PM rolls out roadMaP to unlock agriculture's growth Potential
Highlighting the importance of research and innovation he instructed that the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) be developed into a leading centre for agricultural research and technological advancement
The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has dismissed a complaint against Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Muhammad Asif, ending proceedings over allegations that he used his office to affect the handling of a hit-and-run case involving his underage son
The matter relates to an incident on December 2 last year when a black sports utility vehicle travelling at high speed allegedly driven by Justice Asif s son hit two girls riding a scooter near the Pakistan National Council of Arts in Islamabad Both girls died in the collision After the incident, the judge s son was placed in police custody on remand
A judicial magistrate later ordered his release on December 6 2025 after the victims’ families pardoned him in court under the qisas and diyat provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code The SJC the constitutional forum authorised to examine the conduct of superior court judges and recommend removal to the president if misconduct is established, considered the complaint at its meeting on May 14 and later informed the complainant, retired
Colonel Inamur Rahim of its decision
The council did not make public the detailed reasons for rejecting the complaint With the complaint thrown out proceedings against Justice Asif have concluded and he remains part of the IHC bench
Complaint allegations
In his complaint, filed on December 29, Rahim alleged that Justice Asif had misused his office to shape the investigation and the subsequent legal process in the case
The respondent (Justice Asif) by abusing the influence of his office, allegedly employed state machinery to exert pressure upon the legal heirs of the victims for his personal advantage,” the complaint stated “Consequently bail was granted to his son by the
Area Magistrate on [Dec 6] in a secretive manner, whereby statements of compromise were recorded after court hours through in-camera proceedings with the apparent objective of portraying the case as compoundable it further alleged
The SJC s decision means those allegations will not proceed further before the council Reference to another hit-and-run case
A similar case had also drawn attention in 2022, when an SUV allegedly driven by the daughter of a then-Lahore High Court judge ran over two people near Sohan bridge on the Islamabad Expressway
The investigation in that matter remained stalled for a long period
In July 2024, Islamabad Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi informed the IHC that the vehicle involved in that hit-and-run case had been driven by a woman and was being used by Supreme Court Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed In February 2025 a local court in Islamabad acquitted Shanzay Malik the Supreme Court judge s daughter Judicial Magistrate Adnan Yousuf announced the verdict after accepting the acquittal plea filed by her legal team
Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had consistently stated that water was linked to Pakistan s survival
Tarar said experts on water from different parts of the world would attend the seminar being held in Pakistan, which he described as the first international
SINDH ASSEMBLY PASSES RS3.652 TRILLION BUDGET, REJECTS 1,600 OPPOSITION CUT MOTIONS
agenda He congratulated KPT Chairman Rear Admiral (retd) Shahid Ahmed, the port’s officers and employees, and other stakeholders for the performance The minister said the government was working to modernise ports, expand capacity, improve logistics infrastructure and provide facilities in line with international standards He said the ministry remained committed to upgrading national ports, attracting investment and promoting trade activity to support economic growth KPT Chairman Rear Admiral (retd) Shahid Ahmed also congratulated the port’s workforce and said the achievement reflected the organisation’s strategy, professionalism and teamwork He said efforts would continue to improve KPT’s operational performance and competitiveness
The Punjab government has prepared a new workforce development strategy aimed at helping 100 000 skilled workers secure overseas jobs over the next three years through internationally recognised qualifications and verified digital profiles The roadmap prepared by the Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Department (SDED) was presented to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during a briefing on reforms being carried out by the department Under the proposed framework Punjab will shift its focus from training completion to job placement international
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 I extend our heartfelt condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the bereaved families, and the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pakistan stands in full solidarity with our Saudi brothers and sisters in this hour of grief," Shehbaz said C R A S H D E TA I L S: The helicopter went down on Sunday in Ras Tanura in eastern Saudi Arabia, according to the Saudi Press Agency, which cited an official at the energy ministry The aircraft belonged to state oil giant Aramco and that all 14 people on board were Saudi citizens The Saudi Press Agency said the crash killed all passengers and that an investigation had been launched to establish the cause of the accident Aramco operates a fleet of more than 60 aircraft including helicopters and serves more than 300 heliports across Saudi Arabia according to the company
REGIONAL CONTEXT: The crash occurred as Gulf oil-producing states seek to increase output after Iranian attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz a major route for oil and gas exports Saudi authorities did not
COMMENT
Punjab’s dangerous new line
Papering over the cracks!
FO R quite some days one English idiom has been making rounds in my mind and that is “papering over the cracks ” The literal meaning of this idiom is that when one is resolving a problem one is not dealing with its roots but is trying to resolve the problem superficially Resolving a problem at its surface and not diving into its roots definitely seems like a resolutory mechanism but how it plays out in reality when a problem is resolved via papering-over-the-cracks approach is something worth reflection and worth understanding Also I see the pervasiveness of papering-over-thecracks approach as a resolutory mechanism in so many domains around us that it might not be possible to bring all those domains in the scope of this op-ed but I will certainly allude to its all-around presence around us and why we need to pay heed to its presence because at the end of the day apparently it might seem a resolving approach but the cost this resolution entails is something we need to be aware about Last semester I was teaching undergraduate students with a major in International Relations a course entitled Peace and Conflict Studies The overall course focused on helping students understand the multi-layered nature of conflicts including the factors behind their emergence at the individual societal state and global levels and theoretical ways to attain peace after addressing all these layers of conflict To make sense of the papering-over-the-cracks approach and how it plays out in reality let me share one theoretical insight from the course that talked about why people at the individual level become conflictual According to Canadian-American psychologist Albert Bandura people usually become conflictual at the individual level when they experience a trauma and they fail to cope with it effectively or in other words they paper over the cracks Bandura did not reach this conclusion randomly; rather his conclusion that unhealed traumas
Kant and the crisis of global order
TH E modern international order often appears trapped between power and principle Wars continue to erupt despite the presence of global institutions, while states invoke morality even as they pursue strategic interests In this uneasy landscape, the ideas of Immanuel Kant remain remarkably relevant More than two centuries after his death, Kant s reflections on peace, republican government, law and international cooperation continue to shape debates in global politics Kant wrote during a turbulent period in European history Monarchies competed endlessly for territory and influence, and war was considered a normal instrument of statecraft
Yet Kant challenged the assumption that conflict between nations was inevitable In his celebrated essay Perpetual Peace, published in 1795, he argued that peace could emerge not through conquest but through reason, institutions and political reform
At first glance, Kant s ideas may appear idealistic in a world driven by military alliances, nuclear deterrence and economic rivalry Yet many of the central features of contemporary international politics bear the imprint of his thinking The spread of democratic governance, the rise of international law, and the establishment of organisations such as the United Nations all reflect, in varying degrees, the Kantian belief that cooperation among states is both possible and necessary Kant believed that republics what would today broadly be called constitutional democracies were less likely to wage aggressive wars His argument was simple but powerful In monarchies, rulers could initiate wars for prestige or ambition while ordinary citizens bore the costs in blood and taxation In representative systems, however, citizens would think carefully before supporting military adventures whose consequences they themselves would suffer
This idea later evolved into what scholars now call the democratic peace theory , one of the most influential concepts in international relations While democracies have certainly fought wars, proponents of the theory argue that mature democratic states rarely fight one another directly The experience of post-war Western Europe is often cited as evidence Countries that once devastated the continent through centuries of warfare gradually moved towards economic integration and political cooperation under institutions that eventually developed into
the European Union Kant s significance however extends beyond democracy alone He believed that international politics should not remain trapped in anarchy States in his view required laws and institutions capable of regulating their conduct This conviction anticipated the later development of international legal frameworks and multilateral diplomacy
The horrors of the two World Wars strengthened the appeal of such thinking After 1945 the international community attempted to construct a rules-based order aimed at preventing another global catastrophe Institutions such as the United Nations the International Court of Justice and numerous arms-control agreements reflected the belief that dialogue and law could moderate the destructive impulses of power politics Yet Kant never imagined a world government exercising authority over all nations He feared that concentrated global power could itself become tyrannical Instead he proposed a federation of free states cooperating voluntarily under shared legal principles In many respects this remains the foundation of modern multilateralism
The contemporary world however also exposes the limitations of Kantian optimism The post-Cold War era initially encouraged hopes that economic interdependence and liberal democracy would reduce geopolitical conflict Instead the twenty-first century has witnessed renewed rivalry among major powers regional wars and the weakening of international consensus The conflict in Ukraine tensions between the United States and China and instability across the Middle East suggest that national interests and strategic competition remain dominant forces in international affairs Critics of Kant argue that states ultimately prioritise survival and power over moral ideals Realist thinkers such as Hans Morgenthau insisted that international politics is governed less by ethics than by calculations of national interest There is considerable evidence supporting this criticism International law is often applied selectively while powerful states frequently bypass global institutions when their strategic objectives are at stake Military interventions carried out in the name of democracy or humanitarianism have at times produced prolonged instability rather than peace The Iraq War remains one of the clearest examples of how the language of moral purpose can coexist with geopolitical ambition Even so dismissing Kant would be premature His ideas endure not because they perfectly describe the world but be-
cause they offer a framework for improving it International politics cannot function on power alone Even the strongest states seek legitimacy alliances and legal justification for their actions Diplomacy itself assumes that dialogue is preferable to permanent conflict Kant also recognised the growing interconnectedness of humanity He spoke of a form of cosmopolitan right grounded in the idea that individuals not merely states possess universal moral worth In today s world this principle resonates strongly in debates over refugees climate change global inequality and human rights These challenges transcend national borders and cannot be addressed solely through traditional notions of sovereignty Climate change in particular demonstrates the continuing relevance of Kantian thinking Environmental crises cannot be resolved through unilateral action They require sustained international cooperation mutual restraint and long-term collective responsibility The same applies to pandemics cyber security and global economic instability In each case the logic of shared vulnerability pushes states towards forms of collaboration that Kant anticipated centuries ago For countries such as Pakistan Kant s ideas carry additional significance Pakistan exists in a region shaped by strategic competition unresolved disputes and shifting alliances The pressures of security often dominate policymaking Yet long-term regional stability will depend not only on military deterrence but also on economic cooperation institutional dialogue and political moderation South Asia s future cannot rest indefinitely on confrontation Kant understood that peace is not merely the absence of war It is the product of political maturity accountable governance and international engagement His vision may never be fully realised but neither can it be ignored In a fragmented global order marked by nationalism and mistrust his philosophy remains a reminder that international politics need not be reduced entirely to force and fear
The enduring tension between realism and idealism continues to define world affairs Kant belongs firmly to the latter tradition yet history suggests that even the harshest systems of power eventually require rules norms and cooperation to survive The modern international order despite all its failures still carries traces of the world Kant imagined imperfect fragile but unwilling to abandon the pursuit of peace
The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo com
Dying for justice
Tensions over Venezuela
Dr MuhaMMaD akraM Zaheer
An open letter to UN on JA AC
TH E international community must recognize that the current situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is being grossly misrepresented by a small group of violent protesters spreading a dangerous fabrication The fundamental question facing AJK is whether it chooses democracy or dictatorship; democracy must be achieved through the established electoral system and the ballot box not through mob rule as a mob does not accurately reflect the majority sentiment and often includes coerced or misled individuals The banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) falsely claims to follow democratic principles but consistently avoids electoral processes relying solely on mob pressure to push their agenda The government has demonstrated immense goodwill by fulfilling thirty-five out of thirty-eight demands including major concessions like subsidized electricity and flour despite some analysts advising Pakistan to withdraw such support The sole remaining demand concerning twelve reserved seats for refugees of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) is purely a constitutional issue that cannot be decided on the streets yet the banned JAAC has politicized it and refuses to show flexibility preferring to escalate tensions through coercion Financially the JAAC s claims are baseless as AJK collects only about sixty-five billion rupees in revenue while its expenses are roughly three hundred and fifty billion rupees with Pakistan covering the entire deficit making it illogical to claim that the twelve reserved seats are eating the people s money Geographically the river Jehlum originates in IIOJK and merely flows through AJK yet the JAAC wants to benefit from its cheap electricity while denying representation to refugees from that same region exposing a clear double standard Furthermore the JAAC has falsely promoted the timber stick as AJK s traditional culture which is a lie and their protest starting June
9 was explicitly aimed at a long march to attack Muzaffarabad with arms and overthrow the government which was wisely halted at Rawalakot to prevent catastrophic loss of life Regarding their intent to petition the UN for alleged human rights violations it must be clearly stated that the twelve reserved seats are a constitutional matter affecting only a specific group not a general public issue or a human rights violation; the actual human rights violations are being committed by the banned JAAC itself through its violent and authoritarian tactics Few elements and experts have started saying that if still such pressure groups insist on canceling the twelve reserved seats then the best solution would be to make AJK a full-fledged province of Pakistan By doing so all such reserved seats would automatically cancel and the issue would be resolved permanently Also such experts say that as a province AJK will have more representation even in Pakistan s national assembly and will avail more shares and benefits by the National Finance Commission awards and funds allocations which would be a huge economic benefit for the people The banned JAAC however is not going into the constitutional legal and democratic process for such sensitive issues and has chosen violence over healthy processes The violent and repeated protests by the banned JAAC have snatched the food and earning from the poor laborers the hardworking shopkeepers and the small businessmen They have obstructed the normal lives of the people of AJK including students who cannot go to their schools tourists who bring economic activity and patients who are unable to reach hospitals for urgent medical treatment Its violent activities have completely seized the tourism and business activities in AJK creating a severe economic crisis Today the people of AJK don t have internet access and all their daily activities are seized just because of the banned JAAC These are the actual human rights violations which are being committed by the banned JAAC not the other way around The prices of food and grocery items in AJK are now quite higher as compared to even nearby towns and cities of Pakistan just because of the criminal silence of the banned JAAC on purely people s issues They are not fighting for the common man; they are fighting for their own political agenda The actions of the banned JAAC are making India and its media much happy which shows the clear dirty intentions of this group India is celebrating the chaos in AJK which is a clear sign of where their allegiances lie By knowing the real face of the banned JAAC the people of AJK are showing isolation from it The common people
want to open their shops they want to run their transport and they want to come back to their normal routine but the violent tactics and threats of the banned JAAC are stopping them Pakistan supports AJK in every matter and gives it full aid in all matters including defense and development AJK does not produce anything of its own; everything comes from Pakistan If Pakistan stops its supplies to AJK then AJK cannot survive even for a single day This is a reality AJK is nothing without Pakistan and the people of AJK know this reality deeply in their hearts and they love Pakistan Thousands of Pakistani soldiers and officers have fought for the cause of Kashmir and have given their precious lives for Kashmir and these sacrifices are part of the records of our history Punjabis Sindhis Balochis Pathans and soldiers and officers from all over Pakistan have given blood for Kashmir Instead of acknowledging these immense sacrifices a socalled leader of the banned JAAC has said that dead bodies come from Balochistan but dead bodies will not come from Kashmir This is a direct and disgusting insult to the martyrs Then some so-called leaders of the banned JAAC have also recently said openly in their speeches that the Kashmiris serving in the Pak Army should come out and should fight against Pakistan and the Pak Army These actions are the worst form of betrayal which shows that the banned JAAC has now converted into a traitorous organization People and analysts say that such a group of militants should be answered in the same language which they deserve The whole of Kashmir loves Pakistan and the Pak Army and a small group of militants cannot break this unbreakable bond of love The banned JAAC is treating both India and Pakistan with the same scale which is completely unfair and unjust The great and positive role of Pakistan for AJK and the atrocities of India in IIOJK are in front of the whole world The ultimate destiny for Kashmiris is Pakistan and they reject all those elements who want to make divisions between Pakistan and AJK The banned JAAC is making a hole in the same plate in which it is eating biting the hand that feeds it The banned JAAC is sowing the seeds of division and hate into the minds of Kashmiris for Pakistan People and analysts say that in the current financial crisis it is extremely difficult for a person to move from one city to another as it costs too much but the banned JAAC is mobilizing groups of people in AJK without any apparent financial issues For people and experts this clearly shows that they are getting foreign funding from our enemies and using this money to sabotage the peace of AJK The actions of the banned JAAC have now con-
verted into armed violence and open betrayal against the State and its institutions Spreading hate, division, and negativity among the society is not the welfare of the society and is not a matter of human rights; it is a matter of national security and survival It should also be noted that the situation in AJK is quite different from that of IIOJK IIOJK is facing worse atrocities and human rights violations from the Indian government, while in AJK, the banned JAAC has created this artificial situation and is involved in human rights violations and betrayal just because of its unlawful and unrealistic demands The role of the State in the case of AJK has been remarkable, and it has shown remarkable patience and restraint in dealing with this group The heinous actions of the banned JAAC are far away from people’s rights In simple words, the actions like burning Pakistani flags, chanting slogans against Pakistan and the Pak Army, asking Kashmiris serving in the Pak Army to do insurgency and fight against Pakistan, attacking civilian and government assets, attacking hospitals, cross-firing on law enforcement agencies, threats of throwing the law enforcement agencies and Pak Army personnel into the Mangla Dam, threats of a mob attack on Muzaffarabad and Islamabad, and many other such acts are not people’s rights In simple words, these heinous actions are the worst form of terrorism, and such actions are strictly treated even anywhere in the world The people of AJK are demanding the government to revive the State’s writ and want to get rid of such violent protests which are badly violating human rights, destroying the historical and exemplary peace of AJK, and destroying the business and routine activities of the region The internet is closed in AJK, and it is just because of the banned JAAC and their false propaganda against the State and its institutions The banned JAAC has pushed AJK into ancient and stone times, halting all progress The leaders and
Inside Indonesia’s growing market for fake Middle Eastern doctorate
Fhas become a commodity
A recent interview on the Indonesian podcast TimTeng with a teacher at the Indonesian School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a master s graduate of King Saud University, offers a revealing window into this emerging phenomenon Across Indonesia, a growing number of religious figures have begun displaying honorary doctorates and professorships supposedly issued by institutions bearing Middle Eastern names Some claim affiliations with Egypt, Tunisia or Pakistan Others present certificates written in Arabic or invoke prominent Arab scholars Yet many of these institutions cannot be independently verified Some reportedly have no identifiable campus, no official website, no accreditation records and no physical address Who is behind this growing market remains unclear
The networks may involve actors operating in Indonesia, overseas, or across several countries Some individuals present themselves as representatives of Middle Eastern institutions, while Indonesian intermediaries also appear to play an active role in recruiting recipients What is already clear, however, is that the prestige associated with Middle Eastern scholarship has become the product being marketed
The business model is remarkably simple
Applicants submit photographs of their preaching activities, community service, books they have written or links to YouTube lectures They pay anywhere between US$300 and US$1,000, depending on whether they communicate directly with the purported institution or through facilitators in Indonesia Within about seven days, many reportedly receive certificates awarding honorary doctorates Some are later encouraged to obtain honorary professorships as well
There is no dissertation No comprehensive examination No research supervision No years spent producing original scholarship Instead, prestige itself appears to have become the commodity The institutions themselves raise even more questions
Some reportedly identify themselves as Egyptian universities before later describing themselves as American or Pakistani institutions
Others claim links to Tunisia Investigators searching for these universities have reportedly found no official websites, no verifiable addresses and no evidence of accredited academic programmes When questions are raised about where these institutions are actually located, prospective recipients are sometimes shown photographs rather than documentation often featuring the same small group of elderly men dressed in academic robes appearing repeatedly in different graduation ceremonies The marketing is equally unusual
Rather than treating academic credentials as private documents, certificates are reportedly displayed on Facebook as advertisements for future recipients Diploma holders become testimonials The certificates themselves become promotional material demonstrating that honorary titles can indeed be obtained Indonesian facilitators reportedly charge substantially higher prices than those offered through direct contact with the overseas operators, suggesting that an intermediary market has also emerged Whether these networks originate in Indonesia, abroad or somewhere in between is almost beside the point Their success depends on something far more valuable than certificates They depend on trust For more than a century, Indonesian Muslims have associated the Middle East with authentic religious scholarship Graduates of respected Middle Eastern institutions have helped shape Indonesia’s universities, Islamic organisations, courts and religious life That reputation was earned through scholarship, intellectual rigor and generations of educational exchange Today, that accumulated trust appears to have acquired commercial value The commodity being sold is not simply an honorary doctorate It is the symbolic authority attached to the Middle East itself That should concern not only Indonesia but also governments and universities across the Arab world The reputations of institutions such as Al-Azhar and many established universities throughout the Middle East have been built through decades, and often centuries, of genuine scholarship Every counterfeit credential bearing an Arabic name risks weakening public confidence in the legitimate institutions that have invested generations in maintaining academic standards Ironically, the educational systems whose names are being invoked are generally far more rigorous than these honorary certificates suggest Universities across the Middle East operate under government regulation formal accreditation systems and demanding academic requirements Legitimate doctoral programmes require years of research proposal defenses publications comprehensive examinations and dissertations Against that reality a doctorate awarded within
seven days should immediately invite scrutiny Indonesia, however, also needs to examine why such a market has found willing customers Many of those receiving these honorary titles are not fringe figures They are respected Qur ’an teachers, preachers, leaders of Islamic schools and directors of religious foundations Their religious service may be genuine Yet the growing appeal of honorary academic titles suggests a broader transformation in how religious authority is presented Titles increasingly function as personal brands A “Dr ” before one’s name may enhance credibility, attract larger audiences, strengthen institutional status and improve visibility on social media In some reported cases, recipients eventually stop using the designation “Honoris Causa” altogether, leaving audiences to assume they possess an earned doctorate This represents a remarkable shift
Many conservative Islamic movements traditionally emphasised humility over titles and warned against seeking worldly recognition Today, academic honorifics appear to have become valuable symbols in an increasingly competitive religious marketplace The response should not begin with accusations about where the networks originate It should begin with transparency Indonesia’s religious organizations, universities and media outlets should verify foreign academic credentials before reproducing them Ministries responsible for higher education should establish clearer procedures for assessing honorary degrees awarded overseas Middle Eastern governments and universities also have an interest in acting not because there is evidence that they are responsible for these networks, but because their educational reputations appear to be the principal assets being exploited Universities should make accreditation information easier to verify internationally Governments should investigate organizations falsely claiming to represent institutions within their jurisdictions and cooperate with Indonesian authorities whenever such cases arise
For centuries, Indonesia has sent students westward in search of knowledge They returned not merely with diplomas but with intellectual traditions that shaped the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation That relationship deserves better than becoming the marketing strategy of anonymous networks trading in counterfeit prestige The podcast does not conclusively identify who is behind these networks, nor should it That question deserves further investigation The operators may be in Indonesia, the Middle East or spread across multiple countries But it identifies something arguably more important: whoever they are, they have discovered that the prestige of Middle Eastern scholarship carries enormous value in Indonesia The challenge for both Indonesia and the Middle East is to ensure that trust, painstakingly built over generations of genuine scholarship, does not become the easiest thing to counterfeit
bers of the banned JAAC sitting in
in Rawalakot are posing a great threat to the State and its writ They are chanting and delivering speeches openly against the State, Pakistan, and the Pak Army They are targeting law enforcement agencies and, in a desperate act, using children and women as human shields According to security sources, they also have weapons Just for the sake of legal and constitutional matters, they have
AI should not become next asset bubble
become a bubble is stirring intense debate, with sharply divided opinions Pessimists warn that AI is inflating into an unprecedented mega-bubble potentially 17 times larger than the dot-com bubble of 2000 and four times bigger than the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis But optimists argue that AI technology is redefining
CHINA
TRUMP SAYS IRAN, US MEETING SET TO TAKE PL ACE IN DOHA
be meeting in the coming days
Gharibabadi also said consultations between Iran and Qatar regarding the US commitments were continuing as planned but that technical working group talks in Doha had not been confirmed
“Although consultations with Qatar – including on following up on the implementation of the other party’s commitments – are ongoing as usual the news from some media outlets that technical talks by the working groups will be held in Doha cannot be confirmed, Gharibabadi said in a statement on Telegram, according to Al Jazeera
“The first round of technical talks within the framework of the designated working groups will be held when conditions are met and after an agreement is
reached on the date and location Consultations in this regard are continuing through intermediary countries, he added Iran, Oman hold first meeting of joint committee of Strait of Hormuz, Gharibabadi
CORPORATE CORNER
HBL
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T
On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif
Special Assistant for Special Education Sania Ashiq visited the Maryam Nawaz School for Special Children, Centre of Excellence, in Faisalabad and formally inaugurated the institution The initiative has been launched under the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to improve educational training and welfare facilities for children with special needs across the province
The Special Education Department is actively working to ensure better opportunities and services for special children throughout Punjab Accompanied by the Secretary
Special Education and the Director General Special Education, Sania Ashiq inaugurated the Maryam Nawaz School for Special Children Centre of Excellence During the visit she spent time with the children and received a detailed briefing from the staff regarding the newly introduced facilities and services
The children expressed heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for establishing the institution Parents and staff members also requested the special assistant to convey their appreciation and thanks to the chief minister Speaking on the occasion, Sania Ashiq said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had ensured the provision of all possible resources for the welfare and devel-
Ibrahim Murad Meets with Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Chairman of the University of Management and Technology (UMT), Ibrahim Hasan Murad, met with Imran Haider, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, to discuss bilateral relations, mutual cooperation and matters of shared interest between Pakistan and Bangladesh During the meeting both sides exchanged views on expanding collaboration in education trade investment people-to-people engagement, and other areas of mutual interest They agreed to further strengthen institutional partnerships and promote closer cooperation to unlock new opportunities for both countries They underscored that stronger Pakistan-Bangladesh relations can play a significant role in fostering regional development economic prosperity and mutual trust Speaking on the occasion, Ibrahim Murad reaffirmed UMT's commitment to promoting meaningful cooperation and long-term partnerships with institutions in Bangladesh He stated that enhanced collaboration in education business investment and public engagement would create new avenues for growth and mutual benefit Murad further remarked that continuous dialogue and constructive diplomatic efforts are essential to strengthening the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh
opment of special children These children, whom the chief minister regards as her own, are her foremost priority ” she said adding that the chief minister and her team shared a deep sense of care and responsibility for the wellbeing of special children
She further said that the chief minister ’s affection and commitment towards these children could not be adequately expressed in words adding that the progress being witnessed in the sector was the result of her personal attention and close supervision
The Special Education Department Punjab, under the chief minister ’s vision continues to work actively for the education training and welfare of special children across the province
Chairman CDA Sohail Ashraf visits underconstruction Islamabad Model Jail project
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Sohail Ashraf visited the under-construction Islamabad Model Jail project in Sector H-16 and inspected the ongoing development work on the Model Jail project Relevant officers briefed Chairman CDA on the progress being made in the development activities on the Islamabad Model Jail project, stating that the construction work on the Admin Block included in the project has entered its final stages During the briefing it was informed that the work on Barracks No 1 and 2 of the Model Jail has been 100% completed, while approximately 95% of the construction work on Barracks No 3 has also been completed Chairman CDA was informed that all sanitary and electrical work in
OppOsitiOn
high-level delegation of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) led by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, was stopped by police in Kahuta on Monday while travelling to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to express solidarity with protesters participating in an ongoing sit-in
iHc gives defence two weeks to star t arguments in imran, bushra appeals ISLAMABAD S
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed contempt petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi after observing that the powers of attorney required for their appeals had been signed, and gave the defence what it called a final two-week adjournment to begin arguments in the couple’s appeals against conviction in the £190 million reference An IHC division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the appeals against the sentences awarded to the couple in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case An accountability court in Islamabad had sentenced Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi on Jan 17 2025 to 14 years and seven years in prison respectively Barrister Salman Safdar Salman Akram Raja and other members of the defence team appeared before the court Imran Khan s sister Aleema Khan and several PTI leaders also attended the proceedings At the outset, the bench expressed displeasure when several defence lawyers approached the rostrum together with the chief justice directing them to return to their seats and observing that the court would not be influenced and that signed powers of attorney had already been received Safdar told the bench that while jail authorities had now provided powers of attorney relating to the IHC proceedings, other documents had still not been supplied The chief justice replied that those papers would also be furnished Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Malik argued that at the previous hearing the defence had misled the court by saying the powers of attorney had been signed on June 16 without disclosing that the jail superintendent had contacted counsel on June 18 to facilitate execution of the documents The bench then held that the contempt petitions had become infructuous because the powers of attorney had been signed It proceeded to the main appeals and directed the defence to open arguments Justice Dogar told counsel that if the appellants did not proceed the court would ask the NAB prosecutor to present arguments
14 under-trial
S TA F F R E P O R T Fourteen under-trial prisoners escaped from a prison van on Monday while they were being shifted from Kahuta to Adiala jail after overpowering security personnel according to a statement A Rawalpindi Police spokesperson said City Police Officer Hamdani took notice after reports emerged that prisoners had fled from the vehicle in the Sihala area The spokesperson said senior officers were directed to reach the spot immediately submit a report and begin an operation to track down the escapees Police later said four of the fleeing prisoners had been arrested again during the operation, while teams continued efforts to capture the remaining men The spokesperson said those who escaped were facing cases that are currently under trial The statement said the incident took place within the limits of Sihala police station in Islamabad district and that coordination was under way with the relevant police authorities According to the initial inquiry, a violent clash broke out among the prisoners inside the van before the escape occurred
Senate panel seeks 20-year tobacco tax record, orders FIA probe in Badshah Wazir case
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
A Senate sub-committee on Monday sought a comprehensive 20year record of tobacco tax collection, factories and outstanding dues after the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) failed to provide data previously requested by lawmakers disrupting the panel s review of the sector
The meeting of the sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics was chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro and attended by Senators Mohammad Talha Mahmood Dilawar Khan and Hidayat Ullah Khan
During the proceedings FBR Chief of Sales Tax Javed Iqbal Tarar was asked to leave after he did not submit the information earlier sought by the committee
The panel voiced concern over incomplete information regarding tax collection from tobacco manufacturers It noted that customs had earlier placed tobacco-related taxes at Rs75 billion, while later deliberations indicated that around Rs40 billion remained unpaid The committee directed the FBR to furnish documentary proof of outstanding taxes a full list of to-
bacco companies and their brands details of imported raw materials and revenue and tax collection figures covering the past two decades It also asked for records of all registered tobacco factories during the same period
Officials informed the committee that Pakistan Tobacco Company and Philip Morris Pakistan were among the leading taxpayers in the tobacco sector
The panel was also told that Rangers had been deployed to support the FBR in efforts to check tax evasion PID campaigns and committee directives
The Press Information Department (PID) also briefed the committee on media awareness campaigns conducted for different ministries According to the briefing these campaigns were broadcast on 92 television channels while the relevant sponsoring ministry bore the cost The committee was informed that anti-illegal cigarette sale campaigns had been run on behalf of the FBR
Senator Abro directed the PID to provide complete details of media contracts campaign spending and agreements with television channels He also said the department was still functioning without
a centralised system FIA probe ordered in Badshah Wazir case
The committee further directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the corruption case involving Badshah Wazir with a particular focus on raw materials allegedly imported for tax-exempt areas that did not reach their stated destinations
Lawmakers were told that in April 2026, Badshah Wazir was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempting to smuggle 360 kilogrammes of heroin hidden in sanitation pipes in a container meant for export to the United Kingdom Narcotics control and Anmol alias Pinky case
On narcotics control, officials told the committee that the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) accounted for about 49 per cent of the country’s total seizures last year The panel was also informed that patterns of drug abuse were moving away from plant-based substances toward synthetic and chemical drugs
The committee discussed whether confiscated narcotics could be used within the legal framework for pharmaceutical or research purposes in order to generate revenue instead of being destroyed
in
Chitral Swat Kohistan Malakand Nowshera Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Hangu, Waziristan, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan Punjab, Islamabad and northern areas in forecast The PMD said rainfall was also expected from July 1 to July 6 in Islamabad Rawalpindi Murree Galliyat Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot and Narowal It said a second group of districts in Punjab Sahiwal Jhang Toba Tek Singh Pakpattan Nankana Sahib Chiniot Okara Kasur Noor Pur Thal Bhakkar Layyah Mianwali Bahawalpur Bahawalnagar Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur was likely to receive rain from July 3 to July 5, also with occasional gaps In Gilgit-Baltistan, the advisory said rain and thunderstorms were expected from July 1 to July 5 in Diamir Astore Ghizer Skardu Hunza Gilgit Ghanche and Shigar For Balochistan the department forecast rainfall in northern and northeastern districts, including Zhob, Sherani, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Harnai, Sibbi, Barkhan and Dera Bugti, from July 1 to July 4 In Sindh rain is expected on July 3 and July 4 in Sukkur Larkana Dadu Jacobabad Shaheed Benazirabad Kashmore Shikarpur Ghotki Khairpur Qambar Shahdadkot and Naushahro Feroze Warnings for flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage The
international regulatory approvals, including permissions from global lenders and relevant tax concessions The commission described the successful completion of the first financial closing as a significant milestone in the Government of Pakistan s economic reform agenda and said it reflected the government s commitment to implement-
ing a transparent competitive and investor-friendly privatization programme under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif According to the commission all conditions of the Share Purchase Agreement signed on January 29 2026 were fulfilled within an exceptionally short timeframe Throughout the transition process, uninterrupted airline operations were maintained, ensuring continuity of services for passengers The buyer consortium has so far paid Rs10 billion to the Government of Pakistan and injected Rs80 billion in fresh investment into PIA
The new investment is aimed at strengthening the airline s financial position expanding and modernizing its fleet improving operational efficiency and enhancing customer service
The Privatization Commission said the buyer consortium would make an additional investment of Rs45 billion in PIACL before the second financial closing expected within one year
It added that if the consortium exercises its option to purchase the remaining 25 percent shares of PIACL, it will pay another Rs45 billion to the Government of Pakistan
The consortium has already
submitted a written indication expressing its intention to acquire the remaining 25 percent stake Commenting on the development Prime Minister's Adviser on Privatization Muhammad Ali said the transaction demonstrated Pakistan s ability to execute complex privatization deals through a transparent, fair, competitive and professionally managed process "This privatization reinforces the government's commitment to economic reforms fiscal responsibility and greater private sector participation while strengthening the confidence of both domestic and international investors," he said In a separate statement the new ownership said it was committed to modernizing the national carrier while preserving its legacy and improving service standards It said the fresh capital would support operational restructuring, fleet renewal, route expansion and product improvements
The chairman of the new ownership said the consortium recognized that public confidence in the airline would have to be earned through consistent performance and pledged to build a modern aviation experience while maintaining PIA's longstanding heritage
