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PAKISTAN STRIKES $4B DEAL TO SELL WEAPONS TO LIBYAN FORCE, OFFICIALS SAY Tuesday, 23 December, 2025 | 2 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447

DEAL REINFORCES PM AND FM ASIM MUNIR’S LEADERSHIP IN PUSH FOR EXPORT-DRIVEN ECONOMY

THE ‘EMBARGO’ ON ARMS EXPORT TO LIBYA IS FACTUALLY NON-EXISTENT DUE TO MULTIPLE REASONS

ISLAMABAD

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IT ALSO REFLECTS PAKISTAN’S DOMESTIC INDUSTRIAL PROWESS AND FM ASIM MUNIR’S STATESMANSHIP

WITH THIS DEAL, PAKISTAN HAS ANNOUNCED ITS ENTRY INTO THE CLUB OF LEADING EXPORTERS OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS AND EQUIPMENT

Staff report

AKISTAN has reached a deal worth over $4 billion to sell military equipment to the Libyan National Army, four Pakistani officials said, despite a U.N. arms embargo on the fractured North African country. The deal, one of Pakistan’s largest-ever weapons sales, was finalised after a meeting last week between Pakistan military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-inchief of the LNA, in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, said the four officials. The officials, all involved in defence matters, declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the deal. Pakistan’s foreign ministry, defence ministry and military did not respond to requests for comment. The multi-billion-dollar major conventional arms export deal by Pakistan to Libya is reflective of two key aspects. The deal endorses PM Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership for an export-driven self-sustained economy. It also reflects Pakistan’s domestic industrial prowess on one hand and FM Asim Munir’s statesmanship as a soldier diplomat on the other. In recent past, Pakistan has made remarkable progress in developing its indigenous industrial base including mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, Information Technology, Crytpo currency,

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Large-scale manufacturing, Agriculture and defence technologies, etc. Pakistan’s indigenous defence products were demonstrated and admired by all in the recent Mark-e-Haq. Pakistan has a long history of being a supplier of conventional arms and equipment to many countries for quite some time now. However, the deal struck with Libya is historic in terms of size and financial impact; a credit to Field Marshal Asim Munir’s extraordinary skills in military diplomacy. On UN arms embargo on Libya, first it needs to acknowledge that many major Western and Middle East have been supplying weapons and equipment to Libya for many years. So, there is a paper embargo which is factually non-existent due to mul-

tiple reasons, not least that all parties are now selling to all since more than a decade. With this deal, Pakistan has announced its entry into the club of leading exporters of conventional arms and equipment. However, a Reuters report says the arms agreement with the LNA is likely to face scrutiny given Libya’s long-running instability following a 2011 NATObacked uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi and split the country between rival authorities. The LNA’s official media channel reported on Sunday that the faction had entered a defence cooperation pact with Pakistan, which included weapons sales, joint training and military manufacturing, without providing details. “We announce the launch of a new

phase of strategic military cooperation with Pakistan,” Haftar said in remarks broadcast on Sunday by Al-Hadath television. Authorities in Benghazi also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The U.N.-recognised Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, controls much of western Libya, while Haftar’s LNA controls the east and south, including major oilfields, and does not recognise the western government’s authority. ARMS EMBARGO Libya has been subject to a U.N. arms embargo since 2011, requiring approval from the U.N. for transfers of weapons and related material. A panel of experts said in a December 2024 report to the U.N. that the arms embargo on Libya remained “ineffective”. The panel said some foreign states had become increasingly open about providing military training and assistance to forces in both eastern and western Libya despite the restrictions. It was not immediately clear whether Pakistan or Libya had applied for any exemptions to the U.N. embargo. Three of the Pakistani officials said the deal had not broken any U.N. weapons embargo. One of the officials said Pakistan is not the only one to make deals with Libya; another said there are no sanctions on Haftar; and a third said Benghazi authorities are witnessing better relations with Western governments, given rising fuel exports.

Saudi Arabia confers Kingdom’s highest national honour on COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir RAWALPINDI

Staff CorreSpondent

Saudi Arabia has conferred the Kingdom’s highest national honour, the King Abdulaziz Medal Excellent Class, upon Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in recognition of his central role in advancing defence cooperation, strategic coordination, and institutional linkages between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The medal was conferred on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir by Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during his official visit to the Kingdom, according to a news release issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). The conferment of the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class underscores the depth of Pakistan– Saudi Arabia relations and the shared determination of both nations to further strengthen strategic cooperation in pursuit of regional and global peace. It also reflects his contributions toward regional peace and stability, including sustained collaboration in counter-terrorism and security. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, COAS & CDF called on Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during his official visit to the Kingdom. During the meeting, both sides held discussions on matters of mutual interest, including regional security dynamics, defence and military cooperation, strategic collaboration, and evolving geopolitical challenges, it further said. The interaction reaffirmed the deeprooted, historic, and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

02 NEWS

IMF EXPECTS PAKISTAN’S FEDERAL TAX REVENUE TO STAGNATE FOR NEXT FIVE YEARS

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Tuesday, 23 Deceember, 2025 | ISLAMABAD

FBR COLLECTIONS ROSE TO 10.3% OF GDP IN FY25 BUT MISSED TARGET, WHILE PROVINCES EXPECTED TO LIFT TAX SHARE FROM 0.9% TO 1.6% BY FY28 measures worth Rs2.5 trillion. Even so, collections fell short of the programme target of 10.7%. For the current fiscal year, the Fund projects FBR revenue at 11.1% of GDP, a level expected to remain unchanged through FY30. In rupee terms, FBR collections rose from Rs9.3 trillion in FY24 to Rs11.74 trillion in FY25. For the ongoing year, revenues are estimated at Rs13.98 trillion, implying a shortfall of Rs328 billion under current assumptions. The IMF said tax revenue collection in FY25 missed budget projections by Rs1.224 trillion and fell short of the first review tar-

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HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cautioned that Pakistan’s federal tax contribution is expected to remain largely flat over the next five years, despite a notable rise in the tax-to-GDP ratio in FY25, with future gains projected to rely mainly on higher provincial revenues. According to IMF estimates, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) receipts increased from 8.9% of GDP in FY24 to 10.3% in FY25, supported by additional revenue

Govt launches Zarkheze digital platform to provide farm loans up to Rs1 million

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get by Rs524 billion. Around Rs850 billion of the gap was attributed to faster-than-anticipated disinflation and weaker GDP growth, while about Rs380 billion reflected administrative and enforcement challenges, including delays in resolving tax litigation. Overall revenues, including non-tax receipts, increased to 15.9% of GDP in FY25 from 12.6% in FY24, largely on account of higher petroleum levy collections and increased transfers of State Bank profits. The Fund expects the petroleum levy to remain a key revenue source, rising from Rs1.02 trillion in FY24 to more than Rs2.2 trillion by FY30, contributing roughly 1.1–

The Finance Division, in collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan and the Pakistan Banks Association, has launched Zarkheze, a digital platform aimed at expanding access to agricultural financing for farmers across the country. Under the initiative, farmers can digitally apply for loans of up to Rs1 million through the Zarkheze application. Following required verifications and agronomic assessments, applications will be forwarded to the bank selected by the farmer for processing. Of the approved financing, 75% will be disbursed in kind for the purchase of agricultural inputs through banks’ preapproved agri-vendors. In addition to financing, farmers will receive agri-advisory services through the Land Information Management System, intended to support better crop planning and productivity. Authorities said the integrated approach is designed to combine access to formal credit with quality inputs and advisory support. To encourage banks to extend financing to small farmers, the government has offered a 10% first-loss coverage and an operational cost subsidy of Rs10,000 per borrower for any net increase in outstanding agricultural borrowers. The incentives are aimed at reducing lending risk and expanding outreach to underserved segments. The Finance Minister said the initiative is part of broader efforts to improve financial inclusion, support rural development, and strengthen food security by improving small farmers’ access to formal credit. The central bank said digitising the credit process would help reduce barriers faced by small farmers and support wider adoption of digital payments in rural areas. The Pakistan Banks Association said member banks would work closely with the government and the central bank to expand the platform’s reach and streamline lending processes, particularly for smallholders and landless farmers operating in largely undocumented segments of the economy. The Zarkheze application is available on the Google Play Store, while farmers can also approach their nearest bank branch for assistance with digital onboarding.

Finland-based Metso has been awarded the remaining major contracts by Reko Diq Mining Company to supply beneficiation and dewatering equipment for the Reko Diq copper-gold project in Pakistan, the company said in a statement. The contracts, awarded under a frame agreement announced in August 2025, have a total value of approximately €70 million. Of this amount, €40 million was recorded in Metso’s Minerals segment order intake for the third quarter of 2025, while the remaining €30 million will be booked in the fourth quarter. Metso’s scope of delivery for the beneficiation circuit includes a complete flotation flowsheet integrating its TankCell and Concorde Cell technologies. The design features TankCell mechanical cells for the rougher and cleaner scavenger stages, along with high-intensity forced-

Metso secures €70 million contracts for Reko Diq copper-gold project

ORDERS COVER BENEFICIATION, DEWATERING, FILTRATION AND MILL SERVICING EQUIPMENT UNDER A FRAME AGREEMENT

air pneumatic Concorde Cell units for ultrafine particle cleaner scalper and recleaner duties. According to the company, the combination of TankCell and Concorde Cell technologies is intended to improve metallurgical efficiency while reducing capital and operating costs, particularly for lowgrade and high-throughput flotation circuits such as Reko Diq. The Concorde Cell technology will operate alongside HIGmill regrinding

mills previously ordered for the project in 2024. Metso said the setup represents one of the first fully integrated HIGmill–Concorde Cell circuits, designed to deliver an energy-efficient regrinding and flotation process for finely disseminated and complex ore types. For concentrate filtration, Metso will supply four Larox PF60 series filters with auxiliaries, along with slurry pumps for primary and secondary filtration stages. The order also includes five high-rate

Punjab orders province-wide crackdown on 238 illegal petrol pumps after PM directive g

UNREGISTERED FUEL OUTLETS TO BE SHUT IMMEDIATELY AS GOVT TARGETS ZERO ILLEGAL PUMPS ACROSS PUNJAB PROFIT

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Acting on directions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Punjab government has ordered an immediate province-wide crackdown on illegal petrol pumps, identifying 238 fuel outlets operating without registration. Sources quoting official communication issued by the Punjab Home Department on December 20, 2025, district-wise data of petrol pumps not registered on the Rahguzar App, the mandatory digital verification platform, was shared by the Federal Board of Revenue and forwarded to relevant departments for urgent compliance. The matter has been marked “top priority,” with district administrations asked to shut down all identified outlets and submit compliance reports ahead of a high-level meeting chaired by the Ministry of Interior. Sources also revealed that the largest concentration of illegal petrol pumps is in Multan district, where

outlets near Wazirabad and Chenab river crossings, while Mandi Bahauddin accounted for seven unregistered petrol stations, said sources. It is also learnt from the sources that around 15 illegal petrol pumps are operating in Dera Ghazi Khan, operating along Multan Road, Jampur Road and Manka Road, and nearly 20 outlets across Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur districts, including along Haveli Naseer Road and Bahawalnagar-Haroonabad Road. Rahim Yar Khan and Taunsa together account for around 10 illegal pumps, many located near the Indus Highway and Zahir Pir Road. Major urban centres are not exempt. Lahore district has about 10 illegal petrol pumps, including outlets on Multan Road, Raiwind Road, and in DHA EME. In northern Punjab, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelu,m and Chakwal districts collectively account for around 15 illegal pumps, while Islamabad Capital Territory has one identified outlet operating near the motorway chowk.

around 80 outlets have been flagged, many operating as mini or two-unit pumps along Multan Road, Shujabad Road, Jalalpur Pirwala, Muzaffargarh Road and adjoining rural belts. According to the sources, these outlets have been posing serious safety risks and are a major channel for untaxed and smuggled fuel. They said that Bhakkar district has followed with about 27 illegal pumps, spread across MM Road, Bhakkar city, Darya Road, Kotla Jam and adjoining localities. Jhang district has accounted for approximately 26 illegal outlets, largely concentrated on bypass roads and rural link roads, while Sargodha district has around 20 pumps operating without registration, many on Khushab Road and in surrounding chaks. In Sahiwal, authorities identified 12 illegal petrol pumps, mainly along Arifwala Road, whereas Mianwali has eight such outlets operating on Sargodha Road and Jand Road. Gujrat district has six illegal pumps, including

Power Division, K-Electric locked in dispute over tariﬀ diﬀerential subsidy payments g

K-ELECTRIC SEEKS TDS PAYMENTS UNDER ORIGINAL TARIFFS CITING SINDH HIGH COURT STAY; POWER DIVISION INSISTS ON NEPRA’S REVISED DETERMINATIONS PROFIT

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The Power Division and K-Electric remain at odds over the payment of Tariff Differential Subsidy (TDS), with the utility demanding disbursements based on original tariff determinations, while the Power Division maintains that payments will be made under revised determinations issued by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Business Recorder reported. The disagreement has led to sustained correspondence between the two sides, with each citing court orders and regulatory provisions to support its position. K-

Electric has linked its stance to interim orders issued by the Sindh High Court (SHC), arguing that these restrain the enforcement of revised tariff determinations currently under judicial review. In a recent communication to the Power Division, K-Electric said legal counsel representing the utility before the SHC was of the view that attempts to process TDS under revised tariffs could expose respondents, including government departments, to contempt proceedings. The utility reiterated that its provisional TDS claims should be processed under original tariff determinations until the court decides the matter. K-Electric cited pending constitutional

in FY25 to Rs1.22 trillion this year, Rs1.77 trillion in FY27, Rs2.5 trillion in FY28, Rs2.8 trillion in FY29 and exceed Rs3.1 trillion by FY30. The IMF noted that while provinces have begun implementing new agricultural income tax regimes, challenges persist, particularly in establishing effective information-sharing mechanisms between federal and provincial tax authorities. Based on these projections, the Fund estimated the consolidated fiscal deficit at 5.4% of GDP in FY25, easing to 4% this year and declining further to 3.2% in FY27 and FY28, before narrowing to 2.8% by FY30.

1.2% of GDP over the medium term. Direct taxes are projected to remain unchanged at around 5.5% of GDP through FY30, while the sales tax ratio is expected to stay within the 3.5–3.6% range. Future revenue growth is expected to be driven mainly by provinces, supported by the rollout of agricultural income tax and expanded sales tax on services. The provincial tax-to-GDP ratio is projected to rise from 0.9% in FY25 to 1.3% in FY27, increase further to 1.6% in FY28 and then stabilise through FY30. In absolute terms, provincial tax collections are forecast to rise from Rs929 billion

petitions and SHC interim orders dated November 4, 2025, arguing that interim relief must be read in the context of injunction applications and bars any direct or indirect enforcement of the revised tariffs. It maintained that withholding provisional claims based on original tariffs effectively amounts to implementing the revised determinations, which it says is not permitted while the matter is sub judice. According to the BR report, the power utility also stated that even the agent bank, Habib Bank Limited, operating under the Master Collection Agreement, is bound by the SHC’s interim orders and cannot process payments linked to the revised tariffs.

Referring to provisions of the Tariff Differential Subsidy Agreement, K-Electric argued that Clause 2.1 requires provisional claims to be filed on the basis of the preceding tariff where a court issues restraining orders against a challenged determination. The utility maintained that the SHC’s interim orders qualify as restraining orders under the agreement. K-Electric further contended that under Clause 2.6 of the agreement, preparation of the TDS balance report rests solely with the utility, and that the Ministry of Energy lacks authority to unilaterally revise or amend such reports, particularly where revisions rely on tariffs under judicial restraint. The utility has requested the Power Division to process and release its provisional TDS claims in line with original tariff determinations, while reserving its legal rights in the event of non-compliance.

thickeners for various duties, all equipped with Reactorwell technology. In addition, Metso will deliver a mill reline machine featuring automated safety functions and Auto-Grapple functionality to service the large Premier ball mills ordered for the project last year. The company said the order highlights its ability to supply mills, linings and reline machines as an integrated package for large-scale mining projects. Production from the Reko Diq project is currently expected to begin by the end of 2028. It is owned equally by Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold and the Governments of Pakistan and Balochistan, each holding a 50% stake.

Lahore food inflation persists as markets sell above official rates PROFIT

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Consumers faced another difficult week as food prices remained elevated across Lahore, with poultry and several vegetables selling well above government-notified rates, while minor official price reductions failed to translate into relief at retail markets, reflecting weak enforcement and continued pressure on household budgets. The official price of live chicken increased by Rs55 per kg to Rs359–373 per kg, though it was largely unavailable at these rates in local markets. Chicken meat was fixed at Rs540 per kg after a Rs79 increase, but retailers sold it between Rs570 and Rs650 per kg, while boneless chicken ranged from Rs900 to Rs1,000 per kg. Soft-skin new potato prices were reduced by Rs13 per kg and fixed at Rs27–30 per kg, but sold between Rs50 and Rs80 per kg. Store potatoes were sold at Rs40–50 per kg despite lower official rates. Onion prices were reduced by Rs25 per kg to Rs75–80 per kg, yet retailed at Rs100–120 per kg. Tomatoes were fixed at Rs45–50 per kg after a Rs10 cut, but sold between Rs80 and Rs120 per kg. Bitter gourd prices increased by Rs15 per kg and were fixed at Rs76–80 per kg, while retail prices reached Rs200 per kg. Spinach remained fixed at Rs28–30 per kg and sold at Rs50–70 per kg. Peas were fixed at Rs95– 100 per kg after a Rs10 reduction but sold at Rs120–140 per kg. Beetroot continued to sell at Rs200–250 per kg, while coriander was available at Rs40 per bundle. Turnip prices were fixed at Rs23–25 per kg after a Rs5 reduction but sold at Rs50–60 per kg. Methi remained unchanged at Rs42–45 per kg and retailed at Rs80–100 per kg, while mustard leaves were sold at Rs50–60 per kg against official rates of Rs47–50. Among fruits, apple prices remained fixed at Rs200–395 per kg but sold at Rs250–600 per kg. Banana prices stayed unchanged at Rs135–150 per dozen, with retail prices ranging from Rs120 to Rs180 per dozen. Guava prices were fixed at Rs140–150 per kg after a Rs5 cut and sold at Rs120–180 per kg. Pomegranate (danedar) prices were fixed at Rs940–980 per kg after a Rs15 reduction but sold at Rs1,200–1,400 per kg. Papaya prices increased by Rs30 per kg to Rs229–240 per kg and retailed at Rs250–350 per kg. Consumers said official price lists continued to have limited relevance in daily market transactions, while traders cited supply disruptions and higher input costs for the persistent price gaps.

EU welcomes Pakistan progress on GSP+ conventions, urges further reforms g

BRUSSELS REVIEWS IMPLEMENTATION OF 27 CONVENTIONS AHEAD OF UPCOMING GSP+ MONITORING REPORT PROFIT

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The European Union has welcomed Pakistan’s progress in implementing international commitments under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) framework, while urging further steps ahead of the bloc’s next monitoring review, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement. The FO said the assessment was discussed during the 15th Pakistan–EU Joint Commission meeting held in Brussels on December 17, where both sides reviewed Pakistan’s implementation of 27 interna-

tional conventions required under the GSP+ arrangement. The FO said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also participated in the Sub-Group on Democracy, Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights on December 1, where the EU acknowledged progress in aligning Pakistan’s application of the death penalty with international standards and noted initial steps to address torture, as well as the establishment of a Commission on Minorities. However, the EU encouraged Pakistan to take additional short-term measures ahead of the forthcoming GSP+ Monitoring Re-

port, while reiterating the need for reforms over the medium and long term. The GSP+ scheme grants developing countries duty-free access on two-thirds of EU tariff lines in return for implementing conventions related to human rights, labour standards, good governance and environmental protection. According to the FO, both sides exchanged views on a range of issues, including freedom of expression and media, enforced disappearances, judicial independence, freedom of religion or belief, antiMuslim hatred, and the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups. The statement said

both parties emphasised proportionality, appropriate safeguards and continued dialogue on these matters. Pakistan briefed the EU on progress under the National Action Plan on Human Rights and the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, outlining steps taken by national institutions responsible for promoting and protecting human rights. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to protect human rights, including women’s and children’s rights, minority rights, labour and migrant rights, as well as fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression, while also

flagging concerns over disinformation. The GSP+ scheme grants developing countries duty-free access on two-thirds of EU tariff lines in return for implementing conventions related to human rights, labour standards, good governance and environmental protection. Pakistan was granted GSP+ status in 2014, which contributed to a 108% increase in textile exports to the EU due to preferential tariffs. In October 2023, the European Parliament unanimously approved an extension of the GSP+ scheme for another four years until 2027. According to the EU’s GSP Convention Compliance Database, Pakistan has ratified all 27 required international conventions, with the most recent ratifications completed in 2010.

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NEPRA PROPOSES SHIFT FROM NET TO GROSS METERING FOR NEW ROOFTOP SOLAR CONSUMERS

Tuesday, 23 Deceember, 2025 | ISLAMABAD

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DraFt reGulations set rs11.30 per unit buyback For new systems, existinG users retain rs22 rate For contract perioD PROFIT

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ATIONAL Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has proposed replacing the existing net metering regime with a gross metering mechanism for new rooftop solar consumers, citing rising financial and operational pressures on the electricity grid and non-solar consumers, The News reported. The proposed shift follows concerns that the current net metering system is imposing an estimated burden of up to Rs2 per unit on conventional grid consumers.

Customs seize 64,578 litres of smuggled Iranian fuel worth Rs16.5m in Karachi operation

Under the draft Nepra Prosumer Regulations, future domestic solar installations would trade electricity with their respective distribution companies through gross metering instead of net metering. However, existing net metering consumers with valid seven-year agreements will continue to sell surplus electricity at Rs22 per unit until their contracts expire. For new solar connections, Nepra has proposed a gross metering buyback tariff of Rs11.30 per unit. These contracts would be valid for five years, with the option of extension by mutual consent. The regulator has invited comments from stakeholders and consumers within 30 days and may hold a

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Maple Leaf Cement publishes public offer notice for Pioneer Cement PROFIT

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Maple Leaf Cement Factory Limited has published the public announcement of offer to acquire up to 26.62 million ordinary shares, equivalent to an 11.72% stake, and control of Pioneer Cement Limited, according to filings shared with regulators and the Pakistan Stock Exchange on Monday. The public announcement of offer was published on December 22, 2025, in Business Recorder and Nawa-e-Waqt, in line with regulatory requirements. Copies of the published notices have been submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange for record purposes, with a request to inform TRE Certificate Holders accordingly. The publication follows the submission of the public announcement to regulators by Next Capital Limited on December 18, 2025. Next Capital is acting as the manager to the offer on behalf of Maple Leaf Cement. In separate communications, Next Capital informed the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited, and Pioneer Cement Limited that the publication complies with Regulation 7(6) of the Listed Companies (Substantial Acquisition of Voting Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2017. The offer relates to the acquisition of up to 26,623,096 ordinary shares of Pioneer Cement Limited.

sulting in revenue losses of around Rs101 billion for distribution companies and contributing to an average tariff increase of Rs0.9 per kWh for other users. Power Division projections indicate that by FY2034, lost grid sales could reach 18.8 billion units, with an estimated financial impact of Rs545 billion and a potential tariff increase of Rs5–6 per unit. Officials argue that net metering allows solar consumers to sell surplus power at higher rates while avoiding fixed grid costs, even as utility-scale solar projects are being contracted at tariffs below Rs10 per unit. Authorities have also flagged operational risks from the rapid expansion of net-

AGP moves to shift Pakistan’s govt accounts to accrual-based standards new accountinG Framework aliGneD with ipsas to be implementeD aFter presiDential approval PROFIT

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The Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Karachi, has recovered 64,578 litres of smuggled Iranian diesel and petrol valued at Rs16.5 million and seized a Mazda vehicle worth around Rs20 million during an intelligence-based anti-smuggling operation at the Northern Bypass in Karachi, officials said on Sunday. The operation, conducted on Saturday night, was carried out by the Anti-Smuggling Organisation under the direction of senior Customs authorities. During the raid, customs teams targeted five illegal dumping points operating under the guise of petrol pumps. A Mazda vehicle fitted with a specially fabricated compartment for transporting petroleum products was intercepted while unloading Iranian diesel. All recovered petroleum products were shifted to the customs warehouse for measurement and verification through dip procedures, officials said. The combined value of the seized fuel and vehicle was estimated at Rs36.5 million. The enforcement action was carried out by Customs Enforcement Karachi in coordination with the Federal Board of Revenue, which reiterated its commitment to curbing smuggling, safeguarding the national economy, and ensuring fair market practices through strict action against illicit trade.

public hearing before finalising the framework. During a meeting on October 22, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Power Division and Nepra to review the buyback tariff and assess its wider impact before introducing reforms. Under net metering, electricity exported to the grid is offset against electricity imported, lowering consumer bills. In contrast, gross metering compensates all exported electricity at a fixed feed-in tariff, while grid consumption is billed separately at prevailing retail rates. Official data shows that rapid growth in rooftop solar led to a decline of 3.2 billion units in grid electricity sales in FY2024, re-

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The Auditor General of Pakistan has initiated work on developing new accrual-based accounting standards in line with the International Public Sector Accounting Standards as part of the government’s public finance reform agenda. In a statement issued on Monday, the AGP said the reforms are aimed at improving transparency, fiscal discipline, and public financial management.

The process involves a review of Pakistan’s existing accounting model under the constitutional mandate provided by Article 170 of the Constitution. The AGP said the new accounting standards will be implemented after approval by the President of Pakistan. The transition is being carried out with technical assistance from the World Bank. At present, government accounts in Pakistan are maintained on a cash basis, under which transactions are recorded only when payments are made or received. This system has been in place

since 2000. Under the proposed reforms, the accounting framework will shift to an accrual basis, meaning financial transactions will be recorded when they occur, regardless of when cash is exchanged. The AGP said this would provide a more comprehensive view of government assets, liabilities, income, and expenditure. According to the statement, the revised framework will apply uniformly to federal, provincial, and local governments. The AGP said the move would improve the quality and reliability of financial reporting and align Pakistan’s public accounts with internationally recognised standards.

SECP amends rules on issuance of shares with diﬀerential rights g

chanGes set limits on votinG power anD DiviDenDs to protect minority shareholDers PROFIT

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The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan on Monday notified amendments to the Companies (Further Issue of Shares) Regulations, 2020, revising the framework governing the issuance of shares with differential rights and privileges by listed companies. According to the regulator, the amendments introduce uniformity in dividend entitlements, requiring all or-

dinary shares carrying voting rights to receive the same dividend per share. The revised rules also mandate that the aggregate voting power of ordinary shares, based on the principle of one share, one vote, must not fall below 75% of a company’s total voting power. Under the amended regulations, shares issued with varied voting rights will be capped at a maximum of five votes per share, while ordinary shares carrying differential rights will be required to be listed securities.

SECP said the changes are aimed at strengthening corporate governance, improving transparency, ensuring effective price discovery, and limiting excessive concentration of control that could undermine minority shareholder interests. The amendments were finalised following consultations with a range of stakeholders, including the Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited, Central Depository Company, National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited, listed companies, consultants, professional bodies, and law firms. The regulator said feedback received during the process was reviewed before the final notification of the revised rules.

company to export tractors under own brand alongside mF-branded exports via aGco

SECP consults intermediaries on new regulatory framework in Karachi

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session focuses on training requirements, removal of renewal process, and expanded digital access

Millat Tractors secures Africa export territory under new agreement PROFIT

Millat Tractors Limited has entered into an agreement with Massey Ferguson Corp. and AGCO Limited assigning Millat Tractors the African territory for exports, the company said in a material information filing with the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Under the agreement, Millat Tractors will export tractors to African markets directly under its own trademark, expanding its international presence and adding to Pakistan’s export base. The arrangement is in addition to existing exports of MF-branded tractors to Africa and other regions through AGCO Corporation, the filing said. The company said the collaboration is expected to strengthen its footprint across African markets and support its long-term global business strategy. The disclosure was made in compliance with Section 96 of the Securities Act, 2015, and Clause 5.6.1(a) of PSX regulations, with the exchange requested to inform TRE certificate holders accordingly.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan on Monday held a consultative session with Registered Intermediaries in Karachi to gather stakeholder input on a proposed framework governing their registration and oversight. According to the regulator, the proposed framework introduces mandatory training requirements aimed at strengthening compliance standards and procedural capacity among Registered Intermediaries. It also proposes the removal of periodic renewal requirements, replacing them with a continuous learning and evaluation mechanism. During the session, participants were briefed on expanded access to SECP’s Financial Institutions Portal, which allows digital verification of company profiles and key corporate records. The regulator said the initiative is part of its digitalisation and ease-ofdoing-business agenda. SECP said it would continue engaging stakeholders as part of ongoing regulatory reforms focused on improving governance, transparency, and operational efficiency in the corporate and financial sectors.

Globacore Minerals enters into joint venture with Mari Minerals for mineral exploration in Balochistan g

Globacore to acquire 49% workinG interest in two mineral exploration licences as mari minerals remains operator PROFIT

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Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited, on Monday, announced that Globacore Minerals Limited, in which it holds a 32% equity stake, has entered into a joint venture agreement with Mari Minerals (Private) Limited, a wholly owned

subsidiary of Mari Energies Limited, for mineral exploration projects in Balochistan. In a notice sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the company said the agreement relates to mineral exploration licences EL-322 and EL-323 located in District Chagai and is subject to required corporate, regulatory and governmental

approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, Mari Minerals will transfer 49% of its working interest in the two licences to Globacore Minerals Limited. Mari Minerals will continue as the operator of the licences and remain responsible for exploration activities. Fatima Fertilizer said it views the development as part of its portfolio di-

versification strategy through its shareholding in Globacore Minerals Limited. The company added that shareholders will be kept informed of any further material developments in line with applicable laws and Pakistan Stock Exchange regulations. On December 19, Mari Energies Limited disclosed a similar development through a notice to the PSX that its wholly owned subsidiary, Mari Minerals (Private) Limited, had entered into a joint venture agreement with Globacore Minerals Limited for mineral exploration activities in Balochistan.

metered solar capacity, now estimated at around 6,000MW nationwide. During winter months, when electricity demand drops to 8,000–9,000MW, excess daytime generation could strain grid stability. Concerns have also been raised over cases where consumers exceed sanctioned load limits when exporting power. To address monitoring issues, distribution companies have begun installing smart meters to enable real-time tracking and control of electricity exports. Nepra officials said the proposed gross metering framework is intended to limit further tariff pressure on grid-dependent consumers while ensuring a more balanced cost-sharing mechanism.

Immigration dept rolls out digital monitoring system to speed up passport processing integrated digital dashboard enables real-time monitoring of daily operations across passport oﬃces within pakistan and overseas PROFIT

News desk

The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) has introduced a new digital monitoring system to track passport applications, printing, and operational performance in a bid to accelerate service delivery. As per details shared by the DGI&P on X, a dedicated 24-hour monitoring room has been established at the department’s headquarters in Islamabad on the directives of Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Directorate General of Immigration & Passports. The system is powered by an integrated digital dashboard that enables real-time monitoring of daily operations across passport offices within Pakistan and overseas. Officials said the framework provides end-to-end visibility of the passport process, covering application submission, processing, printing, and final delivery. The department expects the system to improve transparency, efficiency, and overall service delivery. The digital setup will also automatically flag overcrowding at passport offices, allowing administrators to respond promptly to areas facing excessive public pressure. In addition, staff performance, passport printing workflows, pending backlogs, and the operational status of machinery will be monitored through a Network Management System. The Director General said the new system would allow central monitoring of citizen turnout and staff efficiency across all passport offices, adding that a response mechanism has been put in place to ensure immediate resolution of issues as they are identified.

Macter Int’l launches sublingual vitamin B12 formulation product introduced as material information filing with pakistan stock exchange PROFIT

News desk

Macter International Limited has announced the launch of Cobolmin SL, a sublingual formulation of Mecobalamin, in a material information filing submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange Limited. In its notice to the exchange, the company said the product has been introduced in compliance with Sections 96 and 131 of the Securities Act, 2015, and Clause 5.6.1 of the PSX Rule Book. According to the filing, Cobolmin SL is designed as a sublingual formulation to allow rapid absorption and improved convenience for patients. The launch expands the Cobolmin product line, which already includes tablet and injectable forms. The company stated that the new formulation builds on the existing Cobolmin portfolio and forms part of its ongoing product development activities. A copy of the disclosure was also shared with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan for record purposes.

04 COMMENT

Learning under siege

At agriculture’s crossroads

AKISTAN’S agriculture feeds a nation, anchors rural livelihoods and earns scarce foreign exchange. It also stands on increasingly fragile ground. Climate shocks, water scarcity, policy drift and demographic pressure are converging on a sector that employs roughly two-fifths of the labor force and supplies the country’s staples. Whether Pakistan can be food secure by midcentury will hinge on decisions made in the next decade. Climate change is the most visible stressor. Heat waves shorten growing seasons and sap yields of wheat, rice and cotton. Floods strip topsoil, destroy crops and damage canals and roads; droughts weaken livestock and wither fodder in arid districts. These shocks raise costs for irrigation and pest control, make credit riskier and trap small farmers in recovery mode rather than investment. Climate-resilient tools—hardier seeds, better drainage, micro-irrigation and weather-index insurance—exist, but adoption remains patchy, constrained by finance, information gaps and underpowered extension services. Beneath this volatility lies a structural problem: water. The Indus Basin irrigation system once powered an agrarian miracle, but per-capita availability has fallen sharply as population has grown. Canals leak, flood irrigation wastes water on fields, and largely unmetered groundwater pumping drains aquifers and drives up energy costs. Salinity and waterlogging quietly erode productivity across millions of hectares. Modern practices are spreading, but too slowly and unevenly to offset the losses. Policy has not helped. For years, governments have lurched between price supports and crisis response. Blanket subsidies stabilize incomes in bad years but distort crop choices and favor larger landholders, while starving public goods like research, seed systems and rural infrastructure. Markets for perishables lack grading, cold chains and transparent price discovery, leaving farmers with a small share of consumer prices and little incentive to invest in higher-value crops. Demographics add urgency. By 2050 Pakistan’s population is likely to exceed 400 million. Urbanization and a growing middle class will demand more dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables—precisely the foods that require reliable water, cold storage and safety standards. Meanwhile, farms are shrinking through inheritance, youth are leaving the land, and productivity must rise faster just to stand still. The picture is not hopeless. Pakistan has arable land, diverse agro-ecologies, an irrigation footprint many countries would envy and an entrepreneurial farming community. Smartphone penetration and a budding agritech sector offer new channels for advice and finance. The constraint is not potential but pace and coherence. What would change the trajectory? Make water the organizing principle—repair canals, reward efficiency, regulate unsustainable pumping and invest in drainage. Go all-in on climate-smart productivity with resilient seeds, conservation agriculture and mobile advisories paired with insurance and storage. Fix policy by shifting spending toward research and extension, stabilizing trade signals and modernizing markets so quality is rewarded. Unlock finance and technology for smallholders through shared services and value-chain credit. And align agriculture with nutrition by promoting pulses, oilseeds and horticulture alongside cereals. If Pakistan acts decisively between now and 2035, food security by 2050 is within reach. If it does not, crisis imports, rural inequality and chronic undernutrition will become the norm. The choice is stark—but manageable.

Dr Zafar Khan SafDar

OCIETIES emerging from conflict often speak of peace in the language of reconstruction. In Pakistan’s Mirali tehsil of North Waziristan, that measure was answered with destruction. The bombing of the only girls’ school in Eppi village, days after another school was attacked nearby, was no random act of violence. It was a statement that girls’ education remains contested ground, and that the fragile promise of post-conflict normalcy continues to be denied. The absence of casualties cannot soften the blow. Schools are more than brick and mortar, they are symbols of stability, civic order, and hope for the future. Their destruction is meant to reassert fear, suppress ambition, and signal to women that their progress is conditional. For families who painstakingly reclaimed education after decades of conflict and displacement, the rubble represents not just physical loss but the reversal of belief itself. The impact of targeting education extends far beyond a single village. In Pakistan, nearly 22 million children remain out of school, and girls constitute the majority of those excluded. Female literacy lags behind male literacy by a significant margin, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where millions of children never see a classroom. Each functioning girls’ school in these provinces is more than an educational facility, it is a statement of resilience, a challenge to fear, and a promise of social renewal. When a school is destroyed, it is not only a physical act of destruction but a deliberate attempt to intimidate families, keep children away from learning, and reinforce cycles of vulnerability. This isn’t just a moral failure but a serious threat to the country’s future. Global evidence demonstrates that educating girls is among the most powerful tools to combat poverty, instability, and extremism. Each additional year of schooling increases future earnings, reduces child marriage, improves maternal and child health, and strengthens the next generation’s educational attainment. Societies that deny girls this opportunity forfeit economic growth, social stability, and long-term resilience. In fragile regions of Pakistan, a classroom that survives becomes a site of empowerment, one destroyed becomes a warning. The contrast between Pakistan’s aspirations and the realities on the ground is striking. Following major counterterrorism operations, North Waziristan

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Pneumonia: A global silent killer we can prevent M. A. Niazi

Babar Nizami

Editor Pakistan Today

Editor Profit

KinZa Batool

AVE you ever thought how precious every single breath is? Every beat, gives life to millions yet pneumonia remains a silent killer taking hundred of lives at the same time. Pneumonia is a respiratory infection that effects people of all ages particularly children under five. It is recognized as one of the most significant and leading cause of death worldwide. According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) over 1,400 out of 100,000 children under five have pneumonia each year, which is approximately 1 case for every 71 children per year. Pneumonia occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi infiltrates the lungs causing inflammation and fluid buildup, making it difficult to breath and for oxygen to transfer effectively. Pneumonia is often misunderstood as its early symptoms resemble to those of flu, or common cold which results in confusion and delay of proper treatment. Unlike flu or common cold, pneumonia causes severe difficulty in breathing, muscle pain, consistent high fever, cough - producing mucus that maybe green, yellow or red, weakness and fatigue, shaking chills, rapid-shallow breathing, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Apart from microorganisms it is also influenced by environmental factors, such as: exposure to polluted air, toxic fumes, poor nutrition, weakened immune system, smoke, and poor ventilation. This can lead to severe complications such as respiratory failure, pleural effusion, sepsis, lung abscesses, and kidney failure , if early diagnosis and treatment is not received. Early diagnosis is very crucial as it directly affects treatment, reducing the risk of serious conditions, helping the healthcare providers to identify the root causes and provide immediate medical attention. This helps to reduce the risks of life-threatening effects. The diagnosis of pneumonia involves various steps, from medical history to physical examination of the patient, performing diagnostic tests if pneumonia is suspected like, chest x-ray, CT scan, blood tests, sputum test, and pulse oximetry. However, If the patient is at higher risk conditions further tests such as pleural fluid culture, arterial blood gas tests (ABG), and echo-cardiogram (ECG) are also conducted. In order to prevent pneumonia, the first line of defense is vaccination, which does not eliminate but reduces and protects people from high risk of getting this disease. Such as, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) which protects children and adults of age 65 and older from serious infections of 13 kinds of bacteria, and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) recommended for adults over age of 65 who have already received the PCV13 vac-

cine, protects them against 23 kinds of bacteria. The other best way of prevention is washing hands thoroughly to avoid transferring of infectious organisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi into your respiratory system. Avoid being in crowded places unnecessarily, or in contact with people who are sick as most of the respiratory infections are spread through tiny particles in the air that can we transferred by water droplets through sneezing or even coughing. Along with this, smoking cessation, living a healthy lifestyle with proper balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise can help resist infections that can cause pneumonia. In addition, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life can help to prevent childhood pneumonia. However, despite of preventing measures millions of people still develop this infection each year. Therefore, proper treatment becomes very crucial to prevent illness and life-threatening consequences. This includes medical treatment through antibiotics - to treat bacterial pneumonia, anti-fungal medication- for treatment of fungal infections, pain relievers, and oxygen therapy. Drinking plenty of water, proper rest and healthy nutrition is also very essential and effective for recovery. The patients having severe symptoms seek

was promised a post-conflict transformation with roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and programs to reintegrate displaced communities. Billions were allocated, and some improvements are visible. Yet repeated attacks on schools, including those still under construction, reveal how uneven and precarious state authority remains. Security responses that are reactive rather than preventative fail to deter attackers. When perpetrators operate with impunity, public trust erodes and lawlessness takes root. Protecting education must therefore be recognized as a matter of national security, not simply local law enforcement. This requires intelligence-driven strategies in vulnerable districts, robust protection for local informants, and sustained monitoring. Security cannot rely on temporary guards or emergency measures after violence occurs. High-risk areas need institutionalized safeguards with community protection committees, regular patrols, reinforced construction standards, and early-warning mechanisms. Equally critical is ensuring that learning continues uninterrupted. Temporary classrooms, digital and mobile platforms where feasible, and rapid reconstruction must be automatic responses rather than delayed gestures. Every month a girl is kept from school increases the likelihood she will never return, whether due to early marriage, household responsibilities, or lingering fear. In fragile communities, lost education is rarely recovered without deliberate intervention. Accountability is the linchpin of effective protection. The near-total absence of arrests following school attacks conveys a stark message that violence carries no consequences. Transparent investigations, public updates, and visible prosecutions are essential

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both to deliver justice and to deter future attacks. Trust between citizens and the state in post-conflict areas is fragile and silence, delay or neglect only deepen alienation. In today’s interconnected world, no nation can afford to allow deliberate educational deprivation to persist. Societies that deny children, particularly girls, access to learning forfeit economic potential, innovation, and social cohesion. When a girls’ school is destroyed in Mirali, the loss is not contained locally, it resonates globally as a reminder that commitments to gender equality and education are only as strong as their enforcement in the most marginalized communities. Breaking with a violent past requires Pakistan to treat education, especially girls’ education as a non-negotiable national imperative. Schools must be more than classrooms and must serve as sanctuaries where learning is safe from fear coercion and destruction. The state’s response must be strong and prompt and every attack must be fully investigated with the perpetrators held accountable. Protecting girls’ education in these regions require the state to act alongside local elders, community leaders and Ulema who could play a vital role in fostering a culture that values learning, ensures children can attend school safely, and rejects intimidation and extremism. Every child, every girl in Mirali and across Pakistan, must be able to step into a school knowing she is safe, that her aspirations are respected, and that her future is protected. Safeguarding knowledge is not a charitable act but a moral and considered obligation, the foundation of security, economic progress, social cohesion and a society capable of imagining a future free from fear. To fail is to betray an entire generation and weaken the very fabric of the nation. 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

The impact of targeting education extends far beyond a single village. In Pakistan, nearly 22 million children remain out of school, and girls constitute the majority of those excluded. Female literacy lags behind male literacy by a significant margin, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where millions of children never see a classroom.

hospitalization where they receive proper treatment and are continuously monitored to stabilize their condition. Although prevention and treatment plays a vital role in reducing the infection but to fight and defeat pneumonia, awareness, collective efforts and actions are needed beyond individual care, from governments, healthcare organizations and communities to overcome the adverse effects of this silent killer. Every year thousands of people especially children under five lost their lives because vaccines, and other medical facilities are out of reach mainly in rural areas. To overcome this, the government should take measures for the availability of resources in rural areas too, in order to save lives surviving for a beat. Health care organizations and communities should work together to raise awareness among people, recognizing the infection and seeking early medical help. As pneumonia continues to threaten millions, eliminating it requires united actions. As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” These words captures the spirit and compassion needed to overcome this challenge. Let pneumonia no longer be a disease we neglect, but a test, a reminder of our collective efforts, compassion, kindness and determination to make sure that every child, every family, and every community has the right to breath, and every breath, no matter where taken, is a breath of life, not of struggle. The writer is a freelance columnist

The other best way of prevention is washing hands thoroughly to avoid transferring of infectious organisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi into your respiratory system. Avoid being in crowded places unnecessarily, or in contact with people who are sick as most of the respiratory infections are spread through tiny particles in the air that can we transferred by water droplets through sneezing or even coughing.

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Tuesday, 23 December, 2025

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Homes out of reach

HOUSING affordability in Pakistan has reached an alarming level where middle-class families are unable to purchase even a small house. Property prices have skyrocketed due to speculation, unregulated investments and high taxation on legal buyers. Pakistan urgently needs policies that prioritise affordable housing rather than luxury projects. Low-cost housing schemes must be made transparent and accessible. Banks should also ease mortgage procedures so that ordinary citizens can purchase homes without extraordinary financial pressure. A nation progresses when its citizens have shelter. The government must address this crisis before the dream of homeownership becomes impossible for future generations. If decisive action is delayed, more families will be pushed towards overcrowded rentals, informal settlements and long-term financial insecurity. Ensuring fair land allocation, curbing profiteering in the real estate market and expanding public–private housing initiatives are essential steps to restore hope and stability for ordinary Pakistanis. MUHAMMAD NABEEL HAIDER ISLAMABAD

Christmas for all

THIS December, the air across Pakistan shines with greetings, lights and goodwill as Christians prepare to celebrate Christmas with renewed enthusiasm and nationwide warmth. But it was also in cities like Karachi that there was a most unusual Christmas rally, of people donning Santa hats, riding camels through city streets, singing carols and distributing gifts, all to spread a message of peace and brotherhood. Organisers said the rally was meant to show that Christmas is not just for one community but a symbol of harmony for all Pakistanis. Meanwhile, churches from Karachi to Lahore, and Peshawar to Quetta shine with bright lights and colourful decorations, while families come together for midnight masses and children decorate Christmas trees at homes. At most bakeries, the demand for Christmas plum cakes and sweets rises as the festive spirit spreads even to markets and bazaars. Christmas in Pakistan is being increasingly embraced as an occasion for much more than religious celebrations. It is increasingly becoming a time for social cohesion, interfaith harmony and national bonding. Through rallies and shared happiness, Christmas reminds Pakistanis of the timeless messages of love and mutual respect. Festivals like Christmas show the richer, diverse fabric of Pakistani society — and this year, the message seems to be clearer than ever: peace and harmony transcend all. MUSAWAR ALI SUKKUR

Lahore’s vanishing greenery

I AM a senior citizen living in Shadman area of Lahore since my childhood. I have seen the green belt on Race Course Road near Shadman Underpass gulped down by commercial entities, and converted into parking spaces. In the process, the footpath disappeared and many trees were denuded. I lodged a complaint with the office of the Punjab Ombudsman back in September 2020, but after a number of hearings, notices and proceedings, the matter was effectively closed with the ombudsman finally ordering the departments concerned to fix responsibility and take due action under the law. That was some four years ago. How can Lahore’s lost beauty be brought back in the face of such widespread apathy, and continued ineffectiveness of all relevant government departments and their apparent collusion with vested interests? PROFESSOR KHAVER ZIA LAHORE

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COMMENT 05

India — a majoritarian state

Tuesday, 23 December, 2025

Malik MuhaMMad ashraf

HE pulling down of ‘hijab’ of a newly recruited Muslim lady doctor by Chief Minister of Bihar while awarding appointment letter to her at a public ceremony was extremely offensive, demeaning and bereft of civility proving yet again how fast the space for dignity and religious freedom was dwindling in India. The unpardonable act of indiscretion by the CM stunned the lady so much that she stood silent and did not protest, probably aware of the fact that she could not. Amnesty International India reacting to the incident was right on money to say” This act was an assault on this woman’s dignity,

autonomy, and identity. When a public official forcibly pulls down a woman’s hijab, it sends a message to the general public that this behavior is acceptable. No one has the right to police a woman’s faith or clothing. Such actions deepen fear, normalize discrimination, and erode the very foundations of equality and freedom of religion. This violation demands unequivocal condemnation and accountability.” Now the question is whether Modi government will hold the CM accountable in the prevailing circumstances? The answer is absolutely not. This is not an isolated incident. Last month, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom concluded in a report that India’s political system now facilitates a climate of discrimination against religious minorities. According to the report, since 2014, policies under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP have aligned closely with Hindutva ideology, leading to the disenfranchisement of minority communities. In such an environment, there is little incentive for accountability. The incident is a strong endorsement of the fact that India under Modi has become a majoritarian state by pursuing RSS ideology of ‘Hindutva’ which believes in India for Hindus only. The communal politics pursued by Modi government have tarnished secular face of India; a fact rued by believers in

In 2019 Citizens Amendment Act was promulgated. It was discriminatory against Muslims and consequently sparked violent clashes in which nearly fifty Muslims lost their lives. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lamenting the violence in an article published in The Hindu said‰ Delhi has been subjected to extreme violence over the past few weeks. We have lost nearly 50 of our fellow Indians for no reason. Several hundred people have suffered injuries. Communal tensions have been stoked and flames of religious intolerance fanned by unruly sections of our society, including the political class. University campuses, public places and private homes are bearing the brunt of communal outbursts of violence, reminiscent of the dark periods in IndiaÊs history.

democracy and secularism in India. It is also amply corroborated by legislative measures adopted by Modi regime since assuming power in India. To begin with it compiled National Register for Citizens in Asam and deprived nearly two million Muslim residents of Indian citizenship. The government claimed that the exercise had been undertaken to deport un-documented immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh contrary to the fact that those people were living in Asam for decades. The critics rightly viewed it as an attempt to deport Muslims from the state. In 2019 Citizens Amendment Act was promulgated. It was discriminatory against Muslims and consequently sparked violent clashes in which nearly fifty Muslims lost their lives. Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lamenting the violence in an article published in The Hindu said” Delhi has been subjected to extreme violence over the past few weeks. We have lost nearly 50 of our fellow Indians for no reason. Several hundred people have suffered injuries. Communal tensions have been stoked and flames of religious intolerance fanned by unruly sections of our society, including the political class. University campuses, public places and private homes are bearing the brunt of communal outbursts of violence, reminiscent of the dark periods in India’s history. Institutions of law and order have abandoned their dharma to protect citizens. Institutions of justice and the fourth pillar of democracy, the media, have also failed us. With no checks, the fire of social tensions is rapidly spreading across the nation and threatens to char the soul of our nation. It can only be extinguished by the same people that lit it. Every act of sectarian violence is a blemish on Mahatma Gandhi’s India. Just in a matter of few years, India has slid rapidly from being a global showcase of a model of economic development through liberal democratic methods to a strife ridden majoritarian state. Government should withdraw or amend the Citizenship Act, end the toxic social climate and foster national unity.” In September 2024 the Modi government pushed through the parliament a law called ‘The Waqf Properties Amendment Bill’ to govern the management of properties and assets donated by Muslims to these bodies over the centuries as charitable giving. The proposed bill seeks to formalize these donations with documentation raising the specter of government interference. It is feared that it will empower the government to gain unprecedented control over these religious properties. The proposed inclusion of non-Muslims on waqf boards, judicial inter-

Amnesty International India reacting to the incident was right on money to say‰ This act was an assault on this womanÊs dignity, autonomy, and identity. When a public official forcibly pulls down a womanÊs hijab, it sends a message to the general public that this behavior is acceptable. No one has the right to police a womanÊs faith or clothing. Such actions deepen fear, normalize discrimination, and erode the very foundations of equality and freedom of religion. This violation demands unequivocal condemnation and accountability.‰ vention in disputes previously handled by waqf tribunals, and the creation of a centralized registry within six months all suggest an intrusive role for the government. These changes threaten to alter the delicate balance that has allowed India’s diverse communities to manage their religious affairs with a measure of autonomy. It is pertinent to mention that Congress has expressed staunch opposition to this legislation and has also challenged it in the Supreme Court. In the year 2024 alone, there has been alarming rise in anti-Muslim activities. Two mosques were demolished in both Uttarakhand state and the capital New Delhi within days of each other. The ensuing clashes and curfews killed at least 6 people as religious polarization continues to metastasize across India. Author Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay commenting on the situation in India said” This is the worst possible time to be a Muslim in India. It has become normal to demolish

mosques. The stigmatization of Muslims is an old story, seen as a new normal. It no longer shocks the people. Reportedly there have been myriad of incidents of lynching of Muslims by the Hindu extremists for alleged cow slaughter and other minor issues. Similar treatment has also been meted out to other minority communities, particularly Christians. The issue needs to be taken up at the United Nations in the light of the foregoing facts and report of the US commission on International Religious Freedom. It should be discussed at the level of OIC first and then taken to the United Nations. It will also be advisable for all the Muslim nations to ask their ambassadors to sensitize respective governments on gravity of the situation.

Malik Muhammad Ashraf is an acaHe can be contacted demic. at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

How America and Iran can break the nuclear deadlock

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

M. Javad Zarif and aMir Parsa GarMsiri

N contemporary international relations, security is not just something countries seek for themselves. It is also a concept they use to justify controlling, constraining, and directing others’ behavior. When political scientists speak of “securitization,” they refer to a process through which a particular issue is portrayed as an existential threat justifying extraordinary measures instead of something that governments can address through normal politics. The Islamic Republic of Iran serves as a perfect illustration. Over the last two decades, Israel and the United States have tried to persuade the world to stop treating Iran as a normal country and to instead treat it like the international system’s leading danger. The result has been constant denunciations, crushing sanctions, threats of military action, and, most recently, military operations against its territory—carried out during diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran, in response, has been forced to devote more resources and attention to defense. It also increased uranium enrichment in defiance, to show that it would not be pressured into submission. The external securitization of Iran has fed into a parallel dynamic at home, as the state adopted a stricter approach in dealing with domestic social challenges, responding to these challenges with tighter restrictions. The result is a securitization cycle: a vicious spiral in which Iran and its adversaries feel compelled to adopt more hostile policies in response to each other’s behavior. This phenomenon is somewhat like the security dilemma, in which one government’s decision to bolster its capabilities prompts others to do the same. But with the security dilemma, each side is reacting to material increases in the other’s capacity. This cycle begins with rhetoric. The target country is portrayed as a threat, and then is treated as a threat. And in response, it turns to activities—such as bolstering its missile capabilities or increasing enrichment—that can be used to corroborate the initial allegation. The cycle, in other words, produces a self-fulfilling prophecy. The securitized country gradually distances itself from independent agency and becomes trapped in a series of reactive behaviors. Breaking this cycle will not be easy, and it will require that foreign powers respect Iran’s rights and dignity and stop constantly defaming, threatening, and coercing a millennia-old civilization-state. But there are steps that Tehran can take to help in breaking the vicious securitization cycle. It can start by shoring up domestic support through economic reforms, bolstering its hand in international negotiations. After all, Iranian people have proved to be Iran’s greatest asset in resisting and deterring foreign aggression. Tehran can also recalibrate its emphasis on material defensive power—an emphasis that often amplifies threat perceptions—and instead prioritize cooperation and coordination, particularly at the regional level. It can establish a frank dialogue with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to address mutual concerns and find a way to resume cooperation. And it can engage with the United States to manage their differences, starting with the nuclear issue and sanctions. In response to growing U.S. and Israeli pressure, it increased its uranium enrichment level to 60 percent and reduced its cooperation with the IAEA. Following the unprovoked joint U.S.-Israeli attacks, ordinary Iranians began debating whether Iran’s defense doctrine should change to include nuclear weapons. Calls for blocking the Strait of Hormuz have gained momentum. Had it not been for such aggression, Iran would have continued its

unprecedented cooperation with the IAEA under the 2015 nuclear deal. It would have focused on regional cooperation, which it has championed since 1985. Iran’s securitization has created a siege mentality, which often leads to the imposition of tighter social controls. These include restrictions on the Internet and social media and surveillance measures intended to root out spies and saboteurs. In Tehran’s case, the securitization began with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein—who waged war on Iran for eight years—and with separatist violence and massive terrorist operations shortly after the country’s 1979 revolution. Tehran, after all, has been forced to spend more on its military and less on development and welfare because Iraq, Israel, and the United States have attacked it. In addition, the economic warfare Washington has waged against Iran—via U.S. President Barack Obama’s crippling sanctions and then Trump’s maximum pressure campaign—has led to huge loss in the rial’s value, unbearable inflation, and rampant corruption to circumvent sanctions. Yet rather than see their own role in immiserating Iranians, outside powers have made politically charged, exaggerated, and selective portrayals of the Islamic Republic as a violator of human rights. This, in turn, has intensified the cycle of securitization and further reduced Iran’s capacity for independent agency in the global arena.

STATE AND SOCIETY: To build both a better Iran and a safer world, Tehran and its antagonists will need to find a way out of this spiral. What will not work is apparent. Pressure has not persuaded Iran to change its behavior. Similarly, Iran’s defensive policies, such as increased nuclear enrichment, have never diminished perceived threats. Securitization operates in the realm of mental perceptions rather than material capability. Iran was able to break the securitization cycle during the first half of the 2010s by engaging in dialogue with the United States, culminating in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which sought to ensure that, in return for economic normalization, Iran would never develop a nuclear weapon. Iran’s success in securing this agreement was primarily the result of high turnout in the 2013 presidential election, which dispelled illusions in the United States and Europe about the imminent collapse of the Islamic Republic—illusions that dated to Iran’s post2009 election unrest.

GOOD NEIGHBOUR: As it builds consensus at home, Tehran can begin working to improve its international reputation. Officials should prioritize confidence-building measures centered on improving dialogue with Iran’s neighbours. They might, for example, pursue former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s proposed Hormuz Peace Endeavor, which aimed at fostering cooperation and confidence building among countries neighbouring the strategic Strait of Hormuz. They could also create a Muslim West Asian Dialogue Association, which aims to replace enmity with amity through conversations among the eight Persian Gulf littoral states along with Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey. Or they could establish a Middle East Network for Atomic Research and Advancement, which would create regional mechanisms for ensuring nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament while enhancing cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology among regional countries that reject nuclear weapons. Iran has the region’s greatest aggregate power and human, natural, and geostrategic resources, so it makes sense for it to help lead these initiatives. Tehran should also realize that its power can make others uncomfort-

able, and therefore the country should pivot from a narrative of building a “strong Iran”—which can appear unilateral and threatening—to a narrative of building a “strong region.” But the region’s other states will need to play their own part in breaking the securitization cycle. To do so, they should focus on isolating the regional figure most responsible for securitizing Iran: Netanyahu. He and his allies have proved that they consider peace and tranquility to be an existential threat to their fortunes. Israel’s recent behaviour provides an opening for Iranian leaders. The horrific crimes in Gaza have resulted in a global outcry and awakened consciences across ideological barriers. But few governments have been more consistent in criticizing Israel and advocating for the Palestinians than Tehran. Iranian officials could thus work with international organizations and institutions— including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice—to foster global empathy and build a strong consensus against apartheid, genocide, and aggression. In doing so, Iran might be able to neutralize and possibly even reverse its securitization.

GET ALONG: Iran’s priority in foreign policy will always be its own neighbourhood. Tehran, however, should also try to deepen its relationships elsewhere. That includes closely cooperating with Russia. Coordinating with China, which is a rising global powerhouse, is an absolute imperative. But Tehran could also benefit from improving relations with Europe and managing its differences with the United States. This would help ensure that Iran is a serious, equal, and long-term partner to China and Russia—and not just engaging with them out of imposed desperation. Managing and containing differences with the United States may also be necessary for breaking the cycle of securitization. Perhaps no government has done as much to try to isolate Iran as has Washington. Tehran should thus consider the possibility of renewed direct dialogue with Washington, based on equal footing. Expectations must be managed, as the objective of talks cannot be to restore friendly links between the two countries. Iran and the United States have intractable differences rooted in identity and ideology that neither can realistically concede: for Washington, this includes the nature of Iran’s revolutionary political establishment and its stance on Israel; for Tehran, it includes Washington’s blind support for Israel and its global presence. At the top of the list is Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. sanctions, the very nexus that the JCPOA was designed to address. The United States must realize that it cannot obliterate Iran’s substantial capabilities, as most are indigenous and can be rebuilt. But both countries can agree on two shared objectives: Iran should never build nuclear weapons, and the United States should never threaten or engage in military and economic war against Iran. To those ends, Iran could offer transparency, limits on enrichment, and a possible regional mechanism, such as an enrichment consortium. The United States, for its part, would have to lift its own sanctions and permit the lifting of UN sanctions. Iran could foster an agreement by being more transparent about its nuclear program through appropriate cooperation with the IAEA. Iranian officials are justifiably worried that any information they provide to the IAEA will be used for military targeting, given their belief that classified information has leaked from the organization in the past. The IAEA director’s June remarks that Tehran had “not answered, or not provided technically credible answers to, the Agency’s questions” was also misused by Israel to justify that month’s bombing campaign. Iran thus has every right to demand that the IAEA

be diligent in observing its own procedures and codes of conduct on impartiality, objectivity, confidentiality, and sensitivity to national security concerns in exchange for continued cooperation. If Tehran and Washington do implement an updated nuclear agreement, the countries might also manage to address other difficult issues, such as regional security, arms control, and counterterrorism. Iran, for example, might be asked to promise that it will not attack the United States or its allies in the region in return for a reciprocal guarantee by the United States and its partners. Tehran might also promise that it will not use its military capabilities other than in self-defense against prior armed attack, based on a reciprocal commitment. The United States, however, would have to deal with Iran’s security grievances, including its threatening presence around Iran and the unparalleled flooding of the region with sophisticated American weaponry. They might find areas of short-term foreign policy coordination. Tehran and Washington, despite their strategic differences, cooperated in Afghanistan and Iraq in the early years of this century and against the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) in more recent ones. Today, they again have mutual challenges in matters of extremism, as well as in threats to freedom of navigation. They could become avenues of at least short-term deconfliction, if not coordination. Iran and the United States would also benefit from some cooperation in the fight against international drug trafficking.

ACTIONS AND REACTIONS: The securitization cycle has placed Iran, the region, and NATO countries, particularly the United States, in a complex and self-reinforcing predicament. Iran’s defensive and reactive measures, rather than reducing threats, have intensified securitized perceptions of Iran and helped advance the narrative that Tehran is dangerous. Breaking this cycle is a vital necessity for Tehran. The idea that Iran is an existential threat may be completely wrong. But this perception has created existential threats for Iranians— something the June attacks made painfully evident. Escaping securitization requires a set of simultaneous, comprehensive, and coordinated strategies. It necessitates active and balanced regional and global diplomacy, internal reforms, domestic and international confidence-building measures, a pivot back to the ideational power of the Islamic Revolution, the nonprovocative strengthening of the country’s defense capabilities, and a shift in strategic communications. At the same time, breaking the securitization cycle is pivotal for the United States and Europe. They should start by engaging with Iran as a partner rather than a threat. They should remember that doing so will advance their own interests. By becoming ensnared in a belligerent, securitizing discourse against Iran, the United States and Europe have escalated regional and global tensions without achieving any of their stated objectives. They would be much better served respecting Iran’s independence, dignity, and legitimate rights while redirecting their focus onto the main cause of instability in the region: Israel’s unlawful and unconscionable behaviour.

M. JAVAD ZARIF is Associate Professor of Global Studies at the University of Tehran and Founder and President of Possibilities Architects (PAIAB). He served as Iran’s Vice President, Foreign Minister, and Permanent Representative in the United Nations in the past 30 years.

AMIR PARSA GARMSIRI is a Ph.D. candidate of American Studies at the Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran.

06 NEWS

JAPAN PREPARES TO RESTART WORLD’S BIGGEST NUCLEAR PLANT, 15 YEARS AFTER FUKUSHIMA China firmly opposes Japan’s nuclear ambitions

If Japan’s domestic right-wing forces are allowed to push for the development of powerful offensive weapons, or even the possession of nuclear weapons, it will once again bring calamity to the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday, when asked to comment on reported claims from of a senior Japanese official that Japan should possess nuclear weapons as well as claims from Japanese Defense Minister that Japan should discuss all options without excluding any in terms of reviewing its Three Non-Nuclear Principles. China and all peace-loving countries around the world are highly vigilant and firmly opposed to Japan’s dangerous tendencies on the nuclear issue. We strongly urge the Japanese side to abide by international law and

its own constitution, cease testing and provocations on the issue of possessing nuclear weapons, refrain from attempting to challenge the postwar international order, and stop rushing headlong down this erroneous path, Lin said. Spokesperson Lin stated that China is shocked by the open declaration by a senior official in the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office and a close aide to the prime minister that Japan should possess nuclear weapons, as well as the refusal of Japan’s chief cabinet secretary to clarify this matter, and the Japanese Defense Minister’s statement regarding revision of the Three NonNuclear Principles. In light of previous Japanese media reports on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plans to revise the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, the aforementioned remarks constitute an outright provocation against the postwar international order and the nuclear non-proliferation regime, Lin said.

peratures of 6 degrees Celsius. As the rally started, the mostly older crowd sang ‘Furusato’ — a national song about connection to a birthplace, mean-

ing ‘homeland’ in Japanese. “Is TEPCO qualified to run Kashiwazaki-Kariwa?”, a protester asked into the microphone, with the crowd yelling: “No!”

BEIJING

staff correspondent

TOKYO

agencies

APAN took the final step to allow the restart the world’s largest nuclear power plant on Monday as the region of Niigata voted to resume operations, a watershed moment in the country’s return to nuclear energy nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, located about 220 km (136 miles) northwest of Tokyo, was among 54 reactors shut after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami crippled the Fukushima Daiichi plant in the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Since then, Japan has restarted 14 of

the 33 that remain operable, as it tries to wean itself off imported fossil fuels. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa will be the first operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which ran the doomed Fukushima plant. On Monday, Niigata prefecture’s assembly passed a vote of confidence in Niigata Governor Hideyo Hanazumi, who backed the restart last month, effectively allowing for the plant to begin operations again. Ahead of the vote, around 300 protesters, mostly older people, holding banners reading ‘No Nukes’, ‘We oppose the restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa’ and ‘Support Fukushima’ gathered in front of the Niigata prefecture assembly in tem-

Asean steps in to revive truce after deadly Thailand–Cambodia clashes THAILAND agencies

Southeast Asian foreign ministers gathered in Malaysia on Monday in an urgent bid to restore a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, following two weeks of intense fighting that has left at least 60 people dead and forced more than half a million residents from their homes. The meeting marked the first direct talks between the two governments since hostilities flared again on December 8. Malaysia, which currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, called on the bloc to take a stronger and more decisive role in ending the conflict. The talks aimed to rescue a fragile truce earlier brokered by Malaysia alongside US President Donald Trump after a previous outbreak of violence along the disputed border. Opening the session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said the priority was to restore calm in the affected areas and safeguard regional stability. He stressed that de-escalation alone would not be enough, urging renewed efforts to rebuild trust between the two sides and create space for sustained dialogue despite deep disagreements. The diplomatic push comes as both China and the United States pursue parallel mediation efforts, which have so far failed to halt the fighting. Thailand and Cambodia continue to trade accusations, each blaming the other for violating earlier ceasefire commitments reached in October that included pledges to withdraw troops, remove heavy weapons and carry out demining operations.

Bangladeshi student leader shot in Khulna: report DHAKA

agencies

A Bangladeshi student political leader from the National Citizen Party (NCP) was shot and injured in Khulna on Monday, according to The Daily Star. The development comes after Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure in last year’s student-led uprising that toppled longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was shot in the head by masked assailants in Dhaka on December 16 while launching his campaign for an election due in February. He died last Thursday in Singapore after six days on life support. According to The Daily Star, the injured 42-year-old Mohammad Motaleb Sikder is the NCP’s divisional chief in Khulna. “Miscreants opened fire targeting his head around 11:45am (10:45am PKT) near Gazi Medical College Hospital in the city,” the paper reported, quoting Rafikul

Islam, the officer-in-charge of Sonadanga Model Police Station. “He was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition.” Quoting the officer, the publication reported that Sidker was “out of danger”, as the bullet entered through one side of his ear, pierced the skin, and exited through the other side. Following the attack on Hadi, violent protests broke out and sev-

eral buildings, including those housing leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were set on fire and vandalised, according to authorities. In November, gunmen on motorbikes attacked a Bangladesh political rally, killing one person and wounding two others, including a candidate, as campaigning for February’s landmark elections was underway.

Tuesday, 23 December 2025 | ISLAMABAD

Dhaka rebukes New Delhi over response to protest at Bangladesh mission DHAKA

agencies

Bangladesh has strongly rejected India’s description of a protest outside its high commission in New Delhi as “misleading propaganda”, calling the incident highly regrettable and unacceptable while stressing concerns over the safety of its diplomatic personnel. According to Bangladeshi media reports, around 20 to 25 people gathered outside the Bangladesh High Commission in the Indian capital on Saturday evening. Mission officials said the protesters shouted anti-Bangladesh slogans and issued threats against the high commissioner, prompting alarm among staff inside the compound. India’s external affairs ministry responded on Sunday, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal saying New Delhi had taken note of what he described as misleading reporting in sections of the Bangladeshi media. He said the gathering was a protest over the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and included calls for the protection of minorities in Bangladesh, adding that police dispersed the group within minutes and that there was no attempt to breach security. Indian officials said visual evidence of the incident was publicly available and reiterated India’s obligation under the Vienna Convention to ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic missions. The ministry also said it remained in close contact with Bangladeshi authorities and had conveyed concerns over attacks on minorities, urging accountability for those responsible for Das’s killing. In a statement issued later, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said the incident outside its high commission residence on December 20 could not be dismissed as propaganda. It said protesters were allowed to operate directly outside the perimeter of the mission without prior notice, creating panic among personnel inside the complex. While acknowledging India’s stated commitment to protecting Bangladeshi diplomatic posts, Dhaka rejected what it described as an attempt to portray the killing of a single Bangladeshi citizen from the Hindu community as broader attacks on minorities. The statement said suspects in the case had been swiftly arrested and argued that intercommunal relations in Bangladesh were better than in many other parts of South Asia. Bangladesh added that the responsibility to protect minorities lay with all governments in the region, not just Dhaka, and called for restraint and accuracy in official statements. Relations between Bangladesh and India have remained strained since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India after a student-led uprising last year. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition to face trial over alleged crimes, while New Delhi has said it is examining the requests. Tensions have continued to surface in recent weeks, including attempts by protesters in Dhaka to march toward Indian diplomatic missions and India’s expression of concern over what it described as a deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh following deadly unrest linked to political protests.

Alleged Bondi shooters conducted ‘tactical’ training in New South Wales countryside, police say DHAKA

agencies

after six days on life support. According to The Daily Star, the injured 42-year-old Mohammad Motaleb Sikder is the NCP’s divisional chief in Khulna. “Miscreants opened fire targeting his head around 11:45am (10:45am PKT) near Gazi Medical College Hospital in the city,” the paper reported, quoting Rafikul Islam, the officer-incharge of Sonadanga Model Police Station. “He was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition.” Quoting the officer, the publication reported that Sidker was “out of danger”, as the bullet entered through one side of his ear, pierced the skin,

and exited through the other side. Following the attack on Hadi, violent protests broke out and several buildings, including those housing leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were set on fire and vandalised, according to authorities. In November, gunmen on motorbikes attacked a Bangladesh political rally, killing one person and wounding two others, including a candidate, as campaigning for February’s landmark elections was underway. The shooting took place at a rally of the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), attended by hundreds in the port city of Chattogram, police said.

Why Central Asia needs a Council of Elders? TASHKENT agencies

At the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of state of Central Asia, held on November 16 in Tashkent, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening regional cooperation. Particular attention was drawn to the proposal to establish a Council of Elders of Central Asia. For some, this initiative appears to be a return to traditional practices; for others, it represents a new format of regional diplomacy. What is the real substance of this proposal, and what practical role could it play in shaping the future of Central Asia? This question was addressed by Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies. The proposal put forward by the President of Uzbekistan to create a Council of Elders of Central Asia warrants particular attention, as it transcends standard institutional approaches and draws on the region’s profound social and cultural foundations. It is not intended as a formalized body or an additional political layer, but as a return to time-tested mechanisms of social consensus that have historically underpinned stability and internal cohesion in Central Asian societies. Traditionally, the institution of elders has played a central role in Central Asia as a means of preserving social harmony, mediating conflicts, and reaching broadly accepted decisions. Unlike formal legal frameworks, elders enjoyed legitimacy grounded in trust, wisdom, familiarity with local traditions, and broad societal recognition. This form of community-based arbitration proved instrumental in safeguarding societal stability during periods of political change, external pressures, and internal tensions.

Applying this logic at the regional level opens the way for a unique informal channel of inter-state engagement, insulated from the pressures of short-term political dynamics, ideological divergences, and external interference. The Council of Elders would neither substitute for official institutions nor compete with state bodies; instead, it would complement them by providing.

NEWS 07

PAKISTAN RAILWAYS SEES 95 ACCIDENTS Lahore Police Intensify Crackdown on Aerial IN 2025 AS SAFETY GAPS PERSIST Firing, Illegal Arms Ahead

Tuesday, 23 December 2025 | ISLAMABAD

CORPORATE CORNER

Of Xmas and New Year LAHORE

Staff report

Lahore police have intensified a crackdown against aerial firing and the possession of illegal weapons ahead of Christmas and the New Year, arresting 496 suspects over the past 20 days to ensure law and order in the provincial capital.The spokesperson for Lahore police said in a statement issued on Monday that five individuals involved in aerial firing were also taken into custody during the ongoing operation. As many as 501 cases were registered at various police stations across the city.The spokesperson added that police recovered 11 rifles, 451 pistols and 24 guns from the arrested suspects.Capital City Police Officer Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana said that a zero-tolerance policy would be strictly enforced against aerial firing and the public display of weapons on New Year’s night. He said indiscriminate action would continue against those involved in the possession, use and sale of illegal arms.The CCPO further warned that strict legal action would also be taken against individuals promoting weapons on social media. He urged the citizens to respect the law and cooperate with the police.

Third Meeting of Regulatory Committee on Medicinal and Research Use of Industrial Hemp Held

PESHAWAR

Staff report

The third meeting of the Regulatory Committee constituted for the medicinal and research use of the industrial hemp plant was held on Monday at the Excise Department office on Shami Road, Peshawar. The meeting was jointly chaired by Provincial Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Syed Fakhar Jehan, Minister for Health Khaliq-ur-Rehman and Minister for Law Aftab Alam.The meeting was attended by Secretary Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Khalid Ilyas, Secretary Health Shahidullah Khan, Director General Excise Abdul Haleem Khan, senior officers of various wings of the Excise Department and members of the regulatory committee representing the Agriculture, Health and Law departments.Officials from PCSIR Laboratories, Qurshi Industries and other relevant departments and institutions were also present.During the meeting, the recommendations prepared by the sub-committee constituted by the Regulatory Committee regarding matters related to industrial hemp were reviewed.

Panthers Group USA successfully hosts its 1st Gala Evening in Texas

TEXAS, USA

Staff report

Panthers Group USA successfully hosted its 1st Gala Evening in Texas, bringing together distinguished community leaders, business professionals, and elected public officials for an evening dedicated to leadership, collaboration, and community engagement.The prestigious event was held by invitation of Uzair Hasan, CEO of MAXUM, and was honored by the presence of notable dignitaries including Judge Christian Becerra, Judge Sonia Rash, State Representative Ron Reynolds, Constable Smokey, and Constable Patrick Quincy, along with other respected leaders from across the region.The gala was further distinguished by the participation of Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman, Consumers Association of Pakistan, whose presence highlighted the importance of international cooperation.

Approval of Rs.9.28b for Karachi’s industrial areas a historic decision by Sindh govt: Sharjeel Memon KARACHI

Staff report

Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon, has said that the approval of a development package of more than Rs. 9.28 billion for Karachi’s industrial areas is a historic and timely decision by the Sindh government. He added that the Sindh government is working with full seriousness and consistency to make Karachi a strong, active, and competitive industrial center once again.In a statement, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that Karachi is the heart of the country’s economy, and the revival and development of its industrial zones are directly linked to employment, exports, and investment. He said that development work is starting today on Monday under a compre-

ISLAMABAD

Staff report

AKISTAN Railways recorded 95 train-related accidents between January 1 and December 20, 2025, according to official figures obtained by Express News, highlighting persistent safety challenges across the rail network. The data indicates that the incidents ranged from derailments and collisions to acts of sabotage and damage caused by adverse weather, while railway officials acknowledged that large-scale modernisation of core infrastructure remained limited during the year. Out of the total accidents, 46 involved derailments of passenger trains, while 43 were derailments of freight trains. The records also include one incident of a train catching fire and two accidents at level crossings, one at an unmanned crossing and the other at a manned crossing. Security-related incidents were most pronounced in Balochistan, where railway infrastructure and the Jaffar Express were targeted in eight separate acts of sabotage during the year, underscoring

ongoing security risks in the province. Several major incidents were recorded over the course of the year. On March 11, the Jaffar Express was targeted in an attack. On May 21, the Shalimar Express collided with a brick-laden trolley at an unmanned level crossing near Siyanwala Darul Ihsan, resulting in the derailment of all 15 coaches. Another collision occurred on May

30, when the Rehman Baba Express struck a trolley at an unmanned crossing. On June 1, the Pakistan Express narrowly avoided a serious accident near Mubarakpur after a trolley passed beneath its dining car. June 14 saw three separate incidents on the same day. Six coaches of the Khushhal Khan Khattak Express derailed near Kandhkot, the Allama Iqbal Express

developed brake block faults during its journey, and the Thal Express collided with a car. Four days later, an explosion damaged railway tracks near Jacobabad, derailing five coaches of the Jaffar Express. Authorities described it as the second major attack on the train in 2025. In August, six coaches of the Islamabad Express derailed between Lahore and Rawalpindi due to a broken track, injuring 30 passengers. The Awam Express derailed near Lodhran on August 17, followed by the derailment of a freight train near Paddidan on August 29. On September 11, a collision between two freight trains near Renala Khurd killed an assistant driver and injured another railway employee. Officials said the accidents caused financial losses running into millions of rupees, with extensive damage to railway infrastructure, several coaches declared beyond repair and multiple locomotives destroyed in collisions. Railway officials and passenger accounts also pointed to widespread operational delays throughout 2025, with trains frequently departing hours late from major stations, including Lahore.

CDA gets Rs13.52b in auction of residential Skill Development: K-Electric Marks and commercial plots in the Federal Capital Completion of Two-Year

Lineworkers Apprenticeship Programme

ISLAMABAD

Staff report

On the first day of the auction of residential and commercial plots in the Federal Capital Islamabad, organized by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), plots worth total of 13.52 billion rupees were sold. In line with the direction of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, the auction process is being supervised by Member Finance, Tahir Naeem, and the Auction Committee formed under his chairmanship. Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that the strong partici-

KARACHI

K-Electric (KE) marked the successful completion of its two-year Lineworkers Apprenticeship Programme with graduating apprentices presenting innovative, practical projects aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency, and theft detection within power distribution systems. The projects were displayed at KE's Distribution Network Academy (DNA), where the apprenticeship programme and training sessions were also held. This was the first time women were formally enrolled and trained as lineworkers under KE’s apprenticeship framework. A total of 28 apprentices, including 22 male and 6 female participants, completed the programme. During the concluding showcase, students presented several applied projects, reflecting their hands-on technical learning and problem-solving capabilities.The event was attended by KE’s senior leadership, including Chief Executive Officer Moonis Alvi and Chief Distribution & Marcomms Officer Sadia Dada, who engaged with apprentices, reviewed demonstrations, and interacted with instructors to understand the practical impact of the training. Staff report

pation of investors in the public auction is a reflection of complete confidence and trust in CDA's policies. He said that gaining the trust of Islamabad's investors is among our top priorities. According to details, on the first

A Laptop in Every Youth’s Hand Is Government’s Commitment, Says Wajiha Qamar

day of the public auction, Blue Area Plot No. 15 located in (F-8/G-8) was auctioned for 3.52 billion rupees. Similarly, Blue Area Plot No. 17 located in (F-8/G-8) was auctioned for 9.15 billion rupees.

Zindigi Wins ‘Best Digital Banking Experience (Pakistan) Award at FDI Insider Awards UK ISLAMABAD

Staff report

ISLAMABAD

Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training said that providing a laptop to every young person is an important mission of the government under which the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme is being further expanded. She expressed these views while addressing a laptop distribution ceremony at Allama Iqbal Open University as the chief guest.She said that the promotion of education and the empowerment of youth are among the top priorities of the government. Wajiha Qamar added that Pakistan is now moving in the right direction and progressing toward economic stability, in which the role of the younger generation is extremely important. Addressing the students, she reStaff report

The City School Capital Campus Hosts IBPAK Roadshow to Elevate IB Teacher Professional Development

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI Staff report

The City School Capital Campus successfully organized an IBPAK Roadshow bringing together more than 150 teachers from IB Schools across Pakistan for an enriching professional development experience focused on International Baccalaureate (IB) teaching and learning frameworks. Ms. Sabahat Khan Tatari, Regional Director North Region , The City School addressed and extended a warm welcome to all participating teachers. Her keynote stressed the importance of continuous professional growth and community engagement among IB educators to ensure meaningful learning outcomes for students.The event was designed to equip educators with advanced IB training covering globally recognised pedagogical concepts such as assessments, Approaches to Learning (ATLs), coherent curriculum design, inclusive practices, and the innovative role of artificial intelligence in education.A highlight of the day was an insightful panel discussion featuring senior management from The City School Capital Campus. Panelists offered

Zindigi, powered by JS Bank, has been recognized with the Best Digital Banking Experience (Pakistan) award at the prestigious FDI Insider Awards, a global platform honoring organizations that drive innovation, sustainability, and long-term economic impact across industries.The FDI Insider Awards celebrate institutions and individuals shaping the future of global investment and economic development, spanning key sectors including banking, financial services, and technology.Since its launch in 2022, Zindigi has fundamentally reshaped Pakistan’s digital banking landscape. Designed as a first-of-its-kind lifestyle banking platform for Gen Z and millennials, Zindigi brings payments, investments, digital account management, and everyday financial needs together into one seamless, intuitive app, setting new expectations for how banking should feel and function.Commenting on the achievement, Noman Azhar, Chief Officer of Zindigi, said: “Global

International College for Legal Studies Achieves a Historic Milestone in Legal Education with the Inauguration of Its New Campus

BF Biosciences Limited Announces Leadership Transition Company appoints Farhan Rafiq as new CEO KARACHI

BF Biosciences Limited today announced a planned leadership transition, following a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).According to the notice, Mrs. Akhter Khalid Waheed, Founding Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of BF Biosciences Limited, has decided to step down from her role as Chief Executive Officer, effective December 31, 2025.The Board of Directors, in its emergent meeting held on December 19, 2025, formally accepted her resignation and placed on record its deep appreciation for her visionary leadership and invaluable contributions to the establishment, growth, and long-term success of the Company.Under her stewardship, BF Biosciences evolved into a recognized name in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector, marked by sustained growth, operational excellence, and strategic expansion.Following the recommendation of the HR & Remuneration Committee, the Board has approved the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Farhan Rafique as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. Staff report

Sindh Collaborates Across Sectors for Youth Development through Puplic-Private Partnership Symposium

LAHORE

Staff report

The International College for Legal Studies (ICLS) achieved a historic milestone in legal education with the formal inauguration of its new purposebuilt campus on November 18, 2025, located on Main Kamahan Road, opposite DHA Phase V Extension, Lahore. The vision and tireless efforts behind this significant expansion were led by the CEO and Dean of the International College for Legal Studies, Sarah Tarar, along with the core leadership team, whose commitment to promoting legal education in Pakistan laid the foundation for the establishment of the new campus. The auspicious ceremony was graced by Minister of State Barrister Aqeel Malik as the chief guest. He was accompanied by the Dean of Undergraduate Law, University of London, Ms. Patricia McKellar, who attended the event as the guest of honour to celebrate this important expansion of Pakistan’s legal education infrastructure.

KARACHI

Staff report

Shaping Tomorrow: A Public–Private Partnership Symposium on Increasing Investments for Youth Development was held on Thursday at Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi, bringing together over 200 participants from government, the private sector, academia, civil society, and youth-focused organizations from various districts of Sindh. The event was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Pathfinder International, in collaboration with the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Government of Sindh with

GOVT FULLY FOCUSED ON POWER SECTOR REFORMS TO HELP BOOST ECONOMY: PM NEWS

ISLAMABAD

staff report

RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday chaired a meeting of the private sector working group formed to look into issues of the energy sector to boost economic development. During the meeting, recommendations were presented to the Prime Minister regarding reforms in the energy sector for economic progress. The Prime Minister directed the Minister for Power Division to present recommendations in consultation with stakeholders to bring the electricity wheeling charges to an appropriate level. He said a national programme for economic development will be prepared after the recommendations of various working groups formed in other sectors are completed. “The government is fully focused on improving the electricity transmission system,” he added. He said, “There is a strong effort to ensure that industries get electricity at regionally competitive rates.” The Prime Minister praised the hard work and ef-

forts of the energy committee formed under the chairmanship of Shahzad Saleem regarding consultation with the private sector. Recommendations were presented in the meeting on tariff structure, difficulties in electricity transmission, appropriate rates and other issues related to the electricity sector. Recommendations were also given to make the system of electricity transmission and voltage reliable.

LG elections will be held on party basis, Punjab govt tells LHC LAHORE

LHC suspends Punjab Property Ordinance, CJ warns of ‘unchecked powers’ LAHORE

staff report

staff Correspondent

The Punjab government on Monday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that upcoming local government (LG) elections in the province will be conducted on a party basis, with political parties allowed to issue tickets to their candidates. The assurance was given during the hearing of multiple petitions challenging the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025. Appearing before Justice Sultan Tanveer Ahmed, a Punjab assistant advocate general told the court that the local government department had submitted its report, confirming that the polls would be held on party lines. The development follows an October decision by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct LG elections in Punjab under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2025. During the proceedings, counsel for petitioner Sheikh Imtiaz requested that the assistant advocate general’s statement regarding partybased elections be formally made part of the court record, a request noted by the bench. Representing the ECP, Director General (Law) Khurram Shahzad told the court that the commission had written around 80 letters to the Punjab government over the past four years seeking clarity and progress on local government elections.

SHC extends suspension of KU Order cancelling degree of former IHC Judge Jahangiri KARACHI

staff Correspondent

Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadiq Malik, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Spe-

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday extended its interim order suspending the Karachi University (KU) Syndicate and Unfair Means Committee’s decision to cancel the law degree of former Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, who was removed from office last week. Justice Jahangiri has been embroiled in a fake degree controversy since last year and is facing parallel legal proceedings in both the SHC and IHC. While an IHC division bench headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar ruled on December 18 that Jahangiri’s law degree was “invalid” and declared his elevation to the high court “without lawful authority,” the SHC on Monday maintained that KU’s August 2024 decision to cancel his degree would remain suspended until further orders. The interim order was extended by a two-member bench comprising Justices Yousuf Ali Saeed and Abdul Mobeen Lakho while hearing a contempt petition filed against KU Vice Chancellor Professor Khalid Mehmood Iraqi and Registrar Imran Ahmed Siddiqui.

cial Assistant to Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar and relevant senior government officials attended the meeting. PM Shehbaz announces cash awards, wholehearted support for victorious Pakistan U-19 Asia Cup Team Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also hosted a luncheon in honour of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team following their triumphant Asia Cup campaign, lauding the young players for their discipline, resilience and historic victory over India in the final. Welcoming the players individually, the prime minister congratulated the entire squad, coaching staff and team management, saying the team’s outstanding performances had won the hearts of 240 million Pakistanis and lifted the nation’s pride. He said the emphatic win against India carried special significance and symbolised Pakistan’s growing strength in youth cricket. “The way you trained, played and handled pressure shows maturity beyond your age. You have brought great honour to Pakistan and proved that our future in cricket is bright,” the prime minister remarked.

Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Monday suspended the operation of the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2025, expressing serious concern over what she described as the concentration of “unchecked powers” in the hands of the executive. Issuing an interim order while hearing petitions filed by Abida Parveen and others, the chief justice also suspended all actions and decisions taken under the ordinance, including the removal of possession of properties through deputy commissioner-led committees. The controversial law authorises administrative committees headed by deputy commissioners to decide land and property disputes within 90 days — a power traditionally exercised by civil courts. During the hearing, Justice Neelum strongly criticised the legislation, warning of its far-reaching implications. “Someone should inform the government that if this law remains in force, even Jati Umra could be vacated within half

an hour,” she remarked, adding that it appeared some quarters were seeking to consolidate all authority. Questioning the very rationale of the ordinance, the chief justice asked how a revenue officer could lawfully hand over possession of a property in a matter already pending before a civil court. She observed that the law had effectively dismantled the civil justice system, undermined civil rights, and encroached upon judicial supremacy. “If it were left to certain authorities, they would even suspend the Constitution,” she said. Justice Neelum further pointed out that the ordinance deprived affected citizens of the right to appeal if a deputy commissioner ordered eviction or transfer of possession. She noted with concern that the law also curtailed the high court’s authority to grant stay orders in such cases. The Punjab chief secretary and other senior government officials were present during the hearing, while the Punjab advocate general did not appear. The court was informed that the province’s principal law officer was unwell. Responding sharply, Justice

Neelum remarked that she herself had been advised bed rest due to illness but was still presiding over court proceedings. Concluding the hearing, the chief justice announced that a full bench would be constituted to take up the matter in detail and adjourned the proceedings. Separately, a Punjab law officer told Dawn that the provincial government was considering challenging the LHC’s interim order before the Supreme Court under its appellate jurisdiction. The officer said the government could also approach the Federal Constitutional Court, as the case involved important legal questions. “The government may also request the proposed full bench to review the stay order, though the chances of relief through that route are relatively slim,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The ordinance was approved by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on October 31 and aimed to ensure swift resolution of land disputes. However, it has drawn sharp criticism from legal circles for allegedly bypassing judicial processes.

FM Asim Munir congratulates Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team on historic Asia Cup win RAWALPINDI

staff report

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, COAS & CDF, on Monday met with the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi. During the meeting, the Field Marshal warmly congratulated the players, team management, and officials on their outstanding performance and historic triumph in winning the Asia Cup Men’s U-19. He lauded the team’s discipline, teamwork, and fighting spirit, terming their success a matter of great pride for the nation. The Field Marshal appreciated the dedication and hard work of the young cricketers, emphasizing that their achievement reflects the im-

Tuesday, 23 December, 2025

prayer timings

Punjab declares winter break for schools and colleges across the province FAJR SUNRISE

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ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

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LAHORE

staff report

The Punjab Higher Education Department on Monday announced winter vacations for all public and private educational institutions across Punjab. According to an official notification, schools, colleges, and other educational institutions will remain closed from December 23 until January 10, 2026. The decision applies uniformly to both government-run and privately managed institutions. Authorities said the announcement was made in view of the ongoing winter season, with the closure aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of students amid colder weather conditions. Further details are expected as the situation develops, with education officials likely to issue additional guidelines if required.

Governor Mehdi Shah demands provincial status for Gilgit-Baltistan GILGIT

staff report

Governor Syed Mehdi Shah demanded provincial status for Gilgit-Baltistan and its inclusion in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. The governor demanded that the federal government increase the number of seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly from 24 to 30 to ensure better representation. Syed Mehdi Shah said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had pledged to provide 100 megawatts of electricity to the region, expressing hope that the commitment would be fulfilled. The water being used for electricity generation comes from our region, yet our needs are ignored. Governor Shah said the federation must provide GB with its due share of development funds. He dismissed PML-N claims that the Sindh government was objecting to GB’s inclusion in the NFC.

Govt sacks doctor for offensive gesture at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital MULTAN

staff report

Nishtar Hospital has terminated an additional house officer after a video showing him making an offensive gesture towards a patient’s relatives circulated widely on social media, hospital officials confirmed on Monday. The incident occurred in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department, where attendants of a critically ill patient accused doctors of refusing to arrange a blood transfusion before the woman died. The viral footage shows a heated exchange inside the emergency area, after which the doctor raises his hand and makes an obscene gesture while walking away, as a crowd gathers nearby. Hospital authorities identified the doctor as Qasim Jamal and said he was initially suspended from duty on December 19, a day after the incident. Following a preliminary review, the hospital administration issued a notification later the same day terminating his services with immediate effect for misconduct and violation of professional ethics. An inquiry committee has also been formed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and the events leading up to the patient’s death.

China-Pakistan Digital Entrepreneurship Training Center launched PESHAWAR

mense talent and potential of Pakistan’s youth. He encouraged the players to continue striving for excellence, maintain high standards of professionalism, and serve as ambassadors of the country on and off the field. The Field Marshal underscored that Pakistan’s youth are the cornerstone of the nation’s future, whose energy, talent, and character will shape its progress and global

standing. He reaffirmed his unwavering belief in empowering young Pakistanis to excel in diverse fields and contribute positively to national development through discipline, integrity, and dedication. Members of the U-19 team expressed their gratitude to the Field Marshal for his encouragement and support, stating that the recognition is a source of motivation for them.

staff report

The Gansu Finance and Trade Vocational CollegeOverseas Training Base and the SME Entrepreneurship and Management Pakistan Training Center were officially inaugurated here at Government Advance Technical Training Centre (GATTC). It marking a step forward in vocational education cooperation between China and Pakistan, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Monday. Located in the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the centre aims to promote school-business collaboration and integration of industry with education.

New chapter for PIA unfolds; stage set for bidding process today PROFIT

news desk

The much-anticipated privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is about to enter its final phase. The submission and opening of bids scheduled for today, December 23, 2025, will decide the fate of the national carrier, which has long been a subject of political debate and financial strain. After years of failed attempts, PIA’s privatisation is now at a critical juncture, and the pressure is mounting as the clock ticks toward the deadline. The bidding process will now see only three contenders vying for control of the debt-ridden airline, since Privatisation Commission Chairman and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation, Muhammad Ali, confirmed in a recent interview that the Fauji Foundation, a key player in the bidding, had withdrawn from the race, leaving three bidders to compete for the 75% stake in PIA. The push for privatising PIA has been ongoing for over a decade, with successive governments attempting to streamline oper-

ations and reduce the national carrier’s massive losses. PIA’s financial woes are well documented. The airline has accumulated staggering debts, and for years, it has been struggling with negative cash flow, mounting liabilities, and an underperforming fleet. The government has previously taken steps to address the airline’s issues by restructuring its debt and offloading bad assets into a holding company, but has neither been able to turn it around , nor been able to sell it off. Despite repeated efforts, political hurdles, bureaucratic delays, and strong opposition have repeatedly derailed the process. However, the tables have turned this time, and the latest round of privatisation is seen as a critical step towards resolving the airline’s financial crisis and boosting Pakistan’s aviation sector. The government has finally been able to find buyers for the national carrier. The bidders include two major consortia and one independent airline. The first consortium is led by Lucky Cement Limited, Hub Power Holdings Limited, Kohat Cement Company Limited, and Metro Ven-

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tures (Private) Limited, while the second consortium consists of Arif Habib Corporation Limited, Fatima Fertiliser Company Limited, City Schools (Private) Limited, and Lake City Holdings (Private) Limited. The third bidder is Air Blue (Private) Limited, which is competing independently. PIA currently operates 18 out of a fleet of 34 aircraft and has air service agreements with 97 countries. The airline also holds landing rights in more than 170 countries, making it an attractive proposition for the right bidder. The Bidding Process The bidding process is designed to ensure transparency and fairness, with all bids placed in a sealed box to be opened at 3:30 pm on December 23. The Privatisation Commission will review the bids and determine the reference price, which will be announced at the time of bid opening. If the bids exceed the reference price, an open auction will take place; if the bids fall below the reference price, the commission will assess the highest bid. This level of transparency is critical in ensuring that the privatisation is carried out

fairly, particularly given the high stakes involved. The airline, with its extensive domestic and international network, represents a valuable asset. What’s at Stake for the Bidders? The winner of the privatisation bid will acquire a 75% stake in PIA, with the government retaining the remaining 25%. Of the proceeds, 92.5% will go to PIA, while the remaining 7.5% will be transferred to the national exchequer. The successful bidder will also have the option to acquire the remaining 25% of the airline after the transaction is finalised, although this decision must be made within 90 days of the deal’s completion. The bidders will also need to deposit two-thirds of the bid amount within 90 days, with the remaining one-third payable within one year. The government has structured the deal to ensure that no asset owned by PIA, such as its real estate, is included in the transaction. This ensures that the privatised airline can focus on its aviation business without being weighed down by non-core assets. The Fauji Foundation’s Exit

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

Many may find the withdrawal of the Fauji Foundation from the bidding process as a surprise. But to those who have followed the pre-bidding drama of PIACL, it does not come as a surprise. The foundation, as is known, is a very powerful conglomerate, with interests spanning across various sectors. It meet the necessary bidding criteria and had initially shown strong interest in acquiring PIA. Therefore, its exit from the bidding process shall not be construed as such. Muhammad Ali clarified that Fauji Foundation’s exit does not signal a lack of interest, hinting at the possibility of a postbidding merger with the successful bidder. It was important to note that while all the consortia’s openly did not want to join hands with each other, with the Lucky group going as far as rejecting a joint-venture proposal pitched by Arif Habib Group at a PM-led meeting last week, there was but one company that all the bidders wanted on their side. The erstwhile Fauji Foundation, a charitable trust that supports the welfare of martyrs and ex-servicemen.