Gulf states tell US ending war not enough, Iran’s c apabilities must be degraded
of Information Technology and Telecommunication outlined the proposed digital mechanism, focusing on automation transparency and improved targeting The system is designed to ensure subsidies reach only eligible segments particularly low-income users dependent on motorcycles and rickshaws Provincial leaders also weighed in on policy options Murad Ali Shah appreciated federal efforts to maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies while calling for behavioural changes to encourage fuel conservation Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb emphasised the need for flexible policy responses to fluctuating global oil prices and stressed that any relief from declining international rates must be passed on to consumers Meanwhile, Muzzammil Aslam commended the federal government s handling of petroleum supplies, noting that Pakistan’s performance remained comparatively better than several regional countries Centre, provinces reach
to fast-track a technology-driven framework ensuring transparent and efficient subsidy delivery The Ministry of Finance said both tiers of government would maintain close coordination to operationalise the system at the earliest Officials noted with satisfaction that the country s fuel supply remained stable, following a detailed briefing by the Petroleum Division on the availability of petroleum products nationwide A key presentation by the Ministry
at this moment than your economic security
He urged citizens to adopt responsible consumption habits, calling for a “revolutionary change” in daily life “Before travelling ask whether it is necessary whether every trip by
OFIT s ta f f r e p o r t The Oil and Gas Development Company Limited announced on Friday the successful appraisal of gas
(30% working interest) MOL Pakistan Oil & Gas Co B V (Operator 10%) Pakistan Petroleum Limited (30%) Pakistan Oilfields Limited (25%), and Government Holdings Private Limited (5%), collaborated on the appraisal The well spudded on August 10 2025 was sidetracked
to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust the contingencies, should they emerge” Washington has dispatched two contingents of thousands of Marines to the region the first of which is due to arrive around the end of March aboard a huge amphibious assault ship
Trump gives more time to let backchannel talks work
US President Donald Trump has extended the pause in the attack on Iran’s energy plants for another 10 days, to noon GMT on April 6
There was originally a five-day pause in that attack, which has now been extended, which is a sign thst the talks are going in the right direction That in turn means that Iran does not think that the USA is making demands that it cannot fulfill, while the USA feels that the talks may lead to its demands being accepted So far, it seems, the talks are centred on US proposals in the shape of a 15-point peace plan They include among other things a dismantling of its missile programme, end of its su[[ort to Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and handing over the enriched uranium it has Pakistan is said to be acting as the mediator playing a vital rolw in exchanging messages at this point, as the sides are not in contact with each other directly
Pakistan should not be too forward in this matter It may well be in its national interest for the conflict to deescalate and the Strait of Hormuz to reopen It may well be that it has secured petrol supplies into May, as it has, but there is another trap it must be careful to fall into
One of the problems with settlements of this sort are that there are always loose ends One side, and frequently both, usually blames the mediator for them when they arise The Foreign Office should stop basking in the gaze of the world and leave Egypt and Turkiye to take on more of the burden The best thing Pakistan can do is to move both sides into holding direct negotiations as quickly as possible
There is one barrier to there being a ceasefire and that is Israel It is assumed that the USA’s say-so would be enough to stop the war, but Israel has shown that it is quite capable of acting against US interests (which are for an end to the conflict) and of sabotaging negotiations with Iran which it has done previously That is a danger Pakistan should leave to Egypt and Turkiye to face; after all, they have recognized it, and thus its diplomats can engage with their Israeli counterparts without getting into any of the complications Pakistani diplomats would have to face
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 Nation Behind the Uniform
tence we hear almost every day
says this party is backed by the establishment
Someone claims that that leader is supported by the agencies In television debates in social media arguments, and even in everyday discussions among friends, the word establishment appears again and again Whenever something important happens in politics the first reaction of many people is to search for a hidden hand behind it Instead of discussing ideas policies or leadership we immediately assume that some unseen power must be controlling the situation But there is a simple and honest question that deserves to be asked Who exactly is this establishment that we so easily criticise? Are these institutions foreigners? Are they forces imposed upon Pakistan from outside? Are they enemies of the nation?
The truth is far simpler than our political narratives suggest The institutions that people describe as the establishment are not outsiders They are part of the same state that the people of Pakistan built through sacrifice and struggle They are part of the same national structure that keeps the country functioning in difficult times
Among these institutions the armed forces of Pakistan hold a special place in the national story For decades the soldiers of this country have stood on mountains, deserts and borders protecting the territorial integrity of the state Their lives are shaped by discipline, sacrifice and duty in ways that many civilians may never fully understand Yet despite this long history of service public debate often reduces the role of the Army to political accusations and conspiracy theories In the heat of political competition we forget the moments when the country faced real crises and it was the soldiers who stepped forward to serve the
of the country many times Entire villages have been submerged and millions of citizens have been forced to leave their homes In such painful moments when roads disappear under water and communication systems collapse the first rescuers that stranded families often see are soldiers navigating boats through flooded areas When earthquakes strike and buildings collapse, it is frequently the helicopters of the armed forces that appear over devastated towns carrying doctors rescue teams and relief supplies In remote mountainous regions where access is nearly impossible soldiers climb dangerous paths to reach survivors and bring them to safety These are not symbolic acts These are moments when human lives are saved because institutions respond with speed and discipline There are countless stories of soldiers carrying elderly people on their shoulders through floodwaters of military doctors treating injured children in temporary camps, and of engineers rebuilding roads and
Perhaps it is time for our public discourse to move beyond suspicion and rediscover a sense of national appreciation The soldier standing quietly on a distant border post is not thinking about political arguments or media debates His duty is simple but profound. He stands there so that the country behind him remains safe And a nation that remembers such dedication becomes stronger, more united and more hopeful about its future
A number of states perceive that their strategic and economic interests are being undermined within their alliances with the United States This prompted States to recalibrate their foreign policies and strengthen relations with China Consequently, the new emerging world order should not be regarded as fixed; this would also be subject to shifts in national interests and strategic calculations In international relations, alignments are inherently dynamic. States that have distanced themselves from the USA, May, in time , realign as their interests evolve
VIP visit cleans Johi
Shaped by the Aamerica-First doc trine
Rizwan ahmad
Goldsmith Family ’s Assault on Pak istan’s National Interests
with unflinching
This is essentially the red line that cannot be crossed
country in the world tolerates violations of these red lines Individuals who exploit national interests to fulfill personal agendas and political ambitions cannot be considered true wellwishers of the country; rather, they operate under a specific design aimed at harming the state There is no room for leniency and leverage for such nefarious elements which compromise national interests and whose acts and words are detrimental to their country s image and prestige in the international arena We have numerous examples from Western countries where those involved in damaging national interests and state property have been dealt with strictly Ironically, the same countries that lecture us on human rights often conduct summary trials and hand down swift punishments to such offenders within their own jurisdictions Two recent glaring examples include the attack on Capitol Hill in the United States and the riots in the United Kingdom, where those involved were tried and punished within days
2027 revitalizing the economy of our country This status contributed to a 108 percent increase in Pak-
istan’s exports to the European Union Alongside this, industries including textiles experienced rapid growth generating thousands of new employment opportunities This achievement came at a time when there were deliberate attempts to isolate Pakistan globally Recently, Qasim Goldsmith, son of the founder of PTI and Jemima Goldsmith, attempted to politicize Pakistan’s GSP Plus status during a United Nations Human Rights meeting He was supported by individuals including Dr Usman a cousin of the PTI founder and former cabinet member Zulfi Bukhari Also present at the event was Naseem Baloch a leader associated with BNM, a subsidiary of BLA Qasim Goldsmith s sole argument was that his father s imprisonment reflects human rights violations in Pakistan
However Qasim seems unaware or deliberately opted to ignore that during his father s tenure political opponents were subjected to false and fabricated cases besides imprisonments Daughters were arrested in front of their fathers to exert psychological pressure Rana Sanaullah faced fabricated narcotics charges, and attempts were made to invoke Article 6 against Khawaja Asif After losing power the same leadership orchestrated the failed events of May 9 targeting military installations and attempting to exploit Pakistani youth as fuel for their failed insurrection
During this critical time the PTI founder s children were seen enjoying leisure abroad Today, the same Goldsmith family appears to be engaged in economic sabotage against Pakistan This is not new; similar attempts were previously made by the PTI leadership including writing letters to the IMF to undermine Pakistan s financial stability and staging protests outside the IMF headquarters Despite these efforts, Pakistan has continued its upward trajectory Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Almighty Allah, Pakistan is steadily achieving its economic goals and making progress across all sectors Its diplomatic successes are being recognized even beyond its borders Yet, the PTI founder, his family, and his party remain actively engaged in condemnable conspiracies against their own country
The people of Pakistan have decided to move forward The nation can no longer afford to tolerate such disruptive elements The agenda with which these forces were launched remains incomplete, and they may go to any lengths to achieve their nefarious goals However with the strength and support of the people the commitment of the present government, and the blessings of Almighty Allah, we will thwart all such malicious designs and Pakistan will continue to move forward on the path of social equality, poverty reduction, economic prosperity, and a strong defence of the motherland Pakistan Zindabad
CORPORATE CORNER
Repu Media Intelligence and Peshawar Zalmi Par
tner to Drive Real-Time, AI-Powered, Strategic Decisions
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t
Repu Media Intelligence proudly announces its partnership with Peshawar Zalmi as its Official Media Intelligence Partner for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 bringing real-time AIpowered intelligence solutions to Pakistan s sports landscape Through this collaboration, Repu will use its platform, Acumen Media Intelligence, to provide Zalmi with real-time visibility into fan sentiment media narratives and conversations across traditional digital and social platforms in Pakistan and globally as well This initiative reflects Zalmi s commitment to innovation and fan engagement positioning the franchise among the first sports organizations to collaborate with a dedicated AI-powered media intelligence company With insights powered by Acumen Media Intelligence Zalmi will be able to stay closely aligned with fan conversations respond to emerging narratives and further strengthen the relationship between the team and its supporters Javed Afridi, Chairman, Peshawar Zalmi, expressed his excitement: “We are delighted to welcome Repu Media Intelligence to the Zalmi family At Zalmi our fans are our greatest strength This partnership with Repu reflects our commitment to listening understanding and staying connected with the Zalmi community By leveraging AI-powered insights, we aim to ensure that fan conversations continue to shape our journey on and off the field ” Aun Dara Khan, Managing Director, Repu Media Intelligence further added: Sports communities today live far beyond stadiums Conversations happen across digital platforms media channels and fan communities every second Through this partnership with Peshawar Zalmi, powered by Acumen Media Intelligence, we are enabling Zalmi to listen to those conversations in real time Our goal is simple: to help Zalmi stay closely connected to the voice of its fans and ensure that the passion of the Zalmi community is understood respected and reflected in the team s engagement with supporters TETRA
RDA SCHEME EXPANDED TO DEEPEN FINANCIAL MARKETS, ATTRACT GLOBAL INVESTMENT: PM
IHC fixes for March 31 hearing on Imran, Bushra Bibi appeals in £190m Al- Q adir Case
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday scheduled March 31 for hearing petitions filed by Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi challenging their conviction in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust corruption case
According to the cause list a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif will hear pleas seeking suspension of their sentences
An accountability court had on January 17 2025 sentenced Imran Khan to 14 years and Bushra Bibi to seven years in prison in the highprofile graft case During earlier proceedings on March 11 the IHC had expressed displeasure over delays attributed to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) even imposing a Rs100,000 fine for what it termed delaying tactics However, the subsequent written order did not include the fine though NAB was directed to come fully prepared at the next hearing
tions which were later resolved paving the way for hearings SC to Resume Defamation Case
Hearing
Separately, the Supreme Court of Pakistan is also set to take up on March 31 Imran Khan’s appeals in a Rs10 billion defamation case filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
A three-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar along with Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, will resume proceedings
developments have already made it one of the most closely watched cases in recent days
The defence has consistently pushed for an expedited decision urging the court to conclude proceedings before Eid holidays The appeals had earlier faced procedural objections from the registrar s office including unsigned documents and missing certifica-
The case stems from a 2017 lawsuit filed by Shehbaz Sharif alleging that Imran Khan made defamatory claims during a television appearance and public rally accusing him of offering a Rs10 billion bribe in connection with the Panama Papers controversy in-
volving former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Earlier the Lahore High Court had dismissed Imran s plea to include the Punjab government as a party in the case, ruling that the matter was a private dispute between individuals The court also rejected requests related to jurisdiction and procedural objections Notably this case is distinct from another set of proceedings in which a separate Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Ayesha Malik, had stayed trial court proceedings in the same defamation suit The March 31 hearings in both the IHC and Supreme Court are seen as crucial developments in the legal challenges faced by the former prime minister, with decisions likely to shape the trajectory of these high-stakes cases
Punjab orders stric t closure of schools, warns ac tion against violators
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Punjab School Education Department has instructed all public and private schools along with academies across Punjab to remain closed from March 10 to March 31 cautioning that any institution found violating the directive will face strict consequences Officials stated that private schools operating during the closure period will be sealed immediately with the possibility of having their registration revoked Show-cause notices will also be issued to those responsible for breaching the order
For public schools, authorities warned that non-compliance could result in salaries of headmasters and teachers being withheld Education officials have been directed to submit daily compliance reports, and enforcement has already begun, with eight schools in suburban areas sealed for ignoring the closure
The decision has also disrupted the admissions cycle as private schools have been barred from enrolling new students Traditionally, admissions take place from March 1 to March 31, covering entry into nursery, kindergarten and Grade 1 However since the enforcement of the closure on March 10 the process has largely come to a halt
Education authorities are concerned about a sharp decline in enrollments this year Early estimates suggest admissions may drop significantly with figures reportedly reaching only a fraction of last year s intake Leaders from private school associations, including Abrar
Ahmed Khan and Irfan Muzaffar Kiani, have criticized the move They argued that the education sector is being subjected to inconsistent policies noting that even countries experiencing conflict have not entirely shut down schools According to them, the
closures have disrupted examinations and stalled admissions
They have called for the immediate reopening of schools and requested permission to resume admissions and announce exam results
Meanwhile, authorities have decided to promote all students from Grade 1 to Grade 7 in public schools without failure Promotions are scheduled for March 31 as officials acknowledged that conducting fair and transparent annual exams was not feasible under current circumstances
The Rawalpindi District Education Authority also raised concerns that some institutions are still calling staff and students despite the closure Officials said this violates government directives and undermines enforcement efforts
They added that requiring teachers to commute during a period marked by fuel shortages and rising inflation places an unnecessary burden on staff particularly those traveling long distances
S audi Arabia and Ukraine deepen defence ties with new air defence agreement
