Epaper_25-9-9 LHR

CRITICAL MINERALS MINING

Flood crises in Punjab worsens as S indh teeters on the brink

Prime Minister Shehbaz

while Head Sadhnai is recording a high flood of 123 000 cusecs The risk of very high flood levels in Punjab s rivers will persist until September 9 PDMA spokesperson Irfan Ali Kathia said, adding that continued rainfall in upper regions could push river flows even higher

MEPCO SUSPENDS POWER TO 151 FEEDERS AS FLOODS HIT SOUTH PUNJAB

TPL Corp board

Over 700 industrial units shut down in KP in six years

CCP recovers over Rs1 billion in penalties, resolves half of its pending c ases

practices, further enhancing the regulator s enforcement actions Dr Sidhu also highlighted the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on Competition Law to foster research capacity building and policy development in the field Moreover the CCP approved 117 mergers and acquisitions facilitating Rs29 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) The Sub-Committee members commended the CCP’s efforts and expressed full support for its mandate recognizing the commission’s role in protecting consumers ensuring transparency and driving sustainable economic growth

PAKISTAN S 78th Independence Day felt different The flags were up, bands were playing speeches were made as usual; but you could sense a more focused mood underneath all of it May s crisis with India still sat close to the surface People hadn t forgotten how quickly things moved, how little

A K I S TA N was one of the most waterstressed countries in the world, with an average per capita annual water availability of less than 1000 cubic meters The country was transitioning from water-stressed to water-scarce status driven by population growth industrial expansion inefficient irrigation unsustainable groundwater use, inadequate storage, low water productivity, and also very poor management efficiency The federal government needs to invest to the maximum extent in modernizing the irrigation systems across the country such as adapting drip irrigation which uses water more efficiently Additionally improving the maintenance and management of canal systems was also crucial Public awareness campaigns on water conservation and the efficient use of water in both agriculture and domestic sectors hopefully can help in mitigating water scarcity Building new dams and reservoirs such as the Diamer Bhasha Dam was also critical for improving the country s water storage capacity Such projects will help in storing water during the monsoon season and release during periods of drought Water was a critical natural source for Pakistan, especially given its more than 240 million people Meeting the growing demand for water ensuring its availability effective management and sustainability posed significant challenges for the federal and provincial governments Water was important to agriculture industry, and domestic consumption Its scarcity as such posed serious risks to economic growth and social well-being across the country, especialy to the people living in the least developed areas where water was in short supply and the land was ridden with persistent problems of waterlogging and salinity

The River Indus was Pakistan s main source of surface water It flows from the northern part through the country s length towards the southern part Several tributaries, including the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers provide about 90 percent of the country’s water supply for agricultural and other domestic use Pakistan’s surface irrigation recognized as the world s largest contiguous irrigated network features only three storage reservoirs with a live storage capacity of just 13 million acre feet, along with 19 barrages, 12 inter-river link canals, two syphons, and 44 canal commands The extensive network of main

spending roughly to $9 billion That number matters less than what it buys: faster deployment cycles better targeting tighter logistics and command-and-control that doesn t choke under pressure In other words, the boring pieces that actually carry the weight when it counts Still capability on its own doesn’t guarantee stability Doctrine and communication do a lot of quiet work here Missiles aren t destabilizing by nature; uncertainty is Clear rules what deters, what triggers use, what absolutely doesn t reduce the chances of a bad read in a tense hour Crisis hotlines, routine de-confliction, straightforward messaging: these are unglamorous but they save lives If ARFC grows with those habits baked in it makes the region safer not jumpier Training will decide the rest You need crews that can discriminate targets under pressure, defend against electronic warfare and drones, and still keep discipline when the fog thickens You need intelligence stitched into operations in real time not as a nice-to-have And you need logistics that keep tempo without burning out people or platforms None of this is headline material but all of it is deterrence in practice

canals and distributaries spanned about 64 000 km complemented by an additiona 1,621,000 km of watercourses, according to the relevant facts and figures gathered from the official sources concerned Groundwater was a vital source, especially in the areas with limited or seasonal water Pakistan had an extensive network of wells and tubewells especially in the arid regions of Sindh Balochistan and Punjab Groundwater in Sindh was meagre as most aquifers were brackish Groundwater extraction as such was crucial for irrigation in many parts of the country, though it was being used at unsustainable rates Groundwater contributed 60 MAF of water Furthermore rainfall patterns also varied significantly across Pakistan The monsoon season typically brought heavy rainfall especially to the eastern and northern regions However, rainfall was highly erratic and often did not align with the demand cycles for water, leading to varying periods of drought and floods Under the

M u h a m m a d S h e h b a z S h a r i f w a s f i n d i n g s o m e t i m e ev e r y n ow a n d

t h e m t o l o o k i n t o t h e c o u n t r y Ês ag r i c u l t u r a l a n d i r r i g a t i o n p ro bl e m s

a n d c o n c e r n s a n d s t r e s s i n g o n t h e a c c e l e r a t i o n o f c o n s t r u c t i o n o f

o n ly t wo u n d e r- c o n s t r u c t i o n w a t e r s t o r ag e Fa c i l i t i e s , t h e D i a m e r

B h a s h a D a m a n d M o h m a n d D a m , a n d r ev i ew i n g i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f

t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r A g r i c u l t u r e E m e rg e n cy P ro g r a m m e a i m i n g a t i n c r e a s i n g t h e c o m m a n d a r e a i n Pa k i s t a n

There s another point that s easy to miss In this decade decision-speed is becoming as important as range or payload Countries that fuse data, air and missile defenses, and conventional strike while keeping human judgment in the loop are the ones that manage crises instead of being managed by them ARFC can be Pakistan’s platform for exactly that: integrating the tech with restraint so responses are fast but still measured If it reduces pressure on the nuclear threshold, that s a strategic gain all by itself So yes, Independence Day speeches often come and go But this year ’s message landed differently It was steady, not showy Pakistan is adapting to the world as it is faster more technical less forgiving of slow decisions ARFC signals confidence without overstatement preparation without provocation It says: we ll defend ourselves with modern tools and proportionate options, and we ll try to keep crises from sprinting past the point of control That’s not a small promise It’s the kind of quiet shift that makes a difference when minutes matter And in our neighborhood minutes almost always do The writer is a freelance columnist

Shangla in darkness

onslaught has destroyed houses, mosques and schools Roads and bridges have been swept away The district’s mountainous communities remain delinked from the mainstream And, farmland has been severely damaged, compounding the suffering of already vulnerable families When such disasters strike Shangla’s residents face immediate and severe disruption in electricity supply Most villages have to depend on small locally-built generators along the rivers This happens even though two dams in Shangla produce around 86MW of electricity which far exceeds the district’s estimated requirement of 7MW Yet, due to policy restrictions, the power generated in Shangla is not supplied to the local communities As a result, when floods damage the local generators, the entire region and its people are forced to suffer in darkness Communication is another casualty Internet service already unreliable across the district, collapses almost entirely during such events With damaged lines and disrupted signals residents are cut off from vital information, unable to contact loved ones, or access digital resources which is a serious handicap in an era in which connectivity is a basic necessity Road infrastructure, too, is a long-standing vulnerability The road to the Kana region serving at least 10 major villages is a telling example Originally constructed in 1964 under the Wall of Swat it remained largely neglected for decades and is only now in 2025, under-going reconstruction a process that began after public protests and threats

Floods wreak havoc on such roads, and given the lethargic pace of repairs, damage can mean years of isolation This affects not just transportation, but also timely access to health facilities, schools and the district headquarters Scientific evidence shows that Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change Glacial melt, erratic monsoons and more intense rainfall events are increasing the frequency and severity of floods in regions like Shangla

Deforestation unregulated construction inefficient drainage systems, and fragile infrastructure from power lines to rural roads compound the risk, turning heavy rains into lethal disasters

By ignoring these factors, the government is only allowing the tragedy to keep revisiting the area year after year Climate change adaptation is no longer optional, it is a survival imperative Shangla’s tragedy should serve as a call for urgent coordinated action

Strengthening infrastructure, improving early warning systems, enforcing environ- mental protections, upgrading communication networks, and heavily investing in disaster-resilient housing are essential steps The government must also integrate local communities into disaster risk reduction plans, ensuring they are trained and equipped to respond

Pakistan needs binding national and provincial policies that

with

Promises and Pitfalls: Regulating Pakistan’s Counselling Industr y

organizing mock interviews, and offering mentorship aligned with foreign admissions standards For a growing segment of affluent families such services are seen as essential investments in global futures Between these extremes lies a vast array of mid-sized firms Some are reputable and professional, others less so Without a national framework of accreditation, families are often left to rely on reputation, word of mouth or advertising to distinguish credible advisors from opportunistic actors

THE QUESTION OF STANDARDS:

There have been attempts to introduce certification and training The British Council has for years offered a counselling certification program designed to train advisors on the admissions process for UK universities While this model has merit its scope is narrow Demand patterns have shifted significantly in recent years The United States, Canada, and European universities now attract a large share of Pakistani applicants A certification limited to UK-bound students does not cover the full range of counselling needs in the market Internationally membership-based bodies such as the International Association of College Counsellors (IACC) provide rigorous codes of ethics, transparent fee structures, and continuing professional development requirements In Pakistan,

however only a handful of firms have

engaged with during a war (4) imprisonment for more than two years or (4) if it is necessary so to do in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country or in the interests of the general public’ Although the government is not

2025 Most of those who have had their OCIs cancelled are journalists activists and academics who have criticised the ruling party and challenged the rhetoric of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) In 2022, Ashok Swain, a Sweden-based academic, had his OCI cancelled over his social media posts The authorities accused him of “hurting religious sentiments” and “destabilising the social fabric of India” but provided no specific evidence Swain successfully challenged the cancellation in the Delhi High Court in 2023 an example of domestic courts resisting government actions In December 2023, Raphael Satter, a United States-based journalist for the Reuters news agency who covers cybersecurity, espionage and abuse of power, lost his OCI after critical reporting and is now suing the Indian government In recent years India has witnessed relentless attacks on its democratic institutions Those who criticise or question the ruling party – whether they are politicians NGO representatives campaigners journalists or community leaders – have often been silenced

Every week brings new reports of imprisonment, intimidation, physical assault, defamation or deplatforming of critics This silencing has intensified particularly after India launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in response to an attack in Pahalgam in IndiaOccupied Kashmir that killed 26 tourists In its aftermath the government ordered X to block nearly 8 000 accounts many of them belonging to journalists and media outlets, such as Free Press Kashmir, BBC Urdu and The Wire As critical voices are being silenced at home, the Indian government is turning its attention to the country’s diaspora

The Indian authorities’ weaponisation of immigration controls is part of a growing pattern designed to create fear among diaspora members and stifle criticism A 2024 report by the RSF found that Indian authorities use the OCI to effectively blackmail journalists into silence

A survey conducted last year by the Platform for Indian Democracy revealed that 54 percent of British Indians are concerned about India’s current trajectory From my interactions with members of our community I can clearly see that many are reluctant to speak out about India s violations of human rights fearing it might stop them from travelling to India

As British Indians – many among us OCI card holders –we must push back against these misuses of immigration controls British Indians remain deeply connected to India through our families, friends, culture and community The current treatment of diaspora members by the BJP and the curtailment of their freedoms goes against the values enshrined in India’s post-independence constitution which guarantees justice liberty equality and fraternity The UK despite being home to more than 2 million British Indians, recently concluded a significant trade deal with India without any reference to issues of democratic backsliding in the country Given the UK’s unique relationship with India and the size and sentiments of its British Indian population it is in a strong position to ask challenging questions of the current political regime Silence serves only to strengthen the position of the BJP As Modi calls for Indians abroad to contribute to the country s development, this must include the right to criticise and question without fear of retribution If the increasing hostility and repression of those who challenge the Indian government continues we will only be allowed to visit our homeland on the terms of

XI URGES BRICS NATIONS TO JOINTLY UPHOLD

MULTIL ATERALISM, MULTIL ATERAL TRADING SYSTEM

Afghan quake sur vivors stay

Commander Naval Forces of United Arab Emirates visits Air Headquar ters

Naval Forces, called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force at Air Headquarters, Islamabad The meeting focused on evolving regional security dynamics with both sides exploring fresh avenues of engagement through joint training initiatives and deeper militaryto-military cooperation During the meeting, Chief of the Air Staff expounded his vision to transform PAF into a modern agile and technology-driven Air Force through state-of-the-art upgradation programmes in cyber, space, Artificial Intelligence, electronic warfare and aerospace domains He highlighted the deep-rooted religious and historical ties between the two nations emphasizing Pakistan s unwavering commitment to expanding military-to-military cooperation with the UAE, particularly in the areas of training and joint operational exercises Commander of the UAE Naval

Forces expressed sincere gratitude to the Air Chief for the warm reception and gracious hospitality extended by Pakistan Air Force He lauded PAF’s indigenization drive appreciating its robust framework homegrown capabilities and focus on technological advancement making it an operationally prepared and technologically advanced Air Force of the region The visiting dignitary expressed the earnest desire of the UAE Armed Forces to draw from the Pakistan Air Force s rich operational experience in multi-domain warfare He underscored that PAF s tested operational framework and combat-proven doctrine remain invaluable for regional and international partners alike Commander of the UAE Naval Forces further conveyed UAE’s keen interest in conducting joint exercises with PAF highlighting the immense value of mutual learning operational synergy and enhanced interoperability He also shared that the UAE Air Force is eager to participate in joint training initiatives in Pakistan an undertaking he described

to support the nutritional needs of flood affectees in collaboration with dairy industry partners Tetra Pak Pakistan, Bulleh Shah Packaging Pvt Ltd Omega Dairy Pvt Ltd Happy Cattle and Ever Fresh Farms Earlier Nestlé Pakistan completed donations of 300 000 liters of clean drinking water

Quetta police detain over 100 protesters amid strike and highway blockades

political parties, including the Balochistan National Party (Mengal group), Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, National Party, Awami National Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen

The protest was aimed at expressing

Elec tricity restored for 1.4m flood-affec ted consumers; over 255,000 still waiting

by September 10

more than 255 000 households remain without power as repair teams await receding floodwaters to access damaged infrastructure According to the power division’s latest update 1 404 486 out of 1 659 716 consumers affected nationwide have had electricity restored either fully or partially A total of 50 grid stations and 515 feeders were initially damaged Of these, 269 feeders are now fully restored and 242 have been temporarily reconnected while work on the remaining network is ongoing In Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) areas covering Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Sargodha, Mianwali, and D I Khan 27 grid stations and 80 feeders were damaged Power has been restored to 90 049 of 201 937 affected consumers with full restoration for the remaining 111,888 expected

The Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) reported 11 grid stations and 103 feeders affected Out of nearly 736 000 impacted consumers 722,402 have regained supply, while work for the remaining 13,585 will be completed once floodwaters recede In Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) areas including Lahore Okara Sheikhupura Kasur and Nankana 57 of 67 feeders have been fully restored and 10 partially reconnected Power has returned to 64 393 of 73 734 affected consumers Restoration for the remaining 9 341 is expected between September 9 and 10 Electricity supply in Sheikhupura has already been fully restored In southern Punjab, the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) reported 153 feeders affected leaving 129 244 consumers without power Four feeders have been fully restored and 149 partially reconnected, with full recovery to begin once water levels subside The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) cover-

ing Swat, Buner, Shangla, Swabi, and D I Khan initially reported damage to 12 grid stations and 91 feeders So far 86 feeders have been fully restored and 5 partially reconnected with supply restored to 461,049 of 463,375 consumers The remaining 2,326 will be reconnected between September 11 and 12 Full restoration has already been achieved in Swat Swabi and D I Khan The Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company (TESCO) serving North Waziristan and Khyber, reported 18 damaged feeders Thirteen feeders have been fully restored and five partially reconnected Electricity is back for 27 378 of the 31 774 affected consumers with restoration for the remaining 4,396 expected by September 15 The Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO) confirmed that all three affected feeders in Mansehra have been fully restored The Power Division stressed that reconnecting the remaining 255,230 consumers remains a top priority It added that restoration teams are working round the clock, but access challenges persist in areas where floodwaters are yet to recede

Islamabad ATC adjourns hearing in PTI protest and elec tion cases

ISLAMABAD s tA f f r e p o r t

An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad adjourned hearings on multiple cases against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Monday The cases include those related to the November 26 protest alleged election rigging and the Azadi March demonstrations Judge Tahir Abbas Supra presided over the proceedings, remarking that the Ministry of Law had yet to respond to his letter regarding the PTI founder He stated that a reminder would be sent to

the state, urging clarification on whether they are committed to pursuing these cases

The court marked the attendance of the accused and adjourned the hearings Copies of the challan were distributed for the Kohsar police station case, while PTI leaders Omar Ayub and Ali Nawaz Awan filed requests for exemption from appearance Judge Supra commented that Omar Ayub is usually flying but falls ill only when summoned to court ” The defense counsel responded, stating that the video referenced was old and not recent

Four Supreme Court judges have raised objections over the enactment of the Supreme Court Rules 2025 without prior deliberations or approval of the full court In a joint note Justices Syed Mansoor Ali Shah Munib Akhtar Ayesha A Malik and Athar Minallah criticized the procedure terming it fallacious and contrary to constitutional requirements

The court adjourned hearings

Sangjani police station case until September 22 the Shehzad Town

Azadi March case from Sangjani

and the Noon police station case until October 11

Additionally the court reissued summons notices to the absent accused PTI founder Sher Afzal Marwat, Azam Swati, Omar Ayub, and others are among the individuals named in multiple cases registered at Sangjani, Noon, Shehzad Town and other police stations

They pointed out that the rules were notified on August 9 2025 as “approved ” but within three days Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi convened a full court to seek suggestions for amendments

In the interest of transparency they also demanded the inclusion of their objections in the minutes and the public release of the proceedings

The judges emphasized that public trust and confidence rest on transparency in constitutional institutions, warning that no court can function without legitimacy grounded in the same

The judges said this sequence tacitly admitted that the full court is the correct forum for such decisions, yet it was involved only after unilateral approval They said the rules should have been fully discussed and approved by the whole court before being presented Criticizing the process for adding only “a veneer of legitimacy” to an otherwise invalid exercise the judges urged that the full court meeting not be reduced to a cosmetic role