to be
w s D e s k
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved the release of Rs24 5 billion to support the solarisation of 27 000 agricultural tube wells in Balochistan ensuring the timely completion of the project The project which is estimated to cost Rs55 billion, will be financed with a 70 percent contribution from the federal government and a 30 percent share from the Balochistan government The federal government has already released Rs14 billion with the remaining Rs24 5 billion now set
PM announces transfer of Discos to provinces in two months
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that his government will transfer power distribution companies (Discos) to the provinces within the next two months The decision was revealed during a meeting on Monday with a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) delegation led by its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari
The move comes as the government has been exploring various op-
tions to deal with the financial troubles of the Discos, which have been suffering from heavy losses due to inefficiencies in recovery and transmission A similar announcement was made by the prime minister last month where he highlighted the need to reduce electricity costs by tackling losses of over Rs600 billion annually, largely due to electricity theft The plan also involves either privatising the Discos or handing them over to provincial control to improve their performance According to the Ministry of Fi-
nance s report published in February, Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) recorded losses of Rs851 billion in FY24 and the power sector remained the largest contributor to these losses
An official press release from the Prime Minister s Office (PMO) confirmed the decision, stating that the transfer of the Discos to the provinces would occur within two months
The PPP delegation expressed its confidence in the government s ongoing reforms in the energy sector which aim to address the challenges facing the power distribution system In addition to discussions about the power sector, the meeting also focused on the upcoming federal budget expected to be announced in the first week of June
Prime Minister Shehbaz mentioned that consultations with the government s allies, including the PPP, are already underway The PPP delegation presented its proposals for the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget
in D i a began to use its unilateral abeyance of the indus Water Treaty by stopping waters of the chenab to fill up three of its own dams, the Baglihar, Pakal Dul and Sajal Dams The three dams have a storage capacity of 1 2 million acre feet, and if the water of all three is released after theory fill up the result would be flooding in the area irrigated by the chenab it is worth remembering that these projects were objected to strenuously by successive Pakistan governments for the last several decades india s declaration of suspension was initially poohpoohed by a section of Pakistani irrigation experts on the ground that india simply did not have the capacity to stop the waters guaranteed to Pakistan under the iWT
However, while it seems that stopping the indus Water altogether and using them for its own irrigation may be beyond india s ability at the moment and may well lie in the future it can indulge in causing damage to Pakistan in fact, the damage it can inflict is likely to be quite severe, as it can hold back the waters throughout the monsoon, and release them as soon as they reach flood level
That way india can subject Pakistan to repeated floods whenever it wants Knowing the BJP this is likely to be further weaponised, with its military forces launching an attack in the flood area in coordination with the artificial flood so that the devenders are caught in the rushing floodwaters
The way the BJP strutted after its 1998 nuclear tests particularly the way then indian Home minister L K advani chortled that Pakistan would have to behave itself, indicates that it would like to keep this indus Waters as a bludgeon to beat Pakistan on the head with in 1998 Pakistan itself carried out nuclear tests and it was wonderful to see how india piped down after that However, there seems to be no quick response now in 1998, Pakistan braved international condemnation for the tests, but now it cannot carry out any action which would violate the iWT because it wants to hold india to it However What india perhaps did not realize is that iWT follows international customary law of upper and lower riparian s, which still applies The indian action is already outrageous if it is not stopped now, it will only grow worse
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
EDUcaTiOn is the soul of a nation, the beacon that lights the way to progress and prosperity it is through education that civilizations ascend societies thrive and humanity moves toward greater enlightenment a nation lacking a strong educational foundation is like a body without a soul, directionless, vulnerable, and unable to fulfil its true potential Throughout history the most successful nations have been those that invested deeply in education cultivating minds that fuel innovation economic growth, and social cohesion Yet in Pakistan, a land rich in potential and cultural heritage, the education system remains plagued by inefficiencies, neglect, and systemic flaws that threaten the country’s very future The vision of a truly educated and progressive Pakistan remains out of reach as millions of children are deprived of quality education due to financial hardship, gender disparities, and outdated curricula in an era where education fuels national progress and innovation countries that once lagged behind have surged ahead by placing education at the heart of their development strategies Unfortunately Pakistan remains trapped in a cycle of educational decline according to the United nations Development Programme (UnDP), Pakistan allocates a mere 1 7 percent of its GDP to education one of the lowest figures globally and far below the recommended 4-6 percent This chronic underinvestment has led to crumbling school infrastructure an acute shortage of qualified teachers, and alarmingly high dropout rates
UniceF estimates that 22 8 million children in Pakistan are currently out of school, the secondhighest number in the world Girls particularly in rural areas are disproportionately affected facing barriers rooted in poverty cultural norms and a severe lack of female educators if immediate and comprehensive reforms are not undertaken, Pakistan risks falling further behind in a world that is advancing at an unprecedented pace
Beyond accessibility the quality of education in Pakistan is deeply concerning The obsolete curriculum fails to equip students with the skills needed for the modern world While developed nations embrace artificial intelligence, robotics, and data science, Pakistan’s system remains rooted in rote memorization, discouraging creativity critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential in today s knowledge-driven economy as a result graduates are often ill-prepared for competitive job markets and struggle
Am e r i c a n voters want an end to the war in Gaza and for President Trump to withhold US aid if necessary to pressure israel to end it During last year s campaign, Donald Trump promised big changes in US middle east policy He said that the Gaza war never would have happened had he been president; promised he would end it; boasted it was his pressure that forced israel to accept a ceasefire; and then as president proposed the evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza to make way for a riviera-like resort Just before the 2024 election, we polled US voters and found overall support for ending the war and using US aid to israel as leverage to press them to end the occupation of Palestinian lands and end the war in Gaza This was true for strong majorities of Democrats with some republicans also agreeing We are now more than three months into President Trump s second term and israel has ended the ceasefire, renewed its bombing campaign, instituted anew the mass forced “relocation” of civilians, and reimposed the blockade of food and
domestic policies on allegations of antisemitism, crackdown on universities and deportation of students involved in pro-Palestinian anti-israel protests Here are the findings: The poll finds that voters sympathy for israel remains somewhat higher than for Palestinians But by a significant 46 percent to 30 percent margin, american voters feel that US middle east policy is too onesided in favor of israel, with 39 percent of republicans agreeing and 37 percent disagreeing This represents a substantial shift from 2024 when only 33 percent of republicans agreed that policy was too pro-israel against 43 percent who said it was not By a two to one margin, american voters also agree that President Trump should apply greater pressure on israel to end its occupation of Palestinian lands and allow Palestinians to create an independent state of their own ” While this agree/disagree ratio largely tracks last year s results the major difference in this year s findings is the substantial increase in republicans who agree that the president should apply such pressure on israel in 2024, the agree/disagree split for republicans was 37 percent to 40 percent now 49 percent agree that greater pressure
pressure israel to change its behaviors This was one of the key findings in the poll released april 30 by the arab american institute Foundation The Foundation commissioned John Zogby Strategies to poll 1000 american voters to assess their attitudes toward the Trump administration s policies toward israel s war in Gaza What comes through quite clearly is that between november 2024 and april 2025 the overall responses did not change significantly What has changed is that israel is losing favour with republicans who now want President Trump to take a stronger stance to rein in israel s behaviour This, however, does not translate into a lack of GOP voters support for the president s
to meet evolving industry demands Poor governance further deepens the crisis corruption nepotism and political interference divert resources meant for improving infrastructure and teacher training Teacher recruitment often lacks transparency, leading to the hiring of underqualified individuals while widespread mismanagement allows phenomena like ghost schools institutions existing only on paper to thrive additionally the education system fails to promote social cohesion or responsible citizenship The curriculum often presents a narrow, biased view of history and neglects critical subjects like civic education human rights and environmental awareness in a world where inclusivity tolerance and global understanding are increasingly vital Pakistan s education model lags behind, reinforcing outdated narratives rather than cultivating a progressive, harmonious society a comparative analysis with countries that have successfully overhauled their education systems shows that Pakistan s challenges are not insurmountable china through decades of consistent investment transformed itself into a global economic powerhouse South Korea, once devastated by war, prioritized education and is now a leader in technology and innovation Finland revolutionized its education system by focusing on critical thinking creativity and student well-being consistently ranking among the best globally Singapore too evolved from a struggling economy into one of the world s most prosperous nations through its relentless commitment to education and skills development even Bangladesh, once part of Pakistan has made significant strides in improving literacy rates and achieving gender parity in education These success stories highlight a clear truth: nations that prioritize education cultivate prosperity, innovation, and social harmony Pakistan must urgently reassess its priorities, recognizing that an uneducated population will only perpetuate stagnation inequality and
social unrest real and lasting change in Pakistan s education system is difficult but entirely within reach reform must begin with increasing the education budget to at least 4% of GDP, ensuring adequate resources for infrastructure, teacher training and modern curriculum development Teachers must be recruited on merit professionally trained and properly compensated as they are the foundation of quality education integrating digital learning and encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential for preparing students for a rapidly changing world Strategic partnerships between government and the private sector can also help address gaps and accelerate progress Promoting gender equality is critical initiatives like providing stipends for girls, ensuring safe transportation, and hiring more female teachers can dramatically increase female enrolment, especially in rural areas regional disparities must be addressed with equitable investment and attention Governance reforms are urgently needed to eliminate corruption and ensure that educational resources reach those who need them most education is not merely a goal, it is the engine of empowerment, innovation, and national strength Pakistan now stands at a pivotal crossroads Without bold action it risks falling behind in an era of technological and economic transformation Treating education as a matter of national security and economic survival is essential Only by reclaiming education as a national priority can Pakistan unlock the promise of its people and secure a prosperous, stable future for generations to come
The writer is Ph D in Political Science and visiting faculty at QAU Islamabad His area of specialization is political development and social change He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweet@zafarkhansafdar
Nukes without ner ve
TH E Hindu Kush–Himalaya–Karakoram mountain range often referred to as the “Third Pole” due to its vast glacial reserves acts as a critical freshwater source for people in South Asia especially in India and Pakistan These ice reserves feed into rivers that flow downstream to India and Pakistan, sustaining the ecosystems, agriculture, and domestic water needs of both nations However with the rapidly accelerating impacts of climate change this region has become increasingly vulnerable According to studies comparing the periods 2000–2009 and 2010–2019, the rate of glacial melt has increased by 65 percent, resulting in increased water availability in the short term, but posing serious long-term risks of water scarcity and erratic flow regimes For Pakistan the stakes could not be higher The country s economy remains largely agrarian, and attempts to diversify into industrial sectors have been undermined by low foreign direct investment, persistent political instability and deteriorating security conditions Consequently the agricultural sector heavily reliant on the Indus River system continues to support the majority of livelihoods Farmers and smallholder agribusinesses are highly dependent on both canal irrigation and groundwater extraction However, in many areas groundwater is being extracted at unsustainable rates with aquifers showing alarming levels of depletion The continued over-extraction threatens not only future water availability but also the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the country In this context, India’s recent decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in “abeyance” has raised alarm bells in Pakistan The feasibility of such a suspension and more importantly its consequences must be assessed in detail starting with the provisions of the treaty itself Signed in 1960 by President Ayub Khan and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the Treaty explicitly gave the waters of the western rivers (Indus Jhelum and Chenab) to Pakistan and the eastern rivers waters (Ravi Sutlej Beas) to India Essentially the treaty resulted in allocation of 20 percent of the Indus River system water to India while 80 percent went to Pakistan
While India is entitled to use its full share of water, yet about 2 million acre-feet of water remains unutilized from the Ravi, flowing into Pakistan Four of the six rivers (Indus Jhelum Chenab) originate entirely in India while two rivers (Indus and Sutlej) originate in Tibet but flow through India before entering Pakistan
This geographic control gives India an upper riparian position which is one of the reasons why Pakistan has had concerns about India’s upstream control Pakistan is obligated to let the waters of the Sutlej and Ravi River flow freely before they enter Pakistan s territory Pakistan cannot divert these waters in the reaches before the rivers have finally crossed into Pakistan In other words, even though these rivers may pass through parts of Pakistan, if they haven’t officially entered the country Pakistan cannot extract water for large-scale irrigation or storage
Once these tributaries enter Pakistan s territory any tributary that joins afterwards becomes Pakistan s unrestricted water source and if Pakistan adds any water from such tributaries upstream before the final crossing, India cannot use that water and both countries are mandated to record flows For the waters of Indus Jhelum and Chenab Pakistan has full unrestricted rights to use the water and India is legally bound to let these waters flow freely to Pakistan without any diversion or interruption As for Pakistan, India is not allowed to interfere with the flow of western rivers except for the part that is within the Indian side of the river s drainage basin
According to the treaty both sides can use rivers for non-consumptive purposes but they must not alter the flow in ways that would harm the other country s legal usage
In
What Khaleda Zia’s return means for the BNP
Q uestions abound about whether the c urrent administration c an genuinely facilitate a free and fair elec toral process, or whether it risks drif ting into another prolonged unelec ted arrangement
However, both countries are allowed to engage in activities such as drainage work, riverbank reinforcement, dredging, erosion control, and removing grave, stones, and sand all done in a way that it does not cause harm to the other country
As of now what India has hinted with its suspension statement is interference with the waters According to the treaty, interference is any man-made obstruction to the flow of water which can change the volume of daily flow of water into the countries; however this obstruction can only involve an insignificant and incidental change due to fluctuation such as bridge piers or temporary-by-pass
Moreover, a detailed resolution mechanism is in place in case a problem arises in the terms of the treaty Even a factual disagreement can indicate a violation, and in that case the first step is for the Indus Waters Commission to investigate the matter If the disagreement becomes a difference then each of the commissioners can dispatch the issue to be handled by a neutral expert If the issue doesn t qualify under the neutral expert’s jurisdiction or if the issue doesn’t qualify under the Neutral expert’s jurisdiction then the matter is considered a policyrelated matter and is escalated to a full dispute If the dispute has been identified either commissioner can ask the commission to report the dispute to both governments and the report must include points where the commissioners agree, points of disagreement and the positions and reasoning of each commissioner Then follow the bilateral negotiations between governments where each of the parties must name their negotiators and propose a time and place to meet A court of arbitration can be established
as a final resolution mechanism in three possible ways (mutual agreement between the two governments unilateral request by one government after bilateral negotiations have started, but the party believes that the dispute won’t be resolved this way, and unilateral request if the invited party doesn’t respond or delays negotiations for more than a month ) India s recent strong statement on suspending the Indus
What she chooses to do nex t may ver y well shape how histor y remembers this moment, and how B angladesh chooses to move for ward
For Muslims in France, there is no safe place
It ’s about an entire ecosystem of hate, one that is propped up by state policies cloaked in neutralit y, media narratives that c ast Muslims as threats, and daily indignities faced by Muslim students, workers and families
When a veiled Muslim woman in France has an 80 percent lower chance of landing a job inter view; when Muslim schools face dispropor tionate scrutiny; and when a man can be murdered in his own mosque, nowhere is truly safe for Muslims in France
The violent killing of Aboubakar Cisse during prayers inside a mosque highlights the normalisation of Islamophobia across Europe
attention from party members and observers alike What shape the BNP will take in the coming days and how its leadership will evolve may soon become clearer The broader political climate remains fragile The interim government has yet to offer clarity on electoral reforms or a transition timeline all of which continue to fuel public unease and scepticism Questions abound about whether the current administration can genuinely facilitate a free and fair electoral process, or whether it risks drifting into another prolonged unelected arrangement At the same time, the BNP faces its own internal challenges While the party remains a principal political force years of suppression organisational stagnation and leadership in exile have left it fragmented at the grassroots In recent months troubling reports have surfaced of some local leaders and activists engaging in extortion, intimidation, and factional clashes Intra-party feuds often driven by rivalry for influence, financial control, or access to leadership have damaged the BNP’s credibility in several districts Without strong internal discipline and renewed commitment to reform the party risks squandering the public goodwill that Khaleda Zia s return and symbolic stature have helped rekindle And yet, through all of this, Khaleda Zia stands as a reminder of resilience in the face of repression Her political journey beginning reluctantly after the assassination of her husband President Ziaur Rahman has spanned coups jail terms boycotts and ballot box triumphs She led mass movements against dictatorship served as prime minister three times, and holds the rare distinction of winning every seat she ever contested Through personal losses and political isolation, she never chose exile even when offered Her strength has not just been organisational but moral
Still reverence must not replace reason For the BNP to remain relevant in the coming years it must go beyond symbolism It must modernise listen to the youth, embrace reform, and articulate a vision that speaks to today s Bangladesh one that includes jobs, justice, rights, and reconciliation
Khaleda Zia’s return opens that window not as a reset to the past but as a passage towards a more balanced and inclusive political future She remains one of the few figures respected across partisan lines viewed by some as a symbol of sacrifice, by others as a survivor of injustice, and by many as a stateswoman who refused to give up In a nation long fatigued by polarisation and rhetoric her silence is instructive It reminds us that sometimes restraint is the most powerful political statement of all What she chooses to do next may very well shape how history remembers this moment and how Bangladesh chooses to move forward
Mohammad Al-Masum Molla is a journalist at The Daily Star He can be reached at masumjrn@gmail com
LAT E last month, the news broke: Aboubakar Cisse a young Black Muslim man of Malian descent had been killed inside a mosque in southern France Initially described in the media as a personal dispute that narrative quickly fell apart as a local prosecutor announced the case was being investigated as an act with Islamophobic connotations Cisse wasn’t just killed; he was targeted in a sacred space After cleaning the mosque for Friday prayers surveillance footage showed him teaching another man how to pray As Cisse prostrated himself in prayer the other man pretended to follow along before pulling out a knife stabbing him 57 times and shouting vile Islamophobic slurs The emotional wreckage this has caused is immense Since the footage surfaced, each detail has deepened the Muslim community’s collective grief, and ignited a seething anger Like many others I ve found
