g BOTH SIDES REAFFIRM IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINED ENGAGEMENT BA SED ON MUTUAL RESPECT SHARED VALUES
g US CONGRESSMEN CONVEY STRONG COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING BROAD-BA SED BILATERAL COOPERATION INCLUDING IN SECURITY AND TRADE
“Discussions
Ag MOUS ALSO SIGNED FOR TRAINING COLLABORATION IN THE FIELD OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that terrorism is a global challenge and urged the international community to urgently cooperate with Pakistan in fight against the global scourge Naqvi
Iran condemns ‘inhumane and cowardly ’ killing of Pakistanis on its soil
r t
The Iranian embassy in Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned the inhumane and cowardly killing of eight Pakistani workers yesterday in the country s Sistan-Balochestan province
“All the eight slain Pakistani belong to Bahawalpur city of southern Punjab ” Iranian officials said adding that they were staying at a car repair shop in SistanBalochestan s Mehrestan County A spokesman for the banned outfit the Balochistan National Army (BNA), claimed responsibility for the incident through a statement issued to the media
In a statement today, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam strongly condemned the “inhumane and cowardly armed incident against eight Pakistani nationals Terrorism is a chronic plight and a common threat throughout the region by which the traitorous elements, in collaboration with international terrorism, target security and stability throughout the region,” the statement read “Combating this ominous phenomenon requires collective and joint efforts by all countries to eradicate all forms of terrorism and extremism that have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people in recent decades Moghadam stressed
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the “brutal killing” of the Pakistani workers, state-run PTV news reported
“The menace of terrorism is devastating for all regional countries the premier was quoted as saying
He urged the Iranian government to arrest the perpetrators immediately mete out just punishment to them , and bring forward the reasons for this cruel act
PM Shehbaz also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contact the families of the deceased Pakistanis and Pakistan’s embassy in Iran for the safe return of their bodies According to reports unknown armed men barged into the workshop sometime in the night and after tying their hands and feet opened indiscriminate firing at the workers and killed them Later, the attackers fled from the site The Iranian police rushed to the area after receiving information about the tragic incident, and after recovering the bodies they were shifted to the hospital
According to the state-run PTV news the victims were identified as Dilshad Jind Wada his son Danish Naeem Fareed Jaffar Ramazan and Aamir Liaquat from Samma Satta; Nasir from Musafir Khana; and Khalid and Jamshaid from Ahmadpur East of Bahawalpur district Iranian authorities said the police were investigating the incident
Pakistan expect ‘ full cooperation’ from Iran in probe into killing of its nationals: FO
g FO SPOKESPERSON SAYS PAKISTANI OFFICIALS IN CONSTANT TOUCH WITH IRANIAN AUTHORITIES FOR REPATRIATION OF BODIES
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t Pakistan on Sunday sought “full cooperation” from Iran in investigating the “inhumane and cowardly” killing of eight of its nationals in the latter s Sistan-Balochestan province the Foreign Office said Pakistan strongly condemns the inhumane and cowardly killing of its nationals in Iran and expects full Iranian cooperation in investigating the incident and timely repatriation of victims remains said a press release issued by the FO The eight Pakistani motor mechanics and labourers were tragically killed” in Mehrestan County, located approximately 230 kilometres away from the Pakistan-Iran
nate firing and killed them Later the attackers fled from the site All eight workers hailed from several areas of Punjab the Associated Press of Pakistan stated, listing their names A spokesman for the banned outfit the Balochistan National Army (BNA) claimed responsibility for the incident through a statement issued to the media However AFP reported that militant group Jaishul Adl also claimed responsibility for the attack According to the FO, Pakistani officials in Iran were in “constant touch” with the authorities there for a probe into the incident and the repatriation of bodies On the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, our Embassy in Tehran and our Consulate in Zahidan are in constant touch with the Iranian authorities for a comprehensive investigation to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice as well as for prompt repatriation of the victims
remains to Pakistan ” the FO said Our Mission has already requested consular access to verify their identities it added The FO noted that the leadership and people of Pakistan were deeply saddened and perturbed over the tragic incident” Further updates would be provided as soon as additional details regarding the identification of bodies and the circumstances leading to their tragic deaths become available , it continued Following the incident yesterday Iranian police had rushed to the area and shifted the bodies to a hospital after recovering them Iranian authorities said the police were investigating the incident It was the second such incident in Sistan-Balochestan, as nine Pakistani workers hailing from Punjab were gunned down by unidentified attackers on Jan 27 2024 in the province
03
as per the regulations He added that further investigation was under way The Malir SSP said that the police disrupted the network of distribution of a large consignment of narcotics in the city through the operation “The Malir district police are working day and night to provide security to the public and eradicate evil from the society ” he said
FAISALABAD i n P
Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) organised a national training workshop in the context of climate shifts and scope of castor bean in Pakistan
Dr Masood Iqbal, Member Science Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission was the chief guest on this occasion In his speech, he highlighted the contribution of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in the socioeconomic development of the country by using nuclear technology PAEC has been striving hard to achieve sustainable development goals in different areas of national importance including energy, healthcare, food safety, agriculture and radio isotope production
He particularly mentioned the application of nuclear technology in the agriculture sector by the Commission and told that four agriculture centres of PAEC namely, the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) and NIAB Faisalabad and Nuclear Institute of Agricul-
ture (NIA) Tandojam and Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peshawar have so far introduced over 159 high-yield and climate resilient varieties of different crops in the country of which 68 varieties are still being sown in the fields
Dr Masood Iqbal said “It gives me immense pleasure to be invited to this unique training workshop The huge number of participants is proof of the active collaboration of NIAB with farmers which is a matter of pride for Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission management as well PAEC was established in 1956 with the mandate of peaceful use of nuclear technology and the first agriculture centre of PAEC named Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA) was established in 1961 in Tandojam Today, 40 percent of the wheat being sown in Sindh originates from NIA varieties The first GMO based cotton crop variety of Pakistan has been developed by NIBGE and has been approved In the energy sector six nuclear power plants of PAEC are supplying over 3500 MW to the national grid In the health sector, PAEC is
catering to the diagnostic and treatment needs of nearly 80 cancer patients in the country through its 20 Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals Radiopharmaceutical kits produced by Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) for cancer diagnosis are being supplied to cancer hospitals throughout the country Similarly a world class engineering university Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), is offering courses in Nuclear and related Engineering fields ” Earlier, Dr M Yussouf Saleem, Director NIAB welcomed the participants and explained the purpose of conducting the training workshop by NIAB with the aim of promoting castor bean through transfer of technology policy He shared with the participants that the castor bean varieties introduced by NIAB have the potential of giving 100 maund per acre yield in just 140 days On this occasion Dr Mehmood ul Hassan Focal Person of NIAB for castor bean and sesame gave a detailed presentation on the national event and welcomed the participants Syed Asghar Ali Shah Ex Federal
LAHORE s tA f f R e P o R t
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf stated that Pakistan guarantees equal rights to the followers of all religions and all religious minorities are enjoying complete, reaffirming the government’s firm commitment to fostering interfaith harmony Speaking at an Interfaith Harmony Conference held in Lahore on Sunday the federal minister stressed the importance of holding such events nationwide to promote peace and unity He urged all minorities and communities to work collectively for this cause The Interfaith Harmony Conference was also attended by prominent religious leaders government ministers and social figures from across the country The aim of the conference was to
promote religious harmony tolerance and national unity In his speech, Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora highlighted that religious minorities are a proud asset of Pakistan He stated that it is our shared responsibility to build a society where respect and love prevail instead of hate He added that the Punjab government is actively implementing initiatives to ensure peace and harmony in society and eliminate religious animosity He stressed that the protection of religious minorities is the top priority of the Punjab government and reaffirmed that Pakistan s policy is to safeguard all places of worship Speaking out against global injustices, Arora questioned the silence on the atrocities in Palestine saying: Why is no one questioning the brutalities in Palestine? Humanity is suffer-
ing in Gaza and we must all raise a collective voice for global peace Other speakers at the conference included Minister of State for Religious Affairs Khalil Das Kohistani, Chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi Chairman Ruet-eHilal Committee Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad Shia scholar Allama Dr Muhammad Hussain Akbar, Christian representative Dr James Chaman, Baháí community representative Dr Faramar Roshni Islamic scholar Allama Zubair Ahmad Zaheer and Hindu representative Pandit Bhagat Lal All speakers emphasized that every religion promotes peace, love, and humanity, and these values must be practiced actively in our society Speakers collectively pledged to continue their efforts at all levels for promoting religious tolerance national unity and peace
martyred by Indian troops in Kulgam and Kishtwar saying that the martyrsí mission will not go waste Abdul Rashid Minhas urged the Kashmiris to unite against Waqf Act passed by the Indian government to stanch all rights of Muslims rendering them as slaves as per Hindutva ideology He said BJP and RSS Hindu Hindutva agenda is not only a threat to Muslim community but all other religions and communities including Christains Sikhs Dalits and Buddhas He also appealed to the world community to express solidarity with the oppressed Kashmiris and minorities in India whose land, properties and identity have been usurped by Hindutva aggressors and occupants through military might and police policies BJP Indian govt and its administration in IIOJK are using inhuman tactics to suppress the peaceful struggle for Kashmirís freedom in a deep-rooted conspiracy to implicate Hurriyat leadership and youth in fake cases fake propaganda and detain them in jails to overcome the freedom sentiment
The APHC leader however made it clear that BJP govt and its agencies would fail in its nefarious designs as pro-freedom movements cannot be subdued through such cheap tactics
its soil
trauma and deep shock Our beloved one was an innocent person who was murdered brutally We are very poor people ” both said Dilshad’s sister said the murder of her brother came as a big shock to the family She said those slain in the killings included her brother and two nephews The sister appealed to the authorities that measures be taken for the bodies’ repatriation and justice be provided APP reported that Dilshad had taken along his son nephew and other mechanics from Bahawalpur to work at a motor workshop he had established in the Hizabad rural area of Mehrestan They had been living in the workshop, which was used to dent and repair vehicles, for the last seven years, according to the report
Pakistan expect ‘full cooperation’ from Iran in probe into killing of its nationals: FO
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
That incident came the same month Pakistan conducted retaliatory strikes on terrorist hideouts in Sistan-Balochestan after Iran launched attacks on the border town of Panjgur in Balochistan here Balochistan which borders Sistan-Balochestan has witnessed a spate of attacks targeting those hailing from Punjab Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the “brutal killing” of the Pakistani workers state-run Radio Pakistan reported The menace of terrorism is devastating for all regional countries, the premier was quoted as saying He urged the Iranian government to arrest the perpetrators immediately, mete out “just punishment to them”, and bring forward the “reasons for this cruel act” PM Shehbaz also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contact the families of the deceased Pakistanis and Pakistan s embassy in Iran for the safe return of their bodies Meanwhile, the heirs of the eight motor mechanics and labourers”
and Aamir Liaquat from Samma Satta; Nasir from Musafir Khana; and Khalid and Jamshaid from Ahmadpur East Talking to the media Muhammad Sajjad the brother of victim Jamshaid appealed to the government to take immediate steps for the repatriation of his
The harrowing consequences of the 17month-long siege on Gaza have plunged over one million children into a dire humanitarian emergency, with countless noncombatant civilians especially children, women, and the elderly trapped in what human rights advocates are describing as a “can’tlive-can t-leave crisis In a renewed call for international intervention, Pakistani siblings Ghulam Bishar Hafi and Ubaidah al Fidhdha Hafiah have released a heart-wrenching supplication-plea, written with their own blood as part of their ongoing campaign Voice for the Voiceless The campaign launched 10 months ago seeks to awaken the world s conscience to the suffering of Gazan children, whom they describe as being “detained, trapped, amputated, or buried alive in rubble” Mind-numbing for the world is the fact that in this so-called global village era in the 21st century children are being starved, maimed, and left to die without basic aid , the plea reads Citing UNICEF reports, the siblings highlight that more than one million children in Gaza are being systematically denied access to lifesav-
ing aid Evidence they claim shows these children are being treated with less humanity than farm animals and at times, even worse than the standards set for kittens or puppies
Picturing a region engulfed in decades of unresolved inter-communal tensions the plea stresses the use of child starvation as a weapon of war something described as unprecedented in recorded human history Among the destitute population are disabled children, orphans, and those forcibly separated from their families all crying for help in deafening silence ”
The siblings appeal to the United Nations global leadership and civil society worldwide to take immediate and
moral action warning that inaction would signify the global community s failure to uphold even the most basic tenets of humanity
This is no longer just a political crisis it is a moral imperative,” the letter urges “If the world can protect the offspring of wild and farm animals by law how can it stay silent while human children are reduced to dusky coffins ?
In an emotional conclusion, the blood-written letter states: These effectively homeless, restless, and peaceless children are on their knees before the collective conscience of the world begging for their next breath If we as a global community fail to act now we forfeit our claim to a humane society
Pakistan back on track for progress under PM’s leadership: Rana Mubashir
LAHORE
s tA f f R e P o R t
Federal Minister for Public Affairs
Rana Mubashir Iqbal has said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has provided significant relief to the public in electricity tariff and is preparing to share more positive developments in the near future
Talking to the media along with MPA Mian Imran Javed and Rana Rashid here on Sunday he said that the storm of inflation, which seemed unstoppable, has now been contained due to the government’s effective measures
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently on an international visit and is expected to return with encouraging news for the nation he added Rana Mubashir Iqbal said that the government is determined to generate employment opportunities and steer Pakistan toward economic revival
The country was on the verge of collapse and the public had lost hope But now, by the grace of Allah, Pakistan is back on the path of progress, he said
The public affairs minister praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ’s leadership calling it exemplary and said that under his administration what once seemed impossible has been made possible He stressed that all scholars, leaders, and citizens must commit themselves to the protection and progress of Pakistan
The minister praised the unwavering dedication of Pakistan s armed forces acknowledging their sacrifices in safeguarding the nation Our armed forces are the pride of the nation, he said Standing in solidarity with them is not only our responsibility but a reflection of our commitment to a secure and prosperous Pakistan
Rana Mubashir Iqbal also expressed concern over the challenges faced by farmers, particularly in the context of
wheat procurement He emphasized the need for a more farmer-friendly policy and urged authorities to ensure that flour mill owners are required to purchase wheat directly from growers, enabling fair prices and timely payments He said that farmers are not receiving fair
FE D E R A L Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has told the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the government expected the Reko Diq mining project to generate $2 8 billion in 2028 its first year of operation It was disclosed by the Barrick Gold CEO that production was expected to be 240,000 tons of copper and 300,000 ounces of gold Ultimately, production was estimated by him to rise to 400 000 tons of copper and 500 000 ounces of gold a year That means the benefit to Pakistan would be an export of about $4 billion a year The initial export would represent about 10 percent of exports as they stand today Incidentally this would help offset much of the damage done by the new US tariffs if they are implemented fully With 15 million tons of copper and 26 million ounces of gold, the Reko Diq project, at the maximal level of production and assuming there are no further discoveries, should keep producing copper until 2065, and gold till 2077
Mr Aurangzeb noted that copper, already a strategic metal would become even more important in coming days, because of the energy transition, when it would be greatly in demand, Copper is already short worldwide, which implies that its prices are likely to go up Gold prices have been going up recently and it is one of the go-to commodities when the dollar falls into disfavour It seems possible that Mr Aurangzeb s estimates will prove cautious enough to be wrong Another word of caution is that the mineral discoveries are coming slowly Copper gold and silver deposits were found at Saindak in the 1970s, but production only began in 1995 Reko Diq will begin production in 2028 Is the next project going to go online only after 2060? There is another dimension deserving of consideration Mr Aurangzeb, and his successors, must ensure that a balance is maintained, between the benefit to the country as a whole, and to the local residents Chagai is not just home to both Saindak and Reko Diq but its main claim to fame is as the home of the country s nuclear tests The national government must oversee the provincial in ensuring that the benefit is passed on The province is restive and justice must be sure to deny any space to separatists
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 tragedy of Gaza has once again exposed the deep cracks in the conscience of the global community and the paralyzing inertia of the Muslim Ummah As the tiny strip of land continues to burn under Israel s relentless bombardment, the world watches in silence, save for a few customary condemnations and hollow resolutions The screams of innocent civilians the wailing of mothers and the crushed bodies of children buried under rubble have failed to stir any meaningful action from either the so-called champions of human rights or the Muslim countries that surround Gaza And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men women and children who say ‘Our Lord take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper? (Qur an Surah An-Nisa 4:75) Gaza is not just another battlefield It is a densely populated area home to over two million people, more than half of them children Since the most recent aggression began, over 32,000 Palestinians have lost their lives the majority of them women and children Tens of thousands more are injured displaced or missing The infrastructure of Gaza has been turned into dust Hospitals schools residential buildings, water pipelines, electricity grids nothing has been spared The United Nations has estimated that over 70 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been completely or partially destroyed making it unlivable for its residents In the face of such devastation the reaction of the world has been shamefully muted The self-proclaimed torchbearers of human rights and international law have done little beyond issuing carefully worded statements and non-binding resolutions These gestures no matter how loud do not stop bombs They do not heal the wounded or feed the hungry They do not bring back the dead children pulled from the rubble of their homes But perhaps even more heartbreaking is the role or the lack thereof played by the Muslim world There are 57 Muslim-majority countries on this planet Together, they possess tremendous wealth and military capacity Collectively Muslim countries control trillions of dollars in sovereign wealth vast energy resources and hold significant shares in global trade and finance In terms of military strength the Muslim world commands more than five million active and reserve personnel, thousands of tanks and fighter jets, and even nuclear capabilities Some Muslim countries like Turkey Iran Saudi Arabia and Egypt have advanced defence industries and modernized weapon systems yet when it comes to Gaza
all this power remains unused, locked behind closed borders and political calculations
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The example of the believers in their mutual love mercy and compassion is like that of a body; when any limb aches, the whole body responds with sleeplessness and fever (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) Why despite this enormous potential do Muslim countries keep silent in the face of Israel’s brutality? The answer lies in a complex web of fear division and dependency Many Muslim states are entangled in economic, political, or military partnerships with Western powers that support Israel Others are afraid of diplomatic isolation or sanctions Some are too divided among themselves embroiled in regional rivalries and internal crises to unite for a collective response The spirit of the Ummah has been weakened by decades of fragmentation and Gaza is paying the price for that disunity Gaza shares borders with several Muslim countries most notably Egypt,
What Gaza needs is immediate humanitarian aid, diplomatic pressure , and sustained political suppor t. Muslim countries must rise above their divisions and come tog ether, not just in sorrow, but in strategy and solidarity. They must leverag e their influence at the United Nations, in global forums, and with their Western allies to demand a ceasefire and the lifting of the sieg e
Rickshaw revolution
It s
that
development opportunities across all age groups, ensuring that
senior employees remain
in a tech-driven environment Highlevel exchange programmes and technology training should be the norm not the exception Beyond individual capability institutional growth also hinges on diverse collaboration Imagine a think tank in every public institution, filled not only with policy experts but also business leaders, economists, and tech innovators By bringing together a wide range of perspectives,
we can ensure that policy decisions reflect the complexity of modern development challenges Lack of development and poverty is linked with weakening national integration and harmony An inclusive and equitable development will reduce regional disparities through a bottom-up approach by fostering a stronger sense of ownership over development initiatives More regional centers of excellence for capacity building are required by targeted interventions A citizen-centric approach and pro-people policies are indeed crucial for social cohesion and long-term sustainable growth, as people feel more connected to their country s progress and governance This approach can also address socio-economic disparities, encourage transparency and enhance public participation in decision-making which are all essential elements for building a strong nation A balanced approach to professional life is crucial Work-life balance and mental wellbeing are just as important as professional growth By fostering a peaceful work environment offering competitive salaries and eliminating discriminatory practices we create institutions where employees are not just productive but happy and reliable Pakistan s future depends on how well we adapt our institutions to the demands of the modern world By focusing on merit, technology, inclusivity, and work-life balance, we can build a stronger more resilient nation that empowers its citizens and competes on the global stage The time for reform is now and the responsibility rests with each of us to push for these much-needed changes
The author is affiliated with the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives She can be reached at arooj saghir@pc gov pk
Therapists in limbo
MuhAMMAd MohSin iqbAl
Arooj SAghir
e a c e n e e d e d , n o t a w a r d s
AL
der of a school teacher Allah Rakhiyo Nindwani in Kandhkot testifies to the circumstances being akin to stateless societies like Somalia, Libya and Yemen , is what this writer wrote at that time Given the intermittent killings in the region this land seems a surplus piece of the puzzle since nothing serves as an epiphany that the land and the people belong to the state and their protection– their life and livelihood– are their basic and constitutional rights Pakistan should not only endeavour to arrange a plebiscite for the decision of Kashmir ’s fate but also leave no stone unturned to bring an already integral part Kashmore under its control
Technically the latter one is promptly solvable The extent of deterioration is the
land has become a no-go area for a peaceful business community Khani Wendaye (you will be taken away) has been a common phrase for many years now in the region if one tries to go out after dark
Because the region is another cog of the machine the other forces have hijacked the entire Katcha (riverine) region into their custody In other words it has become their personal fiefdom in recent years Hence, extortion, loot, theft, kidnapping-for-ransom, honey-trapping, resistance-led forced disappearances are not uncommon The reported cases of extortion kidnapping-for-ransom honey-trapping and resistance-led forced disappearances exceed two dozen in numbers from each surrounding area– Kashmore, Kandhkot, Shikarpur and Ghotki Particularly, Hindu business community members are targeted for extortion and ransom An RPG shell was parcelled to Dr Sundar Das as a demand for extortion is a recent case in point Hell hails here It burns every corner it scares every inch it didn t break into, the door was left open Since the region is a derelict before the state, the infrastructure remains archaic and (supposedly) the Achilles’ heel Treacherously marshy ensnaring and less trafficked link roads sre the icing on the cake for the predators That said the people are in the Squid Game, acting at their own risk and fully aware of what a single mistake means The rescuers are nowhere in the scene Maybe they also know the consequences of the mistake The lawmen? Unfortunately they are in
the weeds Or they pretend to be in the weeds According to a report Rs 350 million worth of fuel was spent in probing targeting and carrying out operations against the criminals in the region Results? Nothing substantial Corruption-led inefficiency continues What really seemed effective to halt the mishaps in the region were the drone-targeted attacks Some civilians some operation executives were kept hostages to coerce the lawman to stop executing drone attacks Basically, the district has come under the direct rule of nexuses What were the tales of medieval Europe are observable realities in the region The warlord-bandit nexus fuels the fire burns hard and turns what comes before into ashes Ironically the people unlike phoenixes are unable to rise from ashes Sometimes intermediaries sometimes rescuers, the members of the nexus are star-crossed: so much love within, yet destined for acting independently Resultantly the future of the region remains up in the air Since casting shadows is strictly prohibited what s telecast regarding the region is smoke and mirrors
The justification of the existence and growth of bandits is: they are not the enemies of the state, nor they are against the state they are in pursuit of vengeance The claimed evidence are the otherwise unconstitutional jirgas intermediated by the influential people who reconcile the vendettas and compensate killings via mathematical settlements Specifically, the compensation of a killed man is Rs 2 5 million, of a woman, Rs 5 million, of an abducted woman amid the clash Rs 2 million These so-called tribal feuds butcher the innocent
The stateÊs writ has considerably been compromised, the executional apathy is pervasive and the nexus flourishes greatly. WhatÊs the last plea is initial respite and perpetual peace WhatÊs demanded is the elimination of bandit raj and restoration of the stateÊs writ Plus, the regionÊs people urge for uncompromised rudimentary and Constitutional rights delivery, and not posthumous national awards
I n L a h o r e , a b a c k - t o - r o o t s
Sukkur IBA University Professor, Dr Muhammad Ajmal Sawand was mercilessly murdered by an Âunknown armedÊ group. He , too, was (posthumously) awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz on 23 March 2024
crimination
civilians in the process abduct hand-tomouth households for ransom and dump their dead bodies into the Indus River if the demands are not met When a vacuum is created due to the absence of state authority, it is always filled by the non-state actors’ Nobel Economics Laureates Daron Acemoglu and James A Robinson call the regions akin to this writing talks about the absent leviathan in The Narrow Corridor where the state actors are superseded by the non-state actors and rigorously influence the local affairs These non-state actors are none other than bandits who claim to be the pursuers of the murderers of their loved one and wreak havoc on the pretext of retribution The paradoxical nature of Pakistan s governance provided a carte blanche to these warlords
the same Constitution come under the same governance, pay tax to the same institution, they are treated with disproportional dis-
j o u r n e y a n d a t a s t e o f g r a c i o u s P a k i s t a n i h o s p i t a l i t y
published in 1940 by Milaap Press in Lahore
IN February I had the good fortune to participate in the Faiz Festival in Lahore I had heard a lot about the famed Pakistani mehmaan nawaazi (hospitality) from friends who had been there
This was what I experienced too The faces of people on the streets lit up when they found out I was from India The Faiz Festival is held annually at the Alhamra Cultural Complex in Lahore It celebrates the legacy of the great poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz through a mix of performances book launches exhibitions and thought-provoking discussions on art, culture, history, literature, gender and social inequality The main organiser of the festival is Moneeza Hashmi, who is Faiz’s younger daughter and a trustee of the Faiz Foundation Trust
As I crossed over into Pakistan it was hard for me to control my emotions My journey to Lahore was a homecoming of sorts My family s roots go back not just to Lahore but also to Sialkot Rawalpindi Dera Ismail Khan and Hoti Mardan in present-day Pakistan In Lahore itself, there were plenty of connections
On my mother ’s side, my great-grandfather, Lala Gokal Chand Bhasin and his brother Shiv Ram Bhasin graduated from Lahore’s famous Government College My grandfather Gurdial Mullick studied at Government Law College while my grandmother Mohini Mullick, was from Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, which relocated to Jalandhar in India following Partition My paternal grandfather, JN Bali, ran a successful photo studio on Mall Road Lahore At a panel discussion that I was a part of there was laughter across the jampacked auditorium when I mentioned family lore of how prized my grandfather s portraits were for prospective brides and grooms My relatives maintain that if my grandfather had clicked a snapshot of a man or a woman to be sent to a prospective spouse, the arrangement had a 75% chance of being sealed My
When I recited the most famous of my grandmother s poems from the collection Machhli Jal Ki Hai Rani the fish is the queen of the water I could hear murmurs of familiarity coursing through the crowd Later, many people came up to me and told me the poem was quite popular in Pakistan too One unforgettable meeting I had was with Zakia Shahnawaz Khan a former member of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab She said that her mother Khalida Begum was good friends with my grandmother Damayanti She recalled a visit with her mother to Delhi in the early 1980s, where they met my grandparents She told me that my grandmother used to say, “Maine adhe Lahore nu janam ditta!” (I have delivered half of Lahore) Before my visit I had read a book about my greatgrandfather A Family of Portraits: L Gokal Chand Bhasin and his Children and had a conversation with my father s sister, Manmohini Madan Now over 90, she was a bit imprecise about the location of my grandfather s father’s photo studio “Stand with your back to the Punjab Assembly and face Mall Road,” she said “Now, move right for about half a mile on Mall Road and then cross the road That s roughly where the Bali studio was
She recalled that the family lived at 14 Cooper Road which had been the residence of the Bishop of Lahore before them Unfortunately, nothing remotely resembling a house existed at 14 Cooper Road Instead, a narrow entrance led into a compound in which there were shops making acrylic goods and the like Here I was at the very place where my family’s past lay and yet there was no connection to it today
Ahead of my visit I had emailed the vice-chancellor of Government College (now Government College University) for permission to visit my great-grandfather s alma mater The registrar, Dr Shaukat Ali, said he would be glad to show me around Although February 17 was a holiday at the university Dr Ali drove from his residence 40 km outside Lahore to pick me up just to show me the college In the university auditorium students were rehearsing Imtiaz Ali Taj s iconic play Anarkali
Though our visa exempted us from having to report to the police station, the Indian festival guests for security reasons were advised to travel across Lahore in a group or accompanied by a local If any of us went anywhere on our own we had to inform the hotel and travel with an escort As I was alone for one of my trips, I was assigned a uniformed security guard to be an escort Mohammed Arif was a gentle soul and extremely helpful He insisted on taking me around on his motorbike He also broke the ice for me with the locals at 14 Cooper Road informing them that this was where my grandparents had lived before 1947 He took me to Mall Road where following my aunt s directions, I wandered to the general vicinity of the Bali and Sons Studio
When I learnt that another participant in the festival, the well-known food vlogger Ali Rehman, had organised a tour highlighting the food of Androon Lahore (the Walled City or Old City) I knew I had to sign on
The walk combined history culture and cuisine through the lanes of the Walled City which is strongly reminiscent of Old Delhi We were to sample shaabu halwa puri, jedda lassi, laddu peethi and ghousia chaney But after gorging on the halwa puri and the jedda lassi we were too stuffed to try anything more
At the famed Nadeem Butt restaurant in Lakshmi Chowk I ate easily the best chicken karahi of my life
The one thing I made sure to get back to India was nankhatai, the shortbread biscuit made with ghee and stuffed with almonds, from the famous Khalifa Bakery in the Walled City The walk took us to Gali Surjan Singh, a community-driven preservation project The houses here are being restored with the help of local residents Baithaks (living rooms) are being created to reflect the lifestyles of the people living in this area Gali Surjan Singh is Lahore s narrowest gully: only one person can go by at a time It is said that if a man and a woman were to come face-to-face in this lane, the only way out for them would be a nikah a wedding Towards the end of the walk we saw Masjid Wazir Khan perhaps the most beautiful mosque in Lahore As we were finishing our walk I ran into Arif again He was with another group, but this time, he was not armed On spotting me, he excitedly went, Arre, yeh to hamara banda hai!” (Oh, this is my friend) Arif ’s warmth was typical of the love and affection I received from every person I met in Lahore If more and more people from India visited Pakistan I m sure that their perceptions of the country and Pakistanis will change for
I went to visit Anarkali s tomb, only to find that it was undergoing renovation and was covered by scaffolding In the university’s music room, I asked a young student to sing me a Noor Jehan song She did a superb rendering of Niyat-e-Shauq Noor Jehan the actor-singer who appeared in Hindi films before Partition and later became a cultural icon in Pakistan was how I befriended Jamal Akbar, an investment banker from London and an avid collector of memorabilia from the cinemas of India and Pakistan Our friendship began online primarily due to our great love for Noor Jehan Thanks to Jamal I was invited to record a video podcast at Radio Pakistan The interview was filmed in the same recording studio where Noor Jehan had recorded nationalistic songs during the India-Pakistan war of 1965 When I visited Noor Jehan s old home, where she lived between 1938 and 1942 and which is now a heritage site, I touched the ground by the door saluting an artist who comes but once in a lifetime In the Lahore Fort I found a further family connection In the early 1940s the British imprisoned and tortured freedom fighters there My grandmother s brother, Prem Bhasin, was an inmate there in 1941
froze Voice of America, although its employees have mounted legal challenges to restore the funding, which was approved by Congress In a memo to staff Gedmin said that Kari Lake a firebrand Trump supporter put in charge of the agency supervising US-funded media had refused to see him to discuss the unlawfully withdrawn funds
“I’m left to conclude that she is deliberately starving us of the money we need to pay you our dedicated and hard-working staff he wrote What s happening is a disgrace You deserve better and I bear responsibility for not resolving this crisis in time to keep you, said Gedmin, a veteran scholar of democracy Alhurra will cease broadcasts but seek to maintain digital updates through a staff reduced to “a couple dozen” he wrote Alhurra says it reaches more than 30 million people each week across 22
Ukraine says 32 killed by Russian ballistic missile strike on S umy
PMIF25 lays ground work for new era of mining
opened by Deputy Prime and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar
stressed the need for social infrastructure to accompany mining growth in the region
during a meeting between Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and Turkey s Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Federal Minister for Energy (Petroleum Division) Ali Pervaiz Malik and Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan also held a meeting with the high-level delegation of Saudi Arabia led by Abdulrahman Al-Belushi, Deputy Minister for Mining
During the meeting, the two sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy and mineral sectors Both sides explored avenues to deepen collaboration in Pakistan s oil, gas, and mining industries
During the meeting, Abdullah Al Shamrani, CEO of the Saudi Geological Survey extended an invitation to the Geological Survey of
Pakistan to visit Saudi Arabia for knowledge-sharing and technological collaboration The Saudi delegation expressed a strong interest in exploring investment opportunities in Pakistan s energy and mineral sectors Meanwhile MD/CEO OGDCL Ahmed Hayat Lak and MD/CEO GHPL Masood Nabi held a productive meeting with a delegation from China’s Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd The discussion focused on exploring investment opportunities strategic partnerships and the application of innovative mining technologies to advance sustainable mining practices in Pakistan
On day two of the forum, Russell Howard Owen Mineral Resources Manager at Reko Diq Mining Company along with Engineering Manager Daniel Nel unveiled the findings of the project s recently completed feasibility study in a session titled “Deep Dive – Unveiling Reko Diq’s Feasibility Study: Technical Insights & Innovations The Reko Diq project set to begin production in 2028, was praised for its approach to infrastructure development, export readiness, and the promotion of knowledgebased growth and technical skills in local communities Presenters
A panel discussion on Strengthening Industry-Academia Linkages – Building a Future-Ready Mining Workforce” was also held on day two Panelists included Aamir Malik of Wood Mackenzie Richard Barley from Barrick Gold Gulmina Bilal Ahmed from NAVTTC, Dr Hafeezur Rehman from BUITEMS, and Sami Farooq from GIKI The discussion underscored the importance of developing a skilled workforce to support the sector s expansion
The third session, Financing the Future – Investment in Pakistan s Minerals to Meet Global Demand,” brought together Khawaja Aftab Ahmed (IFC) Cathy Marsh (ADB) Qumar Sarwar Abbasi (Finance Ministry) and Jon Hannah (Sullivan & Cromwell) with Bloomberg s Faseeh Mangi moderating Speakers highlighted the importance of stable and investor-friendly policies, risk mitigation mechanisms and global benchmarking to attract capital into Pakistan s mineral value chain Examples were drawn from countries like Chile and mineral-rich regions of Africa and Latin America
Participants emphasized the role of enabling infrastructure, integration of green energy and policy frameworks to support both large and small-scale
Addressing the inaugural session Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that Pakistan is richly endowed with mineral resources, particularly in regions like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sindh, and Punjab “These resources worth billions of dollars can help us overcome our debt burden and fuel national development he said while also citing encouraging progress on the Reko Diq project one of the country’s flagship mining endeavors
On day one of the event Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow highlighted the significance of the Reko Diq copper and gold project and described it as a pivotal milestone for Pakistan He said the project would not only economically benefit Pakistan but also transform Balochistan During peak construction the project is set to employ over 7 500 people and will provide 4 000 longterm direct jobs, he said Bristow said Reko Diq is just the beginning, calling it a “starter mine,” and added that Barrick is continuing to discover porphyry bodies in the region He expressed confidence that Pakistan is poised to join the ranks of top global mining jurisdictions, competing with countries like Chile, Peru, the DRC, and Zambia
The forum’s first day also included high-level panel discussions One panel featured a ministerial dialogue on driving responsible growth in mining, with participation from top officials from Pakistan, Turkey Saudi Arabia and Kenya The opening panel titled "Driving Responsible Growth in Mining – Governance Cooperation & Building Resilient Supply Chains, brought together ministers from Pak-
CORPORATE CORNER
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz held a key meeting with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Ylmaz on the sidelines of her visit to
between the two nations, Maryam Nawaz remarked, “Türkiye and Pakistan are like brothers ” CM MARYAM NAWAZ SHARIF ATTENDS CULTURAL SHOW Meanwhile Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attended a cultural show at
They agreed to promote joint educational projects and economic partnerships, while also exchanging views on global skill mapping and vocational training Maryam Nawaz briefed the Turkish vice president on Punjab s ongoing initiatives in education and skills development and extended him a formal invitation to visit Punjab Highlighting the deep ties
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) hosted a distinguished reception at the German Consulate in Karachi, bringing together key figures from Pakistan’s financial, governmental, and business sectors for an evening of dialogue innovation and collaboration The event was inaugurated by His Excellency Dr Rüdiger Lotz Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Karachi, who warmly welcomed the attendees In his
g SAYS PAKISTAN PROGRESSING AND RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARDS PROSPERITY, WHICH IS OUR DESTINATION
g PM SHEHBAZ DESCRIBES HIS VISIT TO BELARUS AS BENEFICIAL AND SUCCESSFUL
Three terrorists killed in Lakki Mar wat police operation: KP IGP
In its statement the Lakki police said that the operation took place at 10:45am this morning in the Madozai forest and was led by District Police Officer Jawad Ishaq
The IGP s statement read, In the operation, 20 to 25 terrorists were encountered within the limits of Tajuri and Bargai police stations Heavy weapons were used by both sides in this two-hour long battle
as saying “[The] KP Police are on the front lines in the war against terrorism [and are] determined to eliminate Khawarji the statement added using the term designating terrorists Pakistan has been grappling with an alarming surge in terror activities, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022
According to IGP Zulfikar Hameed s statement, acting on the reported presence of terrorists within the limits of Tajuri police station last night, the local police and the peace committee chased them Lakki police the Counter-Terrorism Department and the Special Quick Response Force launched the search operation
The statement said that the police in Lakki district were faced more cowardly acts by terrorists, which were being responded to strongly and effectively
Dar rules out ‘deal’ with PTI for undermining ‘national solidarit y’
LONDON Ag e n c i e s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday expressed disapproval of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its unproven disruptive actions and baseless claims about others He highlighted that the foundation of the government’s policies has always been justice and accountability ruling out any possibility of deals with PTI who are undermining national solidarity and security Dar discouraged PTI s story surrounding the May 9 incidents, declaring that those responsible for the turbulence through a transparent judicial process are facing penalties He stated, “The government has nothing to do with these proceedings in any way Justice is being served based on clues and evidence He further accused PTI of propagating wrong information to spoil the reputation of Pakistani institutions Spending millions of dollars abroad to defame our institutions is disgraceful, Dar commented He requested PTI leaders to give up dialogue and concentrate on positive politics within Pakistan Upon questioning regarding the health of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif he affirmed that he is in good health He also proclaimed plans for an upcoming visit to Afghanistan following previous visits by Sadiq Khan, who is Pakistan s special envoy Decisions regarding the Afghanistan visit will be shared soon,” he added Ishaq Dar ’s comments reflect the government’s promise to maintain justice and accountability while developing constructive political engagement His criticism of PTI underscores the administration s resolve to counter misinformation and maintain national integrity
The police fought very bravely and killed three terrorists without suffering any losses the IGP was quoted as saying Upon learning that several injured terrorists fled the scene and a search operation was launched Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Lakki police for the successful “search and strike operation” in a statement from his office posted on X
We are proud of the courage and professionalism of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Naqvi was quoted
KP to build c anals
Militant violence and security operations intensified in the country in March with the number of militant attacks surpassing 100 for the first time since November 2014, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (Picss)
In KP at least 206 people were killed including 49 security personnel 34 civilians and 123 militants while 115 were injured with 63 security personnel and 49 civilians among them the Picss report said
from Indus, Kurram Tangi rivers to irrigate K arak land: Barkwal
g SAYS PROVINCIAL GOVT OWES RS22B IN OIL AND GAS ROYALTIES TO KOHAT DIVISION, AND HAS DECIDED TO RELEASE THIS YEAR’S ROYALTY FUNDS BY 30 JUNE
PESHAWAR s tA f f r e p o r t
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture Maj (r) Sajjad Barakwal has said that the Mines and Minerals Amendment Act will not be passed on anyone's advice or in a hurry A detailed briefing will be given to the parliamentarians on Monday in this regard and their viable and useful suggestions will be included The amendment act will benefit the province by Rs40 billion PTI s one-year performance remained excellent KP Minister for Agriculture Maj (r) Sajjad Barakwal stated while briefing the media on the one-year performance of the PTI government at District Press Club Karak
The provincial minister
g MINISTER ANNOUNCES 415,000 POLIO WORKERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A NATIONWIDE ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN FROM APRIL 21
Trailer crushes two youth to death
g SAYS POLIO EXISTS IN KARACHI, BUT REASON WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING AFFECTED IS PREVENTION
That
a huge figure of 85-90pc This is a dilemma and we need to make serious efforts to address this situation,” he emphasized “I had meetings with five MPAs and two MNAs from District East and discussed with them the vaccination system and how to make future campaigns 100pc successful the health minister stated I want to tell everyone in Pakistan that polio exists in Karachi, but the reason why people are not being affected is because of prevention ” he emphasised “Since the virus is everywhere if children aren t vaccinated for whatever reason and contract the virus they will grow up physically disabled
“People from the left and the right will tell you ‘Don’t give them the drops’ but I am here to tell you that not including your children is criminal he maintained The health minister highlighted that there is a polio drive ongoing in neighbouring Afghanistan and lamented that Kabul has a more comprehensive immunisation programme than Islamabad This is the first time that a simultaneous polio vaccination campaign is happening in both Afghanistan and Pakistan he said The Taliban are sending teams door-to-door to vaccinate children their programme is more comprehensive than ours “Afghanistan is vaccinating children and they will eradicate the virus within a few years God forbid we remain the only country in the world with polio Please ignore any propaganda and administer polio drops to your children The minister announced that 415,000 polio workers will participate in a nationwide polio vaccination drive on April 21 and urged citizens to cooperate with workers administering the vaccines Please respect them and do not disturb them, they are trying to protect your children s future, he urged
Responding to a question from a reporter, Kamal said that the government has “multiple avenues” to act against families who refuse to immunise their children but
Poliovir us detected in sewage samples of 20 districts across Pakistan
The polio virus has been detected in 25 sewerage samples collected from 20 districts across Pakistan
According to sources, the latest weekly environmental testing conducted between March 5 and 19 revealed the presence of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) in sewage samples from multiple locations The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio confirmed that sewage samples in three provinces showed signs of contamination Positive samples were reported from nine districts in Balochistan six in Punjab and five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In Balochistan, the affected districts include Quetta, Kech, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Pishin, Loralai, Dakki, Naseerabad, and
Osta Muhammad, NEOC stated In Punjab, the virus was found in Lahore Multan Bahawalpur Bahawalnagar D G Khan and Rahim Yar Khan Meanwhile in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa poliovirus was detected in environmental samples collected from Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, South Waziristan, and Lower Dir On the other hand, 35 sewerage samples from 31 districts tested negative for the virus Sources said that this marks the 13th instance this year when poliovirus has been detected in environmental samples
This year the number of polioviruspositive samples has crossed 150, sources shared So far, six confirmed polio cases have been reported in the country this year According to NEOC the polio case was reported in Thatta Sindh bringing the total provincial number in 2025 to four and the countrywide number to six
