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PM SHEHBAZ REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN’S COMPLETE SOLIDARITY WITH NEPAL

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Friday, 4 September, 2026 | 21 Rabiul Awwal, 1448

PREMIER VISITS NEPAL EMBASSY, ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO BE DISPATCHED LATER THIS WEEK

Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 160 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition

CONVEYS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF FLOOD VICTIMS, SIGNS CONDOLENCE BOOK FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

PRIME MINISTER DIRECTS FASTER, RESULTS-ORIENTED YOUTH PROJECTS

– announces Tamgha-e-Khidmat for PIMS fire hero Razia Noreen ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

ISLAMABAD SALEEM JADOON

RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced that Pakistan would dispatch emergency relief assistance to Nepal later this week to support ongoing rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas, reaffirming Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the Himalayan nation in its difficult hour. The prime minister expressed these views during a visit to the Embassy of Nepal here, where he signed a condolence book opened in memory of the victims of the recent devastating flash

floods and landslides that struck Nepal, in a gesture reflecting Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of Nepal, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The prime minister reiterated the sentiments he had earlier conveyed to Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah during a telephone call, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for Nepal and its people in the wake of the devastating natural disaster. Prime Minister Shehbaz was received at the embassy by Nepal’s Ambassador to Pakistan Rita Dhital. He was accompanied by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna

Petrol price jumps Rs2.84, diesel Rs2.28 per litre as govt announces fuel hike PROFIT

AHMAD AHMADANI

The government has increased the price of petrol by Rs2.84 per litre and high-speed diesel by Rs2.28 per litre, pushing their new rates to Rs349.00 and Rs374.31 per litre, respectively, for September 4. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority determined the revised petroleum prices, while the Petroleum Division announced the fresh increase. The new prices will be applicable for one day only, on Friday, September 4. Under the latest revision, the price of petrol has been raised by Rs2.84 per litre, taking its price to Rs349.00 per litre. The price of high-speed diesel has also been increased by Rs2.28 per litre, reaching Rs374.31 per litre. The fresh increase comes as consumers are already struggling with high living expenses and rising transportation costs. The latest fuel shock is likely to put additional pressure on household budgets as well as businesses that depend heavily on petroleum products for transportation and daily operations. The petrol price increase will directly affect millions of motorists, while the increase in high-speed diesel could have a wider economic impact because diesel is extensively used by commercial transporters, freight vehicles, agricultural machinery and other sectors of the economy. An increase in diesel prices can raise transportation and logistics costs, potentially feeding into the prices of food, agricultural produce and other essential commodities transported across the country. The impact of the latest revision could therefore extend well beyond petrol stations, placing another burden on consumers. Petrol prices also have a direct bearing on the monthly expenses of households using private vehicles for commuting, while higher fuel costs can increase the operating expenses of businesses and service providers. The latest revision has taken petrol close to the Rs350per-litre mark, while high-speed diesel has climbed above Rs374 per litre, underscoring the continued pressure of elevated fuel prices on consumers and the broader economy.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced that nurse Razia Noreen, who saved a newborn’s life during the tragic fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), would be conferred the Tamgha-e-Khidmat on March 23 in recognition of her extraordinary courage and services, while reiterating that all those responsible for the incident would face strict action. The prime minister also presented Razia Noreen a cheque for Rs10 million in recognition of her extraordinary bravery and sense of duty during a meeting with her at the Prime Minister’s House, said a statement issued by

Baloch and other senior government officials, a PMO news release said. In his message in the condolence book, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed Pakistan’s deepest sympathies to the government and people of Nepal and extended heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy. Expressing confidence in Nepal’s resilience, the prime minister said he hoped the people of Nepal would emerge stronger from the tragedy. He also underscored the close and long-standing fra-

the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). “While the monetary reward carried its own meaning, the real recognition is that Razia Noreen truly deserved this honour,” Prime Minister Shehbaz said, acknowledging her courageous response during the fire. The prime minister said the nation recognised the courage and bravery demonstrated by Razia Noreen, describing her as a source of pride for the country. He said she performed her duty with exceptional courage and daring, without caring for her own safety. He said the mother of the child she saved would remember Razia Noreen in her prayers for the rest of her life, and announced that she would be conferred the Tamgha-e-Khidmat on March 23 in recognition of her services.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

ternal ties between Pakistan and Nepal, expressing confidence that the two countries would continue to stand by each other in times of need, as they had historically done. Ambassador Rita Dhital thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz for his kind and reassuring words of support, saying that the gesture would be long remembered by the people of Nepal. She also briefed the prime minister on the current state of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Dar backs new OIC chief to advance Muslim Ummah’s interests ISLAMABAD

Four Khawarij terrorists killed in Peshawar PESHAWAR

STAFF REPORT

Four terrorists affiliated with the internationally outlawed Fitna al-Khawarij were killed during a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) operation in Budhber, Peshawar. According to the CTD, Khawarij commander Tahir alias Muawiya was patrolling the Budhber area along with his accomplices with the intention of carrying out terrorist activities when security personnel launched the operation, killing four terrorists. Three submachine guns (SMGs), a pistol, hand grenades, mobile phones, three magazines and several rounds of ammunition were recovered from the militants. An Afghan identity card was also recovered from the pocket of one of the slain terrorists, showing that he was a resident of Kunar, Afghanistan. Two motorcycles allegedly used by the terrorists were also seized. The identities of the other slain terrorists are being ascertained, while a search operation is underway in Budhber to apprehend the militants who fled the scene. The CTD said its Crime Scene Unit and Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) were called to the site and have begun the necessary forensic and security procedures. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed praised the CTD personnel, saying terrorist elements would not be allowed to disrupt law and order and would be brought to justice in accordance with the law.

Army eliminates 15 Indian-sponsored terrorists trying to cross Afghan border RAWALPINDI

STAFF REPORT

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday expressed confidence that newly elected Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed would play an important role in advancing the interests of the Muslim Ummah and addressing issues of common concern, particularly Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Foreign Office (FO). In a post on X, the FO said DPM/FM Dar held a telephone conversation with the newly elected OIC Secretary-General and congratulated him on his election by consensus. Dar underscored the special importance Pakistan attaches to the OIC and expressed confidence that the Secretary-General would make an important contribution towards advancing the interests of the Muslim Ummah and addressing issues of common concern, including Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan’s support for his candidature and acknowledged the country’s important role in the organisation. He commended Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for their efforts in

bringing an end to the Iran conflict. He also congratulated Dar on the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, describing the agreement as significant for regional peace and security. Both sides agreed to work closely to further consolidate the OIC’s role in serving the Muslim Ummah and looked forward to continued coordination and an early meeting. Dar reviews preparations for UN General Assembly session Meanwhile, DPM/FM Ishaq Dar on Thursday chaired a meeting to review preparations for Pakistan’s upcoming multilateral engagements, including the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Special Secretary (UN) briefed the Deputy Prime Minister

on preparations and key aspects of the upcoming engagements, the FO said in another post on X. Dar provided guidance on Pakistan’s priorities and directed all concerned to ensure comprehensive preparations and effective coordination. Relevant senior officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting. FM Dar directs PASSCO to release wheat as per ECC allocations In a related development, DPM/FM Ishaq Dar on Thursday chaired a meeting to review wheat stocks in the country and directed the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) to immediately supply wheat to the provinces according to allocations approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the Steering Committee.

Pakistan security forces targeted and killed 15 Indiansponsored terrorists while thwarting an infiltration attempt at Pakistan-Afghanistan border along North Waziristan District. According to an ISPR statement released on Thursday, a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was also seized during the operation. The ISPR statement said the terrorists had tried to cross into Pakistan’s North Waziristan District on the night between August 31 and September 1. Their movement, however, was detected by security forces, the statement said, adding the troops “responded professionally and with patience to engage them”. “As a result of precise and skilful engagement that lasted for 36 hours, 15 khwarij belonging to India-sponsored Fitna al-Khwarij” were killed, the statement added. During the follow-up sanitisation operation, a significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered from the slain khwarij, which the ISPR said had further “exposed the nefarious designs of Khwarij and their facilitators seeking to disrupt peace and stability in the country”. It said the incident along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border once again vindicated Pakistan’s persistent stance regarding the abject failure of the Afghan Taliban Regime “to deny the use of Afghan soil to the terrorist organisation, under their patronage, for crossborder terrorism”. “The Afghan Taliban Regime has consistently failed to ensure effective border management and honor its international obligations,” it added. “Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Kharji found in the area as [the] relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision “Azm e 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 foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the ISPR stated.

Govt, JI agree to form committees on petroleum levy relief LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

The federal government and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Thursday agreed to form separate expert committees to examine measures for reducing the petroleum levy and providing relief to consumers, with the two sides aiming to reach a workable solution within two weeks. The decision was announced at a joint press conference by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah and JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman following a meeting between government representatives and the JI leadership in Lahore. Mr Iqbal said the government would constitute an expert committee, while the JI had also been asked to form a team to examine the petroleum levy and recommend practical meas-

ures for reducing the burden on the public. “The government will happily act upon recommendations put forward by these committees,” he said, adding that both sides agreed on the need to provide relief to the people. The minister said the government would present its position before the committees and take action on recommendations emerging from the discussions. The government currently collects Rs114 per litre in taxes and duties on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. Mr Iqbal stressed that national interest would remain the government’s priority, saying Pakistan would not allow any foreign element to exploit internal instability. “We have to work together for internal peace and stability,” he said. He added that the JI had assured the government it would not make any demand con-

trary to the country’s interests. Speaking on the occasion, Hafiz Naeem said the petroleum levy and other public issues had been discussed during the meeting with the government delegation. He said Thursday marked the 19th consecutive day of JI sit-ins against the petroleum levy at more than 20 locations across the country. “There is no personal agenda behind the sit-ins; it is based on issues faced by the public on a daily basis, along with other major problems,” he said. The JI emir said ordinary citizens were bearing a disproportionate tax burden on petroleum products, particularly those from lower-income groups. “A common bike rider, whose income is non-taxable, is paying 35pc in taxes on every litre of petrol,” he said.

02 NEWS

PAKISTAN RAISES RECORD $3 BILLION THROUGH DUAL-TRANCHE EUROBOND

PROFIT

News Desk

AKISTAN has successfully raised $3 billion through a dual-tranche Eurobond transaction, marking the largest-ever international bond issuance by the country in a single transaction, the Ministry of Finance said. The transaction attracted nearly $6 billion in orders, almost twice the amount issued, from a broad and diversified base of institutional investors across global markets and continents. According to the ministry, Pakistan issued a $1.75 billion Eurobond with a 5.5year maturity at a coupon rate of 7.50%, along with a $1.25 billion 10-year Eurobond carrying a coupon of 7.90%, taking the total issuance to $3 billion. The Finance Ministry said the transaction marked a major milestone in Pakistan’s renewed and increasingly diversified access to international capital markets, with the scale of demand reflecting investor confidence and the country’s ability to access

global funding markets at significant scale. It said competitive pricing across both maturities, together with strong demand extending to the 10-year tenor, demonstrated Pakistan’s ability to mobilise sizeable longer-term financing as international investors reassess the country’s improving macroeconomic and credit fundamentals. The transaction also represents an important milestone in Pakistan’s broader “Road to Market” strategy. Following the successful inaugural Panda Bond and improvements in Pakistan’s sovereign credit profile, the Eurobond transaction is the first issuance under the country’s renewed strategic Global Medium-Term Note (GMTN) Programme, creating a platform for diversified access to international capital markets. The ministry said the objective was not simply to raise additional debt. Pakistan is

Punjab’s budgetary borrowing more than doubles to Rs753b in seven weeks

Aziz buNeri

Punjab’s borrowing from banks for budgetary support more than doubled to Rs753.4 billion during the first seven weeks of FY27, compared with Rs306.8 billion in the same period last year, reflecting an increase of over 145%, Dawn reported, citing data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). Between July 1 and August 21, the federal government borrowed Rs571 billion for budgetary support, lower than Punjab’s borrowing during the same period. The position varied across provinces. Sindh had deposits of Rs69.6 billion with the SBP, while Balochistan held Rs43.4 billion. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, meanwhile, had borrowed Rs1.8 billion. According to the SBP, a negative sign in government deposits represents a credit balance, while a positive sign indicates a withdrawal from the system. The increase comes as provinces are required to generate fiscal surpluses and share them with the federal government, which continues to rely heavily on bank borrowing to meet its financing requirements. The divisible pool for determining federal and provincial shares has been frozen at Rs13.35 trillion, against projected tax collection of Rs15.264 trillion in FY27. This leaves around Rs1.9 trillion available to the federal government beyond the frozen divisible pool. Provincial governments rely on federal transfers for up to 78% of their revenues. Around 80% of consolidated provincial expenditure is absorbed by recurrent costs, while local governments’ share in total public spending has fallen from around 10% in 2005 to less than 5% currently, according to World Bank reports. The World Bank has also noted that while the federal government transfers a larger share of revenues to provinces, it does not reduce its own expenditure proportionately. Since 2010, the largest increase in provincial expenditure has been on administrative costs rather than education or health. Agriculture accounts for more than 20% of GDP, but agricultural income tax collections remain negligible, with no province generating significant revenue from the tax head.

President of the Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Yousaf Afridi, has said that the closure of the Torkham border with Afghanistan has entered its 327th day, severely affecting millions of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and forcing thousands of workers associated with small industries to face unemployment and financial hardship. Addressing a press conference at the Landi Kotal Press Club, he said the closure of all border crossings with Afghanistan had so far caused an estimated loss of around $2.5 billion, including $1.644 billion in exports and $817 million in imports.

The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) collected a record Rs54.8 billion in the first two months of FY27, up Rs11.5 billion from Rs43.3 billion in the same period last year, according to a statement. The July-August collection was the highest recorded for the period in the authority’s 13-year history. A PRA spokesperson attributed the improved performance to the establishment of Special Units and the Large Taxpayer Commissionerate. The latest collection follows a record FY26, when the authority collected

icised the provincial government for remaining silent on the issue, adding that transit trade had also suffered significant losses. He said traders had raised their voice against the border closure at every available forum, but no effective response had been received so far. “The Torkham border should not be politicised, and trade should be kept separate from politics,” he said. The Khyber Chamber president also demanded an audit of the Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the past five years. He called for making the chamber’s main office operational in Khyber and urged an end to what he described as the alleged interference of certain non-local individuals in the chamber’s affairs.

He said a meeting had previously been held in Islamabad with the Interior Minister, which was attended by officebearers of the Balochistan Chamber of Commerce and the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Interior Minister had assured the participants that the matter would be discussed in detail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, he said, the proposed meeting had yet to be convened. Yousaf Afridi said the prolonged closure of the border had resulted in the closure of thousands of small and large transport businesses, hotels and markets, affecting the livelihoods of thousands of people. According to traders, he said, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also suffered a loss of Rs7.27 billion in cess tax revenue due to the border closure. He crit-

Pakistan plans market-based petrol pricing by June 2027 g

COMMITTEE FAVOURS STRATEGIC FUEL RESERVES OVER PRICE STABILISATION FUND; REVISED IFEM FORMULA AND EMERGENCY DIESEL SAFEGUARDS ALSO ENDORSED PROFIT

web Desk

Pakistan plans to shift petrol to a deregulated, market-based pricing system by June 2027, with the government preparing a phased transition designed to limit sharp price fluctuations for consumers. The indicative deadline was set during a meeting of the Petroleum Pricing Committee, chaired by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, which examined proposed changes to the country’s fuel pricing structure. The committee agreed to strengthen the current mechanism in the interim through measures aimed at making petroleum prices more transparent and predictable. Its final recom-

Punjab Revenue Authority posts record Rs54.8b collection in July-August PROFIT

Ministry of Finance played a pivotal role in delivering the transaction, the statement said. Citi, Deutsche Bank, Emirates NBD, MUFG and Standard Chartered acted as joint bookrunners for the issuance. The government also acknowledged the support of other stakeholders, including legal counsels involved in the transaction. The ministry said the issuance followed improvements in Pakistan’s economic trajectory over the past three years, which had increasingly been recognised through successive sovereign credit-rating upgrades and the country’s renewed access to international capital markets. It said the depth of the order book, its geographically diversified institutional investor base and substantial demand for a 10year Pakistani sovereign instrument provided a market-based signal of renewed

KCCI PRESIDENT SAYS PROLONGED SHUTDOWN HAS DISRUPTED TRADE, TRANSPORT AND SMALL BUSINESSES, WHILE COSTING KP RS7.27B IN CESS REVENUE PESHAWAR

PROFIT

News Desk

pursuing a broader strategy of active sovereign liability management aimed at diversifying financing sources, extending maturities, reducing refinancing and rollover risks, and creating opportunities to replace shorter-term and more expensive obligations with longer-duration, competitively priced financing where economically beneficial. Pakistan has already pursued substantial early retirement of domestic debt ahead of maturity, according to the statement. Extending that approach to external financing forms part of the same strategy of improving the sovereign debt profile. The ministry said the approach was focused on borrowing on better terms, extending maturities, diversifying funding and reducing refinancing risks, distinguishing active sovereign balance-sheet management from simply raising additional debt. The Debt Management Office of the

$2.5b losses suﬀered due to closure of Pak-Afghan borders

Borrowing jumps over 145% from Rs306 billion a year earlier and exceeds Centre’s Rs571 billion; Sindh holds Rs69.6 billion and Balochistan Rs43.4 billion in deposits; KP borrows Rs1.8 billion MoNitoriNg report

GOVT ISSUES $1.75B 5.5-YEAR EUROBOND AT 7.50% AND $1.25B 10-YEAR BOND AT 7.90%; TRANSACTION ATTRACTS NEARLY $6B DEMAND, TWICE AMOUNT ISSUED IN GLOBAL ORDERS

Rs368 billion in taxes, exceeding its annual revenue target and recording its highest-ever full-year collection. FY26 revenue was 36% higher than the Rs270 billion collected in FY25. Following last year’s performance, the Punjab government has set PRA a revenue collection target of Rs528 billion for FY27, requiring an increase of Rs160 billion over the previous year’s collection. During a meeting to review monthly revenue targets, PRA Chairman Moazam Iqbal Sipra said the authority would further strengthen tax compliance, enforcement and digital tax administration across Punjab.

stabilisation fund was also examined after subcommittees studied the performance of similar arrangements in other countries. While the relevant subgroup was asked to refine its proposal, the committee indicated that building sufficient fuel stocks would be a more suitable safeguard in a deregulated market. OGRA was separately asked to provide written proposals concerning the performance of existing oil marketing companies and the potential consolidation of the sector. A subcommittee led by Naeem Ghauri will also hold consultations with the Federal Board of Revenue chairman to determine whether the petroleum taxation structure requires revision in response to changing market conditions.

mendations will be forwarded to the Prime Minister for approval. As part of the wider reform, the committee backed a new methodology for calculating the Inland Freight Equalisation Margin (IFEM). The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) committed to completing the FY26 IFEM audit before the end of calendar year 2026. Unlike petrol, the proposed framework for diesel includes provisions for government intervention during exceptional circumstances. The committee approved broad principles under which action could be triggered by a defined price shock, along with possible measures to address such an emergency. The possibility of creating a price

PIA to increase London flights to seven per week from October 27 PROFIT

News Desk

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has decided to increase its London operations to seven weekly flights from October 27, up from four flights currently, according to a PIA spokesperson. The national flag carrier will operate daily flights between Pakistan and London, comprising five weekly flights between Islamabad and London and two between Lahore and London. The spokesperson said the increase in flight frequency reflected growing passenger demand and confidence in the

national airline, adding that the expansion would provide passengers with more travel options between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Separately, PIA has issued an international tender to hire a freight handling, clearing and forwarding agent for its operations in France under a three-year contract. According to tender documents, the airline requires an agent at its Paris station to handle, clear and forward its air and sea consignments. The clearing and forwarding services will be required for three years, with interested companies invited to submit bids to PIA’s Supply Chain Department by September 30.

Friday, 4 September, 2026 | ISLAMABAD

confidence in the country’s medium- and long-term economic trajectory. The ministry, however, said the economic reform process was not complete and that fiscal discipline, structural reforms, export competitiveness, investment and productivity improvements would need to continue and deepen. It said Pakistan was entering the next stage from a materially stronger position than three years ago, following a transition from crisis towards stabilisation, reforms, improved credibility, ratings upgrades, investor confidence and renewed access to global capital. In April, the government initially raised $500 million through a three-year Eurobond under its GMTN Programme at a coupon rate of 6.975%. The issuance was later increased to $750 million through a $250 million green-shoe option following stronger-than-expected investor demand. The bond is due to mature in April 2029. Pakistan also repaid a $1.4 billion Eurobond that matured in April, enabling the government to re-establish a pricing benchmark in international debt markets after several years of relying largely on multilateral, bilateral and commercial financing. The ministry described nearly $6 billion in global investor demand and the record $3 billion raised in a single transaction as a landmark in Pakistan’s transition from economic stabilisation towards sustainable growth and a stronger platform for future access to international capital markets.

PSX, UK programme partner to channel capital into sustainable projects PROFIT

web Desk

Pakistani businesses seeking to raise capital for sustainable development and climate transition projects will be eligible for equity investment and technical support under a partnership between the Pakistan Stock Exchange and the United Kingdom’s MOBILIST programme. The initiative will provide selected businesses with equity capital, technical assistance, advisory services and market visibility to facilitate their listing on the PSX. MOBILIST will work through the exchange’s network of issuers and market intermediaries to identify eligible initial public offerings and other new listed products. PSX Managing Director and CEO Farrukh H. Sabzwari said the arrangement would help sustainable businesses enter the public market and raise financing for projects linked to the Sustainable Development Goals and netzero commitments. UK Deputy High Commissioner Karachi Alison Blackburne said the initiative would seek to mobilise private investment for businesses addressing climate and development challenges in Pakistan and other emerging markets. She cited the Parwaaz Green Action Bond as an example of development finance being used alongside public markets to draw private investment. MOBILIST is a UK development finance programme that invests in public-market products to mobilise private capital for sustainable development in emerging markets and developing economies.

Pakistan’s trade deficit grows 18.1% to $7.12b in Jul-Aug

August gap narrows from July but remains 10.4% higher year-on-year as imports continue to grow faster than exports PROFIT

web Desk

Pakistan recorded a trade deficit of $7.12 billion during July-August 2026, up 18.1% from $6.03 billion in the same period last year, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The deficit, however, narrowed on a monthly basis in August as both imports and exports declined from their July levels. The August trade gap stood at $3.17 billion, down 19.7% from $3.95 billion in July. Compared with August 2025, however, the deficit was 10.4% higher than the $2.87 billion recorded a year earlier. Imports fell 17.7% month-on-month to $5.68 billion in August from $6.89 billion in July, while exports declined 15% to $2.51 billion from $2.95 billion. On a year-on-year basis, August imports increased 7.4% from $5.29 billion, while exports rose 3.8% from $2.42 billion. During the first two months of FY27, imports climbed 13% to $12.58 billion from $11.13 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Exports grew at a slower pace of 7%, reaching $5.46 billion compared with $5.10 billion a year earlier.

World Bank plans $300m financing package to drive investment, jobs in Pakistan PROFIT

MoNitoriNg report

The World Bank is preparing a $300 million financing package for Pakistan under a five-year reform programme aimed at increasing private investment, boosting exports and creating jobs as the country shifts from economic stabilisation towards investment-led growth. According to World Bank documents, the proposed Pakistan Bold Reforms for Invest-

ment-Driven Growth and Employment Program (BRIDGE) will be implemented through a Program-for-Results (PforR) financing instrument led by the Ministry of Finance. The programme is scheduled for technical design review in September 2026 and World Bank Board approval in January 2027. The $300 million financing package comprises $150 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and $150 million from the International Development Association

(IDA). It includes a $270 million reform programme and a $30 million technical assistance component. The World Bank said Pakistan had largely restored macroeconomic stability under its ongoing IMF programme but continued to face structural constraints to sustainable growth. Private investment remains at around 10% of GDP, less than half the level of regional peers, while foreign direct investment stands at 0.6% of GDP, according to the Bank.

It attributed weak investment to burdensome regulations, limited access to finance, high trade costs, an unfriendly business environment and weak labour market outcomes. BRIDGE will focus on three areas: reducing regulatory, financial and trade barriers; improving competitiveness in high-potential export sectors, including agribusiness, digital services and pharmaceuticals; and improving labour market functioning. The labour reforms will include

strengthening vocational skills recognition, improving systems that match workers’ skills with industry demand, and improving overseas employment and migration processes. The programme supports the government’s URAAN Pakistan agenda and aims to contribute towards increasing private investment to 15% of GDP by 2035. The World Bank said the PforR financing structure would link disbursements to the achievement of agreed reform outcomes rather than policy announcements alone.

Friday, 4 September, 2026 | ISLAMABAD

DEUTSCHE BANK EYES BROADER PAKISTAN EXPOSURE, EXPANDED BANKING OPERATIONS

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STAFF REPORT

EUTSCHE Bank has expressed interest in broadenits corporate and ing investment banking operations in Pakistan and increasing its exposure to the country, the Finance Division said. The plans were discussed during a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Deutsche Bank Regional CEO for the Middle East and Africa Jamal Al Kishi, who was accompanied by the bank’s Pakistan Country Manager Ali Haider Zaidi.

Al Kishi reaffirmed Deutsche Bank’s long-term commitment to Pakistan and expressed interest in broadening the bank’s product offering and coverage across corporate and investment banking. He also highlighted opportunities to increase engagement with the Middle East and North Africa region, particularly Saudi-based companies, and explore investment and financing opportunities across key sectors. Aurangzeb briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s economic outlook and the government’s structural reform programme, highlighting developments in the fiscal and external accounts and the country’s

credit profile. The finance minister also outlined Pakistan’s medium-term external financing strategy, including plans to diversify the composition of external debt and deepen engagement with international capital markets and financial institutions. He highlighted potential investment opportunities for international and regional companies, particularly Saudi-based firms, in infrastructure, energy, oil and gas, utilities, mining and minerals, technology and blockchain. The two sides discussed greater institutional engagement and private-sector participation to mobilise investment and deepen Pakistan’s financial markets.

Govt appoints Imran Sarwar as NBP president, CEO for three years PROFIT

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The federal government has appointed Imran Sarwar as president and chief executive officer of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) for a period of three years with immediate effect. In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on September 3, NBP said the appointment had been made by the government through a Finance Division notification issued the same day. According to NBP, Sarwar’s appointment is subject to Fit & Proper Test clearance by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). "We have to inform you that the

Government of Pakistan, Finance Division, vide Notification No. F.No.1(9) Bkg-III/2022-696 dated September 3, 2026 (copy enclosed) has appointed Mr. Imran Sarwar as President/CEO for a period of three years, with immediate effect, subject to Fit & Proper Test clearance by the State Bank of Pakistan," read the NBP notice. The Finance Division notification said the federal government appointed Sarwar under powers conferred by Section 11(3)(a) of the Banks (Nationalization) Act, 1974. The notification, issued by the Finance Division’s Internal Finance Wing, states that Sarwar will serve as president and CEO of NBP for three

years, with the appointment taking effect immediately. Sarwar previously served as Group Executive, Risk and Credit Policy and Group Chief Risk Officer at United Bank Limited (UBL), which he joined in August 2017. Before joining UBL, he was Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking UAE at Standard Chartered Bank. He holds degrees in Business and Accounting from Ohio Wesleyan University and an LLB from Punjab University. Sarwar has more than 27 years of banking experience spanning corporate, institutional and investment banking, as well as risk, with experience in Pakistan, Australia, the UK and the UAE.

PM announces Tamgha-e-Khidmat for PIMS fire hero Razia Noreen CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated that all those responsible for the fire incident at PIMS would face strict action and said the government would make every possible effort in this regard. He said he had directed the concerned federal minister to conduct a comprehensive review of the hospital and ensure proper restructuring of the facility. Speaking on the occasion, Razia Noreen said she had simply been carrying out her responsibility, as people had entrusted the children to her at that moment and the responsibility rested on her shoulders. She said she was happy to receive such recognition and considered herself a role model for all nurses, adding that her fellow nurses also performed their duties with the same dedication and hard work. Recalling the tragic incident, she

PSO board member Usman Ahmed Chaudhry resigns

said it was a heartrending experience and that she had tried to save as many children as possible, but because of the emergency situation, she was able to rescue only one child. Razia Noreen said that when she saw the fire, she did not think of anything and immediately went inside. She instructed another nurse to save the children, who subsequently helped rescue people from outside, including postnatal mothers, some of whom had undergone operations. She said she rescued a very small baby, the child of Asifa, weighing 1,050 grams, and brought him outside. She explained that amid the ensuing rush, there was a possibility of the baby being misplaced, so she handed him over to someone she knew and trusted, identifying the person as Dr Abdul Rehman. Razia Noreen said she then went back inside to save another child when a blast occurred, followed by darkness and

PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSO) has announced the resignation of Usman Ahmed Chaudhry from its Board of Management. In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on September 3, PSO said Chaudhry, who served as an ex-officio member of the board, tendered his resignation through a letter dated August 31, 2026. “This is to inform you that Mr Usman Ahmed Chaudhry, Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Management of Pakistan State Oil Company Limited, has tendered his resignation from the Board via letter dated August 31, 2026, received by us yesterday,” read the PSO notice.

PM Shehbaz reaffirms Pakistan’s complete solidarity with Nepal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

PM DIRECTS TO ACCELERATE, ENHANCE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUTH PROJECTS Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the execution of projects under the Prime Minister’s Youth Program and make the ongoing initiatives more effective, results-oriented and directly aligned with the actual needs of young people. The prime minister issued these directives during a meeting with Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, who called on him here. Prime Minister Shehbaz said the country’s youth were its most precious asset and the guarantors of Pakistan’s bright future, stressing that the government was utilising all possible resources to provide them with modern education, skills, employment and business opportunities. Chairman Rana Mashhood briefed the prime minister in detail on the ongoing youth initiatives and projects, as well as the future strategy of the programme. Prime Minister Shehbaz reviewed progress on various projects under the Youth Program, including modern education and training, market-aligned skills, creation of new opportunities for youth in the digital economy, and increased employment and business opportunities.

smoke spreading throughout the area. Federal Ministers Syed Mustafa Kamal and Attaullah Tarar were also present on the occasion. PM DIRECTS COMPLETION OF FIRST PHASE OF JINNAH MEDICAL COMPLEX BY MARCH 2027 Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to complete the first phase of the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre by March 2027 to provide citizens with modern healthcare facilities at the earliest. The prime minister issued these directives while chairing a review meeting on the construction of the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre and the Phase-2 extension of the Federal Government Polyclinic at the PM Office, said a news release. Prime Minister Shehbaz said provision of quality healthcare facilities to the

His appointment follows the expiry of Rehmat Ali Hasnie’s tenure as NBP president and CEO on August 21. On August 22, the government assigned NBP Chief Financial Officer Abdul Wahid Sethi the acting charge of president and CEO following the completion of Hasnie’s tenure. Earlier, on August 6, the Finance Division had granted Hasnie a temporary two-week reappointment, effective August 7. The extension was intended to ensure continuity in the bank’s leadership until the expiry of his tenure or the appointment of a new CEO. National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), established under the National Bank of Pakistan Ordinance, 1949, provides commercial banking and related services in Pakistan and overseas. It also handles government treasury transactions as an agent of the State Bank of Pakistan and provides services for the Students Loan Scheme Endowment Fund and IPS accounts. public was the government’s top priority, stressing that the pace of reforms in the health sector should be further accelerated. During the meeting, various construction designs and proposals for the proposed Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre building were presented for consideration. The participants were also briefed on progress made on the construction of the Federal Government Polyclinic Phase-2 extension. The meeting decided that the Federal Government Polyclinic extension, currently under construction in Sector G-11, would be launched as the first phase of the Jinnah Medical Complex. The decision was aimed at making the hospital operational at the earliest and providing citizens with the best possible healthcare facilities. The prime minister directed that all possible measures be taken to develop the first phase of the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre into a modern, state-of-the-art hospital. He also directed that the installation of modern and hightech medical equipment and machinery at the hospital be ensured.

Pakistan targets June 2027 for shift to deregulated petrol pricing PROFIT STAFF REPORT

The Petroleum Pricing Committee has set a likely target of June 2027 for deregulating petrol pricing and directed the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to submit written recommendations on the consolidation and performance of existing oil marketing companies (OMCs). The committee, chaired by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, held its seventh meeting on September 3 to review the petroleum pricing framework and measures aimed at making fuel pricing more transparent and predictable while protecting consumers from undue price volatility. The committee reviewed recommendations for the petrol pricing formula and agreed on a gradual transition towards competitive market-based pricing, with June 2027 set as the likely target for deregulation.

It also directed OGRA to submit written recommendations on the consolidation and performance of existing OMCs, particularly regarding the adoption of best practices and the latest technologies. For diesel pricing, the committee approved guiding principles for possible rules-based intervention in the event of an emergency, with clearly defined price-shock triggers and possible corrective measures. The committee also reviewed the current Inland Freight Equalisation Margin (IFEM) mechanism and agreed to a revised methodology for its calculation. OGRA said the IFEM audit for financial year 2026 would be completed by the end of calendar year 2026. The committee reviewed the subcommittees’ report on a price stabilisation fund, benchmarked against successful and failed global models, and directed the subgroup to further refine its proposals.

Pakistan begins Rs12b overhaul of Gadani shipbreaking yard PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Work has begun on a Rs12 billion project to modernise the Gadani shipbreaking yard and upgrade its infrastructure in line with international safety and environmental standards, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Thursday. Chairing a steering committee meeting to review progress on the project, the minister said physical construction was underway on key facilities, including a 30-bed hospital, a labour colony, a school and solar power infrastructure. “Our objective is to transform

Gadani's traditional shipbreaking practices into a modern, safe, and environmentally responsible ship-recycling industry that meets global standards,” Chaudhry said, highlighting the yard’s role in Pakistan’s steel scrap market and supply chains.

NEwS 03

Pakistan’s banking deposits rise 19.1% YoY to Rs40.83tr in July PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan’s banking sector deposits increased 19.1% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs40.83 trillion in July 2026, compared with Rs34.28 trillion in the same month last year, according to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data compiled by Arif Habib Limited (AHL) Research. On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, deposits were largely unchanged, declining 0.1% from Rs40.89 trillion in June 2026. Banking sector advances stood at Rs14.46 trillion in July, up 9% YoY from Rs13.27 trillion in July 2025. However, advances declined 5.3% MoM from Rs15.27 trillion recorded in June. Investments increased 7.9% YoY to Rs39.05 trillion from Rs36.19 trillion a year earlier. On a monthly basis, investments fell 8.3% from Rs42.58 trillion in June. The advance-to-deposit ratio (ADR) stood at 35.4% in July 2026, compared with 38.7% a year earlier and 37.4% in June. The ratio declined by 329 basis

Bawany Air Products to raise Rs6b through 98.765% rights issue PROFIT

STFF REPORT

Bawany Air Products Limited will raise nearly Rs6 billion through a rights issue to fund working capital requirements and completion of its subsidiary Alman Seyyam Sugar Mills Limited (ASSML) project in Dera Ismail Khan. The company’s board on September 2 decided to proceed with the rights issue originally announced on August 26, 2024 and subsequently amended following directions from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) dated June 26, 2025.Bawany Air Products will issue 599,999,732 ordinary shares at Rs10 each, raising an aggregate Rs5,999,997,320. The issue represents approximately 98.765% of the company’s existing paid-up capital. Shareholders will be entitled to approximately 98.765 right shares for every 100 ordinary shares held. The shares will be issued at par at Rs10 each. The proceeds will primarily be used to meet working capital requirements and complete the ASSML project, a 10,000 MT/day sugarcane crushing-capacity plant currently under construction in Dera Ismail Khan.

04 COMMENT

How do we measure up?

Taking over Gaza

Israel has made its intentions clear

HE language used by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu while touring the Gaza Strip on Wednesday was that of a conqueror more than anything else: “We control the area. We are not retreating. We are staying on this line. His Defence Minister, Israel Katz, told a conference that the people of the Strip would be removed once the USA worked out which country they would go to. In short, the plan for removing the population of Gaza and turning the resort into a sort of resort, is still alive. That incidentally shows the idea was not really US President Donald Trump’s, but represented the view of extremist Zionists. That shows the Netanyahu government does not want just the disarming of Hamas, which is what Mr Netanyahu proclaimed yet again was what he wanted, but the re-occupation of the Gaza Strip. This is a reversal of the initial 2005 withdrawal, when Israeli settlements were dismantled, and forces withdrawn, representing an advance on the 1967 occupation of the area. The Gaza Strip had been part of the Palestine Mandate in 1948, and was deliberately left alone by Israel in 1948, so that it could accept the overflow of refugees from the Naqba. Apparently, that has not been good enough, and the Israelis want that land, and to expel the Palestinians even further. This has serious implications for Lebanon as well as Jordan, to which the mass of Palestinian refugees fled in 1948.Some might dismiss this as posturing before the election in October, and a wish to remind the electorate of a military success, especially after the debacle Israel has suffered in its recent attacks on Iran, which have failed to yield any of the results it had sought. However, it should be understood that an electorate which finds an anti-Palestinian massage reassuring is one to be wary of. Another implication of Mr Netanyahu’s remarks is that Mr Trump’s much acclaimed peace plan, which the Pakistani government enthusiastically joined, is dead. However, Mr Katz’s remarks are also instructive, as they reveal that the purpose of the plan was to assist the conversion of Gaza into the real estate deal of Mr Trump’s dreams, not to bring peace in a manner that would satisfy the wishes of the Palestinian people.

The PIMS tragedy threw a light on the whole society At Penpoint M A NIAZI

HE deaths of 14 newborn babies in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad was a shock to the entire country, but it was also a demonstration of how the country could handle such tragedies. That may well have been as bad as the tragedy itself, which was bad enough. Perhaps the true horror of the tragedy was that it happened in a hospital. A hospital is supposed to be a safe place, where one is safe, where the best available resources are supposed to be deployed for the treatment of whatever ailment one is suffering from. Indeed, the presence of the ill-fated children and their hapless mothers at PIMS is testimony to that. That hospitals are not safe havens was shown most noticeably in the 2016 Quetta hospital blast, when terrorists attacked those who had followed the body of the Quetta District Bar President, which had been brought there, with more than 70 people being killed. There was no enemy action in Islamabad, or act of terrorism, which made the event more regrettable. Another dimension is that individually the babies did not need to be in hospital at all. The tradition of home birth still exists, which is probably behind the horrifically high maternal mortality rates. The only advantage of a hospital birth is if something goes wrong, in which case either mother or child, or even both, may be saved. Not only are specialists available, but so are trained obstetric nurses. In home births, the only gesture to medical care is a wise old crone, reputed in the neighbourhood to have assisted at many deliveries. However, the reaction of the government might appear both kneejerk and excessive. Everyone in sight has been suspended. That the Minister’s resignation has not been accepted may be more the result of coalition politics than because he was found not guilty. The resignation by Mustafa Kamal was not an acceptance of responsibility in any way. There are actually too many buffers between him and the PIMS management team. Like most ministers, he enjoys plausible deniability for himself personally. His resignation is simply him telling the Prime Minister that he cannot defend the department in Parliament. That defence might range from an outright claim that there is no case to answer. To an abject apology after admitting responsibility, accompanied by an assurance that there will be a full enquiry, that blame will be affixed, wrongdoers punished and measures taken to prevent a recurrence. The minister might resign because he cannot defend the department; in short, he is not willing to lie to save its blushes. However, there is a complication. Mustafa Kamal does not belong to the same party as Mian Shehbaz. If theory had belonged to the same party, their relationship was between the two of them. Any role that Party President Mian Nawaz Sharif might

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

play would be informal, and would see Mian Nawaz suggest that the resignation be accepted and some other person replace him. Mian Shehbaz would probably have a free hand. On the other hand, Mustafa Kamal has been named to the Cabinet by the MQM, which has 22 seats in the ruling coalition’s 243 seats, which makes it the third largest party on the government benches. However, unlike the PPP, which sits on the Treasury benches but has no place in the Cabinet, the MQM has accepted two ministries, with Mustafa Kamal being one of two. The other is Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who is not just parliamentary party leader, but party leader outside Parliament as well. That means that even if Mian Shehbaz is Mustafa Kamal’s boss from a strictly constitutional point of view, his real boss is Siddiqui. In taking on board other parties in the coalition, Mian Shehbaz has to negotiate how many ministries the other party will take. It may specify which portfolios it will get, but the actual persons nominated, is a decision for the other party’s leader. Getting someone from a coalition party to join the Cabinet is as bad as poaching off the opposition. Therefore, if the proprieties were observed, Mustafa Kamal’s resignation was tendered to, and rejected by, Siddiqui. Mian Shehbaz may well have been kept within the loop, but the decision was not his to make. Besides, the PML(N) does not have a track record of resignations. There was a similar fire in the Sahiwal in June 2024, with 11 newborns being killed, The provincial Health Minister, Kh Salman Radique, not only did not resign, but was around two years later to assure anyone who would listen that the Punjab’s hospitals were being safeguarded against such a disaster. The Health Secretary was not suspended, having been placed under suspension just before the incident over another matter involving PIMS, the absence of certain equipment meant to test PTI founder Imran Khan. The whole question of accountability has extended to suspensions and criminal cases, but it has not extended to political figures. The Health Minister’s resignation is a rather hamhanded attempt to imitate Lal Bahadur Shastri’s resignation in November 1956, as Indian Railways Minister, after a rail disaster had led to 150 deaths. Nehru initially refused to accept it, but Shastri insisted, not returning to the Cabinet until 1959. If Mustafa Kamal had insisted, he could have forced

Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Putting the burden on those already paying

Dr ZAfAr KhAN SAfDAr

AKISTAN’S economy may be stabilising, but for millions, stability feels like another bill to pay. Inflation has eased, reserves have recovered and the IMF programme remains on track. Yet recovery cannot be measured by better aggregates alone. The real question is who is paying for that stability and whether the burden is shared according to the capacity to pay. In Pakistan, the pattern is familiar. The heaviest burden falls on salaried workers and documented businesses, while large parts of the economy remain difficult to tax. Withholding tax on salaries rose to Rs 605.6 billion in 202425, further burdening people whose incomes are already fully visible to the state, while traders, landlords and large retailers remain far less exposed to effective taxation. The petroleum levy has become another convenient revenue machine, with the IMF targeting Rs 1.7 trillion from it in 2026. Its burden is universal because fuel is universal, yet unlike income and sales taxes, it does not enter the divisible pool, leaving provinces with no share while its cost is spread across the economy. This exposes the central flaw in Pakistan’s fiscal system. The problem is not simply low tax collection, but a narrow tax base. Around 40 percent of GDP is estimated to lie in the informal economy, while only 1.3 percent of Pakistanis file tax returns. Agriculture contributes nearly a quarter of GDP but little to no direct tax revenue, while real estate absorbs vast amounts of wealth without contributing proportionately. The state taxes what it can see rather than what can afford to pay. That is not tax reform. It is the institutionalisation of convenience. Dr Ikramul Haq, a specialist in constitutional and tax law, has warned that the FY27 budget relies heavily on revenue-driven enforcement rather than genuine structural reform. The result is predictable. The state again targets those it can easily identify, including salaried workers, compliant businesses, importers, exporters, petroleum consumers, electricity users and other formal-sector taxpayers. His description of this approach as ‘coercive collection’ captures the deeper failure. Instead of broadening the tax base, the state keeps tightening the screws on

those already inside it. Electricity bills show how deeply this logic has entered everyday life. Pakistan has collected Rs 1.9 trillion through electricity bills over four years, effectively turning a basic household necessity into a tax-collection mechanism. Proposed power-price reforms could add 1.1 percentage points to inflation over 12 months, while middle-class households could see electricity costs rise by around 50 percent. When the state struggles to tax wealth, income and property effectively, it increasingly relies on consumption because consumption cannot hide or negotiate. Such an approach may generate shortterm revenue, but it carries a long-term economic and political cost. When taxpayers see the system as unfair, willingness to comply weakens, the tax base narrows and fiscal pressure increases, prompting still more enforcement against those who remain visible. The result is a vicious cycle in which the state extracts more from the formal economy without building the broader tax system it actually needs. IMF projections suggest federal tax revenue could stagnate at 10.3 percent to 11.1 percent of GDP unless provinces significantly increase collections from agriculture and services. Pakistan has known this problem for decades. Governments have repeatedly promised to broaden the tax base, yet the political choices required have been postponed. Taxing salaried workers is easy because deductions are made before income reaches their accounts. Taxing undocumented wealth, agricultural income, property gains and politically influential businesses is far harder because those affected have greater financial, organisational and political power to resist. The salaried worker has none of these advantages. He pays automatically, while those with influence can negotiate, challenge or resist. The result is a system in which the most compliant citizens become the most convenient taxpayers. The consequences are visible beyond tax statistics, in household budgets and social mobility. National poverty has climbed back to 28.9 percent after falling to 21.9 percent in 201819, while a middle class heavily exposed to documented taxation is being squeezed to the point where even two-income households struggle to meet monthly obligations. Genuine reform

would mean taxing untaxed wealth, speculative real estate gains, privileges, exemptions and non-productive assets while bringing agriculture and services into a credible tax framework. It would also mean closing the gap between those visible to tax authorities and those who remain effectively invisible. None of this is technically impossible. The difficulty is political. Meaningful reform imposes costs on powerful constituencies while its benefits are spread across society. That is why Pakistan repeatedly chooses the easier path of extracting more revenue from those already within reach. The country needs fiscal reform, but not one that confuses stabilisation with transformation or higher collections from documented taxpayers with a broader tax base. Macroeconomic stability matters, but stability built on an unequal fiscal burden remains fragile. It may reduce deficits and strengthen reserves without restoring household confidence or addressing the structural weaknesses that caused the crisis. Pakistan does not have a taxation problem alone. It has a fairness problem. For decades, the state has taken the easiest route, taxing those it can see while avoiding those it finds politically difficult to reach. The poor and salaried class are not resisting reform. They are resisting a system that calls extraction reform and sacrifice fairness. After twenty-four IMF programmes, the lesson should be unmistakable. A country cannot tax its way to prosperity by repeatedly taxing the people who have the least power to resist.

The writer has a PhD in Political Science, and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad. He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo.com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar

Pakistan does not have a taxation problem alone. It has a fairness problem. For decades, the state has taken the easiest route, taxing those it can see while avoiding those it finds politically difficult to reach. The poor and salaried class are not resisting reform. They are resisting a system that calls extraction reform and sacrifice fairness.

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through his resignation. However, his principal, Mian Shebaz, has been left holding the (proverbial) baby. He might have someone to face the House, but he might well remember what the Caliph Umar said when a famine struck the Caliphate: “If a dog dies hungry on the banks of the River Euphrates. Umar will be responsible for dereliction of duty.” He was not responsible to any House, nor was he going to face any election. However, he was only too well aware that he would have to give an accounting before the Almighty, on the Day of Judgement, for all his actions, not just personal, like prayers. fasting or pilgrimages, but his actions as Caliph. While it may be possible to pull the wool over the eyes even of the House (or even of an enquiry committee), the Almighty cannot be misled. How exactly is accountability to be conducted? The effectiveness of the accountability process, of the suspensions, prosecutions, and other such measures, will be seen in the absence of a repetition. But what is a repetition? The Islamabad fire, after all, as a repetition, the original incident being the 2024 fire in Sahiwal. Yet it was not, because the controlling government was different.The pledge to ensure that such an incident did not recur in Punjab had been kept. And then there is the public-private divide. Who is responsible if there is such an incident in a private hospital? The government cannot very well go around suspending hospital executives. Perhaps all it would be able to do would be to arrest them and parade them before TV cameras in the hope that they would be thought to be doing something. The absence of a repetition would also not be very reassuring. Sings with a daily count saying ‘x days since the last fire\ outside a ward would hardly inspire confidence among patients. However, there can be no other measure. The writer is a member of staff

The absence of a repetition would also not be very reassuring. Sings with a daily count saying ‘x days since the last fire’ outside a ward would hardly inspire confidence among patients. However, there can be no other measure.

Turning reforms into extraction M. A. Niazi

Editor Pakistan Today

Friday, 4 September, 2026

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Healing family ties

FAMILY conflicts often start with a small misunderstanding, a harsh word, or an unmet expectation. But when ignored, these little issues can grow into a silent poison that slowly destroys love, peace and trust at home. Psychologists say that most problems come from poor communication, lack of patience and unrealistic expectations. When family members stop listening to each other and try only to prove themselves right, emotional distance grows. This leads to feelings of loneliness and mental stress even within a house full of people. The good news is: this can be prevented. Start by talking and listening regularly, even about small things. Be patient during disagreements, and accept that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Use kind words like “I understand” or “I’m sorry” to build bridges, not walls. Also, make time for fun and togetherness. Shared moments bring hearts closer and reduce negativity. Disagreements are natural but solving them with love, respect and understanding is the real strength of a happy family. Don’t let silence ruin what love has built. ARONA SAGHIR KARACHI

Nuclear past repeats

FOR more than 30 years, the world has avoided slipping back into the dangerous cycle of escalation that defined the Cold War era. After the superpowers realised how close they had come to nuclear catastrophe, they slowly built a system of restraint. Arms-control treaties, verification mechanisms, and a shared understanding of mutual destruction pushed nuclear testing into history. This long period of relative calm makes today’s renewed talk of testing all the more worrying. Against this backdrop, United States President Donald Trump’s recent directive to Pentagon to explore new nuclear test possibilities appears historically tone-deaf and strategically short-sighted. It overlooks the hardearned lessons of the Cold War. At the time, both the United States and the erstwhile Soviet Union believed that strength came from building bigger and more destructive weapons. But each new test only provoked another response, pushing both sides closer to the edge. It was a dangerous game where one misstep could have meant annihilation. The world eventually stepped back from the brink, not because of luck, but because leaders finally recognised that nuclear one-upmanship had no winners. Today’s world is far more complex than the bipolar Cold War order. Instead of two major powers, there is now a multipolar rivalry involving the US, China, Russia and several emerging nuclear states. Reintroducing nuclear tests in such an environment is like lighting a match in a room full of fuel barrels. There are more players, more tensions, and fewer rules. The old armscontrol framework — the one that helped stabilise the Cold War — has weakened over the years. Key treaties have collapsed, verification has eroded, and trust among major powers is at its lowest point in decades. In essence, bringing back a Cold War-era practice now risks replaying the darkest chapters of the 20th century, but this time without the safety nets that once kept competition in check. A single test by one country could trigger a chain reaction, pushing others to respond with tests of their own. Such a spiral would make diplomatic restraint harder, and strategic miscalculations more likely. Supporters of new testing argue that it strengthens deterrence, but this argument ignores the fact that modern nuclear technology does not require explosive testing to remain credible. Instead, political signalling becomes the real motive — and that is precisely what makes the situation so dangerous. Using nuclear tests as symbols of power invites others to do the same. The world cannot afford to treat nuclear weapons as tools of political theatre. The lessons of history are clear: once the cycle of testing begins, it becomes difficult to stop. What kept the world safe for three decades was not louder threats, but quieter diplomacy and strong global norms. Reviving nuclear testing would not make any nation safer. It would simply drag the world back towards an era of fear — an era we worked so hard to leave behind. SANAULLAH MIRANI DAHARKI

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COMMENT 05

The Australia-China Tug-of-War in the Pacific Island countries Friday, 4 September, 2026

amna latif

N the last decade, Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have emerged as the central arena of geopolitical tug-ofwar between major and middle powers. The region hitherto overlooked by strategists is witnessing competition between Canberra and Beijing for maritime dominance and deep-water access. Australia is rapidly taking the lead in this strategic push. It has concluded a number of security agreements with its island neighbors. On July 6, Australia signed the Ocean of Peace Alliance, a mutual-defence pact, with Fiji. Ten days earlier, Canberra signed a similar treaty with Vanuatu. Before that it signed the Falepili Union with Tuvalu, the Pukpuk Treaty with Papua New Guinea, and an agreement with Nauru in 2023. This frantic diplomatic campaign undertaken by Albanese government is aimed at erecting a durable legal and security perimeter across Australia’s northern maritime approaches. In maritime strategy, geography plays a pivotal role. Therefore, the major powers are pouring billions of dollars into these tiny island nations. These states control expansive Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) covering tens of millions of square kilometers of open ocean, giving them sovereign oversight over vast oceanic territories and the mineral resources beneath. Moreover, the subsea optical fibers and strategic maritime trade routes cross directly through Pacific waters to reach the markets in East Asia and North America. Monitoring these corridors is a key intelligence objective. In any future confrontation in the Indo-Pacific, having the ability to resupply, refuel, and service naval vessels from deep-water harbors across the Pacific islands would offer great operational and defensive advantages. Canberra’s flurry of pacts is a shift away from its traditional approach of development assistance and disaster relief to the PICs. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong recently stated that there is a “permanent state of contest” in the Indo-Pacific. These pacts illustrate Canberra’s pivot toward hard structural integration. These new agreements offer security assurances, maritime policing assistance, joint surveillance, and innovative climate-mobility connections for island citizens. Moreover, several of these bilateral arrangements contain explicit or implicit exclusivity clauses and third-party vetoes that prevent island capitals from forming defense and critical infrastructure ties with external powers, especially China. Together with regional projects like the Pacific Policing Initiative, these pacts are aiming for

Western-aligned partners to become the preferred security providers ahead of Beijing building a permanent military presence in the region. Western policymakers predominantly view these pacts as cooperative efforts for climate mitigation and maritime security. The strategists in Beijing, on the other hand, see this series of pacts as a geopolitical net to implement strategic containment and to cut China’s maritime expansion. China does not view this flurry of deals as merely regional assistance. It evaluates Canberra’s aggressive diplomacy in a strategic context. Beijing interprets it as a direct threat to breaking the “Second Island Chain.” For the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), access to the deep waters of the South Pacific is essential to breaking past this critical strategic boundary stretching from the Japanese archipelago down through Guam into Melanesia. Beijing would be able to project naval power into the deep ocean if it gained access to deepwater ports, logistics hubs and airfields in island nations like the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, or Vanuatu. Beijing’s conduct of submarine launched ballistic missile test in the South Pacific hours after the agreement between Australia and Fiji is an unmistakable signal to Western powers. Beijing has framed these agreements as unequal treaties that diminish the sovereignty of PICs and presents itself as a pragmatic partner that provides infrastructure development and belt-and-road financing without demanding sovereign commitments. China has used these dynamics to continue to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. Beijing has actively used economic incentives and bilateral trade deals to convince Pacific states to sever diplomatic relations with Taipei in favor of the “One China” principle, turning South Pacific influence into diplomatic victories on the global stage. Beijing has built up its economic and diplomatic networks in the region over the

last two decades. By 2021, China had signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with almost all of the Pacific Island nations that recognize Beijing. It has direct investment in the region increasing from roughly $900 million in 2013 to $4.5 billion in 2018. Kiribati and the Solomon Islands switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 2019, followed by Nauru in 2024, leaving Taiwan with only three formal partners left in the region. The most significant expansion came in April 2022, when China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands providing financial aid, and dispatching police liaison officers to train and equip the Solomon Islands police. Beijing’s ambitions have not gone unchecked. In 2022, Chinese foreign minister’s tour of the region to secure a sweeping multilateral security and trade agreement across ten Pacific states collapsed owing to

the warning of Federated States of Micronesia’s then-president to the fellow leaders of the risks of signing on. Since then Chinese diplomacy has shifted toward smaller, consensus-based steps adhering to what regional diplomats call “the Pacific way.” During the third foreign minister’s meeting for ChinaPacific Island Forum Countries in 2025, Beijing and its regional partners agreed Belt and Road cooperation should be based on the Blue Pacific Continent 2050 Strategy adopted by the Pacific Island Forum countries, instead of imposing China-made agenda on the region. Chinese footprint has expanded gradually in the region with the opening of embassies, ports, and telecommunications financing, fisheries agreements, and annual ministerial diplomacy. The Pacific Islands leaders have consistently emphasized that they will define secu-

The Pacific Islands leaders have consistently emphasized that they will define security in their own terms. For them the primary threat is climate change and economic vulnerability not geopolitical rivalry. Island capitals welcome Australian security assurances and climate funding, but resist being drawn into any confrontation. When security proposals appear to encroach on domestic sovereignty, local leaders have resisted. Amidst the geopolitical struggle, the island states have adopted the approach of “Friends to All, Enemies to None.”

rity in their own terms. For them the primary threat is climate change and economic vulnerability not geopolitical rivalry. Island capitals welcome Australian security assurances and climate funding, but resist being drawn into any confrontation. When security proposals appear to encroach on domestic sovereignty, local leaders have resisted. Amidst the geopolitical struggle, the island states have adopted the approach of “Friends to All, Enemies to None.” The renegotiation of 2025 Nakamal agreement due to Vanuatu’s concerns over exclusionary clauses demonstrates multipolar leverage, securing Western security umbrellas and climate assistance while maintaining trade and investment opportunities with China. For developing nations across South Asia, Africa, and the West Asia, the case study of PICs provides essential lessons in contemporary diplomacy. As middle powers like Australia move decisively to secure their immediate neighborhoods, and major powers like China expand their global footprint, smaller nations find themselves endowed with diplomatic leverage they have not held in generations. The strategic challenge for Pacific leaders and for sovereign states throughout the Global South is ensuring that foreign security pacts genuinely advance domestic development and climate survival goals, rather than turning their homelands into the front lines of great powers’ geopolitical contest.

The writer is associated with China Program at the Institute of Regional Studies Islamabad.

Social-media age bans won’t make The USS Abraham children safer — but this will Lincoln is rusting I was in the rooms where smart people built and marketed the features that encourage compulsive use — infinite scroll, autoplay algorithmic feeds

PROJECT SYNDICATE Kelly StonelaKe

HEN I joined Facebook in 2009, I believed in the mission that founder Mark Zuckerberg espoused: to connect and empower people around the world. We all know how that turned out. Meta, now the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is focused on generating as much engagement as possible, which has led to platforms that addict, enrage, misinform and polarize users. I worked at Facebook for 15 years before becoming a whistleblower. I was in the rooms where smart people built and marketed the features that encourage compulsive use — infinite scroll, autoplay algorithmic feeds. These design choices were made deliberately, with the goal of maximizing profit above all else. Fortunately, the world is waking up to the harms caused by social media, especially to young people. In early July, an independent panel presented its final report on how the European Union can keep children safe online to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with a legislative proposal expected after the summer. While several EU countries plan to adopt a blanket age ban, the report advocates banning the toxic design features directly — a strategy that both scientific consensus and public opinion support. If governments really want to keep kids safe, they must require social-media platforms to prove their safety — as is already required of food companies and car manufacturers — to gain access to the teenage market. The blanket-ban approach treats addictive social media as inevitable. It isn’t. It is the product of years of corporate lobbying and governments’ reluc-

In the United States, four states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties from Meta for designing Facebook and Instagram to addict young users

tance to regulate. Equally important, such an approach is ineffective. Australia pioneered the world’s first socialmedia ban for minors when it barred users under 16 from holding accounts last December. In March, the eSafety Commissioner’s compliance report found major enforcement gaps and no reduction in cyberbullying or imagebased abuse reports. In April, more than half of 12- to 15-year-olds still had active accounts. As a result, Australia has also begun to target the toxic features proven to erode kids’ health and well-being. Similarly, Canada, Spain, Brazil and Germany are waking up to the importance of putting the onus on tech companies to ensure their platforms are designed safely. More governments must turn their attention to banning the design features that harm kids and then holding tech firms to strict, third-party-verified safety standards. Over 170 organizations have signed a petition calling for this safety-by-design approach and U.K. charities have released guidance on what these standards could look like. Moreover, this position has gained broad public support. In a recent poll of five European countries, threequarters of adults surveyed said that they wanted a “safe-by-design” approach to social media, making platforms inaccessible to children until their safety is proven. The debate has also entered the courtroom. In February, the European Commission warned TikTok to change its addictive design or face fines up to 6% of turnover. More recently, a preliminary decision by the Commission found that Meta failed to assess the addiction risks from infinite scrolling and attention capture, putting the firm in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA). In the United States, four states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties from Meta for designing Facebook and Instagram to addict young users. Interoperability is another reform worth fighting for. If social-media platforms share data, users can switch to safer alternatives without losing their network. That way, they won’t be trapped when a platform is, say, bought out by a far-right billionaire who turns it into a cesspit of extremism. Ultimately, all reforms depend on strong enforcement mechanisms. Governments have tried to regulate social-media platforms using voluntary commitments

and laws like Australia’s, with fines for violations. But the world’s most profitable companies might simply absorb those penalties as a cost of doing business. The consequences must be significant enough that they can’t be priced in. Europe, which has a track record of shaping the global regulatory environment, now has the opportunity to lead the world in creating effective, meaningful guardrails for children’s online safety. It is promising that von der Leyen — who, despite experts’ warnings, had committed to a blanket age ban for much of the past year — has signaled a new direction, saying that “the rule in Europe is safety-by-design” when announcing the independent panel’s final report. And while that report recommends age restrictions, it frames them as temporary pending the redesign of addictive and harmful features. It also puts the burden of proving social media’s safety on tech firms, rather than regulators. The EU already has a head start on a safety-by-design approach: the DSA provides a legal basis and proof of concept. The special panel cited recent enforcement action under the DSA against TikTok for its addictive features, as well as ongoing proceedings against Snapchat, X/Grok and Meta. With this shift in the political wind, the EU must now enshrine in law a safetyby-design approach, recognizing it as the only viable solution to social-media platforms that were built without regard for the harms they cause. That means expanding this framework in the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, expected later this year, rather than tinkering at the edges of the rules. If a social-media platform is stripped of infinite scroll, engagement-optimized defaults and constant push notifications, it is likely much safer for young people. By contrast, an age ban leaves the platform itself unchanged, only delaying its harmful effects. A safety-by-design solution would reduce exposure to a product proven harmful to kids and teens and reshape market incentives, creating space for safer platforms to compete. The EU requires most products entering the bloc to be safe by law. Social media should be no different.

Kelly Stonelake, a former Meta executive turned whistleblower, is an advocate for children’s online safety.

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once hailed US aircraft carriers as being ‘100,000 tons of diplomacy,’ highlighting their role in exerting pressure, enhancing deterrence, and projecting American global power

GLOBAL TIMES

FTER 286 days at sea, the US Navy aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln reportedly finally pulled into port, giving the outside world a close look at the carrier that has drawn widespread attention for months. What cameras captured was startling: a massive warship covered in rust, visibly exhausted. The rust was not just on the hull. It made visible the hidden costs and mounting strain of America’s overextended hegemony. On Wednesday, the Abraham Lincoln pulled into Laem Chabang in Thailand after a grueling and record-setting deployment in the Middle East. It was the carrier’s first port call since November last year. The crew is expected to use the stop to “rest and recharge” amid media reports of their deteriorating mental health concerns before returning to the home port in San Diego. Yet when the Lincoln sailed into port, photos released by Thai media caught many observers by surprise. The almost 1,100-footlong warship was heavily covered in rust from bow to stern. On social media, some users joked that it had “barely escaped with its hide from the Persian Gulf,” while others asked whether it was headed to the junkyard. Even the ship’s captain acknowledged to the media that the carrier “looks like a dirty car in a parking lot.” Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that while the harsh marine environment can accelerate corrosion, the Lincoln’s extensive rust is a consequence of its prolonged, high-intensity deployment. With four of its total 11 carriers deployed to the Middle East for Washington’s war against Iran and others tied up in lengthy maintenance, the US Navy is forced to keep ships in service longer than it’s necessary. Zhang further pointed to broader problems facing the US Navy, including limited shipyard capacity, weakened maintenance capabilities and a shortage of skilled workers, which worsened the situation. For decades, the US has maintained a massive military footprint across key regions, including the Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. In its bid to sustain so-called “global leadership” through a far-flung network of military deployments, Washington has placed ever-heavier burdens on its vessels, personnel, and logistics systems. But the Lincoln’s prolonged deployment in

the Middle East, mounting maintenance delays and crew fatigue point to something far bigger than the condition of a single carrier. Together, they reveal the strain on a global military machine that has been running at full throttle for far too long. This is why the Lincoln’s rust appears so glaring. Shen Yi, director of the International Research Institute of Global Cyberspace Governance at Fudan University, said the carrier’s current appearance stands in stark contrast to the hegemonic image long associated with US aircraft carriers and the US Navy as a whole. On the surface, the Lincoln’s rust seems a matter of equipment upkeep, but at a deeper level, it reflects serious problems in military morale, organizational capacity, and even the foundational support for US military power. It’s a tangible manifestation of American hegemony’s “muscle atrophy,” exposing a widening disconnect between its hegemonic ambitions and actual capabilities, Shen said. Aircraft carriers are more than just weapons of warfare. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once hailed US aircraft carriers as being “100,000 tons of diplomacy,” highlighting their role in exerting pressure, enhancing deterrence, and projecting American global power. This is why the US has frequently dispatched carriers to other regions to flex its military muscle and send deterrent signals to the world. Today, however, this very “muscle” that once symbolized American military might is covered in rust. The Lincoln’s rust serves as a reminder that each overseas military deployment exacts a heavy toll. Hegemonic expansion is never cost-free. When military power is overused, and when maintenance, logistics, and personnel support increasingly lag behind ever-expanding strategic ambitions, hegemony can transform from a source of strength into a burden on itself, eventually consuming and undermining the very power it was meant to project. The USS Abraham Lincoln may be used to project strength to the world. But this time, the carrier appears to be projecting a different kind of power - the power of overextension, overuse and exhaustion. Rust can be scrubbed away and paint can be reapplied. But the structural fatigue of a system that relies excessively on military hegemony to sustain its global influence cannot be covered up with a fresh coat of paint. The rust may be on the hull of the aircraft carrier, but it reflects the deeper predicament of an American hegemony stretched too far. Rust is contagious. Muscles weaken. And hegemonic ambition can consume the very power that feeds it.

06 nEWs

US-IraN war CoUld SpIral afTer Nov aS TrUmp aIdeS SCramble To keep IT 'qUIeT' for Now

news as Trump's Republicans campaign to defend thin majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives, said the sources, three of whom are White House officials. Only 31% of Americans approve of the war, while some 63% disapprove, according to a late August Reuters/Ipsos poll, and voters are particularly unhappy about high petrol prices. A tactical pause could also give the US military some breathing room to replenish its heavily depleted munitions stockpiles, the sources said. But pulling off the play-it-cool strategy looks more difficult by the day. While the conflict remains much less intense than it was during the spring or during a flare-up in the middle of the summer, both sides have exchanged tit-for-tat strikes in recent days. Iran's leaders, emboldened after months of disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and facing little internal unrest, will likely keep striking at US and allied Gulf targets, including military bases, vessels and energy infrastructure, at least periodically, analysts said. The US will face pressure to retaliate, potentially leading to an escalatory spiral that brings both sides back to a full-scale air war — whether the administration wants it or not. Over the weekend, the US struck rocket launchers on Iran's Larak Island,

WASHINGTON AGENCIES

OP aides to President Donald Trump are pushing to keep the Iran war from escalating before November's midterm elections to staunch Republican electoral losses, four people familiar with the discussions said, a strategy already under strain as the US and Iran exchanged back-and-forth attacks overnight. White House officials will consider ramping up military action after the November 3 vote, said the sources, who requested anonymity to describe internal thinking, though any return to full-scale conflict is far from a given. The US military said its latest strikes were retaliation for recent attacks on American forces and marine traffic in the region. For now, the sources said, the administration wants to rely on applying more economic pressure on Iran in an effort to extract concessions in any future negotiations that months of military action failed to secure. "We are keeping the pressure on Iran," one White House official said. "But November is a priority." Keeping the war mostly contained until then would help prevent the unpopular conflict from dominating the

prompting Iran to fire missiles towards Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The US hit more Iranian targets around the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday in the biggest outbreak of fighting since July, a fresh outburst of violence that killed military personnel and civilians in Iran. "The regime has every incentive to disrupt the 'calm' — which is no real calm, after all, since the administration's explicit aim is to increase economic pressure massively on Iran," said Barbara Leaf, who served as the top State Department official for the Middle

East under former President Joe Biden. ANOTHER WILD CARD IS TRUMP HIMSELF. The president's approval rating has fallen from 40% to 33% since the conflict began, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling. Sources said he is not currently interested in escalation, but he is famously prone to changing his mind and could change course in response to events. Trump threatened on Tuesday to escalate the conflict if Iran hits back against the latest US strikes. "If the failed Nation of Iran re-

Israel's Ben-Gvir plans to relocate 1.86m Palestinians from Gaza over 7 years: report TEL AVIV

AGENICES

Israeli National Security Minister and far-right Jewish Power party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir has prepared a plan to relocate about 1.86 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip over seven years, which he plans to present on Thursday as part of his election campaign, according to a local media report. Ben-Gvir will present the public with a plan called "Disengagement 710", based on what it describes as "voluntary migration" from Gaza, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. The plan aims for 250,000 Palestinians to leave Gaza in its first year, 1.11

million within three years, and about 1.86 million within seven years, the report said. Ben-Gvir plans to make the initiative a central part of his election campaign after “working on it for months”, it added. His Jewish Power party also plans to make adoption of the initiative a key demand in any negotiations to join Israel's next government, it said. The plan includes designating a destination country for each individual or family leaving Gaza, as well as legal status, documentation, visas, travel funding, and initial housing. It also includes vocational training, employment assistance, and support for up to 24 months, the report said.

China vows to work with Nepal, global community to tackle climate change impact BEIJING

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Nepal and the international community to jointly prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. “China and Nepal are a community with a shared future linked by mountains and rivers. China is also severely affected by this cross-border disaster,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing. Guo was responding to a question about calls in Nepal for climate compensation from major greenhouse gas emitters, including China, the United States and India, following deadly floods that claimed numerous lives. He said climate change was a global challenge that required collective efforts from all countries, stressing that China had remained a steadfast actor and major contributor to global green development. “China has been a steadfast actor and major contributor in promoting global green development,” Guo said. He added that China was making active and sound efforts to achieve its carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals and was expected to deliver the world’s largest reduction in carbon emission intensity. As the largest developing country, China firmly upheld the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of developing nations, Guo said, adding that Beijing was committed to promoting a fair and equitable global climate governance system based on win-win cooperation. China also provides assistance to other developing countries within its capacity through South-South cooperation, he said. The spokesperson said Beijing was prepared to work with Nepal and other members of the international community to strengthen cooperation in addressing climate-related disasters and reduce their negative impacts.

The plan is based on 12 principles, including what it calls "voluntary departure" and a requirement that “no one leave without a country prepared to receive them and provide them with regulated legal status”, according to the report. The plan further proposes “payments” to countries and entities involved in receiving those leaving Gaza based on “their performance, individual security screening and annual implementation targets”. It also calls for “monthly reports on the number of applications, approvals and departures”, as well as “costs and the extent to which those leaving are integrated into their destination countries”. The plan would require an initial Israeli investment of 10 billion shekels

China oﬀers 'new security architecture' for Middle East, says Wang Yi BEIJING STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal for building a new security architecture in the Middle East provides a Chinese approach to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while briefing reporters on Xi’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek and his state visits to Kyrgyzstan and Egypt. During his talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Xi proposed a four-point approach to addressing the region’s security challenges, calling for the release of internal drivers, an integrated approach to regional security, stronger foundations for development and enhanced international coordination. Wang said international observers viewed the proposal as a viable pathway towards resolving the Middle East’s long-standing security dilemma and promoting sustainable peace. He said Xi had used his recent diplomatic engagements to exchange views with leaders on major international and regional issues, advocating dialogue, peace and what Beijing described as a just approach to resolving conflicts. On the sidelines of the Bishkek summit, Xi separately met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. During his meeting with Putin, the two leaders agreed to further deepen China-Russia comprehen-

sive strategic coordination, support reforms in global governance and promote a multipolar world, Wang said. The two sides also agreed to work together to safeguard global peace, stability and development, he added. Wang said China, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, had continued to explore approaches with Chinese characteristics to addressing international conflicts and regional hotspots. He maintained that regardless of the complexity of disputes or intensity of conflicts, China would remain committed to peace and dialogue. “China will always stand firmly on the side of peace and dialogue and on the right side of history,” Wang said.

Iran warns US against Israeli attack on south Lebanon ridge held by Hezbollah, sources say TEHRAN

AGENCIES

Iran has warned the United States that it would respond forcefully to an Israeli offensive on a mountainous ridge in southern Lebanon where Iranian military personnel are holed up alongside Hezbollah fighters, three officials briefed on the message told Reuters. The message, delivered last month, highlights Iran's continued direct involvement in the ground fighting in southern Lebanon and its readiness to retaliate against Israeli attacks there as the regional war enters its seventh month. Hezbollah is believed to have built an underground command centre and weapons stores within the Ali al-Taher ridge, which has a commanding view of southeastern Lebanon,

($3.1 billion) to establish and launch it, the report noted. It also envisages an Israeli financing framework of up to 50 billion shekels ($15.6 billion), subject to international participation and agreements with destination countries. More than 2.2 million Palestinians currently live in the Gaza Strip. Israel's general elections are scheduled for October 27. The current government is described as the most right-wing in Israel's history. Israel launched its genocide in Gaza on Oct 8, 2023. The offensive continued for two years, causing widespread destruction, while Israeli violations have persisted despite a ceasefire that took effect on Oct 10, 2025.

according to Lebanese security sources, and has become one of the most contested pieces of ground in the Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah has said in public statements that it controls the hill and will confront any Israeli advances. Its officials have referred to a "facility" there, but have declined to provide details. The Israeli military has occupied swathes of territory to Ali al-Taher's south and has identified the ridge as one of its "primary operational focuses" in public statements. Read: Netanyahu, Israel's defence minister say Israeli forces destroyed Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon In its message to Washington, Tehran threatened that any full-fledged Israeli offensive on the ridge would be met with a largescale Iranian attack, said the three officials in the region, who spoke to Reuters on con-

dition of anonymity. Hezbollah declined to comment on whether Iranian forces were present in Ali al-Taher. In response to Reuters questions about the message, or whether the US had put pressure on Israel not to attack Ali al-Taher, a White House official said, "this is not accurate." There was no immediate comment from Iran's permanent mission in Geneva, the US Defence Department, or Oman's foreign ministry. The Israeli military declined to comment. IRGC FORCES 'HOLED UP', OFFICIALS SAY Two of the officials said the message was delivered via Oman, which has played a mediating role. Those two regional officials, briefed by Tehran, said over a dozen members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, including at least two senior officers, were with Hezbollah fighters.

Friday, 4 september 2026 | IsLAMABAD

taliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump on Wednesday said he did not think the renewed military campaign would last long. He also reiterated his position that the upcoming elections were not factoring into his Iran strategy. "Number one, I'm not running. My party is running, and I'm going to help my party," he told reporters in the Oval Office. "But I think my party respects the fact that we're not allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon." CONSTRAINED BY LOGISTICS As the war enters its seventh month, his White House finds itself increasingly constrained by logistical and political realities, however. "The timetable has changed," one senior White House official said. Another added that the "calendar is driving Iran". Reuters reported in August that the military had used "virtually all" of its supply of certain precision missiles. The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force warned Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth in a written assessment that prolonging the war was unsustainable and would diminish the military's readiness in other theatres.

Trump confirms 18 killed in latest US strikes on Iran

WASHINGTON (AGENCIES): US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed that eighteen people were killed in recent US strikes on Iran. In a post on Truth Social, he also referred to earlier remarks made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and clarified that “Sec. Lutnick had Venezuela on his mind when he said nobody was killed.” Iranian state media initially reported that seven people were killed and eight wounded in US missile strikes on three locations in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. However, Iran’s health minister later said that 18 people had been killed and 108 injured in the latest wave of US strikes nationwide. Separately, ISNA reported that six Iranian naval personnel were killed by US attacks on Tuesday in renewed fighting.

Friday, 4 September 2026 | ISLAMABAD

CORPORATE CORNER

NEWS 07

CM MARYAM UNVEILS MOBILE VET FLEET, ORDERS LIVESTOCK SECTOR OVERHAUL

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SRDB Chairman Ch Muhammad Zaka Ashraf, PARC Member Crop Sciences Dr. Sajjad Ali Rao, Director General SARC Karachi, Mr. Parvez Ahmed Baloch and SARD Chief Executive Officer Dr. Shahid Afghan along with other officials and experts visited the National Sugar and Tropical Horticulture Research Institute, Thatta. PR

Tetra Pak calls for urgent action to strengthen Pakistan’s food system amid nutrition crisis

PUNJAB CM SAYS 262 MOBILE VETERINARY HOSPITALS NOW OPERATIONAL ACROSS PUNJAB LAHORE

SALEEM JADOON

UNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday directed the Livestock Department to organise a livestock conference and approved the proposed design of model veterinary hospitals across the province as she inaugurated a mobile veterinary fleet to provide livestock treatment and diagnostic services at farmers’ doorsteps, particularly in rural areas. During a ceremony, the chief minister inspected a state-of-the-art mobile veterinary dispensary, veterinary laboratory and X-ray unit. According to a briefing by Livestock Minister Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Livestock Ahmed Aziz Tarar, 30 additional mobile veterinary dispensaries and 17 mobile veterinary laboratories had been launched, bringing the number of functional mobile veterinary hospitals to 262. The mobile dispensaries will be equipped with ultrasound and X-ray facilities, while the mobile laboratories will be capable of conducting 40 tests at the site. The mobile veterinary hospitals will

also undertake disease screening and surveillance among livestock. The briefing said X-ray facilities would be available at 10 divisional hospitals, while 36 district-level facilities would have operation theatres and laboratories. As many as 138 ultrasound machines would be provided across tehsils. The government plans to deploy veterinary assistants on 6,964 mobile motorbikes to provide treatment at livestock farmers’ premises. Under the CM Internship Programme, 1,000 veterinary doctors and assistants have so far treated around

3.4 million animals across Punjab. The chief minister was told that 230 veterinary hospitals would be constructed or rehabilitated at tehsil level, with a model veterinary hospital to be established in each tehsil. The proposed model hospitals will have cattle, mechanical and horse crushes, while operation theatres will be equipped with hydraulic tables and modern lighting systems. The briefing said the province would undertake artificial insemination of 800,000 animals to improve breeding and increase milk and meat production. Pun-

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

“Pakistan’s nutrition challenge goes beyond food availability. It is about ensuring nutritious products remain safe and high-quality while reaching consumers efficiently and affordably. Strengthening food processing, packaging, storage and distribution can help attract more investment across the food value chain, supported by the right policies,” said Noor Aftab, Director, Corporate Affairs for Pakistan, Middle East, North and West Africa at Tetra Pak during a recent 2-day dialogue held in Islamabad.The high-level event gathered global development leaders, policymakers, and private sector stakeholders to address Pakistan's escalating child stunting and malnutrition crisis. Noor Aftab strongly urged for comprehensive reforms in food-safety laws and taxation. Speaking as a panelist alongside food policy experts and corporate sustainability leaders, Noor Aftab focused on structural changes needed to secure nutrition.He emphasised the urgent need to reshape food-safety legislation to support the delivery of safe, scalable, and processed nutritional products.

Consumer Confidence Hits Two-Year Low in Q3 FY2026 KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

Dun & Bradstreet Pakistan and Gallup Pakistan have released the 20th edition of the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for the third quarter of FY2026, revealing a sharp deterioration in sentiment. The index fell to 65.3, down from 86.4 in the previous quarter, a 24.4% decline. The report highlights a two-fold view of consumers’ current sentiment and their future outlook of the economy. While the current sentiment dropped to 51.8, the future outlook is relatively better standing at 78.7. Both however lower than the previous quarter. The CCI tracks consumer perceptions of the economy and personal finances by looking at four parameters, including household financial situation, national economic conditions, unemployment, and savings. According to the FY Q3 survey, which was conducted among 1,592 respondents, inflation remains the dominant concern, with 89.3% of respondents reporting price hikes for essential goods in the last six months. Unemployment also intensified as a source of strain, with 81% of respondents saying joblessness had worsened over the past six months. Confidence around household sentiments too, however, did not offer much relief, as close to 40% of respondents expect their own finances to worsen further in the next six months.

inDrive highlights massive growth potential, sustainability, and tech safety innovation at Islamabad panel ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Speaking at a panel discussion held at the Marriott Islamabad, Awais Saeed, Country Manager for inDrive Pakistan, outlined the future of urban mobility in the country, emphasising vast untapped market potential, environmental sustainability through ride-pooling, broad economic spillovers, and incoming payment innovations.Addressing the current adoption rates of ride-hailing in the country, Saeed pointed out a clear contrast between domestic and international markets. "Only 5% of Pakistani users go for ride-hailing, compared to approximately 20% globally," Saeed noted, highlighting that Pakistan remains one of the most promising growth frontiers for digital mobility platforms.To address urban congestion and environmental pressures, Saeed shared his vision for the evolution of transit in local cities. "Keeping in mind the environment, I think ride-hailing is moving towards ride-pooling," he stated during the discussion, emphasising that higher vehicle occupancy will be essential for reducing emissions and easing road congestion.Beyond direct transportation, Saeed spoke of the significant multiplier effect digital ride-hailing creates across the broader economy.

Those using fake news as political tool will have to face law: Azma Bokhari LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that fake news propagandists and YouTubers should be ashamed of themselves. In accordance with the court’s order, she personally requested the court to have accused Flak Javed brought from jail and produced before the court so that she could record her statement in her presence. Azma Bokhari said she was fully prepared for cross-examination and waited for a considerable time for the accused to be produced before the court. However, the accused’s

lawyers once again requested an adjournment of the hearing. She said the court has now made it clear that September 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. will be the final opportunity for cross-examination and no further adjournment will be granted. The accused’s lawyers will have to appear fully prepared; otherwise, her statement will be recorded through video link. The Punjab Information Minister said that targeting a woman’s honour, character and dignity through fake videos is not merely a political disagreement but a direct attack on the honour and dignity of women. Azma Bokhari said those who

have made fake news, lies and character assassination a political weapon will now have to answer before the court. The issue of inaccurate reporting and disruption of judicial proceedings also came before the court, which made it clear that such disorder would not be tolerated in the future. She said action would be taken against those responsible under Section 352(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. “There will be no further delay; the cross-examination will take place and the facts will come to light. Those responsible for lies and character assassination will have to answer before the law,” she added.

Punjab Police internship programme concludes with 65 students awarded certificates LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

The closing ceremony of the 14th batch of the Punjab Police Internship Program was held at the Central Police Office (CPO), Lahore, where Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Kareem and senior police officers distributed certificates among students who successfully completed their five-week internship. Addressing the ceremony, IG Punjab Abdul Kareem said the practical experience gained by students during the internship would prove valuable for their career development. He said Punjab Police was providing internship opportunities to students to promote a culture of education, research and practical learning. According to the Punjab Police

spokesperson, 38 students from the University of the Punjab and 27 from Government College University participated in the 14th batch of the internship programme. The 65 students were divided into five

groups and attached to various Punjab Police branches for five weeks, where they received practical training and gained firsthand insight into police operations and working procedures.

HEC trains over 332 faculty members on AI to build AI-ready institutions ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE), Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, has concluded a four-day faculty training programme titled, “AI Literacy for Educators: Building AI-Ready Institutions,” for Lecturers and Assistant Professors serving in public sector

higher education institutions (HEIs). The programme, organised through the Smart Classroom, was designed to strengthen faculty’s capacity to understand, critically evaluate, and integrate Artificial Intelligence into teaching, learning, research, assessment, and broader academic practices. The comprehensive professional development intervention combined conceptual understanding, practical

hands-on learning, critical reflection, and the application of AI across diverse academic contexts, enabling participants to develop both foundational knowledge and practical skills. A distinctive feature of the programme was its technology-enabled delivery through HEC Smart Classroom network as majority of the faculty members joined the training programme online from their respective universities.

NED University Students Plant Trees and Commit to Their Long-Term Care

KARACHI: Students at NED University planted trees on campus on Monday as part of a sustainability initiative organised by Treow Carbon Solutions with support from Meezan Bank. The initiative goes beyond a one-day plantation drive. Students have pledged to care for and monitor the trees throughout their time at NED, allowing them to follow the trees’ growth until graduation. “Planting a tree is only the beginning,” said Mehboob Alam, Head of MEP-Engineering, Sustainability-CSR and HSE at Meezan Bank. “Its real value comes from the responsibility that follows. By involving students in the continued care of these trees, we are encouraging a stronger sense of ownership and environmental responsibility.” Treow Carbon Solutions worked with NED University to plan the activity and establish a structured approach to continued care. Its work focuses on key factors that support tree survival, including suitable species selection, soil preparation, correct planting, watering and regular monitoring. “For the students, these trees are a lasting reminder of their time at NED,” said Mudabbir Maajid, Cofounder of Treow Carbon Solutions. STAFF REPORT

jab had also been protected from lumpy skin disease through an effective vaccination programme, officials said. The Punjab CM said better breeding of livestock would help increase milk and meat production in Punjab, adding that the government was providing livestock farmers with veterinary treatment at their doorstep. CM orders restructuring of DGPR, approves new HQ building Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered restructuring of the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) and called for third-party validation to assess the department’s performance. She also approved a new building for the DGPR headquarters and directed the authorities to take immediate steps to clear outstanding payments to the media. The directives were issued at a special meeting chaired by the chief minister, during which Information and Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari gave a detailed briefing on the department’s functioning and communication strategy. The Punjab CM said the DGPR needed to be aligned with the requirements of the modern era to ensure timely dissemination of information to the public.

CDA Officers Association, Global System of Integrated Studies sign MoU for employees kids fees concession

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A ceremony for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the CDA Officers Association and Global System of Integrated Studies (Private) Limited was held on Thursday for the welfare and well-being of Capital Development Authority (CDA) employees. The event was attended by CDA Member Estate Muhammad Zaman Watto, CDA Officers Association General Secretary Chaudhary Kamran Bakht, Principal/Director Admin of GSIS along with other CDA officers and employees.Primary objective of this agreement is to provide high-quality and standard education to the children of CDA officers and employees, as well as to grant them significant concessions in educational facilities. Under the MoU, GSIS School has decided to completely waive all one-time admission fees for the children of regular CDA employees during the admission process.General Secretary of the Officers Association, Chaudhary Kamran Bakht, said that under the agreement, the refundable security deposit has also been fully waived to prevent any financial burden on employees.

Mobilink Bank, SDPI Call for Gender-Responsive Climate Finance for Women Farmers

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A new study by Pakistan’s leading digital microfinance Bank, Mobilink Bank, and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has highlighted a growing financial vulnerability among women farmers in Pakistan, finding that many are turning to borrowing to manage the impact of climate shocks while still facing limited access to formal financial services. The findings point to an urgent need for more inclusive, climateresponsive financial solutions that can help women farmers protect livelihoods, recover faster and build greater resilience.The study, “Designing GenderResponsive Climate Finance: A Diagnostic Study and Product Framework for Women Farmers in Pakistan,” draws on field research across eight districts of Punjab and Sindh and identifies a critical gap between women’s contribution to agriculture, their exposure to climate risks, and their access to formal financial services. The findings were unveiled at a high-level policy dialogue jointly hosted by SDPI and Mobilink Bank in Islamabad that brought together government representatives, financial regulators, banks, development finance institutions and development partners to explore how evidence can be translated into practical financial solutions for women farmers.Adviser to the Finance Minister, Adnan Pasha, attended the launch as the guest of honour and underscored the need to formally recognize women farmers as economic actors and drivers of Pakistan’s agricultural economy. He said the government was actively considering policy recommendations emerging.

Friday, 4 September, 2026

PRAYER TIMINGS

Health Ministry faces LHC JUDGE RAHEEL KAMRAN SHEIKH RESIGNS, criticism over ad-hoc CITES WIDER LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP ENGAGEMENT appointments,

NEWS

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

AHORE High Court (LHC) Judge Muhammad Raheel Kamran Sheikh resigned from his post on Thursday, saying he wanted to pursue broader engagement with legal scholarship, policy research and comparative judicial practice. In his resignation letter addressed to the president on September 3, Justice Sheikh tendered his resignation “from the office of Judge of the Lahore High Court, with immediate effect”. A copy of the letter was also sent to the LHC registrar. “It has been an honour and a privilege to have served in this office,” he said, adding that he had contributed to the administration of justice in accordance with his oath and conscience. “My years on the Bench have been the most formative and fulfilling of my professional life,” Justice Sheikh said. He, however, said that after “deep and sustained reflection”, he had concluded that his further development as a jurist and his ability to contribute to the rule of law and access to justice would be better served through broader engagement outside the Bench.

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Justice Sheikh expressed gratitude to senior colleagues whose “guidance and wisdom” he said had been invaluable during his tenure, as well as to his staff for their dedicated assistance. He said he was leaving the Bench with “an enduring commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law”. Justice Muhammad Raheel Kamran

Illegal SIMs, stolen biometrics fuel surge in online financial fraud ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Systemic loopholes are continuing to fuel a wave of online financial crime, with illegally issued SIMs, stolen biometric data and rented bank accounts being used by fraudsters to make fraudulent calls, send fake banking messages and siphon off money from unsuspecting citizens. The alarming situation was highlighted before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Thursday, where regulators acknowledged that scammers remained active despite the blocking of 18.2 million illegal SIMs over the past two and a half years and the imposition of fines on telecom operators. The committee was told that criminals were increasingly exploiting stolen fingerprints and “mule” or rented bank accounts to conduct financial fraud, exposing persistent weaknesses in the systems meant to prevent misuse of telecom and banking channels. The meeting, chaired by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and lawmakers, including Anjum Aqeel Khan, Abdul Qadir Patel and Khawaja Izharul Hassan. Senior officials from the Ministry of Interior and Law, Capital Development Authority, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Punjab Board of Revenue also attended the meeting. NCCIA Director Irfanullah Khan told the committee that loopholes in the existing system were contributing to the rise in crime. Referring to a recent raid in Multan, he said the agency had recovered 195 active SIMs and 81 ATM cards allegedly being used by scammers. “They are exploiting gaps to carry out their activities,” he said.

Heavy rain, urban flooding risk forecast in upper parts, twin cities ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Rain-wind, thundershowers are expected in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeast Punjab, the Pothohar region, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Thursday, with isolated heavy rainfall likely during the evening and night, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said. The forecast comes as Rawalpindi and Islamabad experienced intermittent rain for a second consecutive day, with Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) staff deployed in low-lying areas. However, rainwater could not be drained from the Jamia Girls Higher Secondary School in Rawalpindi, causing difficulties for students and disrupting teaching activities. The body of a girl who drowned in a Rawalpindi stormwater drain on Monday was also recovered. Rescue officials said the girl's dupatta and slippers were found near Gulberg Green, while CCTV footage of the incident has also emerged. According to the PMD, hot and humid weather will prevail in other plain areas of the country. The department warned that heavy rains during the nights of September 3 and 4 could cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot.

Sheikh was appointed to the LHC in May 2021 during the tenure of then-chief justice Gulzar Ahmed. He is the son of senior lawyer Akram Sheikh. Before his elevation to the Bench, Justice Sheikh served as a member of the Pakistan Bar Council and had filed petitions seeking greater transparency in the functioning of the Supreme Judicial Council

and Judicial Commission of Pakistan. His appointment to the LHC had reportedly faced opposition from a section of the then Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf government. Justice Sheikh was also known for his outspoken views on judicial and legal matters. He had reportedly called for the early disposal of bail cases involving female political prisoners affiliated with the PTI during a full court meeting held under then-LHC Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan. His remarks reportedly displeased some senior judges, while reports at the time suggested that the executive could seek the transfer of several LHC judges, including Justice Sheikh, to other high courts. His resignation comes amid a series of departures from the superior judiciary in recent years. Two Supreme Court judges, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah, resigned following the passage of the 27th Amendment. LHC Judge Shams Mahmood Mirza subsequently also stepped down. Earlier, LHC Judge Shahid Jameel resigned in February 2024, while Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz had also tendered his resignation from the high court.

NCCIA reopens Momina Iqbal harassment case as new digital evidence surfaces LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Thursday reissued notices to television actor Momina Iqbal and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Saqib Chadhar after fresh digital evidence emerged in the harassment case, prompting the agency to launch a new probe. According to an NCCIA spokesperson, a special investigation team headed by a deputy director-level officer has been constituted to examine the newly surfaced digital evidence, previous records and other relevant material related to the case. The team has been directed to complete the investigation within one month and submit its findings to the NCCIA director general.

Any decision regarding further legal action will be taken in light of the team’s recommendations, the spokesperson said. The agency cautioned that it would be premature to declare any individual guilty or innocent before completion of the investigation. The fresh probe follows the emergence of additional digital evidence and will involve obtaining statements and relevant information from both Iqbal and Chadhar. Meanwhile, a Lahore district court disposed of the pre-arrest interim bail petitions filed by Chadhar and his wife after their counsel withdrew the pleas. The development came after the new investigating officer, Hassan Sajjad Naqvi, told the court that the arrest of the suspects was not required at the present stage. The position differed from that of the previous investigating officer,

NCCIA Station House Officer Najam Bajwa, who had told the sessions court on July 28 that Chadhar had been found guilty during the investigation. Following the new IO’s statement, Chadhar and his wife withdrew their bail petitions, which the court subsequently disposed of as withdrawn. The controversy began on May 20 when Momina Iqbal took to social media alleging that she had been subjected to prolonged online harassment, cyberbullying and death threats. Without naming anyone, the actor alleged that an MPA affiliated with the PML-N had been threatening her for an extended period. She said she and her family had suffered severe mental stress and trauma and claimed that previous complaints lodged with the NCCIA and FIA had not resulted in action.

Italian embassy warns Pakistani study visa applicants against surge in 'dubious documents' ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The Embassy of Italy in Islamabad warned study visa applicants against submitting forged or dubious documents, saying it had noticed an “unprecedented surge” in questionable paperwork attached to visa applications. “The Embassy of Italy in Islamabad has noticed an unprecedented surge in dubious or forged documents attached to study visa applications. Study visa aspirants are advised to strictly avoid presenting forged documents, particularly those related to means of subsistence,” the embassy said in a post on X. It further warned that submitting such documents could not only lead to the immediate rejec-

tion of the current visa application but may also negatively affect any future applications. On June 6, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott had cautioned against agents deceiving asylum seekers with false assurances of United Kingdom settlement and financial gain, stressing that genuine applicants must submit their applications only through official online systems. She said agents often exploited vulnerable individuals by offering deceptive assurances of asylum and settlement opportunities in exchange for money. She also expressed concern over the rising number of Pakistani nationals applying for political asylum in the UK, noting that nationals currently feature among the top na-

tionalities in such applications. Four days later, during a meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Interior, held under the chairmanship of NA Member Raja Khurram Nawaz, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Dr Usman Anwar said several countries, including those in the European Union, had raised the issue of illegal immigration with Islamabad. In the same meeting, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry highlighted that illegal immigration from Pakistan had decreased by 47%, a decline he said was confirmed by both Europe and the United States. He said the government was placing further checks to ensure that identities are not stolen to curb illegal immigration.

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deputations and post retirement placements ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The Federal Ministry of National Health Services and its subordinate institutions are reportedly facing criticism over what has been described as a growing culture of ad-hoc appointments, deputations and postretirement placements. Sources said several key positions have remained vacant for years, while officers are being assigned additional charges and placed in positions despite concerns over merit and regular appointments. Recently, with the approval of the competent authority, Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Abbas Khan, Director at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) (BS19), was given additional charge as Secretary of the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan (PCP). According to the official letter issued by Section Officer Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abdullah, the additional charge was assigned to fill the administrative gap and in view of the urgency of the situation in the public interest. Dr. Khan will hold the responsibility for three months or until the appointment of a regular incumbent, whichever is earlier. However, questions have been raised over the appointment as it is being alleged that Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Abbas Khan had previously been removed from the position following proceedings by the Federal Ombudsman. Despite this, he has reportedly been given another appointment. The post of Secretary Pharmacy Council of Pakistan has reportedly remained vacant for nearly five years, raising questions about the government’s failure to make a regular appointment to the position. Meanwhile, officials of other government health institutions have also reportedly been assigned responsibilities outside their original positions. Dr. Wali-ur-Rehman of the Federal Government Polyclinic was previously given charge of various programmes, while sources claim that he has spent limited time at the position for which he was originally appointed. Similarly, Dr. Fazal Maula, a former Executive Director of CDA Hospital who has retired from government service, has reportedly been appointed as the head of the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA). Another official, Dr. Arsalan, a dentist associated with the Federal Government Polyclinic, has reportedly been working on various programmes within the Ministry of National Health Services for several years. In another case, Dr. Rizwan Taj, Dean of the Department of Psychology at Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, has reportedly been serving as President of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for around four years.

IHC disposes of NAB appeals against PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf as withdrawn ISLAMABAD

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday disposed of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeals against the acquittal of former prime minister and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf and other accused persons in the Piranghaib and Sahuwal Rental Power Plant (RPP) references. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Ayaz Shaukat heard the cases. In an application submitted to the IHC, the NAB Chairman stated that Reference No. 03/2014 had been filed against the accused over allegations of misuse of authority in the award of a Rental Power Plant (RPP) contract at Sahuwal, Sialkot, in violation of PPRA Rules, causing a loss of Rs20.4 million to the state exchequer. However, the Accountability Court acquitted the accused persons on June 25, 2020. NAB subsequently filed an appeal against the acquittal before the IHC. NAB informed the court that an Executive Board Meeting (EBM) was held at NAB Headquarters on April 28, 2026, where the matter was discussed in detail.

'Zero-Tolerance for Corruption': Punjab CM orders grand crackdown LAHORE

SALEEM JADOON

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered the launch of a zero-tolerance campaign against corruption and malpractice, establishing a special confidential cell to identify corrupt practices and initiate action against those involved, while making Helpline 1350 functional for receiving public complaints. The chief minister directed that reports prepared by the confidential cell be submitted directly to her and that arrests

be made wherever necessary. She also decided to personally monitor anti-corruption action and made an independent review of the quality and expenditure of every development project mandatory. She ordered that complaints regarding corruption be acted upon within the stipulated timeframe and appealed to the public to immediately report any instance of corruption, demand for a bribe or misuse of authority. “Action will be taken on every complaint and the identity of the complainant will be kept completely confidential,”

she said, adding that even a single piece of information provided by the public could help expose an entire network of corruption and bribery. Maryam Nawaz said action against corrupt elements would continue until the looted money was fully recovered. “Corruption is not merely theft of money; it is theft of the rights and trust of the people,” she said. “Any hand reaching for public money will be stopped.” She said a modern monitoring system would be used to oversee development projects, stressing that public funds

must be spent transparently and solely for the welfare of the people. “Public trust is the greatest asset of this government and I will not allow it to be compromised,” the chief minister said. She noted that extensive funds had been released for development projects and warned that no one would be forgiven if even a single penny was not spent transparently. “Those who perform well will be encouraged through the CM Merit Badge, while those involved in corruption will face the law,” Maryam Nawaz said.

PIMS Fire: Police 'begin probe' into deaths of 14 newborns under Section 174 ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Federal Police have launched an inquiry into the deaths of 14 newborn babies at PIMS Hospital under the relevant provisions of criminal law. According to sources, the investigation has been initiated under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which deals with inquiries into certain deaths. As part of the inquiry, statements from suspended PIMS officials are being recorded, sources said. Police at Karachi Company Police Station will record the statements of all officials nominated in connection with the incident,

according to sources. Sources further said the investigation is being conducted in light of the findings and proceedings of the inquiry committee constituted by the Prime Minister to examine the incident. Further proceedings will be carried out based on the findings of the investigation. Nurse Razia Noreen has received widespread recognition for her extraordinary courage during a recent fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), after she risked her own life to rescue a newborn from a burning room. In an interview published by The Washington Post, Razia Noreen said she entered the fire-hit room with the sole objective of

saving the babies and managed to bring a newborn to safety in just eight seconds. Speaking to The Washington Post, Noreen said that when she entered the burning room, she was not thinking about her own safety. Her only concern was to save the children trapped inside. “I did not think about becoming a hero; I simply performed my duty as a nurse and as a mother,” she said, according to the report. Razia Noreen said her sole objective while entering the smoke-filled, burning room was to ensure that the babies survived the incident. Her decision to put herself at risk has since drawn praise from people across different sections of Pakistani society.

Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk