PM PRAises PRoviNCes’
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
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)
the PMO said
The results highlighted significant gaps in students competencies
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
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
technical requirements the exemption could not be introduced during the current financial year It was therefore decided that the customs duty exemption would be implemented through the Finance Act 2026-27 and take effect from July 1 2026 According to sources Secretary of Commerce Jawad Paul informed the
TPresident Zardari said
sustained
economic
and
Pakistan-Russia relations 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 N AT
Earlier, Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and
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 (DMO) The revised target applies to the reopening of the 10-year VRR hybrid sukuk scheduled for June 10 2026 PSX said the auction target mentioned in the term sheet and Annexure B had been amended, while all other auction terms and conditions remain unchanged The exchange also updated
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
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
of the
The
agreed to strengthen the alignment of development strategies expand practical cooperation in such areas as economy and trade agriculture, construction, science and technology, as well as health care, enhance friendly exchanges in education, culture and the arts, tourism, sports, media, youth affairs, subnational engagement and sister-city relations so as to promote high-level connectivity and facilitate personnel and economic and trade exchanges
T h i r d
ergy into regional and world peace and development
Even at Hajj, women's unpaid labor can' t be paused
Nor th Korea says Xi visit set ' far-reaching blueprint' for
ties
BEIJING A G E N C I E S
The leaders of North Korea and China adopted a "far-reaching blueprint" for bilateral ties during Xi Jinping's recent visit to Pyongyang the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on Wednesday China s president made a rare visit to diplomatically isolated North Korea on Monday after hosting a series of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir
and identity And yet the assumption that women exist in part to service men s basic needs appears durable enough to survive even that Said's point is not simply about laundry It is about visibility Domestic labor performed by women tends to be treated as ambient something that simply happens, like weather rather than something that costs time energy and in this case spiritual focus At Hajj where every hour is accounted for in worship the cost of that invisible tax becomes unusually legible W H AT T
It is also worth noting that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is reported in authentic hadith to have washed his own clothes mended his own shoes and participated actively in household chores This is not a minor biographical detail It is presented in Islamic tradition as a model of character a deliberate demonstration that no task is beneath a person of dignity and faith The gap between that model and the scene described at Hajj is not a small one "This is what happens to our labour," Said says in the video "It's in our homes our holidays Women can't participate in the activity they have to facilitate men That framing captures something important The issue is not that any one man is uniquely demanding It is that the expectation is so normalized it persists even in the most incongruous of circumstances a pilgrimage of mutual sacrifice, where every pilgrim is, in principle equal before God
Russia says it is ‘extremely concerned’ about rising tensions in Mideast
Russia said on Wednesday that it
sponded by firing on Gulf neighbours that host US bases and all but choked off the Strait of Hormuz a vital conduit for oil and gas The latest US strikes lasted around four hours before the US Central Command posted just before 9pm ET (0100 GMT Wednesday) that they had ended A US official said almost 20 Iranian targets had been struck Iran s state media reported that Qeshm island and the port city of Sirik in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked Sounds of explosions were heard in nearby Bandar Abbas and later in the vicinity of Jask near
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 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
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
ures 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
TRUMP VOWS TO ATTACK IRAN ‘VERY HARD’, SAYS PAKISTAN STILL TRYING FOR PEACE DEAL
Highway for a third day, causing significant difficulties for travellers moving between Gilgit-Baltistan and other parts of Pakistan Although protesters briefly reopened the road for two hours on Wednesday to allow stranded passengers to pass they vowed to continue demonstrations until what they termed a transparent declaration of results Speaking to reporters, Attaullah
in the constituency According to official figures, independent candidate Imam Malik leads Attaullah by 24 votes based on initial results However Attaullah reportedly secured 473 postal ballots compared to Imam Malik s 180 prompting PPP supporters to claim that their candidate would ultimately win by 269 votes once postal ballots are counted Protesters accused the
after counting postal ballots In Ghizer PPP candidate and incumbent Speaker of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Nazir Ahmed Advocate also challenged the election process
ISLAMABAD
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Wednesday that the province had forcefully presented its position at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting pressing for the protection of its constitutional financial and development-related rights
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Afridi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had assured participants that regular meetings would be held to update the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award within 180 days He added that if consensus was not reached within that time, a summary would be forwarded to the president for a presidential order to revise the award The chief minister described the decision to include the financial share of the merged districts in the new NFC Award as a major development for KhyberPakhtunkhwa particularly for residents of the former tribal areas On the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) for the merged districts, he said proposed reductions had been eased considerably after discussions though the provincial government had continued to seek further improvement
Afridi said the provincial government was hopeful of additional improvements in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and the AIP so
Climate, energy security dominate talks between Musadik and Spanish envoy
ISLAMABAD s
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik on Wednesday said the international system appeared to be shifting from multilateralism towards increasing unilateralism warning that any unilateral move to place a longstanding international accord such as the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance raised serious questions about the sanctity of international agreements and rules-based cooperation
The minister made these remarks during a meeting with Spanish Ambassador to Pakistan Carlos Aragón, who called on him here
The two sides discussed a range of regional and global issues including climate change energy security and opportunities for bilateral cooperation in sustainable development according to a statement issued by the ministry During the meeting, both sides
exchanged views on the implications of climate change evolving geopolitical dynamics and other matters of mutual interest including the Indus Waters Treaty and recent regional developments
Dr Malik highlighted the devastating impact of recent floods in Pakistan noting that changing weather patterns and increasing climate variability had heightened uncertainty and vulnerability to extreme weather events He stressed the need for stronger preparedness measures and preventive interventions to mitigate future climate-related risks and enhance resilience
The discussion also focused on energy security and the global transition towards renewable energy sources Both sides explored potential avenues for cooperation and knowledge-sharing to support clean energy initiatives and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in climate action and sustainable development Against the backdrop of ongoing
geopolitical tensions and their impact on global energy markets the minister and the ambassador underscored the importance of accelerating the adoption of green energy solutions, including solar and wind power They observed that recent developments had exposed the vulnerability of many regions including Europe to disruptions in conventional energy supply chains reinforcing the need for diversified, resilient and sustainable energy systems Ambassador Aragón shared observations from his recent visit to GilgitBaltistan and praised the region’s natural beauty cultural diversity and the hospitality of its people
Dr Malik also briefed the ambassador on two initiatives being developed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Green University and Green Fields He said the Green University initiative aimed to advance climate education research and innovation
German envoy raises concerns over trade barriers
r t German Ambassador Ina Lepel has said Pakistan and Germany maintain longstanding friendly and economic ties, but trade diversification and broader investment remain below potential because of regulatory unpredictability a complicated tax regime limited transparency and bureaucratic hurdles Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday, the ambassador said bilateral trade had stayed largely stagnant despite remaining stable according to a statement She said German companies were looking to diversify supply chains creating new
openings for countries such as Pakistan LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol said Germany was Pakistan’s largest trading partner within the European Union with two-way trade worth more than $2 5 billion He said Pakistan s exports to Germany stood at $1 7 billion, while imports were $880 million, leaving the trade balance in Pakistan’s favour
T R A D E A N D I N V E S T M E N T P O -
TENTIAL: Saigol said there was room to expand cooperation in automobile manufacturing, renewable energy, engineering, pharmaceuticals, tourism and small and medium-sized enterprise development He also appreciated Germany’s continued backing for the GSP+ framework saying
it had contributed significantly to the growth of Pakistan’s exports He also stressed the need for stronger cooperation with German development and technical organisations especially GIZ, which he said had been supporting technical and vocational training as well as skills development in Pakistan Lepel acknowledged improvements in Pakistan’s infrastructure and economic indicators but said deeper structural issues in taxation governance and regulatory consistency were still affecting investor confidence and export competitiveness She said continued implementation of reforms supported by the International Monetary Fund was necessary for lasting macroeconomic stability
G S P+ A N D D E V E L O P M E N T C OO P E R AT I O N: The ambassador said Germany as part of the European Union framework closely follows trade arrangements including GSP+ which are tied to compliance with international conventions related to labour rights, human rights and environmental standards
She said Germany had committed around €114 million in development cooperation focused on climate energy private-sector development health and social protection Lepel also appreciated Pakistan s diplomatic efforts for regional peacebuilding and recognised its role in facilitating dialogue and de-escalation in sensitive geopolitical situations
