PAKISTAN ACHIEVES IMF’S DECEMBER
g KP SPOKESPERSON SAYS BOTH SIDES AGREED TO SURRENDER THEIR WEAPONS AND DEMOLISH BUNKERS
are resolved soon and normal life is restored there ” The chief minister said that fighting and violence were not the solution to any problem adding that issues and disputes should always resolved through negotiations “Violence always gives rise to violence which is not in the interest of the parties the region or the government ” PEACE AGREEMENT Both the warring parties assented to the 14-point seven-page peace agreement along with the Grand Jirga members The document stated that keeping in view the post-merger realities members of the Kurram Peace Committee
and both sides would be bound to uphold the Muree Agreement 2008 and all other agreements for the benefit of locals and establishment of peace
The agreement urged the authorities to take strict action against those trespassing on roads while village and peace committee would also cooperate with government and law enforcement agencies In case of any untoward incident on main road, the area people would be bound to prove their innocence in line with the Kurram district traditions,” it said adding those harbouring and feeding miscreants would be considered guilty under the law and traditions
The decisions of the KP Apex Committee would be followed to ensure the security of the road
Regarding the repatriation of displaced persons under the Murree Agreement the jirga agreed that they would be rehabilitated in their native areas and no hurdles would be created in this process
To this effect, a sub-committee would be formed under the chairmanship of the Kurram deputy commissioner assisted by the district police officer and two members each from Upper and Lower Kurram sides This committee would be responsible for addressing the hurdles and reservations regarding the repatriation of displaced persons In addition to this the long standing land disputes in Gedu
nounced
target of Rs1 003 billion
Cumulatively, the FBR collected Rs5 623 trillion during the first half from July to December in the fiscal year 2024-25 This figure is Rs386 billion below the assigned target of Rs6 009 trillion for the period In the first half of FY25 (July-December), income tax collections reached Rs2 780 trillion, surpassing the target of Rs2 524 trillion by Rs256 billion This marks a 29% increase compared to Rs2 149 trillion collected during the same period last year Sales tax collections for the period totaled Rs1 898 trillion, falling short of the target by Rs380 billion Despite the shortfall sales tax collections grew by 25% compared to Rs1 514 trillion collected last year Customs duty collections also missed the target by Rs155 billion, amounting to Rs598 billion during the six-month period The revenue shortfall is primarily
attributed to lower tax collection from imports, driven by a slowdown in trade, weak manufacturing growth and unexpectedly low inflation which has recently fallen to single digits The FBR disbursed Rs273 billion in refunds during the first half of FY25, reflecting a 16 66% increase compared to Rs234 billion during the same period last year In December alone the FBR issued Rs70 billion in refunds up from Rs38 billion in the same month last year marking an 84% rise The government anticipates generating an additional Rs3 659 trillion in revenue for FY25, driven by three key factors: projected GDP growth of 3% large-scale manufacturing expansion at 3 5% and inflation estimated at 12 9% Additionally imports are expected to grow by 16 9%, contributing significantly to the projected revenue increase of Rs1 863
(KUFPEC) has
divestment of non-operated
by its subsidiaries in Pakistan while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a strategic partnership with the Pakistani government in oil and gas exploration and production Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported that KUFPEC s subsidiaries KUFPEC Pakistan Holdings B V , KUFPEC Pakistan B V , and Kirthar Pakistan B V have divested their nonoperated assets in Pakistan in favor of Petroleum Exploration (Pvt) Limited a leading private-sector exploration and production company
However, KUFPEC emphasized that despite this divestment, it continues to be a strategic partner to the
Pakistani government in oil and gas exploration and production The company also reaffirmed its ongoing role as the operator of the Makhad Block in Pakistan KUFPEC further noted that it is working to diversify and expand its operations in Pakistan adding that in collaboration with the Directorate General Petroleum Concessions and major exploration and production companies, it is preparing for the upcoming offshore bidding round Last week reports in some Pakistani media outlets suggested that Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company had initiated its exit from Pakistan’s oil and gas sector The reports claimed that KUFPEC was divesting assets valued at approxi-
mately $60 million in various blocks across the country to Pakistan Exploration (Private) Limited (PEL), citing extensive circular debt and prolonged government policy delays as reasons for the move with plans to reinvest in other markets
KUFPEC s Executive Vice President for Operations, Tareq Ebrahim, said that this divestment is in line with the company’s strategy to optimize its portfolio by streamlining assets and focusing on high-potential opportunities through strategic acquisitions particularly in exploration and development
KUFPEC is a wholly owned sub-
D A S
Tariff concessions announced on impor ts from seven countries under Preferential Trade Agreement
reduced customs duties to take effec t from Januar y 2025 on goods from Bangladesh, egypt, indonesia, iran, malaysia, nigeria, and turkiye
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced tariff concessions on a wide range of imports from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia Iran Malaysia Nigeria and Turkiye under the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement effective January 10 2025 According to a news report the concessions were formalised through SRO 2075(I)/2024, allowing reduced customs duties on specified goods in compliance with the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement Rules of Origin 2024 The notification states that goods imported into Pakistan from these member countries will benefit from lower customs duty rates as specified in the First Schedule of the Customs Act, 1969, or as updated by the FBR’s previous notification dated July 10, 2022 These reductions are part of the Preferential Trade Agreement among the D-8 Member States and align with the provisions of the Import Policy Order 2020 Under the new arrangement if the specified customs duty rate under the First Schedule or the FBR notification is lower than the rates outlined in the trade agreement the reduced rate will be applied to eligible imports The D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement aims to promote economic cooperation and enhance trade among member countries by easing tariff barriers The new concessions are expected to bolster imports of finished products and items that conform to the agreement’s rules of origin
The poverty rate in Pakistan reached 25 3% in 2024 a sharp increase of seven percentage points compared to 2023, adding approximately 13 million people to the impoverished population, according to a World Bank report The report titled “Poverty Projections for Pakistan: Nowcasting and Forecasting highlights that poor households suffered disproportionately higher welfare losses, pushing them deeper into poverty It warns that Pakistan’s ability to respond effectively to these challenges is hindered by the absence of updated household survey data since 2019 The report outlines how a combina-
tion of macroeconomic and natural shocks, including Covid-19,
Kurram Grand Jirga finally strikes peace deal
as warring tribes sign agreement: KP govt
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The land commission would immediately start working in the designated areas and the peace committee district administration and law enforcement agencies would lend support to it Similarly in those areas where Section 144 was already imposed, both parties would be made to implement previous orders as well as previously resolved disputes
The jirga also agreed to ban the display of weapons and collecting donations for purchasing arms Both the parties would provide a comprehensive course of action to authorities within a fortnight regarding bans on arms in line with provincial cabinet’s decision,” the document reads It also said that both the sides would not use arms and weapons against each other after signing the agreement and in case of violation, the government with the assistance of the peace committee would take action against the culprits
Besides law enforcement agencies would also confiscate the arms from the area locals and a fine of Rs10 million would be imposed on the village and area in question
To ensure peace in the district, no person or tribe would be allowed to turn their personal disputes into sectarian ones In addition to this there would be a ban on outlawed sectarian outfits opening offices and working in the area and action would be taken in case of violation In addition to this, no hurdles and restrictions would be allowed on roads Both sides also agreed to ensure protection of those seeking shelters and to prevent the dishonour of women and desecration of bodies
All those employed by the state and private entities, including teachers, judicial staff and others, would be allowed to work in any part of the district without any fear Local elders would be bound to provide security to these employees in line with the Pakhtun tradition of hospitality
Those fomenting hate on social media would be dealt strictly and would be regarded as enemies of both sides In case of any untoward incident in any area, the peace committees would immediately get into action and the other aggrieved party would not react to the incident Besides village peace committees would help law enforcement agencies in bringing the situation under control In addition to this, in case of issues between two villages; other villages and sects would not stand in support of their own and the peace committee would try to settle the issue There would be a complete ban on construction of bunkers in the area and those already existing would be destroyed within a month Besides, whichever side went to war after the destruction of bunkers would be considered as terrorists by the authorities
The document said that the ceasefire would be a permanent one and both sides would not violate it
‘Exams, Ramazan’: Parents, students urge govt to delay annual exams due to holy month
s ta f f r e p o r t
The decision of the board of intermediate and secondary education in Sindh to conduct the annual class ninth and tenth examinations in the month of March has caused a wave of shock and concern among students parents and teachers
They said that due to the exams, fasting and worship will be disrupted urging the Sindh government to change the schedule of the exams on the recommendations of the steering committee and the exams should be held after Eidul Fitr
The students are of the view that being a Muslim country, the government must take into account all aspects while preparing for any event adding that the government must change the schedule for annual examinations to
As per details different boards of intermediate and secondary education in Sindh have scheduled the annual examinations of the class 9th and 10th for the month of March, coinciding with the holy month of Ramazan In view of the Ramazanul Mubarak majority of the parents deem this decision unjust arguing that majority of the students of class 9th and 10th are in the age group considered to be adults, typically starting at 18, which is the age of majority in most areas This year many of these students will be participating in fasting They emphasized that due to the tough schedule the student would have either to fast or prepare for the examinations, leaving them with no other option
help them prepare themselves for the exams in a best manner The worried parents emphasized that there will be no problem for the government even now if the exams are conducted in the month of April instead of March but there will be many problems for the students due to the exams in March
The parents demanded the Sindh Chief Minister, the Governor, the Minister of Education and the boards secretaries to take immediate notice of the pressing issue and change schedule of the annual examinations
KARACHI
04
COMMENT
Uraan Pakistan
TH E targets set by the Uraan Pakistan programme, launched by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday, are ambitious, but they represent a concrete commitment by which the government is to be judged at the time of the next election Considering the timing of the programme it seems meant to be complete by then If its targets are achieved, it could well lead to a re-election of the present government, which has completed stabilization, and now seeks prosperity, It is perhaps a reflection of how times have changed that the Programme targets a six percent GDP growth rate, even though only a couple of decades ago the desired growth rate was said to be seven percent This growth rate was needed it was said to accommodate the job seekers being thrown onto the job market every year by population growth
From the perspective of the present, the targets seem over-ambitious, but are doable The key to achieving much of what is planned lies in the target of exports of $60 billion a year That would be almost triple the 2023-24 exports of $23 billion in just four or five years That would mean growing exports by 27 percent a year Such growth is needed not just to service Pakistan’s foreign debt, but also to help it pay its way in the world However, it would mean massive job creation, with the target of 1 million jobs realistic, as well as a spurt of GDP growth like the one targeted However, that means the ability of Pakistan to sell to the rest of the world An economic strategy based on an externality cannot be relied on An immediate example came the same day as one of the unspoken factors in the plan, oil prices, saw a slight inching up One of the aspects the Plan relies on is Energy and Infrastructure, another is the Environment These require Pakistan to move away from reliance on fossil fuels for energy production Renewables are an energy source which do not rely on external factors for continued prosperity
Just preparing a plan is not enough The government would
Dedicated
Reclaiming solid ground
TH E I S T S have been trying to play by the philosophers rulebook for some time now If their aim was to beat the philosophers at their own game, they have failed spectacularly It could not have been any other way, for the philosopher’s chessboard is heavily stacked against the theist In its rules the theist’s most potent move– his argument from human nature– has been declared illegal He was thus bound to lose every single time The theist should not have given up his strongest line of reasoning in the first place Any argument based in human nature– in fact, the mere mention of nature–was consistently greeted with such derision by the atheists however that the theist thought it best to dispense with it It turned out to be a disaster: Deprived of his solid foundation he resorted to philosophical logical or scientific axioms for fundamental questions By agreeing to play the atheist s game, he had played right into the hands of the latter For when he tried to invoke (for example) causality as an argument for God as the prime mover, the atheist turned the tables on him by demanding to know what had caused God then Other such arguments failed equally miserably By making the theist feel embarrassed for subscribing to the notion of human nature the atheist had effectively neutralized him The atheist has several tricks up his sleeve to bully the theist into abandoning arguments from human nature One such technique is the repudiation of morality by blurring the boundary between man’s nature and his instincts He claims that left on his own an individual cannot help heeding his impulses unless his fear of getting caught is stronger The atheist conveniently sweeps under the carpet the facts that many men remain true to their natures, defying their desires and passions; and that even when they do succumb to these temptations they stand chastised by their natures The fact that man has his animalistic tendencies by no means rules out his human nature The distinction between the two is crystal clear Nobody has any difficulty in judging a hungry man who steals bread differently from a thief who has no such excuse In their sermons, professional as well as amateur philosophers may ridicule human nature all they want Their actions tell a completely different story though They cannot stop their nature (which they reject so
categorically) from manifesting itself in the way they live their lives There is no escaping human nature in practice, even if one pretends (in thought or word) that no such thing exists It is true that in his armchair on lazy afternoons or at conferences a philosopher is likely to wonder whether a man is responsible for his acts or merely a puppet in the hands of forces beyond his control Or
Constitutional injustice
ership
to basic principles of democratic accountability, the repercussions are far-reaching Without manifestos there is no clear way for members of the legal community to evaluate candidates or hold them accountable post-election This undermines the credibility of the legal profession and weakens its ability to advocate for broader societal reforms The absence of manifestos also reflects a troubling complacency within the legal com-
and accountability within their
tions, how can they effectively advocate for these principles in the broader political and social arena?
SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR BROADER GOVERNANCE:
practice will not only raise the standards of bar elections but also reinforce the legal community’s commitment to fostering
and prosperous society
For this change to materialize several steps are necessary: 1 Mandatory Manifestos: Bar councils should amend their election rules to require all candidates to submit a written manifesto as part of their nomination process 2 Public Debates and Forums: Candidates should participate in public debates or fo-
Noor ZAFAr
Beyond the Mirage
Lsolar and wind, our country is reliant on fossil fuels Shifting to sustainable energy infrastructure can alleviate energy shortfalls and reduce greenhouse gas emissions In addition to this like a ship adrift on a drying sea Pakistan is nearing absolute water scarcity, its keel scraping against the bottom as the once-abundant waters recede According to the Falkenmark water stress indicator, Pakistan remains a water-stressed country having a water storage capacity that is limited to a maximum 30-day supply far below the 1 000-day storage capacity recommended for a country with its climatic characteristics In 2023, Pakistan Water Week, IWMI revealed that over 90 percent of Pakistan’s freshwater is used for agricultural purposes compared to 70 percent globally Sustainable water management infrastructure such as rainwater harvesting systems and efficient irrigation technologies, can help address this crisis India is also experiencing increasing freshwater scarcity, particularly in urban centres such as Chennai, and is struggling to manage water resources However it is believed that Chennai has had a very successful experience with rainwater harvesting since the 2002 law mandating it for every building Pakistan could also take its baby steps by implementing similar policies and promoting the use of rainwater harvesting systems in urban areas Additionally with urban areas growing at 2 3644 percent annually (2023) cities like
Karachi Lahore and Islamabad are tussling with traffic congestion air pollution and housing shortages According to the World Bank, the annual urban housing demand is estimated at 350,000 units, while the formal supply is only about 150,000 units, leaving a huge gap This shortfall has led to an urban housing backlog that has brewed a complex situation that is dire for economically weaker segments of the population who are disproportionately affected by the housing deficit Addressing this gap is crucial for improving living conditions and promoting sustainable urban development in Pakistan Integrating green building standards and efficient transportation systems is mandatory to manage urban sprawl Pakistan can take Vietnam as a case in point where Ho Chi Minh City has focused on fostering green spaces within residential projects and new urban developments Currently, 33 cities and provinces in Vietnam have begun implementing smart city initiatives in order to facilitate easier city management and increase overall quality of life in dense urban areas Now moving on to how to transition towards sustainable
cl i m a t e c h a n g e v u l n e r a b i l i t y, e n e rg y c r i s e s , w a t e r s c a rc i t y, a n d r a p i d u r b a n i z a t i o n , a l l o f w h i c h s t r e s s t h e ex i s t i n g s y s t e m s . S u s t a i n a b l e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e o f f e rs a w ay fo r w a rd , fo s t e r i n g e c o n o m i c g row t h , e nv i ro n m e n t a l p ro t e c t i
How the Cold War forged India’s intelligence setup
The CIA station in New Delhi ‘openly boasted that it could obtain a copy of any document produced by the Indian government
CIA aircraft transited through Indian airspace to suppor t resistance operations in Tibet, and US agents helped the Dalai Lama escape from Lhasa in 1959 and walk into India
Most outlandish move was the joint placement of nuclear-powered sur veillance equipment on Himalayan peaks along the India-China border to monitor Chinese nuclear tests, codenamed Operation Hat
N his latest book, Paul M McGarr, a lecturer at King’s
nism In Nehru s view Hindu nationalism presented a major threat to India s long-term stability as a secular country with a significant religious minority, especially after some of its adherents were indicted in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi Simultaneously, communism had fueled a massive armed uprising in South India India’s security forces crushed this revolt but the rise of the Communist Party of India with its hold over trade unions and peasants made some of Nehru s conservative compatriots nervous After the Communist Party took power in the state of Kerala, becoming the first democratically elected communist government in the world, distraught Western capitals used the intelligence setup to target the state government at times in collaboration with Indian agencies
With their statist view shaped by their colonial past India s intelligence agencies followed suit, obsessing with the threat of communism in India and keeping close watch on Soviet activity in the country Nehru even instructed India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to summon the Soviet ambassador and warn him But as McGarr reminds us had Nehru been aware of the extent of discussions taking place in Washington over how the United States might reorientate the political landscape in Kerala, he might have well instructed the MEA to summon [U S Ambassador to India] Ellsworth Bunker for a similar dressing down ”
McGarr shows that for a United States gripped by McCarthyism dealing with the People’s Republic of China was about containing communism; for India the problem with China was essentially about an intensifying border dispute that had plunged previously friendly relations into violent rancor For this, India s Intelligence Bureau sought help from the CIA, which was already keen on leveraging New Delhi to counter Beijing Nehru’s government was still wary of close cooperation with the CIA suspecting that the Americans could use Indian requests as a cover for stronger interventions in New Delhi s internal affairs
Spying in South Asia cites evidence from both Indian and U S sources that suggests that the CIA successfully recruited assets inside the Indian government The CIA station in New Delhi “openly boasted that it could obtain a copy of any document produced by the Indian government McGarr writes The situation was complicated by the assumption in Washington that the Indian leader was intrinsically anti-American a complete misreading of Nehru s critique of U S policies on colonialism, free-market capitalism, and containment
further attracted spies, agents, and operatives from all over the world to some of its border towns Kalimpong, an Indian hill town near the border with China, was the most notorious Nehru wrote that the town had “more spies there than other folk ” He bristled at U S agents using Kalimpong as a base for operations in Tibet and worried about provoking China asking his intelligence chief to ensure that foreign agents work there was kept as unobtrusive as possible
The Chinese were indeed outraged with India, principally for hosting the Dalai Lama, but Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai also singled out activities conducted from Kalimpong as a reason for worsening ties Zhou also raised the issue of the CIA s overflights of the IndiaChina border and support to armed rebels in Tibet When Nehru feigned ignorance, Zhou provided a detailed account of the routes taken and cargo carried It embarrassed Nehru that Beijing knew these details, and more crucially this information implicated India in cooperating with the United States
The 1961 posting of John Kenneth Galbraith as the U S ambassador to New Delhi under President John F Kennedy officially curtailed CIA s clandestine operations inside India and cut down on the overflight operations to support Tibetan rebels, which Galbraith considered “foolhardy,” in McGarr ’s characterization (Still other accounts suggest that the CIA continued its operations while keeping Galbraith in the dark )
However things changed dramatically in October 1962 when Chinese soldiers attacked Indian border posts and made rapid military advances A panicked Nehru conceded that his country was in dire need of international “sympathy and support ” The United States responded to this request The extent of the cooperation was kept under wraps but declassified documents show that the CIA played a pivotal role in supporting India during the 1962 conflict
India s intelligence relationship with the United States, as well as Britain, was transformed It included the raising of a clandestine Indian warfare unit to monitor Tibet, the use of an abandoned World War II airstrip in the Indian state of Odisha for secret operations and the operation of high-altitude U-2 aircraft out of India
The U-2 flights helped confirm that China had developed a facility at Lop Nor in Xinjiang as a nuclear test site
The most outlandish move was the joint placement of nuclear-powered surveillance equipment on Himalayan peaks along the India-China border to monitor Chinese nuclear tests codenamed Operation Hat (also known as Blue Mountain) In 1965 one of the devices placed on the Nanda Devi peak was lost in an avalanche; the missing device still feeds conspiracy theories about natural disasters in the region In 1973, the mission yielded valuable information on Chinese ballistic missile tests even as ground-based monitoring devices had been replaced with satellite technology
setup but acknowledged that a new state could learn from its former masters’ expertise However, living with an intelligence vacuum was easier said than done Overcoming his personal misgivings Nehru sanctioned the formation of close intelligence partnerships with Britain He was more wary of working with the United States, even though his intelligence chiefs did form relationships with their U S counterparts In those early years, India’s leaders grappled with the specter of Hindu nationalism as well as commu-
Although India conceded China’s sovereignty over Tibet in the early 1950s New Delhi was dismayed at the use of the Chinese People s Liberation Army to assert its control over the territory Nehru acknowledged that India didn t have the capacity to interfere inside Tibet, although he was willing to help Tibetan refugees
This ambivalence provided the United States with an opportunity that the CIA exploited CIA aircraft transited through Indian airspace to support resistance operations in Tibet and U S agents helped the Dalai Lama escape from Lhasa in 1959 and walk into India where Nehru allowed him to stay India was thus in the thick of U S operations that
U S President Richard Nixon and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger had decided to establish friendly ties with Mao Zedong s China by that point rendering intelligence collaboration with India redundant
A U S magazine report revealed this extraordinary project in 1978, sending shockwaves through India’s political landscape McGarr examines the propaganda and misinformation missions conducted in India during this period by the Soviet Union on one hand and the United States and Britain on the other India was interested in opposing China, while the West was focused quite singularly on containing communism an ideology India
India witnesses 84pc surge in communal riots in 2024, Maharashtra tops list
followed by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with seven each The report compiled by CSSS Director Irfan Engineer highlights alarming trends in communal violence based on news coverage from prominent Indian newspapers Maharashtra also reported the highest number of mob
lynching incidents, with three cases out of a total of 12 recorded nationwide These lynchings led to 10 deaths eight Muslims one Hindu and one Christian The CSSS report reveals that most communal riots in 2024 were instigated during religious festivals or processions, including events like Pran Pratishthan at Ayodhya Ram Mandir Saraswati Puja immersions Ganesh festivals and Bakri Eid These incidents claimed 13 lives of which 10 were Muslims underscoring how religious occasions are increasingly exploited to incite tensions and mobilize political support As regards mob lynching incidents in 2024, the persistence of such violence remains troubling Six cases were linked to cow vigilantism with other lynchings tied to accusations of in-
On the New Year s eve Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2025 New Year message through China Media Group and the Internet He said that time flies fast, and the new year will be with us shortly I extend my
terfaith relationships and targeted assaults on Muslims States like Chhattisgarh Gujarat Haryana Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka also reported lynching incidents The report sheds light on the institutionalisation of communal violence in 2024 Attacks on places of worship, calls for archaeological surveys of historic mosques and dargahs and amendments to laws like the Waqf Board Act and the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand indicate an organised effort to reshape India s sociopolitical landscape The use of bulldozers to demolish properties owned by Muslims without due legal process has become symbolic of “collective punishment ” particularly targeting the community even when they are victims of communal riots
best wishes to you all from Beijing
“In 2024, we have together journeyed through the four seasons Together we have experienced winds and rains and seen rainbows Those touching and unforgettable moments have been like still frames showing how extraordinary a year we have had he said We have proactively responded to the impacts of the changing environment at home and abroad We have adopted a full range of policies to make solid gains in pursuing high-quality development,” he added He said China’s economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with its GDP for the year expected to pass the 130 trillion yuan mark He said grain output has surpassed 700 million tons and China s bowls are now filled with more Chinese grain Coordinated development across regions has gained stronger momentum, and mutually reinforcing advances have been made in both new urbanization and rural revitalization Green and low-carbon development has been further enhanced Indeed a more beautiful China is unfolding before us he maintained We have fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions New business sectors forms and models have kept emerging For the first time, China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year Breakthroughs have been made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields Also for the first time the Chang e-6 lunar probe collected samples from the far side of the moon The Mengxiang drilling vessel explored the mystery of the deep ocean The ShenzhenZhongshan Link now connects the two cities across the sea He said the Antarctic Qinling Station is now in operation on the frozen continent All this epitomizes the lofty spirit and dreams of the Chinese people to explore stars and oceans
CORPORATE CORNER
Senator Rubina Khalid's big announcement for deser ving women of BISP on New
Rotar y Club of Metropolitan organizes free medical camp in collaboration with CDA
The Rotary Club of Islamabad Metropolitan (RCIM) in collaboration with the CDA Health Directorate successfully organized a Free Medical Camp and Rotary Immunization Centre today at Merabadi G-12 Islamabad The camp was inaugurated by Dr Irshad Ali Jokhio, Director General of the CDA Health Directorate, alongside Mr Shabbir Malik President of RCIM and Ms Tayaba Naheed Gull, Member of the National Polio Plus Committee The initiative provided free medical consultations to approximately 300 individuals, including 150 women, 120 children, and 30 men A team of professional doctors and para medical staff conducted health check-ups offering vital healthcare services to the underserved community As part of the event’s focus on eradicating polio children under the age of five were vaccinated and immunized with polio drops reinforcing Rotary's commitment to global health and disease prevention Speaking at the event, Mr Shabbir Malik emphasized RCIM is dedicated to serving the community through impactful initiatives like this medical camp Together with our partners we are committed to ensuring access to essential healthcare services for all
2024 the most successful year in Punjab’s histor y: A zma Bokhari
MARYAM NAWA Z LAUNCHED OVER 77 PUBLIC RELIEF PROJEC TS DURING 2024 OF WHICH 50 HAVE BEEN COMPLETED: INFORMATION MINISTER
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that 2024 has been the most successful year in the history of Punjab Maryam Nawaz launched over 77 public relief projects during the outgoing year out of which more than 50 have already been completed , Azma Bokhari claimed while sharing a report about the development in the province
She highlighted that all of these projects were started using Punjab’s own resources emphasized that Punjab is leading in terms of development prosperity relief and performance among all provinces of Pakistan Relief has been provided to every segment of society, including students, farmers, women, and youth, without any discrimination”, the provincial minister stated, adding that for the first time in Punjab’s history, relief packages have been introduced for minorities
She further said that for four years Punjab s resources were ruthlessly looted by Pinky Googi and the
Captain The Information Minister also mentioned that Maryam Nawaz has rectified the injustices faced by the people of Punjab Today, the standard of living in Punjab is far better than in other provinces, which has led to an increase in Maryam Nawaz’s popularity”, Azma Bokhari asserted and reaffirmed the provincial government commitment that Insha Allah the journey of development in Punjab will continue in the same manner for the next five years
Indus Hospital takes another step forward towards advancement of Pakistan’s healthcare landscape
The Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) celebrated a significant milestone as it marked the completion of Phase 1 of its new state-of-the-art hospital building at Indus University Hospital, Karachi
The occasion brought together key figures from diverse sectors including donors government officials healthcare professionals media representatives social media influencers celebrities and ambassadors advertising agencies, civil society members, and corporate representatives, all united under the same roof to support IHHN’s mission in providing exceptional healthcare services
The event was graciously hosted by IHHN s distinguished leadership team led by Abdul Karim Paracha Chairman IHHN Dr Abdul Bari Khan President IHHN, and Dr Syed Zafar Zaidi, CEO IHHN They were joined by Mr Ahmed Hussain Kapadia, Corporate Ambassador, IHNN Dr Muhammad Shamvil Ashraf, Executive Director of Medical Services, Dr Amin Chinoy Mr Salim Razak Tabani Chairman of the Resource Generation Committee and Syed Mashhood Rizvi Executive Director CRD
The event featured an exclusive tour of the hospital s key facilities, including the Emergency, Family Medicine
SIMOSA achieves 20M monthly active users as Pakistan's largest homegrown app
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
SIMOSA Pakistan s largest homegrown SIM-care and digital lifestyle app powered by the country s leading digital operator, Jazz, has reached the extraordinary milestone of 20 million monthly active users (MAUs) in 2024 This achievement solidifies its position as a transformative force in the country s digital landscape delivering all-inclusive features and user-centric inno-
clinics Consultant Clinics wards Operation Theaters and advanced Blood Center Guests had the opportunity to explore the hospital s cutting-edge infrastructure and exceptional healthcare facilities, which embody IHHN s commitment to world-class patient care Dr Abdul Bari Khan, President IHHN, shared, “This milestone is a testament to the unwavering support of our donors and well-wishers It brings us one step closer to achieving our vision of providing accessible high-quality healthcare to all while ensuring that Indus Hospital remains the first choice to everyone looking for quality healthcare facilities Expressing his admiration towards the groundbreaking initiative Mr Ahmed Hussain Kapadia Corporate Ambassador IHHN pledged the continuous support to help IHHN sustain and expand its mission and congratulated the entire IHHN Team and the supporters on achieving yet another milestone towards Indus Hospital s ambition of creating an impact and contributing to countless lives across the country
SIUT students volunteer winter program concludes
and winter vacations of educational institutions Response has been overwhelming up till now 7190 students have successfully completed the program During the program participants were apprised the basic philosophy of SIUT which is aimed to mitigate the suffering of the masses without any discrimination of cast, color, creed and without any financial burden SIUT offers completely free medical care to its patients The participating students were deputed in various units and wards of the hospital including transplant dialysis robotic surgery nursing radiology radiotherapy and related medical services where they interacted with the patients doctors and para medics and medical social welfare officers They trained themselves with medical skills, such as vital signs measurements, first aid training, and CPR
KARACHI
POLICE AND PROTESTERS CL ASH IN K ARACHI’S
NUMAISH CHOWRANGI, OVER 300 BOOKED
Lanjar
ECP to suspend 518 MPs failing to submit assets by Jan 15
of members, as well as those of
for legislation on amendments to Section 3(7) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act on the recommendation of the cabinet division/secretariat It also recommended approval of the regulations for the appointment of Information Group officers as Press Officers at Pakistan’s diplomatic missions abroad proposed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting These regulations would ensure a more transparent and merit-based process for the appointment of Information Group officers at Pakistan’s foreign missions The cabinet approved the registration/recognition of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Thatta, on the recommendation of the Ministry of National Health The cabinet in light of the judgment in Human Rights Case No 623-P/2017 by the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan and the recommendation of the Ministry of National Health, approved the reconstitution of a committee to determine the prices of life-saving medical equipment
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued a directive to 518 members of the Senate National Assembly, and provincial assemblies, instructing them to submit their annual statements of assets and liabilities for the financial year 2023-24 by January 15 2025 Failure to comply by this deadline will result in the suspension of their membership effective from January 16
According to the ECP notification 518 parliamentarians, including 23 from the Senate, 116 from the National Assembly, 208 from the Punjab Assembly, 55 from the Sindh Assembly, 91 from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and 25 from the Balochistan Assembly have not yet submitted the required details The ECP had initially set the deadline of December 31, 2024, for the submission of these statements, which must include details of the assets and liabilities
Elections Act 2017 aimed at
and accountability in public
The Commission further stated that any member failing to submit the required statement by January 15 will have their membership suspended starting January 16 Such members will cease to function in their respective assemblies until they file the necessary documents Additionally any member who submits a false statement of assets and liabilities
days from the submission date
The prescribed form, along with detailed instructions and guidelines, is available for free from the Election Commission Secretariat in Islamabad provincial election commissioners’ offices and the secretariats of the Senate National Assembly and provincial assemblies
RAW linked to assassinations in Pakistan, repor t reveals India’s cover t operations
assassination campaign that has contributed to a surge of targeted killings in Pakistan The report claims that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi known for his assertive leadership is driving India s actions beyond its borders signaling a new phase in the ongoing shadow conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors One of the most high-profile incidents highlighted in the report is the assassination of Amir Sarfaraz also known as Tamba in Lahore in April 2023 Sarfaraz a former prisoner involved in the 2011 killing of an Indian intelligence officer, was shot dead by gunmen on a motorbike Pakistani authorities have accused India of involvement citing the similarities to previous attacks linked to RAW This murder is part of a wider pattern of targeted killings that Pakistani officials claim have been escalating since 2021
Investigations suggest that RAW has established a sophisticated network to facilitate these killings Sources from both Pakistani and Western intelligence agencies reveal that intermediaries in Dubai act as coordinators hiring local criminals and Afghan nationals Payments are allegedly funneled through informal banking systems like hawala
The operatives are said to receive precise instructions, often based on intelligence gathered from India’s vast regional network
A former Indian official revealed that India s murder-for-hire tactics were first tested in Pakistan before being expanded globally In 2014, India s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, remarked that while direct military action against Pakistan was impractical covert measures could be used to retaliate against Pakistan for supporting militant groups attacking Indian targets India s covert operations targeting Pakistan are not a recent phenomenon In 2012, Indian Army General V K Singh allegedly led small-scale bombings in Pakistan and a failed attempt to assassinate Kashmiri militant Syed Salahuddin Additionally some sources
suggest India may have been involved in the 2013 shooting of Nasiruddin Haqqani, a suspect in the bombing of the Indian embassy in Kabul However the report claims that the scale of targeted killings escalated in 2021 following Modi s re-election and his aggressive stance towards Pakistan Pakistani officials argue that such actions undermine regional stability and erode trust between the two countries The report also discusses international implications noting a US federal indictment against Vikash Yadav an officer with RAW for attempting to orchestrate an assassination in New York Yadav allegedly instructed his associate, Nikhil Gupta, to hire a hitman for a Sikh separatist US authorities thwarted the plot after Gupta unknowingly contacted a DEA informant In Canada officials uncovered an extensive Indian campaign targeting the Sikh diaspora, involving surveillance, intimidation, and even attempts on lives Indian diplomats in Canada were allegedly implicated in these operations with communications revealing their involvement though the source of the information remains unclear
Political science expert Christopher Clary compared RAW s methods to those of Israel’s Mossad, noting that while Israel’s operations have been effective in less-developed countries they have also been exposed such as in the 2010 killing of a Hamas leader in Dubai
The killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023 led to diplomatic tensions between India and Canada India has remained tight-lipped about the allegations maintaining that its operations are meant to counter terrorism and protect national security
Despite sporadic peace talks, relations between India and Pakistan remain strained Pakistan accuses India of using covert operations as part of a broader strategy to pressure Islamabad on issues such as Kashmir and counter-terrorism efforts
These revelations add a dangerous layer to an already volatile geopolitical situation, as both nations face internal challenges While Pakistan grapples with economic difficulties, India faces mounting international scrutiny over its human rights record India’s covert assassination campaign however further destabilizes an already fragile region
Shafqat
ISLAMABAD