Islamabad, Pakistan: The historic SCO Summit will be held in Pakistan on October 15, distinguished guests from different countries will remain in Islamabad till October 17.
This occasion is a source of pride for the entire nation as the leadership of the SCO meeting will raise the profile and prestige of Pakistan at the global level. However, the PTI did not stop from its traditional enmity and malice towards the country even on this occasion.
In a message from PTI’s Sheikh Waqas Akram on the X account, it is said that the political committee of PTI has announced a massive protest on October 15 in Islamabad’s D Chowk, the same day when the SCO Summit will start.
The assignment is clear, keep creating confusion and chaos before and during the SCO Summit in Islamabad and make the situation so tense that the top adversary in SCO, India starts releasing official statements that India is thinking of attending the SCO Summit because ‘law and order situation in Pakistan is not appropriate’. Government circles claim that the House of Goldsmith is behind this onslaught over the SCO Summit because a powerful group wants to put pressure on Pakistan to release former prime minister Imran Khan and the PTI North American team is running the party and getting funds from former in-laws of former prime minister Imran Khan.
At a time when foreign delegations will continue to arrive in Islamabad, PTI’s announcement of another protest at D-Chowk Islamabad on October 15 can be seen as an attempt to affect the country’s international standing. However, the PTI political committee claims that protests would not create a negative impression of the country at the international level.
History is a witness that whenever there was an important occasion in the country, efforts were always made by this party to attack the country’s prestige. Even in 2014, the most important visit of the Chinese President was spoiled due to the sit-in of this party. Even during the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Pakistan, PTI created a scene in Islamabad, resulting killing of one policeman and 49 serious injuries.
Several former diplomats claim that PTI is allowing India and other countries with the connivance to avoid participation in this conference under the pretext of ‘law and order situation’ and thus make Pakistan a laughing stock around the world.
“After PTI announced a protest on a historic occasion like SCO, how can this party claim the country’s development and prosperity? For the release of its leader, has this party fallen to such an extent that national security has no meaning for it?”, asked a former diplomat who served Central Asia.
Some political circles claim that Project Imran was not home-grown rather the rise of Imran was a ‘Zionist Project’ and such allegations are supported by the conduct of PTI which recently refused to attend the All Parties Conference (APC) over the Palestine issue because PTI was not allowed from their foreign masters. The APC strongly condemned Israel and refused to accept the presence of Israeli forces in Gaza. The declaration also called Israel a barbaric country involved in genocide while former brother-in-law Zac Goldsmith is protecting Israel globally stating that Israel and its PM are raw of hope for all Jews of the world. Meanwhile, the Jewish lobby through its media has been showing its ‘worries’ about ‘human rights abuses in Pakistan’ while forgetting the human massacre in Gaza.
A brief look at the media outlook of Imran’s coverage in Western media indicates that Western media spending time, energy, and financial resources by producing documentaries, articles, and news to say that ‘Pakistan is abusing human rights while putting Imran Khan in jail’ who is in jail under criminal and financial corrupt charges.
Meanwhile, anti-Pakistan resolutions moved in American Congress and Great Britain Parliament, and running paid anti-Pakistan campaigns on vehicles and ships were observed are realities and President Zardari once linked such activities in the past with the ‘House of Goldsmith’. Official circles claim that since Goldsmith’s agents could not provide any relief to Imran Niazi and his party by sitting outside Pakistan, they have fully mobilized their proxies in Pakistan. The time has testified that Project Imran was a foreign-funded project that served foreign agendas and its architects are disappointed his collapse well before serving the full term of reference—the complete collapse of Pakistan.
When contacted, responsible officials who are dealing with cases of Imran Khan were of the view that getting Imran Khan and his associates out of criminal cases is the main objective of this foreign-funded and foreign propaganda project.
Monitoring Desk: The killing of 20 innocent laborers who were working at Junaid Coal company mines in the Dukki area of Balochistan again testified that the state has to come out of slumber and must take unusual actions to deal with usual circumstances.
It is pertinent to mention that terrorists equipped with rocket launchers killed 20 miners and injured another seven on the night of Thursday-Friday, they gathered the workers together and opened fire.
Police sources confirmed that terrorists also destroyed the mining machinery. Among the dead workers, 2 belonged to Pishin, 2 belonged to Qila Saifullah, 1 belonged to Kuchlak and 3 belonged to Afghanistan and the majority of the dead workers were Pashtuns. This attack shows that not only Punjabis but also Pashtuns are being targeted in Balochistan and there is irrefutable evidence of India’s involvement in supporting and financing terrorists in Balochistan.
“The agenda of terrorists is not to represent the Baloch nation but to stop the development of Balochistan through terrorism. The attack on the coal mine also shows that the terrorists have direct support from the intelligence agencies of the enemy countries. It is clear that the terrorism spread in Balochistan is based on race and language, which aims to push Balochistan into anarchy. The attack in Baluchistan and the media frenzy after the attack is a clear proof of India’s interference in Pakistan. India’s objective is to stop the development of Pakistan and Balochistan. The time has come for the entire nation to stand together against the menace of terrorism”, said a police official who served in the area.
He added the state is still busy in conversation about whether terrorists should be tried in A court or B court while terrorists are killing people almost every passing day because the confusion of the state for dealing with terrorism is clear and only people in uniform (Police, paramilitary forces, Pakistan Army) are fighting and facing the brunt while judiciary and the civil administration are lagging to manage trial of the cases and this situation is enhancing the morale of terrorists as they would ever be arrested would get bails from the courts.
Monitoring Desk: The violent clashes between Punjabi and Pashtun Student Councils at Quaid-e-Azam University were reported last night. Students who are impartial in this clash claim that PTI followers from KP are venting their rage and are not allowed to burn public property at D-Chowk. The top university administration having a tilt towards PTI has never reprimanded those students who have made the political divide of PML-PPP and PTI into ethnicity and Punjab-KP clash.
Students claimed that students from KP long used to abuse and taunt students from Punjab as ‘stooges’ of the establishment. It is also claimed that Quaid-e-Azam University had been sleeping cells of PTI whenever PTI planned to attack Islamabad and the university administration had information in this regard.
“QAU represents as a symbol of education mourns, morality leaves, women harassment mounts, loves vanish, hate dominates, and racism rules. Every few days, this is routine now. RIP QAU”, commented a student when asked what happened in university.
He stated that the fierce fight between the Pashtun Council and Punjab Council at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad and uninterrupted firing indicated how the educational institutions have become a battlefield of PTI supporters from KP against students from other provinces.
“Quaid e Azam University is often called a mini Pakistan for a reason, and that’s so true. Division, hatred, and disorder are everywhere in the country and its miniature version is QAU”, commented another student.
It may be remembered that the Chief Justice of Pakistan has directed the university administration to hold Student Union and Alumni elections. The recent scene would help the administration not to follow directions of the Supreme Court and will serve the administration’s desire to never hold these elections.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has confirmed that the Input tax adjustment system causing tax fraud worth Rs3,400 billion in Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference along with the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) here on Thursday, October 10, 2024, the minister gave a complete presentation with facts, figures, and even video recordings of top companies of Pakistan exposing how such huge companies did tax fraud in the country.
Crackdown on sales tax evaders would be in the next 15 to 20 days
He warned Chief Finance Officers (CFOs) of companies that they would be arrested if their companies were found involved in tax fraud.
Giving a sector-wise presentation, the Chairman FBR stated that cement, footwear, battery, and beverage sectors toping the tax fraud. It was revealed that only 14% of the 300,000 manufacturers are registered, and there is a tax shortfall of Rs18 billion in the textile weaving sector while in the iron and steel sector, Rs29 billion is being lost due to excessive input tax claims.
FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial informed the national press FBR had found tax fraud worth billions of rupees in tax returns presented by big industries. He stated that he was not revealing the names of these companies at this stage but their names would be shared with the national press when they were arrested within a week following legal procedures and promised with media that a crackdown on sales tax evaders would be in the next 15 to 20 days.
Islamabad, Pakistan: His Excellency Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al Falih, Minister of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by a high-level government cum business delegation, met with General Syed Asim Munir, NI(M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), at Rawalpindi.
The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, particularly initiatives to strengthen evergrowing brotherly bilateral cooperation in a variety of sectors.
The COAS expressed his profound appreciation and gratitude for unflinching support for Pakistan from His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. The manifestation of one of the largest business delegations’ visits to Pakistan reaffirms the enduring and fraternal ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He underscored the deep respect and affection that the people of Pakistan hold for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
COAS further assured the delegation of Pakistan’s full support and commitment and conveyed his optimism for the promising outcomes that would mutually benefit both nations.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Special traffic plan for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Islamabad. Alternative routes have been arranged for the convenience of citizens.
During the SCO Summit, traffic from Malpur to Kashmir Chowk and Dhokdi Sarina Hotel will be closed.
All types of traffic will be closed from Rawal Dam Chowk to Kashmir Chowk and Sarina–Malpur Road.
Similarly, the traffic going to Sarina from Abpara, Srinagar Highway will be closed.
As urban interchanges, those going to Rawalpindi from Murree, Bhara Kaho will use Banigala, Park Road, Rawal Dam Chowk, and Faizabad left from Korang Road.
Bihara Town from Faizabad and those driving will use Park Road and Banigala-Korang Road.
Those traveling from the Srinagar Highway to Murree, Bhara Kaho will use Chand Tara Chowk, Pak China Friendship Centre, Murree Road, Park Road, and Banigala Korang Road from the Sports Complex.
Heavy traffic will use the Taxila Motorway from Peshawar to Lahore and the Fateh Jang Motorway from Ternool Phatak.
Heavy traffic going to Islamabad and Rawalpindi from Lahore GT Road will use Chakri Motorway from Chak Bailey Road, and Traffic going to Rawalpindi from F5-, G5- and G6-Margallah Road will use 9th Avenue.
Traffic going to Zeropoint from Faisal Avenue will be diverted to 9th Avenue while those going from Bhara Kahu to Rawalpindi will use Korang Banigala Lahtada Road.
Traffic coming from Rawalpindi to Islamabad will use 9th Avenue from Saddar and Murree Roads.
Similarly, the traffic will be closed for the Expressway from Zero Point, Faisal Avenue to Koral Chowk. Citizens will alternatively use the service road for the expressway.
Those coming to Faizabad from Colonel Sher Khan (IJP) Road will use Stadium Road from the 9th Avenue signal.
Entry of all types of heavy traffic will be closed in Islamabad on 14, 15 and 16 October 2024.
A popular Eastern European saying is, “If you have buyers, you will be no more a beggar, even if you are a trash collector.”
Once a student asked Russian President Vladimir Putin during a university lecture why did Soviet Union collapse. Putin said there might be thousands of reasons but the foremost was that the USSR had hundreds of friends but fewer buyers for its production line. This is what Pakistan faces today. Having rich in countless products, its expensive but redundant administrative structure never tried to find buyers and if anyone fortunately came, it ran away after smelling fusty environment.
There is a phrase that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and Pakistan found this ray in the form of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) initiated by COAS Gen Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This single decision has changed the horizon within the last two years and now buyers are showing confidence in investing in Pakistan. The biggest of such kind is coming from the time-tested brotherly country of Saudi Arabia.
A Saudi investor delegation arrived in Pakistan on a three-day visit on Wednesday and this delegation is headed by Saudi Minister of Investment Mr. Khalid Abdulaziz Al-Falih. The delegation includes officials and companies from various sectors including energy, mining, minerals, agriculture, business, tourism, industry, manpower. Business-to-business meetings of the Saudi delegation with Pakistani companies are scheduled for signing various agreements. The arrival of the delegation is an important milestone in Pakistan-Saudi trade relations. Saudi Arabia has shown full confidence in Pakistan’s economy, geographical position, natural resources, and capabilities and Pakistan is a preferred country for investment by the Saudi government and companies. The companies that come to Pakistan have a track record of success. A 50-member delegation of investors from more than 30 Saudi companies in information technology, marine, mining, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and aviation is here in Islamabad.
The visit will have far-reaching benefits for the Pakistani economy and two-billion-dollar investment agreements are expected between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, thirty investment agreements will be signed in various fields, the framework of which has also been prepared.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in mid-July of the year, after the agreement of a three-billion-dollar standby arrangement between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Saudi Arabia deposited three billion dollars in the Central Bank of Pakistan and extended the repayable period of these deposits and this after this development, the IMF board approved a new loan program of seven billion dollars for Pakistan.
The Pakistani government expects that in the coming years, Saudi Arabia will invest heavily in various sectors, especially agriculture, minerals, and mining. In April of this year, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign visited Pakistan along with a high-level delegation and on this occasion, he said that there are opportunities to increase investment in Pakistan and important work in this regard will be done in the future. Pakistan has also recently formed SIFC to facilitate investment from Gulf countries to promote foreign investment and provide facilities to investors. According to official data, about 2.5 million Pakistanis are living in Saudi Arabia for employment, who send billions of dollars every year as foreign exchange to the country, which has a key position in Pakistan’s economy.
Regarding the delegation’s visit to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his address to the cabinet meeting that there is a possibility that investment agreements of 2 billion dollars will be concluded. On the other hand, while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that the Saudi Minister will finalize business-to-business investment projects whose value may exceed 2 billion dollars. Sources in the Foreign Office say that about 30 agreements will be signed for investment from Saudi Arabia for agriculture, information technology, construction material, petroleum, power sector, food security, meat, and Pakistani rice export.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been working rapidly on bilateral trade promotion and investment agreements. At the beginning of this year, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman, had also announced an investment package of five billion dollars for Pakistan. Pakistan is keen to partner with its regional allies in trade, defense, energy, and other sectors to overcome the prolonged economic crisis.
Charity to business relations
Instead of seeking aid from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan has made a big decision to trade with it. Trade relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia seem to be moving towards a new milestone, where a stronger investment-based relationship will be deployed and sources in the Ministry of Finance claim that by 2027, the total Saudi investment is likely to be more than 5 billion dollars.
Finance Ministry confirms that frameworks have been prepared for investment agreements with Saudi Arabia and the total investment will be more than 5 billion dollars by 2027. Saudi private sector will invest about 1 billion dollars in Pakistan and then the private sector will increase the volume of investment by appointing its local representatives in Pakistan.
MBS—A visionary Leader
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) is changing the country through his Vision 2030 reform strategy and Saudi Arabia announced significant changes to investment law aimed at attracting international investors. The amended law provides for investors’ rights and freedoms in a robust framework designed to facilitate and improve transparency and business activities and this move has created thousands of private investors with Saudi Arab and thousands of foreign companies are moving fast to invest within Saudi Arabia or abroad in collaboration with Saudi private investors. The amended law promises to protect investors by ensuring the rule of law, fair treatment, and protection of intellectual property along with property rights and making the transfer of funds even easier. The new law makes the registration process easier and complex licensing requirements are replaced by a simplified system. New service centers are being introduced to speed up the process of government transactions and investment. The new law includes several investment-friendly measures including civil transaction law, private sector partnership law, companies law, bankruptcy law, and the creation of special economic zones for achieving a thriving economy; to diversify its economy and create dynamic job opportunities for its citizens. This will happen through commitments to education, entrepreneurship, and innovation, including diversifying the nation’s economy through the ongoing privatization of state-owned assets, including establishing a sovereign wealth fund that will be financed through the partial IPO of Saudi Aramco; unlocking underdeveloped industries such as manufacturing, renewable energy, and tourism; modernizing the curriculum and standards of Saudi educational institutions from childhood to higher learning. By 2030, Saudi Arabia will have at least five universities among the top 200 universities in the world; and refocusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by encouraging financial assistance. Increasing the contribution of SMEs to GDP from 20 to 35 percent by 2030.
MBS’s special interest in Pakistan
Saudi Arabia has decided to start an investment package in Pakistan with 5 billion dollars after a historic meeting of PM Shahbaz Sharif with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman meetings when Sharif visited him at Al-Safa Palace, Makkah after assuming the charge of PM ship in 2022. Since the Sharif family has a long history of personal relationships with the Royal family of Saudi Arabia, the relationship between the MBS and Sharif brothers is quite close. It must be remembered that the Sharif family lived in Saudi Arabia after late General Musharraf sent former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif into exile. Saudi Royal family gifted Saroor Palace to the Sharif family who lived there for years. Moreover, COAS Gen Asim Munir also served for a long tenure in Saudi Arabia therefore Saudis know personally the military and civil leadership, and having full confidence in both, MBS offered Pakistan a new era of relation of being a seller instead of being a charity receiver.
Involvement of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia considers mining to be important and for them, investing in mining is a key initiative among the 13 key investment sectors. Under the Fund, government institutions and the private sector are offering business opportunities to Pakistan that are not offered to any country in the South Asian region. Both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan working together will have mutual benefits while it can also boost Pakistan’s mining skills and capabilities. Saudi Fund will also invest in Rico Dick, a coal and gold mining project located in the mineral-rich region of Balochistan. After several sessions on investment, the final phase now focuses on how to balance the proportion of economic participation in the project.
MBS’s plan represents a significant pivot towards more diversified and sustainable relations with Pakistan, catering demands of the future and benefiting the citizens of both countries. However, this new outlook needs very responsible conduct from Pakistan
Saudi Arabia’s interest in investing in Pakistan can significantly change the mineral landscape of Pakistan with its public investment fund worth more than one trillion dollars, is now ready to invest to support the development of Pakistan’s mining industry. Minerals such as copper are essential for lithium batteries and play an important role in the energy transition and the development of a renewable economy. However, many of these minerals are found in geopolitically unstable places, which can make mining difficult. Pakistan also has copper and gold reserves which attracted the attention of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s renewable energy resources in the global context.
Pak-Saudi Trade indicators
During the first half of this fiscal year, bilateral trade between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was recorded at 2.4 billion dollars. Pakistan’s exports were $262.58 million and Saudi Arabia’s exports were $2.219 billion. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been working together rapidly to expand mutual trade and investment agreements. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to accelerating a five-billion-dollar investment package. Both countries have strong trade, defense, and cultural ties. More than 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates live in Saudi Arabia, a major source of remittances to cash-strapped Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has often helped Pakistan in the past
Shah Salman Relief Center and Pakistan
Shah Salman Relief Center signed four joint cooperation programs with the National Disaster Management Authority, National Human Development Commission, Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and Kashmir Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Program ‘ERA’. The objective of this agreement is to support the reconstruction of communities affected by natural disasters in Pakistan. The projects benefit approximately 360,000 people directly and 690,000 people indirectly at a total cost of USD 14,223,762. Under these agreements, 1,000 permanent housing units will be built for flood-affected families, providing shelter to around 7,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces. Each house is designed with two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a kitchen. The center will also establish 300 community schools equipped with solar energy for clean drinking water across Pakistan. These schools will serve around 15,000 children, while over 100,000 people will indirectly benefit upon their completion. Four secondary schools will be established in the Kashmir region and will provide a safe learning environment for 3,400 students and contribute to the long-term development of the region. Along with this, a national logistics warehouse for the National Disaster Management Authority will be established in the capital Islamabad, which will significantly increase the capacity to store and distribute relief goods during emergencies. 22 service facilities, including schools, health centers, and water projects previously established by the state in disaster-affected areas in Pakistan, to improve access to education, health care, and clean water will be restored.
The Future with Responsibilities
Pak-Saudi relationship is entering into a bold and comprehensive relationship, aimed at reducing Pakistan’s dependence on loaning from the Kingdom and diversifying economic relations through developing private sector partnerships and also finding opportunities in service sectors such as vocational education, health, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plan represents a significant pivot towards more diversified and sustainable relations with Pakistan, catering demands of the future and benefiting the citizens of both countries. However, this new outlook needs very responsible conduct from Pakistan’s private as well as public sectors because both sectors have to enhance their capacity to align with the demands of Saudi investors who deal at a global level. Any mishandling of greater opportunities would be disastrous for Pakistan which would harm the great trust MBS is showing in Pakistan.
Islamabad, Pakistan: Terrible information has surfaced from those who were arrested by law-enforcing agencies during the PTI protest in Islamabad. The arrested Afghan citizens in their confessional statements confirmed that they were hired by PTI Peshawar on daily wages to attack private and public properties such as vehicles, state buildings motorcycles etc.
Under the guise of peaceful protest in Islamabad, the confessional statements of more Afghans who committed evil are on the public scene exposing evil-minded rioters crossed all boundaries against the state. Several miscreants who were arrested for spreading chaos and disorder also include Afghan citizens who were hired for spreading chaos in the country.
The statements of Abdul Qadir, Javed, Amanat Khan, Mudasar, and Nurudin are reproduced from their video confessional statements.
My name is Abdul Qadir, I belong to Afghanistan and I work in Peshawar. In Peshawar, a man named Javed asked us to do a day’s labor for 5 thousand rupees. Javed gave us only one day’s money but not two days’ money, miscreants. This person instructed us to go and vandalize the PTI rally and set cars and houses on fire.
My name is Amanat Khan and I am from Afghanistan. Please stay away from taking money from PTI and indulging in violent activities. These miscreants should not harm the country and the nation by breaking the country’s property, do not burn the vehicles, and also do not damage the roads.
My name is Mudasir and I am from Afghanistan. We were given money by the PTI people to set fire in Islamabad, break people’s bikes, and set fire to houses too, miscreants. Now we are in the police station but no one is coming to bail us out and we are lying here in this situation, miscreants
My name is Nuruddin and I am from Afghanistan. The PTI people gave us two to three thousand labor to spread chaos during the meeting in Islamabad and set fire to the vehicles. I request my Afghan brothers to work for the right and stay away from such evil elements who are harming their own country.
Official channels informed DND News Agency that strict legal action will be taken against the elements involved in mischief and any mischief under the guise of so-called protest will not be tolerated
Monitoring Desk: The 23rd Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States, which will be hosted in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024, is surely an important event for Pakistan. The ground realities in South Asia raise several questions including whether the SCO can resolve border disputes, enhance people-to-people contacts, and develop high trade between Pakistan and India or SCO offers only dreams to over 1.5 billion populations of India and Pakistan.
She believes the SCO is a success story for countries of Central Asia that resolved 90 percent of border disputes through sideline meetings during SCO forums but there is no hope that India and Pakistan will ever resolve the Kashmir issue at their side-line meeting.
She indicated that SCO was born out of the ‘Shanghai Five’ and its objectives and aims are the same as the Shanghai Five that helped to resolve border disputes among members because states of former USSR Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan had several border issues, resulting in border tensions and these states also had border issues with China.
“On April 24, 1997, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan signed the Treaty on the Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions. The first two meetings of the Shanghai Five focused on security confidence-building measures in the border areas between them as China and these countries share borders of over 7,000 kilometers in length and border problems were a potential threat to the relations among member states. It was also decided that their military forces would not engage in any offensive activities within the border areas; would not conduct military exercises against each other; would limit the scale, level, and frequency of military exercises in the border areas; would inform each other about their respective major military activities in the areas within one hundred kilometers from the borders; would invite each other to observe their planned military exercises; would prevent dangerous military activities in the border areas; and that they would enhance friendly exchanges between the military forces and border patrol forces along with the border areas. The foremost question is can Pakistan and India reach this level of understanding and coordination?’, she asked.
She also raised the issue of people-to-people contact and high trade among member states. Since all Central Asian States were former republics of the former Soviet Union, consequently they have very soft visa regimes and the Chinese visa regime is also quite soft for Central Asian countries and Russia. She believes that these points are just a dream if we talk about Pakistan-India relationships but we know only dreamers change the world”.
Monitoring Desk: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has government banned government employees from attending PTM rallies. A notification has been released in this regard. Notification says:
All government departments and employees are informed that participation, whether physical, financial, or otherwise, overt or covert, in any program or activity of a proscribed organization is illegal and will be dealt with according to law.
The names of the following persons have been included in Schedule 4 under Section 11EE of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 for assisting the banned organization Pashtun Tahafuz Movement.
South Waziristan
1. Manzoor Ahmed Pashteen
2. Shah Faisal Ghazi
3. Jamal Maliar
4. Beautiful scholar
5. Muhammad Sami alias Pashteen
6. Hayat Khan
7. Ameer Hamza
8. Ishtiaq Mehsud
9. Muhammad Bilal
10. Abdul Qahar
11. Dr Syed Alam
12. Saifur Rehman
13. Murtaza Khan Mehsud
14. Mustafa Chamto
15. Mohammad Farooq
16. Mohammad Sajjad
Swabi
1. Khairul Ameen
2. Liaquat Ali Yousafzai
3. Irfan Majnoon
4. Muhammad Ali
5. Muhammad Usman
Bajaur
1. Salman Khan
2. Abuzar Khan
3. Ghirat Khan
4. Asif Ali
5. Wajid Ali
6. Huzaifa
Khyber
1. Hussain Ahmed
2. Aftab Shinwari
3. Sami Allah
4. Mohib Afridi
5. Muhammad Hanif
6. Jahangir Khan
7. Malik Naseer Ahmed
8. Khan Wali
9. Imran Lala
10. Amjad
Malakand
1. Zaheer Jahan
2. Hidayat Rahman
3. Taj Muhammad Gharzing
4. Mushtaq Khan
5. Saeed Tajmal Hasan
6. Kamran
Monitoring Desk: The violent clashes between Punjabi and Pashtun Student Councils at Quaid-e-Azam University were reported last night. Students who are impartial in this...
Islamabad, Pakistan: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has confirmed that the Input tax adjustment system causing tax fraud worth Rs3,400 billion in Pakistan.Addressing a...
Islamabad, Pakistan: His Excellency Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al Falih, Minister of Investment, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, accompanied by a high-level government cum business delegation,...
Islamabad, Pakistan: Special traffic plan for Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Islamabad. Alternative routes have been arranged for the convenience of citizens.During the SCO...