NAQVI DELIVERS FIELD MARSHAL’S ‘SPECIAL LETTER’ AND PM’S MESSAGE TO IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER AMID MEDIATION PUSH
letter” from Pakistan’s military leadership and a message from the prime minister for the Iranian leadership regarding the evolving situation I am here to deliver a special letter from the field marshal [General Asim Munir] for his Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and a message from the prime minister regarding the current situation ” Naqvi said According to IRNA the written message was from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was addressed to the Iranian leadership, with no official details disclosed about its contents Pakistan has been playing what officials describe as a facilitative diplomatic role aimed at bridging communication between Washington and Tehran with support from regional partners including Qatar, Turkiye and Egypt, to reduce
Momeni in Tehran on Saturday night Naqvi said he had brought a special
INDUS WATERS TREAT Y UNDER RENEWED STRAIN AMID HYDRO PROJECTS, FLOW CONCERNS: LEGHARI
limited permissible uses by India
Talking to APP, he said concerns have intensified after reports that India placed the treaty in abeyance in April 2025 arguing that such a move has raised questions over the legal and operational stability of one of the world s largest transboundary river systems, which supports livelihoods across both countries Leghari highlighted several Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab River, including Pakal Dul Kiru Kwar and Ratle noting that while each project is individually claimed to comply with treaty provisions their combined operation could potentially affect the timing and regulation of river flows He stressed that the core issue is not only total water volumes but also flow timing and regulation which could have downstream implications for agriculture and irrigation systems in Pakistan He also pointed to an 8 7-kilometre tunnel project in India s Lahaul-Spiti region designed to divert water from the Chandra and
Bhaga rivers tributaries of the Chenab into the Beas basin Leghari argued that even if the diverted volume is relatively small compared to the Chenab s annual flow such inter-basin transfers raise important legal and treaty-interpretation questions, as the Indus Waters Treaty was based on the principle of keeping eastern and western river systems largely separate According to Leghari Pakistan’s irrigation network including structures such as the Marala Barrage and Upper Chenab Canal was developed on the assumption of predictable flows within the Chenab basin Any diversion outside the basin, he warned, could create long-term uncertainty for downstream water users and complicate agricultural planning He added that evolving river management practices on both sides have increased the need for legal clarity and stronger technical monitoring under the treaty framework Leghari cautioned that unilateral
changes to long-standing water-sharing arrangements could undermine confidence in international water treaties globally particularly in regions where major rivers cross national boundaries He noted that India itself is also downstream on rivers originating in Tibet, underscoring the interconnected nature of transboundary water systems He suggested that Pakistan should pri-
Mansour bin Muhammad Al Saud met Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and discussed investment opportunities in Pakistan's transport infrastructure sector During the meeting, Abdul Aleem Khan invited Saudi investors to participate in key motorway projects including the M6 Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway M10 Karachi Port Motorway and M13 KharianRawalpindi Motorway
The committee approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs7 026 billion for the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme It also cleared Rs 10 15 billion for the Pakistan Navy’s Hangor Project under the Rafale Aircraft and Force Development Package-2030 Seven proposals submitted by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control involving a combined Rs4 709 billion were also approved These included Rs692 9 million for security arrangements during the Islamabad Peace Talks and Rs241 million for compensation-related expenditure following the suicide bombing at Imam Bargah Khadijah-tul-Kubra in Taralai, Islamabad The committee allocated Rs528 million for the operational requirements of the Pakistan Land Ports Authority and Rs800 million for the procurement of Fast Patrol Boats and related infrastructure for the Pakistan Coast Guards A further Rs1 884 billion was approved for the Expansion of Safe City, Islamabad project, Rs150 million for the
The minister said the projects offered commercially viable investment opportunities and were strategically important for trade and connectivity He added that Pakistan's expanding road network would support regional commerce and economic activity Prince Mansour bin Muhammad Al Saud expressed interest in exploring partnerships in the motorway projects and said the Saudi Business Council was prepared to cooperate in Pakistan's communications and infrastructure sectors The communications minister assured the Saudi delegation that investors would be offered commercially viable investment models and reiterated Pakistan's commit-
operational requirements of the National Counter Terrorism Authority and Rs413 9 million for security charges linked to the Reko Diq Project
The ECC separately approved Rs30 million for the extension and upgradation of Jamia Masjid at Parliament House Islamabad under another proposal submitted by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control Pakistan Television Corporation was allocated Rs733 million to meet its salary requirements for June 2026
The Special Communication Organization received Rs183 5 million for the installation of telecommunications sites and telephone towers in District Shigar GilgitBaltistan The committee also approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs119 9 million for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to meet employee-related expenditure arising from revised salaries and allowances of parliamentary secretaries during fiscal year 2025-26
Two proposals submitted by the Ministry of Housing and Works were approved for the placement of development funds in
the current account of Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited These included Rs8 759 billion for the Karachi and Hyderabad Urban Infrastructure Development Packages and Rs2 84 billion under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The ECC approved Rs1 3 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme project titled Modernization and Up-gradation of Pakistan Mint (Phase-IIA) It also cleared Rs4 377 billion for the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan
SaUDI-backeD Project INcLUDeS ProPoSeD
bLockchaIN zoNe For karachI
FBR to link FASTER refunds with digital compliance in FY27 budget
required digital initiatives
Exporters and other large taxpayers that fail to install production monitoring systems or integrate
The federal government has decided to link sales tax refunds under the FASTER system with compliance with digital monitoring and invoicing requirements restricting payments to exporters and other taxpayers that fail to adopt the prescribed systems
The measure is expected to be notified as part of the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and will cover production monitoring systems sales tax digital invoicing and digital eye systems installed at manufacturing premises
According to sources, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will introduce a new risk parameter into the FASTER refund system to determine whether eligible taxpayers have complied with the
Punjab moves to clear open-hear t surger
y backlog at five c ardiac hospitals
experts said an increasing number of patients are being diagnosed with serious heart conditions that require angiography stent placement and in many cases open-heart surgery
cardiology hospitals At the same time, new patients are continuing to be added to waiting lists, adding to pressure on already stretched surgical facilities
strictly on merit before taking up newly registered patients who require the same procedures The move comes as cardiovascular disease cases continue to rise across Punjab particularly at specialised cardiology institutions in Rawalpindi Lahore, Wazirabad, Faisalabad and Multan
PA C I T Y: Hospital sources said the number of patients needing surgical intervention has gone beyond the existing operational capacity of these institutions Because of limited operating theatre availability and constrained medical resources patients are often being given surgery dates six months to one year after their initial assessment Sources further said that pending open-heart surgery cases registered during 2024 and 2025 have climbed into the several thousands across the five
To address the situation, the competent authority has sought complete records of pending cases from all five hospitals A formal framework has also been prepared to ensure that cases are handled transparently and in line with merit and medical urgency The new mechanism is intended to streamline disposal of the accumulated caseload at the cardiology centres in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Wazirabad, Faisalabad and Multan where growing demand for heart treatment has outpaced existing surgical capacity
PPP leads GB polls as counting continues amid rigging allegations
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Reserved seats are filled through proportional representation based on party strength A total of 396 candidates contested the elections, including 130 nominees from 24 political parties and 266 independent candidates Only eight women were in the race, five of them contesting as independents The region has 963 034 registered voters including 566 097 male and 396 937 female voters across 10 districts Polling which was delayed by around four months due to harsh winter conditions, remained largely peaceful throughout the day with no major incidents of violence reported Security arrangements remained tight across sensitive constituencies
ALLEGATIONS OF IRREGULARITIES: However, as polling concluded, political parties raised allegations regarding the transparency of the process and the issuance of result forms PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari alleged that the party was not
being provided Form-45 the official result sheet prepared by presiding officers at polling stations He said the matter had been taken up with the Chief Election Commissioner PPP spokesperson Shazia Marri termed the delay in issuance of Form-45 unacceptable and alleged that voter lists had been altered and polling stations relocated ahead of polling, describing these actions as indicative of rigging She also referred to reports that a polling station in Astore-II’s Bunji area had been shifted overnight from roadside to a hilltop location claiming it could affect voter turnout The PPP further alleged that local residents protested by blocking the Gilgit-Skardu Road Marri said the party would not accept any attempt to steal the public mandate” and urged the Election Commission to ensure transparency and release accurate results PPP leader Nadeem Afzal also alleged electoral engineering claiming that the presence of federal ministers in GB was being used to influence the process He further alleged pressure on presiding officers
regarding Form-45 issuance Separately, PTI also claimed it was leading in initial trends before alleging irregularities after polling ended The party questioned turnout figures exceeding 80 per cent in some areas and raised concerns over ballot counts it described as unusually high PTI alleged that its polling agents were not being issued Form-46, calling it a violation of election rules, and claimed incidents of fake ballots being recovered in some constituencies It termed the situation a “systematic attempt at rigging” and demanded immediate release of Form-45 and Form-46 to all candidates The party further alleged pre-poll manipulation including tampering with voter lists, changes in polling schemes, and harassment of candidates and workers It warned of legal and democratic action if results were manipulated
Rawalpindi achieves milestone in polio surveillance
COMMENT
Headscratching over taxes
TH AT stage of a marathon process has been reached where taxation proposals in the shape of options are put up to the Prime Minister for final decision Before this the Central Board of Revenue received instructions from the Prime Minister and Finance Minister on what options the government favoured Then a variety of options were prepared, and the change in revenue calculated A sort of menu has been prepared, and the PM now has to pick items keeping in view the political exigencies he faces Naturally enough the PM having expressed a desire to give relief to salaried persons on the income tax, the proposals include a number of options involving the income tax Besides, the PM also had to accommodate the demands of the business community to reduce the burden of taxation There too the options have been mostly related to income tax not the customs duty or sales tax Once the PM finalizes the projections the Finance Ministry would then take up the final list with the IMF, which has a veto on all taxation proposals, especially if they involve giving relief, or in other words reducing revenue
The proposals now offer options for reducing the tax paid by individuals making Rs 200 000 or more a month abolishing the 15 percent income tax on companies for dividend income and also the reduction of some of the tax burden on mobile phones The increase of the petroleum development levy at the last fix, when the relief passed on due to the reduction of global oil prices was only Rs 4 a litre, prevented a cut of Rs 26 60 This reflects the growing importance of the PDL for federal finances It has been targeted at Rs 1 73 trillion for the coming fiscal year Also, PDL revenue is exclusively federal, not being part of the Federal Divisible Pool, of which provinces get 57 5 percent
The PM’s emphasis on relief for the salaried class must also be seen in the light of the proposal to introduce a fixed tax regime for small traders If the collection from that cannot be translated at least initially into relief for salaried individuals then there is something terribly
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Corridors of stabilit y
IEN 2021, a single stranded vessel, the container ship Ever Given, blocked the Suez Canal for just six days Yet that brief disruption halted nearly 12 percent of global trade and reminded the world how fragile the arteries of globalization truly are Today the escalating confrontation involving Iran Israel and the USA offers a similar lesson, except this time the disruption is not caused by a stranded ship but by missiles, airspace closures and geopolitical confrontation Wars rarely remain confined to the battlefield They redraw maps in quieter ways: through disrupted trade routes rerouted aircraft and rising insurance premiums on global shipping The unfolding confrontation involving Iran Israel and the USA is already demonstrating how quickly geopolitical turbulence can reshape the arteries of global commerce Within days of hostilities escalating, commercial aviation across the Middle East began to adjust Airlines diverted flights away from contested airspace while insurers and logistics firms recalculated risk The skies above conflict zones emptied and aircraft began flowing northward over the South Caucasus and the Caspian Sea These quiet adjustments in aviation maps reveal a deeper strategic reality: the global economy is only as secure as the corridors through which it moves
railways ports and maritime crossings across the Caspian What was once viewed as a secondary logistical pathway is increasingly becoming a geopolitical necessity The logic behind its growing appeal is simple: the traditional arteries of Eurasian trade are no longer as dependable as they once seemed For decades commerce between Europe and Asia relied heavily on routes passing either through Russia or the Persian Gulf Yet recent geopolitical shocks have exposed the fragility of both The Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered sweeping sanctions that complicated trade flows through Russian territory, forcing businesses and
science and engineering Yet many institutions are limited by insufficient research funding lack of adequate laboratory resources and an absence of industry collaboration Strengthening collaborative partnerships between universities, technology companies, and government agencies can create an ecosystem where innovation is sufficiently supported and encouraged Artificial intelligence raises serious questions about the future of employment Artificial intelligence can significantly improve efficiency and productivity, but it can also disrupt the job markets In Pakistan, where a significant proportion of the workforce is engaged in lowskilled labour, a swift transition into an AI-driven economy will require careful scrutiny Skill development and vocational training must be prioritized by policymakers to ensure that the workers acclimatize to new technological realities At the same time, AI has the potential to address some of Pakistan’s unresolved development challenges In healthcare machine learning tools can assist doctors in accurate diagnosis In agriculture AI-powered comprehensive data analysis can help farmers increase crop yields and manage water resources more efficiently Intelligent systems can significantly improve urban planning, disaster management, and public service delivery
governments to reconsider the reliability of northern routes At the same time the persistent volatility surrounding Iran and the wider Gulf has raised concerns about southern transit corridors Even the mere possibility of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of global energy shipments passes, can send tremors through markets Further south, instability around the Bab alMandab Strait has repeatedly demonstrated how vulnerable global shipping remains to regional conflict Each of these chokepoints highlights a fundamental truth about globalisation: its infrastructure is geographically concentrated and therefore strategically fragile The Middle Corridor offers a rare alternative Running through countries such as Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan it provides a narrow but crucial strip of connectivity between Europe and Central Asia that bypasses both Russia and Iran In a region defined by geopolitical rivalries this geographic positioning grants the corridor unusual strategic value Geography, in fact, lies at the heart of its significance Between Russia to the north and Iran to the south lies a narrow band of territory in the South Caucasus through which goods can travel from Europe into Central Asia without passing through either power In an era of sanctions and military confrontation such neutral pathways are becoming increasingly rare But the corridor s rise also reflects a broader transformation in
Healing family ties
To fully benefit from artificial intelligence, Pakistan requires a coordinated national strategy The strategy should encourage innovation within the private sector prioritize research funding and promote a collaboration between academia and industry An ethical and regulatory framework must also be engineered that ensures that AI-driven technologies are used responsibly and transparently
The future of artificial intelligence in Pakistan will ultimately be determined by the country’s investment in technological capabilities today With an expanding digital economy a young population and a growing awareness of the technology Pakistan possesses a considerable potential to be an active participant in the global AI landscape Truly realizing the potential will require long-term vision, sustained investment and an unwavering commitment to a knowledge-based economy Artificial intelligence is no longer a future possibility; it is being rapidly adopted by modern societies The question is not whether AI will shape the country s future, but whether the country adapts to this technological revolution
The writer can be reached at taimurator@gmail com He is a scientist whose research focuses on emerging technologies and their economic and societal implications His work has explored artificial intelligence digital transformation, and technological development in emerging economies
Nuclear past repeats
The energy Trap for china and russia
Tbomb or the unmistakable operationalization of such a weapon If Tehran had already crossed that threshold, the world would likely have seen far clearer proof by now
The gap between nuclear capability and an actual deliverable bomb is vast and it is precisely within that gap that political narratives are often built
The second argument that Iran must be attacked because of its ballistic missile capability, has greater strategic logic but also exposes a double standard Yes, Iran’s missiles threaten US bases allied infrastructure shipping routes and Israel But many states possess missile capabilities without becoming targets of such an overwhelming multinational military design North Korea, for example, is more isolated, more repressive, and openly nuclear-armed, yet it has not been subjected to this kind of sustained Western-Israeli military pressure Why? The answer is not found in moral principle It is found in geography Iran sits beside the Strait of Hormuz one of the most critical energy chokepoints in human history According to the US Energy Information Administration data, about 20 9 million barrels per day of oil moved through Hormuz in the first half of 2025
That amounts to roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption and about one-quarter of globally traded maritime oil In the same period, around 11 4 billion cubic feet per day of LNG also transited the strait, representing more than one-fifth of global LNG trade These are not marginal figures They are the circulatory system of the industrial world That is what makes Iran categorically different from North Korea Iran does not merely possess missiles, a controversial nuclear programme, or an adversarial ideology Iran sits astride a waterway through which the economic oxygen of Asia and much of the wider world must pass China India Japan and South Korea together accounted for nearly three-quarters of Hormuz crude and condensate flows in the first half of
2025 In other words, the great Asian engines of growth remain heavily dependent on the uninterrupted movement of Gulf energy through waters adjoining Iran Now consider the wider maritime map The Strait of Malacca handled 23 2 million barrels per day in the first half of 2025, even more than Hormuz, making it the largest oil chokepoint in the world by volume It is the shortest and most
argument remains weaker than the rhetoric suggests Iran has long been accused of standing only days or weeks away from weaponization yet no public evidence has shown an actual nuclear test a declared
T h e e r a o f c h e a p A I i s o v e r
Qamar BaShir
ISRAEL KILLS NINE IN GA Z A AS EGYPT
HOSTS NEW CEASEFIRE TALKS
every year stripping the sea of species before they have a chance to recover Plastic pollution has reached every corner of the ocean from surface waters to the deepest trenches Industrial effluents, oil spills, and agricultural runoff continue to degrade coastal ecosystems faster than any conservation effort can reverse The ocean has been extraordinarily patient with us But patience has its limits For Pakistan the cost of this neglect is both environmental and economic The country's coastline stretches over 1,000 kilometers along Arabian Sea, covering shores of Sindh and Balochistan Its Exclusive Economic Zone spans approximately 290 000 square kilometers a maritime territory larger than Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa combined Yet Pakistan's blue economy contributes less than one percent to national GDP, roughly one billion dollars a year The fisheries sector loses more than a third of its catch to poor cold storage and handling before it ever reaches a market and fish exports remain a fraction of what they could be with the right investment
Coastal tourism is barely developed The ship breaking industry at Gadani yields a small share of its true potential These are not just missed opportunities, they are livelihoods not created, families not lifted, communities not reached The Finance Minister, speaking at the Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC) 2025 in Karachi called the blue economy a game-changing sector with a national target of $100 billion by 2047 That ambition is only achievable if the sea it depends on is still healthy enough to deliver This is where Pakistan Navy's work takes on a significance that goes well beyond symbolism In collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mangroves for the Future and the Forest Departments of Sindh and Balochistan, Pakistan Navy has planted over 8 7 million mangrove saplings along the coastal belt from Shah Bandar to Jiwani Mangroves are among the most valuable ecosystems on the planet They absorb carbon at remarkable rates, protect shorelines from storm surges, filter pollutants from coastal waters and provide breeding grounds for the fish that sustain coastal fishing communities Every tree Pakistan Navy plants is a climate solution a storm barrier and a source of future food security Pakistan Navy s commitment to marine health extends to its own operations
At PNS Karsaz in Karachi, it runs a constructed wetland treatment system that filters wastewater every day keeping untreated sewage out of the Arabian Sea Through its collaboration with Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) it actively enforces maritime law, patrolling
against illegal fishing oil dumping and marine pollution Exercises like BARRACUDA-XIII in 2025 put Pakistan Navy s readiness against oil spills and chemical contamination to the test, demonstrating that environmental protection is not an afterthought but an operational priority
In February 2025 Pakistan Navy took this message to the world AMAN25 Pakistan Navy s flagship multinational exercise, brought together 60 nations, the largest turnout in the exercise's history The accompanying inaugural AMAN Dialogue placed ocean pollution green shipping and marine waste management on the same table as tactical naval discussions for the first time at such a scale It was a deliberate and significant statement: that maritime security in the twenty-first century cannot be separated from the health of the ocean itself World Oceans Day 2026 asks every nation to turn its commitments to marine protection into something real expanded Marine Protected Areas, stronger enforcement, sustainable fisheries and empowered coastal communities For Pakistan potential is immense and urgency is real A fish stock protected today is a revenue stream that lasts for decades A mangrove forest preserved is a natural barrier that costs nothing to maintain Pakistan Navy has understood this with a clarity that many nations are still working towards Through forests planted waters cleaned laws enforced and nations convened it has shown what genuine guardianship of the sea looks like The ocean gives us everything The least we can do is protect it
Albania welcomes Pak istan p eace role, more bilateral trade & training opp or tunities sought
TIRANA S TA F F R E P O R T
Albania a key Muslim-majority country in the Balkans which is en route to EU membership, has sought closer trade and investment cooperation with Pakistan, especially opportunities for training of Albanian officials in Pak-
istan’s institutions This was stated by Tahseen Sayed Honorary Consul for Albania in Pakistan after her meeting with Ferit
Hoxha, Albania s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Hoxha expressed Albania’s strong inter-
est in further developing bilateral relations with Pakistan especially in expansion of trade promoting tourism and seeking training opportunities for Albanian officials in Pakistan s higher institutions of administrative training Both sides also discussed a number of practical initiatives to advance cooperation including initiation of consultations between senior officials of the respective ministries of Foreign Affairs potential participation of Albanian Foreign Ministry officials in professional training programs in Islamabad, holding of trade exhibitions, IT and the participation of Albanian officials, parliamen-
tarians and civil society representatives in specialized events organized by Pakistani institutions Tahseen Sayed also held productive meetings with representatives of Albanian private sector, academic and research institutions There was considerable interest in learning more about Pakistan and exploring avenues for engagement with Pakistani businesses universities think tanks and research institutes There is growing interest to expand interaction between Albania and Pakistan”, said Tahseen Sayed, Albania’s Honorary Consul “The discussions held during this visit highlighted promising opportunities to further strengthen cooperation more so at a time when Islamabad is one of the most happening places in Asia With tourism surging, a stable economy and good momentum on its European Union accession path, Albania is emerging as a promising European destination for tourism trade and investment Foreign Minister Hoxha and the Pakistani Envoy also agreed on the need to promote Peace in Europe and Asia, particularly to strengthen Inter-Faith Harmony and coexistence among communities, cultures and countries
Muslim rights group CAIR sues Virginia schools over student suspensions
and high-level government officials of Pakistan as well as Ambassadors, High Commissioners, diplomats, and prominent representatives from the tourism industry According to press release issued by Nepal Embassy Addressing the program Ambassador Rita Dhital paid tribute to the historic first ascent of May 29 1953 and mentioned that climbing Mt Everest is possible only with extra human willpower, endurance, and collaboration She shared that during the Spring 2026 season alone a record number of climbers from various countries across the globe including from Pakistan successfully climbed Mt Everest In her remarks she voiced concern over environmental degradation and glacier melting in the Himalayas caused by climate change, stressing the necessity of effective international cooperation She outlined Nepal's proactive steps, such as the cash for trash' cleanliness initiative and announced upcoming major tourism campaigns including Nepal Wellness Year 2027 and Visit Nepal Year 2028 designed to reposition the country as a sustainable, high-value destination The program featured a special video message on 73rd International Sagarmatha Day from the Honorable Mr Shisir Khanal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Likewise audio-visual material on the tallest mountains mountain panorama and adventure activities was displayed in the program In addition, Counsellor Mr Purushottam Dhungel gave a power-point presentation focused on adventure tourism in Nepal LAHORE S TA F
Officers and personnel of Punjab Police performed security duties while remaining on high alert during Christian worship and prayer services held in churches across the province including Lahore
Deficiency lies in societal thinking, not individuals: Sindh governor
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi attended a ceremony held in honor of Javed Raees receiving a civil award as chief guest In his address, the Sindh Governor said that Javed Raees is a widely respected personality He added that the community to which he belongs is dignified talented and courageous If there is any deficiency it lies not within such individuals but within societal thinking and attitudes
He said that there is a need to review language and patterns of thought Words and expressions used in the past should now be replaced with attitudes based on respect, dignity, and inclusion, which is an essential requirement of the time
The Sindh Governor stated that persons with disabilities have proven their abilities through continuous struggle hard work and determination
He said that the gathering was organized to pay tribute to Javed Raees for his services, determination, and remarkable contribution
NEHAL HASHMI’S MESSAGE ON WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY
Meanwhile Governor Nehal Hashmi said that the foundation of a healthy society lies in clean quality and safe food and providing adulteration-free food to the public is among the top priorities of the government In his special message on World Food Safety Day, the Governor Sindh stressed the need to adopt international standards and hygiene principles in food production storage and supply processes
APBF welcomes growth targets, wants realistic implementation in Budget
The All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has expressed a cautious response to the federal government s Budget 2026-27 macroeconomic framework, stating that while the growth and employment targets are ambitious, their success will depend on practical policy execution, business-friendly reforms and stability in the economic environment In a statement issued here APBF President Maaz Mahmood appreciated the government s focus on economic expansion employment generation, and macroeconomic stability, but emphasized that Pakistan s business community has repeatedly seen promising targets fail to translate into ground realities due to structural weaknesses and policy inconsistency He noted that the government s projection of 4 per cent GDP growth inflation at 8 2 per cent and creation of two million jobs reflects an optimistic economic outlook However, they stressed that achieving these goals would require deep reforms in taxation, energy pricing, industrial competitiveness and investment facilitation Maaz Mahmood said that the proposed growth trajectory signals confidence in economic recovery but warned that without reducing the cost of doing business, improving energy supply chains, and ensuring policy continuity, sustained growth will remain difficult He added that exporters and industrialists continue to face high input costs limited liquidity and regulatory challenges that weaken their
g PPP HOLDS AJK PARLIAMENTARY PARTY MEETING IN ISLAMABAD, REVIEWING SITUATION AMID CRACKDOWN ON JAAC LEADERSHIP
presiding over a meeting of the PPP’s AJK parliamentary party which reviewed the prevailing political situation in the region The PPP currently holds a majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly
According to a party statement, PPP political affairs in-charge Faryal Talpur also attended the meeting held in Islamabad, where consultations were held on developments in AJK Parliamentary party members presented their recommendations on the situation to the leadership Bilawal expressed concern over the prevailing tensions in AJK, saying the party has always prioritised the rights and issues of the people of Kashmir He reiterated that political matters should be addressed through negotiations
“I will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a solution to the issues will be found through talks and within the framework of the assembly, he said The meeting came a day after authorities in AJK launched a crackdown on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which had earlier been declared a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws Scores of its leaders and activists were arrested from different areas ahead of planned protests
g BILAWAL EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER PREVAILING SITUATION, REITERATING POLITICAL MATTERS SHOULD
MUZAFFARABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
On Friday, the AJK government had notified the banning of JAAC, citing allegations that it was “engaged in terrorism” and had acted in a manner prejudicial to peace and security in the region The group has rejected these allegations JAAC s latest protest call centres on its demand to abolish 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947 The committee argues that these seats have at times been used by mainstream political parties to influence government formation in Muzaffarabad On Thursday, the AJK Legislative Assembly defended the existing arrangement, backing the continuation of refugee seats and calling for timely elections in the region scheduled for June 27
Govt says 35 of 38 JAAC demands fulfilled, urges dialogue over protests
Earlier on Sunday Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Sunday rejected what he termed negative propaganda” claiming that the government had fulfilled only three out of 38 demands of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) asserting that the majority of the agreed points had already been implemented
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said that 35 out of 38 demands have been implemented, while the remaining issues were either pending due to court orders or were not feasible in their current form He maintained that the government remained open to dialogue on outstanding matters
The Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), in a significant constitutional opinion on a presidential reference, has endorsed the government's stance on refugee representation ruling that the 12 refugee seats enjoy constitutional protection and cannot be altered without a formal constitutional amendment under Article 33 The presidential reference was submitted to the Supreme Court by the President of AJK on the advice of the government under Article 46-A of the Constitution seeking clarity on the legal and constitutional status of refugee seats In response the court issued a detailed interpretation
Meanwhile Islamabad has dispatched federal paramilitary forces to support the local police amid rising tensions AJK authorities have also advised visitors to postpone travel to the region until June 20 citing security concerns ahead of the planned protests
He stressed that the solution to political and administrative issues could not come through violent demonstrations and that dialogue was the only viable way forward He alleged that misinformation was being spread suggesting minimal progress on the implementation of the agreement
The minister questioned whether the unrest was aimed at portraying Pakistan and AJK as separate entities weakening the constitutional relationship between the two creating divisions between refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the people of AJK, or undermining the Kashmir cause
He said the government had not ignored JAAC’s demands adding that engagement continued despite what he described as contradictory approaches from the protest leadership When we talk to them about resolving issues through dialogue, they respond with violent demonstrations, he said
Security forces killed at least 27 terrorists belonging to the Indiansponsored Fitna al-Khwarij in a series of intelligence-based operations in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa s North Waziristan district over the past 72 hours the military’s media wing said on Sunday In a statement the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that security forces engaged multiple khwarij locations in the general area of Miran Shah in what it described as the continuation of intelligence-based operations Following intense fierce exchanges of fire in the last seventytwo hours twenty-seven khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khwarij have been sent to hell,” said the ISPR
The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij to refer to terrorists affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
The statement said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed “Indian-sponsored khwarij”, who, it said, remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and the target killing of innocent civilians
The security forces by neutralising this group of khwarij , the heinous act of target killing of prominent figure Shaheed Malik Saifullah Dawar in Miranshah has been avenged and the perpetrators have been brought to justice the ISPR said
khwarij from these areas, as relentless Counter Terrorism cam-
tehkam’ (as approved by Federal
Action Plan) by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue
ported terrorism from the country
the ISPR concluded PM, Interior Minister Commend security forces over successful operations Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for successful operations, saying it reflected the professionalism and effectiveness of the country s security apparatus
The nation takes pride in its
praising the forces for their performance
CM Bugti announces civil award for hospital worker who aided doc tor after acid attack
QUETTA S TA F F R E P O R T
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Sunday announced a civil award for Abdul Razzaq Tarakai, the Civil Hospital employee who rushed to assist a female doctor moments after she came under an acid attack at Quetta s Civil Hospital drawing widespread praise for his courage and presence of mind Dr Mahnoor Nisar sustained serious injuries on Saturday when an employee of the hospital allegedly threw acid on her according to police She suffered burns on her face chest legs and other parts of her body Doctors however, said her eyes remained safe
and her condition is stable Police said the suspected attacker was later killed in an encounter after law enforcement agencies traced him to an area from where he was allegedly attempting to flee by bus Footage of the incident circulating on social media showed Abdul Razzaq Tarakai rushing to help Dr Mahnoor as she emerged from a room following the attack He was seen covering her with what appeared to be his jacket and assisting her in the immediate aftermath of the incident In a post on X Chief Minister Bugti said Tarakai had displayed “extraordinary courage humanity and dedication by coming to the doctor s aid and announced that he would be honoured with a civil award
Commending his actions the chief minister said “Such brave and valiant individuals are the assets of our society and set an example of serving humanity even in the most difficult circumstances Separately, MNA Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari strongly condemned the acid attack and revealed that she had requested President Asif Ali Zardari to confer the country s highest civilian award on Tarakai in recognition of his selfless gallantry , according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat “His timely and courageous intervention not only saved a precious life but also stands as an inspiring example of humanity for the entire nation she was quoted as saying
