Epaper_25-7-04 ISB by Pakistan Today

PM REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVING GOAL OF A ‘POLIO-FREE PAKISTAN’

g PREMIER SHEHBAZ ACKNOWLEDGES PROGRESS IN ANTI-POLIO FIGHT, CREDITING DEDICATION OF FRONTLINE WORKERS, GOVT ’S

AND PARTNERS

g APPRECIATES THE VITAL AND COMMENDABLE ROLE OF SAUDI CROWN PRINCE, GATES FOUNDATION AND ALL PARTNERS IN ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN IN PAKISTAN

He stressed the need for

dedication and seriousness to ensure that every

R I M E Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s resolute commitment to [achieving] the goal of a polio-free Pakistan soon despite all challenges and difficulties with the support of international provincial and local teams, stressing accelerated efforts to eradicate polio from the country

“We are committed to protecting every child in Pakistan against this crippling disease and achieving a polio-free Pakistan the prime minister pledged while chairing a meeting of the AntiPolio Task Force here

across the country receives multiple doses of the polio vaccine and remains protected The prime minister acknowledged significant progress in the fight against polio due to the dedication of frontline workers, the government s commitment and support from the partners He praised the efforts and cooperation of provincial governments Gilgit-Baltistan Azad Jammu & Kashmir and law enforcement agencies in the anti-polio campaign The safety of polio workers is our top priority, he said, adding that all stakeholders, including provincial governments must unite and intensify their efforts to eradicate polio The prime minister expressed grati-

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived at Shusha city of Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on a two-day official visit to participate in the Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) state media reported Upon his arrival at Fuzuli International Airport the prime minister and his delegation were warmly received by Azerbaijan s Minister of Culture Adil Karimli, Azerbaijan s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, Pakistan’s

tude to all partners supporting the government in its polio eradication efforts He extended special thanks to Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Ara-

bia Mohammed bin Salman for his comprehensive support of Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts

C JCSC, South Africa’s air force chief discuss defence ties, regional security situation

RAWALPINDI

s tA f f r e p o r t

Chief of the South African Air Force (SAAF) Lieutenant General Wiseman Simo Mbambo on Thursday discussed defence cooperation and regional security with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza at Joint Staff Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Thursday, the military’s media wing said

“During the meeting both sides held discussions on a wide range of areas of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press statement

“The dignitaries discussed practical measures to further expand the level and scope of engagements between the two militaries They also exchanged views on the broader geopolitical landscape

CJCSC Gen Mirza shared Pakistan’s perspective on the evolving regional security landscape and highlighted Pakistan s contributions towards regional peace and stability the ISPR added

The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of Pakistan s armed forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism Upon arrival at the Joint Staff

Headquarters a smartly turned out tri-services contingent presented a guard of honor to Lt Gen Mbambo A day earlier, the SAAF chief called on Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at Air Headquarters in Islamabad

During the meeting, Chief of Air Staff Sidhu emphasized the shared values and aspirations that form the foundation of the deeprooted friendship between Pakistan and South Africa

He reiterated PAF s commitment to bolster SAAF s aerial combat capabilities

SAAF and the PAF The discussions centered on revamping SAAF’s training regime Lt Gen Mbambo sought the PAF’s support in developing a modern and comprehensive training framework commencing at the academy level

He also expressed his earnest desire for SAAF officers participation as

s tA f f r e p o r t Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Thursday filed

the accused members deliberately disrupted proceedings, used

language, and defied multiple requests to maintain decorum

The Speaker exercised his authority under Rule 210 of the Assembly Rules and cited Clauses 15 and 210 of the code of conduct, stating that the members actions forced repeated suspensions of the House and damaged the institution’s credibility It was further noted that despite continuous appeals the lawmakers continued to violate rules and hinder the constitutional business of the assembly

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan,

Oil industr y warns of industrial disruption, economic destabilization due to higher levies

the levies which were introduced without consultation would raise FO prices by nearly 80% This, it warned, could make the fuel unaffordable for critical industries, including cement, textiles, glass shipping tyres and foundries

According

facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The OCAC expressed concern that

levies could decrease overall sales tax revenues rather than increase them, as anticipated Refineries may be forced to export FO at a loss, further weakening the already struggling sector Additionally the levies could affect

agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) increasing fuel costs and pushing power plants lower in the merit order, possibly making them inactive and leading to higher capacity payments, ultimately burdening public finances While acknowledging temporary relief measures previously provided by SIFC such as the recovery of inadmissible general sales tax (GST), the OCAC urged for a more sustainable solution It called for a reversal of the levies on FO and for the government to ensure policy consistency as well as to restore the taxable status of currently exempt petroleum products like motor spirit (MS) high-speed diesel (HSD), kerosene, and light diesel oil (LDO) The OCAC requested SIFC’s continued intervention to protect vital industries and maintain a stable business environment

The government had originally set the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at Rs1

later reducing it to Rs1 1 trillion Despite the reduction, actual spending still remained below the revised target Provisional figures reveal that the bulk of the spending Rs456 billion occurred in the last two months (May-June) signalling inefficiencies in the budget release process and raising concerns about the impact on economic growth

The government’s growth projec-

tions were based on the assumption that the full Rs1 1 trillion would be spent According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the GDP calculation took into account this spending figure

However with actual spending falling short the economic growth calculations may be affected though the exact impact is yet to be determined Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal explained that while the government almost reached the Rs1 trillion mark delays in approvals by the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) held back full expenditure He also mentioned that the Finance Ministry instructed the AGPR to slow down fund releases in late June to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) budget targets

The government spent Rs449 billion during the first nine months of FY25, with an additional Rs456 billion

spent in the final two months However, the planning minister clarified that development work did not cease, and only the funds were released and booked during May and June Key areas of spending included Rs60 5 billion on parliamentarians schemes Rs69 5 billion on provincial projects and Rs64 billion on schemes in the merged areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Additionally, sectors such as higher education water resources and infrastructure saw budget allocations fall short of original targets For example the Ministry of Water Resources received Rs154 billion against an allocation of Rs195 billion, and the National Highway Authority spent Rs144

04 COMMENT

Tragedy in Bajaur

an AC shows receding of government control

TH E roadside blast on Wednesday which killed five people showed two things First the former tribal areas are still hotbeds of terrorism

Second the target may well have shifted from the lawenforcing agencies to the civil administration An Improvised Explosive Device was used to blow up the vehicle, leading to the death of the Assistant Commissioner of Nawagai, in Buner district, while he was returning to Khar Civil Colony after conducting an anti-encroachment drive in Nawagai Bazar The local tehsildar was also killed, as were three members of the accompanying police team It was not really a carefully planned operation, for though the deceased AC went to Nawagai every day, on Tuesday the time of his departure from Nawagai could not be guessed though it could have been observed by anyone who observed the operation It is even conceivable that some miscreant saw his arrival discerned his purpose and estimated how long it would take him and then used that time to plant the IED The perpetrator or perpetrators basically seized an opportunity It is also possible that the terrorists had been watching the AC for a while, for the placing of the IED shows a knowledge of his movements that day

The only protection against that is the sort of intelligence which would allow an arrest of the miscreants before they are able to do any mischief This has become all the more essential, for the killing of the AC Nawagai has become the second time a member of the civil administration has been killed in five weeks

Earlier an ADC was killed by Baloch Liberation Army terrorists in Sorab town in Khuzdar district while trying to stop them from entering a residence after they had robbed the local bank on May 29 Those suspected of the Nawagai-Khar road outrage are the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan Though the TTP and BLA are supposed to have quarreled, they may well be continuing to cooperate to an extent

The government must now ensure the security of its officials It is not a matter of the officials courage, but the encouragement the terrorists get when they succeed in killing such high-value targets The spread of the violence from Balochistan to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is worth remarking and instead of fulminations against the central government for intentions of imposing Governor ’s rule there KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur would do well to improve his and his police force’s performance

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

pro-American Janata Dal to power in India and

more pro-US Likud government that India recognized Israel It should be noted that the Quaid-e-Azam was personally committed to the Palestinian cause because he saw its resemblance to the Kashmir cause It is worth noting that India apparently takes the same view, and follows Israel in whatever move it makes against the Palestinians particularly in the West Bank However it seems that this time around Israel followed India s example and has engaged in a raid on Iran s nuclear facilities India has not attacked Pakistan s nuclear facilities, but is working its way up Also, it should be remembered that Pakistan has moved beyond the stage of enrichment-grade uranium to that of producing a weapon Even now it is not clear what happened to the enriched uranium Iran had even though the facilities at which it was produced have been destroyed Pakistan s nuclear weapons have been safe from attack, indeed even an attempt It is not necessary that attempts be successful Israel’s attempt was not successful enough, for the US strikes were made afterwards to achieve the target not as a sort of follow-up in which an already bombed target is retargeted so as to ensure destruction Bunkerbuster bombs dropped by B2s could only mean that the nuclear facilities, particularly those underground, had not been destroyed to the satisfaction of the commander, in this case the US President However one element that Israel was able to deliver which India was not was what

Clearly,

Israeli intervention was not about spreading

cratic values Indeed democracy does not suit

because Iran de-recognized Israel once its revolution occurred and though Turkey has not reversed its recognition relations have deteriorated Though the Iranian regime was not toppled, there were rumours that the Shah’s family’s remnants were being readied for a comeback It seems the USA has learnt nothing from Iraq where its initial favourites were wiped out in elections with pro-Iranian governments being formed The Hanood-Yahood trope is significant for Pakistan, because it was born in the teeth of opposition by the Hindus (the Hanood), with the subtext of Palestinian liberation, which was brought to India by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Amin al-Hussaini who visited India before Partition to drum up support for the Palestinian cause It had become clear at that time that the British operation of its Mandate in Palestine was designed so that it could fulfil the Sykes-Picot Agreement and create a Jewish homeland there

P u b l i c d e b t f a c t s a n d f i g u r e s

primarily relied on longterm instruments such as Pakistan investment Bonds (PIBs) and Sukuk (Islamic Bonds) to finance the fiscal deficit and meet the debt repayment obligations This strategic shift enabled the federal government to retire Treasury Bills (Tbills) amounting to Rs 2 4 trillion thereby being able to reduce the volume of short-term securities and improving the debt maturity profits In order to cater to the investors demands, the federal government also introduced a twoyear zero-coupon Pakistan Investment Bond (PIB) during the period under report and quite successfully raised Rs 610 billion through this instrument In addition to the existing three-year and five-year Ijara Sukuk, the federal government had also introduced a ten-year Sukuk, at both variable and fixed rates with a target to diversify the Shariah-compliant instrument base During the first nine months of FY2025 the government had successfully raised approximately Rs 1 6 trillion via Shariah-compliant Sukuk issuances External budgetary disbursements were recorded at $5 1 billion, of which $2 8 billion were received from multilateral sources, $0 3 billion from bilateral development partners $1 5 billion was

Liability Management Operations (LMOs) Through this initiative the federal government had successfully repurchased approximately Rs 1 trillion worth of the government debt securities thereby reducing the debt servicing cost The Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act 2005 defines “ Total Public Debt” as the

debt owed by the Federal Government as well as the Provincial Governments of Punjab Sindh Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan serviced out of the respective consolidated fund and the debts owed to the International Monetary Fund On the whole, Pakistan s stock of gross public debt stood at Rs 76007 billion at the

Prox y war exposed

Cancer care revolution

MuhaMMad Zahid Rifat

S i n d h ’ s c l i m a t e i m p e r a t i v e

A data- driven path to resilience

TH E province of Sindh stands at a critical juncture in its development trajectory as it faces the mounting challenges posed by climate change Situated along the Indus River delta and encompassing diverse ecosystems from arid deserts to fertile agricultural plains and a lengthy coastline Sindh s geography makes it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of a warming planet The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events - devastating floods, prolonged droughts, and intense heatwaves - are already taking a heavy toll on the province’s economy infrastructure and most importantly its people These climate impacts threaten to reverse decades of development progress and exacerbate existing socioeconomic inequalities unless urgent, coordinated action is taken The framework provided by Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement coupled with emerging opportunities in climate finance offers a pathway for Sindh to build resilience while pursuing sustainable development However, translating these global commitments into local action requires overcoming significant technical, financial, and institutional challenges specific to the province’s context At the heart of Sindh s climate vulnerability is its water crisis which manifests in increasingly complex ways The province s dependence on the Indus River system, combined with changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures, has created a situation where water scarcity and flooding occur in rapid succession Advanced hydrological modeling using tools like the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system reveals alarming trends groundwater recharge rates in northern Sindh have decreased by approximately 30 percent over the past two decades, while evaporation losses from major reservoirs have increased by 12-15 percent due to rising temperatures These changes have se-

Tvere implications for agriculture which remains the backbone of Sindh s economy supporting millions of livelihoods The 2022 floods provided a devastating demonstration of this vulnerability, submerging vast agricultural areas and causing losses estimated at billions of dollars Compounding these challenges is the creeping threat of sea level rise along Sindh s coastline where sophisticated modeling using LIDAR topographical data projects that 1 200-1 500 square kilometers of land could be permanently inundated by 2050 under high-emission scenarios The saltwater intrusion this brings has already rendered 35 percent of previously arable land in coastal areas unproductive displacing communities and disrupting traditional livelihoods In the energy sector Sindh possesses remarkable potential to contribute to Pakistan s NDC targets through renewable energy development The province’s solar energy capacity could theoretically meet several times Pakistan’s current electricity demand with photovoltaic potential exceeding 1 800 kWh/m²/year across most districts Similarly the Jhimpir wind corridor boasts some of the best wind resources in South Asia, with average speeds of 7-8 m/s and capacity factors approaching 34 percent However harnessing this potential requires overcoming significant technical barriers Grid integration challenges stemming from the variable nature of renewable generation necessitate investments in battery storage systems and smart grid technologies The development of agri-voltaic systems, which combine solar power generation with agricultural production offers a promising solution to optimize land use while providing additional income streams for farmers Pilot projects in Thar have demonstrated the technical feasibility of this approach, but widespread adoption requires addressing financing barriers and developing local technical capacity for installation and maintenance Distributed renewable energy systems particularly solar microgrids could transform energy access in rural areas but their long-term sustainability depends on establishing viable business

models and local maintenance ecosystems Agriculture which accounts for 28 percent of Sindh s GDP and employs 43 percent of its workforce, requires fundamental transformation to adapt to changing climate conditions The increasing frequency of heatwaves and shifting rainfall patterns are already reducing yields of staple crops like wheat and cotton Precision agriculture technologies including soil moisture sensors and automated irrigation systems have shown potential to improve water use efficiency by 30-40 percent in pilot projects However, their broader adoption faces challenges related to cost, farmer awareness and the need for localized calibration to Sindh’s specific soil and water conditions

Crop modeling tools such as the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) can help farmers anticipate climate impacts and adjust planting schedules, but require extension services to translate scientific insights into practical guidance In coastal areas where salinity intrusion has devastated agricultural lands innovative approaches like biosaline agriculture- using salt-tolerant crop varieties- and electrochemical desalination are being tested, but need substantial scaling up through public-private partnerships These technical solutions must be complemented by institutional reforms in water governance and agricultural extension services to ensure their effective implementation

Coastal resilience presents another critical challenge for Sindh, where sea level rise and intensifying cyclones threaten both ecosystems and human settlements The Indus Delta’s mangrove forests, which once spanned over 600 000 hectares have shrunk by 72 percent since the 1950s due to reduced freshwater flows and sea level rise These mangroves provide invaluable ecosystem services acting as natural buffers against storm surges while sequestering significant amounts of carbon

Restoration efforts have rehabilitated approximately 160 000 hectares but maintaining and expanding these gains requires ongoing scientific monitoring using satellite imagery and drone-based surveys Hybrid approaches combining natural solutions like

Long-term planning (beyond 2030) must envision transformative shifts toward

development across all sectors Throughout this process, regular monitoring and evaluation using scientifically robust indicators will be essential to track progress, learn from setbacks, and adapt strategies as needed

mangrove restoration with engineered structures such as permeable seawalls may offer the most sustainable path forward However, these interventions must be carefully designed to accommodate the needs of local communities, particularly fisherfolk whose livelihoods depend on healthy coastal ecosystems The technical complexity of these solutions underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between hydrologists ecologists engineers, and social scientists

Climate finance represents the critical link between Sindh’s climate challenges and their solutions Accessing international climate funds like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) requires sophisticated project preparation capabilities including detailed feasibility studies, financial modeling, and robust monitoring frameworks Sindh s recent $50 million GCF proposal for climate-resilient water infrastructure exemplifies the level of technical rigor required incorporating hydraulic modeling using EPANET software and climate-adjusted design standards that exceed historical extremes by 25 percent

Smaller-scale projects may find better alignment with the Adaptation Fund s grant programs, which can support community-led initiatives like rainwater harvesting systems or heat-resistant housing designs Mobilizing private sector investment through instruments like green bonds or climate insurance products presents another avenue, but requires developing enabling policy frameworks and building investor confidence The emerging field of nature-based solutions finance including blue carbon credits from mangrove conservation could provide additional revenue streams for coastal protection efforts but depends on establishing credible measurement and verification systems

The successful implementation of climate actions in Sindh hinges on addressing fundamental capacity gaps at institutional and technical levels The province lacks a centralized repository for climate data forcing planners to rely on fragmented or outdated information Establishing a Sindh Climate Data Hub with open-access modeling tools and real-time monitoring systems would provide a foundation for evidencebased decision making Similarly the absence of specialized training programmes in areas like greenhouse gas inventory compilation renewable energy system design and climate risk assessment creates bottlenecks

h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e b i g b u s i n e s s i n I n d i a

An excerpt from ‘The Dismantling of India’s Democrac y: 1947 to 2025’, by Prem Shankar Jha

Ever ything from lead pencils to liquor was impor ted

The relationship between government and big business therefore, changed overnight from one of cosy cooperation to one of barely concealed hostility

panies that produced and marketed the finished goods In sharp contrast, the vast majority of small-scale producers in India continued to produce final goods for the market in direct competition with the now liberated large-scale enterprises till the very end of the twentieth century

of each

CO M I N G on

four seismic developments of the second half of

1980s completed the alienation of

caste Hindus from the Congress and the Janata Dal But what gave staying power to this shift was a simultaneous, and sudden, rise of insecurity in the intermediate bourgeoisie that industrialisation within a closed autarchic economy had created in the previous half century

This had begun almost surreptitiously with the removal of several restrictions on imports in 1978 and a relaxation of India s industrial licensing laws in 1980 and 1981 But the pace of economic liberalisation had accelerated dramatically in 1985 after Rajiv Gandhi became the prime minister In his first budget presented in February 1985 the government abolished industrial licensing for about half of all industrial production In the next few months it also took a large number of controls on industrial modernisation off the rule book, reduced duties drastically on the import of capital goods, and eased the import of new technology

This rapid shift away from the crippling controls of the previous three decades and the consequent return of modern industry into the consumer goods sector fulfilled the essential economic requirement for the development of the fascist impulse, for it turned the seemingly solid ground that near-total import control, and a chronically shortage-ridden market, had created for the small and medium sized, owner-managed enterprises into quicksand The shock this gave to it was almost as great as the shock that the onset of the 1930s Great Depression had given to the Mittelstand in Germany

At first sight India s industrial landscape in the 1980s and 90s did not look very different from that of other industrialised countries during the middle stages of their transformation into modern market economies There was the same sprinkling of large professionally managed multi-product firms at the top of the hierarchy followed by a body of medium and small enterprises that grew wider as their size became smaller But the similarity in the size distribution of industry was deceptive For while in countries where the growth of capitalism had been unhindered, or actively encour-

and

The reason for this “arrested development” of capitalism was a singular and in retrospect tragic convergence of economic and political compulsions Before 1957 the Indian government had followed a relatively open trade policy because it had accumulated large sterling balances during the Second World War, and therefore did not foresee the need to husband the use of foreign exchange Its first Five Year Plan (1952–57) therefore emphasised infrastructure community development and agriculture and left industrial development to the private sector Economic autarchy was ushered in by the Second Five Year Plan, which emphasised self-reliance and gave priority to the establishment of heavy industry This would have required tighter controls on non-essential imports anyway, but what really brought about a sudden and complete ban on all non-essential imports was a severe foreign exchange crisis in 1957 when the government belatedly realised that it had exhausted its sterling balances and was not exporting enough to carry on with its earlier liberal import policies Since this crisis occurred before the World Bank had shifted its focus from European reconstruction to economic development in the Third World, and before the era of liberal US economic aid ushered in by President John F Kennedy the government had no option but to pull down the shutters and ban virtually all but the most essential imports The near-complete ban on the import of consumer goods that followed created the market space for the rapid rise of an intermediate industrial class in the country

At that time, India produced very little for export except textiles jute tea and a few other simple manufactures Everything from lead pencils to liquor was imported Importers had seen the foreign exchange crunch coming at least

industry into an ally of this new intermediate bourgeoisie Between 1970 and 1973, the Indira Gandhi government passed a spate of laws that cut all remaining links with big business, and turned India into an inward-looking siege economy A Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act defined monopoly companies

only when they could further prove that the proposed investment would not make them a monopolist By an amendment to the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act the government also banned foreign investment except in 100 per cent export-oriented ventures Its most draconian enactment was a conversion clause that permitted investment banks to

Fayyaz Salih huSSain

He noted that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist

Pak-China agricultural cooperation enters new era under CPEC: Shi Yuanqiang

ISLAMABAD s tA f f c

Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy Mr Shi Yuanqiang Thursday said the Agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan is entering a new era in depth and scale under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) China and Pakistan attach great importance to agricultural cooperation and regard agriculture as one of the priority areas for their bilateral cooperation,” said Mr Shi Yuanqiang in his keynote address here at the China-Pakistan Agriculture Cooperation Forum Hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK) the forum was aimed to strengthen agricultural industrial cooperation between China and Pakistan and promote agricultural modernization under the CPEC framework The forum featured opening remarks by Mr Wang Huihua President of CCCPK Key speeches were delivered by Mrs Amina Bajwa Head of Programme at FAO Pakistan; Mr Ch Waseem Ajmal Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research of Pakistan; and Mr Shi Yuanqiang, Minister and Chargé d Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan The speakers praised the achievements of ChinaPakistan agricultural cooperation and expressed hope for its continued advancement He said Pak-China agricultural cooperation has steadily deepened and achieved fruitful results over the years Thanks to top leadership and the shared vision under the CPEC for this growing partnership, he added Shi said the institutional framework for agricultural cooperation between China and Pakistan has been strengthened with the establishment of a joint agricultural working group mechanism In April the first meeting of the joint working group was successfully held in Beijing, during which both sides formed the China-Pakistan Agricultural Technology Working Group he added Consensus was also reached on multiple areas of cooperation further consolidating the foundation for future collaboration, he said Shi said agricultural trade between China and Pakistan has seen significant growth in the recent years

CORPORATE CORNER

CBD Punjab enhances road safet y with smar t pedestrian crossing system on route 47

gave a detailed briefing on the security arrangements, procession routes, and facilities during Muharram The meeting was also attended by Commissioner Faisalabad

and

peace

organizers Azma directed that strict compliance with the Punjab Government s Muharram SOPs must be ensured She emphasized that no changes should be made to traditional procession routes Adequate lighting, water sprinkling, and CCTV coverage along the routes must be ensured without exception She urged scholars from all schools of thought to promote patience tolerance and interfaith harmony The minister warned of immediate and strict action against those spreading religious hatred on social media

He emphasized that law enforcement agencies along with the district administration are present in the field day and night during the first ten days of Muharram Strict enforcement will be ensured against the dissemination of sectarian material wall chalking and provocative content he said CCPO Kamyana also urged religious scholars and procession organizers to play an active role in promoting national unity, peace and brotherhood PEF, Karandaaz , NIBAF Pakistan, and BoP

LAHORE s ta f f

Over 6 800 police officers and personnel of the Lahore kept guard on Thursday over a total of 424 Majalis and 99 mourning processions were held across the provincial metropolis in connection with 7th Muharram, according to a statement issued by the Lahore Police spokesman “The Lahore Police officers and personnel effectively guarded all the religious gatherings across the city Lahore s Capital City Police Officer Bilal Siddique Kamyana stated, adding that comprehensive security measures have been put in place to ensure peace and tranquility in Ashura-e-Muharram

mally

‘Professor

Practice’

The CCPO said that search and sweep operations snap checking and other protective measures are being conducted regularly noting that mourning processions are being continuously monitored through the Punjab Safe Cities Authority and other CCTV cameras