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GOVT CHALLENGES SC ORDER DIRECTING IMRAN’S TRANSFER TO PRIVATE HOSPITAL Thursday, 20 August, 2026 | 6 Rabiul Awwal, 1448

PLEA FILED ON BEHALF OF FEDERAL CAPITAL’S CHIEF COMMISSIONER, TERMS SC’S AUG 18 INTERIM ORDER ‘DISCRIMINATORY,’ ‘IN EXCESS OF JURISDICTION’ AND CONTRARY TO ESTABLISHED LEGAL PRINCIPLES

Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 146 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition

GOVT ARGUES SC OVERLOOKED RULE 197 OF PAKISTAN PRISON RULES, 1978, WHICH PRESCRIBES PROCEDURE FOR TRANSFERRING PRISONERS TO HOSPITALS

SUCH TRANSFERS ORDINARILY REQUIRE GOVT APPROVAL THROUGH POLICE IG, WHILE JAIL SUPERINTENDENT CAN ACT WITHOUT PRIOR SANCTION ONLY IN EMERGENCY CASES: PLEA

IMRAN KHAN TO CONTINUE RECEIVING MEDICAL CARE UNDER PRISON RULES: ATTA TARAR

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

he federal government on Wednesday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court, seeking recall of its order directing the transfer of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination and treatment. Filed by Islamabad Advocate General Naveed Hayat Malik on behalf of the federal capital’s chief commissioner, the petition termed the Aug 18 interim order “discriminatory”, “in excess of jurisdiction” and contrary to established legal principles. The government argued that the

Supreme Court had overlooked Rule 197 of the Pakistan Prison Rules, 1978, which prescribes the procedure for transferring prisoners to hospitals. According to the petition, such transfers ordinarily require government approval through the police inspector general, while the jail superintendent can act without prior sanction only in emergency cases and must immediately inform the IG. It further argued that, where a prisoner requires surgery, the rules envisage transfer to hospital close to the scheduled procedure and return to the prison hospital as soon as practicable.

Bilawal draws line with PML-N, freezes cooperation until PPP concerns are addressed ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday announced that his party would withhold cooperation with the PML-Nled government on general legislation until its concerns, particularly over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, were addressed. Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, Bilawal questioned whether the treatment meted out to the PPP was appropriate for a coalition partner, both in the context of the AJK elections and the political understanding reached between the two parties before the election of the prime minister. He said the PPP had consistently raised issues with the government during budget discussions in the interest of Pakistan and the provinces, but questioned whether those concerns had been adequately addressed.

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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday that PTI founder Imran Khan will continue to receive all necessary medical facilities in accordance with the Constitution, law and prison rules. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Tarar said the government would file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision concerning Imran Khan. He said a separate review petition would also be filed regarding the court’s direction concerning treatment at a private hospital. Tarar maintained that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had never politicised anyone’s health, while alleging that PTI leaders had previously made the health of PML-N leaders a subject of political debate. He said every prisoner had the right to receive healthcare facilities in accor-

dance with the law and that Imran Khan had been provided medical treatment and facilities in the past. “The same medical facilities will continue to be available to him,” the minister said, adding that there was no ambiguity regarding the government’s position on his treatment. Tarar said prisoners were provided healthcare according to the prison manual and that the same procedure would be followed in Imran Khan’s case. He stressed that health matters should be kept separate from politics and said the government would ensure medical treatment in accordance with the Constitution, law and prison regulations rather than allowing the issue to become politicised. The minister also questioned whether treatment at a private hospital should be considered a legal right available to all prisoners, saying the matter required legal consideration. “Whether all prisoners have this right is a legal question,” Tarar said, stressing that the issue should not be politicised.

Pakistan summons US Charge d’Affaires, lodges strong demarche over ‘Kashmir remarks’ ISLAMABAD

Saleem Jadoon

Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the US Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and lodged a “strong demarche” over what it described as “factually incorrect remarks” by the US ambassador to India regarding the “status of Jammu and Kashmir” during his visit to the disputed region. The Foreign Office (FO) said Pakistan “strongly condemned and categorically rejected” the characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as a “part of India”, reiterating its longstanding position that the region was an internationally recognised disputed territory whose final disposition remained to be determined in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. “It was underscored that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory, awaiting final disposition in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” the FO said in a statement. The

HSD price slashed by Rs32.63/litre, petrol rises Rs2.97 OGRA notified new fuel rates from August 20, 2026: HSD falls Rs32.63/litre to Rs363.06, while petrol climbs Rs2.97/litre to Rs337.51. The change follows talks over locally produced diesel pricing. ISLAMABAD

ahmad ahmadani

The government has slashed the price of High Speed Diesel by Rs32.63 per litre while increasing petrol by Rs2.97 per litre under the revised petroleum pricing mechanism for August 20, 2026. According to the Petroleum Division, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has revised the exdepot prices of petroleum products for August 20 following the revised petroleum pricing mechanism issued by the federal government. The ex-depot price of High Speed Diesel (HSD) has been reduced from Rs395.69 to Rs363.06 per litre, registering a substantial decrease of Rs32.63 per litre. In contrast, the price of Motor Spirit (MS), commonly known as petrol, has been increased by Rs2.97 per litre, rising from Rs334.54 to Rs337.51 per litre. The latest revision has resulted in a sharp divergence between the prices of the two major petroleum products, with diesel consumers receiving significantly greater relief while petrol users will have to pay more from August 20. HSD is primarily used by heavy transport vehicles, including trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles. It is also widely consumed by the agricultural sector, particularly for tractors and other diesel-powered machinery. Industries and businesses also use diesel in generators and heavy equipment. The Rs32.63-per-litre reduction in HSD could therefore have a significant impact on fuel costs for transporters, farmers and businesses that depend on diesel-powered vehicles and machinery.

Syrian Foreign Minister's Pakistan visit signals renewed push to deepen bilateral ties

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ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Foreign Office further highlighted that the “irresponsible statement” by the US ambassador negated the long-standing and well-documented position of the United States on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and was also contrary to the US commitment to the supremacy of international law and the UN Charter. Pakistan also appreciated US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute in the aftermath of Marka-i-Haq. At the same time, the Pakistani side urged the United States to ensure that its public statements remained consistent with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir is a disputed territory claimed in full by both Pakistan and India. The two countries fought their first war over the region in 1948, after which the liberated areas were declared Azad Jammu and Kashmir. A United Nations Security Council resolution passed in 1949 affirmed Kashmiris’ right to decide their future through a UN-sponsored plebiscite. The vote has yet to take place.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani will visit Pakistan on August 19-20 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, marking a significant step towards strengthening bilateral relations between Islamabad and Damascus. According to the Foreign Office, Shaibani will be accompanied by a high-level delegation during his two-day visit, during which the two sides will hold detailed discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. The talks will focus on ways to expand cooperation in various fields, while the two foreign ministers will also exchange views on key regional and international developments. The Foreign Office described the visit as an important milestone in efforts to further strengthen Pakistan-Syria relations. Shaibani’s visit will be the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Pakistan since May 2007, when thenSyrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem visited Islamabad. It is also the first such visit since the political transition in Damascus following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in 2024. The visit comes as Syria’s transitional leadership seeks to expand engagement with regional and international partners. Pakistan has also reiterated its support for Syria amid renewed regional tensions.

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02 news

PAKISTAN’S DIGITAL PLATFORMS FACE THE PROFITABILITY TEST

PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN’S technology sector is entering a more commercially disciplined phase, as digital payments expand, startup investment selectively recovers after a difficult reset, and platform companies face greater pressure to prove profitability, unit economics, and operating efficiency rather than growth alone. Daraz has become profitable at the group level, The Express Tribune recently reported, marking a notable development for South Asia’s largest e-commerce platform. The milestone comes amid a wider shift in Pakistan’s digital economy, where companies are moving away from subsidised expansion towards more sustainable operating models. For much of the past decade, Pakistan’s digital opportunity was framed through a simple demographic argument. A population of more than 250 million, a young consumer base, rising smartphone ownership and ex-

panding internet access created expectations that platform businesses would grow rapidly, following a trajectory similar to Southeast Asia and India. That assumption has proved only partly true. Demographics and connectivity create reach, but they do not automatically translate into durable businesses. Attention-led platforms can scale quickly because users do not necessarily need to spend money, trust a seller, wait for delivery, or complete a transaction. Content platforms can build large audiences through entertainment, habit and network effects. Transaction-led platforms face a more difficult test. Whether customers are buying a product, ordering food, booking a ride or using a financial service, they expect reliable payments, dependable logistics, responsive support and confidence that the service will deliver as promised. Success depends not only on attracting users, but on earning their trust every time a customer chooses to spend. Pakistan’s first generation of digital platforms proved that consumers were willing

to change their behaviour when technology solved real problems. Careem normalised app-based mobility and digital convenience. Foodpanda made online food delivery part of urban life. Daraz helped expand trust in e-commerce through a broader assortment, logistics capability and a more structured marketplace experience. The next challenge was whether that adoption could translate into commercially durable businesses. The second phase of growth was fuelled by global venture capital. Investors prioritised scale, allowing platforms to expand through subsidised pricing, free delivery, promotional campaigns and geographic expansion. GMV, downloads, users and completed orders became headline measures of success. These metrics demonstrated demand, but did not always show whether the underlying economics could work once incentives were reduced. As global funding conditions tightened, expectations changed. Growth alone was no longer enough. Platforms were expected to demonstrate healthier unit economics, cus-

tomer loyalty beyond discounts and business models capable of funding expansion without relying on successive rounds of external capital. In Pakistan, those expectations have become more demanding. Inflation has reshaped household spending, consumers have become more price-conscious, businesses face higher taxation and compliance costs, and access to investment capital has become more limited. Growth now depends less on acquiring users quickly and more on delivery economics, payment reliability, customer retention and disciplined execution. The past few years have shown both sides of this transition. Airlift’s shutdown demonstrated the vulnerability of capital-intensive models when external funding slows. Careem’s exit from ride-hailing showed that even category creators can face pressure when local economics, competition and capital priorities shift. At the same time, Foodpanda’s continued presence, inDrive’s growth and Yango’s entry show that the market remains active for platforms that can

Govt earmarks Rs30b to pay interest on PIA’s Rs268b legacy debt: report Pakistan IT exports surge 18% YoY to reach $417m in July 2026 PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan’s technology sector kicked off the new fiscal year on a strong note, recording $417 million in IT exports during July 2026, an 18% increase compared to $354 million in the same month last year, according to data compiled by Topline Securities. On a monthon-month basis, export inflows remained broadly flat relative to June's $416 million. Net IT exports, export earnings minus imports, reached $344 million for July 2026, marking a 9% year-on-year rise. On a Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) basis, net exports surpassed the $4 billion milestone to stand at

Pakistan's petroleum import bill falls 33% MoM to $1.28b in July as crude, refined product costs ease PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan's petroleum group import bill fell sharply in July 2026, dropping to $1.28 billion ($1,276.73 million), down 33.14% month-on-month from $1,909.52 million in June, and 5.19% lower than $1,346.55 million in July 2025, according to provisional Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data. In rupee terms, imports stood at Rs355,443 million. Petroleum crude imports declined 37.36% month-on-month to $516.90 million, though still up 29.81% year-on-year. Petroleum products imports fell 36.51% month-onmonth to $491.49 million, down 22.61% year-on-year. Liquefied natural gas imports dropped 13.79% month-on-month to $176.68 million, down 23.60% year-on-year, while liquefied petroleum gas imports fell 12.77% month-on-month to $91.66 million but rose 11.71% year-on-year. On the export side, Pakistan's petroleum group exports rose to $80.54 million in July, up 14.84% month-on-month from $70.13 million in June, and 66.02% higher than $48.51 million in July 2025. IN RUPEE TERMS, EXPORTS TOTALLED RS22,416 MILLION. The increase was driven almost entirely by petroleum products excluding top naphtha, which rose 7.74% month-on-month to $75.56 million and surged 101.17% year-on-year. Petroleum top naphtha exports, which had been at zero in June, resumed at $4.98 million in July but remained 54.51% lower than a year earlier.

PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

The federal government has earmarked Rs30 billion in the current fiscal year to pay interest on Rs268.5 billion in legacy debt of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), with the amount included in a broader Rs73 billion privatisation contingency provision, The Express Tribune reported. The PIA debt was shifted to a new PIA holding company before the airline’s privatisation, leaving taxpayers responsible for the interest payments. The Rs30 billion annual interest cost is three times the Rs10 billion in cash received by the government from the sale of a 75% stake in PIA. The successful bidder offered Rs135 billion for the 75% stake, but the government received only Rs10 billion in cash, while the remaining amount is being reinvested in PIA by the bidder. The remaining 25% stake is also to be sold to the same bidder

for Rs45 billion in cash. Tribune cited a Finance Ministry official as saying that the Rs73 billion contingency provision was intended to cover unforeseen expenses related to the privatisation of three power distribution companies and interest payments on PIA’s legacy debt. Another government official said the Finance Ministry was providing the interest payment to PIA Holding Company as a loan. The holding company has no independent revenue stream and is expected to repay the loan through proceeds from the sale of its hotels. In 2024, the PIA Holding Company board approved restructuring the airline’s Rs268 billion commercial debt and transferring it into public debt. Banks agreed to extend the debt for 10 years at an interest rate of 12%. The arrangement shifted PIA’s commercial liabilities to public debt, requiring annual budget allocations for interest payments. At a 12% interest rate over 10 years, the total

payout to banks would reach Rs573 billion, including more than Rs300 billion in interest, against the original Rs268 billion debt. A spokesperson for the Privatisation Commission said the Rs73 billion contingency allocation did not pertain to the commission or the Privatisation Division. A Finance Ministry spokesperson said the contingency was meant to meet financial requirements arising from the privatisation or winding up of public-sector entities. He said the government was pursuing an extensive privatisation programme alongside the winding down of nonessential entities. Some transactions require funding for legacy liabilities. Besides liabilities held by PIA Holding Company, other privatisation and winding-down measures planned for the current fiscal year, including Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO), could also require funding for their respective legacy liabilities, the spokesperson added.

Power sector circular debt rises Rs61b to Rs1.67tr in FY26, Discos' ineﬃciencies remain top driver PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan's power sector circular debt grew by Rs61 billion during FY2025-26, reaching Rs1.675 trillion by June 30, 2026, up from Rs1.614 trillion a year earlier, according to official data. Inefficiencies and weak bill recovery by power distribution companies (Discos) remained the sector's biggest structural problem, together adding Rs326 billion to the debt pile over the year. Power Division data shows Discos' operational inefficiencies alone contributed Rs262 billion to the circular debt in FY26, only marginally down from Rs265 billion the previous year, signalling that distributionlevel losses continue to drive much of the buildup. Weak recoveries added a further

Rs64 billion, a sharp improvement from Rs132 billion in FY25. K-Electric's non-payment emerged as another major contributor, adding Rs194 billion to the debt. The utility's outstanding receivables stood at Rs421 billion as of June 2026, split between Rs197 billion in principal and Rs224 billion in accumulated markup. A further Rs63 billion stemmed from pending Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) invoices tied to amendments in power purchase agreements. Interest payments owed to independent power producers, Power Holding Limited and circular-debt financing fell sharply to Rs14 billion in FY26, down from Rs58 billion the year before. Other miscellaneous adjustments added Rs75 billion to the total.

Altogether, gross additions to the circular debt during the year came to Rs609 billion. This was partly offset by Rs247 billion in reductions, Rs98 billion from unclaimed subsidies, Rs129 billion from loan principal repayments, and Rs20 billion from pending generation cost adjustments. After netting these out, the year's circular debt flow stood at Rs364 billion. The government subsequently injected Rs302 billion in subsidy payments to help pare down the accumulated stock. As of June 30, 2026, amounts owed to power producers stood at Rs784 billion, while generation companies' (Gencos) payables to fuel suppliers totalled Rs90 billion. Circular-debt financing accounted for a further Rs801 billion of the overall balance.

Pakistan's large-scale manufacturing grows 4.98% in FY26, but June output falls 3.48% YoY PROFITS

TAFF REPORT

cline of 3.48% compared to June 2025 and a steeper fall of 6.08% compared to May 2026. Among major sub-sectors, automobiles posted the sharpest growth, rising 50.53% in June 2026 and 57.77% for the full fiscal year. Cement output grew 9.76% in June and 7.36% for the year. Petroleum products rose 0.70% in June and 9.70% for the year. Cotton cloth edged up 0.17% for both June and the full year, while cotton yarn grew 1.00% cumulatively despite a 1.85% dip in June.

On the decline side, garments fell 13.45% in June, though they still posted 5.49% cumulative growth for the year. Iron and steel output dropped 11.75% in June and 7.84% for the full year. Fertiliser production, despite rising 0.83% in June, was down 1.99% cumulatively for the year. The main contributors to the overall 4.98% growth included automobiles (contributing 1.56 percentage points), food (1.21), garments (0.91), petroleum products (0.72), cement (0.41) and electrical equipment (0.37).

Thursday, 20 August, 2026 | islAMAbAD

adapt to local price sensitivity and operational realities. E-commerce remains one of the clearest tests of this new phase because the market is still far from mature. If online commerce represents only 2–3% of overall retail, most consumer spending remains offline. Even a gradual increase in that share creates room for platforms, brands, sellers, logistics providers and fintech companies to grow. Capturing that opportunity will require a different playbook from the previous decade. Platforms will need stronger seller quality, reliable returns and refunds, deeper reach beyond major cities, greater digital payment adoption and continued investment in consumer trust. Pakistan has already proved that users will come online. The harder test is whether digital businesses can make transactions work at scale in a market shaped by price sensitivity, cash dependence, operational complexity and limited capital. The next phase will not be defined by how quickly platforms grow, but by how durably they can operate.

Pakistan's textile exports surge to $1.81b in July, up 43% MoM PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Knitwear remained the top textile export, rising 46.60% month-on-month in value to $533.84 million, up 4.06% year-on-year. Bed wear exports rose 47.13% month-on-month to $308.50 million, up 4.16% year-on-year. Readymade garments climbed 45.87% month-on-month to $459.99 million, up 15% year-on-year. Towels posted the strongest month-onmonth growth among major textile items, up 60.35% to $106.36 million, and up 13.37% year-on-year. Made-up articles, excluding towels and bedwear, rose 58.51% month-on-month to $77.21 million, up 10.56% year-on-year. Cotton cloth exports increased 26.27% month-on-month to $141.59 million but slipped 0.10% year-on-year. Cotton yarn exports rose modestly, up 3.91% month-on-month to $66.53 million and 18.69% higher year-on-year. Art, silk and synthetic textile exports climbed 30.57% month-onmonth to $30.41 million but fell 8.22% year-on-year. On the import side, textile group imports totalled $682.21 million in July, up 5.37% month-on-month from $647.43 million in June, and 14.82% higher than $594.17 million in July 2025. In rupee terms, imports stood at Rs189,930 million. Raw cotton imports fell 15.37% month-on-month to $186.34 million but rose 30.01% year-on-year.

Foreign direct investment in Pakistan rises 264% MoM to $179 million in July PROFITS

STAFF REPORT

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Pakistan rose 264% month-on-month to $179 million in July, the first month of FY2026-27, but remained 20% lower than the inflow recorded in the same month last year, according to data released by the central bank on Tuesday. The power and financial services sectors attracted the largest foreign investments during the month, while China and Canada were the leading sources of inflows, according to Topline Securities. The power sector received $57.5 million in FDI in July, compared with $86.8 million in June and $70.8 million in July 2025. The financial services sector attracted $62.3 million during the month, down from $87 million in June but up from $58.8 million in July 2025.

Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian flights until Sept 24 PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has extended the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian aircraft until September 24, 2026, under a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) No. A476/26. The reGovt challenges SC order directing Imran’s transfer to private hospital The government contended that directing treatment of a convict at a private hospital, particularly when the medical report before the court did not indicate an emergency requiring immediate treatment, could “severely disturb the entire criminal justice system”. The review plea also invoked Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before law, arguing that the SC order could encourage similarly placed prisoners to seek comparable treatment at private hospitals of their choice.

Pakistan's food group exports rise to $437m in July, up 4.28% MoM PROFIT STAFF REPORT

Pakistan's food group exports rose in July 2026 to $437.08 million, up 4.28% from $419.16 million in June, and 2.47% higher than $426.56 million in July 2025, according to provisional Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data. In rupee terms, exports stood at Rs121,545 million. Rice remained the largest food export category, though shipments declined in

quantity, with value falling 6.51% monthon-month to $55.63 million. Within this, basmati rice exports dropped 14.64% in value month-on-month to $21.27 million despite climbing 37.37% year-on-year, while other rice varieties slipped 0.53% month-on-month but rose 10.11% annually to $34.56 million. Fish and fish preparations fell sharply, down 38.69% month-on-month to $6.27 million. Fruit exports rose 1.43% monthon-month to $10.68 million but were

down 33.69% year-on-year. Vegetable exports increased 17.40% month-on-month to $3.57 million, though down 19.13% year-on-year. Oilseeds, nuts and kernels posted the sharpest growth, surging 69.46% month-onmonth and 493.70% year-on-year to $6.95 million. Meat and meat preparations rose 15.41% month-on-month to $13.06 million, up 16.20% year-on-year. On the import side, food group imports rose to $805.49 million in July, up 24.51%

month-on-month from $646.93 million in June, and 8.12% higher than $744.97 million in July 2025. In rupee terms, imports totalled Rs224,249 million. Palm oil imports, the largest food import item, jumped 48.98% month-on-month to $99.93 million, and were up 18.60% year-on-year. Tea imports rose 22.97% month-onmonth to $16.64 million, up 42.04% annually. Pulses (leguminous vegetables) imports increased 3.11% month-on-month

to $22.38 million, up 8.76% year-on-year. Milk, cream and infant milk food imports rose 12.49% month-on-month to $5.23 million, up 24.93% year-on-year. Dry fruits and nuts imports fell 10.11% month-onmonth to $2.12 million, down 8.31% yearon-year. Spice imports dropped 10.47% month-on-month to $5.52 million, down 16.77% year-on-year. Sugar imports declined 31.05% month-on-month to just $0.12 million.

NEWS 03

Thursday, 20 August, 2026 | ISLAMABAD

PAKISTAN'S EXPORTS JUMP 32% MOM TO $2.96M IN JULY, BUT TRADE DEFICIT WIDENS TO $3.98M

PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN'S exports rose sharply in July 2026, reaching $2,962 million, up 32.11% from $2,242 million in June and 10.40% higher than the $2,683 million recorded in July 2025, according to provisional figures from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. In rupee terms, exports totalled Rs823,553 million, up from Rs624,159 million in June and Rs762,578 million in July 2025. The top ten export commodities for the

month, by value, were knitwear (Rs148,409 million), readymade garments (Rs127,888 million), bed wear (Rs85,768 million), cotton cloth (Rs39,362 million), rice (others) (Rs34,355 million), towels (Rs29,573 million), made-up articles excluding towels and bedwear (Rs21,466 million), basmati rice (Rs21,272 million), petroleum products excluding top naphtha (Rs21,031 million), and cotton yarn (Rs18,496 million). Month-on-month, knitwear rose 46.43%, readymade garments 45.71%, bed wear 46.96%, cotton cloth 26.12%, towels 60.18%, made-up articles 58.34% and cotton yarn 3.79%, while rice (others) slipped

0.59% and basmati rice fell 14.72%. Petroleum products rose 7.71% month-on-month. Year-on-year, knitwear was up 1.79%, readymade garments 12.50%, bed wear 1.89%, towels 10.90%, made-up articles 8.16%, rice (others) 7.79%, basmati rice 34.43%, petroleum products 97.02% and cotton yarn 16.10%, while cotton cloth declined 2.28% annually. Imports into Pakistan reached $6,940 million in July, up 0.59% from $6,899 million in June and 18.90% higher than $5,837 million in July 2025. In rupee terms, imports totalled Rs1,932,034 million, against Rs1,922,982 million in June and Rs1,658,966 million in

Govt challenges SC order directing Imran’s transfer to private hospital CONTINEUD ROM PAGE 01

The government contended that directing treatment of a convict at a private hospital, particularly when the medical report before the court did not indicate an emergency requiring immediate treatment, could “severely disturb the entire criminal justice system”. The review plea also invoked Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before law, arguing that the SC order could encourage similarly placed prisoners to seek comparable treatment at private hospitals of their choice.

“If the interim order is not recalled, it will open a floodgate of prisoners seeking similar relief,” the petition said. The government also challenged the order on grounds of natural justice, pointing out that the Islamabad district election commissioner had been named as a respondent in the original petition but was not issued notice before the Aug 18 order. Invoking Article 10-A, which guarantees the right to a fair trial and due process, the government argued that all parties were entitled to proper notice and an opportunity to be heard. The petition further questioned the

BCEM to develop 7.5MW wind power project for Pakistan cables PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Burj Clean Energy Modaraba (BCEM) has entered into a lease agreement with Pakistan Cables Limited to develop a 7.5 MW wind power project at the latter’s manufacturing facility in Nooriabad, Sindh. The project will be developed under a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) arrangement, under which BCEM will be responsible for developing, owning and operating the wind power facility and supplying renewable energy to Pakistan Cables. According to a notice issued by BCEM to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Wednesday, Habib Bank Limited (HBL) has provided a project financing facility to the Modaraba for the project. BCEM is the first listed Islamic green energy fund on the PSX. The company said the agreement represents a significant step in its efforts to expand clean and renewable energy solutions and support Pakistan’s shift towards sustainable power generation. The proposed wind project is expected to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based energy while improving energy efficiency, the notice said.

maintainability of the original plea seeking Imran’s hospitalisation. It said the court had deferred the question of maintainability while forming a prima facie view, on the basis of the Adiala jail superintendent’s report, that the former premier’s health had deteriorated. The government maintained that the report did not indicate any worsening of Imran’s condition and pointed out that he had been regularly examined and treated by medical boards. It argued that the appropriate course would have been to seek an expert medical opinion on the report before determining whether Imran required treatment

July 2025. The top ten import commodities, by value, were electrical machinery and apparatus (Rs153,001 million), petroleum crude (Rs143,920 million), petroleum products (Rs136,827 million), palm oil (Rs99,927 million), plastic materials (Rs90,531 million), iron and steel (Rs87,220 million), iron and steel scrap (Rs67,820 million), motor cars in CKD/SKD form (Rs52,298 million), raw cotton (Rs51,876 million), and liquefied natural gas (Rs49,176 million). Month-on-month, electrical machinery and apparatus rose 67.27%, palm oil 48.80%, plastic materials 7.66%, iron and steel 32.39% and iron and steel scrap

at a private hospital. The plea also asserted that Imran, being a convicted prisoner, was required to be treated in accordance with the law applicable to other convicts. The government challenged the SC’s decision on another legal ground, arguing that the court had effectively granted all the substantive relief sought by Imran’s petition at the interim stage. According to the review petition, the requests included transfer to Shifa International Hospital for eye treatment, access to personal physicians, family access during medical procedures and provision of medical reports to his lawyers. “The August 18 order is in violation of the settled principle of law,” the government contended, arguing that no final relief should ordinarily be granted at an interim stage before the underlying case is adjudicated.

Bilawal draws line with PML-N, freezes cooperation until PPP concerns are addressed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

“My party has decided that PPP’s cooperation, coordination and legislation with the PML-N on general issues cannot continue until our legitimate concerns are addressed,” he said. Bilawal clarified, however, that the PPP could still cooperate with the government on matters of national importance. The PPP chairman’s remarks came shortly after his meeting with National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. The meeting was part of efforts to strengthen parliamentary engagement and followed growing tensions between the PPP and its PML-N coalition partner over the AJK elections. BILAWAL QUESTIONS AJK ELECTION PROCESS Bilawal strongly criticised the conduct of the recent AJK elections, alleging that the PPP had lost several constituencies because of rigging. He said the party had raised concerns before polling and called for adequate security arrangements. He referred

to an attack on a candidate in Muzaffarabad and alleged that two PPP workers were killed during the Mirpur phase of the elections. He also alleged that the PPP government in Poonch had been defeated through manipulation and questioned the decision to hold the elections in six phases, saying the electoral process remained incomplete. “If the PML-N wanted such a controversial election, then congratulations to them,” he remarked. Bilawal argued that a disputed administration would not be in a position to effectively address the Kashmir issue and stressed that AJK needed a government backed by a genuine public mandate. He also said the controversy had made it difficult for him to persuade PPP lawmakers in AJK to support any powersharing arrangement. PPP SEEKS RETURN OF OPPOSITION TO COMMITTEES Bilawal said his meeting with opposition leaders focused on making Parliament functional and encouraging the opposition to return to parliamentary standing committees.

“For Parliament to be functional, standing committees must be functional,” he said, stressing that the opposition had an important role to play in the committees. He said the PPP wanted political parties to maintain dialogue and work together on electoral reforms rather than remain disengaged from the parliamentary process. Bilawal said both treasury and opposition parties had repeatedly complained about the electoral system and therefore should jointly work towards reforms. NEW PROVINCES SHOULD BE BASED ON CONSENSUS On demands for the creation of new provinces, Bilawal said the PPP would support whatever decision was reached by the people through consensus. He maintained that the party had never opposed the creation of new provinces and cited its support for provincial status for Gilgit-Baltistan and South Punjab. “If there is consensus, the decision should be taken through consensus,” he said, adding that parties seeking the creation of new provinces should bring their proposals to the relevant forums.

Pakistan summons US Charge d’Aﬀaires, lodges strong demarche over ‘Kashmir remarks’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

In August 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government revoked occupied Kashmir’s special status and autonomy by repealing Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. India’s Supreme Court upheld the move in December 2023. The United States has maintained that President Donald Trump has offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute between the two nuclear-armed rivals since his first term. In 2019, Trump told reporters that he was willing to intervene, but said any decision would ultimately be up to the leaders of both countries. “But if they wanted somebody to intervene, to help them […] and I spoke with Pakistan about that and I spoke frankly in India

about it […] that battle has been going on for a long time. If I can, if they wanted me to, I would certainly intervene,” Trump said. He was informed that India had rejected the offer, to which he replied, “It is really up to Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi.” In 2025, following Marka-i-Haq, the US State Department reiterated Trump’s offer and said each step he took “is made to solve generational differences between countries.” Trump had offered to work on the Kashmir issue after brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India following the two nations’ most intense military confrontation in decades. In a message lauding the leaders of both countries for achieving peace, Trump remarked, “I will work with both of you to see

if, after a ‘thousand years’, a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir.” Responding to a question about the steps the United States planned to take in the wake of Trump’s offer, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, during a White House press briefing, said she could not speak about his plans or provide details. “So, while I can’t speak to his plans, the world knows his nature, and I can’t speak to any details of what he might have in that regard,” she said, adding that the White House would have plenty to say about the matter. She further said Trump had “been the only one to bring certain people to the table to have conversations that nobody thought was possible,” while expressing hope that the Kashmir issue could also be resolved.

Nation, armed forces pay tribute to Rashid Minhas Shaheed on 55th martyrdom anniversary RAWALPINDI

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan's Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (LSMI) sector recorded overall growth of 4.98% during July-June 2025-26 compared to the same period last year, with the Quantum Index of Manufacturing (QIM) reaching 120.55, according to provisional data based on 2015-16 as the base year. For June 2026 alone, the QIM stood at 108.83. This marked a decline of 3.48% compared to June 2025 and a steeper fall of 6.08% compared to May 2026. Among major sub-sectors, automobiles posted the sharpest growth, rising 50.53% in June

2026 and 57.77% for the full fiscal year. Cement output grew 9.76% in June and 7.36% for the year. Petroleum products rose 0.70% in June and 9.70% for the year. Cotton cloth edged up 0.17% for both June and the full year, while cotton yarn grew 1.00% cumulatively despite a 1.85%

dip in June. On the decline side, garments fell 13.45% in June, though they still posted 5.49% cumulative growth for the year. Iron and steel output dropped 11.75% in June and 7.84% for the full year. Fertiliser production, despite rising 0.83% in June, was down 1.99% cumulatively for the year. The main contributors to the overall 4.98% growth included automobiles (contributing 1.56 percentage points), food (1.21), garments (0.91), petroleum products (0.72), cement (0.41) and electrical equipment (0.37). Other positive contributors included tobacco (0.19), beverages (0.14), other transport equipment (0.27) and furniture (0.28). These gains were partly offset

by declines in pharmaceuticals (0.54), iron and steel products (0.34), chemicals (-0.20) and textiles (-0.11). Sectors showing growth for the full fiscal year included food, beverages, tobacco, wearing apparel, paper and board, coke and petroleum products, rubber products, non-metallic mineral products, fabricated metal, computer and electronics products, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, automobiles, other transport equipment, furniture and other manufacturing. Sectors showing decline for the year included textiles, leather products, wood products, chemicals, chemical products, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and iron and steel products.

22.06%, while petroleum crude fell 37.45%, petroleum products 36.59%, motor cars 21.89%, raw cotton 15.48% and liquefied natural gas 13.90%. Year-on-year, electrical machinery and apparatus rose 83.89%, petroleum crude 27.17%, palm oil 16.18%, plastic materials 17.13%, iron and steel 26.42%, iron and steel scrap 54.55%, motor cars 36.81% and raw cotton 27.35%, while petroleum products fell 24.19% annually and liquefied natural gas declined 25.18%. Based on the provisional trade figures, Pakistan's trade deficit for July 2026 stood at $3,978 million, or Rs1,108,481 million in rupee terms.

HSD price slashed by Rs32.63/litre, petrol rises Rs2.97 CONTINEUD ROM PAGE 01

Diesel is particularly important for the transportation of goods across the country. Trucks and other commercial vehicles consume large quantities of HSD, meaning the latest reduction can substantially lower their fuel expenses compared with the previous price.HSD is also extensively used in agriculture, where tractors and other farm machinery generally operate on diesel. The reduction could consequently lower the fuel cost associated with agricultural operations.Petrol, on the other hand, is mainly used in cars, motorcycles, rickshaws and other light vehicles. The Rs2.97-per-litre increase will therefore directly affect motorists and daily commuters using petrolpowered vehicles.With the latest revision, petrol will be sold at an ex-depot price of Rs337.51 per litre, while HSD will have an ex-depot price of Rs363.06 per litre for August 20, 2026.Ad powered by advergic.comThe new HSD price represents a reduction of around 8.25 percent from the previous Rs395.69 per litre, while the petrol price has increased by around 0.89 percent from Rs334.54 per litre.The contrasting movement means that the latest pricing decision provides a major reduction for diesel users but adds to the fuel cost of petrol consumers.

Syrian Foreign Minister's Pakistan visit signals renewed push to deepen bilateral ties CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The Foreign Office on Wednesday strongly condemned what it described as an “unprovoked” Israeli attack on a Syrian airbase, warning that such actions could further undermine regional peace and stability. Syrian state-run Ekhbariya television, citing a military source, reported that Israel carried out eight airstrikes on the runway and storage facilities at the Abu al-Duhur airbase near Aleppo in northwestern Syria. Separate sources said the strikes caused no casualties. Islamabad condemned the attacks as “provocative actions” and a “flagrant violation of international law”, warning of their potential consequences for regional stability. Pakistan reaffirmed its “unwavering solidarity” with the Syrian people and reiterated its support for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and prosperity.

04 COMMENT

India’s nuclear security dilemma

Thursday, 20 August, 2026

Asking for her head

The farmers are asking for Punjab CM to resign for implementing IMF demands

Kudankulam leak exposes a dangerous vulnerability

HE Pakistan Kissan Ittehad has threatened to lunch a Million Man March on Islamabad to demand only that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz resign. The reason for this is another problematic year of avoiding the support price, and because the Punjab is at the centre of the whole matter, producing the lion’s share of the country’s wheat crop. Further, the problem is that the whole problem has been created because the minimum support price has been withdrawn, and that has been done in response to an IMF demand. Perhaps some of the problem is that the IMF just laid down a demand, but did not give anything approaching a roadmap of how the support price withdrawal was to be achieved. In the somewhat unlikely event of the farmers’ demand being accepted, there is little likelihood of the policy being changed, not just because the IMF has not changed its position as because the financial arrangements necessary for offering a support price are not in place. It should be realized that whatever the merits or demerits of having a support price, it has proved an expensive business. In fact, the IMF got involved because of the circular debt of billions which had been incurred, and which was going to grow further. The two problems the IMF does not seem to have considered is the lack of capacity among the wheat purchase companies, the financial institutions and the storage facilities, and then the need to maintain price stability for consumers. Wheat, it must never be forgotten, is a staple, and managing its supply successful foes back to the British Raj, which had introduced the Minimum Support Price mechanism that the PKI is protesting in favour of. The government has reached past the stage where it was supposed to have ended the MSP, but it still needs to provide some clarity about the price if it hopes to get farmers to grow wheat. It is not just a staple for consumers, but also growers, and still performs many of the functions of cash in village economies. However, while the PKI needs to enter the 21st century by realizing that changing CMs would not mean changing back to MSPs, it should also realize that the move in India against the Modi government, while dramatic and even successful, left farmers’ problems unharmed.

“Nuclear security is first and foremost a national responsibility.”

HIS principle is not merely a diplomatic commitment– it is the minimum requirement for any state operating nuclear facilities. Against this fundamental principle, the reported data breach involving India’s largest nuclear power station, the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP), which came to public attention on 15 July, represents a serious setback to confidence in India’s nuclear security architecture and highlights vulnerabilities within one of its most critical strategic facilities. The exposure of sensitive engineering documents from one of India’s flagship nuclear facilities is not just a cybersecurity failure; it is a warning sign of deeper vulnerabilities within a nuclear establishment that seeks to expand rapidly while struggling to secure the infrastructure it already operates. According to cybersecurity researchers, thousands of engineering files related to Kudankulam Units 3 and 4 were reportedly exposed following a ransomware attack on Reliance Infrastructure, a contractor associated with the project. The leaked material allegedly included drawings of ventilation and cooling systems, layouts of auxiliary control rooms, inspection records with site photographs, supplier information, and insurance documentation. Indian authorities have maintained that no reactor-core designs or operational control systems were compromised. Yet modern cyber operations seldom begin by targeting the most protected assets. Instead, adversaries assemble seemingly routine engineering documents, contractor records, and infrastructure layouts to build an intelligence picture that can support future cyber intrusions, supplychain compromises, or physical sabotage. In this context, the significance of the breach lies not merely in what was leaked, but in what such information can enable. The incident is particularly concerning because it follows an earlier cybersecurity breach at the same facility. In 2019, malware attributed by cybersecurity researchers to the Lazarus Group infiltrated an administrative network associated with Kudankulam. Although the Nuclear Power Corporation of India

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Limited (NPCIL) maintained that operational systems remained isolated, the episode demonstrated that India’s nuclear infrastructure had already become a target for sophisticated cyber actors. The recurrence of security incidents involving the same strategic installation suggests that vulnerabilities within India’s broader nuclear ecosystem, including contractors, suppliers, and administrative networks, remain insufficiently addressed. Such repeated breaches raise questions about the effectiveness of existing cybersecurity protocols and the resilience of critical nuclear infrastructure against evolving cyber threats. More troubling, however, is that Kudankulam represents only one aspect of a much larger problem. Over the past four decades, India has witnessed repeated incidents involving the theft, illegal possession, and trafficking of radioactive materials. Police have intercepted attempts to sell uranium and other radioactive substances in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Dehradun involving stolen radioactive material. These repeated incidents raise serious questions about the effectiveness of India’s nuclear security mechanisms and its ability to maintain strict control over hazardous materials. These incidents expose a dangerous gap between India’s claims of maintaining a robust nuclear security architecture and the reality demonstrated by repeated security breaches. The timing of these concerns is particularly alarming. India is simultaneously seeking to dramatically expand its nuclear energy sector and introduce greater private-sector participation. Expansion without institutional strengthening creates a dangerous contradiction: the country is increasing the size and complexity of its nuclear ecosystem before fully resolving vulnerabilities already visible within the existing system. Private participation may bring investment, technological expertise, and efficiency, but it also introduces additional layers of complexity into nuclear security governance. Unlike a purely state-controlled system, a larger private-sector ecosystem involves multiple contractors, subcontractors, software providers, equipment suppliers, and service companies that may require access to sensitive information, digital networks, or operational support functions. Each additional entity connected to nuclear infrastructure expands the potential attack surface and creates new points at which cybersecurity failures, insider threats, inadequate security practices, or supply-chain compromises can occur. Differences in security standards, compliance capabilities, and oversight mechanisms among private entities may further complicate efforts to maintain uniform protection across the nuclear sector. Without strict regulatory control, mandatory cybersecurity standards, and continuous monitoring of third-party participants, privatization could unintentionally widen the pathways through which hostile actors attempt to access sensitive nuclear information or critical infrastructure.

From Taiwan to Tehran

M. A. Niazi

Babar Nizami

Editor Pakistan Today

Editor Profit

Is a new global power struggle taking shape?

Majid Burfat

HE next Cold War may not begin with a declaration of war. It may emerge quietly— through military exercises in Taiwan, Russian deployments near Japan, a deepening Moscow-Pyongyang partnership, the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula and escalating tensions in the Middle East. These developments may appear geographically distant, but strategically they are increasingly connected. The international system is entering a period of profound uncertainty. The post-Cold War moment, when US primacy appeared largely uncontested, is giving way to an era of intense competition between major powers. China is challenging the USA economically, technologically and militarily; Russia is confronting the Western security order; North Korea is expanding its nuclear leverage; and Iran continues to pursue an independent regional strategy while maintaining close strategic ties with Beijing and Moscow. Yet calling this simply a new Cold War would be too simplistic.The emerging order looks less like two rigid military camps and more like two competing strategic corridors. On one side stands a US-led security network involving Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Israel, supported by a wider constellation of European and Indo-Pacific partners. On the other is an emerging China-centred strategic ecosystem in which cooperation with Russia and North Korea has become increasingly consequential, while Iran maintains significant strategic alignment with both Beijing and Moscow. These countries, however, are not members of a single alliance comparable to NATO. They have different interests, priorities and red lines. That distinction matters because today’s geopolitical competition is not about ideological uniformity. It is increasingly about interests, influence, deterrence, technology, trade, military capability and control over strategic geography. Taiwan perhaps represents the most dangerous intersection of these competing interests. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has steadily increased military pressure around the island. Taiwan, meanwhile, is strengthening its ability to withstand a potential blockade or military assault. The significance extends far beyond the Taiwan Strait. Any major conflict could draw in the USA and potentially Japan, disrupt global trade and semiconductor supply chains, and fundamentally alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific. The question is therefore not merely whether China could attack Taiwan.

The bigger question is whether deterrence can persuade Beijing that the cost of doing so would be greater than the potential strategic gain. Japan’s position demonstrates how another seemingly separate dispute fits into the larger picture. Russia’s control of the southern Kuril Islands— claimed by Japan as its Northern Territories— has remained a longstanding source of tension. Moscow’s renewed attention to the islands comes at a time when Tokyo is already facing growing concerns over China and North Korea. For Japan, therefore, the strategic map is becoming increasingly complicated: China to the southwest, North Korea across the Korean Peninsula and Russia to the north. These may be different threats, but their combined effect is creating a much broader security challenge. The Russia-North Korea relationship adds another dimension. Their comprehensive strategic partnership, including a mutual military-assistance provision, has transformed their relationship into a significant strategic connection. North Korea has supported Russia’s war effort with ammunition, missiles and personnel, while Pyongyang can potentially gain military experience, economic support, diplomatic protection and access to advanced capabilities. This creates a remarkable geopolitical feedback loop. A war that began in Europe is now influencing the strategic balance in East Asia. The Korean Peninsula itself presents another paradox. North Korea continues to treat its nuclear capability as central to its survival, while South Korea has increasingly emphasised dialogue and a peace-first approach. Yet the fundamental dilemma remains: can lasting peace be achieved while North Korea retains an expanding nuclear arsenal? And what happens when Pyongyang’s relationship with Moscow becomes increasingly strategic? The answer could affect not only the two Koreas but the wider US-China-Russia competition. Then comes the Middle East, where the USA’s strategic commitments face perhaps their greatest test. The Iran conflict illustrates the danger of strategic overstretch. Washington must simultaneously manage challenges involving Iran and Israel, support European allies amid the Ukraine

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war, deter China in the Indo-Pacific and maintain security commitments toward Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. This does not mean the USA is abandoning Asia. It means something more subtle: US power is being asked to operate across an extraordinary number of strategic theatres simultaneously. China, meanwhile, does not necessarily need to defeat the USA militarily to expand its influence. Economic relationships, technological competition, infrastructure investment, diplomatic partnerships and military modernisation can gradually reshape the international balance. But there is another group that may ultimately determine how this competition unfolds: the states that refuse to permanently choose sides. India, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, ASEAN countries and several Gulf states increasingly seek strategic autonomy. They may want Chinese investment, US technology, Russian energy, Western markets and regional partnerships— all without becoming permanent members of any geopolitical camp. This is why the phrase “two blocs” may ultimately prove inadequate. The world may be moving towards two competing power corridors rather than two formal alliances, with a large strategic middle attempting to navigate between them. That makes today’s geopolitical environment more unpredictable than the Cold War. During the original Cold War, the dividing lines were comparatively clear. Today, countries can cooperate with one power on trade, another on defence and a third on energy—while simultaneously competing with all three in other areas. So the real contest is not simply China versus the USA. It is a struggle over who will shape the rules, technologies, alliances, supply chains and security architecture of the 21st century. Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Ukraine and Iran may appear to be separate crises. But viewed together, they reveal something much larger: the old world order is weakening, a new one is emerging— and the greatest uncertainty is not who the two major powers are, but how many countries will refuse to choose between them. The writer is a freelance columnist

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The implications extend far beyond India’s domestic energy programme. India’s expanding nuclear industry increasingly relies on international technology, foreign vendors, global supply chains, and cross-border investment. Consequently, vulnerabilities within one national nuclear programme can have wider strategic repercussions. A successful cyber operation or compromise of sensitive engineering information could undermine confidence in India’s nuclear security practices, raise concerns among international partners, and expose weaknesses in critical infrastructure protection within an increasingly interconnected nuclear industry. As civilian nuclear programmes worldwide become more digital and commercially integrated, cybersecurity failures in one country inevitably become matters of broader international concern. The Kudankulam breach should therefore serve as a strategic wake-up call, not another incident to be contained through official statements. A nuclear power’s credibility is not determined by the number of reactors it operates or the ambitions it announces, it is determined by its ability to prevent unauthorized access, protect sensitive information, secure radioactive materials, and maintain public confidence in its institutions. The question is whether the international community would still stay silent over a state’s perpetual weak demonstrated performance in nuclear security and remain vulnerable to risk of nuclear terrorism, cyber terrorism, illicit proliferation, and black market or transnational ecological disorder? India’s nuclear programme stands at a critical crossroads. Rapid expansion combined with unresolved security weaknesses creates a dangerous environment where a single successful cyber operation, insider compromise, or supply-chain failure could produce consequences far beyond financial losses or reputational damage. In the nuclear domain, prevention is not optional, and security lapses cannot be treated as routine administrative failures. The most serious threat facing India’s nuclear ambitions may not come from external adversaries seeking to undermine its programme, it may come from vulnerabilities that remain unaddressed within the programme itself. A nation aspiring to become a major nuclear power cannot afford a security culture built around reassurance after failure. It must build one based on prevention before disaster. The Kudankulam leak is not merely a failure of India’s nuclear security apparatus. It is a warning to the international community that a rapidly expanding nuclear programme with persistent vulnerabilities in its security architecture can become a global security risk. When a country’s nuclear infrastructure repeatedly demonstrates weaknesses in protecting sensitive information, radioactive materials, and critical systems, the consequences cannot be confined within national borders. The writer is a freelance columnist

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Brains in bureaucracy

THERE are fewer than 10,000 people in Pakistan who hold PhD degrees — an alarmingly low number in a population of nearly 247 million. This highlights the country’s lack of emphasis on growth based on research and knowledge. If Pakistan aspires to build a knowledge economy, prioritising higher education and advanced research are imperative. The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is said to be planning extensive civil service reforms. This is the right time to ensure the representation of highly qualified professionals, including PhD holders, in Pakistan’s civil service. Traditionally, civil servants retire with only a bachelor’s or master’s degree, which limits innovative policymaking. Recruiting PhD holders into the civil service would encourage more individuals to pursue advanced studies, thereby fostering nationwide intellectual growth. Incorporating PhD holders into government departments can enhance governance, improve decisionmaking, and develop well-researched solutions to the pressing challenges various sectors have been faced with. Their expertise can drive progress in economic planning, technological advancement, as well as social development. For Pakistan to compete globally and strengthen its institutions, it must embrace a research-driven culture. The inclusion of highly qualified professionals in the civil service will be a concrete step towards better governance, which is, indeed, essential for the country’s future. NABEEL BADR ISLAMABAD

Borrowed strength

IN the wake of recent Pakistani success over India in the limited armed conflict, social discussion invariably veers towards China’s help. Although some quarters would like to attribute Pakistan’s success to indigenous effort only, it is universally known that both Pakistan and India fought with fighter jets and other war machinery bought from third countries; France and China, basically. The mainstay of Pakistan’s air attack was a combination of Chinese-made J-10Cs, JF-17s, drones and missiles. There is no doubt that China helped us in the limited war, much more than it has ever helped us in all our previous wars and skirmishes with India. On some occasions, the Chinese had, in fact, plainly advised Pakistan to avoid going to war with India. This time it was different. Whatever the official position may be, the man on the street is very proud of the help that China provided in the war, and is certain that a new normal, in the shape of an all-out Chinese help, has been established. People seem to have taken it for granted that the same level of help, if not more and beyond, would be available in all future conflicts with India. However, when it comes to international relations, history tells us that there are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends, only permanent interests. So, the million-dollar question that begs an answer is: will China be as helpful in a future conflict as it was this time? Will the emerging sense of Chinese assertiveness in the region guarantee similar support to us in the future? It will be prudent that as a nuclear power, we develop our capacity to deal with any foreign aggression on our own instead of depending solely on any foreign power. AKBAR JAN MARWAT ISLAMABAD

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COMMENT 05

Why Sindh’s food chain is collapsing? Thursday, 20 August, 2026

It can still be saved

Sunila Shaikh

INDH’S agricultural landscape, historically recognized as the foundational backbone of Pakistan’s economy and the nation’s primary breadbasket, is currently facing a catastrophic existential crisis driven by the dual forces of severe climate volatility and chronic governance failures. In recent years, the province has been caught in a relentless cycle of environmental shocks, alternating between scorching droughts that parch arable lands and devastating monsoon floods that inundate entire agrarian belts. While global climate summits in distant capitals remain absorbed in prolonged negotiations over long-term financial frameworks and carbon accounting, the stark ground reality across rural Sindh is a rapidly escalating food security emergency. This crisis cannot be mitigated through empty promises, surface-level rhetoric, or temporary relief packages; it demands immediate structural policy reforms, transparent governance, uncompromised institutional accountability, and rigorous, fact-based media advocacy. At the core of this ecological and administrative catastrophe is our regional agricultural sector, which sustains the livelihoods of millions of rural households while feeding urban centres across the country. Recent extreme weather events, unseasonal downpours, and unmanaged floodwaters have completely destroyed over 2.1 million acres of standing crops across Sindh. Vital cash crops such as cotton, which underpins national textile exports and essential food staples, as well as rice, sugarcane, and wheat, have suffered devastating losses. However, the damage extends far beyond the loss of a single season’s harvest. When floodwaters submerge agricultural fields for extended months, they severely degrade soil fertility, deposit heavy layers of silt, destroy the soil’s natural porosity, and leave vast tracts completely infertile for upcoming planting cycles. This structural land degradation traps smallholder farmers in compounding debt cycles, leaving them without financial buffers to recover. When extensive agricultural fields remain barren and crop yields plummet, the

macroeconomic consequences manifest immediately across the national economy in the form of runaway food inflation. Essential staples like wheat flour, rice, pulses, and fresh vegetables rapidly become unaffordable for low-income rural and urban households alike. This loss of agricultural productivity directly jeopardizes national food security, shifting the regional landscape from temporary economic distress into a state of structural vulnerability. Rural populations, having lost both their primary income source and local food supply, are forced into severe poverty and nutritional deprivation. Farmers who once nourished the nation find themselves queuing for basic food relief, exposed to extreme climate conditions without adequate state protection. Equally concerning is the chronic administrative vacuum that emerges in the wake of climate disasters. Following catastrophic floods, state institutions and federal ministries routinely issue high-profile appeals for international disaster funding. Foreign governments, multilateral development agencies, and global humanitarian organizations pledge billions of rupees for emergency relief and infrastructure rehabilitation. Yet, a fundamental question remains unanswered on the ground: where does this substantial influx of foreign financial assistance go, and why does it fail to build longterm climate resilience? Despite receiving extensive international relief donations over successive flood cycles, no permanent, largescale infrastructure projects have been constructed across Sindh. The province remains severely deficient in equitable water distribution infrastructure, small water reservoirs, erosion control systems, and robust drainage canals capable of diverting heavy monsoon flows away from agricultural fields. Rather than investing in permanent civil engineering and sustainable water management, public funds and foreign aid are frequently deployed as temporary palliatives. Authorities distribute short-term ration packs, tents, and basic emergency supplies to satisfy immediate public outcry, leaving underlying structural vulnerabilities unaddressed. Consequently, when the next monsoon season arrives, rural farming communities suffer from the exact same predictable destruction, raising critical questions regarding institutional transparency, financial auditing, and administrative accountability. This pattern of crisis, relief appeal, temporary aid, and structural neglect has become an institutionalized cycle that

benefits intermediaries while leaving rural populations permanently vulnerable. The severity of this governance gap is further highlighted by hydrological data released by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) during the ongoing monsoon season. Official reports indicate rapid rises in water levels across the country’s major water reservoirs. Between July 16 and July 31, the water level at Tarbela Dam surged by 32.69 feet, rising from 1,504.31 feet to 1,537 feet just 13 feet below its maximum conservation capacity of 1,550 feet. Similarly, Chashma Lake reached a water level of 648.50 feet, fast approaching its maximum capacity of 649 feet, while Mangla Dam saw its level increase from 1,173.20 feet to 1,195.55 feet. While official meteorologists attribute these increases to intense monsoon rainfall and glacier melt in catchment areas, the absence of an integrated regional water storage strategy transforms potential water reserves into immediate flood hazards for downstream agricultural communities. Concurrently, casualty and damage figures published by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority illustrate the severe human and infrastructural toll across the country. Reports document significant fatalities including 55 in Khyber Pakhtun khuwa and 36 in Punjab with over half of these deaths resulting from structural roof collapses caused by relentless rain. Disaster management officials describe flooded districts as ‘inland seas’ due to vast, stagnant water sheets covering agricultural lands. Recorded rainfall figures 75 mm in Attock, 67 mm in Sialkot, and heavy downpours across Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Murree underscore the immense scale of the monsoon system, while weather forecasts warn of upcoming rain spells that will further strain river management infrastructure. In light of these escalating figures, Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik publicly emphasized that region-specific climate strategies and precise water regulation are essential for national food security and agricultural survival. However, when evaluated against ground realities, Malik’s statement demands rigorous scrutiny and raises critical questions for policy makers:

FIRST: As major reservoirs like Tarbela and Chashma approach maximum capacity, do federal and provincial ministries possess an operational framework to capture and regulate this water for agricultural use, or will state bodies once again allow unmanaged

spillovers to submerge hundreds of thousands of acres of crops in Sindh?

SECOND: While Malik correctly links water regulation to climate resilience and food security, will these proposed ‘regional climate strategies’ materialize into tangible civil engineering projects such as modern drainage networks, protective levees, and localized water basins or remain confined to press briefings while rural Sindh continues to flood annually?

THIRD: The devastating floods of 2025 which resulted in 1,037 fatalities, displaced over 2 million people, destroyed livestock, and wiped out extensive crop fields demonstrated the catastrophic cost of administrative inertia. Why do ministries continue to rely on post-disaster dewatering and temporary emergency measures rather than addressing urban planning failures, informal encroachments, and damaged drainage infrastructure? Furthermore, Sindh’s food crisis is intensified by internal market mismanagement, artificial hoarding, and administrative paralysis. A clear example of institutional failure is evident in the national sugar crisis. Official briefings from the Ministry of National Food Security & Research and decisions by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) repeatedly assured the public that the nation possessed ample sugar reserves and that retail prices would remain stable. Official export metrics confirmed that Pakistan maintained a total sugar stock of approximately 1.3 million metric tons in excess of its annual national requirement of 6.3 million metric tons. Despite this certified surplus, retail sugar prices escalated rapidly in open markets, imposing a severe financial burden on low-income households. This sharp contradiction between certified government stock statistics and actual market prices exposes a complete breakdown in price enforcement, anti-hoarding regulation, and supply chain oversight. Market cartels exploited regulatory gaps to artificially restrict supply and drive up profit margins, while federal and provincial administrations remained passive, failing to enforce price ceilings. This crisis demonstrates that the disruption of Sindh’s food system is not merely a consequence of external climate events, but is equally driven by internal administrative failure and unchecked market manipulation. Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this crisis is the fatalistic posture frequently

adopted by public officials in response to administrative failures. Attributing crop destruction, food inflation, and market cartels to divine will claiming that ‘these matters are beyond human control’ represents an abdication of governance. While extreme meteorological events are natural phenomena, constructing flood barriers, maintaining drainage canals, enforcing price controls, and penalizing market manipulators are direct administrative duties. Shielding systemic neglect behind fatalistic statements offers no solution to vulnerable populations. The fundamental purpose of state governance is to mitigate natural risks, protect public welfare, and ensure equitable resource distribution. Dismissing administrative failure as inevitable undermines public trust and shields authorities from accountability. In an attempt to address disaster warnings, agencies such as the National Disaster Management Authority and PDMA have increasingly relied on automated SMS alerts sent via cellular networks. While these messages provide basic information, a text alert cannot drain inundated fields, salvage ruined crops, or regulate market prices. Without physical infrastructure and financial safeguards, digital alerts offer minimal practical benefit to smallholder farmers. Rural agricultural communities require structural support: functional drainage canals, climate-resilient seed varieties, subsidized inputs, and comprehensive crop insurance programs. The disparity between official declarations and ground realities presents a critical mandate for national media and journalists. News organizations must move beyond reporting casualty figures and rainfall statistics to conduct thorough, fact-based investigative reporting. Media outlets must verify government stock claims, track the allocation of foreign relief funds, expose market cartels, and hold policy makers accountable. Safeguarding Sindh’s food system is not a theoretical debate; it is an urgent socio-economic imperative that requires immediate structural reform, transparent governance, and decisive action.

Israel justified its wars by calling enemies ‘crazy.’ Now, the warning signs all apply to Israel Adapted from ‘Israel’s Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power’ by Eli Clifton and Ian Lustick

THE INTERCEPT

Eli Clifton and ian S. luStiCk

N July 2020, Aluf Benn, the editor of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, interviewed a 92-year-old retired Hebrew University professor named Yehezkel Dror. Benn described him as the “doyen of public policy experts in Israel.” For his part, Dror fashioned himself after Herman Kahn, the American defense intellectual who made his name by “thinking the unthinkable” — how to fight a thermonuclear war. In 2005, Dror’s work on policy planning and strategic thinking won him the coveted Israel Prize. Dror responded to Benn’s questions as a futurologist with knowledge of what is to come, gained by thinking rationally and ruthlessly about a world too complex for all but an elite class of geniuses. Complimenting Israeli leaders for expelling as many Palestinians from the country as they did in 1948, Dror insisted on the correctness of his plan for an Israeli attack on Iran and praised President Donald Trump’s 2020 IsraeliPalestinian peace plan — the so-called Deal of the Century. He also called for a world government run by modern philosopher kings, and in his 2020 book, “Steering Human Evolution,” he advocated settling a thousand fertile couples on Mars to ensure the human race would not become extinct. Dror explained the tension in his thinking between rationalist universalism and a tribalist commitment to his own group, the Jews. Citing Zionism as the “core meaning of his life,” Dror emphasized the contribution he had made to “a total revolution in the history of the Jewish people, on the path from Holocaust to resurgence.” The primacy of this latter commitment is clearly apparent in his book “Crazy States: A Counterconventional Strategic Problem,” published in 1971. The topic of “craziness” as a descriptor of states was a familiar one in the 1960s when discussing nuclear deterrence. Academics Thomas Schelling and Herman Kahn both explored how a state with a reputation for craziness could increase the credibility of otherwise unconvincing threats. The thrust of Dror’s book was different. Dror imagined how states with powerful modern weapons might act in ways radically contrary to accepted norms or expected calculations. Normal states would need to act differently toward adversaries deemed “crazy” by shifting strategies from deterrence and self-defense to destruction and preemptive attack. The not-so-hidden subtext of the argument was to brand all of Is-

rael’s adversaries as “crazy,” thereby establishing justification for using any and all means, including subversion, preventive war, and even annihilation, against them. Dror went on to lay out the criterion for labeling states — Israel’s enemies — as “crazy.” Fifty years later, however, Dror’s account of craziness and the warning signs he suggested looking for apply more readily to Israel than to its Arab enemies. Dror never defined precisely what he meant by “crazy,” preferring to list behaviors, practices, and beliefs associated with his image of craziness. His prototypical case, used repeatedly for illustration of his argument, was Nazi Germany. This justified Dror’s inclusion of various Palestinian movements and groups affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization as “crazy” even though they weren’t states. At the end of 1973, an Israeli military publishing house issued a Hebrew edition of Dror’s book with a new chapter, “The Question of ‘Crazy’ States and the State of Israel.” Written against the backdrop of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War, known in Israel as the Yom Kippur War, Dror described virtually all Arab states and movements, whether Muslim or Palestinian, as either crazy, partially crazy, or liable to become crazy. According to Dror, the purpose of this chapter — which never appeared in English — was to shape Israeli military doctrine and strategies to deal with the craziness and potential for “extreme craziness” of Israel’s adversaries. Dror emphasized that the kind of craziness he had in mind — so dangerous to the world community that no measures to disrupt or destroy it should be ruled out — requires an ability to think clearly, plan systematically, and act effectively. In doing so, he was carefully distinguishing irrationality from craziness. To be classified as crazy, a state or movement must not only have the means to project its power with devastating effect; it must also demonstrate a capacity for calculated action so that it can learn from mistakes and devise better and more successful techniques for achieving its (crazy) purposes. A useful list of the features Dror set forth to identify a crazy state appeared in a positive review of his book: aggressive pursuit of far-reaching goals harmful to others; radical and intense commitments to achieve those goals; and adoption of a morally superior posture even while grossly contradicting international norms, both ethical and legal. Using these measures — goals, means, and public posture — we can ask whether Israel itself is crazy. If it is, then for Israel’s Lobby to be successful, U.S. policies toward Israel and the Middle East must themselves be crazy and therefore dangerous to American interests and to the world.

HARD-RIGHT TURN: After the June 1967 Arab-Israeli war, known as the Six Day War, the Labor Party favored withdrawal

from occupied Palestinian territories in return for peace, though it avoided specifying what territories could be relinquished or under what circumstances. The party that Begin led in 1967 was Gahal, a combination of Herut and the Liberal Party. In 1973, it became the cornerstone of the Likud. Like Herut, Gahal and then Likud opposed territorial withdrawal from any part of the West Bank and Gaza. The right wingers rejected the principle of trading land for peace, favored settlement of Jews throughout the territories, and looked forward to their permanent absorption into the State of Israel.

BORDER WARS: Before the 1967 war, the issue of the country’s borders was not particularly salient in Israeli politics. Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip reopened the question of expanding the state’s boundaries, polarizing the political system, and triggering a sharp rise in both hawkish and dovish positions on these questions. In the 2000s, the right-wing bloc’s representation has grown rapidly, while the leftwing bloc has shrunk drastically. Israeli public opinion has also shifted strongly toward the extreme right. Intensive polling done between 2022 and 2024 showed that four to five times as many Jewish Israelis identified themselves as “rightwing” than as “left-wing.” The rightward shift is more extreme than it seems from this data because what it means to be yemini, or right wing, has itself changed. Much more than in the past, it is associated with commitments to overt discrimination against Palestinian citizens, annexation measures that would exclude Palestinians from citizenship, use of extrajudicial punishment against Arabs, and preference for military action over negotiation for advancing Israeli interests in the region. Along with the rightward extremization of the Jewish public has been an escalating propensity for Israeli leaders to aggressively pursue expansive goals. This hawkishness manifested as military actions, assassinations, and spectacular acts of sabotage — from the West Bank and Gaza to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Qatar, and Iran — that have stunned the world.

RISE OF A MADMAN: In the 1990s, Benjamin Netanyahu began his rise to power, not as a right-wing firebrand but as a silvertongued defender of Israel against international criticism. Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, however, Netanyahu’s modus operandi changed. Two of his most crucial judgments — that the Gaza Strip could be kept indefinitely in a state of economic immiseration and that Hamas would not mount a large-scale attack — pushed Israelis into one of the most severe shocks they ever experienced. The levels of violence he authorized

The writer is a freelance columnist

against Palestinians in Gaza shocked the world. Netanyahu’s endorsement of transferring the entire population of Gaza out of Palestine; the bloody attacks he unleashed against Hezbollah and civilian neighborhoods in Lebanon; the wars he launched against Iran; and his attempt to assassinate Hamas negotiators in Qatar all reflect much more far-reaching goals for Israel than those of recognition, peace, and security, as one nation among others in a stable Middle East. In this way, Netanyahu is not just following in the footsteps of predecessors, who were prepared to take risks for ambitious gains; instead, he has made the craziness that has occasionally marked Israeli policies into a dominant trait.

A 21ST CENTURY SPARTA: Efraim Inbar is among Israel’s most influential national security analysts. The founder and director of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies, Inbar has reliably indexed the policy preferences of Likud governments, in general, and those led by Netanyahu in particular. From year to year, problem to problem, threat to threat, Inbar’s recommendation has almost always been the same: reject available compromises, accept international isolation, and use preemptive war to inflict more pain and damage on adversaries than they are willing to tolerate. “Fortunately,” he wrote in response to questions about Israel’s long-term goals, “Jewish history presents the Zionist movement another alternative: the Davidic option of building a Jewish commonwealth in the midst of an idolatrous world. The House of David ruled the Land of Israel for over four hundred years, playing a balance of power politics in our region.” As if channeling Inbar’s thinking, Netanyahu gave a speech in September 2025 calling for Israel to expect and accept international isolation, adapt its economy toward autarchy, and see itself as a 21st century Sparta. Netanyahu is not just following in the footsteps of predecessors; he has made the craziness that has occasionally marked Israeli policies into a dominant trait. Israelis are familiar with the Jerusalem syndrome, a tendency for susceptible people visiting the country to experience delusional psychoses with religious or apocalyptic themes. It is also true that spectacular visions — of an unfolding, divinely guided, and Israel-centric redemption process; of the settlement in the West Bank as a crucial step in the bringing of the Messiah; and of Jewish rule over virtually the entire Fertile Crescent — have long animated the private thinking of the architects behind the vast settlement project in the occupied territories.

THE ISRAELI MAINSTREAM: What is striking is that such thinking has moved from the private worlds of dedicated activists, from the margins of respectable political discourse toward the center of Israeli politics. Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich both advocate for the rebuilding of the ancient Jewish Temple in

the Old City of Jerusalem. Daniella Weiss, Ben-Gvir, and many others have called for the entire Gaza Strip to be emptied of Palestinians and resettled by Jews. What were, in the 1960s and 1970s, the outlandish ambitions of some marginal intellectuals, extreme rabbis, and retired generals are now the goals pursued by leading government ministers, senior security service officials, and settlement leaders. This region-shaping ambition was evident in Israel’s June 2025 attack on Iran. An Israeli military poster, in Farsi, of what Israel dubbed “Operation Rising Lion” featured a majestic lion on his hind legs next to a brightly shining sun, symbols of ancient Persia. The idea of transforming the Islamic Republic of Iran, a Muslim-majority country of 93 million, into an ally and returning it to a non-Islamic imperial past was advanced in an Instagram post two weeks into the war by Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s influential wife. It depicted two lions leaning against each other and gazing into the future, one wrapped in the flag of Israel, the other in the flag of the Pahlavis, the last shahs of Iran. Amid Israel’s bombardment of Iran in July 2025, before the U.S. joined the war, the grand scale of such ambitions — consistent with the unattainability of the goals crazy states set for themselves — became apparent during remarks Netanyahu made to an Israeli interviewer. “We are changing — and I said this on the second day of the [Gaza] war — I said that we’re changing the face of the Middle East,” Netanyahu said calmly. “And now I say to you and also to our viewers: We’re changing the face of the world. I have determined that we will achieve all our goals.”

Eli Clifton is an investigative journalist. He is a cofounder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, where he serves as a senior adviser. Ian S. Lustick is the Bess W. Heyman Chair, Emeritus, in the Political Science Department of the University of Pennsylvania.

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WILL FULLY SUPPORT ARMED FORCES, DESPITE LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES: PEZESHKIAN

TEHRAN

AGENCEIS

RANIAN President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday said that the government would extend full support to the armed forces with "all our might" and that this support would "continue despite limitations and challenges," according to the state news agency ISNA. Speaking in a cabinet meeting, Pezeshkian stated that the government would "spare no effort to meet the needs of the armed forces", adding that this was on the "government's agenda". Iranian lawmaker says Tehran would respond in kind if US used nuclear weapon An Iranian lawmaker said Tehran would respond in kind if the US used a nuclear weapon against Iran, commenting on a media report about the possibility of such an attack, according to local media on Wednesday. Fada

Hossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, made the remarks in an interview with Iranian news outlet Khabar Online. Asked how likely he considered a US nuclear attack on Iran, Maleki said: “I do not rule out an ill-considered action by (US President Donald) Trump, but I do not think he would dare to do such a thing, because such an action could plunge the world into a dangerous war.” “If such an action is taken, the Islamic Republic of Iran will also respond, and its reaction will be proportionate to the type of weapon used against Iran,” he added. Pressed on whether this meant Iran would use a nuclear weapon if the US attacked Iran with one, Maleki replied: “Whatever the US uses, Iran will respond to it.” MALEKI DID NOT EXPLICITLY SAY THAT IRAN POSSESSES NUCLEAR WEAPONS. The lawmaker also warned Washington

against further military action, saying Iran has “multiple options” at its disposal and that any US move could draw a response “at the same level or even beyond.” “Many of Iran’s weapons and military capabilities have not yet been unveiled,” Maleki said, arguing that Tehran has moved

from a defensive posture to what he described as “active and offensive deterrence.” Turning to stalled Tehran-Washington talks, Maleki accused Trump of failing to honour commitments under the memorandum of understanding between the two sides. He said Iran would not return to negotiations un-

China prepares Chang’e 7 mission to search for water ice at Moon’s south pole BEIJING AGENCIES

China is moving toward the launch of its Chang’e 7 lunar mission, which will explore the Moon’s south polar region for signs of water ice. The China Manned Space Agency said the Chang’e 7 spacecraft and its Long March-5 Y14 carrier rocket were transferred vertically to the launch site early Wednesday at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan. Engineers at the coastal launch centre will now carry out final functional inspections, integrated testing and propellant loading in the days leading up to liftoff. MOST COMPLEX ROBOTIC LUNAR MISSION Chang’e 7 is China’s most complex robotic mission to the Moon so far. The spacecraft is made up of four components: an orbiter, a lander, a surface rover

and a specialised hopping mini-probe. The mission is intended to advance several technologies, including highly precise soft-landing capability, legged mobility and the investigation of permanently shadowed craters. These areas are seen as central to operations in the

Moon’s south polar environment. MINI-PROBE TO ENTER SUNLESS LUNAR PITS The hopping mini-probe will use thrusters to move directly into dark lunar pits that do not receive sunlight. There, it is expected to search for water mole-

cules, hydrogen-containing elements and other volatile substances beneath the lunar regolith, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The agency said Chang’e 7 will also carry out broad environmental and resource surveys in the lunar south pole region. The mission includes an element of international cooperation, though no further details were given. PART OF A WIDER LUNAR PROGRAMME China has already completed six robotic lunar missions successfully. Its previous expedition, Chang’e 6, lasted 53 days in 2024 and marked the first time material had been brought back from the far side of the Moon. That mission returned 1,935.3 grams, or 4.27 pounds, of lunar soil and rock for scientific study. Chang’e 7 now forms the next step in China’s ongoing lunar exploration programme, with a focus on the Moon’s south pole and the possible presence of water ice.

China-ROK ties in focus as wang Yi begins first seoul visit in five years BEIJING

MIAN ABRAR

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began a four-day visit to South Korea on Wednesday, his first trip to Seoul in five years, with bilateral relations, the Korean Peninsula and regional and international

developments high on the agenda. Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is visiting South Korea and Indonesia from August 19 to 22 at the invitation of his South Korean and Indonesian counterparts. His Seoul visit comes ahead

of the 34th anniversary of the establishment of China-South Korea diplomatic relations on August 24 and as both sides seek to build on recent high-level exchanges and restore momentum in bilateral ties. Wang is scheduled to hold talks and a dinner with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Wednesday, while President Lee Jaemyung is due to meet the Chinese foreign minister at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday. According to the South Korean Foreign Ministry, the two foreign ministers will exchange views on bilateral relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and key regional and international issues. The ministry said Wang’s visit would provide an opportunity to review progress in restoring bilateral relations and prepare for the next

phase of high-level exchanges, particularly ahead of the APEC meeting scheduled to be held in Shenzhen in November. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing viewed South Korea as an important neighbour and cooperation partner, stressing that the rapid development of bilateral relations over the past 34 years had produced tangible benefits for both countries and contributed to regional peace, stability and prosperity. “China hopes Wang’s visit will boost efforts to implement the important common understandings reached by the two presidents, strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust and deepen exchanges and cooperation,” Lin said. Chinese observers said the visit underscored Beijing’s importance attached to maintaining stable and constructive relations with Seoul amid significant changes in the Northeast Asian strategic environment. Dong Xiangrong, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that Wang’s visit was taking place shortly before the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and highlighted the steady development of ties and their benefits to both peoples.

Iran labels California its 'new territory' after Trump's Hormuz claim TEHRAN

AGENCIES

An official Iranian social media account labelled California a “new territory” of Iran in response to US President Donald Trump posting an image portraying the Strait of Hormuz as “NEW US Territory.” Trump shared the image on his Truth Social account on Tuesday, showing a map of the Strait of Hormuz with the strategic waterway circled beneath the words “NEW US Territory,” following up on his earlier remarks saying the strait would be made US territory after the war ends. The White House later reposted Trump’s post on its official account on US social media platform X. In response, the official Iran in Hyderabad account on X posted a map of the US showing California highlighted in blue, with the words: “NEW TERRITORY OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN.” Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, also hit back at Trump’s post, writing on X: “His delusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will soon either be corrected, or we will correct the delusions of this delusional man.”

Thursday, 20 August 2026 | islAMAbAd

less Washington abides by its previous commitments, adding that issues, including the Strait of Hormuz, would otherwise remain unresolved. Maleki said Iran’s talks with Oman are a separate bilateral track, adding that Tehran rejected US participation in those discussions. NATO IS PREPARED TO ADDRESS ANY THREAT, OFFICIAL SAYS NATO is prepared to address any threat and will always do what is necessary to defend all allies, a NATO official said on Wednesday in response to questions about a report in the Financial Times that Iran has allegedly weighed attacking US military targets in Europe should Donald Trump escalate the war. "As demonstrated earlier this year when NATO air defences successfully intercepted ballistic missiles heading to Turkiye from Iran on four separate occasions, our deterrence and defence posture is strong and effective," the official said.

Hazrat Maulana Mufti Shah Abdul Khaliq Azad Raipuri to Visit Rawalpindi, Islamabad ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Hazrat Maulana Mufti Shah Abdul Khaliq Azad Raipuri, successor to the late Hazrat Maulana Shah Saeed Ahmad Raipuri (may Allah have mercy upon him), fifth custodian (Masnad Nashin) of Khanqah-e-Aalia Rahimia Raipur Sharif, and Director General of Idara Rahimia Uloom-e-Qurania, Lahore, will visit Rawalpindi and Islamabad on 20 August 2026 as part of an educational and training tour. During his stay, Hazrat Maulana Mufti Shah Abdul Khaliq Azad Raipuri will meet with distinguished scholars, academics, writers, teachers, religious scholars, students, lawyers, doctors, engineers, businesspersons, and intellectuals from the twin cities. On Friday, 21 August 2026, he will address the congregational Friday prayers at the Idara Rahimia Rawalpindi Campus.

NEWS 07

Thursday, 20 August, 2026 | ISLAMABAD

NAWAz, MAryAM hAIl SAudI ENVoy’S rolE IN dEEPENING PAkIStAN-SAudI tIES

CORPORATE CORNER

P g

Bok, kP Assembly Secretariat Sign Mou for Shariah Compliant Vehicle Financing PESHAWAR

STAFF REPORT

The Bank of Khyber (BoK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Provincial Assembly Secretariat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to provide Shariah-compliant vehicle financing facilities to eligible employees. The MoU was signed by Syed Wiqar Shah, Secretary, Provincial Assembly Secretariat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Hassan Raza, Managing Director, Bank of Khyber, at a ceremony held here. Under the agreement, BoK will offer Diminishing Musharakah Fleet Finance for the purchase of new vehicles assembled in Pakistan. The bank will also provide Sale and Lease Back Diminishing Musharakah Fleet Finance for used vehicles assembled in Pakistan and not older than four years. Speaker Provincial Assembly Babar Saleem Swati, Deputy Speaker Suriya Bibi, members of the Provincial Assembly and senior officials attended the signing ceremony. Senior management of the Bank of Khyber, including Gul Buhar Khan, Group Head Retail Banking Group; Muhammad Fawad Sadozai, Group Head Remedial Asset Management Group; Abdullah Ghaffar, Group Head CSME & Agri Finance Group; Umer Aziz Khan, Divisional Head SME; and Ali Khan Arbab, General Manager Peshawar, were also present.

Middle class car buyers left behind as premium EVs win tax relief

NAWAZ, MARYAM HAIL AMBASSADOR NAWAF BIN SAEED AL-MALKI FOR STRENGTHENING PAK-KSA BROTHERLY BOND LAHORE

SALEEM JADOON

ML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday appreciated Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki’s diplomatic services for strengthening the longstanding PakistanSaudi Arabia bond and further promoting brotherly relations between the two countries across all spheres of life. Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz expressed these views during a farewell meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, who paid a farewell call on them, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). The Saudi ambassador was warmly received upon his arrival at the Chief Minister’s Office in Lahore. The PML-N president and Punjab chief minister lauded Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki for his role in bringing the two brotherly countries closer and strengthening diplomatic ties and cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They appreciated his diplomatic serv-

ices and efforts aimed at further consolidating the historic and fraternal relationship between the two countries. The Saudi envoy described his stay in Pakistan as memorable and expressed gratitude for the cordial welcome, warm hospitality and sincere support extended to him during his tenure in the country. The farewell meeting highlighted the enduring bonds of friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and the importance attached by both sides to further strengthening bilateral relations. CM VOWS TO UPHOLD VALUES OF HUMANITY, DIGNITY IN PUNJAB Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday reiterated her commitment to serving humanity and upholding human dignity, compassion and the values of humanitarian service in the province. In her message on World Humanitarian Day, she paid tribute to relief workers and volunteers assisting people affected by wars and natural disasters and saluted doctors, nurses, rescue personnel and welfare workers dedicated to serving humanity. The chief minister called for more effective delivery of hu-

manitarian assistance to people in need across the world, saying that creating relief and ease for others was an act of service and worship. Maryam Nawaz said the spirit of serving humanity transcended colour, race, religion and all forms of prejudice. “Humanity is a great bond that rises above all relationships and knows no borders,” she said, adding that humanitarian workers risked their lives to serve humanity in war-torn areas. She said humanitarian workers not only provided food and medical assistance but also offered hope to people facing crises. The fundamental objective of

PEC BREAKS NEW GROUND

First batch of chartered project directors passes out at NDU Always Work to Build Pakistan’s Image Globally: World Champion Butt

KARACHI

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan’s vehicle taxation policy has come under scrutiny due to concerns that expensive new energy vehicles receive substantial tax concessions, while small, locally manufactured cars, largely purchased by middle-income consumers, continue to face higher taxation. According to details, a locally manufactured Suzuki Alto, priced at around PKR 3 million, carries approximately PKR 550,000 in sales tax, federal excise duty and the New Energy Vehicle levy. In comparison, a REEV (Range Extended Electric Vehicle) new energy vehicle priced at nearly PKR10 million reportedly attracts sales tax of around Rs 100,000, with no federal excise duty or NEV levy. Such disparity has raised questions about whether government incentives are being distributed fairly, particularly at a time when Pakistan remains under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, and citizens are facing additional taxes, higher utility costs, and pressure on household incomes. “Vehicles such as Alto and Cultus serve as basic mobility options for middle-income families, yet receive no meaningful tax relief.

15th IEEEP Fair 2026 opens at karachi Expo Centre

ISLAMABAD STAF REPORT

The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has achieved a historic milestone with the passing out of the first batch of Chartered Project Directors (Ch.PDs) at the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad—a decisive step towards certifying project leadership and transforming the way strategic and complex engineering projects are planned, governed and delivered in Pakistan. Conceived, designed and spearheaded under the vision of Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir, the Chartered Project Director Certification Programme marks a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s project leadership landscape. It aims to develop Project Directors who take ownership, make timely and informed decisions, strengthen governance and accountability, and deliver measurable results. The programme is being posi-

tioned as the first initiative of its kind in South Asia dedicated to certification of Project Directors at this level. It directly confronts persistent challenges in Pakistan’s project landscape, including delays, cost overruns, weak decisionmaking, contractual disputes and governance gaps. Certified Project Directors are equipped with advanced competencies in project governance, strategic decisionmaking, risk management, contract administration, dispute avoidance, cost and schedule control, transparency and accountability. The passing-out ceremony was held at NDU Islamabad, with President NDU, Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar, as the Chief Guest. Addressing the ceremony, the President NDU termed the Ch.PD initiative an “iconic project” and acknowledged that it was conceived and designed by Chairman PEC Engr. Waseem Nazir. He appreciated PEC’s efforts to introduce a structured certifica-

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

The 15th edition of the IEEEP Fair officially opened at the Expo Centre Karachi and will continue from August 18 to 20, 2026. The event, organized by IEEEP Karachi Centre in collaboration with Badar Expo Solutions, brings together over 200 local and international exhibitors representing the electrical, electronics and renewable energy sectors. Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest, FPCCI Senior Vice President Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon stressed the need for Pakistan to promote technology-driven manufacturing, local production and stronger industry-academia collaboration. Addressing the inauguration of the 15th IEEEP Fair 2026, he said emerging technologies, including renewable energy, automation, electric mobility and advanced electronics, offered significant opportunities for economic growth. He said exhibitions like the IEEEP Fair help local manufacturers showcase their capabilities, develop partnerships and access international markets. He called for greater investment in research and development and urged manufacturers to improve quality and competitiveness to boost exports, saying, “Think globally, innovate locally, produce competitively and export confidently.” In his welcome address, Zohair Naseer, Chief Executive Officer of Badar Expo, welcomed the distinguished guests and underscored the exhibition’s role in strengthening industry linkages and promoting collaboration.

IMC conducts National flag collection drive KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

The employees of Indus Motor Company Limited (IMC) conducted the National Flag Collection Drive to collect national flags and buntings left behind in public spaces after the Independence Day celebrations. The volunteers covered areas including Steel Town, Surjani Town, Orangi Town, Maripur, Super Highway and Airmen Club Road while the collected flags and buntings were subsequently brought to IMC in accordance with the company's established process. Speaking on the occasion, Ali Asghar Jamali, Chief Executive Officer, Indus Motor Company Limited, said, “Toyota has grown with Pakistan and our pride in this country goes far beyond the vehicles we manufacture.

tion framework for project leadership and emphasized its potential impact on Pakistan’s development landscape. Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar further stated that NDU will formally report the initiative for consideration of Government intervention, with a view to making certified Project Director competency a compulsory requirement for complex engineering projects. He also emphasized that the Planning Commission should take this initiative very seriously in the context of improving project planning, governance and delivery. PEC strongly acknowledges NDU for its valuable partnership, institutional support and contribution to successfully delivering this pioneering programme. The PEC– NDU collaboration demonstrates how strategic institutional partnerships can develop high-calibre professional leadership for national development.

hutchison Ports Pakistan invests uSd 76m in advanced equipment

KARACHI (STAFF REPORT): Hutchison Ports Pakistan, the country’s only state-of-the-art deepwater container terminal, announced a major upgrade to its operations with a USD 76 million investment program spanning 2026 and 2027. The investment includes two electric remote-controlled Quay Cranes (QCs), 17 electric remotecontrolled Rubber Tyre Gantry Cranes (RTGCs), 70 e-trucks, and 50 trailers. As part of efforts to accelerate operational speeds, the terminal has already received its first batch of 20 e-trucks, 10 trailers, a reach stacker, and an empty handler this year. This investment marks a major milestone in the terminal’s ongoing modernization initiative. With cumulative investments projected to surpass USD 690 million by the end of 2026, Hutchison Ports Pakistan continues to expand capacity, enhance productivity, and solidify its position as a leading maritime gateway in the region. Beyond commercial growth, this fleet electrification supports Hutchison Ports Group's global sustainability targets and advances Pakistan's sustainable development through supply chain decarbonization.

Punjab clears rainwater promptly in Rawalpindi despite record rains: Azma Bokhari LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari said on Tuesday that accumulated rainwater had been cleared promptly from various parts of Rawalpindi despite record rainfall, under the supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, as the provincial government intensified efforts to ensure timely drainage and minimise disruption to citizens. Azma Bokhari released live images from different areas of Rawalpindi to highlight the situation following the heavy rainfall and the subsequent clearance of accumulated water. The images showed the condition of several localities

humanitarian assistance, she added, was to ensure timely support for those in need without discrimination. Referring to Pakistan’s decades-long hosting of millions of Afghan refugees, Maryam said it was a manifestation of the values of humanity, hospitality and mutual cooperation. The chief minister said the Punjab government would continue to stand by the people in times of peace as well as crises and uphold the highest values of humanity. She said the government was providing protection and support to vulnerable segments of society while creating oppor-

immediately after the rainfall as well as the situation after drainage operations were completed. The minister said the comparative images demonstrated that the rainwater had been removed promptly from several key locations, reflecting the effectiveness of the measures taken by the provincial administration under the supervision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The images released by Azma Bokhari included the situation in Commercial Market, Satellite Town and Saidpur, showing the areas after the accumulated water had been cleared. She said water had also been cleared from National Market Road, Hanan Road, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed and Waris Khan

Chowk, while drainage operations were also completed in Moti Mahal, Murree Road, Main Khanna Road, National Market Road, Dhok Bakhsh, Kuri Road and Sadiqabad, besides other affected areas.

The minister's release of before-andafter images was aimed at highlighting the government's response to the heavy rainfall and its efforts to restore normal conditions in affected areas at the earliest. Azma Files Defamation Claim Against Tariq Mateen, Shehbaz Gill Meanwhile, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has filed a defamation claim against Tariq Mateen and Shehbaz Gill under Section 11 of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, initiating formal legal proceedings over what she described as defamatory content. The claim seeks the removal of the allegedly defamatory material, damages and other legal relief, according to the minister.

STAFF REPORT

Allied Fireworks proudly achieved another remarkable milestone with the successful delivery of a grand-scale pyromusical fireworks display at the inauguration of the Marqa-e-Haq Monument and Independence Day celebrations in Islamabad. The spectacular show, designed and executed to international standards, introduced a new benchmark for large-scale pyrotechnic presentations in Pakistan. For the first time in the country, 200-foot-high fireworks towers were installed, creating an unprecedented sense of scale, height, creativity and visual impact. The breathtaking display was witnessed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries. The fireworks were precisely synchronized with music and beats, creating a powerful fusion of technology, choreography, music and pyrotechnics. The landmark presentation transformed the Islamabad skyline into a spectacular celebration of national pride and freedom, offering audiences an experience unlike any previous fireworks display in the capital.

217 probationary officers from 54th common training programme visit BISP headquarters LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

A delegation of 217 Probationary Officers of the 54th Common Training Programme (CTP) of the Civil Services Academy, Lahore, visited the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Headquarters to gain an in-depth understanding of BISP’s vision, mandate, institutional framework and flagship social protection initiatives. Chairperson BISP Senator Rubina Khalid and Additional Secretary Dr. Asmat Nawaz welcomed the probationary officers to BISP Headquarters. Addressing the delegation, Senator Rubina Khalid highlighted the evolution of BISP as Pakistan’s flagship social protection programme and its significant contribution to poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and financial inclusion. The Chairperson said that BISP was conceived in accordance with the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, while its foundation was laid by President Asif Ali Zardari. She highlighted that one of the distinctive features of BISP was the decision to recognize the woman of the household as the beneficiary, making women direct recipients of social protection support. Senator Rubina Khalid said that the requirement of a National Identity Card (CNIC) for BISP registration had played an important role in bringing millions of women into the national database and strengthening their recognition as citizens. Explaining BISP’s life-cycle approach, she said the Programme was not limited to providing cash assistance but was designed to support vulnerable families through different stages of life, including education, nutrition, financial inclusion and livelihood opportunities. Addressing misconceptions about BISP, Senator Rubina Khalid said,

NAWAZ SHARIF STEPS UP OUTREACH TO PML-N LAWMAKERS AS PUNJAB MPAS VOICE CONCERNS NEWS

LAHORE

staff report

ML-N President Nawaz Sharif has intensified his political outreach to the party’s provincial lawmakers, meeting MPAs from Muzaffargarh on Wednesday as concerns grow over the widening disconnect between elected representatives and Punjab’s administrative machinery. Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz at her office, the former prime minister discussed the lawmakers’ grievances, the prevailing political situation and development priorities in South Punjab. The meeting assumes significance as Nawaz has had limited direct interaction with PMLN provincial lawmakers since the February 2024 general elections, with most of his political engagements centred on party meetings and other institutional activities. Party lawmakers have increasingly

CNS stresses training, tactical discipline, joint coordination to bolster maritime defence

complained that they face difficulties in getting bureaucratic and police officials to respond to issues affecting their constituencies, particularly in rural areas. They maintain that their requests often receive insufficient attention from the administrative machinery. Maryam Nawaz has also recently stepped up engagement with PML-N law-

among other areas. The MPAs also highlighted the Chief Minister’s Local Roads Programme, under which link roads across Muzaffargarh district are being constructed and rehabilitated. Maryam Nawaz said the PML-N believed in “genuine public development rather than hollow slogans and false claims”, maintaining that addressing the longstanding deprivation of South Punjab remained a key priority of her government. She recalled personally overseeing rescue and relief operations during last year’s floods in the region, saying that providing relief and essential facilities to people in underserved areas remained a major source of satisfaction for her. The renewed engagement with provincial lawmakers comes as the PML-N leadership seeks to strengthen coordination between elected representatives and the administrative machinery and address concerns emerging from the party’s grassroots network.

Mir Raza's parents seek CM's direct oversight of murder probe, demand Police inquiry KARACHI

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ISLAMABAD

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makers after similar complaints surfaced. In recent weeks, she has met MPAs from Bahawalnagar, Mandi Bahauddin and Attock. Soon after assuming the Punjab chief minister’s office, Maryam had made it clear that elected lawmakers would have no role in civil, administrative or police postings and transfers. According to a Punjab government statement, Muzaffargarh MPAs briefed Nawaz Sharif and the chief minister on local issues and appreciated the provincial government’s development initiatives in south Punjab. The lawmakers particularly highlighted the electric bus and clean drinking water projects launched in Muzaffargarh, saying the initiatives were benefiting residents of the relatively underdeveloped district. They said thousands of people were using the electric bus service on routes connecting Fazil Mill with Khanpur Baga Sher, Railway Phatak with Mahmood Mills and Jhang Mor with Turki Hospital,

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Naveed Ashraf on Wednesday commended the Pakistan Navy’s operational readiness and enhanced capacity to undertake challenging missions and stressed the need for effective training, tactical discipline and joint coordination to ensure robust maritime defence. Chairing the Command and Staff Conference of Pakistan Navy at Naval Headquarters, the Chief of the Naval Staff emphasised that effective training, sound tactical discipline and close coordination were essential to maintaining operational preparedness and responding effectively to emerging maritime challenges, according to a news release issued by the Directorate General Public Relations (Navy). Admiral Naveed Ashraf also stressed that asymmetric capabilities and advanced technologies were essential for retaining a tactical edge against emerging threats and enhancing the Pakistan Navy’s ability to respond to an evolving maritime security environment. The forum held an extensive deliberation on the evolving maritime security landscape, encompassing traditional and non-traditional threats, volatility at strategic choke points, and risks to freedom of navigation and vital sea lines of communication (SLOCs). The Chief of the Naval Staff further underscored the Pakistan Navy’s pivotal role in ensuring peace, stability and regional maritime security, emphasising the importance of maintaining a high level of operational preparedness in view of the changing maritime environment. The conference also undertook a comprehensive review of the Pakistan Navy’s operational preparedness, ongoing initiatives and upcoming events, with the participants deliberating on strategic priorities and matters related to the Navy’s operational effectiveness. The conference was attended by Principal Staff Officers and Field Commanders. The Command and Staff Conference is the apex decision-making forum of the Pakistan Navy, where the Chief of the Naval Staff, Principal Staff Officers and Field Commanders deliberate on strategic priorities and policies.

The parents of slain businessman Mir Raza have urged Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to personally supervise the investigation into their son’s death, alleging serious lapses, misconduct and possible political interference by police officials involved in the original probe. Through their lawyer, Jibran Nasir, Mir Hussain and Mariam Hussain wrote to the chief minister on Wednesday, seeking a departmental inquiry into the previous investigation team and the immediate suspension of officers who were part of it. The family alleged that the Sindh home minister, inspector general of police and the current investigation team had failed to take necessary action against the original investigators and that the probe continued to suffer from serious shortcomings. According to the 22-page letter, the

family believes investigators have persisted in promoting a “false narrative” that Raza died by suicide, despite what they described as evidence pointing towards murder. The parents alleged that the investigation had been compromised by “corruption, incompetence and political influence” within the Sindh Police and warned that retaining members of the previous investigation team in their current positions could create risks of

witness or evidence tampering. The family also questioned why the current investigators were continuing to scrutinise post-mortem reports instead of pursuing what it described as other significant sources of evidence. The letter listed 24 questions that, according to the family, remain unanswered, including issues concerning Raza’s communications shortly before his death, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death, and missing digital and forensic evidence. It also raised questions about the alleged conduct of Raza’s business partner in the period immediately before and after his death. The family accused the previous investigation team of potentially committing offences under Sections 201 and 218 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating respectively to the disappearance of evidence or screening an offender and the preparation of an incorrect record by a public servant to protect someone from punishment.

Zardari says terrorists targeting Balochistan’s development will be defeated ISLAMABAD

ISLAMABAD

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik to travel to Karachi without delay and hold talks with local oil refineries to secure relief for consumers through a reduction in diesel prices, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. The direction was issued during a meeting between the prime minister and the petroleum minister. The PMO said Shehbaz asked Malik to immediately reach Karachi and begin negotiations with refineries, with a focus on bringing down the price of locally produced diesel. Addressing the meeting, the prime minister said

most diesel in the country was produced by domestic refineries and told the minister to conclude talks personally at the earliest. He also instructed that maximum possible immediate relief be provided to the public. "Most of the diesel is produced by local refineries." The prime minister said the petroleum minister should personally complete negotiations with refineries as soon as possible so that prices could be reduced. The directive came amid growing public pressure over rising petrol and highspeed diesel prices. The government increased petrol by Rs3.34 per litre and HSD by Rs5.27 per litre for August 19, taking the prices to Rs334.54 and Rs395.69, respectively. Those increases followed hikes a day earlier of Rs5.77 on petrol and

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PPP, Opposition agree to maintain parliamentary contact, cooperate on legislation 4:45

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PPP Women’s Wing President Faryal Talpur and former Balochistan minister Mir Ali Hassan Zehri were also present at the meeting, the statement added.

RECENT ATTACKS IN BALOCHISTAN: The meeting took place against the backdrop of a series of attacks in Balochistan in recent weeks. On July 28, three people, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Murid Bugti, were killed in Barkhan district. On the same night, armed men blocked the N-40 highway at Padag in Chagai district, fired near a roadside hotel, wounded a truck driver and set five trailers and two gas

Rs6.47 on diesel. Fuel prices have also been pushed up by the recent increase in dealers’ margins. Last week, the government raised petrol pump dealers’ margin by Rs1.34 per litre, taking it from Rs8.64 to Rs9.98.

TRANSPORT PROTESTS AND LEVY PRESSURE: The latest moves on fuel pricing came after transporters and petrol pump owners raised objections. Petrol pump owners had threatened a countrywide strike over their demands, including a higher profit margin. Separately, the All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance had launched a strike on August 8 over several issues, including daily fuel price revisions, the petroleum levy, withholding tax, toll charges and axle-load regu-

Small shopkeepers who are not currently part of Pakistan’s tax system can now use the newly launched Retailer Scheme App to register as filers and submit their tax returns through their mobile phones. Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani announced the launch during a press conference in Islamabad alongside Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on

Wednesday. Kayani said the application had specifically been designed to facilitate retailers who have yet to enter the tax net. He added that the platform would allow small shopkeepers to complete their tax filing through a mobile application. The government has also set a minimum annual tax of Rs25,000 for small retailers participating in the scheme, while eligible shopkeepers will be exempt from Point of Sale (POS) system requirements.

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The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday agreed to maintain contact and cooperate on legislative matters, in a development that could help revive parliamentary engagement between the ruling coalition and opposition. The understanding was reached during a meeting between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas at Parliament House. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan Secretary General Asad Qaiser, Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and PTI leader Aamir Dogar also attended the meeting. Several senior PPP leaders accompanied Bilawal. The meeting focused on parliamentary affairs and the prevailing political situation, with Bilawal urging opposition leaders to end their boycott of parliamentary committees and play an active role in the legislative process. The opposition leaders, however, said they would take a decision after consulting PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Both sides agreed to enhance contacts on legislation, particularly electoral reforms. Bilawal called for opposition participation in parliamentary proceedings to develop consensus-based reforms aimed at ensuring transparency in elections. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Bilawal described the meeting as a “good start”, saying the PPP wanted Parliament and its institutions to function effectively. “If we want our parliament to be functional and its institutions or dignitaries to work, then the opposition should review their decision of boycotting the parliamentary process,” he said. He argued that both government and opposition parties had repeatedly raised questions over the electoral process, making electoral reform a shared responsibility. “When a party wins elections, it celebrates, and when a party loses elections, it complains; we don’t want this,” Bilawal said, stressing the need for mutually agreed reforms. He said the meeting had helped narrow the “communication gap” between the PPP and opposition and opened discussions on several issues, particularly what he termed the “low-hanging fruits” of parliamentary cooperation. Bilawal also welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the transfer of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan to hospital, describing it as part of democratic tradition.

PML-N names seven candidates for AJK reserved seats

bowsers on fire. Earlier, on July 23, District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his security guard were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle on the national highway in Mastung. Additional Sessions Judge Tariq Lashari and another passenger were seriously injured in that attack. On July 12, five labourers from Punjab were shot dead in Mashkail in Washuk district. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind had said the victims were working at local shops when unidentified armed men entered the area and opened indiscriminate fire before fleeing.

lations. After nine days, the alliance agreed on Sunday to defer its nationwide strike for 40 days following talks with federal and provincial authorities and assurances that their concerns would be addressed. Fuel pricing was among the key issues raised by transporters. At the same time, Jamaat-e-Islami has started protests across the country, demanding a cut in petrol prices and withdrawal of the petroleum levy. The government currently charges Rs80 per litre on petrol and Rs78.30 per litre on diesel, in addition to a Rs5 per litre climate support levy on both products. The petroleum ministry had earlier proposed reducing the levy to Rs50 per litre to ease the burden on consumers, but that proposal was not adopted.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday announced its candidates for seven of the eight reserved seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, strengthening its position ahead of the August 24 elections. The reserved seats comprise five for women and one each for Ulema-i-Din or Mashaikh, overseas Jammu and Kashmir state subjects, and technocrats and other professionals. The AJK Election Commission has scheduled polling for the reserved seats on August 24 amid continuing unrest in parts of the region. In the direct elections held so far, the PML-N has secured 25 of the 38 seats contested, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has won 12. The lone elected member of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party has also joined hands with the PML-N, taking the alliance’s strength to 26. The PML-N has nominated Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani for the technocrats and other professionals’ seat, Chaudhry Abdul Rehman Arain for the overseas Kashmiris’ seat and Pir Mazhar Saeed Shah for the Ulema-i-Din or Mashaikh seat. Gillani previously served as an AJK assembly member in 2011 and 2016 and remained education minister for five years. He contested the recent general election from Muzaffarabad city but lost to PPP’s Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi by around 3,000 votes. Arain, a Birmingham-based businessman from Kotli, is president of the PML-N’s UK chapter and had also served on the party’s political committee involved in preparations for the general elections. Shah, from the upper Neelum Valley, was also a member of the outgoing assembly on the same reserved seat. He belongs to the All Jammu Kashmir Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and supported PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir in the general elections. Given its strength in the assembly, the PML-N is expected to secure all three of these seats. For the five women’s seats, the party has awarded tickets to Sehrish Qamar of Mang in Sudhnoti, Maryam Zaman, also known as Maryam Kashmiri, of Kutla in Muzaffarabad, Maryam Idrees of Chakswari in Mirpur and Riffat Abid of Dadyal in Mirpur. Qamar had previously served in the AJK Assembly on a PML-N reserved seat during the 2016-21 term and currently heads the party’s Women’s Wing.

Retailer scheme app goes live as Govt pushes small traders into tax net news desk

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PM orders petroleum minister to seek diesel price relief from Karachi refineries staff report

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President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday that militants attempting to obstruct Balochistan’s development with foreign backing would be defeated, according to a statement issued by the President’s Office after his meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The president said the government would not allow terrorism to stand in the way of the province’s progress. He also stressed the need for close coordination between the federal and provincial governments for peace, development and public welfare in Balochistan. The President’s Office said Zardari was briefed during the meeting on the province’s overall situation and ongoing development measures. Speaking during the meeting, Zardari said Balochistan, which he described as Pakistan’s largest province by area, required special attention and resources. In remarks carried by the President’s Office, he said: "The day is not far when terrorism will be completely eradicated from Balochistan,"

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The app is scheduled to become available in local languages by the first week of September, according to the minister. Aurangzeb said the retailer tax scheme had been simplified and made optional for small shopkeepers. Those who prefer to remain under the regular tax regime will continue to have that option. He said the application had been developed through a consultative process and argued that the tax system could not function effectively if entire segments of the economy remained out-

side the formal tax framework. The government had introduced the fixed tax scheme for small retailers in June to broaden the tax base. Under the mechanism, eligible retailers with annual retail sales of up to Rs200 million are subject to a tax of 1% of their declared annual turnover. To join the simplified regime, retailers are required to submit a one-page declaration form and pay tax at the prescribed rate. In addition to the POS exemption, participating shopkeepers are exempt from rou-

Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

tine tax audits and withholding agent obligations. Withholding taxes already deducted through utility bills and other sources can be adjusted against their tax liability. Aurangzeb described simplification of the tax system as a key government priority and urged retailers to participate in the new mechanism. Kayani said that if successfully implemented, the scheme could bring millions of traders into the formal tax system and ease the tax burden on salaried individuals.