g GOVT PUSHES FA STER PRIVATIZATION OF 27 STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES UNDER PHA SED REFORM PLAN
g ZTBL PRIVATIZATION TO SAFEGUARD AGRICULTURAL FINANCING; PIA, POWER UTILITIES AND AIRPORTS REMAIN KEY FOCUS
PM S hehbaz hails public mandate as PML-N sec ures simple majority in A JK elec tion
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and the party's successful candidates after the ruling party secured a simple majority in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, describing the outcome as a strong endorsement of the PML-N's leadership and development agenda In a statement the prime minister extended his congratulations to all victorious candidates saying the party s performance reflected the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and the tireless efforts of the entire PML-N team during the election campaign "The development and prosperity of Azad Jammu and Kashmir along with the welfare of its people remain
among the foremost priorities of the PML-N, Shehbaz said, adding that the election results demonstrated the confidence of the Kashmiri people in the party's policies and vision He also welcomed the participation of political parties in the electoral process saying it would further strengthen democracy in AJK Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah announced that the PML-N had secured a simple majority in the 45-member AJK Legislative Assembly after winning 23 seats Addressing a joint press conference with Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam, Sanaullah said polling had so far been completed on 20 general seats with the PML-N winning 13 of them
process and deny the PPP its mandate The accusations came a day after the second phase of elections in Muzaffarabad Division and the refugee constituencies According to unofficial and unconfirmed results the PML-N was leading in five constituencies while the PPP secured two seats Earlier the PML-N won nine of the 13 seats in Mirpur Division during the first phase, giving it a commanding lead in the 53member AJK Legislative Assembly Sharjeel alleged that the Election Commission had failed to remain impartial and ignored repeated complaints lodged by the PPP throughout the polling process It appeared as though the AJK Election Commission had become the B-team of the PML-N, he said, alleging that the polls had followed the same pattern as the 2024 general elections, which the PPP has repeatedly described as producing a "Form-47 government "
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday intensified his criticism of coalition ally Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), declaring that the ruling party’s “countdown” had begun and announcing that the PPP s campaign for the people s rights would now expand across the country
In a series of video messages shared on X, Bilawal reiterated allegations of widespread rigging and violence during the ongoing Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections accusing the PML-N of manipulating the electoral process “The movement for the people’s right to governance ownership and employment will not remain confined to the mountains of Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan Bilawal said God willing, I will take this movement across Pakistan Addressing the PML-N leadership, he added: “Listen carefully tick tock tick tock Your countdown has begun repeating the warning he issued last week after accusing the ruling party of steal-
ing the public mandate in AJK The PPP and the PML-N have been locked in an increasingly bitter exchange since the PML-N emerged victorious in the first phase of AJK elections in Mirpur on July 27 and maintained its lead in the second phase The PPP has alleged widespread rigging, intimidation and violence allegations consistently rejected by the PML-N Paying tribute to PPP workers and supporters Bilawal claimed they had faced threats, rigging and bullets during the elections
He reiterated allegations that a PPP worker was killed, a party MNA sustained a bullet injury and acting AJK President Chaudhry
Latif Akbar was attacked during polling in Muzaffarabad The PML-N has denied these claims maintaining that the deceased died of a heart attack and was not affiliated with the PPP Calling the electoral process fundamentally flawed, Bilawal alleged that the elections were “not transparent” and described them as “rigged bullet-ridden murderous and bloody elections
Despite the alleged irregularities, he congratulated party workers for securing nine seats and vowed to recover what he described as the PPP’s “stolen mandate” in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad
service development and regional prosperity Addressing the criticism regarding the 2024 general elections Tarar questioned whether those same doubts applied to the outcomes of Sindh s elections He added that it would have been better if the irrefutable evidence were brought forth instead of baseless accusations Comparing past political campaigns Tarar observed that during the GB elections the PPP led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari ran a vibrant and fruitful campaign Likewise, during the AJK elections, PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N leadership spearheaded a far superior campaign "The PPP should have run a better campaign to win the elections instead of relying on political pointscoring he said Differences are part and parcel of politics but hurling accusations without evidence is regrettable He urged them to accept the results graciously and refrain from making unverified claims regarding Form 47 and congratulate the winning party Tarar pointed out that in his own constituency the PPP candidate was weak and largely absent from door-to-door campaigning and public gatherings Pre-election surveys in AJK had also reflected this reality
Emphasizing that the elections were conducted under the local administration of an outgoing PPP-led government in AJK Tarar remarked that questioning the transparency of the polls was tantamount to questioning their own administration s credibility Public service and development were the core vision of our manifesto, he said, adding Punjab was cited a successful model during the political campaigns in AJK
Tarar urged the PPP leaders to move forward and focus on advancing the political process in AJK
the sources said Islamabad and Doha are among the expected venues for the talks, according to the sources Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is expected to visit Tehran “in a day or two” to discuss matters related to reviving the talks they said Naqvi s office did not respond to Anadolu s request for comment
The sources said positive developments” concerning the resumption of talks
were expected this week as both sides exchanged messages through mediators in an effort to revive direct negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding Washington and Tehran signed the memorandum on June 17, agreeing to advance negotiations towards a permanent settlement on several contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme within 60 days However hostilities that began last month have cast uncertainty over the future of the agreement
The US and Iran are expected to hold indirect talks through mediators in the initial phase to reach a “minimum understanding” before direct negotiations resume according to the sources They added that the nuclear issue would not be included in the first phase of direct talks
The prime focus will be on consolidating the latest pause in the hostilities and returning to the pre-July 9 position,” one source said referring to a joint de-escalation formula drafted last month by Pakistan and Qatar in consultation with regional partners Under the proposal Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which handled one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war began, while Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports
No transit fee would be imposed on vessels passing through the strait until a final agreement on the issue was reached the sources said Implementation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon would also be among the leading items on the talks agenda, they added US military asks for 'unconventional’ ideas from troops to 'punish Iran' According to a CNN report released on Monday a senior officer at the US military command carrying out the US war on sent an email request to troops for ideas on how to "punish Iran" “We are looking for new creative and unconventional
1LINK has proposed making PayPak cards mandatory for government employees salary accounts subsidy programmes, social safetynet programmes and mass-transit payment systems, in a bid to reduce Pakistan's dependence on international card schemes such as Visa and Mastercard according to proposals shared by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Business Recorder reported that to encourage wider usage, 1LINK has also suggested tax relief and incentives on Point-of-Sale (PoS) and e-commerce transactions conducted through PayPak cards It further recommended that all public-facing government service centres, including NADRA, Excise
and Passport Offices, install PoS machines capable of accepting PayPak cards The company has additionally proposed discounts cashback and loyalty rewards for PayPak transactions particularly for utility bill payments, fuel purchases, public transport and other government payments The proposals come as the SBP pursues a strategy to strengthen Pakistan s domestic payment infrastructure and increase the share of transactions routed through national payment rails, particularly Raast and PayPak, instead of international networks According to the SBP it has introduced policy regulatory and market development initiatives to strengthen the PayPak ecosystem These include co-badged PayPak cards usable for both domestic and
international transactions, expanding PayPak acceptance for e-commerce promotional incentives and public awareness campaigns
The central bank said these measures have improved PayPak s functionality, merchant acceptance and transaction volumes, while also accelerating the rollout of Raast Person-to-Merchant (P2M) payments
The SBP informed the committee that the government had allocated Rs3 5 billion for a Raast QR-code subsidy programme in FY2025-26 This helped daily P2M transactions surge from around 60 000 in June 2025 to approximately 1 1 million by June 2026 The central bank said it would continue promoting merchant onboarding and QR-based digital
new era of development and prosperity in Azad Kashmir Responding to the PPP's allegations of electoral rigging, Sanaullah rejected the accusations as baseless and politically motivated He said the opposition had begun alleging rigging immediately after losing the first phase of elections but had failed to produce credible evidence One of the polling stations they cited as evidence was one where their own candidate secured 96 per cent of the votes," he remarked Referring to constituency LA-31, Sanaullah alleged that local PPP leaders anticipating defeat attempted to disrupt polling by creating unrest He claimed PPP workers along with members of an action committee, set tyres on fire and opened fire when police intervened, resulting in the death of one person and creating an atmosphere of fear that adversely affected
Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar and senior officials attended the meeting In a separate meeting reviewing the privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the prime minister directed all ministries and institutions to complete every stage of the privatization programme within the prescribed timelines through close inter-agency coordination He stressed that all milestones under the privatization roadmap must be achieved according to schedule to meet the government's reform objectives
The meeting was informed that 27 state-owned enterprises have been included in the privatization programme in three phases Officials said the financial closing process for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and First Women Bank had been completed, while the first financial closing and transfer of PIA s management control were finalized on June 29 2026 The prime minister also reviewed
progress on the privatization of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO),
04
COMMENT
Terrorism out of control
THERE was a grisly coincidence as the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies reported that July was the worst month of terror in 2026 on the same day as Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi was martyred in an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan Before those developments could even be absorbed, a suicide bomber struck outside Kabal Police Station in Swat The attack which targeted an area where residents had gathered to protest against lawlessness, killed seven policemen and 10 civilians It was a particularly vicious attempt to punish both the state and citizens for resisting militancy True, the Razmak operation in which Major Ihsan made the supreme sacrifice saw five TTP militants killed while another operation in Nushki district of Balochistan eliminated seven terrorists, including a would-be suicide bomber These were important successes They demonstrate that the security forces remain actively engaged possess actionable intelligence and are taking the fight to militant networks
However, the PICSS figures indicate that there is still some way to go In July 205 civilians security personnel and peace committee members were killed, alongside 401 militants Security-force fatalities increased from 38 in June to 112 During the first seven months of 2026 terrorism and counterterrorism violence claimed 2,786 lives
The large number of militants eliminated shows that the state’s response is neither passive nor directionless But terrorism cannot be measured through militant casualties alone Groups capable of replacing fighters recruiting locally and exploiting sanctuaries across the border may absorb heavy losses while retaining the ability to stage spectacular attacks
The answer must therefore be to sustain operational pressure while widening the campaign The police particularly in KP and Balochistan require greater protection, equipment and intelligence support Terror financing and recruitment networks must be dismantled Border management must be strengthened, while diplomatic pressure on Kabul over TTP sanctuaries must continue Political parties must also resist the temptation to turn counterterrorism into another arena for partisan conflict
The people of Swat who gathered publicly against militancy despite knowing the risks are the state’s strongest
Reviving education through Nawaz Sharif Eminence Schools
of decision processes helps to make institutions more re-
THE economic social and political progress of any country depends largely on the quality of its education system Nations that fail to invest in education the most fundamental pillar of development inevitably lag behind in every sphere of life History has repeatedly proven that education is the cornerstone of national progress and prosperity Therefore providing free and quality education is one of the foremost responsibilities of any government Unfortunately, Pakistan s education sector continues to face serious challenges UNESCO’s recent report has exposed the weaknesses of our education system and highlighted several alarming issues According to the report the literacy rate among people aged ten years and above has increased only marginally, from 61 percent to 63 percent, reflecting an annual growth of merely two percent The report further reveals that thousands of public schools across all four provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan lack basic facilities Some schools do not have toilets while others are without furniture In many institutions there are no teachers electricity boundary walls or even proper roofs Several schools lack textbooks, and in many cases, students do not even have adequate seating arrangements Keeping these realities in view the government’s declaration of an educational emergency has largely remained a paper exercise Pakistan s education system has yet to align itself with modern global standards Developed countries allocate around seven percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to education, whereas Pakistan continues to spend only a small portion of its budget on this vital sector This is one of the primary reasons why millions of children are still deprived of their fundamental right to education It is a bitter reality that instead of significantly increasing the education budget successive governments have often reduced it Even after seventy-eight years of independence, Pakistan has failed to establish a clear direction for
sponsive SIFC illustrate an important lesson: that productivity increase does not necessarily mean making more decisions but means creating a system that helps organizations to make those decisions faster and more efficiently Decision fatigue is not just a matter of individual leadership; it is a bigger challenge for public private sector and the economy Slow processes of approval, unclear priorities, lack of innovation, and slow responses to produce market entail real economic costs Ultimately professional public servants and workers get frustrated of delays associated with routine decisions and organizations lose the agility that is needed to respond effectively in a fast-changing business environment Technology plays an important role in the reduction of this burden For instance artificial intelligence workflow automation digital dashboards and predictive analytics help to automate the repetitive decision-making process and, at the same time, provide decision makers with the necessary timely evidence-based data However, technology has to serve as a support for the leadership judgment instead of replacing inefficient approvals through the implementation of technological solutions
A more sustainable approach is to redesign the systems of decision-making within institutions The delegation of routine operations to competent teams, would free senior leaders from operational issues and allow them to devote themselves to strategic thinking and future goals Moreover the meetings should lead to making decisions rather than simply discussing issues By introducing standard operating procedures and applying evidence-based analysis, it can be
its education system At different times, we have attempted to emulate the educational models of various countries without developing a sustainable system tailored to our own national needs Every new government has sought to reshape the education system according to its own priorities resulting in a lack of continuity in educational policies Consequently, educational standards have steadily declined, leaving the country behind in many areas of development
One of the biggest reasons for the deterioration of education in Pakistan is the absence of a uniform education system The class divide has caused irreparable damage to our educational structure Children from affluent families enjoy access to world-class educational opportunities, while those belonging to middle- and lower-income families have limited access to quality education This disparity has widened social inequalities and deprived countless talented students of opportunities to succeed
In this context Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has introduced the Nawaz Sharif Eminence Schools under the Punjab Education Foundation Alongside several other public welfare initiatives, this project aims to modernize the education system in accordance with the demands of the digital age It can rightly be regarded as a positive step toward improving Pakistan s declining educational standards
The project represents a significant milestone particularly for districts, tehsils, and underdeveloped regions of Punjab These schools feature spacious campuses, state-of-the-art computer laboratories, well-designed classrooms smart classrooms STEM laboratories digital learning systems and a modern governance framework Such facilities have the potential to transform Pakistan s education system and bring
A dangerous gamble
achieved with less cognitive effort
The major challenge is cultural Most institutions still believe that effective leadership means having authoritative control over decisions In reality high performing organizations know how to distribute decision-making, trust, and empower capable employees with clear defined responsibilities The best leaders are not the ones who make all the decisions themselves but those who have the right systems in place for effective decision-making across the organization Pakistan ambition to attract investment improve productivity and moving faster towards digital transformation will not only depend on the financial resources and technology but also the decision making institutions quality Each unnecessary approval a delay in processing a file or postponed decision causes an economic cost The development of faster smarter and more efficient decision-making systems is not only a requirement for institutional change but also a strategy for national competitiveness Competitive economies are not build because the leader take all decisions themselves They arise from the presence of institutions that allow for thousands of timely informed and accountable decisions being made every day Therefore identifying and resolving decision fatigue is not just a leadership challenge but also an economic necessity for building more productive, agile, and globally competitive Pakistan
The writer is an Assistant Professor at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) She can be reached via Email at: maryamhafeez@pide org pk
A test of intent
TIran and Türkiye: The powers destined to reshape the Middle East
The second pillar of Macgregor ’s
is Türkiye Türkiye possesses
geography military
pacity and historical consciousness required for regional leadership The Ottoman Empire once governed the Levant, Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, North Africa, the Balkans and significant parts of the wider Islamic world Modern Türkiye is not recreating that empire territorially but its strategic outlook remains informed by centuries of statecraft and regional engagement Türkiye fields one of NATO s largest armies and has developed an increasingly in-
Iran and Türkiye are not identical and will not agree on every regional question They represent different peoples, religious traditions, political systems and historical experiences But these differences do not invalidate Macgregor’s theory
S e l l i n g o f f t h e W o r l d C u p
dependent defence industry Its drones, naval vessels, missiles, armoured vehicles and electronic-warfare systems have strengthened its capacity to act without complete dependence on foreign suppliers Its geography is unmatched Türkiye connects Europe with Asia, the Black Sea with the Mediterranean and the Caucasus with the Middle East It can influence Syria, Iraq Lebanon Libya Central Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean simultaneously Türkiye has also demonstrated that it will not permanently subordinate its national interests to Washington, Brussels or Tel Aviv It cooperates with NATO while maintaining relations with Russia It trades with Iran, engages the Gulf, supports the Palestinian cause and asserts its
in Syria and the Mediterranean This strategic flexibility enables Türkiye to operate across divisions that restrict other regional
selling its soul; instead under Mr Infantino it appears happy to do their job for them Angry opposition to the plans from Uefa and Concacaf (the equivalent body for North and Central America) suggests that the governance of the game may be at a crossroads Mr Infantino’s tireless selfpromotion, and shameless efforts to curry favour with the Trump administration have long grated But placing the planet s most-watched sporting competition at risk from predation by private capital is of a somewhat different order of magnitude The visionary creator of the World Cup, Jules Rimet, hoped that it would help foster unity and solidarity between nations Mr Infantino routinely pays lip service to such ideals and did so again in his Instagram screed In reality though he is dragging the world’s favourite sport further and further away from its roots as he relentlessly follows the money wherever it leads
AI data centers have become sitting ducks in the Iran war
Qamar Bashir
Under
MARYAM NAWA Z INAUGURATES NESTLÉ PAKISTAN’S SHEIKHUPURA BIOMASS STEAM PL ANT
g NESTLÉ CEO & MD JASON AVANCEÑA ALONG WITH NESTLÉ’S LEADERSHIP TEAM, CALLED ON CHIEF MINISTER PUNJAB
'Cockroach Movement' in Bangladesh and India ser
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T
Renowned journalist Hussain Naqi has said that the "cockroach movement" witnessed in Bangladesh and India serves as a lesson for Pakistan s two major political parties the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) He emphasized that the need of the hour is to bring young people forward so that they can play their role in the future
He was addressing the launching ceremony of the book Jaag Railwai Jaag by veteran labor leader and Central Chairman of the Railway Workers Union, Manzoor Razi, held at the Arts Council Karachi Prominent lawyer Akhtar Hussain Advocate attended the event as the chief guest
The ceremony was also addressed by Dr Jaffar Ahmed, Tauseef Ahmed Khan, the book's
author Manzoor Razi Sheer Bano Kamran, Mehnaz Rahman, Mohammad Ahmed Shah, Nasir Mansoor, Rao Mohammad Naseem, Zahra Khan, Mazhar Abbas, and others Copies of the book were presented to the chief guest and other participants Hussain Naqi said that only young leadership could bring change to the country "Over the past 78 years, many experiments have been conducted; now the youth should also be given an opportunity " he said He stressed the importance of trade unions in society and called for an end to contract labor Referring to the Constitution of Pakistan, he said that any person employed continuously for 90 days in an institution should be granted permanent employment
Naqi also emphasized the importance of preserving national identities and noted that both civilian and military martial laws had contributed
to the country s problems Akhtar Hussain Advocate said that a strong political system is impossible without strong labor organizations He noted that until 1978, institutions such as Pakistan Railways were profitable employing around
Pakistan forward and praised Manzoor Razi s book for exposing many important issues Tauseef Ahmed Khan said that there is a
to
the reasons behind the decline of trade unions He pointed out that labor movements had once given rise to major political movements such as the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) and questioned why labor activism has weakened over time
AIOU Hosts Workshop on Education and Career Oppor tunities in Japan ISLAMABAD STAFF
Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has organized a Japan Education and Career Awareness Workshop" to familiarize students with educational, professional and employment opportunities in Japan, while encouraging them to develop globally competitive skills and pursue international career pathways Addressing the workshop the Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasser Mahmood said the University is committed to equipping its students with quality education, foreign language proficiency and professional skills that meet international standards He noted that the Japan Pakistan Advancement Center along with the Turkish and Russian language and cultural centers is preparing students for global education research scholarships and employment opportunities The Vice Chancellor emphasized that success in Japan depends on honesty, hard work, discipline and respect for the law
NA
BODY DISCUSSES AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH ON DATES, WHEAT SECTOR POLICIES, AND REGUL ATION OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
TH E National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research on Monday under the chairmanship of Syed Hussain Tariq in the chair and discussed matters relating to agriculture development in the country
The committee considered exclusion of the joint project of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, for the establishment of the Dates Research Centre at Khairpur from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2026–27
During the briefing, the representative of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives informed the Committee that, due to fiscal space constraints the Ministry of National Food Security and Research had prioritized only three new development schemes for inclusion in the PSDP 2026–27
Consequently, a number of proposed projects, including the Dates Research Centre, could not be accommodated despite their importance The committee observed that Pakistan is among the leading producers of dates and emphasized that the proposed research centre would
Iran envoy says Pakistan ties have entered a new era
ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K
play a significant role in promoting scientific research, improving date production developing disease-resistant varieties enhancing value addition and strengthening export potential After detailed deliberations the committee directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to formally take up the matter with the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives and seek reconsideration of the project
The committee also decided to seek a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the establishment of the Dates Re-
Iran s ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam has said relations between the two neighbours have reached a point where no external factor can weaken what he described as bonds of love, friendship, and brotherhood In a message posted on X, Moghadam compared the standing of Pakistan-Iran relations to the peaks of Damavand and K2 saying the two countries’ ties had risen to an exceptional level He said the friendship between the two states could serve as a model for the wider region based on mutual respect sincere brotherhood and good neighbourliness
The envoy said the relationship was rooted in centuries of shared history, civilisation, faith and culture, adding that it had stood the test of time He also recalled the early diplomatic milestones between the two countries saying Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan while Pakistan was the first country to recognise Iran Moghadam said bilateral ties had now entered a new and unique era unlike any in the past He added that parliamentarians of both countries had consistently shown solidarity with one another and said the strength of the relationship was recognised by both governments and their peoples
Referring to recent developments the ambassador said Pakistan s parliament had unanimously passed a resolution in support of Iran on the first day of what he called Israeli aggression He also said Iran s new Supreme Leader had highlighted the importance of relations with Pakistan in his first Nowruz message Moghadam said he hoped Muslim and neighbouring countries in the region would work together in peace stability and security free from external threats and destructive wars to build development prosperity and lasting welfare for their peoples
search Centre at Khairpur through a joint venture between the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur
The proposed meeting would also focus on other critical issues affecting the agriculture sector, including wheat import, the fixation of a fair and remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat, the provision of DAP fertilizer subsidies on the pattern of regional countries to improve agricultural productivity and increase crop yields and the reasons behind the reported shortage of wheat despite earlier reports in-
dicating surplus wheat stocks
The committee also reviewed the implementation status of its previous recommendations concerning the regulation of artificial sweeteners and flavoured drinks
The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) briefed the committee on the steps taken to revise the existing regulatory framework in light of the Committee s earlier directions
The committee recalled that these recommendations had been made following the findings of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which highlighted the potential adverse health effects associated with the frequent consumption of artificial sweeteners and flavoured drinks, particularly among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers
According to the NIH excessive consumption of such products may contribute to early-onset diabetes and increase the risk of serious diseases including certain forms of cancer
Expressing concern over the slow pace of implementation of its earlier recommendations, the committee directed the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to convene a meeting of its Technical Committee in
lamabad at the earliest
ATC sends Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan on three- day physical remand in protest case
ISLAMABAD
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday granted police a threeday physical remand of former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and another suspect in a case registered over a protest in the federal capital rejecting the prosecution s request for a 30-day remand
Police produced Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and co-accused Daniyal before ATC Duty Judge Rukhsanda Shaheen, seeking their custody for 30 days to recover a vehicle and weapons allegedly linked to the case
After hearing arguments from both sides the court approved a three-day physical remand and directed the investigating authorities to present the suspects again upon completion of the remand period
The case stems from an FIR lodged at Islamabad s Shalimar Police Station on July 31 on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Ghulam Murtaza
According to the FIR, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and dozens of supporters led a gathering of around 400 to 500 people in Islamabad s F-10 sector where he
allegedly delivered incendiary speeches forced shops to close and raised slogans against state institutions The police alleged that the protesters later marched towards Sambal Road with the intention of reaching Jinnah Avenue and blocking major roads Despite repeated announcements by the district administration asking participants to disperse because the gathering lacked a no-objection certificate (NOC), the protesters allegedly blocked a key road near Shalimar Plaza
The FIR further accused the demonstrators of vandalising a media DSNG vehicle and other private vehicles, pelting stones at police personnel, assaulting law
enforcement officials snatching anti-riot helmets and issuing threats to police officers
The latest development follows the Pakistan Rights Movement's claim that Mushtaq Ahmad Khan was detained by Punjab police on July 28 from Kahuta Bazaar while returning from Azad Pattan Bridge after allegedly being denied entry into Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police officials had denied holding him in custody, while his social media account later announced his release Following his release Mushtaq had called a public gathering in Islamabad s F-10 on July 31 to express solidarity with Kashmir, offer condolences over recent violence and advocate peace and reconciliation
ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K The Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan announced on Saturday that its leadership will travel to Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday with relief supplies as the opposition alliance stepped up criticism of the government s handling of unrest in the region Speaking at a news conference TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai said a peaceful sit-in was continuing in Rawalakot He also claimed that "80 people had been killed according to verified information" and alleged that leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee had either been killed or had bounties placed on their heads Yousafzai accused the government of suppressing dissent in Kashmir and argued that efforts to silence opposing voices had contributed to the emergence of the JAAC He said the committee's demands could be resolved through dialogue Deadlock over refugee seats Azad Jammu and Kashmir saw major unrest in October last year when protests led by the JAAC erupted over constitutional and governance issues At least nine people including three policemen were killed during that period The JAAC had put forward a broad list of demands, including ending privileges for the ruling elite, abolishing 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees and scrapping the quota system
ISLAMABAD A P P
Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik on Monday expressed confidence that the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) would secure a majority of seats in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections
