‘RELIEF AFTER SHOCK HIKE’: PM CUTS PETROL
Y BY RS80, PRICE DOWN TO RS378 PER LITRE
g PREMIER SHEHBAZ ANNOUNCES RELIEF HOURS AFTER PETROL PRICE HIKED 43PC, DIESEL 55PC AMID GLOBAL OIL SHOCK
g STRESSES GULF CONFLICT DRIVES UNPRECEDENTED FUEL CRISIS, SAYING GOVT ROLLS OUT SUBSIDIES FOR BIKERS, TRANSPORTERS, FARMERS
g SAYS TRIED TO SHIELD PUBLIC FROM INFLATION FOR WEEKS, DESCRIBING SITUATION AS A ‘HARSH REALITY ’
Gov t freezes toll tax hike, increase in rail fares
g VOWS CONTINUED SUPPORT, SAYING NATIONAL UNITY AND COORDINATION WERE ESSENTIAL TO TACKLE CRISIS
China confirms 'progress' in Pakistan- Afghanistan talks amid escalating border tensions Five
g SAYS CABINET TO FORGO SALARIES FOR SIX MONTHS UNDER AUSTERITY PUSH, WITH RAIL FARES FROZEN, NATIONWIDE RELIEF PACKAGE UNVEILED BEIJING
Negotiations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are reportedly advancing steadily, China confirmed on Friday, as the two neighbours continue to seek an end to their most serious conflict since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 China which shares a western border with both nations has been actively mediating between the countries holding frequent telephone calls with their foreign ministers and dispatching a special envoy for face-to-face discussions earlier in March Chinese officials described the latest developments as a “positive step” toward restoring dialogue and reducing tensions along the volatile border region Both Pakistan and Afghanistan attach importance to and welcome China s mediation and are willing to sit down for talks again which is a positive development, Mao Ning said during a daily press briefing, underlining China s commitment to facilitating constructive communication between the two nations Since the outbreak of hostilities in October last year the conflict along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has claimed dozens of lives on both sides with Afghan civilians reportedly bearing the heaviest brunt
of the clashes Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan Kabul however has denied these allegations describing militancy as a domestic problem of Pakistan and warning against cross-border interference
The escalation has prompted international concern Earlier in March, both sides agreed to a weeklong ceasefire on the eve of Eidul Fitr, following appeals from Türkiye Saudi Arabia and Qatar Although the truce temporarily reduced clashes sporadic fighting continued in some border areas highlighting the fragility of peace China has emphasised its approach to mediation as one of close communication, dialogue facilitation, and building conditions conducive to sustained negotiations Mao explained that China has “maintained close communication with both sides via multiple channels and at multiple levels and has provided platforms for talks that are acceptable to both countries While she did not confirm the location of the latest meetings, previous reports indicate that discussions took place in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi, a hub for regional diplomacy due to its proximity to both Afghanistan and Pakistan
BARRICK SLOWS REKO DIQ DEVELOPMENT AMID
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Describing
government had made every possible effort to utilise limited national resources to promote public welfare and mitigate the hardships faced by the people
“Through careful savings and prudent use of resources we tried to shield you from the storm of inflation he said acknowledging the strain on citizens
The premier noted that international oil prices had witnessed a massive surge in recent weeks while inflationary pressures were being felt even in the world s strongest economies adding that Pakistan was no exception and was being severely affected by the global trend
“Over the past three weeks, I did not consider it appropriate to pass on the daily increase in oil prices to the public as I am fully aware of the challenges faced by the common man in making ends meet, he said He assured that the federal government, in coordination with all four provincial governments, would continue efforts to ease the burden on citizens during what he termed a critical time
Highlighting austerity measures the prime minister said it had earlier been decided that federal cabinet members would forgo their salaries for two months as part of efforts to manage the fuel crisis However he announced that the period had now
been extended to six months
He acknowledged that the decision had been taken in haste without prior consultation with cabinet members but stressed that it reflected the government s commitment to sharing the burden of economic hardship
The prime minister began his address by outlining the broader implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict noting that the war had caused oil prices to skyrocket across the region with ripple effects being felt globally
In these circumstances, the poor, the common man, and farmers are facing serious difficulties,” he said reiterating that the government was striving to use limited national resources to provide maximum relief
Reaffirming that international oil prices had surged sharply, he said even major economies were struggling to cope with rising inflation, adding “Certainly Pakistan is also badly affected by it ” To cushion the impact of the fuel price hike the prime minister announced a series of targeted relief measures
He said a subsidy of Rs100 per litre would be provided for motorcycle users, a segment heavily reliant on petrol for daily commuting
To support the transport sector and prevent a surge in fares and essential commodity prices, the government announced a one-month subsidy for goods transport Under this initiative, small trucks would receive Rs70 000 large trucks
Rs80 000 and public transport buses
Rs100 000 For small farmers financial assistance of Rs1,500 per acre has been announced, the prime minister said, adding that the measure aimed to
ease the burden on the agricultural sector amid rising input costs
He also announced that Pakistan Railways fares for economy class passengers would not be increased despite rising fuel costs and said clear directives had been issued to the Ministry of Railways in this regard
The prime minister said that all announced relief measures would also be extended to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir with the federal government providing the necessary resources
He expressed gratitude to the chief ministers of all provinces for committing their resources to support the relief efforts emphasizing that national unity and coordination were essential to tackle the crisis
Such a major challenge can only be tackled through national unity, cohesion and consensus,” he said
Assuring the nation of continued
Five civilian mar tyred as suicide c ar bomb hits Bannu police station
CONTINUED FROM
to
carrying approximately 1
that
to 1
kilograms of explosives into the police station wall but failed to breach it, detonating the explosives in a nearby civilian area instead Authorities said effective defensive measures prevented the attacker from entering the police station; however the explosion in the adjacent civilian locality resulted in casualties Rescue teams, along with local residents, continued efforts to clear debris and carry out relief operations
Police said the attacker approached from the direction of the old tehsil building using an explosives-laden vehicle
Hospital authorities confirmed that the injured included several women and children, as well as at least one police officer with some reported to be in critical condition
According to Rescue 1122 all injured were immediately shifted to
nearby hospitals
District Emergency Officer Bakhtullah Wazir confirmed that five people were martyred and 13 injured shifted for treatment, adding that search and rescue operations were ongoing and would continue until the area was fully cleared Rescue 1122 teams reached the site promptly, but continuous rainfall hampered relief efforts
Announcements were made in local mosques appealing for blood donations and assistance while residents actively participated in rescue operations
Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a clearance operation, as authorities continued to assess the extent of casualties and damage PM SHEHBAZ, PRESIDENT ZARDARI CONDEMN ATTACK
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, expressing grief over the loss of lives and praying for the speedy recovery of the injured He reaf-
firmed the government s commitment to eliminating terrorism from the country, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister ’s Office President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack stating that eliminating foreign-sponsored terrorism remains the government s foremost priority, and reaffirming resolve to root out the menace completely The National Assembly offered Fateha for the victims with Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah informing the House that members of a single family were among those martyred MNA Nasib Ali Shah led the prayer KP Chief Minister and Punjab Chief Minister separately condemned the attack on Domel Police Station lauding the police for their timely response They also expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of civilians, including four members of the same family, and prayed for the early recovery of the injured
04
TH E government had bravely announced after the first massive price rise it had to make that it would not raise prices any further That was a promise that looked impossible to keep, and it has proved to be so The present hike, which is more than the price used to be not so long ago was hasty, is shown by the fact that the government had to make it in the middle of the one-week review period it had itself set after cutting it down from the fortnight of pre-war days It was also noticeable that the duty of making the announcement was left to Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaziz Malik, though this time he made the announcement while accompanied by the Finance Minister Some attempt at palliation was made, as the targeted subsidy was announced for motorcyclists and goods transporters, as all as intercity and intracity transport vehicles A noticeable omission was fuel for tractors, which will become important in the days to come, first for the wheat harvest, and then for the Kharif sowing However, it may simply be that the government cannot afford it for it has refrained from subsidizing the transport use of tractors
The government is trying its hardest to meet IMF conditionalities which demand a certain primary surplus That is the reason the taxation burden is being maintained, and the petroleum lvey was even enhanced on diesel One of the first things that has been sacrificed is the development budget, off which Rs one trillion have been slashed The National Accounts Committee, on the other hand, has reported 3 89 percent growth in the second quarter, with industrial and services growth leading the way While growth may not hav dropped as much as feared, the forex situation is getting bad, which means the crisis out of which Pakistan barely emerged may engulf it again as servicing foreign debt once again becomes difficult
The possibility of further hikes cannot be ruled out The longer the Hormuz Strait remains closed the higher the price of oil will climb Already, there has been talk of the oil price reaching $200 per barrel What to speak of the whole world it would mean astronomical prices in Pakistan, upwards of Rs 400 vper litre Though Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is going to Washington for the annual World Bank-IMF meetings, it remains to be seen whether he can get any relief from them
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
gorithm seeking engagement? The answer matters be-
IN an era where visibility often rivals credibility, a quiet but consequential shift is taking place within the civil services Increasingly civil servants once defined by discretion restraint and institutional anonymity are stepping into the spotlight of social media From polished Instagram reels and behind-the-scenes YouTube vlogs to guest appearances on podcasts, many officers are now curating a public persona alongside their official responsibilities What was once an exception is gradually becoming a norm At first glance this evolution seems harmless even beneficial After all governance in a democracy should not be cloaked in opacity Citizens have a right to know how decisions are made, how public officials think, and what challenges they face Social media, in this sense, offers a bridge between the state and the public A well-crafted video explaining a policy a candid podcast discussing administrative hurdles or even a short clip showcasing on ground work can demystify governance and foster trust However, the growing enthusiasm among civil servants for online visibility raises deeper questions about intent, boundaries, and long-term consequences
Traditionally civil servants have operated within a framework that values neutrality impartiality and a certain degree of invisibility Their legitimacy stems not from popularity but from competence consistency, and adherence to rules Social media, by contrast, thrives on attention, engagement, and often personal branding The tension between these two value systems is becoming increasingly evident
One of the most noticeable trends is the transformation of routine administrative work into curated content District inspections surprise visits meetings with stakeholders activities that are part of everyday administrative responsibilities, are now frequently packaged into short, dramatic videos Background music, cinematic cuts, and motivational captions turn governance into a spectacle While this may inspire some viewers it also risks trivializing the complexity of public administration
More importantly it blurs the line between service and self-promotion
When a civil servant posts a video highlighting his or her achievements, it is fair to ask who the audience is Is it the citizen seeking information, or the al-
cause it shapes the nature of the content Informative communication demands clarity and accuracy Performative content often prioritizes appeal and virality Podcasts add another dimension to this phenomenon Civil servants are increasingly invited to share their journeys offering insights into exam preparation career challenges and personal philosophies
While such conversations can be motivating for aspirants they also tend to centre the individual rather than the institution The narrative shifts from how the system works to how I made it, subtly reinforcing a culture of individual glorification
This is not to suggest that civil servants should remain faceless or inaccessible On the contrary there is immense value in humanizing public officials A young student in a remote village may find inspiration in hearing officers speak candidly about their struggles A taxpayer may appreciate a transparent explanation of how funds are utilized These are positive outcomes that should not be dismissed
The concern arises when the balance tilts too far
There is a risk that social media engagement begins to influence administrative priorities When visibility becomes a metric of success officers may gravitate towards actions that are easily captured and shared, rather than those that are quietly effective Long term policy work, institutional reform, and painstaking bureaucratic processes rarely make for viral content Yet these are precisely the areas where meaningful governance happens
Another challenge is the issue of neutrality Civil servants are expected to maintain political and ideological impartiality Social media, however, is a space where opinions are amplified and scrutinized Even seemingly innocuous posts can be interpreted through political lenses potentially compromising the perception of neutrality In a polarized environment this is a risk that cannot be ignored There are also ethical considerations Filming interactions with citizens, especially vulnerable populations, raises questions about consent and dignity A video showcasing relief distribution, for instance, may inadvertently turn beneficiaries into props
The challenge lies in ensuring that, in the pursuit of connection, civil servants do not compromise the very principles that define their role Visibility can enhance trust, but only when it is anchored in authenticity and restraint Otherwise, it risks turning public service into yet another arena of curated influence, where the line between serving the public and serving the self becomes increasingly difficult to discern
Prescription for respect
map of the
Astate of Jammu and Kashmir was posted on social media and a US website This map showed the disputed Jammu and Kashmir and Aksai Chin as part of the Indian Union The USA later removed the controversial map In the past also India tried to hoodwink the international community by misrepresenting reality (Chanakya s maya yuddha, warfare by deceit) India is always on the lookout to hoodwink the international community, particularly the USA The USA needs to be more circumspect vis-a-vis wily India As the phrase goes When America Sneezes the World Catches Cold (Klemens Wenzel Furst von Metternich)
n At India s behest, US Congressman Stephen Solarz elicited
n
respect to whether there should be a plebiscite?
n Mr Kelly: First of all we believe that Kashmir is a disputed territory
n Mr Solarz: Well how did we vote upon that resolution at the U N back in 1949?
n Mr Kelly: In favor, Mr Chairman
n Mr Solarz: Right So at that time we favored a plebiscite Do we still favor a plebiscite, or not? Or is it our position now that whether or not there should be a plebiscite is a matter which should be determined bilaterally between India and Pakistan?
n Mr Kelly: Basically, that s right, Mr Chairman
n Mr Solarz: So we are no longer urging a plebiscite be held?
n Mr Kelly: That’s right
n To India s chagrin John R Mallot the US State Department s point man for South
told the House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Asia and the Pacific on April 28, 1993 that John Kelly misspoke in 1990 when he said that the USA no longer believed a plebiscite was necessary in South Asia Mallot clarified that Kelly made his comment after continued grilling by the panel s (pro-India) chairman Stephen J Solarz of New York Avid readers may refer to the Solarz-Kelly conversation and corrective policy action taken by the US State Department in Robert G Wirsing s book India Pakistan and the Kashmir Dispute They may also see Mushtaqur Rehman s Divided Kashmir: Old Problems New Opportunities for India Pakistan and the Kashmiri People The Kashmir conflict is a maleficent legacy of the British raj India not Pakistan took the Kashmir issue to the UN in 1948 under article 35 of Chapter VI (Pacific Settlement of Disputes) which outlines the means for a peaceful settlement of disputes India avoided presenting the Kashmir case under the UN Chapter VII which relates to acts of aggression Obviously, it did so because it knew that Kashmir was a disputed state And the issue of its integration with India or Pakistan remained to be resolved Many a time India and Pakistan went to fisticuffs to settle this dispute Following their first war on Kashmir, both India and Pakistan accepted a ceasefire from 1 January 1949 under supervision of UN observers No UN resolution incorporates India’s view that the Maharajah had acceded to India The main resolutions on Kashmir are: (a) United Nations Commission for India Pakistan (UNCIP) Resolution dated August 13, 1948 Para 75 (Serial110) in Part III of this resolution states The Government of India and the Government of Pakistan reaffirm their wish that the future status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall be determined in accordance with the will of the people and to that end upon acceptance of the truce agreement both Governments agree to enter into consultations with the Commission to determine fair and equitable conditions whereby such free expression will be assured (b) The UNCIP Resolution
dated January 5 1949 Para 51 (Serial 1196) states The question of accession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite’
On 2 November 1947 Nehru declared in a radio broadcast that the government of India was prepared when peace and order have been established in Kashmir to have a referendum held under international auspices like the United Nations Till 1953, India was, at least verbally, committed to the plebiscite But, in subsequent periods it had been making frantic efforts to warp the United Nation Organization and woo the USA in her favour It began to say that UN resolutions are mediatory not mandatory Nehru s perfidious stand on Kashmir is exposed in Avtar Singh Bhasin s 10-volume documentary study (2012) of India-Pakistan Relations 1947-2007 It contains 3 649 official documents which gave new perspectives to Nehru’s state of mind In his 2018 book India Pakistan: Neighbours at Odds Bhasin debunked Nehru
The UN even admonished India on the accession farce Aware of India s intention to get the ‘Instrument of Accession’ rubber-stamped by the puppet occupied Kashmir assembly, the Security Council passed two resolutions to forestall the foreseeable accession by the puppet assembly Security Council s Resolution No 9 of March 30 1951 and affirmative Resolution No 122 of March 24, 1957 outlaws accession or any other action to change status of the Jammu and Kashmir state Despite lapse of decades India has not fulfilled its promise of a plebiscite in Kashmir It annexed a part of it It annexed Junagadh though it had acceded to Pakistan India s attitude negates the cardinal principles in inter-state relations, that is, pacta sunt servanda treaties are to be observed’ and are binding upon signatories The UN observers are still on duty on the line of actual control They submit an annual report to the UN s secretary general This report identifies Kashmir as an unresolved international problem
The writer is a freelance journalist has served in the Pakistan government for 39 years and holds degrees in economics, business administration and law He can be reached at amjedjaaved@gmail com
T H E current situation being faced by the community of pharmacists in the country is alarming Pharm D pharmacists connect chemical sciences to health sciences, and Pharm D professionals are considered an authority on the medication process Unfortunately the role of pharmacists has not been recognised as yet by healthcare policymakers in the country Imagine the plight of pharmacists and the step-motherly treatment being meted out to them from the fact that Punjab government has rolled back 170 seats of pharmacists that were in their final stages This has created unrest among pharmacists who were called for pre-recruitment interviews There is already an acute shortage of pharmacists at retail pharmacies Regulators have miserably failed to implement the provisions of various regulations meant to ensure the sale of drugs under the supervision of pharmacists Pharmacists throughout the world are recognised as trusted healthcare professionals and people consult pharmacists for their minor ailments, and they provide cognitive services, like monitoring blood pressure blood sugar etc However in Pakistan pharmacies offering such services are often sealed and booked for the offence of indulging in quackery It is high time the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan and the Pakistan Pharmacists Association took notice of the situation to redress the grievances of pharmacists starting community pharmacy services DR FAROOQ BASHIR BUTT LAHORE
The dragon’s debut
WEAPONS prove their worth only in real combat not on paper, not in simulator drills and not even in military exercises A key lesson was learnt by governments and armed forces around the world after closely observing the strengths and limitations of Russian and Western systems during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war Then came on display the Chinese technology during the PakistanIndia tiff earlier this year which made it difficult if not impossible for anyone not to learn the lesson in a hurry Before the wartime heroics of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) against India the Chinese technology was long viewed as less effective, often dismissed as a by-product of technological ‘theft’ based on designs that originated in the United States and the erstwhile Soviet Union The PAF supremacy over its Indian counterpart has shattered this myth once and for all The PAF appeared more confident and decisive in the air, claiming multiple kills, including Rafales one of the West s most advanced 4 5generation fighters
Rizwan ahmad
IN D I A’S abrupt withdrawal from its long-standing commitment to develop Iran s Chabahar port has sparked serious concerns about the consistency credibility and sincerity of its foreign policy, particularly toward Iran Analysts widely view the move, seemingly triggered by *85+329* minimal pressure from the USA not as a careful strategic adjustment but as evidence of opportunistic and interestdriven diplomacy that quickly yields to external influence
The episode has exposed how fragile India s strategic commitments can be, showing that even heavily promoted, long-term partnerships may be discarded when faced with geopolitical pressure As a result a project once presented as a symbol of regional connectivity economic cooperation and strategic autonomy has become a prominent example of policy reversal and the gap between ambitious rhetoric and follow-through
The Indian government had, in a move presented as a testament to its unwavering dedication already processed and transferred $20 million to the relevant Iranian before a fresh round of US sanctions This payment was publicly showcased at the time as incontrovertible proof of India s commitment to seeing the ambitious Chabahar project through to completion, a project that was itself publicly and repeatedly framed by Indian diplomats as an indispensable gateway to the landlocked markets of Central Asia and Afghanistan and as a corridor to bypass Pakistan
However, despite this significant commitment and years of assurances to Tehran, New Delhi executed a rapid and total step back, freezing all proactive involvement and adopting a posture of paralyzed caution once the spectre of US secondary sanctions grew larger This abrupt and unilateral change not only undermined the project itself but also sent a powerfully negative signal to the watching international community about the unreliability of India, suggesting that its signature on any agreement is valid only until a more powerful patron expresses a contrary opinion
Further reinforcing the global perception of a disorderly retreat and internal bureaucratic panic was the unexplained collective
resignation of all government-nominated directors from the board of India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) the vehicle created explicitly by the Indian state for Chabahar Such a mass exodus is highly unusual if not unprecedented in corporate governance and particularly in strategic infrastructure projects of this national importance, and it immediately triggered speculation about more systemic issues Adding an almost theatrical layer to this sense of frantic withdrawal the official company website was also reportedly shut down This step was universally interpreted not as a routine IT update but as a deliberate attempt to obscure information, shield associated individuals and corporate entities from potential legal and financial fallout stemming from US sanctions and effectively sanitize the digital record of India’s involvement Rather than demonstrating strategic resilience or diplomatic resolve in the face of external challenges, these cloak-and-dagger actions collectively conveyed an image of hurried, opaque damage control and profound strategic embarrassment Beyond the immediate political optics a growing chorus of international economic experts and regional security analysts have begun to voice substantial concerns that India s entire engagement with the Chabahar port may never have been motivated by purely commercial or altruistic developmental considerations despite the persistent narrative promoted by New Delhi’s diplomatic corps
It is increasingly feared in informed expert circles that while the port s operational reality may have been leveraged for purposes far beyond the mundane realms of container logistics and commodity transit These serious concerns have fueled persistent specula-
tion that India s underlying intentions were to use the critical port infrastructure as a dualuse platform to advance covert strategic and intelligence-gathering objectives Such perceptions whether fully substantiated by publicly available evidence or not significantly corroded diplomatic trust and raised alarms among Iran and other regional stakeholders, who now view past Indian assurances with heightened skepticism and suspicion
India’s own actions have added grist to the mill of these analyses strengthening the argument that India Ports Global Limited was conceived not as a conventional port management entity but as a specially designed vehicle with the primary objective of unfettered operational control over a strategically vital node like Chabahar The company’s unusual structure ambiguous mandate and the culture of operational secrecy surrounding its activities made it uniquely vulnerable to intense international scrutiny, especially once the US sanctions against Iran intensified A deeper, more forensic international investigation into IPGL’s financial flows, contractual agreements and operational origins could have exposed a web of uncomfortable and potentially damaging details leading to repercussions for India In this fraught context, the sudden withdrawal and the almost clinical dismantling of visible institutional links to the project appear less like a considered strategic recalibration and more like a preemptive attempt to burn the proverbial files and distance the state from any potentially incriminating paper trai
Even more serious and geopolitically volatile allegations have also emerged in discreet expert discussions and analytical reports regarding the possible of the Research
and Analysis Wing (RAW) utilizing Chaba-
har port as a logistical base or facilitation hub for regional operations These allegations have gained traction in certain analytical and security communities, particularly in the volatile aftermath of the Iran-Israel military clashes when Iranian state authorities and security apparatus reportedly became exponentially more alert and aggressive in monitoring suspicious activities linked to foreign state actors within its borders
According to this analytical line of reasoning heightened Iranian counter-intelligence vigilance may have brought certain clandestine activities linked to the port under uncomfortable scrutiny prompting acute concerns within the South Block in New Delhi about the potential for a devastating diplomatic fallout or even a public confrontation In such a scenario, a total and immediate disengagement from the project may have been calculated as the safest and most expedient option to limit reputational damage and distance the Indian state from any burgeoning controversy, sacrificing a strategic asset to preserve geopolitical ambiguity
From the narrower perspective of managing India’s carefully curated international image and its self-proclaimed narrative of being a principled independent actor in foreign relations some expert commentators argue that a complete departure from Chabahar was ultimately viewed by New Delhi s decision-makers as the lesser of two geopolitical evils when compared to the alternative of remaining engaged under a cloud of growing international suspicion Abandoning the project allowed India to retreat from an increasingly uncomfortable and diplomatically flammable situation while simultaneously preserving its paramount strategic alignment with the USA and avoiding any secondary sanctions targeting its own economy However this calculated choice came at a profound and perhaps lasting cost: the blatant betrayal of a long-standing partnership commitment made to Iran and the conscious undermining of over a decade of painstaking diplomatic engagement built upon repeated high-level assurances of mutual respect shared destiny and strategic partnership The decision effectively dismantled the narrative of sophisticated balanced and multipolar diplomacy that India has consistently and assiduously promoted on every global forum from the United Nations to the G20
By unilaterally ignoring its solemn commitments and sacrificing a long-term regional partnership with Iran on the altar of short-term strategic convenience and greatpower alignment India has once again and with a stark vividness, exposed the inherent
fragility and operational emptiness of its socalled multi-aligned or balanced foreign policy doctrine The Chabahar episode serves as a perfect historical illustration of how quickly and completely India appears willing to abandon even its most vital regional partners when the winds of geopolitical calculation shift direction powerfully reinforcing the global perception that its foreign policies are driven overwhelmingly by momentary convenience and external diktat rather than by any internal consistency or allegiance to sovereign partnership From bold commitment to furtive retreat India s dual-track and often contradictory policies have been laid utterly bare at Chabahar, offering the world a textbook example of how ambitious strategic rhetoric can diverge, almost comically, from actual, on-the-ground strategic behavior when subjected to the slightest test of pressure Consequently India s international credibility as a dependable actor has undeniably suffered a severe blow particularly among nations in the Global South and in regions like West Asia that view reliability, contractual fidelity, and diplomatic continuity as non-negotiable components of any meaningful strategic partnership The demonstrated willingness to step back from a signed sealed and partially physically implemented inter-governmental agreement at the first sign of external pressure raises legitimate
IR A N did not start its war with the United States and Israel But more than a month in, the Islamic Republic is clearly winning it American and Israeli forces have spent weeks incessantly bombing Iranian territory killing thousands of people and damaging hundreds of buildings all in hopes of toppling the country s government Yet Iran has held the line and successfully defended its interests It has maintained continuity of leadership even as its top officials have been assassinated, and it has repeatedly hit back at its aggressors even as they strike at its military, civilian, and industrial facilities The Americans and the Israelis who started the conflict with delusions of forcing capitulation thus find themselves in a quagmire without an exit strategy The Iranians by contrast have pulled off a historic feat of resistance To some Iranians, this success is reason to continue fighting until the aggressors are adequately punished rather than to search for a negotiated ending By this logic there is no reason to engage with the country now and offer it an off-ramp Instead Tehran should press its advantage continuing to strike U S bases and blocking commerce in the Strait of Hormuz until Washington fundamentally alters its regional presence and posture
Yet although continuing to fight the United States and Israel might be psychologically satisfying, it will lead only to the further destruction of civilian lives and infrastructure These actors desperate after failing to achieve any of their objectives are increasingly resorting to targeting vital pharmaceutical energy and industrial sites and randomly hitting innocent civilians Tehran, then, should use its upper hand not to keep fighting but to declare victory and make a deal that both ends this conflict and prevents the next one It should offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions a deal Washington wouldn t take before but might accept now Iran should also be prepared to accept a mutual nonaggression pact with the United States in which both countries pledge to not strike each other in the future It could offer economic interactions with the United States, which would be a win for both the American and the Iranian people
U S President Donald Trump despite his weakened position or maybe because of it continues to issue contradictory and confusing statements about negotiations
TAKE THE WIN: Iranians are intensely angry with the United States and not just because of its present aggression Since the turn of the millennium the Islamic
understand Iran s generous offers to reach a deal the White House launched its massive armed assault against Iranian civilians As a result, a large portion of the Iranian population views as heresy any talk of ending this war through diplomacy instead of through continued resistance and pressure against embattled aggressors Iranians have little interest in speaking to American officials who have betrayed them repeatedly But although this perspective is understandable the Islamic Republic will ultimately be better off if it can end the war sooner rather than later Prolonged hostility will cause a greater loss of precious lives and irreplaceable resources without actually altering the existing stalemate particularly as the United States and Israel keep targeting Iranian infrastructure Although Iran is capable of obliterating the region s infrastructure in retaliation that hardly matters to the United States which views all its so-called Arab allies in the region merely as shields it can use in defense of Israel And the destruction of the region’s infrastructure will not compensate Iran’s losses Continued fighting might also produce a U S ground invasion Although it would be a desperation move that would drive Washington into an even deeper quagmire a ground invasion would hardly provide gains for Iran Finally if the United States packs up and leaves before the two sides reach a deal, Iran will not be able to cash in on all the proceeds of its valiant resistance to Washington’s aggression
If the two sides do manage to opt for talks they can pursue one of two outcomes The first is a formal or informal cease-fire agreement
But any cease-fire would inherently be fragile The two states would remain deeply suspicious and skeptical of each other precisely because they wouldn t have addressed their fundamental disagreements It thus wouldn’t take much another miscalculation misplaced political opportunism for the shooting to resume Officials should therefore aim for the second outcome: a comprehensive peace deal They should in other words use this catastrophe as an opportunity to end 47 years of belligerence
The current conflict, horrible as it is, could make reaching such an agreement easier That is because it has revealed certain truths about West Asia that Tehran and Washington can no longer ignore For starters it has shown that the United States is incapable of destroying Iran s nuclear or missile programs even when it operates alongside Israel and with the financial and logistical support of its Persian Gulf partners These programs are simply too entrenched and too dispersed to be bombed away In fact, when it comes to nuclear questions, all the U S and Israeli strikes have done is animate debate about whether Iran should actually abandon the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and change its nonproliferation doctrine The strikes have also made it abundantly clear that the news of the demise of the axis of resistance Iran s network of regional partners was greatly exaggerated For the region, meanwhile, the war proves that trying to outsource or purchase security from the United States is a losing strategy For years Arab countries have believed that they could safeguard themselves by paying the United States to establish military bases in their territory Meanwhile they largely rejected or ignored Iran s offers of regional security arrangements, starting with its 1985 suggestion enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 598 that the coastal states of the Persian Gulf establish a
tinuing with its offers of a nonaggression pact in 2015 and its Hormuz Peace Endeavor in 2019 Arab states thought that such proposals were unnecessary because when push came to shove U S officials would help them manage relations with Iran and protect them from any regional conflict But instead, the United States decided to start bombing the Islamic Republic despite their verbal and for some, sincere objections and used its bases on their territory to carry out its campaign as anyone in their right mind should have expected As a result Arab countries have become theaters of war which is exactly what they wished to avoid All these outcomes validate Tehran s long-standing assertions about both itself and the regional order But with its strengthened self-confidence, Iran has its own lesson to internalize It must accept that its nuclear technology has not deterred aggression If anything it provided a pretext for Israeli and U S attacks Iran has of course also proved that Israel s illegal nuclear weapons program cannot protect Israelis from a daily barrage of piercing missiles and inexpensive drones This failure is all the more reason to be skeptical that a nuclear program will safeguard Iran’s security, no matter how advanced it grows
PREPARING PEACE: These facts mean that reciprocity will be key to any settlement including at the earliest phases To start the peace process for example all parties in West Asia would have to agree to stop fighting against each other Iran, in cooperation with Oman, would have to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz But American officials must permit the Strait of Hormuz to be open for Iran too The biggest irony of geography is that although it borders Iranian territory the strait has been effectively closed to Iran for years because of U S sanctions This has caused tremendous corruption inside Iran and huge profiteering by some ungrateful neighbors Thus, even before a final agreement is reached, the United States must allow the unhindered sale of Iranian oil and its byproducts and the safe repatriation of their proceeds As Iran and the United States take these immediate measures they can start articulating a permanent peace deal Much of this agreement would likely address nuclear issues Iran, for instance, would commit to never seeking nuclear weapons and to down-blending its entire stockpile of enriched uranium to an agreed level below 3 67 percent Simultaneously the United States would move to terminate all Security Council resolutions against Iran eliminate U S unilateral sanctions against Iran and encourage its partners to do the same Iran must be allowed to actively participate in global supply chains without hindrance or discrimination The Iranian parliament, in turn, would ratify the International Atomic Energy Agency Additional Protocol thus placing all its nuclear facilities under permanent international monitoring The United States has of course asked for more stringent conditions namely zero enrichment But U S officials know full well that such demands are fanciful The United States will not be able to get from Iran what it tried and failed to achieve in two unprovoked wars of aggression These compromises would not resolve every atomic dispute between Tehran and Washington But they would settle most of them and outside countries could help address the biggest remaining challenge: what to do with Iran s uranium China and Russia, together with the United States, could help establish a fuel enrichment consortium with Iran and interested neighbors in the Persian Gulf which should then become the sole fuel enrichment facility for West Asia Iran would transfer all its enriched material and equipment to that space As another regional component of the
IRAN'S PEZESHKIAN SAYS TRUMP'S 'STONE AGE' THREAT
AMOUNTS TO WAR CRIME
what is typically a four-year term and comes as US forces enter the fifth week of active operations against Iran CBS News quoted US defence officials as saying that Hegseth wanted leadership more closely aligned with President Donald Trump s and his own vision for the Army George s removal breaks with tradition and underscores growing tensions
including
figures in the Air Force and Navy Critics argue that such moves risk undermining the stability of military leadership during a major conflict Accounts by CNN and Reuters pointed to internal friction, noting that George worked closely with Army Secretary Daniel P Driscoll and had resisted some of Hegseth
U N J A B Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set an ambitious target to make 24 additional primary stroke centres functional across the province by June 30 under the CM Stroke Programme significantly expanding access to life-saving treatment according to a handout from the Punjab DGPR
Chairing a special meeting she also approved the formation of a 12-member advisory committee for the programme, to be headed by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique with Prof Qasim Bashir appointed as convener said a statement issued from the Chief Minister s Office (CMO)
The meeting was informed that 15 primary stroke centres are already operational, where 700 stroke patients have received life-saving injections, helping prevent lifelong disability Stroke management centres are currently functional at major hospitals in La-
hore, including Services Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences
Additionally, primary stroke centres are operational in cities including Bahawalpur Dera Ghazi Khan Faisalabad Gujranwala Multan Narowal Rahim Yar Khan Rawalpindi Sialkot Bhakkar and Layyah Under Phase-I expansion, additional centres will be established in Gujrat, Sargodha Sahiwal Vehari Jhelum Kasur Mandi Bahauddin Sheikhupura Toba Tek Singh and Khanewal
Phase-II will further extend services to 17 more cities, including Chakwal, Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Mianwali, Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Lodhran, Khushab, Okara, Attock, Nankana Sahib Wazirabad Murree Kot Addu and Talagang
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also approved the establishment of four
ISLAMABAD
Mr Imtiaz Ali Solangi, Member Federal Board of Revenue has retired from government service Special Board in Council meeting was held today to commemorate services of Mr Solangi for Government of Pakistan and Federal Board of Revenue Throughout his illustrious career spanning over 31 years, Mr Solangi served with exceptional dedication and professionalism Having joined the Inland Revenue Service he accumulated vast experience in tax administration public policy, and financial management across various key assignments Over the years, he held several important positions including Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Medium Taxpayer Office Karachi; Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue, Regional Tax Office Sargodha; Member Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue Karachi; and Commissioner Inland Revenue at Karachi and Islamabad Mr Solangi is a Fulbright
Scholar and holds a Master s degree in International Economics & Finance from Brandeis University, USA He also holds a Master s degree in Economics from Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, a Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics) from
tute Seoul Korea and The Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) Beijing, China During his career, Mr Solangi made significant contributions in the
40,000+ Students from 199 Universities across Pakistan to Appear in NSCT
ISLAMABAD
In line with the Prime Minister ’s directives, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication (MoITT) Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), and the National Computing Education Accreditation Council (NCEAC), has initiated a structured consultative process to address the industry academia skill gap The initiative aims to align computing education with industry requirements enhance assessment credibility and improve graduate employability As part of this effort, the Virtual University of Pakistan (VU) has been designated as the testing body to conduct the computer-based National Skill Competency Test (NSCT) The NSCT will be held nationwide on April 4–5 2026 across 112 cities and 165 test centers A total of 40 784 students from 199 universities offering computing and IT disciplines have registered Eligibility was extended to students enrolled in the 7th and 8th semesters To ensure transparency and uphold examination integrity, VU has deputed supervisory staff at all designated centers Additionally two monitoring control rooms have been established in Lahore and Islamabad enabling real-time oversight of all test centers to ensure strict vigilance and smooth conduct across the country
proposals for
He also played a
ple
role in institutional reforms under the World Bank-supported Tax Administration Reform Program To acknowledge his valuable services, a Board-in-Council meeting was held at FBR On the occasion Chairman FBR Mr Rashid Mahmood Langrial along with Board Members commended Mr Solangi s contributions and wished him success in his future endeavours
Sindh moves to strengthen domestic violence response amid implementation gaps
Despite being the first province to enact the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act in 2013 Sindh continues to face serious challenges in protecting survivors, with weak implementation, underreporting, and poor institutional coordination persisting across the province This was highlighted during a Provincial Policy Dialogue organized by the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW) in collaboration with the Legal Aid Society (LAS) under the Aawaz II Programme, implemented by CARE International with support from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) held in Karachi The dialogue brought together key policymakers parliamentarians, government officials, civil society actors, and representatives of marginalized communities Participants stressed that while the law provides a comprehensive framework survivors still face barriers in reporting accessing protection mechanisms, and navigating weak referral systems Evidence from Aawaz II engagements highlighted low legal awareness in rural areas stigma and fear preventing reporting weak coordination among institutions and limited survivorcentered services reflecting broader implementation gaps that continue to undermine the law’s effectiveness
PAKISTAN DECIDES TO REPAY $3.5B UAE DEBT THIS MONTH
At
UNSC, Pakistan pushes for ‘restraint, diplomac y & dialogue’ amid raging Mideast conflic t
UNITED NATIONS
s a l e e m J a d o o n
Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) describing it as a “pillar of regional stability ” while strongly condemning attacks against its member states amid the intensifying Middle East conflict and urging restraint, dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace
“We appreciate the strategic restraint demonstrated by GCC countries in the face of such provocation and aggression ” Pakistan s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad told the UN Security Council during a meeting held under Bahrain s presidency on strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and Gulf Arab states
Reiterating Pakistan’s firm stance the envoy condemned attacks targeting Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as tensions continue to spiral across the region
At the same time, he expressed grave concern over the “deeply troubling developments,” particularly the US-Israeli coordinated strikes against Iran on February 28 warning that these actions have trig-
gered dangerous escalation These developments have undermined regional stability and carry serious implications for international peace and security, as well as the global economy and prosperity,” he said Ambassador Ahmad underscored that Pakistan categorically condemns all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure stressing that strikes on power plants, energy facilities, educational institutions, hospitals and other essential sites are unacceptable “De-escalation and a complete cessation of hostilities must be our top priority ” he added
Highlighting diplomatic efforts he
said Pakistan and China had jointly proposed a roadmap calling for an immediate halt to hostilities the launch of inclusive peace talks protection of civilians restoration of maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, and reaffirmation of the UN Charter and international law as the basis for a lasting political settlement Referring to a recent meeting in Islamabad involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan Egypt Turkiye and Saudi Arabia the envoy said it reflected a shared urgency to de-escalate tensions, intensify diplomatic engagement, and pursue a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis He emphasized that Pakistan attaches great importance to its fraternal ties with GCC countries rooted in shared religious and cultural values mutual respect and strong people-to-people connections, alongside robust cooperation in political, security, economic, trade, energy and development
to Rs100,000 were also allocated for transporters to prevent fare hikes and ease the burden on the public
Imran
Khan and Bushra Bibi seek early hearing of IHC appeals in Toshakhana and £190m cases
Former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi on Friday moved the Islamabad High Court seeking urgent fixation of their appeals against the Toshakhana-I conviction and for suspension of sentence in the £190 million case arguing that the matters were being delayed and that the prosecution was using dilatory tactics According to the petitions, filed under Section 561-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the couple also asked the court to direct jail authorities to allow unhindered meetings with their legal team so they could hold the consultations required for the cases
The applications said the petitioners wanted the early fixation of their appeals against conviction for final adjudication The plea before the court also sought prompt hearing of the applications related to suspension of sentence in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case The move comes after proceedings in the high court on March 31 when the hearing of the sentence suspension applications filed by Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in the £190 million corruption case was adjourned At that hearing the defence counsel had sought time to obtain fresh instructions from his clients In their latest petitions, the couple cited what they described as inordinate delays in the hearing of their matters They also complained of obstacles affecting legal consultation and requested court directions to ensure access to their lawyers without interruption
RELIEF
SOUGHT FROM THE COURT: The petitions ask the Islamabad High Court to take up the appeals at the
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/PESHAWAR s ta f f r e p o r t A strong earthquake of 6 3 magnitude on the Richter scale shook parts of Islamabad Rawalpindi Lahore Azad Jammu and Kashmir Gilgit-Baltistan and districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported No casualties or major damage to property reported in Punjab KP or federal capital till filing of this report According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) at PMD the tremor struck at 9:13 pm at a depth of 190 km with the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan identified as its epicentre The shocks were felt in the twin cities, Chitral, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla, and multiple dis-
tricts of Punjab The German Research Centre for Geosciences, using the Moment Magnitude scale, reported the earthquake as 5 9 in magnitude, originating from a depth of 177 km in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region
Severe tremors were felt in Islamabad prompting the capital s police to take precautionary measures Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi directed all officers to assess conditions in their respective areas and respond immediately to any incidents requiring assistance Officers were also instructed to submit situation reports without delay Rawalpindi Rescue 1122 officials confirmed that no casualties or emergencies were reported in the city following the tremor
earliest for final hearing They also seek orders for facilitation of meetings between the petitioners and their counsel in jail for preparation and consultation in connection with the pending proceedings
The cases relate to two separate matters: the Toshakhana-I case in which the couple have challenged their conviction and the £190 million case in which they are seeking suspension of sentence The filing before the court said the prosecution had adopted delaying tactics in the proceedings The petitioners urged the court to intervene so that the appeals and related applications could be heard without further unnecessary delay
The petitions were filed on Friday before the Islamabad High Court The matter concerns the scheduling of appeals and sentence suspension applications already pending before the court, as well as the request for directions regarding access to legal counsel during incarceration
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said the earthquake was felt across multiple districts, including Peshawar “However, the control room has not received any calls regarding damage to life or property ” he added Similarly Punjab s Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported no loss of life or property across the province Tremors were felt in Lahore Mianwali Jhang Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, the Potohar region, Sargodha, and other districts The PDMA said inspections of government and public buildings are underway to assess potential damage while provincial and district emergency operation centres remain operational 24/7 to respond to any incidents The public has been advised to report earthquake-related damages via the PDMA helpline at 1129
