PUNJAB POLICE, CTD ELIMINATE 10 MILITANTS IN MAK ARWAL OPERATION
LAHORE/MIANWALI
TS TA F F R E P O R T
H E Mianwali Police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Monday killed at least 10 terrorists and injured several others in a joint operation against terrorists in Mianwali s Makarwal area
According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Police a resident of the area was also injured in the operation due to firing by the terrorists and was consequently moved to the hospital for treatment
The operation against the terrorists was carried out under the supervision of the Regional Police Officer Muhammad Shahzad Asif Khan and the Mianwali District Police Officer (DPO) Akhtar Farooq
he added The spokesperson continued
that DPO Farooq other policemen CTD officers and the department s personnel remained completely unhurt”
While quoting Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar the statement read that the provincial police chief congratulated the Mianwali cops on their brilliant success against the terrorists”
“The Punjab police are on alert the nefarious plans of the terrorists will be crushed to dust the Punjab police chief was quoted as saying
In a separate statement, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the Punjab police and CTD for killing the terrorists stating that the law enforcement agencies achieved a great success by bringing the terrorists to an exemplary end I am proud of the courage of the brave soldiers who foiled the
nefarious intentions of terrorists, Naqvi said
congratulate the entire team of police and CTD for killing more than
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday said the government was striving to resolve the issues of overseas Pakistanis on a priority basis and working to provide them more facilities He was chairing a special meeting on matters related to overseas Pakistanis He said the overseas Pakistanis would be given opportunities of investment in Pakistan according to their expertise Overseas Pakistanis played the role of ambassadors of Pakistan in the outside world, he said, adding overseas Pakistanis rendered great services for Pakistan
The prime minister said a large number of overseas Pakistanis attended the recently held overseas convention which showed their trust in the policies of the government “We salute the true sentiments of overseas Pakistanis and their love and sacrifices for their country ” he said adding the overseas Pakistanis had made a name for themselves and their country by working diligently all across the world
The prime minister said expa-
mutually beneficial cooperation in the priority areas like trade investment defence diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Dar said that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Rwanda as the country established its High Commission in Kigali in 2021 and Rwandan High Commission would be inaugurated during the ongoing Rwandan foreign minister s visit He said that offering a promising market for Rwandan products, Pakistan was among the largest importers of Rwandan tea and was actively exploring further imports of Rwandan coffee avocado pulses and horticulture products Similarly he said that Pakistan s exports in pharmaceuticals textiles rice surgical instruments, agri-tech, and sports goods had strong potential in Rwanda Citing great potential for collaboration in information and communication technology the deputy prime minister said that Pakistan was keen to partner with Rwanda in digital transformation e-governance fin-
triates worked day and night as professionals in the fields of medicine, education, engineering, and consultancy and earned legitimately
The government of Pakistan recently in recognition of the services of overseas Pakistanis gave a big package of incentives, he continued
He said those overseas Pakistanis who performed prominently in different fields and those who sent the highest remittances through the State Bank would be given civil awards in view of their services
The meeting was briefed on the progress regarding the facilities announced by the government and the strategy to implement them Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir, federal ministers, and relevant officials attended the meeting PM lauds 9 38% increase in textile sector Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the 9 38 percent increase in textile sector in the first nine months of current fiscal year In a statement he said that textile sector exports have reached an all-time high of 13 613 billion dollars which is highly encouraging Shehbaz Sharif said increase in textile exports
tech and innovation platforms for youth
He said Pakistan looked forward to the continued engagement of Rwandan businesses, including at the upcoming PakistanAfrica Trade Development Conference and Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa in May 2025
Highlighting the frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries DPM Dar said that the bilateral cooperation on the multilateral front also remained robust with both supporting each other s candidatures at the UN and other international fora In his remarks, Foreign Minister Olivier J
Pakistan eyes $200 million halal meat expor t deal with Malaysia
PTCL CEO warns merger delay with Telenor may derail IFC financing
Telenor Pakistan merger by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), warning that further lag could jeopardize the transaction and its associated financial arrangements Speaking to the media after the announcement of PTCL Group s financial results for the first quarter of 2025, Bamatraf said, We are surprised over a delay in transaction for the last one year,” adding that all required documents avail-
able for the transaction have already been submitted to the CCP He emphasized that Etisalat, PTCL s parent company, had executed similar transactions in other countries without facing such delays “There are certain timelines in the transaction agreement that could affect the PTCL-Telenor merger Bamatraf warned underscoring the urgency of regulatory approval He further stated that the delay could disrupt a key loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) a member of the World Bank Group which is linked to the successful closure of the merger deal While PTCL remains optimistic about the growth potential from the merger with Telenor Pakistan, Bama-
traf said that the uncertainty caused by CCP s inaction is detrimental We are waiting for the approval and we are surprised over the delay it should not have taken place,” he added PTCL’s Q1 2025 financial report revealed a 22% growth in group revenue reaching Rs61 85 billion However the group incurred a net loss of Rs3 97 billion during the period The three main business arms PTCL, Ufone, and UBank contributed to the financial performance PTCL itself posted a net profit of Rs1 17 billion for January–March 2025 while Ufone remained in the red despite a 21% revenue increase, contributing significantly to the group s overall loss
NO PROGRESS ON MINES & MINERALS BILL WITHOUT IMRAN KHAN’S APPROVAL: SPEAKER KP ASSEMBLY
salt expor
porters These improvements have made Pakistan a more attractive and reliable supplier in the Chinese market China s increasing consumption of salt in sectors like chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food processing has further fueled demand Pakistan’s diverse salt offerings are well-suited to meet these needs
A senior official from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) described the development as a positive indicator of Pakistan s growing capacity to meet international demand and diversify its export portfolio This surge is a testament to Pakistan s expanding capacity to meet international market demands, and a positive sign for
DE P U T Y Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar s one-day visit to Kabul did not result in any firm agreements, but did serve as an icebreaker which would lead to positive results for both countries There are a multiplicity Afghans to stay in Pakistan on the plea of being refugees if they no longer have valid visas Pakistan is sticking to its April 30 deadline for refugees Pakistan has observed a link in the two issues, as it has found that TTP operatives use the similarity between Pakistan’s native Pukhtun population and Afghans to hide their nefarious activities and sees the expulsion s helping ensure that terrorists do not have the room to carry out the activities in the anonymity afforded by a large refugee population Presumably Mr Dae was able to convey the seriousness of intent of the Pakistan government
It is important to the government that the TTP be contained, not just because of KP, but also because of Balochistan When the Taliban returned to power in Kabul it was gleefully assumed that the Taliban would be under the thumb of the Islamabad government They were not Indeed, within the politics of Pakistan, their links to the PTI began to look suspicious, especially with the PTI’s KP government asking for a place at the table The government also needs to end the save havens for the TTP before they ask their Afghan counterparts to extend their protection to the Baloch separatists with whom, they seem to be allied Other issues which might disturb relations are Pakistan’s anti-smuggling measures which need to be buttressed by Afghanistan increasing its control over its borders
Pakistan must be careful in its dealings with Afghanistan Mr Dr indicated the inconclusive nature of the present interaction by his invitation for Afghanistan to dome to Pakistan If a fresh beginning has to be made then Pakistan must give up the old British Raj attitude which saw Afghanistan as a buffer state between it and the Russian Empire One reason for trying to get favourable regime in Kabul was to prevent the Afghanistan-India nexus prevailing ever since Independence That axis showed up most recently during the Jaffarabad Express hijacking, where handlers were in Kandahar Whatever the past, Afghanistan is still a neighbour, and must be treated as one not as a colony
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
US President Donald Trump recently an-
nounced a sharp increase in tariffs across the board with all the USA’s trading partners, apparently in an effort to bring better balance in the countries’ trading relations in terms of exports and imports and for also increasing both domestic industrial production and employment levels Having said that apparently at the back of the conciliatory attitude of as many as reportedly 75 trading partners, who wished to renegotiate trading terms with the USA, he paused the application of recently announced increase in tariffs for 90 days on all trading partners– except China which continues to carry a significant retaliatory stance with the USA–while the uniform 10 percent tariff rate on all trading partners will continue to be applied The increase in tariffs, while it jolted the markets worldwide, the decision to pause application of tariffs, however, brought back some gains An April 8, Guardian published article ‘How “liberation day” rout compares with other notorious stock market crises pointed out market losses as Donald Trump s escalating trade war has plunged global financial markets into the steepest rout since the spread of the Covid pandemic five years ago Drawing parallels with the 1929 Wall Street crash and the ensuing 1930s Great Depression the US president’s “liberation day” tariff plan has led to warnings of a global recession from leading economists More than $5tn (£4tn) has been wiped off the value of global stock markets since Trump s Rose Garden address on Wednesday evening last week In terms of gains by market after the announcement of pause in application of tariffs, an April 9, Financial Times (FT) article ‘Global stocks soar as Donald Trump backs down from trade war indicated Donald Trump stunned global investors on Wednesday when he announced a 90-day pause in additional tariffs on countries that were willing to negotiate with the US US equities jumped immediately after Trump’s announcement, with the blue-chip S&P 500 index closing up 9 5 per cent The rally spread to Asia on Thursday with Japan’s Topix rising 8 per cent and Taiwan s Taiex advancing 9 3 per cent The stunning climbdown from the US leader came after a week of turmoil in global markets, with trillions of dollars shed in equities around the world, US bonds sharply selling off and oil prices plunging to levels last seen during the Covid-19 pandemic A heavy sell-off in US government debt a bedrock of the global financial system eased following Trump s U-turn and a Treasury auction that signalled robust international demand The World Trade Organization (WTO), in its April 2025 report ‘Global trade outlook and statistics’ showed concern over the impact of tariffs on trade as follows: The outlook for global trade has deteriorated sharply due to a surge in tariffs and trade policy uncertainty (TPU) Based on measures in place as of 14 April, including the suspension of reciprocal tariffs by the United States, the volume of world merchandise trade is now expected to decline by 0 2% in 2025 before posting a modest recovery of 2 5% in 2026 The new estimate for 2025 is nearly three percentage points lower than it would have been without recent policy shifts and marks a significant reversal from the start of the year, when WTO economists expected to see continued trade expansion supported by improving macroeconomic conditions ’ The same report with regard to impact of trade policy related uncertainty – in this case possible uncertainty likely due to the recent changes in tariff by US President – pointed out Trade
H o w t h e U S b u y s t h e W o r l d f o r f r e e
scenario but the countries dumping dollars would experience the
Also, it is hoped through trading negotiations between the USA and its trading partners in the wake of tariffs policy, there will be an overall move towards much-needed decrease in tariffsÊ level, and non-tariff barriers, globally, including diminishing walls of patents/intellectual property rights (IPRs) for commodities that are of essential nature, like vaccines, and which otherwise should better reflect investment of taxpayersÊ money in the shape of reduced prices
most immediate and severe pain The USA, due to its institutional military and technological advantages would endure longer Thus retaliatory dumping of the dollar would amount to a self-inflicted wound
A more strategic and potentially sustainable path would be for the world to gradually pivot away from the dollar altogether In this scenario, over the next decade countries form a consensus around a new reserve system perhaps a gold-linked BRICS coin a central bank digital currency or a commodity-backed blockchain token Oil is priced in yuan or a digital euro International contracts are settled in diversified currency baskets The reliance on a single nation’s currency would fade, distributing global financial power more equitably The consequences for the USA would be significant Losing its reserve currency status would mean losing the exorbitant privilege of paying for imports with printed dollars Demand for the dollar would contract Inflation would rise Interest rates would surge Government spending would need to be curtailed or financed through real productivity not limitless debt Wall Street s global supremacy would diminish and US soft power would decline Yet for the rest of the world, this could mean a more balanced global trade system, one not subject to the whims of a single national monetary policy This raises a deeper philosophical issue: should global trade be conducted based on fiat currencies at all? A more equitable system would measure international trade not in symbolic reserve currencies but in real economic value A nation exporting $1 billion worth of steel,
Small changes, stronger hear ts
that powers life consistently pumping blood to nourish our bodies However, heart diseases continue to threaten millions of people
According to a report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) approximately 17 9 million deaths occur globally due to these conditions Contributing factors include unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, smoking and stress Fortunately, most
Individuals
Adopting a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds provides essential nutrients that support heart function and combat inflammation
Additionally, incorporating fibre-rich whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats can lower cholesterol regulate blood pressure and aid in weight management These are crucial factors in any effort to minimise the risk of heart disease
However, diet alone is insufficient Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health Engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming, can strengthen the heart enhance circulation and alleviate stress
The World Heart Day year after year is aimed
Dr Omer JaveD
Qamar Bashir
DBut,
one aspect has not been so highlighted on
occasions by the speakers that
Iqbal was also an elected member of the Punjab Legislative Council from 1927 to 1930 from Lahore City Urban on a seat for Muhammadans on a ticket of Muslim League In those days, Muslims were described as Muhammadan and others as nonMuhammadan Allama Iqbal was elected as President in the annual meeting of All India Muslim League in Allahabad in December 1930 which continued for two days It was here
that he had presented his concept of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent He had also attended the Second and Third round Table Conferences It is well-known that Allama Muhammad Iqbal hailed from a Kashmiri family which had migrated from Kashmir in the early part of 19th century and settled in Sialkot His family initially lived in Mohalla Khatikan In 1861, Allama s grandfather Sheikh Muhammad rafiq bought a house in Kashmiri Mohallah os Sialkot which is now known as Iqbal Manzil Allama Iqbal was born in this house on 9 November 1877 His education started from Masjid Peer Hisamuddin Later he joined Scotch Mission High School Sialkot and passed his Middle examination in 1891, Matriculation in 1893 and Intermediate from the Scotch Mission College which was later known as Murray College He continued his further education in the Government College Lahore from where he did BA in 1897 with honours and also got two gold medals for showing excellence in English and Arabic and did his MA in Philosophy He started his teaching career from Oriental College Lahore as Arabic Teacher from 1899 to 1903 and afterwards taught English and Philosophy in his alma mater Government College and in Islamia College, and then went to England for higher education, getting BA degree from Cambridge University and being conferred PhD by Munich University of Germany in 1907 and Bar-at-Law from Lincoln’s Inn London 1908 On return to Lahore he was appointed as Professor of Philosophy alongside which he continued legal practice in Lahore High Court also
Allama Iqbal was fond of poetry right from his childhood days and was introduced to the people in 1901 when Sir Abdul Qadir published his poem Himala in his literary journal Makhzan Allama Iqbal had lived at several places in Lahore for varying periods including the upper storey of a bookshop of Attar Chand Kapoor Booksellers in Anarkali from 1908 to 1922 in a house on Mcleod road from 1922 to 1935 He had also lived somewhere inside Bhati Gate from 1900 to 1905 though its exact location has not yet been identified Construction of Javed Manzil on Mayo road from Lahore railway Station to Garhi Shahu at the back of Cairns railways Hospital which has since been turned into Iqbal Museum housing personal belongings etc of the great thinker and poet itself makes an interesting story which may not be known to many While residing on Mcleod road, Allama Iqbal had in 1934 bought a piece of land measuring about seven kanals in open auction at Mauza Garhi Shahu in the name of his younger son Javid Iqbal When the construction of the house was completed at a total cost of rs 43,025, he shifted there from Mcleod road Javed Iqbal was the owner of the house and Allama Iqbal lived there on rent Allama Iqbal had written a document on stamp paper in May 1935 according to which he had rented three front rooms for rs 50 per month and the amount was paid regularly to his son/landlord Javed Iqbal and receipt of the same duly acquired Within four days of shifting to the newly-constructed house Allama Iqbal suffered a great personal loss when his wife and mother of Javed Iqbal Sardar Begum died on 24 May 1935 Allama Iqbal had lived at Javed Manzil till his death on 21 April 1938, nine years ahead of his concept of a separate home-
There is lot to see for the researchers and scholars of Iqbaliyat at the Iqbal Museum and also at the bungalow of late Dr Javid Iqbal on Main Boulevard in Gulberg Lahore where Jimmy EngineerÊs mural of „Javid Namah‰ may be of some interest for many
W h o a r e t h e f r o n t r u n n e r s t o s u c c e e d P o p e F r a n c i s ?
those under 80 years old, will vote in secret ballots inside the Sistine Chapel A two-thirds majority is required to elect a new pope If no consensus is reached additional rounds of voting will continue until a candidate emerges with the necessary support When a round of voting does not reach consensus ballots are burned and the black smoke that appears from the Sistine Chapel chimney signals to those watching on television and in St Peter ’s Square that the conclave continues When white smoke appears a new pope has been chosen Dillon emphasized that the days leading up to the conclave will be crucial There will be plenty of time and many face-to-face interpersonal opportunities during the mourning period for bishops and cardinals to informally confer with one another about their goals and desires for the conclave and its outcome,” she said
WHO ARE THE LEADING CANDIDATES?
As speculation builds several high-ranking cardinals have emerged as top contenders According to Vatican observers and bookmakers, the following candidates have the strongest odds Here is a closer look at each of them
LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE (PHILIPPINES):
A key issue for the conclave will be Francis s handling of sexual abuse cases, which has divided Church leaders Most importantly, can the voters trust that the person they elect is not a sexual predator who could be exposed?” Lehner asked According to Michelle Dillon dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of New Hampshire Francis was consistently trying to bring much greater transparency and professionalism to the Curia Yet, she also noted that some cardinals remain skeptical about his openness to secular engagement, fearing that the Church could lose its unique identity
The College of Cardinals, composed of
Currently the betting favorite at 3:1 odds Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle 67 is considered a strong contender to continue Pope Francis s progressive agenda Tagle, an advocate for inclusion and evangelization, has significant experience leading the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and was a trusted figure in Francis’s inner circle Overall I think the fact that by my count over 100 of the eligible papal electors were appointed by Francis could have a profound effect on the outcome, said Cristina Traina, a professor at Northwestern University That is, we may not get a pendulum swing away from Francis’ priorities ” Tagle’s Asian heritage also makes him a compelling choice as Catholicism is growing rapidly on the continent particularly in the Philippines
PIETRO PAROLIN (ITALY): At 4:1 odds, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, is one of the most experienced Vatican officials In his role as the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2013, he has played a major part in diplomatic affairs including sensitive negotiations with China and Middle Eastern governments Parolin is seen as a moderate theological candidate, someone who could provide stability while still maintaining some of Francis s reforms His deep ties to Vatican bureaucracy make him a strong contender for those who favor continuity
land for the Muslims being translated into reality under the inspiring leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on 14 August 1947 Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah along with his illustrious sister Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah had visited Allama Iqbal at Javed Manzil in 1936 Hindu leader Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru was also a great admirer of Allama Iqbal and had visited him at Javed Manzil The transformation of Javed Manzil the last abode of Allama Iqbal, into the Iqbal Museum is also a story of great interest and will be narrated some other time in bit detail 1977 was Iqbal’s birth centenary year of great thinker and poet Allama Mohammad Iqbal To mark the beginning of the year long celebrations in this regard Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had visited Lahore on 1 January 1977 He went to the mazar of Allama Iqbal, who is laying in eternal rest on the right side of the stairs of historic Badshahi Masjid offered “fateha” and placed wreaths
In brief here on the asking of the military ruler President/Chief of Army Staff
General Muhammad Ziaul Haq Dr Javed Iqbal had sold Javed Manzil along with all personal documents, belongings and articles of personal use to the Federal Government for rs 3 5 million and it was turned into Iqbal Museum in December 1977
During the reign of another military dictator General Pervez Musharraf some personal belongings and documents of Allama Iqbal were supposedly borrowed for sometime on his express orders for the newly-established National Monuments Museum in Islamabad These are on display there and the Curator of the Iqbal Museum on being contacted said that this makes no difference whether Allama Iqbal s personal belongings are on display in Islamabad or Lahore because these are being keenly viewed by the visitors there also
Dr Javid Iqbal had purchased a bungalow of his choice as per direction of the President/COAS to the Punjab Government on Main Boulevard in Gulberg Lahore where he had lived till his death couple of years back with wife Justice (retd) Nasira Javid Iqbal Dr Javid Iqbal’s bungalow in Gulberg is also a place
PETER TURKSON (GHANA): Currently at 5:1 odds in betting markets, Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, is a well-known figure in the Church’s social justice circles As former head of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development Turkson has been vocal on issues such as climate change poverty and economic justice Turkson s election would mark a historic moment as the first African pope in centuries The most recent African pontiff was Pope Gelasius, who served from 492 to 496 AD Born in rome to African parents Gelasius was known for his extensive theological writings and strong advocacy for charity and justice for the poor
PETER ERDŐ (HUNGARY): A leading conservative candidate, Cardinal Peter Erdő, 72, is currently at 6:1 odds A respected canon law scholar Erdő has been a strong advocate for traditional Catholic teachings and doctrine He previously served as head of the Council of European Bishops Conferences and has emphasized theological orthodoxy For those seeking a return to the conservatism of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, Erdő would represent a major shift away from Francis’s approach
ANGELO SCOLA (ITALY): At 8:1 Cardinal Angelo Scola 82 is a long-standing papal contender He was among the favorites in the 2013 conclave that ultimately elected Pope Francis Scola, a former Archbishop of Milan, has deep theological roots and appeals to those who support a more centralized and hierarchical Church His traditionalist stance makes him a strong candidate for those looking to pivot away from Francis s reforms but his age may work against him
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? A papal conclave typically begins between 15 and 20 days after a pope’s death That time allows for the funeral rites a nine-day mourning period known as
CONDOLENCES POURING IN AS POPE FRANCIS DIES ON EASTER MONDAY AT 88
as vitamin E which can help in maintaining skin health as well as neutralising free radicals What sets palm oil apart is that the vitamin E content in palm oil consists of 18% - 22% tocopherols and 78% - 82% tocotrienols unlike other vegetable oils that contains mainly tocopherols Tocotrienols have been proven to be more potent than tocopherols, and are uniquely found in only a few vegetable oils, most notably in palm oil and rice bran oil Studies have shown that tocotrienols protect tissue against ultraviolet light-induced oxidative stress exhibit anti-inflammatory cancer preventive properties as well as support cardiovascular health among others
Additionally red palm oil is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin A, converted from a pigment called carotenoids Carotenoids in palm oil is 300 times higher than tomatoes and 15 times higher than carrots Some of the health benefits of carotenoids include protecting the body against oxidative damage and supporting cardiovascular health by lowering inflammation Red palm oil available commercially is palm oil refined under milder processing conditions to preserve its beneficial phytonutrients including carotenoids and tocotrienols Non-Food Applications
Palm oil is not only used in food applications but also plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of nonfood products that are part of our daily lives These include personal care products for skin care hair care oral hygiene body care as well as household cleaning products, to name a few Oleochemicals which are produced from oils and fats, are important components in manufacturing these daily essentials taking into consideration these derivatives are able to be processed to achieve the desired texture or characteristics More importantly oleochemicals are renewable plant-based and the sustainable alternative to replace fossil fuels-based petrochemical products, which were previously used in the manufacturing of these products For example, palm oil-based oleochemicals are used as components in the manufacturing of skin care products These components are important in providing thickening and stabilising properties for hydration and
moisturisation, among others Similarly, cosmetic products such as lipsticks use palm oil derivatives to enhance heat resistance and moisturising effects In addition many personal hygiene products such as toothpaste soap facial cleanser and shampoo as well as household cleaning products need the foaming agents derived from palm oil Palm oil is also used as a feedstock for the production of biofuels primarily in palm oil producing countries which is a greener alternative for fossil-based fuels Thus palm oil can support and contribute to global energy security taking into consideration that it is a renewable source of energy as compared with finite sources of fossil fuels and natural gas Studies have shown that biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emission, helping to combat global warming and climate change
Sustainable Production and Non-GMO Crop
Stakeholders in palm oil producing countries including the governments and industry players continue to enhance the sustainable production of palm oil One important achievement is the mandatory implementation of the national sustainable certification schemes in Indonesia and Malaysia, namely the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) respectively These certification schemes provide the assurance to consumers that palm oil they use complies with strict standards particularly for environmental protection
More importantly, oil palm is a non-genetically modified (non-GMO) crop, which is important for consumers who prefer to avoid genetically modified organisms (GMO) The oil palm industry relies on the natural process of selective breeding to enhance the desirable traits and eliminate the undesired characteristics This method offers the natural option for production of palm oil with preferred traits Therefore, consumers can be assured that sustainable palm oil are nutritious oil with many health benefits to support global food security
CM MARyAM FORMALLy L AUnChES FIRST-EvER SMART EnvIROnMEnT PROTECTIOn FORCE
World renowned ophthalmologist delivers insightful lec ture on impor tance of Arclight in Ophthalmology
The College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS)
King Edward Medical University (KEMU) had the distinct honor of hosting Mr Andrew Blaikie, Consultant Ophthalmologist at NHS Fife, Senior Lecturer at the University of St Andrews, and Honorary Associate Professor at the International Centre for Eye Health Mr Blaikie delivered an enlightening lecture on the Importance of Arclight in the Field of Ophthalmology "
The session was organized under the leadership and guidance of Prof Muhammad Moin Principal of COAVS who welcomed Mr Blaikie and emphasized the institution s commitment to academic excellence and global collaboration in eye health
During his lecture, Mr Blaikie highlighted the transformative role of the Arclight device, a low-cost, solar-powered ophthalmoscope and otoscope, in enhancing eye care, especially in resource-limited settings His engaging presentation drew attention to how such innovations are bridging the gap in diagnostic capabilities in underserved communities worldwide Faculty members, postgraduate residents, and students actively participated in the session, benefiting from Mr Blaikie's vast expertise and experience in both clinical practice and academic research
CDA chief visits ‘Flower and Birds’ exhibition at Rose & Jasmine Garden
ISLAMABAD S TA
R T Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa visited the Flower and Birds Exhibition 2025 organized by the Environment Wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) at Rose & Jasmine Garden, where he was given a detailed briefing about the exhibition During the briefing it was highlighted that on the directives of the Chairman CDA the exhibition not only attracted thousands of visitors with their families but also received immense appreciation, with people purchasing flowers, plants, and birds worth millions of rupees A large number of citizens participated enthusiastically and enjoyed the priceless spring blooms on display The briefing further mentioned that the flower exhibition featured a variety of colorful flowers brought from across the country along with rare and exotic birds of different species On this occasion, Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa stated that such exhibitions will be held regularly every year and their scope will be further expanded He added that we would strive to organize exhibitions of fruits beautiful trees and birds in all major parks of Islamabad, along with regular recreational activities, to provide citizens with high quality and unique entertainment opportunities
The event concluded with a token of appreciation presented to Mr Blaikie along with a vote of thanks from Prof Muhammad Moin who reiterated the importance of global cooperation in improving eye care outcomes and encouraged continued efforts in innovation and research
IESCO issued e-cour t live via Facebook schedule
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The IESCO administration has provided various platforms to esteemed users for timely registration and redressal of electricity related complaints and advancing the same vision on 23 rd April, 2025 (Wednesday) From 09:30 AM to 11:30am all Operational Circles incharge will attend valuable customer complaints according to above schedule
PAKISTAN KEEN TO ELEVATE UAE POLITICAL TIES TO MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP: PM
farmers If the right price is not set for wheat, it will not just be a loss for farmers, but for the entire country of 250 million people,” he said He further emphasised that despite requests from the chief minister no real support had been extended to farmers who had worked diligently to grow
Farmers are being insulted by the advisers of the Punjab chief minister, while they are the ones en-
suring food security for the country Khokar added He criticised the government for abolishing the support price for wheat, which he described as the essential fuel for all crops According to Khokar, farmers are facing financial ruin due to taxes a lack of subsidies and the absence of proper compensation for their crops As a result many farmers have been forced to stop agricultural activities
Marking 10 years of X i ’s visit, Amb Jiang says CPEC has turned from vision to
and others alos addressed He said there are rapid changes at the global landscape and President Xi Jinping recently visited the South East Asian countries and this trip was very important and was filled with hope and joy He said that the main purpose of the visit was the developing relations with neighbors for profitable envi-
ronment and exclusive ties with all neighbors of China including Pakistan He said that abusive tariffs and its negative impact has reinforced China s focus on its neighboring countries He said that China would continue its high quality development especially with its neighboring countries He said that China s market would remain fully open for its neighboring countries and we will fully implement the commitment made by President Xi Jinping Referring to President Xi Jinping’s visit a decade back, Amb Jiang said that President Xi paid a historic state visit to Pakistan on 20-21 April 2015 and the Pakistani government and people extended their warmest welcome and highest hospitality The 28-hour visit witnessed 18 events and the signing of 51 cooperation documents, it was intensive both in schedule and outcomes President Xi Jinping together with then President Mamnoon Hussain and then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to elevate our bilateral relations to a new height of all-weather strategic cooperative partnership , meaning that we will always move ahead together rain or shine’,” he said He said President Xi Jinping also personally charted the overall layout for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) These opened a new chapter in our traditional friendship and bilateral relations
During the visit Amb Jiang said that President Xi Jinping not only held meetings with leaders of Pakistan s government, parliament, military and political parties, but also warmly received representatives of Pakistani friends and awarded them the Friendship Award of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence
Moreover President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at Pakistan s parliament, where he received over 50 rounds of applause (desk-thumping) in 30 minutes In the speech, President Xi Jinping called for substantiating the China-Pakistan community with a shared future to lead the way in building a community with a shared future in Asia This has been our fundamental guidance over the past decade and we have taken solid steps in implementation, he said Firstly, he said, we have supported and helped each other, deepening our strategic cooperation and over the past decade our heads of state and governments have exchanged visits and met on multilateral occasions for 20 times with over a hundred other high-level visits and dialogues These provided strategic guidance and strong impetus for the all-weather strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan We have firmly supported each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns Pakistan has been an example for the international community in adher-
ing to the One-China Principle while China has consistently supported Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity We have been each other ’s
