g FINANCE MINISTER ANNOUNCES A TARGETED SUBSIDY PROGRAMME, S AYING RS100 PER LITRE SUBSIDY WOULD BE GIVEN FOR TWO -WHEELERS
g SMALL FARMERS TO GET ONE-TIME RS1,500 PER ACRE SUBSIDY WHILE INTER- CITY AND GOODS TRANSPORT WILL GET RS100 PER LITER SUBSIDY
Pakistan has committed to passing on fuel price increases to consumers if fiscal space is insufficient to sustain subsidies while expanding targeted subsidies and strengthening social protection under its programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
Eight Muslim nations slam Israel's death penalt
during his weekly press briefing He said Pakistan was encouraged by the confidence shown by both the United States and Iran in its role as a facilitator reiterating that Islamabad s approach remained principled and balanced He noted that Pakistan had condemned attacks carried out against Gulf countries by Iran, as well as earlier strikes on Iran itself Our position is anchored in principles on the principles of the human charter with the aim of promoting peace and stability in the region ” he said Responding to queries regarding potential visits of US and Iranian delegations Andrabi said the scheduling, composition, and agenda of such engagements would be determined by the concerned parties On the possible participation of Israeli representatives he said he had no information but
highlighting Pakistan s growing recognition as a neutral mediator in regional conflicts Since the escalation in the Gulf and Middle East following coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, including the reported assassination of a senior Iranian figure Pakistan has played a prominent role in seeking to de-escalate tensions Egyptian FM Welcomes Initiative Appreciates Pakistan’s Hospitality Meanwhile, Egyptian FM Dr Badr Abdelatty expressed gratitude to FM Dar for the hospitality extended during the recent quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad He welcomed the Pakistan-China five-point initiative noting that it promotes dialogue and encourages resolution of conflicts The discussion highlighted Islamabad s efforts to rally support for negotiation-led so-
noted that Pakistan remained engaged with the United States European partners the OIC and GCC countries some of which maintain diplomatic ties with Israel
“So, our efforts will continue despite the complications inherent in this challenging facilitative process While obstacles exist our pursuit of dialogue and advocacy for diplomacy remains unwavering he added
The spokesperson firmly rejected suggestions that Pakistan was pressuring Iran to accept US demands, clarifying that Islamabad’s role was limited to facilitating dialogue and should not be misconstrued as policy imposition
In a positive development he said Iran had allowed 20 additional Pakistan-flagged ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz with two vessels crossing daily
“This announcement marks a meaningful step forward in strengthening collective efforts towards dialogue diplomacy and confidencebuilding measures the only viable path forward he added Deep nexus between fake news networks in Afghanistan, India
Andrabi cautioned against the spread of misinformation, saying remarks by the Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesperson regarding participation in talks had been misrepresented
lutions amid heightened regional instability The Egyptian minister s endorsement signals that Pakistan s outreach is resonating with key regional actors, emphasizing de-escalation over confrontation Both ministers reaffirmed close fraternal relations between Pakistan and Egypt and agreed to maintain ongoing contact The exchange reflects Pakistan s broader position as an advocate of dialogue, political settlement, and peace, while strengthening coordination with influential partners in the Muslim world Pakistan, Türkiye reaffirm commitment to regional peace Meanwhile Deputy PM Ishaq Dar also spoke with Turkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in another phone this evening, the FO said in a separate statement on X
Kh Asif warns India against 'illusion of war' between nuclear states
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday issued a stern warning to his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh stressing that the notion of a conventional conflict between two nucleararmed states was inconceivable and fraught with catastrophic consequences The remarks came in response to recent statements by Singh cautioning Pakistan against any misadventure amid the backdrop of heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict
In a strongly worded post on X, Asif while not directly quoting Singh criticised what he described as recurring threat-mongering attributing it to visible strategic anxiety in New Delhi as the anniversary of the Pahalgam attack approaches He alleged that the incident, which India blamed on Pakistan, failed to stand up to international scrutiny and exposed a pattern of manufactured crises Referring to past tensions the minister said such rhetoric reflected a
broader tendency to externalise internal challenges and provoke escalation for political objectives He reiterated that Pakistan had categorically rejected allegations linking it to the Pahalgam incident and had called for an impartial investigation Asif also invoked Marka-i-Haq the term used by Pakistan for the period of military standoff following the April 2025 escalation warning that any future confrontation would be met with an even “more forceful and decisive” response “History stands as a stark reminder that miscalculation has consequences he said underlining Pakistan s readiness to respond
Pakistan proposes Free Trade Agreement with UK as trade talks expand
GOVT FINALISES SUGAR DEREGULATION POLICY TO END POLITICAL PRICE CONTROLS, ZONING SYSTEM
the situation mitigate risks of further military escalation and create conditions for structured negotiations During the discussions, all parties emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path forward, while reiterating the importance of adhering to the United Nations Charter including respect
Senate
panel probes Rs26b SMS charges dispute between banks, telcos
Pakistan to seek IMF flexibilit y amid regional tensions and
Breakdown in Urumqi
Nothing comes of the trilateral China-Afghanistan-Pakistan talks
AF T E R talking about the US-Israel-Iran war in Beijing, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, where they met Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi The purpose was to damp another conflict which had started in the region, Pakistan s Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq against Tehrik Taliban Pakistan bases in Afghan territory China has a deep interest in Afghanistan for two major reasons: first, it is deeply interested in developing its mineral resources, particularly its rare-earth minerals; second, it is also interested in ensuring that it does not support as it did during its previous spell in office, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement The ETIM also came under discussion along with the TTP, showing that the problem was one of terrorism not ideology It should be remembered that Afghanistan s previous attempt at becoming the centre of Islamic militancy ended not just with the US invasion of Afghanistan but Pakistan gaining a reputation as a centre of terrorism While Pakistan is primarily focused on the TTP because of the terrorism that it is spreading within its borders, it has also got reason to stop the ETIM’s activities because it was affecting its relations with China
Even though the Urumqi talks yielded no real result, there were signs that Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq was yielding results According to the Pakistan Institute of Security and Conflict Studies there have been 331 deaths in terrorist attacks in March, a sharp drop from 506 in February This is despite the TTP and other militant groups having announced that they would increase their attacks after the February 26 start of the Operation Even as militant attacks increased from 83 to 146, suicide bombings decreased from five to one
The militants seem undeterred and the Urumqi talks coincided with a bomb blast in a fruit and vegetable market in Serai Naurang, Lakki Marwat district targeting a police patrol, injuring four of them, as well as five other bystanders The timing indicates either the TTP wanted to sabotage the talks or that it is beyond the control of Afghan Taliban, or perhaps both The Afghan government must realize two things First, the Pakistan government is compelled to ensure its security Second letting a smaller partner act independently is dangerous The example of how the USA is being forced by Israel to act against its interest should suffice
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 tangled web over Tehran
Ptween the USA and Iran, but it seems not to have noticed that the attempt at ingratiation will not necessarily lead to an improvement in relations Pakistan is very much in the forefront of efforts While the goal of getting the USA and Iran to send representatives to Pakistan has not yet materialized, Pakistan has hosted quadrilateral talks, with Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia all sending their Foreign Ministers Pakistan’s first pause should be at Saudi Arabia’s presence Initially the backchannel efforts did not involve Saudi Arabia However now it has been included This is despite the fact that it is one of the parties being attacked While all of the other three, including Pakistan, have got their own interests, Saudi Arabia is more deeply involved than any, because not only are its oil exports being hurt because of the Hormuz Strait closure but its oil installations have been subject to Iranian attack It and Turkey both host US bases and forces Egypt and Turkey also recognize Israel while Saudi Arabia was about to recognize it when the Gaza crisis began Indeed, the Gaza crisis may well have been caused by that decision as Hamas hoped to stop it by its attack on Israel US President Donald Trump has chosen this moment to ask Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel as if he wants that as a symbol of success against Iran It is to be presumed that his ultimate goal for Iran would be to recognize Israel, as it had done during the reign of the Shah; when it became the second Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel, the first having been Turkey Iran de-recognized it after the 1979 Revolution Pakistan was thus among the three CENTO countries which had not recognized Israel It has never deviated from the Quaid-e-Azam s vision of Palestine as being linked to the Kashmir issue: both peoples denied the right of self-determination, both countries illegally occupied, both the result of the hasty decolonization by the British India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru had not established diplomatic relations with Israel because
he paid lip-service to the cause of Palestinian liberation but when India realized the commonality that both had to control Muslim populations deprived of the right of self-determination, it established diplomatic relations in 1992 Since then, relations have burgeoned Before that RAW and Mossad had coordinated to the extent that it was planned for Israeli jets to attack Pakistan s nuclear facilities using Indian bases to take off from as they could fly from Tel Aviv not without alerting Iran The attack never took place, but it should be clear that after the putative Iranian bomb, the Pakistani bomb is next It seems that the country most active against nuclear proliferation is Israel It took out Iraq’s Osirak reactor in 1981 then Syrian nuclear facilities in 2007 and just under 20 years down the line has taken part in attacking Iran s nuclear facilities It is second only to India in propagating the myth of the Pakistani Islamic bomb’ Syria, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan form a contiguity with Iran in the middle Israel’s policy of taking no chances has meant that it has long tried to maintain a monopoly and has as many as 400 nuclear warheads itself It has a triad in place which means a nuclear weapons programme even more sophisticated than India s A triad means the ability to launch nuclear weapons from air, sea or land Israel may use missiles on the land or cruise missiles from either its five Dolphin-class submarines or one squadron each of F15s or F16s The Dakar-class submarines due to be inducted from 2031 are still diesel-electric but are of the air-independent power type, which makes them more like the nuclear submarines used for secondstrike capability India has acquired a nuclear submarine from Russia for this very purpose, while Pakistan depends for a second-strike capability on the offchance that a submarine with a nuclear-armed cruise missile is on patrol when the need arises It has been one of the arguments for recognizing Israel: that it would convince it that Pakistan would never use its nuclear weapons against Israel, that it was meant only to provide deterrence against India
Pakistan should keep in mind that any ceasefire it can help cobble tog ether will only be to enable the USA and Israel to gather themselves for a greater effor t Iran has demanded that a ceasefire include international guarantees that there will not be a repetition It must not be forgotten that the US-Israeli attack on Iran has become an annual event, and will not end with the USA and Israel accepting that they cannot bend Iran to their will
h e N o r t h I s N o t f o r S a l e
where At Fairy Meadows ancient forests are being thinned to provide city-style comforts
ook, the legendary silence has been replaced
transactional voyeurism that strips our heritage of its sanctity T
stench of neglect As someone who aspires to serve in the bureaucracy I believe the solution requires a radical shift in our administrative mindset We must move toward a Value-Based Tourism framework First, we need stringent institutional regulation; if operators lack the literacy to explain the history and ecology of the Silk Road they should not be licensed to lead others through it Second we must implement scientific Carrying Capacity limits Not every meadow is meant for a hotel; some landscapes find their greatest value in remaining difficult to reach Finally, as operators, we must reclaim our role as the bridge between the traveller and the terrain We must educate our guests that they are entering a home not a theme park If we continue to treat our mountains as disposable products, we will soon inherit a geography of silence and dry stone The glaciers are weeping, not merely from the heat of the sun, but from the weight of our collective apathy We must decide now: will we be the generation that presided over the sale of the North s soul or the one that had the courage to save it?
The writer is a freelance columnist
Breast cancer awareness initiative
Touseef AhMed
Rethinking
The $40 Billion Hear tbreak
institution often described not without reason as one of the
schools anywhere in the world I went on to attend top universities abroad doors opening because of privilege, preparation, hard work and opportunity By all conventional measures, I “made it ” And yet, whenever I return to Pakistan I do not quite feel at home It is not the changed skylines or the traffic or even the security barriers that estrange me It is the persistent sense that we have failed to build an egalitarian society, a place where a child’s future is not pre-decided
SATIRE
Razavi Foundation, and the Martyrs Foundation
Security-linked conglomerates were thus among the chief beneficiaries of market-oriented restructuring By the end of the 2000s this process had produced a dense bloc linking coercive institutions to parastatal capital: a nexus that came to dominate major sectors of the economy while extending its reach across the unelected core of the state SANCTIONS AND CONSOLIDATION OF POWER
After four rounds of United Nations Security Council sanctions from 2006 to 2010, the United States shifted its strategy to impose sweeping unilateral and extraterritorial measures targeting Iran’s oil exports financial system and access to international banking Sanctions expanded again after US President Donald Trump s administration withdrew from the nuclear deal with Iran in 2018
These sanctions did not reverse the transformation in the state; they deepened it Contrary to the common view of sanctions as instruments for weakening authoritarian states from the outside their effects in Iran have been far more uneven and perverse
They inflicted immense damage on the broader economy, while selectively empowering the very actors best positioned to operate through opacity coercion and sanctions evasion As access to formal trade and finance narrowed shadow networks, protected channels, and security-linked conglomerates and intermediaries acquired greater strategic and economic value
macy, and representation They expressed anger not only at repression, but at a political order whose exclusions had become increasingly material as well as juridical: an order that fused neoliberal dispossession and sanctions management with intensifying authoritarian closure WAR AND A NARROWING POLITICAL HORIZON
The uprising that Washington and Tel Aviv called for at the start of the war has not materialised Instead Iran s national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan has declared that the state now views all our issues through the prism of war, warning that those who take to the streets will be treated not as protesters but as enemies
When he added that the security forces had their fingers on the triggers the meaning was unmistakable: this was a direct warning that any domestic dissent would be met with armed force under wartime conditions
leader lies not in novelty but in the continuation of already established trends If the rumours of his death prove true, that trajectory is unlikely to change in any fundamental way
Over the course of his father Ali Khamenei s rule the Office of the Supreme Leader was transformed from a relatively modest clerical secretariat into the regime’s central institutional command post with reach across security finance communications the seminaries and the wider unelected state
This was not simply an administrative expansion It was a political response to an authority deficit Compared to Iran’s first supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini Ali Khamenei lacked the same level of charisma and clerical standing He compensated not through personal authority alone but by building up the office around him
complex took shape Following the amendment of Article 44 of the 1979 Constitution which authorised “public and non-governmental entities to acquire up to 80 percent of shares in major state industries the years after 2006 saw a large-scale transfer of assets from government ministries to firms affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the religious-revolutionary foundations (bonyads) including the Mostazafan Foundation Setad the Astan Quds
The result was not simply a weaker state but a more securitised one The costs of this order were socialised downward borne by ordinary Iranians through inflation, unemployment, precarious labour, subsidy retrenchment, rising inequality, and deepening political exclusion
This is the broader setting in which the uprisings of the past decade must be situated from the protests of 2017 and 2019 to the Women, Life, Freedom revolt and the January 2026 unrest that preceded the present war
These mobilisations did not emerge out of nothing nor can they be reduced to a simple struggle over economic and social freedoms They were rooted in a compound crisis of livelihood legiti-
This does not imply that the Islamic Republic was before the war somehow more restrained in its treatment of dissent On the contrary the regime had long met popular revolt with extraordinary violence Over the past decade, protests had become more geographically extensive, more socially heterogeneous and more explicitly anti-systemic The state’s response had escalated accordingly What the war has changed is not the fact of repression, but its political logic and legitimating language External conflict has given the regime a new framework through which domestic dissent can be criminalised militarised and pre-emptively crushed The distinction between foreign enemy and domestic opponent is being deliberately collapsed What is at stake, then, is more than a quantitative increase in coercion The war has accelerated a shift in the political grammar of rule: towards a martial logic in which society appears primarily as an object of surveillance discipline and threat management War in this sense does not simply harden foreign policy It restructures the domestic field, expanding the authority of those institutions most invested in governing through emergency, securitisation, and force IRAN WITH OR WITHOUT MOJTABA KHAMENEI
This is why the significance of Mojtaba Khamenei s election as supreme
The result is that the office now matters more than the individual who occupies it If Mojtaba is gone, his replacement will most likely come from the same clerical-security constellation and remain closely aligned with the military-bonyad complex that now dominates the Islamic Republic s coercive and economic core
Even if a new successor initially lacks Mojtaba’s political positioning or Ali Khamenei’s accumulated authority the structure of the office itself is designed to consolidate power over time The religious dimension of the system would remain important, but increasingly as a source of legitimacy for an order whose real centre of gravity lies in the security apparatus and the institutions clustered around the supreme leader s office What a post-war Iran is likely to produce then is not a system moving beyond supreme leadership, but a more tightly securitised Islamic Republic In practice, that means a political order that is harder,
TRUMP CALLS ON NATO ALLIES TO 'GET GUTS', SEND SHIPS TO STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MoRA&IH) has successfully concluded a mandatory Four-day training program for its 306member Seasonal Duty Staff (SDS) to ensure the effective facilitation of pilgrims during the Hajj Operation 2026 This specialized contingent comprising officers and officials from BPS-1 to BPS-19, is prepared to depart for Saudi Arabia with the core mission of "Service is Worship" The team will be deployed across Makkah Mukarramah, Madinah Munawwarah and the Holy Sites (Mashair) of Mina Arafat and Muzdalifah to assist approximately 119 000 Pakistani pilgrims in their religious journey The 306-member staff represents a diverse range of expertise including 9 Deputy Secretaries and Directors at the BPS-19 level, 25 Section Officers and Deputy Directors at BPS-18, and 272 assistants, field staff, and support personnel from BPS-1 to BPS-17 Zulfiqar Khan Coordinator Makkah and Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj stated that following the modern training of 870 Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj these ministerial officials underwent intensive sessions from March 30 to April 2, 2026 He emphasized that prioritizing the comfort of pilgrims over personal worship is the true essence of
Mobilink
S ta f f R
for
is
in
rapidly advancing its ESG-led transformation to become the country’s most forward-looking responsible and future-ready financial institution With more than one-third of its nationwide branch network now powered by renewable energy, the Bank is decisively leading the shift toward lowcarbon, inclusive finance at scale During a recent visit to Mobilink Bank Kaan Terzioglu Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of VEON Group reviewed the Bank s digital-first operating model, customer-centric innovations, and sustainability initiatives He engaged with customers and observed firsthand how Mobilink Bank is delivering secure accessible and future-ready financial services at scale Kaan Terzioglu, Chief Executive Officer of VEON, said, Mobilink Bank’s progress in embedding sustainability into its operations is both timely and impactful The scale at which the Bank is advancing green financing alongside expanding digital financial access, highlights its commitment to responsible growth This is a strong example of how financial institutions can support initiatives that are both good for the environment and drive both economic growth in emerging markets
Commenting on the Bank s di-
rection, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary President and CEO Mobilink Bank said: “Sustainability is not a parallel agenda for Mobilink Bank; rather it is the engine of our growth We are building Pakistan s leading bank for small businesses through a model that is digital-first, ESG-driven, and built for longterm impact From green financing to renewable-powered operations we are embedding responsibility into every layer of our business Mobilink Bank s ESG-led strategy spans green financing, responsible operations, and inclusive growth The Bank has deployed PKR 2 9 billion in green financing to accelerate the adoption of clean energy and green mobility solutions, including solar systems and e-bike financing for underserved segments At the same time, its transition to renewable energy across 35% of its branch network underscores a decisive shift toward low-carbon operations
To further institutionalize its sustainability agenda the Bank is building a data-driven decarbonization framework through an automated ESG platform with baseline emissions measured at 4,489 metric tons of CO₂, laying the foundation for transparent tracking and longterm reduction targets Beyond environmental impact Mobilink Bank continues to lead on social inclusion The Bank has enabled over 31 000 women through targeted financial inclusion programs in 2025 and is supporting a PKR 50 30 billion gross loan portfolio to expand equitable access to finance for small businesses Its commitment to community development is reflected in initiatives such as the solarization of a Digital Arts Lab at Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government Girls School, in partnership with Zindagi Trust, benefiting 310 students and a clean water initiative improving access for over 1 000 students
o R R e S p o n d e n t
China on Thursday called for intensified engagement with the United States, urging both sides to make fuller use of existing economic consultation mechanisms to ensure stable and sustainable trade relations
Speaking at a regular press briefing Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong emphasised that Beijing and Washington should actively implement the consensus reached by their respective heads of state while building on the progress achieved in earlier rounds of negotiations He highlighted that
the two countries have held six rounds of economic and trade consultations since last year, which have produced “a series of outcomes” contributing to improved stability and predictability in bilateral ties These engagements he noted have also had a broader positive impact on the global economy at a time of heightened uncertainty and shifting trade dynamics
According to He the consultations have helped both sides manage differences in key areas reduce tensions and maintain communication channels despite ongoing disagreements on tariffs, technology restrictions, and market access
Facts have clearly proved that the best approach to bridging differences and resolving issues is by upholding mutual respect and engaging in equal dialogue and consultation he said reiterating China s long-standing position on handling complex trade disputes The spokesperson s remarks come amid continued efforts by both countries to stabilise relations following years of trade frictions that have disrupted global supply chains and affected investor confidence worldwide Analysts say
CORPORATE CORNER
g MARYAM NAWAZ SAYS 27 DIVISIONAL SCHOOLS NOW HOST AUTISM CENTERS; 28 SCHOOLS UPGRADED TO CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
LAHORE S ta f f r e p o r t
A delegation of the Bahawalpur Press Club led by President Chaudhry Muhammad Saleem called on the Provincial Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, at her office today The delegation included Secretary Jalaluddin Bhatti Senior Vice President Murtaza Nazir Nadeem Abbas and Imran Rizvi Secretary Information Punjab Tahir Raza Hamdani was also present during the meeting During the session, the delega-
tion briefed the Information Minister on the challenges faced by the journalistic community in the region As a gesture of goodwill, the delegation presented a traditional shawl to the Minister Addressing the delegation Minister Azma Bokhari stated The doors of my office are always open for all journalists " She reiterated the Punjab government s unwavering commitment to the welfare of journalists across the province emphasizing that the government treats all media personnel equally regardless of whether they represent Rahim Yar
Randhawa assumes charge as DG Passport and Immigration
ISLAMABAD
S
Muhammad Ali Randhawa an officer from the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) has assumed charge as the Director General (DG) of Passport and Immigration Director General (DG) of Passport and Immigration, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, said that in line with the direction of Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi the process of reforms at every level within Passport and Immigration will be brought to completion soon He said that the Passport and Immigration system will be fully digitized across the country Director General (DG) of Passport and Immigration, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, said that a paperless system will be ensured in Passport and Immigration Offices He said that special attention will be given to further improving public facilitation and service delivery within the Passport and Immigration system In this regard the prevention of fake passports and the identification process will be enhanced through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology Director General (DG) of Passport and Immigration Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that the passport renewal process for overseas Pakistanis will be made faster and easier He further added that modernization will be introduced in the Passport and Immigration system for the immediate resolution of the issues faced by overseas Pakistanis
L’Oréal Pakistan
Launches Women of Wor th: A
Efforts
Khan Bahawalpur or Lahore It is our resolve that journalists in South Punjab should receive the same facilities and support as their counterparts in Central Punjab, and the government is actively working toward this goal she added Minister Bokhari further commended the Bahawalpur Press Club for its consistent tradition of holding annual elections, describing it as a commendable democratic practice She highlighted that press clubs serve as the vital bedrock and guardians of the fundamental rights of journalists
agenda: Chairman Senate
L’Oréal Pakistan has announced the launch of Women of Worth Pakistan a national recognition platform designed to celebrate women whose work is creating measurable impact across society The initiative aims to spotlight women whose leadership, resilience, and sustained contributions are shaping Pakistan’s social, cultural, scientific, and economic future For over seventeen years L’Oréal Pakistan has played a defining role in shaping the country’s beauty fashion and empowerment landscape through initiatives such as PFDC L Oréal Paris Bridal Week, Ambassador of Fashion, Beauty for a Better Life, and digital literacy programmes
Women of Worth represents the next evolution of that journey - expanding the idea of beauty beyond appearance to recognize the impact women create in communities institutions and across industries The platform will operate on three foundational pillars: Recognition Storytelling and Impact Enablement Season 1 of this initiative will honor four Women of Worth honorees, and one Emerging Voice under the age of 25 Rather than ranking individuals, the platform celebrates a cohort of women whose work reflects leadership purpose and lasting societal contribution By spotlighting sustained contribution grassroots leadership innovation and resilience the platform seeks to build a national registry of women shaping Pakistan s future
t
The US–Pakistan Business Alliance (USPBA) has been successfully launched under the leadership of its Chairman, Saad Ali Qureshi COO Rustom Associates Dynamic Constructors marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral trade investment and economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States The newly formed alliance aims to create a dynamic platform that connects entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, and professionals from both countries By fostering collaboration and building strategic partnerships the alliance seeks to unlock new opportunities for trade expansion innovation and sustainable economic growth Addressing the launch ceremony Chairman Saad Ali Qureshi emphasized the importance of stronger economic ties between Pakistan and the
A JK HC RULES AFGHAN NATIONALS CAN’T BE DETAINED OR DEPORTED WITHOUT DUE PROCESS
She further alleged that he had been kept in solitary confinement for the last five months calling it a violation of national and international laws The Islamabad High Court has allowed Imran Khan to meet family members, lawyers and other associates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays Despite that order, his meetings with visitors have largely remained restricted for several weeks His last reported meeting took place on February 10 with his lawyer Salman Safdar after the Supreme Court intervened following a prolonged period during which no visits were allowed Imran Khan s family and PTI have alleged that he is being held in solitary confinement After the Adiala jail administration did not allow
n
Pakistan grappled with a fresh wave of extreme weather on Thursday as authorities issued flood warnings in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) following deadly rain-related incidents while Karachi was placed under emergency after torrential downpours claimed five lives and paralysed parts of the metropolis
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in KP sounded a high alert for potential flooding in major rivers and tributaries, warning that the ongoing spell of heavy rains which has already killed at least 25 people and injured 77 since March 25 could intensify over the coming days
Simultaneously Karachi witnessed intense rainfall accompanied by a hailstorm in some areas, triggering electrocution incidents, structural collapse, widespread urban flooding, and traffic disruptions prompting city authorities to declare a rain emergency and mobilise emergency response teams across districts KP faces flood threat as death toll rises
According to the KP PDMA, torrential rains since March 25 have resulted in at least 25 fatalities and injuries to 77 individuals while more than 80 houses have been damaged across multiple districts These incidents occurred across several districts of the province, including Bannu, Abbottabad Kohat Peshawar Now-
shera Bajaur Lakki Marwat Kur-
ram Hangu Shangla Buner
Malakand Upper Dir Battagram North Waziristan and Tank the PDMA said in its latest report
The authority warned of a highlevel flood risk in the Kabul River at Nowshera, cautioning that connected tributaries could overflow and inundate surrounding areas
There is a risk of high-level flooding in the Kabul River at Nowshera, while tributaries linked to the river may also overflow, the PDMA said, directing district administrations to remain on maximum alert Flash flood warnings have also been issued for key waterways including Kohat Toi Kurram River and Gomal River with authorities fearing sudden surges due to continuous rainfall and snowmelt Vulnerable districts identified by the PDMA include Peshawar Nowshera Charsadda Mohmand
Bannu Kohat Kurram and Dera
Ismail Khan where local administrations have been instructed to activate contingency plans and
ensure rapid response readiness
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast another spell of rain across the province until April 4 raising concerns about further casualties and infrastructure damage
Adding to the threat, the PDMA also warned of glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) in upper regions of KP Continuous rainfall and melting snow may cause rivers and streams to swell Melting of glaciers could pose a serious threat to low-lying populations,” the authority cautioned Residents have been advised to avoid rivers streams and floodprone areas while livestock owners have been urged to relocate animals to safer ground Karachi
RAWALPINDI
s ta f f r e p o r t
Security forces killed eight militants during an operation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan the military’s media wing said on Thursday
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the clash occurred a day earlier after troops detected the movement of a group described as “khwarij” near the border
The military said its forces carried out a precise and skilful engagement, resulting in the killing of eight militants allegedly linked to what it termed “Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij ” Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain individuals
The term “Fitna al Khwarij” is used by the state for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP)
The ISPR added that sanitisation operations were underway in the area to eliminate any remaining militants, reiterating concerns over cross-border threats It accused the Afghan Taliban government of failing to ensure effective border management and called on it to prevent the use of its territory for attacks inside Pakistan
“Afghan authorities must fulfil their obligations and deny the use of their soil by terrorists ” the statement said
The military reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the country s borders, stating that counter-terrorism operations under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” campaign
would continue at full pace to eliminate foreign-backed militancy President Asif Ali Zardari praised the security forces for their timely and effective action, calling their role in defending the country a source of national pride
He also urged the Afghan interim government to take concrete steps to curb cross-border terrorism Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commended the troops for foiling what he described as an infiltration attempt by militants from across the Afghan border lauding their professionalism and resolve
The latest operation comes amid ongoing security concerns and a broader counter-terrorism drive targeting militant groups operating along Pakistan’s western frontier
