GOVT, PPP AGREE TO RESOLVE CANALS ISSUE THROUGH DIALOGUE
LARKANA S TA F F R E P O R T The ongoing protests against the construction of new canals on the Indus River entered their third day with widespread sit-ins and shutter-down strikes across various cities in Sindh The protests have intensified, with lawyers continuing their sit-in at the Babarloi Bypass in Khairpur and business activities severely disrupted in multiple regions of the province In addition to the sit-ins shutterdown strikes have been observed in key
cities such as Jamshoro, Larkana, Naushehro Feroz, Sujawal, Nawabshah, and Ghotki Local markets shops and petrol stations have been closed and business activities in towns like Ratodero Baqrani Dokri and Badah in Larkana district have been suspended In Jamshoro and Nawabshah, shops have also been shut down, and similar actions have been reported in Sujawal Ghotki Kandhkot Shahdadkot and Kashmore Nationalist political groups have joined the protests, with several blocking the National Highway at Halani and Kandiaro, which resulted in the suspension of vehicular traffic between Sindh and Punjab Protestors have expressed their opposition to the canal projects claiming that they would turn Sindh s fertile lands into a desert, jeopardizing the livelihoods of local farmers and communities
PM leads second polio campaign of 2025, targets 45 million children
The campaign follows earlier efforts this year, including a nationwide drive in February and a targeted fractional IPV-OPV campaign in Quetta and Karachi which vaccinated around 1 million children
Polio is a highly contagious disease with no cure, but it is preventable through immunisation Experts warn that repeated doses are essential to build full immunity in children especially those under five
Speakers at various protests have denounced the canal constructions describing them as part of a larger conspiracy to deprive Sindh of its water resources The protests continue to grow in size and intensity, with more cities expected to join the strike in the coming days
KPCM’s Advisor
Advisor
Tmembers CAT has become fully functional and resumed hearings in the high-profile appeal However during a recent session, senior counsels representing several manufacturers failed to appear The tribunal viewed this absence as a deliberate attempt to delay proceedings prompting the imposition of the penalty The original CCP decision followed extensive investigations which revealed that the cement manufacturers
had allegedly coordinated to fix prices and regulate cement dispatches thereby manipulating market supply Key evidence included a seven-month record of dispatch data recovered from the premises of the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) indicating coordinated activities among the companies
Individual fines imposed by the CCP ranged from Rs12 million to Rs1 27 billion, with Lucky Cement receiving the highest penalty of Rs1 27 billion, followed by D G Khan Cement with Rs933 million Other companies penalized included:
Maple Leaf Cement – Rs586 million Bestway Cement
& Cherat Cement
Mustehkam Cement
million
Gharibwal Cement – Rs39 million Dadabhoy Cement – Rs28 million Flying Cement – Rs12 million
After the CCP ruling, many companies obtained stay orders from various courts while some approached the Supreme Court directly In June 2017 the apex court ruled that the matter
tion to that thought Communist parties are a good example being based on Marx s writings The first theoretician was Lenin himself who was a prolific writer too After he died, there was a split, because while Bukharin was clearly the theoretician, Stalin had become party Secretary General Stalin then purged not only Bukharin but also Trotsky Stalin tried to prove that Like Lenin, he wrote some books which no one bothers with nowadays However the tradition persisted The last famous theoretician of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was Mikhail Suslov who was Second Secretary of the CPSU from 1965 to 1982, when he died In fact, his death preceded the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, but the fact that he was not replaced indicated that the CPSU was over He was succeeded as Second Secretary in a de facto sort of way by Nikolai Chernenko who then became General Secretary of the party after Leonid Brezhnev died Now Chernenko might have been well acquainted with Marxist theory, by the was hardly a theoretician Similarly, while the Jamat leadership may consist of distinguished religious scholars none can really be described as a theoretician Is that the problem with the
Jamaat? That it no longer produces theoreticians?
Then what about parties which have never had theoreticians ? The PPP may have had J A Rahim and Mairaj Muhammad Khan, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto himself was formidably bright But now it has Asif Zardari The PML(N) PM Mian Shehbaz Sharif is an intellectual giant compared to his predecessor Imran Khan whose appeal was not based on his brightness, or even his literacy There are even those who postulate that he was selected to be on the same page because he was one of the few people in the country actually dumber than Mian Nawaz I wonder how Imran would have done in T20 matches There weren t any in his time with only one version
Naqvi and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz extended their heartfelt greetings to the Christian community on the eve of Easter, which was celebrated on Sunday In his message of greetings on Easter, President Asif Ali Zardari said, “I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the Christian community in Pakistan on the joyous occasion of Easter ” He said Easter is a time of hope renewal and the celebration of life It reminds us of the values of compassion sacrifice and forgiveness On this sacred day, we acknowledge the spirit of unity and harmony that binds us all together, regardless of faith or background ”“Our Constitution guarantees rights of minorities, and we will continue to work for the uplift and empowerment of all minorities in Pakistan The Christian community in Pakistan has always played a significant role in the development of our country he added Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also extended her heartfelt greetings to the Christian community living in Pakistan and around the globe on the eve of Easter In her message, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that Easter is an event of joy and hope and Easter gives us a message to live with love and brotherhood Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi on Sunday conveyed warm Easter greetings to the Christian community and expressed solidarity with them in their joyous celebrations In his greeting message, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi remarked, “We stand as equals in the happiness of the Christian brethren Easter is a festival of sharing joy ” The interior minister highlighted that Easter symbolises the inclination towards goodness and righteous qualities in human life He emphasised the peace-loving nature of the Christian community, stating, The Christian community is respected for its peaceful demeanour and contribution to the nation’s progress
China, Arab states continue to promote global reform, development
The 5th China-Arab States Reform and Development
Forum was recently held in east China’s Shanghai bringing together over 100 representatives from various sectors across China 19 Arab countries and the Arab League Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on strengthening cooperation under the Global Development Initiative (GDI), emphasizing the importance of joint efforts between China and Arab nations to promote innovation-driven industrial development uphold multilateralism and pursue high-quality growth
Addressing the forum Zhai Jun the Chinese government s special envoy on Middle East affairs, said China will continue working with Arab countries to advance innovation-led development and deepen openness and win-win cooperation
A robot loads fertilizers at a China-Arab fertilizer company in Qinhuangdao north China s Hebei
Province January 20 2025 /VCG robot loads fertilizers at a China-Arab fertilizer company in Qinhuangdao, north China s Hebei Province, January 20, 2025 /VCG WIN-WIN COOPERATION
Today China and Arab countries enjoy a comprehensive and in-depth partnership with bilateral trade continuing to grow
In 2024 trade between the two sides reached approximately $400 billion, making China the largest trading partner of Arab countries Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has also deepened For instance the China-
opportunities in Egypt
In Algeria, the eastern section of the East-West Highway, constructed with China’s participation, has become a vital economic artery In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) China’s Harbin Electric International Engineering has partnered with Saudi Arabia s ACWA Power in a joint venture to build the Hassyan clean coal project in Dubai the first of its kind in the Middle East Statistics show that China and Arab countries have initiated more than 200 major projects in infrastructure energy and other fields under the BRI benefiting nearly 2 billion people in the two regions
In energy and infrastructure significant strides were made toward greater integration In November 2024, the Fujian Gulei Phase II Integrated Refining and Petrochemical Project broke ground in southeast China’s Fujian Province This project exemplifies Chinese-Arab energy cooperation with a total investment of 71 1 billion yuan (about $9 7 billion) and an annual output value estimated to reach around 80 8 billion yuan
The project expected to reach its full capacity in 2030, will supply 5 million tonnes of raw materials annually for downstream companies at the Gulei complex, enhancing its industrial chain while promoting smart and green development
The GDI is not just a theoretical framework but a real opportunity to reshape the landscape of global cooperation said Khaled Mahdi former secretarygeneral of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development in Kuwait
Govt, PPP agree to resolve c anals issue through dialogue
He said Punjab’s farmers being supplied lesser water than the 40 per cent shortage announced by the authorities IRSA enhances provincial water quota from reservoirs Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has enhanced the provinces water quota by 16 per cent for irrigation after inflow of water from rain and rivers in reservoirs A spokesperson of the IRSA said that the water shortage of provinces has been decreased from 43 per cent to 27 per cent Punjab being provided 64 800 cusecs water share while Sindh being given 45 000 cusecs of water for irrigation, the river authority official said The river sending 500 cusecs water to Baluchistan, while 1900 cusecs to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ” the spokesman added
Amid a drought situation that has caused decrease in river water for irrigation a row over construction of new canals on the Indus has further deepened the rift between Sindh s PPP led government and the federal government, which have been the major stakeholders in the current political setup
The federal and Sindh governments have agreed to hold talks on the six canals project on the Indus River the bone of contention in the ongoing dispute that has sparked popular protests across Sindh A large portion of Punjab s lands apprehended to be affected owing to the construction of a canal without any planning,” he said The development came after the first formal contact between the two governments as Adviser to
TH E government has grasped the nettle firmly enough, but will anyone else? Obliged by the IMF, the federal government is again trying to privatize PIA less than a year after it failed to do so last year The reason it could not be sold is because none of the bidders would come up to the reserve price Is there any reason why they should do so now? Actually there is because the national carrier actually turned a profit in 2024, which was its first since 2003 Indeed, that might create a case for dropping the privatization but there is no guarantee that this will continue, but it does indicate that the current management has done enough of the heavy lifting for a change to we occurred and it might mean that the new owners will not have to do much more than continue the present direction
Is this sale attempt going to be any different?
Unless a new buyer comes to the fore the expressions of interest, which have been invited for next week, will probably come from the same groups as put in a bid last time However this time they will be smelling blood, because they would know that the government has to sell It had promised the IMF a sale by the end of this financial year, which is not happening It only got a deferral to the end of this year The reserved price last time was $300 million Though PIA has made no major aircraft acquisitions since it has undergone a corporate restructuring that shifted almost all of PIA s legacy devote to the government s books There was an offer by KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur to meet the reserved price, but as the offer came after the auction, it was not taken up Renewing the offer would involve prequalifying, and submitting an expression of interest There would also the question of how the province would pay about Rs 90 billion, and that too in the dollars the Pakistan government expects PIA has certainly fallen on hard times It has not only changed from a profit centre for the government go a losing state enterprise but now it cannot even be sold Now that it has turned a profit, there may be a case for its not being privatized, but that begs the question of whether the state should be in the aviation business at all
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
G a z a u n
olutions The screams of innocent civilians the wailing of mothers and the crushed bodies of children buried under rubble have failed to stir any meaningful action from either the so-called champions of human rights or the Muslim countries that surround Gaza And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men women and children who say ‘Our Lord take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper? (Qur an Surah An-Nisa 4:75) Gaza is not just another battlefield It is a densely populated area home to over two million people, more than half of them children Since the most recent aggression began, over 32,000 Palestinians have lost their lives the majority of them women and children Tens of thousands more are injured displaced or missing The infrastructure of Gaza has been turned into dust Hospitals schools residential buildings, water pipelines, electricity grids nothing has been spared The United Nations has estimated that over 70 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been completely or partially destroyed making it unlivable for its residents In the face of such devastation the reaction of the world has been shamefully muted The self-proclaimed torchbearers of human rights and international law have done little beyond issuing carefully worded statements and non-binding resolutions These gestures no matter how loud do not stop bombs They do not heal the wounded or feed the hungry They do not bring back the dead children pulled from the rubble of their homes But perhaps even more heartbreaking is the role or the lack thereof played by the Muslim world There are 57 Muslim-majority countries on this planet Together, they possess tremendous wealth and military capacity Collectively Muslim countries control trillions of dollars in sovereign wealth vast energy resources and hold significant shares in global trade and finance In terms of military strength the Muslim world commands more than five million active and reserve personnel, thousands of tanks and fighter jets, and even nuclear capabilities Some Muslim countries like Turkey Iran Saudi Arabia and Egypt have advanced defence industries and modernized weapon systems yet when it comes to Gaza
all this power remains unused, locked behind closed borders and political calculations
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The example of the believers in their mutual love mercy and compassion is like that of a body; when any limb aches, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Why despite this enormous potential do Muslim countries keep silent in the face of Israel’s brutality?
The answer lies in a complex web of fear division and dependency Many Muslim states are entangled in economic, political, or military partnerships with Western powers that support Israel Others are afraid of diplomatic isolation or sanctions Some are too divided among themselves embroiled in regional rivalries and internal crises to unite for a collective response The spirit of the Ummah has been weakened by decades of fragmentation and Gaza is paying the price for that disunity Gaza shares borders with several Muslim countries most notably Egypt, and nearby lie Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria all Muslim-majority nations Yet, none have opened their borders to offer significant refuge or medical assistance at scale None have taken steps to halt the bloodshed or protect the
What Gaza needs is immediate humanitarian aid, diplomatic pressure , and sustained political suppor t. Muslim
must rise above their divisions and come tog ether, not just in sorrow, but in strategy and solidarity. They must leverag e their influence at the United Nations, in global forums, and with their Western allies to demand a ceasefire and the lifting of the sieg e
we can ensure that policy decisions reflect the complexity of modern development challenges Lack of development and poverty is linked with weakening national integration and harmony An inclusive and equitable development will reduce regional disparities through a bottom-up approach by fostering a stronger sense of ownership over development initiatives More regional centers of excellence for capacity building are required by targeted interventions
Rickshaw revolution
opportunities across all age groups, ensuring that even senior employees remain relevant in a tech-driven environment Highlevel exchange programmes and technology training should be the norm not the exception Beyond individual capability institutional growth also hinges on diverse collaboration Imagine a think tank in every public institution, filled not only with policy experts but also business leaders, economists, and tech innovators By bringing together a wide range of perspectives,
A citizen-centric approach and pro-people policies are indeed crucial for social cohesion and long-term sustainable growth, as people feel more connected to their country s progress and governance This approach can also address socio-economic disparities, encourage transparency and enhance public participation in decision-making which are all essential elements for building a strong nation A balanced approach to professional life is crucial Work-life balance and mental wellbeing are just as important as professional growth By fostering a peaceful work environment offering competitive salaries and eliminating discriminatory practices we create institutions where employees are not just productive but happy and reliable Pakistan s future depends on how well we adapt our institutions to the demands of the modern world By focusing on merit, technology, inclusivity, and work-life balance, we can build a stronger more resilient nation that empowers its citizens and competes on the global stage The time for reform is now and the responsibility rests with each of us to push for these much-needed changes
The author is affiliated with the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives She can be reached at arooj saghir@pc gov pk
Therapists in limbo
MuhAMMAd MohSin iqbAl
Arooj SAghir
a c e n e e d e d , n o t a w a r d s
land has become a no-go area for a peaceful business community Khani Wendaye (you will be taken away) has been a common phrase for many years now in the region if one tries to go out after dark
He,
was (posthumously) awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz on 23 March 2024
Neither case served as a wake-up call to investigate the deeper causes of danger despair and distortion “The nightmarish murder of a school teacher Allah Rakhiyo Nindwani in Kandhkot testifies to the circumstances being akin to stateless societies like Somalia, Libya and Yemen , is what this writer wrote at that time
Given the intermittent killings in the region this land seems a surplus piece of the puzzle since nothing serves as an epiphany that the land and the people belong to the state and their protection– their life and livelihood– are their basic and constitutional rights Pakistan should not only endeavour to arrange a plebiscite for the decision of Kashmir ’s fate but also leave no stone unturned to bring an already integral part Kashmore under its control
Technically the latter one is promptly solvable The extent of deterioration is the
Because the region is another cog of the machine the other forces have hijacked the entire Katcha (riverine) region into their custody In other words it has become their personal fiefdom in recent years Hence, extortion, loot, theft, kidnapping-for-ransom, honey-trapping, resistance-led forced disappearances are not uncommon The reported cases of extortion kidnapping-for-ransom honey-trapping and resistance-led forced disappearances exceed two dozen in numbers from each surrounding area– Kashmore, Kandhkot, Shikarpur and Ghotki Particularly, Hindu business community members are targeted for extortion and ransom An RPG shell was parcelled to Dr Sundar Das as a demand for extortion is a recent case in point Hell hails here It burns every corner it scares every inch it didn t break into, the door was left open Since the region is a derelict before the state, the infrastructure remains archaic and (supposedly) the Achilles’ heel Treacherously marshy ensnaring and less trafficked link roads sre the icing on the cake for the predators That said the people are in the Squid Game, acting at their own risk and fully aware of what a single mistake means The rescuers are nowhere in the scene Maybe they also know the consequences of the mistake The lawmen? Unfortunately they are in
the weeds Or they pretend to be in the weeds According to a report Rs 350 million worth of fuel was spent in probing targeting and carrying out operations against the criminals in the region Results? Nothing substantial Corruption-led inefficiency continues What really seemed effective to halt the mishaps in the region were the drone-targeted attacks Some civilians some operation executives were kept hostages to coerce the lawman to stop executing drone attacks Basically, the district has come under the direct rule of nexuses What were the tales of medieval Europe are observable realities in the region The warlord-bandit nexus fuels the fire burns hard and turns what comes before into ashes Ironically the people unlike phoenixes are unable to rise from ashes Sometimes intermediaries sometimes rescuers, the members of the nexus are star-crossed: so much love within, yet destined for acting independently Resultantly the future of the region remains up in the air Since casting shadows is strictly prohibited what s telecast regarding the region is smoke and mirrors
The justification of the existence and growth of bandits is: they are not the enemies of the state, nor they are against the state they are in pursuit of vengeance The claimed evidence are the otherwise unconstitutional jirgas intermediated by the influential people who reconcile the vendettas and compensate killings via mathematical settlements Specifically, the compensation of a killed man is Rs 2 5 million, of a woman, Rs 5 million, of an abducted woman amid the clash Rs 2 million These so-called tribal feuds butcher the innocent
The stateÊs writ has considerably been compromised, the executional apathy is pervasive and the nexus flourishes greatly. WhatÊs the last plea is initial respite and perpetual peace WhatÊs demanded is the elimination of bandit raj and restoration of the stateÊs writ Plus, the regionÊs people urge for uncompromised rudimentary and Constitutional rights delivery, and not posthumous national awards
AS the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran gets underway suspicion and distrust between the two sides remain high U S President Donald Trump continues to make threats against the country I served for years as a policymaker and a diplomat Understandably, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remains cautious “We are very pessimistic about the other side, but we are optimistic about our own capabilities ” he said recently
As such many analysts believe the chances of a deal are slim In fact the American side doesn t seem entirely sure what outcome it wants from the negotiations U S Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has emphasized that any agreement must be “Trump’s deal” distinguishing it from the 2015 nuclear agreement reached under then-U S President Barack Obama Earlier this week Witkoff said that Iran could maintain a program enriching uranium up to 3 67 percent He then reversed course, saying the president s position was to eliminate Iran’s ability to enrich uranium altogether Still, I believe there’s a way forward These negotiations which could shape not only the future of Iran s nuclear program but the broader trajectory of the Middle East are too important to squander A deal that eschews war tackles a comprehensive set of issues not just nukes and offers Iran a realistic compromise regarding its nuclear program can work
Having been directly or indirectly involved in U S -Iran nuclear dynamics over the past four decades I believe America’s historical policies have played a pivotal role in fueling today s nuclear crisis In the 1950s under the Eisenhower administration s Atoms for Peace initiative, the United States laid the foundation for a nuclear Iran, viewing the Shah as a regional ally and guarantor of Western interests In 1967, the U S constructed Iran’s first reactor in Tehran In 1974 the CIA reported to President Gerald Ford that the Shah could potentially acquire a nuclear weapon by 1984 But Washington changed its position after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran From that point on, it sought to block Iran from obtaining even peaceful nuclear technology despite Iran’s rights under Article IV of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which guarantees the right to develop and
heavy water production if the United States provided fuel for the Tehran reactor and European countries honored their pre-revolution contracts to provide reactors and fuel These negotiations failed mainly because of unwavering U S opposition Had Washington agreed Iran would likely not have pursued enrichment Western resistance spurred Iran to strive for nuclear self-sufficiency which it achieved in 2002 Soon Iran’s program became the focus of the International Atomic Energy Agency prompting negotiations with Germany France and Britain As a member of Iran s negotiating team I witnessed Tehran s unprecedented transparency including a suspension of enrichment and acceptance of maximum verification measures We offered Europe a deal: Respect Iran’s peaceful nuclear rights under the NPT and Iran would offer comprehensive guarantees against weaponization Yet talks broke down as the United States refused to recognize any form of Iranian enrichment even within the treaty s bounds Hassan Rouhani, Iran s top nuclear negotiator at the time, told me that Ayatollah Khamenei would never accept a ban on enrichment “If Iran is to abandon its right to enrich it will either have to happen after my death or I will have to resign from leadership Rouhani quoted Ayatollah Khamenei as saying in a private meeting
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad resumed enrichment in 2006, the same year the United States and the European Union referred Iran’s file to the UN Security Council (UNSC) Over the next several years six UNSC resolutions sanctioned Iran which responded by expanding its enrichment capacity By 2013 Iran was two months from breakout capability The cycle of escalating sanctions and nuclear advances left both sides at a strategic impasse Recognizing the futility of coercion, Obama pivoted In 2013, the U S redefined its red line: preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon not enrichment itself The resulting Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 imposed the most intrusive inspections on Iran while recognizing its right to peaceful enrichment U S -Iran tensions eased dramatically Under the JCPOA, the breakout timeline extended to at least one year, where it was supposed to remain for a duration of at least 10 years Despite Iran s compliance Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 triggering a maximum pressure campaign In response Iran increased the level and the capacity of its enrichment, bringing its breakout time down from one year to two months Former President Joe Biden’s policy of “no deal no crisis” retained Trump-era sanctions while adding hundreds more further eroding trust Iran s current breakout window stands at one week Trump s threats are only making the situation worse There are two ways Iran can be handled, militarily or you make a deal,” he said last month on Fox News Some have suggested Europe could invoke the JCPOA’s “snapback” mechanism reinstating UN sanctions If that happens Iran has threatened to exit both the JCPOA and the NPT and to pursue nuclear weaponization if attacked This is the worst-case scenario one that could plunge the Middle East into chaos and turn Iran into a second North Korea But I believe the Trump team can suc-
Sukkur IBA University Professor, Dr Muhammad Ajmal Sawand was mercilessly murdered by an Âunknown armedÊ group. He , too, was (posthumously) awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz on 23 March 2024
civilians in the process abduct hand-tomouth households for ransom and dump their dead bodies into the Indus River if the demands are not met When a vacuum is created due to the absence of state authority, it is always filled by the non-state actors’ Nobel Economics Laureates Daron Acemoglu and James A Robinson call the regions akin to this writing talks about the absent leviathan in The Narrow Corridor where the state actors are superseded by the non-state actors and rigorously influence the local affairs These non-state actors are none other than bandits who claim to be the pursuers of the murderers of their loved one and wreak havoc on the pretext of retribution The paradoxical nature of Pakistan s governance provided a carte blanche to these warlords who consequently have turned the region into a mundane hell
to the same institution, they are treated with disproportional dis-
ceed in diplomacy with Iran if it adopts five foundational principles:
1 DIPLOMACY, NOT WAR America s legacy of failed wars from Iraq to Afghanistan has cost trillions and devastated millions of lives War with Iran would be exponentially more catastrophic Trump must abandon the binary of “deal or war” and commit to diplomacy as the only viable path
2 A COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA
Iran has honored all single-issue agreements with the United States including hostage releases antiterrorism cooperation after the attacks of Sept 11, 2001, and the JCPOA while the United States has failed to deliver on its promises That’s why singleissue agreements are inherently unstable Though achieving a comprehensive deal in a short time is also unrealistic what the two sides need now is a comprehensive agenda a phased road map beginning with the nuclear file
3 A REALISTIC NUCLEAR ARRANGEMENT
The nuclear arrangement must adhere to the rights and responsibilities outlined in the NPT Iran should enjoy peaceful nuclear benefits in exchange for robust verification measures including implementation of the Additional Protocol and modified Code
3 1 Iran may also consider reducing enrichment from 60 percent to below 5 percent and extend JCPOA sunset provisions including no reprocessing uranium
To satisfy Trump’s desire for a legacy-defining agreement the United States and Iran could sign a bilateral accord in which Iran commits permanently to remaining a non-nuclear weapon state In return the United States should remove all nuclearrelated sanctions Congressional and parliamentary ratification would cement the deal s durability 4 REGIONAL DE-ESCALATION
The United States and Iran need to engage on regional concerns They should acknowledge each other s legitimate interests negotiate on the disputed issues and cooperate on matters of common interest Moreover, halting military tensions between Iran and Israel based on the UN Charter would be essential The nuclear deal should serve as a springboard for broader mutually beneficial security dialogues 5 ECONOMIC INTEGRATION Long-term peace hinges on mutual economic benefit U S -Iran commercial ties could reach hundreds of billions annually Such integration would anchor diplomatic gains and empower moderates on both sides None of this will be easy to achieve But an agreement is possible and it would lead to other positive outcomes in the
rightly, drive ongoing efforts, addressing these issues is vital to a solid foundation for bilateral relations Pakistan’s pre-1971 role remains a deep wound for Bangladeshis and a stumbling block to building a truly fruitful partnership There may be debates about the number of civilians killed by Pakistani forces but the repressions and brutalities we suffered during our independence struggle are a matter of historical record For us, asking for a formal apology or reparations is not about seeking revenge; it’s about the need for admission of a historic tragedy and fostering genuine reconciliation That said we need to be prudent given the complexities involved For context apologies issued by Japan for wartime atrocities in South Korea and China were often seen as insufficient as they were deemed vague, lacking legal reparations, or undermined by subsequent statements and actions of politicians This highlights the difficulty of securing apologies that are both meaningful and enduring Nevertheless sustained diplomatic pressure has at times prompted renewed gestures of atonement
Advance Building of C hina-Pakistan Community with a S hared Future under Guidance of President X i Jinping
Nothing, not even mountains and oceans, can separate people with shared goals and vision In April of 2015 when spring was in the air, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a historic visit to Pakistan The two countries established the world s first all-weather strategic cooperative partnership formulated the layout of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and set direction for the leapfrog development of China-Pakistan relations in the new era Looking back on the past extraordinary decade the CPEC has flourished like a towering tree the allweather strategic cooperative partnership has shone brightly and the two countries have jointly written a magnificent epic of iron brothers developing with common interests and shared future Over the past decade, we have supported and helped each other promoting and upgrading China-Pakistan relations with highlevel mutual trust As President Xi Jinping said friendship between China and Pakistan is based on trust and mutual support, and we have been devoted friends through both good and hard times Our friendship is a pacesetter for amicable relations between countries From China’s assistance in evacuating 176 Pakistani nationals from a third country in 2015 to the safe return of over 200 Pakistani citizens from a third country in 2023, from the joint fight against COVID19 to China’s post-flood reconstruction assistance to Pakistan after the 2022 flood, we repaid kindness with greater generosity setting a good example of international relations in the new era Over the past decade leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent exchanges Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited China in June last year, Premier Li Qiang visited Pakistan in October of the same year and President Asif Ali Zardari visited China in February this year The political mutual trust between China and Pakistan has been continuously strengthened
Minister Shehbaz Sharif and reached important consensus setting the direction and injecting strong impetus for China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperation under the new circumstances We are willing to work with Pakistan to fully implement the consensus reached by the two countries’ high-level leaders and transform it into solid actions and rich outcomes of the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation Over the past decade we have upheld fairness and justice while fostering shared prosperity, and achieved common development through high-level practical cooperation President Xi Jinping emphasized that China is committed to a friendly policy toward all Pakistani people an instructed that the planning and layout of the CPEC should cover all parts of Pakistan so that the benefit can all Pakistani people As the pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative, the CPEC has progressed from a sketch to a fine drawing filled with details over the decade
Sahiwal Coal-Fired Power Plant lit up countless households Orange Line Metro Train runs through the thousand-year-old metropolis of Lahore The Khunjerab Pass is open all year round The CPEC has brought a total of US$25 4 billion in direct investment 236 000 jobs 510 kilometers of highways more than 8 000 megawatts of electricity and 886 kilometers of core transmission to Pakistan China-Pakistan trade has exceeded 23 billion USD As 2025 marks the crucial year for China’s comprehensive deepening of reforms and Pakistan’s inaugural year for “Uraan Pakistan” plan we are willing to further strengthen strategic alignment with Pakistan deepen practical cooperation in various fields provide new development opportunities for Pakistan with new achievements in Chinese modernization, and create a new model of South-South cooperation through extensive consultation joint contribution and shared benefits
Over the past decade we have stood together through thick and thin and safeguarded the steady development of our bilateral relations with high-level security cooperation As President Xi Jinping emphasized, security is the prerequisite for development and development the guarantee for security Security cooperation and economic cooperation complement each other like two wheels that must turn in unison
These important observations have charted the course for our coordinated efforts in security and economic collaboration With the
world entering a period of turbulence and transformation, China-Pakistan cooperation faces growing risks and challenges that demand even more robust and reliable security safeguards
During President Asif Ali Zardari s visit to China, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Jointly Promoting Cooperation on the Global Security Initiative providing critical guidance for enhancing our joint response to major global and regional security challenges This fully demonstrates that Pakistan consistently stands with China at the forefront when implementing the major initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping We stand ready to deepen security cooperation with Pakistan, continue to firmly support Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts jointly address non-traditional security challenges such as climate change and major natural disasters foster a secure environment for the CPEC development and practical cooperation across sectors, and provide security assurance for the enduring growth of our bilateral relations Over the past decade we have walked hand in hand and demonstrated our historical responsibility with high-level international coordination President Xi Jinping stressed that China-Pakistan relations have gone well beyond the bilateral context, and in a world of profound uncertainty both countries must stand on the right side of history to uphold true multilateralism safeguard international equity and justice and protect the common interests of developing countries This guidance holds particular relevance today China and Pakistan have maintained strategic communication on international and regional situation closely coordinated on major global and regional issues and acted as forces of stability in a world of change and chaos As fellow developing countries and key members of the Global South, with Pakistan assuming its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this year our two countries are better positioned than ever for high-level international collaboration We are ready to work closely with Pakistan to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, resolutely oppose unilateralism and hegemonism, defend the common interests of developing countries, and voice our unity in defending global peace and fairness and justice
Over the past decade our hearts have linked as one and our traditional friendship has been upheld and elevated through highlevel people-to-people exchanges President Xi Jinping noted that China and Pakistan
should translate our strong political ties into momentum for cultural engagement setting an example of mutual learning and friendly cooperation between civilizations
During the past ten years, Pakistan has ranked among the top three countries in terms of total students studying in China and recipients of Chinese scholarships Many Chinese universities have
President Xi Jinping held talks and meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime
Gwadar has transformed from a fishing village into a regional hub Electricity from
region s most anticipated event, IGATEX PAKISTAN - International Garment and Textile Machinery Exhibition, is set to return to Karachi from April 24 to 26 2025 at Karachi Expo Centre Organized by Fakt Exhibitions the show continues to serve as a powerful platform for the textile industry bringing together global innovation technology, and businesses under one roof With over 450 companies from more than 30 countries participating including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany Japan Korea Pakistan Spain Switzerland UK USA etc and pavilions from China Italy Türkiye IGATEX PAKISTAN 2025 is set to be the most
and traditions eventually lose their essence and recognition Maryam Nawaz who made history by becoming the first woman Chief Minister of Punjab, has initiated more than 80 development and welfare projects within just a year of her tenure Many of these initiatives are unprecedented in Punjab’s history Under the aegis of the Punjab Government s Information and Culture Department the Punjab Culture Festival was organized for the first time on such a grand scale and with unmatched enthusiasm, setting a new precedent in the province’s cultural narrative Since Azma Bukhari assumed the additional responsibility of Culture
NO TOLERANCE FOR TERRORISM IN NAME OF GA Z A PROTESTS: A ZMA BOKHARI
Minister for Science and Technology visits COMSATS University Islamabad
France, Spain & UAE
Diaspora Calls for Land Rights, Special Cour ts, and One-Window
Investment Facilit y at Overseas Convention
ISLAMABAD
Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Business Forum France, Mohammad Ibrahim Dar, has termed the recently held Overseas Pakistanis Convention in Islamabad a welcoming initiative that signifies a major step toward ensuring protection and investment opportunities for Pakistanis living abroad Speaking at a luncheon hosted by Ghulam Mustafa Malik, the Focal Person to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Secretary Information & Broadcasting of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Dar emphasized the urgent need for establishing special courts in all four provinces as well as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan to address land-grabbing cases faced by overseas Pakistanis He also called for the creation of a One-Window Operation consisting of all relevant departments to streamline investment procedures for overseas investors The event was attended by a large number of senior journalists from Islamabad’
QAU Hosts Landmark 15th International Microbiology Conference
The 15th International Conference of the Pakistan Society for Microbiology concluded here at Quaidi-Azam University It was a landmark event in Pakistan s scientific calendar as it transformed the campus into a dynamic center of scientific exchange This milestone event brought together leading minds in microbiology across the globe Organized by the Islamabad chapter of the Pakistan Society for Microbiology the three-day event welcomed national and international researchers educators, students, and industry leaders to explore some of the most pressing global challenges from climate change and infectious diseases to antimicrobial resistance and artificial intelligence in microbiology The conference addressed some of the most urgent global issues from climate change and infectious diseases to antimicrobial resistance and artificial intelligence in microbiology The themes were timely and underscored the interconnected nature of science and society Over three days the conference hosted 24 parallel scientific sessions across various themes and each brought something fresh Whether it was a talk on probiotics phage therapy food-borne pathogens or climate-smart bacteria the message was clear: science is moving fast
The Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan (MQM-P) has announced to actively participate in the GilgitBaltistan Assembly elections
The announcement follows a meeting between a delegation from Gilgit-Baltistan and MQM-P leaders Anis Kaimkhani and Aminul Haq in Karachi
Anees Qaimkhani emphasized that MQM-P is fully aware of the issues facing Gilgit-Baltistan and is committed to resolving them He noted that MQM-P candidates have previously secured victories in the region, highlighting the party’s historical engagement there Kaimkhani reiterated the party’s dedication to addressing the chal-
lenges of Gilgit-Baltistan s residents Aminul Haq, senior MQM-P leader, stated that the party has consistently empowered the middle class by elevating them to higher echelons of power
He described MQM-P as a tradition-breaking political force that believes in freedom, equality, and justice underscoring its commitment to inclusive representation in the upcoming elections
passed through Thatta on Fri-
when it encountered
protest organised by nationalist groups op-
projects in the region
Though no injuries were reported and the convoy passed through the area without escalation, authorities have taken a hard stance naming several STP activists in the FIR including Haider Shoro Hakeem Brohi and Javed Janori
The demonstrators had gathered to express their opposition to what they call “disputed canals” that allegedly threaten local agriculture and displace rural communities The protest is part of a broader campaign by nationalist parties and civil society groups concerned about water diversion projects Human rights organisations and political observers have raised
concerns about Shah s arrest particularly regarding the use of force Calls are growing for an impartial inquiry into both the protest and the police response Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar condemned the incident stating: Attacks on public officials are unacceptable The law must take its course Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also strongly condemned the attack and directed Hyderabad DIG to ensure swift action
No one has the right to take the law into their own hands he said ordering a full report on the incident Police say further arrests are expected as the investigation continues
Sindh police have arrested Syed Jalal Shah, the
