BOOST TRADE TO $5B
g PREMIER SHEHBAZ SAYS TÜRKIYE'S SUCCESS IS PAKISTAN'S SUCCESS, HAILS 'TWO HEARTS, ONE SOUL' BOND
g BOTH LEADERS PLEDGE TO ACHIEVE $5B BILATERAL TRADE TARGET THROUGH EXPANDED ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT
g ERDOGAN, PM REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO DEEPER COOPERATION IN TRADE, INVESTMENT, ENERGY AND DEFENCE
g ANKARA PRAISES PAKISTAN'S MEDIATION ROLE IN IRAN-US TALKS, BACKS ISLAMABAD'S REGIONAL PEACE EFFORTS
G ovt plans annual evaluation of judges, says Azam Tarar
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on Saturday said the government was committed to improving legal education, strengthening the professional training of lawyers and ensuring the effective administration of justice
would be provided treatment for cancer kidney liver and heart diseases at both public and private hospitals under the proposed health scheme He added that the Punjab government had released Rs1 35 billion in grants for bar associations and announced an additional Rs20 million for the Bar Vocational Course
in the electoral process, adding that the elections will be held on schedule without any delay under legal formalities
The adviser further said that candidates are expected to participate across constituencies with strong competition claiming that in many areas double-digit figures of candidates are anticipated He also criticized PTI s narrative, saying that if such a stance continues, it aligns with elements opposed to peace and stability, which he said is unacceptable He said the PML-N has repeatedly called for dialogue and has consistently believed in the democratic process but the PTI leadership has not agreed to engage He added that the PTI chairman has discouraged his party s leadership from participating in dialogue or any meaningful political engagement The adviser further claimed that the PTI founder has restrained his leadership from taking part in dialogue or becoming part of any political process which he described as an undemocratic approach that weakens political stability and national cohesion In response to a query he said Pakistan has consistently supported the Kashmiri cause through sacrifices and political backing, while the armed forces also remain aligned with the Kashmiri struggle He said that people across AJK and IIOJK remain deeply connected with Pakistan and share a common desire for peace stability and progress rather than disorder or conflict He said that the bond between Kashmir and Pakistan is deep, historic, and rooted in shared emotions and aspirations, adding that both sides continue to stand together in pursuit of peace, stability and mutual welfare TEHRAN A F P
Tens of thousands of Iranians massed in Tehran on Saturday to begin almost a week of funeral ceremonies for supreme leader Ayatollah
Addressing the inauguration of the Lawyers Education Academy at the Punjab Bar Council and a certificate distribution ceremony for successful participants of the Bar Vocational Course the minister said work was underway on introducing a comprehensive health insurance policy for lawyers and their families
He said the federal and Punjab governments were extending full support to the welfare of the legal fraternity Tarar said lawyers
The minister said the establishment of the Directorate of Legal Education at the Pakistan Bar Council was a major reform aimed at modernising legal education He described the legal profession as a sacred responsibility and urged lawyers to strengthen their institutions and resolve disputes through institutional forums
On judicial reforms, Tarar said a seven-member committee had been constituted to ensure transparency and merit in the appointment of High Court judges The
committee will interview candidates and submit its recommendations to the Judicial Commission Questioning why High Court judges should not undergo interviews when Civil Judges and Additional Sessions Judges are required to pass examinations, the minister said judicial appointments must be based strictly on merit He added that the government was introducing for the first time a constitutional mechanism for the annual evaluation of judges' performance through a Judges Evaluation Committee Under the proposed system a Judges Evaluation Committee will review the performance of judges at the end of each year If a judge's performance is found unsatisfactory, the committee may send a reference to the Judicial Commission and recommend removal he added
ISLAMABAD
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday extended warm felicitations to President Donald J Trump and the people of the United States on the landmark occasion marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence reaffirming Pakistan s commitment to further deepening bilateral ties and acknowledging Washington s role in promoting regional and global peace
In separate messages both leaders expressed the hope that the United States would continue to build upon its enduring legacy of strength, innovation and commitment to the ideals of freedom, democracy and opportunity
“Pakistan joins the United States in celebrating this
remarkable milestone and the enduring values of freedom resilience and democracy Our two nations enjoy a partnership spanning more than seven decades strengthened by the invaluable contributions of the Pakistani-American community, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on his X handle Looking towards a bright and promising future, the prime minister said Pakistan remained fully committed to further strengthening its partnership with the United States on the basis of mutual respect shared interests and constructive mutually beneficial engagement He observed that history had repeatedly demonstrated that Pakistan and the United States stood together at the most consequential moments whenever global peace and security had been at stake
“We acknowledge and appreciate President Trump’s vital contribution to peace in South Asia which helped save hundreds of millions of lives in a potentially devastating war as well as his steadfast efforts that helped
ECC switches army to fresh loc al wheat, seeks new QAU financial plan
guards designed to manage differences before they escalate The recent announcement by India on 23 April 2025, placing the treaty in “abeyance”, featured prominently in the deliberations with multiple speakers arguing that the move intensifies legal and humanitarian concerns under the foundational principle of pacta sunt servanda the obligation to perform treaties in good faith Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar delivered the keynote address at the first session chaired by a senior political figure He underscored the treaty s remarkable durability noting it had survived wars and periods of deep political hostility Pakistan s Commissioner for Indus Waters, Syed Mehr Ali Shah, unpacked the treaty’s legal architecture explaining how clear allocations of water carefully defined permitted uses and multiple procedural safeguards were crafted precisely to limit disputes in a conflict-prone environment
The Permanent Indus Commission, he observed, serves as a standing channel for problem-solving, continuity and trust maintenance even when broader bilateral relations deteriorate Legal expert Bilal Ahmer
Soofi then mapped the treaty onto the wider framework of international law arguing that the IWT s built-in procedures, notifications, data exchange, inspections and its graduated dispute-handling mechanism, convert potential flashpoints into manageable processes reducing misperception and accidental escalation Sustained compliance he stressed protects lower-riparian interests and reinforces a policy position anchored in rules-
based cooperation A foreign perspective was offered by Prof Ioannis Katsogiannis of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, who cautioned that upstream non-cooperation erodes socio-economic predictability and trust, raising both humanitarian and security risks For a lower-riparian agrarian country like Pakistan he said treaty compliance is a non-negotiable matter of life and death and only faithful implementation can protect civilian populations and prevent dangerous escalation The second session, keynoted by Chair-
' Two Hear ts, One Soul': Pakistan, Türkiye vow to elevate strategic par tnership, boost trade to $5b
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The prime minister said his discussions with President Erdogan were comprehensive and highly productive, expressing satisfaction over the growing momentum in bilateral trade investment and industrial cooperation
He said both leaders reviewed concrete measures to unlock the full potential of economic collaboration, stressing that the immense goodwill shared by the two countries provided a unique opportunity to achieve their mutually agreed target of $5 billion in bilateral trade
Reaffirming Pakistan s principled support for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, PM Shehbaz also thanked Türkiye for its steadfast backing of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and their legitimate right to self-determination
He said the two leaders reaffirmed their shared conviction that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect remained the only sustainable path to resolving disputes and preserving international peace and security The prime minister thanked Türkiye for its strong and unwavering support for Pakistan s regional peace efforts, which culminated in the signing of the Islamabad Mem-
orandum The decisions we have taken today will not remain words on paper ” he said “They will translate into greater trade stronger investment deeper strategic cooperation and above all a better future for our peoples
He reiterated Pakistan s unwavering commitment to further strengthening its strategic partnership with Türkiye Quoting the great Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi PM Shehbaz said: The lamps are different, but the light is the same, adding that the people of Pakistan and Türkiye continued to be guided by the shared light of faith, compassion mutual respect and an enduring brotherhood TÜRKIYE S SOLIDARITY WITH PAKISTAN ‘CONTINUES IN EVERY FIELD’
Addressing a joint press conference after talks at the Vahdettin Palace in Istanbul President Erdogan said the two leaders had reviewed bilateral regional and global developments with a strong focus on further expanding economic cooperation In our talks today, we exchanged views on global and regional issues with a particular focus on our bilateral relations ” President Erdogan said Reaffirming that Türkiye s soli-
darity with Pakistan continues in every field,” Erdogan said both sides had discussed practical steps to further strengthen trade and investment ties in line with the spirit of their longstanding friendship
We have reaffirmed our target of increasing our trade volume to the previously set level of $5 billion,” he said recalling the commitment made in May 2024 on the basis of the economic potential identified by both countries in 2022
The Turkish president said the trade ministries of both countries were working on establishing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Karachi for Turkish businesses
He added that negotiations were also under way to expand the scope of the Pakistan-Türkiye Preferential Trade Agreement, expressing confidence that the Pakistan-Türkiye Business-to-Business (B2B) Conference would further strengthen bilateral investment and commercial ties
We too encourage our investors to engage in more activities in Pakistan, he said Highlighting defence cooperation as one of the cornerstones of bilateral economic relations Erdogan said collaboration in the defence industry continued to grow stronger with the launch of new joint projects
PM invites Turkish firms to expand investment in Pakistan during Istanbul meetings
structure information technology and privatisation sectors The PMO said he welcomed the company s interest in broadening its operations in Pakistan The prime minister said the group s existing presence through Calık Enerji and GAP İnşaat offered a solid base for deeper cooperation
prime minister invited Turkish firms to expand their investment footprint in Pakistan s priority sectors, including energy, mining and minerals, infrastructure maritime and logistics information technology telecommunications manufacturing agriculture and privatisation
Govt raises Rs566b
as PIB yields fall on easing expectations
cial authorities, continued to provide one-window facilitation and institutional support to strategic investors
Meetings with business leaders
The prime minister met Çalık Holding Chairman Ahmet Çalık, Albayrak Group Chairman of the Board of Directors Ahmet Albayrak and Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkiye (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the PMO said In his meeting with Ahmet Çalık Shehbaz highlighted opportunities in Pakistan s energy infra-
During talks with the Albayrak Group the prime minister encouraged the company to expand its role in maritime infrastructure port modernisation and logistics According to the PMO, he acknowledged the group’s contribution to Pakistan’s connectivity and infrastructure development and appreciated its longstanding engagement in the country In a separate meeting with TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Shehbaz praised the organisation’s efforts to strengthen business-to-business ties between Pakistan and Turkiye The PMO said he proposed a structured institutional mechanism for regular interaction between the private sectors of both countries and invited TOBB to bring a high-level business delegation to Pakistan to examine emerging investment opportunities I N V E S T M E N T F O C U S A N D R E C
According to the PMO the
The PMO said Turkish business leaders welcomed the Government of Pakistan’s economic reforms improving investment climate and investor-friendly policies They also expressed confidence in Pakistan s economic outlook and reiterated their interest in expanding investments and building long-term partnerships in strategic sectors
Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Istanbul on Friday on an official bilateral visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan The visit was expected to include discussions on trade investment and regional security Before arriving in Turkiye, the prime minister had attended the funeral of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Last week Pakistan and Turkiye also signed three memorandums of understanding in Istanbul aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration, technical cooperation and knowledge sharing in the power sector
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
President Zardari emphasised that these enduring ties had been further strengthened by the vibrant Pakistani-American community whose achievements and contributions continued to enrich both societies while serving as a lasting bridge of friendship and understanding Describing bilateral relations as being on an ascendant trajectory marked by renewed engagement and a shared determination to build a stronger future-oriented partnership, the president stressed the importance of sustaining this momentum through structured cooperation in energy security trade and investment defence counter-terrorism and other areas of mutual interest Underscoring that a strong Pakistan-US partnership directly contributed to regional peace and security, President Zardari said its value had been reaffirmed in May last year when President Trump successfully brokered a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed states He further said that the partnership had assumed even greater significance amid an evolving global landscape, while expressing appreciation for the trust and confidence the United States had placed in Pakistan's mediatory role in negotiations with Iran
Inclusive Rural Prosperit y
STAT E Bank of Pakistan Governor Jamil Ahmad gave the government s policies a certificate of good housekeeping saying not that the economy was recovering, but also that the recovery would continue in the fiscal year just begun He noted that GDP growth for the previous fiscal year FY26 was estimated at four percent which was in accordance with the 3 74 to 4 75 percent estimated by the SBP, and would have been higher, had agricultural output been as estimated and if there had been no crisis in the Middle East,Another important indicator he highlighted was large scale manufacturing, which seemed to be recovering with growth of six percent over all with some months recording a double-digit increase He also referred to the increase in forex reserves, which had stood at $18 4 billion at the end of June up $5 5 billion over the course of the fiscal year, and expected to rise to $20 billion by December He noted that this increase was achieved despite the country having made payments of $9 billion in the course of the year to service its debt The debt itself, had remained at around$100 billion for four years but the debt profile had been changed by the conversion of short-term debt to longer term The IMF had contemplated an adversarial relationship between the SBP and the government and it is to that end it insisted on changes to the SBP Act giving its governor autonomy making these amendments conditions or continued loan support This is reflected in the government\ desire for pump priming, in the shape of cuts in the interest rate, as opposed to the SBP s Monetary Price Committee’s desire to rein in inflation This is a global phenomenon, and has reached the USA, with US President Donald Trump attempting to remove a member of the Federal Reserve which sets the interest rates, and has resisted Mr Trump s efforts to have it boost the economy
The SBP faces a similar situation though no MPC member faces a midnight knock The business community, of which the PM is a member, wants lower interest rates while the SBP wants them up to resist inflationary pressures However, the MPC has trod a fairly conservative line, and has so far resisted increasing interest rates However the government toeing the IMF line as carefully as it has won it praise for the SBP, as it provides the policy framework within which it operates
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi
Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
PU N J A B'S agricultural economy is at a defining moment Despite contributing nearly three-quarters of Pakistan s food production the province s farmers continue to face shrinking landholdings, rising input costs, water scarcity, climate-induced shocks, exploitative market structures, and limited access to affordable finance These challenges have exposed the limitations of conventional policy responses which often rely on subsidies and short-term relief measures rather than institutional reforms Amid these structural constraints one institution with immense but underutilized potential stands out: the cooperative movement
eties; they are democratic member-owned enter-
economic interests to pool resources share risks
Across the world, agricultural cooperatives have emerged as powerful engines of rural development, transforming small farmers into globally competitive producers Punjab possesses the legal framework administrative infrastructure and historical legacy to achieve similar success What it requires is a comprehensive reinvention of the cooperative sector for the 21st century Yet international experience demonstrates that cooperatives remain among the most successful models of inclusive economic development The Netherlands FrieslandCampina New Zealand's Fonterra Japan's JA Group India's Amul Spain's Mondragón Corporation and Kenya s dairy cooperatives have all empowered millions of producers by integrating them into modern value chains Their success stems not from government patronage but from professional management, democratic governance, financial discipline, technological innovation, and strong member ownership
Punjab must internalize these lessons while adapting them to its own socioeconomic realities
The foremost priority is governance reform Cooperatives can only regain public confidence if members genuinely own and control them Transparent elections, merit-based leadership, independent audits performance-based management and strict financial accountability should become non-negotiable principles Government oversight should focus on regulation rather than operational in-
some verified cases, deliberately inflicted to increase earnings This is not poverty It is trafficking, dressed in poverty’s clothing, and it thrives because the public cannot easily distinguish a victim of genuine destitution from a victim of organised exploitation The international dimension compounds the embarrassment The Federal Investigation Agency confirmed offloading more than 66,000 passengers from departure gates in 2025 alone, suspected of travelling abroad, frequently under religious pilgrimage visas to beg in Gulf states
Over 24 000 Pakistanis were deported from Saudi Arabia in a single year for this reason with thousands more from the UAE and other countries Gulf governments have repeatedly raised this as a diplomatic irritant, and several have tightened visa issuance for Pakistani travellers as a direct consequence The state has responded with passport suspensions and amendments criminalising organised begging as human trafficking but enforcement against handlers rather than the vulnerable people they exploit, remains rare
The business logic of begging mafias is straightforward and explains why the practice persists despite criminalisation A policy analysis from the Centre for Business and Society at LUMS found that professional begging can generate higher daily income than unskilled labour particularly for handlers who control multiple beggars across high-traffic locations Mafias charge for territorial rights at signals, shrines, and markets enforce quotas through coercion and extract a cut of every rupee collected Religious giving zakat and sadaqa given generously and often without scrutiny particularly during Ramadan has inadvertently subsidised this entire economy Pakistanis are among the most charitable people in the world by some meas-
terference The Department of Cooperatives should increasingly perform the role of an enabler, regulator and capacity builder instead of acting as a controller of societies Second Punjab s cooperative movement must evolve from simple digital record-keeping to becoming a smart, technology-enabled rural service platform While digitization has improved administrative efficiency, the next stage should focus on delivering value directly to members Cooperatives should establish integrated digital platforms providing real-time commodity prices weather forecasts pest and disease alerts crop advisories crop calendars and information on government support schemes Artificial intelligence and satellite-based monitoring can help farmers anticipate water stress, pest infestations, and adverse weather conditions before significant losses occur Another area demanding urgent attention is agricultural marketing Punjab s farmers often receive only a fraction of the final consumer price because fragmented production leaves them vulnerable to middlemen Cooperatives should establish villagelevel aggregation centres equipped with grading, packaging cold storage warehousing and quality certification facilities Instead of selling produce immediately after harvest farmers should be able to collectively store commodities negotiate better prices, process products into higher-value goods, and market them under regional cooperative brands Such collective marketing has transformed agricultural sectors in Europe, India, and New Zealand by strengthening farmers' bargaining power while reducing post-harvest losses
Mechanization offers another transformative opportunity The majority of Punjab s farmers cultivate small and fragmented holdings that cannot economically justify individual ownership of expensive machinery Cooperatives should establish machinery banks where members can access tractors combine harvesters laser land levelers seed drills transplanters drones and solar-powered irrigation systems at affordable rates This shared ownership model would lower production costs, improve productivity, and accelerate the adoption of precision agriculture Access to finance must also be fundamentally reimagined Cooperatives should evolve beyond traditional lending institutions into comprehensive rural financial service providers They can offer seasonal production loans warehouse receipt financing crop insurance, livestock insurance, savings products, pension schemes, and emergency credit facilities tailored to farmers needs Partnerships with commercial banks microfinance institutions and fintech companies can expand financial inclusion while reducing credit risks through digital monitoring and data-driven lending The dairy and livestock sector represents another largely untapped opportunity Livestock contributes significantly to Pakistan's agricultural GDP, yet productivity remains considerably below international standards Dairy cooperatives modeled after Amul or Fonterra can organize milk collection quality testing
ures That generosity unaccompanied by any mechanism to verify where the money actually goes, has become the begging mafia s primary source of working capital What should follow from this is not less compassion but better-directed compassion Cash placed directly into an outstretched hand at a traffic signal cannot be traced audited or redirected toward the people who most need it It can, and often does, finance exactly the criminal networks that perpetuate the cycle, by ensuring that exploiting a child remains more profitable than educating one Channelling charity through verified NGOs supporting genuine rehabilitation centres which currently remain underfunded and understaffed and demanding that law enforcement target handlers rather than performing token arrests of the exploited, would do more for Pakistan’s poorest than another generation of roadside donations ever will Pakistan cannot eliminate poverty through legislation alone and it should not pretend that passport suspensions are a substitute for genuine economic opportunity But it can stop subsidising an industry that has learned to monetise human suffering more efficiently than the state has learned to alleviate it Until it does, the outstretched hand at every signal will remain less a measure of Pakistan s compassion than a measure of its failure to distinguish charity from complicity
The writer has a PhD in Political Science and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar
Pakistan cannot eliminate poverty through legislation alone, and it should not pretend that passport suspensions are a substitute for genuine economic opportunity But it can stop subsidising an industry that has learned to monetise human suffering more efficiently than the state has learned to alleviate it Until it does, the outstretched hand at every signal will remain less a measure of PakistanÊs compassion than a measure of its failure to distinguish charity from complicity
fruits, vegetables, and seed production Punjab should also encourage the emergence of specialized producer cooperatives rather than relying solely on traditional multi-purpose societies Cropspecific cooperatives for wheat rice cotton maize vegetables, citrus, mangoes, olives, and dairy can focus on improving productivity, branding, exports,
while strengthening women's economic participation Similarly youth cooperatives can focus on agritech services drone operations digital extension logistics e-commerce precision agriculture and renewable energy solutions These initiatives would simultaneously address unemployment and stimulate rural entrepreneurship The government can further accelerate cooperative development by
Border infrastructure lacking
Turbat
DR ZAFAR KHAN SAFDAR
KHALIQ DAD LAK
IR A N I A N S have accorded a farewell to the Supreme Leader who steered the direction of the theocratic state for almost 37 years, as the word goes, especially among the reformist camp in the Iranian political scene; who felt that many of their plans for the post-1979 Iran were frustrated by none else but the Supreme Leader
The mass of Iranians, we might see weeping profusely along the path of the state funeral, first in Tehran, then, Qom and after Iraq finally in the Holy city of Mashad are the ones whose hearts and minds resonated with the era of the man who started as a student cleric with failing eyesight helped by high-number glasses, who was later a student with another senior cleric, Ayatollah Khomeini, an experience which was the turning point of his life Amir Taheri a veteran Iranian journalist in his book The Spirit of God listed Khamenei and Rafsanjani as the ones added by Mortaza Mothari the Khomeini confidante during a meeting organized to ponder the 1978 agitation against the Shah That addition in a post-Maghrib meeting was another turning point which put the young Khamenei on the path which culminated in a violent end at the hands of the literal rain of Tomahawk missiles on his residence
However, there is another mass of Iranians, who might well be using the vacations due to the funeral for recreation and cooking celebratory food To quote an unnamed Iran observer who monitored the 1979 movement from the closest quarters since the inception;
said that ‘It would be a painful sight to see many Iranians crying for the departed leader while many actually were celebrating his departure These celebratory gunfire or torchlight marches did not happen in significant instances in Iran, as the full-fledged war overtook events; however, the distractors bided their time intelligently and actually dismantled the system from within while claiming to be safeguarding it As already explained on these very pages the way things are shaping actually points to the dismantling of what can be called the Iranian-built infrastructure which was erected to create constant attrition for the Israeli state besides acting as the most effective foreign policy arm of the Iranian theocratic nation state That dismantling has taken place and can be felt through the actions as well as the turn of the events However, what is explained and analyzed here are the factors, which were responsible for that dismantling of the setups as if the understandings have been reached at the executive level and does have the executive approval if not a leakage of the vital information The analysis does not dwell on any conspiracy theory, but understanding of a trajectory of events which explains that the March 2026 war and the assassination of the kingpin of the system was the well thought out strategy which was not formulated by the foolish monarchists who in the western capitals might not have the grey matter to differentiate between an expatriate Shia Muslim or an Iranian citizen commemorating Karbala, but rather by people well entrenched in the system, to orchestrate a chain of events which finally produces the desired results Before going to the background it is im-
perative to note that the way the Lebanese and Iraqi governments have swiftly moved against the Hezbollah and resistance groups in Iraq, speaks of not just the pressure from the USA, but rather it looks more like a nod from a ‘transformed Tehran’ which is willing to dance to the tunes as and when prompted Despite a near war situation when the Lebanese front showed signs of heating up the analyst did point out in the concluding paragraph that it is possible that the red line over Lebanon too diminishes gradually That is actually happening The IDF presence in south of Lebanon is showing no signs of let up or withdrawal yet one sees an absence of any retaliatory act or even statement for the Iranian side as to why the USA is not reining in the IDF effectively A scan of the diplomatic developments suggests that other stakeholders like Syria are apparently more active than the Iranians The Iranians are even pushing their proxies like the Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qasim to be content with whatever is happening suggesting a gradual surrender A look at Iraq shows that the midnight swoop which started in the Green Zone in Baghdad and in the south of Iraq which is predominantly a Shia-majority area, has graduated into the disarmament of the proIranian groups It is ironic that the day after the swoop the reformist Iranian foreign minister was in Baghdad apparently for the setting up of the funeral of slain supreme leader in Iraq; while actually green lighting the Iraqi authorities about the resistance groups, with regards to whom the Iraqi government was already under pressure yet now got the go-ahead from the Iranians too A cursory look at the resistance map clearly illustrates that except for the Yemeni Houthis, most of the groups affiliated to Tehran have been neutralized in a manner
The current dismantling of the resistance coupled with sketchy information on the ongoing negotiations, lack of transparency in reporting as well as in debating; ironically when the Iranian constitution under article 76 allows the parliament to investigate any such MoU, or has the power to accept for adoption or reject it as per the article 77, or allowing the members of parliament to air their views in accordance, all point to a sort of coup which the slain leader termed as the Pahlavi protest; though the grand finale was overseen by the reformista It will be a miracle if the vanguard is able to resist and make a return to the centrestage
that in the case any new battlefield is set up the Iranians do not enjoy the tactical edge they used to have With the controlled explosion of the Hezbollah tunnel housing the arsenal it can be safely concluded that the Iranians have either contemplated that there is not going to be another war or they have made an understanding that they would not do anything The Iranian reformist government at the moment draws numerous parallels with the first PPP government of 1988/89 when the formation of the cabinet was soon to followed by the controlled decimation of the Sikh movement by the then Rajiv government reportedly based on the leads provided The current dismantling generates no confusion as the reformist faction seems to be in complete control of the affairs of the state Here it might look accusatory but the fact remains that the slaughter of the IRGC in June 2025 up to March 2026 inclusive of the minds like Ali Larijani, who if alive could have been a much tougher negotiator, was in a way blessing for the Zarif Group, as to what they want to do now The open field accorded to the post-Bayat Rahbari negotiating team was further made conducive on the count that the
of Europe's experiences nor is there any intention to oversimplify complex issues Extreme weather is a challenge facing all of humanity and no country can remain immune to its effects During the process to look for solutions, China's systematic practices in recent years of enshrining "ecological civilization" in its national strategy may well offer useful lessons for Europe
First adhering to systematic thinking Europe leads the world in the development of building energy efficiency, low-carbon heat pump technology, and eco-friendly refrigerants; however, its pursuit of extreme emissions reductions in environmental practice has led to the neglect of coordinated development in other areas In contrast China views the ecosystem as an organic whole, with people serving as a vital component China's development of
ecological civilization is a systemic and holistic governance framework
This means that when formulating urban development plans energy policies building standards, or even measures for public wellbeing, one must comprehensively weigh overall benefits to achieve the "integration of multiple plans" and synergistic effects
For instance the renovation of old buildings respects their original character while employing innovative technologies to deliver practical adaptive solutions; similarly the drive for a green transition balances energy security, industrial upgrading, and the quality of life for the public, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of neglecting other vital interests in pursuit of a single objective
Second sticking to the people-centered and shared development philosophy While Europe possesses technological advantages, its heavy reliance on market allocation has concentrated resources in the hands of the wealthy Furthermore, the conflict - between antiquated bureaucratic procedures and institutional constraints and the need to address the pressing issues facing the public - reveals that Europe s development still lacks a fundamental, people-centered philosophy Some European media outlets have even described the current heatwave as triggering a "climate class war " China s pursuit of ecological civilization is not merely a technological or emissionsreduction project but also a cause in which the people participate, build, and share together For example, China has integrated targeted poverty alleviation with ecological industries while incorporating subsidies for energy-efficient appliances and preferential tiered electricity pricing into its social welfare system This is not simply an expansion
This is not to deny the value of Europe's experiences, nor is there any intention to oversimplify complex issues. Extreme weather is a challeng e facing all of humanity, and no countr y can remain immune to its effects
of welfare but a shift from treating air conditioning as an individual consumer choice to recognizing access to cooling as part of the state's responsibility to safeguard basic living standards
Third and most importantly it is necessary to overcome the false perception that environmental protection and economic development are inherently at odds and recognize that they can be pursued in a mutually reinforcing manner When discussing green transitions, Europe often focuses excessively on stringent emissions reduction targets neglecting the real needs of people for basic survival rights such as cooling during extreme weather events In contrast while addressing practical challenges such as improving energy efficiency and mitigating the urban heat island effect, China has taken a broader approach by turning its ecological assets into drivers of economic growth In doing so it has demonstrated that green development and a higher quality of life can go hand in hand Only when the benefits of the green transition are tangible to ordinary people can it generate lasting public support and sustain the momentum for further transformation This reflects a principle often emphasized in China: lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets
The recent heatwave has offered an important lesson for the world The strength of a governance system cannot be measured by its own claims of superiority It should be judged by whether it can solve real problems protect its people when it matters most and turn long-term plans into concrete actions As extreme weather becomes more frequent all countries have something to learn from one another Europe needs to reflect on its governance shortcomings, while China will continue improving through openness and international cooperation The two sides differ in their governance systems historical experiences and cultural traditions but that is precisely what makes mutual learning among civilizations valuable Some in Europe used to take a patronizing view of China, even politicizing normal economic and trade cooperation and criticizing the competitiveness of Chinese companies But the current heatwave has highlighted a different reality: European consumers' growing demand for Chinesemade ACs and other cooling products underscores the irreplaceable value of mutually beneficial cooperation under economic globalization China stands ready to work with Europe and other partners to advance green development and improve people s well-being Facts should serve as the mirror, people's livelihoods as the yardstick, and cooperation as the path forward Those who genuinely put the people first will ultimately earn the enduring trust of their citizens
TH E
most
AI
from the internet featured personality clashes industry confusion and international backlash Why it matters: Anthropic s models are back online, but the impact of its 20-day showdown with the Trump administration will be long lasting Behind the scenes: It began when Amazon Anthropic s partner and investor sounded an alarm that was later disputed by cybersecurity experts n It warned about a "jailbreaking" issue it found with the AI lab's latest models, Mythos and Fable meaning a technical flaw that could have caused a failure of their guardrails n Amazon flagged its concerns to the administration triggering sweeping export controls A U S official said the government conducted its own tests once it became apparent that the issue needed to be addressed n Cybersecurity experts however later wrote in an open letter to the administration that other leading AI models have the same issue Amazon warned about with Anthropic On June 12, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, at the direction of President Trump called Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei
n Lutnick made clear to Amodei the issue needed to be resolved fast and alerted the CEO that the company would be receiving a letter imposing sweeping export controls, the U S official said n Amodei called Lutnick back that night after receiving the letter realizing it effectively meant the models would have to be taken offline to which Lutnick responded that was indeed the goal That decision led to a three-week, multiagency crash course in AI safety
n Anthropic deployed engineers to Washington D C According to a U S official the company wanted to prove everything was already resolved and further changes were being fine tuned n But the federal Center for AI Standards and Innovation and the National Security Agency said those changes weren't good enough prompting further fixes according to the U S
NAQI AKBAR
TRUMP SAYS US IDENTIT Y UNDER RENEWED ATTACK AHEAD OF 250TH BIRTHDAY
Pakistan’s Human Capital Push Faces a Fiscal Reckoning
CORPORATE CORNER
province were urging Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to extend the Green Electric
Bus service to their respective cities, reflecting the initiative's growing popularity and success Azma Bokhari said 1,100 Green Electric Buses were currently operating across Punjab providing modern safe comfortable and affordable transport facilities to the public She added that millions of commuters benefited from the service every day She said the provincial government was committed to expanding the network to 147 tehsils in the near future to ensure quality public transport reached every citizen
The minister said the distribution of Green Tractors was also progressing rapidly to enable farmers to benefit from modern agricultural machinery and improve agricultural productivity
Similarly she said the Electric Bikes scheme for students was advancing successfully with the objective of providing dignified,
agreement that cannot be suspended or terminated unilaterally by any country The Governor Sindh said that using water an essential resource as a tool of political pressure or conflict could pose grave risks to peace stability and prosperity across the region
s
affordable and environmentally friendly transport to young people Azma Bokhari said farmers and youth remained the top priorities of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz adding that every major development initiative launched by the chief minister placed young people at its centre, which was why her popularity among the youth continued to grow
She said the Punjab government remained firmly committed to the principles of merit transparency and public service adding that the province today stood unmatched by any other province in Pakistan in terms of performance, good governance and merit
Concluding her remarks, the minister said Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was moving rapidly towards development prosperity and the provision of modern public facilities
Punjab Police actively engaged to ensure public service delivery
TReported
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar split from TTP highlights renewed questions over internal rifts
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar regarded as one of the most prominent and deadliest factions within the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan has reportedly broken away from the outfit for a third time raising fresh questions about whether the move reflects another internal reorganisation or deeper strategic and ideological disagreements
The faction has had a substantial footprint in Malakand Division Mohmand Bajaur Peshawar and nearby districts while also building networks in urban centres including Karachi and Lahore Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is considered second in influence within the TTP only to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group H i s t o r y o f
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar first surfaced in 2014 after formally separating from the TTP It was headed by Omar Khalid Khorasani while Ehsanullah Ehsan acted as a leading spokesman The break was driven mainly by opposition to the selection of Mullah Fazlullah as TTP chief with JuA figures objecting that the appointment of a nontribal leader from Swat had been made without sufficient consultation with senior commanders and that their group had been left out of the process After almost a year of mediation involving local Taliban figures and the Afghan Taliban the two sides reconciled and Jamaat-ulAhrar rejoined the TTP in 2015 Sirajuddin Haqqani now Afghanistan s interior minister played an important part in those efforts Even after the reunion, ties between the two sides remained uneasy Jamaat-ul-Ahrar commanders reportedly faulted Fazlullah’s leadership for what they saw as a lack of strategic clarity, although both sides followed the same school of thought Differences also emerged over operational policy with Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group at times claiming attacks that the TTP leadership did not publicly acknowledge, describing that silence as a strategic approach By 2017-18, the two sides were effectively operating separately despite no formal public declaration Following Fazlullah’s death TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud brought Jamaat-ul-Ahrar back into the organisation where it stayed until the latest reported split Questions over motive and operational direction The current separation is linked to disagreements over TTP policies and concerns about the organisation’s alleged increasing closeness to hardline factions These claims have not been independently verified Security observers said the reported split may indicate that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar wants to follow a wider operational approach treating all of Pakistan as its theatre of operations instead of confining activities to the former tribal areas or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Analysts referenced recent attacks claimed by the group, including one in Karachi, as signs of a broader geographical focus Some analysts also believe that a more aggressive operational posture could help the faction draw new recruits though such views remain analytical assessments rather than independently established facts If confirmed, the latest split would mark another important development in Pakistan s militant landscape and could affect the TTP’s internal cohesion and future direction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar is believed to have developed links with Balochistan separatist groups and analysts suggest it may in future claim attacks in Balochistan
First and only: Modi ’s habit of collec ting overseas awards triggers row in
ISLAMABAD A P P
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s habit of accumulating international accolades has come under scrutiny following his recent state visit to Seychelles where he was awarded a newly created honor that sparked a political row at home Upon landing in the Indian Ocean archipelago Prime Minister Modi was presented with the Guardian of the Blue Horizon award by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, according to a report published in British daily The Guardian The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hailed the moment as a “proud day for India pointing to the award as international recognition of Modi s green leadership
However, domestic opposition parties and observers quickly flagged discrepancies surrounding the accolade Critics pointed out that the distinction had been established just three days prior to
Modi s arrival, making him its first and only recipient Furthermore, the accompanying certificate contained multiple typographical errors misspelling republic as repubblic and Seychelles as Seycheeles
Digital analyses also flagged the document as AI-generated
The opposition Congress party accused Modi of excessive eagerness for global accolades Give him any award and he ll come running stated Congress leader Supriya Shrinate on social media, adding that authorities were in such a hurry that they failed to spell the host country’s official name correctly In response to the controversy the Seychelles Foreign Ministry issued a clarifying statement explaining that an unapproved working draft had been mistakenly made public and that an “authentic and duly approved” version had since been finalized
The ministry maintained that the Guardian of the Blue Horizon award remains a genuine honor
India
Political analysts note that securing high-profile decorations has become an established expectation ahead of the Prime Minister Modi’s overseas visits during his 12 years in power Biographer Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay stated that this trend is central to a strategy aimed at demonstrating to domestic supporters that Modi possesses exceptional global stature thereby linking India’s rising geopolitical influence directly to his personal brand
The controversy follows similar patterns noted during other recent foreign trips Earlier this year, the Israeli parliament established the Medal of the Knesset, a top honor presented to Modi upon his arrival in Israel where he remains the sole recipient Past awards have faced similar trajectories; in 2019, Modi received India s newly formed Philip Kotler Presidential Award, which was intended to be given annually to global leaders but has since seen its website go dormant without any subsequent recipients
ISLAMABAD
State Minister for Interior Tallal
Chaudhry has called for a coordinated global strategy and technology-driven solutions to combat illegal migration telling an international forum in Vienna that human smuggling is a transnational challenge requiring greater international cooperation intelligence sharing and expanded legal migration pathways according to the Interior Ministry
Addressing a meeting of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling, Chaudhry said illegal migration was not merely a border issue but a global challenge that demanded collective action
According to a statement issued by the Interior Ministry the minister stressed that modern technology, intelligence sharing and joint strategies were the only effective means of dismantling human smuggling networks
He also urged the international community to expand opportunities for safe, orderly and legal migration, saying such measures
were urgently needed to curb illegal immigration Chaudhry is visiting Austria to attend the meeting of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling an international cooperation framework launched by the European Union in 2023 to coordinate efforts among countries and international organizations against migrant smuggling networks
The ministry noted that Pakistan reported a 47 percent decline in illegal migration to Europe last year while more than 1,700 human smugglers were arrested during an expanded nation-
wide crackdown It said Pakistan had also introduced modern technologies, including the rollout of an Artificial Intelligence-based immigration screening system in Islamabad to detect forged travel documents and prevent illegal departures
The statement further noted that in June, United Kingdom Minister for the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan Hamish Falconer committed an additional Rs2 9 billion (£8 million) to support joint Pakistan-UK efforts to combat illegal migration and organised crime At Vienna forum, Pakistan urges global alliance to combat human smuggling, illegal migration
