PAKISTAN AND SAUDI ARABIA PLEDGE CLOSE COORDINATION AFTER RED SEA TANKER ATTACKS
During what was described as a cordial conversation, the prime minister termed the attacks "totally unacceptable" saying they violated international law threatened freedom of navigation and commercial shipping and undermined regional peace, security and stability He expressed Pakistan's complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia stating that he along with Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the people of Pakistan, stood firmly with the Saudi leadership during this critical period Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the Kingdom s security sovereignty territorial integrity and prosperity assuring the Saudi crown prince that Islamabad would continue working closely with Riyadh and the international community to ensure peace, stability and the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime trade through the Red Sea the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appreciated Pakistan s steadfast support and praised the longstanding fraternal ties between the two countries
Pakistan says EU repor t on
The prime minister also conveyed his warm regards and best wishes to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Separately Prime Minister Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting on population welfare, stressing the need to align population planning with national development economic stability and human
resource development
Describing rapid population growth as one of Pakistan s greatest challenges he said population control and welfare should be treated as a national responsibility and directed authorities to convene a meeting of the National Population Council at the earliest
not fairly capture the scope of reforms undertaken by the country The European Commission issued the report last week as part of its global review of the GSP framework for the 2023-2025 period According to the assessment, Pakistan had regressed in several areas and had seen only limited positive change Responding to a question
be remiss if I do not express disappointment with the assessment with the report s overall narrative which does not present sufficiently balanced pictures of Pakistan s performance, He further said the EU review understated the extent of reforms carried out by Pakistan The GSP+ mechanism is tied to compliance with a set of international conventions and the EU report formed part of the bloc s latest monitoring of beneficiary countries MANILA S TA
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Thursday urged the international community to address longstanding regional disputes and emerging security challenges, highlighting the Kashmir issue, India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) terrorism the Gaza crisis and climate change during the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila
Addressing ministers and delegates from the 27-member forum Dar outlined eight major challenges confronting regional and global peace warning that failure to address them would undermine international efforts to achieve stability and prosperity
Describing the unresolved
Jammu and Kashmir dispute as "the heart of regional instability" in South Asia he reiterated Pakistan s support for a peaceful settlement in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people
The deputy prime minister also criticised India's unilateral decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in
abeyance following last year's hostilities describing the move as a serious provocation that required urgent international attention We simply cannot afford to let this serious provocative development remain unaddressed," Dar said, urging the global community to support efforts for a peaceful resolution
District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his security guard were killed when gunmen attacked their vehicles at Wali Khan crossing while they were travelling from Quetta to Mastung on Thursday according to Balochistan Home Department aide Babar
Yousafzai Yousafzai said Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari was also among two
IN AI, DIGITAL BUSINESS TOOLS
Pakistan launches National Emigration and Welfare Polic y 2026 for overseas workers
Chaudhry Salik
the policy at a ceremony attended by foreign diplomats representatives of international organisations federal and provincial officials development partners and media professionals
The policy is aimed at addressing fragmented governance, skills shortages, informal remittance routes and gaps in the reintegration of returning workers as global labour markets increasingly shift towards high-skilled employment
It is built around the vision of making Pakistan “a country of choice for sourcing quality human resource and seeks to align domestic skills development with international standards Hussain said overseas workers had become central to Pakistan s economic stability, with remittances reaching a record $41 58 billion during fiscal year 2025-26 the largest single source of foreign exchange in the country s history Under the policy the government will establish a Labour Market Research Cell, revise regulations governing Overseas Employment Promoters and expand the role of Community Welfare Attachés It will also pursue Talent Partnerships under the EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue and introduce digital platforms including the PAKTOK App, Pak Emigrant Management Framework and e-Informed Migration Framework Emigration services will be expanded
in Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir while Technical and Vocational Education and Training curricula will be aligned with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission and international institutions through Centres of Excellence The policy provides for greater participation by women persons with disabili-
Council An
Benefits Institution
and
for the children of overseas workers will also be introduced The government will promote formal remittance channels through the Sohni
Pakistan and S audi Arabia pledge close coordination af ter Red S ea tanker attacks
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Officials informed the meeting that the National Stabilisation Plan 2026–2035 was being finalised with the objective of reducing the country s population growth rate from 2 55 per cent to 1 25 per cent by 2035
The proposed framework prioritises healthcare, education, youth development, women's participation in the workforce vocational training and social protection while several federal welfare programmes are also being linked with population welfare objectives
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Syed Mustafa Kamal and Attaullah Tarar along with senior government officials
Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reviewed the progress on Pakistan s strategic roadmap for the information technology sector, and reaffirmed that expanding the digital economy and increasing IT exports remain among the government s top priorities Chairing a highlevel meeting here the prime minister welcomed the country s annual IT ex-
ports reaching $4 6 billion reflecting a 21 per cent increase and commended Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and her team for the achievement
He said the growth was the result of the government's policies aimed at strengthening the digital economy PM Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to ensure credible third-party validation of IT training courses, and stressed that there would be no compromise on the quality of skills development He also instructed officials to further improve digital infrastructure across the country
The meeting was briefed on the performance of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication
The officials said mobile spectrum availability had increased from 274 MHz in June 2025 to 880 MHz in June 2026 a development expected to significantly improve internet speed and connectivity The prime minister was also informed about preparations for the launch of the Connect Pakistan Vision 2030 initiative
The official further briefed that the Software Technology Park in Bagh
Azad Jammu and Kashmir has been completed while smartphone penetration has increased from 62 per cent in 2024 to 72 per cent by June 2026 Fixed broadband and fibre connections have reached 5 1 million households, it added
The officials said freelancers contributed $1 164 billion to IT exports during the last fiscal year while 130 government services have been digitised under the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative During the same period, 942,646 training certificates were awarded, including 5,053 high-end training programmes and 2 700 leadership and soft skills training sessions
The meeting was also informed that the Women Innovation and Startup Empowerment Lab would be inaugurated soon Under a memorandum of understanding with Alibaba, artificial intelligence projects and training programmes are being implemented across several federal ministries and institutions including the State Bank of Pakistan Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan Railways, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, Higher Education Commission and other government organisations
and peaceful engagement over tensions in the South China Sea He also reaffirmed Pakistan's adherence to the OneChina Policy recognising the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China Highlighting climate change Dar said Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to global warming despite contributing less than one per cent of
A tale of two factions
ACROSS the US media landscape, there is a lively debate going on as to whether the USA has won or lost in its war against Iran
This seems strange for it seems to ignore the second attack on Iran by the USA for the two combatants are still engaging in exchanges of bombings of cities by the USA and missile attacks on US bases in the Gulf It may be remembered that other wars have entered that rather sad stage when the fighting goes on even though one side no longer has any chance of victory In both world wars fighting went on for months after the failure of the last German offensive
This may be seen as that stage where the losing side still retains a cohesive military machine The alternative is to seek a ceasefire, to be followed by a surrender and a cessation of hostilities Though the June Memorandum of Understanding confirmed a ceasefire it was not accompanied by a sense that either side had lost Certainly neither side admitted it to themselves Only now with a second (third if one counts the 2024 bombings) trial of strength, has it become obvious that there is a drift into a war of attrition, with neither side able to launch a decisive blow The USA is reduced to depending on the pragmatists on the Iranians winning the debate with the hardliners while Iran is left to waiting for the same The indications are that the favoured US solution a ground invasion, looks increasingly less likely, as the US military and political establishment has come to realize afresh that while the only solution to the US need to bring Iran to heel, it is prohibitively costly and the USA may not have what it takes Iran or more precisely Iran s regime has survived That is the salient fact that the USA cannot accept It will not do what the USA wants both on its nuclear programme and on its missiles, not to mention that it sets a bad example The Gulf monarchies remain concerned about their own survival, and to what extent the USA contributes to this Moving towards Iran it seems to them that their most vital interest the ability to export their oil is no longer being protected and perhaps cannot be There is the problem that unlike the USA, Iran cannot guarantee the safe export of Gulf oil on its own This can, in US eyes, only be done if the USA brings Iran on board which implies a regime in Iran willing to cooperate with the USA This is all the more necessary considering that the USA would like the future arrangement to include Israel That implies that the Israeli outrage against Iran which made it push the USA towards this war, is not so much the Iranian nuclear programme, as its probable refusal to cooperate with Israel Another reason Israel is enraged with Iran to the extent that it killed its Supreme Leader is that it provides such a bad example one which makes
all of Israel s gains through the Abraham Accords worthless For a long time Iran and Turkey were the only Muslim countries to recognize Israel, but after the 1979 Revolution, it also became the only one to de-recognize it It is not Iran alone that the USA resents but the powers it sees Iran as the stalking-horse for China and Russia The failure of US sanctions on Iran would indicate that any on China would have the same absence of effect It has also been a case of misery loving company, with the three having developed mechanisms to bypass sanctions, and constructing a rudimentary financial architecture to act as an alternative to and perhaps even replace The Bretton Woods system the USA constructed after World War II Perhaps as much if not more that its supposed nuclear programme Iran s willingness to accept nondollar payments for its oil has irritated the USA, because it could mean the end of the dollar s position as the world’s reserve currency Trump has managed to overuse the sanctions weapon to the extent that it has led to the creation of an alternate financial universe At the moment it has only three members but it is likely to expand as the USA has probably not done using sanctions despite the evidence that they do not work It is also worth noting that Iran has observed certain US red lines since the
If Iran aspires to the leadership of maintaining its present course of independence, if it aspires to the leadership of the Muslim world, its sectarianism must be abandoned, or at least modified. Can it retain its current stance if it retains that sectarian colour? That is a question that the Iranian people alone can answer. They have been steadfast so far in supporting the hardliners; how much farther can they go for staying out of the US orbit?
The global south claims its digital sovereignty
prove that excellence in AI does not require the astronomical budgets and proprietary lock-in characteristic of Western tech monopolies
THE global artificial intelligence landscape is undergoing a profound transformation moving away from the restrictive exclusionary models favored by Western powers toward a collaborative, inclusive architecture designed to empower the Global South For years, the narrative surrounding AI has been defined by a ‘solo performance’- a walled-garden approach where a small circle of nations prioritizes export controls intellectual property hoarding
That
The
of
(WAICO) in
finitive
of
this
of
of
that places
inclusivity and shared prosperity at its core On July 16, representatives from 29 nationsincluding Pakistan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, and Russia- signed the founding agreement for WAICO Headquartered in Shanghai this intergovernmental body is explicitly designed to serve as a platform for extensive consultation joint contribution, and shared benefit Unlike the exclusionary frameworks that rely on technological tiering and “trustworthiness” assessments to limit access to high-end computers, WAICO adheres to a people-centred approach As President Xi Jinping emphasized during his keynote address at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference AI development should not be a solo performance by a single
address this, China is moving beyond rhetoric by treating AI as a global public good The commitments announced during the WAIC including 5 000 artificial intelligence training and seminar opportunities over the next five years are designed to cultivate a generation of local experts who can drive their own nations digital agendas Furthermore, the establishment of international AI application cooperation centers across major regional blocs- including ASEAN the Arab League the African Union CELAC and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization- aims to foster localized ecosystems These centres allow nations to build digital infrastructures that align with their own languages, cultural values, and legal jurisdictions, rather than forcing them to adopt “off-the-shelf” solutions from foreign APIs that remain detached from local realities A primary example of this inclusive humanitarian strategy is the expansion of the MAZU meteorological early warning system Developed by the China Meteorological Administration, MAZU integrates satellite monitoring, advanced radar, and artificial intelligence to provide multi-hazard alerts While already utilized by over 40 national meteorological agencies China s pledge to help 30 additional countries deploy customized versions of the system represents a concrete commitment to safeguarding lives and property against extreme weather
By delivering this technology as an international public service, Beijing is empowering partners to transition from passive climate victims to proactive managers of environmental risk This is the antithesis of the landlord-tenant relationship that characterizes much of the Western-dominated AI sector; it is a partnership model that treats technical infrastructure as a tool for collective security and development
While some Western labs have increasingly focused on “walled garden” strategies and restrictive licensing to maintain dominance China has embraced an open-source ethos that is rapidly democratizing high-end AI capabilities
The global rise of Chinese-developed models such as Qwen, Kimi, and DeepSeek showcases a move toward frontier-level performance that is both highly cost-effective and transparent These models characterized by efficient architectures and high-reasoning capabilities
By promoting this ecosystem China is ensuring that the Global South can access advanced models without becoming permanently dependent on foreign inference credits or proprietary infrastructure This is not charity; it is the strategic provision of the building blocks for digital sovereignty
The momentum behind WAICO reflects a broader push for a just and equitable system of global governance China s principled stance against the overstretching of national security concepts to impede the development of others positions Beijing as the primary champion for an AI future that is safe, controllable, and accessible
By advocating for data property rights green AI development and the deep integration of AI with energy systems China is providing a comprehensive blueprint for nations to leapfrog traditional development hurdles The vision presented at the 2026 WAIC is one of shared prosperity, where the benefits of the AI revolution are accessible to all rather than hoarded by a few to maintain a status quo of historical injustice
For the nations of the Global South the message from Shanghai is clear: the path toward AI sovereignty is being built through partnership, not patronage The invitation to build a brighter, more secure future for humanity is no longer a rhetorical device; it is an institutional reality As WAICO begins its operations the global community is faced with a definitive choice The old model of AI as a proprietary monopoly is increasingly viewed as an instrument of exclusion, whereas China s model of AI as a people-centered partnership offers a pathway toward true digital liberation
The era of accepting a subordinate role in the technological order is over Through the collaborative framework of WAICO and the wider vision of Chinese-led digital cooperation the world is moving toward an era where technology serves the collective progress of humanity, ensuring that the innovations of tomorrow are governed by all, for the benefit of all The invitation is real, and the potential for a more balanced multipolar digital future has never been greater It is time for the Global South to take its seat at the table
The writer is a freelance columnist
family ties
Nuclear past repeats
Dr IMrAN KhAlID
India’s reckless pursuit of nuclear ambitions
inadequate personnel vetting weak transport security and insufficient oversight of civilian-adjacent facilities The pattern that emerged indicates that many seizures involve civilians including the employees to sensitive nuclear setups like Bhabha Atomic Research Centre In 2009, two contract workers attempted to steal computer spare parts from Tarapur Atomic Power Station located within the BARC complex Just after nine months some people approached the main security of the BARC Colony seeking entry as new recruits with appointment letters purportedly signed by BARC officials
Although such security breaches did not involve nuclear material it highlighted gaps in the vetting and monitoring of contract labourers These incidents indicated failures in perimeter security and material accounting systems rather than singular acts of insider betrayal Such findings reinforce that India’s nuclear security challenges are systemic rather than incidental
emphasized that timely reporting is essential for global nuclear security cooperation and threat assessment Gaps in reporting weaken collective efforts to prevent nuclear smuggling and raise questions about India s compliance with best practices under global nuclear security frameworks At the institutional level, India’s regulatory architecture remains deeply flawed The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) tasked with overseeing nuclear safety operates under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) the very entity responsible for India s nuclear program This lack of institutional independence has been criticized by former officials parliamentary committees and international observers who argue that effective regulation cannot exist where the regulator is subordinate to the operator The absence of an independent nuclear regulator significantly undermines enforcement credibility and weakens safety culture
environments
More alarming was the August 2024 arrest of individuals in Bihar found in possession of Californium a rare and highly radioactive isotope with potential applications in neutron emission and nuclear research Indian police acknowledged the seizure while regional and international media emphasized the extraordinary sensitivity of the material and its potential misuse if diverted to malicious actors The unauthorized circulation of such an isotope reinforced concerns that India s nuclear security challenges extend beyond uranium to a broader spectrum of radiological substances significantly increasing the risk of radiological terrorism These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of structural weaknesses The nuclear material trafficking incidents in India have identified poor inventory management
The Indian government’s response to such incidents has frequently been defensive and dismissive Officials have often claimed that seized materials were naturally occurring or intended for industrial or scientific use, minimizing their potential danger While technically accurate in some cases, such responses obscure the central issue: the unauthorized removal and circulation of radioactive materials constitute a serious security breach regardless of enrichment level This tendency to downplay incidents has drawn criticism from security experts and journalists alike, who argue that it undermines transparency and erodes confidence in India’s commitment to international reporting standards Transparency concerns are further compounded by India s inconsistent reporting to international mechanisms Although India participates in the International Atomic Energy Agency s Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB), publicly available data suggests that not all incidents are promptly or fully reported The IAEA has repeatedly
These domestic shortcomings have direct implications for India’s standing within global non-proliferation regimes As a State party to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and a state bound by UN Security Council Resolution 1540, India is obligated to ensure stringent control over nuclear and radiological materials and prevent their diversion to non-state actors Persistent thefts weak oversight and limited transparency undermine the credibility of these commitments and strain the integrity of the broader nonproliferation architecture Pakistan has repeatedly voiced concern over these developments Following highprofile thefts and the 2024 Californium incident Pakistan s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued several formal statements expressing grave concern over recurring nuclear and radiological material security lapses
n
p l a n s p u r s u e d w i t h o u t c o m m e n s u r a t e s a f e g u a r d s c o l l e c t i v e l y u n d e r m i n e I n d i a ’ s c l a i m
t o r e s p o n s i b l e n u c l e a r s t e w a r d s h i p U n l e s s s u b s t a n t i v e r e f o r m s a r e u n d e r t a k e n
i n c l u d i n g i n d e p e n d e n t r e g u l a t i o n , t r a n s p a r e n t
“Cover-up” unravels
as Pentagon admits nearly 100 injured in Iran strikes
‘We did get pushback from the White House of ‘Can you guys repor t this differently? Can it be ever y 10 days or two weeks, or we do a wrap-up after the fact?’’ said Farah
I n d i a s h o u l d l i s t e n t o i t s f r u s t r a t e d y o u t h
unidentified remains found after the attack were certainly those of the missing soldier A second official confirmed this assessment and said the soldier ’s body was so badly disfigured that a “complete investigation had to be conducted in order to confirm the identity In Iraq Army Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed and another soldier was wounded over the weekend “during a controlled detonation” of an Iranian attack drone at Erbil Air Base U S bases across the Middle East suffered significant damage over the last week, according to the official speaking on the condition of anonymity In addition to attacks in Jordan and Iraq Iran struck U S military installations in Bahrain Kuwait and Syria according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency which is associated with Iran s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps The attacks came after the U S failed to achieve any of its war objectives and April and June ceasefires crumbled The official said Iran had learned how to defeat U S air defense systems by overwhelming them using a mix of ballistic missiles and attack drones
Both Central Command and the Office of the Secretary of War failed to respond to detailed questions from The Intercept about the attacks and U S casualties
Parnell said on X that further casualty updates would be posted to the Defense Casualty Analysis System, which tracks “deceased wounded ill or injured” service members for Congress and the president Prior reporting by The Intercept found DCAS is missing hundreds of dead and wounded personnel DCAS was also previously adjusted downward by 15 casualties without explanation For months the Pentagon has ignored requests by The Intercept for comment or clarification
Parnell said on Monday morning that casualty information is publicly available and regularly updated online on the Defense Casualty Analysis System for everyone including the media to review ” But DCAS was uncharacteristically not updated on Monday morning and instead offered outdated figures posted on Friday On Monday afternoon,
the count of wounded on some DCAS webpages rose from 427 to 447, but the Pentagon s official tally of troops wounded in action during July remained at zero as of early Tuesday morning
The U S official called the Pentagon s confused casualty count official ineptitude that serves the interests of this administration
The source said errors, conflicting information, and disappearing data were tolerated because it “floods the zone” with misinformation and adds to confusion among the press and public
Parnell claimed that the vast majority of injuries experienced [this month] were minor concussions, and that 96 percent of personnel have returned to duty But blast symptoms like traumatic brain injuries can take time to manifest if the military even bothers to assess them
The Trump administration has often discounted head trauma President Donald Trump himself has long dismissed brain injuries as “headaches” and “not serious ” After an Iranian missile attack on Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq in January 2020 Trump said We suffered no casualties The Pentagon would later acknowledge casualties resulting from the attack and proceeded to adjust the figure upward at least five times with Central Command ultimately admitting that 110 troops suffered traumatic brain injuries A November 2021 inspector general report indicated that the number of brain injuries may have been even higher because “DoD cannot determine whether all Service members are being properly diagnosed and treated for TBIs in deployed settings
Alyssa Farah, a former Pentagon spokesperson, later revealed on a podcast that the Trump White House pressured the military to downplay those troops injuries We did get pushback from the White House of Can you guys report this differently? Can it be every 10 days or two weeks, or we do a wrap-up after the fact?’” said Farah “The White House would prefer if we did not give
G E N C
S An estimated 1 4 million people in Gaza are expected
Chinese FM urges closer China-ASEAN cooperation to tackle challenges
shared future with neighboring countries Wang said China has reached important consensus with
eight ASEAN member states on jointly forming a community with a shared future bilaterally Second, economic and trade cooperation has continued to grow Following the formal signing of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3 0 Upgrade Protocol, China and ASEAN have remained each other's largest trading partners for six consecutive years with bilateral trade surpassing $1 trillion in 2025 Wang said Third China and ASEAN have demonstrated solidarity in times of crisis Wang cited China s rapid emergency assistance following major earthquakes in Myanmar and Mindanao in the Philippines as an example of mutual support Fourth people-to-people exchanges have expanded significantly Wang noted that nearly 200 major and well-received events were held during the 2024-2025 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, while a dedicated visa facilitation scheme for ASEAN countries was introduced to make crossborder travel more convenient While recognizing the fruitful outcomes of China-ASEAN cooperation Wang said China is ready to work with ASEAN to ensure that their partnership continues to serve as an engine for Asia s development and revitalization a model for Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, and a benchmark for the solidarity and self-strengthening of the Global South Wang put forward four proposals for further advancing China-ASEAN cooperation First to safeguard the regional environment for peace and development Wang said all sides should champion the Asian values of peace cooperation openness and inclusiveness, firmly reject unjustified external interference, oppose patching up exclusive small groupings, refuse to be drawn into camp-based confrontation and never allow militarism to stage a comeback
China says South China Sea issue should not become an obstacle in China-ASEAN ties
BEIJING (AGENCEIS): China s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the South China Sea issue should not become an obstacle in China-ASEAN relations Speaking at a press conference Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila on Wednesday, alongside foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and the ASEAN secretarygeneral Wang noted that under the joint strategic guidance of the leaders of both sides China-ASEAN cooperation yielded fruitful results benefiting over two billion people according to Lin China has reached important common understandings with eight ASEAN member states on forming a community with a shared future bilaterally the spokesperson said citing Wang s remarks
Abdul Rehman Sheikh Second Secretary (Tax Facilitation) The session was attended by Mr Ejaz Ahmed Bajwa, Chief Instructor, Ms Marya Ahmed Sardar (ADS), Ms Onsia Zafar (ADS), and officers undergoing training at NIPA In his opening remarks Mr Muhammad Muti-urRehman Mumtaz highlighted FBR s role in national revenue generation and outlined key reforms introduced to facilitate taxpayers and modernize tax administration He shared details of major initiatives, including Point of Sale (POS) Integration, Track & Trace System, Digital Invoicing, Faceless Customs Assessment System Cargo Tracking System Direct Port Delivery System Reward & Rating System and Video Analytics for production monitoring of various sectors
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Meezan Bank has advised the Government of Pakistan on the successful issuance of the country s first short-term sovereign hybrid Sukuk, acting as Joint Financial Advisor on the landmark transaction featuring threemonth and six-month tenors The issuance launched by the Ministry of Finance introduces Pakistan s first asset-light shortterm sovereign hybrid Sukuk and defining moment in the growth of Pakistan s Islamic financial sector The pioneering transaction introduces Pakistan's first short-term assetlight Sovereign Hybrid Sukuk combining Ijarah and Commodity Murabaha structures The instrument offers the Government an innovative sovereign funding solution while strengthening liquidity management for the country s Islamic banking industry
SAFA Board Approves ESG Framework (Version 1) for Public-Sector Entities in South Asia
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Mr Zia ul Mustafa Awan, Chairman of the SAFA Public Sector Advisory Committee has stated that the Board of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) during its 93rd meeting held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, approved the landmark Framework titled ESG Framework (Version 1) for Public Sector Entities in the South Asian Region The framework was developed through a collaborative regional team comprising representatives of SAFA member bodies from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives Mr Zia ul Mustafa Awan said that the Framework provides practical and regionally relevant guidance for integrating Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into the policies strategies and operations of public-sector entities The framework covers ESG governance, regulatory requirements, performance indicators, reporting and disclosures, assurance and audit, as well as a phased implementation roadmap Zero Tolerance for Corruption, Ticketless Travel and Encroachment on
Railway Land:
IG
Railways
Police KARACHI: Inspector General Pakistan Railways Police Muhammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan arrived in Karachi on a three-day official
AMNEST Y INT’L REPORT ON PAKISTAN’S PRECISION STRIKES BUILT ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE, STRUCTURAL BLIND SPOTS: ANALYSTS
Pakistan s official stance remains clear and definitive: no hospital or rehabilitation center was intentionally targeted The March 16 strikes were precision-guided operations aimed strictly at military installations technical facilities, ammunition dumps, drone-related equipment, and terrorist support infrastructure used by the Taliban regime to facilitate anti-Pakistan terrorist proxies Secondary detonations observed at the site confirmed the presence of military materiel
Afghan population Men have also been barred from entering sensitive areas including medical facilities where women work turning these locations into structural blind spots that are routinely exploited by the Taliban regime for terrorist activities Without independent ground access, Amnesty’s conclusions rely on unchallenged assertions from a regime with every incentive to distort facts Questions have also been raised re-
Six terrorists killed, several suspects held in Mastung operation: ISPR
MASTUNG
garding internal political manipulation and leadership bias within Amnesty International The report was signed by Isabelle Lessee, acting Regional Director for South Asia who holds the position of Deputy Director The substantive Regional Director Smriti Singh an Indian national with a background at the Times of India a publication linked to Indian intelligence agency RAW prompts serious scrutiny over potential biases and alignment with India-based networks Critics argue that Lessee was used as a front to publish a report that Singh could not credibly attach her name to With a majority of its South Asia office staff based in India, Amnesty has faced long-standing criticism for echoing propaganda from Indian-sponsored groups taking a hostile posture toward Pakistan and maintaining selective silence on regional cross-border terrorism
The martyrdom of Session Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his bodyguard in Mastung signals a dangerous shift in Balochistan as after failing to break law enforcement agencies the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and its associate terrorist outfits have now turned their attacks on civilians and state institutions
This tragic attack reflects a calculated shift in strategy to instil widespread fear and destabilize public administration across Balochistan For months state law enforcement agencies successfully stood as a wall against anti-state elements In response, these terrorist networks operating under the cover of the BYC have expanded their scope of violence to soft targets un-
While any civilian casualties are tragic, accountability requires examining the full chain of events This includes the classified intelligence identifying the target the co-location of military assets within civilian structures and the Taliban regime s responsibility for placing terrorist infrastructure near civilian populations Pakistan has for years demanded verifiable action against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a UN-designated terrorist organization, and associated networks operating from Afghan territory These groups have launched cross-border attacks trained fighters and dispatched suicide bombers resulting in the deaths of Pakistani civilians, soldiers, police officers, teachers, and religious scholars
The core issue remains why the Afghan Taliban allows its territory to serve as a launchpad for aggression against a neighboring state violating diplomatic commitments and international counterterrorism obligations
Pakistan supports an impartial international examination that encompasses the full scope of Afghan sanctuary, facilitation and support provided to anti-Pakistan terrorists
armed citizens and judicial officers in a desperate bid to create chaos
The attack comes as part of a sudden wave of violence deliberately directed at non-military, civilian targets, including the targeted killing of Session Judge Kakar five innocent laborers in Mashkel and bus passengers in Khadkocha
This shift toward targeting civilian institutions reached a breaking point following the June 22, 2026, sentencing of BYC chief Mahrang Lango by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Quetta
Unable to confront law enforcement directly on the ground the leadership turned its sights on the court system
against judges The martyrdom of Justice Kakar occurred
Having lost the ground against resilient law enforcement forces, these terrorist elements and
plans "The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with security forces for the complete elimination of the menace of Fitna al-Hindustan Earlier on Thursday a district and sessions judge and his security guard were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle on the national highway in Mastung An additional sessions judge and another person were seriously injured in the attack Following the shooting security forces and other law enforcement agencies sealed off the area began a search operation and set up checkpoints at different locations to trace the attackers A day earlier security forces had killed 10 terrorists and apprehended two female suicide bombers and a facilitator during multiple intelligence-based operations in Balochistan UN report flags militant activity
The report also referred to a United Nations Security Council assessment released in February which highlighted a rise in attacks by the banned Baloch Liberation Army against Pakistani security forces and projects associated with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor On September 16, 2025, the BLA ambushed a Pakistani military convoy patrolling the corridor, killing 32 troops Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations had restricted the group’s operational space though it remained active The UNSC report said some member states believed the BLA had worked with the Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan and ISIL-K through shared training camps and resources, including coordination in attacks and meetings between commanders Some member states, however, assessed that there was no association or expanding link between the BLA and Al Qaeda or ISIL
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides across Gilgit-Baltistan, washing away roads and bridges, disrupting travel on key routes and leaving thousands of people including tourists stranded in different parts of the region according to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast more rain in Gilgit-Baltistan and warned of glacial lake outburst floods until July 26 The affected routes included the Karakoram Highway Babusar Road, Baltistan Road, Naltar Highway, Ghizer-Shandur Road and Astore Valley Road, along with other links to remote areas The GBDMA said the Karakoram Highway was blocked at several points from Dassu to the Hunza and Nagar
districts while flooding at multiple locations also hampered relief and rehabilitation work In Skardu, heavy flooding in the Tormak Nallah area of Rondu subdivision swept away at least three key communication bridges including Malan Bridge Floods also caused extensive damage to roads bridges crops farmland and infrastructure in parts of Kharmang, Ghanche and Shigar In Haramosh, suspension bridges and power houses were reported damaged Electricity and water supply systems were disrupted in Astore Tangir Thore and other areas of Diamer which also affected communication services Drinking water schemes, irrigation channels and protective embankments were destroyed in several places and some villages were cut off from one another Dozens of families in Losala village of Astore Thore Valley, Tangir in Diamer and other
localities were left homeless due to floods and landslides Across Ghizer district authorities reported temporary road closures, localised flooding and partial damage to two houses Vulnerable communities were moved to designated safer locations as a precaution In Gilgit s Jutal area rising water levels in the Hunza-Nagar River put eight households at risk In Yasin Valley, Sheliabad, Amit and surrounding areas of Ghizer, river erosion damaged agricultural land and non-fruit trees while the Ghizer-Shandur and Ghizer-Gilgit roads remained blocked Relief and official response In a statement, the GBDMA said swelling rivers and streams had damaged homes, roads, bridges crops and agricultural land It said the authority district administration Rescue 1122 and other agencies were carrying out joint relief operations
