PM SHEHBA Z , QATARI EMIR PUSH FOR URGENT DE-ESCAL ATION AS PAKISTAN DEEPENS ROLE IN GULF STABILIT Y EFFORTS
g PAKISTAN REAFFIRMS SOLIDARITY WITH QATAR AMID RISING REGIONAL TENSIONS
g BILATERAL TIES EXPAND WITH FOCUS ON SECURITY, ENERGY AND INVESTMENT
and constructive role in facilitating dialogue and supporting peace efforts in a volatile regional environment He acknowledged Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach as instrumental in promoting restraint and encouraging negotiations between key stakeholders
g SHEHBAZ, EMIR STRESS URGENCY OF DIALOGUE TO PREVENT WIDER CONFLICT
g DIPLOMATIC PUSH INTENSIFIES AFTER STALLED US–IRAN ISLAMABAD TALKS
immediate de-escalation and sustained diplomatic engagement in the Middle East during a high-level meeting with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Held at the Amiri Diwan and lasting over an hour, the meeting took place against the backdrop of intensifying regional tensions, with both leaders holding detailed discussions on the evolving situation and the urgent need to prevent further escalation
At the outset the Qatari emir warmly welcomed the prime minister and his delegation, commending Pakistan s pivotal
Prime Minister Shehbaz, in turn, strongly condemned recent attacks targeting Qatar and other Gulf countries, reiterating Pakistan’s full support for the Qatari leadership and its people He emphasised that stability in the Gulf was essential not only for regional peace but also for global economic security
Both leaders underscored the importance of intensifying international coordination to support de-escalation efforts, particularly at a time when disruptions to energy supply chains could have farreaching global consequences They
China urges seizing 'window for peace' as Wang Yi, Araghchi discuss peace talks
BEIJING s ta f f C
s p o n D
t China has intensified its diplomatic engagement in the Middle East crisis, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi holding a key phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi as Beijing called for urgent efforts to steer the region away from the brink of war According to a statement shared by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian Wang warned
stressed the need to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy resources and maintain stability in critical maritime routes Beyond the immediate crisis, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations expressing satisfaction over the growing cooperation between
Pakistan and Qatar They agreed to further strengthen collaboration in key sectors including security, defence, investment, and energy, with a shared vision of expanding economic and strategic ties
No date fixed yet for fresh round of US –I ran talks, says FO
Pakistan on Thursday maintained strict confidentiality over ongoing backchannel diplomacy between the United States and Iran as the Foreign Office confirmed that no dates have yet been finalised for the second round of talks Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi addressing his weekly briefing said discussions between Washington and Tehran were continuing with nuclear issues among the key subjects under consideration Declining to disclose specifics Andrabi stressed that Pakistan would not comment on
the positions of either side calling confidentiality a cornerstone of the trust placed in Islamabad by the negotiating parties He urged the media to avoid speculation, noting that the process was proceeding with a high degree of secrecy and mutual confidence
It is essential for us to keep the negotiations confidential he said, adding that decisions regarding the timing, composition, and movement of delegations rested solely with the parties involved He reiterated that Pakistan s role as a mediator and facilitator remained active beyond the Islamabad round of talks, underscoring that diplomatic engagement was ongoing at mul-
tiple levels Highlighting regional dynamics Andrabi said stability in Lebanon was crucial for the broader US-Iran dialogue, expressing cautious optimism over recent improvements along the Israeli-Lebanon front Pakistan s leadership has intensified diplomatic outreach to revive negotiations after the Islamabad talks over the weekend ended without a breakthrough Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently on a multi-country visit to Riyadh Doha and Istanbul while Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir is leading a high-level delegation in Tehran
PAKISTAN WEIGHS SPOT LNG AS IRAN WAR HITS SUPPLY, RAMPS UP DOMESTIC OIL AND GAS
an appeal against a Lahore High Court verdict dated December 5, 2025 The court observed that citing personal commitments reflects disregard for professional discipline and does not justify delaying proceedings According to the judgment an adjournment request filed on April 2, 2026 by counsel Iftikhar Ahmad Bashir cited prior engagements and absence of an assistant as reasons for nonappearance The court ruled that adjournment applications must be filed through the Advocate-on-Record who is responsible for ensuring that cases proceed without disruption It added that proceedings should not be delayed on grounds unrelated to legal or unavoidable constraints
PR OFIT REPORT
After months of due diligence, posturing, back-and-forth, and brinkmanship, AkzoNobel and the Packages Group are set to reach a deal to sell the dutch paint manufacturer ’s business and assets in Pakistan Negotiating teams from both sides have gone to Istanbul where Profit has been told they are at
utive
pany
g country’s reserves gap of $3 5b eMerges after uae’s repayMent delay; discussions held at pM’s office and Ministry of finance on expanding ex tended fund facilit y; iMf likely to consider request aMid Middle east conflict iMpact
growth, exports and remittances
billion has emerged in official reserves after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) did not roll over its deposits despite earlier commitments linked to the IMF programme With the latest Saudi inflow total deposits placed by the kingdom with Pakistan s central bank will reach $8 billion, making it the largest bilateral contributor Government sources said Pakistan is exploring the option of securing an additional $2 billion to $2 5 billion under the existing IMF arrangement citing eligibility to draw up to 600% of its quota
which is due to run until September next year Pakistan has so far received $4 billion under the programme and expects approval of the next $1 billion tranche soon A financing gap of
The country has already utilised around 350% of its quota, amounting to $9 5 billion Officials said the IMF is likely to consider the request in light of the economic impact of the Middle East conflict which has affected energy procurement, logistics and broader macroeconomic indicators, including inflation,
The government is also assessing whether additional funds could be front-loaded or released in tranches, while noting that higher borrowing from the IMF would increase interest costs and surcharges Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb raised the issue of additional financing and programme continuity with IMF leadership during meetings in Washington where he also called for a review of surcharge policies on IMF lending Pakistan is aiming to maintain foreign exchange reserves at around $18 billion, equivalent to about 3 3 months of import cover, by the end of the fiscal year, supported by inflows from friendly countries and multilateral lenders
The IMF mission is expected to visit Pakistan next month to review the budget and ongoing programme including taxation measures and financing requirements Pa ki s t a n to
Punjab plans cut in traffic fines to ease burden on citizens
OFIT M o n to r i n g D e s k The Punjab government is moving to reduce
aimed
categories
on citizens with
summary approved by
minister and set to be presented in the
According to a news report, the proposal, prepared by the Punjab Traffic Police, outlines revised penalties that will take effect once cleared by the provincial legislature Under the plan fines for motorcycle violations are proposed to be re-
duced from Rs2,000 to Rs1,000, with a ceiling of Rs2 000 for serious offences For rickshaws penalties are expected to be
hore, the company found
was
AkzoNobel entered Pakistan in 2008 when the Dutch company acquired the British giant ICI The Pakistan business came along with the deal There was a time when ICI Pakistan used to set standards in Pakistan’s corporate landscape, but over time the paints business has gotten awfully dirty AkzoNobel quickly discovered that the market they had walked into was rife with operators that were more than willing to bend rules and even engage in bribery As construction demand surged in the late 2010s, a fragmented network of small, largely unregulated manufacturers flooded the market with low-cost alternatives unconstrained by quality standards taxation or imported input costs These players relied on locally mixed chemicals bypassing global compliance regimes, and built tight relationships with distributors and painters on the ground The most corrosive practice was the widespread “token” system cash incentives embedded in paint boxes that effectively turned product choice into a bidding war for painters By some estimates this informal segment now controls roughly 64% of the market, leaving formal, tax-paying multinationals squeezed into a shrinking share For AkzoNobel, this shift proved particularly damaging Once a flagship employer and a benchmark for corporate success in La-
SNGPL
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 A separate one-on-one meeting between the two leaders allowed for a candid exchange of views on regional and global developments with both sides reaffirming the importance of continued consultation and coordination in navigating emerging challenges The meeting was attended on the Qatari side by Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani Chief of the Amiri Diwan Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi, and other senior officials The Pakistani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar Information Minister Attaullah Tarar Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi and other high-ranking officials In a message shared on X after the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz described his interaction with the Qatari emir as warm and cordial expressing heartfelt gratitude for the
exceptional extended to him and his delegation He specifically highlighted the symbolic gesture of Qatari Air Force fighter jets escorting his aircraft upon entry into Qatari airspace a move he said reflected the deep-rooted brotherly ties and mutual respect between the two
brokered earlier this month is set to expire soon, raising concerns about a potential escalation if talks do not resume promptly Meanwhile former US President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations could restart within days and suggested Pakistan as a possible venue Iranian officials have also confirmed continued exchanges via Islamabad describing recent high-
TH AT the UAE switched from an annual to a monthly rollover for its $3 5 billion deposit with the State Bank of Pakistan, which was functionally a loan, led the Pakistan government to do something it din’t really want to do which was repay the deposit There was a certain amount of posturing about how Pakistan could make the repayment because of the strength of its foreign exchange reserves but that has not stopped the country from obtaining a $3 billion deposit from Saudi Arabia, to add to the $5 billion it has gradually deposited and which is being rolled over
Considering that Pakistan’s forex reserves were $16 4 billion, this means that close to half of them, $8 billion, consist of Saudi deposits That the deposit is essentially geopolitical in nature becomes clear from two things
First, the visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia in connection with the initiative for US-Iran talks in Pakistan over their conflict Apart from the fresh deposit both depend on the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia to export oil, and Pakistan to import it Second, the going over to Saudi Arabia of a Pakistan Air Force contingent both in the context of the conflict and of the Strategic Defence Mutual Agreement between the two It must be remembered that the UAE and Saudi deposits were both factors in Pakistan being granted an IMF package The rollover of these deposits was considered important to the giving of that package, and for precisely the reason that repaying the UAE deposit was so important: because it was a charge on the forex reserves Pakistan has just learnt why such deposits while they might have some emergency value, are not a long-term solution These deposits are not meant to be touched and while they are counted as part of the country s forex reserves are not supposed to be used to pay for imports or service debt It cannot be satisfactory to have half of the country’s reserves not liable to being drawn down A resulting development also a temporary adhoc measure, is that the government is throwing out of the window all its rhetoric about this being the last IMF package, not by asking for a new package but an increase and thus an extension, in the current package The USIsrael-Iran war is the pretext, but the reason is Pakistan’s forex woes
M A Niazi
IN hindsight, the Islamabad round was bound to fail The USA historically has not been much good at negotiating beyond the initial ceasefire in any conflict and ever since the Vietnam War as had tough negotiations mainly because the ground separating the two sides has been such that covering it has been difficult
One difference between the Islamabad talks and either the Paris talks which ended the Vietnam War, or the Doha talks which ended the Afghan conflict, is that they started without a definite victory in the field for either side Indeed the Doha talks never saw even an informal ceasefire while the Paris talks were notoriously interrupted by the heaviest US bombing of North Vietnam ever conducted Operation Linebacker II That bombing was carried out to persuade the North Vietnamese, whom the Americans saw as hanging back from reaching an agreement
The USA may have already begun the modern equivalent of Linebacker II by its own blockade of the Hormuz Strait It is of interest to naval historians to see what happens when one strait is blockaded by two different countries at cross-purposes One point has already been addressed by the USA: it has expressed willingness to shoot at Iranian vessels Whether the figleaf of the ceasefire can continue beyond that or whether it involves a resumption of hostilities is yet to be seen
Another difference is that the US opponent in the two earlier examples wanted US forces to vacate their own country Though Iran does demand that the USA vacate the Middle East, the demand is more a desire rather than a core demand
The principal issue remains Iran’s nuclear programme according to US Vice-President and delegation leader J D Vance Iranian unwillingness to commit to not having a weapons programme followed by its refusal to commit to not obtaining the technological technical capability of making a weapon Iran continues to refuse to do so This is despite two attempts by the USA and Israel to bomb the nuclear programme to annihilation Does this imply a third attempt? That is the obvious military solution It was a possibility when the USA brought in B52 Stratofortress bombers to the theatre, basing them in the UK There was a visible increase of concern because they can carry airlaunched cruise missiles with nuclear payloads, but perhaps more relevant is their ability to deliver ‘bunkerbuster ’ bombs the famous and feared GBU57 a 3000-lb bomb also called the Massive Ordnance Penetrator They use high-strength steel casings and delayed-detonation fuses to go deep underground, to reach hardened facilities The newest variant, the 5000-lb GBU 72B, has been used against Iran Bunkerbusters have already been used delivered by B2 Stealth bombers against nuclear sites as well as against underground missile sites The USA has
done its best to eliminate Iran s missile strike capa-
bility but it has so far been unable to It used bunker busters against anti-ship missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz, but either the bombs didn t work, or the bombs landed in the wrong place because the intelligence was incorrect The missiles and the Hormuz Strait are also contentious issues What emerged in this conflict was how the Strait s passage is perhaps the biggest single weapon Iran has While in other respects it is defending what it has (nuclear programme, missiles), with the Strait, it carries the war to the USA True, the rest of the world is also shattered, but whose fault is that? The US blockade of the Strait only means that it is not going back to normal The blockadeis meant to show who controls it Iran wants to charge a toll while the USA wants to blockade those ships It is thus going to be a sort of face-off Ships which do pay a toll will risk the US Navy boarding them, firing on them or otherwise taking them into custody Ships which do not risk being shot at by Iranian anti-ship missiles Until those are suppressed the Strait will remain blockaded by Iran To end the US blockade will also be difficult for it is not just being done at sea by ships but also in the air, by not k#just missiles but by aeroplanes It is the ability to impose a blockade that gives teeth to the Iranian demand for the vacation of US bases in Gulf countries It would not be impossible for the USA to impose a blockade which it could do from its carriers and other ships but it would be much more difficult and probably more expensive
One issue, that
The
Matters remained unresolved after the Islamabad talks,
because Iran or the USA were unwilling (or
the mediators), but because neither had yet reached a point where it was too desperate to risk fur ther combat. And that is a problem for the entire world
Naval Siege versus Diplomatic Bridge
TYet, this approach ignores the geopolitical realities of 2026 In the modern era, a blockade is not merely a financial penalty; it is an act of war under international law By intercepting tankers and mining international waters the USA is not just pressuring Tehran; it is challenging the sovereignty of every nation that relies on those trade routes This is where the US gamble begins to fracture Unlike previous decades the world is no longer a unipolar playground where Washington dictates the terms of global trade China has already explicitly and forcefully opposed the blockade labelling it a direct threat to global energy security and international law Beijing is not merely issuing sternly worded memos; it is signaling that it will leverage its own considerable naval and economic muscle to protect its lifelines When a global superpower like China stands in direct opposition to a blockade, the “steel ring” becomes a sieve Instead of isolating Iran the USA risks isolating itself from its own allies many of whom including the UK and France have already signalled their hesitation to join such a combustible maritime mission While Washington rattles its sabres, Islamabad is busy building bridges Pakistan’s role in this crisis has evolved from a mere facilitator to an indispensable mediator The Islamabad Process is not a failed experiment; it is the only viable alternative to a regional inferno Recognizing the fragility of the current moment, the Pakistani leadership has already begun a frantic and reinvigorated diplomatic push to secure a second round of talks Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ’s upcoming regional tour beginning with a high-stakes visit to Saudi Arabia is a clear signal that the regional powers are not content to sit idly by while the Persian Gulf is turned into a graveyard of tankers
round of talks is possible, provided there is simultaneous reciprocity from Tehran, shows that the door to the Islamabad Process is still ajar even if the US Navy is currently trying to kick it down Critically the technical feasibility of this blockade remains under intense scrutiny For US CENTCOM, enforcing a truly non-porous blockade across 1,500 miles of Iranian coastline is a logistical nightmare The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is not a conventional navy; it is a master of asymmetric warfare Its swarm tactics and coastal missile batteries mean that any attempt to physically stop every ship will result in US casualties A blockade that cannot be fully enforced is worse than no blockade at all it projects weakness and invites miscalculation Furthermore the global economic fallout is already being felt at every gas station and grocery store from New York to New Delhi With oil prices surging past the $100 mark, the world is paying the price for a stalemate it did not create The international community is growing weary of a conflict that uses the global economy as a hostage This collective fatigue is precisely what Pakistan is leveraging as it pursues its Round 2 diplomacy By engaging the heads of regional states Pakistan is building a coalition of the willing not for war, but for a sustainable peace that respects the interests of both the West and the Middle East
Old and young must unite
from
There are signs that even within the halls of the White House, there is a quiet recognition that the blockade is a bridge to nowhere Vice President JD Vance has notably maintained a tone of cautious pragmatism offering positive gestures toward Pakistan s continued efforts His signals suggest that Washington understands the blockade is a placeholder strategy a way to look strong while the real work of finding a diplomatic exit ramp continues The Vice President’s indication that a second
Ultimately the USA must realize that you cannot starve a nation into a meaningful peace A signature obtained through the barrel of a naval gun is rarely worth the paper it is written on The only way to preclude this stalemate from becoming a catastrophe is to return to the table that Pakistan has so painstakingly built The “Islamabad Process” offers a path of dignity and strategic clarity that
For the sake of regional and global stability, Washington must choose the latter The writer is a freelance columnist
MAjId NAbI burfAt
Pakistan and the trillion-dollar peace dividend
terms, but in financial ones No government or international institution has yet issued an official dollar figure for what Pakistan has “saved ” Still scenario-based calculations grounded in World Bank IMF and Reuters reporting suggest that if Pakistan s mediation helps convert the fragile ceasefire into a durable settlement, the avoided losses could plausibly run from the high hundreds of billions of dollars into the low trillions This is not propaganda; it is what the macroeconomic numbers imply Start with global growth The IMF cut its 2026 global growth forecast to 3 1 percent because of the war and warned that in
I M F c u t i t s 2 0 2 6 g l o b a l g row t h fo r e c a s t t o 3 . 1 p e rc e n t
b e c a u s e o f t h e w a r a n d w a r n e d t h a t , i n a s
n s t o p a w a r m ay m a t t e r m o r e t h a n
t h e c o u n t r y t h a t c a n a f fo rd o n e
ergy
surance,
tally of
quickly
and
Even
or containable
Markets themselves are already
the
of diplomacy Gulf stock markets rising on renewed hopes of US-Iran talks, while Wall Street pushed to record highs as investors bet the worst might be avoided Brent crude, though still elevated, has pulled back from the panic zone above $100 and hovered around $95 on April 15 as traders responded to the possibility of renewed negotiations Eleven finance ministers meeting around the IMF-World Bank spring meetings called for full implementation of the ceasefire, warning that even if the shooting stops the economic aftershocks on inflation growth and debt will linger That is the clearest evidence that diplomacy is not a symbolic exercise; it is already functioning as a stabilizing economic asset Pakistan s importance in this crisis is therefore not accidental It has managed to present itself as credible to Washington, acceptable to Tehran relevant to Gulf capitals and increasingly necessary to wider regional diplomacy that now also involves Turkey Saudi Arabia and Egypt President Erdogan has openly referenced Pakistan s mediator
role, while the White House has acknowledged Pakistan as the likely venue for the next round In a fractured region where many actors are aligned too heavily with one bloc or another Pakistan s value lies in being politically connected militarily serious diplomatically flexible and geographically impossible to ignore Still, the argument must remain grounded Pakistan has not yet “saved the world” in any final sense because the war is not formally over the Hormuz issue is unresolved Lebanon remains volatile and the hardest questions nuclear verification sanctions, shipping access and war damages are still on the table The IAEA chief has warned that any real settlement will require detailed inspections and Reuters says US economic pressure on Iran is still intensifying even while diplomacy continues So the credit Pakistan deserves today is not for a completed peace, but for preventing diplomatic collapse and preserving the one path that could still save the region from a second explosion If the second round succeeds Pakistan’s
Q Brazil has just gone through one of its worst crises with the United States involving clear interference, exorbitant tariffs, and sanctions against the judges presiding over the case against Bolsonaro What did you learn from that clash?
A It struck me that Trump’s arguments for imposing tariffs on Brazil were not true That insistence on military force ships fighter jets I decided to be very patient and told him verbatim that two countries governed by two 80-year-old men should converse with maturity We don t have to agree ideologically A head of state sits down at the table with his country’s interests in mind Furthermore, I told Trump that it was important to define what kind of leader one wants to be I prefer to be a respected leader not a feared one No one has the right to instill fear
Q And how would you describe Trump?
A He s playing a very dangerous game He operates on the premise that American economic, military, and technological power dictates the rules of the game But that can’t be the case because ultimately it ends up creating problems for the United States When he decided to attack Iran I don t know if he realized that fuel prices would rise and that the people would be the ones to pay the price When one is head of state, one must respect the sovereignty of other countries It upsets me greatly that the U N Security Council, created to maintain peace, wages war It is as if the world were a ship adrift, with no institution to guide the civilized behavior of nations We are facing a very very delicate situation: never since World War II have there been so many simultaneous conflicts Last year alone $2 7 trillion was spent on wars With half of that, we could end illiteracy, solve the global energy crisis, and end hunger for 630 million people When are we going to come to our senses ?
Q Could it be that the institutions we put in place to prevent conflicts are obsolete?
A The time has come to redefine the United Nations to restore its credibility;
In an exclusive inter view with EL PAÍS in B rasília, the B razilian president disc usses global turmoil I had a conversation with Fidel Castro; I told him I was thinking of quitting, that I had only gotten 1 25 million votes And Fidel replied: ‘Lula, do
place in the world where a worker has gotten 1 25
apply to 2026
Q In this context of war following what happened in Venezuela and the new U S security doctrine aren’t you afraid of further interventions in Latin America? Does Brazil feel safe? A I feel safe This country, for the first time in history has a former president in prison and four four-star generals behind bars Democracy works here; it s an example for the United States My war is one of arguments And I want to fight it at the negotiating table I want more free trade The EU and Mercosur taught the world a lesson with the agreement that takes effect on May 1 Nearly 750 million people, a GDP of $22 trillion it’s a very successful start Our beloved U N has absolutely no power For God’s sake a Third World War would be a tragedy 10 times worse than the Second!
Q But do you really believe Russia is willing to cooperate within that international order? And, given what happened in Ukraine, shouldn’t you have been more critical of Vladimir Putin?
A Brazil was very critical At no point did it recognize Russia s right to invade Ukrainian territory What Brazil maintained was that the solution lay at the negotiating table Many people were wrong; Biden thought he was going to destroy Russia in no time And Russia thought it was going to destroy Ukraine in no time They were wrong The war has been going on for four years now How many lives how many dollars how much destruction has it caused? And does anyone really think it’s going to stop there? It s not going to stop
Q What is your prediction regarding Cuba? Will the regime fall? A Seventy years of blockade is inexplicable If those who do not sympathize with the Cuban regime were concerned about the Cuban people why aren’t they concerned about Haiti which does not have a communist
Q Some believe that this won t be resolved in the short or medium term and that it’s advisable to rearm to prevent abuse by the superpowers A That is the problem Everyone feels compelled to rearm In Brazil, we believed in disarmament and enacted a Constitution in 1988 that prohibits the manufacture of nuclear weapons What happened? The United States did not disarm nor did Russia China built them And India And Pakistan And North Korea And here we are almost defenseless with a land border of 16 800 kilometers [10,440 miles] and another 8,500 kilometers [5,280 miles] of coastline But I don t want to invest in weapons; I want to invest in books, in food, in jobs The problem is that the European Union has just proposed 800 billion euros for defense the United Kingdom is rearming Japan is too Someone has to take the initiative I ve already called Chinese President Xi Jinping Indian Prime Minister Modi Putin Macron everyone asking them to meet with us, to discuss this Because Trump has no right to wake up in the morning and threaten a country He wasn’t elected for that, and his Constitution doesn’t allow it It’s essential that the powerful take on more responsibility for maintaining peace
regime? Cuba needs a chance How can a country survive without receiving food or energy?
Q There are presidential elections in Brazil in October and polls point to a tie with Bolsonarism How do you explain that it retains so much strength after an attempted coup and encouraging U S interference?
A Bolsonarism will not govern this country again because the people prefer democracy I am convinced of that And the fact that Brazilian society is more divided is nothing new either I ve never won an election in the first round And the world has become even more polarized; the far right is gaining ground with a discourse of lies and denial, using digital networks like never before, and now with the help of artificial intelligence
Q What do you fear most in this election: disinformation campaigns on the internet or possible interference from the United States?
A I have no fear My responsibility is to ensure that the Brazilian people receive the correct information, so that on the day they have to decide, they do not do so based on fake news That is my obligation And foreign interference does not concern me at all
Q And where does the far right get so much strength? Couldn t there be other causes such as disillusionment with what modern democracies offer?
A Democracy now owes the people an explanation, because democracy isn t just about getting votes on election day; we have to show that people will work better, earn more eat better and have greater access to culture and education If we don’t do that why should people believe in democracy? We have a duty to show humanity that democracy is better than authoritarianism Our problem is that we realized too late that we had failed in building the so-called welfare state, in education, in healthcare That’s why I’m going to Barcelona to participate in the In Defence of Democracy forum alongside presidents and ministers from the Americas Europe Africa and Asia
Q Are you seeking an alternative to Trump s unilateralism?
A It won t be an anti-Trump meeting We re going to discuss democracy: see where it failed and what needs to be done to fix it I’m going to tell you a story When François Hollande was elected president
Qamar Bashir
IRAN AND US SHIFT FOCUS TO INTERIM DEAL AS
DIFFERENCES PERSIST
China, Turkmenistan deepen strategic partnership with focus on energy, AI and regional connectivity
with long-term pipeline projects forming a critical component of China’s energy security strategy Chinese media reports noted that both sides are now looking to elevate this cooperation by expanding capacity accelerating major infrastructure projects, and improving efficiency across the energy value chain Ding urged both countries to adopt a long-term strategic perspective seize the “window of opportunity ” and scale up cooperation to meet growing demand Beyond traditional energy China is also pushing to diversify engagement into high-tech and green sectors Ding highlighted prospects for collaboration in photovoltaics, wind energy, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence areas that Chinese analysts say align with Beijing s broader push for high-quality development and green transformation under the Belt and Road framework
State-affiliated commentary has portrayed this shift as part of China’s effort to transition from resource-driven partnerships to innovation-led cooperation with Central Asian countries, enhancing economic resilience and sustainability The Chinese vice premier also stressed the importance of expanding cooperation in connectivity trade and investment noting that deeper integration would not only benefit the two countries but also strengthen regional economic networks Ding further reaffirmed China s willingness to enhance coordination with Turkmenistan under the China–Central Asia mechanism a platform Beijing views as increasingly important for regional stability and development He also reiterated China s support for Turkmenistan s policy of permanent neutrality and its greater role in multilateral forums such as the United Nations For his part Berdimuhamedov welcomed the growing momentum in bilateral ties and asked Ding to convey his greetings to President Xi recalling his recent visit to China as productive and
fruitful He reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s firm adherence to the one-China principle and expressed support for China s sovereignty and territorial integrity positions frequently highlighted in Chinese diplomatic reporting as key indicators of political trust
Berdimuhamedov emphasised that cooperation between the two countries rests on a strong political foundation and pledged to further deepen engagement across a wide spectrum, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, trade, and cultural exchanges He also expressed appreciation for China’s consistent support for Turkmenistan s neutral status and signalled readiness to strengthen coordination with Beijing in international affairs, with a shared goal of promoting regional prosperity and global stability Chinese media coverage of the meeting framed it as part of Beijing’s broader diplomatic outreach in Central Asia highlighting the region s strategic importance in energy security connectivity and geopolitical stability
Gaza amputees face prosthetics shor tage amid Israeli restrictions, aid and medical sources say JERUSALEM
Fourteen-year-old Fadel al-Naji used to be a keen footballer but is now largely confined to his home in Gaza City since both legs were severed in an Israeli drone attack in September He sits sullenly on a couch with one hollow pant leg dangling and the other tucked into his waist beside his 11-year-old brother who lost an eye in the same strike "He has become withdrawn and isolated " said his mother Najwa alNaji showing old videos of him doing kick-ups on her phone It is as if he is dying slowly and I wish that they would fit him with prosthetic limbs But those are in scarce supply for Gaza s nearly 5 000 war amputees - a quarter of whom are children like al-Naji - because of Israeli restrictions on materials like plaster of Paris, seven aid and medical sources told Reuters Israel which fought a two-year war with Hamas fighters in the Palestinian enclave cites security concerns as the reason for restrictions Taken together with Gaza s pre-war amputee population provided by Palestinian health officials, its per capita amputee rate now exceeds even Cambodia, which had been the worst due to landmines, aid group Humanity & Inclusion said Such is the need that two medical centres said they were trying to reuse old prosthetic limbs recovered from people killed in the war Others are creating makeshift artificial limbs with plastic piping or wooden planks, medics said, though this risks damaging the stump or causing infection U N F U L F I L L E D P R O M I S E aza s amputees are a symbol of unfulfilled pledges from the October ceasefire and US President Donald Trump s 20-point plan envisaging full aid without interference It also foresaw the reopening of the Rafah border crossing - Gaza s sole route out to Egypt - but medical evacuations including for amputees have been irregular Israel restricts imports of items it says have potential military as well as civilian use under a policy pre-dating the two-year war While plaster of Paris and other plastic components for
CORPORATE CORNER
NAB conducts Special Training on Global
PAKISTAN SPENDS RS414 BILLION
Toyota Flags Polic y Instability as Auto Sector Growth Stalls, Capacity Utilization Drops
it was decided to construct a 36-kilometer road from the Karakoram Highway to Naltar Satranga lake
LAHORE
Bank of Khyber has inaugurated its new branch on PIA Road, lahore, further strengthening its presence in one of the country s key commercial hubs The branch was formally inaugurated by Hassan Raza, Managing Director & CEO BoK, along with Fawad Saddozai Group Head RAM Gul Buhar Khan Group Head Retail Asif Shahzad Head Transactional Banking along Regional Heads in the presence of Area Manager and Branch Managers from across lahore Speaking on the occasion,
The new branch will offer a comprehensive range of Shariah-compliant
this landmark policy decision marks a significant step toward strengthening Pakistan’s local automotive manufacturing sector By discouraging the influx of used vehicles the initiative is expected to enhance demand for locally assembled cars, support industrial growth, generate employment and effectively reduce idle production capacity within the country’s automotive industry
GOVERNANCE REFORMS AND PRIORTIZING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
CRUCIAL FOR EFFECTIVE CPEC 2.0 IMPLEMENTATION
Head of Mission at
Embassy highlighted the
of CPEC
I in
s infrastructure and
and
the five-corridor
of
2 0 Growth, Livelihood Innovation Green and Open He cited key developments including progress in Special Economic Zones expansion of energy investments and growing cooperation in health and space sectors He also noted the alignment between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” initiative, reaffirming China’s commitment to deepening cooperation in industry agriculture and mining
Punjab Assembly adopts
unanimous resolution recomending
Nobel Peace Prize for PM Shehbaz, Gen Asim Munir
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
In a rare show of unanimity, the Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution recommending the Nobel Peace Prize for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir recognising their role in promoting peace amid escalating tensions in the Middle East The resolution, tabled by Punjab Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman praised Pakistan’s civil and mili-
tary leadership for what it described as a “highly effective diplomatic role” in facilitating a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and contributing to regional stability Paying tribute to key national figures, including PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir the assembly expressed deep appreciation and pride in their collective leadership during a period of complex global challenges
The resolution credited the leadership’s “unwavering resolve, exceptional foresight and tireless efforts with elevating Pakistan s standing on the international stage It noted that through strategic diplomacy and sustained engagement, Pakistan played a pivotal role in helping avert a potentially devastating regional conflict It also acknowledged the constructive approach of international stakeholders including the leaderships of the United States and Iran, for prioritising dialogue and restraint in efforts to de-escalate tensions
Pakistan posts $1.07b current account surplus in March
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r
said, Current account balance recorded
ism operations, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday The military s media wing said combat teams from the Pakistan Army took part in the exercise alongside Turkish troops The training activities were held in Ankara and Isparta According to the ISPR, the exercise met its training goals as well as its military diplomacy objectives It said personnel from both countries displayed a high level of professionalism and operational capability during the drills
The statement said the main purpose of the exercise was to improve drills, procedures and techniques linked to counterterrorism operations while special emphasis was placed on combat in built-up areas and countering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) through joint training The ISPR said the exercise also re-
inforced the longstanding military-tomilitary relationship between Pakistan and Turkiye It added that the drills reflected close cooperation and a shared commitment by the two countries in the field of counterterrorism Training held in Ankara and Isparta
The exercise was conducted at locations in Ankara and Isparta where Pakistani and Turkish forces carried out joint activities as part of the commando and special forces engagement
In its statement, the ISPR said the participating troops completed the exercise successfully and fulfilled all intended objectives It described the event as part of continued defence cooperation between the two friendly countries
The military s media wing said the exercise centred on refining operational methods relevant to counterterrorism, particularly in urban settings and in dealing with improvised explosive devices Pakistan Navy missile firing
Earlier in the day the Pakistan Navy also carried out a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, according to the ISPR
