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Profit AURANGZEB OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IMF DEAL BREAKTHROUGH
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 256 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
Saturday, 22 March, 2025 I 21 Ramazan, 1446
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g EMPHASIZES PAKISTAN’S COMMITMENT SAYS PAKISTAN IS PROGRESSING WELL TOWARD MEETING IMF’S ECONOMIC TARGETS TO MAINTAINING FISCAL DISCIPLINE
such as Lahore. Aurangzeb also acknowledged the challenges in fully utilizing international
pledges for flood rehabilitation, citing issues in resource implementation. On Thursday, State Bank of Pak-
istan Governor Jameel Ahmad weighed in, stating that there were no obstacles from the central bank’s side in reaching the staff-level agreement with the IMF. He suggested that any remaining issues were likely related to the federal government, but expressed optimism that an agreement would be reached soon. During a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, Ahmad confirmed that discussions were ongoing and hoped for a swift resolution, though he did not provide a specific timeline for the overdue agreement, which was initially expected by March 14. The PAC session also revealed that the federal government is set to grant Finance Minister Aurangzeb “emperorlike powers” to approve special honoraria for employees and officers of various government departments.
PROFIT
sents a significant jump from the previous salaries of Rs. 200,000 for federal ministers and Rs. 180,000 for ministers of state. The change marks a 159% increase for federal ministers, while ministers of state and advisers will see an even higher raise, with their salaries increasing by up to 188%. The revised salary structure is effective immediately. Earlier in January, the Finance Committee had approved a similar salary increase for members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and senators, bringing their monthly pay to Rs.
519,000, which will take effect from January 1, 2025. However, it has been reported that the salaries of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly remain unchanged. The Finance Committee does not have the authority to revise their pay, and they will continue to receive Rs. 218,000 per month, according to the Speaker’s Office. In addition, a proposal was submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recommending that lawmakers’ salaries and benefits be aligned with those of federal secretaries.
PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
INANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has expressed confidence that Pakistan is on the verge of finalizing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He stated that talks are in the final stages, with no significant obstacles remaining. In a media briefing on Friday, Aurangzeb confirmed that Pakistan is progressing well toward meeting the IMF’s economic targets, reassuring the public that the discussions are set to conclude positively. The Finance Minister emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining fiscal discipline, citing the government’s efforts to stick to the financial framework established with the IMF. The ongoing discussions are focused on securing the next tranche of funding, which is vital for Pakistan’s economic recovery. Last week, IMF Mission Chief for Pakistan, Nathan Porter, also noted that substantial progress had been made toward finalizing a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) on the first review of Pakistan’s $7 billion loan program. This milestone is crucial as it will unlock around $1 billion in funding as part of the second installment of the loan. In addition to economic matters, Aurangzeb addressed the pressing issue of climate change. He called for structured climate financing to address environmental risks, stressing the urgent need to tackle the growing threats posed by issues like the rapid melting of glaciers and economic disruptions in cities
Federal cabinet approves significant salary hike for ministers, advisers STAFF REPORT
Sources confirmed on Thursday that the federal cabinet has approved a substantial salary increase for federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers. The salary adjustment was made possible through a recent amendment to the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Allowances and Salaries) Act, 1975. As a result of the amendment, the new salary for federal ministers, ministers of state, and advisers is now set at Rs. 519,000 per month. This repre-
Cop martyred, three injured as Swat police kill smuggler in targeted operation SWAT
STAFF REPORT
A police constable was martyred and three others were injured during an intelligence-based operation against a wanted drug smuggler in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat district on Friday. According to Moin Ali, spokesperson for Swat District Police Officer (DPO) Nasir Mehmood, police launched the raid in the mountainous Fizagat area targeting Ahmadzeb, a notorious drug trafficker and the prime suspect in the murder of Station House Officer (SHO) Rahim Khan. SHO Rahim was gunned down in December 2024 during an encounter with drug smugglers in Mingora city. Ali said the police team came under heavy fire as soon as they reached the suspect’s hideout. Constable Niaz Muhammad was martyred in the exchange, while Additional SubInspector (ASI) Amjad Iqbal, Constable Muhammad Hussain, and Constable Sarfaraz sustained injuries. Despite the resistance, security forces managed to neutralize Ahmadzeb, who was wanted for multiple crimes, including the murder of SHO Rahim Khan. “Additional units were deployed to secure the area, and the operation lasted nearly four hours,” said Mingora SHO Mujeeb Alam. He added that police thoroughly searched the four-storey building and collected evidence from the scene. The injured officers were shifted to Saidu Sharif Hospital, where doctors confirmed they were in stable condition. Police sources confirmed that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to dismantle the remaining network of drug smugglers operating in the region. This operation follows a series of crackdowns against narcotics trafficking across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier this month, a court in Peshawar sentenced two excise police officials to life imprisonment for drug smuggling, while major drug seizures were reported in Faisalabad and Dera Ismail Khan.
Gandapur offers to lead dialogue process with Taliban PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has claimed that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman no longer holds influence over the Taliban and offered to take charge of negotiations with the group. Speaking to journalists in Islamabad on Friday, he said, “Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s influence over the Taliban has ended. Give me the task and I will bring them to the table.” He revealed that a plan for talks with the Taliban had been submitted two and a half months ago, but no progress has been made. “I’ve sent a plan for negotiations with tribal elders to the foreign and interior ministries, but haven’t received a response. The Taliban cannot refuse the tribal eld-
ers,” he stressed. “If I’m given the task, you’ll see me sitting with [Taliban leader] Akhundzada tomorrow. There’s been no contact with the Taliban yet, but send me, and talks will begin,” he asserted. He also remarked that two years ago, when he roamed the mountains, low-level Taliban leaders were in touch with Fazlur Rehman, “but today I am the chief minister—and tomorrow, I might not have any value.” Reflecting on the general elections, he said, “On election day, we were hiding in the mountains. We held no public rallies. Out of 95 Union Council chairmen, only three were ours; the rest were missing.” Earlier, while addressing an Iftar gathering, Gandapur said the K-P government has overcome its financial challenges and currently
has a surplus of Rs159 billion, while Punjab faces a deficit of Rs148 billion. “There’s talk of corruption in our province, but if corruption existed, how could we have a surplus? If this is corruption, then every province should have it,” he quipped. Calling for political stability, he said, “The founder of PTI must be released. Only his release can restore political stability in the country. Things were normal before the PTI government was removed; now terrorism and lawlessness have surged.” He also stressed the need for dialogue with Afghanistan. “We share thousands of kilometers of border with Afghanistan. Whenever I speak of talks, there’s opposition. Even during the PDM government, it was decided to engage with the Taliban.”
PM calls for immediate steps to protect glaciers ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined the need for practical steps to protect glaciers to safeguard livelihoods, agriculture and environment. In a message on the World Day for Glaciers observed on March 21, he said glaciers were a guarantee of life on earth as these maintain the environmental system in its natural form and ensure the supply of important natural resources especially clean water. He said, “In 2025, we are celebrating for the first time the World Day for Glaciers.” “Today we recognize the need for immediate steps to protect the important reservoirs of clean water,” he said adding, “Pakistan has more than 13,000 glaciers. This number is more than the glaciers present anywhere except in the polar regions of the earth,” he added. The prime minister said Pakistan was among the top countries affected by climate change. Due to climate change, the weather was changing and the average temperature was rising, resulting in rapid melting of more than 10,000 glaciers, he noted. Resultantly, he said because of floods and drought, rivers, agriculture and millions of people working in the sector were facing dangers. He said due to melting of glaciers, thousands of new lakes were formed, increasing the danger of devastating floods. He said the floods of 2022 had made it clear that Pakistan was facing severe dangers of climate change. These floods caused devastation among the population living along streams and rivers and in the plains resulting in overall economic losses of $30 billion dollars, he added. As one of the most affected countries, the prime minister said Pakistan needed further cooperation in different areas including the programme to monitor glaciers, early forecasting system, for adoption of agricultural practices to protect against the ill effects of climate change and to attract investment for alternative solutions to store water. He said, “We need to promote environmental tourism at the international level according to set guidelines in order to stop destruction of precious tourist assets from poisonous substances and pollution.” He said everyone needed to take practical steps for protection of glaciers because in case glaciers disappeared then livelihoods connected to them would also be destroyed.
Karachi journalist remanded to FIA custody over ‘anti-state’ content KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
A Karachi court on Friday granted a four-day physical remand of journalist Farhan Mallick to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) over allegations of sharing “anti-state” content through his digital media platform. Mallick, founder of Raftar — a media agency focused on social impact storytelling — and former news director at Samaa TV, was taken into custody on Thursday. His arrest followed an unannounced raid at Raftar’s Karachi office a day earlier, where FIA officials allegedly harassed staff and summoned Mallick for questioning, according to the organisation. Appearing before Judicial Magistrate (East) Yusra Ashfaq, the FIA requested a 14-day remand, citing the need for further investigation. The court approved a four-day remand until March 25. The FIA has booked Mallick under sections 16 (interference with communication devices), 20 (malicious code), and 26-A (spreading false information) of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. He also faces charges under sections 500 (defamation) and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Section 26-A of PECA, recently introduced through legal amendments, criminalises the spread of misinformation likely to incite fear, panic, or unrest. Conviction can lead to a three-year prison term, a fine of Rs2 million, or both.
Justice Mandokhail says govt must act at ‘cheetah’s speed’ on climate authority ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Supreme Court Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail on Friday expressed frustration over the government’s sluggish progress in establishing the long-delayed Climate Change Authority, remarking that the state was moving at a tortoise’s pace when it should be act-
ing with the speed of a cheetah. Justice Mandokhail made the comments during a hearing at the Supreme Court on the implementation of the Climate Change Act, 2017. A five-member bench, headed by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, was hearing the case concerning the formation and operationalisation of the Authority— seven years after the law was passed.
“The climate crisis is an emergency. The government should be running like a cheetah, not crawling like a tortoise,” Justice Mandokhail remarked, adding that the state’s delay in addressing climate change is unacceptable given the looming environmental threats Pakistan faces. During the proceedings, the Additional Attorney General (AAG) in-
formed the court that the government had issued three separate advertisements to appoint the Authority’s chairman. The first two attempts failed to yield a suitable candidate, the court was told, with the top contender disqualified due to dual nationality—an issue disallowed under government policy for such senior appointments.
Israel ends ceasefire, kills 591 Palestinians including 200 children GAZA
AGENCIES
Israeli military operations have resumed in the Gaza Strip following the unilateral end of a ceasefire agreement, resulting in the deaths of at least 591 Palestinians, including 200 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 1,040 others have been injured in a series of intense airstrikes, ground incursions, and artillery shelling over the past three days. The deadliest assault took place in Rafah’s densely populated Shaboura neighborhood, where Israeli ground forces launched a full-scale invasion. Local residents reported widespread destruction, with entire families killed and homes leveled. Emergency responders have been overwhelmed, struggling to reach the injured
amid continued bombardments. The escalation comes despite international appeals for restraint during Ramadan, a month of fasting and reflection for Muslims. Instead, many Palestinians are spending their evenings breaking their fasts in makeshift shelters and hospitals, surrounded by destruction and loss. The renewed violence has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. In solidarity with Palestinians, Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for missile attacks targeting Israel, raising tensions further. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, prompting concerns about the potential opening of a new front. Inside Israel, domestic unrest is growing. Thousands of protesters gathered in Jerusalem, demanding the resignation of
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and criticizing his government’s handling of the conflict. Clashes between demonstrators and police have intensified, signaling deepening divisions within Israeli society. Human rights organizations have condemned Israel’s renewed military campaign, calling it a form of collective punishment and a violation of international law. “This is the rule of the jungle,” said a spokesperson for the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. “What is the world waiting for? Where are the shared values?” As Gaza reels from yet another wave of violence, calls for a renewed ceasefire and humanitarian relief continue to go unanswered. With the international community largely silent, many Palestinians say they feel abandoned, forced to dig through rubble with their bare hands in search of survivors.