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MILITARY TOP BRASS VOWS TO SAFEGUARD PAKISTAN'S WATER RIGHTS UNDER IWT Tuesday, 7 July, 2026 | 21 Muharram, 1448
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CORPS COMMANDERS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO ENSURE PAKISTAN RECEIVES ITS RIGHTFUL SHARE OF INDUS WATERS FORUM STRESSES GOVERNANCE REFORMS, INTELLIGENCE-LED OPERATIONS AND INTEGRATED STRATEGY TO DEFEAT TERRORISM AND HYBRID WARFARE
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RAWALPINDI
Rs 50.00 | Vol XVII No 102 | 48 Pages | Islamabad Edition
MILITARY WARNS INDIAN-BACKED TERROR PROXIES OPERATING FROM AFGHAN TERRITORY WILL FACE DECISIVE ACTION
PAKISTAN REITERATES UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR KASHMIR CAUSE AND COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL PEACE THROUGH DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
MIAN ABRAR
AKISTAN's top military leadership on Monday reaffirmed its unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism in all its forms, warning that Indian-backed militant proxies operating from Afghan territory and externally sponsored hybrid warfare would be met with a decisive and integrated response to safeguard the country's sovereignty and national security. The resolve was expressed during the 276th Corps Commanders' Conference (CCC), chaired by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, at the General Headquarters (GHQ), where the country's overall security environment, operational preparedness and regional developments came under comprehensive review. The forum paid rich tribute to the martyrs of the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians, offering Fateha for their eternal peace and reaffirming that their sacrifices remain the cornerstone of Pakistan's security, unity and resilience. The military leadership expressed satisfaction over the operational preparedness, professionalism and combat readiness of the Pakistan Armed Forces, emphasizing that the country's defence remains fully capable of responding to both conventional and emerging security challenges. The Corps Commanders expressed grave concern over the continued use of territory under the control of the Afghan Taliban by Indian-sponsored terrorist organisations, including Fitna al Khawarij (FAK) and Fitna al Hindustan (FAH), to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The forum stressed that lasting peace and stability in
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the region depended upon preventing the misuse of Afghan territory by terrorist proxies, stating that the Afghan Taliban regime bears direct responsibility for ensuring its territory is not used against neighbouring countries. Reaffirming Pakistan's inherent right to defend its citizens against terrorism, the military leadership declared that intelligence-based operations against terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory would continue under the ambit of Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq until the threat is effectively neutralised. Besides military operations, the forum emphasized that sustainable peace in troubled regions also requires effective governance, stronger public service delivery and improved welfare initiatives. The commanders highlighted the urgent need to establish robust governance structures capable of dismantling the nexus between terrorism and organised crime, which they said continues to thrive under vested political patronage. The forum underscored that development, effective administration and public confidence remain indispensable components of
Pakistan's broader counterterrorism strategy. Reviewing the evolving strategic environment following what it described as Pakistan's comprehensive success in Mark-e-Haq, the military leadership observed that hostile elements had increasingly shifted towards hybrid warfare, disinformation campaigns and other externally supported efforts aimed at creating instability inside the country. The forum strongly condemned state-sponsored financing, facilitation and support of terrorist proxies, asserting that every attempt to destabilise Pakistan through hybrid means would continue to be countered with strategic clarity, institutional resilience and unwavering resolve. The commanders also reviewed regional developments and appreciated Pakistan's constructive diplomatic role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation and regional peace, reaffirming the country's commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, respect for international law and enhanced regional cooperation.
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Pakistan calls for stronger UN to enforce global peace mandate Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan set to boost economic partnership as Zardari arrives in Bishkek PROFIT
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President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in the Kyrgyz Republic on Monday for a four day official visit, marking the first trip by a Pakistani president to the Central Asian country in 21 years and signalling a renewed push to strengthen bilateral relations. The visit comes months after Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov travelled to Pakistan in December last year, reflecting growing momentum in high level engagement between the two countries. During the visit, President Zardari, accompanied by a high level delegation, will hold separate one on one and delegation level meetings with President Zhaparov to review the overall state of bilateral ties and discuss regional and international developments. Economic cooperation is expected to feature prominently in the talks, with both sides set to explore ways to deepen collaboration in trade and investment as well as energy, mining, agriculture, textiles, the halal industry, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, the digital economy, education, tourism and people to people exchanges. According to the Foreign Office, President Zardari will also meet the Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament during a courtesy call as part of his official engagements.
Revised telecom bill makes landowner consent mandatory for right-of-way, ministers say
ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Monday reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering commitment to advancing the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, upholding international law and treaties, and strengthening multilateral cooperation to promote global peace, security and sustainable prosperity. He expressed these views during a meeting with María Fernanda Espinosa, who called on him in Islamabad as part of her campaign
for the position of the next United Nations Secretary-General. Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the deputy prime minister reiterated Pakistan's strong support for effective multilateralism and underscored the central role of the United Nations in addressing global challenges, maintaining international peace and promoting equitable international cooperation. Dar expressed the hope that the incoming UN Secretary-General would undertake meaningful institutional reforms to make the world body more effective, representative and responsive to contemporary global challenges.
He also stressed the urgent need for the effective implementation of long-standing United Nations Security Council resolutions, particularly those relating to Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, describing their implementation as essential for achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East and South Asia. Reaffirming Pakistan's principled foreign policy, Dar said Islamabad would continue working closely with the international community to promote dialogue, peaceful dispute resolution and a rules-based international order founded on the principles of the UN Charter.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Sunday that a committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had unanimously agreed to revise proposed amendments to telecommunication laws, making the consent of property owners mandatory before telecom infrastructure can be installed on private land. Addressing a joint press conference with Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Tarar said the revised draft of The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill would clearly state that no right-ofway could be granted over private land without the owner’s consent. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted the committee after criticism from government allies and opposition lawmakers, who called for a review of the bill and changes to its disputed provisions. Tarar and Khawaja rejected concerns that the proposed law would allow occupation of private property. They said the legislation was aimed at updating Pakistan’s telecom legal framework to support 5G and other advanced technologies, not at overriding citizens’ property rights. Khawaja said the existing Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996, was drafted during the 2G era and no longer met the requirements of modern telecommunications infrastructure. She said the bill was introduced in the National Assembly in January and reviewed in detail by the relevant standing committee before being passed in June. She added that the draft included amendments proposed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and was later referred to the Senate standing committee, where further deliberations were under way. The minister said Pakistan had recorded nearly 25% growth in data consumption over the past two years due to population growth and increasing digital adoption. She said spectrum availability had risen from 274MHz to around 750MHz through the country’s largest-ever spectrum auction. Khawaja said the proposed amendments were intended to facilitate investment in digital infrastructure, expand high-speed internet access and address regulatory hurdles, particularly those linked to right-of-way approvals. She said the expansion of telecom services required fibre-optic networks, towers and other infrastructure across the country. She added that when the present government assumed office, only three million households had fibre-based internet connections, while the number had now increased to more than five million due to policy and technical measures. The minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had set a target of extending wired broadband connectivity to at least 10 million households over the next three years. Khawaja said provincial governments had also contributed to structural reforms in the telecom sector. She maintained that the bill did not contain any provision allowing forced occupation of private land.
Aurangzeb launches early budget consultations to drive export-led growth KARACHI
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday reaffirmed the government's commitment to structural economic reforms, policy consistency and an export-led growth strategy, announcing that preparations for the next federal budget had already begun through an extensive consultative process with the country's business community. Addressing a meeting with leading industrialists and business leaders at the Pakistan Business Council (PBC), the finance minister said the government had deliberately initiated budget consultations much earlier this year to ensure broader stakeholder participation
and a more comprehensive fiscal planning process. He appreciated the Pakistan Business Council for providing a unified platform for the country's leading businesses and acknowledged its continued contribution to fostering constructive dialogue between the government and the private sector on key economic and policy issues. Referring to the global economic environment, Senator Aurangzeb observed that the international economy had shown greater resilience than initially anticipated, noting that countries committed to structural reforms had been more successful in maintaining economic stability and sustaining growth. He stressed that Pakistan must continue implementing comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening
macroeconomic stability, enhancing competitiveness, attracting investment and ensuring long-term sustainable economic growth. Highlighting the government's fiscal strategy, the finance minister said the Federal Budget 2026-27 introduced significant taxation and financing measures designed to promote exports, improve exporters' access to credit and reinforce Pakistan's transition towards an export-driven economy. He underscored that policy predictability remained essential for restoring investor confidence and enabling long-term business planning, reaffirming the government's commitment to implementing a Medium-Term Tax Strategy that would provide a stable and transparent taxation framework for businesses.
PM mobilises diplomacy to increase overseas jobs for Pakistani youth ISLAMABAD STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed Pakistan's embassies across the world to proactively identify and facilitate overseas employment opportunities for skilled Pakistanis, underscoring the government's commitment to equipping the country's youth with internationally recognised qualifications and connecting them with global labour markets. Chairing a high-level review meeting on youth employment, the prime minister said Pakistan's young workforce possessed enormous potential and stressed that diplomatic missions must play a more active role in expanding overseas job opportunities by gathering and sharing information on vacancies, required qualifications and labour market demands in their respective host countries. He instructed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the National Vocational and Tech-
nical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Prime Minister's Youth Programme to ensure that young Pakistanis receive high-quality vocational training, foreign language education and internationally recognised certifications to enhance their employability abroad. The prime minister observed that Pakistan's workforce was highly capable and said the government was making every effort to provide education and technical training that meets global standards and responds to evolving international market requirements. Emphasising closer international collaboration, he directed all relevant institutions to strengthen cooperation with foreign governments and organisations to ensure Pakistani technical certifications are aligned with internationally accepted standards. The prime minister also instructed authorities to provide language training alongside professional certification for countries offering employment opportunities to Pakistani workers, enabling them to compete
more effectively in overseas labour markets. He further sought a comprehensive report on the performance of technical and vocational training institutes operating under NAVTTC, as well as progress on establishing Country of Destination Centres aimed at preparing workers according to the specific requirements of foreign employers. During the meeting, officials informed the prime minister that more than 800,000 young Pakistanis had already registered with the Digital Youth Hub, which serves as a platform connecting youth with employment, training and career opportunities. Participants were told that significant overseas employment opportunities currently exist in sectors including construction, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, transportation, biotechnology, manufacturing, shipbuilding, information technology, engineering, nursing, pharmaceuticals and food production. The meeting was informed that spe-
cialised training programmes are already underway to prepare Pakistani workers for employment in these high-demand sectors. Officials also briefed the prime minister that Pakistani embassies would provide up-
dated information on overseas employment opportunities and qualification requirements through the Digital Youth Hub, enabling job seekers to access verified opportunities more efficiently.