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Wednesday, 9 September, 2026 | 26 Rabiul Awwal, 1448
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 165 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia PM CONDEMNS HOUTHI ATTACKS ON SAUDI deepen cybersecurity ARABIA, REAFFIRMS ‘UNWAVERING SOLIDARITY’ cooperation as g
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PAKISTAN STANDS IN 'UNWAVERING' SOLIDARITY WITH SAUDI LEADERSHIP AND ITS PEOPLE, SAYS PM SHEHBAZ
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REITERATES PAKISTAN BACKS SAUDI SOVEREIGNTY, SECURITY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, PRAYING FOR SWIFT RECOVERY OF ALL THOSE INJURED
FO SUPPORTS RIYADH’S RIGHT TO DEFEND TERRITORY AND NATIONAL ASSETS AFTER 73 CIVILIANS INJURED AS FRESH ATTACKS HIT SOUTHERN SAUDI CITIES
Pakistan backs Saudi right to defend territory after Houthi attacks ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
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ISLAMABAD SALEEM JADOON
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned fresh attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group targeting cities and civilian and economic infrastructure in southern Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Pakistan’s “unwavering” solidarity with the Saudi leadership and people and its steadfast support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. “I condemn in the strongest terms, the cowardly attack by Houthis targeting
civilian and energy facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which have left many people injured,” the prime minister said in a post on X. “Such dastardly attacks threaten innocent lives as well as regional peace and security. We reaffirm our steadfast support for the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and pray for the swift recovery of all those injured,” he added. The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan stood in “unwavering” solidarity with the Saudi leadership and its people. In a related development, the Foreign Office on Tuesday reaffirmed Pak-
Petrol, diesel prices hiked again as fuel shocks deepen for consumers PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
Petrol price has been increased by Rs5.58 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs4.18 for September 9, adding another burden on already hard-pressed consumers following a major fuel price hike announced just a day earlier. According to the Petroleum Division, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), under the revised petroleum pricing mechanism issued by the Federal Government, has revised the ex-depot prices of petroleum products for September 9, 2026. The ex-depot price of Motor Spirit (petrol) has been increased from Rs358.77 to Rs364.35 per litre, while the ex-depot price of high-speed diesel has risen from Rs381.77 to Rs385.95 per litre. Over the past two days, petrol prices have surged by Rs18.48 per litre, while the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has increased by Rs7.90 per litre, significantly adding to the fuel burden on consumers and businesses. The latest adjustment means consumers will now pay Rs364.35 per litre for petrol and Rs385.95 per litre for HSD, with both products witnessing another increase in their applicable prices. The increase in petrol prices is likely to immediately affect millions of motorcycle and car users who depend on petrol for daily commuting. The higher fuel cost will raise the expenses of people travelling to offices, businesses, educational institutions and other destinations. Petrol is also widely used by taxis, ride-hailing vehicles, delivery services and other light transport. Any increase in petrol prices therefore raises operating costs for individuals and businesses that depend on petrol-powered vehicles. The impact of diesel prices, however, extends considerably beyond vehicle owners.
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Pakistan on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia, backing the kingdom’s right to take necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens and safeguard national assets following recent Houthi attacks on civilian and economic facilities. In a statement, the Foreign Office strongly condemned what it described as “reprehensible attacks” by the Houthi militia on the southern Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. “Pakistan fully supports the Kingdom’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens and residents and safeguard its national assets against any threat,” the statement said. According to Saudi authorities, the attacks injured 73 people, including
istan’s support for Saudi Arabia, backing the Kingdom’s legitimate right to take necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens and residents and safeguard national assets against any threat following the latest Houthi attacks. In a statement, the Foreign Office strongly condemned what it described as “reprehensible attacks” by the Houthi
women and children. The strikes also triggered fires at several energy facilities, where operations were suspended as firefighting and emergency teams worked to contain the blazes and assess the damage. Pakistan described the attacks as a “flagrant violation” of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, warning that they threatened regional peace and stability and undermined efforts to achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution to the Yemen conflict. “Pakistan reiterates its unwavering support for the sovereignty, terriintegrity, security and torial prosperity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and stands in complete solidarity with the leadership, government and brotherly people of the Kingdom,” the statement added. The Foreign Office also expressed solidarity with those injured and wished them a speedy recovery.
militia on the southern Saudi cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. “Pakistan fully supports the Kingdom’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens and residents and safeguard its national assets against any threat,” the statement said.
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startups secure $400,000 investment, tech deals PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen cybersecurity cooperation as Pakistani startups secured a $400,000 investment and new commercial partnerships during LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, where more than 75 Pakistani startups and technology companies showcased their products and services. Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja led Pakistan’s participation at the technology conference, held from August 31 to September 3 under the Tech Destination Pakistan banner, according to a statement. During the event, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation against emerging cyber threats. Under the agreement, the two countries will exchange cybersecurity expertise and best practices as they seek to strengthen their capabilities in the sector. Pakistan also mounted one of its largest national participations at LEAP, according to the IT ministry, seeking to showcase the country’s technology ecosystem and secure investment, business partnerships and greater access to international markets. Khawaja formally inaugurated the Tech Destination Pakistan Pavilion, which brought together 25 startups and more than 50 Pakistani technology companies showcasing solutions in artificial intelligence, automation and other digital technologies. The ministry said Pakistan’s participation was designed to facilitate business-to-business partnerships, attract international investment and expand global market access for Pakistani technology companies. Several Pakistani startups announced investment and commercial agreements during the conference. Edversity, an Ignite-supported startup operating under the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, secured a $400,000 investment from Rapidev Group. The investment will be used to accelerate Edversity’s international expansion and scale its AI-powered education platform, according to the ministry.
Pakistan reaffirms commitment to international nuclear safety, security standards
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PM stresses export-led growth as key to economic progress ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that Rs800 billion had been recovered within a year through enforcement measures alone, without imposing any new taxes, highlighting that long-pending structural reforms had been introduced over the past two and a half years through sustained consultation and teamwork between the government and the business community. Addressing leading industrialists, businessmen and entrepreneurs, the prime minister welcomed members of the business fraternity and underscored the importance of continued government-business coordination for strengthening the country’s economy, particularly through exportled growth. “Cases pending in courts for the past ten years had been pursued and followed up, particularly those relating to indirect sales tax paid by consumers, and such improvement in enforcement had not been witnessed before in the country’s history,” he noted. The prime minister recalled that, prior to the federal budget, multiple rounds of consultations had been held with the business community on various economic issues. He said the Finance and Commerce ministers, along with
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
their respective secretaries, had also held meetings with stakeholders before his own interaction with the business community. He said recommendations put forward by business representatives during earlier meetings, including at difficult times, had helped the government introduce structural changes with their support. He termed the reform process a long journey achieved through collective effort and sustained teamwork between the government and the private sector. The prime minister said it was for this reason that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for the first time, extended relevant allowance, while the IMF Managing Director, during her interaction
with the prime minister, had agreed to offer a tax waiver. He said all these measures had been undertaken in consultation with the business community, describing them as part of a long journey accomplished through teamwork. He reiterated that the government would continue to move forward on this path with the guidance, support and assistance of the business community. PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that any economic growth achieved by the country must be export-led, saying growth without an export orientation would be meaningless. He said it was for this reason that special tax relief had been extended to exporters in the federal budget.
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Chairman Dr Raja Ali Raza Anwar on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to maintaining international standards of nuclear and radiation safety and nuclear security, stressing that responsibility for nuclear safety and security within a state rested exclusively and entirely with that Member State. Delivering Pakistan’s National Statement at the ongoing meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, the PAEC chairman said nuclear safety and security remained essential components of Pakistan’s peaceful nuclear programme and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to international standards in these fields. He stressed that the fundamental principle of state responsibility should remain central to the IAEA’s planning and activities concerning nuclear safety and security. Dr. Anwar highlighted Pakistan’s five decades of safe and secure operation of nuclear installations, describing the country’s record as a testament to the robustness of its domestic nuclear safety and security regime. He appreciated the continued progress made worldwide in nuclear safety and security with the assistance of the IAEA, particularly acknowledging the Agency’s central role and sustained support to Member States through capacity-building programmes.
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Pakistan moves to import 750,000 tonnes of wheat amid supply concerns PROFIT
SHAHZAD PARACHA
The federal government has moved to import 750,000 metric tonnes of wheat to strengthen domestic supplies and meet the country’s requirements, as concerns over availability and provincial stocks persist. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), a state-owned commercial organisation working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce, has issued an international tender for the procurement of 750,000 metric tonnes of wheat. In accordance with Rule 21(A) of the Public Procurement Rules, 2004, the TCP has invited sealed bids from international wheat suppliers for the supply of 750,000 metric tonnes, with a plus or minus 10% margin at the supplier’s option, on a Cost and Freight (CFR) basis to Karachi and/or Gwadar ports.
The wheat must be from the latest crop year and may be supplied directly by international suppliers or through their local offices or representatives registered with the relevant provincial or federal tax authorities. Suppliers must have the capacity to provide wheat in bulk from sources anywhere in the world. The tender requires the contracted wheat to be delivered to the designated ports in Pakistan according to the shipment schedule specified in the tender document. The wheat must also meet the quality standards and specifications prescribed in the tender documents and comply with the Import Policy Order in force. The TCP said bids for quantities of less than 50,000 metric tonnes, with a plus or minus 10% margin at the supplier’s option, would not be accepted. The requirement is aimed at securing supplies from suppliers capable of delivering substantial quantities
within the prescribed timeframe. According to government sources, the imported wheat will be distributed among the provinces according to their requirements. Sindh is expected to receive 300,000 metric tonnes, while Punjab will receive 250,000 tonnes and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 200,000 tonnes. The decision to import 750,000 metric tonnes was approved by a committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, sources said. The latest procurement follows an earlier decision by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to approve the import of one million metric tonnes of wheat after the provinces requested additional supplies. The scale of the proposed imports needs to be viewed against Pakistan’s substantial annual wheat requirement. The latest available 2026/27 market outlook estimates national wheat consumption at around 31.3
million tonnes, while production is forecast at approximately 29.6 million tonnes, indicating a sizeable gap that has to be managed through stocks and, where necessary, imports.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 also puts wheat production at around 29.61 million tonnes, up from 28.40 million tonnes in the previous year.
02 NEWS
Wednesday, 9 September, 2026 | LAHORE
PSX PLUNGES 993 POINTS AS ESCALATING MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS TRIGGER EXTENDED SELLOFF
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KSE-100 hitS intraday low of 171,490 aS SElling EngulfS banKS, oil and gaS, cEmEnt and othEr KEy SEctorS following attacKS on Saudi EnErgy SitES PROFIT
news Desk
EARS dominated the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, with the benchmark KSE100 Index plunging 993 points intraday as escalating tensions in the Middle East fuelled concerns over a prolonged and wider regional conflict. Sentiment deteriorated after Iran threatened retaliation against any fresh US attacks
NAB probes alleged corruption in Sindh Irrigation Department, 84,978 acres under scrutiny nab Sukkur launches two investigations into alleged corruption, embezzlement and misuse of authority; records of nearly 84,978 acres across five districts ordered to be corrected PROFIT
Monitoring report
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sukkur has launched two investigations involving senior Sindh Irrigation Department officials and other individuals over allegations of corruption, embezzlement of public funds, misuse of authority and possession of assets beyond known sources of income. According to a news report, Sindh Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero and other senior officials have come under NAB radar. One of the investigations involves government land belonging to the Irrigation Department, with nearly 84,977.59 acres identified across five districts of Sindh. According to NAB documents, revenue authorities have been directed to urgently correct records relating to the land, spread across more than 500 dehs, and transfer it into the name of the Irrigation Department. Dadu accounts for the largest portion of the identified land, with 38,854.72 acres. Another 22,958.64 acres are located in Sujawal district, while 12,519.78 acres have been identified in Jamshoro. The identified land also includes 6,620.63 acres in Shaheed Benazirabad and 4,023.82 acres in Tando Mohammad Khan. The investigations are examining allegations involving corruption, misappropriation of government funds and abuse of authority, as well as assets allegedly beyond known sources of income.
Punjab wheat, flour supply restrictions push up prices in KP
prices of special fine, fine and mixed flour rise by up to rs100 per 20kg bag despite Kp government’s repeated efforts to restore supplies PROFIT
Monitoring report
Flour prices across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have increased by up to Rs100 per 20kg bag as restrictions on wheat and flour supplies from Punjab remain in place despite repeated efforts by the provincial government to have them removed. As per a news report, prices of special fine flour, fine flour and mixed flour have risen by as much as Rs100 per 20kg bag in local markets amid the continued disruption in supplies. The KP government has approached both the federal and Punjab governments over the issue, while the provincial Food Department has also written letters seeking restoration of wheat and flour supplies. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has also passed a resolution over the restrictions, while Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has contacted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seeking his intervention. Despite these measures, supplies from Punjab have yet to be restored, keeping pressure on flour prices in the province. The issue has persisted for months. KP officials have previously accused Punjab of restricting inter-provincial movement of wheat and flour, while the province remains dependent on supplies from elsewhere to meet a substantial portion of its wheat requirements. Punjab officials have previously disputed allegations of a ban on inter-provincial wheat and flour movement, maintaining that transportation continues under a permit and monitoring system.
on its assets, while attacks on several energy facilities in Saudi Arabia heightened fears of a broader escalation in the region. According to PSX data, the market opened in negative territory but avoided a steep decline during the early session. Selling intensified after 12 pm, pushing the KSE100 to an intraday low of 171,490.63 points, down around 2,145 points by 1:30 pm. Selling was broad-based, affecting apparel, automobile assemblers, automobile parts and accessories, cement, chemicals,
exchange-traded funds, fertiliser, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies and oil marketing companies. At close, the index settled at 172,642.16, down by 993.91 points or 0.57% from the previous close. Tuesday’s decline followed another weak session on Monday, when broad-based selling across major sectors weighed on the market amid investor caution. The benchmark KSE-100 Index had lost 1,692.74 points, or 0.97%, on Monday to close at 173,636.08 points, with selling par-
Oil prices hit multi-week highs on Tuesday after Iran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi energy facilities and Tehran threatened the United States with "economic warfare". Brent crude futures were up $2.00, or 2.06%, at $99.00 a barrel by 0800 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $94.41 a barrel, up $2.93, or 3.2%. Brent earlier rose to as much as $99.22 a barrel, its highest since July 24, while WTI reached $94.60 a barrel, its highest since June 8.
ticularly evident in commercial banks, oil and gas and cement stocks. Global stocks fell and the Japanese yen strengthened on Tuesday as attacks on energy facilities around the Gulf pushed Brent crude towards $100 a barrel, while copper prices climbed to record highs. European equities declined, with the STOXX 600 down 0.4%. S&P 500 futures fell 0.3%, while Nasdaq futures gained 0.1% ahead of Wall Street’s reopening following a long weekend.
Punjab launches satellite-based air quality forecasting system, plans 100 monitoring stations g
upgradEd aQi daShboard combinES data from 59 monitoring StationS, SatEllitES and wEathEr SyStEmS to idEntify pollution hotSpotS; nEtworK to Expand to 100 StationS PROFIT
Monitoring report
The Punjab Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EP&CCD) has added satellite-based monitoring and forecasting capabilities to its real-time air quality dashboard, enabling authorities to identify pollution hotspots and predict air quality changes in the coming hours and days. The new features were launched in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
(ICIMOD) on the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. The upgraded AQI Punjab Dashboard will combine information from ground monitoring stations, satellites, weather data and air pollution forecasting systems to track pollution sources and hotspots across the province. The platform currently receives realtime data automatically from 59 air quality monitoring stations (AQMS) installed across Punjab, without human intervention. EPA Punjab Director General Abdullah
Nayyar Sheikh said the province’s monitoring network had expanded from just three stations in Lahore in 2024 to 59 stations across Punjab. The government plans to increase the network to 100 stations. He said the expanded monitoring infrastructure was being accompanied by measures to curb pollution, including mist cannons to suppress fugitive dust and increased sector-wise enforcement against major emission sources. According to Sheikh, the new system will allow government departments to
Qatari LNG tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz, heads to Pakistan’s Port Qasim g
al marrouna could arrivE at port QaSim on thurSday, raiSing proSpEctS of widEr Qatar’S EnErgy ExportS rESumption amid rEgional Supply diSruptionS PROFIT
Monitoring report
The Al Marrouna LNG tanker has crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is heading towards Pakistan’s Port Qasim, marking a rare transit as Qatari LNG exports remain heavily disrupted by the regional conflict, Bloomberg reported. The vessel was in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday morning local time and was signalling Port Qasim as its next destination, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. It has a potential arrival date of Thursday and continued broadcasting its location while passing through Hormuz. The transit comes as several empty Qatari LNG tankers have begun heading back towards the Persian Gulf, suggesting Qatar may be positioning vessels for a potential resumption of exports through the strategic waterway
despite the latest escalation between the US and Iran. Qatar accounted for around onefifth of global LNG exports before the war but had largely halted shipments after one of its LNG tankers was attacked in late July. Outbound LNG flows from the Persian Gulf nevertheless remain well below the pre-war level of three shipments per day. The disruption has pushed gas prices in Europe and Asia to their highest levels in more than three years in recent days, following renewed attacks on vessels and continued constraints on Qatari exports. A broader resumption of Qatari LNG flows could provide relief to price-sensitive South Asian markets, including Pakistan, which have faced supply shortages and power outages. Iran said on Monday that an agreement with Oman over management of
shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was imminent. Traders are assessing the implications of a potential arrangement, including whether it could strengthen Tehran’s control over the waterway and how the US might respond. Qatar last month extended force majeure on LNG deliveries to European and Asian customers into October, contributing to elevated international gas prices. However, the country has continued loading LNG onto available empty tankers inside the Gulf and exporting supplies to Kuwait. The arrangement has allowed Qatar to manage storage levels while keeping parts of its large LNG export complex operating at minimum levels. Maintaining some production also keeps equipment operational and gives state-owned QatarEnergy greater flexibility to ramp up exports if tensions around the Strait of Hormuz ease.
PSMA says mills face cash shortage to pay farmers as surplus sugar remains unsold g
aSSociation SEEKS Export approval for 1 million tonnES of SurpluS Sugar, Saying ovErSEaS SalES could gEnEratE $700-800m ahEad of nEw cruShing SEaSon PROFIT
Monitoring report
The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) has said sugar mills are facing an acute cash shortage for payments to farmers and other expenses as one million tonnes of surplus sugar remains unsold, urging the government to allow exports that it estimates could generate between $700 million and $800 million. In a statement, a PSMA spokesperson said the government had confirmed the availability of surplus sugar stocks during multiple meetings but was delaying a decision on the industry’s request to export them. The association said mills were bearing additional costs, including bank mark-ups, for holding surplus stocks in their warehouses, further adding to
their financial burden. On Monday, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) issued an international tender to sell and export 107,739 metric tonnes of white refined sugar from stocks imported last year after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the export on August 20. According to the PSMA, only two months remain until the sugarcane harvest and the start of the new crushing season, while mills face an acute shortage of cash required for payments to farmers, maintenance and repair of plant and machinery, salary disbursements and other expenses. The industry estimates sugar production from the new crop at 8 million tonnes. However, the association said accommodating the new season’s production would be difficult because
warehouses were already holding a surplus of 1 million tonnes. The PSMA said sugar production costs had increased manifold due to continuous increases in sugarcane prices, taxes, wages and the cost of imported chemicals, while sugar prices remained well below production costs. It added that mill warehouses were overflowing with surplus sugar and there were no buyers in the market. The association said it had repeatedly raised these issues, but the federal government had yet to respond positively to the industry’s demands. With international market conditions currently favourable, the PSMA urged the government to immediately allow exports of the surplus, estimating that they could generate between $700 million and $800 million in revenue.
identify areas experiencing high pollution levels, prepare for severe pollution episodes and take timely measures to control emissions. The department said improved access to accurate and timely information would strengthen air pollution monitoring, forecasting, public information and the government’s response to deteriorating air quality. The initiative is supported by ICIMOD’s Himalayan Resilience Enabling Action Programme (HI-REAP), funded by the UK Department for International Development through its Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) initiative. The AQI Punjab Dashboard is also the first platform of its kind in Pakistan to receive international recognition from ICIMOD.
Federal govt to develop seven roads spanning 464km in Gilgit-Baltistan to boost tourism
nha to construct, widen, rehabilitate and maintain seven road links with federal funding after cabinet approval; tourist toll proposed with exemption for gb residents PROFIT
Monitoring report
The federal government has identified seven roads spanning 464 kilometres across GilgitBaltistan for federalisation under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s tourism initiative, with the National Highway Authority (NHA) proposed to take responsibility for their development and maintenance, Dawn reported, citing official sources. The identified routes comprise the 54km AstoreChilim Chowki Road, 31km Deosai-Skardu Road, 100km Skardu-Khaplu Road, 17km Skardu (Thorgu)-Shigar Road and 36km Karakoram Highway-Naltar to Satrangi Lake Road. The remaining two routes, the 121km Thalichi-Astore-Rattu-Shounter Road and 105km Gorikot-Shagarthang-Skardu Road, are already under construction. The proposal has been approved by the GB cabinet and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed. It will now be placed before the federal cabinet for approval, the official said. Once approved, the NHA will assume responsibility for the construction, widening, rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of all seven roads, with funding to be provided by the federal government. These costs were previously borne by the GB government. The plan also proposes introducing a toll for tourists visiting GB while providing a blanket exemption to local residents. Revenue generated from the toll would be used to improve the region’s road network. The initiative comes as frequent landslides, mudflows, heavy rainfall, avalanches, flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) regularly disrupt road connectivity across the mountainous region. Tourism industry representatives welcomed the proposal, saying frequent road closures leave tourists and residents stranded and undermine the region’s tourism potential. GB Association of Tour Operators President Ikram Baig said better road management could boost tourism by reducing delays in restoring connectivity after blockages. GB Tourism Minister Naiknaam Karim said accessibility was critical to tourism development and that the NHA could improve management of the road network with greater resources if the federal government assumed responsibility.
ADB to expand support for Punjab’s agriculture, health, education and water projects g
punjab, adb diScuSS Support for hoSpitalS, School labS, nurSing Education and concESSional farm machinEry loanS; 2,000 morE ElEctric buSES plannEd with banK’S Support PROFIT
Monitoring report
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to expand cooperation with Punjab across clean drinking water, agriculture, technical skills, health and education, as the provincial government seeks support for a range of development and infrastructure projects.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and ADB Vice President Ying Ming Yang. The two sides discussed potential ADB support for cardiac, children’s and cancer hospitals in the province, alongside cooperation in nursing education and the establishment of laboratories in schools. Concessional financing arrangements to
help farmers purchase agricultural machinery were also discussed. Maryam said development projects across Punjab were progressing rapidly and that another 2,000 electric buses would be operating on the province’s roads by next year with ADB support. “Health projects are among our priorities and will be completed soon to facilitate the people,” she said.
The chief minister also thanked the ADB for organising the Punjab Agri-Food Investment Forum. During the meeting, Maryam described the Punjab Economic Transformation Plan as a “game changer” for agricultural development and economic growth. She said the provincial government was working to increase cultivation of oilseeds, pulses and fruits while improving agricul-
tural financing and cold-chain infrastructure. “Punjab is Pakistan’s food basket and, with its growing workforce, is also emerging as a hub of industrial development,” she said. The chief minister said Punjab wanted to further strengthen Pakistan’s long-term partnership with the ADB and highlighted the provincial government’s broader reform programme covering governance, service delivery, economic recovery and growth. Under the Punjab Investment and ValueOriented Transformation initiative, the provincial government is seeking to promote value addition, exports, skills development and private-sector investment, she added.
NEWS 03
Wednesday, 9 September, 2026 | lAHoRE
ATTACKS ON SEVERAL SAUDI ENERGY SITES SPARK FIRES, TEMPORARILY HALT OPERATIONS; 73 WOUNDED
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sector facilities and installations in the kingdom’s southern region were targeted during the morning. The attacks caused fires at several locations and led to a temporary halt in some operations, according to the ministry. Specialised field teams were deployed to contain the fires, secure the affected sites and assess the damage. The ministry did not identify the affected facilities, disclose how many had temporarily halted operations or provide an estimate of physical or financial losses.
PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
OUTHI attacks on several energy facilities and installations in southern Saudi Arabia sparked fires and temporarily halted some operations on Tuesday, while attacks across four cities wounded at least 73 people, escalating concerns over the security of Gulf energy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said in an official statement that several energy-
Reuters also reported that operations at some Saudi energy facilities had been halted following the attacks. The ministry said several citizens and residents suffered injuries of varying severity and were receiving medical treatment as follow-up operations continued. Authorities were continuing to deal with the repercussions of the attacks and taking measures to ensure the safety of facilities and personnel, while maintaining continuity of operations in accordance with approved operational plans, the ministry added.
Separately, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said at least 73 people were wounded in Houthi attacks on the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, with women and children among those injured. Colonel Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the coalition, described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and said the coalition would take operational measures to deter the Houthis and respond to further attacks. The attacks come amid mounting con-
Pakistan more capable of weathering Hormuz shock than 2022 oil crisis, Moody’s analyst says PROFIT STAFF REPORT
Pakistan is better equipped to withstand the economic shock from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz than it was during the 2022 oil price crisis, with two years of macroeconomic stabilisation providing greater buffers against external pressures, Moody’s Assistant Vice President Lim said while speaking to a state media digital platform. Lim said lower inflation, a stable exchange rate and higher foreign exchange reserves had strengthened Pakistan’s
ability to absorb the fallout from the Middle East conflict. “Pakistan has been more resilient, more able to absorb this shock from the Middle East conflict this time around, compared to say in 2022, where there was an oil price shock,” Lim said. She attributed the improved resilience to economic gains accumulated before the latest disruption. “Lower inflation, stable exchange rates, higher foreign exchange reserves, that gives them the buffer, that gives them better shock absorption capacity,” she said. The assessment comes days after
Moody’s upgraded Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating to B3 while maintaining a stable outlook. According to Lim, three factors underpinned the rating upgrade: improvements in governance, a stronger external position and better fiscal metrics. “We upgraded Pakistan’s rating to reflect our expectation that the improvements in its governance will allow the government to sustain the recent strengthening of its external position and fiscal metrics,” she said. However, Lim cautioned that Pakistan’s sovereign credit profile remains vulnerable despite the improvement.
SECP, Askari Bank link systems to speed up corporate account opening PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Newly incorporated companies will be able to open corporate bank accounts with fewer documents following the integration of Askari Bank Limited’s systems with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s corporate registry. Askari Bank is the first commercial bank to complete the application pro-
gramming interface integration with the registry, the SECP said in a statement issued on Tuesday. The digital link will provide the bank with secure access to authenticated corporate information maintained by the regulator, reducing the need for companies to submit the same documents repeatedly. The facility is also expected to cut manual verification and customer onboarding time, enabling newly registered
Petrol, diesel prices hiked again as fuel shocks deepen for consumers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
HSD is extensively used by trucks, buses, commercial transport, agricultural machinery and other heavy vehicles, making diesel prices an important component of transportation and production costs. Higher diesel prices can increase the cost of moving agricultural produce, food items, industrial raw materials and manufactured goods across the country. Transport operators facing higher fuel expenses may seek to recover the additional cost through higher freight charges, which can eventually put further pressure on consumers. The latest increase is particularly significant for consumers because it follows the Rs12.90 per litre increase in petrol and Rs3.72 per litre increase in HSD announced for September 8. As a result, consumers are facing another increase in fuel costs within a very short period, putting further pressure on household budgets and business operating expenses. The successive increases could also have wider economic consequences as higher transportation costs tend to feed into the prices of goods and services. For already burdened households, any increase in commuting expenses, public transport fares or prices of essential commodities can further squeeze disposable incomes.
businesses to open bank accounts and begin operations more quickly. SECP Commissioner Muzaffar Mirza and Askari Bank Group Head Retail Banking Shaikh Rashid Rauf signed the agreement. SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said the initiative formed part of the commission’s digitalisation and BREADY reforms to simplify business procedures, improve access to reliable
She said the B3 rating continues to reflect a structurally fragile external position, including Pakistan’s relatively small export base and limited foreign direct investment. “Our B3 rating still incorporates credit constraints and a structurally fragile external position. It still has a small export base, limited foreign direct investment,” Lim said. Debt affordability also remains a constraint, she said, despite signs of improvement. The measure reflects the proportion of government revenue absorbed by interest payments, limiting the fiscal space available for other expenditure.
corporate information and make it easier to establish and operate companies in Pakistan. The commission plans to establish similar digital connections with other banks and financial institutions as part of its broader ease-of-doing-business programme. The signing ceremony was attended by SECP commissioners Muzaffar Mirza and Zeeshan Khattak, Executive Director Mubashir Saddozai and Registrar of Companies Arsalan Zafar. Askari Bank President and CEO Zia Ijaz, Group Executive Operations Aslam Sadaruddin and other officials also attended the ceremony.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia deepen cybersecurity cooperation as startups secure $400,000 investment, tech deals CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Office Flow AI, meanwhile, signed an Incubation Partnership Agreement with Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV), which the ministry described as one of Saudi Arabia’s leading technology ecosystems. The partnership will focus on developing and scaling Office Flow AI’s AI-powered business automation platform across the region. Office Flow AI separately signed an agreement with MIS Arabia, a Saudi technology services company serving major clients including Aramco and SABIC. Eight Pakistani startups also graduated from Cohort 01 of AstroLabs LEAP, a 12-week soft-landing accelerator delivered through BridgeStart Pakistan, Ignite and AstroLabs, with support from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication. During her visit, Khawaja delivered a keynote address titled “How We Built a Digital Nation”, outlining Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda. She highlighted the Digital
Nation Pakistan Act and investments in connectivity, including what the ministry described as one of the region’s largest 5G spectrum auctions. The minister also discussed reforms aimed at attracting technology investment under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s digitalisation agenda and with the facilitation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). Khawaja also participated in a panel discussion titled “Governing Growth: Building Human-Centered Digital Economies in an AIDriven Era”. The panel brought together ministers from Algeria, Barbados, Eswatini and Syria, along with Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) Secretary General Deemah AlYahya. The IT minister also held a series of bilateral meetings with government officials and technology executives on the sidelines of the conference. She met Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha
and Algerian Minister of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Microenterprise Dr Noureddine Ouadah. Khawaja also held talks with South Korean Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-Hoon and DCO Secretary General Deemah AlYahya. Her meetings with Saudi technology and digital-sector officials included National Technology Development Program (NTDP) CEO Ibrahim Neyaz, Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) President Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, and National Cybersecurity Authority Governor Eng. Majed bin Mohammed AlMazyed. Khawaja also met Go Telecom CEO Yahya Saleh Al Mansour, MOZN CEO Dr Mohammed Alhussein and Monsha’at Deputy Governor Saud Khalid AlSabhan. The meetings formed part of Pakistan’s broader effort at LEAP 2026 to promote its digital talent and technology ecosystem, build international partnerships and attract investment into the sector.
NEPRA clears final regulatory hurdle for 400MW competitive power market auction PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a uniform structure for Use of System Charges (UoSC) for bulk power consumers of distribution companies and KElectric, clearing a major hurdle for the launch of Pakistan’s competitive wholesale electricity market. According to NEPRA, the decision has been sent to the federal government for notification in the official Gazette within 30 calendar days, as required under Section 31(7) of the NEPRA Act. If the federal government fails to notify the decision within the prescribed period, NEPRA will notify it in the official Gazette itself. The decision is expected to pave the way for the federal government to auction 400 megawatts of electricity in the first phase under the competitive wheeling framework, compared with the 200MW initially planned. The move is being seen as an important step towards changing the way electricity is bought and sold in Pakistan, allowing eligible industrial consumers to purchase power from suppliers of their choice instead of depending solely on the traditional single-buyer system.
NEPRA decided after examining proposals and comments submitted by the Power Division, Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO), K-Electric and other stakeholders on the determination and settlement of UoSC. The discussions covered interDISCO differences, cross-subsidies, and transmission and distribution losses, all of which were considered important for establishing a uniform charging structure for consumers using the open-access system. The Power Division had maintained that any difference between DISCOs resulting from the uniform application of UoSC should not be charged exclusively to consumers opting for wheeling. In its communication to NEPRA, the Power Division supported a mechanism under which such differences would instead be settled between DISCOs, similar to the existing arrangement for maintaining a uniform electricity tariff for end consumers. ISMO and K-Electric, however, raised concerns over the proposal, arguing that charging the differences to wheeling consumers could result in different charges for open-access consumers and similarly placed consumers supplied by suppliers of last resort. They also maintained that such a
mechanism could be inconsistent with the National Electricity Policy 2021 and the National Electricity Plan 2023-27. After considering the positions of the stakeholders, NEPRA concluded that the key principle should be to ensure that open-access consumers are charged the same UoSC as similarly placed consumers supplied by suppliers of last resort. The regulator therefore agreed that inter-DISCO differences should not be imposed exclusively on wheeling consumers, as doing so could undermine the principles of uniformity and non-discrimination. NEPRA also approved uniform transmission and distribution loss factors for open-access consumers. At the 11kV level, the regulator determined a uniform loss factor of 8.04 per cent, lower than the 8.42 per cent proposed by the Power Division. For consumers connected at 132kV, a uniform loss factor of 1.51 per cent was approved. Under the approved structure, variable grid charges for consumers participating in the competitive wheeling auction will range from Rs6.23 to Rs19.62 per unit, depending on the consumer category. A fixed grid charge of Rs1 per kilowatt per month, based on sanctioned
load, will also apply. The approved variable UoSC has been set at Rs6.23 per unit for B-3 consumers, Rs9.09 for B-4, Rs14.95 for C3, Rs19.62 for C-2(a), Rs17.74 for C-2(b), Rs19.14 for A-2(c), Rs19.10 for A-3 and Rs6.72 for D-2(b). These charges include transmission charges, distribution charges and crosssubsidy. For B-3 consumers, for example, the Rs6.23 per-unit charge includes Rs1.60 in transmission charges, Rs1.99 in distribution charges and Rs2.63 in cross-subsidy. For B-4 consumers, the Rs9.09 charge includes Rs1.26 in transmission charges, Rs2.78 in distribution charges and Rs5.05 in cross-subsidy. NEPRA has also approved strandedcost charges for consumers who opt for open access without participating in the competitive wheeling auction. The stranded-cost component has been set at Rs12.94 per unit for consumers connected at 11kV and Rs16.35 per unit for consumers connected at 132kV or 66kV. With the addition of stranded costs, the total variable UoSC will stand at Rs19.17 per unit for B-3 consumers, Rs25.45 for B-4, Rs31.30 for C-3, Rs32.56 for C-2(a), Rs30.68 for C-2(b), Rs32.08 for A-2(c), Rs32.04 for A-3 and Rs19.66 for D-2(b).
cerns over regional energy supplies as the Iran conflict increasingly affects oil infrastructure and maritime routes. Iran had warned a day earlier that energy infrastructure across the Gulf, including US oil and gas interests, remained vulnerable to attacks. The latest attacks add to existing concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has continued to restrict traffic. Only seven commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Monday, compared with eight on Sunday, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters.
PM condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, reaffirms ‘unwavering solidarity’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
At least 73 civilians were injured in the latest Houthi attacks, the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen said Tuesday, as Riyadh warned against continued attacks targeting civilians and commercial shipping. The attacks also caused a temporary halt to some operations at the targeted sites, the ministry said, adding that specialised teams had begun containing the fires and securing the affected facilities. The latest attacks came as Yemeni government forces reported significant battlefield gains on Monday across four separate fronts. The developments followed Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi’s pledge to sustain military operations until state authority was fully restored. The renewed fighting has raised fears of a return to full-scale conflict, disrupting a relative lull that had prevailed since April 2022. Yemen has suffered nearly 12 years of war since the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014. The Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia, the principal external actor backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government, announced a mission in July to form an international maritime alliance. Pakistan’s latest condemnation comes amid heightened regional security concerns, with Islamabad reiterating its clear position in support of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security while calling for the protection of civilian lives and regional peace.
Pakistan reaffirms commitment to international nuclear safety, security standards CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
He also noted progress in adherence to and participation in the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). In this context, Dr. Anwar highlighted Pakistan’s contribution to strengthening global nuclear safety, noting that Pakistan served as President of the 10th Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, held in April 2026. He expressed confidence that the recommendations emerging from the Review Meeting would make a significant contribution to further enhancing nuclear safety globally. The PAEC chairman also underscored Pakistan’s continued cooperation and partnership with the IAEA in the fields of nuclear safety and security. He noted that Pakistani experts had contributed during 2026 to an IAEA-coordinated emergency exercise in the Philippines, as well as to an International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) Mission to China. Highlighting Pakistan’s contribution to regional capacity building, Dr. Anwar said the National Institute of Safety and Security (NISAS), an IAEA Collaborating Centre, continued to support regional Member States by hosting IAEA-sponsored activities. He further highlighted the role of the Pakistan Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Security (PCENS), which, under a Practical Arrangement with the IAEA, had evolved into a regional hub for capacity building among Member States in the field of nuclear security.
04 COMMENT
Climate change and the glacier challenge
Wednesday, 9 September, 2026
GM foods
G
Now that they have been let in, the country must get in on the action
The Paris agreement target still holds good
ENETICALLY Modified seeds have been permitted by a cabinet to be grown in Pakistan, but the companies selling those seeds will have to undergo a licensing process afresh. With at least 40 countries around the world having some rules or regulations partially or completely banning the entry of GM seeds, Pakistan has joined the rest of the world willing to take a chance. The consequences of the Cabinet committee decision have been explored in this week’s issue of this newspaper’s weekly Profit magazine, which shows that After all, GM seeds are not doing anything all that different from the more traditional hybrid seeds. Genetic modification does involve introducing games from another species in the new seeds. This transposition of genes has created concerns about the healthiness of these seeds and their products, but so far it seems there have been no deleterious effects. There have been some rumblings that the introduction of GM seeds into the food chain may have something to do with increased autism, but there has been no evidence in this regard. This seems to be more a smear tactic by the Luddites, spiritual descendants of those rioters who destroyed textile machinery in the United Kingdom back in the 18th century. There may well a number of issues surrounding GM seeds, but without their deployment, and without further developing them, there is little chance of feeding the population, which is expected to reach 9 billion worldwide by 2050. Hybrid seed research produced the Mexipak variety in the 1960s, which enabled the world to overcome the hunger it was facing as the world faced a population explosion. Why should Pakistani scientists not put themselves at the forefront of GM research into wheat, rice and cotton? At the moment, the seed companies are making the running, It is time the scientists got involved. Apart from profits, national food security is involved. Amd its needs must be met. At the same time, the consumer must also be safeguarded. Foods such as cooking oil must be labelled as being made from GM corn, as should chickens fed GM seed. GM-free products would probably be sold at a premium, and when customers notice that those consuming GM foods suffer no ill effects, they would switch, and ultimately the premium would disappear.
T
Dr Omer JaveD
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 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
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
Beyond defense spending M. A. Niazi
Babar Nizami
Editor Pakistan Today
Editor Profit
The changing US-China military balance
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Ume SUleat KaKar
ASHINGTON still spends nearly three times what Beijing does on defense, and by that measure alone, the USA looks comfortably ahead in the world’s most consequential military rivalry. Nevertheless, that comfort is an illusion. China’s armed forces have never fought a major war since 1979. Yet in May 2025, Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C fighters, armed with Chinese PL-15 missiles, were reported to have shot down an Indian aircraft, including a Rafale, considered among the world’s most capable, during aerial combat between India and Pakistan. Eight months later, China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced that the export-model J-10CE had achieved its “first combat success.” At the same time, America’s own military, genuinely battle-tested, is straining under overstretch and turning inward toward the homeland. The real contest between these two powers was never just about who spends more. It is about which system is actually built to survive a real fight. The US defence budget just crossed the trillion-dollar mark for the first time, $1.011 trillion for fiscal year 2026. That headline number sounds decisive. However, the figure is misleading to some extent. Of that total, $848.3 billion constitutes the regular base defence budget. While $119.3 billion was provided through what Congress named the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, a one-time reconciliation package. Hence, the total spending does not represent a permanent increase in the annual US defence baseline. Even Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker argued that what looks like a stable funding on paper is effectively a budget cut after inflation. At the same time the Military Balance 2026 reports that defence spending as a share of GDP has dropped from 3.62 percent in 2020 to 3.01 percent in 2025 for five straight years, despite the continued rise in nominal defence spending. The one-time appropriation is not fixing the deeper problem either. Submarine and carrier programmes are running years behind schedule, while the two American shipyards that build them cannot keep pace with demand. And increasingly, the military’s attention is turning homeward, toward the southern border and the
Western Hemisphere, even as the Pacific remains the decisive theatre. China’s defense budget tells a quieter story, deliberately so. According to the Military Balance 2026, Beijing’s core 2025 defense budget rose by 7.2 percent to approximately $251.3 billion, marking the tenth straight year of singledigit growth. Add local militia funding and R&D, and total military expenditure reaches $340.8 billion. China’s core spending sits at just 1.3 percent of GDP, rising to 1.8 percent when broader military spending is counted. Both numbers are well under half the US ratio. That restraint isn’t a weakness. It gives Beijing strategic headroom. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) remains a rapidly modernizing force and 2025 brought the commissioning of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian. In June 2025, it staged its first dual-carrier exercise beyond the second island chain, a symbolic line the PLA Navy had never crossed before. China has mapped out its rise with the “2027 centenary goal”, the “2035 modernization target”, and a “world-class military by 2049”. Additionally, China’s defense-import bill has fallen by more than two-thirds since 2020, as domestic factories replace Russian imports. The PLA has not fought a major war since 1979. Its equipment, increasingly, has. Set the two militaries side by side. America fields 1.34 million active troops. China fields 2.035 million, on a fraction of the budget. The
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.’ 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 lake-related flooding across the broader Hindu Kush Himalaya region is expected to roughly triple by the end of the century.’ This, indeed, calls for much-more 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. 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
Editor’s mail
country spending less is fielding the larger force. The deeper gap is structural, not financial. It suggests two governments making very different bets. Washington is busy fixing today’s crises, while Beijing is betting on the longer game. This is the asymmetry that should worry planners most, two militaries carrying opposite kinds of danger. The USA’s force is battle-tested, but it is stretched thin. China, by contrast, is growing more confident in its capabilities. The real danger lies in what each side believes it can do. And history offers a blunt lesson: wars rarely start because one side knows it’s stronger. They start when both sides believe they might be. None of this means war is coming. It means the comfortable story, that the USA is leading and China is catching up. The gap is manageable, was never the full picture. More than 2000 years ago, Sun Tzu wrote, “every battle is won before it is fought.” By that measure, the strategic rivalry is not on any battlefield yet. It is determined by whether a nation can build what it needs, sustain what it builds, and know its own limits before an adversary tests them. That contest is unfolding in shipyards, factories, and budget offices, and neither side can say with certainty that it is winning. That uncertainty, not the size of either budget, is what should keep policymakers on both sides of the Pacific awake at night.
The writer is currently associated with the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad. She can be reached at: umesuleat@gmail.com
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
Stinking oversight
THE Karachi chapter of the Arts Council of Pakistan has earned a reasonable reputation as a place where arts and culture are allowed to flourish and thrive. This is definitely good for society at large, and those running the show deserve due acknowledgment. However, the job is apparently so hectic, time-consuming and stressful that the administration is unable to find the time or the focus to keep its washrooms clean. I recently had the misfortune of visiting the place after several years in connection with a fund-raising event for a charity hospital in Karachi’s Koohi Goth area. The programme, which also featured an Urdu theater play, lasted a few hours. Visiting the washrooms, as such, was an inevitability that could not be put on hold beyond a limit. To call the smell merely ‘foul’ would be a rank understatement. All sorts of adjectives hit my senses the moment I stepped in. Pungent, acrid, putrid, acerbic, stinking and many more; all blended into one ‘Arts Councilish’ odour. It was noxious to the point of being obnoxious. I am sure the cause of arts and culture can still be served with clean and fragrant washrooms. All that the administration has to do is to at least try. Once it does, it will be surprised to know that the two targets are not mutually exclusive. Just try. DR SYED SHAH TALHA IQBAL KARACHI
Karachi collapse
THE latest Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index has ranked Karachi 170th out of 173 cities. Sadly, this comes as no surprise to those of us who live here. I have travelled across Pakistan, and I can say with confidence that no other major city is in such a poor state. Karachi no longer feels like a city; it feels like a vast, neglected slum. Every day we deal with broken roads, garbage piling up, and water and electricity shortages. Despite all this, the Sindh government keeps making tall claims. But the truth is plain to see. The provincial government’s performance is all around us, and it is pathetic. Karachi has incredible potential, and its people are hardworking and resilient. We need serious action and real leadership before things get even worse. The recent Karachi ranking should be an eye-opener for the Sindh government. But I think this is something too much to ask. SAAD ALI KARACHI
Tax houdinis By that measure, the strategic rivalry is not on any battlefield yet. It is determined by whether a nation can build what it needs, sustain what it builds, and know its own limits before an adversary tests them. That contest is unfolding in shipyards, factories, and budget offices, and neither side can say with certainty that it is winning.
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IRRESPECTIVE of which political party, or dictator, happens to be at the helm of affairs at any given point in time, the targets of political economy have always overruled economic imperatives. Those who have the muscle and the clout continue to evade taxes under state patronage. Beyond rhetoric, no government has ever done anything concrete to make the elite pay taxes. To fill the gap, all that the governments have ever done is to impose indirect taxes, which is a way of passing on the burden to those who survive from pay-cheque to pay-cheque, and those who afford nothing more than two square meals a day and some level of basic education for their children. All through the subsequent year, they hear the usual pep talk of the ruling elite that justice would be done the next year. After all, someone has to make a sacrifice, and it seems it is their destiny to be the nation’s sacrificial lambs. The lower and middle classes of the country must be prepared to make sacrifices for the nation so that our non-tax-paying elite continue to lead their luxurious lifestyles, be beneficiaries of subsidised land allotments, play golf and, of course, spend their vacations abroad. MALIK TARIQ ALI LAHORE
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COMMENT 05
Do not turn Pakistan’s provinces against each other Wednesday, 9 September, 2026
A disturbing element that should not have been introduced
P
QaMar Bashir
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s statement that Punjab faces a greater security threat from adjoining Pakistani provinces than from neighbouring countries is far more consequential than an ordinary observation about law and order. By arguing that terrorism, organised crime and other threats enter Punjab through its inter-provincial boundaries, she has introduced a disturbing dimension into Pakistan’s security discourse. Pakistan’s provinces are components of one federation, not independent territories confronting one another across hostile frontiers. Any suggestion that one province must view the others principally through the prism of security risks transforming an administrative challenge into a dangerous political and national question. The implications become even more serious when her argument is followed to its logical conclusion. If Punjab is being portrayed as relatively peaceful, secure and progressive while terrorism, crime and instability are flowing towards it from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh or other Pakistani territories, responsibility cannot simply end at those provincial boundaries. It raises questions about the provincial administrations, the federal government, the bureaucracy and the national security institutions responsible for maintaining order throughout Pakistan. In that sense, the statement inadvertently casts doubt on the performance of the entire governmental structure outside Punjab. That inference reaches directly to the federal government headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz’s uncle and a leader of the same political party. Islamabad possesses federal law-enforcement bodies, intelligence agencies and counterterrorism institutions, while national security remains inseparable from the responsibilities of the state. If neighbouring provinces have deteriorated to such an extent that they constitute a greater danger to Punjab than foreign countries, the federal government cannot escape
the resulting question: why has it failed to prevent those territories from becoming conduits for terrorism, organised crime and instability? The greater danger, however, lies not in the immediate controversy but in the precedent it can establish. If Punjab begins defining its internal problems by pointing towards neighbouring provinces, those provinces can employ exactly the same reasoning against Punjab. Sindh can revive complaints about economic concentration and control over national decision-making. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can raise questions about resources, security policies and the enormous price it has paid for wars against terrorism. Balochistan can respond with grievances concerning natural resources, political representation, military operations and missing persons. Once provincial blame becomes politically legitimate, Pakistan possesses enough unresolved historical grievances to sustain that argument indefinitely. Punjab itself could then become the target of precisely the kind of collective attribution now being generated by this controversy. Critics elsewhere could begin identifying the provincial origins of military officers, senior bureaucrats, politicians or business interests and attributing institutional decisions to Punjab as a whole. They could revisit disputes over wheat movement, agricultural commodities, water distribution, federal resources or economic policy and portray them as deliberate acts by one province against another. Such reasoning would be profoundly unfair, but that is exactly why political leaders must not legitimize the principle of collective provincial responsibility in the first place. Pakistan cannot afford such a blame game. The Pakistan Army is a national institution and cannot be reduced to the provincial origins of
individual officers or soldiers. Federal institutions belong equally to every Pakistani. Likewise, terrorists operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do not represent its people; criminal gangs in Sindh do not represent Sindhis; and militants operating in Balochistan do not speak for Baloch citizens. Once governments abandon these distinctions, individual criminality becomes provincial guilt, administrative disagreements acquire ethnic identities, and national institutions themselves become vulnerable to dangerous provincial interpretations. There is also a basic question of governmental responsibility. If terrorism enters Punjab, the Punjab government has every right to strengthen checkpoints, improve intelligence, deploy technology and demand cooperation from neighbouring administrations. Maryam Nawaz has every right to highlight improvements made under her administration. Punjab has invested in surveillance technology, policing, infrastructure and digitally enabled governance, and a chief minister naturally wants to demonstrate the effectiveness of those initiatives. But Punjab’s achievements require no comparison that diminishes other provinces. The strongest demonstration of successful governance would be for Punjab to use its resources and experience to strengthen national coordination, share technology and intelligence, and help create security systems capable of operating seamlessly across provincial boundaries. Pakistan was conceived as a federation whose constituent units possess different histories, languages, cultures, resources and political experiences but share a common national destiny. Punjab’s prosperity cannot ultimately be insulated from instability in Balochistan, terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or economic distress in Sindh. Karachi’s economic strength
Every Pakistani province must be able to regard the progress of another as a national achievement and its suffering as a national responsibility. The moment Pakistan’s provinces begin treating one another as threats, the terrorists and extremists who seek to fracture the country will have achieved something they could never accomplish on their own
benefits Lahore; Punjab’s agricultural production feeds the country; Balochistan’s resources and strategic geography serve national interests; and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s security protects Pakistan’s western approaches. Treating these interdependencies as vulnerabilities rather than strengths misunderstands the very structure of the federation. Pakistan’s history should make its leaders particularly cautious about rhetoric that accentuates provincial alienation. The country has already experienced the catastrophic consequences of allowing political grievances, unequal treatment and regional distrust to overwhelm a common national identity. The lesson of that history is not that provincial differences should be suppressed, but that they must be addressed through dignity, constitutional equality, equitable development and political accommodation. A federation becomes stronger when its constituent units believe that another province’s progress adds to their own rather than occurring at their expense. The appropriate response to Maryam Nawaz’s statement, therefore, is not an equally provocative response from Sindh, Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. That would merely accelerate the cycle this editorial warns against. Political leaders across Pakistan should instead reaffirm that terrorists cannot be assigned a provincial character and that security cannot be achieved by shifting responsibility across Pakistan’s internal boundaries. Militants, smugglers and organised criminals must be identified as individuals and networks, pursued wherever they operate and confronted through coordinated national institutions rather than converted into symbols of entire populations. The real question is consequently not which province exports terrorism, crime or instability to another. The question is why Pakistan’s collective administrative and security machinery allows these threats to survive, move, finance themselves and cross
jurisdictions in the first place. That question belongs equally to provincial governments, Islamabad, law-enforcement agencies and the national security establishment. Accountability should travel upward towards institutions entrusted with authority, not outward towards millions of citizens who happen to live on the other side of an administrative boundary. Maryam Nawaz’s remarks should therefore become an opportunity to correct the direction of the debate rather than deepen it. Punjab’s security is inseparable from peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stability in Balochistan, prosperity in Sindh and cohesion throughout Pakistan. No province can permanently protect itself from the difficulties of another because Pakistan’s economy, security and political future are interconnected. Provincial governments may compete in performance, investment and service delivery, but they must never compete in assigning collective guilt. Pakistan has international borders that must be defended and provincial boundaries that must be administered. Confusing the political meaning of the two is dangerous. The country needs stronger intelligence sharing, better policing, equitable development, accountable government and deeper cooperation among its constituent units—not psychological walls between them. Every Pakistani province must be able to regard the progress of another as a national achievement and its suffering as a national responsibility. The moment Pakistan’s provinces begin treating one another as threats, the terrorists and extremists who seek to fracture the country will have achieved something they could never accomplish on their own.
The writer retired as Press Secretary the President, and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France and former MD, Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited
data-centre Why is El-Sisi’s regime considering The dividend for workers Jobs and wages are booming in counties the sale of the Suez Canal? that welcome AI President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s regime is currently weighed down by domestic debt of approximately $219 billion as of the end of June 2025, and external debt of around $164.8 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2026, according to official data
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MIDDLE EAST MONITOR MahMoud hassan
proposal to sell the Suez Canal, in northeastern Egypt, has sparked widespread concern among Egyptians, who are already deeply suspicious of the government’s accelerated sale of state assets, vital infrastructure and strategic ports to Gulf allies. The idea was put forward days ago by Hassan Heikal, an adviser to the Egyptian Prime Minister, as part of what has been described in the media as the “grand swap”, involving the exchange of state assets and the transfer of debt between state institutions. Under the proposal, domestic debt would effectively be wiped out by transferring part of the state’s assets – such as its stakes in public companies or the Suez Canal – to the Central Bank of Egypt, provided that the bank receives assets equivalent to the value of the debt.
HUGE DEBTS: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s regime is currently weighed down by domestic debt of 11.057 trillion Egyptian pounds (approximately $219 billion) as of the end of June 2025, and external debt of around $164.8 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2026, according to official data. Debt is consuming more than half of Egypt’s treasury revenues, while annual debt-servicing costs reached around 5.2 trillion pounds in the latest budget, including 2.8 trillion pounds in principal repayments and 2.4 trillion pounds in interest payments. Egypt is due to pay off $62.8 billion in external loans over the 12 months from April 2026 to March 2027, including $7 billion in interest and $55.8 billion in loan principal, according to World Bank data. Amid the deterioration of Egypt’s finances since the military coup of 3 July 2013, the government has accelerated the sale of state assets. The process has involved major companies operating in vital and sensitive sectors, including oil, electricity, energy, transport, telecommunications, tourism, banking and finance. It has also extended to the sale of strategic plots of land on the Mediterranean coast, most notably the Ras El-Hekma deal with the UAE, Alam AlRoum with Qatar, and Ras Gamila on the Red Sea, which may be sold to Saudi Arabia. Growing public concern over the proposal to sell the Suez Canal is fuelled by four main factors. The first is a statement by the Egyptian Cabinet, which said that the proposal “reflects a purely personal view of its author and does not represent a policy or proposal adopted by the government”. However, it also acknowledged that the idea had previously been studied. The second is the Egyptian government’s settlement of 88.3 billion pounds in debts owed by the Na-
It has also extended to the sale of strategic plots of land on the Mediterranean coast, most notably the Ras El-Hekma deal with the UAE, Alam Al-Roum with Qatar, and Ras Gamila on the Red Sea, which may be sold to Saudi Arabia
tional Media Authority, known as Maspero, to the state-owned National Investment Bank. The settlement involved transferring ownership of real estate assets to the bank. Heikal described the arrangement as a “small swap” and considered it a model for what could potentially be done with the Suez Canal. The third is the reported valuation of the strategic waterway at as much as $1 trillion. The canal handles up to 15 per cent of global trade and around 30 per cent of global container traffic, while the value of goods transported through it exceeds $1 trillion annually. The fourth factor fuelling Egyptians’ concerns is the amendments approved by the Egyptian Parliament in 2022 to Law No. 30 of 1975 governing the Suez Canal Authority. The amendments provide for the establishment of a fund owned by the authority, with the right to buy, sell, lease, rent out, exploit and make use of fixed and movable assets. An Egyptian economist, speaking to Middle East Monitor on condition of anonymity, said the proposal was essentially a trial balloon designed to gauge public reaction. It could be intended either to privatise the canal outright, offer a stake in it for sale on the Egyptian Stock Exchange, or possibly conclude a major deal through which Egypt would receive a substantial amount of foreign currency from a Gulf state, such as the UAE, in return for granting it the right to use the canal for a fixed period – 10 years, for example. Another group of economists believes that Heikal’s proposal may have other objectives, including completing the sale of government stakes in strategic companies such as Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling, Abu Qir Fertilizers, Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals, Alexandria Mineral Oils and Telecom Egypt. This could take place without disclosing the identities of the buyers or the true value of the stakes being sold, and without prior disclosure as required by capital-market regulations. The government may also accelerate the sale of other companies before the end of the year in an attempt to generate enough cash to pay off the country’s scheduled debts. Egyptian economist Mustafa Abdel Salam warned on the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed platform that transferring ownership of assets, including the Suez Canal, to the Central Bank in return for settling part of the domestic debt could simply mean that the bank uses depositors’ money to service public debt and reduce its cost. Alternatively, the state bank could print money without sufficient gold and foreign-currency reserves to back it, triggering an unprecedented wave of inflation and a sharp rise in prices. Meanwhile, Egyptian opposition writer living abroad Salim Azzouz questioned the proposal in an article published by the independent website Arabi21 under the headline “Is Heikal Thinking Off the Top of His Head?!” He wrote: “What alarmed me about the government’s response was its admission that the idea
had previously been studied and discussed before being ruled out on grounds of Egyptian sovereignty and national security, among other considerations cited in the statement. What is striking that a matter this serious was discussed and studied behind the people’s backs, while they do not know when this happened, what prompted it, or whether the idea originated with the government or came from outside it.” Alaa Mubarak, son of the late President Hosni Mubarak, also weighed in on the controversy in a post on his personal account on X. He wrote: “It is clear that the so-called expert Heikal is ignorant of the importance of the Suez Canal as a global waterway, a vital artery and a symbol of national sovereignty. Any proposal to mortgage or swap it to settle domestic debt represents a major risk to national sovereignty and Egyptian national security.” He added: “It is also clear that he (Heikal) does not understand that the Suez Canal is not merely an ordinary asset that can be treated like a piece of land or a company in order to wipe out domestic debt. The value of this vital waterway exceeds any existing debt, and the Suez Canal must not be included in any swap or mortgage, nor should its ownership be compromised or tied to the debt issue, even if the other party were a domestic entity.” The proposal to sell the Suez Canal is not new. Years ago, a similar proposal was raised to sell a 51 per cent stake in the canal to China or the UAE to pay off Egypt’s debts, and the Egyptian government swiftly issued an official denial. In February 2023, El-Sisi denied reports that the Suez Canal was being sold for $1 trillion, describing them as “rumours and lies”. Opponents now say that what were once dismissed as lies have become a proposal put forward by a senior government adviser. They warn that history could repeat itself, recalling how foreigners took control of Egyptian assets during the rule of Khedive Ismail Pasha, who plunged the country into a spiral of debt. In 1876, he was forced to establish the “Debt Fund” commission, which included representatives of European countries and was tasked with managing Egypt’s debt and arranging its repayment. Egyptian academic Aliaa El-Mahdi, former dean of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University, questioned the government in a post on her personal Facebook page, asking: “We sold Ras El-Hekma (valued at $35 billion), but did the debt fall by even the amount of the sale?” She added: “No. We need rapid structural reform that does not rely on selling assets, but instead mobilises all state institutions – the private and public sectors, civil society and foreign investment – to build up and invest in productive sectors such as industry and agriculture, among others.”
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WALL STREET JOURNAL The ediTorial Board
RESIDENT Trump has drawn condemnation for suggesting that communities that block data centers will end up “backwards and poor.” His remark was hyperbolic, but he’s right that areas embracing data centers are enjoying more jobs and faster wage growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics last week published industrylevel data on state and county employment and wages through March of this year. We compared growth in Loudoun County, Va.—known as Data Center Alley—with other Washington, D.C., suburbs since early 2020 before the pandemic. The disparities are striking. Loudoun has long been a hub for data-center development because of its easy zoning, relatively low-cost energy and geographical proximity to telecom network exchanges. It’s an exurban county with more land for growth than older suburbs closer to D.C. But it has also embraced growth, unlike those older suburbs. Construction growth has accelerated amid the AI boom, with permitted data-center space increasing by some 150% between 2020 and 2025. Jobs have followed. Most counties surrounding the capital have experienced little job growth since the pandemic. Loudoun is the exception, with employment surging 17.4% since early 2020. Jobs increased by 1% or less in Fairfax County, Va., and Prince George’s County, Md. Virginia’s Arlington County (-7.3%) and Maryland’s Montgomery County shed jobs (-5.6%). Construction jobs increased 63% in Loudoun, far more than in Fairfax (6.3%), Arlington (8.2%), Prince George’s (8.3%), and Montgomery (a 12.8% decline). Job growth from datacenter construction also appears to be having positive spillover labor effects in other industries. Employment in leisure and hospitality increased 6.8% in Loudoun while declining in other D.C. suburbs since early 2020. Average weekly wage growth for leisure and hospitality workers in Loudoun over this period (69%) was double that in Fairfax (26%), Arlington (29%), Montgomery (31%) and Prince George’s (27%). Building and operating data centers may have increased demand for blue-collar workers and bid up wages. Loudoun’s fast-growing workforce may have increased spending at restaurants and tips for hospitality workers. If more construction workers are grabbing drinks after shifts, bartenders make more money. Loudoun’s prosperity isn’t an isolated example. Meta’s massive data-center project in Richland Parish in Louisiana is helping revive that poor, rural farming community. Since the first quarter of last year, private employment in Richland has grown 41%, and average weekly wages have shot up 61%. Neighboring parishes have experienced little or no growth. In a single year, Richland’s construction workforce has risen more than 10-fold, with average weekly wages up 182%. That amounts to an annual $86,000 pay increase for construction workers. Employment in leisure and hospitality has increased 21.5%, with average weekly wages in the industry soaring 34%. While building data centers won’t provide lifetime employment, many workers will be needed to run and maintain them, as well as the plants that power them. Politicians in both parties fret that AI will increase the concentration of wealth and leave rural communities behind. Folks in Richland who are prospering probably don’t see it that way. Data centers can help to spread prosperity without government intervention and income redistribution. Could that be the real reason America’s political class is turning against them?
06 NEWS
IRAN SAYS IT WILL PRESS DIPLOMACY AND RESIST US PRESSURE AMID SANCTIONS
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Wednesday, 9 September 2026 | LAHORE
TEHRAN
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
RANIAN leaders have publicly acknowledged the economic damage caused by the war with the United States and the sanctions campaign, while signalling that Tehran does not intend to back down and will continue to pursue both diplomacy and defence. A government statement carried by state media said dealing with pressure created by sanctions and war had become a central priority. The focus included containing inflation, regulating markets, generating employment, steering investment toward domestic production and gradually reducing reliance on the dollar. The statement came as talks remain stalled six months after the US and Israel launched the war. President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified efforts to increase financial pressure on Iran through what Washington has described as an economic D-Day, while also warning other countries to scale back commercial ties with Tehran or risk secondary sanctions. At the same time, the US Treasury has not imposed penalties on some of Iran’s major trade partners, including China and India, a step that could have wider conse-
quences for the American and global economies. It did, however, sanction Egypt’s Banque Misr over business dealings with Tehran and proposed cutting off the bank’s branches in the United Arab Emirates from dollar transactions. Egypt’s central bank said it and the foreign ministry were in contact with US officials over the issue, adding that the move was limited to Banque Misr UAE’s US dollar dealings with correspondent banks. Banque Misr said on Saturday it was reviewing the Treasury notice and that its UAE branch was continuing to serve customers. The US has also announced sanctions targeting a Hong Kong-based entity and an individual linked to Iran’s Bank Melli, according to a notice on the Treasury website. ECONOMIC STRAIN AND OFFICIAL RESPONSE The pressure campaign has added to the effects of the war on Iran’s economy. Annual inflation reached 66% last month. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since he was injured in the February 28 attack that killed his father and former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged the government to confront worsening economic conditions. President Masoud Pezeshkian told state media that Iranian exports and imports had
fallen by nearly 35% because of US sanctions and a naval blockade of Iranian ports. He also said Iran had been able to sell about 90 million barrels of oil during the brief memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran in June, when the US had permitted Iranian oil sales. Later on Saturday, Pezeshkian appealed on state television for the interim arrangement to be revived. Referring to the memo-
randum of understanding signed on June 17, which later broke down amid disputes over what had been agreed and particularly the status of the Strait of Hormuz, he said: The document had offered Iran immediate sanctions relief among other measures, as well as the release of frozen Iranian assets. DIPLOMACY AND THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ Iran said on Saturday that diplomacy and
defence were two linked components of protecting its national interests, security and territorial integrity, and that it would continue to pursue both in balance. Efforts to restart diplomacy have also involved other regional actors. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Iranian leaders in Tehran on Thursday and said he had stressed the importance of restoring the pre-war situation of open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi described his talks with Al Thani on Friday as creative. Qatar and Pakistan helped broker the June memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington. Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. US military commanders say American forces have removed sea mines from the waterway that had been laid months earlier by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Although Trump has repeatedly said the strait is open, the Revolutionary Guards’ navy rejected that account and said ships could not pass without Iranian permission. In a statement, the force said such claims "are an obvious lie." while reiterating that the strategic waterway remained closed to vessels lacking Iranian approval.
China delivers fourth batch of emergency aid to Nepal while bolstering risk-warning network KATHMANDU AGENCIES
The fourth batch of emergency relief supplies from China arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Tuesday afternoon aboard a PLA Air Force Y-20 transport aircraft, as Beijing stepped up support for Nepal two weeks after a catastrophic transboundary glacier disaster. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming and Nepal's Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun attended the handover ceremony. The supplies, including rescue hovercrafts, stainless steel permanent magnet flood-control pumps, backup batteries, mortuary cabinets and solar lights, were tailored to Nepal's most urgent needs. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Tuesday that, beyond government aid, the China Foundation for Rural Development has set up temporary shelters and provided daily necessities and basic medical services in the disaster-hit areas, while the Chinese Enterprises Association in Nepal has
delivered the first batch of funds donated for relief operations. "China will continue standing firmly with Nepal to overcome this challenging time together," Mao said. As of 6 p.m. Saturday, the massive debris believed to have started from a glacier collapse in Nepal on August 26 had left 43 people dead and 519 missing in Gyirong on the China side of the border, according to China's rescue headquarters. In Nepal, the death toll had risen to 1,357, with about 5,326 people missing as of 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. State Grid workers carry out work at the hardest-hit area of Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, September 4, 2026. /VCG State Grid workers carry out work at the hardest-hit area of Gyirong Port in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, September 4, 2026. /VCG RISK-WARNING NETWORK Chinese workers are working hard amid harsh high-altitude conditions and volatile weather to continue rescue
efforts and prevent further disasters. Along the G216 national highway, the only lifeline for personnel, relief supplies and heavy machinery into the disaster zone, engineers have identified 58 geological risk points, classifying them into high, medium and low levels for targeted protection. Vulnerable roadbeds along riverside sections have been reinforced with gabion cages against water erosion, with backup cages on standby in anticipation of further rainfall and rising water levels. Meanwhile, more than 170 monitoring specialists and 150 sets of professional equipment from emergency management, natural resources, water resources and meteorological departments have been deployed to form a real-time risk warning network covering valley slopes, rescue routes and the port area. Wang Chenglei, an official with the risk monitoring department of the Ministry of Emergency Management, said essential monitoring facilities and technical teams will remain in place to help local authorities expand hazard screening and monitoring coverage. The Ministry of Water Resources
said river flow around the debris-flow impact crater on the Cuojian River and at a downstream barrier lake remains normal, though it warned that loose deposits on the slopes could still collapse and form new blockages. Scientists say the disaster highlights the risks posed by a warming cryosphere. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is warming at twice the global average – and at up to three times above 5,000 meters – accelerating glacier melt, said Yao Tandong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who leads the second Qinghai-Xizang Plateau scientific expedition. He noted that the fractured glacier is of the maritime type, which accumulates and melts in large volumes and is more disaster-prone, and warned that ice avalanches are becoming "a new normal" as the climate warms. Over the past 50 years, the "Asian water tower" region has lost 18% of its glacier area and 20% of its ice reserves. With more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide in retreat, experts are calling for regional risk surveys and sustained monitoring of the most dangerous glaciers.
Netanyahu warned by UAE president before October 7 events, failed to brief security chiefs: Haaretz TEL AVIV
AGENCIES
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an “explicit warning” from the United Arab Emirates about Hamas plans to carry out a major attack before the October 7, 2023 events, but he failed to brief Israel’s security chiefs, Haaretz reported on Tuesday. The Israeli daily said UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed held a 45minute phone conversation with Netanyahu about a week and a half before October 7, warning him that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a major operation against Israel. Haaretz, which based its report on dozens of Israeli and foreign sources as well as recordings, internal documents and correspondence, said the UAE president urged Netanyahu to take the threat seriously. The Israeli premier reportedly responded that he believed Hamas in-
tended to carry out an operation in the occupied West Bank and assured bin Zayed that Israel was prepared for any scenario. Despite the warning, Netanyahu did not brief the heads of the Shin Bet domestic security agency, Mossad intelligence agency or the Israeli army chief of staff about his conversation with the UAE president, according to the report. A senior Shin Bet official cited by Haaretz said that knowing about the warnings “could have changed our entire assessment picture.” Haaretz claimed that bin Zayed later told then-CIA Director William Burns about his concerns and the message he had conveyed to Netanyahu that “something there is about to explode.” According to the newspaper, the warning from the UAE president was not the first indication Israeli authorities had received about Hamas plans. The report said a Palestinian intermediary had conveyed a message from
Sinwar in September 2023 that he was preparing a “huge surprise” and an “earthquake.” The warning was passed to the Shin Bet on September 15, prompting then-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to brief Netanyahu and leading to subsequent security discussions, according to the daily. Haaretz also cited a similar warning reportedly delivered to Netanyahu’s office by then-Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel about “something unusual” being prepared by Hamas. Netanyahu’s office strongly denied receiving any warning from the UAE leader. “Prime Minister Netanyahu didn’t speak to the president of the UAE during the period in question and received no warning from him,” it said, calling the Haaretz report an “absolute lie.” Former Shin Bet chief Bar and former Israeli army chief Herzl Halevi said they had not been informed of the warn-
ing allegedly delivered by bin Zayed, according to Haaretz. There was no immediate comment from the UAE on the report. For his part, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the Haaretz report about the warning was “true,” accusing Netanyahu of “criminal negligence” for failing to act on the warnings. “Netanyahu bears personal and direct responsibility for the failure that led to the deaths of thousands of Israelis on his watch,” Bennett said on US social media company X. Opposition politician and former Israeli army chief Gadi Eisenkot similarly accused Netanyahu of ignoring repeated warnings. “Netanyahu received dozens of warnings ahead of Oct. 7 and ignored them all. He is unfit,” Eisenkot said. On October 8, 2023, the Israeli army launched a brutal offensive on Gaza that has killed more than 73,000 people, injured over 174,000 and destroyed much of the territory’s civilian infrastructure.
Norway to open whale museum with roof shaped like a diving whale in 2027 OSLO
AGENCIES
Norway is preparing to open a new whale museum on the island of Andøya, where the building has been designed to evoke the image of a giant whale disappearing into the sea. The project, named The Whale, is being developed as a knowledge and experience centre in Andenes, a village on the northern Norwegian island. Danish architecture practice Dorte Mandrup designed the building, which is scheduled to welcome visitors on June 4, 2027. DESIGN SHAPED BY THE LANDSCAPE The museum’s most prominent architectural element is a sweeping concrete roof that appears to rise from the rocky terrain like a whale’s tail slipping beneath the water. The design aims to sit within the coastal setting rather than overpower it. Dorte Mandrup secured the commission after winning an international design competition in 2019. The firm’s concept centred on a low-lying, horizontal structure intended to mirror the natural contours of the site while preserving attention on the horizon and the surrounding sea. The roof is being built as a single curved concrete shell supported at three points. That structural approach leaves the main interior without columns, creating a broad open area for exhibitions. The surface of the roof will be finished with raw stones gathered from the local area. PUBLIC ACCESS AND INTERIOR FEATURES Visitors will be able to walk on the rooftop, which is intended to function as a viewing point over the archipelago. The outlook from the roof can also include sightings of the Northern Lights. Inside, the museum continues the effort to connect the structure with its surroundings. The floor level rises and dips in response to the terrain outside, and rocks from the site have been incorporated into sections of the interior. A continuous curved glass façade faces the ocean and the archipelago, allowing people inside the building to remain visually linked to the landscape as they move through the museum.
Xi urges China, UK to build trust, expand cooperation BEIJING
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Britain to enhance mutual trust, respect each other, seek common ground while managing differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. Xi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whom he congratulated on assuming office. Describing China and Britain as comprehensive strategic partners, Xi said the two countries had different social systems and national conditions but shared more common interests than differences. Both countries were committed to developing their economies and improving people’s livelihoods, while their economies could complement each other and benefit from greater cooperation, he said. Xi said China would further expand its opening up during the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030, particu-
larly in areas including education, healthcare and finance. These sectors, he added, offered considerable potential for cooperation between the two countries. He noted that China and Britain were major countries in science and technology and possessed rich resources in education, culture, sports and other fields. Xi urged both sides to maintain an open and forward-looking approach and expand exchanges and cooperation across various sectors.
He also expressed the hope that Britain would fully protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese investors. Turning to international affairs, Xi said China and Britain, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major global economies, both supported multilateralism and open trade and upheld the central role of the UN. He called on the two countries to strengthen communication and coordination through multilateral platforms, including the UN, Group of 20 and World Trade Organisation. The two sides should work to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, Xi said. Mr Burnham, who previously served as mayor of Greater Manchester, said he had a long-standing connection with China. Recalling Xi’s visit to the city during his 2015 state visit to Britain, Burnham said the trip had significantly contributed to Manchester’s ties with China. He said Britain would maintain
consistency in its China policy and remain committed to developing a long-term and stable strategic partnership with Beijing. Britain was ready to maintain highlevel engagement with China, advance cooperation in various areas, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and take bilateral relations to stronger levels, he said. Burnham also reiterated that Britain’s position on the Taiwan question remained unchanged. Amid what he described as volatile and complicated international dynamics, Burnham said Britain and China, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, should address international hotspot issues through dialogue and work together on climate change and other global challenges. The two countries should also cooperate to safeguard global stability and prosperity, he said. Burnham commended China for its response to the mudslide on its border with Nepal and thanked Beijing for providing assistance to British nationals affected by the disaster.
NEWS 07
Wednesday, 9 September 2026 | LAHORE
CORPORATE CORNER
Hashoo School of Hospitality, KIU sign agreement to bring global hospitality education to doorstep of GB Youth
GILGIT STAFF REPORT
Hashoo School of Hospitality Management (HSHM) has signed a Service Agreement with Karakoram International University (KIU) to expand access to quality international Hospitality and Tourism education for the youth of GilgitBaltistan. The virtual signing ceremony brought together senior representatives and distinguished guests from Hashoo Group, KIU and supporting stakeholders, which included Prof. Dr. Abdul Razzaq, Vice Chancellor, KIU, Mr. Bastien Blanc, Chief Executive Officer, Hospitality Division, Hashoo Group, Mr. Haseeb Gardezi, Executive Director, Hospitality and Education Division, Hashoo Group, Ms. Syeda Hajra Suhail, CEO, Pakistan Educational Endowment Fund (PakEEF), Dr. Rehmat Karim, Campus Director, KIU Hunza Campus, , Mr Azam Jamil, Advisor to CEO, Hashoo Group and Mr. Faisal Naeem Khan, Director, HSHM. Through this partnership, HSHM is bringing Hospitality and Tourism Management degree programme and international diploma program to the doorstep of students in Gilgit-Baltistan, giving young people in the region the opportunity to pursue a globally connected, internationally accepted hospitality education without having to leave their home region to access it.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends Rs150m grant to modernise IIUI academic infrastructure
ISLAMABAD
CM MARYAM ORDERS ROAD MAINTENANCE SQUADS IN EVERY PUNJAB DISTRICT
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PUNJAB CM ORDERS DAILY INSPECTIONS, TIMELY REPAIRS TO IMPROVE ROAD QUALITY LAHORE
SALEEM JADOON
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday approved the establishment of Special Road Maintenance Squads in every district to ensure daily inspection, upkeep, cleanliness and timely repair of damaged roads, while directing commissioners and deputy commissioners to strengthen monitoring of development projects and ensure strict compliance with approved designs, timelines, quality standards and expenditures. Presiding over a special video-link meeting with commissioners and deputy commissioners on ongoing development projects in the districts, the chief minister directed the authorities to establish an effective monitoring mechanism covering the scope, timelines, quality, expenditure and physical progress of every project. She ordered mandatory installation of cat’s eyes on specified urban roads and directed the use of thermoplastic road markings to ensure greater durability and improve road safety. The chief minister also directed that concrete entrance gates should not be constructed at the entry points of cities and tehsils. Instead, the name of each city
should be displayed on a landscaped green plot at its entrance, while median designs and landscaping should also be provided at district entry and exit points. She further directed the authorities to properly illuminate or decorate electricity poles along designated roads and ensure appropriate lane markings, traffic signs and directional signage. The Punjab CM ordered that food streets be planned as designated and separate commercial areas equipped with ad-
equate infrastructure, cleanliness, parking and traffic arrangements. She also directed the authorities to improve access, sanitation, traffic management and organised commercial activity at vegetable markets across the province. Maryam Nawaz stressed that all development projects must be completed strictly according to approved designs, materials and technical standards, making it clear that there would be no compromise on transparency and quality.
She further directed that road safety measures conform to approved technical standards and that lighting installations be energy-efficient, durable, safe and easy to maintain. The chief minister said district entry points should feature modern and contemporary designs, with Chinese city entrances serving as a reference, while approved design concepts should be followed for tehsil entrances with suitable modifications according to local requirements and context. She also ordered that roads should not have concrete structures in the middle without planters and called for proper landscaping of medians. The chief minister directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to closely monitor development projects, promptly resolve implementation issues and ensure timely completion in order to maintain quality and prevent cost overruns. CM pays tribute to Pakistan Navy on Navy Day In a separate message issued on the occasion of Navy Day, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz paid tribute to every officer and sailor of the Pakistan Navy engaged in safeguarding the country’s maritime frontiers and paid homage to its martyrs and Ghazis.
Punjab’s health sector being aligned with global standards under CM Maryam: Azma Bokhari LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab’s health sector is being brought in line with global standards, while cooperation with China in healthcare, health insurance, medical training, research and advanced treatment is being further expanded. She said Punjab has reached an agreement with Wuhan University, Taiping Health and other leading Chinese institutions to enhance cooperation in the field of health insurance. Collaboration with Chinese health insurance companies would help further improve Punjab’s health insurance sector and promote modern insurance models. Azma Bokhari said the Pakistan-China Joint Neurosurgery Training and Medical Tourism Cen-
tre has been established in Wuhan, which would play an important role in promoting medical training, research and academic exchange. The centre would also create greater opportunities for Pakistani doctors to receive advanced medical training. The Information Minister said a Chinese health insurance delegation, led by Professor Chen, had expressed keen interest in Punjab’s health sector. Punjab would benefit from China’s experience and expertise to further improve healthcare facilities and medical services across the province. She said the partners in the Pakistan-China Joint Neurosurgery Centre include the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences, Zhongnan Hospital Wuhan and CPMA. Efforts are under way to promote the exchange of medical expertise, advanced treatment techniques and medical knowledge between Chinese and Pakistani experts.
Azma Bokhari said the Punjab Health Connect Programme is linking global medical experts with healthcare institutions in Punjab. Special focus is being given to the training of Pakistani doctors and the exchange of medical expertise under the programme. She said Punjab is benefiting from the transfer of advanced medical technology, expertise and human-resource training from China. Efforts are also continuing to promote joint research and advanced medical technologies between China and Punjab. The Punjab Information Minister said the promotion of international investment and modern health insurance models in Punjab’s health sector was a welcome development. Cooperation with China would help further improve the standards of medical training, research, advanced treatment and healthcare facilities in Punjab.
Karachi: Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman, Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP), presents a commemorative memento to Ms. Bushra Nasr Malik, Member, Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), during a visit to CAP Head Office. Mr. Amin, Director, CCP; Maryam Hina, Chairperson, Women Wing, CAP; and Abdul Salam Dadabhoy, Senior Vice Chairman, CAP, are also present. PR
inDrive wins four awards at Dragons of Pakistan
STAFF REPORT
In a significant gesture coinciding with the celebrations of Saudi National Day, the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has extended a Rs. 150 million developmental grant to the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) for the modernisation of its academic infrastructure. The grant marks a major step in the University’s ongoing efforts, spearheaded by the President of IIUI, to improve academic and student facilities and transform IIUI into a modern, technology-enabled institution equipped to meet contemporary teaching, learning and research requirements.Under the first phase of the initiative, the Saudi grant will support the upgrading of classrooms, computer laboratories, information technology systems and allied academic facilities across the University. The intervention addresses a longstanding need for modern teaching spaces and technological infrastructure capable of supporting evolving pedagogical and research demands.
SUPARCO convenes 4th Regional Symposium on ‘Space4Climate – Coastal Dynamics, Mangroves and Sea Water Intrusion, Drought & Heatwave’ KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), through its Space Applications Center for Climate Sciences (SACCS), successfully conducted the Regional Symposium on the theme Space4Climate – Coastal Dynamics, Mangroves and Sea Water Intrusion, Drought & Heatwave Hazard Assessment, Waterways Dynamics, Landcover Dynamics, Crop Monitoring, on 08 September 2026 at PC Hotel, Karachi. The symposium marked fourth successful event in SUPARCO’s seven-city National and Provincial Symposium Series under the Space4Climate Initiative and Awareness on Climate Change Impacts, which will be held in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit and Muzaffarabad. The first symposium was kicked-off in Peshawar on 23 July 2026 and the second was held in Gilgit on 5 August 2026, and the third was organized in Lahore on 27 August 2026.The symposium brought together senior government officials, policymakers, scientists, researchers, development partners, academia, and environmental experts to strengthen collaboration on the application of space technologies for climate resilience and sustainable development. The symposium served as a strategic platform to showcase Pakistan's indigenous space-based capabilities for climate monitoring and to promote evidence-based policymaking through satellitederived climate intelligence.
Punjab Police launches 15th internship batch for practical policing exposure LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The Punjab Police on Tuesday inaugurated the 15th batch of its Internship Programme at the Central Police Office (CPO) Lahore, with students being oriented about the six-week programme designed to provide them practical exposure to field policing, crime prevention, public service delivery and specialised policing departments. The orientation ceremony was attended by students pursuing BS degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Digital Forensics and Cyber Security from Lahore Garrison University, the University of the Punjab and the University of Lahore. DIG Training Munir Ahmad Zia Rao briefed the students on the features, objectives and procedures of the internship programme. He said the interns had been divided into five groups and attached with different field formations for a period of six weeks, during which they would receive practical exposure to field policing, crime prevention and public service delivery-related projects. DIG Training further said the
internship would provide students with comprehensive insight into policing affairs, particularly in the fields of Information Technology, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Investigation and Traffic Punjab. He said the students would also have the opportunity to observe the practical working procedures and duties of various departments of the Punjab Police, enabling them to relate their academic knowledge to real-world policing practices. At the conclusion of the internship, the students would present re-
ports and presentations based on their observations and learning experiences, he added. DIG Training said that, besides familiarising students with the practical aspects of policing, the Punjab Police was also providing them with effective and practical guidance for their career development. The programme, he added, would help students gain a better understanding of policing operations while equipping them with practical knowledge and professional exposure relevant to their respective fields.
easypaisa, KTrade partner to simplify digital stock market investments through instant PSX Account
KARACHI: easypaisa digital bank and KTrade have joined hands in a first-of-its-kind partnership to make stock market investments more accessible and convenient for millions of Pakistanis, by enabling instant digital Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) account onboarding via the easypaisa app.The partnership was formally unveiled during a ceremony held in Islamabad last week, attended by senior representatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), including Commissioner Muzaffar Mirza; Naveed Qazi, CEO, National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited (NCCPL); Badiuddin Akber, CEO, Central Depository Company (CDC), and senior officials from easypaisa, and KTrade.Through this collaboration, easypaisa users can open a KTrade PSX investment account within 10 minutes through a fully digital and seamless onboarding process, removing traditional barriers and paperwork that have long limited public participation in Pakistan's capital markets. This initiative advances financial inclusion by making investment opportunities more accessible for every Pakistani. STAFF REPORT
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
inDrive, has won four awards at the Dragons of Pakistan 2026, recognising the brand’s creative campaigns, strategic marketing and ability to connect with audiences through locally relevant ideas. Commenting on the recognition, Awais Saeed, Country Manager, inDrive Pakistan, said: “These recognitions reflect our approach to creating work that is rooted in local culture and built around ideas that people can connect with.”
DWP Group Celebrates Successful Completion of Tameer-e-Mustaqbal Summer Internship Program 2026!
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
DWP Group celebrated the successful completion of its Tameer-e-Mustaqbal Summer Internship Program 2026, a strategic youth development initiative aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and professional requirements; with a graduation ceremony held at Raya Golf & Country Club, Lahore, bringing together interns, mentors, HR representatives, and senior leadership to mark the culmination of an enriching professional journey. The Summer Batch 2026 comprised 36 interns from across the country, including 17 interns in Lahore, 10 in Karachi, and 9 in Islamabad. Over the course of the program, the interns not only gained practical exposure to the corporate environment but worked on real-world assignments, and engaged with experienced professionals across various functions of DWP Group. The graduation ceremony was attended by senior leadership, including Rohail Bashir, COO – Tech Division; Munib Khawaja, BU Head – SDE; Shakeela Qureshi, Head of HR; and Shoaib Younus, Head of Marketing, along with the mentors who guided and supported the interns throughout their internship journey. The event served as an opportunity to celebrated their journey and recognisese the interns’ dedication, learning, and growth over the course of the program.
Wednesday, 9 September, 2026
SECURITY, ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES INTENSIFIED IN ISLAMABAD AHEAD OF PTI'S SEPTEMBER 27 PROTEST NEWS
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ISLAMABAD
IHC forms larger bench to hear plea against PTI's Sept 27 protest
RAJA KASHIF ASHFAQ
MID the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf’s (PTI) possible protest and long march scheduled for September 27, significant developments have taken place at the administrative and security levels in Islamabad. Senior officers have been transferred and posted in the federal police, while key changes have also been made in the federal district administration. Meanwhile, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has constituted a larger bench to hear a petition seeking to stop the proposed protest and long march. Sources said Islamabad and Rawalpindi police had begun preparations in anticipation of the September 27 protest, while a crackdown against PTI workers was also underway. Lists of party workers are reportedly being provided to the relevant police stations, while efforts have also begun to secure containers that could potentially be used to block roads. In the same context, several senior officers in the federal police have also been transferred and posted. According to sources, former SP Ayaz Hussain has been replaced in the City Zone, which includes the Red Zone, by SP Swan Flight Lieutenant (retd) Muhammad Khurram Ashraf. SP Hasnain Waris has been posted to the Swan Zone. He was previously serving as SP Industrial Area.
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday constituted a three-member larger bench to hear a petition challenging the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned September 27 protest and long march towards the federal capital. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar, Justice Azam Khan and Justice Muhammad Asif, will hear the petition on September 10. The court has also summoned senior federal and provincial officials to appear in person as the PTI intensifies preparations for the protest. Notices were issued to the Attorney General for Pakistan, inspectors general of police, advocate generals and chief secretaries of all four provinces. Islamabad’s chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and inspector general were also directed to appear before the larger bench.
In view of the anticipated traffic pressure and related arrangements, SDPO Golra Khan Muhammad has been appointed to the vacant post of SP Traffic. Two days earlier, Ali Wasim was ap-
Wasim Akram calls for equal treatment of jailed Imran Khan ISLAMABAD
pointed to the vacant post of DIG Operations. He had previously served in Punjab. Changes have also been made in the federal district administration. Grade-18 officer Dr Anam Fatima has been trans-
Pakistan launches decade-long plan to protect sharks and marine habitats ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
STAFF REPORT
Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has called on authorities to ensure fair treatment for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who has remained imprisoned since August 2023. Akram made the remarks during the Old Boys, New Balls podcast, co-hosted by former England captain Ian Botham, while discussing a recent petition signed by former international cricket captains in support of Khan. The former fast bowler said he missed Imran as a friend, mentor and leader, recalling their years together in the Pakistan cricket team that won the 1992 World Cup. Akram said the government should extend the same treatment to Imran that other politicians had received in the past, while expressing hope that the former premier would soon be released. His remarks come weeks after 21 former international cricket captains renewed an appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding Imran’s medical treatment. The appeal followed an August 18 order by a threemember Supreme Court bench directing Adiala jail authorities to transfer Imran to Shifa Hospital for medical assessment and treatment within two days. Instead, Imran was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, where doctors from Shifa International Hospital were also present. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Imran underwent a detailed medical examination in the presence of his sister and doctors. He said a medical team comprising an ophthalmologist, cardiologist and physician declared the PTI founder medically fit.
Pakistan, Oman plan sister-port link between Gwadar, Sohar to boost regional trade PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
The case was initially being heard by Chief Justice Dogar on a petition filed by citizen Waqas Ahmed, who claimed that he was likely to suffer business losses if the PTI protest was allowed to enter Islamabad. During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that the planned demonstration could disrupt business activities in the capital. He referred to recent statements by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi calling for participation in the September 27 mobilisation and submitted newspaper clippings containing his remarks. The lawyer contended that PTI’s legal grievances were already pending before courts and should be resolved through judicial proceedings rather than street protests. “If their position is accepted, people across Pakistan whose cases are pending before courts could also take to the streets to demand relief,” he argued.
Pakistan and Oman are working towards establishing Gwadar Port and Oman’s Sohar Port as sister ports to strengthen maritime connectivity, cargo movement and trade links between the two countries and wider regional markets. The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Noor Ul Haq Baloch and Oman’s Consul General Sami Abdullah Salim Al Khanjari, with both sides agreeing to move towards finalising a memorandum of understanding (MoU) through their respective ministries in the coming weeks. The proposed sister-port arrangement is aimed at creating a direct maritime link between the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and markets in the Gulf and Central Asia. Officials said the arrangement could facilitate cargo movement between Gwadar and Sohar, reduce transit times and strengthen regional trade connections. The two sides also discussed establishing direct air connectivity between Gwadar and Oman through Salam Air, using the newly developed Gwadar International Airport.
ferred. She was previously serving as Director DMA and Director Enforcement, but her services have now been placed at the disposal of the federal district administration. Sources said she is likely to be appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner General. Sources further said that the incumbent Additional Deputy Commissioner General, Sahibzada Yousaf, may also be appointed as Director to the Interior Minister at the Ministry of Interior. It may be recalled that Dr Anam Fatima and Sahibzada Yousaf were also awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for their role in retrieving billions of rupees worth of government land in the Bari Imam area of Islamabad and effectively handling the protests that followed. According to sources, additional police personnel may also be requisitioned from other provinces to deal with the possible protest. Various measures are under consideration to prevent protesters from entering Islamabad, including the deployment of water cannons and other riot-control equipment. Under the proposed security plan, the Red Zone is likely to be secured through a three-tier security cordon. The Islamabad Inspector General of Police had also issued necessary directions to relevant officers during a security meeting held a few days ago regarding the possible protest. Sources said the Islamabad IG would monitor the security situation from the newly established Command and Control, Communication and Coordination Centre.
Pakistan has unveiled its first 10year national action plan for shark conservation, aiming to rebuild declining populations, reduce illegal finning and bycatch, and strengthen protection of critical marine habitats. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the plan would guide conservation and sustainable fisheries management in Pakistani waters through 2035. The initiative will be implemented in three phases by the Marine Fisheries Department, with estimated funding of between $3.8 million and $5 million during the first five years. A multi-stakeholder National Advisory Committee will oversee the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks. The plan focuses on improving fisheries management, enforce-
ment, scientific research and data collection on shark populations. Proposed measures include requiring sharks to be landed with their fins naturally attached, introducing species-specific protecestablishing shark tions, sanctuaries, restoring mangroves and reducing accidental shark deaths across different fisheries. The government also plans to support coastal fishing communities while promoting more sustainable shark fisheries and expanding cooperation with international bodies, including the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. Progress will be evaluated annually using indicators such as monitoring coverage at landing sites, stock assessments, deployment of vessel monitoring systems and reductions in bycatch mortality. Formal reviews of the conservation programme will also be conducted every three years. The plan covers all chondrichthyan species found in Pak-
istani waters, including sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras, with particular attention given to species heavily targeted by fisheries or vulnerable to bycatch. Chaudhry said systems developed under the plan, including stronger enforcement and improved data collection, would also contribute to the conservation of other related marine species. The framework has been designed around Pakistan’s ecological, institutional and socioeconomic conditions while remaining aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s international shark conservation guidelines. The minister said the initiative would also help Pakistan fulfil its responsibilities as a sharkfishing country under international fisheries law. He stressed that responsible management of marine resources remained essential, particularly for vulnerable shark species and those whose capture is prohibited.
Adiala Jail prisoners challenge IHC decision in FCC seeking health facilities like PTI's founder ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Three prisoners of Adiala Jail seeking health facilities like the PTI’s founder have challenged the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) decision in the federal constitutional court (FCC). The IHC had rejected pleas of the prisoners’ seeking treatment at private hospitals and permission to communicate with family members. The prisoners have pleaded to the constitutional court to declare the Islamabad High Court’s decision as void. Petitioners said that the Article 25 of the constitution ensure unanimous treatment with all citizens. Three prisoners pleading to the court for providing the health facilities available to the PTI’s founder citing the order of the Supreme Court. “The apex court had ordered transfer of the PTI’s founder to Shifa International hospital on August 18”. They pleaded for the court’s order for their medical treatment
at Shifa hospital. They also pleaded for the court’s order for permission to talk with their family members in overseas on WhatsApp, as allowed to the PTI’s founder. Justice Muhammad Asif of the high court had heard separate petitions filed by prisoners Ilyas Khan, Muhammad Ismail and Awais Altaf. The high court in view of the Supreme Court’s decision dismissed the prisoner’s plea to communicate with family members abroad.
The court released its written verdict on petitions with regard to facilities to prisoners. The court stated that the imprisonment means legal curbs on freedom, “Every technical facility could not be declared as fundamental right. An inmate has no legal right to be shifted to a private hospital of choice,” according to the verdict. “The treatment of a prisoner is the basic responsibility of the state and the administrative structure of government hospitals,” court observed.
PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR SUNRISE
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Interior ministry prepares special report on visa categories for foreign nationals 5:10
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ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Ministry of Interior has prepared a special report outlining various visa categories for foreign nationals, including business, tourist and grant visas, along with details of countries with which Pakistan has terminated visa agreements. According to the report, 69 countries are included in Pakistan’s business visa list. The countries covered under this category include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany and Japan. Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Malta, Qatar, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and Uzbekistan are also included in the business visa category, the report states. The report further shows that 24 countries are included in the tourist visa category. Canada, France, Malaysia, Jersey, Italy, China and Denmark are among the countries listed in this category. According to the report, the responsibility for individuals travelling from countries included in the tourist visa category rests with the designated tour operator. Meanwhile, 15 countries have been included in the grant visa category. Bangladesh, India, Israel, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen are among the countries listed under this category. The Ministry of Interior report also states that Pakistan has entered into agreements to terminate visa arrangements with 36 countries. Of these, nine countries fall under the diplomatic passport category, while 19 countries are covered under official passports. The remaining eight countries are included in the category of national passports, according to the report. The report also contains a list of 16 countries that grant dual citizenship, providing an overview of the different visa and citizenship arrangements applicable to foreign nationals.
President, PM laud Pakistan Navy for safeguarding maritime interests ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in their separate messages on Pakistan Navy Day being marked on September 8 (today) have paid tribute to the officers, sailors and civilian personnel of the Pakistan Navy, commemorating the force’s “determination, courage and professional excellence” over the decades. In a special message issued to mark the day, President Zardari recalled the Navy’s daring Operation Somnath, carried out against the Indian naval coastal station at Dwarka on the night of 7/8 September 1965. He described the operation as a defining moment that “laid the foundations of a formidable force” and demonstrated the bravery and tenacity that continue to define the Pakistan Navy today. The president noted that this same spirit had been carried forward into more recent operations. He specifically cited the Navy’s role during Marka-e-Haq in May 2025, when the force helped safeguard Pakistan’s maritime interests by maintaining operational readiness and forward deployments that kept a numerically larger Indian Navy from threatening the country’s maritime security. He also referenced Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr, launched amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, through which the Navy worked to protect Pakistan’s energy security and economic lifelines by ensuring the continued flow of sea-borne energy supplies. President Zardari highlighted the Navy’s ongoing modernisation efforts, pointing to the induction of new warships, the Hangor-class submarines, jet aircraft, unmanned systems and indigenously developed longrange missiles as evidence of the force’s push to remain “a contemporary and potent maritime force.” Beyond its defence role, the president underlined the Navy’s contributions to maritime diplomacy, pointing to the multinational Exercise Aman and the associated Aman Dialogue, held under the theme “Together for Peace,” as platforms for regional and international cooperation. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tributes to the martyrs, veterans and serving Pakistan Navy personnel who had rendered invaluable services and continued to do so; with their courage, sacrifices and devotion to duty in the defence of our motherland. The prime minister extended his warmest felicitations to the officers, sailors and civilians of Pakistan Navy and their families. He said 8th September served as an inspirational reminder of the nerve, valour and grit demonstrated by Pakistan Navy, during the 1965 war. It was on this day, that Pakistan Navy executed the legendary Operation SOMNATH on the Indian Naval Station, Dwarka. Against a heavily armed and larger adversary, our warships struck with absolute precision and destroyed critical shore installations of the enemy and established psychological ascendancy at sea. The presence of our submarine ‘GHAZI’ in the Indian Ocean further paralyzed the enemy movements etching a golden chapter in the history of naval warfare, he added.
ECP grants KP govt another three weeks to complete legislation required for holding LG polls ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has granted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government another three weeks to complete legislation required for holding local government elections in the province. A four-member ECP bench headed by Member Sindh Nisar Durrani heard the case concerning local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The ECP’s special secretary informed the commission that the delimitation process in seven districts of the province had been stalled. He said the KP government wanted to hold local government elections across the province simultaneously, while the chief secretary had sought three weeks at the previous
hearing to complete the required legislation. Officials told the commission that a meeting of the provincial cabinet committee was held on August 31, during which the provincial government directed that local government systems in other provinces be reviewed. The KP chief secretary informed the commission that the provincial cabinet committee was considering amendments to the relevant law. The ECP Member from Balochistan remarked that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was using delaying tactics and warned that the commission might have to summon the chief minister if the matter continued to be delayed. ECP Member Sindh Nisar Durrani said local government elections would have to be held and added that the commission had sev-
eral constitutional options available. The ECP member from KP, however, pointed out that all delimitations would have to be carried out again after changes were made to the law. The special secretary said that if the provincial government made a decision, the ECP could conduct local government elections across the province simultaneously. The commission subsequently granted the KP government another three weeks to complete the legislation and adjourned further proceedings in the local government elections case until September 29. The ECP had previously said it was ready to hold local government elections in 23 KP districts where delimitation had been completed, but amendments to the provincial local government law had created difficulties in proceeding with the electoral process.
Published by Asad Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk