CHINA ‘UNSTOPPABLE’, SAYS XI WITH SHEHBA Z , KIM AND PUTIN AT HIS SIDE
TFIA arrests FBR officers in smuggled vehicle regularization scam
digital audit exposes 103 fraudulent uploads in Customs system; JIT uncovers wider racket involving mr As and dealers
t The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated disciplinary and criminal proceedings against its officers after an inquiry revealed their involvement in the fraudulent regularization of smuggled vehicles
The case has now led to arrests by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) following a joint probe According to an official press release, the crackdown forms part of FBR’s broader transformation agenda which places emphasis on transparency accountability and a zero-tolerance stance on corruption As part of its reforms FBR has also launched integrity profiling of its workforce and strengthened internal checks The scandal surfaced in July 2025, when reports pointed to misuse of the Auction Module introduced in August 2021 under the WeBOC system The module had been designed to prevent multiple registrations of vehicles auctioned by Customs and to enable Motor Registration Authorities (MRAs) to verify auction details online, thereby reducing reliance on manual paperwork Since the module’s launch, data for 1,909 vehicles was uploaded, but investigators found that 103 vehicles were fraudulently entered using fake user IDs Of these 43 smuggled vehicles had already been registered by MRAs effectively granting them a false appearance of legality A digital audit identified the FBR user credentials involved On July 9, 2025, the board suspended a Deputy Collector and an Assistant Collector whose IDs were used in the scam Investigations further revealed collusion between MRAs and car dealers pointing to a broader criminal racket
The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has proposed shifting the newly planned Virtual Assets Authority from the Cabinet Division to the Finance Division stressing the body s relevance to financial oversight and anti-money laundering efforts A statement issued by the Senate Secretariat on Wednesday said the recommendation came during a meeting at Parliament House chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla The committee was reviewing the Virtual Assets Bill 2025 which seeks to regulate digital assets in
COMMENT
Terrorism runs loose
Terrorism
in Quetta and Bannu shows menace has not receded
TH E government s efforts to curb terrorism seem unavailing, and though terrorist incidents do not seem to be increasing, they do not seem to be decreasing either, with two gory incidents on Tuesday in which a total of 19 people were killed There was a suicide bombing in Bannu, at the Federal Constabulary Headquarters there, in which six were martyred, and then the was a 12-hour firefight, as five terrorists used the attack as cover to try to take over the HQ, and were killed In Quetta, there was a suicide attack in the parking area of the Shahwani Stadium, after the BNP(M) hosted a meeting in memory of its late leader Sardar Ataullah Mengal, in which 13 people were killed There was a third incident in Lakki Marwat, in which two policemen were killed, showing that the acts of terror had not yet been controlled That incident might indicate why counterterrorism efforts were failing The policemen were killed after the district police launched a clearing operation, using armoured personnel carriers and drones Yet the martyred policemen were approaching one of the targeted areas on a motorcycle
Neither attack has been claimed, but it seems fairly obvious that the attacks in Bannu and Lakki Marwat are of sectarian terrorists Not only does the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan have a presence in the area, but it has attacked law enforcement agencies there before Also, though there has been some speculation about cooperation between sectarian and separatist terrorists, Baloch separatists have never operated in KP However, the second attack is a little puzzling, for while Akhtar Mengal, Sardar Ataullah s son and successor, is not a natural target for either separatists or sectarian terrorists Is there some intraseparatist dynamic at work here? It must not be forgotten that Sardar Akhtar, while committed to working within the federation, is hardly a centralizer
The government has a very narrow line to tread While it must ensure that genuine grievances are addressed, it must also restore law and order This requires better intelligence than seems to be available, which means that intelligence agencies must divert some of the resources they expend on politicians towards actual; threats to the nation, towards the sectarian and separatist forces that have shown that they have not yet been defanged, and that they still have much of their venom
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change Therefore, without disbursing funds for loss and damage by the developed countries, the survival of the developing countries, like Pakistan, in the face of climate-induced catastrophe is at stake As far as Pakistan is concerned its contri-
IN January 2025 a Senate panel formally debated amendments for the creation of a South Punjab province In August 2025 the Governor of Punjab reiterated that the demand for a separate province would not be ignored Earlier, in June 2025, the provincial budget once again exposed the imbalance in fiscal priorities, with South Punjab receiving only a fraction of the development funds while central Punjab absorbed the lion’s share These developments along with speculation about a possible 27th Amendment which while not explicitly mentioning South Punjab could pave the way for new provinces, have reshaped the national conversation For the people of South Punjab, this is no longer a distant aspiration It is a matter of dignity, fairness, and institutional presence For Multan Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan the demand for a province is not about political symbolism It is about governance that speaks directly to their needs When classrooms in rural schools remain without teachers or clinics without doctors, the debate over new provinces ceases to be a matter of abstraction It is about whether health services are available, whether local infrastructure is maintained and whether funds are allocated with equity A province headquartered in Multan would mean decision-making taking place closer to the people ensuring that budgets reflect the realities of those who live in the region The symbolic recognition would matter, but even more critical would be the tangible results in development and justice Furthermore the legal community in Multan illustrates this imbalance with clarity While the Lahore High Court has a bench in Multan it does not host a Company Bench Under the Companies Act of 2017, only Company Benches can adjudicate key corporate matters such as mergers, shareholder disputes, restructuring, and winding-up This exclusion has farreaching consequences Businesses in South Punjab are compelled to register or shift their headquarters to Lahore to access the right forum for corporate lit-
events The GLOF II project, which started in 2017 as a continuation of the first project has failed to prevent disasters in various areas in GB The project was primarily focused on empowering climate-vulnerable communities to mitigate the impact of GLOFs by improving community preparedness and disaster response The project has a target to
Cloudbursting
in
and
a heavy flood triggered by cloudbursts swept away 15 tourist vehicles in the Babusar area of GB leaving 5 dead and 15 missing The cloudbursting caused heavy torrential rain which inundated KKH leaving hundreds of tourist vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway On the very next day, a heavy cloudburst caused a severe flood in Kondus, Khaplu The flood swept 50 houses 20 shops and two mosques according to local sources In Skardu Sadpara Nalla and Burgi Nalla also faced floods after cloudbursts The important tourist points Khamosh and Mantokha Waterfalls, Kharmang were also severely damaged due to flash floods The cloudbursts also caused heavy devastation in the Ghizer district, destroying agricultural lands and basic infrastructure By the end of the month 37 villages in GB were declared disaster zones by the government of GB The government estimated the flood caused loses of Rs 15–20 billion due to the destruction of homes, crops, and public infrastructure On 1 August, a flash flood caused heavy damage to crops and livestock houses and educational institutions in the Ishkoman area of Ghizer The flood was so sudden that the people of the area barely managed to survive On August 6, floodwaters from the Shisper Glacier caused severe land erosion in Hassanabad Nalla in Hunza, damaging the protection wall of the KKH On August 8 another flood from the Shutuber Glacier destroyed water facilities bridges and link roads in Gojal Hunza On August 10 floodwater from the Shisper Glacier washed away a section of the KKH blocking the highway for traffic On August 11, seven people died during a water restoration effort in Danyor Nalla after a flood
igation Civil courts are barred from intervening in these cases so parties have little choice but to bear the additional costs of engaging counsel and maintaining presence in Lahore The result is a systemic discouragement of corporate activity in Multan Moreover, this trend has weakened Multan s potential as a hub of commercial practice Law firms that might otherwise have thrived in handling high-value corporate disputes see their practice limited while entrepreneurs are burdened with unnecessary expenses The migration of head offices to Lahore is not simply a business preference but a direct response to the judicial geography that sidelines South Punjab For local lawyers, the lack of opportunities in corporate litigation forces many to either restrict their practice to smaller-scale civil and criminal cases or to relocate to Lahore themselves In this sense the absence of a Company Bench does not just affect businesses it cur-
In Baltistan, the plight was no different On August 12, a glacial flood in Horchas Nalla and Dogoro village in Shigar swept houses, caused damage to agricultural fields and blocked the only road to K2 On August 14 in Saltoro Siachen a flood swept away a suspension bridge that connected the village to other areas On the same day, a flood blocked the GilgitSkardu road near Astak Nalla, leaving hundreds of passengers and goods vehicles stranded on both sides At Baghicha Roundu floodwater washed away the bridge connecting Skardu to Roundu The blockages caused a severe fuel shortage in Skardu On August 16 sudden flooding injured 10 people and killed a young boy in Xhoqgo, Gulapur, Shigar On the same day, a flash flood in Haldi, Khaplu, damaged Siachen Road The Sarmo Bridge in Khaplu was swept away by river water after heavy rainfall causing the water level to rise In Hushe Valley too the only suspension bridge was swept away by river water Only recently, glacial floods have caused heavy destruction in Hunza, Astore, Nagar, Ghizer, and Gilgit The floods blocked the KKH at many locations A huge flood in the Raushan area of Ghizer swept away a whole village The flood debris blocked the Ghizer River and raised the river water level risking the adjacent villages in the face of overflow A shepherd s timely call saved the lives of the villagers All the above occurrences are the story of just a month What comes next is out of anyone’s surmise All we can do is brace ourselves for future events It is a fact that climate change is a cosmopolitan issue and knows no boundaries It is melting the glaciers in the north at an alarming pace, triggering GLOFs in GB and KP Therefore, the government must declare a climate emergency in these regions The government and its disaster management cell must station the latest early warning systems in GB and regularly use the latest satellite imagery to monitor the glacial lakes The proper forecasting through cutting-edge technology, combined with effective planning and management, such as avoiding construction on waterways, riverbanks, and landslide-prone areas can help thwart any untoward events in the future For us adaptation and mitigation are our last resorts as we have had little to no role in causing global warming For the world now is the time to issue
Karachi’s crooked cleanup
Agree or else
Sajjad HuSSain
to industrial India and Pakistan s ports Security discussions also yielded significant progress The SCO has long prioritized combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism and this summit reinforced that commitment Member states reaffirmed Central Asia as the organization s core pledging to ensure peace and stability Pakistan contributed significantly, sharing expertise in counter-terrorism and pushing for stronger regional mechanisms to address cross-border threats Agreements on cyber security and counterterrorism included plans for joint exercises and intelligence sharing Putin emphasized the SCO s role in safeguarding regional security, attributing the Ukraine conflict to NATO s actions Modi, in talks with Putin, advocated for constructive dialogue to resolve conflicts, welcoming recent peace efforts Pakistan echoed this call for dialogue with Sharif stressing collaborative approaches to regional stability aligning with the SCO s principles of mutual trust and noninterference, which contrast with more confrontational global approaches Cultural and people-to-people initiatives added a hopeful dimension Agreements on educational exchanges and cultural programs were signed to foster connections among diverse populations Pakistan highlighted its cultural heritage, proposing initiatives to promote tourism along historical Silk Road routes Xi emphasized cooperation in tourism and youth engagement China’s humanoid robot Xiao He interacted with delegates in multiple languages symbolizing the innovative spirit of SCO collaborations United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended Xi s leadership in green energy, noting China s contributions to global sustainability Pakistan supported these environmental priorities advocating for sustainable development projects to address climate challenges in vulnerable regions like its flood-prone areas
The summit’s most transformative proposal was Xi’s Global Governance Initiative calling for fairness and justice in international affairs It promotes a balanced view of World War II history rejects Cold War mentalities bloc confrontations, and bullying, and supports the United Nations and World Trade Organization as cornerstones of global systems Xi advocated for an equal orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization to build a just governance system positioning the SCO as a leader in this vision Pakistan endorsed this initiative with Sharif emphasizing its alignment with the country’s vision for equitable global systems that amplify the voices of developing nations This initiative contrasts sharply with US unilateralism which often prioritizes US interests through tariffs sanctions and exclusive alliances Recent trade wars disrupted global supply chains, and interventions have bypassed multilateral consensus Xi s proposal emphasizes shared decision-making, ensuring nations like India Pakistan and Iran have equal voices Unlike U S policies such as high tariffs which can harm allies and adversaries the SCO s commitments focus on cooperative economic integration as seen in the summit s trade and connectivity agreements, including Pakistan’s push for CPEC integration This multipolar approach could dilute the dominance of any single power fostering a more equitable global order Modi s visit and his bilateral meetings
with Xi and Putin carry significant implications for regional geopolitics His discussions with Xi marking his first trip to China in seven years built on progress post-2020 Galwan clash Agreements to resume direct flights and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, alongside border peace commitments, suggest a thawing of India-China tensions This could stabilize the border reducing escalation risks that destabilize Asia Enhanced trade and technological cooperation may counterbalance India s strained US ties strained by 50 percent tariffs over Russian oil purchases By strengthening ties with China, India diversifies partnerships, reducing Western reliance and signaling a pivot toward a multipolar Asia where it holds greater leverage Modi s talks with Putin reinforced IndiaRussia ties with plans for a December summit to mark their strategic partnership s anniversary Amid US sanctions on Russia and tariffs on India, these discussions underscored India s commitment to
advocating for
through
Corridor (CPEC) a
and
Initiative
Shehbaz Sharif emphasized integrating CPEC with SCO economic goals, proposing expanded trade routes linking South Asia to Central Asia The summit culminated in a development strategy through 2035, emphasizing connectivity, energy security and digital collaboration These measures promise to boost trade create jobs and enhance economic stability across Eurasia benefiting millions from rural Tajikistan
The SCO Summit 2025 showed multilateralism can thrive when nations choose collaboration over isolation From economic agreements to XiÊs Global Governance Initiative, and with PakistanÊs strategic contributions, it laid the groundwork for a balanced global order ModiÊs engagements with Xi and Putin, alongside PakistanÊs active role, signal a pragmatic shift in AsiaÊs geopolitics, fostering stability and cooperation
DO N A L D Trump’s imperial tendencies see the US president wield tariffs and sanctions in the expectation that America will receive tributes Yet his latest move – punishing India with 50% tariffs for Russian oil purchases once encouraged by the US – has produced not submission but spectacle It has sent India s Narendra Modi to China for the first time in seven years as Xi Jinping hosted more than 20 leaders for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin And it is in Tianjin not Washington where it looks as if the hinge of history is moving The SCO is easy to dismiss: the bloc is a bundle of contradictions India and Pakistan remain adversaries China and India still stare across a garrisoned Himalayan frontier, though relations have thawed since last October s border breakthrough Russia and China vie for influence in Central Asia Unlike Nato, the SCO has no binding defence commitments For much of its life it has looked like a paper tiger sending out communiques that were all roar and no bite
But in geopolitics appearances are important To see Mr Modi Mr Xi and Vladimir Putin smiling and joking is to watch Washington s influence fade Mr Trump s tariff broadside against India makes Tianjin significant Here was the prime minister of India – supposedly the US’s Asian counterweight to China –affirming that New Delhi and Beijing are “partners not rivals” India’s calculation is straightforward It has red lines: agriculture will not be opened up to US demands; oil purchases cannot be determined by Washington; the ceasefire with Pakistan was conceded by Islamabad, not brokered by Mr Trump Backing down would look like weakness Far better, from Mr Modi’s perspective, to demonstrate that the US cannot take India’s partnership for granted, and to seek friends elsewhere For China the rewards are immediate Mr Trump has given Mr Xi a stage on which to pose as the host of an important multipolar gathering Cai Qi Mr Xi s chief of staff and a member of China s top ruling body – the
IS R A E L’S genocide in Gaza has galvanized massive opposition on the antiwar left and set in motion a sea change in American politics concerning Israel Last month a Quinnipiac poll showed marked declines in almost every metric concerning attitudes toward Israel in the wake of Gaza Support for Palestinians for the first time exceeds support for Israel (37 to 36 percent) Exactly 50 percent consider Gaza a genocide Sixty percent oppose further arms shipments to Israel A similar number oppose Israel s war on Gaza A majority (53 percent) opposes Trump s handling of the Gaza conflict Forty percent consider US policy too supportive of Israel These are shocking numbers, which have never been recorded in many years’ worth of previous polls that have consistently reflected strong support for Israel and far less for Palestinians The call for a suspension of military aid for example has been taboo in mainstream discourse for decades Attitudes hitherto considered unthinkable have now become mainstream It is, of course,
and the left, grassroots youth wing represented by the Squad in Congress It played out at a recent Democratic National Committee (DNC) meeting at which antiwar Democrats proposed a resolution calling for an end to the war and ban of weapons sales to Israel DNC senior leaders countered with their own resolution sup-
AIPAC They include some of its most powerful members Rep Jerrold Nadler and Rep Adam Smith who said I believe it is time for the United States government to stop the sale of some offensive weapons systems to Israel Though Smith s support was somewhat tempered, it signaled an awareness that the times are changing on Israel His Seattle district includes one of the country’s main weapons developers Boeing He s also received $800 000 from AIPAC in the past two election cycles After AIPAC-funded party primary challenges devastated the ranks of progressive candidates in 2022, some members have begun to pledge that they will no longer accept such donations from such proIsrael PACs though these pledges do not cover primary candidates recruited by the Israel lobby to challenge progressives Until the party itself bans such PAC manipulation this will continue In 2022, Rep Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, and others on the party s left flank complained about the absurdity of Republicans intervening to defeat Democratic candidates Ocasio-Cortez warned that their money was “toxic” and a “slush fund for Republican billionaires who should not have influence in the Democratic Party let alone our primaries The congressional leadership yawned and did nothing Now the shoe is on the other foot The worse Israel s genocide, the more disgust it arouses in the American public This, in turn, trickles up to the party’s elected officials who read the tea leaves: being in lockstep with the lobby is no longer the sure ticket it once was The DNC and congressional leadership are still late to the game Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, Senate and House leaders, have kept their distance from their party’s New York City mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani because, among other things he supports the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and opposes the Gaza genocide They are incapable of leading into the future where the party must be if it is to win national elections and counter MAGA There are two upcoming tests of this phenomenon:
CM MARYAM PROMISES TO REBUILD HOMES
D r K halid S iddiqui meets UNESCO C hief review ongoing initiatives
ISLAMABAD s
Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui held a meeting today with Mr Fuad Pashayev, Chief of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Secretary of Education Mr Nadeem Mehbub and Joint Secretary of the Ministry were also present at the meeting Mr Pashayev extended condolences over the devastation caused by recent floods in Pakistan and assured full cooperation and support from UNESCO
The meeting focused on reviewing UNESCO s ongoing initiatives in Pakistan, particularly in the areas of education, culture, and social development Discussions also covered pressing challenges including the issue of out-of-school children especially girls as well as concerns in agriculture and social sciences
Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressed gratitude to UNESCO for its close collaboration with the Ministry, especially on the agenda of girls education He reaffirmed that the Government of Pakistan is working with UNESCO to enhance the quality of education and improve teachers’ capacity Millions of children in Pakistan remain out of school and addressing their future is a national prior-
ity ” stated the Minister He further emphasized that providing quality education and strengthening teacher training remain the government s foremost priorities UNESCO Chief Fuad Pashayev highlighted that Pakistan will continue to work in close partnership with UNESCO and other friendly nations to strengthen the education sector Secretary of Education, Mr Nadeem Mehbub termed Pakistan’s partnership with UNESCO as fruitful and productive He informed that a draft plan has already been prepared to address the challenge of out-of-school children He further added that, alongside formal education, the Ministry is also focusing on non-formal education, and has finalized the Zero Out-of-School Children Plan 2030 The meeting concluded with Pakistan’s announcement to actively participate in the upcoming UNESCO General Council session to be held in Uzbekistan
kanals of land have been allocated for a new graveyard at Pandorian Similarly, land has also been allocated for new graveyards at Humak and Malpur The meeting was informed that 200 kanals have been allocated for the new graveyard in Malpur while over 10 kanals have been allocated for the graveyard in Humak
Punjab to host 1st Punjab Transpor t Expo 2025
KP govt releases Rs1b for flood relief, rehabilitation
and
LAKKI
