PM 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-
Pakistani
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-
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
great,
PAF showcases airpower with stunning flypast at Pakistan Day parade
Khwarij militants
troops repel border incursion, eliminate 16
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
Mohsin Naqvi urges National Unit y and Commitment on Pakistan Day ISLAMABAD
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
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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
ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD
46 gurdwaras being restored to promote religious tourism, says minister
along with other prominent gurdwaras in Lahore Narowal Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib he said He stressed that this initiative not only preserves Sikh religious sites but also promotes religious tourism in Punjab, which in turn would benefit the local economy “In line with Mian
ISLAMABAD M o n i to r i n g D e s k
T 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
Talking to the terrorists
between lectures 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
ing
an election 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 would include removing labour mobility restrictions Carney said To speed 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
of
IN
shocking
istry of National Food
and Research (MNFSR) has cancelled 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
training under CABI resources in Islamabad Their sudden dismissal not only stunned the recruits but also left MNFSR and DPP officials scrambling for explanations
In
chief 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
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
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
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
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
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
Click culture
Onion glut
change despite having zero contribu-
Usman Torwali
Pakistan’s economic potential within the ECO
The ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECO-CCI) established in 1990 is an affiliated body of the Economic Cooperation Organization dedicated to facilitating trade and economic cooperation among member countries, promoting trade relations, and organizing trade-related activities It is a matter of pride that I am representing Pakistan as the President of ECO-CCI for 2025–26 and confident that during this two-year term there is tremendous potential to elevate Pakistan s relations with ECO nations It is also a blessing that under the experienced leadership and visionary foresight of Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif, economic social and trade ties between Pakistan and ECO countries will be further strengthened and future cooperation will unlock new avenues for economic development not only in Pakistan but also across the entire region Significant potential exists for strengthening trade relations between Pakistan and ECO member countries which include Türkiye Iran Afghanistan Azerbaijan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan These nations are not only geographically close but also share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties As a founding member of the ECO Chamber Pakistan benefits from a platform that promotes regional economic growth and stability The proximity of these countries lowers transportation costs making trade more economical and efficient Furthermore, their diverse natural resources and industrial capabilities present ample opportunities to satisfy Pakistan’s trade needs Enhanced trade relations are vital for ensuring political stability regional peace and the expansion of export markets Facilitating the exchange of technology and expertise can transform Pakistan s industrial and economic landscape Simultaneously, enhancing banking and financial cooperation is essential for streamlining trade transactions with these nations By judiciously leveraging the abundant opportunities for increased trade Pakistan and its ECO partners can embark on a swift journey towards development and prosperity
TRADE VOLUME HIGHLIGHTS
PA K I S TA N–K A Z A K H S TA N: In 2021 bilateral trade was approximately $20 million, which soared to $139 33 million by 2023 Pakistan s exports valued at $68 1 million featured prominently products such as bananas ($6 47 million) packaged medicines ($14 7 million) and lemons ($14 9 million) Imports from Kazakhstan reached $5 58 million yielding a favorable trade balance Both nations now aim to expand bilateral trade to $1 billion
PA K I S TA N–I R A N: In 2023, trade between Pakistan and Iran totaled around $2 8 billion Iranian exports to Pakistan reached $943 million significantly surpassing Pakistan s $9 97 million in exports Pakistan s exports, primarily comprising construction vehicles, excavation machinery, and trailers, complement Iran’s offerings, which include petroleum gas refined petroleum products dried beans LPG bitumen coal tar nonalloy steel bars and rods cyclic hydrocarbons nuts ethylene polymers and agricultural commodities such as tomatoes, onions, and dates Ambitious targets are set to raise bilateral trade to $10 billion, supported by joint initiatives to combat terrorism Industry experts affirm that enhanced trade ties will benefit the economies business communities and people of both nations Pak- Iran Preferential Trade Agreement Procedure for Operationalization of barter Trade under the agreement on Barter Trade between Quetta CCI and Pakistan and Zahidan CCI
PA K I S TA N– T Ü R K I Y E: Bilateral trade with Türkiye reached a record $1 4 billion in 2024 a nearly 30 percent year-on-year increase with both nations now aspiring to boost trade to $5 billion The cooperation spans sectors including textiles, education, health, and culture Pakistan and Türkiye have an agreement on Trade in Goods
trade totaled $52 73 million
crease of 62 33 percent over the previous year Pakistan s exports surged to $48 94 million (a growth of 152 2 percent), while imports amounted to $3 80 million Major exports include sugar and confectionery, potatoes tomatoes onions pharmaceuticals cucumbers used clothing and rice; imports primarily comprise coal cotton fruits and vegetables Pakistan and Tajikistan had signed Transit Trade Agreements
PA K I S TA N–A Z E R B A I J A N: In 2024, trade with Azerbaijan climbed to $22 million a 22 5 percent increase over 2023 Pakistan s exports amounted to $21 8 million contrasted with Azerbaijani exports of $196,000 This growth is bolstered by efforts to strengthen energy cooperation, exemplified by the Machike-Thalian-Tarujabba white Oil Pipeline project, an initiative between the Federation of West African States (FWO) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) Agreements to revise the framework for energy cooperation further underline both countries commitment to expanding trade and investment in energy, infrastructure, and connectivity Pakistan and Azerbaijan had signed Preferential and transit Trade Agreements
PA K I S TA N–T U R K M E N I S TA N: Bilateral trade in 2023 totaled approximately $8 41 million, with Pakistan exporting around $2 23 million and importing $6 17 million Over the past five years, Pakistan’s exports to Turkmenistan have grown
include jute fabrics jute bags pyrotechnic products fruits vegetables and pharmaceuticals
The ECO Chamber of Commerce and Industr y is poised to play a pivotal role by providing trade intellig ence , facilitating the exchang e of trade delegations, and organizing trade fairs and exhibitions
Money laundering in London via Bangladesh
How much do the UK authorities care?
There were 245 persons charged with money laundering and 374 cash seizures (usually a person is arrested for money laundering at the time they have cash seized from them) for the 12 months ending August 2006
acknowledged the issue eventually To explain the process, money laundering became a distinct criminal offense, or rather a number of related offences by virtue of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) In effect the Act made it an offence to deal in any way with any benefit accrued through crime The MPS has developed a clear strategy for the mainstreaming of POCA within the MPS, with resources on borough and within the various specialisms looking at the movement of money and other proceeds of crime There is a focus on money laundering as it is a criminal lifestyle offence that triggers confiscation The majority of the incentivization funding from POCA is being funnelled into creating a POCA infrastructure An investigation into money laundering is effectively taking place when any investigation into serious acquisitive crime is being conducted The aspiration under the MPS POCA plan is to look at the money laundering aspect of all acquisitive crime at all levels of policing and criminality In common with other types of crime, the MPS structure and processes allow for more complex money laundering investigations to be undertaken by different specialist units within a number of MPS Directorates The SCD6 Money Laundering Investigation Team has particular expertise and they undertake the most complex cases and are conducting innovative investigations around criminal money The number of arrests for money laundering across the MPS is not readily or easily available and as stated above most offenses will have suspicion of money laundering attached but individuals may not be specifically arrested for that offense although they may later be prosecuted for money laundering based on the evidence presented As a guide to the actual level of activity in the MPS there were 245 persons charged with money laundering and 374 cash seizures (usually a person is arrested for money laundering at the time they have cash seized from them) for the 12 months ending August 2006 (figures obtained from the Joint Asset Recovery Database) At the half-year point that year, the MPS had seized £7 5 million in cash, restrained £32 million and had £13 5 million ordered forfeit and confiscated by the courts A drop in the ocean most likely So in short whilst the various Bangladesh cases of money laundering in London will be investigated in much detail over the next few years, l am sure they are only the tip of the iceberg for such activities in London from across the world and hope these other instances will get investigated a lot more as well It is vital for countries like Bangladesh that they find ways of stopping such wrongdoing in the first place Murad Qureshi is a past three times elected member of the Greater London Assembly
2018 to $131 million in 2023 However, no services were exported in 2023 On the import side Uzbekistan’s exports to Pakistan reached $231 million Both countries had signed the Preferential Trade Agreement
PA K I S TA N–K Y R G Y Z S TA N: In 2023, Pakistan s exports to Kyrgyzstan totaled approximately $10 68 million, indicating substantial potential for growth
PA K I S TA N–A F G H A N I S TA N: Pakistani exports to Afghanistan were valued at $969 million in 2023 a decline of 10 4 percent from $1 68 billion in 2018, while Afghan exports to Pakistan increased by 5 41 percent to $531 million (from $691 million in 2018) Key Pakistani exports include rice ($212 million) packaged medicines ($103 million) and other edible preparations ($86 7 million) Pakistan remains the largest importer of Afghan products, with Afghanistan ranking as the fourth largest destination for Pakistani exports Pakistan facilitates Afghanistan through the Transit Trade Agreement As President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry I firmly believe that entering into preferential trade agreements with ECO countries is essential to boosting Pakistan s trade volume Improving land and air connectivity by establishing direct routes coupled with increased investments in joint projects will fortify economic ties Prioritizing cooperation in energy infrastructure and transportation and bolstering digital trade through strengthened e-commerce platforms will enable
US and Israel have laid the groundwork for war
TH E return of Donald Trump to the White House intensifies concerns about whether the United States will further engage in yet another conflict, this time with Iran On Monday, Trump announced that Iran will be held responsible for attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea and will suffer “dire” consequences While Trump has brought his characteristic bombast to the issue he is far from the only voice calling for U S military action against Iran For many years U S foreign policy leaders and media have habitually framed a war with Iran as increasingly inevitable Public discourse has largely characterized Iran as a “destabilizing force” in the Middle East, and the idea that military action is the next logical step has been promulgated by mainstream Democratic Party leaders as well as the right In the past Trump has surrounded himself with Republican foreign policy thinkers known for their hawkish views on Iran While he may have become alienated from some of the more pronounced voices leading this charge (such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo), the confirmation of Marco Rubio as the U S secretary of state and Trump’s unequivocal vows of support for any Israeli actions would seem to overwhelm speculative narratives of his aversion to war On October 1 Rubio issued a statement urging the reimposition of a maximum pressure campaign against Iran, and showed full support for Israel to respond disproportionately against Iran
National Security Adviser Michael Waltz said in an interview with Fox News last month that “all options are on the table ” when it comes to U S policy on Iran’s nuclear program and that the U S will only enter negotiations with Iran if they want to give up their entire program and not play games as we ve seen Iran do in the past in prior negotiations
Nothing about U S or Israeli policies suggests that either country is really driven by ideological opposition to Iran’s leadership; at different times, both have found it convenient to cooperate with Iran During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s despite their official stances against Iran Israel and the U S discreetly supplied Iran with weapons and spare parts mainly for American-made military equipment left over from the Shah s era even as the U S also quietly supported Iraq While Israel s aid aimed to destabilize Iraq, which was then seen as a major regional threat to Israel, the U S aimed to limit Soviet influence in the region as part of what would become known as the Iran-Contra affair
Under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightwing government Israel has long openly expressed its desire for regime change in Iran while laying the groundwork for a military conflict Speaking alongside Rubio in his recent visit to the White House last month, Netanyahu praised Trump s strong leadership and celebrated Iran’s weakened regional position as a result of the war between Israel and Hamas, as well as the expansion of the war into Lebanon He expressed confidence in finishing the job with Iran
The consequences of a U S or Israeli conflict with Iran would be catastrophic The Iran-Iraq War which lasted eight years, left deep scars on the lives of millions, with children bearing the brunt Iranian men were drafted; fathers, brothers and boys as young as 12 volunteered to fight, leaving behind fractured grieving communities struggling with shortages of food water and electricity Now is the moment to commit to the work of negotiating a new deal that prioritizes the long-term prosperity of regular people and rejects endless warmongering Even without direct war, the United States, United Nations and the European Union have already inflicted sanctions upon Iran, some of which date back to soon after the 1979 Revolution, with the aim of immiserating and pressuring Iranians enough to revolt against the current government For far too long, the U S and its allies have used sanctions as weapons of war hurting the people of Iran without achieving their purported goals Iran
it takes a hundred flowers in full bloom to fill the garden with the essence of the season The Ambassador stated, President Xi Jinping attaches great importance and actively advocated for exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations proposing the Global Civilization Initiative to make the world s garden of
civilizations flourish with color and vitality reflecting a profound sense of care and responsibility for the whole world
We are ready to work with Pakistan to implement this important initiative, appreciating the beauty of each other and sharing it together, to promote the exchange and mutual learning of Chinese and Islamic civilizations and let them shine in each other s light
Today is Pakistan s National Day and we extend our warmest congratulations to our Pakistani brothers and sisters! This reminds me of the same day last year when I had the honor of being invited to attend the National Day parade witnessing the moment when the guard of honor of the Chinese People s Liberation Army marched in, and the entire audience of Pakistani spectators spontaneously stood up and applauded warmly, and announcer called in Chinese, “Zhong-Ba Youyi Wansui” (Chin-Pak Dosti Zindabad Longlive China-Pakistan Friendship)
After the event many Pakistani friends enthusiastically greeted me in Chinese with Ni Hao , among them many are adorable children
At that moment, I deeply felt t he warmth of the China-Pakistan friendship
renewed ceasefire and humanitarian access have intensified amid reports of worsening conditions for civilians trapped in the war zone
taking root sprouting and growing among younger generation and I became even more convinced that our two countries must stand firmly together, hand in hand, to create a bright future for our respective nations’ development and our friendly cooperation
We stand firmly together continuing and passing down the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan
On this day 85 years ago the resolution to establish an independent Muslim country was adopted, marking the beginning of the Pakistani people’s great journey towards development and prosperity
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Chin and Pakistan in 1951 we have always stood together and supported each other through thick and thin
From then, Pakistan was the first Islamic country to recognize the People’s Republic of China; starting in 1966, China helped Pakistan build the Karakoram Highway hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World ; during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake China witnessed the touching story of Pakistan s all-out assistance with tents; in 2010 and 2022, Pakistan received full support from all sectors of Chinese society in fighting floods
The traditional friendship between China and Pakistan has been continuously consolidated and elevated as we move forward together This ironclad friendship, higher than the mountains, deeper than the sea, and sweeter than honey” has taken root, flourished, and will surely be passed down through generations and remain steady and enduring We stand firmly together committed to creating miracles of development As the founding father of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, once said, We are not afraid of the deep sea or the fire,
Umar Farooq Zahoor gets Hilal- e -Imtiaz for bringing over $700m in foreign investment LONDON
S ta f f R e p o R t
President Asif Ali Zardari has conferred Pakistan s highest civilian award –the Hilal-e-Imtiaz – upon Dubai-based Pakistani origin businessman Umar Farooq Zahoor in recognition of his services for the state of Pakistan mainly for bringing foreign direct investment worth hundreds of millions of US Dollars President Asif Ali Zardari had approved the Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Crescent of Excellence) for Umar Farooq Zahoor in August last year Farooq was among over 100 individuals, both Pakistani and foreign, who received the civil awards on Sunday at the special presidential investiture ceremony held at the President House in connection with the Pakistan Day Umar Farooq Zahoor was conferred with the civil award Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the president of Pakistan in acknowledgment
of his efforts and meritorious services in bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in country as direct foreign investment from overseas The government sources said that Zahoor had brought over hundreds of millions in direct foreign investment to Pakistan in the last three years This investment has been directed towards infrastructure ports and logistics and its understood that projects worth over $2 billion in various fields including energy, distribution, agriculture, IT, logistics, and real estate are currently underway
Additionally, Zahoor has played a crucial role in promoting bilateral economic ties between Pakistan and the Gulf countries leveraging his strong regional network and diplomatic skills to facilitate investment flows and economic collaboration After receiving the Hilal-e-Imtiaz Umar Farooq Zahoor said: This is a moment of huge honour and blessing for me I am proud to say that I have brought direct foreign investment of nearly $700 million to Pakistan in the last three years To get recognised by your motherland in this way, with the most prestigious honour is a moment of sheer pride and honour for myself my family and my friends I feel humbled and I am thankful to the state of Pakistan for considering me as worthy of this honour This is in recognition of my services for Pakistan, for bringing the investment
ag e n C i e S US and Ukrainian officials were due to meet in Saudi Arabia on Sunday for talks on how to halt the Russian invasion, a member of the Ukrainian delegation told AFP, while the Kremlin
CORPORATE CORNER
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
AKISTAN Day March 23, reminds us of the golden objectives of the establishment of Pakistan said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif in her message on the Day She added,"I extend my heartiest greetings to the entire nation on Pakistan Day and pay immense tribute to the struggle of founders of Pakistan and the sacrifices of the martyrs Madam Chief Minister said By the grace and mercy of Allah Almighty, Pakistan was established and will exist and
remain prosperous until the Day of Judgment She added Allah Almighty also bestowed upon Pakistan the unique honor of becoming the first Muslim nuclear power in the world " Chief Minister
The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT) raised a recordbreaking Rs 240 million at an Iftar Dinner in Lahore last night as part of its annual Zakat campaign This event the second of two planned Iftars in Lahore, surpassed the Rs 180 million raised at its counterpart event last year, reflecting the unwavering support of Pakistan’s people Hosted by Tauseeq Haider the event featured special guest Hareem Farooq a prominent TV and film actress who described Shaukat Khanum as more than a hospital it s an inspiration Dr Faisal Sultan, Chief Executive Officer of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) delivered a presen-
tation on the latest updates about SKMCH&RC while cancer survivor Farwa Noman celebrating five years since completing her treatment, performed a
naat recitation Mrs Aleema Khanum, Member of the SKMT Board of Governors was also in at-
The Nishan-i-Pakistan (posthumous) was conferred on former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto His sister Sanam Bhutto received the award on his behalf Other notable recipients of awards included: Nishan-i-Imtiaz (posthumous): Air Marshal (retd) Raja Shahid Hamid Nishani-Khidmat: Sultan Ali Akbar Allana Hilal-iShujaat (posthumous): SP Muhammad Ejaz Khan Shaheed DSP Allama Iqbal Shaheed
DSP Sardar Hussain Shaheed Constables Irshad Ali and Jahanzeb Additional SHO Adnan Afridi Shaheed SI Taimoor Shahzad Shaheed LHC Mohammad Farooq Shaheed, Sepoy Muhammad Asif Shaheed, Allah Rakhio (late) Hilal-i-Imtiaz: Dr Tauqir Hussain Shah, Capt (retd) Khurram Agha Ali Haider Gilani Khawaja Anver Majidd Hussain Daud Professor Dr Shaheryar Dr Zaryab Setna Javed Jabbar Sadia Rashid Aamir Hafeez Ibrahim, Jimmy Engineer, Umar Farooq, Dr Naveed Shirwani Sitara-i-Shujaat (posthumous): Capt (retd) Hamza Anjum Shaheed, Malik Sabz Ali Shaheed Sitara-i-Imtiaz: Muhammad Samiur
Rehman Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali Irfan Nawaz Mamon Sardar Muhammad Aftab Ahmed Khan Watoo Dr Hamid Ateeq Sarwar, Ali Salman Habib (late), Waqar ud din Syed, Ayaz Khan, Professor Dr Ziaul Haq, Imtiaz Hussain, Jameel Ahmad Syed Azhar Hasnain Abidi Zafar Waqar Taj Muhammad Hussain alias Murad Sadpara (late) Bahrose Hussain Baloch Sana Hashwani Safinaz Muneer Presidential Prize of Performance Award: Naveed Ahmad Fareed, Rashid Waheed Khawaja, Aniqa Bano, Barkat Shah Sitara-i-Quaid-e-Azam: Haydar Qurbonov, Dr Christine Brunhilde
Tamgha-i-Pakistan: Agostino Da Polenza Professor Valevia Piacentini
Tamgha-i-Imtiaz: Syed Shakeel Shah Ashhad Jawwad, Amin Muhammad Lakhani, Rehan Mahtab Chawla, Syed Jawad Hussain Jafferi,
Pakistan Day reminds of sacrifices for establishment of independent state: Dr Tariq
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Sunday said that Pakistan Day reminds us of the historic decision made on March 23 1940 when Muslims resolved to establish an independent homeland In his message on Pakistan Day the minister stated that this day brings to mind the sacrifices and struggles of our forefathers, which have allowed us to live with freedom, dignity, and prosperity today Dr Tariq emphasized that we must strive to fulfil the dream of Allama Iqbal and follow the vision of Quaid-e-Azam by upholding the principles of unity faith and discipline He stressed that political stability policy continuity and national consensus are essential for the country s progress Without peace, brotherhood, and tolerance, national development is not possible The minister further urged everyone to pledge on this day to work tirelessly for Pakistan’s development transforming it into a modern prosperous and advanced state moving beyond mere words and slogans
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e P o r t
Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan on Sunday said that March 23 holds immense significance in the country s history as a landmark in the struggle for independence
In his special message on Pakistan Day, he recalled that it was on this day in 1940 when the Muslims of the subcontinent with firm resolve and unity demanded a separate and sovereign state
The Pakistan Resolution was not merely a demand but the first decisive step towards the realization of a dream that materialized under the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 14, 1947,” he added
Syedaal Khan said that Pakistan Day reminds the nation of the unparalleled sacrifices unwavering struggle and unity of the forefathers who se-
cured a free and independent homeland for future generations
“Today, it is our collective responsibility not only to honor those sacrifices but also to contribute to Pakistan’s progress prosperity and stability he added
He underscored the need to foster national unity brotherhood, and tolerance to overcome the challenges facing the country
“We must strengthen our institutions, uphold the rule of law, and advance in education and research to transform Pakistan into a modern and prosperous state he stressed Syedaal Khan extended heartfelt felicitations to the nation on Pakistan Day and prayed for the country s lasting peace and development May Allah Almighty protect our beloved homeland and grant us the strength to work tirelessly for its continued progress ” he concluded
