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PM EMPHASIZES ENHANCED COLLABORATION WITH UN IN CLIMATE CHANGE, DEVELOPMENT Saturday, 15 February, 2025 I 16 Shaban ul Moazzam, 1446
REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S COMMITMENT TO COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INT’L COMMUNITY, UN
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ISLAMABAD
CLIMATE FINANCING REMAINED A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF ADDRESSING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: PREMIER
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday emphasized the need for further strengthening collaboration with the United Nations in the areas of sustainable development and climate change. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong political commitment to advancing the objective of combating climate change in close collaboration and partnership with the international community and the UN. The prime minister was talking to UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, Mohamed Yahya, who paid a courtesy call on him. During the meeting, the prime minister appreciated the important work being carried out by the UN Country Team in Pakistan. He conveyed his warm regards for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, while fondly recalling his strong leadership in galvanising global support for Pakistan during the 2022 floods. The prime minister underscored that climate financing remained a crucial component of addressing the impacts of climate change, and expressed the hope
that the developed nations would fulfill their commitments in that regard.
He said that Pakistan would continue working closely with the UN on impor-
PM Shehbaz lauds IFC’s role in fostering private investments in Pakistan ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded IFC’s role in fostering private sector investments and expanding portfolio in Pakistan, encouraging the private sector investment arm of the World Bank
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Group (WBG) to enhance its support under the key areas. “The IFC should enhance its support under the key areas, including infrastructure and logistics, outsourcing of large airports, agriculture, information technology, mining, climate resilience, healthcare and water &
tant issues in the areas of climate change, including for the implementation of various projects. The prime minister also emphasized the need for addressing the financing gap to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as for increasing the voice and representation of developing countries in the international financial institutions through reform of the global financial architecture. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for EAD Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi, PM’s Coordinator for Climate change Ms Romina Khursheed Alam and senior government officials also attended the meeting.
sanitation”, PM Shehbaz emphasized while talking with Makhtar Diop, Managing Director and Executive Vice President of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Makhtar Diop, the IFC MD, the private sector investment arm of the World Bank Group (WBG), called on PM Shehbaz Sharif to discuss IFC’s ongoing and pipeline portfolio in Pakistan.
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11 coalmine workers Six newly-appointed Supreme Court killed in Harnai IED blast judges take oath amid controversy QUETTA/HARNAI
STAFF REPORT
At least 11 labourers were killed and four others sustained multiple injuries when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted a pickup truck carrying coalmine workers in Balochistan’s Harnai area on Friday, officials said. Harnai Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar confirmed the casualties, saying initially, nine labourers were reportedly killed and six injured in the deadly blast took place near a vehicle carrying coalminers. Later, two of the injured miners succumbed to their wounds. According to Harnai Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar, the blast occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in Coal Mines Area PMDC 94 in Harnai’s Shahrag district. “The bodies of the deceased and the injured have been shifted to the Shahrag Basic Health Unit,” DC Kakar said. The local levies officials said that the explosives, potentially an Improvised Explosive Device, were planted on the road. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The law enforcement agencies personnel rushed to the site following the blast and launched an investigation into the incident, according to a statement by Balochistan Government Spokesperson Shahid Rind. Evidence is being collected, and the preliminary investigation confirmed that the explosive material was planted on the roadside, the statement added. The Balochistan Mines Department officials said that most of the miners affected in the incident belonged to Swat and Shangla. Coalmine Workers Federation’s General Secretary, Ali Bash Khan, also confirmed that the miners were from Shangla. CONDEMNATIONS: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast and offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan. In separate statements, the president and prime minister vowed to continue efforts till the elimination of terrorism from the country. PM Shehbaz directed relevant authorities to provide the best medical support to the injured and prayed for their recovery. He said that those who harm the lives and property of innocent and defenceless citizens will have to pay a heavy price. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the incident and expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, an official statement from the CM House said. He directed the authorities concerned to provide the best medical facilities to the injured workers while vowing to uproot the scourge of terrorism.
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Six newly appointed Supreme Court (SC) judges were sworn in on Friday, with Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi administering the oath at a ceremony in Islamabad. The appointments were clouded by controversy following a walkout by four Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) members during a meeting on February 10, along with strong opposition from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and protests from the lawyers’ fraternity. The JCP meeting proceeded despite calls for postponement by two Supreme Court judges—Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar—as well as PTI members Barrister Ali Zafar and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who objected to the appointments amid concerns over the 26th Constitutional Amendment. Outside the Supreme Court building, lawyers staged protests, holding placards and chanting slogans against the amendment. Despite opposition, the JCP approved the appointments by a majority vote, confirming six judges and acting chief justices of the high courts.
The newly appointed judges are Justices Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar, Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, Salahuddin Panhwar,
Shakeel Ahmad, Aamer Farooq, and Ishtiaq Ibrahim. Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb was sworn in as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court. The oath-taking ceremony was held outdoors in the Supreme Court’s garden for the first time, rather than the traditional ceremonial hall. It was attended by SC judges, including Senior Puisne Judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, along with Justices Muneeb Akhtar, Ayesha Malik, and Athar Minallah. Also present were high court judges, the Attorney General of Pakistan, and representatives from the Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Bar Association.
SC updates seniority list after new judges sworn in ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday updated its seniority list following the oath-taking of seven newly-elevated judges. The names and profiles of these judges have been published on the official Supreme Court website. According to the updated seniority list, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Yahya Afridi is followed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah. Justice Muneeb Akhtar is placed second in line followed by Justice Ameenuddin Khan as third and Justice Jamal Mandokhel fourth respectively. The list goes on to name Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Shahid Waheed, and Justice Musarat Hilali.
Other notable entries include Justice Irfan Saadat, Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Justice Shehzad Malik, Justice Aqeel Abbasi, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Justice Hashim Kakar, and Justice Shafi Siddiqui. The updated list reflects the recent changes in the composition of Pakistan’s top judiciary body, with many new appointments taking effect. Earlier in the day, CJP Yahya Afridi administered the oath to six newly-appointed judges of the apex court. The new judges, include: Hashim Khan Kakar, ex-chief justice of the Balochistan High Court (BHC); Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, former chief justice of the Sindh High Court (SHC); Ishtiaq Ibrahim, former chief justice of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) and Aamer Farooq, exchief justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Pakistan’s central govt debt surpasses Rs71.64tr by Dec 2024 g
PUBLIC DEBT RISES BY 10% YEAR-ON-YEAR, WITH DOMESTIC DEBT SHOWING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF 17.1% PROFIT
MONITORING DESK
Pakistan’s total central government debt reached a new high of Rs. 71.64 trillion in December 2024, reflecting a 10% increase compared to the same month last year. According to the latest data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the public debt stock surged from Rs. 65.19 trillion in December 2023 to Rs. 71.64 trillion by December 2024. On a month-on-month basis, the debt stock grew by 1.8%, up from Rs. 70.36 trillion in November 2024. The rise in debt is largely attributed to an increase in domestic debt, which saw a sharp 17.1% year-on-year jump from Rs. 42.59 trillion in December 2023 to Rs. 49.88 trillion in December 2024. Month-on-month, domestic debt grew by 2.7%. The breakdown of domestic debt shows that long-term public debt rose significantly, from Rs. 34.10 trillion to Rs. 41.11 trillion over the past year, while shortterm debt also saw an increase, growing from Rs. 8.37 trillion to Rs. 8.70 trillion during the same period.
Will see when reference comes, Justice Shah responds to ‘reference plan’ ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Senior puisne Judge of Supreme Court (SC) Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Friday stated that he is not scared of any reference, saying there is no cause of concern if he has not done anything wrong. During informal conversation with reporters at oathtaking ceremony of newly appointed Supreme Court judges, Justice Mansoor replied to a query regarding the reference that was purportedly brought against him. The senior puisne judge responded: “We will see when the reference comes. If I have done nothing wrong, why should I fear? Allah is the ultimate authority. We will not give up and go down fighting.” Earlier this week, Advisor to Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah had hinted at filing a reference against two senior apex court judges who, according to him, were committing “misconduct” by “writing letters on every issue containing critical remarks” and “leaking it to the media”. However, the premier’s adviser clarified his statement days later, saying that his remarks about filing a reference against the judges were neither an announcement nor a threat. Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar also further elucidated that the premier’s aide never talked about filing a reference against the judges except for presenting his point of view on “misconduct” by some of the judges amid growing tensions over the nomination and transfer of senior jurists. Meanwhile, the senior puisne judge also mentioned that he regularly meets with fellow judges and even shares tea with them. Smiling, he added: “Right now, I just came to have tea after the oath-taking ceremony.” In a cryptic remark, he added: “If an elephant is in the room and no one sees it, what can be said [of it]?” Justice Mansoor dismissed any notion of personal grudges or conflicts, saying: “I have no personal enmity or disagreements with anyone.”
Indo-US statement against Pakistan is ‘one-sided, misleading’: FO ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Foreign Office on Friday dismissed the accusations made by India and the United States against Pakistan in a joint statement, terming it “one-sided, misleading, and contrary to diplomatic norms.” The joint statement follows US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting at the White House a day earlier. Responding to the allegations, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan at a weekly press briefing on Friday, said, “We consider the Pakistan-specific reference in the Indo-US joint statement of Feb 13 as one-sided, misleading and contrary to diplomatic norms.” “We are surprised the reference has been added to the joint statement notwithstanding Pakistan’s counter-terrorism cooperation with the US.” He further stated, “Such references cannot cover up India’s sponsorship of terrorism, subversion and extra-judicial
assassinations in the region and beyond, nor can they shift international attention from the stark reality of India being a safe haven for perpetrators of hate crimes against Muslims and other minorities.” The FO spokesperson pointed out that the statement failed to address India’s noncompliance with United Nations Security Council’s resolutions “which is the key source of tension and instability in the region” and to recognise the “grim human rights situation” in Jammu and Kashmir. “Regrettably, this is tantamount to abdication of international responsibility. The international community recognises Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism,” he said. “As a country that has enormously suffered from terrorism, Pakistan would continue to contribute to the regional and global efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. It remains committed to bringing the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion by eliminating this scourge from the soil.
“Pakistan also remains committed to continue with counter-terrorism efforts, address the issue of terrorism, including acts of terrorism perpetrated by foreign elements.” The spokesperson also expressed concern over the US decision to increase mili-
tary sales to India. “Pakistan is also deeply concerned over the planned transfer of military technology to India. Such steps accentuate military imbalances in the region and undermine strategic stability. They remain unhelpful in
achieving durable peace in South Asia,” Khan said. “We urge our international partners to take a holistic and objective view of issues of peace and security in South Asia and refrain from endorsing positions that are onesided and divorced from ground realities.” Pakistan slams Natenyahu’s statement During the briefing, the FO spokesperson “strongly” condemned the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement regarding the establishment of the Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia. Mr Khan said that the remarks by Israel are irresponsible, provocative, and thoughtless and are offending, undermining, and disregarding the legitimate rights of Palestinian people to self-determination and independent state on their own historic and legitimate territory.” He stated that Pakistan stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Any attempt to undermine Saudi Arabia’s unwavering position and misrepresentation of its commitment to the Palestinian cause is deeply regrettable.”