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IMF MD LAUDS AS PM AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO FISCAL DISCIPLINE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Thursday, 22 January, 2026 | 2 Sha’ban, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 198 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
g FUND’S MD ACKNOWLEDGES REFORM PM SHEHBAZ APPRISES IMF CHIEF EFFORTS, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF GEORGIEVA OF PAKISTAN’S MAINTAINING PACE OF REFORMS TO ENSURE ECONOMIC REVIVAL, HIGHLIGHTING LONG-TERM ECONOMIC RESILIENCE IMPROVING ECONOMIC INDICATORS
g DPM DAR LAUNCHES PAKISTAN PAVILION, HOLDS PREMIER ALSO ENGAGES PALESTINIAN PM MUSTAFA, REAFFIRMS BILATERAL TALKS WITH CANADA, FINLAND FOCUS ON TRADE, INVESTMENT, AND COOPERATION SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIAN CAUSE g FINANCE MINISTER AURANGZEB MEETS ADB PRESIDENT, SPOTLIGHTS PRIVATISATION AND REFORMS g
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DAVOS/ISLAMABAD saleeM jadoon
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday underscored Pakistan’s commitment to fiscal discipline, revenue mobilisation, and sustainable development, highlighting the country’s improving economic indicators during a meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Shehbaz briefed Georgieva on Pakistan’s progress in macroeconomic stabilisation, institutional reforms, and structural adjustment measures, emphasizing the country’s ongoing drive for economic resilience. PM Shehbaz, who arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday to lead a highlevel delegation, is scheduled to participate in a series of engagements, including an informal meeting of world leaders themed “The Importance of Dialogue in a Divided Global Landscape.” A post on X by state broadcaster PTV News said the premier apprised the IMF chief of Pakistan’s improving
macroeconomic indicators, stabilisation efforts, and ongoing reforms. “The IMF managing director acknowledged Pakistan’s reform efforts and commended them. She stressed the importance of maintaining the pace of reforms to ensure long-term economic resilience,” the post said. “Both sides exchanged views on the global economic outlook, challenges facing emerging economies, and the significance of multilateral cooperation in preserving economic stability.” Earlier on the sidelines of the WEF,
IHC grants pre-arrest bail to Imaan Mazari, husband after overnight standoff at court ISLAMABAD
staff Correspondent
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted pre-arrest bail to activist-lawyer Imaan Zainab MazariHazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, in a case linked to a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) dating back to July 2025, which resurfaced earlier this week. Justice Muhammad Azam Khan approved the couple’s pre-arrest bail applications, ordering their release against surety bonds of Rs10,000 each, and restrained police from arresting them in the case presently before the court. The bail hearing followed dramatic developments a day earlier, when Mazari and Chattha were unable to secure an urgent hearing on their bail pleas and spent the night inside the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) president’s office to avoid arrest. A heavy police contingent remained deployed outside the premises throughout the night. During Wednesday’s hearing, senior lawyer Kamran Murtaza appeared on behalf of the petitioners, while a large number of lawyers and IHCBA officials packed the courtroom in a show of solidarity. Addressing the court, Murtaza said this was the first time in Pakistan’s judicial history that a woman had been forced to spend the night inside court premises to avoid arrest, adding that he personally felt responsible for the situation. He argued that the petitioners had been regularly appearing before courts in multiple cases since July and questioned the sudden revival of an old case.
PM Shehbaz also met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, who expressed his gratitude for “Pakistan’s consistent, principled and unwavering support for the Palestinian people.” According to the PMO, Mustafa personally greeted PM Shehbaz and thanked Pakistan for supporting the Palestinian stance at international forums and its role in advancing the Palestinian cause. The premier’s three-day visit to Davos (Jan 20–22) includes engagements with global trade and investment partners,
with the aim of attracting investment and fostering economic cooperation. In a post on X, PM Shehbaz said, “Pakistan’s ongoing economic reform journey is unlocking profound opportunities, driven by a resilient and entrepreneurial workforce and significant potential across energy, agriculture, minerals, and emerging technologies.” He added that Pakistan is ready to convert this potential into mutually beneficial economic cooperation and longterm investment. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar inaugurated the Pathfinder Group’s Pakistan Pavilion, highlighting the country’s economic potential, start-ups, and innovation. He underscored the role of youth-led entrepreneurship in driving socio-economic development and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting start-ups and emerging businesses. FM Dar also held bilateral meetings with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, discussing ways to strengthen trade, investment, and bilateral cooperation. Both sides emphasised advancing forward-looking, mutually beneficial partnerships and exchanged views on key regional and global developments.
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Gul Plaza disaster deepens after 30 bodies pulled from one shop KARACHI
staff report
At least 30 bodies were recovered from a single shop as rescue teams continued clearing debris at Karachi’s Gul Plaza on Wednesday, sharply raising the estimated death toll from the deadly fire. Karachi South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that the remains were found inside a shop named Dubai Crockery, located on the mezzanine floor of the plaza. He said rescue workers had earlier recovered three bodies, taking the toll from 28 to 31, and that the discovery from the gutted shop had pushed the estimated number of fatalities to 61. However, the police officer cautioned that the final death toll would only be confirmed after DNA analysis of the recovered remains. Raza said relatives of missing persons and shopkeepers had earlier indicated that a large number of people were likely present inside the shop at the time of the fire. He said information suggested the victims had believed the situation would be brought under control and that they would remain safe,
but they eventually died due to suffocation while waiting. Commenting on the visit of a bomb disposal squad to the site, the South DIG said no evidence of sabotage or foul play had emerged so far during the initial investigation. A local resident, Rasheed, told Dawn that the shop had announced a wedding season sale and had decided to remain open until 2am, despite its usual closing time of 10pm. The fire broke out at Gul Plaza on Saturday night. While officials said the blaze at the shopping centre on MA Jinnah Road was brought under control after more than 24 hours on Sunday, firefighting operations had to resume on Monday after flames reignited from smouldering debris. The plaza, portions of which collapsed during the fire, was a ground-plus-three-storey structure spread over approximately 8,000 square yards and housing around 1,200 shops. Inquiry committee visits site Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi, who is convener of an inquiry committee formed by
the Sindh government to probe the incident, visited the gutted plaza along with Karachi Additional Inspector General Azad Khan, a member of the committee. Speaking to reporters, the commissioner said the inquiry was at an initial stage. He pointed to the condition of nearby structures, saying that Rimpa Plaza, located adjacent to Gul Plaza, had also been affected, though it had not yet been declared unsafe. Naqvi said fire safety arrangements inside the buildings did not meet international standards. The additional IG said that no indication of sabotage had been found so far. “We are investigating the incident thoroughly,” he said, rejecting reports that two dumper trucks carrying debris from the site to KMC ground had gone missing. Karachi Metropolitan Corporation official Zafar Khan told the media that firefighters were still working at the plaza despite extreme heat, while cooling operations continued at two locations. He said one section of the building had been cleared, while two others were still being cleared.
Pakistan flags Kashmir, Palestine at UN crimes against humanity treaty preparatory panel UNITED NATIONS staff report
As UN member states move toward drafting an international treaty to prevent and punish Crimes against Humanity, Pakistan on Tuesday drew global attention to what it described as grave criminal offenses being committed against innocent civilians in Indian-illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K) and occupied Palestinian territories. Speaking at a meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the UN Conference on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, Pakistani delegate Zulfiqar Ali said such crimes represented some of the most serious violations under international law. “Crimes against Humanity are one of the gravest offenses,” he told the meeting. “No act is more sacrilegious than committing criminal offenses against innocent people.” “It is with great sadness and indignation that we see these crimes committed against innocent people in different parts of the world, including in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Occupied Palestinian Territories,” said Ali, a First Secretary at Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations. “Instead of addressing historic injustices meted out to oppressed peoples, their dreams and hopes for a dignified future are trampled by brute force and violence,” he added. Ali said Pakistan unequivocally condemned such crimes and strongly supported calls for ending impunity. “Indeed, it is only by holding perpetrators accountable that we can take a meaningful and concrete step toward restoring the honour and dignity of victims,” he stressed. Referring to the International Law Commission’s draft articles for the proposed treaty, he described them as a “useful starting point” but emphasized that provisions on prevention and punishment—particularly for crimes such as enslavement, torture and enforced disappearance— must be fully aligned with relevant UN conventions. Pakistan, he added, hoped the Preparatory Committee would be able to harmonize differing perspectives to ensure the future convention was widely embraced by the international community, including states that are not parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Pakistani delegate’s remarks on the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir prompted a response from an Indian representative. Luther Rangerji, Legal Adviser at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, claimed Pakistan had no locus standi on Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the region was part of India. He also alleged that Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue to divert attention from its treatment of minorities. Responding sharply, Zulfiqar Ali rejected the claims, saying India had violated Pakistan’s sovereignty by targeting civilians, including children blinded by pellet guns. He said New Delhi continued to defy UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir and violated the Indus Waters Treaty. “The world needs no lectures on crimes against humanity from a country that is a serial violator of international law and the UN Charter, and a perpetrator of atrocity crimes—in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, against minorities in India, and against civilians it targets through the sponsorship of cross-border terrorist attacks,” he said. Ali further accused India of colluding with terrorist organizations to destabilize neighbouring countries and of running international assassination campaigns against political dissidents with impunity. “Due to an unholy nexus between extremist Hindutva ideology and the ruling elite, Indian minorities, particularly Muslims, are facing an imminent threat of ghettoization,” he added. Rejecting India’s assertion that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India, the Pakistani delegate said the territory remained disputed under UN Security Council resolutions, pending a final settlement.
Pakistan, seven Muslim states join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ to advance Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction ISLAMABAD Mian abrar
Pakistan, along with seven other Muslim countries, announced on Wednesday their decision to join US President Donald Trump’s newly proposed “Board of Peace,” aimed at supporting efforts to end the Gaza conflict and promote regional stability. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar welcomed the invitation extended to their leaders by President Trump. “The ministers announce their countries’ shared decision to join the Board of Peace. Each country will sign the joining documents according to its respective relevant legal and other necessary procedures, including Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE, which have already announced their participation,” the statement read. The eight countries had previously collaborated with the US in October last year on a plan to halt Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The UAE announced its participa-
China rejects ‘Board of Peace’ as UN alternative, reaffirms commitment to UN-centred multilateral order BEIJING
Mian abrar
tion on Tuesday, while Pakistan and Egypt followed suit on Wednesday. “The ministers reiterate their countries’ support for the peace efforts led by President Trump and reaffirm their commitment to supporting the implementation of the mission of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration,” the statement said. It highlighted that the board’s objectives, as out-
lined in the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict and endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, include consolidating a permanent ceasefire, supporting reconstruction in Gaza, and advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law.
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China on Wednesday firmly reaffirmed its support for the United Nations–centred international system, distancing itself from the so-called “Board of Peace” proposed by US President Donald Trump and rejecting any notion that it could replace the UN. Responding to media queries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing had already clarified its position on the “Board of Peace” and stressed that China consistently practices true multilateralism, regardless of changes in the international situation. “No matter how the international situation changes, China firmly upholds the
UN-centred international system, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” Guo said. He was responding to questions about President Trump’s recent remarks suggesting that while the United Nations should continue to exist, the newly announced “Board of Peace” could potentially replace it, as well as queries about whether China would join the initiative. Guo made it clear that China does not see any alternative body supplanting the role of the United Nations, reiterating Beijing’s long-standing position in support of multilateral mechanisms anchored in international law and UN institutions.