IRAWALPINDI
S TA F F R E P O R T
N T E R-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) Director General (DG)
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif
Chaudhry said on Friday that those responsible for the planning of the violent protests on May 9 will face justice asserting that the accountability process will not stop until the planners of the incidents are held fully accountable
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR spoke on range of issues including counter-terrorism operations in 2024 cross border terrorism and May 9 violent protests
The briefing comes amid growing security concerns, with a noticeable increase in attacks targeting security forces and law enforcement agencies, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
Addressing the presser the military s spokesperson underscored that no political leader s desire for power should take precedence over the nation’s well-being
“We respect all political parties and their leadership ” ISPR spokesperson said in response to a question about the rumored backdoor discussions between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the military
However, no individual, his politics, or his desire for power is above Pakistan,” he added firmly, emphasising the military’s commitment to the country’s interests over political maneuvering
He also welcomed the concept of dialogue among political factions to resolve differences It is encouraging that politi-
cians sit together and solve their problems through conversation he said reflecting a positive stance on political engagement ‘925 terrorists killed in 2024’ DG ISPR also outlined the Pakistan military’s efforts against terrorism, reporting a significant number of successful operations in 2024
He revealed that security forces had carried out a total of 59 775 operations this year, emphasising the significant sacrifices made by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism He stated that these operations resulted in the death of 925 terrorists including members of terrorist groups such as the khawarij marking the highest number of terrorist fatalities in the past five years Additionally, 73 highvalue targets, including some of the mostwanted terrorists, were eliminated during
ISLAMABAD S TA
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has stressed the need for course correction and introspection because Pakistan and its 240 million people have been bearing the brunt of the state machinery s wrong and misguided priorities for the long time and it is state responsibility to uphold justice and ensure fair play rather than resorting to intimidation, coercion and threat Reacting to DG ISPR’s press con-
ference PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram emphasised that justice cannot be served by making decisions with preconceived notions and biases, as such decisions cannot be accepted as just
Waqas said that the power to punish or reward individuals lies solely with the judicial system as mandated by the constitution, warning that allowing defense institutions to establish their own courts would have devastating consequences for the state’s justice system and the
constitutional framework as a whole
He noted that this was precisely why decisions delivered by independent constitutional courts were universally recognized and respected, whereas those made by military courts were not accepted anywhere in the world
Waqas asserted that the alarming decline in the state s rational thinking decision-making and overall governance has been the primary catalyst for the prevailing chaos and conflict plaguing the country
Pakistan s nuclear programme He warned that the country s nuclear and missile programs are under threat, alleging that certain elements are working to undermine Pakistan s interests The PPP chairman questioned if they were the same elements who had previously issued statements in support of Israel and other anti-Pakistan forces He also wondered if they were opposed to Pakistan s nuclear program and the missile program initiated by his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto He reiterated that his party would never allow any conspiracy against Pakistan’s interests to succeed He vowed to resist any attempts to compromise the country’s sovereignty and security Bilawal paid tribute to his mother highlighting her 30year political struggle which has become an integral part of history He noted that Benazir never compromised on her ideology and was a champion of the vulnerable segments of society
The PPP and its supporters across the country are observing Benazir’s death anniversary with great devotion and respect A main congregation was held in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh where President Asif Ali Zardari central and provincial leaders, and other prominent figures addressed the gathering Notable attendees included Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, the first lady of Pakistan and central president of PPP’s Ladies Wing; Faryal Talpur Asif ’s sister and member of the provincial assembly; and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and other leaders were also present
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz
Sharif called the TTP s terrorist actions within Pakistan from across the Afghanistan border intolerable and a red line, urging the Afghan interim government to take action against them
Addressing the federal cabinet the prime minister said that the TTP is operating from Afghanistan and carrying out terror attacks and killing innocent people inside Pakistan “This cannot go on We have conveyed to the Afghan government that we desire good ties with them but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people This
is a red line TTP operating from there against Pakistan is unacceptable, PM Shehbaz said
The prime minister said that Afghanistan is a neighboring nation with a common border spanning thousands of kilometers We want friendly relations with each other and collaboration in the economy, trade, and other areas
He said that Pakistan is ready to discuss the matter with the Afghan administration asking them to come up with a sound plan He said that the strategy of discussions and permitting the TTP to operate against Pakistan cannot coexist PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan’s law enforcement and military personnel are always prepared to maintain the peace and security of the nation In operations in North Waziristan on Thursday, an army major was slain, and 16 FC soldiers were killed The forces also killed a number of terrorists Earlier a Pakistan Army sepoy embraced martyrdom as security forces thwarted an infiltration attempt at the Pak-Afghan border, killing four terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said PM
More sentenced
AT one level, the table is being cleared before the talks between the PTI and the government AAt another level, PTI founder Imran Khan is having his patience tested With the conviction and sentencing of 85 of those accused of involvement in the attacks on 9 May 2023, the courts martial have carried out the permission given by the Supreme Court to carry out the trials which had earlier been stopped However it is not to be assumed that the last has been heard of the matter, for the establishment wants the mastermind of these attacks tried The material which has come out so far has indicated that the May 9 attacks were actually carefully planned, and designed to have led to a coup That mastermind is supposed to be Mr Khan and though he has been nominated in cases related to May 9, none of those cases lies with a military court, and he has been bailed in those cases by the concerned anti-terrorism courts With the PTI saying it intends to appel these convictions, it is almost as it the legal battle hs just been joined
However if there was any attempt to try him it would lead, perhaps irretrievably, to breakdown of the talks process The limit to which the PTI leader is being tested is by the 10-year sentence handed down to Mr Khan’s nephew, Hassan Niazi While Mr Niazi made himself prominent by waving around the trousers of the Corps Commander Lahore he also focused the attention of investigators on himself While his conviction and sentence will demonstrate to the military that justice has been done, it will also show Mr Khan what could happen to him It should not be forgotten that not only are there still May 9 charges he must answer, but the verdict in the Al-Qadir Trust case has been reserved with the court having postponed pronouncing it twice
There can be no justification for the desecration of military symbols on May 9 Punishment and trial should not simply become a political tool and should not be used to make one side talk Forcing any side to talks is always counterproductive Holding a Damocles’ sword over anyone’s head never yields the results sought after If Mr Khan should be tried, he should be If not, he should not
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
countries around the world began making substan-
MACOMB Detroit Michigan- Oil has been a dominant force shaping global economies over the past two centuries, acting as both a maker and breaker of fortunes Fluctuations in oil prices and supply chain disruptions have historically been a nightmare for governments worldwide Low oil prices in the mid-20th century encouraged the production of large, fuel-inefficient vehicles, the conversion of coal-based power plants to oil-based ones, and the industrial shift to oil as a primary energy source This transition boosted the economies of oil-producing nations significantly raising the quality of life for their populations Once regarded as an efficient and clean source of energy oil often called black gold evolved into a potent political and security tool for oil-rich nations By the mid-1970s, oil-producing countries, especially OPEC members, realized the political leverage and economic influence they wielded The 1973 oil embargo led by Arab nations demonstrated how increased oil prices could disrupt global economies and even trigger regime changes Oil became a weapon that could bring even powerful nations to their knees In response, oil-importing nations began transforming their industries by developing nuclear power plants and producing fuel-efficient vehicles However their reliance on oil persisted Devastating nuclear plant disasters such as Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) shifted the focus towards renewable energy sources Scientists explored several options to reduce dependence on oil, including nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium, releasing immense energy However the extreme heat generated by fusion reactions proved too intense for any material currently known to mankind to withstand making the technology unviable for practical energy generation Alcohol-based fuels, like ethanol blends, were also introduced as alternatives, but motorists often criticized their performance This compelled scientists to turn to renewable energy sources such as wind ocean waves and solar power as the most promising avenues for reducing reliance on oil Among these solar energy emerged as a frontrunner steadily challenging the dominance of black gold with increasing effectiveness Recognizing the vast potential of solar energy,
Putin’s Ideological War
dr MuhaMMad akraM Zaheer
IN early August 2024, Ukrainian forces launched an unprecedented cross-border offensive into Russia’s Kursk region marking the most significant foreign incursion into Russian territory since the Second World War The response of Russian President Vladimir Putin to this development was particularly revealing In the aftermath of the offensive, Putin directed his rhetoric against the USA and Europe asserting that the West was waging war against Russia through Ukrainian proxies Despite this assertive rhetoric Putin refrained from initiating an immediate military counteroffensive, opting instead to maintain the focus of Russian forces on operations in eastern Ukraine Even three months later, with Ukrainian forces still present in Kursk Moscow chose to deploy North Korean troops to assist in reclaiming the region marking the first instance in over a century that Russia permitted foreign troops on its soil These actions underscore Putin’s unwavering commitment to the war in Ukraine and his broader antagonism towards the West nearly three years after the onset of Russia s full-scale invasion While the conflict serves as an imperial endeavour aimed at dismantling Ukrainian sovereignty, Putin's ultimate objectives extend to revising the post-Cold War European order, diminishing US influence and establishing a new international framework that amplifies Russia s global stature Although these ambitions are longstanding, the war has intensified Putin s resolve and narrowed his strategic alternatives, propelling
Russia into deeper isolation while transforming its society, economy, and foreign policy to sustain confrontation with the West The evolving dynamics suggest that the conflict is far from resolution with the prospect of escalation remaining high The incoming Trump Administration s overtures toward normalizing relations with Moscow are unlikely to mitigate these tensions Limited Western military support to Ukraine has impeded Kyiv’s capacity to decisively counter Russian aggression potentially emboldening Moscow to pursue further destabilization efforts once it has replenished its military capacity This trajectory raises the spectre of continued Russian subversion across Europe and reinforces Moscow's alignment with states antagonistic to Western interests such as Iran and North Korea
To address this growing challenge the USA and Europe must prioritize containment measures against Russia Delaying such efforts could result in greater strategic costs in the future Washington, despite its focus on competition with China cannot afford to downplay the Russian threat which has significant implications for European security and transatlantic stability Strengthening Ukraine s negotiating position, enhancing NATO s defensive capabilities, and encouraging European states to bolster their own defense frameworks are critical steps in mitigating Russia’s destabilizing influence
Domestically Putin has consolidated power through extensive economic and societal reorganization Russia s defense budget for 2025 is projected to reach unprecedented levels, exceeding six percent of GDP This militarization has reshaped Russia s economy into a war-oriented structure with increased production in defence indus-
By investing in the resilience of NATO and addressing immediate security challenges, the West can prevent Russia from exploiting vulnerabilities. Failure to act decisively risks higher costs in the future, as Moscow’s opportunistic aggression remains a persistent challenge to global stability
tries and significant financial incentives for military service These developments align with Putin s ideological narrative of an existential struggle against the West, which he uses to legitimize his regime and maintain public support However the reliance on repression and control over the information environment presents risks as excessive suppression of dissent may destabilize his rule over time Internationally, Russia has forged closer ties with China, Iran, and North Korea, driven by strategic necessity and shared opposition to Western dominance These partnerships provide Moscow with critical economic and military support while amplifying its ability to challenge US interests globally The Kremlin s recalibrated foreign policy reflects a long-term strategy that extends beyond the current conflict in Ukraine, aiming to sustain Russia's relevance in the multipolar international order
Militarily Russia is poised for reconstruction and adaptation Despite significant losses, its armed forces have demonstrated resilience and an ability to incorporate advanced technologies and tactics into their operations Challenges persist, particularly in scaling production capacities for modern weaponry and addressing skilled labour shortages However Russia s focus on expanding its military infrastructure and replenishing its resources signals a sustained commitment to maintaining a robust defense posture For NATO and its allies these developments necessitate heightened vigilance and strategic preparedness Although NATO s capabilities particularly air superiority are expected to shape future engagements, deficiencies in European defense readiness, such as limited munitions stockpiles, remain concerning The duality of Russia’s military characterized by advancements in some areas and reliance on outdated Soviet-era equipment in others complicates Western efforts to anticipate and counter Russian aggression effectively Russia’s trajectory under Putin’s leadership suggests a persistent and multifaceted challenge to Western security and global stability The transformation of Russia s domestic economic and military structures to support prolonged confrontation underscores the enduring nature of the threat it poses The USA and its allies must adopt proactive measures to address this challenge, ensuring that future confrontations with Russia remain within manageable bounds In recent
H o w t o p r o t e c t y o u r s e l f f r o m
t h e S a l t T y p h o o n h a c k
“If the FBI c annot keep their wiretap system safe, they absolutely c annot keep the skeleton key to all Apple phones safe”
years, Europe and the USA have faced immediate threats from unconventional actions orchestrated by Moscow which has been actively engaging in measures that destabilize the region
Suspected Russian-backed actors have perpetrated incidents such as arson targeting arms depots in Germany and the United Kingdom, tampering with critical infrastructure in Finland and fomenting migratory pressure on Poland and Finland through Belarus Further incidents include targeting rail networks in the Czech Republic and Sweden, assassinating a military defector in Spain, and plotting against key European defence industry figures These acts are part of the Kremlin s strategy to deter European governments and citizens from supporting Ukraine by demonstrating Russia s capacity for retaliation However, Moscow s objectives extend beyond the immediate conflict in Ukraine Its broader aim is to weaken the West, undermine transatlantic unity, and diminish Europe's ability to counter Russian aggression This strategy is reinforced through nuclear brinkmanship as evidenced by revisions to Russian nuclear doctrine that lower the threshold for their use Although Russia currently avoids direct confrontation with NATO due to its military limitations it seeks to exploit divisions and test the alliance's resolve particularly if the USA is preoccupied with conflicts in the Indo-Pacific Should Washington s commitment to NATO appear to wane, Moscow may feel emboldened to challenge NATO's eastern flank, risking further destabilization Moscow s actions reflect a dangerous propensity for risk-taking and miscalculation exacerbated by its authoritarian governance structure where decision-making is often influenced by sycophants This tendency has already led to significant strategic errors, including the underestimation of Ukrainian resistance and Western resolve While NATO is well-positioned to repel Russian aggression the devastation witnessed in Ukraine underscores the imperative to deter Moscow preemptively A future conflict, even if it concludes in a NATO victory, could result in catastrophic destruction for the affected nations Globally Russia continues to challenge Western influence Despite sanctions and diplomatic isolation efforts following its invasion of Ukraine Moscow has maintained and expanded its partnerships, including hosting summits for BRICS nations, which highlight growing global resistance to Western dominance Russia’s defiance has implications be-
yond Europe, as its actions embolden other states to question the consequences of aggression While this may not directly precipitate Chinese actions in Taiwan it provides a testing ground for Western resolve and capability Moscow also actively supports actors opposed to Western interests In Africa, Russian backing has facilitated military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, leading to diminished Western influence in the region Similarly its support for the Houthi movement in Yemen exacerbates instability disrupts international trade and threatens US allies
These actions amplify the strategic challenges faced by the West, with Russia positioning itself as a critical enabler of anti-Western sentiment Moreover Russia’s growing collaboration with China Iran and North Korea intensifies global instability Military and technological exchanges between Moscow and Beijing erode US strategic advantages in the Indo-Pacific, while Russia’s support for Iran bolsters Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities Moscow s partnership with Pyongyang including technology transfers and military cooperation risks escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula Such alliances underscore a broader axis of authoritarian
Hopes
The global economy in 2025
An "axis of convenience" – comprising China, Iran, Nor th Korea and Russia is seeking to challenge the Western- dominated international order
Hthat
HACK At
eight
companies were
in the
which was first made public in
and has been described as
by U S officials The hackers have swept up vast amounts of
about phone calls and text messages in the
D C, area, according to what officials said at a press conference last week That information includes details about when and where calls were placed and to whom but not their contents There is a smaller circle of about 150 people who had the contents of their communications hacked including real-time audio of communications, according to a report in the Washington Post last month The targets of that hack included Donald Trump his lawyer JD Vance and the Kamala Harris campaign Another vector of the attack according to government officials was the interface where law enforcement agencies request wiretaps from telecom companies under the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act Essentially the CALEA system may
have given hackers a shopping list of people who have fallen under FBI suspicion It was a development long predicted by privacy advocates In a blog post last month, encryption expert Susan Landau said CALEA had long been a “national security disaster waiting to happen If you build a system so that it is easy to break into people will do so both the good guys and the bad
That s the inevitable consequence of CALEA, one we warned would come to pass and it did,” she said THE ELUSIVE GOLDEN KEY
The FBI has pushed back on the idea that CALEA was the only vector for Chinese hackers It has also rejected the larger moral drawn by privacy advocates, which is that only fully end-to-end encrypted communications are secure End-to-end encrypted communications make sure that a written message or voice call is protected from the moment it leaves your device to the moment it arrives at its destination by ensuring that only the sender and the recipient can decrypt the messages, which are unreadable by any third party whether that happens to be a Chinese hacker or the FBI
That type of encryption does not protect communications if the third party has gained access to one of the communication endpoints, such as a phone or a laptop Hackers could still plant spyware on phones, and the FBI, civil liberties advocates have long noted can still search through phones through a variety of methods just on a case-bycase basis
Major tech companies such as Apple have endorsed end-to-end encryption in recent years to the dismay of law enforcement agencies The feds have complained loudly about criminals going dark on them by using the same veil of encryption that protects ordinary people from scammers, pirates, and eavesdroppers
The FBI and other agencies have long maintained that there might be some way to give them special access to communications without making things easier for hackers and spies Security experts say the idea is hogwash Call it a backdoor a golden key or something else, those experts say, it can t work In their advice to the public last week, federal officials gave a strong endorsement to encryption
Encryption is your friend whether it s on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication,” said Jeff Greene, the executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency
Yet notably an FBI official on the same call fell back on the idea of responsibly managed encryption The FBI says this encryption would be “de-
signed to protect people s privacy and also managed so U S tech companies can provide readable content in response to a lawful court order From a practical perspective, it is unclear what programs, if any, the FBI has in mind when it calls on people to use responsibly managed encryption
The FBI did not respond to a question about any apps that would comply with its advice Sean Vitka, the policy director at the progressive group Demand Progress, said the hack has once again provided damning evidence that government backdoors cannot be secured “If the FBI cannot keep their wiretap system safe they absolutely cannot keep the skeleton key to all Apple phones safe, Vitka said GOING DARK IS GOOD, ACTUALLY
In a statement longtime privacy hawk Sen Ron Wyden D-Ore said it was time for government agencies to endorse end-to-end encryption It s concerning that federal cybersecurity agencies are still not recommending end-to-end encryption technology such as Signal WhatsApp or FaceTime which is the widely regarded gold standard for secure communications
Wyden said Wyden has teamed up with Sen Eric Schmitt, R-Mo , to call on the Department of Defense inspector general to probe why the Pentagon did not use its massive buying power to push cellphone carriers to better secure their services when it signed a $2 7 billion contract with AT&T Verizon and T-Mobile Government officials should not use communications services that allow companies to access their calls and texts
Whether it’s AT&T Verizon or Microsoft and Google when those companies are inevitably hacked China and other adversaries can steal those communications, Wyden said in his statement Privacy advocates say that the best thing that people can do to protect themselves from prying eyes is to use some of the same apps recommended by Wyden such as Signal or WhatsApp They added that in light of Salt Typhoon, it is time for law enforcement to call it quits on its long-running campaign in Congress to thwart stronger encryption Landau, in a November 21 blog post, noted that even former NSA and CIA Director Michael Hayden has endorsed end-to-end encryption For decades, technologists have been making the point that the strongest and best form of communications security is provided by end-to-end encryption; it is well past time for law enforcement to embrace its widespread
use Anything
security
some unusual dispersion in this relationship that actually widened, rather than narrowed over the course of the year Begin with geopolitics In 2024 Russia secured a greater advantage in the war in Ukraine than the consensus forecasts of a year ago an-
spread to other countries such as Lebanon The apparent impunity of the strong together with
d t h e sense for many that the global order is fundamentally imbalanced and lacks any enforceable guardrails As for domestic politics upheaval has been t h e o r d e r o f t h e d a y i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s G o ve r n m e n t s h a v e c o l l a p s e d i n b o t h F r a n c e a n d G e r m a n y E u r o p e s l a rg e s t e c o n o m i e s leaving the European Union without political leadership And following Donald Trump's vict o r y i n t h e N o v 5 p r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n , t h e United States is preparing for a political trans i t i o n t h a t i s l i k e l y t o b r i n g a s i g n i f i c a n t i nc r e a s e i n t h e p o l i t i c a l i n f l u e n c e o f a n e w counter-elite M e a n w h i l e , a n a x i s o f c o n v e n i e n c e comprising China, Iran, North Korea and Russ i a i s s e e k i n g t o c h a l l e n g e t h e We s t e r nd o m i n a t e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r d e r O t h e r r e c e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s f r o m t h e n o w - i m p e a c h e d South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol s abrupt declaration of martial law (which was quickly r e v e r s e d ) t o t h e c o l l a p s e o f P r e s i d e n t B a s h a r al-Assad s regime in Syria have reinforced the impression that we are living at a time of e x c e p
PR OFIT
N E W S D E S K
Pakistan’s headline inflation is projected to stay within the range of 4-5% for December 2024 according to the Finance Division s Monthly Economic Update and Outlook released on Friday
The report underscored that the country’s “hard-earned” economic stability is expected to continue buoyed by remittance inflows export performance and controlled imports It highlighted that exchange rate stability and a further decline in inflation would sustain the improving economic landscape Pakistan’s inflation which surged to a record 38% in May last year has been on a consistent downward trajectory In November 2024, inflation fell to 4 9% year-on-year, marking the lowest level since May 2018 This was a significant drop from October ’s
7 2%, as per data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) The Finance Division expressed optimism that further easing of monetary policy could stimulate economic activity Earlier this month, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) slashed the policy rate by 200 basis points to 13%, marking a cumulative reduction of 900 basis points since June 2024 over five successive meetings Rising Economic Confidence
The report highlighted growing private-sector credit demand as a positive indicator of increasing economic confidence This momentum coupled with improved fiscal performance during JulyOctober driven by higher revenues and prudent expenditure management, is expected to enhance fiscal space for development spending and sustainable growth Sectoral Insights Agriculture:
The government remains focused on achieving crop production targets by supporting farmers though weather conditions pose potential challenges Below-average rainfall during the Rabi season may create water stress for key crops like wheat and barley, particularly in rain-fed agricultural regions Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM): Despite hurdles in certain industries high-weighted sectors within LSM demonstrated robust performance in October The automobile and cement sectors, in particular, recorded strong growth in November boosting allied industries and reinforcing broader economic growth
As Pakistan approaches the end of 2024, the Finance Division s outlook points toward continued economic recovery, driven by policy measures, sectoral resilience and a steady decline in inflation g ECONOMIC
of Gallant Energy (Private) Limited by Gul Ahmed Holdings (Private) Limited under a Share Purchase Agreement Gul Ahmed Holdings, a private investment entity with diverse sectoral interests will now take ownership of Gallant Energy which specialises in the filling and distribution of liquefied petroleum
Pakistan becomes 3rd largest sesame expor ter with $1b in annual expor ts
g PRODUCTION SURGES 455% IN FIVE YEARS; AGRICULTURAL TIES WITH TURKIYE TO DEEPEN
Govt mulls handing over Central Cotton Committee to Aptma or NARC amid
CABINET GREENLIGHTS ISSUANCE OF PRESIDENTIAL ORDINANCE FOR SEMINARY REGISTRATION
s Party (PPP) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Qamar Zaman Kaira and PML-N leaders Ayaz Sadiq, Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Atta Tarar were present at the meeting Rana Sanaullah, Prime Minister ’s adviser and senior Pakistan Muslim League-N leader and Attorney General Mansoor Usman also attended the meeting Reports had earlier said that PM Shehbaz contacted the JUI-F chief to discuss the Seminary Registration Bill
President Zardari reiterates PPP’s loyalt y to people, federation of Pakistan GARHI KHUDA BAKHSH S TA F F R E P O R T
President Asif Ali Zardari addressed the Pakistan People s Party (PPP) workers in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on the occasion of 17th Death Anniversary of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto here on Friday, emphasizing the party s commitment to the people and the country He stated that if there is any superpower, Pakistan also has its own superpower which is the power of its people President highlighted the party s achievements including the reversal of the verdict against Zulfikar
PR OFIT
N E W S D E S K
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has granted overseas Pakistanis exemptions from higher tax rates under Sections 236C and 236K of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 even if they are not listed on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL) According to a recent FBR notification non-resident Pakistanis holding Pakistan Origin Cards (POC) or National ID Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) are now eligible for this exemption under Clause 111AC of the ordinance
The FBR has introduced a dig-
ital verification system through its IRIS platform to facilitate the exemption process Non-resident taxpayers must upload their POC or NICOP details while generating their Computerized Payment Receipt (CPR) The system will generate a provisional PSID initiating the verification process which is designed to be completed within one business day This initiative is a major step forward in simplifying processes for overseas Pakistanis,” said a senior FBR official
The verification involves multiple layers of scrutiny Chief Commissioners of Inland Revenue (CCIRs) conduct the initial review before forwarding cases to
Commissioners of Inland Revenue (CIRs) for final approval
Applicants are notified of the decision via SMS and email immediately after approval
The initiative has been implemented across all tax offices, including Large Taxpayers’ Offices (LTOs) Medium Taxpayers’ Offices (MTOs) Corporate Tax Offices (CTOs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs), to ensure nationwide coverage for all eligible overseas Pakistanis This policy is expected to remove bureaucratic hurdles for overseas Pakistanis and incentivize investments in Pakistan s real estate sector
PR OFIT N E W S D E S K
The federal government emphasized its commitment to tax digitization and structural economic reforms during a joint news conference unveiling significant progress in identifying 190 000 wealthy individuals evading taxes worth an estimated Rs60 billion Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the ongoing IMF programme asserting that reforms would ensure transparency and fiscal sustainability This was stated during a joint news conference by Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister
for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial Finance Minister Aurangzeb highlighted the government s focus on digitizing the FBR to reduce human intervention curb corruption, and enhance transparency He announced that the digitization plan, approved in September, is being implemented to integrate key economic sectors and
