Epaper_26-1-23 LHR

Pakistan siGns trumP-led ‘Board of Peace’ charter to suPPort ‘Ga z a Peace’

g PREMIER SHEHBAZ JOINS GROUP OF WORLD LEADERS IN SIGNING CHARTER OF HIGH-PROFILE INT ’L PLATFORM FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION

g NEW GAZA RECONSTRUCTION PLAN UNVEILED, INCLUDING MODERN SETTLEMENTS AND COMMERCIAL ZONES

g BOARD OF PEACE LAUNCHED IN DAVOS WITH 19 NATIONS, CHAIRED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH GAZA RECONSTRUCTION, DEMILITARIZATION AND INT’L STABILITY ON AGENDA

g HAMAS WARNED TO DISARM OR FACE ‘THE END,’ AS TRUMP VOWS GAZA DEMILITARIZATION

g RAFAH BORDER TO REOPEN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, SIGNALING HOPE FOR PALESTINIANS

charter is now in full

force and the Board of Peace is now an official international organization Trump described the signatories as “friends of mine I like every single one of them,” and said their participation reflected their shared commitment to global peace

ISLAMABAD S ta f f C

Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Thursday in Davos met with Bill Gates on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

The meeting focused on Pakistan’s ongoing reform efforts public health priorities and avenues for strengthening cooperation with the Gates Foundation in support of sustainable development and institutional capacity building

During the meeting, the Finance Minister expressed appreciation for the Gates Foundation’s longstanding support to Pakistan particularly its pivotal role in polio eradication efforts said a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance He acknowledged the Foundation s continued engagement and partnership in addressing public health challenges and strengthening service delivery across the country

Mr Gates shared an overview of the Foundation’s ongoing and future engagement in Pakistan and underscored the importance of sustained efforts to achieve polio eradication

Both sides discussed the need for close coordination with relevant stakeholders and provincial authorities to ensure effective implementation of health initiatives, particularly in areas requiring focused attention They reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate polio and strengthen health systems Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb also thanked Mr Gates for the Foundation s recent communication expressing support for the digitization of Pakistan s taxation system, noting that this initiative was a key component of the government’s broader reform agenda He highlighted that strengthening domestic resource mobilization through transparency and digital solutions remained a top priority closely monitored at the highest level to ensure effective implementation Mr Gates emphasized the critical role of efficient

tax systems in building long-term economic self-reliance and noted that digital tools could significantly enhance tax collection governance and service delivery The Finance Minister agreed, sharing that improved fiscal resilience had strengthened Pakistan s capacity to respond to economic and climate-related challenges reinforcing the importance of reforms aimed at long-term stability The discussion also covered opportunities for expanding cooperation in the health sector including prospects for local vaccine production and strengthening supply chains

Both sides welcomed continued dialogue with relevant ministries and partners

OIL EDGES UP AFTER TRUMP STEPS BACKS FROM TARIFF THREATS OVER GREENL AND

PAKISTAN ACCELERATED VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION SCHEME

L AUNCHED TO BOOST SUBSIDISED EV ADOPTION

board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do, and we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations ” while also stressing that the UN’s potential had not yet been fully realized Pakistan s participation drew attention at the ceremony with state broadcaster PTV News reporting a notable interaction in which Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted Field Marshal Munir s presence to President Trump in the audience Trump acknowledged the field marshal with a smile signaling recognition of Pakistan’s military leadership and its role in supporting regional stability Alongside the prime minister and the field marshal Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also attended the signing ceremony Pakistan joined around 35 countries that have committed to the Board of Peace, even as several major powers and traditional US allies adopted a cautious stance or declined to participate The PMO statement highlighted that these interactions at the WEF both formal and informal underscored Pakistan s active diplomatic engagement on the global stage and its willingness to contribute constructively to international peace and security initiatives Following the signing, Prime Minister Shehbaz, FM Dar, and Field Marshal Munir concluded their official engagements in Davos with a bilateral meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan further cementing Pakistan’s ties with key regional partners Through these engagements Pakistan projected its commitment to global cooperation, peace-building, and economic reform, while reinforcing its strategic and diplomatic outreach at one of the world’s most influential economic forums The Davos visit also allowed Pakistan’s leadership to engage with senior officials and heads of major international organizations providing opportunities for dialogue on trade investment security cooperation and regional stability, as well as highlighting the country s ongoing economic reforms and development initiatives The Prime Minister ’s active participation, alongside the Chief of Defence Forces, sent a strong signal of civil-military coordination in foreign policy and global engagement reinforcing Pakistan s image as a responsible actor in international diplomacy and regional peace efforts

NA erupts over Pakistan’s entr y into Trump -led ‘Board of Peace’ as govt defends move on Palestine grounds

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

“We must not accept the Board of Peace under any circumstances ” he said adding that more than 70 000 civilians had been killed in Gaza during Israel s onslaught with over 100,000 dying of hunger and more than 150,000 rendered homeless He also questioned why parliament or even the cabinet had not been taken into confidence before joining the board Fazl further argued that the creation of such a body, despite the existence of the United Nations and its Security Council, amounted to setting up a parallel authority “Wherever the US goes in the name of peace it leaves destruction behind he said citing Afghanistan Iraq and Libya

Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan also criticised the government for by-

Pakistan

and stressed that, unlike

tional legitimacy

PTI leaders Asad Qaiser and Sheikh Waqas Akram echoed the criticism, warning of diplomatic repercussions and noting that there was not a single Palestinian representative on the board “Any decision unacceptable to Palestinians is unacceptable to the PTI Akram said accusing Trump of seeking to bypass the UN system for his own strategic ambitions In a formal statement, the PTI rejected Pakistan’s participation in the board calling for withdrawal until a comprehensive consultative process

was undertaken The party demanded parliamentary scrutiny consultations with all major political leadership including party founder Imran Khan and even a referendum to ensure public confidence

The statement reiterated PTI’s long-standing position in support of an independent Palestinian state with AlQuds Sharif as its capital stressing that Pakistan s foreign policy must reflect national consensus, constitutional norms and the UN Charter As the debate raged the issue exposed deep political and institutional fault lines over how major foreign policy decisions are taken and who gets to decide amid growing concerns that Pakistan s alignment with the Board of Peace could redefine its diplomatic posture at a critical moment for the Palestinian cause

ered record levels of humanitarian aid, secured the re-

FROM PAGE 01

The event featured an ambitious plan for the reconstruction of Gaza Trump described the devastated Palestinian territory as great real estate and outlined the first steps of what he called a “New Gaza” project Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former property developer presented slides showing master plans for the territory including new settlements gleaming seafront hotels and modern apartment complexes It could be a hope It could be a destination Kushner said emphasizing the need for Gaza s reconstruction to proceed alongside the disarmament of Hamas Trump insisted that Hamas must comply with the ceasefire terms or face “the end” of the movement They have to give up their weapons and if they don t it s going to be the end of them he warned He further asserted that the US is committed to ensuring Gaza is demilitarized, properly governed, and beautifully rebuilt, stressing that the Board of Peace would operate “in conjunction with the United Nations” to achieve its goals

During the ceremony Trump lauded the signatories including PM Shehbaz and reiterated the potential of the board to shape international affairs

Everybody in this room is a star There s a reason you re here When you use that inspired genius for peace, the opposite of peace has no chance,” Trump said He highlighted achievements under Phase 1 of the Gaza ceasefire plan noting that the US had deliv-

lease of 20 Israeli captives, and returned the bodies of most of the deceased PM Shehbaz Sharif who accepted the invitation to join the Board participated in the signing alongside representatives from Argentina Armenia Azer-

, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, UAE, and Uzbekistan While the United States serves as the only permanent member to commit so far the charter requires permanent members to pay $1 billion for membership prompting criticism that

TH E UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health s report, Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era , paints a picture of a world beset by a major global crisis in which global warming plays only an ancillary role It introduces a new term, which deserves more familiarity that it has, that of ‘water bankruptcy’ Hitherto countries and regions or cities have been flagged as water-risk water-stressed or water-scrace The report labels the entire planet as water-bankrupt One frightening implication is that even if the global warming issue is solved which is far from the case the water bankruptcy issue will not be solved If global warming is being caused by the factories of the Global North water bankruptcy is being caused by overuse of renewable water resources drawing down not only the income of renewable flows but also the savings stored in aquifers soils, glaciers, wetlands, and river ecosystems, all over the world, not in any one part of the world, simply because there are too many people using the water for irrigation, washing, drinking, and such very human activities Pakistan is among the countries facing a deterioration in its status, and is already water-stressed, heading towards becoming water-scarce Yet, it has recently suffered a blow from India having suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, even though it could not do so, and was merely trying to oil out of its responsibilities as the upper riparian Though India can only indulge in mischief as it has shown in both the monsoon and winter by trying to cause floods by un-intimated releases of water it presently cannot divert Pakistan’s share of water Pakistan’s position was explained by Pakistan’s acting Permanent Representative to the UN while addressing the Global Water Bankruptcy Roundtable organised by the same institution as issued the report the UN University Unlike global warming, the threat to water resources by and large does not come from far away (except for glacier melt), but from nearby activity However, water bankruptcy does result from human activity While global warming needs collective action by nations, water bankruptcy needs individual regions to take action Better use is needed to ensure that even the present population can be sustained Present wasteful practices make it impossible for the earth to provide people the water they need This has to change, for it is too much to expect the world to tackle two existential crises (the other being climate change) at the same time

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

F i r m c o m p a s s i o n Water bankruptcy

I n t h e s e r v i c e o f I s r a e l ?

UN repor t shows a world dying of thirst S

UM A Niazi

Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

S President Donald Trump has merely confirmed the suspicions of critics of his Gaza peace peace plan by loading his proposed Gaza Peace Council with Zionists and Israel-friendly Arab states while not naming a single Palestinian to it There is also to be an Executive Board which will supervise the Palestinian Committee of technocrats, whose head has also been named, Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian authority deputy minister Also named is the head of the International Stabilization Force, Maj Gen Jasper Jeffords, who played an important role in the Hezbollah-Israel ceasefire last year Apart from the governmental figures the appointments of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner stand out, as American Jewish Zionists, as is Marc Rowan, the billionaire financier who heads the Atlas Group Named to the Executive Board is Israeli real estate mogul Yakir Gabay whose business empire is based in Europe Gabay makes it seem that Trump has not given up on his dream of turning the Gaza Strip into the Riviera of the Middle East With Rowan also on board, Trump has not only the real estate expertise, but also the financial backing necessary for the enterprise Trump has not bothered to appoint any Christian Zionists, unless one counts him and other non-Jewish Americans as Christian Zionists The decision to ask Israel to be represented on the Board seems strange as it is not balanced by an invitation to any representative of the other party to the conflict There may well be no point in naming a Hamas representative Hamas leaders probably remember what happebed to the last Hamas representative: he was killed by the Israeli attack on Qatar Now that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been invited to join the Board the road is also opened for the country to contribute a contingent to the ISF Joining is likely to be justified by two things: first, the need to have a place at the table, to remain engaged with the process Second, the invitation to Indian PM Narendra Modi That is likely to add another pro-Israeli voice to the Council India is also represented by World Bank President Sanjay Banga who is an Indian-American but is the son of an Indian Army lieutenant-general, and thus is more likely than not to be both anti-Pakistan and pro-Israel However, there are voices in Israel, including from within the government which have expressed unhappiness with the composition of the Council National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) slammed the announcement and claimed that the only way to end the war was to clear the Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip does not need any administrative committee’ to oversee its ‘rehabilitation ’ It needs to be cleansed of Hamas terrorists, who must be destroyed alongside massive voluntary emigration in accordance with the original plan of President Trump

Rethinking education for the unseen in Islamabad

dignity to children carrying heavy social and emotional burdens

Many students come from fractured environments poverty displacement lack of supervision, and exposure to harsh realities These experiences don t disappear at the school gate They shape behaviour, language, emotions, and how children respond to authority In such cases education becomes more than teaching subjects; it becomes about helping children rebuild their social skills and confidence

The philosophy in these schools leans on empathy The belief is that patience, care, and gentle guidance will eventually help children adapt Discipline, in the traditional sense, is kept minimal because strictness can feel harsh to children who have faced trauma The intention is humane yet the results are mixed Inside classrooms teachers are held to high professional standards Punctuality, planning, accountability, and conduct are taken seriously

Educators are trained and evaluated often more

strictly than in mainstream schools Students, however, are given more leniency Rules are flexible Authority to correct behaviour is limited This can create an imbalance This is not an argument for harsh punishment It is simply an observation: when compassion is not combined with clear guidance behavioural improvement can be inconsistent Some students respond very well, showing confidence where there was fear, discipline where there was chaos They are proof of the system’s potential But most students arrive without a clear understanding of boundaries Kindness alone is not enough to shape behaviour It sometimes normalizes disruption This is not a failure of the school s intent, but a limitation of approach Pakistan’s education system rarely addresses this phase National discussions focus on enrolment numbers literacy and infrastructure What happens after children enter school receives less attention For welfare schools the real work begins there Teaching math is simpler than teaching restraint Grammar is easier than teaching respect These are not academic problems, they are social and psychological These schools have never claimed to solve all challenges Leadership is aware of the fragility of the children they serve Their reluctance to impose strict discipline comes from fear of doing harm, not negligence Still, it raises a broader question: Does avoiding discipline protect children, or does it delay their adaptation to structured society?

Another angle of criticism came from those who want the return of all hostages among them the parents of Ran Gvilli, the last Israeli hostage, whose body is held by Hamas This element feels that the Israeli government should not have moved to the next stage after the release of hostages to the Peace Council until the fate of the last hostage Gvili This ignores the fact that Hamas lost control of the hostages including some bodies because of Israeli bombardment, both by artillery and from the air Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich based his attack on the inclusion of Turkiye and Qatar, both of which he accused of harbouring Hamas, saying that Hamas would be back because it had been given a voice on the Council It might be some relief to Pakistan that it is not included among such countries even though it might be the cause of some chagrin for India The criticism by two ministers occurs because the Netanyahu government is a coalition, and also that while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unhappy with the Council’s composition he does not want to criticize it himself Even if ministers belong to different parties they would not dare make such remarks without tacit consent, if not actually instructions, from their principal Smotrich would prefer to see military action continue, and to clear the Gaza Strip of Hamas, as well as to get the Gazans to leave He spoke of Trump’s plan which was actually inspired by Zionist thinking of how to deal with the Gaza Strip The chairman of the technocrats committee Ali Shaath, is a civil engineer, with a doctorate from Belfast University, and a native of the Gaza Strip, hailing from Khan Younis This qualifies him for the task of converting the Gaza Strip into a befitting Riviera He represents the last shred of the role

i n k w i t h Pa l e s t i n e : t h e p a r a l l e l s b e t w e e n t h e

Pa l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e Ês s t r u g g l

Globally, trauma-informed education models stress “firm compassion”, a balance where empathy goes hand in hand with clear rules Boundaries are not punishment; they are a form of care For children who grew up without structure consistency can be as important as kindness Welfare education in Pakistan may be approaching a critical point Access alone is no longer enough Sustainability of behavioural reform matters Without giving teachers authority and institutional support to enforce fair discipline schools risk achieving only partial success They save children from exclusion but may not fully prepare them to integrate into society

This does not lessen their contribution It highlights the complexity of the task Educating underprivileged children is not a simple success story; it is a constant balance between mercy and order patience and progress Recognizing the limits of kindness strengthens rather than weakens humanitarian work

Perhaps the next phase of welfare education lies not in choosing between compassion and discipline, but in redefining discipline as structured guidance rooted in dignity Schools quietly working in the shadows of the capital are in a unique position to lead this conversation These observations are not criticism of any single school, but reflections on challenges faced by many welfare-based schools in Pakistan

If Pakistan is serious about breaking cycles of deprivation it must look beyond enrolment numbers and ask the harder question: How do we teach children not only to survive school but to function confidently in society? The answer may start with admitting that kindness, while essential, is not always enough on its own

The writer is a freelance columnist

A dangerous gamble

A test of intent

WUS–Venezuela unilateralism: Imperial methods in a post-imperial age

The common thread is not ideology but method: power first, legality later What makes the USA–Venezuela episode particularly consequential is precedent When Washington claims the right to project its domestic law beyond its borders without multilateral consent it weakens its ability to object when others do the same The ICJ s judgment in Nicaragua v United States (1986) was unequivocal: the use of force to influence the political order of another state violates international law, regardless of motive That ruling remains binding jurisprudence Ignoring it does not make it obsolete it makes the system optional Equally alarming is the erosion of constitutional restraint at home The US Constitution deliberately divides war powers, requiring congressional authorisation, consultation, and oversight When the executive bypasses these checks invoking expansive doctrines or emergency powers it undermines the very legal culture it claims to export Domestic shortcuts and external overreach are two sides of the same coin This selective approach to law is not confined to one theatre The unilateral and contested recognition of Somaliland outside African Union frameworks and without a UN process illustrates how sovereignty is increasingly dispensed through strategic endorsement rather than multilateral consensus The continued settlement expansion in the West Bank, carried out in defiance of the Fourth Geneva Convention and repeatedly criticised by the UN shows how illegality can be normalised through repetition and diplomatic fatigue In Kashmir the promise made by the UN on 5 January 1949 affirming the Kashmiri people s right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite has been hollowed out not by legal ambiguity but by sustained political avoidance Pakistan s position has remained anchored in

those resolutions; India’s approach has been to exhaust them into irrelevance History offers a sharp contrast East Timor s people were eventually allowed a UN-supervised referendum after decades of repression, once international resolve overcame geopolitical hesitation Kosovo’s political future was reshaped through sustained international engagement debated openly within multilateral forums including the ICJ s advisory opinion (2010) These cases demonstrate that self-determination and sovereignty are not impractical ideals; they are selectively applied principles Where compliance challenges powerful allies or strategic interests law is deferred indefinitely The broader pattern is unmistakable International law is not being abolished; it is being curated It is invoked rigorously against adversaries and diluted for friends This is not a rules-based order but a preference-based one As legal scholar Martti Koskenniemi has long argued when law be-

comes an instrument of power rather than a constraint upon it legitimacy collapses The result is not stability but a proliferation of unilateralism each justified by the last There are lawful alternatives International law provides tools for accountability: multilateral

has transformed the internationally recognised dispute of Jammu and Kashmir into an internal administrative issue through unilateral constitutional changes, prolonged militarisation and demographic engineering

In Kashmir, the promise made by the UN on 5 January 1949 affirming the Kashmiri peopleÊs right to self-determination through a free and impartial plebiscite has been hollowed out not by legal ambiguity but by sustained political avoidance PakistanÊs position has remained anchored in those resolutions; IndiaÊs approach has been to exhaust them into irrelevance.

Only Jewish-Arab cooperation, peace with Palestinians will let Israel be a democracy

Standardization for example has developed a safety standard for personal care robots and is in the process of updating the standard to reflect rapid technological change As we write these rules we should remain attentive to the benefits robots can bring especially for the elderly and the disabled Helper robots will be especially valuable in rapidly aging societies Waymo is testing its vehicles in Japan, a country where the workforce has been shrinking since 1995 An International Monetary Fund paper dubbed Japan the “land of the rising robots”, a moniker that will soon be appropriate for more and more countries Tragic encounters with robots can provoke public backlash In 2018 during testing in Arizona an Uber self-driving car struck a woman who was walking her bicycle laden with shopping bags across a multi-lane road at night outside a crosswalk The human safety driver, who was supposed to be monitoring operations looked up from her phone too late This was the first recorded instance of a pedestrian fatality involving a self-driving vehicle and the resulting public outcry led Uber to dismantle its self-driving car research More recently, in October 2025, a neighborhood cat named “Kit Kat” was killed when it hid under a stopped Waymo car in San Francisco

identity These opposition Jewish-Israeli political parties and their leaders present themselves as those working to stop the extremists who have been legitimized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but they have adopted the same language used by the right-wing and religious extremists in the current government Even two previous prime ministers

TEHRAN AG E N C E S

THE commander of Iran s Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Pakpour, issued a stern warning to Washington and Tel Aviv on Thursday, stating that the force had its “finger on the trigger” in the wake of mass protests and ongoing tensions His comments came after US President Donald Trump indicated that Iran still appeared open to talks despite rising hostilities Trump, who has left the door open to further military action against Iran, emphasized in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the US had targeted Iranian uranium enrichment sites to prevent the development of a nuclear weapon However, Iran denies any intent to develop nuclear arms, maintaining its program is peaceful The rhetoric has been increasingly heated following a series of protests in Iran which began in late December and challenged the rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah

Ali Khamenei The protests were met with a violent crackdown, leaving thousands dead and causing an unprecedented internet blackout Despite the crackdown there were signs in recent weeks that both sides were willing to explore diplomatic options though Trump has indicated that military action remains on the table In response, General Pakpour cautioned both Israel and the US to learn from past experiences and historical events particularly the 12-day war that took place earlier in the year He warned that any miscalculation could lead to a far worse outcome stating, The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and dear Iran have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders of the supreme commander-in-chief ” The Revolutionary Guards which have been heavily involved in the crackdown on protesters, are sanctioned as a terrorist organization by the US, Canada, and Australia Their role in the Iranian regime’s response to the protests has drawn widespread international condemnation

Pakpour s warning was reinforced by another senior Iranian military official, General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, who declared that in the event of a US attack all US interests bases and centers of influence in the region would be considered legitimate targets Meanwhile, Iran s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a recent opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, reaffirmed the country’s readiness for negotiations but made it clear that Iran would not hesitate to retaliate if provoked In a related development Iranian authorities released an official toll from the recent protests, claiming 3,117 people had been killed The Iranian government distinguished between “martyrs” (members of security forces and innocent bystanders) and “rioters” supported by foreign powers particularly the US labeling the latter group as responsible for the unrest This latest exchange of threats and diplomatic statements underscores the volatile situation between Iran and the US, as both nations grapple with the consequences of their ongoing tensions

E-Governance and a Corruption-Free System

tion with contemporary global practices As a result Punjab s governance framework is now being referenced by other provinces and examined by policy practitioners beyond Pakistan

10 Indian soldiers dead

development and institutional efficiency remain the true benchmarks of leadership, and it is against these standards that the Punjab government’s record is increasingly being judged Over the past two years the Punjab Government has pursued a governance model that places technology transparency and service delivery at the centre of public administration Rather than relying on ad hoc initiatives, the focus has been on structural reform particularly through the integration of digital systems across government departments This shift toward e-governance aims to modernise state institutions, reduce discretionary power, and align provincial administra-

A notable feature of the Punjab government has been its emphasis on execution While government leaders used to announce projects that stalled at the planning stage, the CM Punjab has prioritized initiatives designed for completion within defined timelines The approach reflects a move away from symbolic politics toward measurable performance Developments in public transport, agriculture, education, and administrative reform point to a governance style focused on visible results Central to this transformation has been the recognition that effective governance in the modern era depends on robust digital infrastructure Under the direction of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif Punjab’s public institutions have undergone a systematic transition from manual, paper-based processes to integrated digital platforms Key administrative functions ranging from ACRs and leave management to postings transfers and pension cases have been consolidated under the e-Filing and Office Automation System These reforms have not only improved internal efficiency but have also strengthened oversight and accountability The introduction of e-FOAS and e-procurement has fundamentally altered the pace and transparency of government oper-

ations The traditional file culture long associated with delays and inefficiencies, has been replaced by paperless workflows that allow real-time tracking and monitoring Development projects are assessed against predefined schedules reducing cost overruns and minimising the lapse of funds This shift has encouraged a performance-oriented culture within the bureaucracy, reinforcing discipline in both planning and execution To further enhance transparency third-party validation of development schemes has been made mandatory This mechanism ensures that public funds are utilised not only efficiently but also responsibly In parallel the launch of the e-Biz Portal has simplified regulatory processes for businesses by enabling online acquisition of No Objection Certificates By eliminating repeated office visits and discretionary decision-making the portal has reduced opportunities for corruption while improving the ease of doing business in the province Digitization has also reshaped the functioning of the Civil Secretariat and government offices across Punjab The conversion of paper-based workflows into digital systems has generated significant savings in administrative costs while improving record management and institutional memory Through eFOAS files are digitally monitored and delays are automatically flagged to senior management allowing timely intervention and corrective action

This level of oversight represents a substantive step toward responsive and accountable governance Public procurement reforms have followed a similarly comprehensive path The entire procurement cycle from advertisement to bid submission and contract award has been digitized through e-Tendering The system enforces compliance with procurement rules, safeguards data integrity, and minimises human intervention Open access to tender information and digital bidding has promoted competition and transparency resulting in notable savings for the public exchequer To support this transition, 14,216 officials from 6 641 different offices across Punjab have been trained in eprocurement procedures At present 23 302 suppliers are registered on the e-procurement platform, and 843,739 procurement activities have already been completed province-wide underscoring the scale and institutional depth of the reform It s satisfying that the institutional capacitybuilding has supported these reforms, and the e-procurement platform has emerged as a central pillar of public financial management in Punjab At the executive level governance oversight has been strengthened through the establishment of the Chief Minister s Dashboard at the Chief Minister’s Office This digital platform enables real-time monitoring of government projects and initiatives providing live data to support decision-making transparency, and accountability Continuous oversight through the dashboard allows effective tracking of progress close scrutiny of project transparency, and timely corrective action, reinforcing accountability at the highest level of government

C i t i z e n - c e n t r i c services have also undergone significant reform through the launch of the ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ initiative a flagship digital service that delivers more than 76 government services directly to citizens doorsteps via a mobile application Services that once required repeated visits to government off i c e s i n c l u d i n g certificates and official documentation

can now be accessed from home with faster processing Against a target of 2 747 828 services 2 272 357 services have already been delivered reflecting strong public uptake and growing trust in digital service delivery Transparency and public access to information have also improved through the rapid development of official government websites To date 575 websites of government institutions have been completed across Punjab, strengthening public access to information and institutional visibility Alongside this the Chief Minister s Complaint Cell operates round the clock enabling registration, monitoring, and resolution of citizen grievances So far, 647,652 complaints have been received, of which 626,690 have been resolved reflecting a more responsive and citizen-focused administrative culture Land administration a historically sensitive area of governance, has also seen substantive progress The Punjab Government has completed e-registration of approximately 25 000 mauzas while 77 percent of mauzas across the province have already been digitized The target of completing full land record digitisation by August 2026 is expected to significantly reduce disputes manipulation and uncertainty in revenue records marking a decisive step toward long-term institutional reform

Equally consequential has been the restoration of merit in appointments and transfers Postings across departments, including the police are governed by defined criteria and performance indicators The chief minister s direct engagement in evaluating senior officers underscores an emphasis on accountability and professional competence Officers demonstrating strong performance are formally recognized reinforcing incentives for integrity and service delivery

Collectively, these reforms point to a governance philosophy anchored in discipline, transparency and public service With a stated policy of zero tolerance for corruption the Punjab Government has sought to institutionalise accountability rather than rely on individual discretion As the administration completes its second year Punjab appears better positioned administratively than it was two years ago supported by digital systems, clearer rules, and a renewed focus on delivery Whether these reforms achieve their full potential will depend on continuity and consolidation but their direction has already begun to reshape the province s governance landscape

The writer is the Minister for Information and Culture, Punjab

CASS emphasises youth engagement as key to realising Pakistan’s space potential

The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies ( titled Space and Pakistan s Future: Mobilising the Youth and Fostering Innovation as part of its Tech Talk series on 21 January 2026 The session brought together experts and researchers to examine the evolving significance of space and the role of youth in Pakistan s national space ecosystem In his opening remarks Air Marshal (Retd) Javaid Ahmed President

N a landmark step towards environmental protection and modern policing, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday inaugurated Pakistan’s first-ever ‘Green Policing Unit’, marking a new chapter in eco-friendly

tinue under a zero-tolerance policy against elements causing losses to national resources

Are

we

LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t

The 14th important meeting of

Punjab Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani President Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari, MPA Bilal Yamin Satti, Deputy Secretary Adnan Rasheed, and Pakistan Journalists Foundation representatives

the

the

unanimously approved the

plan of Journalists Colony Phase II While briefing the participants, Secretary Information Punjab Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani said the housing scheme would feature modern facilities including schools wide roads ranging from 40 to 100 feet, commercial areas and parks He informed the meeting that Rs400 million

ISLAMABAD s

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The National Skills University (NSU) Islamabad has entered into a transformative skills-education partnership with Shandong Xinxu International Corporation marking a significant milestone in Pakistan s higher education and applied skills development landscape

The Letter of Understanding (LoU) signing ceremony was held in Islamabad, with the Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui gracing the occasion as Chief Guest The LoU was signed on behalf of Shandong Xinxu International Corporation by Ms Tracy Li Chief Executive Officer, while Prof Dr Muhammad Mukhtar, Founding Vice Chancellor of NSU, represented the university Senior university leadership and a high-level delegation from the Chinese partner company were also present underscoring the strategic importance of the collaboration Under the agreement Shandong Xinxu International Corporation will make an initial investment of USD 30 million to upgrade NSU s academic infrastructure, laboratories, workshops, and training ecosystems in line with international vocational and applied technology standards

As part of this commitment Xinxu will also provide land for the establishment of a National Skills University campus in Karachi Pakistan s economic hub, with an initial allocation of USD 10 million from the committed funds

The partnership will focus on modernizing curricula through applied competency-based education models inspired by China’s advanced vocational system particularly the Zibo Polytechnic framework Key areas of integration include Industry 4 0 technologies smart manufacturing, automation, digital construction, renewable energy systems, and advanced applied engineering, translating policy-level cooperation into

practical classroom, laboratory, and workshop outcomes To ensure effective implementation and strategic oversight the Parties shall establish a Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Given Xinxu s substantial longterm investment implementation responsibilities and contributions to facilities, laboratories, and systems developed under this collaboration, operations shall be governed under a joint governance framework, with Xinxu holding a majority strategic interest subject to applicable laws regulations and statutory approvals National Skills University Islamabad shall retain its public-sector university status while enhanced executive authority for international programs and collaborative initiatives will be exercised through Xinxu-nominated leadership, in close coordination with NSU’s statutory governance structures Faculty development forms a central pillar of the collaboration Chinese experts will support trainingof-trainers programs co-teaching arrangements and localization of academic content enabling a gradual transition of academic leadership to Pakistani faculty while elevating instructional quality across disciplines For Pakistani youth, the partnership offers tangible benefits through internships apprenticeships and structured employment pipelines linked to domestic industry CPEC Phase-II projects and international labor markets enhancing employability both within Pakistan and abroad

living to die, or dying to live?

dying to truly live? Many religions promise an afterlife Heaven, paradise, salvation, afterlife, or eternal peace are presented as consequences of how one lives in the present world rather than being presented as an abstract reward Life if seen through this spectrum is not something random or meaningless but is preparatory The present is not a destination but a passage A stage of performance on which every action holds meaning and leads to consequences This belief has historically shaped moral system social behavior and personality accountability However in a world obsessed with material success and speed the awareness of this preparation appears to be fading Religion does not merely speak of life after death, but emphasizes on the re-

sponsibilities before death Actions are not isolated but moral investments Good deeds are not wasted and wrong doing is not erased by time Whether framed through divine judgement, or moral accountability, the underlying idea remains consistent, what we do here echoes beyond this life The present world becomes a testing ground where intentions are weighed and choices matter Yet paradoxically while belief in afterlife persists its practical influence has weakened Many people profess faith while living as though consequences end with death Ethics become conditional, honesty negotiable and compassion optional This contradiction raises an unsettling possibility Perhaps we believe in the afterlife in the theory but we live as if only this world exists Modern busyness plays a crucial role in this disconnection Life today is not just fast but it is consuming Productivity is glorified rest is guilt ridden and self-worth is often measured by output rather than character In this environment reflection feels like a luxury People no longer sit with their thoughts, silence has become uncomfortable The result is a life lived in autopilot, where moral reflection is postponed indefinitely Busyness also alters priorities Success is defined by income status and visibility while values like humility pa-

tience and accountability are sidelined The pressure to “keep up” leaves little space to ask whether the path itself is worth following When life becomes a race, death feels like an interruption rather than a culmination Consequently, the afterlife is treated as a distant concept rather than an imminent reality This detachment is menacing When individual stop viewing life as preparation actions lose depth Kindness becomes transactional morality situational and repentance become an afterthought Religious teachings consistently warn against this mindset The purpose of remembering death is not to instill fear but awareness It reminds humans that power is temporary time is limited and justice is ultimately unavoidable At the same time, the idea of the afterlife should not be misunderstood as an escape of worldly responsibility Many mistakenly believe that focusing on life after death diminishes engagement with the present In reality the opposite is true When life is seen as preparation actions become more meaningful not less Work gains integrity, relationships gain sincerity, and choices gain weight Living responsibility becomes an act of faith, not neglect This perspective also reframes sufferings and struggles Difficulties are no longer viewed as pointless misfortunes but as tests that shapescharacter Patience resilience and ethical consistency acquire value beyond immediate outcomes In this framework losing morally is worse than losing materially because consequences are not confined to this world The question, then, is not whether we are living or dying but how consciously we are doing either If death is inevitable, ignoring it does not cancel its certainty If an afterlife exists neglecting preparation does not eliminate accountability Perhaps the tragedy of modern life is not disbelief but distraction We are too busy to reflect, to occupied to repent, and too exhausted to question the direction we are heading in So are we living to die merely filling time until the inevitable arrives? Or are we dying to live shaping our present in anticipation of a life beyond this one? The answer lies not in declarations of belief, but in daily choices How we treat others when no one is watching How we act when convenience conflicts with conscience How we prioritize values over velocity In the end life is not just about existing until death nor is death the end of existence Life is a preparation and death is a transition Recognizing this does not make life bleak, it makes it purposeful Perhaps slowing down reflecting and reconnecting with accountability is not a retreat from modern life but a rescue from its emptiness

TPresident Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday approved the confirmation and extension of tenure of additional judges in the Sindh Lahore and Peshawar High Courts, in accordance with the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif For the Sindh High Court the president confirmed 10 additional judges: Justices Miran Muhammad Shah Tasneem Sultana, Riazat Ali Sahar, Muhammad

30 bodies were recovered from a single gutted shop, “Dubai Crockery,” located on the mezzanine floor Karachi South Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that with these recoveries the death toll was estimated to have

Hasan Abdul Hamid Bhurgi Jan Ali Junejo, Nisar Ahmed Bhanbhro, Ali Haider ‘Ada’, Muhammad Osman Ali Hadi and Muhammad Jaffer Raza Additionally six-month extensions were granted to Justices Khalid Hussain Shahani and Syed Faiz ul Hassan Shah In the Lahore High Court 11 additional judges were confirmed, including Justices Hassan Nawaz Makhdoom, Malik Waqar Haider Awan, Sardar Akbar Ali, Syed Ahsan Raza Kazmi, Malik Javed Iqbal Wains Muhammad Jawad Zafar Khalid Ishaq Malik Muhammad Awais Khalid Ch Sultan Mahmood Tanveer

also given a six-month extension as an additional judge of the LHC For the Peshawar High Court, the confirmation of six additional judges was approved: Justices Muhammad Tariq Afridi Abdul Fayaz Salah ud Din Sadiq Ali Syed Mudasser Ameer and Qazi Jawad Ehsanullah Meanwhile, six-month extensions were granted to Justices Farah Jamshed, Inam Ullah Khan, Sabit Ullah Khan and Aurangzeb

The approvals mark a major round of judicial confirmations and extensions across the country s three high courts

S ta f f r e p o r t A fresh westerly weather system has spread across the country triggering snowfall in upper regions and rainfall in the plains with the Meteorological Department warning of a sharp drop in temperatures and a more intense spell of cold in the days ahead Meteorological Department Director General Mehr Sahibzada Khan said a series of westerly winds was affecting both northern areas and low-lying regions bringing snow to higher altitudes and rain to parts of the plains including the federal capital In an interview with Samaa TV, he said the rainfall was expected to ease

dense fog in several plain areas improving visibility However he cautioned that the overall cold would intensify as temperatures continue to fall across the country According to the Met Office, temperatures in Islamabad could drop to around the freezing point while another system bringing rain and snowfall is likely to enter the country within the next few days In Balochistan snowfall has been reported from several areas, including Ziarat, Kan Mehtarzai, Chaman, Qila Abdullah and Qila Saifullah Intermittent snowfall has also continued in Quetta the Provincial Disaster Management Authority said PDMA Director General Jahanzeb Khan said rescue teams and heavy ma-

chinery had been deployed in snow and rain-affected areas with clearance operations under way on highways disrupted by snowfall He said work was ongoing to restore traffic on the national highway in Muslim Bagh where landslides occurred due to rain and snow adding that relief materials had already been dispatched to vulnerable areas as a precaution The PDMA has cancelled leave for all officers and staff across Balochistan, directing them to remain on duty as the situation continues to evolve Officials said the weather conditions were being monitored continuously and that the authority remained fully prepared to respond to any emergency arising from the ongoing cold spell

told that social media companies registered in their home countries do not consider themselves bound by the laws of other states Complaints from other countries the PTA said are reviewed by these platforms strictly under their own internal policies rather than local laws

n t Rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, spent a second consecutive night at the office of Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) President Wajid Gilani on Thursday citing fears of arrest amid a heavy police presence around the Islamabad High Court The couple had secured pre-arrest bail on Wednesday in a case dating back to July 2025 but did not appear before the court on Thursday in a separate matter linked to a controversial tweet Speaking to visitors Mazari said she was willing to surrender but demanded transparency from authorities We do not want any concession We are sitting here to surrender, she said “We will go ourselves just tell us how many cases have been registered against us Lawyers’ bodies sharply criticised the police deployment around the high court District Bar Islamabad President Naeem Gujar alleged that police had cordoned off the court from all four sides and were harassing lawyers The boots of lawyers vehicles are being checked, and lawyers are being harassed,” he said, appealing to the prime minister interior minister and army chief He also demanded a complete list of cases against Mazari and Chattha to ensure due process Chairman of the Islamabad Bar Council Executive Committee Zafar Khokhar echoed the concerns, calling the situation alarming “It feels like there is a law of the jungle here ” he said insisting that the couple be granted their right to a fair trial if any offence had been committed IHCBA President Wajid Gilani

warned that the Bar would respond if the situation was not resolved “When someone files a bail application no one has the right to harass them ” he said stressing respect for legal protections Mazari and Chattha first took refuge at the Bar president s office on Tuesday night after arrest warrants were issued in connection with a newly surfaced FIR registered at Kohsar Police Station on July 26 2025 following a protest by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) The FIR emerged shortly after the Islamabad High Court reinstated their bail in a separate case under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 The developments have drawn criticism from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) which termed the FIR fabricated and expressed concern over what it described as continued harassment of the couple