Saudi Arabia
commit to joint effor ts in narcotics control
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to take more effective steps for narcotics control under the framework of bilateral cooperation
The agreement was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi and Saudi Director General of Narcotics Control Major General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Qarni, in Riyadh
Speaking at the event, Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the need for joint international efforts to combat narcotics
on drug interdiction strategies and systems Major General Muhammad Al-Qarni the Saudi Director General of Anti-Narcotics, offered to provide Pakistan with modern narcotics detection tools
Policeman mar tyred in
attack on polio vaccination team in Karak
In related news the polio vaccination campaign in Balochistan has been temporarily postponed for one day due to security concerns The Home Department of Balochistan requested the delay, citing intelligence information The seven-day polio campaign was scheduled to begin on Monday It may be noted that authorities continue to face challenges such as vaccination refusals missed targets fake finger marking, and lack of cooperation from district administrations and health officers Polio, a highly infectious viral disease, can cause irreversible paralysis and death The virus primarily spreads through the faecal-oral route or contaminated food and water Initial symptoms include fever fatigue vomiting stiffness of the neck and limb pain
Health officials emphasize that while polio has no cure, it is entirely preventable through vaccines Oral polio vaccines (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) have proven safe and effective worldwide with multiple doses ensuring lifelong immunity
innovation;
COTTON INDUSTRY FACES CRISIS AS RISING IMPORTS, POLICY GAPS STRAIN SECTOR
Pakistan’s business community has expressed mixed reactions to the State Bank of Pakistan s (SBP) decision to reduce the benchmark policy rate by 200 basis points (bps) While welcoming the cut announced on Monday, they called it inadequate, stressing that a single-digit rate is crucial to accelerating economic and business activities The SBP s latest Monetary Policy Statement lowered the key interest rate to 13%, a two-and-a-half-year low This brings the total reduction over the past six months to 900bps Despite this substantial decline prominent trade bodies voiced dissatisfaction highlighting that the reduction falls short of their demands for a 400500bps cut In a statement, Federation of Pak-
istan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) President Atif Ikram Sheikh termed the move insufficient and urged the SBP to further reduce the policy rate to single digits “Lower interest rates are essential to stimulate economic activities which in turn would boost exports he said Similarly Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani argued that the rate remains excessively high “Ideally the policy rate should be between 5-7% aligning with other regional economies like India (6 5%) Vietnam (4 5%) and Bangladesh (10%), the KCCI statement emphasized Bilwani also warned that prolonged tight monetary policies were driving up borrowing costs severely impacting the manufacturing sector Sheikh Umer Rehan Chairman of the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers
Association (PVMA) welcomed the 200bps cut but expressed hope that the SBP would bring rates into single digits in its next monetary policy review The cumulative 9 percentage point reduction in recent months has already reactivated some industries, encouraging investments ” he noted Rehan added that sectors such as cooking oil and textiles had begun ramping up production capacities anticipating broader economic recovery The business community s dissatisfaction reflects broader concerns about Pakistan’s high borrowing costs which continue to stifle growth and hinder the manufacturing and export sectors With regional competitors maintaining significantly lower policy rates, local businesses remain at a disadvantage Economic observers are now closely monitoring the SBP’s next monetary policy statement expected in late January or early February 2025 for signs of further rate reductions to bolster economic momentum
Customs values revised for feed grade meat, bone meal imports from Brazil
ATC indic ts S hireen M azari, Tahir S adiq,
at Adiala Jail, was presided over by Judge Amjad Ali Shah who is overseeing 14 cases linked to the GHQ attack PTI founder Imran Khan and hah Mehmood Qureshi were both present in the courtroom for their respective hearings In addition to the aforementioned leaders, nine more individuals were indicted in connection with the attack However Shah Mehmood Qureshi Colonel Ajmal Sabir Raja and Sikandar Zeb refused to sign the charge sheet claiming that the evidence against them was insufficient They argued that their 265D applications should be heard first before they would sign the charge sheet
The court also took note of the continuous absence of 23 other accused individuals including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur As a result the prosecution filed a petition for the cancellation of their bail, leading
Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
Federal Minister for Human Rights Sherry Mazari, and former Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat, appeared in
COMMENT
Proceeding with prudence on interest rate cuts
e a d e r s h i p
Atoxic workplace environment can be one of the most draining and discouraging experiences for anyone It refers to an unhealthy work ethics where employees feel stressed unappreciated, and often demoralized Such environments may result from poor management, negative attitudes, lack of trust, and constant pressure, all of which discourages employees from coming to work A toxic environment can stem from various factors and typically affects everyone involved regardless of role or seniority A toxic workplace often stems from poor or unsupportive leadership Leaders who micromanage, criticize too much, or create high-pressure environments without offering enough support can seriously hurt team morale When managers ignore their employees’ needs or do not listen to them it builds a culture of fear and distrust Employees may feel they cannot speak up about issues or concerns without facing consequences Over time, this leads to frustration, resentment, and a feeling of helplessness Communication plays a significant role in how people experience their work environment In toxic workplaces communication is usually poor or negative Messages may be unclear and expectations may change frequently leaving employees feeling confused and anxious In some cases communication may even turn hostile, with colleagues or supervisors speaking down to others, making unpleasant remarks, or openly criticizing one another This type of communication makes employees feel undervalued and disrespected Gossip and rumors often run rampant in such environments which only fuels further tension and discomfort among the staff members Another significant issue is the lack of recognition and appreciation Employees want to feel their hard work is valued and that their efforts make a difference In a toxic work environment, however, achievements are often overlooked
toxic workplaces This can manifest in many forms from verbal abuse and intimidation to more subtle behaviors like exclusion or passiveaggressive remarks When bullying or harassment is allowed to continue unchecked, it creates a fearful atmosphere, where people are more focused on protecting themselves than on collaborating or excelling in their roles It is not only damaging to the individuals directly targeted but also affects others who witness these behaviors Knowing that bullying is tolerated can make employees feel unsafe and unsupported which undermines the entire workplace culture An excessive workload with little support is another trait of a toxic workplace In some companies, employees are expected to work long hours without breaks or assistance They may feel overwhelmed with tasks and unable to keep up yet receive no help or resources to manage the workload This type of environment places an immense amount of pressure on individuals often leading to burnout which can have serious physical and mental health consequences When employees are exhausted and struggling,
Ultimately, a healthy workplace environment is one where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated. When organizations create a culture of trust, respect, and appreciation, everyone benefits from the employees who enjoy coming to work to the organization that thrives because of a productive and engaged workforce. Addressing toxicity in the workplace is essential to develop a positive, successful, and sustainable work culture.
The Sino-US Chip War: A growing technological rivalr y
Cit the next day after the United States’ latest restriction on its chip sector These trade problems between the United States and China had increased just before newly elected President Donald Trump joined next month According to the Chinese officials, this was an important initiative as the United States was violating export controls The Chinese industry associations have said that these restrictions and sanctions would affect the global chip industry and will increase the prices in the United States These trends reflect that political and military tensions are increasing between the two states Expectations are that the incoming Trump administration will intensify these trends next month These developments may have negative repercussions on global economic interdependence and promote competitive environments among states These trends will also affect the companies globally that are producing or depend on the semiconductors as these bans on exports would eventually cause the prices to increase
The writer is associated with the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad She can be reached at aroonakhan
China announced it the next day after the United StatesÊ latest restriction on its chip sector These trade problems between the United States and China had increased just before newly elected President Donald Trump joined next month According to the Chinese officials, this was an impor tant initiative as the United States was violating expor t controls The Chinese industr y associations have said that these restrictions and sanctions would affect the global chip industr y and will increase the prices in the United States
Inflation and education
Unseen winter challenge
Unchecked billboards
Tariq Khalique
Will Trump’s promises ever be fulfilled?
Mvests executive authority in the President while the Take Care Clause(Article II Section 3) mandates the President to ensure federal laws are faithfully executed allowing orders to manage their implementation Additionally, the Commander-in-Chief Clause (Article II, Section 2) provides authority for orders related to military and national security
In plain language the scope of the U S President s executive orders manage and direct the operations of the federal government, however, they cannot create new laws, goagainst existing laws passed by Congress, or directly affect private individuals unless tied to federal programs or contracts Congress and the Supreme Court each have the powers to overturn or invalidate a presidential executive order Congress can counter an executive order by passing new legislation that nullifies or overrides it, requiring a simple majority in both chambers If the President vetoes this legislation Congress must secure a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to override the veto Alternatively Congress can use its power of the purse to block the implementation of an executive order by withholding or restricting the necessary funding, effectively limiting its impact without direct legislative action The Supreme Court can invalidate an executive order through judicial review typically in response to a legal challenge The Court examines whether the order exceeds the President s constitutional authority, conflicts with federal statutes, or violates fundamental constitutional rights These checks ensure that executive orders remain within constitutional and statutory limits
Though a few of President-elect Trump s promises such as immigration enforcement, prioritizing deportations and using the military for civilian law enforcement is limited by the Posse Comitatus Act Similarly targeted tariffs under national security grounds and foreign policy decisions like adjusting NATO contributions or reducing military aid to Ukraine, can also be implemented through executive orders However, the President’s power for investigations against political opponents could face legal and ethical challenges There are other promises which are beyond the scope of executive orders such as state-level abortion laws, broad tariff policies affecting all imports would require congressional approval and significant changes to immigration laws such as altering legal criteria for status or
Donald Trump made grand promises to be implemented by executive order, during his campaign. Many of which he likely knew could not be fully realiz ed within a four-year term. Yet, with the charisma of a seasoned showman, he delivered them with unshakable confidence , captivating his suppor ters and igniting their hopes. He made it seem as though, upon taking the reins of the most powerful nation in histor y, he could transform his vision into reality with a magic wand. While the complexities of governance may have tempered these ambitions, his ability to make people believe in his promises was enough to carr y him to victor y.
T h e m o s t s u r p r i s i n g t e c h c h a m p i o n s o f 2 0 24
From Threads to Bluesky and Zello to Black Myth: Wukong, a handful of small and large tech champions stood out for their impressive growth this year
‘Ever y comment and like is scrutinized on Facebook, it’s scar y, while on Threads, it’s like confiding with strangers’
Zello allows smar tphones to be used as walkie -talkies. This helped Kenyan protesters find meeting points, evade the police, and aler t each other to potential dangers
tenth worldwide in terms of the app’s downloads Meta s answer to X has since gained traction in the country with 12% penetration in the third quarter of 2024 up from 3% a year earlier The penetration rate for Threads in Vietnam remains modest compared to X, which has hovered around 25% since 2022 In Vietnam, the top social media platforms are Facebook and the homegrown Zalo X has failed to go mainstream because it is perceived as more political and less entertainment-driven according to Ho Thuy Tien, a consultant at analytics firm Decision Lab Meanwhile, by linking Threads with Instagram and Facebook, Meta has created “a seamless experience for the user to do crossplatform activities Tien told Rest of World
This growth has been driven largely by Gen Z but millennials eager to keep up with the younger trendsetters, have quickly followed suit Unlike Taiwan, where Threads saw a boom in young, progressive users mobilizing for protests the most popular type of content in Vietnam is related to emotions love tips money and daily stories Still Threads lit up with political content in Vietnam last July and August as users debated accusations of foreign interference into the country’s politics Those flocking to Threads are drawn to a perceived sense of safety “Every comment and like is scrutinized on Facebook it s scary while on Threads it s like confiding with strangers said a top-rated comment on a thread discussing why the platform was more vibrant than Facebook GAME SCIENCE: The video game, developed by the Tencent-backed studio Game Science is based on the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West It follows the adventures of a warrior named Wukong as he battles rivals with weapons and spells inspired by Chinese mythology It has become China’s first hit “AAA” game the gaming equivalent of a blockbuster film Launched in August it sold 20 million copies in the first month By mid-October it had generated more than $1 billion in revenue on PC
stricted minors to only an hour of gaming time per day and only on weekends and public holidays For months from late 2021 to early 2022 no new games were approved While the game approval freeze has been lifted, investors and developers remain nervous about policy changes that could upend the industry Black Myth: Wukong emerged as a new role model It was highly lucrative while also serving the government s goal of boosting the country s soft power State media lauded the game as
of World To them, Bluesky resembled the early days of Twitter, prior to Elon Musk buying the company renaming it X and becoming too lenient on extremist content During X s month-long suspension in Brazil right-wing accounts and politicians continued posting on the platform by using virtual private networks (VPNs), risking fines Being active on X became a direct challenge to Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes who ordered the shutdown after Musk continuously failed to comply with orders to curb misinformation and hateful speech The ban on X was lifted in early October, after Musk complied with de Moraes demands and paid 28 6
which a significant number are Brazilians After Donald Trump’s presidential win in November Bluesky saw a large increase in its users surpassing 22 million by the end of that month
NOMINDBHUTAN, BHUTAN: Seven college kids working out of their dorm room at the Royal University of Bhutan’s tech institute built the country s first artificial intelligence startup and bagged big-name government clients last year NoMindBhutan makes and deploys chatbots for eight highprofile companies and government entities, including Bhutan National Bank, Royal Bhutan Airlines the Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) program the National Land Commission and the Ministry of Industry Commerce and Employment NoMindBhutan is very highly motivated so they are keen to learn to make quick changes,” Pallavi Sharma, NDI’s marketing and communications lead told Rest of World When they set up NoMindBhutan in 2023 co-founders Ugyen Dendup and Jamphel Yigzin Samdrup were freshmen in the AI Development and Data Science program at the Gyalpozhing College of Information Technology, part of the Royal University of Bhutan The college brought in over a dozen faculty members from Singapore
Despite its prominent clientele NoMindBhutan is currently restricted by the country s lack of access to international payment platforms and cloud servers, but remains “committed to advancing AI in Bhutan and overcoming the barriers that stand in our way ” Dendup told Rest of World The company is also thinking beyond business chatbots In June it launched Sherig ai a personalized AI tutor for schoolkids with video lessons and quizzes based on Bhutanese textbooks More student-led startups from Gyalpozhing have followed in NoMindBhutan s footsteps using AI for water current management driving assistance fashion advice and sign-language translation ZELLO, KENYA: In June 2024, as civil unrest roiled Kenya, a little-known app named Zello emerged as the primary communication tool for protesters Developed by U S engineer Alexey Gavrilov
QAmAr BAshir
general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a meeting to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of late top legislator Qiao Shi at the Great Hall of the People on Monday Xi called for learning from Qiao s noble character of holding on to
which
facts with a
approach The meeting was presided over by Zhao Leji Cai
and
Xi attended the meeting They are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Zhao said Xi s remarks are of great significance for carrying on and
Cotton market stumbles as dut y-free imports Crush loCal industry
DIALOGUE IMPERATIVE TO END MISCONCEPTIONS, BUILD POSITIVE IMAGE OF COUNTRY: TARAR
Pakistan had been very consistent in this regard He said Pakistan had been a good ally and it had never parted away with anyone until and unless done by other side He said as a nation Pakistanis needed to put across the message of tolerance, peace, and
Shehr yar Afridi pays tribute to APS mar t yrs, calls tragedy a dark chapter in histor y
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Member of National Assembly Shehryar Khan Afridi on Monday paid tribute to the martyrs of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar and their families on the 10th anniversary of the tragic attack Describing the incident as one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history, Afridi said the APS tragedy remains an unforgettable event that brought tears to every eye “This heartbreaking incident laid the foundation for long-lasting peace in the country and united the entire nation government and institutions against a common enemy he stated He emphasized that the grief of the APS martyrs remains alive in the hearts of the nation, and it will continue to do so “This day serves as a painful reminder of when the enemies of humanity brutally killed innocent schoolchildren ” he added Afridi acknowledged that December 16 is an extremely painful day for the affected parents marking the separation from their beloved children However, their sacrifices have created a legacy of unparalleled courage that will never be forgotten,” he said He also expressed admiration for the resilience and determination of the families of the APS martyrs who have borne this immense loss with exceptional patience and steadfastness Afridi saluted the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the entire nation for honoring the sacrifices made by these families Kurram peace jirga not yet over, par ties need more time for consultation: KP gov t PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T
Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information and Public Affairs Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif has refuted reports claiming that the Kurram peace jirga has ended clarifying that relevant parties have sought one more day for further consultations The Kurram [peace] jirga is not over The reports regarding the dissolution of jirga are baseless, the KP government’s spokesperson said on Monday while clarifying that ceasefire for another 24 hours had been sought by both the parties for deliberation regarding the elimination of bunkers and collection of weapons The provincial government s rebuttal comes after it was reported on Sunday that the nine-day-long jirga had failed to
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T
Senator Faisal Vawda on Monday stressed that addressing the political situation surrounding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will require a democratic approach, underscoring the need for continued discussions in order to resolve the ongoing issues In a social media post on “X ” Vawda expressed hope that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would meet soon to discuss the political challenges facing the country He also pointed out that the situation surrounding Maulana Fazlur Rehman would likely be settled in the near future
Vawda highlighted that talks concerning the political roles of parties like the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Balochistan Peoples Party (BAP) were also on the agenda and would soon be addressed He emphasized the importance of these discussions for ensuring the country moves forward
within its democratic framework “I am optimistic that my efforts will not be in vain ” said Vawda “Political parties must act responsibly and through ongoing dialogue we will resolve these matters he added showing confidence that these issues would be dealt with through mutual dialogue
Previously, Vawda also suggested that PTI’s planned civil disobedience movement might be postponed He speculated that the political discourse surrounding the martyrs issue could serve as a reason to delay such actions In an interview with a local TV channel, Vawda mentioned that PTI seemed focused on safeguarding General (retd) Faiz Hameed who was the corps commander in Peshawar during the May 9 unrest
PTI is doing everything in its power to protect Faiz Hameed,” Vawda asserted “If he is cleared others will also be protected ” Vawda further noted that the army would likely issue a charge sheet against individuals responsible for the violent events of May 9
after reviewing the available evidence He mentioned that audio recordings and messages were emerging showing PTI leader Imran Khan s possible involvement in the incidents
The only PTI figure not under Faiz Hameed s control is its founder, Vawda pointed out
In his statement, Vawda also voiced concerns about the proposed madrasah registration bill suggesting that a resolution would be found in the coming week He warned that if the events of May 9 were fully recognized, it would be difficult to brush aside the matter entirely
The senator also touched upon the ongoing investigations into the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif and the assassination attempt on Imran Khan He reiterated that trustworthy individuals were likely involved in Khan’s assassination attempt and criticized those distancing themselves from PTI’s image Vawda called for full accountability for the events of May 9, asserting the importance of addressing these issues openly
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The 10th anniversary of the tragic terror attack on Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar was observed on Monday with the nation paying tribute to the martyrs and renewing calls to continue the fight against terrorism until it is fully eradicated Special prayers and Quran Khwani were held across the country to remember the 147 innocent students and teachers who were martyred when six terrorists stormed the school on December 16, 2014 As the country remembered the victims of this gruesome act of terrorism leaders from across the political spectrum and the military pledged to continue the fight against extremism and terrorism, ensuring that the sacrifices of the APS martyrs would not be in vain
In Peshawar the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department organized commemorative events with speeches from local leaders paying tribute to the victims Special prayers were also held in educational institutions, government offices and mosques as the nation paused to reflect on the losses sustained that day
On December 16 2014 six heavily armed terrorists stormed the Army Public School in Peshawar, targeting children and
discharged 8 suspects while 75 accused were handed over to the police on a three-day physical remand Sipra also sought details from the relevant police officials regarding underage chil-
teachers in one of the most brutal attacks in the history of Pakistan
The militants held the school under siege for hours systematically killing students teachers and staff members before being confronted and neutralized by the security forces In total, 147 people were martyred in the attack, including 132 children, some as young as 10 years old The attack shocked the nation and ignited a national outcry pushing the government to take decisive steps against terrorism
In the aftermath of the APS attack, the government of Pakistan launched the National Action Plan (NAP) in January 2015 The plan included a series of measures aimed at tackling terrorism and extremism in the country, ranging from military action against terrorist groups to legal reforms such as the trial of terrorists in military courts
The NAP also emphasized the protection of educational institutions and the rehabilitation of those affected by terrorism including the provision of medical treatment for the injured and education for the children of martyred schoolchildren
On this somber occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the tributes to the martyrs emphasizing the nation s unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism and extremism In his message, President Zardari noted that the APS at-
tack was a cruel reminder of the inhumanity of terrorists, who specifically targeted children the future of the nation
The attack on innocent children was a barbaric act aimed at destabilizing the nation and sowing fear in the hearts of the people, he remarked President Zardari called for unity in the fight against terrorism stressing that the sacrifices made by the victims and their families would not be forgotten The APS tragedy revealed the true face of terrorism and extremism, and it united the nation against these forces of chaos and destruction,” he added Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also marked the anniversary by recalling the deep sorrow felt by the nation on that fateful day He emphasized that the tragedy had not only taken innocent lives but had robbed the future of Pakistan, as children with bright futures were senselessly murdered The pain of that day is still fresh in our hearts
We will never forget those lives lost, nor the dreams that were shattered, the Prime Minister stated PM Shehbaz reiterated the importance of continuing the fight against terrorism stressing that the nation was united and would not allow such an atrocity to be repeated We must ensure that the sacrifices of these martyrs are not in vain This is our solemn promise,” he added
dren among the detainees At the outset of the hearing, the lawyer representing detainees apprised the ATC that