KP CM DEMANDS RELEASE OF ‘CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED’ FUNDS, WARNS OF FISCAL CRISIS
g KP CM ACCUSES CENTRE OF WITHHOLDING CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED
g
a deadline of August 2027 for the completion of the Islamabad Gemstone Center Chairing a high-level meeting at the Prime Minister ’s House here to review the promotion of the gemstone and minerals sector, the prime minister ordered the engagement of internationally renowned experts for the construction of proposed
Federal govt rules out funding provincial health cover, asks provinces to adopt contributor y insurance
clude Sindh’s Tharparkar district under the SSP were not endorsed During deliberations at the Central Development Working Party and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, it was argued that extending the programme to a
provincial district would trigger
demands
other provinces despite health being a devolved subject According to official directives a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister on January 2 approved the continuation of the SSP beyond June 30, 2025, exclusively for ICT, AJK and GB
The Ecnec subsequently cleared the modified programme under the universal health coverage framework for permanent residents of these areas
Earlier a special committee constituted under an Ecnec decision of August 7 2025 reviewed the SSP and noted that the programme had completed its lifecycle on June 30, 2025, after multiple extensions The committee recommended shifting the completed project to the recurrent budget and limiting its scope to essential indoor healthcare services for vulnerable populations The committee directed the Ministry of National Health Services to submit a project completion report and proposed that provinces, along with AJK and GB, should continue their own social health protection schemes using provincial resources It also cited constraints in the Public Sector Development Programme noting that it was already overstretched and unable to absorb
IFC seeks redemption of 2 million preference shares in Pack ages Limited
Tadvancement, agricultural modernization, environmental sustainability and healthcare improvements
LO C AT E D in the heart of South Punjab Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT)
Rahim Yar Khan has emerged as a leading institution of higher learning and innovation in the region Since its establishment in 2014, KFUEIT has played a transformative role in strengthening higher education in an area historically underserved in advanced academic and research opportunities Today the university stands as a beacon of academic excellence technological advancement and regional development earning recognition as the Gem of South Punjab KFUEIT was founded with the mission of providing quality education in engineering, technology, sciences and emerging disciplines while fostering research innovation and socio-economic development in South Punjab From its early years the university prioritized an inclusive academic environment that nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and leadership among students Over the years, the university has expanded its academic portfolio with a range of undergraduate
computer sciences physics agriculture management and Humanities & Arts Modern laboratories advanced research centers and collaborations with
The Institutional Research and Innovation Center (IRIC) provides mentorship and technical guidance to students and faculty fostering applied research and promoting participation in provincial and national innovation expos
The remarkable growth of KFUEIT is closely linked to the visionary leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof Ir Dr Amir Azam Khan Under his guidance the university has undergone a significant transformation in governance academic quality infrastructure and student services
Prof Khan emphasizes merit, transparency, accountability, and innovation as core principles of institutional development His leadership focuses on empowering faculty motivating students and streamlining administrative systems ensuring efficient operations and a culture of excellence Through his vision KFUEIT has achieved remarkable recognition in academic, research, and social impact domains
KFUEIT has significantly improved services for students and staff Timely disbursement of allowances improved recruitment procedures and modern administrative systems have strengthened institutional trust and efficiency
Digital infrastructure has been upgraded including high-speed internet access and campuswide connectivity, enabling online learning, research collaboration, and access to global resources A smart security system with integrated surveillance access control and monitoring has enhanced campus safety creating a secure and student-friendly environment
a historically underserved region
Beyond academics, the university actively contributes to regional development through research, innovation entrepreneurship and community-oriented programs Its projects and outreach initiatives align with national priorities such as technological
Every year tens of thousands of
Maintaining academic quality is central to KFUEIT s mission Engineering programs in Agricultural, Computer, Electrical, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering have been reaccredited by national bodies with the Quality Enhancement Cell ensuring compliance and continuous improvement These reaccreditations validate the university s curriculum and pedagogy enhance graduate employability and strengthen KFUEIT s academic reputation nationally and internationally Innovation and applied research are core strengths of KFUEIT The university encourages students and faculty to develop solutions addressing real-world challenges Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) provides essential guidance, technical support, and mentorship, enabling students to present their projects at provincial and national innovation platforms In 2025 KFUEIT secured two positions at the PINTECH Expo held at the Expo Centre Lahore Award-winning projects included a Bench Using Plastic Waste developed by Mr Galib Ijaz and an IoT-Based Health Monitoring and Ventilator System by Mr Muhammad Mubeen, both supervised by Dr Muhammad Bilal Tahir of the Institute of Physics These achievements highlight KFUEIT’s focus on sustainability healthcare innovation and applied research Earlier at the 2nd All Punjab Universities Innovation Expo 2023 organized by the Punjab Higher Education Commission, KFUEIT secured two first
youngsters graduate from KP’s universities into an economy that has no place for them The result is frustration migration social withdrawal, or political radicalization
This is not just an economic failure but a longterm security risk Institutional fatigue now defines the provincial state Decision-making is centralized personality-driven and reactive Projects are announced loudly and completed quietly if at all Bureaucrats rotate too quickly to plan yet remain too constrained to act Governance has become performative rather than functional Having studied KP closely for decades, I am confident in one conclusion that this governing model has reached its limits It is for this reason that the province appears headed toward a coalition government comprising the Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) either in 2028 or earlier, should political realignments accelerate This is not wishful thinking or ideological preference It is a reading of political fatigue electoral mathematics and shifting ground realities especially as extra-constitutional influences that once shaped outcomes appear increasingly absent Pakistani history offers a revealing parallel In the 1990 general elections Abdul Wali Khan lost his National Assembly seat from Charsadda even as multiple candidates from his party won provincial seats in the same constituency The contradiction was widely understood at the time that popular sentiment and electoral outcomes did not always align when power was exercised outside the democratic arena When such distortions fade politics tends to revert to social reality KP today feels like it is approaching such a moment again A future coalition would not be a miracle cure but it would be a necessary reset PML-N brings administrative experience, infrastruc-
ture delivery, and energy management precisely where KP has failed most visibly ANP offers an unmatched understanding of KP’s social fabric local governance education and cultural pluralism JUI-F provides parliamentary weight and grassroots reach in conservative regions, reducing resistance to reform through negotiation rather than coercion Critics will call this arithmetic politics but they are wrong KP’s problems are too deep for single-party dominance No party today commands sufficient moral authority administrative depth or social consensus to govern the province alone Coalition governance is not a weakness in this context but a corrective Crucially, ANP, PML-N, and JUI-F are not fascist or exclusionary movements They are constitutional actors with long histories of coalition politics compromise and parliamentary bargaining In a province exhausted by absolutism and perpetual agitation, this matters Governance is not about protest or mobilization but about steady management and sustained maintenance The potential gains in KP are clear Reliable energy can revive industry effective policing can restore confidence local governments can reconnect the state with citizens and universities can once again become engines of social mobility Its mountains, rivers, trade routes, and borders could drive growth if governance is competent and disciplined To move from drift to direction the new government must restore law and order through depoliticized policing confront unemployment with energy reliability private-sector incentives, and market-aligned skills, and rebuild public trust through visible and measurable improvements in daily life The people of KP are tired of promises and political theatre KP’s voters are exhausted and slogans have lost all currency The province does not need another experiment It needs competence discipline and results because after years of empty rhetoric only delivery can reclaim its future and transform potential into real progress
The writer is Ph D in Political Science and visiting faculty at QAU Islamabad His area of specialization is political development and social change He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweet@zafarkhansafdar
Empire by design
dr Zafar Khan Safdar
abedeen
aKram
DO N A L D Trump is often described as an isolationist throwback, a president supposedly dragging the United States back to the inward-looking habits of the nineteenth century The charge is appealing particularly given his abrasive tone towards allies and his hostility to immigration But it is also misleading Trump is not an isolationist In historical terms, he fits far more comfortably into a long American tradition of assertive statecraft, one concerned less with retreat from the world than with the constant expansion and protection of national power From the earliest days of the republic the United States has rarely behaved like a country content to mind its own business Within a decade of independence, it was fighting an undeclared naval war with France in the Caribbean Soon after it was confronting the Barbary States in the Mediterranean Throughout the nineteenth century Washington pushed relentlessly westwards extending its borders to the Pacific through war, coercion and purchase This was not the conduct of a timid or detached state It was the behaviour of a nation convinced of its destiny willing to use force when opportunity or interest demanded The presidents often invoked as supposed champions of American restraint James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James Polk or William McKinley were, in fact, architects of expansion The Monroe Doctrine itself declared in 1823 was a remarkable statement of ambition A young and militarily modest republic announced that the entire Western Hemisphere lay beyond European interference Its immediate practical effect was limited, but its psychological significance was immense The United States was claiming a supervisory role over a vast geopolitical space it could barely control This was not isolationism; it was strategic audacity The Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848 confirmed the point What
began as a border dispute ended with American troops in Mexico City and the annexation of huge territories that now form the south-western United States California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico were absorbed into the Union There was nothing defensive about this war and nothing reluctant about its outcome It reflected a political culture that equated security with growth and influence with land By the end of the century, the United States had become a continental power and was turning its attention outward Victory over Spain in 1898 delivered control over Cuba Puerto Rico Guam and the Philippines At the same time Washington embarked on a major naval expansion inspired by strategists who believed sea power was the true measure of international standing By the outbreak of the First World War, the US Navy ranked among the world’s largest America still preferred to avoid European entanglements but it was no longer a peripheral state It had entered the ranks of the great powers by design The only serious experiment with isolationism came after the First World War In the 1920s and 1930s, the United States reduced its armed forces, rejected membership of the League of Nations and passed neutrality laws intended to keep it out of future conflicts Even then the retreat was incomplete Military planning continued, new technologies were explored, and industrial capacity quietly expanded When war returned in 1941, the infrastructure of power was ready to be mobilised This longer history matters because it places Trump s foreign policy in a clearer frame Since returning to office in 2025 he
has not dismantled American alliances He has reaffirmed US commitments to NATO pressed European states to shoulder more of the burden, authorised strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, pursued negotiations over Ukraine and ordered operations in Latin America that no isolationist would contemplate His administration has called for increased defence spending not retrenchment
Whatever his rhetoric, his actions point towards engagement backed by force The pattern is familiar Like Theodore Roosevelt before him, Trump speaks the language of national strength and views diplomacy as an extension of power rather than a substitute for it He measures success in terms of leverage gained rivals deterred and influence asserted This approach echoes the instincts of earlier presidents who believed that security lay in pre-eminence, not restraint None of this is to suggest that such a tradition is either admirable or wise American history offers ample warnings about the limits of power and the costs of overreach The same strategic culture that produced continental expansion also produced Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan Confidence easily curdles into complacency The belief that force
s t I r a n i a n nu cl e a r f a c i l i t i e s , p u rs u e d n e g o t i a t i o n s ov e r U k r a i n e , a n d o rd e r e d o p e r a t i o n s i n L a t i n A m e r i c a t h a t n o i s o l a t i o n i s t wo u l d c o n t e m p l a t e . H i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a s c a l l e d fo r i n c r e a s e d d e fe n c e s p e n d i n g , n o t r e t r e n ch m e n t W h a t ev e r h i s r h e t o r i c , h i s a c t i o n s p o i n t t ow a rd s e n g ag e m e n t b a ck e d by fo rc e T
felt they needed to because of dire financial pressures? Accordingly a ban on the sale of kidneys might be thought necessary to protect the financially vulnerable
There are major problems with this line of reasoning though It’s all well and good telling people that they are being protected from exploitation by market forces, but that rings hollow if we are not simultaneously doing anything to make them financially better off in other ways – as is usually the case
There is something odd about claiming to be concerned about the plight of the poor while denying them straightforward measures to ameliorate their poverty Similarly, if one worries that dishonest and exploitative corporate actors will not treat donors properly that is an argument for regulation not prohibition: ensuring the market operates in ways that protect participants – as appears to have been achieved in Iran
Another line of objection is that there is something sacred about human bodies which should not be traded as commodities But sacred according to whom? Those with religious dispositions may feel this way But why should they get to decide what those without such beliefs may do with their body parts? Especially when there are thousands suffering and dying?
More generally there is the question of why the government should have the right to control individual choices in this matter Given that people are allowed to give away kidneys for free, why should the state have any say in whether the same action can be performed for money?
Here, people often fall back on an appeal to feeling Many have a strong sense that it is somehow just wrong to sell organs And as it happens I share this feeling For want of a better word the idea of people selling their organs feels icky Yet the fact something generates icky feelings is not necessarily a good reason to make it illegal This becomes especially clear when we consider how changeable such feelings are across times and cultures
In the 18th century for example some viewed being paid to sing as akin to prostitution and professional opera singers, particularly women, could be deemed morally suspect At that time, therefore, it might have seemed appropriate to subject professional singing to legal strictures just like prostitution To us such a proposition seems absurd What this tells us is that such feelings very much can and do shift –indicating that they are reflective of local cultural variation, not some underlying moral truth What we really need to consider is whether a practice that makes us feel uncomfortable is sufficiently important that those feelings must
take a back seat when it comes to
Peace ” Unveiled as an initiative to manage the introduction of tranquility and physical reconstruction of that pile of rubble formerly known as Gaza, the Board of Peace seems to be filling all the empty space in the parking lot reserved for international relations Think Big! The
Dr muhammaD
Zaheer
THE GUARDIAN
CHINA HOLDS TALKS WITH OIC CHIEF AMID RISING MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS
Death toll in Philippine boat accident climbs to 15, hundreds resc ued
British Council’s Women of the World Festival celebrates 10
in Pakistan
Police The meeting discussed security law and order arrangements in the Federal capyital, Islamabad A comprehensive briefing was given in the meeting regarding the extension of the Islamabad Safe City project and a detailed review was conducted of the complete timelines design and provision of modern equipment Similarly, the implemen-
tation of the M-Tag in the Federal Capital Islamabad was also discussed IG Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said that a zero-tolerance policy is being adopted to improve the law and order situation and against criminal elements in the Federal Capital Islamabad He said that to make security in the Capital Islamabad more foolproof, police patrols, snap check-
ing and monitoring through CCTV cameras are being ensured He further said that by utilizing modern technology the emergency response time has also been minimized Chairman CDA directed that more CCTV cameras be installed on the entry and exit routes of the Capital Islamabad and that patrolling in the City also be increased
B a s a nt R e t u r n s t o L a h o re
QUDRAT ULLAH
After years of absence shaped by caution and nostalgia Basant is returning to Lahore from February 6 to 8 as a fully organised, governmentsponsored festival, restoring one of South Asia’s most recognisable cultural traditions For a global audience the revival represents more than a seasonal celebration; it signals Punjab s reassertion as a cultural hub where living heritage creative expression and community life intersect Approved by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the three-day event reflects a contemporary approach to cultural governance that blends safety inclusivity and cultural placemaking For nearly 800 years, Basant has marked the arrival of spring in Punjab, symbolising renewal, regeneration and collective joy Punjab has long functioned as a cultural crossroad of South Asia where festivals music crafts and rituals formed a shared cultural ecosystem Lahore, its historic capital, emerged as a centre of cultural production, known for poetry, architecture, cuisine and seasonal celebrations that fostered social cohesion Basant with its iconic kite-filled skies became a form of living heritage recognisedbeyond the region as a vibrant expression of Punjabi identity Its prolonged absence created a cultural disconnect, particularly for younger generations and diminished Lahore’s visibility in the global cultural imagination The decision to revive Basant carries symbolic and strategic significance It reflects a shift from culture suppression to culture management, an approach increasingly advocated in global cultural policy Chairing a high-level meeting Chief Minister
Maryam Nawaz Sharif framed the revival as an act of public happiness and cultural justice She noted that Punjab’s traditions had been sidelined for years often replaced by fear rather than reform Her vision positions culture as social infrastructure essential to emotional well-being and community resilience In societies under economic and psychological pressure, festivals like Basant provide safe spaces for connection and recreation making culture a civic necessity rather than a luxury
Inclusivity is central to the revival The chief minister has emphasised that Punjab belongs to all its communities and that every group has the right to celebrate its festivals freely whether Eid Holi Christmas or Ramadan This framing situates Basant within a broader narrative of cultural pluralism and shared heritage, reinforcing Punjab s historic identity as an open and diverse society The revival of the Horse and Cattle Show after three decades serves as a precedent demonstrating that legacy events can be restored through adaptive governance without compromising public safety Given the tragic incidents historically associated with unsafe kite flying, the administration has adopted a risk-mitigation framework aligned with global best practices in festival management A comprehensive Basant Safety Plan has been finalised addressing hazards through zoning, material regulation and strict enforcement Lahore has been divided into red, yellow, and green zones Only cotton kite-strings made of nine threads will be allowed while nylon and metallic strings are strictly banned Violations will invite severe penalties, including imprisonment and heavy fines Illegal kite-flying
outside the notified dates will also be punished, with parents or guardians held accountable for underage violations These measures underscore a zero-tolerance approach to prevent past tragedies Additional safeguards include a ban on kite reels with only handheld spools permitted, and fixed standards for kite sizes To protect motorcyclists, historically among the most vulnerable during Basant, the government will install free safety rods on one million motorcycles Entry into high-risk zones will be restricted to bikes fitted with these rods, while non-compliance will attract fines Citizens are encouraged to participate in community-led enforcement by reporting violations reinforcing shared responsibility and civic engagement
The scale of preparation reflects the seriousness of intent
More than 2,150 manufacturers, traders and vendors have been registered to ensure regulated economic activity This formalisation aligns Basant with the global concept of the creative economy recognisingculture as a source of livelihoods as well as identity A detailed transport plan includes free rides on Lahore’s Orange Line, Metro Bus electric buses and feeder services supported by additional buses and ride-hailing facilitation By reducing reliance on motorcycles and lowering economic barriers, the plan promotes accessibility and sustainability, key principles in modern urban cultural placemaking Security and emergency preparedness form another critical layer The writer is a Lahore-based public policy analyst and can be reached at qudratu@gmail com
PRESIDENT Z ARDARI SIGNS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
BILL INTO L AW DESPITE EARLIER OBJECTIONS
gunned down in Bannu encounter
With the Basant festival set to return after 18 years, the Punjab government on Monday imposed a 30-day ban on the manufacturing and use of kites bearing political religious or national symbols
A notification from the Punjab Home Department seen by Dawn, invoked Section 144, prohibiting the purchase, sale, transport, storage, and flying of kites displaying images of any person holy scripture religious site or the flag of any country or political party The measure aims to avoid any discrimination or disruption
of public order ” The department cited reports that miscreants could attempt to use such imagery to create disturbances during the festival Only plain uni-coloured or multicoloured kites will be allowed in Lahore from February 6 to 8 Authorities emphasized that kite flying is permitted solely for recreation and festivity
The festival s return this year will coincide with a nationwide opposition protest on February 8, prompting the government
Four bogies of the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express travelling from Peshawar were derailed late Monday night after a blast damaged the railway track
Gul Plaza fire: K arachi police form special team; CM vows no lenienc y, orders province-wide safety audits
investigation DSP, the head of the Garden Central Investigation Cell the Nabi Bux SHO and the case investigation officer The team has also been authorised to co-opt officers from the South Zone police if required The inferno broke out on the night of January 17 and took nearly two days to be fully extinguished destroying more than 1 100 shops Only 23 victims have been identified so far After nine days of search operations, DIG Raza said the operation concluded on Sunday and the plaza has since been sealed Traffic re-
strictions on M A Jinnah Road have been lifted while the KMC has begun securing the structure with green construction mesh Inquiry to ‘consider all aspects’ Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said an inquiry committee had been formed and would examine “all aspects of the incident including the possibility of arson He asserted that those found responsible would be punished We have mistakes; I admit it,” the chief minister said, acknowledging systemic shortcomings including weak audits and outdated laws He invited anyone with relevant information to approach the inquiry committee, adding, If we are responsible, we will accept punishment ” Responding to criticism over
inadequate water supply during rescue operations the CM admitted the province s fire-fighting capacity was insufficient citing legacy issues and overlapping mandates of multiple departments He announced that departments dealing with emergency response and fire safety would be merged with legislation already in progress The chief minister recalled the compensation package announced for victims: Rs10 million for each deceased person’s family and Rs5m for affected shopkeepers He added that in collaboration with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the government would reimburse business losses, including destroyed inventory, within a month
appear in the case but did not attend due to the strike IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar sought details of the arrests asking “Which lawyers have been arrested? Gondal replied that Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha had been detained The chief justice then asked, “Do you consider them lawyers?” Gondal did not respond “If you consider them lawyers you may come to chamber and express your opinion the chief justice added LAHORE S ta f f C
strike also surfaced during a civil case hearing at the Islamabad High Court Advocate Qaiser Abbas Gondal, appearing for one of the parties informed the court that the strike was being observed in response to the detention of lawyers He said the Bar Secretary was also scheduled to
