Thursday, 25 December, 2025 | 4 Rajabul Murajjab, 1447
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MILITARY TOP BRASS VOWS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR MALICIOUS DESIGNS — ‘POLITICAL OR OTHERWISE’
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273RD CCC, CHAIRED BY COAS AND CDF, REJECTS NEXUS BETWEEN TERRORISM, CRIME AND VESTED INTERESTS UNDERMINING NATIONAL UNITY, SECURITY OR STABILITY
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RAWALPINDI
Staff report
HE military’s top leadership on Wednesday categorically rejected any nexus between terrorism, crime, and vested political interests, asserting that no malicious designs—political or otherwise—aimed at undermining national unity, security, or stability would be tolerated. The top brass also vowed that attempts to create divisions between the Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan would not be allowed. The affirmation came during the 273rd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) held at General Headquarters (GHQ), chaired by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, the
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. The CCC conducted a comprehensive review of the internal and external security environment, with particular focus on evolving threats and operational preparedness. Participants reaffirmed that all terrorists under the tutelage of Indian sponsors, along with their facilitators and abettors, would be confronted decisively and without exception, the
ISPR said. The Forum also appreciated the Balochistan Special Development Initiatives, aimed at local empowerment and social engagement to address terrorism linked to governance. Participants emphasized the need for similar publiccentric initiatives across the country, in line with the National Action Plan, to ensure enduring peace and stability.
Pakistani LA Consulate warns against fake visa notices amid rising online fraud WASHINGTON
Staff report
The Pakistani Consulate in Los Angeles on Wednesday issued a stern warning against a circulating online message falsely claiming to be an “important notice” regarding Pakistan visas, cautioning the public against phishing scams designed to steal sensitive personal and financial information. Officials confirmed that the fraudulent message, circulating on social media and messaging plat-
forms, is not authorised by the government and is part of a wider pattern of scams targeting unsuspecting visa applicants. A statement displayed prominently on the consulate’s website warned that the Consulate General disassociates itself from all unauthorised individuals, agents, or entities and will not be responsible for any loss, delay, misrepresentation, or other consequences arising from engagement with them. The message falsely purports to originate from the consulate and di-
rects applicants to submit information via unauthorised links, potentially harvesting passport details, social security numbers, bank account information, and credit card data. Such information can later be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or other criminal activities. The consulate reiterated that Pakistani visa applications must only be submitted through the official government online portal: https://visa.nadra.gov.pk
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
02 NEWS
Thursday, 25 Deceember, 2025 | ISLAMABAD
GOVT DEFENDS PIA PRIVATISATION DEAL, HIGHLIGHTS RS55B ECONOMIC VALUE FOR EXCHEQUER
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ADVISER MUHAMMAD ALI EMPHASIZES PRIVATE SECTOR’S ROLE IN REVITALIZING PIA AMID CRITICISM OF THE RS135BN BID PROFIT
news desk
HE government on Wednesday defended the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), stating that the Rs135 billion bid submitted by the Arif Habib Corporation Limited-led consortium would generate an eco-
Police arrest another suspect in Dr Warda murder case ABBOTTABAD news desk
Police have arrested another suspect in the abduction and murder of Dr Warda, recovering key personal belongings and weapons that investigators say could significantly advance the case. Officials said the suspect, identified as Adil, was taken into custody during an operation and later led police to the house of another accused, Shamraz, from where Dr Warda’s mobile phone, national identity card and ATM card were recovered. Superintendent of Police Ayaz Khan said a large cache of weapons was also seized from the same location, including a mortar shell, hand grenades, a rocket launcher round and several rifles. He described the recovered arms as heavy and sophisticated. According to police, the suspect further disclosed the site where Dr Warda’s body had been buried, enabling investigators to confirm critical details of the crime. Following the recovery of the weapons and other evidence, police registered a case under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Adil was produced before an Anti-Terrorism Court, which granted police a seven-day physical remand to facilitate further interrogation and searches linked to the investigation. Police officials said efforts were continuing to identify and apprehend all those involved, adding that the case would be pursued to its conclusion to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
nomic value of Rs55 billion for the national exchequer. Speaking at a press conference, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali and Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar outlined the rationale behind the privatization deal, which has faced criticism and competing narratives. Ali explained that the privatization’s primary objective is to allow the private sector
to manage PIA, as it is better suited to run such businesses. He added that private investment would bring in new aircraft and improve services. The Arif Habib-led consortium, which includes Metro Ventures, Fatima Fertilizer, and City Schools, emerged as the winning bidder for a 75% stake in PIA, offering Rs135 billion, surpassing the government’s initial price expectations. Ali revealed that the
total value of PIA post-bid stands at Rs180 billion, with Rs45 billion attributed to the government’s remaining 25% stake. Ali clarified that while properties of PIA were not included in the deal, the government would receive 7.5% (Rs10.125 billion) of the bid amount, with the remaining 92.5% (Rs124.875 billion) invested in PIA as new equity. The deal also provides incentives to
Pakistan on path to export-led growth supported by structural reforms, says finance minister PROFIT
news desk
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, stated that Pakistan has reached a critical turning point, with macroeconomic stability, sustained reforms, and policy continuity steering the country towards export-led, long-term growth. In an interview with USA Today, he emphasised that this transition has opened new opportunities for both domestic and global investors. He explained that the country’s progress is driven by macroeconomic stabilisation, easing inflation, and improved external balances. The government is focusing on export-led, productivity-based growth, supported by structural reforms, including in agriculture, minerals, technology, and climate resilience. He further highlighted that, for the first time in years, Pakistan has achieved both a primary fiscal surplus and a current account surplus, marking a shift away from recurring deficits. He highlighted that strong remittance inflows and a decline in inflation from a peak of 38% to single-digit levels have played key roles in supporting this positive shift. Foreign exchange reserves have also risen to over $14.5 billion, offering import cover of approximately two and a half months, while the exchange rate has remained stable, boosting investor confidence. Despite this progress, Aurangzeb pointed out that sustainable growth re-
mains the central challenge. He stressed that the economic growth rate of 2.7% in the previous fiscal year, while positive, is insufficient to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. Pakistan is consciously moving away from a consumption- and debt-driven growth model towards an export-led strategy, as reflected in the current budget, which includes structural reforms in taxation, energy pricing, and stateowned enterprises. He also highlighted key sectors with strong potential, such as information technology, textiles, and agriculture. IT exports have already crossed $4 billion, with the potential to double within five years, given sustained regulatory clarity and infrastructure development. Efforts are underway to simplify tax regimes for exporters and reduce bureaucratic hurdles to foster long-term productivity and competitiveness. Aurangzeb addressed the broader reform agenda, which includes privatisation of state-owned enterprises, tariff liberalisation, and restructuring of the energy sector. These initiatives aim to address long-standing inefficiencies that have historically strained public finances. He also referred to Pakistan’s partnership with the World Bank through the ten-year Country Partnership Framework, emphasising economic reform alongside climate resilience and population management. The finance minister also underscored the importance of addressing
challenges beyond fiscal indicators, such as population growth, climate change, child stunting, learning poverty, and the exclusion of girls from education. Increasing women’s participation in education and the workforce is both a social imperative and an economic necessity, he added. On climate resilience, Aurangzeb noted Pakistan’s efforts to collaborate with multilateral partners to strengthen preparedness against floods and droughts. While acknowledging risks such as global commodity price shocks, external debt pressures, and political uncertainty, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to staying on the reform course despite these challenges. He stressed that discipline, consistency, and international cooperation are key to safeguarding the gains made. Aurangzeb highlighted investment opportunities in agriculture, minerals and mining, and the emerging digital economy. He pointed to Pakistan’s agricultural potential, the Tethyan Copper Belt in Balochistan, and the growing digital economy, particularly in data centres, artificial intelligence, and digital services. The government is updating regulatory frameworks to support innovation and attract foreign investment, particularly from the United States. In conclusion, Senator Aurangzeb invited global investors and partners to engage with Pakistan through trade, investment, and collaboration, emphasizing the country’s ongoing reforms, economic potential, and natural beauty.
the buyer, such as GST exemptions and no new taxes or levies. Despite the airline’s operational challenges, Ali emphasized that the capital infusion would address PIA’s financial issues, enabling it to become a full-service carrier once again. He also noted that PIA’s biggest asset is its landing rights, with the airline serving 30 destinations and holding agreements with 97 countries.
Sindh Bank to convert 60 branches to Islamic banking in 2025, with full transition by 2027 PROFIT
news desk
Sindh Bank President and CEO Muhammad Anwar announced plans to convert 60 of the bank’s 330 branches to Islamic banking in 2025, stating that by 2027, the bank intends to complete the conversion process across all branches, with 150 branches transitioning in 2026 and 120 more by 2027. Speaking at the certificate distribution ceremony at Saylani School of Business and Islamic Leadership (SBIL), Sindh Bank president emphasised that the move towards Islamic banking was not prompted by external pressures but was a voluntary decision based on the bank’s belief that Islamic banking offers a superior and more disciplined alternative to conventional commercial banking. He highlighted the importance of Islamic banking, describing it as a more ethical and transparent financial system. He reiterated that the transition to Islamic banking aligns with the bank’s values and commitment to providing customers with fully transparent transactions, free from hidden conditions. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Deputy Governor Saleemullah, also addressing the ceremony, emphasised the need for Islamic banking to go beyond nomenclature and be visibly reflected in practices. He said that Islamic banking represents a transparent financial system, rooted in the trade practices established 1,400 years ago.
Libya’s top military chief killed in plane crash in Turkiye TRIPOLI
Agencies
The Libyan army’s chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died in a plane crash on Tuesday after leaving Turkiye’s capital Ankara as well as four others that were on the jet as well. “This followed a tragic and painful incident while they were returning from an official trip from the Turkish city of Ankara. This grave loss is a great loss for the nation, for the military institution, and for all the people,” Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah said in a statement. According to the Washington DC-based Stimson Centre, Libya has effectively split into two virtual quasi-states since 2014. The west is ruled by the Government of National Unity (GNU), of which Dbeibah is the prime minister, while the east is run by Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar’s Libyan Armed Forces. Dbeibah said the commander of
Libya’s ground forces, the director of its military manufacturing authority, an adviser to the chief of staff, and a photographer from the chief of staff’s office were also on the aircraft. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on social media platform X that the plane had taken off from Ankara’s Esenboga Airport at 1710 GMT en route to Tripoli, and that radio contact was lost at 1752 GMT. He said authorities found the plane’s wreckage near the Kesikkavak village in Ankara’s Haymana district. He added that the Dassault Falcon 50-type jet had made a request for an emergency landing while over Haymana, but that no contact was established. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said an investigation into the crash was under way. The Tripoli-based GNU said in a statement that the prime minister directed the defence minister to send
Four children injured in quadcopter attack in Kurram PESHAWAR
stAff correspondent
At least four children were injured on Wednesday after a quadcopter attack in the Gondalabad area of Kurram district, official sources said. Militants in the region have been using quadcopters for months to drop explosives on security forces, with the current year witnessing an increase in such attacks. In the latest incident, a quadcopter released an explosive payload over a residential area, injuring three boys and a girl, according to official sources. The injured children were shifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Security sources strongly condemned the attack, calling it “an act of violence against innocent civilians, particularly children.” “Such incidents reflect a deliberate targeting of non-combatants and have nothing to do with religion or humanitarian values,” they added. An investigation into the incident is under way, and security in the area has been tightened following the attack. Last week, two women and two teenagers were injured in a quadcopter attack in the Janikhel area of Bannu district. A week earlier, another attack in the same area injured four people, including two children. Earlier this month, three boys were killed and another was injured when a quadcopter crashed in a residential area of Mamand Khel in Bannu. In December, at least seven people, including minors, were injured in a quadcopter attack carried out by terrorists on a playground in Lakki Marwat.
an official delegation to Ankara to follow up on proceedings. Walid Ellafi, state minister of political affairs and communication for the GNU, told broadcaster Libya Alahrar that it was not clear when a crash report would be ready, but that the jet was a leased Maltese aircraft. He added that officials did not have “sufficient information regarding its ownership or technical history,” but said this would be investigated. Turkiye’s defence ministry had announced Haddad’s visit earlier, saying he had met with Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Turkish counterpart Selcuk Bayraktaroglu, along with other Turkish military commanders.
Thursday, 25 December, 2025 | ISLAMABAD
CENTRE FINALISES STRATEGY TO ADDRESS RS527B LIABILITIES OWED BY PROVINCES TO PASSCO g
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLANS TO DEDUCT PROVINCIAL LIABILITIES TO PASSCO AT SOURCE IF PAYMENTS ARE NOT CLEARED BY THE END OF DECEMBER 2025, AND SET UP WHEAT STOCK MANAGEMENT COMPANY PROFIT
staff report
The federal government is finalising a strategy to address the outstanding liabilities of over Rs527 billion payable by provinces to the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco), which is in the process of being wound up. This move includes a plan to deduct outstanding dues directly from provincial sources if payments are not cleared by the end of December 2025, The Express Tribune reported. In a recent meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), officials presented the background of their plan to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called the Wheat Stock Management Company (WSMC). This company will be responsible for managing the winding-up process and addressing Passco’s liabilities, including its Rs527.65 billion debt to creditor banks.
The current framework suggests that after the sale of wheat stocks and the settlement of receivables from various agencies, a remaining liability of Rs121 billion will be due for closure. The federal government plans to fund the SPV through long-term financing raised from banks, backed by a sovereign guarantee. The SPV’s role will include the management and liquidation of assets, and the government will service its debt obligations over the next five to seven years. The ECC has also called on the Ministry of Food Security to continue pursuing this initiative and to complete all necessary legal steps, including the drafting of incorporation documents, to establish the WSMC. Additionally, a new committee will be established to oversee the process of finalising the dissolution of Passco, as per the directions from the Prime Minister’s Office, which had earlier mandated the winding-up of the corporation.
Pakistani LA Consulate warns against fake visa notices amid rising online fraud CONTINUDED FORM PAGE 01
Applicants were urged to avoid intermediaries, agents, or unofficial websites, regardless of claims of faster processing or special access.Officials also advised caution when sharing personal or financial information online, noting that requests for social security numbers, bank details, or other identity-related data in relation to visa applications should be treated as red flags. The public was urged to verify all information through official channels and report suspicious messages or websites to the relevant authorities.“This advisory is being issued in the public interest to protect applicants from scams that can have devastating financial and personal consequences,” the consulate said. Applicants seeking official guidance and updated visa information were instructed to visit the consulate’s website at https://pakconsulatela.org/visa-servicesThe warning comes amid a global surge in online fraud. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, consumers in the United States reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 — a sharp rise from previous years—as scammers increasingly exploit phishing, identity theft, and impersonation tactics.Data show a significant uptick in credit card fraud and identity theft, with hundreds of thousands of cases reported in 2025 alone, illustrating how stolen personal and financial information is misused. Cybersecurity researchers also documented an 18 per cent increase in phishing attacks in Pakistan during 2024, targeting individuals with deceptive links and spoofed communication.Courts in the United States and other countries have sentenced individuals involved in multi-million-dollar phishing and fraud schemes, where victims were defrauded through impersonation and deceptive communications.Officials noted that victims of similar scams have, in some cases, lost their entire life savings, as stolen data is exploited to access bank accounts, obtain fraudulent loans, or conduct unauthorised transfers.
Pakistan Railways on track for Rs100b revenue in FY26 after earning Rs93bn in 2025 Minister Abbasi highlights reforms, safety improvements, and digitisation driving revenue growth PROFIT
staff report
Pakistan Railways aims to achieve Rs100 billion in revenue for the fiscal year 2025-26, following a robust performance in 2025, where it earned Rs93 billion. The organisation expects to generate Rs50 billion in revenue during the first half of FY26, reflecting a strong recovery fueled by reforms in safety, service quality, digitisation, and asset management. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi credited focused administrative and operational measures for the financial stability Pakistan Railways is now moving towards, after years of financial challenges. He said that the improved revenue projections for FY26 are backed by a series of reforms that have enhanced operations across various sectors, including train services, safety, and infrastructure upgrades. Abbasi also highlighted the significant improvement in safety, with the safety department upgraded into a full-fledged directorate. This change has led to a reduction in the accident rate from 0.09% to 0.04%, and no serious accidents have occurred since. The minister stressed that restoring passenger trust was essential, and safety remains a top priority. The year 2025 also saw Rawalpindi become Pakistan’s first smart railway station, with plans for further station upgrades in 2026. The railways also focused on enhancing passenger comfort with the upgrade of eight train rakes and improvements at key stations in Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad. Digitisation has also played a key role, with the ministry shifting to efiling and installing modern payment systems at major stations. Efforts to combat land encroachments have resulted in the recovery of 394 acres of railway land, with plans to retrieve all illegally occupied land by December 2026.
The proposed SPV will operate with an initial paid-up capital of Rs1 million and an authorized capital of Rs5 billion, with its goal to secure funding for the settlement of Passco’s remaining liabilities. With a focus on transparency and efficiency, the government aims to resolve
the outstanding financial obligations of Passco and ensure the continuation of food security measures in Pakistan. The establishment of the SPV is expected to be a crucial step in managing these liabilities and providing an effective solution for Passco’s winding-up.
CONSORTIUM BUYS 75% EQUITY STAKE IN PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES CORPORATION LIMITED FOR RS 135B PROFIT
staff report
Arif Habib Corporation Limited (AHCL) led a consortium that has been declared the highest-ranked bidder in the privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL), with a bid of Rs 135 billion for a 75% equity stake. The bid was submitted on December 23, 2025, following a competitive bidding process. However, in line with the prescribed privatisation process, confirmation of acceptance of the bid price remains subject to the requisite approvals, including approvals and recommendations of the Board of the Privatisation Commission and the decision of the Government of Pakistan and the Federal Cabinet, accoridng to separate notifications submitted by the Arif Habib Group and Fatima Fertilizer Company to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday. Once these approvals are granted, the successful bidder will be officially declared, and a Letter of Acceptance will be issued. Read This: PIA sold for Rs 135 billion; Arif Habib group outbids Lucky in open auction The consortium, comprising Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited, The Lake City Holdings (Private) Limited, AKD Group Holdings (Private) Limited, and City
Schools (Private) Limited, is poised to acquire a major stake in PIACL. This marks a significant step towards the privatisation of the national carrier, which has been under financial strain for years. The government’s effort to privatise PIACL aims to revitalise the airline and reduce the financial burden on the national exchequer. The consortium’s offer is considered a crucial development in this ongoing process. The authorities are expected to proceed with the formalities to finalise the deal, contingent on securing necessary regulatory approvals. Due to confidentiality obligations and considerations of national interest, AHL said it shall continue to make timely disclosures of all material and price-sensitive information to the SECP and the PSX, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Meanwhile, the PIA Holding Company Limited said, in a separate notice to the PSX, that a 7.5% (Rs10.125 billion) of the bid amount will be received by the Government of Pakistan through PIAHCL under the set terms of this transaction, whereas the remaining 92.5% (Rs124.875 billion) of the bid amount will be invested in PIACL in form of new equity via ‘Rights Issue’ in two tranches i.e. two-third as upfront payment (Rs83.25 billion) and onethird as the second tranche (Rs41.625 billion) to be invested within 12 months of financial close.
PM hails PIA privatization as landmark ‘national achievement’ CONTINUDED FORM PAGE 01
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday lauded the government team for successfully completing the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), describing it as a landmark achievement in the national interest and a major milestone for Pakistan’s economic reform agenda.Addressing the team involved in the privatization process, the prime minister said that all loss-making State Owned Entities (SOEs) should be divested immediately in a transparent manner to prevent annual losses, with the proceeds directed toward the country’s development and prosperity. He noted that the PIA privatization was concluded a day earlier with full transparency, professionalism, and teamwork. Recalling past attempts, he said several efforts to privatize the airline had failed, including a similar attempt last year, but the government remained committed to moving forward on a fast-track basis despite the complexity and challenges involved. “The process was completed through close coordination, consultation, and teamwork involving legal, financial, and technical experts, as well as relevant
ministries,” the prime minister said. He added that earlier this month, he personally met potential bidders to address their concerns, and with their consent, December 23 was fixed as the date for divestment. He explained that the bidding mechanism was finalised through mutual consultation to ensure complete transparency. The cabinet committee had approved a reference price of Rs 100 billion, while the bidding process — broadcast live — concluded at Rs 135 billion. Including the remaining 25 percent government shareholding, the total valuation reached Rs 180 billion. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government had learned from past failures and ensured no mistakes were repeated, stressing that the entire process was conducted with utmost professionalism. Congratulating the nation, he said the successful conclusion was made possible with the prayers and support of the people. He expressed confidence that the new management would bring fresh investment, modern equipment, and new aircraft, enabling PIA to grow further in the coming days. He also congratulated the investors who acquired the airline.
KP calls for revised NFC award to address fiscal issues of former FATA merger g
SUB-GROUP FORMED TO FINALIZE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEXT NFC AWARD BY JANUARY 2026 PROFIT
staff report
Pakistan’s trade gap with neighboring countries widens by 39% to $6.22b in 5MFY26 as exports nosedive PROFIT
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Arif Habib-led consortium awaits federal cabinet approval after winning PIACL bid g
NEWS 03
A sub-group of the National Finance Commission (NFC) met on Tuesday to begin crafting recommendations for the next NFC award, focusing on fiscal issues arising from the merger of former FATA, now the Newly Merged Districts (NMDs), into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), according to a news report. The meeting, convened at the request of the KP government, was chaired by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and attended by provincial secretaries, the federal finance secretary, and NFC members. The sub-group aims to expedite consensus on unresolved fiscal matters, with the goal of finalizing its
recommendations for the NFC by mid-January 2026. During the meeting, the KP government reiterated its position that the existing NFC award should be updated to reflect constitutional changes following the merger of former FATA with KP. KP proposed that the merged districts be treated as a separate component in future NFC awards, with their share in the federal divisible pool calculated independently based on population, poverty, and other development indicators. The province emphasized that this would align federal resource distribution with the Ten-Year Development Plan for the integration of the former FATA. KP also called for an upward revision of its share in the divisible
pool, factoring in the population, poverty levels, and socio-economic indicators of the merged districts. Additionally, the province demanded compensation for the period from 2019-20 to 2025-26, during which the financial share of the merged districts was not fully included in NFC allocations. As part of the discussions, KP proposed the creation of a special 10-year grant from the federal divisible pool to address “historical development deficits” in the merged districts. The grant is intended to bring the region up to the same development standards as the rest of KP and the country. The sub-group is expected to continue discussions in future meetings as it works towards achieving consensus on these fiscal matters.
Pakistan’s exports to China fall 6.84% to $982.98 million, Afghanistan drop 94.72% to $210.56 million; exports to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also decline; imports from neighboring countries surge by 22% to $7.856 billion. Pakistan’s trade deficit with nine neighbouring countries grew by 39.33% to $6.221 billion in the first five months of FY202526, compared to $4.465 billion during the same period last year, according to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan. This sharp increase in the trade gap is largely attributed to a decline in exports to regional countries, particularly China and Afghanistan. Exports to China dropped by 6.84%, amounting to $982.98 million in 5MFY26, while exports to Afghanistan saw an alarming drop of 94.72%, totaling just $210.56 million. The suspension of all trade with Afghanistan, including exports, which began on October 10, 2025, has contributed to this decline. Exports to India did show a small increase, but their overall value remains relatively insignificant. Similarly, exports to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also experienced negative growth during the review period. For FY2025, the overall trade deficit with these countries increased by 29.42%, reaching $12.297 billion compared to $9.502 billion the previous year. On the import side, Pakistan’s imports from neighboring countries surged by 22.06%, totaling $7.856 billion in 5MFY26, up from $6.436 billion in the same period the previous year. Imports from China, which account for a large portion of regional imports, increased by 22.90%, amounting to $7.713 billion in 5MFY26. Imports from India, on the other hand, saw a decrease of 19.11%, dropping to $76.67 million. However, exports to India increased significantly to $2.93 million in 5MFY26.
Customs seizes Rs470 million worth of smuggled goods, including 19 NDP vehicles, 109 kg of hashish
Operations in Peshawar and Khurkhera bust smuggling networks, with Rs 197m in vehicles and Rs 273m in narcotics seized PROFIT
staff report
Customs Enforcement has made significant achievements in curbing smuggling networks and seizing Rs 470 million worth of illegal goods across two major operations in Peshawar and Khurkhera. In Peshawar, 19 non-duty-paid (NDP) vehicles were confiscated in a series of anti-smuggling operations carried out over the past ten days. The seized vehicles, including luxury models such as Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Aqua, Toyota Vitz, Honda Vezel, and Land Rover, have a combined assessed value of Rs. 110 million. These seizures have severely disrupted vehicle smuggling networks in the region. Additionally, Customs Enforcement in Peshawar intercepted smuggled goods worth Rs. 87.66 million. The confiscated items include silver bullion, fabrics, black tea, cigarettes, cigarette paper, medicines, and auto parts, further curbing illicit trade. Meanwhile, at the Khurkhera check post, Customs Enforcement officials seized 109.5 kilograms of hashish, with an estimated international value of Rs. 273 million. The narcotics were discovered hidden in the concealed cavities of a Hino truck, which was stopped based on intelligence from the Chief Collector of Customs Enforcement, Islamabad. The truck used for transporting the drugs is valued at Rs. 15 million. Both the narcotics and the vehicle have been seized, and investigations are ongoing. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling smuggling and narcotics trade, ensuring the protection of national revenue and the safety of society.
04 COMMENT
Education and technology
PIA privatised
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The sale of PIA was the removal of a burden rather than the source of profit
HAT a successful bid was received by the government was not so much a beginning as a relief. After all, the privatization process foundered last year because no one was willing to meet the reserve price. At least this time, not only did two parties bid more than the reserve price, but they then improved on their initial bids, with a final price of Rs 135 billion being settled upon. Hoever, the government will only get a relatively small amount in cash, with the rest promised by the successful bidders in investment in PIA. The raising of the fleet to 55 aircraft is on the cards, which in turn means that there is likely to be some serious competition among the various aircraft manufacturers of the world for at least a share in the pie. That way the deal was structured meant that it was the equivalent of the government giving the airline away for a token payment, with the benefit to it that it will no longer have to bear its losses. The airline may have turned a profit last year for the first time in decades, but that because of the corporate restructuring that removed Rs 850 billion in debt, turning it over to a new holding company, which has not been privatised, and which remains wholly stateowned. In other words, Arif Habib has got PIA free of debt. While has agreed to invest a vast sum in PIA, now that he has control, who is to enforce decisions on the new Board of Directors? It probably will be a relief to know that the government has not just kept debt, but also both exPIA hotels, one in New York, the other in Paris, which can still be sold. It might be remembered that after the collapse of communism, many East German state enterprises were sold for a token one mark. The sale of PIA is not quite that bad, but the same principle applies. The idea is not so much to realise the value of the asset, as to get rid of a burden on the taxpayer. The same principle is likely to apply to the Steel Mill, which is the largest asset the government still has to sell, for that sits on some very valuable land, while the chances of restarting the mill are bleaker than that of keeping PIA in the air.
The more things change…
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OR as long as I can recall, everybody has always been complaining about the falling educational standards. Up until the 1990s, all teachers up to and including the university level taught the old-fashioned way: rare exceptions used hand-drawn transparencies, but chalk-andboard was the norm. The general consensus amongst the students was that the teachers left much to be desired when it came to hard work, fairness and imaginative teaching. The instructors, in turn, had equally unfavourable views of the average student, whom they accused of being lazy, slow and unmotivated. By the start of the new millennium, PowerPoint slides and overhead projectors had all but taken over classrooms the world over. The internet was still a far cry from what it was about to become, but it had come a very long way from the limited collection of mainly static pages at the time of its inception. Teaching material, which, till only a few years ago could only be accessed by buying (or borrowing) hard copies, was now available in the form of PDF files, which were infinitely easier to borrow or steal. But did all this technology raise the general educational standard any? Apparently not, because everybody continued complaining about the sorry state of education.
Arif Nizami (Late)
US-China Technology War: Bad for all
M. A. Niazi
Babar Nizami
Editor Pakistan Today
Editor Profit
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ECHNOLOGY is the application of scientific knowledge in human life to change and manipulate the human environment. Technology encompasses a wide spectrum from AI to advance microchip technology. Emerging technologies are changing almost every aspect of our lives. Contemporarily, the economic growth, military strength and national security of a state relies on technology. A state with advanced technology influences the other states. The USChina rivalry had led to technological sanctions, which started in 2018 and 2019. The USA put sanctions on Chinese companies and Chinese 5G technology. Both are competing in many fields such as artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. The USA has produced ChatGpt while China has introduced Deepseek. Chip war is yet another aspect of the rivalry between the USA and China; the US imports China’s semiconductor chips; however, due to new tariff tension, the USA is looking for other countries. The 21st century has witnessed a technological war between the USA and China, which is shaping the global trade policies. Both countries intend to dominate each other in technology supremacy. Many scholars argue that tech supremacy is defined as the strategic dominance of a nation or entity in emerging technologies that provide economic, military, and geopolitical influence over competitors. Its actions influence global trade agreements, industrial policies, and global supply chains. The USA is imposing sanctions on Chinese companies in order to retain its technological supremacy. Recently, the USA banned Huawei and ZTE companies due to 5G technology. The USA claims that Chinese 5G will compromise their security. Since 2015, China has adopted the policy of made-in-China to reduce dependency on foreign technology. The tech war between the USA and China took place when China’s indigenous moment “Made in China 2025” was initiated. In 2018, the Trump Administration imposed a 25 percent tariff on Chinese imports and in 2019 banned Huawei and ZTE as they advanced 5G technology. Semiconductors are vital to phones, aircraft and weapons, among many other things. Taiwan is the major producer of the semiconductor chips; one of its companies Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited(TSMC) covers around 90% of the cutting-edge semiconductors production. Taiwan has gained supremacy in the chip industry with years of experience. A chip war between China and USA began and both are trying to rout each other’s economy. The Chinese project in the Wuhan
Hongxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (HSMC) had lost billions in chip productivity. In China, the companies such as Huawei, TenCent, and SMIC drive technological development; while in the USA the state led companies and firms such as NVidia, and google are producing chips. The USA aspires to tackle Chinese technological growth by pressurizing ASML, the Dutch maker of EUV lithography machines used for advanced AI chips, to halt exports to Chinese firms. An agreement between the USA and ASML was signed that it will supply a smaller number of machines to China. ASML breached its 2023 agreement with the USA and exported a significant number of EUV machines to China, and since then, US pressurized the company and CEO of ASML and banned it. Later, the company offered to provide insights into China’s AI development in exchange for leniency. In November 2025, the USA administration and federal agencies notified NVidia that it would not be allowed to sell its B30A chip to the Chinese companies. This chip has a capability to train enormous language models which can enhance the output of AI. The USA seeks to maintain its technological supremacy by employing various measures, including supply chain blockades,
Editor’s mail
restrictions, bans, and tariffs, to hinder China’s technological advancement. The world has been split into two blocs, American tech bloc and China tech bloc. European States are in a state of doubt where to join either the USA’s or China’s bloc. Joining either bloc will have economic sanctions and consequences from both sides. China has been blamed by various European countries for violating the intellectual rights of advanced countries for supplying cheaper products. The technology war between the USA and China has long consequences for the entire world. The USA is a superpower while China is an emerging superpower in global trade. The way forward lies in practical measures: both states must enhance cooperation and mutually benefit from shared technological progress; excessive tariffs should be removed to stabilize global trade; supply chain blockades must end; and intellectual property rights should be protected with strict penalties for violations. Only through such cooperation can sustainable technological growth and economic stability be achieved.
The writer is research intern at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. He can be reached at mmahad.ali2005@gmail.com
The technology war between the USA and China has long consequences for the entire world. The USA is a superpower while China is an emerging superpower in global trade. The way forward lies in practical measures: both states must enhance cooperation and mutually benefit from shared technological progress; excessive tariffs should be removed to stabilize global trade; supply chain blockades must end; and intellectual property rights should be protected with strict penalties for violations.
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
The author is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
The world had been split into two blocs
MuHAMMAD ZAHiD RiFAT
both ways. Each new tool (no matter how useful) inevitably brings its own set of problems as well. A cell phone places terabytes of information at one’s fingertips, but it is also the gateway to more forms of distractions than one cares to count. GenAI offers great promise when it comes to eliminating the more tedious and mechanical tasks from education, but it is equally tempting for the user to utilize it as a black box without knowing what he is doing. So, while education (like anything else) cannot and should not be divorced from technology in any given age, it is important to realize that in the final analysis it is the human being that learns (or fails to do so). No technological revolution is ever going to change that. Professor Asimov was spot on when he said that self-education is the only type of education there is. Because after all is said and done, it is the student teaching himself that really counts. All the rest of the ingredients, some of which are no doubt of immense value, are replaceable. Which is not to say that teachers do not have a role to play here. They have; and a big one at that. They make a world of difference by making the subject interesting for their students. (At the very least, they can ensure that they do not make it boring or any more difficult than it needs to be.) They contribute significantly by making sure that the beginner does not take up too much of the subject matter too soon, and by cheering him on when he does well. But the point is this: Not even the best of the teachers can teach somebody who cannot keep himself motivated enough. Sustained motivation, being intimately linked with continuity of purpose, is a subject that demands much more than the few words for which we have space left. Suffice it to say here that it is rarely achieved by those who are content to learn passively. Being creative– that is, continually and proactively applying to real or imaginary scenarios whatever is being learned– is probably how motivation is most reliably sustained.
Sustained motivation, being intimately linked with continuity of purpose, is a subject that demands much more than the few words for which we have space left. Suffice it to say here that it is rarely achieved by those who are content to learn passively.
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami Founding Editor
HASAN AFTAB SAEED
By 2010, YouTube and OCWs had been so developed that there was no subject under the sun that somebody or the other was not hell bent on teaching free of cost. In fact, in most cases it was an embarrassment of riches because there were more options available than anybody knew what to do about. The choice ranged from the very basic stuff to advanced levels and everything in-between, from short to long videos, and from one-off lectures to multiple-part playlists. One was free to consume at a go as much as one wanted, and (even more conveniently) when one wanted. Not only was this convenience unprecedented, but nobody had imagined anything like it before it suddenly became a reality. Unfortunately, this easy access to free learning material also failed to meet the expectations in terms of results. Everybody still kept complaining. The more things had changed, the more they seemed to have remained the same. In fact, not a few argued that matters had gone from bad to worse. Technology was not quite done yet, for the next educational ‘revolution’ was just around the corner. The last five years have seen Artificial Intelligence, especially Generative AI, really coming into its own. This technology is available to everybody. Now everything is only a good prompt away. Any remnants of obstacles in the way of learning are a thing of the past, or so it seems. Learning has never been as easy as it is today. But the parents and the teachers are still not happy with the general state of education. And students continue finding it hard to excel in their studies. Of course, there are those who make the most of any new technology that comes their way. They have always been there. Like always, they represent a small minority today. For all one knows, the ‘next big thing’ in education could make its appearance tomorrow. If the past is any indicator however, it would probably be wise not to expect too much from it in terms of transforming the educational landscape. That said, it is neither wise, nor in fact possible, to resist technology. Each generation must make the best use of the technology available to it. But it is very easy to lose sight of the fact that new technologies offer nothing more than new tools. Now, the thing with tools is that they work
Thursday, 25 December, 2025
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Fake surgeries in Lahore
ABOUT five months ago, my wife consulted a gynecologist at a leading private-sector tertiary care hospital in Lahore. She was prescribed some medication, but it was made clear to her that surgery would be the best solution in her case. Subsequently, my wife was admitted for laparoscopic fibroid removal for which we were charged Rs475,987, which included three visits by the consulting doctor, although only one post-surgery visit had been conducted. Before the surgery, an ultrasound was performed, and we were assured that once the fibroids were removed, the prescribed medication would no longer be required. However, after the surgery, the same medication was again advised, directly contradicting earlier assurances. Besides, my wife continued to experience the same complaints that she had before the surgery. I inquired if a new ultrasound was necessary, and the doctor dismissed the question right away. Concerned, we independently obtained an ultrasound from the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, which clearly showed that the fibroids were still there. We then obtained another ultrasound report from another large private-sector health facility, which also confirmed the continued presence of fibroids. With two independent reports from different hospitals, it is quite clear that the surgery was either incomplete or falsely represented. Instead of addressing the issue, we were again prescribed hormonal medication for the next four months, which appears to be a tactic to delay accountability and avoid patient confrontation. The situation raises grave concerns about patient safety and ethical medical practice, financial exploitation, and misre-presentation of medical procedures and outcomes. The matter deserves a thorough and impartial investigation. This is not a financial dispute. It is a matter of medical ethics, patient trust and safety. SARFARAZ MEHMOOD LAHORE
Indian media fuels fear
IN the tense hours after the recent bomb blast near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi, the world needed calm and fact-based reporting. Instead, as expected, primetime coverage by Indian media projected an openly aggressive, right-wing ideological line that heightened communal anxieties. The Indian media promoted a narrative that placed India’s Muslims under sweeping suspicion, while urging the state to adopt harsher measures aimed at deepening the already existing social divisions rather than resolving them. This approach amplified the dangerous political message that national security requires collective blame and uncompromising force. By invoking comparisons with Israel’s policies towards Palestine, the rhetoric signalled a vision of governance rooted in confrontation rather than coexistence. Such framing tends to push both Hindus and Muslims into increasingly polarised positions, leaving little room for reasoned dialogue or shared grief in the aftermath of the tragedy. At a time when unbiased, responsible and professional journalism should ease tensions, this style of coverage risks turning national sorrow into communal hostility. The power of the media in shaping public mood makes such rhetoric especially perilous in a diverse society. We must remember Oscar Wilde’s words: “By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.” The reminder is timely: crises demand restraint, not provocation. India’s diverse society requires careful, responsible journalism that prioritises facts over frenzy. Tragedies demand unity, not amplified hostility. As the investigation into the said blast continues, it is essential that media plat-forms in India refrain from casting all Muslims under a cloud of suspicion, and resist the growing temptation to exploit national trauma for nefarious ideological gains. The need for calm, balanced media reporting has never been more urgent. GHULAM HUSSAIN JAFFARABAD
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COMMENT 05
Trump Doles Out Syria’s Golan Heights to Israel
Thursday, 25 December, 2025
The price is blind backing
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Qamar bashIr
URING a White House Hanukkah celebration on December 16, President Donald Trump made a startling declaration about the Golan Heights, openly revisiting his 2019 decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over territory internationally acknowledged as Syrian land occupied by Israel during the 1967 war. Trump boasted that no previous American president had dared take such a step, portraying his action as bold, swift, and unconstrained by diplomatic caution. He framed the recognition not as a complex legal judgment but as an act of personal resolve, reducing decades of international dispute to a matter he claimed required only minutes to decide. Trump described the decision making process with casual bravado, saying he asked then United States Ambassador to Israel David Friedman to explain the importance of the Golan Heights in five minutes or less. According to Trump, he interrupted after barely two minutes, declared that he understood everything necessary, and proceeded to approve recognition immediately. He joked that the land was worth trillions of dollars and remarked that he should have asked Israel for something in return. The remarks transformed a grave issue of sovereignty, occupation, and war into an anecdote of impulsive executive authority with profound geopolitical consequences worldwide today. Trump used the occasion to reaffirm his broader alignment with Israel and the Jewish community, listing what he described as historic achievements of his presidency. He cited moving the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, backing the Abraham Accords, and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated under President Barack Obama. According to Trump, that deal endangered regional security rather than containing Iran. He framed each policy as evidence of loyalty, friend-
ship, and moral clarity, repeatedly portraying himself as the most reliable ally Israel has ever had in Washington during modern US political history. He also spoke at length about his personal connections with Jewish Americans, recalling childhood interactions through his father and emphasizing long standing familiarity rather than political calculation. He referenced his daughter Ivanka Trump’s conversion to Judaism after marrying Jared Kushner as further proof of closeness, though he avoided addressing persistent rumours about his own religious affiliation. These remarks blended personal narrative with state policy, reinforcing the impression that national decisions affecting millions were shaped through intimacy, sentiment, and loyalty rather than institutional deliberation or international legal frameworks governing norms, accountability, restraint, balance, precedent, credibility, neutrality, consistency, legitimacy, stability, justice globally. The most revealing segment of Trump’s speech came when he warned that Congress and the Senate were becoming increasingly antisemitic, claiming that traditional pro-Israel influence in Washington was fading. He described this shift as dangerous and urged greater vigilance from supporters. The statement was remarkable, amounting to a rare acknowledgment that even within US political institutions discomfort with Israel’s conduct was growing. Yet the warning also functioned as pressure, implying that loyalty to Israel should remain a litmus test for legitimacy within US politics despite constitutional pluralism, debate, dissent, oversight, accountability, ethics, law, values, representation, balance, restraint, democracy. Despite Trump’s claims of declining support, Israel continues to enjoy unparalleled diplomatic, military, and financial backing from the USA. Washington has repeatedly used its veto power at the United Nations to shield Israel from accountability, even when resolutions condemning occupa-
tion or settlement expansion enjoy overwhelming global support. This posture places the USA above the rules it demands others obey, undermining the credibility of the international system it helped construct. Trump’s rhetoric thus exposed a contradiction between professed grievance and actual power exercised globally, institutionally, strategically, consistently, decisively, coercively, selectively, visibly, persistently, controversially, openly, repeatedly, internationally, historically, forcefully today. Trump’s conduct cannot be examined in isolation from regional realities. Several Muslim majority states have normalized relations with Israel, expanded trade, and entered energy partnerships even as Gaza suffers devastation. Egypt’s multibillion dollar gas agreements with Israel inject revenue into the Israeli economy during ongoing military campaigns. These arrangements are celebrated publicly, while Palestinian suffering continues largely unchecked. Such actions weaken moral criticism of Washington, revealing a regional order where economic interests and regime security override solidarity with Palestine principles, law, justice, humanity, ethics, responsibility, restraint, accountability, credibility, consistency, conscience, leadership, courage, unity, vision, balance, resolve, purpose, fairness, legitimacy, peace. Reports of military logistics and arms transfers passing through or involving regional actors have further deepened perceptions of complicity. Whether fully substantiated or not, these allegations reinforce a widespread belief that Palestinian blood is discounted in exchange for alliances and profits. In such a context, outrage directed solely at Trump or the United States appears selective and incomplete. Power is sustained not only by those who wield it, but also by those who enable it through silence, cooperation, and convenience across borders, systems, institutions, markets, governments, cultures, alliances, blocs, regions, conflicts, wars, crises, decades, generations,
history, memory, politics, morality globally. Trump’s long promised Middle East peace initiative has effectively collapsed. The proposed international mechanisms to stabilize Gaza were never implemented, ceasefire enforcement remained absent, and settlement expansion continued unabated. Gaza remains devastated, its civilian population displaced and deprived, while accountability mechanisms remain paralyzed. The peace plan functioned less as a pathway to justice than as a political diversion, shifting attention while irreversible facts were imposed on the ground with minimal resistance from global media, institutions, publics, diplomacy, negotiations, law, norms, enforcement, conscience, outrage, empathy, solidarity, responsibility, leadership, resolve, courage, action, urgency, intervention, accountability, fairness, balance, restraint, morality, humanity, peace, justice. In this light, Trump’s Hanukkah speech read less as celebration than confession. It revealed a worldview where power over-
Until regional actors withdraw complicity and demand accountability consistently, Palestine will remain abandoned, international law weakened, and power unrestrained. Moral authority cannot be outsourced; it must be practiced through courage, sacrifice, and principled consistency rooted in justice, dignity, humanity, solidarity, responsibility, leadership, restraint, ethics, law, balance, fairness, credibility, legitimacy, peace, stability universally.
rides principle, alliances eclipse law, and suffering becomes collateral. It also exposed the shared responsibility of Western governments and Muslim states that have tolerated, financed, or normalized this order. Condemning Trump alone is therefore insufficient. He acted openly, but he was enabled by a broader system unwilling to enforce its own rules or defend a truly universal standard of justice grounded in law, equality, sovereignty, dignity, humanity, restraint, accountability, consistency, legitimacy, balance, peace, order, ethics, norms, responsibility, credibility, fairness, stability, conscience globally. If peace and justice are to mean anything, the Muslim world must confront its own contradictions. It cannot decry occupation while financing its beneficiary, nor invoke international law selectively. Trump’s words should be read as a mirror, reflecting the erosion of norms and collective failure to resist it. Until regional actors withdraw complicity and demand accountability consistently, Palestine will remain abandoned, international law weakened, and power unrestrained. Moral authority cannot be outsourced; it must be practiced through courage, sacrifice, and principled consistency rooted in justice, dignity, humanity, solidarity, responsibility, leadership, restraint, ethics, law, balance, fairness, credibility, legitimacy, peace, stability universally.
The writer retired as Press Secretary the President, and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France and former MD, Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited
Asia’s rise and Europe’s structural decline
Christmas is not a Western story – it is a Palestinian one
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CHINA DAILY
Djoomart otorbaev
HE global economic balance of power has transformed in the past two decades. Once dominated by the West, the world economy is now being reshaped by Asia, especially by China. A 2025 ranking of the world’s 30 largest economies shows that China’s labor productivity, measured as GDP per hour worked, soared by about 170 percent from $11 in 2005 to $30 in 2024. This spectacular performance far exceeds the improvements recorded by major economies during that period. China’s ascent is in stark contrast to the stagnation in many European economies during the same period. According to the same 2025 ranking, the labor productivity was barely noticeable in several Western economies. Italy recorded a 2 percent rise, the United Kingdom roughly 10 percent growth, and France and Norway around 14 percent. Such modest increases over 20 years reflect structural inertia rather than cyclical downturns. Broadly speaking, productivity growth has remained weak across Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development economies. In 2024, productivity across OECD countries (excluding Turkiye) grew by an average of about 0.6 percent, with Europe underperforming and the eurozone registering a weak recovery. This year’s underperformance underscores that the European slowdown is deep-rooted and continues to weigh on structural competitiveness. The divergence between Asia and Europe is not merely statistical noise but a signal of the systemic differences in development strategies, economic structures and long-term commitments. Asia’s surge in productivity is underpinned by sustained high investment rates, often reaching 30-40 percent of the GDP in many countries, which enable modernization of the infrastructure and industrial capacity. Also, many Asian economies are not burdened with outdated industrial legacy because they built modern, efficient production systems from scratch. They integrated into global value chains, enabling technology transfer, managerial know-how, competitiveness pressure and rapid quality improvements. Massive urbanization throughout Asia has shifted labor from low-productivity agriculture to manufacturing and services, significantly raising the average output per hour. Equally important has been the policy consistency in Asian countries: long-term industrial strategies fo-
cused on education, export competitiveness and technological upgrading. In China, for instance, the combination of a vast labor force, deep capital investment, expansion into high-tech sectors and modern logistics and infrastructure networks created a uniquely favorable environment for a productivity revolution. European economies, by contrast, appear fatigued. After the global financial crisis of 2008, investment slowed, risk appetite declined, and many countries entered a prolonged phase of underinvestment. Labor markets were affected by demographic decline, aging populations, shrinking workforces, and rising social expenditures. High energy costs, elevated input prices, regulatory burdens, rigid labor policies, and high taxation have undermined competitiveness, dampening incentives to modernize production or shift toward high-value-added sectors. Crucially, much of Europe’s catch-up advantage — the gains from decades of industrial modernization and technological imitation — has already been exhausted. What remains is the far more challenging task: generating productivity gains through genuine innovation. Asia’s success is not about low wages or temporary advantages; it stems from durable structural strengths. Labor productivity in Asia has risen through genuine increases in output per hour, not simply by extending working hours or inflating employment statistics. Furthermore, urbanization and the reallocation of labor from agriculture to industry and services dramatically increased average productivity per worker. Combined with high rates of fixed-asset investment and policy stability, these conditions provide a robust foundation for continued progress — far beyond what Europe currently exhibits. China’s role stands out because of both its scale and ambition. With hundreds of millions of workers, aggressive capital deepening, rapidly growing high-tech manufacturing, expanding infrastructure networks, and a steadily improving skill base, China is no longer just catching up. In many sectors, it is setting global standards. Europe’s decades of relative economic dominance are being challenged not by cyclical downturns, but by structural decay. In a global environment where productivity increasingly determines economic relevance, geopolitical influence, and long-term prosperity, the center of gravity of the world economy is shifting decidedly eastward. From electric vehicles and industrial robotics to digital payments and 5G infrastructure, China is moving from imitation to innovation. In sum, the data leave no room for doubt: Asia — spearheaded by China -has become the world’s productivity growth engine. The gap between Asia and Europe is not narrowing; in many areas, it is widening. Unless European economies adopt radical reforms — including renewed investment, deregulation, competitiveness incentives, technological ambition, and a coherent long-term industrial strategy — they risk remaining permanently on the wrong side of a productivity divide whose consequences are only beginning to unfold.
AL JAZEERA
rev Dr munther Isaac
VERY December, much of the Christian world enters a familiar cycle of celebration: carols, lights, decorated trees, consumer frenzy and the warm imagery of a snowy night. In the United States and Europe, public discourse often speaks of “Western Christian values”, or even the vague notion of “Judeo-Christian civilisation”. These phrases have become so common that many assume, almost automatically, that Christianity is inherently a Western religion — an expression of European culture, history and identity. It is not. Christianity is, and has always been, a West Asian / Middle Eastern religion. Its geography, culture, worldview and founding stories are rooted in this land — among peoples, languages and social structures that look far more like those in today’s Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan than anything imagined in Europe. Even Judaism, invoked in the term “Judeo-Christian values”, is itself a thoroughly Middle Eastern phenomenon. The West received Christianity — it certainly did not give birth to it. And perhaps nothing reveals the distance between Christianity’s origins and its contemporary Western expression more starkly than Christmas — the birth story of a Palestinian Jew, a child of this land who was born long before modern borders and identities emerged.
WHAT THE WEST MADE OF CHRISTMAS: In the West, Christmas is a cultural marketplace. It is commercialised, romanticised and wrapped in layers of sentimentality. Lavish gift-giving overshadows any concern for the poor. The season has become a performance of abundance, nostalgia, and consumerism — a holiday stripped of its theological and moral core. Even the familiar lines of the Christmas song Silent Night obscure the true nature of the story: Jesus was not born into serenity but into upheaval. He
was born under military occupation, to a family displaced by an imperial decree, in a region living under the shadow of violence. The holy family were forced to flee as refugees because the infants of Bethlehem, according to the Gospel narrative, were massacred by a fearful tyrant determined to preserve his reign. Sound familiar? Indeed, Christmas is a story of empire, injustice and the vulnerability of ordinary people caught in its path.
BETHLEHEM: IMAGINATION VS REALITY: For many in the West, Bethlehem – the birthplace of Jesus – is a place of imagination — a postcard from antiquity, frozen in time. The “little town” is remembered as a quaint village from scripture rather than a living, breathing city with actual people, with a distinct history and culture. Bethlehem today is surrounded by walls and checkpoints built by an occupier. Its residents live under a system of apartheid and fragmentation. Many feel cut off, not only from Jerusalem – which the occupier does not allow them to visit – but also from the global Christian imagination that venerates Bethlehem’s past while often ignoring its present. This sentiment also explains why so many in the West, while celebrating Christmas, care little about the Christians of Bethlehem. Even worse, many embrace theologies and political attitudes that erase or dismiss our presence entirely in order to support Israel, the empire of today. In these frameworks, ancient Bethlehem is cherished as a sacred idea, but modern Bethlehem — with its Palestinian Christians suffering and struggling to survive — is an inconvenient reality that needs to be ignored. This disconnect matters. When Western Christians forget that Bethlehem is real, they disconnect from their spiritual roots. And when they forget that Bethlehem is real, they also forget that the story of Christmas is real.
WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS FOR BETHLEHEM: So what does Christmas look like when told from the perspective of the people who still live where it all began — the Palestinian Christians? What meaning does it hold for a tiny community that has preserved its faith for two millennia? At its heart, Christmas is the story of the solidarity of God. It is the story of God who does not rule from afar, but is present among the people and takes the side of those on the margins. The incarnation — the belief that God took on flesh — is not a metaphysical abstraction. It is a radical statement about where God chooses to dwell:
in vulnerability, in poverty, among the occupied, among those with no power except the power of hope. In the Bethlehem story, God identifies not with emperors but with those suffering under empire — its victims. God comes not as a warrior but as an infant. God is present not in a palace but in a manger. This is divine solidarity in its most striking form: God joins the most vulnerable part of humanity. Christmas, then, is the proclamation of a God who confronts the logic of empire. For Palestinians today, this is not merely theology — it is lived experience. When we read the Christmas story, we recognise our own world: the census that forced Mary and Joseph to travel resembles the permits, checkpoints and bureaucratic controls that shape our daily lives today. The holy family’s flight resonates with the millions of refugees who have fled wars across our region. Herod’s violence echoes in the violence we see around us. Christmas is a Palestinian story par excellence.
A MESSAGE TO THE WORLD: Bethlehem celebrates Christmas for the first time after two years without public festivities. It was painful yet necessary for us to cancel our celebrations; we had no choice. A genocide was unfolding in Gaza, and as people who still live in the homeland of Christmas, we could not pretend otherwise. We could not celebrate the birth of Jesus while children his age were being pulled dead from the rubble. Celebrating this season does not mean the war, the genocide, or the structures of apartheid have ended. People are still being killed. We are still besieged. Instead, our celebration is an act of resilience — a declaration that we are still here, that Bethlehem remains the capital of Christmas, and that the story this town tells must continue. At a time when Western political discourse increasingly weaponises Christianity as a marker of cultural identity — often excluding the very people among whom Christianity was born — it is vital to return to the roots of this story. This Christmas, our invitation to the global church — and to Western Christians in particular — is to remember where the story began. To remember Bethlehem is to remember that God stands with the oppressed — and that the followers of Jesus are called to do the same.
Rev Dr Munther Isaac is a Palestinian pastor and theologian. He pastors Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ramallah and is director of the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice.
06 NEWS
Thursday, 25 December 2025 | ISLAMABAD
ZELENSKY REVEALS US-UKRAINE PLAN TO END RUSSIAN WAR
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KYIV
agenCieS
KRAINE won some concessions in the latest version of a US-led draft plan to end the Russian invasion, revealed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, though key questions remain over territory and whether Moscow could accept the new terms. The 20-point plan, agreed on by US and Ukrainian negotiators, was being reviewed by Moscow, but the Kremlin is unlikely to abandon its hardline territorial demands for full Ukrainian withdrawal from the east. Zelensky conceded there are some points in the document that he does not like, but Kyiv has succeeded in removing immediate requirements for Ukraine to withdraw from the Donetsk region or that land seized by Moscow’s army would be recognised as Russian. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian leader still indicated the proposal would pave the way for Kyiv to pull some troops back, including from the 20 percent of the Donetsk region that it controls, where demilitarised zones would be established. It also got rid of demands that Kyiv must legally renounce its bid for Nato membership. Zelensky presented the plan during a two-hour briefing with journalists, reading from a highlighted and annotated version. “In the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia,
and Kherson regions, the line of troop deployment as of the date of this agreement is de facto recognised as the line of contact,” Zelensky said of the latest version. “A working group will convene to determine the redeployment of forces necessary to end the conflict, as well as to define the parameters of potential future special economic zones,” he added. This appears to suggest the plan opens the way for, but delays, options that Ukraine was previously reluctant to consider — a withdrawal of troops and the creation of demilitarised zones. “We are in a situation where the Russians want us to withdraw from the Donetsk region, while the Americans are trying to find a way,” Zelensky said. “They are looking for a demilitarised zone or a free economic zone, meaning a format that could satisfy both sides,” he continued. NATO, LAND, NUCLEAR PLANT US President Trump is trying to broker an to end the four-year war, triggered by Russia’s 2022 invasion. Tens of thousands have been killed, eastern Ukraine decimated, and millions forced to flee their homes. Russian troops are advancing on the front and hammering cities and Ukraine’s energy grid with nightly missile and drone barrages. The defence ministry on Wednesday said it had captured another Ukrainian settlement in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Moscow
in 2022 claimed to have annexed four Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, and Zaporizhzhia — in addition to the Crimean peninsula, which it seized in 2014. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to compromise, doubling down on his hardline demands for a sweeping Ukrainian withdrawal and a string of political concessions that Kyiv and its European backers have previously cast as capitulation. Any plan that involves Ukraine pulling back its troops would need to pass a referendum in Ukraine, Zelensky said. “A free economic zone. If we are discussing this, then we need to go to a referendum,” Zelensky said, referring to plans to designate areas Ukraine pulls out from as a demilitarised free trade zone. On Nato, Zelensky said: “It is the choice of Nato members whether to have Ukraine or not. Our choice has been made. We moved away from the proposed changes to the Constitution of Ukraine that would have prohibited Ukraine from joining Nato.” Nevertheless, the prospects of Ukraine being admitted to the bloc appear slim-tonone, as it has been ruled out by Washington. Moscow has repeatedly said Nato membership for Ukraine is unacceptable, presenting it as one of the reasons it invaded in the first place. The plan sees joint USUkrainian-Russian management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, occupied by Russian troops. Zelensky said he does not
Ukraine retreats from Siversk
Ukraine pulled out troops from a town in the east after fierce battles, it said on Tuesday, as relentless Russian strikes killed three civilians and cut power to thousands in freezing winter temperatures. Kyiv had to withdraw forces from Siversk, a town in the heavily embattled Donetsk region on the way to two last strongholds held by Ukraine. Russia announced the capture of Siversk almost two weeks ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the pre-Christmas strikes showed that the Kremlin had no intention of ending the invasion it launched in February 2022. The attacks also came two days after US-mediated settlement talks in Miami,
which lasted for a few days as the warring sides were working out details of the Washington-proposed plan to end the war. There has been no sign of an imminent breakthrough in the diplomatic push. The Ukrainian army said that “to preserve the lives of our soldiers and the combat capability of our units, Ukrainian defenders have withdrawn from the settlement” of Siversk, adding that fighting was still ongoing on the outskirts. Moscow on Monday reported “slow progress” in talks over the US plan to end the war, as Kyiv and its European allies seek to adjust an initial proposal that adhered to many of Russia’s hardline demands. A Russian strike could collapse the internal radiation shelter at the defunct Chernobyl nuclear power station in Ukraine, the plant’s director has told AFP.
want any Russian oversight of the facility. He also said Ukraine would hold presidential elections only after an agreement is signed — something both Putin and Trump have been pushing for. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Moscow was “formulating its position” and declined to comment on the specifics of the latest plan.
Russian officials have repeatedly criticised European and Ukrainian efforts to amend an original US plan that enshrined many of its demands. Direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators earlier this year in Istanbul failed to break the deadlock and despite the flurry of diplomacy, the positions of the two countries appear to still be far apart.
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Indian BSF kills two Bangladeshi youth, diplomatic row escalates DHAKA
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Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel killed two Bangladeshi youth, including a teenager, near a border village in Bangladesh. The victims have been identified as Ashikur, 19, and Moshahid, 22, residents of Turung village, who were reportedly collecting betel nuts near the Sylhet border area when they were shot by BSF personnel. Shafiqul Islam, officer-incharge of Companiganj Police Station, confirmed the deaths to media. Meanwhile, an Indian BSF man, Bipin Kumar, 35, of the 97th Battalion, was injured during a separate firing incident in Maheshpur area of Tripura’s North. The incident has further strained already tense diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh, with authorities in Dhaka demanding a thorough investigation and immediate accountability.
Islamic scholar shuts down Javed Akhtar in heated debate on the existence of Allah, video goes viral INDIA
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China opposes US arbitrary tariff levies, suppression of industries BEIJING
Staff CorreSpondent
China is firmly opposed to the U.S. arbitrary levy of tariffs to hold back Chinese industries groundlessly, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday at a regular press briefing. Lin Jian made the remarks after the United States announced plans to impose tariffs on China’s semiconductor industry, set to take effect in 2027. “What the U.S. has done will disrupt the stability of global production and supply chains and impede the development of semiconductor industries of all countries. This will not only boomerang on itself but also bring harm to others,” he said. China urged the U.S. to correct its wrongdoing as soon as possible, follow the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, address their respective concerns through dialogue, and properly manage differences on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit to maintain the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, Lin noted. “If the U.S. keeps refusing to change course, China will resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests,” Lin added.
In a recent public debate, an Indian Islamic scholar reportedly shut down renowned poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar during a discussion on the existence of Allah, leading to a wave of applause from the audience. The debate, which took place in front of a diverse crowd, centered on the contrasting views of faith, spirituality, and religious beliefs. Akhtar, known for his outspoken views on religion and secularism, engaged in a fiery exchange with the scholar, who defended the Islamic perspective on the existence of Allah. The discussion quickly became intense as the scholar presented strong arguments rooted in Islamic teachings, challenging Akhtar’s secular approach and his questioning of religious beliefs.
Thursday, 25 December 2025 | ISLAMABAD
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CM MARYAM HAILS SIKH COMMUNITY, UNDERSCORES PUNJAB’S INTERFAITH HARMONY
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PEC Chairman presents ‘Three National Codes’ to the Secretary Science & Technology during launching ceremony in Islamabad. pr
Investor confidence on the rise as CBD Punjab concludes another successful auction
LAHORE
Staff report
The Punjab Central Business District Development Authourity (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab), has demonstrated strong investor confidence by successfully conducting another high-value commercial auction in Lahore Downtown. The auction of a 4.56-kanal mixed-use commercial plot marks yet another milestone in CBD Punjab’s ongoing efforts to accelerate economic growth and promote planned urban development in Punjab.The auction was conducted in a transparent and competitive manner, attracting participation from the private sector. The process was chaired by Chief Operating Officer CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua, ensuring strict adherence to merit and regulatory standards.Following a transparent process, Atlas Engineering Private Limited emerged as the highest bidder, securing the premium plot at a rate of Rs 301 million per kanal, reflecting growing commercial value and strategic importance of Lahore Downtown as a prime investment destination in CBD Punjab. The successful bid underscores the private sector’s trust in CBD Punjab’s vision, planning standards and delivery capacity.
KU, JI administered eight towns sign MoU to improve student transport facilities
KARACHI
Staff report
An important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the University of Karachi and eight towns administered by Jamaat-eIslami to enhance transport facilities for students. The signing ceremony took place at the KU’s Vice Chancellor Secretariat on Wednesday.The MoU aims to restore and improve eight KU point buses, thereby ensuring safe and efficient travel facilities for students.The agreement was signed by the KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, along with chairmen of various Jamaat-e-Islami administrated town municipal corporations. Signatories included the Chairman Gulberg Town Nusratullah, the Chairman North Nazimabad Atif Ali Khan, the Chairman Liaquatabad Faraz Haseeb, the Chairman Model Colony Zafar Ahmed, the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town Fawad Ahmed, the Chairman New Karachi Muhammad Yousuf, and the Chairman Jinnah East Rizwan Abdul Salam.As per the MoU, each town will, at its own expense, repair, restore, and hand over one point bus to the University of Karachi in fully operational condition. This initiative is intended to provide students with safer, more convenient, and reliable transport facilities. The chairmen expressed that they would try to adopt and repair more buses in the next fiscal year, too.
PBA: Banks drive economic revival with Rs1.5tr private sector lending as agri disbursements jump 16% KARACHI
Staff report
The Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) today highlighted the banking sector’s robust contribution to Pakistan’s ongoing economic revival, citing a record surge in private sector credit during the current financial year.Commercial banks have extended approximately Rs 1.5 trillion in financing to the private sector in FY26, a surge in liquidity that is driving 8.33% growth in Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM), validating the sector’s pivotal role in supporting industrial output and job creation.“The latest data demonstrates a clear fundamental economic reality: when government borrowing moderates, banks immediately and effectively deploy capital into business, industry, and agriculture,” said Zafar Masud, Chairman, PBA.
‘SIKHS OF AMERICA’ DELEGATION PRAISES SIKH MARRIAGE ACT AND CULTURAL REVIVAL IN PUNJAB LAHORE
Staff report
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday warmly welcomed a sevenmember delegation of “Sikhs of America,” led by its Founding Chairman Chand Hoque, highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to interfaith harmony, minority rights, and the promotion of religious tourism. During the meeting, the Chief Minister addressed the delegation in Punjabi, emphasizing cultural affinity and shared heritage. The Sikh leaders lauded Punjab’s public welfare initiatives and recognized the government’s efforts to protect minority communities, including the historic implementation of the Sikh Marriage Act in the province. They also appreciated the peaceful organization of Christmas celebrations, the revival of the Punjabi language, and the installation of Punjabi signboards. CM Maryam Nawaz described meeting Sikh brothers from the United States as a source of great pleasure and an honor.
She thanked the Sikh community worldwide for their enduring love and respect for Punjab and Pakistan. Highlighting the deep emotional attachment of Sikhs to sacred sites in Punjab, she emphasized the community’s unbreakable bond with Pakistan and acknowledged their longstanding goodwill in promoting coexistence and harmony. Recalling her visit to Gurdwara Kartarpur on Baisakhi, the Chief Minister expressed
gratitude to the Sikh community. She said that Gurdwara Kartarpur represents Pakistan’s undeniable message of peace to the world. The Chief Minister announced that construction, renovation, and restoration work on 56 historic Gurdwaras across Punjab would be completed soon, and that ongoing repair and maintenance work is progressing rapidly to ensure convenience for pilgrims. CM Maryam Nawaz also highlighted
Minorities hold a special place in heart of Punjab CM: Azma Bokhari LAHORE
Staff report
A grand ceremony was held at Alhamra Arts Council to celebrate Christmas, with Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Punjab, Azma Bokhari, attending as the chief guest. Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Punjab, Shazia Rizwan, Alhamra Chairman Razi Ahmed, and Executive Director Mohammad Nawaz Gondal were also present on the occasion. The Informer minister met with Christian employees and extended warm Christmas greetings. She announced, on behalf of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, a bonus equivalent to one month’s salary for Christian employees and distributed gifts among them. During the event, the minister cut the Christmas cake alongside em-
ployees and said that Minorities are very close to the Chief Minister’s heart. On the occasion of Christmas, we share the joys of our Christian brothers and sisters equally. Christian employees are our pride, and their services are truly commendable. The Punjab government is uti-
lizing all available resources for the protection and welfare of minorities. Azma Bokhari further said that Christmas is a festival of love, peace, and harmony. Share your happiness with others, and together we can promote brotherhood and unity in our society.
Plots over Rs17b auctioned in public auction in Capital: CDA
KARACHI
Staff report
As global sales for oral nicotine pouches continue to increase, new research in Pakistan reveals a broad array of chemically-engineered menthol, fruit, and other flavour combinations used to maximize appeal. This work provides policymakers with potential targets that could help reduce use and improve the health of Pakistanis throughout the country.The analysis, which focused on Velo’s line of products sold in Karachi, was conducted by researchers from the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Portland State University, and published in the peer-reviewed journal Tobacco Control. “Existing research across all tobacco and nicotine products shows that flavours can drive consumer interest and lead young people to try these products for the first time,” said Kevin Welding, PhD, associate director of IGTC and a co-author of the study. “The use of such a wide variety of levels and combinations of flavours raises concerns about expanding the nicotine market to young people.”Oral nicotine pouches are small pouches filled with powdered nicotine that can be placed in the mouth, between the gum and upper lip, where the nicotine can be readily absorbed into the bloodstream.
Despite threats, K-Electric conducts crackdown on electricity theft in SITE area KARACHI
Faith, Unity and Discipline Remain Strong Foundation of National Progress: Ibrahim Hasan Murad
LAHORE
Nicotine pouches sold in Karachi finds a wide variety of unregulated flavour chemicals
Staff report
the launch of a program issuing 75,000 Minority Cards for the welfare and economic uplift of minority communities, with plans to expand the initiative further. She underscored that Punjab’s development journey would remain incomplete without ensuring a sense of security for all communities. The Chief Minister said her government is making every effort to provide exemplary security, transportation, and other facilities for Sikh pilgrims. She added that welcoming thousands of pilgrims for the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji is considered a national honor, reflecting Punjab’s commitment to religious harmony, mutual respect, and shared heritage. She reiterated that Pakistan is the only country to have implemented the Sikh Marriage Act, respecting the religious identity and faith traditions of Sikh brothers. Emphasizing the promotion of religious tourism, she welcomed investment by Sikh brothers in Punjab’s tourism and hospitality sectors and affirmed Pakistan’s intent to project itself as a global center of peace and interfaith harmony.
Despite mob violence and threat of a direct gun attack, K-Electric (KE) conducted a massive crackdown on electricity theft in Karachi’s SITE area where a loadshed-exempted industrial feeder was being used to steal over 10 million units of power annually through illegal infrastructure that was duly dismantled during the operation.A KE spokesperson said: “A mob gathered to prevent our enforcement teams from removing the illegal network of electricity. A miscreant also brandished a weapon during the drive, but thankfully, the presence of a number of law-enforcement officials prevented any untoward incident.“K-Electric remains committed to eliminating power theft, dismantling illegal networks, protecting its infrastructure, and ensuring a safe, stable, and reliable electricity supply across its serviced region. The utility will continue action against all elements involved in electricity theft and infrastructure damage.”During the operation, KE’s governance teams along with local law-enforcement found a network of overhead and underground cables connected to the HT network. KE’s teams removed the infrastructure that would have otherwise created significant risks of safety.
ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Plots worth over PKR 17 billion in total were auctioned in the public auction of residential and commercial plots in the Federal Capital, Islamabad, organized by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Investors showed healthy participation on the final day of the auction as well.Chairman CDA, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, personally reviewed the auction proceedings on the last day. Chairman CDA said that the active participation of investors in the public auction is a reflection of their complete confidence and trust in CDA's policies. He said that earning the trust of investors is among our foremost priorities.According to details, plots across various categories were sold for PKR 17.002 billion in the three-day auction process. On the final day of the auction, Plot No. 514 in Sector G-10/2 was sold for PKR 93.33 million. Plot No. 516 in Sector G-10/2 was auctioned for PKR 92.62 million and Plot No. 517 for PKR 100.44 million.Furthermore, Plot No. 526 in Sector G-10/2 was auctioned for PKR 93.33 million and Plot No. 531 for PKR 94.04 million.
Data Vault, NCP sign MoU to advance Pakistan's sovereign AI future KARACHI
Staff report
Data Vault Pakistan and the Centre of Excellence Artificial Intelligence Technology Center (CoE AITeC) at the National Centre for Physics (NCP) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Islamabad to accelerate Pakistan’s sovereign artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and advanced research capabilities.The MoU establishes a long-term collaboration framework focused on indigenous AI development, GPU-accelerated computing, cloud and edge AI services, and national-scale research enablement, aligning Pakistan’s leading scientific institutions with locally hosted, secure, and enterprise-grade AI infrastructure.The MoU will remain in effect for an initial period of five years, with provisions for extension by mutual consent. It provides a scalable and sustainable collaboration model between national research institutions and sovereign AI infrastructure providers, reinforcing Pakistan’s ambition to emerge as a regional hub for artificial intelligence, scientific computing, and digital innovation.
Staff report
Former Provincial Minister and Chairman & President of the University of Management and Technology (UMT), Ibrahim Hasan Murad on the occasion of Quaid-e-Azam Day, stated that the golden principles of Faith, Unity and Discipline, envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, continue to serve as the strongest foundation for Pakistan’s national development, stability and prosperity. He said that Quaid-e-Azam Day conveys a powerful message of national unity, collective responsibility and a renewed sense of duty.The former Provincial Minister emphasized that Pakistan’s bright future is closely linked with the quality education, training and character-building of the youth. He said that only by equipping young people with knowledge, skills and strong moral values can a strong, dignified and stable Pakistan be built. Quaid-e-Azam, he added, taught the nation to become responsible, principled and law-abiding citizens and by adhering to these principles, the formation of an exemplary nation becomes possible.
Extortion in Karachi reaches alarming levels KARACHI
Staff report
Incidents of extortion in Karachi have increased to a dangerously alarming level, with builders, developers, and the business community being systematically harassed. Extortionists and landgrabbing mafias have effectively taken Pakistan’s economic engine—Karachi—hostage. These elements are allegedly operating under the patronage of Fitna-al-Kharij. The lives and property of builders and businesspeople face severe threats.Extortionists are making calls from Iranian phone numbers to demand ransom. If red warrants are not issued against these extortionists and no action is taken, options such as shutting down businesses and staging sit-ins will be considered. These views were expressed by Chairman of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), Muhammad Hassan Bakhshi, while addressing a press conference at ABAD House, accompanied by former chairman Mohsin Sheikhani, Senior Vice Chairman Syed Afzal Hameed, Vice Chairman Tariq Aziz, and Southern Region Chairman Ahmed Owais Thanvi.
Sindh Development Strategy 2025–26, projects worth Rs1,018b approved: Memon KARACHI
Staff report
Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that under the Sindh Government’s Development Strategy 2025–26, projects worth a total of Rs 1,018 billion have been approved. He said that building resilient infrastructure to withstand extreme weather, rehabilitation of flood-affected areas, improvements in education and health, better connectivity, and poverty reduction are among the government’s top priorities. In a statement, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that Rs 340 billion has been allocated for the reconstruction of 1,600 flood-affected secondary schools. He added that nine new cadet colleges will be established, while the women’s university project in Sukkur is nearing completion. The Sindh People’s Flood Victims Housing Scheme (SPHF) is currently underway in Karachi and other cities.
CHINA NOT TO TOLERATE ANY ATTEMPT TO SPLIT TAIWAN, SAYS AMBASSADOR JIANG ZAIDONG
Thursday, 25 December, 2025
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ISLAMABAD
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HINESE Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Wednesday made it clear that the One-China policy is the cornerstone of China’s state policy and that Beijing will not tolerate any force seeking to split Taiwan from China. Addressing participants at the 9th CPEC Media Forum, Ambassador Jiang strongly criticised the Japanese prime minister’s claim regarding the possible use of military force to stop Taiwan’s integration with China. He said Japanese forces have never expressed regret or apologised for their military aggression against China, adding that the situation demands all countries firmly oppose Japanese threats on the Taiwan issue in line with their commitment to the One-China policy. “I would like to express gratitude to Pakistan for its continued support for China’s territorial sovereignty and integrity. As all-weather strategic partners, China and Pakistan will always stand shoulder to shoulder to safeguard each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the envoy said. Recalling that the CPEC Media Forum was launched in 2015 alongside the development of CPEC following President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Pakistan, Ambassador Jiang said continued high-level exchanges have renewed consensus to advance the all-weather partnership and develop CPEC into a comprehensive, multi-sectoral flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative. He praised the role of media in countering distortions, saying there are “two powers in the world — the sword and the pen,” and commended journalists for turning the pen into a sword by responding to allegations with facts. Speaking about CPEC 2.0, he outlined three priority areas — agriculture, mining and industry — and highlighted industrial cooperation and livelihood-oriented projects, including investments in manufacturing and textile parks that would generate large-scale employment. He said future cooperation would focus on exportoriented initiatives and projects benefiting people’s livelihoods, alongside continued collaboration in infrastructure, Gwadar connectivity, and social-sector development, including healthcare and training. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan’s relationship with China is unique, noting that while many countries claim close ties, “no other country can say it has iron brothers or sisters.” Tracing his personal association with PakistanChina exchanges as a student, bureaucrat, and now minister, he described himself as a product of bilateral exchange programmes. He said CPEC represents not only economic development but also cultural transformation, helping break language barriers and divisions. Emphasising the need for effective narrative-building, he warned that misinformation has emerged as one of the biggest global challenges.
Highlighting digital reforms, he said platforms such as Digital Pakistan TV are being developed to strengthen Pakistan’s digital footprint. He proposed the creation of a fact-check forum or platform under the Pakistan-China Institute to counter fake news and disinformation related
to CPEC, suggesting support from both the government and the Chinese Embassy. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute, termed Pakistan-China relations the “pivot” of Pakistan’s foreign policy and warned that
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fake news, disinformation and misinformation pose serious strategic challenges. Referring to the EU DisinfoLab’s “India Chronicles” investigation, he said hostile forces unhappy with Pakistan-China cooperation were actively engaged in information warfare.
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