PAKISTAN WELCOMES ARBITRATION COURT’S ORDER ON INDUS WATER TREAT Y
g INT’L COURT SAYS INDIA SHALL ‘LET FLOW ’ WATERS OF WESTERN RIVERS FOR PAKISTAN’S UNRESTRICTED USE: FOREIGN OFFICE
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TThis arbitration concerns the interpretation and application of the IWT to certain design elements of the run-of-river hydro-electric plants that India is permitted by the treaty to construct on the tributaries of the Indus Jhelum and Chenab Rivers
Regarding the overall approach to Article 3 (provisions regarding western rivers) of the IWT, the award said: “The general rule is that India shall ‘let flow’ the waters of the western rivers for Pakistan s unrestricted use
There are certain specified exceptions to this rule, including in relation to the generation of hydroelectric power, but these exceptions must be strictly construed: the design and operation of run-ofriver hydroelectric plants must hew strictly to the requirements in the treaty, rather than to what India
might consider an ideal or best practices approach
It further noted that questions relating to the balance between the parties’ respective rights and obligations in this regard were to be identified and addressed through the treaty s procedures for notification, objection and dispute resolution in furtherance of the treaty’s objective and its obligations of mutual cooperation
The PCA said that to date India had not participated in the arbitration proceedings and had repeatedly objected to the court s competence of the court, adding that it had addressed the issue on various counts before “Throughout these proceedings the court has ensured that India is fully informed in respect of the proceedings and that the opportunity to participate remains open
to it Notwithstanding this the court has endeavoured to ascertain, understand, and consider India s views, drawing on available materials including the records of the commission correspondence between the parties and/or submissions by India in previous dispute resolution proceedings under the treaty, the PCA said
It added that it had also taken steps to test the accuracy of Pakistan’s claims including by requesting further written submissions from Pakistan by questioning Pakistan both before and during the hearing on the merits, by requesting that Pakistan produce historical evidence concerning the operation of the IWT and the Permanent Indus Commission and by considering publicly available materials and jurisprudence not presented by Pakistan
The PCA explained that the Aug 8 award addressed questions concerning the treaty’s overall interpretation and application including in relation to Article 3 and Paragraph 8 of Annexure D (which concerns new run-of-river hydroelectric plants that India may construct on the western rivers)
“The award also addresses a related question on the legal effect of decisions issued by dispute resolution bodies under the treaty (namely, courts of arbitration and neutral experts),” the PCA press release said
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Denouncing Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza, Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council to end the Israeli
39 GOVT DEPARTMENTS ALERTED TO RANSOMWARE RISKS, WARNED OF POTENTIAL DATA LOSS, OPERATIONAL DISRUPTIONS
Senate body to review dispute on net hydel profit between centre, provinces
The Senate Standing Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, meets Monday (today) to seek an “out-of-box” solution to the dispute over net hydel profit (NHP) between the federal government and provinces particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Business Recorder reported The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has distanced itself from proposing a resolution saying the Power Division and the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) are better placed to address the issue The matter is also being examined by a separate committee headed by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal Since the start of this year the Senate committee has held five meetings with representatives of all four provinces the Ministry of Energy and the Finance Division The Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination is ex-
pected to share an update on the finalisation process Under Article 161(2) of the Constitution the Council of Common Interests (CCI) determines NHP based on the bus bar sale rate of hydel power stations Disputes have persisted over the calculation methodology, particularly the Kazi Committee Methodology (KCM) leading to ad hoc payments and arbitration without a permanent settlement WAPDA paid Rs6 billion annually to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government until FY15, when the NHP rate was uncapped at Rs1 10 per kWh after an agreement between the federal and KP governments in 2016 The CCI later approved similar settlements for Punjab The rate was raised to Rs1 155 per kWh in FY18 Despite this, KP has again sought payment under the KCM formula
WAPDA says it does not retain profits from hydel power sales treating NHP as a pass-through payment under government rules It reports that outstanding receivables from CPPA-G
have hindered timely NHP disbursements with current dues standing at Rs49 565 billion for KP and Rs114 584 billion for Punjab including Rs13 617 billion in arrears The Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC) has noted that Pakistan’s energy landscape has changed significantly since the KCM’s formulation in 1985-86 with WAPDA unbundled independent power producers in place and hydropower now contributing about 27% of the mix It suggested that NHP payments be made through the federal budget or WAPDA’s hydropower profits rather than electricity consumers The Sindh government has proposed that hydropower stations be transferred to the provinces but noted that most are linked to water reservoir projects and should involve the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) in decision-making Sindh supports the constitutional NHP claims of KP and Punjab but opposes passing tariff increases to consumers
Pakistan appoints maritime law consultant for first ferr y ser vice to Gulf countries
claims these transfers are routine administrative actions, the timing has raised suspicions regarding potential interference in high-stakes investigations Abdul Hameed Abro who was serv-
ing as Commissioner (Ops) Inland Revenue Benami Zone-III in Karachi was transferred after leading a crackdown on benami transactions in vehicle imports
In a social media post, Abro suggested that his transfer was linked to his enforcement actions against powerful lobbies involved in vehicle imports He claimed that his efforts to curb misuse of the baggage and gift schemes in vehicle imports had led to his removal Abro defended his actions, stating that they were in the national interest and aimed at protecting the treasury from significant losses due to fake documentation and the abuse of import schemes Under Abro s
launched an extensive investigation into the misuse of the Vehicle Baggage and Gifts Scheme (VB&GS), which had allegedly been exploited by commercial importers with suspected backing from customs officials The investigation covering vehicle clearances between February 2018 and May 2025, sought comprehensive documentation from the implicated parties, including import records, customs declarations, contracts and bank statements According
KP HEALTH CARD SCHEME FACES SCRUTINY OVER RS28 BILLION IN FINANCIAL IRREGUL ARITIES
and energy reliability, continue to weigh on future business confidence
tH E federal government s recent welcome of the Permanent Court of Arbitration s (PCA) decision on the indus Waters treaty (iWt) is not just a diplomatic win; it s a reminder of the ever-present threat to Pakistan s survival that has been looming since india s move to suspend the treaty this court ruling clarifies that india must allow the free flow of water from the western rivers for Pakistan s unrestricted use, a basic principle enshrined in the iWt but the situation goes beyond legalities it is a matter of life and death for Pakistan india’s decision to suspend the treaty in April was in direct response to the attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, an incident for which india blamed Pakistan without evidence in the aftermath Pakistan warned that any attempt to withhold its rightful share of water would be considered an act of war And for good reason Pakistan s very survival hinges on the waters of the indus basin which sustain over 90% of the country’s agricultural sector the treaty signed in 1960 has withstood wars and terror attacks its inviolability has been the cornerstone of peace in the region but india s unilateral suspension of the treaty marked a dangerous departure from decades of stability the decision to halt the flow of water would be a catastrophic move for Pakistan, not just diplomatically but economically For Pakistan the treaty is not merely a legal document; it is vital to national and food security the disruption of water supplies would devastate the economy, which relies on agriculture and hydropower from the indus basin A scenario where india chokes Pakistan’s waterways is one that could push the country to the brink of desperation
india s leadership may believe that imposing such a measure would force Pakistan to yield but this is a miscalculation For Pakistan a nation already under immense strain, the consequences of such actions would eliminate any chance of peaceful coexistence the choice would no longer be diplomatic; it would be
Ghazala aNbreeN
as the coal which was used to burn had high amounts of Sulfur However no concrete action was taken for about a century in Great Smog of london in 1952, a thick, toxic smog covered london for about 5 days (5th to 9 th December) Around 3 to 4 thousand people died in a span of 1 to 2 weeks because of bad air quality it was at that time that there was a great consternation among people because of this which led to a political furor for the resolution of this issue Smog was also there in Paris Copenhagen, Stockholm, and some other cities Eventually, all the affected cities reached an agreement that some steps must be taken to curtail this Pakistan witnessed smog for the first time in november 2016 At that time no one could understand what this was actually After some weeks the weather got clear due to the rain in 2017 there was another spell of smog After that this phenomena became recurring A Commission was constituted by the High Court, which played a key role in raising awareness about the issue the Smog Commission submitted a report in the Supreme Court which recommended some actions like: tree plantation planning an urban development low Sulfur
Here mention may be made of a case study at the international level in China policymakers were exposed to the shocking revelation that air pollution was reducing the life expectancy of every person by 5 to 6 years usually attributed to the EPiC Air Quality life index (AQli) it also led to a 4
Drain the blame
Hof genuine friendship, but rather a commercial strategy to keep their largest market happy to frame this commerce as “true friendship ” Kunhi is either deceiving himself or deliberately deceiving his readers Finally Kunhi s dismissal of turkey Azerbaijan and China as friends of the enemy reveals a simplistic with us or against us mentality He fails to grasp that every nation has
its own historical cultural and strategic relationships that are not governed solely by india s perspective Pakistan s ties with turkey and Azerbaijan are rooted in a shared heritage and the oiC, while its relationship with China is anchored in major economic initiatives like CPEC to reduce these complex dynamics to mere support for Pakistan is tantamount to a failure to understand global politics in conclusion, Mohammad Kunhi s opinion piece is not a fact-based analysis but a propaganda piece written with fervor fueled by indian nationalist ambition it not only distorts reality but also promotes a dangerous ideology that favors war over diplomacy and an arms race over peace the future of the region will not be secured by writing such fictions, but by finally abandoning the 75-year-old tradition of propaganda and committing to resolving the Kashmir dispute according to international law and the un resolutions
The Author is an Assistant Researcher at Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) at BUITEMS Quetta She can be reached at sadafbaloch620@gmail com
Statebitten
Sadaf Nadeem
The fatal logic of Netanyahu’s war
pressure undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts not just with Hamas but with the international community Ceasefire proposals backed by the U S have collapsed under the weight of this unilateralism Even President Trump’s tacit approval reveals Washington’s discomfort: public diplomacy favors a political solution while private support enables further bloodshed
To speak of Gaza today is to speak of a catastrophe Civilian casualties have soared, famine has taken root, and basic services water, electricity, medical care are collapsing Human rights groups and UN agencies have sounded the alarm: Israel s tactics risk crossing the threshold into collective punishment Under international humanitarian law, occupying powers are bound to protect civilian populations Yet Gaza’s siege, bombardment, and now full occupation suggest not protection but domination The blockade widely condemned as a violation of international law continues to strangle humanitarian relief with reports of children dying from malnutrition and hospitals overwhelmed
The International Court of Justice has already instructed Israel to avoid actions that could constitute genocide Whether Netanyahu listens remains an open question What is clear is that his government is dangerously indifferent to the suffering of Palestinians under the guise of national security
Some Israeli politicians have gone further, suggesting that parts of Gaza be annexed outright or subjected to permanent military rule This is not a security policy it is colonization masquerading as defense The idea that a democratic state can impose military rule indefinitely on a civilian population without rights, citizenship, or political representation is both morally indefensible and strategically suicidal It also throws into disarray the supposed commitment to a two-state solution a com-
mitment that has, for years, functioned
claims to rescue This is a moral paradox dressed as a tactical necessity Worse Netanyahu’s pivot to military
T h e I s r a e l i p e o p l e a r e t u r n i n g o n N e
t a n y a h u
coalition governments teetering on the brink many times On Sunday he came out fighting once again appearing at short notice before the international media to defend his plan to expand military operations in Gaza to Gaza City and blaming Hamas for each and every charge that has been laid at Israel’s door Israel’s goal, he said, was not to occupy Gaza but to free Gaza Israel did not want to prolong the war but to end it Confident though Mr Netanyahu may have seemed the very fact of his appearance on a Sunday afternoon and the point-by-point rebuttals he gave of practically every accusation levelled against Israel, from blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza, to reports of starving children and shooting on people trying to reach food distribution points were in themselves an acknowledgement that the national and international outcry prompted by his new plan had hit home He reserved some of his most excoriating comments for those, such as Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, who have undertaken to recognise a Palestinian state, accusing them of falling for a longstanding canard and risking bringing the next war closer He was also clearly stung by the decision of Germany to suspend deliveries of weapons that could be used in Gaza – Germany s history militating against any move that would hint at any open disapproval of Israel International condemnation is one thing however and was reinforced in no uncertain terms at a session of the UN Security Council, supported by every member bar the United States and Panama But statements and threatened actions by foreign leaders even hitherto staunch allies of Israel such as the UK and Germany may not represent the most serious or effective form of opposition currently confronting the Netanyahu government – or indeed the opposition he had in his immediate sights at his press conference That opposition lies closer to home The Israeli government s five-point plan to expand operations in Gaza, which was approved
seems at times to be given a relatively easy ride by its allies for policies and actions that would if committed by any other country be condemned as repellent The rationale is that these are decisions that have a democratic mandate
Now, in relation to Gaza, this is less and less evident The difficulty that Mr Netanyahu had getting his latest plan through his cabinet the misgivings of the top brass and the immediate highly negative response from the streets could it must be hoped combine to force a rethink
Even if Mr Netanyahu can afford to dismiss international opprobrium, for now, the strength of internal dissent is something that could well be set to rise further, and that, if he values his job, he would be wise to heed sooner rather than later
MY family went to Venice, Italy, this summer We stood in the world’s first ghetto, where guards locked in Jews each night There was a man sitting at a table with pamphlets in support of Israel He asked me Are you Jewish by chance? I am Right now Palestinian children are starving in Gaza Starving, because Israel is starving them But still, right now, there are people who say that speaking against Israel is harm against Jews It isn’t Defending this is I understand the urge for nuance I am not je-
N I N D I A
Australia to recognise Palestinian state at UNGA in S eptember
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PANEL TO INVESTIGATE SUGAR MILLERS’ WINDFALL PROFITS, MULLS NEW
Nation to Celebrate Independence on August 14; PTI Plotting Chaos: Azma Bokhari
their own hands Even on August 5 no significant protest was seen in Punjab and the same will happen again she asserted The people of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are now fed up with PTI’s toxic politics ” Advising the PTI leadership she urged them to call off their
Allied Bank Par tners with CeDAR, LUMS to drive Innovation in Blockchain Technologies ISLAMABAD s
Allied Bank one of Pakistan s leading commercial banks, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) with the Center for Digital Asset Research (CeDAR) This strategic partnership aims to drive innovation in blockchain technologies explore digital asset use cases and foster talent development in Pakistan The MoU was formalized in the presence of senior leadership from both institutions Representing Allied Bank were Mr Mujahid Ali – Chief Technology & Digital Transformation, Mr Mohsin Mithani – Chief Digital Officer, and Mr Muhammad Zaman – Group Head Digital Transformation & Innovation
OMAP Urges OGRA to Ensure Fair Regulator y Environment for Emerging OMCs
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
The Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan (OMAP) has called on the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to ensure fairness transparency and impartiality in addressing the concerns of the country s emerging oil marketing companies (OMCs) In a letter to OGRA Chairman Masroor Khan, OMAP Chairman Tariq Wazir Ali highlighted several long-standing industry issues, urging the regulator to take timely action for the growth and sustainability of new market entrants OMAP noted that emerging OMCs have collectively invested over Rs 150 billion in Pakistan s downstream petroleum sector including Rs 81 billion in storage facilities almost half of the country s total capacity and Rs 75 billion in retail networks and allied assets “These investments have reshaped the sector into a more competitive and consumer-focused marketplace ” the letter stated The association expressed concern over what it perceives as unequal treatment compared to established players particularly in relation to the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) OMAP urged OGRA to review the role of such bodies to ensure that all stakeholder
Tractors’
to
Sakib Eltaff along with other members of the senior leadership team Their presence underscored the leadership s deep commitment to supporting meaningful community-driven efforts At AlGhazi, we believe corporate responsibility goes beyond business it’s about standing with our communities ” said Sakib Eltaff CEO of Al-Ghazi Tractors “I’m proud of our team for leading this initiative and thankful to ChildLife Foundation for giving us the opportunity to support children in their time of need
