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PAKISTAN, QATAR REAFFIRM TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN TRADE, INVESTMENT TIES
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Sunday, 30 March, 2025 I 29 Ramazan, 1446
g PREMIER ALSO RENEWS HIS INVITATION TO PM SHEHBAZ HOLDS TELEPHONIC TALKS WITH EMIR OF QATAR, CONVEYS HIS WARM EMIR OF QATAR TO UNDERTAKE VISIT TO GREETINGS AND BEST WISHES ON EIDUL FITR PAKISTAN AT HIS EARLIEST CONVENIENCE
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 264 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held a telephonic call with the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and conveyed his warm greetings and best wishes on Eidul Fitr. The Emir of Qatar warmly reciprocated the Prime Minister’s Eid greetings and conveyed his best wishes for the people of Pakistan. While fondly recalling his visit to Doha last October, the Prime Minister conveyed his deep appreciation to Emir Thani as well as Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa, for hosting the Manzar cultural exhibition, which was inaugurated in his presence. The Prime Minister proposed the idea of having a similar exhibition hosted in Lahore, which the Emir very graciously accepted. The two leaders also reaffirmed their common desire to further strengthen the close brotherly relations in the trade and investment. To carry forward discussions on investment, it was agreed that a delegation from Qatar will visit Pakistan immediately after Eid. The regional situation was also discussed and the Prime Minister expressed his deep appreciation for Qatar’s diplomatic role in peace efforts, particularly in Gaza. The Prime Minister also renewed his invitation to the Emir of Qatar to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience. PM exchanges Eid greetings with Egyptian president Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of
Egypt on Saturday and exchanged Eidul Fitr greetings. During the call, the PM conveyed warm wishes to the Egyptian leadership, government, and people, praying for their continued prosperity, peace, and progress. Reflecting on his visit to Cairo in December last year, where he participated in the D-8 Summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its friendly ties with Egypt in all areas of mutual interest. The PM praised the success of Egypt’s Hepatitis C program, and both leaders agreed on further collaboration in this sector. An Egyptian delegation is set to visit Pakistan immediately after Eid to assist in Pakistan’s Hepatitis control efforts, while a Pakistani delegation will also visit Egypt for the same purpose.
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future, stressing that it was imperative that they moved beyond the linear “take-make-dispose” economy and embrace a circular model focused on waste reduction and resource efficiency. “Waste pollution is a pressing crisis that threatens our environment, public health, and economy. Plastic and hazardous waste are adversely affecting our rivers, landfills and air, exacerbating cli-
Court seeks FIA reply to journalist Mallick’s challenge to bail rejection KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi warmly reciprocated the Eidul Fitr greetings and extended his best wishes to the people of
Pakistan. He expressed Egypt’s desire to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
mate change. With rapid urbanization and industrial growth, Pakistan must adopt sustainable waste management solutions that protect our environment and drive economic and social development,” the prime minister said in a message on International Day of Zero Waste being observed on Sunday, March 30. This year’s theme, ‘Towards Zero Waste in Fashion and Textiles,’ highlighted the urgency of sustainability in an industry that generates massive waste, he said, adding as a major textile producer, Pakistan was committed to promoting eco-friendly manufacturing, textile recycling, and
ethical consumerism to reduce environmental impact. “The Government has taken decisive steps to combat waste pollution. Our Circular Economy Policy, under its formulation phase, will revolutionize waste management. The Living Indus Initiative works to restore the Indus River Basin by reducing pollution and promoting conservation and advocacy campaigns like Clean Green Pakistan Movement to empower communities to enhance waste management at the grassroots level,” PM Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the prime minister as saying.
PM reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to a cleaner, healthier, sustainable future STAFF REPORT
A district and sessions court in Karachi on Saturday sought reply from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) by April 3 in response to journalist Farhan Mallick’s appeal against the dismissal of his bail application in a case pertaining to alleged violation of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca). The district and sessions judge (East) issued the orders on journalist Mallick’s appeal against the verdict of the judicial magistrate (East). As proceedings began on Saturday, Mallick’s counsel argued that the judicial magistrate dismissed his client’s bail plea without conducting an inquiry into the allegation against the journalist. “Rejecting the bail application based only on the thumbnail is not fair,” argued his counsel. Meanwhile, the court sought FIA’s response in this regard and adjourned the hearing till April 3. The development comes a day after a local court dismissed the bail plea of the journalist in the case pertaining to the alleged violation of the Peca. The FIA took the journalist into custody on March 20 for allegedly posting anti-state content on his web channel. The FIA lodged the FIR against Mallick under multiple sections of the Peca Act read with Pakistan Penal Code's Section 190 (punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) and 500 (punishment for defamation). The FIR mentioned that Mallick, who worked for a private news channel as director news and now owns a YouTube channel, was allegedly involved in disseminating anti-state content. "During the course of inquiry, initial technical analysis of the alleged YouTube Channel was received, which revealed that the alleged person is involved in generating and disseminating posts and videos related to anti-state, consisting of fake news and public incitement agenda," the FIR mentioned.
President Asif Ali Zardari did not approve any canal project: Sindh CM
3 Khawarij terrorists killed as Punjab Police thwart another attack on border checkpost DERA GHAZI KHAN/LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The Punjab Police repulsed another Khawarij terrorists attack on Lakhani checkpoint in DG Khan on border with Khyber-Pakhtunkha early Saturday morning, killing three terrorists and injuring “several others”, the police said in a statement. Pakistan has been grappling with an alarming surge in terrorist attacks on security forces and other law enforcement agencies, especially in Balochistan and KhyberPakhtunkhwa while Punjab’s border checkposts have also seen numerous attacks from KP border areas. According to a Punjab Police spokesperson, 20 to 25 Kharwaji terrorists launched an attack on Lakhani border checkpost from all sides in the wee hours of Saturday. “The terrorists used mortar shells, rocket launchers, sniper rifles, and other heavy weapons indiscriminately. However, police personnel, including Elite Force and SOU commandos, courageously defended the checkpost, forcing the terrorists to flee”, he added. The police spokesperson said that three terrorists were killed during the attack while “several” were injured. “Following the attack, the Punjab Police, CTD, and other security agencies cordoned off the area and
conducted a search operation. Blood stains and fragments of brain matter were found at multiple locations, confirming casualties among the terrorists. While fleeing, the terrorists left behind their shoes and other belongings”, the spokesperson stated. He said the police commandos,
using modern weapons provided by the Government of Punjab, accurately targeted the terrorists’ heads, delivering a decisive response. According to social media posts by the Punjab police, the terrorists attacked the Lakhani checkpoint in DG Khan, along the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
QUETTA
sion to go ahead with its ‘long march’. The marchers and motorists from different political parties in support of the march had started their journey to Quetta from Wadh on Friday. As reports of the suicide blast near the BNP-M’s rally started emerging on the media at around 1pm, Mengal said in a X post that he was “safe with all party workers”. In a statement, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the same: “According to reports, there has been no loss of life. Sardar Akhtar Mengal and the entire BNPM leadership is safe.” The spokesperson noted that the BNP-M’s sit-in was underway near the site of the “alleged suicide blast” and that the public would soon be informed about the results of an inquiry into the incident.
Mengal, workers remain ‘safe’ as suicide bomber attempts to target rally on way to Quetta STAFF REPORT
Balchistan National Party (BNPM) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other workers of his ‘long march’ remained safe on Saturday following an ‘aborted’ suicide blast near the party’s rally at Mastung, according to the party and media reports. BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal had started a “long march” to Quetta from his hometown Wadh in protest against the arrests of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other leaders as well as police crackdowns on a sit-in. However, the Quetta administration has denied the party permis-
Sindh’s Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Saturday that President Asif Ali Zardari has not approved any canal project in a meeting. “President was told about briefing on irrigation and additional land cultivation but the wrong minutes of the meeting issued,” Sindh’s chief minister said in a press conference. Referring to the meeting chaired by President Zardari, Murad Ali Shah said that the meeting minutes were wrongly used to suggest presidential approval of the canal projects. Murad Ali Shah said that in the pretext of the meeting chaired by the president, canals were approved. Sindh’s chief minister said that a complete record of water shortage in Indus River has been available. “We have challenged the Indus River System Authority’s (IRSA) certification in the Council of Common Interest (CCI) as any canal project must first be discussed and approved by the CCI”. He said the Sindh’s irrigation department has been active. ”It cannot be happened anyone build what wants to make,” CM Shah said. He said Sindh’s representative had recorded the province’s objection when the issue of six canals without mentioning the name of Cholistan was discussed in the ECNEC.
Mohsin Naqvi says all stakeholders on board in fight against terrorism ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said that Army Chief General Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other stakeholders were on board in the fight against terrorism. Chairing a second meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee in Islamabad, the minister, however, said that no decision would be taken in this regard without consulting the provincial governments. He stressed the need for enhancing the capacity of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) at the provincial level to eliminate terrorism. “We will provide all possible support to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan governments in the fight against terrorism,” Naqvi assured. Similarly, he added, that the Counter-Terrorism Wing of the FIA would be further strengthened to achieve the desired results. The minister informed that the Frontier Constabulary would be transformed into National Reserve Police after its reorganisation. He further said that all departments would ensure an implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised with respect to the security of foreigners living in the country. The meeting reviewed the progress made so far on setting up National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centers. The meeting was told that approval had already been given for setting up National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centers in Islamabad, while work was on progress on setting up these centers in the provinces as well. It was decided at the meeting that the issue of terrorism would be effectively taken up with the Afghan government through the Foreign Ministry. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Interior Secretary, FIA DG, DG Passport, National Coordinator NACTA, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Coordinator National Action Plan and representatives of security agencies attended the meeting.
Myanmar earthquake death toll exceeds 1,600, aftershocks feared in region NAYPYIDAW AGENCIES
Myanmar’s military rulers let in hundreds of foreign rescue personnel on Saturday after an earthquake killed more than 1,600 people, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the impoverished, war-torn country in years. Friday’s 7.7 magnitude quake, among the biggest to jolt the Southeast Asian nation in the last century, crippled airports, bridges and highways amid a civil war that has wrecked the economy and displaced millions. The death toll in Myanmar climbed to 1,644, the military government said on Saturday, according to BBC Burmese news service. In neighbouring Thailand, where the quake rattled buildings and brought down a skyscraper under construction in the capital Bangkok, at least nine people were killed. Survivors in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-biggest city, dug with their bare hands
on Friday in desperate attempts to save those still trapped, lacking heavy machinery and with authorities absent. In Bangkok on Saturday, rescue operations continued at the site of the 33-story tower’s collapse, where 47 people were missing or trapped under the rubble – including workers from Myanmar. The US Geological Service’s predictive modelling estimated Myanmar’s death toll could exceed 10,000 and losses could exceed the country’s annual economic output. A day after making a rare call for international assistance, Myanmar’s junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, travelled to hard-hit Mandalay near the epicentre of the quake, which brought down buildings and triggered fires in some areas. “The Chairman of the State Administration Council instructed authorities to expedite search and rescue efforts and address any urgent needs,” the junta said in a statement on state media, referring to Min Aung Hlaing
Airports closed An initial assessment by Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government said at least 2,900 buildings, 30 roads and seven bridges had been damaged by the quake. “Due to significant damage, Naypyitaw and Mandalay international airports are temporarily closed,” said the NUG, which includes remnants of the elected civilian government ousted by the military in a 2021 coup that triggered the civil war. The control tower at the airport in Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s purpose-built capital city, collapsed, rendering it inoperable, a person with knowledge of the situation told Reuters. A Myanmar junta spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment. A Chinese rescue team arrived at the airport in Myanmar’s commercial capital of Yangon, hundreds of kilometres from Mandalay and Naypyitaw, and will travel upcountry by bus, state media said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with the junta chief, China’s embassy in Myanmar said on Saturday, and said Beijing would provide $13.77 million worth of aid, including tents, blankets and emergency
medical kits. The United States, which has a testy relationship with the Myanmar military and has sanctioned its officials, including Min Aung Hlaing, has said it would provide some assistance.