g PM MEETS PRESIDENT XI, LAUDS HIS VISIONARY LEADERSHIP , PLEDGING SOLIDARITY ON CHINA’S MODERNIZATION JOURNEY
g PM RENEWS ‘MOST CORDIAL’ INVITATION TO XI FOR 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIPLOMATIC TIES IN 2026
g ENDORSES XI ’S GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY, GOVERNANCE AND CIVILIZATION INITIATIVES, SAYING CPEC ENTERS NEXT PHA SE WITH FIVE NEW CORRIDORS
g XI A SSURES FULL CHINESE SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN ’S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
g BOTH LEADERS VOW CLOSER COORDINATION ON REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES, REAFFIRM UNIQUE AND UNPARALLELED STRATEGIC COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP
lighting the significance of CPEC as the flagship project of President Xi s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in building a stronger Pakistan-China community with a shared future Shehbaz also commended President Xi’s leadership in promoting multilateralism noting Pakistan s
PM S hehbaz, President Putin agree to strengthen bilateral ties, deepen cooperation
Parliament echoes with c alls for dams as floods claim 874
lives nationwide
leases from India Before Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir had already been battered by heavy rains, landslides and flash floods According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) 874 people have lost their lives in rain and flood-related incidents since June 26 KP recorded the highest fatalities with 488 deaths, followed by Punjab s 216, Sindh’s 58, Gilgit-Baltistan’s 41 AJK’s 37 Balochistan’s 26 and eight in Islamabad Defence Minister Asif recalled that Pakistan s two major dams were built under military regimes, which managed to build consensus, while politicians wasted years in
point-scoring He stressed that construction of dams was essential noting Raising bigger dams may take 10 to 15 years, but we can at least start with smaller dams to store water and control the situation ” Calling the crisis a “man-made disaster ” he said encroachments on riverbeds had worsened the devastation Do not call it a natural calamity Nature and rivers are taking revenge for occupying waterways and riverbeds,” he remarked He cited the example of hotels and houses constructed on riverbeds in Swat and elsewhere which were later swept away The National Assembly suspended its scheduled agenda, including question hour, to hold a debate on the floods
s ta f f r e p o r t
At least five people were killed and 29 injured in an explosion at a Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNPM) rally at Quetta s Shahwani Stadium on Tuesday night According to
to eradicate Indiansponsored terrorism from the country, and such sacrifices of our brave sol-
diers and innocent civilians further strengthen our unwavering commitment of safeguarding our nation at all costs,” it concluded Over the past few months multiple areas of KP including Bannu Peshawar Karak Lakki Marwat and Bajaur have seen a series of attacks, particularly targeting police personnel in Bannu
Earlier in the day, Bannu Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan informed the media that five policemen were injured during the operation that was led by Bannu District Police Officer Saleem Abbas inside the FC lines On the other hand, KP Inspector General of Police (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed told a media briefing that police army and FC personnel swiftly responded to the attack and killed four terrorists within an hour of the attack and later the fifth was
National Customs Audit Strategy (NCAS), which will be based on risk assessments aligned with the goals of customs compliance The strategy will help guide the selection and execution of audits ensuring transparency and accuracy in the process A standardised procedure for audits including selection review appeals and finalisation will be adopted across the country The FBR has also established a Data Analytics Center (DAC) within PCA-IA to aggregate and analyze data from various sources, including internal systems such as WeBOC, PSW, valuation databases and external agencies like SECP and the Ministry of Commerce The DAC will clean normalize and standardize data using advanced analytics to identify risky transactions misdeclarations, and systemic non-compliance in sectors such as textiles, auto parts, and electronics Additionally, a centralised Audit Management Cell (AMC) will be created to manage and monitor the annual audit plan incorporating input from the DAC and other departments This cell will be responsible for developing risk-based criteria for selecting audits and maintaining computerized records of all conducted audits
As heavy floods continue to batter parts of Pakistan thousands of families are enduring sweltering nights water shortages and communication blackouts with many still without electricity
The Power Division announced on Tuesday that it had fully restored 170 feeders and temporarily reconnected 256 out of the 455 that were damaged but officials acknowledged that complete restoration will take more time
In flood-affected areas like Swat, Buner, Shangla, and Dera Ismail Khan where homes and shops were submerged residents said the lack of power had added to their suffering We are using candles and kerosene lamps again, said a shopkeeper in Swat by phone, noting that mobile signals and water pumps remained unreliable “Children are afraid at night and medicines that need refrigeration are going bad
According to the Power Division 12 grids and 91 feeders under Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) were damaged, with 85 now fully restored In Punjab, Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) reported damage to 10 grids and 87 feeders of which 82 have been fully restored Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) reported 62 feeders knocked out across Lahore, Okara, Sheikhupura Kasur and Nankana So far 43 feeders have been partially restored with officials estimating full restoration between
September 2 and 5 In many lowlying neighborhoods in Lahore residents are relying on portable generators to keep essential appliances running In southern Punjab, Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) reported 126 feeders submerged While all have been temporarily reconnected engineers warned that full repairs would not begin until floodwaters recede We cannot risk workers lives where grids are still submerged,” the Power Division said in its statement In Faisalabad Chiniot Jhang and Sargodha dozens of communities are relying on temporary fixes after 26 grids and 76 feeders were knocked out We can charge our phones for an hour, but power goes again,” said a farmer from Jhang “Without a stable supply we cannot irrigate fields or preserve milk from our cattle The crisis has also spread to tribal regions In North Waziristan and Khyber, 10 feeders went offline,
leaving remote villages cut off So far one has been fully restored and four partially reconnected under the Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO) In Hazara s Mansehra district, two out of three damaged feeders are back online, but several villages remain in the dark Overall the Power Division confirmed that 48 grids and 455 feeders were affected nationwide Of these, 170 have been fully restored, while 256 are operating on partial or temporary connections Officials emphasized that “full restoration of power in flood-affected areas remains the government s top priority with emergency crews working around the clock Sources in the energy sector noted that the floods have once again exposed the vulnerability of Pakistan’s power infrastructure Nearly all distribution companies rely on ground-level installations that
CCP recovers PKR 495m from LDI operators in ICH c ase
Talking terror at the SCO
Even as the PM reiterated Pakistan’s commitment against terror, India continued its water terrorism I
O p e r a t i o n S p i d e r
WHILE some supporters of Palestinian rights saw the developments at last week s meeting of the Democratic National Committee as a defeat, it was in fact a victory Here is what happened at the meeting and why I feel that progress was made: During the party s Resolutions Committee two separate resolutions were debated While both called for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, one, submitted by young Democrats went further, condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and calling for a suspension of US arms sales to Israel and US recognition of Palestinian statehood In response to this resolution the party s establishment submitted an alternative that included no such criticism of Israeli policies or any mention of stopping US arms shipments to Israel There was intense lobbying for and against both efforts with pro-Israel groups and some elected officials and party donors warning members of the committee that passing the resolution critical of Israel would divide the Democratic Party costing it contributions and victories in the midterm elections On the other side, committee members each reported receiving upwards of 5 000 emails or phone calls from young Democrats and progressive activists urging them to vote for the resolution demanding an end to US weapons to Israel As expected the establishment resolution won and the young Democrats effort lost But immediately after the vote, the Democratic Party s chair, Ken Martin, after speaking with the most critical resolution’s sponsors, rose to announce that he was asking that in the name of party unity his resolution be withdrawn and not presented to the entire Democratic National Committee for their acceptance He further pledged to create a task force of stakeholders in this debate to continue this conversation and find solutions that can be brought back to the party for consideration Some advocates, on both sides of this debate,
were disappointed On the pro-Israel side, Martin was derided for his weakness in surrendering to the far left,” while some supporters of Palestinian rights said that the way the issue was handled would only delay Israel’s day of reckoning cost more Palestinian lives and further alienate
and irregular warfare Aerial attacks
initiated
or even from third-party
This has a broad relevance especially in con-
airspaces where historical rivalries have shaped defense postures Unmanned warfare also provides plausible deniability and a higher threshold of public tolerance This has political utility since states can now project force with impunity from the political costs that are usually borne by troops
Though this would seem to diminish the risk of armed conflict, it also renders it more conceivable The same qualities that make drone warfare appealing low cost, low risk, and low visibility may also lower the threshold for using it exposing the world to a more volatile strategic environment
This new model presents both a challenge and an opportunity to countries that prioritize strategic autonomy and credible deterrence but do not want to overstretch defense budgets Institutional innovation is required to move to dis-
tributed, resilient, and smart aerial capabilities
Instead of overreliance on legacy platforms the focus should be shifted to integrated sensor networks electronic warfare resilience and tactical autonomy Still even the most autonomous systems rely on human command, context, and interpretation
However, even the smartest drone systems must rely on human context, target verification and doctrinal clarity It also requires definition of doctrine: at what point does a drone attack constitute an act of war? Who is to be held responsible when authorship lines are intentionally crossed? These questions are not restricted to one conflict or theater This is a new age where the size of the fleet or the range of the flight is not the only measure of air dominance; survivability adaptability and control of information are crucial aspects Actors with complex threat environments have to start thinking of airpower as a layered concept, one that embraces agility over prestige and innovation over inertia This change does not occur in isolation Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) successful drone strikes against India during Operation Zarb-eKarrar thwarted aggressive Indian military ambitions The PAF demonstrated its ability to respond to new realities of aerial warfare by integrating drone warfare with intelligence gathering, surveillance, and top-notch human command and control With Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at the helm the PAF is set to redefine its defense stance and innovate ahead of a larger adversary Imama Khan is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Lahore She can be reached at info@casslhr com
Proper t y tax chaos
Dr James J Zogby
vehicles recovered action against 43 866
Ngood, it is now seen by many as a means of illegal rent-seeking, racial profiling and over-surveillance
The idea of a checkpoint in the Indian subcontinent dates as far back as ancient times when they would be utilised by rulers in order to control trade lines and collect taxes In the Mughal and the British colonial
periods nakas became institutions along with the revenue collection and law enforcement systems Upon the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the new administration continued on with this mechanism, largely as a security measure along borders and to collect border customs The very nature and role of the nakas have changed with the 1980s Afghan jihad and especially post-9/11 as Pakistan becomes a frontline state in the War on Terror Recently reported figures by the Punjab Police Annual Security Report (2025) have shown a rise of 17 percent in registered checkpoints all over the province the total being 1 407 checkpoints This growth has also come with the Safe Punjab Initiative by the provincial government which has introduced 214 new smart nakas that would use fourth-generation surveillance technologies, such as AI-powered behaviour analysis systems along with integrated drone surveillance Naka culture has been a firmly established component in Pakistan s policing arena, and in 2025 numbers reveal the extent to which naka culture has penetrated the daily operations of governance, safety and citizen-state interactions Monthly data from the Punjab Police in early 2025 reflect a steady pace: in January PHP checked 3 3 million people and 1 4 million vehicles, arrested 632 proclaimed offenders, recovered 221 stolen vehicles, penalized 46,168 overloaded vehicles, and issued 17,698 licences, while also reuniting 44 missing children removing 338 encroachments and aiding over 13 000 passengers February 2025 saw 3 1 million individuals and 1 5 million vehicles checked, 680 offenders arrested, 261 stolen
overloaded vehicles over 13 000 licenses issued 30 children reunited and seizures of 932 L alcohol, 1,555 g charas, and 120 g heroin In March, checks rose to 3 7 million individuals and 1 7 million vehicles, with 629 arrests 280 stolen recoveries 56 539 overloaded vehicles penalized 12 955 licenses issued 37 children reunited and confiscation of 989 L of alcohol, 37,980 g of charas, and 120 g of ice Meanwhile, in April, the numbers reached 3 8 million individuals and 1 6
licenses issued 64 children reunited and seizures of 4 Kalashnikovs 12
pistols, plus 2,086 L of alcohol, 4,730 g
charas, and 100 g of ice All these figures on the surface seem amazing but reflective of underlying issues The extensive nature of these checkpoints– handling over 30 million people every year– is highly troubling in terms of civil liberties Citizens report harassment and often extensive surveillance and bribe demands at nakas, and such spaces that are designed for civic safety become zones of possible extortion Nowadays naka culture is not about safeguarding society or keeping citizens safe; it is about dominating them
Netanyahu is alienating Israel ’s lifeline in US
Israel’s leaders must understand that American Jews are not to be taken for granted
FOR decades, American Jews were Israel’s lifeline in Washington: a vital bridge to securing military aid diplomatic cover and bipartisan consensus That bond is now fraying under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel drifts toward the messianic Right and alienates the non-Orthodox majority of the Diaspora This has been brought to a boil by despair at the continuation and threatened escalation of the stupendously ugly Gaza war Almost every conversation I have with American Jews – historic supporters of Israel all – eventually touches upon this issue They worry about children becoming
anti-Zionist Some are contemplating cutting ties with pro-Israel groups Even if the war ends the deeper ruptures will remain unless Israel corrects course It is a calamity that should be front and center in the coming election The core divergence is between a mostly liberal pluralistic American Jewry and an Israel increasingly defined by religious nationalism and partisan alliance with US President Donald Trump and this began before the war Netanyahu s attempted judicial overhaul, meant to gut the independence of Israel’s courts and entrench his rule, shocked American Jews raised to see democracy as a Jewish value The very state created as a bulwark against oppression began to resemble today s authoritarian Hungary Turkey or even Russia His coalition of haredi and settler extremists only deepened the alienation The ultra-Orthodox with their refusal to share economic or military burdens and the settlers dreaming of permanent annexation of areas housing millions of disenfranchised Palestinians, embody everything most American Jews – of whom fewer than one in five identify as Orthodox – fervently reject American Jews, like Israelis, were traumatized by the Hamas atrocities of October 7 and in the immediate aftermath attachment to Israel spiked But as the war dragged
on skepticism set in A May survey by the Jewish Voters Resource Center of 800 registered Jewish voters found that nearly two-thirds believe Netanyahu renewed the Gaza campaign for political reasons rather than security, and almost three-fourths (72%) believe doing so makes hostage deaths more likely His personal standing is dismal: just a third favorable (34%) against 61% unfavorable Kamala Harris, mocked in Israel, is popular with most, while Trump – lionized in Israel – is despised: only a quarter (26%) approve of his presidency, and majorities call him dangerous and even antisemitic Yet Netanyahu has allied with Trump s MAGA Right
The wider American context intensifies the danger Pew data show that younger Americans in particular are souring on Israel Among those under 30, just 38% say Israel’s reasons for fighting Hamas are valid, and only 24% express favorability toward the Israeli government – compared with more than half among those over 50 Support for US military aid to Israel among the youngest adults is a mere 16%, compared with 3 5 times as many among seniors (56%) Within the Jewish community, the same generational rift is evident: young Jews are less attached to Israel less concerned about antisemitism and more open to criticism of Zionism itself That last
point may be the most decisive Groups such as IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace have mobilized Jewish youth who explicitly reject the conflation of Judaism and Zionism Tzedek Chicago, a progressive synagogue, has even adopted anti-Zionism as a core value In August 2025 over 1 000 rabbis – including many from traditionally proIsrael denominations – signed a public letter calling for increased aid to Gaza Politically Zohran Mamdani s successful run for the Democratic mayoral nomination in New York, despite his support for BDS and refusal to endorse Israel as a Jewish state drew significant support from young Jewish voters What was once a fringe position is entering the mainstream of Jewish communal life The consequences are easy to foresee If American Jews disengage, Israel loses its most effective advocates in Washington The bipartisan consensus unravels Democrats who receive a huge disproportion of their donations from Jews are already drifting away and may eventually refuse to supply weapons or shield Israel at the United Nations Israel s export-dependent economy would be vulnerable to sanctions and boycotts The security doctrine that assumes America will always replenish the arsenal collapses Israel would find itself isolated and exposed This is devastating when much of Israeli power rests on US support In the early decades of the state, Washington s tilt toward Israel was not inevitable The Cold War could easily have nudged it toward Arab regimes What tipped the balance was the ac-
tivism of American Jews: their lobbying their fundraising their cultural influence and their insistence that supporting Israel was consistent with America s democratic values To squander that inheritance now is an act of strategic madness Yet that is precisely what Netanyahu’s government is doing By continuing a devastating that was once an imperative but has become a fiasco – and that almost the whole world most Israelis and Israel s own security establishment at this point oppose – and by eroding democracy, empowering extremists, and aligning with Trump’s America rather than America as a whole Israel is alienating the very people who secured its lifeline To fix this Israel must end the war and recommit to democratic norms It must curb the power of the
But this argument collapses on closer inspection First, because Roy has always positioned herself not just as a writer of words but as a moral figure She has denounced hypocrisy in others exposed the complicity
session
machinery of corporate cowardice
Comes To
Penguin after all is
publisher It
funded Israeli tech enterprises whose products are deployed in the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza It has published propaganda texts such as Narendra Modi s 370: Undoing the Unjust, glorifying the abrogation of Kashmir ’s autonomy It has carried the memoirs of Sri Lanka’s navy commander Wasantha Karannagoda accused of overseeing starvation blockades and disappearances during the Tamil genocide The question is simple: what does it mean for Roy, the voice against Zionism, against Hindutva, against state violence to enter into a contract with this same corporation?
This is not the first time Penguin has come under scrutiny In 2014 Roy herself criticised the publisher for pulping Wendy Doniger s The Hindus: An Alternative History after right-wing pressure “You must tell us what happened ” she demanded of Penguin then “What terrified you?” At that moment Roy placed herself against the
Yet today, in a moment when Palestinian children are being buried under rubble and Kashmiris remain locked in silence, she has chosen to sign with Penguin One cannot help but turn her own question back to her: What terrified you Arundhati Roy? The genocide is still going on And you have already succumbed The German philosopher Theodor Adorno once wrote of the culture industry, in which art loses its critical edge and becomes a commodity We are seeing that process play out before our eyes Roy’s words once symbols of rebellion are now circulating through the very machine that feeds on oppression It is one thing for an unknown writer, desperate for recognition, to sign with Penguin It is another thing entirely for Arundhati Roy who has already won the Booker Prize who can publish anywhere who could even self-publish as she once did with The God of Small Things She is not powerless nor she is voiceless She is, in fact, an institution unto herself Which is why her decision matters By publishing with Penguin Roy has allowed her resistance to be absorbed by the market of genocide The words may still sound fiery but the infrastructure that circulates them is funded by the same forces she claims to oppose Hannah Arendt, in her study of Eichmann, spoke of the “banality of evil” the way atrocities are sustained not only by fanatics but by ordinary bureaucrats and institutions that simply go about their business Penguin is such an institution It will publish Modi, it will publish Karannagoda, it will publish Roy For it, there is no contradiction, because the only principle is profit But for Roy there ought to be a contradiction To collaborate with Penguin is to lend one s moral capital to an institution that launders genocide through books It is to participate, however indirectly, in what Achille Mbembe calls necropolitics the system by which life and death are distributed through economic and political networks Publishing is not neutral To put one’s words through Penguin is to make them part of a marketplace that thrives on the death of Palestinians Kashmiris Tamils Defenders of Roy might argue that no writer today can escape the grip of corporate publishers That even resistance must travel through existing structures if it is to be heard They might say: what matters is the content of her words not the logo on the book spine
CHINA READY TO STRENGTHEN HIGH-LEVEL EXCHANGES WITH RUSSIA: XI
Belgium to recognise Palestinian state at UN General Assembly
state as part of a joint diplomatic initiative led by France and Saudi Arabia Prevot said The move is described as a political signal also aimed at condemning Israel’s settlement expansion and military presence in the territories US President Donald Trump has criticised Canada’s decision to back Palestinian statehood and Rubio has said the
said European Union foreign ministers remained sharply divided during a meeting in Copenhagen on Saturday over the war in Gaza, with some urging the bloc to exert significant economic pressure on Israel while others firmly opposed such measures The Palestinians have long sought a state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital The United States says
a state can only be set up through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians
CM MARYAM LEADS ROUND-THE-CLOCK
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari strongly responded to Barrister Gohar s recent statement saying that the devastating floods and heavy rains have pushed the entire nation into a critical situation “It is unfortunate ” she said “that even in such testing times some individuals cannot resist exploiting the situation for petty politics Azma Bokhari noted that Barrister Gohar, instead of showing empathy, was more concerned about politics while over 200 people have already lost their lives in his own hometown of Buner She questioned the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government asking: How many people have they rescued or provided relief to so far? The nation still awaits an answer ”
Highlighting the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Bokhari
not a one-time achievement, but a continuous journey,” states Wajiha Daud Head of the SIQA Department Hashoo Foundation Leads Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Empowerment with the Third Crafts of Compassion Outlet
PESHAWAR s ta f f r e p o r t Hashoo Foundation, with support from the UNHCR, and in collaboration with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Commissionerate of Afghan Refugees inaugurated the third Crafts of Compassion outlet at Kabir Restaurant Peshawar Under UNHCR s Afghan Skills Program for Inclusion, Resilience
Punjab governor for local manufacturing of solar panels
the current climatic conditions and prevent natural disasters like floods in Pakistan,” he said while addressing a seminar at 2nd International Solar Power Conclave and Technology Excellence Awards 2025 organised by Energy Update in collaboration with Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB), Pakistan Solar Association (PSA), Pakistan Alternative Energy Association (PAEA), and Renewable Energy Association of Pakistan (REAP), in Lahore It provided a high-level platform for policymakers industry leaders investors and international technology providers to engage in a meaningful dialogue on the future of solar power and its role in strengthening Pakistan s energy security The governor has emphasised that government s support is crucial in promoting solar energy as electricity cost has become unaffordable for the most people in the country He said the government must support the solar power sector to get out of IPPs trap quickly in order to ensure cheap electricity to industry and the people After 2022 floods in Sindh, he said, the Sindh government carried out massive rehabilitation by constructing 2 1 million houses with solar system installation in each and every house “We need renewable energy revolution in Pakistan through local manufacturing of solar panels and inverters on industrial scale
ROADS AND FULL COORDINATION IN FLOOD RELIEF
PTI to boycott NA sessions, stage parallel gatherings outside Parliament
ISLAMABAD
n e w S d e S k
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced it will boycott National Assembly (NA) sessions and hold protest demonstrations outside Parliament House, in line with directives issued by party founder Imran Khan The decision follows the resignations of PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers from several parliamentary committees earlier this month It also comes amid mounting legal setbacks for the party including the disqualification of senior figures such as Omar Ayub, former leader of the opposition in both the National Assembly and the Senate, and Shibli Faraz, after convictions related to the May 9 riots Confirming the move PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the parliamentary party had unanimously agreed to withdraw from NA proceedings and hold peaceful protest meetings outside Parliament House Our members were disqualified and we were not even allowed to speak When we wanted to celebrate Independence Day, that too was denied, Gohar said, adding that PTI lawmakers had attempted to present their demands “democratically” within the assembly but were repeatedly silenced PTI Information Secretary Waqas Akram clarified that members would briefly mark their presence in the House before stepping out to join the protest Our members will hold their own assembly outside Parliament,” he said Meanwhile, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has urged PTI-backed SIC legislators to reconsider their resignations from parliamentary standing committees stressing the importance of their participation in the legislature s proceedings
PIMS repor t flags minor health issues for Imran Khan during Adiala
Jail check-up
ISLAMABAD
n e w S d e S k
The medical report of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
S ta f f r e p o r t
Ayaz Latif Palijo, the chief of Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) has criticized the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for allegedly collaborating with the bandits of the Indus and misleading the people of Sindh on critical water issues During a meeting with the Sindhi community and various delegations at the residence of Mahmood Dahri head of the Shah Latif Cultural Institute in Houston Palijo expressed deep concerns about the future of Sindh emphasizing that the PPP s policies are contributing to the gradual desertification of the region Palijo underscored the importance of the Indus River calling it the lifeblood of Sindh s 5 000-yearold civilization He argued that any attack on the river, including blocking its flow or diverting its course, is an attack on the very foundation of Sindh He also criticized the destruction of forests land seas and mountains as well as environmental degradation which he believes threatens both the region and the country as a whole According to Palijo, there is a
at Trimmu, Balloki, Sidhnai, G S Wala, and Sulemanki A severe flood wave is expected at Panjnad following inflows from the Ravi Chenab and Sutlej rivers with forecasts indicating its arrival at Guddu Barrage by September 6 afternoon The situation is under strict observation and NDMA is assisting the Sindh government in making necessary arrangements The meeting was further told that rescue operations are actively underway with coordinated efforts by Rescue 1122 Pakistan Army Rangers NGOs and PDMAs Relief convoys are being dispatched to affected districts, while restoration of damaged electricity infrastructure is progressing rapidly The prime minister paused his official engagements in Beijing to chair the meeting on the ongoing monsoon spell flood situation and relief efforts
growing conspiracy to label Sindh as an enemy territory with plans to divide the province and seize its lands and resources This, he said, would be done under the guise of corporate farming and agricultural projects He warned that the PPP’s policies aim to undermine the agricultural economy and keep the people of Sindh in a state of perpetual struggle
Palijo accused the government of using elections as a tool to suppress Sindh’s rights and resources He lamented the rising poverty hunger and insecurity in Sindh particularly in rural areas and informal settlements where people are battling for basic necessities He pointed out that corruption, feudalism, extremism, and criminality have become entrenched in both urban and rural Sindh making life difficult for the youth women children and minorities
The QAT leader called for an immediate halt to the seizure of land and water under the pretext of agricultural projects, and urged political parties to abandon their divisive and extremist politics in the pursuit of power He also demanded accountability from the
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has released Rs8 billion so far for flood-affected districts, provincial finance adviser Muzammil Aslam confirmed on Tuesday
He said Rs1 5 billion was disbursed yesterday alone for relief operations while Rs1 billion has been allocated for food stamps Each affected family has also received Rs15,000 for dry rations
In addition, Rs500 million has been earmarked for merged districts, Rs1 56 billion allocated to the Communication and Works (C&W) Department for road clearance and repair and Rs61 million provided to Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) as support
Chairing a video-link meeting with officials from flood-hit areas on Monday Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur directed authorities to accelerate compensation payments and rehabilitation efforts The meeting was attended by the provincial finance adviser, chief secretary additional chief secretary (home) relief secretary DG PDMA and deputy commissioners of the affected districts
Officials briefed the CM that the recent floods had claimed 411 lives with compensation already disbursed to families of 352 victims Data collection of damaged homes has been completed, and compensation has been provided to owners of 367 fully de-
parties elected to represent Sindh who he believes have failed the people and turned a blind eye to their grievances
Palijo made it clear that Sindh s water, land, and resources are nonnegotiable and cannot be taken by force He also called for the deportation of illegal immigrants from Pakistan emphasizing that the country s future hinges on tackling terrorism, corruption, and internal divisions According to Palijo, the key to national progress lies in promoting equality justice and tolerance not in fear and repression
In addition to addressing domestic issues Palijo highlighted Pakistan s current economic struggles and the threat of terrorism, urging the nation to join the global community in fighting extremism and fostering development He appealed to overseas Pakistanis to contribute towards the advancement of equality education healthcare and merit-based opportunities
The gathering in Houston also saw the presence of local Sindhi community representatives including Mahmood Dahri who shared in Palijo s concerns for the future of Sindh and Pakistan
stroyed houses and 1,094 partially damaged houses
The CM stressed that deputy commissioners must personally oversee infrastructure restoration once compensation is finalized
It may be recalled that Gandapur had earlier announced of compensation amounts being doubled Families of deceased victims will now receive Rs2 million (up from Rs1m), while compensation for the injured has been raised to Rs500,000 from Rs250,000 Owners of completely destroyed houses will be given Rs1m instead of Rs400 000 and partially damaged houses will be compensated at Rs300 000 up from Rs100 000
For the first time financial aid has also been approved for small businesses: shopkeepers whose establishments were destroyed will receive Rs500,000, while those affected by floodwater inundation will get Rs100 000 for cleanup Gandapur had said the government will also cover agricultural losses including crops orchards and livestock with the Relief Department finalising modalities To facilitate payments, Rs6 5
