Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that one of the key objectives of the terrorists is to prevent Pakistan from benefiting from its vast natural resources, emphasizing unity to overcome the threat of terrorism “Pakistan was blessed with trillions of dollars worth of natural resources foreign elements who are giving financial support to terrorists do not want Pakistan to benefit from its mineral resources ” he said while addressing the ceremony of Rab-e-Zuljalal ka Ehsaan – Pakistan in Islamabad Federal ministers parliamentarians ambassadors from Islamic countries, religious scholars and youth participated in the convention Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in terror attacks in January 2025 surging by 42% compared to the previous month according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank KP and Balochistan remained the worst-affected provinces In KP s settled districts militants carried out 27 attacks resulting in 19 fatalities including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and two militants Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister said that the security forces of Pakistan were sacrificing their lives in the war against terrorism to secure the country s future
g PETROL NOW COSTS RS254 63 PER LITRE, WHILE HIGH-SPEED DIESEL STAYS AT RS258 64 PER LITRE, EFFECTIVE FROM MARCH 29
A local in Islamabad on Friday granted post-arrest bail to journalist Waheed Murad against the surety bonds of Rs20 000 following his two-day physical remand in a case registered under cybercrime laws for allegedly posting intimidating content online Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah heard the case while FIA officials produced the journalist in the court upon completion of twoday physical remand Judge Abbas Shah approved Murad s bail against surety bonds of Rs50,000, after the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) failed to present substantial evidence in the case
During the proceedings Judge Abbas Shah questioned the FIA officials on what material had been recovered from journalist Waheed Murad The journalist’s legal counsels – Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha argued that their client had merely quoted statements made by Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal, which were already in the public domain
The FIA contended that the post referred to alleged Baloch genocide and was therefore under investigation
The court then granted Murad s post-arrest bail in the sum of Rs50,000 surety However, the bail bonds were
lowered to Rs20 000 on the request of Murad s lawyers, and he was released after the surety bonds were submitted to the court Meanwhile, the court disposed of the application after the withdrawal of the application challenging the remand in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Afzal Majuka
The Islamabad-based journalist was arrested on March 26 at 2am after being allegedly abducted
from his residence and later handed over to the FIA
During a previous court appearance, Waheed Murad told the judge that police forcibly entered his home took him away and assaulted his mother-in-law
His lawyers – Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, revealed that Waheed Murad had already filed a petition for protection from illegal detention before his arrest
g
with textile and chemical firms challenging the decision in court On March 7,
Pak istan repays $1b loan to Industrial, Commercial Bank of China in March
Additionally Rs500 million was approved for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Deserving Artists Endowment
Terror in Balochistan
Deadly attacks in Quetta and Gwadar show the terrorists have not been quelled
Abomb blast in Quetta which killed three people carried the signature of sectarian militants, while an attack on GwadarKarachi bus, with six passengers killed after checking their ID cards was the sort of crime that separatists have committed in the past? Coming on the same day, it is probably not a coincidence, and shows that the two types of terrorists are coordinating their activities and not just in the matter of timing This came just a couple of weeks after the Jaafar Express outrage, where separatist terrorists hijacked a train and killed passengers belonging to a law enforcing agency In Quetta law enforcers this time policemen seem to have been targeted It was an unfortunate coincidence that the Prime Minister was expressing the belief that the young would be a driving force for progress through the adoption of new technology while speaking at the launch of the Digital Youth Hub
The vision he has is shared by all Pakistanis, but the setting up of a committee under Interior Minister Mohsin naqvi as was notified on Thursday probably won t cut it The threat is immediate, and while the military deserves full kudos for eliminating the terrorists in the train hijack Thursday’s attack provided a grisly reminder that the terrorist threat is not over The attacks are also a reminder that the province faces two different terror threats, which may involve different means of solution If the national Action Plan has not been implemented, that would not explain how separatism is to be tackled If the problem is developing a political consensus, then stopping PTI founder Imran Khan from meeting lawyers or family members, as happened at Adiala Jail despite Islamabad High Court orders, is not the way of going about building such a consensus Whatever the reasons for denying him the meetings court orders are court orders
However, whether he wants to be part of the solution or not, he is not part of the problem The government had claimed he was and it blamed him for preventing the kind of political stability needed for economic stabilisation and growth Such activities as the Digital Youth Hub do require political stability and peace but it not just freedom of movement that is needed, but being alive also counts The challenge must be met, as the shadows of Paltan Maidan have not been dispelled
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
W a t
THE Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) is a leading international trade organization that promotes trade and industry in the Asia-Pacific region Established in 1966, its mission is to foster economic cooperation, trade relations, and industrial development among the countries in the region CACCI comprises chambers of commerce and industry from over 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific uniting them on a single platform The organization was instituted when several countries in the Asia-Pacific region recognized the need for a common platform to promote trade and industry on a regional level Since then, it has played a pivotal role in fostering economic development trade cooperation and industrial modernization in the region The organization's primary objectives are to reduce trade barriers among member countries expand investment opportunities, and promote the exchange of trade policies CACCI's member countries include major economic powers in the Asia-Pacific, such as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, new Zealand, and Southeast Asian nations (members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations ASEAn) Additionally South Asian countries like Pakistan India Bangladesh and others are also members The organization has undertaken numerous initiatives to enhance trade among member countries, including trade agreements, investment forums, and trade exhibitions It has also been instrumental in advancing agreements like free Trade Agreements (fTAs) and the regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (rCEP) in the region The regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (rCEP) is a free trade agreement among 15 Asia-Pacific countries, including Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan South Korea laos Malaysia Myanmar new Zealand the Philippines Singapore Thailand and Vietnam
Pakistan has been a member of CACCI since 1985 Through this organization Pakistan has sought to strengthen trade relations with other AsiaPacific nations Key sectors of Pakistan's economy, such as agriculture, textiles, IT, pharmaceuticals, fashion footwear and services; stand to benefit significantly from CACCI s platform By utilizing this platform Pakistan can take substantial steps to boost investment and trade in these sectors
Pakistan s trade relations with Asia-Pacific
countries have a long historical foundation The re-
gion is a significant trading partner for Pakistan facilitating imports and exports of various goods Over the past few years, trade relations have seen considerable growth, and further expansion is anticipated in the future While Pakistan stands to gain many advantages from CACCI it faces challenges such as political instability inadequate infrastructure and inconsistent trade policies To overcome these challenges, Pakistan needs to adopt sound economic policies, improve infrastructure, and create a conducive environment for foreign investors By entering into free trade agreements with CACCI member countries Pakistan can increase its exports Additionally the forum can help attract foreign investment into Pakistan s economy furthermore Pakistan can acquire advanced technology and industrial expertise from developed nations, aiding its industrial progress Participating in CACCI-organized trade exhibitions provides Pakistan with opportunities to introduce its products to international markets and improve its trade policies by learning from others CACCI represents a vital organization for promoting trade and industry in the Asia-Pacific region By leveraging this platform effectively, Pakistan can seize opportunities to expand trade, attract investment, and acquire modern technology However, this requires addressing internal challenges and adopting sound economic strategies Utilizing CACCI effectively can strengthen Pakistan s economy and enhance its role in regional trade
To improve trade relations with ASEAn countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, laos and Brunei) Pakistan must adopt several measures Strengthening these ties would be highly beneficial given the economic stability of ASEAn nations Currently the trade volume between Pakistan and ASEAn is limited, necessitating improvements negotiating free trade agreements with ASEAn countries can help reduce trade barriers Participation in trade exhibitions and fairs in these countries can introduce Pakistani products to new markets Improved banking and financial systems on both sides can facilitate trade transactions while frequent trade delegations can strengthen relationships further reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers is essential, as is upgrading Pakistan s digital infrastructure to promote digital trade logistics and transportation improvements will ensure smoother product delivery Pakistani products must meet international standards to gain broader acceptance Additionally
the world that requires concerted efforts to overcome the issue through adopting water preservation policies Water scarcity refers to shortage of water resources to meet the needs of population and environment further, water crisis denotes that the available fresh water within a
region is less than that region’s demand for a living system” There are multiple causes of perpetual water shortage problem The most important are increasing global warming resulting in climate change abject poverty conflicts and disputes among states, rickety infrastructure, population explosion, lower-than-usual annual rainfall, rapid urbanization, resource intensive economic development, contamination of local water supplies water pollution over-usage of ground water poor and unsustainable water management practices deforestation hydrohegemony of certain states trans-boundary water disputes, iniquitous water distribution and natural disasters including droughts and floods are the redoubtable causes of water shortage at the global level Moreover dependence on the single Indus river system as it accounts for 95 8 percent of total renewable water resources of Pakistan The pressing fact for profound concern is that three-fourths (78 percent) of water resources in Pakistan are coming from outside The affects of water scarcity are drastic, ranging from government regulations on water usage increased water costs to increased food costs further there are myriad of challenges that are profligate in the use of water Pakistan is an agrarian country relying on water for better harvest It is estimated that Pakistan s per capita annual water need will rise to 274 million acre feet by the end of 2025 while the resources remain the same at 191 MAf Moreover as per statistics of IMf Pakistan has become the 3rd most affected country in terms of water resources depletion The continuing alarming water scarcity might have drastic result in terms of geopolitical, geoeconomic and ecological affects The encouraging factor is that Pakistan has a long range of laciers which feed the river system in Pakistan According to Indus river System Authority Pakistan has the capacity of only 30 days to store water Pakistan is not immune to this havoc of water crisis Worryingly, the country has transitioned into water stressed from water-scarce status The main water source of Pakistan is the Indus river Basin It is really alarming that annual water availability has fallen down less than 1000 Cubic Meters per person The disturbing fact is that it is less than the prescribed threshold In the same vein, we evaluate that water is essential for food production Agriculture depends upon on the water resources and droughts wreak havoc on the production of crops and grains Experts have shown their concern that till 2040; availability
of water will be reduced to about 500 cubic eters per capita per annum in Pakistan When we apportion the water availability of Earth we find that oceans constitute 97 percent and three percent is fresh water further within this three percent, 70 percent consists of frozen water available in ice caps and Glaciers and 29 percent is groundwater (utilized through pumping) and the remaining one percent is accessible fresh water This one percent of accessible fresh water includes 01 percent rivers 53 percent lakes 38 percent soil moisture 01 percent water vapor and 01 percent surface water
There are different sources of water including natural sourcse of water which are ponds, rain streams seas lakes rivers and man-made sources of water which contains reservoirs canals tubewells hand pumps taps and wells Water withdrawal characterizes fresh water taken from ground or surface water source, whether on temporary basis or permanent, and it impacts a lot in the phenomenon of water scarcity predicaments The repercussions of water scarcity are galore such as ecosystem disruption biodiversity loss and climate change There is a dire need to review the environmental consequences to set right the shoddy situation Water pollution costs Pakistan an estimated 3 9 percent of its GDP annually, causing health problems and economic loss Moreover, social and economic impacts including Human health hazards economic strain and rampant social inequities are the outcomes of a haphazard water policy Water pollutants are other potential snags in developing a better ecosystem In order to save the reservoirs and dams in Pakistan, it is essential to build the Diamer –Bhasha dam This large scale dam project will definitely help in saving the flood water However there is a dire need to adopt smart irrigation methods to save waters and discourage the use of groundwater especially through tubewells In Pakistan, the Tarbela and Mangla dams are the only dams to save the rain and floodwater Already, United nation Development programme (UnDP) and Pakistan Council of research in water resources (PCrWr) have warned about absolute water depletion frequent floods and droughts if essential remedial measures are not taken to save the water from depletion In order to overcome the water crisis, national consensus and unfaltering political will re needed, and outstanding disputes about Kishenganga and Baglihar Dam should be settled down nevertheless the building of new dams cannot be ignored Given the alarming water crisis situation, procrastination would prove a death-knell There is a dire need to set right the internal maladministration for that purpose, sustainable water management is a perennial process taking into account of ecological economic and social functions through the whole river basin
The writer has a doctorate in Political Science from Govt College University Faisalabad and can be reached at rizwanbh79@gmail com
Ever yday gratitude
Demographic shift
More neglect
DR MuHAMMAD RIzwAn BHATTI
The law is against India
minister Jawaharlal Nehru stated in a telegram which was sent to Pakistan s first Prime minister Liaqat ali Khan on 30 October 1947, that [o]ur assurance that we shall leave the decision of the state to the people of the state is not merely a pledge to your government but also to the people of Kashmir and to the world ” similarly in the simla agreement on 2 July 1972 india and Pakistan mutually agreed that [n]either side shall seek to alter it [The Line of Control] unilaterally, irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretation in this way, these are some sufficient legal instruments which negate india’s position altogether that the indian-held Kashmir is its internal affair after rescinding the autonomous status of Kashmir the indian government has deployed almost one million troops in the valley, thereby making it one of the most militarized zones in the world indian troops continue to commit “naked aggression” in the Valley and fundamental rights of Kashmiris have been grossly abused arbitrary detention of the youth; blackout of media; restriction on rights to freedom of opinion and expression, liberty and security, mobility, and privacy; access to justice; and alleged sexual assault are some incontrovertible evidences of systematic violation of fundamental norms of international law Victoria schofield s poignant observation in the book Kashmir in Conflict aptly captures the paradoxical essence of the Kashmir Valley she writes that “the beauty
and tranquility of the valley was almost tangible but it hides an inner pain This dichotomy between the Valley s breathtaking beauty and the underlying anguish of its people has been a recurring theme in the region’s turbulent history The indian aggression in the Valley has transformed this inner pain into a palpable reality leaving an indelible mark on the lives of Kashmiris moreover anurudha Bhasin s book a Dismantled state: The Untold story of Kashmir after article 370 provides a vivid testimony to the brutal mechanisms of control employed by the indian state it states that the “apparatus of terror and control operated in the form of night raids arbitrary arrests detentions torture and alleged sexual assault continued for days Consequently, it is perpetuating a culture of fear and impunity These egregious human rights abuses have continued unabated, leaving Kashmiris to suffer in silence Bhasin’s book serves as a powerful indictment of the indian government s actions highlighting the imperative need for accountability and justice in the region
The international Covenant on Civil and Political rights (iCCPr), which was adopted in 1966, is an international human rights treaty india is signatory to the iCCPr which enables people to enjoy a wide range of human rights such as freedom from torture and other cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; fair trial rights; freedom of thought, religion and expression; privacy, home and family life; and equality
Therefore, Pakistan must propagate the Kashmir cause on the basis of international law Global human rights organizations should be apprised of India’s inhumane treatment of people in Kashmir Selfdetermination is an inalienable right of Kashmiris and it becomes the responsibility of the world community and international organizations, which promise to uphold the norms of international law, to help Kashmiris in realizing their right to self-determination by pressurizing India to reverse its unilateral action of abrogating the autonomous status of Kashmir and to cease its blatant human rights violation in the Valley In fact, the role of great powers occupies a key position in resolving the Kashmir issue
Amid ongoing attacks by Hindu nationalists, the message is clear: stay quiet and invisible, or be punished
and non-discrimination
Lamentably, the modi government’s actions in the valley have been in violation of all these fundamental rights india’s attempt to bring about demographic change in Kashmir and assault on Kashmir identity are in contravention of international law the UN Charter, the UNsC resolutions for holding an impartial plebiscite in the Valley, the international Covenant on Economic, social and Cultural rights and the Fourth Geneva Convention which is a customary international law that bars parties from depriving people of their fundamental rights especially in conflict zones The ongoing situation in indian-held Kashmir is a stark example of india's blatant disregard for international humanitarian Law where the people are subjected to systematic oppression deprivation of life and liberty and blatant human rights abuses
By attempting to portray the Kashmir issue as an internal matter, india is infringing upon the fundamental right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination, a principle enshrined in the UN Charter and various international human rights instruments Public outrage underscores the growing collective consciousness among Kashmiris for both internal and external self-determination from india, highlighting the need for a peaceful and lasting resolution to this longstanding dispute
There are multiple international law instruments both binding and non-binding in nature which clearly put india under an ob-
ligation to allow the people of Kashmir to exercise their fundamental right of self-determination it has been recognized as a right in the UN Charter the UNsC resolutions on Kashmir the Declaration of Principles of international Law Concerning Friendly relations and Cooperation among states the helsinki Final act, and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of action similarly, the international Court of Justice (iCJ) has also pronounced through advisory opinions in cases like Namibia israel Wall Chagos archipelago and East Timor which provide legal sanctity that right to self-determination is universal jus cogens and ergaomnes obligations Therefore, Pakistan must propagate the Kashmir cause on the basis of international law Global human rights organizations should be apprised of india s inhumane treatment of people in Kashmir self-determination is an inalienable right of Kashmiris and it becomes the responsibility of the world community and international organizations, which promise to uphold the norms of international law to help
RamaDaN is meant to be a time of peace for muslims around the world But in india the world s largest democracy , it comes with a different reality The call to prayer is heard alongside the outcries of mobs, and the sounds of bulldozers and funeral processions somewhere another muslim is being arrested beaten or killed a mosque s gate is being rammed a home is being bulldozed somewhere, another news report will emerge of muslims being forced to chant
cian with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making derogatory remarks against followers of islam or of an iftar gathering being attacked Our existence is treated as
phone The examples find you quickly: an instagram reel, a viral clip, a headline that barely trends a provocation disguised as political speech
There was a time when these incidents were shocking - when they would spark outrage, debates, or at least some level of reaction from the state and civil society Now, they barely register The violence is so routine, so expected, that it has become background noise; a fact of life it comes with a clear warning: stay quiet stay invisible or be punished
This year ramadan collided with the hindu festival of holi and in multiple cities, hindu nationalist groups used holi processions as an excuse to harass muslims We’ve seen this pattern before: what starts as a celebration quickly turns into coordinated mob violence
VICTIMS CRIMINALISED
in the city of Nagpur, maharashtra, this month, demands by hindu nationalists to demolish the tomb of a mughal ruler sparked violence, leading to dozens of injuries including police in the end more than 50 people were booked all of them muslim - a punishment disguised as governance The ones who incited the violence escaped any penalty That s how it works now: violence breaks out, and the victims are criminalised
During holi videos surfaced of mobs hurling coloured powder at mosques and
chanting anti-muslim slogans in the city of aligarh authorities covered mosques with tarpaulins - essentially a state-mandated stay inside order The same occurred in other parts of Uttar Pradesh, as if muslim spaces existing in public was an open invitation for attacks in sambhal police made it even clearer: if muslims didn t want to be smeared with coloured powder part of the holi tradition they should just stay inside When the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh defended this statement, the message was evident: stay inside Be invisible make yourself smaller Do not exist But even invisibility isn t enough a muslim man was arrested earlier this month simply for speaking to the media about an attack that occurred after Taraweeh prayers in Gujarat That is the rule in india now: muslims must endure, but never protest; suffer, but never complain These aren’t isolated incidents BJP leaders openly mock and humiliate muslims with impunity raghuraj singh a BJP leader in Uttar Pradesh suggested that muslim men wear tarpaulin body coverings to avoid discomfort during holi
The mockery is intentional, the dehumanisation deliberate This is not just about religious tensions; it is about power control and a relentless attempt to erase muslims from public life THE WORLD SHRUGS
Whether it s in sambhal, Nagpur or any other place, it’s always the same pattern When violence erupts the blame falls on the victims When muslims protest they are punished When they stay silent it is taken
as consent and when they die? The world shrugs and scrolls past all the while those in power continue to stoke the fires of islamophobia, making it clear that there will be no consequences for those who harass, attack or kill muslims Only rewards it is exhausting to wake up every morning in a country that treats your existence as a provocation; to wake up knowing that at any moment your places of worship can be attacked, your businesses shut down, your prayers criminalised Even fasting for ramadan has become an act of quiet resistance - not because it was meant to be but because the state has made it so The normalisation of all this is the worst part it barely sparks outrage anymore as each incident melts into the next There was a time when a mob storming a mosque would have been shocking, when police arresting muslims who were victimised would have been debated Now it is just another day We get a small headline perhaps a viral video and then silence - because there s always going to be a next time Even the idea of justice has changed it is not just about the state refusing to hold hindu nationalist mobs accountable it is also about the system actively punishing those who speak out muslims suffer twice: first at the hands of mobs then at the hands of police courts and government When a muslim man is lynched, police target his family When a muslim woman speaks out, she’s harassed, doxxed and threatened with rape SUFFOCATING CRUELTY This is our everyday reality it s not even
about big moments of violence anymore muslim students are harassed for wearing hijabs; muslim street vendors are beaten for selling their wares in a hindu area ; muslims are refused jobs, denied homes, kicked out of neighbourhoods This is not
What the absurdist imager y from Istanbul teaches us about protest in
the digital era
The viral spread of the footage, amassing over nine million views on X by Friday, demonstrates how internet culture reframes political struggle, making it digestible for global audiences
Tprotester fleeing riot police and ai-generated images of the Joker joining the demonstrations have gone viral transforming a tense political confrontation into a global spectacle This phenomenon raises critical questions about the nature of protest in the digital age is this a spontaneous, organic outpouring of absurdist humour or a regime-change operation leveraging hyper reality? how do we interpret such protests in an era where deep fakes ai-generated imagery and viral memes blur the line between reality and fiction?
VIRAL SPECTACLE The detention of istanbul s mayor on corruption charges – widely perceived as politically motivated – triggered mass demonstrations with nearly 1 900 arrests reported by Thursday The protests reflect deep societal fractures with İmamoğlu symbolising resistance against Erdoğan s authoritarian rule amid water cannons and riot police, a demonstrator in an inflatable Pikachu costume became an unlikely icon of defiance The imagery juxtaposing a cartoonish Pokémon with state repression resonated globally spawning memes declaring Gotta catch em all and Pokémon uprising The contrast between the playful, childlike figure and police brutality creates cognitive dissonance, amplifying the protest’s emotional impact The viral spread of the footage amassing over nine million views on X by Friday demonstrates how internet culture reframes political struggle making it digestible for global audiences Beyond Pikachu, ai-manipulated images inserted fictional characters such as
replaced by symbols
as dissent becomes entertainment The Pikachu runner stripped of its revolutionary potential by social media s attention economy becomes a commodified image reinforcing Debord s critique of spectacle as a tool of depoliticisation Canadian thinker marshall mcLuhan s insight that communication technologies reshape human perception is equally relevant The TikTok-ification of protest – short absurdist clips optimised for virality – changes how resistance is perceived memes once dismissed as frivolous, now function as propaganda, wielded by both protesters and state actors REGIME-CHANGE NARRATIVES The line between organic and orchestrated protest is increasingly blurred The Pikachu stunt mirrors historical uses of absurdity in protest from Pussy riot s punk performances in russia to the meme-driven activism of the anonymous group Yet, the possibility of infiltration – whether by foreign entities or algorithmic amplification –
cannot be dismissed Deep fakes and ai-generated protest images further complicate the landscape, blurring fact and fiction to the point where real dissent becomes indistinguishable from manufactured chaos if protesters (or state actors) flood the internet with fake protest visuals does it weaken the movement – or strengthen
Dr Shoaib baloch
CORPORATE CORNER
P&G's
support as the inaugural corporate partner of the ‘Own a Day’ initiative a reflection of its ongoing commitment to supporting the hospital s daily operations and extending quality care to those in need Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mian Muhammad Younis, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Faysal Bank, said, "At Faysal Bank, we believe progress is best reflected through the positive difference we make in people s lives Our collaboration with Indus Hospital is a step towards strengthening healthcare accessibility and supporting those who need it most It is a privilege to stand alongside an institution that brings hope and healing to so many
N a move to enhance women's security, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Friday said that terrorists infiltrating Balochistan and other provinces are operating from outside saying this is not a war between Balochistan and Punjab rather a war for Pakistan s security
“We do not want provincial conflicts but Punjabi laborers are being identified through their ID cards and killed in Balochistan while so-called YouTubers and Mehrang Lango are silent over the current situation in Balochistan , Punjab Information Minister stated while addressing a press conference at DGPR office here on Friday Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Price Control Salma Butt also addressed the media on the occasion
She said that the Punjab government is continuously working for public relief, saying the provincial cabinet has decided to provide ration cards to 1 5 million families
She emphasized that due to the efforts of the Prime Minister s team, inflation has dropped to its lowest level in 25 years, proving the effectiveness of the government’s policies
On the occasion of the Jummatul Wida she prayed for the alleviation of the hardships of the Pakistani people
She stated that the Punjab gov-
ernment has worked hard to control food prices High-quality goods are being ensured in Ramadan and relief markets to provide maximum relief to the people The Chief Minister of Punjab praised Salma Butt s performance in the cabinet meeting and expressed satisfaction with public welfare initiatives Azma Bokhari also revealed that 120 agenda items were approved in the last provincial cabinet meeting making it the longest agenda in cabinet history Modern systems are being introduced in Punjab to control crime An air ambulance system is being established in Bhakkar, while a crime control system will be activated throughout the province Additionally a special investigation unit is being set up to prevent sexual crimes, which will make investigations more efficient and swift The Information Minister further stated that the Chief Minister personally reviewed the arrest of a
TH E Sindh government has urged the federal government to convene an immediate meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to address the worsening water crisis in the province In a letter sent to the Centre the Sindh government stated that severe water shortages have made it nearly impossible to cultivate crops in the upcoming sowing season The provincial government blamed the crisis on an alleged unfair distribution of water claiming that Punjab has been allocated more than its rightful share under the Water Accord of 1991
The Sindh government also raised concerns over the certificate issued by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) for the Cholistan Canal project calling it illegal and demanding its revocation The letter urged the federal government to suspend the implementation of
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday urged President Asif Ali Zardari to immediately convene meeting of the 10th National Finance Commission (NFC), citing constitutional and financial concerns linked to the merger of former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into KP In a letter addressed Gandapur emphasized that following the 25th Constitutional Amendment, the 5 7 million residents of the erstwhile FATA are now officially part of KP However he stated that the financial resources allocated to
Jumatul Wida obser ved with devotion as thousands gather for prayers ISLAMABAD S TA F F
T
Jumatul Wida the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan was observed with deep religious devotion and fervor across the federal capital as thousands of worshippers thronged mosques to offer special prayers The main congregational prayer took place at Faisal Mosque, where a massive crowd gathered to seek divine blessings, forgiveness, and peace Religious scholars delivered sermons highlighting the spiritual significance of Ramadan the importance of piety and the need for unity among Muslims Special prayers were also offered for Pakistan s prosperity and for the liberation of oppressed Muslims worldwide Mosques in various sectors, including G-6, G-9, G-11, F-8, and I-10, witnessed large turnouts, with many worshippers arriving hours before the sermon Clad in traditional attire the faithful listened attentively to the Khutbah (sermon) which emphasized compassion selfdiscipline and the essence of fasting beyond Ramadan Given the security concerns, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police implemented stringent measures to ensure the safety of worshippers Law enforcement personnel were deployed around major mosques while walk-through gates metal detectors and surveillance cameras were used to enhance security Meanwhile the Al-Quds rally held to express solidarity with Palestine began from Imambargah Asna Ashri (G-6/2) and concluded at D-Chowk It saw significant participation from supporters of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Shia Ulema Council Pakistan Imamia Students Organization and Jafaria Students Organization Speakers at the rally condemned Israeli atrocities and called for greater Muslim unity to support Palestine and Kashmir Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, head of MWM, led the event, stressing that the resolution of these crises is impossible without collective action from the Muslim Ummah As Ramadan nears its conclusion the faithful expressed a sense of spiritual fulfillment while preparing for Eid-ul-Fitr Religious leaders reminded worshippers to pay Zakat-ul-Fitr ensuring that the underprivileged can also partake in the upcoming celebrations
