PM PUSHES GEMSTONE EXPORT DRIVE, ORDERS PROBE INTO SNGPL 'TENDER IRREGUL ARITIES'
Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) over violations of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules
Taking notice of the complaint, the prime minister directed relevant authorities to investigate alleged irregularities in SNGPL s tendering process He instructed that strict action be taken if the allegations are proven reaffirming the government s commitment to transparency and accountability in public sector operations
Afghani University and termed the reports frivolous and fake Pakistan s targeting is precise and intelligence-based The ministry also accused Afghan media of spreading false reports to obscure support for militant groups and proxies such as Fitna al Khawarij, and said such claims were then amplified by Indian media The pattern is a page of the old playbook where Afghan media creates fake news to cover up the support to terrorist groups and proxies like the Fitna al Khawarij and gets amplification from Indian media Truth prevails over falsehood In a separate post, the ministry shared a screenshot of another X account that repeated the claim of strikes in Kunar Calling it fake propaganda the ministry said the continued circulation of what it called phantom strike claims by Afghan media and officials backed by Indian propagandists showed that the Afghan Taliban regime had little to offer its citizens in terms of service delivery, welfare and governance and instead relied on misinformation and hate
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday increased the policy rate by 100 basis points (bps) to 11 50% marking its first rate hike in nearly three years, as mounting
target range in the next few quarters “Accordingly, the MPC deemed it necessary to maintain a tighter policy stance to keep inflation expectations anchored and contain second-round effects of
RIYADH ag e n c i e S Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan has intensified diplomatic outreach to ease rising regional tensions engaging key counterparts as efforts to stabilise the Middle East gather momentum According to official statements, Saudi Arabia has been actively coordinating with regional and global partners to keep dialogue channels open amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment In recent engagements, the Saudi foreign minister held talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas
Araghchi stressing the urgent need to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation He also spoke with Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani focusing on regional developments and coordinated efforts to maintain security and stability These diplomatic engagements come against the backdrop of continuing hostilities linked to the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran which has resulted in sustained missile and drone exchanges and significant civilian casualties, particularly in
Iran and Lebanon Meanwhile Araghchi speaking during his visit to Russia, blamed the collapse of the latest round of talks with Washington on what he described as “excessive demands” by the United States despite earlier progress He also highlighted the importance of regional consultations noting that discussions were held with Pakistan to assess the evolving situation and strengthen diplomatic coordination Araghchi further pointed to Oman as a key partner particularly in managing issues related to the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz
GOVT PROPOSES RS437M SDGS SUPPORT UNIT WITHOUT UNDP FUNDING, QUESTIONS RAISED OVER PAST PERFORMANCE
Mobile manufac turers warn of IMEI cloning, oppose used phone impor ts
Indus Motor approves Rs1b additional investment to raise localisation spending to Rs5.1 billion
IMF BOARD TO REVIEW $1.21B DISBURSEMENT FOR PAKISTAN ON MAY 8 UNDER EFF, RSF
in setting prices had disrupted supply chains, limiting availability of critical treatments and forcing patients to rely on expensive or unregulated alternatives As per reports the decision was taken after the matter was raised at the highest level, with Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz
doses Other affected products include recombinant human coagulation factor VIII human rabies immunoglobulin and semaglutide
Officials said shortages had created treatment gaps, particularly for patients with cancer haemophilia severe infections and chronic illnesses with some turning to informal markets that raise concerns over quality and safety
The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Man-
ufacturers’ Association welcomed the decision stating that delays over the past two years had restricted access to essential and newer medicines limiting treatment options for healthcare providers The association said supply disruptions had also increased reliance on smuggled medicines posing risks to public health and noted that the latest approvals could help restore availability of critical therapies
For more than two years, the government had delayed price fixation for essential medicines while deregulating non-essential drug pricing Under current policy non-essential medicines remain deregulated while essential and life-saving drugs continue to fall under government price controls
Oil climbs 2% as stalled US -Iran talks, Hormuz disruptions tighten global supply
COMMENT
Measured tightening
ATmining tragedy struck the marble hills in Mardan District this April Collapsing rock and sliding earth buried nine labourers and injured several others an avoidable disaster in a setting where safety is too often an afterthought These were not freak accidents but predictable result of mining on unstable slopes without engineered support, without proper protective equipment, and without trained oversight For local communities, such deaths are mourned and then quietly absorbed into routine memory For the nation, they rarely trigger reform Unsafe mining in Pakistan has become a normalized tragedy rather than an unacceptable occupational failure
This pattern is not confined to one district or one province Across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan, and Sindh, coal mines, marble quarries, gemstone pits, and chromite excavations operate with minimal safety compliance Roof falls gas suffocation dust inhalation explosive mishandling and slope collapses are recurring causes of death Many miners work without helmets respirators eye protection, or reinforced footwear Training is rare and supervision is weaker Informal contractors often prioritize output over safety, and inspections in remote areas are sporadic or symbolic Available studies and provincial records show the scale of the problem An analysis of surface mining accidents in Punjab between 2004 and 2018 recorded 377 deaths in 361 accidents with inadequate personal protective equipment and primitive mining practices cited as primary causes Similar patterns are reported from coal mines in Balochistan and marble quarries in KP Yet national statistics remain fragmented due to under-reporting and the informal nature of many operations The true human cost is almost certainly higher than what is documented A critical institutional gap is Pakistan s weak alignment with global mine-safety frameworks such as the International Labour Organization Safety and Health in Mines Convention Where international standards demand structured training hazard reporting ventilation systems ground support engineering and mandatory PPE enforcement in Pakistan remains inconsistent Laws exist on paper but implementation falters in the field Globally, mining is undeniably hazardous It accounts for a disproportionate share of workplace fatalities despite employing a small fraction of the workforce Estimates suggest over 12 000 miner deaths annually worldwide with millions suffering non-fatal injuries Yet the global story is also one of progress Countries that treated mining deaths as systemic failures rather than fate have dramatically re-
duced fatalities over time In the United States, successive legislation and strict enforcement by mine-safety authorities reduced annual mining deaths from historically high levels in the early twentieth century to well under a hundred in recent years Engineered roof support methane detection systems, ventilation standards, emergency response protocols, and compulsory safety training transformed the industry’s risk profile In Australia, a collaborative safety culture between regulators, companies and workers led to sharp declines in fatality rates over the past two decades In Canada and parts of Europe mines now integrate real-time gas monitoring proximity sensors automated hazard alerts, and IoT-enabled smart protective gear as standard practice The situation in Pakistan stands in sharp contrast The protective systems considered basic elsewhere engineered slope stabilization geotechnical surveys before excavation gas sensors reinforced helmets respirators fall-arrest systems communication devices, trained rescue teams are largely absent in small and medium mining sites here For many operators, such equipment is seen as an expense rather than an investment For many workers, risk is accepted
You
That
are simplified Predictions are decisive But reality is never neat It rarely follows the script There is a reason military briefings often look confident on screen but chaotic in practice The presentation is designed for understanding, not accuracy The same distortion now defines media commentary There is also almost no cost for being wrong A failed prediction disappears quietly A correct guess is replayed endlessly Over time, this creates a distorted record where memory favors the rare success and forgets the routine failures This is how mediocrity starts to look like expertise What is missing is not opinion Opinion is everywhere What is missing is discipline The discipline to say we do not know yet and mean it The discipline to wait But that discipline does not pay Certainty does So the system keeps producing the same cycle Bold claim Rapid contradiction Quiet correction New bold claim The audience is left to assemble meaning from fragments that keep shifting Meanwhile the world continues at its own pace Wars do not follow broadcast schedules Diplomacy does not care about trending hashtags And reality rarely confirms the confident takes made in its name The gap between what is happening and what is being said about it keeps growing Not because the world is unclear but because too many people are incentivized to speak before they understand it That is the real story Not that analysts are always wrong But that the system rewards them for being wrong loudly, quickly, and without consequence
Workshops aren’t
The writer is a Doha-based journalist who was previously associated with The Nation Daily Times and Pakistan Today
VIP visit cleans Johi
Irfan BukharI
y s c a r e a t t h e h e a r t o f A m e r i c a n p o l i t i c a l l i f e . T h e wo r l d i s e n t e r i n g a n e w p h a s e o n e w h e r e e c o n o m i c p o w e r i s w e a p o n i z e d , a l l i a n c e s a r e
s h i f t i n g , a n d
limits or a freeze on enrichment under strict verification in exchange for meaningful sanctions relief This is not generosity toward Tehran It is the only formula that can produce a durable agreement On Hormuz, Burns implied approach is also clear: treat it as more than a bilateral US–Iran issue Bring in the Gulf states that share the waterway The goal is not to hand Iran a “toll booth” on world trade The goal is a regional arrangement that reduces the chance of a repeat closure: maritime security transit understandings and potentially an internationally supervised mechanism framed as a public good (clearing mines, stabilizing shipping) rather than as a reward WHY IS IRAN HARDENING ITS POSITION?
Because Tehran sees the full picture: a struggling US administration nervous markets and uneasy allies And inside Iran the hardline logic gains ground: this is not a moment for a cheap compromise It is a moment to raise demands Their argument is blunt: if the strait reopens without a serious political and economic price Washington will try the same approach again later So they want a lesson that makes the next adventure too costly But hardening has limits Real negotiations do not give any side everything Every player has ceilings and vulnerabilities Iran has a powerful card; but turning pressure into lasting gains requires discipline, not triumphalism WASHINGTON’S REAL DANGER IS DOMESTIC: If the closure drags on the crisis will not stay over there It will become a US domestic issue: inflation pressure on
Qamar Bashir
INDIA AND NEW ZEAL AND SIGN FREE TRADE DEAL AMID GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINT Y
‘We will not bow down,' says Hezbollah chief
Afghans flock to Reg- e -Rawan for thrills and mountain views
in the more daring activities spend time on rocks around the mountain sharing picnics and looking out over the surrounding landscape The climb to the top takes about an hour and offers views of green fields and villages below
“The enemy has reached a dead end, this resistance is continuous strong and cannot be defeated ” he said Qassem rejected the Lebanese government s talks with Israel and outlined five conditions that must be met before direct talks can occur Stopping the aggression on land, sea and air, the withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories, the release of prisoners, the return of the people to all their villages and towns and reconstruction ” he said “The Lebanese Authority is responsible for stopping direct negotiations with the Israeli enemy and adopting indirect ones and to void its decision in March that criminalises the resistance and its public base, which is more than half of the Lebanese people, so that it can pursue an internal dialogue that puts the interest of Lebanon above all consideration without succumbing to Israeli and foreign dictates ” Qassem said as per Al Jazeera Israel strikes Lebanon At least one person has been killed in an Israeli drone attack in
and for some test themselves on the mountainside The site, whose name means the moving sands in Dari, has become a popular destination for men and boys who either roll down the honey-coloured sand or practice parkour on the incline Among them is 16-year-old Imran Saeedi who performs flips and jumps down the slope as onlookers watch and record videos on their phones “I feel afraid when I m going for a flip or a jump and of course I can get injured Saeedi said while adding that he is drawn back by the excitement of the place When the week starts, I'm just waiting for the weekend so I can come to Reg-e-Rawan to have fun again” the high school student said Visitors who do not take part
According to the report, women and girls are not allowed at the site The area is off limits to them under restrictions imposed by the Taliban authorities who have barred women from recreational places including parks When AFP journalists visited, families accompanied by women were turned away, while officials from the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice were patrolling the area Tourism official highlights site’s history Mirwais Kamran, a 48-year-old businessman, said he travelled three hours north from Kabul with some of his 12 children to visit the site I feel joy when I come here with my children and friends Kamran said He climbed the slope but did not go on to roll down it Nusratullah Nusrat, the provincial head of tourism at the
Kapisa Department of Information and Culture, said Reg-e-Rawan goes back thousands of years The unique feature of this place is that the sand never decreases despite people climbing up and sliding down ,he told AFP Nusrat also said some people believe that rolling in the sand helps treat rheumatism Visitors describe relief from stress
For some visitors the attraction is not only physical activity but also a sense of relief and calm Nohzatullah Ahmadzai, a 22year-old employee of a cargo company, travelled from Kabul with friends and said the visit improved his mood I m someone who gets depressed when I m sad so visiting such places erases that feeling , Ahmadzai said We humans need nature”, he said “When we feel stressed we can visit natural places for relaxation or relief he added
The site continues to attract large numbers of visitors seeking recreation, scenic views and, for some, the thrill of descending one of the country’s unusual natural landmarks
CORPORATE CORNER
Bond Adver tising Wins Gold at 2026 Effie Awards for A Power ful Minorit y Rights Campaign
Staff report
Bond Advertising has been awarded a Gold Effie at the 2026 Effie Awards in the "Positive Change: Social Good – Non-Profit" category The award recognizes the agency s exceptional work on the Awaaz Sab Ki (Voices of Everyone) awareness campaign developed for the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Pakistan and the Legal Aid Society (LAS)
The "Awaaz Sab Ki" campaign was designed to reduce the vulnerability of Religious Minority Communities to forced conversions and marriages Operating in a high-stakes environment characterized by extreme social sensitivity and a lack of foundational legal knowledge, the campaign utilized a "Know Your Rights" framework to empower marginalized individuals
Bond Advertising’s strategy successfully bypassed traditional media barriers by leveraging a budgetefficient digital and SMS-led approach that ensured privacy for those in need Educational content was produced in Urdu Sindhi and Punjabi to ensure accessibility and overcome literacy barriers, while a massive outreach effort generated 9 8 million digital impressions and 3 6 million SMS messages
A key highlight of the campaign was a powerful film directed by Ayesha Gazdar on advocating for minority rights humanizing the struggles and resilience of those affected by forced conversion
This integrated strategy successfully drove realworld behavioral change, resulting in vulnerable individuals connecting to the SLACC (Sindh Legal Advisory Call Center) helpline and the successful resolution of their legal issues
This campaign was about more than just marketing; it was about protecting fundamental human rights and breaking the silence surrounding forced conversions
PUNJAB SETS WELFARE MILESTONE AS OVER 1.6M BENEFIT FROM SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES
N a short span of
LAHORE
S ta f f r e p o r t
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, has said that the “Apna Khet Apna Rozgar” initiative is a game-changing project for landless farmers and a major step toward strengthening Punjab s agriculture and economy Under this scheme, land will be provided to landless individuals on a 10-year lease, benefiting around 88,000 families She stated that multiple initiatives have been launched under the leadership of the Chief Minister Punjab to create employment opportunities and reinforce the province s economy and agricultural sector She added that the current government has taken exemplary steps across various sectors with “Apna Khet Apna Rozgar emerging as a flagship program aimed at converting barren land into cultivable farmland Azma Bokhari
KARACHI
PAKISTAN, TÜRKIYE AGREE TO JOINT HEALTH TEAM TO EXPAND MEDICAL COOPERATION
Diamer Bhasha Dam Project announces
The Diamer Bhasha Dam Project (DBDP) has announced a total of 79 job and internship opportunities for local residents of District Diamer and Tehsil Harban Basha in Upper Kohistan as the mega hydropower project continues to generate employment in surrounding areas Gwadar Pro quoting official details stated, 69 vacant positions have been announced for District Diamer across
In a separate initiative, 10 internship and placement positions have been allocated for residents of Tehsil Harban Basha in Upper Kohistan These roles focus on entry-level technical and administrative work including office assistance site support and junior technical tasks, aimed at providing hands-on experience to local youth The recruitment drive is part of ongoing efforts by Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to ensure local participation in the project while supporting skill development and economic activity in project-affected areas The positions are spread across different Basic Pay Scale (BPS) grades, with eligibility criteria varying by role Educational requirements range from matriculation to intermediate and relevant technical diplomas, depending on the position For internship placements, candidates aged 18 to 30 years are eligible to apply
Mild heatwave likely in southern Pakistan from April 29 to May 3: PMD
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t The
Pakistan showcases power sec tor reforms, seeks EU investment in energy overhaul
for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari
vestors to participate in privati-
During a meeting with a visiting delegation from the European Union, the minister outlined a comprehensive transformation plan centred on four key priorities: digitisation of the national grid deployment of smart metering systems expansion and modernisation of transmission networks and integration of large-scale battery storage solutions
He also emphasised plans to promote local manufacturing of power sector equipment, aimed at reducing reliance on imports and strengthening domestic industrial capacity
The minister informed the delegation that the government is advancing the privatisation of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), offering attractive opportunities for European firms to participate in the bidding process Highlighting structural reforms Leghari said the government is phasing out outdated and inefficient residual fuel oil (RFO)based power plants He noted that by excluding around 7 000 megawatts of costly capacity from the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) Pak-
istan has achieved estimated savings of $17 billion
The EU delegation, which included Thouraya Trimou and Ramunas Karoblis appreciated the reform measures and acknowledged their positive impact on improving the investment climate
Delegates observed that the ongoing reforms have enhanced investor confidence, encouraging several European stakeholders to explore financing and participation in Pakistan s evolving power sector projects
The engagement underscores Islamabad s efforts to attract foreign investment and modernise its energy infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to ensure sustainability efficiency and long-term energy security ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
A 5 7-magnitude earthquake struck Islamabad Peshawar and several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday according to the Seismic
Monitoring Centre
Initial reports said tremors were felt in the federal capital and the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shaking was also reported in Swat Nowshera Shangla and Buner
The Seismic Monitoring Centre said the earthquake s epicentre was in the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region It added that the
quake occurred at a depth of 170
kilometres There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage following the tremor
Recent seismic activity Pakistan frequently experiences earthquakes because of its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates The country has seen a number of destructive earthquakes over the past several decades
The latest tremors before Monday’s quake were reported in Karachi while earlier this month shaking was also felt in Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In February this year, a 5 8-
magnitude earthquake rattled Islamabad Swat and Hunza Past major earthquakes Among the deadliest earthquakes in the country’s recent history was the 2005 Azad Kashmir disaster which killed more than 73 000 people and left millions homeless Balochistan was also hit in 2021, when an earthquake in Harnai killed at least 20 people The disaster also disrupted rescue operations because of landslides in the area Experts have warned that the difficult terrain in Pakistan s earthquake-prone regions can complicate relief work making preparedness an important concern
Head constable martyred in attack on police checkpost in Pishin
QUETTA
s ta f f r e p o r t
A police head constable was martyred in an attack on a police checkpost in the Huramzai area of Balochistan s Pishin district on Monday, according to police
Police said armed militants riding a motorcycle opened fire on the checkpost with automatic weapons Personnel at the post returned fire, leading to an exchange that continued for some time
“The exchange of fire, which continued for some time, resulted in the martyrdom of a head consta-
ble a police official who wished to remain anonymous said
The official said the attackers managed to flee after the shooting Security forces later reached the site and shifted the body to the district hospital where the deceased was identified as Naimatullah
The same official described the incident as a terrorist attack and said a search operation had been launched in the area to trace those involved No group had claimed responsibility for the attack so far Recent attacks on police in Balochistan
The latest incident comes days after another series of attacks targeting police in the province Last week, a policeman was martyred and four others were injured when unidentified men attacked two police stations in the Dhadar and Mal areas of Balochistan s Kachhi and Noshki districts
The attack in Pishin adds to the recent violence faced by police personnel in Balochistan, where law enforcement officials have come under attack in multiple districts Police have not announced any arrests in connection with the Pishin attack
of key food and household items are gradually converging toward more stable levels with some commodities returning close to pre-volatility benchmarks
The ECC expressed satisfaction over the improving trend, noting that timely policy responses and strengthened monitoring mechanisms are yielding positive results It emphasized the need to sustain these efforts to ensure continued price stability and protect consumers while maintaining macroeconomic balance
The ECC also discussed a summary submitted by the Ministry of Defence regarding allocation of Rs 5 985 billion in
