g PREMIER SHEHBAZ SAYS REGIONAL SITUATION HAD SHARPLY PUSHED UP OIL PRICES, PUSHING GOVT TO PROVIDE RS128B IN RELIEF TO PUBLIC
g REFERRING TO IMF PROGRAMME, PM SAYS GOVT HAD SOUGHT TO STAY COMMITTED TO IT DESPITE MULTIPLE CHALLENGES
g TERMS RESOURCES FOR DEFENCE IN BUDGET A PRIORITY, SAYING ADDITIONAL ALLOCATIONS NEEDED TO CONFRONT TERRORISM
The
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performance of students in a nationwide skills competency test directing a comprehensive review of information technology education in Pakistani universities along with a third-party audit of IT education and training programmes being offered across the country Chairing a high-level meeting on higher education in the IT sector the prime minister said IT education and t
e aligned with international market demands and emerging technologies, according to a Prime Minister ’s Office (PMO) news release Young people must be equipped with skills that meet global industry requirements, the prime minister said,
adding that IT education in most universities was unfortunately not aligned with contemporary technological needs
The meeting was briefed on the results of the National Skills Competency Test recently conducted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to evaluate the capabilities of IT graduates and assess whether university curricula were producing industry-relevant skills
According to the briefing 33 038 students from 190 higher education institutions across the country participated in the test, which was conducted under strict monitoring and transparent procedures at designated centres nationwide the PMO said
The results highlighted significant gaps in students competencies Only
RAWALPINDI/MUZAFFARABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Pakistan Army said on Wednesday that an Mi-17 helicopter of Army Aviation crashed in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, killing all personnel on board according to the military’s media wing No survivors were reported after an Mi-17 helicopter of Pakistan Army Aviation crashed near Muzaffarabad during take-off due to a technical fault, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement The ISPR confirmed that the aircraft went down during take-off “due to a technical fault ” adding that all personnel on board embraced shahadat (martyrdom) It did not specify the number of personnel aboard but stated there were no survivors Rescue and recovery teams immediately reached the crash site, while a board of inquiry has been ordered to determine the exact technical cause of the accident the military’s media wing added “A board of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact technical cause of the accident the ISPR said Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with all ranks of the Pakistan Army, expressed deep grief over the tragic loss of precious lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families ” the statement added The Mi-17 transport helicopter has been part of Pakistan Army Aviation since the late 1990s and is widely regarded as a reliable utility aircraft used
for transport, logistics and operational support It is typically crewed by three personnel and can carry up to 24 troops or four tonnes of cargo Over the years the United States has also assisted in refurbishing and overhauling 22 Mi-17 helicopters in Pakistan s fleet
E R C R A S H E S: In September last year, an Army aviation helicopter crashed in Gilgit-Baltistan killing all five personnel on board In August 2025 a government helicopter carrying relief supplies to flood-hit Bajaur crashed due to bad weather, killing all five occupants In September 2024, six people were killed in another crash attributed to engine failure in northwestern Pakistan The second half of 2022 saw two separate helicopter crashes On August 2 the wreckage of a Pakistan Army helicopter was found in Balochistan s Lasbela district a day after it went missing, with all six personnel on board, including Commander 12 Corps Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ali, embracing martyrdom The following month six Army personnel including two majors were martyred when a helicopter crashed during a mission near Khost in Balochistan s Harnai district
In December 2021, two pilots were killed when an Army aviation helicopter crashed at Siachen in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Ghanche district
ISLAMABAD
Trelations As we celebrate this occasion, I reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening this important partnership for the benefit of our peoples and for peace stability and prosperity in our region and beyond he said adding that he hoped the bonds of friendship between the two countries would grow stronger in the years ahead
Earlier, Russian Ambassador Extraordinary
LSE SPAC-I approves merger plan with Ningbo Green Light Energy
The government has increased the target size of its 10year variable rental rate (VRR) Government of Pakistan hybrid sukuk auction to Rs200 billion from Rs50 billion, according to a notice issued by the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) following advice from the Debt Management Office
on the front The company has also been directed to publicise the product s change from the medicated or drug category to the food category through advertisements in widely circulated English and Urdu newspapers across Pakistan
until the company
directions
Pakistan: From peace mediation to the Hear t of FIFA 2026
The 2026 World Cup begins today
H E N a journalist recently asked President Donald Trump whether Iranian players and officials would be granted visas to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 the president paused briefly before responding in a relaxed tone: Let them come and play The remark was simple, even reassuring Yet behind those few words lies a far more complicated reality one that has transformed what should have been a celebration of global unity into a tournament overshadowed by war diplomacy sanctions and geopolitical rivalry Pakistan s contribution to the 2026 FIFA World Cup extends far beyond manufacturing In recent months, Pakistan has been widely recognized for playing a constructive diplomatic role in encouraging dialogue and helping facilitate efforts that contributed to a ceasefire from April 7 onward in one of the world s most consequential and potentially economically devastating conflicts Had a wider war erupted, the global economy could have suffered losses running into trillions of dollars By supporting dialogue over confrontation, Pakistan demonstrated how mediation can help prevent destruction and preserve stability Now in a remarkable parallel Pakistan will once again be at the centre of a global story not through diplomacy alone but through football The same nation that helped promote peace between opposing sides will provide the football that connects players, supporters, and nations from every continent Billions of viewers watching from homes around the world on television screens and digital devices will witness a Pakistani-made football at the centre of the action symbolizing connection rather than conflict The football itself the very heart and soul of the tournament will be manufactured in Sialkot, Pakistan For decades, Sialkot has been recognized as one of the world’s leading producers of footballs supplying an estimated majority of premium match balls used globally There is profound symbolism in this reality At
a time when Pakistan has been acknowledged for encouraging dialogue and de-escalation in international affairs a football produced by Pakistani craftsmen will sit at the centre of every match played in North America The same ball will travel across stadiums, connect nations, inspire fans, and perhaps even help create moments of reconciliation between rivals Just as diplomacy seeks common ground between adversaries football creates a shared arena where competition remains peaceful and mutual respect can flourish In a strange twist of history, while Pakistan sought dialogue between opposing sides in the geopolitical arena, a Pakistani-made football may become the instrument through which those same rivals compete peacefully on the sporting field This is after all the essence of sport Football provides an alternative battlefield one where competition replaces conflict goals replace missiles, and victory is measured not by destruction but by skill, teamwork, and perseverance Yet the ongoing conflict has unquestionably affected the atmosphere surrounding the tournament Many supporters who would ordinarily travel freely now face uncertainty Political tensions have entered discussions that should ideally focus on football Questions of visas, security, sanctions, and diplomacy have become part of the World Cup narrative The 2026 FIFA World Cup is unlike any other tournament in history For the first time, 48 nations will participate For the first time three countries the USA Canada and Mexico will jointly host the event The tournament is scheduled to begin on June 11 and conclude with the final on July 19 Spread across 16 stadiums and lasting more than a month, it is expected to become the most watched, most technologically advanced, and most commercially successful sporting event ever organized Yet as the countdown to kickoff continues the shadow of the Iran–USA conflict hangs heavily over the tournament For Iran
K i m J o n g U N ’ s c a l c u l a t e d d e f i a n c e
and early 1960s Nasser leveraged superpower competition masterfully playing Moscow against Washington with the practiced ease of a bazaar merchant Kim Jong Un, a man whose strategic instincts are routinely underestimated by Western analysts appears to have absorbed that lesson thoroughly He now sits between Beijing and Moscow with growing confidence collecting dividends from both
Korean security assessment suggests Russia has transferred the equivalent of roughly $14 4 billion in assistance to North Korea since 2023, a significant portion likely including advanced military technology Xi wants to counterbalance all of the Russian influence over North Korea as a result of their military cooperation in the war in Europe China does not like anyone else having more influence on Pyongyang than they do That is, stripped of all diplomatic circumlocution, the real story This is not a celebration of brotherhood It is a power recalibration Beijing reminding Pyongyang that Russia can offer military technology but only China can offer something irreplaceable: a shared border, sustained economic sustenance, and the UN Security Council veto that has shielded North Korea from international accountability for decades North Korea has conducted multiple missile tests in 2026 including an intercontinental ballistic missile test in April that demonstrated potential range to reach the USA mainland Days before Xi s visit was even announced, Kim unveiled a new nuclear fuel production facility a gesture of defiance so conspicuously timed that it could not have been accidental Whether it was a signal to Beijing that Pyongyang will not be managed or an opening bid in forthcoming negotiations it underlined a fundamental reality: Kim is no longer the supplicant figure of earlier years He bargains now He postures He makes patrons come to him At a macro level Xi is likely hoping to demonstrate a dynamic leading role on the international stage particularly within the China Russia Iran North Korea grouping of revisionist autocracies while portraying US influence as diminishing The optics are deliberate and layered In May 2026, Xi held summits with both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin Now he arrives in Pyongyang completing a triangular diplomatic circuit that signals Beijing s ambition to be the indispensable node in every consequential relationship the pivot around which both accommodation and resistance to US power revolves But triangles, as geometers and geopoliticians alike know are stable only until the internal forces shift The Russia-North Korea axis has introduced precisely that kind of destabilizing tension Moscow is no longer content to play a secondary role in Pyongyang s patronage network And Kim, emboldened, is not inclined to return to a purely subordinate relationship with Beijing simply because Xi arrives bearing state banquets and ideological affirmations Some analysts believe Xi may also be car-
rying a message from Trump, who has signaled willingness to resume diplomacy with Kim North Korea, however, has insisted Washington drop its denuclearization precondition before any talks begin If true this adds another dimension entirely Xi positioning himself as an intermediary a role that would dramatically amplify Chinese relevance on the peninsula and conveniently remind Kim that Beijing s value proposition extends well beyond trade routes and energy subsidies Step back from the immediate theater of this summit and the broader contours of a restructuring world come into focus The Korean Peninsula has always been a terrain where great powers project ambitions, fight proxy contests, and conduct the choreography of dominance That dynamic has not changed What has changed is the number of whales and the ferocity of their competition International sanctions on North Korea remain in place but enforcement has weakened due to divisions at the UN Security Council The very multilateral architecture designed to constrain Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions is fracturing and China, Russia, and North Korea know it Xi’s visit is among other things an acknowledgment that the post-Cold War rules-based order that once hemmed in rogue actors is now sufficiently degraded that new arrangements are possible, perhaps even inevitable
For Washington and its allies in Seoul and Tokyo, this moment demands clarity of purpose rather than reactive alarm The worst response to Xi’s Pyongyang visit would be to treat it as confirmation of an irreversible bloc Alliances formed from mutual opportunism not shared values or genuine strategic alignment carry their own internal contradictions The BeijingMoscow-Pyongyang axis is not monolithic It is a marriage of inconveniences, held together by shared antipathy toward American power rather than genuine solidarity History suggests such arrangements are brittle The Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s born from precisely this kind of ideological proximity masking deep strategic competition, remains one of the most consequential ruptures of the 20th century Xi knows it And somewhere in the Kumsusan halls of Pyongyang Kim Jong Un a student of survival above all else knows it too
The patron has come calling Whether the client is still listening is the real question of this summit
The writer can be reached at: writetomahossain@gmail com
History suggests such arrangements are brittle The Sino-Soviet split of the 1960s, born from precisely this kind of ideological proximity masking deep
Tby routing what is effectively employment income through freelancer registration and foreign remittance channels The tax system cannot currently distinguish between the two because it lacks the definitional infrastructure to do so The practical effect is a government-facilitated subsidy to foreign employment over domestic employment An engineer working
Getting this right matters not just for the IT sector but for what kind of digital economy Pakistan is actually building. A countr y where the most talented technical professionals find it structurally rational to work for foreign institutions rather than domestic ones is not building a technology industr y in any meaningful sense .
Why the 2026 World Cup is so controversial Children and the internet
The 2026 World Cup has come under fire even before kickoff
How Pakistan’s tax structure is quietly dividing its tech workforce
COMSATS
& ITS hold
Conference in Indonesia on Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development
ISLAMABAD|
S TA F F R E P O R T
The COMSATS–ITS Conference on Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development" has been successfully held in Surabaya Indonesia The Conference was organized by the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and its esteemed Centre of Excellence, the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Indonesia, in collaboration with the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) The event was held in conjunction with the 26th Meeting of COMSATS Coordinating Council The S&T Conference aimed to highlight the role of Emerging Technologies in advancing sustainable development; share best practices, research findings, and policy experiences related to technology-driven sustainability solutions; and identify opportunities for collaboration Sharing his thoughts as Chief Guest at the opening ceremony Dr Mohammad Fauzan Adziman Director General of R&D Ministry of Higher Education Science and Technology Indonesia, shared insights in Indonesia s growing international engagement for scientific research and development He highlighted the facilitative frameworks to support research collaborations of Indonesian scientists Stressing that international collaboration is key to development he praised COMSATS initiatives and activities including indigenous EV Technology program, NanoTech Lab, Joint Center on Industrial Biotechnology, TeleHealth Clinics and other innovative initiatives He encouraged Indonesian R&D organizations to actively engage COMSATS to benefit from its Centres of Excellence
President for wards PANAH's petition on ultra-processed food taxes to Ministr y of Finance and FBR
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) expresses its deep gratitude to the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, for taking prompt and decisive action on PANAH's petition calling for the imposition of higher taxes on solid and liquid ultra-processed products (UPPs) in the Federal Budget 2026-27 The President s Secretariat (Public) Aiwan-e-Sadr Islamabad has formally forwarded the petition submitted by Maj Gen (Retd) Dr Masood Ur Rehman Kiani, President of PANAH, to the Secretary, Ministry of Finance, and the Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for necessary action under the law and rules Commenting on this significant development Maj Gen (Retd) Dr Masood Ur Rehman Kiani stated: We are deeply encouraged by President Zardari s responsiveness to our public health advocacy The forwarding of this petition to the Ministry of Finance and FBR is a meaningful step towards protecting millions of Pakistanis from the devastating health consequences of ultra-processed foods and beverages
Sindh Governor meets media delegation at Governor House
S
Sindh Governor Syed Muhammad Nihal Hashmi met with directors of various media organizations at the Governor House where mat ters related to journalism, responsible reporting, and national affairs were discussed in detail The meeting was attended by Syed Turab Shah, Director of ABN News and Asoaf Group Mudassar Alam Director of Pakistan Today Zahid Karani of Daily The AZB and Sakina Zafar of Ashish News During the meeting Syed Turab Shah presented a bouquet and conveyed congratulatory messages from MD Mohsin Bilal Khan and Chairman Raja Mehtab Khan Abbasi on the Governor ’s performance of Hajj The delegation also extended congratulations to the Sindh Governor on completing the pilgrimage Speaking on the occasion Governor Sindh said that free, responsible, and positive journalism is essential for the development and stability of society He stated that journalists play a key role in promoting public awareness, national consciousness and unity
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana on Wednesday said that comprehensive and foolproof security arrangements would be put in place to ensure the safety of participants attending Muharramul Haram majalis and mourning processions across the provincial capital He was chairing a meeting of the District Peace Committee (DPC) held at Police Lines Qila Gujjar Singh, which was attended by prominent religious scholars and members of the Central Peace Committee including Agha Hussain Qazalbash Maulana Muhammad Ali Naqshbandi, Khawaja Meesam Abbas, Mufti Imran Sajjad Hanafi, Maulana Rai Zafar Ali and Maulana Shakeelur Rehman The meeting reviewed arrangements for maintaining peace and reviewed overall security planning for Muharramul
Haram Participants exchanged views on ensuring interfaith harmony coordinated security measures and effective implementation of agreed protocols during religious gatherings Addressing the meeting, CCPO Kamyana said that maintaining law and order and promoting religious harmony were collective responsibilities of all stakeholders He expressed confidence that Muharram would remain peaceful through close coordination among all schools of thought, the district administration and relevant line departments The CCPO
Al Khidmat Foundation par tners foodpanda for a Grand Beach Clean Drive on World Environment Day
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
In celebration of World Environment Day the Al Khidmat Foundation successfully partnered with foodpanda to host a "Grand Beach Clean Drive" at Sea View, Karachi This collaborative community initiative brought together volunteers and team members to focus on environmental restoration and awareness along one of Karachi s most iconic shorelines As part of this environmental effort foodpanda s delivery partners joined forces with volunteers to remove waste and debris from the beach By participating in this drive, foodpanda aimed to contribute directly to the preservation of Pakistan’s natural landscapes and advocate for sustainable living reinforcing its ongoing commitment to the communities it serves At foodpanda we believe that being a responsible corporate citizen goes beyond our daily operations, and it is about actively contributing to the well-being of the environments where we operate," said Ahsan Malik, Director Logistics foodpanda Pakistan "We are honored to once again stand alongside the Al Khidmat Foundation for yet another important initiative
NHA generates over Rs1b
plus of over Rs1 billion for the financial year 2026-27 According to a press release issued on Wednesday the auction process was conducted in a fair transparent and orderly manner in line with approved procedures and terms GM (Revenue/ITS) NHA Headquarters Sadaqat Ullah Akhunzada acted as auctioneer during the bidding process Highlighting a massive surge in public-private partnerships, the auction yielded an extraordinary annual revenue surplus of Rs1 5 billion over the set targets with winning bids averaging an impressive 30% above their designated reserve prices Prominent national logistics giants and private entities, including the National Logistics Cell (NLC), Ali Enterprises, Muhammad Ramzan & Company, and Gohar Hayat aggressively secured operational rights across key highway networks The highest monthly yields during this phase were recorded at the strategic Jamshoro plaza (Rs156 670 000) and the Sangjani plaza (Rs134,845,000) along the N-5 highway
Bank Alfalah
backs Squash Development Project to help restore Pakistan’s spor ting legacy
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
Bank Alfalah, one of the leading commercial banks in Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BARD Foundation to support the development of the BARD Squash Complex a landmark initiative aimed at contributing to the revival and advancement of squash in Pakistan, to encourage youth development, and create a world-class facility capable of nurturing future national and international champions Under the partnership Bank Alfalah will provide sponsorship support of PKR 50 million plus applicable taxes towards the development of the squash complex The facility is envisioned as a modern sporting hub that will host tournaments, deliver structured training programmes, and support community engagement initiatives designed to expand access to the sport and strengthen Pakistan’s squash ecosystem The collaboration reflects a shared commitment by both organisations to promote sports development, empower young athletes, and create pathways for sporting excellence
QAU, UNHCR sign agreement on refugee Law Education & Research
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The School of Law, Quaid-i-Azam University, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commemorated World Refugee Day and hosted the signing ceremony of a Cooperation Framework Agreement aimed at strengthening academic collaboration in the fields of refugee law migration statelessness and forced displacement The event was attended by Mr Asmat Ullah Shah, Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Government of Pakistan; His Excellency Mr Georg Steiner, Ambassador of Switzerland to Pakistan; Mr Oscar Manuel Deputy Representative and Officer-in-Charge UNHCR Pakistan; Professor Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal Vice Chancellor Quaid-iAzam University; Professor Dr Hafiz Aziz-urRehman, Director, School of Law; and Dr Salma Malik Director External Linkages Quaid-i-Azam University along with faculty members researchers students and representatives of partner institutions
