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PM WANTS GLOBAL STANDARDS OF SPECIALIZED HEALTHCARE IN CONSTRUCTION OF JMC Thursday, 7 August, 2025 | 12 Safar, 1447
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PM SHEHBAZ DIRECTS TRANSPARENCY, MERIT IN CONSTRUCTION AND STAFF RECRUITMENT FOR JMC, STRESSING THIRD-PARTY VALIDATION FOR QUALITY AND TRANSPARENCY
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 30 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
SAYS JMC WILL BE BUILT WITH INTERNATIONAL-STANDARD FACILITIES, WHICH WILL OFFER BETTER FACILITIES AS COMPARED TO LAHORE’S PKLI
Major among three security personnel martyred in Mastung terrorist attack
EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER PERFORMANCE OF PSX, CALLING BULLISH TREND IN STOCK MARKET AS A STRONG REFLECTION OF INVESTOR CONFIDENCE IN GOVT’S ECONOMIC POLICIES
PM takes notice as flooding in capital following overnight heavy rain ISLAMABAD
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ISLAMABAD
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RIME MINISTER Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the relevant authorities to ensure global standards of specialized healthcare in the construction of Jinnah Medical Complex. Jinnah Medical Complex will be a world-class hospital providing medical treatment for patients from all four provinces, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, the prime minister said while chairing a review meeting on the progress of JMC’s construction. The prime minister directed to prioritize transparency and merit in the construction and staff recruitment for
Jinnah Medical Complex. He also instructed to ensure the third-party validation for construction quality and transparency. He directed the preparation of a plan to improve primary and secondary healthcare systems in Islamabad to reduce pressure on tertiary hospitals. He said the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) was effectively serving as a source of treatment for patients. The Jinnah Medical Complex will be built with international-standard facilities, and it will have even better facilities as compared to that of PKLI, the prime minister said, stressing to outsource all related services, including janitorial, totally on merit.
DG ISPR rubbishes rumours of army chief becoming president RAWALPINDI
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday took notice of the flood-like situation in multiple areas of Islamabad caused by heavy overnight rainfall, which led to the overflow of storm drains and severe urban flooding in residential localities. According to officials, floodwaters entered homes, damaged belongings, submerged vehicles, and destroyed standing crops in Kuri village. Flooding was primarily triggered by rainwater gushing down from the Margalla Hills, leading to overflow in local streams early in the morning. In response, the prime minister directed the district administration and Capital Development Authority (CDA) to initiate immediate rescue operations, ensure drainage of water, and take preventive measures in low-lying areas near rivers and nullahs. He also instructed the health authorities to remain on high alert to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks. A special committee has been formed to supervise relief activities and ensure
PHC bars ECP from further action against disqualified PTI MPs PESHAWAR
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Military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has rubbished rumours of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir becoming the president. His statement follows a similar rebuttal by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi early in July, when he clarified that no idea existed “about the president being asked to resign or the COAS aspiring to assume the presidency.” Gen Chaudhry, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general, told The Economist that “talk of his boss becoming president is nonsense.” The Economist noted that COAS Munir’s popularity has surged since the May conflict with India. It added that the ruling coalition’s recently acquired two-thirds majority in the parliament needed for a constitutional amendment “ignited rumors that the army chief could become president too.” The government, as well as the military, has repeatedly warned about “fake news and propaganda” proliferating on social media, with Gen Chaudhry saying that not enough was being done against “digital terrorism” under the laws. On July 10, Naqvi asserted that President Asif Ali Zardari “enjoys a strong and respectful relationship with the leadership of the armed forces.” He quoted the president as having “clearly” stated, “I know who is spreading these falsehoods, why they are doing so, and who stands to benefit from this propaganda.” Naqvi stressed that the “sole focus” of COAS Munir was Pakistan’s strength and stability, and “nothing else.” In May, President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally decorated COAS Munir with the rank of field marshal for his “sagacious leadership and exceptional strategy” during the recent conflict with India. The rank of field marshal is the highest rank of armies built on the pattern of the British Army. It has only been awarded to one other — Gen Ayub Khan — by the presidential cabinet in 1959. It is a ceremonial five-star rank that usually signifies extraordinary leadership and wartime achievement. In a subsequent dinner hosted by the army chief, Field Marshal Munir lauded the political leadership for their “strategic foresight” during Marka-i-Haq against India.
public safety. Meanwhile, PPP MNA Shahida Rehmani raised the issue in the National Assembly, questioning unchecked construction of housing societies in natural watercourses near the Margalla Hills and Soan River, which she said had worsened flooding in the capital. Minister of State for Climate Change Sherry Mansab Ali, responding to the concerns, said the government is actively working to remove encroachments, conserve floodwater for reuse, and tackle the challenges posed by changing climate patterns. It is pertinent to mention here that at least 303 people have lost their lives in ongoing monsoon rains across Pakistan. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the fatalities include 104 men, 57 women, and 141 children, while the injured include 278 men, 207 women, and 242 children. Moreover, the rains have damaged 1,678 houses and caused the deaths of 428 livestock, the NDMA spokesperson confirmed.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday barred the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) from taking any further action against the disqualified Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers. The high court issued the ruling on the pleas submitted by PTI’s leader of opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and leader of opposition in the Senate, Shibli Faraz. The court issued notices to the election commission and other respondents and adjourned the hearing till August 20. In its two-page order, the PHC provided interim relief to the PTI members of parliament who had challenged the ECP’s disqualification move following their conviction in the May 9 riots case. The court observed that the petitioners were convicted by Faisalabad’s anti-terrorism court (ATC) and at the time of the verdict, they were not present in the said court. It further stated that the petitioners wanted to appeal against their convictions in the Lahore High Court (LHC) as, according to their lawyers, the top electoral watchdog disqualified them without hearing them. Earlier in the day, the opposition leaders in the Senate and National Assembly — Senator Shibli Faraz and Omar Ayub Khan, respectively, challenged the
ECP’s ruling, terming them “unlawful” and pleaded with the court to overturn the ruling. The development comes a day after ECP de-notified nine PTI lawmakers following their convictions in the May 9 cases, including the leaders of the opposition in the both the National Assembly and Senate. Those disqualified include five members of the National Assembly, one senator, and three members of the Punjab Assembly. The list includes Omar Ayub (MNA from NA-18 Haripur), Rai Hassan Nawaz (MNA from NA-143 Sahiwal-III), Zartaj Gul (MNA from NA-185 DG Khan-II), Rai Haider Ali (MNA from NA-96 Faisalabad-II), and Sahibzada Hamid Raza (MNA from NA104 Faisalabad-X) from the lower house of parliament. Punjab Assembly members Muhammad Ansar Iqbal (MPA from PP-73 Sargodha-III), Junaid Afzal (MPA from PP-98 Faisalabad-I), and Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal (MPA from PP-203 Sahiwal-VI) were also de-notified. The disqualification came days after a special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced several PTI leaders to 10 years in prison each in connection with cases registered in the aftermath of the May 9, 2023, violence. In its verdict, the special ATC sentenced 108 individuals of the total 185 accused and acquitted 77 others including former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, Zain Qureshi and Khayal Kastro.
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An army major was among three security personnel who were martyred by India-backed terrorists in Balochistan’s Mastung district, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday. In a statement, the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said that on the night between August 5-6, terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan targeted a security forces’ vehicle with an improvised explosive device (IED). ISPR identified those martyred as Major Muhammad Rizwan Tahir, 31, resident of Narowal district; Naik Ibni Amin, 37, resident of Swabi district; and Lance Naik Muhammad Younas, 33, resident of Karak district. They “paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat”, the military’s media wing said. “Major Rizwan Shaheed was a brave officer who participated in numerous counter terrorism operations and always led his troops from the front,” the ISPR mentioned. Following their martyrdom, the security forces launched a sanitisation operation in the area and killed four Indian-sponsored terrorists. The sanitisation operation will continue to eliminate any terrorist present in the area, it added. “… the security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of Indian sponsored terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve.”
Trump doubles tariffs on India over Russian oil imports PROFIT
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United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, accusing the country of continuing to import Russian oil both directly and indirectly. The new tariff will be added to a separate 25 percent duty already set to take effect on Thursday. The latest move follows Trump’s warning a day earlier that tariffs on India would increase within 24 hours due to its ongoing energy trade with Moscow. The newly announced tariff will come into force in three weeks and includes exemptions for items already covered under existing sector-specific duties such as steel and aluminum, as well as for sensitive categories like pharmaceuticals. The announcement adds fresh pressure to already strained US-India relations, which have reached their most serious crisis in years following the failure of bilateral trade talks. American officials have grown increasingly frustrated with New Delhi’s refusal to scale back Russian crude purchases, viewing them as indirect support for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine. Trump’s decision was first signaled earlier this week and follows a series of meetings in Moscow between his top diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian officials. The discussions were part of a broader push by the Trump administration to secure a peace agreement in Ukraine. Trump has also threatened further tariffs on Russia and the possibility of secondary sanctions on countries aligned with Moscow if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not take steps to end the conflict.
Four FC personnel among 7 martyred in two KP gun attacks PESHAWAR
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Seven persons, including four security personnel were martyred in two firing incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Karak district and Peshawar city, the police officials confirmed on Wednesday. According to the security officials, four personnel of the Federal Constabulary (FC), including a driver, were martyred when unknown terrorists
ambushed their vehicle in Karak’s Garagri area. Both the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and governor strongly condemned the attack. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed relevant authorities to arrest those involved in the incident as he expressed condolences to the families of those martyred. “We salute the security personnel and their families who sacrificed their lives for the country and the nation,” said a statement from the office
of KP CM’s press secretary. Governor Faisal Kundi also condemned the attack, saying, “The sacrifice of those martyred in the war against terrorism will not go in vain.” In a separate incident on Tuesday night, three people died in a gun attack on Peshawar’s Warsak Road, including police inspector Ali Hussain. Peshawar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Masood Ahmed informed the media that Hussain was trav-
elling in a car with two friends last night when four assailants on two motorbikes opened fire on the car, killing all three. “A pistol and submachine gun (SMG) were used in the attack,” he added. “We are investigating the incident, and geofencing work is ongoing as well.” Kundi condemned the “unfortunate and inhumane” incident as he expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
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FIA uncovers Rs1.12b laundering trail, Bahria Town files appeal in SC g
MINISTER ALLEGES HOSPITAL USED TO LAUNDER CASH, WHILE MALIK RIAZ CALLS FOR DIALOGUE AND FIRMLY CHALLENGES PROPERTY AUCTION PROFIT
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The federal government has accused real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and his firm Bahria Town of running a massive money laundering operation, following a recent raid by the Federal Investigation Agency that recovered what officials called key evidence. Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the FIA had seized documents showing that Malik Riaz and Bahria Town were involved in laundering Rs1.12 billion. “The documents that have surfaced reveal money
laundering and corruption of a great amount by Malik Riaz and Bahria Town, with the documents recovered so far showing evidence of Rs1.12 billion in money laundering,” he said. According to Tarar, the illegal activity was being operated out of Safari Hospital in Rawalpindi, which he described as a front used to store cash and records. He alleged that hospital ambulances were used to discreetly transport both money and documents to avoid suspicion. He said the FIA’s raid also exposed the role of two individuals, Imran and Kaiser, who were allegedly running a hawala and hundi network tied to Bahria Town. “When
the raid took place yesterday, two people — Imran and Kaiser — who ran the hawala and hundi operations, were linked to the Bahria Town chief financial officer and the evidence has been seized by the FIA,” he stated. Tarar claimed that the operation was being coordinated by senior Bahria Town officials and that the funds were being moved abroad using illegal channels. “There will be more amounts besides the Rs1.12 billion that will come forth,” he said, adding that the investigation was still in its early stages. He further alleged that some Bahria Town staff attempted to destroy evidence during the raid. “Some documents were burnt, but we
seized the majority of the records. If there was nothing illegal in that hospital, why burn records?” he asked. The information minister said residents of Bahria Town would not be affected by the investigation, which targets only Malik Riaz, his family, and close associates. “We are only investigating Malik Riaz, his officials and family members involved in this racket,” he said. In a separate development, Bahria Town confirmed through its official account on X that it had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the auction of its properties. The move comes after a series of legal challenges between the company and
the National Accountability Bureau. Meanwhile, Malik Riaz broke his silence on Tuesday, issuing a call for negotiations. “I would like to make a final appeal from the bottom of my heart that we be given a chance to return to serious dialogue, and a dignified solution,” he said in a post on X. “We will participate in any arbitration and implement its decision 100 per cent. If the arbitration decision requires payment of money from our side, we will ensure its payment, God willing.” Neither Malik Riaz nor Bahria Town officials have publicly responded to the government’s latest allegations.