ponents including Uraan Pakistan The prime minister, about his meeting with a delegation of World Bank directors, said that they had unanimously expressed their satisfaction over the reforms agenda and the macro-economic stability They had praised the government and its credit went to every member of the cabinet, he added The prime minister said peace in the country was linked with the economic prosperity which would move the wheel of progress rapidly For economic stability conducive environment was a requisite he added The prime minister also paid tribute to the security forces whose officers and personnel were sacrificing their lives for the protection of the country PM INAUGURATES TAYYIP ERDOGAN INTERCHANGE
Sharif on Tuesday inaugurated the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Interchange near F-8 and F9 sectors, commending the efforts
84
for completing the project in
In his address at the inaugural ceremony the prime minister mentioned that he had also advised the Interior Minister to develop plans for future projects aimed at further beautifying the federal capital and improving the lives of the people residing in the city and its surrounding areas He said the project would reduce traffic congestion making commuting easier for the city s residents
During the recent visit of Turkish President to Pakistan, the prime minister had named the newly built F8 & F9 Interchange after Recep Tayyip Erdogan by unveiling
forward and work hard to accomplish the economic agenda and its key com-
cour t mar tial not prohibited under international laws: Justice Afghan
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench stated on Tuesday that international law does not explicitly prohibit the court-martial of civilians The SC judge made the observation during the hearing of intracourt appeals by a seven-member bench led by Justice Aminuddin Khan against the declaration of civilian trials in military courts as null and void During the proceedings, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel inquired about the implications if a country fails to adhere to international regulations During the hearing, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan remarked that international principles do not state that civilians cannot be courtmartialed The lawyer of the May 9th accused Arzam Junaid, Salman Akram Raja continued his arguments saying that he would complete his arguments by 11 AM Justice Jamal Mandokhel remarked that it would be better if the arguments were completed in half an hour Mr Raja responded by saying that he should be allowed to say what he wanted so that he could finish by 11am He emphasised that in simple terms, civilians’ basic rights should not be terminated to conduct a court-martial The senior legal expert argued that court-martialing civilians goes against international standards for a fair trial “International standards require that trials be public fair and transparent with decisions being made public Decisions from military tribunals around the world are often appealed in courts, and a ruling by a European court has forced many countries to revise their court-martial procedures, he said Justice Jamal Mandokhel asked, “What would happen if international principles are not followed?” To which Salman Akram Raja responded Not adhering to international principles means that the trial is not transparent ”
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz
Pakistan, Chinese FMs discuss bilateral ties, regional and int’l issues
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will hold a crucial meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in New York on Tuesday against the backdrop of a host of regional and international developments Dar and Wang are in New York to attend the special UN Security Council session on practicing multilateralism: reforming and improving global governance”
The debate is being organised by China which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UNSC The Chinese foreign minister extended a special invitation to Dar for the UNSC session The two leaders will review bilateral ties, discuss regional and international issues The meeting will also discuss US President Donald Trump s policies which many see as disruptive China has emerged as a key player in a volatile situation after Trump threatened to shift decades-old US policy towards Europe Dar and Wang will deliver their speeches at the UNSC on the subject of importance of multilateralism
Meanwhile, Dar addressed ambassadors from OIC countries on Monday and spoke about issues ranging from Gaza to Islomophobia and from Kashmir to Afghanistan He warned against any attempts to expel Palestinians from their homeland and stressed the importance of UNRWA s role in providing humanitarian assistance
But his message went beyond Gaza In the West Bank Israel’s campaign of violence and displacement
had to be stopped The OIC he urged must take decisive steps to secure global recognition of a Palestinian state and push for Palestine s full membership at the United Nations
Turning to Lebanon, Dar welcomed the peace agreement brokered by France and the United States but criticized Israel’s continued military actions The OIC he insisted must demand Israel s withdrawal from South Lebanon On Syria, he reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to its sovereignty, condemning Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights and calling for a UN-led political process to stabilize the country In Yemen where war had ravaged the nation for years, Dar called for a diplomatic solution, praising Saudi Arabia and Oman for their peace efforts Dar also expressed concern over
Israeli threats against Iran warning that any escalation would endanger regional and global peace He called for reviving the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) on fair terms to ensure longterm stability “Like Israel in Palestine, India seeks to brutally suppress the Kashmiris and change the region’s demographics by bringing in settlers With 900 000 Indian forces occupying Kashmir, the world remained silent while Kashmiris suffered But Pakistan would not stay quiet,” Dar said On Afghanistan, Dar acknowledged the growing terrorist threat from TTP militants operating from Afghan soil Pakistan he declared would take all necessary steps to protect its people At the same time, Pakistan recognized the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan
D E R E G U L AT E F U E L P R I C E S
tendees of the government
100% exportbased sector in the country the towel industry exports to 125 countries worldwide
The Towel Manufacturers Association (TMA) which represents 200 companies contributes $1 77 billion to Pakistan s economy The major export markets are the United States accounting for 33 44%, and Europe, at 30 15% The industry also provides employment to 2 8 million people
During the meeting, industry leaders stressed the need for transparent tax guidelines a competitive tax policy and long-term policy stability to foster sustained growth and ensure the sector remains globally competitive The finance minister reassured at-
The meeting concluded with a pledge for enhanced public-private collaboration to keep Pakistan s towel industry competitive on the global stage
tC ivilians cour t mar tial not prohibited under international laws: Justice Afghan
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Justice Mandokhel pressed further What happens if a country violates international principles? Raja replied, Some international principles are mandatory, while others are not However, the principle of a fair trial, as enshrined in Article 10A of our Constitution was added in light of international standards
Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan then remarked Nowhere in international principles does it state that civilians cannot be court-martialed
Mr Raja pointed out that in the UK, court-martials are conducted by independent judges not military personnel In the FB Ali case the principle of separation of powers wasn t in place At that time deputy commissioners and tehsildars conducted criminal trials It was argued that if a deputy commissioner could conduct a criminal trial a colonel could do so as well ” Raja continued “All countries present their compliance with international principles to the United Nations The UN s Human Rights Committee reviews these reports and gives their opinion He added that last year, in October and November, the UN Human Rights Committee reviewed Pakistan’s military justice system and expressed concern over the court-martialing of civilians
The committee found that Pakistan s military courts are not independent, he noted, and they recommended granting bail to those in military custody ” Raja also men-
tioned that the European Commission had stated that the court-martial of the nine protestors was incorrect, and that the European Union had granted Pakistan GSP Plus status
He further highlighted “Justice Yahya Afridi raised these same concerns in his dissenting note asking why thousands could be tried in ATC courts but not the 105 in question
During the hearing, an interesting exchange took place between Salman Raja and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan Mr Raja said In the UK there was a case where a soldier named Fedley was court-martialed The European Court of Human Rights declared his military trial invalid because Fedley, who was suffering from mental stress, had fired a weapon Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar you may recall noted that Fedley s firing also resulted in a TV being broken Interestingly a similar thing happened during the May 9th incidents – a TV was broken there too He continued, The person who broke the TV during the May 9th events was someone I met later He was deeply ashamed of what had happened He was an unemployed individual with only four grades of education And I couldn t help but feel for him – he was a victim of the society that gave so little to people like him Justice Ameenuddin Khan intervened, advising against discussing personal matters while Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel asked Salman Raja if he had met Fedley Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan smiling
remarked, No, Salman Raja has met the Pakistani Fedley Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi then commented “You said your client used to play first-class cricket He didn’t go to play cricket on May 9th did he?
Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar questioned, Under what law was Kulbhushan given the right to appeal? Is that law present before us?” To which Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman responded, “I will bring that law on record ” Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar remarked Was that law introduced only for Kulbhushan?
Aziz Bhindari responded, Spies who have permission from the International Court of Justice are entitled to an appeal ” Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel then asked How many Kulbhushans are there here? Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman replied Classification is allowed in FB Ali as well Salman Raja then expressed his disagreement with the decision of Justice Muneeb Akhtar regarding the establishment of military courts stating “No judge should be allowed to include words in the constitution that are not part of the text of the constitution If this is allowed, it would be extremely dangerous A judge should not have the authority to insert such words into the constitution ” Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel responded Another example could be from Anarkali Bazaar where outside a shop it
was written Badhia Quality (Good Quality), but someone read it as Badhia Ko Ulti’ (The elderly is vomiting) This also made the courtroom burst into laughter ” Salman Raja referenced the Practice and Procedure decision and the review decisions of Article 63-A emphasizing that no court in the world will be free unless it ensures the right to a fair hearing He argued that even without Article 175(3) of the Constitution, Section 2(D) of the Army Act could be declared null and void based on Article 10-A Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar remarked Justice Muneeb Akhtar in the majority decision, considered military courts as a parallel judicial system Salman Akram Raja responded, “Justice Muneeb Akhtar made this interpretation of the Constitution by considering history He wrote that military courts have a historical background and interpreting the Constitution based on history could lead to extremely dangerous outcomes This is an extremely dangerous way to interpret the Constitution ” He further argued “When the Constitution is clear it cannot be self-interpreted as was the case in the interpretation of Article 63-A but in the review of Article 63A, the interpretation was correct With that, Salman Akram Raja concluded his arguments, and the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the military courts case until tomorrow The founder of PTI s lawyer Azir Bhindari will begin his arguments tomorrow
The revised values now apply to both High Fat and Low Fat desiccated coconut imports
04
COMMENT
Learning from Saudi Arabia
SU P E R F I C I A l ly, Finance Minister
Muhammad Aurangzeb was only putting forward an anodyne idea when he said while talking to the press at the recent conference on emerging market economies in Alula Saudi Arabia that Pakistan looked to learn from the Saudi experience of its Vision 2030 However this remark indicated that Mr Aurangzeb could not distinguish between the Pakistani and Saudi economies He might be right, but it would depend on the sort of lessons that had been learnt It might be remembered that Pakistan had followed the Saudi example of setting up a Sovereign Wealth Fund, but the idea was shot down by the International Monetary Fund, which went as far as making its abolition condition of the present programme It also shows lack of comprehension of the dynamics in the relationship Saudi Arabia is interested in Pakistan as an investment destination, which implies that Pakistan has more investment opportunities than Saudi Arabia Also of significance is the fact that Saudi Arabia has a labour-deficit economy, while Pakistan is a labour-surplus country and thus the two countries have completely different requirements While the former emphasizes labour saving and mechanization the latter needs labour-intensive economic activity
Another factor could be that Saudi Arabia is not really known as being on the cutting edge of economic thought, but if its best practices are applicable to a Pakistani context, no one should quarrel with any idea on the ground of its origin Mr Aurangzeb might be suspected of a desire to flatter, if so, his attempt was a trifle ham-handed His expression of thVision 2030 One of the factors he pointed out Pakistan needed to learn was how Vision 2030 was proceeding ahead of schedule If it turns out that all Saudi Arabia has been doing is to provide more money and more labour, then that is not a solution Pakistan can put into practice
Mr Aurangzeb should note that the Vision 2030 positions Saudi Arabia for a future without oil If he wishes for one takeaway from it he should be careful to notice whether Pakistan is so positioning itself and what role is his own ministry playing in the sea-change that is about to occur
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
US blank-check suppor t for Israel enabled more than genocide
Acombination of pro-Israel advocacy groups and political action committees including right-wing Christian fundamentalists neoconservative hawks, and weak-kneed liberals, have not only enabled Israel s genocidal campaign against Palestinians they’ve done so much more They’ve silenced congressional debate on decades of Israel s illegal policies toward Palestinians Pro-Israel groups and political action committees cry foul whenever their role in this regard is noted But the tens of millions they ve spent to punish critics and create a climate of fear and their own gloating over their successes are too well-documented to ignore The result has been that too many members of Congress have either been cowed into silence or motivated to pass excessively bizarre legislation singling out Israel for special treatment in budgetary matters or for political favors
This same coalition of groups from the right and left of American politics has also pressed successive US administrations not only to turn a blind eye to Israeli actions that violate US laws but also to take an aggressive posture toward other nations which are critical of Israel These acts have contributed to dismantling the architecture of international diplomacy, laws, and covenants developed in the aftermath of the two world wars and have done grave damage to the stature of the USA in the world community US presidents from Ford to Obama have been pressured by pro-Israel group-inspired congressional letters calling on them to back away from positions critical of Israeli policies Successive administrations have thus been cowed into silence in the face of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied territories and other well-documented Israeli violations of international law and human rights
This pressure has resulted in US denunciations of UN reports on Israeli violations the US withdrawal of funds from various UN agencies over actions critical of Israeli behaviour, and repeated US vetoes of
Security Council resolutions even when those resolutions simply affirmed policy positions supposedly reflecting stated US policies More recently this same practice could be observed in sanctioning by both Congress and the administration of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court and individuals and countries who participated in decisions that were critical of Israel These actions contributed to dismantling guardrails put in place to promote world peace enforce international law and protect vulnerable populations against abuse and have left the USA increasingly isolated This same collection of groups and the pressures they create to distort US policies have also done incalculable damage to Palestinians and Israelis and the prospects for Middle East peace Annually the US Department of State reports on the performance of other countries human rights policies Congressional legislation mandates these reports so that US assistance is not awarded to countries that violate human rights
The State Department Human Rights report on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is ignored even when it has been accurate in its reporting
As a result: tens of thousands of Palestinians have been tortured or detained for extended periods without being charged with any crime; and violations of international laws prohibiting seizure of Palestinian lands, evictions from their homes, and mass transfers of Israelis into settlements in illegally seized Palestinian lands have continued unabated With no restraints on their actions Israel s military and civilian settlers operate with a sense of impunity While
Pak-Turkiye bilateral relations
Hboth are also facing more or less similar territorial challenges Pakistan was facing a territorial challenge for over seven and five decades in Indian-Occupied Kashmir territory from India, while Turkiye was facing such a challenge over Cyprus from Greece also since 1974 During their in-depth interaction Turkish President Erdogan and PM Shehbaz Sharif committed to further strengthen the prevailing cooperation between the two countries, further
many as 24 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) cooperation agreements and protocols in various sectors which aimed at strengthening the mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Turkiye Mr Sharif availed the opportunity to emphatically state on the occasion that Pakistan would work quite speedily and strongly to turn these MoUs, Agreements and Protocols into reality the earliest possible These pertained to initiatives for digitalization verification of trade certificates enhancing industrial property cooperation exchange of military personnel for cultural purposes and cooperation in air force electronic warfare, furthering cooperation between Turkish Aerospace Industries and Pakistan Naval Research and Development Institute promoting halal trade and legal metrology infrastructure making strides in the agriculture focusing on hydrocarbons energy transition and mining cooperation as well on public relations, communications and religious services President Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiye’s unwavering support for Pakistan and solidarity with the people of Kashmir emphasizing the need for a referendum on the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, and also thanked Pakistan for the support in Turkiye’s cause regarding Northern Cyprus and its joint efforts at the UN and OIC in advocating for Palestinian rights He reiterated his country’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al Quds Sharif as its capital which was also pointedly emphasized by the PM during the bilateral deliberations
The host PM had also praised President Erdogan as a respected leader within the Muslim world for his steadfast positions on critical issues including Gaza Palestine and Kashmir and also reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to continue working closely with Turkiye in combating terrorism Further he also called on the Afghan government to play its due role in eliminating this shared threat The visiting distinguished guest also had a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari who
called for stronger trade economic and cultural ties as well as in defence tourism and peopleto-people contacts for the mutual benefits of both the brotherly countries
This was the second meeting between President Erdogan and President Zardari within a matter of a few days
The two Presidents had earlier met briefly in Istanbul during President Zardari s stopover while in transit from Beijing China to lisbon Portugal to condole the demise of Prince Karim Aga Khan with his son Prince Rahim
The visit of President Erdogan and his free and frank deliberations with Pakistani leaders was bound to further strengthen deepen and promote brotherly relations between the two countries and in fact was ample proof that Turkiye was a dependable partner and the Turkish people sincerely loved and respected the people of Pakistan It was worth mentioning here that relations between both the brotherly countries have witnessed a further boost of mutual benefits in various areas and sectors under the leadership of President Erdogan Such high level frequent contacts of the top leadership augurs well for both Turkiye and Pakistan and mutual benefits of their people with the passage of time to say the least, please
The writer is Lahore-based Freelance Journalist Columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) Radio Pakistan Islamabad and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail com
Addressing illegal activities
acknowledging the menace as a common enemy The host PM stated that their bilateral discussions had touched upon crucial issues like strategic and defence cooperation and the signing of a number of agreements including one for the development
Besides
The visit of President Erdogan and his free and frank deliberations with Pakistani leaders was bound to fur ther strengthen, deepen and promote brotherly relations between the two countries and in fact was ample proof that Turkiye was a dependable par tner and the Turkish people sincerely loved and respected the people of Pakistan It was wor th mentioning here that relations between both the brotherly countries have witnessed a fur ther boost of mutual benefits in various areas and sectors under the leadership of President Erdogan
Fighting human trafficking
Erdogan’s recent visit helped
Silencing voices even in the wilderness
MuhaMMad Zahid Rifat
countered growing global fatigue and renewed calls for a
settlement However, any deal that
TUkraine to cede territory under external pressure would set a dangerous precedent emboldening expansionist powers worldwide The fate of Ukraine is not just about Eastern Europe it is about preserving territorial integrity as a fundamental principle of the international order At the same time transatlantic relations face increasing strain US Vice President JD Vance s presence at the conference stirred controversy particularly after his meeting with Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany s far-right AfD party His criticism of European leaders for allegedly suppressing free speech and democratic practices fuelled tensions prompting a sharp rebuke from Chancellor Scholz who warned against collaborating with extremist factions This friction complicates Europe s strategic recalculations, as leaders now openly discuss alternatives to NATO s traditional security framework NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged European nations to bolster their defense capabilities stressing that Europe must prepare for a future where US commitment is no longer guaranteed Trump s transactional approach to alliances where loyalty is treated as a commodity has already led to security recalibrations in Europe French President Emmanuel Macron’s push for a European security doctrine independent of US influence reflects broader geopolitical shifts If Washington continues its erratic behavior NATO itself could face existential questions about its future A fractured NATO would embolden adversaries, making Europe more vulnerable than at any point since the Cold War
Beyond Europe MSC 2025 underscores the broader transition toward a multipolar world order The unipolar moment of the 1990s is long gone replaced by an era where China, Russia, North Korea, India, and the European Union assert themselves as independent actors, often bypassing Washington’s traditional dominance China’s expanding influence in the Global South India’s strategic balancing between the West and Russia and the EU s push for defence autonomy all signal a seismic shift While multipolarity presents opportunities for more inclusive decision-making,
As MSC 2025 draws to a close , the world faces a defining question: Can multipolarization lead to a more balanced and cooperative global order, or will it devolve into a battleground of competing interests? The conference has underscored the urg ency of action on climate security, AI governance , and g eopolitical tensions, but whether discussions translate into policy shifts remains uncer tain. If world leaders fail to adapt, instability will persist, and crises will deepen. Multipolarization is no long er theoretical it is unfolding in real time . The true test is whether global powers can harness it for collective security or allow it to spiral into unchecked disorder.
Modi played a weak hand in Donald Trump durbar
SINCE the end of the Cold War two grand theories have shaped discussions on global political evolution: the late Samuel Huntington s The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order and his former student, Francis Fukuyama s The End of History and The Last Man Such has been their legacy that they have often been regarded as opposing theories replacing the capitalism-vs-communism debate Yet both have faced significant criticism over the years Huntington s thesis which posited that post-Cold War conflicts would be shaped primarily by cultural and religious divides, has been derided as overly simplistic, reducing civilisations to rigid, monolithic entities Meanwhile, Fukuyama’s confident assertion that liberal democracy and free-market capitalism represented the ultimate universal model for human governance has been challenged increasingly by the persistence of authoritarianism and alternative economic models most notably in China and Russia Yet despite their apparent shortcomings both frameworks find renewed relevance in the case of post-Assad Syria under the leadership of former rebel, interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa
While the Syrian Civil War has had multiple dimensions sectarian political and geopolitical its resolution has given rise to a government that defies conventional classifications For the first time since Iran s 1979 Islamic Revolution and the Taliban s second takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, what is essentially an Islamist government has emerged in the region; it’s the first of its kind in the Arab world However, notable differences exist; beyond Iran’s status as a Shia theocracy the Taliban has expressed hope that the new Syrian government will lay the foundations of a sovereign and service-oriented Islamic government
He has also acknowledged his Al-Qaeda past and now leads a state that is shedding decades of Baathist secularism in favour of governance rooted in Islamic principles This trajectory is notable because it exemplifies the kind of identity-driven political realignment that Huntington foresaw albeit with significant caveats Huntington argued that the post-Cold War world would be primarily defined by conflicts along civilisational lines particularly between the Islamic world and the West Critics have long pointed out that this framework ignores intracivilisational conflicts and the fluidity of cultural identities Syria’s case illustrates these complexities
The post-Assad government has not been engaged in direct confrontation with the West (or Israel) but has instead sought pragmatic engagement Moreover the notion of a monolithic Islamic civilisation is challenged by Syria s political trajectory, which differs markedly from that of Iran, Saudi Arabia or the Taliban s Afghanistan
Syria’s c ase highlights the adaptabilit y of politic al Islam
At the same time, Syria is also embracing elements of Fukuyama’s vision of free-market capitalism After decades of economic stagnation under state-led socialism the Al-Sharaa government has signalled a shift towards neoliberal economic policies Recent moves include privatising key sectors courting foreign investment and seeking reintegration into the global economy These developments align with Fukuyama s firm belief that economic liberalisation is a natural endpoint for all societies, but they do not necessarily lead to liberal democracy as he envisaged originally Fukuyama noted on The Good Fight podcast in December shortly after the fall of Assad that These authoritarian regimes are much more fragile than they appear they rule simply by force He highlighted how the fall of Assad was emblematic of broader trends in autocracies, where economic mismanagement and internal dissent ultimately lead to collapse Syria, like China before it demonstrates that market liberalisation can coexist with authoritarian or non-secular governance Fukuyama observed further that Economic liberalisation does not necessarily lead to democracy but it does create conditions where political change becomes more likely This insight applies directly to Syria, where the embrace of free-market policies could eventually foster new political dynamics, even if democracy remains distant
Beyond Syria there are notable cases that complicate both Huntington s and Fukuyama s theories China has rejected liberal democracy while embracing a form of statecontrolled capitalism that has allowed it to challenge Western economic dominance Russia, too, has maintained a strong centralised state while incorporating elements of the global financial system Even within the Islamic world, economic liberalisation has taken various forms Saudi Arabia s Vision 2030 for instance is an ambitious effort to diversify the kingdom s economy while maintaining an authoritarian monarchy
They revive the question of whether cultural and religious identity plays a decisive role in governance, as Huntington argued, while simultaneously validating elements of Fukuyama’s economic predictions The coexistence of an Islamist government with neoliberal economic policies suggests that the pathways to modernisation and economic development are not uniform but can be adapted to fit a country s own history and ideology For policymakers and analysts, Syria s case presents crucial lessons For one, it challenges the assumption that secularism is a prerequisite for economic modernisation It also underscores the adaptability of Islamist movements which are not inherently opposed to market-driven economies Whether one agrees with or supports the new Syrian government or not its emergence forces a reconsideration of the dominant narratives that have shaped post-Cold War geopolitics Syria under Al-Sharaa is neither a straightforward confirmation of Huntington’s civilisational conflicts nor
TH E only thing remarkable about Prime Minister Narendra Modi s hastily prepared visit to Washington D C was the fact that he had two interactions with the media A rarity for Modi As it turns out, Indian diplomats managed to keep all independent-minded Indian journalists out of the room and squeezed in friendly ones who managed to
capitals in the world that has a few competent Indian correspondents such as a veteran like Chidanand Rajghatta Most major capitals around the world have no representation from the Indian media In the past this vacuum was filled by the prime minister allowing senior and highly regarded Indian journalists to travel in the PM’s plane Tough questions would be asked and news worthy of publication would emanate Modi ended this practice along with refusing to freely interact with the media overseas Getting Modi to face the media albeit selected Indians, was not the only burden that President Trump imposed on his visitor The day the two met began with the president announcing reciprocal tariffs that would hit Indian exports and force India to further bring down its tariff barriers A reduction in customs duties is an advisable policy intervention that many including Prime Minister Modi s close advisers, have long recommended but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been reluctant to bite this bullet Now,
Munich S ecurit y Conference 2025
Majid naBi Burfat
DESTRUCTION’
heavy American weapons during a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had dealt a mighty blow to Iran’s terror axis” and vowed to “finish the job” against Iran with US support Tehran s allies in the region including the Palestinian Hamas militants and Hezbollah in Lebanon have suffered severe blows in conflicts with Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023
The war also saw rare direct attacks between Iran and Israel for the first time, after engaging in a shadow war for years In recent videos Netanyahu has addressed Iranians in a seemingly friendly tone, and in one, he claimed that the Iranian government was leading its people closer to the abyss During his speech Khamenei acknowledged that Iranians have problems and legitimate expectations , referring to the economic difficulties faced
Faiz in recognition of
contributions LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari visited the home of stage actor Lucky Dear and presented a financial aid cheque of Rs2 5 million on behalf of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz On this
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that PML-N president Nawaz Sharif has rescued the country from hard times adding that now good news were coming from every corner of the country except Adiala jail
Addressing a public gathering in Narowal, CM Maryam said, several attempts were made to topple Nawaz Sharif, but today his brother is in power at the center and his daughter is in power in Punjab province
Maryam Nawaz claimed she was serving the people day and night The CM said she came to the public with a performance of one year Maryam Nawaz added that she did not wait for five years to visit the people when the elections will be held She also took a swipe at Imran Khan s letter to Army Chief General Asim Munir
saying that Imran Khan was pleading to be released Imran Khan who has been behind bars since August 2023 penned three open letters to the army chief in recent weeks, which he claimed were written because all democratic avenues had been obstructed” “They brought the country to
Bokhari stated that artists are valuable asset to the nation as they bring recognition to Pakistan worldwide The theatres of Punjab have a unique cultural identity, and our mission is to transform them into true family entertainment venues Later that night the Information Minister conducted surprise visits to
Ministr y of Religious Affairs gears up for ‘National Shabina Mehfil’ from 21 to 27 Ramazan
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t
The Dawah Wing of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is making preparations to host the National Shabina Mehfil at Faisal Mosque in the federal capital, from the 21st to the 27th of Ramazan According to the ministry’s spokesperson Muhammad Umar Butt selected Huffaz (memorizers of the Quran) from across the country will have the honor of reciting the Holy Quran during the event Out of 56 nominated Huffaz from all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad, 14 have been finalized for participation,” he added Umar said the final selection includes four Huffaz from Punjab two each from Sindh Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Balochistan and Islamabad while one each has been chosen from GilgitBaltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir He said a panel of renowned Huffaz and Qaris supervised the selection process
Federal Minister Qaiser Sh emphasizes CSR’s role in sustainable development
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t
The Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, addressed the 17th CSR Summit and Awards 2025 in Islamabad, emphasizing the strategic role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in sustainable economic growth environmental conservation, and social development He highlighted the importance of CSR in the maritime sector, stressing the need for public-private partnerships in sustainable fisheries marine conservation and
Mehfil Theatre and Naz Theatre She inspected the backstage areas, cleanliness standards, and artists' dressing rooms During these visits, she met with stage actors, listened to their concerns and assured them of the government s full support She also reviewed the quality of food at the theatre canteens and cafeterias, instructing the management to maintain high standards During her visit, she also interacted with renowned actors Agha Majid and Zafri Khan
Real Estate backbone of 250+ industries: CEO Eighteen
actions said that 4 708 electricity thieves have been fined 402 70 million and 2 421 individuals involved in the national crime of electricity theft have been arrested by the police Meanwhile, during ongoing operations against defaulters IESCO recovery teams have ensured the recovery of 6 090 59 million in outstanding dues from 206522 running and dead defaulters
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) is set to deliberate on the standardization of tuition fees for private medical and dental colleges in its upcoming Council meeting This decision comes in response to growing public concerns regarding the affordability and accessibility of medical and dental education in Pakistan The PM&DC has taken a proac-
tive approach to address these concerns by implementing a structured fee schedule to ensure transparency and fairness in the education sector
The council aims to prevent excessive tuition charges while maintaining high educational standards in private institutions across the country PM&DC is committed to ensuring that quality medical and dental education remains accessible to aspiring students The regulation of fees is a crucial step in maintaining a balance between affordability and sustainabil-
ity in private medical education ” In a statement issued by the PM&DC it was apprised that an emergent Council meeting has been called which will include discussions with stakeholders, including representatives from private medical and dental colleges education experts and government officials to finalize a fair and standardized fee policy The PM&DC remains dedicated to promoting equitable access to medical education while upholding academic excellence
TBusiness confidence rises, but majorit y still see Pakistan as not heading in right direction: repor t Gallup sur vey shows 55% of businesses repor t improvement; optimism about future grows, but concerns over economic direc tion persist
s ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan’s
In
marginal rise of 1 44% compared to December 2024 when they were recorded at $2 91 billion Ad powered by advergic com Imports in January reached $5 23 billion, marking a 10 04% increase from the $4 76 billion recorded in January 2024 However they saw a 1 59% decline from December 2024 s figure of $5 36 billion The cumulative trade deficit for the first seven months of FY25 was recorded at $13 49 billion Key export commodities in January 2025 included knitwear (Rs130 49 billion) readymade garments (Rs110 61 billion) bed wear (Rs80 44 billion) rice
ISLAMABAD
p r o f t
Pakistan s IT exports have reached US$ 2 18 billion in the first seven months of fiscal year 2024-25, marking a 27% increase year-over-year (YoY) compared to the same period in the previous year, as reported by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
According to Topline Securities this achievement marks the 16th consecutive month of YoY growth for the IT export sector beginning from October 2023
In January 2025, IT exports totaled US$ 313 million, reflecting an 18% increase YoY, although a 10% drop compared to December 2024 However, January’s export figures surpassed the 12-month average of US$ 303 million Ad powered by advergic com Export proceeds per day in January were recorded at US$ 13 6 million, down from US$ 16 6 million in December 2024
The year-over-year growth in IT exports can be attributed to several key factors:
– Expansion of IT companies’ client bases especially within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region
– Relaxation of the permissible retention limit by the State Bank of Pakistan, which increased from 35% to 50% in Exporters’ Specialized Foreign Currency Accounts, – The introduction of equity investment abroad through these accounts
– Stability in the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) encouraging IT exporters to bring back a higher portion of profits to Pakistan Pakistani IT companies have remained proactive in engaging with global clients Recently, some of the leading companies participated in the Oslo Innovation Week and the Pak-US Tech Investment Conference A recent survey by the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) found that 62% of IT companies are maintaining specialized foreign currency accounts
