PAKISTAN, TURKIYE REAFFIRM SUPPORT FOR IRAN’S SOVEREIGNT Y, ITS RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENCE
g DPM DAR, PRESIDENT ERDOGAN STRONGLY CONDEMN CONTINUED ISRAELI ATTACKS IN BLATANT VIOLATION OF INT’L LAW
g AGREE TO FURTHER ‘DEEPEN AND DIVERSIFY ’ THE LONGSTANDING ‘BROTHERLY COOPERATION’ BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES
N and Turkiye on Saturday reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and diversify the longstanding brotherly cooperation between the two countries, reiterating support for Iran s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and its right to self-defense under the UN Charter
The resolve was reaffirmed during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Saturday on the sidelines of 51st Session of OIC CFM FM Dar was accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir
During a meeting the two leaders agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, urging the inter-
national community to play its part in restoring peace and stability in the region
The leaders expressed strong condemnation of the continued Israeli attacks in blatant violation of fundamental principles of international law
Both leaders reiterated their support for Iran’s sovereignty and its right to selfdefence under the UN charter
Both sides emphasized the urgency of galvanizing efforts to bring an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression in Gaza and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the besieged people of Gaza
The deputy prime minister conveyed the warm greetings of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to President Erdogan and underscored the profound importance that Pakistan accorded to its enduring bilateral relations with Türkiye
Both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and diversify the longstanding brotherly coopera-
g URGE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PLAY ITS PART IN RESTORING PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION
g THERE IS NO PALESTINIAN, LEBANESE, SYRIAN, YEMENI OR IRANIAN PROBLEM, BUT THERE IS CLEARLY AN ISRAELI PROBLEM: FIDAN
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international support particularly from the European Union to prevent further escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours Bilawal underscored that despite India being seven times larger, Pakistan s armed forces dealt a humiliating blow to the Indian military, a development he said had filled the nation with pride Reaffirming that Kashmir remains Pakistan’s most vital and longstanding issue since partition he stressed that Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue at every international forum Prior to the war India claimed that Kashmir was a bilateral matter Today, that claim stands exposed Kashmir is no longer an internal issue it is now a globally recognized dispute,” he said
s Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned against a new Sykes-Picot order in the Middle East and called for stronger solidarity among Islamic nations to counter Israeli actions and regional destabilisation
“We will not allow the establishment of a new Sykes-Picot order in our region with borders to be drawn in blood Erdogan said at the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul He described the conditions in Gaza as worse than those of Nazi
tion between the two countries DPM Dar also congratulated President Erdogan on the Award conferred by the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum in recognition of his leadership as well as the successful holding of the OIC CFM session Israel leading the Middle East towards ‘total disaster’ Earlier on Saturday Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan accused Israel of leading the Middle East towards “total disaster by attacking Iran on June 13 Israel is now leading the region to the brink of total disaster by attacking Iran, our neighbour, he told a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul
Pakistan slams Indian home minister ’s comment on IWT as ‘brazen disregard’ for int’l agreements
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f R e p o R t
The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday slammed Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s “assertion that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) will never be restored as brazen disregard for the sanctity international agreements
India s [illegal] announcement to hold the IWT in abeyance “constitutes a clear violation” of international law the provisions of the treaty itself and the fundamental principles governing inter-state relations, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated while responding to Shah’s comments
“The IWT is an apolitical agreement without provisions for unilateral action the FO declared
No it will never be restored Shah told The Times of India earlier on Saturday We will take water that was flowing to Pakistan to Rajasthan by constructing a canal Pakistan will be starved of water that it has been getting unjustifiably
The latest comments from Shah the most powerful cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, reveal Delhi’s intentions as Islamabad hopes for
negotiations on the treaty in the near term
“Such conduct sets a reckless and dangerous precedent one that undermines the credibility of international agreements and raises serious questions about the reliability and trustworthiness of a state that openly refuses to fulfill its legal obligations ”
The FO added that “weaponizing water for political ends is irresponsible and contrary to the behavior of a responsible state It demanded that India immediately restore the full implementation of the IWT
“For its part Pakistan remains firmly committed to the treaty and
will take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and entitlements under it ” the statement concluded Delhi unilaterally suspended its participation in the 1960 IWT, which governs the usage of the Indus river system, on April 23, shortly after 26 civilians were killed in India-held Kashmir Delhi without evidence blamed Islamabad for the attack The latter has denied the allegations and called for a neutral probe The accord remains dormant despite a ceasefire agreed upon by the two nuclear-armed neighbours last month following their worst fighting in decades
Pak istan recommends US President Trump for Nob el Peace Prize
ISTANBUL
Govt’s plan to restrict economic transactions by ineligible persons faces hurdles
Parliamentar y body rejec ts 4% uniform rental valuation rate on commercial proper ties
(45
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condemned the continued and devastating rise in sugar prices attributing the crisis to the government s complete failure to intervene The association has declared a province-wide suspension of sugar sales at all grocery stores and urged the public nationwide to boycott sugar, recommending alternatives such as jaggery (gur) and unrefined sugar (shakkar) The association emphasized that controlling sugar prices has
Pakistan faces challenges in securing Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN due to limited par tnership status: repor t
Working Party (CDWP) approved five development projects worth Rs 55 164 billion for sustainable economic development in the country Out of these, two projects with a substituted cost of Rs 7 725 billion were approved at the CDWP level And three projects amounting to Rs 47 439 billion were recommended to the Executive Committee
VC PIDE, other members of the Planning Commission, Federal Secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning and Development (P&D) boards/ departments and senior representatives from relevant Federal Ministries and Provincial Governments The meeting s agenda focused on development projects across key sectors, including Environment, Food and Agriculture Health and Physical Planning
ASEAN in 1993 marking the beginning of formal cooperation Over the years both parties have held several meetings to discuss trade industry investment and other key areas However despite efforts from Pakistan, including a formal proposal for an FTA during the 2010 ASEANPakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee (APJSCC) meeting the issue of full partnership status remains unresolved Recently the negotiations have been hindered by ASEAN member Singapore s opposition to Pakistan s elevation to Full Dialogue Partner status, which is required for moving forward with FTA talks ASEAN has signed FTAs with six Full Dialogue Partner countries, including China, Japan,
South Korea India and Australia Despite these challenges Pakistan continues to push for increased cooperation and deeper ties with ASEAN member countries A recent meeting of the ASEAN-Pakistan Joint Sectoral Cooperation Committee reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthening the partnership The meeting recognised cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, and human resource development and highlighted the need for closer collaboration on issues like transnational crime food security and the digital economy However ASEAN has encouraged Pakistan to support the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and engage in practical cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific To overcome this challenge Pakistan has adopted a strategic shift towards strengthening bilateral relations with individual ASEAN countries Pakistan has already signed FTAs with Malaysia Indonesia and Thailand, and continues to engage in negotiations with Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines to further enhance trade and cooperation Pakistan’s trade mission in Singapore and Manila along with the proposed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Vietnam demonstrates the country s efforts to build stronger economic and political ties that could eventually lead to Full Dialogue Partner status and open the door for an ASEAN-Pakistan FTA
COMMENT
Triple alliance
China forges new alliances with Pakistan and Bangladesh
THOUGH the recent trilateral summit in the Chinese city of Kunming of China Pakistan and Bangladesh specifically stated that it was not against any other party, it could not have failed to cause worries in New Delhi and by extension in Washington This is not solely the global context of the US-China rivalry, but the regional context of the Sino-Indian rivalry, where the USA has been attempting to prop up India as a counterweight While Pakistan is at daggers drawn with India a relationship worsened by their recent clash and prolonged by India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Bangladesh has been counted as firmly in the Indian camp while under the Awami League which had ruled Bangladesh continuously from 2009 until last August It is also worth noting that Pakistan has joined Chinese diplomatic efforts of late having been part of another trilateral meeting that between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and his Pakistani and Afghan counterparts Ishaq Dar and Amir Khan Muttaqi respectively
The Kunming meeting was at the ViceMinister/Foreign Secretary level, with China sending its Vice-Minister and Pakistan and Bangladesh Foreign Secretary level officials That would imply that it was still at a preliminary level It should also be seen within the context of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, with a number of the linkages provided by the BRI to Central Asia through Gwadar also providing Bangladesh a route for its exports there It is worth noting that the three agreed to increase cooperation in a wide array of areas, but there was no mention of furthering Defence cooperation
Despite this non-threatening posture, the tripartite alliance is clearly designed to counter Indian, and thus US, influence in the region Chinese cooperation with Nepal and Bhutan already have caused qualms in India, while if there was a similar understanding with Sri Lanka, India would stand isolated in the region India should realize that being a bully does not impress states; they acknowledge the superiority of states that can give something, like roads, ports or bridges, all of which and more are part of the BRI It should also be noted that US-Bangladesh relations have been strained of late which means that its traditional pro-US stance via India, is as doubtful as Pakistan s The USA should realize that its regional policeman is not up to the job
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
N 2020 while pursuing my studies at Notre Dame I encountered women from across Latin America particularly Mexico whose stories would haunt me long after They spoke of sisters, daughters, and friends lost to the epidemic of femicide: women murdered simply for being women These weren’t isolated incidents, but a pattern of brutality woven into the social fabric of their countries At the time I feared Pakistan was heading in the same direction Sadly that fear is now our reality What Is Femicide?: Femicide simply put is the gender-based killing of women and girls It is a term that emerged from feminist movements in Latin America, especially Mexico, to distinguish the murder of women where misogyny power and patriarchy are the root causes Unlike general homicide femicide is not only about the act of killing it is about the reason: because the victim was a woman who stepped out of line, rejected a man, demanded autonomy, or simply existed in a space she "wasn't supposed to " Types of femicide include domestic violence killings so-called "honour" killings dowry-related murders and public executions of women for exercising agency whether online or offline The Warning Signs: Lessons from Mexico: Mexico has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world According to government data, approximately 10 women are killed every day These killings often go unpunished over 90 percent of femicide cases end in impunity The country s epidemic is not just a crime problem; it is a cultural and structural failure In May 2025, 23-year-old Mexican TikTok in-
T h e S i l e n t S t r a i n o f t h e S c r e e n
Tfluencer Valeria Márquez was shot and killed during a livestream at her beauty salon Valeria had received online threats and local reports indicated she had turned down the advances of a man linked to criminal networks Her killing was not just another murder it was a public execution It was designed to punish, to send a message to other women: stay quiet stay hidden or else Her death went viral But like so many before her the outcry faded and justice remained elusive
The Pakistani Parallel: In Islamabad just a few weeks ago, Sana Yousaf, a 17-year-old TikToker and cultural influencer, was shot dead in her home on her birthday allegedly by a man she had repeatedly rejected Sana was known for her love of Chitrali culture and her advocacy for girls' education Her killer according to reports had harassed her for months Her rejection was met with a bullet This is not an isolated incident From Noor Mukadam, brutally murdered by a male friend in 2021 in the heart of Islamabad, to thousands of unnamed women silenced in the name of “honour” each year Pakistan is now experiencing the kind of gendered violence that once seemed confined to other geographies The word femicide is no longer foreign Pakistani academics lawyers and journalists have increasingly adopted the term since around 2021, marking a turning point in how we frame and understand gender-based killings THE REASONS BEHIND FEMICIDE
Femicide doesn t emerge from a vacuum It is the deadly outcome of layers of systemic societal and cultural failures Common drivers include: Patriarchal control: Women are seen as property of fathers, brothers, husbands, or society itself Rejection of male entitlement: Many femicides are committed after a woman dares to say "no " Perceived dishonour: Women killed for choosing their own partners wearing certain clothes or speaking out Online harassment turned violent: As more women take to digital spaces, the threats become more real Impunity: Weak enforcement and loopholes in the law embolden perpetrators All of these conditions exist in Pakistan today WHY PAKISTAN MUST PAY ATTENTION NOW For decades we treated honour
sustained happiness According to the Common Sense Media 2023 Census, American teens aged between 13 and 18 years old spend nearly nine hours per day on entertainment media alone excluding homework So much screen time is not only disruptive it s altering the way young people perceive the world feel and interact with others Constant digital exposure alters attention spans, constructs self-concept, and corrodes face-to-face social skills The increase in cyberbullying is among the most upsetting consequences of digital dependence What used to only exist in playgrounds and classrooms now follows people into their homes and most other private areas In just a few seconds, a degrading video, a twisted picture, or a cruel message can go viral and cause irreversible emotional damage Bullying is now more pervasive and frequently more dangerous than ever before due to the anonymity and reach offered by digital platforms Pakistan has witnessed its own fair share of horrific outcomes that have been linked to cyber harassment In 2022, Naila Rind, who
was a student at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro committed suicide when she was being blackmailed with explicit photos by someone she had met on the internet As reported by the media she was threatened and emotionally intimidated, and her case thoroughly shocked the public conscience Her own tragic death not only exposed the psychological cost of online falsehood but also the absence of institutional checks internet literacy and enforcement of cyber laws in Pakistan The case sparked national outrage over the vulnerability of children in unregulated virtual environments and the need for robust tools of protection and online safety training How it has transformed every part of our existence is why this crisis is so much more devastating Doomscrolling comparing us to others cyber-fighting and requiring likes are all considered to be run-of-the-mill parts of contemporary life But there are questions we should be asking ourselves: at what cost? Our brains were never designed to handle a shot of constant notification judgment and idea l
pression, and loneliness in young adults and teens The internet highlights feelings of inadequacy, narrows attention spans, and cre-
ates unrealistic expectations that erode emotional resilience But it is not a cause for which we should lose hope The solution to the problem is not to reject technology period such a goal is neither attainable nor desirable Instead, we simply need to rebalance our relationship with technology What we need to do is develop a culture of digital mindfulness where we are aware of how much time we spend
and the absence of proper responsive reporting mechanisms render them inaccessible to most victims Prevention in the long term is initiated with mass public awareness campaigns on cyber safety ethical online behavior and mental health assistance
Hira EmaN
Noor Zafar
Learning from Mexico's Crisis to Aver t a National Tragedy
and I embarked on a long and arduous jour-
MACOMB, Michigan, USA For decades America has prided itself as a land of opportunity a magnet for dreamers workers and refugees But today, under the aggressive implementation of ICE-led deportations, spearheaded by President Donald Trump’s renewed enforcement drive, the country finds itself fractured The issue is no longer just about legality it has become a battleground of narratives identity and accountability
President Trump insists that millions and millions of illegal immigrants whom he categorizes as violent criminals, traffickers, sex offenders, and paedophiles have “invaded” the USA According to him his administration’s duty is to remove these threats through mass deportations often carried out with military-style precision ICE raids in cities like Los Angeles, where five individuals with criminal pasts were arrested on June 7, are presented as success stories But a deeper question lurks behind these headlines: if such individuals are indeed dangerous and illegal how did they get into the country in the first place? As a legal immigrant myself my family
ney We applied in 2007 for family-sponsored immigration and were not approved until 2024 Seventeen years of background checks, verification of employment, travel history, character assessment, and criminal records all under the scrutiny of US immigration services It is a stringent sometimes grueling system that leaves little room for error If followed diligently it is almost impossible for someone with a dubious past to pass through
This raises troubling questions How do individuals with criminal records those labelled as drug dealers violent offenders or sex criminals make it into the USA undocumented? What loopholes exist? And more importantly, who allowed it?
Beyond bureaucratic lapse, another profound and often overlooked truth must be acknowledged: every wave of immigration has often been triggered by destruction caused by the USA and its allies The Syrian crisis spurred by US-led regime change attempts created millions of refugees many welcomed into the USA The US invasion of Iraq unleashed chaos, civil war, and displacement, compelling thousands of Iraqis to seek shelter abroad Libya after being bombed into anarchy witnessed similar refugee outflows Palestinians displaced by decades of unending Israeli occupation often with US political and military backing, have also found refuge in the USA The collapse of Afghanistan after two decades of NATO occupation led to a mass exodus especially of Afghans who worked with Western forces Most arrived with no paperwork or formal identity verification given the country s primitive recordkeeping systems Yet, many were fast-tracked into the USA, bypassing the very scrutiny imposed on legal immigrants from stable nations This uncomfortable truth demands moral clarity: if undocumented immigrants are subject to
the full weight of the law then those policymakers and officials who created the conditions for their displacement, or allowed their entry without due diligence, must also be held accountable It is a shared responsibility one that begins not at the border, but in the war rooms and foreign policy chambers where these crises were ignited There appears to be no structured inquiry or investigation into the root causes No commissions, no accountability frameworks to identify the officials, agencies, or politicians who enabled mass illegal entry Immigration enforcement in the USA has historically vacillated depending on who is in power One administration turns a blind eye quietly encouraging mass entry The next tries to reverse it through high-profile crackdowns But in the absence of institutional accountability, this cyclical dysfunction persists feeding public anger and polarizing communities ICE is now being weaponized not just to remove the undocumented but to reassert political dominance The use of unmarked vehicles, masked officers, and sudden, forceful detentions often in front of children and elders conveys a message of fear It is not surprising that over 10 000 protesters recently marched through downtown Los Angeles against these raids Many carried Mexican flags none carried the American flag This wasn t just a protest; it was a symptom of deeper social unrest
Critics argue that these ICE actions, while legal under the Supreme Court’s allowance of 24-hour deportation notice are being carried out in a manner that undermines constitutional due process Rights of asylum seekers refugees and even undocumented residents with long-standing ties to communities are brushed aside in the name of executive orders A nation built by immigrants is now turning its state machinery against them
Supporters of Trump s policy on the other hand insist that deporting illegals especially criminals is not just constitutional, but necessary They point to the Clinton-era deportation of over 12 million people Obama’s deportation of 5 million and Bush’s expedited removal protocols This is not new they argue It s enforcement overdue But many dissenters challenge this logic They argue that Trump is not fixing immigration he’s weaponizing it He’s framing all undocumented migrants as threats, fueling fear for political gain His critics claim
that this dehumanization is less about justice and more about re-election Trump s rhetoric plays to a base who feel left behind using immigrants as scapegoats for economic and social frustrations This divide is not only ideological it’s generational racial and geographic Many immigrants including legal ones like myself find ourselves in a complicated space On one hand, we support the rule of law On the other, we reject the vilification of all migrants and the blanket criminalization of entire communities
Let us remember: America is a nation of immigrants Even Donald Trump is the grandson of Friedrich Trump a German immigrant who arrived in the USA in 1885 The German Chancellor once presented Trump with his grandfather ’s immigration file during a White House visit a reminder that no one not even the president is far removed from the immigrant experience
The real issue is not race religion or ethnicity The only legitimate distinction should be between legal and illegal entry But even that must be addressed humanely, within the framework of rights and due process It cannot become a pretext for racial profiling family separation or fear campaigns The lack of systemic accountability is the root of this chaos Who failed to enforce border laws? Who allowed the lapse? Was it intentional? Was there bribery? Was it negligence or political strategy? These are the questions no one in Washington wants to answer
The consequences of this negligence go beyond borders As seen in the Los Angeles protest foreign governments like Mexico may begin to leverage their diaspora as political tools If unchecked, this tactic could be replicated by other countries, introducing a dangerous element of foreign interference in domestic American affairs
In my observation of reactions on X (for-
If Khamenei were toppled or killed, the Revolutionar y Guard would most likely step in and dic tate a new ruler and in doing so, assume unprecedented power “IRGC as an organization is capable of fighting a civil war, and prevailing in a civil war, against an opposition [potentially] financed and armed by Israel and the U S”
Formed after the revolution that toppled the U S -backed shah the Revolutionary Guard’s initial purpose was to protect the nascent state against domestic and foreign threats military as well as ideological Many of its current commanders are veterans of Iran s eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s, one of the deadliest global conflicts of the past century
during the first Trump presidency, a U S military strike killed Qassem Soleimani the head o
Israel sees no instabilit
y,
sidiaries in everything from agriculture to tourism “Millions of people depend on the
Guard ” said Ali Alfoneh an expert on the IRGC at the Arab Gulf States Institute in
about the Guard
In a sense, he said, Iran s Revolutionary Guard is similar to the military in Egypt, which has dominated the state since 1952, or in Pakistan where the armed forces have exerted control since 1947 including through three major coups While the Guard s external operations have been severely hampered by Israel s military campaign, its dominance at home hasn’t If the supreme leader were toppled and foreign enemies sought to foment public unrest by bombarding the country enforcing a no-fly zone and applying economic pressure as they did against Saddam Hussein s Iraq in the 1990s the Guard would use brute force to maintain power, Alfoneh said “IRGC as an organization is capable of fighting a civil war, and prevailing in a civil war against an opposition [potentially] financed and armed by Israel and the U S he said
While personalities matter in the Revolutionary Guard its commanders advise the supreme leader its leadership is mostly collective and to an extent informal, consisting of current and retired officers from different factions Despite the recent deaths of senior commanders the IRGC has remained cohesive enough to launch daily barrages of retaliatory missiles against Israel
Guard dominates all major infrastructure sectors, including oil and gas, construction and telecommunications It trades in consumer goods and benefits from parastatal
The war in which Saddam Hussein’s regime backed by the U S killed hundreds of thousands of Iranians including with chemical weapons still shapes the Guard s outlook on its neighbors and the West, and forms a cornerstone of its religious-nationalist doctrine
To build allegiance the IRGC formed local community networks primarily through the Basij a paramilitary group best known in the West for violently oppressing demonstrations, but which also engages in political and social activities
The Basij engages with Iranians across the country, from kindergarten to adulthood It offers religious and ideological teachings and after-school activities It sponsors sporting events like weightlifting wrestling and taekwondo Members can buy groceries at a discount
The main reason the Basij has been able to attract people in the past is that it gives poor kids a thing to do ” said Afshon Ostovar associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey Calif and author of a book on the IRGC At its lowest ranks it s the Cub Scouts You do arts and crafts, and sing songs It s a patriotic sort of movement,” he said “But once you get to high-school ranks, they start to take from the Basij people who can be useful in security work If the IRGC were forced to consolidate a new rule the Basij would be crucial in maintaining internal security Ostovar said Wholesale regime change that dislodges the Revolutionary Guard completely wouldn’t just bring about political change but also tear apart the social fabric in parts of Iranian
society Yet, as is often the case in regime changes many economic structures and enterprises would likely survive including those of the IRGC said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj founder and CEO of the Bourse and Bazaar Foundation, an economic think tank The individuals and networks who make up the IRGC are embedded in state institutions and in economic entities, commercial entities to an extent where I think there would remain a lot of continuity even if there were a big political transition Batmanghelidj said And
cracks in Iranian regime's control
“There are no indications that the central government in Tehran is losing control quite the opposite The
QAMAR BASHIR
Punjab budget prioritizes public welfare with billions alloc ated for educ ation, health: A zma
publication aims to take readers further by bridging theoretical knowledge with realworld application through global case studies and structured concepts offering a true blueprint for the modern insurance professional LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari, strongly responded to opposition allegations during her speech in the Punjab Assembly, stating that in the past, democratic voices were suppressed in the House but under Maryam Nawaz s leadership every member now enjoys complete freedom of expression She emphasized that the current budget prioritizes public welfare A substantial Rs 300 billion has been allocated for law and order and the Punjab police have been equipped with modern weapons transforming them into an effective force against terrorism Police posts have now been established across the province, even in remote riverine areas Azma Bokhari highlighted that Rs 811 billion has been allocated
for the education sector This includes school upgrades establishment of modern IT labs, provision of new furniture, distribution of Google certifications, laptops, and scholarships She added that although a false case was filed against Shahbaz Sharif s laptop scheme its positive impact is now clearly visible
In the health sector, Rs 630 billion has been earmarked This includes revamping of public hospitals provision of free medicines improvements in health clinics and the deployment of young doctors Medical services are now available at the Union Council level, and free medications are being provided for serious diseases such as cancer, hepatitis, and tuberculosis
On the matter of local government elections Bokhari reminded the opposition that it was they who
IEP hosts pioneering talk on AI-Enabled ‘Last Mile Transpor tation’
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f
The Institution of Engineers Pakistan (IEP) Rawalpindi-Islamabad Centre, yesterday afternoon invited famous engineer and transportation specialist in the country, Engr Tabjeel Ashraf, Director National Highway Authority and Adjunct Faculty at LUMS for a Continuing Professional Development lecture titled Last-Mile Transportation: Challenges and Opportunities Nationally acclaimed and widely regarded as the architect of Pakistan s data-driven Road Asset Management Systems (RAMS) and principal author of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Standards for Pakistan Engr Tabjeel Ashraf has worked on many government projects introducing digitalization data driven systems policy formulation and smart mobility initiatives Addressing a packed auditorium of practitioners, academics and students, Engr Tabjeel Ashraf described the last mile as “the most challenging, and often the most expensive link in any modern supply chain ” He unveiled the first AI-powered routing study undertaken in the country under his leadership The research proposed a logistics design From the Salt Ranges of Pakistan to the World Stage: Pink Rock Salt Takes Spotlight at
once dissolved elected local bodies in Punjab She confirmed that the process for new local elections is already underway Responding to the opposition leader ’s claim that the government has launched no development projects she said sarcastically Langar Khane is development? She pointed out that projects like the Cancer Hospital, Cardiology Hospital, Suthra Punjab Health Clinics, and Clinic-on-Wheels are real milestones though conveniently ignored by the opposition Bokhari further asserted that Maryam Nawaz s governance model is non-political and peoplecentered Scholarships are being given to talented students without regard to political affiliation While previous governments remained limited to urban areas Maryam Nawaz is extending development to rural regions
CUI Lahore Campus provided
ships
facing
tion without
scholarships, amounting
been allocated
borers, offering
and
Workers Welfare Fund initiative Additionally students have benefited from other prestigious scholarship programs such as HEC Needs-Based Scholarships HEC Indigenous Scholarships PEEF, and the Scotland Pakistan Scholarship by the British Council The consistent support from donor agencies reflects the strong reputation and commitment of CUI Lahore Campus in facilitating accessible quality education Prof Dr Sarfraz Ahmad Director of CUI Lahore Campus highlighted the university s rapid rise as a leading educational institution both nationally and globally "COMSATS University has established itself as a hub of excellence with world-class research facilities, over 150 internationally trained PhD faculty members and outstanding academic programs " he stated Our robust scholarship programs coupled with high-quality education and research output have made CUI the top choice for students and parents alike
‘First successful DALK surger y ’: COAVS turns new page with landmark Cornea transplants
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
What is being described as a millstone that added a new chapter to the Punjab government’s healthcare sector the College of Ophthalmology and Allied Vision Sciences (COAVS) successfully conducted five cornea transplant surgeries said a COAVS press release on Saturday These surgeries, performed at the Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital Lahore, notably included the first “Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) on a young patient with keratoconus marking a significant milestone in the institution s 60-year history, the statement pointed out “The achievement was made possible by the leadership of Prof Dr Muhammad Moin in accordance with the vision of Free Public Health Services of Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz and the support of Dr Fawad Zafar and Mir & Zafar Foundation, who provided donated corneas free of charge,” the statement informed “Under the
PROPERTIES OF BAHRIA TOWN, MALIK RIA Z’S SON
IN NAB ACTION OVER MALIR L AND SCANDAL
Congo case repor ted in Rawalpindi
The first confirmed case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) has been reported in Holy Family Hospital Rashid Mumtaz, a 38-year-old tailor from Model Town, Wah Cantt, Taxila is currently stable and isolated in the hospital’s Medical Intensive Care Unit (M-ICU) after being confirmed as the first CCHF case in Rawalpindi during the year 2025
According to the details the patient was admitted to the hospital on June 17, 2025, showing symptoms on June 15, including high-grade fever, body aches, gum bleeding, and hematemesis Laboratory results revealed a white blood cell count of 1 910 a platelet count of 4 100 and chest X-ray infiltrates Dr Waqar the spokesman District Health Authority (DHA) informed that investigations indicate that Rashid participated in the slaughter of four goats and two cows on Eid-ul-Azha day, along with his cousin, Junaid Khan He said that the preliminary contact tracing has identified two symptomatic individuals Junaid Khan a 19-year-old male from Mansehra is experiencing fever and body pain and has been isolated at Holy Family Hospital whose PCR test results are awaited Ibrahim, a 14-year-old male from Wah Cantt, is showing fever and signs of infection, and is isolated at Wah General Hospital, with blood samples sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for testing also awaiting PCR results All necessary barrier nursing controls have been strictly implemented for the affected individuals said Dr Waqar The spokesman further informed that 18 other identified contacts remain asymptomatic and are under quarantine for fever surveillance “A joint response with the livestock department has been initiated including indoor residual spraying (IRS) and vector surveillance in the affected areas to curb potential spread he added
s
Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
combination of youthful energy tactical discipline and mental resilience Pakistan equalized at 3-3 forcing a shootout that they won Player of the Match Rana Waheed expressed the team s determination saying We were ready for this win for a long time Everything we have we gave everything He added that the team was grateful for Allah’s help and proud of their performance in reaching the final Pakistan s journey to the final was made even more remarkable after their 4-3 loss to New Zealand in the final group stage match, despite leading 3-1 This result, however, was enough to see Pakistan through to the knockout rounds ahead of hosts Malaysia on goal difference Starting with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Malaysia Pakistan also secured a convincing 5-2 win over Japan Despite the setback against New Zealand, the team’s overall performance in the group stages ensured their progression With a promising young squad and a renewed focus on grassroots development Pakistan s hockey future looks bright, and a victory in the final could lead them back to the FIH Pro League, competing with the world’s best national teams
to realize her vision for the uplift of marginalized segments of society the President said First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari was also present at the launch of the programme Highlighting the importance of the Benazir Hunarmand Programme, President Zardari noted that
