Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir on Saturday reiterated the armed forces pledge to defeat terrorist proxies whom he termed ‘frenemies’ after the martyrdom of 18 paramilitary personnel in Kalat terror attack and ensuing sanitization operation in Balochistan s Harnai Those who are acting as terrorist
proxies of their foreign masters who have mastered the art of displaying double standards of hunting with the hunter and running with the hare are well known to us,” COAS Munir said during a visit to the province on Saturday No matter what these so-called frenemies may do you will surely be defeated by the resilience of our proud nation and its Armed Forces Inshallah For the defence of our motherland and
its people we will definitely retaliate and hunt you down , whenever required and wherever you may be, he said It is to be noted that 18 Frontier Corps personnel were martyred during the Kalat security operation on the intervening night of January 31 and February 1 against terrorists who were trying to set up roadblocks in the area to target civilian vehicles At least 12 terrorists were also killed in the operation
L LS L A N D
FBR misses Januar y tax target by Rs84b, seven-month shor tfall reaches Rs468b Chinese automotive giant signs agreement to boost NEV development in Pakistan
ongoing fiscal year 2024-25, against the assigned target of Rs6,964 billion While the trend of slower revenue collection is expected to persist in February officials anticipate a recovery in the last quarter of the fiscal year mitigating further losses The expected increase in palm oil imports by March 2024 is also projected to boost tax revenues, particularly in import-related duties, helping to narrow the revenue gap in the coming months According to the FBR officials the International Monetary Fund (IMF) evaluates tax collection on a quarterly basis instead of a monthly basis The revenue collection target from January to March is Rs3 150 billion, and the FBR expects improved collection in
March as economic activity picks up The FBR faced a cumulative shortfall of Rs386 billion during the first half of the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25 On Thursday Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that the Rs386 billion revenue shortfall in the first half of FY25 was primarily due to lower-than-expected autonomous growth He attributed this to exchange rate stability lower inflation and sluggish GDP and manufacturing sector growth Langrial projected that the shortfall could reach Rs447 billion by February 2025 but expressed confidence that revenue growth would accelerate in the final
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b a i j a n i o ff i c i a l s o n m u t u a l p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h P a k i s t a n o n r a i l r o a d a n d o t h e r m e a n s o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n s C o o r d i n a t o r o f S I F C L t G e n S a r f a r a z A h m e d a n d F e d e r a l S e c r e t a r y P e t r o l e u m M o m i n A l i A
COMMENT
The IMF comes calling
First review beginning to loom large
AN International Monetary Fund team is expected to visit in March, for the first review of the current 37-month Extended Fund Facility This package of $7 billion is due for its first review by the end of the quarter, after which the second tranche worth $1 billion will be disbursed With $30 35 billion to be paid next year not only will the cash be useful but a successful review will mean IMF approval of the current reform programme and thus make it feasible to go to the money markets for the money that would enable the country to make the payments
The biggest problem was illustrated by the January revenue collection figures, which added Rs 84 billion to the shortfall, which has reached Rs 468 billion for the first seven months of the year The January shortfall came even though January collection was up substantially over theyear before The implication is that the target may have been set too high by the IMF, and there will be a strong push by the government for revision of the target At the same time, one reason for the reduction is the decrease in inflation, and it is anticipated that the resulting economic growth will mean increased revenue However, that is not the only trouble foreseen as the imposition of an agricultural income tax is missing deadlines as is the taxing of retailers Pakistan will have to show that it is making progress on these issues and can at best hope for an extension in the deadline rather than a complete waiver It is also encouraging that the tax-to-GDP was increased going from 9 5 percent in the first quarter to 10 8 percent, though still short of the 13 percent promised by the government for the end of the programme
The main problem the government will have to tackle is whether it is likely to achieve the goal of avoiding an IMF programme at the end of the current one That will depend on whether it is able to implement this programme successfully, not so as to get another programme, but so as to avoid another programme Clearly, Pakistan wants to avoid the fate of Argentina, which has been in IMF programmes since 2008 the latest of which was for $44 billion last year Pakistan must learn to export more that is the only way for it to be abled to pay its debts
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
THE devilish menace of human trafficking prevalent in the society was not something new Unfortunately, it has been there for years, nay decades together, ever since the plague of corruption erupted in the country much sooner after the creation of Pakistan As a matter of bitter fact the lust for wealth had found its place in the society as the spirit demonstrated during the Pakistan Movement dissipated much sooner than expected Cutting the long bitter story short, the menace of human trafficking was recently highlighted following boat capsizing tragedies carrying Pakistanis along with others off the coasts of Morocco and Libya had occurred one after the other not only leaving a good number of aggrieved families mourning but also shaking the federal government at the highest level of none else but Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who quite rightly took very serious notice of the boat tragedies involving Pakistanis The PM categorically stated that the human traffickers will be punished severely and directed the official agencies concerned to forthwith launch a nationwide crackdown on human smuggling networks throughout the country while regretting the demise of a number of Pakistani youth in the two boat tragedies Tragedies like boat capsizing have occurred in the past, but somehow the latest boat tragedies had
not only jolted the decision makers out of their somehow deep slumber and the prime minister had chaired series of meetings on this burning issue and is personally monitoring the progress of the action being taken against human traffickers The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) , apparently the main law enforcing agency tackling the burning issue of human smuggling geared itself up on the PM s strict direction and forthwith launched a massive countrywide crackdown against the elements involved in human smuggling As a result of this crackdown, the FIA within couple of weeks arrested 185 human smugglers and their agents, nabbed another 38 highly wanted human smugglers listed in the Redbook confiscated properties worth more than Rs 450 million and froze bank accounts amounting to over Rs 70 million of the elements involved in much condemnable business of human smuggling as well as issued red notices for the arrest of about two dozen human smugglers through Interpol The crackdown was continued as it was being constantly monitored at the highest level Since human smuggling business apparently could not be carried out in the country persistently without direct and indirect involvement of the FIA officials it was perhaps for the first time in many years that a number of the FIA s own officials of varying levels were dismissed and more were brought up for strict inquiries for their possible involvement in this dirty business Gory details in this regard were being ignored for want of space Seemingly not being satisfied the PM has now set up the Special Task Force which he himself is heading for effectively and more aggressively combating human trafficking, emphatically stating that the perpetrators involved in human trafficking would be brought to justice at the earliest , directed all official departments and agencies to
As of now, this scribe cannot help but point out that in the first instance there were not many branches of both the above-mentioned corporations and not much was known about their locations The federal government should better look into this important point so that more and more people come to know about facilities available for seeking and securing employment abroad, instead of quite ignorantly falling as prey to the human traffickers and their agents and lamenting afterwards over the losses of their sons in boat tragedies every now and then
Weaponisation of Social Media Algorithms
Can Big Tech be beaten?
IN the age of fifth-generation warfare, battlefields have shifted to the minds of common citizens where misinformation and propaganda dominates Social media platforms with billions of users worldwide are designed to maximise engagement through algorithms For instance, despite Facebook’s policy against violent content, its algorithmic recommendation in Myanmar inadvertently promoted propaganda It indicates that these social platforms have become a fertile ground for repressive regimes and political entities to propagate their narrative, often with the complicity of Big Five tech companies Tech companies, particularly the Big Five, make up eight of the top ten largest companies by market capitalisation in the world These companies are profit-motivated and have minimal governmental control Therefore in pursuit of profit they collaborate with states to form a digital repression supply chain These companies use algorithms to prioritize content and amplify narratives that promote state-sponsored propaganda while suppressing dissenting voices As a result these virtual platforms have become battlegrounds for fifth-generation warfare with common citizens as controlled targets To influence and shape users on social media, the strategy of algorithmic amplification is being used by tech companies At its core, an algorithm is a structured set of instructions designed to guide information technology systems in performing specific tasks On social media platforms they are programmed to curate promote and censor con-
tent based on predetermined parameters The operation of these algorithms is further enhanced by machine learning to prioritise content that generates higher engagement metrics such as likes, shares, and views For instance, in the context of Facebook its Natural Engagement Pattern creates a feedback loop where highly engaging content is circulated more widely Thus viral content regardless of its accuracy dominates social media platforms and often shapes public opinion Social media algorithms also operate as a double-edged sword to censor and de-censor content based on commercial interest On one hand tech companies support sponsored censorship in repressive regimes and on the other hand they perform selective de-censorship for commercial gains For instance, through Project Nimbus, Google censored the pro-Palestinian narrative and meta de-censored hate speech content due to a decline in user activity on the platform This global phenomenon of algorithmic manipulation finds a stark manifestation in Pakistan where social media platforms are a tool of connectivity as well as a fertile ground for misinformation Pakistan is home to 71 70 million active social media users with the Big Five having the major share of these platforms This widespread use of social media provides these companies open access to the Pakistani market Mean-
while the engagement pattern of social media algorithms prompts viral content in Pakistan This content is often based on misinformation which leads to politicised propaganda and public mobilisation For instance in 2023 the Violent Extremism Prevention Unit (VEPU) identified 700 accounts responsible for propagating religious and terrorism-based content on social media Moreover hashtags and slogans are used by political entities and pressure groups to assault communities and individuals digitally In response to this digital propaganda the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting initiated a fact-checking account on Twitter However, the account has very low outreach compared to the number of social media users in Pakistan Additionally a majority of social media users in Pakistan are not digitally savvy enough to fact-check the misinformation Therefore stakeholders need to focus on educating social media users about misinformation and digital propaganda through social media platforms, turning this bane into a boon Furthermore to spread awareness among social media users about filing complaints there is a need to fully operationalise zonal and regional offices, as mentioned in the Citizen Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules 2020 The weaponisation of social media algorithms and the role of Big Tech in amplifying propaganda, it can be said that profit-driven tech companies are directed toward partnerships with anyone who pays them For this, algorithms are designed for maximum outreach with scrutinised content Therefore Pakistan needs to take pragmatic measures to control the unchecked weaponisation of algorithms by Big 5 tech companies that is harming the digital space of the people of Pakistan Moreover, there is a need to educate social media users regarding misinformation, digital propaganda and fact-checking sources to create a safe digital world Naba Fatima is a researcher at Center for Aerospace and Security Studies CASS
Navigating shipbreaking change
Unsafe billboards resur face
Naba fatiMa
MuhaMMad Zahid Rifat
Displacement or Justice?
Majid Nabi buRfat
Dhistorical connection to their land is not negotiable They have endured over 75 years of occupation displacement and trauma with the memory of the Nakba the catastrophe of 1948 looming large in their collective consciousness The prospect of Nakba II, forced displacement from their ancestral lands once again, fills the Palestinian people with fear and anguish It is a traumatic echo of the past where more than 700 000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes to make way for the creation of Israel Trump s rhetoric evokes this very nightmare, as it seeks to erase Palestinian presence and history, casting them adrift in the very countries that have long resisted such plans It is crucial to recognize that Trump s proposal aligns not only with his own rightwing rhetoric but also with the dangerous policies of Israel s far-right government, which has long advocated for the displacement of Palestinians as a solution to the “problem” of Palestinian self-determination Israeli officials including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have openly supported such actions even suggesting that the idea of resettling Palestinians in neighbouring states could be viable Smotrich's recent statements reaffirm this vision, one that disregards the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-governance His words are backed by a military strategy that includes the expulsion of Pales-
tinians from their land with little regard for the havoc it will wreak in neighbouring nations such as Jordan and Egypt Indeed, Trump s rhetoric is matched by the strategic and military moves of Israel The Israeli government’s unyielding push for territorial expansion, including military operations in Lebanon under the pretext of combating Hezbollah reflects a broader agenda of regional domination Israel s disregard for the sovereignty of its neighbours is a clear violation of international law, particularly the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, which forbids the forced displacement of populations International bodies have long condemned such actions yet Trump s embrace of Israel s policies emboldens the aggressive stance of the Israeli government and undermines efforts for lasting peace in the region Trump’s suggestion of moving Palestinians to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan cannot be viewed in isolation It is tied to a broader pattern of US foreign policy that turns a blind eye to human rights abuses while funneling billions of dollars in military aid to Israel The justification provided for these shipments of 2000-pound bombs "because they bought them" reveals an appalling indifference to the destruction and suffering these bombs cause in Gaza The USA is complicit in the devastation using its economic power to support policies that disproportionately affect Palestinian civilians These bombs, designed to
obliterate concrete bunkers and strategic military targets have caused irreparable damage to the Gaza Strip and left countless civilians dead or injured Trump s position on this issue is not just morally bankrupt it is strategically shortsighted, as it exacerbates the cycle of violence in the Middle East and alienates key global partners The financial priorities of the US government reveal a shocking double standard While military aid to Israel flows unabated US foreign policy in other parts of the world reflects a stark contrast with humanitarian aid being slashed and development programmes curtailed The USA continues to demand fiscal austerity from impoverished nations even as it funnels billions into Israel s war machine This glaring contradiction fuels resentment around the world and underscores the USA s role in perpetuating global inequality By prioritizing military expenditure over humanitarian concerns, Trump and his Administration show no genuine interest in fostering peace or addressing the root causes of conflict
The reality is that the Palestinians will not and cannot be displaced so easily They are a resilient people deeply rooted in their land, and they will not abandon their homeland As Mustafa Barghouti has boldly declared, Palestinians are committed to staying in their land despite the threats and the violence For the Palestinian people this is not merely a matter of geography it is a matter of survival dignity and the fundamental right to self-determination The prospect of forced relocation only strengthens their resolve to resist
Trump s proposal to displace Palestinians also fails to recognize the political and humanitarian consequences of such an action Jordan and Egypt have long made their opposition to such plans clear President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt has publicly rejected the notion of hosting large numbers of Palestinian refugees warning that such an action would destabilize Egypt and endanger its peace treaty with Israel Similarly Jordan has warned that any attempt to push Palestinians across its borders would risk igniting a broader regional conflict, potentially fracturing the delicate balance of peace in the Middle East Other regional powers including Qatar have condemned such proposals emphasizing that they would cross a red line and could provoke widespread unrest in the region The international community s condemnation of these actions is becoming increasingly vocal German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has unequivocally denounced any attempt to displace Palestinians from Gaza affirming Germany s commitment to international law and the human
THE Galwan is one of the many Himalayan rivers A narrow mountain stream, in some places almost a brook in others a turbulent seething mass of icy water foaming on the rocks The river which few people knew about except geographers diplomats and military personnel – staff officers in Delhi and Srinagar and ordinary soldiers who regularly patrolled the disputed territory of the Line of Actual Control between India and China – suddenly became the talk of the town in June 2020
Then literally a couple of months after the announcement of a strict nationwide quarantine in India and China because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a not uncommon skirmish between patrols took place on its banks Indian and Chinese soldiers patrol without live ammunition in accordance with a 1996 agreement and such episodes usually end with a dozen bruises and bumps and a few broken bones But not this time: as far as we know, one of the newly appointed Chinese commanders responsible for this area decided to demonstrate to the Indians and his superiors his uncompromising nature initiative and tactical talents
The Indian military was not going to back down: just recently, Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat said that it was necessary to review the priorities and structure of military spending threatening to freeze the program to build a third aircraft carrier for the navy and the contract to buy 110 fighters from Israel The army had an opportunity to clearly demonstrate that its spending should not be cut The outcome of the clash in the Galwan Valley shocked India Twenty people were killed and neither side used firearms – the injuries sustained from falling off a cliff at night, the fast flow of an icy river and the lack of medical care were enough The Chinese reported four of their own killed, while Indian media later accused the Chinese of concealing losses and wrote about 40 dead PLA soldiers In one way or another Indian society already frustrated by the strict lockdown and frightened by reports from Covid-19 hospitals, demanded a tough response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and the Indian authorities were forced to meet voters halfway Everything that Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had managed to achieve in bilateral relations over the preceding two years went down the drain Modi had visited China in April 2018, unexpectedly for most Indians and outside observers At the time relations between Delhi and Beijing were far from ideal: the Indians were frightened by the growing Chinese presence in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region, where in 2016 the Chinese began building a naval base in Djibouti Indians were irritated by the support that China was providing to their long-time adversary Pakistan In addition less than a year had passed since the standoff on the Doklam plateau
where the Indian Army came to the aid of the Bhutanese military, preventing the Chinese from unilaterally adjusting the border line in their favor Therefore, both the fact of the visit and its outcome came as a surprise: the negotiations took place in an extremely friendly atmosphere and the concept of the Wuhan spirit firmly entered into common usage, by analogy with the term Shanghai spirit, used to describe an atmosphere of mutual trust, understanding and readiness for cooperation
The following year Xi Jinping visited Modi in Mahabalipuram There according to media reports the Wuhan spirit grew even stronger Then the pandemic began and the Galwan Valley incident occurred, demonstrating that the most ambitious strategic plans can collapse due to a nasty virus combined with an overly proactive commander along a disputed section of the border
Only five years later during a personal meeting between Modi and Xi at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan, was it finally possible to turn the Galwan page in the history of bilateral relations A fullfledged settlement of all problems is still far away and it is too early to talk about the return of the Wuhan spirit Soon after the Kazan summit however both sides withdrew forces from the border and agreed on patrol schedules to avoid future clashes in the disputed areas At the recent meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval the parties agreed on a six-point program of further cooperation regarding the border India, which until recently had looked at its northern neighbor in the Himalayas with demonstrative suspicion, has suddenly changed its anger to mercy, and not without reason Until recently India has successfully pursued a policy of Duobus litigantibus tertius gaudet (the third party enjoying itself while two are fighting) The Americans, who
are trying by hook or by crook to prevent the growth of China s power and its transformation into the world s leading economy, are ready to pay handsomely for Sinophobia India is in such a convenient strategic position that the US helps it simply because it exists and has a territorial dispute with China – until of course it is settled and India and China become best friends Delhi understands very well what exactly the US wants from the Indians, but does not see this as a particular problem as long as American and Indian interests coincide
Neither India nor the US want to see China as the only world superpower and the only pole of power in Asia However, the Indian elites realize that China will not disappear from the world map and will forever remain India’s neighbor This means that even a successful conflict in the present may result in huge problems in the future and India has no reason to lend blind support to the American strategy, because all the benefits in the event of its successful implementation will go to the US, while India will get the bruises Before the “Galwan incident ” India was quite successfully trying to sit on two chairs developing economic relations with both the United States and China In that situation this was the only reasonable strategy By 2014, India had a lot of problems with its economy, and the Modi government, which won the elections that year launched a package of programs in order to maintain the growth rate at least at 5% of GDP aimed to include India in global production chains
The key programs were infrastructure development (construction of roads and railways, canals and ports) and the mass retraining of specialists, who were taught skills which are in demand in the new world Both China and the US were extremely important to India: the work of almost all sectors of the Indian economy from pharmaceuticals to IT, depended on Chinese im-
US must fight China’s new space race
ports and the US was (and remains) the most promising export market for India After the Galwan incident, the balance was destroyed, and the Modi government, realizing that it would not be possible to resolve the situation in relations with China in the coming years decided to squeeze the maximum possible out of the border incident, behaving
Trump Aligns with Zionist Agenda
W O H O S TA G E S R E T U R N T O I S R A E L
T E R H A M A S R E L E A S E
Education: BARD Foundation’s
Enduring Legacy at LUMS
PUNJAB CM HOSTS 16 FOREIGN DEFENCE ATTACHES AT LUNCHEON
Punjab’s Shahid Aftab wins NBP National Snooker Championship
T
Punjab s Shahid Aftab won the NBP 49th National Snooker Championship, defeating National Bank’s Muhammad Sajjad 7-5 in an exciting final NBP’s Senior Vice President Mudassir Inamullah was the guest of honor and he alongside PBSA Chairman Alamgir Shaikh presented trophies and awards to the winning and runner-up cueists and other players According to Tournament Director Naveed Kapadia, the final, held at the NBP Sports Complex Snooker Arena on Saturday, was a thrilling contest between NBP’s Muhammad Sajjad and Punjab’s Shahid Aftab At one point Sajjad was trailing 5-2 but he fought back to level the score at 5-5
However Shahid Aftab clinched the next two frames to win the final and claim the title The frame scores were 69-9, 92-28, 48-70, 73-19, 49-70, 74-38, 79-24, 62-66, 22-63, 25-69, 81-36, and 7161 Shahid Aftab played remarkable breaks of 82 in the second frame 52 in the sixth 79 in the seventh and 81 in the eleventh Muhammad Sajjad also made a 52 break in the third and ninth frames
KIU,
Karakoram International University and Bahria
University Islamabad have agreed to collaborate on various fields including quality assurance, international ranking, student mobility programs, and summer schools According to KIU s Public Relations
Department a team from KIU led by Vice Chancellor
Professor Dr Attaullah Shah visited Bahria
University The team was welcomed by Pro-Rector Academic Bahria University Rear Admiral (R) Muhammad Arshad Javed and his team, who gave
indicators identifying areas of challenge and opportunity for growth Key discussions focused on developing strategies to boost operational efficiency, enhance productivity, and elevate the overall quality of services within the maritime sector ultimately driving improvement
WWF-Pakistan calls for urgent action to protect wetlands
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T WWF-Pakistan on the occasion of World Wetlands Day 2025 underscored the urgent need to protect and restore the country s wetlands which serve as crucial ecosystems for biodiversity local communities and sustainable development In a press release issued on the occasion, WWF-Pakistan highlighted that Pakistan is home to more than 240 significant wetlands, covering approximately 10% of the country’s land area These wetlands provide essential ecosystem services such as water filtration carbon storage flood control and habitat for migratory birds and commercially important fish However, these fragile ecosystems are under severe threat due to water scarcity, pollution, encroachment, unregulated development, climate change, and unsustainable resource extraction “The health of wetlands has been severely impacted by water stress untreated industrial waste land reclamation and agricultural runoff These factors continue to shrink wetland areas diminishing their ecological value the organization stated The degradation of wetlands has placed several species at risk, including the Indus River dolphin, freshwater turtles, and migratory birds The Ramsar-listed wetlands in Pakistan such as Keenjhar Lake Haleji Lake Chashma Barrage and Jiwani Coastal Wetlands are critical breeding and feeding grounds for species like white-headed ducks flamingos cranes and the critically endangered Siberian crane
WON’T ENGAGE WITH INSTITUTIONS IN TALKS IN FUTURE PROTESTS: PTI’S AKBAR
Negotiating committees not yet denotified despite PTI’s withdrawal
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has not formally dissolved the committees formed for negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in a show of his desire for the dialogue to continue The National Secretariat on the speaker s orders has not de-notified the committees as yet It is pertinent to mention here that both the government and the PTI have dissolved their committees formed to find a way out of the current situation through dialogue On Friday, PML-N Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Senator Irfan Siddiqui, confirmed that the government has ended the negotiation
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday that positive results of his recent visit to the US during President Donald Trump s inauguration would be ‘visible very soon ’ Speaking to the media in Lahore on Saturday Naqvi said: You will see positive results very soon Pakistan s government and the US government have a very good relationship and I went there in the same stead “I met with several senators and congressmen there Some things are only based on social media demand and some things are based on reality You have already started seeing some results in reality and some will be happening soon Questioned about the PTI’s call for a protest in Lahore on February 8 coinciding with the tri-nation ODI series involving Pakistan New Zealand and South Africa from February 8-14 Naqvi said the PTI would be requested to not do so, saying it had similarly picked dates that matched up with sensitive
istani
events in November If they don t then , the interior minister said as he trailed off with a smile towards reporters with a nod of his head
To a question about the recent cases of human smuggling the interior minister responded: Give us some time we will be revamping the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) soon on a massive scale He said that the highest number of people involved in the smuggling cases were from Faisalabad and Gujranwala divisions saying We get happy if a Pak-
provide three bags of 10 kg flour per family in the month of Ramadan to the deserving people under the Benazir Income Support Program absolutely free according to an official statement
MANDI BAGAUDDIN S TA F F R E P O R T Eight more Pakistanis who survived the boat tragedy off the shores of Morocco landed at Islamabad airport onboard flight number QR614 on Saturday Of these eight persons namely Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Adeel, Irfan Ahmad, Arsalan, Ghulam Mustafa, Badar Mohaiyuddin, Mujahid Ali and Tasweer Ahmad two belonged to Sheikhupura Sialkot Mandi Bahauddin Gujrat and Jhelum each and they were aged between 21 and 41 years When questioned by the FIA officials the passengers told them about several gangs of human smugglers, involved in sending people to Spain and other European countries via illegal sea routes, whom they paid millions of rupees for travelling They disclosed that these agents also subjected them to torture As per the initial investigation the agents belong to different parts of Punjab
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
lambasted the power usurpers for causing the country s economic meltdown, political turmoil and social unrest merely to perpetuate their illegitimate rule through elitecentric and anti-poor policies coupled with the unabated reign of terror despite the EU s warning about Pakistan s GSP+ status PTI Central Information Secretary Shiekh Waqas, in his strongly worded statement on Saturday, blasted the form 47 government for its unjust 300 percent pay raise of the parliamentarians to shield them from the back-breaking inflation while further burdening ordinary citizens through relentless increase in petroleum products and gas prices
He said that the increase in POL and LPG prices was the sequel to the illegitimate government s anti-poor policies that would further compound their miseries Waqas stated that on one hand, the government was making tall claims of economic turnaround while on the other the middle class and the poor were struggling to make both ends meet contradicting their claims of economic recovery
policies resultantly they were compensated through unprecedented pay hike at the expense of the poor He criticized the government for its continued vindictive policies, inhuman acts, political vendettas against PTI’s leaders and the anti-press freedom controversial constitutional tweaks
Waqas stated that the mandate thieves were little bothered about the state s interests but instead merely focused on further consolidating their unlawful grip on powers in total disregard of the EU’s warning Pakistan not to take its GSP+ status for granted
PTI CIS recalled that EU envoy Olof Skoog categorically told the non-representatives government that military courts should not be used to pursue cases against civilians, besides strongly opposing the controversial Peca tweaks to curb press freedom
Waqas urged the government to immediately halt the ongoing barbarism and the worst human rights violations, as the EU team scheduled to visit Pakistan in June 2025 for the upcoming GSP+ monitoring mission adding that Skoog flatly conveyed to Pakistan that the next round of the GSP+ scheme solely hinged upon Pakistan s compliance with the various international obligations
pressed concern over the sentencing of civilians through military courts as well as over the rising incidents of human rights violations including the massively rigged February 8 general elections
About PTI founder letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan, Waqas stated that PTI was pursuing multipronged strategies and would knock at all doors and would use all available options to get justice and steer the country out of the prevailing untold problems
He hoped that the CJP would take swift action on the letter to address the thorny issues including the ongoing history s worst human rights violations mega poll fraud Islamabad massacre and unlawful detentions of PTI s leaders and workers in order to end the current political uncertainty in the country
Regarding PTI-government talks Waqas said that PTI categorically rejected PM Shehbaz Sharif s offer to form a parliamentary committee, deeming it a mere facade to sweep the issue under the rug, much like the Model Town massacre
PTI leader went on to say that the form 47 government realized that even the parliamentarians felt the pinch if its disastrous economic
The PTI leader noted that the government lacking public mandate was uninterested in forming an empowered judicial commission as they benefited from the May 9 false flag operation, besides the government lacked the authority to make the dialogue process meaningful P
He reminded that besides the EU USA & UK had previously ex-
NEOC said In 2024, Pakistan reported 73 polio cases and collected over 480 polio-positive sewage samples nationwide underscoring the critical need for comprehensive vaccination campaigns
The Pakistan Polio Program conducts multiple mass vaccination drives in a year bringing the vaccine to children at their doorsteps, while the Expanded Program on Immunization provides vaccinations against 12
