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PAKISTAN, SAUDI ARABIA, TÜRKIYE HOLD FIRST MJDA STRATEGIC DEFENCE MEETING TODAY Monday, 31 August, 2026 | 17 Rabiul Awwal, 1448

Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 156 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition

DPM/FM DAR, CDF ASIM MUNIR ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL FOR INAUGURAL STRATEGIC COMMITTEE SESSION g TRILATERAL PACT DECLARES ATTACK ON ONE COUNTRY AN ATTACK ON ALL THREE

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ISLAMABAD STRESSES PACT IS DEFENSIVE, OPEN TO OTHER STATES ON SAME PRINCIPLES

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ISLAMABAD/ISTANBUL SALEEM JADOON

EPUTY Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir arrived in Türkiye on Sunday ahead of the first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA), bringing Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye together in Istanbul on Monday (tomorrow) amid heightened regional tensions.

The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed that the “inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement (MJDA)” would be held in the Turkish capital on Monday. Pakistan will be represented at the meeting by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the FO said. The meeting will also be attended by the foreign and

‘Bonds of The Heart’: PM vows to deepen strategic partnership with Turkiye ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday congratulated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people on their country’s Victory Day, promising to deepen Islamabad’s strategic partnership with Ankara under a “trilateral defense pact together with Saudi Arabia.” In a post on X on Turkiye’s Victory Day, Premier Shehbaz said the bonds between Pakistan and Türkiye are “bonds of the heart, forged over centuries of shared faith, history and struggle.” “Today our two nations have reaffirmed this strategic expression of enduring brotherhood through the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, which binds our two nations, alongside the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in our shared pursuit of common security and collective de-

terrence,” he said. “Pakistan remains unflinching in its commitment to further deepening its strategic partnership with Türkiye across all domains for the shared prosperity and security of our two nations.” The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, signed by Sharif, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Erdogan on Aug. 7, stipulates that an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack against all of them. He extended his felicitations to the Turkish leadership and people on Victory Day, which commemorates the victory of Turkish forces, led by against Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, against Greek troops in the Battle of Dumlupınar on August 26-30, 1922, marking the effective end of the Turkish War of Independence.

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Nawaz hands AJK PM 100-day reform plan, demands swift action on public issues LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Newly-elected Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani on Sunday called on PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, who handed him a “reform plan for the first 100 days” and stressed the need for the “immediate resolution” of issues confronting the Kashmiri people. According to a statement issued on the PML-N X account, the meeting was attended by PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq. During the meeting, Nawaz Sharif instructed Gillani to put AJK on the path of development similar to Punjab and shared a “reform plan for the first 100 days” of his tenure. The plan, according to the statement, was aimed at strengthening

health, education, cleanliness, infrastructure and other sectors in AJK. Nawaz Sharif also stressed the need for the immediate resolution of issues faced by the Kashmiri people, while the newly-elected AJK premier and the assembly speaker expressed gratitude to the party’s senior leadership for “their confidence” in them. Nawaz Sharif also congratulated Gillani and Farooq on their election. The meeting comes against the backdrop of continuing unrest in AJK, where protests staged by the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have been marred by violence and the region continues to face internet disruptions. A day earlier, AJK Prime Minister Gillani had assured the business community and students that his government would restore internet services at educational institutions and remove restrictions on road links with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the next few

days. PM Gillani had also expressed concern over the situation in Rawalakot, saying his government would make every effort to bring it under control. AJK has been gripped by protests, including in Rawalakot, staged by the now-proscribed JAAC, which had announced a boycott of the recently held elections in the region over its demand for abolishing 12 seats reserved in the assembly for families displaced from occupied Kashmir. Against this backdrop, the elections in the region, originally scheduled for July 27, were divided into phases over security concerns amid unrest in the region. The first phase was held on July 27, the second on Aug 2 and the third on Aug 10. Meanwhile, the third phase was originally meant to cover all of Poonch Division, comprising 11 constituencies, including three in Bagh, one in Haveli, five in Poonch district and two in Sudhnoti district.

defence ministers as well as chiefs of general staff of Türkiye and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia signed the MJDA in Makkah earlier this month. The pact stipulates that an attack on one country will be considered an attack against all three, as regional tensions surge amid the United States (US)-Iran war. “Pakistan’s participation in the meeting signifies Pakistan’s historic bonds of friendship with the brotherly countries of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, as well as its desire for lasting regional peace and stability,” the FO said. According to a statement from Türkiye, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen Selcuk Bayraktaroglu will participate in the meeting. Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Türkiye “on an official visit”, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a brief statement issued in the evening. Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also reached Istanbul after concluding his visit to the United Kingdom, the FO confirmed. Upon his arrival in Istanbul, Dar was received by Turkish Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Brig. General Senol Varol, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye Dr Yousaf Junaid, Ambassador Cihad Erginay of the Turkish foreign ministry, and other senior Turkish government officials, the FO said. The deputy premier later visited the shrine of Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (RA) to pay his respects. He offered prayers for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan and its people, as well as for unity among the Muslim community, the FO said.

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New PIMS chief vows immediate corrective measures to prevent recurrence of tragedy ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Newly appointed Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Dr Muhammad Salman on Sunday assumed charge of his office and vowed to take immediate corrective measures to address shortcomings identified by the inquiry committee and prevent recurrence of incidents similar to the recent tragedy at the hospital. Soon after assuming charge, Dr Salman convened a meeting of heads of various departments, attended by PIMS administration officials and directors, to review the hospital’s overall functioning and discuss measures to improve service delivery and patient safety. Following the meeting, the new executive director also visited different sections of the hospital to assess facilities and operational arrangements. Talking to the media, Dr Salman said the issues and shortcomings identified by the inquiry committee would be addressed on a priority basis. He said patient safety would remain the foremost priority and short-term corrective measures would be implemented to strengthen the hospital’s systems and prevent incidents similar to the recent tragedy in the future. “We will take short-term corrective actions to improve the system and ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” he said. Dr Salman said the administration would also focus on improving coordination among different departments and strengthening emergency and safety arrangements. He said the hospital was facing a heavy patient load and the ministry would be approached to strengthen the referral system, enabling patients to receive treatment at other suitable healthcare facilities and reducing pressure on PIMS. The new executive director said efforts would also be made to improve the overall working environment, management and quality of healthcare services at the country’s major public-sector hospital. Earlier, Dr Muhammad Salman, Chief Executive Officer, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, was transferred and placed at the disposal of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences as Executive Director (BS-21) on deputation basis for a period of three years. Dr Salman will also hold the additional charge of the post of Chief Executive Officer, National Institute of Health, Islamabad till suitable arrangements are made, a notification of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said.

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02 NEWS

PAKISTAN MOVES TO EXPAND STRATEGIC FUEL RESERVES AMID ENERGY-SECURITY PUSH

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Monday, 31 August, 2026 | KARACHI

PETROLEUM MINISTER CALLS FOR STRONGER STORAGE AND SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE AS GOVT SEEKS INVESTMENT AND SECTOR REFORMS the company had contributed to stability in the country’s petroleum supply chain. He said the government would continue supporting the modernisation of the petroleum sector and development of infrastructure to improve energy security and operational efficiency. The minister also stressed the importance of expanding strategic storage, strengthening the supply chain and using digital technologies to improve efficiency and responsiveness across the sector. At a separate meeting with OICCI representatives, Malik briefed senior Chamber officials, industry stakeholders and foreign investors on government initiatives concerning petroleum-sector reforms, exploration and refining infrastructure. He pointed to bonded storage and strategic petroleum reserve initiatives as measures being pursued to strengthen the country’s energy security.

PROFIT

Web Desk

AKISTAN is looking to expand its strategic petroleum storage capacity and reinforce fuel-supply infrastructure as the government steps up efforts to strengthen energy security. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik highlighted the need for greater storage capacity and a more resilient petroleum supply chain during separate meetings with Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) in Karachi. At PSO House, the minister held discussions with the company’s management on national energy security, fuel-supply infrastructure, strategic storage, supply-chain resilience and digital transformation. Malik appreciated PSO’s role in maintaining uninterrupted fuel supplies and said

ABAD urges govt to create dedicated construction zones across Pakistan PROFIT

Web Desk

The Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) has urged the government to establish dedicated construction zones across the country, including Karachi, as part of efforts to increase housing supply and stimulate construction activity. Speaking at an event, ABAD Chairman Muhammad Hasan Bakshi said the housing market continued to face a shortage of units despite banks approving between 30,000 and 40,000 housing-finance applications. He said ABAD had repeatedly raised the need to strengthen the supply side of the housing market in meetings chaired by the prime minister, arguing that buyers should not have to make instalment payments for decades while projects take a similarly long period to complete. Bakshi also called for simplifying housing facilities for overseas Pakistanis, saying more than 10 million Pakistanis living abroad should be provided easier opportunities to build homes and invest in the country. He said under-construction buildings would become eligible for housing finance for the first time, describing the measure as a positive development and urging builders and the public to take advantage of the scheme. Meezan Bank CEO Syed Amir Ali said the bank had received housing-finance applications exceeding Rs22 billion under the prime minister’s Apna Ghar Housing Scheme, of which around Rs4bn had been disbursed.

The minister said reforms were being pursued across exploration, refining and downstream markets, while engagement with industry stakeholders would continue to address practical challenges and improve conditions for domestic and foreign invest-

ment. OICCI members identified policy consistency, predictability in the tax framework, transparency and adequate security as key requirements for improving investor confidence. OICCI President Yousaf Hussain said

Pakistan makes record Rs1.2tr early repayment of domestic debt

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CUMULATIVE PRE-MATURITY DEBT RETIREMENT EXCEEDS RS5.92TR AS GOVT SEEKS TO REDUCE ROLLOVER AND FUTURE DEBT-SERVICING RISKS

PROFIT

Web Desk

Pakistan has retired Rs1.2 trillion of domestic debt ahead of its scheduled maturity, the largest single early repayment made so far, Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said. The latest repayment, made in August 2026, takes the total domestic debt retired before maturity since October 2024 to more than Rs5.92tr, according to figures released by the adviser. Schehzad said the latest transaction

FY2026, with Rs122bn retired in November 2025, Rs494bn in December, Rs300bn in January 2026, Rs595bn in April and Rs279bn in May. The government then retired another Rs1.2tr in August 2026. The pace of repayments has accelerated over the period. Schehzad said Rs1.8tr was retired ahead of maturity in FY2025, while the amount rose to Rs2.9tr in FY2026, an increase of around 62pc. A further Rs1.2tr has already been retired before maturity in FY2027, he added. According to Schehzad, the government is using improved fiscal space to retire liabilities before they fall due as part of a broader shift towards active sovereign liability management. He said the approach was aimed at reducing refinancing and rollover risks, lowering future debt-servicing pressures and strengthening the country’s public debt profile. Schehzad said the government was increasingly moving from managing debt only as maturities arise towards actively strengthening the sovereign balance sheet.

exceeded the previous record early repayment of Rs1.133tr made in August 2025. He said the increase in early repayments reflected a shift towards more active management of the government’s domestic debt. The government’s pre-maturity repayments began in October 2024, when Rs826 billion was retired, followed by Rs200bn in November 2024 and Rs273bn in March 2025. It subsequently retired Rs500bn in June 2025 and Rs1.133tr in August 2025. Early repayments continued into

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia set $3b target for agricultural, food exports PROFIT

Web Desk

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have set a target of $3 billion for Pakistan’s agricultural and food exports to the Kingdom over the next two years, with both sides identifying several sectors for expanded trade and investment. The target formed part of discussions during a Saudi delegation’s threeday visit to Islamabad from August 26 to 28, according to a joint statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Sunday. The Saudi delegation, headed by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng Abdulrahman A. Alfadley, comprised senior officials from the ministry, the General Food Security Authority and related entities. Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain led the Pakistani side, which included senior government officials and representatives of the private sector. The two sides identified rice, red meat, fruits and fruit concentrates, green

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KINGDOM SEEKS HIGHER RICE AND RED MEAT IMPORTS AS BOTH SIDES IDENTIFY FRUITS, FODDER AND AGRI-PROCESSING FOR INVESTMENT

fodder and water-efficient agricultural technologies as priority areas for expanding bilateral trade and investment, particularly through Saudi private-sector participation. Saudi Arabia expressed interest in increasing its imports of Pakistani rice. Pakistan supplied around 169,000 tonnes of rice worth $163 million to the Kingdom in 2025, according to the PMO. The Saudi side also expressed interest in gradually doubling its imports of Pakistani red meat. Pakistan currently exports around 30,000 tonnes of red meat to Saudi Arabia annually, valued at approximately $167m. For the fruit and fruit-concentrate sectors, both countries agreed to facilitate business-to-business linkages and matchmaking and encouraged steps towards mutual recognition of quality certifications. Green fodder was identified as an-

The plot against Imran City Notes M.A. NiAzi NDIA might end up invading Sri Lanka, after the Indian cricket team failed to finish off Sri Lanka in the 2nd Test, and the match ended in a draw. This is the result, Modi must be telling Amit Shah, of making a Sikh captain of the team, even though he is a mona, and thus not flaunting his faith in everyone’s face. On the other hand, Pakistan is not doing so well either. Modi must be happy with how the World Cup hockey match with Pakistan going down 5-3 in their pool match, and the Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring twice. Abhishek also scored twice. It’s not that Pakistan didn’t make it past the group stage, but they lost the one match they had been sent to win. That they ended up in 11th place is not good, but forgivable. What is not forgivable is that thety ended up lower than India, which ended in 8th place.

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other area with potential for increased trade and the development of long-term supply partnerships. The two sides also welcomed the completion of the first phase of a waterefficient irrigation programme in Bhakkar, Punjab, and expressed interest in a second phase focused on small farmers. Pakistan welcomed a Saudi proposal encouraging the country to join the International Dates Council. Investment proposals from Pakistani private-sector companies in livestock, agri-food processing and the rice value chain were also reviewed, with both sides agreeing to continue coordination on the projects. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately met the Saudi delegation during its visit and discussed potential areas of bilateral cooperation. The Saudi delegation also visited the

Sikhs the world over must be pretty happy because both the hockey and cricket teams have Sikh captains. Wonder who is captain of the Indian national tiddlywinks team? The BJP has got to be careful about who is captain, because he might one day become Prime Minister. Well, I suspect that the captain of our tiddlywinks team is some amalgam of Babar Azam and Shan Masood. Shan, having scored a century in the First Test against the West Indies, has now secured himself against being dropped from the side for the rest of this season. It matters not that he made all of 1 in Pakistan’s 1st innings of 110, remaining 99 short of his 100. Babar did not quite make amends, betting out for 8, not just 92 runs short of his century, but 2 short of double-figures. But another captain, one who not only got onto the same page but then fell off, Imran Khan, should be credited and congratulated for having escaped yet another attempt on his life. At the same time, there should be soul searching among the PTI faithful on how they missed the obvious. There has been a lot of wailing, of

National Agricultural Research Centre and held meetings with the Special Investment Facilitation Council, Fauji Foundation and the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Agri Business Forum. The PMO said the visit had made significant progress in agricultural cooperation, attributing the development to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s patronage and personal interest. It said the discussions also reflected the alignment between Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 food-security priorities and Pakistan’s agricultural export potential. Pakistan has been invited to participate in the 43rd Saudi Agriculture Exhibition, which is scheduled to be held in Riyadh from October 19 to 22, 2026. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the visit and agreed to continue coordination to translate the agreed areas of cooperation into practical initiatives.

rending of clothes and gnashing of teeth, at the death of 14 newnorn infants at PIMS in a fire. But that was actually an attempt on Imean’s life. Note the timeline. The Supreme Court orders that he undergo tests at Shifa Eye Hospital. Instead he is taken to {IMS. Within days, there is a fire there, which kills the infants, but fails to kill Imran, who has been taken away after the tests. Isn’t the time lag too much? Not where the attempted assassins are concerned. You see, the mastermind of the operation wouldn’t set off the fire. It would be some underling. He was given the order late, and he got no countermanding order. So he did what had to be done. Why is the entire PTI trying to conceal this latest attempt by their silence? Is there some deal going on? (Deals can involve attempts on one’s life.) Unless there is a deal going on, Imran’s life is in danger. Or maybe the government is trying to cover up the whole matter, because the USA is behind it, and it does not want diplomatic relations ruptured. The only man in the PTI who has spoken of the attempt, KP CM Sohail Afridi is the only speaker of truth to power who said that it may have been part of a murder plot. However, he did not speak forthrightly. Perhaps he is trying to prepare an-

other daring rescue attempt from Adiala Jail, perhaps involving digging a tunnel. Or if not a tunnel, leading a cavalry charge on the jail. He has been prevented from forming a Release Imran Force by the shortsightedness of our courts, but that is a man to watch. Ali Amin Gandapur lacked enough courage, and besides was to be found under various tables or behind sofas in CM House, to do anything. Nobody in the PTI cares how Afridi runs the

the petroleum sector played an important role in Pakistan’s economic activity and investment ecosystem. He welcomed the government’s engagement with the business community and said sustained dialogue could help resolve industry issues and support reforms and investment. OICCI Chief Executive and Secretary General M. Abdul Aleem said a predictable regulatory and commercial environment was particularly important for foreign investors making long-term investment decisions. He said continued government-industry engagement and timely resolution of outstanding matters could further improve investor confidence and encourage investment in Pakistan’s petroleum sector. The OICCI reiterated its commitment to working with the government and other stakeholders on policies aimed at promoting investment, energy security and sustainable growth.

PTA sets 180-day minimum validity for prepaid balances

Telcos barred from forfeiting expired credit as regulator moves to protect unused subscriber balances from Oct 1 PROFIT

Web Desk

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has ordered telecom operators to provide a minimum 180-day validity for prepaid recharge and balance amounts, with the new requirement set to take effect from October 1. The regulator issued the directive after receiving multiple complaints from subscribers over the forfeiture of unused prepaid balances when their validity periods expired. Under the determination, any balance that expires will have to be automatically restored and made available for use when the subscriber makes a subsequent recharge during the active life of the SIM. The PTA also directed all three telecom operators to follow a uniform policy and prohibited them from engaging in unfair commercial practices while implementing the decision. Subscribers had complained that operators were not carrying forward unused balances after subsequent recharges. They argued that the practice placed an undue financial burden on consumers, particularly those with lower incomes. A senior PTA official said complaints had specifically been lodged against Zong and Telenor Pakistan, which has since been acquired by PTCL. The official said the complaints also concerned requirements for consumers to maintain a certain balance while their SIMs remained active. Failure to maintain the required amount could eventually result in cancellation of the SIM, according to the official. The PTA's determination requires the 180-day minimum validity for any recharge or balance amount in accordance with the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations. The regulator said the measure was particularly relevant given that around 97 per cent of subscribers in Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan use prepaid connections. Meanwhile, a Jazz official said a SIM's active period was 90 days, followed by a 180-day quarantine period. After that period, the number could be recycled and ownership transferred to another person. The official said Jazz also maintained a recycling policy under which a SIM could remain dormant for up to 720 days before being recycled. “After this period, a dormant SIM is allowed to be totally recycled, and the previous owner can no longer claim any rights over the recycled SIM,” the official said. Zong and Ufone/Telenor did not respond to queries regarding the PTA's decision.

province. What counts is whether he can get Imran released or not. One of the considerations that Afridi might have before he makes his move is the weather. Is the monsoon a good time to launch a rescue attempt? The floodwater might be too strong, sweeping all before it, as in China and Nepal these days, with dead bodies flooding all the way to India. If the rescue attempt involves a helicopter, the weather rules it out.

INDIA’S MOVE TO HOLD IWT IN ABEYANCE BREACHES INTERNATIONAL LAW: EXPERTS

Monday, 31 August, 2026 | ISLAMABAD

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EGAL experts, diplomats and international researchers have warned that India’s decision to hold the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance constitute a breach of international law and pose serious threats to regional stability and security. The experts expressed these views during a webinar titled “Violation of the Indus Waters Treaty by India”, organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) here Sunday. The panelists cautioned that the move, announced in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and reinforced by the closure of the Baglihar Dam’s sluiced gates on the Chenab River, amounts to the

‘Bonds of The Heart’: PM vows to deepen strategic partnership with Turkiye

weaponisation of water and sets a dangerous precedent for transboundary rivers across South Asia. According to figures cited during the session, the closure sharply reduced Chenab flows into Pakistan at the Marala measuring point, threatening the livelihoods of tens of millions of farmers in Punjab and Sindh and placing a significant share of regional crops at risk. International law expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi argued that the IWT is a self-standing international instrument containing no provision for unilateral abeyance, suspension, or withdrawal. He said India’s attempt to tie the treaty to allegations of cross-border terrorism has no basis in its text, noting that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism compliance has repeatedly been assessed by bodies including the Financial

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“The 30th of August commemorates the historic victory secured under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, which laid the foundations of the modern Turkish Republic. Pakistan joins its Turkish brothers and sisters in honoring this proud legacy of courage and national resolve,” Sharif said. “May the abiding friendship and brotherhood between Pakistan and Türkiye continue to flourish for generations to come.”

PRESIDENT REAFFIRM PAKISTANTÜRKIYE STRATEGIC BROTHERHOOD: Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari also extended warm greetings to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the brotherly people of Turkiye on the occasion of the country’s Victory Day, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment…

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye hold first MJDA strategic defence meeting tomorrow CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

STRATEGIC DIRECTION FOR TRILATERAL DEFENCE PACT: According to Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, the Strategic Political and Defense Committee was envisaged to provide strategic direction for activities to be carried out under the trilateral pact. “The meeting is expected to address international security issues, as well as efforts to develop defense capabilities and promote greater interoperability among the armed forces of the three countries,” Anadolu reported. The three countries are also expected to discuss deepening defence industry cooperation, including joint production and research and development, as well as strengthening joint counterterrorism efforts, it said. Pakistan has repeatedly clarified that the trilateral pact is defensive in nature and is not directed against any country. It has also said that other states can join the pact provided they are willing to uphold its fundamental principles. DAR TO ATTEND REGIONAL-4 MEETING: Separately, Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had invited Dar to the Regional-4 meeting in Istanbul, which includes the three countries party to the defence pact along with Egypt. Dar had confirmed his participation in the meeting, which was scheduled to take place in August, the FO had said. The R-4 group has been focused on regional security and emerged in March amid efforts for mediation between the US and Iran. The last R-4 meeting was held on August 5 in Amman, where the ministers “reaffirmed the importance of continued consultation and close coordination among the four countries in advancing regional stability”, according to the FO. Prior to that, a Cairo meeting held in June welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran. The first and second R-4 meetings — both held in March — took place in Riyadh and Islamabad, respectively.

Action Task Force and mechanisms of the UN Security Council. On that basis he described India’s action as a potential breach of its treaty obligations. Advocate Feisal Naqvi examined Pakistan’s legal options. He observed that the existing Court of Arbitration may not, as currently constituted, carry a full mandate to rule on the question of abeyance, and suggested Pakistan seek an authoritative advisory opinion from distinguished international legal scholars and publish it to engage the global legal community. He also advised pursuing separate adjudication on the legality of the abeyance while constructively addressing India’s stated technical concerns, such as sediment management. Ms. Margarida Gama, a PhD researcher in International Politics and Conflict Resolution at the University of

Coimbra and the Centre for Social Studies and a Fellow of Portugal’s Foundation for Science and Technology, characterised the Baglihar closure as water weaponisation through deprivation. Drawing on her research into hydropolitics and India’s control of Chenab flows, she framed it as part of a longer “continuum of water violence,” warning that the precedent carries implications for India’s other shared basins with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, and exposes a gap in international water law. In concluding remarks, IPRI’s leadership stressed that Pakistan must mobilise the international community to raise the political and moral costs of India’s actions and reaffirm the sanctity of binding international treaties, describing the matter as a humanitarian and security concern warranting urgent global attention.

PM&DC concludes national medical education workshop ISLAMABAD

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The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has concluded a three-day national workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of medical and dental institutions. The workshop was arranged to design and implement a credible, sustainable and quality-assured Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development (CME/CPD) system. The workshop, titled Designing High-Impact CME/CPD: From Concept to Completion, brought together institutional leaders, medical educationists, faculty members and representatives of medical and dental institutions from across the country. Parliamentary Secretary for National Heritage and Culture Ms Farah Naz Akbar attended the closing ceremony as chief guest, along with PM&DC President Prof Dr Rizwan Taj, Registrar Brig Dr Rehan Naqvi, faculty members, participants and senior officials. Addressing the ceremony, Prof Dr Rizwan Taj highlighted the importance

of CME/CPD in ensuring that healthcare professionals remain abreast of developments in medical science and clinical practice. He said PM&DC was committed to developing a CME/CPD system aligned with international best practices and aimed at ensuring that Pakistani doctors and dentists remain among the most up-to-date healthcare professionals in terms of knowledge, skills and professional practice. The PM&DC president also appreciated Dr Natasha of Aga Khan University, who served as facilitator throughout the workshop, for her expertise and contribution to guiding participants on effective CME/CPD design, implementation and evaluation. Chief Guest Farah Naz Akbar appreciated PM&DC’s initiative and commended Prof Dr Rizwan Taj for his vision and leadership in strengthening the regulatory framework for medical and dental education and professional development. Registrar Brig Dr Rehan Naqvi acknowledged the leadership of the PM&DC president and highlighted key

milestones achieved by the Council during his tenure. He said the CME/CPD initiative represented another important step towards strengthening professional standards and promoting continuous learning among registered medical and dental practitioners. The workshop covered the complete CME/CPD cycle, including identification of professional practice gaps and educational needs, development of measurable learning objectives, educational design, integrity and independence, outcome evaluation, governance, documentation, monitoring and quality assurance. Participants welcomed the practical approach of the workshop and expressed interest in continued engagement with PM&DC and similar capacity-building initiatives. PM&DC said the initiative was part of its broader efforts to establish a transparent, credible and internationally aligned CME/CPD framework aimed at supporting lifelong learning, professional competence, improved patient care and greater global recognition of Pakistani medical and dental professionals.

Saving Pakistan’s Future: Why Environmental Sciences matters? MULTAN APP

Scorching heatwaves, declining groundwater levels, air pollution, soil degradation and increasingly unpredictable floods are no longer distant environmental warnings for Pakistan. They are becoming part of everyday life, creating an urgent need for professionally trained environmental scientists capable of understanding these challenges and developing practical solutions. The situation is particularly evident across the Punjab plains, including Multan, where rising temperatures, water scarcity, changing weather patterns and environmental degradation are increasingly affecting agriculture, public health and livelihoods, creating a pressing challenge for communities. Despite this growing challenge, Environmental Science remains a relatively less preferred academic choice among Pakistani students. Medicine, engineering, computer science and business continue to dominate career discussions in many households, while environmental sciences often receive comparatively little attention, silently remaining on the margins of academic priorities. Experts believe this perception needs to change as environmental protection, climate adaptation, sustainable development and natural resource management become increasingly important for Pakistan’s economic and social future. Chairman Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences at Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan,(MNSUAM) Dr Tanveer ul Haq, said Pakistan urgently needed a new generation

of professionals capable of addressing environmental challenges through scientific knowledge and practical solutions. “Environmental problems are no longer confined to laboratories or research institutions. They directly affect our agriculture, water resources, food security, public health and livelihoods. We therefore need trained environmental scientists who can translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions,” he said. Dr Tanveer said environmental education should be viewed as an investment in the country’s future rather than simply another academic discipline. Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change makes environmental expertise particularly important. Water stress, soil degradation, pollution, extreme weather events and growing pressure on agricultural resources require professionals with interdisciplinary knowledge of soil, water, air, ecosystems and climate. The Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences at MNSUAM offers a BSc (Hons) Environmental Sciences programme designed to prepare students for this emerging field. The programme combines scientific knowledge with practical and field-based learning in areas including ecology, soil science, environmental chemistry, water resources, climate science, environmental management, policy and environmental law. A BSc fifth-semester student, Manahil Yasmeen, said her studies had changed her understanding of the environmental problems facing society. “Environmental Science is not simply about studying pollution or climate change. It helps us understand how human activities affect soil, water, air and ecosystems

and how scientific knowledge can be used to protect them,” she said. Manahil said more students should consider Environmental Science as a career option because its relevance was increasing with every passing year. “Students should not choose a field only because it is traditionally considered successful. They should also look at the challenges the country and the world will face in the future. Environmental Science gives us an opportunity to contribute to solving some of the most serious problems of our time,” Manahil added. Contrary to the common perception that Environmental Science offers limited employment opportunities, the field is becoming increasingly relevant to governments, industries, development organizations and international institutions. Environmental impact assessments, pollution control, water-resource management, climate adaptation, environmental monitoring, waste management, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy planning and corporate sustainability are among the areas creating demand for qualified professionals. In Pakistan, environmental scientists can find opportunities in environmental protection agencies, irrigation and watermanagement organizations, agriculture and forestry departments, research institutions, NGOs, industries, engineering and construction companies and environmental consultancy firms. Environmental regulations have also increased the importance of professionals capable of conducting Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and other environmental compliance processes.

NEWS 03

Pakistan in 2047 will be in the hands of today’s youth, says Sindh Governor

KARACHI

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The Governor of Sindh Syed Muhammad Nehal Hashmi, addressing the fifth graduation ceremony of Denning Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship, said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a great leader of the subcontinent who, through his political vision, struggle and leadership, secured an independent homeland for the Muslims. He said that had Quaid-e-Azam not participated in politics, the creation of Pakistan would not have been possible. The Governor said that the Muslims of the subcontinent exercised the power of their vote and opinion, which ultimately led to the establishment of Pakistan. He said that today’s youth should also exercise their right to vote responsibly and play their role in the country’s democratic process. Hashmi said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan had given special importance to youth in his priorities. Through the Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub, opportunities for loans, scholarships, employment, training and other facilities are available for young people. He urged the youth to make full use of these opportunities. He said that under the Prime Minister’s Vision 2047, youth had been placed at the center of Pakistan’s future. The message of this vision is that “we must not lose.” Pakistan in 2047 will be in the hands of today’s youth, therefore, young people should make education, technology, skills and character their strengths. The Governor of Sindh said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the leadership of the Field Marshal, Pakistan successfully defeated an enemy many times. He said that today the world was looking towards Pakistan for peace, while the Makkah Agreement aimed at promoting peace was an important step in this direction. Congratulating the graduates, the Governor Sindh said that obtaining a degree was not the end but the beginning of a new journey in practical life.

FIA deports 20 foreigners over illegal call centre activities ISLAMABAD

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The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has deported another 20 foreign nationals in connection with a case involving the alleged sale of inappropriate content through a call centre. The deported Chinese nationals were reportedly found to have violated Pakistan’s visa regulations. Their names have also been placed on the blacklist, preventing them from re-entering the country. The latest deportations bring the number of foreign nationals sent back in connection with the case to at least 34. Earlier, 14 Vietnamese nationals were also deported. According to authorities, all of the foreign nationals involved were found to have violated Pakistan’s visa policy during their stay in the country. The FIA continues to investigate the alleged call centre activities and related violations. Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) were arrested 275 foreign nationals during a joint raid in Islamabad’s sector I-10 for running an illegal call centre, officials say. The arrested foreigners included Chinese nationals and citizens of other countries, FIA said. The call centre management was found to be involved in the preparation of immodest material, officials said. “Foreign woman and man were recruited for preparation of indecent material”. The FIA has registered a case under the Foreign Act, while the NCCIA has booked the accused under the PECA Act. All foreign nationals had entered Pakistan on visit or business visas, FIA said. The authorities decided to send 76 foreigners back to their countries immediately. “The exit permits of the arrested accused under the process of preparation,” sources added.

New PIMS chief vows immediate corrective measures to prevent recurrence of tragedy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

An inquiry committee formed earlier under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s directive over the PIMS tragic incident submitted its report with recommendations, which were endorsed, and the prime minister further directed for their immediate implementation. According to a set of notifications, Dr Altaf Hussain (BS-20), Professor of ENT, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, has been assigned additional charge of Joint Executive Director (BS-20), non-medical. Dr Nuzhat Yasmeen, Professor (BS20/Paediatrics Medicine), PIMS, has been assigned additional charge of Joint Executive Director (BS-20), Children Hospital, PIMS. Dr Shumaila, Associate Professor, Obs/Gynae (BS-19), MCII, PIMS, has been given the current charge of Professor and Head of Department Obs/Gynae (BS-20), MCII. Dr Rehmana Waris, Assistant Professor (BS-18), Paediatrics, PIMS, has been granted the current charge of Associate Professor Paediatrics, Children Hospital, while

Dr Amina, Medical Officer (BS-17), Paediatrics, PIMS, has been given the charge of Senior Registrar (BS-18), Department Obs/Gynae, MCH. They will hold the charges for a period of three months or until the availability of regular incumbents, whichever is earlier, with immediate effect and until further orders. Separately, a notification also issued placing Hassan Ashraf (BS-17), Assistant Registrar (UG), Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, as additional charge of Assistant Director Security (BS-17) for a period of three months or till availability of regular incumbent, whichever is earlier, with immediate effect and until further orders. The ministry also issued notifications regarding the immediate suspension of PIMS staff who were named in the recommendations of the inquiry committee. Prof. Dr Rana Imran Sikandar, Executive Director (BS-21), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences; Ch. Waris Au Raza, Joint Executive Director (BS-20) (Non-Medical), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr Nosheela Amjad, Professor and Head of De-

partment Obs/Gynae (BS-20), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr Mutahir Shah (BS-19), Deputy Executive Director, presently posted as Joint Executive Director, Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr Nagam Nawaz, Senior Registrar (BS-18), Department Obs/Gynae, MCH; Dr Saadia Riaz, Associate Professor of Paediatrics (BS-19), Children Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences; Muhammad Usman, Assistant Director Security (BS-17), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, stood suspended.

POLICE AWAIT GOVERNMENT ORDERS ON FIR REGISTRATION: Meanwhile, the matter of criminal proceedings over the deaths of 14 children at PIMS Hospital remains undecided, as written orders for legal action have not yet been issued, ARY News reported, citing sources. The Ministry of Health has also not taken a final decision on initiating criminal proceedings in the case. Police are waiting for a formal complaint from the ministry before proceeding further, sources said.

According to sources, police are awaiting government directions on whether an FIR will be registered in connection with the tragedy. Police have already prepared an initial report under Section 174 regarding the incident. Sources said the legal consultation process was still underway and a formal complaint would be prepared after a final decision was taken. There is also a possibility that the already registered Section 174 report may be converted into a formal case, sources said. Once the report is converted into an FIR, a formal investigation into the deaths will begin, according to sources. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered criminal proceedings against those held responsible for a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad that killed newborn babies. The prime minister chaired a meeting on the incident after an interim report by an investigation committee was presented to him, according to an official statement. The committee identified eight people for immediate suspension. Those suspended

include PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Tahir Shah and Dr Owais Shah, and head of the neonatal department Professor Dr Saadia Riaz. Senior registrars Dr Naghma and Dr Nousheela Amjad, PIMS Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman, and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rahman have also been suspended. Shehbaz Sharif also directed authorities to take action against those responsible under criminal law, saying there would be no leniency for anyone found guilty of criminal negligence. “The people responsible for this incident will be brought to justice,” the prime minister said, according to the statement. He said the deaths of the innocent children were a “tragic incident” that had left the entire nation grieving and expressed his condolences to the victims’ families. He also ordered action against the security company deployed at the hospital and its officials.

04 COMMENT

When the Supreme Court speaks, who must obey?

Rethink energy deals

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AKISTAN’S energy policy is confronting a problem of its own making: contracts designed for an older energy system are becoming increasingly expensive in a market being transformed by solar power. The government must recognise this shift before rigid long-term commitments turn into another source of circular debt and higher electricity prices. The rapid expansion of solar generation is no longer a marginal development. An estimated 50GW of solar capacity has been deployed across utility-scale projects, net-metered systems, agriculture and behind-the-meter installations. Its emergence has fundamentally altered electricity demand, particularly during daylight hours when gas-fired generation can become less economical. Yet Pakistan’s LNG commitments were negotiated on assumptions that did not foresee such a dramatic change in consumption patterns. This makes the country’s take-or-pay arrangements especially problematic. Such contracts can provide supply security, but they also transfer demand risk to an already financially constrained buyer. If Pakistan is obliged to pay for gas it no longer needs, the cost does not disappear. It ultimately finds its way into power tariffs, public finances or the circular debt. The answer, however, is not to abandon LNG. Gas will remain important for balancing an electricity system increasingly dependent on intermittent renewable generation. The sensible approach is to make the gas portfolio more flexible. Future procurement should favour shorter-term and spot-market purchases where commercially viable, while existing contracts should be examined for opportunities to renegotiate delivery schedules, volumes and other terms. The government must also resist the temptation to treat solar and gas as competing technologies. They perform different functions. Solar can provide cheap daytime electricity, while gas-fired plants can supply flexibility when renewable output falls. The policy objective should therefore be an integrated system in which each resource is used where it makes the greatest economic sense. This requires a corresponding overhaul of the electricity market. Pakistan cannot encourage distributed solar while leaving the grid and pricing structures designed around centralised fossil-fuel generation. Better forecasting, flexible power plants, storage and demand management will be essential. Surplus solar electricity should also be used productively, including through storage and potentially green hydrogen or other emerging technologies where these become commercially viable. Most importantly, policymakers must stop making energy decisions in isolation. LNG procurement, power generation, transmission investment and rooftop solar policy are interconnected. A contract that appears sensible from a gassupply perspective may become ruinous when viewed against changing electricity demand. Pakistan has been given an unusual opportunity by the rapid, largely unsubsidised spread of solar power. Rather than regarding this disruption as a problem, policymakers should use it to reduce the country’s exposure to volatile international fuel prices. That will require uncomfortable decisions on existing contracts, but postponing them will only make the eventual bill larger. The sun has changed Pakistan’s energy equation. Government policy must now catch up.

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Pakistan’s long struggle between judicial authority and government power MuhaMMaD Ibn e aMIn

hat happens when a superior court issues an order and the government disagrees with how that order should be implemented? In a constitutional democracy, this is not merely a political dispute. It is a question about judicial authority, executive power and the rule of law. Pakistan has faced this tension repeatedly—from Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan and State v. Dosso to Asma Jilani, the restoration of Nawaz Sharif’s government in 1993, the Gilani contempt proceedings, the 2022 National Assembly crisis and the reserved-seats litigation of 2024–25. The latest dispute over Imran Khan’s medical treatment is another chapter in this longer constitutional story.

THE 2026 HOSPITAL DISPUTE: On 18 August 2026, the Supreme Court directed authorities to transfer former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment, with specialist involvement and access to his personal physician. The government subsequently said security concerns affected the arrangements and defended the medical examination carried out at PIMS. Government officials rejected allegations of medical neglect. PTI and Khan’s family took a different position, arguing that the Court’s directions had not been properly implemented. On 22 August, Khan’s sister Dr Uzma Khan filed a contempt petition seeking proceedings against officials over alleged non-compliance. The distinction is important: a contempt petition is an allegation, not a judicial finding. The legal question remains for the Court to determine.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK: Pakistan’s constitutional structure has changed since many of these historical cases were decided. The TwentySeventh Constitutional Amendment of 2025 established the Federal Constitutional Court and changed the distribution of constitutional judicial authority. Article 189 now addresses the binding effect of decisions of both the Federal Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, while Article 190 requires executive and judicial authorities to act in aid of both courts. The basic principle is clear: disagreement with a judicial decision does not ordinarily give an executive authority a general right to disregard a binding order. At the same time, disagreement itself is not automatically contempt. Governments can use lawful remedies, including review or requests for clarification or modification where the law permits.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

TORY: In Federation of Pakistan v. Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan (PLD 1955 FC 240), the Federal Court dealt with the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and questions concerning the Governor-General’s powers. The case became a foundational episode in Pakistan’s constitutional history. In The State v. Dosso (PLD 1958 SC 533), the Supreme Court used revolutionary-legality reasoning to recognize the legal consequences of the new order following the 1958 military takeover. The judgment later became highly controversial. In Asma Jilani v. Government of Punjab (PLD 1972 SC 139), the Supreme Court rejected the approach associated with Dosso and treated Yahya Khan’s assumption of power as unlawful. In Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif v. President of Pakistan (PLD 1993 SC 473), the Supreme Court rejected the dissolution of the National Assembly and restored the elected government, demonstrating the practical force of judicial review. The Gilani contempt proceedings provide another important lesson. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was convicted of contempt in 2012 after refusing to act on a Supreme Court direction concerning the Swiss cases. The case became an important example of the distinction between challenging a judgment through lawful procedures and simply refusing to comply with it. The 2022 National Assembly crisis again placed judicial review at the centre of a constitutional dispute. The reserved-seats litigation of 2024–25 offers a different lesson: judicial decisions can be challenged and reconsidered through the judicial process.

A NEUTRAL ASSESSMENT: The present hospital controversy should not be reduced to “PTI versus the government.” The Court issued directions concerning Khan’s medical treatment. The government says security circumstances affected implementation. PTI says the government failed to follow the specific order. A contempt petition has now placed the dispute before the Court. An independent analysis should not prejudge the outcome. It would be inaccurate to say that the government has already been found guilty of contempt, just as it would be premature to declare that its conduct has definitively been held lawful. Those are mat-

When the state loses its reach M. A. Niazi

Babar Nizami

Editor Pakistan Today

Editor Profit

The state must do its job

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Dr Zafar Khan SafDar

state does not collapse when a militant seizes a police station. It begins to collapse when ordinary citizens stop believing the state can protect them. That is the uncomfortable question Maulana Fazlur Rehman has posed before Pakistan. Speaking in Parliament, the JUI(F) chief described parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan where the state’s authority has, in his words, been severely weakened. His warning may be politically inconvenient, but the right response to an uncomfortable claim is not outrage. It is verification. If even part of his description reflects reality, Pakistan is confronting something deeper than another wave of terrorism. It is confronting the slow retreat of the state itself. The broader security picture gives that warning added weight. In 2025, Pakistan recorded 1,045 terrorist incidents and 1,139 terrorism-related deaths, making it the world’s most terrorism-affected country in the 2026 Global Terrorism Index. The violence has intensified further in 2026, with KP and Balochistan remaining the principal theatres. These figures do not, by themselves, prove Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s claim about the weakening of state authority. But they reveal the environment in which that warning must be examined. The real question is no longer simply how many attacks Pakistan can withstand, but how far the state can still reach the citizen when violence becomes persistent and authority is repeatedly challenged. Military force is indispensable when the state faces armed groups. No government can surrender territory to militants in the name of political accommodation. But military action, however necessary, cannot by itself eliminate the conditions that allow militancy to return. Fighters can be killed, networks dismantled and territory cleared, yet the challenge can re-emerge if the state fails to provide security, justice, representation and effective governance. This is where Pakistan’s problem becomes fundamentally political. Security operations may suppress violence, but only a state that is more capable, more legitimate and more present in people’s daily lives can make that authority durable.

LESSONS FROM CONSTITUTIONAL HIS-

The challenge is especially acute in KP and Balochistan, where generations have lived through war, displacement, militancy and counterterrorism operations, while grievances over political representation, resources, development and state authority have accumulated over decades. When citizens encounter the state mainly through security operations but experience little effective governance in their daily lives, the distance between citizen and state becomes dangerously wide. That is the space in which insurgencies find room to grow, distrust takes root and armed groups can exploit the perception that the state is absent, ineffective or indifferent. The danger, therefore, is not only that militants challenge the state by force, but that prolonged failure of governance can gradually weaken the public confidence on which state authority ultimately rests. The answer, therefore, cannot be another operation followed by another, nor another committee or press conference insisting that everything is under control. The state must restore the ordinary meaning of government. Schools must open safely, doctors must reach hospitals, traders must travel, farmers must reach their fields and police officers must enforce the law without negotiating with armed groups. Above all, citizens must know that when they call the state for protection, the state will come. That is what writ means, not an abstract constitutional phrase, but the everyday experience of effective government. This also matters to the debate over new provinces. Administrative reorganisation may improve representation and service delivery, but it cannot substitute for functioning government. A new map cannot repair a broken chain of command, nor can a new capital restore public confidence. The more fundamental question is where the state is present, and where it is absent. That question requires evidence, not assurances, district by district, tehsil by tehsil and, where necessary, village by village. The government should know where police stations func-

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Karachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I

ters for judicial determination.

THE RULE OF LAW TEST: The deeper constitutional question is not whether one supports Imran Khan, PTI or the present government. It is whether the same institutional rules apply regardless of who benefits. A government has a legitimate right to disagree with a judicial decision and to challenge it through lawful procedures. But that is different from unilaterally deciding not to comply with a binding order. At the same time, courts must distinguish deliberate disobedience from genuine disputes about interpretation, implementation, security or factual circumstances. Not every disagreement is contempt. The rule of law therefore requires two things at once: respect for binding judicial authority and respect for lawful mechanisms through which judicial decisions can be challenged.

CONCLUSION: Pakistan’s constitutional history shows that the relationship between courts and governments has never been simple. Judicial decisions have sometimes limited executive power, sometimes been revised by later courts, and sometimes become part of wider political crises. The 2026 dispute over Imran Khan’s medical treatment is important not because it should determine which political side is right, but because it raises a recurring constitutional question: what should happen when the executive and judiciary disagree? The answer should not depend on political affiliation. If the government believes a judicial order is wrong, it should use the legal remedies available to it. If a party believes the government has failed to comply, it can ask the competent court to determine whether non-compliance occurred. Until that determination is made, neutral analysis should distinguish facts from allegations and political claims from judicial findings. The real test of the rule of law is whether constitutional institutions follow the same rules when the outcome is politically convenient—and when it is not. That principle belongs to no political party. It belongs to the constitutional system itself. The writer is a freelance columnist

PTI and Khan’s family took a different position, arguing that the Court’s directions had not been properly implemented. On 22 August, Khan’s sister Dr Uzma Khan filed a contempt petition seeking proceedings against officials over alleged non-compliance.

Editor’s mail

tion, civilians can travel safely, courts remain accessible, schools and hospitals operate normally, and officials can perform their duties without extraordinary security. A modern state should not fear such questions; it should fear not having the answers. Knowing the limits of its own reach is the first step towards restoring it. Balochistan, however, presents an even more complicated test. Militant attacks on roads, economic activity and Chinese interests threaten not only security but the province’s prospects for connectivity and investment. At the same time, unverified claims that an alleged “Republic of Balochistan” controls 85 percent of the province have circulated online. Such claims should neither be amplified nor casually dismissed. A serious state must separate propaganda from reality while confronting the grievances and security failures that give such narratives traction. Pakistan does not need comforting descriptions of reality. It needs the courage to confront an uncomfortable one. Maulana Fazlur Rehman may be politically controversial, but his warning should be judged by what is happening on the ground, not by who delivers it. Sometimes, telling the state an uncomfortable truth is an act of patriotism. The real danger is not that someone says the writ of the state is weakening, but that the state becomes more offended by the warning than alarmed by the reality behind it. Pakistan does not need another argument over who is to blame. It needs the state to return to places where its absence has become normal, because the true measure of sovereignty is not what a government claims from Islamabad, but what an ordinary citizen can safely experience in his own village. A state is truly sovereign not when it can announce its authority, but when its citizens can feel it.

The writer has a PhD in Political Science, and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad. He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo.com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar

The real danger is not that someone says the writ of the state is weakening, but that the state becomes more offended by the warning than alarmed by the reality behind it. Pakistan does not need another argument over who is to blame. It needs the state to return to places where its absence has become normal, because the true measure of sovereignty is not what a government claims from Islamabad, but what an ordinary citizen can safely experience in his own village. A state is truly sovereign not when it can announce its authority, but when its citizens can feel it.

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Monday, 31 August, 2026

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Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Playgrounds build healthy kids

PLAYGROUNDS are very important for the healthy growth and development of children. Unfortunately, open spaces and playgrounds are decreasing day by day. While physical activities like running, jumping and playing games keeps children fit and active, a lack of playgrounds turns them towards using mobile phones and watching television. This affects their physical and mental health. They may become lazy, weak and less social. Playgrounds also help children learn teamwork and discipline while engaging them in healthy activities that build their strength. The government and local authorities must protect existing playgrounds and build new ones in every locality. Parents and community members should also raise their voices for this cause. Children are the future of our nation, and their health is very important. SHOKAT BALOCH KULANCH, BALOCHISTAN

Revise Pakistan’s curriculum

AS a student, I strongly feel that Pakistan’s National Curriculum plays a decisive role in shaping the future of our youth. In today’s competitive world, education must go beyond memorisation. Our curriculum should place greater emphasis on critical thinking, practical skills, creativity and the meaningful use of technology. Education can also become a powerful tool for strengthening national cohesion. A stronger focus on a shared national language within the formal education system could help create a more uniform academic platform across provinces. This may support equal opportunities for students and promote a stronger sense of collective identity. At the same time, regional languages such as Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi and Pashto remain an important part of our rich cultural heritage and should continue to be preserved and respected but limited within families and communities only. Revisiting the National Curriculum, therefore, is not merely an academic discussion — it is an investment in Pakistan’s unity, strength and long-term progress. ABDUL JABBAR KARACHI

Roads clogged this Ramazan

THE Kech district administration and the traffic police department must immediately address the increasingly chaotic traffic conditions in Turbat city during this holy month of Ramazan. While this month should be defined by reflection and patience, our streets currently reflect total disorder and a complete lack of civic management. The ‘Iftar rush’ has turned the city’s main arteries into a standstill, particularly in the final ninety minutes before Maghrib. Much of this congestion stems from the lack of designated parking facilities. The surge in illegal rickshaws and a blatant disregard for signal compliance at major intersections have also made daily commuting a nightmare. Moreover, ambulances are regularly trapped in this fiasco, posing an unacceptable threat to public life. Immediate action is required from the local authorities, including the deployment of additional traffic wardens alongside strict penalties for breaking road safety rules. It is time to prioritise urban planning and active traffic monitoring so the residents of Turbat can observe their religious duties without the daily burden of gridlock. WASEEM HASIL MEERABAD, KECH

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COMMENT 05

Can Israel dictate to Turkey and Syria?

Monday, 31 August, 2026

Bombing Abu al-Duhur airbase was going too far

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QaMaR BashiR

SRAEL’S latest airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase have opened a much larger question than the fate of one military facility. They raise a fundamental issue about sovereignty in the emerging Middle East: can Israel legitimately determine which countries Syria may cooperate with militarily, and how far can the doctrine of preventive security be stretched before it becomes an assertion of regional veto power? On August 18, Israeli aircraft struck Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib, damaging its runway without reported casualties. Israel said Syria was about to violate what it described as a security “status quo” by permitting Turkish troops to deploy there. Yet Syria subsequently denied that a Turkish base or permanent deployment was planned. Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Turkish officers had visited the facility as part of military cooperation and training, while the largely empty airfield was being rehabilitated for the Syrian Air Force. This distinction is crucial. There is a considerable difference between Syria rebuilding its own armed forces with Turkish assistance and Turkey establishing an offensive military platform directed against Israel. That makes Israel’s decision particularly consequential. Every sovereign state possesses the right, within international law and its treaty obligations, to develop diplomatic, economic and security relationships with other states. Syria therefore has legitimate grounds to seek foreign assistance in rebuilding institutions devastated by years of conflict. Turkey is an obvious potential partner because of geography, its substantial military capabilities, its existing influence in northern Syria and its relationship with the post-Assad government. Syria has suffered enormously through more than a decade of war. A country once known for its historic cities, cultural richness, educated population and considerable human potential was devastated, its infra-

structure shattered and millions of its citizens displaced internally or driven abroad. The new Syrian government consequently faces the enormous task of rebuilding not only roads, airports and public institutions but also its army, air force, border security and national security structures. For such an undertaking, cooperation with established regional militaries is natural. Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and other friendly states could potentially contribute expertise, but geography and Turkey’s longstanding involvement in Syria make Ankara an especially practical partner. Israel sees the situation differently. Its government argues that October 7 fundamentally changed its security calculations and that it can no longer tolerate potentially hostile military capabilities developing near its borders. There is an additional contradiction. Israel continues to control the Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria in 1967 and annexed by Israel in 1981— a move not recognized by most of the international community. Against this background, Israel’s attempt to dictate what Syria may do elsewhere within Syrian territory inevitably raises serious questions about sovereignty and consistency. Washington’s reaction makes the latest episode even more significant. US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack publicly characterized the Israeli strikes as an “unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability.” Barrack subsequently explained that US and Syrian officials believed dialogue over the facility was continuing and that available information did not indicate aggressive intent by Syria or Turkey. That criticism matters precisely because Washington remains Israel’s most important strategic partner. It suggests that even within the US-Israeli relationship there are limits to agreement over how far preventive military action should extend. More importantly, it demonstrates the danger of substituting bombing for diplomacy when communica-

Pete Hegseth orders military blockade of woman attempting to walk away from him

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AYING he would not hesitate to use force if she continued to disobey his orders, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly ordered a military blockade of a woman attempting to walk away from him in a D.C.-area bar. “Until further notice, U.S. troops shall not allow this gorgeous woman to pass,” said an irate, slurring Hegseth, who claimed he’d ordered several of the nation’s top in-

fantry units to carry out a preemptive strike should the young, attractive bar patron attempt to leave the building and get into an Uber. “If she thinks she can just waltz out of here before I finish my story about my triumphant victory at Marine Corps Beer Olympics last summer, she has another thing coming. Because unless I get her number, she will absolutely not be allowed to pass via air, land, or sea.” At press time, Hegseth announced he’d extended the military blockade after several of the woman’s friends called him a “creep” and attempted to pull her into the ladies’ room.

Iran war over as Strait of Hormuz renamed Strait of America SATIRE

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NEWS BISCUIT

Midfield diaMond

HE conflict in Iran is over. Iran has unconditionally surrendered after hearing about the United States declaration that the Strait of Hormuz is to be referred to, by the US Government but nobody else, as the Strait of America. This cessation of hostilities is proof that all those who thought Donald Trump’s renaming of stuff was just performative willy-waving without any substance were mistaken. Acknowledging the power of Trump signing an unconstitutional executive order and then posting about

beyond meaningful international scrutiny. This imbalance becomes even more dangerous when the state possessing that capability repeatedly uses military force beyond its borders and increasingly invokes preventive security doctrines against neighboring countries. Israel’s nuclear arsenal should therefore no longer be treated as an exceptional or untouchable issue. It should become a central subject of international non-proliferation diplomacy, inspection, verification and eventual disarmament. The broader principle should of course ultimately apply to every nuclear-armed power— including the USA, Russia, China and others— because nuclear weapons are inherently capable of mutual catastrophe. But in the present Middle Eastern context, consistency demands that the rules applied so aggressively to Iran cannot stop at Israel’s borders. This issue becomes particularly important because nuclear capability can provide a state with an extraordinary sense of strategic protection. Israel’s conventional military strength is formidable, but its presumed nuclear deterrent represents an ultimate security guarantee. That makes international responsibility even greater. Nuclear weapons must never become an implicit shield behind which increasingly expansive doctrines of preventive military intervention can develop.

Real security cannot be built by deciding whom Syria may befriend. It can only emerge when Israel, Syria, Turkey and the wider region accept the same fundamental principle: every state deserves security, every sovereign country deserves independence in its foreign relations, and no nation— however militarily powerful— should possess an exceptional right to impose its security doctrine upon all others.

SATIRE

THE ONION

tion channels already exist. None of this means Israeli security concerns should be dismissed. Israel has legitimate security interests, just as Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and every other country does. But legitimate concern and unlimited military discretion are fundamentally different concepts. Security cannot become a doctrine under which one country acquires the right to supervise the sovereign relationships of an entire region. More dangerous still would be allowing the Israeli-Turkish confrontation to become military. Turkey is not a non-state armed organization or a militarily shattered neighbouring country. It is a major regional power and NATO member possessing one of the alliance’s largest armed forces, an expanding domestic defence industry, sophisticated drones, missiles and a capable air force. A direct confrontation between Turkey and Israel would therefore represent an entirely different strategic equation. It could draw NATO, the USA and other regional actors into an extraordinarily complicated crisis. Neither Israel nor Turkey would benefit from transforming Syria into the battlefield on which their competing strategic visions are settled. The nuclear question therefore cannot be diluted into a vague appeal for worldwide disarmament while ignoring the immediate strategic imbalance inside the Middle East. Israel is widely believed to be the region’s only nuclear-armed state, while the surrounding Arab states do not possess nuclear weapons and Iran has faced extraordinary military, economic and diplomatic pressure even though it has not publicly crossed the threshold into an acknowledged nuclearweapons capability. If uranium enrichment, latent capability or even the possibility of future weaponization is considered sufficient justification for sanctions, coercion or preventive military action against Iran, then a far stricter standard should logically apply to an existing undeclared nuclear arsenal. The principle must be consistent: one regional state cannot be permitted to demand that all others remain permanently non-nuclear while retaining its own nuclear deterrent

it on his Truth Social app, an Iranian spokesman admitted that his country no longer had the means to control the flow of shipping through the waterway. He said, ‘We have no choice but to stop all our military action in the face of such a devastating change to paperwork regarding the conflict being issued by the White House.’ Buoyed by this success after only six months of mistreating his servicemen and women, using up most of his military inventory and murdering schoolgirls, Trump is apparently considering whether Greenland should be referred to as the Green Land Of The Free. Suggestions that Pete Hegseth was to be renamed Pete Competent Hegseth were however dismissed as ridiculous.

The world should therefore resist both nuclear proliferation and nuclear exceptionalism. A sustainable Middle Eastern security architecture cannot be based upon one state possessing an undeclared nuclear deterrent while potential nuclear development elsewhere becomes grounds for sanctions, threats or military attacks. Rules acquire legitimacy only when they are applied consistently. At the same time, the fundamental political disputes producing insecurity cannot be bombed away. The unresolved Palestinian question, Gaza, the West Bank, Syria’s territorial integrity and the wider competition among regional powers will continue generating instability unless addressed politically. Israel therefore faces an important strategic choice. It can continue attempting to expand its security perimeter through military superiority and preventive strikes, or it can help construct a regional order in which its security is protected through reciprocal recognition of sovereignty and negotiated arrangements. Bombing an airfield can destroy a runway. It cannot eliminate Turkey’s geographical importance, Syria’s need for reconstruction, Palestinian grievances or the strategic interests of neighbouring states. Nor can military power indefinitely substitute for political accommodation. Real security cannot be built by deciding whom Syria may befriend. It can only emerge when Israel, Syria, Turkey and the wider region accept the same fundamental principle: every state deserves security, every sovereign country deserves independence in its foreign relations, and no nation— however militarily powerful— should possess an exceptional right to impose its security doctrine upon all others. The writer retired as Press Secretary the President, and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Pakistan to France and former MD, Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited

How the military-industrial complex is waging war on the planet Unless military production is radically de-escalated, it could burn the planet before it has a chance to bomb the planet

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MIDDLE EAST EYE John Rees

HE scale of the arms industry’s contribution to climate change is often minimised, avoided or ignored. But preparations for war, and war itself, are killing the planet faster than practically any other single factor. The military-industrial complex causes more environmental damage than either the civilian aviation industry or the global shipping industry; in fact, its carbon footprint is close to both combined, according to a recent report. It does so through both standard peacetime operations and the actual waging of war itself. The best-known attempt to estimate the global military carbon footprint came in a 2022 study by researchers at Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Conflict and Environment Observatory. They estimated it at about 5.5 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions, with a plausible range of 3.3-7 percent, larger than Russia’s national emissions - and that figure does not include the emissions generated by actual wars. So why do the peacetime operations of the arms industry make such a huge contribution to climate change? Firstly, modern armed forces depend heavily on oil. Fighter aircraft, bombers, helicopters, warships, tanks and military logistics fleets consume very large quantities of jet fuel and diesel. Military exercises and the worldwide movement of personnel and equipment add to this. Nato itself now explicitly recognises military activities and installations as sources of greenhouse gases, and has even developed a methodology for measuring them.

PERMANENT FOOTPRINT: Military infrastructure has a permanent footprint. Bases, airfields, naval facilities, radar installations, military housing and training grounds consume electricity and heating fuel, and require construction and maintenance. Maintaining a worldwide network of military installations therefore generates emissions even when no war is taking place. Nato’s own accounting methodology explicitly includes military facilities and installations. Secondly, weapons production - encompassing aircraft, ships, armoured vehicles, missiles, electronics, buildings and ammunition - has a large industrial footprint, requiring steel, aluminium, titanium, cement, chemicals and huge international supply chains.

But that is just the start of it. Once soldiers begin using their weapons, the planet is among the first casualties. When fighting starts, aircraft fly far more missions, armoured vehicles operate continuously, ammunition has to be transported, ships deploy, and vast logistical systems move fuel, food, weapons and personnel. The carbon footprint of a military at war is thus substantially greater than its peacetime footprint. The destruction of war magnifies the impacts on the environment. Attacks on oil refineries, fuel depots, factories, power stations and industrial facilities can release greenhouse gases directly and generate enormous fires. Urban warfare can also burn buildings and vehicles. The Conflict and Environment Observatory consequently treats emissions generated by warfare as an additional category beyond the estimated 5.5 percent military footprint. And even after the fighting stops, the costs to the environment continue to mount. Reconstruction can be exceptionally carbon-intensive. Destroying a city creates emissions during the attack, but rebuilding it requires huge quantities of cement, concrete, steel, glass and asphalt. Cement and steel production are themselves major sources of carbon dioxide. A war can therefore create a second wave of emissions lasting many years after the fighting stops. The 5.5 percent estimate excludes post-conflict reconstruction.

DISASTROUS EFFECTS: Even then, the damaging effects are not done. War can destroy natural carbon sinks. Forest fires, deforestation, destruction of wetlands, soil degradation and damage to ecosystems can release stored carbon, while simultaneously reducing the land’s future ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Conflict can also weaken environmental regulations and make illegal logging or uncontrolled resource extraction easier. All these factors are likely to be underestimated, not overestimated; military emissions have historically been poorly reported, and states differ considerably in what they count. This is the situation as it currently exists. But we are in the foothills of a global rearmament binge, and that will have even more disastrous effects on the climate. We have seen that the hypothetical “global military” is among the largest emitters on Earth - behind China, the United States and India. Nato accounts for an extraordinary proportion of the world’s military expenditures, which reached nearly $2.9 trillion in 2025; of that, Nato’s 32 members accounted for nearly half. But Nato has set a much larger target for 2035, aiming to increase defence spending to 5 percent of GDP. The June 2025 Hague declaration commits allies to spending 3.5 percent of GDP on core military requirements, plus up to 1.5 percent on defence and security-related infra-

structure and expenditures. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has calculated the implications. The average military burden of Nato members in 2024 was 2.2 percent of GDP, with the alliance’s total expenditures reaching $1.5 trillion. If the 5-percent target is achieved, Nato security-related expenditures would reach roughly $4.2 trillion a year. This would, among other things, massively increase the military’s damage to the environment.

COMPETING FOR RESOURCES: A major 2025 study in the Nature Communications journal examined the relationship between military spending and carbon emissions. It found a statistically significant relationship between growth in the global military-spending share of GDP and increases in carbon-emission intensity. Looking at Nato’s proposed 3.5 percent core military target, researchers estimate that the increase could produce roughly an additional 540 million to 1.25 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases annually by 2035, approaching the emissions of one of the world’s major national emitters - and that’s on top of the military emissions already occurring. Ironically, international shipping organisations are formally committed to reducing emissions. So we could be looking at a remarkable divergence: civilian transport decarbonises, while the military sector rapidly adds to its carbon footprint. That makes military expenditures increasingly important as a uniquely damaging factor in climate change. Every additional $1 trillion devoted to this sector represents capital, industrial capacity, skilled labour, steel, electronics, research and government borrowing that cannot simultaneously be used elsewhere. Military expansion thus competes for precisely the same resources required for renewable power generation: electricity grids, railways and public transport, building insulation, heat pumps, low-carbon steel, battery production and climate adaptation measures. This is why the economic myopia of some labour leaders, like Unite’s Sharon Graham, ignores the hidden costs of military expenditures, at the direct expense of their members’ jobs and wages - as well as the future of the planet. And that may ultimately be as important as direct military emissions. There is now a strong empirical basis for the argument that rearmament on the scale contemplated by Nato isn’t merely competing financially with the green transition; unless military production is radically de-escalated, it could burn the planet before it has a chance to bomb the planet.

John Rees is a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London, and a cofounder of the Stop the War Coalition.

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HEGSETH WARNED AGAINST EXTENDING IRAN WAR OPERATIONS BY MILITARY LEADERS

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WASHINGTON/TEHRAN AGENCIES

recent classified assessment advised Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging largescale operations against Iran was unsustainable and risked weakening US ability to confront threats elsewhere, including in the US homeland, The Washington Post reported on Sunday. According to the Post, the warnings were prepared for Hegseth by the "heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force and the fourstar commanders overseeing US operations throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America" and appear in the August 14 edition of the Secretary of Defence Orders Book (SDOB). "The SDOB, typically produced twice monthly, outlines the worldwide availability of US warships, aircraft, personnel and weapons systems," the report explained. Iranian FM says Minab school massacre

leaves ‘eternal wound’ on Iran Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday described the Minab school massacre as an “eternal wound” on Iran, urging the public and contemporary art enthusiasts to visit an exhibition featuring paintings inspired by the incident, IRNA news agency reported. In an Instagram post last night, Araghchi said he had visited the exhibition the previous day, describing it as a place where art “weeps and makes others weep”. “Behind these colors and images stands the bitter memory of a crime committed by enemies of Iran against innocent children of this land,” he said, adding that the tragedy would not disappear with time or be erased from the memory of the grieving nation. HEZBOLLAH CHIEF PRAISES IRAN’S RESILIENCE AGAINST US-ISRAELI ATTACKS Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has praised the resilience of different segments of Iranian society during

recent US and Israeli attacks on the country, saying perseverance and unity can thwart the plans of its adversaries, Press TV reported. “The United States and Israel have failed in three wars against the Islamic Republic of Iran due to the unity and resilience of the Iranian nation,“ Qassem said in a speech marking Unity Week. He was referring to two rounds of joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran in June 2025 and February 2026, as well as another round of US attacks on the country in July. “As long as we stand firm and defend our rights and homeland, enemies will not manage to attain their objectives, no matter what sacrifices we might have to make or how many casualties we might sustain,” he added. Rulers of Muslim nations should recognise 'true enemy', says Iran's supreme leader. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Sunday that rulers of Muslim countries should recognise what he called "the true enemy," accusing the US and

Israel of being "sworn enemies" of Islamic unity. “My emphatic and repeated recommendation to the rulers of Islamic countries,

Monday, 31 August 2026 | IsLAMABAD

particularly those in West Asia and along the Gulf, is to identify your true enemy, understand its plan and confront it,”

Nepal-China flood death toll rises to nearly 800, with over 3,000 missing NUWAKOT

REUTERS

Nepal: Devastating floods near the border with China killed at least 781 people in Nepal, its disaster authority said on Sunday, with 2,502 people missing as rescue efforts continued for a fifth day. Chinese state media earlier confirmed 16 dead in Tibet and 546 people missing following Wednesday’s disaster, taking the overall toll to 797 dead and 3,048 unaccounted for. Nepal’s missing list includes 592 foreigners unaccounted for. It also includes 933 workers on hydropower projects along the river which the torrent crashed through, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority. Nepal’s disaster agency listed 1,910 missing citizens in an update on Sunday.

That includes 562 unaccounted for in the hardest-hit district of Rasuwa. In India, authorities said they had recovered seven bodies from rivers flowing from Nepal, believed to be flood victims. However, they are not included in the toll. The Red Cross has estimated that more than 90,000 people are likely to have been affected by the disaster, which China has linked to the effects of climate change. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Nepalese counterpart during a Saturday telephone call that the mudslide was their “most severe cross-border disaster” in recent years and that rescue operations had risen to an unprecedented level of difficulty and complexity, state broadcaster CCTV reported. On the Chinese side, authorities said 16 people were killed in Gyirong

At least 7 die in ferry capsize off Northern Cyprus TASUCU, TURKIYE AGENCIES

At least seven people have died as a passenger ferry capsized off Northern Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish state media reported. A local official told AFP the ferry has “completely sunk to a depth of 514 metres”, while another local official said seven people had died. TRNC Prime Minister Unal Ustel said the vessel had been carrying a total of 267 people when it rolled over shortly after leaving port, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu. Ustel added that 172 people had so far been rescued and that operations were continuing to evacuate the remaining passengers and crew, Anadolu said. Turkiye’s ambassador to Nicosia, Ali Murat Basceri, confirmed there were deaths, without giving a number. He told Turkish state television network TRT that “the large majority of the 259 passengers have been rescued”. The cause of the capsize was not immediately known. It occurred shortly after the ferry departed from the Northern Cyprus port of Kyrenia headed for the Turkish port of Tasucu. Images broadcast by Turkish television showed the upside-down ferry in the water, with people wearing life vests atop its orange hull. The weather was sunny, and several boats were seen in the area to lend assistance. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar both said they were “deeply saddened by the tragic” incident in the Mediterranean Sea. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to my dear brother President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish government and the bereaved families,” PM Shehbaz wrote on X. He prayed for the swift and safe recovery of those missing, affirming that the people of Pakistan stood in solidarity with the Turkish nation “at this difficult time”. Expressing his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, Dar wrote, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected and with the missing persons and their loved ones.”

County, and 546 were missing. Beijing said 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries were unaccounted for in Tibet, near a key border crossing with Nepal. The scale of the disaster has complicated rescue efforts across the rugged Himalayan terrain. Local police in Nepal told Reuters that residents and rescue workers had moved to higher ground after the Trishuli River’s water levels rose in recent hours following fresh rainfall, raising fears of additional flooding. Rescue operations have been suspended several times since Friday because of bad weather and concerns that a lake formed across the Nepal-China border by the disaster could trigger fresh flooding after it began overflowing into Nepal’s Lhende Khola and Trishuli Rivers. CCTV reported that the lake threat-

ening downstream areas had been largely drained by Saturday evening. But drones detected a landslide late on Saturday that is 2.8 kilometres downstream of the lake, forming a new dam and a fresh pool of water. In Nepal, rescue efforts have become more focused on hundreds of people believed to be trapped inside tunnels at hydropower plants damaged by the floods. Lok Bahadur Chhetri, a spokesperson for Nepal’s foreign ministry, said Nepal required international assistance in specialised areas, including tunnel rescue operations, DNA testing, refrigerated storage for bodies and forensic identification of decomposed remains. Indian and Chinese experts were already working to help open tunnels and support rescue operations, Chhetri said.

Corruption, financial fraud expose deep institutional rot in Indian armed forces NEW DELHI

AGENCIES

Cases of large-scale financial fraud and corruption involving senior Indian military officers have exposed serious weaknesses in the accountability and procurement systems of the Indian armed forces. According to Kashmir Media Service, in a major case linked to the 166 Military Hospital in Jammu, an Army Medical Corps Lieutenant Colonel was cashiered and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for fraudulent medical purchases worth around Rs3 crore. A retired Major General who had commanded the facility was also convicted on 16 charges involving alleged financial irregularities amounting to Rs11 crore. The cases involved allegations of fabricated emergency demands for medicines and equipment, bypassing of competitive bidding procedures and manipulation of procurement processes to benefit private vendors. Official records reportedly show more than 1,800 corruption cases registered across the Indian armed forces between 2000 and 2023, with the Indian Army accounting for over 97 percent of the recorded cases of financial fraud and administrative misconduct. The record of irregularities also

includes major land scandals, including the Sukhna and Adarsh Housing cases, as well as cases involving bribery in military recruitment. The recurring scandals raise serious questions about transparency, financial oversight and accountability within the Indian military establishment, where senior officers have repeatedly faced allegations of abusing their authority and public resources. IIOJK MBBS interns threaten indefinite strike over discriminatory treatment MBBS interns across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have threatened to go on an indefinite strike over discriminatory treatment, demanding a substantial increase.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the interns said the current remuneration of meager Rs 12,300 does not reflect their long hours, emergency duties, night shifts and critical patient care responsibilities. They said they form an integral part of the healthcare delivery system, but their contributions remain undervalued by the existing stipend structure, especially given the high cost of living. The interns’ association has urged authorities to revise the stipend to a level commensurate with their workload and responsibilities, warning that failure to address their grievances promptly could lead to major disruption in healthcare services across the territory.

Punjab's China Opportunity

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QUDRAT ULLAH

HIEF Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif's four-day visit to China was more than routine diplomacy. It was development diplomacy with a clear provincial goal: bringing home the technology, investment and institutional practices needed to make Punjab more productive, competitive and livable. The visit fits a governance pattern Maryam Nawaz has pursued since taking office — one where development must be visible, in better transport, healthcare, agriculture, cleaner cities, digital services

and economic security for families. Punjab, as Pakistan’s largest economic and agricultural powerhouse, is well positioned to lead the country’s next phase of technology-driven growth. Its expanding economic base, vast agricultural potential, industrial capacity and large human-resource pool provide a strong platform for modernisation. China, Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a major source of technology and investment, offers a valuable strategic partnership in this transformation. With Pakistani exports to China gaining momentum, Punjab has an important opportunity to further accelerate this trajectory by developing higher-value products, embracing advanced technologies and strengthening its integration into regional and global value chains. The opportunity is not simply to attract more investment, but to build greater productive capacity, innovation and competitiveness in Punjab. That means moving beyond low-value commodities and traditional manufacturing toward precision agriculture, efficient water management, modern industry, digital technology and higher-value exports. The chief minister's stops in Xinjiang and Guizhou were built around this logic. Xinjiang's relevance to Punjab is direct.

Cooperation on mechanisation, water-efficient irrigation, digital crop monitoring, land levelling, modern seed varieties and corporate farming targets the province's most persistent constraints. For a waterstressed agricultural economy, the goal isn't simply higher yields — it's higher yields per unit of increasingly scarce water. This reflects a broader trait in Maryam Nawaz's governing style: pragmatism over rhetoric — identifying specific problems, importing workable solutions, and translating them into public benefit. The same philosophy runs through the livestock and dairy agenda. Punjab has one of Pakistan's largest livestock economies, but much of its value stays locked in fragmented, informal production. The chief minister's visit to a modern dairy facility in Xinjiang and her interest in building comparable milk-processing capacity at home signals an ambition to build full value chains — better breeding, animal health, cold-chain logistics, processing and packaging — rather than just raising raw output. Done well, this raises farmer incomes while creating new industries and jobs. Punjab's interest in China's big-data and AI ecosystem points to a further ambition: making technology part of the machinery of government itself. The emerging Punjab

Chidambaram mocks BJP’s ‘sudden love’ for Vande Mataram MADURAI

AGENCIES

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for its “sudden affection” for Vande Mataram, and accused the party of creating an “unnecessary controversy” to pass the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Parliament. Speaking at an event m, the Rajya Sabha MP alleged that neither the BJP nor its ideological predecessors — the Hindu Mahasabha, Jana Sangh and the RSS — had sung Vande Mataram during the 100-year freedom struggle. “I ask the BJP to point out anywhere the Hindu Mahasabha, the Jana Sangh, or the RSS ever sang Vande Mataram. Nowhere, at no time, on no day did they sing it,” Chidambaram said. He added that for many years after independence, the RSS did not even hoist the tricolour in Nagpur and only hoisted the saffron flag. Tracing the history of the song, Chidambaram said the Congress Working Committee, in a meeting attended by Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and others, had unanimously decided to sing only the first two stanzas after Rabindranath Tagore wrote to Nehru that it was sufficient. He alleged the BJP-led Modi government introduced the Vande Mataram bill at 1:30 pm and passed it by 1:35 pm, calling it one of the “mischievous” bills among the 12 passed in the monsoon session. The bill seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to bring Vande Mataram within its ambit and make it an offence to intentionally prevent its singing or cause disturbance during its recitation. TMC REJECTS FIR AGAINST MAMATA AS POLITICAL TARGETING Meanwhile, Kolkata Police have registered a suo motu First Information Report (FIR) against former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee and organisers of a TMC student wing event for allegedly violating conditions imposed by the Calcutta High Court. The FIR was registered on August 28 at Hastings police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a police assessment of compliance with the court’s directions for the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) foundation day programme held on Cathedral Road. Police alleged that Banerjee and the event organisers entered into a criminal conspiracy and violated the High Court’s directions. The allegations were contained in a complaint filed by Hastings police sub-inspector Apu Baidya. According to the police, TMCP supporters breached barricades and allegedly jostled with personnel deployed to maintain law and order, resulting in a chaotic situation. Police also claimed that the gathering disrupted vehicular movement on one side of Cathedral Road.

Data Lake, which aims to integrate information across departments, is a step toward data-driven governance — helping the state anticipate problems in smog, traffic, urban growth, agriculture and land management rather than merely react to them. This matters because Maryam Nawaz has repeatedly emphasized reducing the friction citizens face when dealing with the government. Digital platforms and integrated services can cut transaction costs and administrative delays. In this framing, technology isn't just an economic sector to be developed — it's a tool for reforming how government functions. The same thinking shapes Punjab's pursuit of Chinese capital: not investors who simply extract or sell, but ones who establish production locally, train workers, develop Pakistani suppliers and connect Punjab to global markets. The aim is for Punjab to become a producer capable of absorbing and eventually generating its own technological capability — not a permanent importer of finished technology. Punjab brings real assets to this exchange: a large domestic market, an extensive agricultural base, an established industrial sector and a young, increasingly digitally literate workforce. Paired with Chinese capital and expertise, these could form

a genuine platform for industrialisation and export growth. Seen this way, the China visit is less a foreign-policy event than an instrument of provincial development strategy — using international partnerships to accelerate domestic reform. That ambition, and the energy behind pursuing it, deserves credit; reform at this scale requires sustained engagement across governments, investors and citizens, not office-bound policymaking. The real test now is implementation — and every sign points to a province ready to deliver. Agreements from Xinjiang and Guizhou are already taking shape as concrete projects, promising lasting local capacity and new jobs across agriculture, dairy and industry. With modern techniques and fresh investment, Punjab's farms and exporters are set for real, measurable growth. Backed by the same drive the chief minister brought to this visit, Punjab is charting a confident path toward becoming more productive, technologically advanced and responsive to the people it serves. That is the real measure of Punjab's China opportunity — and of Maryam Nawaz's broader reform agenda: a province that is more productive, technologically capable, internationally competitive and responsive to the people it serves.

The writer is a Lahore-based public policy analyst and can be reached at qudratu@gmail.com

NEWS 07 PunjAb, AlIbAbA Cloud exPloRe AI PARtneRShIP AS MARyAM APPRoveS MultI-dISeASe SCAnneR

Monday, 31 August, 2026 | ISLAMABAD

CORPORATE CORNER

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CM MARYAM MEETS DELEGATION OF ALIBABA CLOUD EXPLORE STRATEGIC AI PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICES LAHORE

SALEEM JADOON

KARACHI: Former World Champion Jahangir Khan presents trophy to the winner, Nasir Iqbal, at the conclusion of the PSA Sindh Challenger Squash Championship. Zubair Jahan Khan is also present on the occasion.

one year since closure of utility Stores, 11,500 employees still waiting for justice ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Syed Arif Hussain Shah, Central Secretary General of All Pakistan Workers Alliance, Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan, has said that one year has passed since the closure of the operations of Utility Stores Corporation and the loss of jobs to thousands of employees, but the government has neither been able to pay the employees their full financial package nor bring the allegations of corruption that were used to justify the closure of the institution to a logical conclusion. He said that as a result of the illegal closure of the operations of Utility Stores Corporation on August 31, 2025, thousands of working families faced financial difficulties. The government approved a financial package of about Rs25 billion for the employees, but even after a year, the remaining amount is still not being given to the employees after paying about Rs 7 billion. Syed Arif Hussain Shah said that it is completely unfair to make the employees who have agreed to accept the government financial package wait any longer. The remaining amount should be paid immediately in one lump sum and the employees should also be given appropriate compensation for the delay of one year. He asked Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif that if there was indeed corruption worth billions of rupees in the Utility Stores Corporation, why was no action taken against the responsible persons even after a year? Terminating the employment of thousands of employees on the basis of mere allegations and leaving them helpless is in no way acceptable.

overwhelming response reflects women’s keen interest Pink electric Scooties, training initiative: Memon STAFF REPORT KARACHI

Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday said that the Sindh government has decided to distribute Pink Electric Scooties in Mirpurkhas in the next phase, saying that more than 50,000 women have so far applied for Pink Electric Scooties and the training program, which reflects women's keen interest in this initiative of the Sindh government. In a statement, he said that the Sindh government has provided driving and related training to more than 2,000 women so far, while the training process is ongoing in various cities of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad. The government aims to enable as many women as possible to drive scooties safely, helping facilitate their mobility and enabling them to play a more active role in economic and social activities.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, during her visit to China, held a meeting with a high-level delegation of leading Chinese technology company Alibaba Cloud, which expressed keen interest in Punjab’s IT sector, as the two sides explored wider cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), including the introduction of an AI-powered multi-disease scanner in the province. The meeting discussed the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture, healthcare, socio-economic programmes and climate forecasting, while the possibility of establishing a strategic partnership for the use of AI in public services was also considered. The chief minister also gave in-principle approval for introducing an AIpowered multi-disease scanner in Punjab and directed the health authorities to prepare a pilot project for its implementation. The innovative AI-powered MultiDisease Screening Solution using NonContrast CT can potentially detect up to 10 diseases within two minutes. The tech-

nology can facilitate disease screening, diagnosis, treatment and management, besides enabling timely detection of five deadly cancers. Speaking during the meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said Punjab’s governance system was being integrated with artificial intelligence. “We are pursuing a policy of using artificial intelligence and other technologies today rather than tomorrow,” she said. She said Punjab was building the world’s largest public-sector cancer hospital and had become the first province to establish an artificial intelligence policy. “The idea of teaching artificial intelligence to children in government schools

came after seeing students in Beijing,” she said, adding that Punjab would welcome Chinese cooperation in artificial intelligence and other IT technologies. Maryam Nawaz said Punjab had the fourth largest young and skilled workforce and was a leader in terms of the digital economy. She said not only government officers and officials but also members of the provincial cabinet had been provided AI training. Alibaba Cloud Senior Vice President Li Jiaping briefed the chief minister about the company’s operations. Matters relating to small and medium enterprises for overseas Pakistanis were also discussed during the meeting.

CDA steps up fire safety enforcement to protect precious human lives ISLAMABAD

LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

tion preparedness and other essential life safety measures. Building Control Section of CDS has been advised to rectify identified deficiencies within the prescribed timeframe. The sealing of the two buildings demonstrates that CDA’s fire safety campaign is not merely an inspection exercise but a practical enforcement initiative aimed at preventing avoidable loss of life and property. Buildings failing to comply with mandatory safety requirements will face action in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The CDA chairman further directed the relevant departments to maintain close monitoring of fire safety compliance and ensure that safety observations are followed by effective corrective measures. The objective is to develop a strong culture of prevention, preparedness and responsibility throughout Islamabad.

Health experts push govt to fast-track front-of-pack warning labels MURREE

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

Synergy Group, Pakistan’s largest integrated marketing communications conglomerate, secured seven wins across multiple categories at the prestigious Dragons of Pakistan 2026 Awards, where Pakistani entries are assessed by international judging panels based outside the country through an authentic, impartial and merit-based evaluation process. The honours recognise the creative and strategic work delivered by Synergy Group’s subsidiaries, Synergy Advertising and Synite Digital, for Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and KFC Pakistan, respectively. Together, the agencies secured three Gold, two Silver and two Bronze Dragons. Synergy Advertising secured five Dragon honours for PSO, comprising one Gold Dragon for the Safety Starts Young campaign, one Gold Dragon and one Bronze Dragon for the Made in Pakistan campaign, and one Silver Dragon and one Bronze Dragon for the Blaze Xtreme campaign.

Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), together with public health experts, journalists, social media influencers, and media professionals, has urged the Government of Pakistan to expedite the enactment of mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWLs) on ultra-processed food and beverage products (UPPs) to protect consumers, reduce unhealthy food consumption and promote healthier choices. PANAH called for black octagonal warning labels in Urdu language, suitable for Pakistan’s low-literacy settings and local context, on products that exceed WHO-recommended thresholds for sugar, sodium, and saturated fats or those contain non-sugar sweeteners. “Pakistan’s food environment is changing rapidly, with consumers increasingly exposed to processed and ultraprocessed products,” said Munawar Hussain, Food and Nutrition Policy Expert. “Consumers need clear, simple and prominent warning labels that enable them to identify products high in nutrients and ingredients of public health concern.

Under the special interest and initiatives of Inspector General Pakistan Railways Police Muhammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan, 73 recently recruited Probationer Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) of Railways Police have, for the first time in the history of the department, been sent to the Elite Police Training Centre, Bedian, Lahore, for an eight-week specialized Orientation Course. The specialized training is aimed at enhancing the professional capabilities of Railways Police officers, particularly in dealing with modern security challenges, responding to emergencies and ensuring the effective protection of passengers, railway installations and train operations across the country. The training will also contribute towards further strengthening the security of train operations in Balochistan, where the railway network and train services face particular security challenges. Professionally trained officers equipped with modern policing, tactical and security skills will be better prepared to respond to emerging threats and ensure the safe and secure movement of trains and passengers. The 73 Probationer ASIs will undergo eight weeks of professional training at the Elite Police Training Centre, Bedian. This is the first time in the history of Railways Police that such a specialized Orientation Course has been arranged for Probationer ASIs. On this occasion, IG Railways Police Muhammad Wisal Fakhar Sultan said that quality training is of fundamental importance in developing the professional capabilities of officers and preparing them to effectively perform their duties in the field. He said that all available resources would be utilized to provide the officers and personnel of Railways Police with the best possible training, and there would be no compromise on the quality of training. The IG Railways Police further stated that professionally trained officers would play a vital role in improving the overall performance of Railways Police and strengthening the security of passengers, railway installations and train operations throughout the country.

PIAF calls for urgent measures as short-term inflation crosses 9pc

STAFF REPORT

Synergy Group wins big with seven accolades at dragons of Pakistan Awards

First-ever elite training for 73 Railways Police ASIs to strengthen train security nationwide

STAFF REPORT

The Capital Development Authority (CDA), under the directions of Chairman CDA Sohail Ashraf, has intensified enforcement of fire and life safety standards across Islamabad, making it clear that the protection of precious human lives will remain the CDA’s top most priority. In a significant enforcement action, the CDA has sealed Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, State Life Building and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Building in Blue Area Islamabad following noncompliance with fire safety observations issued by the CDA’s Fire & Emergency Services Directorate CDA as earlier which they have not been complied. The action has been taken in accordance with the prescribed safety requirements and reflects CDA’s firm commitment to ensuring that buildings provide a safe environment for employees, visitors and the general public. CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf has directed the concerned formations of CDA to adopt a zero tolerance approach towards serious fire safety violations and ensure strict compliance with safety standards. He has emphasized that no building, institution or organization can be permitted to compromise the lives and safety of people by ignoring essential fire prevention and emergency response requirements. The CDA’s Fire & Emergency Services Directorate has been conducting inspections of buildings to identify deficiencies relating to fire prevention, emergency exits, firefighting arrangements, evacua-

Li Jiaping termed the signing of the MoU in the presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif a welcome development. Speaking during the meeting, the Alibaba Cloud senior vice president said artificial intelligence was being used for media campaigns and medical training. He said AI could play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, adding that discussions were underway for establishing a data centre in Pakistan. Provincial Advisor on Artificial Intelligence Ali Mustafa Dar briefed the meeting on Punjab’s AI initiatives. He said AI education had been made mandatory from Grade 1 in Punjab. “AI is being successfully used in the Safe Cities Authority, agriculture, healthcare, education and infrastructure sectors,” Ali Mustafa Dar said. AI SCANNER TO DETECT UP TO 10 DISEASES WITHIN TWO MINUTES During the meeting with Alibaba executives, the chief minister was briefed in detail about the AI-powered Multi-Disease Screening Solution using Non-Contrast CT and expressed keen interest in its capabilities.

LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Protecting consumers requires strong, evidence-based policies rather than placing the responsibility solely on individuals.” The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has already submitted an evidence-based proposal to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) through the Ministry of Science and Technology, following advice from the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Health. The proposal has been under discussion by PSQCA technical committees for the past two years. “There is no time to lose in adopting mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels. Every day of delay means more consumers— especially children and young people—are exposed to unhealthy ultra-processed foods and bever-

ages without clear, simple information to guide their choices,” said Sana Ullah Ghumman, General Secretary, Pakistan National Heart Association. “These products contribute to the growing burden of diet-related diseases in Pakistan. The government must act now to protect consumers and ensure that public health is not compromised by further delays. We cannot afford to wait while preventable diseases and deaths continue to rise.” The workshop participants called upon the Ministry of Science and Technology and PSQCA to urgently expedite the enactment of mandatory FOPWLs, based on WHO-recommended Nutrient Profile Models and the evidencebased proposal submitted by the Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) has called for urgent measures to contain rising inflationary pressures, warning that continued increases in fuel, electricity and other essential costs are squeezing businesses and households and threatening to undermine economic recovery. PIAF Chairman and Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Faheemur Rehman Saigol, along with PIAF Senior Vice Chairman Nasrullah Mughal and Vice Chairman Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, expressed concern over the latest Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) data, according to which short-term inflation increased 9.04 per cent year-on-year during the week ended August 27. The business leaders said the latest figures were a clear indication that inflationary pressure remained firmly entrenched despite some moderation in the overall pace of price increases. The SPI rose 0.05 per cent week-onweek, with higher energy prices remaining one of the major drivers of the increase. They pointed out that petrol prices were 29.84 per cent higher than a year earlier, while diesel prices had increased 36.33 per cent. LPG recorded an annual increase of 55.66 per cent, whereas electricity charges for the first quarter were 25.24 per cent higher.

Punjab govt spends Rs5b annually on ‘free-of-cost’ cancer treatment: Azma Bokhari LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, reacting to a statement by Muzammil Aslam, said, “The Aristotles and Hippocrates of ignorance would have known “Alhamdulillah, 70 patients at Mayo Hospital are already benefiting from cancer machines. Five more machines have also arrived for the cancer hospitals in

Rawalpindi and Faisalabad and are beginning their work.” The Punjab Information Minister said that the Punjab government spends Rs. 5 billion annually on this treatment for patients. She said that on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, five more cryoablation machines have been purchased and dispatched for installation. Azma Bokhari said that the cryoablation machine was introduced for the first time in

Punjab in 2025 at Mayo Hospital, Lahore. More than 70 patients suffering from Stage 1 cancer have so far been successfully treated free of cost. According to the Punjab Information Minister, two machines have been dispatched for installation at the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, Lahore; one machine at Nishtar Hospital, Multan; one at Allied Hospital, Faisalabad; and one at Benazir Bhutto Hospital,

Rawalpindi. Azma Bokhari said, “For patients across Punjab, there is no substitute for incompetence and ignorance when it comes to timely and effective cancer treatment. One should check before writing; not everyone believes these ‘wise men.’” The Punjab Information Minister said, “Now tell us what achievements they have delivered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 17 years?”

ASIF REJECTS VISA DENIAL CLAIM, SAYS IMRAN’S SONS FREE TO ENTER PAKISTAN

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post on X. The statement came in response to reports that Imran’s sons had been barred from travelling to Pakistan. A day earlier, the Information Ministry had also rejected similar claims, saying both held valid NICOPs. According to the ministry, a valid NICOP is a recognised travel document for entry into Pakistan and can be used by the two men to travel to the country. Asif further said that, with valid NICOPs, both could travel to Pakistan whenever they wanted and did not require visas. He also shared details of the NICOPs of both of Imran’s children, stating: “Sulaiman Khan: NICOP (35202-273-22XX-1) is available, which is valid until January 6, 2030,” and “Kasim Khan: NICOP (35202-78276XX-1) is available, which is valid until

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

EFENCE Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday rejected claims that the sons of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan had been denied visas to enter Pakistan, saying both could travel to the country on their valid National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOPs) and did not require visas. “The children of the founder of PTI last travelled to Pakistan on these NICOPs in 2022. And today, if they want, they can visit Pakistan. Both NICOPs are valid. It is wrong for the family or PTI to give the impression that the government is not giving them visas,” the defence minister said in a

November 8, 2032.” The latest statement follows renewed concerns expressed by Imran’s sons over their father’s health and their claims that they have been unable to visit him. Last week, Imran’s sons appeared on Sky News and reiterated their concerns about their father’s health. At the beginning of August, Kasim and Sulaiman had also expressed concern about Imran’s poor health, telling CNN that authorities had prevented family members, lawyers and doctors from visiting the jailed former premier for months. They said they had not seen their father since November 2022. The duo also claimed that they applied for visas in January this year but had yet to receive a response from the relevant authorities.

Imran has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence at Adiala Jail in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the AntiTerrorism Act (ATA) related to the protests of May 9, 2023. The visa issue had also surfaced earlier this year. In March 2026, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that Imran’s sons did not require visas to visit Pakistan to meet their father, who was in prison. His statement came in response to an appeal by Imran’s ex-wife, Jemima Goldsmith, to the premier, urging the government to allow Kasim and Sulaiman to visit their father in jail. “His children are welcome to visit Pakistan on their NICOP cards as Pakistani citizens, for which no visa is required. However,

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they will fully comply with the laws of Pakistan during their stay,” he said in a post on X. Kasim had accused the government in February of deliberately refusing to process his visa and that of his brother to prevent the siblings from meeting their father. He said denying a prisoner treatment was cruel and denying his children the right to see him was collective punishment. The issue also dates back to last year, when Imran’s sister Aleema Khan told reporters that the brothers would participate in a protest movement planned for August 5, 2025. Later, it was reported that Imran had stated his sons would not be coming to Pakistan to join the protest. The brothers subsequently held meetings with key individuals in the United States.

Eight killed, two injured in Dadu clash over longstanding Chandio feud DADU/KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

Eight people were killed and two others injured on Sunday when two groups of the Chandio community clashed over a longstanding feud in the katcha area of Dadu, police said, prompting a heavy police deployment to bring the situation under control. The firing took place in village Sheikh Gulab, within the limits of Jalhu police station, police said. Following the incident, a heavy contingent of police was dispatched to the area on the directives of Dadu SSP retired Capt Saddam Hussain Khaskheli. Police cordoned off the area and brought the situation under control.

Khaskheli described the incident as a result of an old personal enmity. He said weapons used in the incident had been recovered and police were conducting raids to apprehend those involved. He said the eight people killed in the firing were identified as Fida Hussain, Zulfiqar alias Watni, Mohammad Bachal, Sultan, Manzoor, Irshad alias Hajin, Gulbahar and Didar Chandio. Khaskheli added that two other people, Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Mumtaz Chandio, were injured and shifted to hospital after being rescued from the scene. The bodies of the deceased were also taken to hospital for the required legal formalities. Hyderabad DIG Tariq Razzaq Khan Dharejo and the Dadu SSP directed a

Bids invited for Guddu 747 revamp to add 297MW, cut generation cost by Rs4.19 per unit ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The Power Division has invited international competitive bids for rehabilitation of Guddu 747 Power Plant’s damaged steam turbine, a project expected to add 297MW to generation capacity and reduce generation cost by Rs4.19 per unit. According to details, bids have been invited for the rehabilitation of Steam Turbine-16 (ST-16) and allied equipment, with interested bidders required to submit their offers by October 7, 2026. The rehabilitation is targeted for commissioning in December 2028 and is expected to restore the plant to its designed combined-cycle generation capacity of 747MW. ST-16 and its associated generator have remained out of service since a fire in July 2022, forcing the plant to operate in open-cycle mode at around 450MW. The planned rehabilitation would unlock an additional 297MW of generation capability, representing an increase of approximately 66 percent over the plant’s current output. The Power Division has estimated that the rehabilitation would also reduce the plant’s generation cost from Rs13.87 per unit to Rs9.68 per unit, resulting in a saving of Rs4.19 per unit. Once restored to full combined-cycle operation, Guddu 747 is expected to improve its position in the power dispatch merit order from around 11th at present to approximately seventh. The improved merit-order position would enable the system operator to dispatch a larger block of comparatively lower-cost electricity and potentially displace more expensive generation sources. The Power Division conducted comprehensive integrity assessments of the damaged equipment, followed by detailed technical and engineering reviews to determine the rehabilitation requirements. Following the evaluation, a focused EPC turnkey procurement package was prepared for the rehabilitation of ST-16 and allied equipment, paving the way for the international competitive bidding process.

heavy police contingent to remain deployed in the area. Police said the area had been cordoned off and the situation brought under control. Further action was underway, with police saying strict legal action would be taken against those involved in the incident. Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the killings in Dadu and expressed grief over the loss of lives and sympathy with the bereaved families. He sought a report from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident and the arrest of those responsible. “Law cannot be allowed to be taken into one’s own hands. The culprits must be

brought to justice at all costs,” Shah said, directing the police to ensure indiscriminate action against all those involved. The chief minister also instructed the IGP Sindh to closely monitor the law-andorder situation in the village and take immediate steps to defuse tension. Separately, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar took notice of the clash between the two groups and sought an immediate report from the Hyderabad DIG. He directed the police to maintain law and order in the area and bring the situation under control. Lanjar also directed the authorities to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured and hand over the bodies of the deceased to their heirs after completion of legal formalities.

CDWP approves five development projects worth Rs60.259b under Uraan Pakistan ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives/Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday chaired a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) that approved five development projects worth Rs60.259 billion. The forum okayed three projects valued at Rs11.714 billion and recommended two major projects worth Rs 48.545 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for consideration, a news release said. The projects form part of the government’s development and reform agenda under Uraan Pakistan, aimed at strengthening human capital, modernizing infrastructure and governance, and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The CDWP approved the revised project for the Establishment of Medical & Nursing College at Gilgit, worth Rs4.924 billion. While reviewing the project, Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need to expand medical and nursing education opportunities in remote and underserved areas to develop a skilled local

healthcare workforce and improve healthcare delivery in rural and mountainous communities. He directed that the project be completed at the earliest, noting that it had been initiated in 2017 and faced delays due to inadequate funding. The forum also approved the Establishment of National Defence University (NDU) FCS Campus at Defence Complex Islamabad (DCI) at a cost of Rs2.753 billion. Ahsan Iqbal directed the relevant authorities to collaborate with the Planning Commission on research aligned with national development goals, including achieving a $1 trillion economy and $100 billion in exports by 2035, and to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard. He also directed that Planning Ministry staff be included in relevant training programmes for capacity building, stressing that universities should provide evidence-based solutions to national challenges through high-quality research. The CDWP further approved the Construction of Road from Zera to Daboori, District Orakzai (53.4 km), costing Rs4.037 billion. The Planning Minister directed that the remaining funds for the project be released before the onset of winter to fa-

cilitate its completion, noting that the project had been pending since 2016. He said the federally funded road would improve connectivity in Orakzai District and reflected the government’s commitment to development in the merged districts. The revised Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project, worth Rs19.545 billion, was recommended to ECNEC for further consideration. The project is proposed to be financed through foreign funding, with the local share to be provided through the Government of Sindh’s Annual Development Programme (ADP). While reviewing the project, Ahsan Iqbal directed the constitution of a committee comprising the Member (Population), Member (Infrastructure) and a representative of the Economic Affairs Division to develop a comprehensive framework for effective monitoring, transparency and accountability of foreign-funded development projects. He emphasized that projects financed through foreign borrowing must deliver value for money and directed that robust mechanisms be established to ensure borrowed funds were utilized efficiently, transparently and strictly for their intended purposes.

PTI strongly condemns abduction of MNA Haji Imtiaz, demands immediate, safe recovery ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly condemned the abduction of its leader and Member of the National Assembly Haji Imtiaz, who was abducted by unidentified individuals while travelling from Mandi Bahauddin to Peshawar to attend a party meeting. In a statement issued by PTI Central Media Department on Sunday, the party called Imtiaz’s disappearance deeply alarming and highly condemnable, raising serious concerns about the rule of law, civil liberties, and the safety and security of political representatives and workers in the country. The party said that Haji Imtiaz was travelling to participate in a political and democratic activity when he was abducted by unidentified persons. PTI stressed that the disappearance of an elected representative under such circumstances raises grave questions about the protection of fundamental rights and the constitutional responsibilities of the state. PTI demanded that Haji Imtiaz be recovered immediately and safely, while all those responsible for his abduction must be identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law. The party emphasized that it is the constitutional and legal responsibility of the state institutions and relevant authorities to protect the life, liberty and property of every citizen, particularly elected representatives who are exercising their democratic rights. If it is established that political or state pressure was involved in the incident, it would constitute an extremely dangerous and wholly unacceptable assault on democratic principles, constitutional rights, and the rule of law. Any attempt to suppress political dissent or silence opposing voices through coercion, intimidation, abduction, or enforced disappearances is deeply alarming and will only further undermine democratic institutions, deepen political instability, and push the country toward greater polarization. PTI categorically rejected every attempt to intimidate or silence its leaders and workers. The party will continue to raise the matter at every constitutional, legal and democratic forum until Haji Imtiaz is recovered safely. PTI called upon the federal and Punjab governments, Punjab Police, district administration and all relevant institutions to take immediate notice of the incident, launch effective efforts for Haji Imtiaz’s recovery.

IPP president stresses need to turn ‘New Provinces, New System’ slogan into reality ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

President of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Abdul Aleem Khan on Sunday said public opinion was largely in favour of creating new provinces, stressing that the shortcomings of the existing system could not be addressed without creating smaller administrative units. He called for turning the slogan of “New Provinces, New System” into a real-

ity, saying the creation of new provinces was essential to genuinely resolve the problems faced by the people. “If we genuinely want to resolve the problems faced by the people, new provinces must be created,” Abdul Aleem Khan said while talking to delegations comprising prominent political figures from South Punjab who called on him and appreciated his consistent stance in support of the creation of new provinces. he said the outreach campaign for the

creation of new provinces would be further intensified, with meetings planned with like-minded political and social figures to build broader consensus on the issue. He announced that after visiting Bahawalpur and Multan, he would also visit Hazara in this regard. Abdul Aleem Khan said consensus on the creation of new provinces was already emerging and public opinion had largely developed in favour of the proposal. During the meeting, the delegations in-

vited the IPP president to visit Multan at the earliest and assured him of a warm and enthusiastic welcome. The participants expressed their full support for his position on the creation of new provinces and said they stood with him on the important national issue. He observed that in the past, several political leaders had merely raised the slogan of a South Punjab province but failed to take any practical steps towards its creation.

Pakistan denies cancelling 4,500MW Diamer-Bhasha hydropower component PROFIT STAFF REPORT

The government on Saturday denied reports that it had dropped the 4,500-megawatt (MW) power-generation component of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, saying the hydropower facilities remained part of the project. The Ministry of Economic Affairs described the reports as “false and misleading” and said Diamer-Bhasha continued to be a national priority project covering both water storage and electricity generation. “The government has not cancelled the power facilities, and planning continues with WAPDA and relevant ministries,” the ministry said. It said the government was committed to completing the dam, including its hydropower facilities, to strengthen Pakistan’s

water and energy security. The clarification followed a report by Brief, which, citing a leaked internal document of the Economic Affairs Division, claimed that the government had cancelled the power-generation component of the project. The Power Division also rejected the claim in a post on X, stating that the Diamer-Bhasha generation component was a “committed project in both existing and future IGCEP documents”. The division also rejected attempts to associate the project with new independent power producers (IPPs), saying the “new IPPs business has permanently closed in Pakistan after the establishment of a free electricity market by the present government”. “Any attempt to link IPPs with this project and sensationalise it is based on

nothing but fake assumptions,” the Power Division said. “We must verify facts before posting such content,” it added. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a multipurpose project being constructed on the Indus River, approximately 40 kilometres downstream of Chilas town, between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The project is designed as a 272-metrehigh Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) dam, which would make it the world’s highest RCC dam. The completion timeline for the project has been revised several times. It was initially scheduled for completion in 2029 before the target was moved to 2028 in December 2023. In February 2026, however, the scheduled completion year was revised to 2030.

Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk