Walter Koenig, who brought humor and grit to the role of starship navigator Pavel Chekov on the classic 1960s sci-fi TV series Star Trek and seven subsequent feature films, has died at the age of 90.

“My heart is heavy. Walter Koenig, our Ensign Pavel Chekov, passed away early today,” George Takei, who ‌starred alongside Koenig in the show and was a long-time friend, wrote on Facebook on Monday.

Koenig died at his home in Los Angeles, The Associated Press reported, citing his talent agent.

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry picked Koenig, who had played only a few prior roles on television, when he decided to add a Russian character to the crew of the fictional Starship Enterprise.

The introduction of a Russian officer who worked harmoniously with a racially ⁠and culturally diverse crew came amid the real-world Cold War tensions of the era.

“We were stating tacitly that peoples of all races and creeds, nationalities could not only co-exist but care for each other deeply, and in doing so we were heralding a future that was very optimistic,” Koenig once told a BBC interviewer.

While Koenig was the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, he used an inauthentic Russian accent that was sometimes played for laughs.

The original TV series ran for three seasons, from 1966 to 1969. Koenig appeared on 36 episodes, and then in seven movies from 1979 to 1994.

“I was informed while I was still there at my audition that I had the role,” Koenig told the Joplin Globe in 2008.

“It ‌seemed like ⁠an engagement that might work out over several episodes, but I had no idea that it would totally shape my career and my life.”

The show remained popular in syndicated reruns and inspired several later TV series and a succession of films. It attracted a devoted worldwide fan base and earned an enduring place in pop culture.

Koenig’s Star Trek fame was a blessing and a curse, as it ⁠was for cast mates such as William Shatner (Captain Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Spock), DeForest Kelley (Dr McCoy), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), James Doohan (Scotty) and Takei, who played Lieutenant Sulu.

They were often typecast because they were so closely associated with Star Trek.

“Most of the ‘70s, I didn’t work at all, and I blamed ⁠it on typecasting,” Koenig told the St. Petersburg Times in 1998.

He later landed a regular role on the 1990s sci-fi series Babylon 5 and was an author, script writer and occasional director.

Koenig was born on Sept 14, 1936, raised in New York ⁠City and attended the University of California, Los Angeles, before beginning his professional acting career.

He suffered a personal tragedy in 2010 when his son, actor Andrew Koenig, took his own life. Koenig married his wife Judy in 1965. They also had a daughter, actress Danielle Koenig.

ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday warned that drug prices must not be increased without valid justification and ordered a review of the existing pricing formula to ensure medicines are priced fairly without creating unnecessary hurdles for patients, importers or the pharmaceutical industry.

Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, who chaired a meeting of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), directed officials to expedite the processing of pending drug-pricing cases after being briefed that their case-by-case evaluation was almost complete.

The minister appreciated the progress and acknowledged the efforts of Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik and Drap officials in completing the evaluation.

Health Secretary Momin Agha, Drap Chief Executive Officer Dr Obaidullah Malik and other senior officials also attended the meeting.

The meeting was also informed that sufficient quantities of the trivalent influenza vaccine recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) were available in the market.

Drap had withdrawn the hardship case relating to the vaccine as its prices were controlled in the international market.

Officials told the meeting that Drap was reviewing the existing drug-pricing formula and examining provisions that could hinder the determination of fair and accurate prices.

Cheema suggested that Drap consider subscribing to specialised international databases on drug prices to strengthen independent assessment and provide more reliable benchmarks for pricing decisions.

“Public facilitation should remain the government’s top priority,” he emphasised, adding that any increase in medicine prices without valid justification was unacceptable.

The minister said price comparisons with other countries could provide useful benchmarks, but stressed the need for independent checks and balances in the pricing process.

Cheema ordered that the pricing mechanism should remain people-centred while avoiding unnecessary barriers for importers and pharmaceutical companies.

Pharma industry’s perspective

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) urged the government to engage industry in the formula review so that the outcome could be workable and sustainable.

PPMA Vice Chairman Usman Shaukat told Dawn that the pharmaceutical industry fully shared the government’s objective that medicines must remain affordable and accessible to every Pakistani.

“No responsible manufacturer seeks an unjustified price increase, and we welcome Senator Ahad Cheema’s direction to expedite pending pricing cases and to review the pricing formula. A fair, transparent and predictable mechanism serves patients and industry alike,” he said.

“However, affordability and availability go hand in hand. The real threat to patients is not a justified price adjustment but a medicine disappearing from the shelf.”

Shaukat noted that products become unviable when the cost of active ingredients, packaging, energy, freight and compliance rises — most of which is imported and relies on the dollar — and prices remain frozen for years.

“Manufacturers are then forced to stop production, which creates shortages and pushes patients towards costlier imported alternatives, smuggled stock or spurious medicines,“ he explained.

Shaukat said that the industry supports the use of international benchmarks and independent databases, provided comparisons account for the cost of doing business within Pakistan, high financing costs, exchange-rate exposure and the fact that Pakistani medicine prices are already among the lowest in the region.

“Benchmarks should be a tool for fairness, not a ceiling that ignores input costs,” he highlighted.

“PPMA proposes that the revised formula include a clear, time-bound and rules-based mechanism, including periodic CPI and cost-linked adjustments, so that hardship cases do not pile up and decisions are not delayed for years,” Shaukat added.

Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees, the company said on Monday, roughly a quarter of its workforce, as the tech giant seeks to cut costs while pouring money into artificial intelligence.

Staff on select teams in the United States, Canada, India and Britain at vice president level and below will be eligible, a Microsoft spokesperson said, while some groups of employees, including some working on data centres, sales and marketing, are excluded.

“The Voluntary Exit Offer reflects an important part of how we’re evolving our approach to change: creating greater flexibility and, where possible, more ways for employees to shape their next chapter,” Amy Coleman, an executive vice president and chief people officer, told employees in a memo.

It’s the second voluntary buyout offer that Microsoft has offered employees this year.

In April, the company reportedly offered around seven per cent of its US workforce the option to retire early.

Around 30pc of those eligible took the voluntary retirement plan, according to CNBC.

Microsoft had 223,000 employees globally at the end of June, down from 228,000 at the end of 2025, according to regulatory filings.

Around 27pc of Microsoft’s workforce is eligible for the new buyout offer.

The company is expected to report quarterly earnings later this week.

Tech layoffs

As major tech giants continue to spend heavily on AI-related investments, concerns persist about the impact of the technology on jobs.

Even industry insiders, such as Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei, have warned of mass job losses.

Netflix will reportedly cut around 6pc of its workforce, or 1,000 jobs, US media reported last week.

Auction site eBay laid off 1,000 employees earlier this month, adding to a previous round earlier this year which impacted 800 jobs.

In May, Meta laid off around 10pc of its global workforce, impacting around 8,000 employees.

In April, Meta also said it would cancel plans to hire an additional 6,000 people and also shift 7,000 other employees into AI workflow-related roles.

Ride-hailing giant Uber said in September that it would lay off around 10pc of its staff, impacting an estimated 3,000 or more employees.

And e-commerce giant Amazon announced 16,000 global job cuts in January.

Microsoft previously cut nearly 5,000 jobs in July that heavily targeted its Xbox gaming division.

Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta are collectively on track to pour roughly $700 billion into AI data centres, chips and computing infrastructure this year alone.

In July, Microsoft said it spent $41bn overall between April and June and expected to increase its spending to $50bn between July and September.

However, the company also adjusted its forecast for total spending in the 2026 calendar year to $175bn, down from $190bn previously.

Around two-thirds of its spending goes towards “short-lived assets,” specifically chips, due to customer demand for “both AI and non-AI infrastructure”, Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said during a call with analysts.

Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank’s Hebron city, launched after a deadly attack by Palestinian gunmen, raises serious concerns of “ethnic cleansing”, the United Nations (UN) warned Monday.

The municipality in Hebron, the Palestinian territory’s largest city, said in a statement that 3,189 people had been forced from their homes by the ongoing operation.

It followed Friday’s attack in which two Palestinian gunmen killed two soldiers at a checkpoint near the city, just days before Tuesday’s Israeli elections. The gunmen were killed in a shootout.

Israeli troops entered the Hebron neighbourhood of Ein Deir Baha, where the two assailants lived, and ordered residents to pack up and leave.

Israel’s “aggressive operation” has already resulted in the forcible displacement of thousands of Palestinians, “demolished homes and commercial property, and deprived residents of the ability to move freely”, UN rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement.

“The sweeping steps taken raise grave concerns of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force — which must end.”

He said the lockdown was confining many to their homes and immediate neighbourhoods.

“Declarations by senior Israeli government officials indicate that the measures implemented are punitive in nature and designed to instil fear. This is unacceptable,” said Turk.

“Those who have been displaced must be allowed to return home. Israel must ensure compensation and reparation for unlawful evictions and demolitions, and associated displacement.

“Collective punishment is a grave violation of international law. Threats to empty and erase entire neighbourhoods also raise serious concerns of ethnic cleansing.”

Speaking earlier in Cairo, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply alarmed by Israeli actions in the West Bank.

“Evictions are unrelenting, with Palestinians driven from their lands. Settler violence is surging,” he said.

“We are seeing an increasingly coercive environment, with the spectre of ethnic cleansing looming ever larger. This must end.”

Guterres said there could be no durable peace in the Middle East “without the realisation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination”.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday blocked a private member’s bill seeking to withdraw the free-for-all issuance of diplomatic passports to ministers of state, advisers, special assistants and senior bureaucrats and rejected the motion for introduction of the Passports (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The bill was moved by PTI Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, along with senators Samina Mumtaz Zehri and Saifullah Abro.

Declaring his opposition to the bill, State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said, “You are bringing an amendment to the authority of the cabinet which you have not seen.”

To this, Senator Faisal responded that the bill was about diplomatic passports, which only ministers should have. “There should be no distribution in the issuance of diplomatic passports,“ he observed.

PPP Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro argued that a minister of state is also a representative of the Parliament.

According to the copy of the bill available with Dawn, it sought to amend the Passports Act 1974 by inserting a new Section 12A for restriction on diplomatic passport entitlement of ministers of state, advisers, special assistants, federal secretaries and director generals.

It provided that no diplomatic passport shall be issued, re-issued or renewed to a minister of state, adviser to the prime minister, special assistant to the prime minister, federal secretaries other than the foreign secretary, or director general, by virtue of holding such office, and any such passport already held shall be surrendered to the prescribed authority within 30 days of commencement of the Act.

The proposed bill clarified that nothing shall prevent such persons from obtaining or retaining an ordinary or official passport where otherwise entitled, and nothing shall affect any independent entitlement arising by virtue of any other office, appointment or diplomatic assignment which lawfully carries such entitlement.

The bill’s statement of objects and reasons noted that the Passports Rules 2021 provide for the issuance of diplomatic passports to various categories of public office holders, including state ministers and functionaries having the status of minister of state.

“A diplomatic passport is a special travel document of the state, and its issuance should primarily correspond to the nature and requirements of diplomatic or state functions rather than operate automatically as a privilege attached to rank or status,” the bill read.

It said the proposed amendment would not restrict official duties or official foreign travel, as a person may continue to obtain an ordinary or official passport where otherwise entitled.

The bill sought only to provide that holding, or having previously held, the office or status of minister of state, adviser, special assistant, federal secretary other than foreign secretary, or director general shall not, by itself, constitute an entitlement to a diplomatic passport.

It argued that the proposed amendment was intended to ensure a clear and reasonable distinction between diplomatic functions and political status and to promote a transparent and purpose-based system for issuance of diplomatic passports.

Heated exchange among allies triggers PPP walkout

The Upper House also witnessed an exchange of hot words between PML-N’s Nasir Butt and PPP’s Sherry Rehman during the passage of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026.

The bill, moved by Senator Zehri of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), was passed despite the PML-N-led government’s opposition.

Butt asked who the PPP was supporting, with PPP senators walking out after the episode.

The consumer protection bill secured 10 votes in favour and four against, after a vote was allowed for the second time.

Chaudhry opposed the bill, while Zehri criticised the government for opposing the legislation, saying it neither worked itself nor allowed others to work.

The House also unanimously passed a bill to amend the law banning plastic book covers in the federal capital to remove an exemption clause that allowed its misuse.

The bill, moved by PPP’s Senator Rehman, sought to amend the Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Plastic Book Covers) Act 2026.

According to the statement of objects and reasons, the principal Act was enacted with the object of regulating and prohibiting the use of plastic book covers within ICT.

“During the examination of the provisions of the said Act, it has been considered necessary to review the exceptions and other provisions contained in section 3, particularly clause (a) of sub-section (2) thereof,” it read, adding that the continued retention of the said clause may result in an exception which is inconsistent with the intended purpose of the Act.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Rehman said plastic covers were still being used on books in some big shops in Islamabad. She said a meeting with the Ministry of Interior had also been held on the issue.

“During checking, shopkeepers declare every plastic as biodegradable,” she said, adding that according to the interior ministry, there is no laboratory or scale available in the country to check biodegradable plastic.

The former climate minister highlighted that the purpose of the amendment was to remove legal ambiguity regarding plastic book covers.

“Under the amendment, there will be a complete ban on all types of plastic in Islamabad,” she said, adding that no one would have an exemption for the use of plastic.

The Senate also approved an amendment in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), while deferring the Islamabad Metro Bus Service Bill, 2026.

PTI voices concerns over re-description of KP constituencies

Meanwhile, PTI parliamentary leader in the Senate, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, raised serious concerns over the “description” of several national and provincial assembly constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deploring that the revisions were made without hearing public objections.

Senator Zafar stated that constituencies determine the representation of people in Parliament and that any changes affecting them must be made strictly in accordance with the law, through a transparent process and with full public scrutiny.

“The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot treat the law as optional,” he said, adding that Section 22 of the Elections Act 2017 lays down legal requirements relating to changes in constituencies. “If the prescribed procedure has not been followed, the legality of the entire exercise is called into question.”

He demanded clear answers from the ECP, asking why these changes were made without a transparent public process and who would be held responsible if the law had been violated.

Senator Zafar also expressed concern over the continued delay in appointing a successor to the chief election commissioner, whose five-year term expired on Jan 26, 2025.

While Article 215 provides for continuation in office until a successor takes over, he said this provision must not become an excuse for indefinite delay in making an important constitutional appointment. “The government must explain why the matter remains unresolved.”

“An ECP that commands public confidence must be above suspicion. It must not only act fairly; it must demonstrate fairness,” Senator Zafar said.

“Electoral decisions must not create the impression that political interests are being served at the expense of the law.”

The PTI senator called upon the government to take notice of the matter and ensure compliance with the law. He further demanded that the ECP provide a clear legal justification for its actions and that any failure to follow the prescribed procedure be addressed.

“Elections are the foundation of democracy. If the process is not transparent, public confidence in the electoral system will be undermined. The law must be respected, the people must be heard, and no institution, however powerful, is above the Constitution,” he remarked.

Responding to the concerns, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the matter was being discussed on the basis of a newspaper report and asked members to share any official notification. He said he would seek further information from the ECP.

Resolution on occupied Kashmir unanimously adopted

The House also witnessed a show of unity as it unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming Pakistan’s unequivocal support for the right to self-determination of the people of India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) on the occasion of Kashmir Black Day to be observed tomorrow (Oct 27).

The resolution was moved by Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam.

The resolution declared that the entry of Indian forces into occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Oct 27, 1947, followed by the unlawful and forcible occupation of the territory and the situation that ensued, marked a significant turning point in the history of the Kashmir dispute.

It paid tribute to the people of occupied Kashmir for their continued struggle and sacrifices in pursuit of their right to self-determination.

It emphasised the importance of a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and of ensuring the right of Kashmiri people to determine their own future.

The resolution reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled position that a just and lasting settlement of the dispute is not possible without respecting the aspirations of Kashmiris and their right to self-determination, for which it called upon the UN to play an effective role through its relevant resolutions.

The resolution also urged the international community to take due cognisance of human rights violations in IoK and to play an effective role in safeguarding the fundamental rights of Kashmiri people.

It called upon the government of Pakistan to continue extending political, moral and diplomatic support to the people of IoK and to intensify its efforts to highlight the Kashmir dispute at the international level.

The House reaffirmed its unwavering resolve and commitment that the Senate of Pakistan shall continue its support to the legitimate struggle of the IIOJK people and to uphold their right to self-determination.

ISLAMABAD: Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain on Monday announced that the government would maintain strategic wheat reserves of up to six million tonnes, asserting there would be no shortage of wheat in Pakistan this year as adequate arrangements were in place to meet the national requirements.

“This will help ensure uninterrupted supplies and protect the country against potential market disruptions,” the minister said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

His remarks came days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the indicative price of Rs4,500 per maund of wheat for 2027, raising the price by Rs1,000 from last year.

Hussain noted that the government had fixed the indicative wheat support price at Rs4,500 per 40kg following extensive consultations with all provincial governments.

“The enhanced support price will not only maintain stability in the domestic wheat market but also enable the country to export wheat next year.”

The decision on the new indicative price reflected the approach aimed at safeguarding farmers’ interests, he contended.

The minister explained that imported wheat would also cost approximately Rs4,500 per maund, making domestic procurement a more suitable option. He reiterated that the government would prioritise Pakistani farmers rather than rely unnecessarily on imported wheat.

Providing details of wheat supplies, the minister disclosed that more than 1.3 million metric tonnes of wheat had been provided to the provinces from stocks of the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco).

He further stated that arrangements could be made to import up to 550,000 metric tonnes of wheat in accordance with provincial requirements and demand.

Expressing concern over recent fluctuations in wheat prices, Hussain described the prevailing price hike as artificial and manipulated by certain market elements.

He maintained that sufficient wheat stocks were available in the country and expressed confidence that prices would return to normal within the next few days.

The food security minister emphasised that the government was closely monitoring market developments and would take necessary measures to discourage artificial shortages, speculative practices and unjustified price increases.

The minister said that the federal government, under the leadership of PM Shehbaz, was taking comprehensive measures to strengthen agricultural productivity, improve market regulation and ensure the availability of essential food commodities across the country.

Discussing broader agricultural reforms, Hussain stated that the government had also formulated policies relating to seeds, olives and biotechnology to modernise Pakistan’s agricultural sector, improve crop productivity and encourage innovation.

He reiterated that ensuring the “availability of quality seeds, promoting modern agricultural technologies and improving regulatory mechanisms” were essential for increasing agricultural productivity and reducing farmers’ production costs.

“Agriculture remains the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Sustainable agricultural development is indispensable for national economic stability, rural prosperity and long-term food security,” Hussain reaffirmed.

Endorsing the government’s pledge to export wheat next year, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Mahmood Khokhar appreciated the government’s decision to fix the indicative wheat price at Rs4500 per 40kg.

He expressed his satisfaction over the consultation process and acknowledged the importance of providing farmers with a predictable and reasonable price for their produce.

Last month, the Pakistan Kissan Ittehad demanded a Rs5,000 per 40kg support price for wheat, warning that farmers may not sow wheat for the next season if the government delays announcing crop policies.

The association had maintained that the farmers were unable to afford balanced fertiliser use because they were not recovering production costs.h a predictable and reasonable price for their produce.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Monday cleared three major infrastructure projects worth Rs100 billion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, recommending them to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) for formal approval.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) presided over by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal.

“Federal government reaffirms commitment to KP’s development,” said Iqbal, referring to CDWP’s recommendation for a Rs69.89bn irrigation project to boost agriculture and rural livelihoods in the province.

Since the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP, the Centre has pledged to work on the province’s development and progress, besides its top priority of combatting terrorism.

The CDWP meeting also cleared another 11 projects throughout the country with an estimated investment of nearly Rs126.50bn, including a mega project worth Rs85.34bn in Punjab.

This brought the total number of projects cleared by CDWP to 14, with an estimated cost of Rs226.48bn.

Of them, Rs40.9bn worth of 10 smaller projects were approved by the CDWP, while four other larger projects were recommended to Ecnec for formal approval.

Under financial rules, CDWP can itself approve projects costing up to Rs7.5bn, while it technically clears larger projects for approval by Ecnec.

The projects, including two mega water and agriculture sector projects worth around $550 million in KP and Punjab, would also unlock around $460m in foreign loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In the water resources sector, two mega climate-resilient infrastructure projects were recommended to Ecnec for approval.

These included the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Resilient Irrigated Agriculture Livelihoods Development Project valued at Rs69.89bn. It would be co-financed by the ADB, which would contribute Rs56.133bn ($200m), while the KP government would provide Rs11.69bn with land acquisition.

The project aims to rehabilitate the Pehur Main Canal, construct the Mulkhow Irrigation Distribution System, and extend the Pehur High Level Canal.

The second mega project recommended to Ecnec was the Integrated Hill Torrent Management (Chachar-Mithawan) project in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts, worth Rs85.34bn.

Manila-based ADB would also be co-financing this project with a Rs73.06bn ($260m) share, while the Punjab government will be contributing Rs12.28bn.

The initiative seeks to implement modern spate irrigation, flood protection channels, telemetry systems, and centralised Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (Scada) monitoring to strengthen regional water security.

The meeting also cleared Rs13.32bn Prime Minister’s Solar Scheme for Newly Merged Districts (NMDs) and referred it to Ecnec to provide off-grid solar energy solutions to households in merged districts.

After the imposition of emergency in KP, the merged districts are among 12 districts run by the newly formed Area Representative and Development Council.

In the transport and communications sector, the CDWP recommended a project for the improvement and widening of the 39-kilometre Chakdara-Timergara section of N-45, costing Rs17.01bn to Ecnec.

To be financed through foreign funding via Exim Bank, the project will upgrade a vital transport corridor linking Chakdara, Timergara, Dir, and Chitral, significantly boosting trade, road safety, and tourism across the Kalash, Shandur, and Kumrat valleys.

Approved projects

The CDWP itself approved a total of 10 projects.

The first one, pertaining to the construction of an eight-lane overhead bridge at Imamia Colony Railway Crossing, Shahdara (N-5)-Lahore, was approved at an estimated cost of Rs7.49bn.

This includes construction and rehabilitation of connecting link roads to alleviate urban congestion in Lahore’s Shahdara Town.

In the education and training sector, the CDWP approved in principle three initiatives to expand quality educational access.

It approved in principle the establishment of Daanish Schools across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, KP, and Sindh, with the preparation estimated at Rs122.4m.

Similarly, the establishment of a Daanish School in Islamabad’s Kuri, costing Rs7.36bn was approved in principle to expand educational infrastructure in the federal capital.

Additionally, the establishment of a Daanish School in Kan Mehterzai of Balochistan’s Qila Saifullah district, valued at Rs4.53bn was approved in principle, subject to a technical review by a committee led by the member for infrastructure.

In the higher education sector, four key youth development initiatives were processed.

The PM’s Youth Development Centres project, valued at Rs4.15bn was approved in principle, incorporating third-party validation and structured monitoring frameworks to ensure effective resource utilisation.

The forum also approved the PM’s Talent Hunt Youth Sports League (Phase-I), worth Rs3.99bn, where a steering committee under the Pakistan Sports Board will coordinate efforts across all provinces and regions.

The CDWP also approved Rs1.97bn worth of PM’s National Innovation Award and the establishment of PM’s Youth Programme Sports Academies (High Performance and Resource Centre) and Youth Olympics, worth Rs2.956bn, to foster talent and modern sports infrastructure.

Furthermore, the meeting approved in principle the revamping of Pakistan Television Corporation at an estimated cost of Rs3.96bn.

The project seeks to modernise public broadcasting through digital transformation, international asset commercialisation, and long-term financial sustainability.

The CDWP also evaluated two energy initiatives in the power sector. It approved in principle the installation of a pilot Battery Energy Storage System at the 220 kV Jhimpir-I Grid Station at an estimated cost of Rs4.40bn, to support grid stabilisation and renewable integration.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday sought investment from US financial institutions in its oil refinery upgradation projects as the two countries discussed increasing cooperation in the energy sector.

The development came during a meeting between Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker.

During the meeting, Malik briefed the US envoy on measures Pakistan was taking to ensure energy security amid the evolving geopolitical situation, an official statement said.

Malik highlighted that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had created challenges for fuel availability, requiring proactive measures to maintain uninterrupted supplies, it said.

The minister underscored Pakistan’s commitment to securing its energy needs and highlighted the ongoing engagement between the teams of both countries to explore opportunities for cooperation.

“He noted that Pakistan’s refinery upgradation programme could offer investment opportunities for US financial institutions,” the statement said.

Baker, for her part, congratulated Pakistan on efficiently managing the fuel supply situation, noting that the country had not experienced a fuel shortage despite the challenging regional circumstances, it added.

The US envoy expressed her country’s desire to work closely with Pakistan to address its energy needs. She emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for US companies in Pakistan and expressed optimism about establishing long-term energy supply contracts, noting that such arrangements would be mutually beneficial and create opportunities for American businesses, it said.

During the meeting, the managing directors of Pakistan State Oil and Pakistan LNG Limited briefed the participants on the interest shown by US companies in LNG supply to Pakistan.

Malik also invited US companies to participate in the upcoming Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, highlighting the investment opportunities available in Pakistan, the handout said.

He expressed deep appreciation for US support and emphasised that enhanced bilateral engagement would help strengthen energy cooperation and contribute to Pakistan’s long-term energy security, the statement concluded.

The development comes after four of five local refineries finally entered into formal agreements with the government last month to upgrade their refining technologies for cleaner product quality and increased production, with an estimated investment of about $5 billion in five years.

Serbia’s long-running student protest movement celebrated a historic win in the country’s election, ending 14 years of rule by the country’s right-wing populist leader Aleksandar Vucic.

Born out of nearly two years of anti-corruption protests sparked by a deadly railway station canopy collapse, the Students’ List is now eyeing a majority.

Here some key points about Serbia’s student-led movement as its candidates prepare to form government.

How did Serbia’s student movement start?

On Nov 1, 2024, a concrete awning at the entrance to Novi Sad train station collapsed, killing 16 people and sparking outcry over the tragedy at the newly renovated station.

Demanding a swift investigation, peaceful protests grew over months into some of the largest demonstrations recorded since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.

From the start, university students led the protests, blockading faculties and organising nationwide rallies.

The movement is deliberately leaderless and built around collective decision-making.

Just over a month before the second anniversary of the disaster, Vucic announced early elections, and the students assembled an electoral list drawn largely from academia and professional circles.

They are all deliberately outside any major political party.

How did it win?

The movement built its campaign around opposing Vucic, setting aside issues that could divide its supporters.

“In order to win an election, the students needed the support of both groups of voters: those who are pro-European and those who are Eurosceptic,” political analyst Dusan Vucicevic told AFP.

Its campaign focused on corruption, the rule of law and attacks on press freedom.

Its collective decision-making, developed during the protests, continued into the campaign.

Who will lead?

The movement has repeatedly called for an end to the “cult of personality” that has dominated the country’s political system for decades.

The movement has not said who would be prime minister, leaving open who will lead the government, Vucicevic said.

Leading figures include Ilija Srdanovic, a cardiologist who headed the electoral list, and Radomir Saicic, a chemistry professor prominent in the campaign.

But Vucicevic stressed that Serbia’s prime minister does not have to be a member of parliament.

“So they have other people available whom they could bring into the government. We will have to wait and see.”

What are the key policies?

The candidates will need to adapt quickly to deliver on their broad reform platform, with the fight against corruption at its centre.

On foreign policy, the movement has offered fewer details. It previously said it would maintain Serbia’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

In a country still heavily dependent on cheap Russian gas but also supported by large European Union (EU) loans, the students will likely inherit Vucic’s political balancing act.

For now, the students’ focus will remain largely domestic, as they continue with their electoral strategy of uniting an “anti-regime electorate” and setting aside differences, Vucicevic said.

But he said the movement’s proposed reforms would likely bring Serbia closer to the EU.

“If the students do what they have announced, they will take much more significant steps towards EU membership for Serbian society than they would by simply draping themselves in European flags.”

What will happen to Vucic?

A deputy prime minister from 2012, then prime minister and finally president, Vucic is “politically dead”, according to Vucicevic.

He resigned ahead of the elections to run as prime minister, while his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won over 100 seats in the country’s parliament.

Presidential elections are due soon, but Vucic is ineligible to run, and the SNS has no obvious candidate.

The question of possible prosecutions remains and will depend on the students’ ability to restore the rule of law.

Former army chief retired Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar, who played a decisive role in resolving Pakistan’s 1993 political crisis, passed away in Rawalpindi on Monday at the age of 89. He leaves behind a legacy that will continue to figure in discussions on the country’s civil-military relationship.

His passing was announced by Inter-Services Public Relations, which said in a note that the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and all ranks of the Pakistan Army expressed sorrow over his passing and paid tribute to his “distinguished military career, leadership and invaluable services”. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also conveyed their condolences.

Gen Kakar is best remembered for helping end a serious confrontation between then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan and then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1993, when the country seemed on the brink of another prolonged political crisis and the government stood paralysed. His intervention led to the resignations of both the president and the prime minister, the installation of a caretaker government, and fresh elections that brought the late Benazir Bhutto back to power. The whole episode popularly came to be known as the “Kakar Formula”.

That episode is still referenced in modern discourse because the army under Gen Kakar not only avoided getting involved in the ongoing politics, but also stopped well short of imposing martial law or assuming direct governance. The Kakar Formula instead gave the stakeholders a way out of the political dispute, allowing the political process to continue.

Professional career

Born on March 23, 1937, in Peshawar, he belonged to the Kakar tribe, whose roots lie in Balochistan. Gen Kakar studied at Edwardes College in Peshawar before joining the army and was commissioned into the Frontier Force Regiment in October 1959. He saw combat in both the 1965 war with India, where he served in the Chawinda sector, and the 1971 war, where he served as a brigade major in the Sulemanki sector.

His subsequent career included command and staff appointments, including commanding the 16th Infantry Division and serving as chief of staff of II Corps in Multan. He attended the Command and Staff College in Canada, and later studied at the National Defence College in Rawalpindi.

As adjutant general at General Headquarters (GHQ) from 1987 to 1989, Kakar acquired a reputation for insisting on professional standards and merit. He was appointed commander of XII Corps in 1989 and positioned in Quetta.

Gen Kakar assumed command of the army on Jan 12, 1993, after his predecessor, Gen Asif Nawaz Janjua, died suddenly just months before the Ishaq-Nawaz dispute blew up.

His appointment by president Ishaq had come as a surprise because several lieutenant-generals senior to him were superseded, journalist Mariana Baabar, who had met Gen Kakar at the Armoured Mess shortly after his appointment, told Dawn.

Gen Kakar’s tenure saw Pakistan continue its missile development programme, including work that contributed to the Shaheen missile series.

Kakar resisted intense diplomatic pressure from the Clinton administration, which had offered to deliver the blocked F-16s if Pakistan agreed to a verifiable cap on its nuclear programme. He stood firm, refusing to compromise on the country’s strategic deterrent for conventional hardware.

In 1995, the army uncovered a conspiracy, which came to be known as Operation Khilafat, involving serving and retired military officers who were plotting to overthrow the government and assassinate Kakar and then-prime minister Benazir. The plot was foiled before it could be carried out.

Honours and retirement

Gen Kakar completed his three-year term on Jan 12, 1996, and declined an extension. He later retired from public life and settled in Rawalpindi, staying largely out of the public eye.

Baabar, who met him multiple times, recalled that he never showed an inclination towards any party, neither during his service nor afterwards. She also described him as moderate on religion, noting that he always advocated keeping professionalism and religion separate.

Gen Kakar received several military honours during his career, including the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) and the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military). However, his place in the country’s history books rests less on the decorations he received and more on the events of 1993 and his decision, three years later, to retire without seeking to prolong his service.

Gen Kakar, who was said to be bedridden for several years before his passing, is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

ISLAMABAD: Energas, a consortium of the Lucky Group and Qatar Energy, has given up a multi-million-dollar plan to establish a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Port Qasim, citing fundamental changes to Pakistan’s energy policy, requirements and longstanding unresolved policy and fiscal matters, it emerged on Monday.

On the other hand, the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has warned Energas of terminating its final letter of intent (LOI) unless an “unconditional acceptance” is received on or before Nov 30, 2026, along with an updated status of the project.

This would also result in forfeiture of the $2 million initial concession fee, PQA said.

Subsequently, Energas has approached the prime minister for the refund of $2m, absolving it of any contractual lapse and instead blaming the government and factors beyond its control for not moving ahead.

Informed sources told Dawn that Qatar Energy had booked an LNG terminal and committed to supply additional LNG quantities at around 10.2pc of Brent — almost the same rate it contracted to Pakistan State Oil under a second-term contract — to ensure full utilisation of terminal capacity on its own.

Qatar has been seeking pipeline capacity allocation for LNG transportation through the terminal it planned with local partners near Karachi, a level playing field for LNG marketing and a terminal, and exemption from third-party access (TPA) that requires certain terminal capacity for use by government entities.

Ahead of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s August 2022 visit to Qatar, Pakistan approved changes to the LNG policy to remove restrictions on upcoming private sector LNG terminals to provide their part capacity to the government.

These were officially conveyed to the Qatari counterpart by then-petroleum minister Musadik Malik for re-engaging on LNG sector cooperation, including speedy completion of the LNG terminal and another long-term contract for more gas supplies on top of two existing long-term contracts, in addition to LPG supplies.

While the energy situation kept changing, the project could not move forward over the subsequent three years as Pakistan sought diversion of its existing contracted LNG cargoes even before this year’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the Feb 28 US-Israel attacks on Iran and suspension of Qatar’s LNG production.

Quoting past correspondence, Energas’ chairman Muhammad Ali Tabba complained to PM Shehbaz that PQA was “demanding” Energas’s unconditional acceptance of the final LOI by Nov 30, 2026, failing which PQA will cancel the final LOI and forfeit the $2m initial concession fee paid by Energas.

He said the Lucky Group Consortium had taken up a self-funded project in good faith and in response to Pakistan’s energy requirements prevailing at the relevant time, which had since materially changed.

“Energas’s inability to proceed with the project is attributable to two critical factors: firstly, a fundamental change in national energy policy and requirements, resulting in a clear frustration of purpose; and secondly, the persistent and longstanding unresolved policy and fiscal matters with the government, PQA and other government bodies/authorities, which have continuously impeded the viability,” he noted.

The Energas chairman contended that those issues remain unresolved to date, which could have led to a final investment decision (FID) by Qatar Energy and Pakistani partners.

“The government had committed to resolving these matters following discussions with the State of Qatar. However, despite the passage of time, the aforesaid matters remain unresolved, thereby adversely affecting investor interest,” Tabba said.

He added that the national energy requirements and the policy environment had materially evolved since the project was originally conceived and Energas had already approached PQA for the return/refund of the partial concession fee.

Energas said Pakistan’s official Integrated Energy Study (IES) — Final Report of March 28, 2025 confirmed that no new LNG terminals were required over the next five years.

According to Energas, this “unequivocal admission” on the part of the government materially alters the circumstances and context in which the Energas project was conceived and directly affects the necessity and economic rationale for the project, resulting in a clear frustration of purpose from an investor’s perspective.

It recalled that at the time of issuance of the provisional LOI in May 2020, the LNG Policy 2011 provided LNG terminal operators with a five-year tax holiday commencing from the Commercial Operations Date, but the exemption was withdrawn in June 2021 for new terminals while existing terminal beneficiaries continued to avail the exemption.

This was attributed to conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF); thus, the proposed LNG terminal became “redundant and infructuous”, Energas said.

In its letter to Energas, PQA said the $2m deposited by Energas was not an ordinary refundable advance but an initial/partial concession fee under Clause 2.6(i) of the Project Guidelines 2019 that provides that this amount may be forfeited if the developer fails to fulfil the required conditions within the prescribed time, unless the parties agree otherwise. Furthermore, paragraph 27 of the final LOI required LOI termination and forfeiture of $2m in the absence of unconditional acceptance within the deadline.

Highlighting Energas’s reasons regarding pipeline capacity allocation, execution of Gas Transportation Agreements (GTAs) with gas companies, allocation of tie-in area, exemption under TPA Rules and the income-tax exemption issue, PQA asserted that Energas was responsible for these developers’ obligations.

“Project Guidelines require the developer to undertake the necessary surveys, investigations, environmental studies, hydraulic studies, detailed design and other project-related studies, and to obtain the requisite governmental and regulatory approvals,” PQA pointed out.

It added that it was also the developers’ responsibility to have financing, design, construction, relevant access, regulatory compliance and other project requirements.

Parliament authorised Egypt’s military on Monday to provide support to help defend Saudi Arabia, parliamentarians said, and local media reported, a move that could push Cairo directly into the regional conflict that has expanded with intensified attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on the Gulf kingdom.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had asked parliament last week to approve defending its Gulf Arab ally and the world’s biggest oil exporter if Riyadh requests help against the Houthis, whose advances also threaten the strategic Bab al-Mandeb strait, a gateway to Egypt’s Suez Canal.

The House of Representatives “approved authorising President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to take the necessary measures to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, state newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

Egypt has frequently condemned Iranian attacks on Gulf countries but has not publicly engaged in direct combat or joined the Makkah mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye that was signed in August.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said this month that Egyptian membership in the pact remains “under serious consideration”.

Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous state with one of the region’s largest militaries, joined the Saudi-led coalition in an earlier phase of Yemen’s war in March 2015 mainly as a naval partner, sending warships to secure Red Sea shipping lanes while pledging air support. It also deployed around 800 ground troops but played only a limited combat role.

Egypt was involved in a costly military intervention in Yemen in the 1960s and has not undertaken a large-scale foreign ground deployment since the 1991 Gulf War.

Saudi Arabia is a major political and financial partner of Cairo, providing billions of dollars in aid, deposits at the central bank and energy supplies under Sisi.

Fighting between the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthi militia, which controls the capital Sanaa, has escalated in recent weeks, becoming a volatile front in the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The Houthis have attacked Riyadh’s international airport and the state oil giant Saudi Aramco, disrupting flights and oil exports, while aid agencies have warned of worsening conditions in Yemen, already suffering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

FM Abdelatty and Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad travelled to Riyadh on Wednesday to deliver a letter to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from Sisi, who said Egypt’s support would be limited to defending Saudi territory and borders rather than attacking Yemen.

Abdelatty said after that visit that Cairo advocates exploring “every opportunity” to resolve the Yemen conflict diplomatically.

The Saudi crown prince visited Sisi in Cairo on Sept 15 to discuss security and navigation in the Red Sea after the fighting in Yemen reignited.

ISLAMABAD: Incarcerated human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, on Monday approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Oct 19 order refusing to stay the trial before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the security breach case.

The case pertains to the alleged disruption of the security route of an international cricket team and incitement to public unrest. The couple, accused of removing barriers from the route, was indicted on October 7.

On Oct 19, the IHC took up appeals filed by Imaan and Hadi against the Oct 10 ATC order that rejected their petitions challenging the framing of charges and the inclusion of terrorism-related provisions. While issuing notices, the IHC had said it would decide how to proceed once the parties’ responses were received.

Subsequently, the couple, through senior counsel Faisal Siddiqui, filed separate near-identical petitions before the SC on Monday, challenging the IHC’s Oct 19 order.

The plea argued that the trial court proceeded with unprecedented haste by recording the examination-in-chief of six prosecution witnesses on Oct 10 and 14, and accepting the prosecution’s request to shift the trial to jail.

The decision to conduct the trial in jail had also been challenged before the IHC, with the petition pointing out that the trial court had appointed state counsel.

The petitions alleged that the ongoing trial was nothing but persecution aimed at subverting the SC’s order suspending the petitioners’ 17-year sentences in the controversial social media post case and at preventing their eventual release through an allegedly frivolous and mala fide case that had mysteriously resurfaced.

Imaan’s petition argued that the IHC had “erroneously refused to exercise its discretion to grant ad interim relief to stay the criminal trial, despite multiple factual and legal reasons warranting such relief and repeated requests”.

It said it was settled law that ad interim relief could not be denied in the presence of a prima facie case and where the balance of convenience favoured the petitioner, as she would otherwise suffer irreparable loss.

The petition pleaded that Imaan had a clear prima facie case because recording evidence in their absence violated Section 353 (evidence to be taken in presence of accused) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), as well as their due process and fair trial rights guaranteed under the law.

It further argued that the balance of convenience favoured the petitioner because delaying the trial for some time would not prejudice the prosecution.

The plea claimed that the petitioner would suffer irreparable loss given the alleged gross violations of due process and fair trial principles in the proceedings, adding that it was apparent that the trial was leading to her criminal conviction.

The petitioner’s liberty was at stake because of the denial of ad interim relief, the petition contended, adding that the IHC’s order was without jurisdiction, illegal and liable to be set aside.

It further pointed out that the trial court had never dispensed with the petitioner’s personal attendance during the recording of evidence and that no proceedings under Section 540-A (power to summon material witness or examine person present) of the CrPC had been initiated.

The trial court’s order of Oct 10 recorded that counsel had left the rostrum and the accused had left the video link. The Oct 14 order also noted that the accused had again moved away from the camera while their counsel had left the rostrum during the examination-in-chief of witnesses. Despite this, the court proceeded to record the examination-in-chief of six prosecution witnesses on the two dates.

The petitions emphasised that the absence of the petitioners and their counsel was forced as a protest and had been recorded as such, but did not amount to a waiver of the right to be present during the recording of evidence.

IHC hears plea against jail trial, appointment of state counsel

Meanwhile, the IHC heard arguments on a petition filed by Imaan and Hadi challenging their trial at Adiala jail and the appointment of a state counsel.

A division bench comprising Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas and Justice Shahrukh Arjumand continued the proceedings, with advocates Riasat Ali Azad and Zainab Janjua appearing for the petitioners.

During the proceedings, Advocate Azad noted that the decision to conduct the trial inside the jail had been challenged before the IHC. He contended that the accused should have been heard before such an arrangement was approved.

Justice Minhas questioned the legal basis of the challenge, asking who had the authority to decide the venue of a trial and whether an accused could dictate where the proceedings should take place.

In response, Azad said the petitioners were being brought before what he described as a “jail court”, effectively a cage, where access to the proceedings was restricted.

He argued that the summary for conducting the jail trial had been initiated by an Islamabad superintendent of police and subsequently approved by the chief commissioner. According to him, the police officer lacked the authority to initiate such a summary, which he maintained fell within the federal government’s domain.

The judge questioned whether a summary concerning a jail trial would have to be placed before the cabinet and also asked about the legal concept of an open court.

Azad said he had not been heard before the decision was taken, despite the need to hear the defence. He pointed out that journalists and members of the public were not permitted to attend the proceedings inside the jail.

He further submitted that the defence had requested the trial judge to pass a formal judicial order regarding the arrangement, but the judge declined, telling the lawyers to challenge the matter before the high court.

The lawyer also objected to the appointment of a state counsel during the jail trial.

Justice Minhas observed that the defence lawyers’ vakalatnamas (powers of attorney authorising legal representation) were still on the court record.

Advocate Janjua clarified that she had initially represented the accused but subsequently withdrew her vakalatnama, explaining that travelling to Adiala jail every day was incompatible with managing her legal practice.

Azad added that travelling to and from the jail took around two hours each way.

When the judge again asked whether his vakalatnama remained on record, Azad said the defence had effectively been sidelined. He alleged that when he sought a single adjournment, a state counsel was appointed and the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses was conducted in his absence.

Questioning the urgency of the proceedings, Azad said the first information report (FIR) had remained concealed for two years and that the accused had been arrested in the case immediately after securing bail from the SC.

He further contended that although the original charges were bailable, a terrorism-related charge had subsequently been added.

The counsel requested the IHC to restrain the trial court from delivering its final verdict until the petition was decided.

Justice Minhas observed that the accused could also be acquitted, asking the lawyer why he was seeking such an order.

Advocate Azad reiterated the request that the trial court be restrained from announcing its final verdict.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Minhas remarked that the court would examine the matter.

The bench did not announce a final decision on the request during the proceedings.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday raised the key policy rate by 50 basis points to 12 per cent, its first increase since April as inflation, fuelled by high energy costs due to the Gulf conflict, remained above target.

In a statement, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) said it had decided to increase the policy rate, with a majority decision of nine out of ten members.

It noted that the “intensification in the Middle East conflict and low prospects of its near-term resolution” were keeping global energy prices at persistently elevated levels.

“While the impact of this global shock on the domestic economy has remained contained so far amidst proactive monetary policy adjustment and continued fiscal discipline, geopolitical developments have worsened the inflation outlook as compared to the earlier assessment,” it said.

It went on to say that although the external account and growth outlook remained broadly unchanged, risks had also increased.

“Considering these developments and the evolving risks, the MPC deemed today’s decision as necessary to keep inflation expectations anchored, contain second-round effects of the ongoing supply shock and bring inflation within the target range of 5-7pc. This will help preserve macroeconomic stability, which is necessary for sustainable economic growth,” it said.

It said that forex reserves had remained stable at around $21bn, Pakistan had reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that real gross domestic product (GDP) growth had been revised at 3.7pc, almost unchanged from the initial estimate.

It further said that the Federal Board of Revenue had exceeded its revenue collection target during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, major central banks had raised interest rates in the wake of rising inflationary pressures and the IMF had also revised its global inflation projections upwards.

“While noting these developments and the increasing frequency of global supply shocks, the MPC emphasized the importance of increasing external and fiscal buffers to further strengthen the economy’s resilience. The committee also reiterated that continuing the prudent monetary and fiscal policy mix, alongside timely implementation of structural reforms, is essential for achieving higher and sustainable economic growth,” the statement said.

Regarding inflation, which eased to 10.3pc in September from 11pc in Augus, the MPC said that the re-escalation in the Middle East conflict and domestic wheat supply frictions were two major factors keeping inflation at elevated levels

It said that their expected continuation over the next few months had “worsened the inflation outlook”. It added that there was a risk that elevated food and energy inflation may further increase inflation expectations, which may seep into core inflation going forward.

“In view of these developments and increasing risks to the inflation outlook, the committee assessed today’s decision as important to keep the real policy rate adequately positive on forward-looking basis. This is necessary to bring inflation within the target range over the medium term. The inflation outlook is subject to multiple risks, including geopolitical tensions, global commodity price volatility, unanticipated adjustments in energy tariffs, further uptick in wheat and allied product prices and adverse weather conditions,” it said.

Regarding the external sector, the statement said that exports were recovering, adding that remittances had remained resilient and were projected to turn out higher than the earlier assessment.

It said that the current account deficit in FY27 was assessed to remain within the earlier projected range of 0-1pc of GDP.

“This, along with higher financial inflows, is expected to increase SBP’s FX reserves beyond the current level. This outlook, however, remains susceptible to multiple risks, including elevated global commodity prices, tightening international financial conditions, and supply constraints,” it said.

As per the statement, the committee expected GDP growth to remain within previously projected ranges of 3.5pc to 4.5pc in FY27. However, it added that the outlook was susceptible to risks from escalation in the Middle East conflict and adverse climate events such as El Niño conditions.

SBP governor cites inflationary outlook

SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed also addressed a press conference to announce the decision and said there were many “underlying factors” behind the decision, especially the inflation outlook.

He cited the US-Israel war on Iran and its impact on energy and oil prices, developments in the domestic market and the subsequent impact on inflation.

He said that nine out of ten MPC members voted to raise the policy rate, while one member had a different view; they were of the opinion that it should be raised further.

He said that consumer expectations and other forecasters’ views were taken into consideration, as well as other macro factors, especially the impact of global commodity and oil prices on the external account and the impact of remittances and export trends.

Ahmed noted a deterioration in the current account since the last MPC meeting. However, he added: “The good thing is that its impact is still between zero and one per cent of GDP and it will stay between that.”

He also shared that the central bank revised its outlook on remittances, from $44 billion to $45bn. On exports, the SBP governor said the trend was witnessing an improvement; however, it was not yet in line with the economy’s needs. He added that the bank estimated imports to be close to $71bn.

He said it would take longer than planned for inflation to get within the target range and revised GDP growth to 3.7pc for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

Meanwhile, Topline Securities said the central bank had raised the policy rate “in line with our expectations”.

Previously, the policy rate was 11.5pc. The central bank had held the rate steady since raising it by 100 basis points in April in response to rising global energy prices and supply chain risks — its first increase in nearly three years.

The SBP has cut the key rate by a cumulative 1,050 basis points since mid-2024, from a record 22pc reached in June 2023, as inflation cooled sharply from multi-decade highs.

Last week, the IMF called for Pakistan’s fiscal policy to go beyond achieving primary balance targets and protecting debt sustainability by reinforcing policy credibility, fostering economic recovery and creating space for public investment and social spending to support stronger long-term growth.

Additional input from Reuters

Jordanian security forces on Monday arrested three suspects over an attack on a church last week that killed nine people, with the trio wounded in a dawn raid and shootout, authorities said.

The kingdom’s Public Security Directorate said the group were apprehended at an abandoned house where they had barricaded themselves inside and opened fire on security forces.

One of the suspects was taken to hospital in critical condition, while the other two were stable, Jordan’s state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka reported.

There were no casualties among security forces, it added.

On Friday, gunmen stormed the compound of the Greek Orthodox St George’s Church in the village of Hammoud in Karak governorate during a funeral procession, authorities said.

Karak is home to a significant Christian community in Muslim-majority Jordan, where Christians make up between two and three per cent of the population.

“Specialised investigation and raid teams apprehended the three terrorists responsible for the cowardly terrorist attack,” Al-Mamlaka said on X on Monday.

The Public Security Directorate said the three suspects had “refused to surrender and opened fire on the security forces”.

‘We will show them’

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said in a post on X that security forces “chased them to the very end”.

“We vowed the terrorists would not escape punishment, and no proponent of dark ideologies that divide Jordanians will be tolerated,” he wrote.

Earlier, the king visited the injured victims of the church attack in hospital, dressed in military fatigues and carrying a pistol on his hip.

“We will show them,” he vowed.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told Al-Mamlaka on Monday that the attackers were all Jordanians and “had been holed up in a building in one of the villages near the site of the attack”.

“There is no indication of any external contacts or collaboration with foreign parties,” he said.

Government communications minister Mohammad al-Momani said “we stand ready and will strike with an iron fist, without mercy or leniency, against anyone who attempts to undermine Jordan’s security”.

Under Jordanian law, murder is punishable by death by hanging.

On Friday, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered a three-day period of national mourning for the victims of the church attack, with flags to be flown at half-mast over government and public institutions.

Eight of the nine victims were laid to rest on Sunday next to the church in a funeral that drew a huge crowd amid a large security presence, AFP images showed.

The ninth person, Mohammed al-Qasous, will be buried on Monday, his family said.

On Saturday, officials at the church were digging a mass grave that was set to become a memorial.

Ten suspected criminals killed in Karachi police ‘encounters’ in two days should trouble anyone concerned about public safety and the rule of law.

Seven died in separate incidents on Thursday and another three on Friday. In each case, police reported armed resistance, exchanges of fire, and the recovery of weapons.These accounts may be accurate, but cannot be accepted without scrutiny. Officers confronting armed criminals have every right to defend themselves and others.

Karachi’s residents, long exposed to street crime and violent robberies, deserve protection. Yet the frequency of these so-called encounters raises questions about how operations are conducted and whether suspects are given an opportunity to surrender.

Whether the police actions were legitimate or unlawful can only be established through credible investigations. There must be forensic examination of weapons, independent verification of police accounts, and proper documentation of injuries and evidence.

Such scrutiny should be routine whenever police gunfire causes death, regardless of the victim’s alleged criminal history. Otherwise, the public must rely entirely on the version offered by those who pulled the trigger. The concern extends beyond Karachi.

In Punjab, where the Crime Control Department faces allegations of staged encounters, the political response has exposed a dangerous willingness to equate police killings with justice. After a suspect in the killing of a teenage worker in Multan died in an alleged encounter, PML-N lawmaker Hina Parvez Butt celebrated it as “justice served immediately”. She deleted the post but defended her remarks as public sentiment.

Anger over a child’s murder is understandable. But an elected representative ought to know that public outrage cannot substitute for a trial, and that a police killing is not a judicial verdict. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari criticised the comments, though the issue is larger than one politician’s embarrassment.

Governments must make clear that police performance will be judged by crimes prevented, offenders lawfully arrested, and cases successfully prosecuted, not bodies counted. Independent inquiries into disputed encounters should publish findings and establish responsibility if unlawful force is proved. Police officers need training, equipment and supervision that make arrest a realistic option where possible. A force that can shoot but cannot build a case offers little lasting security. The police are duty-bound to protect lives. They do not have a licence to kill.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2026

The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday rejected allegations made by the Afghan Taliban government regarding civilian casualties in Islamabad’s counterterrorism campaign in the neighbouring country, maintaining that Pakistan’s conduct always “reflected restraint” and the response was “proportionate to the level of threat”.

The Afghan Taliban have repeatedly claimed civilian casualties in Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan; Pakistani authorities have denied the accusations, holding that they target military and terrorist infrastructure.

Recently, a spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed in an interview with CNN that 1,119 Afghan civilians were killed or injured in Pakistani military strikes in Afghanistan since late 2021, according to Afghan media.

In a statement issued on Monday, the FO rejected the “baseless and unsubstantiated” allegations regarding civilian casualties attributed to Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations.

“Disinformation and misleading narratives will neither obscure the threat posed by the terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory nor absolve the Afghan Taliban regime of its responsibility to prevent Afghan soil from being used to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan,” the FO said, adding that attacks emanating from Afghan soil had claimed more than 3,500 casualties in 2026.

It further said that various relevant United Nations mechanisms had reported the situation as well, and the issue had been raised as a serious concern for the international community.

The FO noted that the Afghan Taliban continued to “shelter with impunity a large number of terrorist organisations, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their affiliates, which continue to pose a serious threat to the peace and stability of the region and beyond”.

It said that thousands of Pakistani civilians had been martyred in terrorist attacks, which it said were “planned, financed, supported and carried out” from Afghan soil under the “watch, patronage and active facilitation” of the Afghan Taliban.

“No responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted,” the statement read.

It maintained that Pakistan’s actions in response to terrorist attacks had been undertaken in exercise of self-defence, according to the principles of necessity and as a last resort.

The FO further stated that the actions were “directed only and exclusively against terrorists and their logistical support bases in Afghanistan”. The statement stressed that Pakistan’s response had been “proportionate to the level of threat” and adhered to the principles of “distinction and precaution”.

“The scale and scope of the action reflected restraint, particularly in light of the severity and frequency of terrorist attacks faced by Pakistan. Pakistan rejects any insinuations otherwise,” it said.

The FO called on the international community to hold the Afghan Taliban regime accountable for “failure to uphold obligations” under various international commitments.

“Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures in order to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety and security of Pakistani nationals,” it said.

According to a UN Security Council-mandated monitoring report — covering the period from Dec 16, 2025 to June 9, 2026 — the Afg­han Taliban’s continued support for TTP has contributed to a rise in the frequency and lethality of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, even as Kabul has taken some initial steps to rein in the group.

Ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained in the past few years as Islamabad continues to voice its concern over cross-border terrorism.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP, that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.

September witnessed another bout of conflict between the two neighbours, with Pakistan carrying out calibrated airstrikes in the border region in response to terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

This was followed by drone incursions from across the border, which Islamabad said were shot down, and two further rounds of retaliatory airstrikes.

Over the weekend, the information ministry rejected former United States envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s “baseless and misleading allegations” that Pakistan was “arming Afghans to fight the Taliban”.

It also rebutted the Afghan Taliban’s stance that it lacked the “capabilities” to fuel insecurity in other countries and criticised it for resorting to “diversionary allegations” instead of preventing the use of Afghanistan’s soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan.

Pakistan on Monday condemned Houthi missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Makkah and Madina regions, terming them a “grave violation” of the kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), these “reprehensible attacks constitute a grave violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and demonstrate a blatant disregard for the sanctity of Islam’s holiest sites and the safety of civilians”.

Pakistan reiterated its “unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia and its firm commitment to the Makkah Alliance, the FO said.

It reaffirmed its steadfast support for the kingdom’s security, stability and defence, including the protection of the Two Holy Mosques against any external aggression or threat.

Pakistan also commended the “vigilance and efficiency” of Saudi air defence forces in countering the attacks, it said.

A day earlier, the Muslim World League also condemned Houthi attacks targeting Makkah and Madina.

In a statement, the Makkah-based organisation said the attacks showed “disregard for the danger of frightening the feelings of more than two billion Muslims, and the violation of the values of our true religion, and the most basic principles of humanity”.

The condemnations came after the Houthis said they had launched attacks on Saudi oil facilities and airports on Saturday, prompting the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Yemen rebel group to announce that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles as clashes between the sides intensified.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, an Aramco facility in Yanbu, the Rabigh oil refinery, crude oil pumping stations and the East-West Pipeline.

He also said the group had targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, an airport in Najran and an airbase in Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed two ballistic missiles fired towards Yanbu and Taif.

Saudi Civil Defence said debris from intercepted missiles had fallen in the Makkah and Madina regions. It said fragments of intercepted missiles had fallen in Wadi al-Mughammas in Makkah, as well as in areas of Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh.

The Houthis subsequently denied targeting Makkah and Madina, saying their operations were directed at “Saudi oil facilities and military bases”.

The renewed fighting has shattered a UN-brokered truce reached in 2022 that largely halted cross-border attacks between the Saudi-led coalition, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government, and the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa.

Two weeks after independence, communal violence, particularly in East Punjab, dominated the headlines, with the Quaid-i-Azam having to make a fervent appeal for peace. In other major developments between Aug 25 and 31, 1947, Madar-i-Millat Ms Fatima Jinnah reiterated the need for women’s literacy, Pakistan opened its first embassy in Washington DC, while different solutions to the Palestine question were discussed in the United Nations.

In the Aug 25 issue, the headline of the main story on page one quoted the Quaid urging his countrymen to “Preserve peace for [the] sake of Pakistan’.”

“Those who think they can undo Pakistan are sadly mistaken,” Mr Jinnah observed. He was referring to communal violence in East Punjab. “I have been watching with increasing grief and concern the orgies of violence in the Eastern Punjab which have taken … a heavy toll on Muslim lives.”

In fact, in the Aug 27 issue, the lead story, describing the situation as a “continued holocaust in the East Punjab,” said that the violence in that Indian state had resulted in over a quarter million refugees. “Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Jullundur, Gurdaspur, Ludhiana and Ambala are still hotbeds of massacre and other brutalities,” the report added grimly.

The Quaid reminded his countrymen to be wary and prevent communal disturbances in Pakistan: “It is of the utmost importance that Pakistan should be kept absolutely free from disorder. …”

Mr Jinnah had good reason to be worried, for in the weeks after independence, Lahore and other parts of Punjab had witnessed communal killings, while in the Aug 25 edition, a report mentioned that Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar, the Communication Minister, had to be dispatched to Balochistan to quell disturbances there. Unlike the present, the violence at the time was of a religious nature.

“The situation is absolutely normal”, Sardar Nishtar claimed after a visit to Quetta. “I toured the area that was burnt and also Hindu and Sikh areas. I also went to the refugee camps and inspected arrangements for their accommodation and rations. … I feel that now by the grace of God, the situation is absolutely normal. …”

Women’s literacy drive

Also in the Aug 25 edition, Ms Fatima Jinnah hinted at the launch of a literacy drive for women. “Education,” the Quaid’s sister said, “was the pre-requisite for the advancement of any nation … at the earliest opportunity a big drive will be launched to stamp out illiteracy from amongst the women of Pakistan. …”

These were of course progressive, noble thoughts. Some estimates indicate female literacy was under 10 per cent in Pakistan at the time of Independence, while being virtually zero in rural parts of the country. It would be wrong to say no progress has been made, as today female literacy stands at around 54pc. But have we done enough?

Unfortunately, successive rulers failed to replicate the zeal Pakistan’s founders had for spreading literacy, even though several ‘education emergencies’ have been declared. The results of officialdom’s neglect over the decades? At least 25-26 million children of school age remain out of school today, while tens of millions of adult Pakistanis cannot read or write. One wonders what the founders of this nation would make of these abysmal figures.

Good morning America

The relationship between Pakistan and the United States has been a tumultuous one, with the former once being considered Uncle Sam’s ‘most allied ally’ in this region, helping fight an American anti-Soviet ‘jihad’ in Afghanistan, and experiencing numerous other ups and downs.

That relationship, as documented in Dawn’s Aug 26 issue, in a sense formally began on Aug 25, 1947, when the Pakistan Embassy opened its temporary quarters in Washington DC. “The Pakistan Embassy opened for normal business at the temporary headquarters at the Choreham Hotel today with Charge d’Affaires, Mr M.O. Baig declaring: “We are truly operating.”

Our man in DC was scouting for a permanent embassy site in “overcrowded Washington” while observing that “My country is beginning from scratch in its relations with foreign countries. Therefore, there are various basic agreements that will have to be negotiated. …”

Of course, the Pakistani mission in DC would later move to other buildings, but this long, complicated relationship began from a temporary abode in a Washington hotel.

Palestine solution

The Palestine question has remained unresolved for nearly eight decades, and at the time of Pakistan’s birth — Israel had not yet come into existence and the British were in charge of Mandatory Palestine — several solutions were being debated in the UN.

According to a report in the Aug 28 edition, several proposals were discussed at the UNO (as it was then known) Special Committee Meeting in Geneva. According to one plan, the federal solution would result in the creation of six “cantons” in Palestine, “three Jewish and three Arab, having a Central Government on lines similar to that of Switzerland.”

The other idea was for semi-independent Jewish and Arab states. Of course, none of these ideas would come to fruition, and the following year (1948) would witness the acceleration of the Nakba and the creation of Israel. As for the people of Palestine, they still await justice, and the right to live as free human beings on their own land.

With the advantage of hindsight, one has the opportunity to study the historical cycles in a nation’s life. Thanks to this newspaper’s unique, extensive archive of back issues, one can examine the major political, economic and social trends that have shaped Pakistan and the world over the last seven decades and counting. Cliched as it may sound, history repeats itself, and we — as a state and as a polity — largely refuse to learn from it.

Through this platform, we will look back at the ‘big’ stories that made it to the front pages of Dawn, as well as significant developments tucked away in the inside pages, from the birth of Pakistan onwards, and try to put them in perspective. We will study the critical issues of the week, starting from Aug 14, 1947 and examine the major themes and issues that made it to the paper.