g PREMIER SHEHBAZ MEETS US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, FELICITATES AMERICAN NATION ON 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE g
g US BUSINESS LEADERS INVITED TO EXPAND INVESTMENTS IN IT, ENERGY, MINING, MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURE AND MINERALS
operation across multiple sectors The prime minister fondly recalled President Trump’s bold and decisive intervention that led to the cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May 2025 saying the initiative helped save hundreds of millions of lives Discussing bilateral relations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was keen to further deepen cooperation with the United States in trade investment agriculture information technology mines and minerals, and the energy sector
The two US Congressmen thanked the prime minister for the warm hospitality extended to them during their visit and observed that President Trump enjoyed excellent relations with Pakistan s leadership, which they said was also having a positive impact on bilateral ties They also appreciated Pakistan’s leading role in promoting regional peace and stability Both sides agreed to increase the number and frequency of visits by US Congressional delegations to
Pakistan as well as exchanges of parliamentary delegations between the two countries, to further strengthen bilateral understanding and cooperation
Following the meeting the prime minister hosted a reception in honour of a visiting delegation of US corporate sector executives representing a broad range of industries including information technology, technology, energy, mining and manufacturing
Welcoming the business delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with the United States emphasizing that economic cooperation remained a central pillar of bilateral relations
He invited more American companies to invest in Pakistan through mutually beneficial ventures across diverse sectors of the economy
During the interaction the prime minister highlighted the important role of the Pakistani-American diaspora, noting that its strong representation within the visiting business delegation served as a vital bridge between Pakistan and the United States
The reception was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal ministers and senior government officials Dar upbeat on doubling Pakistan-US trade to $20b in five years
The Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) emerged as the clear frontrunner in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections securing nine of the 13 seats contested across Mirpur Division while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won the remaining four seats, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results released on Tuesday Polling was held across 13 constituencies in Mirpur Kotli and Bhimber districts from 8am to 6pm after the Election Commission extended voting by one hour
The elections are being conducted in three phases under a revised schedule announced by AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal
The first phase covered all constituencies in Mirpur Division, while polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies is scheduled for August 2 followed by Poonch (Rawalakot) Division on August 10
created to provide a “one-window facility” for investors
According to unofficial results, the PML-N won constituencies LA-1, LA-4, LA-5, LA-7, LA-9, LA-11, LA-12 and LA-13, while the PPP secured victories in
Israeli military actions, including intensified air strikes ongoing ground operations and escalating settler violence the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X The discussion between the two leaders took place amid mounting international concern over the continued Israeli military campaign in Gaza escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and heightened tensions surrounding access to Al-Aqsa Mosque one of Islam s holiest sites The Foreign Office said the two ministers also discussed Jordan s proposal to convene a meeting of Arab and Islamic countries to assess the rapidly evolving situation and develop a coordinated diplomatic response to address the crisis Reaffirming Pakistan s longstanding and principled support for the
The first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections triggered a sharp political confrontation on Tuesday with coalition partners Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) accusing each other of electoral malpractice following the release of preliminary results According to the Election Commission the PML-N secured nine of the 13 seats contested in Mirpur Division during the opening phase of the threestage elections, held amid heightened security arrangements The polling process was overshadowed by violence clashes and allegations of rigging prompting an exchange of accusations between the two coalition allies Addressing a televised press conference, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hailed the PML-N's performance as an "outstanding victory" and urged the PPP to accept the public mandate instead of questioning the election results The state does not decide election results; the people do," she said, rejecting allegations made by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Recalling the Gilgit-Baltistan elections Maryam noted that the PML-N had accepted the PPP s victory and facilitated the formation of its government, questioning why the PPP was now alleging rigging after suffering electoral defeat
LA-2, LA-3, LA-8 and LA-10
Results for LA-6 Bhimber-II were still pending with PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Razaq holding a comfortable lead after votes from more than half the polling stations were counted
Palestinian cause Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Islamabad s backing for a negotiated two-state solution as the basis for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region
“He reiterated Pakistan’s principled support for a just lasting and comprehensive peace through the implementation of the two-State solution with the establishment of an independent, contiguous, and viable State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital the Foreign Ministry said
The two foreign ministers also condemned repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli settlers and far-right groups, as well as restrictions imposed on Palestinian worshippers They said such actions violated the sanctity of the holy site heightened tensions and undermined efforts for regional peace and stability
The results underscored the PML-N's strong showing in Mirpur Division although voter turnout remained lower than in the previous AJK elections
– steps up gulf diplomac y as Kuwaiti foreign minister arrives for high-level talks
e d i n I s l a m a b a d t o d a y o n a n o ff i c i a l v i s i t a t t h e i n v i t a t i o n o f D e p u t y P r i m e
Kashfi said the armed participants possessed sophisticated weapons, including M-4 rifles, AK-47s, sub-machine guns and, according to preliminary information, sniper rifles "These are not peaceful protesters but militants " Kashfi asserted
He said one police officer had embraced martyrdom during clashes while five others were injured He further revealed that a suspect arrested in Rawalakot was carrying a military-grade weapon and, according to initial investigations, was a foreign national allegedly operating as a sniper Kashfi said law enforcement agencies were responding in self-defence to protect civilians and that investigations were under way to identify facilitators supporting the armed groups He also dismissed speculation that militants could seize control of any area in AJK, affirming that security forces would continue operations until the situation was fully brought under control Earlier AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore also accused armed agitators of deliberately engineering unrest during the election process Sharing footage showing armed men, Rathore alleged the violence had been planned well in advance to trigger widespread instability The rioters not only possess sophisticated weapons but also occupy strategic positions from where they target security personnel whose objective has been to prevent escalation and protect civilians," he said He appealed to residents to stay away from
The
T$87 86 by 0610 GMT U S West Texas Intermediate crude was at $82 24 a barrel, down 37 cents or 0 45%
Both contracts slid around 8% in the prior session and hit their lowest since July 20 after the U S abruptly suspended a campaign of air strikes against Iran over the weekend U S President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington was having "good talks" with Iran and that there was the chance of a resolution However he said U S strikes would resume if negotiations failed while Iran issued similar comments about retaliation "For now, the relief that an offramp has been found has taken the heat
out of prices and eased concerns around Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure However the situation remains highly fluid IG analyst Tony Sycamore said in a client note Afrah al-Zouba, the foreign minister-designate of Yemen's internationally recognised Saudi-backed government, said Yemen-based Houthi fighters aimed to replicate Iran's control of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz at Bab el-Mandeb Whether the Houthis have the military capacity to enforce a comprehensive blockade is questionable, especially given that the Saudis will attack them relentlessly Still there is no doubt that traffic has dropped off significantly in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, Marex analyst Edward Meir said "A key reason prices are not even higher than they are right now is the demand destruction that is taking place especially in Asia Meir said Also weighing on oil prices was news the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's Black Sea terminal on the Russ-
Committee (TAC) for scrutiny recommendations and approval, subject to fund availability The TAC, to be constituted by the Secretary of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (PD&SI) will include representatives from the Technical Economic and Admin Wings as well as project employees Cases involving training of
less than 10 days will be approved directly by the Secretary PD&SI while longer trainings will require TAC recommendation before final approval
Officers must obtain an NOC from their section head before applying for any training, and must submit a detailed training report or presentation afterward The TAC will also determine payment mechanisms for fees stipends and travel allowances for trainees and training institutes in line with government rules
The proposal also addresses an acute shortage of official accommodation within some sections of the Planning Commission, citing limited recurring budgets for renovation and refurbishment It calls for a development project to fund major renovations along with the establishment of a daycare, gym, and other facilities to accommodate additional staff
A new language programme is also proposed initially offering Chinese Turkish and Arabic courses through recognised universities with scope to add languages such as German Spanish or Korean later Approval for language programme cases and related university fees will rest with the Secretary PD&SI
The ministry plans to collaborate with national and international agencies to implement the 5E Framework and
URAAN Pakistan, including joint training programmes workshops and seminars The proposal also allocates funds for national conferences symposia and official events to support policy formulation involving experts, academicians, and scientists Additional provisions cover furniture equipment and durable goods on a need-assessment basis along with transport managed through surplus vehicles from other closed projects within the division
Under the proposal, consultants and experts will be hired for up to six months on a lump-sum monthly basis: senior specialists up to Rs2 0 million mid-level experts up to Rs1 million and juniorlevel consultants up to Rs0 6 million to support wing and section heads in policy formulation and technical matters
The programme also proposes extending the engagement of Young Development Fellows (YDFs) initially planned for 85 fellows over two years with 40 inducted annually until project completion at a revised stipend of Rs100,000 per month Eight top-performing YDFs will be granted a oneyear extension with an enhanced monthly remuneration of Rs120 000 based on performance and supervisor recommendations
Foreign
businesses
suppor t
economic recover
PM,
US Congressmen pledge deeper politic al, parliamentar y and economic engagement
and investment in the energy sector
He stressed that once the amended policy came into force, its timely and effective implementation must be ensured, warning that any negligence or delay in this regard would not be tolerated
Separately Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said modernising Pakistan s oil refineries was essential for ensuring national energy security, observing that upgraded refining facilities would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products while supplying cleaner and more environmentally friendly fuel Chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy the prime minister approved proposed amendments to the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023
During the briefing, participants were informed that upgrading existing refineries was critical for enhancing production capacity and enabling the manufacture of Euro-4 and Euro-5 standard fuels to meet Pakistan’s international environmental commitments reduce air pollution and provide higher-quality fuel to consumers
The prime minister directed the introduction of reforms to improve the performance of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) in line with market requirements to promote greater competition, transparency
The prime minister directed the relevant ministries and institutions to maintain close coordination with all stakeholders to accelerate the reform process and ensure smooth implementation
Reaffirming the government s commitment to sustainable reforms, he said every possible measure would continue to be taken to modernise the energy sector, promote advanced technologies and provide a businessfriendly environment for investors
PM Shehbaz Sharif also directed the holding of investment roadshows in Qatar Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to promote the amended Pakistan Oil Refining Policy 2023 for brownfield refineries and attract greater foreign investment
He commended the Petroleum Minister and his team for their work on the amendments relating to brownfield refineries and also directed the authorities to increase Pakistan s strategic petroleum reserves
PML-N sweeps first phase of A JK polls amid rigging claims, violence
results reflected the people s confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing the vote as an endorsement of the party's development agenda for Azad Kashmir Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb also welcomed the outcome saying the people of Mirpur had reaffirmed the confidence they had shown during Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's election campaign in the region She expressed optimism that voters in the remaining phases would also support the PML-N P O L L S O V E R S H A D O W E D B Y V
Despite elaborate security arrangements the first phase of the elections was marred by allegations of rigging sporadic violence and political confrontation between coalition partners PML-N and PPP
The controversy began when the PML-N alleged pre-poll irregularities in LA-10 Kotli, claiming election staff and polling material had been shifted to a private residence instead of the designated
polling station The Election Commission later confirmed it had suspended and arrested two presiding officers, replacing them and initiating legal proceedings
The PPP, meanwhile, accused the federal government and the PML-N of using state machinery to influence the electoral process It alleged that armed supporters attempted to disrupt polling at several stations and claimed voting at one polling station in Kotli remained suspended for nearly two hours, disenfranchising voters Tensions peaked in LA-9 Kotli-II (Nikyal) where PPP worker Mukhtar Younus was killed during polling The PPP blamed armed supporters of a PMLN candidate for the shooting, while the PML-N rejected the allegation Local authorities confirmed one fatality and injuries to two others including the deceased s father As the political temperature rose senior leaders of both parties held separate press conferences, accusing each other of manipulating the electoral process The PPP alleged misuse of official resources and pre-poll influence through development announcements while the PML-N countered by accusing the PPP of attempting to stuff ballot boxes claiming ballot papers had been recovered from the residence of a PPP candidate
Throughout the day the Election Commission maintained that violations of the electoral code of conduct would be dealt with strictly and assured that legal action would be taken wherever irregularities were established With two phases of polling still to come the opening round has not only given the PML-N an early electoral advantage but has also set the stage for an increasingly intense political contest amid continuing allegations of electoral misconduct PML-N sweeps first phase of AJK polls amid rigging claims violence Reacting to the outcome Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the results reflected the people s confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing the vote as an endorsement of the party's development agenda for Azad Kashmir Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb also welcomed the outcome, saying the people of Mirpur had reaffirmed the confidence they had shown during Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's election campaign in the region She expressed optimism that voters in the
The controversy began when the PML-N alleged pre-poll irregularities in LA-10 Kotli claiming election staff and polling material had been shifted to a private residence instead of the designated polling station The Election Commission later confirmed it had suspended and arrested two presiding officers replacing them and initiating
COMMENT
Keeping one’s ner ve
THE State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee has held the interest rate steady at 11 5 percent, the third month in a row that it has left it unchanged, after its increase of 100 basis points on April 27 The MPC was buoyed in its decision by the latest inflation figures, which showed a declining trend, having gone up to 11 7 percent in May but easing to 11 1 percent in June Barring any further shocks the MPC expected it to keep on easing further until September That caveat is important, for the conflict in the Middle East is likely to continue in its present stop-start fashion, with its consequences for oil prices The MPC noted that recent inflation was being driven by good, energy, transport and administered prices, which were not reversible by monetary policy which meant that any increase in the policy rate would not affect them but potentially stifling the growth taking place and thus throttling whatever recovery was taking place
The MPC has exercised caution in recent months, and while it has reduced the interest rate, it has not done so as much as had been demanded by industry It is worth noting that the cries have all but disappeared after the US and Israeli attack on Iran This indicates that industry has realized the wisdom of the MPC’s approach which is to steer a middle path between pump priming by lowering rates and stifling growth by lowering them
While the MPC is not involved in the government’s diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East, it is supporting them That those efforts have led to the USA pausing its bombing campaign is positive, but going by past precedent, there does not seem any reason to believe that it will last If the Strait of Hormuz is to be condemned to the kind of now-open, now-closed state in which it is presently, then the MPC might find itself once again challenged by the inexorable rise of global oil prices The problem seems to lie in the US distaste for admitting that cannot have what it wishes for Until it comes to a frank assessment of its and Iran s relative strength it will be unable to bring this mess to an end for itself or for countries like Pakistan which are suffering for no fault of their own
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
By holding the interest rate steady, SBP shows it is not panicking T
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
h e W a s h i n
N India a remarkable political development unfolded when Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid mounting pressure from thousands of protesters Interestingly, these protesters identified themselves as “cockroaches ” The term does not refer to actual insects but to students and unemployed youth who had been demonstrating for several days demanding the education minister s resignation a transparent investigation into the NEET examination paper leak and comprehensive educational reforms The origins of this unusual label can be traced to May 2026, when Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, during a court hearing reportedly described certain unemployed individuals as “parasites” and “insects ” The remarks were widely perceived as derogatory and triggered a significant backlash among India s youth In response, a satirical political movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) emerged Founded by 32-year-old Abhijeet Dipke, an Indian student studying in Boston, United States, the movement sought to reclaim the insult and transform it into a symbol of resistance against political and institutional elitism Although the Cockroach Janta Party is not a formally registered political party, it rapidly gained popularity through social media and grassroots mobilization Within a short period, it evolved into one of the most visible youth-led protest movements in India attracting widespread public attention The CJP launched its protest at New Delhi s Jantar Mantar on June 20 demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an independent investigation into alleged examination irregularities, and comprehensive reforms to India’s education system The movement gained significant momentum on June 28 when prominent education reformer and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation and commenced an indefinite hunger strike Wangchuk s participation transformed the protest from a youth-led mobilization into a broader national movement across the country Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike attracted worldwide attention Government officials repeatedly requested that he end his fast but he refused despite significant weight loss and deteriorating health On the 20th day of his hunger strike the situation took a dramatic turn when the Delhi Police transferred him from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital Despite being shifted to the hospital, Wangchuk continued his hunger strike, insisting that the movement’s demands be addressed before he would consider ending his protest Subsequently the government attempted to suppress the demonstrations through the use of tear gas water cannons and police baton charges However the protesters remained resolute, continuing their agitation despite an increasingly forceful crackdown by security forces The confrontation resulted in injuries to more than 100 students many of whom required
g t o n C i r c u s
medical treatment Rather than discouraging the movement the police action intensified public sympathy for the protesters and generated widespread criticism of the government s response Following the crackdown, Abhijeet Dipke addressed the demonstrators Condemning the police action, he declared: “The Delhi Police have brutally beaten our students and comrades We are heartbroken ” Speaking to approximately 2 000 protesters who remained at the site after the crackdown he vowed that the movement would continue We will continue to resist and demand accountability from the government We will not back down until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, he asserted Finally, as the protests intensified, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation in a televised speech in which he acknowledged the concerns of students and their families regarding the NEET examination controversy He further assured the public that all allegations of examination irregularities would be thoroughly investigated and that necessary institutional reforms would be introduced to restore confidence in the system However, the address failed to fully satisfy the protesters who maintained that accountability required the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan The
his government collapses and a jail sentence be-
comes a distinct reality For Netanyahu dragging American taxpayers and military personnel into an open-ended regional war is not about national defence it is his personal strategy for legal survival When Netanyahu and Zelensky meet Trump in Washington they represent two sides of the same coin: foreign leaders who have built their political survival on unrestricted US military backing But the geopolitical landscape has shifted The Pentagon s munitions dumps are running empty, domestic economic pressures in the U S are mounting, and Iran’s strategic deterrence has proven far more resilient than Washington anticipated
The gathering in Washington may offer impressive photo opportunities but it cannot alter the underlying reality Ukraine s aggression in the Caspian Sea is a fatal miscalculation, and Netanyahu’s lobbying in the Oval Office is the act of a cornered politician Washington can continue to indulge the legacy of Lindsey Graham or it can accept the obvious truth: the era of unchecked interventionism is over and no amount of political theater can rebuild a shattered strategy
The writer is a freelance columnist
The Karachi squeeze
Privacy undone
mAjid nAbi burfAt
Is Pakistan making Sri Lanka’s old mistakes?
OVER the past decade, South Asia has gone through a pattern of constitutional and institutional change that isn’t really isolated and it isn t a coincidence either When people compare Pakistan to Sri Lanka they usually start with debt IMF bailouts inflation, the general political mess Fair enough Those things
Critics call it something else: executive and parliamentary influence creeping into spaces that were designed on purpose to stay out of political reach Which is roughly where Sri Lanka comes in For close to 20 years, Sri Lanka bounced between reform and rollback The 18th Amendment in 2010 expanded presidential power by a lot and gutted independent commissions Five years on the 19th Amendment clawed some of that back Then in 2020 the 20th Amendment undid most of it again re-concentrating power more or less where it had started It s almost dizzying to lay out chronologically The damage wasn’t just legal untidiness It was something closer to institutional insecurity Courts and oversight bodies never got a real shot at building independence because their survival hinged on whoever happened to be running the country that particular year rather than any settled principle The research behind this piece calls it “constitutional oscillation”: institutions built dismantled rebuilt dismantled again never quite finding solid ground Pakistan s version of the story isn t a carbon copy But the logic underneath rhymes pretty closely Neither country did away with elections Neither formally abandoned constitutional rule What both cases show instead is something a bit less obvious: that amendments the everyday tools of constitutional change can themselves become the mechanism for redistributing power And the thing that keeps taking the hit, in both places, is judicial independence An independent judiciary isn’t just there to settle disputes It backs up constitutional supremacy protects rights and keeps governments answerable domestically and under whatever international obligations they ve signed onto Once courts start looking politically compromised, and honestly even just *looking* compromised is often
to come out smaller on the other side Take Pakistan’s 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments Between the two they ve reshaped the Judicial Commission changed how judges get appointed and created a Federal Constitutional Court with its own separate jurisdiction Supporters call it efficiency, specialization, better structure
Constitutions, in the end, aren’t judged by how often they get amended. They’re judged by whether they manage to stop power from concentrating in the first place. Sri Lanka’s experience is a warning sign that’s already flashing. Pakistan would do well to actually look at it, before reform quietly turns into retrenchment.
Earlier this year, anti-mosque protests flared up at the local train station, where thousands took to the streets to object to the proposed construction of the mosque
Tthe law than with whether institutions are actually strong enough to enforce the limits written into it So where does that leave Pakistan?
Probably not as a fight between Parliament and the judiciary or civilian rule versus judicial overreach, though that s how it often gets framed Democracies need every constitutional institution, courts, legislature, executive functioning on its own while still
mosque and shouting abuse Despite having good relationships with neighbours for many years Mohideen has noticed the shift in attitude towards Muslims more recently Now, I feel that people are afraid of us The verbal abuse has worsened in recent years He recalled members of his Muslim community being called terrorists accused of making bombs and being told to get out of Japan “When that happens the only thing we can do is be patient They re trying to provoke a fight or create a confrontation They want to see how long we ll tolerate it, Mohideen explained So we stay calm, speak gently, and treat them kindly, because Japanese people generally don’t know much about Islam ” Still, he thinks there is some shared responsibility for the rift “We focused only on our work and for a long time didn t make enough effort to help people understand who we are We also didn t do enough to become part of the society he said From now on, I want to work harder to increase dialogue and build better mutual understanding
Shakeel Mohamed, 61, has been representing the Yashio mosque in Saitama prefecture for the past decade He had worked as a construction site supervisor for 26 years after moving to Japan from Pakistan and speaks fluent Japanese He said Japanese locals in Yashio refer to the area s Pakistani community as Yashio-stan Of course, there are some Pakistanis who behave badly, but they’re only a small minority And the same is true of Japanese people ”
IMMIGRATION VS IDENTITY: Japan is wrestling with its identity in the face of huge demographic shifts Muslims in Japan including foreign residents and Japanese believers, numbered roughly 420,000 at the end of 2024, up from 230,000 in 2019, according to Hirofumi Tanada, a professor emeritus at Waseda University who studies the faith in Japan
The country’s growing Muslim population also reflects a greater nationwide trend The foreign resident population – which mainly comes from China Vietnam, South Korea and the Philippines - surpassed four million in 2025 A record 2 57 million of them work in Japan, according to government data In the same year, Japan’s population declined by nearly 1 million Government officials have long avoided describing the country as an immigration country but push visas that are seen as more temporary than permanent Critics describe this as a stealth immigration system But even then, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has adopted a highly conservative stance against large-scale immigration In June 2026, the Japanese government decided to raise visa fees for foreign nationals fivefold after not having increased the amount for nearly 50 years
Additional reporting by Chie Kobayashi
Tservers believe he played President Trump
ting it be known that if the US did not offer nuclear know-how he would have happily collaborated with China, Pakistan, or even Russia However it came about, the announcement heralds the start of a nuclear arms race in the Gulf, which will play out across the region over the coming years
It throws into sharp relief the intriguing relationship between the region s two most powerful figures: Saudi ruler Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) President of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi
MBZ was already an experienced regional leader when MBS became Saudi defence minister in 2015 and became an early mentor helping to shape his thinking and introducing him to international networks in Washington and elsewhere
They shared a similar worldview driven by mutual suspicion of Iranian influence and a desire to reshape regional politics after the upheavals of the Arab Spring The 2015 intervention in Yemen; support for Egypt’s post-Arab Spring government; and the 2017 Qatar blockade were testament to their collaboration
But a once warm relationship cooled long ago and became a personal battle for supremacy Collaboration is ancient history; now the countries sovereign wealth funds compete against each other aggressively In May, the UAE left the Saudi-led oil cartel Opec amid disagreement about managing production; Abu Dhabi has promised to pump millions more barrels of oil a day threatening a future price war
The impact will be felt across the Gulf not least because the GCC has become little more than a talking shop where conflicting views prevent meaningful action The only thing that unites them is shared animosity towards Iran and a determination
Noor Zafar
WANG YI CALLS FOR STRONGER GLOBAL COOPERATION TO ADVANCE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT
prominent,
and inadequacies in global development he said Third Wang called for openness mutual learning and innovation-driven develop-
ment China is willing to deepen innovation cooperation with all parties to help Global South countries seize new opportunities and address emerging challenges he said Fourth he stressed the importance of upholding multilateralism and improving global governance Countries should strengthen policy coordination to ensure that the post-2030 global development agenda of the United Nations better reflects the common needs of the Global South, Wang said Noting that China s development cannot be separated from the world and that global development also needs China s participation Wang emphasized that regardless of how the international situation changes, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, closely link its own development with the common development of all countries and serve as a promoter of and contributor to global development
He added that China will continue advancing the implementation of the GDI, sharing development opportunities with countries around the world and working toward building a community with a shared future for humanity The meeting was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the China International Development Cooperation Agency and UN development agencies in China Participants included Earle Courtenay
Xi Jinping, Slovak President elevate strategic par tnership, expand cooperation
that China viewed the European Union as a partner and sought to develop relations with the bloc in a spirit of sincerity and goodwill He expressed hope that Slovakia would play a constructive
international system and the international order based on international law He stressed the need to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive form of economic globalization that benefits all countries
The Chinese president reiterated
healthy development of China-EU relations President Pellegrini reaffirmed Slovakia s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with China and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in trade artificial intelligence the digital economy robotics and new energy technologies He welcomed greater Chinese investment in Slovakia to further deepen economic ties
As a member of the European Union, Pellegrini said Slovakia would actively promote dialogue and consultation between the EU and China to properly manage differences and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation He also pledged to work closely with China in upholding multilateralism, safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and promoting regional and global peace and stability
The Slovak president further expressed his country s willingness to strengthen coordination with China on global governance of artificial intelligence Prior to the talks, President Xi hosted an official welcome ceremony for President Pellegrini followed by a state banquet in his honour
Firefighters in France and Spain were battling major wildfires on Tuesday as western Europe prepared for another spell of extreme heat with tens of thousands of people displaced and several blazes still not under cFranceontrol
In Spain more than 73 000 people had been evacuated and about 66,000 others were under confinement as fires continued in the Madrid re-
gion and the neighbouring provinces of Avila and Toledo Authorities said residents of nine of 11 towns in Toledo province had been allowed to return home, but active fires in Madrid and nearby areas kept officials on alert In France, emergency crews made overnight progress near Bordeaux, where firefighters managed to contain a forest blaze before hotter conditions were expected to return from Wednesday Evacuations continued in Lacanau
its
Kashmir were being labelled rigged only because the party lost She said such double standards do not suit a political party that claims to believe in democratic values PPP's arrow lost
Swat’s Environmental Human Rights Defenders and Insider Mediators Graduate in Peshawar Ceremony
PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan and Hashoo Foundation in collaboration with the Climate Change Forestry Environment & Wildlife Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marked the completion of the Training Programme for Swat’s Environmental Human Rights Defenders and Insider Mediators The programme is a milestone under Empowering Women for Peace and Environmental Justice in Swat part of UNDP s Decentralization Human Rights and Local Governance (DHL) Project Forty Environmental Human Rights Defenders and Insider Mediators 20 women and 20 men completed the two training cohorts The initiative connects Women Peace and Security environmental justice and peacebuilding by supporting women s leadership community dialogue and responsible engagement with public institutions Addressing the ceremony as the Chief Guest, Mr Syed Fakhar Jehan, Provincial Minister for Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control lauded the initiative He emphasized that building localized conflict resolution frameworks and empowering environmental advocates are critical pillars for strengthening regional stability and addressing complex ecological transitions across the province Earlier in the day Mr Talha Hussain Special Secretary for the Climate Change Forestry Environment & Wildlife Department delivered the opening remarks outlining the department s firm commitment to institutionalizing grassroots environmental defense networks
UoG’s Finance & Planning Committee reviews Rs6b budget for 2026-27 GUJRAT S TA F F R E P O R T The University of Gujrat s Finance & Planning Committee has reviewed a proposed budget of more than Rs6 billion for fiscal year 2026 27 to be presented before the syndicate for approval The 36th meeting at Hafiz Hayat Campus chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zahoorul Haq recipient of the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, underscored financial discipline and resource mobilization Nearly Rs3 75 billion were raised internally, while governance reforms saved Rs400 million last year Savings funded
GOVT DECL ARES HEPATITIS C NATIONAL EMERGENCY, L AUNCHES 164M SCREENING DRIVE
TMonsoon death toll climbs to 110 as NDMA warns of fresh flood threat
The death toll from rain-related incidents across Pakistan has climbed to 110 since the start of the monsoon season with hundreds injured and widespread damage reported, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order authorities to mobilise all available resources to mitigate the impact of the unfolding weather emergency
During a briefing to the prime minister on Tuesday the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that 360 people have been injured in rain, flash flood and landslide incidents since June 26 while nearly 800 houses have been damaged across the country
According to the NDMA
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded the highest number of fatalities, followed by Punjab, as heavy monsoon rains continued to batter several regions
The authority also warned that rapid glacier melting in northern Pakistan could trigger flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) over the coming month, posing additional risks to vulnerable communities
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed all relevant departments to ensure maximum preparedness, instructing authorities to utilise all available resources, including advanced early warning systems, to minimise loss of life and property
Pakistan experiences heavy monsoon rains annually from late
Heav y rain aler t issued as fresh monsoon spell
nears from July 29
ISLAMABAD: A new monsoon system is expected to affect large parts of Pakistan from July 29 with the Pakistan Meteorological Department warning of urban flooding in major cities flash floods in streams and nullahs and landslides in vulnerable hilly areas
In an advisory issued on Tuesday the PMD said moist monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are likely to move into upper and central Pakistan from July 29, while a westerly wave already influencing the northern areas is forecast to intensify from August 1 The weather department said the combination is likely to bring rain wind and thundershowers to most upper and central parts of the country through August 5 with scattered heavy falls and at times very heavy rainfall in some areas Flooding and landslide risks
The PMD said low-lying parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad could face urban flooding from July 30 to August 4 In Sindh it warned of urban flooding in Nawabshah Sukkur Shaheed Benazirabad Hyderabad Thatta Badin Sanghar Khairpur Mithi Mirpurkhas Umerkot Tando Muhammad Khan and Tando Allahyar from July 31 to August 2 The department also cautioned that heavy rainfall may trigger flash floods in local streams and nullahs in کشمیر, Murree, Galliyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan during the spell
June to September, with intense downpours frequently causing flash floods, landslides and widespread destruction Meanwhile weather authorities have forecast another spell of heavy rainfall over northern and southern parts of the country during the next two days
Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned that a strong monsoon system is
expected to enter the country from July 29 and persist until August 5, affecting Islamabad, upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Azad Jammu and Kashmir GilgitBaltistan and the upper catchment areas of major rivers
The PMD cautioned that the fresh weather system could trigger urban flooding, while significantly raising water levels in rivers, hill torrents and seasonal streams
Punjab budget strain deepens under IMF surplus target
ISLAMABAD
N E W S D E S K
Punjab’s budget plans for 2026-27 are coming under growing scrutiny as the province tries to meet an IMF-linked surplus target of Rs910 billion while also setting aside Rs546 billion for transfer to the federal government, a combination critics say will squeeze development and public services
The province’s Rs5 903 trillion budget includes roughly Rs650 billion for salaries more than Rs400 billion for pensions and the Rs546 billion allocation listed as a Grant to Federal Government” In the Punjab Assembly, opposition MPA Imtiaz Sheikh said nearly Rs2 5 trillion would be consumed by salaries pensions and the required surplus leaving limited fiscal space for development spending
Budget pressure has intensified as the government trims its devel-
opment programme and prioritises completion of ongoing schemes over major new initiatives Opposition members have also objected to the inclusion of projects that have not yet secured approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council Imtiaz Sheikh told the assembly that projects needing ECNEC clearance had been placed in the budget without approval calling it an example of poor planning He also criticised allocations for education and healthcare arguing that the province s social sectors would remain under pressure despite higher headline spending Transfer to centre sparks constitutional and fiscal debate The transfer to the federal government has triggered wider debate among legal and economic observers Constitutional experts say Article 160 of the Constitution governs the National Finance Commission
Award but does not expressly require provinces to return a portion of their share to the centre
The Punjab government has defended the allocation as part of fiscal stability efforts and compliance with IMF commitments Critics however argue that the move will further narrow the province s room to fund development projects and social services Under the IMF programme Punjab is required to maintain revenues above expenditures in order to generate the Rs910 billion surplus in 2026-27 Economists warn that failure to meet revenue targets could force the government to slow development work or delay projects to preserve that surplus Economists urge savings, governance reforms Economist Dr Qais Aslam said Punjab was doing better than many other provinces, but cautioned that achieving such a large surplus would still be difficult
