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READY FOR TALKS IF INDIA SERIOUS FOR PEACE, PM TELLS IRANIAN PRESIDENT Tuesday, 27 May, 2025 | 29 Ziquad, 1446
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PREMIER SHARIF, PRESIDENT PEZESHKIAN RESOLVE TO ENHANCE BILATERAL COOPERATION, BOOST TRADE
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RIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif Monday reiterated Pakistan’s readiness for peace talks with India and resolve all outstanding issues for long term peace and development in the region and beyond. “We are ready to talk for the sake of peace on different issues including water, trade and also counter terrorism if India is serious,” the premier told media after holding talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian here at the Sa’dabad Palace. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held wide ranging talks and resolved to enhance cooperation to boost bilateral trade and investment and work together for maintaining peace and security in the region. While talking to media after the delegation level talks, the Prime Minister said he had a productive and useful meeting with the Iranian President, covering all areas of mutual interest and cooperation. Though he reaffirmed that if India remained aggressive then Pakistan shall defend its sovereignty and territory integrity. “If they accept our offer we want to talk for the sake of peace,” he reiterated, saying Pakistan condemned Israeli actions causing untold misery for the people of Gaza, where more than 50,000 Palestinians were murdered by Israel and the bloodbath still continued. President of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif giving joint press statement, after delegation level talks, at Sa’dabad Palace in Tehran on May 26, 2025. “There was total agreement that the two brotherly neigbouring countries must enhance cooperation in diverse fields including trade, investment and economy,” he added. The Prime Minister said Pakistan and Iran had deep rooted cultural and historical relations. “We have decided to transform these relations into a very productive
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PAKISTAN FULLY SUPPORTS IRAN’S RIGHT TO CIVILIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAMME, SAYS PM SHEHBAZ
cooperation in various fields of life.” “I also took this opportunity to thank the President for calling me and showing his concern on the evolving situation in the sub-continent a few weeks ago … I deeply appreciate your sense of concern and brotherly feelings for the people of Pakistan and your ardent desire that this crisis comes to a grinding halt instead of escalating further,” he told the Iranian President. He said his government had the opportunity to have extensive discussions with the Iranian foreign minister who visited Pakistan some time back. He said Pakistan came out of the crisis with India as victorious because of the brave actions of our outstanding armed forces strongly supported by the people of Pakistan. “We wanted peace. We want peace and we will work for peace in the region through talks on the table and resolve our outstanding issues including Kashmir problem according to the United Nations Security Council resolutions which were acknowledged even by the Indian Lok Sabha when Nehru was the prime minister of India.”
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Rs 50.00 | Vol XV No 320 | 48 Pages | Islamabad Edition
IRANIAN PRESIDENT CALLS UPON TWO COUNTRIES TO COOPERATE FOR BORDER SECURITY
TEHRAN
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid a courtesy call on His Eminence Sayyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran on Monday. He was accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarrar. During the call, the Prime Minister conveyed his deepest respect to the Supreme Leader underlining that His Eminence was an iconic figure in the Muslim World and the Muslim Ummah looked up to him for guidance and patronage. The Prime Minister briefed HE about recent conflict with India and India’s hegemonistic and revisionist designs and profusely thanked leadership of Iran for supporting Pakistan against Indian aggression. The Prime Minister underlined that Pakistan always desired that peace could prevail in the region leading to economic
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday livestreamed proceedings of the high-profile reserved seats case for the first time, as an 11-member constitutional bench resumed hearings on review petitions filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) against a previous ruling that declared 39 PTI-backed candidates eligible for reserved seats. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, a member of the bench, raised significant questions about the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) aligning with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) after the party was stripped of its electoral symbol just weeks before the February 2024 general elections. He remarked that the current constitutional and legal controversy around reserved seats might have been avoided had PTI-backed independent candidates not merged with a party that did not contest the elections. The hearing was conducted by an 11-judge bench headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan. Other members included Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, Naeem Akhter Afghan, Shahid Bilal Hassan, Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Salahuddin Panhwar, Aamer Farooq, and Ali Baqar Najafi.
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development and prosperity. The Prime Minister briefed the Supreme Leader about the steps taken to elevate Pakistan- Iran ties to highest levels and maintained that his government was committed to further deepen strategic cooperation with Iran in the complex geo-political times. The Prime Minister praised the farsightedness of the Iranian leadership in pursuing the nuclear negotiations with the United States and hoped that a constructive deal is reached between the two countries that can promote peace and stability in the region. The Supreme Leader appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in promoting regional peace and stability with farsightedness and praised his personal commitment to further strengthen Pakistan-Iran ties. The Supreme Leader prayed for greater prosperity, growth, and development of Pakistan and its people. The Prime Minister deeply appreciated Supreme Leader’s dedication to the poetry of Allam Iqbal, the poet of the East, and particularly requested the Supreme Leader to visit Pakistan again at earliest convenience.
Pakistan inaugurates Mohmand Dam Phase-II, stresses protection of water rights in stern warning
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Contact: 0307-7338168 irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
SHEHBAZ SHARIF EYES $10B TRADE TARGET WITH IRAN, PRAISES REGIONAL PEACE EFFORTS
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MoNitoriNg Desk
PM calls on Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei
MoNitoriNg report
ATTENTION
Ahead of his Tehran visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlights trade expansion plans, regional cooperation, and Iran’s role in promoting peace during South Asia tensions
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Supreme Court grills PTI-SIC alliance as reserved seats case live-streamed for first time
IN TODAY’S ISSUE
FEDERAL MINISTER FOR WATER RESOURCES MOIN WATTOO WARNS AGAINST ANY DISRUPTION TO PAKISTAN'S WATER SUPPLY, DECLARING SUCH ACTIONS AS AN ‘ACT OF WAR’ PROFIT
News Desk
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Water Resources, Muhammad Moin Wattoo, inaugurated the second phase of the Mohmand Dam project on Monday, stressing the critical importance of safeguarding Pakistan’s water rights. During the inauguration, Wattoo issued a stern warning to any parties attempting to disrupt Pakistan’s water supply, calling such actions “an act of war.” He reinforced that Pakistan would not tolerate any violation of its water rights, emphasizing the vital role that water plays in the nation’s survival and development. “No one has the right to take our water. Blocking it is equivalent to waging war against us,” Wattoo asserted, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. He pointed out that the agreement, which Pakistan shares with India, is legally binding and any violation would not be accepted under any circum-
stances. On the progress of the Mohmand Dam, Wattoo highlighted that construction is advancing rapidly, with expectations of completing the dam by 2027 or 2028. However, he assured the public that efforts are being made to finish the project ahead of schedule. He also commended the work of Chinese engineers, acknowledging their roundthe-clock efforts to ensure timely completion. Once fully operational, the Mohmand Dam will generate 800 megawatts of hydropower and irrigate thousands of acres of land, significantly enhancing agricultural productivity and supporting local economies. The project will also provide a boost to employment opportunities in the region. The dam, located on the Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohmand District, will be the fifth-largest Concrete Face Rock-Filled Dam (CFRD) in the world, standing at 213 meters tall. With a storage capacity of 1.29 million acrefeet, the dam will irrigate 18,233 acres of new land and support irrigation for an additional 160,000 acres of existing farmland.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has announced an ambitious plan to expand PakistanIran bilateral trade from the current $3 billion to $10 billion in the coming years, citing significant growth potential between the two neighbors. In an interview with Iran’s official news agency IRNA ahead of his visit to Tehran on Monday, the prime minister highlighted the upward trend in trade relations over the past three to four years. “We want to take it up to $10 billion in the next few years, but I think the potential is much larger than that as well. We are discussing signing a free trade agreement (FTA). I think in the next ten years, the trade volume between the two countries will expand a great deal. The need is to have sustained economic engagements for the long term between Pakistan and Iran,” IRNA quoted Shehbaz Sharif as saying. He emphasized the strategic importance of the shared 900-kilometer border between the two nations and its role in fostering economic and regional stability. “I personally believe that strong economic linkage between Pakistan’s Balochistan and Iran’s SistanBaluchestan can be good for the entire region. It can also be very effective in dealing with terrorism,” he stated. The prime minister noted that both sides had signed multiple memoranda of understanding aimed at initiating development projects between the bordering provinces, stressing once again the importance of long-term economic collaboration.
AURANGZEB SAYS FAILED ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO DERAIL IMF TALKS
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MoNitoriNg Desk
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb revealed on Monday that attempts were made to obstruct Pakistan’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but said the efforts were unsuccessful and the country’s case was ultimately decided on merit. “There was no stone left unturned in terms of ensuring that the meeting with the IMF does not happen,” Aurangzeb said, speaking at an event organised by Karandaaz Pakistan and the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) in Islamabad. “If the meeting does happen, then these items are not on the agenda—whether it’s the second tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) or the $1.3 billion under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). However, we are beyond that, and our case was discussed and decided on merit.” His remarks came as he addressed the recent escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India. “These are very tense moments. The entire nation has rightly celebrated the way our armed forces and political leadership have stood up against the aggression,” he said, drawing a parallel with the need for economic unity. Just days earlier, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack confirmed that Pakistan met all its targets under the EFF. “Our Board found that Pakistan had indeed met all of the targets. It had made progress on some of the reforms, and for that reason, the Board went ahead and approved the programme,” she stated. Earlier this month, the IMF Executive Board approved the first review of Pakistan’s 37-month, $7-billion EFF programme, along with a new arrangement under the RSF that will provide Pakistan with access to around $1.4 billion.
Israeli strikes kill over 50 in Gaza school shelter and residential attack GAZA CITY
News Desk
Over 50 Palestinians have been killed in two Israeli airstrikes that targeted a school sheltering displaced individuals and a residential building in northern Gaza on Monday. The strikes have sparked outrage and deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis, which has left Gaza’s population facing extreme hardship. In Gaza City, the Israeli air force struck the Fahmi Al-Jirjawi school in the al-Daraj neighborhood, which had been converted into a shelter for those displaced by the conflict. Medical sources confirmed that at least 30 people lost their lives in the attack. The bombing resulted in a massive fire that spread across the tents housing displaced families, with many of the victims trapped
as flames consumed their shelters. Eyewitnesses reported horrific scenes, including the sight of charred bodies and the cries of survivors, as first responders struggled to access the site. While the Israeli military acknowledged the strike, it claimed that the school had been used by Hamas as a “command and control center.” No evidence was provided to substantiate the claim, raising questions about the legitimacy of the target, given that the site was housing civilians. This attack has raised concerns over the targeting of humanitarian spaces during the conflict. In the northern Gaza town of Jabalia, an airstrike hit a multi-story residential building, killing at least 19 people and injuring several others. The building, which had housed displaced families, was completely destroyed, leaving no survivors from the
initial blast. Rescue efforts have been hampered by the severity of the damage, and many families remain trapped beneath the rubble. Local sources described the devastation, with entire floors reduced to debris. The latest airstrikes are part of an ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza, where more than 200 targets have been hit in the past 48 hours alone. The violence follows months of a blockade on humanitarian supplies, which has made it increasingly difficult to address the basic needs of Gaza’s residents. Food, water, and medical supplies remain scarce, exacerbating the suffering in the enclave. As the conflict continues, Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed since the collapse of a ceasefire agreement in March. The death
toll from the ongoing war has now surpassed 53,000, with the vast majority of casualties being civilians, including women and children. International organizations have raised alarms over the growing humanitarian crisis, with many calling for urgent interventions and a halt to the violence. The global community has expressed growing concern, with humanitarian groups urging Israel to reconsider its military tactics and prioritize the protection of civilian infrastructure. In the face of continued violence, both sides have rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire, with diplomatic efforts failing to yield any results. The ongoing siege of Gaza has displaced nearly 90% of the territory’s population, creating a dire need for humanitarian aid. Despite limited shipments of supplies, the blockade has restricted the flow of es-
sential goods, leaving many people without adequate food, clean water, or medical care. With the region’s healthcare system overwhelmed by casualties, the situation remains critical. The violence has led to widespread international condemnation, with calls for accountability mounting against Israeli officials. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for their roles in the conflict. At the same time, Israel faces charges at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza, further isolating it on the global stage. As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the hope for an end to the violence remains uncertain, and civilians continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict.