g PM ARRIVES IN JEDDAH AS PAKISTAN TAKES ALLIES ON BOARD ON IRAN-US TALKS
g IRAN CONFIRMS ONGOING BACKCHANNEL EXCHANGES WITH US VIA ISLAMABAD
g TRUMP SIGNALS POSSIBLE BREAKTHROUGH, HINTS AT RETURN TO PAKISTAN FOR TALKS
JEDDAH
g TEHRAN STANDS FIRM ON NUCLEAR RIGHTS, SIGNALS FLEXIBILITY ON ENRICHMENT LEVELS
s
time for Pakistan s external financing needs and would help reinforce foreign exchange reserves and strengthen the country s external account
He reiterated the government s commitment to
maintaining reserves in line with its obligations to markets and under the IMF-supported programme including the objective of achieving around USD 18 billion in reserves, equivalent to approximately 3 3 months of import cover, by the end of the fiscal year
The Finance Minister noted that Pakistan had successfully repaid its USD 1 4 billion Eurobond last week describing it as a non-event and reaffirmed that the government remained fully com-
obligations and maturities on time He emphasized
and disciplined manner
Referring to his engagements in Washington Senator Aurangzeb said that he, along with the Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan s Ambassador to the United States, had held a detailed meeting with Saudi Finance Minister, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan
PAKISTAN PUSHES TARIFF REFORMS, INVITES EUROPEAN INVESTMENT AS GLOBAL SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS RESHAPE TRADE DYNAMICS
The Competition Commission of Pakistan
After examining the structure of the
the commission determined that the market remains fragmented, with several service providers operating alongside airlines that maintain their own in-house maintenance capabilities The assessment concluded that the acquisition would neither alter the competitive landscape nor create or strengthen a dominant market position The regulator also found no horizontal overlap between the acquiring entity and the target company indicating that the transaction does not pose risks related to market concentration or
g power division linKs teMpor ary shortfall to reduced reservoir releases, say s iMpr oved water inflows and rlng avail abilit y ex pec ted to ease pressure
The decline in hydropower generation has been attributed to reduced water releases from major reservoirs, as provinces have demanded less water compared to last year Authorities explained that water discharge from dams is being managed by IRSA strictly in line with provincial requirements, which remain low due to ongoing crop harvesting and recent rainfall
The spokesperson expressed regret over the additional unannounced load shedding acknowledging the inconvenience caused to consumers We apologize for the extra load management necessitated by reduced hydel availability, the statement said To mitigate the situation, load management has been restricted to nighttime hours only while no shortfall is being reported during the daytime
The Power Division expressed optimism that the situation will improve in the coming days, as water releases from dams are expected to increase, leading to higher hydel generation Additionally improved availability of RLNG is also likely to support electricity supply Consumers have been urged to minimize electricity usage during peak night hours and adopt energy conservation practices to help ease the burden on the power system
G ovt opens registration for used car
with a possible return to Pakistan as the venue Speaking to American media, Trump suggested that Islamabad s mediation particularly under the role of Field Marshal Munir has increased the likelihood of renewed engagement “We’re more inclined to go there ” Trump said praising Munir s efforts and hinting that Pakistan could again host the next round of talks instead of alternative locations previously considered in Europe In a separate interview, Trump described the discussions as progressing “a little bit slow” but expressed optimism that a resolution may be within reach even suggesting that the broader conflict with Iran could be very close to over The latest developments underscore Pakistan s emerging role as a key diplomatic intermediary in one of the world s most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints With high-level visits, ongoing message exchanges, and cautious optimism from Washington the coming days may prove decisive in determining whether fragile dialogue can translate into a concrete breakthrough
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
For
with both years revised upward Under an adverse scenario involving larger and more persistent increases in energy prices, the IMF said global growth would slow to 2 5% in 2026, while inflation would reach 5 4% In that case, oil prices are
above 6% by 2027 It added that the impact on emerging markets and developing economies would be almost twice that on advanced economies In that severe case the IMF assumed oil prices would increase by 100% from the second quarter of
said global growth would fall to about 2% in 2026 while headline inflation would be just
TH E USA and Iran have until April 22, less than a week, to make a go of a second round of talks in Pakistan US President Donald Trump disclosed that the talks, which broke down on Sunday will resume Though US team leader VicePresident J D Vance had said the breakdown was over Iran’s nuclear programme reports indicate that the basic principle of a delay in Iranian enrichment had been agreed and it was a matter of deciding how long Iran was going to postpone its enrichment The USA wanted a 20-year pause, Iran proposed only five In addition, there was the question of what would become of the stockpile of uranium that Iran had which was enriched to 60 percent Despite the heavy bombing, that stockpile has not yet been eliminated The issue of the Hormuz Strait also remain unresolved, whether it is to be a free waterway, or for Iran to have control
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Li, meanwhile, has proposed a four-point peace plan in a meeting with UAE Crown Prince Khaled ibn Mohammad ibn Zayed The meeting was significant for China is supposed to be one of countries supporting Iran while the UAE is not only an Arab country which recognizes Israel, but which is among the victims of Iranian strikes against it One of the salient features of this conflict is that a multitude of countries have got involved, primarily because of the Hormuz Strait One of the more interesting developments is how this conflict has led to increased coordination among what is being called the Quad Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt are tied in varying degrees by bilateral ties, with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia having signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement Though all are allied with the USA the latest developments are forcing them to review their security arrangements which make them all wary of over-dependence on the USA
However whatever might develop in the future at the moment the focus must be on preventing conflict breaking out again Talks must succeed because time is running out on the ceasefire, while new issues have been added, such as the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Everyone, including Pakistan, is being given a second chance The world is waiting with bated breath in the hope that the main combatants get it right this time
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
are
families to be great again Central to his campaign were promises
WI T H the apparent collapse of the US talks with Iran, President Donald Trump finds himself in a box with no easy way out Polls are showing that key elements of his winning electoral coalition are growing weary of the war and frustrated with its domestic consequences As we approach the midterm elections, Republicans in Congress are also nervous about how voters may react when they go to the polls
There are several Republican-related groups to consider, each with concerns of their own The establishment Republican elites wanted one thing from President Trump: smaller government with lower taxes Because Trump never fit the mould of a true conservative given his flamboyant and at times outrageous behaviour, these more traditional conservatives were initially hesitant to embrace Trump s candidacy However, when he reduced regulations on their industries lowered their taxes and began to reduce government outlays for social programs while increasing defense expenditures they came on board The religious conservatives were also initially concerned that Trump s own personal immoral behaviour and his past positions on a range of social issues might not be in sync with their “traditional values” agenda Here too he has mollified concerns by issuing Executive Orders and appointing federal judges that support the Christian conservatives programme Most consequential to this president s success is the group now referred to as MAGA ( Make America Great Again ) supporters- that is the diverse collection of voters who have hitched their hopes to President Trump’s success Many of these voters had previously identified as Democrats They are folks who feel left behind by the changing economy have lost hope that they or their children can achieve the American dream and feel abandoned by policymakers in Washington They embraced Donald Trump when he told them he understood their pain and that he alone could fix what was wrong by reordering our governmental priorities, enabling both America and their communities and
between universities, technology companies and government agencies can create an ecosystem where innovation is sufficiently supported and encouraged Artificial intelligence raises serious questions about the future of employment Artificial intelligence can significantly improve efficiency and productivity, but it can also disrupt the job markets In Pakistan where a significant proportion of the workforce is engaged in lowskilled labour a swift transition into an AI-driven economy will require careful scrutiny Skill development and vocational training must be prioritized by policymakers to ensure that the workers acclimatize to new technological realities At the same time AI has the potential to address some of Pakistan s unresolved development challenges In healthcare machine learning tools can assist doctors in accurate diagnosis In agriculture, AI-powered comprehensive data analysis can help farmers increase crop yields and manage water resources more efficiently Intelligent systems can significantly improve urban planning disaster management and public service delivery
To fully benefit from artificial intelligence, Pakistan requires a coordinated national strategy The strategy should encourage innovation within the private sector, prioritize research funding and promote a collaboration between academia and industry An ethical and regulatory framework must also be engineered that ensures that AI-driven technologies are used responsibly and transparently
The future of artificial intelligence in Pakistan will ultimately be determined by the country’s investment in technological capabilities today With an expanding digital economy a young population and a growing awareness of the technology Pakistan possesses a considerable potential to be an active participant in the global AI landscape Truly realizing the potential will require long-term vision, sustained investment and an unwavering commitment to a knowledge-based economy Artificial intelligence is no longer a future possibility; it is being rapidly adopted by modern societies The question is not whether AI will shape the country s future, but whether the country adapts to this technological revolution is still an unanswered question
The writer can be reached at taimurator@gmail com
Shariah finance blocked
TAImOOr reHmAN
Trump’s clash with the Pope and the Hormuz blockade
Tnorms This legal ambiguity is pre-
cisely what makes the current situation so volatile each side claims legitimacy, while the risk of confrontation escalates Compounding this already tense environment is a dramatic shift in the narrative from geopolitical rivalry to ideological confrontation In an unexpected and deeply symbolic clash Pope Leo XIV has openly challenged the moral justification of the war representing over 2 4 billion Christians worldwide, the Pope has reiterated a longstanding doctrine: that war, especially one targeting civilians is fundamentally incompatible with the teachings of the Gospel His call for peace diplomacy and humanitarian restraint stands in stark contrast to the rhetoric emerging from Washington President Trump, however, has framed the conflict in existential terms, asserting that military action is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons a claim that continues to dominate US strategic thinking In his public statements he has gone further, suggesting divine endorsement of his actions, thereby transforming a policy dispute into a theological confrontation The result is a dangerous convergence of faith and force where opposing worldviews are no longer confined to policy debates but are amplified through religious narratives This escalation is further complicated by shifting alliances and growing dissent within the Western bloc itself The United Kingdom, under Keir Starmer, has notably distanced itself from the US blockade While London supports freedom of navigation it has refused to participate in direct military enforcement instead advocating for a diplomatic resolution This divergence signals a broader fracture within NATo, as european nations increasingly question the strategic direction and unilateralism of US policy France and other european actors have
similarly called for restraint, emphasizing negotiation over confrontation The proposed international summit on Hormuz reflects this growing consensus: that the crisis cannot be resolved through military means alone Yet these diplomatic efforts face an uphill battle against the momentum of escalation Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to mount In the broader regional conflict, particularly involving Benjamin Netanyahu thousands of civilians have reportedly been killed and over a million displaced The International Criminal Court has intensified scrutiny, with arrest warrants and investigations pointing to alleged war crimes, including targeting civilians and imposing collective punishment These developments further complicate the moral standing of the conflict and amplify global outrage economically the stakes could not be higher Any sustained disruption in the Strait
of Hormuz threatens to send oil prices soaring destabilizing global markets and pushing vulnerable economies into crisis Countries heavily dependent on energy imports particularly in Asia face immediate risks China, one of the largest buyers of Iranian oil, stands at the centre of this economic equation Ironically, earlier US decisions to ease certain sanctions had enabled Iran to sustain its oil exports indirectly strengthening its economic resilience The sudden reversal of policy now aimed at choking
as a tool of pressure, may instead become the trigger for escalation The very act of attempting to control the Strait could provoke the response it seeks to prevent
height Iran’s apparent strength stems from survival and defiance – from remarkable endurance rather than actual military triumph
But it is in a moment of unprecedented regional weakness It has militarily attacked most of its Gulf neighbors Iraq was partially spared, yet is divided in its support Pakistan is mediating but has a defense treaty with Saudi Arabia that leaves its eventual loyalties clear To everyone else nearby Tehran has shown its teeth but at immense cost
Barring mishap or outlying irrational acts by hardliners, a return to full-on hostilities appears less likely than negotiated compromise particularly given how oddly close the US and Iran positions were after 16 hours of talks in Pakistan The rhetoric of diplomatic negotiation can often speak in opposites A rule is if talks are going badly, speak of progress to encourage more talks; when success seems near, leak that there are perilous unscalable gulfs to get over so your opponent feels the heat But the two sides seem to agree the Strait of Hormuz can be re-opened – with the US blockade of Iranian ports drastically reducing Tehran s leverage on this issue Iran knows it needs to allow free – or freer – traffic to ease pressures on China The dispute is more now about details rather than the actual substance of the deal
Both sides agree on a moratorium on nuclear enrichment Iran wants it to last five years, a US official said – halfway into the next US presidential term The US wants 20 years, a source familiar with the discussions said – a kick into the generational long grass Iran s enrichment capabilities have been reduced by bombing this year and last What remains are the more than 400kg of 60% enriched uranium that Trump has said are buried in the dust It is unlikely Tehran sees this stockpile as easily convertible into a bomb any time soon amid the current peak of US and Israeli air dominance and surveillance The issue is more one of Iranian sovereignty which could be solved through using the International Atomic energy Agency (IAeA) to remove it to russia, sell it, “downblend” to lesser
fighting and rocket assaults that the 2024 war did not leave them permanently crippled Israel s appetite for long-term occupation in the south remains unclear, and their assault appears – with the notable exception of last week’s horrific onslaught on Beirut – crafted to leave their periodic acts of
again self-evidently
pledge to
and is
to do so in the near future The emerging talks will likely hive this issue off into a separate dossier allowing Israel to strike when it sees fit, Lebanon to endure a lower tempo of bombing and thinner occupation, and the US to suggest progress towards a solution The sticking points ahead of a US-Iran deal less resemble insurmountable hurdles and more smaller details of pride and positioning Neither side can accept an agreement they can t pretend is a victory Iran must feel its military deterrent remains: that it has projected enough force and disruption to make another onslaught less, rather than more likely Trump has upset
Qamar Bashir
Xi
foR iRoncl Ad chinA-RussiA AlliAnce to counteR globAl tuRbulence
Reaffirming
actions to
that a network of immigration
visers, paralegals and associated intermediaries has been
migrants fabricate asylum claims in the UK by falsely presenting themselves as gay charging thousands of pounds for false narratives staged evidence and interview coaching At least three law firms - one of these owned by Pakistanis – has been accused by the BBC of fabricating the asylum claims through illegal means: Law & Justice Solicitors and Connaught Law Law and Justice is owned by Michael Oluyemi Makinde and Connaught Law is owned by Nauman Javid, Sheryar Khan, Zehra Tamkan and Awais Javed
According
close to expiring and who are then allegedly
Using undercover reporters posing as international students from Pakistan and Bangladesh, the BBC said it tested whether immigration advisers would encourage false sexuality-based asylum claims It reported finding multiple individuals willing to discuss fake claims suggest supporting evidence and quote fees for handling such cases Among the findings were allegations that Connaught Law firm quoted up to £7,000 for a fabricated claim and described the chances of refusal as “very low” while another adviser allegedly offered to arrange fake supporting letters photographs and even a supposed sexual partner to back up an asylum application The BBC undercover reporter made an appointment with Aqeel Abbasi, a senior legal adviser at Connaught Law, which has its offices in Central London on Gray s Inn Road Abbasi told the BBC reporter that he could help him stay in the country and appeared to be willing to direct him on how to fabricate evidence for a fake claim He promised that the chance of refusal by the Home Office was very low He said his fee would be £7 000 and once that had been paid, his office would contact the undercover reporter to guide them through the process and the kind of evidence required This would include advising him on "where to go or what
The legal adviser also suggested the
reporter
willing to pretend
need to
be
partner When the reporter said he had a wife in Pakistan, Abbasi was quick to suggest a cover story to explain this, by saying that things were "more open" in the UK than Pakistan and that he now had a male partner
We will prepare a statement for you and once you read it you will understand exactly how it is," said Abbasi
Law & Justice Solicitors, an immigration firm based in Birmingham and London who is also described as founder and chairman of Worcester LGBT
China will advance high-quality comprehensive strategic cooperation with Vietnam and accelerate
The trip also
s historic visit to the Southeast Asian country "Your visit to China at the earliest opportunity after being elected president of Vietnam demonstrates the great importance you have attached to the development of China-Vietnam relations," Xi said, adding that China has always regarded Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood
Pakistan’s automotive sector continues to face structural challenges, including policy inconsistency low capacity utilization and rising reliance on used car imports even as it retains significant growth potential within the regional market These issues were discussed during a recent industry engagement hosted by Indus Motor Company where company leadership shared insights on market trends and policy direction with a group of media representatives
During the session, Chief Executive Officer of Indus Motor Company Mr Ali Asghar Jamali presented insights into Pakistan’s automotive performance
ence of
30% of the installed production capacity of 600 000 vehicles per year is being utilized compared to 84% utilization in 2017–2018 Key contributing factors include the high share of used car imports, frequent policy shifts, and a complex taxation structure Jamali expressed his sincere
in the country
The Consul General of China Sun Yan visited the University of Management and Technology (UMT) where he held an important meeting with Chairman and President UMT, Ibrahim Hasan Murad The meeting featured a detailed discussion on various aspects of enhancing Pakistan-China cooperation in education technology and business Both sides termed the meeting a significant and positive step toward strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries On the occasion Ibrahim Hasan Murad briefed the Consul General on UMT s academic research and institutional progress He emphasized that Chinese technology and modern equipment can play a vital role in the advancement of education and industry He further stated that UMT is actively contributing to national development by providing quality education, research opportunities, and scholarships to students Murad
enues for regional development, stability and prosperity At the conclusion of the meeting souvenirs were exchanged between Ibrahim Murad and the Consul General Following the meeting, the Consul General attended a special seminar held at UMT to commemorate 75 years of Pakistan-China friendship The seminar was organized under the auspices of the UMT School of Liberal Arts attended by the Rector, senior management, faculty members and a large number of students C hinese Consul General S un Yan Meets C hairman UMT Ibrahim Hasan Murad
highlighted that UMT holds a prominent position in promoting Chinese language education in Pakistan with more than 50 000 students having successfully completed Chinese language courses Chinese Consul General Sun Yan appreciated UMT s academic contributions and its role in institutional development He remarked that the university’s strong ties with China are commendable and expressed confidence that enhanced collaboration would further strengthen PakistanChina relations and open new av-
team in Dera Murad Jamali a town in Balochistan s Nasirabad district according to police officials Police said the vaccination team was returning home during a lunch break when gunmen riding motorcycles targeted the police personnel assigned to protect them Constable Farhan Bashir was killed in the attack Nasirabad Senior Superintendent
Nasir
members of
martyred
However, the other members of
remained unhurt in the firing,” Nasirabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asad Nasir told Dawn The SSP said the attackers fired ten 9mm bullets at the constable causing his death at the scene before escaping Nasir said no group had so far claimed responsibility for the assault He added that a search operation had been launched to trace those involved in the incident Nasirabad Deputy Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Karrar said the anti-polio drive would continue in the district despite the attack
C A M PA I G N C O N T I N U E S D E S P I T E AT TA C K: The incident took place during the second nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year, which began on Monday The campaign aims to vaccinate more than 45 million children under the age of five The attack in Dera Murad Jamali came on the same day another security-related incident linked to the anti-polio campaign was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In Hangu district, a police constable was martyred and four others were injured when a law enforcement party was attacked while on its way to provide security for polio teams
Punjab sets wheat procurement price at Rs3,500 per maund
LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz
Sharif has ordered the immediate start of wheat procurement at a fixed rate of Rs3,500 per maund and announced free gunny bags worth Rs6 billion for farmers across the province
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by the chief minister to review wheat procurement distribution of gunny bags and the Green Tractor Scheme According to the briefing given in the meeting, registered farmers will receive 10 bags per acre from purchase centres Maryam Nawaz directed officials to begin procurement from farmers without delay It was also decided in principle that wheat purchases would be prioritised for farmers holding Kissan Cards She further
instructed that payments to farmers must be made within 72 hours of procurement at the notified rate of Rs3,500 per maund
The meeting was told that management committees would be set up at the provincial and divisional levels to oversee the procurement process Participants were also informed that 88 per cent of farmers had shown confidence in the provincial government’s agricultural measures The chief minister also announced the launch of a Work with Punjab government programme under which agriculture
the bureau s plea before the constitutional court After seeking that clarification, the bench put off further hearing until April 23
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday asked the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to clearly state the status of its petition before the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) in a matter linked to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills investigation against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz A full bench headed by Chief Justice Aalia Neelum was hearing a civil miscellaneous application filed by the chief minister for the return of Rs70 million she had deposited as a bail surety in the case Justice Muhammad Jawad Zafar and Justice Abher Gul Khan were also part of the bench During the proceedings the chief justice observed that NAB had challenged the LHC s Feb 4 order before the FCC In response, a NAB prosecutor told the court that the application may have been withdrawn from the FCC The chief justice, however, directed the prosecutor to provide a definite answer on the current position of
M
U N T: Maryam Nawaz through her counsel Advocate Javed Arshad moved the application afresh after an accountability court on March 16 accepted a NAB request to close the Chaudhry Sugar Mills investigation against her The accountability court had ruled that Ms Nawaz could withdraw the Rs70m surety bond she had furnished when she was granted post-arrest bail in the case NAB had submitted that application after the LHC full bench, in its Feb 4 order directed the bureau to place a termination report before the accountability court so that the investigation could be closed in accordance with the law That order had been issued on an earlier application filed by Ms Nawaz seeking the release of the surety amount
The LHC had granted bail to Maryam Nawaz in the sugar mills case on Nov 4, 2019, subject to the surrender of her passport before the court She had also been directed to deposit Rs70 million with the registrar judicial Later on Oct 3 2022 another full bench of the LHC ordered the return of her passport after NAB informed the court that it no longer required the travel document
According to the case history placed before the court a NAB team arrested Ms Nawaz on Aug 8 2019
She was taken into custody while at Kot Lakhpat jail during her weekly visit to her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was imprisoned at the time She was accompanied by her daughter and cousin Yousaf Abbas, the son of late Abbas Sharif
The latest hearing remained focused on whether NAB s challenge to the Feb 4 LHC order is still pending before the FCC, a point on which the high court has now sought an unambiguous response
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has called on rice exporters to pursue a $10 billion export target saying his ministry and port authorities would extend full support to help the sector expand, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday The minister made the remarks during a visit to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) He was accompanied by Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed During the visit, REAP Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir briefed the delegation on the performance of the rice sector He described it as a $4 billion industry and said the sector was aiming to reach $5 billion He also outlined plans to bring nearly 30 million acres of land under cultivation in an effort to raise production and exports
Chaudhry said changing regional conditions had opened up fresh oppor-
tunities for Pakistani ports He said the government had placed greater emphasis on facilitation rather than revenue collection in order to attract more cargo and investment P O RT
N S
TRADE FACILITATION: The minister said port operations remained active even during Eid holidays adding that 16 vessels were handled during the period He described it as the first time in Pakistan s history that port operations continued without interruption on Eid He further said permission had been granted for less-than-containerload (LCL) cargo handling while TIR regulations had been revised to make transit trade more efficient Highlighting Pakistan s geographic position, Chaudhry also referred to the launch of bunkering services at Karachi Port He said the port had started offering bunkering facilities to large vessels in deep-sea waters and estimated the trade potential at Rs300 billion
The minister said dredging at Karachi Port had begun and was expected to bring down costs for the business community He said the work was scheduled for completion within three months According to Chaudhry the project is expected to reduce vessel turnaround time from seven days to two days He said this improvement could generate an economic benefit of Rs30 billion to Rs40 billion for businessmen
Speaking on the occasion, KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed said port charges had been cut by 60% and demurrage fees had been removed as part of efforts to facilitate trade and reduce costs for the business community The visit focused on the rice sector ’s export potential and the role of port-related reforms in supporting trade growth as officials and industry representatives
