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PAKISTAN ACTED RESPONSIBLY IN FACE OF INDIA’S ESCALATING MOVES: PM
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Sunday, 4 May, 2025 I 6 Ziquad, 1446
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PM SHEHBAZ SAYS NEW DELHI YET TO RESPOND TO PAKISTAN’S OFFER FOR A NEUTRAL PROBE INTO PAHALGAM INCIDENT
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 297 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT ERDOGAN FOR A STRONG STATEMENT IN PREVAILING SITUATION IN SOUTH ASIA
SAYS TURKIYE’S SUPPORT REFLECTIVE OF HISTORIC, DEEP-ROOTED AND TIME-TESTED BROTHERLY TIES BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES, THEIR PEOPLES
DG ISPR, Info Minister brief political parties on national security today ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
P
ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan’s reaction had been responsible and measured so far in the face of India’s escalating moves in wake of the Pahalgam incident in IndianIllegally Occupied Jammu (IIOJK). “India has failed to share any evidence and was falsely trying to link Pakistan to the Pahalgam incident,” PM Shehbaz stated while talking to Ambassador of the
Republic of Turkiye Dr Irfan Neziroglu at the PM House, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The premier reiterated that Pakistan had always condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, a tourist attraction in in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu (IIOJK), killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000. “India has yet to respond to Pakistan’s offer to have a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation
President, PM vow to promote Press Freedom in country
ISLAMABAD: World Press Freedom Day was observed on Saturday. The day acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. This year’s theme of the day is “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media.” President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed their commitment to upholding and promoting a free and responsible press in Pakistan. In their separate messages on the World Press Freedom Day, they paid tribute to media workers around the world, including those in Pakistan for their efforts and sacrifices in pursuit of truth. President Asif Ali Zardari said media is indispensable for promoting dialogue, highlighting issues of social, economic and environmental significance, uncovering corruption and advocating for the marginalised. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said protecting freedom of expression requires ensuring that media is not misused for spreading falsehoods, fake news, propaganda, foreign agendas, or political interests. He commended the responsible role of Pakistan’s media in countering India’s recent water aggression and baseless accusations through truth and facts. STAFF REPORT
PMD forecasts above normal rainfall from May to July with heatwaves
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in its latest forecast, predicted normal to abovenormal rainfall from May to July, with risks of heatwaves and localised flooding. The PMD Office, in its weather alert, reported that between February and April, most parts of the country experienced either normal or below-normal rainfall. Southern Balochistan and much of Sindh received significantly less precipitation, leading to reduced soil moisture levels. In contrast, moderate to heavy rainfall occurred in the northern and central regions, it added. “From May to July, "most areas of the country are likely to receive near-normal rainfall," the PMD said. Central and southern parts, including northeast Punjab, are expected to receive slightly above-normal rainfall. STAFF REPORT
Federal Information Minister Attaullah along with the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), will brief the leaders of all political parties on the national security situation on Sunday (today). According to Radio Pakistan, the high-level background briefing will focus on the current state of national security, particularly in the context of Pakistan-India relations and the implications of recent developments. Participants will be briefed on the defensive preparedness of Pakistan’s armed forces, ongoing diplomatic efforts, and the official stance of the state on key issues. The briefing is set to cover the on-
to ascertain the facts behind the Pahalgam incident,” he said, adding that Pakistan would cooperate fully with such an investigation and would welcome if Turkiye joined it. The prime minister also highlighted that Pakistan had rendered great sacri-
going security concerns between Pakistan and India, will address the potential implications of the tense situation. The initiative aims to foster national unity and solidarity among political leadership during a time of heightened security concerns. The briefing will serve as a platform to ensure that all political leaders are on the same page regarding the country’s defense and security preparedness. Earlier, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting facilitated a visit for Pakistani and international media to the Line of Control (LoC) today and tomorrow. The purpose of this visit is to expose India’s baseless and fabricated propaganda regarding so-called and imaginary “terrorist camps” in Pakistan, said a statement on Saturday.
fices in its counter-terrorism efforts, including 90,000 casualties and over $152 billion in economic losses over the years. He further said that India’s actions would distract Pakistan from its counterterrorism efforts.
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Dar raises alarm about ‘grave threat’ in letter to UNSC chief ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday sought urgent attention of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to growing escalation between Pakistan and India, warning that it poses a grave threat to peace and security in South Asia. In a two-page letter addressed to UNSC President Jerome Bonnafont, the DPM accused the New Delhi of undertaking “unilateral, politically motivated, and highly provocative actions” over the past few days – actions that violate international law, established diplomatic norms and bilateral agreements. “These steps represent a calculated attempt to escalate regional tensions and to divert attention from India’s internal challenges, including its record of state-sponsored terrorism and ongoing human rights violations in
– reaffirms commitment to regional peace in diplomatic engagements ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability while resolutely protecting its sovereignty and national interests in a telephone conversations with Greek counterpart George Gerapetritis and Swiss Federal Councillor and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam,
the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” the letter states. Dar also categorically rejected India’s accusations in the aftermath of the terror attack, describ-
a tourist attraction in in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu (IIOJK), killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000. According to a Foreign Office (FO) press release on Saturday, in telephonic conversation with Greek counterpart, FM Dar briefed him on current regional developments, categorically rejecting India’s “baseless allegations, disinformation campaign and illegal unilateral measures” that threatened regional peace and security.
ing them as unsubstantiated and dangerous. “Pakistan firmly rejects the baseless allegations that India has sought to advance in the backdrop of the recent developments.
World needs to resolve Kashmir dispute, ‘core issue’ of enmity between Pakistan and India: Pakistan US envoy ISLAMABAD
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States on Saturday called on the world powers to resolve the Kashmir dispute, terming it the “core issue” of the recent complete breakdown of ties with India in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. “It could be an important part of President [Donald] Trump’s legacy to attend to this situation — not with a Band-Aid solution, but by addressing the core issue: the Kashmir dispute,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said in an interview with Fox News Digital published earlier today. The fast-rising tensions between the two countries follow the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, tourist attraction in Indian occupied Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, prompting India to renew its blaming of Pakistan for sustaining “cross-border terrorism”, a claim Pakistan denies. “This is one nuclear flashpoint,” the envoy said. During his interview with Fox News, Sheikh also called on nations around the globe to help with a lasting settlement to the Kashmir issue. He said: “Previously, when the situation has been at this level or the tensions have escalated, the international community has attended to the situation, but taken their eyes [and] attention away, even before the situation could fully defuse. “This time, perhaps it would be […] timely in terms of the situation elsewhere on the globe, with similar instances, […] to perhaps not afford a Band-Aid solution, but to address the broader problem.” “Any misadventure or miscalculation can lead to a nuclear interface,” the ambassador was quoted as saying. “That is certainly not desirable in such a densely populated region.” “We want a peaceful neighbourhood,” Sheikh emphasised, adding that Pakistan did not want any instability in the region. However, he stressed, Pakistan’s desire for peace “should not in any way be misconstrued as a sign of weakness”. “We want peace with dignity.” Sheikh described India’s response to the Pahalgam attack as dangerously premature and inflammatory, according to the report. The envoy reiterated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to hold a “neutral and transparent” probe into the Pahalgam attack. He pointed out that both the investigation offer and Pakistan’s request for evidence linking it to the attack had gone “unanswered”. “Within minutes of the attack, India began levelling accusations against Pakistan,” he said, noting that a post-investigation report was filed just 10 minutes after the incident occurred, despite the remote and rugged terrain near the scene.
Pakistan successfully test-fires surface to-surface Abdali ballistic missile RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Amid the simmering on tensions borders with India, Pakistan on Saturday conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System, a surface-tosurface missile with a range of 450 kilometres, the military’s media wing said on Saturday.
In a statement the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuverability features.” The test launch comes amid simmering tensions between two nuclear
MONITORING REPORT
arch rivals in the wake of New Delhi’s aggressive measures following a deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian occupied Kashmir. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000. India has implied cross-border links without evidence, while Pakistan has rejected the claim and called for a neutral probe.
“The launch part of “Ex Indus,” was witnessed by the commander of the Army Strategic Forces Command (AFSC), senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division and the AFSC, as well as scientists and engineers from Pakistan’s strategic organisations”, it said. The ISPR also released a video of the successful launch. President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and the services chiefs extended their congratulations to the participating troops, scientists, and engineers, the ISPR said.
PM orders stricter oversight for State-Owned Enterprises to curb losses g
NEW MONITORING SYSTEM TO BE IMPLEMENTED AS SOES INCUR RS851B IN LOSSES DURING FY24 PROFIT
NEWS DESK
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed all federal ministries and divisions to implement a rigorous monitoring system to oversee the performance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and subordinate bodies under their control. This initiative follows alarming financial and governance issues plaguing SOEs across Pakistan. A recent report from the Ministry of Finance reveals that Pakistan’s SOEs collectively incurred losses of Rs 851 billion in the fiscal year 2024, showing a 14.03% decrease compared to the previous year. However, the accumulated losses of SOEs since 2014 have reached a staggering Rs 5.9 trillion,
raising serious concerns about the sustainability and management of these entities. The losses were particularly severe in several SOEs, with the National Highway Authority (NHA) reporting the largest loss of Rs 295.5 billion, followed by QESCO at Rs 120.4 billion and PESCO at Rs 88.7 billion. Other significant losses were incurred by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Railways, and Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation, among others. These ongoing deficits highlight the ongoing financial instability within Pakistan’s public sector. In response, Prime Minister’s Advisor Dr Tauqeer Shah issued a letter to federal secretaries, pointing out the insufficient oversight by ministries over SOEs and
statutory organizations. This lack of effective monitoring has led to governance failures, including procurement violations, corruption, and inefficiencies in operations. The Prime Minister has now instructed that ministers and secretaries exercise stronger and continuous oversight, taking proactive measures to address these governance issues. The Prime Minister has also mandated the formulation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each SOE and subordinate body to ensure structured performance evaluations and greater accountability. Additionally, a system of pre- and postbriefings for Board meetings will be established, enabling better-informed decision-making and timely reporting.