PM ORDERS ACTION AGAINST FIA OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING
firmed that the government had already released the official death toll, stating
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the formation of the National Youth Council (NYC) to engage the youth empower them in policymaking and strengthen their role in institutional development The Prime Minister will act as the patron-in-chief of the council, which will be chaired by the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Provincial ministers for
JUI-F chief could become PM for 1-1.5 years: Miftah
S TA F F
T Former finance minister and leader of the Awaam Pakistan Party Miftah Ismail has claimed
as PM for a year and a half On economic matters Ismail criticised the government s stance on privatisation, claiming that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) could have been privatised, but the government lacked the intention to do so He further attributed the recent upward trend in the stock market to a reduction in interest rates stressing that the market would continue to rise independently with no role played by the government Ismail also pointed out that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had not implemented any new taxes or pension reforms He accused the PM of prioritising political interests over necessary economic reforms In terms of imports the former minister noted a 7% decrease but he highlighted that the current tax rates are extremely
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday hoped for a favourable resolution of impasses over Madrasah Registration Bill, claiming that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the law ministry to take immediate practical measures PM Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Law Ministry to take immediate measures as per the law and the Constitution regarding the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act 2024”
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman stated while speaking to the media after a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
“Our party’s stance on the issue was given a “very positive response ” he asserted claiming that the prime minister immediately ordered the law ministry to take practical measures at once as per the law and the Constitution regarding the issue
Fazl held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday with other senior PML-N and PPP officials present as well
Controversy persists in the country related to the new law
passed by parliament which relates to the regulatory affairs of madresahs President Asif Ali Zardari has yet to grant it presidential assent, prompting the JUIF to criticise ruling coalition parties for using ‘delaying tactics’ regarding the bill
The bill pertains to the registration of seminaries by the relevant deputy commissioner s office, as it was before 2019
The government and the JUIF both seemed to favour talks in Tuesday’s National Assembly to sort out the controversy surrounding the proposed legislation
Now it remains to be seen when the practical measures [will be taken] We hope that they will be as per our demands,” Fazl said, adding that he would apprise the Ittehad Tanzeemat-i-Madaris Pakistan a federation of the main madrasah oversight bodies in the country, about the situation
Hopefully we will hear good news about this in a day or two and our demand will be accepted ”
Fazl said PM Shehbaz displayed good spirit in the meeting that could be trusted adding that he was hoping the matter would be resolved in line with the law and the Constitution after talks with the premier
He maintained that the party’s demands were under the law and the Constitution and would be accepted A statement issued by state broadcaster PTV on X noted that there was positive progress on Fazl’s suggestions It said that PM Shehbaz ordered the quick resolution of the issues The Ministry of Law should take steps in accordance with the Constitution and law to resolve this issue, the statement quoted him as saying In related development, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said it would be premature to say where the act would be brought up again for further consideration but assured that Fazl’s reservations would be removed President Zardari had returned the bill to the National Assembly with certain objections on October 29, before flying to the United Arab Emirates The bill was approved by the Senate on Oct 20, along with the 26th amendment It passed through the National Assembly on Oct 21 and was forwarded to the president on Oct 22
When the JUI-F chief learnt of the development, he threatened to launch protests against the government to force it to accept the bill
(PSOs/PSPs),
Institutions (EMIs), 12 Branchless Banking Players (BBs) fintechs and third-party service providers All these in collaboration with each other provide seamless and secure transfer and settlement of funds for the residents of Pakistan Payments in Pakistan can be segregated into two major categories one is Large-Value Payments which are processed through PRISM (RTGS) system and the other is Retail Payments which are typically low value transactions made in the course of regular business or life activities Digital channels processed 87% (1 699 million) of all retail transactions whereas over-the-counter (OTC) chan-
nels accounted for the remaining 13% (251 million) In terms of value the share of digital payments increased from 24% in last quarter of fiscal year 2024 to 27% (Rs 36 trillion) while the share of payments through OTC channels (banks branches and branchless banking agents) was 73% (Rs 100 trillion) Mobile banking apps provided by banks MFBs BBs and EMIs played a pivotal role in this growth with 1 301 million transactions amounting to Rs19 trillion being carried out through these apps during the quarter, reflecting a 11% rise in volume and 14% in value The collective number of mobile banking app users grew by 4% reaching 96 5 million from 93 million in the previous quarter E-commerce is also emerging as an integral component of Pakistan s digital payments, with a 29% increase in online e-commerce payments Of the 118 million online e-commerce payments during the quarter 91% were conducted through digital wallets signifying a shift from traditional cardbased systems Complementing this growth, the number of Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals expanded to 132,224, enabling 83 million transactions worth Rs429 billion Furthermore the ATM network grew to 19 170 facilitating 243 million transactions worth Rs3 9 trillion, maintaining its key role as a cash withdrawal channel Efforts to include underserved segments have gained further momentum,
with branchless banking agents playing a critical role in extending financial services
Automobile financing falls in November as interest
and taxes bite
CDA chairman seeks ADB suppor t for transformation in Islamabad
Gilani c alls for fur ther dialogue to overcome challenges in implementing 18th Amendment
Shehbaz
them, but so does the rest of the D8
R I M E M I N I S T E R Shehbaz Sharif was preaching to the converted when he told the D8 Summit in Cairo that investment in youth and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) was crucial to Pakistan’s future After all, the Summit’s theme was ‘Ínvesting in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Supporting Tomorrow’s Economy However the D8 members all have youthful populations and also face the problem of how to develop the sort of large enterprises that can contribute both jobs and production to the economy The issues are not as unrelated as they might seem to a cursory glance, because SMEs are the means by which the youth is best employed, both as an entrepreneur and as an employee The reason is that if young people set up an enterprise it will usually be small while small and medium enterprises would prefer to employ people without experience so long as it can be done cheaply SMEs tend to employ younger people It also helps that the SMEs also can be founded by young people After all, a young person who sets up a roadside stall has founded a small business enterprise What needs examining is how to manage transitions How does that stall become a retail chain? How does a small enterprise become a medium enterprise, and then a large one? It must not be forgotten that small businesses do not jump the medium enterprise stage The D8 countries have all had experience, none of it good, of foreign-owned lrge enterprises some of which have loomed so large that they have dictated to the country The summit host Egypt provides the example of the Suez Canal Company, while Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Malaysia all have bitter memories of oil giants calling the shots One reason for that dominance is that multinationals filled a gap, investing in areas where local enterprises were too small to come in
This issue is more vital for it than for the members of the G8 which are all developed countries The
T h e F a l l o f A s s a d , H T S , a n d
W e s t e r n G e o p o l i t i c s
The USA and Israel are tr ying to contain, rather than resolve, Syria’s issues
TH E Syrian conflict has reached a critical juncture with the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime which has been a major shift in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East The defeat of Assad s government long supported by Russia and Iran, marks a significant moment in the region s political dynamics However, this development is far from straightforward, especially given the rise of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) a militant group with origins in Al-Qaeda HTS supported by Turkey and most recently allegedly in direct contact with Israel which is now positioning itself as a dominant force within Syria, directly challenged Assad s regime What stands out in this complex scenario are shifting alliances between regional powers The rise of HTS appears to align with the interests of Israel and the USA both of whom view Assad s regime and its backers particularly Iran and Russia as major threats to their strategic interests While these nations have long opposed Assad s government, seeing it as a bastion of Iranian influence, they now seem to support HTS as a viable alternative to the Assad regime, which they view as an extension of Iran’s hegemonic ambitions in the region This strategic alignment may seem paradoxical especially considering HTS s radical origins as an AlQaeda affiliate but it underscores the pragmatism that often defines Middle Eastern geopolitics Historically, Israel has opposed all forms of radical Islamism, particularly the Al-Qaeda network However, Israel’s alleged contact with HTS signals a pragmatic shift in its foreign policy As Assad’s regime consolidates power in Syria bolstered by Iranian and Russian support Israel finds itself increasingly isolated in the face of Iranian influence in its immediate neighbourhood Given this threat, Israel s engagement with HTS appears to be a strategic manoeuvre aimed at countering Iran’s growing foothold in Syria Israel’s support for HTS even if indirect is in stark contrast to its policy towards other Islamist groups such as Hamas The paradox is glaring while Israel and the West have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, they are now seemingly willing to engage with a group that has similar ideological underpinnings This hypocrisy exposes the reality that the West, Israel, and the USA prioritize containment of the war and the prevention of Iranian expansion rather than a genuine resolution to the Syrian conflict HTS s rise is seen as an opportunity to weaken the Assad regime which is tightly aligned with Iran, and to curb Iran s regional ambitions The response from Western powers such as France, Germany, and Britain has been notably cel-
ebratory in the face of HTS’s gains These countries while traditionally aligned with the USA and Israel in their opposition to Assad have been reluctant to fully engage with or support the Syrian opposition for fear of empowering extremist factions However, with HTS emerging as a significant force, they have seemingly endorsed the group’s victory This celebration, however, is laced with contradictions If these Western powers are so quick to endorse the fall of Assad it raises the question of why they have not similarly acted against other Islamist groups in the region
One of the central contradictions is the West s designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation Hamas, like HTS, operates in the context of political Islam and has employed violence in pursuit of its goals Yet while Western nations have relentlessly pursued counterterrorism policies against Hamas and similar groups they are now turning a blind eye to HTS s radical roots This discrepancy suggests that the West s stance is not purely ideological but rather deeply tied to their geopolitical interests The key here is that the West’s celebration of HTS is motivated not by an endorsement of their ideology but by their desire to limit Iran s influence in the region and prevent the consolidation of Assad s power A critical perspective on this situation reveals a larger theme in the Syrian conflict: the lack of interest in genuine resolution While the West may frame its actions as part of a broader effort to bring peace and stability to Syria it seems clear that
Ultimately, the Syrian conflict remains a power struggle rather than a battle for ideological or moral high ground. The true goal of the international powers involved is not the resolution of the conflict but the containment of rival powers like Iran and Russia. As long as this remains the case , Syria will continue to ser ve as a battleground for foreign interests, with no clear path to lasting peace or stability.
Captive power issues
not perfect- what is? But if done right, it can speed up global emissions reductions while funding green growth in places that need it most And let s face it: If the alternative is endless bickering about who s more to blame for climate change, I d rather
Rural development neglect
Trading carbon credits is like a family potluck: some bring fancy dishes; others just show up with napkins But as long as ever yone contributes, the feast can happen COP29Ês agreements are a step toward making
The dr y truth
FatiMa Zahid
Elite capture
A barrier to sustainable development in Pakistan
TH
of
The role of the
Pakistan s governance has been pivotal if not problematic From the early years of independence, the military has positioned itself as the ultimate arbiter of political power, justifying its interventions as necessary to maintain stability Successive coups in 1958 1969 1977 and 1999 entrenched the military s dominance in
political affairs Under the guise of patriotism and national security it has not only dictated foreign and defence policies but also wielded considerable influence over economic and administrative matters This overreach has stunted the growth of civilian institutions and undermined democratic norms Politicians, for their part have often sought the military’s favour reducing themselves to mere extensions of the power corridors rather than representatives of the people This subservience has eroded public trust in civilian leadership, proliferating the military s supremacy and further destabilizing the democratic process Pakistan’s judiciary, once envisioned as the guardian of constitutional integrity has also been tainted by political machinations Over the years judicial decisions have frequently aligned with the interests of powerful elites rather than upholding the rule of law From endorsing military coups under the doctrine of necessity to intervening in political matters the judiciary’s actions have raised questions about its independence and impartiality This politicization has not only deepened public disillusionment but also weakened the judiciary s role as a check on executive and legislative excesses
The consequences of elite capture are starkly visible in the lives of ordinary Pakistanis Economic inequality has reached alarming levels with the richest segment of society enjoying unparalleled privileges while the poor struggle for basic survival According to the World Bank, nearly 40 5 percent of Pakistan s population lives below the poverty line, with an additional 2 6 million people falling into poverty compared to the previous year
Over one-third of school-age children are out of school while nearly two-thirds
i n s t i t u t i o n s , a n d p r i o r i t i z e t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e p e o p l e ov e r t h e i n t e r e s t s
As of D ecember 18, the Health Direc torate’s website listed the names and identities of 860 individuals who were killed. Earlier, the health subcommittee for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement repor ted 1,581 deaths based on available data This discrepanc y suggests that nearly half of those killed remain unidentified
Tafter a massive outcry from 1 400 public figures Do you know what this department is called? The Department for Gender Equality and Women s Empowerment Selling ourselves – empowering ourselves Imagine that THE LIE OF “CHOICE” IN EXPLOITATION: Proponents of legal prostitution like to argue that sex work is a personal decision a job like any other They say criminalizing it denies women agency But is agency real when poverty is the driving force? It s like arguing that someone chooses to sell a kidney when they re starving Legalization hides coercion Once prostitution is legal, no one checks whether a woman is in a brothel by choice or force Traffickers thrive under legal protection The “sex work industry” becomes just that: a business profiting from human suffering Countries such as Sweden have proven that punishing buyers while protecting sellers works It s not perfect but trafficking rates plummet, and women trapped in prostitution receive support instead of punishment Legalization offers none of that In the end, we must decide: Is the right to profit from someone else’s body more important than the right not to be driven into selling it? The answer should be obvious
HISTORICAL LESSONS IGNORED: History has repeatedly shown what happens when buying and selling people becomes normalized In Tsarist Russia, brothels operated legally because society accepted that desperate girls could be brought there against their will Let’s circle back to Kuprin In Yama: The Pit girls were tricked into marriage and sold to brothels by their so-called husbands Even if they cried out the system treated them as willing participants The marriage mark in the church records branded them as fallen – used goods with nowhere else to go The same happens today under the guise of legality If prostitution is permitted by the state, who investigates whether a woman came willingly or was forced? Legalization only makes trafficking easier The more legal the industry the less society questions how the women got there A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT: We don t allow organ sales, not because organs aren t valuable but because buying them devalues human dignity If we apply this
THE delay in identifying hundreds of individuals killed during the July-August uprising is quite disappointing According to a Prothom Alo report 80 unclaimed bodies were buried in July and 34 in August at the burial ground adjacent to the Rayerbazar Mass Killing Site Memorial by the volunteer organisation Anjuman Mufidul Islam Despite clear evidence that some of the graves at the cemetery contain the remains of those killed in the uprising the exact number remains unknown Anjuman Mufidul Islam reported burying 515 unclaimed bodies between January and November, an average of 47 per month In July, however, the number surged to 80 In August, 34 bodies were buried, with no burial requests made during the first 11 days due to the unrest Identifying those who died in the protests requires investigation and DNA testing but progress has been slow
As a result many protest victims buried in Rayerbazar remain unidentified leaving their families unable to locate their loved ones graves or claim compensation While some families have confirmed through personal efforts that their relatives were buried as unclaimed bodies at Rayerbazar they remain unable to identify the specific graves One such victim is Mahin Mia His brother Abdul Jabbar recounted that they had both participated in a protest at Town Hall in Mohammadpur on July 18 When Mahin did not return home, Abdul searched police stations and morgues in surrounding areas before learning, through photographs from Anjuman Mufidul Islam’s office, that Mahin had been killed and buried in Rayerbazar Fifteen days after Mahin’s death his wife gave birth to their only child Unfortunately such heartbreaking stories are quite common but we are yet to have a comprehensive list of those killed during the uprising As of December 18, the Health Directorate’s website listed the names and identities of 860 individuals who were killed Earlier the health subcommittee for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement reported 1 581 deaths based on available data This discrepancy suggests that nearly half of those
dr ZaFar Khan saFdar
velopment of
the presence of the Ambassador of Palestine to Pakistan H E Dr Zuhair Mohammad Hamdallah Zaid and Dr Hafeez ur Rehman President of Al-Khidmat Foundation The evening began with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the national anthems of Pakistan and Palestine, symbolizing
Chief visits CDA headquar ters to promote mutual cooperation
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Chairman NADRA Lieutenant General Muhammad Munir Afsar visited the CDA Headquarters where he was warmly welcomed by Chairman CDA, Muhammad Ali Randhawa The meeting focused on strengthening mutual collaboration and enhancing coordination between the two institutions Both sides agreed to promote cooperation across various areas to improve service delivery to the residents of Islamabad During the meeting the two organizations mutually agreed on providing technology-based public welfare services and solution to the residents of Islamabad Chairman NADRA emphasized aligning the features of the upcoming Islamabad Super App with the apps and services provided by NADRA He also commended CDA s efforts in delivering better services to the citizens of Islamabad Chairman NADRA highlighted NADRA s various operational services and expressed a desire to expand the scope of facilities for Islamabad s residents with CDA's support He assured full cooperation in extending services such as the issuance of birth and death certificates and other citizen-centric services throughout the city Daylong
On the invitation of Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Wajid University of Okara a one-day study tour was organized by the Department of Zoology Government College Women University Faisalabad (GCWUF) to visit museum and fossil collection of Okara University on Saturday 7th December, 2024 The tour was accompanied by Incharge Dept of Zoology, Dr Tamseela Mumtaz, focal person of tour Dr Sumaira Aslam Dr Fatima Jalal Dr Farhat Batool Dr Komal Umair and Miss Iqra Ashraf along with students The journey started at 7:45am and the
O v T- P T i TA l KS ‘ S O O n ’
Securit y forces gun down seven Khwarij terrorists in Tank
escape However the security forces executed a carefully planned strategy ensuring the safe rescue of the children In addition to neutralizing the threat the forces recovered a vehicle loaded with arms and explosives, which the terrorists intended to use for a major attack The local population has lauded the Pakistan Army’s efforts in conducting a precise operation and safely rescuing the hostages This successful mission marks another significant blow to terrorist networks operating in the region
Eight ex-SCBA presidents move SC against 26th Amendment
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Eight former presidents of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP) on Friday moved the Supreme Court with a petition seeking the top court to annul the 26th Constitutional Amendment The petition has been filed through senior lawyers –Sardar Latif Khan Khosa and Barrister Salahuddin In the petition, the former SCBA presidents argued that the 26th Amendment could not have been enacted without a decision on reserved seats in the parliament The petition urges the court to declare the amendment null and void and suspend all actions taken under it until a final decision is reached The petition claims that the 26th Amendment conflicts with the independence of the judiciary and violates the principle of the separation of powers On December 6, 2024, during the Judicial Commission of Pakistan meeting under the chair of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi the letter of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was also discussed Justice Mansoor had suggested the formation of a full court on petitions against the constitutional amendments Chief Justice Yahya Afridi
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Government for its failure to appoint a permanent Director General (DG) for the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA)
During a hearing on Thursday, Justice Babar Sattar criticized the prolonged vacancy noting that statutory appointments could not be delayed indefinitely due to bureaucratic inefficiencies or incomplete intelligence reports
Petitioner Dr Shehzad Afzal challenged the extended vacancy of the DG position, pointing out the allocation of interim charge to the Deputy Director General Finance without proper authorization The court observed that the DG position had been vacant for nearly a year, highlighting negligence by the Federal Government in fulfilling its obligations
The Assistant Attorney General informed the court that a summary for the appointment dated September 20, 2024, was pending approval in the Prime Minister s office He explained that the summary required input from intelligence agencies before being presented to the Federal Cabinet However Justice Sattar emphasized that the statutory process could not be stalled indefinitely, re-
marking, The implementation of statutory requirements cannot be held hostage to the whims of intelligence agencies ”
The court also questioned the Federal Minister for Science and Technology s authority in assigning the interim charge through orders dated August 1, 2024, and December 5, 2024
Justice Sattar directed the Assistant Attorney General to clarify the legal basis for these decisions and summoned the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary to assist the court
Justice Sattar warned that delaying the appointment undermines the institution’s credibility and effectiveness He set February 26 2025 as the next hearing date cautioning that further delays could result in penalties and legal action Controversies surrounding the appointment process:
Despite repeated attempts over the past two years the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has struggled to finalize the appointment of a PSQCA DG Sources allege that political interference and efforts to appoint candidates with questionable qualifications have hampered the process leading to controversies and legal challenges
The latest round of interviews held on September 19-20 2024 involved over 40 candidates However, the ministry attempted to ap-
point someone already facing inquiries apart from lacking the required qualification and experience Throughout the selection process allegations persist that certain candidates with histories of irregularities illegal promotions and financial misconduct are being considered for the role Among the recently shortlisted candidates are:
Dr H U Khan who previously served as acting DG PSQCA and faced controversies over rule violations in employee promotions He has also been dismissed multiple times from the Pakistan Science Foundation, including a compulsory retirement in 2016 Zain ul Abidin a former interim DG of PSQCA who reportedly lacks the necessary qualifications and experience for the position Muhammad Farooq: who also reportedly lacked the required experiences of the post Notably Dr Shehzad Afzal the petitioner and a director at PSQCA who recently won an international appointment as DG of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO), was excluded from the shortlist Insiders allege that political considerations have repeatedly obstructed the process and controversial candidates with limited experience in standardization a key requirement for PSQCA s technical mandate are being prioritized
Korangi
tacked
on
leaving two polio workers and a police officer injured The incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Korangi police station when a family attacked the vaccination team with shovels during a routine immunization drive Swift action by law enforcement led to the arrest of six individuals including four women involved in the assault
A heavy contingent of police and Rangers was deployed to the area to restore order following the attack SSP Korangi confirmed the arrests and stated that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible for the violence
The injured polio workers and the police officer were rushed to a nearby medical facility and are reported to be receiving treatment
Such attacks on polio workers remain a significant challenge to Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate the
disease Authorities have reiterated their commitment to protecting vaccination teams and ensuring the continuity of immunization campaigns across the country
Earlier on December 16, a policeman was martyred while protecting a polio vaccination team during an attack in the Shakarkhel area of Karak district Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
In that instance, unidentified gunmen had launched an attack on the team near the Terai Police Station The assault resulted in the death of one police officer and left a polio worker injured causing panic in the area The slain policeman has been identified as Irfan Karak, the district s administrative headquarters, is home to the Khattak tribe a Pashtun group
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains a critical focus for polio eradication due to the persistence of non-vaccination among less than one percent of the target population Officials hope that strict measures like Section 144 will support the campaign’s success bringing Pakistan
closer to eradicating the disease
In related news the polio vaccination campaign in Balochistan was also then temporarily postponed for one day due to security concerns
The Home Department of Balochistan itself had requested the delay citing intelligence information
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 faecaloral 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
ISLAMABAD