PM, PRESIDENT URGE GUIDANCE FROM SACRIFICES OF IMAM HUSSAIN AS NATION COMMEMORATES YOUM-E-ASHURA TODAY
U
battle that took place on the battlefield of Karbala on the 10th of Muharram Al-Haram is not an ordinary battle but an eternal message for the entire world he remarked He said The grandson of the Prophet Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), along with his family and devoted companions, sacrificed their lives for the sake of truth, justice and religion, but did not bow down to falsehood ”
This great sacrifice of his reminds us that protecting principles and standing firm on the truth requires great courage and unwavering faith The martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) makes it clear as day that the true spirit of Islam lies in human dignity, justice, mercy, principledness and freedom ” he asserted
The prime minister said The Karbala
g PRESIDENT ZARDARI CALLS ON THE NATION TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF IMAM HUSSAIN (RA) AND NOT ONLY REFORM ITSELF BUT ALSO BA SE THE GOVERNANCE SYSTEM, SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND NATIONAL PRIORITIES
tragedy teaches us that although the path of truth is difficult it is the path that leads to the pleasure of Allah Almighty satisfaction of hearts and eternal welfare The message of the Supreme Imam is not limited to his time, but is a universal message, which even today convinces us that a Muslim stands for the truth, supports the oppressed, and supports justice in all circumstances He said Today when our nation is facing many challenges Be it the economy society or national unity we need to take guidance from the life of Imam Hussain (RA) more than ever We have to adopt qualities such as honesty, tolerance patience sacrifice and principledness in our national life From individual attitudes to state policies if we chart our course in the light of Karbala Pakistan can become a welfare, just and self-reliant state that not only represents the aspirations of its people but also sets an
example for the world, he remarked He said The great sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) is the mutual asset of the entire Muslim Ummah We should make this sacred message a source of unity, and make our society a cradle of love, tolerance and goodwill He said, Today on the Day of Ashura, let us pledge that we will make truth and honesty our motto in our lives We will raise our voice against oppression and try to give our homeland the same peace justice and dignity that is reflected in the bright character of Sayyiduna Imam Hussain (RA) I pray that Allah Almighty keeps Pakistan on the path of peace unity and progress and protects Pakistan from internal and external tribulations and grants it stability and gives us the knowledge and wisdom with which we can move towards a bright and dignified future Amen, concluded
President asks nation to follow path of Imam Hussain (RA) Meanwhile in separate message President Asif Ali Zardari called upon the nation to follow the path of Imam Hussain (RA) and not only reform itself but also base the governance system, social attitudes and national priorities on honesty decency and public welfare
In a message to the nation on the occasion of Ashura Day 1447 AH he said
The Day of Ashura is a bright and immortal chapter in Islamic history, which gives us a message of sacrifice, truthfulness and sincere determination ”
He said “This day reminds us of the great martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his devoted companions
This day is a symbol of an eternal struggle against falsehood ”
“This day is not only an unparalleled story of sacrifice loyalty and patience but also a bright light that shows the path of truth and righteousness in the darkness of every era The martyrdom of the Supreme Imam was not the result of any political or temporal expediency, but it was a divine mission based on truthfulness justice and the pleasure of God ” he explained
He said Not only a war was fought on the land of Karbala but there was a test of conscience, character and the true spirit of religion Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions, by accepting the severity of hunger, thirst and death, gave a lesson to the history of humanity that time can never forget Their message is still alive today and it is a profound message of standing firm on principles, not bowing down to oppression and coercion and making every sacrifice for the sake of truth,” he continued
The weekly inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the combined consumption group decreased by 2 06% during the week ending on July 3 compared to the corresponding week of last year (2024) However, on a week-on-week basis, the SPI for the group increased by 0 73% during the week, compared to the previous week, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS)
According to the PBS data the SPI for the week under review in the above-mentioned group was recorded at 312 06 points as compared to 309 80 points during the past week As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed a decrease of 2 06%
The weekly SPI with the base year 2015-16 100 covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups The SPI for the lowest consumption group of up to Rs 17,732 witnessed an increase of 0 74%, rising to 301 60 points from last week’s 299 39 points The SPI for consumption groups of Rs 17,732 to 22,88, Rs 22,889–29,517, Rs 29,518–44 175 and above Rs 44 175 increased by 0 80% 0 72% 0 76% and 0 70% respectively During the week out of 51 items prices of 18 (35 29%) items increased 6 (11 77%) items decreased and 27 (52 94%) items remained stable
The items that recorded a major decrease in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included LPG (8 53%), bananas (3 36%), eggs (0 59%), mustard oil (0 37%) pulse moong (0 30%) and pulse gram (0 29%) The commodities that recorded a major increase in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included chicken (13 05%) onions (11 62%) tomatoes (11 09%), garlic (5 40%), diesel (3 94%), potatoes (3 58%), petrol (3 22%), sugar (1 27%), cooked daal (0 60%), gur (0 41%), curd (0 37%), and powdered milk (0 29%) On a year-on-year basis the commodities that witnessed a decrease included tomatoes (61 42%) onions (53 71%) electricity charges for Q1 (37 62%) garlic (24 29%), wheat flour (23 62%), pulse mash (20 27%), tea packet (17 93%), potatoes (16 06%), pulse
TPakistan’s Central Government Debt Climbs to Rs76 Trillion by May 2025
Central
ECC raises concerns over exclusion of small farmers from risk coverage scheme
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has raised concerns over the exclusion of small farmers from Punjab and Sindh in a proposed Risk Coverage Scheme aimed at underserved areas
According to media reports the ECC during a recent meeting directed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to revisit the eligibility criteria which currently restrict participation to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, and to present a detailed briefing on the matter in the next session The scheme is estimated to have a total budget requirement of Rs37 5 billion over FY27 to FY31 which includes Rs30 billion for risk coverage and Rs7 5 billion for operational costs related to acquiring new borrowers
However, the exclusion of small farmers in Punjab and Sindh has raised concerns among ECC members who highlighted the potential misuse of the scheme by large landowners They called for equitable access across all provinces
The SBP explained that the scheme developed in consultation with the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA), is designed for a three-year period, with the
goal of developing an ecosystem that would allow banks to finance small farmers in the future The initiative aims to support production loans for the crop dairy livestock and fisheries sectors in remote and underserved areas Farmers under the scheme can access loans of up to Rs3 million with a 12-month repayment period, extended to 18 months for sugarcane farmers The scheme is expected to bring 750,000 new borrowers into the formal financial system and
Rs300 billion in additional credit from FY26 to FY28 The government will provide 10% first-loss coverage on banks agricultural loan portfolios for both new and incremental borrowers To promote outreach, banks will receive an operational subsidy of Rs10,000 per borrower The scheme will replace the existing Credit Guarantee Scheme for Small and Marginalised Farmers (CGSMF)
The planned allocations for the scheme are Rs8 725 billion for FY27, Rs12 45 billion for FY28, Rs12 5 billion for FY29 (entirely for risk coverage), and Rs3 775 billion for FY30 While the ECC approved the scheme in principle, it instructed the Finance Division and SBP to reassess the exclusion of Punjab and Sindh and provide a detailed clarification in the upcoming meeting
Govt mulls lif ting gas connec tion ban as LNG surplus strains supply chain
Targeting motorbikes
That might be the tipping point for elec trification of transpor t
AIn essence, the lesson of Karbala is of truth, bravery, patience, and perseverance
STODAY IS ASHURA
Dr MuhaMMaD rizwan Bhatti
ACRIFICE for the glory of Islam enlivens the brave heart Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), resurrected the Islam with his martyrdom at Karbala The incident of Karbala embodies a tale of bravery patience self-mortification endurance and steadfastness The saga of Karbala is all about the fight between evil and good Karbala recalls the spirit of standing against the oppressors even without consideration of death and loss of family The tyrants of the Syrian horde witnessed the strength of character, intrepidness, and perseverance of Hazrat Imam Hussain Ahle-Bait and his loyal companions
Undoubtedly Hazrat Imam Hussain advocated for the inviolable rights of others and his famous quote that the best ruler is one who eliminates cruelty and stands for justice reflects this He rejected injustice and tyranny and he always adopts the path of righteousness, no matter how difficult it is Moreover Karbala is never meant for personal gain and political motives so it is totally misgiving that Hazrat Imam Hussain developed a tendency of political consideration Furthermore every school of thought elaborated the saga of Karbala in their own tone and voice He raised a voice against Yazzidi forces, and never kowtowed to aggression and brutality Consequently the predicament of Karbala revives the true spirit of Islam based on sacrifices and self-edification Thus the event of Karbala delineates the fight among good and vile
The heroism and valiance of the Hussaini Camp was immortalized and the cruelty and subterfuge of Yazidi followers became a symbol of shame and ignominy in the rolling pages of history
The standard bearer (Alamdar) Hazrat Abbas bin Ali marked the value of loyalty nobility dedication and resoluteness till the last drop of blood His brave and lofty character attained the acme when he decided to fetch water for little children and women
In the midst of scorching heat he went to the river Euphrates and martyred fighting valiantly in the face of vile aggression
Also Hazrat Abbas bin Ali stayed devoted to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) till his martyrdom The pious caliphate is the glorified criterion of Islam, and the disciples of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) dedicated their lives for the cause of Islam But there were the rulers who looked for their vested desires instead of giving relief to the people and the conspiracies against Islam were commenced in the domains of the pious caliphs Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions laid their precious lives in Karbala for the purpose of Islam The Holy Prophet (PBUH) prayed for Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Imam Hasan and he said “O Allah I loved them May you love them Whoever loved them loved me in the real sense
Moreover Hazrat Imam Hussain being a descendant of Ahle-Bait, endeavoured to salvage Islam, and he did not yield to Yazeed as a caliph He rebelled against the existing rotten system, and he sacrificed the lives of his kith and kin in order to revive true Islam His martyrdom is the bloodiest event of Islamic history though centuries have been passed Indeed the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain renders a great lesson Though Yazeed and his army won the battle, Hazrat Imam Hussain revived Islam by giving his life His firmness, determination, and loyalty to Islam will remain a beacon of light for the whole Muslim Ummah up to the Day of Judgment Therefore we should take a lesson from the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain It is our duty to struggle for an Islamic system, and we should secure our faith We should be ready to sacrifice everything for Allah and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) What happened on the fateful day of Ashura carries the lesson of bravery courage fortitude righteousness, and steadfastness against evil, moral turpitude, and oppression of reign of terror Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and his ennobled companions manifestly demarcated the line between right and wrong and he unfurled the flag of Islam by sacrificing his life He genuflected in front of Almighty Allah instead of bowing before the evil forces of darkness He consecrated the institution of Caliphate by not
THE ceasefire between Iran and Israel declared hastily and with much fanfare by US President Donald Trump is already beginning to look less like a diplomatic victory and more like a strategic illusion What was sold as a decisive end to hostilities may turn out to be a temporary lull before the next eruption And the consequences of that miscalculation may be far more destabilizing than the original conflict To understand how we got here, one must first recognize the flaw at the heart of Trump’s foreign policy: a penchant for theatrics over substance By rushing to declare a military victory against Iran and orchestrating what he called a ceasefire Trump shifted the burden of proof from Iran the aggressor and the nuclear aspirant to himself Instead of demanding that Tehran open its facilities to verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Trump moved first unilaterally and in doing so gave Iran room to manoeuvre The Islamic Republic responded with predictable acumen Tehran promptly suspended cooperation with the IAEA the only body with the legal and technical mandate to assess nuclear compliance Without external oversight, Iran is now free to hide the extent of the damage to its nuclear facilities obscure the fate of its centrifuges and relocate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to secret sites The tables have turned Where once Iran was on the defensive now it s Washington led by a president caught in a spiral of self-justification that appears cornered What’s even more telling is the triumphant re-emergence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei With characteristic defiance he dismissed the US response as a failure and ridiculed Trump s claims of success For Iran,
the ceasefire is not a concession It s a stagemanaged pause that buys it time while reinforcing its regional posture This outcome is partly the result of Trump’s chronic habit of personalizing politics Strategic policy is reduced to political messaging Missteps are not acknowledged but repackaged as triumphs Even his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff sharp, perhaps, but largely inexperienced in the complexities of Persian power games has leaned on short-term arrangements rather than strategic depth The problem with short-termism is that it rarely solves the long-term crisis A real ceasefire if one existed would have been accompanied by a detailed roadmap mutually verified commitments, defined consequences for breaches, and an endgame What Trump offered instead was what his administration often peddles: patchwork diplomacy Appearances over reality Announcements without guarantees And while Witkoff might be a capable dealmaker he appears to have misunderstood both sides On the Iranian side, the regime has shown remarkable ideological rigidity It is deeply invested in its nuclear programme, its missile development, and its sprawling network of regional proxies These are not negotiable tools of foreign policy; they are foundational to the Islamic Republic s strategic identity On the Israeli side Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a political survivor one whose ruthlessness is matched only by his skill at reading the winds in Washington He has now found himself navigating not only Iran’s ambitions but also Trump’s unpredictable temperament And with the US President signaling a desire to avoid further military confrontation Netanyahu must act more cautiously perhaps reluctantly deferring retaliation, while preparing for the next inevitable round Behind the scenes, Iran has already begun manoeuvring Intelligence reports suggest it has dispersed its enriched uranium and hardened its facilities Meanwhile the IAEA has warned that Iran is only months away from achieving enrichment levels necessary for a bomb The real question now is not whether Iran will acquire the bomb, but whether anyone will be able or willing to stop it Trump may find it politically inconvenient to launch a second strike Doing so would be an implicit admission that the first round failed Worse, it could provoke a domestic backlash at a time when political capital is in short supply
But doing nothing carries its own costs It encourages Iran to harden its positions and emboldens its proxies from Lebanon to Yemen So where does this leave the so-called ceasefire? On life support It is increasingly clear that neither Israel nor Iran views this pause as the end of hostilities For both regimes, conflict has political utility In Israel, security crises galvanize public support and unify a fragmented political spectrum In Iran external threats are used to justify internal repression and rally nationalist fervour A conflict kept simmering just below boiling point serves their interests What about diplomacy? Can there still be a grand bargain? Witkoff and his team speak as if such a breakthrough is just around the corner But this sounds more like wishful thinking than serious statecraft Tehran has made it clear that it will not discuss its ballistic missile program nor its use of armed militias in Iraq Syria Lebanon, and Gaza The most the USA can expect is a game of delay talks meant to stall, not solve Meanwhile, Khamenei has raised the bar for diplomacy even higher He insists that Trump apologize for using the term surrender in reference to Iran a symbolic demand meant to further erode US leverage In truth the Supreme Leader has already scored a win: a retaliatory strike on a US base in Qatar that injured no one but signaled resolve Washington took the message and backed off It is a grim irony that Iran may now be in a stronger negotiating position than before the US strikes The regime has shown it can survive a US offensive, maintain its nuclear programme, and still command attention on the global stage The lesson here is sobering: diplomacy must be rooted in realism, not public relations The USA cannot afford to confuse tactical pauses with strategic solutions The Trump Administration s approach improvisational media-driven devoid of historical awareness is ill-suited to a region where time moves slowly, memory runs deep, and adversaries play the long game As things stand the world should prepare for the next phase of the Israel-Iran confrontation Because if history teaches us anything it is that when deterrence weakens escalation follows The so-called ceasefire may have bought a few weeks of quiet, but the storm clouds are already gathering And once the skies open again, no tweet will be able to contain the fallout
The writer can be reached at: writetomahossain@gmail com
Taxing education
Solar tax debate
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IN the introduction to Postcolonial Bollywood and Muslim Identity: Production, Representation, and Reception, academic Nadira Khatun writes, “Bollywood has represented Muslims through a selective ideological lens and often overlooked situating them in landmark Indian socio-political historical events Khatun adds that Hindi cinema has portrayed Muslims in essentialized and homogenized ways Muslims are always associated with a few religio-cultural components, such as the Urdu language, biryani and meat as a food habit, sartorial practices such as wearing the skull cap burqa and Pathani dress ” Khatun writes “ But the truth is that Muslims around the nation observe different diets language and sartorial choices Postcolonial Bollywood and Muslim Identity (Oxford University Press) analyses the diverse ways in which Muslims have been represented in Hindi cinema down the decades Between the 1940s and the 1970s, films portrayed Muslims as rulers or aristocrats a representation that appears positive but was misleading Khatun says The audiences of those films formed an imagined image of Muslims and that image was in absolute contrast to the real image of Indian Muslims at that time, she writes In subsequent decades, Muslim characters were often gangsters terrorists or collaborators with Pakistani spies The book an expansion of Khatun’s doctoral thesis also examines noteworthy contemporary films with Muslim characters such as My Name is Khan (2010) Dear Zindagi (2016) and Gully Boy (2019) The renewed interest in the historical genre is in stark contrast to older films such as Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and
Jodhaa Akbar (2008), Khatun finds Newer films such as Samrat Prithviraj (2022) and the blockbuster Chhavva (2025) identify Muslim rulers as foreigners and despots who delight in torturing their Hindu rivals
It can be argued that Bollywood as a mass art form has responded to selective historical moments of the past and present, Khatun writes Through these selective ultra-nationalist and ultra-violent representations of the notion of the Hindu nation and Muslim Other, Bollywood has contributed to the hegemonic Hindutva discourse ” Khatun spoke to Scroll about what prompted her interest in the subject and how she views the evolution of Muslim representation Here are edited excerpts from the interview
What prompted you to write Postcolonial Bollywood and Muslim Identity?
I have been told multiple times, you don’t look like a Muslim I felt that Bollywood plays a huge role in the perception of how Muslims look or behave in a particular way I grew up in the 1990s when the Khans were the biggest superstars but they were playing Hindu characters like Prem and Raj Meanwhile my family members were marginalised in some contexts So my own identity issues led me to choose the subject of the book
What has been the general pattern of the representation of Muslims in cinema?
Earlier Muslims were either exoticised alienised or villainised They were rarely shown as ordinary citizens with regular lives and regular jobs
Between the 1940s and 1960s, there were many films about Muslim kings and nobles In later decades, you had Muslim social films where Islamicate culture was primarily portrayed After the 1990s particularly following the demolition of the Babri Masjid [on December 6 1992] the idea of the enemy changed Previously villains were Mogambo and Gabbar Singh From the 1990s onwards, the enemies were characterised as terrorists, gangsters, brutal invaders and rioters
A film inspired by an actual incident such as a terrorist attack is held to be more believable Films with a lead protagonist who is a Muslim invariably place the characters in the middle of issues or show Muslim women facing oppression such as Secret Superstar Or take a film like Lipstick Under My Burkha The Muslim character played by Konkona Sensharma is struggling with the number of children she has Women, particularly are shown as going through subjugation or repression
Darlings reinforces the stereotype of Muslim men as
violent Domestic violence is everywhere it isn t restricted to any one community That said Alia Bhatt s character Safeena in Gully Boy is assertive, she has a voice Usually, Muslim girls are shown as very weak or oppressed There are rare film texts where you have the characters like Safeena who owns her religion and wears a hijab because she wants to and not because she is subjugated Muslim characters also feature prominently in films with patriotic or nationalistic themes Muslim characters are supposed to prove their nationalism or allegiance to the nation This is even the case with a non-mainstream film like Iqbal You are putting out the message that you have to prove your nationalism to be considered a good Muslim A new trend I noticed was supernatural elements with Islamic demonic powers such as Pari and Roohi
FarzEEN NadEEm
TRUMP SIGNS SWEEPING TA X , SPENDING CUTS INTO L AW
The Strategic Role of International Organizations in Safeguarding Human Rights
In an increasingly interconnected world, the protection of human rights is no longer a matter of domestic concern alone Human rights violations whether occurring in one country or across multiple borders can trigger regional instability refugee crises economic disruptions, and global condemnation As a result, the defense and promotion of human rights has become a shared international responsibility Today international organizations both governmental and non-governmental play a vital role in shaping global human rights norms, holding perpetrators accountable, and fostering longterm peace and stability
The modern international human rights movement was born in the aftermath of World War II a conflict that exposed the horrific consequences of unchecked state power In response to the atrocities committed during the war, world leaders came together to establish a new framework for protecting human dignity and preventing future abuse This led to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 For the first time in history a global consensus emerged around a core set of inalienable rights including freedom of expression the right to life protection from torture, and the right to participate in government
The UDHR laid the foundation for subsequent legal instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) Together, these treaties form what is often referred to as the "International Bill of Human Rights? These instruments have been signed and ratified by most countries providing a legal basis for both international advocacy and domestic implementation of human rights protections
At the heart of the global human rights architecture stands
strategic and forward-looking Wang said that regardless of changes in the international situation China and France are both willing and capable of forging consensus properly handling differences, and deepening cooperation through communication and dialogue to ensure the stable and sustained development of bilateral relations Respecting each other ’s core interests is the
the United Nations (UN) Although the UN cannot enforce its resolutions through military means or punitive sanctions in most cases its influence lies in its ability to shape norms generate diplomatic pressure, and offer technical and humanitarian assistance Within the UN system, bodies like the Human Rights Council the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and various treatymonitoring committees are tasked with overseeing states human rights obligations These institutions review compliance reports conduct country visits and provide recommendations for legal and policy reforms While these mechanisms are often criticized for lacking enforcement power, their work has contributed significantly to making human rights violations more visible and holding states publicly accountable
In addition UN agencies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO) operate on the ground offering essential services such as health care education and emergency relief For instance UNHCR provides legal and humanitarian support to over 100 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, demonstrating the tangible impact of international efforts
Beyond intergovernmental institutions non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a critical role in defending human rights particularly in countries where state institutions are weak, complicit, or repressive Organizations like Amnesty International Human Rights Watch and Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) work independently to monitor, document, and expose human rights abuses Their reports often serve as the basis for international condemnation, policy change and even legal action
These NGOs frequently operate in dangerous environments relying on local informants investigative journalists, and field researchers to collect evidence Their findings in-
fluence the decisions of international bodies and often spur media coverage that pressures governments to act For example the extensive documentation of war crimes in Syria by human rights organizations helped build the case for international accountability and humanitarian aid interventions
The evolution of international human rights law has also brought about judicial mechanisms aimed at individual accountability The International Criminal Court (ICC), established in 2002, is mandated to prosecute individuals for the most serious crimes including genocide war crimes and crimes against humanity Although the ICC has jurisdictional limitations and faces resistance from some powerful nations, it has successfully prosecuted several high-profile figures and continues to play a symbolic and legal role in combating impunity Regional judicial bodies offer additional layers of protection The European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights provide platforms for individuals to challenge their governments when domestic remedies fail
These courts have been instrumental in enforcing rights to freedom of speech, fair trials, and protection from torture, and have established important precedents that influence national legal systems
In areas afflicted by conflict and disaster organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) perform critical lifesaving roles The ICRC, often regarded as a neutral actor delivers food medical care and legal support to civilians caught in war zones It also works to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, which governs the conduct of armed conflict and aims to protect those not participating in hostilities For example, during conflicts in Yemen and South Sudan the ICRC has facilitated the exchange of prisoners visited detention centers to monitor conditions and provided assistance to communities cut
tion and coordination with France to play a constructive role in seeking political solutions to hotspot problems such as the Ukraine crisis and Middle East issues he added Second China and France should promote mutually beneficial cooperation and serve as forces for openness, Wang said He warned that some major countries are currently weaponizing tariffs, treating economic and trade cooperation as security issues and placing their own interests above those of other countries Such actions severely disrupt the stable operation of global supply chains and seriously harm the common interests of the international community, Wang said He said history and reality have proven that competitiveness cannot be enhanced by building walls and barriers and that decoupling and breaking chains will ultimately only isolate oneself China has entered a new stage of highquality development and will continue to expand high-level opening-up, Wang said, adding that China and the EU have resolved the brandy issue through friendly consultations China is ready to import more high-qual-
Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 35 Palestinians
s:
The
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town of Antalya, Muhittin Bocek, and the mayor of Adiyaman in the southeast Abdurrahman Tutdere As he was being led away to a police car a journalist asked Karalar why he was being arrested Where there is an influential journalist or politician, they
ity French products, encourages competitive Chinese enterprises to invest in France, and hopes the French side will provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises he said Both sides should continue to deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, while actively exploring potential cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, green energy and biotechnology he added Third China and France should promote people-to-people exchanges and serve as forces for inclusiveness Wang said noting that people-to-people connections fostering heart-to-heart communication are
SYEDA ALIYYA RUBAB
CORPORATE CORNER
Pakistan set to gain $200m from tuna industr y overhaul, announces Maritime Minister
LAHORE s
H E 982nd Annual Ghusal
TMubarak Ceremony of the shrine of revered Sufi saint Hazrat Al-Shaikh Al-Syed Ali Bin Usman Al-Hajveri (RA), widely known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh, was observed with great religious devotion and reverence here on Saturday
The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by soulstirring Naat recitations by renowned Naat khawans The traditional ghusal of the shrine was performed with rosewater, accompanied by Chadar Poshi and the laying of floral wreaths Special prayers were offered for the peace prosperity and stability of Pakistan
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar attended the ceremony as chief guest He was accompanied by Provincial Ministers Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, Bilal Yaseen, and other dignitaries including the CCPO departmental secretaries and prominent religious leaders
Officials briefed him on key development projects underway at Data Darbar, including traffic management upgrades, extension of the various parts of the Darbar and architectural enhance-
SMEDA par tners with Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance
LAHORE
In line with the Prime Minister s forward-looking vision of inclusive economic growth through grassroots entrepreneurship, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance (AIM) to support the access to finance formalization and hand-holding of micro enterprises across Pakistan The manuscript of the MOU was signed by Mr Socrat Aman Rana CEO SMEDA and Dr Amjad Saqib, Founder/Chairman Akhuwat Foundation, in presence of Mr Saif Anjum, Federal Secretary Industries and Production, today at SMEDA head office Mr Shahzad Akram Chief Credit Officer AIM and Mr Ali Basharat Chief Operating Officer Pakistan Microfinance Network (PMN) Micro Enterprises Policy & Program Design (ME P&PD) team of SMEDA along with a number of other senior officials were also present on this occasion Secretary MOIP Mr Saif Anjum, while addressing the signing ceremony, said that MSMEs as a backbone of Pakistan’s economy are fostering economic resilience employment and innovation in the country The micro enterprises along the SMEs are on top priority of the Prime Minister s economic agenda, he said and informed that he had set up a steering committee headed by himself to address issues of the MSME Under the steering committee, reorganization of SMEDA has also be done to enhance its efficacy in service to SMEs Lahore Police ensures foolproof
s ta f f r e p o r t Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed stood as a steel wall in front of the enemy, and defended the motherland," said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz while paying him tribute on his 26th martyrdom anniversary She added The stories of bravery and valor of Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed will continue to light a lamp of patriotism in the hearts of future generations " She highlighted “Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed proved that sanctity of the homeland comes before everything She underscored Unparalleled sacrifices of nation and its armed forces are real strength of the homeland " A n n u a
G
h s h Meanwhile Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities concerned to continuously monitor security arrangements for the annual Ghusal ceremony of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh s shrine She also directed them to provide best possible arrangements for the pilgrims She directed the organizers, Pilgrims coming to the Ghusal of the shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh are
ments inspired by the umbrella-style canopies of Masjid-e-Nabawi Later, talking to the media, Ishaq Dar expressed his deep respect for the spiritual and cultural legacy of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) He commended the Punjab government particularly Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for approving and facilitating ongoing expansion projects at the shrine He informed that the development work, including the shrine’s internal height enhancement and improved circulation space is progressing
our guests treat them with love The chief minister said Langar should be offered to pilgrims and devotees with love and respect " She added, "Best discipline should be ensured to avoid rush and stampede " She highlighted Special prayers should be offered for the progress and prosperity security stability and prosperity of the country and nation " She underscored,"Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh spread the message of love, respect peace and tolerance " CM Lauds Punjab Police & CTD for Successful Operation Against Terrorists The Punjab Police and CTD deserve praise for killing 05 terrorists of Fitna al-Hindustan," said
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz while congratulating Punjab Police and CTD for successful operation against terrorists near Taunsa She while paying tribute to the professional performance of the police and CTD teams said "The pursuit of terrorists will continue the nefarious intentions of the enemy will be crushed CM Grieves at Loss of Lives in Muzaffargarh Traffic Accident Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed a deep sense of grief over loss of precious human lives in a collision between trailer and bus near Muzaffargarh She offered condolences and expressed her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families
police station seeking legal action against individuals involved in the reported slaughter of a barking deer in Margalla Hills National Park an act that violates Pakistan’s wildlife protection laws According to an IWMB spokesperson the complaint names Bashir Abbasi Zain Abbasi and unidentified individuals as accused in the case The Board is pursuing charges under the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2024 specifically sec-
tions 12 4(a) and 16 1(a) which prohibit the harming or killing of protected wildlife The barking deer is listed as a protected species under Schedule I of the Act,” the spokesperson told APP “Its killing is a serious offense and we are committed to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable Under the law he said violations of these provisions carry a maximum penalty of Rs 1 million in fines and up to one year in imprisonment The complaint further invokes Section 23 of the Act which states that even a deceased wild animal found in a protected area is considered the property of the federal government The move comes a day after a
surfaced online showing the deer being slaughtered in the national park, sparking public outrage and prompting a swift response from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Federal Minister Dr Musadik Malik condemned the incident and ordered an immediate inquiry Margalla Hills National Park is one of Pakistan s most biodiverse protected areas, home to several endangered and native species Officials and environmentalists alike have called for stricter enforcement to prevent such
MUHARRAM 9TH COMMEMORATED WITH FERVOR AMID
Y, RED ALERT ACROSS COUNTRY
vance of Ashura-e-Muharram
The IGP said that full security is being provided to all mourning processions and Majalis during Ashura Intelligence-based operations are being conducted in collaboration with the Special Branch, CTD, and security agencies
Full coordination is being maintained with religious scholars procession organizers all institutions and stakeholders Control rooms have been established in all districts and continuous monitoring is being carried out through CCTV cameras Additional IG South Punjab Kamran Khan Additional IG CTD Waseem Sial RPO Multan Captain (R) Sohail
Chaudhry Commissioner Aamir Karim
Khan Deputy Commissioner Multan
Waseem Hamid Sindhu, CPO Multan
continuously monitored through CCTV cameras Both the top Punjab officers also met with members of peace committees community leaders and organizers of mourning processions and Majalis Community leaders and members of peace committees appreciated the efforts and security arrangements of the Punjab government for maintaining peace during Ashura Muharram The CS said that on the direction of the Punjab CM the Punjab Government has taken comprehensive measures for the peaceful obser-
Sadiq Ali Dogar, SSP Operations Ahmed Zaneer Cheema, SSP Investigation Multan Imran Mirza, and other officers were also present Punjab Police spokesperson said that on Ashura Muharram 1691 mourning processions and 3903 Majalis were held across the province including Lahore On 9th Muharram, more than 108,000 police officers and personnel were deployed for the security of mourning processions and Majalis across the province District-wise security for processions, majalis
In the provincial capital on the occasion of 9th Muharramul Haram, over 10,000 police officers and personnel performed duty for 81 mourning processions and 386 Majalis In Sheikhupura region 98 processions and 124 Majalis
were held; in Gujranwala region 334 processions and 687 Majalis; in Rawalpindi region 174 processions and 425 Majalis; in Sargodha region, 214 processions and 560 Majalis; in Faisalabad region, 260 processions and 436 Majalis; in Multan region, 155 processions and 345 Majalis; in Sahiwal region 63 processions and 191 Majalis; in DG Khan region 230 processions and 591 Majalis; and in Bahawalpur region 82 processions and 158 Majalis were held Moreover, 30,000 community volunteers assisted in the security arrangements of Majalis and mourning processions The IGP said that security across the province has been heightened and put on high alert during Ashura Muharram The enforcement of Section 144 imposed by the Government of Punjab is being ensured The Punjab IG Police urged that people of all sects and religions should promote peace and understanding during Muharramul Haram in the interest of national security Given the strategic situation of the region, strict vigilance is being maintained on anti-state elements Under the code of conduct for Muharram, strict adherence to the fixed routes venues timings of mourning processions and Majalis and the Loudspeaker Act is being ensured He further said that all activities are being completely monitored with the help of Safe Cities Authority and district administration cameras CTD, Special Branch, Traffic Police Dolphin Squad and PRU along with other field formations have
been deployed for Muharram security IGP Dr Anwar directed the officers that elements promoting hate content on social media must be strictly dealt with according to law All district control rooms are linked with the central control room of the Central Police Office and remain in constant coordination Dr Anwar said that the Punjab Police is receiving full cooperation from community leaders provincial ministers armed forces Rangers, security agencies, and media in ensuring security arrangements ACTION AGAINST OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA Furthermore Punjab Police is also continuing operations against individuals promoting objectionable content on social media In the past 24 hours, 25 incidents of uploading objectionable and hate content on social media platforms have been reported FIRs have been registered in 20 cases and 15 lawbreakers have been arrested Out of these 14 incidents were reported on Facebook 2 on WhatsApp, and 9 on other
the World Bank
The additional funds are expected to improve operational efficiency in the targeted areas of these Discos, in line with the
objectives of the Electricity Distribution Efficiency Improvement Project The financing agreement, project implementation details and related documents were discussed during technical meetings held in Islamabad on June 18 2025 This funding is part of a continuing effort to modernize Pakistan’s power sector and is intended to further support the reform process
dures
also warned of potential urban flooding in low-lying areas of Punjab due to the expected intensity of the rain Meanwhile, Sindh and Balochistan are likely to experience hot and humid conditions, although light rain or drizzle is possible in Karachi and Hyderabad, especially during morning and nighttime hours Punjab MPAs suspension:
sions and 7 598 majalis are being held on Saturday in the Federal Capital Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Balochistan Sindh Azad Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan Strict security measures have been enforced in 1,129 highly sensitive areas, with continuous monitoring through drones and CCTV cameras The Federal Government's central monitoring cell is operational 24/7 and closely coordinating
with provincial governments Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State Tallal Chaudhry, and Interior Secretary Khurram Agha are personally overseeing the monitoring and coordination processes Today 61 majalis and 17 processions are being held in Islamabad while 3 805 majalis and 1 677 processions in Punjab 1 207 majalis and 644 processions in Sindh 939 majalis and 261 processions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 115 majalis and 11 processions in Balochistan, 1,290 majalis and 111 processions in Gilgit-Baltistan and 181 majalis and 42 processions are being held in AJK Law enforcement agencies remain on high alert to maintain law and order The security plans have been developed in consultation with provincial governments and zero tolerance will be observed regarding hate speech or sectarian provocations Central and provincial control rooms have been activated for realtime coordination and response
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that religious incitement on social media will not be tolerated under any circumstances He stressed that maintaining law and order is the top priority and that law enforcement agencies are fully vigilant to foil the malicious designs of Fitna-e-Hindustan He said that, InshaAllah Ashura will remain peaceful through the efforts of the Government and tireless dedication of security forces He emphasized that the enemy’s evil intentions have neither succceeded before nor will succeed this time
Fitna al-Hindustan and those carrying out anti-state activities in the former FATA and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as Finta al-Khawarij to highlight and expose India’s alleged role in terrorism promotion and destabilization in Pakistan During the combing operation, the team recovered a cache of lethal weapons, including rifles, three improvised explosive devices, a large quantity of ammunition, hand grenades, and explosive material The statement highlighted that these recoveries underscored the severity of the threat and the scale of the planned attack It added that a search operation was currently underway to
