Epaper_2026-05-24 (ISB)

g IRANIAN, PAKISTANI LEADERSHIP HOLDS HIGH LEVEL CONSULTATIONS ON PEACE PROCESS AS PAKISTAN CREDITED FOR FACILITATING TALKS AMID REGIONAL DE-ESCALATION PUSH

g ISPR SAYS NEGOTIATIONS MOVING TOWARD ‘FINAL FRAMEWORK UNDERSTANDING,’ A S FIELD MARSHAL MUNIR COMPLETES ‘HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE’ IRAN VISIT

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R A N, the United States, and mediator Pakistan on Saturday said that significant progress has been achieved in talks aimed at ending nearly three months of conflict with Pakistan’s military describing the latest round of negotiations as yielding encouraging progress toward a final understanding, while Tehran indicated focus on finalising a memorandum of understanding (MoU) following highlevel engagements with Pakistan’s Chief of

g IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON SAYS IN FINAL STAGES OF DRAFTING A FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT AIMED AT ENDING WAR WITH

g IRANIAN AND QATARI DELEGATIONS ENGAGED IN INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS IN TEHRAN TO FINALISE A ‘TEMPORARY ’ AGREEMENT WITH US: REPORTS

Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir

According to Pakistan’s military media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) the talks marked encouraging progress toward a framework for a final agreement with the United States after intensive diplomatic engagements with Iranian leadership

In a statement issued on Saturday ISPR said Field Marshal Asim Munir concluded a highly productive short visit to Iran which formed part of ongoing mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation

Eskandar Momeni,

and

g SAYS WITHIN A 30 TO 60-DAY WINDOW, DETAILS OF ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE FURTHER NEGOTIATED BEFORE A FINAL AGREEMENT IS CONCLUDED

SIALKOT

Khawaja Asif on Saturday said Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran were gradually moving towards a “positive outcome expressing optimism that regional peace efforts would soon yield results

We have slowly moved closer to a positive result in the US-Iran mediation, the defence minister told reporters in Sialkot According to Asif, the recent visit of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir to Iran along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi indicated that diplomatic efforts were nearing an important stage Field Marshal Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday as Pakistan intensified diplomatic engagement aimed at helping end the ongoing

Pakistan–China ties enter new phase of practical cooperation as PM Shehbaz meets Zhejiang leadership

HANGZHOU

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Satur-

day held a high-level meeting with Wang Hao Party

Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Zhejiang Provincial Committee in Hangzhou focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation and deepening provincial-level linkages between Pakistan and China

Welcoming the Prime Minister to Zhejiang Province, Wang Hao underscored the importance of continued engagement between the two sides at the sub-national level

The prime minister lauded Zhejiang s remarkable transformation and development achievements while paying tribute to the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping, particularly the guiding principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets ” He noted that Zhejiang’s experience reflected a successful model where ecological preservation green development and high-quality economic growth reinforce one another

He emphasized that Pakistan attached great importance to strengthening cooperation with Zhejiang Province across multiple sectors, including the digital economy e-commerce information technology telecommunications agriculture renewable energy advanced manufacturing and skills development

Highlighting the significance of provincial partnerships, the PM said such cooperation forms a vital pillar of Pakistan–China relations and could play a transformative role in advancing the next phase of the CPEC, particularly in industrial collaboration agricultural modernization technological exchange and export-oriented growth

During the visit the Prime Minister witnessed the signing of two key cooperation agreements

The first was a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang Province and Punjab Province, aimed at promoting collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges

The second was a Document of Understanding between Hangzhou Normal University and the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing for the establishment of the China–Pakistan Joint Technology Research Centre The centre will strengthen academic cooperation, applied research, technology transfer, and institutional partnerships between the two countries

Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China the Prime Minister said both countries were now entering a new phase of practical, people-centric, and development-oriented cooperation

TH E federal government is reviewing proposals to relax foreign currency inflow limits under Section 111(4)

Pakistan-mediated Iran-US talks show breakthrough signs as ‘Encouraging Progress ’ repor ted

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told Field Marshal Munir during a meeting that Tehran would not compromise on the rights of its nation and country state media reported He added that Iran s armed forces had rebuilt their capabilities during the ceasefire, warning that if the United States “foolishly restarts the war,” the consequences would be “more crushing and bitter ” Field Marshal Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday as part of continuing mediation efforts aimed at supporting regional de-escalation

momentum toward a broader settlement framework

The development comes amid renewed diplomatic activity involving all three sides as efforts continue to stabilise the region and move toward a lasting ceasefire arrangement

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Earlier upon arrival in Tehran, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir was received by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni along with senior civil and military officials marking the start of his engagements under ongoing Pakistan-facilitated mediation efforts Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the reception According to Reuters Iran’s top negotiator and Parliament Speaker

Kh Asif says Pakistan's US-Iran mediation moving towards 'positive outcome'

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Although the negotiations ended without a final settlement due to disagreements over Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes and the Hormuz blockade Islamabad continued diplomatic engagement with both sides and played a role in extending the ceasefire arrangement Khawaja Asif said Pakistan was actively working to prevent a wider international crisis and voiced confidence that the country s diplomatic initiatives would contribute to regional peace and stability Commenting on the domestic economic situation, the defence minister acknowledged that inflation continued to place significant pressure on ordinary citizens, particularly lower-income groups “We were in a recovery phase but because of this war our economy has suffered badly,” he said, adding that economic recovery efforts had slowed and in some sectors, reversed due to the regional conflict and its global economic fallout

In recent months, Pakistan has drawn international attention for its role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States amid the broader Middle East crisis Following the US-Israel offensive against Iran on February 28, Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel and other Gulf countries hosting US assets Pakistan subsequently positioned itself as a key mediator helping secure a temporary ceasefire and hosting what were described as the highest-level US–Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution Although the “Islamabad Talks” concluded without a final agreement the ceasefire largely held and was later extended at Islamabad s request

Since then both sides have continued exchanging proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to bridge differences and resume structured dialogue aimed at ending the conflict which has already disrupted regional stability and global energy flows

While Pakistan remains hopeful about the resumption of direct talks, sources said there has been no “sig-

nificant” shift in Iran’s earlier position on the nuclear issue in its response to US proposals

According to sources Tehran s latest response delivered to the United States via Islamabad last week focuses primarily on an immediate end to hostilities, while offering limited movement on Washington’s core demands regarding Iran’s nuclear programme

Iran the sources added has proposed that nuclear discussions be handled separately in broader and structured negotiations, citing the complexity of the issue However, Tehran has reiterated its willingness to pause uranium enrichment for five years while rejecting the US demand for a 20-year moratorium

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the proposed framework under discussion would proceed in three stages: a formal end to hostilities resolution of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and a 30day window to negotiate a broader agreement extendable by mutual consent

US President Donald Trump, speaking in an interview reported by Axios said he would review the latest Iranian draft proposal with advisers and could decide within days on whether to resume military action

Either we reach a good deal or I ll blow them to a thousand hells, he was quoted as saying In a separate CBS interview Trump said the United States and Iran were getting a lot closer to an agreement while also warning of severe consequences if talks fail, stating that no country will ever be hit as hard” if no deal is reached

Iran envoy signals ‘cautious optimism’ as Pakistan-backed diplomacy gains momentum

CONTINED FROM PAGE 01

The ambassador described the current atmosphere as one of cautious optimism, adding that a meaningful breakthrough could be possible if all parties remained committed to the diplomatic process

“With cautious optimism, we can hope that, if the other side is adequately committed, a positive stride is taking shape which is the result of the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran based on dignity the steadfastness of the courageous armed forces and the resistance of the brave Iranian nation as well as the initiative and dedicated endeavours of the Pakistani mediator he said He further acknowledged Pakistan s role, crediting both political and military leadership for actively supporting mediation efforts aimed at de-escalation and regional stability Ambassador Moghadam’s remarks came amid renewed international diplomatic signals including comments by US President Donald Trump who said negotiators from the United States and Iran were getting a lot closer to finalising an agreement aimed at ending the conflict according to an interview with CBS News He added that any final agreement would ensure Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon and that its enriched uranium would be “satisfactorily handled,” according to the report Trump was quoted as saying “I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want ” Iran the United States and mediator Pakistan have all indicated that progress has been made in recent discussions aimed at ending nearly three months of hostilities According to sources Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to join Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the coming days, who is currently on an official visit to China, to review the outcomes of his recent engagements with Chinese leadership The conflict escalated after strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28 which reportedly killed Iran s top leadership followed by retaliatory attacks from Tehran targeting Israel and US allies in the Gulf, as well as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz Hostilities were halted on April 8 after Pakistan helped broker a ceasefire though subsequent talks in Islamabad failed to produce a durable agreement Former US President Donald Trump later extended the truce indefinitely Since then both sides have continued exchanging proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to resume direct negotiations and achieve a lasting settlement

Indus Water Treat y strained again

FO R E I G N Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi said on Friday that Pakistan would guard its interests under the Indus Waters Treaty with special reference to the Treaty The Supplemental Award was announced on July 13 even though India refused to recognise the Court’s jurisdiction claiming that its suspension of the IWT estopped all proceedings However, as pointed by the spokesman, the IWT has no exit or suspension clause The only way to stop it operating would be for both India and Pakistan to agree that it should no longer continue in force India’ unilateral action is a violation of the UN Laws of Treaty While its enforcement is the responsibility of the World Bank, which is a guarantor the violation of the UN Laws of Treaty means that the case will have tro go before the International Court of Justice

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

The IWT is the result of Indian bad behaviour in the 1950s when it attempted to undo the Partition by stopping the flow of water into Pakistan and starving it into submission, which caused an international outcry The IWT resulted What India probably does not realize is that the IWT is in one respect a very conservative treaty in that it closely follows, in great, some would even say excruciating, detail, international customary law on water rights Its really radical departure is to provide agreed mechanisms and forums for deciding disputes In effect by suspending the operation of the IWT, India has merely revived the previous customary law Instead of the Indus Commissioners in the respective Water Ministries the respective embassies will have to handle the issue Or is India going to claim an exceptionalism that even the USA does not (it obeys international customary law in waterways shored with Canada as well as Mexico)? India is treading a dangerous path If it goes on behaving as if the Treaty does not exist, it will be unable to control its own extremists This in turn will lead to reactions in Pakistan The Indus Waters are so much a matter of survival that a section of opinion still castigates the Ayub government for giving up three of the five Indus subsidiaries If India wants a bone of contention to provoke conflict it has hit upon the very thing It is time for the international community to step in much as it did in the 1950s, because the matter is going to grow much more serious unless stopped now by bringing India back to obeying the law M

A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

TH E sight of Russian President Vladimir Putin standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing wasn’t just a ceremony Putin’s recent visit to China has been the signal of an axis of strategic cooperation that is slowly reshaping the global balance of power With Washington seeking to rally allies against both Moscow and Beijing the XiPutin partnership has become one of the defining geopolitical realities of 21st-century life

For years, Western policymakers have dismissed the Sino-Russian partnership as a convenient marriage But subsequent summits growing trade military cooperation energy collaboration and diplomatic alignment have transformed that relationship into a potent geopolitical compact Putin s trip to Beijing demonstrated that, despite the most severe Western sanctions ever imposed on Russia and the mounting pressure on China, neither seems to be willing to step back from their strategic embrace Russia has certainly been the closest beneficiary of this alliance Many analysts thought that the Ukraine conflict and the subsequent Western sanctions would bring economic collapse and diplomatic isolation to Moscow Instead, China became Russia s economic lifeline Energy drove the relationship with bilateral trade exploding Russian oil and gas still flow east while Chinese industries are supplying Russia with machinery electronics and commercial goods that used to come from Western companies Moreover, Beijing has offered Moscow something sanctions could not: strategic legitimacy While NATO tried to portray Russia as isolated, Putin’s frequent appearances in Beijing tell a different story China has effectively guaranteed Russia’s place in an alternative power structure outside the West-led order China too has gained hugely from the relationship Russia offers Beijing long-term energy security at attractive prices, reducing China s exposure to US Navy-controlled maritime chokepoints Moscow also provides China with sophisticated military technology strategic depth in Eurasia and diplomatic backing in international forums The two countries have coordinated positions on Taiwan the expansion of NATO the Middle East and restructuring global financial systems away from dependency on the dollar Most significantly, the Xi-Putin tandem has sped

up the rise of a multipolar world For decades after the Cold War the USA was the lone global superpower But today Washington faces a determined challenge from two nuclear powers that increasingly see themselves as the architects of a post-US international order That s why Putin s trip to Beijing had consequences that extended well beyond bilateral agreements It diluted politically the outreach of US President Donald Trump to Beijing Trump long believed his personal diplomacy could drive a wedge between China and Russia or at least reduce Beijing s support of Moscow But the optics from Beijing suggested otherwise Xi seemed entirely at ease playing the part of host to Putin with warmth and strategic confidence, a sign that China no longer sees alignment with Russia as a liability but rather an asset in its broader contest with Washington Putin s trip to Beijing was in many ways a reminder of the limits of US diplomacy Washington remains oblivious to the extent to which Moscow and Beijing see US policy as containment NATO s expansion to Russia’s borders, the growing military alliances in the Indo-Pacific sanctions regimes and technological restrictions have only reinforced the perception in both capitals that their security interests are intertwined

The China-Russia convergence meanwhile also exemplifies a broader decline in US credibility as the world s self-appointed security guarantor For decades, the USA has seen itself as the indispensable stabilising force in world politics But in recent years, the limits of US power projection and strategic consistency have become

tribute to global quantum simulations without owning exotic quantum hardware

Shariah finance blocked

Fbetween quantum and classical computing It is a strategic lesson for developing countries like Pakistan: technological revolutions are not won only through expensive hardware, but through intellectual capital, mathematical innovation, algorithmic efficiency, and scientific courage Quantum computing has long been promoted as the next industrial revolution Unlike classical bits that exist as either 0 or 1 quantum bits qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously through superposition Combined with entanglement, where qubits become interconnected across distances, the computational possibilities appear extraordinary Problems involving molecular simulations climate modeling artificial intelligence logistics and cryptography could theoretically be solved far faster than today s machines allow However one hidden assumption always remained: that classical computers were already nearing collapse against such complexity The new breakthrough challenges that assumption The researchers used tensor networks, mathematical structures capable of compressing gigantic quantum wave functions into manage-

able computational representations One of the lead scientists compared tensor networks to a zip file for the wave function Instead of relying on brute-force computation, the team used elegant compression techniques, revived older algorithms from the 1980s and combined them with modern software engineering In simple terms they defeated computational complexity not by building a larger machine but by thinking smarter That distinction matters immensely for Pakistan Pakistan often views technological progress through the lens of infrastructure acquisition: more servers, bigger laboratories, imported equipment and costly foreign collaborations Yet the global technology race is increasingly being shaped by algorithmic sophistication rather than hardware ownership alone Artificial intelligence itself proves this reality The countries dominating AI are not merely those with machines, but those producing stronger mathematical models better software architectures and deeper research ecosystems This development should therefore serve as a wake-up call for Pakistan s higher education and science policy sectors Our universities continue to produce graduates trained largely for examinations rather than discovery Physics departments struggle with limited simulation facilities mathematics programs remain disconnected from industry and computer science education often prioritizes coding syntax over computational theory

Yet this breakthrough emerged precisely from the intersection of physics, mathematics, computer science, and software engineering

Pakistan does not need to immediately build billion-dollar quantum laboratories to participate in the future of quantum science What it urgently needs is investment in computational mathematics, high-performance scientific programming, numerical physics, AI-driven simulations, and interdisciplinary research centers

The beauty of tensor-network methods is that they democratize access to frontier science

A student in Faisalabad Lahore Islamabad or Peshawar with sufficient training and computational understanding could potentially con-

This is where policy becomes critical Pakistan s Higher Education Commission and science ministries must rethink national scientific priorities Research funding cannot remain trapped within outdated bureaucratic systems that reward publication quantity over scientific impact Instead Pakistan should establish specialized national centres integrating quantum physics artificial intelligence advanced mathematics and computational sciences

The country s growing freelance software sector also presents an overlooked opportunity Pakistani programmers already contribute globally in web development, automation, and AI services With strategic training initiatives many could transition into computational science simulation engineering and algorithmic optimization fields expected to dominate future research economies

The benefits would not remain confined to elite laboratories Advances in computational modeling can improve weather forecasting energy optimization traffic management disease modeling agricultural planning and industrial productivity Quantum-inspired algorithms are already influencing finance, logistics, and pharmaceutical research If Pakistan develops expertise in these areas, it can create not only scientific prestige but also economic resilience

Equally important is the psychological lesson hidden within this story Developing countries often internalize a dangerous inferiority complex in science and technology We assume that groundbreaking innovation belongs exclusively to Silicon Valley, European laboratories, or Chinese mega-projects But this research demonstrates that transformative breakthroughs can emerge from intellectual creativity rather than financial dominance alone The researchers themselves questioned grand claims of quantum supremacy and tested them scientifically instead of accepting technological mythology That mindset questioning, testing, refining is precisely what Pakistan’s scientific culture must nurture A nation cannot innovate if its researchers are trained only to memorize rather than to doubt

The future will not simply belong to quantum computers or classical computers alone It will belong to those who combine mathematics, algorithms, software, and physics most intelligently And perhaps the most powerful line in this entire breakthrough is the quiet confidence of a scientist who said: “I can just write some code and press run on my personal computer In an age obsessed with giant machines the next revolution may belong not to the loudest hardware, but to the sharpest minds

The writer is Director Institute of Physics Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology Rahim Yar Khan Pakistan

Balochistan deser ves gas

into an uneasy ceasefire followed by practically one round of talk between the warring parties and later discreet signalling for the negotiations as well as indirect exchange of scripts through the good offices of Pakistan As things stand, the interior minister of Pakistan has undertaken a number of visits to Tehran in what can be an effort to speed post the developments towards a permanent ceasefire For the Pakistani establishment it is the stake of avoiding a devastating conflict just in the neighbourhood, whose escalation can potentially bring Pakistan face to face with very hard choices While that has been a third party assessment of the situation a peek into the first three months after the decapitation campaign jointly launched by the IDF and Pentagon reveals that these three months have been an equally testing times for the theocratic state, not just in the domain of military response to the aggression or pressure tactics, but the resilience of the system itself against internal and external challenges rather pressure tactics employed by the enemies

The system of government in force in Iran in fact has the potential to draw the attention of the students of political science and religious movements; as to how it has been able; firstly, to survive, sustain and lastly maintain itself Among the generally theocratic models the world knows have been largely drawn from what transpired in the west; more precisely in Europe and particularly in the case of the Vatican The Christian world is more or less composed of devout believers, yet the issues of the state are generally kept away from the affairs of the religion The Vatican is a state city; yet its hold over the whole Christian world is not binding Compared to that, the experiment in Iran is unique It does not even resemble its forerunner the Safavis The Safavi were Sufis degenerating into a monarchy They brought the Shia faith and its clergy from the South Lebanese enclave of Jabal Amil The arrival of these clerics in Iran their interaction with the seminaries in Najaf in south Iraq and

later their immigration to the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal era in fact laid the foundation of the Shia faith in the whole area, which is now termed the Shia Crescent by geo political observers Here it is important to note that the clergy were highly respected figures in the society a fact which was not ignored by the last Pahlavi monarch Mohammad Raza who despite strong repulsion for Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1964 could not hang him as the 1905 constitution disallowed any disrespect to the senior cleric The type of theocracy is unique on another count; its peer comparison with the larger Sunni world s most prominent dynasty Ottomans who were religious but in no way anything close to the theocratic model The Morsi government was subservient to the national constitution It did not elevate the status of the Al-Azhar seminary Likewise the Iraqi state despite a very imposing influence of the Shia seminaries; had no system of government which binds the setup to consult the Najaf powerbase In simple words, the incumbent Ayatollah Sistani has no constitutional say in the day-today affairs and even interpretation of the system at large Compared to that both the tenures of the Taliban in 1996-2001 and now in power since 2021 can be termed as something close to the rule of clerics visualized by their Persian-speaking Iranian brothers It may be recalled that despite the geopolitical linkages of the Taliban with the regional states; when the issue of handling over Osama Bin Laden to the USA over alleged links with 9/11 at-

tacks came up, the reclusive Mullah Omar did not decide it on his own, rather the news creeds of that time point to the congregation of Ulema and clergy to decide about the fate of the Al Qaeda leader Fast track to 2021 the hold of clergy seems to be the same; but less intrusive when compared in the unlikely domain of cricket It may be pointed out that despite a general distaste for sports amongst the clergy, the Afghan cricket team might have a greater freedom of action when playing abroad While the dissident Iranian footballers like Ali Karimi make it a point not to recite the Iranian national anthem to show their disdain for the Nezam , the Afghan cricket team and the Afghan government were a more tolerant breed, the Taliban allowing them to get best training in other countries; and also have the liberty to recite the Afghan anthem composed during Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani time in the tournaments with the government in Kabul in complete knowledge of the happening It might not be out of context to say that the intrusive Pakistani cricket board and highly politicized Bangladeshi cricket board failed to inspire the players in a somewhat secular terms of reference while the cricket team under the Taliban proved to have a greater freedom of action Intruding too far into the comparisons, the Iranian model practiced since 1979 has not just survived the military conflict, rather it has survived the strictest test of internal world and the external world To begin with the Iranian creative scene has grown under the new cultural context under the watchful eyes of the theocratic system It has not been just the rule of law, like the binding upon the

directors and producers of the serials and movie to submit their under development drafts to the Irshad ministry it has been possible on the count that the generation which grew up with the 1979 movement and now old to middle aged in profile understood the spirit of the movement and were

t o t h e U S A , t h e p o s t u r i n g by e i t h e r t h e r a d i c a l f a c t i o n ; o r e v e n t h e

s u p r e m e l e a d e r, i t s e l f i s i n d i c a t i v e t h a t t h e c o r e i s n o t r e a d y t o g i v e i n w i t h o u t a

f i g h t I t wo u l d n o t b e o u t o f c o n t e x t t o s ay t h a t t h e s l a i n l e a d e r w a s t o o s h o w n t h e d o o r i n p e a c e t i m e by t h e r e fo r m i s t s i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r H e r e t h e c h o i c e s fo r

M

A I i s c h a n g i n g t h e i n t e r n e t f o r e v e r

Tfrom 5% to 20% while keyword-style searches decreased Yet the median query still contains just three words suggesting that most people still search the old-fashioned way Robert Langenback president of SEO marketing agency Eight Oh Two Marketing, said he s observed people typing in more searches that range from three to five or five to 10 words instead of two to three words That started before ChatGPT’s arrival in late 2022 although it’s ramped up significantly since then “(AI has) really almost trained people how to search differently he said People generally use a mix of AI apps like ChatGPT and Google More than 20% of ChatGPT referral traffic goes to Google Semrush found after analyzing 1 billion lines of US clickstream data, or trails of user activity across the web Google is typically used for direct questions or transactions, while ChatGPT is used for summarizing information, making comparisons and drafting materials Semrush said in an email to CNN There s a lot of just I m trying to find something and help me get to it right away that is the bulk of the queries that have gone into Google over time said Leigh McKenzie, director of organic visibility at Semrush

THE RISE OF AI INFLUENCERS: AI’s reach extends far beyond search Take Aitana Lopez’s Instagram profile Online she looks like any other social media influencer photos showing her posing at glitzy events hitting the gym and sharing beauty tips to nearly 400 000 followers But she s not real Lopez is one of the most prominent AI-generated characters to rise to internet stardom, along with Lil Miquela, Lu do Magalu and Granny Spills Nearly 80% of marketers have increased spending on creator content that uses generative AI in the last 12 months according to social agency Billion Dollar Boy There are even awards celebrating the best AI-generated internet personalities AI personalities are appealing to brands because they re typically cheaper than high-profile human influencers and can morph to fit specific campaigns, said Turow Tech giants want to make AI

HE Z B O L L A H has discovered a lowcost cheat code that has rendered Israel s modern military equipment obsolete- the First Person View (FPV) Drone A weapon so cheap and simple that is wiping out hundreds of millions worth of Israel’s military and surveillance technology Left in disbelief the Israeli military have suffered around 250 casualties in just over two weeks largely at the hands of Lebanese resistance drone operators Having adopted guerilla warfare tactics to confront the invading Israeli army in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah is utilising a strategy that no other non-State actor has managed to pull off until this point but may well be reshaping asymmetric warfare as we know it The use of FPV drones a strategy emerging from the Ukraine-Russia war, has had a deadly effect on advancing enemy forces and is said to be responsible for the majority of battlefield casualties

Four Million — And Counting

ing countries have struggled to achieve over decades Far from being an ordinary administrative accomplishment, this represents a powerful model of how political commitment public-private partnership and focused governance can transform the lives of millions within a remarkably short period This is not a promise or a target It is a reality already unfolding across 20 thousand partnering schools in all 41 districts of Punjab and the world should pay attention

institutions from scratch, PEF partnered with these existing private schools, brought them into a structured accountability framework and funded them on a per-student basis The result was a model that expanded at the speed of community trust rather than the pace of government construction

many develop-

The Punjab Education Foundation, established with the mission of removing financial barriers between needy children and learning built its success on an insight that seems simple in hindsight but proved elusive for generations of policymakers: the infrastructure already exists Across Punjab's villages remote districts and underserved urban neighbourhoods low-cost private schools were already operating modestly, without state support Rather than constructing new

The numbers that followed are historic Total enrollment under PEF-supported programmes has approached over four million students a figure that represents not merely administrative success but a fundamental shift in the relationship between the state and its most vulnerable citizens For countless families who once believed that quality schooling was a privilege reserved for others the PEF has made it a right What separates PEF from similar experiments elsewhere in the developing world is the rigour built into its expansion Enrollment without learning is a hollow achievement and PEF has been deliberate about ensuring the two move together Inde-

pendent quality assessments are conducted through the Punjab Examination Commission, with examinations held at separate government schools to prevent any manipulation of results Crucially these assessments are not ceremonial they feed directly into school evaluations and future funding decisions This test-linked financing model creates a system where resources follow outcomes not intentions It is a standard that many far wealthier education systems have struggled to apply consistently Teacher welfare has been treated with equal seriousness Recognising that no curriculum however well designed can substitute for a motivated and supported teacher reforms have addressed transparency, professional development and payment reliability across the partner school network When teachers trust the system classrooms function When classrooms function children learn The logic is straightforward; the execution rarely is The acceleration of results over the past two years owes much to the political commitment of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who has treated education not as a line item in a budget but as the foundational investment of governance itself Under her leadership, the Pun-

jab government committed approximately Rs25 billion to PEF partner schools in a single academic year, cleared all outstanding dues owed to institutions and restructured payment mechanisms to guarantee reliable disbursements The record enrollment of 1 1 million new students in 2024–25 alone the highest single-year intake in PEF's history followed directly from that restored institutional confidence Looking ahead PEF's expanding vision reflects a sharp awareness that access is only the beginning of what education must deliver The children entering PEF-supported classrooms today will enter a global workforce shaped by artificial intelligence automation and digital transformation In response PEF has begun introducing technology laboratories in partner schools and launched excellence programmes for its highest-performing students signalling that it understands the stakes extend well beyond enrollment figures The goal is not simply to place children in schools It is to place them on a trajectory toward genuine opportunity Behind every statistic in Punjab's education story is

International museum day obser ved

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

On the occasion of International Museum Day, a prestigious cultural celebration was organized at the historic Quaid-e-Azam House Museum Karachi to highlight and promote the rich cultural heritage history and tourism potential of Sindh The event was graced by Honourable Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah Provincial Minister for Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department, Government of Sindh, along with Mr Abdul Fatah Shaikh, Director General of Antiquities & Archaeology, Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department Government of Sindh Mr Fayaz Ali Shah Managing Director Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and Mr Khair Muhammad Kalwar Provincial Secretary, Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department, Government of Sindh Among the distinguished participants were Ms Fauzia Izhar, General Secretary Pakistan Hotels Association Mr Muhammad Yousuf Director Sales Hotel Mehran Karachi and Mr Yasir Ahmed General Manager Hotel Mehran Karachi along with several notable personalities, tourism stakeholders, and representatives from the hospitality industry The event highlighted the importance of preserving museums, historical landmarks and the centuries-old cultural identity of Sindh Distinguished guests appreciated the efforts being made by the Government of Sindh and the Culture & Tourism Department to promote heritage tourism and cultural awareness across the province

Top cop orders zero-tolerance for crimes targeting women and children

LAHORE/FAISALABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Punjab Inspector General of Police Abdul Kareem on Saturday directed police officers to strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy against crimes involving women and children, in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, stressing that all personnel must ensure effective protection of citizens lives and property through improved performance and accountability

Mubashir Akram Country Director ACT Alliance Pakistan has appreciated the Government of Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the Federal Board of Revenue for continuing enforcement against the illegal tobacco industry, saying that firm and consistent action against tax evasion is essential for protecting Pakistan’s revenue base, formal businesses, and investor confidence Speaking to commerce reporters in Islamabad Akram said the government s recent enforcement posture against illegal cigarette manufacturing nonduty-paid products smuggled brands and violations of the Track and Trace System reflects a muchneeded seriousness in defending the documented economy “The illegal tobacco industry steals more than Rs 300 billion from Pakistan’s tax revenue every year The actual size of the illegal cigarette trade may be three to four times larger than the tax theft itself because the business includes manufacturing, transport, warehousing, wholesale distribution, retail sales, cash circulation, and protection networks,” Akram said He said Pakistan cannot afford

As per the vision of the Punjab Chief Minister, practical measures are being taken to transform Punjab into a safe and crime-free province with the police force actively working to strengthen crime prevention traffic management and the delivery of justice to citizens, the IG said while addressing a general meeting at Police Lines

Faisalabad on Saturday

The meeting was attended by District Police Officers, including Jhang DPO Sajid Hussain Toba Tek Singh DPO Ikhlaq Ullah Tarrar Chiniot DPO Dr Atif Naveed Faisalabad CTO Nasir Rana SSP Patrolling Mirza Anjum Kamal, divisional SPs, and senior officers of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD)

Upon arrival at Police Lines Faisalabad Regional Police Officer Faisalabad Sohail Akhtar Sukhera and City Police Officer Tanveer Hussain, along with other senior officers, received the IG A smartly turned-out police contingent presented him with a guard of honour He also visited the Martyrs’ Memorial and offered prayers for the elevation of ranks of the martyrs Addressing officers, the IG Punjab directed full utilization of the Safe City Project and stressed further

ISLAMABAD / MAKKAH

strengthening of surveillance systems through modern technology to ensure a safer environment for citizens He noted that the operationalization of Safe City Faisalabad had significantly contributed to a reduction in heinous crimes and strengthened public confidence in law enforcement He also distributed commendation certificates and cash rewards among police personnel from the Faisalabad Region in recognition of outstanding performance Later the IG visited the Safe City Faisalabad Headquarters, where SSP Fawad Ahmad briefed him on modern surveillance cameras, the Command and Control Center, and the integrated monitoring system Reviewing CCTV operations and response mechanisms the IG Punjab said the Safe City Project was playing a crucial role in safeguarding lives and property

In alignment with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s Digital Pakistan vision and directives the National Information Technology Board (NITB) has assumed full control of Pakistan s Hajj operations' digitalization Under this initiative, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have resolved to establish a historic, world-class "Digital Corridor " Confirming this landmark development from Makkah Muhammad Awais Program Manager at NITB (an agency operating under the Ministry of IT & Telecom) stated that the revolutionary digital corridor will facilitate the real-time sharing of pilgrims' data with Saudi Arabia’s central Hajj systems, including the Nusuk and Mashaer platforms The integration aims to optimize Pakistan’s Hajj operations through cutting-edge technology offering unprecedented convenience to pilgrims Simultaneously, it will forge a robust and interconnected domestic network among key stakeholders, including NADRA, the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports, designated banks, and airlines "On the directives of the Prime Minister an NITB team is currently stationed in Saudi Arabia as observers said Muhammad Awais He added that under the guidance of Federal Minister for IT & Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Secretary IT Zarrar Hasham Khan, the project is being executed under the leadership of CEO NITB Faisal Iqbal Rattiyal to modernize all existing Hajj operational procedures

the landmark “16 Sina Project” in New Blue Area Islamabad The MoU signing and project briefing were attended by senior representatives of both organizations including Mr Murtaza Hashwani, CEO/Deputy Chairman Hashoo Group, Mr Shakir Bhura, CEO of Hashoo Group

President ECO CCI, Senior Vice President SAARC CCI, and Vice President CACCI The event was also attended by senior representatives from FPCCI and associated chambers, including Mr Karim Aziz Malik Incharge FPCCI Capital Office Mr Malik Sohail Hussain Chairman Coordination for the

ects

The meeting also reviewed in detail various development and financial proposals presented by the Irrigation Department, while several proposals fulfilling legal requirements

PM l anDs in hangzhou To begin ‘high-sTakes’ China visiT To DeePen sTraTegiC ParTnershiP

PHANGZHOU/ISLAMABAD s a l e e m J a d o o n

R I M E M I N I S T E R Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday praised the remarkable development model of China s Zhejiang Province and lauded the visionary leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping during his tenure as Party Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee particularly for advancing the philosophy that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets as he commenced a four-day official visit to China aimed at deepening

strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with Wang Hao, Party Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, in Hangzhou, where both sides discussed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors Earlier in the day Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Hangzhou at the start of his official visit to China, undertaken at the invitation of the Chinese government Zhejiang Vice Governor Xu Wenguang received the premier at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport according to a statement issued by the

Two Pakistani astronauts begin mission training at China's astronaut Centre

QUETTA

At least nine terrorists were killed during a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) operation on the outskirts of Quetta, while four CTD personnel embraced martyrdom during an intense exchange of fire officials said on Saturday

According to a CTD spokesperson the operation was carried out in the Panjpai and Nohsar areas near Quetta During the raid, security forces successfully neutralised nine terrorists However, four CTD officials were martyred and six others sustained injuries during the gun battle the spokesperson added The injured personnel were shifted to medical facilities for treatment, while security forces launched a clearance operation in the surrounding areas The latest operation came only hours after law enforcement agencies conducted an intelligence-based operation in Bannu where 15 terrorists were killed and more than 10 others injured

Office, the Bannu operation was car-

sustained injuries and w

treatment

says 13 susPeCTeD TerrorisTs helD in ProvinCe-wiDe oPeraTions

The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) said on Saturday it had arrested 13 suspected terrorists during intelligence-based operations carried out across the province over the past week, claiming the action had thwarted a major terror plan According to a CTD spokesperson the department conducted 58 intelligence-based operations in multiple districts to prevent possible militant activity The operations took place in Lahore Jhang Sahiwal Jhelum Chiniot Mandi Bahauddin and Mianwali The spokesperson said 58 suspects were questioned during the operations, while 13 alleged terrorists were taken into custody Arms, explosives and other prohibited material were also seized, according to the department

E S: The CTD said the detained suspects were linked to Fitna al Khawarij and other banned organisations The term Fitna al Khawarij is used by the state for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Among those arrested the department identified one suspect as Khawarij Mukhtar Ahmed, who was apprehended in Lahore The CTD said a large quantity of explosives was recovered from him According to the spokesperson, the department recovered 2,010 grams of explosives, eight detonators, 15 feet of safety fuse wire and four improvised explosive devices

Security forces also recovered a 10-kilogram improvised explosive device (IED) during the operation which was later safely defused Pakistan has witnessed a significant surge in terrorist violence, particularly in the provinces of Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan following the return of the Afghan Taliban to power in Afghanistan in 2021 Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan

Pakistan advocates respec t for Libya’s judicial sovereignty as ICC begins War Crimes

NATIONS s

r t

Pakistan on Friday told the UN Security Council that a Libyan-led political process remains the only viable path to lasting peace as the International Criminal Court (ICC) begins its first trial of a Libyan war crimes suspect, while reaffirming its unwavering support for Libya’s sovereignty independence territorial integrity and national unity

Speaking during a Council briefing on Libya (ICC) Pakistan s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said that although Pakistan is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, it remains committed to the goal of credible and impartial accountability for serious international crimes While Pakistan is not a party to

Trial in Libya Case

the Rome Statute we remain committed to the objective of credible and impartial accountability for serious crimes,” the ambassador said, stressing that the legitimacy and credibility of international accountability mechanisms depend on the uniform application of international law and strict adherence to principles of fairness and impartiality

The case under discussion involves the prosecution of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from ICC investigations into atrocities in Libya following the 2011 fall of leader Muammar Gaddafi

The Pakistani envoy noted El Hishri’s surrender to the ICC and underlined the importance of sustained cooperation between the Court and Libyan authorities for the implemen-

Punjab districts on high aler t

tation of UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), which referred the Libyan situation to the ICC and imposed measures including a travel ban, asset freezes, and an arms embargo on the former Libyan regime and its associates Reaffirming Pakistan s consistent position Ambassador Ahmad reiterated strong support for Libya s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity, saying that consistency objectivity and non-selectivity were essential to strengthening global confidence in international justice mechanisms He further emphasized that engagement between the ICC Office of the Prosecutor and Libyan institutions should fully respect Libya’s judicial sovereignty national legal structures and legitimate concerns

Reports of Saad s detention first emerged after his father, Faisal Edhi, released a video statement on the official social media platforms of the Edhi Foundation In the video, Faisal appealed to Pakistan’s Foreign Office to intervene after learning that Israeli forces had intercepted the aid convoy near Cyprus and detained its members including his son

Before the interception Saad himself had released a recorded message from aboard the flotilla I am Saad Edhi, a Pakistani citizen If you are watching this video, it means that I have been intercepted or am being intercepted,” he had said, describing the voyage as a peaceful humanitarian mission intended to deliver aid to Gaza Earlier this week Pakistan joined nine other countries in issuing a joint statement condemning Israel s interception of the flotilla The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Maldives and Spain