Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan are also on alert Authorities warned that heavy rainfall upstream could trigger flood surges at Marala Headworks threatening inundation in surrounding areas Residents in low-lying zones have been urged to remain vigilant avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from floodprone regions So far over 2 300 villages have been submerged, destroying crops on millions of acres and displacing more than 1 5 million people The devastation stretches from Sialkot to Lahore Kasur to Bahawalnagar and Gujrat to Jhang At least 33 lives have been lost while more than 600 000 people have been evacuated Thousands of cattle
have perished, road and internet links have collapsed, and floodwaters continue to expand In Jhang 180 villages were inundated as the Chenab burst its banks forcing rescues by boat At Head Trimmu, the Chenab s flow has risen to 260,000 cusecs, while Khanki and Qadirabad remain in high flood The Ravi has submerged 140 villages in Shujaabad Multan while extreme flood levels persist at Head Balloki and Chichawatni At Jassar water levels are again rising, while the Sutlej is in extreme flood at Ganda Singh Wala In Lahore, 10,000 residents of Theme Park Housing Society remain stranded after the Ravi inundated homes and markets Floodwaters initially rose to 20 feet before receding to 12 feet The PDMA reported the Ravi s flow had dropped to 80,220 cusecs at Jassar, 77,430 at Siphon, and 76,700 at Shahdara, down from a peak of 220 000 cusecs Meanwhile the Sutlej has burst its banks in Bahawalpur flooding villages and forcing families to flee without official help Farmers have urged the government to waive agricultural loans under Kissan Cards and Tractor schemes
overall economic activity Shah earlier noted that much of the sea freight arriving at Karachi Port is currently transported inland by road
due to weak rail connectivity He explained that the new rail link, developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BoT) model will connect Karachi Port with Pipri Yard 45 kilometres away enabling faster unloading of ships and quicker movement of goods up-country through the national rail network The freight corridor forms part of broader cooperation between Pakistan and Dubai In January 2024 the two governments signed framework agreements covering three projects: the Karachi–Pipri corridor capital dredging of Port Qasim s navigation channel, and the development of an economic zone at Port Qasim to attract foreign direct investment Under these arrangements DP World is acting on behalf of the Dubai government while Pakistan Railways and the Port Qasim Authority are representing Pakistan DP World and NLC are already active partners in logistics In October last year, the two launched the first direct shipping route between Pakistan and Bangladesh moving more than 1 000 containers between the two countries
fOOD pRICEs spIkE In l ahORE MaRkEts as flOODs ChOkE supply ChaIns
Schools resume across Punjab; dozens remain shut in flood zones
Schools across Punjab are set to reopen on September 1 following the summer break but institutions located in floodaffected areas will remain closed for an extended period as local administrations grapple with the damage Deputy commissioners in multiple districts including Lahore Pakpattan Narowal Muzaffargarh and Multan issued notifications outlining the closures In Lahore, schools will reopen as scheduled on September 1, except those located in flood-hit localities, which will stay shut until further orders Parents have been advised to remain in close contact with school administrations for updates In Pakpattan, the deputy commissioner directed 12 schools to remain closed indefinitely, while in Narowal, institutions will stay shut until September 5
In Multan District, most schools will reopen, but 23 institutions eight in Jalalpur Pirwala, nine in Shujabad, and five in Saddar will not resume classes yet Sixteen of these are currently being used as flood relief camps The situation is most severe in Muzaffargarh where the deputy commissioner ordered 105 schools to remain closed until September 6 due to flood damage and ongoing relief operations Of these 89 are directly affected by floodwaters from the Chenab River while 16 have been converted into temporary shelters
Despite these localized closures, district administrations confirmed that schools across the rest of Punjab will reopen as scheduled on September 1 under provincial government directives Authorities have also instructed all schools to strictly adhere to safety guidelines issued by the School Education Department to ensure a smooth return to academic activities
and other edibles will only be permitted with prior written approval from the Punjab Food Author-
Marking a historic step forward, both leaders affirmed their commitment to the principles and objectives of the UN Charter and discussed possible avenues of cooperation, including economy education culture and tourism ” the FO statement read The statement added that both sides reaffirmed their resolve to work closely at bilateral and multilateral fora to achieve shared objectives of peace, progress, and prosperity for their peoples Dar, in a post on X, expressed satisfaction
Punjab on high alert as India opens S alal Dam; Sindh braces for ‘super flood’
CONTINUED FROM PAGE
operation in
Flow at Head Trimmu has reached
633 cusecs, though the Sutlej at Kasur shows a decline He said about 2,200 villages were badly hit Relief camps are providing shelter and medical aid but urban flooding has compounded the crisis due to fresh rains
with food distribution underway in six flood-hit districts Eight trucks carry-
Wazirabad and Hafizabad following
Sialkot Preparations are also underway for Chiniot and Jhang According to PDMA s latest report, 2,308 villages have been affected, impacting 1 516 million people Around 481 000 people have been rescued while 511 relief camps 351 medical camps and 321 veterinary units have been established More than 405 000 animals have been moved to safety River flows remain dangerously high: Chenab is carrying 111,000 cusecs at Marala, 170,000 at Khanki, 171 000 at Qadirabad and 146 080 at Trimmu Ravi stands at 78 000 cusecs at Jassar 138 000 at Shahdara 199 000 at Balloki and 32 000 inflow/18 000 outflow at Sidhnai Sutlej has swelled to 303,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala and 138,000 at Suleimanki
Reservoirs are nearing capacity: Mangla Dam is 80 percent full Tarbela is at 100 percent while India s Pong Dam is at 94 percent Thein at 92 percent, and Bhakra at 84 percent The floods have killed 33 people,
mostly from drowning while two died in lightning strikes in Lahore Compensation surveys are underway on directives of Punjab Chief Minister In the last 24 hours, heavy rainfall has lashed Punjab: Mandi Bahauddin (81mm), Hafizabad (63mm), Jhelum (50mm), Sialkot (47mm), Bahawalnagar (44mm) Gujrat (34mm) Faisalabad (32mm) Sheikhupura (31mm) Lahore (26mm) Chakwal (18mm) Gujranwala (14mm) Khanewal (12mm) and Jhang (10mm) Showers were also reported in Rawalpindi, Kot Addu, Sahiwal, Sargodha and Kasur The ninth spell of monsoon rains is expected to persist until September 2 raising fears of further river surges and urban flooding
DEFENCE MINISTER INSPECTS
S I A L
Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday visited flood-hit areas of Sialkot inspecting Naullah Aik a key city water channel He warned that illegal encroachments on waterways would not be tolerated and directed the district administration to ensure their immediate removal He stressed that effective preventive measures were essential to safeguard lives and reduce future risks MPA Manshaullah Butt accompanied him
Three members of a family were killed on Sunday when the roof of their house collapsed during continuous rain in Nankana Sahib Rescue teams retrieved the bodies and warned residents to vacate vulnerable homes in the area
equally committed to eradicating poverty and corruption “Not a single corruption case has emerged during my tenure,” he remarked Referring to Pakistan’s youth bulge 60% of its population PM Shehbaz stressed the importance of vocational training collaboration with China and reaping demographic dividends He said 1 000 agriculture graduates had already been sent to China for advanced training, while around 30,000 Pakistani students were studying across Chinese universities The prime minister fondly recalled his
cue-1122 and Punjab Police have launched the province’s largest-ever rescue and relief drive According to PDMA over 15 000 police personnel supported by 700 vehicles and 40 boats have evacuated more than 90,700 people and shifted 82,200 livestock Female officers have played a key role in assisting women children and elderly victims The Army carried out controlled breaches near Chenab s Qadirabad Headworks in Mandi Bahauddin to protect key barrages and downstream districts, while engineers reinforced embankments and drones located stranded families In Sheikhupura emergency embankments saved dozens of villages from inundation Relief and medical camps have been set up across affected districts Rescue-1122 teams, working round the clock are conducting door-to-door evacuations in Sahiwal Lahore outskirts and other hotspots Officials said their morale remains high despite grueling conditions W I L
EIGHT DEER: Wildlife Rangers have rescued eight deer from flood-hit areas including a pair swept across the border in Sialkot an injured pregnant female in Narowal a juvenile in Shakargarh and others from Muridke, Wazirabad and Mandi Bahauddin All are receiving treatment in veterinary camps
S: The NDMA has warned of potential floods in Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the next 12–24 hours due to heavy rainfall Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Sharda Haveli and Kotli are at risk Residents have been urged to stay alert and avoid flood-prone and landslide-prone zones
Tariffs in cour t
ON the one hand it represents the triumph of the rule of law in the USA that the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump have been held in abeyance by a federal court, the US District Court of Appeals for New York, until, is October to allow time for the appeal to the Supreme Court The Court of Appeals itself upheld a decision in May by the Court of International Trade That decision had ruled that the President did not have the powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs Mr Trump had declared a national emergency because the USA was importing more than it exported (which it has been doing for some time), and imposed a slew of tariffs on various countries for that reason The Administration then engaged in a series of negotiations with effectively all the countries of the world, and then revised the tariffs On the other hand, that is no way to run a country Those dealing with it need a certain amount of certainty, and since the beginning of the year have not known which way the cookie is crumbling
One of the problems is that it seems the Administration is badly advised The President should have been told what view the courts would take of his decision His attempt to use the power of imposing sanctions to extend to the imposition of tariffs across the world should not have been made without at least some sounding out of the judiciary on the subject As it is, the Administration now has to rely on the number of judges it elevated to the Supreme Court If it loses it means that the entire year would have been lost by exporters to the USA It should also not be forgotten that the USA has sometimes riled trading partners, costing it much geopolitical capital An example in point is that of India with which there has been such a decline in relations that Mr Trump will give the upcoming QUAD Summit a miss, so as to avoid Indian PM Narendra Modi As has been seen in Pakistan, entire economies are planning not just on what the tariffs mean for their own exports but also what those tariffs are doing to their competitors The threat of the tariffs has lasted long enough for measures to have been taken All of this will go to pot if the Trump Administration loses before the Supreme Court
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
certificates or NADRA registration Without an identity, they do not exist in the eyes of the state Attachment theory the backbone of child psychology tells us that early bonds with caregivers shape a child s emotional blueprint for life International studies of mother and child units (M&Cs) show that when done right, they can reduce trauma, support rehabilitation, and
JU S T a few days ago I came across a headline that read: Japan shatters the world record for internet speed: 1 02 petabits per second That s not a typo It means 1 02 petabits, or 1,020 terabits per second To put that into perspective it’s fast enough to download Netflix’s entire library in a matter of seconds Meanwhile here in Pakistan it can take a full minute to load a two-page PDF This isn t just an inconvenience It s a crisis While the rest of the world accelerates toward the digital future, Pakistan appears to be moving backward Despite lofty claims about becoming a “Digital Pakistan ” the ground reality reflects regression not progress How many times has Pakistan earned recognition from global powers for meaningful contributions to development? Historically, when major powers like the USA have extended support to us whether through deals, MoUs, or economic aid, it has not been because of our innovation or progress but because of our strategic geography From our role in countering the USSR during the Cold War to our alliance in the post-9/11 War on Terror and now in the context of China s rising influence, our value has largely been transactional Even recent remarks, such as US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to extract Pakistan’s mineral resources, make it clear that we are still viewed more as a commodity provider than a collaborator We have consistently failed to invest in what truly matters education digital infrastructure human capital and the consequences are now impossible to ignore Over the past year, Pakistan s internet landscape has worsened significantly We’ve seen not just slow speeds and repeated outages but deliberate throttling of services Apps like X (formerly Twitter) and VPNs have been blocked or disrupted All of this has occurred without meaningful public debate or consultation A national firewall has quietly been rolled out, raising fears that Pakistan may be heading toward a digital iron curtain When citizens began raising concerns about slow speeds and blocked services the official response was denial In July 2024 for instance users across the country reported widespread disruption of WhatsApp The federal IT minister claimed it was a global
even lower recidivism But done right means full access to healthcare, early education, outdoor space, emotional support, and legal protections Most Pakistani jails offer none of this Instead many children grow up confined in concrete spaces exposed to violence poor nutrition and inadequate hygiene A 2018 Human Rights Commission report noted that many children inside women s prisons suffer developmental delays, anxiety, and social withdrawal Some prison staff discourage mother-child bonding out of “disciplinary necessity ” Others simply don t have the resources to care Incarcerated mothers are often excluded from vocational programmes because they re full-time caregivers There are no creches, no trained nannies, and in some cases, other inmates are asked to babysit, an alarming compromise in an already fragile environment This is not just a matter of oversight It s a matter of rights Article 25 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Pakistan is a signatory, states that every child is entitled to a standard of living adequate for their physical, mental, spiritual, moral, and social development That right does not pause at a prison gate Even more disturbingly Bangkok Rule 49 requires that non-custodial measures should be prioritized for pregnant women and mothers with young children Pakistan s system, however, offers little in terms of alternatives, no real
outage But Meta WhatsApp s parent company quickly denied this, confirming the problem was limited to Pakistan This exposed the misleading narrative being pushed and highlighted just how little transparency exists around our digital policies In fact the disruptions caught so much global attention that the international KeepItOn coalition issued a statement in December 2024 urging Pakistani authorities to stop suppressing digital rights Needless to say, these disruptions and the firewall s installation led to significant backlash from the public and civil society as well The IT industry, through the Pakistan Software Houses Association (PASHA) warned of a mass exodus of IT companies and condemned the grave consequences of the hastily implemented firewall According to PASHA the firewall slowed down internet speeds by 40 percent and could cost the economy 300 million dollars The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce also warned that these ongoing internet disruptions could derail Pakistan’s already struggling economy In August 2024 the Pakistan Business Council reported that several multinational companies were seriously considering exiting the country due to these disruptions The Chainstore Association of Pakistan similarly expressed grave concern about the economic
probation options, diversion programmes, or restorative justice routes tailored for women with caregiving responsibilities
And so the children remain behind bars
We do not see them We do not count them But they exist not in government ledgers but in the shadows of policy failure They exist in overcrowded cells, in the hush of a sick child denied medical care, in the confusion of a toddler who thinks “bars” are part of every home
Why are we afraid to talk about this? Perhaps because it exposes the cruelty of a system that punishes not just the convicted but the innocent born into its shadow Perhaps because these children challenge our neat categories of guilt and innocence Or maybe because we are uncomfortable with what their existence demands of us: accountability
Let us not pretend that a child in prison is just a byproduct That she ll forget the grey walls That the state owes her nothing These are our children not by birth but by duty And we are failing them One day, they will grow up and ask what we did when we knew Let our silence not be our only answer Let it be said that someone counted them That someone broke the silence That someone remembered that even behind bars a child is still a child
The writer is a freelance columnist
Outdated admission rules
or reserved seats where the applicant’s provincial or district affiliation is legally relevant It is time the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and provincial education departments reviewed and revised the rather outdated requirement
Simplifying the entire admission process would reduce stress on students and help promote fair access to higher education RIA AHMED LAHORE
Stealing public spaces
Fstill, it has invited the intervention of foreign powers China, India, Russia, and the USA each trying to bend the outcome to its own advantage This is no longer just a civil war; it is an experiment in 21st-century proxy warfare a grim tutorial in how regional rivalries fuel state failure And as history suggests what happens in Myanmar will not stay in Myanmar At the center of this unraveling sits General Min Aung Hlaing and his so-called State Administration Council On paper it governs the nation; in practice its reach barely extends beyond a few garrison towns and highways Elsewhere power is contested In the north, the Kachin Independence Army demands outright autonomy In the west, the Arakan Army is edging closer to a secessionist Rakhine nation Chin State has become a microcosm of internecine war with rival militias fighting not only the military but each other In the east Karen and Karenni forces continue their decades-long
insurgencies Even the Shan, historically divided, have fractured further, some groups advocating federalism, others secession Layered atop this ethnic patchwork is the People’s Defense Force (PDF) the armed wing of the exiled civilian government It aspires to topple the junta and replace it with a federal democracy Yet its ambitions collide with those of ethnic militias who prefer independence over union The result is a Hobbesian battlefield: no single coalition no common vision and no credible roadmap for peace Of the outside players China s role is paramount Geography dictates it Myanmar is China s only immediate neighbor that provides direct land access to the Indian Ocean a vital alternative to the US-patrolled Malacca Strait Through Myanmar runs a 1700-km corridor of pipelines roads and planned railways connecting Yunnan province to the Bay of Bengal At its southern terminus lie two signature projects: the $7 3 billion Kyaukphyu deep-water port and a $1 3 billion special economic zone For Beijing, these are not optional investments They are lifelines That imperative explains China’s careful duplicity It sells weapons to the central government while tolerating the flow of Chinese-made arms to rebel groups such as the United Wa State Army The unspoken rule: fight if you must, but don’t touch Chinese assets Thus far, all sides have abided by thid This is not unprecedented In the 1980s after Myanmar s pro-democracy protests were crushed the West imposed sanctions Beijing stepped in, flooding the country with arms and trade, cementing influence but also arousing the junta’s suspicion of overdependence The military tried to diversify buying fighter jets and helicopter gunships from Russia Today those same Russian aircraft are used to bomb rebel strongholds But with
Moscow bogged down in Ukraine, Beijing is once again the indispensable patron India’s approach is less coherent Its overriding concern is the stability of its own northeast where separatist groups have long used Myanmar s lawless frontier as a sanctuary To counter them India has collaborated with the junta, carrying out cross-border strikes and drone attacks Yet beyond security, New Delhi has little leverage Unlike Beijing, it has no vast economic footprint in Myanmar and scant connections to ethnic militias Its attempt to balance between engaging the junta and protecting its frontier looks more like improvisation than strategy Washington s strategy has been characteristically ambiguous Publicly, it has restricted itself to non-lethal aid for the exiled civilian government and sanctions on junta officials Quietly the picture is murkier Reports suggest that the USA is expanding its intelligence footprint through a $248 million consulate complex in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand Local sources even hint at plans for a supply base in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar to support rebel groups like the Arakan Army Whether or not these claims are true the logic is clear: undermine China s corridor threaten its access to the Bay of Bengal, and complicate Beijing s strategic calculus But here lies the risk By nudging rebel groups to escalate Washington could deepen the humanitarian catastrophe without producing a viable alternative to junta rule As in Afghanistan or Syria arming proxies may weaken an enemy but rarely build a durable state What makes Myanmar ’s tragedy particularly instructive is its familiarity The 20th century offered ample examples of countries gutted by great-power competition Vietnam became the graveyard
In g eopolitics, what isnÊt stopped is studied, and what is studied is replicated in the next war Myanmar today is both a trag edy and a warning: a reminder of how state failure becomes a laborator y for great-power competition, and how proxy wars breed only more violence The countr y may be collapsing in real time , but the world has seen this collapse before The question is whether anyone is willing to learn from it Myanmar might go the way of S omalia or Libya
S C O s u m m i t : A s h a r e d
v i s i o n f o r t r u s t , e q u a l i t y a n d p r o s p e r i t y
By now the world knows the SCO is not a securit y alliance; it is
peace and security but economic financial commercial and technological ties amongst nations It is our obligation to strengthen global institutions This would help us contain and control volatility in international markets and ensure stability In 2024, China’s trade with SCO nations rose to a whopping half a trillion dollars which is a proof of the Organization s growing heft
We take pride in China s rise and leadership at the regional and global stage The relationship between our two countries is second to none and the stuff of legends that is envied by other nations It has both depth and longevity Our strategic cooperative partnership has been viewed and validated globally this year We stand by and support each other on our respective core issues and common cardinal principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence We work closely in the international forums and China has always been on Pakistan’s side in the most difficult times of our history Pakistan and China are indeed “iron brothers” I have a special association with China My father-in-law Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto along with the founding fathers of China – Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai – was the architect of fabled Pakistan-China friendship My beloved wife, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, deepened our relationship; and I had in more than a dozen visits to China the privilege of working with the Chinese leadership especially President Xi for the seminal conceptualization of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and its launch The CPEC now has become the hallmark of our friendship and a symbol of growth of Pakistan’s economy My visit to China in February this year reinforced my conviction that although together we have made huge strides we are destined to play an even bigger role to strengthen our bilateral ties in diverse fields – defense, cybersecurity, new technologies, energy – and make our regions both conduits and destinations for commerce and shared prosperity By now the world knows the SCO is not a security alliance; it is an Organization to serve humanity through economic collaboration and promotion of understanding among nations We in Pakistan fully endorse China s vision to pursue the Shanghai Spirit under the banner of the SCO that gives Eurasia and all nations a framework of mutual trust sovereign equality and shared development The author is the president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Tan easy interviewee but always good value in terms of straight talking Olmert who will celebrate his 80th birthday next month has in recent years taken on the mantle of the responsible adult of Israeli politics, a kind of a sage at the gate warning against the existential dangers emanating from Benjamin Netanyahu’s long and unbearable tenure as prime minister even more so since the latter has partnered in power with the most extreme right-wing messianic elements in Israeli politics Olmert is challenging to interview but never boring or short of novel ideas, partly because of his own personal and political journey
with Nasser Al-Kidwa the former Palestinian foreign minister and head of the Palestinian delegation to the UN What Arab News managed very skillfully, to extract from the interview went beyond consideration of Olmert s views on the current situation and how to resolve it to also explore the very limits of discourse in Israel even for one of the Netanyahu government s harshest critics
Firstly when it was put to him that he supported the idea that Israel s prime minister should be tried in The Hague for war crimes, he was quick to protest that he would prefer to see Netanyahu stand in front of judges in Israel to answer for his alleged war crimes against the people of Israel as justice should be done at home
The second limitation touched on the most sensitive war-related issue for most Israelis: whether or not Israel s actions in Gaza constitute genocide Olmert pushed the envelope of the discussion as far as possible in stating very clearly that war crimes were being committed in Gaza but he knew that the very mention of the word genocide might completely discredit him and distract from the need to end the war and embark on peace building However, the former prime minister was unequivocal in his declaration that he could not tolerate it and forgive it (the war crimes) because I care for the lives of the Palestinians as for any other human beings Considering the immeasurable suffering that has been inflicted by the Israeli military on the people of Gaza this expression of empathy seems both obvious and natural but it has not been the view of many Israelis since the Oct 7 attacks It is, therefore, important for Israelis, and for the wider region, to hear this from a former prime minister, and in particular one whose political roots lie not to the left of the political spectrum or in the peace camp but one who represented the Likud party in the Knesset for 27 years and was in government for much of that time
Netanyahu’s extremely harmful time in office and with that hopefully ridding Israeli politics of Kahanist-racist-messianism Yet there is also a certain historical irony in the bitter rivalry between Olmert and Netanyahu, and the reversal of their roles, that underlines their differing personalities Netanyahu in his opportunism can take any side of any argument as long as it serves him personally and
born in Israel that is derived from the word for a prickly pear cactus which is tough on the outside and soft on the inside) there also lies a thoughtful and courageous leader This is not only because when in power he was prepared to change course whenever he deemed it necessary, even if it meant upsetting his electoral base but also because with Olmert there is always a learning curve and a readiness to explore new frontiers This is something that has been especially significant in his relentless quest for peace with the Palestinians, and his constant search for new partners on both the Israeli and the Palestinian sides most recently his collaboration
In his transformation, he has moved on from the idea of a “Greater Israel,” of building settlements on occupied Palestinian land first by supporting disengagement from Gaza and then during his premiership presenting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with the most farreaching peace plan offered by any Israeli leader, which unfortunately was never accepted by the Palestinian leadership That episode has to this day left Olmert harboring a deep sense of missed opportunity but not of despair as much of his efforts now are focused on resurrecting that peace plan, albeit in much more difficult circumstances but at a time when the need for it is also more urgent and acute than ever Olmert makes a convincing case for ending the era of the present Israeli government bringing down the curtain on
CHINA’S XI SAYS SCO BEARS ‘GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES’ FOR KEEPING REGIONAL PEACE
Aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg sets sail for G aza
and Greece in international waters Speaking to Al Jazeera from Barcelona Acar said that while the boats can carry only limited aid for a population of two million people who are currently being starved , the flotilla is not merely symbolic “We are really determined to break the siege ” Acar said “And if they [Israeli authorities] attack us once again if they intercept us kidnap us and imprison us we will come back even stronger
TIANJIN CHINA ag e n c e s India s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi was committed to improving ties with Beijing in a key meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping on Sunday as both countries resolved to put aside differences from a yearslong border standoff Modi is in China for the first time in seven years to attend a two-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders from Central South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East in a show of Global South solidarity We are committed to progressing our relations based on mutual respect, trust and sensitivities,” Modi told Xi during the meeting on the sidelines of the summit according to a video clip posted on the Indian leader s official X account The bilateral meeting took
BARCELONA
OVER 2M PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ‘HISTORIC TRIPLE-RIVER FLOOD’: MARRIYUM AURANGZEB
IESCO CE pays surprise visits to Customer Facilitation Centers and Complaint O ffices
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
Chief Executive Officer of Islamabad Electric Supply Company
Highlighting the role of technology, the CEO added: “In line with
s Chairman, Dr Tahir Masood, and other Board of Directors, noting their positive and consumer-centric approach He said their guidance has been instrumental in steering IESCO toward innovation and improved service delivery
banner of Islam He praised Karachiites as courteous hospitable and warm people and shared that he had memorable moments with
them Speaking about education, he noted that many institutions in Karachi help foster understanding of both cultures Referring to his book, he mentioned his research on Pakistan and India emphasizing the importance of Pakistan s national language Urdu Host Dr Farooq Afzal stressed the need to further strengthen cooperation in trade economy, culture, and the social sector He said Cemal Sangu had established very good relations with people in Karachi, and he would always be remembered He added that Türkiye
sectors He added that increasing trade between the two countries would bring prosperity to the people
Cemal
ERDOGAN ASSURES PAKISTAN OF TÜRKIYE’S SUPPORT AMID DEADLY MONSOON FLOODS
in Gaza reaffirming support for Palestinians legitimate rights and condemning Israeli aggression and policies of genocide on international platforms Highlighting the fraternal ties between Pakistan and Türkiye, both leaders resolved to further strengthen cooperation for peace stability and prosperity in the Muslim world and beyond
Shehbaz’s SCO engagements Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Tianjin on Saturday to attend the SCO summit accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and senior officials During the summit, he will present Pakistan’s perspective on pressing regional and global challenges, emphasizing the SCO’s role in fostering
cooperation and stability
Earlier on Sunday, the Prime Minister visited the National Earthquake Simulation Center at Tianjin University, where he expressed Pakistan’s interest in benefiting from Chinese expertise for disaster preparedness He lauded China s adoption of advanced technologies in disaster management calling them extremely beneficial for Pakistan in coping with natural calamities
Shehbaz urged greater bilateral collaboration stressing that initiatives such as the International Medical Center and the China-Pakistan Joint Lab should be made more effective to build resilience against climate-induced disasters
Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the SCO is a permanent intergovernmental body promoting political economic security and cultural cooperation under the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust equality and non-alignment
Today, the SCO has 10 member states, including Pakistan, India, Iran, and Belarus, along with two observer states and 14 dialogue partners It maintains partnerships with international and regional organizations such as the UN ASEAN ECO and CIS formalized through multiple memoranda of understanding since 2005
KP ’s C abinet Committee thumbs up to ‘ historic ’ K alash M arriage Bill
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet Committee on Legislation on Sunday approved the draft of the historic Kalash Marriage Bill, clearing its path to be presented before the KP Provincial Assembly for ratification and enactment into law
The Kalash are a unique indigenous community residing in the remote valleys of Chitral in northern Pakistan renowned for their distinct Indo-Aryan culture, polytheistic religion (a form of animism), unique language, and vibrant festivals
“After approval from the Cabinet Committee on Legislation the Kalash Marriage Bill is now poised
for presentation in the upcoming provincial cabinet meeting for tabling in the KP Assembly for voting,” said Qamar Naseem, programme manager at Blue Viens and co-drafter of the legal document
This initiative represents a significant step toward acknowledging and safeguarding the rights of Pakistan s indigenous peoples, he added, appreciating the government for its commitment and cooperation in moving forward with this landmark legislation Naseem also thanked Wazirzada focal person to the KP Chief Minister on minority issues; the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR); the Local Government Department; and other government offices that contributed
to drafting the bill and guiding it through the Cabinet Committee
He noted that the legislation will provide the Kalash community with formal legal protection and a structured registration system for their marriages while fully respecting their cultural and religious identity It is not only a legal reform but also a recognition of their fundamental rights, he emphasized
For generations, the Kalash people have lived in the valleys of Bumburet Rumbur and Birir in Chitral preserving their identity through unique religious beliefs festivals rituals, and traditions Despite their rich heritage and global recognition, the community has long lacked a formal legal framework to safeguard its social and cultural rights
Govt formally announces closure of Utility S tores Corporation
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry
Sunday announced the closure of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) across the country
Addressing a press conference alongside USC Managing Director Shabbir Khattak and Secretary General of the National Welfare Union of USC Raja Muhammad Miskeen, the minister assured that the rights of all USC employees permanent contractual and daily wagers had been fully protected under the directives of the Prime Minister A consensus, he added, was reached between the government and the USC employees’ union to provide a comprehensive sever-
ance package worth Rs28 2 billion Dr Tariq Fazal noted that USC established in 1971 had played a vital role in providing essential commodities to the public at subsidized rates Its network expanded to more than 5,500 stores nationwide by 2009 employing nearly 12 750 workers However despite government efforts the corporation continued to suffer heavy losses
The Prime Minister has made it clear that employees must not suffer due to the closure,” he said, adding that a special committee chaired by the Federal Finance Minister was constituted to oversee the process The Ministries of Finance and Industries and Production also played a key role in finalizing the severance benefits Highlighting the unprece-
dented scope of the package the minister said this was the first time in Pakistan s history that contractual and daily-wage employees were being included, ensuring fair compensation for all USC staff Turning to broader national issues Dr Tariq Fazal said Pakistan’s economy was showing signs of improvement with key indicators moving positively At the same time, he expressed grief over the devastation caused by recent floods, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where around 800 lives had been lost He praised the Pakistan Army NDMA provincial administrations and civil society for their relief efforts, while lauding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s directive for urgent assistance
made following the recent visit of Iran’s President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakistan According to Dr Moghadam Foreign Minister Araghchi expressed appreciation for the warm and gracious hospitality extended by the government and people of Pakistan to President Pezeshkian during his visit He conveyed satisfaction with the fruitful and constructive discussions held with senior Pakistani officials and reaffirmed Iran’s firm commitment to the comprehensive development of bilateral relations He emphasized that this commitment aligns with Iran s policy of good neighborliness and includes active follow-up and implementation of the agreements reached during the presidential visit FM Araghchi also highlighted the shared positions and active cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in numerous regional and international forums He underscored the importance of continued high-level consultations between both sides to safeguard mutual
Trump c ancels India visit amid trade war, ceasefire row and
