R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday termed the granting of a commercial licence to Raqami Islamic Digital Bank a landmark development for Pakistan s financial sector and a major step towards deepening economic cooperation with Kuwait
Addressing the concluding session of the licence awarding ceremony, the prime minister stressed that strong political relations must be reinforced through meaningful economic engagement noting that sustainable partnerships could not endure without robust trade, investment and financial collaboration
“Pakistan and Kuwait are brotherly countries bound by decades of strong cultural political and people-to-people relations, PM Shehbaz said, adding that the time had come to further strengthen economic and investment ties so the relationship could “grow from strength to strength”
Congratulating Raqami Islamic Digital Bank on becoming Pakistan s third licensed digital retail bank the prime minister expressed confidence that the institution would promote financial inclusion, innovation and Shariahcompliant banking He said digital Islamic banking would play a crucial role in modernising Pakistan s financial ecosystem while remaining aligned with Islamic principles The Kuwaiti ambassador also congratulated the Raqami team, describing the licensing of the digital bank as a practical manifestation of the deeprooted brotherly relations between Pakistan and Kuwait He said Kuwait s leadership had consistently supported Pakistan and was keen to expand cooperation in trade investment and financial services Abdullah Al-Mutari chairman of Raqami Islamic Digital Bank s board of directors, thanked the government and the State Bank of Pakistan for their support and presented a commemorative memento to the prime minister Raqami Islamic Digital Bank Chief Executive Officer Umair Ijaz said the bank would offer fully Shariah-compliant digital banking services aimed at improving accessibility, efficiency and customer experience, while supporting Pakistan’s broader financial inclusion agenda
SHC disposes of petitions after Sindh withdraws MPO detention orders for PTI workers
KARACHI
s ta f f r e p o r t
The Sindh High Court on Tuesday disposed of more than 100 identical petitions challenging the detention of PTI workers under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance after the provincial government withdrew the detention orders The additional advocate general informed the court that the MPO notification had been withdrawn and presented the official notification The court then disposed of the petitions filed against the detentions Earlier in the day, the SHC had directed the Sindh government to withdraw the MPO orders, observing that if the orders were not revoked, the court would pass directions against the authorities Defence counsel Barrister Ali Tahir told the court that over 187 families were affected by what he described as illegal detention orders He alleged that police had raided the homes of party workers and argued that the orders were contrary to earlier SHC rulings and legal principles
Subsequently, the Sindh home department issued a notification dated February 10 withdrawing all detention orders issued under Section 3(1) of the MPO Ordinance 1960 from February 1 to February 9 with immediate effect The notification directed the senior superintendents of Central Prison and Correctional Facilities Karachi and District Prison Malir to release all individuals detained under the MPO if they were not required in any other case
“The government of Sindh is pleased to withdraw all detention orders issued by the Home Department Sindh under section 3(1) of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance (MPO), 1960, during the period from Feb 1 to Feb 9, with immediate effect, the notification read A day earlier, government sources had indicated that nearly 300 PTI workers would be released after the completion of the documentary process
Power Minister defends solar net metering changes, Senate defers rooftop solar resolution
s ta f f r e p o r t
Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Khan Leghari on Tuesday defended recent regulatory changes to solar net metering, telling the Senate that the proposed measures were regulatory adjustments rather than a departure from Pakistan s renewable energy policy
He was responding to a resolution moved by Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, which called for protecting rooftop solar users and aligning proposed regulations with national renewable energy goals After a debate in the upper house the resolution was deferred for further consideration
The resolution expressed concern over the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (Nepra) draft Prosumer Regulations 2025 warning that the proposed framework could discourage public investment in rooftop solar and slow the country s transition to renewable energy
Addressing the concerns Leghari said revising electricity regulations fell within Nepra s legal mandate and did not amount to a policy shift He stressed that existing net-metering contracts had not been changed retrospectively and would remain valid until their expiry
The minister said Pakistan currently has more than 34 million electricity consumers while around 466,000 net-metering users generate nearly 7,000 megawatts through rooftop solar systems He argued that maintaining higher buyback rates for a relatively small segment of consumers could place an added financial burden on the vast majority who do not have access to rooftop solar
Reiterating
According to Leghari bringing buyback rates closer to the average cost of electricity generation was essential to ensure equity among consumers
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan seeks arbitration on design flaws in India’s hydro - elec tric projec ts under Indus Waters Treaty g COURT CONCLUDES SECOND-PHASE HEARING; ARBITRATION FOCUSES ON IW T PROVISIONS FOR INDIA’S HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECTS, INDIA ABSENT FROM PROCEEDINGS
The Court of Arbitration (CoA) concluded its second-phase hearing on February 3 2026 in the arbitration initiated by Pakistan against India under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) The case focuses on the interpretation and application of IWT provisions related to India’s run-of-river hydro-electric projects on the Indus Jhelum and Chenab rivers and their tributaries before these rivers flow into Pakistan During the proceedings, Pakistan requested the Court to address specific
design elements of these projects particularly in relation to the determination of installed capacity, anticipated load, and maximum pondage
The Court’s Procedural Order No 17 issued on November 21 2025 outlined the focus for this phase of the arbitration which seeks to resolve how India must calculate these elements for its hydro-electric plants Pakistan’s delegation at the hearing included key officials such as Mansoor Usman Awan Attorney General for Pakistan; Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah Pakistan s Commissioner for Indus Waters; and Syed Haidar Shah
Ambassador to The Netherlands among others They were supported by a team of legal counsels and technical advisors India, however, chose not to respond to the invitation for participation and did not attend the hearing The Court of Arbitration chaired by Professor Sean D Murphy of the United States also includes members from Belgium, the United States, Jordan, and Australia The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) serves as the secretariat for the ongoing proceedings which aim to resolve longstanding issues under the IWT governing the water-sharing arrangement between the two countries
n i to r n g D
Pakistan s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Monday dismissed any suggestion of renegotiating the
World Bank backs Punjab’s affordable housing, climate resilience initiatives
seeing declines in their CPI performance Nations traditionally viewed as strong on transparency and accountability such as the United States (64)
and
TH e excuses are already being trotted out that the greater good of the game was at stake, but the fact remains that Pakistan has backed down from its initial support of Bangladesh The Pakistan government must have known that India was twisting the arms of all those countries which lined up to prevail on Pakistan to play India The BJP has been sent the message that Pakistan will do anything to turn a dollar And in the end it was the money that talked: there was simply too much money that would not be made by Indian broadcasters The hidden reason, the one no one wants to talk about, is that India-Pakistan matches attract a large number of bets involving vast sums of money with one shiv sena legislator saying India Rs 1 5 billion were bet on the recent Asia Cup final between the two countries, and would be bet again One positive emerging from the whole affair is that the Indo-Pak rivalry is now even bigger than the Australiaengland rivalry Apart from the fact that the governments are not involved it is more historical than current It is worth noting that Australia backed down after the Australian Cabinet exchanged cables with the British Cabinet after the respective Boards exchanged insults over the body line bowled by england Ultimately the ACB (on instructions from the Cabinet) withdrew the epithet unsportsmanlike Now times have changed, and it is India that gets what India wants In that era, in 1932-1933, the Depression was at its peak And it could ill afford the loss of exports to the UK, which was threatened by Britain At that time India had been admitted to the ICC (then the Imperial Cricket Conference) now it has the Presidency which the holder Jai shah to subordinate to the BJP of his father Amit The BJP wants Bangladesh to fall in with its programme of assassinations, and not object to the protection given to the killer of Hadi Ali Usman the student leader This Indian murder was succeeded by protests outside the Indian High Commission India’s riposte was to ban Bangladeshi all-rounder Mustafizur Rehman from playing for an IPL team because it was claimed his security could not be guaranteed Bangladesh then pulled out of the tournament, because its proposal to play its matches in sri Lanka was rejected Bangladesh will be compensated and on this rather thin reassurance Pakistan will play India All Pakistan-India encounters are needle matches, but the background to this encounter, It is a must-win for the boys in green, because they will also be playing for Bangladesh
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
The imperial presidency
Ne w s broke this week that President Donald Trump was conditioning approval of an infrastructure spending bill on renaming New York City’s Penn station and washington s Dulles Airport in his honour It was unsurprising because there s a disturbing pattern in Mr Trump s approach to governing that includes the glorification of the leader, the erasure of norms, the use of threats of retribution to stifle critics, and a reliance on “alternate facts” to keep the faithful in tow
Because I am once again writing about President Trump I know that some will accuse me of having what the president calls Trump Derangement syndrome I confess to being obsessed with his incendiary speech, his behaviour, and the movement he has inspired, precisely because of the danger they pose to American democracy During Mr Trump’s first term we dreaded turning on the news each morning and learning about the threatening tweets he had posted overnight But because there were guardrails in place senior staff who would slow-walk his demands or simply refuse to act on them, or Congress or the courts that served as a check on his behaviour most often the threats turned out to be hollow As has been noted in his second term because the guardrails are gone the president has become emboldened to move beyond empty words to actions which his minions faithfully attempt to execute As a result, we are entering uncharted waters in which an imperial presidency is testing the resilience of our system of “checks and balances ” entering the second year of his second term in office the pattern is clear He employs bullying tactics to get his way with other individuals institutions, or countries He floods the zone, disorienting opponents by daily confronting them with a barrage of new challenges And following lessons learned from his mentor, Roy Cohn, he always attacks, never admits mistakes and always claims victory In just the past few weeks Mr Trump has undertaken several deeply disturbing initiatives In-
more ominous He ordered the FBI to seize the 2020 election ballots from Fulton County Georgia presumably because he still believes he was cheated out of victory even though the official who controlled the Georgia balloting in 2020 was a Republican It is unprecedented for a president to take an action of this sort and to accompany it with a statement saying:
“Remember, the states are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes They must do what the Federal Government as represented by the President of the United states tells them FOR THe GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY to do In this one statement, the president calls for violating the Constitution and the prerogative it gives states in running elections And by equating himself with the federal government and saying that when he speaks he does so on behalf of and for the good of the country he is laying the groundwork for an imperial presidency
The
These recent actions by the president are par t of a pattern that grows more pronounced each day. He makes decisions unilaterally without regard to the Constitution or established procedure . He acts to punish those who do not submit to his dictates And he governs as if „LÊÉtat, cÊest moi ‰ With the suppor t of a compliant Congress and a base of true believers, right now this president appears to be untouchable But should he push too far or should Republicans lose control of Congress in November, the tide could turn, leaving Mr TrumpÊs effor t to create an „Imperial Presidency‰ to die on the vine
protesters and for alleged external interference in Iran’s internal affairs Moreover statements by Us President Donald Trump have further intensified speculation regarding external interests Trump warned that the UsA would hit hard if Iranian authorities did not stop killing protesters such remarks indicate washington’s political interest in the unfolding crisis The UsA and Israel have long opposed Iran’s nuclear programme and share a history of strategic rivalry with Tehran Additionally Us interests in Iran have often been linked to energy security and access to Iran s vast oil reserves The enduring rivalry between Israel and Iran has also been a contributing factor behind Trump’s emphasis on intervention In the event of the fall of Ayatollah Khamenei s regime exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi who resides in the UsA is frequently cited as a potential successor In a recent statement outlining his vision of a Free Iran, Pahlavi asserted that Iran s nuclear programme would be terminated He further stated that relations with the UsA would be normalized Israel would be recognized immediately and civil liberties would be restored Additionally his vision includes expanding frameworks such as the Abraham Accords to include Iran, Israel, and the wider Arab world These declarations are interpreted by critics as confirmation of Us and Israeli interests in a regime change should Reza Pahlavi succeed the Islamic Republic the
strategic objectives of both Israel and the UsA would likely be advanced statements by both Pahlavi and Trump have reinforced the perception that the protests are not solely the result of economic crisis but are also linked to broader regime-change dynamics as the fall of Khamenei s regime would directly and indirectly benefit Israel and the UsA
It would not be inaccurate to argue that the UsA and Israel have played an indirect yet significant role in Iran’s economic crisis Us-led sanctions on crude oil exports and financial transactions have contributed to currency devaluation high inflation unemployment and a reduced state capacity to provide public services These conditions have triggered anti-government protests that can no longer be viewed solely as an internal matter The crisis has increasingly taken on an international dimension with external actors perceived to be influencing events in pursuit of strategic interests If Reza Pahlavi were to come to power Iran s Islamic laws would likely be repealed, and relations with Israel would be normalized Given that Israel has long regarded the Khamenei regime as a major security threat the removal of the current leadership aligns with both Us and Israeli strategic objectives Consequently regime change could facilitate greater western access to Iran s energy resources while addressing Israel s long-standing security concerns
Amna Naz is a research intern at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad and can be reached at amnanaz03846@gmail com
Facts over followers
Girls build nations
A
Markets without referees
Iestate is particularly sensitive to governance gaps, as high-value and irreversible transactions combined with information gaps and uneven oversight expose households- particularly middle-income families - to delays deceptive practices and fraud with limited avenues for timely redress At the heart of these challenges lies a regulatory vacuum Despite being one of the most vital sectors of the economy, the real estate market of Pakistan remains unregulated with no specific national-level authority that provides oversight for market conduct project approvals and consumer protection The existing regulatory framework is scattered among various provincial and municipal development authorities For instance Islamabad comes under the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Lahore under the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Karachi under the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) - all performing under disconnected legal and institutional frameworks that do not establish accountability among developers, protect consumer interests or impose standardized practices across different regions Although the federal government has already taken a positive initiative in the shape of the Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2020 for the capital territory, its implementation is still in the early stages Effective regulation and oversight will ultimately require the establishment of a national Real Estate Regulatory Authority complemented by corresponding provincial authorities, following the successful models adopted in India and Dubai The beauty and personal care (BPC) industry is another major sector that has historically grown and thrived without direct regulatory oversight A 2023 report by the
Zero Mercury Working Group states that Pakistanis spend an average of Rs 101 billion annually on personal care products According to a report by Euromonitor the market size of this sector almost doubled over six years rising from Rs 173 8 billion in 2017 to Rs 341 4 billion in 2022 These figures likely underrepresent the industry s true scale, given that a large portion of activities in this sector occur in
P G C R A i n t h e b e a u t y i n d u s t r y a n d t h e fo r m a t i o n o f R E R A fo r r e a l e s t a t e a r e c r u
for
MY name is Krishna Nandi I am a Hindu I am a businessman I am also a parliamentary candidate of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami For many readers, this combination appears unusual For me, it reflects a deeper truth about politics in Bangladesh that has long been obscured by fear misinformation and political convenience My nomination has generated national debate because it challenges a long-held assumption that an Islamic political party cannot genuinely represent religious minorities I welcome this debate My candidacy exists precisely to confront this assumption directly and openly I want to state clearly what I have said repeatedly to people across my constituency If Jamaat-eIslami comes to power no Hindu will have to leave Bangladesh No Hindu will be forced to go to India Instead, Hindus will live in this country with dignity, safety and respect When I say that Hindus will be treated with honour, I am not speaking symbolically
this claim and it has already restored confidence among many who had lost faith in politics altogether I joined Jamaat-e-Islami in 2003 not out of convenience but out of conviction I found discipline accountability and moral clarity within the party Jamaat does not buy votes with money It does not
to extortion political violence and fear Hindus in particular have faced targeted attacks discrimination and economic marginalisation Many have lost jobs unfairly Families have lived under constant pressure I have said clearly that these injustices will not be ignored Those dismissed unfairly will receive justice through lawful procedures Violence and intimidation against any community will not be tolerated I do not believe in broker-based politics I do not operate through intermediaries My phone number is with the people, and it will remain so Representation should be direct, accountable and continuous not something activated only during election seasons There have been attempts to intimidate me Local power structures including figures linked to established parties have tried to apply pressure My response has been firm I cannot be silenced and I cannot be pushed aside Fear has dominated our politics for too long If we surrender to it, nothing will change Another issue that deserves honesty is history I do not deny that minorities in Bangladesh have suffered at different moments under different governments That suffering cannot be erased by rhetoric What matters is whether a political movement is willing to confront injustice rather than deny it My presence within Jamaat-e-Islami is not an attempt to rewrite history but to shape the future Many ask whether Jamaat is only for Muslims My answer is straightforward Jamaat is an Islamic party in values but a national party in responsibility Justice accountability and human dignity are not owned by any one religion During the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh, naturally many amongst minority religious communities felt unsafe and insecure However, it was members of organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami who gave us protection and safeguarded our temples and places of worship A state governed by justice protects minorities better than a state governed by slogans When families fall into poverty Jamaat-linked welfare networks step in without asking about religion or political loyalty This culture of service explains why many citizens see Jamaat not as a party of slogans but as a party of discipline structure and responsibility For international observers I want to be equally clear This election is not about importing ideology or exporting fear It is about restoring trust between citizens and the state Bangladesh is a plural society by reality, not by charity Any political force that ignores that fact cannot govern sustainably My candidacy is not only about winning a seat it is also about opening a new political conversation in Bangladesh A conversation beyond fear beyond communal suspicion and beyond the idea that identity must divide us I stand as a Hindu candidate, not in spite of Jamaat-e-Islami but because I believe its principles can help build a safer, fairer Bangladesh for all This country belongs to all of us Krishna Nandi is a Bangladeshi businessman and politician from
IT is said that the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter But those who say this have perhaps never visited Bangladesh where the average voter has survived 15 years of electoral theatre and still hopes the ballot box might listen to them On February 12 that hope gets its day across 42 779 polling centres where more than 127 million Bangladeshis will for the first time since the rigged spectacles of 2014, 2018, and 2024 choose their next government Let nobody steal that opportunity from them
This is not merely an election It is a referendum on whether Bangladesh can govern itself without a strongman a coup or an interim arrangement that overstays its welcome like a guest who moved in to help with the cooking but now changed the Wi-Fi password Investors, development partners, and neighbouring capitals all are watching to see if Bangladesh can pull off the biggest democratic exercise of 2026 without the kind of chaos that makes international headline writers reach for their favourite adjective: failed
Among the contesting parties the Bangladesh Nationalist Party enters the election from what many acknowledge to be a favourable position To give credit where it s due, BNP has campaigned on a platform of inclusion and transformation and has articulated a vision of governance beyond “winner takes all ” Although the real test as always will be in making this happen Then there is Jamaate-Islami which deserves a nuanced conversation Jamaat commands a significant voter base, has run a disciplined campaign, and could play a constructive role in parliament, particularly in ensuring that the next legislature does not degenerate into the familiar theatre of absolute majority versus decorative opposition With the Awami League absent it is poised to be one of the two majoritarian parties of Bangladesh s once-again predominantly bipartisan parliament The country desperately needs checks and balances in its parliament
But here is where the plot thickens, not in an Agatha Christie way, but in the distinctly Bangladeshi fashion where everyone knows who the suspects are but nobody names them at dinner Since the election schedule was announced at least 16 political activists have been killed The assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi shot in broad daylight the day after the election schedule was announced served as a wakeup call about how far certain forces may go to derail the
(ICCI);
(Disaster
the HKSAR and the country and involved collusion with external forces
Framework of One Country Two Systems, underscoring the central authorities determination to safeguard national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) according to Xinhua News Agency Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the document calling its release of great significance” and saying it had come at an opportune moment Speaking to reporters Lee said the white paper reinforced three core understandings: that the struggle to safeguard national security in Hong Kong is ongoing and requires constant vigilance; that national security falls under the purview of the central authorities with Hong Kong’s full support for the implementation of national-level security laws; and that high-level security is essential to ensure the steady development of the One Country, Two Systems framework Lee said the white paper delivers a clear warning to those who endanger national security noting that the recent verdict in the Jimmy Lai case demonstrated justice being upheld He said the ruling showed that Lai s crimes were serious, harmful to both
The release of the white paper came shortly after the High Court of the HKSAR sentenced Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on national security charges Analysts said the timing was significant in clarifying political and legal principles and rebutting what they described as unreasonable accusations from some Western countries
Comprising a preface, five chapters and a conclusion, the more than 12,000-word document reviews Hong Kong’s efforts to safeguard national security the challenges faced and the experience gained It reiterates the central government s fundamental responsibility for national security matters related to Hong Kong and aims to clear misunderstandings build consensus and ensure the high-quality development of One Country Two Systems with high-standard security
(CDA); and Mr Azim Ullah Khan Director General Rescue 1122 Gilgit Baltistan along with senior government officials industry leaders diplomats and corporate executives The exhibitions are being organized by Pegasus Consultancy (Pvt ) Ltd , the pioneering and leading event organizer of Pakistan with an international footprint, recognized for delivering specialized trade exhibitions and high-impact B2B platforms across strategic industrial sectors Safe Secure Pakistan 2026 the 16th International Fire Safety Security & Health Exhibition, is showcasing advanced solutions in fire safety, public and homeland security, surveillance systems, cybersecurity, access control emergency response KAR ACHI S ta f f r e p o r t JazzWorld, Pakistan s leading integrated digital ServiceCo, is hiring 100 associates under the JazzWorld AI Associate Program 2026 Recruitment focuses on AI capabilities alongside high-demand areas such as fintech cybersecurity data science & analytics, and software development, with associates encouraged and assessed on applying AI-driven thinking within their respective domains reinforcing JazzWorld s AI-first transformation The JazzWorld AI Associate Program 2026 is a group-wide, AI-native, one-year
In its third chapter the document highlights the HKSAR s progress in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security, including the completion of Article 23 legislation, continuous improvements to the legal system and firm law enforcement and judicial actions
Lawmakers and policy advisers said the white paper sets the record straight amid renewed criticism from some Western countries following Lai’s sentencing Lawrence Tang Fei, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council said the document systematically clarifies political ethics and rule-of-law principles explaining how China and the HKSAR have handled national security matters in accordance with the law
Lai was found guilty in December 2025 on charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and conspiring to publish seditious materials His mitigation hearing concluded in January this year, according to Xinhua Senior policy adviser Lau Siu-kai said the white paper also makes clear that no internal or external hostile forces will be allowed to undermine One Country Two Systems, Hong Kong s prosperity and stability, or China s national security He added that the document serves as a warning and deterrent to the United States and other Western forces seeking to use Hong Kong to contain China C
The white paper revisits the prolonged debate over local national security legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law the 2019 unrest that posed what it calls the gravest challenge to national security in Hong Kong and the subsequent measures taken by the central and local governments These included strengthening the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms, improving the electoral system and governance and implementing the principle of patriots administering Hong Kong
GameNow, Zarr, Apna Clinic, and more Based in Islamabad the program provides early-career professionals with hands-on exposure structured mentorship and practical learning across all key domains Commenting on the initiative, Tazeen Shahid, Chief People Officer at JazzWorld said: “Jazz is strengthening the capabilities that will define the future of digital services
and hands-on HAP software training focusing on sustainable retrofitting energy optimization, and skills development With strong institutional support, the Expo is expected to attract broad participation and promote collaboration and innovation across the sector
C o n s u m e r s A s s o c i a t i o n o f
Kaukab
MARYAM NAWA Z PLEDGES FULL PUNJAB SUPPORT TO BALOCHISTAN DURING QUETTA VISIT
Lahore Reclaimed Its Colours, Culture and Confidence After 25 Years
always heard that the vibrant colors of Punjab and its rich cultural heritage are the true identity of the province across the world This time, after a gap of 25 years, Basant provided the younger generation with the opportunity to witness these colors and traditions with their own eyes Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz decided to revive Basant celebrations in Lahore after 25 years This was a very difficult decision because many concerns and reservations had been raised regarding the festival However Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz honored her commitment and successfully implemented her decision Before the commencement of Basant, security arrangements of the highest standard were put in place Since the younger generation was going to celebrate Basant for the first time in their lives safety measures were also ensured at the same high level For the protection of citizens, the Punjab government installed nearly 1 3 million safety rods on motorcycles Public transport remained completely free for three days including 500 electric buses rickshaws and taxis, and approximately five million people benefited from free travel
During the Basant days, more than one million vehicles entered Lahore If the number of passengers arriving by air from abroad and those coming by train from other cities of Pakistan are counted it is estimated that at least ten million people came to Lahore to celebrate Basant While Pakistanis are passionate about Basant, foreign nationals also traveled to Lahore to participate in the celebrations Foreign ambassadors and representatives of international media especially came to cover Basant and were also seen enjoying kite flying themselves
With the revival of Basant, people across Pakistan were seen praising Maryam Nawaz and admiring the good fortune of Lahoris The three-day Basant celebrations helped Lahore establish a new identity around the world Visitors from
Karachi and other cities stated that they had always heard Lahore was a city of lively and warm-hearted people but during this Basant they witnessed it with their own eyes
The decision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to celebrate Basant was appreciated at every level, and people arriving from across the country expressed great happiness and excitement Basant provided healthy entertainment not only to the people of Lahore but to citizens throughout Pakistan Perhaps for the first time international media openly and positively portrayed Pakistan s true image to the world This Basant not only provided recreation to locals but also presented a positive and peaceful face of Pakistan globally The world received the message that the people of Pakistan are peace-loving and deeply connected to their culture
Maryam Nawaz successfully showcased Pakistan as a beautiful, colorful, and joyful nation on the international stage The idea of reviving Basant belonged to Mian Nawaz Sharif but it was Maryam Nawaz who practically implemented it
Under the auspices of the Punjab Information and Culture Department, three-day Basant festivities were organized at Delhi Gate Lahore which were attended by foreign diplomats members of the National and Provincial Assemblies and ministers Prominent and well-known actors from the showbiz industry, especially from Karachi and other cities, participated and added great charm to the event while a large number of citizens also attended throughout the three days Provincial Minister for Informa-
tion and Culture Azma Bokhari personally welcomed guests for all three days She was accompanied continuously by Secretary Information Tahir Raza Hamdani DGPR Sheikh Farid Ahmed and Executive Director Alhamra Nawaz Gondal
Although kite flying arrangements were made on many rooftops across Lahore, the three-day program organized by the Information and Culture Department received appreciation at every level From this very rooftop Minister Azma Bokhari formally inaugurated Basant by flying a kite
On the first day, members of the assemblies and a large number of citizens attended the program Twenty representatives from international media houses were also specially invited who provided extensive coverage of the festival and enjoyed the event Secretary Information Tahir Raza Hamdani and Member Samiullah Khan also turned out to be enthusiastic kite flyers competing several times in friendly kite-flying duels Later at night Samiullah Khan and Education Minister Rana Sikandar also engaged in kite-flying competitions Provincial Ministers Ramesh Singh, Sohaib Bharth, and Zeeshan Malik also participated A music concert was arranged on the first day in which singer Humaira Arshad captivated the audience and provided excellent entertainment, with citizens dancing to her songs On the second day, Acting U S Ambassador to Pakistan Natalie Baker attended as a special guest accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary John Mark Consul General Stetson Sanders, Sadaf Saad, and Political Officer John Skerry Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb was also present with them Minister Azma Bokhari welcomed the guests while Provincial Minister for Communications Sohaib Bharth was also present Natalie Baker thanked the Punjab government for allowing Basant and attended the program wearing a yellow shirt Guests were served traditional Lahori cuisine Showbiz stars from Karachi and other cities also joined the Basant celebrations at Delhi Gate
KARACHI S ta f f r e p o r t Hong Kong HuiHua Global Corporation Ltd (HHGTL), a wholly owned subsidiary of China Oil HBP Science and Technology Ltd (HBP), has successfully completed the Dakhni Front End Compression Project for Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) marking a significant milestone in Pakistan s upstream energy sector Executed in collaboration with MHAA Corporation and in joint venture with Etimaad Engineering (Pvt ) Ltd with ILF
of the Dakhni project underscores HHGTL s proven capability to execute complex front-end compression projects with precision speed and uncompromising quality Seamless integration of engineering procurement construction, and commissioning activities ensured strict adherence to international HSE standards, technical excellence,
Basant's Grand Return: How
SINDH CABINET APPROVES DIGITAL PROPERT Y REGISTRATION FOR OVERSEAS PAKISTANIS, EXPANDS FORESTS AND MARKET PROJECTS
TLHC petition seeks ac tion over deaths linked to Basant celebrations
s ta f f r e p o r t
A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court calling for criminal proceedings against government officials following deaths and injuries reported during recent Basant celebrations in Lahore
The plea was submitted by Judicial Activism Panel head Azhar Siddique and cites official figures from the Punjab Home Department According to the data, six people lost their lives and 124 others were injured during the festival figures that directly contradict the Punjab government s claims that Basant was celebrated without serious incidents
Lahore witnessed large scale festivities marking the end of Basant with kites filling the sky and citizens gathering on rooftops streets and open spaces to welcome spring The celebrations were held under heightened security and special administrative arrangements
The Punjab government had permitted Basant celebrations from February 6 to 8 restricting the festival exclusively to Lahore Authorities maintained that strict legal and safety measures were enforced to prevent the tragic incidents that had previously resulted in a ban on the festival However, the petitioner argued that Basant now poses a serious threat to public safety rather than serving as a cultural event The pe-
tition highlighted that dozens of children were injured after falling from rooftops or while climbing electricity poles during kite flying
It was further alleged that state institutions failed to curb the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of hazardous kite string, commonly known as killer string This failure, the petitioner claimed amounted to gross negligence on the part of the authorities
The court has been urged to order criminal and departmental action against responsible officials, establish a judicial commission to assess losses caused during Basant, and ensure strict enforcement of laws banning the production sale and use of killer kite string
Govt repor t identifies Punjab’s weakest distric ts in educ ation
RAWALPINDI
s ta f f r e p o r t
The 9th International Pakistan Army
Team Spirit (PATS) Competition concluded at Kharian on February 9 2026
the military s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday According to ISPR, the closing ceremony was attended by the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as the chief guest The Team Spirit Competition is a 60hour-long patrolling exercise designed to enhance professional military skills
through the exchange of innovative ideas, tactical experiences, and best practices among participating teams, the statement said Conducted from February 5 the exercise took place in the semimountainous terrain of Punjab providing a realistic and challenging operational environment
ISPR said PATS has evolved over the years into a prestigious and highly competitive military exercise, recognised for promoting professional excellence and mutual learning among participating nations The forum continues to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and understanding while fostering camaraderie
ing and unresolved problems He said complaints about missing persons were a daily occurrence in his constituency and urged the state and political leadership to address the issue through dialogue rather than force He warned that treating Balochistan solely as a security problem would further deteriorate conditions, while meaningful engagement with political parties could help stabilise the situation He also expressed concern over the shrinking space for mainstream political parties and criticised what he described as the symbolic representation of elected leaders in parliament Recalling his involvement in the Pakistan Democratic Movement Dr Malik said the alliance had agreed on several points including ending enforced disappearances He called for political reforms
and team spirit in a demanding operational setting This year ’s competition saw participation from 19 countries, including Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Egypt Iraq Jordan the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Malaysia Maldives Morocco Nepal Qatar Sri Lanka Turkiye the United States, and Uzbekistan Indonesia, Myanmar, and Thailand attended as observers Sixteen domestic teams from the Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy also took part while observers from the Pakistan Air Force were present at the event Addressing the closing ceremony CDF Munir commended all participating teams for their exceptional professionalism, physical and mental endurance, operational competence and
