g Shehbaz Sharif issues stern warning to India, says Pakistan would
just the oppressors but also of those who are complicit in prolonging this cruel conflict, the prime minister told the annual 79th Session of UNGA The prime minister, in his 21-minute address at the 193-member Assembly touched on multiple regional and international issues including Palestine and Kashmir disputes Ukraine war, climate change, rising poverty and debt burden particularly induced by climate change impacts Prime Minister Shehbaz called upon the international community’s action to demand an immediate end to the bloodshed as work for a durable peace through a viable secure contiguous and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its eternal capital Before the gathering of the global lead-
g In his 21-minute address, PM touches on multiple
ers Prime Minister Shehbaz also highlighted the sufferings of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and said that India had resiled from commitments to implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir which mandated a plebiscite to enable the Kashmiri people to exercise their fundamental right to self-determination Since 5th August 2019, India has initi-
In snub to Netanyahu, PM, delegations from Arab & Islamic countries walk out of UNGA
occupied Jammu and Kashmir Can we turn a blind eye to the mothers cradling the lifeless bodies of their children? This is not just a conflict; this is systematic slaughter of innocent people; an assault on the very essence of human life and dignity The blood of Gaza’s children stains the hands of not
ts
‘stakeholders’ fr ustrated doom-mongers: COA S
RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Friday emphasised that efforts to sow despair in Pakistan have been thwarted through the collective efforts of all stakeholders and acknowledged the support of both federal and provincial governments for fostering economic recovery COAS Gen Syed Asim Munir made the remarks during a visit to the Karachi Corps area, where he was briefed on operational readiness and training initiatives according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday
During his visit, COAS also inaugurated Innovista Indus IT Park, a hub aimed at empowering Pakistan’s youth by fostering academia-industry collaboration in the field of Information Technology particularly Artificial Intelligence Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and notable civil community members attended the
inauguration ceremony The Sindh Chief Minister emphasized the importance of IT domain for optimal exploitation of potential of youth and economic growth
On the occasion the COAS highlighted that such projects are aimed at providing the most conducive environment to further promote the growth of IT Industry in the country, which is already accelerating at a respectable pace the ISPR statement said The park is designed to strengthen collaboration between
academia and industry empowering the country s youth General Munir noted that the park would provide a conducive environment for the further accel-
Nishat Mills plans sale of hospitality division and expansion into Türkiye
Azam Apparel and Business Park to supply electricity to the PIEDMC Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
system losses by 68 8MW and alleviating stress on key transmission lines including the Tarbela-Burhan-ISPR line
Charo
transmission line Another key project is the establishment of the 220kV Haripur Substation, which will be equipped with three 250MVA auto transformers and a double circuit transmission line connected to the existing Mansehra-ISPR line NTDC also plans to build a 220kV grid station in Swabi, which will include a double circuit transmission line from the 500kV Nowshera Grid Station Additionally a 220kV grid station will be established at the Quaid-e-
One of the largest projects involves the construction of a 500kV grid station at the Allama Iqbal Industrial City to cater to a demand of 600MW in the FIEDMC SEZ area This project includes the installation of three 250MVA transformers and a 500kV transmission line
The investment plan also focuses on reducing transmission system losses with specific projects targeting a reduction of 36 6MW in system losses This includes the construction of the 220kV Dera Ismail Khan-Zhob transmission line and the enhancement of transformation capacity across NTDC s grid stations
Further reinforcement is planned for the Islamabad and Burhan transmission networks, with a focus on reducing
This will help ensure reliable power evacuation from the Tarbela 4th project and improve voltage stability in the IESCO region NTDC’s investment plan also includes the development of a Pilot Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Jhimpir aimed at improving frequency regulation and voltage support particularly for the southern NTDC grid
In addition, the plan involves upgrading NTDC’s telecommunication and SCADA systems implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for productivity improvement and converting 220kV substations at Bund Road, Kala Shah Kaku, Ravi, and Nishatabad to GIS technology
TH E JF17 Thunder is a symbol of the relationship between Pakistan and China because it was designed primarily to meet a Pakistan Air Force need Perhaps that is the reason why the PAF has inducted 156 Jf17s, and has another 27 on order They are supposed to replace the J7, Mirage II and Mirage V, which are presently the staple of the PAF Compared to the Indian Air Force’s Tejas combat aircraft project which aims to provide the IAF a substitute for its present workhorse the Mig17 the JF17 project has been a success for Pakistan Another dimension of the plane was revealed at the recent International Defence Exhibition in Baku, where the PAF handed over to the Azerbaijan Air Force the first planes of an unspecified number in a deal valued at $1 6 billion Pakistan has already sold three planes to the Nigerian Air Force which may order 35 to 40 more Eleven have been sold to Myanmar Other countries have shown an interest in the JF17, Iraq has actually signed a deal to acquire 12 J-17s, along with 12 Mashhak trainers to add to the 12 it has already bought Meanwhile, such countries as Morrocco, Bolivia, Congo and Zimbabwe have shown an interest Clearly the JF17 is something of a winner However not all is smooth in its path The Myanmar Air Force has had problems operating the planes and its sale is consistently opposed by India This is the result of three factors First is its own desire to sell its Tejas, even though the problem has run into innumerable problems, enough for it to be an embarrassment for the IAF Then there is the Russian pressure because the JF17 is often in direct competition with Soviet planes India itself still has as its workhorse fighter the MiG21, which has been labelled the Flying Coffin , so frequent have been the accidents involving it That could also be because the IAF is not very good at flight maintenance Third is the usual Indian desire to do Pakistan down It is a fact that the 2019 post-Pulwama so-called ‘surgical strike and the PAF response saw the first encounter between the JF17 and the MiG21 which saw a MiG21 shot down While piloting skills do matter, there must be some credit given to the machine itself The country has got a winner on its hands, and it should not allow Indian machinations upset it
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
A legal atom bomb
At Penpoint
TH E government s attempt to amend the Constitution may have ground to a halt because it lacked the numbers, but the government and its allies have still to press on with the effort It seems the numbers game still relies on Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s JUI(F) voting for the amendments but he has refused so bluntly that he will only agree by making amendments to the amendments True there is no official text of the amendments released to the public There is some dispute about whether the versions presented to the PPP and the JUI(F) were the same or not What has appeared in the media coincided with the government’s sharing the amendments with the PPP and JUIF) It seems that this government caginess was justified from this point of view but it was not justified from the point of view of keeping the public informed These are after all amendments to the Constitution, a document which says that ‘We the people of Pakistan have enacted for ourselves through our chosen representatives’ a very direct echo of the preamble to the US Constitution which is the model of all written Constitutions since The implication is that since it is an overarching document, amendments are not only to be made carefully, but part of that process of care is that they be given full publicity before they are passed, so that they are considered from all sorts of angles
Another issue that arises is the role of MNAs and Senators It is to be noted that all party leaders seem to view them as sheep or cattle and themselves as herdsmen That is to an extent how far the present interpretation of the Constitution s anti-defection clause, Article 63A, does regard them
One view of elected representatives is that they are purely party representatives This can only be propounded under a party-list system Another view is that they have been delegated by their constituency s voters to deal with all matters in the Assembly as they see fit The third view is that they are mere representatives, who have to do as their electors wish In the current amendments situation, there does not seem to have been any consultation with constituents MPs have taken it upon themselves to vote as they see fit and have decided to do whatever their party leader tells them
As the amendments deal with the judiciary, one would have expected lawyers to have been in the forefront of the lobbying effort, as lawyers So far, lawyers’ efforts have been purely partisan, which has not been very informative about what the amendments actually mean
One point which has been raised is how the opposition (basically the PTI) could challenge the Amendment First, it could challenge it on procedural grounds, such as whether the Cabinet accorded ap-
proval or not or whether the number of members passing the amendment were complete or not or whether the President had duly given assent However, there is also the possibility of the Supreme Court being asked to invoke the Basic Structure Doctrine and strike down the amendment itself The legislature is supposed to determine the text of the Constitution and the Supreme Court to interpret it The Basic Structure Doctrine was evolved over decades in India, and postulates that a supreme court has the right to examine any constitutional amendment and to strike it down if it was found to conflict with the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution There is no text which states what that basic structure is and if the Indian Supreme Court is to be relied on the judges merely make it up Well not quite The Indian Supreme Court has mentioned 21 basic structures, which it says Parliament cannot change It thus allocates the Constituent Assembly, the first Parliament of independent India, a special status However it also must be noted that Parliament is itself a creation of the Constitution and thus cannot amend its basic structure One of the basic structures identified has been the independence of the judiciary Indeed, in the leading Pakistani case on the issue, the Supreme Court was approving of the doctrine though it did not strike down the 21st Amendment which had been challenged It may be noted that the issue involved appointments to the judiciary and the parliamentary judicial committee s relationship to the Judicial Committee The Amendment was passed because the Court had suggested certain amendments to the law, but had not struck down the impugned amendment, leaving it to Parliament to make the requisite changes It is worth noting that the case was heard by a 17-member Full Court Bench of which a junior member was Mr Justice Faez Issa who concurred with the judgement authored by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, who became in 2018 caretaker Prime Minister The entire tenor of Mr Justice Isa’s career has been towards
Tank War fare in the age of drone
Ttank warfare However the vulnerability of tanks in Ukraine demonstrates that even advanced armoured vehicles can be neutralized by inexpensive drones and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) Pakistan must invest in upgrading its tanks with active
systems (APS) capable of intercepting incoming threats Additionally integrating tanks more closely with drones and air defence systems will be necessary to maintain their effectiveness
ENHANCING COUNTER-DRONE CAPA-
BILITIES: The drone threat is not limited to state actors like Ukraine; non-state actors such as the Taliban and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) could soon acquire similar technologies Reports suggest that the Taliban are already investing in drone technology, and it is only a matter of time before groups like the TTP follow suit To counter this emerging threat, Pakistan needs to strengthen its electronic warfare
capabilities and invest in counter-drone systems to protect its airspace and military assets ADAPTING TO HYBRID WARFARE: The nature of warfare is rapidly changing and Pakistan must stay ahead of the curve The future will likely involve more hybrid conflicts, where conventional military forces are combined with irregular tactics cyber warfare and drone technology Pakistan s military doctrine should evolve to account for these new realities shifting away from sole reliance on traditional assets like tanks and fighter jets Instead, the focus should be on multi-domain operations, integrating air, land, and cyber capabilities into a cohesive strategy
The Russia-Ukraine war has underscored the vulnerabilities of traditional military assets like tanks and the growing importance of drones, portable air defence, and hybrid warfare strategies For Pakistan, the lessons are clear: it must modernize its military doctrine, invest in technology-driven solutions, and prepare for a future where tanks may no longer dominate the battlefield By learning from these lessons Pakistan can ensure that its military remains effective and resilient in an ever-changing global security environment
The writer is a freelance columnist
The Russia-Ukraine war has underscored the vulnerabilities of traditional militar y assets like tanks and the growing impor tance of drones, por table air defence , and hybrid warfare strategies. For Pakistan, the lessons are clear: it must moderniz e its militar y doctrine , invest in technology-driven solutions, and prepare for a future where tanks may no long er dominate the battlefield. By learning from these lessons, Pakistan can ensure that its militar y remains effective and resilient in an ever-changing global security environment.
Misuse of agency power
IN military life, seniors play a crucial role beyond mere hierarchy or rank
They hold the wealth of experience craft strategies and safeguard traditions within the armed forces The importance of senior members within an army cannot be overstated, as they embody the collective wisdom, resilience, and ethos crucial for operational success and the welfare of military personnel
Foremost seniors act as reservoirs of knowledge and expertise acquired through years of service Their extensive experience spanning multiple deployments, exercises, and training scenarios, grants them profound insights into tactics, logistics, and operational realities This wealth of knowledge is invaluable for younger soldiers and junior officers navigating the intricacies of military life By imparting their insights and lessons learned seniors help bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring the next generation is well-equipped to confront the challenges of modern warfare
Moreover seniors play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of mentorship and camaraderie within the army Through their guidance and example they instill values like integrity, discipline, and selflessness in their subordinates, molding them into effective leaders and responsible citizens Whether leading by example on the battlefield or offering encouragement in the barracks seniors inspire loyalty and trust among their peers and juniors fostering unity and purpose essential for mission success
Beyond mentorship, seniors serve as linchpins in operational planning and execution within the army Leveraging their extensive experience and strategic insight they provide invaluable perspectives that inform decision-making across all command levels
From formulating campaign plans to assessing battlefield conditions, seniors play a central role in shaping military strategy and tactics, ensuring precise and effective operations, particularly in high-stakes scenarios where split-second decisions are critical Furthermore seniors safeguard institutional memory and tradition within the army
As custodians of the past they preserve the heritage and legacy of their units, ensuring the sacrifices and accomplishments of previous generations are remembered This sense of continuity and heritage fosters pride and esprit de corps among soldiers nurturing
a strong sense of belonging and identity within the army By upholding past traditions and values, seniors uphold the honor and dignity of the military profession, inspiring future generations to follow suit In every institution from multinational corporations to local community organizations junior workers serve as the vital force driving operations forward While they may not hold senior positions or command high salaries, their contributions are indispensable to the institution’s functioning as a whole Whether bringing fresh perspectives or executing essential tasks junior workers play a pivotal role in fostering innovation productivity and success Moreover junior workers often handle the day-to-day tasks critical for the institution s smooth operation From managing calls and emails to conducting research and drafting reports, they constitute the administrative backbone that allows senior staff to focus on strategic objectives Their meticulousness keen attention to detail and commitment to professionalism ensure the seamless and efficient functioning of essential operations, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the institution Additionally junior workers play a pivotal role in cultivating a culture of collaboration and teamwork within institutions Frequently collaborating with colleagues across various departments and organizational levels, they build bridges and foster connections that facilitate communication and cooperation Whether collaborating on cross-functional projects or providing support to team members junior workers contribute to a sense of camaraderie and unity crucial for institutional success Furthermore junior workers represent the future of the institution and are indispensable for its long-term viability and expansion Being in the early stages of their careers, they possess the potential to evolve into future leaders and decision-makers By investing in their professional growth and offering advancement opportunities institutions can develop a talent pipeline that ensures continuity and innovation for years to come Junior workers bring fresh perspectives, energy, and enthusiasm to their roles, driving positive change and innovation thereby propelling the institution forward into the future In the hierarchical structure of the military there s a common misconception that officers receive disproportionate attention as the leaders and decision-makers However, every successful army relies on a core group of dedicated individuals who form the backbone of its operations: non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and enlisted soldiers While officers provide direction it s the NCOs and enlisted soldiers who execute missions on
s c u l t u r e d y i n g ?
the ground ensuring the success of military operations through their dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment
NCOs serve as the vital link between officers and enlisted soldiers They are frontline leaders tasked with implementing orders upholding discipline and ensuring troop welfare Often promoted from enlisted ranks based on experience competence and leadership qualities, NCOs offer guidance and mentorship to junior enlisted personnel, helping them navigate military life and develop necessary skills
One of the significant roles of NCOs is maintaining discipline and morale within the ranks Leading by example they instill professionalism dedication and pride in their troops fostering a culture of excellence and accountability Whether enforcing conduct standards or providing support during challenges, NCOs shape the military’s character and ethos
Enlisted soldiers constitute the backbone of the army s operational capability They execute assigned missions with skill courage and determination hailing from diverse backgrounds and specialties From infantry to logistics, enlisted soldiers contribute to the army’s effectiveness through their unwavering commitment and expertise in their respective roles Despite their distinct roles and duties all members of the military share a common dedication to serving their country and upholding its interests Enlisted soldiers undergo intensive training to equip them for the rigours of military service, refining their physical fitness, technical expertise, and tactical proficiency Whether they’re conducting patrols in hazardous settings administering medical assistance to injured fellows or maintaining and repairing equipment enlisted soldiers are the linchpins ensuring the army s operations unfold with precision and efficacy
Their unwavering commitment and sacrifices lay the foundation for the army’s triumphs and their contributions are indispensable for securing victories on the battlefield
In the intricate tapestry of the Pakistan Army, the relationship between officers and soldiers stands as the keystone of operational triumph Unified as a cohesive team, they each bring unique skills, knowledge, and viewpoints to realize shared goals The synergy between officers and soldiers epitomizes the potency of collaboration and highlights the significance of teamwork in contemporary military endeavours
Central to the effectiveness of teamwork between officers and soldiers is their shared allegiance to a common mission Officers furnish strategic guidance articulate objectives and devise plans for their achievement
Leveraging their leadership experience and expertise, officers establish the mission s tra-
jectory and instill assurance in their troops
Conversely, soldiers execute the mission with discipline, valour, and accuracy, drawing upon their training, cooperation, and resilience to surmount obstacles and achieve objectives on the battlefield Communication serves as the linchpin of effective collaboration between officers and soldiers Precise and transparent communication ensures comprehension of objectives, execution of orders, and dissemination of information Officers convey their intent and directives to soldiers providing context and guidance for the mission In return soldiers relay observations feedback and requests to officers facilitating adaptability and refinement of plans as necessary Through candid and open communication, officers and soldiers cultivate trust, cohesion, and synchronized effort crucial for success in complex and dynamic environments The collaboration between officers and soldiers extends far beyond the battlefield encompassing all facets of military operations During training and preparation, officers work closely alongside soldiers to hone skills, refine tactics, and foster teamwork They cultivate a culture of continual learning and enhancement where feedback is valued and experiences are shared Soldiers in turn offer their insights and perspectives drawing from frontline experiences to enrich training and development endeavours This collaborative approach ensures the army s agility, adaptability, and readiness to confront the evolving challenges of the modern world Mutual respect serves as a cornerstone principle of teamwork between officers and soldiers Officers hold in high regard the expertise professionalism and dedication of their soldiers, acknowledging their pivotal role in mission success Likewise, soldiers honour the leadership, experience, and authority of their officers placing trust in their judgement and guidance This mutual respect forms the bedrock of a cohesive and resilient team where each member is esteemed and acknowledged for their individual strengths and contributions There is a claim that only junior officers and soldiers in the Pakistan Army make sacrifices while senior officers lead a life of luxury and avoid danger This narrative is misleading and not supported by numerous examples of senior Army officers sacrifices The history of the Pakistan Army is replete with instances of both officers and soldiers laying down their lives In recent years, Pakistan has been embroiled in a relentless fight against terrorism with the Army playing a crucial role in this struggle Many senior officers have exhibited extraordinary bravery and leadership in some of the most perilous situations
Major General Sanaullah Niazi for example, made notable contributions in the battle against terrorism Serving in the volatile North Waziristan Agency, he was key to Operation Zarb-e-Azb, a significant military offensive aimed at dismantling terrorist networks General Niazi was martyred on 22 September 2014 in a
spoke a dialect of Hokkien their regional language, that was used by no one else we knew On weekends, we went to Asian grocery stores in search of niche ingredients for Malaysian food, which we spent whole days preparing My grandma practiced Tai Chi in the mornings and for my birthday gave me a set of Baoding balls small metal spheres with dragons on them so that I could learn to swirl them around in my palm exercising the muscles in my hands She stuffed sticky rice into triangular packets made from lotus leaves, and hung them in our kitchen until they were ready to cook During my early childhood, it never occurred to me that any of this could mean anything to anyone It was just the way we lived My non-Asian friends were interested in non-Asian things playing guitar professional wrestling R V trips that meant nothing to me; the mutual opacity of our cultures seemed normal It was only as I got older that I began to see how cultural facts could have communicative significance In middle school, my friends started viewing my Asianness through the lenses of The Karate Kid and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ; in high school they discerned looming associations with math and computers The meaning of being American also dawned on me: somehow, at the nexus of TGI Fridays, Bruce Springsteen, and my weekend soccer games, there was an aura of wholesome, heroic normalcy an ordinariness meant to be admired Oddly the culture around me seemed to get more communicative as I aged One day in 2019 I walked into a trendy Malaysian restaurant Kopitiam in lower Manhattan and found the food of my childhood presented as cool, even chic Enjoying it apparently meant something beyond enjoyment; beautifully photographed on Instagram, it signalled both the rising fortunes of Southeast Asia and the possibilities of one’s own personality (“Once upon a time food was about where you came from the novelist John Lanchester wrote in a 2014 essay Now for many of us it is about where we want to go about who we want to be, how we choose to live ) Americanness was shifting in its significance, too: for some people, in some places, flying a flag or eating a corn dog could be a form of resistance Increasingly everything was Googleable and shareable and social media was reducing cultural difference to a matter of style; as the novelist William Gibson
ture in general really is getting worse; in fact the whole world is undergoing a process of deculturation Roy believes that a range of abstract and apparently unstoppable forces globalization, neoliberalism, postmodernism, individualism, secularism, the Internet, and so on are undermining culture by rendering it “transparent ” turning our cultural practices into “a collection of tokens” to be traded and displayed Culture used to be something we did for its own sake; now we do it to position ourselves vis-à-vis other people For Roy, this means that it s dying It s common nowadays to talk about the culture wars ” The notion is that we’re profoundly divided about the kinds of people we want to be, and that we express these divisions in everyday sometimes petty ways But in Roy s view this framing is wrong It would be more accurate to say that there s a war on culture; what we call the culture wars are just skirmishes among the ruins Hold this idea in mind, and you may find yourself seeing the ruins everywhere Many houses in my neighborhood, for instance, fly variations of the American flag rainbow flags, Blue Lives Matter flags Thin Red Line flags and so on The flags are part of the culture wars But going by Roy’s account they also reflect how much the sociological grounding of common culture has eroded Less and less in our culture is self-evident the phrase our culture might even seem suspect and so the American flag, which should have some intrinsic, unchanging, obvious meaning (isn’t that the point of a flag?), has become a more fungible outward-facing sign perhaps not too different from the campaign placards that we put in our yards Flags are just vocabulary Why not let them multiply?
It s hard to imagine what it might take to prove a thesis like this; The Crisis of Culture doesn t really try It s a short book that could be charitably described as wide-ranging, or more skeptically characterized as being full of unsupported generalizations Roy a celebrated intellectual in France who’s most famous for his work on Islam radicalization and the West writes with sweeping assurance about everything from Al Qaeda and #MeToo to Roland Barthes s Empire of Signs There s something to disagree with on every page But this makes the book more enjoyable and interesting, not less; it offers valuable provocation Roy finds deculturation everywhere: in viral controversies over whether emotional-support animals belong on airplanes; in the recent charged debate over whether Israeli or Lebanese people invented hummus; in Disney s remixing of traditional fairy tales into profitable megafranchises; in the struggles of universities to attract humanities majors What unifies these phenomena, he thinks, is that they unfold in a cultural vacuum In the past, a society could rely on “a shared system of language signs symbols representations of the world body language behavioural codes and so on to govern all sorts of situations Today in the absence of that shared background we must constantly renegotiate what s normal, acceptable, and part of us Two things are true simultaneously: we can’t agree on those things, yet we need rules of the road The result, Roy writes, is that we’re “caught in expanding systems of explicit normativity ” There are lots of rules many of them conflict and you break them at your peril
Deculturation is what happens when Culture which is bigger than you, is replaced with a system of revisable cultural codes Roy writes that it s the product of desocialisation, individualisation, and deterritorialisation ” On a practical level he means that more of us are bowling alone and working from home perhaps for vast multinational corporations that exist in no particular place Yet Roy also sees more abstract changes in our imaginaries In the past, he argues, people found meaning in grand ideologies Christianity, Marxism, the American way or based their existences on the unquestioned habits of a traditional society But “neither high culture nor anthropological culture provide the stuff of dreams today ” he writes Ways of believing now come within the realm of subcultures; they are associated with sects fandoms conspiracy theories and the like We still have a society of course, but we understand it as a project aimed at maximizing our liberty and happiness Roy identifies this view as “neoliberal,” because it is fundamentally individualistic and suggests that it is actually paradoxical since we can’t agree on what counts as liberty and happiness (Do we want to be free to say anything or free from hate speech?) Here we are on a terrain in which culture has no positive aspect, since the old culture has been delegitimized and the new one does not meet the necessary condition of any culture, which is the presence of implicit, shared understandings,” he argues What’s left is power: whoever happens to be in charge at any given time seeks to impose their norms on everyone else
In a review of The Crisis of Culture published in the magazine Philosophy Now Théo Blanc asks Hasn t culture always been in crisis? Blanc notes that Roy presupposes a state of culture (echoing the classical state of nature’) where everyone shares the same implicit code of conduct identities are clear to everyone and there are no significant cultural differences or conflicts But was that ever really the case? Roy himself acknowledges that in many ways deculturation is nothing new: cultures change for reasons of immigration, colonization, war, and technological transformation and people change with them, getting “acculturated” to new traditions But Roy believes that the situation today is different, because there is nothing for us to get acculturated to Around the world cultures aren t being replaced by other cultures; the idea of Westernization is a red herring he suggests because despite the worldwide popularity of pizza and Succession, what s actually ascendant are weak identities constructed through that collection of tokens It s a bit like moving from a place where your family has lived for generations to a faceless suburb You could adopt your neighbors’ traditions if they have any but they don t they re just a random collection of people who happen to live near one another You do you they say That s not the same as
The French sociologist Olivier Roy believes that deculturation is sweeping the world, with troubling consequences
ISRAEL TARGETS HEZBOLL AH AIR UNIT COMMANDER IN DEADLY BEIRUT STRIKE, 92 KILLED IN 24 HOURS
WASHINGTON ag e n c i e s
The Israeli defence ministry has announced it had secured a new $8 7 billion aid package from the United States to support the country s ongoing military efforts, underlining Washington s unwillingness to use its military aid as leverage for a ceasefire in Lebanon Meanwhile US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israel
an economic meeting at the end of April July October and December This was the first such meeting to be held in September Analysts said the earlier-thanusual meeting signals the central government’s commitment to addressing the current economic landscape and the urgency of implementing stable growth policies
Stimulus measures and growth target
Liu Baocheng, dean of the Center for International Business Ethics at the University of International Business and Economics told CGTN on Thursday that the meeting indicates that China’s top leaders
are fully aware of the challenges facing China’s economy, including a tense global trade environment and the quest for high-quality development Liu noted that the timely economic discussions are crucial for guiding growth strategies in the final quarter of the year, particularly as the government aims for a growth target of around 5 percent China’s central bank on Tuesday announced that it will lower the reserve requirement ratio by 0 5 percentage points providing approximately 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) in long-term liquidity to the financial market Besides, it said that it may further reduce the reserve requirement ratio by 0 25 to 0 5 percentage points later this year depending on the state of market liquidity
The central bank also announced that from September 27 it will lower the interest rate for the seven-day reverse repurchase operations by 0 2 percentage points, from the previous 1 7 percent to 1 5 percent reflecting a strong commitment to bolster monetary policy
Afghan embassy in UK shutters af ter Taliban cuts ties
LONDON a f p
Afghanistan’s embassy in London closed on Friday after Taliban authorities cut ties with diplomatic missions set up by the previous government in Kabul and fired its UK staff An AFP reporter saw a notice hung on the gate to the consular section reading: “The embassy of the Republic of Afghanistan is closed ” No one answered the door but the country s flag was still flying Afghan ambassador to the UK Zalmai Rassoul announced on social media ear-
lier this month that the embassy would close at the official request of the host country on September 27 The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) denied that it was behind the closure “This decision was not made by the UK government a spokesperson said The spokesperson added The State of Afghanistan decided to close the Afghan Embassy in London and dismiss its staff, and, We continue to support the people of Afghanistan and provide humanitarian assistance to those most in need ” The FCDO has not indicated
whether a new Afghan ambassador would be accredited in London
The UK does not recognise the Taliban government as legitimate and does not have formal diplomatic relations with the country But in line with the United States and the European Union London acknowledges that there is no alternative to engaging pragmatically with the current administration of Afghanistan The UK mission to Afghanistan is currently based in Doha The Afghan embassy’s consular section in London closed on September 20 according to its website
A G R I C U LT U R E M A C H I N E R Y W O R T H $ 1 7 . 62 1 M I M P O R T E D I N T W O M O N T H S
KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
the Pakistan Sustainability Week exhibition on alternative energy at the Expo Center in Karachi, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, Mass Transit, Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon remarked that people in this country often wait for justice for decades We still haven t received justice for the murder of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he said The assassination of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was not just the killing of a party leader; it was the murder of the country's future, its interests, development, democracy, and constitution "He stated that Iftikhar Chaudhry and Saqib Nisar are a disgrace to the country s judicial system and will be remembered as a dark chapter in its judicial history
In a significant step towards advancing solar technology in Pakistan LONGi a global leader in solar energy launched its latest innovation – the Hi-MO X10 solar panels The launch event was held at the Crystal Ballroom in the Marriott Hotel Karachi The event introduced and featured a presentation of the newly launched Hi-MO X10 a groundbreaking solar panel designed to push the boundaries of energy efficiency, durability, and reliability Attendees witnessed a live product demonstration showcasing the innovative features of the panel alongside a networking session with key industry leaders from the renewable energy sector, exchanging insights and exploring collaboration possibilities The evening concluded with refreshments and a gala dinner providing a relaxed atmosphere for further discussions and connections
The event featured Mr Alex representing LONGi Solar, as well as prominent government officials, including Kamran Khan Tessori, Governor Sindh Malik Khuda Buksh Convener Energy Committee FPCCI Engr Mehfooz Kazi
Supreme Audit Office of Pakistan elected member of ASOSAI
Governing Board
The Supreme Audit Office of Pakistan’s has been elected member of the Governing Board of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) one of the regional groups of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Pakistan won the seat during the 16th Assembly Session of ASOSAI held in New Delhi India from September 24 to 27 according to press statement issued by the Office of the Auditor General of Pakistan here Friday The statement said that it was a great honour for Pakistan to have been included in the governing body of the organization, adding it was also recognition of the country’s crucial role in enhancing audit standards in the region Pakistan’s election to the ASOSAI Governing Board signifies its strong position to play a leadership role
EFU Life launches Aasaan Product Range
Engro Fer tilizers strengthens dealer and farmer par tnerships for agricultural progress
Limited one of Pakistan’s leading fertilizer manufacturers hosted a meeting in Depalpur for dealers and farmers to address key challenges of the agricultural sector and explore innovative solutions for growth The highlight of this session was the live demonstration of Engro s Mobile Lab, which offers on-site soil and water testing services This initiative empowers farmers with data-driven recommendations for optimized fertilizer use ensuring balanced soil nutrition and enhanced crop productivity Addressing the audience CEO Engro Fertilizers Mr Ali Rathore expressed the Company s wholehearted support for its dealer network and the country’s farming community, acknowledging their essential role in the agricultural value chain He also highlighted the Company s initiatives are aimed at empowering
foodpanda: Empowering Deliver y Riders
THOUSANDS RALLY IN SWAT TO VOICE DISAPPROVAL OF MILITARY OPERATION DESPITE TERROR THREATS
Zafar Shalmani, President Private School Management Association and Sadiq Aziz from PML-N “We are fed up with these fabricated terrorism projects We demand peace and development initiatives on Pakhtun soil
Those who devise these plans must know that the Pashtun nation can no longer be fooled by such tactics, the speakers said They reiterated the pledge to render any sacrifice for the protection of soil, saying terror incidents like Malam Jabba Road would not be tolerated any more
the Swat Police had made extraordinary arrangements for the security of the peace march participants The elders of Swat Qaumi Jirga and political leaders, included Mukhtar Yousafzai from Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) Ayoub Asharay
from ANP Naveed Khan from Jamaat-eIslami, Attaullah Jan from Olasi Pasoon, Fahim Naeem President District Bar Association, Dr Khalid Mahmood from traders association, Advocate Shamsul Hadi Maulana Hujjatullah from JUI-F Sher Bahadur Khan from Qaumi Watan Party Abdul Jabbar Khan from ANP Khurshaid Kaka Jee from PKMAP Irfan Chattan from PPP, Wajid Ali Khan from PML-N, Hameed Iqbal, Swat Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami, City Mayor Shahid Ali, Provincial Minister Fazal Hakim Khan
They also criticized Shahzad Mehboob Deputy Commissioner Swat for issuing a threats alert letter just one day before the rally, accusing the district administration, law enforcement agencies and police of being complicit in terrorist activities due to their failure to detect any real threats
On the occasion prayers were offered for the elevation of police martyrs and complete solidarity was expressed with the police personnel
The speakers further condemned the failure of intelligence agencies to provide security for foreign diplomats during their visit to Malam Jabba on Sunday (September 22) adding that it had caused significant damage to tourism and development sector
Death toll rises to 46 in Kurram as tribal clashes escalate; 96 injured so far
Five more people were killed and 15 injured on Friday as fresh clashes which first emerged last week between rival tribes in different areas of Kurram district continued into the eighth day, bringing the total number of casualties to 46 dead and 96 injured, a hospital official said Police and hospital sources last week told that the clashes started after Boshehra tribes of upper Kurram started setting up bunkers on the lands of Ahmadzai tribes, with the dispute quickly engulfing other
areas as well On Wednesday, sources said that at least 10 people were killed were injured in in Balishkhel Sadda Khar Kallay Peewar Maqbal and other areas adding that the main Parachinar Highway and other roads in the area were closed due to traffic Kurram District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Medical Superintendent Dr Qaiser Abbas Banghash confirmed the latest death toll to media today
Former federal minister Sajid Toori acknowledged that routine activities was badly affected due to armed clashes, but hoped the situ-
ation would normalise soon, calling on people to solve their problems amicably Separately Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) parliamentary leader Engineer Hameed Hussain staged a protest outside the Parachinar Press Club, citing the failure of the institutions responsible for law and order to establish peace Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur said a day earlier that serious efforts were being made to maintain law and order in the province, especially in the southern districts
CM Mar yam urges Governor Punjab to convey objec
tions in writing over VCs appointments
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz responded to concerns raised by Governor Punjab regarding the appointments of Vice Chancellors (VCs) at Punjab Sector Universities urging him to express any objections in writing so the government can address them seriously
Karim Kundi in the district court as the governor failed to reply to the legal notice urging him to seek an apology and pay Rs500 mln He stated that Governor Kundi s allegations of corruption against him and the CM on a TV show had damaged his reputation and attempted to harm his political career
Karim Kundi said he knew how to protect the Governor s House if Gandapur attacked it
In an interview with The Express Tribune, she reassured that a thorough evaluation of the candidates had been conducted to select the most qualified individuals for these roles Maryam Nawaz emphasized
that if the Governor believes there were shortcomings in the process he should formally communicate these issues She reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining collaboration within the state apparatus to avoid any misunderstandings In earlier statements Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider highlighted two primary concerns: the lack of transparency in the appointment process and failure to follow the established legal procedures He pointed out that the law requires the submission of three names by a search committee in alphabetical order, with the Gover-
nor having the final say on the selection In this instance only one candidate from each university was submitted to his office, which he argued should not be treated as a mere post office
He stressed that a proper scrutiny process is essential to adhere to legal standards asserting that timelines for provincial legislation do not apply when the law is not followed Regarding questions about Party President Nawaz Sharif ’s scheduled trip to London for a medical checkup the Chief Minister clarified that this visit is routine and he is expected to return within ten days
PTI announces protest in Rawalpindi amid govt restric tions today
RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) has announced that their scheduled public meeting at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, will now be transformed into a protest after authorities denied them permission to hold the event
The protest will occur on Saturday September 28 at 2 pm as per the new schedule
PTI leader Sheikh Waqqas Akram shared in a video message
that the party has withdrawn its request for permission to hold a rally at Liaquat Bagh from the Lahore High Court s Rawalpindi bench
In his message Akram said that despite the denial of permission, PTI supporters are urged to gather for the protest
He conveyed the message of PTI’s founder urging people to show up in large numbers to protest against the judiciary s lack of independence, electoral manipulation, and rising inflation
“Protesting is essential for se-
curing an independent judiciary and against increasing inflation ” he said The PTI leader criticized the government for obstructing their public meetings saying Even when we were granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for rallies, his party workers and leader were arrested and containers were placed on their routes ”
He ended the message by calling for the public to attend the protest, stating that an independent judiciary is crucial for the release of PTI Founder Imran Khan
