaders of the Israeli and Jewish communities have a sacred obligation to address these threats with candour, intelligence and rigour. This is a test that Netanyahu failed utterly in his recent disingenuous, opportunistic broadside against the Australian government. And it is why I want to react to some of Netanyahu’s most blatant and counter-productive fallacies. Netanyahu baselessly asserted that the Australian government’s position in favour of a Palestinian state “poured fuel on the antisemitic fire” that caused this horror. This is worse than nonsense. While I am not always on the same page with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – and I was disappointed several times when his reactions sounded more anti-Israel than against the Israeli government – I share with him the same perception that a two-state solution is the only possible solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And it is essential for Israel’s long-term security. If supporting a non-militarised Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel is antisemitism, then many, many Israelis – I being one of them – are in that same place. Australia, and particularly Sydney, a city I love, were the focus of some of the most aggressive riots against Israel and Jews immediately after the carnage on October 7, 2023. The antisemitic chants emanating in those days from a hateful few can never be forgotten or forgiven. However, to accuse the government
that can underwrite resilience. That requires closing technology gaps, through conditional partnerships that demand local refining capacity, technology transfer and skill development rather than simple extraction contracts that strip minerals and export them for processing abroad. Third, the social and environmental bargain must be honored. Communities in mineral-rich districts have long borne the costs of extraction: water stress, pollution and limited economic spillovers. A credible revenuesharing model, enforceable environmental safeguards and genuine local participation are not merely ethical necessities; they are security instruments. They blunt insurgent narratives and create local constituencies in favor of orderly development.
The Seoul meeting highlighted that geopolitics now hinges on molecules and supply chains as much as armies. PakistanÊs choice is clear: let raw wealth flow abroad or use minerals to drive industrialization, jobs, and resilience at home. Success requires institutions with rare political will. Managed prudently and transparently, the new great game can become a growth story; fail, and the country risks being carved into spheres of influence. History will not ask if the minerals were ours, but whether we used them to build a sovereign, prosperous state.
Australia is right to support a two-state solution
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of Australia or its prime minister of promoting and fuelling antisemitism is outrageous, ugly and unjustified. Much more absolutely must be done to counter intolerably rising antisemitism in Australia. But contrary to Netanyahu’s assertions, the Australian government has taken some important steps under current leadership. To accuse the government of Australia or its prime minister of promoting and fuelling antisemitism is outrageous, ugly and unjustified. Some highlights to date include the Australian Federal Police’s “Operation Avalite” to investigate antisemitic acts, unmasking Iran’s role behind antisemitic arson attacks and then expelling the Iranian ambassador (the first since Japan’s ambassador was expelled in World War II), assuming new powers to tackle state-sponsored terrorism and domestic hate crimes, and spending $25 million to increase security at Jewish community sites. The appointment of Jillian Segal as Australia’s first special envoy to combat antisemitism was another important step – one that must now be quickly followed by rigorous implementation of her recommendations. All of Australian society must work against antisemitism. Thankfully, the reactions this week give reason for hope. The weeping crowds at the Bondi memorial have included all of Australia’s renowned multicultural community. Clergy from every faith have condemned the violence, offered love to Australia’s Jews, and asked everyone to transcend hate so that we may live together in peace. Though it follows an unspeakable horror, this week in Sydney the loving majority rose up to drown out the hateful few. May it continue to be so. The ultimate lesson from Bondi, and from our broader conflict in the Middle East, remains this: “We must live together as brothers, or perish together as fools,” as Dr Martin Luther King Jr wisely put it. In living that lesson, I hope you take inspiration from the selfless example of Ahmed al Ahmed, the brave Syrian-born Australian Muslim father-of-two, who risked his life by rushing in to save Jews and all endangered innocents at Bondi. Please tune out Israel’s PM Bibi Netanyahu, who exploits tragedy to attack allies, only to deflect from his own profound failures as a leader. His spurious inflammation and many leadership failings effect Jewish safety everywhere. Australia’s Jews – just like Israel’s Jews – deserve far better leadership than that. Our urgent mission, which Israelis and our allies must pursue together, is to keep working for a lasting, secure peace, including a two-state resolution. May your painfully fresh imperative to ensure Jewish safety spur these efforts forward, rather than derail them. Our shared future depends on it. Ehud Olmert served as Israeli prime minister from 2006 until 2009.
Fourth, Pakistan must diversify partnerships and ensure transparency. Relying on one patron may yield short-term gains but risks dependency. A multilateral framework with regional, Western, and private partners can reduce strategic vulnerability, while procurement should be audited and guarantees used sparingly. Finally, the state must protect sovereignty over transit and logistics. Minerals are only as valuable as the routes that carry them. Gwadar is valuable in itself; its true strategic cost or advantage will be determined by who controls the nodes where minerals are processed and shipped. Pakistan must ensure that port access, rail links and export corridors preserve national oversight and do not become opaque conduits for external strategic capture. The Seoul meeting highlighted that geopolitics now hinges on molecules and supply chains as much as armies. Pakistan’s choice is clear: let raw wealth flow abroad or use minerals to drive industrialization, jobs, and resilience at home. Success requires institutions with rare political will. Managed prudently and transparently, the new great game can become a growth story; fail, and the country risks being carved into spheres of influence. History will not ask if the minerals were ours, but whether we used them to build a sovereign, prosperous state. The writer can be reached at areebamanzoor017@gmail.com
Israel won’t be democratic without equality for all citizens, including Palestinians
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JERUSALEM POST GERSHON BASKIN
HEN I came on aliyah in 1978, I joined a program called Interns for Peace. The founder was the late Rabbi Bruce Cohen, who was in Israel in 1976 and witnessed the mass demonstrations on the first Land Day of Israeli Arabs (as they were called at the time) against land expropriation. At the end of that day, March 30, 1976, six young Israeli Arab citizens were killed by the Israel Police. Rabbi Bruce had been a community organizer in Harlem in New York City and thought the Arab communities of Israel needed to learn about community organizing. He understood they could benefit from knowing how the Jewish majority of Israel viewed them by engaging in projects of cooperation between Jewish communities and their Arab neighbors. I joined Interns for Peace in September 1978, spent six months on Kibbutz Barkai in a training program, and then moved to the Arab village of Kafr Kara, where I lived for two years from 1979-1981. As a new Israeli citizen who was born and raised in New York, I cherished the words of the Israeli Declaration of Independence promising that democratic Israel would uphold full social and political equality of all its citizens. Living in an Arab village for two years opened my eyes firsthand to the discrimination that existed (and still exists) between Israel’s Jewish and Palestinian Arab citizens. Menachem Begin was prime minister at the time. Reading Begin’s writings and listening to him speak, I understood that he believed in the values of democracy and its most basic principle of equality between all the citizens of Israel. I wrote a letter to Begin explaining who I was, that I was a new immigrant living in an Arab village in Israel, working on building understanding and coexistence. I told him I was part of a volunteer initiative and that I thought strengthening Israel’s democracy was the responsibility of the State of Israel and not volunteers from the United States. I received a response and an invitation to come to Jerusalem to meet with Begin’s adviser on Arab affairs. Less than one year later, in 1981, I became Israel’s first civil servant responsible for improving relations between Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens. I worked in the Education Ministry in a high-level position under minister Zevulun Hammer from the National Religious Party. One year later, I was a partner to the establishment of the ministry’s Depart-
Most Palestinian citizens of Israel accept Israel being the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people but demand it should also be the state of all its citizens
ment for Education for Democracy and Coexistence (that no longer exists) and then became the director of the Institute for Education for Jewish Arab Coexistence that was linked to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Education Ministry. Working intensively in those years with many leaders from the Arab community, it became apparent that as long as Israel remains in conflict with the Palestinian people, and Israel’s Arab citizens, who are Palestinians by nationality, identify with the struggle for Palestinian freedom from Israel, Israel’s Palestinian citizens will always be suspect of being loyal to the enemy and not their state.
ISRAEL’S ARAB CITIZENS ARE PALESTINIANS: Despite the conflict, facts prove that the majority of Palestinian citizens are law abiding and have never done anything against the security of the State of Israel. But facts do not impact reality. Particularly after October 7, any attempt of thinking of Israel as a liberal democracy with regard to the basic human and civil rights of its Palestinian citizens is simply false. With the growing fear by Israel’s Jewish citizens of all Palestinians, the legitimation of extremist racist political parties and politicians by our prime minister, and control of the police and security services by right-wing extremist ministers, Israel’s democratic space has shrunken significantly – mostly for its Palestinian citizens, but also for Israeli Jews who support them and support ending Israel’s occupation-expansionist policies in the West Bank, and those who opposed the continuation of the war in Gaza. People claim that Israel does not have laws that discriminate against its Palestinian citizens. But according to Adalah (The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel), there are over 65 Israeli laws on the books that discriminate directly or indirectly against Palestinian citizens of Israel (and in many cases also affect Palestinian residents of the occupied territories) on the basis of their national belonging. These laws are identified in Adalah’s Discriminatory Laws Database. This is the reality of Israel in 2025. The only way we can reverse this antidemocratic trend is by changing our government. In order to change the right-wing religious regime that controls us, we need to develop deep Jewish-Arab political cooperation and partnerships. Palestinian citizens of Israel must
increase their participation in the next elections. In the last elections, 52% of eligible Palestinian citizens of Israel voted, compared to 70% of Jewish voters. If Palestinian voter participation reaches 70%, they could gain about 17 seats in the Knesset. That is a game changer. There are also Jewish citizens voting for Arab parties, which would increase their gains by one or two more seats. Jewish-Arab partnership is necessary to change the ruling regime. Is this frightening? To many Jewish voters, the answer is yes. But it should not be. What do the majority of Israel’s Palestinian citizens want? They want equality. They want Israel to make peace with the Palestinian people on the basis of two states for two peoples – meaning that Israel would continue to exist next to a Palestinian state. Israel’s Palestinian citizens are the biggest supporters of the two-state solution. Most Palestinian citizens of Israel accept Israel being the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people but demand it should also be the state of all its citizens. There is no contradiction in that if Israel ensures full equality for all its citizens without discrimination. There is a large Jewish majority within the borders of the sovereign State of Israel. The Palestinian minority can enjoy full equal rights, including the right to teach their students about Palestinian history, which should be studied by Israel’s Jewish citizens as well. Just as all Palestinian citizens of Israel learn Hebrew from first grade, Israel’s Jewish students should learn Arabic. Arabic should be once again made an official language of the State of Israel, and Israel’s Nation-State Law should redefine Israel as the democratic nation-state of the Jewish people and all its citizens. How can more than 20% of Israel’s citizens live in a state in which they are born and have been present since its founding without the state being their state as well? Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in the interest of all Israel’s citizens and would remove claims of Palestinian citizens of Israel being suspect. Israel will never be a democracy unless it guarantees the full equality of all its citizens, and all citizens must be able to feel that Israel is their state.
The writer is the Middle East director of the International Communities Organization and the cohead of the Alliance for Two States.
06 NEWS
OVER 1,000 PATIENTS HAVE DIED AWAITING EVACUATION FROM GAZA SINCE JULY 2024: WHO
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ORE than 1,000 patients have died while waiting for urgent medical evacuation from war-ravaged Gaza in the last year and a half, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the UN agency and its partners had “evacuated over 10,600 patients from Gaza with severe health conditions, including over 5,600 children” since the start of the war more than two years ago. But he warned that “many more patients remain in Gaza awaiting evacuation to receive appropriate healthcare”. Citing numbers from the health ministry in Gaza, Tedros said that 1,092 pa-
tients were known to have died while awaiting medical evacuation just between July 2024 and November 28, 2025.
“This figure is likely underreported,” he warned, calling on “more countries to open doors to patients from Gaza, and for
medical evacuation to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be restored”. “Lives depend on it.” The WHO has previously estimated that more than 16,500 patients still need treatment outside of Gaza, while a top official with the charity Doctors Without Borders told AFP earlier this month the actual number was likely “three to four times that number”. Up to December 1, over 30 countries had taken patients from Gaza, but only a handful, including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, had accepted large numbers. A US-sponsored ceasefire has halted fighting in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. But the deal, in effect since October 10, remains fragile as Israel and Hamas accuse each other almost daily of violations.
China, Ukraine hold political consultations between foreign ministries BEIJING
Staff CorreSpondent
Trump administration suspends US green card lottery WASHINGTON agenCieS
US homeland security chief Kristi Noem suspended a green card lottery on Thursday, saying it was used by the suspect in a mass shooting at Brown University. Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, is accused of bursting into a building at the Ivy League school on December 13 and opening fire on students sitting exams, killing two and wounding nine. He is also accused of killing a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) two days later. Noem wrote on social media that Neves Valente “entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program (DV1) in 2017 and was granted a green card.” “At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program,” Noem wrote. “This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.” Neves Valente was found dead by suicide after a dayslong manhunt, police said on Thursday evening. The US green card lottery grants up to 55,000 permanent resident visas annually to people “from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States,” according to the State Department. To qualify, applicants must have at least a high school education or two years of training or work experience. They also go through a vetting process that includes an interview. Trump administration also intends to increase its efforts to strip some naturalised Americans of their US citizenship, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing internal guidance. The USCIS guidance, which was issued on Tuesday, asks its field offices to “supply Office of Immigration Litigation with 100-200 denaturalisation cases per month” in the upcoming 2026 fiscal year, according to the newspaper. The guidance comes as Trump has spent much of this year closing loopholes in the immigration system and throwing up roadblocks for people seeking to enter and stay in the country. US President Donald Trump has carried out an aggressive immigration agenda, including imposing travel bans and an attempt to end birthright citizenship since January. His administration most recently paused immigration applications, including green card and US citizenship processing, filed by immigrants from 19 non-European countries.
China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin held political consultations between the foreign ministries of China and Ukraine with Serhiy Kyslytsya, first deputy minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine, in Beijing on Thursday. Liu said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ukraine, friendship and cooperation have always been the defining features of bilateral ties. Guided by the principles of mutual respect and trust, mutual understanding and accommodation, and mutual benefit and reciprocity, the two sides have achieved fruitful outcomes in cooperation across fields such as economy and trade, agriculture, science and technology, and people-to-people and cultural ex-
changes, Liu added. He said China stands ready to work with Ukraine to follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the steady and sustained development of bilateral relations. Kyslytsya said that Ukraine at-
taches great importance to its relations with China, adheres to the one-China principle, and is willing to further deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields to push for continued progress in Ukraine-China relations. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
Body of Bangladesh student leader reaches Dhaka amid nationwide unrest DHAKA
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The body of a popular student leader who was assassinated returned home to Bangladesh on Friday, as the country’s interim government urged people to resist violence as protests erupted across Dhaka and other cities. In a post on X, the interim administration wrote that a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying Sharif Osman Hadi’s remains landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 5:48pm local time (4:48pm PKT) after departing from Singapore, where he was undergoing medical treatment. Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, the youth leader who died, was a spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha (Platform for Revolution) and participated in the protests that overthrew Hasina. He was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka last Friday while launching his election campaign. Hadi, an outspoken critic of India, was initially treated at a local hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced medical care, where he died after spending six days on life support. Meanwhile, the United States Embassy in Dhaka stated in a post on X that Hadi’s funeral prayers will be held after Zohar prayers around 2pm in front of the National Parliament building on Manik Mia Avenue. “Extremely heavy traffic is expected in the area and throughout Dhaka. US citizens should practice vigilance and remember that gatherings intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence,” the post warned. “ You should avoid demonstrations and exercise
caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings. ” Although calm had returned to much of the country on Friday morning, protesters carrying national flags and placards continued demonstrating at Shahbagh in central Dhaka, chanting slogans and vowing not to return until justice was served. Residents in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation of 173 million said they were worried there could be fresh violence later on Friday. The National Citizen Party, formed by students who led protests that forced then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country last year, also warned of possible violence later in the day. However, nearly 1,500 people gathered peacefully at the national mosque in Dhaka after Friday prayers for a rally called by Khelafat Majlis, a religiopolitical party. According to Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star, around 100 protesters gathered in Chowhatta and demanded that those responsible for Hadi‘s killing be brought to justice and also called for the resignation of Dhaka’s home affairs adviser if their demands were not met. “Addressing the gathering, protesters alleged that the killing had been carried out ‘at the behest of India. ’ and blamed the Awami League and its affiliated bodies, particularly the banned Chhatra League,” the newspaper reported. In Dhaka, videos circulating on social media showed mobs vandalising the offices of the country’s largest daily newspaper, Prothom Alo, as well as The Daily Star, on Thursday night.
China urges Japan to stop challenging international bottom line with its nuclear ambitions BEIJING
Staff CorreSpondent
China urges Japan to stop testing the bottom line of international justice with its nuclear ambitions, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun’s remarks came after a senior Japanese official said that Japan should have nuclear weapons. The recent noises from the Japanese side about nuclear weapons reflect the growing ambition of rightwing conservative forces in Japan to revive militarism, break free from the international order and accelerate the country’s “remilitarization,” Guo said in a regular press briefing. Guo notes that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. “Japan must deeply reflect on its historical crimes, abide by international laws and the Japanese constitution, stop finding excuses for military expansion and stop challenging the international bottom line with its nuclear ambitions,” said Guo. China urges Japan to do soul-searching regarding its historical crimes Japan, as a defeated country in World War II, must do deep soul-searching regarding its historical crimes, abide by the political commitments it made on the Taiwan.
Saturday, 20 December 2025 | ISLAMABAD
UK Foreign Office investigates cyber breach after October hack LONDON
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A British government minister confirmed on Friday that a data breach occurred at the UK Foreign Office in October and that an investigation into the cyber incident is ongoing. Trade Minister Chris Bryant said the hack was linked to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, while downplaying media reports suggesting the involvement of Chinese hackers. He described the incident as posing a relatively low risk and said the vulnerability had been addressed. According to Bryant, authorities have been examining the breach since it was detected and took steps to shut down the issue. He told BBC radio that the matter was contained after it was discovered. The incident follows an earlier data lapse revealed in July, when a Ministry of Defence official mistakenly leaked information containing the names and personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied for relocation to the UK. That disclosure also exposed the identities of more than 100 British nationals, including intelligence operatives and special forces members. The Sun newspaper reported that a cyber group known as Storm-1849, which has been accused of targeting critics of Beijing, may have been responsible for the Foreign Office hack. Bryant said he could not confirm whether China was involved. A government spokesperson said officials were continuing to investigate the cyber incident and stressed that the security of government systems and data remains a top priority. Cyberattacks have increasingly targeted UK institutions in recent years, including hospitals, the postal service, and major retailers.
Pakistan strengthens seed regulation with expanded provincial inspector network PROFIT
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Pakistan has intensified enforcement of its seed regulatory framework by expanding the network of authorised seed inspectors across provinces to curb the sale of counterfeit and substandard seeds and protect farmers’ interests. According to an official document obtained by Wealth Pakistan, the initiative is being led by the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) under the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA), which implements the Seed Act, 1976, and its subsequent amendments. The FSC&RD’s core mandate is to prevent the marketing and distribution of unapproved or low-quality seeds. The document noted that current staffing levels are insufficient to monitor the growing scale of seed business operations nationwide. To address the shortfall, NSDRA has delegated seed inspector powers under Section 19 of the Seed Act to provincial agriculture officials. So far, 134 officers in Punjab have been notified as seed inspectors, leveraging the province’s extensive field presence. Sindh has recommended 93 officers for similar notification, and other provinces have been invited to submit nominations. The document emphasised that mandatory registration of all seed sector stakeholders—including importers, producers, exporters, and dealers—is essential to ensure quality assurance throughout the supply chain and protect farmers from losses linked to poor-quality inputs.
NEWS 07
Saturday, 20 December 2025 | ISLAMABAD
CORPORATE CORNER
BISP Chairperson visits BISP dynamic registry center at Civil Lines Gizri
KARACHI
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On the special instructions of the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister, Social Protection Wallets have been launched to ensure transparency in the payment system. Senator Rubina Khalid reviewed the process of providing free SIMs for Social Protection accounts of deserving women. The SIMs are being provided completely free of cost, are available only at BISP centers, and women’s digital wallets are activated exclusively by trained BISP staff. Women were advised to safeguard their SIMs and mobile phones, as all future stipends will be transferred through these digital walletsChairperson Benazir Income Support Programme, Senator Rubina Khalid, today visited the BISP Dynamic Registry Center located in the Civil Lines Gizri area of Karachi. During the visit, she conducted a detailed review of the process for providing free SIMs for Social Protection Wallets of deserving women and met women who had come to the center to participate in digital and financial literacy training sessions.Sindh Government spokesperson MPA Sadia Javed and MPA Shazia Karim Singhar, along with local PPP leadership, were also present on the occasion.
easypaisa marks one year of digital banking, announces global remittance partnership ISLAMABAD
staff report
easypaisa digital bank processed over 3.8 billion transactions in 2025 worth more than PKR 15 trillion, as it marked the first anniversary of its digital banking operations at its annual stakeholder dinner. The bank also announced a major step towards expanding Pakistan’s global remittance and payments connectivity.Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, congratulated easypaisa on completing its first year as a digital bank and said, “The promotion of the digital economy is a top priority of the government as instructed by the Prime Minister. Concrete steps are being taken to advance and strengthen the digital economy.” She added that accelerated digitization was aligning Pakistan’s economy with modern requirements, noting that the record growth in IT exports was an encouraging signal for the country’s economic future. She said that the government is all set to launch 5G in the country next year. The event, attended by federal ministers, policymakers, regulators, business leaders and media, highlighted easypaisa digital bank’s role in expanding access to digital finance nationwide.
Punjab Police, CNF agree to target high-profile drug dealers, disrupt supply lines
LAHORE
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Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar on Friday held high-level meetings to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and enhance operational efficiency across the province, underscoring Punjab Police’s commitment to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision of a “Drug-Free Punjab.” At the Central Police Office, IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar met with Director General Counter Narcotics Force (CNF) Punjab Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal, accompanied by a senior CNF delegation including Deputy Director General Lieutenant Colonel Sarfraz Khan, Director Asif Shafi, Deputy Director Major Furqan Raja, while Additional IG Operations Muhammad Ali Naikokara and AIG Operations Zahid Nawaz Marwat were also present. During the meeting, officials conducted detailed discussions on curbing drug trafficking, taking action against major drug dealers, and implementing other strategic measures. Both Dr. Usman Anwar and Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation to eliminate drug smuggling, including joint strategies to target high-profile dealers and disrupt supply lines. IG Punjab directed that all RPOs and DPOs, in coordination with the Counter Narcotics Force, develop joint operational plans and targets for crackdowns. He emphasized that Punjab Police will provide training and technical support to CNF for investigation, challaning, and prosecution of drugrelated cases, alongside joint workshops for investigation officers to strengthen enforcement capabilities. Brigadier Mazhar Iqbal lauded the performance of the Counter Narcotics Cell in combating drug trafficking and paid tribute to police personnel martyred during anti-drug operations. He reaffirmed that, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision, both forces will work together to make Punjab free from the scourge of drugs.
CM MARYAM GREENLIGHTS CENTRALIZED DASHBOARD FOR REAL-TIME MONITORING OF GOVT DEPARTMENTS
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PUNJAB CHIEF MINISTER TO PERSONALLY OVERSEE PROVINCE-WIDE PERFORMANCE WITH 22 KEY INDICATORS TO TRACK CIVIC SERVICES, CLEANLINESS AND URBAN SAFETY LAHORE
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UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday approved the establishment of a Punjab Performance Management Unit to introduce a centralized, technology-driven system for real-time evaluation of government departments and field administration across the province, aimed at strengthening governance, accountability and service delivery. Presiding over a special meeting, the chief minister decided that she would personally conduct province-wide live monitoring through a central dashboard of the Performance Management Unit. The meeting, which was briefed by Chairman CM Complaint Cell Shoaib Mirza, reviewed a range of key public issues, including open manholes, inflation, stray dogs, wall chalking, overflowing drains, graveyards, pushcart markets and the overall performance of government institutions. The meeting also approved the creation of a Virtual Tour Wall, described as a first-of-its-kind initiative in Punjab.
Through this system, the Chief Minister will be able to monitor attendance and onground performance of officers and officials across the province. It was stated during the briefing that civic hazards, encroachments and urban safety risks would no longer remain unchecked under the new monitoring framework.
PEC launches first batch of 6-month paid GET Program
The first Key Performance Indicator (KPI) dashboard will be activated to assess the performance of commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners. The Punjab Performance Management Unit will continuously monitor 22 critical performance indicators to ensure effective implementation
37th convocation of NUST, Pakistan Navy Engineering College held in Karachi
and accountability. According to the briefing, the unit will oversee the Suthra Punjab Programme, including cleanliness, solid waste collection, and drainage and sewerage systems in every city. It will also monitor the availability and pricing of flour, bread and other essential food items, ensure enforcement of the ban on wall chalking; and supervise campaigns aimed at protecting children from stray dogs. The scope of performance indicators will further include the condition of parks and graveyards, regulation of pushcart markets, supply of food items and price control measures. On the directions of the Chief Minister, CMIT units will also be established at divisional and district levels to strengthen implementation, coordination, and monitoring. The initiative marks the first time in Punjab’s history that a centralized, performance-based monitoring system, backed by modern technology and direct oversight of the chief minister, will be used to measure and evaluate the functioning of government departments across the province.
Achieving Global Excellence: A Landmark in Cybersecurity Research ISLAMABAD
staff report
ISLAMABAD
staff report
The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) conducted the digital balloting of its ambitious Graduate Engineer Trainee (GET) Placement Program, marking the placement of the first batch of 600 engineers in various industries for six months of training. The digital balloting ceremony was held at the PEC Regional Office Lahore, where Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir inaugurated the program by pressing the digital balloting button. Vice Chairman PEC Punjab Engr. Dr. Sohail Aftab Qureshi, PEC Governing Body members, and senior PEC officials attended the event, while representatives from PEC HQs and all PEC regional and branch offices across the country joined online. According to PEC, around 3,000 engineers applied online for the first batch of the GET Placement Program. After scrutiny, 1,587 candidates were shortlisted, out of which 600 engineers were selected through the digital balloting process.
K-Electric condemns violent attack on field staff in North Karachi KARACHI
staff report
K-Electric (KE) strongly condemns the violent attack on its field team during an anti-theft operation in Khamiso Goth, North Karachi. The team was working to remove illegal connections that compromise public safety and disrupt power supply to lawabiding customers.During the operation, a mob attacked KE staff, causing serious injury to one employee and damaging equipment. The injured team member was immediately shifted to a hospital for treatment. An FIR has been registered, and KE is coordinating with law enforcement agencies to ensure strict action against those responsible.Illegal connections in the Khamiso Goth continue to pose significant challenges. Losses on the affected feeder currently stand at 40%, equivalent to approximately 3.4 million units annually. Despite weekly kunda removal drives, these connections reappear quickly, highlighting the urgent need for stronger support from law enforcement and city administration to achieve a permanent solution.Commenting on the incident, KE spokesperson Imran Rana said, “We strongly condemn acts of aggression against our teams, who work under challenging conditions to ensure safe and reliable electricity for Karachi.
FBL inaugurates first-of its-kind self-serve Digital Lobby ISLAMABAD
staff report
Faysal Bank recently unveiled a first-of-its-kind digital-experience center at its regional office in Lahore. The ‘Faysal Self-Serve Digital Lobby’ is aimed at providing customers with an intuitive 24/7,365 experience, offering round-the-clock banking services through its state of the art in-branchdigital-solutions.The Faysal Self-Serve Digital Lobby is a unmanned experience center, offering customers a unique market-first service set, where Faysal Bank customers who are looking for an instant replacement of their card, no longer have to wait, they can simply walk-in and walk-out with their Fayal Debit or Noor card in less than five minutes. The lobby also boasts one-of-its kind, interactive, biometrically secured selfservice-kiosk, offering customers instant sign-up for new services and real-time access to personal account details/certificates, demographic updates, instant card activation and a host of other services. Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Yousaf Hussain, President & CEO, Faysal Bank, said; “Our unmanned self-serve experience center is reflective of Faysal Bank’s
KARACHI
staff report
37th Convocation of Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) was held at Bahria Auditorium, Karachi. Chief Minister Sindh, Mr. Syed Murad Ali Shah was the Chief Guest for the occasion.A total of 353 graduates were awarded degrees, including 4 PhD, 41 MS, and 308 Bachelor’s graduates. The Chief Guest also awarded 39 medals to outstanding position holders, comprising 7 President’s Gold Medals, 4 Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medals, 8 Chancellor’s Silver Medals, 18 Rector’s Gold Medals and 2 Quaid-e-Azam Gold Medals.Chief Guest, while extending his heartiest felicitations to the graduating students and parents, highlighted that NUST PNEC is providing quality engineers to Pakistan’s evolving industry. He also acknowledged that the foreign students are a testimony to the college’s credentials in the engineering sector.The convocation was attended by a large number of civil and military dignitaries, as well as the parents of graduating students.
Engro Celebrates Rs133b Islamic Financing deal to advance digital transformation
Dr. Khan Farhan Rafat has reached an extraordinary academic pinnacle by earning his second PhD in Cybersecurity—a rare and formidable achievement that distinguishes him on the world stage. This accomplishment is not merely a testament to his intellectual perseverance but a reflection of world-class scholarship that pushes the boundaries of secure digital communication. Dr. Rafat’s half-bandwidth reduction research, which follows his doctoral research, demonstrates a pioneering leap in the field of secure reversible covert communication. This innovation enables unified data compression, encoding, and perfect reversal. With direct applications in NextGen IoT, edge computing, healthcare, cybersecurity, and telecommunications, his work delivers a scalable, secure, and efficient solution for confidential data transmission in bandwidth and resourceconstrained environments
CDA, IFC partner for technical assistance in various projects under public-private partnership
KARACHI
staff report
Engro has marked a historic milestone in Pakistan’s landscape with the execution of a Rs 133 billion transaction entirely through 100% Islamic financing, to grow its telecom infrastructure vertical. This funding has enabled the addition of Deodar (and its 10,000+ telecom towers) to Engro’s portfolio. This underscores Engro’s commitment to driving digital transformation while supporting Pakistan’s determination to fully transition to an Islamic banking system. A celebratory event brought together all participants of the transaction, including the presidents of banks, legal and financial advisors, Engro’s teams, and the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Mr. Jameel Ahmed. He commended the collaborative effort and reiterated the State Bank’s vision for digital finance, emphasising the critical role of telecom connectivity in enabling financial inclusion. At the event, he said, “My congratulations to the Dawood family and Engro, the Islamic bankers and conventional banks (through their Islamic windows).
Fly Jinnah adds Jeddah and Dammam to its growing network from Islamabad ISLAMABAD
staff report
Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s leading budget carrier, is strengthening its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the launch of non-stop flights from Islamabad to Jeddah and Dammam, commencing 15 December 2025. The new services will further enhance connectivity for customers traveling between Pakistan and the two Saudi cities. Islamabad’s international network now includes Sharjah, Bahrain, Riyadh, in addition to Jeddah and Dammam. Fly Jinnah’s growing Saudi network is complemented by non-stop flights to Jeddah and Dammam from Lahore, while Jeddah is also conveniently served from Karachi, providing travelers across the country with multiple options and enhanced connectivity. Fly Jinnah’s spokesperson said: “With the launch of these nonstop flights from Islamabad to Jeddah and Dammam, Fly Jinnah continues to expand its international network and provide its customer.
ISLAMABAD
staff report
A signing ceremony for an agreement between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group was held at the CDA Headquarters. The ceremony was attended by Federal Secretary Interior Muhammad Khurram Agha, Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Member Planning and Design Dr. Khalid Hafiz, Regional Director (IFC) and other senior officers from CDA's Islamabad Water and IFC.Under the agreement, IFC will provide technical assistance to the Islamabad Water Agency for various projects under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). In this regard, IFC will provide its Transaction Advisory Services for three water and sewage-related projects in Islamabad. Prior principle approval for execution of these projects under a PPP.
Zakat is greatest insurance policy for this world and hereafter, says Maulana Bashir Farooq KARACHI
staff report
Founder Chairman of Saylani Welfare International Trust, Maulana Muhammad Bashir Farooq Qadri, said that wealth does not decrease by spending in the way of Allah; rather, it increases manifold. He termed Zakat as the greatest insurance policy for both this world and the Hereafter for increasing one’s wealth. He stated that, with the support of philanthropists and the general public, Saylani carried out welfare work worth nearly Rs 15.75 billion last year.He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony held at the residence of renowned businessman and industrialist Zain Mondia. The event was hosted in honour of Rear Admiral Faisal Amin (Hilal-e-Imtiaz Military), Commander Coast, Pakistan Navy, and the Founder Chairman of Saylani.The ceremony was also addressed by Javed Alam Odho, Additional IGP Sindh; Zain Mondia; Sahil Organization’s representative Danish Aman; Muhammad Ghazal, COO Saylani; Afzal Chamdia.
Saturday, 20 December, 2025
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UN REPORT VALIDATES PAKISTAN’S STANCE ON INDIA’S CROSS-BORDER ACTIONS, SAYS PRESIDENT NEWS
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ISLAMABAD
Staff report
RESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari has welcomed a report issued by United Nations human rights experts that raises serious concerns over India’s military actions against Pakistan in May this year and their broader implications for regional and global peace and stability. In a statement, the President said the report reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-held position that the unilateral use of force across international borders constitutes a violation of the United Nations Charter and a serious breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty. He said the findings related to civilian casualties, damage to populated areas, and the targeting of religious sites in Pakistan during the May incidents were deeply alarming. The President added that the report’s assessment of the heightened risk of escalation resulting from India’s actions was equally troubling. President Zardari welcomed the report’s observations on India’s unilateral decision to place its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty “in abeyance”, as well as its aggressive posture and statements, and the significant civilian losses attributed to Indian military actions.
He said the Indus Waters Treaty remained a binding international agreement and a fundamental pillar of regional stability. Any attempt to bypass established dispute resolution mechanisms or take actions affecting water flows, he said, violated Pakistan’s rights and carried serious human rights implications. The President said the report reflected growing international concern over what he described as India’s conduct as a rogue state, accusing it of increasingly relying on coercion, intimidation, and the normalization of force and vio-
Fiery exchange erupts in Senate panel meeting over communications ministry’s performance ISLAMABAD
Staff CorreSpondent
A routine question on the performance of the Ministry of Communications triggered a heated exchange during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee, culminating in a verbal clash between Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Senator Palwasha Khan. The confrontation, which later went viral on social media, began when Senator Palwasha Khan questioned the minister about the ministry’s performance and a specific road project. The query prompted a sharp response from Abdul Aleem Khan, who accused the senator of siding with dishonest elements and remarked that “the dishonest from all corners of the world have gathered here.” Addressing Senator Palwasha directly, the minister warned that he would expose her actions before the committee and objected to the manner in which she had spoken to him, further escalating the exchange. Unfazed, Senator Palwasha Khan said the minister’s reaction reflected his own discomfort over the issue. She demanded that the committee issue a ruling on what she described as his inappropriate conduct during the meeting. Speaking to the media afterwards, Senator Palwasha reiterated her stance and said she would raise the matter within her party. She also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to remove Abdul Aleem Khan from the cabinet, accusing him of using foul language. She further alleged that corruption within the National Highway Authority was widely known, pointing to longstanding concerns over transparency in the communications sector. The episode has drawn attention to rising tensions within the Senate and sparked debate over professionalism and decorum during parliamentary proceedings, while also highlighting broader scrutiny of the communications ministry’s performance.
lence rather than law and dialogue. He noted that credible reports of transnational violence and targeted killings allegedly linked to India and raised in multiple countries pointed to a dangerous pattern extending beyond South Asia and undermining global norms. President Zardari said the report clearly highlighted what he termed India’s irresponsible state behaviour. He added that India had long marginalised its minorities and disregarded its commitments to international forums, including the United Nations, warning that such
conduct could not continue unchecked. The President also drew attention to the report’s conclusion that international law does not recognise any independent right to unilateral military action under the guise of counter-terrorism. He said the affirmation of Pakistan’s inherent right to self-defence under international law underscored the gravity of the violations identified by the UN experts. He welcomed the scrutiny by UN Special Rapporteurs of India’s regional conduct, including concerns related to alleged support for militant groups and the use of what he described as an illegitimate Afghan government to pursue hostile objectives. He called for transparency and accountability on these issues. President Zardari also endorsed the UN experts’ call for the provision of credible evidence, compensation for civilian losses, adherence to treaty obligations, and a renewed commitment to peaceful dialogue, including on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, restraint, and respect for international law, the President said Pakistan would continue to pursue diplomatic and legal avenues to protect its sovereignty, safeguard the rights of its people, and contribute to stability in the region.
SC orders strict enforcement of Wedlock Policy to protect civil servants’ family life ISLAMABAD
Setting aside the transfer order, the Supreme Court observed that it had been issued in a “routine manner” without any compelling publicinterest justification. The court held that this violated the Wedlock Policy as well as Articles 34 and 35 of the Constitution, which safeguard family life and encourage women’s participation in public service. The bench noted that while a civil servant does not enjoy an absolute right to a posting of choice, the Wedlock Policy obliges the state to consider family circumstances and minimise hardship, unless a strong public-interest reason
exists. It criticised the government’s “one-dimensional approach” to transfers, which often ignores family needs and treats separation as an unavoidable administrative outcome. The judgment described the policy as a binding directive aimed at reducing hardship, promoting family stability and fostering greater participation of women in public service. It cautioned against overriding these objectives through “convenience, tradition or rigid administrative practices”, stressing that the policy must be implemented in both letter and spirit.
FIA blocks travel of 23 passengers bound for Malaysia on visit visas
ISLAMABAD
Staff report
KARACHI
Staff report
The Federal Investigation Agency on Friday offloaded 23 passengers at Jinnah International Airport after determining that they intended to travel to Malaysia on visit visas for the purpose of working illegally. According to an FIA spokesperson, the passengers were travelling on flight D7-109 and ad-
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5.7 magnitude earthquake shakes Islamabad, Rawalpindi ISLAMABAD
Staff CorreSpondent
An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Islamabad and several cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Friday morning, causing widespread panic as tremors were felt throughout the region. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) confirmed that tremors were felt across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Chitral, Upper Dir and several other cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, local media channels reported. According to the National Seismic Monitoring Center in Islamabad, the earthquake’s epicenter was located in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Afghanistan, with a depth of 12 kilometers. Following the tremors, people came out of their houses in fear by reciting Kalma-eTayyaba. However, no loss of life or property was reported in its wake.
Punjab govt approves kite-flying rules ahead of Basant revival Staff CorreSpondent
YouTuber Sohrab Barkat granted post-arrest bail in Cybercrime Case
The District & Sessions Court of Islamabad on Friday approved post-arrest bail for YouTuber Sohrab Barkat in a case pertaining to disputed videos and tweets, directing his release on submission of surety bonds worth Rs100,000. Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah heard the bail application and announced the order after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense. The court directed that the accused be released once he furnishes surety bonds in the sum of Rs100,000. During the hearing, defence counsel informed the court that the allegations against Sohrab Barkat were still at the investigation stage. They argued that further physical remand was unnecessary, maintaining that the accused had already fully cooperated with the investigation process.
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LAHORE
Staff CorreSpondent
The Supreme Court has directed all government departments to strictly follow the 1998 Wedlock Policy, ruling that administrative convenience cannot override the constitutional obligation to protect the family life of civil servants. The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Justice Munib Akhtar on a petition filed by Mubashir Iqbal Zafar, an Assistant Health Inspector (BPS-5), against the Ministry of Defence and other respondents. Zafar had challenged his transfer from Abdul Hakim in Khanewal district to Dera Nawab Sahib in Bahawalpur district on February 8, 2021, citing serious medical and family hardships. He is diabetic, while his wife — a BPS-14 government school teacher posted in Abdul Hakim — suffers from a heart condition. The couple also has two minor children. His request to remain at his existing posting or be transferred nearby was rejected, and his appeal was later dismissed by the Federal Service Tribunal.
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mitted during initial questioning that they planned to overstay in Malaysia and seek unauthorized employment. The individuals belonged to various parts of the country, including Karachi, Lower Dir, Mardan, Swat, Bajaur, Bannu, Gujrat, and Peshawar. The spokesperson said preliminary investigations showed that the group had arranged their travel through an agent identified as Muhammad Owais. During the in-
quiry, Owais stated that the visit visas had been arranged by one of the passengers, Waseem Khan, through another agent named Stefan. Payments for the visas were made through bank transfers, the FIA said. Immigration officials also found that the passengers failed to meet key travel requirements. Checks revealed they did not possess sufficient funds and were unable to produce the mandatory bank statements required for Malaysian visit visas. Following the offloading, the passengers were handed over to the FIA’s Anti Human Trafficking Circle in Karachi for further verification and legal action. Earlier this week, the FIA informed a parliamentary panel that more than 66,000 passengers had been offloaded nationwide this year as part of efforts to disrupt organised networks involved in facilitating illegal travel abroad. The issue has drawn legal scrutiny in recent months.
The Punjab government has approved a set of kiteflying rules ahead of the revival of the Basant festival in the province. Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said kite-flying remains banned across the province except on designated days. Under the new rules, permission to fly kites will be granted only on February 6 and 7, 2026, and kites will not be allowed to exceed a specified size. He said only approved paper and string would be used, while the registration fee for the manufacturing and sale of kites has been fixed at Rs1,000. No individual or business will be allowed to make or sell kites without obtaining permission from the relevant deputy commissioner. Earlier, on December 15, 2025, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs cleared the Punjab Regulation of Kite Flying Bill 2025. The bill proposes a near-total ban on kite-flying, allowing it only on specific days and at designated locations, with strict penalties aimed at preventing fatal accidents and property damage. The move follows the Punjab government’s decision to lift an 18-year ban on the Basant festival, which is scheduled to be celebrated in February next year. The festival was banned in 2007 after a surge in deaths and serious injuries caused by sharp kite strings, particularly affecting motorcyclists and pillion riders. Under the proposed law, the use of metallic wires, nylon cord, or strings coated with glass or other sharp materials is strictly prohibited, along with the manufacturing, transportation, storage, and sale of hazardous kites and strings.
President approves de-notification of IHC Judge Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri ISLAMABAD
Staff CorreSpondent
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday approved the denotification of Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri from the office of judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) following his disqualification in a degree-related case. The official sources said that the president approved the de-notification on the advice of the prime minister after the Islamabad High Court declared Jahangiri’s appointment unlawful. The decision was taken in light of the IHC’s ruling, which held that Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri did not possess a valid LLB degree at the time of his appointment as a judge. In its detailed verdict, the Islamabad High Court had directed that the office be declared vacant, ruling that Jahangiri was not eligible to hold the position due to the lack of a duly recognized law degree at the time of his induction. It may be recalled that a two-member bench of the Islamabad High Court, a day earlier, had declared Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri disqualified from holding the office of judge in the degree case.
UN General Assembly adopts Pakistan’s resolution on self-determination right NEW YORK
Staff CorreSpondent
The UN General Assembly has stamped its approval on a Pakistan-sponsored resolution that reaffirms the right to self-determination for peoples still subjected to colonial, foreign, and alien occupation. The text, which was adopted by consensus, was recommended last month by the 193-member Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with Social, humanitarian, and cultural issues. Pakistan has been tabling this resolution since 1981 in an effort to focus the world’s attention on the peoples still struggling for their inalienable right to self-determination, including those in Indian Occupied Kashmir and Palestine.
By reaffirming the right to self-determination, the General Assembly on Thursday once again emphasized its applicability in situations where peoples remain deprived of this right and uphold the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and relevant UN resolutions. The resolution serves as an important expression of international solidarity with peoples striving to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination, diplomats said. For the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, it reinforces international attention to their just cause and their aspirations for freedom and dignity, it was pointed out. Co-sponsored by 65 countries representing all regions, the text calls on countries to immediately cease their foreign military intervention in and occupation of foreign
countries and territories, as well as acts of repression, discrimination, and maltreatment. Under its terms, the resolution also declared the General Assembly’s firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression, and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world. The Assembly also deplored the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of these acts and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour. It urges the Human Rights Council to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression, or occupation.
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk