RS1.51 TRILLION PSDP UNDER REVIEW AS PM SHEHBA Z RESHAPES DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES AHEAD OF BUDGET
g GOVT SIGNALS PERFORMANCE- LINKED FUNDING A S IMF PRESSURES CONTINUE TO CONSTRAIN FISC AL SPACE
g ISL AMABAD STEPS UP INVESTOR OUTREACH THROUGH REFORM MESS AGING, FINTECH TALKS AND PANDA BOND MOMENTUM
T H weeks remaining before the federal budget, the government has begun outlining the broad contours of its economic and development strategy for the coming fiscal year one that attempts to balance IMF-driven fiscal restraint with the political necessity of sustaining visible development spending At the centre of that effort is a proposed Rs1 51 trillion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for fiscal year 2026-27, reviewed on Monday by
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a high-level meeting attended by senior cabinet members and top bureaucrats
g WATER RESERVOIRS, HYDROPOWER AND INFRA STRUCTURE PROJECTS EMERGE A S CENTREPIECE OF FY27 STRATEGY
g GULF TIES, REMITTANCES AND ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY POSITIONED A S KEY PILL ARS OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY
PM S hehbaz, Q atari leadership hold key talks on Middle East peace effor ts
The proposed figure remains under discussion and is expected to be finalised in upcoming meetings on the Annual Development Programme (ADP), amid broader debate within the government over how much fiscal space can realistically be allocated to development spending under Pakistan s ongoing IMF programme The meeting reviewed both the outgoing year s development expenditure and proposed projects for FY27, while also offering one of the clearest indications yet of how the government intends to shape spending priorities in the coming year According to officials, the prime minister directed that ministries and divisions demonstrating stronger utilisation of development funds and faster implementation of projects should receive greater allocations in the next PSDP, while underperforming ministries could see their funding reduced The move signals the government’s intention to shift toward a more perform-
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday held a key telephonic conversation with Qatar ’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi with both sides stressing the urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy amid escalating tensions in the Middle East According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) the two
regional situation and matters of
gagement to address growing regional challenges
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f r e p o r t
The Qatari minister appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role and ongoing diplomatic efforts” in promoting peace and de-escalation while Dar reiterated Islamabad s commitment to advancing the shared goals of peace, stability and prosperity across the region and beyond The latest contact reflects Pakistan’s increasingly active diplomatic outreach as it continues efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States following months of conflict and instability in the Gulf region
The conversation came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Qatar s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jas-
sim Al Thani, thanking the Qatari leadership for supporting Pakistan’s mediation initiatives aimed at reducing tensions in the region
It marked the second telephone exchange between the two leaders within a week Earlier discussions also focused on the deteriorating regional security environment and the need for sustained peace efforts Meanwhile Dar also met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy in Islamabad on Monday According to the Foreign Office, both sides exchanged views on regional developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia cooperation in all fields
these engagements are defensive and stabilising in character and should not be portrayed as offensive measures or tied to speculative regional scenarios
The sources also referred to recent official briefings and cited statements attributed to the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations on May 7, saying the security of Saudi Arabia remains of paramount importance to Pakistan
Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the drone attack on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), warning that targeting nuclear facilities posed grave risks to human life regional stability and global security In a statement the Foreign Office expressed full solidarity with the UAE government and people, stressing that attacks on civilian nuclear infrastructure were a serious violation of international law and internationally accepted nuclear safety norms “Any deliberate targeting of nuclear facilities constitutes a grave violation of international law the United Nations Charter, and the principles of nuclear safety and security enshrined in the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ” the statement said Pakistan warned that such actions could trigger catastrophic and irreversible consequences for human life, the environment and international peace
“Nuclear installations must never be targeted under any circumstances ” the Foreign Office stressed describing the inviolability of civilian nuclear infrastructure as a universally recognised international norm that must be upheld without
ISLAMABAD
WAPDA hydel output tops 6,100 MW on reser voir boost
Pakistan opens door to tokenised sovereign debt, NPCs
balance-of-payments pressures This year however the government appears to be pursuing a more selective strategy rather than across-the-board austerity Instead of uniformly compressing development expenditure, the emerging approach appears aimed at concentrating available resources on projects considered economically important politically visible and administratively achievable Ministries capable of demonstrating implementation capacity are likely to receive priority consideration, while slower-moving departments may struggle to secure additional funding Officials briefed the meeting on progress under the current PSDP and presented proposed schemes for the upcoming fiscal year Among the projects receiving particular attention were major water storage and hydropower initiatives including Dasu Dam, DiamerBhasha Dam and Mohmand Dam The prime minister reiterated that water reservoirs and hydropower projects remained among the government s highest
development priorities, stressing the importance of increasing Pakistan’s water storage capacity and strengthening domestic energy generation
The emphasis reflects growing concern within policymaking circles over Pakistan s long-term water and energy vulnerabilities The country continues to face recurring electricity shortages, rising energy import costs and mounting pressure on water resources due to climate stress and population growth making large dam and hydropower projects central to the government s infrastructure narrative During the meeting, the prime minister also praised the performance of the ministries of railways information technology and power signalling the government’s focus on sectors it considers relatively better-performing in terms of implementation and service delivery The inclusion of information technology among the betterperforming ministries is particularly notable as Islamabad increasingly attempts to position digitalisation technology exports and fintech expansion as future growth drivers capable of easing pressure on Pakistan s
2
Markets need peace
TTWhy economic growth alone cannot eliminate pover t y in Pakistan?
GNP has
people in
ers the
and
A curable neglect
Patriotism through knowledge
TMarka-e-Haq: Pakistan’s stand against India’s expansionist agenda
taliated with a strong response using air and ground attacks Both episodes underscore a cycle in which India presents herself as reactive in pursuit of maximalist goals False Flags Surgical Strikes and Nuclear Posturing Post-9/11 dynamics added to this recurrently, India has been using terror attacks - often alleged to be Pakistan-backed - as excuses to make military claims The Pulwama suicide bombing of 2019 resulted in 40 dead CrPF officers India accused Jaish-e-Mohammed and struck Balakot airstrikes deep into Pakistan saying to hit terror camps It is not new to use the name of Jaish-e-Mohammed to wage war against Pakistan, specifically whenever India’s elections are near however the independent satellite images later indicated minimal damage with Pakistan downing an Indian jet and capturing pilot abhinandan Varthaman who was later released as a gesture of peace Pakistan has long been suspicious of such attacks, allowing Indian adventurism, in keeping with a tradition of unverified attribution The 2025 Pahalgam attack in IIOJK resulting in the deaths of tourists caused a new crisis Blaming the Pakistanlinked groups India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and launched Operation Sindoor-missile strikes on suspected targets Pakistan described it as a possible false flag citing the timing and the absence of independent investigations as had been the case with Pulwama Counteractions were followed by cross-border attacks but a restrained response by Marka-e-haq and diplomatic overtures proved to be a victory of will and truth over aggression
Empirically, these incidents demonstrated the strategy India follows to disturb regional peace Notably the utilization of sub-conventional initiators of conventional
benefits tests the thresholds of Pakistan and projects the power back home On the Nuclear Equation India had shifted to Nuclear ambiguity when it had been NFu The nuclear doctrine of India, as formulated on the basis of credible minimum deterrence and NFu, is tempered by statements from leaders such as rajnath Singh the defense minister of India suggesting flexibility based on circumstances The issue of modernization such as triad capabilities canisterized missiles, and possible counterforce targeting, is raising regional concerns analysts point out that the expansionist nuclear posture by India is not only directed at Pakistan but also against China and this design now has reached far beyond the regional level with the inclusion of agni VI missiles Pakistan s weapons provide a stable deterrent and prevent the war that would have ensued under the given contemporary circumstances Pakistan’s nuclear shadow
has ironically stabilized the region by increasing the cost of escalation but India has probes below the threshold and is running the risk of miscalculation In an environment where Pakistan is not only facing traditional security threats from India, but its impact can be seen in its nontraditional security elements as unfortunately
intervention of India But it was a sequel to internal Pakistani political crises This is another clear indication of how India is keen to exploit internal differences to make territorial and strategic gains Kargil 1999 involved Pakistani troops perched on heights on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) India re-
SATIRE
Rperialism and too honest not to know its very sordid underpinnings of greed, lies, and sheer selfishness That’s why the same man who extolled the “white man’s burden” also wrote ‘The Man Who Would Be King ’ a story of two lowlife ambitious adventurers who manage to swindle their way to becoming kings as well as rich in a remote country on the fringes of the empire, then at its late-nineteenth-century zenith of global primacy until, that is, one of them makes the mistake of messing with the wrong woman, who ends up biting him in public Seeing him bleed his subjects realize he is a mere mortal and mercilessly dispense with the two imposters ukraine s ruler – and de facto king (of the old-fashioned, non-constitutional kind) –Vladimir Zelensky is a social climber, too In his formative years, his native Krivoy rog was a provincial post-Soviet rustbelt town with a lively gangster scene a “bandit city” in his own words Zelensky is also an expert in make-believe by profession a cynically profane showman of the give-them-whateverthey-want-as-long-as-it-pays variety, the cruder and smuttier the better Indeed, Zelensky even has a sidekick, who, as in Kipling’s dark story has shared in the scheme of power-grabbing and plunder: andrey yermak his former chief of staff and very intimate friend making headlines (again) for being so corrupt and sinister that he stands out, even in Kiev and now Zelensky, the man who, it seems, would be ukraine’s president forever has just been bitten in public by a woman Judging by the fierce clearly orchestrated reaction of his media propagandists in ukraine and the fact that the Western mainstream media are largely pretending not to have noticed, he must be bleeding, too The woman is his former press secretary yulia Mendel and she has been able to draw (metaphorical) blood because Tucker Carlson american alternative-media heavyweight and conservative dissident from Trumpism has interviewed her for his show That has made it a very public bloodletting indeed What Mendel has had to say is one thing, her ability to reach breathtaking numbers of americans and other inhabitants of the West is at least as important and from Kiev’s point of view frustrating: across various platforms shows of the Tucker Carlson Network (TCN) are watched by, on average, over 55
viewers, dwarfing, for instance,
with
has further undermined public confidence in the mainstream media and boosted TCN Explosive growth” in the two first months of the war has produced over 1 5 billion “views across social media and podcast platforms ” Indeed TCN is on such a roll that Carlson is now rumored to be a contender for the presidency and he has not ruled out a run
This is the amplifier for Mendel s harsh memo to the uS and the West It is hard to think of a bigger one and what a message she had to deliver Consider a few highlights: Speaking she underlined as an insider from her own close experience with Zelensky and the inner circle of his regime, Mendel has told us all that she believes Zelensky personally stands behind many schemes of money laundering” and that he has always remained an “amazing actor” whose image “on camera” is “very different” from his real self For instance while he is posturing as not merely some democrat but a shining epitome of democracy as well as everything else that is good and beautiful, such as rule of law, freedom of speech, civil society, and national unity, his real view relentlessly repeated behind closed doors is as we learn from Mendel that ukraine is not ready for democracy and dictatorship is an order too
So much, by the way, for those Zelensky propagandists in ukraine and the West who habitually smear every critic of his devastating regime as diminishing ukraine or not trusting ordinary ukrainians with “agency ” The one really despising his compatriots as too backward to rule themselves and in need of a strong – namely, his – hand, is, it turns out, Vladimir Zelensky and as Mendel rightly points out, that also means that he does not symbolize or provide unity; he abuses it Zelensky’s profound hypocrisy permeates his private life and politics Mendel reveals for instance that he was still going on trips to Crimea – to have fun with friends and drugs –while it was already under russian control In december 2019, he privately told russian President Vladimir Putin that ukraine would never join NaTO While Zelensky’s public poll ratings are steadily declining the polls produced for internal use are so bad that even some of his fixers privately admit that he is unelectable With no respect for the truth, Zelensky s attitude to reality itself seems broken, even deranged From her own conversations with him, Mendel reports that ukraine’s leader believes that “it doesn’t matter what is [actually] happening Things he has argued behind closed doors become real
(Carlson’s
of
summra Hamid
An ex-aide lays bare the corruption, lies and coercion in Ukraine’s leadership – while Western backing keeps the system alive
IRAN WILL TURN GULF OF OMAN INTO ‘GRAVEYARD’ FOR SHIPS IF US DOESN’T END BLOCK ADE: MILITARY ADVISER
CORPORATE CORNER
EU, NCHR and UNDP launch repor t on human rights abuse in rehabilitation centres across Pakistan
ISLAMABAD Staff report
Through the Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project funded by the European Union (EU) the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) in launching its investigative report, Caged in Care: Investigating Human Rights Abuse in Rehabilitation Centres ”Drawing on testimonies from former and current patients as well as an analysis of institutional and legal frameworks the report identifies key gaps in oversight regulation and accountability within selected rehabilitation centres The launch brought together government representatives, development partners, civil society stakeholders, and legal experts to encourage evidence-based dialogue on strengthening safeguards and improving accountability in institutional care systems At the heart of this report are individuals who were placed in care but instead found themselves without adequate protection, voice, or recourse, said NCHR Chairperson Rabiya Javeri Agha This is not about isolated cases, it is about a system that has allowed control to take the place of care particularly in the lives of women The incidents investigated for this report are indicative of systemic regulatory failure shaped by institutional neglect
FEDERAL SHARIAT COURT RESTORES
L AW CRIMINALISING SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that the Punjab government s flagship housing initiative, Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, has emerged as a major attraction for international visitors at the Baku exhibition, where its dedicated pavilion is drawing significant interest She stated that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has recently showcased this landmark housing project on a global platform in Baku, presenting it as a unique model for the world Azma Bokhari said the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar” program is the largest and most distinctive housing initiative of its kind globally Under the scheme 100 000 homes have already been completed while con-
struction work on
She
She
NUML Launches ‘Jinnah the Great Series’ to Commemorate
nationwide celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah The inaugural session organized under the NUML Mehfil Forum was held under the patronage of Rector NUML Major General (r) Shahid Mahmood Kayani, with the objective of acquainting younger generations with the vision, leadership, and enduring principles
members, and a large number of students participated in the seminar The ceremony commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Qari Syed Sadaqat Ali Delivering the keynote address Riaz Ahmad highlighted the historical journey leading to the creation of Pakistan and elaborated on the pivotal role played by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
TARAR SL AMS KP CABINET EXPANSION, ALLEGES CORRUPTION AND GOVERNANCE FAILURE
Most-wanted SRA militant held in Karachi with explosives, weapons
A most-wanted terrorist linked to the banned Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) was arrested during a joint intelligence-based operation carried out by the Sindh Rangers and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) near Karachi on Monday officials said The suspect identified as Abdul Jabbar Sarki son of Ghulam Rasool, was apprehended at the Rangers check post near Raees Goth on Hub River Road while allegedly travelling from Quetta to Karachi According to officials detonators ball bearings weapons and explosive material were recovered from his possession during the operation Authorities said the militant was allegedly planning terrorist attacks at sensitive locations in Karachi in coordination with his accomplices Investigators claimed that Sarki remained in contact with SRA commander Sajjad Shah from abroad, who is accused of masterminding several sabotage activities in Karachi and other parts of Sindh Officials said Sarki joined Sajjad Shah s network in 2020 and later became actively involved in militant operations associated with the banned separatist outfit Investigators further alleged that the suspect, along with another accomplice, carried out a grenade attack on a Rangers check post near Manzil Pump on the National Highway in June 2020 The attack reportedly injured two civilians passing through the area and partially damaged the Rangers installation
According to officials, the militant had also conducted reconnaissance of an Independence Day stall in Gulshan-e-Hadeed ahead of August 14 celebrations as part of an alleged terror plot Authorities said Sarki’s name was included in the CTD Red Book of highly wanted terrorists The suspect along with the seized arms and explosive material has been handed over to the CTD for further investigation and legal action
Wapda says hydropower generation crossed 6,000MW during peak hours
Govt rejec ts repor ts of raising voting age to 25 amid constitutional amendment
ISLAMABAD s ta f f C o r r e s p o n d e n t
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday categorically dismissed reports suggesting that the government was considering a proposal to increase the minimum voting age from 18 to 25 years, calling such claims baseless rumours
“Why should we comment on rumours? No such proposal is under our consideration Tarar said while responding to a media query regarding reports linked to discussions surrounding a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment
The debate surfaced after Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah recently revealed during a television interview that proposals related to the voting age were being discussed in the context of constitutional reforms
Speaking on Geo News programme Jirga Sanaullah had argued that if the minimum age to contest elections remained 25 years, then there should also be a debate on whether the voting age
should be aligned accordingly He also suggested that, alternatively, the age for contesting elections could be reduced to 18 years
Under Pakistan’s existing electoral laws every citizen aged 18 years or above is eligible to be registered as a voter provided they meet residency requirements within the relevant electoral constituency
The reports triggered reactions from opposition parties and lawmakers who warned against any move that could restrict youth participation in the democratic process
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said he did not consider the proposal a serious one, stressing that young people formed a vital segment of society and democracy
According to the United Nations individuals between the ages of 15 and 29 are considered youth, Gohar told reporters at Parliament House He warned that depriving 18-year-olds of the right to vote would negatively affect democratic representation
JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza also opposed the idea arguing
speculation
that if an 18-year-old citizen is legally recognised as an adult and allowed to marry, then they should also retain the constitutional right to vote
“If a person is mature enough to understand marriage they can also understand the law and democratic responsibilities he remarked
The controversy emerged amid continued speculation over a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment though senior government leaders have denied that any final proposals are currently under consideration
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar recently stated that there were no clear indications of a new constitutional amendment at present emphasising that any such move would require broad political consensus among coalition partners and stakeholders
Similarly, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also said that no formal discussions had yet taken place regarding a 28th Amendment while reaffirming his party s commitment to protecting provincial autonomy and democratic rights
KP governor, chief minister jointly criticise Centre over gas suspension
was developed with the provincial government
Wapda said its hydel power stations
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi
and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday voiced criticism of the federal government over the suspension of gas supply in the province, calling on the Centre to ensure the province receives what they described as its constitutional and financial rights
Speaking at a joint press conference in Peshawar the chief minister said CNG stations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were being shut because of the gas shortage Referring to the constitutional position on natural resources, he said the province should have priority over its own gas output At the press conference Afridi said people in the province should not be pushed into more hardship and alleged that decisions taken without provincial input were being enforced on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
He also accused the federal government of acting in an unlawful and unconstitutional manner in a number of development schemes and claimed that Rs12 billion earmarked for the merged tribal districts had been unfairly deducted
Attributing his position to the Constitution the chief minister said: Article 158 of the Constitution clearly states that a gas-producing province has the first right over its resources," He further said:
"The suspension of gas in the province is an illegal act," Afridi urged stakeholders not to back what he called unconstitutional steps against the province
Security and provincial rights
On the law and order situation the chief minister said peace could be restored in the province within 100 days if interference stopped and a joint strategy
Governor Kundi also questioned whether Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being penalised for producing gas and electricity for the country saying the province was supplying low-cost energy and mineral resources to the state He said that if the province received its due share of water it would not need to buy wheat
The governor said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was already confronting terrorism and bearing heavy losses, including the deaths of police and army personnel, and warned that depriving the province of its rights would be unjust He said the public had first been asked to make sacrifices on petrol and electricity and was now being tested through CNG as well
Kundi said the provincial leadership had remained in contact with the federation and had repeatedly conveyed that such treatment of the province should end He also appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s issues with the same urgency shown in other matters
Letter to the prime minister
Separately the chief minister wrote to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and sought an immediate resolution of the CNG issue in the province
In the letter, Afridi said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces around 494mmcfd of gas while its own consumption stands at 120 mmcfd He stated that the province s CNG sector needs between 36mmcfd and 40mmcfd of gas but that this volume had been diverted to the fertiliser sector The chief minister warned in the letter that the continued suspension of gas supply to the CNG sector could lead to unrest and law and order problems in the province He added that the transport sector depends heavily on CNG and that the use of more expensive fuels would place an extra burden on the public