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GOVT, OPPOSITION TALKS ‘REPORTEDLY’ BEAR FRUIT AS PTI MARCH HANGS IN BALANCE Sunday, 4 October, 2026 | 21 Rabius Sani, 1448
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JOINT DRAFT BEING PREPARED AFTER MARATHON SECOND-ROUND TALKS CONTINUED PAST MIDNIGHT
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ACHAKZAI SAYS NO FINAL DECISION BEFORE MEETING PTI FOUNDER
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NAVEED QAMAR SAYS NEGOTIATIONS CAN BE CALLED SUCCESSFUL
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 190 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
GOVT REPORTEDLY AGREES TO ABBAS, ACHAKZAI MEETING WITH IMRAN KHAN
KP CM AFRIDI STICKS TO OCT 4 MARCH PLAN DESPITE TALKS
PTI CONSIDERS POSTPONING MARCH RATHER THAN CALLING IT OFF
Afridi doubles down on Oct 4 march as govt warns against rhetoric PESHAWAR
MIAN ABRAR
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ISLAMABAD SALEEM JADOON
OVERNMENT and opposition talks “reportedly bore fruit” on Saturday night as the two sides “reached an agreement” after a second round of negotiations that continued past midnight, with the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf’s (PTI) planned October 4 march on Islamabad remaining at the centre of discussions. Sources privy to the development said a “joint draft of the agreement” was being prepared and a joint statement was expected to be issued shortly, while a briefing on the outcome
of the talks was also expected later. The meeting at Parliament House, which began shortly before 5pm, continued for more than four hours. However, with both sides apparently agreeing not to speak to the media until the matters were finalised, official details of the outcome remained awaited. The reported agreement followed the second round of negotiations during which the two sides reviewed and discussed their respective demands at length amid disagreements over several issues, with tensions rising at times. The talks, however, continued in what sources described as “a generally constructive atmosphere”.
Govt rejects Islamabad road closure reports, calls containers ‘precautionary’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Saturday rejected what it termed “misleading reports” about the “closure of roads” across the federal capital ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned October 4 long march, saying containers had been placed in Islamabad as a precautionary measure to “safeguard public lives and infrastructure.” In a fact-check statement on reports about road closures, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said containers had been placed at various locations in Islamabad as a precaution in compliance with the Islamabad High Court’s directions to protect citizens’ lives, property and lawful movement. “The preventive security measures seek to safeguard public infrastructure and sensitive installations keeping in view the past violent practices of the instance party,” the ministry wrote in the post. The rebuttal came after Al Jazeera reported that 1,500 to 2,000 shipping containers had been seized by the federal government to barricade roads in the federal capital ahead of the march. The Imran Khan-founded PTI had earlier postponed its planned long march towards the federal capital from September 27 to October 4. The former ruling party has said the protest is aimed at seeking the release of its jailed founding chairman Imran Khan and what it describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy. Despite Friday’s talks between the government and opposition, the PTI remains determined to proceed with its long march towards the capital. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has previously said the government would adopt a permanent strategy to handle the PTI long march towards Islamabad, warning that the country would not be allowed to remain shut for 10 to 20 days due to demonstrations. “As expected, Aljazeera selectively portrayed these measures as ‘road blockades,’ ignoring the facts that all roads are open and the preventive judicial and security context related to State’s responsibility to maintain public order,” the ministry said.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday reaffirmed the PTI’s plan to hold its Oct 4 long march, saying the protest would begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat and continue until the supremacy of the Constitution and law and restoration of an independent judiciary. In a post on X, the chief minister said Pakistan was a democratic country where the Constitution guaranteed the right to peaceful protest. He maintained that the PTI’s demands were in accordance with the Constitution and law, and described the party as Pakistan’s largest and most popular political force. “On October 4, a sea of people will begin its journey from Gandi Chowk, Lakki Marwat,
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq played a key role in keeping both sides at the negotiating table. Accord-
and will continue its struggle until the supremacy of the Constitution and law and restoration of an independent judiciary in Pakistan,” he said. Afridi also accused those he said had been “forcibly” kept in control of the country of seeking to weaken Pakistan and using unrest to protect their power. He alleged that terrorism had been imposed on KP again after the “regime change”, claiming that when the PTI had raised the issue in 2022, its concerns were dismissed. “Terrorism is not a narrative war for the people of KP and Pakistan; every citizen is affected by it,” he said. The chief minister said PTI founder Imran Khan had consistently maintained that military operations and displacement of local populations were not a permanent solution to militancy.
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ing to sources, his interventions helped prevent the talks from breaking down.
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Dar, British envoy review bilateral ties, regional situation ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and British High Commissioner Jane Marriott on Saturday discussed the trajectory of Pakistan-United Kingdom relations and exchanged views on the evolving regional situation, according to the Foreign Office (FO). In a statement, the FO said DPM/FM Dar and British HC Jane Marriott reviewed bilateral relations and mutually beneficial areas of cooperation. “Both sides welcomed the positive momentum in bilateral ties and discussed upcoming engagements to carry this cooperation forward,” the FO said. The DPM/FM underscored the importance of efforts to ease tensions and reaffirmed that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable way forward. DPM/FM emphasises JMC significance in enhancing PakBahrain cooperation Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday underscored the importance of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in further expanding Pakistan-Bahrain cooperation. The DPM/FM chaired an inter-ministerial meeting to review preparations for the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), which he would co-chair with his
Pakistan summons Indian diplomat over killing of two civilians at Kasur border ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan on Saturday summoned India’s chargé d’affaires to the Foreign Office and lodged a strong protest over the killing of two unarmed Pakistani civilians by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in the Bedian sector along the international border. The incident, which took place on Friday near Kasur, also left another Pakistani civilian injured, according to the Foreign Office. Pakistan called the firing unprovoked and lethal and rejected Indian attempts to portray the deceased as “infiltrators”. “The BSF personnel resorted to unprovoked lethal force against unarmed civilians. Such use of force was wholly unjustified and grossly disproportionate, resulting in the tragic loss of two precious lives,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. The ministry said the incident constituted a serious violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, and raised serious concerns regarding the protection of civilians under international law. Pakistan called upon India to conduct an immediate, transparent and credible investigation into the incident and take disciplinary and legal action against those found responsible. Islamabad also demanded that New Delhi formally communicate the findings of the investigation and the action taken to the Pakistani government. India was further urged to respect fundamental human rights and international law, strictly observe relevant bilateral arrangements and established border procedures, exercise maximum restraint in dealing with such incidents and take effective measures to prevent their recurrence. According to Pakistani security sources cited by state media, three residents of Ladhar village had moved a few steps ahead of a border pillar when BSF personnel allegedly opened fire on them without warning. The three men were reported to be unarmed.
KP received Rs799b under 1% war-on-terror share since 2010-11: documents ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT
Bahraini counterpart. Dar directed the concerned ministries to finalise preparations in close coordination and pursue concrete outcomes from the Bahraini Foreign Minister’s visit next week, the FO said. The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa, acting foreign secretary, and secretaries and senior officials from all concerned ministries and departments. The Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, briefed the DPM/FM on the agenda and key areas of bilateral cooperation for the forthcoming session. DPM reviews development agenda for AJK In a related development, DPM/FM Ishaq Dar on Saturday chaired a meeting on the development agenda for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The meeting reviewed ongo-
ing development projects, including road refurbishment, and progress on socio-economic initiatives in AJK. Measures to strengthen administrative coordination were also discussed. The DPM/FM underscored the importance of timely completion of development projects and efficient utilisation of financial resources to support long-term growth and improve public welfare, in line with the directions of the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the aspirations of the people of AJK. The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Secretaries of Finance and Kashmir Affairs, Special Secretary Finance, Chief Secretary AJK, Additional Chief Secretary (Development) AJK and the Joint Chief Economist of the Planning and Development Division.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has received Rs799.359 billion under the additional 1% share of the war on terror fund from 2010-11 to September 2026 to compensate the province for economic, infrastructure and other financial losses caused by terrorism, according to official documents. “KP receives the federal allocation annually, while other provinces are also provided funds under the same arrangement,” according to the Finance Department. Under the 7th National Finance Commission Award, agreed in December 2009 and implemented from July 2010, KP receives an additional 1% share from the federal divisible tax pool because of the losses and security burden associated with terrorism. The amount released to the province has increased substantially over the years. KP received Rs112.296 billion in 2024-25, while Rs128.234 billion was released in 2025-26, according to the documents. For the current financial year, 2026-27, the war on terror allocation has been estimated at Rs149.076 billion. Of this, Rs23.069 billion was released during the first two and a half months of the fiscal year, the documents show. However, the funds do not have a separate head in the province’s Consolidated Fund, according to sources. The money is transferred into the provincial account along with other revenues, making it difficult to track its utilisation through a dedicated expenditure head. The KP Finance Department said the size of the war on terror allocation was linked to Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collection targets. According to the department, the province receives the full amount when the federal revenue targets are achieved.
PPP urging 'political solution' to center-KP govt standoff, says Bilawal KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday claimed the federal government had made up its mind to impose emergency or governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but said his party wanted political forces to first seek a negotiated solution to the province’s worsening security situation. Speaking at an event here in Karachi, Bilawal said the federal government had been consulting President Asif Ali Zardari and the PPP over the recent security situation, particularly in KP. In his view, he said, the government was “100 per cent ready” to impose either emergency or governor’s rule in the province. Bilawal acknowledged that both measures were constitutional options but argued that political parties should first attempt to
resolve the issue through dialogue before using what he described as a “constitutional atomic bomb”. He said the PPP wanted the government to engage the PTI over its planned Oct 4 long march to Islamabad before taking any decision on emergency powers. The PPP chairman urged all political parties to hold talks with the PTI, while also calling on the opposition party to abandon its planned march and recognise what he described as the political gains it had already made. “The capital has been shut for 10 days,” Bilawal said, arguing that the PTI had achieved a degree of success even without reaching Islamabad. He said political parties and workers should recognise when they had achieved their objectives through political activity. At the same time, he warned that political activity could not overshadow the security situation.
“It is also correct that while you are focusing on your own politics, there is terrorist activity in KP every other day,” he said. Bilawal said that if the provincial government failed to treat terrorism and law and order as serious issues, and if allegations persisted that it was not cooperating with the federal government, the Centre could be compelled to consider emergency or governor’s rule. Calls for joint counterterrorism plan The PPP chairman said the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan was evident and alleged that India was playing a role in supporting it. He urged political parties not to view terrorism through a political lens and called for a unified national response. “We want to come together to fight terrorism and not view it as a political issue, but a national one,” he said, referring to a recent
meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Zardari. Bilawal proposed a written agreement
between the federal and KP governments setting out how the two sides would cooperate in combating terrorism.
02 NEWS
ShOrt-terM inflatiOn riSeS 0.21%, reMainS 11.53% higher YOY
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PROFIT
NEWS DESK
AKISTAN’s short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), increased 0.21% during the week ended October 1, 2026, while rising 11.53% compared with the corresponding week last year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The combined SPI stood at 370.46, compared with 369.69 in the previous week and 332.17 in the corresponding week of last year. The index, based on 2015-16=100, tracks 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities. During the week, prices of 20 of the 51 monitored items, or 39.21%, increased, while prices of 10 items, or 19.61%, declined. Prices of the remaining 21 items, representing 41.18% of the basket, remained unchanged. Chicken recorded the largest weekly increase of 7.25%, followed by garlic at 1.85%, pulse gram at 1.30%, LPG at 1.17% and eggs at 0.72%. Prices of IRRI-6/9 rice increased 0.55%, onions 0.39%, washing soap 0.33% and wheat flour 0.29%. Long
cloth and printed lawn rose 0.19% each. Among items recording weekly declines, diesel prices fell the most at 3.43%, followed by bananas at 1.52%, sugar at 1.05%, potatoes at 0.96% and petrol at 0.65%. Pulse moong became 0.63% cheaper, tomatoes 0.51%, pulse masoor 0.42%, gur 0.12% and powdered milk 0.10%. The PBS data showed that the average price of live broiler chicken increased to Rs365.31 per kg from Rs340.63 a week earlier, while an
11.67kg LPG cylinder rose to Rs5,103.37 from Rs5,044.23. Meanwhile, high-speed diesel declined to Rs402.53 per litre from Rs416.84, petrol fell to Rs389.51 per litre from Rs392.07, and refined sugar dropped to Rs143.52 per kg from Rs145.05. On a year-on-year basis, onion prices recorded the sharpest increase at 114.20%, followed by LPG at 66.59% and electricity charges for the lowest consumption quintile at 58.59%. Diesel prices were 44.50% higher
than a year earlier, petrol 44.05%, wheat flour 32.65%, chilli powder 15.55%, mutton 15.07%, chicken 13.60%, beef 12.90%, plain bread 8.96% and fresh milk 8.10% higher. The largest year-on-year decline was recorded in tomato prices, which fell 45.52%, followed by potatoes at 39.54%, sugar at 21.95%, eggs at 17.47%, powdered salt at 14.81%, pulse masoor at 10.92%, pulse gram at 9.90% and pulse moong at 8.20%. Inflation varied across expenditure groups. Weekly SPI increased 0.19% for the lowest consumption quintile, 0.20% for the second, 0.21% for the third, 0.22% for the fourth and 0.21% for the highest quintile. On a year-on-year basis, SPI inflation stood at 9% for the lowest expenditure group, 10.76% for the second quintile, 9.40% for the third, 9.81% for the fourth and 11.99% for the highest expenditure group. The report also showed that the SPI for the lowest consumption quintile averaged 348.87 during the first quarter of FY27, rising 4.07% from the preceding quarter and 9.92% from the corresponding quarter of last year.
APTMA, EXIM Bank discuss soft financing for textile expansion, modernisation PROFIT WEB DESK
Pakistan secures additional 70,000tonne rice exports to Malaysia for Oct-Dec 2026 PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Pakistan has secured arrangements to export an additional 70,000 metric tonnes of rice to Malaysia between October and December 2026 following diplomatic and trade engagements between the two countries, the government said on Friday. The Prime Minister’s Office said relevant ministries and authorities pursued the additional export volume with Malaysia on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The prime minister said the additional rice exports would support farmers and the national economy, while reiterating the government’s aim of expanding access to international markets for Pakistani agricultural products. “Expanding access to international markets for Pakistani agricultural commodities is the government’s top priority,” Sharif said, adding that the government would continue pursuing export-led economic growth. He appreciated the officials involved in securing the additional exports, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and the secretaries of the commerce and national food security ministries. Separately, the prime minister chaired a meeting to review regulatory reforms aimed at facilitating businesses, promoting investment and making the regulatory framework more effective and transparent. Sharif directed authorities to establish a regulatory registry that would bring together regulatory requirements, rules and regulations under a comprehensive system. He also called for implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Act across the country to bring greater consistency to regulatory systems across the provinces and provide businesses with similar facilities. The prime minister directed that third-party validation of the reforms be conducted to assess their impact and effectiveness. He also instructed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to work with the private sector to ensure businesses were aware of and able to use the facilities being introduced. Officials briefed the meeting on measures being undertaken to improve the ease of doing business, including modernisation of the Business Facilitation Centre along the lines of the Punjab government’s E-BIZ platform.
The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of Pakistan have discussed expanding access to concessionary financing for new textile projects and the balancing, modernisation and replacement (BMR) of existing plants to support exports. The discussions were held during a visit to APTMA by EXIM Bank President and CEO Shahbaz H Syed, who briefed textile exporters on the bank’s financing facilities, export support initiatives and future plans. Syed said the bank would continue working with APTMA and the textile industry to improve awareness, access and utilisation of its fi-
nancing facilities. He said concessionary interest rates and soft loan terms could help address exporters’ financing constraints and encourage investment in new projects as well as the BMR of existing plants and machinery. Syed urged textile exporters to use the discounted financing facilities and said loan applications from the sector would be processed on a fast-track basis, with decisions expected within the next fortnight. APTMA Chairman Asad Shafi said the textile and apparel industry accounted for more than 60% of Pakistan’s exports and required institutional support to improve competitiveness, expand capacity and move towards higher-value activities, including brands and designs. Exporters attending the meeting highlighted the need for
timely and affordable working capital and long-term investment financing to support BMR, technology upgrades and fresh investment in manufacturing, research and development, design and brand development. They also called for EXIM Bank financing to be extended to indirect exporters, arguing that modernisation across the textile value chain was necessary to increase overall exports. Outgoing APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad welcomed the operationalisation of the bank’s export financing facilities and its support for export-oriented industries. Both sides agreed to continue discussions on measures to improve access to export financing, facilitate investment and support higher textile exports.
Pakistan cargo movement disrupted as over 2,000 vehicles seized ahead of PTI march PROFIT
REUTERS
Pakistan's effort to keep supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan out of the capital has led to a pileup of shipping containers in the nation's main port of Karachi, 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) away. Truckers are refusing to drive north, for fear their vehicles will be seized and the containers used to barricade Islamabad ahead of an Oct 4 march on the city planned by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party. "Right now, going toward Punjab is like committing suicide," said driver Javid ur Rehman, 35, who has halted such journeys, referring to Pakistan's most populous province. "The police seize the vehicles and snatch the containers, and then we are left distressed." Containers Have Lined Roads For Weeks Steel shipping containers, packed with sand and welded together, have lined the roads into Islamabad for weeks, in preparations against a march, postponed from Sept 27, to demand Khan's release from prison. The former cricket star was jailed in 2023 after being ousted by parliament. All convictions but one have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending. His party remains under state
Sunday, 4 October, 2026 | ISLAMABAD
govt plans to recover over rs110b power arrears from provincial nfC shares amid iMf concerns PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
The federal government has informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of a plan to recover more than Rs110 billion in provincial electricity arrears through deductions from provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, as the lender raised concerns over the fiscal implications of the proposed mechanism, The Express Tribune reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions. During ongoing review talks, the IMF was told that the Power and Finance Divisions had agreed on a mechanism to adjust the outstanding electricity dues against NFC transfers, according to sources. At least Rs110 billion in arrears has been reconciled, while the government plans to recover nearly Rs50 billion in the near term. However, provincial governments have previously opposed attempts to deduct electricity dues from their NFC shares. It also remains unclear whether the provinces have provided the written consent and debit authority required for the State Bank of Pakistan to make such deductions. The IMF raised concerns that the proposed recoveries could further strain provincial finances, which are already under pressure from requirements to generate a Rs1.7 trillion cash surplus and provide Rs1.036 trillion in cash grants. The Power Division also briefed the IMF on the power sector's circular debt, which increased by Rs61 billion during the last fiscal year to Rs1.675 trillion. The increase was attributed to lower-thanbudgeted subsidies and a payment dispute with K-Electric. The IMF questioned whether savings could have been used to reduce the circular debt stock. The Power Division informed the lender that smart meters were also being installed to help resolve billing disputes with provincial governments. Discussions also covered the planned privatisation of power distribution companies and whether the government would continue its uniform electricity tariff policy after privatisation. Under the existing system, consumers served by both efficient and inefficient distribution companies are charged the same tariff. According to sources, Pakistani authorities did not provide a clear response on whether the uniform tariff regime would be discontinued following privatisation. The IMF and Pakistani authorities also discussed the financial dispute involving K-Electric, which has not been making timely payments for electricity purchased from the federal government amid disagreements over tariffs and subsidy claims. The federal government is willing to clear more than Rs100 billion in K-Electric claims, subject to settlement of tariff-related issues. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and its tribunal have rejected K-Electric's request for a tariff of Rs40 per unit and approved Rs32.37 per unit. The government expects the company to challenge the decision in court. The IMF also questioned the delay in reviewing the industrial incremental support package. A hearing has now been scheduled for October 5, with the review potentially resulting in higher incremental tariff rates.
KPra sales tax collection rises 24% to rs12.66b in 1QfY27 PROFIT
AZIZ BUNERI
scrutiny that has suppressed participation in recent protests, however. "This is not the way to stop protests," said Rana Mohammad Aslam, president of the Karachi Goods Carrier association. Authorities began stopping vehicles around Sept. 5, weeks before the original date for the march, he said. Pakistan's home, information, commerce and finance ministries did not respond to requests for comment. Punjab police and the provincial home department also did not respond. The containers are positioned ready for placement at key entry points into Islamabad, a capital region larger than the southeast Asian city state of Singapore. Transporters battling rising prices say they cannot afford to have trucks seized. Police requisitioned more than 2,000 vehicles in September ahead
of the march, they added, many still loaded with cargo and held for days with little or no compensation. Their reluctance is leaving containers to pile up at Pakistan's main trade gateway of Karachi. The disruption was affecting routes to Islamabad, the military city of Rawalpindi, and the cities of Jhelum, Peshawar and Attock, Aslam said. Some operators had halted journeys beyond Gujranwala in Punjab, while others took alternative routes. Bills Are Mounting For Transporters The bills are mounting for those whose containers have been seized, as daily demurrage charges on one such container alone can run into 30,000 to 40,000 rupees ($110 to $150), Aslam said, adding to losses from missed deliveries and idle trucks.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority (KPRA) collected Rs12.66 billion in Sales Tax on Services (STS) during the first quarter of FY27, up 24% from Rs10.2 billion in the corresponding period last year. Total collection under STS and Infrastructure Development Cess (IDC) reached Rs13.123 billion during July-September, according to data shared by the authority on Friday. KPRA also recorded a 35% YoY increase in STS collection during September, with receipts reaching Rs4.65 billion. The authority collected Rs457 million through the Infrastructure Development Cess during the first quarter. KPRA attributed the decline in IDC receipts to the closure of Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossings, which affected cross-border trade and consequently reduced cess collection. KPRA Director General Irum Naz attributed the growth in the authority's core tax collection to the efforts of its officers and officials. She also acknowledged the support of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi and Adviser to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzzammil Aslam in strengthening the authority's institutional performance and advancing revenue reforms. Naz also thanked taxpayers for their cooperation and said voluntary compliance remained central to KPRA's revenue collection.
SBP launches second regulatory sandbox cohort for AI, payments innovations PROFIT
NEWS DESK
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched the second cohort of its Regulatory Sandbox, inviting individuals and firms to test innovative financial solutions across artificial intelligence, payments, inward remittances and next-generation financial services. Applications for the second cohort will remain open until November 30, 2026, the central bank said in a statement. The programme will allow successful applicants to test innovative solutions while enabling the SBP to assess emerging technologies and refine the regulatory environment around their use. The second cohort will consider propos-
als across four themes: artificial intelligence in financial services, innovations in payments, technology-enabled inward remittances and an open category covering next-generation financial services. The SBP said only proposals falling within the scope of these four themes would be considered for participation. The regulatory sandbox forms part of the central bank's broader efforts under SBP Vision 2028 to support innovation in Pakistan's digital financial services ecosystem while maintaining consumer protection and financial stability. The SBP initially launched the Regulatory Sandbox in August 2025 and concluded its first cohort in June 2026. A regulatory sandbox provides a controlled environment in which innovative fi-
nancial products, services or business models can be tested while regulators assess their implications before determining how existing rules should apply or whether the regulatory framework needs to evolve. According to the SBP, the second cohort will similarly allow applicants to test their solutions while helping the central bank refine and upgrade its regulatory framework in response to emerging technologies. Interested individuals and firms can submit applications to the SBP by email until the November 30 deadline. The central bank has also issued guidelines containing the application form and a step-by-step procedure for participation, along with a separate overview detailing the themes covered under the second cohort.
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sunday, 4 October, 2026 | IsLAMABAD
GOVT AMENDS SOES POLICY TO ALIGN FINANCIAL REPORTING WITH GLOBAL STANDARDS
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PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
HE federal government has amended its State-Owned Enterprises (Ownership and Management) Policy, 2023 to establish an International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-based framework for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), while retaining the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) statutory financial reporting requirements for entities regulated by the central bank. The Finance Division notified the amendments on October 2 after their approval by the federal government on September 30 under the State-Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Act, 2023. The changes replace paragraph 31 of the SOE policy and clarify which financial reporting standards will apply to SOEs, how exemptions or modifications granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) will be treated, and the reporting position of entities falling under the SBP’s regulatory jurisdiction.
Under the revised policy, International Financial Reporting Standards for the purposes of the SOEs Act will mean all financial reporting standards notified by the SECP from time to time under Section 225 of the Companies Act, 2017. SBP FRAMEWORK TO TAKE PRECEDENCE FOR REGULATED ENTITIES The amendment creates a specific exception for entities regulated by the central bank. For these entities, the statutory financial reporting framework prescribed by the SBP under the Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 will take precedence over the IFRS framework wherever an inconsistency arises. The SBP framework includes circulars, directives and other instructions issued by the central bank under the ordinance. The amendment further states that nothing in the revised provisions will affect the SBP’s statutory powers, functions or instructions concerning entities under its regulation. These requirements will continue to have an overriding effect as mandated under the State Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956.
The provision effectively retains the central bank’s sector-specific regulatory authority over the financial reporting of entities falling within its jurisdiction while establishing the SECP-notified standards as the general IFRS reference for SOEs. SECP EXEMPTIONS TO EXTEND TO SOES The government has also clarified how modifications and exemptions granted by the SECP in implementing IFRS will apply to state-owned companies. Under the amended policy, any IFRS modifications or exemptions granted by the SECP to companies generally under Section 225 of the Companies Act, 2017 will also apply to SOEs registered with the commission under the Companies Act. This provision, however, remains subject to the SBP carve-out for entities regulated by the central bank. The revised framework therefore distinguishes between SOEs operating under the Companies Act and entities that are also subject to the SBP’s statutory regulatory framework. Finance Division to develop framework for statutory SOEs
The amendment also assigns the Finance Division responsibility for developing a detailed financial management framework for statutory SOEs. The Finance Division will formulate the framework in consultation with the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP).
Pakistan’s refinery upliftment jumps 37.3% to 3.19m tonnes in 1QFY27 PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan’s refinery upliftment increased 37.3% year-on-year (YoY) to 3.192 million tonnes during the first quarter of FY27, supported by strong growth in petrol, high-speed diesel (HSD) and furnace oil (FO) volumes, according to Arif Habib Limited (AHL) Research. Petrol upliftment increased 31.6% YoY to 763,000 tonnes during 1QFY27, compared with 580,000 tonnes in the corresponding period last year, while HSD volumes rose 25% to 1.565 million tonnes from 1.252 million tonnes. Furnace oil recorded the strongest product-wise increase, rising 81.9% YoY to 700,000 tonnes during the quarter from 385,000 tonnes in 1QFY26. Attock Refinery Limited (ATRL) and Cnergyico PK Limited (CNERGY) outperformed the sector in higher-margin products, particularly petrol and HSD. ATRL recorded the strongest firstquarter growth among the refineries covered in the report, with total upliftment more than doubling by 108.5% YoY to 518,000 tonnes from 249,000 tonnes. CNERGY followed with an 86.5% increase to 454,000 tonnes from 243,000 tonnes. Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) recorded growth of 41.3% to 446,000 tonnes, while National Refinery Limited (NRL) volumes rose 37.6% to 432,000
tonnes. PARCO, which remained the largest refinery by upliftment, recorded a comparatively modest 11.5% increase to 1.34 million tonnes during the quarter from 1.203 million tonnes a year earlier. SEPTEMBER UPLIFTMENT RISES 32% Refinery upliftment maintained its upward trajectory in September, increasing 32% YoY and 12.5% month-onmonth (MoM) to 1.084 million tonnes. AHL attributed the increase to higher crude production and imports, which improved refinery utilisation and increased the availability of locally produced petroleum products for sale to oil marketing companies (OMCs). Petrol upliftment increased 19% YoY to 244,000 tonnes in September, although volumes declined 5.1% from August. HSD upliftment rose 14.8% YoY and 31% MoM to 547,000 tonnes, while furnace oil volumes surged 140.8% YoY and 1.3% MoM to 239,000 tonnes. AHL noted that minimal HSD imports during the month contributed to an 11.2% YoY decline in HSD sales by OMCs, despite the increase in domestic refinery dispatches. CNERGY LEADS SEPTEMBER GROWTH CNERGY recorded the sharpest annual increase in September, with total sales rising 135.6% YoY to 147,000
tonnes from 62,000 tonnes. Its HSD sales more than doubled, rising 110.3% to 72,000 tonnes, while furnace oil dispatches increased 15.5 times to 51,000 tonnes. Petrol volumes, however, declined 2.2% YoY to 24,000 tonnes. ATRL's total volumes increased 79.9% YoY to 175,000 tonnes during September. Furnace oil sales surged 22.7 times to 51,000 tonnes, while petrol volumes increased 49.9% to 52,000 tonnes and HSD dispatches rose 21.5% to 61,000 tonnes. AHL attributed ATRL's performance to lower curtailment, with only two regasified liquefied natural gas cargoes arriving during the month, as well as higher crude flows from newer oil discoveries. These factors supported higher refinery utilisation. ATRL's market share consequently increased to 16% compared with its historical average of 13.9%. PRL's September volumes increased 45.5% YoY to 151,000 tonnes, driven by a 101.6% increase in petrol sales to 26,000 tonnes. HSD dispatches rose 36.4% to 82,000 tonnes, while furnace oil volumes increased 41% to 39,000 tonnes. NRL recorded a 42.3% YoY increase in total upliftment to 154,000 tonnes. Petrol volumes rose 18.7% to 27,000 tonnes, while furnace oil dispatches increased sharply to 37,000
tonnes from a negligible base a year earlier. HSD volumes, however, declined 1.3% to 82,000 tonnes. PARCO recorded the smallest annual increase among the five refineries, with total upliftment rising 1.7% to 457,000 tonnes. HSD volumes were largely unchanged at 251,000 tonnes, while petrol sales increased 4.4% to 114,000 tonnes and furnace oil volumes declined 7.4% to 61,000 tonnes. REFINERY PRODUCTION RISES 23.8% IN FIRST QUARTER Higher upliftment was accompanied by an increase in domestic refinery production, which rose 23.8% YoY to 3.09 million tonnes during 1QFY27. Petrol production increased 26.6% YoY during the quarter, HSD production rose 14% and furnace oil output increased 40.5%. In September alone, total refinery production increased 17.4% YoY to 1.017 million tonnes as higher crude production and imports supported improved refinery utilisation. Petrol production rose 23.1% YoY to 243,000 tonnes, while HSD output increased 20.4% to 533,000 tonnes. Furnace oil production rose 14.3% to 229,000 tonnes, which AHL attributed to higher power demand. The product mix remained broadly stable during September, with HSD accounting for 48.5% of throughput, petrol 23.9% and furnace oil 22.5%.
SBP injects Rs3.26tr into banking system through conventional, Islamic OMOs PROFIT STAFF REPORT
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected a combined Rs3.26 trillion into the banking system through conventional and Shariah-compliant open market operations (OMOs) on October 2, with the bulk of the liquidity provided for a 14-day tenor. Under its conventional reverse repo purchase operation, the central bank accepted bids with a face value of Rs2.715 trillion against total offers of Rs3.186 trillion. The realised value of the accepted amount stood at Rs2.637 trillion. For the seven-day tenor, banks offered Rs240.05
billion and the SBP accepted the entire amount at a rate of return of 11.54% per annum. The bulk of the conventional injection came through the 14-day tenor, where banks offered Rs2.946 trillion and the central bank accepted Rs2.475 trillion at 11.51% per annum. A total of 17 quotes were received and accepted for the 14-day operation. Of the Rs2.145 trillion offered specifically at 11.51%, the SBP accepted Rs1.674 trillion on a pro-rata basis. SHARIAH-COMPLIANT INJECTION Separately, the SBP injected Rs543.5 billion on a face-value basis through Shariah-compliant Mudarabah-based OMOs against total offers of Rs595 billion.
The realised value of the accepted Shariah-compliant liquidity stood at Rs535.47 billion. For the sevenday tenor, the central bank accepted the entire Rs106 billion offered at a rate of return of 11.56% per annum. Banks offered Rs489 billion for the 14-day tenor, of which the SBP accepted Rs437.5 billion at 11.54% per annum. Nine quotes were received and accepted for the 14-day operation. The central bank said Rs285 billion was offered at 11.54%, of which Rs233.5 billion was accepted on a pro-rata basis. Taken together, the conventional and Shariah-compliant operations resulted in liquidity injections with a face value of Rs3.259 trillion, against combined offers of Rs3.781 trillion.
In addition, all SOEs will be required to establish internal audit procedures and mechanisms in accordance with Sections 19 and 20 of the State-Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Act, 2023. The notification states that further details are provided in Annexure 6.
Pakistan’s domestic cement sales rise 8% to 10.845m tonnes in 1QFY27 PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan’s domestic cement sales increased 8% YoY to 10.845 million tonnes during the first quarter of FY27, compared with 10.062 million tonnes in the same period last year, indicating an improvement in local construction activity. Export despatches, however, declined 11.31% to 2.296 million tonnes during July-September from 2.589 million tonnes in 1QFY26. As a result, total cement despatches, including domestic sales and exports, rose 4% to 13.141 million tonnes during the quarter. According to data released by the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA), local cement despatches stood at 3.788 million tonnes in September, up 7.35% from 3.529 million tonnes in the corresponding month last year.
Afridi doubles down on Oct 4 march as govt warns against rhetoric CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
He also opposed drone strikes and the use of the term “collateral damage”, arguing that such actions contributed to terrorism. Afridi claimed that this position was no longer confined to the PTI and was shared by political and religious parties and people from different schools of thought in KP. He referred to signatures collected through a provincial assembly jirga as evidence of the support for the stance. He also contrasted the security situation with the PTI’s previous tenure in federal government, saying Pakistan and KP were then known for “tourism, not terrorism”. The chief minister questioned who was facilitating terrorism and why weapons purchased for the province were allegedly not reaching the police. He also questioned why ministers and workers were being taken away and why, according to him, the police had been forced to rebel. Afridi further questioned why peace had not returned to Balochistan despite what he described as the provincial and federal governments being “on the same page”, and cited Pakistan’s ranking in terrorism. He said those who considered themselves “all-knowing” had been wrong in the past and would continue to be wrong unless they changed their policies. The chief minister also referred to the May 9 events, saying the PTI would neither allow nor let anyone repeat them. He alleged that whoever stole CCTV footage was responsible for what happened on May 9. GOVT WARNS STATEMENTS COULD HURT TALKS The remarks drew a response from government representative Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, who said the government wanted negotiations with the opposition to be “meaningful and result-oriented”.
Govt, Opposition talks ‘reportedly’ bear fruit as PTI march hangs in balance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The speaker also heard the concerns of both sides and encouraged them to continue the dialogue, with neither side being allowed to walk out despite disagreements over some of the issues under discussion. The two sides also expressed a commitment to continuing negotiations through their respective committees in the future. The government and opposition teams were reportedly discussing a draft agreement ahead of the PTI’s planned October 4 Islamabad long march, with a written accord being prepared for signing, sources said on Saturday. The government delegation included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Kashmir Affairs Minister Amir Muqam, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and PPP leaders Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman and Ejaz Jakhrani. The opposition team comprised Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Aamir Dogar and Haleem Adil. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq is officiating the government-opposition talks as part of efforts to ease the ongoing political tensions in the country. KP CM REMAINS ADAMANT ON PROCEEDING WITH PTI MARCH Even as the extended talks kept hopes for an agreement alive, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remained adamant about proceeding with the PTI’s march towards Islamabad.
After voicing his determination on Saturday afternoon, which irked government representatives, the KP chief minister again took to X at 12:46am to detail the itinerary for the protest march. Laying out the journey plan, Afridi said PTI supporters from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat would join the long march at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1pm on October 4. The caravan would halt for the night near Karak, from where participants would depart at 12:30pm the following day and stay overnight near Kohat. Then, at 12pm on October 6, protesters from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai would join the convoy, which would move towards Peshawar and spend the night near Mattani. According to the KP chief minister’s post, the caravan would depart from Budh Bair in Peshawar on the afternoon of October 7. “The remaining constituencies of Peshawar will join us at Kohat Road Bridge and the Motorway Toll Plaza. And we will spend the night near Charsadda Interchange,” he said. The participants would then depart Charsadda Interchange at 12:30pm on October 8 after people from Charsadda and Mohmand joined the caravan. Refraining from detailing the final leg of the journey to the federal capital, Afridi said the people “of entire KP” would gather at Khairabad on October 8 and spend the night there. “God willing, the plan for the next phase will be announced there,” he said. GOVT ‘AGREES’ TO MEETING OF ABBAS, ACHAKZAI WITH JAILED PTI FOUNDER Sources privy to the matter said the government had
“agreed” to a meeting of Allama Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Achakzai with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, adding that the opposition had “given its nod” to calling off its planned march towards the federal capital. During the meeting, the PTI also demanded the immediate release of Imran’s sisters as well as all party parliamentarians and workers. Opposition leaders assured the government that they would convince the PTI founder to agree to resolving the issues through negotiations, sources said. NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also played a key role in mediating between the government and opposition, the sources added. After consultations with the government and opposition teams, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi apprised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of the details over the phone and briefed President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwane-Sadr, the sources said, adding that he later reached Parliament House. NO DECISION WITHOUT MEETING PTI FOUNDER: ACHAKZAI However, following a telephone conversation between National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai and the opposition’s negotiation team, Achakzai said a meeting with the PTI founder would take place first, after which a decision would be made, sources privy to the matter said. He said no announcement or decision could be made without meeting the PTI founder. Achakzai told the opposition leaders to inform the government that a decision would be conveyed after consulting the PTI founder, the sources added.
During another telephone conversation, Achakzai asked the opposition leaders to put forward a single agenda before the government for a meeting with the PTI founder. He also proposed a meeting involving the PTI founder, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Allama Nasir Abbas. Achakzai said they would guarantee that Afridi would not speak to the media after meeting the PTI founder, the sources said. He also called for the PTI founder’s sisters to be released first before the agreement, the sources added. ‘GOVT-OPPOSITION TALKS CAN BE CALLED SUCCESSFUL’ PPP leader and member of the negotiation committee Naveed Qamar said the talks could be described as successful, adding that a joint statement would be issued shortly. “We are waiting as some wording [in the draft agreement] is being revised,” the PPP leader said, adding that a joint draft agreed upon by the government and opposition would also be issued shortly. He said any success would be the result of efforts by both sides and expressed hope that there would be neither a long march nor the imposition of an emergency in KP. Earlier in the day, negotiations between the two sides began after multiple delays. ‘HOPE FOR A POSITIVE OUTCOME’ Talking to the media moments before the second round, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said efforts were being made to stop his party’s long march, adding that talk of taking extreme steps had also been heard from the treasury benches.
04 COMMENT
THE INDUS WATERS TREATY AND THE LIMITS OF INDIAN UNILATERALISM
Sunday, 4 October, 2026
Creating another controversy
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Trying to keep the IMF happy, the federal government is creating trouble for itself
The numbers tell a narrower story
HE federal government has told the International Monetary Fund that it intends to deduct from the provinces’ National Finance Commission Award shares the dues owed by the provinces to the power distribution companies. There are two immediate problems with this plan. First, the provinces have not reconciled the amounts owed. Rs 50 billion has been reconciled, and Rs 50 billion is to be recovered, the federal government hopes. The second problem is that this cannot be done without the provincial governments issuing the St\zte Bank of Pakistan directions. Though the federal government collects the money in the Federal Divisible Pool, it cannot forcibly hold back any money; it has to pay it over to the State Bank, which then places it in the provincial accounts according to the NFC Award. When the Centre tried this solution, provinces all refused. After all, why should the provinces bother paying arrears if they could get away with not paying arrears. The provincial governments are silently daring the DISCOs to cut power to police stations, schools and hospitals and (much more unthinkable), even the DC’s office, or Commissioner’s residence. So far, the DISCOs have been cowed down. Another reason why the provinces are likely to resist is that they have already sacrificed portions of their NFC shares to the federal government, so that it can meet debt servicing and defence expenditures. With this ammunition already available to separatists, does the federal government want to give them another example to be portrayed as an example of the iniquities of the federal government. The impending privatization of three DISCOs seems to have brought this on, for it has thrown the spotlight on circular debt, which the government blames at least partially on K-Electric’s disputes over payment. It is entirely likely that the particular idea, which would indeed help resolve the circular debt issue without such desperate measures as tariff hikes, will merely create the sort of disputes between denationalized DISCOs anf provincial governments which would carry on for years. It would therefore be only common prudence if the federal government was to avoid going down that particular rabbit hole. It is likely that any attempt will founder over the provincial refusal to permit the deduction, but even the attempt could cause the federation grievous harm.
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HE Permanent Court of Arbitration, in its 31 August award on the Status of the Indus Waters Treaty, had yet again vindicated Pakistan’s principled position that India, under no circumstances, can unilaterally “suspend” or place the IWT in “abeyance”. The award concluded that India’s 2025 decision was not permissible under the Treaty or applicable international law, and that the IWT remained in force, thereby underscoring the limits of Indian unilateralism and reaffirming that treaty obligations cannot be unilaterally set aside outside the mechanisms provided under international law. Similarly, PCA’s May 2026 supplemental award on maximum pondage had also affirmed that IWT imposes real, binding limits on India’s control over the western rivers. Pakistan welcomed the PCA decision and reiterated its stance that the IWT contains no provision permitting either party unilaterally to suspend, place it in abeyance, or terminate it. Pakistan’s stated position
If either principle is allowed to erode here, neither will hold anywhere else the next time a powerful upstream state decides a downstream neighbourÊs water is a lever worth pulling. Thirdly, and most fundamentally, the two countries have no substitute for peaceful coexistence. Fourthly, the World Bank, which brokered the original treaty and has intervened as a facilitator before, in 2016, could usefully play that role once again. Lastly, Indian attempt to weaponize IWT risks a war between nuclear-armed states· Pakistan has already classified any aggressive attempt to weaponize or restrict water flows as a national „redline‰ that will face a direct response. Let sanity be given a chance
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M. A. Niazi
Babar Nizami
Editor Pakistan Today
Editor Profit
TARIQUE AHMED ABRO
is that Article XII provides for the Treaty to remain in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded between the two governments. Islamabad has also consistently emphasized the Treaty’s institutional and dispute-settlement framework– including the Permanent Indus Commission and the mechanisms under Article IX– and has argued that differences over the Indus waters must be addressed within that framework and in accordance with international law, rather than through unilateral action. The weaponization of water by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government not only threatens the water security of an entire nation but also risks turning a treaty-governed resource-sharing dispute into a wider instrument of geopolitical coercion. That is precisely why the IWT’s dispute-resolution mechanisms matter: they provide an institutional framework for managing disagreements through established legal procedures rather than unilateral measures or political pressure. When such mechanisms are disregarded, the consequences extend beyond the immediate India-Pakistan dispute, raising the spectre of a broader “water war” in an already volatile region. The IWT forms part of a broader international legal tradition reflected in instruments such as the UN Watercourses Convention and the Helsinki Convention on Transboundary Watercourses, which promote cooperation, equitable use, information exchange and peaceful management of shared waters. If India’s position is allowed to stand unchallenged– that a treaty can be suspended at will, arbitration ignored when inconvenient, and upstream infrastructure expanded without the downstream state’s recourse– the precedent will not stay confined to South Asia. Every transboundary river shared by an upstream and downstream state, from the Nile to the Mekong, would be watching. A world in which the
The writer is Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh
Editor’s mail
The Emerging Connectivity Link
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The Karachi–Peshawar railway sits at the intersection of Pakistan’s CPEC 2.0 ambitions and the wider CAREC transport network MUJTABA ARSHAD
EDERAL Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal used a Development Partners Dialogue in Ulaanbaatar on September 28 to present Pakistan’s plan for the modernisation of Main Line-1 (ML-1), framing the 1726-km Karachi-Peshawar railway as critical to expanding trade, freight capacity and regional connectivity. The dialogue, titled “Advancing Trade, Tourism and Regional Connectivity”, was held during his official visit to Mongolia for the CAREC programme. He also met the CAREC Institute and a delegation from Uzbekistan. The significance of the presentation extends beyond the immediate railway project. ML-1 sits within a wider regional connectivity geography that includes the CAREC network and intersects with the connectivity ambitions of CPEC Phase II. He said ML-1 runs 1726 km from Karachi to Peshawar and carries 76 percent of passenger and 98 percent of freight traffic despite infrastructure constraints. The upgrade, he said, would raise capacity from 34 to 120 train pairs, lift passenger speeds to 160 kmph and freight speeds from 30 to 80 kmph, and cut Karachi–Rohri travel from about eight hours to roughly four and a half. Importantly, the government is presenting Karachi-Rohri not as a standalone intervention but as the first step towards modernising the complete Karachi-Peshawar corridor. Freight demand is projected at around 21 million tonnes a year by 2035. The Asian Development Bank
(ADB) describes the roughly 480-km Karachi–Rohri section as the link between the main port and the national network, and says a road-dominated system leaves logistics costs at near 15 percent of GDP. CAREC Corridor 5 is officially titled East Asia–Middle East and South Asia. CAREC says it connects Central Asia and East Asia to South Asia, offering potential routes to Karachi's seaports for landlocked countries. A 2021 CAREC railway assessment names Corridors 5 and 6 as relevant to Pakistan's railways and says Subcorridor 501, from Kashgar, follows ML-1 through Havelian, Islamabad and Lahore to Karachi. It calls Havelian–Kashgar a missing link and says an upgrade would ease ML-1's capacity bottlenecks. The regional line exists as a strategic framework, but several of its physical links remain incomplete. ML-1 can therefore be viewed as a potential Pakistan rail backbone within this wider architecture rather than as a fully operational Central Asian trade corridor. The CPEC 2.0 connection emerges from Pakistan’s broader regional connectivity agenda. The CPEC Secretariat describes Phase II as being driven by five corridors, Growth, Innovation, Green Development, Livelihood and Regional Connectivity, and identifies ML-1 among its flagship connectivity projects. It said the 2025–2029 Action Plan covers industrial cooperation, special economic zones, agriculture, maritime development, mining and flagship connectivity projects including ML-1, the Karakoram Highway realignment and Gwadar. ML-1 appears on the official CPEC project list, yet its Karachi–Rohri section is now being advanced with ADB leading the financing ef-
ML-1Ês significance therefore extends beyond faster domestic services. If financing is secured, implementation progresses and the necessary institutional and crossborder links are developed, the railway could become an important piece of PakistanÊs wider connectivity architecture, linking its domestic logistics network with the CAREC system and complementing the Regional Connectivity agenda of CPEC 2.0. The route is not yet an established Central Asian trade corridor. Its significance lies in the infrastructure and institutional choice that could make such connectivity commercially viable Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965
upper riparian along a river gets to decide unilaterally when treaty law applies is a more dangerous world for every water-stressed nation, and there are many. The region does not have to imagine what unmanaged climate risk in the high Himalaya looks like. On August 26, a major ice-and-rock slope collapsed near Langtang Lirung in Nepal, sending a debris flow racing nearly 100 kilometers down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli valleys, burying villages, destroying bridges and hydropower infrastructure. The disaster has left more than 1,250 people dead and thousands missing, according to the United Nations. The disaster was a stark reminder that the entire Hindu Kush-Himalayan system– the water tower feeding the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra alike– is destabilizing in ways existing infrastructure and treaties were never built to anticipate. India and Pakistan do not control the glaciers feeding their rivers, and neither can out-engineer or out-litigate a warming atmosphere on its own. That is precisely why climate change deserves to be treated as the common enemy it is, rather than as one more grievance to be weaponized against a neighbor. A basin whose glacial feed is retreating and whose monsoon is growing more erratic does not become safer because one riparian has a unilateral leverage over the other– it becomes more dangerous for both states. Therefore, strong institutional cooperation, functioning dispute-resolution mechanisms, and good-faith adherence to international law are the only realistic tools two nuclear-armed neighbours have for managing a shared, destabilizing river system without stumbling into confrontation. If India can find its way back to treating the IWT’s institutions as instruments of joint adaptation rather than levers of coercion, the treaty that has survived decades could yet again prove its durability. Having said that, it is pertinent that the dialogue must be resumed through the treaty’s own institutions rather than around them. Notably, the Permanent Indus Commission remains the fastest route back from confrontation to management. Secondly, India must recommit to the plain text of international law rather than the version it finds convenient in the moment. A treaty without an exit clause cannot be suspended by one party’s unilateral declaration any more than an arbitral tribunal’s jurisdiction can be waved away by a losing party’s objection after the fact. If either principle is allowed to erode here, neither will hold anywhere else the next time a powerful upstream state decides a downstream neighbour’s water is a lever worth pulling. Thirdly, and most fundamentally, the two countries have no substitute for peaceful coexistence. Fourthly, the World Bank, which brokered the original treaty and has intervened as a facilitator before, in 2016, could usefully play that role once again. Lastly, Indian attempt to weaponize IWT risks a war between nuclear-armed states— Pakistan has already classified any aggressive attempt to weaponize or restrict water flows as a national “redline” that will face a direct response. Let sanity be given a chance.
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Karachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I
fort. The overlap is physical: one railway line that both frameworks could rely on. The 20252029 Action Plan itself calls for a practical financing and implementation plan for ML-1 to support the high-quality development of CPEC connectivity, while also calling for Gwadar to be leveraged for trade with Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond. Meeting Uzbekistan's Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Ilzat Kasimov, Mr Iqbal said the proposed Uzbekistan– Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) railway could link Central Asian markets with Pakistani ports. He urged a faster feasibility study, identification of financing and a joint financing mechanism. The Ministry said the proposed UAP railway should ultimately be conceived as an integrated economic corridor linking railways, highways, logistics, ports and industrial centres. The potential chain runs from ML-1 through the national network to Karachi and, if cross-border links are built, towards Central Asia. The proposition remains conditional. Financing remains central to the implementation challenge. Mr Iqbal described KarachiRohri as the most advanced section, put its estimated cost at about $2.5 billion and said ADB was leading the financing effort, with other development partners engaged. At the same time, ADB’s current project documentation classifies its Karachi-Rohri facility as “proposed”, with project-readiness financing approved in 2025 and follow-on financing under consideration. The distinction is important: preparations and financing work are advancing, but the ADB facility should not yet be described as an approved full-project loan. Money is not the only test. The technical and preparatory work is already moving forward. ADB’s September 2026 market-engagement process covers the proposed Karachi-Rohri upgrade, including climate-resilient railway infrastructure, signalling modernisation, operations and institutional capacity-building. CAREC's strategy notes that infrastructure progress does not always translate into better trade outcomes, citing border delays. The 2021 assessment flagged rail pricing, port-terminal inefficiency and unreliable service, and warned the upgraded line might attract less traffic than hoped without commercial reform. ADB likewise says the upgrade must be complemented by institutional and financial reforms. ML-1’s significance therefore extends beyond faster domestic services. If financing is secured, implementation progresses and the necessary institutional and cross-border links are developed, the railway could become an important piece of Pakistan’s wider connectivity architecture, linking its domestic logistics network with the CAREC system and complementing the Regional Connectivity agenda of CPEC 2.0. The route is not yet an established Central Asian trade corridor. Its significance lies in the infrastructure and institutional choice that could make such connectivity commercially viable.
The writer is Research Associate at the Centre of Excellence for CPEC, PIDE Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545
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Healing family ties
FAMILY conflicts often start with a small misunderstanding, a harsh word, or an unmet expectation. But when ignored, these little issues can grow into a silent poison that slowly destroys love, peace and trust at home. Psychologists say that most problems come from poor communication, lack of patience and unrealistic expectations. When family members stop listening to each other and try only to prove themselves right, emotional distance grows. This leads to feelings of loneliness and mental stress even within a house full of people. The good news is: this can be prevented. Start by talking and listening regularly, even about small things. Be patient during disagreements, and accept that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Use kind words like “I understand” or “I’m sorry” to build bridges, not walls. Also, make time for fun and togetherness. Shared moments bring hearts closer and reduce negativity. Disagreements are natural but solving them with love, respect and understanding is the real strength of a happy family. Don’t let silence ruin what love has built. ARONA SAGHIR KARACHI
Nuclear past repeats
FOR more than 30 years, the world has avoided slipping back into the dangerous cycle of escalation that defined the Cold War era. After the superpowers realised how close they had come to nuclear catastrophe, they slowly built a system of restraint. Arms-control treaties, verification mechanisms, and a shared understanding of mutual destruction pushed nuclear testing into history. This long period of relative calm makes today’s renewed talk of testing all the more worrying. Against this backdrop, United States President Donald Trump’s recent directive to Pentagon to explore new nuclear test possibilities appears historically tone-deaf and strategically short-sighted. It overlooks the hardearned lessons of the Cold War. At the time, both the United States and the erstwhile Soviet Union believed that strength came from building bigger and more destructive weapons. But each new test only provoked another response, pushing both sides closer to the edge. It was a dangerous game where one misstep could have meant annihilation. The world eventually stepped back from the brink, not because of luck, but because leaders finally recognised that nuclear one-upmanship had no winners. Today’s world is far more complex than the bipolar Cold War order. Instead of two major powers, there is now a multipolar rivalry involving the US, China, Russia and several emerging nuclear states. Reintroducing nuclear tests in such an environment is like lighting a match in a room full of fuel barrels. There are more players, more tensions, and fewer rules. The old arms-control framework — the one that helped stabilise the Cold War — has weakened over the years. Key treaties have collapsed, verification has eroded, and trust among major powers is at its lowest point in decades. In essence, bringing back a Cold War-era practice now risks replaying the darkest chapters of the 20th century, but this time without the safety nets that once kept competition in check. A single test by one country could trigger a chain reaction, pushing others to respond with tests of their own. Such a spiral would make diplomatic restraint harder, and strategic miscalculations more likely. Supporters of new testing argue that it strengthens deterrence, but this argument ignores the fact that modern nuclear technology does not require explosive testing to remain credible. Instead, political signalling becomes the real motive — and that is precisely what makes the situation so dangerous. Using nuclear tests as symbols of power invites others to do the same. The world cannot afford to treat nuclear weapons as tools of political theatre. The lessons of history are clear: once the cycle of testing begins, it becomes difficult to stop. What kept the world safe for three decades was not louder threats, but quieter diplomacy and strong global norms. Reviving nuclear testing would not make any nation safer. It would simply drag the world back towards an era of fear — an era we worked so hard to leave behind. SANAULLAH MIRANI DAHARKI
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Inventing a Regime Change narrative Sunday, 4 October, 2026
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How the narrative proved wrong NAQI AKBAR
HE world has been on its toes since the Gaza war in October 2023 for reasons which emanate not from Gaza or the West Bank, but from Tehran. For alert geopolitical observers, the Gaza theatre was just another front which had to be kept busy as a smokescreen while the main front was tackled along a parallel set of actions, reactions and assaults. The Gaza front naturally precipitated the involvement of key Iran ally Hezbollah and by April 2024 the Iranians had to jump into the fray when their embassy was deliberately targeted, IRGC commanders in Damascus killed and even the Iranian ambassador was targeted in the infamous ‘Pager explosion’ affair. Much of 2024 was the story of successive setbacks for the anti-Israel resistance; from Beirut to Tehran. The mysterious crash of Iranian President Ibrahim Raeesi’s helicopter in Iranian Azerbaijan; the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Hania in Tehran right in the IRGC’s backyard; the compromised coordinates of the Hezbollah chief Hasan Nasrullah and then his successor Hashim Saifeddine in September and October 2024, the fall of a pro-Iranian Bashar al Assad set up in Syria were not the events in isolation, but coordinated attacks which finally precipitated the real project of the part of the world controlled from Washington DC. The regime change operation in Iran has been initiated since; though the unexpected turn of events in the aftermath of the killing of the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei now seems to be on hold at the original operation room for its execution; the White House. The plan was not a thing precipitated in one way or a week or a month. It was a deliberate conditioning of the minds; unsuspecting minds which were conditioned to the point where it would be treated as a necessary imperative to support such an initiative. In other words, the world opinion was set up in a manner to make everyone believe that
unless the ‘Iran File’ is dealt with the world will be in peril, which is ill affordable. That narrative rests on two assumptions; firstly ‘their way of life is different from our way of life’ the debate against a vibrant version of Islam which can pose a threat to the capitalist way of life. The second assumption rests on the so-called premise that since ‘their way of life is not compatible with ours’; its utility towards progress cannot be guaranteed. Towards that end; the dominant narrative, that of the capitalist world rests on the premise that since the other narrative is anti-development, administrative loopholes need to be exploited to the point where it looks convincing that such narrative needs to be defeated militarily. It may be pointed out that through much of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the Marxist ideology was subjected to the same interference by the capitalist West. The June 1989 student unrest in Beijing was in fact the Chinese equivalent of the student riots in the aftermath of the June 2009 Iranian presidential elections which brought former Iranian prime minister Mir Hussain Mousavi as the main challenger to the clerical order. As was expected, the Mahsa Amini affair was one such episode where the excessive zeal of the administration resulted in a situation where the world opinion was swayed to the point that an otherwise selfcritical society was portrayed as if people were executed or killed just because they failed to observe the official Hijab or opposed the system. Half-truths were eaddled; like a person being shown as going to be executed, but the viewer or reader seldom knows about the prosecution details. Coming back to the Mahsa Amini issue; at that point of time, few people heard or even noticed the statement by the late supreme leader that many of the Iranian women, not observing the Hijab, were supportive of the 1979 movement. That statement was in a manner illustrative of the fact that a society could not sustain itself in face of crippling sanctions and skyrocketing inflation unless people had faith in the system in one way or another.
The think tanks who can influence the capitalist capitals to review the narratives and redefine not just their strategies, but to think over how parallel ways of life can be assimilated in a now shrinking global village; where Âregime changeÊ and Âbombing back to the Stone Age  is not an option; rather they must work out how a dialogue with an intent to let others live in peace and growth
The narrative was built on the premise that the system at place in was not a symbol of progress rather of retrogressive tendencies and the Mahsa Amini affair was illustrative of that. Here it is imperative to note that the post-1979 Iran, despite being a theocratic state. is known for its tolerant attitude towards the promotion of creative arts. One of the pillars of their production houses is that they are not shy to portray tactfully what happens in the society, despite the official stances. Furthermore, the Iranian creative scene seems like a big revenue earner and job creator like the Indian one, in stark contrast to the Pakistani scene where there is a simple dearth of performers and one often sees the same faces on multiple channels at the same time. A run through the Iranian drama serials and movies reflects the hard fact that in some cases the so-called liberal Muslim societies like Pakistan might take time to reflect on the same things in the Pakistani context and that too without causing a useless uproar, which might a fodder for the media; electronic and print in Pakistan to report, but might not have any solutions to offer. For instance, a movie named Time of Love featuring famous actress Laila Hatami and Shahab Hossaini deals with Muta marriage in a reflective mood, where the main character feigns ignorance of his temporary wife’s pregnancy on the plea that he had a vasectomy; in a way accusing the wife of adultery. Such a screenplay can probably not be written in Pakistan without causing a riot. Three years ago, a Hum TV drama showing a Shia-Sunni courtship along the Moharram procession drew tensions; which in a realistic scenario might have happened many times as inter-sect marriages exist in Pakistan. Likewise, no Pakistani drama can show a rave party while the Iranian cinema had portrayed the same in the movie Under the Smokey Roof; even the disruption of a music concert organized by the hero of the movie while the villain, the father of the girl in the movie Qatal Ahli is shown to be a devout Muslim, while indulging in all kinds of hanky panky. The domain of creative arts under discussion is further strengthened on account of the fact that the Iranian diaspora, which supposed to be the regime change crowd for good seems to be glued to the production houses and movie directors art pieces for their past time either through ‘Namava’ the Iranian Islamic version of alternate ‘Netflix’ and many websites which regularly update the downloadable drama serial episodes for the Iranian diaspora, which the whole world is led to believe was just waiting for the supreme leader is shredded to pieces after which the so-called revolutionary forces take over the state. Likewise, the educational sector’s excellence in Iranian society can be gauged from the fact that despite all the talk of banishing Iranians from all the forums, lately, the alternate operating system developers made a few of the universities in Iran as a repository of their downloadable operating system con-
COMMENT 05
Coming back to the Mahsa Amini issue; at that point of time, few people heard or even noticed the statement by the late supreme leader that many of the Iranian women, not observing the Hijab, were supportive of the 1979 movement. That statement was in a manner illustrative of the fact that a society could not sustain itself in face of crippling sanctions and skyrocketing inflation unless people had faith in the system in one way or another. tent ‘Linux Mint’. However, despite credible evidence that the system is not something imposed from above, rather it is participative, the narration prior to the final push in March proved the point that all that is needed is to invent a narrative which suits the dominant political trends and powers at hand. It was no coincidence that in the January to March period, the world was led to believe that the system would come crumbling down as people were hard pressed by the yoke of the Mullah. Few in the media industry could argue that the system in place there was not an easy ride for the neocons like the Afghanistan of 2001 or Iraq of 2003, rather it was a much harder nut to crack, despite so many contradictions and divisions in transitional societies, with states like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh being no exception. The capitalist military complex dwells on creating scenarios, which might not have
Five reasons Trump might actually resign
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Trump, having lost much of his leverage, knows he can’t even appear to accomplish much in 2027 and 2028 COMMON DREAMS RALPH NADER
T is hard to read President Donald Trump’s mind—what with his chronic lies, delusions, and fake promises. His incentives to finish his term are numerous—pomp and ceremony, daily vengeance, judicial immunity, Democratic leaders, for now, opposing impeachment, and immensely enriching himself using the punishing or rewarding powers of the presidency. The rewards are insatiable. This failed businessman, riven with debts and losses, revealed in his 2025 financial disclosures a profit of $1.1 MILLION AN HOUR on a 40hour week! He probably will reap more dollars in 2026, which he has ensured would be non-taxable by his captured Internal Revenue Service. Then, what could be the counter factors in his mind for resignation? Foremost, he is
exhausted physically and mentally, declining at an accelerating rate, worrying his physicians and family. Over 30 prominent mental health professionals—some with expert witness credentials in courts—and physicians have observed his deterioration in a disciplined statement read into the Congressional Record on April 30 by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jack Reed (D-RI). Trump yearns for more R&R and golf and less grueling travel requirements. Second, he would avoid the many investigations the Democrats would launch against his administration, coupled with negative headlines, disclosures by whistleblowers, congressional subpoenas, and charges of contempt of Congress. Third, it resolves a messy presidential primary race by installing JD Vance—his present choice as successor—as a president who would maintain a compliant Department of Justice and, crucially, maintain loyalty to Trump across the board in his regime. This continuity might mitigate his base
Just as the obstinate Richard Nixon saw his Republican base shrinking in Congress, for a sliver of the serious impeachable offenses that Trump commits daily and boastfully. Remember Nixon resigned in 1974, saying he had lost his base of protection in Congress blaming him for November’s losses, since he demanded that the GOP candidates pretend that he is on the ballot. Trump cannot stand the shrinking of his MAGA base, plus the departure of his bone-tired, super loyal personal staff. Fourth, his military intelligence and domestic advisers are briefing him on what is likely to come. Troubling scenarios would land on his desk for responses and decisions. They include the arrival of deadly drones; runaway AI Frankensteins; a possible pandemic; more intensive storms, floods,
droughts, and mega wildfires; all pressures that he can try but not succeed in avoiding. Moreover, there is a broad consensus that his deficits and national debt are surging from runaway military spending, corporate welfare, giveaways, huge tax reductions, and evasions by the super rich and mega corporations that will raise the hated interest rates everywhere. Fifth, he is confident he can declare victory on every front, domestic and foreign, with rhetoric that he has been honing for years. He can say he has accomplished his
Do you want human civil servants or AI bots? Rapidly expanding AI use within the government is numbing departments to its profound threats. And try arguing with a faceless digital bureaucrat
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THE GUARDIAN THE CIVIL SERVANT
NOTHER day, another apocalyptic warning about the likelihood that rampantly uncontrollable artificial intelligence will solve all of our problems, including the problem of being alive. Hot on the heels of disgruntled Anthropic researchers announcing the end of civilisation by 2030, we’ve now had the portentously named Hugging Face incident, as well as the Australian government’s grim discovery of a rogue AI’s attack on its Medicare website. Swarms of experts are now falling over each other to warn us that much, much worse is on the way. Thank God, then, that PM Uncle Andy has thrust Britain on to the bleeding edge of the fight against the rise of the self-improving machines. Except he hasn’t. Not really. Yes, Burnham went to the United Nations and risked enraging the Orange One with talk of Britain’s prospects of leading the drawing-up of international rules for AI. Slightly awkwardly, however, one of Burnham’s first acts after sweeping into office was to abolish the Department for Science,
Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the very department that had been leading work on AI safety. It’s a move that the Institute for Government warns will cause “real harm” and which former government AI adviser Matt Clifford has said “wastes time and energy that’s desperately needed for the actual substance”. Isn’t there something gloriously British about all this? Having failed thus far to regulate the technology effectively at home, we are going to world-beatingly coordinate its regulation everywhere else. Whatever it is, it doesn’t quite feel like the response of a state gripped by existential urgency. But perhaps that is because all of us – government ministers included – have already become desensitised to the risk of AImageddon. You can get used to anything. Sure, if one industry insider inadvertently leaks the news that scientists building a new technology believe it might kill everyone, a spot of existential panic is to be expected. But if you ram these tidings down our collective throat every couple of weeks, eventually the prospect of mass extinction acquires the urgency of that bowel cancer screening kit you’ve been meaning to send back to the doctor. Civil servants understand this aspect of
human nature only too well. Like the prospect of the galloping climate crisis, we too are simultaneously terrified by AI and utterly bored by it. The extraordinary becomes familiar; the familiar becomes an item on a civil service risk register, after which the real fear is that someone will arrange a Teams call to talk about it. The median age of civil servants, remember, is 43 years, so many have already witnessed enough technological revolutions to choke a chatbot. Which means that, like me, there’s a large faction of the workforce that remembers the replacement of fax machines by email, and their first introduction to Clippy, that damnably moronic AI ancestor office assistant whose principal stab at sentience was appearing uninvited to chirp: “It looks like you’re writing a letter. Would you like help?” So it’s entirely possible that civil servants of my vintage might not yet have been compassionately euthanised by the time government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HMRC contain more AI agents than carbon-based officials. It may sound melodramatic, but that’s where we are headed. Ministers – convinced that harnessing AI will help keep Reform at
bay by offering the tantalising possibility of slashing civil service jobs – have calmly and robotically emoted their concerns about the machines jumping their guardrails, while enthusiastically searching for things to give them. That’s amid civil service union concerns that the government is moving too quickly, citing the Fabian Society’s research finding that only 29% of those surveyed said they had been consulted about AI tools in their workplace. They’re right to be worried. Before DSIT was deleted, its permanent secretary, Emran Mian, reportedly had plans for AI to eventually replace almost every departing civil servant in his department rather than replacing them with humans. Elsewhere, the DWP has been busily experimenting with AI across the welfare state, directing its machine-learning systems to identify supposedly high-risk universal credit claims. And in response to “serious concerns” about transparency and the handling of personal data, the DWP has been careful to insist that humans retain the final decision and that AI does not determine entitlement. Is this just practical common sense, or the kind of world-beating complacency that some have pointed out is an echo of the government’s response to the climate emergency? Either way, the reassurances given by AI minister Kanishka Narayan to the parliamentary business and trade committee sound increasingly hollow after the spate of recent AI rampages.
an iota of reality, but a fractured perception which is depended upon to deliver the results. The Iranian stalemate; which was on the basis of the narrative supposed to be at most a month-long affair, has literally degenerated into a quagmire with no ending. At the moment the ‘oppressed people of Iran’ are not the prime stakeholders, rather the ‘hard pressed people of the world’ find their economic survival at stake. The think tanks who can influence the capitalist capitals to review the narratives and redefine not just their strategies, but to think over how parallel ways of life can be assimilated in a now shrinking global village; where ‘regime change’ and ‘bombing back to the Stone Age ‘ is not an option; rather they must work out how a dialogue with an intent to let others live in peace and growth. The writer is a freelance columnist
pledges to the American people, showing his list of “promises made and promises kept.” He can claim that it is time to hand the great future of America to a younger generation of Republicans led by a new president, JD Vance, who is in his 40s. Though contrary to his past boasts of being in “excellent health,” he could invoke “Drs. Orders” and wanting to spend more time with his family. Melania would certainly not object to this kind of resignation. She has not liked at all the limelight of being the first lady, and knows that the coming two years are going to be much more stressful for her and her husband. Trump, having lost much of his leverage, knows he can’t even appear to accomplish much in 2027 and 2028, in addition to having lost his power to nominate toady judges through a Democratic Senate. Just as the obstinate Richard Nixon saw his Republican base shrinking in Congress, for a sliver of the serious impeachable offenses that Trump commits daily and boastfully. Remember Nixon resigned in 1974, saying he had lost his base of protection in Congress. Given Trump’s propensity to double down on his crazed, often violent provocations abroad and in American cities, his base in Congress may similarly diminish and make a resignation of lame duck Donald involuntary. Civil servants – especially those in public-facing government departments – are acutely aware that saying “a human remains in the loop” is not the same thing as saying “a human remains in charge”. This really, truly, matters, because the commodity on which every government ultimately runs is not data, or productivity, or even money. It is trust, including the trust that – while below the OECD average – the British public still has in the civil service, and which, according to the public accounts committee, is being jeopardised by inadequate transparency and weak standards on AI. We already have a national catchphrase for what happens when human discretion – and the accountability that comes with it – disappears. Little Britain’s “computer says no” still resonates – thanks in part to the haunting legacy of the Post Office’s Horizon scandal. Everyone recognises the terror of the human being behind the desk surrendering responsibility to a system whose conclusion can’t be questioned because nobody in the room understands how the hell it got there. And that may be the real warning from Whitehall. Not that killer robots are about to lock the doors and announce the abolition of humanity. But that long before then, governments might quietly surrender thousands of small human judgments to a swarm of digital bureaucrats because doing so is cheaper, quicker and can be passed off in a ministerial speech as “transformation”. It will not feel like that to the public. The author works for the UK civil service
06 NEWS
WAR ON IRAN COULD END SOON: PRESIDENT TRUMP
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Sunday, 4 October 2026 | ISLAMABAD
WASHINTON AGENCIES
S President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Alabama, said the war on Iran could end soon, while questioning whom Washington could negotiate with in Tehran and insisting Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, according to Al Jazeera. "I don't know who the hell to deal with. There's nobody to deal with. Nobody wants to be president. I say, who do I speak to in Iran? ...Knock knock, nobody home." Yemeni army carries out 71 operations against Houthi positions in country's southwest The Yemeni army announced on Saturday that it had carried out 71 operations targeting Houthi positions in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz. "Our armed forces carried out 71 precise targeting operations against combat gatherings, military buildups, and reinforcements belonging to the terrorist Houthi militia" in Taiz, army spokesman Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said in a statement on US social media company X. Al-Nuzaili said the operations focused on the areas of al-Aqrood, Sama’, alAhkum, al-Akboush, Jabal Rasin, Jabal Jardad, Bani Omar, Bani Bakari, al-Kaawash, and al-Athawir. The operations "resulted in the destruc-
tion of a number of hostile transport and support vehicles, the neutralisation of militia members, and the stripping of their formations of the ability to continue fighting," he added, without specifying the number of casualties. The Houthi group did not comment on the statement. The developments come amid a military escalation in Taiz Governorate between government forces and the Houthi group. Iran executes detainee over January protests, judiciary says Iran has executed a man detained during protests in January for allegedly firing at police, the judiciary said on Saturday. The judiciary said Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi fired at least three shots at police on January 8 and was arrested two days later with a handgun in Shahrekord in southwestern Iran. It accused him of contacting people online to organise "anti-security" activities and seeking payment for a "mission", without identifying who was purported to be behind it. The protests erupted on December 28, 2025, over economic hardship and swelled into widespread foreign-aided demonstrations calling for the end of clerical rule in the Islamic Republic. Iran blamed armed groups and operatives backed by the US and Israel for involvement in the protests and for the violence. Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai
Eliyahu acknowledged during the protests that Israel had operatives inside Iran. He said they aimed to weaken Iran's capabilities, though he denied they were directly working to topple the leadership. Trump's national security team holds unannounced Camp David talks on Iran war, Yemen: Axios Trump's senior national security officials gathered on Friday at Camp David for closed-door discussions on the Iran war and the Saudi-Houthi conflict in
Yemen, Axios reported. Citing three American officials, Axios said Vice President JD Vance presided over the undisclosed meeting, which ran for hours. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, special envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA chief John Ratcliffe and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine also took part. One official said issues were settled or discussed at length. With talks stalled, Trump is weighing a
return to large-scale combat operations against Iran. The Pentagon, according to the Wall Street Journal, is preparing to send a third aircraft carrier strike group and additional Marine ships to the Middle East, adding up to 10,000 troops. The WSJ, citing US officials, said the forces are expected to arrive by the end of November. Trump earlier said he could resume strikes on Iran after the midterm elections in early November if no deal is reached. Meanwhile, Riyadh is urging Washington to join airstrikes on the Houthis, the rebel group fighting government forces in Yemen since 2014, ahead of a planned offensive. Trump has been reluctant, though officials said he could reverse course. Iraq cleric Ammar al-Hakim urges reopening of airports for Iran flights Senior Iraqi cleric Ammar al-Hakim calls for the reopening of all airports to flights between Iran and Iraq, expressing solidarity with Iran and its people in facing economic pressure, according to Press TV. Flight delays, cancellations reported at Riyadh airport amid missile attacks Flights at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport were disrupted by delays and cancellations, while explosions were reported in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region following reported ballistic missile attacks, according to Iranian state media.
Indian police detain several people in Muhammad Yasin Takes Charge as Gen Z-led protests against voter roll changes President ICMA Pakistan NEW DELHI
AGENCIES
Indian police detained several people in the capital New Delhi on Saturday, disrupting a second day of protests backed by the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party and other opposition groups against changes to voter rolls. The protesters say the changes benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governing party and are demanding the resignation of India's election chief. The demonstrations mark the latest in a series of youthled protests that have emerged this year, putting pressure on Modi unprecedented in his 12 years in power. About 100 demonstrators re-
moved security barricades on Saturday and chanted "vote thief, leave the post" and "Gyanesh Kumar, step down" before police forcibly detained some of them. Demonstrators push against a police barricade during a protest demanding the resignation of Indias Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, October 3, 2026. — Reuters Demonstrators push against a police barricade during a protest demanding the resignation of India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, India, October 3, 2026. — Reuters Independent Member of Parliament Kapil Sibal, left-wing All India
Students' Association President Neha Bora and political activists Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav were among the protesters, according to a Reuters witness. The police declined comment on the number and identity of those detained. "First they removed people from the voters list and now they are not letting us raise our voice against this. This is not acceptable," Bora told Reuters. The chief of the Election Commission, Kumar, has not commented on the protests and the demands to step down. On Friday, police stopped a group of protesters from gathering, bundling them into buses. Several nearby metro stations remained shut amid tight security.
China ready to work with all parties for fruitful APEC 'China Year': Chinese FM BEIJING
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
As the host for this year's APEC, China stands ready to work with all parties for a fruitful APEC "China Year" and make new contributions to the economic growth of the Asia Pacific and beyond, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday, when asked to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks about a possible trilateral meeting with the Chinese and US leaders. Putin said that it is possible to have a trilateral meeting with Chinese and US leaders during the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and it's beneficial to exchange views and understand each other's positions through the meeting. He also emphasized the need to un-
derstand what the parties would discuss at the meeting, according to TASS. Asked about China's comment, Guo Jiakun, the spokesperson, also said that "as for your specific question, I have no information to offer at the moment." Also asked about the Russian leader's reported remarks that he believes his meeting with the Chinese leader at the APEC summit in China next month will yield results, Guo said that the strategic guidance provided by head-of-state diplomacy serves as the most important political underpinning for the steady and sustained advancement of China-Russia relations. "China welcomes President Putin's attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen this November and stands ready to work with the Russian side for fruitful outcomes of the APEC 'China Year,'" Guo said.
KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Muhammad Yasin, FCMA, has assumed charge as President of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA Pakistan). A senior finance professional and Group Chief Financial Officer of The Superior Group, Yasin brings extensive experience across the textile, oil and gas, media, aviation, supply chain and education sectors. Yasin has previously served as Vice President and Honorary Treasurer of ICMA Pakistan, as well as Chairman of its Research and Publications Committee. His longstanding association with the
Institute includes leadership of the Lahore Branch Council and service on the National Council, reflecting his contribution to professional development and the advancement of management accountancy in Pakistan. His professional credentials include fellowship of ICMA Pakistan, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), UK, and the Pakistan Institute of Public Finance Accountants (PIPFA). He has also served as President of PIPFA’s Board of Governors and holds the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) distinction from Toastmasters International, USA. His regional engagement includes membership of the South Asian Federation of Accountants’ Committee for Improvement in
NEWS 07
Sunday, 4 October 2026 | ISLAMABAD
CM MARyAM, SPANISH ENvoy ExPLoRE CBD Punjab lake upgradation enters final wIDER PUNjAB-SPAIN CooPERATIoN
CORPORATE CORNER
stage enhances Lahore’s sustainable urban infrastructure
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Lahore is set to witness a new era of environmental sustainability and modern architecture as the CBD Lake upgradation project, a flagship initiative by the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), enters its final phase of completion.CEO CBD Punjab, Imran Amin, accompanied by senior authority officials, conducted a site visit to inspect the ongoing construction progress at CBD Lake, CBD Walk, and Second Walk. During the briefing, officials informed Imran Amin that travertine work on the elevations of all CBD Walk units facing the lake has been successfully completed.Following the completion of the water bound and sub-base preparations, the asphalt layering process is set to commence shortly.Additionally, excavation work for the Second Walk project is near completion.Covering an area of 20 kanals with a depth of 25 feet, the artificial CBD Lake is designed to store up to 5 million gallons of rainwater, serving as a vital rainwater harvesting mechanism. High-speed work is currently underway on marble installation along the lake’s slopes, alongside the functional upgradation of rainwater harvesting wells and the upcoming installation of decorative fountains.Speaking at the project site, CEO CBD Punjab Imran Amin stated: "Projects like CBD Lake and CBD Walk will not only serve.
PAAPAM Calls for Urgent Consultation with Prime Minister and Sharing of Reviewed Draft Auto Policy 2026–2031 LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) has formally approached Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, seeking an urgent meeting to present the industry’s concerns and constructive proposals regarding the draft Auto & Auto Parts Policy 2026–2031.In its communication, PAAPAM acknowledged the Prime Minister’s directive under which a high-level committee is currently conducting a clause-by-clause review of the draft policy. While welcoming the review process, the Association emphasized that finalizing the policy without meaningful industry consultation could create serious risks for domestic manufacturing, employment generation, localization and national self-reliance.PAAPAM has strongly urged that the reviewed draft be shared with industry stakeholders before its submission to the IMF and the Cabinet. The Association stressed that manufacturers and allied sectors possess valuable technical and practical expertise that can help strengthen the policy framework and ensure that it supports industrial growth and the long-term sustainability of Pakistan’s automotive ecosystem.
CDA chief directs completion of Islamabad Expressway East Project with strict quality standards
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Chairman CDA conducted a field inspection of the Islamabad Expressway Service Road East Project and reviewed the pace and quality of ongoing development works. The Chairman CDA was given a briefing on the project, including progress achieved, ongoing works and the next phase of development.Chairman CDA directed the Project Director and concerned formations to further accelerate the pace of work and ensure timely completion of the project while maintaining the highest standards of quality and construction. He emphasized that the Islamabad Expressway East Project is an important infrastructure initiative of CDA that will significantly improve connectivity, traffic flow and road capacity in the capital. ADC(G), the concerned Assistant Commissioner and officers of CDA were present during the inspection.The Chairman directed that approved designs, and construction standards be strictly adhered to and instructed the concerned officers to ensure continuous field monitoring, quality control and effective traffic management during construction so that commuters face minimum inconvenience.During the inspection, the Chairman was also briefed on the ongoing CDA enforcement operation against illegal, unauthorized and nonconforming construction along Islamabad Expressway East.
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PUNJAB CM, ENVOY DISCUSS PILOT FOOTBALL ACADEMY IN LAHORE WITH LA LIGA COOPERATION LAHORE
SALEEM JADOON
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Spanish Ambassador Carlos Aragon Gil Delaserna on Saturday discussed ways to expand cooperation between Punjab and Spain in trade, business, sports, culture and environmental protection. The meeting also discussed establishing a pilot football academy in Lahore with the cooperation of La Liga, Spain’s professional football league, for the training of coaches and players. The chief minister welcomed the Spanish envoy and congratulated him on Spain’s victory in the Football World Cup, while lauding his diplomatic services. The two sides reviewed business and trade opportunities between Punjab and Spain and discussed a proposal to establish a Punjab-Spain Business Council to facilitate commercial ties. They also considered forming a joint working group to address challenges posed by forest fires, air pollution and heatwaves. The possibility of declaring Lahore and Barcelona sister cities was also discussed, along with cooperation in culture and the arts. The chief minister welcomed Spain’s decision to recognise Palestine and paid
tribute to the country for the move. Inviting the Spanish ambassador and business delegations to visit Sialkot and Lahore, the chief minister said Punjab would welcome trade and cultural delegations from Spain. She said Punjab wanted to benefit from Spain’s experience in tackling climate change and smog. The chief minister also expressed interest in learning from Barcelona’s urbanplanning experience in making roads and public spaces more people-friendly. CM invited to Muscat to receive UNHabitat Scroll of Honour In related development, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has been invited to
Muscat to receive the prestigious UNHabitat Scroll of Honour Award 2026 for the province’s Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar low-cost housing programme. The chief minister will attend the award ceremony on the occasion of World Habitat Day, where the honour will be presented at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour is the highest international award associated with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. It recognises individuals, cities, governments and public institutions, civil society organisations, private organisations, research institutions and projects for contributions to-
50,000km of Punjab’s 80,000km road network already built: Azma LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, reacting to a statement by Muzammil Aslam, said that the level of understanding of the “fake Aristotle” of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could be gauged from the fact that he does not even know that provinces have their own roads apart from those maintained by the National Highway Authority (NHA). Azma Bokhari said that since such roads do not exist in his province, “the poor man” apparently does not know about them. She said the amusing part was that the “fake Aristotle” was always eager to show off his knowledge, but there was hardly any occasion when he appeared embarrassed. The Punjab Information Minister said Punjab has 80,000 kilometres of its own provincial roads, of which, Alhamdulillah, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has already had 50,000 kilometres constructed.
PTML partners with myco to bring exclusive EPL discounts to Ufone and Telenor customers
Azma Bokhari said that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hang onto dolis, yet the “fake Aristotle” feels no shame.
Pakistan's Heart Disease Deaths Nearly Double in Three Decades; Cardiologists Urge Stronger QuitSmoking Support KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Leading telecom and digital services provider, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTML), through its brands Ufone and Telenor, has partnered with myco, the fastest-growing streaming OTT platform in South Asia and the MENA region, to bring exclusive discounted access to English Premier League (EPL) packages for its customers. The arrangement makes premium football entertainment more accessible to fans across Pakistan.Under the three-month promotional offer, Ufone and Telenor customers will receive an exclusive 55% discount on all myco EPL packages during the first month. The offer will continue into the second and third months, with customers eligible for 15% off the Monthly Pass, 30% off the Quarterly Pass, and 50% off the Seasonal Pass.The partnership reflects PTML’s continued focus on expanding its digital lifestyle proposition beyond traditional connectivity by bringing customers greater value through relevant entertainment and digital experiences.
Cardiovascular deaths in Pakistan have almost doubled since 1990, prompting senior cardiologists to call for stronger, sustained support for smokers who cannot quit.Global Burden of Disease estimates show annual cardiovascular deaths rose from about 172,526 in 1990 to 341,108 in 2019. The figures are absolute and partly reflect population growth and ageing, but they underline the strain on the country's health system.Prof. Dr. Fasih Ahmed Hashmi of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) said smoking remains one of the most important modifiable causes of heart disease. "Complete and permanent cessation confers the greatest health benefit and must remain the primary goal," he said.Smoking damages blood vessels, promotes arterial plaque and raises the risk of clots, heart attacks and strokes. Yet nicotine dependence means many smokers need repeated attempts and ongoing clinical help. "Many smokers are unable to quit on the first or even subsequent attempts despite behavioural support and proven pharmacotherapy," Dr. Hashmi noted.He said health policy should recognise this reality. For adults who keep smoking despite support, independently evaluated non-combustible alternatives could form part of a broader riskreduction strategy, provided they are assessed for safety and efficacy.
ASEAN’s Evolving Role Discussed at Bahria University
LAHORE: Bahria University hosted a high-level roundtable conference titled “ASEAN: Navigating Our Future Together”, bringing together ambassadors, senior diplomats, policymakers, academics, experts and representatives of relevant institutions for a forward-looking discussion on ASEAN’s evolving role and its significance in the changing regional and global landscape. The conference was attended by H.E. Dr. M. Imran Yousaf, Consul General of the Philippines; H.E. Colonel (R) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah, High Commissioner of Brunei; H.E. Mr. Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo, Ambassador of Indonesia; H.E. Mr. Wunna Han, Ambassador of Myanmar; H.E. Mr. Rongvudhi Virabutr, Ambassador of Thailand; H.E. Mr. Pham Anh Tuan, Ambassador of Vietnam; and a representative of the Malaysian High Commission, along with senior representatives of Bahria University and other invited guests. The event began with the welcome note by Bahria University’s DG Campus Islamabad, Rear Admiral Naeem Sarwar (SI)M (Retd), followed by addresses from the participating ASEAN diplomatic representatives. STAFF REPORT
wards affordable and adequate housing, sustainable urban development, improved basic urban services, urban reconstruction and disaster recovery. Around 200 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour awards have been presented over the past 37 years. In Pakistan, the award was previously received by the deputy chairman of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) in 2007. The Punjab government’s Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar project has been selected for the 2026 award. Myanmar, Brazil, Tunisia and London, England, have also been selected for the honour. The chief minister has been specially invited to attend the ceremony in recognition of the housing programme. She dedicated the award to the homeless people of Punjab, describing it as an honour for them. “The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award is an honour for the homeless people of Punjab,” the chief minister said, adding that the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme was not only Pakistan’s but “the world’s best low-cost housing project. Here is the boosted and polished version, preserving the original twopart peg, facts, figures, sequence, symmetry, names and quotations, while tightening the language and strengthening the news flow.
MG’s Global Product Portfolio Earns Recognition Across International Markets! LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
MG Motor is reinforcing its commitment to bringing globally acclaimed automotive products and technology to Pakistan, as multiple models from its latest portfolio earn recognition from leading automotive media across international markets. The MG4 EV Urban, The All-New MG HS Super Hybrid and MG ZS Hybrid+ have collectively received multiple accolades across the UK, Australia and Spain, reinforcing MG’s product strength across electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid technologies. These recognitions directly support MG’s fourth promise to Pakistan; Offering the Latest Global Specification. The MG4 EV Urban was named Best Small Electric Car of the Year by British automotive media What Car? The All-New MG HS Super Hybrid won Best Plugin Hybrid of the Year and Best Hybrid Car of the Year awards from British automotive media Auto Express and What Car? Meanwhile, the MG ZS Hybrid+ was honored as Best Small SUV of the Year by Australian automotive media WhichCar?, and Best Hybrid Car of the Year by Spanish automotive media Carwow.
Medical Experts Urge Parents to Discourage Fast Food Consumption Among Children
KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Pakistan is witnessing an alarming increase in the burden of heart and other diseases. The lack of lifestyle changes is contributing to the emergence of cardiovascular and other health conditions among younger generations. Parents have been urged to discourage the growing trend of fast food consumption among children.Medical experts expressed these views while addressing a medical camp organised in collaboration with Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday.The medical camp was attended by Karachi Press Club President Fazil Jameeli, Secretary Muhammad Aslam Khan, senior journalists Maqsood Yousufi and Muhammad Naseer, Health Committee members Tufail Ahmed, Shafqat Bhatti, Israr Sheikh and Siraj Amjadi. Representing Aga Khan University Hospital were Dr. Javaid A. Khan, Professor of Pulmonology, Dr. Yawer Saeed, Assistant Professor of Cardiology, AKUH faculty members, Adil Siddiqui from the Communications Department, spokesperson Shabbir Alam and others. Various medical tests, including echocardiograms and ECGs, were also conducted at the camp.Speaking on the occasion, Karachi Press Club Secretary Muhammad Aslam Khan appreciated Aga Khan University Hospital for organising the medical camp at the press club. He noted that private healthcare was increasingly becoming unaffordable for ordinary patients. He also thanked Aga Khan University Hospital and its Communications Department for facilitating access to healthcare services for press club members.
EXTENSION IN RANGERS DEPLOYMENT IN CAPITAL SOUGHT AS PTI MARCH NEARS
Sunday, 4 October, 2026
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STAFF REPORT
HE Islamabad administration has sought a 10-day extension in the deployment of Pakistan Rangers in the federal capital as the PTI prepares to march towards Islamabad from October 4. The chief commissioner’s office has requested the Interior Ministry to extend the deployment of 3,000 Rangers personnel in Islamabad from October 5 to October 15, 2026, amid heightened security preparations to prevent protesters from entering the capital. The request was made as the administration stepped up arrangements ahead of the PTI’s planned long march, with hundreds of shipping containers being placed at key points and additional police personnel summoned from Punjab and Sindh. In a letter, the chief commissioner’s office asked for the “provision of 3,000 personnel of Pakistan Rangers with command structure to Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police” to be extended for another 10 days. The Interior Ministry had earlier authorised the deployment from September
20 to October 5. The previous notification said the Rangers had been deployed under Sections 7(b) and 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordinance, 1959, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The personnel were authorised to perform functions prescribed under the relevant laws as directed by the Islamabad chief commissioner or the provincial government.
Remains of three Pakistani sailors to be repatriated soon
Pakistan rejects India's 'internal matter' claim on Kashmir at UN UNITED NATIONS
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The notification also authorised the deployed personnel to respond in self-defence to threats or violent activities encountered while performing their duties, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The Interior Ministry had separately directed that in the event of attacks by disruptive or armed groups, Rangers and police should take all necessary counter-
action in self-defence and adopt measures to contain violent activity. The latest request comes as the federal capital remains under heightened security ahead of the PTI protest. The administration has been making preparations to restrict access to Islamabad, including the deployment of containers and reinforcement of the city’s police force. Public gatherings in Islamabad are also subject to restrictions under the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, legislation enacted amid strong opposition protests in Parliament. The federal government has repeatedly warned against attempts to march towards the capital or block roads, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has cautioned the PTI against pursuing what he described as a “dead-end street” and hinted at a “permanent solution” to recurring protests. The proposed extension of the Rangers deployment would keep the paramilitary force in the capital throughout the period covering the PTI’s planned protest and its immediate aftermath, as the authorities seek to maintain law and order and keep key roads and government installations secure.
STAFF REPORT
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Saturday that arrangements were under way to repatriate the remains of three Pakistani sailors killed during an operation to recover a hijacked oil tanker off the coast of Somalia earlier this week. The sailors — Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umer and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari — were among the crew members killed during the operation to recover the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25, which had been held by Somali pirates for more than five months. According to the PMO, the remains have been transported to Addis Ababa, where Ethiopian Airlines is reviewing arrangements for their onward transfer to Pakistan. “Following this, final approval will be granted for their departure on a flight bound for Karachi,” the PMO said, adding that relevant authorities were in continuous contact to expedite the repatriation process. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the authorities to ensure that all possible assistance is provided to bring the remains of the deceased sailors back home, it added. The prime minister has also announced a Rs12.5 million relief package for the families of the deceased, including free housing and education for their children. The PMO said Mr Shehbaz had spoken by telephone with Azhan Kashif, son of Syed Kashif Umer, to express his condolences and grief over the loss. The Foreign Office had earlier confirmed that three Pakistanis were killed and three others injured during the operation. The remaining 10 Pakistani crew members were among the 19 people aboard the tanker. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that four Pakistani crew members — Yasir Khan, Aqeel Khan, Amin bin Shams and Usman Ghani — had been safely retrieved following sustained efforts by the Foreign Office and Pakistan’s embassy in Djibouti. Tanker hijacked in April The MT Honour 25 was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 21, around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia. The vessel was carrying 19 crew members, including 10 Pakistanis, seven Indonesians, one Indian and one Sri Lankan. For nearly five months, there had been little progress in negotiations for the release of the hostages. The ransom was reportedly around $3 million, while concerns had mounted over the deteriorating health of the crew. During their captivity, the sailors made several emotional video and audio appeals, saying they had run short of clean water, food and medicines. The Foreign Office maintained that it remained “actively engaged” in efforts to secure their release. On Sept 29, the Puntland Maritime Police Force launched an operation in the Dharin-Bar area of Bandar Beyla district and recovered the tanker. The maritime police said its naval and ground units had conducted a planned operation and subsequently placed the recovered vessel under the control of the Puntland government. It said 21 suspected pirates had been apprehended, while efforts to locate other members of the group were continuing. According to the maritime police, five crew members were killed before the operation began. The dead included three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian national.
Pakistan on Saturday rejected India’s characterisation of Jammu and Kashmir as an “internal matter”, telling a United Nations General Assembly committee that the territory remained an internationally disputed issue whose final status had yet to be determined. Speaking during the general debate of the Third Committee of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Pakistan’s First Secretary Sarfraz Ahmed Gohar said Islamabad categorically rejected New Delhi’s assertion that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. “Pakistan categorically rejects India’s futile attempts to dismiss the Jammu and Kashmir dispute as a so-called internal matter,” Gohar said, according to remarks released by Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN. He maintained that Kashmir was an internationally recognised disputed territory and that its final status should be determined in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Gohar accused India of failing to fulfil what Pakistan regards as its international obligations under the Security Council resolutions and urged New Delhi to work towards a peaceful settlement of the longstanding dispute. The Pakistani representative also raised concerns over the treatment of religious minorities in India, citing Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and other communities. He alleged that religion-based violence, hate speech, discrimination and attacks on places of worship had become increasingly prevalent under the government led by India’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Pakistan, he said, remained committed to dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the UN Charter, stressing that these principles were essential for promoting peace and stability in South Asia. The remarks came as the General Assembly’s Third Committee began deliberations during the 81st session. The committee considers a broad range of social, humanitarian and human rights issues, including racial discrimination, refugees and the right of peo-
ples to self-determination. The Kashmir dispute has remained a major source of contention between Pakistan and India since the partition of British India in 1947. The two countries control separate parts of the Himalayan territory and claim it in full, with their areas of control largely divided by the Line of Control. Islamabad has continued to raise the issue at international forums, maintaining that the dispute remains unresolved and that its final settlement should be based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The latest exchange follows a similar diplomatic confrontation during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week. On September 25, Pakistani Counsellor Saima Saleem exercised the right of reply to reject India’s position on Kashmir following remarks by an Indian delegate. Pakistan’s latest intervention reflects Islamabad’s continued effort to keep the Kashmir dispute on the UN agenda and challenge India’s position that the issue falls exclusively within its domestic jurisdiction.
11 terrorists killed in Balochistan, KP operations ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Security forces killed 11 militants in two separate intelligence-based operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), state media reported on Saturday, as counterterrorism operations continued under Operation Radd-ulFitna 3 and the Azm-e-Istehkam framework. Six militants were killed in an operation in the Gorander area of Mashkel, Balochistan, after they allegedly attacked a security check post, according to security sources. The militants opened fire on the check post and attempted to escape after the attack. Security forces responded immediately and killed all six, the sources said. The government uses the term Fitna al-Hindustan for militant groups operating in Balochistan, alleging that India sponsors terrorist activities through proxy groups
in the province. In a separate intelligencebased operation in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security forces killed five militants belonging to Fitna al-Khawarij, the state’s designation for militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The operation also resulted in the destruction of the militants’ hideouts, while security forces recovered a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition from the site, the sources said. The operations were conducted as part of the ongoing counterterrorism campaign under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3 and the Azm-e-Istehkam vision, aimed at dismantling militant networks and preventing attacks across the country. Security forces reiterated their resolve to eliminate terrorism and establish lasting peace, according to state media.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for what he described as successful operations in Balochistan and K-P, commending their professionalism in thwarting militant designs. “Security forces killed five terrorists in South Waziristan, and six terrorists were also brought to a terrible end in Mashkel, Balochistan,” Naqvi said. He said the nation was proud of the security forces and stood alongside them in the fight against terrorism. “With the support of the nation, the menace of terrorism will be completely eliminated,” the interior minister added. The latest operations come amid continued militant activity in parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with security forces maintaining intelligence-based operations against armed groups in areas considered vulnerable to militant attacks.
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AJK President rejects any change in Kashmir status, calls for right to self-determination MUZAFFARABAD
STAFF REPORT
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Dr Muhammad Najib Khan on Saturday said the unilateral actions of August 5, 2019 could not alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir or undermine the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination, stressing that they should be given the right to decide their future. He also appreciated Pakistan’s political, diplomatic and moral support for the Kashmir cause. The president was talking to a delegation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), led by Convener Ghulam Muhammad Safi, which called on him on Saturday. The meeting discussed the latest situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Indian actions in IIOJK, alleged human rights violations, the situation of Hurriyat leaders and activists, and efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue at the international level. The AJK president said the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was an internationally recognised issue and its final settlement should be in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, a press release issued here said. He called upon the international community to take notice of the situation in IIOJK and urged UN human rights bodies and international observers to be given access to the territory for an impartial assessment of the situation. The president also called for highlighting alleged human rights violations, arrests of political activists and Hurriyat leaders, and restrictions on freedom of expression in IIOJK. He said the United Nations should fulfil its commitments to the Kashmiri people and urged the international community to press India for implementation of relevant UN resolutions. Ghulam Muhammad Safi and other Hurriyat leaders congratulated Dr Muhammad Najib Khan on his election as AJK president and conveyed their best wishes to him. The APHC convener briefed the AJK president on the latest situation in IIOJK and the challenges faced by Hurriyat leaders and activists. He said the Hurriyat Conference would continue its political and diplomatic efforts to highlight the Kashmir issue at the global level and advocate the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. The delegation included Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Mehmood Ahmed Saghar, General Secretary Advocate Pervaiz Ahmed Shah, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Sheikh Abdul Mateen, Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoob, Chaudhry Shaheen Iqbal and Information Secretary Imtiaz Wani.
Azeri Woman Rape Case: Three held, one still at large LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
A judicial magistrate on Saturday sent a woman suspect to jail on a 14-day judicial remand in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old Azerbaijani national in Lahore, as police said three suspects had so far been arrested while another remained at large. The woman was produced before Magistrate Azhar Mahmood after completion of her three-day physical remand. The investigating officer told the court that her further custody was no longer required for investigation and requested that she be sent to jail on judicial remand. The magistrate accepted the request and remanded the suspect to jail until October 17. According to police, the Azerbaijani woman had travelled to Pakistan for business purposes. She alleged that she was gang-raped by three men at a rented apartment in a private housing society near Raiwind during the night of September 25 and 26. Two male suspects had earlier been arrested and placed on six-day physical remand. A second woman named by the survivor in her statement has obtained interim pre-arrest bail until October 5. Deputy Inspector General (Investigation) Syed Zeeshan Raza said three suspects had been arrested so far, while efforts were under way to apprehend the remaining accused. Addressing a press conference, the DIG said forensic samples, including swabs of the survivor and suspects, had been collected and sent to the forensic science agency for analysis.
IMF shares draft Memorandum of Financial and Economic Policies as Pakistan talks enter final stretch PROFIT
MONITORING REPORT
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has shared the first draft of the Memorandum of Financial and Economic Policies (MEFP) with Pakistani authorities, moving review talks towards negotiations on the measures required to reach a staff-level agreement (SLA), The News reported. The visiting IMF review mission is expected to remain in Islamabad until around the middle of next week. An SLA could be reached if the two sides agree on the MEFP, while unresolved discussions could continue virtually after the mission leaves. Among the key issues, the IMF raised concerns over the breach of the power sector’s circular debt target, with the stock reaching Rs1.675 trillion by the end of June 2026. The government has budgeted Rs830 billion in power-sector subsidies for FY27.
The IMF has asked the government to eliminate cross-subsidies for electricity consumption of up to 200 units and replace them with targeted support through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) from January 2027. Legislation related to the Sovereign Wealth Fund is also expected to be approved by Parliament. The Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) annual tax collection target will remain unchanged at Rs15.264 trillion. The tax authority exceeded its first-quarter target by Rs27 billion and has not sought a revision to its FY27 target at this stage. The IMF has pushed for a higher current account deficit projection of up to $4 billion for FY27, compared with the Finance Ministry’s estimate of around $2.7 billion. The Annual Plan 2026-27, approved by the National Economic Council, projects a deficit of around $3.6 billion.
The plan estimates a $3.599 billion current account deficit if the ceasefire in the Gulf leads to an agreement among the parties. A prolonged conflict could put additional pressure on Pakistan’s external account through higher oil import costs, disruptions to trade with Gulf countries and potential effects on exports, services and remittance inflows. Pakistan recorded a current account deficit of $543 million during July-August FY27, down 36% from $853 million in the corresponding period of FY26, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). The IMF mission has also undertaken Article IV consultations, through which the Fund reviews a member country’s economic and financial conditions, policies and risks. Pakistani authorities expect GDP growth of around 4% in FY27, while the SBP projects growth in a range of 3.5% to 4.5%. The government’s 4% growth target as-
sumes agriculture will expand by 3.6%, industry by 4.5% and services by 4.2%. The government projects CPI inflation
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at 8.2% for FY27, while the IMF expects average inflation to remain higher at between 8.5% and 9.5%.