PM ORDERS SECURIT Y CORRIDOR FOR BALOCHISTAN
g PREMIER SHEHBAZ CHAIRS APEX COMMITTEE MEETING TO REVIEW SECURITY STRATEGY UNDER NATIONAL ACTION PLAN
g STRESSES INVESTOR CONFIDENCE FOR SAINDAK, REKO DIQ MINERAL PROJECTS, SAYING SECURITY CORRIDOR TO INCLUDE FC WINGS, CHECKPOINTS, SURVEILLANCE GRID AND BORDER POSTS
g SAYS SECURE ENVIRONMENT KEY FOR UNLOCKING BALOCHISTAN ’S MINERAL POTENTIAL, HIGHLIGHTING FOCUS PLACED ON YOUTH UPLIFT THROUGH EDUCATION, SKILLS
decision-making processes
Dar underscores push to expand Pakistan’s engagement with S audi Arabia, UAE and Iran
g RAKHSHAN DIVISION IN BALOCHISTAN HOME TO MULTI BILLION-DOLLAR COPPER-GOLD PROJECTS OF REO DIQ, SAINDAK ISLAMABAD
and human resource development
He also highlighted the positive contribution of the Pakistani diaspora in the UAE and directed that additional measures be taken for their welfare and facilitation Dar further called for strengthening people-to-people linkages between the two countries
Pakistan, Iran to deepen cooperation in key areas
He also stressed the importance of continued engagement with the Pakistani community in the Kingdom, noting their constructive role in strengthening bilateral ties and contributing to the socio-economic development of both countries Dar also meets Pakistan envoy to UAE Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also met Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Shafqat Ali Khan on the sidelines of the same conference In a separate statement, the Foreign Office said the deputy prime minister emphasised the need to further expand bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE across diverse sectors and to reinforce strong diplomatic and economic relations
as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Am-
Ahmed Siddiqui ahead of his posting to Tehran
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the deputy prime minister recalled the deeprooted historical cultural and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Iran and reiterated Pakistan s commitment to expanding cooperation in all areas, particularly trade, connectivity, people-to-people exchanges, and regional collaboration He stressed the importance of
close coordination and mutual understanding Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace dialogue and stability expressing confidence that the ambassador-designate would contribute effectively to further strengthening the longstanding partnership between the two countries He extended his best wishes for success in his new assignment
NA passes bills on bank loan recover y, Pakistan Airpor ts Authorit
Amendments
The
CCP approves CDC investment in Naymat Collateral Management Company
g COMMISSION SAYS TRANSACTION WILL NOT AFFECT MARKET COMPETITION AS CDC SEEKS ADDITIONAL SHAREHOLDING IN PAKISTAN’S ONLY SECP-REGISTERED COLLATERAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY
The current account deficit
The drop before the deluge? O r c an the coming crisis be controlled?
TH AT the current account surplus turned into a deficit in April was only to be expected With the global price of oil going persistently upward, the surplus was bound to come under pressure From a surplus of $H 134 billion in March which was the highest in a year the April current account showed a deficit of $324 million That meant a cumulative change of $1 458 billion That rate of burning money cannot be sustained One way of ending it is for oil prices to return to levels approaching the beginning of the conflict between Iran and the USA and Israel The reopening of the Hormuz Strait is essential for that, and efforts have been renewed by mediating powers towards that end However for the present, US President Donald Trump has announced that the USA held off an impending attack because such powers as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE asked him to The ceasefire was declared on April 8 and has been maintained ever since (There have been violations, but the ceasefire continues in place ) Initially limited, after April 21, when it expired, Mr Trump declared that it would remain in place indefinitely though that did not stop him from blockading Iranian ports The USA once again has found the Iranian proposal insufficient, and apparently hopes that its threat of devastation will force Iran to accept US Terms It might be noted that pressure from affected countries, including Pakistan, is mounting on Iran to come to an agreement with the USA on reopening the Hormuz Strait Apart from the diplomatic front there is the possibility of increasing imports, but that will only work in the long run, because there is little chance of increasing imports at short notice Going by the Real Effective Exchange Rate was 105 80 in April compared to 105 17 in April the rupee is overvalued, but only marginally
Remittances continue to be strong, as do loans from International financial institutions but there will be a limit as the import bill continues to rise Even as the price of oil imports continues to rise, the reserves, built up at such great cost, are likely to fall beneath the safety level There is the possibility unlikely but not to be ruled out of the USA launching a ground assault That will raise the global oil price even further Pakistan has already been stripped of its current account surplus; next its reserves will follow
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami
Making a bad situation worse
N E reason why US policy in the
East has been so problematic is because policymakers refuse to consider its impact on the needs of Arab people With
it s a different
Over-attentiveness to Israeli concerns coupled with the lack of sensitivity to what Arabs think about our actions has led to deep fractures between Arabs and the USA and within the Arab World Since 2000 we ve conducted over 50 multi-nation opinion polls on a variety of topics We explored Arab attitudes toward other Arabs the USA China Russia, Iran, and Israel We also examined attitudes toward conflicts in the region
It’s been over two years since we’ve polled across the Arab World but based on what we saw developing during our two and a half decades of work it s clear that US policies are headed toward disaster not only for the USA and its stated goals but also and more importantly for the Arab people
What follows are some observations based on the trend lines we have culled from our surveys:
n After 9/11 President Bush famously claimed They hate us because they hate our values Our 2002 polling found the opposite: Arabs liked American people, products, education and values, but strongly disliked US policies toward the Arab world especially regarding Palestinians As I said during a congressional hearing on my polling: “Arabs like us and our values what they resent is that we don t apply those values to them Bush s Iraq war and neglect of Palestinians further lowered US ratings They rose with Obama s promise of change but fell when he didn’t deliver on them Attitudes further plummeted with Trump’s proIsrael anti-Muslim policies By late 2023 our last multi-nation poll showed President Biden s support for Israel s war on Gaza generating even stronger negatives To make matters worse, the complications created by President Trump s US-Israel attacks on Iran, coupled with his assault on the very aspects of the USA that were re-
spected worldwide our universities press freedom and immigration policy make it likely that Arabs are now finding it difficult to even like US values
Over the years, we have often polled on favorable/unfavorable attitudes toward China and the USA During this time while opinions toward the USA ebbed and flowed attitudes toward China remained steady By the end of 2023 for the first time China s ratings were competitive with those of the USA in areas that had previously been the USA s strong suits education and doing business And in several Arab countries, China was seen as a more reliable partner than the USA n Arab attitudes toward Iran have followed a consistent pattern When Iran was perceived to be under attack for resisting the US and the West, it found a strong base of support among many Arabs But when Iran directly meddled in Arab countries opinion turned against it And when its ally Hezbollah turned its weapons against its domestic Lebanese opponents and joined Iran in direct involvement in Syria s civil war majorities in most Arab countries turned against Iran
Following this trajectory, one can reasonably assume that the USA/Israel attacks on Iran coupled with Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and Syria and Israel’s boasts of becoming the regional power that was defending Western civilization against barbarism won Iran some sympathy in Arab public opinion The same might be true for the recent US/Israel attacks on Iran, except that instead of seeking Arab support, Iran deliberately attacked its Arab Gulf neighbours the very countries that had been trying to restore relationships with the meddlesome Islamic Republic This no doubt turned opinion among many in the Gulf against Iran It is uncertain however how much intra-Arab friction this is causing in the rest of the Arab world Support for Palestinians has long been a central Arab concern They showed little interest in making peace with Israel even in those countries that had signed peace agreements with Israel As Israeli repression of Palestinians intensified and the fractured and visionless Palestinian leadership failed to inspire Arab opinion began to change In late 2019 we asked Arabs if they felt it would be desirable to make peace with Israel, even if Israel didn t accept the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative When significant numbers said that it might be desirable we asked why The responses varied but many told us that it might help end the violence and give Arabs more leverage to convince Israel to grant Palestinian rights We repeated this question at the end of September 2023 and had completed about half of the questionnaires by October 7, the date of the Hamas attack We interrupted the survey and only went back a few weeks later to complete it The changes in the results were significant Before October 7 responses were similar to the 2019 poll but by the end of October in reaction to the intensity of Israel s assault on Gaza, attitudes shifted dramatically against any attempt to deal with Israel Three years later, one can reasonably assume this hasn’t changed
have increasingly intersected with China What began primarily through infrastructure cooperation under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor has gradually evolved into a deeper financial and monetary relationship The recent move toward Panda bonds represents another stage in that transition, reflecting not only Pakistan’s search for alternative financing mechanisms but
short term, this reduces immediate pressure and provides breathing space for economic management However dependence and diversification are not the same thing Diversification reduces concentration risk Dependence shifts it As Pakistan deepens financial reliance on China it also becomes increasingly exposed to fluctuations within the Chinese economy itself This matters because China’s economic landscape is changing Growth rates have moderated from the double-digit expansion that defined previous decades The Chinese property sector has experienced sustained stress local government debt concerns have increased and domestic consumption recovery has remained uneven following the pandemic According to the World Bank, China’s long-term growth trajectory is expected to stabilize at lower levels than those seen during the early 2000s For Pakistan this creates an important vulnerability When financing relationships become concentrated around a single economic partner, external shocks are transmitted more directly A slowdown in Chinese outbound investment, tighter liquidity conditions, or changes in Beijing’s overseas lending priorities could significantly affect Pakistan s financing environment The issue is not simply debt exposure It is structural alignment Pakistan s economic planning increasingly assumes continued Chinese support, whether through project financing, reserve assistance, or refinancing arrangements
This creates a situation where Pakistan’s financial stability becomes partially contingent on China’s economic confidence and strategic priorities Trade dynamics reinforce this imbalance Pakistan imports substantially more from China than it exports According to recent trade data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the bilateral trade deficit with China remains significant reflecting Pakistan’s dependence on imported machinery industrial inputs and consumer goods While Chinese investment has improved infrastructure capacity export growth has not expanded proportionately enough to offset this imbalance The launch of Panda bonds also carries symbolic importance It signals Pakistan’s willingness to participate more directly in China s financial architecture at a time when global economic fragmentation is increasing Across emerging markets, competition between financial spheres of influence is becoming more pronounced Countries are increasingly balancing relationships between Western financial institutions and alternative systems centred around China
For Pakistan this balancing act is particularly sensitive The country remains reliant on multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank while si-
multaneously deepening economic engagement with China Managing both relationships requires strategic calibration rather than exclusive alignment None of this suggests that closer economic ties with China are inherently problematic China remains one of the world’s largest economies and an important source of capital trade and infrastructure investment The challenge lies in concentration Sustainable economic relationships require diversification across markets, financing sources, and strategic partners
Pakistan’s economic history demonstrates the risks of overreliance on any single external anchor Whether through aid dependency remittance concentration or commodity exposure excessive reliance can limit policy flexibility and increase vulnerability to external shifts The same principle applies to financial integration with China
The deeper question raised by Panda bonds is therefore not whether Pakistan should engage with China It is how that engagement should be structured Financing mechanisms that support productive
SulemAN ZIA
Israel and the USA retreat as Iran emerges victorious
IHistor y may ultimately remember this conflict not as a triumph of militar y power, but as a case study in strategic overreach. The USA and Israel entered the war promising deterrence , dominance , and regional transformation. Instead, they trigg ered global economic pain, strengthened IranÊs g eopolitical standing, weakened confidence in Western leadership, and exposed the limitations of militar y force in an interconnected world Today, while Washington and Tel Aviv search for an exit from the crisis, Iran stands defiant, presenting itself as the side that endured, resisted, and sur vived
India’s Iran shock
Asia’s neoliberal era star ts to fracture
Modi’s austerity appeals reveal how war, energy insecurity and dollar pressures expose the fragility of globalisation
He urged the countr y ’s 1 4 billion people to consume less fuel and fer tiliser, buy less gold and curb foreign travel as global energy prices surge because of the war in Iran
The underlying assumption among elites was that India was too big to fail That idea bred complacenc y
today’s Indian policy establishment The death two years ago of India s former prime minister Manmohan Singh who was finance minister during the 1991 emergency, silenced an authoritative voice for whom the current account deficit was not an abstraction; it was existential That experience shaped a cautious strategic mindset through India’s
US-Israel war on Iran with its regional economy potentially shrinking by 3 6% By comparison, the figure in east Asia, dominated by China, is just 0 4% The UN suggests that that resilience comes not from ever-deeper dependence on fragile global markets but from domestic
but at Islam Within this symbolic landscape the niqab spectacle was not merely an act of Islamophobia It condensed the far right s political imagination into a single theatrical performance: the conquest of the Christian nation over Islam, the conquest of women by men, and the imagined reconquest of a sacred
Qamar BaShir
Qatar said on Tuesday that US-Iran negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, require more time to reach a deal, a day after Trump said he had postponed attacks to give the process a chance "We are supportive of the diplomatic effort by Pakistan that has shown seriousness in bringing parties together and finding a solution, and we do
time," Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said at a press conference Iran says new US aggression will result in 'stronger response' Spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament s National Security Commission Ebrahim Rezaei stated on Tuesday that any new aggression against Iran will be met with a stronger response and will make Trump even more ashamed," according to an X post by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB "The Americans must either surrender to diplomacy and our conditions or surrender to the power of our missiles
Iran and reparations for destruction caused by the US-Israeli war, the state news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi s report emphasised Iran s right to enrich and enjoy peaceful nuclear rights the state-run news agency said The report discussed ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, lifting the US naval blockade, releasing Iran’s property and assets providing for the damages caused by the war imposed by the US for reconstruction ending all unilateral sanctions and Security Council resolutions and withdrawing US forces from the Islamic Republic’s periphery” according to IRNA
ar yam Nawaz S harif ’s Visit to A zerbaijan:
Punjab Govt Appreciated at World Forum
Speaker of Parliament in June 1993 and later became President of Azerbaijan in October 1993 He served as President until his death in 2003
Heydar Aliyev restored peace in Azerbaijan and strengthened the national economy through agreements with foreign companies Owing to his successful foreign policy, Azerbaijan emerged as an important country on the global stage
There existed a long-standing personal and diplomatic friendship between Nawaz Sharif and Azerbaijan’s founding President Heydar Aliyev established in the early 1990s This close relationship became a milestone in fostering brotherly and strategic ties between the two countries Even today, these relations are regarded as a strong diplomatic and cultural asset between Pakistan and Azerbaijan a fact repeatedly acknowledged by Azerbaijan s top leadership
From the time Nawaz Sharif first became Prime Minister of Pakistan, deep ties were forged between him and Heydar Aliyev These relations played a key role in promoting political economic and defense cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan Both leaders openly supported each other s positions on matters of mutual interest and worked towards strengthening connectivity between Central and South Asia
On the first day, Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited the mausoleum of Azerbaijan s founding leader, Heydar Aliyev, laid a floral wreath, and offered prayers She also placed flowers at the Martyrs’ Memorial
Subsequently Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited Baku s historic library where she was shown commemorative photographs of Nawaz Sharif and Begum Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif ’s visit to Azerbaijan She also toured Baku’s old and historic district and tasted traditional Azerbaijani bread
home She further stated that the respect and hospitality extended to her were beyond words Maryam Nawaz Sharif informed the participants of the World Urban Forum about the Punjab Government s key initiatives including Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Suthra Punjab the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry, electric buses, model villages, and clean drinking water projects through the Public Health Engineering Department
Nawaz Sharif was elected
founder, Heydar Aliyev, was a visionary statesman He led the country for nearly three decades Initially, he governed Soviet Azerbaijan from 1969 to 1982 and later became the President of independent Azerbaijan At the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 Azerbaijan faced severe political and economic crises During this period of instability, the people of Azerbaijan turned to Heydar Aliyev as a leader He was elected
Heydar Aliyev’s son and the current President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has also continued this long-standing friendship between his father and Nawaz Sharif
During the recent visit to Baku Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif held an important meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, where both leaders appreciated the continuation of this enduring friendship and bilateral relations
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif accompanied by her cabinet, arrived in Baku to participate in the United Nations World Urban Forum She received a grand welcome at the airport
Before addressing the World Urban Forum, Maryam Nawaz Sharif also met President Ilham Aliyev In addition, she held sideline meetings with the leaders of Bulgaria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and several other countries Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif attended the World Urban Forum to introduce the Punjab Government s historic housing initiative, Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, to the world In a short period of time, the Punjab Government has provided homes to citizens of the province So far one hundred thousand people have been provided with homes while construction work on sixty-five thousand additional houses is progressing rapidly This is among the fastest and largest housing projects of its kind in the world At the beginning of her speech CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif conveyed greetings to the participants of the World Urban Forum on behalf of Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the people of Pakistan CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed great admiration for the performance of President Ilham Aliyev and described his vision as highly impressive Referring to Nawaz Sharif s close association and friendship with Baku, she remarked that it felt as though she had come not to Baku but to her own
President Putin arrives in Beijing for
Russia-China relations have reached a truly unprecedented level Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday in a video address delivered before his state visit to China The president noted that "regular mutual visits and RussiaChina top-level talks are an important and integral part of our joint efforts to promote the entire range of relations between our two countries and unlock their truly limitless potential
the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation The two sides will take this opportunity to continue deepening and elevating relations between China and Russia so as to inject more
and positive energy into the world a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Putin says Russian-Chinese ties reach truly unprecedented level'
The special nature of Russia-China relations is reflected in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, a commitment to pursuing win-win and equitable cooperation conducting respectful dialogue and supporting each other on matters affecting the core interests of both countries, including protection of sovereignty and state unity, he said Putin noted that 25 years ago, Russia and China signed the Treaty of GoodNeighborliness and Friendly Cooperation which laid a solid foundation for a genuinely strategic relationship and comprehensive partnership for the benefit of the two countries and two peoples Russia and China are actively ex-
The participants of the forum gave Maryam Nawaz Sharif a standing ovation and appreciated her for implementing such large-scale and impactful initiatives within a short period of time
This was the third occasion on which Maryam Nawaz Sharif addressed an international forum as chief minister Prior to this she had also demonstrated her capabilities in Türkiye and Brazil Her style of addressing international forums reflects her confidence and composure Whether addressing high-level dignitaries or general audiences, her speech remains confident and consistent which makes it impactful
Alongside being a successful politician
Maryam Nawaz Sharif has also demonstrated strong performance as the chief minister Only a short time has passed since her election as chief minister, yet her governance style reflects experience vision and leadership Rather than focusing on temporary relief she is concentrating on ensuring the provision of permanent and fundamental public services
All projects launched by Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Punjab have been designed with future requirements in mind
This is why her initiatives are receiving increasing appreciation at both national and international levels
Azma Zahid Bukhari Minister for Information and Culture, Punjab
state visit to C hina
panding their contacts in politics economy and other fields while broadening humanitarian exchanges and encouraging person-to-person interaction, Putin said "Together we are doing everything that can further deepen bilateral collaboration and advance the comprehensive development of our countries " Putin said noting that these issues will shape the agenda of the upcoming talks in Beijing Putin added that he deeply appreciates Chinese President Xi Jinping s commitment to long-term cooperation with Russia "I am convinced that our warm and friendly ties enable us to chart the boldest plans for the future and bring them to life he added Trade between Russia and China continues to grow, having long surpassed the 200 billion U S dollars mark, with mutual settlements now conducted almost entirely in rubles and yuan Putin said Major initiatives are underway in key areas of bilateral cooperation Putin noted Following the successful RussiaChina Years of Culture, the Russia-China Years of Education were launched in January, marking the 10th edition of such bi-
lateral projects in the humanitarian area Putin said that Russia holds China s centuries-old history and its achievements in culture, art and science in high esteem "We are interested in bringing our peoples closer together, further promoting mutual understanding and embracing all the positive things offered by the two countries' rich traditions and heritage
He also welcomed the introduction of a mutual visa-free regime between the two countries, saying the arrangement facilitates greater business and tourism exchanges while harnessing new opportunities for communication and personal contacts between Russian and Chinese nationals Putin stressed that the close strategic relationship between Russia and China plays a major, stabilizing role globally "Without allying against anyone, we seek peace and universal prosperity " "It is in this spirit that Moscow and Beijing act in a coordinated manner to defend international law and the provisions of the UN Charter in their entirety, completeness and interconnectedness," Putin said
Dr. Zahid Ansari Appointed as Chairman Pakistan Canada Business Council, FPCCI
STAFF REPORT
Dr Zahid Hasan Ansari former Secretary Sindh Member of the Advisory Council DEPD Government of Sindh Chairman National Standing Committee FPCCI Medical & Health Sciences Previously has been an Executive Member of the Pakistan Canada Business Council has been Appointed as Chairman Pakistan Canada Business Council FPCCI A distinguished bureaucrat and Public Health Specialist Dr Ansari is well-known among politicians diplomats and the business community in both Canada & Pakistan During his visits to Canada, he met with many Diplomats, prominent leaders, including Senators, Minister Ruby Sahota, who presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation recognizing his outstanding contributions to the health sector and his efforts to strengthen Canada–Pakistan relations During his last visit Dr Ansari was also engaged in key discussions on Bill C-14 with Canadian parliamentarians and the Minister for Homeland Security to discuss and combet crime & further highlighting his role in fostering bilateral cooperation Dr Ansari’s appointment as Chairman of the Pakistan Canada Business Council is expected to enhance bilateral relations and promote business development between Pakistan and Canada
CM MARYAM SHOWCASES PUNJAB HOUSING REVOLUTION
Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz effectively represented Pakistan at the World Urban Forum (WUF) and introduced Punjab s development model on the global stage She stated that participants at the forum expressed great appreciation and satisfaction over Maryam Nawaz Sharif ’s two-year performance and peoplecentric welfare initiatives Azma Bokhari said that Maryam Nawaz briefed forum participants on several historic projects completed within a short span of time, including Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, Suthra Punjab,” Model Villages, and Clean Water initiatives These public wel-
fare projects remained the focus of special attention and received immense international appreciation, while participants highly praised the Punjab government’s vision
She further stated that the successful completion of Punjab s globally recognized development projects is a matter of pride for the entire nation Due to the vision and dynamic leadership of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab has established a distinct identity among various countries of the world
The Provincial Information Minister added that Maryam Nawaz has introduced a world-class development model in Punjab, and this high standard of governance has now become Punjab’s true identity at the World Urban Forum She said that Maryam Nawaz also holds the distinction of completing the highest number of development projects in the shortest period of time, which reflects her tireless efforts, commitment to public service, and effective governance
Punjab Police throws massive securit y
OPPOSITION ALLIANCE TO HOLD NATIONWIDE PROTESTS AGAINST IMRAN’S IMPRISONMENT, INFL ATION
ON FRIDAY
Adiala Standoff: KP CM
Qaiser maintained that if
cases were heard transparently and on merit “he would not remain in jail even for a moment”
Pakistan, Russia hold strategic dialogue in Moscow amid expanding bilateral cooperation
ISLAMABAD S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T
Pakistan and Russia held highlevel strategic consultations in Moscow on international security arms control and global stability reflecting the growing coordination between the two countries on regional and global issues
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday Pakistan’s Additional Secretary and Foreign Office
Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi cochaired the 16th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability alongside Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov
The two sides held what the FO described as a confident and detailed exchange of views on key international security challenges, including arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation issues
“The meeting confirmed the affinity of approaches of Russia and Pakistan on most of the discussed issues the FO said
adding that both countries reaffirmed their commitment to continuing coordination and engagement at relevant international forums
Officials from both sides also agreed to hold the 17th round of the strategic dialogue next year in Islamabad underscoring the continuity of institutional cooperation between the two countries
The latest talks come at a time when Pakistan and Russia are steadily expanding engagement in energy trade regional connectivity and diplomatic coordination
Last week Pakistan s Ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said Islamabad was considering increasing oil imports from Russia amid ongoing disruptions linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz
Speaking about Pakistan s growing energy needs, the envoy noted that the country imports nearly 90 per cent of its energy requirements, largely from Gulf states and was now actively exploring alternative supply routes and long-term energy partnerships
We are also considering future pipeline connectivity from Central Asia and Russia, Tirmizi said, adding that Pakistan envisioned broader Eurasian integration through transport corridors railways pipelines and economic cooperation Russia has also publicly appreciated Pakistan s diplomatic role in regional peace efforts, particularly its mediation initiatives between Iran and the United States amid escalating tensions in the Middle East Last month Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which both sides discussed coordination at multilateral forums in support of international peace and security In recent months Moscow and Islamabad have further strengthened cooperation in trade and counterterrorism Earlier this year, Russia opened its seafood market to Pakistan, while Russian President Vladimir
Islamabad cour t sentences Umar Hayat to death in S ana Yousaf murder c ase
ISLAMABAD
An Islamabad sessions court on Tuesday sentenced Umar Hayat to death in the high-profile murder case of teenage TikTok influencer Sana Yousaf, who was shot dead at her residence in June last year Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka announced the verdict convicting Umar Hayat under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for qatl-i-amd (intentional murder) and awarding him the death penalty
The court ruled that the sentence will be subject to confirmation by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) under Section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
In addition to the capital punishment, the court imposed a fine of Rs2 5 million as compensation to be paid to the legal heirs of the deceased under Section 544-A of the CrPC In case of non-payment the convict will undergo six months simple imprisonment
The written verdict further noted additional convictions under multiple provisions of law Under Section 392 (robbery) of the PPC
Umar Hayat was sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs200,000 Under Section 499 (defamation), he received another 10-year sentence with a fine of Rs200 000 Under Section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) he was awarded one
year of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs100,000
The court ordered that all sentences will run concurrently and granted the convict the benefit of Section 382-B of the CrPC allowing time already spent in custody to be counted towards his sentence
According to court proceedings, Umar Hayat arrested within 20 hours of the June 2 2025 killing in Islamabad had earlier recorded a confessional statement under Section 164 of the CrPC detailing the motive and circumstances of the crime However, he later retracted his confession and denied all allegations in his statement under Section 342 of the CrPC claiming false implication
He was indicted on September 20 2025 by Judge Majoka s court where he denied the charges The court also noted that he had challenged various trial proceedings before the Islamabad High Court but his petitions were dismissed
Sana Yousaf, a 17-year-old social media influencer with over a million followers was known for her lifestyle content including café visits skincare routines and traditional attire videos Her killing sparked nationwide outrage and renewed debate on women s safety in Pakistan ‘Justice for all girls’
Following the verdict Sana Yousaf ’s parents welcomed the court s decision expressing satisfaction over the judgment
Her mother, Farzana, said she had received justice and thanked the legal team, police and media for their support throughout the case “The culprit has been given the right punishment she said Her father Yousaf Hassan said the family had waited nearly 11 months for justice
This verdict is not just for me; it is for society It is a lesson for criminals ” he said terming the decision “justice for all girls ”
