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PM UNVEILS ‘INSPIRE’ TO BUILD PAKISTAN’S CHIP INDUSTRY, EYES ENTRY INTO $600B GLOBAL MARKET Wednesday, 22 October, 2025 | 28 Rabius Sani, 1447
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ VOWS TO FAST-TRACK DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, INNOVATION-LED GROWTH UNDER KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 105 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
RS4.5B INITIATIVE TO TRAIN 7,200 PROFESSIONALS, LINK ACADEMIA WITH SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY
g PROGRAMME MARKS MOITT, PSEB SPEARHEAD g SEVEN IC LABS, NINE PAKISTAN’S FIRST FORMAL NATIONAL ROADMAP FOR UNIVERSITIES TO ANCHOR STEP INTO TRILLION-DOLLAR SEMICONDUCTOR TRAINING, INNOVATION GLOBAL CHIP ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH AND DESIGN AND INDUSTRY LINKAGES
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ISLAMABAD
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday launched INSPIRE—the Initiative to Nurture Semiconductor Professionals for Industry, Research and Education—declaring it a milestone in Pakistan’s transition toward a knowledge-based digital economy and the country’s formal entry into the $600 billion global semiconductor ecosystem. At the launch ceremony, the prime minister said the programme would pave the way for technological self-reliance, global competitiveness, and innovationled growth, enabling Pakistan to contribute talent and technology to one of the world’s most advanced industries. The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and executed by the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), is part of the government’s broader National Semiconductor Development Roadmap. The global semiconductor market, currently valued at over $600 billion, is projected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030. ‘Building the foundations of a new economic frontier’ PM Shehbaz said INSPIRE embodies the government’s vision of preparing Pakistan’s youth for “industries of tomorrow.” “Through this initiative, we are
building the foundations of a new economic frontier — one where Pakistan contributes talent, technology, and innovation to the world,” he remarked. He said Allah Almighty had blessed Pakistan with abundant resources, and it was the government’s responsibility to harness them effectively. Reaffirming full state backing, the prime minister directed all relevant ministries to fast-track implementation and said the Planning Ministry had allocated Rs4.5 billion under the PSDP for the program—“a drop in the ocean,” he noted, assuring that funding would not be an issue. Digitisation drive, fiscal reforms, and institutional backing Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted parallel reforms under way, including the
establishment of the Pakistan Digital Authority, digitization of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the transition toward a cashless economy. Commending the IT Ministry and PSEB for aligning workforce development with global industry needs, he lauded the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for fostering public– private collaboration and attracting investments in high-technology sectors. He reaffirmed his government’s resolve to strengthen Pakistan’s digital and industrial capacity through education, inclusion, and global partnerships. Empowering youth, women, and academia Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said INSPIRE reflects the prime minister’s vi-
sion of a technology-driven, inclusive economy that empowers youth and women with advanced technical skills. “This initiative will enable our students, researchers, and professionals to move from learning to leading roles in the global semiconductor industry,” she said. She added that the ministry was actively building international partnerships and investment collaborations in areas such as semiconductor design, broadband infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. Creating Pakistan’s semiconductor ecosystem Dr. Naveed Sherwani, Chairman of the National Semiconductor Task Force, said INSPIRE represents the first phase of Pakistan’s long-term semiconductor strategy. “My vision for Pakistan’s semiconductor future goes beyond training talent — it’s about building an interconnected ecosystem that unites academia, research, and industry,” he noted. PSEB CEO Abu Bakar said the board would train 7,200 professionals over five years in semiconductor design, verification, and research, working with nine public-sector universities and establishing six Integrated Circuit (IC) labs nationwide. As part of Pakistan’s National Semiconductor Development Roadmap, INSPIRE will lay the groundwork for future Outsourced Assembly & Testing (OSAT) and fabrication capabilities, positioning Pakistan as a credible contributor to the trillion-dollar global chip supply chain.
‘Challenges to 26th Amend’: Justice Mazhar likens benches to ‘branches of one tree’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
Asif calls for ‘hard state’ response as Punjab seeks ban on TLP ISLAMABAD
staff report
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday urged a “hard state” approach to counter extremist religious groups, as the government moved closer to banning the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) following violent protests that left several people dead and dozens injured across Punjab. Speaking to a local news outlet, Asif said groups that use religion to justify violence had no place in Pakistan and must be dealt with decisively. “We have to become a hard state,” he said. “Such religious extremist groups, which resort to violence and cause damage to property, cannot be tolerated in Pakistan.” His comments came after the Punjab government submitted a summary to the federal government recommending a ban on the TLP under anti-terrorism laws. While Asif did not directly confirm the imminent ban, he said it was time for the state to enforce the rule of law without compromise. “It is too late,” Asif remarked, referring to the decadeslong state tolerance of extremist organisations. “Everyone knows who created them and for what purpose. But from now on, the state will function strictly in accordance with the law, rules, and the Constitution.”
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar on Tuesday observed that the Supreme Court’s regular and Constitutional Benches (CBs) were “branches of one tree” as an eightmember CB resumed hearing over three dozen petitions challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment—a law that redefined the apex court’s powers and structure. The Amendment, passed by Parliament in an overnight session in October last year, has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition and legal community. The PTI alleged that seven of its lawmakers were abducted to secure votes in favour of the legislation, while the BNP-Mengal claimed its two senators were coerced before they broke ranks to support it. The 26th Amendment curtailed the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers, fixed the chief justice’s term at three years, and authorised a Special Parliamentary Committee to appoint the CJP from among the three most senior judges. It also paved the way for forming Constitutional Benches— one of which is now hearing challenges against the very amendment that created it. According to the court’s cause list, the CB has taken up 37 petitions questioning both the proce-
Senior SC judges warn new code of conduct to ‘curtail judicial freedom’ ISLAMABAD
staff report
Supreme Court’s Senior Puisne Judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar have raised serious reservations over the recently approved amendments to the Code of Conduct for superior court judges, warning that the changes could curtail judicial freedom and open doors to both internal and external control. In a detailed letter addressed to the SJC chair and members, the two judges said they had submitted written comments ahead of the meeting and later revised them to reflect what they termed an “unfortunate and constitutionally inappropriate” move by the National Judicial
dure and substance of the law, including its implications for judicial independence. The hearing The eight-member bench is headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan and includes Justices Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Ayesha Malik, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, Naeem Akhtar Afghan and
Policy-Making Committee (NJPMC) to deliberate on the Code—a domain they said lies “solely and exclusively within the jurisdiction of the SJC.” “These proposals, if adopted, will restrict judicial freedom, transform an open and collegial institution into a closed and hierarchical one, and create avenues for control, both internal and external,” the judges cautioned. The concerns surfaced after the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on October 18 approved wide-ranging changes to the Code, barring judges from engaging in public controversy or political discussion and introducing new restrictions on media interaction, social conduct, and diplomatic participation.
PM Haq’s coalition faces strain as PML-N quits AJK govt ISLAMABAD
staff report
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has announced its withdrawal from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government, declaring that it will now sit in the opposition benches and ending its coalition with the ruling alliance led by Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq. Addressing a press conference, PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir said his party respected the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) right to move a noconfidence motion but made it clear that the PML-N would not become part of any new government formed as a result. “We will not support any unnatural or forced coalition,” Qadir asserted, adding that the party would now play the role of a constructive opposition in the assembly. He warned that any member who defied the party’s official policy would face disciplinary action, and said the PML-N would remain active for the welfare of refugees and overseas Kashmiris. Qadir stressed that a stable and representative government in AJK could only emerge through transparent general elections, adding that the party would launch a vigorous campaign under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. The AJK PML-N president also reiterated the party’s commitment to playing a positive role in resolving the region’s constitutional and political crisis. Political backdrop Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, a former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, has been leading the AJK government since April 2023, following the disqualification of Sardar Tanveer Ilyas for contempt of court. Haq, who had served as assembly speaker since August 2021, was elected unopposed as leader of the house after forming a 12-member ‘forward bloc’ within PTI and forging an alliance with the combined opposition, including PPP and PML-N lawmakers. The PML-N’s decision to part ways comes in the wake of violent protests that rocked the region earlier this month, leaving at least nine people dead—including three police personnel — and over 100 injured during clashes between law enforcers and activists. The unrest, centered in Muzaffarabad, had been triggered by the Awami Action Committee’s (AAC) 38-point charter of demands, which called for the abolition of 12 reserved seats for refugees and cutting “elite privileges.” The crisis eased after the federal government and AAC reached an agreement on October 3, bringing an end to days of shutdowns and confrontation.
Court issues arrest warrant for Gandapur in liquor, arms case ISLAMABAD
staff report
Shahid Bilal Hassan. During Tuesday’s proceedings, retired Justice Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi, a former Lahore High Court judge, concluded his arguments, while Dr Adnan Khan, counsel for petitioner Mohammad Anas, also presented his contentions. The hearing was adjourned till 11:30am Wednesday.
A district and sessions court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur in a 2016 liquor and weapons recovery case, citing his continued absence from hearings. Senior Civil Judge Mubashir Hassan Chishti presided over the proceedings and directed that Gandapur be arrested and produced before the court after he once again failed to appear. The hearing was adjourned until October 28. The case dates back to October 30, 2016, when Islamabad police claimed they recovered five Kalashnikov rifles, a pistol, six magazines, a bulletproof vest, bottles of liquor, and three tear gas shells from Gandapur’s vehicle near Bani Gala, the residence of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan. The alleged recovery occurred as authorities attempted to stop PTI workers from reaching Bani Gala following Imran Khan’s call for a protest aimed at “locking down” the federal capital on November 2, 2016. At the time, Gandapur, who was serving as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s revenue minister, rejected the police allegations, insisting that two of the rifles were licensed while the others were official weapons assigned to his security guards.
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CoaS reaffirms pakistan’s pursuit of peace but warns against violation of its sovereignty RAWALPINDI
staff report
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Tuesday reaffirmed that while Pakistan remains committed to regional peace and stability, any violation of its territorial integrity—direct or indirect—will be met with a firm and decisive response to safeguard national sovereignty and citizens’ security. He was addressing participants of the 17th National Workshop Balochistan at the General Headquarters (GHQ), according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The army chief underscored that “Indian-sponsored proxies—Fitna al-Hindustan and Fitna al-Khawarij—are pursuing antipeople and anti-development agendas with malicious intent to spread violence and instability.” He said decisive measures were under way to eliminate these networks and
ensure enduring peace in Balochistan. The remarks came against the backdrop of a border flare-up with the Afghan Taliban regime over cross-border terrorism and renewed tensions with India, whose civil-military leadership has recently issued provocative statements. Earlier this month, the military leadership had warned New Delhi that any “imaginary new normal” in bilateral relations would be countered with a “new normal of swift retributive response.” ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ is the term used by the state for militants of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while in May the government formally designated all terrorist groups operating in Balochistan as Fitna al-Hindustan— a phrase meant to underscore India’s alleged role in sponsoring terrorism as part of a deliberate destabilization campaign. During his interaction, the COAS described Balochistan as “the pride of Pak-
istan”—a province endowed with “vibrant, resilient, and patriotic people who are its true wealth.” He highlighted ongoing federal and provincial development initiatives aimed at uplifting the province’s socio-economic landscape through a people-centric approach, stressing the need to realise its immense economic potential for the benefit of its people. He also praised the constructive role of civil society, especially its efforts to empower youth, terming them pivotal for sustainable development and long-term prosperity while cautioning against “vested political agendas.” The COAS’s latest statement follows his remarks on Saturday, when he warned India that there was “no space for war in a nuclearized environment” and hailed Pakistan’s “clear victory” during the May conflict. He had also urged the Afghan people to choose mutual security over perpetual violence and called on the Afghan Taliban regime to curb proxies operating from its
soil. “Like our victory in the conventional domain, every state proxy of our neighbour will be razed to dust, God-willing,” he
vowed, reiterating Pakistan’s resolve to never bow before “misguided terrorists with a perverted interpretation of Islam.”