8 ter rorists killed as infiltration bid on Pak- Afghan border thwar ted: ISPR
of terrorism against Pakistan
The ISPR asserted that security forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to secure its borders and wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country
and apprehending four others in injured condition
Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s North Waziristan district, the military s media wing said on Sunday
According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release On the night of April 5-6 the movement of a group of khwarij, trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces in general area” of North Waziristan’s Hassan Khel Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate After an intense exchange of fire, eight khwarij were sent to hell, while four khwarij got injured,” it added
“Pakistan has consistently been asking Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border the ISPR noted, adding that it expected Kabul to “fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khwarij for perpetuating acts
The statement added that a sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other kharji found in the area
Earlier in late March, the security forces had foiled such an infiltration attempt in North Waziristan and killed 16 terrorists PM, President applaud security forces for foiling infiltration attempt by terrorists
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday commended the bravery and professionalism of Pakistan s security forces for thwarting the infiltration attempt by Khawarij terrorists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan’s Hassan Khel area
In his official statement the Prime Minister lauded the swift and decisive response of the officers and personnel, who successfully repelled the terrorists attempt to enter Pakistan He acknowledged their outstanding performance in eliminating eight terrorists
“The officers and personnel of our security forces have foiled the nefarious designs of the Khawarij to spread chaos inside Pakistan said the Prime Minister He further emphasized that the armed forces of Pakistan remain vigilant and fully committed to defending the nation’s borders “Our officers and soldiers are tirelessly engaged day and night to counter any attempts of mischief and ensure the safety and sovereignty of the country, he added
In a separate statement, President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday paid tribute to the security forces for foiling attempt of intrusion at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in district North Waziristan He lauded the security forces for killing eight Khawarij during the timely operation He said the brave armed forces of Pakistan were determined to protect borders of the country around the clock
The operations against terrorists would continue till complete eradication of the menace of terrorism, he added He said the whole nation stood with its security forces in the war against terrorism
Cotton sector crisis may ease with R&D focus
g Slow sowing pace results from water shortages high input costs and unpredictable weather
Growers and agricultural experts have emphasized the importance of research and development (R&D) to address challenges facing Pakistan s cotton sector They believe that R&D efforts can help improve cotton production reduce the dependency on imports and boost exports The Punjab Agriculture Department has reported progress in meeting its cotton sowing target of one million acres, expecting to reach this target within the next two to three days However independent sources indicate that only about 350 000 acres of early cotton sowing have been completed raising concerns about the accuracy of the official figures he slow pace of sowing has been
attributed to various factors, including water shortages, high input costs for seeds and fertilizers, and unpredictable weather conditions Experts have warned that these issues could impact overall cotton yields for the season which would affect the textile industry and the national economy In Sindh, cotton has been sown on approximately 600,000 acres, and the federal government has set an overall sowing target of 5 million acres nationwide with specific targets of 3 2 million acres for Punjab 1 6 million acres for Sindh, and 200,000 acres for Balochistan The cotton yield target for the 2025-2026 season is set at 10 5 million bales, while the country’s textile mills require around 12 million bales annually Extra-long staple (ELS) cotton which is essential for high-quality
production, is in demand, with the country typically needing 1 million bales According to Karachi Cotton Brokers Forum Chairman Naseem Usman the 2024-2025 season saw Punjab and Sindh sowing 3 4 million acres and 1 6 million acres respectively Punjab produced about 2 5 million bales, while Sindh produced 2 7 million bales Usman pointed to challenges such as seed quality lack of new seed varieties and climate change as factors hindering production in Punjab He called for research into climate-resistant seed varieties to improve yield Sindh growers have raised concerns over an acute water shortage, which has further slowed down cotton sowing in the region Agriculturalists have urged the government to focus on R&D for better seed varieties and address the water issue in Sindh to support cotton cultivation Ad powered by advergic com Additionally, there has been a campaign against Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) Vice President Dr Yusuf Zafar with claims that it is being fueled by a power struggle for the leadership of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Some factions are reportedly using fabricated accusations to undermine Zafar ’s credibility and disrupt his leadership which has introduced financial reforms at PCCC Under Zafar s leadership, the PCCC has made significant strides, such as securing agreements for the clearance of cotton cess payments by the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) These measures aim to strengthen PCCC s financial standing and support long-term stability in the cotton sector
Trump ex
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by Justice Aminuddin Khan will also address the impleadment application filed by the Peshawar High Court (Mingora Bench) Bar Association challenging the 25th Constitutional Amendment as ultra vires Over 400 petitions have been filed against the amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance, which introduced the Super Tax to finance the rehabilitation of temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) following the military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan The tax imposed through the Finance Act 2015 affects individuals associations and companies with an income exceeding Rs500 million, levying 4% on banking companies and 3% on others Ijaz Ahmed Awan, representing several taxpayers, argues that the funds for TDP rehabilitation should fall under the provincial domain as per the 18th Amendment and claims the Super Tax is unconstitutional and lacks the characteristics of a legitimate tax He also asserts that the tax was imposed through an improper process, bypassing the standard procedures required for such levies, and violates constitutional provisions, particularly Article 25 on equal treatment under the law Awan has requested the Court to set aside the Lahore High Court s decision on the matter
The question is not so much whether the KP police knew about the operation in Katlang as whether the CM knew I would think that not only did the police know but they tried to tell the CM but he was too deep in his potations to remember anything, which is why he throws out his chest and insists that nobody told anybodyin the KP government anything He has ordered an inquiry into the incident which is probably a convenient way of putting it on the backburner Perhaps the whole operation was a case of the left hand not knowing what the right was doing And Ali Amin Gandapur was the left hand, even if the KP government wasn’t I find it difficult to believe that the KP government didn t know If it didn t then it has the most inefficient SHOs and patwaris in service and Ali Amin should work on getting some new ones On the other hand, maybe Ali Amin didn’t know If he asked, all they had to say was that they told him when he was inter-copula By now he should be used to
not knowing bad news Only to be told that he was told while under the weather However He s probably more interested in what s happening in Mansehra where Azam Swati is gunning after KP Speaker Babar Swati Imran said that if Babar was guilty of wrongdoing, he should resign Azam said that Imran had called for Babar ’s resignation The defence offered by Babar is that he only did what his two PTI predecessors Asad Qaiser and Mushtaq Ghani The point of a Speakership is to pack the staff with people from one s home district However, Babar is to be given the time to remedy his error, which I suppose means getting rid of his appointees advertising the posts and then reappointing the people from his district Imran s feelings are not known about how he feels about the whitewash the cricket team suffered at the hands of New Zealand True, it meant that nobody was likely to replace him on the same page but it also left Pakistan with a dilemma: who to make captain Ireland and Afghanistan are said to be anxious to play Pakistan quickly while the team is in its present though I suspect they shouldn t be in such a hurry,
because this slump is not temporary Look at the West Indies After the halcyon days of the 1990s the whole 21st century has been an unrelieved series of defeats and disappointments One symptom that the problem is really bad is the jubilation over the sole win of this tour, in a T20 International The best man for this
Loc al cement sales drop 11.31%
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is grappling with severe liquidity issues as outstanding receivables from the power sector have climbed to Rs165 256 billion, according to official sources informed cited by Business Recorder In a letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G) SNGPL
Wapda’s
plants including Guddu Power (Rs29 705 billion) Nandipur (Rs10 331 billion) TPS Muzaffargarh (Rs1 362 billion) GTPS
Faisalabad (Rs1 8 billion) GTPS Shahdara (Rs175 million), SPS Faisalabad (Rs92 million), and NGPS Multan (Rs56 million) Additionally, private sector dues include Rs2 252 billion from Kapco Rs1 513 billion from Engro Energy Rs20 943 billion from Liberty Power and amounts from other producers such as Orient Power FKPCL Sapphire
and
COMMENT
PTI infighting
The war of words between KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur escalates
IT is difficult to avoid feeling some sympathy for KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur He shot to prominence for his boorishness and the general impression he gave of being dangerous to his opponents However, ever since being elevated to the slot of KP CM, he has been subjected to criticism, not least for his failure to get porter founder Imran Khan released With the abortive D-Chowk rally providing focus for his critics as they blamed him for abandoning the party workers while fled He was accused of corruption by Atif Khan a member of his Cabinet, nd he was stripped of the provincial party s presidency The office was given to MNA Junaid Akbar, one of Atif s supporters Now two other MNAs, former Speaker Asd Qaiser and former KP minister Shahram Trakai have weighed in asking that Mr Gandapur be made to explain himself for his public claims that there was a conspiracy against him
The experiment of separating party and government office has apparently cost the PTI heavily in its home base It has held office there since 2013, but the extent of the infighting there has not only made its image doubtful but has thrown into doubt its ability to be a firm partner in an anti-government agitation for which its ws seeking allies KP poses problems of governance, for even if there were no infighting, the terrorism issue makes it seem that Mr Gandapur has lost control of that most basic component of provincial governance, law and order That alone would be bad for the PTI’s image The PTI has also to deal with the clash between former federal minister Aza Swti and KP Speaker Babar Saleem Swati Though he has denied it Speaker Swati is one of those who might replace Mr Gandapur as CM if he was to have this job taken from him Mr Khan s bail hearing is coming up before the Lahore High Court, but he must almost be hoping for a rejection because apart from the KP infighting Punjab chief Hammad Azhar stepped down for the third time since last March The party seems to be powder keg, and the absence of Mr Khan s physical presence has allowed the party s natural bent towards infighting to become self-destructive However, the government would not like to see Mr Khan released It would rather let its main opponent stew in its own juice
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Uother sectors in Pakistan and subsequently express directions issued by the PM to all public sector organizations main oil and gas exploring body the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited seemingly has moved very fast and come up with quite appreciable plans of hosting perhaps for the first time ever the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025,an international conference, which is scheduled to be held at the Convention Centre in Islamabad on April 8 and 9 According to the organizers the important international event aims hopefully and expectedly to attract foreign investment and thus promote the country s mining sector which was greatly desired and wanted Furthermore, the high profile summit, ac-
PAKISTAN S economy has achieved some macroeconomic stability both because of primarily oil prices being on the lower side and healthy performance of remittances, not to mention squeezing aggregate demand by practicing over-board monetary-, and fiscal austerity policies Yet not much has been done in terms of reforms to unclog the aggregate supply-side bottlenecks Hence one can see a continuous decline in inflation rate for a number of months– although prolonged level of high inflation was seen before that, which means price levels continue to remain on the higher side– but that has come at a high level of economic growth sacrifice which has continued to remain around the population growth rate of a little more than 2 percent for the last two years or so As a consequence the unemployment rate has been rising along with poverty, and income inequality Although the country has shown primary surplus– mainly at the back of increase in tax rates over the last two years or so in general including keeping petroleum levy high even when internationally oil prices have been falling and are on the lower side but mostly increasing otherwise regressive indirect taxes and also through decreasing development spending– and balance of payments have overall has been under control, but this is once again at the back of primarily reduction in import reduction– at the
back of excessive aggregate demand suppression–rather than enhancement in exports, or any meaningful increase in foreign investment, which continues to remain at very low levels Hence while the build-up in foreign exchange reserves over the many months overall has been due to factors indicated above and also loan amounts being secured from the International Monetary Fund (IMF)– where under the overall 37-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) around $2 billion have been received up till now out of the total $7 billion and before that through Standby Arrangement (SBA) not to mention $1 3 billion will be released under a recently negotiated 28-month Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)– the level of foreign exchange reserves has not increased that much to make any significant increase in terms of strengthening the value of the rupee against the dollar Hence as soon as the economy goes back on the growth path in any meaningful way imported- and cost-push inflation will likely rise putting upward pressures on both the overall inflation in the country and current account deficit While this will likely disturb better growth prospects, given the country s growth– in terms of domestic consumption, and exports– is primarily import-led given the lack of development of heavy industry primarily Therefore it is important that the country should launch meaningful institutional organizational and market reforms, so that macroeconomic stability, and economic growth can be enhanced sustainably This is also important to meaningfully deal with the country’s high level of debt distress, and also to significantly attract foreign direct investment The nature of reforms has to be non-neoliberal especially in terms of reining-in austerity policies
u s t a i n a b l e e c o n o m i c g r o w t h , a n d m a c r o e c o n o m i c s t a b i l i t y , a n d b r e a k t h e b o o m - b u s t c y c l e , i n w h i c h t h e c o u n t r y r e m a i n s u p t i l l n o w I n a d d i t i o n t o r e d u c i n g i n c o m e i n e q u a l i t y , a n d p o v e r t y , i t w i l l a l s o h e l p i n c r e a s e e c o n o m i c r e s i l i e n c e a g a i n s t t h e e x i s t e n t i a l t h r e a t o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e c r i s i s ; n o t t o m e n t i o n m e a n i n g f u l l y d e c r e a s i n g a n o t h e r w i s e h i g h l e v e l o f d e b t
cording to the organizers OGDCL will surely and certainly feature PM Shehbaz Sharif Army Chief Gen Syed Asim Munir and a pretty large number of top officials from the national and international companies
The organisers expected that during the two days deliberations several Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed between the Pakistani and international companies thereby signalling a major step forward towards unlocking the country s much desired mineral potential as early as possible Quite obviously, the Forum so being organized by OGDCL will serve as a platform for prospective global investors, policymakers and industry leaders to explore the investment opportunities technological advancements and policy reforms in the so far ignored mining sector of Pakistan in a positive way At the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum, the federal government plans to launch the National Minerals Harmonization Framework 2025 This will be such a major policy document as will be unveiled on this occasion The framework so being announced quite understandably has been designed to streamline all regulations relating to mining throughout the country and aims to foster an investmentfriendly environment for prospective local and international investors According to the information available from the concerned quarters an important feature of the upcoming framework is going to be offering of tax-related incentives for mineral exploration projects, streamlining the licencing procedure, and a defined mechanism for amicable dispute resolution, backed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) there by hopefully making Pakistan a preferred destination for
One such instance was the Saindak Copper Gold project in Saindak Town in Chagai district of Balochistan which was launched way back in the late 1960s for completion in 19 years But it was opened only in 1995 when the then federal government failed to provide the required resources for its commercial operations A Chinese company had then come forward and took over the project for its commercial operations Hopefully, something good will come out for unlocking the mineral wealth of the country when the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 the first ever of its kind is held in Islamabad on April 8 and 9 and the federal government also unveils the first -ever National Minerals Harmonization Framework The writer is Lahore-based Freelance Journalist, Columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) Radio Pakistan Islamabad and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail com B e t t e r l a t e t h a n n e v e r
Dhabeji SEZ concerns
mining investment globally Spread over approximately 600 000 sq km Pakistan s mineral-rich landscape boasts as many as 92 known minerals out of which only 52 were being exploited at small and large scales so far The country produces an estimated 68 52 million metric tons of minerals annually supporting 5000 operational mines and 50 000 small and medium enterprises and providing employment opportunities to around 300 000 workers Pakistan s mineral reserves include the world s second largest salt mines at Khewra and the fifth -largest copper and gold deposits, along with substantial coal, bauxite, gypsum and gemstone deposits These mostly untapped reserves present lucrative export opportunities and could help in driving the economic growth upward if all goes well The Riko Diq copper and gold reserves was one of the world s largest untapped reserves All the entities forming Pakistan are rich in the mineral resources but Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces are the richest as far as the natural resources are concerned though they mostly remain untapped even after 77 years of independence Cutting the long bitter story short this scribe can cite thousands of instances where developments, including those for tapping the natural resources, were started but somehow failed to fully realise the objectives due to lack of resources or fast changing priorities of the governments in power
muhammaD ZahiD rifat
Tto facilitating an end to hostilities acknowledging the significant diplomatic and strategic benefits accrued by Russia in a relatively short period
Trump’s engagement with Russia has resulted in a series of symbolic and material concessions favorable to Moscow Notably following an intense discussion in the Oval Office on February 28 involving Trump Vice President J D Vance and Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky Trump temporarily suspended US military assistance to Kyiv Moreover Washington disengaged from an international investigative body dedicated to examining Russian war crimes, opposed a United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s role in the conflict and echoed Russian narratives regarding the origins of the war attributing blame to Kyiv
These developments have provided Russia with a significant diplomatic advantage reinforcing its strategic objectives Despite these apparent gains, Russia remains cognizant of the unpredictability of Trump’s foreign policy approach Given his history of abrupt policy shifts and his fluctuating positions on international issues the Kremlin recognizes that his warmth towards Moscow may not be enduring The precedent set during his first term, wherein initial hopes for improved U SRussia relations were thwarted by congressional sanctions and the provision of lethal aid to Ukraine serves as a cautionary reminder for Moscow Consequently while the Kremlin seeks to maximize its gains under the current US administration, it remains wary of potential policy reversals Moscow’s strategy involves leveraging Trump’s diplomatic openness to secure a direct bilateral agreement that would ostensibly bring an end to the war in Ukraine
This envisioned agreement from the Kremlin s perspective would impose substantial restrictions on Kyiv and grant Russia a decisive influence over Ukraine s political landscape While an ideal scenario for Putin would involve comprehensive limitations on Western military assistance to Ukraine
Moscow may also settle for partial measures that weaken Kyiv s strategic position over time
Even in the event of Ukrainian and European rejection of such an accord, the Kremlin anticipates that Trump’s administration may use this as a pretext to withdraw US support entirely thereby facilitating Moscow s long-term objectives Beyond the Ukrainian conflict Russia aims to leverage its relationship with Trump to recalibrate broader US-Russia diplomatic and economic relations The Kremlin seeks a reduction in economic sanctions and an overall improvement in bilateral ties However should these aspirations remain unfulfilled Moscow appears prepared to persist with its current strategic trajectory While the Russian economy faces
significant challenges due to sustained Western sanctions its leadership maintains a degree of stability and has capitalized on work force advantages over Ukraine to sustain military operations In this context, the Kremlin s overarching objective remains the strategic defeat of Ukraine with or without direct US support Russia’s diplomatic overtures toward the Trump Administration commenced shortly after the 2024 US presidential election The Kremlin sought engagement through official intelligence channels, informal networks linked to Trump, his political and business associates One notable figure in this diplomatic maneuvering was Kirill Dmitriev CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund who utilized his connections with Jared Kushner and other members of Trump s inner circle to facilitate discussions with Steve Witkoff, Trump s special envoy for the Middle East
These backchannel negotiations culminated in a high-profile meeting in Riyadh on February 18 attended by key Russian and US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz This engagement laid the groundwork for subsequent diplomatic interactions between Trump and Putin, shaping the US administration’s evolving stance on Ukraine Putin s strategy has been multifaceted incorporating psychological and ideological appeals to Trump s worldview
Following their February 12 conversation, Trump s rhetoric increasingly aligned with Kremlin talking points, including characterizing Zelensky as a “dictator” and raising concerns about corruption in Ukraine
Simultaneously Putin propagated the narrative that the 2020 US presidential election had been stolen, suggesting that had Trump remained in power, Moscow would not have initiated military action against Kyiv This manipulation underscores Putin’s calculated efforts to appeal to Trump’s personal and political biases to advance Russia s strategic objectives
Beyond personal persuasion Moscow has positioned itself as a valuable partner in advancing Trump s global agenda Russia has expressed willingness to assist in US negotiations with Iran endorsed proposals to reduce military expenditures and subtly suggested a willingness to reconfigure its strategic partnership with China
These overtures, coupled with the rhetoric of U S officials such as Rubio and
Is Trump stoking a global recession?
Recession
Vance regarding a potential reverse Nixon strategy aimed at driving a wedge between Beijing and Moscow have further ingratiated Russia with the Trump Administration While such a geopolitical shift remains unlikely Moscow has skillfully exploited these discussions to create the impression that closer U S -Russia relations could yield significant strategic dividends for Washington Additionally, Russia has employed cultural and ideological arguments to strengthen its ties with the Trump Administration The Kremlin has highlighted historical US-Soviet cooperation during World War II emphasized shared opposition to progressive social policies and positioned itself as an ally in challenging Western liberal elites Furthermore, Moscow has suggested that economic normalization could result in lucrative business opportunities a prospect underscored in Riyadh where Dmitriev presented an analysis (albeit flawed) suggesting that US companies had suffered significant financial losses due to sanctions on Russia Amid these diplomatic overtures, Russia has reframed the Ukrainian conflict as an impediment to a broader US-Russia strategic partnership The Kremlin has played into Trump s frustrations
JP Morgan raised the probability of both a US and
recession from 40 to 60 per cent Goldman Sachs upped theirs from 20 to 35 per cent Trump, for his par t, remains bullish: he claims the tariffs will raise $6 trillion in revenue, make America richer, and bring inflation down
TIf histor y teaches us anything, it’s this: when it comes to Trump, all bets are off
While Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said a recession that balances trade would be ‘worth it’ Trump for his part remains bullish: he claims the tariffs will raise $6 trillion in revenue make America richer and bring inflation down His next goal – and battle – appears clear: push the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates On his Twitter rip-off, Truth Social, Trump declared: This would be a PERFECT time for Fed Chairman Jerome Powell to cut Interest Rates He is always late but he could now change his image and quickly Energy prices are down Interest Rates are down Inflation is down, even Eggs are down 69 per cent, and Jobs are UP, all within two months – A BIG WIN for America CUT INTEREST RATES JEROME AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS!
Markets are listening Investors now expect more aggressive rate cuts – not only in the
K hizr from the Middle East to S outh A sia
The book explores how the enigmatic figure of Khidr (the ‘Green One’) known variously as a prophet, wali, and guide has long ser ved as a spiritual link between religious communities, appearing in narratives across Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and even Sikhism, from Anatolia to the subcontinent
g h a l E m p i r e K h i z r ’s i c o n o g r a p h y “ w a s i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e S i k h a e s t h e t i c l i k e t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f G u r u N a n a k Another standout chapter is by Manoël P é n i c a u d , w h o e x a m i n e s p i l g r i m a g e s t o shared sacred sites in the Mediterranean, where Christian and Muslim communities have historically venerated Khidr Prophet Elijah (alongside Jews) and St George tog e t h e r A s P é n i c a u d n o t e s K h i d r i s r ev e a l e d a s a c o n t a c t p o i n t w i t h o t h e r religious systems than Islam, and that of t h e s h a r e d s a i n t s a n d p r o p h e t s i n t h e r egion, is “the one who is the most capable o f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d t o a
IDARIT Y AND CO O PERATIO N CAN FO RGE THE FUTURE
legitimate interests of countries worldwide to serve its own hegemonic agenda Such actions will inevitably face widespread opposition from the international community, it noted China is an ancient civilization and a land of ritual The Chinese people advocate treating others with sincerity and trust
We don t make trouble but we have no fear of trouble the statement said
Israel continued it airstrikes in
those killed were 19 people in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and two in the Zaytoon neighbourhood of Gaza
Four others were killed and a number of people were injured including children and women, after an Israeli airstrike targeted a house in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza Death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza nears 50,700 On the other hand the death toll from Israel s barbaric and inhumane attacks on Gaza since October 2023 has risen to 50,695, Al Jazeera reports quoting the en-
clave’s health ministry A ministry statement
AMBASSADOR JIANG ZAIDONG
CORPORATE CORNER
sindh repatriated
afghan
far, says Memon
Responding
Maryam Nawaz, special Ramazan bazaars were set up where the public received 31% relief compared to the open market These Ramazan bazaars saw historic sales of Rs3 11 billion On the other hand the KP government which claims to bring about Tabdeeli distributed Rs10 billion among its own party members in the name of the Ramazan package Azma Bokhari further said that in Punjab the highest amount of relief was provided to the people through the
up a
Ramadan bazaar she said and added Lies and propaganda cannot hide the corruption and theft of the KP government Gandapur is the only Chief Minister whose own cabinet and party members are calling him corrupt and a thief ” The Information Minister added that no corruption allegation not
even of a single penny, has been
Qandaro Kali where Saeeda a married woman from Azakhel had been residing at her parents home for the past two years following a fallout with her husband During the jirga convened to mediate between the estranged couple gunfire broke out resulting in the deaths of Saeeda s husband Jangrez and his brother Khalid both sons of Fareed and residents of Azakhel, Nowshera Upon receiving the report, SHO Murad Khan of Takht Bhai
Violence erupted during the Bloot
The mela, which is part of the
Urs celebrations of Pir Shah Esa descended into chaos when several armed individuals reportedly from nearby areas attacked
Police Station arrived at the scene along with police personnel and a Rescue 1122 medical team The bodies were shifted to THQ Takht
Bhai for postmortem Police swiftly arrested two suspects: Nasir son of Bahadur a resident of Qandaro Kali and Umar son of Jangrez, a resident of Azakhel, Nowshera Weapons used in the incident were also recovered A double murder case has been registered against the suspects based on a complaint filed by Tariq son of Farman Ali a nephew of the deceased and resident of Chakdara Further investigation is underway
PUNJAB MINISTER BACKS K AL ABAGH DAM, SPARKING BACKL ASH FROM SINDH
man Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari rejected it during a rally in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh calling it unilateral The Cholistan canals initiative is part of the Green Pakistan Initiative It aims to irrigate 4 8 million acres (1 9 million hectares) of barren land by building six canals two each in Punjab Sindh and Balochistan Of the six five will draw water from the Indus River while the sixth will be built on the Sutlej River The project is designed to supply about 4,120 cusecs of water to the Cholistan desert in Punjab On February 15 Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Army Chief General Asim Munir officially launched the Cholistan project to provide irrigation to lands in south Punjab This happened amid widespread criticism and objections raised in Sindh In March, the Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against the construction of six new canals on the Indus River The resolution called for an immediate stop to any work or planning related to the project until all provincial governments especially Sindh were involved in a formal agreement ensuring their rights were safeguarded LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T
it has been discussed with him The media has reported on it as well he claimed On Thursday ministers from Punjab and Sindh exchanged heated words over the canal project, a day after PPP Chair-
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has credited Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir for playing a pivotal role in stabilizing Pakistan s economy Tarar made the statement while addressing a ceremony in Lahore on Sunday The minister highlighted that when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assumed office Pakistan was on the brink of a crisis, with adversaries expecting the country to default However, Tarar emphasized that Shehbaz Sharif chose to prioritize the nation over politics effectively averting the crisis Tarar also praised Nawaz Sharif s leadership, stating that under his guidance, the country is moving towards progress, and Shehbaz Sharif has been tirelessly fighting for the rights of the people
The minister noted that Shehbaz Sharif had fulfilled his promise to reduce electricity prices despite attempts by certain groups to undermine the efforts by writing
letters to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tarar claimed that international financial institutions are now commending Pakistan’s economic management, while political opponents continue to prioritize personal politics over the national interest Furthermore Tarar reiterated the government s commitment to lowering inflation to single digits, as pledged in their manifesto
In his speech Attaullah Tarar also accused former prime minister Imran Khan of supporting militants in his speeches contributing to the
resurgence of terrorism in the country He blamed Khan s policies of encouraging militants and allowing their return for the growing instability Tarar concluded by mentioning the global recognition of Pakistan Army s reputation citing General Asim Munir s warm reception and honor guard in the UK which according to the minister, PTI leaders found difficult to accept Furthermore, that the strength and resilience of the people of Pakistan continue to serve as the biggest source of inspiration for the government
Gilani stresses Pakistan-Russia cooperation for global peace
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has stated that Pakistan and Russia share common goals for promoting global peace security and a multipolar world order
He made these remarks during a meeting with Valentina Matviyenko Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia on the sidelines of the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly held in Tashkent
Gilani emphasized the evolving relationship between the two countries, which is based on mutual respect and expanding cooperation in areas such as defense trade energy and multilateral platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
Both sides agreed to enhance institutional linkages between their respective parliaments including the exchange of visits revival of Parliamentary Friendship Groups and consistent dialogue to address
shared challenges Gilani also underscored the importance of strengthening defense collaboration particularly through security dialogues military training exchanges and counterterrorism coordination
With the positive momentum in bilateral trade, both sides discussed further diversifying economic ties, focusing on sectors like energy agriculture pharmaceuticals and information technology
The Chairman also advocated for establishing banking channels and improving connectivity within regional frameworks Pakistan reaffirmed its strong support for Russia’s role in promoting regional stability and multipolar global governance The two countries stressed the importance of coordinated efforts in international forums like the SCO and the UN, especially in addressing climate action, food security, and counter-narcotics Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace calling for inclusive political solutions and humanitarian support in Afghanistan He also acknowledged Russia’s significant role in fostering dialogue and stability in the region
The Chairman concluded the
Russia towards a comprehensive and forward-looking partnership, and extended an invitation for
