PM REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING COLL ABORATION WITH IAEA
g PM Shehbaz,
organization would continue to work with Pakistan in the same spirit DPM, IAEA CHIEF RAFAEL HELD MEETING Earlier in the day IAEA DG Grossi called on Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the role of nuclear energy in climate mitigation and adaptation, according to a statement from the Foreign Office
According to a statement from the FO Grossi arrived on a two-day visit to the country and called on
DPM Dar “They discussed the role of nuclear energy in climate mitigation/adaptation and its underlying financial imperatives, the statement said They also held useful discussions on IAEA’s projects in Pakistan and the global issues on IAEA’s agenda ” It added that Pakistan values its cooperation with the IAEA and looks forward to the Agency s continued cooperation
Last year, Pakistan was elected a member of the IAEA Board of Governors for the 21st time since becoming a member of the agency
GOVT BACKS PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH, EMPHASIZES REFORMS OVER TRADE: FINMIN
Pakistan
GENCOs staff
Responding to a calling attention notice regarding the recent decision not to absorb GENCOs employees into DISCOs and other organizations under the Power Division he clarified that DISCOs are currently facing a staff shortage Therefore, instead of hiring new workers, GENCOs employees will be accommodated He revealed that details of 1 335 employees primarily non-engineering support staff have already been shared with various DISCOs He assured that those retiring would receive fair compensation
He said that GENCOs employees, cost the government Rs 7 billion annu-
ally in salaries, neither belong to the engineering sector nor contribute significantly to the economy He disclosed that the Guddu and Nandipur power plants are included in the privatization list stating that these plants are completely non-operational and incapable of generating electricity
“Employees at these closed plants are burdening power consumers with Rs 7 billion annually ” he said adding that some workers report for duty without
any productive tasks
The government based on recommendations from the Ministry of Energy has decided to either sell the non-operational plants and use the proceeds for employee pensions and benefits or merge surplus employees into DISCOs The minister clarified that Nandipur and Guddu GENCOs are in the final stages of privatization with balance sheets and clearance processes completed
He also mentioned that a delegation from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) recently raised concerns regarding job security for affected employees
“Employees will either be merged into DISCOs or given full compensation including Rs 35 billion in pension benefits within the next one to two months, he assured Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif acknowledged that unproductive employees place a burden on taxpayers
He stressed the need for alternative employment opportunities for displaced workers and called for a rational approach to restructuring
FinMin, Turkish businessmen discuss investment potential in Pakistan
The finance minister welcomed the delegation and recognized the significant contributions of Turkish companies, particularly Coca-Cola Içecek to Pakistan’s economy industrial growth and employment generation
He assured the delegation of the government s commitment to providing long-term policy framework and ensuring policy continuity to facilitate foreign businesses and investments
Discussions also covered potential areas for further collaboration and policy measures to enhance ease-of- doing-business in Pakistan
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye recognizing the mutual benefits of sustained investment and trade partnerships
Pakistan repor ts 2nd polio c ase of 2025
Director General International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday rejected the police s request for physical remand of Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQMH) Chairman Afaq Ahmed and instead sent him to jail on judicial remand
might discharge
judge observed Afaq
the police on Tuesday in connection with two arson incidents in Awami Colony and Landhi where unidentified individuals set cargo trucks on fire It is worth noting that on the same day unidentified miscreants torched three cargo trucks and a water tanker in different areas of Karachi, including Awami Colony, Landhi, Sharifabad and Surjani Town Afaq Ahmed was presented before the ATC for physical remand in both cases but the court denied the police s request and ordered his judicial remand instead
NEPRA’s holding in abeyance the proposed securit y deposit hike gives hope
BY holding in abeyance a request by the distribution companies for an increase in security deposits, the National Power Regulatory Authority has shown some spine at last The increase in the security deposit would have brought a one-time payment of billions Several representatives of industry appeared before the Authority, arguing that the proposed increase of 2600 percent in the security deposit As industrial connections already have a high deposit rate, so such a massive increase would, exam a one-time payment to the distribution companies While it may make the booked look good during the IMF review due next month The reason for refusing the increase is that the discos have not reduced their transmission and dispatch losses It is not s if NEPRA has not pointed this out before NEPRA has asked what has been done with existing security deposits If those security deposits have been merely used as spare cash it would shed a harsh light on the Discos management methods NEPRA has also enquired about line losses, implying that if losses were reduced, the need to rise deposits would not be there The implication is that NEPRA might be running out of patience, and it should not be assumed that the DISCOs will automatically grant the tariff increases they demand If the tariff hikes are obtained on the ground that the IMF has prescribed them, then the argument made by industrialists, that the security deposit hikes will affect imports, deserves consideration Industry is already smarting from the new gas tariff for the Captive Power Plants which the IMF has deemed inefficient It is being forced to buy power from WAPDA and the increase in the security deposit is meant to compensate WPSA for going along with solar power apart from the tariff revision meant to discourage it The Power Division is likely to insist on the security deposit increase NEPRA must stop it not just because its would be bad for the country, and would reward the DISCOs for being inefficient and conniving at the line losses It should remember that it cannot effect positive change by punishments, but will do so only it makes an example of one or more DISCOs, making it a certainty that failure to function efficiently will not be rewarded The government is trying to give relief to the consumer by reducing tariffs, so taking back in securities what is happened ds ved in tariffs seems needlessly cruel
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
M A Niazi Editor
Th e U S A i s m e re l y p ro m o t i n g p ro l i f e rat i o n N E P R A a c t s a t l a s t
IN today’s interconnected and globalized world, language is a key to unlocking economic potential professional success and educational advancement Among all languages English stands as the lingua franca of international communication, commerce, and academia Its widespread use in global trade, multinational organizations, technological development, and research underscores its importance For individuals and nations proficiency in English often translates into enhanced career prospects access to global opportunities and upward economic mobility In countries like Pakistan, English has emerged as a critical tool for success It serves as a bridge to high-paying jobs, international collaborations, and advanced education, offering individuals access to scholarships certifications and a competitive edge in professional domains Furthermore English proficiency empowers people to engage with the global community participate in digital economies and access cutting-edge knowledge and resources
However, the growing prominence of English often raises concerns about the diminishing role of local languages which carry cultural identity and heritage Striking a balance between leveraging the economic benefits of English and preserving linguistic diversity is essential By fostering bilingual or multilingual policies, countries can ensure that their citizens benefit from global opportunities while safeguarding cultural and linguistic richness for sustainable and inclusive development English has become synonymous with economic mobility in Pakistan Proficiency in English often correlates with better job prospects and higher salaries A report by the British Council reveals that English-speaking professionals in Pakistan earn an average of 30-50 percent more than their non-English-speaking counterparts This economic advantage underscores the importance of English in the country’s labour market where multinational companies and export-driven industries prioritize candidates fluent in the language Initiatives by RELO, OPEN, and British organizations have significantly contributed to enhancing English language skills across the country RELO and
t a l e o f t w o p o l i c i e s
OPEN’s programs, such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the Global Online Courses (GOCs) have benefitted over 1 500 students and 189 teachers in 2024 alone The OPEN Cubed Pakistan programme trained 326 course participants with the help of 22cfacilitators focusing on advanced methodologies for English teaching Similarly, the British Council has been instrumental in promoting English proficiency through programs like “English for Employability” and “Connecting Classrooms ” These initiatives aim to integrate English into professional and educational frameworks ensuring that Pakistani professionals meet global standards
Beyond professional development, English also enhances access to international education Many Pakistani students secure scholarships for higher studies abroad due to their proficiency in English, particularly through programmes like the Chevening Scholarships supported by the UK government Furthermore the British Council s English language tests such as IELTS are gateways for thousands of Pakistanis seeking education and employment abroad While the economic benefits are undeniable, these developments come with consequences for local languages The predominance of English in professional and educational settings has led to the marginalization of Indigenous languages limiting their role in public and private domains According to Ethnologue, Pakistan is home to 74r languages, some of which face the threat of extinction due to lack of institutional support The focus on English inadvertently sidelines these languages, creating a gap in the preservation of cultural and linguistic heritage To maximize the economic benefits of English while preserving Pakistan s linguistic diversity a strategic and balanced approach is the need of the hour This involves leveraging English as a tool for economic growth while ensuring the promotion and preservation of local languages The government in collaboration with relevant stakeholders should focus on developing and implementing bilingual education programmes These programmes should emphasize English language proficiency
English plays a vital role in PakistanÊs economic development, opening doors to global oppor tunities, enhancing employability, and facilitating access to international education. However, this progress must not come at the cost of marginalizing PakistanÊs rich linguistic diversity By adopting a collaborative approach to bilingual education and promoting linguistic inclusivity through broader policy measures, Pakistan can achieve a balance between the economic benefits of English and the preservation of its cultural heritage
tions, it does not
Tthe
lens for Pakistan Having clearly stated that its nuclear programme is aimed against a single adversary, namely India, Pakistan still continues to face the brunt of US ire in the form of economic sanctions The issue here is not whether Pakistan harbours any military ill will towards the USA which has never been the case; rather the issue is a pervasive pattern of doublespeak from the latter when it comes to Pakistan and India
The US preferential treatment for India can be traced back to 2005 when the two signed the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement This was followed by the exceptional Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver in 2008 which has allowed India to conduct civil nuclear deals with upwards of 20 countries This has freed up the indigenous nuclear reserves within India, allowing it the ability to produce more than 2600 nuclear weapons according to some assessments The strategic implications for Pakistan steadfastly ignored by the USA are staggering Pakistan on the other hand unlike India has always been reluctant to introduce any new military technologies into the South Asian security mix, another fact which Washington chooses to ignore This disparate treatment of the two states shows a clear predisposition where Pakistan s strategic compulsions are ignored or penalised whereas India s developments are lauded under the banner of responsible stewardship
From a US perspective this double standard is rooted in a much broader global framework with China becoming a part of the domino effect However no matter its reasoning the selective application of nuclear norms undermines the very regime which the USA claims to be a policeman for By targeting Pakistan while simultaneously easing restrictions on India, the USA is cementing the perceptions of exceptionalism in the already fragile strategic balance in South Asia This move is likely to exacerbate Pakistan s frustration with the USA while emboldening India towards further bellicose actions without the fear of any policing In addition to the strategic implications of this US nuclear prejudice it also complicates the US-Pakistan diplomatic relationship especially with a new government coming into power in the former The out-going US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome, asserted that the future of the US-Pakistan partnership will be defined not by challenges but by opportunities and prosperity While this is a novel thought the reality of the relationship as evident from the continued US exceptionalism in South Asia is far from the lofty ideal provided by the ambassador A lot will need to change in terms of the US dual policies in the South Asian region for the two states to build upon any potential opportunities
Is an Associate Director at Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies Lahore She can be reached at info@casslhr com
Politics of divide and rule
Feudal influence
Nidaa Shahid
Malism and an endorsement of an exclusionary mono-ethnic identity that disregards France s rich diverse history shaped by centuries of cultural exchange Indeed, this wave of hatred has exposed the true essence within europe While european leaders champion openness, religious tolerance cultural diversity and human equality on international platforms they fiercely protect their own religion race lifestyle, and cultural values This obvious double standard shows a mindset that wants to expand, based on old colonial views It sees other people as lesser, only good for conquering enslaving and exploiting This hypocrisy is evident in immigration policies media portrayals and public sentiment that stigmatize Muslims while celebrating european diaspora communities abroad european countries assert the right to migrate freely and enjoy prosperity in any part of the world However when Muslim countries resist cultural invasion they face sanctions political interference and even military aggression Countries that refuse to comply with Western demands often witness their leaders overthrown, societies destabilized, and puppet regimes installed to fulfill foreign agendas Following 9/11, President George W Bush threatened Pakistan with devastation if it did not cooperate stating it would be bombed back to the Stone Age Afghanistan faced relentless bombardment when the Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, while Iraq and Libya were devastated under the pretext of spreading democracy Iran for its defiance in preserving its culture and sovereignty has been subjected to crippling sanctions and demonized as an evil nation This pattern reveals a disturbing trend of punitive actions masked as moral crusades, often resulting in long-term instability and humanitarian crises in the targeted regions Western powers conveniently ignore their colonial histories where countries like France the UK the Netherlands and Portugal occupied numerous Muslim nations imposing their language culture and lifestyles with blatant disregard for indigenous identities In stark contrast, formerly conservative Muslim countries such as the UAe, Saudi Arabia, Qatar the Maldives Turkey and egypt have
transformed into diverse inclusive societies that welcome global visitors investors and cultures Meanwhile european nations seem to regress into puritanical, exclusionary ideologies rooted in their colonial past, fueled by a fear of the “other” and a refusal to reconcile with their multicultural realities
Traditional media once controlled the narrative portraying european leaders as paragons of tolerance and champions of human rights However social media has shattered this illusion, exposing the deepseated prejudices, racism, and Islamophobia prevalent in many parts of europe Platforms like X reveal the alarming extent of hate speech with individuals openly expressing bigotry against Muslims and Islam showcasing the pervasive and venomous ideologies that remain entrenched within european societies The digital age has democratized information, making it harder to conceal the contradictions between europe’s professed values and the reality of widespread discrimination systemic racism and xenophobia that persists beneath the surface
Social media platforms have become breeding grounds for extremist rhetoric, with calls to cleanse europe of Muslims, derogatory depictions of Islamic practices, and the normalization of dehumanizing stereotypes This hatred is not confined to fringe groups but has seeped into mainstream political discourse signaling a dangerous societal shift
The normalization of such rhetoric emboldens hate crimes, fosters division, and undermines the social fabric that holds diverse communities together It is a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic values when confronted with the forces of fear and intolerance
Marine Le Pen reinforces her anti-Muslim stance by spreading misleading information about Muslim-majority countries For instance, an infographic circulating on social media portrays Algerians as a financial bur-
den claiming they cost France over €9 billion annually through unpaid hospital bills, pension fraud, lost tax revenue, and social assistance Similar infographics are also injected for other Muslim countries This narrative conveniently omits France s brutal colonial history in Algeria from 1830 to 1962 during which over 1 5 million Algerians were killed, subjected to torture, massacres, and forced displacement France seized over 2 7 million hectares of fertile land, exploited Algeria’s natural resources including iron zinc lead phosphates and later Sahara oil reserves while imposing oppressive taxation without representation This exploitation fueled France s economic growth, leaving Algeria underdeveloped and economically dependent even after its independence in 1962 The selective amnesia surrounding colonial atrocities serves to decontextualize current immigration debates framing them as isolated economic issues rather than the legacy of historical injustices The same oppressive colonial tactics were employed in other Muslim-majority French colonies, including Tunisia (1881–1956) Morocco (1912–1956) Senegal (1659–1960) Mali (1892–1960) Niger (1900–1960) Burkina Faso (1896–1960) Mauritania (1904–1960) Syria (1920–1946) and Lebanon ((1920–1946) european colonial powers historically imposed their cultural values and lifestyles on the nations they occupied believing in the superiority of the white race This mindset persists today where non-european races are often expected to adopt Western norms and values while europeans claim the exclusive right
Why are Gujarati migrants fleeing the model state?
O ut of 67,391 Indian illegal migrants in the US, Gujaratis were 41,330
There are ver y rich people in Gujarat, but many more ver y poor people, because the state has not been creating good jobs for years
According to the Periodic Labor Force Sur vey, 74% of the Gujarati workers had no written contrac t
IThe average daily wage for agricultural workers, at Rs 242, was the lowest in India, and far behind that in Bihar
Of
T has been in the news lately that Gujarati migrants make up a huge portion of those who have been deported by the Trump administration to India In fact it is understood that Gujaratis are overrepresented among illegal Indian migrants in the US at large In 2023, out of 67,391 Indian illegal migrants in the US, Gujaratis were 41,330 The risks these migrants took were not small In 2022, one Jagdish Patel, his wife and their two sons from the Dingucha village froze to death during a blizzard while attempting to cross the US-Canada border Gujaratis have been travelling to Africa and then the West, for centuries, but not as illegal migrants In the meantime, Gujarat has become a rich state – we are told that it is “a model” even Then why are people leaving this way, and in such large numbers, the very Indian state which has one of the highest growth rates and the highest per capita net state domestic products – Rs 181 963 rupees in 2022-23 which was more than half the national average of Rs 99 404? The explanation is rather simple: there are very rich people in Gujarat, but many more very poor people, because the state has not been creating good jobs for years
THE PERSISTENCE OF MASS POVERTY: Not only did the growth rate of jobs not increase in proportion to the growth rate of the state GDP but the quality of jobs did not improve either, as is evident from the informalisation process at work in the job market In 2022, according to the Periodic Labor Force Survey, 74% of the Gujarati workers had no written contract, against 41% in Karnataka 53% in Tamil Nadu and Kerala 57% in Madhya Pradesh 64% in Haryana 65% in Maharashtra and 68% in Bihar More importantly this casualisation of the workforce resulted in low wages In April-June 2024, the average wage earnings per day from casual labour work for Gujarat was Rs 375, less than the national average, Rs 433 and much
those who migrated to the US are unlikely to have been salaried people They most probably came from the villages of Gujarat where the condition of poor peasants is particularly bad In 2023 the average daily wage for agricultural workers at Rs 242 was the lowest in India and far behind that in Bihar, one of India s poorest states The daily wage for rural people not working in the fields (but as artisans, for example), at Rs 273, placed this state second-last, just ahead of Madhya Pradesh (Rs 246) – and still far behind that of Bihar (Rs 313) The daily wage for construction workers at Rs 323 ranked Gujarat third to last before Madhya Pradesh (Rs 278) and Tripura (Rs 286) Wages are not the only indicators one must pay attention to for measuring poverty The Monthly Per Capita expenditures (MPCe) of the state’s rural and urban dwellers are very revealing too According to the National Sample Survey Office in 2022-23 Gujarat’s MPCe was at Rs 6 621 in urban areas and Rs 3 798 in rural areas far from what it was in Tamil Nadu (Rs 7 630 and Rs 5,310), Kerala (Rs 7,078 and 5,924), Karnataka (Rs 7,666 and Rs 4,397), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 6,782 and Rs 4,870) and even Haryana (Rs 7,911 and 4,859) as well as Maharashtra (Rs 6,657 and Rs 4,010) The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) developed by the UN to measure poverty by taking into account not only standard of living but also access to education and healthcare is very useful here as it goes beyond economic criteria Gujarat, from this point of
view, is in the middle of the table, with 11 66% poor in 2020-21, barely less than West Bengal (11 89 %), but more than Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh Telangana Himachal Pradesh Punjab Tamil Nadu Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala (to mention only large states) Gujarat is particularly penalised by its poor score in terms of access to food: 38% of the state s inhabitants reportedly do not have access to the food they need (compared with 42% in Bihar and 40% in Jharkhand –the other two states occupying the lowest ranks here) How can we explain the absence of good jobs in the Indian state with the largest per capita net state capital product – and the correlative persistence of mass poverty that forces so many people to migrate to the West?
FEW GOOD JOBS: A CAPITAL INTENSIVE, OLI-
GARCHIC POLITICAL ECONOMY: The explanation of this paradoxical situation lies in the trajectory Gujarat started to follow under Narendra Modi Between 2001 and 2014 the government gave priority to infrastructure projects (including ports thermal plants and refineries) and petrochemicals industry at the expense not only of social expenditures – including health and education – but also more labour-intensive activities This strategy contrasted with the kind of political economy Gujarat was known for till then Indeed, the state has traditionally been a land of entrepreneurs where the state has assisted small and medium enterprises (SMes) and where some positive discrimination was implemented for smaller-scale entrepreneurs In the 1990s the industrial policy of the state government of Gujarat
unfortunate but also disconcerting It goes against the principles of tolerance and inclusivity which are essential for the pluralistic society we hope to build following the July uprising According to media reports, the incident occurred when a group of individuals demanded the removal of a book by Taslima Nasreen from the Sabyasachi stall leading to an altercation when the latter refused to comply Police in their attempt to control the situation covered the stall with a tarpaulin One person reportedly the publisher was also
taken into custody Meanwhile, Bangla Academy formed a seven-member committee to assess whether the stall should be reopened with a report due within three working days A Bangla Academy secretary stressed that the closure was a police decision, not the academy s The Sabyasachi stall had already been a target of online threats ahead of Monday’s incident, with multiple social media posts calling for its demolition on the grounds that it was promoting atheism Bdnews24 com quoted the publisher s wife who said that they had informed police about these threats only to be advised to remove Taslima Nasreen s book instead of being offered protection While it is reassuring that the interim government has strongly condemned the incident, we hope the authorities will move beyond words and take concrete action Time and again we have seen this pattern where social media platforms are used to issue threats and incite violence yet law enforcement remains mostly passive instead of taking preventive measures One may ask: why was security at the book fair not strengthened even after the publisher ’s complaints? This is not the first time the fair has come under attack from groups opposed to free thought and given this history Bangla Academy should have ensured adequate security to create a safe space for book lovers and publishers
KING ABDULL AH REJECTS TRUMP’S GA Z A DISPL ACEMENT PL
French president rejec ts Trump’s plan to depor t Gazans
China slams US vessels’ passage through Taiwan Straits
communiques, handle Taiwan-related questions with extra prudence and stop sending any wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” forces
o r t Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed his deep regret and sorrow over the death of wife of Shaheed Fazil Rahu and mother of former provincial minister Sindh MPA Muhammad Ismail Rahu and Muhammad Aslam Rahu CM Sindh offered prayer for departed soul's forgiveness, elevation in ranks and high place in Jannat-ul- Firdous along with prayers for patience and strength for the bereaved family CM Sindh offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and said “Our prayers are with the family in this hour of sorrow" On this occasion Provincial Minister for Energy Planning & Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah Provincial Minister for Excise Mukesh Kumar Chawla, district president of Pakistan People s Party (PPP) and Chairman of District Council Badin Jam Ali Asghar Halepoto, Deputy Commissioner Badin Yasir Bhatti, Chief Minister Sindh’s Protocol Officer Shiraz Nazir, SSP Badin, PPP Badin District General Secretary Dr Sajjad Chandio MPA Imdad Ali Pitafi MPA Hari Ram Kishori Lal and others also extended their condolences with bereaved family
CORPORATE CORNER
Sindh Governor addresses ACCA oath-taking ceremony
t u n i t i e s f o r t h e y o u t h H e e x p r e s s e d t h e s e v i e w s w h i l e a d d r e s s i n g t h e o a t h - t a k i n g c e r e m o n y o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f C h a r t e r e d C e r t i f i e d A c c o u n t a n t s ( A C C A ) a s t h e c h i e f g u e s t E a r l i e r A C C A s n e w l y e l e c t e d f i r s t f e m a l e p r e s i d e n t A a i l a M a j i d w a r m l y w e l c o m e d G o v e r n o r S i n d h K a m r a n K h a n Te s s o r i a t t h e e v e n t C o n g r a t u l a t i n g t h e n e w l y i n d u c t e d A C C A m e mb e r s G o v e r n o r S i n d h K a m r a n K h a n Te s s o r i h i g h l i g h t e d t h a t t h e i r s u c c e s s i s a r e s u l t o f t h e i r r e l e n t l e s s e ff o r t s a n d a s y m b o l o f t h e i r p r o m i s i n g f u t u r e H e f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t t
Fatima Fertilizer and Akhuwat Foundation joined hands through a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement, signed during a special ceremony held in Lahore The collaboration is aimed at supporting rural women entrepreneurs under the Sarsabz Tabeer initiative through financial inclusion and skill development initiatives The agreement was signed by Asad Murad, Chief Operating Officer of Fatima Fertilizer, and Dr Kamran Shams, CEO Akhuwat Foundation The Sarsabz Tabeer initiative is designed to empower women by providing them with the necessary resources training and financial support to thrive in agri entrepreneurial pursuits This collaboration signifies a shared commitment to fostering gender equality and enhancing women's contributions to the agricultural sector
Fatima Fertilizer ’s COO Asad Murad stated We believe that empowering women is essential for the growth and sustainability of our communities Through this partnership with Akhuwat Foundation, we aim to create opportunities that will enable rural women to achieve their full potential Dr Kamran Shams added This MoU marks a significant step forward in our mission to support women in agriculture Together with Fatima Fertilizer, we
Sana, Kiran, Afshan, Hira, Aaliyah, Nada, Farzana, Shaista, Tanveer, Tarab Shahid, Farzana
in Wazirabad had denied PTI members the right to perform the funeral rites of a deceased party worker
Chaudhry also revealed that Khan and other party leaders had appeared in the GHQ case, and that PTI has decided to appoint Aamir Dogar as a member of the opposition’s negotiation committee He added that new members would also be included in the political committee with a formal notification set to be issued today
Highlighting issues faced by the party, Chaudhry pointed out that ILF
President Intizar Panjotha was prevented from visiting the jail and that lawyers were being denied access to jail trials He also noted that journalists were being selectively allowed into the proceedings The lawyer confirmed that PTI would file a request for an open trial in the GHQ case, citing concerns over judicial fairness after the 26th Amendment In his third open letter Khan will also
PTI exposes govt’s ‘false claims’ of economic turnaround
of loot and plunder, as a result, Pakistan dropped two spots in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024, falling from 133rd in 2023 to 135th in 2024 out of 180 countries
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram stated that the Transparency International report is a slap in the face of the mandate thieves, who were squandering billions of rupees on media advertisements to mislead the public with fabricated claims of economic prosperity Waqas asserted that when certified corrupt individuals were fraudulently imposed on the country corruption would surely witness an upsurge, as corrupt leaders breed a culture of corruption
PTI CIS emphasized that the only remedy for the cancer plaguing the country s governance and economy is to hand over the reins of the country to a
genuinely elected government led by an honest and clean leader like Imran Khan He said that Transparency International Chief Executive Officer Maíra Martini rightly stated: “Today, corrupt forces not only shape but often dictate policies and dismantle checks and balances silencing journalists activists and anyone fighting for equality and sustainability
Lashing out at Nawaz Sharif, the PTI Central Information Secretary (CIS) stated that Pakistan’s foundations were not weakened by PTI founder Imran Khan but rather by Nawaz and his family s ruthless and merciless plunder of national resources over the past thirty years
He urged the cowardly Nawaz to face the public and gauge their sentiments, including their love and respect for him instead of holding daily meetings with his daughter Waqas emphasized that Nawaz should not vent his anger on the PTI founder but should instead settle scores with his cunning brother and power-hungry daughter, who betrayed him and brought his fraudulent political chapter to a close once and for all
Al Qadir Trust During the widespread violence important military installations also came under attack including corps commander house known as Jinnah House, GHQ Rawalpindi and airbase in Mianwali Following the mayhem, the state launched a vigorous crackdown on PTI leaders and workers leading to arrests and legal cases against several PTI leaders and supporters
During proceedings on Wednesday the Lahore ATC announced that the police had completed their in-
Regarding the federal government s one-year performance Waqas conducted a thorough analysis and debunked its false claims of economic recovery using both government-owned and international data He added that a government devoid of a public mandate has devastated every sector of the country including economy turning lives of ordinary citizens into a living hell Waqas asserted that the regime passed draconian laws like PECA to suppress the media and obstruct public’s access to the truth
PTI CIS revealed that the PDM government nosedived the fast-thriving economy of the country after regime change conspiracy, adding that when Imran Khan-led government was ousted, economy was growing at 6 2% in one of the most challenging times in history of the world
However he lamented that the corrupt clique plunged the country into worst economic social and political crises due their self-centered approach and incompetence Waqas said that around 13 million people have fallen below the poverty line between 2022 and 2023 with 6 4 million remained un-
vestigation and that they had found him guilty However, the judge provided one last chance for Swati to present arguments related to his bail
“You all should present your arguments for bail, perhaps it will be approved ” the judge said Swati maintained that the cases against him were fabricated In response the judge said that Swati must present the arguments to hold his ground It has been more than a year since the bail applications were filed, and the police investigation has also been completed,” the judge said The hearing was then adjourned until Feb 25
employed, as the unemployment rate currently stood at 7 5%, compared to 5 5% during PTI’s tenure He reminded that PML-N and PPP had severely damaged the economy during their respective governments from 2008 to 2025 leaving the country on the brink of bankruptcy each time Waqas stated that the PDM government reduced the growth rate from 6% to0 22%, and it remained at 2 5% in 2023-24
PTI CIS stated that the government devasted agriculture sector as production of major crops witnessed a decline by 11% fearing an alarming decrease in wheat production this year He warned that if the government continued its current policies, the situation could become dire in the coming months He stated that industrial growth remained negative at -0 25% from July to November reaching -3 8% in November He criticized Shehbaz s winter electricity package, stating that no one in Pakistan is willing to buy electricity from the government due to its anti-public policies He also dismissed the government s claims of reducing inflation revealing that inflation increased by 60% over the past two years adding that non-food inflation stood at 10 4%, which had broken the back of the common man
ALEEMA, UZMA DECLARED ‘INNOCENT’ IN JINNAH HOUSE ATTACK CASE
Meanwhile the Lahore ATC also heard a case against PTI founder Imran Khan s sisters, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, for their alleged involvement in the Jinnah House attack on May 9
During the hearing, the investigation officer told the court that the probe against the two sisters had been completed adding that the two were found innocent
The IO said there was no need to arrest the duo who withdrew their bail applications in the case
Last month, a Lahore ATC judge extended the pre-arrest bail of Aleema, Uzma and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja in the Jinnah House attack case until February 15 Speaking to the media outside the court Aleema said: “After 20 months Allah has made us prosperous adding that she had
If the investigating officer had appeared on the
Ahsan and Faisal Siddiqui are scheduled to present their arguments in the next session During the hearing Raja argued that the
case involved two issues one of which was related to Article 175 He said that the doors would not be closed as far as fundamental rights were concerned Justice Mandokhail inquired whether merging fundamental rights with a specific act could lead to their violation He further questioned if a soldier marrying a second time without his first wife s consent, would be tried in a military court Raja responded by calling the Army Act a “black hole,” arguing that any amendments could compromise fundamental rights He maintained that for an offence to fall under the Army Act the offence must be directly related to military service Providing an example, Raja said that while kite-flying is banned in Punjab, a military officer engaging in the act while at home would not be subject to a military trial but rather civilian law
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan while addressing Raja, said that during his party s (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) tenure, there was active legislation on the Army Act To which Raja replied that at that time he had not been joined the party saying that he had always remained in the opposition
During the proceedings Raja also referenced the 1975 FB Ali case, where Section 2(1)(d) of the Army Act was first discussed Justice Muhammad Mazhar Ali questioned why the apex court repeatedly reviewed Article 2(1)(d) to which Raja replied that legal frameworks evolve necessitating judicial review He added that Article 8(3) does not provide an exception for Article 2(1)(d) Justice Afghan noted that an ordinance for Article 2(1)(d) was introduced in 1967 and questioned whether its expiration rendered it obsolete Raja countered by citing the Official Secrets Act which has been
in place since 1923, allowing trials under its provisions before 1967
Referring to the Kalbhoshan Jadhav case Raja noted that in the modern era it is impossible to suspend an individual s fundamental rights and place them under the control of a commanding officer Justice Jamal Mandokhail inquired whether the court is bound by its previous judgments or by the Constitution of Pakistan While acknowledging the high regard for Supreme Court rulings Salman Akram Raja responded that the Court is not bound by them Justice Mandokhail then asked What if the Constitution is amended? Raja replied, The situation would change,” adding that Article 75 did not exist at the time of the FB Ali trial Raja also emphasized that court-martial procedures have evolved globally He pointed out that trials behind closed doors are no