g
A Q V
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ADB TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL FACILIT Y IN PAKISTAN
and provincial governments, as well as financial institutions, was introduced in
of commerce including Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Mohammad Jawed Bilwani Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Rehan Naseem Bharana, and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Ikramul Haq have jointly called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reintroduce a six-day workweek to address the challenges faced by the business community Mr Bilwani pointed out that the current five-day workweek for federal
Attock Refiner y delays upgrade project due to tax dispute
MUSLIM COUNCIL URGES TRUMP TO ENFORCE PALESTINE, LEBANON CEASEFIRE BEFORE INAUGURATION
Five killed in fog-related accident near Thatta
from
suspended for four days CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 Baloch also praised the Quetta Division team for their swift response and effective emergency relief operations following the event Additionally he announced that compensation would be provided to the families of the deceased and those injured, as per the Pakistan Railways’ insurance policy At least 27 people were killed and 62 others injured on Saturday in a suicide explosion ripped through the platform of Quetta Railway Station crowded with passengers gathered to board two trains ready to depart, police, local authorities and hospital officials confirmed According to FIR of the blast registered later in the evening, the blast, which left 27 people dead and injured 62 others, involved a suicide bomber who detonated an explosive device among passengers the CTD officials reported Right after the incident Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat had said that the blast was a suicide attack primarily targeting the law enforcement agencies Shafqaat added that gatherings have been banned in the area while bus stations were on high alert adding that railways have been requested to close the station and suspend train services
Naqvi, bugti review Quetta attack, vow ac tion against terrorism
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The meeting also reviewed the preliminary report of the suicide bombing It was decided that intelligencebased operations would be expanded to prevent further terrorist activities in the region Both leaders pledged to intensify efforts to eliminate the elements responsible for destabilizing Balochistan
The tragic attack highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by Balochistan, particularly in the context of rising terrorist incidents in the region In recent months, the province has seen an increase in violence including bombings targeted killings and insurgent activities The Balochistan Liberation Army a separatist militant group has claimed responsibility for many of these attacks, further exacerbating the security situation
The Quetta Railway Station bombing has also drawn condemnation from
national leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who strongly condemned the attack and expressed his sympathy with the victims’ families
He assured the people of Balochistan that the federal government would support the province in its efforts to tackle terrorism and restore peace Acting President Yousuf Raza Gilani also condemned the blast, calling the perpetrators enemies of humanity who target innocent civilians
The Balochistan Liberation Army has been a longstanding threat in the region pushing for Baloch autonomy through violent means While the group has repeatedly targeted security personnel, the recent attack on civilians signals an escalation in their tactics Law enforcement agencies have vowed to continue their crackdown on militant groups and have intensified security measures, including snap-checking and the deployment of additional
forces at key locations across the province
The bombing at Quetta Railway Station, though devastating, has also brought the government and security agencies together in a show of solidarity to address the rising threat of terrorism
Both the provincial and federal governments have pledged to take decisive action, calling for a united front against the forces that seek to destabilize the region As the investigation into the attack continues authorities remain focused on ensuring the safety of citizens and preventing future attacks
In the wake of the attack, Quetta city has been put on high alert, with the government taking steps to secure transportation hubs and public spaces Police and security forces have been conducting frequent checks and gatherings have been banned in the city Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity
Pakistan steamrolls Aussies to notch up rare ODI series sweep
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Numerous batters succumbed to hostile short balls, while allrounder Cooper Connolly had to retire hurt on 7 after copping a blow to his left hand attempting to pull Mohammad Hasnain He was taken for scans and did not field in Pakistan s innings Pakistan s attack smartly did not get carried away with the bounce on offer as their quicks bowled unrelenting line and lengths to totally smother Australia, who once again would be disappointed with their shot selections on a surface that was not a minefield No Australia batter scored a half-century across the series Pakistan entered in the unfamiliar position of favourites in a country where they have endured so much misery over the years Their optimism was heightened by Australia making five changes after skipper Pat Cummins Steven Smith Josh Hazlewood Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne were rested as they start to prepare for the first Test against India Australia had to rejig their battingorder but openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk remained at the top of the
order and desperate to fire having struggled across the opening two games They appeared intent on backing their ultra-aggressive methods and scored 12 runs in the opening over But things quickly went downhill with FraserMcGurk caught at second slip after attempting to drive a good length delivery from Naseem He failed to move his feet in a dismissal that is common in Perth and his wicket brought to the crease allrounder Aaron Hardie, who was elevated to No 3 in a role he fulfils with aplomb for Perth Scorchers in the BBL Even though he was on his home ground Hardie looked nervous and fell in a moment of indecisiveness and edged to second slip in a reward for Afridi who conjured beautiful seam movement
The pressure was on Inglis, who was already amid a big day in his captaincy debut having been earlier selected in Australia s 13-member squad for the Perth Test against India Inglis has often performed a rescue role for Scorchers in the BBL but he couldn t get going and skied a short Naseem delivery to Rizwan
sight or approval from the university s Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBC) as required by the Biosafety Rules Amendments to the Pakistan Biosafety Rules, particularly Rules 8, 14, and 20, have lifted the requirement for local risk assessments and allowed GMO soybean
Short managed to get through the early barrage as he set his sights on furthering his bid to become Australia s permanent ODI opener But on 22 he picked out square leg to gift a wicket to Rauf, who was feeling giddy at his good fortune Rauf ramped up his speed and claimed Glenn Maxwell for a duck as Australia stared down the barrel of being routed for under 100 The only momentary concern for
COMMENT
Quetta Railway Station blast
TH E Tragic blast at Quetta Railway Station, which is being attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army reflects the failure of both the federal and the provincial governments and of their various intelligence-gathering organizations There is no use crying over spilt milk, or even bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted There is no escaping the fatuity of the Railways Police beefing up security at other railway stations That security should have been ramped up already However, though the lead department, the Railways Police only has responsibility for the station The approaches to the station are policed by the Balochistan Police and the Frontier Levies That the bombers could carry the bomb from its place of manufacture to the railway station is not a failure of the Railways Police, but of the local police force
More importantly, how was the Balochistan Police supposed to know that a bomb was to be placed at the Quetta Railway Station? True the Balochistan Police Special Branch should have been aware of what was happening in its own backyard but the federally controlled Special Branch and Inter-Services Intelligence should have been on it Apart from the ISI, the services all have intelligence agencies of their own Did none of them hear anything? It also cannot escape notice that the Quetta Railway Station is an important marshalling yard, and any damage to it, or its perceived vulnerability can only be of comfort to enemies of Pakistan Once again the BLA has done its own work and also that of those who presumably are provisioning it material aid
There are two other dimensions which need exploring The first is the callousness shown to Baloch lives This was shown before when the legal community was decimated by blasts in 2016 at the high court and then at the hospital The second is the possibility that the bomb might have been provided by some sectarian terrorist organization The nexus has been seen before It is made unlikely because of divergent ideologies, but the similarity of methods may have led to cooperation The governments, whether federal or provincial, must engage in serious introspection, and apply pressure to the agencies under their control to produce results This is in addition to removing the grievances of the Baloch people, which they should be doing anyhow
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
BL A’s cowardly attack harms Baloch People
Using people as pawns
about their lives when they were suddenly struck by tragedy Several innocent civilians lost their lives in this explosion leaving families devastated communities shaken and Balochistan grieving The BLA s cowardly tactics are a grim reminder of how senseless violence harms innocent lives ostensibly for political goals, yet only bringing misery and destruction to the very people the group claims to defend The BLA claims to fight for the rights and freedom of the Baloch people yet their actions bring hardship insecurity and fear upon those very people This organization professes to be the protector of Balochistan s interests yet it continuously uses innocent Baloch as pawns in a ruthless campaign of violence By targeting public spaces like train stations, markets, and schools, the BLA is effectively waging war on its own community, inflicting death and injury on the people it purports to represent Far from protecting Baloch interests BLA s violent tactics have only driven away opportunities for peace stability and development These extremist ideologies serve only to further isolate the Baloch, creating conditions that make them targets of violence rather than beneficiaries of progress This hypocrisy reveals BLA’s true intentions: instead of fostering a secure and prosperous Balochistan it propagates fear and destruction isolating the Baloch from the rest of Pakistan and the world Targeting civilians violates fundamental human rights and is a clear breach of international law Acts like the recent attack in Quetta make it evident that the BLA’s claims of fighting for justice are hollow; the organization repeatedly chooses to attack ordinary civilians over engaging with real issues that could improve life in Balochistan This strategy of spreading chaos only exacerbates the problems that Balochistan already faces BLA s tactics have hindered possibilities of meaningful development in the region, complicating life for everyone in Balochistan By creating an environment where security is uncertain and fear reigns the BLA makes it harder for the people of Balochistan to access essential services pursue livelihoods and contribute to the growth of their communities The organization s self-serving violence ultimately leaves Balochistan more vulnerable and more isolated, creating an endless cycle of hardship for the Baloch people
Despite these ongoing security challenges the government has taken significant strides toward stabilizing Balochistan and promoting socio-economic development in the region Various initiatives have been introduced, aiming to uplift the region’s economy and improve the quality of life From infrastructure projects to job creation programs the government has invested heavily in the hopes of building a more prosperous Balochistan However, each attack by the BLA disrupts these peace-building initiatives Acts of terror like the Quetta Railway Station bombing erode public trust, foster fear, and deter investors who could help improve the economic outlook of Balochistan These ongoing disruptions not only drain resources but also diminish the progress of projects that are vital for the region s stability and future The actions of the BLA continuously expose its hypocrisy By killing and
and
forests Mumbai has successfully integrated
planning to
into
temperatures and
Islamabad’s efforts to expand
belts and
plantations are promising but they need to be scaled up and sustained to make a meaningful impact Yet even these commendable measures are not enough on their own A broader integrated approach is critical Cities in low-income countries often lack the financial means to deploy costly resilience measures, making it essential to leverage cost-effective solutions with scalable benefits For example enhancing building insulation can significantly reduce energy demands for cooling in hot climates benefiting both the environment and low-income households financial stability
Shifting from vulnerability to resilience requires a paradigm shift in urban planning This means moving from reactive to proactive strategies that embed climate-informed insights into every aspect of city development Pakistani urban centers like Lahore and Peshawar could adopt climate risk assessment frameworks akin to those used by Tokyo, enabling them to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize resilience investments The socio-economic benefits of climatesmart cities extend far beyond mere survival they contribute to long-term economic stability and social well-being In Karachi informal settlements that house a large portion of the population are often hit hardest by climate-related disasters Empowering these communities with localized adaptation strategies, such as community-managed water storage and decentralized solar energy systems can enhance resilience while fostering social equity
Globally the transformative potential of climate-smart urban design is increasingly recognized Kigali, Rwanda, has set a regional precedent with its eco-friendly public transport and green building initiatives, while Dubai incorporates sustainable design principles into its ambitious urban projects These international examples offer valuable lessons for Pakistan and other nations in the Global South where rapid urbanization is both a challenge and an opportunity The journey towards resilient urban spaces is undoubtedly complex, but it is achievable through innovation, collaboration, and political will Local governments private sectors and civil society must work in tandem to build a sustainable urban future Karachi Lahore and other Pakistani cities stand at a pivotal moment; they can either continue with fragmented, reactive responses or embrace a forward-thinking vision that places climate adaptation at the heart of their urban strategies In essence the vision of climate-smart cities must transition from rhetoric to reality This is not just about preparing for the future it s about securing our present The urban centres of today must be redesigned not only to survive but to thrive in the face of the climate crisis Let us seize this opportunity to revolutionize
Pedestrian dilemma
Chill of neglect
MAjid NAbi burfAt
push for climate
Palestine in the Throes of War
as an effective arbitrator has reached its nadir Its bipartisan support towards Israel acts as nothing more than a bulwark against Israel s opprobrium contributing to the impasse in the peace process Amid a spiralling humanitarian catastrophe and escalation of the regional conflict, a militarised solution will prove fruitless, albeit a political and diplomatic endeavour will catalyse and effectuate the desired change Hence it is imperative for the USA to suspend military aid to the oppressor and stop nullifying UNSC actions that hold Israel accountable for its oppression It is now essential for the US to put an end to the impunity enjoyed by Israel implicated in genocidal killings This necessitates that the USA upholds its legacy as a pioneer of the liberal international order and abandons policies that are Israel-oriented Moreover, the United Nations has also been unable to undertake meaningful actions and employ a principled approach to tackle the protracted war This inaction has rendered the pursuit of durable peace futile and crushed Palestinian hopes for independence The UN should now cease to be a mere toothless tiger It should play its vital role by implementing non-amendment reform through enactment of the Veto Initiative, allowing the institution to adapt flexibly by reinterpreting the charter The UN must take concrete steps to reinforce humanitarian interests in the decision-making process as well as promote responsible exercise of veto powers by holding permanent members accountable This will prove integral in empowering
for humanity Such dilemmas reveal the double standards of the global hegemon The tacit condoning of Israel s military manoeuvres has simply emboldened its unbridled regional ambitions As a result, the USA’s role
D
minique Lapierre Like their previous collaborations Is Paris Burning? (1965) and O Jerusalem! (1971) Freedom at Midnight is a popular history based on research and interviews The 1975 publication claims to provide authentic, previously unknown details about far-reaching decisions, especially Partition and its horrific aftermath The book covers the communal violence that gripped India as it counted down to Independence the politics surrounding Partition and the activities of key historical figures such as Mohandas Gandhi Jawaharlal Nehru Vallabhbhai Patel, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Louis Mountbatten One section is devoted to the plot to assassinate Gandhi by Hindu fanatics led by Nathuram Godse The series is a co-production between Advani’s Emmay Entertainment and the Sony group company Studio NEXT Apart from being a prestige project for Sony LIV the show continues the streaming platform s interest in Indian history Rocket Boys (2022-2023) which Advani created and co-produced, profiled the foundational figures behind India s space and nuclear programmes An upcoming series will revisit the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 Freedom at Midnight will be premiered on November 15 The series stars Sidhant Gupta as Nehru Chirag Vohra as Gandhi Rajendra Chawla as Patel Arif Zakaria as Jinnah, Luke McGibney as Louis Mountbatten and Cordelia Bugeja as Edwina Mountbatten Ira Dubey plays Jinnah’s sister Fatima, while radio jockey Malishka
the first thing the writing team had to do was understand that we were not going to have that point of view
What is the significance of revisiting a book that is nearly 50 years old, which itself chronicles Independence that was attained 77 years ago?
These were absolutely incredible times This is a phase of history that we need to know of Why are we forgetting it? These days young people derive everything from the internet which is populated with opinion I am trying to give perspective to the opinion It s undeniable that the gentlemen that we are talking about were responsible for the independence of India –whether you like them or don’t like them today, whether you vilify them or celebrate them But the youth of today won’t watch a show if it doesn’t have racy dialogue or a great soundtrack by Ashutosh Pathak What I m trying is to make sure that once they get into the show they watch it
When we did Rocket Boys, everybody told us, who s going to watch a show about scientists, it s boring, what are they going to do, solve equations? We decided to have fun with it That’s what I’ve tried to do with Freedom at Midnight too – make it as interesting as possible
The show revolves a great deal around debates and discussions How did you ensure momentum?
We are telling the events from August 16, 1946, to January 30, 1948 – 20 months There’s a ticking time clock even in the background score The first thing we discussed was that several fires needed to be erupting all over the place You shut down one and three others began
The logline which is A sacrifice of many and the ambition of one is something that the writing team took on What also worked for us was that while people knew about the public events, such as India being partitioned and gaining independence they might not have known about certain private interactions that happened and that were there in the book We used these as beat points
There s a fair amount of mixed media There was a lot of footage between 1946 and post-independent India The idea was to keep mixing in those things, which made it more difficult I had to make sure my Nehru looked like Nehru, who was a beautiful-looking, lovely man, but I had also had to keep cutting it with reality That allowed me to get the kind of movement that I wanted There was also so much violence We needed to keep telling people what was happening on the ground
There was much to explain Like, the Cabinet Mission Plan [the failed 1946 proposal about the transfer of power to India, which was hotly debated between the Indian National Congress and Jinnah’s Muslim League] So we had the two parties [Congress and Muslim League] in similar rooms talking about the same thing from different points of view
There’s a fair amount of drama and creative licence in the writing and characterisation Viewers might need a disclaimer similar to the one used by the BBC series The Serpent: “All dialogue is imagined ” Take a show like
Zahra Zaman
US ORDERS TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR TO STOP ADVANCED CHIP SHIPMENTS TO CHINA
The Need of the Hour: IDEAS -2024
(KS&EW) in 1956 was a stepping stone in right direction Later-on in early 1970s Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and Heavy Industry (HIT)
Taxila were added to this list To stay abreast with the latest technological advancement especially in field of telecommunication equipment electronic system and IT based solutions; National Radio Telecommunication Cooperations (NRTC) is another organization; making world class military communication, Border Security and surveillance, Jammers IT & CS Robotics and Electronic Warfare equipment s Another major step in the road to self-reliance is Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS); Pakistan s premier state-owned defence conglomerate and one of the largest defence manufacturing units and hub of core R&D activities in country; offering products for multifaceted military applications Considering Pakistan s export potential in filed of defence industry; Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) was established by the Government of Pakistan in 2000 as a facilitation agency aimed at promoting and coordinating the export of high-quality defense products and services Its primary role is to assist both domestic and international customers in accessing Pakistan s defense capabilities, which include a wide range of military equipment and technologies DEPO started organizing a biennial mega event International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) of Pakistan
and the first edition of IDEAS was held in 2000 in Karachi with a modest strength of 65 national
in general and the youth in particular Therefore, it is important that a developing country like Pakistan continues to make efforts in the fields of defence-related research and development production and marketing training and skill development and perhaps most importantly remain viable in this multi-billion-dollar defence acquisition and procurement industry in the region and beyond For this purpose, it is expected that the IDEAS-2024 will “serve as a bridge between defence industry entrepreneurs traders R&D specialists financial experts and policymakers for capability enhancement and cost-effective businesses
The writer of this article has authored three international books: Nuclear Deterrence and Conflict Management Between India and Pakistan South Asia Needs Hybrid Peace and Understanding Sun Tzu and the Art of Hybrid War Can be reached at email:Ziashamsi58@gmaol com
Bangladesh outspin Afghanistan to level ODI series
Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 68 runs in a battle of spinners to win the second one-day international in Sharjah and level the three-match series on Saturday Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a watchful 76 to help Bangladesh to a fighting total of 252-7 after opting to bat first Bangladesh then bowled Afghanistan out for 184 in 43 3 overs with left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed taking 3-28 Offspinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz and left-arm quick Mustafizur Rahman both grabbed two wickets apiece Rahmat Shah made 52 and opener Sediqullah Atal added 39 to put Afghanistan on solid footing but Atal fell to Nasum and Rahmat was run out after a mix-up with Gulbadin Naib as the match turned in Bangladesh s favour Naib (26) Mohammad Nabi (17) and Rashid Khan (14) got starts but could not go big as Mehidy and Mustafizur did not allow the batters to settle The wicket was difficult, especially against spinners,” said Najmul “The way Miraz and Nasum were bowling, credit goes to them ” Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted batting second was a challenge
DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERIT Y HINGE ON EDUCATION, STRESSES TURKIYE CG
Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has assumed the charge as the Acting Rector of the International Islamic University Islamabad According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training the President of Pakistan and Chancellor IIUI, approved his appointment as the Acting Rector of IIUI Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, an esteemed academic leader brings a wealth of experience in higher education to IIUI Dr Mukhtar s interim leadership is expected to strengthen the university s dedication to building an environment conducive to high-quality education and research Dr Mukhtar Ahmed is the current Chairman of the Higher Edu-
cation Commission (HEC) He has previously served as Chairman HEC from 2014 to 2018, Executive Director HEC from 2013 to 2014 and as Member (Operations and Planning) HEC from 2005 to 2011 He has also served as Executive Director at HEC Dr Mukhtar has also served as Deputy Director General, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
S TA F F R E P O R T
Ejazur Rehman Chairman of the Carpet Training Institute (CTI), said that the handmade carpet industry is a prominent brand that uniquely represents Pakistan globally However, the industry is facing extremely unfavorable conditions due to high raw material costs expensive labor increased freight charges inadequate government support and arbitrary policies of regulatory bodies
He emphasized that if the government reduces tax burdens and provides support in other areas, the industry still has the potential to increase its foreign exchange earnings He shared these thoughts during a meeting with a delegation of manufacturers and exporters which in-
(ISESCO) based in Rabat, Morocco where he was responsible for Directorates of Education Science Culture and Communication ICPSR CPID (Planning and Strategic Division) and ISESCO Regional Centres With a Bachelors and Masters of Science from University of Agriculture Faisalabad and Masters in Business Administration and PhD from University of California, Riverside, USA, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed has over three decades of educational development and management experience at national and international level that includes teaching research administration policy development linking educational research to industry / commercialization, introducing entrepreneurial approaches to education and a diverse range of educational development programmes
Prof Dr Mukhtar assumes acting charge as rector IIUI ADAB
Shaikh, Ali Usman Qasmi, and Moderator Syeda Maham Zahra, exploring Pakistan s journey
The next session of the day was on Science, Art, and Heritage: a life long journey, which featured a talk by Dr Abed Chaudhury examining the intersections of science and cultural identity Simultaneously a session on Nasr Nazm Aur Naya Daur featuring Nazim: Arsalan
event The day unfolded a range of thought-provoking sessions covering subjects ranging fr om Pakistan s agricultural potential and cultural heritage to issues of social justice, feminism, and education The first discussion session of the day featured Miftah Ismail in conversation with Omayr Aziz Saiyid on economics and governance This was followed by a gripping talk on Jinnah s Vision Revisited: Pakistan at 77, featuring Yasser Latif Hamdani, Muhammad Ali
however, rainwind/thunderstorms are likely in the Potohar region Attock Murree Galiyat Rawalpindi Jhelum Chakwal and surrounding areas On Monday, rain-wind/thunderstorms are likely at isolated places in Attock, Murree, Galliyat, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal Gujrat Mandi Bahauddin Sialkot Gujranwala and Lahore The rains though scattered and light will likely provide some relief by decreasing smog intensity in parts of the province Lahore s minimum temperature will likely remain between 17-19°C on Monday and 16-18°C on Tuesday
working in high-risk areas to curb the spread of dengue Officials emphasized the need for public participation in preventive measures
The provincial government has decided to pilot an artificial rain project in Rawalpindi and the trial will proceed only if there is sufficient cloud cover in the area
According to officials, following the decision, the environmental and related government departments have mobilised teams to Rawalpindi to oversee and implement the project
The move comes as Punjab s major cities, including Lahore, grapple with extreme air pollution Lahore recently ranked among the world s most polluted cities, and the smog index in Multan has also reached hazardous levels Just yesterday provincial authorities closed sections of the motorway due to limited visibility from worsening smog conditions Winds from neighbouring India have reportedly worsened the situation in Lahore, pushing smoke and particulate matter further into Pakistan Smog
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departed for Riyadh on Sunday to participate in the Arab-Islamic Summit According to the Prime Minister ’s Office he is set to address the summit and engage in discussions on critical regional issues
The prime minister is also expected to hold meetings with various global leaders on the sidelines of the event Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi are accompanying him on this important diplomatic mission
The summit convened by the Saudi government will focus on key issues in the Middle East including the current situation in Gaza and Palestine Heads of state and government from member countries of the
Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are attending this extraordinary gathering
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a report on all cases where court
Ex-ANP senator Z ahid K han joins PML-N
Awami
Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Speaking to the media, Zahid Khan and his brother
Ayub Khan expressed complete confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Engr Amir Muqam
Zahid Khan highlighted the financial mismanagement during the PTI-led government criticizing the party for its failure to pay teachers salaries and its attempt to buy PIA while the province s fiscal situation deteriorated He also accused PTI of pursuing dual politics to further its own interests
Federal Minister Amir Muqam welcomed Zahid Khan into the PML-N emphasizing that his entry would strengthen the party s position in the region He also pointed out PTI s failures despite being in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for three consecutive terms, noting that the province’s problems had only worsened under their governance Muqam reiterated that PML-N’s focus was on people s welfare and the country s uniform development He credited PML-N leadership particularly Shehbaz Sharif, with reviving Pakistan s economy, achieving a record stock market increase, and stabilizing inflation He also highlighted the success of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad as a boost to Pakistan’s global image Amir Muqam concluded by asserting that the leadership of PML-N had the strength and capability to guide the country through its challenges and into a prosperous future
of the UNGA resolution ES10/24 supporting Palestine s admission as a full member of the UN and exploring legal avenues to hold Israel accountable for war crimes, imposing an immediate arms embargo on Israel, undertaking a comprehensive review of Israel’s membership of the UN and nominating a Joint Arab-Islamic Special Envoy on the Middle East as a focal point to coordinate progress on the implementation of the Resolutions adopted by the Joint-Arab-Islamic Summits He said the first Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh in November last year had adopted
