The world today bears fresh scars from the use of conventional weapons in Gaza that have left deep wounds As if that were not enough we are now witnessing an alarming new low the weaponization of water he told the in-
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday rejecting the weaponization of water warned that Pakistan would not allow India to cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and endangering millions of lives for narrow political gains India s unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Water Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basin s water, is deeply regrettable Millions of lives must not be held hostage to narrow political gains, and Pakistan will not allow this We will never allow the red line to be crossed the prime minister said while addressing a three-day high-level International Conference on Glaciers Preservation being held here from May 29-31, 2025 The conference is being attended by over 2 500 delegates from 80 UN member states and 70 international organizations including prime ministers vice presidents, ministers, and UN assistant secretaries-general Prime Minister Shehbaz, in his comprehensive address, touched all the relevant issues including glacial preservation, Pakistan’s climate vulnerability, 2022 floods in Pakistan, global cli-
ternational conference being hosted by Government of Tajikistan in collaboration with the United Nations UNESCO WMO the Asian Development Bank and other key partners as a historic moment for climate ambition glacier preservation, and international cooperation
The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, through a resolution, had declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers Preservation 21st of March as World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025
and that the Government of Tajikistan will host the International Conference on the subject in 2025 Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan being home to over 13 000 glaciers was the most concerning as glaciers contributed nearly half of the annual flows in the Indus River system – the lifeline of our civilisation, culture and economy “The five great rivers that shape our geographical landscape Indus Jhelum Chenab Ravi and Sutlej all depend on the stability of glacial systems This makes Pakistan one of the most vulnerable countries to any climatic changes that impact glaciers,”
SINGAPORE S TA F F R E P O R T
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, said Pakistan and India are close to reducing the troop build-up along their border to levels before conflict erupted between the nucleararmed neighbours this month although he warned the crisis has increased the risk of escalation in the future
According to Kashmir Media Service General Sahir Shamshad Mirza who is in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue forum speaking to Reuters, said the two militaries had started the process of drawing down troop levels
“We have almost come back to the pre-22nd April situation we are approaching that or may have already reached it said Mirza He credited Pakistan s strong and effective response for forcing India to reduce its troop presence along
the border He said that significant damage had already occurred before the international community became actively involved He said w
the recent conflict it was a dangerous situation Nothing happened this time he said But you can t rule out any strategic miscalculation at any time, because when the crisis is on, the responses are different ” He also said the risk of escalation in the future had increased since the fighting this time was not limited to the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir
“This (conflict) lowers the threshold between two countries who are contiguous nuclear powers in the future it will not be restricted to the disputed territory It would come down to (the) whole of India and (the) whole of Pakistan,” Mirza said “This is a very dangerous trend ”
Mirza warned that international mediation might be difficult in the future because of a lack of crisis management mechanisms between the countries Pakistan was open to dialogue, he added, but beyond a crisis hotline between the directors general of military operations and some hotlines at the tactical level on the border there was no other communication between the two countries Mirza said there were no backchannel discussions or informal talks to ease tensions
He noted that tensions between the two countries may continue in the future as well For the first time, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which is a very alarming and irresponsible step This decision was taken within just 24 hours of the Pahalgam attack without any evidence He also said that Pakistan is an agricultural country, and the suspension of the treaty poses a threat to its very existence
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday
signed the Islamabad Capital Territory
Child Marriage Restraint Bill into law aiming to prohibit marriages involving children under 18 years of age
The bill, which passed both houses of parliament and reached the presidency on May 27, seeks to protect children’s rights and eventually eliminate underage marriages in the capital territory
and beyond The operation formed part of a broader cam-
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman shared the signed notification on the social media platform X and described the bill’s approval as a significant milestone in Pakistan s legislative reforms against child marriages She noted the legislation was enacted despite opposition from religious groups, including the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), which challenged the classification of marriages under 18 as rape on grounds of Islamic law Rehman called the signing a symbol of a new era of reform and hailed it as a victory for the rights of women and children She said the law reflects a commitment to ensuring girls’ access to education health and a better life She thanked party leaders opposition representatives and the public for supporting the bill and urged other provinces to adopt similar legislation The CII, with members from various sects including JUI-F opposed the bill arguing it contradicts Islamic teachings and societal traditions CII
paign, Marka-e-Haq, which ran from May 7 to May 10 Paying tribute to the martyrs of the operation the COAS said the people of Pakistan had become a wall of steel under national leadership Marka-e-Haq is a testimony to our resolve, unity, and complete synergy among all elements of national power ” he said adding “Allah’s help comes to those nations that stand for the truth and fight with unity
Highlighting the changing nature of modern
CERP, PRINCETON L AUNCH ENERGY TRANSITION PL ANNING PROJECT FOR PAKISTAN
(PAC)
nancial mismanagement and unlawful recruitment within the Pakistan Post Office during a review of audit objections related to the Ministry of Communications
During the session, chaired by Junaid Akbar Khan the PAC established a new subcommittee to address the issues further appointing Muneeb Amir Pirzada as its convener with Nadeem Abbas, Khawaja Shiraz, and Saleem Mandviwalla as members
According to a news report, the committee examined the unauthorised use of over Rs4 billion in funds by the Pakistan Post It was revealed that utility bill payments collected from citizens were misused for other purposes PAC members questioned the justification for such actions, with the chair labeling it “robbery ” Khawaja Shiraz Mehmood demanded account-
anticipated revenue shortfall This demand surprised industry members, who questioned how cheques could be issued for sales yet to occur Rashid Mahmood explained that the industry claims lower FED would boost sales volumes and eventually increase tax revenue The government requires guarantees, in the form of post-dated cheques, to substantiate these claims He emphasised that any tax relief must be balanced by alternative revenue measures to avoid fiscal losses Aatika Mir representing the Fruit Juices Council, highlighted that since the 20 percent FED was imposed in 2023 on
ability and asked about any disciplinary measures taken In response, the communications secretary confirmed that internal disciplinary actions had been initiated, but emphasized the need for reconciliation with the NBP The PAC has summoned NBP officials to the next session for further clarification on this matter
Audit officials informed the committee that the Pakistan Post Office had opened multiple accounts at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) without proper authorisation While the Finance Division had approved the opening of three accounts the department had opened two additional accounts without approval Despite audit objections, no departmental action had been taken the officials said Communications Secretary Ali Sher Mehsud acknowledged the operational difficulties faced by the Pakistan Post Office but expressed frustration over the lack of coordination between the Finance Division and
top of the existing 18 percent GST the formal packaged juice industry s sales have plunged by 45 percent, falling from a projected Rs 71 billion in 2022-23 to about Rs 42 billion last year This decline has led to underutilisation of production capacity halted new investments and reduced fruit procurement adversely affecting fruit farmers and pulp processors For example, mango purchases dropped to 20,233 tons last year from 31,000 tons in 2017-18 Mir added that the heavy taxation increases product prices pushing consumers toward cheaper low-quality and potentially unsafe alternatives from the undocumented sector, which constitutes over 25 percent of the market
the department The PAC chair questioned the disconnect asking why the Finance Division claimed it had not received the request, while the secretary insisted it had been sent
The committee has now sought an official response from the Ministry of Finance
Additionally the PAC discussed allegations of illegal hiring within the Pakistan Post Audit officials revealed that 4,252 job positions were advertised, though only 3,938 were officially sanctioned
The committee was further shocked to learn that many of the documents submitted by the hired individuals were fake The chair expressed outrage, calling the hiring process a “scam,” while Senator Afnanullah Khan called for legal action against those involved including both those who accepted bribes and those who offered them
The matter has been referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for investigation
The Fruit Juice Council is calling for a reduction in FED to 15 percent citing the industry s export potential, with packaged juices currently reaching more than 30 countries They warned that if growth does not resume export volumes will also suffer
Central Jail Bahawalpur owes Rs 18 75 million Deputy Director E/M Division CDA Islamabad for Aiwan-e-Saddar owes Rs 18 65 million, and the Medical Superintendent of DHQ Hospital Abbottabad owes Rs 18 15 million The Medical Superintendent of Lahore General Hospital owes Rs 17 76 million, while the SDO Baluchistan, House F-5/2 Islamabad, owes Rs 17 64 million
COMMENT
up to its old tricks again
TH E sheer venom India holds for Pakistan can be judged from how it has delayed the approval of an ADB loan of $800 million by five days, even though this will not disturb the Pakistani Financing Plan or the ADB loan’s role in it The ADB Board of Directors was scheduled to give approval of the loan on Thursday, but postponed it by five days after the Indian government’s nominee demanded the extra time to examine the loan documents This confirms that the Indian approach has not changed, and it will do its damnedest at international economic forums to do down Pakistan, and it can be expected to argue that the loan will be diverted to terrorism As with the IMF, where it made the same argument, it will not offer any proof whatsoever, just as it offered no proof of any Pakistani involvement in the Pahalgam attack At the IMF it reiterated the tired old arguments it had put to the Financial Action Task Force, which had initially placed Pakistani on its grey list By cooperating with FATF, Pakistan not only defeated all the dedicated Indian efforts to get it blacklisted but it managed to get off the grey list
Is there any reason for the purposeless and forlorn Indian attempts to get international financial institutions to discriminate against Pakistan? This delay will serve no real purpose It will not derail Pakistan s financial plan in any way, and it is going to meet all its targets for the fiscal year Was India somehow trying to compensate itself for the humiliation inflicted upon it on the battlefield by the successful Pakistani defence against Operation Sindoor, and then its successful response in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos? Or was this some sort of compensation for its recent humiliation before the IMF?
If India wants to embarrass itself, Pakistan has no duty to stop it However India’s reducing itself to the regional gadfly ill behooves the major power it aspires to be This is the sort of motiveless malignity (as Shakespeare put it) that Hindus had showed under the Raj that obliged Muslims to work for Partition The BJP merely reflects that mentality of the Indian people It is a sad reflection on India, as well as democracy, that the electorate has returned the BJP to office since 2014 The Hindutva party has won three elections on the trot That means it reflects the will of the Indian people And until they change, Indian hostility to Pakistan will keep being shown even as pettily (and purposelessly) as at the ADB
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
At the onset of
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declared, “We
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worked out amongst three services , he added, Ironically, not too long thereafter, the Indian Navy acknowledged that it did not participate in Operation Sindoor and kept waiting for instructions from the government This was nothing but a crude attempt at salvaging a sinking pride After all the Indian navy crowns itself with the title of
For far too long the Indian Navy has been a „free rider‰ using crutches of the US and other navies and looked muscular outwardly Yet, under the cloak, the inner core remains hollow The declaration by the Indian Navy of „dominating the maritime front‰ remained an elusive dream A rethinking by the US and Quad Navies in placing reliance on such a shaky strategic par tner now may be in order
Justice delayed, Justice denied
of timely accountability have exacerbated humanitarian crises and undermined faith in the rule of law In March 2025 widespread protests erupted in Balochistan following the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train Families seeking to identify victims bodies faced police violence leading to further unrest The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) reported that police fired on peaceful protesters, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries Protests spread to Karachi and internationally with the Baloch diaspora organizing demonstrations in Europe Pakistan s parliament passed a controversial bill granting the government extensive control over social media, including imprisoning users for spreading disinformation Human rights activists argue that the law suppresses freedom of speech and targets dissenting voices Journalists have faced intimidation harassment and surveillance for perceived criticism of the government leading many to self-censor Over 50 prominent Afghan women s rights activists sheltering in Pakistan are facing deportation and fear imprisonment or death under Taliban rule The Pakistani government has pledged to deport millions of Afghan nationals citing security
concerns Advocacy groups, including Amnesty International, criticize Pakistan s actions, labeling the deportations a death sentence In April 2025 protests erupted in Sindh’s Babarloi region against the federal government’s plan to construct six new canals on the Indus River under the Green Pakistan initiative Lawyers nationalist organizations, and civil society groups led sitins, arguing that the project threatened Sindh s water resources and violated the 1991 Water Accord The protests caused significant disruptions, including a province-wide strike
We first crush people to the earth and then claim the right of trampling on them forever because they are prostrate Lydia Maria Child I just want to say that every person has a right to speak So we take it positively and try to resolve the problems That’s why we should support local NGOs working on human rights legal aid and education Encourage peaceful protests and civic engagement to raise awareness and demand accountability Use digital platforms to amplify voices, document abuses, and connect activists nationwide Reform school curriculums to teach human rights tolerance and critical thinking and raise awareness in rural and marginalized communities about their rights Use art storytelling and media to change social attitudes that enable injustice Stay updated on current events and injustices happening locally and globally This allows you to understand the nuances and complexities involved Educate yourself on the laws human rights and social issues
Leadership in denial
The Mask Slips
Fasiha Mazhar
The fallout was catastrophic Three children, a security guard, and a bus driver were among the five people that were martyred on the spot Over the span of the past week the
toll reached ten Numerous other kids were lying in bloody puddles their dreams crushed to dust their books burned their backpacks ripped apart And who claimed this attack? The Baloch Liberation Army No shame No remorse No apology This was not collateral damage This was intentional strategic and inhumane They murdered children schoolchildren For what? For carrying a book instead of a bomb? Every BLA bullet has an Indian fingerprint behind it The RAW-BLA partnership is made clear by numerous intelligence reports confessions from militants who have been apprehended and indisputable funding trails India has invested millions of dollars in this insurgency through its infamous intelligence agency RAW, providing terrorists with propaganda networks, logistics, and weapons Their goal? to bleed Pakistan from the inside out in order to destabilize it Since they are unable to prevail in a traditional conflict they have made terrorism their official policy Their puppet, proxy, and malignant instrument against our nation is the BLA In addition to terrorists, a hostile neighbour posing as a democracy has also targeted Pakistani territory India will always be openly shamed There is no denying its crimes Where is the Baloch Yakjehti Committee when bombs go off and kids are killed? If Mahrang Baloch, the self-described activist who appears on international stages, wasn’t jailed at the moment she would have never condemned this rather would have taken pride in this cowardly act by the BLA It is deafening how silent they are Not a word for the Jaffer Express victims No tears for the children of Khuzdar They assert that they support
The blood of our mar tyrs holds us tog ether, from Khuzdar to Lahore , from Gwadar to Islamabad. Despite the fact that our nation has experienced terror, we will not give in to it The BLA can destroy our dreams, bomb our trains, and kill our children, but they can never break our spirit And weÊre on the rise with Operation Masoom Not just to battle , but to put a permanent stop to this terrifying chapter
Revoking visas of Chinese students ‘aggressive’ power play in no one’s interest
AM I D the uproar of Donald Trump s crackdown on international students in the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that the US will aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese students studying in the country
Following his announcement, the US State Department published a statement titled “New Visa Policies Put America First Not China saying it will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields” Yet given that the US Court of International Trade ruled on Wednesday that Trump had overstepped his authority over tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Rubio might be overly presumptive in assuming he has the authority to give an order to revoke the visas of international students from a particular country Federal immigration law requires individualized assessments for visa revocations As such mass actions targeting a specific group could face legal challenges for exceeding statutory limits or violating due process The executive orders Trump has issued have given the world an impression that he and his administration can do anything they want without any consideration of the law But in a pivotal decision the US Court of International Trade struck down the sweeping reciprocal tariffs unilaterally imposed by Trump in April, citing the misuse of executive authority and the absence of congressional oversight According to the court Trump s use of the IEEPA to impose universal duties on imports exceeded the scope of the law, which does not grant the president the power to unilaterally regulate importation through tariffs Additionally the three-judge panel found that the specific tariffs targeting Canada Mexico and China related to fentanyl did not align with the threats outlined in the orders, further undermining the administration’s justification for the tariffs And revoking the visas of Chinese students is no small mat-
ter and any decision to do so must be based on the law More than 270,000 students from China are currently studying in the US It is the accumulation of cultural exchanges between the two countries over the past several decades that has made it normal for many Chinese students to consider studying in the US At the same time, many US universities have been more than willing to accept students from China Not just for financial reasons but also because of their academic research achievements Chinese scholars and researchers have contributed considerably to what the US has achieved in science and technology over the past several decades In other words US universities have benefited financially by enrolling students from China, and Chinese students have contributed to the development of science and technology in the US Politicizing visas for students from China in the name of safeguarding national security will not just reduce the revenue of US universities, but also do a disservice to academic researches in many US institutions of higher learning The move and the accompanying rhetoric show how deeprooted the Cold War mindset is in Washington The political circle in Washington appears to have no forward-looking vision for the long-term development of humanity Instead, fixated on an imagined golden age of US splendor they turn a blind eye to the fact that cooperation between the US and China holds great significance and potential for the future of humanity If the US does start to revoke the visas of Chinese students China will undoubtedly take countermeasures which will definitely further damage the already fragile bilateral relations By blocking international students including those from China from studying in the US, Washington is only ring-fencing itself academically from the rest of the world which will amount to scientific suffocation for the US because collaboration is the lifeblood of scientific progress China has repeatedly called on US politicians to view its development objectively and rationally, stop creating bloc confrontation and refrain from fueling anti-Chinese sentiment in the US The ruling that presidential authority falls within the bounds of the law is the opportunity for the administration to sober up with a reality check
N a move that has ignited a global uproar, US President Donald Trump banned international students from Harvard University citing national security and ideological infiltration The decision which has been widely condemned by academics and foreign governments alike, apparently threatens to undermine America s intellectual leadership and soft power ” At stake is not just Harvard’s global appeal but the very premise of open academic exchange that has long defined elite higher education in the US But exactly how open is Harvard s admissions process? Every year, highly qualified students – many with top-tier SAT or GMAT test scores – are rejected, often with little explanation Critics argue that behind the prestigious Ivy League brand lies an opaque system shaped by legacy preferences DEI imperatives geopolitical interests and outright bribes George Soros for instance once pledged $1 billion to open up elite university admissions to drones who would read from his Open Society script China s swift condemnation of Trump’s policy added a layer of geopolitical irony to the debate Why would Beijing feign concern for “America’s international standing” amid a bitter trade war? The international standing of US universities has long been tarnished by a woke psychosis which spread like cancer to all branches of the government So, what was behind China’s latest gripe? The answer may lie in the unspoken rules of soft power: Ivy League campuses are battlegrounds for influence The US deep state has long recruited foreign students to promote its interests abroad – subsidized by American taxpayers no less China is apparently playing the same game, leveraging elite US universities to co-opt future leaders on its side of the geostrategic fence For the time being, a judge has granted Harvard’s request for a temporary restraining order against Trump s proposed ban Come what may there is one commonsense solution that all parties to this saga would like to avoid: Forcing Ivy League institutions to open their admissions process to public scrutiny The same institutions that champion open borders, open societies, and open everything will however not tolerate any suggestion of greater openness to its admissions process That would open up a Pandora s Box of global corruption that is systemically ruining nations today Speaking of corruption – how is this for irony? A star Harvard professor who built her career researching decision-making and dishonesty was just fired and stripped of tenure for fabricating her own data! CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH AND ALUMNI NETWORKS: The Ivy League has a vested interest in perpetuating rising wealth and educational inequalities It is the only way they can remain atop the global rankings list at the expense of less-endowed peers Elite universities like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT dominate lists of institutions with the most ultra-wealthy alumni (net worth over $30mn) For example Harvard alone has 18 000 ultra-high-networth (UHNW) alumni representing 4% of the global UHNW
petuate this exclusivist cycle The total endowment of Princeton University – $34 1 billion in 2024 – translated to $3 71 million per student enabling generous financial aid and state-of-the-art facilities Less prestigious institutions just cannot compete on this scale Global university rankings (QS, THE, etc ) heavily favor institutions with large endowments, high spending per student, and wealthy student bodies For example, 70% of the top 50 US News & World Report Best Colleges overlap with universities boasting the largest endowments and the highest percentage of students from the top 1% of wealthy families According to the Social Mobility Index (SMI), climbing rankings requires tens of millions in annual spending, driving tuition hikes and exacerbating inequality Lower-ranked schools which prioritize affordability and access are often overshadowed in traditional rankings which reward wealth over social impact Besides social mobility these days is predetermined at birth, as the global wealth divide becomes unbridgeable Worse, the global ranking system itself thrives on graft, with institutions gaming audits inflating data and even bribing reviewers Take the case of a Southeast Asian diploma mill where some of its initial batch of female students had been arrested for prostitution Despite its flagrant lack of academic integrity it grew rapidly to secure an unusually high QS global ranking – ahead of venerable institutions like the University of Pavia, where Leonardo da Vinci studied and which boasts three Nobel Laureates among its ranks DOES THIS GROTESQUE INVERSION OF MERIT MAKE ANY SENSE? Government policies increasingly favor elite institutions Recent White House tax cuts and deregulation may further widen gaps by benefiting corporate-aligned universities while reducing public funding for others This move was generally welcomed by the Ivy League until Trump took on Harvard With such ominous trends on the horizon brace yourselves for an implosion of the global education sector by 2030 – a reckoning mirroring the 2008 financial crisis, but with far graver consequences And touching on the 2008 crisis, didn’t someone remark that “behind every financial disaster there’s a Harvard economist? Nobody seems to be learning from previous contretemps In fact I dare say that learning is merely a coincidental output of the Ivy League brand When Lehman Brothers and its lesser peers collapsed in 2008, many Singaporebased corporations eagerly scooped up their laidoff executives The logic? Fail upward If these whizz kids were truly talented why did they miss the glaring warning signs during the lead up to the greatest economic meltdown since the Great Depression? The answer lies in the cult of credentialism and an entrenched patronage system Ivy League MBAs and Rolodexes of
China suppor ts settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation: Wang Yi
ments in a spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation, building consensus through dialogue and consultation, promoting development through win-win cooperation, and solving issues with a future-oriented perspective
China has been actively exploring ways of hotspot issue settlement that carry the Chinese touch so as to lend our thoughts to countries seeking to resolve problems or disagreements with others
Three years ago, Wang added, “China and like-minded countries jointly initiated the establishment of the IOMed Through diligent efforts we have finally concluded the Convention and received extensive support and positive responses from the international community
Wang pointed out that China has all along advocated addressing disagree-
“An innovative step in international ruleof law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international rela-
tions The establishment of the IOMed is an actualization of the purposes and principles of the U N Charter Mediation, as is clearly stated in Article 33 of the Charter, is one of the first means that should be tried in seeking peaceful solutions to international disputes he said But so far there is not yet an intergovernmental legal organization in this field The IOMed takes it as its mission to mediate disputes between states or between a state and foreign investors, and international commercial disputes based on the will of relevant parties ” he added It will fill an institutional gap in international mediation and serve as an important public good in the field of the rule of law for better global governance The establishment of the IOMed is an example of a civilizational belief in harmony Resolving conflicts through dialogue and
SEOUL ag e n C i e S South Korean liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is projected to win next week s snap presidential election a result that could reorient a major US ally on policies ranging from China to nuclear weapons and North Korea Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who was impeached and removed from office over December ’s short-lived martial law decree, had gone all-in on supporting Washington taking a hard line on North Korea and repairing ties with Japan Lee who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election has long taken a more sceptical view of the US alliance vowed to engage with North Korea, and was bitterly critical of Yoon s rapprochement with Japan He made waves on the campaign trail by saying South Korea should keep its distance from any China-Taiwan conflict, later insisting he is not proBeijing Tacking toward the centre in an effort to win moderates however Lee has taken to praising the US alliance and said he would continue trilateral cooperation with Japan and the United States seen in Washington as pivotal to countering China and North Korea
The Yoon administration claimed to uphold democratic values in foreign policy while pursuing authoritarian tactics domestically ” Wi Sung-lac a lawmaker who advises Lee on foreign policy told Reuters In contrast if the Democratic Party wins the incoming government will be prepared to genuinely defend democracy and lead a foreign policy grounded in those values, proven by its long history of struggle for demo-
mediating disputes through consultation is a common value and aspiration of all major civilizations in the world he asserted The birth of the IOMed can help transcend the you-lose-I-win zero-sum mentality, promote the amicable resolution of international disputes, and foster more harmonious international relations
The establishment of the IOMed is an epitome of inclusiveness in the culture of the rule of law It incorporates the very best of major legal systems respects the wishes of parties concerned, and draws upon the strengths of being more flexible, cost-effective, convenient and efficient,” he added
“And it will complement and form synergies with litigation arbitration and other existing international dispute settlement mechanisms As decided through consultation among countries participating in the negotiation of the Convention, the IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong whose handover is itself a success story of peaceful settlement of international disputes he added
The success of One Country Two Systems has created brighter prospects for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong
What’s more, the city enjoys exceptional advantages in international mediation for example its affinity to the motherland and connection to the world its enabling business environment its highly-developed legal system, and its strength in both common law and civil law
Insights into growth oppor
cratic rights in Korea Some in Washington wonder if Lee s pivot on a range of issues will last and how his views might clash with US President Donald Trump, who has slapped South Korea with tariffs, pressed it to pay more for the 28,500 troops stationed there, and upped competition with China
“Great scepticism remains that Lee would actually stray from his previous advocacy for conciliation with China and North Korea nationalist antagonism toward Japan, and more independence in its alliance with the United States, said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst now at Washington’s Heritage Foundation
While this pivot has expanded Lee’s appeal, “it also raises concerns about future policy and governing consistency Darcie Draudt-Vejares of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wrote in a report
Much has changed in the three years since South Korea s last liberal president, Moon Jae-in, left office, after overseeing a trade and political clash with Tokyo over historical disputes related to Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean peninsula and an ultimately failed attempt to broker lasting diplomatic deals between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
One Western diplomat who asked not to be named said China s assertiveness, doubts about US commitments, and North Korea s new cooperation with Russia means Lee may be unlikely to return to some of his earlier stances Lee has vowed to cooperate with Japan on security technology culture and environment but he criticised Yoon for giving too many concessions with little in return
Chairperson Benazir Income Suppor t Program
Senator Rubina Khalid Visits Khushab
CDA C hairman chairs meeting to finalise arrangements for Eid-ul-A zha
and
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T A high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and DG Civil Defense Muhammad Ali Randhawa was held today to finalize arrangements for Eid-ul-Adha 2025 The senior officers from ICT Administration Capital Development Authority (CDA) District Municipal Administration (DMA) ICT Police, and other concerned departments participated The meeting focused on ensuring citywide cleanliness public safety and efficient management of six Cattle Mandis CDA s Sanitation Department Emergency and Disaster Management and Encroachment Department in coordination with Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) will lead a comprehensive cleanliness campaign including the distribution of 200 000 biodegradable bags for proper disposal of animal waste A control room at Safe City Headquarters will oversee operations during the Eid holidays The ICT Police will enhance security at Eidgahs marketplaces and public parks Free veterinary camps will be set up at Cattle Mandis by the Livestock Department to assist the public To ensure public safety and order during Eid holidays a comprehensive security and traffic plan should be made and implemented along with deployment of police personnel at prominent public places/ markets Specifically police help desks should be established at major commercial centers and a specialized parking plan will be made in place by Islamabad traffic police to ensure smooth flow of traffic during Eid holidays Similarly Sanitation Department CDA will launch a comprehensive awareness campaign in order to inform citizen of Islamabad at large regarding proper disposal of animal waste during Eid holidays at the destinated places as Sanitation Directorate CDA will have adequate arrangements for collection of animal waste during Eid-ul-Adha Chairman CDA, Chief Commissioner Islamabad and DG Civil Defense has said that Eid reinforces the importance of faith worship and devotion to Allah as well as unity compassion contributes to economic activity and a time for families to gather, strengthen bonds and participate in communal prayers and celebration CDA is fully committed to assisting citizens during Eid holidays with best of it abilities by taking various steps to ensure clean, safe and comfortable environment
Skills360 and FUUAST Sign MoU to Empower Students with Industr y-Ready Skills KARACHI S TA F
Skills360 Pakistan, an education & development venture under the umbrella of The Coach360 co-founded by Burhan Mirza has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Urdu University of Arts Science & Technology (FUUAST) to strengthen student access to industry-aligned education The agreement, signed in the presence of Skills360 Executive Director, Kashif Hussain Shah and Director ORIC at FUUAST, Dr Hina Akram Mudassir marks a significant step toward bridging academic learning and professional skills development As part of this initiative Skills360 will reserve 25 seats across multiple courses exclusively for FUUAST students This is part of a broader effort to make industry-relevant education more accessible to university students Furthermore, building on its commitment to inclusivity and merit Skills360 will also provide a 50% scholarship on all its courses for students nominated by the university s management In a promising academic integration FUUAST may choose to recognize completed Skills360 courses as elective components within its own academic programs This will be subject to internal academic review and curriculum alignment, reinforcing the university’s commitment to progressive education
One of the standout aspects of the partnership is the career support integration in the program Top performers will have access to internship opportunities through Skills360 s vast network of affiliated industry partners, offering real-world work experience that can significantly enhance post-graduation job prospects
Tri-lateral Agreements to Launch Digital Bir th and Death Notification Tools in GB
National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has signed trilateral agreements to implement digital birth and death notification tools in healthcare facilities across Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) This initiative supports the modernisation of Pakistan s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system under the National Registration and Biometric Policy Framework and aligns with the government’s “Udaan Pakistan” digital agenda Digital tools will enable realtime registration of births and deaths at the point of occurrence A key agreement was signed at the GB Secretariat in Gilgit linking GB s health facilities with NADRA and local CRMS sites managed by the Local Government & Rural Development Department A separate agreement was signed with the Ministry of National Health Services and the ICT Administration for Islamabad Similar partnerships have been established in Sindh and Balochistan as NADRA continues to expand the initiative nationwide
ADC MART YRED AFTER TERRORISTS ATTACK RESIDENCE IN BALOCHISTAN’S SORAB
for good The southern Sindh province a traditional hotspot for migratory birds has seen the most drastic drop According to the Sindh Wildlife Department s 2024-25 waterfowl count, migratory bird numbers plunged from 1 2 million in 2023 to 603,900 in 2024 and further down to 545,000 this year a staggering fall of over 50 percent in two years In 2023 the region experienced an unusual influx buoyed by the lingering effects of the catastrophic 2022 floods which temporarily revived lakes streams and lagoons This replenishment made Sindh an ideal stopover for birds making the 4,500-kilometre journey from Siberia to India via the Indus Flyway However, this year tells a different story “Sindh has long been a refuge for migratory birds because of its unique biodiversity and many lakes lagoons and waterways said Mumtaz Soomro of the Sindh Wildlife Department But those numbers have declined gradually since 2023 due to receding water levels and droughts The latest survey, covering 40 percent of Sindh, found water shortages at key bird habitats including Manchar, Keenjhar, Hamal, and Haleji lakes Nareri lagoon and the Rann of Kutch wildlife sanctuary Many of these sites are Ramsarcertified wetlands of international importance Migration is seasonal with birds arriving by late August and departing by February Over 50 species, including gulls, mallards, plovers, snipes, cormorants, cranes, and storks, have historically used Sindh’s wetlands as stopovers
Human rights defenders Tahira Abdullah and Samina Omar were released on Friday after a brief detention in Islamabad, a Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) activist told local media
The HRCP had earlier condemned the “arbitrary arrest of Abdullah and Omar outside the National Press Club ahead of a planned protest in solidarity with the people of Gaza The commission s statement on X noted that neither woman was part of any public gathering at the time, and their actions did not violate Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as alleged by police Section 144 empowers district administrations to prohibit assemblies of four or more people for a limited period in a specified area
The HRCP expressed concern that Abdullah and Omar were reportedly denied access to legal counsel during their detention The commission demanded their immediate and unconditional release
The protest had been organised by former Jamaati-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan who had
called for public participation in a post on X
Prior to their release HRCP activist Tariq Mehmood Ghouri said Abdullah and Omar were held at the women s police station in Sitara Market alongside two other female activists affiliated with Jamaat-i-Islami including Mushtaq’s daughter They were charged under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code for disobedience to a public servant s order Ghouri added that seven men were also arrested and held at Kohsar police station Mushtaq Khan and other activists have faced previous arrests for staging pro-Gaza protests in Islamabad, also for violating Section 144 In September last year police detained Mushtaq his wife son and over two dozen protestors during a march to express solidarity with Gaza The rally had been called at Express Chowk, an entry point to the high-security Red Zone In March 2024, the capital police filed charges against Mushtaq and 350 others, including allegations of stone-pelting and threats to law enforcement following another protest at Express Chowk related to Palestine
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has arrived in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on an official visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties between the
