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PAKISTAN STANDS SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH SAUDI ARABIA UNDER MDJA, SAYS PM Thursday, 15 October, 2026 | 3 Jumada al-Awwal, 1448
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ DESCRIBES MAKKAH AGREEMENT AS A HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR PEACE, UNITY AND STABILITY IN REGION
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PAKISTAN, SAUDI ARABIA AND TURKIYE AGREE TO PREPARE FORCES FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT UNDER PACT
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MAKKAH DEFENSE ALLIANCE CHIEF BRIEFS PM ON STRATEGY TO ENHANCE STRATEGIC COOPERATION UNDER FRAMEWORK
PACT BETWEEN PAKISTAN, SAUDI ARABIA AND TURKIYE TREATS AN ARMED ATTACK ON ONE MEMBER AS AN ATTACK ON ALL
Islamabad, Muscat condemn Houthi attacks on Riyadh
ISLAMABAD
SaleeM Jadoon
RIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, defence and regional security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), as he met Secretary-General of the Makkah Defense Alliance Lt-Gen (retd) Nauman Mahmood. The statement came amid continued Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian and oil infrastructure, which have reportedly killed and injured people, heightening concerns over the widening regional fallout of the US-Iran conflict. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in the Saudi holy city on August 7, 2026, committing to treat an armed attack against one member as an attack against all. The pact marked a significant development in regional collective security cooperation. The alliance announced Mahmood’s appointment at an emergency meeting of its Strategic-Political and Defense Committee in Riyadh on October 5, where the three countries also agreed to prepare the military forces and capabilities envisaged under the agreement for rapid deployment in Saudi Arabia. The prime minister extended his best wishes to Lt-Gen (retd) Nauman Mah-
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ISLAMABAD
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mood on assuming the office and described the Makkah agreement as a historic milestone for peace, unity and stability in the region, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). PM Shehbaz reaffirmed that, under the defence agreement, Pakistan stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, defence and regional security. During the meeting, the alliance’s secretary-general briefed the prime minister on the strategy for enhancing defence and strategic cooperation within the framework of the Makkah pact, the PMO said. The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s full support for Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to self-defence and reaffirmed Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to protecting the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. The statement came hours after four
Kh Asif urges political unity against terror, says Pakistan’s security must trump rivalries ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday called on the government and political parties to acknowledge responsibility for their past mistakes instead of shifting blame onto others, urging the nation to stand united with the state and armed forces in the fight against terrorism and declaring that Pakistan’s security, survival and national interests must take precedence over political rivalries and personal loyalties. “Political differences should not weaken the country’s efforts to restore peace, and Pakistan’s security and national interests must come before political rivalries and personal loyalties,” Kh Asif stressed while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly. The defence minister underscored that the armed forces needed the full backing of the civilian government and the public to defeat terrorism, stressing that political divisions must not undermine the national effort to restore peace and security.
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more people were injured by falling debris in Riyadh when Saudi air defences intercepted Houthi missiles targeting the Saudi capital, according to the Saudi Civil Defense on Wednesday. The authority released images showing damage to civilian residences. Saudi authorities said the kingdom had also dealt with a number of ballistic missiles and drones on Tuesday, while the government warned that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels would face consequences for their repeated attacks.
ALL RESOURCES AT SAUDI ARABIA’S DISPOSAL: On Tuesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan had placed all its resources at Saudi Arabia’s disposal to help protect the kingdom and Islam’s holy sites, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to Saudi security.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday strongly condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, describing them as unacceptable, a violation of international law and a serious threat to regional peace and security. Speaking at a joint press conference with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi in Islamabad, Dar said he had conveyed Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of the attacks, which left several people injured, martyred one Pakistani national and wounded five others. According to the Foreign Office, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia’s leadership and people, reiterating Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
Mian abrar
Parliament’s two houses on Wednesday endorsed the federal government’s imposition of emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with the Senate approving the measure amid a walkout by PTI senators and the National Assembly passing it by a majority vote. The Centre imposed emergency and governor’s rule in the province on Sunday, citing what it described as the provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from efforts to combat terrorism. The move came amid escalating tensions between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had announced a long march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled the relevant motions in both houses, while Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the government’s decision and its constitutional procedure.
RAWALPINDI
Staff report
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening longstanding relations with Russia, with a focus on defence and broader strategic cooperation. He expressed the resolve during a meeting with a senior Russian delegation at General Headquarters. The talks covered bilateral relations, regional security and opportunities to expand cooperation between the two countries. Munir said Pakistan valued its relationship with Russia and wanted to further strengthen engagement in areas of mutual interest. Both sides also discussed the regional security environment and the importance of continued coordination on issues affecting peace and stability. The meeting comes as Pakistan and Russia have gradually expanded diplomatic, economic and defence contacts in recent years. Military-to-military cooperation has included training exchanges, highlevel visits and discussions on regional security. The Russian delegation acknowledged Pakistan’s role in regional stability and expressed interest in maintaining and expanding bilateral engagement. Both sides agreed to continue contacts aimed at strengthening cooperation and advancing their shared interests.
Pakistan, Oman sign accords to deepen ties, reaffirm joint push for regional peace
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Parliament endorses emergency in KP amid Opposition protests ISLAMABAD
CDF Munir reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to stronger ties with Russia
ISLAMABAD
SaleeM Jadoon
SENATE APPROVES MEASURE AMID WALKOUT: The Senate’s endorsement followed a heated debate between treasury and opposition members. PTI senators opposed the resolution and eventually staged a walkout. Tarar maintained that the resolution had been presented in accordance with the Senate’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. He said Article 232 required the proclamation of emergency to be laid before the House for approval. “An attempt to bypass the constitutional procedure cannot succeed,” he said, arguing that the sevenday notice requirement did not apply to a resolution presented under a constitutional necessity. He urged opponents to vote against the resolution if they disagreed with it, insisting that the House could not deviate from the Constitution or its rules. As opposition senators raised slogans, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani urged them to maintain order. “This is not a classroom, do not make noise,” he remarked.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Oman, describing the sultanate as a brotherly country, an important maritime neighbour and a valuable partner in a strategically important region, as the two sides signed agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to expand cooperation across multiple sectors. The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the successful convening of the 8th Session of the Pakistan-Oman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) during a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s House. Albusaidi appreciated Pakistan’s “sustained diplomatic efforts” to de-escalate tensions and promote peaceful solutions to regional challenges, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Pakistan and Oman have been engaged in diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation following US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February that triggered a conflict which has since expanded across the Middle East.
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02 NEws
Thursday, 15 October, 2026 | LAHORE
PAKISTAN LOSES $31.5B ANNUALLY DUE TO YOUTH SKILLS GAP AS GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT RISES
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AKISTAN loses an estimated $31.5 billion annually in productivity and potential exports due to workforce skills shortages, with only 7% of young people accessing formal technical and vocational training against a regional average of 22%, according to World Bank estimates. The challenge is highlighted in a Pakistan case study featured at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting of Global Future Leaders, which opened in Dubai on Tuesday, examining how the country can improve youth employment opportunities as artificial intelligence transforms the labour market. The study, titled How to boost youth employment in Pakistan for the age of AI, identifies a widening disconnect between educational qualifications and employment opportunities. Nearly one-third of Pakistanis aged 15 to 29 are not engaged in education, employment or training, while the proportion exceeds 50% among young women. Graduate unemployment stands at
18.3%, compared with an overall unemployment rate of 14.7% across education levels. The situation is particularly pronounced among younger graduates. According to Gallup Pakistan's analysis of the Labour Force Survey 2024–25, unemployment among graduates aged 20 to 24 has reached 32.8%. The mismatch is also evident in Pakistan's technology industry, where the number of graduates is growing faster than employment opportunities. According to the P@SHA Skills Survey 2025, the number of computer science and information technology graduates from Higher Education Commission-accredited programmes is projected to increase from 28,091 in 2024 to approximately 62,000 by 2028. However, P@SHA member companies recruited only 13,350 fresh graduates from an estimated pool of 72,952 in 2024, representing an absorption rate of 18.3%. The figures indicate that the country's major technology employers are absorbing fewer than one in five available fresh graduates, despite growing enrolment in computing-related disciplines. The study attributes the gap partly to inadequate career guidance, limited mentorship, weak connections between educational
Govt to tighten digital payment user definitions, consider tax reforms under Cashless Pakistan initiative PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
The federal government has decided to review and tighten the definitions of active digital payment users and merchants while seeking tax policy reform proposals to accelerate the Prime Minister's Cashless Pakistan initiative, as the number of merchants accepting electronic payments quadrupled in the last fiscal year. The decisions were taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Minister of State for Railways and Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani at the Finance Division on Tuesday to review digital payment indicators and determine priorities for the next phase of the initiative. The committee agreed to review and establish definitions for active app users, active merchants and unique digital payment users to improve the accuracy of data used to measure progress. Kayani also directed private-sector representatives to prepare recommendations on tax policy reforms that could facilitate wider adoption of digital payments. Discussions focused on three indicators: the number of active and unique users of digital payment channels, the annual volume of digital transactions and the number of merchants actively accepting electronic payments. Participants examined the validity of existing indicators and different methods of measuring usage, activity and unique users. The meeting was informed that the number of merchants accepting digital payments had increased fourfold during the last fiscal year. Meanwhile, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has digitised 99% of payments at its service centres nationwide, while passport centres have also been equipped to accept digital payments. The government has achieved approximately 75% digital payment acceptance across centralised and selfaccounting entities.
institutions and employers, and insufficient exposure to industry requirements. It argues that improving educational attainment alone will not address unemployment without stronger mechanisms to prepare graduates for available jobs.
The challenge is expected to intensify as artificial intelligence changes employment requirements, particularly for workers entering the labour market. World Economic Forum research indicates that more than one-third of young
Pakistan receives first LNG cargo of October from Qatar PROFIT STAFF REPORT
Pakistan received its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo of October from Qatar on Tuesday, restoring 150 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of regasified LNG supply after disruptions left both import terminals non-operational. According to a news report, the vessel Al-Areesh berthed at Engro's LNG terminal at 11:05 am, with regasification beginning at noon. The terminal had remained shut since September 26 due to the absence of LNG shipments. Another cargo is expected within eight to 10 days. A senior Petroleum Division
official said that Pakistan is attempting to secure three cargoes from Qatar with assistance from Iranian and US officials. However, only two shipments are expected during October, matching September's arrivals. The country's second LNG terminal, operated by Pakistan GasPort Limited (PGPL), has remained shut since October 9 because of insufficient inventory. Between October 9 and 13, neither terminal was regasifying LNG, leaving the power sector with approximately 38 mmcfd of gas for electricity generation as of October 13. Pakistan's LNG supply remains uncertain after QatarEnergy
declared force majeure on March 4 following an Iranian attack on its Ras Laffan facility on March 2. The suspension has been extended twice, most recently until November 6. Further disruptions could affect winter supplies as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited's (SNGPL) demand is projected to increase from 500 mmcfd to 1,550 mmcfd, while Sui Southern Gas Company's (SSGC) requirement is expected to rise from 300 mmcfd to 500 mmcfd. Domestic gas production is also facing constraints. Supplies from MOL's CPF and GPF facilities have fallen to 123 mmcfd against a normal 160 mmcfd due to annual maintenance.
Pakistan seeks revival of Saudi deferred oil facility, eyes more than $6b concessional financing over 15 years PROFIT STAFF REPORT
Pakistan has sought the revival of its $1.2 billion annual Saudi oil facility on deferred payments and is pursuing a $6.7 billion concessional oil financing arrangement over 15 years to reduce pressure on its foreign exchange reserves and external financing requirements, The Express Tribune reported. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb raised the issue with Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Chief Executive Officer Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad on Tuesday on the sidelines of the World BankInternational Monetary Fund annual meetings in
Thailand. The Finance Ministry did not mention the oil facility in its official statement, but Tribune cited people familiar with the discussions as saying Riyadh was examining the request. Pakistan's previous deferred oil payment facility, signed in February 2025, expired in April 2026. The arrangement carried a 6% interest rate, according to Economic Affairs Ministry officials. Saudi Arabia has provided approximately $6.7 billion in oil financing to Pakistan since 2019 through successive deferred payment arrangements. Islamabad is now seeking a longer-term facility to reduce its immediate financing needs and cushion the impact of elevated international oil prices amid the Middle East conflict.
Saudi Aramco’s administrative building hit by missile attack, fire breaks out at Dhahran complex PROFIT STAFF REPORT
An administrative building at Saudi Aramco's headquarters complex in Dhahran was attacked, causing a limited fire, Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry said, as missile and drone attacks intensified amid renewed fighting between the kingdom and Yemen's Houthi movement. The ministry said emergency teams responded to the incident late on Tuesday and took necessary measures to contain the situation. No casualties were reported. A source at the state-owned oil company told Reuters that a ballistic missile struck an office tower within the Dhahran complex, damaging its upper three floors. The headquarters houses a major operations centre overseeing Aramco's extensive network of oilfields, pipelines, refineries and export terminals. Six sources reported hearing explosions near the facility, while the Saudi-led coalition said fragments
from an intercepted missile had landed in a residential area of Dhahran. The attack came amid a series of Houthi strikes targeting Saudi infrastructure over the past week in retaliation for the kingdom's renewed military campaign in Yemen. Riyadh's international airport has been struck four times, including a ballistic missile attack on Saturday that killed 13 people. The incident was Saudi Arabia's deadliest missile strike in a decade and led to widespread flight disruptions. Saudi authorities also reported intercepting missiles and drones over Riyadh and southern regions of the country. Saudi Civil Defence said debris from two intercepted Houthi missiles injured four people in Riyadh, including two women, a man and a child. The falling fragments also caused limited damage to 15 residential properties. The Houthis had earlier warned of further retaliation against Saudi military operations in Yemen, identifying Aramco's Dhahran headquarters and an oil refinery in Riyadh as potential targets.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree threatened a severe response to Saudi-led strikes on Sanaa, while the group warned workers to avoid oil facilities that could be targeted. The escalation followed Saudi-led attacks on a fuel depot on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital. Houthi-run Al-Masirah television reported that the coalition had struck the Yemen Petroleum Company's Sabah central station. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed targeting the facility and other locations, saying the operation was intended to weaken Houthi capabilities to threaten Saudi Arabia, Yemen and international shipping routes. Saudi Arabia resumed its military campaign in Yemen to support the internationally recognised government after Houthi forces advanced along the Red Sea coast towards the strategically important Bab elMandeb Strait. The waterway has become increasingly important for global energy shipments since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of the wider US-Iran conflict in February.
workers globally are employed in occupations with medium to high exposure to changes in job tasks driven by artificial intelligence. The technology could also disrupt entrylevel positions that traditionally provide young workers with practical experience and opportunities for career progression. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, structural changes in the labour market are expected to affect 22% of existing jobs globally by 2030. The implications are particularly significant for developing economies, where vocational training, career support and workforce development systems remain limited. The Global South accounts for approximately 80% of the world's workforce, yet much of the international discussion on artificial intelligence and employment remains focused on advanced economies. For Pakistan, the study suggests that the immediate challenge is not limited to retraining workers displaced by technology but also ensuring that young people acquire the practical skills and industry exposure needed to enter employment in the first place.
SBP targets reducing gender gap in financial inclusion to 25% by 2028 under new policy PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched the second edition of its Banking on Equality (BoE) Policy, which will support the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) goal of narrowing the gender gap in financial inclusion to 25% by 2028. The BoE 2026 builds upon the earlier policy’s progress, with enhanced actions and targets to strengthen women’s representation and retention in the financial sector, expand women’s digital access to financial services, boost women’s entrepreneurship and financial literacy through support hubs, and enhance the use of genderdisaggregated data for monitoring and outreach. The new policy sets targets for women’s ratio in hiring, customer outreach, and branchless banking agents. It also advises banks to introduce day care facilities for working mothers and have career progression policies in place to advance mid-career women into leadership roles. To improve women’s access to financial services, BoE 2026 issues instructions to digitalise women’s access to accounts and payment services through targeted digital onboarding drives, simplified women-centric digital accounts, and promoting digital payments for women-led businesses. To boost financing to womenowned or women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises, the policy encourages improving the share of women borrowers across key financing segments. Embedding a gender lens in credit planning, introducing simplified and specialised financing products, leveraging digital platforms and fintech partnerships, and adopting alternative credit assessment and collateral mechanisms are key features of the policy to better serve women with limited formal financial history. The policy also aims to improve women’s entrepreneurship and financial literacy to provide a viable pathway for women’s participation in the financial system.
Hyundai Motor Group to invest $15.5b in India by 2032 to expand production, research PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Hyundai Motor Group has announced plans to invest $15.5 billion in India between 2026 and 2032 to expand vehicle production, research and development, and manufacturing capacity in the world's thirdlargest automobile market. The South Korean automaker said on Tuesday that the seven-year investment programme includes approximately $700 million for its Indian research and development centre, a new vehicle testing track and the establishment of a dedicated investment entity. The investment will expand production capacity at Hyundai Motor India and Kia India to support higher vehicle sales and develop next-generation automotive technologies. Hyundai currently has annual production capacity of more than 1.4 million vehicles in India, including 824,000 units at its Chennai facilities, 170,000 units at its Pune plant and 431,000 units at Kia's Anantapur facility. The company, which employs more than 24,000 people in India, said the investment would create additional jobs across manufacturing, engineering, research and supply chains, although it did not specify the number. The announcement followed a meeting between Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Oil prices rise as Iran deploys new tactics to target ships transiting Hormuz PROFIT STAFF REPORT
Oil prices climbed on Wednesday after two vessels were struck in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian officials told Reuters they were deploying new tactics to target ships, as Tehran seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections. Brent crude futures rose 34 cents, or 0.3%, to $106.03 a barrel by 0630 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures gained 28 cents, or 0.3%, to $94.42 a barrel. Both contracts had climbed more than $1 in early trade.
The Iranian officials declined to provide details of the new strategy, but one said that Iran had started using different offensive tactics against vessels it considered in violation of its restrictions about 10 days ago, adding that this had led to an increase in attacks on such ships. A container ship and a tanker were hit by unknown projectiles within the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday. "The fact that Iranian officials are openly admitting to undermining US efforts to keep oil prices under control speaks volumes about the real intentions behind the
so-called 'peace talks,'" said Priyanka Sachdeva, head of market insights at Phillip Nova. "Iran is well aware of its geographical importance and the havoc higher oil prices can inflict on the global economy, and it may not shy away from using this leverage." Elsewhere, the Iran-allied Houthis attacked an administrative building belonging to state-owned oil firm Saudi Aramco in the city of Dhahran, causing a limited fire, Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said on Wednesday. The group has fired ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia over the past week in retaliation for the kingdom's sup-
port of Yemeni government forces. Riyadh's international airport has been hit four times, with a strike on Saturday killing 13 people. "Supply concern stemming from conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia is driving prices higher," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist at Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities. "However, the expectation that increased Russian diesel exports will ease market tightness is likely to limit sharp price movement in either direction," Kikukawa said, projecting WTI to trade between $90 and $100 a barrel. Last month, Saudi Arabia raised oil pro-
duction despite disruptions to shipments caused by the US-Iran war. That led to a sharp production increase from OPEC+ — the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partners including Russia — OPEC said on Tuesday. In Russia, the government said on Tuesday it did not see any direct link between peace talks with Ukraine and its deal to export diesel to the US. The comment came after Reuters reported that US envoys had told Ukrainian officials on Friday that the deal was part of an attempt to draw Russia back to negotiations for a peace settlement.
NEws 03
Thursday, 15 October, 2026 | LAHORE
PAKISTAN’S CAR SALES RISE 19% IN FIRST QUARTER OF FY27, DECLINE 12% IN SEPTEMBER 2026
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AKISTAN'S car sales increased 19% year-on-year (YoY) to 50,480 units during the first quarter of FY27, despite declining 12% YoY and 3% month-onmonth (MoM) to 15,104 units in September 2026, according to data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA). Research reports by Topline Securities and IMS Research attributed the September slowdown to uncertainty surrounding the new automobile policy, delays in hybrid vehicle invoicing and growing competition
from imported vehicles. Passenger car volumes declined 20% MoM during September, although a 126% MoM recovery in light commercial vehicles (LCVs) and pickups to approximately 4,200 units partially offset the decline. Analysts said uncertainty over sales tax treatment for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) had affected invoicing and deliveries. The concessionary general sales tax (GST) rate for hybrid vehicles expired on June 30, 2026, creating uncertainty for manufacturers. The subsequent reduction of GST to 18% has provided greater clarity and is expected to support deliveries in the coming months.
Among major assemblers, Indus Motor Company (INDU) outperformed the industry, recording a 31% YoY and 3% MoM increase in September sales to 4,142 units. The company was the only major assembler to register MoM sales growth during September. Combined sales of Toyota Corolla, Yaris and Corolla Cross increased 34% YoY to 3,563 units, while Fortuner and Hilux Revo volumes rose 16% to 579 units. Indus Motor's market share improved to 27% from 26% in August, while cumulative first-quarter sales increased 34% YoY to approximately 13,300 units. Honda Atlas Cars (HCAR), meanwhile, reported September sales of 2,128 units,
down 8% YoY and 19% MoM. Combined sales of Honda City and Civic stood at 2,021 units, reflecting a 2% YoY increase but a 21% MoM decline. Sales of the BR-V and HR-V fell 68% YoY to 107 units, although they increased 34% compared with August. IMS Research linked the annual decline partly to the discontinuation of the BR-V. Honda's market share declined to 14% from 17% in August. However, its cumulative sales for the first three months of FY27 increased 52% YoY to approximately 7,400 units. Pakistan Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) recorded a sharper decline, with September sales falling 46% YoY and 36% MoM to 4,862 units. Suzuki
Islamabad, Muscat condemn Houthi attacks on Riyadh CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The condemnation came as Yemen’s Houthi movement vowed to continue attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities. The group claimed it had launched ballistic and cruise missiles and drones targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in the Saudi capital. It did not specify when the attacks took place. Saudi Arabia has faced an intensification of Houthi strikes over the past week, including an attack on Riyadh airport on Saturday that reportedly killed 13 people. Dar and his Omani counterpart exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Gulf, stressing the need for restraint, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. Dar emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, given their critical role in regional and global food and energy security. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to contributing constructively to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. The two ministers also discussed the situation in Palestine, with Dar reiterating Pakistan’s principled support for the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights. He expressed concern over the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and efforts to alter the status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif. Dar called for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for a just and lasting solution in accordance with rele-
vant United Nations resolutions. On Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he described the dispute as a longstanding unresolved international issue and reiterated Islamabad’s demand for a peaceful settlement in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Discussing Afghanistan, Dar underscored the need to ensure that Afghan territory was not used for activities against Pakistan. He also criticised India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it a material breach of international law and a dangerous attempt to weaponise shared water resources. He said the move threatened Pakistan’s water, food and energy security, affecting 250 million people. The joint press conference followed the eighth session of the PakistanOman Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC), held in Islamabad after a sevenyear gap. Dar and Sayyid Badr agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and intensify diplomatic engagement to promote regional peace and stability. Welcoming the Omani delegation, Dar conveyed greetings from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Sultan of Oman. He said the two countries shared longstanding historical and diplomatic ties and had maintained regular contact on regional and international developments. Dar acknowledged considerable scope for expanding bilateral trade, economic activity and investment, stressing that more regular engagement was needed to translate opportunities into tangible progress. He said both sides had agreed to avoid
Pakistan stands shoulderto-shoulder with Saudi Arabia under MDJA, says PM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
“All of Pakistan’s resources are available for Saudi Arabia. It is our brotherly country, and the holy sites of our religion are located there. I believe it is our responsibility to protect them and make all our resources available to them,” the defence minister said in an interview with a private broadcaster. He added that Pakistan would continue to stand alongside Saudi Arabia at every stage in defending its territory against threats. “They are being provided currently and in every stage going forward, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Saudi brothers to defend their land against the enemies of Saudi Arabia,” he said. The Houthis have been attacking Saudi airports and oil facilities since last week. According to the account cited in the report, Houthi strikes on Saturday killed 13 people and wounded hundreds at King Khalid International Airport. Four people were killed in earlier attacks on Wednesday and Thursday, while another person was killed on Sunday.
lengthy gaps between JMC sessions and expressed his intention to visit Oman in 2027 to participate in the next meeting. Their discussions covered the United States, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab alMandeb, Palestine, Gaza, Jammu and Kashmir and other pressing regional issues. Dar praised Oman’s diplomatic efforts to promote peace among Muslim countries, saying Pakistan appreciated Muscat’s work before Islamabad became involved in supporting similar objectives. He also highlighted coordination between the two countries through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations and other multilateral forums. The foreign minister said diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Oman spanned 55 years, while their historical links extended back centuries. He particularly highlighted longstanding connections between Oman and Pakistan’s Balochistan province, including the historical relationship involving Gwadar. Dar said regional instability had already disrupted energy supply chains and driven up prices, placing additional pressure on ordinary people in Pakistan and elsewhere. He stressed that the consequences of the disruption were being felt worldwide and called for restoring regional peace. He also appreciated Oman’s engagement with Pakistan during the Pakistan-India conflict and other international developments, noting that the two countries regularly exchanged information and maintained close communication. Sayyid Badr reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan across a range of sectors, high-
Kh Asif urges political unity against terror, says Pakistan’s security must trump rivalries CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Taking aim at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said the party should not overlook its own past actions while criticising the government, urging its leadership to reflect on its record and take responsibility for previous decisions. He said the armed forces were making immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and stressed that the provincial government must extend full support to their efforts to eliminate the menace. “Our relationship with Pakistan takes precedence over all other relationships,” he said, emphasising that the country’s security and survival were far more important than political interests and partisan considerations. Kh Asif said terrorists had claimed the lives of innocent citizens, including children, making it imperative for all political parties to set aside their differences and unite against the common enemy. He stressed that the fight against terrorism demanded collective resolve and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country.
Referring to negotiations between the government and the PTI, the defence minister said the government had demonstrated flexibility and made efforts to bring the dialogue process to a successful conclusion, but the talks ultimately failed to yield an agreement. He claimed that certain matters agreed upon during the negotiations were subsequently challenged by the PTI leadership. He also alleged that a party leader who was in hiding had influenced decisions concerning the talks. Asif maintained that the country’s attention should remain focused on combating terrorism rather than allowing the release of a political leader to become the central issue of national politics. Recalling the imprisonment of political leaders during the PTI government, he said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also faced incarceration during that period. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) had continued its political activities despite the imprisonment of its leaders and had not made their release the sole focus of its political struggle.
Parliament endorses emergency in KP amid Opposition protests CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
PTI Senator Humayun Mohmand alleged that the decision to impose governor’s rule had been taken months earlier and that terrorism was being used as a pretext to target the party. He cited remarks previously made by independent Senator Faisal Vawda about the possibility of governor’s rule. Mohmand also drew a comparison with the events leading to the creation of Bangladesh, arguing that the federal government’s decision would prove mistaken. PTI-backed Senator Hamid Khan likewise alleged that the negotiations held between the government and opposition before the imposition of emergency had been staged to mislead the public. “The real decision was taken elsewhere long ago,” he claimed. Referring to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s efforts to mediate between the two sides, Khan said the JUIF leader had indicated that a decision emerged while negotiations were still under way. Khan also criticised the 26th Constitutional Amendment, alleging that it had undermined judicial independence and weakened avenues for challenging unconstitutional actions. He argued that Article 232 should have been presented for substantive debate rather than merely for approval. PTI Senator Mohsin Aziz rejected allega-
lighting the historical, cultural and traditional bonds between the two countries. He described the JMC as an important mechanism for strengthening bilateral relations and delivering benefits to their people. Existing platforms, including the friendship association, business council and political consultations between the foreign ministers, could help advance cooperation, he said. The Omani minister also acknowledged Pakistan’s role in promoting dialogue and diplomacy amid heightened regional tensions, particularly its efforts to facilitate engagement between Iran and the United States. He said Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives had helped create space for dialogue between the two countries and praised Islamabad’s constructive contribution. On economic ties, Sayyid Badr identified opportunities for collaboration in trade, logistics, port connectivity, energy, food security, technology and tourism. He also called for stronger people-to-people links, closer private-sector engagement, institutional partnerships and greater academic and technological cooperation. He said both countries needed to remove obstacles and create favourable conditions for businesses and investors to unlock the full potential of their relationship. The Omani foreign minister arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday for a two-day visit to co-chair the JMC session at Dar’s invitation. The Foreign Office said the visit would provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple sectors.
tions that his party had facilitated terrorism, saying the people of KP had made significant sacrifices in the fight against militancy. “Did we support Pakistan or terrorists? Those calling people of KP terrorists should be ashamed. These are valiant people who saved this country,” he said. Aziz argued that terrorism was also linked to unemployment, poverty and the lack of hospitals, clean water and educational facilities. Another PTI senator, Zeeshan Khanzada, condemned the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule, accusing the federal government of abducting former KP chief minister Sohail Afridi and other PTI lawmakers. JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza objected that an opposition resolution against governor’s rule had not been included in the day’s agenda, saying it had been returned with objections. He also complained that the government had not provided senators with the documents and supporting material relating to the enforcement of Articles 232 and 234, despite requests. He said lawmakers had been forced to obtain relevant information through social media. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PASSES RESOLUTION Earlier, the National Assembly suspended question hour to debate the emergency proclamation. The motion, introduced after Tarar opened the discussion, was adopted by a majority vote. “The National Assembly approves
the Proclamation of Emergency issued by the President on the 11th October, 2026 in the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under second proviso of clause (1) of Article 232 of the Constitution,” the assembly’s official account on X said. Article 232 requires a proclamation of emergency issued by the president to be placed before both houses of Parliament for approval within 10 days. Separately, a proclamation under Article 234 imposing governor’s rule must be laid before a joint sitting of Parliament. It ceases to remain in force after two months unless the joint sitting approves an extension, and it cannot remain in force for more than six months. Unlike some previous parliamentary sessions, PTI lawmakers in the National Assembly participated without staging a major protest. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended part of the proceedings. Photographs released by the National Assembly showed him shaking hands with Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai. Federal ministers defended the imposition of emergency, accusing the PTI-led provincial administration of lacking the commitment required to combat terrorism. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari blamed the PTI for the circumstances that led to the federal intervention, describing the development as a “political suicide attack” for the party.
Alto sales dropped 29% YoY to 3,354 units, while Cultus volumes declined 68% to 138 units. Hyundai Nishat Motors reported sales of 884 units, down 25% YoY but up 19% MoM. Sazgar Engineering Works (SAZEW) reported combined Haval and Tank sales of 2,474 units for August and September, without providing separate monthly figures. Sazgar's cumulative sales during 1QFY27 stood at 3,137 units, down 12% YoY. TWO- AND THREE-WHEELERS Outside the passenger vehicle segment, two- and three-wheeler sales reached an all-time monthly high of 202,502 units in September, increasing 27% YoY and 14% MoM.
Pakistan, Oman sign accords to deepen ties, reaffirm joint push for regional peace CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and Albusaidi took place on the second day of the Omani foreign minister’s two-day visit to Pakistan. During his stay, he also attended the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman JMC and held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Welcoming the visiting dignitary, Shehbaz Sharif highlighted that the shared bonds of faith, geography, history and culture, reinforced by centuries of people-to-people exchanges, provided a strong fraternal foundation for relations between Pakistan and Oman, the PMO statement said. He expressed hope that the JMC meeting would lay a solid foundation for further expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and deepening engagement between the two brotherly countries. The prime minister also noted with satisfaction the convergence of views between Pakistan and Oman on regional and global issues, appreciating Muscat’s principled position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy for resolving disputes. Albusaidi thanked the Pakistani government for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation and expressed satisfaction over the successful convening of the eighth JMC session, according to the statement. He agreed that the meeting would pave the way for enhanced bilateral collaboration across diverse sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries. The Omani foreign minister also appreciated Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions and advance peaceful solutions to emerging challenges Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing of the protocol of the eighth session of the Pakistan-Oman JMC, alongside agreements and MoUs aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in media, news and information exchange, historical documentation and archives management, communication and information technology, and the facilitation of diplomatic and official exchanges. COMMITTED TO CONTRIBUTING CONSTRUCTIVELY TO DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS Earlier in the day, Albusaidi held a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who described Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as “totally unacceptable” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability. Opening the press conference, Dar said the two sides would sign a protocol relating to the joint commission, reflecting their “shared resolve to further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest”. He said Pakistan and Oman would also sign an agreement providing mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports. “Pakistan-Oman friendship remains strong and forward-looking,” Dar told the media, adding that the two ministers had agreed to hold a business-to-business investment forum in Pakistan to promote commercial engagement. The ministers also discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf, Dar said, reiterating that Pakistan remained committed to contributing constructively to diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region.
04 COMMENT IMF figures
Starship’s flight toward a new space age
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The latest IMF estimates show a dimmer view of the economy
HE International Monetary Fund’s latest Economic Outlook estimates for September show that its economists have finally realized that the Middle East crisis is harming the economy. The growth projection has been maintained at 3.5 percent for the current fiscal year from the previous month, which is fully half a percentage point below the 4 percent the government has targeted for it. At the same time, it has revised its inflation estimate up to 9.9 percent, from 8.4 percent estimated last month, which was much closer to the 8.2 percent targeted by the government. It is perhaps a relief that the government estimate is not yet far off the mark, As the estimate, though for the whole year, came at the end of the first quarter. It is also presumably informed by the findings of the IMF review team which came visiting, and to that extent is reassuring that it does not foresee any sudden slippage. However, much will depend on the current situation, especially in the Gulf. Pakistan is suffering with the rest of the world the consequences of an ever-increasing global oil price However, the IMF estimate is that it has not strangled growth, nor has it sparked off uncontrollable inflation. One problem that Pakistan has escaped so far are fuel shortages. It is to be hoped that it continues to do so, for if the situation is not resolved soon, and if the USA succeeds in getting Iranian crude off the global market, then the likelihood of shortages would start to loom. In that case, the growth that has been achieved so far will begin to disappear. As it is, the growth being experienced is anaemic compared to what is needed. To create the jobs needed to ensure that the youth bulge does not become a sea of unemployed and frustrated youth ripe for extremism and militancy, it will be necessary for the GDP to grow at about 6 percent at the very least. It also assumes that Pakistanis innovate enough to be able to export much more than they do at the moment. The IMF estimates of themselves do not prove that it is looking towards a new programme, but it does not tell a story contradicting this. There is much more to be done before this happens.
Another giant leap?
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QaMar Bashir
UMANITY’S reach into space may be approaching a new threshold. Starship, one of the largest and most powerful rockets ever built, is designed to move people and immense quantities of cargo far beyond Earth. Elon Musk’s vision extends from permanent settlements on the Moon and Mars to an eventual human presence across the solar system. Those outposts could become bases for scientific discovery and deeper exploration, while the search for life and potentially habitable worlds continues far beyond our neighboring planets. A home in another star system remains a distant dream, but every such ambition begins with the practical ability to launch, travel and return. SpaceX’s planned September 28 flight is one step toward proving that ability. SpaceX lists a 75-minute window beginning at 8:15 a.m. Eastern time, or 7:15 a.m. at Starbase in South Texas. The vehicle consists of the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage. Together they stand roughly 400 feet tall, placing Starship among the most imposing machines ever flown. This will be a test flight without people aboard. The countdown can still be delayed by weather, a technical concern or a final operational decision, even after regulatory authorization. Starship’s first major task is to carry its cargo into orbit, the path that lets a spacecraft circle Earth. SpaceX plans for the upper stage to make six trips around the planet and release 26 new Starlink internet satellites along the way. Engineers will also gather information about its engines, its protective heat shield and how it behaves during a much longer flight than earlier Starship tests. These results could help turn a remarkable rocket into a dependable transport system for satellites, scientific equipment and, eventually, supplies and people traveling farther from Earth. This journey matters because reaching orbit with useful cargo is a foundation for more ambitious destinations. The Moon would require repeated deliveries of equipment and fuel; Mars would demand still
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
greater endurance and carrying capacity. Flight 14 cannot prove that Starship is ready to land on either world, but it can give scientists and engineers knowledge needed to build toward those missions. A successful flight would broaden the possibilities for public research programmes and private companies alike, while inviting them to imagine experiments, services and expeditions that existing rockets cannot easily support. The satellites aboard are Starlink Version 3 spacecraft, intended to join SpaceX’s broadband network rather than serve as inert demonstration articles. Three carry cameras to examine Starship’s heat shield, which protects the spacecraft as it comes back through the atmosphere. Successful deployment would show that the enormous vehicle can begin doing useful work while still in development. It would also tie the rocket more tightly to SpaceX’s satellite business: larger carrying capacity could support the next generation of Starlink, while demand for those satellites provides a reason to fly Starship frequently. The proposed mission would last almost ten hours. After gathering data in orbit, Starship is supposed to restart an engine to leave orbit, pass through the atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific west of Chile. The Super Heavy booster is expected to splash down separately in the Gulf of Mexico. There is no plan to catch either stage at the launch site on this flight. The dramatic images of tower arms grabbing a descending rocket belong to another part of Starship’s development, and full routine reuse remains a future objective. For much of the space age, journeys on this scale could be organized only by governments. NASA brought astronauts to the Moon and built generations of scientific knowledge, but the enormous cost and specialized machinery limited how often such missions could be attempted. SpaceX is changing that picture by investing private capital and engineering talent in a rocket it hopes to fly repeatedly. Its earlier Starship tests have brought breakthroughs and setbacks alike. Flight 14 will show whether that work can now carry a useful payload around Earth, a capability on which more ambitious journeys depend. The greater promise lies in combining NASA’s experience with the drive and resources of private enterprise. NASA has chosen SpaceX to develop a Star-
Babar Nizami Editor Profit
No loner restricted to computer labs
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Dr MuhaMMaD Bilal Tahir
RTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE was once discussed mainly as a technological revolution. Today, it is increasingly becoming a matter of trade, national security, strategic resources and global power. That shift was evident when US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng began talks in New York covering trade, tariffs, critical minerals and artificial intelligence. The discussions include possible safeguards for advanced AI systems and issues surrounding open- and closed-weight models. They are also taking place against the backdrop of negotiations over Chinese rare-earth magnets and other critical minerals. The significance extends far beyond another round of US-China negotiations. It signals that AI has moved from the laboratories of technology companies into the architecture of international relations. For years, the dominant questions were: How powerful will AI become? How many jobs will it change? How can businesses use it? The questions are now becoming more strategic: Who will control AI? Who will regulate it? Who will have access to advanced computing? And who will define the rules governing increasingly capable systems? These questions are particularly important because AI does not exist only in software. Advanced AI depends on semiconductors, data centres, electricity, telecommunications infrastructure and critical minerals. The technology may appear to operate in the cloud, but that cloud rests on a very physical global supply chain. The emerging US-China discussions therefore reveal a larger reality: the AI race is simultaneously becoming a race over chips, computing power, energy, minerals and technological influence. The challenge is not only geopolitical. Leading AI companies and researchers are themselves debating how increasingly powerful systems should be governed. Recent reporting has highlighted disagreements among technology leaders over regulation, oversight and the appropriate balance between innovation and safety.
This raises a fundamental question: Can companies developing the most powerful AI systems also be expected to determine the boundaries within which those systems should operate? Governments will inevitably have a role. But national regulation alone will be difficult when AI models, data, computing infrastructure and their users operate across borders. An AI system developed in one country can be accessed in another. An open-weight model can be modified and redistributed. Cybersecurity risks can cross jurisdictions instantly. International cooperation is therefore necessary. Yet this is also the paradox of the AI age: the countries whose cooperation may be most necessary are also competing most intensely for technological leadership. What does this mean for Pakistan? For Pakistan, this should not be viewed as a distant contest between major powers. AI could influence almost every area of national development — education, agriculture, healthcare, water management, manufacturing, financial services, energy and public administration. But there is a danger that Pakistan becomes primarily a consumer of AI technologies developed elsewhere. Buying access to foreign AI platforms is not the same as developing national AI capability. Pakistan needs researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and educators who understand both the possibilities and limitations of the technology. Universities have a particularly important role. AI education should not be restricted to computer science. Future doctors, engineers, economists, teachers, lawyers and public administrators will all work in environments shaped by AI. At the same time, universities should become places where AI is applied to Pakistan’s own problems: improving agricultural productivity, managing scarce water resources, strengthening disaster preparedness, developing advanced materials, improving energy systems and supporting public services. The objective should be to move from AI consumption to AI capability. That requires investment in research, com-
puting infrastructure, digital skills, responsible governance and collaboration between universities, industry and government. There is another dimension that deserves attention. The global conversation about AI is increasingly dominated by a race for capability: bigger models, more computing power and greater automation. But capability alone cannot be the measure of progress. A country may have powerful AI systems and still struggle with questions of trust, accountability, privacy, employment and inequality. The real challenge is therefore institutional. Can societies build governance systems capable of keeping pace with technologies that are advancing extraordinarily quickly? For Pakistan, the answer should begin with preparation rather than imitation. We do not need to reproduce Silicon Valley or compete directly with the world’s largest technology powers. We need to identify the areas in which AI can produce the greatest national value and build the human and institutional capacity to use it responsibly. That means treating AI not simply as an ITsector opportunity but as a national development issue. The current US-China discussions offer an important lesson. Artificial intelligence is no longer merely about machines becoming smarter. It is increasingly about who controls the infrastructure, resources, standards and institutions surrounding those machines. The countries that understand this early will be better positioned to shape the emerging economy. For Pakistan, the choice is becoming clearer: remain a passive consumer of technologies developed elsewhere, or invest in the people, research institutions and governance frameworks that can make the country an active participant in the AI economy. The AI era is already here. The more important question is not whether Pakistan will be affected by it. It is whether Pakistan will help shape what comes next.
The writer is Director, Institute of Physics, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
For Pakistan, the choice is becoming clearer: remain a passive consumer of technologies developed elsewhere, or invest in the people, research institutions and governance frameworks that can make the country an active participant in the AI economy
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ship lander for its Artemis Moon programme. It has also contracted with Blue Origin, the space company founded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, for a separate lunar lander. These are different companies bringing different designs to a shared undertaking. Government research, safety standards and long-term goals can work alongside private invention and competition to make future Moon bases, and perhaps one day settlements on Mars, more achievable. Reaching a permanent base on another world would take many more steps. Crews would need food, shelter, equipment and a reliable way to return; ships would need fuel and frequent flights. NASA’s oversight work identifies refueling spacecraft in orbit as a major challenge for its lunar plans. Every Starship test helps engineers understand part of the journey, while reminding them how much remains to be developed. The speed of progress will depend on whether public expertise and private engineering can solve those problems together. That partnership could also widen participation in exploration. Universities might send research instruments, companies might develop new services and national space agencies might share knowledge gathered across missions. Starship is being built to serve several purposes, from deploying internet satellites to supporting the journey to the Moon. If its capacity and repeated flights become dependable, ideas that now remain on laboratory benches could have a path into space. Its most lasting contribution may be the opportunities it creates for scientists and engineers beyond SpaceX itself. The FAA’s approval is significant, but it should be understood precisely. It authorizes the specified launch and reentry operations after regulatory review; it does not certify that the vehicle will reach orbit or that every experiment will work. The flight team will still make operational calls as conditions unfold. If the rocket lifts off on September 28, the public will be watching a genuine attempt at a historic technical milestone, with measured data likely to matter more than the first few seconds of footage. By the end of the mission, the meaningful questions will be concrete: Did Starship enter a stable orbit? Did the 26 satellites deploy? Could it restart its engine, leave orbit and reenter as planned? What did the heat shield and booster teach engineers? Success would bring Musk’s dream of transporting people and cargo to sustained bases on the Moon and Mars a step closer, while leaving formidable work ahead. It would be a small step in the immense journey toward other worlds, and a large leap in the capabilities humanity will need to undertake it. The writer retired as Press Secretary the President, and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France and former MD, Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited
By the end of the mission, the meaningful questions will be concrete: Did Starship enter a stable orbit? Did the 26 satellites deploy? Could it restart its engine, leave orbit and reenter as planned? What did the heat shield and booster teach engineers?
AI is becoming a matter of statecraft M. A. Niazi
Editor Pakistan Today
Thursday, 15 October, 2026
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System fails, AI helps
THERE has been a growing concern about students using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, like ChatGPT, to complete their assignments. Some argue that it promotes laziness and dishonesty. Instead of blaming the students, we should ask why so many of them feel the need to rely on it in the first place. The truth is that many students are under enormous academic pressure. They are often given workloads that exceed their capacity, with tight deadlines, vague instructions and limited support. Teachers are sometimes too rushed to explain the concepts properly, but they expect high-quality output from their students even after giving low-quality input. In this situation, it is not surprising that students turn to AI tools. They do so not to cheat, but to cope. These tools can provide the help and clarity students do not always get in class. They offer explanations and examples, and help organise concepts for the students. Promoting responsible use of AI is important. Banning it or criticising the students will not solve the real issue. If the education system wants students to depend less on AI, it must create an environment that supports genuine understanding, rather than just assigning more tasks and raising expectations. The problem is not that Pakistani students continue to rely on AI; the problem is that they now feel they have no other choice. MAHAM SAEED KARACHI
Reciting Pakistan proud
WE often discuss major national achievements in sports, diplomacy, defence and economics, and it is equally important to highlight a remarkable and highly commendable development in Pakistan. For the first time in the country’s history, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony recently organised an international Quran recitation competition in Islamabad. This prestigious global event not only showcased Pakistan’s religious, cultural and spiritual identity, but also brought together representatives from over 40 countries from around the world. The participation of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states added further significance and honour to the competition. Hosting such an international event for the first time marks a major achievement for Pakistan, and reflects the ministry’s dedicated efforts. This initiative will enhance Pakistan’s global image and strengthen the nation’s spiritual bond with the larger Islamic world. In the past, Pakistan’s talented students would travel abroad to represent the country in international Quran recitation competitions. However, bringing this global competition to Pakistan is in itself a significant accomplishment, underlining Pakistan’s growing role as a centre for international religious and spiritual events. As we celebrate achievements in other national domains, we must wholeheartedly acknowledge and appreciate this initiative. HAYAN AHMED KHAN ISLAMABAD
Fear grips University of Sindh
The recent events at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, have created fear among students and teachers, and raised concerns about campus security. In one incident, a female student and her brother were reportedly assaulted. Just days earlier, unknown individuals on a motorcycle had entered the campus and carried out aerial firing to harass a final-year female student. Several FIRs have been registered over time, but no steps have been taken yet. ZEESHAN SOOMRO LARKANA
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COMMENT 05
Between Power and Law Thursday, 15 October, 2026
Rethinking the Use of Force in the US–Israel–Iran conflict
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Faisal gul
N 2024-2025, the incidents of military confrontation between the USA, Israel and Iran reached the highest point in a legally significant period in the history of international relations. What began as a proxy war has morphed into a direct fire, drone war, and missile salvoes and precision air-strikes that has increasingly given rise to fundamental questions of international law dealing with the use of force. The war tested the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly Article 2(4) and Article 51, the concepts of self-defence, proportionality and necessity, and revealed serious cracks that the international community is facing to enforce the rules-based order.
THE ANATOMY OF THE CONFLICT For decades, the USA and Israel have been hostile toward Iran, and their animosity is a result of that history. Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 Iran has been ideologically against the USA and Israel. Iran’s nuclear programme, its backing of proxy groups (such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hamas in Palestine, and the Houthis in Yemen) and its rejection of Israel’s right to exist as a nation presented a constant threat scenario. The successive US governments have imposed crippling economic sanctions, and Israel has been conducting covert action against Iran, such as targeted assassinations of Iran’s nuclear scientists, to slow the developments of Iran’s military.
THE INTERNATIONAL LAW FRAMEWORK ON THE USE OF FORCE The main rule against the use of force in international relations is in the UN Charter, is Article 2(4) which states that all member states shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The prohibition is considered to be a jus cogens, that is, it is an inviolable norm and cannot be dero-
gated. Any use of force is thus to be legally justified, within the very limited exception provided by the Charter. The UN Charter in its Article 51, allows a member state to use its intrinsic right of self-defence, if it is attacked by armed forces, until the Security Council takes action to restore international peace and security. But, customary international law requires it to satisfy the following three criteria: necessity, proportionality and immediacy as set out in the Caroline incident (1837), reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice in Nicaragua v. United States (1986). The concept of anticipatory self-defence– in anticipation of attack– is also highly controversial. The restrictive interpretation limits the application of Article 51 to some kind of ‘armed attack’ only; whereas the permissive approach would mean that action could be taken in response to the presence of an imminent threat but not necessarily an actual attack. The Bush doctrine of pre-emptive and preventive military action was perceived as being at odds with the principles in the Charter.
LEGAL JUSTIFICATIONS CALLED FOR AND CRITICS Israel asserted its right to self-defence, arguing that in both cases its military actions were in self-defence, because Iran’s attack on Israeli territory constituted an armed attack in international law. This defence can be said to be the strongest among all of Israel’s defense of the conflict in which it initiated. There was doubt, however, about proportionality– a key requirement for the existence of a legal right to self-defence, in the Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall given
by the ICJ in 2004. Israel’s more general military action against Iranian proxies, not only in Iran, but also in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, has faced charges of breaching the principle of respect for third-party states. Only under international law, a strike in a country, where nonstate actors live, can be justified, if the said country is incapable or unwilling to prevent the said non-states from posing a threat. The collective self-defence argument in favour of the US. backing of Israel in its conflict and attacks on the Houthis’ infrastructure in Yemen is stronger than the one put out by the UK. Collective self-defence is when a state can assist another state which has already been attacked by armed force. but only on its request. The collective self defence may be more of a legal argument, but the USA’s strikes on Yemen have been controversial on the issue of Yemen’s sovereignty and whether or not the strikes against
This conflict brought to the fore the paradoxes inherent in the use of force and the need for state security, which were in conflict with each other in the Charter. It also identified inherent weaknesses in the use of the selfdefence theory in the context of a long-term threat (but not immediate) from non-state actors. Lastly, the argument revealed deep flaws in the United Nations Security Council in its structure.
Politicians have got no hope when it comes to AI
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PROSPECT MAGAZINE alan RusbRidgeR
E do not, as a rule, televise blood sports these days. But periodically there are still moments when we watch excruciating dismemberments on live TV. They are called congressional hearings and involve bumbling, out-of-touch legislators asking inane questions of tech bros. We will all have our favourite moments. Was it in 2018, when former senator Orrin Hatch demanded of Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg how on Earth he could sustain a business model if the product was free? A startled Zuck took some moments to process the question before responding: “Senator, we run ads.” A flummoxed Hatch responded: “I see. That’s great.” Or perhaps it was in the same year, when Representative Steve King challenged Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, about how offensive language had popped up on his iPhone. How had Google allowed that to happen? Pichai was obliged to explain that the iPhone was made by a different company. Another senator thought he had Zuckerberg on the ropes when he demanded: “If I’m emailing within WhatsApp, does that ever inform your advertisers?” The Facebook boss pondered how politely to explain to his interrogator that a) WhatsApp doesn’t do email; and b) WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted. Those with longer memories will savour the performance of Senator Ted Stevens, in effect the main guy in charge of creating internet policy at that time (2006), trying to get to grips with his brief: “I just the other day got, an internet [sic] was sent by my staff at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Why?… Because it got tangled up with all these things going on the internet commercially… They want to deliver vast amounts of information over the internet. And again, the internet is not something you just dump something on. It’s not a truck. It’s a series of tubes.” You get the point. The elected body charged with overseeing the defining technology of the early years of the 21st cen-
Anthropic’s CEO, wrote in 2025 that “people outside the field are often surprised and alarmed to learn that we do not understand how our own AI creations work”. He added: “They are right to be concerned: this lack of understanding is essentially unprecedented in the history of technology.” The dilemma is not dissimilar to the arguments, 40 years ago, over the threat of nuclear annihilation. A key text of the time, Robert Dahl’s 1985 book Controlling Nuclear Weapons, foreshadowed the debate today. As with AI, nuclear strategy is extraordinarily complicated; knowledge is specialised; mistakes can be catastrophic; and citizens cannot possibly master all the relevant physics, command-and-control systems, intelligence, game theory and military doctrine. Dahl questioned whether wisdom was more important than democracy: he explored the concept of what he called “guardianship”—decisions being taken by a small group of supposedly betterqualified experts. He rejected it. But, as he conceded, experts aren’t necessarily equipped to make political or moral judgements. There’s no reason to suppose that “guardians” are themselves reliably benevolent or disinterested. Which takes us back to democratic oversight—always assuming that there is sufficient competence—both among voters and their representatives. Dahl was candid about how far reality fell short: “We have in fact turned over to a small group of people decisions of incalculable importance to ourselves and mankind, and it is very far from clear how, if at all, we could recapture a control that in fact we have never had.” As one reviewer wrote at the time: “His trust in a better educated and involved public means that the book ends with a whimper rather than a bang.” That debate in the Eighties was itself an echo of the famous and prolonged discussion in the 1920s between the philosopher John Dewey and the journalist and social critic Walter Lippmann. In crude terms, Dewey believed that the press played a crucial role in creating a betterinformed public which would, in turn create a better democracy. Lippmann was not so sure. It was a nice idea in theory, but he was more sceptical about the nature of the press, the function of journalism and the capacity of the public to participate in democratic discussion. The modern world was too complex for the public to play the role that liberal democracy demanded. A century later, here we are facing the same intractable problem—only worse.
KEY LEGAL ISSUES ARISING FROM THE CONFLICT The principle of proportionality in the conduct of war is one of the basic rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) contained in the Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions (1977). This rule prohibits an attack on civilians, the foreseeable harm to civilians’ property or the loss of civilian life, where the expected concrete and direct military benefit is disproportionate. The overcrowding of missile fires in some areas of Lebanon, Gaza and parts of Iran, along with damage to civilian infrastructure in these regions, created serious issues in the area of IHL. The failure to achieve a binding resolution by the Security Council due to divergent vetoes brought to the fore the issue of institutional inertia of the collective security system of the United Nations. This supported the already prevailing theory of reforming the Security Council and reviving the General Assembly’s Uniting for Peace process as another way forward for dealing with threats to peace. The conflict thus furthered the trend of delegitimizing the Security Council as the key protector of international peace and security. INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE USE OF FORCE
The most significant thing about the standoff between the USA, Israel and Iran is that legal standards in international politics are weak when states are concerned for their security. In both instances, the law was used in a strategic fashion that justified a predetermined objective, what academics call ‘lawfare’.” There is doubt on the normative basis of the international system after WWII due to the readiness of influential states to violate international legal norms. Many grey zone operations were also a part of the war, such as cyber warfare, sabotage, proxy warfare and so on, a war fought below the level of an armed attack. The international law upon such activities is not well developed. The Tallinn Manual provides guidance to the conduct of cyber operations but does not have legal binding. The need for clear norms, based on treaties, for cyber, proxy and hybrid wars is extremely urgent. It is, therefore, a valuable case study of the issues and dilemmas of the international law of force in the modern era as they are exemplified in the US-Iran-Israel dispute. This conflict brought to the fore the paradoxes inherent in the use of force and the need for state security, which were in conflict with each other in the Charter. It also identified inherent weaknesses in the use of the self-defence theory in the context of a long-term threat (but not immediate) from non-state actors. Lastly, the argument revealed deep flaws in the United Nations Security Council in its structure. At any rate, the experience of the conflict itself is not at all promising: international law is not self-executing, and can always be manipulated for strategic advantage.
The writer can be reached faisalkhan112323@gmail.com
at:
Modi faces unprecedented challenge to power The current movement ‘cuts across classes, it cuts across castes, it cuts across religious groups, because voting rights are something which affect all Indians’
The technology is developing at such speed even the tech bros don’t understand it, let alone lawmakers
tury has often floundered, barely comprehending how it even works. Twenty years after Facebook’s public launch, legislators are still struggling to figure out how, or even whether, to regulate social media. And here we are in 2026 faced with an even more complex technology which, some of its creators themselves argue, comes with a 10 per cent chance of wiping out humanity itself within a decade. How does a democracy oversee something so potentially lethal when its leaders are still struggling to get to grips with TikTok? In one way, this is simply a new variation on an old theme. In 2008 it became apparent that few MPs had the foggiest clue about the financial derivatives which crashed the global economy. Not only MPs, but regulators and bank boards: the expertise sat almost exclusively inside the firms which were themselves spiralling out of control. The same legislative cluelessness was exposed by the Snowden revelations in 2013. It soon became obvious that most lawmakers, in the UK as in the US, had no real grasp of bulk collection or what metadata reveals. I remember watching Philip Hammond, then defence secretary, being reduced to incoherent rambling as he tried to explain how bulk interception warrants were supposed to work. The only people who truly understood it were the nerdy hobbits inside GCHQ and the NSA. And there appeared to be no meaningful oversight of their work. I turned to AI itself to find out how many MPs today might have the real expertise to begin to interrogate the companies which are urgently flagging up warnings about the risks involved in their own work. ChatGPT reckoned that, out of 650 MPS, there was only one—Dr Allison Gardner—who might have the intellectual chops, based on her PhD in computational biology. In the upper house there is Lord [Lionel] Tarassenko, who has been involved in the practical applications of machine learning. In Congress, Claude identified for me just four representatives who, on paper, might be equipped to go head-to-head with the people designing and building the technology which might wipe us out. For the most part, on both sides of the Atlantic, our lawmakers lack the conceptual literacy, a grasp of the policy implications or the research understanding to weigh up issues around risk, safety testing or how models fail. But, unlike the banks in 2008 or the spooks in 2013, it appears that even the insiders are themselves struggling to comprehend what’s going on. Dario Amodei,
shipping in the Red Sea amounted to an armed attack by Iran. The term “must be attributed” to the state is crucial in the context of the Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts of the International Law Commission adopted in 2001, which state that an action must be attributable to the state in order to be blamed against it. It was unclear in this case how much influence Iran had on the Houthis’ decision-making processes.
I
WASHINGTON POST Joshua Yang
NDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grip on power in the world’s largest democracy — long thought to be unshakable — is loosening, as massive youth protests crowd cities across the country and deliver Modi the most serious challenge he has faced since taking office in 2014. In a sign of the situation’s gravity, thousands of security forces have placed central New Delhi under lockdown, with arriving demonstrators quickly whisked onto police buses and internet access intermittently disabled. Even so, thousands of protesters and leaders of the political opposition marched through the capital Monday in defiance of government authorities. “This kind of national movement and national anger probably has not been seen since 1975,” said Prashant Bhushan, a New Delhi-based public interest lawyer. Throughout his 12-year tenure, Modi has drawn fierce domestic and international criticism for his Hindu nationalist politics, rollback of civil liberties and a crackdown on dissident groups that involved a plot to assassinate an American citizen. But until this month’s protests, the prime minister’s political might went all but unchallenged among India’s nearly billion-strong electorate, which handed Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commanding victory after commanding victory in polls. Now, the “hubris” of Modi’s government may have pushed things too far, said Harsh Mander, a longtime Indian civil rights activist. The immediate cause of the demonstrations comes over a new push to “revise” India’s voter rolls and rectify erroneous entries. Protesters charge that the revision process, which has removed the names of over 130 million voters under nebulous criteria, is a brazen campaign of selective disenfranchisement to tilt the political scales in favor of the ruling BJP. That messaging has proved to be persuasive. The protests now increasingly draw the prime minister’s former supporters, said Sushant Singh, a lecturer at Yale University and former Indian military official. The current movement “cuts across classes, it cuts across castes, it cuts across religious groups, because voting rights are something which affect all Indians,” Singh said. The
demonstrations are spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party, which emerged after the Supreme Court’s chief justice said the country’s unemployed young people were “cockroaches.” But after staging protests in July over a scandal involving leaked state examinations, the Cockroach Janta Party forced the resignation of the education minister, an unprecedented concession from the Modi government and a signal that the formerly tongue-in-cheek movement had come to represent real political muscle. On Monday, that muscle was out in full force as supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party joined ranks with the Indian National Congress, the country’s long-moribund political opposition, in a massive protest that jammed New Delhi’s wide boulevards. Modi has yet to publicly comment on the protests. Youth-led protest movements over economic malaise and entrenched corruption have roiled South Asia — and toppled regimes — in recent years. In 2022, young Sri Lankans stormed the presidential palace and forced the country’s leadership to resign. Bangladeshi students ousted the government in Dhaka in 2024; Gen Z Nepali protesters did the same in Kathmandu the following year. Much like other protests across the region, India’s youth-led demonstrations more broadly reflect “general frustration with the lack of economic opportunities, no jobs being there [and] the sheer sense of hopelessness in India at this point in time,” Singh said. Though the protests are unlikely to topple the Indian government, Modi could see his political power curtailed or even face an intraparty coup, analysts said. The next national elections in India are scheduled for 2029. The government and the youth are now at an impasse. The Cockroach Janta Party is demanding the ouster of Gyanesh Kumar, the chief of India’s Election Commission, who oversees the voter revision process and whom protesters say Modi appointed in violation of the commission’s nonpartisan norms. Protesters also demand all changes to voter rolls be annulled. The government may remove Kumar, but it is unlikely to cave on restoring 130 million voters to the electoral rolls, said Bhushan, the public interest lawyer. “There is no way that they can win elections hereafter. The only way that they can hope to win is through electoral manipulation.” No matter how Modi handles the protests, analysts said, the prime minister must now contend with a different relationship to his voters. “This regime cannot survive in the way that it did for 12 years — with an implied consensus of a significant segment of the population,” Mander said. “It can now only survive with more and more repression, even more repression than it has unleashed in the past.” Joshua Yang reports on Asia, with a particular focus on China and Taiwan, for The Washington Post.
06 newS
ChIna launChes eIght new satellItes to advanCe spaCe-based aI ComputIng network
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BEIJING
STAFF CORRESONDENT
HINA'S plan to build a 2,800satellite AI computing constellation in space took another step forward on Wednesday, as eight computing satellites were successfully launched into orbit to test technologies for AI model training, high-speed data transmission and advanced cooling technologies in space. The satellites, developed by Chinese space AI company ADA Space, were among 10 spacecraft aboard a commercial Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in Northwest China at around 7:40 pm on Wednesday, mission insiders told the Global Times. The launch marked the 10th flight of the Zhuque-2 rocket series, developed by Chinese commercial aerospace company LandSpace, and added to China's efforts to develop space-based computing infrastructure capable of supporting AI applications both in orbit and on Earth. The eight satellites are from the first batch of the second group under ADA Space's "Star Compute" program, which envisions a constellation of 2,800 computing satellites, including 2,400 dedicated to AI inference and 400 to AI training. The latest mission follows an earlier
Thursday, 15 October 2026 | LAHORe
demonstration on how space-based computing could support applications on Earth. In April 2026, ADA Space announced that a system using AI models running aboard orbiting satellites to remotely control groundbased intelligent agents had passed 19 technical tests conducted by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Building on these earlier advances, the newly launched satellites will undertake a new round of in-orbit experiments, including training AI foundation models in space, high-speed laser communications and advanced cooling technologies. These experiments will explore key technologies needed to build a larger and more interconnected orbital computing network, ADA Space said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Wednesday. Unlike conventional satellites that primarily collect data and transmit it back to Earth for processing, computing satellites are designed to perform complex calculations directly in orbit, potentially reducing dependence on ground-based data centers and enabling faster processing of space-generated information. According to ADA Space, the newly launched satellites carry high-performance computing payloads, laser communication equipment and Earth observation instruments. Among the most significant planned ex-
periments is the training of AI foundation models directly in space, representing a further step beyond deploying previously trained AI models aboard satellites. The satellites will also test a 10-kilowattclass liquid cooling system and large deployable radiator panels. These technologies are essential for managing the substantial heat generated by high-performance computing equipment in the vacuum of space. Unlike terrestrial data centers, which can use air circulation to dissipate heat, computing facilities in orbit must rely heavily on thermal radiation to release excess heat into space. Another major focus is the development of a interconnected laser communication network, allowing satellites to exchange large volumes of data at high speeds and potentially enabling computing resources to be coordinated across multiple spacecraft. The latest launch builds on China's earlier progress in developing space-based computing infrastructure. In May 2025, ADA Space launched the first group of satellites under its "Star Compute" program. In November 2025, the company announced that it had successfully deployed the Qwen3 large language model aboard its orbiting computing satellites, demonstrating progress in operating generalpurpose AI models in space. These developments reflect a broader ambtion to move beyond processing data
collected in space and explore how orbital computing resources can also serve applications on Earth. Under the company's roadmap, a network of approximately 1,000 satellites is expected to be deployed and enter commercial operation before 2030, with the full constellation targeted for completion before 2035. In addition to the eight computing satellites, Wednesday's mission also carried two experimental laser communication satellites developed by Lanta Intelligent, which will test high-speed laser data transmission, integrated onboard processing and advanced solar power systems. The company previ-
ously launched two experimental satellites in November 2024, which have since conducted laser communication and flexible solar array technology demonstrations. Wednesday's mission came just 29 days after LandSpace's previous Zhuque-2E launch, reflecting efforts to increase launch frequency in China's commercial aerospace sector. Ma Haijing, a LandSpace spokesperson, told the Global Times that the company has adopted parallel mission preparations, coordinated production schedules and standardized launch procedures to improve launch efficiency while maintaining strict quality control.
Strait of Hormuz traffic plunges once again amid new wave of Houthi attacks DOHA
AGENICES
Crude oil and petroleum exports from the Middle East sharply dropped over the past week as Yemen's Houthi militias intensified their attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting regional shipping lanes. Maritime transit in the region has suffered drastically since the US and Israel’s preemptive joint strikes on Iran on February 28, followed by Tehran’s effective closure of the vital waterway and a subsequent American naval blockade. Attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz reached a new peak this year over the past week. At least 14 incidents of attacks, attempted strikes, and obstructions were recorded in and around the Strait of Hormuz on October 5-12, while six ships were attacked on Monday alone, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations
and global maritime security sources. Commercial vessel traffic via the strategic chokepoint fell to its lowest since July 22, affecting outward energy flows. Oil, petroleum, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the Middle East plummeted in the wake of the war, and while there have been signs of partial recovery, intensifying security risks sparked concerns.
Houthis increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia, threatening transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Middle Eastern crude oil, petroleum, and liquid chemical exports — including shipments from the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea — fell from 21.1 million barrels per day on October 8 to 6.7 million barrels on October 11, 10.4 million barrels on Monday, and 8.3 million barrels on Tuesday, according to Kpler. The weekly average of 17 million barrels remained below the pre-war volume of around 23.3 million barrels per day. Only six commercial ships were able to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, while previously 32 ships passed through on October 8, 24 on October 9, 11 on October 10, and 12 on October 11. Meanwhile, vessel transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also dropped, with 35 vessels passing through on October 8,
39 on October 10, 46 on October 11, and 32 on Monday. The attempts by the Houthis to establish a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia to seize control of the Bab el-Mandeb corridor added a new volatile dimension to the wider conflict. Large-scale supply disruptions across both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab elMandeb Strait could pressure global energy supplies and market stability even further, analysts say. Iran says container ship sinks after hitting mine in Strait of Hormuz The IRGC navy said on Wednesday that a container attempting to "pass through the unauthorised and high-risk route of the Strait of Hormuz struck a naval mine, exploded, and caught fire severely," according to IRNA. "This ship, carrying more than 2,500 containers, sank on Wednesday morning in the southern waters of the Strait of Hormuz due to the intensity of the fire."
Chinese premier attends symposium with representatives of overseas buyers, exhibitors at Canton Fair BEIJING
STAFF CORRESONDENT
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday attended a symposium with representatives of overseas buyers and exhibitors at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, calling on Chinese and foreign enterprises to actively promote global supply-demand matching and lead international innovation cooperation. About 70 business representatives from nearly 30 countries and regions participated in the symposium in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, where the Canton Fair will be held from October 15 to November 4. After hearing remarks from representatives of overseas buyers and exhibitors, Li said that over the past 70 years since its launch, the Canton Fair has grown along with China's opening up and development. "It has become not only a bright business card of China's opening up to the outside world, but also an important window for the world to observe China," Li said. As one of the world's one-stop trade
platforms boasting a complete range of goods and high efficiency, the Canton Fair brings together cutting-edge products and technologies, Li said, adding that it serves as a grand stage for traditional goods trade and a barometer for the development of new types of trade. In recent years, the enterprises participating in the Canton Fair have engaged in more diversified business exchanges and are gradually upgrading to all-round partners, Li said. He noted that China will continue to foster an open and inno-
vative ecosystem, strengthen the protection of foreign-related intellectual property rights and actively address the concerns of enterprises. "China will continue to optimize the investment enviroment for foreign investors, expand market access and support foreign enterprises in local production," the premier said. "It will also accelerate the building of a modern industrial system and promote the planning and construction of new power grids, computing power networks and new-generation
communication networks," he added. "We welcome enterprises from all countries to invest more in China, deepen their presence in the Chinese market, strengthen mutually beneficial and practical cooperation in the industrial and supply chains, and promote the building of open and inclusive global industrial and supply chains," Li said. Li also called for enhancing the digital and intelligent features of the Canton Fair, expanding its range of green products and exhibition areas, promoting green trade, and highlighting the fair's humanistic elements. Noting that global production and supply chains are undergoing profound restructuring, business representatives said the competitiveness of "Made in China" is increasing day by day, making significant contributions to promoting the development of the world economy. They said the Canton Fair is the most reliable global business platform and that the Chinese government has been continuously implementing precise policies, constantly optimizing the business environment and helping enterprises from all countries achieve leapfrog development.
India's 'cockroach' movement leaders detained in jail for five days NEW DELHI
AGENICES
An Indian court ordered that two leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) be detained in jail for five days, the party and police said on Wednesday, a day after they scaled barricades to enter a historic site popular for protests and chanted slogans demanding the election chief's resignation. The detentions risk triggering fresh protests by youth supporters at a time when opposition groups and student bodies are holding almost daily demonstrations to demand commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over voter list revisions that critics say favour Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission has denied favouring any party and said wrongly deleted voters can re-enrol, while the BJP has accused rivals of trying to undermine democracy by wrongly questioning legitimate electoral processes. CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were among about a dozen people who jumped barricades on Tuesday to enter the grounds of the Jantar Mantar open-air observatory in Delhi's central business district. Police said this week that the site -- previously designated for demonstrations -- was no longer an official protest venue. Das and Ranka were sent to jail for violating a legal undertaking they had given authorities when they were released from detention last week, their lawyer Abhisht Hela told reporters. Delhi Police also said they were punished due to their "repeated violations" and "serious apprehensions" that they would "again violate law and instigate others to violate law" if released on bail. WILL NOT BE FRIGHTENED, CJP SAYS CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde, who was released on a personal bond, said the party would not be "frightened" by its leaders' imprisonment. "We will put an end to this dictatorial government," he said. The 'cockroach' movement has mobilised protests in recent months against issues ranging from government school infrastructure to jobs and is among Modi and his BJP's biggest political challenges in his 12 years in power. A weeks-long sit-in by its supporters at Jantar Mantar earlier this year forced Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over exam paper leaks.
Trump fires ambassador to Greece Guilfoyle after reports of misconduct WASHINGTON AGENICES
The White House said on Tuesday it had asked US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign after a series of news reports raised concerns that she sold access to Trump administration officials in exchange for money, gifts and favours. US President Donald Trump had said on Monday that he was considering firing Guilfoyle, who was once engaged to his son Donald Trump Jr. On Tuesday, he told reporters: "She was doing a good job, but we didn't like what we were reading." US lawmakers had raised the alarm after a series of stories in the Wall Street Journal beginning last month that detailed Guilfoyle's conduct, including claims she threatened to use US influence to undermine the Greek government. New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed Guilfoyle had been asked to resign, telling a briefing: "She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well." In a post on X, Guilfoyle repeated denials of wrongdoing and said her gratitude and respect for Trump and Secretary of State Marco
Rubio remained "unwavering". "While my time as ambassador may be coming to an end, my commitment to President Trump, the America First movement, and the country I love will never end," she wrote. "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity." One of the reports published by the Journal described Guilfoyle's close relationship with a lobbyist for a Greek energy company and her promotion of that firm, while another cited audio recordings of Guilfoyle bragging about her ties to wealthy Greek businessmen as she sought an invitation to a Davos dinner honouring another of Trump's sons, Eric. US businessman Eric Deters also told the newspaper that Guilfoyle, a former San Francisco prosecutor, had offered access to Trump administration officials for money, at one point asking him to pay her $100,000 credit card bill. Britain's Daily Mail reported last week that the State Department's internal watchdog was looking into complaints of inappropriate behaviour from staff at the Athens embassy. The Greek government has not commented on the allegations involving her tenure as ambassador. Neither the State Department nor Washington's embassy in Athens responded to
requests for comment. DEALS AND DIPLOMATIC WAVES Greece has been an important NATO ally of the United States, offering key military facilities to safeguard security in the Eastern Mediterranean, and it leads an EU maritime mission to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea. During a visit to Athens last week, Rubio said Greece and the US were launching new counterterrorism information sharing between their law enforcement agencies. Guilfoyle's tenure in Athens was high-profile from the start as she appeared on the cover of Vogue Greece and attended late-night parties with Greek celebrities. She aggressively touted American interests, including signing deals for the import of US liquefied natural gas and drilling deals involving companies including Exxon Mobil. But she also created diplomatic waves. In her first interview with local media after arriving last November, she said China should sell its 67% stake in the port of Piraeus, which has become a cornerstone of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. China’s ambassador to Greece, Fang Qiu, responded by accusing the US of having "an outdated and a harmful mentality" and "a hegemonic mindset".
NEWS 07
Thursday, 15 October, 2026 | LAHORE
CORPORATE CORNER
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PARC Pays Tribute to Dr. Amir Muhammed, renames Crop Sciences Institute in His Honour ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) held a condolence reference at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, to honour the contributions of Late Dr. Amir Muhammed, Hilal-i-Imtiaz (H.I.), founding Chairman of PARC, a distinguished scientist and institution builder. As a tribute to his outstanding services to agricultural research in national development, the Crop Sciences Institute at NARC has been renamed the Dr. Amir Muhammed Institute of Crop Sciences. Chairman PARC, Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, paid tribute to Dr. Amir Muhammed’s visionary leadership and pioneering role in strengthening Pakistan’s agricultural research system. He highlighted that Dr. Amir Muhammed’s vision and leadership laid the foundations for PARC as the country’s apex agricultural research organization and helped create institutions that continue to contribute to scientific progress and national development. He emphasized that renaming the Crop Sciences Institute in his honour was a fitting tribute to his services and recognition of his enduring legacy, which would continue to inspire future generations of scientists and researchers. Dr. Amir Muhammed also served as Founding Director of the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, and Founding Rector of the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST). His leadership as Chairman PARC from 1978 to 1990 laid the foundations for a coordinated national agricultural research system.
Federal Minister calls for lower wheat seed prices and smooth inter-provincial supply ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, chaired a highlevel meeting with representatives of private seed companies and the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) to discuss wheat seed prices and inter-provincial movement. The Minister asked private seed companies to reduce wheat seed prices to make seed more affordable for farmers. Timely access to affordable seed is particularly important for small farmers, whose purchasing decisions are affected by the combined costs of seed, fertiliser, irrigation and other agricultural inputs. Rana Tanveer Hussain directed NSDRA to ensure the smooth inter-provincial movement of wheat seed. Coordination with provincial authorities and seed suppliers will be important in addressing movement-related difficulties and ensuring that seed reaches farmers within the appropriate sowing period. Clear information on seed varieties, certification, pack weight and prices can further help farmers make informed purchasing decisions. Affordable prices must be accompanied by reliable quality and timely availability to support successful crop establishment. The meeting focused on facilitating farmers through lower seed costs and uninterrupted supply across provinces, supporting timely wheat sowing and national food security.
Zong launches Z victory league gaming and rewards platform ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Zong, Pakistan's leading Technology Services Enterprise, is transforming gaming into a more engaging and rewarding experience with the launch of Z Victory League, a gaming and rewards platform designed for its prepaid customers. Bringing daily challenges, gaming tasks, tournaments, in-house games, and curated gaming content together on one platform. Z Victory League enables customers to turn their gaming engagement into credits redeemable for gaming currencies and a range of rewards, bringing greater value to the entertainment they enjoy. Designed around how young Pakistanis connect, play and engage online, the platform brings gaming, entertainment and rewards together in one seamless experience—powered by Zong’s reliable network, because an immersive gaming experience starts with a connection that performs when it matters. Users earn Credits through Daily Streaks, Daily Challenges, Gaming Tasks, Z Victory Originals and tournaments. Credits are securely held in each user’s Wallet and can be redeemed through the Rewards section for selected in-game currencies, including PUBG Mobile UC, Free Fire Diamonds, Minecraft Minecoins and Fortnite V-Bucks, subject to catalogue availability and required Credits. Daily, Weekly and Squad Tournaments give players opportunities to compete and earn Credits, while a Leaderboard tracks their competitive progress.
SCHEME TARGETS IMPROVED NUTRITION OF 600,000 ANIMALS OVER TWO YEARS TO BOOST MEAT PRODUCTION LAHORE
SALEEM JADOON
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday launched Phase II of the Livestock Card scheme, expanding interest-free financing for livestock farmers to improve animal nutrition, boost meat production and strengthen the province’s meat export potential. The chief minister formally inaugurated the second phase digitally by swiping a Livestock Card, following the reported success of Phase I, which achieved a 96 per cent recovery rate. A special documentary highlighting the initiatives of the Livestock Department was screened at the ceremony. Provincial Minister for Livestock Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Livestock Ahmad Aziz Tarrar gave a detailed briefing on the scheme. According to the briefing, farmers will receive Rs27,000 per animal through
the Livestock Card, enabling them to purchase wanda (animal feed), silage, mineral mixtures and other essential supplies through interest-free loans. Under Phase II, the government aims to improve the balanced nutrition of 600,000 animals over the next two years to increase meat production. Farmers will receive interest-free loans worth Rs16.2 billion, with the principal amount to be repaid by beneficiaries and the interest
cost borne by the Punjab government. The Livestock Card will also facilitate free animal tagging and anti-footand-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination. Farmers will be able to withdraw 25 per cent of their interest-free loans in cash through ATMs. The briefing revealed that the Livestock Connect portal had directly linked 23,000 farmers with meat exporters. The Punjab government has signed memo-
CDA to Expand Eco-Friendly Electric Bus Service in Islamabad ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
On the directions and vision of Federal Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and under the leadership of Sohail Ashraf, Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA), the CDA continues to expand and improve modern, safe, comfortable, and environment-friendly public transportation facilities in Islamabad through its electric bus service. The initiative aims to provide citizens with reliable, affordable, and convenient transportation across different routes of the federal capital, while promoting sustainable urban mobility and contributing to the reduction of vehicular emissions. Citizens have expressed appreciation for CDA’s electric bus service, acknowledging the convenience and accessibility of modern public transportation facilities available across various routes of Islamabad. The service is facilitating daily commuters, students,
NBP wins sustainable infrastructure initiative of the Year – Pakistan at ABF Awards 2026 KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
employees, and other residents by providing a comfortable and reliable means of reaching their destinations. Public appreciation reflects the importance of efficient and accessible transport services in meeting the everyday mobility needs of the city’s residents. Currently, 160 electric buses are operating across 21 routes, with daily ridership of approximately 150,000 passengers. CDA aims to increase daily ridership to approximately 250,000 passengers by further expanding public transport coverage and encouraging citizens to use environmentally responsible transportation.
TMUC class of 2026 graduates amid global academic leadership in islamabad ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
TMUC Higher Education Group celebrated its prestigious Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony at Serena Hotel, Islamabad, bringing together distinguished national leadership, senior British university officials, international education partners, faculty, parents and graduates in a landmark celebration of academic excellence, global collaboration and student achievement, says a press release. The ceremony was graced by Dr. Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan, President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, as Chief Guest, and hosted by Dr Faisal Mushtaq TI,
randa of understanding (MoUs) with eight major exporters to promote meat exports. Through the Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company (PAMCO), MoUs have also been signed to facilitate meat exports to China, Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and European markets. For the first time in Punjab, the number of women livestock farmers registered under the Livestock Card scheme has risen from 90 to 1,107, according to the briefing. Animal exports from Punjab have increased by 43 per cent, while meat exports have grown by $96 million in one year following the scheme’s introduction. A total of 23,312 Livestock Cards have been prepared for farmers across the province. Under the scheme, 1,739 farmers have conducted more than 70,000 transactions. The briefing further revealed that livestock farmers had spent Rs20 million on mineral mixtures, Rs87 million on silage and Rs892.6 million on wanda (animal feed).
Founder & CEO, TMUC Higher Education Group. The distinguished gathering included Sardar Masood Khan, Former President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and President of CLAS, and Mr. James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan, alongside prominent national and international academic leaders. A defining highlight was the
special participation of Professor Anthony Woodman, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, who specially travelled from London to Islamabad to deliver the keynote address at the graduation ceremony and visit TMUC Higher Education Group campuses. His visit marked a historic milestone as TMUC and the University of Hertfordshire celebrated ten years of strategic academic partnership, reflecting a decade of commitment to internationally recognised British higher education, academic excellence, graduate employability and global learning opportunities for Pakistani students.
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has been recognized with the “Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative of the Year – Pakistan” award at the Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Corporate & Investment Banking Awards 2026, for the Bank’s role in structuring and arranging a PKR 850 million syndicated project finance facility to support the deployment of solar energy systems at cellular tower sites. Presented in Singapore, the award recognizes outstanding performance, innovation and excellence in corporate and investment banking across Asia. NBP was recognized for its advisory, structuring and financing support for Infraelectric (Pvt.) Limited (IFPL), a renewable energy solutions provider. Under the transaction, NBP advised, structured and arranged the PKR 850 million Islamic financing facility for IFPL to support a clean energy and decarbonization initiative involving the installation of solar photovoltaic systems at cellular tower sites.
Connect hear brings access ability careers back to karachi with Standard Chartered Pakistan KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Rotary International District 3,271 advances 11 global grant projects worth US$1.39m KARACHI STAFF REPORT
Rotary International District 3271, covering Sindh and Baluchistan, is supporting 11 Global Grant projects with a combined value of US$1,390,224, addressing critical community needs in healthcare, water and sanitation, education, maternal and child health, nutrition, and sustainable development. Under the vision and leadership of District Governor 2026–27 Shahzad Sabir, the portfolio reflects a commitment to expanding Rotary’s community serv-
ice through international partnerships, locally identified priorities and projects designed to deliver sustainable benefits. District Governor Shahzad Sabir has emphasised the importance of collaborative service, recognising the dedication of Rotary clubs, project teams, international partners and Rotary International in helping translate community needs into practical initiatives. The portfolio demonstrates how collective effort can support stronger healthcare services, improved learning environments, access to essential resources and more resilient communities.
South Asia’s Leading Disability Inclusion Enterprise, ConnectHear, successfully held Access.Ability.Careers to Karachi for the third time, with Standard Chartered Pakistan serving as Platinum Sponsor and supporting the initiative since its inception. The mission was to introduce inclusive employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across Pakistan. The event brought together almost 2000+ Persons with Disabilities from Karachi and neighbouring cities, along with 30+ companies from the financial, telecommunications, and textile sectors. Supported by public and private institutions, including the Department of Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) and SPDPA, the event provided a platform for PWDs to connect with employers, explore career opportunities, and showcase their skills in a professional environment.
Azma accuses political party of spreading propaganda for dollars, touts Punjab’s transport lead LAHORE STAFF REPORT
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Wednesday accused a particular political party of spreading falsehoods through news reports and propaganda campaigns to earn dollars, saying its leaders were enjoying themselves while pushing their own party towards destruction. She said Punjab was leading the country in public transport, including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and green bus services. Those who had previously dismissed such buses as “jangla buses” could no longer overlook their utility and importance, she added. The provincial minister said Punjab did not need to seek or ask for anything from anyone
other than Almighty Allah. However, she said, the province stood ready to extend assistance to any other province requiring support. Expressing hope for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Azma
Bokhari said that, Insha’Allah, corruption and incompetence would be brought to an end, terrorism would be overcome, and a new era of development and prosperity would begin in the province.
AZMA CONDOLES DEMISE OF MARRIYUM AURANGZEB’S MOTHER-IN-LAW Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of the mother-in-law of Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. Extending her heartfelt condolences to Marriyum Aurangzeb and her family, Azma Bokhari prayed for the forgiveness of the departed soul and for her eternal peace. She prayed that Almighty Allah grant the deceased a place in Jannat-ul-Firdous and give the bereaved family the strength and patience to bear this irreparable loss. Azma Bokhari said her heartfelt sympathies were with Marriyum Aurangzeb and her family during this difficult time of grief.
POLICE ARREST 50 AFTER CLASHES FOLLOWING EMERGENCY, GOVERNOR'S RULE IN KP NEWS
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PESHAWAR
staff report
OLICE in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have arrested around 50 people and registered four cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act following clashes with supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province on October 11. Samar Haroon Bilour, adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor on information and public relations, said police had responded to rioting and vandalism in a “calibrated way”. Bilour rejected allegations of live firing by police as “baseless and frivolous”, saying they had been spread by anonymous social media accounts using AI-generated footage. PTI officials said five people were injured in the clashes, with the most serious incident reported in Bara, around
15 kilometres from the provincial capital, Peshawar. PTI Information Secretary Ikram Khatana claimed unidentified people had set fire to a National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) centre in Bara
Mir Raza murder case: Judicial commission to submit probe report to Sindh govt today KARACHI
staff report
A judicial commission formed to probe the murder of young entrepreneur Mir Raza has prepared its report after more than a month of hearings. According to commission sources, the report will be presented to the Sindh government today (Thursday). The sources added that the thorough investigation report will be submitted to the Sindh government on Thursday at 10:00 AM. The judicial commission has also summoned the secretary of home affairs on Thursday. The registrar of the judicial commission will hand over the report to the home secretary. Meanwhile, the head of the judicial commission, Justice Umar Sial, will start hearing cases in Hyderabad. He will continue hearings at the Hyderabad circuit bench until November 7. Earlier, the details of answers given by DIG Amir Farooqi, head of the investigation team in the Mir Raza case, before the judicial commission have emerged. The Mir Raza Judicial Commission asked Amir Farooqi 19 questions regarding the investigation. In his responses, Farooqi said no shortcomings had been found in the previous investigation that could have affected the probe. The commission asked whether he knew that Shabbir Laghari had personally recorded only 10 out of 33 statements. Farooqi replied that the statements recorded by Laghari were part of the investigation file. He said all evidence had been taken into custody in accordance with the law. However, he acknowledged that there had been irregularities at the initial stage regarding the preservation of the body and securing the crime scene.
Security forces kill five terrorists in Balochistan's Washuk QUETTA
staff report
Security forces have killed five terrorists and injured four others during an intelligencebased operation in the Palantak area of Washuk district in Balochistan, according to security sources. The operation was conducted as part of ongoing security actions against Fitna al-Hindustan under Operation Raddul Fitna 3. Security sources said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants killed during the operation. The recovered items included an RPG-7 launcher, five rounds, magazines, five advanced weapons, three mobile phones and two motorcycles. The sources said militant hideouts were targeted with advanced weapons during the operation. The militants killed in the operation were involved in looting local Baloch residents, spreading fear and damaging infrastructure. Security forces have reiterated their commitment to eliminating terrorism in Balochistan, with operations set to continue until the threat is eliminated.
and stormed nearby offices. Bilour said responsibility for the incident would be established through an investigation, including an examination of video footage and witness statements. Zulfikar Bukhari, an aide to Imran
Khan and PTI spokesperson, shared videos on X that he linked to the violence in Bara Bazaar. He described the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule as a coup and warned that the unrest could spread. President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on October 11, suspending the provincial government led by PTI. The federal government cited deteriorating law and order and a surge in militant violence to justify the move. PTI has rejected the decision, calling it a pretext for a political takeover. The suspension of PTI’s only provincial government is the latest setback for former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been in prison since 2023. Khan has faced allegations of inciting riots targeting military installations, corruption and other offences. His wife, three sisters and scores of party activists are also in detention. He denies the allegations and maintains that they are politically motivated.
Farooq Sattar urges govt to revisit economic policies after Karachi family tragedy KARACHI
staff report
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Dr Farooq Sattar on Wednesday expressed grief over the deaths of five members of a family in Karachi, reportedly linked to financial hardship, and called for a serious review of the country’s economic policies. In a statement, Sattar described the incident as a moment of introspection for the government, saying that poverty, hunger and economic distress had once again highlighted the difficulties faced by ordinary citizens. “Since we are ourselves part of the government, this is not merely a time to question others but also to recognise our own responsibilities and take practical steps,” he said. Questioning the country’s economic policymakers, Sattar said that if ordinary citizens were unable to provide two meals a day for their children,
the government needed to seriously reconsider its economic policies. He called for the formulation of people-friendly policies aimed at reducing inflation, creating employment opportunities and providing meaningful relief to low-income and middleclass households. Sattar stressed that the primary purpose of being in government was to serve the public and resolve their problems. He said the government must en-
sure that no citizen was driven to despair by hunger, unemployment or helplessness. “This is not a time merely for expressing sorrow and issuing statements, but for taking practical measures, implementing effective policies and providing immediate assistance to deserving families,” he said. Meanwhile, police recovered a suicide note pointing to financial difficulties and strained family relationships after five members of a family, including a married couple, their two young daughters and the man’s sister, were found dead at a house in Karachi’s Bin Qasim area. The bodies were discovered at a house in a private housing society near Gulshan-e-Hadeed during the night between Monday and Tuesday. The deceased were identified as 30-year-old Shahzaib, a property dealer; his 28-year-old wife, Saba; his 20-year-old sister, Shumaila; and their daughters, five-year-old Aizal and three-year-old Arya.
ISLAMABAD
The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Wednesday rejected a plea filed by Bushra Bibi, wife of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan, seeking suspension of her sevenyear sentence in the £190 million AlQadir Trust case, observing that there were insufficient grounds to interfere with an Islamabad High Court (IHC) order at this stage. “We find no sufficient ground warranting interference with the April 30 Islamabad High Court (IHC) order at this stage,” Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan observed while heading a twomember bench that also included Justice Ali Baqar Najafi. The IHC had declined to suspend Bushra Bibi’s sentence while her appeal against conviction, along with Imran Khan’s, remained pending before it. The FCC expected the high court to make every effort to decide the main appeal expeditiously, ensuring adequate opportunity of hearing to both sides while discouraging unnecessary adjournments. Earlier on Wednesday, the bench had reserved its ruling on Bushra Bibi’s plea, which argued that her status as a woman and her serious medical condition warranted suspension of the sentence. The application cited the first proviso to Section 497(1) of the Code
of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), under which relief may be available in certain non-bailable cases. In its three-page order, the FCC noted that the application for suspension of the sentence had remained pending before the IHC amid successive adjournments sought by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The high court, without examining the merits of the application under Section 426 of the CrPC, had declined relief mainly because the main appeal was already fixed for hearing and the appellant’s counsel was not providing the requisite assistance for its adjudication, the order said. The record showed that the appeal, initially scheduled for April 30, was adjourned to May 7 and subsequently to Oct 5. Bushra Bibi’s counsel had complained that repeated adjournments allegedly sought by NAB had prolonged proceedings on the application for suspension of her sentence. However, the FCC observed that, since the main appeal had already been fixed for hearing, the appropriate course was to ensure its early adjudication rather than conduct a parallel examination of the merits of the sentence-suspension plea. The court also held that the voluminous record and the need for elaborate arguments did not, by themselves, provide sufficient grounds to interfere with the IHC order.
prayer timings FAJR SUNRISE
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Sohail Afridi, senior PTI leaders held together at undisclosed location PESHAWAR
staff report
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and several senior PTI leaders taken into protective custody are being held together at an undisclosed location. Those detained include PTI’s provincial president Junaid Akbar and former KP Assembly speaker Babar Saleem Swati. Afridi was taken into custody after security personnel entered a locked room where he had been staying following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in the province. The PTI leaders were subsequently moved to an undisclosed location, where they are reportedly being kept together. The detentions came after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The federal government has said the measures were necessary because of the worsening security situation and disagreements with the former provincial administration over counterterrorism policy. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry earlier confirmed that Afridi and some members of his cabinet had been taken into preventive custody. He said individuals facing criminal cases would be charged and tried in accordance with the law, while those against whom no cases existed would be released. PTI has rejected the emergency and governor’s rule and has challenged the measures before the Peshawar High Court. The party maintains that the federal government’s move has undermined KP’s electoral mandate and provincial autonomy.
PEMRA bars live coverage of blasts, terror attacks ISLAMABAD
staff report
FCC rejects Bushra Bibi’s plea to suspend £190m case sentence staff report
Thursday, 15 October, 2026
It said Bushra Bibi’s counsel was required to provide full assistance to the high court in hearing the main appeal, while NAB was equally obligated to present its arguments without unnecessary adjournments. The FCC also condoned a 61-day delay in filing the criminal appeal, observing that the explanation offered, particularly Bushra Bibi’s incarceration at Adiala jail, constituted sufficient cause. Bushra Bibi’s criminal appeal was filed under Section 32-A of the National Accountability Ordinance, read with Article 175F(1)(a) of the Constitution. It alleged that Adiala jail authorities had failed to comply with earlier IHC directions to facilitate meetings between her and her counsel. According to the appeal, her counsel was instead allowed to meet Imran Khan, who allegedly disclosed that both he and Bushra Bibi were being unlawfully held in solitary confinement.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has directed all satellite television channels to refrain from broadcasting, rebroadcasting or providing live coverage of incidents involving explosions, blasts, firing and terrorist attacks. In an order dated October 13, the regulator instructed broadcasters to air only verified information provided by the relevant government departments or law enforcement agencies. Television channels were also directed to effectively use timedelay mechanisms and establish independent editorial boards in accordance with PEMRA laws, a 2018 Supreme Court suo motu case and a 2022 Islamabad High Court order. The instructions emphasised the proper implementation of prescribed procedures governing broadcast delays, which allow channels to review content before it goes on air. PEMRA warned that violations would invite legal action under Sections 29-A, 30 and 33 of the PEMRA Ordinance, 2002. The order also referred to a similar directive issued by the regulator in February 2023. The directive comes amid heightened political and security tensions following the federal government’s imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday. The Centre cited what it described as the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. The move followed weeks of tensions between the federal government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after the party announced a long march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. On Tuesday, a protest by PTI workers in Bara tehsil of Khyber district against emergency and governor’s rule turned violent, with participants torching government buildings and clashing with riot police.
PTI terms NA's endorsement of emergency in KP an 'assault on democracy' ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has strongly condemned the National Assembly’s resolution endorsing the undemocratic, unconstitutional and unlawful act of imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the move as an assault on the provincial government’s public mandate under a false pretext of counterterrorism. PTI CIS declared that PTI would resist the move through all peaceful and constitutional means and would not accept it under any circumstances. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Waqas said the decision was politically motivated and would neither be accepted by the people of KP nor deter PTI from pursuing its constitutional and democratic struggle. He said that the beneficiaries of electoral fraud in the February 8, 2024 general elections were once again providing political cover for undemocratic, unconstitutional and outdated colonial-era measures to cling to power.
He said that the imposed parties were fully aware that regaining public support had become an increasingly difficult challenge, prompting them to resort to measures that undermine democratic norms and the people’s electoral mandate. “The steps taken so far in the name of imposing emergency and governor’s rule have revealed no clear policy to combat terrorism. Instead, all measures and attempts appear aimed at dismantling PTI’s elected government. The people of KP will not surrender their constitutional rights or democratic mandate under any circumstances,” he said. PTI CIS said that the PPP and PML-N
once again backed measures that undermine representative democracy, adding that they were exploiting their stolen parliamentary majority to endorse a decision with farreaching implications for the federation and democratic governance. He said the National Assembly’s resolution could neither override the political will of the people nor legitimise what the PTI considers unlawful interference in KP’s elected government. Warning against using security concerns as a pretext to dismantle an elected provincial administration or deprive citizens of their democratic rights, Waqas questioned why similar measures had not first been considered in Balochistan, where security challenges have also persisted, if the stated objective was genuinely to address terrorism rather than target a particular province’s elected government. Lashing out at Bilawal for blaming the PTI and KP government, Waqas said the PPP leadership should reflect on its own political and administrative record in Sindh before lecturing others on governance and democracy. He questioned Bilawal’s defence of the emergency and urged him to explain how
suspending an elected government would resolve the province’s longstanding security challenges. Waqas also invoked the historical record of the PPP, recalling the political crisis surrounding the refusal to transfer power to the Awami League following the 1970 general election and the subsequent tragedy of the fall of Dhaka in 1971. He said political leaders must learn from history rather than repeat decisions that deepen public alienation and weaken democratic institutions. He stated that democracy could not be reduced to parliamentary arithmetic or the interests of established political families. “Those who fear the people’s verdict are trying to weaken the very institutions that give democracy its legitimacy. PTI cannot be eliminated through administrative orders, political manoeuvring or the use of state power,” he said. PTI CIS questioned whether the extraordinary measures announced for KP would deliver a practical plan to eliminate terrorism, protect civilians and strengthen law enforcement. He stated that, instead of demonstrating a transparent and effective security strategy,
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authorities had focused on actions against PTI workers, party officeholders and elected representatives, alongside the removal of plaques identifying development projects completed under the party’s provincial administration. Waqas also expressed concern over repeated raids on homes, detentions and harassment of party workers. He demanded the immediate release of all workers and leaders including CM KP Sohail Afridi and called upon law-enforcement agencies to respect citizens’ fundamental rights and the sanctity of their homes. Condemning the use of force against peaceful protesters, Waqas urged the KP police and other law-enforcement personnel to exercise maximum restraint, avoid unnecessary confrontation, and allow citizens to exercise their constitutional and democratic right to peaceful protest without fear, intimidation or harassment. He said that the government must recognise the seriousness of the situation before political confrontation further damages public confidence and relations between the federation and the province.