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PM ALARMED AT 2.55PC POPULATION GROWTH RATE, CALLS FOR NATIONAL POLICY TO ADDRESS IT Friday, 8 August, 2025 | 13 Safar, 1447
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COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING NEEDED TO ENSURE OUR GROWING POPULATION, ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH, BECOMES A PRODUCTIVE PART OF ECONOMY: PM
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EMPHASIZES GOVT TAKING SEVERAL INITIATIVES TO EMPOWER THE YOUTH AND INTEGRATE THEM INTO COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC MAINSTREAM
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STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF NATIONWIDE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT IMPLICATIONS OF UNCHECKED POPULATION GROWTH
PM lauds $2.7b exports in first fiscal month as highly encouraging
ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
RIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif called for an immediate national policy to address Pakistan’s rapid population growth rate, terming the annual population growth rate of 2.55 percent alarming. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed the alarm during a high-level meeting to review the challenges posed by Pakistan’s rising population and deliberate on effective strategies to manage it, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. The prime minister termed the high population growth rate an “alarming trend” and said that immediate and coordinated policy action was required at a national level to address the issue. The World Bank reported Pakistan’s annual growth rate for 2024 as 1.5pc. The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, along with senior officials from institutions. “We need comprehensive planning to ensure our growing population, especially the youth, becomes a productive part of the economy,” PM Shehbaz stressed. “A large segment of our population comprises young people, who are the most valuable asset for our country.” He emphasized that the government was taking several ini-
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ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
tiatives to empower the youth and integrate them into the country’s economic mainstream. “Opportunities are being created to enable our youth to play a central role in national development,” he added. Speaking on gender inclusion, Shehbaz underlined the critical importance of women’s participation in the workforce. “Women constitute a significant portion of our human capital. We must ensure greater employment opportunities for them,” he said. The premier instructed the formation of a committee to develop a comprehensive and effective national policy in close collaboration with provincial governments. “A unified and strategic response is the need of the hour,” he said, calling for a coordinated federal-provincial framework to tackle population-related issues. He also stressed the importance of launching a nationwide awareness campaign to educate citizens about the implications of unchecked population growth, especially in the context of sustainable economic development.
Two killed, cops among 20 injured in Wana IED blast WANA
During the meeting, the premier was briefed on various proposals and recommendations to manage population growth. Officials stressed that any long-term solution would require active provincial collaboration and public engagement at the grassroots level. Pakistan is home to a vast population of over 251 million, according to World Bank figures. In 2023, the population growth rate was reported to have reached around 2.55 per cent. However, almost forty-five percent of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line, according to a World Bank report. Last month, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said that population growth in Pakistan has reached an alarming level. He highlighted the wide-ranging consequences of the demographic challenge, including over 25m children currently being out of school and overcrowding at government hospitals. In June, parliamentarians unanimously approved a resolution on population stabilisation and vowed to table it in the National Assembly.
Two people were killed and 20 others sustained injuries in a remote-controlled bomb blast targeting a police vehicle in Rustam Bazaar of Wana in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower South Waziristan district, the police confirmed on Thursday. Confirming the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police Imranullah said the blast was caused by a remote-controlled explosive device planted near a police vehicle in the Rustam Bazaar, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. According to the Wana District Headquarters Hospital’s data, two died in the blast, with 12 people sustaining major injuries and eight others minor ones. A list of casualties issued by South Waziristan police spokesperson Anayat Khan identified two wounded policemen as Zubair Salaam Khan from the district’s Dabkot area and Fareedun Zubair from Birmal tehsil. Lower South Waziristan’s District Police Officer (DPO) Tahir Khan stated that the wounded were immediately taken to the Wana District Headquarters Hospital. “Security forces cordoned off the area after the blast and initiated a search operation to trace the perpetrators,” DPO Khan added. Investigation was also underway to determine the nature of the bomb used, the officer noted. The incident follows residents’ complaints of the open display of firearms and the free movement of armed men in Wana’s Rustam Bazaar, an important commercial hub of Lower South Waziristan. The DPO said that no one was allowed to roam Rustam Bazaar openly carrying weapons, and that strict measures would be implemented soon to curb the practice. Separately, a cop was injured as police and civilians repulsed a late-night terrorist attack on the Khuni Khel police post in KP’s Bannu district. “Police personnel responded strongly to the terrorist attack while showing bravery and determination,” Bannu DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi said in a statement. “A policeman got injured by the terrorists’ firing and was taken to a hospital,” the officer added, noting that residents also joined the police and took up positions against the attackers.
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ISLAMABAD
Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is scheduled to travel to the United States this week, his second visit in less than two months, foreign media reported on Thursday. No official announcement from either side has been made so far regarding any engagement during Field Marshal Munir’s trip to the US. The reports claimed that the COAS will attend the retirement ceremony of US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla, who was noted for publicly praising Pakistan and was even awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) during his recent visit to the country by President Asif Ali Zardari on July 26. The army chief visited the US back in June, and held a rare one-on-one meeting
with US President Donald Trump at the White House Cabinet Room with Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff and Islamabad’s national security adviser also in attendance. The visit also came against the backdrop of the armed Pakistan-India conflict, which saw Washington brokering a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after New Delhi launched attacks inside Pakistan—under the pretext of targeting terrorists—which it said were responsible for the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India’s attacks prompted Pakistan to launch Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos after downing six Indian Air Force fighter jets, including three Rafales, in response to Indian unprovoked aggression. The 87-hour-long conflict—which
included cross-border strikes by both countries—left 40 civilians and 13 armed forces personnel martyred in Pakistan. The huddle, apart from discussing the then-worsening Iran conflict, also saw COAS praising Trump’s “constructive and result-oriented role” in facilitating a ceasefire with India. With Field Marshal Munir lauding Trump’s statesmanship and his ability to
‘Wish, Not reality’: Kh Asif debunks ‘resignation reports’ ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday debunked reports circulating on social media about “him stepping down from his position” as rumors, saying, “These could be wishes, but no reality.” The defense minister clarified the matter after an X user named Zubair Ali Khan, in a series of posts on the platform late Wednesday night, alleged that “Kh Asif had handed in his resignation over a controversy but had withdrawn it and was now unreachable.” Replying to the post that levelled the allegations against him, Asif wrote, “With apologies, this gentleman has written his wishes in this tweet. Not reality.”
He shared a screenshot of the post thread, edited with a red stamp marking it as “FAKE.” The X user, a former journalist, had alleged that the minister resigned due to “intensified controversy regarding the arrest of the additional deputy commissioner revenue (ADCR) of Sialkot a few days ago on charges of alleged financial corruption.” “In the resignation sent to Dr Tauqeer Shah, advisor to the prime minister’s office, Khawaja Asif stated that either the ADCR should be released or his resignation should be accepted,” the post alleged. Khan also suggested that an “influential person” was behind the arrest, who was a subordinate of the defence minister’s department.
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NAB sells Bahria Town properties to recover outstanding amounts g
EFFORT TO RECOVER FUNDS THROUGH AUCTION CONTINUES AS BAHRIA TOWN’S ASSETS ARE SOLD ISLAMABAD
MonitoRing DeSk
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi has successfully auctioned three out of six commercial properties belonging to Bahria Town as part of its ongoing effort to recover outstanding amounts from a court-approved plea bargain settlement. Among the properties sold, Rubaish Marquee fetched Rs500 million, marking a significant step in the recovery process. Conditional bids
SARDAR GHULAM ABBAS, RAJA RIAZ MEET PM: Meanwhile, member of the National Assembly (MNA) Sardar Ghulam Abbas and former MNA Raja Riaz met with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, Sardar Ghulam Abbas briefed the Prime Minister on matters related to his constituency. The meeting also included discussions on the overall national and political situation of the country.
‘2nd in less than two months’: Field Marshal Asim Munir to visit US this week: report MonitoRing RepoRt
Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s exports reaching $2.7 billion in the first month of the new fiscal year. In a statement issued from the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday, the Prime Minister noted a 17% year-on-year increase in exports from July 2024 to July 2025, calling it a highly encouraging development. He added that the 9% month-onmonth growth in just one month is a positive indicator of economic progress. Highlighting the government’s focus on export-led growth, the Prime Minister said that sound economic policies and priorities have set key economic indicators in the right direction. He commended the performance of the economic team and reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing exports, encouraging investment, and fostering a business-friendly environment. He further noted that the implementation of the faceless customs assessment system is improving port operations, and the rise in the tax-to-GDP ratio is a positive development. He also welcomed recent im-
provements in Pakistan’s credit ratings by international financial institutions as a sign of growing economic stability. Shehbaz Sharif also shared that $34.9 billion were received as remittances in the last fiscal year, reflecting a 28.8% increase compared to FY 2023-24. He stated that more facilities are being provided to overseas Pakistanis. The Prime Minister praised the performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, noting that the PSX 100 Index surpassed the 145,000 mark, achieving historic growth in recent days. He concluded by once again appreciating the efforts of the economic team and reaffirmed the government’s determination to boost exports, attract investment, and improve the overall economic climate.
have been received for two additional properties, Corporate Office One and Two, with final approval pending. However, no acceptable bids were made for the remaining three properties, which will be re-auctioned at a later date. The auction of Bahria Town’s properties is part of the judicial plea bargain settlement aimed at recouping outstanding amounts from the real estate company, which has been embroiled in several legal and financial disputes. This move follows the ongoing in-
vestigations and efforts to bring to justice those involved in large-scale financial irregularities within the company. Federal Minister for Information, Attaullah Tarar, also revealed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has uncovered substantial evidence of corruption and money laundering linked to Bahria Town. During an operation earlier this week, key documents were seized, showing illegal funds amounting to Rs1.12 billion. Tarar further disclosed that attempts had been made to destroy crucial records
prior to the FIA’s intervention. He questioned why such measures were taken, stating that if no unlawful activities had occurred, there would have been no need to destroy the documents. This revelation further intensifies the scrutiny surrounding Bahria Town’s dealings, as investigations continue into the company’s financial operations. The auction and ongoing investigation signal the government’s efforts to hold individuals accountable for financial misconduct and recover misappropriated funds.
comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community, the US president, in return, also hailed the former’s leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics. During the meeting, which extended to over two hours, both sides also discussed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies. Following the army chief’s visit, Pakistan and Washington have since then reached a much-awaited trade agreement as well. The breakthrough came during Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s meeting with the US Secretary of Commerce and Trade Representative.
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Pakistan Navy, ANF seize illicit drugs worth $38m near Pasni coast
KARACHI
Staff RepoRt
Pakistan Navy in collaboration with Anti-Narcotics Force and Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre (JMICC) captured about 1,250 kilogrammes of illicit drugs worth $38 million from smugglers near Balochistan’s Pasni coast, the navy’s media wing said on Thursday. “The value of the seized consignment in the international market is approximately $38 million,” a press release from the navy said. “The consignment was being smuggled via the Arabian Sea to international destinations.” It added that the seized items, comprising 1,100kg of hashish, 50kg of crystal meth, and 100kg of heroin, have been handed over to the ANF for further legal proceedings. “This successful operation by the Pakistan Navy and ANF, resulting in the seizure of a large quantity of drugs, is a testament to PN’s resolve to fight against illegal activities as a national obligation,” the statement said. “Pakistan Navy will continue to shoulder its responsibility to establish lawful order at sea.” The navy and ANF have previously worked in several intelligence-based joint operations to counter unlawful activities along the coast. Last year, the navy seized a large quantity of narcotics in the north Arabian Sea during a regional maritime security patrol. In February 2023, a joint intelligence-based counternarcotics operation in the Arabian Sea resulted in the seizure of narcotics worth Rs3 billion.