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Tuesday, 2 September, 2025 | 8 Rabiul Awal, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 56 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PAKISTAN BELIEVES IN MULTILATERALISM, PURSUES DIALOGUE, DIPLOMACY FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION: PM
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PM REITERATES PAKISTAN’S COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL PEACE DURING MEETING WITH IRANIAN PRESIDENT
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PAKISTAN SUPPORTS SOVEREIGNTY, INTEGRITY OF ALL SCO MEMBER STATES; SAYS PM
SCO leaders vow to fight against terrorism, pledge multilateral cooperation TIANJIN
Staff CorreSpondent
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TIANJIN
Staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan has always believed in the power of multilateralism and it had pursued dialogue and diplomacy for conflict resolution. Addressing the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO at Tianjin in China, he also reaffirmed the steadfast resolve to uphold the noble values of the Shanghai spirit. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the SCO charter. For its part, PM said Pakistan seeks normal and stable relations with all its neighbours. He said Pakistan will continue its efforts along with all SCO members to promote peace, progress and prosperity in the entire region. He also called for a comprehensive and structured dialogue to discuss all outstanding disputes to ensure lasting peace in South Asia. He noted the SCO is a platform that
best represents Pakistan’s abiding commitment to regional cooperation and integration. He said CPEC, the flagship project of BRI, can serve as a practical demonstration of SCO’s vision for regional connectivity and economic integration. The Prime Minister said Pakistan supports and respects sovereignty and integrity of all SCO members and its neighbours. He said we also respect all international and bilateral treaties and expect similar principle to be followed by all SCO members. He emphasized that uninterrupted access to due share of water as per existing treaties among the SCO members will strengthen the SCO working smoothly and will support the achievement of broader goals for which SCO was established. Alluding to the unparalled sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war against terrorism, Shehbaz Sharif said we condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including the state terrorism. He said Pakistan has irrefutable evidence of the involvement of some foreign
Tourist arrivals in Gilgit-Baltistan hit hard, fall 90% amid climate disasters PROFIT
Staff report
Tourist arrivals in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) have suffered a steep decline this year, with both foreign and domestic arrivals falling sharply due to climate disasters, international tensions, and other challenges, according to a news report. Officials report that the region has seen an overall 90% drop in tourism, severely impacting businesses dependent on the sector. Sajid Hussain, assistant director at the GB Tourism Department, said only 270 international climbers attempted peaks such as K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, and Nanga Parbat this year, compared with over 2,000 foreign climbers last year. Extreme weather, including avalanches, rockfalls, and high winds, forced many climbers to return without summiting. Department data shows that only 40 climbers reached the summit of K2, 25 of Nanga Parbat, and around a dozen of Gasherbrum-I during the season. Iqbal Hussain, director of the GB Tourism Department, noted that last year the region received 24,000 foreign tourists without permits, alongside one million domestic visitors. This year, arrivals for both groups have fallen drastically, prompting alarm among local authorities. Tour operators highlighted several reasons behind the drop in arrivals. “Legal disputes over permit fee hikes, geopolitical tensions including the Iran-Israel conflict and Pakistan-India tensions, along with unpredictable peak weather, caused many foreign adventurers to cancel plans,” they said.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders on Monday strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam area, on the Jaffar Express, and in Khuzdar, pledging deeper multilateral cooperation and concrete measures to combat terrorism. In a joint statement issued after the Council of Heads of State meeting in Tianjin, the leaders stressed that perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such attacks must be held accountable, reaffirming their strong commitment to combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.
hands in the devastating Jaffar express train hostage incident as well as countless other terror attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said Pakistan has always believed that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is not only in our own interest but that of the entire region. He expressed the confidence that our trilateral meetings involving Pakistan, China and Afghanistan will have positive results in the times to come. The Prime Minister highlighted the devastation caused by recent rains and floods in Pakistan and appreciated the international community including China’s support and solidarity. He also mentioned the country’s economic recovery achieved over the last eighteen months. Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s
The SCO members underlined the unacceptability of using terrorist and extremist groups for political or selfish purposes, while recognising the primary role of sovereign states in countering these threats. Pakistan and India recently engaged in a four-day armed conflict following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. New Delhi, without offering any evidence, claimed that Islamabad was behind the attack — allegations that Pakistan has denied. In response to India’s cross-border strikes, Pakistan had launched Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos after downing six Indian Air Force jets, including three Rafales.
call for an immediate end to Israeli gruesome violence and heart wrenching bloodshed in Gaza. He said Pakistan has consistently supported the UN mandated two state solution which is the creation of an independent state of Palestine with pre-1967 borders and Al Quds al Sharif as its capital. PM reiterates Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace During a meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, on the sidelines of the Council of Heads of Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Tianjin, China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized the importance of further strengthening political and economic ties between Pakistan and Iran.
Govt approves framework for $280m Azerbaijani investment for white oil pipeline PROFIT
aHmad aHmadani
The government has approved a framework for $280 million in Azerbaijani investment, opening the door for SOCAR to join Pakistan’s Machike-Thallian-Tarrujabba White Oil Pipeline (MTT-WOP). According to industry sources, the government has paved the way for a long-awaited $280 million investment from Azerbaijan, clearing the path for the state-owned energy company SOCAR to take a stake in the Machike-ThallianTarrujabba White Oil Pipeline (MTT-WOP). The move follows months of negotiations and a conditional tariff approval by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet. Sources said the ECC endorsed the Petroleum Division’s proposals on tariff and regulatory arrangements, while clarifying that dollar-linked returns will only apply if foreign investment materializes. Under the deal, SOCAR is expected to invest around $280 million in the White Oil Pipeline, which is designed to transport petroleum products from central Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The project has been on the agenda of both governments since Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited Pakistan in July 2024. SOCAR’s interest was confirmed during subsequent bilateral talks, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Baku in February 2025. However, Baku set firm conditions, including a “ship-or-pay” guarantee requiring oil marketing companies (OMCs) in Pakistan to commit minimum annual volumes to the pipeline. Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO), operating through their joint venture Frontier Oil Company-I (FOC-I), submitted a revised tariff petition to the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). The regulator provisionally approved the Machike-Thallian section, while the Thallian-Tarrujabba segment is still under review. The ECC’s approval now gives the regulator the mandate to finalize a commercial framework and enforce OMC commitments. Key elements of the approved framework include a dollar-based tariff structure, which will only apply if foreign investment is secured, and a provision requiring
OMCs to use the pipeline as the default transport mode for petroleum products. Any shortfall in committed volumes will be covered through the Inland Freight Equalisation Margin (IFEM), a mechanism that spreads costs across all OMCs nationwide. While the Finance Division had earlier recommended changes such as extending the project’s payback period from four to seven years and lowering the weighted average cost of capital to prevent high early tariffs, the Petroleum Division resisted these amendments, warning they could discourage foreign investors. The ECC ultimately sided with the Petroleum Division’s approach, reflecting the strategic priority attached to attracting foreign capital. During cabinet-level discussions, ministers emphasized the need to expand Pakistan’s pipeline infrastructure. At present, nearly 70% of petrol and diesel is transported by road, compared to 28% via pipelines and just 2% by rail. Expanding pipeline capacity, they argued, would lower transportation costs, reduce road congestion, and strengthen energy security.
Chinese-led consortium seeks Senate chairman’s intervention to protect N-55 highway contract PROFIT
Saddam HuSSain
A consortium led by a state-owned Chinese company has requested Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to prevent a senator from obstructing the N-55 CAREC Tranche-III highway expansion, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), The Express Tribune reported, citing a letter by the company dated August 26, 2025. The NXCC-RA-DC Joint Venture said that a senator was attempting to block contract awards for the 326kilometer dualization of the N-55 highway, spanning Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Dera Ismail Khan. The consortium, comprising Ningxia Communications Construction Co Ltd, Rustam Associates, and Dynamic Constructors, noted that it had been declared the lowest evaluated bidder for all four construction lots with a margin of Rs13.2 billion, following an ADB-approved procurement process. The joint venture urged Chairman Gilani to safeguard the Senate from being exploited for “vested commercial interests” and to ensure the project proceeds without interference. According to the letter, losing bidders reportedly enlisted the senator to pressure officials into reopening the bidding process, despite the ADB’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) and the federal government’s commitment under its loan agreement to hire a contractor approved by the lender. “This misuse of parliamentary privilege jeopardizes a nationally significant project, unfairly maligns public servants, and risks Pakistan’s standing with international financial partners,” the consortium said. The Rs146 billion N-55 CAREC project is part of Pakistan’s obligations under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programme, cofinanced by the ADB, and is aimed at enhancing regional trade and connectivity. Observers warn that delays could affect Pakistan’s credibility with international lenders and slow the development of key infrastructure. Earlier this year, Mishal Pakistan, a partner of the World Economic Forum, had also highlighted potential conflicts of interest in parliamentary proceedings.
800 dead, 2,500 injured as powerful earthquake rattles eastern Afghanistan KABUL
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More than 800 people were killed and over 2,500 injured when a magnitude-6 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan around midnight on Monday, the latest reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic disasters. Lying at the intersection of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, Afghanistan and Pakistan have endured repeated tremors and deadly quakes in recent years. In 2025 alone, multiple quakes have shaken the region. A magnitude 5.6 tremor hit Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush on August 27, followed by a 5.2 quake in the same area on August 19. Pakistan has also faced jolts, including a magnitude 5.5 quake in June and a 5.7 tremor in May. Karachi, the country’s southern port city, experienced several moderate shocks in March and June. The previous year saw a series of damaging quakes, including a magnitude 6.3 event in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush in January 2024, and a 5.75 quake in Pakistan that September. Afghanistan also faced multiple deadly earthquakes in October 2023, while a magnitude 6.5 quake in March that year killed at least 13 people. In June 2022, a powerful magnitude 6 earthquake in Afghanistan killed more than 1,000 people, one of the deadliest in decades. Pakistan too has faced significant losses, such as the October 2021 quake in Balochistan that killed at least 15. Seismologists warn that the region’s position on active fault lines makes it highly prone to frequent tremors, with both countries facing challenges of poor infrastructure, vulnerable housing, and limited resources for disaster response.
Punjab grapples with worst flooding in history as India releases more water ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Punjab is grappling with the worst flooding in its history, with death toll rising to 41 while more than 2.4 million people affected and thousands of villages inundated, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb sounded the alarm on Monday as unprecedented flooding in the Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi rivers threatened 11 districts, including Jhang, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Okara, Multan, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, and Bahawalpur. DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia told reporters on Monday that heavy monsoon rains and rising river levels have inundated at least 3,100 villages and nearly 2,900 hamlets across the province. He said rescue agencies are conducting the largest operation in history, with more than 900,000 residents have so far been evacuated to safer locations. Floodwaters have also forced the shifting of over 600,000 livestock. The provincial livestock department has provided feed and shelter for the animals. Authorities have established 390 re-
lief camps to house displaced families. Kathia mentioned that no new surge has entered Pakistan from India through Head Marala, although heavy rainfall continues to push water levels higher in various tributaries. At Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi, flood levels reached 19 feet at Katarian Bridge following fresh downpours. Authorities briefed the chief minister at Head Trimmu, mentioning that controlled breaches have been carried out in some areas — including Rewas Bridge — to lessen the pressure on flood-hit districts including Jhang. Rising water level It is expected that water from the Chenab will reach Multan on Tuesday, combining with inflows from the Ravi. At Sadhnai, a major flood surge could require a breach near Safora overnight, potentially affecting 14 villages and 17,000 acres of land. Similarly, Head Muhammadwala could see flows of up to 650,000 cusecs, with officials warning that as many as 16 villages may be impacted if breaching becomes necessary. By late tonight, the Chenab River is expected to witness its largest historic flood of 900,000 cusecs. Additionally, floodwaters from the Ravi River are expected to merge into the Chenab tonight.
Severe flooding is reported at Trimmu, Balloki, Sulemanki, and Ganda Singh Wala, while medium-level flooding affects Khanki, Qadirabad, and Shahdara. Water levels in the Chenab River have begun rising at Head Muhammad Wala, with the flow now surpassing 200,000 cusecs. Over the next 24 hours, a flood surge of 480,000 cusecs is expected to hit Head Muhammad. At Head Trimmu, water discharge has reached up to 550,000 cusecs. In Rajanpur, the protective embankment of Samti village broke due to the flood surge, and water has rapidly inundated nearby villages and fish farms. The floodwaters coming from Jhang have begun engulfing all settlements in the Jawana Bangla area of Muzaffargarh. Currently, a flood flow of 400,000 cusecs is passing between Jhang and Muzaffargarh in the Chenab River. The Sutlej River continues to wreak havoc in Bahawalpur, with riverbank erosion intensifying. Floodwaters have begun to engulf nearby areas, including Mari Qasim Shah, leaving residents stranded. A major flood is expected to pass through the city in the next two days. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a warning on Monday
morning regarding upcoming rainfall. According to PMD, “widespread heavy to veryheavy rainfall, along with torrential downpours at scattered places, is expected over the upper catchments of Rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Chenab, as well as in Lahore and Gujranwala divisions, during September 1 and 3.” PMD also warned of exceptionally high floods expected in the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers due to releases from Indian reser-
voirs. Urban flooding is also expected in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat divisions over the next 72 hours. Relief Efforts Rescue and relief operations by the Pakistan Army are ongoing in Okara, Sahiwal, Multan, and other affected areas. In Sahiwal, 24 relief camps have been established across 37 villages, while army and civil administration teams have relocated 9,797 people and 2,191 livestock to safe locations.