g JUSTICE MANSOOR ALI SHAH QUESTIONS WHETHER IN ANY COUNTRY, EXECUTIVE, RATHER THAN JUDICIARY, FORMS A BENCH?
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
Atwo-member bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday reserved verdict in the case of contempt of court by the additional registrar
A two-member bench of the Supreme Court, consisting of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Abbasi, heard the contempt of court case and reserved the verdict after hearing multiple arguments
During proceedings Justice Shah observed Prima facie the judges committee disregarded a judicial order While contempt proceedings could be initiated, we will not issue a notice in this case
The proceedings touched upon broader constitutional principles, including the scope of Article 191-A of the Constitution which governs the judiciary s role and autonomy Advocate Hamid Khan who was appointed as Amicus Curiae assisted the bench in the matter and presented his arguments
Earlier, in response to the contempt of court notice regarding the rescheduling of the case related to powers of bench Supreme Court Additional Registrar Nazar Abbas submitted his reply to the show-cause notice
g PROCEEDINGS TOUCH UPON BROADER CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES, INCLUDING SCOPE OF ARTICLE 191-A OF CONSTITUTION
In his response Additional Registrar Nazar Abbas requested the withdrawal of the show-cause notice, asserting that he did not defy any judicial orders He stated that he had submitted a note regarding the matter of forming a bench based on the judicial order to the Practice and Procedure Committee Hamid Khan, appointed as amicus curiae by the apex court argued that the committee s actions were not only procedurally flawed but also inconsistent with constitutional safeguards The Constitution does not permit some judges to have more powers than others Such practices undermine the spirit of equality and judicial independence ” he asserted Justice Shah remarked that the question of whether the Chief Justice of Pakistan or a committee has the exclusive authority to
form a full court remains pivotal
He added that if the committee disregarded a judicial order the issue might warrant referral to a full court for adjudication
Justice Aqeel Abbasi noted potential confusion surrounding the judges committee s jurisdiction and procedural limits
He emphasized the need to address ambiguities in the Supreme Court Rules of 1980 which define the framework for forming judicial benches Hamid Khan further contended that the committee s retraction of the case contra-
vened constitutional procedures, highlighting that any such decision should align with Article 191-A However, he acknowledged that the committee might have the administrative authority to reassign cases in certain circumstances
The court also heard arguments from Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, who emphasized the need for judicial restraint
He suggested that procedural missteps, if any, should be resolved without undermining the judiciary’s institutional integrity Justice Shah drew attention to a related precedent involving former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa where a similar reassignment of cases raised questions about judicial autonomy If a judicial order can be overridden by an administrative committee, it sets a dangerous precedent for judicial independence,” he remarked
Imran halts talks due to delay in for mation of judicial commissions, says Gohar
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Thursday said that party founder Imran Khan has said to call off talks with the government due to a delay in the formation of judicial commissions
The PTI and the government havd been engaged in talks to bring down political temperatures After two rounds of meetings, the third round was held last week in which the PTI formally presented its charter of demands in writing Despite weeks of negotiations the dialogue process has hardly moved forward on major issues the formation of a judicial commission and the release of PTI prisoners
On Monday the government assured the PTI of a response to the opposition s charter of demands within seven working days after the party warned it would boycott the next round of talks if judicial commissions were not formed to probe the May 9 and November 26 incidents
Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail Barrister Gohar said that the government had promised to form the requested judicial commissions within seven days, but it failed to do so
“PTI was hopeful of continuing the talks Gohar said Negotiations were called off due to non-co-
operation from the government Negotiations cannot move forward if the commission is not announced, he said He noted, however, that negotiations can be held if a three-judge commission is formed
According to the PTI founder the party will continue its efforts under the law and constitution, Gohar said On the instructions of [Imran], we will join various opposition parties and struggle together ” Govt, opposition negotiating committee meeting summoned on Jan 28
Meanwhile, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq summoned the meeting of negotiating committee to hold talks between the government and
opposition on January 28 It will be in-camera meeting that will be presided by NA speaker The government is likely to respond the demands of opposition in writing form Earlier PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had given 7-day ultimatum to the government to form judicial commission on May 9 incidents
“We’ll not hold the fourth meeting with the government negotiating team if there is no judicial commission in next seven days said the PTI chairman Barrister Gohar said that PTI is adamant on its earlier demands He said that PTI really wants to continue negotiations with the government
FO
reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to robust relations with US
Pakistan has expressed its readiness to engage constructively with the newly inaugurated US administration, reaffirming its commitment to fostering strong and cooperative ties Speaking at the weekly news briefing on Thursday Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan emphasized Pakistan s desire to maintain
of these relations he stated Addressing a question about Afghan resettlement, Khan confirmed an arrangement under which the United States has committed to relocating a significant number of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to the US by September He clarified that this agreement remains intact The spokesperson also raised serious concerns over the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban
ECC URGES EOBI TO SUBMIT SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS PL AN TO RIGHTSIZING COMMITTEE
A
Pakistan’s direc t shipping line to Europe launched, set to boost global trade
Sohail Shams, detailed the transformative impact of the INX service on Pakistan’s trade landscape He explained that the service will provide a direct maritime connection to Europe reducing delivery times and strengthening regional trade Karachi’s strategic position as a trade hub he added will support transshipment activities for global markets fostering greater economic integration United Marine Agencies which represents South Korean shipping company HMM in Pakistan, is playing a key role in optimizing logistics for the new service Speaking at the event, HMM’s Commercial Chief for Southwest Asia Yang Jungmo described the INX service as a milestone in simplifying international trade operations and underscored its potential to drive innovation and progress in global shipping networks
COMMENT
Criminalising fake news
TH E government is making yet another attempt to plough the sea, to reverse the irreversible, to turn the clock back Fake news is terrible thing, but it is no longer possible to stop the march of technology
Either we prepare to live in a fishbowl where our every action, our every sin, is open to all, where anyone who becomes even slightly prominent, will be trolled and made to account for anything he did years ago The other option is to crack down heavily on society leaving online life open to intrusion by the state Apparently, those institutions of the government which had been used to tapping legally or legally it did not matter because of loopholes in the laws governing mail telegrams and telephones, are unhappy at the limits the new media have placed on their ability to intercept what is going on The loss of control it seems is hurting egos However those making the effort show by their attempt that they are not in control, and thus want to establish it
This is had one consequence: The Prohibition of Electronic Crimes Act has become a means for the government to hound political opponents This was most visible under the previous government, when it was used against opponents of the government, and it was further weaponized by amendments that had all press organizations up in arms and which the IHC struck down Attempts to bring social media under rules, and then register them, were made
realize that platforms are not merely not supposed to censor the content uploaded to them, but simply can t No one can deny that crimes in cyberspace must be policed Especially for scammers, it is the new promised land, and every new development is subject to fraud The FIA Cybercrime Wing has shown that
From the river to the sea…
TH E terrible nature of war is shown by the fact that the ceasefire in Gaza was greeted by relief by all parties That there was no clear victor or loser was shown
the
caused the conflict One of the other features of the conflict is how much everybody had lost Let alone a solution of the Palestinian problem neither Israel nor Hamas had achieved their immediate war aims as far as they could be discerned A major reason why the ceasefire does not appear permanent is that neither side has won Neither has the IDF been broken in the field, nor has Hamas been uprooted Even the aggressor in the conflict Israel was relieved that there was a ceasefire that looked like an end to the war Israel had originally been the subject of attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023, and had played the victim card relentlessly However, as the slaughter went on, it became clear that many more Palestinians had been killed than Israelis had died However Israel had lost the aura of invincibility that its victories in the 1948 1956 1967 and 1973 Wars had given it Its victory in the 1967 War had been so comprehensive that its military superiority was established, and even the massively improved performance of the Egyptian Army in 1973 could not counter it The most signal success was in the air The 1967 War saw the Israeli Air Force shoot up much of the Egyptian Iraqi and Syrian Air Forces on the ground and enjoy command of the air for the rest of the conflict Much of the killing in Gaza was carried out by air bombardment, and Hamaas not only had no air power, it even lacked anti-aircraft defenses It did have missiles, but those were fended off by Israeli antimissile defences Israeli air power was mainly used to bomb civilian targets including hospitals However the assistance of the USA and France to Israel when it fended off an Iranian missile attack indicated that Israel could not defend itself on its own That was unpalatable for Israel, which has long portrayed itself as the safe haven for persecuted Jews anywhere in the world One effect of the conflict has been an exodus of Israelis back to Europe This is hardly good advertising for the Zionist enterprise
However this has been achieved at horrific cost
The Gazans have lost no less than 46 000 people which is about one and a half percent of their population Those who have survived have lost houses, schools, markets, jobs, and will find the return to normalcy difficult They were already radicalised by the refugee experience; they will probably be further radicalised It is in this tragedy that Israel faces its greatest
threat which will probably be such as to destroy it The problem for Israel is that it superimposed itself on the Palestinian people, and was born from AnNakba, The Catastrophe of 1948, when 750,000 Arabs were forced out of what is now Israel That has created a displaced population which is ready to resist which is willing to provide recruits to organizations willing to organize this resistance If the organization accepts Israel people will shift their allegiance to those willing to resist That is what happened to the PLO, which went from having the overwhelming support of the Palestinian people to its acceptance of Israel
The fate of the PLO especially post-Arafat shows how Israel sees the role of any Palestinian political organization: as a provider of a police force which will help keep the Palestinians quiet just as the PLO is doing in the West Bank Hamas might well learn from its example, though by following the path of resistance it has paid a terrible cost, with its leader Ismail Haniya, and then his successor Yahya Sinwar both assassinated as well as a massive degradation of its combat capabilities in the last year of combat If it moves back to regroup it will find itself elbowed aside by a new group, just as it elbowed aside the PLO This means that Israel cannot find anyone to deal with permanently As soon as it comes to an agreement with one group, it will find it cannot depend on it to deliver It is possible to see this happening with states Though Arab states are brutal autocracies Is-
Just as the ceasefire of World War I did not last, proving just to be an interruption on the way to World War II, there is every likelihood that this ceasefire will not. The underlying reason is the same: the problems causing the war have not been solved.
AI and International Education Day
lic educational institutions in the morning, but in the evening they have to go to tuition centres Depression is spreading among children due to tuition culture Number games have destroyed the mental peace of children
Due to this routine, creative activities are decreasing They do not have time for physical activities, which is harming their health On the other hand, the constructive role of teachers is also decreasing In the era of materialism tuition culture is growing In societies where education becomes an earning profession creative abilities are buried
of artificial intelligence can be effective With the use of artificial intelligence, students can learn new skills that will be very important and useful for getting jobs in the future The trend of online earning is increasing Today s students can create new products with the help of artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence is opening new doors for development all over the world In fact, no country can develop without scientific and technical education Unfortunately education has become a profession not a department The civilization and development of any society can be judged by its education system Education plays a role of a ladder in social development The abundance of tuition centres has badly affected the mental peace of the younger generation Children go for formal education in pub-
the traditional method of education In order to keep pace with the world we will have to develop the education system on modern lines In the era of rapid development, due to artificial intelligence, we can focus on developing the mental abilities of our students This can ensure the integrated study of several subjects Programs in this regard
Organ trafficking
MuhAMMAd IMrAN hAIder
Ilegacy, finds itself at the nexus of tradition and modernity Preserving the Nation’s cultural identity is more important than ever since it has historically been a melting pot of civilization from Indus Valley to the Mughal Empire While digitalization with modernization and globalization has many positive effects in today s rapid global world, they have also brought up problems that endanger Pakistan’s distinctive cultural fabric
The spread of digital media technological advancements global trade and crosscultural interactions have all contributed to Pakistan s journey to globalization The increasing usage of mobile phones and internet has made Pakistan more globally connected than before Millions of people nationwide are impacted by the foreign ideas lifestyles and trends that have been introduced by platforms like social media streaming services and international markets
Globalization offers economic growth, exchanges of people, and spread of knowledge, it has also resulted in favoring some cultures especially Western ones dominating others According to platforms like YouTube TikTok Spotify and Netflix 75 percent of Pakistani streaming material is foreign overshadowing domestic products This change has an impact on traditional creative forms that find it difficult to compete with globalized content, such as theatre, poetry recitals, and classical music
The excessive use of social media and inappropriate content can undermine Islamic principles of modesty and respect for personal boundaries Sharing private lives online can conflict with Islamic values of preserving dignity Exposure to moral relativism and secular ideologies can confuse young minds about ethical distinctions Misuse of technology raises ethical concerns and privacy violations contradict Islamic values of justice and mutual respect
Social media has an impact on cultural
Preser ving what gives our lives meaning
values, frequently elevating materialism and individualism above traditional parental and social norms This change is especially apparent in younger generations who are increasingly disregarding local customs in favor of global trends
By 2024, Pakistan will have over 150 million social media users, significantly influencing communication and cross-cultural expression For intercultural communication social media sites like Facebook Instagram TikTok and X (Twitter) have gained popularity Pakistan s PTA statistics show social media creates cultural norms and values, it encourages cultural expression and awareness, but it also makes it challenging to preserve the country’s distinctive cultural identity
Indigenous people’s customs and languages are often marginalized due to cultural homogeneity UNESCO reports that one language is lost every two weeks putting 40 percent of the 7,000 languages worldwide at risk of extinction Over 70 languages are spoken in Pakistan, out of which 28 are critically endangered According to the 2024 Ethnologue study regional languages are marginalized by the prevalence of English and Urdu on social media platforms The loss of linguistic diversity in Pakistan is exacerbated by the fact that just six percent of online material is in regional languages like Pashto Sindhi or Balochi
The excessive use of Western content on social media is causing a slow loss of local traditions and values According to a 2023 study by the Pakistan Institute of Develop-
ment Economics, 68 percent of the urban young prefer Western-style entertainment and fashion which undermines indigenous customs and values A rising disconnection from local tradition is seen in the fact that in 2024 just 12 percent of hashtags on Pakistani X were associated with indigenous cultural events or customs There is another report by the World Economic Forum in 2024, 90 percent of digital material is created in only ten languages leaving thousands of other languages underrepresented online The focus on Western-style education frequently ignores the history and cultural studies of Indigenous peoples According to a survey conducted in 2024, 75 percent of urban Pakistani school curricula do not include regional literature or traditional knowledge which exacerbates the generational divide Younger generations frequently exhibit indifference to native customs and practices due to their exposure to global media and digital lifestyles According to a Pakistan Cultural Foundation survey from 2024, 68 percent of young people in cities are ignorant of their local folklore or traditional arts
Another report by the World Bank 56 percent of people on Earth will live in cities by 2024, continuing the worldwide population shift toward urban areas In 2024, the World Bank estimates that 37 7 percent of Pakistan’s population would live in urban areas Rural areas have been absorbed by cities fast growth undermining unique indigenous heritages For instance according to a 2024 research by the Urban Development
PakistanÊs identity and future depend on preser ving its culture , which can be shaped by combining traditional components with modern concepts. Writers, sing ers, filmmakers, and fashion designers are experimenting with fusing old and modern elements.
Israel’s leaders should follow Halevi’s example and resign
Israel will only be able to fully move on from O c tober 7 when all those who bear responsibilit y for the disaster have been replaced Accountabilit y demands change, not just admissions of guilt
Halevi’s resignation was quickly followed by OC Southern Command Maj -Gen Yaron Finkelman Their resignations add to a growing list of senior IDF officials stepping aside, including Maj -Gen Aharon Haliva, former head of Militar y Intelligence, and Brig.-Gen. Avi Rosenfeld, former head of the Gaza Division Several more are expec ted, including Shin B et (Israel Securit y Agenc y) head Ronen Bar
Several more are expected including Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Ronen Bar In contrast, the only political leader to resign was former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and his departure had more to do with political maneuvering than an expression of contrition over October 7 While military leaders are resigning thus setting examples regarding accountability –though some say it should not have taken them 15 months to do so – the country’s political leaders remain entrenched They have not voluntarily moved aside Whereas Halevi s resignation and that of other members of the top IDF brass will go far toward restoring faith in the integrity of the country s military leadership, the refusal of the political echelon to do so will only cre-
trust in government Moreover the political echelon that has to admit responsibility does not only include Netanyahu but also opposition leaders such as Benny Gantz, who, as chief of staff from 20102015 and then defense minister five years later, bears a great deal of responsibility for the country’s policy toward Hamas since 2007 Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid whose divisive rhetoric helped fuel the divisions in the country that invited an enemy attack should also be held accountable Halevi in his resignation letter, called for an independent commission of inquiry to be set up, something which polls have consistently shown the public wants An inquiry should enable the lessons of October 7 to be learned across the board: in the military among the government and among the opposition
assumptions and miscalculations?
This does not mean that the IDF didn t have some head-spinning achievements since October 7 that have reshaped the Middle East – from decapitating Hezbollah to weakening Iran to destroying the Syrian army after the fall of Bashar al-Assad But those achievements do not wipe out the colossal initial failure for which there needs to be a reckoning Halevi s resignation was quickly followed by OC Southern Command Maj -Gen Yaron Finkelman Their resignations add to a growing list of senior IDF officials stepping aside, including Maj -Gen Aharon Haliva
With Halevi stepping down and the expected resignation of several other top-level IDF officers, new appointments will need to be made This provides the IDF with an opportunity to renew itself by appointing new leaders untainted by October 7 and unburdened by the same groupthink that made the Hamas attack possible These leaders can bring a fresh perspective to how the IDF should prepare and operate –something October 7 showed is badly needed Following October 7, the country needs new faces and innovative strategies The high-level IDF resignations create the opportunity for this to happen in the military A similar opportunity should be afforded the political echelon through new elections – the sooner, the
Institute, traditional cultural activities have decreased by 40 percent in rural districts surrounding Karachi and Lahore over the past ten years as a result of urban encroachment Cultural preservation aims to preserve a country s identity values and customs not just objects languages and traditions Pakistan s cultural variety influenced by Indus Valley, Persian, Central Asian, Mughal, and British civilizations, is a source of pride and a strength that shapes its global identity Traditional communities
Council
Despite
qawwali performances at traditional Sufi Shrines has decreased from 70 percent in the 1990s to 40 percent in 2024 which may result in the loss of Pakistan s intangible cultural heritage, which include traditional arts like shadow puppetry and calligraphy The Pakistani government is actively involved in safeguarding cultural assets through various projects programs and initiatives The National Heritage Division Lok Virsa Museum, and Pakistan National
The writer can be
email: mehndiarslan@gmail com
O L I T I C A L Islam has become a driving force against the status quo in many Arab countries - the primary recourse for populations to voice dissent reject their living conditions and seek political alternatives Historically Arab states have faced significant challenges in their quest to eradicate this movement For decades, political Islam has been a persistent adversary, prompting regimes to raise the question: why does this opponent refuse to disappear? Have all means been exhausted to defeat it eliminate it and create alternatives whether secular or religious? Has every method been employed from brute force to containment militarisation or political manoeuvring? What is the secret behind the resilience of this movement, which has perplexed the West and is viewed by Israel as a lurking threat - one potentially more dangerous in the long term than existing Arab regimes? Many researchers and experts who have repeatedly predicted the demise of political Islam from the mid-1990s to after the Arab Spring have misjudged and misanalysed the situation Every time they appear to be facing significant setbacks or diminishment, Islamists return anew with fresh strategies, approaches and leadership This has compelled scholars to repeatedly revisit and attempt to understand this phenomenon its roots and its wider contexts When Arab regimes marginalise Islamic forces through political processes - either by excluding them or weakening them at the ballot box - armed factions emerge believing that weapons and revolution are the only viable alternative for confronting the status quo After the Islamic State group receded temporarily, Hamas returned to the forefront with operations such as the 7 October 2023 attack shaking Israel and the entire world
THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE: When the Arab world remains silent amid Israel s massacre of the Palestinian people in Gaza, this gives momentum to a new wave of radical Islamism, as we have seen in decades past A case in point is the success of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in toppling the Assad regime in Syria last month Islamists are no longer just local players; they have become significant regional actors and integral to international politics The rise of HTS is tied to Turkey s role in the region, while the Iranian axis extends to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza (parts of which are more closely aligned with Ankara
As Nader
ArslAn Mehndi nekokArA
F T E R W A R W I T H I S R A E L
Mekelberg cautioned that it was too early to assess Hamas s overall condition, and acknowledged it had suffered heavy losses, but “on your TV, you see that they are still there with their bandanas and all their masks”
Muhammad Shehada of the European Council on Foreign Relations said Israel had specifically targeted civil servants, police and ministers, as part of its efforts to dismantle Hamas’s governing ability
“The continued presence of these officials and forces represents a symbol of defiance showing they remain operational despite the onslaught he said On Monday, Hamas presented itself
as triumphant for having survived saying in a statement that Gaza, with its great people and its resilience, will rise again to rebuild what the occupation has destroyed and continue on the path of steadfastness until the occupation is defeated”
The ceasefire is in its infancy and many questions remain about the future of the Gaza Strip and Hamas Michael Horowitz, a Middle East analyst at the security consultancy Le Beck, said Hamas had made a show of strength both to deter rivals within the Palestinian ranks and to show Israel that any additional rounds of fighting won t lead anywhere That Hamas was not defeated was
S hooting, explosions in Jenin as Israel presses raid
stroy the group
“They were under the fiercest bombardment that such an organisation could ever sustain and they are still there and they are still recruiting Mekelberg said Israel decimated Hamas s ranks and killed many of its top leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh and his successor Yahya Sinwar On Tuesday, Israel’s army chief said its campaign had killed “nearly 20 000 Hamas operatives”
Sale
down to one key reason he said
namely that Israel hasn t tried to replace Hamas as a governing entity in Gaza
Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority have no role in the Gaza Strip
This solely security-focused vision said Horowitz meant Israel has been stuck in a game of whack-a-mole
Eva Koulouriotis, an independent Middle East analyst, said Hamas retained “overwhelming popularity” in Gaza, while “attempts to provide a popular base for the Palestinian Authority and to reject Hamas s rule have failed
The destruction brought by the war did breed resentment towards Hamas among Gazans, said Shehada, but many were conflicted People “also feel a sense of pride” that Hamas’s armed wing the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades defied Israel s might he noted It revolves around the fact that people have been humiliated And then it brings a source of pride”
The health ministry in the Hamas-run territory has put the death toll at more than 47 100 the majority civilians figures the UN considers reliable
That devastation was in retaliation for Hamas s October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an tally of official Israeli figures
Horowitz said the scale of destruction was among the worst of any urban battle in recent memory adding it eclipsed the damage done to Mosul in Iraq during the campaign to dislodge the Islamic State group
But ultimately, said Mekelberg, Israel’s military campaign didn’t “deal with the root causes of the conflict echoing a
Youth of Uzbekistan: A strategic force determining countr
y ’s future
CORPORATE CORNER
Young people are more sensitive to the spirit of the times
any other
group At the same time, it is necessary to recognize that today s youth lives in difficult conditions As experts note, modern youth are growing up in very difficult conditions, when old values have already been broken and new ones have not yet been formed or have not become generally accepted In fact they have to solve not only personal problems but also complex socially significant issues that were not on the agenda of the previous generation (climate crises, pressure from the digital space, etc ) YOUTH OF THE NEW UZBEKISTAN IN THE CONTEXT OF ONGOING REFORMS
It is worth noting that the above trends are also characteristic of the youth of Uzbekistan which makes up almost a third of the country s population and in the age group from 0 to 30 years, this figure reaches 60%
It should be emphasized that the youth agenda is one of the priority tasks in implementing the strategic course for the development of our state The President of Uzbekistan assigns a special role to young people emphasizing the need for their involvement and active participation in the development and prosperity of the country Evidence of this is the fact that 2021 was declared the “Year of Supporting Youth and Strengthening Public Health ” Three years later the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev declared 2024 the Year of Support for Youth and Business thereby demonstrating the country s desire to strengthen the role of youth in socio-economic development Meanwhile, over the past eight years, the approach to youth policy has changed dramatically A comprehensive systemic youth strategy has been developed, a solid regulatory framework has been created that meets modern requirements and the spirit of the times and the legal and institutional foundations of state youth policy as a whole have been strengthened The country also has a unique vertical system of managing work with youth It provides an opportunity through youth leaders in mahallas at the lower level to resolve many issues of youth related to their training in various professions ensuring employment and social support organizing their meaningful leisure Thanks to the introduction of a new system that helps increase the income of young people through the allocation of land plots, in 2024 alone, based on the recommendations of the mahalla seven , 60 thousand hectares of land were leased to 156 thousand young men and women for a period of 30 years, which was an important step in this direction In the Strategy “Uzbekistan – 2030” a special place is given to the younger generation receiving a decent quality education and consequently increasing the scientific potential of the country s youth This indicates the key role of youth in the process of modernization of society and the state In particular, presidential and creative schools, specialized schools in mathematics, chemistry and biology are being created to help young people master science and high technology The number of educational institutions with a focus on the IT sphere is growing As a result during this time the coverage of young people with higher education has increased 4 times – from 9% to 38%, and 151 thousand students have received preferential educational loans in the amount of 1 7 trillion soums
The author is a leading researcher Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of
CM MARYAM ‘PROMISES’ MORE HONHA AR SCHOL ARSHIPS, L APTOPS FOR BALOCH STUDENTS THAN PUNJAB
A high-profile delegation from Nizwa University, Oman, led by Dr Waleed Khalid Hilal Al-Rajhi, Dean Planning and Quality Management and national coordinator of Oman along with Dr Rashid Said Al Abri Dean of College of Engineering and Architecture, Nizwa university, Oman visited the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and called on its President Dr Ahmed Shuja Syed to explore avenues for scientific and academic collaboration
During the meeting Dr Ahmed Shuja Syed provided a comprehensive overview of IIUI s progress over the last five decades, highlighting its 11 faculties 40+ departments and a diverse academic environment enriched by over 60 foreign faculty members and students from 44 countries He also apprised the delegation of the university’s recent advancements in international rankings, underscoring IIUI’s commitment to academic
Headquarters in Rawalpindi The program brought together a diverse group of interns from all provinces of Pakistan, including Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, providing them with invaluable exposure tothe practical dimensions of law governance and public policy The closing ceremony wasattended by Secretary Defence Lieutenant General Muhammad Ali (R) HI (M) who lauded theinitiative spearheaded by DG ML&C, Major General Irfan Ahmed Malik HI(M), for itstransformative potential Conceived by Tanveer Ashraf, Regional Director (Karachi) and Director (Legal) under theleadership of Major General Irfan Ahmed Malik HI(M) the program was designed to promotepro-people inclusive governance in Pakistan's cantonment areas and empower youth It wasexecuted by Ms Saria Benazir, Chief Legal Consultant at ML&C Headquarters; her expertise inconstitutional law and human rights played a significant role in shaping the curriculum whichaimed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application
expertMr Malik Asad Imtiaz Khan Advocate of the High Court and partner at Maik & Co contributed significantly by offering
excellence and global engagement
The IIUI President further shared that 153 students from Oman have successfully graduated from the university in the past five years reflecting the institution s strong academic ties with Oman xpressing keen interest in the Centre for Advanced Electronics and Photovoltaic Engineering (CAEPE) and its potential collaborative opportunities the delegation was given a detailed briefing on the centre s pioneering research patents, and innovative projects Dr Ahmed Shuja Syed elaborated
HBL reinforces commitment to sustainabilit y with 2023 Impact Repor t
giving HBL being more than just a bank is committed to fostering positive change by addressing climate change, promoting financial inclusion and alleviating poverty This commitment is reflected in HBL's ambitious sustainability goals including its aim to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030 In 2023 HBL made significant strides towards these goals, including solarizing 235 of its premises, investing Rs 36 billion in renewable energy projects, and prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across its operations Sharing his comments Sultan Ali Allana Chairman – HBL stated For two decades we have consistently seized opportunities to promote sustainable development and foster prosperity in the country Building on the ethos of AKFED, we seek to enrich the lives of those we serve As financial literacy and inclusion remain our directional vectors we are cognizant of the need to constantly innovate and leverage technology
on CAEPE s ongoing activities and its contributions to cutting-edge scientific advancements
On the occasion Dr Muhammad Tariq Professor and Head of the School of Engineering at FAST National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (NUCES), Islamabad and Dr Rashad Ramzan, Associate Professor, EE Department, FAST Islamabad were also accompanied by the Omani delegates
The meeting concluded with an expression of mutual interest in exploring collaborative research initiatives between IIUI and Nizwa University
Hutchison Ports shows interest in $1b investment in Maritime Sector
ISLAMABAD
A high-level delegation from Hutchison Ports led by Andy Tsoi Managing Director for the Middle East & Africa Division, met with Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh and secretary Syed Zafar Ali Shah to share a proposed US$1 billion investment plan Accompanying Andy Tsoi were Capt Rashid
trade The proposed investment focuses on upgrading Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) and South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited (SAPT) with advanced automation technologies enhancing operational efficiency, and adopting eco-friendly solutions The plan includes the introduction of electrified and remote-control equipment to reduce carbon emissions reflecting the government’s
‘URA AN PAKISTAN’ TO BE MADE SUCCESSFUL WITH SUPPORT OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS: PM
Bilawal criticizes
govt ’s unilateral approach, urges consultation with allies
Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP)
Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has raised concerns about the federal government s approach to decision-making accusing the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of bypassing allied parties in key policy decisions
Speaking at an event in Islamabad on Thursday Bilawal emphasized that successful governance requires collaboration particularly within a coalition setup
The PPP chairman expressed frustration with the government s apparent unwillingness to honor commitments made to coalition partners He pointed to the recurring pattern of unilateral actions, which he believes could undermine the coalition’s collective goals
Referring to the historic 18th Amendment Bilawal highlighted the importance of consultation in achieving meaningful reforms The 18th Amendment was achieved through dialogue and collaboration, which is why it remains
The government is acting as though it holds a two-thirds majority,” Bilawal remarked, stressing the need for allied parties to be consulted Policies have a better chance of success when they are built on consensus,” he added
untouchable even today, he said Bilawal made it clear that the PPP does not intend to obstruct progress but urged the government to adopt a more inclusive approach We are committed to the country s development and want to see policies that benefit all stakeholders, he said Touching on economic challenges, Bilawal called
