PM ANNOUNCES RS4BN PACK AGE FOR REBUILDING OF FLOOD-HIT GB INFRASTRUCTURE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVANCED WARNING SYSTEM TO MITIGATE FUTURE DISA STER RISKS
R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday undertook a one-day visit to Gilgit Baltistan (GB) to meet victims of recent torrential rains and floods announcing a Rs4 billion package for infrastructure restoration and distributing compensation cheques among affected families During his visit, the premier handed over Rs1 million compensation cheques to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the calamity Offering prayers for the deceased and speedy recovery of the injured the prime minister said he had come to express solidarity with the flood victims Pakistan is among the countries most affected by climate change,” PM Shehbaz said while addressing the check-
distribution ceremony He called for the establishment of an advanced warning system to mitigate future disaster risks An early warning system is the need of the hour he stressed He lamented that no progress had been made on this front in the past seven years and expressed dissatisfaction that even in the past year and a quarter significant development was lacking I will ask ministers and secretaries why considerable work wasn t done in this time, he said, urging all relevant institutions to take coordinated measures to address these issues
Reassuring the victims PM Shehbaz pledged to continue visiting until all displaced persons were resettled He also announced that a damage assessment would be conducted to estimate the losses suffered
g DIRECTS MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS FOR INFRA STRUCTURE RESTORATION
He directed the Minister for Communications to take immediate steps for infrastructure restoration and pledged that his next visit to the region would take place before the end of this month The premier further revealed that a
100-megawatt solar power project in the region would be completed this year He added that a Daanish School would be inaugurated in the next visit, and another one would be established in Skardu
This decision to initiate talks early was made to avoid further complications, as five cargoes,
initially scheduled for 2025 have been deferred to 2026 Under current agreements with Qatar, Pakistan imports nine LNG cargoes per month, including five at 13 37% of the Brent price and four at 10 02% of Brent These agreements were designed to ensure a steady supply of RLNG for power plants in Punjab However, due to the power sector s failure to utilise the gas, Pakistan has been facing increased pressure on its LNG system, with large volumes of LNG being diverted to the international market for sale including cargoes imported from ENI As per the report Pakistan s agreements with Qatar and ENI differ significantly in terms of profit sharing In the case of the ENI contract, both profit and loss from LNG sales to the international market are shared with Pakistan However under the Qatar agree-
ment if LNG is diverted any profit is not shared with Pakistan and losses are borne entirely by the country The upcoming talks will focus on the price opening clause in March 2026 when Pakistan will have the option to reduce its LNG imports under the existing agreements The talks
route and further develop the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul railway project, strengthening regional economic ties Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh who accompanied the Iranian President on his official visit to Pakistan, participated in a joint session with Pakistan s Federal Ministers for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Railways Hanif Abbasi The talks aimed to strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Iran, particularly by enhancing transportation, connectivity, and road infrastructure Both sides agreed to enhance regional economic and trade integration through the Silk Road initiative
and the Gwadar to Chabahar projects Ms Sadegh highlighted the need to increase the number of vehicles operating between Iran and Pakistan and suggested modernizing the current Quetta-Zahedan route Minister Abdul Aleem Khan proposed forming bilateral working groups to accelerate the implementation of the agreed initiatives During the meeting, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan briefed the Iranian delegation on trade expansion opportunities and emphasized the untapped potential in various
sectors He noted that both countries could serve as viable markets for each other Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to reviewing the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul railway project adding that the Quetta-Zahedan railway line would be upgraded and expanded to improve regional connectivity In response, Iranian
Consumers in Punjab endure continued price shocks on perishable food items despite rate control efforts
Vegetables also saw significant price increases A-grade soft-skin potatoes, officially set at Rs80-85 per kilogram, were sold for Rs140-150 per kilogram Onions, which were supposed to be priced at Rs50-55 per kilogram were instead sold for up to Rs100 Tomatoes officially priced at Rs82-90 per kilogram surged to Rs150 Garlic and ginger were among the most overpriced items, with garlic varieties retailing for up to Rs400 per kilogram significantly exceeding the official rates of Rs210-260 Ginger prices also saw a sharp increase reaching Rs600-700 per kilogram well above the official rates of Rs400-460 Other vegetables, such as cucumbers (Rs200/kg), brinjals (Rs150), bitter gourds (Rs220), and ladyfinger (Rs240) also saw steep price hikes Similar patterns were observed for spinach pumpkin zucchini lemon
and arum which exceeded official prices by Rs30-100 per kilogram
Fruits also experienced significant markups, with apples, which were officially priced at Rs145-265 per kilogram being sold for up to Rs350 Banana prices jumped by Rs50-90 depending on grade while guava and papaya exceeded their official price limits or were unavailable Grapes and mangoes, despite minor adjustments in official pricing, were sold at inflated rates with some varieties reaching Rs500 per kilogram Even middle-income consumers found basic fruits such as melon dates and peaches unaffordable, with dates priced at Rs2,000 per kilogram in some markets, far exceeding the official range of Rs460-490 The ongoing violations of official pricing highlight the challenges in enforcing price control mechanisms and exacerbating consumer frustration
Pakistan to develop two large-scale solar power projects in Jhang, Muzaffargarh
PR OFIT
M o n i to r n g D e s k The federal government has included two large-scale solar power projects, totalling 2 800 MW in the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2025-35 These projects may be offered to Saudi energy company ACWA Power under a potential Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement, Business Recorder reported, citing sources The National Grid Company of Pakistan Limited (NGC) has notified the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) about the inclusion of two projects with capacities of 1,000
MW and 1 800 MW which are set to be developed by ACWA Power in Layyah Jhang and Muzaffargarh The finalisation of these proposals depends on approval from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) The projects had faced uncertainty earlier In November 2023 ACWA Power declined to sign an agreement with Pakistan citing security concerns However, following a visit by a delegation of Saudi investors, including ACWA representatives, discussions with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) revived interest Pakistan s embassy in Riyadh has continued to engage with the company
since then Despite renewed interest challenges remain Saudi authorities have raised concerns about the treatment of M/s Al-Jomaih, a Saudi investor involved with K-Electric, which has made Saudi investors cautious about entering new ventures in Pakistan The matter is being handled by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar The inclusion of these solar projects in the IGCEP highlights the government s commitment to diversifying its energy mix and attracting foreign investment in renewable energy although political and regulatory assurances remain essential to securing such highvalue deals
TH E growing diplomatic chill between the United States and India is no longer a passing phase It is a sign of shifting global currents of priorities diverging, interests clashing, and trust eroding President Donald Trump s threat this week to substantially raise tariffs on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil is not merely another erratic twist in U S trade policy It represents something deeper: the breakdown of a relationship that Washington once considered vital to its Indo-Pacific strategy and that India saw as a key to its own global rise
In typical Trumpian fashion, the message arrived loud and unfiltered On his social media platform, the president accused India not only of buying massive amounts of Russian oil but of profiteering from the conflict in Ukraine by reselling that oil on the open market “They don t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine ” Trump wrote The implication was clear India was no longer a responsible partner it was part of the problem India s Ministry of External Affairs hit back, arguing that New Delhi turned to Russian oil only after Western buyers diverted global supplies in the wake of the Ukraine war It further pointed out the hypocrisy of American and European criticism noting that those very countries have continued to trade with Russia in various sectors including energy and industrial goods while targeting India for doing the same This standoff, while dramatic, is not entirely new Strains have been visible for some time From differences over data privacy and digital taxes to divergent views on China and multilateralism India and the U S have frequently found themselves out of sync But oil has become the
threats It is built on mutual respect and an honest reckoning with each other ’s interests That reckoning is long overdue
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Noor Zafar
U S T I C E is meant to be blind to geography Yet, in Pakistan, it often comes with a postal code surcharge In no place is this more evident than in South Punjab, where lawyers practicing in Multan continue to face institutional hurdles that their counterparts in Lahore never even have to consider On December 24 2024 the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a press release announcing that video link hearings would be made available for Supreme Court matters at the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court For lawyers in South Punjab, this was more than a procedural update It was an institutional acknowledgment of the disproportionate burdens they have long shouldered The Chief Justice s promise issued through that press release signified that the judiciary was listening It marked, for the first time in recent memory, a public recognition that lawyers based in Multan face deeper structural disadvantages simply because of where they practice And yet nearly eight months later the facility remains unavailable No video link has been activated No cause list includes the option for virtual appearances from Multan No directive has been implemented by the relevant high court authorities The promise remains just that, a promise Multan is not a legal outpost or an underdeveloped corner of the bar It is a rapidly growing economic and professional hub With a population of over five million and expanding business sectors Multan has become the legal centre for South Punjab Lawyers here routinely handle complex commercial litigation, tax matters, constitutional petitions, and appellate work It is not uncommon for advocates from Multan to be briefed in major cases across the country Yet unlike lawyers based in Lahore they are consistently made to operate within a more difficult and expensive procedural environment Take, for instance, the matter of certified copies In Lahore, obtaining an attested copy of a judgment or order costs Rs 50 At the Multan bench, the same service costs Rs 500 The price difference is not symbolic It is structural It reflects a tiered approach to judicial administration in Punjab one where Lahore enjoys institutional ease while Multan pays a premium for basic access This disparity becomes even more significant when viewed in the context of how the courts are structured Lahore houses the principal seat of the High Court the offices of major regulatory tribunals and access to nearly all apex-level institutions Supreme Court benches in Lahore and Islamabad are physically accessible to lawyers based in central Punjab Their professional engagements do not require train rides overnight stays or extensive travel reimbursements In contrast, Multan-based lawyers appearing in the Supreme Court often incur personal and financial strain merely to attend routine hearings The Supreme Court’s December press release was therefore welcomed not as a technical advancement but as an act of recognition The fact that the country s highest judicial office took notice of this imbalance meant something For once, the court was not just aware It was responsive But responsiveness without implementation quickly turns into disenchantment Lawyers in Multan have done more than wait On July 12 2025 Syed Riaz ul Hassan Gillani former President of the High Court Bar Association Multan submitted a detailed representation to the President of Pakistan He raised not only the unfulfilled promise of video link hearings but also the stark differences in procedural costs His letter reflected the collective frustration of a bar that feels seen only in words, not in action The matter was subsequently referred to the Governor of Punjab by Justice Retired Irfan
Pakistan is not Europe
often stem from historical slipups and legacies
high time to honestly recognize this not merely as an assault, but as social assassination A woman’s body wears countless roles chosen not by her, but for her It is a vessel for carrying the weight of honor shame and blame It is a monument a scapegoat a battlefield and an emblem all at once The deliberate act of manhandling a woman through the streets disrobing and parading her before jeering spectators is an act of coercion which breaks the spirit, if not the skeleton The softening of punishment emboldens and whets the appetite of the perpetrators to feed on vulnerability with impunity When a crime is deemed fit for the gallows by the law itself it signals an unequivocal verdict: this action is unpardonable and morally corrosive To dilute the sentence is to indicate that justice can blink and this crime is tolerable and bargainable Tampering with the punishments and especially softening them is not about a slight change in a legal provision it is a communique proclaiming our moral attitude towards our women Reforms which are fundamentally driven and guided by economic incentives, instead of justice, masquerade as progress; this is not jurisprudential progress but rot at the soul of society
Our primary dysfunction lies not in the severity but in the rarity of punishment Our justice system doesn t limp because its stick is weak, but because it refuses to walk The underlying cracks persist at a structural level and
The alarmingly low conviction rates, judicial paralysis systemic weaknesses in our prosecution and police forces cumbersome frameworks and the porous net of accountability are catalysts which allow criminals to slide through the cracks of justice unscathed Laws, whether progressive or lenient, derive their value from proper enforcement Without a proper redress of these systemic and structural fissures camouflages the imminent iceberg This cosmetic legislation auctioned off as progress suffice as an expedient distraction until we gather sufficient guts to overhaul our dysfunctional justice system
The state should have zeroed in on amending these systemic maladies by fortifying the custodians of justice ensuring swift and just trials and adopting victim-centered and agencydriven approaches in which women feel empowered that their dignity is sacred and inviolable It is true that death penalty alone cannot guarantee protection for women But in a system where justice is elusive and arrives cold, it is a stark reminder that state is watching, the crime is intolerable and that the survivor matters All progress and reforms are a farce when the first thing they do is strip a woman Let us not be so enamored by the glitter of European markets that our values and identity get swallowed by the dark Legal reforms should address the right questions Not “What does Brussels want?” but “What do women in Pakistan need? and we need Justice Protection Dignity and Belief without any conditions
The writer can be reached at khadijakafeel@gmail com
Marriage as crime
not do anything else” Tears roll down one’s eyes hearing these words of a brave girl who knew her fate in a tribal society One of the main reasons why women’s marriage by choice is seen as a threat in such a culture is the fear of losing out on inheritance While male ego and tribal pride are generally condemned for such heinous acts, like killing, the element of property often gets ignored It is critical to acknowledge the significance of the main element behind the so-called honour killings Daughters and sisters also have a legal and rightful share in the family s property, but men in most tribal families fear having to share the inheritance, and as such do not allow women to marry of their own choice
This is not culture, this is plain cruelty There was a time girls were buried alive Now they are shot for marrying by choice We share messages We post hashtags But where is justice? Why are these killers never hanged in public? Until action replaces silence women will continue to die HANI WAHID
Securit y unraveling fast
THE Lakki Marwat district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is facing a grave security crisis The unrest stems from a combination of deeply rooted structural issues and the intensifying threat of terrorism, with both feeding each other in a destructive loop
Since the return of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, Pakistan has witnessed a steep rise in militant violence Lakki Marwat and neighbouring districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Bannu
Khadija Kafeel
Pragmatic end to rising death by suicide cases
Similarly Developing country like Pak-
It
includes egoistic suicide altruistic suicide anomic suicide and fatalistic suicide
Woefully, the alarming bells around the death by suicides have been ranged in developing states more than the developed ones it is clear that death by suicide is an awfully complex problem that hurts thousands of people every year across the world it is third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds apropos, the asia reported 60% of World suicides asian states include Bangladesh, india, and China the global suicide rate is over twice as high among men than women
istan is not excluded from the menace of Suicidal death in islam, the largest religion in the world, Suicide is considered a cardinal sin Muslims believe those who have committed suicide to be forbidden from entering Paradise However the God declared in Holy Book and do not kill yourselves regretfully Suicides deaths reports are floating every day in Pakistani on Social media WHO also is of view that for every suicide, there are at least 10–20 acts of self-harm in country whereas, unnatural deaths (suicide, homicide and accidents) are ‘medico legal’ cases and are to be investigated by the police as of 2025 Pakistan institute of living and learning (Pill) apprised that it fourth leading cause of death among Pakistani youth the suicide by death is major ramifications of poverty, unemployment, delayed justice and some major failure in life including hindrance to Career growth due to favoritism and nepotism it is saddened to learn that Poverty rate in Pakistan stand at 42 4 percent in fiscal year 2025 according to World Bank whereas, the poverty headcount ratio reaching 44 7% a jump from the previous estimate of 39 8% it speaks volumes of
e G o d d e cl a r e d i n H o l y B o o k „ A n d d o n o t k i l l yo u r s e l v e s , ‰ R e g r e t f u l l y, S u i
W h a t h a s c a u s e d t h i s a n t i - I s r a e l i t s u n a m i ?
The European Union is considering denying Israel par tial access to its €95 billion Horizon Europe research fund
More and more Israelis abroad are being denied being ser ved or offered accommodation, and are avoiding speaking Hebrew in public
Individual states, in Europe and outside of Europe, are considering, or have already applied arms sales embargoes on Israel, or boycotts on Israeli produc ts
What is most worr ying is the fac t that a Gallup poll published in the US last week found that “Americans’ approval of Israel’s militar y ac tion in Gaza has fallen 10 percentage points …. Disapproval of the militar y ac tion has now reached 60%”
How VPNs knocked a hole in online safet y effor ts
S av v y teens and war y adults are circumventing UK age -verification rules
Among methods the UK has deemed reliable enough are matching user images with photo ID, credit card checks, sharing bank information, facial age estimation or email-based age estimates
FINANCIAL TIMES
will lose access to €200 million of future grants and investments the Eu is also considering changes to its visa-free travel within its boundaries for israeli citizens while individual states in Europe and outside of Europe are considering or have already applied arms sales embargoes on israel, or boycotts on
We all saw the footage almost two weeks ago, of the Mano Maritime cruise ship Crown iris, carrying around 1,600 israeli passengers on board, that was forced to reroute from the Greek island of Syros to Cyprus due to a pro-Palestinian quayside protest of 300 demonstrators it was not the Greek government that sought to cause the israeli ship to sail away but the hostile demonstrators AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR ISRAELI MILITARY ACTION AT AN ALL-TIME LOW: However what is most worrying is the fact that a Gallup poll published in the uS last week found that americans approval of israel s military action in Gaza has fallen 10 percentage points since the prior measurement in September (2024), and it is now at 32%, the lowest reading since Gallup first asked the question in November 2023 Disapproval of the military action has now reached 60% ” the bottom line of the poll was that americans support for israel s military operation in Gaza and their positive views of [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu have both reached new lows, reflecting sharp declines in Democrats and independents’ support at the same time, republicans’ backing of israel’s military action and its prime minister is holding firm resulting in record partisan gaps on both What has caused this anti-israeli tsunami? When the israeli land attack on the Gaza Strip began toward the end of October 2023, following the Hamas attack on the Gaza border communities on October 7 – which involved the commitment of many humanitarian horrors by the Palestinians – the world in general supported israel From the beginning the collateral damage caused by israel s attacks both on ground and from the air, in terms of civilians killed and the destruction of civilian homes and civil institutions, was high However, this was explainable on the grounds of the fact that israel had to deal with both Hamas’s overground presence and the massive underground encampment that the group had constructed over the years today, the story is different in recent months, israel seems to be following a policy of razing much of the Gaza Strip to the ground, and is much less articulate about avoiding civilian casualties though some of the israeli government ministers do not hide their ambition to destroy the Strip to the ground and to cause the civilian population to agree to a voluntary transfer, this is not israel s official policy
STARVATION IN GAZA: Besides the physical damage, israel is being accused of following a deliberate policy of starvation, and deprivation of the Gazan population of all their other basic needs though once again, there are some government ministers who openly express aspirations in this direction i do not believe there has been a government decision to starve the population – including babies and children – or to deprive it of other basic needs Still, that is what appears to be happening de facto Official spokespersons in israel have argued that many of the horrifying photographs of emaciated babies and children spread to the world press are fabricated Perhaps but it does not mean that the situation for which israel is largely responsible, is tolerable Some people in israel say that the problem is hasbara – official explanations However, the bigger problem is the visible reality at least Netanyahu appears to have grasped that this is the situation especially since uS President Donald trump stopped denying that there is hunger and malnutrition in the Strip as i said at the outset, i appreciate the fact that there are different ways of observing the situation However, just as it is legitimate for me, as a left-wing israeli patriot to feel that the reality we have created in the course of reacting to the horrors that Hamas inflicted upon us on October 7 is excessively harsh – and in many respects contrary to international law, which israel professes to preserve – so it is legitimate for the rest of the world to feel similarly However, at the same time, it is our duty not to allow the rest of the world to forget who started the whole embroilment and who didn t –and that they still do not really care both about the well-being of the hapless Gazans whom they profess to represent, or about the israeli hostages abducted to the Gaza Strip on October 7 by Hamas, the islamic Jihad, and their supporters the two most recent video clips released by the two organizations show two of our (still) living hostages – Evyatar David and rom Braslavski – two emaciated young men who are being deliberately starved to death that is also part of the nasty reality
The writer has written journalistic and academic articles as well as several books on international relations Zionism Israeli politics and parliamentarism In the years 1994-2010 she worked in the Knesset Library and the Knesset Research and Information Center
Vi rt u a l private networks tend to be associated with authoritarian regimes where consumers use them to skirt around online censorship But downloads of apps that disguise a user ’s online location have surged in Britain since new age-verification rules came into force designed to prevent children from accessing pornography and harmful content the rules are part of the uK s sweeping Online Safety act, which is drawing global interest as one of the first attempts to enforce such controls though the Eu australia and various uS states are making similar efforts the
NUzair aHmad Jamro
BANGL ADESH SEEKS CLOSER TRADE TIES WITH PAKISTAN FOR ENERGY, RAW MATERIALS
in International Biology Olympiad
CDA Chairman reviews progress on key development projects in federal capital
Uzbekistan Builds Routes to the Future
as well as health and education facilities in the flood-hit Ishkoman and Gopus valleys In addition to the rescue operation local authorities highlighted significant infrastructure damage Zafar Muhammad Shadamkhel, a local political leader, reported that lightning strikes had caused widespread destruction to homes roads and power infrastructure leaving over 600 people without access to clean drinking water A glacier burst in Bagrot Valley resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy, while his father was injured, according to local officials In the aftermath of the floods the region also saw damage to agricultural infrastructure with an irrigation channel in Ghalapan village which serves over 50,000 trees, severely impacted
Pakistan condemns Israeli ministers’ storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque as ‘shameless actions’
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan has strongly condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli ministers calling their actions “shameless actions which are inflaming tensions in Palestine and the wider region
The attack occurred early on Sunday when Israel s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar BenGvir, led a large group of illegal Israeli settlers into the mosque compound accompanied by Israeli police
This act took place during the Jewish commemoration of Tisha B Av
According to reports from the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, over 1,250 Israeli settlers entered the mosque compound, engaging in provocative actions including performing Talmudic rituals dancing
and singing, all while being shielded by the Israeli police
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of Islam s holiest sites and under an established arrangement it is administered by a Jordanian religious foundation While Jews are allowed to visit the site, they are prohibited from praying there
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident emphasizing that the desecration of such a sacred site is an affront to over a billion Muslims worldwide and constitutes a direct violation of international law He stated that the provocations including Israel’s reckless calls for annexation were deliberately escalating tensions not just within Palestine but across the entire region
The shameless actions by Israel are inflaming tensions in Palestine and the wider region,
pushing the Middle East closer to further instability and conflict ” Sharif posted on X He reiterated Pakistan s call for a ceasefire an end to Israel s aggressive actions and the initiation of a credible peace process that leads to an independent, viable Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital in line with international law and United Nations resolutions
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a separate statement condemning the statements made by Israeli officials, particularly their declaration that “the Temple Mount is ours ” calling it a dangerous and deliberate attempt to provoke religious sentiments worldwide
The statement also criticized Israel s expansionist policies, which Pakistan believes are designed to destabilize the region and block any meaningful peace efforts
has significantly boosted his standing within Pakistan Following the conflict with India Pakistan s civilian government now holds a two-thirds parliamentary majority, which allows it to push constitutional changes, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s political trajectory With Munir’s rising popularity the direction he will take Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policies is becoming a central point of interest for the future of US-Pakistan ties as well as the broader regional landscape Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan s military spokesperson, has dismissed rumors that Munir is considering presidential ambitions, calling it “nonsense ” Chaudhry also clarified that Munir is not driven by ideology but rather by pragmatism despite his religious background Munir educated in a madrassa is known for his deep knowledge of both Western and Islamic affairs and remains committed to countering extremism in Pakistan
Minister Talal Chaudhry calls for political backing to
s ta f f r e p o r t
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Monday held a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional developments
The two leaders exchanged views on a broad range of issues including mutual interests in the bilateral relationship and the ongoing regional and international concerns Both sides emphasized the need to remain in contact and continue cooperation on key areas of concern
This call follows a series of high-level engagements between the two countries In June, US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief for a landmark lunch at the White House during which they discussed the Iran-Israel conflict and other strategic matters Trump thanked Pakistan for helping to avert a war with India following a four-day military clash in May
The escalation between India and Pakistan began after a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22, 2025, killing 26 people, mostly tourists
India blamed the incident on terrorists allegedly backed by Pakistan, which Islamabad denied In response Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and targeted Indian military installations A ceasefire was brokered by President Trump in May ending the crisis
The call between Dar and Rubio also comes amid the announcement of a “landmark” trade deal between Pakistan and the United States aimed at reducing tariffs and strengthening economic ties Additionally Trump unveiled a partnership to help develop Pakistan s oil reserves as part of broader trade discussions
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain has formally requested Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi to take suo motu notice of a significant issue involving Pakistan’s sugar mills which allegedly gained Rs300 billion due to recent price hikes
The opposition alliance has raised concerns about the lack of regulation and oversight, claiming that the government has failed to address this manipulation by the sugar industry
In a letter addressed to the CJP, Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar urged the formation of a commission under Article 184(3) of the Constitution to investigate the sugar sector s activities particularly focusing on suspected policy manipulation and regulatory failures
Khokhar emphasized that swift judicial action is needed to protect the public from the continued exploitation of the industry and to restore trust in the governance system
The letter also pointed out that during a Public Accounts Committee meeting on July 29, it was re-
vealed that sugar mills profited by Rs300 billion following the recent spike in sugar prices This according to the opposition underscores the ongoing unchecked actions of the sugar mafia which allegedly has strong ties with the ruling elite Meanwhile, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has postponed the hearing of the ongoing sugar cartel case Over 70 sugar mills requested the delay citing the unavailability of legal representation due to the Supreme Court s summer recess The CCP has rescheduled the hearing to take place between September 22 and 25