IRAN L AUNCHES HUNDREDS OF BALLISTIC MISSILES AT
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement Iranaian senior official told Reuters that nowhere in Israel will be safe, adding that the country’s revenge will be painful Air raid sirens blared across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv early Friday as Israel s military confirmed the launch of multiple missiles from Iran The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) instructed civilians to seek shelter immediately and remain there until further notice Loud explosions were heard over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with AFP and Reuters correspondents reporting booms consistent with missile interceptions Iran s state media confirmed that hundreds of ballistic missiles had been launched in response to recent Israeli strikes
An Israeli military spokesperson said the country was actively intercepting the incoming threats and emphasized that Israel could defend itself without foreign assistance
A televised briefing by the spokesperson was abruptly cut short, reportedly due to an incoming missile targeting central Israel
Iran s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed that the country s armed forces would respond with all might to Israeli attacks that killed several senior commanders, nuclear scientists and
against the Islamic Republic of Iran, reaffirming that it stood in resolute solidarity with the government and the people of Iran The Israeli military strikes violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and clearly contravene the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law Iran has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement He said that Pakistan stood in resolute solidarity” with the people of Iran and unequivocally denounced these blatant provocations which constituted a grave danger and a serious threat to the peace security and stability of the entire region and beyond with serious implications The spokesperson said that the international community and the United Nations had the responsibility to uphold international law stop this aggression immediately and hold the aggressor accountable for its actions
civilians across multiple Iranian cities Mayhem as 86 killed, 341 injured in Israeli strikes on Iran At least 86 people were killed and 341 others injured in large-scale Israeli airstrikes that targeted Iranian soil on Friday, according to Fars news agency In the capital Tehran, 78 people lost their lives and 329 others sustained injuries Separately at least eight people were killed and 12 others injured in Israeli strikes that targeted Tabriz in northwest Iran Israel launched a large-scale attack early Friday, deploying around 200 air-
According to Iran s Tasnim news agency Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami and other military and civilian figures have been assassinated in Israeli strikes in Tehran It also reported the assassination of Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi a nuclear scientist and president of the Islamic Azad University, and Fereydoun Abbasi, also a nuclear scientist and former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran were also assassinated in separate strikes Besides Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters Major General Gholamali Rashid was assassinated in the Israeli strikes In a statement issued from the presidency President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the Israeli military strikes on Iran terming them a blatant violation of the country s sovereignty and territorial integrity “The Israeli military strikes are a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran and amount to total disregard of the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, he said
craft to target Iran’s nuclear program and long-range missile capabilities Several senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists were killed in the strikes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the targeted military operation will continue as long as necessary Iran has vowed “severe punishment,” and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social he had given Iran chance after chance to make a deal and urged it to make one now “before it is too late ”
ARMED FORCES OFFICERS TO
Pakistan set to hold rates as Israel-Iran conflic t overshadows growth push
Pakistan ranks last in Global Gender Gap Index 2025, with limited progress in educ ation
and opportunity, Pakistan’s score dropped by 1 3 percentage points, exacerbated by growing income and wage gaps The report highlighted a small rise in income disparity and a four-percentage-point increase in perceived wage inequality According to a 2024 World Bank report, women make up just 22 8% of Pakistan’s
much of the increase at the university level was due to a decrease in male enrolment rather than a substantial rise in female participation The report also pointed out a decline in political empowerment with the parity score dropping from 12 2% in 2024 to
slightly to 56 7%, down from 57% in the previous year, reflecting a second consecutive drop The annual report assesses gender equality across four key dimensions: economic participation and opportunity educational attainment health and survival, and political empowerment In terms of economic participation
to 48 5% However the report notes that
gender gap since 2006 However, the country continues to face significant challenges in creating equitable opportunities for women especially in the political and economic spheres
PANEL
at 122 143 56 amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty after Israel launched a military strike on Iran The market opened under pressure and remained in negative territory throughout the session, hitting an intraday low of 121,604 59 At its lowest point the index had dropped over 2 400 points Broad-based selling was observed across key sectors including automobile assemblers cement commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power producers and refineries Heavyweight stocks such as Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Mari Petroleum (MARI), and Hub Power Company (HUBCO) were among the major laggards, trading deep in the red
berated across global markets US S&P E-mini futures and Nasdaq futures dropped by 1 5% and 1 7% respectively in early Asian trading while Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea s KOSPI declined 1 4% and 1 2% Commodities surged with Brent crude oil spiking over 6% to $73 56 per barrel and gold rising 1% to $3,419 an ounce, as
The rout followed news of Israeli airstrikes in Iran early Friday escalating regional tensions and roiling financial markets globally Explosions were reported northeast of Tehran, and Israel declared a state of emergency in anticipation of potential retaliatory attacks from Iran citing a preemptive strike over nuclear concerns The geopolitical shockwaves rever-
speaker deputy speaker Senate chairman and deputy chairman after the decision sparked widespread public and political backlash
The salary of these high-ranking figures has surged by an unprecedented 600%, from Rs205,000 to Rs1 95 million a move that has raised questions about the fairness of such increases amid the country s economic challenges The approval for the salary hike came from the federal government but the Prime Minister s office is now investigating the matter following the outcry
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif condemned the increase, calling it “financial vulgarity” and criticising its insensitivity to the struggles of ordinary citizens
Our dignity and honour depend on the well-being of the people, he emphasised In defence of the move, the National Assembly and Senate secretariats clarified that the salary increases were not self-imposed but were approved by the federal government The secretariats stated that both the NA speaker and the Senate chairman do not have the authority to unilaterally raise their salaries and such changes require approval from the prime minister and the cabinet Compounding the issue, a government notification issued on May 29 detailed the revised salaries and allowances, including a 50% increase in discretionary allowances for parliamentarians The notification confirmed that the federal government had approved the salary increase The budget for FY26 has also revealed an increase in the salaries of parliamentarians and federal cabinet members The proposal allocates Rs16 29 billion for
the National Assembly and Rs9 05 billion for the Senate, with significant portions earmarked for the salaries and perks of members, committee chairpersons, and senior officials Additionally, the budget proposes a doubling of the cabinet’s ongoing expenses with increases in the salaries of federal ministers state ministers advisers and special assistants to the prime minister
Under the revised regulations parliamentarians will be entitled to a range of perks, including air tickets, allowances for attending sessions and committee meetings, office expenses, and even household rent Committee chairpersons will also receive additional benefits including a vehicle employees and petrol allowances The proposed perks extend to current and former parliamentarians who will enjoy the same health and other facilities as federal secretaries
A sian stocks slide, oil and gold jump af ter Israel
launches hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for airstrikes
COMMENT
The international communit y must end its double standards
TH E attack launched by Israel on Iran in the early hours of Friday has brought the world to a dangerous turning point The Middle East has been on fire since October 2023, and while tensions have flared, the fire has remained restricted to Gaza and Israel
The initial conflict began when Hamas launched a desperate attack on Israel from Gaza after years of the small strip of land being nothing short of an open air prison The retaliation to the attack has lasted for more than 20 months and have made Israel and in particular Benjamin Netanyahu a deeply unpopular figure both in Israel and the rest of the world
Even as Netanyahu’s forces indiscriminately killed and maimed Gazans with no distinction between infants and combatants Iran remained a looming threat to Israel
The Iranian regime has long supported the anti-Israel Hezbollah in Lebanon and has been the only country in the region to directly threaten Israel While missiles have been exchanged between the two countries, yesterday s strikes are new because of the involvement, or lack thereof, of the United States
The US has been engaged in talks with Iran over their nuclear programme, and President Trump admitted yesterday that he had discouraged Israel from carrying out a strike against Iran while the talks were ongoing Israel’s actions show that despite President Trump being a Washington outsider the Jewish State feels it has the backing of enough of America’s political elite to get away with this unilateral action
Iran has already launched retaliatory strikes against Israel but the narrative spun by Israel that they are under threat began immediately after their strikes With the world only recently having witnessed two nuclear armed states almost come to war when India and Pakistan were engaged in a heated exchange of missiles and jet fire, the recent conflict might plummet the entire region into war In such a scenario, Iran will find it has very few allies
The Arab states have their own sectarian conflicts with Iran, Pakistan is focused on its own borders, and normalisation with Israel has been encouraged in the new Syrian regime as well In such a case, however, the
M A
t h n i
Tpeople
AT U R A L LY, as a long-time observer of diaspora dynamics and having served as Press Attaché in Kuala Lumpur and Press Minister in Paris while observing the Pakistani community in over 20 countries in both official and private capacities I ve always remained deeply attuned to the evolution of Pakistani and broader Muslim communities abroad What has consistently amazed me whether in Malaysia, France Canada or now the United States is the inherent resilience and unity within the Pakistani diaspora Wherever they go they organize They establish cultural centers host community festivals open restaurants, support one another s businesses, and transform humble basement gatherings into majestic mosques Yet, like every community, they carry both virtues and vices Backbiting, leg-pulling, and even complaints to local authorities against fellow Pakistanis are not uncommon Still these shortcomings never overshadow their core strengths When it comes to culture faith patriotism supporting the destitute or observing religious and national events and celebrations they come together, they unite, and they build That cohesion becomes their identity, their protective shield, and a powerful platform for collective progress My recent observations in Michigan echo the same story I ve seen how the Muslim community Pakistani Bangladeshi Indian and others have coalesced around grand mosques, especially the Islamic Center near Rochester Hills There, thousands gather for Jummah, Eid, and community events The complex is not just a religious site; it is a beacon of togetherness inclusion and hope However what compelled me to write today is something far more unprecedented than a mosque or a cultural center It is the emergence of an entire Islamic city not an informal clustering like Hamtramck, Michigan, but a purpose-built, master-planned city in the heart of Texas: EPIC City Spearheaded by the East Plano Islamic Center this 400-acre development near Josephine Texas aims to establish a fully integrated community: over 1 000 residential homes a mosque a K–12 school a college community centers, retail plazas, gardens, and even recreational parks This isn t a gated religious commune, but an open and inclusive city inspired by Islamic values of peace, education, hospitality, and coexistence People
demanding an end to this genocide This global solidarity must translate into tangible action: diplomatic pressure economic sanctions arms embargoes, and support for legal accountability What is happening in Gaza is not only a Palestinian issue; it is a test of our collective humanity If the world fails to act it sets a dangerous precedent that might enable similar atrocities elsewhere We cannot let international law become meaningless We cannot let another generation grow up stateless, scarred, and silent Leading voices of the Muslim world and the Global South must play a more assertive role: lobbying at the United Nations, supporting the ICJ case and leading a coalition to isolate Israel diplomatically and economically But beyond governments people have power too Boycotts divestments and sanctions are tools available to the masses Let us use them History will judge us not only by what we said, but what we failed to do when it mattered the most The ethnic cleansing in Gaza is
Histor y will judg e us not only by what we said, but what we failed to do when it mattered the most The ethnic cleansing in Gaza is not hidden It is livestreamed, documented, and undeniable If the world continues to look away, it becomes complicit in the bloodshed Let us speak the truth with courag e , act with conscience , and stand with Palestine; not just in word, but in deed
Reform failure
Responding to IWT suspension and beyond
D U S WAT E R T R E AT Y: A number of persons were killed in a terrorist attack on a tourist bus, in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, in April 2025 Following its usual rhetoric, India, without any evidence blamed Pakistan for harbouring the terrorist attack which Pakistan vehemently denies On this self- perceived reason (or perhaps self-executed terrorist act), India not only launched a massive military attack against Pakistan, it also took several unilateral measures, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty
Signed by the two countries in September 1960 through the World Bank mediation the IWT allocated the three eastern rivers, (Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas) to India, and three western rivers, (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab), to Pakistan It is interesting to note that none of these western rivers passes through undisputed Indian territory
The river Indus originates in China and travels through the disputed territories of Ladakh and Indian Occupied Kashmir before entering Pakistan The Jhelum originates in IOK, while two tributaries of Chenab also meet in IOK, and travel through it before entering Pakistan And these are these disputed territories where in violation of the IWT India has built several hydroelectric projects with reservoir capacities significantly larger than that required for power generation, thus exceeding its limit of 3 6 billion acre feet, of total storage it can create on all western rivers, under the IWT
To keep running the nationwide irrigation system (the World s largest contiguous irrigation system) Pakistan built a colossal network of dams barrages and link canals to divert water from western rivers to eastern rivers, which were surrendered to India This investment will practically go waste in case the IWT suspension prolongs Regarded as the most robust and durable water treaty in the world it continued unabated despite perpetually strained relations between the two countries, two major wars, and other armed conflicts
However, ever since coming to power, in 2014, the BJP government has left no stone unturned to harm and isolate Pakistan Weaponizing water has been a decades-old
WHY the Shimla Conference failed is recorded by [then Viceroy Lord] Wavell: ‘He (Jinnah) refused even to discuss names unless he could be given the absolute right to select all Muslims and some guarantee that any decisions which the Muslims opposed in Council could only be passed by a twothirds majority – in fact a communal veto I said these conditions were entirely unacceptable Dr [M C ] Davar who was so passionately devoted to the prevention of Partition, made sure that he was present in Shimla for the entire duration of the Conference which lasted for almost 15 days in June-July 1945 While he was there staying at the house of Sanjiva Roy Chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission one day at 11 PM he got a telephone call from Mrs Rajen Nehru asking him to reach the Grand Hotel When Dr Davar reached within less than twenty minutes he found her hotel room packed: it was full of a dozen frontline leaders of the Muslim League – all members of the League Working Committee They included Khaliq-urRahman (Khaliq-uz-Zaman), Mohd Ismail and Abdul Majid Sindhi Rajen Nehru wanted Davar to convey to Pt Nehru that these Muslim League members were prepared to resign from the working committee of their party if Jinnah remains adamant on his condition of having only Muslims from the League On being asked by Davar why she couldn’t speak to Jawaharlal herself being a close relative Rajen replied that ‘your work in this field is well known and you will be able to convince Panditji So under tremendous pressure from Rajen Nehru, Davar after speaking to the League leaders left for Armsdale, where Nehru was staying When he reached there at almost twenty minutes past midnight he found Dharam Yash Dev a local personal assistant of Nehru s waiting for Panditji to return from dinner at Mashobra from where he was as per his habit, walking back It was thirty minutes past midnight when Panditji reached, he asked Dharam the purpose of being awake so late Dharam replied pointing towards Davar that ‘Doctor Sahib’s business seems to be more important Pan-
strategy of India against Pakistan In this perspective, the IWT suspension is perhaps the first step, aimed at turning Pakistan into a desert This is an act of war against the 250 million people of Pakistan not only impacting the lives and livelihoods of farmers but all the men women and children of this lower riparian country Pakistan must act now, to strongly solicit reinstatement of the Treaty Every day lost has a cost that Pakistan has to pay
Before discussing the legal and diplomatic battle aimed at the restoration of IWT let s have a look at the broader/ multidimensional picture of the water issue Pakistan is facing Early in 2006, I was present at the launching ceremony of the World Bank’s publication “Pakistan’s Water Economy Running Dry ” The Report identified Pakistan among the water stressed countries predicting that it will turn water scarce by 2035 These forecasts were made without foreseeing the suspension of IWT by India, which will only exacerbate the water scarcity scenario While the IWT is critical for keeping the water flowing in the colossal canal irrigation system more needs to be done to avoid the looming water borne catastrophe Climate change/global warming particularly rapid melting of western Himalayan glaciers, has a direct impact on the water flow pattern of our rivers, particularly the Indus This will initially result in higher flows (with associated floods) which will gradually reduce as the glaciers shrink A combination of mitigation through rapid construction of reservoirs and increasing irrigation efficiency; and adaptation by changing cropping patterns; are the medium to long term measures to cope A four pronged strategy is proposed to avoid this and let the dissipating water resources continue to drive sustainable economic growth and prosperity (Figure-1)
These four areas of intervention include:
a A right-based result-oriented legal and diplomatic campaign for the restoration of IWT as early as possible; b Accelerated construction of large, small, and mini dams to develop water storage/retention systems
c Conserving water through the introduction of high efficiency/pressurized irrigation systems and low delta crops
d Improving yield per acre
The four pronged strategy is envisioned as a cyclic process to achieve sustained eco-
ditji then said: Davar, come in while entering the house But he could not find the switch to put on the light Then Dharam Yash Dev came to his rescue and found the switch at the bottom of a wall while Nehru and Davar were trying to locate the switch on the middle of the wall Davar narrates: Now Panditji said sit down Davar We sat down on the sofa, and he asked what brought me here to which I replied 12 League members are at Grand Hotel and want to meet you What for do they want to meet me? asked Panditji I said: Jinnah is pressing for 5 seats as Liaqat Ali got in writing from Bhulabhai Desai that League will get 5, Congress 5 and others 3 Now Maulana Azad is demanding one seat for Nationalist Muslims as also the Unionist Party of Khizar Hayat Khan So Jinnah is adamant he wants all five Muslim seats that is why this Conference seems to fail and that is why they want to meet you Then Panditji asked why should they not meet Maulana? (Davar narrated to Panditji details of his meeting with Azad five years ago at Kolkata wherein Maulana after great persuasion had agreed to bless his efforts for CongressLeague unity but now seemed to be backing out ) But Panditji, though partially convinced, kept insisting that they must Maulana and that “I will not interfere in Maulana’s work ” (Despite Davar telling Nehru that Muslims of India had more faith in him than any leader and
nomic growth and prosperity, in the wake of imminent water scarcity The four action areas are discussed
1 RIGHT-BASED LEGAL / DIPLO-
MATIC CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE
IWT
Signed in good faith by India and Pakistan, IWT has been framed to stay valid in perpetuity Its overarching framework is driven from the universally recognized rights of lower riparians The Treaty itself has a built-in mechanism in the form of the Indus River Commission to address any operational disputes that may arise However its suspension in the garb of external factors, like unsupported accusations of terrorist harbouring, appears beyond the scope of this Commission
Nevertheless there are a number of other forums where this unilateral suspension of IWT can be raised They include: International Water Association; International Court of Justice; Permanent Court of Arbitration; and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, (UNECE), which can be approached by countries outside Europe as well
While all these platforms need to be activated as the suspension of IWT is more of an act of war, the most appropriate forum to avert the situation is the UN Security Council A meeting of the Council must be convened where the case is advocated by a well informed high-level delegation of Pakistan supported by competent legal and technical experts The urgency of convening the UNSC and obtaining the Council s resolution to restore the Treaty, cannot be overemphasized
Also important is to take cognizance of the role President Trump played in securing the ceasefire between India and Pakistan
To move from this fragile and uneasy ceasefire the Trump Administration needs to be persuaded to play a role in lifting the IWT suspension This is, beyond doubt, the immediate first step, required to normalize the relations between the two nuclear armed countries
/ RETENTION
The upper riparian is always in a position to block downstream flow of water generally when it is most needed by the lower riparian India has already constructed three dams on the Indus and plans six more However, in summers, when the snow melts and the rainfall is heavy, (as in the case of monsoons in India and Pakistan) the upstream reservoirs are full and large volumes of water have to be released to go downstream resulting in enormous flooding This is the time when appropriately located dams with large storage capacity need to be in place to store this water, for use in the cropping seasons
these 12 League leaders were ready to ditch Jinnah provided he holds their hand ‘ , Nehru refused to listen) [Davar says,] ‘When I told him that I was the original author of the Liaqat-Desai formula which actually is Davar -Sultan formula Panditji remarked: Oh then you are the person who has put us in trouble After I left I rang up Dharam Yash as I had left my umbrella there Dharam told me Panditji had guessed it was your umbrella which is lying safely but your discussion with him created a deep impression on him and he kept asking me about you though he appeared to know about your homoeopathic and revolutionary background Deeply disappointed, Davar left Simla in the morning, but before doing so dropped a line at Wavell’s house telling the Viceroy about his meeting with Pt Nehru who did not agree to his suggestion of meeting the Muslim League members He therefore concluded that the Simla Conference would fail That it failed was not only due to Jinnah’s intransigence, equally it was because of Wavell’s lack of firmness HV Hodson who was the Reforms Commissioner in 1941-42 wrote in his memoirs The Great Divide: Lord Wavell had in effect capitulated to Jinnah Mr Jinnah s control of the Muslim League was at that time far from complete The Unionist Party was still strong, and Mr Liaqat Ali Khan favoured a settlement There were still many uncommitted Muslims in the country It is arguable that if the Viceroy had been as adamant as Mr Jinnah, the latter would have been obliged to give in; that the destruction of the Unionist Party, which paved the way for partition of Punjab would have averted ’ But probably Wavell also could not forget so soon that it was the Congress which had challenged the Empire with the Quit India Movement during the period when he, as the Commander-in-Chief himself, had to bear the brunt, and hence he let Jinnah sabotage the Conference which would also please Churchill who was naturally in sympathy towards the enemy s enemy But within two weeks Churchill s Conservative Party lost elections, displaying the maturity of the British electorate that victory in war was no passport to better governance in peace times He Almost Prevented Partition: The Life and Times of M C Davar by Praveen Davar Speaking Tiger 2025
Dam on the Indus, and Mangla Dam on
provide large, but inadequate water storage, for allowing the canals flowing during Rabi and Kharif seasons
Owing to high volumes of silt entering its reservoir the usable capacity of Tarbela has already reduced from over 9 MAF to almost 6 MAF More storages need to be urgently constructed to augment this storage Diamer-Bhasha Dam is currently under construction This Dam will not only provide 10 38 MAF of water but will also increase the life of Tarbela Dam by about 35 years by containing the silt entering the latter s reservoir Again National consensus needs to be achieved for the construction of Kalabagh Dam, designs of which are already available Under the IWT suspension scenario and unfavorable climatic conditions in the catchment of the Indus an accelerated completion of Diamer-Bhasha Dam and an immediate commencement of the construction of Kalabagh Dam, with a storage capacity of 7 52 MAF of practically silt-free water, is now a matter of economic survival of the Country
n S M A L L A N D M I N I D A M S Other than the mighty rivers divided between India and Pakistan under IWT Pakistan has a large number of smaller rivers, and perennial and non-perennial streams with potential of building small and mini dams for inter-season storage or short duration storage to recharge groundwater for abstraction by tube-wells There is an urgent need to have these dams in place to mitigate floods and droughts at a local level As head of the Water Management Center at PPAF, the author has been instrumental in the construction of several mini dams throughout Pakistan Important among them include those built in the drought-prone union councils in Pishin and Washuq districts of Balochistan and Soon Valley and Lawa in the Potohar region in Punjab These community driven interventions not only mitigated recurring droughts, but also resulted in economic uplift and environmental amelioration of these areas 3
With little awareness of the looming water scarcity, most of our farmers employ centuries-old flood irrigation methods Again high delta crops like rice sugarcane are extensively grown These crops require large volumes of water per kilogramme of production Due to wasteful irrigation practices in Pakistan, as much as 4,000 litres of water are required to produce 1 kg of rice, which is almost twice of that in other Asian countries There is a need to immediately move from the current pilot stage – to large scale to universal, introduction of High Efficiency Irrigation Systems, (HEIS), including drip and sprinkler irrigation The HEIS can result in up to 70 percent reduction in water con-
AM E R I C A N S stand to benefit in the long term from diversifying where U S companies build their products moving manufacturing away from China and into India But this move would not be without short-term costs
China stands as a manufacturing colossus, producing nearly 30 percent of the world’s goods from iPhones to steel India despite its growing economy and young workforce trails far behind contributing just 3 percent to global manufacturing output Nonetheless India has emerged as a key alternative, with a population of 1 4 billion and a relatively untapped trade market for the U S given the current tariff regime American companies have for decades turned a blind eye to China s authoritarianism lured by cheaper goods while ignoring the nation s hegemonic aims of a different world order Yet it is China s authoritarianism and its resulting cultural and political landscape that America has profited from giving China the edge over India for decades to come in manufacturing
Understanding this tradeoff increasing trade with India a country that has more in common with the U S politically, but is decades behind in manufacturing infrastructure offers lessons for policymakers navigating a changing global economy It should raise American’s awareness about quality costs and trade challenges to come from more reliance on India
Educational discrepancies underscore China s advantage China produces 3 6 million science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates annually many trained in vocational skills for robotics automation and engineering India’s 2 6 million annual STEM graduates prioritize theoretical knowledge with only 5 percent of the workforce formally skilled compared to China s 30 percent
Moreover, cultural biases favoring whitecollar careers such as information technology leave India short of factory-ready technicians risking consistent quality production in high-tech goods for American consumers for the short-term China s Foxconn assembly lines, for instance,
Tarbela
Jhelum
Zaffar Sabri
reshuffles militar y leadership following Israeli assassinations
the Iranian Armed Forces following the assassination of General Mohammad Bagheri in a targeted Israeli airstrike on Tehran In a separate appointment, Major General Ahmad Vahidi was named as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), replacing the slain IRGC Chief Major General
a wave of Israeli air raids on the capital Bagheri had served as the Chief of Staff of Iran s Armed Forces, overseeing both the conventional military and coordinating its strategic alignment with the IRGC His death, along with that of several other top officials marks a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between
and
Aviv The strikes also claimed the lives of IRGC Commanderin-Chief Major General Hossein Salami and Major General Gholamali Rashid, the head of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters Iran s key operational command center Additionally, two prominent nuclear scientists Dr Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi, president of the Islamic Azad University, and Dr Fereydoon Abbasi a former chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran were also martyred in the attack
Ministry spokesperson announced on Friday The establishment of the China-Central Asia mechanism is a decision unanimously made by China and the five Central Asian countries which conforms to the common expectations of all parties for maintaining regional stability and achieving high-quality development, spokesperson Lin Jian
WANT
During the meeting several key decisions were made One of the major decisions was the relaxation of the experience requirement for obtaining a DGPR accreditation card Now journalists with at least five consecutive years of experience in journalism will be eligible to receive the DGPR card Previously, the requirement was ten years of experience It was also informed during the meeting that as of 2025, a total of 2 725 journalists across Punjab have already been issued accredita-
Amir S. Chinoy Foundation announce multi-year sponsorship deal with Squash Players, Sana Bahader and Saif Bahader ISLAMABAD
Federal Minister Condemns Israeli Attack On Iran
LAHORE
Amir S Chinoy Foundation a non-profit organization and member of the Amir S Chinoy Group (ASC) proudly announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with rising stars in squash, Sana Bahader and Saif Bahader Member companies of ASC Group namely, International Industries Ltd (IIL), Pakistan Cables Ltd (PCL) and International Steel Ltd (ISL) are also the proud sponsors of this power duo As part of the partnership both the athletes will represent member companies of ASC Group at all na-
President Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party & Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has strongly condemned the unjustified and brutal Israeli attack on Iran,
MURAD UNVEILS RS3.45TR SINDH BUDGET WITH FOCUS ON SOCIAL UPLIFT, K ARACHI AND TA X RELIEF
of the child Among those arrested were two female doctors one running a private NGO and the other managing a private clinic in Karachi The FIA s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle has registered a case naming Yasmeen as the prime suspect, alongside the Mozambique-based individuals, Kiran, and her husband Sohail
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly condemned the unprovoked and cowardly Israeli attack on Iran, describing it as a blatant manifestation of Israel’s expansionist ambitions
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram in a strongly worded statement on Friday, said that this reckless act further exposed the brutal and genocidal nature of Israel’s war machine which continues to pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability
He declared that the Israeli attack was not merely an act of aggression against Iran but a blatant assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the entire region He emphasized that such actions constitute a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and established principles of international law
He stated that the unrestrained and fascist policies of the Israeli state have severely destabilized the entire Middle East through its nefarious expansionist and imperialist agenda He warned that if the Zionist regime was not effectively reined in the situation could spiral into an uncontrollable regional conflagration Waqas reaffirmed that PTI remained committed to the principle
of peaceful coexistence among nations He noted that PTI Patron-inChief Imran Khan has consistently upheld this stance, repeatedly condemning Israeli war crimes and acts of brutality against the Palestinian people
PTI CIS further stated that the Israeli attack on Iran constituted an act of aggression against the entire Muslim world, which must be collectively resisted with the full strength and unity of the Ummah “In this hour of trial, PTI expresses its complete solidarity with Iran and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to stand with the Iranian people PTI CIS stated However he stressed that it is the responsibility of the United Nations and the broader international community to take immediate action to prevent Israel from pursuing its expansionist agenda any further He emphasized that the state of Israel has emerged as a serious threat to global peace and stability Meanwhile, Waqas strongly criticized the Punjab government’s plan to introduce a new draconian bill aimed at controlling the planning and dissemination of socalled awareness regarding government projects, initiatives, and policies He warned that, under the guise of promoting public participation access to information and transparency the bill seeks to impose a restrictive
framework for government advertisements and communications raising serious concerns about censorship and suppression of dissent PTI CIS stated that Maryam Nawaz was attempting to shield the ruling PML-N’s publicity machinery from public and judicial scrutiny by creating a legal firewall to secure impunity for the misuse of public funds for political self-promotion He noted that the proposed legislation would also grant the government the authority to name rename or alter the titles of public projects an alarming move that he argued constituted a direct assault on the constitutional Right to Information, as guaranteed under Article 19-A of the Constitution
“The PML-N government is introducing yet another law aimed at silencing journalists and citizens who dare to question how much taxpayer money is being spent on advertisements and self-promotion,” he added
Sh Waqas pointed out that the proposed bill also stipulates that no court including civil courts shall have jurisdiction over any matter arising under the act If passed, this law would not only shield previous expenditures from legal scrutiny but would also bar courts from hearing any future cases related to such government campaigns he added
and motorcycles on a priority basis During hearing of petitions filed by a citizen Haroon Farooq and others Justice Shahid Karim ordered the department to conduct a proper survey to assess the performance of water treatment plants installed in industrial units so that practical steps to control pollution can be monitored A member of the
by 2 degrees Celsius
‘ Won’t ac t under politic al pressure,’ Kundi refuses to summon KP budget session
What is being described as an assertion of constitutional authority, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi declined to immediately summon the provincial assembly s budget session scheduled for Friday asserting he would not act under political pressure Defending his stance, the governor emphasized that while he was legally bound to respond within 14 days there was no obligation to comply instantly especially under what he termed undue influence from the chief
minister or other quarters
A significant legislative standoff has emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the provincial government was prepared to present its budget Friday
The confrontation centers around the calling of the provincial assembly session with the governor and the chief minister at odds over constitutional procedure and authority
The chief minister has sent a summary to the governor requesting to convene the assembly’s budget session but Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has chosen not to return the summary immediately, leading to a delay in sched-
uling the session
Speaking on the matter, Governor Kundi confirmed to have received the summary and stated, “According to the Constitution, I am obligated to sign the summary within 14 days There is no requirement for me to sign it today
He added that all constitutional and legal requirements would be fulfilled before any decision is made
“I am not bound to sign the summary today under any pressure or threat the governor asserted I will not sign under any kind of coercion from the Chief Minister or anyone else