In partnership with
Profit
PM CALLS REGIONAL TRADE, TRANSPORT COOPERATION A ‘WIN-WIN’ FOR SHARED PROSPERITY Saturday, 25 October, 2025 | 2 Jamadiul Awwal, 1447
g
g
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 108 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PREMIER SHEHBAZ URGES DEEPER g HIGHLIGHTS PAKISTAN’S PIVOTAL GEOGRAPHY LINKING REGIONAL INTEGRATION FOR KEY ECONOMIC CORRIDORS, SAYING COOPERATION PEACE AND GROWTH IN TRADE OFFERS ‘RICH DIVIDENDS’ TO ALL EMPHASIZES ‘CPEC 2.0’ FOCUS ON BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS AND NEW INVESTMENTS, VOWS TO HARNESS PAKISTAN’S YOUTHFUL POPULATION AS A DRIVER OF PROGRESS
PM urges ‘final push’ to wipe out polio, calls virus persistence national moment of reflection ISLAMABAD
staff report
P
ISLAMABAD
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening regional economic integration, calling trade and transport cooperation among regional states a “win-win proposition” that promises “rich dividends” and lasting peace for all. Addressing the Regional Transport Ministers’ Conference in Islamabad, the premier underscored that shared prosperity depended on collective development and stronger economic linkages across borders. “It cannot be stressed enough that cooperation in trade and economic spheres is a win-win proposition, offering rich dividends to all. This would
strengthen our common stake in peace and reinforce efforts for development in the region,” he said. The two-day conference, which began Thursday, has drawn transport ministers and senior officials from Türkiye, Sri Lanka, Iran, Maldives, Turkmenistan, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan — reflecting a growing regional consensus on expanding connectivity and trade corridors. Highlighting Pakistan’s strategic location, the prime minister said the country served as a natural bridge between South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. “Our geography links the warm waters of the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf to the majestic Karakoram and Himalayan ranges, flowing through the timeless Indus Valley,” he noted, adding that Pakistan’s long coastline — includ-
‘At debut rally,’ KP CM Afridi vows campaign for PTI founder’s freedom PESHAWAR
staff report
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called the continued presence of polio in Pakistan and its neighbouring country a “moment of introspection,” urging government authorities, field workers, and international partners to redouble efforts to eliminate the crippling disease once and for all. Addressing a ceremony marking World Polio Day in Islamabad, the prime minister said the country stood at a decisive point in its decades-long fight against polio. “Let’s brace ourselves and accept the challenge. If the whole world can become polio-free except Pakistan and our neighbouring country, it’s a moment to reflect and act,” he remarked. He urged all tiers of government and the National Polio Eradication Programme (NPEP) to “start running and achieve the trophy we all want to hold sooner rather than later,” adding that “time and tide wait for none.”
ing the ports of Gwadar and Karachi — positions it as a key transit hub on the maritime Silk Road. Reflecting on the origins of Pakistan’s connectivity vision, the prime minister credited former premier Nawaz Sharif for initiating the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC) — a transformative project that has “connected markets and brought people together across China, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East.”
Continued on PAge 03
interior ministry notifies ban on tLP following federal cabinet’s approval ISLAMABAD
staff report
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday reaffirmed his “unwavering support” for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, announcing the launch of a province-wide movement for his release and declaring that every decision he makes as chief minister “will be in accordance with the vision of the founder of PTI.” Addressing a massive public rally in Charsadda — his first major gathering since assuming office — Afridi struck a defiant tone, recounting warnings and restrictions placed on his movements. “I was told not to visit Charsadda or Bara, that my life was in danger,” he told the crowd. “But we are not afraid of death. Our lives are ready for PTI and Imran Khan.” He vowed not to accept any decisions made “behind closed doors” without the involvement of the party or its supporters, saying he would continue to represent the will of the people. Reaffirming his loyalty to Khan’s founding principles, Afridi said his administration’s policies would reflect the PTI vision. “As soon as I became the Chief Minister, I said there will be no military operations and no drone attacks in the province,” he asserted, signaling a more restrained and locally driven approach to law and order. Afridi framed the Charsadda rally as both a symbolic milestone and a show of political strength, declaring that PTI had “eliminated a political party” from the district and that the turnout proved “the people of Pakhtunkhwa stand firmly with the founder of PTI.” The chief minister also spoke of attempts to malign him. “People tried to make me a terrorist by holding press conferences,” he said, recalling efforts to block his meeting with Imran Khan in custody. Afridi claimed that although the Islamabad High Court had granted him permission to meet Khan, the order was not implemented. “When all roads were blocked, I was forced to come to the people,” he said, announcing the launch of a movement from Charsadda to secure Khan’s release.
The prime minister also distributed appreciation shields among frontline polio workers, lauding their “courage, commitment, and resilience” in protecting Pakistan’s children despite working in difficult and often dangerous conditions. “The nation owes a huge debt of gratitude to these heroes,” he said. The event was attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Focal Person for Polio Ayesha Raza Farooq, and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partner organizations. PM Shehbaz appreciated the “unwavering support” of international partners in helping Pakistan sustain vaccination drives and surveillance efforts. He particularly thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for contributing around half a billion dollars, in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for polio eradication over the next few years.
The Interior Ministry on Friday formally notified the ban on Tehreeki-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), citing “reasonable grounds” to believe that the religiopolitical group was connected to terrorism, days after its nationwide protests over Gaza left several people dead and disrupted major highways across the country. A notification issued by the interior ministry stated that the decision was made under Section 11B(1)(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, adding that the TLP would now be listed as a proscribed organisation under the Act’s First Schedule. “The federal government has
reasonable grounds to believe that TLP is connected with and concerned in terrorism,” the notification read, confirming the party’s inclusion in the list of banned outfits. The move followed a day after the federal cabinet—acting on a proposal from the Punjab government—approved the ban during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the decision was taken unanimously following a detailed briefing by the interior ministry on what it described as the TLP’s “violent and terrorist activities.” The ministry, in its presentation to the cabinet, maintained that the organisation had “repeatedly incited unrest” across Pakistan and
had “reneged on previous assurances” to refrain from violence. The decision came in the wake of nationwide protests earlier this week, during which TLP supporters clashed with security forces over the government’s stance on Gaza. The demonstrations resulted in the deaths of several protesters and police officers and left traffic paralyzed along key arteries from Karachi to Islamabad. The PMO statement recalled that the TLP had a long history of street agitation. “In the past, security personnel and innocent bystanders have been killed in violent protests and rallies by the TLP,” it said, adding that the group had “once again crossed the line from political activism to violent extremism.”
ATC orders blocking of Aleema Khan’s CNIC, passport over ‘repeated court absence’ RAWALPINDI
staff report
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi on Friday ordered authorities to block the national identity card (CNIC) and passport of PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, after she failed to appear before the court despite the execution of a non-bailable arrest warrant against her. The directive came during
the hearing of a case stemming from the November 26 protest staged by the PTI last year, for which Aleema has repeatedly skipped court appearances despite multiple summons and arrest warrants. During Friday’s proceedings, ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah expressed displeasure over her continued absence, remarking that Aleema “is present everywhere but doesn’t appear before the
court.” He maintained that her attendance must now be ensured without further delay. The court subsequently directed the director generals of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports to block Aleema’s CNIC and passport, restricting her mobility until she complies with the court’s orders.
Eight ‘Indian-sponsored’ terrorists neutralized in Tank IBO: ISPR RAWALPINDI
staff report
The security forces neutralized at least eight “Indiansponsored” terrorists in a fire exchange during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in KhyberPakhtunkhwa’s Tank district as part of operation “Azm e Istehkam,” the military’s media wing said on Friday. In a statement the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “On 24 October 2025, on the reported presence of Khwarij belonging to the Indian proxy, Fitna al-Khwarij, security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Tank District. Troops effectively engaged terrorist locations, and after an intense fire exchange, eight Indian-sponsored Khwarij were sent to hell.” In July, the government designated the banned terrorist outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as Fitna al-Khawarij, mandating all institutions to use the term khariji (outcast) when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on Pakistan. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, the ISPR said. It added that the slain terrorists “remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces and law enforcement agencies as well as the killing of innocent civilians.” “Sanitization operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored Kharji found in the area as a relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm e Istehkam” (as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan [who] will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreignsponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the statement added. In June last year, the federal government approved a reinvigorated and re-energized national counterterrorism campaign, Operation Azm-i-Istehkam. On Oct 16, security forces killed 34 “India-backed” terrorists during multiple operations across KP over the course of three days, the military’s media wing said. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
SP among three police officers martyred in Hangu blasts HANGU
staff report
Three police officers, including Superintendent of Police (SP) Operations Asad Zubair, were martyred on Thursday in twin bomb blasts targeting a police vehicle in Hangu district. According to officials, the first explosion occurred near a check-post in the Gulmina area, causing no casualties. Shortly afterward, as SP Asad Zubair and his team were heading to inspect the site, their vehicle was struck by another explosive device near Darban. The second blast killed SP Asad Zubair and two other police personnel on the spot, while two officers sustained injuries. The injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Hangu for medical treatment. Security forces cordoned off the area immediately after the explosions and launched a search operation to trace the perpetrators. Authorities said the attack bore the hallmarks of a coordinated assault aimed at targeting responding officers. Investigators are examining whether the explosives were remotely detonated or planted in advance. The incident comes amid a recent surge in militant attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where police and security officials remain prime targets in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
Pakistan suspends Afghan transit trade indefinitely amid security concerns ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan on Friday announced that the transit trade with Afghanistan will remain suspended indefinitely until a comprehensive assessment of the prevailing border security situation is completed, underscoring that “the lives of citizens are more important than any commodity trade.” Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, during his maiden weekly press briefing, confirmed that the suspension was a direct consequence of escalating cross-border violence and repeated attacks targeting Pakistani trading points from the Afghan side. “Afghan transit trade is closed — it is not taking place because of the factors you are aware of,” Andrabi said. “There was con-
siderable discussion on this question during last week’s briefing as well. Till the evaluation of the security situation, this transit trade will remain closed.” He said Pakistan had suffered repeated attacks on its border trading points from the Afghan side, resulting in the loss of Pakistani lives. “The lives of our citizens are more important than any commodity trade,” the spokesperson stressed, urging Kabul to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan. Responding to a question regarding reports that the Taliban supreme leader had ordered the construction of a dam on the Kunar River, Andrabi said Islamabad was examining the details. “Generally, trans-boundary rivers are governed by international law. In such matters, Pakistan is both an upper and a lower riparian — we will follow this matter
accordingly,” he explained. The Chitral River originates in Pakistan and becomes the Kunar River after entering Afghanistan, joining the Kabul River near Jalalabad before re-entering Pakistan. Border crossings between the two countries have remained closed since October 11, following intense ground clashes and Pakistani airstrikes along the 2,600-kilometre frontier — the deadliest confrontation since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul. The fighting left dozens dead on both sides, halting all cross-border trade and movement. According to Khan Jan Alokozay, head of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce in Kabul, all trade and transit activities have been completely blocked since the clashes erupted. The confrontation was triggered after Islamabad pressed Kabul to rein in militants
allegedly operating from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and launching attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban denied the accusations. A Qatar- and Turkey-brokered ceasefire, reached last weekend, is currently holding, but border trade remains frozen. The next round of bilateral talks is scheduled for October 25 in Istanbul, where both sides will decide future steps. A senior Pakistani official told reporters that the border is unlikely to reopen before the Istanbul meeting. “Trade and business activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan will be restored depending on the outcome of the review talks,” said Imran Khan Kakar, a leading businessman. Authorities briefly opened the Friendship Gate to allow the repatriation of Afghan refugees arriving in Chaman from across Balochistan and Karachi. However, the Fed-
eral Investigation Agency’s (FIA) immigration operations remain suspended, leaving thousands stranded. “Over 5,000 Pakistanis are stuck in Spin Boldak, as they cross daily for small businesses,” an FIA official confirmed. Suspension affects cargo movement at several key border crossings Earlier, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been temporarily suspended due to security concerns. The suspension has affected cargo movement at several key border crossings, including Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Chaman. In a statement, the FBR said that before the suspension, customs authorities had cleared 363 imported vehicles at the four major border stations — Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda.