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Naval chief reviews SEASPARK 2026 amid TWO OFFICERS AMONG SIX Pakistan-India naval tensions MARTYRED AS EIGHT TERRORISTS KILLED IN HANGU CLASH: ISPR Monday, 21 September, 2026 | 8 Rabius Sani, 1448
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 177 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
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CAPTAIN ABUZAR FAROOQ, LT SHERAZ BABAR AMONG TROOPS MARTYRED IN FIERCE EXCHANGE
SECURITY FORCES LAUNCH SANITISATION OPERATION TO HUNT DOWN REMAINING TERRORISTS
Five Indian proxy terrorists killed, 23 abductees rescued in Kalat operation: ISPR RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
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RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT
WO officers among six security personnel were martyred while eight terrorists were killed in a fierce exchange of fire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district on Sunday, the military’s media wing said. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that during an intense exchange of fire between a “security forces convoy and Khwarij”, 23-year-old Captain Abuzar Farooq from Gujranwala and 22-year-old Lieutenant Sheraz Babar of Chakwal, “who were leading their troops from the front, fought gallantly
and paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom along with their four men”. “Three sepoys and a non-combatant along with the two officers also embraced martyrdom,” the statement said. On the other hand, “eight Khwarij belonging to Indian-sponsored Fitna al Khwarij were sent to hell due to effective engagement by own troops”, the ISPR statement added. The state uses the term Fitna al Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A sanitisation operation was being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, ISPR said.
Five India-proxy Fitna-al-Hindustan terrorists were eliminated and 23 kidnapped individuals were recovered from their hideout during an operation along the N-25 Karachi-Chaman highway near Balochistan’s Kalat, the military’s media affairs wing said on Sunday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan had established a checkpost along the N-25 highway, also known as the Pakistan Expressway, to abduct people for ransom, extort money and snatch vehicles on the night between Sept 18 and Sept 19. “Security forces responded immediately and after intense fire exchange, five terrorists belonging to India-sponsored proxy of Fitna-al-Hindustan were sent to hell,” the statement said. The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. According to the ISPR, 23 abductees were recovered from the terrorists’ hideout near Kalat. Six trucks, three buses and two cars were also recovered, along with large quantities of weapons, ammunition and explosives, the statement said.
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FinMin warns protests may cost economy Rs120b a day as JI begins march ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday warned that upcoming protests and demonstrations could trigger economic losses of around Rs120 billion [$433.9 million] for the national economy every day, as the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) embarked on its “long march” to the capital, with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also planning a march for Sept 27. In a televised message, FinMin Aurangzeb outlined the potential economic impact of road closures and business shutdowns, saying the government had estimated losses running into billions of rupees. “So, we have estimated that and it is on, you know, very good research, that we will suffer a loss of approximately Rs120 billion [$433.9 million] on a daily basis,” the finance minister said.
He said the services sector was expected to suffer the biggest losses, covering financial services, communications, transport, retail, wholesale and hospitality. “And there is an estimated risk of approximately Rs86 billion [$310.7 million] in losses here on a daily basis,” Aurangzeb said. The Jamaat-e-Islami kicked off its “long march” to the federal capital from Karachi on Sunday to press its demand for abolition of the petroleum levy, which it describes as an unfair “goon tax”, seeking relief for the masses from inflationary pressures. The government has levied Rs114 [$0.41] per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 [$0.36] per litre on diesel. The government has regularly increased the prices of petroleum products as the US-Iran war and increasing attacks by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia drive up global oil prices.
JI AND PTI ‘LONGMARCHES’ Hundreds of JI supporters left for the capital by train from Karachi on Sunday, a day after another round of talks between the government and its leadership failed to reach a breakthrough. The JI has been regularly holding sit-in demonstrations in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and dozens of other locations across the country since August, demanding that the government abolish the levy. Meanwhile, the government is concerned about the risk of violence escalating as former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) party has also announced plans to march on Islamabad on Sept 27. The PTI has said it will mobilise hundreds of thousands of supporters in Islamabad and demand the government release Khan from prison, where he has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi since 2023.
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Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited units at sea and in the Creeks Area on Sunday to review Exercise SEASPARK 2026, the military’s media wing said. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the biennial exercise, which has
been underway since September 1, rehearses the full spectrum of maritime operations and tests operational preparedness and the ability to transition rapidly from peacetime to wartime operations. “Reflecting the changing character of warfare, this year’s exercise integrates Operations in the Information Environment, MultiDomain Operations and extensive
use of unmanned systems,” the statement added.
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02 NEWS
FUEL PRICE HIKE PUSHES WEEKLY INFLATION UP 0.49%, YOY RATE TO 10.64%
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Monday, 21 September, 2026 | LAHORE
with 351.56 the previous week, although it remained 8.79% higher year-on-year. The second quintile, covering expenditure between Rs17,733 and Rs22,888, saw prices increase 0.01% during the week and 9.91% from a year earlier. Weekly inflation stood at 0.14% for the third quintile and 0.30% for the fourth, with their respective annual inflation rates at 8.86% and 9.37%. The highest expenditure group, comprising households spending more than Rs44,175, recorded the sharpest weekly increase at 0.77%. Its annual SPI inflation was also the highest among the five groups at 11.13%. The latest increase also marked an acceleration in the combined SPI from the previous week. Weekly inflation had stood at 0.23% in the week ended September 10, when annual inflation was 8.62%. The combined index subsequently increased from 364.26 to 366.05, pushing annual inflation to 10.64%. Over the preceding weeks, combined SPI inflation had risen 0.65% on September 3, 0.05% on August 27, 0.49% on August 20, 0.15% on August 13 and 0.28% on August 6. The PBS report also shows that the SPI for the lowest consumption quintile stood at 348.70 in August 2026, up 0.86% from July and 9.46% from August 2025. In July, the index had increased 2.39% month-on-month and 12.04% year-on-year.
DIESEL JUMPS 7.29%, PETROL 6.40% AND LPG 3.26% DURING WEEK, WHILE BANANA, TOMATO, ONION AND CHICKEN PRICES DECLINE PROFIT
News Desk
AKISTAN’S weekly inflation rose 0.49% in the week ended September 17, driven largely by sharp increases in diesel, petrol and LPG prices, while inflation on a yearon-year basis climbed to 10.64%, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 cities, stood at 366.05 during the week, compared with 364.26 a week earlier and 330.84 in the corresponding week last year. Of the 51 items monitored, prices of 19 items, or 37.25%, increased during the week, nine items, or 17.65%, declined, while 23
CCP imposes PKR60m penalty on Edible Oil Tanker Owners’ Association for cartelization
items, or 45.10%, remained unchanged. Fuel prices recorded the largest weekly increases. High-speed diesel rose 7.29% to Rs423.47 per litre from Rs394.68, while petrol increased 6.40% to Rs393.41 per litre from Rs369.75. The average price of an 11.67kg LPG cylinder increased 3.26% to Rs4,967.05 from Rs4,810.14. Compared with the same period last year, LPG was 60.42% more expensive, diesel 54.21% higher and petrol 48% costlier. Among food items, garlic recorded the largest weekly increase of 1.94%, followed by eggs at 1.72%, pulse gram at 0.80%, plain bread at 0.74%, pulse masoor at 0.49%, mustard oil at 0.44%, pulse moong at 0.39% and mutton at 0.26%. Other increases included rice basmati broken at 0.22%, gur and pulse mash at
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PROFIT
m.A. NiAzi O we’ve finally got an explanation of the US attack on Iran. US President Donald Trump has said that he’ll take Iranian oil the way he took Venezuelan. So it seems as if it was never about Iran’s nuclear programme after all. Or maybe that was why Israel joined in. For Trump, it’s been about oil. From his campaign battlecry of “Drill, baby; drill!” to the oil industry, and his claim that global warming is just a conspiracy to stop the USA becoming great again, he has been almost as obsequious in his deference to the oil industry as to Israel. Well, Israel is explainable by the rabid Zionism of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as his go-to man Steve Witcoff. I have never heard that the New York real-estate business is particularly a node for pro-Israel or Zionist elements, but Trump seems to have found them. I suspect that he has also found a nest
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POWER PURCHASER SEEKS RS1.7267 PER UNIT INCREASE OVER RS7.0998 REFERENCE FUEL CHARGE; NEPRA TO HOLD HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 29 ISLAMABAD
AhmAD AhmADANi
Consumers of ex-WAPDA distribution companies (XWDISCOs) could face a Rs1.7267 per-unit increase under the August 2026 Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA), as CPPA-G has sought the hike from NEPRA amid generation of 14,943 GWh. According to industry sources, the requested adjustment is over the reference fuel charge of Rs7.0998 per kWh for XWDISCOs for August 2026. NEPRA has scheduled a public hearing for September 29, 2026, at 2pm at NEPRA Tower and online. The data submitted by the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guarantee (CPPA-G) shows that the ex-WAPDA distribution companies generated 14,943 GWh of electricity during August, with hydropower emerging as the largest source of generation. Hydel generation stood at 5,654 GWh, accounting for 37.84% of total generation. Local coal-based plants generated 1,626 GWh, or 10.88%, while imported coal con-
tributed 2,330 GWh, equivalent to 15.59%. Nuclear power plants generated 1,528 GWh, representing 10.22% of total generation, while RLNG-based plants contributed 1,311 GWh, or 8.78%. Gas-fired generation stood at 1,052 GWh, accounting for 7.04% of total generation, while wind power contributed 833 GWh, or 5.58%. Generation from RFO-based plants amounted to 321 GWh, representing 2.15%, while electricity generated from HSD stood at only 80 GWh, or 0.54%. Imported electricity from Iran contributed 59 GWh, or 0.39%, while solar generation stood at 112 GWh, equivalent to 0.75%. Bagasse-based generation contributed 36 GWh, or 0.24%. The generation mix resulted in an overall energy generation cost of Rs149.596 billion, with an average generation cost of Rs10.0114 per unit. However, several adjustments reduced the amount considered for the FCA. The previous adjustment accounted for Rs10.097 billion, while an RLNG fuel-rate
adjustment reduced the amount by another Rs10.617 billion. CPPA-G's data also shows Rs1.217 billion against electricity sold to independent power producers (IPPs). After these adjustments, the net amount stood at Rs127.665 billion, corresponding to an average cost of Rs8.8265 per kWh for net electricity delivered to the distribution companies. Of the total 14,943 GWh generated during the month, 21 GWh was shown as electricity sold to IPPs, while 458 GWh was attributed to transmission losses. After accounting for these quantities, 14,464 GWh was recorded as net electricity delivered to the distribution companies, equivalent to 96.80% of the total energy generated. The requested FCA of Rs1.7267 per unit represents the difference between the net applicable fuel charge reflected in CPPA-G's request and the notified reference fuel charge of Rs7.0998 per unit. In simple arithmetic terms, applying Rs1.7267 to the reported 14.464 billion
Pakistan’s textile exports reach $1.57b in August, $3.38b in two months g
SECTOR EXPORTS RISE 5.55% IN FIRST TWO MONTHS OF FY27 AND 2.77% YOY IN AUGUST, BUT FALL 13.68% FROM JULY PROFIT
News Desk
Pakistan’s textile exports stood at $1.565 billion in August 2026, taking shipments during the first two months of FY27 to $3.379 billion, as the sector recorded year-on-year growth despite a sharp monthly decline, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Textile exports during July-August increased 5.55% from $3.202 billion in the same two months of FY26. In August alone, exports rose 2.77% from $1.523 billion a year earlier. However, shipments fell 13.68% from $1.814 billion in July 2026.
GARMENTS, KNITWEAR DRIVE TWO-MONTH GROWTH: Readymade garments recorded one of the strongest increases among major textile categories during July-August, with exports rising 13.59% to $827.001 million from $728.088 million a year earlier.
It’s all about oil City Notes
48%, electricity charges for the lowest consumption quintile at 33.54% and wheat flour at 33.27%. Chilli powder was 16.37% more expensive than a year earlier, while mutton rose 15.86%, beef 12.88%, bananas 9.24%, plain bread 8.89% and fresh milk 8.12%. Several essential commodities, however, remained substantially cheaper on a yearly basis. Potato prices were down 35.31%, followed by sugar at 20.95%, eggs at 19.31%, chicken at 15.26%, powdered salt at 13.96%, pulse gram at 12.42%, pulse masoor at 11.26% and pulse moong at 8.49%. The impact of the week's price movements differed considerably across expenditure groups. For the lowest expenditure quintile, covering households spending up to Rs17,732, SPI actually declined 0.14% weekon-week. Its index stood at 351.07, compared
Power consumers face Rs1.73 per unit hike as Discos seek Rs24.98 billion FCA impact
web Desk
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed a total penalty of PKR 60 million on the All Pakistan Edible Oil Tanker Owners Association (APEOTOA) for fixing transportation charges and allocating business among tanker owners through a restrictive queue system, in violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2010. The Commission imposed PKR 30 million each for price fixing and market allocation. The case originated from CCP’s market surveillance, which detected circulars fixing transportation charges for edible oil, ghee and fats from Karachi ports to destinations across Pakistan. A suo motu enquiry was initiated in August 2024, followed by a search and inspection in February 2025. The enquiry established from the material impounded during the search that APEOTOA revised transportation rates 89 times between 2019 and 2025, comprising 52 increases and 37 decreases. Corresponding circulars issued by the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) communicated matching rate changes, while APEOTOA representatives acknowledged that transport rates were set through an agreement between the two associations. The Commission rejected APEOTOA’s claim that its rate circulars were merely advisory, holding that even non-binding recommendations by a trade association may restrict competition by influencing members’ independent commercial decisions. It also relied on the Supreme Court’s judgment in the PVMA case, affirming that competitors must remain free to determine their prices independently. The Commission separately found that APEOTOA’s queue system allocated consignments among tanker owners instead of allowing independent competition for business. The Association issued parchis for lifting consignments and enforced compliance with the system. A September 2023 circular prescribed a PKR 500,000 fine each for a tanker and its owner for violating specified allocation conditions. The relevant market was determined as road transportation services for edible oil, ghee and fats across Pakistan. In assessing the penalty, the Commission considered APEOTOA’s substantial market position, the nearly six-year duration of the pricing conduct, senior management involvement, and continuation of rate revisions even after enforcement proceedings commenced. APEOTOA has also been directed to immediately cease the anticompetitive practices, recall existing price circulars and discontinue the queue system having the effect of dividing the market. It must publish notices in two Urdu and two English national newspapers clarifying that tanker owners are free to independently determine transportation rates and lift consignments irrespective of Association membership. The penalty must be deposited and compliance reported within 60 days.
0.13% each, curd at 0.09% and beef with bone at 0.07%. Firewood increased 0.07%, vegetable ghee in a 2.5kg tin rose 0.06% and cooking oil in a five-litre tin increased 0.05%. The increase was partly offset by declines in several food items. Banana prices fell 6.17% during the week, the largest decline among monitored commodities, while tomatoes became 5.66% cheaper. Onion prices declined 4.57%, chicken 2.33%, powdered milk 0.40%, wheat flour 0.28%, IRRI-6/9 rice 0.16%, refined sugar 0.14% and potatoes 0.13%. Despite their weekly decline, onions remained the commodity recording the sharpest year-on-year increase, with prices up 117.77% from the corresponding week of last year. Other major annual increases included LPG at 60.42%, diesel at 54.21%, petrol at
of oilmen, though his first Secretary of State was Rex Tillerson, who had been CEO of Exxon. Though I don’t associate some like Tillerson with the Iran on Iran. That would be a scheme dreamed up by an old-fashioned Texas oilman, someone wearing lizardskin cowboy boots, and a belt with a huge shiny buckle, not to mention a string tie. That oilman would probably have been a wildcatter, and the huge car he drives would have whitewall tires. He would smoke huge cigars, probably smuggled Havanas and drink rotgut whiskey. If I was the King of Saudi Arabia, the President of the UAE, the Sultan of Oman, or the head of state of any oil producer, I would be very, very scared of Trump. His preferred mode of dealing with them is apparently either killing or kidnapping. After what was done to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, it seems that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should count himself lucky to be alive. The remaining Iranians are apparently applying a sort of dollars-and-cents approach that those oilman would appreciate. Specifically these oilmen are probably close
Knitwear remained the largest listed textile export category, increasing 4.79% to $1.004 billion from $958.634 million. Cotton yarn exports jumped 34.80% to $160.679 million from $119.195 million, while towels increased 6.74% to $191.135 million from $179.063 million. Exports of made-up articles excluding towels and bed wear grew 6.95% to $146.032 million from $136.540 million. Other textile materials recorded a 3.91% increase, reaching $133.153 million against $128.140 million during July-August last year. Growth across these categories was partly offset by declines in cotton cloth, bed wear and several other textile products. Cotton cloth exports fell 7.66% to $276.255 million from $299.180 million, while yarn other than cotton yarn declined 31.78% to $4.051 million from $5.938 million. Bed wear exports edged down 0.31% to $563.545 million from $565.322 million.
in age to Trump, who is now 80, snd st least one of them is probably a companion of Trump’s nightly potations, where I suspect he gets some of his most outrageous ideas. That cabal tells him that it’s a brilliant idea, that he’s the President of the USA and can do anything, and that they’re ready to fight anyone on his behalf. Then they wake up the next morning with a splitting headache and swearing not to sit so late with Trump. And then scramble wildly for their smartphones, hoping against hope that Trump hasn’t posted any of their bright ideas as his own. But he has…. And Iran gets attacked. Iran seems to have adopted the ‘Arithmetic on the Frontier’ as described by Rudyard Kipling in his Departmental Ditties and other Verses of 1886: ‘Two thousand pounds of education/Drops to a ten-rupee jezail.’ Of course, 140 years ago, the main target was people, so when an expensivelyeducated young officer was killed, one wondered at the cost. Now few American servicemen have been killed, but the loss of F-35s is grievous, for they cost about $500 million apiece. Saudi Arabia has been very kindly allowed to buy 48 for $24.5 billion, which has upset Israel no end, and its demanding ‘compensation’, to wit arms not sold to them up to now, like bunkerbuster bombs
Tents, canvas and tarpaulin exports declined 7.17% to $14.877 million from $16.026 million, while art, silk and synthetic textile exports fell 11.33% to $58.638 million from $66.131 million.
OVERALL EXPORTS RISE 7.73% IN JULY-AUGUST: Pakistan’s overall merchandise exports stood at $2.542 billion in August, down 13.86% from $2.951 billion in July but 5.22% higher than the $2.416 billion recorded in August 2025. During July-August, total exports increased 7.73% to $5.494 billion from $5.1 billion a year earlier. Imports, meanwhile, reached $5.848 billion in August, falling 15.22% from $6.898 billion in July but rising 10.59% from $5.288 billion in August last year. The two-month import bill increased 14.56% to $12.745 billion from $11.125 billion in the same period of FY26.
and other stuff. One big difference is that Saudi Arabia will pay for the planes itself, while the US taxpayer will pay for the Israeli purchases. Well, at the end of the day, the arms dealers and makers will be laughing all the way to the bank. Closer to home, the by-election in Gujranwala caused by the death of PML(N) MNA Mahmood Bashir Virk has been fixed for November 8. It is a test for Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, who has an ex officio right
units of net delivered electricity would correspond to roughly Rs24.98 billion. However, the actual consumer recovery under an FCA cannot be determined simply by multiplying the requested rate by net delivered generation because FCA recovery is linked to applicable billed units and the regulatory treatment of different consumer categories. According to NEPRA, under the applicable legal framework and monthly fuel-price adjustment mechanism, the Authority may adjust the approved tariff based on variations in fuel charges. The notice also states that the adjustment determined for XWDISCOs would be applicable to K-Electric consumers in accordance with the federal government's policy guidelines for uniform FCA application.
Al-Ghazi adds 75HP, 85HP models to New Holland tractor lineup PROFIT
web Desk
Al-Ghazi Tractors Limited (AGTL) has added two higher-powered models to its New Holland lineup, launching the 75-horsepower NH 750 and 85HP NH 85-56 at the Pakistan Auto Show. The NH 85-56 brings four-wheel drive to the lineup and is aimed at agricultural, commercial and construction operations requiring additional traction. The 85HP model comes with Lift-O-Matic technology, an SG iron front support for loader and blade applications and an optional double-acting spool valve kit. AGTL also introduced the NH 750, a 75HP tractor equipped for both agricultural and commercial work. The model uses an SG iron front axle support for loader and blade applications, along with SG iron axle housing and tubes designed to handle trolley and other commercial uses. Its equipment includes a hydraulic system, disc brakes, a durable clutch and a maintenance-free battery. The launches expand Al-Ghazi's tractor offering beyond conventional farming applications as tractors increasingly find use in transport, loading, construction and other commercial operations. AGTL Chief Executive Officer Yasin Seker said mechanisation remained important for improving agricultural productivity and completing farm operations efficiently and on time.
to win the seat for her party. It does help that Virk was sitting on a majority of 73,000. Jemima Goldsmith has remarried. So Imran can probably feel now that the boot is on the other foot, the agonies that Khawar Maneka must have felt when Imran married his wife. And his sons may be feeling the way Maneka’s sons did when Imran married their mother. It’s interesting that both of Imran’s ex-wives have remarried. He should stick to his present wife.
GOVT RAISES RS181.12 BILLION THROUGH PIB AUCTION, REJECTS 15-YEAR BIDS
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Monday, 21 September, 2026 | LAHORE
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TOTAL BIDS REACH RS343.58B; CUT-OFF YIELDS RANGE FROM 12.399% TO 12.50% ACROSS TWO-, THREE-, FIVE- AND 10-YEAR BONDS PROFIT
Web Desk
HE government raised Rs181.12 billion through Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) after accepting competitive, non-competitive and short-selling bids across two, three-, five- and 10-year tenors, while rejecting bids for 15-year bonds. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) held the fixed-rate PIB auction on September 18, with settlement scheduled for September 21. Investors submitted bids with a total face value of Rs343.578 billion across the five tenors, while the total realised amount, including accrued interest, stood at Rs332.911 billion. The government initially accepted competitive bids with a face value of Rs140.078 billion. Including Rs38.542 billion in non-competitive bids and Rs2.5 billion in short selling, total acceptance reached Rs181.120 billion on a facevalue basis.
Two officers among six martyred as eight terrorists killed in Hangu clash: ISPR
FIVE-YEAR PIB ATTRACTS HIGHEST ACCEPTANCE: The five-year PIB accounted for the largest portion of the auction, with total acceptance of Rs71.978 billion. This comprised Rs60.155 billion in competitive bids and Rs11.823 billion in non-competitive bids. The three-year bond followed with total acceptance of Rs64.156 billion, including Rs51 billion in competitive and Rs13.156 billion in non-competitive bids. Total acceptance for the 10-year PIB stood at Rs27.238 billion, comprising Rs16.923 billion in competitive bids and Rs10.315 billion in non-competitive bids. The government accepted Rs17.748 billion in two-year zero-coupon PIBs, including Rs12 billion in competitive bids, Rs3.248 billion in non-competitive bids and Rs2.5 billion through short selling. All bids for the 15-year zero-coupon bond were rejected.
CUT-OFF YIELDS REACH UP TO 12.50%: The cut-off yield on the two-year
zero-coupon PIB was set at 12.399%, with a weighted average yield of 12.3901% and cut-off price of 80.3548. For the three-year PIB, the cut-off yield stood at 12.49%, while the weighted average yield was 12.4533% and the cutoff price 98.8793. The five-year bond also carried a cutoff yield of 12.49%, with a weighted average yield of 12.3861% and cut-off price of 99.1304. The 10-year PIB recorded the highest cut-off yield at 12.50%. Its weighted average yield stood at 12.4134%, with a cut-off price of 99.9586. Competitive bids accepted across the four tenors had a combined face value of Rs140.078 billion and a realised amount of Rs136.959 billion. Accrued interest of Rs5.300 billion took the total realised amount to Rs142.259 billion.
INVESTORS SUBMIT RS343.58 BILLION IN BIDS: The two-year bond received bids with a face value of Rs64 billion and a realised amount of Rs51.142
billion. Three-year PIB bids totalled Rs92.750 billion in face value, with a realised amount of Rs91.454 billion and accrued interest of Rs3.781 billion, taking the total realised amount to Rs95.235 billion. The five-year tenor attracted the largest volume of bids at Rs106.405 billion in face value. The realised amount was Rs105.226 billion, while accrued interest of Rs4.428 billion took the total to Rs109.653 billion. Investors submitted Rs75.423 billion in bids for 10-year PIBs. The realised amount stood at Rs73.011 billion, with Rs3.202 billion in accrued interest, bringing the total to Rs76.213 billion. The 15year zero-coupon PIB received Rs5 billion in bids, with a realised value of Rs667.515 million, but none were accepted. Overall, bids across all five tenors amounted to Rs343.578 billion in face value, with a realised amount of Rs321.500 billion. Accrued interest totalled Rs 11.411 billion, taking the total realised amount to Rs 332.911 billion.
ISMO launches Pakistan’s first 400MW competitive power auction g
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It affirmed that the “relentless counterterrorism campaign under vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreignsponsored and supported terrorism from the country”. “These sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs,” the military’s media wing stated. Sunday’s development comes two days after a twopronged assault near a mosque in the old Police Lines of KP’s Kohat district claimed 23 lives, including 17 policemen. Eight terrorists were killed during an overnight clearance operation launched to clear the area. KP witnessed an increase in terrorist attacks in August compared with July, according to monthly data compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). On August 7, a captain was martyred while seven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Hangu. On July 30, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) was among nine cops martyred and 28 others were injured after terrorists attacked the Khazina Banda checkpost in Hangu. Days later, security forces were reported to have killed the mastermind behind the attack.
CONSUMERS ABOVE 1MW TO CONTRACT DIRECTLY WITH SUPPLIERS UNDER CTBCM AS GOVT BEGINS PHASED SHIFT AWAY FROM CENTRALISED ELECTRICITY PROCUREMENT contracting alongside that system, giving qualifying consumers greater choice in sourcing electricity. Energy Minister Awais Leghari said the government was beginning to step away from electricity procurement as the competitive framework became operational. “The government is practically withdrawing from electricity procurement,” he said in a video message on Sunday. Leghari said electricity suppliers and consumers would instead be able to transact directly through a transparent market mechanism. The first auction will remain limited to consumers above the one-megawatt threshold, but the government plans to progressively widen access to smaller users. Ordinary consumers could eventually be allowed to choose between electricity suppliers as the market develops over the next few years, according to the minister. The transition could allow consumers to seek lower-cost electricity from competing suppliers rather than remaining tied solely to power procured through the conventional system. Leghari said greater competition in electricity procurement could also lower energy costs for industry and improve the competitiveness of Pakistani exporters. “If electricity becomes cheaper, our industry will be able to compete internationally, and our exports will increase,” he said. The competitive market has been under development for years as policy-
PROFIT
Web Desk
Pakistan has opened its electricity market to direct trading, with the Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) seeking proposals for the country’s first 400MW wheeling auction under the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM). The auction will initially allow industrial and other large consumers with demand exceeding one megawatt to contract electricity directly from eligible suppliers instead of relying exclusively on the existing centralised procurement system. Bids are due by November 20, 2026, with prospective participants required to register on ISMO’s electronic auction platform. The move marks the first practical rollout of the competitive power market, a reform that has remained under consideration for around three decades. Under the wheeling arrangement, electricity contracted between a buyer and seller will be delivered through the existing transmission network, allowing commercial transactions to take place without requiring separate physical power infrastructure. The model represents a significant departure from Pakistan’s traditional electricity market structure, under which the government has remained the principal intermediary between generators and consumers. CTBCM is designed to gradually introduce bilateral
FinMin warns protests may cost economy Rs120b a day as JI begins march CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS AT MAJOR ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS: Separately, Islamabad’s chief commissioner, along with the capital police chief, reviewed security and lawand-order arrangements at major entry and exit points of the capital. The officials inspected various areas of the city to assess police deployment, traffic management and the preparedness of relevant departments to respond to any situation, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported. Recent reporting also says hundreds of containers have been placed at entry points ahead of the planned marches. The protests take place amid a stern warning from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who said on Friday that law-enforcement personnel had been given clear “rules of engagement” to respond if fired upon during planned opposition protests in Islamabad. “This time, we are giving very clear rules of engagement to our soldiers and there is no possibility that if you shoot them, they will remain silent,” Naqvi said at a press conference on Friday.
makers sought to reduce the dominance of the single-buyer model in Pakistan’s power sector. Electricity procurement arrangements have faced increasing scrutiny amid high generation costs and capacity payments, particularly those associated with independent power producers. The new framework does not immediately dismantle the existing system. Instead, the 400MW auction introduces a parallel route through which eligible buyers and sellers can enter into direct electricity contracts. Leghari said successive governments had sought to establish such a market for 25 to 30 years. He described the issuance of the RFP as the point at which the proposal had moved from policy planning to implementation. “Suppliers and consumers of power can now transact with each other,” he said. The initial auction will effectively test the commercial and operational framework for electricity wheeling before participation is expanded. Leghari said the one-megawatt threshold was therefore only the starting point, with the government ultimately seeking to extend competitive electricity purchasing to ordinary consumers. The minister said the reform would gradually redefine the government’s role in the electricity market, shifting electricity procurement away from a predominantly state-centred model towards direct transactions between producers and consumers.
Five Indian proxy terrorists killed, 23 abductees rescued in Kalat operation: ISPR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
“Successful operations by the security forces resulted in thwarting the nefarious designs of India-sponsored proxy of Fitna-al-Hindustan,” it added. The ISPR said sanitisation operations were ongoing in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists and ensure the safety and security of the local population and national highways. “The relentless counterterrorism campaign under the vision of ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue with full resolve. Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating the menace of foreignsponsored and foreign-supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.
PRESIDENT, PM AND INTERIOR MINISTER COMMEND FORCES FOR KALAT OPERATION: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari commended the security forces for the Kalat operation. A statement carried by state-run APP said the premier lauded the security forces for their “timely and effective action” and praised their professional capabilities. He reaffirmed the government’s resolve that decisive antiterror operations would continue under Azm-i-Istehkam until the end of foreignsponsored terrorism in the country, APP reported. President Zardari, in a similar statement, said that the entire nation stood “shoulder to shoulder with its security forces in the fight against terrorism”. Meanwhile, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday commended the security forces for a successful operation against Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists on the N-25 in Kalat, where five terrorists were killed and 23 abducted citizens were safely rescued. Naqvi paid tribute to the security forces for their action against the terrorists and praised their professional capabilities in carrying out the operation. He said the forces successfully eliminated five terrorists and secured the release of 23 hostages during the operation. The interior minister said the security forces acted in a timely manner and thwarted the plans of the Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists. He said the prompt response prevented the terrorists from achieving their objectives and ensured the safety of the abducted citizens. BALOCHISTAN FACES GROWING SECURITY CHALLENGES: Terrorist incidents and counterterrorism operations have sharply increased in Balochistan as security challenges have prompted security forces to intensify their operations against militants. The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to a monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). The ISPR and state media have reported several operations in the province over recent weeks. On the night of Aug 31-Sept 1, terrorists of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) launched a coordinated attack on the Customs House, located at Ziarat Cross on the N-50 National Highway, in Pishin district. In retaliatory action, security forces killed 10 terrorists while two officers were among six personnel martyred in the exchange of fire, the military’s media affairs wing said. Also on August 31, 11 terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan, who had blocked the N-40 Quetta-Taftan highway by establishing an illegal checkpoint for extortion in Chagai’s Nokcha area, were killed following an intense exchange of fire.
Naval chief reviews SEASPARK 2026 amid Pakistan-India naval tensions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The exercise comes days after Pakistan and India on Wednesday lodged tit-for-tat diplomatic protests over a naval incident in the Arabian Sea, after vessels from the two countries came into contact during a Pakistani maritime exercise. The Foreign Office summoned the Indian Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong protest” over what it described as a provocative and unacceptable action by an Indian Navy vessel inside Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on September 15. According to the Foreign Office, the Pakistan Navy has been conducting its biennial exercise, SEASPARK-26, in Pak-
istan’s EEZ since September 1. It said that since September 7, the Indian naval ship INS Kolkata and a helicopter deployed on it had repeatedly attempted to enter the area where the Pakistani exercises were being conducted. The Foreign Office said INS Kolkata carried out “dangerous and provocative manoeuvres” close to Pakistan Navy vessels despite multiple warnings. It said the Indian vessel’s activities were not a routine deployment but constituted a violation of the 1991 India-Pakistan Agreement on Advance Notice on Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop Movements. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited units at sea and in the Creeks Area on Sunday to review Exercise SEASPARK 2026, the military’s
media wing said. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the biennial exercise, which has been underway since September 1, rehearses the full spectrum of maritime operations and tests operational preparedness and the ability to transition rapidly from peacetime to wartime operations. “Reflecting the changing character of warfare, this year’s exercise integrates Operations in the Information Environment, Multi-Domain Operations and extensive use of unmanned systems,” the statement added. The exercise comes days after Pakistan and India on Wednesday lodged tit-for-tat diplomatic protests over a naval incident in the Arabian Sea, after vessels from the two
countries came into contact during a Pakistani maritime exercise. The Foreign Office summoned the Indian Charge d’Affaires in Islamabad and lodged a “strong protest” over what it described as a provocative and unacceptable action by an Indian Navy vessel inside Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on September 15. According to the Foreign Office, the Pakistan Navy has been conducting its biennial exercise, SEASPARK-26, in Pakistan’s EEZ since September 1. It said that since September 7, the Indian naval ship INS Kolkata and a helicopter deployed on it had repeatedly attempted to enter the area where the Pakistani exercises were being conducted.
Pakistan’s trade deficit widens to $3.31b in August, reaches $7.25b in two months PROFIT
NeWs Desk
Pakistan’s trade deficit widened to $3.306 billion in August 2026 as imports grew more than twice as fast as exports on a year-on-year basis, with exports rising 5.22% to $2.542 billion and imports increasing 10.59% to $5.848 billion, provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed. Exports increased 5.22% YoY to $2.542 billion in August, while imports rose at more than twice that pace, climbing 10.59% to $5.848 billion. Compared with July, however, both sides of the trade account contracted sharply, with exports falling 13.86% and imports declining 15.22%. The resulting monthly trade gap was around 15.1% wider than the $2.872 billion deficit calculated from the reported export and import figures for August 2025. It narrowed around 16.2% from July’s $3.947 billion deficit. For July-August, exports increased 7.73% to $5.494 billion, but imports grew 14.56% to $12.745 billion. This pushed the two-month trade deficit to $7.251 billion,
g
EXPORTS RISE 5.22% YOY TO $2.54 BILLION WHILE IMPORTS JUMP 10.59% TO $5.85 BILLION
compared with $6.025 billion calculated for the same two months last year, an increase of around 20.3%. In rupee terms, the August trade deficit was Rs920.101 billion, while the July-August gap reached Rs2.020 trillion.
EXPORTS RISE YOY BUT RETREAT FROM JULY: Pakistan exported goods worth $2.542 billion in August, compared with $2.951 billion in July and $2.416 billion in August last year. This translated into a 13.86% monthly decline but a 5.22% yearly increase. The rupee value of exports fell 13.97% to Rs705.892 billion from Rs820.566 billion in July, while rising 3.32% from Rs683.209 billion a year ago. During July-August, exports reached $5.494 billion, up 7.73% from $5.100 billion a year earlier. Their rupee value increased 5.58% to Rs1.526 trillion from Rs1.446 trillion. Knitwear led August exports at Rs130.691 billion, followed by readymade
garments at Rs101.903 billion and bedwear at Rs70.816 billion. Cotton cloth exports stood at Rs37.390 billion, other rice at Rs28.953 billion and cotton yarn at Rs26.140 billion. Basmati rice contributed Rs24.341 billion, towels Rs23.537 billion, made-up articles excluding towels and bedwear Rs19.110 billion, and meat and meat preparations Rs13.087 billion. Basmati rice recorded one of the strongest increases among major exports, rising 14.43% from July and 67.02% from a year ago. Cotton yarn climbed 41.33% MoM and 46.42% YoY, while meat and meat preparations increased 0.18% and 27.22%, respectively. Other rice fell 15.72% from July but remained 7.98% higher YoY. Knitwear declined 11.94% MoM while rising 3.72% YoY, and readymade garments dropped 20.32% on a monthly basis but were 9.85% higher than a year earlier. Bedwear fell 17.43% MoM and 6.94%
YoY, cotton cloth declined 5.01% and 16.01%, and towels dropped 20.41% and 2.34%, respectively. Made-up articles excluding towels and bedwear declined 10.98% from July but increased 1.32% YoY.
IMPORTS GROW FASTER THAN EXPORTS: Imports totalled $5.848 billion in August, against $6.898 billion in July and $5.288 billion a year earlier, translating into a 15.22% MoM decline and a 10.59% YoY increase. In rupee terms, imports fell 15.33% to Rs1.626 trillion from Rs1.920 trillion in July but were 8.75% higher than the Rs1.495 trillion recorded a year ago. The July-August import bill reached $12.745 billion, an increase of 14.56% from $11.125 billion last year. Its rupee value rose 12.43% to Rs3.546 trillion from Rs3.154 trillion. Petroleum crude was the largest major import at Rs201.173 billion, followed by petroleum products at Rs132.941 billion. Electrical machinery and apparatus accounted for Rs85.874 billion, palm oil
Rs75.666 billion and plastic materials Rs68.191 billion. Iron and steel scrap imports stood at Rs55.807 billion, liquefied natural gas at Rs52.122 billion, iron and steel at Rs50.373 billion, raw cotton at Rs47.033 billion and CKD/SKD motor cars at Rs46.798 billion. Crude oil imports jumped 39.78% from July and 45.56% YoY, while petroleum products fell 2.84% MoM but increased 32.54% from a year ago. Raw cotton recorded the strongest annual increase among the listed major imports, rising 47.79%, despite declining 9.33% from July. Electrical machinery and apparatus fell 43.82% MoM but increased 35.73% YoY. Iron and steel scrap declined 17.71% from July while rising 28% from last year, and plastic materials fell 24.68% MoM but edged up 1.18% YoY. LNG imports increased 5.99% from July but were 33.37% lower than a year ago. Palm oil fell 24.28% MoM and 20.68% YoY; iron and steel declined 42.25% and 21.75%, respectively, while CKD/SKD motor car imports decreased 10.29% from July and 3.13% YoY.
04 COMMENT
Public sector and provision of subsidized groceries
Kohat culprits killed
P
Terrorism is not going away
ERHAPS nothing can show better than the aftermath of the Kohat police lines outrage the intractable nature of the problem. There is no easy solution, and though eight terrorists had been killed in the response of the law-enforcing agencies, that was still a deficit, for 23 people had died in the blast followed by assault on Friday. However, it would be counter-productive to reduce the matter to a numbers game, because it will encourage the law enforcement agencies to engage in body counts, measuring success by the number of militants killed. This was not productive in the Vietnam War by the US forces, and it has never succeeded since. The long and difficult effort, of ending militancy by squeezing their recruiting base, requires better governance, something which cannot be achieved without true engagement by the political representatives of the people. The ability of the militants to mount such large-scale operations is indicative of a failure by the law-enforcing agencies to control such groups. The state has shown that it cannot be trifled with, and that any challenge to its writ, or at least such a brazen one, will not go unpunished. Of course, it would have been better if the culprits had been taken alive, for not only would it be better for them to be duly tried, but they could have provided valuable information. However, while shooting is going on, it is perhaps better not to quibble. Politicians have to spearhead the initiative to defuse militancy, and KP CM Sohail Afridi’s attempt to duck responsibility should not be ignored. He airily dismissed militancy as a federal problem, the result of faulty foreign policy. He acknowledged that the province had received extra funds to combat militancy, but did not mention how it had been used. He should be brought to understand that militancy cannot be controlled so long as the provincial government does not provide proper education and healthcare. He should be concentrating on that, rather than on working out schemes to force his leader Imran Khan’s release. The government must realize that such horrors as at Kohat will be repeated unless the intelligence agencies do their job, and unless governance is improved to the point where people feel that their problems are being taken care of, that they are able to find work, and they are treated with respect. It is no longer possible to run a state in which people are obedient no matter how badly they are treated.
Utility stores should be re-opened
W
dr Omer Javed
HILE supply chains, and pricing is highly sub-optimal in general, more importantly such issues impact at the very basic level in the shape of lack of availability of quality, and affordable groceries. Overall, the application of neoliberal policies over the last four decades or so, have weakened the role of the public sector in both providing meaningful level of governance, and incentive structures, which while have reduced the productive and allocative efficiencies of the economy, reactive, and lack of regulation of markets and supply chains has resulted in profiteering, which has hit the purchasing power of middle-, and lower-middle income groups the most, especially given that, according to World Bank estimates, around 45 percent of the population is below the poverty line. With regard to the immense failings of neoliberal policies, a September 14, Project Syndicate (PS) published article ‘Progressive economics is delivering’ pointed out ‘Indeed, in country after country, the neoliberal experiment of the past four decades widened public deficits, deepened inequality, produced recurrent financial crises, and left economies more fragile.’ Specifically, the diminishing capacity of the public sector has meant that the performance of otherwise much-needed state-owned enterprises also weakened over time, including that of ‘utility stores.’ Hence, last year it was reportedly closed. An August 1, 2025 article on the press, ‘After 54 years, govt closes the chapter on Utility Stores’, pointed out in this regard ‘After 54 years of providing subsidised essential items to the masses, the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) officially ceased its operations on Thursday amid talks between the government and the employees regarding the compensation package. …The USC is a state-owned enterprise established in 1971 to provide essential commodities at subsidised prices to the public, particularly targeting low-income segments. The corporation was operating more than 4,000 retail outlets throughout the country. However, the government decided to shut down the USC under the austerity drive and sack all employees. …A recent report
Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
by the finance ministry titled ‘Federal State Owned Enterprises (SOE) Performance Overview’, reviewing the first six months of FY25, highlighted that the six-month losses of the USC were Rs4.1 billion.’ Having said that, in principle provision of quality groceries at subsidised rates is indeed quite important given dwindling purchasing power of individuals, and lack of regulation against over-profiteering. Hence, while the losses could have been minimized, and possibly removed, through better public sector performance, under an overall non-neoliberal economic policy, it would be beneficial to re-start provision of subsidised groceries through better governed ‘utility stores,’ or else through forging meaningful public-private partnerships, whereby subsidised, quality groceries are provided by well-established grocery store chains in the private sector, with effective regulation by the public sector, especially under the direct supervision of local governments, as for instance is the initiative being taken by New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, which could, in turn, provide important lessons to learn from, and possibly re-launch provision of subsidized groceries in an effective manner by the public sector. A July 26, article ‘Mayor Mamdani unveils 30% discount – including all produce, all meat and key pantry staples – at new municipal grocery stores’ published by New York City (NYC) official website, pointed out ‘Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced that a core basket of everyday groceries will be 30 percent cheaper at the five new municipal grocery stores. …The Mayor also issued a request for proposals (RFP) from qualified grocers or firms to serve as operators of one or more N.Y.C. Groceries stores. The selected operator will be responsible for day-to-day store operations, including merchandising, staffing and adherence to strong labor practices. The Mamdani administration’s network of municipal grocery stores— a core pillar of the Mayor’s Affordability Agenda— will guarantee lower prices for New Yorkers across the five boroughs, including the more than 40% of families who struggle to afford food. The first grocery store will open by the end of 2027 at Hunts Point in the Bronx, a neighborhood where 77%
In principle provision of quality groceries at subsidised rates is indeed quite important given dwindling purchasing power of individuals, and lack of regulation against over-profiteering.
Unfinished business of devolution M. A. Niazi
Babar Nizami
Editor Pakistan Today
Editor Profit
“W
More provinces do not challenge ethnic identity Saeeda USmani
E will die before we let the province be divided.” Variations of this sentiment increasingly surface whenever the question of new provinces is raised. Such slogans are politically powerful because they turn an administrative proposal into an existential question of identity and belonging. But a federation cannot govern itself through sentiment alone. There is a familiar metaphor for societies resisting change: when the road finally reaches the village, some stand in its path because the unfamiliar is easier to fear than to examine. The point is not that every proposed change constitutes progress, but that resistance itself cannot be treated as an argument against reform. Perhaps the debate on new provinces has been asking the wrong question. The issue is not whether the country should be divided further, but whether power should remain concentrated so far from the citizens it is meant to serve. Unfortunately, among masses the concept of federation has not evolved from the map of territory. In reality, it is also a map of access. It is access to power, public money, political representation, hospitals, universities and the institutions that shape everyday life. Pakistan’s debate on creating new provinces should therefore move beyond the language of “division”. The more important question is whether a country of around 260 million people can still be governed effectively through only four provinces. It is neither convincing nor humanely possible. Pakistan has reached a point where creating more provinces should be treated not as a threat to national unity, but as an instrument of better government. We are not in the year 1947 that five provinces were enough (including East Pakistan). Consider the scale. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’s 7th Population and Housing Census 2023 recorded Punjab alone at nearly 128 million people. Sindh has more than 55 million and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa more than 40 million. These provinces contain regions with very different economies, geography and social needs. A government may represent all of them, but administrative distance can still produce unequal access to attention and resources. More provinces can reduce that distance. The case is important in education. Pakistan’s household survey reports that 28 percent of children aged five to 16 are out of school. Educational disadvantage is not evenly distributed. A smaller provincial unit can plan around its own teacher shortages, school distances, girls’ enrolment and rural infrastructure rather than competing for attention within a provincial system. A new province would have its own education department, development priorities and political accountability. When educational failure has a
clearer institutional owner, it becomes harder to hide behind the averages of a large province. The same logic applies to health. Healthcare is experienced locally whether a woman can reach a maternity facility, whether a district hospital has specialists, whether medicines are available and whether preventive programmes reflect local needs. Pakistan’s 2024–25 household data still show urban-rural differences in reproductive health access. More manageable provincial systems could place planning, budgeting and specialised healthcare institutions closer to under-served populations. The point is not that drawing a new boundary automatically builds a hospital. It is that it creates another centre with the authority and budget to decide that one should be built. There is also a gender dimension that deserves more attention. Article 106 of the Constitution reserves seats for women in provincial assemblies. If that principle is carried into newly created provinces, provincial political centres can widen the space in which women enter legislatures, ministries, committees and public leadership. Representation is about multiplying the places from which leadership can emerge, for women from regions that remain politically peripheral. Constitutionally, the idea is neither alien nor revolutionary. Article 239 provides a route for altering provincial limits, while Article 140A establishes devolution of political, administrative and financial authority as a constitutional principle. More provinces can be understood as an extension of that logic. Power should travel
closer to those affected by it. Whatever, the road map for this novel initiative is, one aspect must be assured. that new provinces must be economically viable and administratively rational. They should not be created merely as ethnic rewards, electoral bargains or new layers of bureaucracy. Population, geography, revenue capacity, service-delivery gaps, infrastructure and public consent should determine their design. Strong local governments must accompany them, because decentralisation cannot simply stop at a new provincial capital. The real argument, then, is not that smaller is always better. It is that the government should exist at a scale at which citizens can meaningfully reach it, scrutinise it and influence it. Pakistan has changed dramatically while its provincial map has barely changed. Its population has expanded, cities have multiplied and expectations of the state have grown. The architecture of government should evolve with that reality. More provinces would not mean less Pakistan nor would it erase ethnic identity. Rather, it will give more job opportunities and centres of representation and focus on grassroot issues. We will have more locally responsive education and healthcare. more political participation and a shorter distance between a citizen and the state. At this stage of Pakistan’s development, that is not fragmentation. It is institutional maturity. It is not division of land, it is distribution of resources. As a nation, we have to understand that it is time to move on and let go of the things that do not serve the common good. The writer is a freelance columnist
Monday, 21 September, 2026
of households struggle to afford basic necessities.’ Highlighting the underlying model of this initiative, which as indicated is based on public-private partnership, the same article indicated ‘The initiative will establish a first-of-its-kind model in major US cities: Municipal supermarkets with private grocery store operators to lower prices, improve access and set clear standards for quality and accountability. … Operators will be required to stock items across key food categories and offer clear, reliable pricing on the shelf, with prices for core items locked in monthly and updated periodically to reflect market conditions. …The City sets the mission, the standards and the store design; experienced third-party operators run the stores day to day under those requirements. … N.Y.C. Groceries stores are going where need is highest, but that need looks different across the City. The City is using a data-driven approach to identify priority neighborhoods facing the greatest challenges with grocery affordability and access.’ Addressing criticism of this initiative, Nobel laureate in economics, Joseph E. Stiglitz in his August 31, ‘Time’ published article ‘The economics of public grocery stores’ pointed out, for instance ‘As New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani works to implement his campaign promise to create public grocery stores, the initiative has been met with significant criticism, especially from economists. The criticism is, I believe, badly misplaced, based on the very models of the economy that have contributed to our slow growth, increasing inequality, and today’s affordability crisis. There is indeed a strong economic argument for doing something along the lines that Mayor Mamdani proposes. Traditional economists typically begin with the presumption that private, competitive markets are efficient and the desirable way to provide ordinary goods like groceries. But over the past 50 years, this presumption has been totally undermined, as we’ve come to understand better the many ways in which markets “fail,” especially in the presence of imperfect information. Even in the simple area of groceries, market incentives direct consumers to more profitable but less nutritious foods, contributing, for instance, to the childhood diabetes crisis. Public grocery stores, whose objective is to provide better, more affordable goods for all citizens—rather than just maximizing profits— hold out the promise of a healthier population and a more productive labor force.’
The writer holds PhD in Economics degree from the University of Barcelona, and previously worked at International Monetary Fund.Prior to this, he did MSc. in Economics from the University of York (United Kingdom), and worked at the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Statistics (Pakistan), among other places. He is author of Springer published book (2016) ‘The economic impact of International Monetary Fund programmes: institutional quality, macroeconomic stabilization and economic growth’.He tweets @omerjaved7
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Doubt over Gaza plan
IT is hard to believe that United States President Donald Trump’s 20point Gaza plan, even if it gets some level of unanimous acceptance, would be religiously implemented. This uncertainty is not because of the flaws the plan has, but because of the lack of public trust in Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies. Israel, as is known globally, is the spoiled child of America, and even Trump is unable to tame Netanyahu who has turned a deaf ear towards his repeated demand to immediately stop bombardment of Gaza. The only interest the US and Israel have in the current deal is the release of hos-tages because of internal pressure from their relatives. Once their release has been secured, who would force Israel to abide by the other terms of the agreement? No one, not even America, its godfather, would be able to do that. The United Nations, the Arab world and Europe have been doing whatever they could for the last two years. What would change after the release of the hostages? Nothing. Hamas surely would have this scenario in mind. MALIK UL QUDDOOS KARACHI
Banking without common sense
MY account at a bank branch located in Islamabad was blocked recently right after my monthly salary had been credited. I called the customer service helpline to know the reason, and was told that my CNIC had expired, as per the official record, and therefore, the bank had blocked my mobile app and debit card. The reason was quite logical, but it was not factual. I informed the official that my CNIC would expire in 2030, and the bank could verify it from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). But this explanation appeared too logical for the bank representative to consider. He simply kept insisting that I visit the branch physically and get my record updated. He did not even register a complaint, and insisted that it was a matter of standard procedure. The banks should understand that their customers have to pay certain liabilities — rent, school fee, utilities, grocery and such other things — at the start of each month. Blocking the account without notice raises questions on their credibility and reputation. The authorities concerned should inform the customers at least a month or a week in advance before taking such extreme measures. If the banks can call the customers to offer services, like personal loan, car financing etc., why can they not alert them for updating their records? MUNEER AHMED ISLAMABAD
Pakistan’s worst-run DHA
At this stage of Pakistan’s development, that is not fragmentation. It is institutional maturity. It is not division of land, it is distribution of resources. As a nation, we have to understand that it is time to move on and let go of the things that do not serve the common good.
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THE entire Defence Housing Authority (DHA) area in Karachi, especially Phase VI, is in a mess, with broken roads, potholes and choked gutters making life miserable for one and all. Those responsible for such affairs tend to opt for short-term fixes. Instead of cleaning the sewerage lines, they bring suction equipment and tankers, which, at best, provide temporary relief. When there is a high-profile visit to the area, they use Khayaban-i-Ittehad for the guests, have a fancy event at the DHA Golf Club, and take them back through the same route, presenting an all-is-well picture. There is a need to relieve the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) of its DHA duties, and to start maintaining the areas on the pattern of Malir Cantonment. ARSALAN FARUQI KARACHI
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Monday, 21 September, 2026
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COMMENT 05
Beyond the ‘Technocrat’ Label The Politics of Iftikhar Gilani’s selection
aBdul Basit alvi
ZAD Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape has drawn renewed attention because of the unprecedented nature of the recent electoral process, the formation of a new government, and Iftikhar Gillani’s selection as Prime Minister. His elevation has been surrounded by controversy and often reduced to debate over his technical status as a reserved-seat candidate, but this “technocrat” label overlooks the wider democratic, strategic, constitutional, and political significance of his selection and its potential consequences for AJK’s future governance and development. The process from the elections through government and cabinet formation should therefore be considered beyond partisan propaganda. The general elections were widely viewed by political analysts and observers as evidence of the resilience and maturity of democracy in the region, with many considering them among the fairest and most transparent elections ever held in AJK. The multi-phase polling was conducted professionally and impartially, allowing people to freely express their will. No hate elements participated, helping produce a peaceful, issue-based campaign focused on development rather than sectarian or regional discord, while no political party, group, or independent candidate was prevented from contesting. Every willing participant was given the opportunity to compete without undue restrictions, creating a genuinely competitive electoral environment. The freedom and fairness of the process demonstrated the independence of the elections and provided the people with a free and credible mandate to choose their representatives. The state machinery and electoral authorities’ commitment to democratic norms, combined with peaceful polling and active participation, strengthened public faith in democracy and established a higher standard of electoral integrity in AJK. The successful parties therefore received a legitimate mandate that became the foundation of the new government, with the resulting political landscape reflecting the people’s choices and giving the administration the credibility needed to govern effectively and implement policies with public confidence. Following the elections, the transition to the new government and Prime
Minister was smooth, and the administration began working with energy and focus on pressing challenges and a development-oriented agenda intended to fulfill electoral promises and turn public aspirations into tangible progress. Youthful and dynamic leadership is expected to bring a fresh approach and move away from stagnant and bureaucratic practices, while early government measures have generated cautious optimism about improvements in people’s daily lives, infrastructure, and the economy. Commitments made in the Prime Minister’s inaugural address to transparency, merit, and anti-corruption have been particularly welcomed, creating a positive foundation as people now await the fulfillment of these pledges and a new era of progress and prosperity. A significant point of contention that has emerged is the process surrounding the selection of Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani as the new Prime Minister. The allegations of selecting Iftikhar Gillani as PM from a technocrat seat instead of someone from the general seats are baseless, as the constitution of AJK allows any member of the AJK assembly to become PM. The legal framework of the territory does not discriminate between members elected on general seats and those elected on reserved seats for technocrats and other professionals. The constitution grants all members equal rights, and a member elected on a technocrat seat has the same legislative and constitutional standing as any other representative. Therefore, the criticisms and allegations surrounding his selection are founded on a misunderstanding or a deliberate misrepresentation of the constitutional provisions. The primary qualification for the office of Prime Minister is membership of the Legislative Assembly, and this qualification is met by Iftikhar Gillani. The debate, therefore, should not be about the nature of his seat but rather about his vision, his capabilities, and his commitment to serving the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The
constitution’s flexibility in allowing any member to become Prime Minister is a provision designed to ensure that the most suitable and capable individual can be chosen for the role, irrespective of the specific constituency they represent. It is also important to address the narrative that his selection somehow violates the principle of respecting the vote. The political slogan of respecting the vote is about upholding the democratic mandate and ensuring that the people’s choices are honored. By becoming a member of the assembly, Iftikhar Gillani has already been given a mandate by the members who voted for him on the technocrat seat. The selection of the Prime Minister is a process that involves the confidence of the majority of the assembly members, and this is a separate process from the general election. The assembly, as the collective representative body, has the right to choose its leader from among its members. Furthermore, it is worth noting that Iftikhar Gillani has a long and distinguished political career. He was first elected to the assembly in 2011 and retained his seat in the 2016 elections, during which he served as a minister in the cabinet . His defeat in the recent election from a general seat does not negate his political experience, his contributions to the region, or his qualifications for the highest office. Political fortunes can fluctuate, and a single defeat does not define a politician’s entire career or capacity to serve. His elevation to the Prime Minister’s office is a testament to the trust that the party leadership and the majority of the assembly members place in his abilities to lead the new government. The selection of Iftikhar Gillani as Prime Minister gives a strong signal that such a young leader will open the doors of developments in AJK, especially under the PML(N) central government and the guidance of Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz. This is a very good sign for the people of AJK. The PML(N) leadership, including its supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz
The people have demonstrated through their vote and their subsequent acceptance of the results that they are tired of baseless allegations and propaganda campaigns. They are more interested in seeing their political leaders work for their welfare and address the real issues.
Sharif, has placed its confidence in a younger leader, signaling a generational shift in the political leadership of the territory . This decision reflects a forward-looking approach, emphasizing the importance of new ideas and energetic leadership in driving development. Under the guidance of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who has a deep-rooted connection to Kashmir and has already announced a comprehensive development package for the region, there is a strong expectation that this new government will replicate the successful governance and welfare models that have been implemented in Punjab. Maryam Nawaz, who calls herself a “daughter of Kashmir” due to her familial origins in the region, has pledged to extend flagship programmrs like the Kisan Card and Rashan Card, and the Suthra Punjab campaign, to AJK . She has also promised housing schemes, scholarships, the distribution of laptops and tablets, and modern transport facilities such as electric buses for cities like Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. This close association and guidance from the central government and the Punjab leadership are expected to bring significant resources and expertise to AJK, accelerating the pace of development and improving the quality of life for its citizens. The prime minister’s own pledge for transparency, employment generation for youth, digitization of the economy, and an improvement in education and healthcare aligns perfectly with this broader vision . The people of AJK have high hopes that this synergy between the new leadership and the PML(N)’s development agenda will bring about a new era of prosperity. Overall, the selection of the cabinet is also very good, and most of the cabinet are young and energetic. The composition of the new cabinet reflects a careful balance of experience and youthful dynamism, with a clear focus on bringing in new faces who are eager to work and deliver results. This infusion of young blood into the governance structure is seen as a positive step, as it brings fresh perspectives and a stronger connection to the aspirations of the youth, who form a significant portion of the population. The selection process appears to have prioritized merit and competence, with an emphasis on individuals who have the energy and vision to tackle the complex challenges facing the region. The cabinet members are tasked with implementing the government’s ambitious development agenda, and their ability to work collectively under the leadership of the Prime Minister will be crucial to the success of the administration. The people have expressed a sense of satisfaction with the choices made, seeing them as a departure from the politics of the past and a move towards a more professional and result-oriented governance. This mix of
youth and experience is considered an ideal formula for navigating the complexities of governance while maintaining the momentum for reform and progress. Consequently, the people of AJK are hopeful that this government, under the remarkable leadership of its Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani, will open new doors of development and prosperity for the territory. The public has shown a significant degree of optimism, largely driven by the promises of the PML(N) and the perceived capability of the new leadership to deliver on these promises. The extensive development agenda, which includes improvements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and the economy, has resonated deeply with the public. The emphasis on merit-based recruitment and anti-corruption measures has also helped to build trust in the new administration. People are tired of the old ways of governance and are looking for a fresh start that can bring tangible improvements to their lives and secure a better future for their children. The focus on youth employment through interest-free loans and other schemes has also generated a great deal of hope among the younger generation. Clearly, the people have rejected all propaganda against a genuine political process. Despite the efforts of certain political factions and critics to undermine the credibility of the elections and the subsequent government formation, the public has shown its support. The massive public turnouts at PML(N) election rallies were a clear indication of the people’s endorsement. The people have demonstrated through their vote and their subsequent acceptance of the results that they are tired of baseless allegations and propaganda campaigns. They are more interested in seeing their political leaders work for their welfare and address the real issues. The public discourse has been dominated by a desire for progress and good governance, and the people have largely ignored the negative campaigns launched by those who seek to delegitimize the political process.
NAZA’s persecuted AI firms’ self-serving directors: warnings journalism is not treason
The writer is freelance columnist
If a company is invoking dangers great enough to justify slowing development or excluding competitors, it should at least have to submit its systems to independent regulatory scrutiny
The film builds on revelations first published by the IsraeliPalestinian publication +972 Magazine, the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call and the Guardian between 2023 and 2025 Its Oscar-winning directors, Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, face being stripped of their citizenship for treason
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THE GUARDIAN Editorial
CROSS Israel, politicians, military leaders and much of the media are trying to discredit a documentary that almost none of them have seen. Produced by the Guardian, NAZA examines the AI-powered targeting systems used by the Israel Defense Forces to bombard Gaza after Hamas’s brutal 7 October 2023 attacks. Named after the Israeli military acronym euphemistically used for “collateral damage”, NAZA features interviews with 24 anonymous insiders who reflect on their role in the death-dealing. Israeli leaders have branded the film a “blood libel” and “fiction”. Its Oscar-winning directors, Rachel Szor and Yuval Abraham, face being stripped of their citizenship for treason. This is absurd. NAZA shows how bureaucratic distance and routine can turn extreme violence into ordinary work. More than 73,000 Palestinians, including more than 20,000 children, have been killed in the campaign by Israel’s military. A democracy that values life would at least investigate the film’s claims. Instead Israel’s government, which says it is committed to democratic accountability, is attacking journalists. The allegations in NAZA come from military insiders. For many, it does not appear to be remorse that drives them to speak out. Some are proud of what they have done. One recalls the “insane fun” of planning airstrikes in Gaza. Crucially, Israeli soldiers describe the military accepting large numbers of Palestinian casualties as the price for killing a single Hamas operative. When civilian fatalities rise to as many as hundreds for one enemy combatant, proportionality looks less like a military assessment and more like a licence for mass death. NAZA’s story is not only about death
and destruction but also some of the people behind it: polite, educated members of Israel’s liberal middle class, much like the directors themselves. They built and operated a system that told them women and children would die in large numbers. Yet they told themselves that responsibility for the deaths of innocent Palestinians lay elsewhere. The acronym, NAZA, turns possible fatalities into a number per target. By the time an operator approves a strike, morality has disappeared up the chain of command. An election campaign has seen Israeli politicians shamefully weaponise controversy to outflank each other on the right. If such leaders are saying that the conduct of the Israeli military is beyond independent review, that can hardly be consistent with the commitment to the rule of law. Israel’s government might invoke national security to defend its actions. But the film builds on revelations first published by the IsraeliPalestinian publication +972 Magazine, the Hebrew-language outlet Local Call and the Guardian between 2023 and 2025. Ominously, Israel’s domestic intelligence service may be involved in a leak investigation. By turning the army on the documentary’s directors, Israel is making an example of them. Far-right activists target their families by making threats. If the filmmakers were to return to Israel now, their lives might well be in danger. The Committee to Protect Journalists and 10 other press-freedom groups have warned that Israel must protect its journalists and filmmakers – not brand them traitors and paint targets on their backs. Yet the country’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has seized on the controversy to threaten anyone who “defames” Israeli soldiers with loss of citizenship. Rather than investigate alleged crimes, he would punish those who expose them. Israel’s leaders ought to be protecting those who scrutinise power, not pointing a mob towards them.
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PROJECT SYNDICATE Brian JudgE
penAI and Anthropic will soon have to explain to investors why they are each supposedly worth $2–3 trillion. They will probably draw from the same template that Elon Musk used for the SpaceX IPO in June. By presenting a modestly profitable satellite-launch and telecoms business attached to a tremendously unprofitable AI startup as a vehicle for “mak[ing] humanity multiplanetary,” Musk achieved a valuation far above what the company’s financials justify. With private markets showing signs of exhaustion, OpenAI and Anthropic’s expected IPOs promise access to a much larger pool of capital. Going public opens not only the equity markets but also the vastly deeper investment-grade debt market, and bankers for OpenAI and Anthropic are already pressing rating agencies to grant them investment-grade marks after their listings. But that means their pitch to investors must do double duty, giving shareholders a market vast enough to justify today’s valuation while convincing creditors that today’s cash burn can be contained. With these needs in mind, the frontier labs are relying on two narratives that promise a path to profitability. They claim that AI will not only replace workers and expand the potential market from software budgets to labor-saving applications, but also that the existential risk associated with the technology justifies curtailing additional capital spending. The first narrative, advanced in a recent paper from Anthropic’s in-house economists, holds that AI will capture a meaningful share of corporate wage bills by replacing human workers. Implicit in this message is a warning to corporate executives across the economy: companies that aggressively deploy AI will outcompete those that do not. The employment narrative usefully recasts a software product as labor. Mere software for helping workers write emails, prepare presentations, and summarize documents would compete for a share of corporate IT budgets, but a system that
replaces workers entirely competes for their share of the wage bill. This is the prize the labs are promising to justify their valuations and capital spending. Unlike chatbots, which respond to individual prompts, “agents” use additional software tools to carry out multi-step tasks in pursuit of a specific goal. If agents can complete work with limited human supervision, dramatically slashing corporate wage bills becomes more plausible. The second narrative—wherein AI poses an “existential risk” to humanity— has now gone mainstream after circulating for decades in specialist circles. Alan Turing, the British computer scientist who cracked the Nazi Enigma code, warned in 1951 that thinking machines could “outstrip our feeble powers” and eventually “take control.” More recently, Stuart Russell of the University of California, Berkeley, Yoshua Bengio of the University of Montreal, and others have warned that increasingly autonomous AI systems could escape human control unless there are stronger safeguards and public oversight; and whistleblowers at the frontier labs continue to draw attention to this issue. Yet in preparing for their IPOs, the labs have found a financial use case for these longstanding warnings about AI. Fears of mass joblessness or human extinction offer them a good reason to restrain spending without conceding that further improvements might prove uneconomical. The timing of Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s call to “pace the frontier,” which was immediately endorsed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Musk, is telling. After all, these same companies long rebuffed demands for a “pause” in training frontier models. For the leading labs, the happy equilibrium would include models powerful enough to automate substantial swaths of white-collar work, but dangerous enough to make continued breakneck spending on training frontier models imprudent. The employment narrative promises the revenues, and the safety narrative supplies a justification for stopping the investment race. Slowing down can be presented as proof of corporate responsibility, rather than as an admission that further improvements might not pay off. Of course, Chinese competition threatens this equilibrium. Data from OpenRouter shows Chinese models gaining ground over the past year, with DeepSeek,
Tencent, Z.ai, and Qwen now accounting for roughly 42% of requests on the platform. If cheaper open-weight models are sufficient for customers’ needs, the US labs face an unenviable choice: cut prices and sacrifice margins or keep spending to maintain a technical lead that customers may not be willing to pay for. Restrictions on Chinese models could offer a way out. By calling attention to existential-risk claims, the labs may be hoping to revive the Trump administration’s currently shelved restrictions on Chinese models, thus protecting themselves from cheaper competition. But if a company is invoking dangers great enough to justify slowing development or excluding competitors, it should at least have to submit its systems to independent regulatory scrutiny. Otherwise, it retains discretion over both the claims of danger and the response, allowing safety policy to serve its own financial interests. The July Hugging Face breach, carried out by OpenAI “agents” that escaped their testing environment, makes independent scrutiny urgent. No sci-fi maximalism is necessary to appreciate the dangers that current systems pose as brute-force hacking instruments. Industry leaders have long promised to cooperate with regulators. In his 2015 email proposing the creation of what would become OpenAI, Altman assured Musk: “Obviously we’d comply with/aggressively support all regulation.” But support in principle leaves the terms of scrutiny unresolved. Anthropic’s denial of pre-launch access to Mythos 5.1 for the United Kingdom-based AI Security Institute shows how much discretion remains with the company. The strategy resembles ExxonMobil’s support for carbon taxes. While making a show of endorsing regulation in principle, it bet that policymakers would decline to impose meaningful constraints. The warnings need not be insincere to serve the companies’ financial interests. Replacing workers promises revenues sufficient to justify their valuations, and existential risk supplies a rationale for containing their costs and restricting the competition. The coming AI apocalypse is the best reason to buy their stock.
Brian Judge is Research Director of the Program on Finance and Democracy at the University of California, Berkeley.
06 NEWS
US WARNS MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT COULD 'ESCALATE RAPIDLY', URGES CITIZENS TO RECONSIDER TRAVEL
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WASHINGTON/RIYADH AGENCIES
HE United States on Sunday warned that fighting between Saudi Arabia and Houthis could “escalate rapidly” after a missile attack targeted Riyadh for the first time since the Yemen conflict resumed. “This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” the US State Department warned, adding American citizens outside the Middle East should “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region”. US President Donald Trump also cut short a weekend at Camp David, a secluded presidential complex in rural Maryland, to return unexpectedly to the White House on Saturday. The White House gave no explanation for the early return, which comes as a new threshold was crossed in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen and are fighting government forces backed by a coalition. Loud explosions rang out on Saturday in the Saudi capital, where AFP journalists saw a fuel tank bearing the logo of oil giant Aramco on fire near the airport. In recent weeks, the Houthis’ lightning offensive seizing swathes of Yemeni territory has left hundreds dead and, according to the
Monday, 21 September 2026 | LAHORE
UN refugee agency, displaced more than 110,000 people. The violence has already disrupted exports from Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading supplier of crude oil, as well as maritime traffic. CIA CHIEF MEETS EGYPT’S SISI On Sunday, US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a rare visit to Cairo. Sisi stressed “the paramount importance of settling regional crises through political and diplomatic tracks”, according to a presidency statement. The visit came days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also in the Egyptian capital, where he and Sisi urged safe and secure navigation through Bab alMandab, after the Houthis seized the Yemeni coast. The Bab al-Mandab strait is a Red Sea waterway that is crucial to energy flows and global shipping and which has become even more strategic since Iran imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Condemning the Houthis’ latest attacks, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the broadcaster NTV that his country had had discussions with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, partners in a mutual defence pact, about possible assistance. “In this regard, military needs, especially
in state technical matters, may happen. There would be no problem in meeting this demand either,” he said. Saudi Arabia meanwhile seemed to contain the fallout of the Houthis’ attacks on its territory. On Sunday, the attack on Riyadh was not mentioned in several major Saudi papers, even though hours beforehand, the Saudi-led coalition had said that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis was “successfully intercepted and destroyed”. The coalition added that the pro-Iranian
fighters had tried to target “civilians and civilian infrastructure” in several cities in the west of the kingdom, including the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea, an important export hub for Saudi oil. It said these attacks were thwarted by the Gulf monarchy’s air defences. Claiming responsibility for the attack, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said fighters had carried out “two successful military operations using a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones”. “The first targeted sensitive sites in the
Saudi capital, Riyadh, and the second targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu.” Saudi Arabia has responded with scores of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas but has been unable to stop the fighters’ advance. The United States, according to US news platform Axios, last week refused a Saudi request to strike the Houthis, but Washington has since approved a $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets. WIDENING CONFLICT This is the first time since Yemen’s civil war resumed that strikes have threatened the Saudi capital, piling further pressure on a global economy already rocked by seven months of war between the US and Iran. Iran’s top negotiator said Tehran had conveyed to the US through mediators its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which it has blockaded throughout the Middle East war. The Middle East war began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which responded with retaliatory attacks on nearby Gulf countries. Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen also carried out attacks against their foes. While conflict in Yemen predates the Middle East war, the recent escalation in the country — one of the world’s poorest — has turned it into the most active front of the wider violence.
Italy moves to ban burqas, niqabs in schools, cap foreign students ROME
AGENCIES
Italy: Italy is preparing to ban face coverings in schools and to cap the number of foreign students per class, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Sunday as she played up her right-wing credentials at a youth event organised by her party. Italy is among the European countries most exposed to migrant arrivals because of its central Mediterranean location, making migration a hot-button issue and a major challenge for successive governments. The integration of migrants, particularly those from Muslim-majority countries, remains contentious in Italian politics and society. Debates over religious symbols, cultural integration, citizenship rules and immigration policy frequently polarise public opinion. “A measure will soon be presented to a Cabinet meeting to legally establish a
maximum number of foreign students per class. It also requires parents of foreign students facing serious difficulties
Trump plans ‘military complex’ inside Washington triumphal arch WASHINGTON, DC AGENCIES
integrating into the school system to learn Italian and bans burqas and niqabs in schools,” Meloni told an annual gath-
World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine NEW YORK
AGENCIES
United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the triumphal arch he plans to build near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington would also serve as a “military complex” housing drones and snipers and storing large quantities of ammunition. The president cited national security concerns for the move, echoing the rationale offered for the roughly $400 million ballroom complex being built on the site of the White House’s former East Wing, which was demolished to make way for the project. He did not identify any specific threats. The projects are part of Trump’s ambitious effort to reshape Washington, including a push to add his name to the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. The plans have drawn criticism from preservationists and others who argue they could alter or diminish historic landmarks. In a social media post, Trump said that at the “strong request” of the military he had agreed to turn the 76-metre arch “into a topgrade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch, to house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage.” The White House and the Department of Defence did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Federal Aviation Administration said last week that the arch would not pose a hazard to aircraft but would be required to have an “eternal flame” on top, clearing an aviation hurdle for the arch, which Trump proposed to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
ering of the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party. “If there is only one child in a class who doesn’t understand Italian, that child will likely be able to learn the language and integrate quickly with the help of classmates and teachers. However, if the number of children who don’t understand the language becomes large — or even the majority — that is no longer integration; it is neglect,” she added. Meloni did not specify what the maximum number of foreign students per class would be. Students who are not Italian citizens account for 11.6 per cent of those enrolled in Italian schools — nearly 12 in every 100 students — according to Fondazione ISMU, a research institution. “You must go to school with your face uncovered, and in Italy no one, in the name of a real or supposed tradition, can decide that a young woman must hide herself, “ Meloni said.
World leaders gather in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, bracing for President Donald Trump's return to the rostrum for a second year running, with talks centering on the widening conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and the risks of artificial intelligence. Nearly 130 heads of state meet with the postWorld War Two order under strain and with the UN itself struggling to remain relevant and weathering attacks from Trump, who has slashed America's contributions and withdrawn from dozens of UN bodies. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who last addressed the diplomatic jamboree via video in 2021, will skip New York in favour of one-on-one talks with Trump in Washington on Thursday, fueling debate about the UN's relevance in addressing global crises. Compounding the crisis of morale and finance are questions about the next leader of the 80-yearold organisation: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres completes his term at the end of 2026, with no clear frontrunner in the race to replace him. The 15-member UN Security Council may hold high-level meetings on Ukraine, AI and the Middle East, including talks with Arab leaders, diplomats said. More than a year into Trump's second term, "we would no longer say that the UN is in freefall, but
we would say that it's stuck in an open-ended crisis," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group. "The UN may not be in emergency care like it was last year, but it seems to be trapped in a trauma centre for the foreseeable future," Gowan said. The US avoided losing its vote at the assembly by paying $725 million in contributions to the regular budget this week, but it still owes the organisation more than a billion dollars and makes ongoing demands for cuts and reforms. GROWING AI RISKS The assembly meets shortly after several artificial intelligence industry leaders called for a coordinated slowdown of the development of the technology, warning that it could soon improve on its own and escape human control. Guterres has said that AI will be a major topic, adding that countries pushing its frontiers should set up "common guardrails in order to avoid this race to the bottom that could lead one day to a gigantic disaster at the global level." The secretary-general has long proposed global governance of AI. In 2023, the UN created an advisory body on the technology, with members including tech executives, government officials and academics. The warning has put Guterres at odds with Trump, who dismissed AI risks as a "hoax," saying there is a "sick conspiracy" against it and that China would benefit from the doubt being cast on its development.
Iran says conveyed conditions to US for reopening Hormuz TEHRAN
AGENCIES
Iran’s top negotiator said Sunday that Tehran had conveyed to Washington through mediators its conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which it has blockaded throughout the Middle East war. The two foes are locked in a stalemate months into the conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.Tehran has since maintained a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for the world’s oil and gas, while Washington is pushing a campaign to choke the Islamic republic’s ports and economy. “Our messages and the explanation of our conditions have been clearly conveyed to the other party through mediators,” said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has acted as chief negotiator in talks to end the war. “As long as the conditions are not met... and the US commitments are not honoured, it will be impossible to return to the situation from before the negotiations and to an open strait,” he added, according to state television. Mohsen Rezaei, the head of Iran’s supreme national security council, said on Saturday that the Islamic republic had conveyed its conditions to the US via mediator Qatar. “Our conditions are an end to the war on all fronts, the release of our frozen funds and an end to the naval blockade,” he said in an interview with AlJazeera. Iranian authorities have said that mediator Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will travel to Tehran on Sunday for talks. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military command, meanwhile, issued a threat against the United States on Sunday, in a statement carried by state television. “We warn that if the US makes a mistake in dealing with Islamic Iran, all of that country’s bases and interests in the region will become the target of continuous, effective and painful attacks, without any limit or restraint,” it said.
Arab states rally behind Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks CAIRO
MONITORING REPORT
Arab organizations and officials have rallied behind Saudi Arabia following recent Houthi attacks on the Kingdom, condemning the escalation as a violation of international law and a threat to regional security. The statements of solidarity came as the UN General Assembly meetings got underway in New York, with Arab delegations participating in discussions amid heightened tensions across the Middle East. The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned the continued Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, describing them as a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation” and a violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and security. It warned that the attacks threatened civilian safety as well as wider regional security and stability. The Arab League also expressed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and backed the measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its security and protect its citizens, stressing that Saudi security was an integral part of Arab national security. Arab Parliament President Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi also condemned the Houthi attack targeting Riyadh, saying in an
official statement that it posed a threat to Arab national security and stability. He expressed the parliament’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its security. Al-Yamahi also called on the international community, particularly the UN and the Security Council, to fulfill their legal and political responsibilities in addressing the attacks. The UNSC had also condemned the continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia in a statement on Friday, affirming the Kingdom’s inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law and expressing solidarity with Riyadh. Ambassador Salah Halima, a former assistant to the Egyptian foreign minister, told Arab News that the Middle East was going through a critical period, particularly following the latest escala-
tion by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia. He said the attacks constituted a clear violation of international law and warned that continued escalation could have consequences for countries across the region. Halima said the Arab League’s expression of solidarity with Saudi Arabia was particularly significant as world leaders and diplomats gathered for the UN General Assembly meetings in New York. He added that the organization supported measures taken by Saudi Arabia to safeguard its security and protect its citizens. Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, also a former assistant to the Egyptian foreign minister, condemned the attacks and warned that continued escalation could affect the freedom and security of maritime navigation in the Red Sea. He told Arab News that further attacks risked causing economic losses and undermining regional security, adding that Arab delegations were expected to raise the latest Middle East escalations during meetings at the UN. Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy said in a statement on Friday that the continuation of the attacks underscored the need to halt what he described as a dangerous course of escalation. He called for respect for international law and the UN Charter, as well as compliance with relevant Security Council
resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216 of 2015, which calls on the Houthis to refrain from provocations or threats against neighbor-
ing states. Fahmy said the security and stability of Saudi Arabia remained a fundamental pillar of regional security and stability.
Monday, 21 September, 2026 | LAHORE
CORPORATE CORNER
SUTHRA PUNJAB TO COVER 25,000 VILLAGES, SAYS CM MARYAM
P g
September SNIDs inaugurated at Rotary Community Centre Karachi KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
The inauguration of the September SNIDs (SubNational Immunization Days) for polio vaccination, took place today at the Rotary Club of Karachi Community Centre in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. The National Chair PolioPlus Committee Aziz Memon who is also a Past Trustee of The Rotary Foundation, together with EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) Focal Person, Dr. Ahmad Ali Shaikh, Shahzad Sabir, District Governor, Rotary District 3271, DGE Fahad Sikandar inaugurated the September SNIDs. Also attending the event was Humayun Qureshi, President Rotary Club of Karachi and several Rotarians. The upcoming SNIDs scheduled from Sept 21 to 27, 2026 will target 31 million children in 115 polio high-risk districts across the country in areas of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh. These SNIDs will cover all children under the age of five years. Three large scale nationwide campaigns have already been implemented since the beginning of the year covering 45 million children, where some targeted high-risk areas were administered OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) with fIPV (fractional Injectable Polio Vaccine) to strengthen immunity in weak and malnourished children, who are quick to fall prey to the Polio virus.
Mashreq Pakistan becomes first digital bank to launch comprehensive Raast Payments Ecosystem KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions in the MENA region, has become Pakistan’s first newly launched digital bank to offer the full suite of Raast services, including Raast Person-to-Merchant (P2M) payments, enabling seamless digital transactions for both individual customers and merchants. Launched in August 2026, the new capability enables merchants to receive instant payments through Raast QR codes, while customers can conveniently scan and pay merchants through Mashreq’s digital banking channels. As part of the wider Raast ecosystem, the service also enables customers of any Raast-enabled bank to make payments to Raast-enabled merchants, supporting greater interoperability and convenience across Pakistan’s banking ecosystem.
All New MG HS Petrol Strengthens MG’s Trendsetter Position in Pakistan’s SUV Market! KARACHI
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan’s automotive market has changed significantly over the past few years. Customers are no longer looking at vehicles only for basic mobility. They now expect more value, more technology, stronger safety, better comfort, and a more complete ownership experience. In many ways, MG has played an important role in accelerating this shift. Since entering Pakistan, MG has helped redefine what customers expect from a modern SUV. Features that were once seen as limited to premium segments, such as advanced safety systems, panoramic sunroofs, refined interiors, intelligent technology, strong road presence, and a more global driving experience, became part of a wider consumer conversation after MG entered the market. The brand made customers realise that they could expect more from their vehicles without moving into ultra-premium price brackets. This approach continues with the All-New MG HS range, which now offers three distinct variants: HS Petrol, HS Hybrid+ and HS Super Hybrid. Together, the line-up gives Pakistani SUV customers greater choice across conventional petrol performance, hybrid efficiency, and advanced Super Hybrid technology. The introduction of the All-New MG HS Petrol is particularly important because internal combustion engine vehicles remain highly relevant in Pakistan. For many customers, a petrol-powered SUV continues to offer familiarity, convenience, ease of use, and confidence in everyday driving. The HS Petrol gives these customers access to the premium feel, comfort, road presence, and technology of the MG HS platform while staying within a powertrain format they already understand and trust.
PUNJAB CM CALLS CLEAN, GREEN PUNJAB TOP PRIORITY FOR HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS FUTURE LAHORE
SALEEM JADOON
UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday said making the province clean and green and ensuring a healthy population remained the government’s top priority. In her message on World Cleanup Day, the Punjab CM said a clean Punjab was the foundation of a healthy and prosperous future, while the “Suthra Punjab” project would lay the basis for a healthier province. The chief minister said the programme was one of the largest projects of its kind in the world and that, for the first time, a systematic cleanliness programme had been launched not only in cities but also in 25,000 villages. She said the cleanliness of roads, streets and neighbourhoods was also being monitored through Safe City cam-
eras. “Ensuring cleanliness in streets and neighbourhoods is the government’s responsibility, but maintaining it is the citizens’ duty,” she added. The chief minister said sustainable
and environment-friendly measures were being taken under the Suthra Punjab programme, including waste management, recycling and cleanliness of public places. She stressed that keeping the envi-
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ronment clean was essential for protecting the planet and preventing diseases, adding that a clean environment guaranteed a better quality of life. “Keeping our surroundings clean is our collective social responsibility,” she said, urging citizens to properly dispose of waste, avoid the use of plastic and play their part in keeping their homes, streets and neighbourhoods clean. She also noted that cleanliness held special importance in Islam, saying, “Cleanliness is half of faith.” CM COMMENDS SECURITY FORCES FOR KALAT OPERATION Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday expressed appreciation for the successful operation against terrorists near Kalat on the Chaman-Karachi N-25 highway. The chief minister paid tribute to the security forces for killing five terrorists and safely recovering 23 hostages during the operation.
FREE cancer treatment for patients of all stages now available in Multan: Azma LAHORE: STAFF REPORT
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has said cancer patients in Multan will now receive free treatment, following the expansion of the facility beyond Lahore. In a statement, Bukhari said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had inaugurated the Coblation and Cancer Centre in Multan, where patients suffering from cancer at every stage would be treated free of cost. She said cancer patients would not be given lengthy waiting dates for treatment, while the treatment process for a patient would be completed within 60 minutes. Bukhari described the cancer treatment facility as a major initiative by Maryam Nawaz in Punjab’s healthcare sector. The Punjab information minister said Pakistan’s largest 1,000-bed Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital had also been completed in Lahore. According to her, the hospital is a state-of-the-art project and, like the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI), it would become a symbol of Pakistan’s identity around the world. Speaking about political matters, Bukhari said Maryam Nawaz had no competition or comparison with any provincial government. She said those unable to compete with Maryam Nawaz on performance were resorting to personal attacks to mislead the public. Bukhari further said that some people’s politics depended entirely on Maryam Nawaz, while she was
Zong, ISP Environmental Solutions partner to launch first-of-its-kind SWMSs ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Dr Ansari calls for drastic action to empower, employ persons with disabilities KARACHI
working to transform Punjab into a modern and developed province. Criticising the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Punjab information minister said the chief minister of one province was attempting to move against the federal government after facing difficulties from one place to another. Bukhari alleged that the failed May 9 and November 26 uprisings had already become a burden for the PTI founder and claimed that a third uprising was being planned for September 27. She appealed to parents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to keep their children away from what she described as the PTI founder’s alleged uprisings. Bukhari said the PTI founder’s own children were living a luxurious life in London while he wanted to use children in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for his political objectives.
CDA & MCI take major step towards Digital Islamabad ISLAMABAD
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) have taken a major step towards the digital transformation of Islamabad by making key public-facing services available through the PAK App. The initiative is aimed at making public service delivery more convenient, transparent, efficient and citizen-centric, enabling citizens, businesses and other stakeholders to access relevant services through their mobile phones without repeated visits to government offices. As part of the initiative, CDA is going digital for the collection of property tax and water bills, enabling citizens to access online payment facilities and reducing reliance on conventional counter-based transactions. The initiative will progressively expand digital access to civic and municipal services in Islamabad. CDA and MCI will provide a wide range of public-facing services to citizens and businesses through the digital platform. These include services related to advertising and open-space permissions, parking permits, generator licences, municipal approvals, property tax, water bill payments and other related civic services, subject to applicable service requirements. Through the PAK App, citizens can submit applications online, provide required information and documents digitally, track the status of their applications and make payments through available digital channels, where applicable. The digital system will reduce dependence on physical documents, manual procedures and counter-based interactions, while saving citizens valuable time and effort. Applications, approvals, payments and other transactions will be electronically recorded, creating reliable digital records and supporting effective monitoring of service delivery. STAFF REPORT
Zong, Pakistan's Leading Technology Services Enterprise, has partnered with ISP Environmental Solutions (ISPES) to launch PecoDrop, first-of-its-kind smart waste management stations (SWMSs), marking a significant step toward integrating technology, data and circular-economy principles into everyday workplace sustainability. The smart recycling stations will be deployed across Zong facilities to enable source-level segregation and recovery of recyclable plastic, paper and metal. By bringing segregation to the point of disposal, PecoDrop introduces a technology-enabled approach to improving recycling practices, reducing recyclable waste from entering landfills and encouraging more responsible consumption and disposal behaviors. At the heart of the initiative is a digitally enabled waste management system that captures data on material deposits, volumes and collections, creating a traceable data chain from disposal to recovery. The initiative reflects Zong’s broader ambition to apply technology beyond connectivity, to address environmental and social challenges and create measurable impact. Through an integrated rewards mechanism, Zong employees will also earn Credits for depositing recyclable materials, digitally track their contributions and redeem accumulated rewards. By connecting responsible action with tangible recognition, the initiative aims to make recycling simpler, more engaging and measurable, while fostering a stronger culture of environmental responsibility across the workplace.
STAFF REPORT
Dr Zahid Hasan Ansari, Member of the Provincial Advisory Council, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Government of Sindh, and Convener of the Central Standing Committee on Medical and Health Sciences, FPCCI, has called for urgent and effective implementation of laws aimed at empowering and employing persons with disabilities. Speaking at a seminar and assistive-device distribution ceremony organized at the Centre of Excellence for the Deaf by the Pakistan Association of the Deaf (PAD) in collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Government of Sindh, Dr Ansari emphasized the importance of protecting the human rights, dignity and economic independence of persons with disabilities. The event was held in connection with the International Day of Sign Languages 2026, under the theme of recognizing the human rights of deaf people. The ceremony was attended by Chief Guest Rajvir Singh Sodha, Adviser to the Chief Minister, Secretary DEPD Mr. Taha Farooqui, Dr. Saira Bano of PAD, Irfan Mumtaz, Centre of Excellence for the Deaf/PAD, Shahzad Mobin, CEO Walkies, Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, CEO Salman Foods, Mr. Zahid, HR Head of Medicam, as well as other business representatives, children and adults with special abilities. Dr Ansari said that the Sindh Persons with Disabilities Act, 2018 provides an important legal framework for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. He called upon public and private-sector institutions to ensure effective implementation of the employment provisions of the law, including the requirement concerning representation of persons with disabilities in the workforce.
SZABMU Successfully Conducts MDCAT-2026
Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, successfully conducted the MDCAT-2026 on 20th September 2026 across the designated examination centres. The examination was conducted smoothly and successfully with the cooperation of all concerned officials, staff, and stakeholders.
Pakistan Int’I Auto Show 2026 concludes with over 300,000 Visitors LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
The Pakistan International Auto Show (PAPS) 2026 concluded at the Lahore International Expo Centre after attracting more than 300,000 visitors over three days, bringing together leading automobile manufacturers, auto-parts producers, dealers, industry experts, government representatives and automobile enthusiasts. Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the three-day exhibition, which featured leading automobile manufacturers and
auto-parts companies. Several manufacturers established dedicated stalls, with some using PAPS 2026 to introduce new models, while others showcased vehicles launched shortly before the event. Among the major attractions were new models unveiled by BYD, Chery, JAC and Suzuki, which received considerable attention from visitors and automotive enthusiasts. Senior government officials from the Government of Punjab and Government of Pakistan also visited the exhibition, including Punjab Minister Bilal Yasin, Federal
Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Haroon Akhtar Khan, along with several advisers and senior representatives associated with the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Punjab. The PAPS 2026 Gala Dinner was attended by Chairman Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani as Chief Guest, bringing together government officials, business leaders, diplomats, automobile manufacturers and industry representatives. An automotive industry symposium held during the show provided a platform to discuss the latest technologies, innovation, localization, manu-
facturing capabilities and emerging trends in the automobile industry. Key industry players shared their views on technological advancement and the future growth of Pakistan’s automotive sector. Usman Aslam Malik, Chairman PAAPAM, said the strong public response demonstrated the importance of the automotive and auto-parts sec-
tor and highlighted the opportunities available for industry growth, investment and technological development. With more than 300,000 visitors, new vehicle unveilings, participation from leading brands, high-level government engagement and industry discussions, PAPS 2026 concluded as a major showcase of Pakistan’s evolving automotive industry.
ALEEMA KHAN DETAINED UNDER MPO AHEAD OF PTI’S SEPT 27 PROTEST
Monday, 21 September, 2026
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STAFF REPORT
AKISTAN Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said on Sunday that party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, had been detained by authorities after the office of Lahore’s deputy commissioner (DC) ordered her detention or arrest for 30 days under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law. The development comes amid reports of a crackdown on PTI ahead of its September 27 countrywide protest and march to Islamabad, which the party has called to demand Imran’s release from jail and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution. In a September 20 MPO order, Lahore DC Muhammad Ali Ijaz ordered the detention or arrest of Aleema and a man named Muhammad Ameer under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 (MPO). The MPO ordinance allows authorities to order preventive detention and restrict judicial review of such orders. “Their custody shall be placed under the superintendent, Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore. They shall be at liberty to make a representation to the provincial government against this order,” the document read.
Meanwhile, police sources confirmed that Aleema had been transported to Kot Lakhpat jail. Following the arrest, Aleema’s sister Noreen Niazi, flanked by her sister’s counsel, Advocate Mudassir Umar, addressed a press conference in Zaman Park, Lahore. Noreen claimed Aleema was “picked up” along with her driver after leaving her residence on Saturday and that the family later learnt that Aleema’s vehicle was parked at a police station. Meanwhile, the lawyer said they had yet to receive official confirmation of her arrest. The DC’s order cited a letter by the Lahore capital city police officer, which referred to police reports stating that Aleema and Ameer “are prejudicial to the
public safety and maintenance of public order”. According to the order, the reports also said the two had been involved in roadblocks and protests on May 9, 2023, when PTI supporters and workers took to the streets against Imran’s arrest. “They motivated the workers to damage public and government property. Moreover, they are again mobilising the workers through social media and public meetings to create law and order situation, raising/chanting objectionable slogans amongst the general public against the government/institution in order to provoke and incite them,” the order read. It said multiple cases had been registered against the two, declaring them “potential dangers to public peace and tranquillity”.
According to the order, the Civil Lines Division superintendent of police and district intelligence branch in-charge recommended their detention under the MPO for 30 days “in order to keep the law and order situation in the city intact”. ‘DEVELOPMENT PART OF PRESSURE AHEAD OF SEPT 27 PROTEST’ Describing the development as part of “pressure” ahead of the September 27 protest, Noreen said the date would be a “historic day” in what she described as a movement for Imran’s release. “We are all part of this movement,” she told reporters, urging PTI supporters not to be afraid despite what she alleged was a crackdown involving raids on homes. She called on people to come out “for their country and Imran Khan”, alleging that her brother was being kept in custody unjustly and was not receiving proper medical treatment. “If they think that by arresting Aleema Khan we will be frightened, they are mistaken,” she declared. Advocate Umar said an MPO(3) order had been circulating on social media and purportedly named Aleema and Ameer. However, he said, the government had not yet officially acknowledged Aleema’s detention. “We are working out a legal course of action against the arrest. The government should own the arrest so that we can seek legal remedy,” the lawyer said.
‘ABSOLUTE FAKE’
Info Ministry rejects reports of Houthi strike damaging PAF aircraft in Saudi Arabia ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The Information Ministry on Sunday rejected reports claiming that Houthi missiles struck a Saudi air base and damaged Pakistan Air Force (PAF) JF17 fighter jets, describing these claims as “absolute fake.” Some social media users this week claimed that Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis had struck King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran with missiles, damaging three Pakistani JF-17 fighter jets deployed at air base. In a post on X, the Information Ministry on Sunday dismissed the claims as “false” and said some “Indian propaganda SMAs (social media accounts)” were involved in spreading such fake information. The statement came amid ongoing Houthi attacks against the Kingdom, where Pakistan has deployed military personnel and equipment as part of a joint defense cooperation agreement
signed between the two countries in Sept. last year. “No credible or official source has also reported any sort of damage to PAF JF-17s,” the ministry said. “The deliberate fabrication of damage to PAF aircraft and their alleged evacuation is only blatant Indian propaganda.”
Ashrafi alleges Afghan, Indian backing for terror groups LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
On Thursday, debris from a Houthi drone that was intercepted and destroyed fell in Taif, killing a Yemeni resident and injuring a Saudi woman and a Pakistani resident, who was critically wounded. Several buildings and vehicles were also damaged. The incident came two days after Saudi air defenses intercepted a
FIA busts fake apostille racket, books 22 including six MOFA officials ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister’s Coordinator for National Peace Committee Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi has alleged that the groups he referred to as “Fitna al-Hindustan” and “Fitna al-Khawarij” were involved in recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan and were operating from Afghanistan with alleged support from Afghan and Indian elements. He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of Uzbek media representatives, along with other members of the National Peace Committee, during a meeting at a local hotel here on Sunday. Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi said “Fitna alKhawarij” was carrying out terrorism against Pakistan while operating from Afghanistan, for which, he said, evidence and proof were available. He also claimed that the terrorist who carried out the suicide blast at a mosque in Kohat the previous day belonged to Afghanistan. He said Afghanistan was a brotherly Islamic country and should take effective action against groups involved in terrorism against Pakistan.
drone south of Makkah that authorities said was attempting to enter the holy city’s airspace. Saudi officials described the attempted attack as a major escalation. Earlier this month, Houthi attacks on southern Saudi Arabia injured dozens of people and damaged energyrelated facilities, according to Saudi authorities. The renewed fighting represents a major escalation after a UN-brokered truce in 2022 halted largescale fighting in Yemen. The confrontation has become another front in the broader conflict that followed US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Tehran has responded by targeting US bases in the Gulf region as well as civilian and economic interests in its neighborhood. On Sunday, Iran's military central command said on state media that any new attack would trigger sustained retaliation against US bases and interests in the region. It did not elaborate on the information it said it had about a coming US attack.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Islamabad Zone has busted an alleged network involved in the preparation and use of fake apostille stickers and official stamps, booking 22 suspects, including six officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), following a raid at consultancy and courier offices in Aabpara. An FIA official told APP on Sunday that the Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) Islamabad conducted the raid at several consultancy and courier offices operating from the basement of F&F Plaza, Aabpara, on the basis of information received from reliable sources. The official said Case No. 48/2026 was registered against the 22 suspects under Sections 420, 468, 471 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code,
read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. According to the FIA, the investigation identified 16 private suspects linked with Sofi Consultants, Excellent Courier Service (ECS), Leopards Courier Services at F&F Plaza, RAAK Consultancy, Noon Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, GM Consultants and Fair Line Service. The case also names six MOFA officials, including officials associated with attestation and apostille work, over their alleged involvement in the network. The FIA alleged that applicants were charged hefty amounts on the promise of expediting apostille and document attestation services, while bribes were allegedly paid to ministry officials for facilitating the process. The agency said fake apostille stickers had allegedly been circulated at different locations across Pakistan,
raising concerns over the misuse of official documentation and possible losses to the national exchequer. A concerned court has granted three-day physical remand of the arrested suspects, while Inspector Arslan Masood Khan will investigate the case. The operation was conducted on the directions of the Director FIA Islamabad Zone under the supervision of the Deputy Director ACC Islamabad. The raiding team comprised Inspectors Arslan Masood Khan and Hina Rubab Hashmi, Sub-Inspectors Tabish Javed, Farheen Murtaza and Shehryar, ASIs Safeer Kiani, Waqas and Sohail Tariq, and Head Constable Muhammad Uzair. The FIA Islamabad Zone said action would continue against those involved in corruption and forgery in public institutions, whether government officials or private individuals.
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Petrol could hit Rs1,000 per litre if shortage emerges, warns Petroleum Minister PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik has warned that petrol could cost as much as Rs1,000 per litre if Pakistan faces a supply shortage, as escalating disruptions to Middle Eastern oil routes increase pressure on the country’s fuel supply chain. Speaking to the media in Lahore, Malik said there was currently no shortage of petrol in Pakistan, but stressed that maintaining physical availability of fuel was the government’s immediate priority. “If there is a shortage, then perhaps it may not be available even at Rs1,000 per litre,” Malik said. The warning comes as Pakistan looks for alternative sources and shipping routes following disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure. Malik said the government was working to secure supplies through all available channels and would not take any decision that could jeopardise fuel availability. He said international oil prices had risen by around 80% since the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran, while the increase passed on to Pakistani consumers had been limited to around 50%. “We do not know when this conflict will end,” Malik said, adding that ensuring uninterrupted supplies remained his primary responsibility. The supply situation has become more complicated following an attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which carries crude towards the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Pakistan had increasingly relied on Yanbu and the UAE’s Fujairah port as alternative supply points after movement through the Strait of Hormuz became severely constrained. Industry experts say supplies from Fujairah are continuing, but the route alone may not be sufficient to meet Pakistan’s entire requirement if disruptions elsewhere persist. Energy analyst Afiya Malik said Pakistan would consequently have to explore additional sources outside its traditional Gulf suppliers. Cnergyico Pakistan has already been importing crude from the United States and West Africa over the past year, providing one possible alternative if Middle Eastern supplies become more difficult to secure.
Experts seek export of 1m tonnes of sugar amid surplus stocks PROFIT
STAFF REPORT
Agricultural experts have urged the federal government to allow the export of one million tonnes of sugar, warning that a large domestic surplus could delay the upcoming crushing season and create cashflow problems for mills and sugarcane growers. The proposal was made at a seminar held at the National Press Club, where participants cited industry estimates showing surplus sugar stocks of around 1.52 million tonnes. Agricultural expert Khan Faraz, referring to figures and concerns raised by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), said mills wanted to dispose of excess stocks from the previous season before beginning crushing of the 2026-27 sugarcane crop. He said continued accumulation of inventories could affect mills' ability to make timely payments to growers and potentially delay the start of crushing. The issue has gained significance following what Faraz described as a strong sugarcane crop this year, which could add further supplies to an already surplus sugar market. According to figures attributed to the PSMA president, Pakistan currently has around 1.52 million tonnes of surplus sugar stocks. Faraz said permitting exports of one million tonnes would reduce inventories ahead of the new crushing season while providing mills with liquidity to settle outstanding payments to farmers. He argued that the measure would also generate foreign exchange through sugar exports. Industry representatives have warned that without sufficient disposal of existing stocks, mills could face difficulties beginning the 2026-27 crushing season on schedule. Faraz said timely exports could therefore address both the inventory overhang and liquidity constraints facing the industry, while reducing the risk of delayed payments to sugarcane growers. The experts called on the federal government to take an early decision on the proposed export quota before the start of the new crushing season.
Houthis threaten ‘decisive’ response if Pakistan, Turkiye intervene in Yemen SANA’A
AGENCIES
As tensions between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia mount amid renewed attacks, the group has issued a direct warning to Pakistan and Türkiye, threatening a “decisive and painful response” if either country intervenes militarily alongside Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Ansar Allah’s political bureau and governor of Dhamar, issued the warning during an interview with the Iraqi television programme Another Reading. “By God, if Türkiye and Pakistan become involved, we will strike them with an iron fist,” al-Bukhaiti said, adding that the Houthis would “teach” both countries a lesson if they joined what he described as Saudi aggression against Yemen. A senior Houthi political figure has issued an unusually direct warning to Pakistan and Türkiye, threatening a “decisive and
painful response” if either country intervenes militarily alongside Saudi Arabia in Yemen.The warning comes as continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have put renewed focus on the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye. Al-Bukhaiti nevertheless acknowledged what he described as strong sympathy for Yemen among the Pakistani and Turkish populations, saying his warning was directed at their governments if they became militarily involved. The Houthi warning has brought renewed attention to Pakistan’s position following the signing of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye defence agreement earlier this year. Signed by Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on August 7, the pact is based on the principles of shared responsibility and regional ownership amid growing regional and global instability. It aims to promote security, peace, stability and prosperity while
strengthening collective deterrence. Under the agreement, an attack against any one of the signatory states will be considered an attack against all parties. The pact has assumed greater significance amid renewed attacks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and growing concerns over possible military involvement by its signatories. TÜRKIYE SIGNALS SUPPORT The Houthi warning came as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty had come under serious attack and that Türkiye, bound by its alliance commitments, stood in solidarity with Riyadh. “Saudi Arabia may need military-level support. As the Makkah Alliance, we will take this up with Pakistan and can provide the necessary technical support,” Fidan said. He said Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry had condemned attacks on oil infrastructure near Makkah and that the alliance was closely monitoring the situation.
Fidan added that any military needs would likely centre on specific technical areas. Yemen has been gripped by war since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led Arab coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The group has been engaged in renewed fighting with government forces since July, when it declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh, and has recently claimed advances along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis have also targeted Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, further raising concerns over oil prices in international markets. Pakistan has, from the outset, condemned Houthi attacks on the Kingdom, describing them as a serious violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while reaffirming its solidarity with Riyadh. However, following the reported attack near Makkah, Islamabad adopted a more forceful stance, with its concerns also
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being voiced at the United Nations. That increasingly forceful position was articulated by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who told a private television channel that Pakistan would defend Makkah and Madinah, calling their protection an “eternal agreement”. “Their protection is our religious obligation. So yes, there are worldly agreements, and they have their sanctity, which we also honour, but if an attack takes place on the House of God or the place where the Prophet (PBUH) was born, then no Muslim sitting anywhere would ultimately need to wait for any agreement. This is our religious duty — to protect it,” he added. Later, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reinforced the position, reiterating Pakistan’s “unconditional” commitment to Saudi Arabia and saying the country would “go to any extent” required to ensure the security of the Haramain Sharifain and the Kingdom.