INVESTMENT IN YOUTH, SMES CRUCIAL FOR PAKISTAN’S SOCIOECONOMIC PROGRESS: PM
g PM SHEHBAZ EMPHA SIZES INVESTING IN YOUTH ‘ SERVED A S A BLUEPRINT’ FOR COLLECTIVE PROSPERITY
TA F F R E P O R T
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the 11th D-8 Summit here on Thursday Both leaders hoped that the decisions taken at the D-8 Summit would pave the way for enhanced cooperation among D-8 member states in mutually beneficial areas Both leaders expressed resolve to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran frater-
nal ties in all areas of mutual interest, particularly trade and economy energy security and regional connectivity Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized on utilizing the
The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with their brothers and sisters from Palestine, Lebanon and Syria
Civil disobedience movement to begin Sunday if ‘legitimate demands’ not met: Imran
T Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan on Thursday warned that the first phase of the party s civil disobedience movement boycotting remittances would be set in motion from December 22 if his “legitimate demands” were not met by the government A statement issued on the incarcerated ex-premier s X account on Thursday shared the important message from Imran Reiterating the demands, the statement said the first phase comprising boycotting remittances would begin from Sunday if Imran s demands were not met We will appeal to Pakistanis living abroad that the situation in Pakistan is evident to you; democracy the judiciary and the media have been stifled and a period of oppression and fascism is ongoing Therefore we urge you to start the boycott of remittances Earlier this month, the former prime minister had warned of a civil disobedience movement from Dec 14 if his demands about the release of political prisoners facing trial and the formation of a judicial commission to probe the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26
were unmet His sister Aleema Khanum had said on Tuesday that Imran had warned that he would ask overseas Pakistanis to halt remittances if the government failed to meet his demands A day ago, PTI lawyer Chaudhry Faisal Hussain said that Imran had asked the party leadership to wait till Sunday before going ahead with the campaign
The PTI founder s purported statement said that the party s offer for negotiations was ridiculed and it was framed as if the PTI had surrendered It added that the offer for talks and delaying the civil disobedience movement was made in the broader national interest If the government shows no interest, we will not force negotiations upon them Our offer should never be seen as a sign of our weakness If the government still wants to prevent the civil disobedience movement they must contact us regarding our two demands or convince us that these demands are unconstitutional and cannot be addressed
“I have invited a negotiation team for a meeting in jail and provided their names Now we will see whether the government allows them to meet with me or not, the statement said
Imran calls PTI’s negotiation team to Adiala Jail Earlier the incarcerated PTI founder on Thursday summoned all seven members of a committee he set up for negotiation with government to meet him at Adiala Jail
The committee includes key figures such as Opposition Leader Omar Ayub KhyberPakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Asad Qaiser Hamid Khan Advocate Salman Akram Raja, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and Hamid Raza Khan PTI’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry submitted a formal request to Adiala Jail authorities for the meeting The move comes amid increasing political tensions in Pakistan, with Imran Khan issuing an ultimatum to the government, demanding the fulfilment of his two major demands by Sunday Failing this Imran Khan has threatened to initiate a civil disobedience movement PTI talks dependent on Nawaz Sharif ’s approval: Rana Sanaullah Rana Sanaullah Prime Minister
equipment and technology to Pakistan Department spokesperson Matthew Miller alleged that the Beijing Research Institute of Automation for Machine Building Industry had worked with Pakistan to procure equipment for
and Ababeel systems and
tentially for larger systems However Pakistan categorically
AFTER GERMANY, FRANCE RAISES CONCERNS OVER CHALLENGES FACED BY ITS ENERGY FIRMS IN PAKISTAN
The government raised Rs382 billion through the auction of fixed-rate Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs), surpassing its target of Rs350 billion The auction witnessed a decline in yields across all maturities reflecting market sentiment following recent monetary policy adjustments The cut-off yield on the two-year PIB fell by 55 basis points (bps) to 12 5%, while the yield on the three-
US imposes sanctions on National Development Complex, three other entities linked to Pakistan’s missile program
Pakistan s ballistic missiles including the Shaheen-series missiles
stated in a press release issued late Wednesday night
nuclear-armed Pakistan s long-range ballistic missile program including on the state-owned defense agency that oversees the program, Reuters reported State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the measures slapped on the National Development Complex and three firms were imposed under an executive order that targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery ” According to a fact sheet issued by the US State Department “In light of the continuing proliferation threat of Pakistan s long-range missile development the United States is designating four entities for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E O ) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery ”
The fact sheet stated that the National Development Complex (NDC) based in Islamabad, has been involved in acquiring items to support Pakistan s long-range ballistic missile program, including special vehicle chassis intended for use as launch support equipment and missile testing apparatus The US government assesses that NDC is responsible for the development of
Akhtar and Sons Private Limited, based in Karachi, has reportedly worked with NDC to supply a range of equipment for Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program Affiliates International also located in Karachi has facilitated the procurement of missile-related items for NDC and other entities supporting the program Similarly, Rockside Enterprise, another Karachi-based firm has been involved in supplying equipment to NDC for the development of Pakistan s long-range ballistic missile program
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists states that Pakistan s Shaheen missile series is capable of carrying nuclear warheads Pakistan became the seventh country to conduct nuclear weapons tests in 1998 According to the Bulletin s estimates the country currently possesses approximately 170 nuclear warheads
Pakistan termed the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on the National Development Complex (NDC) and three commercial entities as unfortunate and biased asserting that the move undermines the objective of peace and security
Pakistan considers the US decision to impose sanctions on NDC and three commercial entities as unfortunate and biased the Foreign Office
The Foreign Office emphasized that Pakistan’s strategic capabilities are meant to defend its sovereignty and preserve peace and stability in South Asia The latest installment of sanctions defies the objective of peace and security by aiming to accentuate military asymmetries Such policies have dangerous implications for the strategic stability of our region and beyond
“Pakistan’s strategic programme is a sacred trust bestowed by 240 million people upon its leadership The sanctity of this trust held in the highest esteem across the entire political spectrum, cannot be compromised, the FO statement added
“We also regret the imposition of sanctions on private commercial entities Similar listings of commercial entities in the past were based on mere doubts and suspicion without any evidence whatsoever While claiming strict adherence to non-proliferation norms, licensing requirements for advanced military technology to other countries have been waived off in the past
The Foreign Office criticised that such double standards and discriminatory practices not only undermine the credibility of non-proliferation regimes but also endanger regional and international peace and security
COMMENT
The bears are back
The stony government silence over the fall shows the economy per forms regardless
NO R M A L LY, a cut in the benchmark interest rate should lead to a spike in the stock market indices, as stock prices rise to reflect the sudden reserve-bank-dictated rise in profitability when compared with government bonds However, the latest cut, from 25 percent to 13 percent, has been followed by a bloodletting on the stock exchange
The market closed with the Index up a modest 575 points on Thursday, but that was after a gain of 2671 points that indicated that the bear run was probably over It seems that the decline was the result of profittaking as the market had already risen in anticipation of the interest-rate cut, as the reports had already come through of the fall in inflation, and thus the likelihood of a further rate cut However, when the KSE-100 Index crossed 100 000 points at the end of last month, it had become clear that clear that the market was reaching its climax
The market correction may well have become overdue as investors has booked huge profits especially in the banking, automotive and oil & gas sectors, but generally across the board It was time for profit-taking, which meant that everyone was looking to sell As soon as the selling started investors piled on The signal seems to have been the latest tax legislation placing restrictions on non-filers of income tax While some restrictions, such as buying cars above 800cc re general the restriction prohibiting non-filers from buying stocks affected investors This is not to say that investors are nonfilers Indeed, the biggest investors, the members of the exchange have firms which have long filed income tax returns, and which obliges them to file returns too However, if just a few non-filers liquidated their holdings in a hurry, other investors, ll filers, would have followed anxious not to be left with a mountain of scrip which had lost most of its value
There have been instances of insider trading before at the KSE, and the present episode, which explicable by normal market forces may have contained stock-owners making use of improper knowledge of the tax change Though there are no suspects the KSE should carry out a forensic audit of all transactions in the last few sessions But apart from that, the government should learn that the ups and downs of the stock exchange do not reflect
The tail of the Arab Spring?
There are horrific reports coming out of Syria of bod-
as many as 617,000 people, and 12 million displaced, about half internally in Syria itself, the rest as refugees in neighbouring countries At the same time no one seems to have realized that this fall was merely the unfinished business of the Arab Spring 2011 was the big year for the Arab Spring which started in 2010, with Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt falling in 2011, and Ali Abdullah Al-Saleh of Yemen in 2012 Sustained street demonstrations took place in Morocco Iraq Algeria Lebanon Jordan Kuwait Oman and Sudan Minor protests took place in Djibouti Mauritania Palestine, Saudi Arabia and the Western Sahara And civil war started in Syria
The fighting intensified to the point in 2015 that the Assad regime seemed about to fall However, Russian forces directly intervened on Bashar ’s behalf bombing the rebels while special forces military advisers and military contractors also came in Iran provided ground forces in the form of Hezbollah fighters, who were also easily accessible from neighbouring Lebanon Houthi fighters in Yemen were not used because of this access problem, not to mention that they were required to fight in Yemen also not stabilized since the Arab Spring Hamas fighters were also not used for they were theologically opposed to Assad Indeed, because Assd was a Nusairi Shia, Iran supported him Nusairis, or Alawis, are considered heretical even by the Ithna-ashari, but still be preferable to the Haiat Tahrir Sham, who trace themselves to Al-Qaida via the Jabhat An-Nusra which was how it came to prominence It was perhaps because of the Assads not just being Nusairis but promoting other Nusairis in a big way, that the rebellion in Idlib was initially seen as a Sunni-Shia conflict
The Assad regime fell because there was no more outside help forthcoming First Russia had to withdraw even though it retained its naval base in Latakia which was the reason for its propping up the regime because of its invasion of Ukraine Then Israel attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon Iran was itself too busy to provide help
Perhaps the deciding factor was that Bashar did not really have the stomach for the fight His remaining in office since 2001 indicates that he liked the office but it might also be remembered that originally his elder brother Bassel was to have succeeded and only after Bassel was killed in a road accident in 1994 that he was picked By then he had qualified as an ophthalmologist, and it is said that in exile in Russia, he wants to build an eye hospital in Dubai, not attempt to return to power However it is not as if he shied away from blood
ies being piled in morgues It must be noted that the rebellion against him came from Hama which had risen against his father in 1982 which was only suppressed by a major military operation in which upto 40,000 people were killed This time around, 15 times that number were killed One of the consequences of Bashar’s ouster is that the Baath Party which had combined socialism and Arab nationalism has been ousted completely When Hafez Al-Assad ruled in Syria and Saddam Hussain in Iraq, the Baath Party ruled two countries It was unable to take over Egypt, where Gamaal Abdul Nasser espoused his own brand of Arab nationalism However, it was the manifestation of the Baath ideology just as much as the USSR was that of Marxism-Leninism The USA overthrew half of Baath by overthrowing Saddam However though Israel has engaged in a massacre of Gazan Palestinians and it has stepped up its incursions into the West Bank, it has left the PLO in place The PLO is the last remnant of the Arab nationalist vision that dominated the Arab intellectual landscape for over a century Arab nationalism was first a counter to Ottoman rule but now it seems to have outlived its utility The Arabs have two options: either to find a new driving force, or to go back in the past for one A new ideology is not on the horizon, so that leaves the original
The fall of the Assad regime is likely to prove seminal, because it is both a completion of the first Arab Spring, and because it puts a twist in the Israeli massacre in Gaza It might even set off another Arab Spring, because the regimes which seemingly weathered it are even more unpopular than ever before , and their monumental ineffectiveness on the Gaza issue has not helped
Pakistan is facing multiple crises
and internal divisions This has made it easier for the establishment to assert dominance Parliament’s limited role in policymaking particularly in areas like defense and foreign affairs reflects this imbalance The estanlishment s control over security and foreign policy, especially regarding India, Afghanistan, and the U S , has sidelined civilian leadership The Civilian governments have struggled to reclaim authority in these domains leading to a perception of subordination At times the judiciary has legitimized the establishment s actions as seen in past rulings endorsing martial law or controversial decisions Media narratives often align with establishment perspectives, amplifying their influence while limiting dissenting voices Civil-military relations in recent years have seen an overt struggle with instances of public disagreements and political engineering accusations The alleged use of hybrid regimes, where elected leaders function under the establishment’s shadow, underscores the limits of civilian power This imbalance undermines Pakistan’s democratic framework limiting Parliament s role as a policymaker and watchdog The civilian leaders often face difficulties implementing reforms or pursuing independent agendas, weakening governance
Developing robust civilian institutions, particularly Parliament is critical to restoring balance A judiciary that ensures accountability for all including the establishment is essential An informed public can demand accountability from all power centres, fostering democratic resilience Establishing a clear constitutional framework for civil-military relations can help delineate roles and responsibilities
News etc alleged that more two hundreds protesters were killed though government sources have not confirmed fatalities Mahmood Khan Achakzai and other political leaders demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident calling it a violation of citizens rights and blaming government officials for the violence Similarly ongoing unrest in tribal areas, particularly Kurram, led to over 100 deaths due to tribal conflicts This highlights broader issues of instability and governance challenges in Pakistan and whereas our governments and establishment is only focusing on PTI and its protests activities which compromised our Constitution, Superior judiciary and civilian administration resultantly a perception is appearing of a failed state or a banana country Last two and half years are full of events which clearly show the grave constitutional failure and breakdown of civilian administrations and the upper hand of the establishment to control the entire country by intentionally ignoring or planning to create a massive abuse of the Constitution and human rights violations This imbalance remains one of the most significant challenges to Pakistan s democratic and institutional stability Breaking this cycle will require collective political will and public support Those nations or their establishments who intentionally disrespect or break their Constitution never succeed towards advancement and prosperity as it is evident that a country may grow and develop only with a true democracy and a powerful Constitution
judicial decisions constitutional interpretation and the authority of courts have added to the strain despite the change of Chief Justice of Pakistan The new CJP is completely silent or not realizing the worst and poor condition of the country and its innocent public
The real position, that Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Parliament are overpowered by the establishment is a critical issue in the country s political landscape This dynamic has deep roots in Pakistan s history and significantly influences governance, democracy, and institutional stability
Since its inception, Pakistan has experienced periods of direct military rule (1958–1971 1977–1988 1999–2008) and indirect influence over civilian governments The establishment has historically justified its role by citing national security concerns, weak civilian governance, or economic crises
The civilian governments often lack institutional strength due to corruption, inefficiency,
Recent violent clashes occurred during protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters in Islamabad The demonstrations escalated into confrontations with security forces near DChowk, a heavily guarded area in the capital Law enforcement used tear gas and other measures to disperse the crowd, leading to claims of excessive force PTI leaders and International media including BBC CNN Al Jazeera Dutch
Always respecting the Constitution is a principle that underscores the importance of adhering to the supreme law of the land It serves as the foundation for governance, ensuring the protection of fundamental rights, the separation of powers and the rule of law Respecting the Constitution fosters justice equality and accountability preserving democratic values and societal harmony By upholding constitutional principles, individuals and institutions contribute to a stable and just society where rights are protected, and power is exercised responsibly
The writer is an Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan Law Professor member International Bar Association and former Assistant Attorney General for Pakistan
Always respecting the Constitution is a principle that underscores the impor tance of adhering to the supreme law of the land. It ser ves as the foundation for governance , ensuring the protection of fundamental rights, the separation of powers, and the rule of law Respecting the Constitution fosters justice , equality, and accountability, preser ving democratic values and societal harmony
AkhtAr Aly kureshy
Ma c o m b, Detroit, michiganIn December 2024, the USa and china renewed their government-to-government Science and Technology agreement (STa) with a five-year protocol continuing a collaboration first established in 1979 over the decades, the STa has yielded significant mutual benefits, with the USa leveraging china’s biodiversity to advance agriculture medicine and environmental science besides joining hands in climate science renewable energy aI and quantum computing For china the STa facilitated modernization in biotechnology, aerospace, and telecommunications while enabling its researchers to gain expertise at US institutions, fueling domestic advancements in agriculture environmental policy and clean energy The deep-rooted cooperation between the USa and china defies the prevalent perception of adversarial bilateral relations In reality, their economies are so deeply intertwined and interdependent that further strengthening their economic financial trade and investment ties seems inevitable bilateral trade surpasses $700 billion annually making it one of the most significant economic relationships in the world larger than the entire GDP of over 150 countries as of 2023,
eign direct investment to $500 billion or more transforming them into a global trade powerhouse However, significant roadblocks hinder this potential, including a persistent trade imbalance, tariffs, and mutual accusations of unfair practices Intellectual property concerns forced technology transfers and restrictive regulations challenge US businesses in china while national security fears limit chinese investments in sensitive US sectors Geopolitical tensions over Taiwan, the South china Sea, and human rights issues in Xinjiang and Hong Kong exacerbate mistrust In an ideal scenario where the USa and china have resolved their longstanding differences they would established a partnership that prioritized global development technological innovation, and peace, diplomatic resolutions would have addressed security issues in Taiwan and human rights concerns while fair trade policies and the removal of investment barriers would have created open markets and fostered mutual trust In such a scenario the two nations could lead efforts to upgrade road, air, and port infrastructure worldwide, adding an estimated
e x i t : F a r - r i g h t A f D w a n t s G e r m a n y t o l e a v e t h e E U
TH E far-right alternative for Germany (afD) has doubled down on its pledge to take Germany out of the European Union and the single currency, the euro, if it gained power In a draft election manifesto sent to its members ahead of a vote in the party conference scheduled for early January the antiimmigration party repeated a promise from its European election campaign in the summer saying we consider it necessary for Germany to leave the European Union and to establish a new European community
In place of the EU, the afD wants to introduce something it calls a “Europe of fatherlands” an association of states that would include a common market and an economic and interests community
The afD also wants to take Germany out of Europe s common euro currency which was introduced in 2002, and replace it with what it calls a transfer union The party admits in the manifesto that a “hard cut” would be counterproductive and proposes renegotiating relations with all the member states as well as other European countries
The afD wants Germany to hold a referendum on the issue though actually getting out of the EU wouldn t be that easy since Germany s membership is anchored in the German constitution, the basic Law Even if some future afD-led German government were to declare Germany’s exit from the EU, it would effectively be unconstitutional as a “Dexit” would also require a twothirds majority in the German parliament
TOO LATE FOR DEXIT? OR NOT? The afD s plan does represent a toughening of the party s position on the EU: It was only in February 2024 that the party s coleader Tino chrupalla said that it was “too late” for Germany to leave the EU His co-leader and the party’s chancellor candidate alice weidel described Dexit merely as a Plan b in an interview with the british Financial Times earlier this year Germany s leading economic institutes and industry associations have all condemned the proposal The cologne-based German Economic Institute (Iw) concluded in a study in may this year that, over five years, leaving the EU would cost the country €690 billion ($725 billion) cause the country’s GDP to shrink by 5 6% and would mean 2 5 million fewer jobs on the market The damage would be comparable with the coronavirus crisis and the energy crisis put together, the Iw study said The German association of Small and medium businesses (bVmw) was even more excoriating, describing the afD’s plan as an “economic kamikaze mission ” In a statement released ahead of the EU election in June 2024 the bVmw set out all the positives that the single currency brings to small and medium-sized businesses: The monetary union is a
and England would be terribly affected? I can remember all the horror scenarios around brexit, and it all went more or less smoothly ” a report released by cambridge Econometrics in January this year found that brexit is stifling growth and employment in the UK with an estimated three million fewer jobs in the country by 2035
LEARNING FROM BREXIT: The Iw s study was based on studying the effects of brexit on the regions of britain that have similar economies to equivalent regions in Germany “our estimate was fairly conservative ” warned Iw s executive director Hubertus bardt who coauthored the report we could easily have much stronger effects because we are more closely intertwined in the EU than the british were we have the euro, which would mean more complications than the british had ” Dexit would mean that “we would be over 5 and a half percent poorer in five years’ time ” bardt told Dw “That’s a severe economic crisis with advanced warning It would of course be particularly damaging for companies that depend on markets and suppliers elsewhere in the EU he added The afD s Gläser believes that an alternative version could still preserve free trade why should all the companies and consumers in Italy, France, Sweden, or wherever not want German products anymore just because we’re not in the EU anymore?” he said “Switzerland isn t in the EU and it exports to all these countries but bardt had no time for the afD s plan to replace the EU with a different economic community: I consider this to be an unrealistic and meaningless notion or a smokescreen,” he said “Destroying the EU will not result in a new and better integration model emerging in its place ”
THE AFD S ANTI-EU ROOTS: nor is Dexit even remotely popular among the German population a survey published earlier this year by the Konrad adenauer Foundation (KaS) which is affiliated with the conservative christian Democratic Union (cDU) found that 87% of Germans would vote to stay in the EU in a referendum So why has the afD decided to include such a drastic and unpopular measure in its election manifesto? Gläser insisted that leaving the EU would be good for Germans whether they liked it or not: we don t do policies based on surveys we want to implement what is necessary and important wolfgang Schroeder, a political scientist at Kassel University, pointed out that the afD’s stance is consistent with its foundation the party initially emerged in 2013 as a party of economists critical of the EU’s bailouts following the euro crisis Since then it has drifted further right and anti-immigration but its Euroscepticism has remained though it is now less obvious
AFD ‘PRIMARILY A NATIONALIST PARTY’ The afD is primarily a nationalist party,” Schroeder told Dw “It opposes globalization that has always brought with it a skeptical attitude to international authorities For them all international organizations like the EU and the Un have their own aims and values and so are a danger to the true will of the people but is the afD serious about its proposal to replace the EU with another kind of international community, given the economic and constitutional headaches that this would cause? “we could answer that in two ways ” said Schroeder “on the one hand we could say they don t mean it seriously because they know they re representing a minority position so they
found myself connecting more closely to my body, learning to listen and take care of it Eventually, I was brave enough to consider a contact sport I wanted to train in English boxing but when I tried to sign up for it the coach turned me down His reason: my turban I never made it to the ring but was drawn into a fight anyway: a fight for my rights as a woman and as a muslim to be fully recognised as human and be free from discrimination I wear a turban for reasons that should not concern anyone except myself The turban and other forms of headwear such as a headscarf or hijab have always been part of my sport outfit and are fully in line with hygiene and safety rules I thought perhaps going for another sport would solve the problem, but it didn t I joined a volleyball club and applied to take part in amateur competitions but soon after I had filled in the forms the coach took me aside and informed me that the referee had told her I would be allowed to train but could not join the team or participate in matches due to the statute of the French Volleyball Federation (FFVb) The justification I was given was false The FFVb’s decision to prohibit the wearing of “religious symbols” including the headscarf did not come into force until September this year after I had applied to participate in amateur competitions Laicite or secularism which is theoretically embedded in the French constitution to protect everyone s religious freedom, has often been used as a pretext to block muslim women s access to public spaces in France over several years, the French authorities have enacted laws and policies to regulate muslim women’s and girls’ clothing Sport federations have followed suit imposing hijab bans in several sports including football basketball and volleyball at
HPresident Xi commends work of Macao SAR’s executive, legislative and judicial organs
dinner held by the SAR government on the eve of the 25th anniversary of Macao s return to China
full and faithful implementation of the One Country,
Two Systems” policy, the vigorous support of the central government and the mainland and the active involvement of the international community Xi noted
They are also the result of the hard work and all-out efforts of people from all sectors in Macao united under the leadership of the Macao SAR government he added Macao enjoys the unique advantages of One Country, Two Systems” and has laid a solid foundation for development, Xi noted Macao should proactively align itself with national development strategies such as building the GuangdongHong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and seek to play a bigger role on the international stage Xi said
a great success, he said Xi also expressed the hope that the officials will fully support the incoming chief executive and the new SAR government continue to contribute to the development of Macao and make efforts to build a better Macao
On Thursday afternoon Xi also met with representatives of the Macao SAR s disciplined services
Cai Qi and other senior officials attended the meetings Ho and incoming Macao SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai also participated in the activities
Later Chinese President Xi Jinping commended the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) for its achievements over the past five extraordinary years Xi made the remarks while addressing a welcome
Against the background of accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and the once-in-a-century pandemic, the fifth-term SAR government has rallied and led the people of all sectors in Macao to rise to the challenge made results-oriented efforts ensured a steady economic recovery and achieved progress in all undertakings Xi noted
Over the past five years, Macao has made new progress in appropriate economic diversification and reached a new level in improving people’s well-being, Xi said He added that Macao’s political and social foundation rooted in love for the Chinese nation and love for Macao is more solid and stronger and its international influence and visibility have risen significantly
The remarkable achievements are attributable to the
The SAR should uphold the underlying values of love for the Chinese nation and love for Macao while embracing greater openness, inclusiveness, and solidarity and work to attract the best minds to jointly build a better Macao he said Macao needs to demonstrate stronger resolve and greater courage in reform and innovation said Xi adding that the region could leverage the institutional strengths of One Country, Two Systems to break new ground in its development
BEIJIJNG S ta f f r e p o r t
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network (GLEN) was officially launched in Beijing marking a significant step towards advancing sustainable and low-carbon development within the framework of the BRI
Supported by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People s Republic of China (MEE), the network aims to bring together global experts for collaboration, consultation, and capacity building to promote green development initiatives across BRI partner countries
The opening session was attended by distinguished dignitaries including Zhao Yingmin Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China; Salvador Moncada, Ambassador of Honduras to China; Khalil Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to China; and Erik Solheim Vice President of the BRI Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) Governing Board and Co-Chair of the Board of Europe-Asia Center The session underscored the importance of international cooperation in fostering a sustainable, low-carbon future As part of this important development, Mustafa Hyder Sayed, Executive Director of the Pakistan-China Institute, was appointed as an inaugural member of the BRI GLEN for a three-year term T his appointment highlights Sayed s leading role in sustainable development initiatives within the BRI and his commitment to advocating for green economic transition across participating nations
The launch of GLEN aligns with President Xi Jinping s eight pledges for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which were outlined during the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023 GLEN will
entities for sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E O ) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery,” read a statement issued by the State Department ?
JCP meeting to review proposed rules for judges appointment tomorrow
S TA F F R E P O R T
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi has summoned a meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) tomorrow on Saturday (tomorrow) to review the proposed draft of JC Rules for the appointment of judges A committee headed by Justice Jamal Mandokhail has drafted the rules for the appointment of judges and forwarded the draft to Judicial Commission for consideration and if approved then the appointment
of high court judges will be considered under the new JC Rules Earlier this month, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan had approved the constitution of a committee to formulate rules and parameters for the appointment of judges
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan unanimously decided to accord highest priority towards framing of rules relating to regulating its procedure including the procedure and criteria for assessment evaluation and fitness for appointment of judges said a statement issued then by the Supreme Court
The CJP was allowed to choose Judicial Commission members for the committee The fivemember committee was headed by Supreme Court Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail and comprised of Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan Senators Ali Zafar and Farooq Naek and lawyer Akhtar Hussain
The CJP had then directed the committee to prepare a draft of the rules by December 15 It was also decided that appointments for additional Sindh High Court judges would be deferred until December 21
LHC ruled that the ATA laws have undergone several amendments but Section 21-A regarding physical remand remains unchanged
The court has issued a detailed written verdict, declaring the notification for video link attendance illegal
lenged the notification for video
lated to May 9 violence
Earlier the Punjab government provided the high court with information regarding the FIRs registered against Imran Khan in different districts of province Farrukh Lodhi, a lawyer for the Punjab government presented the report in the Lahore high court
The report indicates that a total of 54 FIRs are registered against PTI founder Imran Khan across various districts in Punjab
The breakdown of cases against the former prime minister include 21 cases in Lahore 19 in Rawalpindi seven in Sheikhupura five in Faisalabad and one in Gujranwala
ISLAMABAD
Six youth from Mandi Bahauddin among victims in Greece boat tragedy