PM SHEHBA Z HIGHLIGHTS PAKISTAN’S GROWING POTENTIAL AS GLOBAL INVESTMENT HUB
Pakistan calls for global action against Majeed Brigade, TTP in Afghanistan
Pakistan on Tuesday called for global action against militant outfits such as Daesh the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) and the separatist Majeed Brigade, alleging that over two dozen “terrorist groups” are operating from Afghanistan which are a threat to the entire region and beyond Pakistan s Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram made the comments during the UN Security Council briefings on “Threats to international peace & security caused by terrorist acts” Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN shared the remarks on social media plat-
form X on Tuesday Pakistan has suffered a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan The TTP has carried out attacks against civilians and law-enforcers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while the Majeed Brigade, a specialized unit of the Baloch Liberation Army has scaled attacks in Balochistan Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to take action against militants that it says are using Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan, a charge the Taliban-led government denies Pakistan last year conducted cross-border strikes into Afghanistan against alleged militant targets escalating tensions with its western neighbour
The social media post said: “While strongly rejecting any imputation that an ISIL-K/Daesh recruitment is taking place inside the country Pakistan has urged the international community to take greater cognizance of the renewed terrorist threat posed by the TTP, Majeed Brigade and Daesh ” “He stated in unequivocal terms that over two dozen terrorist groups are operating inside Afghanistan which is also the main hub for ISIL-K s recruitment and facilitation,’ as is confirmed by the UN Monitoring Team’s recent report ” Mr Akram pointed out that Pakistan had defeated Al-Qaeda and other militant networks within its borders
of Pakistan (JCP) and reforms concerning judicial appointments and accountability CJP Afridi emphasized the importance of integrating the judiciary and parliamentary committee for a more transparent judicial selection process He also mentioned that the Supreme Court is preparing an agenda for the National Judicial PolicyMaking Committee (NJPMC) meeting scheduled for the last week of February
The meeting also focused on judicial accountability particularly mechanisms for addressing complaints against judges, with the CJP stressing the need for a robust and fair accountability system to uphold judicial integrity The IMF team acknowledged the judi-
the discussions could cover the geopolitical landscape of the region, the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan and the enhancement of defence collaboration between the two nations A key component of Erdogan s agenda will also be the Pakistan-Turkiye Business and Investment Forum
ciary s role in maintaining legal stability and commended ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening governance and accountability The two sides expressed a shared commitment to enhancing judicial efficiency and supporting the rule of law as a foundation for economic and social progress After the meeting, CJP
Afridi told the media that the IMF delegation sought
tails on programme implementation and property rights protection He mentioned that Pakistan s judiciary had presented its judicial reforms and the National Judicial Policy to the IMF team and emphasized the importance of safeguarding foreign investment CJP Afridi
LY T O G O U P B Y O V E R 2 0 0 P C
Business leaders rejec t 2,600% hike in sec urit y deposits by DISCOs,
sures He urged NEPRA to halt the proposed increase and initiate a transparent consultation process before implementing any financial burden on industries
In his letter to NEPRA, Bilwani pointed out that DISCOs, including KElectric had already collected security deposits far exceeding actual demand calling for a comprehensive audit of these funds
growth Zahur emphasized that the security deposit hike would lead to severe cash flow constraints, preventing businesses from investing in new machinery and expanding exports He argued that
(PTA) have raised concerns over the proposal, arguing that it would cripple industrial growth by diverting essential working capital toward
power companies The proposed increase, which includes raising
deposits for B2 category consumers from Rs2,010 per kilowatt to Rs54,783 per kilowatt, is being labeled as excessive and unjustified KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani emphasized that businesses had already been struggling with rising electricity tariffs and economic pres-
He noted that K-Electric had collected deposits equivalent to a sanctioned load of 13,000 megawatts, while the city’s peak electricity demand barely reaches 3 500MW and averages between 2 200 and 2 400MW He alleged that similar overcollection practices were occurring nationwide, where DISCOs had sanctioned a total of 97,800MW, despite peak national demand standing at just 23 000MW Chairman of the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) Hamid Arshad Zahur also criticized the proposed increase, calling it unaffordable for export-driven industries He highlighted that higher taxation and energy costs had already reduced Pakistan’s competitiveness against India Bangladesh and Vietnam and the new security deposit structure would further weaken
Business
the
why security deposits were being raised despite existing legal safeguards such as property ownership verification and established billing recovery mechanisms They warned that the move would discourage industrial expansion and directly contradict government efforts to revive economic growth Appealing to Federal Minister of Energy Awais A Khan Leghari, Special Assistant to the PM Muhammad Ali, and NEPRA Chairman Waseem Mukhtar, business leaders demanded an immediate review of the proposed hike to prevent irreparable damage to Pakistan s industrial and export sectors
D r Zeelaf Munir elec ted chairperson of Pakistan Business Council
three-year terms on the
including Abdul Samad Dawood Azam Faruque Danish A Lakhani Mohamedali R Habib Mohammad Ali Tabba, Muhammad Arif Habib, Rizwan Diwan, Saira Awan Malik, Samir Chinoy, Syed Hyder Ali, Taimur Dawood, Yousaf Hussain, Ziad Bashir and Dr Zeelaf Munir
The PBC is a leading business advocacy platform comprising over a hundred national and multinational companies from various
and
Symmetr
Company
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Cabinet Committee on StateOwned Enterprises (CCoSOEs) convened on Tuesday led by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division The committee focused on board appointments for various State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and approved key nominations Notably three independent members were appointed to the National Highway Council (NHC), following the guidelines of the SOEs (Operation and Management) Policy 2023
For the Board of Postal Life Insurance Company Limited (PLICL), a subsidiary of Pakistan Post, the committee directed that the agenda, including recommendations for independent directors be submitted for review In the case of Pakistan Reinsurance Company Limited (PRCL) operating under the
Ministry of Commerce two principal candidates for independent director roles were endorsed Furthermore, the committee gave its approval for board appointments at Jinnah Medical Complex & Research Centre (JMC&RC) which is managed by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination
In all these appointments, the committee emphasized that the SOEs law must be strictly adhered to and relevant bodies should prioritize recruiting independent directors from the private sector
The committee also reviewed the Annual Consolidated Performance Report of Commercial and NonCommercial SOEs for FY 2023-24 A detailed presentation highlighted both the financial successes and challenges of the year, with particular attention given to the performance of lossmaking SOEs Minister
Aurangzeb urged the acceleration of privatization efforts for these loss-making entities to ensure their long-term financial viability Additionally, the committee addressed the implementation of the Cabinet s decision regarding the categorization of four railway companies: Pakistan Railways Freight Transportation Company (PRFTC), Pakistan Railways Advisory and Consultancy Services (PRACS) Railway Constructions Pakistan Limited (RAILCOP) and Railway Estate Development & Marketing Company (REDAMCO) The committee reviewed their respective business and transition plans The meeting saw participation from Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mr Riaz Hussain Pirzada the Attorney General of Pakistan the Executive Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and senior officials from relevant ministries and departments
COMMENT
Another boat tragedy
Th e death of 45 Pakistanis (out of about 80 passengers) in the capsizing lst month of a boat of illegal migrants off the Moroccan coast provoked a flurry of activity by the federal government which included the sacking of the head of the FIA and almost frenzied rids for the human traffickers who had lured so many young men to their deaths after holding before them prospects of streets paved with gold in the cities of europe however that seems to have had little or no effect and there has been another maritime tragedy off the Libyan coast, in which a vessel has capsized with 65 would-be illegal migrants abroad The exact number of lives lost, or of Pakistanis in the migrants, are not known, but there can be little doubt that once again some of the villages and towns of Pakistan will be plunged into mourning
The government seems to have the wrong end of the stick, and view this as merely a policing problem The human traffickers are not really the problem; the people are Those young men who are so desperate to go abroad are driven by a desperation that makes them willing to risk being killed, so as to reach europe illegally and do any sort of work eking out a hunted fearful existence just so they can send some money home It is not as if we send our best and brightest Them we send legally and get them to send money home by legal banking channels however, the example set, of exporting labour, encourages human traffickers Those who do not know if they will arrive or not, probably do not think so far ahead, but there is a hope of becoming legal somehow perhaps under an amnesty scheme when the host country feels it has too many illegal migrants to handle except by providing a path towards legalization and citizenship
The government should realize that illegal migrants reflect its failure to provide opportunities for young people at home, skilled or unskilled Instead of viewing the coming generation as a threatening horde in search of employment it should see them as an opportunity as a potential to be realized even now the country offers
Th e r e s an insidious blame game occurring on social media Whenever President Donald Trump takes one of his outrageous actions Arab Americans are subjected to a flood of abusive messages The “nicer” comments simply blame us for Mr Trump s victory but others are punctuated by obscenities vulgarities and threats There appears to be a concerted effort to absolve the Biden White house for its failed policies and the harris presidential campaign for iys bad political decisions and instead blame Arab Americans for Trump’s victory Being threatened or targeted for blame is nothing new for Arab Americans For decades now we ve had to fend off abusive comments holding us responsible for everything from the 1973 Oil embargo to terrorist attacks, whether here in the Us or in the Middle east I have experienced this personally In the last two decades there have been four convictions for these kinds of threats directed against me my family or my staff During one two-year stretch between 2015 and 2017, we received 772 outrageous email threats accusing me of planning, training, and funding dozens of acts of violence What’s happening today is different in two ways Instead of being accused of terrorism we are being held responsible for Trump s victory some of those targeting us with abuse aren t mentally deranged individuals who hover about on the right wing of Us politics, they are from the left And while some of those blaming us for harris defeat are unbalanced hate-filled characters, other accusations come from seasoned liberal political operatives or mainstream pundits who ought to know better To even suggest that Arab Americans are responsible for this election s outcome is false foolish and irresponsible In the first place, the harris campaign didn t need any help, they lost on their own They may continue to maintain that their campaign was “flawless,” but if that’s the case, why did Democrats lose 45 percent of the Latino vote or a significant share of Black males or get wiped out among the white working-class?
These failures can t be pinned on Arab Americans They were the result of a failed campaign strategy designed and executed by consultants who are unprincipled, out of touch with the changing electorate risk-averse and unimaginative Instead of understanding the changing contours and growing diversity of the hispanic Asian and Black communities they either took them for granted or approached them with decades-old one-size-fits-
Trump’s Gaza gamble
all” messaging Added to this was their failure to address the economic insecurity of the working class of all races and the misguided attempt to replace voters they were losing by winning moderate republican-leaning, white suburban women by campaigning with former Congressman Liz Cheney (whose policies are neither moderate nor appealing to suburban women) When tallying the “strategists’” failures we must add Vice-President harris failure to meet with Arab American leaders demonstrate any distance from President Biden s disastrous blank-cheque support for Israel, and the campaign s refusal to allow a Palestinian woman, who had lost family in Gaza, to speak at the Democratic convention All of these failures took a toll on Arab American support for the Democratic ticket having witnessed the traumatizing genocide that unfolded in Gaza and the enabling role played by the Biden administration, Arab Americans were in a bind Although for the past two decades they d voted for Democrats by a two-to-one margin, many found it difficult to support campaigns that ignored them and their pain They asked for gestures of support and got none And so in the end instead of the 60-30 margin won by Biden in 2020 Trump and harris split the Arab American vote with a small percentage supporting a third-party candidate, and a larger than average number not voting at all Given the fact that Arab Americans and their concerns were given such short shrift by the harris campaign it is wrong to hold them responsible for the loss in November There s a bit of
tives
tion”
or
security concerns, while avoiding deeper political engagement The most controversial aspect of Trump’s proposal is the idea of moving Gaza s population to Jordan or egypt This would amount to ethnic cleansing violating international law and triggering global outrage Trump s vision clashes entirely with the onthe-ground realities of Gaza: The Palestinian struggle is not about economic deprivation alone it is about sovereignty self-determination and freedom from occupation No amount of luxury development can compensate for political disenfranchisement While some elements of the Israeli government might welcome Trump s plan as a way to eliminate Palestinian claims to Gaza, others would recognize the international backlash and logistical impossibility of mass relocation Jordan and egypt have already refused to absorb Gaza s population Their governments understand that such a move would destabilize their own countries and provoke widespread unrest After the Iraq War, most Americans are wary of any further military entanglements in the Middle east The idea of forcibly removing a population from its land would also be politically disastrous at home Beyond Trump s personal motivations larger geopolitical forces are at play The UsA, Israel, and various energy players are all invested in shaping Gaza’s future not necessarily for humanitarian reasons but for strategic and economic gain
One of the most overlooked reasons for Us interest in Gaza is its offshore natural gas reserves Israel has been developing its Leviathan and Tamar gas fields, while european powers seek to reduce dependence on russian energy Gaza’s own gas fields which were recently granted exploration rights to european and Israeli companies represent a valuable energy asset A stabilized depopulated Gaza could make gas extraction easier reducing security risks to infrastructure Trump s plan also plays into broader Middle eastern realignments: if Gaza’s issue were “re-
solved (even forcibly), it could pave the way for deeper diplomatic ties between Israel and the Gulf states There have been renewed talks about a Qatar-Turkey pipeline which could benefit from reduced instability in the region The UsA and europe are eager to push russia out of global gas markets By controlling Gaza s energy resources, they could further this goal A massive reconstruction effort in Gaza, led by Us and Israeli firms, would be highly profitable If Trump were to secure backing for a “new Gaza ” construction companies defense contractors and infrastructure firms would all stand to benefit While Trump s idea of owning Gaza is unlikely to materialize, his rhetoric has serious consequences Far-right Israeli politicians, like Ben Gavir, have already embraced the idea of permanently removing Palestinians from Gaza Trump’s comments may embolden these figures to push for
Misleading scholarships
Road misconduct
with refugee populations would face massive political and economic strain Any move toward forced displacement would violate international law, reducing Us credibility when it criticizes russian or Chinese territorial ambitions Trump’s Gaza proposal may seem like a joke but it highlights a dangerous trend treating complex geopolitical crises as business deals rather than issues of justice human rights, and historical struggle his vision ignores the realities of Palestinian resistance, international law, and the deeply rooted ideological and psychological nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict While he may believe in solving problems through branding and economic incentives Gaza s crisis requires diplomacy humanitarian solutions and political will not a Trump Tower and a relocation plan At its heart, this absurd proposal reflects the growing disconnect between business-minded leaders and the real-world struggles of displaced oppressed populations And if there s one lesson history has taught us it s that you can t solve occupation war and ethnic conflict with a hotel chain
The writer can
writetomahossain@gmail com
Remote hospital locations
A businessman’s vision in a battlefield
M A HossAin
reputation
a broader effort to protect the democratic process from foreign influence and misinformation The law empowers the French government to remove fake news during election periods, focusing on content that could distort democratic outcomes, such as false information influencing voting behaviour or public opinion It also requires online platforms to disclose details about political ads including their sponsors and spending Thailand has introduced laws to control the spread of fake news, particularly political content that may threaten national security or public order The country’s Computer Crime Act has been used to prosecute individuals for disseminating fake news online Those found guilty of spreading false infor-
the approach has primarily relied on self-regulation by tech companies, rather than government-imposed laws The First Amendment protects freedom of speech making it difficult to pass laws that directly penalize fake news However individuals or organizations can file lawsuits for defamation if false statements damage their
fake news by removing misleading content and improving transparency
During his previous presidency Donald Trump became closely associated with the term fake news, using it to describe any media or news outlet he perceived as hostile or misrepresenting his actions His frequent use of the term served as a direct challenge to mainstream media portraying it as biased dishonest and aimed at undermining his administration Notably Trump leveraged social media particularly Twitter to engage directly with the media, dismissing negative coverage and calling out journalists and outlets by name He famously labeled organizations like CNN The New York Times and The Washington Post as purveyors of fake news often encouraging his supporters to distrust the media More broadly he argued that the media s portrayal of events was exaggerated or distorted, occasionally referring to them as the “enemy of the people ” This rhetoric became a central aspect of his political strategy rallying his base and positioning himself as a defender of alternative facts against a supposedly corrupt media These examples highlight how different countries have adopted various legal measures to combat the spread of fake news They also underscore Pakistan’s right to take similar actions in addressing the issue In this context the Pakistani National Assembly recently passed the Peca Amendment Bill The bill introduces a new provision Section 26(A), which penalizes individuals who intentionally spread fake news online It states that anyone who knowingly disseminates false information through any information system that could incite fear panic or social
Those who have not done anything wrong need not fear Laws and regulations are in place to identify and punish wrongdoers, ensuring peace , harmony, and law and order in society It is only those who seek to exploit fake news to destabiliz e and defame Pakistan and its institutions who should be afraid of the Peca
unrest will face punishment, including up to three years of imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 2 million, or both The bill also proposes the creation of the Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority which would oversee various functions related to social media such as education awareness training regulation and the blocking of harmful content The authority would allow individuals affected by fake news to request the removal or blocking of misleading content with the authority mandated to act within 24 hours of the request The proposed changes also suggest that social media platforms may be required to register with the authority, pay a prescribed fee, and comply with its regulations
The bill also specified that, in addition to the requirements outlined in the act additional conditions or requirements may be set when enlisting a social media platform It stated that the authority would have the power to issue orders to a social media platform to remove or block online content if it contradicted Pakistan’s ideology, incited the public to break the law, encouraged vigilantism, or aimed to coerce intimidate or terrorize the public individuals groups communities government officials or institutions
The authority could also act if the content incited the public or any segment of the public to damage government or private property The bill also outlined that content which coerces or intimidates the public preventing them from carrying out their lawful activities and disrupting civic life would fall under its scope It specified that content inciting hatred or contempt based on religious sectarian, or ethnic grounds to provoke violence or internal disturbances would also be addressed Additionally, the law would apply if the reported content was obscene or pornographic violating applicable laws; known or likely to be false beyond a reasonable doubt; contained defamatory statements about indi-
viduals, including members of the judiciary, armed forces, parliament, or provincial assemblies; or
There
he had submitted the petitions He certainly did not own up to them In the letters that he wrote to his family and in his copious My Transportation for Life he does mention the sort of grounds on which he has asked the Government to reduce his sentence, to transfer him back to a jail on the mainland, to give him a chance to work in constitutional ways But in those accounts it is as if an equal is talking to equals almost as if a Barrister is arguing in court There is none of the beseeching that we have encountered above No hint that he has offered to be of service to the Government in whatever capacity they deem fit No hint of the conditions he has told the Government he is ready to accept Next there is the reaction of his own associates and admirers when they heard that he had accepted conditions for being released *****
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to get out of the place is perfectly understandable The first, of course, is the contrast with what Bhagat Singh and others said as they faced execution Recall Ram Prasad Bismil mounting the gallows with Bismil Azimabadi s Sarfaroshi ki tammana ab hamaare
Then there is the image of an uncompromising, fiery, ready-for-death image that Savarkar himself had built of himself His autobiography his newsletters from England his My Transportation for Life his Samagra the pseudonymous Life of Barrister Savarkar are all full of passages that lead one to think of him as one prepared to run any risk, to face any hardship, to stare death in its face, to die A little volume can be filled with those passages Savarkar and his friends have set up the Mitra Mandal a fledgling group that it will be said gave birth to revolutionaries and revolutionary organizations Savarkar and his friends think much of their secret meetings They feel that they are sowing the seeds of mass upheaval And therefore are under the constant watch of the Government and its agents Queen Victoria has died Some of Savarkar s friends, he says, urge that they hold a memorial meeting and pass a condolence resolution so as to allay suspicion about them and their activities Savarkar as good as scolds them: Our country alone is our Emperor We do not know any other Emperor This is a golden opportunity to show that there is at least one institution that will proclaim this radiant truth We should not become afraid ourselves and lose this opportunity If this organisation is closed down for this reason, we will have to take its life to have been successful Whenever it wants the British Government jails even those who write with great circumspection Then why should we not speak the truth? Let us unfurl that resplen-
dent emblem of independence openly Even if we are able to do so for a moment and in the next moment we are killed by a bullet no reason to worry Because the cremation pyre of persons who die thus sends out sparks and the palaces of foreign rulers are reduced to ashes in the fire that these sparks light Those who say that those who make such attempts are hanged, well let them say what they will We also know that much The hanging of Chapekar gave birth to us our hanging will give birth to others and this lineage shall remain intact In another typical piece, we have him proclaim once again that there is no way to attain independence other than armed revolution We have to break the weapons and power of the enemy by better weapons and greater power he says In no case in history has independence been won except by triumphing in a violent, armed fight If people are not up to this, he says, then they cannot have freedom This is as unalterable a law as laws of nature
It is from such passages and even the ones of which the preceding are a summary, much longer and more colourful that his image of a revolutionary was embossed on people’s minds Naturally, when the contents of the petitions burst into view many were nonplussed
The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts by Arun Shourie Penguin Random House India 2025
IN response to increasing concerns over global threats from global adversaries, U S Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Kevin Cramer (R-N D ) have introduced a new bill to strengthen the nation s missile defense capabilities The proposed legislation the Increasing Response Options and Deterrence of Missile Engagements (IRON DOME) Act, seeks to overhaul and expand the U S missile defense system to improve security against potential nuclear missile threats The IRON DOME Act comes at a time when geopolitical tensions have escalated particularly with the advancements in missile technology by nations such as China and Russia
IRON DOME FOR AMERICA: The Senators both Senate Armed Services Committee members emphasized the urgency of modernizing defense mechanisms to protect the homeland In a joint statement they outlined the necessity of adapting the United States missile defense strategy, which historically focused on managing risks from rogue states and unintended launches “For decades the primary focus of our missile defense strategy has been on dealing with ballistic missile threats from unpredictable nations or rare accidental launches However, the landscape is changing rapidly, Sullivan commented He highlighted the proliferation of hypersonic and cruise missiles as pressing threats that necessitate updating existing defenses The IRON DOME Act is designed to align with President Trump s Iron Dome for America executive order Sullivan noted that this new legislation builds upon the 2022 Missile Defense Review recommendations and aims to enhance overall defense architecture through significant investments in new technologies and
abdul basit alvi
INDIA ‘IN TALKS WITH US’ TO BUY COMBAT VEHICLES, SEAL FIGHTER JET ENGINE DEAL
Multipolarization is an unstoppable trend of times, says China
Bangladesh seeks full power supply restoration from Adani plant
expected this month This could potentially lead to contract renegotiations Last year, Bangladesh s interim government accused Adani of breaching the power-purchase agreement by withholding tax benefits that the Jharkhand plant received from New Delhi Reuters reported in December citing documents Bangladesh officials also said they were reviewing the contract A spokesperson for Adani told Reuters at the time that it had upheld all contractual obligations with Bangladesh and had no indication Dhaka was reviewing the contract Karim has not replied to Reuters questions on whether the two sides have resolved their differences In November, U S
Sindh are interrelated The ef-
fects of climate change consist of increased natural disasters notably floods, and displacing people These unpredictable monsoons and other extreme weather conditions are signs of climate change affecting the world and the stress on the weak structures of the rural Sindh is unmanageable The relocation of the rural population has stressed Karachi’s urban structures and revealed shortcomings in urban development and resource management This has led to severe housing deficits pressure on public facilities and competition for the scarce job market among other things Besides, there is new conflict in Sindhi due to ethnic tensions between the migrants and the locals Unfortunately, the view of the migrants as job and resource competitors has engendered a lot of resentment among the locals
These divisions have been manipulated by political parties making the problem worse and complicating the efforts of the various parties to deal with the crisis This is very much the case with Karachi, which is a manifestation of a more global issue as climate change migration slowly alters the face of cities across the globe In this latest report the various overlays of climate change, socio-political conflict and economical stresses make it quite imperative that there be equally multi-sectoral solutions The study of Sindh is important to learn the distinct processes that occurred in the province which can be helpful for the policymakers and the development agencies working in other similar situation
The effects of climate change-related disasters cannot be overemphasized; this paper therefore calls for the adoption of flood resilient infrastructure in rural Sindh A disaster preparedness program and enhanced early warning system can greatly improve the mitigation of vulnerability of target populations Offering affordable housing schemes and offering livelihood programs for migrants is a way of dealing
equate afforestation activities in Sindh contribute to the effects of floods
More than a third of flood affected people have shifted their base to Karachi and the city has been struggling to cope up with the influx These include; poor shelter homeless-
migration hours for the sake of safety of the individuals To decrease the level of isolation and increase the level of trust between communities and migrants it is important to ensure equal access to justice and public services for both groups The human also called on more investment in reforestation and sustainable water management strategies to avoid future disasters Also there can be no improvements in current negative growing tendencies of rural depopulation without establishment of the opportunities for rural people’s employment There are changes in the patterns of monsoon and the flood occurrences and severity are becoming more frequent due to climate change Poor use of water and inad-
such migration has deepened socio-political cleavages with the immigrants being harassed by the host communities The situation of crime
The Pro-Rector Mr Nasser Mahmood The Director of Students Affairs Ms Amara Owais,The Principal of the University College of Medicine, Dr Mahwash Urooj,The Registrar, Mr Ali Aslam,The Controller, Mr Asim Ali,The Deans, Mr Asghar Nadeem Syed and Mr Mughith A Beg Dr Zahid Parvez and Dr Atif Kazmi Along with other faculty members and students
Sharjeel Memon categorically rejects MQM's allegations
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has categorically rejected the MQM's allegations stating that MQM members are engaging in the politics of accusations to divert the public s attention from their internal contradictions The politics of hatred has divided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, yet the MQM leaders continue to persist In a statement, Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement are constantly instigating the politics of hatred prejudice, division, and deception The people of Karachi have come to
CM MARYAM CHAIRS 23RD PROVINCIAL CABINET MEETING
concluding exhibition at the prestigious National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore The exhibition will be inaugurated by Prof Dr Murtaza Jafri Vice Chancellor of NCA Lahore A curated display of over 280 exceptional artworks will be showcased at the Zahoor Ul Akhlaq Gallery at NCA The exhibition will be open exclusively to award winners on 14th February 2025, with the general public invited to view the artworks starting on 15th February The child artists whose works have been selected for this exhibition will receive certificates and prizes from distinguished guests This year s edition of ArtBeat saw participation from 280 schools and 55 community organizations across Pakistan The competition s esteemed jury included Irfan Gul Dahri (Artist, Art Otaq/Numaish Gah Lahore) Shireen Bano Rizvi (Artist Department of Visual Arts NCA Lahore) Ali Azmat (Artist College of Art and Design University of the Punjab) Risham Hosain Syed (Artist, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore), Abida Dahri (Artist, Lahore), and Aun Raza (Award-winning Photographer)
Agri-Connections Conference & Expo 2025 begins today
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T
The two-day Agri-Connections 2025 conference and expo with the theme of ‘Investing in Agriculture for Growth’ will kick off on Wednesday at Karachi Expo Center The conference will have speakers from Turkey Italy Hungary Peru Uzbekistan France, the United States of America, and Pakistan
The speakers will highlight how global historic geopolitical changes like US and EU sanctions on Russia, and anticipated US tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada present opportunities for Pakistan in terms of the new commodity flows The expo and conference will be opened with the welcome address by Kazim Saeed CEO Pakistan Agricultural Coalition, and opening address by Syed Qassim Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Investment and Public-Private Partnerships The first session’s key address will be by Salma Butt Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Commodities Management
Beaconhouse Jubilee Campus Model United Nations 2025: A Return to Diplomacy After Six Years
After six long years the Beaconhouse Jubilee Campus Model United Nations (MUN) is back and brimming with enthusiasm! JCMUN VI which took place recently, brought together young diplomats ready to step into the shoes of global leaders and engage in dynamic debates and negotiations on critical global issuesWith delegates coming from all over Karachi this year ’s MUN will feature six engaging committees each presenting unique opportunities for delegates to showcase their skills in diplomacy and problemsolving These committees
the
Nations Security Council (UNSC), the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Political and Nuclear Affairs (PNA) the Social Cultural and Humanitarian Committee (SOCHUM) the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) and the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC)
hosts 16th Convocation
KARACHI
FATE OF PTI FOUNDER’S LETTER TO BE DECIDED BY CONSTITUTIONAL BENCH: CJP
has ended Yet no meaningful progress has been made he remarked Furthermore he revealed that letters had already been sent by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub and Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz, formally requesting the formation of the parliamentary committee However the government has allegedly failed to respond to these letters Khan reiterated PTI s commitment to ensuring transparency and adherence to constitutional provisions regarding the appointments He called on the government to act swiftly and responsibly to uphold democratic norms and strengthen electoral processes
Akbar warns against failure to put in efforts for party success PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T Recently-appointed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar on Tuesday issued a stern warning to party leaders who fail to put in efforts for the party, emphasizing that there is no place for grouping within PTI
Pakistan slips two places in Corruption Perceptions Index, ranks 135th out of 180 countries
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL
27 out of 100 down from 29 in 2023 indicating a further deterioration in perceived public sector integrity, according to the Berlin-based watchdog’s report released Tuesday Justice (retd) Zia Perwez Chair of Transparency International Pakistan stated that Pak-
istan’s ranking reflects a broader regional decline with several countries in South Asia witnessing a reduction in their CPI scores However, he noted that nations like Oman, China, Turkey, and Mongolia showed improvement in contrast to the downward trend in the region The report pointed to Pakistan s governance challenges particularly in climate finance and regulatory implementation Despite facing severe climate vulnerabilities in recent years systemic barriers including delays in enforcing the Climate Change Act of 2017 have hindered progress The country remains far below the
projected $348 billion needed by 2030 for climate resilience The CPI ranks countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean) The global average remains stagnant at 43 with over two-thirds of countries scoring below 50 signaling persistent corruption worldwide Denmark retained the top position with a score of 90, followed by Finland at 88 and Singapore at 84 At the other end of the index South Sudan ranked as the most corrupt nation with a score of 8 while Somalia and Venezuela followed with scores of 9 and 10 respectively
FBR to monitor bank transac tions exceeding declared income to ensure tax compliance
The federal government has decided to step up scrutiny of individuals engaging in financial transactions that surpass their declared income with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) leading the initiative
FBR Chairman Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance chaired by Syed Naveed Qamar that banks would assist in identifying inconsistencies between individuals reported income and the actual volume of their transactions
“We will provide banks with taxpayer income and turnover data based on national identity card details Tiwana explained Banks will be required to report any transactions that don t align with the FBR’s records, though they won’t be instructed to block them ” As part of this new mecha-
nism, financial institutions will flag transactions that exceed the income figures stated in individuals’ wealth statements or tax returns Tiwana stressed that the goal of these measures is to ensure greater transparency stating Any significant deviation will be flagged and reported to tax authorities ” During the session, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) lawmaker Bilal Azhar Kayani clarified that non-filers would be allowed to purchase property for the first time, while taxpayers could buy new properties for themselves or their families
However he emphasized that these real estate transactions would undergo enhanced scrutiny whether the payment was made in cash or through equivalent assets Committee Chairman Naveed Qamar questioned the inclusion of asset definitions in the legislation to which Tiwana re-
sponded that it was necessary for transparency purposes
This move is part of the government’s broader efforts to improve tax compliance and address financial irregularities across various sectors
In a related development, the FBR recently uncovered a tax fraud case involving Rs 977 million under the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) The scam carried out by two fraudulent companies involved the misreporting of high-value metal imports These companies had imported 47 containers of precious metal molds but manipulated records to declare only 111 metric tons while 1 560 metric tons went unreported The first company evaded Rs 499 million while the second avoided Rs 478 million in taxes Investigations further revealed that the companies were not listed in the FBR’s active registration database raising concerns about gaps in regulatory oversight
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Tuesday extended interim bail for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
founder Imran Khan in six cases and for his wife Bushra Bibi in one case on Tuesday The court adjourned the hearing until February 25 Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka presided over the session, during which Khan s lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry appeared on behalf of the PTI leader The jail authorities failed to submit a response regarding Khan’s requested appearance via video link The assisting lawyer highlighted that Khan s video presence
