IRAN VOWS WILL NEVER ‘BOW’ AS TRUMP THREATENS ‘VERY
pakistan intensifies regional
ISLAMABAD
allow textile exporters to adjust their super tax liabilities against pending tax refunds and to permit payment of the remaining amount through instalments, citing liquidity constraints in the export-oriented textile sector In a letter addressed to FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad said tax field offices were still requiring exporters to pay the entire super tax liability in a lump sum despite earlier correspondence requesting relief
The association said the textile industry respects the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the levy of super tax under Section 4C of the Income Tax Ordinance However, it argued that the financial position of many textile mills does not allow them to settle the full amount immediately APTMA also raised concerns about inconsistent practices across FBR field formations stating that some taxpayers are being allowed to pay the tax in instalments while others are being
Karachi port begins UAE cargo transhipment amid Strait of Hormuz disruption
being stored at terminals within Karachi port limits The Pakistan Ships Agents Association has requested the government to allow the cargo to be moved to off-dock terminals located at Hawkesbay, Mauripur and Port Qasim to manage the expected increase in shipments PSAA Chairman Muhammad Rajpar said the current situation suggests that the Strait of Hormuz may remain closed for some time and that the volume of transhipment cargo handled at Karachi port is likely to grow in the coming days
Board of Revenue, the secretary of the Petroleum Division in the Ministry of Energy, chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as well as inspectors general of police of the provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory
Iran vows will never ‘bow’ as Trump threatens ‘very hard’ strikes amid soaring Middle East conflict
small cabal of Israel Firsters , and Israel First’ always means ‘America Last’,” Araghchi stated
US and the Zionist regime in the region will come under powerful and crushing strikes by the Iranian armed forces
MISSILE STRIKES IN ISRAEL: Sirens sounded in northern Israel, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv as Iranian missiles struck the region The IRGC announced a combined drone and missile operation targeting US and Israeli installations claiming that Haifa was hit with new solid-fuel Kheibar Shekan missiles, capable of guided strikes
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
REACTIONS: Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that developments posed serious risks to regional peace Representing the Organisation of Turkic States he emphasized that any attack on a member state would be a concern for all The bloc includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Turkiye and Uzbekistan with Hungary Turkmenistan and Northern Cyprus as observers The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced the evacuation of embassy families in Lebanon and other Iranians due to escalating threats, following Israeli warnings against Iranian personnel in Beirut
US MISCALCULATIONS IMMEDIATELY KILLED’ IRAN’S READI-
NESS: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country s openness to de-escalation was “immediately killed” by US miscalculations He warned that further escalation would be the responsibility of the Trump administration and highlighted US military losses of personnel and $100 billion during the week-long confrontation
This is a war of choice pursued by a
EXPLOSIONS IN IRAQ: AFP journalists reported explosions in Baghdad and Erbil including near the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, which houses the US embassy In Erbil, at least three loud explosions followed a drone sighting
UAE RESPONDS: The President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan addressed the nation asserting that the UAE was in a time of war but prepared The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh we are no easy prey,” he said He assured protection for all residents including foreign nationals amid Iran s missile strikes on Gulf targets Tensions in the region escalated last week after US and Israeli strikes killed Iran s Supreme Leader, triggering sustained Iranian retaliation across the Gulf, broadening the regional conflict and prompting heightened diplomatic and military alertness
MORE FROM ISRAEL S LATEST MILITARY CLAIMS: In a statement the army says targets hit in Iran included missile storage sites, ballistic missile launchers and military facilities linked to Iran’s security forces In Lebanon the Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah missile launchers weapons depots and military sites in Beirut southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley
It also said Hezbollah commanders were killed in Beirut and that a Hamas commander was killed near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli Israel did not say how many people it killed in the strikes while the claims could not immediately be independently verified
COUNTRIES HOSTING US BASES IN
REGION WILL NOT KNOW PEACE:
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says on X that countries hosting US bases in the region will not
enjoy peace He also said that the attack against the Qeshm desalination plant, blamed earlier on the US by Iran’s foreign minister was “carried out with the support of one of the air bases in the southern neighboring countries This blatant crime will receive a proportionate response American military bases in the region have become platforms for operations against Iran”, he added “The origin of any attack is the destination of our response ”
IRANIAN CLERICS SEEK SWIFT
NAMING OF NEW SUPREME
LEADER: A demonstrator holds an image of Iran s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after he was killed in Israeli and US strikes on Saturday Photo: Reuters
Two influential and strict Iranian clerics have called for the swift selection of a new supreme leader to help guide the nation amid a new wave of United States and Israeli strikes, Iranian media reported on Saturday US President Donald Trump has said the US should have a role in choosing the new leader a demand Iran has rejected Naser Makarem Shirazi a grand ayatollah which means he commands a broad following for his religious rulings said an appointment was needed swiftly to "help better organise the country s affairs", state media reported Last week two senior religious authorities also issued fatwas or religious decrees calling on Muslims around the world to avenge the killing of Khamenei Makarem Shirazi said it was a religious duty for Muslims "until the evil of these criminals is eradicated from the world" Grand Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani also urged members of the Assembly of Experts a clerical body charged with choosing the new leader to accelerate the process of picking Khamenei s successor, state media reported
Following rules laid out in Iran's constitution, a three-man council comprising the president a senior cleric and the head of the judiciary has taken on the supreme
leader's role until the Assembly of Experts decides The constitution states a supreme leader should be chosen within three months although with war raging it is not immediately clear how quickly the 88member Assembly of Experts can convene Sources have said some clerics have held some consultations online
LEBANON SAYS ISRAELI ATTACKS
KILL NEARLY 300 SINCE MONDAY:
Lebanon’s health ministry on Saturday said Israeli attacks on the country had killed almost 300 people since the start of the war with Hezbollah this week In a statement, the ministry said that “the death toll from the Israeli aggression, from dawn on Monday has risen to 294 martyrs and 1 023 wounded ” Israel warned Lebanon of a very heavy price if it
these developments Pakistan s leadership has intensified diplomatic efforts to manage rising tensions particularly between Iran and the Gulf states In a post on X on Saturday, the Foreign Office said: Dar spoke with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
“The two leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and underscored the importance of peace and stability, the FO said
Dar expressed concern over recent attacks in the region, including those targeting the UAE and conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the UAE and its people the statement added In a separate call Deputy PM Dar spoke with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Seri Mohamad Haji Hasan, the Foreign Office said
“The two leaders exchanged views on
the regional situation and expressed hope for peace and stability in the region ” the FO added noting that both sides agreed to remain in close contact as events continue to unfold FM Dar also held talks with GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi “They exchanged views on the regional situation SG Al Budaiwi appreciated Pakistan s strong partnership and solidarity with the GCC
Both sides underscored the importance of de-escalation and emphasised dialogue and cooperation for peace and stability in the region,” the statement said
The Foreign Office further noted that Dar spoke again with his Iranian counterpart following a conversation on the evolving situation the previous day
DPM/FM FELICITATES COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL: Meanwhile
DPM/FM Senator Ishaq Dar extended felicitations to Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey and the entire Commonwealth family on the occasion of Common-
wealth Day (March 9)
The Foreign Office said Dar underscored Pakistan s contributions to the Commonwealth during his call and informed that due to the ongoing regional situation, he would be unable to attend the forthcoming Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting in London authorizing Pakistan s High Commissioner in London to represent the country on his behalf
PAKISTAN PLAYS 'CONSTRUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE' DIPLOMATIC
ROLE: Meanwhile Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan was playing a constructive and effective role on the diplomatic front to help de-escalate regional tensions, according to state-run Radio Pakistan
Addressing a ceremony in Lahore on Saturday Tarar said Pakistan was “globally acknowledged as a strong country on defence and diplomatic fronts While Pakistan continues to advocate
for de-escalation and peace, its own defence is impregnable supported by highly professional and vigilant armed forces he added No matter what challenges come Pakistan s way it always has and will continue to emerge victorious, he asserted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also urged de-escalation and dialogue to preserve peace in the Middle East during talks with the heads of Gulf and Muslim countries The killing of Ayatollah Khamenei has opened a new chapter of escalation and instability in the region Last week, FM Dar, in a briefing to ambassadors from several countries, said Pakistan was closely monitoring the situation and working to reduce tensions through diplomatic channels He added that Pakistan was monitoring developments in Iran with all efforts focused on easing tensions, describing the situation as extremely delicate Prime Minister ’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also confirmed that Pakistan was acting as a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran to help defuse regional tensions
TH E government did not take the expected fuel conservation measures but did switch over to a weekly fixing of the petrol price, with an immediate increase on Friday, just six days after the fortnightly ‘fix’ om March 1 The increase was an across-the-board hike of Rs 55 The proposal to introduce online classes and work-from-home
The petrol price has gone up from Rs 266 17 per litre to Rs 321 17, an increase of around 17 percent Rs 20 have been averted by a cut of Rs 20 in the Petroleum Development Levy to Rs 105 per litre
This reflects the constant rise of oil on the global market after the virtual closure of the Straits of Hormuz Because of the dependence on oil imports, Pakistan s economy is about to tank
There are two problems First this hike while it has broken all previous records in rupee terms is not the last It has been estimated that Brent crude which has reached $87 a barrel will go up to Rs 100 which means the petrol price might go up to about Rs 370 per litre Second the petrol price hike will mean across-the-board inflation, which will start with the rise in transportation costs for people, and then for goods Then there will be the steep rise in fuel adjustment charges in the power tariff, which will mean additional burdens on the consumer, both direct and because of increases in production costs
Already, industry, especially the crucial textile industry, has singled out power tariffs as one of the shackles it labours under The government has tried a number of schemes to lower tariffs for industry, but it seems they are all going to come to naught Next, interest rates are probably going to rise, and the SBP tries to keep a lid on inflation, which will in turn mean that debt servicing charges will increase
That the IMF is engaged on a review with the review team having gone to Istanbul because of the war with the rest of its meetings being conducted by video conferencing Pakistan is going to find it almost impossible to meet the target of a primary surplus if debt servicing goes through the roof, and the IMF is almost sure to veto reductions in the petroleum development levy, even though its abolition would take Rs 100 per litre off the pump price The price hike has come with the sufficient supplies that exist If there were shortages, the price would be uncontrollable
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
The
THE Great Hall of the People in Beijing often feels like a theatre of the predictable but the Two Sessions this week carry a structural weight that traditional headlines are missing If you listen to the chatter in Washington or London the story is one of a Chinese dragon losing its fire- a property slump here a demographic dip there and a youth unemployment rate that refuses to budge But the 2026 Government Work
century The standout number from Premier Li Qiang s address on March 5 is the GDP growth target of 4 5 to 5 percent For a country that once viewed anything below 8 percent as a national crisis, this looks like a concession to gravity However, looking at it through that old lens is a profound mistake
global standards before the West can coalesce, and brain-machine interfaces as a new frontier to bypass traditional Silicon Valley leads In a world defined by de-risking and trade barriers Beijing is betting on a new form of leverage If it controls the patents for the next generation of AI and the green supply chain, it becomes indispensable regardless of geopolitical friction For the global economy, this means the race for technological supremacy is about to enter its most intense phase yet There is also a profound shift in how China views its own security The defence budget rising by a steady 7 percent is being carefully calibrated to avoid the Soviet Trap of overspending At roughly 1 3 percent of GDP, it remains a fraction of US spending in nominal terms However, the composition of that spending has moved sharply toward maritime dominance and “intelligentized” warfare focusing heavily on drones AIintegrated command systems and electronic warfare China s real defence strategy might actually be its green transition The new 15th Five-Year Plan marks a historic shift from controlling energy consumption to controlling carbon emissions This is a subtle but vital distinction that allows the economy to use more energy, provided that energy is clean By aiming for 25 percent non-fossil
the 15th Five-Year Plan reveals an ambition to become the world’s primary laboratory Beijing is pouring billions into what they term “new productive forces”- a phrase that has become the mantra of the 2026 sessions By boosting central science and technology spending by 10 percent this year alone, China is making a strategic play to lead the next industrial revolution This isn t just a buzzword; the plan specifically earmarks funding for quantum computing to move beyond experimental phases into practical encryption 6G telecommunications to establish
Iaging progress, while still leaving scope for further strengthening of services and security These positive initiatives demonstrate the clear positive progress though there is still room to further enhance service delivery and strengthen security It is high time to Learn from the regional neighbours like Bangladesh where online mutation requests and tax verification through centralized citizen portals reduce physical visits and increase transparency, as reported by the Bangladesh Land Record Authority India one of the neighbouring states is one of the successful examples for Pakistan to learn from digitalization where cadastral maps ownership records, and registration systems are integrated through the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) that allows citizens to access verified records and track mutations online Last but not least Sri Lanka has also an exemplary digitalized system where the digital governance reforms are phased focusing on infrastructure security and staff capacity building, ensuring minimal disruption and effective adoption as said by Sri Lanka ICT Agency Similarly Vietnam and Indonesia have leveraging digital analytics and dashboards that enhance revenue forecasting compliance tracking and policy planning These instances demonstrate that even developing countries can implement efficient, secure, and citizen-centric digital governance with strategic IT leadership There is a large-scale chance for enhancement in Sindh BOR by unifying land records taxation mutation tracking and citizen services into one platform Expanding mobile-friendly centralized portals improves convenience and transparency However, the consistent digital protocols across districts ensure uniform service quality Using stored data for revenue forecasting compliance monitoring and fraud detection provides actionable insights and by strengthening cybersecurity protocols to protect sensitive data and ensure trust in the digital systems These represent the constructive pathways to build on existing achievements, with room for further improvement in both service delivery and security It is imperative to recognize that the role of IT expertise can be fruitful in this context Strategic IT leadership is central to sustainable digital transformation IT experts can design resilient digital architectures and workflows, implement robust cyber security safeguards including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and disaster recovery Such expert can lead capacity-building programs for staff as in the Sri Lanka ICT Agency The IT skilled can ensure the interoperability between administrative systems and external databases besides monitoring emerging technologies for adaptive and future-proof systems It is an open secret that with skilled IT guidance BOR Sindh can ensure digital systems are secure scalable and aligned with governance objectives while continuously improving service delivery
A positive roadmap for Sindh BOR to be implemented by the following strategies :
1 Establishing a dedicated IT and cyber security wing
2 Developing an integrated revenue management system linking all functions
3 Creating centralized citizen-friendly portals for verification tracking and payments as followed by Bangladesh Land Record Authority
4 Standardizing digital procedures across all districts 5 Implementing analytical dashboards for datadriven decision-making and compliance
6 Continuous staff training in digital literacy and cyber security as already adopted by Sri Lanka ICT Agency
7 Strengthening cyber security protocols to
systems with vision and expert guidance There remains, however, opportunity to enhance service delivery and security measures further, ensuring that the digital systems serve citizens optimally
The future of revenue governance in Sindh lies not in the isolated processes or paper-based records but in integrated secure and intelligently designed digital platforms guided by IT expertise By embracing this path, BOR Sindh can lead Pakistan toward institutional reform, transparency, service excellence, and improved citizen satisfaction in full swing Days are no so far when BOR Larmis will be an iconic digital revenue asset for Pakistan
The writer serves with the Government of Sindh and also works as a freelance columnist, with a strong interest in social and contemporary issues particularly the role of IT policies in public-sector institutions He can be reached at najamro@gmail com
Stop camel cruelt y
Nuzair ahmad Jamro
the Iranians to hold their ground That can be partially responsible What has been the centre point for the movement called the Islamic revolution is Iran; practically the only Shia replication of the Ikhwan al Muslimeen movement to hold on despite the odds rests in their strategic and scientific approach to dealing with the issues and problems faced It is a foregone conclusion that societies
all over the world are usually divided along various faultlines The Muslim societies are usually divided into three parts Frist are those who feel that Islam has the content to deliver in the post-colonial nation state model The other group, aligned to the first one, are the people who are apparently trained in post-colonial setups but believe that their own culture and belief can efficiently guide them to solve problems The last group are the secularists which can include anyone from left of centre to the right of centre For them religion is little more than Dua Maghfirat, or prayer for forgiveness In Iran, the third group ruled whatever was Iran left out after the First World War and the fall of the Qajars The Pahlavi system belonged to that group In the particular Iranian and Shia context the monarch always made it a point that the casket around the graves of the Shia Imams in Iraq or Iran be always financed from the royal exchequer Yet the same exchequer should be used for that system’s other goals For obvious reasons the last group found its adherents grow in size till the upheaval of 1979 Apparently when viewed from a distance it is thought that the whole society changed its tracks In reality it was not so The 1979 final takeover was possible only when the Shah’s favorite Air Force changed loyalty to Khomeini followed by the Army and Navy Yet the revolutionary forces did not waste time to form their paramilitary unit called the IRGC, the details of which can be found in Arash Azizi s book on Qasem Soleimani
Experiences of the new government within the first five years of existence validated that decision The August 1980 proShah Air Force coup was neutralized just in time through the IRGC moles who detected unusual activity at one of the airbases with cluster ammunition being loaded into the Phantoms, when no conflict was on the horizon The commencement of the war with Iraq in September despite initial setbacks due to the ill coordination of the somewhat demoralized
regular army units turned into a stalemate precisely due to the fact that the revolutionary movement best personified through dedicated units was able to stop and then regain the territory lost to the Baathist regime in Iraq What caused that? The movement based its retort back not just on emotions rather a very matter of fact approach to not just stop but also hit back That strategic approach could only stem out of the assumption that the position accrued is not out of a deal with the relevant powers, rather the structure is owned by the movement and obviously its survival is in nobody’s interest but that of the movement itself
Here it is pertinent to note that the opposition from the third group was not passive either, a violent armed movement raged side by side along with invasion from Iraq It is not a closed secret that the slain supreme leader of Iran, lost the use of his right arm on
The war rag es on, on a daily basis It has precipitated the migration of affluent Iranians to Turkey and other places. However, the g eneral perception that the revolutionar y vanguard has lost touch with the common man proved to be wrong. As we see from the responses, it is now the man on the street who is behind the movement Even a slightest wish for dialogue can cause a backlash for those looking for that.
Iran is gearing up for a long war of attrition against Israel and the US
Amassive Israeli strike last weekend reportedly aided by US intelligence tracking flattened the compound housing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many of his closest aides It was the opening salvo in the long-awaited US-Israeli war on Iran, even though the latter had just put forward a significant proposal during negotiations in Geneva While the Trump administration has presented this onslaught as a preventive measure what it was supposed to prevent remains unclear; US intelligence has confirmed that there was no indication of an imminent attack from Iran Indeed, this is yet another US war of choice
An Orwellian explanation of the “preventive strike was swiftly provided by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who indirectly acknowledged that his country was dragged into the conflict by Israel Rubio said the US attacked Iran because it knew Israel was planning to do so, and Washington was not prepared to absorb
pending attack just as we saw before the 12-day war last June This time however the Iranian leadership was fully aware of such duplicitous behaviour - and it was prepared for a long conflict with serious regional implications Reliable sources told me that Khamenei had anticipated his departure from this world and had selected three names of clerics who were fit to replace him (apparently his son Mojtaba was not among them) Whether they too have been killed remains unclear Israel and the US leaving no stone unturned, destroyed the premises of the Assembly of Experts, which was tasked with electing a new supreme leader Yet no matter how many bombastic claims US President Donald Trump issues about a swift end to the Iranian regime what is left of it has denied him such success The killing of Khamenei erased all of Iran s red lines Any regional state hosting American military bases is now considered a legitimate target This is a game-changer for Gulf monarchies Their previous strategy of sitting on the fence while hosting American bases used to launch attacks against Iran and being spared Tehran s wrath has ended As for regime change in Iran, it is easy to claim, but much harder to achieve The US-Israeli goals are unclear and constantly shifting, while the Iranian ones remain the same: endure and survive If the mullahs continue to rule Iran in the future Israel and the US cannot declare victory (although they may do so anyway as in the case of Gaza)
ent situation Turmoil disappointment and disaffection are growing within Maga ranks and the economic impacts of the war on energy prices, inflation and stock markets could hurt Trump in November s midterm elections One day, Israel may experience blowback from Washington for having dragged it into another Middle Eastern war For now the best hope to swiftly end the war rests on the depletion of weapons stocks Who will run out first remains unknown There are reports that Iran has now started to use its hypersonic missiles; their number and accuracy might be another game changer
A d u l t s e r v i c e s w e b s i t e s
O fcom, the govt and the police are all to blame for allowing online sex adver tising to run out of control
While some favour outlawing them on the basis that they are vir tual brothels (brothel-keeping is illegal across the UK), others prefer tighter regulation
that he did not wish to change his habits It thus sounds like this was a deliberate choice by Khamenei to be martyred if that was his destiny although it is not clear whether the aides who perished with him made the same choice
ORIGINAL SIN: One week into the war, it is hazardous to assess its ultimate outcome but some preliminary analysis is possible There was
SHIFTING NARRATIVE: After last June’s joint US-Israeli attack on Iran total victory was declared by both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Claiming the strikes had destroyed Iran s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes Netanyahu said: At the decisive moment, we rose like a lion and stood tall, and our roar shook Tehran ” Israeli commentator Gideon Levy subsequently remarked: “The lion’s roar quickly turned out to be the squeak of a mouse The historic victory lasted as long as the life of a butterfly Trump boasted of the obliteration of the Iranian nuclear programme Had that been the case, why did his envoys rush into unsuccessful negotiations again just a few months later? Was it simply the smokescreen mentioned earlier? It is quite odd to declare total victory against Iran every eight months It is similarly unsustainable for Netanyahu to announce with such frequency the elimination of existential threats against his country Sooner or later, the different notions held by the US and Israel about what victory against Iran entails will emerge In Washington the war aims have changed so frequently that it precludes any meaningful analysis While internal political opposition is not a problem for Netanyahu, Trump faces a differ-
RISKY GAME: Iran s calculus seems to be built upon its regret over having accepted a halt to the conflict last June just to be attacked again eight months later In this framework, there is no apparent room for a ceasefire The Islamic Republic does not want to be fooled again, and its strategy of attrition warfare seems likely to drive the economic costs of this war ever higher - an unbearable reality for people around the world amid soaring oil and gas prices shipping deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz and stock exchanges on a rollercoaster Yet the first tragicomic effects of the conflict are already on full display US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a temporary waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil; in other words he eased sanctions on Russia At the same time Gulf states may start reviewing overseas investments in an effort to alleviate the current financial strain - a move that could massively affect the US, while oil and gas shortages could dramatically impact energy supplies for next winter We are all lucky that this war erupted as the current winter is winding down In essence Iran is aiming to inflict death by 1 000 cuts Not
H E latest report from the UK anti-slavery commissioner, Eleanor Lyons, is a call to action on websites used to advertise sex workers – some of whom are victims of trafficking and exploitation Researchers studied 12 adult service sites (ASWs), which between them had 63,000 listings in January, and attracted 41 7m visits When analysed with a tool known as the Sexual Trafficking Identification Matrix which is also used by police just 8% of listings showed no warning signs These include the same phone number appearing across multiple ads, and phrases such as “new to the area” T h e w a t c h d o g h a s i d e n t i f i e d alarming gaps in the law in the app r o
i n policing The commissioner s recommendations demand a response The sharp recent rise in
well as a political vulnerability for United States President Donald Trump leading into the midterm elections, with voters sensitive to energy bills and unfavorable to foreign entanglements
"The market is shifting from pricing pure geopolitical risk to grappling with tangible operational disruption as refinery shutdowns and export constraints begin to impair crude processing and regional supply flows," JP Morgan analysts said in a research note on Friday The conflict has already led to the suspension of around a fifth of global crude and natural gas supply as Tehran targets ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz between its shores and Oman and attacks energy infrastructure across the region Global oil prices have surged 24% this week to over $90 a barrel and are on course for their steepest weekly gains since the pandemic driving up fuel prices for consumers worldwide A nearly complete shutdown of
the Strait means the region s giant oil producers Saudi Arabia the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait have
suspend shipments of as much as 140 million barrels of oil equal to
1 4 days of global demand to global refiners As a result oil and gas storage at facilities in the Middle East Gulf are rapidly filling, forcing oil fields in Iraq to cut oil production and Kuwait and the UAE most likely to be next to cut analysts traders and sources said At some point soon everyone will also shut in if vessels do not come, said a source with a state oil company in the region, who asked not to be named Oilfields forced to shut in across the Middle East as a result of the shipping disruptions could take a while to return to normal said Amir Zaman head of the Americas commercial team at Rystad Energy "The conflict could be ended, but it could take days or weeks or months, depending on the types of fields age of the field the type of shut-in that they ve had to do before you can get production back up to what it once was, he said Iranian forces, meanwhile, are targeting regional energy infrastructure including refineries and terminals forcing them to shut down too with some of those operations badly damaged by attacks and in need of repairs
also closed due to attacks, with no details on damage
The White House has justified the attack on Iran saying the country posed an imminent threat to the US although it has not provided details Trump has also said he was concerned about Iran s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon Danger in the strait
A quick end to the war would soothe markets But a return to prewar supply and pricing could take weeks or months depending on the extent of the damage to infrastructure and shipping
"Considering physical damage due to Iranian strikes, so far we have not seen anything that would be considered structural although the risk remains as long as the war continues said Joel Hancock energy analyst, Natixis CIB
The biggest question for energy supplies is how and when the Strait of Hormuz will become safe for shipping again Trump has offered naval escorts to oil tankers and promised US insurance support to vessels in the region
ambassador Many top Iranian leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have also been killed The US military has said six US service members were killed in a strike on a Kuwait facility, while Israel has said at least 10 civilians have been killed across Israel so far Washington has maintained strong support for Israel under President
BEIJING
s ta f f R e p o R t
Senior Chinese leaders on Saturday took part in deliberations during the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China’s national legislature discussing issues ranging from cross-Strait relations to regional development and integration Wang Huning chairman of the Chinese People s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, joined a group deliberation with NPC deputies from the Taiwan delegation He said China had actively responded to the complex and severe situation in the Taiwan
Strait over the past year while working to shape the course of cross-Strait relations Wang called for promoting the peaceful development of ties across the Strait and advancing the cause of national reunification He also stressed the need to firmly oppose Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external interference Meanwhile Cai Qi a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee participated in deliberations with deputies from Qinghai Province He urged the province to pursue development suited to its local conditions while maintaining ecological priorities Cai also emphasized strengthening a
sense of community for the Chinese nation and promoting exchanges interaction and integration among all ethnic groups Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended separate deliberations with deputies from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region He encouraged both regions to align with the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan and better integrate into the country s overall development strategy Ding said Hong Kong should further consolidate its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, while leveraging its strengths in education technology and talent to ensure
long-term prosperity and stability He also called for advancing the development of the Guangdong–Macao InDepth Cooperation Zone in
CBD Punjab fast-tracks major projects as CEO orders swift completion
‘ZERO-TOLERANCE’: CM MARYAM ORDERS CRACKDOWN ON PETROL HOARDERS
economy
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari said on Saturday that development would soon be visible in every corner of Punjab as the provincial government was prioritising the uplift of small cities and rural areas with projects worth Rs517 billion currently underway in more than 67 cities under the Punjab Development Programme (PDM) “Under the Nigehban Ramadan Programme, more than 2 5 million cards have been distributed so far while over 2 1 million beneficiaries have already withdrawn financial assistance the information minister said while addressing a press conference at DGPR Lahore along with Punjab Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique She warned that the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) would take strict action against hoarding and artificial price hikes, adding that foolproof security arrangements had been put in place for Youm-e-Ali (RA), as well as for mosques and Imambargahs across the province Azma Bokhari said the governance model of Punjab Chief Minister was not limited to a few cities or roads but aimed to ensure uniform de-
velopment across the entire province
She said the chief minister s vision was that development should be visible in every city town and village Under this vision, projects are underway to transform rural areas into model villages, which would significantly improve the quality of life of rural communities
Inviting people to visit these villages and witness the transformation themselves, she said such development was something citizens had not even imagined during the past 78 years
The minister said the Punjab government had launched large-scale initiatives to provide relief to the public during the holy month of Ramadan adding that welfare projects were pro-
rapidly across the province Under the Nigehban Ramadan Card Programme 2 503 897 cards have been distributed so far while more than 2 1 million beneficiaries have withdrawn funds through these cards, she said Azma Bokhari further stated that from 1st Ramadan to March 1 official Iftar arrangements were made at 422 locations
PM TASKS MINISTERS WITH PREPARING PL AN TO CONSERVE FUEL , PROTECT PUBLIC SUPPLY
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance Department on Saturday directed all offices under its
legal action taken against the violators ‘Don’t heed speculations and rumours’ Taking to social media platform X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar urged the public not to “pay attention to speculations and rumours ” He recalled that Deputy PM Ishaq
Dar, Finance Minister Aurangzeb, and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik held a press conference on Friday night to explain the petrol price hike which was due to global factors
The government of Pakistan and the concerned ministries will continue to release accurate and verified information regularly,” Tarar said, adding that other countries were facing similar challenges
s
An anti-terrorism court on Saturday sentenced 47 proclaimed offenders including several senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) to 10 years in prison for their involvement in the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi during the violent unrest of May 9 2023
The verdict was delivered by District and Sessions Judge Amjad Ali Shah, who presides over AntiTerrorism Court (ATC) No 1 in Rawalpindi The 16-page detailed judgment held several prominent PTI figures guilty in the case registered at RA Bazar Police Station
Those sentenced include PTI leaders Hammad Azhar, Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul, Senator Shibli Faraz Murad Saeed Shahbaz Gill and Zulfi Bukhari Former lawmakers Kanwal Shauzab Rai Hassan Nawaz Muhammad Ahmed Chattha and Sheikh Rashid Shafique were also among those convicted
The court imposed a fine of Rs500 000 on each convict and ordered confiscation of their properties in favour of the state
The case stems from the nationwide riots that erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan on May 9, 2023 Protesters stormed and vandalised several government and military installations including GHQ in Rawalpindi the Army Museum Hamza Camp and the Sixth Road Metro Station
According to the verdict, the accused were found involved in planning and carrying out attacks on GHQ Gate No 1 and other public facilities The court observed that charges of arson vandalism
assaults on police officials and destruction of government property had been proven against them
A total of 118 individuals including Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were indicted in the case Statements of 44 prosecution witnesses have been recorded so far
The court noted that 18 of the accused repeatedly remained absent during the trial despite having full knowledge of the proceedings while 29 others never appeared before the court after the case was registered Consequently, a separate trial of 47 proclaimed offenders was conducted under Section 21L of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997
Imran Khan who has been in custody since Aug 5 2023 was indicted in the case on Dec 5 2024 and formally arrested by Rawalpindi police in the GHQ attack case in January 2024
The court directed that conviction warrants be sent to Rawalpindi s Central Jail and the SHO of RA Bazar police station ordering that the convicts be sent directly to jail upon arrest or appearance Perpetual non-bailable warrants have also been issued
In its judgment the court said prolonged and unexplained absence of accused persons in criminal cases created a strong inference of guilt unless convincingly rebutted
The court also cited international jurisprudence on trials in absentia referencing rulings of the US Supreme Court provisions of the UK s Criminal Justice Act 2003 and decisions of the European Court of Human Rights It noted that Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act offered greater safeguards by guaranteeing legal representation and the right to retrial upon surrender