PM VOWS TO CONVERT BALOCHISTAN’S ‘BLOODY TRACK’ INTO MODERN HIGHWAY
S TA F F R E P O R T
PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday that the government will convert a notoriously dangerous road in Balochistan known as the bloody track into a modern highway after it claimed nearly 2,000 lives
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Jinnah Square Underpass in Islamabad, Sharif said the upgraded highway would be built to motorway standards The project is expected to cost over Rs 300 billion and be completed within two years
PM Shehbaz criticised those opposing road projects in Balochistan calling them narrow-minded We will complete the Karachi Kalat Khuzdar and Quetta highway projects to the highest standard, he vowed He added that this initiative reflects the aspirations of the people of Balochistan and is aimed at enhancing connectivity and ensuring safer travel in the province The Prime Minister said the government had also doubled Balochistan’s quota in the National Finance Commission (NFC) award PM Shehbaz reaffirmed the federal government s commitment to inclusive development The vision of the government and armed forces is to move forward with all provinces together,” he said He praised recent economic improvements claiming that teamwork had helped stabilise the national economy and set the country on a path toward growth PM Shehbaz credited officials in Islamabad including administrator Mohsin Naqvi for efforts to improve the city s infrastructure and traffic flow
Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir conferred military honours on officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army in recognition of their exceptional valour in operations and distinguished service to the nation An Investiture ceremony to this effect was held at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi Decorations conferred included Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat Medals awarded posthumously were received with honour by the families of the Shuhada Paying homage to the
Earlier this week the prime minister said that the recent fuel price reductions would not be passed on to the public immediately, and instead, those savings would be directed toward upgrading Balochistan’s vital N-25 highway
Analysts attribute the spike to a combination of seasonal factors, such as Ramadan and Eid-related transfers along with improved formal channel flows due to recent government and central bank efforts to curb hundi/hawala systems and incentivise official remittance channels The bulk of remittances
Tax Bar Association flags red tape as hindrance to FBR reforms, taxpayer relief
Revenue, Lahore vs Eagle Cable Private Limited Lahore (CPLA 2400-L/2022) Further the PTBA highlighted that despite amendments to Section 21(5) of the Sales Tax Act 1990 allowing taxpayers to represent themselves before the Chief Commissioners against suspensions, these appeals are often not addressed
Haval, Changan offer discounts on repairs for hailstorm- damaged vehicles in Rawalpindi, Islamabad
OFIT N e w s D e s k
times hit, we stand by our Haval family That’s why we’re offering a 40% discount on repair costs of hailstorm-related damages to your Haval s windscreen rear screen and panoramic sunroof If your vehicle was affected, please bring it in for repairs by April 19, 2025, to avail of this support This is our way of saying: You’re not alone we’re here for you May Allah protect us all from such incidents in the future Ameen! In a similar social media post Changan followed suit and extended an olive branch to the victims of the hailstorm by offering a 50% discount for the same services The hailstorm which struck on April 16 caused extensive damage across Islamabad and Rawalpindi particularly in the northwestern sectors The storm brought powerful gusts, torrential rain, and large hailstones which wreaked havoc on pri-
vate vehicles, residential properties, and solar energy infrastructure Parking lots were left littered with shattered glass and damaged vehicles while residential windows and balconies suffered significant damage from falling debris and ice Solar carports, essential for
g INDUSTRIAL STAKEHOLDERS
Punjab announces Rs15b wheat suppor t package amid farmer protests
PM S hehbaz direc ts integration of IT educ ation from Grade 6, urges boost to nationwide digital
training initiatives
g INCLUSION OF IT IN SCHOOL CURRICUL A IS VITAL TO PREPARING FUTURE GENERATIONS FOR DEMANDS OF DIGITAL ECONOMY PM S AYS
to ensure quality and standardized IT education and training at school college and university levels
The prime minister further instructed the Ministry to initiate IT training programs in underdeveloped regions, particularly in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Balochistan
He stressed that the standard of these programs should be high enough to enable trainees to secure competitive employment both within Pakistan and internationally Officials from the Ministry briefed the prime minister in detail about current initiatives and upcoming projects Under the School Broadband Connectivity Project, internet infrastructure in Islamabad schools is being upgraded
The meeting was informed that during the fiscal year 2024–2025 the Ministry has already provided high-end IT training to 49 800 individuals and general training to over 600 000 people In collaboration with Huawei skills and vocational
training centers are being established at the International Islamic University Islamabad the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and the COMSATS University Lahore campus Additionally, Huawei s advanced training programs in Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Big Data, and Cybersecurity have been integrated into the curricula of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (Topi) the University of Engineering and Technology (Taxila) and the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (Jamshoro)
The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, in partnership with Huawei, will also provide training to 146,367 students and upgrade 1 300 laboratories across the country This initiative is expected to benefit students particularly in Islamabad Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Chairman of the PM Youth Program Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, senior government officials, and Huawei CEO Ethan Sun
Gov t rejects oil industr y’s proposal for additional freight charges
l l o w e d f o r i n p u t t a x c l a i m s a r e n o w a c c u m u l a t i n g i n p u t t a x r a i s i n g o p e r a t i n g c o s t s f o r o i l c o m p a n i e s T h e i n d u s t r y h a d p r o p o s e d a R s 4 p e r l i t r e a d j u s t m e n t i n t h e i n l a n d f r e i g h t e q u a l i s a t i o n m a rg i n ( I F E M ) t o o ff s e t t h e l o s s e s c a u s e d b y t h e s a l e s t a x e x e m p t i o n H o w e v e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s r e j e c t e d t h i
04
COMMENT
Spending on Balochistan
Elec tricity consumers got benefit of falling oil pieces; now it’s Balochistan’s turn
FO R the second fortnight in a row, the government has refrained for passing on to the consumer the benefit of the fall in international oil prices, instead raising the petroleum levy Rs 8 As the levy was already at a maximum Rs 80 per litre, this required fresh legislation/ This was so that the money thus raised could be devoted to development spending for Balochistan The Rs 300 billion raised will be to infrastructure projects in Balochistan This new sympathy for Balochistan coincides with a more general wish of the Federal Board of Revenue for the oil price decreases not to be passed on so that revenue which depends on the oil price such as sales tax and operator ’s without holding tax would go down IMF targets would remain the same as they are meant to generate a certain primary revenue surplus The more general excuse given is that lowering the price would mean an increase in demand which would make the import bill swell The first decreed was bused to provide n electricity subsidy This position may be difficult to maintain Though oil prices were soft even before US President Donald Trump made his first tariff announcement the expectation of worldwide depression made oil prices continue to fall If the fall continues how much longer can the consumer be denied?
Though it is clear that Balochistan suffers from deprivation which has exploded both into religious militancy and separatist insurgency it is not clear that infrastructure development will reduce the feeling of deprivation The connection of deprivation with physical infrastructure does not account for the feeling that the people of the province are not masters of their destiny The effect of educating the people has been completely ignored It also seems clear that the federal government intends to have the last word on the funds
US President Donald Trump is definitely unstable There is really no other way that one can interpret his flip flop on tariffs It does not matter whether there is method to his madness, or whether his actions are whimsical to the point of being arbitrary the effects that were caused were too drastic to have been deliberate
That Trump has paused the tariffs for 90 days is a relief but is only temporary and carries within it the seeds of further disturbance True, even without Trump s strange intervention, the trading landscape of the world was hardly peaceful, but there does not seem any need to roil the waters as much as Trump has done
The dust has not fully settled and will not until the world has avoided a depression or fallen into one but the starting point the USA has in stages imposed a 125 percent tariff on China which has retaliated with tariffs of 85 percent As one economist observed, that amounts to not trading with one another The USA, perhaps realizing the consequences of what had been done, had issued exemptions for Chinese electronics and chips
The latter in particular indicates why tariffs and a trade war are not really a good idea The US tariffs have made more expensive parts that the USA would include in its own products Thus the price of goods apparently made in the USA would go up, and already uncompetitive goods would fail to be exported
The problem is that final goods are assigned nationality as exports even though many (perhaps even all) components have been manufactured elsewhere and imported The building of nationally independent supply chains is not feasible in this globalized world at least not at economic rates However, Trump seems to be trying to introduce noneconomic reasons into import and export decisions
fuel from the USA to help the balance trade with the USA even though this cost the Pakistani consumer more because of greater transportation costs The least cost is from Iran, closely followed by the Gulf Even fuel from Malaysia or Indonesia would be cheaper than fuel from say the Gulf of Mexico and
Bull seems to apply to Trump “[A] plain downright matter-of-fact fellow with much less of poetry about him than rich prose There is little of romance in his nature but a vast deal of a strong natural feeling He excels in humour more than in wit; is jolly rather than gay; melancholy rather than morose; can easily be moved to a sudden tear or surprised into a broad laugh; but he loathes sentiment and has no turn for light pleasantry He is a boon companion if you allow him to have his humour and to talk about himself; and he will stand by a friend
The money must be spent in consultation with the provincial government if it is to have any effect and the federal government should be ready for the other provinces to raise demands and complain they have been left out It is not as if the other provinces are overflowing with infrastructure or that there is no feeling of deprivation in the other provinces The federal government can only hope that world oil prices keep on falling so that it has sources of funding to meet these demands M A Niazi
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
On the one hand he wants less imported into the USA and on the other he wants more exported by it That implies import substitution on the one hand and on the other prevention of exports Import substitution implies that industries exist which can provide the required goods But what if they have shut down? There will be investment required, and the requisite expertise must be there Then there are the questions of pricing and quality If tariffs affect pricing they do not affect quality US manufacturers have already tried competing with cheaper imports by producing shoddier goods The basic problem has been that US labour is not cheap enough, so quality compromises are not enough to produce goods competitive enough to export Trump is trying to drive imports by threatening other countries with tariffs Pakistan is case in point Once Pakistan imported US cars like Fords and Buicks until they were driven from the market by Japanese cars Japanese cars are being driven out by South Korean, and it seems that Chinese carmakers will dominate the EV market, which is emerging, but which will be increasingly prominent/ One way out will be for Pakistan to import
TH E transformation of behaviour is as important as change of obscurantist ideology Change of behaviour and reorientation of ideology is the crux of the deradicalization process One of the most formidable challenges confronting the agencies to survey the de-radicalization efforts is great deal of inconsistency, aggravated by lack of information, regarding which entities, either public or private, oversee the actual rehabilitation and reintegration program at Sabaoon, Mishal or at any of other locations
Sabaoon was intended to return to civilian authorities in the nascent stage yet the project Mishal was run by the military administration from the very outset This invariably leads to incongruities and inconsistencies in methods, modus operandi, resources and desired outcomes which further despoils the overall counter-terrorism prospects of success of such rehabilitation programmes Notwithstanding the spectre of rejection retribution by erstwhile terrorist organizations reduces the possibility of accepting de-radicalization arguments There would be another looming distress for loss of status and respect from peers in case of abandoning organizational ideology For that reason the motivational handicap to convince the high status figures might be greater than the motivational barrier to convince low status figures within the terrorist organization
Undoubtedly, the civil society of Pakistan has embraced multiple offensives, both hard and soft measures in order to mobilize educate apprise and sensitize the general masses about the perils of militancy extremism and violent extremism but the flip side is that the public awareness programmes are held for an ephemeral period This ad-hoc approach is rather reactive instead of adopting a long lasting proactive approach towards elimination of violent militarism The campaigns against extremism should be sustained and durable in impact The public should be kept aware on a large scale with greater socio-political impact In adhocism, long term planning is missing; these vigorous de-radicalization efforts should be continued even when there is interlude of peace and dormant violence The administration needs to use developed methods to rehabilitate the host
communities through dialogue and integration activities and continue to neutralize the volatile areas nefarious elements and eliminate factors that are conducive to triggering recidivism Militancy has become festering sore in Pakistan At present, we are facing ethno-national, socio-political and faith-based terrorism The Counter Terrorism Department is making splendid efforts in the prevention of violent extremism and extermination of terrorist networks The will of thw government is essential to end the menace of militancy from society For the eradication of terrorism cohesive and integrated approach is required on the national level NACTA has to prove itself as a national body to fight against extremism and terrorism Sustainable approach to a large measure requires national deradicalization policy inter-agency coordination community based rehabilitation programmes psychological well being economic support and perennial surveillance/ monitoring mechanism to avert recidivism The polarization of the social fabric and religio-political fragmentation has been a mammoth impediment in evolving effective counter-extremist responses The radicalization is rampant in Pakistan because the causes and grievances are galore The presence of a few de-radicalization and rehabilitation centers is providing paltry relief in respect of the eradication of terrorism The reformed militants received a hostile environment in the living society It is good to steer clear of violent ideology but it needs great efforts to curb them for long The host society plays a pivotal role in providing a conducive environment for curbing violent ideologies In the absence of an all-embracing host community, the fear of relapsing remains present Bad governance, social economic disparities and ever-increasing political fragmentation produce a rich breeding ground for the growth and mushrooming of radicalization Without addressing the root problems the eradication of radicalization is impossible There is a strong need for broadbased de-radicalization approaches to combat extremism Counter violent extremism approach is the need of the hour to tide over the menace of militancy Without adopting holistic de-radicalization paradigm the defeat of extremism in Pakistan will remain an arduous task
The gravity, scale and extent of radicalization as a malady are horrendous The outcome of deradicalization efforts is frail short-lived and narrow in fructification The allocation of funds is scarce These rehabilitation centres cannot run on the donations of NGOs and philanthropic generosity These programmes require state ownership to meet with success The possibility of sustaining these rehabilitation programmes on a permanent basis and then enlarging them as a national-level activity seems a tall order
Pakistan also requires establishing an independent body for overseeing rehabilitation programmes, propagation of national narrative and structuring legal frameworks available to militants These efforts should emphasize the extermination of extremism reformation of the education system buttressing social inclusivity and mutual co-existence in society
National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), a government-run think tank established for the creation of a counter-terrorism policy, has framed a National Prevention of Violent Extremism (NPVE) policy The incumbent National Coordinator of NACTA Khalid Chouhan emphasized in the conference on National Dialogue for prevention of Extremism that a whole–of-society approach is essential to root out the causes of extremism and build a resilient society Not-withstanding, the myopic Adhocism policy spoils the long-term efficacy of deradicalization in Pakistan However it is never too late There is a dire need to adopt proactive cohesive integrated and institutionalized measures instead of resorting to short-term slapdash and fragmented responses to materialize the concrete counter-radicalization efforts
As the security situation is on a downward trajectory, counter violent extremism policies need to be translated into practical endeavours However the most important for Pakistan is to devise a strategy of de-radicalizing rehabilitating and reintegrating militants back into society through the vigorous enforcement of sustained national internal security policies and propagation of national counter-narratives
The writer is Inspector in police and holds a doctorate in political science from GCUF He can be reached at rizwanbh79@gmail com nd tweets at @rizwanbh79
As the security situation is on a downward trajector y, counter violent extremism policies need to be translated into practical endeavours. However, the most impor tant for Pakistan is to devise a strategy of de-radicalizing, rehabilitating and reintegrating militants back into society through the vigorous enforcement of sustained national internal security policies and propagation of national counter-narratives.
Dengue returns
Lights out
Life skills
Dr MuhaMMaD rizwan Bhatti
itarian
A fenceless border
Whave also intensified the suffering of the Kashmiri people India s reluctance to address the legitimate grievances of Kashmiris has deepened the crisis and prolonged the conflict Indian-Occupied Kashmir has become one of the most militarized regions in the world with hundreds of thousands of troops deployed since 1947 This overwhelming military presence has led to numerous human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and excessive use of force A particularly controversial element of India’s security policy is the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which grants sweeping powers to the military including the authority to arrest or kill with near-total impunity Enacted in 1990, AFSPA has enabled systemic abuses, often without accountability or recourse for victims In contrast, Pakistan has maintained a principled and peaceful stance on the Kashmir issue consistently advocating for diplomacy dialogue and adherence to international law Pakistan s position has centred on supporting the Kashmiri people s right to self-determination and calling for a peaceful, negotiated resolution that aligns with their aspirations Since the beginning of the conflict Pakistan has actively raised the Kashmir issue at international platforms including the UN and the OIC Through persistent diplomatic engagement, Pakistan has succeeded in internationalizing the Kashmir dispute and drawing attention to the human rights situation there It has repeatedly called for a UNbacked plebiscite to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide their own future in line with UN Security Council resolutions Furthermore, Pakistan has appealed to major global powers like the USA,
China and European nations to pressure India into upholding international human rights standards and respecting the will of the Kashmiri people Pakistan has consistently extended political and moral support to the people of Kashmir It has backed political leaders and parties in AJK who advocate for the aspirations of the Kashmiri people The AJK leadership has regularly expressed solidarity with those living in Indian-Occupied Kashmir In times of crisis such as natural disasters or periods of intensified military crackdowns Pakistan has provided humanitarian assistance to the residents of Indian-Occupied Kashmir Additionally Pakistan has supported refugees fleeing violence in Indian-Occupied Kashmir by offering shelter and aid in AJK To raise awareness about the Kashmir issue, Pakistan has actively promoted public campaigns at both national and international levels aiming to keep global attention focused on the plight and rights of the Kashmiri people In contrast to India s militarized approach Pakistan has advocated for a diplomatic solution through dialogue involving Pakistan, India, and the Kashmiri leadership Pakistan has repeatedly invited India for negotiations and has welcomed the involvement of international mediators to help resolve the conflict Even in the face of continued refusals from India Pakistan s commitment to peaceful engagement remains firm It has urged India to demilitarize the region, uphold the fundamental human rights of the Kashmiri people, and allow them the freedom to determine their own future Pakistan has also stressed the importance of preserving the cultural and religious identity of Kashmir especially in light of India s attempts to alter the demographic composition of IIOJK The Pakistan government strongly opposes the settlement of non-Kash-
miris there viewing such actions as efforts to dilute the Kashmiri Muslim identity central to the struggle for self-determination
Moreover Pakistan has consistently drawn international attention to the ongoing human rights violations It has urged organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others to investigate the abuses committed there By keeping the spotlight on these violations Pakistan seeks to ensure that the suffering of Kashmiris is neither ignored nor forgotten by the world
The Line of Control serves as the de facto boundary between AJK and IndianOccupied Kashmir While it marks the military division between the two sides Not recognized as an international border it is a product of the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir
One notable aspect of the LoC is Pakistan’s decision not to fortify it with fences or barriers, unlike India, which has physically reinforced its side Pakistan’s choice to leave the LoC unfenced reflects not an absence of security concerns but a principled stance rooted in international law the relevant UN resolutions, and its commitment to a peaceful and just resolution
The LoC was formally established following the 1972 Simla Agreement The agreement designated the LoC as a temporary arrangement pending the final resolution of the Kashmir dispute Both parties agreed not to alter the status of the region unilaterally or by force, acknowledging that the issue remained unresolved Pakistan’s decision not to fence the LoC distinctly contrasts with India’s approach which involves extensive fortification and security measures along its side This difference reflects the core of Pakistan s position on the Kashmir conflict namely, the recognition that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory whose status remains unresolved
The roots of the Kashmir dispute date back to the 1947 partition of British India when the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir despite having a Muslim-majority population acceded to India This decision, made by the Hindu Maharaja against the will of the majority population and neighbouring Muslim regions sparked strong opposition and led to the first war between India and Pakistan in 1947–1948
The conflict concluded with a United Nations-brokered ceasefire, which left the region divided and the dispute unresolved Since its inception, the Kashmir dispute has remained a central issue between India and Pakistan Pakistan has consistently maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and its future should be determined by the people of Kashmir, in accordance with the UNSC resolutions Among the most significant is Resolution 47 (1948), which explicitly calls for a plebiscite to allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide whether to accede to India or join Pakistan Pakistan s stance is firmly grounded in the internationally recognized principle of self-determination, enshrined in the UN Charter and other global human rights instruments According to this principle, all peoples have the right to freely determine their political status and to pursue their economic social and cultural development Pakistan believes the Kashmiri people must be granted the opportunity to exercise this right free from coercion or external pressure In this context, Pakistan’s decision not to erect a fence along the LoC carries symbolic and diplomatic weight This policy aligns with its commitment to the Simla Agreement By refraining from fortifying the LoC, Pakistan underscores its respect for the Agreement and its broader commitment to diplomacy and peaceful coexistence Pakistan’s choice also reflects its consistent call for dialogue and peaceful resolution of the dispute Unlike India s heavily militarized approach which includes constructing extensive fencing and security installations along the LoC Pakistan s approach leaves space for the potential of cross-border interaction, trade, and people-to-people exchanges Such openness fosters trust facilitates human-
A US-Iran deal would be good for Israel
ever, Tehran s patience wore out, and it resumed enriching uranium beyond the limits set by the defunct agreement The nuclear deal while it lasted not only lengthened the breakout time needed for Tehran to build a nuclear weapon but had a salutary influence on Iranian politics Thanks to reduced sanctions and Iran s improved diplomatic relations, the moderate president Hassan Rouhani won reelection in 2017 despite opposition from hardliners Rouhani favored not only diplomacy with the U S -led West but also civil rights for women and minorities But when the nuclear deal broke down the political standing of Rouhani and other reformists diminished, and in 2021 the hardliner Ebrahim Raisi became president
Evidently the Iran nuclear agreement had worked putting Tehran s nuclear program in a box and nudging the regime in a more liberal direction Moreover it had been a good deal for the American people The accord eased bilateral tensions, neutralized the problem of Iran’s suspected nuclear ambitions and provided Washington an opportunity to disengage from the Middle East For these reasons Pat Buchanan a co-founder of The American Conservative, hailed the agreement as the seminal achievement of the Obama administration in foreign policy ” It was also a good deal for Israel, as progressive pro-Israel groups in America have understood J Street for example urged President Joe Biden to revive the accord calling it an historic diplomatic achievement that had blocked Iran from obtaining the world s most dangerous weapons ” From the perspective of organizations like J Street the Iran nuclear deal had accomplished a key aim of the Israeli government preventing Iran s acquisition of a nuclear weapons capability and had done so without launching a war that could destabilize the region
Even within Israel, several top officials welcomed the nuclear deal and later opposed U S withdrawal “Without an agreement Iran will be free to act as it wishes wrote Efraim Halevy former head of Mossad in July 2015 The same month, Isaac Ben-Israel, then-chair of the Israeli Space Agency, said, The agreement is not bad at all It is even good for Israel ” In 2017 Carmi Gillon former head of Israel’s internal security service wrote Thanks to the agreement Iran s nuclear program has been defanged and all its pathways to a bomb blocked
These figures were frustrated when the deal collapsed, and many blamed Netanyahu In 2021 Ben-Israel said, “Netanyahu’s efforts to persuade the Trump administration to quit the nuclear agreement have turned out to be the worst strategic mistake in Israel s history
Other Israeli officials didn t go that far in criticizing Netanyahu but still questioned the wisdom of flagrantly obstructing U S foreign policy The former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak warned in 2014 that such actions could turn Israel s superpower patron against it One reason that Netanyahu ignored
pragmatic warnings from Barak and others may be simple hubris The longtime Israeli leader has tended to be supremely confident that U S support for Israel will continue indefinitely During a casual meeting with Israeli settlers in 2001 he told a cameraman to stop recording but for whatever reason, the camera kept rolling and captured Netanyahu s boast that America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction ” Explaining why the world’s only global superpower was so pliable Netanyahu added Eighty percent of the Americans support us It s absurd! The absurdity didn t last A slim majority 53 percent now hold an unfavorable view of the country, according to Pew Research That’s an 11-point increase compared to March 2022 and Israel’s popularity among Americans seems destined to decline even further While Republicans are much more likely than Democrats to favor Israel half of those ages 18 through 49 do not These numbers present a worrisome challenge to Israel, which is surrounded by hostile nations and dependent on American military and diplomatic assistance Israel would be prudent to try reversing the sharp decline in favorability but its opposition to U S -Iran diplomacy risks accelerating the trend If Trump makes a war rather than a deal with Iran and he seems to believe those are the only two options many Americans will blame Israel for dragging the U S into yet another conflict in the Middle East The Democrats in that case could very well become a monolithically anti-Israel party, while the Republican establishment would need to avoid alienating conservative millennials and zoomers who do not share their grandparents’ affection for the Jewish state The Israel lobby increasingly responds to declining favorability not with smart public relations, but by pushing the U S government to suppress criticism of Israel on university campuses Many commentators have argued that the crackdowns on free speech are not just unconstitutional but politically inexpedient Zaid Jilani a progressive journalist wrote on X that Israelis should understand this will not help their reputations and disavow anti-speech measures Conservatives are also becoming fed up with the influence of Israel and the Israel lobby on the Trump administration After podcast host Thaddeus Russell wrote on X that Israel will be the rock on which MAGA breaks apart, he revealed that prominent members of MAGA had liked the post Now seems a good time for Israel and its American supporters to reassess political tactics They should start by recognizing the benefits of American-Iranian diplomacy for Israel and the political risks of sabotaging a top geopolitical priority of a U S president who can quickly turn against friends and allies who challenge him For Israel, acquiescing to a preemptive nuclear disarmament deal with Iran would hardly be a sacrifice As Biden once told Netanyahu and as Trump should tell him now Israel would be wise to take the win
THERE is a scene in India s cinematic masterpiece Pather Panchali or Song of the Little Road the first film of The Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray in which the child protagonist Apu is crouched in a sugar cane field watching a train rumble past It is a metaphor of the promise of development in a country that was breathing fresh the air of independence from Britain in 1947 The trilogy, originally released in the 1950s, may seem detached from today s India now the world’s fifth-largest economy and home to some of Asia’s richest billionaires But to many young Indians the film has come as something of an awakening Last month the restored films which were damaged in a London fire in 1993 were rereleased in a Lutyens Delhi cinema At the end of the trilogy s first screening there was silence, then sighs, then
the shine is coming off amid a slowdown that “indicates challenges” the bank says as India aspires to become a high-income economy by the centenary of its independence This brings the relevance of Apu and the ghosts of a poor India back to life in a country where swaths of the population still live hand-to-mouth Pather Panchali, which was inspired by the Italian neorealism of Vittorio De Sica’s Ladri di Biciclette captures the unfiltered daily life of a poor family in rural Bengal a
bAsit Alvi
ties with Afghanistan
Govt to revise bar ter trade polic y with Iran amid border truck crisis
to ensure the new summary offers equal treatment to imports under both barter trade arrangements and the Import Policy Order The committees expressed concern
reports when the
Member Customs from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) informed them that Pakistani customs officials had no knowledge of 1 200 trucks being stuck stating that these vehicles had not officially entered Pakistani territory and no customs clearance request had been received Commerce Ministry officials said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had endorsed the draft summary for the cabinet;
however, FBR comments remained pending The committee directed the FBR to urgently submit its comments leading to the FBR s clarification that the exemption of the I-Form requirement falls within the jurisdiction of the Commerce Ministry and the SBP The joint committee agreed unanimously on drafting a revised barter trade policy within ten days This draft policy will first undergo committee review before formal submission to the federal cabinet for approval Jointly chaired by Senators Saleem Mandviwalla and Anusha Rahman Ahmad Khan, the meeting criticized the absence of Commerce Minister and Commerce Secretary terming their non-attendance a serious oversight
Mandviwalla also warned of initiating a privilege motion against the Collector of Customs Quetta for not complying with the committee’s directives to attend the session Senators Mandviwalla and Rahman strongly criticized bureaucratic inertia and policy confusion, stating these impediments have stalled legitimate trade and weakened Pakistan’s economic potential Rahman cautioned that bureaucratic obstacles could prevent Pakistan from achieving its ambitious $60 billion trade target Iranian representatives, speaking to
C hina stands ready to take high quality development of CPEC projec ts to nex t level; says Amb Jiang Z aidong
CORPORATE CORNER
NEOC's Extreme weather aler t: hailstorm, thunderstorm and rain for evening 18-19 April ISLAMABAD S
NDMA's
(NEOC)
and Rawalpindi Upper
(Attock
Gujrat and Jhelum) and Central Punjab (Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Jhang, Khushab, Mianwali, Lahore, Narowal, Sahiwal, Sargodha, and Sheikhupura)
PUNJAB GOVERNOR CALLS FOR NATIONAL CONSENSUS FOR STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM
Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has called for national consensus for strengthening democratic system and to uphold the country socio-economic development He urged the lawyers community to continue playing their active role in strengthening democracy through political activities
Addressing the Rawalpindi Bar Association here on Thursday, Sardar Salim Haider Khan underlined the need for collective efforts
AIOU hosts seminar on Nexus between Antibiotic
Pakistan s leading digital microfinance institution
Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) organized a one-day seminar titled "NEXUS BETWEEN ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA AND PLASTIC WASTE IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT The event was part of the university s ongoing efforts to promote scientific awareness, environmentally friendly research, and a sense of social responsibility among students The seminar ’s chief guest, Professor Dr Sher Muhammad, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences delivered a thought-provoking keynote address emphasizing that science is not merely a collection of theories but a practical field aimed at bringing positive change to human life He highlighted the deep connection between environmental pollution and human health, noting that plastic waste is no longer confined to land and sea it has now entered the human body contributing to life-threatening diseases Dr Sher Muhammad stressed the need for universities to promote research that offers practical solutions to real-world problems related to the environment, health, and society Guest speaker Dr Ifra Farheen, an environmental and health expert and a researcher from the National Institute of Health Rome delivered an in-depth talk on the emerging challenges posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria colonizing plastic waste in aquatic environments She explained that plastic waste not only pollutes ecosystems but also provides a conducive environment for the proliferation of dangerous superbugs, posing a serious threat to human health At the conclusion of the seminar Dr Zaheer Ahmad Chairman of the Department of Nutritional and Health Sciences thanked all the distinguished guests, speakers, and participants He acknowledged that Dr Ifra Farheen s scholarly presentation helped deepen understanding of the link between plastic pollution and antibiotic resistance The seminar was moderated by Dr Rabeea Zafar and was organized by the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Design under the Faculty of Sciences
Mobilink Bank along with Pakistan s largest fintech platform JazzCash, are spearheading a powerful national drive to promote financial awareness and empowerment as part of Pakistan Financial Literacy Week 2025 Mobilink Bank and JazzCash’s active role during Financial Literacy Week comes at a time when their contributions have also been formally acknowledged by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), which conferred upon Mobilink Bank the coveted Performance Award for Access to Finance’ under the National Financial Literacy Program, especially for fostering credit access to Pakistan’s most financially excluded communities Reinforcing its commitment to inclusive growth the bank is reaching diverse communities across Pakistan to equip individuals with essential financial knowledge and tools to make informed, effective, and responsible financial decisions The nationwide campaign spans all provinces through a comprehensive three-pronged outreach strategy This includes interactive oncampus drives that educate students on key financial topics such as personal finance savings investment and budgeting In addition, financial literacy camps are being organized in multiple districts, providing accessible and practical knowledge to local communities Additionally, participants are being welcomed to branch visits where they can experience firsthand the digital financial services offered by Mobilink Bank and Jazzcash and gain greater understanding of secure inclusive financial tools Sharing his thoughts, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, President and CEO, Mobilink Bank, said, “Financial literacy is a gateway to economic empowerment Mobilink Bank continues to foster literacy and digital innovation to bring excluded populations into the financial fold especially those still held back by socio-economic and cultural barriers Our purpose is to empower all the masses, especially women, farmers, and SMEs to fuel their economic empowerment and we're doing so with the vision of giving affordable smartphones, data and business tools to every Pakistani so that they can have full access to credit
hook for the next Pakistan belongs to us all and the Constitution is sovereign Our collective objective is to see Pakistan great, and we will continue navigating the unknown for newer opportunities Earlier in the day, global and local leaders converged in a series of high-impact sessions on digital futures resilient ecosystems hidden markets and economic transformation
Uzbek istan expands International Transpor t Routes
with average wait times of 25-30 days
dle Corridor – has attracted significant global attention as an alternative route connecting China, the Middle East, and Central Asia with Europe
Uzbekistan actively collaborates with the European Union to develop both new and existing international corridors The country is a participant in the CASCA+ multimodal corridor (linking Asia-Pacific countries China Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Azerbaijan Georgia Turkey and Europe) with the Middle Corridor forming its backbone A major milestone in this cooperation was the five-party agreement signed in Tashkent on December 20, 2019, involving railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Turkey joined the initiative in December 2021 marking the signing of a six-party protocol The agreement outlines preferential tariff policies, unified freight transportation regulations, logistics coordination, and improved customs procedures, including a prenotification system and logistics hub development across transit nations Among various routing options the path from China through Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to Europe stands out as the shortest (4,917 km) between China and Europe President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan at the 2023 Central Asia-European
Union summit in Kyrgyzstan emphasized the importance of joint efforts to develop transport and communication connectivity –particularly through the Middle Corridor As a result of recent reforms, cargo transit via the Caspian Sea between Uzbekistan and Europe reached 1 1 million tons in 2024 up 55% from 2020 Uzbekistan s international cargo turnover with the EU Turkey the Caucasus the USA, and Brazil totaled 2 8 million tons in 2024 – reflecting strong prospects for further growth through the Middle Corridor To support this momentum Uzbekistan is considering the acquisition of two ships to enhance Caspian Sea freight operations in 2025 This aligns with the EU s Global Gateway investment strategy, which is being implemented in collaboration with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan the South Caucasus and Turkey Despite these initiatives operational challenges persist along the Middle Corridor Key issues include extended delivery times high transportation costs, inefficiencies at Caspian and Black Sea ports, and falling water levels in the Caspian Sea Additionally, poor weather conditions at the Alat Port in Azerbaijan often lead to truck congestion
Comparative data illustrates these challenges According to the Eurasian Rail Alliance Index (ERAI), the average transit time via the Northern Corridor from China to Europe is seven days with a shipping cost of $3 289 By contrast Middle Corridor shipments from Tashkent take 35-40 days and cost approximately $5 500 as per Transgroup Systems LP These factors currently hinder the Middle Corridor ’s competitiveness compared to the Northern and Southern Corridors However, the strategic potential of this route remains immense – it is poised to unlock new trade opportunities between Asia and Europe For the corridor to reach its full potential key infrastructure challenges must be addressed Enhanced cooperation with the European Union and major international financial institutions is essential to modernize ports such as Turkmenbashi Kuryk Aktau Alat Poti and Batumi and to improve rail and road infrastructure in key transit countries like Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia Recognizing the need for diversified transport options, Uzbekistan is also actively promoting the development of the China-Kyr-
ISLAMABAD
IMRAN AGREED TO HOLD NEGOTIATIONS FOR SAKE OF PAKISTAN: GANDAPUR
dismissed the notion of foreign pressure to release Imran Khan Speaking in Sheikhupura he emphasized No country can pressure Pakistan in this matter Imran Khan is facing court cases
Govt abolishes 30,968 posts under rightsizing plan to improve efficienc y
g 7,724 POSTS DECLARED A S DYING POSTS; 7,305 ABOLISHED POSTS IN SCALE-I, TWO POSITIONS IN GRADES 21-22, 36 POSTS IN GRADE-20, AND 99 POSTS IN GRADE-19 TO BE ELIMINATED
PR OFIT S TA F F R
The federal government has decided to abolish 30 968 posts across various departments as part of its rightsizing initiative aimed at improving efficiency
According to media reports, the Cabinet Division Secretary briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue sharing details of the abolished and dying posts According to the plan 7 724 posts have been declared as dying posts, meaning they will be phased out in the future The majority of the abolished positions 7 305 fall under Scale-I with only a small number of high-grade positions impacted Two positions in Grades 21-22 will be removed, while 36 posts in Grade-20 and 99 in Grade-19 will also be eliminated
The Cabinet Secretary explained that the rightsizing plan is designed to streamline government functions focusing on essential responsibilities and transferring other duties to provincial governments
Additionally, a review of government-run commercial activities will be undertaken to assess their necessity and efficiency
While regulatory bodies will not be affected by the rightsizing process they have been asked to provide data on staff numbers, salaries, and consultants The government is also reviewing the effects of the rightsizing plan on autonomous institutions Senator Sherry Rehman raised concerns about the contradiction in the government s reform approach, noting that while it seeks to cut costs, the size of the federal cabinet has been in-
creased She also questioned the potential hardship faced by employees who may be forced into early retirement due to the plan
In response the Cabinet Secretary emphasised that the rightsizing decision would result in significant savings for the government He also highlighted that eliminating redundant posts had already led to notable cost reductions and was expected to enhance the operational efficiency of government departments
The committee also discussed the finalisation of the Private Member ’s Bill on income tax amendments introduced by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada The bill s classification as a money bill was debated and it was agreed that the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue would be summoned to the next meeting for further clarification
BEIJING
S TA F F R E P O R T
The first batch of 300 participants in the Prime Minister of Pakistan s initiative to train 1,000 young agricultural professionals in China arrived in Xi’an, Shaanxi province The trainees will undergo three months of hands-on training in agro-technology climate-resilient agriculture and modern farming practices at Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU) and Yangling Vocational and Technical College, noted Chinese institutions for agricultural education and skill development Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday Bilal Mahmood Chaudhary Deputy Head of Mission at the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, along with senior Chinese officials, received the trainees at Xi’an International Airport Following their arrival the participants were briefed on the China-Pakistan AllWeather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the scope of the threemonth training program, and ex-
panding agricultural cooperation between the two nations
This capacity-building initiative is part of broader efforts by the Pakistani government to modernise the country s agricultural sector and equip young professionals with skills needed to address future challenges
According to another report from Islamabad the initiative titled the Prime Minister s Initiative for Capacity Building of 1,000 Agricultural Graduates in China, seeks to equip young professionals with cutting-edge skills in farm technology biotechnology and sustainable agriculture practices
Through collaboration with leading Chinese universities and research institutes, the programme offers specialised training in nine high-priority areas including farm mechanisation biotechnology genomics precision agriculture artificial intelligence and high-efficiency irrigation systems, the ministry stated PM Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for National Food Se-
curity Rana Tanveer Hussain are scheduled to attend a send-off ceremony on April 15 for the departing batch
The training programme, which will span between three to six months, is fully funded by the Pakistani government Graduates were selected through a meritbased competitive process with placements aligned to their academic specialisations
According to the ministry, participants are expected to return as “master trainers” who will play a pivotal role in transferring knowledge and modern techniques to local farming communities universities and research institutions
The government had earlier announced plans to send a total of 1,000 agricultural graduates to China in 2025 under this capacitybuilding effort
Officials say the initiative reflects Islamabad s commitment to transforming agriculture into a high-tech and sustainable sector that can meet food security challenges and boost economic growth
Three PIA executives sentenced to jail for def ying cour t orders
