PM SHEHBAZ VOWS CRUSHING RESPONSE TO TERRORISTS In partnership with
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Saturday, 19 April, 2025 I 20 Shawwal, 1446
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 282 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
PAKISTAN’S ENEMIES ARE SCARED OF OUR g SAYS CENTRE, PROVINCES WORKING ECONOMIC ACHIEVEMENTS: PREMIER TOGETHER ON NARRATIVE AGAINST TERRORISM
DIRECTS ALL INSTITUTIONS TO INTENSIFY EFFORTS AGAINST SMUGGLING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING NETWORKS
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ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to inflict a crushing defeat on terrorists so that they never dare cast an evil eye on Pakistan again. Chairing a meeting on law and order situation in Islamabad, he said that the fight will continue for the complete eradication of terrorism from the country. “Pakistan’s enemies are scared of our economic achievements”, the premier stated. He commended all the institutions and provincial governments for their robust measures against terrorism. He said the brave officers and soldiers of security forces are confronting terrorists day and night, laying down their lives for the country. PM Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government will extend full cooperation to enhance the capacity of all provinces to ensure the complete elimination of terrorism and extremism.
He mentioned that federal government and the provinces are working together on the narrative against terrorism, which is encouraging. He urged the need to set aside all mutual differences and work together to eradicate the menace. The premier directed that all institutions intensify efforts against smuggling. He also directed that the noose around human trafficking networks be tightened further, and smugglers be brought to justice. During the meeting, the prime minister directed authorities to expedite the completion of Safe City projects in major urban centres, which would enhance surveillance and security response capabilities across the country. The participants were informed that the National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Center has been established at the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), the report added. Officials also briefed the premier on forensic capabilities, confirming that a
Dar reiterates Pakistan’s engagement within SCO mechanisms for mutually beneficial cooperation ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday reiterated Pakistan’s constructive engagement within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), emphasising the importance of mutually beneficial collaboration, particularly in the areas of bilateral trade, transport, and regional connectivity. The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”. Pakistan became a full member of the organisation at its 2017 summit in Kazakhstan, which was attended by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Dar held a meeting with SCO’s Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan. He congratulated Yermekbayev on the commencement of his responsibilities as the new Secretary General, assuring him of Pakistan’s full support for the SCO Secretariat. The deputy PM underlined Pakistan’s close historical ties with SCO member states and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to upholding the Shanghai spirit.
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ORDERS AUTHORITIES TO EXPEDITE COMPLETION OF SAFE CITY PROJECTS IN MAJOR URBAN CENTRES
PM calls for unwavering commitment to make Pakistan a debt-free country ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called upon the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers to work with unwavering commitment and full dedication to help Pakistan becoming a debt-free country. He was speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad where he launched a new Performance Management System for FBR officers. “If we want to move away from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we must work hard to increase our revenues,” the prime minister said.
forensic science agency has been established in Islamabad, while Punjab’s existing forensic facilities are undergoing further improvements. Alarming Rise In Terror Attacks Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies’s (PICSS), the Islamabad-based think tank, report revealed that February saw a marginal increase in terrorist attacks but a sharp surge in civil-
He said the FBR revenues witnessed an increase of 27%, for which the entire FBR team deserved appreciation. However, he said this was a long journey and more work was needed to plug the loopholes in the system. The prime minister commended the efforts of the finance minister, the secretary finance, Chairman FBR and the entire team for launching such an effective performance system. He also announced to replicate this system in other government institutions to promote the culture of penalty and reward aimed at improving the performance of the institutions.
ian casualties. According to PICSS, the country witnessed 79 terrorist attacks last month, resulting in the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 45 civilians and 81 security personnel were injured. Security forces, meanwhile, intensified counter-terrorism operations, eliminating 156 terrorists, injuring 20, and arresting 66, it said.
DPM Dar visits Kabul today to ‘thaw stalemate’ between two neighbors ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will embark on the long-awaited visit to Kabul on Saturday (tomorrow) to thaw the relations between the two neighbours after a protracted stalemate over Islamabad’s security concerns. The DPM is visiting Afghanistan at the invitation of Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Friday. FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan confirmed the date of the foreign minister’s one-day visit during his weekly press briefing on Friday. “At the invitation of Acting Afghan Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, will lead a highlevel delegation to Kabul tomorrow,” Khan said. “During the day-long visit, he will call on the Afghan Acting Prime Minister, meet the Afghan Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and hold delegation-level talks with the Acting Foreign Minister.” The FO spokesperson said that
the talks will cover the entirety of the Pak-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways to bolster cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including security and trade. Dar’s visit “is a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to enhance sustained engagement with the brotherly country of Afghanistan”, Khan added. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar said that he will visit Kabul in the coming days. “Preparatory meetings have been ongoing and hopefully, within days, I will be visiting Kabul for a day to break this logjam which is there for the last few years,” said Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the foreign minister. Meanwhile, Afghan Acting Minister for Commerce and Industries Haji Nooruddin Azizin called on Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad and discussed matters of mutual interest and bilateral ties. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in trade, transit, and regional connectivity.
They also underlined the importance of maintaining high-level political engagement between the two neighbouring countries. Pakistan, Afghanistan hold key talks on repatriation In a significant development aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, a high-level delegation from Afghanistan’s interim government met with Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry and Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha in Islamabad on Friday. The Afghan delegation was led by Acting Minister for Commerce and Industry, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, and included the Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, and other senior officials. During the meeting, both sides engaged in comprehensive discussions on key matters of mutual interest, including cross-border transit trade and the repatriation of Afghan nationals currently residing in Pakistan. The Minister of State reaffirmed Pakistan’s enduring commitment to fostering friendly and cooperative relations with Afghanistan.
Gandapur serves notice to Federal Minister over KP Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 ‘assertions’ PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Friday said he had served a legal notice on Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik and a private television channel, demanding Rs1 billion in damages and a public apology over allegations related to the KP Mines and Minerals Bill 2025. The KP CM also categorically rejected any agreement with the federal government on the proposed mines and minerals bill, emphasizing that the assertions made by federal ministers as defamatory and baseless. He asked how it was possible to sign an agreement with the federal government over an issue not yet approved by the KP Assembly. The notice, issued by Advocate Ali Azim Afridi, states that during a recent TV programme, the federal minister falsely claimed that the chief minister had signed an agreement related to the proposed minerals legislation. The CM’s legal team has denied these allegations, calling them “baseless, malicious, and politically motivated.” The notice argues that no such agreement exists and that the claims were made without evidence, damaging the chief minister’s reputation and political standing. It warns of legal action if the demands — compensation and a public retraction — are not met within 15 days.
LHC hints at sealing Qingqi rickshaw manufacturing companies LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday hinted at sealing Qingqi rickshaw manufacturing companies, asking the manufacturers to ensure compliance with traffic rules within three months, or else their units will be sealed. During the hearing of the case related to the eradication of smog, Justice Shahid Kareem expressed his indignation over frequent traffic jams on The Mall, Lahore due to protest demonstrations, and said that registering of protest did not imply paralyzing routine life. “The closure of one road in the city has affected traffic in the entire city,” he remarked. Addressing the assistant advocate general of Punjab (AAGP), Justice Kareem said the government must hold negotiations with the protestors blocking The Mall for the last several days and ask them to shift somewhere else. The AAGP told him that negotiations were underway with the protestors. The judge further said that weather patterns were changing as extreme heat, rainfall and hailstorms were witnessed during April. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Dr Azhar Waheed, on the occasion, submitted to the court a report on the action taken against beggars in the city.
Bilawal advises govt not to ‘risk’ losing PPP support over canal project HYDERABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday declared that the controversial canal projects could endanger the federation’s unity, issuing a strong warning to the federal government to shelve the project. “The federal authorities must withdraw the proposed canal initiatives or risk losing PPP's support in the ruling coalition”, the PPP chairman stated while speaking at a public rally in Hyderabad on Friday. He criticised the Islamabad leadership, stating, “The people of Sindh have rejected the canal projects, yet those in Islamabad re-
main blind and deaf to our voices. Out of six canals, two were approved by Prisoner No 420,” a veiled reference to a political rival. “Let it be clear — we oppose your project,” he asserted. Bilawal emphasized that the water distribution issue could threaten national cohesion. “We made Shehbaz Sharif prime minister not once, but twice. And now you think you can intimidate us with threats?” he questioned. Bilawal congratulated his party on its recent electoral victory in Umerkot and praised the people of Sindh for continuing to stand with the legacy of the late Benazir Bhutto. “The people of Sindh have once again proven that the arrow is their only mandate,”
he said, referencing PPP’s electoral symbol. Lashing out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), he claimed that their projects consistently harm the agricultural sector. “Every initiative backed by the 'lion party' is anti-farmer. The wheat scandal has economically devastated our farmers,” he said. “They only bleed the people dry without offering any real solutions.” Reaffirming his party's stance, he declared, “The government should not be under any illusion — I will not step back. I stand with the people.” In a final warning, Bilawal stated that the PPP will not remain part of the coalition if the federal government does not withdraw the controversial canal projects.