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Monday, 7 September, 2026 | 24 Rabiul Awwal, 1448
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 163 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
Islamabad to get 27-member assembly, chIef executIve under proposed overhaul g
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DRAFT, SUBMITTED TO PM, SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A FORMAL ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY GOVT WITH ITS OWN ELECTED LEGISLATURE
IT ALSO SEEKS CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND 27 ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENTS FOR ICT
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IT PROPOSES TRANSFERRING ALL CDA FUNCTIONS EXCEPT MASTER PLANNING TO NEW ISLAMABAD GOVT
PROPOSED ICT GOVERNMENT ACT 2026 REQUIRES CABINET APPROVAL BEFORE LEGISLATION IS INTRODUCED IN PARLIAMENT
Ahsan Iqbal offers two options: 160 districts or 15 new provinces ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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ISLAMABAD SALEEM JADOON
high-level committee has presented Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with a draft proposal to establish a 27-member elected assembly for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), along with a chief executive and 27 administrative departments, it emerged on Sunday. The proposal, prepared by a committee headed by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and comprising Federal Ministers Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Musadik Malik and Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, both National Assembly members from Islamabad and the Interior Secretary, seeks to establish a formal
Islamabad Capital Territory Government with its own elected legislature. Under the proposed structure, the assembly would comprise 27 directly elected members, five reserved seats for women and one reserved seat for a minority, according to the draft. Each National Assembly constituency in Islamabad would have seven corresponding constituencies for the proposed Islamabad assembly. The Election Commission of Pakistan would conduct elections for the assembly, while all members would be required to meet the constitutional qualifications prescribed under Articles 62 and 63. The assembly would elect its own leader, who would be designated either
Planning Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday clarified his remarks regarding the creation of new provinces, saying that most of Pakistan’s social and human resource indicators had continuously declined over the past 15 years and required significant improvement to achieve the country’s national development goals. He said the main reason for Pakistan’s poor performance in the social sector was the failure to transfer powers and resources to the grassroots level after the 18th Amendment, coupled with the centralisation of powers at the provincial level. The planning minister said the chief minister or mayor and would serve as the Chief Executive of the Islamabad Capital Territory Government. The chief executive would remain accountable to the elected assembly. Departments and functions The draft proposes placing 27 government departments under the new Islamabad Capital Territory Government, with health, education, environment and municipal services coming under the ju-
Arab, Islamic FMs reject Israeli plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday strongly condemned statements by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz regarding the displacement of the Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip, including proposals for plans and mechanisms aimed at forcibly removing Palestinians from their land. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the eight ArabMuslim countries termed the inflammatory statements and proposals a flagrant violation of the principles of international law, including international humanitarian law, and a direct threat to the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. “The Ministers reaffirm their unequivocal rejection and condemnation of any attempts or plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people, whether within or outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, under any pretext or justification,” the joint statement, shared by the Foreign Office Spokesperson, said.
Pakistan condemns demolition of century-old mosque in India, 'drive to erase Islamic heritage' ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned the demolition of a century-old mosque in India’s Uttar Pradesh, describing it as part of an “Islamophobic and Hindutva-driven campaign to erase the Islamic heritage” in the country and calling upon the international community to take cognisance of the systematic persecution of Muslims. Responding to media queries regarding the demolition, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan termed the move “a reprehensible action against a historic Islamic place of worship”. The spokesperson recalled that the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992 remained an “enduring symbol of this ideology of
They warned against the grave consequences of turning calls for forced displacement into declared pol-
religious intolerance, prejudice and hatred”. “Pakistan calls upon the international community to take immediate cognisance of the systematic persecution of Muslims by Indian authorities,” the statement said, highlighting the “continued desecration and destruction of their places of worship under state patronage”. Khan called for accountability of the Indian authorities for actions against the religious freedom and cultural heritage of all minorities, particularly Muslims. According to The Indian Express, the mosque, located inside a Collectorate in Saharanpur, was demolished a day earlier. The demolition came three days after a district court dismissed an appeal against an order holding that the structure stood on government land and was unauthorised.
icy or concrete measures aimed at uprooting Palestinians from their land.
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Dar follows up Makkah Defence Alliance’s Istanbul understandings with Saudi, Turkish FMs ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate telephone conversations with the Saudi and Turkish foreign ministers on Sunday to follow up on understandings reached at the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Defence Alliance, held in Istanbul last month, the Foreign Office said. In a series of posts on social media platform X, the Foreign Office said DPM Dar spoke separately with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. During his conversation with the Saudi foreign minister, the two leaders discussed regional and international developments, including matters of mutual interest at multilateral fora.
“They also discussed follow-up on the understandings reached at the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee of the Makkah Defence Alliance, held in Istanbul, and agreed to remain in close contact,” the Foreign Office said. The joint defence pact was signed on August 7 and provides that an attack against one member state would be treated as an attack against all member states. Its inaugural meeting was held on August 31 in Istanbul, where the three countries decided that the alliance’s secretariat would initially be headed by Pakistan for three years. The three countries also agreed to work towards strengthening their defence capabilities and enhancing the cohesion of their armed forces through joint activities, robust defence industry cooperation and joint technology development and production. Through the institutionalised
and resolute implementation of the Makkah agreement, the three countries further agreed to make essential contributions to regional peace and stability. In a separate post, the Foreign Office said Dar also spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and thanked him for hosting the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul. The two leaders followed up on the understandings reached at the meeting and discussed ways to further advance cooperation under the framework, the FO said. “The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on regional and international developments. They also discussed matters of mutual interest and opportunities to further strengthen cooperation at multilateral fora,” it added.
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country now had two options to address the issue. The first was to establish empowered local governments in 160 districts, with resources directly provided through the Provincial Finance Commission. The second option, he said, was to establish 12 or 15 new provinces through consensus, as the existing administrative structure had become overloaded with a population of 260 million. Iqbal stressed that whichever option was pursued, significant administrative and governance reforms were needed to improve social and human resource indicators and enable the country to achieve its national development objectives. risdiction of the local government. Law and order and master planning, however, would remain under the federal government and would be exercised through the relevant federal minister or a governor of the ICT. All functions of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), except master planning, would be transferred to the proposed Islamabad government.
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21 fitna al-Khawarij terrorists killed in Kp operations RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Security forces killed 21 terrorists belonging to the Indian-proxy Fitna Al-Khawarij in multiple engagements across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) between September 3 and 5, the military’s media wing said on Sunday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that following a successful engagement by security forces on the night of August 31 and September 1 along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan, 10 more terrorists who had holed up in the area were killed. This took the total number of Fitna Al-Khawarij terrorists attempting to infiltrate Pakistan and effectively neutralised by security forces to 25, the ISPR said. Fitna Al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In another encounter in North Waziristan, security forces detected the movement of another group of terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. “Own troops effectively engaged this group of khawarij,” the ISPR said, adding that, as a result of a “precise and skilful engagement”, seven terrorists were killed. Four more terrorists were killed in two separate encounters in Kohat and Dera Ismail Khan districts during joint operations, according to the statement. The ISPR said the repeated incidents along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border had once again “vindicated Pakistan’s persistent stance” regarding the “abject failure” of the Afghan Taliban regime to prevent Afghan soil from being used by terrorist organisations under its patronage for cross-border terrorism. “The Afghan Taliban regime has consistently failed to ensure effective border management and honour its international counterterrorism obligations,” the military’s media wing said. The statement said security forces remained “resolute and unwavering” in their commitment to defending the country’s frontiers. “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indiansponsored khawarij found in the area,” the ISPR said. It added that “the relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan, by Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.”
02 NEWS
ONLY ONE IN SEVEN PAKISTANIS SEE ECONOMY AS STRONG: IPSOS
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PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
NLY one in seven Pakistanis, or 14% of respondents, now believe the country’s economy is strong, with the proportion falling from about one in five four months ago, while electricity load-shedding has entered the top five public concerns, according to a new Ipsos survey. The perception of economic strength fell by six percentage points from the previous quarter, with relatively higher confidence among men, adults, upper-income groups and residents of Punjab and Sindh. One in four respondents expects the economy to strengthen, with optimism relatively higher among urban and affluent respondents and those in Balochistan. Inflation remained the biggest concern at 69%, despite declining by nine percentage points, followed by unemployment, poverty and electricity prices. Concern over electricity prices rose nine percentage points to 35%, while load-
shedding became the fifth-largest concern, overtaking additional taxation. Another Ipsos survey on fuel management showed that only one in three Pakistanis believed the government had effectively ensured fuel availability. Two in five respondents said the government had managed fuel prices ineffectively,
Discos told to automate detection bills amid overcharging complaints PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
The Power Division has decided to digitise and automate the detection billing system to curb overbilling, reduce human intervention and protect electricity consumers from unnecessary financial burdens. The decision has been taken as part of the broader power sector reform process being led by Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, with the objective of providing maximum relief to consumers and ensuring effective protection of their rights. Under the existing system, detection bills are issued when electricity meters malfunction, technical faults occur or electricity consumption cannot be accurately recorded. In such cases, consumption is estimated in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations. However, the Power Division said that, in certain cases, estimated consumption did not correspond with actual electricity usage. This resulted in inflated billing, placing additional financial burdens on consumers and leading to prolonged grievance redressal processes. The possibility of human intervention in the existing detection billing system also raised concerns about transparency, irregularities and the exercise of discretionary powers. Taking notice of these issues, the Power Division, under the leadership of Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, has decided to introduce a digitised and automated mechanism for detection billing. The new system is aimed at minimising human intervention and unnecessary discretionary powers in the preparation and recovery of detection bills. In this regard, the Power Division has directed all distribution companies to incorporate the necessary amendments into the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s Consumer Service Manual and undertake other relevant measures for the implementation of the reforms. Under the proposed mechanism, detection billing and the associated recovery process will be monitored on a monthly basis. The monthly monitoring will facilitate the timely identification of overbilling and abnormal consumption trends, allowing corrective action to be taken promptly. The initiative is aimed at addressing concerns arising from inaccurate estimated billing and ensuring that abnormal billing patterns are identified rather than allowed to continue without timely review. The Power Division said the reforms were intended to provide greater protection to electricity consumers and improve transparency in the billing process. Federal Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the primary objective of the ongoing power sector reforms was to provide maximum convenience to consumers. He said reforms in the detection billing system would ensure the protection of consumer rights, enhance transparency in the billing process and further strengthen public confidence in the power system.
compared with three in 10 who considered its performance effective. The deterioration in perceptions of the economy was also reflected in investment and employment confidence. Only 15% of respondents were confident about investing, while 16% felt secure in their jobs. Job-security confidence returned to
the level recorded in August 2024. Only one in four Pakistanis believed the country was moving in the right direction. The proportion stood at 31% in Balochistan, 26% in Punjab, 21% in Sindh and 14% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Confidence in household spending also remained weak, with only one in 10 respondents comfortable making household purchases, although the figure improved from the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the proportion of respondents positive about their personal financial situation fell 12 percentage points to 19%. Ipsos Pakistan Managing Director Abdul Sattar described the third-quarter picture as one of cautious recovery rather than full confidence, saying economic pressures continued to dominate public concerns even as expectations at the personal level showed some improvement. He said weak confidence in investment, major purchases and job security indicated that Pakistanis were not yet ready to translate that optimism into stronger financial commitments.
OGDCL profit jumps 43% to record Rs242.4b, dividend hits all-time high PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has posted its highest-ever profit after tax of Rs242.374 billion for the financial year ended June 30, 2026, marking a 43% increase over the preceding year, and announced its highest-ever annual dividend of Rs17 per share. The company’s Board of Directors, which met on Friday, declared a final cash dividend of Rs6 per share, or 60%, taking the total dividend payout for the year to Rs17 per share, or 170%, including Rs11 per share in interim dividends already paid. OGDCL recorded net sales revenue of Rs449.191 billion during the year, while earnings per share increased substantially to Rs56.35 from Rs39.50 a year earlier, reflecting a sharp improvement in the company’s financial performance. The company also emerged as a major contributor to the national exchequer, paying Rs187 billion through corporate taxes, dividends, royalties and other government levies during the year. At the same time, OGDCL’s domestic oil and gas production generated foreign exchange savings of $3.31 billion through import substitution, highlighting the role of local hydrocarbon production in reducing the country’s dependence on imported energy. The company reported an overall collection rate of 107%, with Rs 577 billion collected during the year. OGDCL’s strong financial performance was also reflected in the stock market. Its share price appre-
ciated by 52% during the fiscal year, outperforming the 44% increase recorded by the KSE-100 Index. The company’s market capitalisation stood at approximately Rs1.44 trillion as of June 30, 2026, reinforcing its position as the largest listed company in Pakistan. The company’s operational performance also strengthened during the year, with OGDCL making nine oil and gas discoveries that added 120 million barrels of oil equivalent to its 2P reserves. Its reserves replacement ratio reached 236%, the highest in the company’s history. OGDCL spudded 23 wells and drilled 58,333 metres during the year, both representing the highest levels recorded over the past five years. The company also secured interests in 15 additional exploration blocks as part of its efforts to expand its resource base. Average daily net saleable production increased across crude oil, gas and LPG despite continued production curtailments. Crude oil production averaged 32,861 barrels per day, up 6.3% year-on-year, while gas production reached 667 MMcf per day, up 2.3%. LPG production stood at 670 tons per day, showing a 4.4% increase over the preceding year. Amid the regional energy-security situation, OGDCL said it ramped up production to help mitigate Pakistan’s energy demand-supply gap. Gross crude oil production crossed 40,000 barrels per day in April 2026, the first time this level had been achieved in 27 quarters. A major operational milestone came with the commissioning of Baragzai X-1 in April 2026. The
well is currently producing around 5,968 barrels of oil, 17 MMcf of gas and 60 tons of LPG per day. The cumulative potential of its five producing formations has been estimated at 15,000 barrels of oil and 45 MMcf of gas per day. During the year, OGDCL also commissioned the Jhal Magsi development project and completed the Dakhni front-end compression project. The company continued work on enhanced oil recovery at Kunnar-Pasakhi, revitalisation of the Rajian heavy-oil field and assessment of mature assets. OGDCL also advanced its shale and tight-gas initiatives and successfully tested geothermal water at Wahid Bakhsh-1, where Pakistan’s first major discovery of high-grade lithium in geothermal brine was confirmed. The company’s participation in the Reko Diq copper-gold project and Abu Dhabi Offshore Block-5 is also part of its broader strategy to diversify its energy and resources portfolio. On the environmental, social and governance front, OGDCL introduced its first ESG Strategy and published its first climate disclosures aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. The company also became the first Pakistani company to join the United Nations Environment Programme’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0. OGDCL reported zero fatalities during the year, while its community-development contribution was recognised by the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, which ranked the company first in the Corporate Philanthropy Awards 2025.
Monday, 7 September, 2026 | LAHORE
US approves $5b bombs sale to Saudi Arabia, tightens sanctions on Iran PROFIT
AGENCIES
The United States has approved a proposed $5 billion sale of bombs, guidance kits and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, as Washington moves to strengthen the kingdom’s defence capabilities amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran. The US State Department said on Friday that the proposed sale would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s airborne and homeland defence capabilities against regional threats and improve interoperability with US forces and other Gulf partners. The department has notified Congress of the proposed sale, which still requires approval from US lawmakers. The move comes after Saudi Arabia faced drone and missile attacks from Iranian forces and Yemen’s Tehran-backed Houthi rebels following the outbreak of the war earlier this year. Separately, Washington intensified economic pressure on Iran by imposing sanctions on Turkish investment bank Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi and two of its subsidiaries. The US Treasury Department alleged that Golden Global was established to help Iran’s shadow banking network transfer oil revenues from China to Turkiye, where the proceeds could be converted into cash and gold. It also accused the bank of knowingly offering correspondent banking services to Iranian financial institutions, including transactions involving accounts controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force and its proxies. The sanctions place Golden Global, asset manager Golden Global Portfoy Yonetimi Anonim Sirketi and leasing company Golden Global Varlik Kiralama Anonim Sirketi on the US Treasury’s Specially Designated Nationals list, effectively cutting them off from the dollar-based financial system. Golden Global said it would challenge the decision through legal means under international and domestic regulations. The US Treasury also issued a general licence allowing transactions necessary to wind down dealings with the sanctioned entities. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated that further action could follow, saying Washington could sanction another bank next week. Meanwhile, the United States, Britain, France and Germany are seeking a resolution at next week’s meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-member board to report Iran to the UN Security Council, according to diplomats and a proposed text seen by Reuters. The move would mark the first such referral in 20 years and follows a prolonged dispute over access to Iranian nuclear facilities and enriched uranium stocks. Iran has not allowed IAEA inspectors to return to bombed nuclear sites or verify the remaining stocks of enriched uranium, including material previously enriched to as much as 60% purity. However, concrete Security Council action against Tehran is considered unlikely because Russia and China, both allies of Iran, are permanent vetowielding members. Elsewhere, South Korea said it was considering possible contributions to US security efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, provided they did not compromise its own military readiness. Seoul stressed that no decision had yet been taken on the nature of any contribution. The geopolitical tensions continued to feed into energy markets. US diesel prices reached a record high on Friday, with the price per gallon up 55% since the Iran war began in late February, according to the AAA motorists’ association.
Commerce Ministry to seek cabinet nod for revised gold value-addition mechanism PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
The Ministry of Commerce will move a summary to the federal cabinet seeking approval for a revised value-addition mechanism for gold jewellery exports, following stakeholder consultations that backed shifting away from a mechanism linked to international gold prices, Business Recorder reported. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan directed Joint Secretary Commerce (EXIM) Waqas Azeem to move the summary after discussions on issues facing
the gems and jewellery sector. Under SRO 760(I)/2013, value addition is linked to the price of gold. Industry representative Arif Patel argued that the mechanism had become increasingly burdensome as international gold prices had risen from around $1,380 per ounce in 2013 to about $5,100 per ounce. The industry proposed replacing the percentage-based mechanism with fixed value addition on a per-gram basis. Following consultations, stakeholders proposed rates of $2 per gram for plain gold jewellery, $3 per gram for plain gold chains and $5 per gram for studded gold jewellery.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) endorsed moving to a revised mechanism, saying it had no reservations over determining value addition either as a percentage or on a per-gram basis. The Ministry of Industries and Production, however, favoured retaining the percentage-based system while reducing the applicable limit and aligning it with regional practices. The sector also sought changes to sales tax treatment of precious metals imported under SRO 760(I)/2013. While gold imported under the Entrustment Scheme is exempt from sales tax, imports under the Self Consignment
Scheme and unsold jewellery are currently subject to 18% sales tax. Stakeholders agreed to pursue an amendment extending the exemption framework to imports under SRO 760(I)/2013. The Commerce Ministry said the Federal Board of Revenue had agreed to address the matter in the 2026-27 federal budget, but no change was ultimately made. A third issue concerned the requirement that exporters realise at least 50% of export proceeds in foreign exchange through normal banking channels, with the remaining 50% allowed in either foreign exchange or precious metals.
Tiktok in the age of air travel CITY NOTES M.A. NIAZI
OMEONE at the PCB is concerned about the way Pakistan went down to two successive defeats by England. Concerned enough to sack the coach, the bowling coach and seven players, flying out seven replacements. The captain has not been sacked, His predecessor also has not. But the captain in the first Test (when the captains was injured) has been sent home too. Of course, this has been made possible in the age of air travel. In the old days, when touring teams travelled by boat, for a long time because there were no flights, and then probably because the Boards couldn’t afford them. No one has really looked into how much air travel has changed the way cricket is played. The idea of having separate teams for white-ball and red-ball cricket was only feasible because air travel was affordable for Boards flush with funds from TV rights. So
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it has been possible to sack seven players and the coaching staff, and bring in replacements. It wasn’t like the longest Test ever played, over 12 days,with two rest days. The last Test was to be timeless, and began on 3 March 1939.South Africa made 530, to which England replied with 316. South Africa then made 481, thus setting a target of 696. England made a fist of it, and had reached 654-5 on March 15, with 42 to win and five wickets in hand. However, playing on would mean the England team missing the boat to England. The match was ended as a draw, and remains the longest Test ever played. There had been timeless Tests before, but had never lasted so long. Even timeless Tests only went on for seven to eight days.. Of course, they were played to the bitter end. There were never any declarations, nor any enforcing of the follow on. And wickets were made by the groundsmen to last forever. However, an even greater disaster was in store for the PCB. The Pakistan women’s team was beaten by the Indian women’s team. Or maybe it was a sign that the women’s team knows what the country’s
foreign policy requires. But maybe you need to be careful around women. They take these things seriously. Like the sisters in Ladhewala Warraich, in Gujranwala district, with the elder, 18, killing the younger, 15, for stealing her Tiktok followers. Tiktok followers didn’t become a lifeand-death matter for nothing, it seems. These two girls came from a poor family, and raised money by their Tiktok accounts. That’s a new one. More typical is the way Syed Ammar Haider died. While he was filming for a Tiktok video, he was shot. He had first pointed the gun at one of his two companions, and then at his own stomach, where it went off. Ammar’s father accused the companions of having committed murder, and they were arrested. It used to be that Tiktokers, Youtubers, and other such social media influencers used to come to a sticky end while trying to shoot videos which were wilder and wilder. Now things have gotten more serious. And money has started becoming involved. The social media companies have got to put up money to get content, that I can understand. But
what is this stealing followers thing? How can you do it? I would suspect that there were more underlying complaints, probably simmering for some time, which came to the surface as the two sisters quarrelled. I mean, if someone follows two people on Tiktok, both get credit. Stealing means getting someone to follow one person, and unfollow the other. I don’t know how that
could be done. One possibility is that the murdered sister stole a video idea from the other, thus gaining the followers the other would have got. I leave it to the local police to carry out the investigation. Can we expect the owner of Tiktok to be beaten to a pulp, as the local SHO, hard and heavy of hand, makes him explain how Tiiktok works.
NEWS 03
FPCCI CHIEF CALLS FOR ECOTA OVERHAUL AS REGIONAL TRADE REMAINS BELOW POTENTIAL
Monday, 7 September, 2026 | LAHORE
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PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
NTRA-REGIONAL trade among Economic Cooperation Organisation countries remains limited to approximately 8.75%, prompting ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Atif Ikram Sheikh to call for an overhaul and effective implementation of the ECO Trade Agreement. Sheikh, who is also president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the ECO region accounts
for only around 4% of global trade despite possessing significant economic resources and a strategically important location. He identified high tariffs, non-tariff barriers, regulatory differences, limited product diversification and difficulties in processing trade-related payments as the principal obstacles to commerce among member countries. ECOTA was signed in 2003 and came into effect in April 2008 with the objective of establishing an ECO Free Trade Area. Its implementation, however, has been restricted by differences over tariff structures, incomplete product lists and concerns that
its benefits may not be distributed equitably among participating states. Sheikh called for sustained negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues and establish a framework offering balanced benefits to all member countries. He proposed a measured reduction in tariffs, greater diversification of traded products, increased investment in regional competitiveness and stronger payment mechanisms. He also called for lower transaction costs, greater regulatory transparency and measures to facilitate e-commerce and digital trade.
The ECO region possesses substantial hydrocarbon and mineral resources, a young and skilled population, and road and rail networks connecting Asia with Europe. Its proximity to major markets, including China, India and Russia, also gives it considerable potential for expanded trade, Sheikh said. He added that investment in regional transport and logistics infrastructure would be essential to translating those advantages into greater commercial integration and establishing ECO as a more competitive economic bloc.
MG Motors launches second-generation HS petrol variant in Pakistan at Rs8.8m PROFITT STAFF REPORT
MG Motors Pakistan has launched the petrol-powered variant of its second-generation MG HS crossover at an introductory price of Rs8.8 million, expanding the lineup beyond the Hybrid+ and Super Hybrid models unveiled earlier this year. The company showcased the new MG HS internal combustion engine (ICE) variant at an event in Karachi, alongside its existing electrified models.
The introductory price has been set at Rs8,799,999 for a limited period, after which the vehicle will cost Rs8,999,000. Bookings have opened with an initial payment of Rs 1.5 million. The new HS is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 165 horsepower and 250Nm of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The crossover measures 4,655mm in length, 1,890mm in width and 1,664mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,765mm. It rides on 19-inch wheels with 225/55
Arab, Islamic FMs reject Israeli plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The foreign ministers further said such actions constituted a direct challenge to international efforts aimed at achieving peace, foremost among them President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, including its unequivocal rejection of forced displacement, and gravely risked undermining prospects for stability in the region. The ministers stressed that the Gaza Strip was an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and underscored the imperative of preserving the unity of Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. “They reaffirm that the only path towards achieving a just and lasting peace lies in the implementation of the two-State solution with the establishment of an independent Palestinian State along the lines of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy,” the statement said. The ministers also called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to shoulder its responsibilities and firmly confront any attempts to impose a new demographic or geographic reality in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They urged the international community to ensure respect for the rules of international law and reaffirmed their continued full support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land. The ministers reiterated their rejection of all attempts aimed at erasing the Palestinian cause or undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
R19 tyres. Safety equipment includes seven airbags, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and a 360-degree camera with a transparent chassis view. Inside, the vehicle features a 12.3inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eightspeaker audio system and wireless charging. It also comes with heated front seats and a panoramic sunroof. The driver's seat offers six-way electric adjustment, four-way electric lumbar support and a memory function, while
the passenger seat gets four-way electric adjustment. Other features include rear privacy glass and heated side mirrors. 1he MG HS ICE will be offered in five colours: York White, Black Pearl, Flare Red, Clever Grey and Cashmere Silver. Buyers will also receive 12 months of complimentary access to MG's iSmart connected-car application. The petrol variant joins the secondgeneration MG HS Hybrid+ and Super Hybrid, which were unveiled in Pakistan in April 2026.
Dar follows up Makkah Defence Alliance’s Istanbul understandings with Saudi, Turkish FMs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The tripartite agreement was signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a summit at Al-Safa Palace. Pakistan has said the pact is “open to any country in the region” willing to uphold its fundamental principles. Turkiye has also said Egypt could potentially join the pact, although Cairo has yet to confirm any such move. EGYPT’S ABDELATTY INVITES DAR Earlier in the day, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty invited DPM Dar to visit Egypt, the Foreign Office said. According to an FO statement, the two foreign ministers held a telephone conversation during which they exchanged views on Egypt-Pakistan bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments. Abdelatty invited Dar to “hold a bilateral visit to Egypt at his earliest convenience”, the statement said. The two ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to remaining “engaged and involved” on regional security matters and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session this month. Last November, the Egyptian foreign minister undertook an official two-day visit to Pakistan at the invitation of DPM Dar. During the visit, Abdelatty met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The two discussed “defence and security cooperation, military ex-
changes, training collaborations and regional peace and stability”, according to the FO. Abdelatty also met President Asif Ali Zardari during the visit. Pakistan and Egypt are also members of the quadrilateral regional alliance known as the R-4 Group (Regional Four), which also includes Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. The R-4 Group has focused on regional security and emerged in March amid mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. Dar conveys condolences over death of Norway’s King Harald V Meanwhile, DPM and FM Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and conveyed Pakistan’s heartfelt condolences over the death of King Harald V of Norway. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, Dar expressed condolences to the royal family and people of Norway on behalf of the President, Prime Minister, Field Marshal, himself and the people of Pakistan. The deputy prime minister informed his Norwegian counterpart that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had nominated Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan to represent Pakistan at the funeral of King Harald V, scheduled to be held in Oslo on September 9. King Harald V died at the age of 89, while his funeral will take place in Oslo on September 9. Dar and Eide agreed to maintain close contact between Pakistan and Norway and also expressed a desire to meet on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session.
Jetour launches three SUVs in Pakistan, rolls out locally assembled T2 i-DM PROFIT STAFF REPORT
The newly launched T1 i-DM has been introduced at an introductory price of Rs 10.799 million, and T2 XWD is priced at Rs 13.59 million. Meanwhile, the start of CKD production shifts the T2 iDM from a fully imported offering to locally assembled production after the model entered the Pakistani market earlier this year.
The Pakistan-spec T2 i-DM is equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain producing a claimed 360 horsepower and 610 Nm of torque. It uses an 18.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and offers a claimed electric-only range of around 90 kilometres under the NEDC cycle. The latest additions broaden Jetour’s presence beyond its existing Dashing and X70 Plus models as the automaker expands its Pakistani SUV lineup.
The company said that local assembly could give it greater control over supplies and deliveries and reduce its reliance on fully built imports. However, the extent of localisation in the T2 i-DM has not been disclosed. Pakistan’s automobile industry continues to rely significantly on imported CKD and SKD kits, meaning local assembly does not necessarily translate into substantial local sourcing of parts. The longer-term impact of Jetour’s move will therefore de-
pend on production volumes, delivery performance, aftersales and parts availability, and
the extent to which components for the T2 i-DM are eventually sourced locally.
Farmers body urges govt to export 1m tonnes of sugar before crushing season
PROFIT STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) has urged the government to allow the export of 1 million tonnes of surplus sugar before the new crushing season begins on November 15, warning that delayed approvals could lead to a sharp fall in sugarcane prices and losses for farmers. PKI President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar said the country already had nearly 1.3 million tonnes of unconsumed sugar stocks, while estimates pointed to a bumper sugarcane crop, with production expected to increase by 10-15%. The farmers’ body warned that carrying surplus sugar into the new crushing season without opening exports could put downward pressure on sugarcane purchase prices. It cited the 2017-18 crushing season, claiming delays in export approvals at the time resulted in nearly Rs100 billion in collective losses for farming households. The PKI also called for complete deregulation of the sugar sector, seeking to have sugar imports, exports, production and prices determined by market forces rather than government approvals and administrative restrictions.
Islamabad to get 27-member assembly, chief executive under proposed overhaul CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Union Councils would constitute the sole tier of local government under the new structure and would work in coordination with the Local Government Department of the territory government. A chief secretary — currently the chief commissioner — along with four secretaries heading groups of departments, would continue to function under the proposed arrangement. The law and order and master planning departments would report to the federal minister or governor through the chief secretary. LEGISLATIVE PATH Sources said the proposed governance framework would be established through an Act of Parliament rather than a constitutional amendment. The proposed legislation would be titled the Islamabad Capital Territory Government Act 2026 and would consolidate the provisions of the ICT Local Government Act 2015 and the Capital Development Authority Ordinance 1960 into a single, unified law. The draft will first be presented before the federal cabinet for approval, following which the legislation would be introduced in both the Senate and the National Assembly. Once approved, a legislative committee comprising the Law Minister, one Islamabad MNA, the Secretary Law, Secretary Interior, CDA Chairman and co-opted members would be constituted to draft the required legislation. Under the proposed framework, the Islamabad Capital Territory Government would enjoy full administrative and financial autonomy on the pattern of a provincial government. All institutions already operating or subsequently established for the ICT would function throughout the entire territory under the new government rather than being restricted to urban areas.
PSX to regain momentum on improving economic indicators, but regional uncertainty remains near-term risk: report PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan’s equity market is expected to regain momentum on improving economic fundamentals, corporate earnings and the upcoming IMF review, according to three major brokerages. However, geopolitical uncertainty remains the principal near-term risk. The forecast follows a difficult week at the PSX, where renewed US-Iran tensions pushed the benchmark KSE-100 down 2,368 points, or 1.3% WoW, to 175,329 on Friday. The subdued performance was primarily due to the escalation of the conflict following US strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian attacks on US air bases in the region. Despite the weekly decline, the KSE100 remained 0.7% higher since the beginning of 2026. The KSE-All Share Index lost 1.2% during the week to 106,443, while the
KSE-30 declined 1.2% to 52,295 and the KMI-30 fell 0.6% to 250,239. AKD Securities said the deterioration in sentiment was partly offset by Pakistan’s record $3 billion dual-tranche Eurobond issuance, which achieved the country's lowest spreads over US Treasuries in two decades and represented its largest international capital market transaction. The brokerage sees valuations as supportive, putting the market's forward priceto-earnings multiple at 7 times. From the current KSE-100 level of 175,329, AKD's 263,800-point December target implies an increase of roughly 50% if achieved. Arif Habib Limited, using its own valuation framework, said the KSE-100 was trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 7.8 times and offering a dividend yield of 6.3%. Its regional comparison showed Pakistan with the lowest P/E among the 10 Asian
markets presented and the highest dividend yield and return on equity, at 6.3% and 20.1%, respectively. The macroeconomic picture during the week, however, remained mixed. Consumer inflation accelerated to around 11.1% in August from 9.2% in July, while Pakistan recorded a $3.2 billion trade deficit. Exports rose 3.8% year-on-year to $2.5 billion, but imports also increased 7.4% to $5.7 billion. Tax collections provided some fiscal support. FBR collected Rs902 billion in August, up 2% from a year earlier but Rs28 billion short of its monthly target. Collections for the first two months of FY2027 reached Rs1.722 trillion, up 5% and Rs12 billion above the Rs1.710 trillion target. The government repaid a record Rs1.2 trillion of central bank debt, while SBP foreign exchange reserves increased by $19 million during the week to $17.1 billion as
of August 28. Cotton arrivals, meanwhile, increased 27% year-on-year to 1.7 million bales in August. Energy prices remained a key external risk. Brent crude reached a sixweek high of $97.6 per barrel during the week amid the US-Iran escalation. Spot Brent ended September 4 at $101.67 per barrel, up 13.33% week-on-week, while WTI rose 8.3% to $90.32. Coal increased 13.86%, while gold declined 1.13%. Sector performance reflected the broader weakness. Banks shaved 1,318 points off the KSE-100 during the week, followed by cement with 334 points, exploration and production companies with 194 points, technology with 185 points and power with 126 points. Investment banks added 151 points and fertiliser companies contributed 82 points. A t the company level, EFERT was the largest positive contributor, adding 177 points, followed by ENGROH with 159
points, OGDC with 82 points, THALL with 31 points and ILP with 26 points. UBL was the biggest drag, subtracting 555 points, followed by HBL at 252 points, PPL at 232 points, MEBL at 142 points and LUCK at 139 points. In percentage terms, PGLC led weekly gains with a 21.5% increase, followed by THALL at 4.8%, EFERT at 4.6%, TPLRF1 at 2.6% and ILP at 2.5%. Among major losers, PSEL declined 7%, SRVI 5.2%, KOHC 4.9%, LOTCHEM 4.8% and SEARL 4.7%. Investor flows also showed continued caution. Foreign investors were net sellers of $7.16 million during the week, driven primarily by $12.04 million of selling by foreign corporates, partly offset by $4.88 million of net purchases by overseas Pakistanis. Foreign selling was concentrated in commercial banks, which recorded net outflows of $6.69 million.
04 COMMENT
Monday, 7 September, 2026
Climate change and the glacier challenge
More provinces
F
Naqvi revives a still-live debate over more provinces
The Paris Agreement target still holds good
eDeRAL Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has doubled down on his suggestion of more administrative units during a speech at the Administrative Policy Dialogue in Islamabad on Saturday, adding that more administrative units were necessary to improve governance, but they had to be created in accordance with the wishes of the people. even now, his original suggestion still reverberates, leading to the impression that the establishment was behind this proposal. The PPP, to which Mr Naqvi is supposed to be close, through personal relations with President Asif Zardari, has been adamant on two points: first, that any change had to be constitutional, and second, that its stronghold of Sindh was not to be divided. The PML(N) has not taken a formal stance on the idea, with the PTI questioning the PM’s silence on this. however, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has declared that fresh units had to be created, but that the PPP was being hypocritical by insisting that Sindh not be divided. Planning \Minister Ahsan Iqbal, on the other hand, has come out in favour of 15 to 18 provinces, which implies creating another dozen or so. There has always been a simmering feeling that the present provincial boundaries are not appropriate, and that there is a need for more princes. however, ever since the break-up of One Unit in 1969, and ultimately of the whole of Pakistan in 1971, the provincial boundaries as settled by the 1973 Constitution have not been disturbed. There has been no major popular outcry in response to Mr Naqvi’s original suggestion, though both the Seraiki province supporters and the MQM(P) have revived their demands for new provinces. It thus seems a rather unwanted debate for the country at the moment. It is still not clear what boons would flow from new provinces. Mr Naqvi’s statement that financial viability would be examined indicates he expects greater control over the process than is likely. In the absence of any coherent and specific demand for new provinces, there is a danger of the entire process spinning out of control. The wholesale creation of new provinces might well see demands for a re-examination of the relationship between the provinces and the centre. It seems Mr Naqvi may well be creating the need for a new constitutional arrangement, indeed a new social contract, if his suggestion is to have any results.
T
he seminal document on the climate change crisis, which received significantly broad consensus from countries, and is called the ‘Paris Agreement’ was signed in 2015. One of the most important features, if not the most important feature of the agreement, was curtailment of global average annual temperatures to below 1.5℃, as indicated in article 2, clause 1, and sub-clause (a) as follows: ‘holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change’. At the same time, countries had to adopt ‘ambitious efforts’ to counter the climate change crisis, as pointed out in article 3 of the same agreement, as follows: ‘As nationally determined contributions to the global response to climate change, all Parties are to undertake and communicate ambitious efforts as defined in Articles 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 13 with the view to achieving the purpose of this Agreement as set out in Article 2. The efforts of all Parties will represent a progression over time, while recognizing the need to support developing country Parties for the effective implementation of this Agreement.’ having said that, a little more than a decade down the road, these ‘nationally determined contributions’ are anything but ambitious, where a recently released report ‘Limiting overshoot- navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return’ by the United Nations environment Programme indicated that the 1.5℃ will likely be breached. The report pointed out in this regard ‘While the international community has made progress on climate change, global action to cut greenhouse gas emissions has not been fast enough to avoid global warming crossing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the next few years. This means surpassing the multi-decadal global warming level of
In the worst case scenario, if the Strait of Hormuz shuts down and oil prices rise to $150 per barrel, PakistanÊs monthly fuel import bills could go up to $3.5 to $4.5 billion, which will be a threefold jump over the baseline cost.
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1.5°C, the central long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice and backed by a UN General Assembly resolution. even an optimistic scenario of current government pledges (full implementation of all national climate plans plus meeting additional net-zero targets) puts expected peak temperature rise at 1.8°C.’ Moreover, the report cautioned against the likely repercussions of missing this target as ‘exceedance of 1.5°C should not be interpreted as safe or acceptable… Risks and impacts include faster sea-level rise, a higher likelihood of collapse of ecosystems such as coral reefs, more extreme heat and wildfires, and profound changes to the cryosphere (ice sheets, sea ice, glaciers, permafrost and snow). For example, glaciers could lose more than a quarter of their mass by 2100, which could raise sea levels by 9 to 12.5 cm (for warming up to/less than +3°C) and permanently alter water availability in many places. There is also a higher risk of irreversible tipping points to global systems such as the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets, the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the Amazon rainforest— which would reshape the world forever.’ here, among adverse impacts includes within the overall ‘cryosphere disasters’ the recent catastrophic impact of glacier break in Nepal, where an August 28, New York Times (NYT) published article ‘A Melting Glacier in Nepal Was a Time Bomb. There Are More to Come.’ pointed out ‘What’s clear at this point is that a giant hunk of glacier peeled off the side of the mountain, tumbled down 4,000 vertical feet and slammed into a tributary of the Bhote Koshi River in China. Originally misidentified as an earthquake, the mountain-shaking event registered as a 5.2 magnitude seismic event. Moments later, a wall of rocks and water blasted through the Gyriong Port building as the flood barreled down the valley.’ Regarding the footprint of climate change behind this catastrophe, the same article indicated ‘As the planet has warmed and temperatures across the himalaya have soared, glaciers have shriveled, and those moraines have trapped meltwater. That has created lakes that can grow until they replace the glacier feeding them— or until a disturbance causes them to drain catastrophically.’ Regarding the immense devastation of this glacier catastrophe in Nepal, an August 30 Financial Times published article ‘Nepal rescue effort intensifies with more than 3,000 missing’ pointed out ‘Nepal is intensifying a daunting rescue effort in a race against rising water levels as the death toll from a catastrophic landslide last week along the border with China reached more than 800, with more than 3,000 people missing.’
The map is not the reform
P
DR ZAFAR KHAN SAFDAR
AKISTAN may be preparing to redraw its political map, but a new map will not automatically produce better government. The debate over new provinces, revived in the wake of proposals surrounding the 28th Amendment, reflects a genuine frustration with a system in which power, resources and decision-making remain too distant from many citizens. For someone in Chitral, Bahawalpur, Gwadar, Dera Ismail Khan or Thar, the provincial capital can feel as remote as Islamabad. But distance is not measured only in kilometres. It is measured in how long a citizen waits for a government decision, how far he must travel for a public service and how difficult it is to make the state listen. The real reform is not simply to redraw the map, but to bring power closer to the people. The question is not whether Pakistan should have four, eight or 12 provinces, but how power can be brought closer to the people who live beyond the reach of distant capitals. One proposed model for a 28th Constitutional Amendment offers a useful way to frame that debate. It envisages a more decentralised Pakistan, with smaller provinces, stronger regions, directly elected leadership and genuinely empowered local governments. Its proposed restructuring includes distinct identities for areas such as hazara, South KP and Kohistan, greater autonomy for South Punjab, Bahawalpur and Potohar, and new administrative arrangements in Sindh and Balochistan. Most importantly, it shifts the centre of governance downward towards districts, tehsils and union councils, where citizens actually encounter the state. Whether or not every boundary on the proposed map is desirable, the philosophy behind it deserves serious national debate. Pakistan has already recognised the principle of devolution through Article 140A, which requires provinces to establish local governments and transfer political, administrative and financial authority to elected representatives. Yet in practice, local governments have too often remained temporary and politically dependent rather than becoming a permanent third tier of democracy. That is why the debate over new provinces must go beyond drawing boundaries. Creating more provinces without empowering local governments could simply create more capitals, secretariats and bureaucracies without bringing power closer to citizens. A smaller province can remain just as centralised, and a chief minister
Editor’s mail
When law fails
government begins when elected representatives have the authority to act, the resources to deliver and the responsibility to answer, while bureaucracy provides expertise without becoming a substitute for elected leadership. This would make government clearer and accountability harder to evade. Citizens should know who decides, who pays, who delivers and whom they can remove. A smaller province is not necessarily a more democratic one, and elections alone do not guarantee accountability. Provincial and federal governments must stop treating empowered local governments as rivals. Local democracy is not a threat to provincial power but a foundation. Pakistan’s constitutional map may change, but the real test of reform is whether power changes hands. New provinces can bring government closer to neglected regions, improve representation and make development more equitable, but without empowered local governments they risk reproducing the same centralisation on a smaller scale. Pakistan does not need more capitals merely for the sake of administrative symmetry, it needs elected mayors with real authority, districts with predictable resources and citizens who know exactly whom to hold accountable. Whether the country ultimately has four provinces or many, the principle should remain the same that power must move closer to the people. The map is secondary but the citizen is the centre of the federation.
The writer has a PhD in Political Science, and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad. He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo.com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar
Pakistan does not need more capitals merely for the sake of administrative symmetry, it needs elected mayors with real authority, districts with predictable resources and citizens who know exactly whom to hold accountable. Whether the country ultimately has four provinces or many, the principle should remain the same that power must move closer to the people. The map is secondary but the citizen is the centre of the federation
Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
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Karachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I
The writer holds PhD in Economics degree from the University of Barcelona, and previously worked at International Monetary Fund.Prior to this, he did MSc. in Economics from the University of York (United Kingdom), and worked at the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Statistics (Pakistan), among other places. He is author of Springer published book (2016) ‘The economic impact of International Monetary Fund programmes: institutional quality, macroeconomic stabilization and economic growth’.He tweets @omerjaved7
Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
Local govts need empowering
in a new capital can be as distant from an ordinary citizen as one in Lahore, Peshawar or Karachi. The reform must not merely redraw the map but must redistribute power. Smaller provinces could strengthen representation by giving historically neglected regions a greater voice in decisions over roads, universities, hospitals, irrigation and employment. But the purpose of creating a new province should not be to create another elite but should be to give more people a greater say in their own future. That requires fiscal as well as political devolution. A mayor without resources, or a district government that must seek provincial approval for every road, school or water project, is not genuinely empowered. Money must follow responsibility, and authority must follow accountability. Imagine a Pakistan where mayors are directly elected and given clear executive authority, where district governments are responsible for schools, primary healthcare, electricity, sanitation, local roads and water, and where tehsil and union councils become genuine centres of community participation. Such a system would do more than improve administration; it would change the relationship between citizen and state. Today, when a street floods, garbage goes uncollected, a hospital lacks basic facilities or a neighbourhood has no clean water, responsibility is scattered across departments. Citizens may know whom they elected, but often do not know who is responsible or where to turn when the government fails. elected representatives should answer for these failures rather than allowing permanent bureaucracy to become a shield between government and citizen. Directly elected mayors could make this chain of responsibility visible. With a defined mandate, predictable budget and executive authority, those elected by the people would have both the power to deliver and the responsibility to answer at the next election. Provinces should focus on legislation, major infrastructure, economic policy and resource management, while the federation handles defence, foreign affairs, currency and national economic policy. Good
Moreover, providing more incisive information on the possible cause of the glacier catastrophe, an August 27, Bloomberg published article ‘Glacier collapse behind Nepal flood shows region’s climate risk’ indicated ‘Initial assessments based on seismic and satellite data, as well as videos of the event, indicate that a very large section of a glacier detached and collapsed after the bedrock below it gave way. That in turn caused seismic waves equivalent to a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, according to the US Geological Survey. Ice from the glacier and rockfall may then have blocked the Lhende Khola river, causing water to quickly accumulate and ultimately surge downstream.’ here, Pakistan also shares this himalayan glacier challenge, where a 2025 ‘evolving earth’ published research paper ‘Decoding the fate of himalayan glaciers under climate change: impacts, challenges, research gaps, and policy pathways’ indicated ‘The himalayan region, home to some of the world’s largest glacial systems outside of the polar regions, provides crucial freshwater to South Asia’s densely populated basins, including the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers… himalayas have been retreating at alarming rates since the mid-twentieth century, with major mass loss documented in the 1990s, coinciding with rising global temperatures… The himalayan region, extending over 2400 km across South Asia, represents one of the most complex mountain systems on earth. It spans across five major countries—India, Nepal, Bhutan, China (Tibet), and Pakistan—covering an area of more than 595,000 km2.’ The same Bloomberg published article indicated in this regard ‘Nepal is particularly vulnerable to flash floods because of its mountainous terrain and rapidly melting glaciers. Such events are becoming more frequent as global warming accelerates the ongoing thaw in the himalayas, an area that holds more snow and ice than any place on earth besides the Arctic and Antarctica. The development has a cascading effect — from mudslides to water scarcity — for the nearly 2 billion people living downstream from himalayan-fed rivers, according to the United Nations. himalayan glaciers melted 65% faster between 2010 and 2020 than during the previous decade, the UN said, while the risk of glacial lakerelated flooding across the broader hindu Kush himalaya region is expected to roughly triple by the end of the century.’ This, indeed, calls for muchmore purpose driven actions taken by countries both individually, and multilaterally. here, the role of climate finance needs to be emphasized with much larger contributions provided by rich, advanced countries, both bilaterally, and through multilateral institutions like International Monetary Fund (IMF), and overall shifting the global financial architecture away from its (wrong) neoliberal, and austerity basis.
Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545
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A viral video of a couple being killed in cold blood for marrying of their own free will and against the tribal laws somewhere in Balochistan has attracted condemnation from all quarters as is the unfortunate routine. The government has voiced its resolve to give exemplary punishment to the culprits. These resolves do not materialise due to weak judicial system and laws. every other day, a woman or a girl is killed in cold blood by some close relative, mostly on the pretext of honour. honour killing has a long history. Its roots are found in different cultures and societies. During the dark ages in ancient Rome, a male family member was prosecuted for not taking action against a female adulterer. In europe, honour killing was also common, which is reflected in their literature and dramas. For instance, the fourth wife of King henry VIII was beheaded for adultery. honour killing is predominant in Asian and Middle eastern countries, and in tribal cultures where the law is lenient towards such killings. During the Ottoman empire, in some Arab countries, a killer man would sprinkle the blood of the victim on his clothes and walk proudly in the streets with the murder weapon. Today, scattered cases are still reported from europe, the United States and Canada among Asian immigrants, but the culprits are tried and punished. The worst part of this whole tragedy is that in Pakistan, the killer is pardoned by the family of the deceased for blood money. Sometime the murder is confined to being a ‘family affair’, as usually the killer is a close relative of the deceased. This is done without even investigating the motive of the cold-blooded murder. Though the jirgas are illegal in Pakistan, they are still active. Their verdicts are solemnly accepted and followed in tribal society. Those cases are hardly reported in the media. Considering the sensitivity of the issue, there is a need for the saner elders to sit together and find a way to stop this spree of crime against women in society. MALIK UL QUDDOOS KARACHI
Bullying in white coats
We have all heard about the issues fresh medical graduates face and about women’s harassment by men at workplace. But women house officers at Mayo hospital in Lahore are facing a unique kind of bullying at what is one of the country’s leading public hospitals, and that, too, by senior women doctors. Yes, you read it right; women harassing women. Several women house officers, who are young doctors undergoing professional training, have faced harassment and bullying by senior female staff for not wearing a hijab. These house officers are in clinical scrubs that are widely considered professional, modest work clothes in hospitals worldwide. Despite being fully covered and adhering to professional dress codes, these young doctors are considered ‘vulgar’ and blamed for ‘spreading indecency’. Rather than focusing on the conduct of male attendants who are reportedly engaged in inappropriate staring, some senior women doctors have chosen to blame the young women doctors for supposedly provoking such a behaviour. This assertion is both regressive and insulting. In one contrasting instance, a house officer, who recently started wearing a hijab, was mocked for her personal choice, revealing the hypocrisy and bias at play. This behaviour is deeply unprofessional and damaging. Wearing a hijab or not does not define a woman’s character, nor does it justify labelling her as ‘vulgar’. Such bullying violates workplace ethics, and undermines the mental health, dignity and learning environment of young professionals. Medical institutions should be centres of excellence, where staff are judged solely on their competence and dedication, not personal appearance or religious choices. hospital administrations, especially in premier institutions like Mayo, must enforce strict anti-harassment policies, ensure ethical conduct training for one and all, and create a safe, respectful environment for all medical professionals. AFIFA SHAHID LAHORE
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US’s Economic Terrorism Against Iran Monday, 7 September, 2026
COMMENT 05
Is the World Heading for Power Blocs or Strategic Corridors?
I
MAJID NABI BURFAT
S Washington’s escalating economic pressure on Iran merely legitimate statecraft—or has sanctions warfare reached a point that critics may describe as economic terrorism? The question has acquired fresh urgency following the Trump Administration’s launch of “Operation Economic Outcast”, a sweeping sanctions campaign against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the initiative as an “economic D-Day”, signalling that Washington intends to attack Iran’s financial and economic lifelines with the same determination traditionally associated with military operations. The measures target individuals, companies, vessels and networks linked to Iran’s oil and other revenue-generating activities, while Washington is also warning third parties that continuing business with sanctioned Iranian entities could expose them to secondary sanctions. For Washington, this is economic statecraft: an attempt to force Tehran to change its behaviour without relying exclusively on military force. But critics see a different picture. When an entire economy is subjected to maximum financial pressure, the consequences inevitably extend beyond govern-
ments and military establishments to ordinary citizens. Whatever terminology one chooses, one fact is becoming increasingly clear: economic warfare has become a central weapon of the Iran conflict. But Operation Economic Outcast is about much more than Iran. It is also a test of China’s economic resilience against US sanctions power. China has remained Iran’s most important oil customer. Despite years of US sanctions, Chinese buyers have continued to absorb substantial quantities of Iranian crude, although shipments have recently declined sharply. Beijing has repeatedly rejected unilateral US sanctions. This creates an uncomfortable strategic equation for Washington: Iran needs markets. China needs energy. America possesses enormous financial leverage. The three interests intersect without necessarily creating a formal alliance. And this is precisely where the emerging concept of Strategic Corridors becomes more relevant than the traditional idea of rigid power blocs. Iran's energy corridor increasingly connects with China's economic interests, while US sanctions attempt to disrupt that connection. The question is therefore not simply whether Washington can punish Tehran. It is whether Washington can economically isolate Iran without simultaneously confronting China's commercial and energy interests. And that takes us beyond the Middle East. Consider India. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar's recent meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow once again demonstrated the durability of India–Russia economic and
The emerging world order may therefore not be simply bipolar. It may be networked, contested and strategically fluid. And the struggle between the USA and China may ultimately be decided not by one dramatic confrontation, but by which side can build, sustain and expand the stronger Strategic Corridor across an increasingly fragmented world
strategic relations. At the same time, India remains an important strategic partner of the United States and is deepening defence cooperation with Japan and Australia. The forthcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi could make this strategic flexibility even more visible, with Putin expected to attend and Chinese President Xi Jinping also potentially participating. Here lies the paradox of contemporary geopolitics. India cooperates with the USA while maintaining close relations with Russia. Japan remains the USA's key Asian ally while strengthening strategic ties with India and Australia. China competes with the USA while remaining deeply integrated into the global economy. Iran resists Washington while relying heavily on Chinese energy demand. So, which bloc do these countries actually belong to? The answer is increasingly complicated. They are not necessarily joining one camp against another. Instead, they are building options. This is also visible in Japan's evolving security posture. Tokyo remains firmly committed to its alliance with Washington, but it is simultaneously expanding defence and maritime-security cooperation with India and Australia while strengthening its own military capabilities. The message appears increasingly clear: The USA remains essential— but the USA alone may not be enough. This does not represent the creation of another NATO.
It represents something more fluid: a network of overlapping strategic relationships. Russia's growing military relationship with North Korea, its expanding partnership with China, Iran's economic links with Beijing, Japan's cooperation with India and Australia, and India's simultaneous engagement with Washington and Moscow all demonstrate the same phenomenon. Countries can cooperate in one arena, compete in another and hedge in a third. That is why the old Cold War question— “Which bloc are you in?”— may no longer adequately explain international politics. The more important questions are: Who has the greatest strategic options? Who can secure energy supplies? Who controls critical maritime routes? Who possesses technological advantages? Who can withstand sanctions? Who can sustain its partners economically and militarily? And ultimately, who can maintain influence when a crisis extends across several theatres simultaneously? This question is particularly important for the USA. It retains extraordinary military, financial and technological capabilities, along with an unmatched network of alliances. But military power should not be confused with unlimited strategic bandwidth. Washington is simultaneously dealing with Iran and the Middle East while maintaining commitments in Europe and competing with China across the Indo-Pacific. China, meanwhile, does not necessarily need to defeat the USA militarily to expand its relative influence. It can strengthen economic interdependence, secure energy supplies, expand manu-
facturing and technological capacity, deepen relationships with Russia and other partners, and exploit opportunities created by US strategic overstretch. Yet it would be equally premature to declare China the inevitable winner. The USA still possesses formidable advantages. The emerging contest is therefore less about victory or defeat and increasingly about resilience, flexibility and endurance. And this brings us back to Iran. Operation Economic Outcast is not merely another sanctions package. It is a test of how far US economic power can reach— and where Chinese economic interests begin to resist that pressure. It is also a reminder that modern geopolitical competition is no longer confined to battlefields. Sanctions are weapons. Energy is leverage. Technology is power. Supply chains are strategic assets. Maritime routes are security corridors. From Iran to Taiwan, Russia to North Korea, and Japan to India and Australia, these connections are becoming increasingly visible. The world, therefore, may not be returning to two rigid power blocs. Instead, we may be entering an era of competing Strategic Corridors. The USA is strengthening its alliance corridor. China is expanding its economic and strategic corridor. Meanwhile, countries such as India, Japan and Australia are developing greater strategic flexibility within these overlapping networks. This does not mean that the USA is losing or China has already won. It means the nature of global power itself is changing. The decisive question of the coming decade may not be: “Who controls the world?” It may instead be: “Who can build the most resilient Strategic Corridor— and keep it functioning under pressure?” That is why the Iran conflict matters far beyond Tehran. It is part of a much larger transformation in which economic warfare, military alliances, energy networks, technology and diplomacy are becoming interconnected instruments of power. The emerging world order may therefore not be simply bipolar. It may be networked, contested and strategically fluid. And the struggle between the USA and China may ultimately be decided not by one dramatic confrontation, but by which side can build, sustain and expand the stronger Strategic Corridor across an increasingly fragmented world. The writer is a freelance columnist
Could US nuclear reactors survive military hits in Saudi Arabia? sile threats to their nuclear plants. But none of these defenses can be counted upon to protect against ballistic missile strikes. In the case of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor (which the Saudis may likely buy), the containment building and the reactor’s separate spent fuel storage facility are hardened to 6,000 pounds per square inch. This is hard, but the storage facility could and should be hardened with ultrahigh performance concrete, which can resist pressures up to 40,000 pounds per square inch. If the spent fuel storage building is hit and prompts a major radiological release, it could force the evacuation of hundreds of thousands or even millions of people. Such a catastrophe is conceivable: ballistic missiles with penetrating warheads can pierce concrete hardened to 30,000 pounds per square inch. The US Research Council has also long recommended installing emergency spray water coolers within the storage pond build-
ings. This would prevent spent nuclear fuel fires that would otherwise occur if the storage pond is hit and consequently drained. These are only some of the measures one might take to protect existing or planned nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, it is unclear if they will be enough to avoid the worst-case scenario—a major wartime radiological release. So far, there has been little public discussion about how best to deal with these vulnerabilities. If the Kingdom weren’t so sun-, gas-, and oil-soaked or didn’t have as many geothermal prospects, building nuclear power would be imperative, even if it were risky. None of this, however, is the case, and Saudi nuclear plants also present obvious nuclear proliferation concerns. Any serious review of the US-Saudi nuclear cooperative agreement would grapple with all of these issues. So far, our government hasn’t; Congress should. Henry Sokolski is the executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center and author of China, Russia and the Coming Cool War. He served as the deputy for nonproliferation policy at the Department of Defense from 1989 to 1993.
regulators, and independent mediation channels. None of these independent avenues exist in China to challenge companies acting with the party-state’s support. American AI companies should learn from the recent history of social media. Major platforms spent years resisting regulation as their business models degraded democratic discourse, spread disinformation, undermined privacy, addicted children, and concentrated enormous power. Yet despite growing public frustration, these companies avoided a decisive political reckoning because much of the harm was diffuse and cumulative, making it hard to say why one company bore more responsibility than another. AI companies will have much less room to hide. When an AI system screens someone out of a job, denies a benefit or a loan, gives harmful advice, or produces a false facialrecognition match, the consequences are immediate, measurable, and often traceable to a specific product and company. That clear line of responsibility makes a backlash more likely and harder to deflect. Americans are already wary of AI, with a recent Pew Research Center survey finding that 52% are more concerned than excited about the technology’s growing role in daily life, up from 37% in 2021; only 9% are more excited than concerned. Nonetheless, AI companies appear to be following in social media’s footsteps. Rather than become more transparent, they are seeking privileged access to a small circle of officials and negotiating policies behind closed doors. Rather than defend open competition, they are racing to control computing power, data, and distribution channels before rivals can catch up, blurring the line between first-
mover advantage and monopolistic or oligopolistic behavior. And rather than trust democratic processes, their executives and investors are now spending heavily to defeat politicians who might regulate them. Despite proclaiming that they stand for democratic AI against China’s autocratic model, they seem increasingly willing to bargain directly with political leaders rather than submit to rules established through open institutions. By seeking privileged access, suppressing competition, and purchasing influence to avoid accepting democratic constraints, the industry is making itself both unpopular and politically dependent. That means it could win deregulation today only to discover that it has surrendered its autonomy to whichever administration controls access to energy, chips, government contracts, export licenses, and antitrust enforcement tomorrow. An administration that can decide which companies receive those benefits can also punish those that fall out of favor. Companies that resist ordinary democratic oversight risk inviting unpredictability: direct political control by the government of the day. Democratic accountability, the rule of law, and open competition are not costs to be avoided in the name of “winning.” They are what will make American AI more trusted, more resilient, and ultimately stronger than China’s offerings. American AI companies’ time to choose wisely is running out. Yaqiu Wang is a fellow at the Penn Project on the Future of US-China Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. Nicholas Bequelin is a senior fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center and a fellow at the Asia Society Center on US-China Relations.
The US-Saudi nuclear accord has largely been discussed as a nuclear proliferation issue. But Saudi nuclear reactors could also risk a massive radiological release if attacked
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NATIONAL INTEREST HENRY SOKOLSKI
AST Monday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright asked Congress to approve a US-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperative agreement. The clock is ticking. Ninety days hence, the United States could be exporting reactors to the Kingdom unless Congress objects to the deal. Before Congress approves such exports, though, it should examine why so few Russians are managing Iran’s current nuclear energy operations. Once the war began in late February, Russia removed nearly all of its
600 staff from the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Last month, Russia cautiously increased its staff numbers, but only to 42. Its wariness is not without cause. On May 17, 2026, Iranian drones struck auxiliary diesel generators at the United Arab Emirates’ Barakah nuclear power plant in Al Dhafra. Earlier, Iran claimed US-Israeli forces attacked in or near the Bushehr nuclear plant site four times. These strikes follow a pattern. From 1980 to 2007, Israel, the United States, Iran, and Iraq attacked reactor sites on at least 13 separate occasions. This year and last, the United States and Israel attacked Iran’s nuclear fuel-making activities. Given this history, Riyadh and Washington have to worry that nuclear facilities built in the Kingdom, which is now in a war zone, might also be hit. Saudi Arabia says it’s planning to build at least one nuclear power plant, and industry experts still hope the Kingdom might build up to 16, including several small modular reactors. Riyadh is
also intent on enriching uranium on its soil. Yet, if history is any guide, all of these projects are potential military targets. Can they survive assault? It’s unclear. Certain portions of the plants could be passively defended against drone attacks, much as the United Arab Emirates recently protected its major oil storage tanks with bird caging or metal “cope cages.” Ukraine uses such caging to protect its large reactors against Russian drone attacks. Ukraine has also hardened portions of its electrical supply system, which is essential to provide a steady supply of electricity to keep its reactors’ cooling and safety systems running smoothly. This includes hardening key transformers and maintaining spare parts on hand to replace components that get hit. It has also created an electrical system repair corps to get Ukraine’s power systems back up and running in a reasonable amount of time. Ukraine, Iran, and Belarus employ active air defenses to reduce air-breathing mis-
America’s un-American AI companies Americans are already wary of AI, with a recent Pew Research Center survey finding that 52% are more concerned than excited about the technology’s growing role in daily life, up from 37% in 2021; only 9% are more excited than concerned
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PROJECT SYNDICATE
YAQIU WANG AND NICHOLAS BEQUELIN
N Washington, nearly every serious proposal that could constrain American AI companies runs into the same objection: restrictions would endanger national security and future prosperity by giving China the advantage. As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman put it at a 2025 Senate hearing, the United States needs “sensible regulation” that “does not slow us down.” This formulation has intuitive appeal. No one advocates poorly designed rules that would needlessly weaken US innovation. Yet “don’t slow us down” too often becomes a demand for democratic institutions to step aside while a handful of private companies decide how one of the most powerful technologies in history will be built, deployed, and governed. To be sure, much is at stake in the competition with China. A world in which Beijing dominates AI would be more censored, more surveilled, and inherently hostile to human rights and democracy. But America can prevail by leaning into the strengths of an open society: democratic accountability, the rule of law, robust compe-
tition, and free public debate. This is precisely where American AI companies can outcompete their Chinese rivals—not despite democratic oversight, but because of it. After all, if an AI system is used in a hospital, school, police station, or on the battlefield, people want to know that it is subject to rules, that decisions affecting their lives can be challenged, and that there are meaningful mechanisms for redress when something goes wrong. These features require clear liability rules, transparency, due process for high-stakes automated decisions, and effective enforcement. While democratic controls may in some cases slow deployment, they can also accelerate adoption by making AI systems more trustworthy. Liability rules can encourage companies to address foreseeable risks before they cause harm; transparency can help researchers identify failures that companies miss or prefer not to disclose; and standards for testing, incident reporting, data protection, and human review can give customers greater certainty while reducing risks to society. The US won’t beat China in a race to the bottom, because China’s political system is better equipped for it. It can compel compa-
nies and public agencies to pool data across finance, travel, health, policing, and everyday communications, then use that information to control and exploit citizens on a scale no democracy should seek to emulate. It can direct companies to pursue national industrial goals because courts, legislators, and civil society do not constrain the party-state. If America tries to compete by giving its own companies more secrecy, more impunity, or more power over citizens’ lives, it has already lost. Chinese technology companies’ own global track record shows further why democratic accountability matters. Huawei has promoted its “safe city” systems as tools for public security, but in some countries, they have raised concerns about political espionage and weak human-rights safeguards. Chinesebacked infrastructure and surveillance projects have also faced concerns about opaque contracts, corruption, and political influence. That difference matters beyond US borders. People affected by American companies anywhere in the world can draw attention to their cases, seek coverage from the press, and enlist US civil-society organizations to advocate on their behalf. Similarly, foreign businesses can seek redress through US courts,
06 NEWS
IRAN’S ARMY CHIEF SAYS US SEEKING TO OFFSET BATTLEFIELD SETBACKS THROUGH ECONOMIC PRESSURE
Monday, 7 September 2026 | LAHORE
TEHRAN
AGEMCIES
Iran’s army chief, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said on Sunday that Tehran would not yield to pressure from the United States, and that Washington’s turn to "economic, psychological and cognitive warfare" would fail just as its "military aggression" had, according to Press TV. Press TV reported that Abdollahi said the US was trying to offset its "strategic shortfalls and battlefield setbacks" by shifting the fight onto other fronts. Abdollahi underlined that Iran would not surrender, and that the enemy would not prevail in a "combined campaign of economic pressure, media operations and cognitive warfare against a nation that stands on divine and national foundations". He further described Washington’s expectation of Iranian capitulation as a “false illusion” that would never be realised.
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Abdollahi noted that for more than 80 years, the United States had grown used to facing no refusal from other countries, adding that its assumption before moving against Iran, that the "Iranian people would submit unconditionally", was therefore a "false dream". Iran’s army chief stated that American and Israeli enemies were now attempting to close the gap left by their military and regional defeats through "soft war, cognitive operations and economic coercion", according to Press TV. “The world of the future will be different from that of the past,” Abdollahi said, adding that this shift would inevitably mean a decline in US power. Ghalibaf warns any aggression against Iran will draw a ‘faster, heavier, more painful’ response Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday said the United States had realised that the era of “propor-
tionate responses” had come to an end, the ISNA news agency posted on X. “From now on, any aggression against Iran's interests and security will receive a ‘faster, heavier, and more painful’ response,” Ghalibaf said. He said powerful strikes by Iranian military forces against US bases had left American leaders “in a state of utter helplessness”, IRNA news agency wrote on X. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say missiles struck US aircraft carrier, destroyer Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on early Sunday that it targeted a US aircraft carrier and a navy destroyer with ballistic missiles, claiming both were damaged and withdrew from the area. The IRGC said in a statement published by IRNA news agency that its Aerospace Force launched the missiles at the two warships. It claimed the vessels had harassed Iranian ships and were taking part in a maritime blockade, adding that both warships left the “engagement area” after sustaining
damage. The IRGC said the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged that two navy warships were targeted, describing its statement as confirmation of the operation. The also warned that continued US mil-
itary action would draw “heavier” responses from Iran’s armed forces. In a separate statement early Sunday, the IRGC said its navy attacked a remotely operated US military vessel that it claimed was attempting to enter a protected area of the Strait of Hormuz.
Time to rein in the unbridled social media SAIF AWAN
OCIAL media has become a ruthless and unbridled horse that now needs to be reined in. Several countries around the world are becoming increasingly sensitive about social media. Strict laws concerning social media are being introduced in many countries, particularly laws banning its use by underage children. Social media was created for entertainment, but it has now become a means of character assassination, mocking others, trolling and humiliating people. Concerns about social media are not limited to the people of Pakistan; prominent figures in several countries around the world have also expressed their concerns over the misuse of social media. Artificial intelligence, while being a unique and state-of-the-art invention of the modern era, is also sometimes becoming a means of playing with people's psychology. Several prominent personalities around the world have been af-
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fected by edited videos and pictures. Targeting women personally is considered an easy target anyway, because very few women respond to propaganda and trolling against them or choose to pursue legal action. If a woman dares to take legal action against trolling directed at her, several obstacles are also placed in her way. The biggest example of this is the fake video case of Pakistan's prominent and senior politician Azma Bokhari. An edited fake video of her was circulated on social media. Azma Bokhari has been going from one court to another for one and a half years and has had to convince the courts that her video was fake and that those who circulated the fake video should be held accountable. So far, only one accused, Falak Javed, has been arrested, while the others are still free. The hearing of Azma Bokhari's fake video case was held yesterday in the court of Judge Naeem Wattoo at the Lahore District Courts, where Azma Bokhari herself went to the court and
recorded her statement. In her statement, Azma Bokhari said, “I am a married woman and I also have a daughter. I have to get her married one day. I am not an accused in this case but the complainant, yet I am still being treated unjustly.” “This is not merely an ordinary civil case; it is a matter of a woman's honour and dignity. A fake video was created and made viral on social media, because of which she had to go through severe mental anguish and distress.” “For one year, I kept going to the Lahore High Court and tried to convince the higher court that my fake video had been created and circulated on social media. I had not refused to appear before this court, but I wanted my statement to be recorded through video link because there were security concerns over appearing in court and there could have been an unpleasant confrontation with members of the accused party.” Then, exactly what Azma Bokhari had feared happened in the court. The
people who came with accused Sanam Javed and their social media lawyer Ali Ashfaq misbehaved and adopted inappropriate behaviour in the courtroom. Azma Bokhari's fake video case has now been pending before a local court in Lahore for the past six months. The next hearing of the case will be held on September 12, when the accused's lawyer will cross-examine her on her statement. This is the first case of its kind involving a fake video in Pakistan to be heard in the courts. There are many such cases in which women do not pursue legal action to protect their honour and because of pressure from social media. If Azma Bokhari, despite being a minister, has still not been able to get justice, then how can an ordinary woman go to this level and prove her innocence in the courts? The biggest reason for this is that there are no laws in Pakistan concerning social media. Social media apps do not have proper offices in Pakistan, nor do we ha
Pakistan Navy: Always Ready, Always Vigilant SANOBAR NADIR
asbuna Allahu wa Ni'mal Wakeel. These words have long given strength to the men and women who stand watch over Pakistan's waters. For them, faith is not separate from duty. It is part of the courage, discipline and determination required to serve at sea. 8 September is a time to remember these brave sailors who defended Pakistan and stood like a wall of steel protecting its waters, in its most difficult hours. The strength of a navy is not measured by the number of ships it owns alone. Its real strength lies in the character of its sailors, the quality of its training and the courage with which it performs its duty. A smaller force can still achieve great things when it is disciplined, prepared and united by a clear purpose. The Pakistan Navy has proved this throughout its history. On the night of 7–8 September 1965, a fleet of seven Pakistan Navy warships headed towards the Indian coastal town of Dwarka. The task group included PNS Babur, PNS Khyber, PNS Badr, PNS Jahangir, PNS Alamgir, PNS Shah Jahan and PNS Tipu Sultan. Their mission was to strike important shore installations and a radar station supporting Indian military operations. The ships advanced through the darkness, carrying the hopes of a young nation and the responsibility of defending its honor. As they approached their target, every sailor knew that the operation demanded courage, accuracy and complete trust in one another. The bombardment damaged the radar station and other installations, while the sudden attack created alarm along the Indian coast. The operation, known as Operation Somnath, was a daring achievement. The Pakistan Navy did not possess a numer-
ical advantage, but its sailors had something equally important: preparation, discipline and determination. The success of the mission was not the result of size or strength alone. It was the result of careful planning and the courage to carry out that plan under difficult circumstances. When the ships returned, they brought back more than the memory of a successful operation. They had demonstrated that battles are not won by weapons alone, but by the courage, discipline and determination of the people who wield them. However, the sea has changed greatly since 1965. Modern naval warfare is no longer limited to guns, ships and submarines. Today, maritime forces must deal with long-range missiles, unmanned aircraft, cyber threats, satellite surveillance, electronic warfare and rapidly changing information systems. The Pakistan Navy maintains this readiness through exercises that bring together ships, submarines, aircraft, marines, special forces and unmanned systems. These exercises allow crews to test their equipment, improve communication and prepare for situations in which several threats may appear at the same time. This commitment to readiness was demonstrated through SEASPARK2026, a major maritime exercise held in Karachi. The exercise brought together Pakistan Navy ships, submarines, aircraft, unmanned systems, marines and special forces. It tested the services' ability to operate together in a fast-changing security environment, combining conventional operations at sea with activity in the information domain. SEASPARK-2026 was not simply a display of military prowess. It was a test of coordination, decision-making and endurance. Every movement, communication and response was examined to identify weaknesses and improve performance. The exercise showed that modern naval strength is built not only
150-year-old mosque demolished in Saharanpur amid outrage over minority religious rights LUCKNOW
AGENCIES
Authorities in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh have demolished a 150-year-old mosque located inside the Saharanpur Collectorate campus, triggering outrage over the safety of religious places of minorities, particularly Muslims, in India. The demolition was carried out on Saturday amid the deployment of a large contingent of police personnel in the area, shortly after the District Judge’s court on September 4 dismissed an appeal filed by the mosque management committee and upheld an earlier order directing removal of the structure. The administration had declared the mosque illegal in July and ordered its demolition. In July, the City Magistrate had declared the mosque, situated on a 315-square-metre parcel of land within
the Saharanpur Collectorate complex, an “unauthorised” occupation and ordered the occupants to vacate the premises. The administration also imposed a penalty of around Rs 6.41 crore on the alleged “illegal occupants” for unauthorized occupation of government land. The proceedings were initiated following a complaint by Vikas Tyagi, a former provincial coordinator of the Bajrang Dal, a Hindutva organisation. The mosque management subsequently challenged the administration’s order. However, the District Judge’s court dismissed its appeal on September 4, clearing the way for the demolition. Ahead of the demolition, Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha member from Kairana Iqra Hasan was placed under house arrest at her residence in Kairana, preventing her from travelling to Saharanpur.
through new platforms, but also through constant training and the ability to respond as one united force. Operational readiness also means protecting Pakistan's maritime interests during times of tension. The country's trade, energy supplies and communication links depend heavily on the sea. Keeping shipping routes open and ports secure is therefore a responsibility of national importance. The Navy protects not only the coastline, but also the economic lifelines that connect Pakistan to the world. The world saw the full extent of these capabilities during Marka-e-Haq. As tensions with India escalated, the Pakistan Navy moved to secure the country's waters on every front at once. Submarines held position beneath the surface, ready to respond without warning, while fast attack craft and surface ships maintained a constant presence across the Arabian Sea. Maritime patrol aircraft flew continuous sorties to track activity along the coast, and even in sensitive areas, no footing was given to the enemy. India's own naval assets, despite years of expansion, were kept far from Pakistani waters, unable to test a coastline that was already fully covered. Throughout this period, Pakistan's ports continued to function without interruption, and every trade route dependent on the sea kept moving exactly as it should have. Marka-e-Haq was operational readiness proven in real time, the same discipline that guided the ships toward Dwarka in 1965, applied to a battlespace that now includes drones, satellites and the information domain alongside ships and submarines. A strong navy does not exist only to fight wars. It also plays an important role in preserving peace. Through multinational exercises and maritime cooperation, the Pakistan Navy works with ally countries to address shared challenges such as piracy, terrorism, trafficking and threats to commercial shipping.
Pakistan Navy ships have also taken part in international maritime security and anti-piracy patrols far from Pakistan's own coast. These missions help protect the sea routes through which international trade passes. They may not always receive public attention, but they represent Pakistan's commitment to peace and stability beyond its territorial waters. Whenever the nation calls, Pakistan Navy always answers, be it during natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies. When storms, floods or other crises affect coastal communities, Pakistan Navy works to provide relief in every way it can. Humanitarian assistance demands the same qualities as military service: discipline, courage and the ability to work under pressure. A warship can carry weapons, but it can also carry relief supplies. A helicopter used for surveillance can also search for stranded families. A sailor trained to defend the nation can become a rescuer when fellow citizens are in danger. This is the human face of the Pakistan Navy. Their duty is not limited to moments of war. It continues whenever Pakistan needs a helping hand. Each year on 8 September the nation honors the sailors who sailed towards Dwarka under the cover of darkness and completed a mission that became a symbol of courage. It honors the martyrs and veterans whose sacrifices strengthened Pakistan's defences. It also salutes the men and women standing watch today, often far from their families and away from public attention. The sea never sleeps. It tests a nation in darkness, in storms and in moments when no one is watching. But wherever Pakistan's flag flies at sea, its sailors carry the same promise: to defend the motherland with courage, serve its people with honor and remain ready for every challenge.
Nepal flood death toll hits 1,341 as expectant mothers struggle in shelters DEVIGHAT
ATAFF REPORT
Nepal: Crammed into crowded shelter camps, thousands of expectant and new mothers are struggling for care and privacy as the death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal reached 1,341, with thousands remaining missing Sunday, officials and local media reports said. The combined death toll from flash floods and mudslides along the Nepal-China border rose to 1,372, while 5,531 people remained missing 11 days after the disaster struck, according to official data. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said around 5,000 people, including 589 foreigners, remained missing. Chinese authorities said at least 31 people were kil d, while 531 others remained missing in the southwestern Xizang Autonomous Region, also known as Tibet. Of those missing, 850 are foreigners, according to official figures from Nepal and China. With roads and bridges damaged due to massive floods and landslides, displaced mothers are struggling hardest to get a female-friendly space to breastfeed, food timed to nursing schedules, and a way to reach emergency care if labour turns dangerous, local English daily Kathmandu Post reported. The mothers also complain about cigarette smoke, the smell of alcohol and, on top of all that, unhygienic food and water, which upset their and their babies' stomachs. Also, there are no vaccination facilities for children in the shelter camps. "We are not getting food on time either. We are not getting enough to eat,” a new mother who wished to be identified only as Pariyar said. Pariyar fled her home when floods struck her hometown, Trishuli, on the morning of August 26 and is now staying with dozens of strangers under one roof in a shelter camp. “They aren’t giving any special food for babies. We are forced to feed that same heavy adult food to the small child.” What would help most, Shrestha said, is simple: “If only we had a decent, proper place to stay. That would bring some peace of mind," Sharmila Shrestha, another mother, complained he and her two kids sleep in a crowded classroom of a school-turned-shelter camp. According to United Nations Population Fund estimates, around 4,430 pregnant women are living in areas across the 15 municipalities in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, the districts hardest hit by last week’s devastating floods. Based on the estimates, around 500 births could be expected in the following month, with roughly 74 women potentially requiring emergency obstetric care. At Trishuli Hospital, the maternity ward has become an improvised outpost of crisis medicine. Basanti Pancha, the head of the department, said the hospital has performed nine deliveries since the floods but was struggling to keep pace with everything else. Women have kept arriving for fever, reduced fetal movement and urinary tract infections in pregnancy, she added. Electricity is also unreliable, and a generator is the only source of power for surgeries. “Previously, Kathmandu was just a two-hour road trip away. But now (by road), nobody knows how many hours it will take because of the landslides," Pancha added.
NEWS 07
Monday, 7 September 2026 | LAHORE
CORPORATE CORNER
‘Over 50,000 Saplings Planted’: A Green Salute to Defenders of Pakistan PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
On the occasion of Defence Day of Pakistan, a mega plantation campaign was organized by the Peshawar Forest Division, the central forest division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As part of the campaign, the target of planting more than 50,000 saplings of various species at Spinkhak was successfully achieved. The plantation drive, supervised by Divisional Forest Officer Muhammad Shakeel and Assistant Divisional Forest Officer Abdul Sattar, represents not only a tribute to the martyrs and heroes of Pakistan’s defence but also a practical expression of the province’s commitment to environmental protection and a greener future. Speaking on the occasion, Divisional Forest Officer Muhammad Shakeel said that the Forest Department was planting more than one million saplings across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Defence Day. He said that the Peshawar Forest Division alone had achieved its target of planting over 50,000 saplings at Spinkhak. He added that these plantations would make a meaningful contribution to improving the environmental conditions of Peshawar and its surrounding areas by enhancing green cover, helping reduce air pollution, moderating local temperatures and strengthening the ecological balance of the region. Muhammad Shakeel said that Defence Day reminds us that protecting a nation is not confined to its borders; it also extends to safeguarding its natural resources, environment and the future of its coming generations. The supreme sacrifices rendered by the armed forces have kept the frontiers of Pakistan secure. It is now the collective responsibility of every citizen to carry that spirit of patriotism forward by contributing to the country’s development, prosperity and environmental security. He emphasized that Pakistan is facing serious challenges from climate change, rising temperatures, air pollution, water scarcity and the degradation of natural ecosystems. Addressing these challenges requires collective responsibility as well as sustained action.
PIAF welcomes Trade Facilitation Board, stresses implementation LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has welcomed the government’s decision to establish a Trade Facilitation Board (TFB), but stressed that the creation of another institutional forum alone would not resolve the longstanding problems faced by importers and exporters unless its decisions were implemented in letter and spirit. PIAF Chairman and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheemur Rehman Saigol, along with PIAF Senior Vice Chairman Nasrullah Mughal and Vice Chairman Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, said the real test of the new board would be its ability to deliver practical improvements in the country’s trade facilitation system. Faheemur Rehman Saigol said Pakistan already had a number of boards, committees and institutions dealing with trade, investment, customs, ports and business facilitation. Therefore, the primary requirement was not merely the creation of another forum but ensuring effective coordination, clear responsibility, timely implementation and accountability. He said the Trade Facilitation Board should be given clearly defined targets and timelines, with regular monitoring of progress so that decisions taken at the highest level were translated into relief for the business community.
BMP sounds alarm over widening trade deficit, urges export-led strategy ISLAMABAD
ARMED FORCES’ SACRIFICES MAKE PAKISTAN’S STRENGTH UNDENIABLE, DEFENCE INVINCIBLE: CM MARYAM
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DEFENCE DAY MESSAGE HONOURS MARTYRS, VETERANS; CM SAYS PAKISTAN’S DEFENCE IS NOW ‘INVINCIBLE’ LAHORE
SALEEM JADOON
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Defence Day paid rich tribute to all officers and soldiers of the armed forces, particularly martyrs and veterans, acknowledging their sacrifices and services for the defence of the country. In her message, the chief minister said the entire nation was proud of the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy, adding that the armed forces had set new standards of professionalism during Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad. She said the entire nation prayed for the safety and protection of officers and soldiers engaged in the fight against terrorism. “The armed forces have proved that wars are not won merely with weapons but with faith and conviction,” she said. The Punjab CM said Pakistan’s defence was now “invincible” and, as a nuclear power, the country was more confident than ever. She paid tribute to the soldiers standing guard along the country’s frontiers, describing them as a source of pride for the nation. She said the people stood shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces and
would continue to do so. The chief minister said the challenges facing Pakistan required national unity and solidarity, stressing that the “nefarious designs” of forces seeking to create instability had to be thwarted with resolve and determination. CM orders action over parking overcharging, poor civic services Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister Inspection Team (CMIT) conducted late-night surprise visits to DHQ Hospital
Okara and THQ hospitals in Depalpur and Chichawatni, uncovering complaints of overcharging at a hospital parking facility as well as deficiencies in civic services. During its inspection of THQ Hospital Chichawatni, the team received complaints about excessive parking charges and ordered cancellation of the parking contract and registration of a case against those responsible. The team also took notice of stagnant rainwater and non-functional streetlights
September 6 a glorious day in Pakistan’s history: Azma Bokhari LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, in her message on the occasion of Pakistan Defence Day, said that September 6 is a glorious and memorable day in the history of Pakistan. On this day, the Pakistan Army set timeless examples of courage and bravery, while the Pakistan Air Force’s Shaheens also made history. Azma Bokhari said that the spirit of patriotism demonstrated by the Pakistani nation during the 1965
war was remarkable. The Pakistani nation fought the September War shoulder to shoulder with its brave armed forces. The martyrs and Ghazis of the September War are the pride of our nation, and the nation continues to salute their sacrifices and bravery. The Information Minister said that during the Battle of Truth, the nation once again demonstrated the same spirit of patriotism witnessed in 1965. The enemy suffered a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Truth, which it has still not forgotten. The Shaheens of the Pakistan Air Force shot down eight of the
enemy’s most advanced fighter jets and demonstrated their professional capabilities. Azma Bokhari said that as a nation, we need the same spirit of patriotism today. With this spirit and national unity, the Pakistan Army, together with the nation, will eradicate the menace of terrorism. She said that the Pakistani nation stands like an unbreakable wall against the enemy’s nefarious designs and terrorism. The brave armed forces and people of Pakistan have always united to defend the country and safeguard its security, foiling the enemy’s designs.
SouthAsia Forum nominates Faisal Siddiqi as Secretary General KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
The SouthAsia Forum, a private-sector think tank, founded in 1996 and dedicated to promoting informed discourse on regional and global issues, has nominated Faisal Siddiqi as its new Secretary General. Siddiqi is an experienced corporate communications professional with extensive experience in public affairs and advocacy, reputation building and strategic communications. His appointment is expected to further strengthen the Forum’s efforts to facilitate meaningful dialogue and contribute to a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, business, economic and political dynamics shaping South Asia. Commenting on the appointment, Chairman SouthAsia Forum Syed Jawaid Iqbal welcomed Siddiqi and expressed confidence in his ability to take the Forum forward. “I welcome Faisal as the Secretary General of the SouthAsia
Forum. I am confident that under his leadership, the Forum will grow further and continue to fulfill the purpose for which it was initially created. His experience in communications and his understanding of regional and contemporary issues will be valuable in strengthening the Forum’s role as a platform for informed discussion and constructive engagement.” The SouthAsia Forum was established as a private-sector platform to reflect the growing
significance of South Asia in the global landscape. It regularly analyzes and discusses regional issues relating to the social, cultural, business, economic and political ethos of the region, while maintaining a broader global perspective. The Forum seeks to create a platform where diverse perspectives can converge and where contemporary challenges and opportunities facing the region can be examined through informed discourse, research and debate. It works in close collaboration with leading public-sector organizations, international foundations and endowments to promote dialogue on economic and social issues across the realms of politics, business and industry. Through these engagements, the Forum aims to encourage constructive debate, facilitate the exchange of ideas and contribute to a more informed understanding of issues affecting South Asia and its place in the wider world.
in Okara district. On the basis of the CMIT report, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed displeasure and sought immediate explanations from the deputy commissioners of Okara and Sahiwal. The chief minister also directed the authorities to immediately commence reconstruction of the dilapidated Depalpur Road. CMIT raids Bahawal Victoria Hospital over parking overcharging In a related development, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s campaign against corruption continued as the CM Inspection Team conducted a surprise late-night raid on Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur. The inspection team uncovered overcharging of patients and their attendants at the hospital’s parking facility, with the parking contractor caught red-handed while charging them excessive amounts. On the directions of the CM Inspection Team, immediate action was taken against the parking contractor, who was arrested. CM condoles loss of lives in RY Khan road accident Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in a traffic accident near Rahim Yar Khan. The chief minister extended her condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.
CDA, MCI honour Armed Forces and Shuhada on Defence & Martyrs’ Day ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) joined the entire nation in expressing unwavering solidarity with Pakistan’s brave and courageous Armed Forces and the families of the Shuhada on 6 September — Defence & Martyrs’ Day. On this solemn yet proud national day, national and symbolic flags were prominently displayed across Islamabad, reflecting the spirit of patriotism, national unity and profound respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of Pakistan. National flags were prominently displayed along major avenues, at public spaces, important landmarks and prominent government buildings across the federal capital, creating a powerful atmosphere of national pride, patriotism and remembrance. The display of national flags at prominent state buildings, including Parliament House, sent a strong message of unity and solidarity with the defenders of the motherland. From magnificent ceremonial flags to symbolic national displays throughout the capital, Islamabad stood united in honouring the Shuhada and paying tribute to the brave men and women of Pakistan’s Armed Forces who continue to defend the country with courage, commitment and devotion. A City United in Honour of Its Shuhada Defence & Martyrs’ Day is not simply a date on the national calendar. It is a day of remembrance, gratitude and reflection for the entire nation. It reminds us of the extraordinary courage displayed by Pakistan’s Armed Forces in defence of the motherland and the countless sacrifices made to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. CDA and MCI paid their deepest tribute to the Shuhada who gave their precious lives in the line of duty for Pakistan. They sacrificed their present so that future generations could live with freedom, dignity and security. Their sacrifice is the foundation of our freedom; their courage is the strength of our nation; and their memory will forever remain alive in the heart of Pakistan. A Special Salute to the Families of Shuhada CDA and MCI also expressed their deepest respect and solidarity with the families of the Shuhada, whose sacrifices are beyond measure. Behind every Shaheed is a family that endured an unimaginable loss for the sake of Pakistan. Parents lost their sons and daughters; wives lost their husbands; children lost their fathers; and loved ones were separated from those they cherished most.
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The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Businessmen Panel (BMP) has expressed serious concern over the widening trade deficit, which surged by more than 18 per cent to $7.1 billion during the first two months of the current fiscal year. BMP Chairman and former FPCCI president Mian Anjum Nisar warned that the growing gap between imports and exports could put renewed pressure on the country’s external account, foreign exchange reserves and exchange rate. He said the latest trade figures were a clear indication that Pakistan could not afford to remain complacent about its external sector position. The trade deficit had increased from $6.03 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, mainly because imports were rising at a much faster pace than exports.
LPC, NWJF organize spiritual gathering at Lahore Press Club LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
In the context of love and faith in the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a spiritual and blessed Mehfil-e-Milad was organized at the Lahore Press Club (LPC) under the auspices of the Governing Body Lahore Press Club and the National Women Journalists Forum (NWJF) for women journalists. The special guests were Amna Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, wife of the Provincial Minister for Finance, Asia Sayal, Director and Founder Lama and Designer
Collection Women Entrepreneurship, Sameda, Director Member and CSO Shazo Pharmaceutical Company, Sumbal
Malik, MPA Begum Mehak Zubair Ansari. Chairman Awami Muttahida Movement, Executive Member Lahore Ladies Club
Ambrain Farooq and former MPA Farzana Butt, along with female journalists and their families, and families of male journalists also participated in large numbers. The Milad gathering was inaugurated by Laiba Saleem with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Those who offered their prayers to the holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) included Hafiz Qaria Ayesha and Group Iqra Saleem, Laiba Saleem and female naat khawans. Among those who blessed the gathering with their beautiful words was Aafia Jahangir, senior journalist and important member of Najaf.
Sindh governor, Chinese CG review Pakistan-China ties, avenues for enhancing mutual cooperation KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Sindh Governor Nehal Hashmi paid an important visit to the Chinese Consulate in Karachi, where Chinese Consul General Feng Deheng and senior officials of the Consulate warmly welcomed him. During the meeting, the two sides held detailed discussions on Pakistan-China relations, regional security, peace, and avenues for enhancing mutual cooperation. Governor Sindh said that the Pak-China friendship is a timeless example of both countries standing by each other in difficult times. He emphasized that close cooperation between Pak-
istan and China has assumed even greater significance in view of the prevailing regional situation. Speaking about regional and global peace, Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi said that war and confrontation are not the solution to any problem, adding that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only sustainable path towards lasting peace. He reiterated that Pakistan will continue to play its positive and constructive role for peace, stability and reduction of tensions in the region. The Sindh Governor further said that Pakistan is keen to benefit from China’s advanced technology, expertise and experience in various fields. He said that the Makkah
Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye reflects the shared commitment to peace, stability and collective security. On the occasion, Chinese Consul General Feng Deheng highly appreciated Pakistan’s key role in promoting peace and stability in the region. He said that China seeks to further strengthen its time-tested and all-weather friendship with Pakistan. The Consul General expressed China’s commitment to further expanding cooperation with Pakistan in the fields of technology, trade, development and other areas of mutual interest. He also underscored the importance of continued close coordination between the two countries for regional peace, stability and prosperity.
Monday, 7 September, 2026
allocates Rs24b to 'DEFENCE DAY': PRESIDENT, PM PAY TRIBUTE EDF export support, sets up TO MARTYRS, VOW STRONGER PAKISTAN Rs3b insurance pool PRAYER TIMINGS
NEWS
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ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
RESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday paid heartfelt tribute to the martyrs and veterans of the Armed Forces and their families on Defence and Martyrs’ Day, saying their sacrifices and timeless stories of courage and patriotism would remain a guiding light for generations to come. In their separate messages on Defence and Martyrs’ Day, observed on September 6, the president and prime minister paid tribute to the Armed Forces and the nation for their unwavering resolve, unity and sacrifices in defence of Pakistan, while reaffirming the country’s commitment to peace, sovereignty, regional stability and economic development. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said September 6 was a glorious chapter in the national history, reminding the nation of the “unparalleled resolve, unity and sacrifices” demonstrated by the Armed Forces and the people of Pakistan in defence of the homeland. “This day provides us with an opportunity to pay tribute to the martyrs and veterans who made immense sacrifices to safeguard Pakistan’s security, sovereignty and independence. Despite the enemy’s undeclared aggression and numerical superiority on 6 September 1965, the professionalism and operational pre-
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paredness of Pakistan’s Armed Forces inflicted a humiliating and resounding defeat upon it on all fronts,” he said. The prime minister said history bore witness to the exceptional professionalism and courage displayed by the Armed Forces during the 1965 war, while the Pakistani nation demonstrated remarkable unity, resilience and steadfastness. “Together they created a proud and enduring legacy in our national history,” he added. “In Marka-e-Haq, in line with the glorious tradition of valiance, our Armed Forces under the excellent professional strategy of Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and Naval Chief
Admiral Naveed Ashraf delivered a response to our age-old adversary that will be remembered for generations,” the prime minister said. “The entire nation is proud of our brave Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy,” he added. The prime minister said the resounding success of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos had added another glorious chapter to the country’s military history. “Our Armed Forces have once again demonstrated that the spirit and fervour of 6 September remain as strong as ever,” he said. He said the challenges confronting Pakistan today demanded greater national unity and solidarity, adding that the traditional adversary, along with Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan, contin-
ued to pursue its nefarious designs against Pakistan. “But these hostile forces are facing successive and decisive defeats. The sinister designs of hostile forces seeking to destabilize Pakistan through hybrid warfare shall be resolutely defeated,” he added. The prime minister said the foremost challenge today was to eradicate ignorance, poverty and backwardness and transform Pakistan in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal. “Our true strength lies not only in our defence capabilities but also in a united, peaceful, stable and economically strong nation. The Government will continue to take resolute measures to strengthen Pakistan’s security, sovereignty and defence, while simultaneously advancing economic development, political stability and public welfare,” he said. He said Pakistan would continue to play an active and constructive role in promoting peace and stability at both regional and global levels. “As a responsible state, Pakistan has emerged as a net security stabilizer, contributing to collective security, peace and stability beyond its borders,” he added. The prime minister said the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement was a manifestation of Pakistan’s growing role in regional security and reflected its commitment to collective defence, mutual security and enduring partnerships with brotherly countries.
PROFIT
The Export Development Fund (EDF) has allocated its entire available amount of Rs24 billion for investment in initiatives aimed at facilitating exporters and strengthening Pakistan’s export capacity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was informed about the allocation while chairing a meeting on the fund’s restructuring and reform programme on Saturday. Under a separate initiative involving the EDF and the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan, a Rs3 billion Risk Pool has been established to broaden access to export credit insurance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. The prime minister welcomed the insurance facility, saying it would help SMEs secure export coverage and enable businesses to increase their export volumes. Officials told the meeting that the EDF would not undertake any additional infrastructure expenditure. Its resources would instead support research, skills development and measures designed to improve the competitiveness of Pakistani businesses. The meeting was also briefed on efforts to secure an extension of Pakistan’s preferential market access under the European Union’s GSP Plus scheme. Shehbaz said the EDF’s restructuring had placed its leadership in the hands of private-sector professionals. He appreciated the fund’s reform efforts and said the measures reflected the government’s objective of building an export-led economy and positioning Pakistan as an international investment destination. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, federal ministers Rana Tanveer Hussain, Jam Kamal Khan and Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, Adviser to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, EDF Board Chairman Umar Saeed and other senior officials.
PTI slams as Hammad Azhar arrested OPEC+ holds October oil output steady as focus in Multan over May 9 riot cases shifts to 2027 quotas LAHORE
NAFSA to replace plant protection department by October 31 under new pesticide regime PROFIT
The National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority plans to completely replace the Department of Plant Protection by October 31, 2026, as Pakistan moves towards a new regulatory system for pesticides and agrochemicals. NAFSA outlined the transition during its first engagement with industry stakeholders on Saturday, detailing a digitally enabled framework covering pesticide registration, manufacturing, formulation, imports and exports, dealer licensing, laboratory testing, inspections, storage, labelling and complaint resolution. The framework established under the NAFSA Act, 2026, is set to replace the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971, and the Agricultural Pesticides Rules, 1973. Under the planned regime, pesticide registration and renewal decisions will be subject to defined servicedelivery timelines. The authority also intends to establish structured complaint and appeal mechanisms while using technology to improve regulatory compliance, trade facilitation and product traceability. NAFSA said pesticide regulation would be linked with maximum residue limits, residue monitoring and farm-toport traceability to strengthen food safety and improve access for Pakistani agricultural products in international markets. The authority also plans to introduce exportonly registration and facilitate export-oriented agrochemical formulation, with the aim of positioning Pakistan as a regional formulation and re-export centre for pesticides and agrochemicals. NAFSA Board of Governors Chairman Ahmed Umair said a transparent and science-based regulatory system would help protect farmers and consumers while enabling Pakistan to meet international standards and expand agricultural exports. Director General Muhammad Imran Khan Mohmand said the authority would simplify regulatory processes through digitalisation, establish clear service timelines and introduce risk-based regulation across the supply chain. The consultation included representatives of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, NAFSA’s Board of Governors, the Pakistan Crop Protection Association, CropLife, pesticide manufacturers and importers, laboratories, academic institutions and development partners.
PROFIT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar was arrested in Multan on Sunday in connection with cases registered over the May 9, 2023 riots and subsequently handed over to Lahore Police, police said. Police said former MNA Hammad Azhar was taken into custody in Multan before being transferred to Lahore Police for further legal proceedings. Azhar was among several PTI leaders who went into hiding following the May 9 riots, which erupted after the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan from court premises. According to police sources, Azhar was arrested in Multan and later handed over to Lahore Police. He is facing multiple cases related to the May 9 unrest and had been declared a proclaimed offender since May 9, 2023, the sources said. Azhar served as federal finance minister during the PTI government and later headed the party’s Punjab chapter. He re-
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signed as PTI Punjab president in August 2024, citing limited access to incarcerated party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, along with restrictions on his movements. Following the registration of cases against him over the May 9 incidents, Azhar remained in hiding for an extended period. The May 9 violence erupted after Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in connection with a graft case. His arrest triggered protests across the country, during which PTI supporters attacked public and military installations. Among the sites targeted were
the Corps Commander House in Lahore and General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The unrest marked one of the most serious episodes of violence involving military installations in the country’s recent history. PTI terms denounces Hammad Azhar’s arrest as ‘political vengeance’ Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed that its leader Hammad Azhar has been arrested, denouncing the action as “political vengeance”. While police officials said they were unaware of his arrest, sources said the PTI leader was taken into custody in Multan in a case pertaining to the May 9, 2023 riots.
OPEC+ maintained its oil production policy for October at a meeting on Sunday, delaying further output decisions as the group prepares to review production capacities and establish new quotas for 2027. Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Oman participated in the meeting and are scheduled to meet again on October 4. The group’s statement did not provide any indication of its production policy beyond October. However, sources previously told Reuters that OPEC+ was likely to pause output increases during the fourth quarter as negotiations over future production baselines approach. The seven producers, together with the United Arab Emirates before it left OPEC in May, have led the group’s monthly production decisions in recent years. OPEC+ will need to assess the production capacity of individual members before setting their 2027 baselines, which determine how output quotas are distributed. Those discussions are expected to take place later in 2026. The group had agreed in August to raise production for September, completing the phased reversal of a 1.65 million-barrel-per-day supply cut introduced in 2023. A separate layer of production restrictions covering most members of the 21-country alliance will remain in place until the end of 2026. Actual production, however, continues to fall well below OPEC+ targets as the Iran war disrupts oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has weakened the group’s ability to influence global supplies, prices and market share despite changes to its official production targets.
Pakistan sends 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid to flood-hit Nepal ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan on Sunday dispatched 100 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Nepal to support relief operations following the deadly floods and landslides that have devastated communities across the region, killing at least 1,384 people and leaving more than 5,500 missing in Nepal and China. The glacial and mountain collapse along the China-Nepal border has killed at least 1,384 people and left more than 5,500 missing across the two countries. In Nepal alone, rescuers have recovered 1,341 bodies, while around 4,996 people remain missing. The humanitarian assistance was coordinated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and transported by a chartered flight from Islamabad to Kathmandu, the Foreign Of-
fice (FO) said in a statement. “The relief consignment comprised tents, blankets, mats, hygiene kits and medicines for the affected communities,” the FO said. A send-off ceremony for the relief assistance was held at Islamabad airport
and attended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Nepal’s Ambassador Rita Dhital, and senior officials from the Foreign Office and NDMA. “The assistance reflects Pakistan’s solidarity with the government and peo-
ple of Nepal during this difficult time,” the FO noted. Sharing the development on X, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and all those affected. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Nepal and remains ready to extend all possible support in this difficult hour.” Rescue operations continue Meanwhile, rescuers in Nepal faced challenging conditions on Sunday as search operations following the catastrophic floods entered their 12th day, despite four extraordinary rescues that have renewed hopes of finding more survivors. Rescuers found two more people alive on Saturday, joining two others rescued a day earlier in what officials and local residents have described as remarkable tales of survival.
Germany's far-right AfD emerges as landslide winner in eastern state vote MAGDEBURG AGENCIES
Germany’s far-right AfD won a landslide victory in a key regional election Sunday in the ex-communist east, taking at least 44 per cent of the vote according to exit polls by two public broadcasters. “We have made history today,” said a jubilant Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old lead candidate of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt state. It was, however, too early to tell whether the AfD will have enough votes for an absolute majority that would allow it to govern a state alone for the first time. The centre-right CDU of Chancellor Friedrich Merz came a distant second, winning around 18.5pc, according to exit polls by broadcasters ARD and ZDF. Depending on the eventual count, the
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CDU’s state premier Sven Schulze would hope to still be able to form a new multiparty coalition to block the AfD from power. All major parties have so far maintained a “firewall” of non-cooperation with the Moscow-friendly AfD, whose state branch is categorised as “right-wing extremist” by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency. A first-ever AfD state government would be a shock for many in Germany, which has been at pains to atone for its dark history of World War II and the Holocaust and so far kept extremist parties at bay. The spectre of a far-right state government drew thousands of the AfD’s opponents to a rally on Saturday in Magdeburg, the regional capital, with banners saying “life is better without Nazis”. “I’m very worried,” demonstrator Laura Saalfeld told AFP. “Whatever the results, the atmosphere
will change. Far-right sympathisers will show themselves more openly on the streets.” Smiling face, radical agenda Siegmund, the AfD’s telegenic top candidate, has ambitions to lead a political revolution from Saxony-Anhalt that would propel the party to national victory in 2029. On the campaign trail, Siegmund — a former entrepreneur with a sharp undercut hairstyle and a huge social media following — has been mobbed by adoring fans, many wearing T-shirts bearing his likeness. The party has tapped into a sense of nostalgia for communist East Germany as well as lingering resentment about an enduring wealth gap with the west decades after the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. In line with the sometimes defiant sense of local “Ossie pride”, Siegmund has often ridden the iconic local Simson bike, including to the polling booth on Sunday in his
hometown of Tangermünde. While Siegmund has been dubbed the friendly face of the AfD, his campaign prom-
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ises have been radical, including targeting irregular migrants with a “remigration and deportation offensive” from day one.