PAK-UZBEKISTAN SEAL ‘HISTORIC $2B TRADE DEAL , ’ 29 MOUS AS PRESIDENT MIRZIYOYEV ARRIVES IN ISL AMABAD
g JOINT WORKING GROUP TO BE ESTABLISHED TO FORMULATE FIVE-YEAR ROADMAP FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND INDUSTRIAL COLLABORATION
g PM LAUDS MIRZIYOYEV AS ‘MAN OF ACTION,’ DESCRIBING SIGNING OF PROTOCOL AS ‘GREAT MANIFESTATION OF COMMITMENT TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC RELATIONS’
g TWO LEADERS DUB UZBEKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN–PAKISTAN RAIL PROJECT ‘ GAME CHANGER’ FOR CENTRAL A SIA, PAKISTAN TRADE AND CONNECTIVITY
Uzbek President visits GIDS to deepen collaboration in defence, tech and industrial sec tors
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev along with senior ministers also visited the Global Industrial and Defence Solutions (GIDS) as
MUZAFFARABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
ment by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said During the visit, the President was briefed on the diverse portfolio of GIDS encompassing advanced defence solutions industrial capabilities and technological innovations The delegation toured key facilities and witnessed various defence products, reflecting Pakistan s growing expertise in indigenous defence production and industrial development, according to the military’s media wing The visit underscored the shared
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan s unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support for the Kashmir cause vowing that the Kashmiri people s struggle for the right to selfdetermination will continue until its logical conclusion in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions He also announced a special development package for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Addressing a special session of the AJK Legislative Assembly on Kashmir Solidarity Day, the prime minister paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people underlining that history bears witness to their resolve: Kashmiris can sacrifice lives and children but will never compromise on freedom Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif and AJK Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore laid a wreath at the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Yadgar-e-Shuhada on the occasion Expressing profound grief over the demise of former AJK President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, the prime
minister recalled the late leader ’s lifelong dedication to the Kashmir freedom movement He also acknowledged the political services of Chaudhry Noor Hussain, a founding political figure of AJK The assembly observed Fateha for the departed soul PM Shehbaz Sharif saluted martyrs of the Kashmir struggle from Burhan Wani to veteran leader Syed Ali Geelani, paying homage to leaders, activists, journalists women and children including Asiya Andrabi Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq He said the blood of innocent Kashmiris had exposed India s narrative before the world
Highlighting the historical
significance of Kashmir the prime minister recalled Quaid-eAzam Muhammad Ali Jinnah s declaration that Kashmir is Pakistan s jugular vein, stating it continues to form the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy He stressed that lasting peace in South Asia is impossible unless India abandons its hegemonic ambitions and respects the fundamental rights of Kashmiris Linking Kashmir with Palestine the prime minister said granting oppressed peoples the right to live according to their will is a test of the international community s commitment to democracy, justice, and international law
collaboration
Reaffirming
strategic
and
both
that no adversary could undermine Pakistan-China friendship Ambassador Zaidong thanked Pakistan for its security measures, while Minister Naqvi expressed gratitude for China’s consistent support
PTI, TTAP vow no compromise on Imran Khan’s health, urge nation to make Feb 8 strike successful
ISLAMABAD
POWER CONSUMERS MAY FACE RS10.83B BURDEN UNDER Q2 F Y26 QUARTERLY TARIFF ADJUSTMENT
Govt to review tax rates for top income
earners in next budget
procedure The target for the auction was Rs650 billion, with a maturity amount of Rs697 billion Financial experts warned that the higher T-bill rates would increase the government’s debt burden with interest payments in fiscal year 2026 expected to reach Rs8 trillion the largest share of the current budget
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
We also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern, he added, congratulating the visiting leader on receiving Nishan-iPakistan, the country’s highest civil award
He described the protocol signed between the two countries as historic establishing a joint working group to chart a five-year roadmap for economic and trade cooperation The group will identify sectors for enhanced bilateral trade and consult on measures to expand economic collaboration Last month both countries had agreed in Tashkent to raise bilateral trade to $2 billion MOUS AND AGREEMENTS
The signing ceremony, broadcast live on television highlighted agreements in diverse sectors including defence cooperation climate change and disaster risk reduction agriculture sanitary protocols for fruit exports, mining, geosciences, transfer of sentenced persons, and combating drug trafficking
KEY AGREEMENTS INCLUDED:
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and Uzbek Agency for Pharmaceutical
Industry Development: Cooperation in pharmaceuticals and regulatory functions Pakistan Sports Board and Uzbek Ministry of Sports: Collaboration in sports and physical culture Trade and business: Expansion of the list of goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement; establishment of the Pakistan–Uzbekistan Interregional Forum
Defence sector: Action plan signed between Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Uzbek Defence Minister Shukhrat Khalmukhammedov
Anti-narcotics cooperation: Agreement to combat illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances Digital cooperation: MoU between Pakistan s IT Ministry and Uzbekistan s Ministry of Digital Technologies to promote innovation, digital infrastructure, and technology exchange Maritime and port cooperation: MoU to enhance trade at Karachi, Gwadar and Qasim ports Industrial and SME collaboration: Agreements to strengthen small and medium enterprises and industrial ties Academic and research collaboration: MoUs between University of Peshawar and Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies and between strategic and regional studies institutes Municipal and business cooperation: Partnerships between Peshawar and Termez, Islamabad and Samarkand; establishment of a Uzbekistan–Pakistan Joint Business Council At the ceremony President Mirziyoyev was conferred an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy and the title of professor for his exceptional contributions towards fostering strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan and promoting regional peace and development ” ‘DEEP-ROOTED RELATIONS’
PM Shehbaz welcomed President Mirziyoyev to Islamabad calling it his second home and congratulating him for the honorary titles Your meritorious services and unwavering dedication have strengthened not just our countries but the region as a whole ” he said He lauded Mirziyoyev for receiving the Nishan-i-Pakistan for promoting economic cooperation trade and investment If there were a bigger title, you would have been the most de-
serving, he remarked The premier highlighted deeprooted historical spiritual and cultural ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan tracing connections to the ancient Silk Route and the legacy of the Mughal Empire These historical facts provide a strong foundation for durable relations and a bright future,” he said, expressing gratitude for the Uzbek president’s previous visit to Pakistan in February 2025 The inaugural meeting of the HighLevel Strategic Cooperation Council took place earlier on Thursday PM Shehbaz said the council heralded a “very bright future” and emphasized close collaboration on regional connectivity including the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan (UAP) rail project which both leaders termed a game changer for regional trade ‘GREAT MANIFESTATION OF COMMITMENT TO WORKING TOGETHER’ PM Shehbaz praised Mirziyoyev as a man of action and described the signing of the protocol as a great manifestation of our commitment to enhance and expand economic relations The joint working group, represented by Pakistan’s Haroon Akhtar, Minister of State for Industries and Production will chart a five-year plan covering all spheres of economic activity Quarterly review meetings will track progress, with leaders committing to in-person sessions instead of virtual meetings for efficiency The premier also welcomed Uzbekistan’s participa-
Gaza reconstruction funding
Potential donors are worried about Israel resuming the killing
US President Donald Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan is running into problems because potential donors are hanging back because they are afraid that Israel will resume the war on Hamas or just generally There are also concerns that funds for reconstruction would be under the Board of Peace, of which Mr Trump has made himself lifetime President Though Mr Trump had the Board approved (before he constituted it) by the United Nations Security Council there are apparently some countries, potential donors, which would prefer the funds for reconstruction to be controlled by the UN However the real problem is with Israel There seems no point in pouring funda into a war zone and to have all the infrastructure built up to that point destroyed
There seems to be a number of factors involved First, the need for reconstruction has only arisen because Israel relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip for over a year Second, there seems no sign of Israel stopping The mantra is that Hamas disarms Some of the potential peacekeepers such as Pakistan have said they do not intend to be part of any disarmament activities Israel has shown that it is unwilling to keep the peace, and has continued its attacks, killing at least 616 people since the ceasefire The bombardment both from air and by artillery has been accompanied by just the sort of damage that was caused in the first place, and which needs about $100 billion There seems no point in building something, only to have Israel reduce it to rubble once again Finally there seems no way of getting Israel to honour any pledges it might make to preserve the peace Israel also has a very poor track record in this regard
Perhaps the only way to stop Israel might be for the West to make its support less absolute more conditional on good behaviour For example, the West might refuse to replace shells, missiles and bombs used in Gaza, something which is being carried out smoothly at the moment If supporters were to pledge to cover any losses Israel caused, Israel would probably take that as a carte blanche Israel has been cavalier with US assistance, for instance and the West Bank settlements have only been possible because the Israeli state has received vast sums from the USA, $174 billion (this is entirely separate from the donations from the USA for the settlements, which were $220 million over a five-year period) Nothing suggests it will change
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
TH E India-European Union deal is being seen in some quarters as a major development in the world mainly because it seems to establish a separate European pole which was seen as a mere adjunct of the USA since World War II It is also India s best reply to the USA which has apparently shaken it off Thus the USA s policy of going it alone seems to have backfired, for it has meant that Europe has coalesced around the need to find greater security, while its erstwhile counterweight to China seems to have found a new friend Pakistan has found itself flummoxed Whereas it had tried to draw closer to the USA it had excluded itself from the role of counterweight by its relationship with China That the Chinese relationship is nonnegotiable was shown last summer, when Chinese technology as used by Pakistan proved superior to European technology as used by India Chinese jets, using Chinese missiles shot down French Rafales and a Russian Su-25 The deal has left it awkwardly placed for the EU remains its largest export destination even after Brexit As much as 40 percent of its exports go to the EU, with textiles about 76 percent of this, making textiles to the EU 28 percent of its total exports With a government dedicated to exporting its
has persistently claimed that Europe was not pulling its weight in defense spending That made European countries seek alternative economic partners India had curried up to the USA, but found itself rebuffed after Pakistan made it clear last summer that India was not suited to acting as a counterweight to China or as a regional proxy The deal was thus struck by parties which are deeply involved with the USA but are seeking economic alliances as a sort of alternative to the USA The EU has been courted by China, but is clearly not willing to be on its side, especially because of China’s ties to Russia, with which its
Tnetwork operating through the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and others Despite being projected as a coordinated offensive the campaign reflected poor planning fragmented execution and an absence of operational depth In Quetta s Sariab Road area, an attempted strike on a police vehi-
whether in failed attacks, internal disputes, or counterterrorism actions their deaths are later repackaged as cases of enforced disappearances by affiliated propaganda networks Tht is the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and Balochistan National Movement (BNM) This manipulation of grief is designed to obscure responsibility and sustain a manufactured narrative of victimhood Parallel to the kinetic failure of “Herof 2 0” is the erosion of its political and ideological cover Organisations projecting themselves as civil rights platforms have repeatedly amplified allegations of oppression when the state enforces the law during protests Slogans invoking women s dignity, Baloch honour, and state brutality are mobilised selectively Yet when credible evidence emerges of women being radicalised armed and deployed for terrorist operations these same voices fall conspicuously silent This selective outrage reveals a calculated use of human rights language as a proxy weapon rather than a principled cause The events surrounding January 31, which brought to light the use of women in militant
operations, stripped away the remaining moral veneer The issue is no longer one of dissent or disagreement with state policy; it is a question of complicity When rights are invoked only to shield militancy and ignored when militancy exploits the vulnerable the narrative stands exposed as fundamentally fraudulent Herof 2 0 has thus become an unintended autopsy of a failing enterprise It demonstrated the futility of armed struggle devoid of public legitimacy the miscalculations of foreign handlers investing in declining assets and the growing isolation of terror networks within Balochistan Above all, it reaffirmed the operational competence of Pakistan s security forces and the resilience of the state in the face of externally sponsored destabilisation Pakistan’s response to terrorism in Balochistan reflects a national consensus rooted in protecting civilians safeguarding development and dismantling networks that thrive on chaos As cleanup operations continue, the message is unequivocal: violence will neither fracture the state nor hijack the future of the province Accountability must extend beyond those who carry weapons to those who enable terror through selective silence and manufactured outrage This is no longer a contest of narratives it is a confrontation between truth and deception, between peace and proxy warfare
The writer is a freelance columnist
PakistanÊs response to terrorism in Balochistan reflects a national consensus rooted in protecting civilians, safeguarding development, and dismantling networks that thrive on chaos As cleanup operations continue, the message is unequivocal: violence will neither fracture the state nor hijack the future of the province Accountability must extend beyond those who carry weapons to those who enable terror through selective silence and manufactured outrage This is no longer a contest of narratives it is a confrontation between truth and deception, between peace and proxy warfare
Bigger, not better
TArIq KhAN TAreeN
Economics of Basant
AIf basant is to be assessed through an economic lens, the debate should move from slogans to measurement Start with what is countable: registered sale points, event-day turnover, and a simple sample-based estimate that can be repeated each year That is how a city turns a festival from a guessing game into an accountable, regulated burst of commerce– one where livelihoods, not just nostalgia, sit at the centre of the argument
cross-check–the part the state can actually measure Lahore administration has approved 1 413 sale points for kites, string, and related material for a three-day Basant window If an average registered point sells a conservative Rs 1 million per day in kites, string,
over headline guesses: it ties the estimate to observable micro-units that regulators already manage Put those two approaches together and a sensible direct and near-direct range for a regulated Basant in Lahore in 2026 sits around Rs 4–6 billion Its range is roughly $15–20 million The bigger
fects
Economists
Begin with an old anchor often cited for Lahore: Rs 220 million of Basant related direct activities in 2004. Translate it into todayÊs price level using CPI: with CPI 51 1 (2004) and 386 (2025), the inflation factor is 7 55 (386 divided by 51.1), turning the same nominal basket into roughly Rs 1 66 billion in 2026 rupees Scale for city siz e: Lahore rises from 6 28 million (2005) to 15 15 million (2025)–about 2.41x– lifting the figure to around Rs 4.0 billion.
,
away is simpler: a festival recycles cash through many hands in a short time which is especially valuable in a city where so many households live close to the margin A quick Pakistan-wide benchmark can still help readers In FY2024–25, Pakistan had about 77 2 million employed persons and nominal GDP around Rs
M a r i n e L e P e n ’ s t r i a l A
Trump’s tariffs winning?
with immediate enforcement she would no longer be subject to this conviction at the time of the presidential election as two years will have elapsed and she would therefore be able to campaign The
a long afternoon of closing arguments in Marine Le Pen s appeal trial over the European parliamentary assistants case, the advocates general ruled in favour of upholding the sentence handed down in the first instance a year ago against the leader of the Rassemblement National (RN) MPs albeit with some nuances The final verdict will not be known for several months but Marine Le Pen s chances of being able to stand in the 2027 presidential election are steadily dwindling
At the end of the three-week appeal trial, the prosecution sought a four-year prison sentence for Le Pen, including one year without parole, which could be served with an electronic tag and five years of ineligibility However unlike the first-instance conviction no provisional enforcement was requested
The issue of provisional enforcement was at the heart of the RN s challenges to the first judgement, which saw the first-instance verdict as a deliberate attempt to prevent Marine Le Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election The absence of provisional enforcement in the indictment is therefore ‘good news’ for the RN according to RN spokesman Laurent Jacobelli who appeared on the parliamentary channel Public Sénat on Wednesday February 4th It proves that everything we said during the first stage of the trial was realistic, said the MP It is clear that this line of defence was the right one ”
The party is making the most of every opportunity but there is little cause for celebration We must wait for the verdict with confidence serenity and impatience in Jacobelli s words which is due this summer, but acquittal now seems highly unlikely On the evening of February 3rd, Marine Le Pen acknowledged that she would not be a candidate in the presidential
Pen and her party would still have one recourse: an appeal to the Court of Cassation to challenge the appeal court s ruling For the moment, the suspensive effect of the ap-
could launch a presidential campaign without damaging her or her party
This is particularly true given that the timetable in this scenario remains highly uncertain: if the Court of Cassation were to uphold her conviction on appeal a
Pen would already be engaged in the campaign, the RN would risk finding itself without a candidate It is for this reason that Le Pen has had to resign herself to acknowledging that if the conviction is upheld she will withdraw from the race without however giving up her rights in the medium term
The best summary of the situation was provided by Le Pen herself: “I am a believer, and I still believe in miracles ” But every believer knows that miracles are few and far between in the economy of Providence At this stage the scenario of Le Pen running for president is therefore almost certainly fading into the distance
For the French Right, the shock is severe though predictable From a long-term perspective, it is dismaying to see how badly the electoral machine is jammed, ensuring that the Right never comes to power, ever since the cabal against conservative candidate François Fillon who was conveniently embroiled in a legal scandal ahead of the 2017 presidential election
job, accumulating contempt, spittle, and opprobrium with uncommon endurance for more than thirty years,
when attaining power appeared more within reach
owed him the opportunity after our criticism of his tariffs, and we ll pay him the additional compliment of parsing his claims Mr Trump starts by torching a straw man to wit that critics were wrong to say tariffs would produce a recession We can only speak for ourselves but we never predicted that We said tariffs are a tax that would hurt growth but their overall impact would depend on whether tax reform and deregulation outweighed the tariff harm So far they have Congressional Republicans last year spared the economy an enormous tax increase, and the Administration is taking aim at burdensome regulations The artificial intelligence boom is boosting investment The question is: How much better would the economy be now without the tariffs and their onagain, off-again imposition? Prices on many goods would be lower, for one thing Tariffs don’t cause general inflation but they do raise relative prices Mr Trump says foreigners bear the costs of the import taxes He claimed in his essay for us that researchers at Harvard had found that foreign producers and middlemen, including large corporations that are not from the U S pay at least 80% of tariff costs ” We published that claim because readers should know that’s what the President believes but the paper he cites says something different In an updated version released after Mr Trump wrote the authors note that the retail pass-through of the tariffs has been 24% a measure of the extent to which a given tariff rate feeds through to consumer prices, given that the cost of the good at the border is only one part of the final price This pass-through rate is higher than under Mr Trump’s 2018-19 China tariffs But that doesn t tell the full picture of how the tariff cost is distributed The Harvard economists note in the same paragraph that U S consumers are bearing up to 43% of the tariff burden, with U S companies absorbing most of the rest That aligns with other research such as a recent paper from Germany s Kiel Institute that found Americans pay 96% of the cost of tariffs Foreign exporters either pass
Xi holds rare same -day talks with Putin, Trump as China pushes major-power coordination
Economic ties continued to grow robustly Xi said citing official data showing that bilateral trade reached $228 1 billion in 2025 surpassing $200 billion for the third consecutive year
silience of the global order
CHINA-RUSSIA TALKS HIGHLIGHT STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
In a virtual meeting with President Putin Xi reviewed the progress of ChinaRussia relations over the past year pointing to deepening strategic coordination expanding economic cooperation, stronger cultural exchanges and closer multilateral engagement
Xi noted that the two countries jointly commemorated the 80th anniversary of victory in the World Anti-Fascist War reaffirming their shared commitment to defending the outcomes of World War II and upholding international fairness and justice
On people-to-people exchanges, Xi said the China-Russia Cultural Year concluded successfully further enhancing cultural cooperation and public interaction He also highlighted close coordination within multilateral frameworks, particularly the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which he said has contributed to efforts to build a more just and reasonable global governance system Looking ahead Xi stressed the need for sustained high-level exchanges and deeper practical cooperation to ensure bilateral relations continue to move along the right track ” Putin responded by reaffirming Russia’s readiness to firmly support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and security expand cooperation in education and culture and promote shared prosperity He also expressed Russia s willingness to strengthen coordination with China through platforms such as the United Nations SCO and BRICS and voiced support for China’s hosting of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Shenzhen Against a backdrop of rising geopo-
litical tensions Xi said China and Russia as responsible major countries have an obligation to defend the UN-centered international system uphold the basic norms of international law and jointly maintain global strategic stability XI-TRUMP CALL FOCUSES ON MANAGING DIFFERENCES
Xi’s phone call with President Trump centered on managing differences while expanding cooperation between the world s two largest economies Referring to their earlier meeting in Busan, Xi said it helped “chart the direction and course for China-U S relations ” He acknowledged that both sides have their own concerns and reiterated that China honors its commitments stressing that dialogue based on equality mutual respect and mutual benefit is key to resolving differences Xi outlined priorities for bilateral ties in 2026 noting that the year will mark the start of China s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) and coincide with the 250th anniversary of U S independence He called for enhanced communication, proper management of differences, expanded practical cooperation and deeper mutual trust urging both sides to explore a path of peaceful coexistence and winwin cooperation Trump responded that U S -China relations are the world s most important
WASHINGTON Ag e n c i e s
The US Justice Department has removed a government lawyer from an assignment in Minnesota after she told a federal judge, “This job sucks” and said immigration authorities had failed to comply with court orders according to a source familiar with the move Julie Le an attorney with the US Department of Homeland Security had been detailed to the US Attorney s Office for the District of Minnesota as hundreds of lawsuits flooded the court there from people challenging their detention during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement surge US District Judge Jerry Blackwell had ordered her and another government lawyer to appear before him in a St Paul courtroom on Tuesday to explain why the administration had repeatedly not complied with court orders in several cases, including ones directing the release of detainees
According to a court transcript Le told the judge she had “stupidly” volunteered to work at the US Attorney s Office starting January 5 to help it address hundreds of lawsuits that had arrived challenging the detention of people swept up in Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota
“What do you want me to do?” she said, the transcript showed “The system sucks This job sucks” A Justice Department spokesperson said the Trump administration was complying with court orders and fully enforcing federal immigration law
bilateral relationship saying he welcomes China s success and that Washington is willing to strengthen cooperation and promote stable development of ties Xi also emphasized the Taiwan question, calling it the most important and sensitive issue in China-U S relations He reaffirmed China’s determination to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity and urged the U S to handle arms sales to Taiwan prudently Trump said he understood China’s concerns and expressed willingness to maintain stable bilateral relations during his term CHINA SEEKS TO INJECT CERTAINTY INTO A TENSE WORLD
The same-day diplomacy came as global tensions remained elevated, with a potential U S -Iran military clash looming and the last remaining U S -Russia nuclear arms control treaty set to expire on February 5 Uncertainty also persists over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and political and economic instability in Venezuela
Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University of China, told CGTN that the back-to-back engagements reflect China’s efforts to promote coordination among major powers prevent strategic miscalculations and foster a more stable international environment
blaming high caseloads on “rogue judges”
The source said the Justice Department had cut short Le’s assignment A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson called Le s remarks unprofessional and unbecoming but did not say whether she had returned to her previous job Le did not respond to requests for comment
During Tuesday’s hearing, Le said she had worked days and nights on the cases and tried to ensure court orders were complied with
But she said she had not received proper training from the Justice Department and had struggled to ensure US Immigration and Customs Enforcement complied with all court orders, which they have not done in the past or currently “Sometime I wish you would just hold me in contempt Your Honour so that I can have a full 24 hours of sleep ” Le told Blackwell according to the transcript The US Attorney s Office in Minnesota has come under strain as it faces a flood of immigration petitions and cases accusing demonstrators of assaulting federal agents
Six prosecutors, including some senior officials, resigned earlier this month in protest against how President Donald Trump’s administration handled the investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an immigration agent Blackwell who was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, said he understood the concerns about all the energy that this is causing the DOJ to expend, but, with respect, some of it is of your own making by not complying with orders”
Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association organizes
CM MARYAM MINGLES
of Pakistan Karachi, organized the 38th Annual Urdu Haiku Mushaira on Saturday evening, January 31 2026 The event was held at Haseena Moin Hall Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi The Mushaira was coordinated by Ms Wazahat Naseem It was presided over by Mr Firasat Rizvi while the Honourable Consul General of Japan in Karachi graced the occasion as the Chief Guest The proceedings began with the recitation of verses from the
Quran by Mr Saleem Ahmed General Secretary of PJCA Sindh This was followed by the welcome address delivered by Mr Azmat Ataka First Vice President of PJCA Sindh In his speech, Mr Ataka thanked the Honourable Consul General of Japan for his continued patronage and support for cultural and literary activities He also expressed his gratitude to Mr Muhammad Ahmed Shah President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi for his consistent cooperation and generous support in organizing PJCA events Mr Ataka further thanked Mr Firasat Rizvi for presiding over the Mushaira Mr Azmat Ataka also paid special thanks to Ms Sadia Rashid, President of Hamdard Group, for generously providing gift hampers for all the participating poets He acknowledged the valuable support of Hamdard Group which contributed greatly to the success of the event Apart from the President of the Mushaira, Mr Firasat Rizvi, around twenty one poets participated in the Mushaira The poets who presented their haiku, in alphabetical order, were Dr Abda Ghanghro, Afzal Hazarvi, Hameeda Kashish Dr Jamal Naqvi Kazunori Matsuda Khalida Uzma Naseem Nazish
r t
Infectious Disease experts at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) have stated that recent developments related to the Nipah virus (NiV) in Eastern India and Bangladesh do not currently pose a direct threat to Pakistan While geographical factors and known transmission patterns keep the risk low, experts noted that the situation presents an important opportunity to reflect on national pandemic preparedness Speaking at a media roundtable with journalists AKUH s Infectious Disease specialists shared that since 2025, only 10 cases of the Nipah virus have been reported globally Of these, just two involved human-to-human transmission, which remains an exceptionally rare occurrence “The risk of international spread is considered low said Dr Faisal Mahmood Professor of Infectious Diseases and Associate Chief Medical Officer at AKUH While Nipah is a serious infection, it is not an immediate concern for Pakistan at this time Our healthcare focus remains on addressing pressing domestic challenges, including the current rise in measles cases ”Experts explained that the primary mode of Nipah virus transmission is zoonotic occurring through direct contact with infected bats or the consumption of food contaminated by them such as raw tree sap or fruit They clarified that the virus is not transmitted through casual exposure to bats, such as bats flying nearby “Geographically, the recent cases are concentrated in West Bengal and Kerala in India as well as in Bangladesh said Dr Nosheen Nasir Section Head of Infectious Diseases at AKUH Importantly no cases have been reported from western regions of India that border Pakistan However, because early symptoms such as fever and headache can resemble influenza and may progress to severe brain inflammation continued clinical vigilance is essential ”
Punjab s Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Thursday stated that February 5 Kashmir Solidarity Day represents the unmatched sacrifices of the Kashmiri people and their continued struggle against Indian oppression She said there is not a single day in Pakistan when solidarity with Kashmiris is not expressed, adding that the entire nation stands firmly with its Kashmiri brothers and sisters
She said that Occupied Kashmir has turned into the world s largest prison, where Kashmiris are deprived of basic human rights and even the freedom to live according to their own will Despite decades of oppression by Indian forces Kashmiris have remained steadfast in their demand for the right to self-determination for more than seventy years and even the presence of eight hundred thousand Indian troops has failed to suppress their spirit of freedom Azma Bokhari further stated that Kashmiri youth continue to face bullets with courage while Kashmiri mothers and sisters endure immense hardships; yet their resolve remains strong She said the people of Punjab stand shoulder to shoulder with Kashmiris, and Pakistan will continue to support them at diplomatic
moral and humanitarian levels
She emphasized that Kashmir remains a vital and integral part of Pakistan s foreign policy, and Pakistan will continue to raise the voice of Kashmiris on international platforms She expressed hope that the day of Kashmir s freedom is near and that the Kashmiri people will soon achieve their right to independence
The Provincial Minister also said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and does not believe in war hysteria; however it fully reserves the right to defend itself and will respond decisively to any aggression
On this occasion Secretary Information Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani said that India has continued its oppression in Occupied Kashmir for decades, while Pakistan has consistently raised the voice of the Kashmiri
people on global human rights forums and continues diplomatic efforts to end the illegal Indian occupation Earlier, Provincial Minister Azma Bokhari led a rally organized in connection with Kashmir Solidarity Day
The rally was attended by Parliamentary Secretary Shazia Rizwan Secretary Information Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani DGPR Farid Ahmad Chairman Alhamra Arts Council Razi Ahmed, Executive Director Lahore Arts Council Muhammad Nawaz Gondal Executive Director Punjab Arts Council Mehboob Alam Chaudhry Director Majlis-e-Taraqqie-Adab Abbas Tabish Kashmiri leaders, and a large number of citizens Participants raised powerful slogans in support of Kashmir and reaffirmed their commitment to the cause of Kashmir’s freedom
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa on Thursday chaired a meeting at CDA headquarters to review ongoing and planned development projects in the federal capital Randhawa stressed the need to connect all major highways of Islamabad under the city’s master plan to improve traffic flow He said planning should focus on constructing missing road links particularly in view of the upcoming Ring Road and the proposed connection of
Margalla Avenue with the motorway The meeting discussed progress on the 10th and 11th Avenue projects which are expected to facilitate traffic entering the city from Margalla Avenue, Srinagar Highway and adjoining routes The chairman directed that obstacles delaying these projects be removed and construction plans aligned with future traffic requirements He also emphasised the timely completion of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all upcoming projects and
nect Margalla Avenue with the M-1 Motorway, and matters related to a proposed luxury hotel in the capital Randhawa directed that all development projects be completed within stipulated timelines while ensuring high construction standards Senior CDA officials, including Member Engineering Syed
MILITARY LEADERSHIP REITERATES UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR KASHMIRIS’ STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
CSidhu, on behalf of the armed forces of Pakistan, reaffirmed their unwavering support for the resilient people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their epic struggle for self-determination On the solemn occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, the Pakistan Armed Forces strongly
Cour ts across Punjab to operate as usual during Basant holidays
The Lahore High Court (LHC) and subordinate courts throughout Punjab will conduct regular hearings on February 6 and 7, even as the provincial government has declared public holidays on those dates to mark Basant Following the government’s announcement, the LHC administration placed a proposal before Chief Justice Aalia Neelum suggesting closure of courts for the two days The chief justice declined the recommendation and directed that judicial work continue without interruption Court proceedings at the LHC and across the province will therefore proceed as scheduled on both days An official notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department on February 4 declared February 6 and 7 2026 Friday and Saturday as public holidays across Punjab Earlier on February 2 Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had encouraged citizens to use the extended weekend for rest, outlining the sequence of holidays beginning with Kashmir Day on February 5, followed by the Basant holiday on February 6 and the routine weekend on Saturday and Sunday The revival of Basant this year follows a long hiatus in
in India and among Punjabi communities abroad with kite flying as the central activity In Punjab the festival came under scrutiny in the early 2000s after incidents involving celebratory gunfire, hazardous kite strings and rooftop falls led to numerous fatalities, resulting in a comprehensive ban imposed in 2007 The current revival has been enabled
district boundaries and only on the specified days while prohibitions elsewhere in the province remain in force The regulations ban nylon plastic chemically treated and glass coated strings, as well as metallic wires and spools Only cotton thread wound into round pinna forms will be permitted, each marked with a QR code to enable monitoring and traceability
RAWALPINDI
m i a n a b r a r Pakistan s security forces have successfully concluded Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-I in Balochistan, killing 216 terrorists and dismantling key command-and-control structures of Indian-sponsored militant networks the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday
According to the ISPR, the operation comprised a series of coordinated, swift and intelligence-driven actions against terrorist elements seeking to disrupt peace and development by targeting innocent civilians including women and children
The operation was initiated on January 29 in Panjgur and the outskirts of Harnai district after credible and verified intelligence confirmed the presence of terrorist elements posing an imminent threat to the local population In the initial phase security forces raided identified hideouts eliminating 41 terrorists linked to Indian proxy networks Subsequently when Fitna al Hindustan launched desperate retaliatory attacks to destabilise Balochistan, security forces responded aggressively and decisively, thwarting their designs This was followed by a broader series of intelligence-based operations across multiple areas aimed at disman-
events, reaffirming support for the Kashmiri brethren in their right to self-determination as senior political and military leaders issued statements linking regional peace to resolution of the long-standing dispute A one-minute silence was observed at 10am across the country in remembrance of those who lost their lives
ag e n C i e s Pakistan must create up to 30 million jobs over the next decade to turn its youth bulge into an economic dividend or risk instability and outward migration, World Bank President Ajay Banga has stressed Pakistan is entering the implementation phase of a 10-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) deal agreed with the World Bank last year while also working with the International Monetary Fund to stabilise its economy But Islamabad is still facing mounting pressure to deliver sustained growth and jobs “We’re trying to move the bank group as a whole from the idea of projects to the idea of outcomes Banga said in an interview with Reuters in Karachi during a visit to Pakistan this week “Job creation is the North Star ” ‘Generational challenge’ Pakistan needs to generate 2 5m to 3m jobs a year roughly 25m to 30m over the next decade as millions of young people come of
age Banga said Failure to do so could fuel illegal migration or domestic instability Banga said Pakistan s population dynamics mean employment creation will remain a binding constraint on growth over the long term rather than a secondary policy goal This is a generational challenge he said The CPF commits around $4 billion a year in combined public and private financing from the World Bank Group, with roughly half expected to come from private-sector operations led by the International Finance Corporation
Banga said the reliance on private capital reflects a country where the government has limited spending capacity and 90 per cent of jobs are created in the private sector
Banga said Pakistan’s job strategy rests on three pillars: investment in human and physical infrastructure business-friendly regulatory reforms, and expanded access to financing and insurance, particularly for small firms and farmers that typically lack bank credit Infrastructure primary health-
care tourism and small-scale agriculture were labour-intensive sectors with the greatest employment potential, he said, adding that farming alone could account for about one-third of the jobs Pakistan needs to create by 2050 A growing pool of freelancers also highlighted Pakistan s appetite for entrepreneurship but they need better access to capital infrastructure and support to scale into job-creating businesses, he said The strain is readily visible in the exodus of skilled workers
Nearly 4 000 doctors emigrated from Pakistan in 2025 the highest annual outflow on record according to Gallup Pakistan data based on Bureau of Emigration figures, underscoring concerns that weak job prospects and poor working conditions are pushing trained professionals abroad Power first
Fixing Pakistan s power sector is the most urgent near-term priority, Banga said, noting that losses and inefficiencies in electricity distribution have limited growth despite improvements in generation capacity
Nasirabad in October and November last year, while similar attempts were reported in Kachhi and Shikarpur districts during the same period
tling sleeper cells through sustained combing and sanitisation actions Through meticulous planning actionable intelligence and seamless joint execution Pakistan s Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, with the support of intelligence agencies, responded with precision and resolve,” the ISPR said As a result of these coordinated engagements and clearance operations 216 terrorists were neutralised significantly degrading the leadership operational capability and logistical networks of the militant groups A substantial cache of foreign-origin weapons, ammunition, explosives and equipment was also recovered, with preliminary analysis pointing to systematic external facilitation and logistical support to the extremists
The ISPR said that during the operation 36 innocent civilians including women and children, were martyred, while 22 personnel of the security forces and law enforcement agencies laid down their lives in the defence of Pakistan’s territorial integrity “Their courage professionalism and unwavering commitment reflect the highest traditions of service the statement said adding that the nation honours their sacrifice and stands in solidarity with the families of all martyrs Reaffirming its resolve, the ISPR said Pakistan’s armed forces remain steadfast in
combating terrorism in all its forms under the National Action Plan (NAP) and that counter-terrorism operations would continue with full determination until the complete elimination of terrorist threats
Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-I stands as a testament to Pakistan s and particularly Balochistan’s proud people’s unwavering commitment to choosing peace over violence unity over division and development over destruction the statement added Meanwhile President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces and law enforcement agencies for the successful completion of the operation He said timely action by the forces foiled the nefarious attempts of Fitna al Hindustan to destabilise Balochistan stressing that the eradication of foreign-backed terrorism remains a top national priority He paid tribute to the civilian and security martyrs and expressed condolences to their families
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also lauded the officers and personnel of the security forces and the armed forces’ leadership for the success of the operation Praising their professional capabilities he said the forces had broken the back of the enemies of peace and development in Balochistan
The prime minister emphasised that the nation would never forget the sacrifices of