PM DEPARTS FOR LONDON AFTER INKING MILESTONE ‘STRATEGIC MUTUAL DEFENCE AGREEMENT’ WITH KSA
g PREMIER SHEHBAZ HAILS SAUDI CROWN PRINCE’S ‘ VISION, LEADERSHIP ’ DURING LANDMARK RIYADH VISIT g
g PACT DEEPENS PAK-SAUDI DEFENCE COOPERATION AMID REGIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
PAKISTAN RECORDS $156.2 MILLION IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FOR AUGUST 2025
fiscal year (FY26)
from $584 million in the same period last year, according to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) The IT sector remains Pakistan’s third-largest exporter following textiles and rice and holds the largest share in services exports Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Senior Vice Chairman Muhammad Umair Nizam praised the efforts of IT exporters in boosting export income and supporting the country’s macroeconomic indicators including the current account Nizam emphasized the critical role of the IT sector in the country s economic stability and urged the government to maintain supportive policies for long-term growth However, he noted that the sector still faces sev-
eral challenges, which should be addressed promptly
The steady growth is attributed to government support in accessing both traditional and new markets Increased participation of IT exporters in global tech and trade fairs particularly in the USA, UK, Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, has yielded positive results Additionally, incentives and financial measures from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and the banking regulator have further boosted the sector s export receipts Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) Chairman Ibrahim Amin highlighted the significant role of freelancers in increasing IT exports He noted that ongoing training and capacity-building programs by various institutions and NGOs
receipts to achieve the $5 billion export goal for FY26 which he believes is attainable in the coming months However, Said also acknowledged that AI tools present both opportunities and challenges for IT companies and freelancers He suggested that businesses upgrade their strategies collaborate through joint ventures and work on major foreign projects to expand their reach He further recommended that the government review its strategy and collaborate
Public Accounts Committee alarmed over theft of 32,674 passpor ts, calls for detailed inquir y
Mustafa Qazi, Direc tor General of Passpor ts, confirms that the stolen passpor ts are blocked and can no longer be used or renewed
facilitate the import of agricultural products in line with understandings reached during the visit of Pakistan s Minister for National Food Security last month Jam Kamal Khan also thanked the Iranian side for enhancing imports of Pakistani rice and meat Iran expressed keen interest in undertaking joint studies with Pakistan’s
Pakistan, C hina agree to operationalise Gwadar-Afric a trade corridor under five -year maritime ac tion plan
t Pakistan and China have agreed to operationalize the China-Gwadar-Africa shipping corridor under a new fiveyear maritime action plan for 2025-2029 The plan aims to expand trade routes and establish Gwadar as a leading regional trade hub boosting connectivity with Central Asia Afghanistan and West Asia The Express Tribune reported Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, emphasized Pakistan s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with China, particularly focusing on marine economy development, sustainable resource use, and environmental protection under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Key infrastructure projects include the expansion of Gwadar Port completion of Free Zone Stage II and the fast-tracking of the East Bay Expressway Phase II to improve accessibility The integration of the New Gwadar International Airport with the port is also a priority, facilitating multi-transit connectivity
As part of the plan, five feeder routes and bonded warehouses will be developed to increase trade flow Gwadar will also be transformed into a “Green Port ” with feasibility studies and infrastructure development underway Efforts will also focus on enhancing connectivity between Gwadar and key rail and road corridors, including the Islamabad-Türkiye-Iran routes The initiative includes the promotion of Gwadar Free Zone resource utilization, with plans to develop 15 industries in the North Free Zone These include seafood dates and tuna processing plants alongside petrochemical facilities Expansion of Single Point Mooring connectivity is also on the agenda, as well as the relocation of car manufacturing plants and other industries from China to Gwadar To support the development of Gwadar and its Free Zone, Pakistan and China will sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with local business entities for joint cooperation The plan also includes the launch of a blue economy training program for 1 000 locals in fisheries aquaculture and logistics at the Gwadar Blue Economy Center
COMMENT
The Strategic Militar y D efence Agreement formalizes previous understandings
THE Strategic Military Defence Agreement is the first military arrangement made by Pakistan since the 1979 collapse of CENTO, and comes in the wake of a war scare with India, and after Israel attacked Qatar That attack weighed heavily on Saudi Arabia, it has sought an alliance beyond the one it has with the USA Both have entered into the formal agreement after years, indeed decades, of military cooperation, which has been wideranging and in many ways institutionalised It bears mentioning that Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, had served as defence attaché to Saudi Arabia The agreement also reflects an alignment in foreign affairs that allows the concerting of military measures
At first sight there is a certain dissonance One common enemy is Israel Pakistan should feel threatened by it, but its cooperation with India would make it uneasy The ease with which it bombed Iran and the almost casual way the USA joined also give it pause However apart from that the main threat each faces is a friend of the other If Pakistan sees India as a potential enemy, Saudi Arabia sees it as a good customer for its crude When he visited Saudi Arabia in 2016 he was awarded the Special Class of the Order of King Abdul Aziz, an indication of how Saudi Arabia values the Indian relationship On the other hand Saudi Arabia has only recently reconciled with Iran a country with which its rivalry goes back to before the Muslim conquest of Persia It is a plus point for Pakistan that the reconciliation was mediated by China which is a friend of Pakistan Iran has been a good friend of Pakistan and has always backed it in its confrontations with India In fact, one consequence of the Agreement will be to force India and Iran to make decisions of their own Other countries which supply military equipment to one country might have to do some rethinking too particularly the USA The agreement will require level conversations between both countries general staffs because each country will need to know which country is providing what assistance for what contingency If Saudi Arabia is aerially attacked by Israel, will Pakistan send planes? If India attacked Pakistani shipping how would Saudia Arabia deploy its seven frigates? Before those extreme situations arise, there will have to be serious discussions of interoperability, joint exercises and training arrangements
M
TH E attack by Israel on Doha was doubly shocking, because not only was it a blatant violation of sovereignty, but also an exhibition of how the USA could not protect its allies It was perhaps inevitable that the Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha being held to protest this attack would contain so many US allies who were worried that they could be targeted next US support for Israel could be seen from the fact that the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Muhmmad ibn Abdur Rahman Al-Thani, two days before the Summit has meetings with Secretary of State Mark Rubio and Vice-President J D Vance and dinner with President Donald Trump The summit on Monday was preceded on Sunday by a meeting of foreign ministers, which prepared the resolution to be passed by the Summit The resolution condemned Israeli aggressive actions’, but offered no penalties for a repetition beyond a delay in the normalization of ties with Israel
This makes clear that there is a n0rmalization process which is to go forward but that Israel should not interrupt it by attacking those countries which are close to normalization , such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar
However, the Israeli launch of its offensive against Gaza virtually showed up the Summit as an illustration of how powerless the friends of Palestine are
The nearest the Summit came to action was an invoking of the GCC Defence Pact The only Gulf Army to see action against Israel was Saudi Arabia in 1973, when they did not distinguish themselves even if they did not disgrace themselves Otherwise, there was nothing and it was easy to understand why Israel felt it could act with impunity
It should not be forgotten that that attack on Qatar was virtually an attack on the USA itself because it hosts the headquarters of the naval and air force components of the US Central Command The USA refrained from condemning the strikes, which meant that it preferred to protect Israeli in its clash with ‘the most allied ally ’
That phrase was coined by Pakistani President Ziaul Haq to describe Pakistan s relationship to the USA during the Afghan Jihad but it could be applied to Qatar Qatar not just has its geographical position commanding the Straits of Hormuz to recommend it, but is itself a major oil and gas producer The attack on Hamas leaders was particularly painful for the existence of the Hamas office there and the $1 8 billion transferred to Hamas by Qatar was after consultation with the USA and Israel Indeed, the setting up of the office was at the USA s request, because the USA needed a channel of communication with Hamas Qatar has paid the price, being treated virtually as a bystander because Israel had used the credi-
bility of Qatar to lure Hamas leaders there, and had ignored centuries indeed millennia of the sanctity of heralds persons to attack them Qatar has said that it will continue its mediation efforts That appears to be the takeaway from the White House meetings of Prime Minister Muhammad ibn Abdurrehman, but neither Hamas nor Israeli willingness has been elicited It should not be forgotten that the attacks were carried out to prevent the negotiations from leading to a ceasefire That seems to be an Israeli tactic: that of launching an air strike when diplomacy appears likely to yield results It bombed Iran at a time when Iran and the USA appeared to be inching towards a nuclear agreement It now attacked Qatar at a time when Hamas was about to agree that Israel had already agreed to Resumption of negotiations is something Israel does not want as it would have liked to avoid anything that might prevent it from carrying out the big push into Gaza City itself US Secretary of State Mark Rubio has said that Hamas had been eliminated, so now it was time to look towards the reconstruction of Gaza More than anything else what matters to the Arab monarchies is whether the USA will help prop them in place If Israel is allowed to run rampant through the region how will these regimes perpetuate themselves? The association is not ideological, especially with the end of the Cold War, so it can only be interest That interest is, and has been since World War I and the revolt against Turkey, oil To buttress that, Israel was founded in 1948 but it should not be forgotten that while the USA values Israel was an outpost in the Middle East it is also reflective of the strong Zionist lobby in the USA itself The Arab and Muslim world have no answer to that However, the USA has got to consider the situation it has got itself into One ally is attacking
The governments are oblig ed to take strong positions because they want to sur vive public obloquy. In par ticular, the USA must realiz e that the oil-rich monarchies will have difficulty sur viving this evidence that their compact with their people , to enforce Islam, is in conflict with their US alliance .
From cockroaches to mosquitoes
steering Likewise, some of the insect drones can also take to the skies and represent coordination in motion This was showcased by the world s lightest insect brain controller which weighed 74 mg and controlled the movement of bees
These miniature drones enable real-time data collection and encrypted short-range communication Experts working on the technology believe that such insects would reflect minimal electromagnetic signals and these bio-robotic scouts would fall below the detection threshold of conventional radars Also they would be able to operate in cluttered, GPS-denied and highrisk environments Operationalising the biologically resilient creepers can discreetly gather real-time visual intelligence on enemy troop movements in extreme conditions such as the Siachen Glacier or the Rajasthan Desert where the efficiency of conventional drones is compromised They can also monitor infiltration or patrol routes, even within narrow crevices and rugged terrain Additionally, they could be used for reconnaissance inside enemy bunkers and hidden ammunition factories Moreover swarm bees can be equipped with nano-explosives to target sensitive radar sites Furthermore, these biologically integrated,
AI-enabled, and mass-deployable systems, which deliver ‘living intelligence ’ could revolutionise electronic intelligence (ELINT) and signal interception Equipped with miniature microphones or sensors these insects could intercept enemy radio chatter, GPS jammers, or detect heat signatures from mobile radars These capabilities show how these weaponised insects can be instrumental in the future, particularly across the diverse geographies of the India-Pakistan battleground The mission profile of these airborne insects extends beyond combat This has been demonstrated in Hawaii, where mosquitoes were used to combat diseases such as malaria and dengue This has been achieved through the genetic modification of common bacteria in male mosquitoes such that when they mate with wild females the eggs do not hatch Through biological interventions scientists can monitor vector behaviour to enable more targeted and efficient disease control The concept of insect drones also presents an ideal solution for searching for survivors of natural and anthropogenic disasters These drones are also helpful in facilitating targeted pollination in areas such as Punjab and Sindh that lack natural pollinators due to the continued use of pesticides and habitat loss Likewise, these drones can be used for precise pesticide spraying to protect beneficial insect species and also reduce water pollution While these proposed advantages are significant insect drones are associated with equally essential challenges First it is necessary to recognise that these cyborg insects are currently in the field-testing phase Secondly, weaponising insects could raise ethical concerns and face backlash from animal rights activists Thirdly, the potential misuse or proliferation of such systems to non-state actors adds another layer of complexity Fourthly the deployment of autonomous insect drones could undermine the key tenets of International Humanitarian Law such as distinction and proportionality Lastly, genetic engineering of these insects may not always comply with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and other environmental regulations This future can impact Pakistan which is yet
to enter this new race The path forward lies in a measured strategy as Pakistan must reinvigorate its R&D partnerships with universities and international biotech innovators Early adoption and engagement with the technology will enable Pakistan to set its own terms for its use, rather than being forced to react to developments from abroad Initially to garner global support and trust Pakistan could prioritise the applications in public health disaster management and environmental protection Gradually, then, Pakistan could integrate the proven platforms into its defence modernisation plans, where they can offer a genuine tactical advantage In parallel to developing such capabilities Pakistan must also invest in counter-technologies to neutralise hostile biorobotic incursions This may include insect-specific jamming frequencies electromagnetic shielding and AI-driven biosignature detectors All in all, these micro marvels promise a paradigm shift for Pakistan, from combat to conservation battlefield to biosphere and from warfare to wellness The question for Pakistan is not whether to engage but how swiftly it can position itself at the forefront while safeguarding against similar threats Indeed, this frontier of ecological resilience and technological ingenuity must be embraced with wings
Sibra Waseem is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Lahore She can be reached at info@casslhr com
All in all, these micro marvels promise a paradigm shift for Pakistan, from combat to conservation, battlefield to biosphere and from warfare to wellness The question for Pakistan is not whether to engage, but how swiftly it can position itself at the forefront while safeguarding against similar threats Indeed, this frontier of ecological resilience and technological ingenuity must be embraced with wings.
Stop polarising tragedy
Sibra WaSeem
Tinstitutional depth, married to Saudi Arabia’s wealth creates the basis for scaling both conventional and advanced capabilities from missiles and drones to robotics and AI-driven defence systems Turkey brings another indispensable dimension: high-tech platforms, defence firms, and training institutions Turkish companies have already joined the world’s top tier of arms exporters producing drones avionics naval systems and electronic warfare suites that have been battle-tested in Libya Syria and Ukraine Its Bayraktar drones have redefined modern conflict, while its aerospace and shipbuilding capacity can scale rapidly when supplied with Gulf funding Turkey also possesses advanced academies for training pilots engineers and technicians making it the natural hub for developing the technical backbone of an Ummah force
President Erdoğan has long urged the creation of a collective muslim defence mechanism, and Turkey has the industrial wherewithal to make that vision real The contours of such an Ummah force are clear Gulf states can fund joint research and industrial hubs; Pakistan provides strategic depth and a trained scientific-industrial workforce; Turkey contributes high-tech systems, training, and logistics; while manpower-rich nations such as Egypt, Indonesia, and Bangladesh can field disciplined soldiers and peacekeepers Together this combination could deliver not just a defensive shield but an offensive rescue capability able to respond wherever communities face annihila-
tion genocide or ethnic cleansing This dual mandate defence and rescue is not adventurism but moral duty Islam commands believers to protect the oppressed The Qur an tells us that saving a single life is as if saving all of humanity The Prophet muhammad (peace be upon him) likened the Ummah to a single body: if one part suffers the entire body responds Islamic history itself is filled with examples where muslim rulers defended non-muslim communities from tyranny, offering sanctuary and protection That moral foundation makes it incumbent on the Ummah to act not just for muslims but for any oppressed people Christian Jewish Hindu or otherwise The legitimacy of such a force rests on its universality and humanitarian mission But to achieve this, the Ummah must first break its chains of dependency For decades, muslim nations have hosted foreign bases justified as protective umbrellas In practice, these installations often served other strategic purposes When Gaza was bombarded and when
Doha revealed the weakness Riyadh and Islamabad have begun the remedy The rest of the Ummah must now decide: will this be another moment of rhetoric, or the beginning of a historic transformation? The answer will determine whether Muslims remain spectators of their own tragedies or become agents of their own security and defenders of universal human dignity
Ar tificial intelligence is not your friend
These systems are not truly intelligent, and what we c all “AI” today is simply a set of technic al tools designed to mimic cer tain cognitive func tions. They are not c apable of true comprehension and are neither objec tive, fair nor neutral
The message from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka was clear: ‘Governments can fall when the youth rise ’ If rulers ‘continue to ignore the dreams and frustrations of young people,’ he said, ‘similar events will happen in many other countries in this region’
ily be programmed to slap the patient and it would carry out that command with equal precision and with the same lack of authenticity and self-awareness The machine doesn’t “care”; it simply follows instructions And no matter how advanced such systems become that is not going to change Simply put, machines lack moral agency Their behavior is governed by patterns and rules created by people, whereas human morality is rooted in autonomy the capacity to recognize ethical norms and behave accordingly By contrast AI systems are designed for functionality and optimization They may adapt through self-learning, but the rules they generate have no inherent ethical meaning Consider self-driving cars To get from point A to point B as quickly as possible a self-driving vehicle might develop rules to optimize travel time If running over pedestrians would help achieve that goal, the car might do so, unless instructed not to, because it cannot understand the moral implications of harming people
Nor are they becoming any smarter AI systems rely on data to function and increasingly, that includes data generated by tools like ChatGPT The result is a feedback loop that recycles output without producing deeper understanding more fundamentally intelligence is not just about solving tasks; it s also about how those tasks are approached and performed Despite their technical capabilities, AI models remain limited to specific domains, such as processing large datasets, performing logical deductions and making calculations When it comes to social intelligence however machines can only simulate emotions interactions and relationships A medical robot, for example, could be programmed to cry when a patient cries, yet no one would argue that it feels genuine sadness The same robot could just as eas-
This is partly because machines are incapable of grasping the principle of generalizability the idea that an action is ethical only if it can be justified as a universal rule moral judgment depends on the ability to provide a plausible rationale that others can reasonably accept These are what we often refer to as “good reasons ” Unlike machines humans are able to engage in generalizable moral reasoning and can therefore judge whether their actions are right or wrong The term data-based systems (DS) is thus more appropriate than “artificial intelligence,” as it reflects what AI can actually do: generate collect process and evaluate data to make observations and predictions It also clarifies the strengths and limitations of today s emerging technologies At their core, these are systems that use highly sophisticated mathematical processes to analyze vast amounts of data nothing more Humans may interact with them but communication is entirely oneway DS have no awareness of what they are doing or of anything happening around them
This is not to suggest that DS cannot benefit humanity or the planet on the contrary we can and should rely on them in domains where their capabilities exceed our own But we must also actively manage and mitigate the ethical risks they present Developing human-rights-based DS and establishing an International DataBased Systems Agency at the United Na-
tions would be important first steps in that direction over the past two decades Big Tech firms have isolated us and fractured our societies through social media more accurately described as anti-social media given its addictive and corrosive nature Now, those same companies are promoting a radical new vision: replacing human connection with AI “friends” and “companions ” At the same time these companies continue to ignore the so-called black box problem: the untraceability unpredictability and lack of transparency in the algorithmic processes behind automated evaluations, predictions and decisions This opacity combined with the high likelihood of biased and discriminatory algorithms inevitably results in biased and discriminatory outcomes The risks posed by DS are not theoretical These systems already shape our private and professional lives in increasingly harmful ways, manipulating us economically and politically yet tech CEos urge us to let DS tools guide our decisions To protect our freedom and dignity as well as the freedom and dignity of future generations, we must not allow machines to masquerade as what they are not: us Peter G Kirchschlager professor of ethics and director of the Institute of Social Ethics ISE at the University of Lucerne is a visiting professor at ETH Zurich
Fr o m stormed palaces to fleeing heads of state, a number of Asian countries are witnessing political transformations led by a generation born into the digital age This digitally savvy Gen Z a term referring to people born roughly between 1997 and 2012 has emerged as a formidable force challenging authoritarianism, corruption and economic inequality with street-level activism
In Nepal, youth protests against a social media ban and corruption toppled Prime minister Khadga Prasad oli’s government last week Indonesia witnessed large-scale protests recently triggered by lavish perks for lawmakers, among other grievances President Prabowo Subianto s administration barely managed to hold on, scrambling to meet youth demands by firing ministers and rolling back the perks
In Bangladesh student-led mass protests in July-August 2024 drew the curtain on Prime minister Sheikh Hasina s 15-year rule and forced her to flee to neighboring India And Sri Lanka s 2022 unrest amid economic turmoil led to the ouster of then President Gotabaya rajapaksa Some experts liken the situation in Asia to the Arab Spring a series of mass protests in the middle East and North Africa in the early 2010s The Arab Spring was driven by rage over corruption and economic hardship and toppled several governments, including those of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen Yet, the aftermath was anything but triumphant The Arab Spring gave way to years of unrest and fragile transitions Despite the differences in political settings experts say the issues that sparked the Arab Spring are similar to those that triggered the unrest in places like
QAmAr bAshir
China-Pakistan Donkey Industry Development Forum launched
and
event was co-hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan and Sangyang Industrial (Beijing) Group Co , Ltd , and guided by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Ministry of National Food Security & Research of Pakistan the forum brought together hundreds of industry experts, scholars, enterprise representatives, and government officials from both countries
The forum commenced with solemn opening addresses delivered by distinguished guests including Mr Amir Mohyuddin Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research of Pakistan; Mr Shi Yuanqiang, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of People’s Republic of China in Pakistan; Mr Wang Huihua Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK); Mr Liu Qiangde Deputy Secretary-General of the China Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA) ; and Professor Zhang Jianhua, Former Vice President of China Agricultural University (CAU)
The participants unanimously emphasized that the donkey industry as a vital component of specialized livestock farming, holds significant potential in meeting diverse market demands They called for efforts to advance the industry toward standardization, scalability, branding, and industrialization
The forum featured diverse thematic sessions where experts and scholars shared cutting-edge research and practical insights on core issues such as conserva-
tion of donkey genetic resources and healthy breeding techniques in-depth analysis of donkey industry development in China and Pakistan, high-value utilization of donkey by-products, digital transformation of the industry, and brand building and marketing strategies Multiple thematic reports and high-level dialogues addressed industry challenges and proposed innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and quality
Mr Shi Yuanqiang, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan expressed warm congratulations on the successful convening of the forum He pointed out that cooperation in the donkey industry is not only an important component of agricultural diversification but also a new entry point for deepening economic cooperation between China and Pakistan “It is certain to inject new vitality into agricultural modernization rural revitalization and the development of industrial chains he said To guide the healthy and orderly development of the industry, the Ministry of National Food Security & Research Pakistan issued a statement on the development of export agreements and regulatory frameworks for Pakistan s donkey industry as well as measures to combat illegal slaughter and smuggling of donkey products The China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan released a Donkey Industry Self-Regulation Declaration, solemnly pledging to strictly comply with laws and regulations adhere to sustainable and fair-trade principles respect local culture and religious practices and safeguard employee rights and community development
Taliban intensify restrictions on internet access in Afghanistan
NEWS DESK
Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have expanded their crackdown on internet access severing fibre optic connections across several provinces The move which officials describe as part of a campaign against vice was ordered by Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and has left large parts of the country without high-speed internet access This recent action, which began on Wednesday, has already caused significant disruption in multiple regions In the northern Balkh province fibre optic internet was completely shut down under the Taliban s directives Provincial spokesman Attaullah Zaid confirmed that the measure, which aims to prevent vice, would be replaced with alternative connectivity options across the country Reports indicate that internet access in Balkh is now limited to the telephone network which is facing disruptions as well Other provinces such as Badakhshan Takhar Kandahar Helmand and Uruzgan have also been affected by similar restrictions The Ministry of Telecommunications and government representatives have not provided any immediate comment on the matter Fibre optic technology is the most commonly used internet infrastructure in Afghanistan One anonymous private operator in Kabul mentioned that the reasons behind the measure remain unclear adding that businesses are concerned about the consequences Atta Mohammed, a marble contractor in Kandahar, voiced his worries about the significant losses his business could face He explained that delayed responses to clients in Dubai and India could lead to disruptions in operations stating he had been unable to sleep due to the anxiety this situation has caused
Federal
KU, Haier sign MoU to provide scholarships to students
KARACHI
The University of Karachi and Haier Pakistan
Private Limited signed a memorandum of understanding to provide scholarships to students
The KU s Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and Director Marketing of Haier Pakistan Private Limited Hamayoun Bashir signed the MoU documents at the VC Secretariat on Thursday As per the MoU, students from the departments of mass communication commerce public administration and the Karachi University Business School will receive scholarships worth over Rs5 9 million from Haier Pakistan as part of its corporate and social
Punjab gov t’s campaign in suppor t of Riz wan Razi as ‘regrettable’
Z ARDARI REAFFIRMS RESOLVE TO DEEPEN PAKISTAN-CHINA ‘ALL SPHERES’ PARTNERSHIP
PURUMQI/ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
R E S I D E N T Asif Ali Zardari
on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan s resolve to work closely with China in countering terrorism and extremism while expanding cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing livestock industry mining and emerging technologies
Speaking during a meeting with Communist Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Chen Xiaojiang who was accompanied by Governor Erkin Tuniyaz President Zardari said the growing linkages between Xinjiang and Pakistan’s northern areas would further strengthen cultural and economic bonds The day is not far when both countries will be easily accessible by road, he remarked Underscoring Xinjiang’s pivotal role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) the president encouraged greater collaboration in agriculture and industry highlighting the potential of Special Economic Zones in GilgitBaltistan He invited people from Xinjiang to
ments exist between Pakistan and China including Urumqi and Peshawar He expressed Xinjiang s eagerness to deepen government-to-government and business-to-business cooperation with Pakistan particularly in agriculture livestock mining and industry He also assured that both sides would continue to maintain zero tolerance against terrorist groups targeting the two countries In his remarks, President Zardari said he was delighted to visit Xinjiang again and praised the unity of the Chinese people and the region’s remarkable progress He reaffirmed that Pakistan-China friendship is unique time-tested and the cornerstone of Pakistan s foreign policy The meeting was followed by a dinner hosted by Chen Xiaojiang in honour of President Zardari and his delegation Senator Saleem Mandviwalla Sindh Energy Minister Nasir Shah Pakistan’s Ambassador to China and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan also attended the event
Bugti pledges transparent , humane process for Afghan refugee return
Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti has reiterated that the repatriation of Afghan refugees will be carried out in a transparent organized and respectful manner, with particular care for women, children, and the elderly Chairing a high-level meeting on
Shafqaat,
assured that
found
of
action would be
The Chief Minister also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating security situation in Qila Abdullah and ordered indiscriminate operations against criminal elements without distinction of jurisdiction between Levies and Police He pledged full provincial support and resources to restore peace in the district For accountability Bugti directed divisional and district administrations to implement urgent measures maintain law and order, and submit daily progress reports to the Chief Minister s Secretariat
Heav y rains forecast raise
new flood threat in
Punjab LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a fresh warning of heavy rainfall across Punjab over the next two days, raising fears of renewed flooding in already devastated areas According to the forecast, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Gujrat Gujranwala and Lahore divisions are likely to see heavy showers while intermittent rains are expected in Peshawar Kohat Bannu Sargodha Faisalabad and Zhob Rising inflows in upper catchments have heightened concerns of further river flooding At present, Guddu Barrage is witnessing a medium-level flow of 500,000 cusecs, Sukkur Barrage is under high flood with 571 000 cusecs and Kotri Barrage is experiencing medium-level flow with a possible flood threat The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that water levels in the Indus Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab have normalized, while Panjnad remains stable However, a medium flood continues at Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej, and low floods persist at Sulaimanki and Islam Headworks Officials also reported that Mangla Dam has reached 95 percent capacity and Tarbela Dam is completely filled
VIENNA/ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday signed the fifth Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2026–2031 on the sidelines of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC)
The agreement was signed by Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar, Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and Hua Liu IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, the statement said
The CPF sets out Pakistan’s national priorities where nuclear science and technology will support socio-economic development Building on decades of cooperation it aligns with Pakistan s development agenda and international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Covering three Technical Cooperation cycles the framework identifies five priority areas: food and agriculture human health and nutrition climate change and water resource management, nuclear power, and radiation and nuclear safety, it added Agriculture and food security
Agriculture, which contributes nearly one-fourth of Pakistan’s GDP and employs over one-third of the workforce will be a central focus Nuclear techniques will be applied to improve crop yields, pest control, livestock health, and food safety Pakistan’s participation in the IAEA’s Atoms4Food initiative underscores its commitment to food security and climateresilient farming Health and medical care
With rising cases of cancer and non-communicable diseases, healthcare remains a priority Under the CPF, Pakistan will enhance cooperation with the IAEA in nuclear medicine radiation oncology medical physics and radiopharmaceuticals The country s 20 Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals (AECHs), which already serve over a million patients annually, will be further strengthened with advanced therapies precision diagnostics and affordable locally produced radiopharmaceuticals Climate and water management Pakistan, among the world s most climate-vulnerable nations, faces acute water scarcity and unpredictable weather patterns Nuclear techniques such as isotope hydrology will be used to monitor water resources improve irrigation efficiency, and strengthen climate resilience The Pakistan Institute of
Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) an IAEA Collaborating Centre will be central in applying these methods Energy security Nuclear power currently contributes more than 18 percent of Pakistan’s electricity generation, with six operational plants and another under construction at Chashma The CPF prioritises plant life management waste management non-destructive testing and safe decommissioning key to ensuring long-term energy security and meeting Pakistan’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets Nuclear safety
The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) will continue strengthening oversight of nuclear activities With IAEA assistance, Pakistan will enhance emergency preparedness, radioactive waste management safe transport and the application of artificial intelligence in regulation These measures aim to protect workers, the public, and the environment, while ensuring adherence to global safety standards Commitment to inclusivity
Across all sectors the CPF underscores Pakistan s focus on gender equality encouraging women s participation in science and equitable access to nuclear technology benefits
g DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT FROM CHINA AND RUSSIA INCREASES PROSPECTS FOR PAKISTAN’S BRICS MEMBERSHIP
PR OFIT
s ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan is expected to become a full member of the BRICS bloc during its 18th or 19th annual summit in 2025 or 2026 according to diplomatic sources reported by Business Recorder Economic strategist Dr Mehmoodul Hassan Khan, citing diplomatic sources, confirmed that Pakistan is poised to join BRICS in either of the upcoming annual meetings He emphasized that Pakistan s inclusion would open new opportunities to enhance economic partnerships, attract foreign direct investments (FDIs), diversify trade, and foster growth in industrialization, digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI)
Pakistan formally applied for BRICS membership in 2023 aiming to strengthen economic ties with the bloc s member
states BRICS currently includes 10 full members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia Iran the UAE and Indonesia which officially joined in January 2025 Additionally 11 countries hold observer or partner status, with Vietnam becoming a BRICS partner in June 2025
The expanded “greater BRICS” format reflects the growing influence of the bloc which now accounts for more than half of the world s population 20% of global trade and nearly 30% of global GDP Despite India s previous opposition to Pakistan s inclusion, support from China, Russia, and other BRICS members has enhanced Pakistan’s prospects
According to the IMF
BRICS achieved a 4% GDP growth in 2024 outpacing the global average The group now represents 31% of global land area and 46% of the world’s population Its oil production and re-
serves account for approximately 40% of global energy Chinese President Xi Jinping recently emphasized multilateralism and international cooperation at the BRICS Virtual Summit suggesting the bloc s role in de-dollarization efforts and the creation of an alternative financial system
If Pakistan joins, Dr Khan stated, its inclusion would have significant socio-economic geopolitical and geostrategic implications He also noted that Pakistan-US relations have been strengthening, with increased diplomatic ties and US investments in sectors such as metals, mining, renewables, education, and health
Dr Khan concluded that Pakistan s BRICS membership would have minimal negative repercussions citing the country s emerging role as an important regional ally and the growing diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with the US
