TPM urges dedicated effor ts to make Pakistan a prosperous, welfare- oriented state
s ta f f r e p o r t Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday urged the countrymen to make dedicated efforts in line with Quaid-e-Azam's principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline to achieve the dream of making Pakistan a prosperous and a welfare state
The prime minister in his televised video message on Pakistan Day being observed today, thanked Allah Almighty and expressed his gratitude to the forefathers including Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah Allama Iqbal and others whose foresightedness and wise leadership led to the creation of Pakistan as a separate home-
land He said that the Pakistan Resolution, which was passed on March 23, 1940 stood as a testament to the unwavering commitment of the forefathers to the cause of independence The prime minister said that Pakistan's flag symbolized the steadfast resolve and struggle of our forefathers during the Pakistan Movement “Today Pakistan stands as a free and sovereign nation for which we are thankful to Allah Almighty he added He appreciated the contributions of Pakistan s armed forces, industries, education sector, and sportsmen making their mark on the global stage and bringing fame to the country with the parliament judici-
Pakistani troops repel border incursion, eliminate 16 Khwarij militants
NORTH WAZIRISTAN
s ta f f r e p o r t Pakistan s security forces repelled an infiltration attempt by Khwarij militants on the Pak-Afghan border, killing 16 militants in an exchange of fire, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday The attempted infiltration took place in the Ghulam Khan Kaley area of North Waziristan The ISPR said the militants tried to cross into Pakistani territory from Afghanistan when they were intercepted by security forces stationed along the border During the exchange of fire, 16 militants were killed The ISPR did not report any casualties on the side of the security forces The military’s media wing said Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan interim government to prevent the use of its territory by militant groups planning attacks against Pakistan It is expected that the Afghan authorities will fulfill their obligations in controlling cross-border terrorism, the statement added Pakistan’s security forces have conducted a series of operations in recent months in border areas to counter the threat of cross-border militant activity The military maintains that these operations are part of a broader strategy to secure the Pak-Afghan border and prevent militant groups from exploiting the region s porous frontier The ISPR reiterated the armed forces commitment to safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty and eliminating terrorism from the country
ary, and executive also fulfilling their constitutional duties
He said that consequent to the untiring efforts the government had achieved economic stability and the process of institutional reforms and structural changes was in progress
Prime Minister Shehbaz also saluted the courage of Pakistan’s armed forces, p
Azam, and work together to build a great,
Mohsin Naqvi urges National Unit y and Commitment on Pakistan Day ISLAMABAD s ta f f
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the nation on the occasion of Pakistan Day stating that March 23 reminds us of the sacrifices and struggles of our forefathers He said that Pakistan Day is not just a moment of celebration but also a reminder of our responsibilities towards the future He added that This day teaches us for the renewal of unity, sacrifice, and determination” Interior Minister emphasized that we must pledge national solidarity and brotherhood and unite for the sake of Pakistan He stated that we must prioritize the interests of our beloved country and work collectively for its progress and prosperity by setting aside mutual differences Interior Minister stressed that instead of mere rhetoric, it is time to truly follow the principles of unity faith and discipline He highlighted that Pakistan is a great blessing for us and it is our collective responsibility to protect it Mohsin Naqvi stated that with national solidarity and determination, we will face the challenges confronting Pakistan He expressed that every Pakistani must play an active role in ensuring national security development and stability Reaffirming his commitment to combating terrorism he said that there is no place for terrorists and miscreants in Pakistan He emphasized that the fight against extremism and terrorism is ongoing and will continue til its complete eradication
PAF showcases airpower with
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Chairman Senate Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that March 23 holds immense significance in Pakistan’s national history marking the day when the Muslims of the subcontinent united with a resolute pledge to establish an independent and sovereign state In his message on Pakistan Day he said the Pakistan Resolution passed on March 23 1940 galvanized the Muslims of the subcontinent toward a common goal This historic day serves as a reminder of our collective commitment to make every possible effort for the development, prosperity, and stability of our beloved country,” he remarked Chairman Senate said that the vision of Quaid-eAzam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal should continue to guide the nation s journey toward building a modern, democratic, and welfare-oriented state He underscored the importance of strengthening democracy, upholding the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law promoting national unity and reinforcing institutions as fundamental pillars for a stable and prosperous Pakistan In today s era it is imperative to foster mutual harmony and unity by setting aside all differences, making national development and stability our foremost priority,” Gilani urged He further stressed the need for collective efforts to position Pakistan among
46 gurdwaras being restored to promote religious
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ISLAMABAD M o n i to r i n g D e s k
H E Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) has annulled a Rs1 5 billion sales tax demand raised by the Regional Tax Office (RTO) Peshawar against a vegetable ghee mill The ruling also involves the cancellation of the penalty imposed on the mill The ATIR Peshawar Bench
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which would let him pop over to Lahore for a little rest and recreation You know like the Long March such a long time ago so rudely interrupted at Wazirabad by the assassination attempt onImrn Khan when he only escaped with his life by doing some ducking and weaving reminiscent of The Matrix The procedure had been for the procession to inch forward a few kilometres, with Imrn going back to
ing
to take place in April, has yet to speak to Trump or lay out detailed plans on how he would deal with the president The effort to reduce internal trade barriers
To
up approvals of major infrastructure projects, Carney said the government will create a one-window approval process” that would eliminate duplicative requirements between federal and provincial environmental assessments He also vowed that an oil and gas cap would limit emissions not production Carney said he agreed with provinces that the federal government would provide funds to build transportation links to resource extraction sites and develop a “national trade and energy corridor strategy
To support workers and businesses affected by the tariffs, Carney said the country would ease access to the employment insurance system for laid-off workers and allow business to defer corporate income tax payments and remittances
Lahore for night and rejoining the procession at the place it had reached When the procession reached Rawlpindi (which it did when Imran had recovered from his wounds), joining it from Lahore was just a few hours’run That s how Imran has done things all along I mean during the D-Chok dharna back in 2014 he went to his Bani Gala residence every evening, returning the next morning Well, late afternoon, actually And now he’s
istry of
(MNFSR) has
appointments and training of 50 newly selected entomologists in the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) just days after their recruitment The move follows direct orders from Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif who reportedly expressed strong disapproval of the recruitment process According to reliable sources the
under CABI resources in Islamabad Their sudden dismissal not only stunned the recruits but also left MNFSR and DPP officials scrambling for explanations
In wake of external threats, President Zardari vows to overcome challenges
structure the DPP with qualified and trained professionals As per details a lady section officer of the ministry suggested to Secretary MNFSR, Mr Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, that these posts had become vacant due to contractual officers leaving over the past three years Since the finance department had not sanctioned a budget for these 46 posts their recruitment required fresh approval and a supplementary budget However sources claim Bilal Haider Joint Secretary Admin of MNFSR, insisted on proceeding with the recruitment, assuring that approval from the finance department would be sought due to the pressing need for staff at ports to prevent the entry and spread of foreign pests in Pakistan Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry approved the proposal leading to tests and interviews, which concluded last month Once selected, the recruits were issued appointment letters and summoned to Islamabad for a week-long training session
conducted by the CABI Academy Each recruit initially received Rs 3 500 along with accommodations and meals However, just as the training entered its second day, officials informed the recruits that the training was being halted No reasons were disclosed by Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry or Bilal Haider Even the event organizer CABI reportedly paid Rs 7 000 to each employee before shutting down the program and sending them home
C R A P P E D ? Sources indicate that PM Shahbaz Sharif ordered the abrupt cancellation of training and appointments due to dissatisfaction and serious concerns over the recruitment process, which was allegedly influenced by certain DPP officials and a clearing agent based in London The recruitment team led by Tahir Abbas (customs officer) Bilal Haider (JS) Dr Muhammad Basit (Director Technical Quarantine) and officials from the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC), reportedly manipulated the selection process, favoring certain candidates in collusion with the clearing agent
The process was initially overseen by MNFSR but after receiving reports of irregularities, the Prime Minister intervened and directed the ministry to cancel the entire hiring process immediately Ironically, the training program had been inaugurated by MNFSR Secretary Ajmal Chaudhry who later upon receiving the PM s instructions tasked a subordinate with informing the recruits of their termination
Nation celebrates Pakistan Day with traditional zeal
guest on the occasion Contingents from all three threearmed forces actively participated in the ceremonial parade Fighter jets from Pakistan Air Force conducted a beautiful flypast Radio Pakistan and PTV also telecasted and broadcasted special programmes to highlight the significance of the day and paid glowing tribute to the leaders and workers of
ISLAMABAD A p p
The holy month of Ramazan is observed by Muslims worldwide for fasting Besides this, it is also linked with many health benefits, like the reset of the digestive system helping weight management and several others In recent years many have incorporated hiking into their Ramazan routines, seeing it as a natural opportunity to gain health benefits while fasting Trail-3 in Islamabad remains a popular destination for hikers even during this sacred month
Touqeer Ahmed a regular hiker aiming to lose weight shared his experience saying, I have joined hiking in Ramazan to accelerate my weight loss and it has been more effective than I expected ” Similarly, some individuals see hiking as tough during fasting due to the
impact of weather
“I hike regularly and though I feel thirsty but it’s bearable; I feel both mental and physical relaxation during hiking said Fakhr Imtiaz Many hikers enjoy the natural environment while maintaining their fitness goals
Syed Muhammad Tayyab, another regular hiker, remarked, “I joined hiking again in Ramazan to spend more time in nature because hiking during Ramazan is particularly effective for weight loss but the serene environment of the trails also gives mental satisfaction
However, with rising temperatures and the physical demands of fasting, this year ’s Ramazan has seen a moderate turnout on hiking trails Umar Shaani a caretaker at Trail-3 noted There hasn t been a significant decline in hikers during Ramazan compared to regular days He also said that the trail was usually packed on weekends ex-
cept during Ramadan Health experts also acknowledge the benefits of moderate exercise during fasting but caution against overexertion Ayesha Noor a nutritionist and fitness expert advised that choosing moderate trails or light walks during Ramazan is a good idea to avoid muscle fatigue and dehydration and it’s important to pace yourself especially on more tiring days ” Similarly a cardiologist and sports physician Hashim Ali emphasised hydration as a key concern Dehydration is a major risk when hiking during Ramazan, especially in hot weather,” he said adding that proper hydration during non-fasting hours is essential to maintain physical performance and prevent heat-related illnesses he explained As Ramazan progresses, many healthconscious individuals see it as an opportunity to gain physical fitness benefits
Senior journalist Mushtaq Paracha passes away in Nowshera; journalists and political leaders pay tribute
NOWSHERA
s tA f f r e p o r t
President of Nowshera Press Club and senior journalist Mushtaq Ahmad Paracha passed away from cardiac arrest early Saturday
The funeral prayer was held in Nowshera Kalan Town, followed by burial in his ancestral graveyard in Banar, Nowshera Kalan A large number of people attended the funeral, including journalists political and social figures religious leaders government officials and relatives
He became ill after a brief two-day sickness and was being transported to a local hospital when he passed away Mushtaq Paracha began his journalistic career in 1985 with the daily newspaper Jihad He later worked as a crime reporter at Daily Mashriq Peshawar under editor Abdul Waheed Yousafi He was eventually appointed as the district correspondent for Nowshera In 2002, he became the Geo News correspondent from Nowshera and also contributed to The News International news agency APP and Daily Jang
Throughout his career Paracha was known for reporting on political, social, and governmental matters He served
multiple terms as president of the Nowshera Press Club and played a role in the construction of the club building He was active in addressing the issues faced by fellow journalists A condolence meeting was held at Nowshera Press Club Senior member and finance secretary Haji Zahoor Ahmad chaired the gathering Attendees included Wajid Ali Shahenshah Khalid Nazir Kamran Khattak Muhammad Shahid, Bakht Bisyar, Nisar Ahmad Khan, Syed Qasim Shah, Nasir Khan, Tafheem-ur-Rehman, Noor Khaliq Khattak Jehanzaib Khattak Pir Tajmir Shah and Syed Waliullah Shah Speakers acknowledged Mushtaq Paracha s efforts for the welfare of journalists and his contributions to the press
club They noted his role in the development of journalism in Nowshera and said his passing had created a void in the profession His funeral was attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister Pervez Khattak, provincial Minister Mian Khaliq-ur-Rehman Pirzada Shamsul Ameen of Manki Sharif Awami National Party provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain former minister Barrister Mian Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, JUI-Sami leader Abdul Haq Sani, deputy head of Darul Uloom Haqqania Akora Khattak Maulana Rashidul Haq Haqqani Maulana Yousaf Shah former minister Syed Zahir Ali Shah MPAs Zar Alam Khan and Ashfaq Khan, among others Senior politician and former Senator Salim Saifullah Khan also expressed condolences In his message he extended sympathies to Paracha’s family and the journalist community He acknowledged Paracha s service in journalism and his leadership of the Nowshera Press Club Salim Saifullah Khan described Paracha’s passing as a loss for journalism in the region He offered prayers for the deceased and wished strength for the bereaved family
on developing supplements from medicinal plants for chronic disease management Looking ahead, COMSTECH and China aim to deepen their partnership in space medicine research, higher education, and economic growth through innovation
Chinese universities, including Xinjiang Medical University, Ningbo University, and Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, are actively training Pakistani researchers at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) Hamdard University and the University of Lahore These collaborations are expected to enhance Pakistan s research capabilities, attract investment, and drive technological advancement Speaking at the event Prof Dr
TH E first rupee-denominated climate finance bond was launched on Saturday at s ceremony where Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was present With s Rs 1 billion commitment the Green Action Band is meant to channel investment from the private sector into renewable energy, clean transport and other green infrastructure projects It is quoted on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, which means that it will principally be an instrument for banks insurance companies and mutual funds to channel funds into It will also be useful to provide the rupee component for projects which have attracted investment in foreign exchange, but which also need a local investment component
It is perhaps overdue because Pakistan is one of the countries which will be worst affected by climate change, and it seemed counterintuitive that with the proliferation of financial instruments in green finance none should be rupee-denominated The new bond is lso another step towards tying in the new field of climate finance to the existing financial architecture Obviously, any green financing would have o be rooted in the existing financial system, but this also carries certain dangers First, the existing financial order the Bretton Woods system set up after World War II is widely unjust and is designed to keep the underdeveloped countries in line Climate justice is not just about the industrialized world having caused the pollution which underdeveloped countries suffer the consequences of, but about the fact that these already heavily indebted countries have to borrow more money to fend off the worst damage of climate change Even as the planet heats up inexorably because the developed countries industrialized through using fossil fuels thy plan to use the funding of the crisis to tighten their financial control over the countries worst affected by the climate change crisis
One aspect of the crisis involves the developed countries throwing money at the underdeveloped in the hope that they can thus escape some of the blame This should stop only if the developing countries were to stop asking for money Unfortunately Pakistan is not among them and while it has launched a green bond it has also undergone an evaluation for the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility, which indicates that it will be quite happy with the scraps thrown to it from the table by the developed countries The bond launch is a hopeful sign, but if it is not used for liberating Pakistan from the trammels of climate finance being thrown around it it will prove to be part of the problem not the solution
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
TH E World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has 193 member countries, out of which extreme weather events happened in more than half– including Pakistan– in 2024 in 103 member countries Last year 617 extreme weather events happened in these 103 member countries out of which 152 were unprecedented extreme events, while 297 were unusual These extreme weather events caused 1700 deaths, injuring 1 1 million people, while 0 8 million people got displaced In terms of frequency of a particular extreme weather event out of a total of 617 extreme weather events most were recorded in terms of heat waves which stood at 137 events, including in Pakistan There were 115 extreme events in the shape of ‘rain/wet spell’, followed by 104 ‘flood’ events, 47 ‘tropical cyclone’ events 44 were ‘drought/dry spell’ events 29 events were ‘thunderstorms/squall lines’ 24 wind events and 22 were cold wave events Other extreme events that happened in 2024 and which were less than 20 in terms of frequency were 15 hail events, 14 wild land fire/forest fire events, with ‘lightning’ events at 11 Here, events that happened less than 10 times, were 9 ‘dust storm/sandstorm’ and ‘landslide/mudslide & debris flow’ events each respectively followed by 6 fog/haze/smog events 6 snow events 6 were snow and snowstorm events each respectively 6 tornado events 4 were high seas/rogue waves , 3 were extra-tropical cyclone events , 2 frost events, and 1 event each happened of avalanche , ‘icing/freezing rain’, ‘pollen pollution/polluted air’, and ‘storm surge/coastal flood’ respectively According to WMO in terms of the extreme weather event heat wave that happened in Pakistan last year during June 23-28 mainly in the plain areas of the country, and where at some places maximum temperature that was recorded, stood at 45°C Moreover, WMO noted in terms of ‘economic losses’ that ‘Heat waves typically cause significant losses to agriculture livestock infrastructure and tourism; however these impacts are often not documented in official reports in Pakistan The government therefore must enhance its resolve in terms of institutional focus, and finances, so that this vast-natured
impact is properly measured and analysed At the same time it is of utmost importance that multilateral technical support and climate finance should enhance their otherwise low-level support with regard to climate change related issues in the country
There is, in fact, a much-improved multilateral effort needed globally to appropriately deal with the existential threat of the climate change crisis For instance a March 18 Guardian-published article Countries must bolster climate efforts or risk war Cop30 chief executive warns by the newspaper s environment editor, Fiona Harvey, quoted the chief executive of COP30– where COP30 Summit is to be held during November 6-7 in Belem, Brazil– Ana Toni as follows: ‘Countries looking to boost their national security through rearmament or increased defence spending must also bolster their climate efforts or face more wars in the future one of the leaders of the next UN climate summit has warned Some countries could decide to include climate spending in their defence budgets, suggested Ana Toni, Brazil s chief executive of the Cop30 summit “Climate change is an accelerator of inequalities and poverty and we know that the consequences of inequality and poverty can turn into wars in the future she said The fight against climate change needs to be seen as something that s not divorced from the big security issue of humanity Sadly, even after years of statements by global climate related institutions pointing towards urgent need to step up effort, the response has been lukewarm globally both in terms of improving the philosophical and technical orientation of multilateral institutions–especially in terms of moving away from neoliberal and austerity-based policies and with regard to better provision of debt relief, and much more appropriate sovereign debt restructuring framework– and also with regard to very low commitment shown by developed countries overall in terms of climate finance both bilaterally and with regard to adequate release of climate change related International Monetary Fund s (IMF s) special drawing rights (SDRs) related allocations for developing countries, in particular those, like Pakistan, which are highly climate change vulnerable, and also deeply debt indebted Noted Guardian columnist, George Monbiot, for instance in his 12 September 2024 article wrote ‘Out of 1 500 global climate policies only 63 have really worked That s where green spin has got us and pointed out Another example is making oil from algae, whose rapid deployment fossil fuel companies trumpeted 15 years ago Hundreds of millions was spent on advertising this “fuel of the future” Since then their research programmes have quietly been shelved As one former employee of Exxon’s algae research arm missing what I see as the entire point complained: I wish they had given us more research funding versus spending so much on advertising Moreover, the writer indicating lack of focus of UK
tion to greenhouse emissions These communities are marginalized as being in the peripheries they have often been neglected by the state resulting in their exclusion from the mainstream process of development in the country Inaccessibility to education healthcare livelihood etc exacerbates their difficulties causing political and economic marginalization and further exposing them to indiscrimination and inequality Yet their resilience – rooted in traditional knowledge – against the dreadful effects of climate change is unmatched In Bangladesh village people have started making floating gardens to save their livelihood sources In Vietnam communities plant mangroves to disperse the trophic storm waves In other areas of the central Asian countries many migrate to forests during the droughts to produce cassava plants, requiring less water, rich in carbohydrates, and a substitute for rice and maize Their traditional knowledge systems equip them with insights into climate-resilient practices such as agroforestry indigenous irrigation systems traditional crops and the construction of mud houses that are suitable for minimal water usage
Torwali and Gawri communities in the highlands of Swat valley too are indigenous people having lived for centuries in these mountains and have their traditional knowledge for sustainable use of natural resources and adaptability with the environment Historically, houses, more often on mountain ridges, were made of mud, stone, and wood, all in one place to collectively protect against external aggression and leave plenty of land for cultivation These houses were constructed away from rivers lakes and other vulnerable areas to natural disasters Roofs were made of mud adaptive to the extreme weather
For time and seasonal calculations, a local elder named Bahadur, who lived 150 years ago had developed a seasonal calendar Seasonal changes would be known through the observation of celestial bodies This calendar helped the local community predict seasons and based on this calculation crop harvesting and other agricultural activities were carried out These communities have also developed a unique irrigation system where channels have been distributed over the
size of lands one owns avoiding conflicts–these harmonious regulatory rules were equally observed by everyone Use of the water channels during droughts never entailed inequality These channels have been in use up until now In villages like Gabral and Cham Gharai traces of the agroforestry are still found Strips of land for cultivation between alpine trees were made It would produce plenty of crops and prevent soil erosion and deforestation making soil fertile for further farming Today, there are Quercus Balot trees (Jhog) not allowed to be cut down by the forest committees established by local elders for the protection of local forests in each village Only leaves of these trees can be cut down for cattle in the winter, thus ensuring forest preservation However, despite such efforts, there are still numerous challenges to the local forests, and the local community is seeking help from the authorities to prevent further devastation of these forests For example herdsmen with tens of hundreds of cattle from the plain areas climb these pastures in summer, causing overgrazing In the monsoon season when heavy rains fall over the overgrazed soil it causes floods with abundant rocks soil and wood flowing with waters towards the river Swat filling its waterbed makes it easy for the waters to plunge the nearby infrastructure Torwali and Gawri communities traditional knowledge in addition with other communities living in the northern areas of Pakistan could be researched and employed in mitigating the climate change effects Indigenous communities can play a pivotal role in the nature-based solution to climate change Integrating Indigenous knowledge into climate change policies is indispensable as it will enrich climate actions and fortify the fortresses of the environment They are frequently overlooked in the decision-making process of climate change; however Such a treatment of these key players will yield nothing; instead the state needs to support these communities in effectively tackling climate change by actively involving them in climate change actions
The writer is a freelance columnist
Indig enous communities can play a pivotal role in the naturebased solution to climate chang e . Integrating Indig enous knowledg e into climate chang e policies is indispensable as it will enrich climate actions and for tify the for tresses of the environment. They are frequently overlooked in the decisionmaking process of climate chang e; however.
Language builds bridges
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