P M S E E KS C O M P R E H E N S I V E A C T I O N
L A N T O B O O S T A G R I P R O D U C T I O N
He also instructed that an action plan be presented for the development of small and medium-sized agro-industries to enable the value addition of agricultural commodities and enhance exportready products
To promote cultivation of profitable crops and make Pakistan self-sufficient in food security the prime minister directed that all necessary guidance and support be provided to farmers
modern technology in agriculture
minister directed that after detailed consultation with provincial governments especially in Sindh and Balochistan a comprehensive plan for cotton cultivation in new suitable areas be prepared
He also called for research and planning to incorporate biofuels into the country’s energy mix
During the briefing the meeting was told about the production of major Rabi and Kharif crops from the previous year challenges faced by farmers, the proposed future roadmap, and suggestions for improvements
The meeting was also briefed about the progress on the implementation of government reforms and the impact of climate change on agriculture
The prime minister emphasized the need to strengthen coordination and cooperation with provincial governments for agricultural development
To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change he directed assistance for farmers in adopting climate-resistant seeds and modern farming methods Keeping in view changing rainfall patterns and other climatic shifts, the prime
He stressed the importance of consultation with farmers and other stakeholders for policy recommendations
The prime minister directed that a comprehensive action plan for further agricultural reforms be presented soon Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain agricultural experts and senior relevant officials attended the meeting Brand Ambassador for Pakistan’s Mountains and Tourism Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed on Tuesday Qatari Princess Sheikha Asma Al Thani as the brand ambassador for Pakistan s Mountains and Tourism
RAWALPINDI
s ta f f R e p o R t
A high-level defense delegation led by Lieutenant General Wang Gang Chief of Staff of the People s Liberation Army Air Force, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force at Air Headquarters Islamabad according to the military s media wing In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said,
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest regional security dynamics and avenues of enhanced bilateral cooperation particularly in the domain of airpower and operational synergy, were discussed The Air Chief extended a gracious welcome to the distinguished guests reiterating that Pakistan and China enjoy historic and time-tested ties rooted in mutual trust strategic convergence and shared aspirations for regional peace & stability Lt-Gen Wang Gang was given a comprehensive briefing on PAF’s modern force structure strategic initiatives and the evolution of its operational doctrine The chief of the air staff also reaffirmed the strong bond of friendship between
the two air forces and reiterated the Pakistan Air Force’s commitment to expanding cooperation in training technology and operational domains it added General Wang Gang expressed deep appreciation for the high state of operational readiness and the cutting-edge capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force
He was particularly impressed by PAF s seamless integration of multi-domain operations terming it a hallmark of modern air warfare, and conveyed PLAAF s keen interest in learning from PAF’s battleproven experience in multi-domain operations the ISPR said
Lauding the professional acu-
men and strategic foresight of PAF’s leadership the visiting dignitary paid rich tribute to the exemplary performance of the Pakistan Air Force during the recent conflict with India He praised the decisive and measured response delivered by PAF pilots under the resolute leadership of the Air Chief describing it as a textbook example of precision discipline and courage in the face of unprovoked aggression The meeting stands as a testament to the shared resolve of Pakistan and China to advance their time-tested strategic partnership through deepened cooperation and innovation-driven collaboration
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has raised concerns over the slow judicial process and restrictive lending practices that are delaying debt restructuring and worsening the financial troubles of struggling industrial units In its 2025 guidelines for the revival of sick industrial units, the SBP pointed out that for industries facing financial stress, the judicial process is the primary route for debt restructuring
Cabinet removes Rs1m remuneration cap for bureaucrats ser ving on company boards
to address each audit point responsibly PR OFIT n e w s D e s k The federal government has officially withdrawn the one-year-old decision restriction imposed in July 2024 that limited bureaucrats to receiving no more than Rs1 million in remuneration for serving on company boards The restriction initially announced in July 2024, had stated that government employees serving on boards and entitled to fees could retain only up to Rs1 million in remuneration per fiscal year with any excess to be remitted to the government The confusion surrounding its implementation led the Finance Division to issue a follow-up memorandum on August 1, 2024, reit-
erating these instructions Under the initial decision some bureaucrats could receive as much as $5 000 for attending a single board meeting with most government-owned enterprises offering fees ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of rupees per meeting At the time of the decision both the prime minister and deputy prime minister had expressed concerns over high board fees particularly those exceeding Rs1 4 million for a single meeting Entities such as PakArab Refinery Limited (PARCO) and Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) were among those paying close to or over Rs1 million per meeting The Finance Division (Regulations Wing) issued an office memorandum
(OM) on June 22, 2025, confirming the cabinet s decision to revoke the earlier stipulation This decision follows the Finance Division’s letter from July 10, 2024 which had imposed the cap on government servants appointed to boards of companies and organisations The rule had required officials to deposit any amount exceeding Rs1 million into the government treasury The withdrawal of this cap reflects a reversal of the government’s earlier stance on restricting officials compensation from board memberships On June 22 2025 the cabinet division issued a notification withdrawing the earlier decision The notification, issued by the finance ministry this month confirmed the cancellation of the previous directive which had mandated that any board fees exceeding Rs1 million be deposited into the government treasury
Dewan Farooque Motors Limited has announced the successful assembly of over 300 units of its electric vehicle
further highlights that the assembled electric vehicles have been successfully handed over to EcoGreen Motors Limited for delivery to customers Dewan Farooque Motors expressed its gratitude towards all stakeholders for their continued trust and confidence in the company particularly following the restart of operations Dewan Farooque Motors part of the Yousuf Dewan Group was established in 1998 and entered into contracts with Hyundai and KIA to assemble, manufacture, and sell their vehicles in Pakistan Initially successful the company’s sales grew from Rs 5 5 billion in 2003 to Rs 10 6 billion in
2006, and it provided substantial dividends to shareholders However the company’s fortunes changed in 2008 experiencing significant losses that culminated in shutting down production in 2010 By 2009 and 2010, Dewan Farooque had a negative break-up value per share, indicating severe financial distress, with liabilities far exceeding assets Creditors initiated litigation to recover over Rs 7 billion and the company s financial woes prevented it from sustaining working capital or covering loan markups Despite attempts to restart production in 2014 and 2018, the company continued to incur losses
Pakistan approves creation of Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority
COMMENT
STAT E Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad cannot be accused of talking up the markets because they are relatively stable going up already but not too fast He cannot be accused of talking them down either for they do not seem overvalued at the moment His expression of satisfaction with the current economic policies while addressing the launch ceremony of Finance Code in Karachi on Monday, must thus be seen as an effort to show that he and the government are actually on the same page There had been some speculation that the SBP and the government were bound to differ over economic policy after the SBP Act had been amended to bring about greater independence of the Governor from the government This had been done on the IMF’s insistence, and it was thought that Mr Ahmad was not as sympathetic to the government’s expansionary desires as could be wished
However, perhaps more importantly, he also expressed a desire for the economy to break out of the boom-bust cycles of the past That could be interpreted as a signal that interest rates would be brought down slowly rather than fast It was also a signal that the government was supportive of this attitude, and indeed made this very SBP caution part of its policy It thus has been clarified that previous experiences will not be repeated, where whenever some economic stability was achieved, the government, courting popularity, indulged in monetary expansion which led to increased growth and thus rising incomes and more jobs This boom then went bust, as foreign exchange reserves, painfully accumulated, went to pay for imports In the ensuing foreign exchange crisis, as the country found it increasingly difficult to service its debts, it had to take recourse to the IMF
Mr Ahmad is only stating economic orthodoxy when he says that stability by which he clearly means monetary and forex stability will lead to growth Both the business community and the government must be hoping that he feels there has been enough stability for long enough, and that he will feel it is time to loosen his grip on the money supply, so that a sustained growth path can be attained That decision is important, for the business community fears that any future boom will lead to a bust so bad that there will be no recovery from it
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor
Profit
LA S T week the UN was scheduled to convene a special session promoting a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict Israel’s attack on Iran and the deadly exchanges that followed resulted in a postponement While the rest of the world may have the luxury of tuning in or out to the plight of the Palestinian people the situation in Gaza the West Bank and East Jerusalem only worsens Their dire state is compounded by the feckless response of most nations to the ongoing tragedy Instead of definitively condemning the genocide and the occupation the best they can muster are hollow and sometimes banal pronouncements urging the parties to negotiate (as if there were something about which to negotiate) or professions of their support for a two-state solution (as if that were even possible at this point)
This hasn t stopped some from proposing peace plans,” calling for international peacekeepers, a “reformed Palestinian Authority” and a disarming of Hamas But these proposals also ignore two important realities: Israel s rejection of every element of every plan put forward to date and the fact that the Israeli occupation is so entrenched and has so distorted the realities on the ground in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem that the way forward to Palestinian independence has become far more complicated than it was at the time of the Oslo Accords
To better understand where we are and what must be done my company has conducted annual polls in the occupied lands in order to assess Palestinian attitudes toward their current situation and their hopes for the future What comes through quite clearly in these surveys is that the Palestinians in all three areas are in deep distress As a result of the unique burdensome conditions Israel has imposed on them there are distinct differences in the opinions of respondents in each area toward their governance the threats they face and their hopes for the future These cannot be ignored
The quest for international rankings places a huge burden on the fac ult y
For two decades Gaza was severed from the rest of the Palestinian population and economically strangled by Israel with Hamas being both punished and then rewarded by the Israeli government which sought to foster a division in Palestinian ranks This was accomplished, enabling Hamas to grow in strength Israel’s war on Gaza has had devastating consequences for Palestinians Our findings were able to quantify the magnitude of their losses Almost twothirds report having been forced to evacuate their families four or more times in the first 18 months
Most have lost family members 70 percent say that their homes have been totally destroyed, with majorities reporting extreme scarcity of food water medical services and adequate shelter
The three-decades-long enforced closure of East Jerusalem has severed the city s Palestinians from their compatriots in the rest of the occupied territories Before closure, Palestinians from the West Bank came to Jerusalem for employment and services After closure Palestinians in East Jerusalem lost their customers clients and income and were forced to become incorporated into the Israeli economy Since October 7 our polls show majorities reporting heightened levels of economic and political distress
There is also increased economic insecurity in the West Bank Because Israeli policies retarded independent economic development, the two largest employers of Palestinians in the West Bank became securing permits to work as day labourers in Israel or Israeli settlements or working for the Palestinian Authority After the war Israel suspended work permits and restricted the transfer of Palestinian tax revenues to the PA, forcing the PA to reduce salaries As a result, there has been a tripling of unemployment in the
dearth of resources and assistance for faculty, especially in institutions of the Third World A large number of faculty members are forced to teach in crowded classrooms with antiquated technology small offices and limited access to relevant labs As universities add more levels of bureaucracy to meet the requirements of accreditation and rating organizations, the administrative load has also increased Faculty members become frustrated and burn out as a result of having less time and energy for genuine instruction and student involvement This trend affects students as well The quality of education invariably declines when faculty members are overworked and underfunded It becomes commonplace to have big class sizes, little access to teachers, and less individualized attention Ironically the very drive for excellence that rankings are meant to promote might also make learning less enjoyable for the people who matter most the students It is evident that the current fixation on university rankings has skewed perceptions of what constitutes a truly exceptional university Although aiming for international recognition is not always bad it shouldn’t come at the expense of the people that make up any academic institution s core Universities must strike a balance between the need to empower and support their faculty and the pressures of global competition This entails making investments in improved facilities, cutting back on pointless administrative duties and fostering an atmosphere that supports faculty members’ success as researchers and teachers
The persistent underfunding of public sector universities is a significant underlying element aggravating these difficulties Budgetary allotments for higher education have stagnated or even decreased in real terms, despite the increasing demands on this sector Inadequate funding has gone beyond infrastructure and salaries
They also make it more difficult for the higher education institutions to hire bright professors
fund professional growth, and provide cuttingedge courses It is practically hard for teaching faculty to meet the expectations of contemporary education let alone improve their institution’s reputation internationally due to a lack of resources Additionally as institutions battle to balance their budgets, students deal with increased tuition rates, greater class sizes, and fewer possibilities for individualized learning Academics and education advocates are increasingly in agreement that public sector academic institutions need enough funding in order to successfully carry out their missions Academic Staff Associations such as ASAs of universities and FAPUASA, are calling for significant increases in both recurring and development budgets to keep up with inflation and growing operating expenses while calls for more government financing have been louder Without sufficient funding public institutions run the risk of slipping farther behind in both their primary duty of offering high-quality education to the general public and in international rankings
The ability of a university to promote learning, creativity, and social advancement should ultimately be used as the genuine indicator of its success rather than its ranking on a global scale Only by placing people particularly our faculty at the center of higher education can this be possible Short-term gains may result from the competition for status, but long-term excellence and significant influence will depend on the dedication to respecting and assisting academics supported by adequate public funding The ambition of a top-notch education will remain unattainable for the majority of us until governments make a sincere commitment to providing public sector universities with sufficient funding
The writer is a regular faculty member at the Department of Media & Communication Studies GC University Lahore and can be reached at alibhadur@gcu edu pk
Ignored warnings
Fake activism
involvement Universities, striving to improve their rankings, may allocate money to research infrastructure and foreign collaborations often at the expense of addressing the fundamental needs of their teaching faculty The roles and responsibilities of faculty members have undergone a significant change as a result of this change in emphasis Being a committed instructor is no longer sufficient; faculty members are increasingly expected to be active grant writers, researchers, and worldwide networkers Academic value is frequently determined by metrics rather than significant contributions to society or student learning because of the pressure to publish in high-impact journals and obtain research funding Faculty now have to balance teaching, research, administrative responsibilities, and the ongoing requirement to record all activities for performance reviews linked to institutional ranking goals which has resulted in an increase in workloads The situation is made worse by the ongoing
WAShiNGTON WATCh
Dr Ali BhADur
Criminal failures in global pharma regulation
Wh e n p ro f i t ove r r i d e s c a re
tutionalised betrayal, silently killing patients under the pretence of care
The culpability does not rest with a single nation or manufacturer; rather, it is a global malaise rooted in the pharmaceutical industry s profit-driven ethos Generic drug makers often praised for democratizing access to life-saving treatments have become trapped in a ruthless race to the bottom Intense competition compels many to cut corners, frequently at the expense of quality and safety Reports of companies tampering with or outright destroying quality control records shredding documents or dissolving them in acid to evade scrutiny are not only alarming but criminal Yet, these manufacturers continue to ship drugs worldwide, exploiting a fragmented regulatory landscape too weak to enforce meaningful accountability Particularly in countries like India and other major exporters the relentless drive to undercut rivals has led to appalling practices: data manipulation, falsification, and evasion of essential safety checks That such violations do not provoke universal outrage reflects the failure of both global oversight and collective moral responsibility
The crisis is compounded by weak fragmented regulatory frameworks that govern the global pharmaceutical trade Alarmingly, around 70 percent of countries lack the infrastructure to properly test the safety and efficacy of imported medicines In many cases, chemotherapy drugs aren’t evaluated at all allowing substandard and even counterfeit treatments to infiltrate legitimate supply chains
ure and morphed into a full-blown humanitarian disaster one perpetuated by indifference Global watchdogs remain conspicuously silent, and pharmaceutical giants too often avert their gaze from the chaos in less profitable markets
Most galling is the inaction of those with the power to fix the system While multinational drug companies generate billions, they invest very little in strengthening international monitoring and quality control Cross-border regulatory cooperation is minimal and meaningful reform is routinely stalled by legal hurdles bureaucratic lethargy and political compromises In developing countries governments heavily reliant on foreign aid and vulnerable to trade pressures frequently avoid enforcing strict standards for fear of disrupting supplies Meanwhile, the poor pay the ultimate price: with their health their dignity and too often their lives
What makes this crisis especially egregious is that it has transcended regulatory failure and become a full-blown humanitarian disaster sustained by systemic indifference Global watchdogs remain conspicuously silent and pharmaceutical giants often avert their gaze from the chaos in less profitable markets
The inequity is as cruel as it is calculated Wealthier nations enforce stringent safety protocols within their borders but frequently turn a blind eye to the havoc their exported drugs wreak in developing nations Pharmaceutical multinationals routinely maintain dual standards: strict compliance at home and blind outsourcing abroad This practice not only deepens global health disparities
ceutical industry, entrusted with preserving human life, to be among the most ethically governed and rigorously monitored Yet mounting evidence tells a far darker story From the Global South to the developed world patients are at the mercy of poorly regulated drug supply chains where the relentless pursuit of profit often eclipses the sanctity of life
Despite historic advancements in medical science from mRNA technology to personalized therapies we find ourselves grappling with an alarming paradox: drugs designed to cure are increasingly complicit in harm Investigative reports have revealed how life-saving cancer treatments, particularly generic chemotherapy drugs, are being exported to over 100 countries, many of them failing to meet basic quality standards
Some contain only a fraction of the required active ingredient; others are so carelessly manufactured that they pose lethal risks This is not merely malpractice it is insti-
The recent seizure of fake cancer drugs in Lebanon is only the tip of a much darker, more extensive iceberg Across Asia and Africa, medicines tainted with toxins or containing little more than inert fillers have slipped quietly into hospitals and pharmacies
What makes this crisis especially egregious is that it has transcended regulatory fail-
Most galling is the inaction of those with the power to reform the system While multinational drug companies generate billions in profits, they invest minimally in strengthening international drug monitoring or safety assurance Cross-border cooperation among regulators is weak and meaningful reform is routinely stalled by legal loopholes bureaucratic inertia and political compromise In many developing countries, governments reliant on foreign aid or vulnerable to trade pressures avoid imposing strict standards for fear of disrupting vital supply chains
Meanwhile the poor continue to pay the ultimate price: with their health their dignity and often their lives
e n e e d l e s s l y d e s t r o y e d . I t i s t i m e w e
s t o p p e d t o l e r a t i n g a p h a r m a c e u t i c a l m a r k e t t h a t g a m b l e s w i t h l i v e s . B e c a u s e
m e d i c i n e s h o u l d h e a l , n o t b e t r a y. A n d n o o n e r e g a r d l e s s o f r a c e , r e g i o n , o r i n c o m e d e s e r v e s a d o s e o f d e c e p t i o n .
TH E Associated Press recently cited anonymous sources from the French military claiming that, following the India-Pakistan conflict in May, China “led a charge” to “spread doubts” about Frenchmade Rafale jets and launched a large-scale “disinformation campaign aimed at undermining the reputation and sales of this France s flagship fighter Some French media outlets quickly followed up with reports based on this vague and unsubstantiated revelation, piecing together a narrative that “Beijing seeks to undermine France’s industrial and strategic rise in the Indo-Pacific ” This reveals a deeprooted habit among certain Western circles However this so-called revelation is riddled with logical flaws and contradictions For example it claims that the Rafale jet became a target after the India-Pakistan conflict precisely because of its outstanding performance and strong export record - in other words, we re being attacked because we’re excellent ” But one can’t help but wonder: What exactly about the Rafale’s performance during the May conflict was so enviable? Unsurprisingly this narrative backfired on platforms like X failing not only to gain support but also triggering widespread mockery from netizens One British user remarked that when you have shoddy tech all you can rely on is propaganda to sell your wares A French user added “that’s a lot of whining,” and the French military should focus on doing what it is supposed to do
In May a photo allegedly showing a damaged Rafale fighter jet from the India-Pakistan air conflict garnered global attention China has never commented on this issue; instead it has called both India and Pakistan to maintain calm and restraint It is well known that the Rafale represents the pinnacle of French defense technology and serves as an important symbol of France’s presence on the global military stage Therefore it’s understandable that the French military is highly sensitive about the Rafale’s international reputation If the French military truly feels that the Rafale is facing a sales crisis it might need to review the jet s own performance After all, in the arms market, no one can boost their sales simply by badmouthing others
its plan to buy Swedish Gripen E/F fighters
In today’s multipolar and diverse world the international military equipment market is no longer an exclusive domain monopolized by just a few countries Framing Chinese and French fighter jets in an either-or rivalry only exposes the persistent zero-sum mentality of some Westerners
In fact, whether the Rafale sells or not has nothing to do with China, and the Chinese society doesn’t care about it
Tying the gains and losses of the Rafale in specific markets rigidly to China is merely self-dramatization; it is not only an evasion of reality and self-challenges but also a recurring issue of shifting the blame to China when faced with problems Some Westerners complaints and accusations against China may very well reflect something that they often do: launching large-scale smear campaigns against Chinese-made products to “contain China’s rise” and “attempting to undermine its credibility and technological base ” Furthermore this revelation just happens to appear during high-level exchanges between China and Europe raising suspicions about whether someone is deliberately trying to create noise to cause disruption For decades, the Chinese government has maintained a cautious and responsible attitude toward military exports, strictly following the three principles of arms exports: conducive to the legitimate self-defense capability of the recipient country; not undermining peace security and stability of the region concerned and the world as a whole; non-interference in the internal affairs of the recipient country This stands in stark contrast to the practices of some Western countries that, in order to “open up weapon sales,” are even willing to fan the flames and exacerbate tensions in conflict areas
From a communications perspective, the narrative of the Rafale being “smeared” inevitably brings to mind recent reports about France’s defense industry in overseas markets For example the Peruvian government confirmed that it has decided to buy 24 JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden for $3 5 billion instead of F-16s from the US or Rafale from France Thailand s air force has also recently confirmed
These facts are evident to all Rather than indulging in the zero-sum logic of the rise of others must be detrimental to me some in the West would be better off taking a step back and rationally acknowledging the legitimate progress of emerging countries in the field of military technology, and seriously responding to the international community s calls for peace and tranquility The continuous development of China’s military power is a natural reflection of its rising comprehensive national strength which is entirely aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty security and developmental interests and it has never been about competing with anyone At the Paris Air Show in June, the appearance of the Chinese J-10CE fighter jet alongside France’s Rafale fighter jet sparked intense discussion Let’s see what the spokesperson from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China said: Both aircraft are advanced fighters on the world stage and hopefully all cuttingedge fighter jets from different countries could contribute to safeguarding global peace W h o s h o u l d b e b l a m e d f o r
FINANCIAL TIMES A b b A s A r Ag h c h
N only five meetings over nine weeks, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and I achieved more than I did in four years of nuclear negotiations with the failed Biden administration We were on the cusp of a historic breakthrough To address US concerns that Iran may one day divert its peaceful nuclear programme, we held detailed, frank discussions including on the future of Iranian uranium enrichment There were several ideas for a win-win solution put forward by both sides and by Oman
Equally important we also focused on the termination of sanctions and US involvement in wider economic co-operation that constituted a trillion-dollar opportunity Iran was open to mutually beneficial collaboration that would electrify the Iranian economy and address US President Donald Trump’s priority to revive dying American industries such as the nuclear energy sector
Things were looking up, with a flurry of messages exchanged But only 48 hours before a pivotal sixth meeting, Israel launched an unprovoked assault on my country In addition to safeguarded nuclear facilities homes hospitals our essential energy infrastructure and even prisons were bombed Cowardly killings of academics and their families were also carried out This was a profound betrayal of diplomacy As IranUS dialogue was finally gaining momentum, the reckless bombardment sent an unambiguous message: Israel prefers conflict over resolution Israel falsely claimed its air strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons In reality as a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty, Iran has always been committed to a peaceful nuclear programme under UN monitoring As any dignified nation under attack would, Iran fiercely resisted the aggression until Israel had to rely on President Trump to end the war it had initiated Having been wronged once Iran is now doubly cautious Our commitment to
MAjid NAbi burfAt
“While the Taliban have imposed certain rules and prohibitions on the population as a whole they have specifically tar-
geted girls and women by reason of their gender, depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms,” the court said The court said the alleged crimes had been committed between August 15 2021 when the Taliban seized power and continued until at least January 20, 2025 The Taliban had severely deprived” girls and women of the rights to education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement expression thought conscience and religion ICC judges said In addition other persons were targeted because certain expressions of sexuality and/or gender identity were regarded as inconsistent with the Taliban’s policy on gender ”
women
The ICC based in The Hague, was set up to rule on the world s worst crimes such as war crimes and crimes against humanity It has no police force of its own and relies on its member states to carry out its arrest warrants with mixed results In theory, this means that anyone subject to an ICC arrest warrant cannot travel to a member state for fear of being detained ‘ONGOING PERSECUTION’
After sweeping back to power in August 2021 the Taliban authorities pledged a softer rule than their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001 But they quickly imposed restrictions on women and girls that the United Nations has labelled “gender apartheid” Edicts in line with their strict interpretation of Islamic law handed down by A k h u n d z a d a , who rules by decree from the m
v e m e n t s birthplace in southern Kandahar, have squeezed women and girls from public life The Taliban government barred girls from secondary school and women from university in the first 18 months after they ousted the US-backed government making Afghanistan the only country in the world to impose such bans Authorities imposed restrictions on women working for nongovernmental groups and other employment with thousands of women losing government jobs or being paid to stay home Beauty salons have been closed
Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, hailed an important moment for our two nations” after landing and heading straight for Windsor, west of London, to meet the British monarch “Together we will address the major challenges of our time: security defense nuclear energy space innovation artificial intelligence migration and culture he posted on X The French leader added that Paris and London were seeking to deepen our cooperation in a concrete, effective, and lasting way ” The first state visit by an EU head of state since the UK’s acrimonious 2020 departure from the
PUNJAB GOVT STRIVING FOR EASE AND CONVENIENCE OF
NDMA hosts Media Coordination Conference to strengthen disaster risk communic ation
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) organized a media coordination conference in Islamabad to strengthen disaster preparedness responsible crisis communication and the timely dissemination of early warning alerts in collaboration with Provincial (PDMAs) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs)
The session began with welcome remarks by Air Cdre (Retd) Umar Naeem Executive Director of the Regional Military & Media Wing emphasizing the need for unified messaging to reduce disaster impacts
The conference forms part of NDMA s broader Risk Communication Forum initiative, aimed at fostering seamless coordination and proactive alert systems nationwide
The conference brought together key stakeholders from the
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB), ISPR, Rescue 1122, mobile network operators, and humanitarian organizations The NEOC Technical Team presented a detailed three-month hydro-meteorological impact analysis highlighting anticipated monsoon-related risks across various regions Ms Sara Malik, Deputy Direc-
tor Media NDMA briefed participants on national media strategies for disaster risk communication, focusing on timely alert dissemination and countering misinformation during emergencies Discussions emphasized community-focused messaging collaboration with local media and influencers and the use of digital tools like AI platforms
Read Japan Project: The Nippon Foundation Donates Books to CUI, Abbottabad Campus ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t The Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, in collaboration with the Nippon Foundation, has donated a collection of 166 books related to Japan to the COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) Abbottabad Campus as a part of the Read Japan Project aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of Japan s rich culture politics and economics through books H E Mr AKAMATSU Shuichi, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, on behalf of the Nippon Foundation, presented the books to Prof Dr Shahid Khattak, Director, COMSATS University Abbottabad Campus at a ceremony held today at the campus premises The 166 carefully selected books in English language cover a diverse array of topics related to Japan such as history, politics, economy, security, philosophy, literature, art and culture H E Ambassador AKAMATSU while speaking on the occasion, extended his congratulations to the students and teachers for receiving this valuable gift from the Nippon Foundation He expressed the hope that these books will serve as a valuable resource for students faculty researchers and intellectuals in their academic pursuits by inspiring new ideas, deepening knowledge, and sparking their interest in exploring Japan further The gift of books from the Nippon Foundation today are in fact the bridges of knowledge and friendship between Japan and Pakistan” said the Ambassador The Ambassador while appreciating the role played by COMSATS University in the academic development of Pakistani youth stated that Japan and the COMSATS University are a valued partner in these endeavors through educational and cultural exchanges In his remarks, Prof Dr Shahid Khattak, Director, COMSATS University Abbottabad Campus expressed his sincere gratitude to the Nippon Foundation and the Embassy of Japan for their generous gift of books and hoped that the students will use this opportunity to learn about Japan that will pave the way for further strengthening the Japan-Pakistan relations
and ammunition was recovered from the possession of criminals and suspects During operations against criminal elements 08 offenders were neutralized and 08 others were arrested in injured condition IGP Punjab said that search, sweep, and combing operations will continue during Muharram to hold anti-state and criminal elements accountable POLICE OFFICERS
further said that 21 search and sweep operations were carried out more than 2 360 individuals were questioned and 02 suspects were taken into custody Additionally, 86 proclaimed offenders involved in serious crimes, 43 court absconders and 20 habitual criminals were also arrested A large quantity of illegal weapons
ALERTED TO RAINFALL Meanwhile, Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar has instructed police officers and personnel to remain on high alert and actively participate in relief activities during the ongoing rainfall in various areas of Punjab, including Lahore He emphasized that police officers and officials should perform their duties with height-
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
Lahore Police continues its active crackdown on electricity theft, providing full support to relevant departments in the ongoing campaign against power thieves, said CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana
According to the Lahore Police spokesman 109 suspects involved in electricity theft were arrested and 320 cases were registered during the first week of July
He further stated that, so far this year, 17,544 suspects have been apprehended and 13,804 cases have been registered against them CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana emphasized that the police are fully cooperating with concerned departments in the anti-theft drive and are operating under a zero-tolerance policy
He directed officials to accelerate the crackdown and instructed that prosecution of electricity theft cases be completed swiftly with the legal assistance of prosecutors
rived Maryam Nawaz responded by
Nawaz
PAKISTAN WARNS UN OF GROWING TERROR THREAT FROM AFGHAN SOIL , CITES TTP AS GLOBAL RISK
Ahmad urged the international community to take action to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a breeding ground for terrorist organizations, particularly the Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
Addressing the UN General Assembly s plenary session on the situation in Afghanistan Ambassador Iftikhar emphasized the threat posed by Afghan-based groups to regional and global security
“We must ensure that Afghanistan does not become a breeding ground for terrorists that threatens not only its neighbors but the region and beyond he said underscoring Pakistan s repeated concerns regarding Afghan soil being used by terror outfits The remarks come amidst recent attacks by Afghanistan-based terrorists Just last week security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district eliminated at least 30 Indian-backed militants attempting to infiltrate Pakistan through the porous border Pakistan has witnessed a significant surge in cross-border terrorism since the Taliban s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 with the western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan being the most affected Despite ongoing tensions with neighboring India, Pakistan has seen a slight uptick in militant attacks in May 2025 pointing to the broader regional instability exacerbated by groups such as TTP and Daesh operating from Afghanistan In a related development, Pakistan and India held their first-ever additional secretary-level talks in Islamabad to address key bilateral issues, including se-
curity Both sides recognized terrorism as a grave threat to regional peace but Pakistan emphasized the urgent need for concrete actions against the terrorist groups operating on Afghan soil Ambassador Iftikhar further elaborated on the specific threats posed by Afghan-based terrorist organizations He referred to the TTP a group with around 6 000 fighters as the largest UN-designated terrorist group operating from Afghan territory He warned of the growing cross-recruitment between the TTP and other militant factions, including Daesh, which only
amplifies the dangers of these groups not only to Pakistan s security but also to broader regional and international stability
The TTP s collaboration with other groups, such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade, aims to disrupt Pakistan’s strategic infrastructure and economic development he said
The ambassador also addressed the issue of Afghan refugees crossing into Pakistan, exacerbating law and order concerns Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, over one million undocumented Afghan nationals have entered Pakistan creating further challenges Pakistan despite its own limitations continues to host millions of Afghan refugees but Iftikhar emphasized the need for the international community to share this burden more equitably
“Afghanistan’s problems directly impact us Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees over the decades and continues to offer shelter to the vulnerable However the international community must play its part in alleviating the burden, he stated
In addition to addressing security concerns, Ambassador Iftikhar underscored the importance of reviving Afghanistan s economy and banking system which remains severely crippled
Quetta ATC grants 10- day physical remand for BYC leaders including Dr. Mahrang Baloch
A Quetta Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) On Tuesday extended the detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief Dr Mahrang Baloch and other prominent organisers of the group, granting them a 10-day physical remand in police custody This decision follows the extension of their previous threemonth detention Dr Mahrang and several BYC members were arrested in March for allegedly “attacking” the Quetta Civil Hospital and “inciting violence ” one day after the group had faced a police crackdown for protesting against enforced disappearances The BYC a Baloch advocacy group, has been vocal against enforced disappearances since its establishment in 2018 Mahrang is currently held at the Hudda District Prison in Quetta under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance of March 22, which allows authorities to detain individuals deemed to pose a
threat to public order
The remand hearing also saw other BYC organisers, including Sibghatullah Shah, Beberg Baloch, Ghaffar Baloch, Gulzadi, and Beebow Baloch being sent into 10-day police custody In June Mahrang s sister Nadia Baloch filed an appeal against the rejection of her petition seeking her sister s release under the MPO The appeal, filed before the Supreme Court, claimed that the detention order was in violation of constitutional principles law
and factual circumstances Nadia further argued that the repeated unlawful detention and labelling of Mahrang as a supporter of militants were part of a systematic effort to silence her voice on behalf of the missing persons Earlier in June the Kech chapter of the BYC staged a three-day hunger strike outside the Turbat Press Club to protest the arrests of its leadership However, constitutional petitions for the release of the detained activists were
DPM Dar urges swift execution of foreign
r e p o r t An Islamabad court has ordered the blocking of 27 YouTube channels accused of spreading anti-state content and false information The ruling issued on Tuesday came after the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) requested the court s intervention The channels were allegedly involved in disseminating misleading content that could potentially stir unrest and harm the reputation of state institutions NCCIA’s Investigation and Request for Action The NCCIA tasked with combating cybercrime in Pakistan began an inquiry on June 24 under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 Sub-Inspector Waseem Khan presented evidence to
Muhammad Abbas Shah after reviewing the inquiry, was convinced that the actions of the channels violated Pakistan s cyber laws As a result, he ordered the head of security at Google to block or remove the 27 channels
PR OFIT s ta f f r e p o r t
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday stressed the need for institutional coordination and accelerated implementation to ensure that foreign investment commitments materialize into concrete economic outcomes Chairing a meeting to review the progress of investment initiatives from friendly countries the deputy prime minister reaffirmed the government s resolve to translate foreign inflows into development and growth, according to a press release issued by the Deputy Prime Minister ’s Office
The meeting focused on removing bottlenecks and facilitating investments in critical sectors
including infrastructure, energy, petroleum and economic development The session was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), and other senior officials In a separate development
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held individual meetings with Members of the National Assembly Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali Bhindar, Shahid Usman Ibrahim Saad Waseem Akhtar Sheikh and former MNA Abid Raza Kotla at the Prime Minister s Office
According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister s Office, the parliamentarians commended the prime minister
and the federal government for navigating the country toward macroeconomic stability through sustained and effective policy measures
They observed that the recent improvements in Pakistan s economic outlook were a direct result of the government’s focused strategy and strong leadership
During the meetings discussions also covered developmental and administrative issues specific to the constituencies of the visiting lawmakers The prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing local development priorities and ensuring balanced regional progress Also in attendance were Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Rana Mubashir Iqbal and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Talha Burki
