Finance minister says budget to offer salaried class relief, power bill cuts by July
he said On fiscal matters the minister stated that discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are progressing positively and the government is committed to improving tax collection We aim to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio from 9–10% to 13% Only if we broaden the tax base will this be the last IMF programme ” he said Aurangzeb also signalled upcoming
Eight
P unj abi w orkers k illed in Iran’s B alochis t an-Sis t an province: repor t s
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O
Eight Pakistani workers were killed by unidentified armed assailants in Iranian province of BalochistanSistan on Saturday morning
This is the second such incident of targeted killing this year involving Pakistani nationals working on the Iranian side of the border In January unknown gunmen had killed nine Pakistani nationals in southeastern Iran
As per sources, the latest incident took place in the village of Hizabad Paein, a small town about five kilometres from Mehrestan district in Iran’s Sistan and Balochestan province
According to sources the slain workers are residents of Bhawalpur district in southern Punjab They quoted local police as confirming
that the incident took place in Hizabad Paein village of Mehrestan district in the Balochistan-Sistan province
The unknown attackers who were more than a dozen managed to escape from the scene after the attack
Additional information revealed that the eight victims hailed from Pakistan’s Punjab province and used to work at a car repair workshop
Among the victims were a man and his two sons who had been working at a car repair workshop, confirmed one of the sources
While the motive behind the targeted killing is still uncertain it is suspected it relates to the ongoing ethnic killing of Punjabis from the Balochistan province of Pakistan
Five of the victims were identified as Dilshad, Naeem, Jafar,
Danish and Nasir The deceased Dilshad is said to be the owner of the motor workshop that was targeted by the terror attack
The deceased belonged to Bahawalpur district of southern Punjab The bodies have been shifted to nearby hospitals The process of identification and verification of the citizenship of the remaining bodies is ongoing
A team from the Pakistani embassy has left for the Iranian province of Balochistan-Sistan Pakistani embassy officials will visit the accident site and hospitals to assess the situation
Due to the remote location near Pak-Iran border there is difficulty in obtaining information The alleged involvement of the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in terrorism cannot be ruled out, diplomatic sources
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
Pakistan and the United States on Saturday reaffirmed the resolve to further strengthen and diversify bilateral relations in the areas of mutual interest
The resolve was reaffirmed during meeting between Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and a visiting US Congressional delegation in Islamabad on Saturday
The delegation comprises Congressmen Jack Bergman Tom Suozzi and Jonathan Jackson
The two sides resolved to further strengthen and diversify bilateral rela-
tions in the areas of mutual interest, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release Earlier Pakistan government has decided to send a high-level delegation to the United States to address the newly imposed 29% tariff on Pakistani goods exported to the US, the Prime Minister s Office (PMO) confirmed The decision came after the US imposed heavy tariffs on several nations including Pakistan on April 2 A press release issued by the PMO stated that the delegation would be led by key government officials, along with prominent business leaders and exporters, though the specific members of the team were not disclosed
The delegation’s primary objective will be to engage in negotiations with US authorities over the newly imposed tariffs and work on a mutually beneficial approach for future trade relations Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the importance of strengthening Pakistan s trade relations with the US, which have been ongoing for decades He expressed the government’s determination to resolve the issue and further enhance the bilateral
by Prime Minister
t
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the federal government to draft a policy within two months aimed at addressing the growing illegal trading and business activities involving cryptocurrency across the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa according to media reports The court has also ordered the submission of a report detailing the progress
The directive came from a division bench consisting of Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal during the hearing of a petition filed by Barrister Huzaifa Ahmad The petitioner, representing himself in court, raised concerns about the lack of regulation surrounding digital currencies which despite a 2018 notification from
Ministry of Information
Influx of C hinese c ar companies putting pressure on Pakistan’s loc al manufac turers: repor t
g COMPETITION IS EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF RECIPROC AL TRUMP TARIFFS ON CHINA ; IMPORT OF EVS MAY CURB LOC AL S ALES GROWTH S AYS AKD SECURITIES
Eado EV In response automakers such as Toyota have been forced to ramp up their offerings for the Pakistani market With increased competition in the market, the goal for Changan is to capture a larger share by targeting the EV segment, which is seeing an uptick due to rising government support for electric vehicles EVs and hybrid vehicles are expected to perform well given the governmental incentives for the production and adoption of these energy-efficient models IMPORT OF EVS MAY CURB LOCAL SALES GROWTH AKD Securities said that with the implementation of reciprocal tariffs, local car producers are facing increased competition from Chinese imports The arrival of Chinese EV manufacturers such as BYD is expected to put more pressure on local manufacturers
This is particularly pertinent as the Chinese government has lifted tariffs on electric vehicle imports and has shown interest in setting up manufacturing plants in Pakistan
posts, such as script editors and assistant controllers A substantial number of Grade-17 positions, including engineers, officers, and producers, have also been removed The decision affects numerous lower-level positions such as typists drivers gardeners and
for market share between local manufacturers and international suppliers is expected to intensify INDU reported total sales of 3,100 units, an 8% increase YoY in March The increase is mainly attributed to higher sales of the Fortuner and IMV models, which have recently benefited from incentives including new pricing Other models such as the Corolla Yaris and Cross were reported at 3 278 units up 15% YoY Changan entered Pakistan with several new models, including electric vehicles like the Changan
The report added that a reduction in car prices will result in reduced sales for CRC/HRC mills and could impact prices of cars as observed in the past when rising raw material costs increased demand for imported Chinese car models However, the government should consider additional support for local manufacturers as new Chinese OEMs enter the market
While Chinese car manufacturers have shown strong interest in entering Pakistan the government s policies need to protect local production
Trump’s 90-Day Tariff Pause: A Strategic Recalibration?
MACOMB Detroit Michigan- In a surprising and dramatic policy reversal President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping new tariffs for nearly every trading partner except China The move announced just hours after the tariffs went into effect sent markets soaring calmed international anxiety and opened a temporary window for diplomatic negotiations But behind the scenes, this abrupt about-face reveals a complex interplay of economic realities, political pressures, and global trade dynamics that forced the President to back down from a central tenet of his economic ideology The Ppresident s post on Truth Social a 90 DAY PAUSE marked a decisive pivot While car steel and aluminum tariffs remain intact the suspension of broader trade taxes sent the S&P 500 soaring over nine percent in a single day, its best performance since the 2008 financial recovery Tech stocks airlines and auto manufacturers all rallied sharply Even companies still burdened by tariffs like Ford and GM saw significant gains In justifying his reversal Trump said he acted on instinct and felt that markets and citizens alike were getting yippy and a little bit afraid His folksy language barely concealed the broader truth: the markets were plummeting, and with them, investor confidence in the administration’s economic management The president s change of course was likely motivated by a convergence of several powerful factors The bond market had shown signs of panic,
C y b e r s e c u r i t y a n d P a k i s t a n
CMbps (+25 3 percent year-on-year) while fixed broadband speeds reached 15 53 Mbps As far as market Share is concerned, Facebook dominates with 95 95 percent of social media traffic, followed by TikTok (1 79 percent) and YouTube (0 86 percent) Social media users skew heavily male (70 4 percent male vs 29 6 percent female)
Keeping in view the Pakistani population penetration on the Internet the traditional crim-
inal moves towards cybercrime Cybercrime is an emerging threat driven by rapid Internet penetration and limited regulatory frameworks Key forms include hacking financial fraud cyberbullying, and identity theft Cyber-dependent crimes (e g , hacking, malware) score 5/10 in Pakistan’s criminal markets indicating moderate but growing activity
A 2023 study found that 42 85 percent of Pakistani university students experienced cyberbullying with urban areas and higher socioeconomic groups more vulnerable Financial crimes, such as phishing and credit card fraud, are rising due to weak cybersecurity measures and unlicenced software use Here we consider the prominent cybercrimes happening in Pakistan along with possible solutions 1 Cyber Terrorism and Recruitment: Cyberterrorism involves hacking critical infrastructure (e g , government websites) or using social media to recruit for extremist groups For example Section 10 of PECA 2016 criminalizes cyberterrorism with penalties up to 14 years imprisonment The possible challenges are lack of advanced forensic tools and crossborder coordination The right solution had been made and a new agency formed the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) with specialized training and funding The new DG was appointed on April 4
This will enhance international cooperation through treaties like the Budapest Convention and implement real-time monitoring of extremist content on social media
2 Online Harassment and Child Exploitation: Includes cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of explicit content and child pornography Over 150 journalists were charged under PECA in 2024 for defamation often linked to critical reporting The possible challenges are underreporting due to social stigma and weak enforcement
The possible solutions are establishing dedicated Cybercrime Reporting Centres with
signaling fears of a looming recession Meanwhile the dollar wobbled against global currencies, further stoking anxiety Perhaps most compellingly, spontaneous demonstrations against the tariffs erupted across the country from New York to San Francisco as thousands of Americans protested what they saw as an unjustified and reckless trade war that risked jobs raised prices and destabilized global partnerships Economists and business leaders had warned for weeks that a prolonged tariff war would increase production costs, especially in key industries reliant on imported raw materials and components American companies particularly small- and medium-sized manufacturers began sounding the alarm saying they could not pivot supply chains overnight Even powerful corporate allies of Trump began voicing discontent The president’s isolation of China in this tariff pause also underscores the deep geopolitical rivalry between the two economic superpowers The decision to raise tariffs on all Chinese imports to 125 percent followed Beijing s retaliatory move of increasing levies on U S goods to 84 percent Both sides have now entered a tit-for-tat escalation, further straining relations already tested by restrictions on technology firms export bans and accusations of economic espionage China’s Ministry of Commerce responded harshly placing export controls on 12 American companies and designating six more as unreliable entities effectively banning them from Chinese markets Trump s team insists that the tariff approach is working, pointing to concessions from countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ecuador which have signaled willingness to reduce trade barriers and open markets to US products Still there is a growing debate over whether tariffs are the right mechanism to restore US industrial dominance While the idea is to incentivize domestic production, there are challenges For instance, the US auto industry has struggled with quality and innovation leading many consumers to prefer foreign-made vehicles known for their durability fuel efficiency and after-sales service If the administration hopes to make tariffs a long-term policy tool, American industries will need to dramatically improve their competitiveness, not just rely on protectionism Trade
24/7 helplines (e g FIA s CCW 1991 helpline launch public awareness campaigns on digital literacy and safe online practices and enforce stricter penalties under PECA Section 21 (protection of women) and Section 22 (child abuse)
3 Financial Fraud and Phishing: Scams like Business Email Compromise (BEC) and SIM card fraud In 2025 a Pakistan-based group HeartSender caused $3 million in losses through phishing kits The possible challenges are lack of secure payment gateways and public awareness The possible solutions are mandatory two-factor authentication for banking transactions collaborate with international agencies (e g Interpol) to dismantle cross-border networks and train financial institutions to recognize and report suspicious activity
4 Misinformation and Fake News: The intentional spread of false information under Section 26A of PECA 2025 is punishable by 3 years imprisonment The possible challenges are vague definitions like public fear enabling misuse against journalists The possible solutions are to promote fact-checking initiatives and media literacy programmes and ensure judicial oversight for content removal by the Social Media Protection Tribunal
5 Identity Theft and Data Breaches: Unauthorized access to personal data for fraud For example hackers selling call records and email accounts The possible challenges are weak data protection laws and poor compliance by private entities
The possible solutions are enacting a Data Protection Act with penalties for breaches, encouraging companies to adopt ISO 27001 cybersecurity standards and establishing Computer Emergency Response Teams for rapid incident response and officially Government of Pakistan announced the formation of the country s first national CERT on 11 March 2024 6 Hacking and Malware Attacks: Attacks on government and private systems such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) and ransomware are becoming common in Pakistan which ranks 14th in Asia-Pacific for cyber vulnerabilities The possible challenges are outdated infrastructure and insufficient investment in cybersecurity The possible solutions are to upgrade national cybersecurity infrastructure with AI-driven threat detection conduct regular penetration testing for critical systems and foster public-private partnerships to share threat intelligence Pakistan s cyber landscape requires a balanced approach: robust legal frameworks (e g , PECA 2025 amendments), institutional capacity-building and public education However safeguards against misuse such as judicial oversight and clear definitions are critical to protecting civil liberties The writer is Rector of the Institute of Business Management, Karachi, Chair Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Karachi Section and cybersecurity expert He can be reached at tariqsoomro@gmail com and rector@iobm edu pk
Skills over scores
should also be provided with fair salaries to reduce their dependence on coaching jobs If we strive to transform our education system and shift the focus from commercialised learning to intellectual development, we can create a future where knowledge empowers rather than confines NAEEM ULLAH BAIG GILGIT-BALTISTAN
Fare hike frustration
Prof Dr TariQ rahim soomro
OPPORTUNITY TO RETHINK Qamar Bashir
THE ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestine and Lebanon is a longterm issue that has jeopardized peace in the Middle East for decades Israel s continuous airstrikes on Palestinian territories particularly in the Gaza Strip and West Bank along with numerous human rights violations, demolition of homes, killings of women and children, and destruction of essential facilities have shaken the global conscience Lebanon which has frequently been the target of Israeli attacks is resorting to political and military resistance for its survival This study presents an analysis of Israeli atrocities in Palestine and Lebanon in the context of historical, political, human rights, and international law perspectives, along with a detailed examination of the roles of global powers the silence of the United Nations and the practical apathy of the Muslim world
The Palestinian issue is not merely a territorial dispute but a struggle for the identity, survival, and freedom of a nation The establishment of Israel in 1948 led to the displacement of millions of Palestinians many of whom still live as refugees in various parts of the world In 1947 the United Nations
proposed a partition plan for Palestine which aimed to divide the territory into two states: one Jewish and one Arab This division was rejected by Arab countries and Palestinians labeling it unjust, resulting in the 1948 ArabIsraeli War Israel not only occupied the land allocated to it but also seized additional Arab territories an event referred to by Palestinians as "Nakba " or catastrophe Since 2006 the Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade leading to severe shortages of basic necessities such as food, water, medicine, electricity, and educational resources Israel conducts large-scale military operations in Gaza every few years, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians In 2023 and 2024 Israeli bombings devastated hospitals schools residential buildings and refugee camps in Gaza Reports indicate over 50,000 Palestinians killed (among them 60 percent women and children), over 75,000 injured, 1 5 million displaced, and over 90% of buildings destroyed These figures clearly indicate that Israeli actions are not only military but equivalent to targeting civilians which constitute war crimes under international law
The series of Israeli war crimes and brutal bombings continued even during the month of Ramadan this year, when innocent Palestinians and Lebanese mourned their loved ones as the entire Islamic world remained a silent spectator This brutal destruction persists and there is no significant role of the Muslim Ummah visible at present nor any hope for the near or distant future!
In the West Bank, Israeli military checkpoints, construction of illegal settlements, land seizures and restrictions on movement have become the norm The desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque attacks on worshippers and shooting at peaceful protesters have become daily occurrences In 2024, the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank set a new record, while Palestinian
It is time for global powers, international institutions, and especially the Muslim world to awaken their conscience and unite to hold Israel accountable for its crimes If the world continues to turn a blind eye, the flames of oppression in Palestine and Lebanon may engulf the entire globe
farmers students and journalists are regularly arrested or killed All of these actions constitute blatant human rights violations
Lebanon especially southern Lebanon has remained a constant target of Israeli aggression In 1982, Israeli forces attacked Beirut, targeting thousands of Lebanese civilians The massacre in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps marks a dark chapter in history In the 2006 war Israel destroyed Lebanon s infrastructure under the pretext of operations against Hezbollah Schools, hospitals, bridges, roads, and power plants were turned into rubble Recently, southern Lebanon has once again been under attack, prompting the evacuation of several villages
The ongoing Israeli atrocities in Palestine and Lebanon have generated a humanitarian crisis: millions are residing in refugee camps Food shortages, unavailability of medicine, and the spread of diseases are common The education of children, the health of women and the future of youth are in severe jeopardy The United Nations Amnesty International and other organizations have repeatedly warned Israel but no concrete actions have been taken The West, particularly the USA and the UK, continues to support Israel, while most of the Muslim world remains limited to statements
Under international law civilians are entitled to protection during warfare including under the following laws: the Geneva Conventions (1949) the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights According to these laws: No state is allowed to bomb civilian populations
Essential facilities such as water electricity and health services cannot be destroyed
Special protection is afforded to children and women Israel has violated all of these laws without facing any punishment or effective sanctions demonstrating the failure of the international system
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has limited itself to adopting resolutions and issuing statements There are no practical measures to support Palestine and Lebanon, such as diplomatic and economic boycotts against Israel financial and medical aid to Palestinians or effective resolutions against Israel in the UN Countries like Pakistan Turkey Iran Malaysia and Qatar have raised their voices to some extent, but the rest of the world remains a silent spectator
Dr Yasser Barhami, a leader in Salafi Dawah reacted to a fatwa issued by the In-
ternational Union of Muslim Scholars relating to the situation in Gaza He stated that the people of Gaza did not consult before initiating warfare; they only coordinated with Iran and should have communicated with other Islamic countries to collectively join the struggle against the Jews He emphasized that for now Islamic countries are bound by treaties and if discussions about abrogating these treaties proceed the conflict will not only be with Israel but also involve the USA and its allies Citing the Qur'anic verse, If they ask for your help in religion, it is your duty to help them unless it is against a people with whom you have a treaty ” he explained that assistance to fellow Muslims should only be against those with whom no treaty exists Citing the story of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), he reminded that Pharaoh massacred 80,000 children, yet Moses instructed his followers to “Seek help in Allah and be patient ” as they lacked the strength to confront Pharaoh Dr Yasser noted that the decision made by the people of Gaza was their own and thus the consequences would also fall upon them It is important to note that Dr Yasser has previously been a member of the Egyptian Parliament from the Nour Party, and he expressed these views in response to a recent fatwa issued by Sheikh Ali Qaradaghi This sensitive issue requires both research and diligence; thus it is essential to examine this fatwa and Dr Yasser Barhami s response in their context and background to obtain accurate information 1 Sheikh Ali Qaradaghi, who has served as the Secretary General of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) led the union to issue fatwas in favor of jihad and resistance regarding the recent conditions in Palestine 2 Summary of the Fatwa: The fatwas issued by the Union of Muslim Scholars typically define the resistance of the people of Gaza as "legitimate defensive jihad " urging the Muslim Ummah to support them especially when the Palestinian population faces severe oppression Dr Yasser Barhami, a prominent Salafi scholar from Egypt who has been associated with the Nur Party and has served in the Egyptian Parliament represents a specific political and intellectual trend within the Salafi school of thought particularly regarding international treaties the lack of strength, and conditions for armed jihad His stance emphasizes that jihad is only permissible when no treaty exists In cases of weakness one should focus on patience and
US is no longer a safe destination for students
prayers He contends that the people of Gaza have not consulted other Islamic governments; thus they must bear the consequences of their decisions Indeed if they seek your help in religion (Al-Anfal: 72) – This verse pertains to respecting treaties and agreements, but jurists have exempted defensive jihad from this when oppression and mass killings are ongoing The stories of prophets Moses and Khidr highlight individual strategy but applying them to collective resistance or jihad may be inappropriate Dr Yasser Barhami s views are consistent with his known positions and reflect the current dynamics of the situation, while the fatwa issued by the International Union of Muslim Scholars provides a valid basis for action Both positions come from distinct historical and political contexts: one supports active resistance while the other emphasizes prudence and negotiation given existing power dynamics Ultimately, the fatwa from the IUMS appears to offer more practical guidance due to its alignment with Qur'anic principles re-
ONE cannot underestimate the precarity that orders the lives of international students in the United States I remember making my maiden journey from Kolkata to upstate New York as an international student to pursue an undergraduate degree at a small liberal arts college This was back in 2003 when the US-led so-called “war on terror” was in full swing The US had invaded Iraq only a few months before my arrival in New York
Be it the on-campus jingoism inspired by America s battle against the Axis of Evil that left little room for critical assessments of US foreign policy in the classroom, the “random” airport security checks at airports or the near-consistent racism and Islamophobia on the American airwaves – it was soon painfully apparent to me that someone who looked like me didn t belong in the Land of the Free In the years since, things hardly got any better for international students making their way to America They remained untrustwor-
thy and unwelcome outsiders in the eyes of many Americans and the sense of precarity surrounding their lives persisted Under Trump 2 0 however this sense of precarity has reached unprecedented levels In fact, these days the US appears to be not only unwelcoming, it is a blatantly unsafe destination for international students Trump has made the lives of international students much more difficult than before This did not come as a surprise as he had promised to do just that on the campaign trail well over a year ago Besides claiming that universities and various accreditation bodies were dominated by Marxists and radical leftists, he made his particular hatred for Palestine solidarity activists on campus well-known He declared that if re-elected he would revoke the student visas of radical anti-American and anti-Semitic foreigners participating in pro-Palestinian protests on US college campuses as early as October 2023
One of his highest-profile targets was Mahmoud Khalil a Columbia University graduate Khalil who was on the front lines of Columbia s pro-Palestine protests as a negotiator between the student protesters and university leadership, is a green card holder However, the Trump administration is pushing to deport him, claiming that he was engaging in pro-Hamas un-American activities Khalil was abducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from his home in New York in front of his pregnant American wife in early March, and has been held at a detention facility in Louisiana for over a month In a similar case, Tufts University PhD student and Turkish citizen Rumeysa Ozturk
was abducted by masked plain-clothed officers in Boston She too was transferred to the detention facility in Louisiana Her crime?
Co-authoring an op-ed in Tufts Daily calling for her university to divest from Israel Indian citizen and Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar Badar Khan Suri has also been targeted for deportation and is faced with an uncertain future at an ICE detention facility in Texas Suri didn t even participate in any Palestine solidarity protests His crime seems to be that he is the son-in-law of a former adviser to the Hamas government in Gaza, Ahmed Yousef Yousef, however, left the position in the political wing of Hamas more than a decade ago and has called the group’s attack on Israel on October 7 2023 a terrible error
Then there is the case of Cornell University PhD candidate Momodou Taal, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Gambia He participated in Palestine solidarity protests and was called upon by immigration authorities to surrender After going into hiding for two and half weeks in fear for his personal safety Taal decided to leave the US
These few high-profile cases are just the tip of the iceberg The Trump administration has revoked the visas of hundreds of international students for their pro-Palestine activism and social media posts As of April 10 more than 600 international students in over 100 colleges and universities across the country are believed to have been affected And there seems to be no end in sight The Department of Homeland Security has begun screening the social media accounts of non-citizens and says it will deny visas and green cards to all individuals it deems as
The legac y of Thomas Bata
Though Bata was a prominent industrialist, he rejected a lavish lifestyle and was not driven solely by profit
He was deeply moved by Tolstoy's por trayal of ordinar y
which profoundly shaped his
In 1904, Thomas Bata was finally able to introduce machiner y into his shoe factor
markable afterlife in Bengal when it was translated into Bengali by the acclaimed novelist Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay and published in 1943 The original text written in Czech, had been translated into English a year earlier by Jab Baros and brought out in 1942 by the Club for Graduates of the Bata School in Batanagar Calcutta The book presents a rich compilation of Bata s reflections manifestoes and speeches offering valuable insights into his vision and philosophy Though Bata was a prominent industrialist, he rejected a lavish lifestyle and was not driven solely by profit Ray appreciated Bata's emphasis on making each production unit self-reliant a model he believed was essential for Bengal as well
found a re-
having participated in pro-Palestine activism or as the Trump administration deems it anti-Semitic activities America s leading universities, meanwhile, appear more than willing to capitulate to Trump’s demands, and are throwing their international students to the wolves to stay on the good books of the administration and keep federal funding Columbia University for instance quickly caved when the Trump administration decided to withhold $400m in federal funding due to the university s supposed inaction during the Palestine solidarity protests Despite sitting on an endowment valued at just under $15bn Columbia s leadership responded to Trump s funding threats by overhauling the university s protest policies and introducing new security measures that would swiftly crack down on any possible return of Palestine solidarity encampments and protests on the campus The Trump administration also demanded that Columbia s Middle Eastern South Asian and African Studies Department be placed on academic receivership for five years Typically, academic receivership involves internal processes and measures implemented by the university leadership to bring a dysfunctional department or programme back on track Seemingly agreeing to Trump s demands the university appointed a new senior vice provost to oversee the department Harvard University – another institution with a massive endowment – faced similar demands from the Trump administration in return for federal funding Specifically its leadership was asked to make necessary changes to address bias improve viewpoint diversity and end ideological capture in programs and departments that fuel antisemitic harassment” Unlike in the case of Columbia, there was no mention of specific
Thomas Bata was born into a devout Christian family in what was then Czechoslovakia His father was also a shoemaker and Thomas inherited both the trade and a strong entrepreneurial spirit However it was Thomas Bata himself who transformed the family s modest handmade shoemaking business into a global enterprise Despite facing challenges such as wars, economic depressions and global instability he expanded the company into a multinational brand driven by his own vision strategy and worldview As a child Thomas aspired to be welleducated and to join the ranks of the established middle class, but the path was far from easy Limited access to education and his family s modest economic condition made upward mobility particularly difficult especially in a Europe where such advancement
programmes or departments But it would seem that the Harvard leadership knew what Trump meant Harvard s interim dean of social sciences David M Cutler dismissed the leadership of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies He justified his decision by claiming that there was “a lack of balance and multiple viewpoints in the Center s programming on Palestine Harvard also severed its ties with the Palestinian Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank The ways in which the leaders of America’s elite universities capitulated to Trump’s demands demonstrated clearly that these institutions no longer view broadening the intellect and vision of future generations as their primary purpose Indeed they proved that these universities are no longer independent institutions of higher education committed to the betterment of humanity’s collective future, but merely businesses that provide a product (ie a college degree) to a paying client (ie the student) It is therefore not at all surprising that university leaders decided to abandon international students to their fates when they made the calculation that these students are costing the business more money (in federal funding) than they personally contribute in tuition fees The Trump administration’s attacks on foreign students over pro-Palestinian activism came alongside a simultaneous crackdown on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which had made American universities a bit more welcoming to foreign students from marginalised and minority backgrounds over the years Taken together these policies swiftly turned American campuses into hostile environments for foreign students especially for those hailing from the Global South Future international students would therefore be prudent to wonder: is a higher education in the United States worth the risk?
Somdeep Sen is Associate Professor of International Development Studies at Roskilde University in Denmark
dr muhammad Tayyab Khan Singhanvi
uphold WTO rules
CORPORATE CORNER
29th Textile Asia 2025 begins in Karachi
The 29th edition of Textile Asia the premier international textile exhibition and a much-awaited trade fair for the textile and garment industry, will take place from April 12 to 14, 2025, across seven halls at the Karachi Expo Centre The theme of the exhibition is “The Road to a Value-Added Textile Sector underscoring its focus on innovation and industry growth Nasir Hussain Shah Sindh s Minister for Energy, Planning, and Development, will attend as the chief guest The event is expected to draw
critical topics such as digital transformation, the circular economy, and smart textiles Mr Uzair Nizam Project Director of Textile Asia emphasized the event’s significance stating: Textile Asia 2025 is more than just an exhibition it is a driving force for technological transformation in Pakistan s textile sector As the industry navigates challenges like sustainability, automation, and evolving global demands, this event bridges the
between local manufacturers
Health Protection:
of
Chairman
addressed
Conference (ISC 2025) at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on April 12 2025 where he formally declared and signed the historic Seoul Declaration: Joint Declaration on Peace and Prosperity ”The declaration was also signed by founding speakers and members of the forum representing 45 countries including dignitaries and high-ranking parliamentary leaders Among the signatories was the Ms Paula White- Cain Senior Advisor to U S President Donald Trump, highlighting the declaration s broad international backing and bipartisan appeal Chairman Gillani, representing Pakistan on this distinguished global platform reaffirmed the country’s dedication to peace-building multilateral cooperation and inclusive development
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) distanced itself from reports suggesting senior party member Azam Swati is engaged in talks with the military establishment with party secretary general Salman Akram Raja stating such actions are not sanctioned by the party leadership
Speaking to reporters outside an anti-terrorism court in Lahore Raja said the claims of a deal between Azam Swati and the establishment have no connection with PTI He is speaking in his personal capacity Raja emphasised PTI s continued adherence to constitutional principles
“We stand for the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution That remains our objective he said Responding to questions over why senior leaders had not yet been permitted to meet party founder Imran Khan, Raja suggested the delay was intentional “It appears efforts are being made to create ambiguity Once we meet
him, it will become clear whether he has authorised any dialogue,” he said Raja stressed that no negotiations or decisions could be confirmed without direct consultation with Imran Khan Until there is clarity from him I cannot comment on any backchannel activity, he added His remarks come amid ongoing speculation about potential political negotiations between jailed PTI leaders and the military-backed government PTI has consistently rejected any covert deal-making calling instead for a transparent political process and free elections Previously, Senior PTI leader Azam Khan Swati has said he will work to initiate dialogue between the party’s jailed founder Imran Khan and the country s Army Chief Azam Khan Swati emphasised the importance of the military calling it a key national institution and a source of pride he denied suggestions that his release came as
allegations against the establishment and staged dramatic
Mohajir Qaumi Movement
(MQM-H) Chairman Afaq Ahmed on Saturday alleged that a motorcycle was deliberately placed under a dumper truck at UP Mor area to film a video and create the impression of ethnic violence in the city
Speaking at a press conference, Ahmed claimed that the incident was orchestrated and the individuals who set the dumper on fire were not arrested while several innocent citizens and his party workers were detained
He said the incident was used to sabotage growing public support for his stance, which he believes has led to an informal alliance between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Efforts are being made to give an ethnic colour to our movement, he added
Ahmed stated that his party had called for a peaceful protest involving all communities af-
fected by issues in Karachi including high traffic volumes poor access to education and alleged systemic discrimination in public sector jobs
“Dumpers don’t identify people by ethnicity ” he said urging authorities to take action against the so-called dumper mafia He claimed that no arrests were made of those responsible for setting the vehicles ablaze
He also criticised the enforcement of Section 144 in District Central calling it a reaction to the MQM-H s successful mobilisation efforts Ahmed stated that political workers from other parties could gather without restrictions, but MQM-H protests were being treated as a threat
Addressing the government and law enforcement Ahmed said his party was not seeking confrontation and had urged supporters to carry white flags as a symbol of peace We only wanted the government to take notice of our grievances,” he said
Ahmed also accused MQM of avoiding criticism of PPP’s gover-
nance and questioned why his workers faced legal action for protest planning while no action was taken against similar statements made by MQM leadership
He reiterated that his party did not promote ethnic division and said the recent events were being manipulated to portray MQM-H as a disruptive force He demanded that those involved in staging the UP Mor incident be arrested and brought to justice Ahmed concluded by saying that his party would continue advocating for Karachi s rights and called for a stronger organisational presence in District Central
The controversy surrounding the UP Mor incident began after a high-speed dumper collided with multiple motorcyclists near the North Karachi Power House injuring three people
As a video of the incident went viral angry residents took to the streets in protest Several heavy vehicles including five dumpers, one water tanker, and a truck were set on fire at different locations across the city
