GOVT FORBIDS ROAD TRAVEL FOR ARBAEEN TO IRAN, IRAQ AMID SECURIT Y CONCERNS: NAQVI
In addition, Pakistan is set to introduce a new travel management system from January 1, 2026,
PAKISTAN AND CHINA PARTNER TO FOSTER ACADEMIC, TECH COLL ABORATION WITHIN
IN a bid to enhance collaboration in science, technology, and education, Pakistan and China have signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster scientific and technological cooperation between China and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states
The agreement was finalized between the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Tang Chinese Education and Technology Ltd Beijing marking a new chapter in cross-border academic and technological partnerships
The MoU was signed in a ceremony held at the COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad
by Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary the Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH and Mr Li Jinsong the President and Founder of Tang Chinese Education and Technology Ltd The event witnessed the participation of key representatives, including Ms Song Jianying, the CEO of Tang Chinese Education and Technology Ltd Islamabad Under the terms of the agreement both parties will cooperate in various initiatives aimed at enhancing academic and technological exchanges A key component of the partnership will be the launch of China-Pakistan joint education programs under the CCTE Mode, focusing on areas that hold mutual interest and value for both nations and the OIC member states One of the highlights of the MoU is the development of school-enterprise cooperation projects, aimed at addressing the
human resource demands of Chinesefunded enterprises operating in Pakistan and other OIC nations These projects will be market-driven and tailored to the specific needs of the workforce required by Chinese businesses in the region
Additionally, the agreement includes the introduction of a Chinese language demonstration program through the TANG Cloud Platform which will benefit both students and faculty of institutions under the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE) This initiative is designed to enhance the language skills and cultural understanding of Chinese in the OIC region
As part of the agreement the two parties will also organize faculty training and exchange programs between Chinese universities and CCoE member institutions These programs will focus on sharing best practices
in innovative teaching methods curriculum design and the use of modern educational tools fostering the exchange of knowledge and ideas to improve the quality of education in
is safe today due to the great sacrifices of our heroes Meanwhile the Prime Minister said the brave son of soil Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed sacrificed his life while foiling the evil designs of the enemy of aggressive occupation in Jammu and Kashmir He said his bravery set an example that the soldiers of the Pakistan Armed Forces followed always prioritizing the defense of the motherland over their own lives Shehbaz Sharif said the entire nation pays tribute to the courage and bravery of Captain Muhammad Sarwar on his martyrdom anniversary today
JKCHR chief assails Indian revocation of occupied Kashmir ’s status as violation of int ’l law
Dr Syed Nazir Gilani, a distinguished Kashmiri jurist and the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR), strongly condemned India’s unilateral revocation of Jammu and Kashmir s special status on August 5 2019
During a press conference in Muzaffarabad, Dr Gilani described the move as a grave violation of international law and urged Pakistan to bring the issue to international forums for stronger advocacy Dr Gilani emphasized that the nature of Jammu and Kashmir s accession to India had fundamentally changed when India took the matter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 1948 agreeing to a plebiscite under UN supervision He argued that India had no legal or moral authority to unilaterally alter the status of the disputed region
Quoting UNSC Resolution 91 of 1951, Dr Gilani stressed that India’s claim of constitutional finality over Jammu and Kashmir was nullified by binding international commitments He criticized the Indian judiciary for treating the Kashmir dispute purely as an internal matter, disregarding the international framework established by the UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP)
Dr Gilani also revealed that the JKCHR had formally submitted a document on this issue to the UN Secretary General, which was subsequently published as a UN General Assembly document on June 9 2021 further strengthening the legal case against India s actions He urged Pakistan as a principal party in the Kashmir dispute to take stronger action on the international stage to safeguard the Kashmiris right to self-determination Dr Gilani pointed out that the current international geopolitical climate and public opinion are more favorable
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
Authorities in Islamabad have seized approximately 1 000 kilograms of donkey meat from an illegal slaughterhouse located in the Tarnol area of the capital The operation, conducted by the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA), local police, and the Islamabad district administration also led to the recovery of 45 live donkeys from the premises The meat was destroyed on-site by the IFA under the supervision of Deputy Director Dr Tahira Siddique During the raid, a foreign national operating the illegal slaughterhouse was arrested The authorities have now launched an investigation to identify any local accomplices involved in the operation Muhammad Nasir Butt, spokesperson for the Islamabad district adminis-
tration confirmed the arrest and stated that further raids would follow depending on the investigation s progress
The site has been sealed, and we are working to determine whether the seized meat was intended for local consumption or export Butt said While the authorities emphasized the need for a thorough probe they have not yet found evidence linking the meat to local eateries
According to a police report, the farm did not possess any legal authorization to slaughter donkeys or process their meat As a result criminal proceedings are set to be initiated under the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Act, 2021 The report also mentioned that the facility lacked any formal records to justify the processing of the meat
This discovery brings attention to the growing issue of donkey trade in Pakistan where the donkey population
to Pakistan, especially as India’s actions in occupied Kashmir have generated global sympathy for the Kashmir cause Dr Gilani also highlighted the historical context of India s actions noting that until 1959 Indian citizens required a permit to enter occupied Kashmir, emphasizing its distinct political and constitutional status at the time This status, he argued was systematically eroded by India through judicial manipulation and military aggression Dr Gilani further criticized India s ongoing human rights violations in the occupied region, including the continued detention of thousands of political prisoners such as Syed Shabbir Shah Yasin Malik Zafar Akbar Butt and Aasiya Andrabi among many others He stressed that these are not just political issues but a humanitarian crisis that needs to be addressed urgently on the global stage “The suffering of the Kashmiri people is a call for action,” Dr Gilani said, urging Pakistan to lead the charge in seeking justice for the people of Kashmir
has been increasing steadily In the 2024-25 fiscal year Pakistan s donkey population reached 6 million Additionally, earlier this year, Pakistan Customs thwarted a similar smuggling attempt when they seized donkey hides being exported to China
In a statement following the raid
Dr Siddique reiterated the importance of ensuring food safety in the capital, stating that IFA remains committed to enforcing strict regulations to prevent such illegal practices from endangering public health “Our priority is the safety of Islamabad s citizens and we are determined to take all necessary actions against anyone involved in such illegal operations, she said
This operation highlights the ongoing challenges related to the illegal trade and processing of donkeys in the country with authorities stepping up efforts to curb this illegal activity
UAE visa waiver for diplomatic and official passpor ts ‘in
war on the people of Kashmir,” the posters read “But Kashmiris are determined to resist and will never surrender their inalienable right to self-determination
The key points highlighted in the posters emphasized that the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A was illegal and unconstitutional The move was carried out without considering the will of the people of Kashmir and sought to alter the demographic makeup of the region Kashmiris have rejected this action from the beginning viewing it as an attack on their dignity, identity, and freedom Kashmiris have reaffirmed their united struggle for the restoration of their rights including Articles 370 and 35A They vowed never to renounce their right to selfdetermination
The posters called for mass unity and resistance against India s colonial ambitions and emphasized that the fight for justice and freedom would continue until the legitimate rights of Kashmiris are restored The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) also issued a statement through
spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, describing India’s actions on August 5 as a direct attack on the region’s unique identity and an attempt to alter the internationally recognized disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir The people of Kashmir will continue their struggle until they achieve their UN-acknowledged right to self-determination,” Minhas said He further added that India’s repressive measures would not break the spirit of the Kashmiri people The sacrifices of the Kashmiri nation will not go in vain he emphasized In solidarity with the ongoing struggle, the APHC called for a complete shutdown across IIOJK on August 5 urging the global Kashmiri diaspora to observe the day as Black Day The aim is to raise awareness of Indian aggression and draw international at-
ISLAMABAD N
S D E S k In a significant move toward environmental sustainability Pakistan has approved national standards for buildings with four or more floors, focusing on energy conservation and water preservation The Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases (CCLC) led by Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar officially approved the Green Building and Rainwater Harvesting Codes on Wednesday The codes, drafted by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, are aimed at setting national benchmarks for multi-storey buildings while aligning with modern environmental and engineering principles The approval marks a pivotal step in promoting eco-friendly construction practices across the country The Green Building Codes focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, and the protection of local biodiversity These standards are expected to reduce energy consumption in buildings, which has long been a concern for Pakistan a country facing rising energy demands and environmental challenges
In addition, the Rainwater Harvesting Codes, applicable to residential commercial and industrial buildings mandate the installation of systems to collect filter and reuse rainwater These measures are designed to help mitigate Pakistan s growing water scarcity by reducing dependence on municipal water supplies The new regulations are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim to provide practical solutions for Pakistan’s water crisis With increasing water shortages especially in urban areas the rainwater harvesting initiative is seen as a crucial step in creating more resilient infrastructure Alongside the approval of these codes amendments to the Building Bylaws of 1986 and 1987 were also sanctioned The Green Building and Rainwater Harvesting Codes have now been incorporated into Section 25(1) of the PEC Act of 1976 The codes will be forwarded to the Federal Cabinet for final approval after which they will be implemented nationwide This initiative is expected to revolutionize the construction industry in Pakistan embedding sustainability into architectural law and encouraging developers to adopt greener, more efficient building practices
Star ving the Gazans
as Gazans star ve
PR I M E M I N I S T E R Shehbaz Sharif and Jamaat-i-Islami Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman
metaphorically shook their heads on Saturday over the starvation being faced by the people of Gaza in a telephone call However, this expression of concern should not disguise the fact that what is now happening in Gaza may well be the most horrible episode of what has been a horrible act of genocide by Israel Can the states observing what is happening now in Gaza escape the blame for what is being done with such impunity? Is the friendship of the USA so important that the situation in Gaza can be ignored? There are now reports of deaths, hundreds of deaths, of Gazans dying of starvation The pictures coming out of Gaza are eerily reminiscent of those of Nazi concentration-camp survivors The big difference is that most of those Jewish survivors were photographed after liberation while the Gazans photographed have to go with their lives, with a lingering death probably at the end
It is almost as if Israel now wished to depopulate the area by starving the people to death They have tried killing them indiscriminately, something which has not worked The idea of shifting them all was floated by US President Donald Trump, but was ridiculed as illegal and impractical to boot Now, it seems, Israel seems to be trying starvation as a method First it stopped aid convoys then it started limited distributions where it started killing people Palestinians are now faced with a painful choice: starve or get shot while trying to get a basic foodstuff like flour There is no pathway on offer for what Cazans and all Palestinians really want: a free and prosperous life Starvation is worse than massacre, for it is slow, potentially lasting several weeks There may be incidences of cannibalism, which the perpetrators can be sure to hold up to the world as proof of Palestinians bestiality More importantly, it is a salve to the Israeli conscience No trigger is pelled, no bomb dropped,
culmination of Bangladesh’s Monsoon Revolution the strategic chessboard of South Asia appears to be undergoing a marked transformation Under Muhammad Yunus interim government Dhaka is breaking and resuscitating ties; emerging as a player that is willing to reset its long-held foreign policy orientation Very visibly, Dhaka is breaking its step from the long-standing embrace of New Delhi and is moving toward a rather diversified approach to foreign relations
In particular bilateral ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have revived meaningfully In the past few months, a number of high-level meetings of the two states’ political and military leadership have taken place Most recently the shift in Dhaka came to fore in February 2025 when the Bangladesh Navy led by the BNS Samudra Joy participated in Pakistan s Multinational Maritime Exercise AMAN2025 The military exercise also facilitated high-level discussions between the two countries’ naval chiefs The discussions were expected to pave ways for broader maritime security cooperation Recent developments therefore indicate that Dhaka- which had been reliant on India for its defence policy– is now actively seeking to diversify its defence partners in the region, thereby shedding India’s historically dominant role over its defence policy In this context bilateral defence cooperation between Islamabad and Dhaka is expected to emerge as a key area of convergence between the two countries
In addition to this, news reports also emerged suggesting that Bangladesh could be planning to acquire 32 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan The fighter jets are currently operational with the Pakistan Air Force and have also been exported to several states Dhaka s acquisition of the fighter jets comes as a part of Bangladesh s Forces Goal 2030 military modernization program The JF-17 also offers a competitive alternative to Western fighter jets, which come with higher costs and potential strings attached However the news has not sat well with New Delhi which has reportedly expressed its objection over the procurement of the fighter jets The objection is rooted in New Delhi s strategic concerns, as it perceived both Pakistani and Chinese forces as adversarial in its security calculus Hence, at the heart of New Delhi’s discontent is
TH E world is witnessing a fast-unfolding climate change crisis but unfortunately neither economic environmental nor epidemiological policy is coming together in the serious way it needs both domestically in countries in general globally, nor multilateral finance is making the much-needed shift from billions to trillions to effectively deal with this existential threat COP29 last year, and then more recently concluded ‘4th International Conference on Financing for development (FfD4) have all shown lack of needed multilateralism both in terms of meaningfully providing climate finance and improving the sovereign debt restructuring framework, given a number of developing countries are highly debt distressed
Another issue is the difficult geopolitical situation given that while the intensity and frequency of climate change induced climate catastrophes are increasing rapidly over the last decade or so unfortunately geopolitical conflicts are not being dealt with the urgency they need to tackled with, for not just relieving misery for the victims, but for also putting most attention on tackling the existential threat of climate changes crisis
Reportedly last month COP30’s chief executive indicated in this regard Climate is our biggest war Climate is here for the next 100 years We need to focus and not allow those [other] wars to take our attention away from the bigger fight that we need to have Ana Toni, the chief executive of Cop30, the UN climate summit to be held in Brazil this November is worried With only four months before the crucial global summit the world’s response to the climate crisis is in limbo
Moreover for instance highlighting issues with regard to the overall debt distress of the vulnerable twenty group (V20), and the shifting of resources in a significant way from spending on economic resilience to debt servicing, the third edition of the ‘V20 debt review: an account of debt in the vulnerable group of twenty report that has been recently released pointed out The debt and climate crises are coming together in a vicious circle This is the clear conclusion of the third edition of the V20 Debt Review, the assessment tool of the CVF V20– a group which now represents the combined interests of 74 countries and 22 4 percent of the world’s population The impacts of escalating climate extreme events are forcing many of our already heavily indebted countries to borrow more to finance unexpected disaster response and recovery In turn, these climate shocks are weakening economic growth and public revenues, reducing the fiscal space which allows V20 countries to service already existing high debt, diverting capital from development financing and constraining invest-
jing It should also be noted that most recently, in June 2025, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China held a trilateral meeting in Yunnan, China The meeting signaled the possibility of the three states initiating a strategic initiative as well as enhanced cooperation in economic development and climate change With regards to India-Bangladesh ties, a number of contentious issues have been fuelling tensions Most prominently, New Delhi’s reluctance to cooperate with Dhaka over the extradition of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been central In January 2025 tensions flared up between the two countries over the issue of border fencing As per reports the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel objected to Indian Border Security Force s fence construction activity at different points While reports of clashes between Indian and Bangladeshi civilians living near the border also emerged; more importantly Bangladesh accused the BSF of shooting dead a Bangladeshi citizen and injuring several others The tensions resulted in Bangladesh s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoning the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, expressing “deep concern” over the “unauthorized attempts to construct barbed wire fencing and related operational actions by India s Border Security Force In addition to this Dhaka has also been concerned over India s smart fencing , which will allow India to use electronic technology used in the fence to surveil Bangladesh In view of these concerns in December 2024 Dhaka had deployed the Turkish-origin Bayraktar TB2 drones along its border with India In response Indian forces have also ramped up their activities and are reportedly expected to deploy Heron TP drones, whilst also stepping up counter-drone operations in sensitive areas New Delhi India is also leveraging intelligence-sharing mechanisms and cooperation with international partners to track the situation in Bangladesh Hence the old dynamic where India served as Bangladesh s primary security and economic partner is now eroding These developments
ment in essential priorities such as education, health, infrastructure, and climate resilience The same report pointed out with regard to improving the global sovereign debt restructuring framework as ‘ the IMF and World Bank should refine the methodology for their debt sustainability analyses (DSAs) which are currently under review to incorporate the critical transformative benefits of macro-critical resilience investments and valuation of natural capital Additionally, the IMF and World Bank should clearly highlight the volume of concessional capital and strategic debt relief that would be commensurate with the substantial investments countries require for achieving the Paris Agreement and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development since these details are often hidden in the technical minutiae of current DSAs [Moreover] these enhanced DSAs can form the basis for more ambitious debt restructuring in highly indebted and climate-vulnerable countries This report shows that external debt servicing costs for V20 members in 2024 were three times that of 2014 crowding out investment in climate and development Sixteen of our members spent more than 20 percent of government revenue on debt service payments in 2024, up from just two members in
also raise concerns of potential border skirmishes between border forces While New Delhi has been trying to respond to this turning of tables by offering diplomatic overtures, however, the underlying sentiment in Dhaka’s policymaking circles suggests that India’s grip is loosening While Dhaka appears to be looking forward to a stronger relationship with Pakistan Islamabad may prioritize offering Dhaka access to cost-effective military cooperation For Islamabad defence cooperation with Bangladesh could translate into Islamabad gaining a new regional partner to counter India’s growing activity in the Indian Ocean Region For Pakistan these developments offer an opportunity to mend past ties and position itself as a reliable partner in South Asia s evolving security matrix The success of this partnership, however, will depend on sustained diplomatic engagement, tangible and an ability to navigate the region’s complex geopolitical currents Meanwhile India faces the challenge of reasserting its influence without appearing overbearing What is clear however is that South Asia s strategic landscape is entering a new and unpredictable phase one where traditional alliances are being reshaped and new security architectures are emerging
The writer is a freelance columnist
The world watches on
The technological revolution we must lead
TWe stand at such a threshold today, poised on the brink of an era defined not just by reading the code of life, but by writing it with intention and precision This is the dawning age of protein design a field with the potential to revolutionize medicine materials science energy and countless other sectors, demanding our focused attention and strategic investment
For decades, molecular biology has largely been an observational science We deciphered the structure of DNA mapped genomes and identified the proteins responsible for nearly every function in living organisms We learned to read the language of life, understanding how the sequence of amino acids dictates the intricate three-dimensional shapes that give proteins their unique abilities in catalyzing reactions recognizing signals and providing structural support This knowledge has fuelled incredible advances leading to life-saving drugs diagnostic tools, and a deeper understanding of health and disease Yet, we remained largely confined to the proteins nature provided tweaking existing molecules or harnessing natural variation
The game changed dramatically with the advent of powerful computational tools and more recently, artificial intelligence Suddenly, the ability to predict protein structures from amino acid sequences, a grand challenge in biology for half a century, became achievable AI systems trained on vast databases of known protein structures learned the complex rules governing protein folding This predictive power is profound but it s only half the story The real revolution lies in the inverse problem: designing a novel
protein structure to perform a specific function and then determining the amino acid sequence that will fold into that desired shape This is the essence of de novo protein design Instead of waiting for nature to evolve a solution scientists can now engineer bespoke proteins from scratch Imagine needing an enzyme to break down plastic waste efficiently, a protein scaffold to regenerate damaged nerve tissue, or a highly specific molecule to trigger an immune response against a novel pathogen Protein design offers a pathway to create these functional molecules on demand It shifts biology from discovery to invention allowing us to tailor proteins for tasks that nature never encountered or optimized for The implications are staggering In medicine, designed proteins could become the next generation of therapeutics We can craft proteins that bind to disease targets with unprecedented specificity minimizing side effects Think of designer enzymes that precisely edit genes within the body to correct genetic disorders, or proteins that selfassemble into nanostructures for targeted drug delivery Vaccines could be designed with protein components that elicit stronger more durable immune responses Diagnostics could be revolutionized by proteins engineered to fluoresce only in the presence of specific disease markers, enabling earlier and more accurate detection Beyond healthcare, the potential is equally vast In materials science proteins can be designed to self-assemble into lightweight incredibly strong materials with properties superior to existing plastics or composites, potentially biodegradable and sourced sustainably Imagine construction materials grown rather than manufactured, or textiles with tailored properties woven at the molecular level The energy sector could see designed proteins acting as highly efficient catalysts for producing biofuels or cap-
turing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, offering novel solutions to climate change Even agriculture could benefit from proteins designed to enhance nutrient uptake by plants or act as highly specific biodegradable pesticides
This isn t science fiction; it s happening now in research labs around the world Scientists are already designing and synthesizing proteins that function as intended, validating the core principles However moving from promising demonstrations to widespread transformative applications requires a concerted effort Designing novel proteins computationally is only the first step These designs must then be synthesized, expressed in host cells (like bacteria or yeast), purified, and rigorously tested for function stability and safety Scaling up production and reducing costs are significant hurdles that need to be overcome This is where strategic government investment becomes crucial Recognizing protein design not just as an interesting research area, but as a foundational technology for the 21st century is paramount The nations and regions that invest early and
T h e r e ’ s m o r e t h a n o n e w a y t o b u i l d
a b o m b
IM M E D I AT E LY after the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21 President Donald Trump declared the operation a spectacular military success Since then his administration has been searching for ways to back up this statement It has settled on the argument, apparently advanced by a new classified intelligence assessment, that Iran would need “years” to rebuild the facilities hit last month This claim has the advantage of being true but it is also disingenuous Iran does not need to rebuild its previous nuclear program to build the bomb Both the United States and Israel believe with good reason that most of Iran s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) survived the attack Tehran likely also retains the capability to further enrich and then weaponize this material to produce a handful of nuclear weapons If Tehran decides to proceed down this route it could likely manufacture its first bomb within a year despite the Trump administration s implication to the contrary Prior to the onset of the Iran-Israel war most of Iran s HEU stockpile, which included about 400 kilograms of HEU enriched to 60 percent, was stored in tunnels under its nuclear complex at Esfahan There’s apparently disagreement among intelligence agencies about whether Iran moved some or all of that material before the Israeli strikes though Israel and the United States seem increasingly confident that it did not The tunnels at Esfahan are deep so deep that the United States did not even try to collapse them with the bunker busters it dropped on Iran s enrichment plants at Fordow and Natanz It may have launched cruise missiles against the tunnel entrances to try to seal them However, Iran likely reduced the already modest benefits of this approach by preemptively filling the tunnel entrances itself
As a result repeated claims by U S and Israeli officials that Iran s HEU is buried beneath rubble are misleading Assuming the material wasn t moved, it is now sitting unsquashed in intact tunnels The implication in the New York Times’ recent reporting that Iran may
nents These parts stopped being monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2021 as the Iran deal progressively fell apart following the United States’ withdrawal According to U S officials however none of this matters now that the United States has deprived Iran of the capabilities needed to turn HEU into a usable weapon For example Secretary of State Marco Rubio has argued that the United States wiped out Iran s conversion facility and you can t do a nuclear weapon without one Rubio is quite right that conversion the production of uranium metal from the uranium hexafluoride used in enrichment is a necessary step in building a nuclear weapon However he is quite wrong in his implication that the destruction of the Esfahan conversion facilities (there were two of them actually) dealt a crippling blow to Iran s ability to build the bomb
Conversion just isn t difficult, as the United States own experience demonstrates During the Manhattan Project, the many daunting technical challenges that U S scientists had to overcome did not include the production of uranium metal The United States developed the necessary process in the chemistry department of Iowa State College at Ames (now Iowa State University) using equipment installed in the 1920s Just eight months after research began, scientists there were churning out 50 kg of metal per week enough, in principle, for at least two nuclear weapons
I say “in principle” because the material produced in Iowa was destined to be reactor fuel; it was not enriched and was insufficiently pure to be used in a weapon However the Los Alamos team needed to make only slight tweaks to the Ames process to produce the highly pure highly enriched uranium metal that fueled the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima Iran, for its part, has already conducted extensive experiments in this area and has probably perfected a recipe for producing pure uranium metal In the unlikely event there is not a single laboratory in the entire country that is suitably equipped for this process Iran could set one up rapidly and quietly The necessary equipment (such as furnaces) and materials (such as high-purity calcium or magnesium) are widely available
In addition to producing HEU metal, Iran would also have to finish its nuclear-weapon design and manufacture the components nuclear and nonnuclear This process could likely be completed in a year possibly much less and could largely run in parallel with enrichment and metal production
Arguing that Iran would need years to rebuild its previous nuclear program is, therefore, like asserting that an unlocked bank vault would be impervious to a cyberattack; it s true but misses the point
To be sure we don’t know whether Iran has made the political decision to proliferate But the United States needs to grapple with the reality that its military operation increased Iran s incentives to build the bomb while only marginally and temporarily setting back its capabilities to do so
Repeated military strikes on Iran s nuclear facilities “mowing the grass” as it’s euphemistically called is unlikely to prove either politically sustainable or effective If the United States could destroy Iran’s HEU and centrifuge components it would surely have done so Instead what Washington has succeeded in doing is showing Iran the limits of its ability to destroy deeply buried facilities
James M Acton holds the Jessica T Mathews chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
strategically in this field will be the ones to reap the immense economic and societal benefits Investment needs to flow into several key areas Firstly fundamental research must continue to refine the design algorithms improve our understanding of protein folding dynamics, and expand the scope of what can be designed Secondly, significant funding is needed for infrastructure high-performance computing clusters dedicated to protein design advanced robotics for high-throughput screening and characterization of designed proteins and shared facilities for protein production and testing Thirdly, fostering collaboration between academia, national laboratories, and industry is essential to translate discoveries into tangible products and processes This includes supporting startup companies focused on protein design and incentivizing
and universit y bosses are silencing their employees for fear of Trump’s wrath
THE latest casualty of U S President Donald Trump s efforts to silence media criticism is Eduardo Porter, one of the most thoughtful and intelligent critics of this heinous regime On Tuesday Porter wrote his last column for The Washington Post In it he criticized Trump s attempt
MOSCOW AG E N C I E S Russia s Defence Ministry said its forces had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine, including one in the Dnipropetrovsk region where Moscow says its troops have begun to make advances Ukrainian forces made no acknowledgement that the villages had changed hands but reported heavy fighting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in an assessment of the situation along the 1,000-km (620-mile) front line, said the logistics hub of Pokrovsk remained the focal point of battles
He also said Ukrainian forces had recorded successful actions in Sumy re-
gion on Ukraine’s northern border, where Russian forces have established a foothold in recent weeks Reuters could not independently confirm battlefield accounts from either side The front-line clashes were reported three days after the two sides held their third direct meeting in Turkey aimed at resolving the nearly 3-1/2-year-old war Both sides reported progress in swaps of prisoners or the remains of war dead but no breakthroughs were announced in terms of a ceasefire or a meeting of the two countries leaders Russia’s military has been reporting nearly daily the capture of new villages in its slow advance westward The Russian Defence Ministry said its
“Stockholm will be the first meaningful round of US-China trade talks ” said Bo Zhengyuan Shanghai-based partner at China consultancy firm Plenum Trump has been successful in pressuring some other trading partners, including Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, into deals accepting higher US tariffs of 15% to 20%
He said there was a 50-50 chance that the US and the 27-member European Union could also reach a framework trade pact adding that Brussels wanted to make a deal very badly
Two of Trump’s top trade officials, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will attend the Scotland talks and then travel to Stockholm Analysts say the US-China negotiations are far more complex and will require more time China s grip on the global market for
broader economic issues They include US complaints that China s state-led export-driven model is flooding world markets with cheap goods, and Beijing s complaints that US national security export controls on tech goods seek to stunt Chinese growth
forces had taken control of Zelenyi Hai in the Donetsk region and Maliivka a village just inside the Dnipropetrovsk region The ministry described Zelenyi Hai as a major stronghold of Ukrainian formations in this section of the front (that) covered approaches to the administrative border of the Dnipropetrovsk region
GAZA AG E N C I E S Israeli forces killed 43 Palestinians in Gaza attacks on Sunday despite fighting ‘pause’ in some areas taking the death toll to at least 59 821 since the offensive on Gaza began in October 2023, the enclave s health ministry reported Medical sources have said at least 43 people were killed in Israeli strikes including 29 Palestinians who had been waiting for aid despite the pauses in fighting in some areas announced by Israel Al Jazeera reports
According to Gaza’s health ministry, since Israel’s offensive on Gaza began in October 2023 at least 59 821 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 144 851 wounded al Jazeera reports In the past 24 hours, Israeli attacks across the enclave have killed at least 88 people and injured 374 At the same time hospitals recorded six new deaths due to malnutrition bringing the total number of deaths from the starvation crisis to
133 including 87 children UN teams will do all they can to reach Gaza s starving people aid chief says UN aid chief Tom Fletcher, reacting to Israel s announcement of pauses in fighting in some areas of Gaza and secure routes for the entry of humanitarian aid has said that the UN s teams on the ground will use the opportunity to reach those in need, Al Jazeera reports In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window ” Fletcher wrote in a social media post Jordan and UAE drop aid into Gaza in first airdrop in months: Jordanian source Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have parachuted 25 tonnes of aid into the Gaza Strip in their first airdrop in months Reuters reports quoting a Jordanian official source T h e o ff i c i a l s a i d t h e a i r drops were not a substitute for delivery by land World Food Programme hopes for surge in food aid to Gaza The World Food Programme hopes that an Israeli humanitarian
pause in designated areas
15-year-old daughter to try and access food for their family Many of these women are now the main providers for their extended families ” Felicity Gapes the ICRC’s deputy health coordinator in Gaza said in a statement This young girl saw her mother shot and bleeding on the ground They told me they thought it would be safe but now they know ‘nowhere in Gaza is safe’ ”
Israel announces daily pauses in G aza fighting as aid airdrops begin
LIKE WB, EU EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN
A ceremony was held at the Islamabad Police Central Police Office to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an educational partnership between the National Police Foundation (NPF) Education System and the American Lycetuff School System
During the ceremony the MoU was formally signed between the two institutions The event was attended by the Managing Director (MD) of the National Police Foundation, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, along with other senior officers of the Foundation and representatives of the American Lycetuff School System Under this agreement all educational institutions operating under the National Police Foundation will now follow the administrative and academic model of the American Lycetuff School System
On this occasion, the MD of NPF stated that the purpose of this collaboration is to ensure the provision of modern high-quality and internationally competitive education to the children of police officers Children of police martyrs will receive a 75% discount on school fees, children of injured officers (Ghazis) will receive a 50% discount, while children of other police officers and personnel will be offered up to a 25% special discount This institution aims not only to achieve academic excellence but also to serve as a strong platform for personal development leadership skills and preparing students to face future challenges
Governor calls
Independence Day event a symbol of national unit y, inclusion
KARACHI
s ta f f r e p o r t
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori on Sunday declared Marka-e-Haq (Battle for Truth) the Independence Day event not just a celebration but a powerful emblem of renewed national commitment, unity, and public involvement He made these remarks during a discussion with a 66-member delegation from the MQM Pakistan Labour Division headed by Rizwan Babar Senior officials including Dr Farooq
WB delegation, Sharjeel Memon brainstorm Yellow Line BRT
Zamin, and Managing Director of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority, Kamal Dayo The World Bank delegation comprised Regional Vice President Mr Usman Deoni Country Director for Pakistan Bolorma Amangabazar, Regional Practice Directors Fadia Saada and Almood Weitz, Operations Manager Gellius Draugelis Special Assistant to the Regional Vice President Lubna Hadji Operations Officer Hina Saleem Lotia and Senior Executive Assistant Mr Waleed Anwar A high level meeting also convened upon the delegation’s arrival at the Yellow Line BRT project site office At the meeting Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon briefed the delegation comprehensively about the project, highlighting its importance, effect, and current status Memon said that the Yellow Line BRT is a visionary and strategic project for Karachi it will
bility but also stimulate economic activity We aim to complete this project in line with international standards, with facilities compara-
ble to those found in major global cities, he said The World Bank team commended the speed, vision, and quality of the Yellow Line BRT project and reiterated that Karachi being a major city needs more transport initiatives They also expressed interest in the public-private partnership model and described the Sindh government’s efforts as positive and forward-looking On the occasion Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon also presented commemorative shields and traditional Sindhi gifts, Ajrak and Topi, to the distinguished guests
CASS hosts guest talk on ‘Future of Pak–China Relations under China’s Model for Global Development and Governance’
The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Lahore hosted a guest talk titled Future of Pakistan–China Relations under China s Model for Global Development and Governance on 24th July 2025 The event was attended by members of academia, and intellectuals CASS is an independent
mutual development She emphasised the need to diversify Pakistan–
China relations by expanding cooperation in education and research to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries Mr Shakeel Ahmed Ramay Founding CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilisation Research and Development, underlined that China s policy is based on the principles of non-interference, constructive dialogue and proactive engagement He noted that China’s worldview is shaped by the concept of a community with a shared future , with a strong focus on green growth, market liberalisation and innovation He explained that China has developed a cycle of progress by prioritising STEM education which drives knowledge creation scientific research and innovation He emphasised that like China, Pakistan must embrace a market economy supported by a strong and visible state role
GOVERNMENT ISSUES SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE TO ENERGY FIRMS OVER SHAREHOLDING CHANGE
TAhsan Iqbal, Chinese envoy discuss CPEC progress ahead of JCC meeting
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
In a pivotal meeting on Sunday Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, discussed the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and preparations for the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry along with senior officials from both nations During the discussions, the two sides reviewed the first phase of CPEC, which has already seen significant achievements Iqbal highlighted that the first phase focused on infrastructure and energy projects had been successfully completed The second phase according to Iqbal is now centered on industrial cooperation agriculture, information technology, and social development He emphasized that CPEC s connectivity to Central Asian states would contribute to regional economic stability and strengthen cooperation He reiterated the government’s commitment to the security and sustainability of ongoing CPEC projects underscoring that the development of Gwadar and the establishment of Special Economic Zones remain top priorities for Pakistan
Iqbal also stressed the untapped trade potential of the Gwadar deep seaport, stating that the government aims to fully utilize the port’s capacity and capitalize on its strategic location He pointed out the opportunities in the mineral exploration sector around Gwadar emphasizing that with the development of modern infrastructure these resources can be fully exploited In the context of agriculture, Iqbal discussed continued collaboration with China, particularly in training agriculture graduates He noted that these trained professionals will play a crucial role in helping Pakistan mitigate the impacts of climate change a critical concern for the country s agricultural sector Additionally the minister highlighted the importance of the Pakistan Space Centre, which he described as a key national project Iqbal acknowledged China s pivotal role in ensuring its timely completion, reflecting the ongoing strategic partnership between the two nations
The business community has called for a major cut in the interest rate ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting scheduled for July 30, urging the State Bank of Pakistan to lower the policy rate to support industrial activity and job creation
Junaid Naqi President of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry said the policy rate
growth could improve Naqi also criticized the continuation of old monetary policies that he said are harming economic recovery He said many countries are cutting interest rates to boost activity while Pakistan s approach is creating barriers He warned that without relief the country could face more unemployment, falling investment, and missed revenue targets
He called on the central bank to take realistic and responsive decisions expressing hope that it will recognize the current industrial challenges and make a meaningful interest rate cut
Khawaja Mehboob ur Rehman, President of the Pakistan Business Forum said after discussions across all major industries the forum is demanding an immediate 500 basis point cut in the policy rate in the upcoming meeting
He said this action is needed to align with the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s goals and the prime minister ’s broader economic and export strategy
proper support and a business-friendly environment
Rehman said the current monetary policy is out of step with inflation trends, with core inflation at 4 percent and the Consumer Price Index at 0 3 percent, while the policy rate remains at 11 percent He said the business community
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
A departmental inquiry into the mysterious disappearance of a luxury Honda Accord, valued at over Rs 10 million, from the Cabinet Division’s car pool has concluded with the matter now referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further legal action According to informed sources, the missing vehicle, bearing registration number 074, was part of the Cabinet Division’s VVIP fleet and was used regularly for official delegations Following the inquiry the investigation has recommended the registration of a case against four officials: Section Officer Aamir Qureshi, Section Officer Rashid Saleem Bhatti, Transport Supervisor Arshad Shah and a driver named Muhammad Bashir
woman described as his close associate However, both the Joint
denied any knowledge of the vehicle’s disappearance
Sources within the Cabinet Division suggest that efforts were made during the inquiry to protect the Joint Secretary and his alleged associate from being implicated in the case, possibly to shield other senior officials who are said to be close to the woman involved
The inquiry process has raised concerns over accountability and transparency within high government offices particularly in relation to the misuse of state resources and the protection of influential figures There are allega-
tions that certain senior officials might have attempted to prevent the matter from escalating to avoid potential embarrassment
In an official communication to the Director General of the FIA, the Cabinet Division has recommended that criminal proceedings be initiated against the four junior staff members placing full responsibility for the vehicle s disappearance on them
The case has sparked significant concerns about the misuse of government property, as well as questions surrounding the influence and protection of high-ranking officials within the Cabinet Division As the FIA prepares to launch its own investigation into the matter there are hopes that this case will lead to greater accountability and a more transparent investigation process
port within 15 days
The decision to form the inquiry committee follows several serious concerns raised regarding the Pakistani delegation s participation in the Games According to sources, there were significant administrative failures, particularly in the selection process of team officials who were mostly affiliated with the Higher Edu-
cation Commission (HEC) or universities rather than sports-related bodies This has led to questions regarding the transparency and merit of their appointments One of the most alarming incidents involved the disappearance of two athletes, who were reported missing or suspected of fleeing during the event Additionally, the Pakistani women’s 4x400m relay team was disqualified from the competition and a judo athlete was allowed to participate without the required competition uniform or proper coaching support These events have raised serious concerns about the oversight and preparation of Pakistan’s delegation for the Games The PSB has formed the committee with Noor-us-Sabah Director of PSB Lahore as the chairperson and Nasrullah Rana and Saif-ur-Rehman Rao as members The committee s primary responsibility is to investigate the selection process of athletes and officials by HEC, determine if proper procedures were followed, and assess whether each official was adequately
for their role In addition the committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance or escape of the
athletes develop a timeline of events and hold accountable anyone responsible for negligence or misconduct The committee will also examine why the women’s relay team was disqualified and look into any issues related to their preparation selection or oversight Furthermore the judo athlete s participation without the necessary uniform and coaching will be scrutinized, with a focus on identifying any lapses in providing the athlete with the appropriate support
The
