g PTI ’S MURAD SAEED, FAISAL JAVED, NOORUL HAQ QADRI, MIRZA AFRIDI, AZAM SWATI AND RUBINA NAZ WIN WITH CLEAR MAJORITY
g HAFIZ ABDUL KARIM OF PML-N TRIUMPHS IN PUNJAB A SSEMBLY ELECTION
A K I S TA N Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured six of the 11 Senate seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as polling concluded on Monday, following a seat-sharing arrangement between the government and opposition According to unofficial results PTI won six seats while the opposition alliance, made up of PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F, secured five seats in the longawaited Senate polls
Voting was held in the KP Assembly’s Jirga Hall where all 145 members cast their votes Polling started at 11am and continued until 5:30 pm PTI candidates Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Allama Noorul Haq Qadri and
Mirza Afridi won general seats securing 26, 22, 21, and 21 votes, respectively From the opposition side, PML-N’s Niaz Ahmed JUI-F’s Attaul Haq Darwaish and PPP’s Talha Mahmood also secured seats with 19 18 and 17 votes
In the women s category PTI s Rubina Naz was elected with 89 votes, followed by PPP s Rubina Khalid with 52 votes For technocrat seats, PTI’s Azam Swati won with 89 votes, while JUI-F’s Dilawar Khan secured 54 votes
The voting followed a pre-decided power-sharing deal between the ruling party and opposition, under which PTI was allotted six seats and the opposition five This arrangement helped avoid political confrontation and reduced the chances of horse-trading which had been a concern in the past Despite internal friction and some PTI
to the federal cabinet for contempt of court in the case pertaining to the release and repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui The hearing presided over by Justice Sardar Ijaz Ishaq Khan was held on a petition filed by Dr Fauzia Siddiqui sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui who is currently imprisoned in the United States Justice Ijaz Ishaq expressed strong displeasure over the federal government’s failure to submit a report explaining its refusal to assist in Dr Aafia’s case before a U S court despite being directed to do so in June If the federal government s report is not presented I will summon the entire cabinet Why shouldn t contempt proceedings be initiated against all cabinet members, including the Prime Minister? the judge remarked The court granted the government time to submit the report warning of serious legal consequences for further delays The hearing was attended by Dr Fauzia Siddiqui s lawyer Imran Shafiq and Additional Attorney General Rashid Hafeez representing the federal government The judge emphasized that he was determined to provide justice, even on a holiday, and would not allow administrative powers to obstruct judicial authority “In the past the judges’ roster has been used to influence decisions in specific cases
g OPPOSITION ’S NIAZ AHMED, ATTAUL HAQ DARWAISH, TALHA MAHMOOD, RUBINA KHALID, DILAWAR KHAN SECURE VICTORY
K P S E N AT E P O L L S : P T I S E C U R E S S I X , O P P O S I T I O N W I N S F I V E S E AT S ISLAMABAD S
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) congratulated all members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for their unwavering ideological commitment and the newly elected party senators, stating that this victory represents not just the winning of a few Senate seats but a triumph of loyalty sacrifice and principled politics In a statement issued by PTI Central Media Department here on Monday, PTI
Spokesperson said that the party achieved a remarkable victory by successfully electing all six of its nominated candidates in the polling for 11 Senate seats from the provincial assembly He said that the winning candi-
candidates refusing to withdraw the party s leadership managed to rally support for its main nominees The opposition meanwhile, fielded its candidates through a joint strategy and achieved its target Speaking after the voting, Opposition Leader Dr Ibad thanked the allied parties for their support and said the process showed mutual respect for each other s
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday stressed upon bringing about revolution in the healthcare sector with coordinated efforts and determination by all the stakeholders
Addressing a ceremony after launching ceremony of digital system for licensing, registration of medical devices, the prime minister expressed the hope that under the new digital system the applications for registration of medical services and equipment would be decided within 20 days in a transparent and merit-based system
Regretting the inordinate delays in the registration process of
referred to Drug Regulatory Au-
Drag, not DRAP, as it was drag-
known to all ”
mandate JUI-F s Maulana Attaul Haq promised to use his Senate role to advocate for peace and jobs in the province A total of 25 candidates had contested for the 11 seats seven general, two technocrat, and two reserved for women with several candidates withdrawing ahead of the vote
The prime minister citing issues in the health sector recollected that during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, he had sent samples of certain cardiovascular drugs aboard for testing after reports indicated a number of deaths in the Punjab Institute of Cardiology adding later the reports from London etc indicated that these drugs were meant to treat malaria and not heart patients which were not handled properly by DRAP
The prime minister said that he had brought Major Gen (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kayani to Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology who by virtue of his hard work and dedication transformed the facility as remarkable
The prime minister underscored that the country needed such health facilities He also recollected that during his tenure as chief minister his government allocated a huge budget for provision of free of cost medicines at the governmentrun hospitals during 2014-15
The 60 percent samples of those drugs proved to be below standards he said adding later under his strict directive provision of quality medicines free of cost was ensured Besides his provincial government also set up laboratories across the province to facilitate the poor and deprived people He also appreciated the Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal for his hard efforts to introduce reforms in the health sector The minister also took notice of closure of hospitals and now they would be revived, he added
The prime minister emphasized that if they decided to bring about revolution in the health sector it might be a difficult task but not impossible There may be mountains like hurdles, but if we decide with determination to negotiate them and move ahead then nothing
WB outlines decarbonisation roadmap for Pakistan’s industrial sectors
and commercial sectors, where weak oversight and complex operations have created opportunities for manipulation and fraud
The ministry’s findings have prompted a call for urgent reform with policymakers and regulators being urged to overhaul the governance of SOEs before the financial challenges escalate into a broader institutional crisis
Education and affordabilit y
Idents even those accepted into prestigious universities have had to forgo their study plans Edufi’s new loan option could serve as a vital bridge in such scenarios POSITIVE MACROECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS: Beyond individual student benefit these BNPL models hold
N Pakistan the rising cost of higher education has often put top-tier universities out of reach for many students especially those from lowto middle-income backgrounds However, recent innovations in financial technology are reshaping this landscape One such development is the rise of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services and education-based installment loan platforms like Edufi and KalPay These platforms offer students the opportunity to pursue their academic goals without facing an immediate financial burden, making quality education more inclusive than ever before BNPL and flexible education loans work by allowing students or their families to pay tuition and associated fees in smaller manageable installments over time instead of all at once This approach is particularly important in Pakistan where tuition fees for leading universities such as LUMS IBA and NUST can exceed PKR 1,000,000 per year a significant sum for most households Edufi and KalPay have partnered with dozens of higher education institutions to offer interest-free or low-interest plans that cover up to 100% of tuition costs KalPay launched in 2022 has since expanded into financing short courses and vocational training as well reportedly reaching over 15,000 users by early 2024 (KalPay, 2024) Edufi, on the other hand, has taken a bold step into the international education space In early 2025, it became the first Pakistani BNPL platform to offer student loans for overseas education With this move Pakistani students now have the opportunity to receive financial assistance for attending universities abroad bridging the gap that previously could only be filled by dollar-based international lenders like Prodigy Finance and MPower Financing These global lenders, though effective, are often out of reach for many Pakistani students due to eligibility limitations lack of domestic support or complex documentation Edufi s model differs in one key respect: it uses localized credit evaluation and offers rupee-denominated loans, making it easier for students to access and repay funds In a time when studying abroad has become more of a dream than a plan for many Pakistani students, Edufi’s international loan product offers renewed hope The Pakistani rupee which has seen continuous depreciation currently stands at over PKR 283 per USD as of mid-2025 (SBP 2025) The cost of a single semester abroad can easily exceed PKR 3 Million As a result, many stu-
Monsoon warnings
tural challenges that prevent us from responding to emergencies with speed and effectiveness The heavy rain in Swat which resulted in the tragic death of three children, was exacerbated by the collapse of a roof While rescue teams were quick to reach the site, it is clear that such tragedies can be prevented with better construction standards and a more focused approach to addressing issues like illegal construction practices outdated building codes and poor urban planning The roof collapse, which buried the three children, should have never occurred if the building had been constructed with proper safeguards In addition to infrastructural issues the current state of our disaster management system leaves much to be desired Although organizations like Rescue 1122 and the National Highways Authority are doing their part, their efforts often appear disjointed and insufficient in comparison to the scale of the disasters we face The inability to clear blocked roads swiftly or restore communication during a crisis is a glaring issue that hampers relief efforts Heavy machinery might have been deployed in the aftermath of landslides on the Jalkhad road in Naran but the fact that it was needed in the first place is indicative of the country s failure to prioritize sustainable infrastructure
Pakistan’s agriculture sector especially in rural areas is another key area that has been severely impacted by these floods Thousands of acres of farmland are inundated every year affecting food production and the livelihoods of farmers The situation in Babusar, where roads and farmland have been damaged, illustrates how vulnerable our agricultural infrastructure is to extreme weather events The floodwaters which destroyed crops and submerged fields will have a long-lasting effect on food security and the economy especially in regions that al-
ready struggle with limited resources
The time has come for Pakistan to take a more proactive stance in addressing the impact of climate change and strengthening disaster management frameworks We need to invest in early-warning systems, strengthen infrastructure resilience and equip local governments with the resources they need to respond effectively Moreover policies addressing urban planning and environmental sustainability must be enforced with greater rigor to ensure that new developments are built to withstand extreme weather Furthermore, the federal and provincial governments must collaborate to ensure that disaster management agencies are properly funded and supported Local authorities need to be better trained in responding to climate-induced disasters, and public awareness campaigns should be launched to educate communities on how to prepare for and respond to emergencies It’s not just about saving lives during a disaster; it’s about preventing them in the first place In the face of such disasters there is a real opportunity to reform how we approach climate adaptation and disaster management With coordinated efforts and a forward-thinking strategy, we can mitigate the worst effects of these disasters and work toward creating a more resilient Pakistan The cost of inaction is far too high as evidenced by the tragedies unfolding across the country We owe it to the victims and their families to take immediate comprehensive steps before it s too late As the monsoon season continues, let s make it a priority to strengthen our infrastructure, invest in disaster preparedness, and protect vulnerable communities The time for mere warnings and temporary fixes has passed; it s time for action
The writer is a freelance columnist
Brains in bureaucracy
civil service reforms This is the right time to ensure the representation of highly qualified professionals including PhD holders, in Pakistan s civil service Traditionally, civil servants retire with only a bachelor ’s or master ’s degree which limits innovative policymaking
Recruiting PhD holders into the civil service would encourage more individuals to pursue advanced studies, thereby fostering nationwide intellectual growth Incorporating PhD holders into government departments can enhance governance, improve decisionmaking, and develop well-researched solutions to the pressing challenges various sectors have been faced with Their expertise can drive progress in economic planning, technological advancement, as well as social development
For Pakistan to compete globally and strengthen its institutions, it must embrace a research-driven culture The inclusion of highly qualified professionals in the civil service will be a concrete step towards better governance which is indeed essential for the country s future
NABEEL BADR ISLAMABAD
Borrowed strength
I N the wake of recent Pakistani success over India in the limited armed conflict social discussion invariably veers towards China’s help Although some quarters would like to attribute Pakistan s success to indigenous effort only, it is universally known that both Pakistan and India fought with fighter jets and other war machinery bought from third countries; France and China, basically
The mainstay of Pakistan’s air attack was a combination of Chinese-made J-10Cs, JF-17s, drones and missiles There is no doubt that China helped us in the limited war much more than it has ever helped us in all our previous wars and skirmishes with India
On some occasions the Chinese had in fact plainly advised Pakistan to avoid going to war with India This time it was different Whatever the official position may be, the man on the street is very proud of the help that China provided in the war and is certain that a new normal, in the shape of an
However, when it comes to international relations, history tells us that there are no permanent enemies, and no
infrastruc-
Suleman Zia
Shahid ahmad
T2
1
4
3
dents due to
Reputable universities like RUDN University (Moscow), Crimea Federal University (Simferopol), or Kyrgyz State Medical Academy (Bishkek) charge $3,000$7,000 USD per year (approx Rs 840 000 - Rs 1 96M annually) Total cost: $15 000 - $35 000 USD (Rs 4 2M - Rs 9 8M) Often cheaper than Pakistani private colleges despite the added costs of travel and living abroad The Pakistani private medical education model isn’t just expensive; it’s fundamentally broken and ethically compromised The exorbitant fees bear little relation to actual educational quality or resource investment Many colleges operate with skeletal permanent faculty, relying heavily on poorly paid visiting lecturers or overburdened consultants Infrastructure investments often prioritize cosmetic appeal over functional educational tools Regulation by bodies like the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has been weak and inconsistent failing to curb rampant profiteering or rigorously enforce minimum standards The justification of “market forces” rings hollow when the “product” is a societal necessity future doctors and the “market” is rigged against the vast majority of qualified students The consequence isn t just individual hardship; it s a national health crisis in the making We are systematically excluding bright, motivated students from middle and lower-middle class backgrounds, the very communities most in need of empathetic local healthcare providers Those who do enroll face crippling debt forcing them towards lucrative specializations or emigration immediately after graduation, draining Pakistan of its desperately needed medical
How Vajpayee tried to balance Pakistan, US and China
An excerpt from ‘Believer’s dilemma: Vajpayee and the Hindu right’s path to power, 1977-2018’ Bush called up to ask Vajpayee to tone down India’s opposition
The invitation to Pakistan came as a ‘huge surprise’ to his foreign minister
He went public saying ‘we do not want our jawaans to face bullets in a country which is our friend’
One could overlook the hidden irony behind Vajpayee privately seeking US intermediation only to condemn their foreign polic y in public
VA J PAY E E wanted to attempt to resolve Kashmir to which the possibility of an American war in Iraq had added yet another layer of complication Bush wanted to safeguard his country against “the conjoined threat of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and links to terrorist groups” At first Vajpayee gave Bush the benefit of the doubt urging Iraq to abide by the UN resolutions and destroy the weapons of mass destruction that it is alleged to possess But the UN inspected over 300 sites and did not find any evidence of WMDs For India, the costs of such a war far outweighed the benefits It was dependent on Gulf oil, and inflation was bad news for a government seeking a fresh term The crisis also brought home the strategic nature of the oil sector stalling the privatisation of HPCL and BPCL The centre would have to arrange for the safe return of 4 million Indians working in the Gulf Indian Muslims, wary of the saffron party after the Gujarat riots, were unanimous and vocal in opposing an American capture of Baghdad Meanwhile Bush took great delight in mocking the UN The US
Vajpayee
“The use of force by a superpower to change a regime is wrong and cannot be supported ” Afterwards the MEA released a statement declaring that the military action lacks justification Bush called up the next day to ask Vajpayee to tone down India s opposition The Western coalition toppled Baghdad on 9
least because the Americans were mediating between India and Pakistan Visiting the Valley on 18 April, primarily to lay the foundation stone for development works, he tucked in an extempore speech For the first time since militancy broke out a prime minister spoke in public in Srinagar Standing behind a
doctrine: Insaniyat Jamhooriyat Kashmiriyat Humanism Democracy and Kashmir s age-old legacy of religious amity Even if this was mostly atmospherics the three principles offered a framework for the way ahead At the Kashmir University convocation the next afternoon, he extended another olive branch: “If Pakistan announces today that it has stopped the cross-border terrorism I will send a senior MEA official to Islamabad tomorrow He invoked the impact of the Iraq war as a warning [to] the entire world specially the developing countries It is now important that we resolve our differences through dialogue It was not clear whether he was aggrieved over the humiliation of a friendly Asian nation by a rowdy superpower in flagrant disregard of the UN or simply cashing in on the prevailing anti-American sentiments Perhaps it was a bit of both
One could overlook the hidden irony behind Vajpayee privately seeking American intermediation only to condemn their foreign policy in public It was a neat policy somersault: he had not discussed it with the CCS The invitation to Pakistan came as a “huge surprise” to his foreign minister When the prime minister was shown an op-ed by an American commentator suggesting he was a Nobel Peace Prize contender he was less than thrilled You really think all of this is to win the Nobel, he said dismissively: Kya main yeh sab Nobel jeetne ke liye kar raha hoon?”
There was another way to interpret his initiative It was subtly directed at his domestic constituency – a bid to temper the Sangh Parivar s growing push to replicate the Modi model beyond Gujarat which fuelled hatred of Muslims and Pakistan Peace inside the home and on the borders was necessary for sustaining long-term economic growth as also for augmenting India s clout in the larger world He was keen to lead the NDA to victory in the October 2004 general elections on his diplomatic and economic achievements
Musharraf tried to find out whether Vajpayee would want to speak over the phone On the evening of 28 April, ten days after Vajpayee rolled his dice in Srinagar, he received a call from Zafarullah Jamali, his newly elected counterpart in Islamabad Reading from notes prepared in advance, Jamali offered, among others resumption of train bus and air services full restoration of diplomatic missions Vajpayee agreed to all except sporting ties which could backfire unless infiltration came to a halt What would be the reaction he asked, if in the middle of a hockey match the terrorists massacre fifty innocents in Jammu? The tenminute call broke the ice The PMO’s strategy was to move on parallel tracks: talk to the separatists in the valley and the government in Pakistan then find a way to converge them
There was another complication On a trip to Washington in May, Brajesh Mishra received a request that India join the stabilisation force in post-war Iraq Mishra had for a while pitched for an “axis” between the USA, India, and Israel to fight terrorism In fact, the US wanted both India and Pakistan to contribute peacekeeping boots on the ground India was asked to dispatch a division to oversee the administration of Iraq s Kurdish north The government was egged on by a section of the press to accept the US s request, as it would dramati-
cally upgrade bilateral relations Preparations began For the first time the American embassy briefed New Delhi from classified sources The US was extremely keen because the Indian troops had plenty of experience in peacekeeping, they are well regarded, and they have large numbers” The Indian Army “identif i
Jaswant Singh and Brajesh Mishra this time Advani as well as the army seemed open to the idea The antiAmerican George Fernandes did not extend a fullb l
him, and the socialist defence minister allowed himself to be persuaded All of this deepened the prime minister ’s dilemma His instinctive reaction had been to refuse: the Indian troops would have to work under an American command Nor did Vajpayee have the political space for such a commitment With a raucous opposition such a move was certain to be vetoed in Parliament At an all-party meeting as well as over phone calls, Vajpayee prodded the elderly communists to protest more loudly in the street When the CCS sat down in early May 2003 to take the final call however every single attendee backed the American demand: Advani stayed silent until Vajpayee asked for his opinion: Aap kya soch rahe hain? Everyone spoke in favour Vajpayee just sat, mum He didn t say a word There was deathly silence He let the silence grow Then he said, “What would I say to the mothers when their children die?” There was stunned silence again “No ” he said “we can t send our boys Until July New Delhi s reaction was to plead with the Americans to first obtain an explicit UN mandate
This did not happen Vajpayee managed to wriggle out citing tied-up hands Only towards the end of the year –once it emerged that Iraq possessed no WMDs – he went public saying ‘we do not want our jawaans to face bullets in a country which is our friend’
His most important appearance was at a dinner that Vladimir Putin hosted to celebrate the tricentennial of his hometown, St Petersburg A karate black belt and more than a generation younger than Vajpayee, Putin had confessed “a great fondness” for the Indian patriarch Except, of course, “if he asked a question on Wednesday, he had to wait till Friday for the answer” The accompanying media delegation went wild with excitement after seeing Vajpayee seated at the high table alongside the Russian first lady and the Bushes The host had only aimed at a social mix, but the coverage back home heralded India s arrival on the world forum
The prime minister returned to quell a minor rebellion While he was away the party president Venkaiah Naidu had suggested that the BJP be jointly led by Advani and Vajpayee in 2004 It was a petty attempt by hardliners all over again to test the prime minister s reaction Vajpayee was mighty annoyed that Naidu had invited party workers to felicitate him at 7 RCR for his successful foreign trip The expelled Kalyan Singh had recently taken a swipe at Vajpayee and Mishra calling them “tired and retired At this felicitation event Vajpayee threw everyone into
China slams EU sanctions on Chinese
BEIJING S ta f f r e p o r t
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic Radman in Beijing on Monday Wang also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee said that the two sides had always respected each other, treated each other as equals and cooperated in a mutually beneficial manner, adding that their high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has achieved fruitful results
Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the estab-
lishment of the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Croatia, Wang urged both sides to enhance exchanges at all levels increase mutual understanding and mutual trust continue to firmly respect and support each other, strengthen the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Croatia’s development strategies, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields Wang said that cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) is an important part of China-EU relations He added that China is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with
Croatia based on the principles of openness transparency and mutual benefit urging both sides to enhance multilateral coordination and cooperation, adhere to multilateralism and free trade to jointly address global challenges
Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU Wang said that a stable, healthy and positively developing China-EU relationship is in line with the fundamental interests and common aspirations of both sides adding that China hopes Croatia will continue to play a constructive role in promoting China-EU cooperation
Radman said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries over 30 years ago both sides have advanced cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit, and bilateral relations have maintained a sound development
He said that the government
China policy believing that the government of the People s Republic of China is the sole legal
whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China s territory
Punjab Governor visits flood affec ted areas of Chakwal
CORPORATE CORNER
Pakistan
Railways reopens bids to outsource 11 passenger trains
AI Takes the Spotlight at Pakistan Fintech Forum III, Setting the Agenda for the Nex t Decade
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a theoretical frontier, it is actively reshaping how Pakistan saves spends lends and accesses financial services This was the central theme of AI Ignited: Powering Pakistan s Fintech Next Decade , one of the dynamic panels at the Pakistan Fintech Forum III, where industry leaders came together to explore how AI is redefining the future of finance
Organised by the Pakistan Fintech Network the Forum has quickly become a key platform for aligning innovators, institutions, and policymakers on the future of digital finance in Pakistan The third edition held in Karachi was
marked by pragmatic conversations around data-driven innovation and the need to embed intelligence into financial systems today to remain competitive tomorrow The AI-focused panel, moderated by Mr Noshad Minhas, CEO, Walee Financial Services and Hakeem Easy Finance delved into the real-world impact of AI across payments lending risk assessment, and customer experience areas that are increasingly intertwined with machine learning and automation
“Technology alone is not the solution; its value lies in solving meaningful problems and driving measurable outcomes for institutions and their customers, he said Offering a product innovation
perspective, Mr Aamir Aftab, Chief Product Officer at JazzCash spoke about the company s multipronged AI approach combining traditional machine learning with generative AI to build more intelligent, accessible, and responsive financial services
As one of Pakistan’s largest digital financial platforms JazzCash s AI investments come at scale The platform processes over PKR 1 trillion in payments monthly, equivalent to 10% of Pakistan’s GDP, and serves more than 50 million users Its ability to embed AI into high-volume use cases from digital lending to insurance demonstrates how intelligent design can drive both financial inclusion and commercial impact
s ta f f r e p o r t
InfraZamin Pakistan Sunridge Foods (Pvt ) Limited and BankIslami marked a landmark moment at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) with a ceremonial gong strike to launch Pakistan’s first fully subscribed PKR 2 billion Agri-Infrastructure Sukuk
This Shariah-compliant Sukuk is backed by a 100% principal credit guarantee from InfraZamin Pakistan and carries a long-term AAA rating, and fully subscribed by institutional investors This represents a pioneering step towards sustainable financing via capital markets in the country s agricultural sector The Sukuk issuance, led by BankIslami Pakistan Limited as the Mandated Lead Arranger and credit-enhanced by InfraZamin has been assigned a AAA rating by VIS Credit Rating Company The involvement of AKD Securities as Financial Advisor, Al-Hilal Shariah Advisors as Shariah Compliance Experts, and Pak Brunei Investment Company Limited as Investment Agent and Trustee ensures robust governance and protection of the interests of Sukuk holders under a
Shariah-compliant framework The funds raised through the Sukuk will be utilized to advance Sunridge Foods’ Balancing Modernization and Replacement (BMR) projects focused on upgrading production facilities with sustainable and energy-efficient technologies Key components of the BMR include the installation of 1 MW wind turbines and a 0 5 MW solar power plant to bolster Sunridge s renewable energy efforts alongside the construction of new silos and warehouses to
KARACHI
P C M A L I A M I N G A N D A P U R
‘inter fering in assembly
restricted access for prayers The Secretary of National Heritage and Culture highlighted ongoing efforts to balance heritage conservation with local religious practices The committee welcomed the nominations expressing hope that the recognition by UNESCO would further promote Pakistan s cultural historical, and tourism potential on the global stage Pakistan, Iran reaffirm ties ahead of President Pezeshkian’s
visit
ISLAMABAD N e w s D e s k Iranian Interior Minister Seyyed Eskandar Momeni held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday to discuss the upcoming visit of Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakistan on July 26 During the call, Minister Naqvi expressed Pakistan’s eagerness for President Pezeshkian’s visit, which is expected to further strengthen ties between the two neighboring Muslim countries The conversation highlighted the importance of high-level engagements in enhancing bilateral cooperation particularly
Momeni extended heartfelt condolences to Pakistan over the devastating floods that have caused widespread destruction, offering Iran s sympathy to the families of those affected He assured that the Iranian government and people stand with Pakistan in this difficult time and are prepared to assist in any way possible for flood relief efforts KP Speaker writes to CJP, accuses
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
Incarcerated PTI leader Yasmin Rashid s health deteriorated again in jail on Monday after she was discharged from a hospital, according to her lawyer Rana Mudassar Rashid has been in prison for almost a year now in connection with multiple cases against her regarding the events of May 9, 2023, when countrywide protests and riots broke out after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan Last week she was moved to a hospital in Lahore after her health deteriorated in Kot Lakhpat Jail
She was hospitalised in May and July of last year as well Mudassar Rashid’s advocate told media that Rashid had a severe infection in her stomach and was also having difficulty breathing Rashid was forcibly discharged from the hospital on Saturday She underwent various tests, but she was not fully treated in light of the reports He added Rashid was transferred to jail without informing her family and lawyers upon being discharged Yasmin Rashid has a fundamental right to health and medical facilities,” Mudassar said Moeen Riaz Qureshi deputy opposition leader in the Punjab As-
sembly, slammed the lack of medical care provided to Rashid calling it “pathetic” and immoral that the government would deprive an old lady a cancer survivor an ex-health minister of medical facilities She needs urgent medical attention [ ] Her sleep is constantly disturbed; she can’t breathe properly Even when they gave her the [BIPAP] machine they turned off the electricity at night in the name of load shedding so it couldn t work, he said He warned against allowing Rashid s health to deteriorate for the sake of “political stunting” saying that the government would “regret it”
Govt in a fix over quality control of used cars ahead of impor ts
has inadvertently exposed a critical regulatory gap According to sources a recent high-level meeting convened by the Ministry of Commerce with stakeholders, including customs officials, auto sector representatives, and regulatory agencies, ended without a resolution on who will oversee the technical inspection and quality certification of these incoming vehicles
There is currently no institution legally empowered or equipped to check the standards of used vehicles imported into Pakistan,” a senior official told this scribe While the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) is the country s only legally recognized standards body, it does not have the mandate to inspect used or secondhand items, including automobiles Its jurisdiction is limited to setting and verifying
standards for new and locally manufactured products Additionally PSQCA lacks the labs tools and technical capacity to deal with the complex assessment of used or refurbished vehicles
The Engineering Development Board (EDB), which recently came under fire for attempting to assume vehicle standardization authority through the proposed Motor Vehicles Industry Development Act 2025 also lacks any legal jurisdiction or technical setup to inspect preowned imported vehicles Its role, historically limited to policy support and industrial facilitation does not extend to post-production inspections or certification
This regulatory void has become a new administrative and systemic headache for the Ministry of Commerce, especially as the deadline for allowing fiveyear-old vehicles draws closer
trial more than two years later He stated that the first of the fourteen ongoing May 9 trials at Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore was nearing completion as the case progressed rapidly with daily hearings
Waqas said that PTI s legal team conducted a masterful cross-examination of key witnesses and both investigating officers thoroughly exposing flaws and inconsistencies in the prosecution s narrative and placing all gaps on the court record The trial, ongoing since late last year, involved 14 accused, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfaraz Cheema, Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry and nine other workers and bystanders Waqas noted that proceedings against other individuals including PTI Patron-in-Chief Imran Khan and several senior party leaders, have not yet commenced in this case
PTI CIS emphasized that PTI lawyers’ cross examination of the main prosecution witnesses of the conspiracy meeting at Zaman Park has effectively demolished the entire conspiracy charge, exposing glaring legal flaws in the baseless cases
Waqas hailed that the legal team had done justice to its work and exposed the case now in its entirety and the responsibility to uphold justice squarely lies with the court He noted that interestingly when the main witness, who claimed to be present in disguise at the alleged conspiracy meeting, was confronted with the daily register of his Police Station, it showed that the witness (a policeman) was marked absent from duty that day Waqas stated that the man wasn t even on duty and was the prosecution s key witness against the leadership in more than two dozen cases in Punjab PTI CIS stated that the prosecution
failed to explain how sticks were recovered after 30 days from a daily-cleaned cantonment area and the doctor testified in court that the injured policemen were not medically examined on May 9 He said that they were unable to show any authorization for surveillance of a former PM’s house/drawing room or authorization of their duty there as the
