WH E N Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented his and the Shehbaz government’s third budget on Friday, it was not expected that it would afford much relief However while announcing a n 18 8 trillion budget, he also announced a reduction in the top income tax rate for the top slabs, and the abolition of supertax for both individuals and firms There have been none of the draconian taxation measures associated with previous budgets which may well be an indication that the government’s stabilization measures have begun to work However, there were no extravagant measures, either of relief or reform
The Budget tried to handle the uncompromising equation before it, because of the assumptions of growth and inflation it was making, not to forget the restraints placed on it by the National Finance Commission While one of the features of the budget was to get the provinces to receive their full NFC shares, but to pat back some, so that the Centre could meet some of the expenses that must be made One of the major expenses is defence, which reached Rs 3 trillion for the first time, but Senator Aurangzeb, referring to this, said that the country had been recognized as a power worldwide because of its success in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos (in 2025) and because of its role as a mediator between the USA and Iran in the ongoing crisis It is worth mentioning that like the rest of the world that crisis could well derail virtually all of the assumptions behind the Budget just presented The growth target of four percent is not very ambitious, but it could easily be cut if oil prices do not go down There seems to be some movement on a deal that allows the re-opening of the Hormuz Strait, but neither the USA nor Iran seem to heading towards a permanent settlement
Perhaps most important was the silence on the subject of the IMF With the current programme about to expire in a year, with only one budget on the programme ahead, and with the country still not out of the debt trap When this government took office with the programme stretching before it there were loud protestations that it would be the last programme The silence in this Budget Speech can only be described as deafening
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding
M A Niazi
Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Himbalances As foreign exchange pressures intensify, economic growth slows stabilization measures are introduced and the cycle begins again
The persistence of this pattern suggests that the challenge is not merely financial it is structural
At its core, economic development is a process of expanding productive capacity This means increasing the ability of firms, workers, and industries to generate higher-value output over time Countries that successfully develop achieve this by continuously upgrading technology improving skills enhancing productivity and moving into more sophisticated forms of production
The importance of productive capacity extends beyond economics A strong production base creates employment opportunities, strengthens exports generates tax revenues supports innovation and improves resilience against external shocks It provides the foundation upon which sustainable prosperity is built
Manufacturing occupies a particularly important position within this process Unlike many forms of commercial activity, manufacturing combines labour, technology, capital, and knowledge to create value It encourages skill development stimulates supporting industries and promotes technological learning
This does not mean that agriculture and services are unimportant Both remain vital components of economic growth However, countries that have successfully transformed their economies have generally maintained a strong productive sector capable of generating internationally competitive goods and increasingly sophisticated exports
One of Pakistan s longstanding challenges is that productive investment often competes with more attractive short-term opportunities Trading, speculation,
The future of PakistanÊs economy will depend less on how
external debt increases, and economic vulnerability grows Pakistan has repeatedly experienced this pattern Periods of relative economic expansion are often accompanied by rising imports and growing external
will start thinking that their pain is relevant only in relation to their potential to pose threats to the power structure in place It is particularly true for those populations who live in areas that are prone to conflicts It is imperative that there needs to be a distinction between humanitarian obligation and political expediency There
its radar Communities that have endured years of conflict or displacement fall into oblivion when politics no longer find them interesting These are grave repercussions that have been created due to selective empathy Whenever people get to feel ignored and abandoned by the outside world, mistrust against the concerned institutions becomes inevitable They
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invisibility sold as asset protection The film s most cutting observation is also its simplest: the people who create wealth are often the least able to protect it, while those who already possess it can afford entire industries dedicated to its concealment
S E C R E T N O 3: Panama was not a scandal It was a curriculum When the Panama Papers broke in 2016, ordinary Pakistanis did something I had not expected: they paid attention Not in the passive way that political news usually washes over us but with genuine sustained interest Television anchors who had spent years
The first is a schoolteacher who earns a modest salar y, files his returns dutifully because his employer deducts at source and there is no alternative , and recently submitted a written explanation to his bank about a cash withdrawal of Rs 50,000 over two months
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allow a challenge to the forfeiture decision He said the committee had proceeded on material that was not put to his client "The committee had "relied o
claimant he stated Hickman also argued that the committee had acted irrationally, failed to follow its own procedures and violated Lord Ranger ’s freedom of expression rights He told the court that Lord Ranger had become involved in a dispute over Khal-
istanism which he described as a separatist and sectarian movement that his client opposes The barrister said Lord Ranger made several comments in 2021 about the movement and about Sikhs for Justice which is conducting a worldwide Khalistan Referendum
He further told the court that in 2023 Lord Ranger issued an open letter concerning a BBC documentary that, according to Hickman, was highly critical of India’s Modi government adding that his client had concerns about the programme s accuracy and purpose
Lord Ranger had previously faced a House of Lords investigation over allegations that he harassed and bullied Indian journalist Poonam Joshi Separately he apologised for online posts in which
he criticised Sikh separatists aligned with Khalistan and made belittling remarks about Pakistanis It is understood that the Forfeiture Committee decided to revoke his CBE on the grounds that his conduct had brought the honours system into disrepute
Christopher Knight KC representing the Cabinet Office urged the High Court to reject the case He told the hearing that the committee had reached its conclusion and that the prime minister had agreed with it
"The committee considered and the prime minister agreed that the claimant s behaviour brought the honours system into disrepute
Knight argued that the decision could not properly be challenged in court because honours forfeiture is a matter of moral ethical and political judgment rather than an objective question of law
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T Delegates from more than 100 countries and international organisations praised China’s approach to human rights development and its vision for global human rights governance during the second day of the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance The two-day forum, themed Joint Development, Shared Human Rights: The 40th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development and a New Vision for Global Human Rights Governance ” brought together over 400 participants including representatives from the United Nations policymakers academics and human rights experts Speakers at the forum highlighted development as the cornerstone of human rights progress, endorsing China s long-standing position that economic and social development is essential for the realization of fundamental human rights Addressing the gathering Mohamed Osman Omar stressed that development was not merely an economic objective but the foundation of human dignity Former Cabo Verde foreign minister Jorge Alberto da Silva Borges echoed similar sentiments, noting that challenges such as environmental vulnerabilities, limited natural resources and dependence on external funding hinder development and consequently the enjoyment of basic rights We learn that without development without water without housing and food security other rights remain out of reach Development is not a luxury; it is a prerequisite for dignity, Borges said Participants also underscored the importance of respecting different national conditions and development paths in promoting human rights
Maya Sahli-Fadel said efforts to safeguard human rights should take into account each country s cultural traditions historical experiences legal systems and level of development She emphasized the importance of respecting national realities and strengthening South-South cooperation Similarly, Kan Pharidh advocated a global governance framework based on dialogue cooperation and mutual respect rather than confrontation and unilateral coercion
The forum also highlighted the growing role of international cooperation in advancing human rights worldwide Dilnoza Muratova noted that no country could address global challenges independently and stressed that realization of the right to development depended on stronger international collaboration Representatives from the Global South called for greater solidarity and coordinated efforts to achieve shared prosperity and sustainable development
Agnes Adlino Orifa Oswaha praised China’s efforts to promote fairness, justice, equal participation and win-win cooperation urging developing countries to work together to address common challenges
Several speakers also commended China s Global Governance Initiative describing it as a framework that encourages dialogue, inclusiveness and equitable participation in international affairs
Issara Sereewatthanawut said the initiative provides opportunities for all countries to participate in global governance and contributes to the development of a more just and inclusive international order
Participants agreed that the evolving global landscape requires stronger multilateral cooperation and innovative governance mechanisms to ensure that development and human rights remain mutually reinforcing objectives for all nations
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Maryam Nawaz, a team of the Chief Minister s Complaints Cell visited Bahawalpur on Thursday and held an open court (Khuli Katcheri) where hundreds of citizens brought forward their grievances for immediate redressal Chairperson of the Chief Minister s Complaints Cell, Saima Farooq, personally heard complaints from members of the public and issued on-the-spot directives to the relevant authorities for their prompt resolution The complaints mainly related to the Revenue Department Police, Health, Education, Sanita-
Addressing the participants Saima Farooq said the initiative reflected Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif s vision of ensuring timely public relief and responsive governance at the grassroots level She said all applications received during the open court would be continuously monitored and followed up until their resolution, adding that the authorities would remain actively engaged until citizens’ issues were addressed She described open courts as an effective mechanism for the swift and transparent resolution of public grievances The open court was held at Ghotoi Hall, Abbasia Campus of The Islamia University
of Bahawalpur
A total of 328 applications were received by the Chief Minister s Complaints Cell during the proceedings Of these, more than 90 were related to the Revenue Department, while approximately 250 pertained to various other government departments Bahawalpur Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza, District Police Officer (DPO) and other relevant officials attended the event Directions were issued to the concerned departments for immediate action on all complaints received during the open court Saima Farooq reiterated that negligence in addressing public complaints would not be tolerated and that genuine grievances would receive due attention She said regular monitoring of applications would help ensure tangible relief for citizens
Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia assured participants that all applications would be processed in a transparent manner while Deputy Commissioner Syed Hassan Raza said specific timelines had been assigned to officers for resolving complaints submitted during the open court
L ahore authorities, organisers finalise Muharram sec urity,
sioner Maryam Khan at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh on Friday The meeting was attended by senior police and district administration officials, as well as organizers of majalis and processions and license holders Participants reviewed security arrangements for Muharram law and order measures procession routes and related operational concerns Addressing the meeting, CCPO Kamyana said that all sensitive points across the city would be identified and resolved in advance through consultation and mutual understanding He directed that par-
ticipant checking and security screening procedures be further strengthened and streamlined in coordination with organizers and volunteers to ensure foolproof security The meeting also reviewed civic arrangements including road repairs along procession routes installation of streetlights anti-dengue spray campaigns and sewerage-related issues to facilitate smooth conduct of religious gatherings Commissioner Maryam Khan said the district administration would extend full support to the police in maintaining peace during
Muharram She assured participants of effective arrangements and timely resolution of issues adding that district administration offices would remain fully accessible to organizers and license holders to address their concerns without delay Both the CCPO and the commissioner appreciated the role of religious scholars in promoting peace harmony and interfaith cooperation during the holy month License holders and organizers expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and pledged full cooperation with the authorities
