PM WELCOMES PRESIDENT TRUMP’S 21-POINT PL AN TO END WAR IN GA Z A
g PM DEFENDS TRUMP ’S NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION, CREDITS HIM FOR SAVING THE REGION FROM DESTRUCTION
g TERMS VISIT TO WA SHINGTON ‘ VERY FRUITFUL, VERY SUCCESSFUL’
g BLAMES INDIA FOR WEAPONIZING INDUS WATERS TREATY AGAINST PEOPLE
major destruction He emphasized that if Trump had not intervened in the Pakistan-India escalation, “there would be more destruction and loss of lives ” The premier added that Trump has eased tension between Ethiopia and Egypt and even in Ukraine
‘Washington visit very fruitful’
Speaking about his recent meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, PM Shehbaz said that his visit to Washington was very fruitful; it was very successful
He said the best thing that happened was that in the UN building President Trump co-chaired a meeting on Gaza, and he invited Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia
escalation The Pakistani government in June had decided to formally recommend US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” to end the India-Pakistan escalation in May The conflict began after New Delhi without evidence blamed Is-
lamabad for the April 22 Pehalgam attack in occupied Kashmir launched airstrikes in Pakistan, and faced retaliation Amid easing tensions following a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, President Donald Trump claimed that US intervention prevented a bad nuclear war between the two nations Responding to a reporter s question about Pakistan nominating Trump for the Nobel Prize during a press conference in London on Monday, the PM said, “Mr Trump eased tension between Pakistan and India and has saved the region from
“There a very constructive discussion took place and as a result of that meeting very soon a positive result may come that in the Gaza war there may be a ceasefire, he said
“Since 2023 in Gaza, the market of oppression and tyranny has been heated, and innocent Muslims are being martyred including children mothers sisters and youngsters I believe that this much cruelty and intensity has rarely been witnessed in modern times, and for that, alhamdulillah, we have raised a strong voice at the UN and expressed complete solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters
pair are scheduled to hold a joint news conference at 1:15 pm (1715 GMT), in an apparent indication that Trump is hoping to announce a breakthrough To reach a good deal, a reasonable deal for both sides, both sides have to give up a little bit and might leave the table a little bit unhappy ” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday Hamas has not yet given a reaction to the plan ‘Stand firm’ Trump’s plan, according to The Times of Israel and
The case centers on a controversy regarding Justice Jahangiri’s LLB degree, which was cancelled last week by the University of Karachi According to the university s notification dated September 25 the university syndicate,
examination Furthermore the University of Karachi clarified that Justice Jahangiri had never been enrolled as a student at Islamia Law College, Karachi, in 1989 Earlier the Sindh High Court (SHC) had suspended both the University of Karachi s Unfair Means Committee decision and the syndicate s declaration invalidating the judge s degree
The petitioner had challenged the UFM committee’s decision to cancel Justice Jahangiri’s degree on August 17 2024 Since then the SHC has also dismissed similar petitions concerning the judge s degree on grounds of non-prosecution despite objections raised by the defense counsel The counsel in the case questioned the legality of the bench’s decision to assign the hearing to itself from another constitutional bench which had originally scheduled the petitions for hearing on September 30 In protest the lawyers boycotted the proceedings after the bench refused to recuse itself The bench stated that both judges agreed there were no valid grounds for recusal,
ECC SEEKS COMPREHENSIVE EXECUTION AND REFINANCING
AN FOR REKO DIQ PROJECT BY MARCH 2026
is reportedly remitted outside Pakistan each year for fees related to Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), including O-Level and A-Level programs, as well as University of London degree programs offered in Pakistan, Business Recorder reported These funds largely sent to the United Kingdom remain
sult in partial or full withdrawal of the concession The deal also included measures to
expedite tribunal orders for pending consignments at Sost Dry Port with waivers on demurrage and port charges where applicable An SRO on tax exemptions will be issued, and compliance will continue to be enforced by Pakistan Customs The agreement further committed both federal and GB authorities to develop border areas, particularly Gojal, and explore measures to boost GB exports to China Following the protest’s end, Pakistan Customs officials confirmed that trade operations at Sost Dry
The Cambridge school system in Pakistan alone includes over 750 schools following the Cambridge Assessment International Education curriculum with more than 100 000 students taking O-Level and A-Level exams each year In 2025, approximately 127,000 students appeared for A-Level exams, recognized for equivalence by the Inter-Board Chairmen Committee (IBCC) Despite recognition and increasing tax burdens on Pakistani citizens, the significant outward flow of educational fees remains untaxed, the FTO report noted Around Rs70-80b remitted outside Pakistan annually for foreign exam and degree fees: report
retained fees, the amounts sent abroad are significant, yet remain unchecked by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has raised concerns about the untaxed remittances and called on the FBR to establish rules to capture this revenue Two new subsections, 3A and 3B, were added to section 101 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 introducing the concept of significant economic presence to identify taxable flows linked to foreign educational programs However, according to the FTO, more than 15 months after the introduction of these provisions, the FBR has
yet to prescribe the necessary thresholds and issue explanatory circulars, failing to enforce compliance
PAKISTAN OFFERS 1,000 ACRES TO TURKIYE FOR EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE IN K ARACHI
TTH E University is supposed to be the engine of innovation and generator of economic growth However, when academic institutions concerned with conformity over creativity, they not only discourage innovation but create economic inefficiencies at large University which does not develop critical thinking and adaptability is unconsciously creating an impotent labor force that is unable to cope with such competitive global economy
The culture in many Pakistani universities has been mired in traditionalism, and hierarchies are quite rigid Almost all classrooms involve authoritarian practices driven by fear rather than curiosity
Faculty members themselves the victims of an underfunded system that oppresses its workforce enforce discipline by means of punitive measures such as public humiliation and arbitrary grading over developing inquiry and open dialogue If treated as a student, the student is not viewed as an active partaker in the process of learning but as a passive recipient of information expected to memorize not to question
It is a system of inertia that ends up with intellectual disengagement Both motivation and the generation of creativity are suppressed by the students –two essential qualities for an economy driven by knowledge and innovation What this results into an individual disillusionment but also a collective economic liability
This academic crisis represents significant economic inefficiencies If universities graduate students who lack critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to work across disciplines, industry will suffer This forces organizations to engage time and resources in retraining new personnel extending on board and resolving productivity concerns In high-growth industries such as technology renewable energy financial services and modern manufacturing, the structural bottleneck that results from a mismatch between academic training and real-world application can grow larger The academic environment is so inflexible far from global trends Institutions around the globe are adopting flexible learning hybrid and competency-
based learning But in Pakistan many universities still have industrial age mindsets They lack modernization in the form of rigid attendance policies, fixed work schedules, and little utilization of digital tools
Such a system offers very little support or flexibility for working students, single parents or individuals working in many careers simultaneously The lack of adaptability prevents one from getting access to education and keeps one away from lifetime learning a vital component to keep a competitive as well as a resilient labor force
A watershed issue is the broken connection between the industries and the academicians University curricula too are designed in isolation with hardly any input from what sectors they hope to serve This leads graduates to have theoretical knowledge but do not possess practical experience and interdisciplinary skills, which are required by employers or worse, internship opportunities, collaborations in research, and entrepreneurial training are not developed or even nonexistent While this leaves students with insufficient skills to make this transition (from campus to career) it further widens the skills mismatch The macroeconomic consequences are staggering A workforce that cannot innovate cannot compete A university system that fails to inspire becomes a national liability The examples of countries that have successfully transformed their education systems such as Finland South Korea and Singapore demonstrate
Foreign powers and unrest
haMza nasir
MuhaMMad Bilal Khan
Netanyahu: Hitler Reborn?
TTvests still being killed? These are not accidents; they are the deliberate use of overwhelming force to erase a population and make life unlivable for those who survive The recent Israeli strike in Doha, Qatar, marks another dangerous escalation Qatar hosts one of the largest U S military bases in the region, yet even that did not shield it from Israeli aggression By striking Doha Israel not only violated Qatari sovereignty but also humiliated its American ally whose intelligence and military coordination made the attack possible The strike killed civilians of multiple nationalities and sent a chilling message: no country is beyond Israel’s reach European leaders including the President of the European Commission the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Prime Minister of Spain, have condemned this blatant violation of sovereignty Yet condemnation alone carries no consequence As long as the United States shields Israel diplomatically and financially sanctions embargoes and accountability measures remain empty threats Israel s obsession with Iran further exposes its expansionist ambitions netanyahu and his allies have spent years warning of an Iranian nuclear bomb, yet no credible evidence has ever proven Iran was building one Even if it had many nations possess
implement digital taxes on the major platforms to provide additional revenue to support journalism as well as to address the negative externalities caused by the new digital platforms Because they profit from the work of others, it is appropriate to tax the major platforms revenue directly through new levies and digital taxes before asking
Qamar Bashir
CORPORATE
Starmer warns UK
of wider efforts to build diplomatic engagement with Washington
Labour in ‘fight of our lives’
He also called Reform s plan to make migrants reapply for new visas with tougher rules racist , adding it would “tear our country apart” ‘Phase two’
Despite some success on the international stage for his handling of US President Donald Trump and helping co-ordinate European support for Ukraine, Starmer has endured a largely miserable first 14 months domestically as prime minister Britain’s sluggish economy means a tax-raising budget is reportedly looming while Starmer has
trailed Reform by 12 points while Starmer s satisfaction ratings hit the lowest recorded by Ipsos for any prime minister going back to 1977 Starmer said Sunday that the party had “got the fight of our lives ahead of us We ve got to take on Reform we ve got to beat them The effects will be there for generations,” he told the BBC
The fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee will be held in Beijing from Oct 20 to 23 according to a decision made at a CPC Central Committee Political Bureau meeting on Monday The meeting discussed major issues related to the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development Xi Jinping general secretary of the CPC Central
about his judgment His leadership is in crisis, really, said political scientist Steven Fielding “And the conference isn’t really going to resolve that It ll give people occasion to air their discontent with Starmer he told AFP ‘Hard road’ Australian leader Albanese offered words of support for his “friend” in one of the conference’s first speeches Being a party of government means grappling with uncertainty and complexity it means making, and yes, owning tough decisions,” he told members
Committee chaired the meeting
The Political Bureau heard a report regarding the opinions solicited from in and outside the CPC on the CPC Central Committee’s proposals for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan and decided that the document will be revised based on the discussion at Monday s meeting and submitted to the fourth plenary session for review
The meeting underlined the importance of upholding the Party s overall leadership during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and adhering to a people-centered approach to ensure that more benefits of modernization are shared more fairly among all the people It stressed the need to stay committed to highquality development foster new productive forces in line with local conditions and comprehensively deepen reform while further expanding high-level openings China will promote better interplay between an efficient market and a well-functioning government, giving full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of resources and ensuring the government plays its role better
The meeting also urged efforts to ensure both development and security and effectively prevent and defuse risks in key areas
Upholding and strengthening the Party s overall leadership is the fundamental guarantee for ad-
L A H O R E T O G ET M A J O R U N D E R G R O U N D PA R K I N G FA C I L I T Y
ISLAMABAD
Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid accompanied by Member of the National Assembly Ms Nafisa Shah visited the floodhit areas of District Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which were severely affected by recent floods, landslides, and torrential rains
On the direction of BISP Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid a BISP Mobile Registration Van has arrived in District Buner to facilitate the registration of flood-affected families, enabling them to benefit from various BISP programmes
During the visit, she reviewed the ongoing relief efforts with PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Syed Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha and other party leaders and held consultations on necessary measures for the complete rehabilitation of affected families Deputy Commissioner Buner Mr Kashif Qayum Khan also briefed the Chairperson BISP on the extent of flood disaster, relief operations, and rehabilitation measures being undertaken by the district administration On this occasion essential items were also distributed among the flood affectees The recent relief
Communications Abdul Aleem Khan stated that the damaged section of Motorway M-5 near Jalalpur Pirwala will be restored at the earliest and the National Highway Authority (NHA) has been assigned special tasks to ensure its timely rehabilitation Federal Minister Communications added that as soon as the repair works of the Punjab Irrigation Department are completed restoration of the Motorway will immediately begin and be finalized within 15 to 20 days He further noted that continuous liaison is being maintained with the Punjab Government to ensure swift and critical decision-making Punjab Minister for Irrigation Kazim Ali Pirzada informed that all breaches on the Motorway will be closed by the evening of October 4 after which a team of experts will carry out a technical review on October 6 He added that out of the 7 breaches at Noor Raja Bund on the River Sutlej, 3 have already been successfully closed while work on the remaining is progressing rapidly He assured that the Irrigation Department is utilizing its full capacity and water levels in the affected areas are gradually receding Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan further stated that officers from different regions of NHA have been mobilized to expedite the restoration work which will continue round the clock until full completion He emphasized that the Secretary Communications and Chairman NHA are consistently present on-site to oversee the operations
redesigned website reinforces Bank Alfalah s commitment to leading Pakistan s digital banking transformation, providing a unified access point for innovative offerings and a seamless experience across digital and physical platforms
NEPRA concludes hearing of PKR 0 19 under August 2025 FCA
KARACHI
issue a decision clarifying the FCA amount to be passed on to customer bills and the period for which they will be applicable Notified FCA will also be applicable on KElectric (KE) customers – by way of tariff rationalization as approved by Economic Coordination Committee (ECC)
National Women Paralegal Conference 2025: Empowering Women Paralegals for Legal Advocacy
KARACHI
NAQVI WARNS INDIA AGAINST ‘DRAGGING WAR’ INTO CRICKET AFTER MODI’S ASIA CUP REMARKS
Petroleum product prices are expected to rise significantly from October 1 2025 according to industry sources Both ex-refinery
attack in occupied Kashmir The standoff which lasted four days ended after US intervention but left ties severely strained
Police book dozens on terror charges after attack on Ahmadi homes and shops in Sialkot
SIALKOT
s ta f f r e p o r t
Police in Sialkot have booked dozens of suspects under terrorism and criminal charges after a mob attacked members of the Ahmadi community vandalised their homes and shops and clashed with law enforcement late Sunday night
The case was registered at Moutra police station on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Amir Ali Sindhu According to the FIR, police received reports around 8pm that an incited crowd had gathered in Piro Chak village following tensions over the burial of an Ahmadi woman earlier this month
When officers reached the spot, they encountered 200 to 250 armed men who allegedly pelted stones looted properties set farmhouses on fire and snatched weapons from policemen
The FIR lists offences ranging from dacoity and attempted murder to promoting religious enmity and terrorism, invoking multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code along with Section 7 of the AntiTerrorism Act
District Police Officer Faisal Shehzad confirmed that eight people were injured in the violence five belonging to the Ahmadi community and three associated with the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) He said one Ahmadi man sustained a gunshot wound but all victims were out of danger Police said the incident followed days of rising hostility in the area On Saturday members of the Ahmadi community were accused of beating a local resident after which TLP supporters allegedly set fire to their properties
Anti-riot units were later dispatched to the area to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control Officials said further arrests are expected after the investigation is completed Sunday s violence is the latest in a string of attacks targeting the Ahmadi community this year Similar mob assaults were reported in Faisalabad, Daska, and Karachi where worship places were set ablaze and community members were assaulted despite repeated assurances of protection from authorities
people-centric approaches to address regional challenges The organizers emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between Afghan and Pakistani leaders to achieve sustainable development and peace, highlighting the role of women s participation in governance The meeting builds on recent efforts to improve Afghan-Pakistani relations, including agreements to boost regional connectivity such as the Pakistan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan railway project The dialogue also focuses on addressing cross-border security concerns, particularly the presence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its impact on bilateral ties
to build trust and advance
