ARMY CHIEF VOWS TO BRING PL ANNERS, FACILITATORS OF BANNU CANTT ATTACK TO JUSTICE
targeting” of civilians, including children women and the elderly “exposed the true intentions” of terrorists as enemies of Islam
Emphasising the pivotal role of the local community, he reiterated that national unity is imperative in the fight against terrorism and assured that the armed forces would spare no effort in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Pakistan the statement added
The COAS was briefed on ongoing operations during his visit and the overall security situation of the area He also visited Combined Military Hospital Bannu to check up on the health and well-being of the injured soldiers acknowledging their resilience and unwavering dedication
The army chief commended the high morale and steadfast resolve of the troops reaffirming that the military would continue to serve as a bulwark against terrorism to ensure the state s security and stability
Addressing the troops, COAS Munir lauded their heroic actions, recognising their swift and decisive response in neutralising the attackers and thwarting their nefarious designs adding that the fight against terrorists and their facilitators acting on the behest of hostile elements would continue until its logical conclusion
The army chief highlighted that terrorist groups, including the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), continued to operate from Afghan soil against Pakistan He underscored that the use of foreign weapons and equipment in recent terrorist attacks was clear evidence that Afghanistan remained a safe haven
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan has strongly rejected the remarks made by the Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Jammu and Kashmir during an event at the Chatham House in London
At his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the remarks misrepresent the ground realities and contravene the international law
He said Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally-recognized disputed territory The relevant UN Security Council resolutions clearly stipulate that the final status of the Jammu and Kashmir is to be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices He said India’s prevarication cannot change this reality
The spokesperson said we also wish to underscore that any electoral exercise pursuant to Indian Constitution, cannot serve as a substitute to grant of right to self-determination Similarly, the decades-old
grievances of the Kashmiri people cannot be meaningfully addressed through economic activity down the barrel of a gun
Shafqat Ali Khan said instead of making baseless claims about Azad Jammu and Kashmir, India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir, under its occupation for last seventy-seven years
He emphasized that New Delhi must realize that a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of
the Kashmiri people, is imperative for a lasting peace in South Asia
Replying to a question the spokesperson said Pakistan has been witnessing an alarming increase in provocative statements from different Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims on Azad Jammu and Kashmir
He said however historical facts legal principles moral considerations and ground realities refute all these factitious claims He said the Indian leaders would be wise to help implement the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir instead of harboring delusions of grandeur
Answering yet another question about recent arrest of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) top tier operational commander
Shareefullah and his handing over to the United States, the spokesperson said the intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and the United States is long standing
He mentioned that Pakistani law enforcement agencies efforts against terrorists including Islamic State Khorasan Province have resulted in significant successes
GOVT TO FINALIZE PIA’S PRIVATIZ ATION WITHIN THREE MONTHS: ALEEM KHAN
affidavit confirming whether such a summary was received and whether any record of it exists If the affidavits are not provided, the summary itself must be submitted before the next hearing In her petition Shahbanu argued that she was being discriminated against and unfairly sidelined to block her promotion prospects She stated that being placed as OSD for eight months has severely impacted her career, undermining her right to be considered for Grade-22 promotion Additionally the petitioner requested that her promotion evaluation be based on her record before being placed as OSD and urged the court to strike down the Esta Code provision that grants the prime minister discretionary powers in selecting candidates for promotions, deeming it unconstitutional
DR AP orders urgent recall of substandard medicines,
medical produc ts
g CONTAMINATED INJEC TIONS, SYRUPS, AND IV C ANNUL AS FL AGGED; CR ACKDOWN L AUNCHED NATIONWIDE
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued an immediate recall of several pharmaceutical products after detecting impurities in multiple batches according to media reports The move follows complaints from provincial health authorities and the senior drug inspector of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), prompting urgent action against substandard falsified and potentially harmful medicines and medical supplies According to DRAP drug testing laboratories in Lahore and Rawalpindi found several products to be substandard, leading to their recall The affected items include Ame-Pin injection by Ameer Pharma Aqua-P injection by
Ipram International Flagyl Infusion by Sanofi-Aventis Metroin Infusion by Saturn Pharmaceuticals Euro-Flow Cannula by Euromed Rudazole Injection by Rukha Pharmaceutical, Safemed Injection by Ahad International, and Pulmowell syrup by Vital Phyto Pharma These medicines and medical supplies were flagged due to impurities that could compromise their efficacy and safety Manufacturers have been directed to recall all affected batches immediately, while pharmacists distributors and chemists have been instructed to halt sales and quarantine existing stocks Healthcare professionals including doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, have also been advised against prescribing or administering the recalled products
Suppliers have been asked to provide details of their stock to local drug inspectors to facilitate the removal of contaminated medicines DRAP has warned that the use of these substandard products could result in therapy failure and serious health complications, particularly for immunocompromised individuals children and the elderly The regulator has also launched a crackdown instructing the National Regulatory Field Force (NRFF) and provincial drug control departments to take immediate action The regulatory teams have been ordered to conduct market surveys to identify and remove the defective batches from pharmacies medical stores and healthcare facilities DRAP emphasized that strict regulatory action will be taken against noncompliance, urging all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring the swift elimination of these products from the market to protect public health
Sugar prices set to surge amid shor tage
PSX surges 1,459 points on
Baluchistan Glass increases paid-up capital to Rs6.38b through share issuance
g Company completes Rs3 77b share issuance to settle outstanding loan
g PTC urges FBR to reconsider Export Facilitation Scheme amendments
ISLAMABAD
G h u l a m a b b a s
The Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to exercise caution in amending the Export Facilitation Scheme (EFS) warning that changes that fail to safeguard industry interests could negatively impact Pakistan s exports In a letter addressed to the Secretary of Export Policy at FBR PTC provided recommendations on the proposed amendments outlined in S R O 204 (1)/2025 The EFS introduced in 2021 has been instrumental in enhancing the competitiveness of the textile sector by simplifying processes and ensuring smooth export operations However, the proposed amendments, if implemented without due consideration, could create operational inefficiencies and burden exporters with unnecessary compliance requirements warns the PTC While acknowledging the need for improvements PTC emphasised that any amendments should focus on enhancing efficiency rather than disrupting established processes A key concern is the proposed revision of the processing timeline for determining production capacity and input-output ratios
Under the new amendments the Input Output Coefficient Organisation (IOCO) would have 60 days to process applications, allowing exporters only provisional acquisition of 25% of their declared input goods PTC argues this extended timeframe would create uncertainty for manufacturers operating under strict schedules and has recommended reducing the processing time to 30 days while increasing provisional approval to 50% to ensure smooth operations Another major concern is the extension of monitoring timelines for pending cases under the Chief Collector
(Exports & IOCO) from 30 to 60 days, which could further delay approvals and disrupt supply chains PTC has called for maintaining the 30-day timeline to balance regulatory oversight with operational efficiency PTC has also raised concerns over a proposed amendment requiring annual authorisation of input goods based on IOCO assessments, which would make future authorisations contingent upon the Regulatory Collector’s discretion This PTC argues would introduce uncertainty and bureaucratic obstacles Instead, the council suggests an automatic authorisation process upon submission of reconciliation statements, with any discrepancies addressed through audits to minimise delays while ensuring compliance
g POTENTIAL COLLABORATION
Textile council raises alarm
COMMENT
Trump thanks Pakistan
US President Donald Trump picked Pakistan to praise for its help in arresting Sharifullah, the alleged mastermind of the 2021 Kabul Airport bomb blast which killed 15 US servicemen and about 170 civilians It may be remembered that the blast occurred at the place from which the US, the servicemen were beating a hasty retreat Sharifullah whom Mr Trump described as a monster was a leading operative of the Islamic State-Khorasan Mr Trump announced the arrest during his address to Congress, and thanked the Pakistan government for its help making the arrest based on intelligence provided by the CIA Maybe too much is being read into this, because it shows that the USA, like Mr Trump more generally has a strictly transactional relationship with Pakistan So long as US interests are served, Pakistan is in its good books Pakistan should not get hold of the wrong end of the stick and in any way ignore terrorism it can help punish, because it is still suffering the effects of terrorism, as was seen most recently in the blast in Khuzdar, in which five people were injured
One of the main takeaways is that Americans get their man The most famous example must be Osama bin Laden, who was killed in 2011, nearly 10 years after 9/11 However, while it might provide some sort of satisfaction to the American psyche, to invade Afghanistan and overthrow the Taliban, they are back in power True, in talking to the US National Security Adviser Michel Waltz Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar did discuss information technology energy and minerals no one should assume that all is now well The reference to India as a country imposing very unfair tariffs on the USA may be welcome in Islamabad, but that should not be taken as meaning that the USA is waking up to the way India is exploiting its positive perception to disguise its human rights violations especially in Held Kashmir and against Muslims all over India
Pakistan should not read too much into Mr Trump s praise Perhaps because it should be seen as purely transactional, without leaving any residue of goodwill Pakistan needs to be cautious about where this goes, for it must realize that it is one of China’s most reliable friends and that there is nothing the USA would like more than to draw Pakistan away from China by suitably vague promises
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 final frontier
Ta manned landing since 1972 after the first landing in 1969 The scramble for outer space has seen India getting into the act The Indian Space Reseàrch Organization has set a target of crewed space flight after having carried out a successful unmanned moon landing In
Pakistan’s astronaut will technically be a taikonaut There is apparently a code to be followed: all those who have flown on US missions are astronauts those who have flown on Russian missions are cosmonauts while those who have been on Chinese missions are taikonauts Therefore the Pakistani who goes into space will be a taikonaut It is a little more complicated The term ‘vyomanaut’ is applied not just to the only Indian to go into space Squadron Leader Sharma but also to the alternate then Wing Commander Ravish Malhotra who completed the cosmonaut training (While Sharma retired as a wing commander Malhotra reached the rank of air commodore) Interestingly, both were from Punjab, Sharma being from Patiala and Malhotra born in Lahore The region seems to be starstruck for the only woman of Indian origin in space Kalpana Chawla who died with six others in the 2003 Columbia spa shuttle disaster though a US citizen had been born in Karnal which is now in Haryana state, but which was part of Punjab before Partition While the Indian space travellers now scheduled to man the crewed mission will probably be called vyomanauts, their geographic origin is not restricted to Punjab but they hail from all over India
However their all being air force officers is part of the spacefaring tradition Both astronauts and cosmonauts included a number of test pilots who were usually air force officers There was a smattering of aeronautical engineers, and the USA pioneered the process of recruiting from other sectors It recruited a number of naval aviators perhaps inevitable for a country with such a large naval
a flight on the shuttle At present both astronauts and cosmonauts are created by a visit to the International Space Station a joint USA-USSR collaboration, being a combination of the planned US Freedom space station, and the Soviet space station Mir-2 At present, it is the only presence of humanity in outer space It indicated the overwhelming cost of space exploration India will spend and Rs 100 billion or $1 1 billion on the Gagyaan programme with a crewed flight estimated next year Blue Origin the company founded by Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder, sells tickets on its flights, which take passengers into space briefly, thus qualifying them as space travellers It is priced at $150 000 per seat though no flights are scheduled currently
mineral refining processes
Treshape its economic trajectory but also to establish strategic partnerships that strengthen its trade ties with major global players However if it fails to act decisively the opportunity to harness this multi-trillion-dollar resource will slip through its fingers, leaving the nation yet again reliant on conventional exports while others reap the benefits of its untapped
global supply, has raised alarms in Washington, Brussels and Tokyo The fear of supply chain disruptions particularly amid growing tensions between China and the West has forced major economies to seek alternative sources Countries like Australia, Canada, and even Greenland have recognized the urgency of REE independence and have made significant investments in mining, refining, and processing facilities Pakistan however remains on the periphery of this geopolitical and economic transformation Despite the enormous reserves of REEs hidden beneath its soil the country has failed to develop an effective extraction and processing ecosystem There are several reasons for this: a lack of technological expertise, inadequate regulatory frameworks insufficient foreign investment and political instability that deters global mining giants from entering Pakistan s market Unlike Australia which has aggressively positioned itself as a leading supplier by forming strategic alliances with the USA and the EU, or Canada, which has integrated REE refining into its industrial framework, Pakistan has remained stagnant, neither attracting foreign investment nor developing local expertise Even smaller nations such as Greenland have managed to attract global attention and investment due to their untapped REE potential while Pakistan has yet to even establish a coherent policy regarding the exploration and extraction of these invaluable resources To truly capitalize on its REE wealth Pakistan must take a multi-dimensional approach First and foremost the country needs to modernize its mining policies ensuring that they are transparent, investor-friendly, and conducive to foreign direct investment Pakistan cannot afford to remain a passive player while the rest of the world aggressively secures its future in the REE industry It must forge strategic partnerships with technologically advanced nations such as the U S Germany and Japan which are actively looking to diversify their REE supply chains away from China Joint ventures with global mining corporations could provide Pakistan with the necessary technical expertise and financial backing to develop a robust REE extraction and processing industry The government must also prioritize research and development investing in local talent and institutions to build a skilled workforce capable of handling sophisticated
Another critical aspect is the environmental sustainability of REE extraction Countries such as Sweden and Canada have pioneered green mining techniques that reduce the environmental impact of rare earth mining, which is often associated with hazardous waste and ecological degradation If Pakistan is to develop this industry responsibly, it must learn from these models, implementing sustainable mining and processing methods that prevent long-term environmental damage while ensuring maximum economic benefit Moreover REEs can serve as a powerful bargaining tool in Pakistan s geopolitical strategy As the global REE supply chain undergoes shifts, Pakistan can leverage its resources to attract major international stakeholders securing trade agreements that not only enhance its economic stability but also strengthen its global standing
The U S which has been actively seeking nonChinese sources for critical minerals, could view Pakistan as a valuable ally in counterbalancing China’s REE dominance Similarly, the European Union, which has classified REEs as essential for its Green Deal transition would be an eager partner if Pakistan presents itself as a viable supplier However this requires Pakistan to move beyond mere resource extraction and invest in processing capabilities, ensuring that it is not just another raw material exporter but an active player in the value-added supply chain
Pakistan’s economic and strategic future is at stake and its leadership must recognize that REEs are not just buried treasures but a lifeline to economic progress and industrial transformation The world is already in a silent war over these resources, and those who act decisively will shape the technological and economic landscape of the future If Pakistan continues to delay other nations will fill the vacuum leaving it behind in yet another industrial revolution
The country must seize this moment investing in REE extraction refining and technology-driven industries to transform its mineral wealth into economic power Pakistan cannot afford to be a bystander in this global race; it must emerge as a contender carving its place in the high-stakes REE industry and securing its future as a technological and economic powerhouse
The writer is a freelance columnist
The countr y must seiz e this moment investing in REE extraction,
Violence in schools
Improving math education
MAjId NAbI burfAt
Tpolitics have always been dictated by the convergence of interests among great powers In recent months, a new strategic alignment has emerged one that promises to redefine the balance of power and reshape international relations The growing understanding between the US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is not merely a temporary diplomatic maneuvre but a fundamental recalibration of global geopolitics This shift which critics hastily brand as a betrayal of Ukraine is in fact a return to pragmatic realpolitik It recognizes the failures of past US administrations in their reckless expansionism and acknowledges the need for a world order based on mutual respect and strategic restraint Trump’s willingness to abandon Washington’s rigid antiRussian stance is not a sign of weakness but a necessary correction in the USA s foreign policy one that values stability over endless conflict For years, the USA has pursued a strategy of encirclement
bound by historical and security concerns, was left with no choice but to act in defence of its interests Putin s response to the crisis in Ukraine has been consistently framed as aggression by the Western media but a closer
look reveals a different reality Russia’s military actions were not unprovoked; they were a reaction to NATO s relentless expansion eastward breaking past assurances that the alliance would not extend beyond Germany s reunification Ukraine s strategic importance to Russia cannot be overstated and its NATO ambitions posed an existential threat to Moscow Trump s recognition of this reality is not a betrayal of Ukraine but a recognition that US interests do not lie in fueling an unwinnable war His decision to reassess US involvement in Ukraine, particularly his reluctance to provide limitless military aid, is rooted in the simple question: What does the USA gain from this conflict?
R R E A C H: Despite the romanticized narrative of Ukraine s struggle for sovereignty, its trajectory since 2014 has been anything but democratic The rise of nationalist elements within the government coupled with the suppression of Russian-speaking populations in the Donbas region, fueled internal divisions The Ukrainian leadership, rather than pursuing a balanced foreign policy, committed itself entirely to the Western agenda, disregarding the very real security concerns of its powerful neighbour
The war itself has left Ukraine economically devastated with millions displaced and its industrial base in ruins The Biden Administration s approach flooding Ukraine with military aid while refusing to engage in serious negotiations only pro-
longed the suffering of the Ukrainian people In contrast, Trump’s strategy seeks a resolution that prevents further bloodshed while recognizing geopolitical realities His call for a ceasefire coupled with an economic agreement that would allow Ukraine to repay its debts through resource exports, offers a pathway toward stability Critics argue that this approach turns Ukraine into a US economic colony but the reality is that Kyiv has already
foreign policy that led to this moment The failures in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya demonstrated the limits of military power in shaping global politics Trump s emphasis on negotiation over confrontation is a long-overdue shift that acknowledges these lessons
with Russia
TrumpÊs approach, despite being framed as „capitulation,‰ is in fact a necessar y correction to decades of misguided US policy By prioritizing diplomacy, economic restructuring, and strategic realignment, he is positioning the USA for a future where it can compete without being bogg ed down by perpetual wars As the world watches this new g eopolitical alignment unfold, one thing is cer tain: the ag e of ideological crusades is over In its place is a world where power is defined not by rigid alliances but by strategic adaptability Those who fail to recogniz e this reality will be left behind
Arab states’ alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan may be worse for Palestinians
One of the biggest hurdles facing the new National Citizens Par ty is the countr y ’s entrenched culture of dynastic politics
‘Revolutions succeed not because of ideals alone, but because they control the machiner y of the state’
DO N A L D T R U M P S abandonment of his proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza wasn’t a complete surprise, nor was it the result of one of the volatile president’s characteristic mood swings Since the moment Trump made the bombshell announcement about his desire to own Gaza and turn it into a real estate project his advisers congress members, and experts from US think-tanks got busy persuading the White House to retract the idea However, they seized the opportunity to leverage to pressure the Arab states to set out an alternative proposal for Gaza’s reconstruction which abides by US-Israeli stipulations including moving towards their ongoing objective of normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel Indeed, Trump s retraction wasn t simply a response to Jordan and Egypt’s rejection of the proposal to displace and resettle the Palestinians in their territory The primary reason is likely that influential circles in Washington believed the plan would undermine and further delay the normalisation deal they so desperately want signed between Israel and Saudi Arabia It should also be noted that challenging Arab states to come up with the alternative plan was initially raised by veteran diplomat Dennis Ross from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy - a Zionist think-tank US officials then echoed the call notably the secretary of state Marco Rubio
The timing of all of this was also no coincidence, as it coincided with an unofficial mini Arab summit that recently took place in Riyadh US officials realised Trump’s ideas about Gaza were forming an impediment to Arab leaders’ ability to present alternative proposals Ultimately this push to present an alternative would ensure that responsibility for dealing with the devastating (and costly) consequences of Israel s genocidal war, is placed firmly onto them
The inevitable negotiations that will follow the alternative proposal would ensure that Israeli interests and security requirements are satisfied – something it failed to achieve through war on Gaza Settling this issue will in turn pave the way for the Saudi-Israeli treaty
There will likely be Arab oversight of a transitional phase, and the Palestinian Authority (PA) will be responsible for the administration of Gaza under new terms and new figures approved by Washington The aim of this will be exerting control over Gaza s population and ending Hamas presence there as well as preventing the emergence of any group that will resist Israeli control While from the beginning Israel has vehemently rejected any PA involvement in Gaza, the previous US administration insisted on it In fact, a senior American official met with several independent Palestinian figures to persuade them to take the role but failed It isn t yet clear whether the Trump administration will accept a role for the PA in Gaza especially with its recent halting of financial aid to the Palestinian security forces Furthermore, the responsibility for this decision has been exclusively assigned to Trump’s openly Zionist Middle East envoy Steve Wittkoff who shares Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner s interest in exploiting Gaza s coastline for tourism projects However Trump did publicly change his position on Gaza despite unabashedly lamenting his failure to seize the beautiful piece of land , as he calls it
The fact that major US interests overrode his wishes demonstrates that the US establishment was able to rein him in – at least in this instance Republican Senator Lindsey Graham even publicly and stridently rejected Trump s vision for Gaza s future Certainly, there should be deep misgivings around any Arab alternatives regarding Gaza, as these are being put forward by governments which have enfeebled themselves and reduced the ceiling of their aspirations to securing a role where they can serve US interests These governments have marginalised their own peoples and institutions with some even becoming hostages to Israeli normalisation agreements The fact that the Arab leaders haven’t even threatened to freeze normalisation or economic agreements, has only left them ever more vulnerable to blackmail and pressure from the US and Israel
W H AT I S TO C O M E? The Arab world s dismal non-response to the genocide in Gaza, alongside Israel starting to implement its mass displacement plan in the West Bank by destroying the Jenin and Tulkarm camps and expelling their residents has encouraged the US and Israel to keep advancing their plans to fully isolate Gaza s population With all this in mind we have every right to be afraid - and angry - especially as we are headed towards the potential signing of an Israeli-Saudi agreement This would be the final link in the chain of Arab and regional subjugation, transforming the region into an Israeli-American protectorate Lamis Andoni is a Palestinian journalist writer and academic who launched The New Arab as its editor-in-chief
This is an edited and abridged translation from the Arabic edition
TH E political landscape of Bangladesh has long been shaped by dynastic legacies and the gravitational pull of charismatic leaders The recent emergence of the National Citizens Party, a student-led political formation, raises a compelling question: Can a party born out of a student movement lacking an established political pedigree truly become a dominant force in the country s politics? To answer this we must examine the critical elements that drive political success in Bangladesh The factors pose significant challenges to the National Citizens Party s ambitions, making its rise to power an uphill battle However, the political environment is also ripe for transformation, given the disenchantment with traditional parties and a growing appetite for reform among the younger generation The National Citizens Party emerged from the AntiDiscrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee, both of which played crucial roles in last year s protests that led to the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina s government Yet, the party’s formal launch came months after the height of the movement raising concerns that it squandered its political momentum
Revolutions are driven by emotion and as famed political scientist Samuel P Huntington noted in Political Order in Changing Societies, Revolutionary movements are most successful when they consolidate power before the fervor of the masses dissipates ” Had the National Citizens Party been formed immediately after the July-August uprising, it could have capitalised on the raw energy of the people channeling it into a structured political movement Instead the delay has allowed competing political forces to reclaim lost ground diminishing the party s initial advantage Additionally, in the months following the protests, public focus has shifted toward deteriorating law and order, economic instability, governance concerns, and global crises, further diluting the impact of the movement that gave rise to the National Citizens Party This delay has resulted in a loss of urgency making it harder for the party to maintain relevance WHERE IS THE CHARISMA? Politics in Bangladesh is deeply personal The country s most successful political movements have been spearheaded by leaders who commanded near-religious devotion Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Hussain Muhammad
M a HossaiN
CARRY OUT TRUE MULTIL ATERALISM AND ACT AS A CONSTRUCTIVE FORCE IN A CHANGING WORLD
JIANG ZAIDONG
Tand justice We believe that upholding justice is indispensable requirement of global governance Especially as the Global South strides onto the historical stage international affairs should no longer be monopolized by a small number of countries Countries of the Global South have the right to speak up and defend their legitimate rights and interests The fruits of development should no longer be taken by just a few countries People of all countries are entitled to have a happy life China has always been an important member of the Global South and committed to promoting the unity and revitalization of the Global South President Xi Jinping called for more open and inclusive Global South cooperation announced eight measures in support of Global South cooperation and articulated the vision for countries of the Global South to work together as the staunch force for peace, the core driving force for open development, the construction team of global governance, and the advocates for exchange among civilizations China upholds solidarity and coordination We adhere to the principle of extensive
consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, replacing confrontation with coordination, preventing lose-lose through win-win cooperation, and breaking down small circles with greater solidarity We persist in promoting high-level opening up to the outside world comprehensively advance Chinese modernization with high-quality development, and provide new opportunities for open cooperation among all countries We emphasize that in managing global problems and responding to global challenges all countries should rise above narrow-minded geopolitical considerations and champion the spirit of solidarity and cooperation We support opening up and win-win cooperation, and believe that protectionism offers no way out, decoupling deprives one s own opportunities, and a “small yard with high fences” only ends up constraining oneself We support an equal and orderly multipolar world with a universally beneficial and
inclusive economic globalization China upholds an action-oriented approach As a staunch advocate and practitioner of true multilateralism China has consistently translated its principles into concrete actions President Xi Jinping, with a vision for the world and a commitment to human well-being has proposed the concept of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind and the Three Global Initiatives namely GSI GDI and GCI offering Chinese wisdom and solutions to address common challenges faced by humanity China actively participates in building international organizations, improving the global governance system and enhancing regional cooperation providing valuable references for the international community s multilateral diplomatic practices It continues to make solid efforts to uphold world peace and development Regardless of evolving international dynamics China will maintain strategic resolve to transform external uncertainties with its own stability We will prioritize advancing China s modernization while fulfilling our responsibilities
Trump warns G aza ‘you are dead ’ if hostages not freed
tend the first phase until mid-April Hamas has insisted on a transition to the second phase which should lead to a lasting ceasefire Israel has ramped up pressure not just with threats but also by halting the flow of goods and supplies into Gaza “Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow but it has not yet been defeated The mission is not yet accomplished Israel s new military chief Eyal Zamir warned on Wednesday Also on Wednesday, France, Britain, and Germany jointly called the humanitarian situation in Gaza “catastrophic” and urged Israel to ensure the “unhindered” delivery of aid South Africa said Israel s restriction of aid into Gaza amounted to using starvation as a weapon of war We lack drinking water People are complaining of lack of water in gen-
eral We cannot get rid of the waste which affects the groundwater Abu Hammam al-Hasanat a 34-year-old who lives in the Gaza Strip, told AFP Trump s hawkish language came after the United States confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Hamas with the US envoy on hostage affairs Adam Boehler discussing American hostages Look dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president” believes is right, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said The United States had refused direct contact with the Palestinian militants since banning them as a terrorist organisation in 1997 But Leavitt said that the hostage envoy has the authority to talk to anyone Both the White House and Netanyahu’s office confirmed Israel was consulted in advance Five Americans are believed to remain among the hostages four have been confirmed dead, and one, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive
Trump, Pope Francis, and NATO’s Stoltenberg possibly nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
WASHINGTON n e w S d e S k The list of nominees for the prestigious 2025 Nobel Peace Prize includes over 300 individuals and organizations, with speculation surrounding prominent figures such as former US President Donald Trump and Pope Francis
evacuees urges those with valid U S visas to travel promptly, citing indications of impending travel restrictions The proposed ban is part of a broader immigration crackdown initiated at the start of Trump’s
and others
retribution Shawn VanDiver, head of #AfghanEvac a coalition assisting Afghan
Orural health centers across Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned while chairing a special meeting on the improvement of health sector in the province She added ”Health centers will be provided with medical and diagnostic facilities at par with big hospitals General surgery, gynaecology, diagnostics, medical tests and other facilities will also be made available ” She highlighted,”Health centers will be made initial referral centers for the patients ” She was briefed by the authorities authorities that number of patients in the health centers managed by young doctors has increased three folds Madam Chief Minister said, These health centerswill remain open 24/7 a week after outsourcing RHCs ” She directed the relevant authorities to construct and expand connecting roads of Sambli General Hospital Murree Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed to operationalise OPD of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha by June,
this end was held during a meeting between H E Dr Jemal Beker, Special Envoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of FDR Ethiopia to Pakistan, and H E Khawaja Muhammad Asif Federal Minister for Defence and Aviation During the meeting both sides reviewed the existing level of cooperation between the two brotherly countries and explored various avenues for further collaboration in various areas Ambassador Dr Jemal Beker conveyed the felicitation of the Government of the FDR Ethiopia to the Defence Minister on Pakistan’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council The Ambassador briefed the Minister about the effective role being played by the Ethiopian Airlines in the Look Africa and Engage Africa policy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan He invited the Minister for the SingleCountry Exhibition being hosted by the FDR Ethiopia and organized by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Addis Ababa this year in May
as the introduction of PIA flights to Europe has made the privatization environment even more lucrative and favorable Due to recent measures, the national airline is ready to become profitable again Federal Minister added Abdul Aleem Khan further shared that after Europe flights to the UK will begin within the next three months He highlighted that PIA is the first choice for travel for the 240 million Pakistanis Following Europe and the UK, flights to the United States and the Far East will be functional in the next phase Abdul Aleem Khan mentioned He assured that with positive steps PIA's credibility be restored and the airline would be brought back to its peak Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan also asserted that there is no doubt that Pakistan International Airlines still possesses the potential to become profitable once again
L ahore Traffic Police proposes struc tural reforms amid rising challenges
LAHORE
S H A H A B O M E R
The Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore, Dr Ather Waheed, has submitted a proposal to Inspector General (IG) Punjab Dr Usman Anwar seeking structural reforms in the City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) to address increasing traffic management challenges, Pakistan Today learnt here on Thursday
The information outlines the increasing challenges of traffic control in Lahore and presents a plan to improve supervision through additional posts at different levels However IG Punjab has forwarded the proposal to the Home Department for the Chief Minister s approval
As per the document, Lahore’s Traffic Warden System introduced in 2006 was designed to modernize traffic regulation in the city However the city s daily traffic volume has now reached 8 4 million vehicles, making it difficult for the existing structure to operate efficiently
The proposal highlights a shortage of supervisory officers which limits the department s ability to ensure proper enforcement of traffic regulations Currently CTPL has 2 sanctioned posts of Senior Superintendents of Police (SPs) (BS-18), 14 sanctioned posts of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) (BS17) and 3 414 field officials working under limited supervision
According to the proposal the current structure results in an inadequate chain of command, making it difficult to monitor and control traffic operations effectively
To improve the efficiency of traffic management CTO Lahore has proposed the upgradation of
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Post
As per proposal the CTO Lahore position (BS-19) should be upgraded to BS-20 As all other wings of Capital City Police Lahore are headed by BS-20 officers (DIG rank), making this upgrade necessary for administrative alignment
The proposal also suggests the increase in supervisory officers SPs (BS-18) to increase from 2 to 6 ensuring each police division has a dedicated officer DSPs (BS-17) to increase from 14 to 28, strengthening field supervision The proposed restructuring requires an annual budget of PKR 71 7 million This includes funding for the upgraded CTO position five additional SPs and 14 additional DSPs Well maintained sources in CTPL informed this scribe that the current ratio of traffic officials to vehicles is approximately
to be more lucrative: Abdul Aleem Khan
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched an investigation into the alleged money laundering activities of Armaghan, a key suspect in the Mustafa Amir murder and kidnapping case
According to media reports an FIA team conducted a search operation at Armaghan s residence, seizing digital devices, documents, and other potential evidence The agency has also obtained records of his online accounts including financial transactions communication logs copies of his identification documents and bank records Sources revealed that the FIA has already held an informal meeting with Armaghan and plans to formally arrest him soon Once taken into custody the agency will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into his alleged crimes Investigators also recovered a copy of a firearm licence registered in the name of Kamran Asghar
Qureshi and a diary containing records of Armaghan s online dealings Meanwhile, in a major development in the Mustafa Amir murder case, two witnesses who worked at Armaghan’s residence have come forward with shocking revelations The witnesses Ghulam Mustafa and Zohaib identified the accused in court and provided detailed accounts of the events leading up to the murder According to Ghulam Mustafa, on 1 January he was called to the bungalow at 3pm and found 30–40 people present He claimed that food was being ordered online and that no one was allowed to leave the premises He further stated that when work was completed, they would receive a call from their employer and the house gate would be opened remotely Ghulam Mustafa recalled that on 6 January, a boy arrived at 9 pm and went upstairs, after which he heard gunfire and sounds of a scuffle The accused, Armaghan, al-
legedly instructed them to clean up bloodstains and assured them that everything was under control It is worth mentioning that Mustafa Amir was reported missing on 6 January, and a kidnapping case was subsequently registered Police later arrested the prime suspect Armaghan in Karachi s Defence area
During the investigation, coaccused Shiraz disclosed crucial details to the police He claimed that Armaghan had lured Mustafa Amir to his house where he subjected him to brutal torture using iron rods for three hours
After rendering Mustafa Amir unconscious, Armaghan allegedly taped his mouth shut, Shiraz revealed, adding that the victim was then driven to Hub
The car was stopped near a mountain approximately two kilometres from Dareji Shiraz stated that Armaghan poured petrol on Mustafa and set him ablaze after checking whether he was still alive
Pakistan world’s second-most terrorism affec ted countr y amid record surge in attacks
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Pakistan has been ranked as the world’s second-most terrorism-affected country in 2024 marking a significant deterioration in security, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 report
The country moved from fourth to second place in the index following a 45% surge in terrorism-related deaths which rose from 748 in 2023 to 1 081 in 2024
The total number of terrorist attacks also more than doubled, increasing from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, making it the first year attacks have exceeded 1,000 since the index’s inception The report highlights that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
remains the deadliest terrorist group in the country, responsible for 52% of all terrorism-related deaths The TTP carried out 482 attacks in 2024 resulting in 558 fatalities marking a 90% increase in deaths from the previous year
The rise of the Afghan Taliban has coincided with an increase in terror attacks along the PakistanAfghanistan border further complicating Pakistan’s security landscape The report notes that insurgent groups like the TTP have capitalized on safe havens in Afghanistan, allowing them to conduct attacks with greater impunity Meanwhile, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain the most affected provinces accounting for over 96% of all terrorist attacks and deaths in 2024 The report also
highlights the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) for conducting the deadliest attack of the year a suicide bombing at Quetta railway station that killed at least 25 people
To counter the escalating threat the Pakistani government launched Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in June 2024, a military campaign aimed at eliminating militants and dismantling terror networks The operation has included airstrikes and targeted raids with Islamabad reportedly conducting strikes on TTP camps in Afghanistan s Paktika province
As terrorism continues to surge, security experts stress the urgent need for enhanced counter-terrorism cooperation with regional and global partners to curb militant activities and restore stability
TOBA KAKRI
S TA F F R E P O R T
Security forces arrested four suspected terrorists during an intelligence-based operation near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan s Toba Kakri area, officials confirmed on Thursday According to security sources, weapons including Kalashnikovs hand grenades and other firearms were recovered from the suspects The arrested individuals reportedly confessed to planning a major terrorist attack and admitted to entering Pakistan from
Afghanistan three days ago The successful operation was carried out with the assistance of the local population who played a crucial role in identifying and countering the suspects Security analysts have praised the increasing cooperation between civilians and law enforcement agencies in combating terrorism Pakistan has faced a surge in militant activities particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan following the collapse of a ceasefire between the government and the banned Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP) in November 2022 Authorities have repeatedly urged
denies The arrests come amid heightened security concerns following a deadly blast in Khuzdar that killed five people and injured ten others Additionally, an attack on Bannu Cantonment earlier this week resulted in the deaths of five soldiers while security forces killed 16 terrorists in retaliation Pakistan has
