Who
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz might not mean a quick return to the pre -war normal S t r a t e g i c A u t o n o m y o r S t r a t e g i c C o n f u s i o n ?
TM A
TH E debate about the declining standards of higher education in Pakistan often turns into a search for a convenient culprit Some blame the Vice Chancellor Others point fingers at the Higher Education Commission A few hold Deans and Heads of Department responsible Rarely do we pause to ask a more precise question: when we talk about the quality of teaching who actually controls it? Before assigning responsibility, we must distinguish between two related but different concepts: the quality of education and the quality of teaching The quality of education is a broad institutional outcome It depends on governance funding curriculum frameworks faculty recruitment infrastructure research culture and regulatory oversight The quality of teaching, however, is a specific professional act It occurs inside the classroom It is shaped by the preparation, integrity, and intellectual commitment of the teacher When these two concepts are mixed, the debate becomes confused and reform becomes misdirected In any university system the Vice Chancellor plays a strategic role He or she sets institutional priorities approves policies oversees recruitment ensures financial discipline, and represents the university at national and international forums Leadership can strengthen accountability mechanisms, introduce transparent evaluation systems and encourage research and industry linkages These responsibilities are significant and cannot be underestimated Weak governance creates an environment where mediocrity flourishes Yet, it is equally true that a Vice Chancellor does not deliver lectures, design assignments, or mark examination scripts The daily academic experience of a student is shaped not by strategic plans but by the person standing at the front of the classroom If a lecture lacks clarity if the content is outdated if critical thinking is not encouraged or if AI-generated assignments are ignored these failures occur at the teaching level They are not the result of a missing policy circular In Pakistan, universities operate under the regulatory supervision of the Higher Education Commission and the provincial Higher Education Departments Curriculum guidelines quality assurance mechanisms and accreditation standards are formally defined Institutions maintain Quality Enhancement Cells and submit periodic reports On paper, the structure appears
ditions pivotal enough to undermine strategic autonomy? The answer lies in the very mechanisations of the covenants of the deal of economic surrender A deal between an economically fragile country and international lenders such as the IMF is based on the principle of compliance Once a country signs the agreement the very choices it had in the absence of the deal vanish For instance, Pakistan s $7 billion Extended Fund Facility loan programme hinges upon Pakistan’s policy compliance with the IMF conditions It highlights that Pakistan’s government can t decide important fiscal policies such as energy prices tax reforms and subsidy adjustments Moreover in the event of deviation Pakistan risks delays in the disbursements of funds, which are critical to Pakistan s foreign exchange reserves Thus, the jeopardy of a bold diversified stance towards non-Western partners is much more than its benefits This crucial time aptly describes the conundrum that Pakistan is facing Irrespective of cultural, regional, trade and historical ties with Iran, Pakistan can t take a bold stance in
robust However, compliance with procedures does not automatically guarantee meaningful learning A file can be complete while a classroom remains uninspiring A course outline can be approved while intellectual curiosity remains absent This is why the teacher’s role must be examined honestly Teaching is not a routine clerical function It is an intellectual responsibility A competent teacher updates course material regularly, connects theory with contemporary realities, challenges students to think independently, and evaluates performance rigorously and fairly Assessment design in particular reflects professional seriousness When examinations reward memorization rather than analysis students naturally focus on reproducing notes instead of developing understanding When assignments are superficial, students respond with superficial effort It is sometimes argued that teachers operate within constraints: heavy workloads administrative burdens limited research funding and large class sizes These challenges are real However professional responsibility does not disappear in the presence of difficulty Across the world, high-quality teaching often emerges not from luxury but from commitment The core elements of good teaching preparation, clarity, intellectual honesty, and fairness require dedication more than resources At the same time it would be inaccurate to suggest that leadership bears no responsibility Institutional culture matters If promotions are based solely on publication numbers without evaluating teaching effectiveness, faculty may feel little incentive to innovate in the classroom If recruitment standards are compromised, academic quality inevitably declines If accountability systems are weak underperformance goes unchecked Leadership establishes the environment in which teachers operate A supportive merit-based system strengthens good teaching; a politicized or indifferent system weakens it Therefore, the debate should not be framed as a choice between top-down and bottom-up change Sustainable improvement requires both Reform from the top can introduce
Tehran s favour, as it will upset the Gulf countries, more importantly Saudi Arabia, because of the Bilateral Strategic Defense Agreement Furthermore a pro-Iran stance also holds the potential to perturb the USA and international lenders On the contrary a more Western-Saudioriented stance is likely to upset China, which may also result in internal resentment due to the growing anti-Western and anti-US sentiment Hence, the lack of strong economic foundations serves as a cause of economic confusion and economic confusion in such critical times is something which a nation like ours can t afford
Although the government of Pakistan is aware of its limited choices, it has treaded carefully thus far The government has condemned the US-Israel led attacks; it has offered its solidarity to Iran and the Gulf countries This suggests that Islamabad has favored neither side Though it may look like strategic confusion given the circumstances it is the only autonomous resort available to them
A country that suffers from limited foreign policy options due to economic fragility must stay neutral, for it is the only autonomous option available to them In the meanwhile every nation should contribute to the promotion of peace integrity and respect Otherwise the anarchical global order will annihilate anyone that comes in its way
The author is a lawyer and currently an Associate at Mughal Law Chambers He previously served as an Intern at the Office of Advocate General Punjab and as President of the Pakistan College of Law Debating Society
The Karachi squeeze
Privacy undone
Dr MuhaMMaD Bilal Tahir
while Rs 89 40 enters the general treasury Using Pakistan’s current population of approximately 247 million each citizen contributes roughly Rs 8 200 annually through climatelinked levies, but receives back only Rs 867 in direct climate spending per year The directional trend is more alarming than the snapshot Adaptation allocations have declined 17 5 percent to Rs 70 5 billion while mitigation allocations have fallen sharply to Rs 124 1 billion from Rs 603 billion in FY2025–26 Disaster management, by contrast, has risen 132 percent to Rs 116 2 billion The pattern is unmistakable:
and
tion
falling CPEC 2 0’s Green Corridor is China’s articulation within the 5Cs framework a strategic vision centred on clean energy green manufacturing electric mobility climate-resilient infrastructure and low-carbon industrial cooperation Pakistan s counterpart commitment sits within Uraan Pakistan’s
Pakistan argues internationally that global climate finance is insufficient. The question that Budg et 2026–2027 raises domestically is harder to deflect: if Rs 2.026 trillion in climate- and green-linked revenues are being collected annually, and if CPEC 2.0Ês Green Corridor is g enuinely a national priority, why does the corridor receive Rs 1 billion while the Petroleum Levy alone collects Rs 1.676 trillion? The answer is not that money does not exist. The answer is that the fiscal system has not been designed to conver t climate revenue into climate resilience
Can the Iran peace deal sur vive?
Sor on some specified date in the future; There were no commitments on ending Iranian support for allied groups like the Houthis or Hezbollah in the region; There was no agreement by Iran to let up on the violent suppression of protesters The reported Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) kicks all of the contentious issues down the road into negotiations that are to take
that Iran will budge over the next two months, since it is precisely these issues that speak to the regime’s core identity Trump stated that if Iran didn’t agree to these outstanding terms he would re-commence the war and possibly make the United States the guardian of the Middle East in return for 20 percent of the region s revenues It is hard to know whether such an initiative is more ludicrous from the standpoint of countries in the Middle East, including U S friends like Saudi Arabia or the UAE who would now be paying explicitly for U S protection or from domestic opinion in the United States where everyone would like to be done with the region as soon as possible The MOU that Trump celebrated is a worse agreement than Obama’s 2015 deal, which Trump endlessly castigated in the past Obama’s deal forbade Iran from enriching uranium beyond 3 67 percent for 15 years (far below the 90 percent enrichment necessary for bomb-grade purposes) and provided specific measures for removing enriched uranium from Iran All of these provisions were to be overseen by outside inspectors, and Iran complied with its terms until Trump withdrew from the agreement The major criticism of the deal which U S hardliners stressed was that it said nothing about Iranian support for regional proxies and that it provided sanctions relief at the start of the agreement Trump’s reported MOU, meanwhile, places no limits on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and makes no commitments about regional proxies It does not provide for sanctions if Iran doesn t concede by the end of the 60 days though the Iranians have said that they will not proceed with final negotiations unless such relief occurs first So Trump s purported deal achieves considerably less than the agreement that Obama made It is clear that Trump is being driven to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at virtually any cost by the domestic pressure from rising oil prices and inflation Being unwilling to send ground forces to Iran, he has had few cards to play over the past six weeks to get further Iranian concessions So he has chosen to back down and accept a return to the status quo ante from before he began the war on February 28 The world will indeed be better off if the Strait is re-opened Perhaps Trump s hardcore MAGA supporters can be persuaded that he has negotiated a consummate deal and achieved a great victory But everyone else will understand that the world’s most powerful country is being run by a feckless
of the strategically vital waterway the Strait of Hormuz But key questions remain unresolved that could yet scupper the agreement For Washington and Tehran, the memorandum also includes Lebanon Iran has made the signing of the deal contingent on an Israeli undertaking to withdraw from the territories it has occupied in southern Lebanon during the war And the US president Donald Trump has demanded that the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu behave more responsibly in Lebanon But Israel s bombing of south Lebanon and Beirut continues, the Israeli military presence in Lebanon remains and Israel’s leaders remain adamant they will not withdraw So where does Israel feature in this deal and how will it respond? The terms of the deal remain confidential and will only be revealed after the signing has taken place But reports suggest that the US will be responsible for constraining Israeli military activity in Lebanon Iran, meanwhile, appears to see the two states as one adversary in this war
Over the past year, questions about the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu have regularly been asked, highlighting the divergent approaches to Iran and the broader security environment of the Middle East taken by the two states The Israeli strike on Hamas targets in the Qatari capital of Doha in the summer of 2025 provoked much anger prompting the White House to release an image of Netanyahu on the phone with the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while Donald Trump looked on, clearly unimpressed Leaked comments during the war with Iran have high-
Not enough is being done
The ar t of the non- deal
COMSATS Universit y Islamabad hosts Bangladeshi Academicians under Pakistan, Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) hosted a high-level delegation of 16 Professors and Senior Academicians from leading public and private universities of Bangladesh at its Islamabad Campus on Tuesday The visit was conducted under the Pakistan–Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor facilitated by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, with the broader aim of deepening people-topeople connectivity between the two brotherly nations The delegation comprised the Vice Chancellor and CEO of Asian University of Bangladesh; Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of Jahangirnagar University; Deans Senior Professors and Academic Administrators from the University of Dhaka University of Chittagong, North South University; Shahjalal University of Science and Technology; University of Chittagong; University of Rajshahi; University of Dhaka; Shahjalal University of Science and Technology; BRAC University and Southeast University Bangladesh Prof Dr Raheel Qamar Rector CUI accompanied by senior university officials and Heads of Academic Departments, received the delegation Ms Muniba Nasir, Head International Office presented an overview of the institution encompassing various modern digital governance and various cutting edge initiatives While speaking at the occasion the varsity Rector Prof Dr Raheel Qamar informed the participants regarding CUI s AI-based adaptive learning management systems, paperless administration, green campus and sustainability initiatives He also touched upon advances in biomedical research, his vision for technology commercialization and initiatives for making health technologies more accessible to the local populations of
EIslamabad s unwavering commitment to regional stability and the eradication of cross-border militancy the experts are underscoring the urgent necessity for the international community particularly Washington to align with Pakistan s principled stance at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding the global blacklisting of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) In an analysis published in the international online news magazine The Diplomat referred to a recent development when the United States, along with the United Kingdom and France, blocked a joint proposal submitted by Pakistan and China to designate the BLA and its Majeed Brigade under the UN sanctions regime This development has brought re-
newed focus to the imperative of uniform global counterterrorism standards given that Washington has itself previously categorized the BLA under its Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) frameworks To justify the listing under the U N s counter-terrorism architecture Pakistan s U N envoy Asim Iftikhar explicitly linked the BLA to global jihadist networks operating out of Afghanistan
“Entities such as ISIL-K, al-Qaida, Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), East Turkistan Islamic Movement BLA and the Majeed Brigade are based in Afghan sanctuaries with over 60 terrorist camps facilitating cross-border infiltration and assaults, he pointed out
However, three UNSC permanent members – the U S , France, and the United Kingdom – invoked technical issues to point out that the committee specifically targets al-Qaida Islamic State and their affiliates They claimed
that localized militant groups do not automatically qualify under the 1267 Sanctions Committee s mandate irrespective of the severity of their actions or the threats they pose to regional stability Pakistan and China’s push to have these groups blacklisted by the UNSC is rooted in pressing counterterrorism priorities China has made substantial investments in infrastructure and minerals in Pakistan s Balochistan Province, and sees the militant threats posed by the BLA as a direct challenge to its Belt and Road ambitions Islamabad on its part views the designation as essential to isolating the group diplomatically and financially worldwide especially
Punjab sets new fiscal benchmark with third consecutive surplus budget: Azma Bokhari
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that the Punjab Government has achieved a new milestone by presenting its third surplus budget reflecting the province’s strong fiscal discipline sound planning and effective governance She stated that the current budget places special emphasis on education, healthcare, and the social sector to ensure the provision of essential public services at the doorstep of citizens She added that Punjab s farmers are among the biggest beneficiaries of the budget, demonstrating the government s commitment to strengthening the agricultural economy Azma Bokhari said that Punjab s development budget is not merely a collection of figures on paper but is visibly translating into projects and progress on the
ground She emphasized that the provincial government will continue all development initiatives at the same pace through its own resources She further stated that major welfare and development programs including Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Suthra Punjab and Asaan Karobar, will continue to move forward vigorously She added that the network of electric buses is being expanded to all 147 tehsils of Punjab to provide citi-
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG) Tarlai has successfully launched its two-week Summer School & Fiesta 2026, attracting an overwhelming response from students of entire Nilore sector eager to enhance their skills through a wide range of educational and creative courses The Summer Schools and Fiesta is an initiative launched by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) under the auspices of Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training
The Summer Fiesta event at IMCG Tarlai was formally inaugurated by Area Education Officer (Nilore Sector) Dr Khalid Mahmood, who attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest Principal IMCG Tarlai Mrs Kausar Parveen warmly welcomed the distinguished guest and joined him in performing the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official commencement of the event
Principal IMCG Tarlai, Mrs Kausar Parveen also extended her gratitude to the respected principals of different institutions of the Nilore Sector for their gracious presence and unwavering commitment to promoting co-curricular excellence and holistic student development
Designed to provide meaningful learning opportunities during the summer break, the two-week Summer School & Fiesta at IMCG Tarlai offered 12 diverse courses, the largest number being offered by any institution in the capital aimed at fostering creativity confidence communication skills and practical learning among students
Sindh Budget 2026–27 is Tax-Free, people friendly, development oriented: Sharjeel Memon
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T
Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon while describing the Sindh Government s budget for the fiscal year 2026–27 as people-friendly, balanced, and reflective of development priorities, said that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh Government has always placed public welfare employment education healthcare infrastructure, and economic development at the forefront of its agenda He said that this budget will serve as a strong foundation for Sindh’s bright future economic stability and public prosperity In a statement Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the taxfree budget carries a message of relief, development, and prosperity for the people of Sindh He added that the increase in the minimum wage from Rs 40 000 to Rs 43 000 is an important and welcome step for the welfare of the working class
zens with modern affordable and environmentally friendly transportation facilities
The Information Minister said that development in Punjab is no longer confined to major urban centers From Attock to Vehari and Rahim Yar Khan, the benefits of development are reaching every corner of the province ensuring equal opportunities for progress across all districts
She said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has addressed years of deprivation within a short period resulting in increased public confidence in the government s performance and vision
Azma Bokhari further remarked that the politics of public service has prevailed over the politics of agitation and political theatrics adding that the government s performance remains its strongest identity and source of public support
A total of 1,650 students enrolled in various courses The highest enrollment was recorded in Spoken English Course, with 700 participants Vice Principal IMCG Tarlai, and the Supervisor of the Fiesta, Mrs Saima Shaheen designed this course which attracted the majority of the participants reflecting on its usefulness Other popular courses included Sketching and Canvas Painting; Canva and Digital Marketing; Culinary Arts; Crochet Work; Creative Mehndi Art; Hand Embroidery; Calligraphy; Qirat and Tajweed
Speaking on the occasion Dr Khalid Mahmood appreciated the remarkable efforts of IMCG Tarlai in organizing a comprehensive summer learning initiative He emphasized that such programs play a vital role in nurturing students talents, enhancing their confidence and preparing them for future academic and professional challenges Principal IMCG Tarlai Mrs Kausar Parveen highlighted the institution s commitment to providing quality educational opportunities beyond the classroom
o o k i n g s c e l e b r a t i n g t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o e x p a n d i n g a c c e s s t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n a n d s t u d e n t m o b i l i t y T h e c e r e m o n y w a s a t t e n d e d b y s e n i o r P e a r s o n l e a d e r s a n d d i st i n g u i s h e d g u e s t s i n c l u d i n g M s I p e k Ay d i n D ir e c t o r P T E f o r t h e M i d d l e E a s t P a k i s t a n Tu r k e y a n d A f r i c a Wa q a r S h a h D e p u t y G e n e r a l M a n a g e r P e a r s o n P a k i s t a n S y e d A l i I q b a l Te rr i t o r y M a n a g e r P T E , A m i r S
Post-mor tem finds 11 bullet wounds on girl killed in chakwal ccd firing
A post-mortem examination of nine-year-old Hania Adeel who was killed in a firing incident involving Punjab Crime Control Department personnel in Chakwal on June 10, found that she had sustained 11 bullet and injury marks The gunfire caused critical damage to several vital organs, including the heart, liver, lungs, chest and abdomen Doctors stated that all the bullets struck the child before death and that the injuries were so deep and severe they would have caused immediate death Hania was with her Australian-Pakistani
a misunderstanding during an operation in which a robbery was reportedly taking place Aurangzeb said the inquiry into the incident had been completed and that the report was submitted to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday She also said the CCD chief would hold a press conference on Thursday to brief the public on the facts of the case Separately the Lahore High Court directed that a petition seeking a judicial inquiry into the incident be fixed along with the main case Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had called on Pakistan to ensure a transparent investigation into the killing The CCD official accused of opening fire remains in jail on judicial
Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations expanding cooperation in security and law enforcement and jointly addressing migration-related challenges during a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and British Deputy Foreign Secretary Hamish Falconer The meeting reviewed PakistanUK relations and the broader regional situation with both sides exchanging views on matters of mutual interest, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration, institutional cooperation and police training
According to an official statement the two countries agreed to further enhance collaboration in a range of sectors aimed at improving security, strengthening institutions and promoting mutual interests During the talks,
Hamish Falconer praised Pakistan s constructive and proactive role in facilitating understanding between the United States and Iran, describing Islamabad s contribution as an important step towards regional and global peace He commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for what he termed a historic role in promoting peace and stability, noting that Pakistan s efforts to help ease tensions between Washington and Tehran had reinforced its image as a responsible advocate of peace on the international stage Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the achievements of the Upskill Project saying the initiative had yielded encouraging results and significantly enhanced the capacity and professional standards of Pakistani institutions He said the government remained committed to strengthening institutional capabilities through international cooperation and strategic partnerships The two sides
agreed to expand cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts law-enforcement training programmes institutional development and measures to curb illegal migration Special attention was also given to the issue of fraudulent student visas which both countries identified as a growing concern requiring coordinated action Naqvi underscored Pakistan s determination to combat illegal migration and human trafficking, stating that indiscriminate action was being taken against criminal networks involved in exploiting vulnerable individuals Pakistan is pursuing a comprehensive crackdown on illegal migration networks and human traffickers he said Discussing regional security challenges, the interior minister expressed concern over the presence of terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory and stressed that the Afghan authorities must ensure their soil was not used for activities directed against Pakistan
Federal ministries and agencies utilised Rs529 8 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the first 11 months of 2025-26 spending only 52 4% of the original Rs1 01 trillion development budget, according to the Ministry of Planning and Development
The utilisation rate was lower than the 54% recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year when Rs596 billion was spent against an allocation of Rs1 1 trillion The government reduced the development programme by Rs173 billion, or around 17%, to Rs837 16 billion after higher petroleum prices prompted it to provide fuel subsidies following the US-Israel attack on Iran Against the reduced development envelope utilisation improved to around 63% By May 31, the Planning
Commission had authorised Rs835 6 billion nearly the entire revised allocation of Rs837 16 billion However actual expenditure remained Rs305 8 billion below the authorised amount because of resource constraints and weak implementation capacity among executing agencies Under the Finance Ministry’s release mechanism the government was required to release 15% of development allocations in the first quarter 20% in the second, 25% in the third, and the remaining 40% during the final quarter Based on that schedule, expenditure should have reached at least Rs878 billion or 87% of the original allocation by the end of May Even against the reduced Rs837 billion envelope spending should have crossed Rs730 billion
The release framework was designed to allow the government to reduce development expenditure in case of revenue shortfalls while remaining within fiscal targets agreed with the In-
ternational Monetary Fund
Federal uplift spending lags at 52% as Rs529b is utilised in 11 months despite near-full authorisation Pharmaceutic al industr y seeks fisc al and regulator y incentives to raise expor ts to $2 billion
Spending on parliamentarians’ development schemes performed better than several other categories Disbursements under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme began after the first five months of the fiscal year Around Rs44 billion or 70% of the programme’s revised Rs63 236 billion allocation was spent within about four months The Planning Commission had authorised nearly the entire revised allocation by the end of May Development expenditure in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, meanwhile stood at Rs153 86 billion equivalent to 62% of their combined annual allocation of Rs249 2 billion
Funding for the special regions had already been reduced by Rs52 billion to help finance fuel subsidies All 33 federal ministries collectively spent Rs391 billion during the 11-month period accounting for 68% of their revised allocation of Rs577 billion
PPMA also sought the
tional activities
ISLAMABAD
