INDIA’S UNIL ATERAL SUSPENSION OF IWT A ‘BL ATANT ACT OF WATER AGGRESSION’: PM
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
PR I M E Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday termed India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as a blatant violation and act of water aggression warning Pakistan will give a befitting response under the decisions taken in the April 24 National Security Committee (NSC) meeting Chairing a high-level meeting on water resources at the Prime Minister ’s House here he vowed that just as Pakistan achieved victory in the recent war it would also triumph on the water front
The high-level meeting brought together Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Field Marshal COAS General Syed Asim Munir federal ministers chief ministers of all four provinces Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, and senior federal and
provincial officials This is a battle of justice, and like every battle we have fought with unity, we will defeat India’s water aggression with resolve and wisdom,” said the prime minister He emphasized that living nations confront challenges head-on and make strategic lasting decisions to protect their future generations PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the Indian threats to weaponize water by attempting to violate the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty are increasing each day He highlighted that the Treaty a binding international agreement does not allow any party to unilaterally withdraw and India s claims are politically and legally hollow
All provincial chief ministers, along with the leadership of AJK and GilgitBaltistan strongly condemned India’s water threats and unanimously reaffirmed their support for the federal government s position The Prime Minister lauded this united stance, calling it a reflection of our collective national resolve to protect Pakistan’s water security ”
Emphasizing the urgency of enhancing water storage PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered the establishment of a high-powered committee under Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to oversee funding strategies for new dam projects The committee will include all provincial chief ministers the Prime Minister of AJK and relevant federal ministers and is directed to submit its recommendations within 72 hours We will prioritize the construction of non-controversial reservoirs Wherever there is unanimity we must act
G r a n d M o s q u e I m a m u r g e s c o m p a s s i o n , s o l i d a r i t y w i t h
Carrying colorful umbrellas to protect themselves from the sweltering heat the pilgrims could be seen walking on foot to make their way to the top of the mountain where they would sit and pray before moving on to the stoning ritual at Muzdalifa, halfway between Mina and Arafat Speaking to AFP, one of the pilgrims from Pakistan said “I’ve been trying to get here for the past 3 years adding that he feels blessed to be there Many pilgrims rushed to get there early so they could avoid the scorching heat This year, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250 000 officials doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024 in Saudi Arabia that claimed the lives of 1,300 pilgrims The world s largest gathering kicked off on Friday as Muslims from all over the world poured into Saudi Arabia One of the five fundamental pillars of Islam Haj is performed every year in Makkah with millions of pilgrims travelling to the holy land to partake in the ritual The Imam of Makkah s Grand Mosque emphasized Islam’s fundamental pillars prayer (salah), fasting (sawm), almsgiving (zakat) and pilgrimage (Hajj) urging believers to uphold virtues such as patience modesty truthfulness, and gratitude
without delay These dams are not political they are a national necessity the Prime Minister said He made it clear that any project with cross-provincial consensus will be fast-tracked and completed on a priority basis
A detailed briefing was given during the meeting on Pakistan s water infrastructure Officials informed the participants that construction of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is underway and expected to be completed by 2032, while the Mohmand Dam is likely to be completed by 2027
ISLAMABAD
A high-level defense delegation led by Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich Commander of the Air Force & Air Defense of Belarus, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force, at Air Headquarters Islamabad said a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Thursday During the meeting a wide array of mutual interests related to air power and military cooperation were thoroughly discussed The discussions also reaffirmed the mutual commitment of both nations to further strengthening their longstanding bilateral relations with both sides agreeing to sustain close and continuous engagement between their respective air forces On his arrival a smartly turned out contingent of the Pakistan Air Force presented a guard of honor to Major General Andrei Yulianovich Lukyanovich During the meeting, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu highlighted the robust bilateral military ties between the two countries and assured that PAF is committed
training of pilots and maintenance crews for capacity building of the Belarus Air Force He reiterated his resolve to consolidate the existing bilateral Air Force-to-Air Force ties between the two countries by enhancing collaboration, particularly in the areas of training, technological development, and operational capability
A key highlight of the meeting was the mutual
Ahead of the federal government’s budget presentation for fiscal year 2025-26 an Islamabad-based think tank Tabadlab has advised the government to avoid bad growth and highlighted that Pakistan s economy has faced similar challenges in the past
The report, which provides an economic roundup warned against raising tax rates noting that they are already among the highest in the region It also cautioned against driving
While most key economic indicators have stabilized, the economy remains vulnerable to external shocks The report highlighted a 5% deceleration in inflation a reduction in the interest rate from 21% to 11% a steady exchange rate of around Rs 280 to the US dollar and a reduced risk of default as
extreme poverty line has also been revised from $2 15 to $3 per person per day This recalibration has pushed the percentage of Pakistanis living in extreme poverty to 16 5%, a dramatic increase from 4 9% under the older standard Wieser explained that the spike stems from a large portion of Pakistan s population earning between the old and new thresholds: One of the reasons for such a high jump was that the majority of people were clustered around the $2 15 to $3 per day income level ” According to the World Bank approximately 82% of this increase in extreme poverty is attributable to changes in global poverty lines, which now better reflect updated national thresholds in comparator countries The remaining 18% is explained by domestic price inflation in Pakistan between 2017 and 2021 Despite the updated poverty definitions Wieser confirmed that Pakistan s 2023 census data has not yet been incorporated Instead, the United Nations
population dataset was used and the estimates still rely on the 2018/19 HIES survey leaving out more recent shocks including COVID-19 and the 2022 floods, which displaced millions “Anything that has affected since 2019 is not included, neither COVID19 nor the 2022 floods ” she said “We are desperately looking forward to the new household integrated economic survey to update our baseline Pakistan s official national poverty rate, based on the same 2018–19 survey, remains at 21 9%, but since national lines vary from country to country these figures are not internationally comparable the World Bank clarified International poverty lines are essential for tracking global progress and comparisons, but national lines remain more appropriate for informing country-specific policy decisions ” Wieser noted The Bank also emphasized that the new thresholds do not imply a deterioration in living standards, but rather better cross-country comparability
COMMENT
Too high a target?
Commerce Ministr y objec tions mean big problems for government’s economic plan
TH AT Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had set ambitious targets in his Uraan Pakistan initiative is undisputed It could be argued that flight rather than plodding requires ambition However, one of the key targets of the programme, which is the export target of $60 billion by 2030, almost triple the $23 billion of 2023-2024 which among other things will lead to the creation of a million new jobs a year has been put into doubt by the ministry responsible for its achievement the Ministry of Commerce The Ministry is either doing its best to avoid responsibility or is engaged in the old bureaucratic pastime of protecting itself in the event of failure
The Commerce Ministry has argued, rightly enough, that there are external factors at work It must be conceded that the government has virtually no control over these external factors, and to mention is not to present a solution US tariffs have arisen as a factor since the plan was launched at the turn of the New Year, one factor which the Ministry has mentioned is economic diplomacy, even though that is something for which the Ministry is directly responsible for, through the commercial counsellors and attachés it appoints directly Then there are power tariffs, depending so deeply on the global oil price The Commerce Ministry does have some suggestions but they are the usual ones of rationalising custom tariffs and improving inter-ministerial tariffs Recently the Asian Development Bank also presented a report on Pakistan’s exports and came up with the same tried and tested solutions It seems the received wisdom is that Pakistan can’t really increase its exports by the amount indicated However, it should be noted that the Prime Minister mentioned while introducing the Uraan Pakistan initiative that Pakistan had to earn dollars in order to pay off its debts
This is precisely why there is such a pressing need to increase imports There has to be a quantum jump, not incremental progress so beloved of bureaucrats, if Pakistan is able to service its debt Mr Sharif didn t just pluck a figure out of the air when setting the export target The problem is not so much that the Commerce Ministry or the ADB don t have a solution for increasing exports but that Mr Sharif doesn’t either For such explosive export growth you either do something dramatic or find oil And we haven’t found oil
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan
India just can’t get over its humiliation at Penpoint m a n i a Z i
IT may seem to many that India is needlessly prolonging the controversy about whether any of its planes were shot down and that the calls for the resignation of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan for admitting that an unspecified number had been shot down but it should be understood that the shooting down had damaged the cult of personality that had been developing around him as the unfailing defender of Indian soil, as the semi-mythical warrior-hero who would keep India safe It should be remembered that the BJP is trying to portray a national myth where Muslim hordes from the West threaten at any moment to sweep down on Hindustan at any moment and engulf it, but Modi stands rock-like in defence Bunyanum Marsoos seriously dented that image The BJP seems to have noticed and the Bengal elections early next year are going to be crucial The BJP has never won an election there but wants to displace long-time Trinomial Congress leader Mamta Bannerjee who has held office since 2011 If the BJP fails to win it would be something of a setback The BJP has come from nowhere to become the state’s main opposition, having wiped out the Left Front in the process The real problem is that India has now no way of pulling back from its declaration that the Indus Waters Treaty was held in abeyance For Pakistan the IWT represents survival For India it represents a permanent reaction to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism It also represents a desire to escape the trammels of responsibility It has certain duties as the upper riparian state and it wants to welsh on them The BJP government has thus got into a bind of its own making The IWT was not an issue to the extent that it remained in force despite two Indo-Pak wars since its signing, nor has it been an issue at any of the times Pakistan and India have confronted each other However, Narendra Modi has made it one It might be an example of overreach, for its link with the main issue is not clearly visible Operation Sindoor makes more sense An attack on terrorists can be criticized for offending another nation s sovereignty; it can be argued that India acted without sufficient evidence, and that no court had ratified that decision; socalled terrorist bases were identified incorrectly; India should have persisted with diplomatic channels However Sindoor can still be justified as the reaction of an enraged bull How can the IWT be made to fit in?
By the logic of the IWT abeyance Modi should have ordered counter-population nuclear strikes turning Pakistan into a radioactive wasteland has chosen this moment to make a deal with France to Of course, Sindoor itself has led to problems Dassault, the makers of the Rafale jet, have tried to put the blame for the downing of its jet by the PAF on the IAF Dassault is pushing the line that the downings were the result of pilot error and poor
maintenance The IAF is not accepting this insisting that Dassault share the source codes of the plane s electronics Dassault s request that it be allowed to carry out a technical audit of the Rafales in India’s inventory has not been entertained even as the Indonesian Air Force has asked to be allowed to conduct its own audit The Indonesian government has chosen this moment to sign a deal with France for Rafales Pakistan is far away from that, as is the maker of the J-10, which brought down the Rafales While there is the customary post-operation review (and indeed it is the thoroughness of such reviews that enabled the operational efficiency attained during Sindoor there is none of the panic that is taking place at this moment in India Amidst all of this India has decided to launch a stealth fighter project It seems that it is treading the same path as it did after the Phulwama crisis, when it inducted the Rafale for air combat, and the S400 for air defence The PAF has shown that it can counter both of them In the Phulwama crisis it was shown that the mainstay of the IAF the MiG-21 was inferior Wing CDR Abhinandan the pilot who was shot down and captured, was proof This time around, no Indian pilots were captured That did not mean no planes were shot down, it merely meant that the pilots had ejected and come to earth in Indian territory It also meant that PAF and IAF planes had not intruded into each other s territory and had done whatever damage they did with guided munitions both air-toair and air-to-ground It reflected the nature of the conflict, which did not convert into war mainly because neither side established the presence of human combatants on the other side of the border except the sole BSF sepoy captured by Pakistan The intense firing on opposing positions on the other side of the LoC was carried out from weapons
C h i n a ’ s g r o w i n g i n f l u e n c e
IN the aftermath of the conflict between Pakistan and India in May 2025, many feared New Delhi’s outreach to the Taliban-led Afghan government as tantamount to sandwiching Pakistan between two potential adversaries Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar reiterated that they would build a relationship with Afghanistan if it takes anything However, the much-anticipated bilateral ties between India and Afghanistan dropped significance with the Chinese involvement in mending the links between Islamabad and Kabul Beijing s recent mediation overshadowed Indian efforts on our western front The trilateral meeting between China, Pakistan and Afghanistan in Beijing on 21 May has raised a beacon of hope on the regional political landscape as China committed to its multilateralism and win-win development principles once again fortified regional connectivity and peace by bringing Islamabad and Kabul back to the table The meeting signals China s growing influence in the international arena particularly to secure its BRI initiative through forging bonhomie and exerting its soft power In the latest trilateral meeting Pakistan and Afghanistan s agreement to exchange ambassadors as they have since done is a positive message for the regional and international warmongers as it sets the way for negotiations on shared issues such as terrorism and trade The meeting also provided space for building mutual confidence between the two neighbour-
India must also learn from Chinese principles, and that warmongering and hostility has bred nothing except destruction, retrogression, and hopelessness.
ing countries amid the looming regional crisis Moreover, Afghanistan and China s engagement have vast potential for the former ’s stability, regional integration and development Kabul has for long been seeking recognition by the international community; however Chinese favour can be a decisive step in that direction provided that Afghanistan is ready to demonstrate its commitment to actively engage in crafting a regional cooperative environment by taking harsh measures against terrorism and bringing radical change in its domestic policies regarding civic rights particularly girls’ education and an inclusive governmental setup Pakistan however has always wanted a stable government in Afghanistan as instability in Afghanistan has often resulted in cross-border terrorist attacks, illegal smuggling and immigration flux into Pakistan’s western provinces An unstable neighbourhood becomes a breeding ground for terrorists infrastructure development building safe havens and logistical facilities The most striking indictment for Islamabad is the insurgents more proactive role on the heels of peace disruption on the eastern border, signaling a blatant link between terrorist attacks and New Delhi’s obsession with downplaying Islamabad Nonetheless in the trilateral meeting another important development was Beijing s integration of Afghanistan into its Belt and Road Initiative China s multilateral approach in regional development and cooperation is countering US hegemonic norms and principles in Asia More and more countries are coming under China’s influence via the latter s international institutions and initiatives such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and BRI, an ample proof of China s growing influence in international governance In the far east Asia China has engaged several nations under its banner of BRI diminishing US influence and opening ways for cooperation and economic development Beijing is also reducing its vulnerabilities to US-dominated strategic points like the Malacca Straits by developing alterna-
tive maritime routes and ports including Gwadar port and the soon-to-be-completed Kyaukupu port in Myanmar, significantly reducing shipping distance to China The USA and its allies in the West are closely monitoring this development and trying to contain China through their alliances in the Indo-Pacific region such as Quad The USA s excessive reliance and confidence in New Delhi has also suffered a dent as the latter s wishes to be backed by the USS in its latest military adventurism went downhill when Washington declared its neutrality US President Trump has also been criticized vitriolically for his neutrality by the Indian media in multiple instances Even the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his repeated appearance on TV has not named President Trump for his ceasefire efforts, indicating that Modi is not happy with his development in the recent conflict Possibly New Delhi is saved by Washington from Beijing However if the current development is dissected with impartiality and reason the most proactive role for peace, constructive engagement and regional development can be credited to China The USA has always benefited from wars and never tried reconciliation and diplomacy in conflicts The Iraq-invasion and Afghanistan war following the 9/11 security lapse could have avoided had the USA given a chance to diplomacy but its unilateralism has always resulted in the destruction of many The current Israel-Palestine conflict has an active backing of Washington and that is where its principles of human rights and non-violation collide
On the other hand China helped broker a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023 putting an end to their seven years of hostility Last year China also helped Palestinian groups and Hamas sign a unity deal in its capital These developments not only underline Chinese diplomatic prowess but its ability to shape the global arena on the principles of multilateralism peace and prosperity India must also learn from Chinese principles and that warmongering and hostility has bred nothing except destruction, retrogression, and hopelessness
The writer is a freelance columnist
Global embarrassment
Farmed out
Usman Torwali
The silent suffering
times even minutes of delivery expected to resume household chores and childcare with a body that has just endured unimaginable trauma There is no monitoring for infections, no counseling for postpartum depression, no nutritional support for breastfeeding, and no follow-up for surgical complications if they had a C-section These women are left to recover if at all on their own with no time or space for healing
Psychologically the impact is profound
Studies show that 30 percent to 37 percent of postpartum women in Pakistan experience clinical depression, yet the concept of maternal mental health is still taboo Women exhibiting symptoms of anxiety or depression are often labeled as ungrateful or overly sensitive blamed for their own distress or even abused further for expressing it There are no structured mental health services in public maternal care systems, and private therapy is unaffordable for most This emotional neglect runs parallel with blatant violations of bodily autonomy A woman s opinion is almost never considered when decisions about pregnancy are made Only 34 percent of married women in Pakistan use contraception, and 17 percent report unmet needs for family planning Many are actively discouraged or forbidden from using contraceptives by husbands or inlaws Cultural myths (such as birth control causing infertility or being religiously forbidden) continue to circulate with no effective public health counter-narratives
As a result, women are forced into repeated, unspaced pregnancies that wear down their bodies Uterine rupture pelvic organ prolapse vesicovaginal fistulas and chronic pain syndromes become lifelong complications Even worse societal pressure for male offspring leads to even more forced pregnancies Women who bear daughters are taunted, neglected, and abused In some areas, sex-selective abortions, though illegal,
are secretly practiced In others the woman is simply pressured to keep trying until a boy is born regardless of what it costs her The media adds fuel to this fire Pakistani dramas frequently glorify the image of the “sacrificing mother” who endures all suffering for her family Rarely do we see female characters who speak up for their reproductive rights, reject early marriage, or opt for family planning On the rare occasion that such a character exists, she is often villainized portrayed as disrespectful or immoral Our media reinforces the narrative that a woman s silence fertility and endurance are her only virtues And the damage is generational Children born into these cycles of abuse face their own battles 38 percent of Pakistani children under five are stunted, and 17 7 percent are wasted as per UnICEF Malnourished under-stimulated and emotionally neglected these children are often pushed into child labour to support their large families They miss school, miss meals, and miss the chance to break free from the circumstances they were born into One generation of reproductive abuse births another generation of social vulnerability In tribal belts and some urban slums
children grow up seeing their mothers as overburdened, underappreciated, and broken Sons internalize patriarchy; daughters inherit trauma The cycle repeats because no one intervenes at the source This is not just a women’s issue It is a national development crisis A country where women are too sick to work too mentally drained to parent effectively, and too socially constrained to seek help cannot prosper Every mother lost to childbirth, every child born into malnutrition, every girl forced into early marriage is a failure of the state and of all of us What is urgently needed is a fundamental restructuring of how we treat reproductive health and female autonomy in Pakistan First, the legal marriage age of 18 must be strictly enforced across all provinces, without exceptions Violations should carry tangible legal consequences and this must be paired with aggressive awareness campaigns that explain why early marriage is so damaging, not just to the
mortality in Pakistan stands at 186 per 100 000 live births but in remote regions the actual figure is likely much higher Women deliver at home, often assisted by untrained dais (birth attendants), without access to sterile instruments or life-saving medication Complications like postpartum hemorrhage eclampsia and sepsis go untreated Women bleed out in silence their deaths labelled as fate instead of systemic failure
Even after childbirth, the neglect continues There is virtually no postnatal care The mother is sent home within hours some-
The reproductive suffering of women in Pakistan is not cultural. It is not inevitable . It is not ordained. It is engineered by systems of neglect, by silence, by deliberate inaction. It is time to call it what it is: reproductive abuse, and it is destroying the health of women and the future of our nation
crimes in Gaza The government of Israel is currently waging a war without purpose, without goals or clear planning and with no chances of success,” he wrote in an opinion piece for Haaretz
course there is no shortage of reminders of the ugliness of the occupation especially given the unfolding genocide in Gaza Since Israel unilaterally broke the ceasefire in the Strip in March, hospitals have again been in its sights After AlAwda Hospital in Jabalia was evacuated on Israeli orders last Thursday, there were no functioning health facilities in the north of Gaza And let us not forget that last month Israeli troops fired warning shots in the vicinity of a European diplomatic delegation visiting the West Bank More and more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu and his coalition of right-wing lunatics are increasing Israel s isolation and making it impossible for even its closest allies in the West to tolerate its actions
It is telling that a former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert last week said that Israel was committing war
Last week we even saw Germany begin to criticize Israel with Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemning its violations of international law To harm the civilian population to such an extent as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas, he said Merz’s intervention followed a very powerful speech from British Foreign Secretary David Lammy who told Parliament that the rhetoric coming from the likes of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is extremism It is dangerous It is repellent It is monstrous Indeed, when national Security Minister Itamar BenGvir and Smotrich speak of Israeli forces cleansing Gaza, “destroying what’s left” and Palestinians “being relocated to third countries,” then “extremist” is the least they can be called Personally I believe they are war criminals
It is also very telling that Israel s ambassador to the UK was able to phenomenally identify exactly how many Hamas terrorists have been killed during the war on Gaza that ignited following the horrific events of Oct 7 But she could not recall, or even acknowledge, the number of children killed (the answer is more than 15,000, according to UnICEF) despite being asked the same question 17 times during an interview with Piers Morgan
A reminder here that Morgan was unfairly accused at the beginning of the war of being biased toward Israel despite him giving both sides an equal platform His latest interview with the Israeli ambassador was a masterclass in how to conduct professional interviews and ask serious questions
However the battle for Palestinian justice will not be won by column inches or on podcasts The two-state solution summit is coming up on June 17-20 jointly hosted by Saudi Arabia and France at the Un headquarters in new York, and nations worldwide will find themselves facing the ultimate moral test needless to say, now is the time to recognize Palestine and support a two-state solution To skeptics I say two things: better late than never and no implementing it will not be easy but this is a start
Faisal J Abbas is the Editor-in-Chief of Arab News
Hajj begins with world’s largest air conditioner, sur veillance drones, and a ban on children
Hajj travel packages range from $10,000 to $15,000 per person
The AI-powered “Saqr” (Falcon) drone can identify and intercept unauthorized pilgrims, suppor ting the kingdom’s “No Hajj Without a Permit” campaign
SA U D I A R A B I A has announced drastic changes for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage including new rules prohibiting children from accompanying pilgrims and prioritizing pilgrims traveling for the first time The changes represent the most significant transformation of pilgrimage access in modern history
The Hajj one of the five pillars or obligations of Islam draws about two million Muslims annually to Saudi Arabia to complete the spiritual journey that every mature able-bodied Muslim is required to undertake at least once in their lifetime Once a desert journey guided by revelation, the Hajj has become a logistical marvel, and the new policies mark some of the most significant shifts in its 1,400-year history
The pilgrimage involves a series of rituals over several days including circling the Ka ba in Mecca standing in prayer at Mount Arafat and acts of devotion that trace the footsteps of the Prophet Abraham and his family Hajj represents a profound spiritual journey for Muslims, says Shaykh Waleed Basyouni, the President of AlMaghrib Institute, which hosts its own Hajj program “It’s a time for reflection repentance and a renewal of faith ” CHILDREN BANNED: The most controversial change prohibits children from accompanying their guardians on the pilgrimage People were surprised, shocked,” says Basyouni, who has made the pilgrimage multiple times The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah cited safety for the decision In 2024 more than 1 300 people died during the pilgrimage primarily from extreme heat and overcrowding But the new policy breaks with centuries of tradition where families often traveled together to fulfill a religious duty
The minimum age for attendance was unclear, however Some sources cite 12 years as the cutoff, while others indicate Saudi Arabia has set 15 years as the minimum age The confusion may be rooted in the variables of personal development: in Muslim legislation anyone who has not reached puberty is considered a child
Another variable is the weather Once again this year, the desert pilgrimage coincides with intense summer heat But because the Islamic calendar shifts about 10 days earlier each year Hajj will be in the winter from 2034 to 2041 in a natural progression through the seasons over a 33-year cycle They might put restrictions on children in the summer where Hajj comes during the high season when it s very hot, Basyouni says But they might change that later on when the weather is much better, because Hajj comes in the lunar calendar ” FIRST-TIME PILGRIMS GET PRIORITY: In another major shift
Oshaz Fatima
Reproductive abuse and medical exploitation of women in Pakistan
C hina’s top diplomat meets UAE president ’s special envoy
BEIJING
China’s top diplomat Wang Yi met with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak special envoy of the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to China, on Wednesday in Beijing Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the
Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said that China-UAE ties have maintained sound development momentum under the strategic guidance of the two countries heads of state China is willing to work with the UAE to provide mutual support on issues concerning each other ’s core interests expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, maintain close coordination on international and regional affairs, and promote the in-depth development of the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership Wang said Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said the UAE is willing to strengthen its high-level exchanges with China and further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries
PUNJAB’S ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT
Bokhari took a jibe at PTI founder, referred to as “Prisoner No 804”, saying “The poor in Pakistan eat meat only on Eid while the Adiala prisoner eats it every day and watches dream-like films all night Speaking at a strongly worded press conference held at Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) on Thursday Bokhari criticized the PTI leadership claiming that statements made by Aleema Khan and others are merely part of a scripted drama They claim unity, but in reality, they are all characters in the same play,” she said Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Price Control Salma Butt were also
present on the occasion During the press conference, Azma Bokhari extended congratulations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar on Pakistan’s election as Vice President of the United Nations Security Council calling it a historic diplomatic achievement For the first time, due to exceptional foreign policy efforts, Pakistan has secured this significant global responsibility,” she said on behalf of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif On the occasion of Eidul Azha Bokhari said the Punjab government is focusing on improving sanitation and controlling prices This year, we will break our previous record in service delivery and cleanliness ” she said while praising Zeeshan Rafiq for setting a standard that other provinces are now following She added that Punjab is the
only province actively planning food-related strategies for Eid, especially in terms of cooking costs and vegetable prices “Special arrangements have been made to ensure affordability for the public during Eid she added In a major development regarding electricity relief, Bokhari announced that the Punjab government has
Exper ts from Baku providing suppor t to conver t CDA Model Nurser y into ‘G ardenia Hub’, CDA chief briefed
Agha Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and the relevant officers visited CDA Nursery on Park Road A detailed briefing was given on the ongoing construction work under the project to upgrade and transform the CDA Nursery into Gardenia Hub During the briefing Chairman CDA was briefed that the architects and horticulture experts from Baku are providing specialized support to convert the CDA Model Nursery into "Gardenia Hub " It was further shared that the facility will include flower shops as well as a training and research center Chairman CDA stated that all employees working at the CDA Model Nursery will receive special training for its maintenance and protection so they can perform
PAKISTAN EMPLOYED FULL SPECTRUM OF POWER AGAINST INDIA: GEN SAHAR
Pakistan moves closer to crypto regulation with draft framework under review
has taken a significant step toward regulating digital assets as the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) convened a follow-up session on Thursday to assess the development of a legal framework governing cryptocurrencies and virtual assets
Chaired by Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb the high-level meeting was held in Islamabad and included virtual participation from Bilal Bin Saqib, Minister of State and
Travel ban on former
Fawad Chaudhr y lifted
a day earlier in compliance with court orders Justice Inam Amin Minhas concluded the hearing and disposed of the petition Fawad s counsel, Faisal Chaudhry, told the court, It always benefits us to come here ” Taking to the rostrum, Fawad Chaudhry personally thanked the court saying “You know we aren’t going anywhere we’re here to do opposition
T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has categorically ruled out any talks with the federal government, instead calling for direct negotiations with the country’s establishment This was stated by PTI leader Raoof Hassan during an appearance on private TV channel Raoof Hassan said the government lacks the authority or capability to address PTI s core concerns adding that talks will only be held with the establishment Criticizing the government s conduct over the past three years, he asked He cited the events of November 26, when the party held a march and the state allegedly responded
with heavy-handedness Hassan added that when PTI previously engaged the government for talks, it couldn t even facilitate a meeting with party founder Imran Khan During the same program, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Senator Irfan Siddiqui echoed the sentiment that “power talks to power ” noting that genuine negotiations occur only when both sides possess real influence He argued that PTI since its ouster from government still behaves as though it holds decisive power Whatever Imran Khan believes, the ground realities don’t support him anymore, Siddiqui said, adding that the PTI founder is “now suffering from depression after seeing roads being blocked” in protest actions that no longer yield results
