TruMP l aNdS IN BeIjINg SeekINg Trade gaINS, ChINa MarkeT aCCeSS
g TRUMP TO URGE XI FOR GREATER ACCESS TO CHINESE MARKETS
DURING BEIJING SUMMIT
g ELON MUSK, NVIDIA CHIEF JOIN US DELEGATION AMID AI AND TECH TRADE TENSIONS
g IRAN CONFLICT, TAIWAN ARMS SALES AND SEMICONDUCTOR CURBS TO DOMINATE HIGH-STAKES TALKS
g WA SHINGTON AND BEIJING SEEK TO PRESERVE FRAGILE TARIFF AND RARE EARTH TRUCE
ing the agenda Trump’s meetings in Beijing are expected to include discussions on tariffs semiconductor restrictions artificial intelligence cooperation and expanded US exports including Boeing aircraft agricultural products and energy supplies Beijing, meanwhile, is seeking relief from American restrictions on chipmaking equipment and advanced semiconductor exports
Iran conflict tensions over Taiwan and unresolved trade disputes dominat-
ISLAMABAD a s a D n i z a M i
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said the federal government and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration were now “on the same page” in the fight against terrorism acknowledging improved coordination between Islamabad the province and the armed forces
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Asif said the KP government was now “standing firmly with the Centre and the armed forces against terrorism” adding that national unity against militancy was a positive development The minister s remarks came in response to an emotional speech by Noor Alam Khan, who criticised both the federal and provincial governments over the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the suffering of residents affected by terrorist violence Asif maintained that terrorism was a national issue requiring joint efforts from all provinces not just the Centre, while highlighting the sacrifices made by security personnel in recent attacks, including the
minister
Pakistan
extensive negotiations with the Afghan Taliban government through multiple channels, including meetings in Kabul, Turkiye and Qatar, but without tangible results “We pleaded with them to stop supporting terrorists and dismantle their camps but no solution emerged he said adding that Afghan authorities were unwilling to provide written guarantees that Pakistani soil would not be targeted from across
Constitutional cour t lif ts ban on commercial conversion of residential plots in
Gov t to hand over PIA to new owners on May 25 officials say
Pakistan’s auto sales jump 107% in April as lower financing costs drive demand
g
last year showing growth of 49%
The report stated that recovery in the mid-sized
S
s s a i d p r e p a r a t i o n s l i n k e d t o t h e t r a n s f e r
w n e r s h i p h a d b e e n f i n a l i s e d , w h i l e t h e a i rl i n e ’s b o a r d h a d a l s o c o m p l e t e d i t s f i n a l p h a s e i n a n o ff i c i a l c a p a c i t y O ff i c i a l s a d d e d t h a t P I A’s f i n a n c i a l p o s i t i o n h a d i m p r o v e d a f t e r r e s t o r a t i o n o f r o u t e s t o E u r o p e a n d t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m w h i c h h e l p e d s t r e n g t h e n i n v e s t o r c o n f i d e n c e d u r i n g t h e p r i v a t i s a t i o n p r o c e s s T h e i n c o m i n g m a n a g e m e n t i s a l s o e x p e c t e d t o p u r s u e p l a n s t o e x p a n d t h e a i r l i n e ’s f l e e t s i z e E a r l i e r t h i s m o n t h , t h e A r i f H a b i b - l e d c o n s o rt i u m e s t a b l i s h e d a s p e c i a l p u r p o s e v e
Pakistan s auto sector sustained strong growth momentum in April 2026, with passenger car and light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales surging more than 100% year-onyear as lower financing rates stable vehicle prices and improving economic conditions continued to support consumer demand according to AKD Research citing data from Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association Passenger car and LCV sales rose 107% year-on-year to 22,000 units during April, led mainly by strong growth in entry-level vehicles AKD Research attributed the increase to lower financing rates stable car prices improving household incomes and financing and discount offers introduced by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
On a cumulative basis, passenger car and LCV sales reached 166,000 units during the first 10 months of FY2025-26, compared to 111,500 units in the same period
Pakistan, IMF begin budget talks with focus on fiscal targets, shift from
Trump lands in Beijing seeking trade gains, China market access
at easing trade and investment tensions between the two countries They have also said China is expected to announce purchases linked to Boeing aircraft as well as American agricultural and energy products Beijing, for its part, wants Washington to ease restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductors China has also raised concerns over a bill intended to keep critical chip-making equipment out of the country The two sides are also considering extending a truce related to China s export curbs on rare earths at the summit However Chinese customs data shows that Beijing is still restricting shipments of the materials, which are important for defence and manufacturing The summit may also include discussion of the Iran war The report said China maintains ties with Iran
and is a major buyer of Iranian oil Trump said on Tuesday however that he did not think he would need China s help to end the conflict even as hopes for a durable peace agreement weakened and Tehran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz
Kim said neither side appeared to have strong reasons to make early concessions He said the United States was unlikely to relax restrictions on key technologies such as semiconductors
He added that China, supported by what he described as relatively resilient growth and trade performance, was under less pressure to make significant compromises The meeting in South Korea comes as both governments prepare for high-level engagement in Beijing with trade technology controls rare earth exports and the Iran conflict among the issues expected to shape the discussions US and Chinese officials hold talks in S outh Korea before Trump
MI L L AT Tractors is known for its tractors, though it makes other agricultural machinery, including forklifts generators and implements
It has played a major role in the Green Revolution in Pakistan which relied on mechanization as a major pillar
Now it is going to enter what might be called the opposite end of the automotive market From the huge rugged tractors it is going into the manufacture of e-bikes, and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese company to this effect Millat Tractors Limited will assemble manufacture and market e-bikes in partnership with what it describes as a major Chinese manufacturer of e-bikes
This is being done through one of Millat’s subsidiaries, not the main company, which provides a certain degree of insulation
This might seem a somewhat surprising decision for a tractor maker but there are certain factors in its favour the first being that it has a number of non-tractor products and even its generators have allowed a crossover out of agricultural equipment The company therefore, does not have the tunnel vision its record might lead some to conclude It also has experience in foreign collaboration, having a long and successful collaboration with Massey-Ferguson, whose tractors they make This has also given them much experience in vehicle financing because most of its sales were via the Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan against land ownership documents This is particularly relevant now because the government aims to make riders convert to e-bikes through obtaining bank credit There are a number of schemes proposed by the government, but so far the banks ratio of approvals is low Millat Tractors may find that its past institutional experience may be useful for other e-bike makers usually have
IT is often said that war destroys lives But what is less acknowledged is that war destroys the very systems that sustain life Beyond human casualties, and ruined cities, there exists a quieter form of violence- one inflicted upon the Earth itself What we are witnessing across history and in contemporary conflicts is not merely environmental destruction It is imperial ecocide a deliberate and systemic targeting of nature as an instrument of domination Although ecocide gained recognition during the Vietnam War, the practice itself is far older From colonial conquests to modern military interventions, powerful states have consistently treated land water and ecosystems not as living systems to be protected but as assets to be controlled exploited and when necessary destroyed This destruction is not accidental it is strategic, embedded within broader systems of power
In today s geopolitical landscape, imperial ecocide operates through carefully constructed narratives that shift according to political need These narratives form part of a broader system of deception On one hand imperial states construct an image of environmental responsibility presenting themselves as committed to sustainability and global climate governance On the other hand, when economic and geopolitical interests demand it, environmental harm is minimized, reframed, or openly denied Climate change is reduced to political debate rather than recognized as ecological urgency while fossil fuel interests remain protected
Consider the rhetoric of Donald Trump who in his September 2025 address to the United Nations General Assembly, described climate change as the “greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world ” Green energy was dismissed as a “scam” and a “joke” while carbon policies were labelled a “hoax ” Such statements do not function as simple opinions; they operate as narrative power shape public perception normalize inaction and deflect accountability even as the USA remains among the largest historical contributors to greenhouse gas emissions
When the priorities of power shift towards extraction or control this deception deepens Wars are rarely presented as struggles over resources or control; they are framed through the language of liberation democracy and security Yet beneath these narratives lie enduring interests in oil, territory, and geopolitical influence
From Iraq to Libya, Afghanistan to Syria, the pattern remains consistent The language evolves, but the objective does not In these conflicts the environment is not merely caught in the crossfire; it is central to the conflict itself even when it is deliberately hidden from view For imperial power, deception of war motives is only beginning Once conflict begins, the environment is actively weaponized Agricultural production is disrupted water infrastructure is targeted and air
B e y o n d m i l i t a r y s t r e n g t h
Understanding power in the 21st centur y
quality is degraded through toxic emissions, not as unintended consequences but as calculated strategies breaking communities dismantling livelihoods and eroding resilience
We see this clearly in multiple regions In Gaza the destruction of olive groves and farmed land by the Israeli military undermines both survival and cultural identity In Yemen, US targeting of water infrastructure deepens humanitarian crises The strikes on critical oil infrastructure in Iran which led to massive fires and toxic emissions further demonstrate how environmental harm translates directly into long-term public health and ecological disasters What falls from the sky in such moments is not just ash or rain; it is the material evidence of power exercised through destruction Yet perhaps the most enduring feature of imperial ecocide is not destruction alone but the way it is made invisible Powerful states control how environmental harm is named
Here , the real question is not whether ecocide exists, but whether the global order is willing to confront the
that produce it Imperial ecocide is not an accident of
And until it is challeng ed, the
weaponiz ed and victimiz ed in the
Ubauro drowns in neglect
Tsile defence system These systems are designed to stop incoming attacks and they have been successful in many cases However they are not perfect Because Iran has fired so many missiles at once, some of them have managed to get through and hit their targets This has challenged the idea that such systems can fully protect against every threat This does not mean the defence systems have failed completely It simply shows that in today s warfare, even the best technology can be pushed to its limits When attacks come in large numbers and with advanced methods, it becomes very hard to stop every single one The war has also raised questions about the position of the USA in the world For a long time America has seen itself as the leading superpower, able to influence events anywhere But this conflict has shown that even with all its strength, it cannot always achieve quick and clear results
Some people now argue that the idea of superpower status does not hold the same meaning today It is still very powerful but power in today s world is not just about military strength It is also about how well a country can adapt, respond to, and handle, different kinds of challenges Iran has used this situation to its advantage Instead of trying to match the USA in every area it has focused on strategies that create pressure in different ways By using missiles regional connections and its geography the Middle East region dynamics have made the conflict more difficult for its opponent This shows how smaller or less powerful countries can still challenge stronger ones in modern times At the same time it would not be correct to say that American power has completely fallen
The US military still has a very strong force and
continues to carry out powerful strikes However the fact that it has not been able to end the conflict quickly shows that things have changed compared to the past In many ways, this war reflects a shift in the global system The time when one country could dominate without challenge is no longer as clear as it once was Today’s world is more complex and power is more spread out In the end this conflict is not just about fighting It is also about how people understand power and strength The fact that Iranian missiles are still reaching targets despite systems like Iron Dome, and that the war is still ongoing, shows that modern wars are not easy to win As the situation continues one thing is certain This is not just a regional issue It is part of a larger change in the world where strength is no longer only about force, but also about patience, strategy, and the ability to keep going under pressure
The author can be reached at mbkh0107@gamil com
The US-Iran war is not just a regional issue . It is par t of a larg er chang e in the world, where strength is no long er only about force , but also about patience , strategy, and the ability to keep going under pressure
MuhaMMad Bilal KhaN
NosheeN JahaN
TH E ongoing diplomatic effort led by Pakistan to mediate between the USA and Iran may appear, at first glance, to be a straightforward negotiation between two adversaries Yet beneath this seemingly simple framework lies a deeply entangled geopolitical battlefield where multiple actors conflicting agendas, and irreconcilable objectives converge What is unfolding is not merely a bilateral dispute but a sprawling, multi-theatre confrontation that extends far beyond Washington and Tehran making any meaningful negotiation extraordinarily complex if not nearly impossible
At the heart of this crisis is a fundamental misunderstanding: the assumption that the war is confined to the USA and Iran In reality, the conflict has evolved into a broader regional and ideological struggle involving Israel the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Turkey Cyprus Hezbollah in Lebanon and multiple active theatres including Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, and Iraq Each of these actors has its own stakes, fears, and strategic objectives, transforming the conflict into a geopolitical web that defies simple resolution
Pakistan s role as mediator therefore is not just challenging it is unprecedented in its complexity Islamabad is not merely facilitating dialogue between two nations; it is attempting to reconcile a spectrum of actors whose interests often directly contradict one another Even if the USA and Iran were to reach some form of agreement the presence of Israel as an independent and highly assertive military actor complicates the equation significantly
Recent statements from senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscore this dilemma The USA has indicated that Israel retains the autonomy to act militarily against Iran regardless of any agreement reached between Washington and Tehran This implies that even a successful US-Iran deal could be rendered meaningless if Israel continues hostilities a scenario that is not only plausible but likely, given Israel’s stated security concerns
The Iranian response to the US 15-point proposal further highlights the widening gap between the two sides While Iran acknowledged receipt of the proposal, it outright rejected its core components and introduced additional demands that significantly raised the stakes Among these is a call for the ces-
Pakistan’s strategic role in an expanding Iran conflict
sation of hostilities between Israel and multiple regional actors, including Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq This effectively expands the scope of negotiations beyond USIran relations into a broader regional ceasefire framework one that Israel has shown little willingness to accept Compounding this complexity is Iran s demand for international recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint This demand is not merely symbolic; it challenges the existing international maritime order and threatens the economic interests of numerous nations including the USA and its allies Accepting such a demand would fundamentally alter the balance of power in the region, making it a non-starter for many stakeholders Meanwhile, the GCC countries have entered the equation with their own set of demands including compensation for war-related damages and assurances against future Iranian aggression Their involvement adds yet another layer to an already intricate negotiation process, as their security concerns and economic interests must now be factored into any potential agreement Within Iran itself there appears to be little appetite for compromise The prevailing sentiment among its leadership is one of defiance rather than negotiation Tehran has made it clear that it does not intend to end the war under external pressure or imposed timelines Instead, it seeks to dictate the terms timing and conditions of any resolution positioning itself as the primary arbiter of the conflict s outcome
On the battlefield, the situation continues to escalate Reports indicate that Iran has launched attacks on US military bases in Saudi Arabia resulting in casualties and forcing evacuations Simultaneously Iran has targeted critical infrastructure within Israel including nuclear facilities oil refineries in Haifa, and potentially water desalination plants moves aimed at crippling Israel s energy and water supply systems
Adding to the gravity of the situation are the assessments of military analysts such as Scott Ritter a former US serviceman with extensive experience in conflict zones Ritter has issued stark warnings about the vulnerability of US forces in the region, suggesting that many US bases are no longer secure and that casualties may be significantly underre-
This stance directly conflicts with the objectives of the USA, which initially entered the conflict with four key demands influenced heavily by Israeli strategic priorities: the surrender of enriched uranium stockpiles the dismantling of Iran’s missile programme the destruction of its military manufacturing infrastructure and the cessation of support for regional proxy groups Iran has categorically rejected these demands viewing them as infringements on its sovereignty and security
PakistanÊs mediation effort, therefore, represents both a formidable challenge and a critical opportunity. Success will
ported He argues that modern warfare as demonstrated by Iran has rendered traditional military assets like aircraft carriers increasingly ineffective particularly against advanced drone and missile systems Ritter s controversial remarks go even further, advocating for extreme measures against Israel’s military and nuclear infrastructure statements that while
NARROWING GOALS: Early in the war Trump suggested the US wanted to destroy Iran s ballistic missile program end its support for regional proxies and shut down its nuclear facilities so that it can never develop a bomb But 10 weeks in, negotiations have focused on uranium – specifically its enrichment to weapons-grade levels – and reopening the Strait of Hormuz
The narrowing of goals has been visible in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s own public statements In a February speech in Jerusalem, ahead of the Iran war, he laid out five conditions for an acceptable deal: removal of all enriched uranium dismantling of enrichment capabilities addressing ballistic missiles dismantling Iran s regional proxy network and robust nuclear inspections
By last week, in a video address before a meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet, he narrowed that list to one “The most important objective is the removal of enriched material from Iran – all of the enriched material – and the dismantling of Iran s enrichment capabilities he said with no mention of ballistic missiles or support for proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in Gaza
One source familiar with the discussions said that Israel understands the missiles and the proxies “are probably off the table ” as they do not appear to be included in early diplomatic drafts and that is why Netanyahu is prioritizing uranium as the most immediate threat
The prime minister relies on his direct communications with Trump, one of the Israeli sources said, as he does not fully trust Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and the president s son-in-law Jared Kushner who have been leading negotiations with Iran Netanyahu has been piecing together backchannel diplomacy with Iran through intelligence gathered from Pakistan, Qatar and Iran
national security adviser Meir Ben Shabbat wrote over the weekend in Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon that any agreement must avoid allowing the regime to recover pointing instead to Trump s recent remark that perhaps we are better off with no deal at all” as a preferable outcome to an agreement that doesn’t meet Israel’s objectives
The Israeli security establishment is specifically concerned about an interim deal that would extend the ceasefire reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease economic pressure on Iran without touching the nuclear file altogether Iran has insisted that a preliminary agreement cover only sanctions relief and the strait with the nuclear matter being relegated to later stages
‘WE WILL BE HAPPY IF THERE WILL BE NO DEAL’: A senior Israeli official told CNN that Israel remains on high alert for a breakdown in talks “Our hand is on the pulse We will be happy if there will be no deal we will be happy if the siege on Hormuz continues and we will be happy if Iran gets a few more strikes he said acknowledging the decision ultimately lies with Trump Escalation, he noted, is a realistic scenario if the Iranians continue to play and drag negotiations ” Another source familiar with the discussions said the US and Israel have continued to coordinate on potential military plans in Iran including strikes on energy facilities and infrastructure as well as targeted killings of Iranian leadership, should talks fail The chair of the Israeli parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Boaz Bismuth reflected the
the future of Tehran’s nuclear program, and Israel is preparing for the possibility that the fighting resumes But the Trump administration has still pushed for a diplomatic path forward seemingly unwilling to restart a conflict that has sent gas prices in the US soaring
“There is real concern that Trump will reach a bad deal Israel is trying to influence it as much as it can ” another Israeli official told CNN But Netanyahu is cautious of how much pressure to exert wary of being perceived as leading Trump back to war The White House told CNN that Witkoff and Kushner have “the total confidence” of Trump, pointing to what it described as a “record of successes ” including ending the war in Gaza Israeli officials fear that lifting economic pressure – even partially – could stabilize the Iranian regime at a moment of weakness Netanyahu s former
Judges Resign; Principles Do Not
nimity momentum never crystallised
The state, for its part, responded not with panic but with procedural continuity The Judicial Commission meeting proceeded despite the demonstrations By ensuring that appointments continued uninterrupted the government deprived the movement of its most immediate leverage
What the movement needed at this juncture was not louder voices on the street but quieter resolve on the bench Judges who would remain, resist, and force the state to reckon with principled opposition from within Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah were precisely those judges
They did not remain
Both men had cultivated over years of careful jurisprudence reputations for constitutional seriousness and institutional courage Within bar associations and legal academia, their names had come to represent something beyond personal distinction, the possibility that the judiciary could police its own boundaries Many lawyers believed that even if street protests failed these two judges would hold the line inside the court
That belief proved catastrophically misplaced
When both justices resigned, the legal community s reaction shifted rapidly from shock to a deeper, more corrosive disillusionment The resignations were framed by the judges themselves and their sympathisers as acts of principle as protests against an unconstitutional assault on judicial independence That framing deserves scrutiny
on which side of that line these departures fall
The damage extended beyond the immediate strategic blow For years sections of Pakistan’s legal community had invested considerable moral capital in both judges Bar associations had passed resolutions in their support Junior advocates had pointed to their judgments as evidence that the superior judiciary still possessed a conscience
That investment was not repaid
The lawyers who marched to Islamabad who faced police barricades and political ridicule were left to confront an uncomfortable truth: the figures they believed were holding the fort had quietly slipped out of it
Movements require credible symbols of resistance
When those symbols resign, the movement s own credibility contracts with them
The protests should not be dismissed as irrelevant They revealed genuine anxieties within sections of the bar about institutional autonomy They exposed widening discomfort over the balance between constitutional procedure and political power
And they surfaced a question that remains unresolved at the heart of the Pakistani state: who ultimately safeguards the independence of constitutional institutions?
The answer it turns out is not judges who resign when the pressure becomes unbearable It is not legal fraternities whose unity fractures under political com-
The
lawyers
as a direct assault on judicial independence Others viewed them as controversial but constitutionally permissible Some openly joined the protests; others privately questioned whether the movement had become entangled in opposition party politics and establishment rivalries Without una-
Resignation however principled it appears is ultimately an act of abandonment It removes the resigning judge from the very institution they claim to be defending The cases requiring courageous adjudication did not disappear The litigants who needed principled judges did not cease to exist What the resignations achieved in practical terms was the removal of the two most capable internal dissenters at the moment dissent was most needed
There is a meaningful difference between martyrdom and abdication History will struggle to determine
the movement could not survive
Yet amid that institutional retreat, the final burden of resistance fell upon the last man standing, the figure about whom few now dare to speak dismissively, because he emerged not simply as a dissenter but as the enduring symbol
The Writer is based in Peshawar Email: syedhamidjamal@gmail com
Ghana to evac uate 300 citizens from S outh Afric a af ter anti-migrant incidents
Engro
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T inDrive a global mobility and urban services platform recently launched a disruptive campaign that challenged traditional Mother s Day norms By briefly “cancelling” the holiday across major cities the platform urged Pakistanis to move beyond social media posts and expensive gifts focusing instead on alleviating the daily mental load and unspoken longings of mothers through tangible actions The campaign kicked off with billboards initially stunning passersby with the bold message that Mother s Day was being cancelled This provocative narrative quickly transitioned to reveal inDrive s true intent of replacing a day of hollow words with a day of actual service The campaign demonstrated how the inDrive SuperApp ecosystem spanning rides groceries and courier serves as a practical tool for children to step in and handle the everyday tasks their mothers usually manage alone "We decided to take a different approach because the typical Mother s Day celebration has become too much about talking and not enough about doing," stated Awais Saeed, Country Manager, inDrive Pakistan “Mothers bear an immense mental and physical burden often managing a complex web of family needs and household responsibilities single-handedly We wanted to remind people that real love is shown by taking those tasks off her plate ”
CM MAryAM UnvEiLS PUnjAb-wiDE MEGA DEvELOPMEnT PUSh, wArnS OffiCiALS AGAinST ‘EyEwASh’
Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday approved the
Patriotism and ‘Marka-e -Haq’ to be integrated into education curriculum: Azma Bokhari
A key meeting of the Information Steering Committee was held under the chairpersonship of Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari where important decisions were taken under the National Action Plan to promote national cohesion and ensure law and order The meeting was attended by Secretary Information Tahir Raza Hamdani Additional Secretary Home Maham Asif Deputy Secretary Finance Shehzad Hotiana Director Law Shahid Imtiaz, and other relevant officials It was decided that to instill a spirit of patriotism among the younger generation nationalism will be incorporated into the academic curriculum as well as morning assemblies The committee also agreed to include special content on “Marka-e-Haq” and patriotism in the syllabus
On this occasion, the Provincial Minister directed that programs related to Marka-e-Haq and national unity should be implemented in private educational institutions with the same enthusiasm as in public institutions Participants also requested the DG ISPR to continue visits to educational institutions for the intellectual and ideological guidance of students
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T A ceremony was held at the School of Politics and International Relations to award scholarships to 47 students of Quaid-i-Azam University under Phase III of the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship Program The initiative reflects the deeprooted friendship and growing educational cooperation between Pakistan and China, further strengthening the spirit of the longstanding iron brotherhood” between the two countries Mr Chen Peng Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Pakistan along with Prof Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal Vice Chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University distributed scholarships among the students Addressing the ceremony, the Cultural Counselor expressed his pleasure in visiting Quaid-i-Azam University, especially as Pakistan and China celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations He reaffirmed that despite changing global dynamics the longstanding friendship between the two countries remains strong and unwavering inDrive sparks national conversation by ‘cancelling’ Mother’s Day
Mobilink bank launches bibi app; advances women’s digital inclusion and social impact
To strengthen the national narrative, it was decided that films focusing on Marka-e-Haq and national unity will be produced under the Film Fund Additionally a special drama based on the life and sacrifices of Shaheed Liaquat
47 QAU students awarded Chinese Ambassador Scholarships
will be presented under the auspices of Alhamra Arts Council In view of the upcoming Muharram-ul-Haram, the Provincial Minister directed authorities to intensify actions against those spreading hate content She announced that the Information Department and Home Department will jointly establish a special monitoring cell to keep strict vigilance over social media Azma Bokhari clearly stated that no form of provocation or hate speech will be tolerated during Muharram Elements spreading mischief on social media will be immediately identified and dealt with through strict legal action The special cell will also ensure timely dissemination of accurate information to curb rumors
At the conclusion of the meeting, approval was also granted to launch a large-scale public awareness campaign across the province to promote national unity and harmony
PAKISTAN ENTERS DIGITAL ERA AS DAR LAUNCHES
t
PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja on Wednesday claimed that jailed PTI founder Imran Khan had lost vision in one eye due to alleged torture in prison and was facing serious health risks while in custody
Speaking to reporters outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad, Raja alleged that Khan had spent 1,000 days behind bars and was being denied basic constitutional and legal rights The PTI leader ’s remarks came days after Khan received a fourth intravitreal eye injection at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on April 28 as part of ongoing treatment for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a serious eye condition affecting blood flow in the retina According to a medical report sub-
mitted to the Supreme Court by Khan’s counsel and court-appointed amicus curiae Salman Safdar the condition is commonly linked to cardiovascular complications, including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease Raja further alleged that meetings between Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were being restricted despite court orders claiming that even close
family members, including Khan’s sisters were not being allowed access due to his deteriorating health He also accused authorities of blocking signatures on legal documents and selectively permitting meetings with the former premier The PTI secretary general alleged that Bushra Bibi was facing “false cases”, including Toshakhana-related references and criticised delays in hearings on petitions filed before the Supreme Court Claiming that all legal avenues had been exhausted, Raja said the party would now take its case to the people of Pakistan” Referring to the broader political climate he said the country was facing economic decline and worsening security conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while alleging that the judiciary had been weakened through punitive transfers of judges
Punjab CM Office rejects RTI requests for details on Maryam's tours, fleet and jet acquisition
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
The Punjab Chief Minister ’s Office has turned down requests filed under the right to information law seeking details about the vehicles used by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, her foreign travel and a luxury aircraft acquired by the provincial government The requests were submitted by lawyer Abdullah Malik before the Punjab Public Information Commission (PIC) with one application filed in July last year and another in February this year The right to information is protected under Article 19-A of the Constitution which provides citizens access to information held by public bodies In his July application Malik sought information on expenditure under the
heads of fuel vehicle maintenance and tours, including international visits He also asked for the total number of vehicles in the chief minister ’s use along with their make model and cost
The lawyer further requested details of spending on any helicopter or aircraft used by the chief minister including total mileage of travel He also asked for the total number of social media team members at the CM House and their salaries
In the same application Malik sought to know whether approval for the chief minister s foreign tours had been obtained from the Ministry of Finance, how many officials accompanied her on her Japan visit and what expenses were incurred on that trip
In a separate application filed in February he asked for details regarding
a G500 jet The Gulfstream 19-seater aircraft is estimated to be worth between $38 million and $42m Maryam has faced criticism over the Punjab government s purchase of the plane
The Punjab administration had initially not publicly disclosed details of the aircraft’s acquisition, but later said it was part of a proposed airline project
took
on Monday near an important
post on the Punjab-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border in Jand around 70 kilometres from Attock A
shepherd, identified as Liaqat, was grazing his goats in the area when he spotted a man he considered suspicious Witnesses said Liaqat approached the individual after noticing unusual behaviour
As he moved closer the suspect blew himself up killing Liaqat in the process A day earlier both the president and the prime minister had paid tribute to Liaqat in separate statements, praising his action and sacrifice Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Liaqat acting as a responsible citizen stopped the terrorist and asked him for identification after which the attacker
detonated himself leading to the shepherd’s martyrdom "Such brave and fearless citizens are the true symbol of the national resolve against terrorism Shaheed Liaqat s sacrifice is a guiding light for every individual of the nation," the prime minister said President Zardari also praised Liaqat’s conduct saying citizens like him reflected the country s resilience patriotism and public awareness in the struggle against militancy The entire nation stands united with its security forces and law enforcement agencies for the elimination of the scourge of terrorism The war against terrorism resulting from external support will continue " the president said He also described brave citizens such
as Liaqat as a shining example of national resilience patriotism and collective awareness in the fight against terrorism
C E: The decision to confer Sitara-i-Shujaat formally recognises Liaqat’s role in confronting the suspected bomber before the blast The award was approved after the prime minister recommended it to the president according to PTV The reports said the blast occurred near a sensitive security point along the inter-provincial boundary, where Liaqat s intervention came moments before the suspect detonated himself The official tributes from the country’s top leadership framed his action as an example of civilian courage in the face of a terrorist threat
ISLAMABAD