9. Irak cumhurbaşkanı (2022–görevde)
Security Council, 10189th Meeting (AM) Iran
The Security Council will meet today, at the request of Bahrain, following Iran’s recent attack on the kingdom. Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani is expected to participate in the session.
Sindh CM Murad announces 20,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships for students
KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday launched the province’s first Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University and 20,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships for students along with the Google Gemini Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme for cabinet members and senior officials. The programmes were launched in collaboration with Google and Tech Valley Pakistan. The launching ceremony was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Special Assistant on IT Muhammad Ali Rashid, Secretary IT Zulfikar Ali Nizamani, Sindh HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Rafi, Tech Valley CEO Umer Farooq, Google for Education’s Dr Mazen Abdullah and APAC Digital Advisor Alex Galland, along with university officials and students. The chief minister launched the Google Career Certification Programme 2026 and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding among the Science & IT Department, Sindh HEC and Tech Valley Pakistan. Launches Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University Under the programme, 20,000 scholarships will be awarded to students at all public-sector universities in Sindh for internationally recognised certifications in AI, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Project Management, UX Design, Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, IT Support and other fields. AI training for cabinet members Before the signing of the MoU, the cabinet completed a comprehensive hands-on AI training session delivered by Google for Education global experts in partnership with Tech Valley, at the Chief Minister’s House, Karachi. Over 40 cabinet members, advisors, and special assistants participated in the nearly two-hour session, which was held as part of a landmark visit by Google for Education Global Delegation to Sindh. According to a press statement issued by the CM House, the chief minister presided over an orientation session. The CM called AI one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era and said governments worldwide were using it to improve decision-making and service delivery. “Today, we are taking an important step towards preparing the Sindh government for the future. Sindh must be part of this transformation,” he said. CM Murad said that AI could support policy formulation and improve services in health, education, agriculture, urban planning, disaster management, finance and law enforcement. However, he said, it should augment, not replace, human judgment. “Leadership, accountability and public trust will always remain the responsibility of elected representatives and public institutions,” he added. Gemini Corner at NED Later, Murad inaugurated Sindh’s first Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University, set up with NED, Google and Tech Valley Pakistan. The chief minister said that the three initiatives together marked a milestone in Sindh’s digital strategy, combining AI-enabled governance, large-scale skills development and advanced technology education to prepare institutions and youth for an AI-driven future. NED Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Tufail and Sindh HEC Chairman Prof Tariq Rafi also spoke at the ceremony. Media talk Later, talking to reporters at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, the chief minister said that the province received Rs84 billion less than its revised budget entitlement from the federal government in June, putting pressure on provincial finances and development commitments. He said that the province was expecting Rs175 billion under the revised estimates by June-end, but only Rs91 billion was released — shortfall of Rs84 billion. The chief minister also expressed concern over prolonged power outages in Karachi and other parts of the province, saying load-shedding of 12 to 18 hours was causing “serious hardship” and required immediate remedial measures. Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2026
CM Murad announces 20,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships for students
KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday launched the province’s first Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University and 20,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships for students along with the Google Gemini Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme for cabinet members and senior officials. The programmes were launched in collaboration with Google and Tech Valley Pakistan. The launching ceremony was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Special Assistant on IT Muhammad Ali Rashid, Secretary IT Zulfikar Ali Nizamani, Sindh HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Rafi, Tech Valley CEO Umer Farooq, Google for Education’s Dr Mazen Abdullah and APAC Digital Advisor Alex Galland, along with university officials and students. The chief minister launched the Google Career Certification Programme 2026 and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding among the Science & IT Department, Sindh HEC and Tech Valley Pakistan. Launches Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University Under the programme, 20,000 scholarships will be awarded to students at all public-sector universities in Sindh for internationally recognised certifications in AI, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Project Management, UX Design, Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, IT Support and other fields. AI training for cabinet members Before the signing of the MoU, the cabinet completed a comprehensive hands-on AI training session delivered by Google for Education global experts in partnership with Tech Valley, at the Chief Minister’s House, Karachi. Over 40 cabinet members, advisors, and special assistants participated in the nearly two-hour session, which was held as part of a landmark visit by Google for Education Global Delegation to Sindh. According to a press statement issued by the CM House, the chief minister presided over an orientation session. The CM called AI one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era and said governments worldwide were using it to improve decision-making and service delivery. “Today, we are taking an important step towards preparing the Sindh government for the future. Sindh must be part of this transformation,” he said. CM Murad said that AI could support policy formulation and improve services in health, education, agriculture, urban planning, disaster management, finance and law enforcement. However, he said, it should augment, not replace, human judgment. “Leadership, accountability and public trust will always remain the responsibility of elected representatives and public institutions,” he added. Gemini Corner at NED Later, Murad inaugurated Sindh’s first Google Gemini for Education Corner at NED University, set up with NED, Google and Tech Valley Pakistan. The chief minister said that the three initiatives together marked a milestone in Sindh’s digital strategy, combining AI-enabled governance, large-scale skills development and advanced technology education to prepare institutions and youth for an AI-driven future. NED Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Tufail and Sindh HEC Chairman Prof Tariq Rafi also spoke at the ceremony. Media talk Later, talking to reporters at the NED University of Engineering and Technology, the chief minister said that the province received Rs84 billion less than its revised budget entitlement from the federal government in June, putting pressure on provincial finances and development commitments. He said that the province was expecting Rs175 billion under the revised estimates by June-end, but only Rs91 billion was released — shortfall of Rs84 billion. The chief minister also expressed concern over prolonged power outages in Karachi and other parts of the province, saying load-shedding of 12 to 18 hours was causing “serious hardship” and required immediate remedial measures. Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2026
Lavrov, top Bahraini diplomat discuss situation in Persian Gulf
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani also agreed to maintain close cooperation on Middle East issues within the UN Security Council
Avrupa Birliği Rashid Gumarovich NURGALIEV kişisini yaptırım listesine ekledi
Avrupa Birliği, Rashid Gumarovich NURGALIEV adlı kişiyi konsolide finansal yaptırım listesine ekledi (AB referansı EU.288.26). Yaptırım programı: UKR.
AB, Ukrayna programı kapsamında üç kişiyi yaptırım listesine ekledi- Diplomatik06 Eki
BM Güvenlik Konseyi AL RASHID TRUST kuruluşunu yaptırım listesine ekledi
Birleşmiş Milletler Güvenlik Konseyi, AL RASHID TRUST adlı kuruluşu konsolide yaptırım listesine ekledi (referans QDe.005). Yaptırım rejimi: Al-Qaida.
BM Güvenlik Konseyi ABU SAYYAF GROUP kuruluşunu yaptırım listesine ekledi BM Güvenlik Konseyi Rashid Taan Kathim kişisini yaptırım listesine ekledi
Birleşmiş Milletler Güvenlik Konseyi, Rashid Taan Kathim adlı kişiyi konsolide yaptırım listesine ekledi (referans IQi.049). Yaptırım rejimi: Iraq.
BM Güvenlik Konseyi SADDAM HUSSEIN AL-TIKRITI kişisini yaptırım listesine eklediOFAC Ata Abdoulaziz RASHID kişisini yaptırım listesine ekledi
ABD Hazine Bakanlığı Yabancı Varlıklar Kontrol Ofisi (OFAC), Ata Abdoulaziz RASHID adlı kişiyi Özel Olarak Belirlenmiş Vatandaşlar (SDN) listesine ekledi. Yaptırım programı: SDGT.
OFAC’tan Terör ve Uyuşturucu Odaklı Kapsamlı Yaptırım HamlesiOFAC Isam Rashid AL-HUWAYSH kişisini yaptırım listesine ekledi
ABD Hazine Bakanlığı Yabancı Varlıklar Kontrol Ofisi (OFAC), Isam Rashid AL-HUWAYSH adlı kişiyi Özel Olarak Belirlenmiş Vatandaşlar (SDN) listesine ekledi. Yaptırım programı: IRAQ2.
ABD, Abd al-Hadi El-Iraki'yi Küresel Terör Yaptırım Listesine EklediOFAC Rashid Taan KAZIM kişisini yaptırım listesine ekledi
ABD Hazine Bakanlığı Yabancı Varlıklar Kontrol Ofisi (OFAC), Rashid Taan KAZIM adlı kişiyi Özel Olarak Belirlenmiş Vatandaşlar (SDN) listesine ekledi. Yaptırım programı: IRAQ2.
ABD, Abd al-Hadi El-Iraki'yi Küresel Terör Yaptırım Listesine EklediOFAC Amir Rashid Muhammad AL-UBAIDI kişisini yaptırım listesine ekledi
ABD Hazine Bakanlığı Yabancı Varlıklar Kontrol Ofisi (OFAC), Amir Rashid Muhammad AL-UBAIDI adlı kişiyi Özel Olarak Belirlenmiş Vatandaşlar (SDN) listesine ekledi. Yaptırım programı: IRAQ2.
ABD, Abd al-Hadi El-Iraki'yi Küresel Terör Yaptırım Listesine EklediOFAC AL RASHID TRUST kuruluşunu yaptırım listesine ekledi
ABD Hazine Bakanlığı Yabancı Varlıklar Kontrol Ofisi (OFAC), AL RASHID TRUST adlı kuruluşu Özel Olarak Belirlenmiş Vatandaşlar (SDN) listesine ekledi. Yaptırım programı: SDGT.
OFAC’tan Terör ve Uyuşturucu Odaklı Kapsamlı Yaptırım HamlesiOFAC Talal Muhammad Rashid NAJI kişisini yaptırım listesine ekledi
ABD Hazine Bakanlığı Yabancı Varlıklar Kontrol Ofisi (OFAC), Talal Muhammad Rashid NAJI adlı kişiyi Özel Olarak Belirlenmiş Vatandaşlar (SDN) listesine ekledi. Yaptırım programı: SDGT.
OFAC’tan Terör ve Uyuşturucu Odaklı Kapsamlı Yaptırım HamlesiDonald Trump threatens to annihilate Iran after crossfire over Hormuz – Middle East crisis live
Iran attacked Bahrain and Kuwait after US strikes, and threatened a ‘complete halt’ to talks US and Iran trade strikes as both sides accuse the other of endangering ceasefire Welcome to our live coverage of the crisis in the Middle East. Earlier this morning, Iran has said it launched a joint missile and drone operation targeting eight US military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain. This comes after the US launched further strikes on multiple targets in Iran, a day after it struck Iran in retaliation for a drone attack on a cargo ship in the strait of Hormuz. Ishaq Dar, Pakistani foreign minister, has reportedly held talks with his Bahraini counterpart, Abdulatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, over the phone to discuss the evolving regional crisis. This comes after Bahrain said it had intercepted a number of missiles and drones from Iran. Several Iraqi political officials were arrested early Sunday on corruption charges, Iraq’s state-run Iraqi news agency reported. It said the arrests were based on statement made by former deputy minister of oil Adnan al-Jumaili, who was arrested last month, and “included members of parliament whose immunity had been lifted.” Israeli soldiers have shot and wounded a Palestinian in the Qalandiya refugee camp – north of occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli forces also detained two people and raided homes, according to Wafa news agency. Continue reading...
Trump'tan İran'a imha tehdidi: Hürmüz çatışması tırmandı- İnsani26 Haz
Rawalpindi’s healthcare crisis deepens amid population surge
A quiet crisis is unfolding in the heart of Rawalpindi. It rarely makes headlines, yet it affects the lives of thousands every day. It is not about roads, housing schemes or real estate development. It is about healthcare — and who can afford it. Step into any of the public hospitals, and you’ll see queues of the patients that begin at dawn and stretch into the evening. You will find some cradling infants, others leaning on relatives, wait patiently for their turn that may never come as these facilities can’t cater to the growing needs of the expanding city and it’s increasing population. “Our OPD remains crowded everyday and we fail to keep count of the number of patients we encounter on a daily basis. There simply aren’t enough doctors or beds,” says a junior doctor at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, requesting anonymity. “Most patients need time, tests, and follow-ups for complete recovery but we don’t have resources to deal with the current number of patients,” he added. For those who don’t want to bear the wait, there’s always the private sector but it comes at a punishing cost due to lack of regulations. Its alarming that in city’s private hospitals and clinics, there are no standard consultation fees. A visit to a general physician may cost Rs1,500 at one facility and Rs3,000 at another. A specialist can charge anywhere between Rs4,000 to Rs7,000 sometimes more, and often without a receipt. “There is no regulation. Everyone charges what they want and it varies in different parts of the city,” says Mohammad Azeem, who works in a private company, and has recently borrowed money to get his mother treated for a kidney infection. “It’s not just the fee, it’s the tests, the medicines, the follow-ups. Health has become a luxury”, he added. The people with lower-income, including domestic workers, daily wage earners and small shopkeepers, often avoid seeking medical help unless absolutely necessary. Even the middle class is finding it difficult. “We first try home remedies because we can’t afford treatments”, says Mehreen, a mother of three living in Committee Chowk. “For us, it’s choosing between treatment or utility bills,” she added. On one hand, the city’s ever-growing housing societies, complete with gated clinics and private ambulances, offer world-class health facilities but only to those who can pay. While on other, residents of some other parts of the city still travel miles just to find a doctor who will see them without charging a significant part of month’s salary. Doctors themselves are frustrated. “There’s no cap on private fees or a transparent system of complaint,” says a private practitioner in a medical facility in Rawalpindi. “Some hospitals charge according to the area they’re located in. In some posh area of the city, the same treatment costs double what it does in Saddar”, he said. This lack of uniformity adds another layer of exploitation. Patients often feel helpless. “You can’t argue with them. If you question the fee, they ask you to leave as it’s a business now,” says Waheeda, whose father was refused treatment at a clinic because they couldn’t deposit the advance. Rawalpindi’s public health infrastructure is crumbling under population pressure. As a result out of stock medicines, dysfunctional machines, understaffed emergency rooms are a common sight. Specialists are few, and most rotate between private and public jobs to manage their income. “The growing population of the city has outpaced the capacity of it’s existing hospitals, leaving patients struggling for adequate care”, said a senior health official on condition of anonymity. He said there was an announcement by former minister Sheikh Rashid about the establishment of a new hospital, but the plan never moved beyond words and was never implemented. Until health becomes a priority not for billboards, but for budgets and policies, the city will continue to grow in buildings, but shrink in humanity. — The writer is a freelance journalist Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2026
Rawalpindi’de Nüfus Patlaması Sağlık Hizmetlerini Kriz Noktasına Sürüklüyor Any US-Iran deal will ensure security of Gulf allies, Rubio assures GCC nations during Mideast tour
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Gulf allies on Thursday that any deal with Iran would take their interests into account, as he wrapped up a Middle East trip aimed at selling the Trump administration’s preliminary accord to sceptical regional partners. Speaking at a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, Rubio said Washington was seeking an enduring peace with long-time foe Iran that would not undermine the security and prosperity of its allies in the oil-rich region, which fear the accord is too soft on Iran. Iran fought two of the world’s most powerful armies — the US and Israel — during the conflict and took effective control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, heavily disrupting oil flows and rattling global energy markets and the wider economy. The war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, and Tehran targeted US assets and bases in Gulf countries in retaliation. It, however, has not accepted responsibility for all of those attacks. At the GCC meeting, Rubio said: “The reality of it is that no country on Earth has the right to charge for the use of international waterways. And that will never be an acceptable condition of any deal. The president’s been fundamentally clear about that.” Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, who chaired the gathering, welcomed Oman’s announcement of a corridor for the safe passage of vessels through the strait. Rubio’s three-day tour of the Gulf is the first high-level diplomatic mission since the US-Iran framework agreement last week to end the war on Iran. He has acknowledged the delicacy of his mission as he seeks to win over Gulf Arab leaders wary that excessive concessions could strengthen Tehran and reshape the region’s security balance and oil flows. At his previous stops in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, Rubio sought to assure officials that the proposed deal was not overly favourable to Iran. “We’re not going to do anything that undermines the security of our allies, our longstanding allies in the region,” he told reporters in Kuwait. Conflicting accounts on deal terms US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into “infinity” while Tehran said it had made no such concession in negotiations. The two countries, which ended a first round of negotiations in Switzerland on Monday, have also offered conflicting accounts about financial incentives for Iran, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel’s parallel strikes in Lebanon. All six GCC nations — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait — are strategic US allies that offered some degree of logistical support to Washington during the war. Together, they make up the backbone of America’s security architecture in the Middle East, and any country rethinking their security relationship with the US could have a significant impact on US military strategy in the region. The draft US-Iran agreement includes no limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles, a proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund and provisions that could expand Tehran’s regional influence and control over critical oil shipping lanes. Rubio has said he would not be asking regional allies to contribute to any reconstruction fund during the trip, even as the MoU with Iran suggests that countries in the region would at least be partially responsible for footing the bill.
Ateşkes Kağıt Üzerinde: Lübnan ve Gazze'de Can Kaybı SürüyorPTI calls for 'transparent, judicially supervised' probe into 2018, 2024 elections
ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Wednesday rejected the latest round of statements made by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the floor of the National Assembly regarding the legitimacy of the PTI government formed in 2018. During an NA session on Tuesday, the premier, noting that Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai had called the incumbent government “illegitimate”, asserted that the 2018 elections should be investigated. He contended that if the government that came after those polls was legitimate, the incumbent government was also legitimate. On Wednesday, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said in a statement: “In a remarkable display of selective memory and political acrobatics, Shehbaz Sharif attempted to equate the current Form-47 regime with the 2018 elections, claiming that if one was legitimate, so is the other. “PTI views this not as a defence but as a tacit admission that the February 2024 elections witnessed one of the most brazen thefts of the people’s mandate in the nation’s history,” he alleged. He argued that while PTI founder Imran Khan had, after the 2018 elections, publicly offered to open the results of any constituency for independent investigation if the opposition harboured doubts, the current rulers were “visibly terrified of any forensic audit, biometric verification, or transparent scrutiny of their victory”. “If Shehbaz Sharif truly believes his own rhetoric, why does his government recoil at the mere suggestion of an independent examination of the 2024 results? The answer lies in the fragile foundation of Form-47 itself,” he said, referring to the PTI’s allegations of tempering of election documents in 2024. Akram called on the government to conduct a full, transparent and judicially supervised audit of both the 2018 and 2024 elections so that the people of Pakistan and the world can see whose claim to public trust was genuine. Speaking about the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the party spokesperson expressed concern over the reported massive irregularities in the scheme, which a news outlet quoted the Auditor General of Pakistan’s audit report for the financial year 2024-25. “More than Rs25 billion has been disbursed through highly suspicious and illegal channels. Even more shockingly, Rs3.17bn was spent without parliamentary approval or ICPC clearance, a clear case of financial lawlessness”, Akram claimed. He alleged that through the deliberate manipulation of data systems and spouse data profiling, over 600,000 ineligible individuals, including government employees, siphoned off funds meant exclusively for poor widows, orphans and destitute families. Akram demanded an immediate Supreme Court-monitored judicial inquiry into the BISP irregularities, as well as the “full and immediate recovery of every rupee from all involved officials with the harshest legal action”. He further demanded suspensions and criminal prosecution of all BISP officials and IT personnel involved in data tampering. Meanwhile, on the recent unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Akram expressed deep alarm over the political and administrative situation in the region. He strongly condemned the government’s “negligence”, claiming that it chose “the path of force, arbitrary arrests, and inflammatory rhetoric”. For its part, the AJK government has asserted it has tried to resolve the dispute with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) peacefully. This approach, he warned, “was pushing the sensitive region towards greater instability and public alienation”. Akram announced that PTI would pursue all available legal avenues against PM Shehbaz, the Punjab government and the relevant jail authorities for “endangering Imran Khan’s health and life”. He also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all PTI prisoners, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, and other leaders.
Allegations of corruption, ethnic politics dominate post-budget debate in Sindh Assembly
KARACHI: Treasury and opposition lawmakers in the Sindh Assembly traded sharp criticism, albeit in cautious words, on Tuesday during the post-budget debate, with the discussion ranging from Karachi’s share in development spending to allegations of corruption, ethnic politics and administrative failure. As many as 15 more lawmakers from the two sides of the aisle, including six ministers, spoke on the provincial budget taking the total number of speakers to 127 in the last four consecutive days of the post-budget debate. The atmosphere in the house, however, remained largely calm compared with previous sittings, with Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah urging members of both sides for a “revision of the curriculum of hate”. He said that just as Sindhi-speaking Sindhis were an integral part of Sindh, Urdu-speaking Sindhis were also an integral part of the province. “They belong here and cannot go anywhere else,” he added. Why are World Bank funds being spent on Karachi, where is city’s tax money, asks MQM lawmaker The education minister said that attempts were made to fan the politics of hate and added that talk of dividing Sindh was not new. “These conversations were taking place even before the formation of the MQM,” he added. CM Murad said that this point was made by Mahmood-ul-Haq Usmani in 1951 and later Nawab Muzaffar also said it. “If this narrative continues, how will those who consider Sindh their mother accept it?” he added. “Karachi was, and is, an inseparable part of Sindh,” he said, adding that “Karachi collects tax; it does not generate tax”. He said that the number of out-of-school children had declined and a Student Attendance Monitoring System was being launched with the World Bank’s support. “The department is working with Nadra to obtain B-Form data of all children,” he added. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-P member Abdul Waseem came down heavily on the PPP saying that the party had been in power for 18 years and questioned where past funds had gone. “World Bank money is being spent on Karachi projects,” he said asking that where the money generated through taxes in the city was going. Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho said several reforms introduced this year would show full results in two years. She said that vascular surgery had begun at the Karachi Trauma Centre and 50-bed hospitals had been expanded in Ancholi, Gulberg and Gulshan-i-Hadeed. “Efforts are under way to set up a maternity home at the Children’s Hospital in Korangi No 5,” she added. The health minister said that the SIUT was providing excellent services in Karachi and Sukkur, adding that chest pain units were being established in all districts. Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Mahar said that agriculture needed to be developed on scientific lines, noting record wheat production of 4.9 million metric tons due to subsidies on fertiliser and seed. Jamaat-i-Islami’s Muhammad Farooq said that the FBR and other agencies collected Rs7,000 billion in taxes in 2025-26, with Karachi contributing 85 to 90 per cent. “Karachi wants its rights. Neither the province nor the federation treats Karachi as a priority,” he said. He said that of the Rs720 billion ADP, only Rs100 billion had been allocated to Karachi, whereas its share by population should be Rs400 billion. The JI member said that K-IV required Rs40 billion and warned that the old water lines could not carry K-IV water. He said that the S-III project was worth Rs32 billion but only Rs1 billion had been allocated. He added that the only solution to civic problems was an empowered city government. “Local bodies should be given powers under Article 140-A,” he said. Farooq also demanded an immediate end to the quota system, saying it had kept Karachi’s youth out of jobs. Prisons Minister Ali Hassan Zardari said that 80km of roads in Tando Muhammad Khan, 120km in Thatta and 26km from Naushahro Feroze to Padidan had been completed, along with the Talhar-Tando Bago road. He said that five major schemes were included in the next budget and Rs32 billion would be spent on ongoing projects. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Rehan Rajput acknowledged good work in health but said spending on institutions was high. Livestock Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani said that Sujawal was among the province’s most underdeveloped areas and needed accelerated development. He said Sindh’s livestock population had crossed 60 million and 23.3 million small animals had been vaccinated. Adviser on Rehabilitation Giyan Chand Essrani said that Rescue 1122 received 24,000 complaints daily and had facilitated 225,000 people in a year. MQM-P member from Hyderabad, Rashid Khan, said that problems in several areas had persisted for years and the promises on development funds in the last budget were not fulfilled. He cited staff shortages at Hyderabad Civil Hospital and claimed funds for some schemes were not released, calling for reforms in the bureaucracy and administrative structure. Najam Mirza of the MQM-P said that the Provincial Finance Commission Award had not been announced. MQM-P’s Rehan Akram said that water lines in North Karachi were being laid without planning. He also said that not a single camera had been installed under the Safe City project since 2016. Mahesh Kumar Hasija of the MQM-P alleged “petty corruption” in the minorities department and called for a larger raise for low-grade employees. Later, Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah adjourned the house to June 27. Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026
Sindh Meclisi'nde bütçe maratonu: Muhalefet protestosu altında başladıTrouble at home
PAKISTAN has been in the international limelight for its successful mediation efforts in bringing the US and Iran back to the negotiating table. The weekend summit between the two warring sides at the Bürgenstock Resort on Lake Lucerne, jointly hosted by Pakistan and Qatar, produced a breakthrough that raised hopes of cementing a permanent peace deal. Pakistan’s civil and military leadership were rightly commended for their efforts. Bringing the two sides to agree on the Memorandum of Understanding, which provided the framework for lasting peace and an end to the war, was certainly a painstaking process that spanned several months. It is indeed a proud moment for the country. However, this foreign policy success should not be used to divert attention from some critical problems at home. Success in foreign policy cannot yield long-term dividends in the absence of economic and political stability — and, unfortunately, the country lacks both. The prime minister and deputy prime minister are spending more time on foreign trips than on domestic governance. There is no concept of sharing responsibility, as both top officials are mostly together, and the army chief accompanies them as well. It’s quite unprecedented. Their absence during the budget session was particularly noticeable. The lacklustre debate in parliament on the critical finance bill reflects a troubling lack of interest in economic issues. An economy that is still not completely out of the ICU, remains dependent on external financial support and has 41 per cent of its population living below the poverty line cannot sustain its diplomatic prominence for long. There are several critical economic issues that need to be resolved on a priority basis, and the main question is whether the government is fully prepared to address the spillover effects of the war in Iran on our economy. The current budget is nothing more than a patchwork that cannot take the country out of the morass. Success abroad won’t yield long-term dividends without economic and political stability at home. More troubling still is the rising political instability at home — even as our leaders have been busy trying to end one of the most consequential conflicts in recent history, with significant global implications. For almost two weeks, widespread violent protests paralysed most of Azad Kashmir, yet no serious effort has been made to address them. Instead, the action committee leading the protests has been outlawed, and its leaders have been declared foreign agents. The present hybrid regime appears to rely solely on coercion. Such an attitude, in a region this sensitive, carries serious implications for Pakistan’s Kashmir policy — all of it is unfolding on the eve of elections there. The defence minister compounded the damage by questioning the identity of the residents of the worst-hit districts. Such chauvinistic views can only deepen the anger. What is unfolding is a revolt against the corrupt political order that the state has long been protecting. A media ban on coverage of the protests cannot solve the problem — but that, it seems, is what the government is good at. The unrest adds to the political instability already gripping KP and Balochistan, which has seen arbitrary arrests and convictions of political activists on terrorism charges. While Pakistan celebrated the breakthrough at the Bürgenstock peace negotiations, its democratic and human rights situation remained deeply questionable. There has been a marked surge in militant attacks in Balochistan in recent years — our biggest national security challenge and one that harsh state actions can only intensify. Even the freedom of assembly has been curbed. Instead of pursuing a political solution, the state has resorted to a kinetic approach, which only pushes more people into the arms of separatist forces. Meanwhile, last week, an anti-terrorism court convicted and sentenced several PTI leaders — including Dr Yasmin Rashid — to 10 years’ imprisonment in yet another case linked to the May 9, 2023, violence. The 80-year-old former Punjab minister, herself a cancer survivor, has already been languishing in jail for three years and has been convicted on multiple charges under anti-terrorism laws. More than 100 PTI leaders and activists have so far been convicted by anti-terrorism and military courts in cases arising from the May 9 protests. Among them are opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, including Omar Ayub and several other parliamentarians. There is no legal recourse against such arbitrary actions: the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments have stripped the judiciary of what little independence it had left. Former prime minister Imran Khan, incarcerated for the past three years and implicated in more than 100 cases, has been denied a fair trial. For several months now, he has not been allowed to meet his family members or lawyers, despite court orders. Last year, parliament passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, allowing detention without charges for up to three months. Journalists are repeatedly targeted under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for reports deemed critical by the authorities. Earlier this year, human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha were convicted by an Islamabad district court and handed cumulative 17-year prison sentences under Peca for ‘cyberterrorism’ and spreading ‘anti-state’ narratives. All of this signifies the lengthening shadow of authoritarianism. There is not even a semblance of freedom of expression anymore. The country’s strength lies in its political and economic stability, not in fleeting moments of diplomatic success. Pakistan’s projection on the international stage as a peacemaker must now be redirected towards national reconciliation and economic development. The strength of the state rests on the confidence of its people, which cannot be built in an atmosphere of repression and the denial of democratic rights. Curbs on the press may offer a false sense of stability, but that deception cannot last long. A hammer-handed approach will only worsen the situation, forcing people towards extremism — a lesson of history that those at the helm easily forget. This is not the first time the country has been in the international limelight, yet that attention has never been enough to deliver lasting political and economic stability. The writer is a writer and journalist. zhussain100@yahoo.com X: @hidhussain Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026
14 hurt after vehicle crashes into tent outside DHA imambargah in Karachi
KARACHI: Fourteen people, mostly women, were injured when a fast-moving vehicle rammed into a tent erected by mourners outside an imambargah in Defence Housing Authority, police and rescue services officials said. Darakshan SHO Rashid Ali said that a Suzuki pick-up went out of the driver’s control and entered a tent outside Masjid-o-Imam Bargah Baqiyatullah on Saba Avenue in Phase VI, where mourners were attending a majlis, injuring several people. He said the police had taken the driver and two other occupants of the vehicle into custody. During grilling, the driver claimed that the vehicle had gone out of control after its brakes failed. However, the official said the police were further investigating the incident. The injured were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where 11 of them were identified as Shazia, 45, Maheem Akram, 30, Mehnaz Shahbaz, Zunaira Akram, five-year-old Iman, Mumtaz Zafar, 40, Kausar Perween, 30, Shaherbano, 22, Irshah Bibi, Ayat Majid and Sumaira Tariq. Videos circulating on social media showed injured people lying on the road outside the imambargah, while other mourners could be heard crying out for help and requesting ambulances. In one of the videos, an unidentified voice is heard warning that there is a bomb inside the vehicle. Upon hearing this, panic broke out, and people began running to safety. Talking to Dawn, Karachi police chief Azad Khan said: ‘So far, it does not appear to be an act of terrorism.’ He said three persons were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the incident and all of them suffered injuries and one was in critical condition. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah ordered authorities to investigate the incident with all possible angles. The CM directed the Karachi police chief to investigate whether it was a brake failure or something else. He also asked the Karachi commissioner to ensure best possible medical treatment for injured persons. Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2026
BUDGET 2026-27: NA body questions mobile taxes, EV policy
• Committee finalises Finance Bill 2026 recommendations • Lawmakers seek relief for entry-level, mid-range phone users • FBR says mobile imports generate Rs37bn annually • Apple devices account for Rs21bn in mobile import revenue • Aircraft lease, spare parts tax relief extended beyond PIA • MNAs insist airline relief should reflect in ticket prices ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Sunday raised questions over the government’s mobile phone taxation policy and proposed taxes on high-end electric vehicles, while also extending relief to airlines beyond Pakistan International Airlines. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by MNA Naveed Qamar, concluded its series of meetings held for a clause-by-clause review of the Finance Bill 2026. The committee finalised its recommendations and forwarded them to the National Assembly. During the proceedings, Sharmila Faruqui and Muhammad Javed Hanif submitted dissenting notes on the government’s electric vehicle policy and the existing tax structure on imported mobile phones, respectively. The committee reviewed tax rates on imported and locally manufactured mobile phones, while officials outlined a tiered structure based on price. According to the briefing, phones valued up to $30 are taxed at 25pc, while those priced between $31 and $100 fall under a 36pc slab. Devices worth $101 to $200 attract a 40pc tax, while phones in the $201 to $350 range face an effective rate of 38pc. Smartphones priced between $351 and $500 are taxed at 40pc, and those exceeding $500 carry an effective rate of 41pc. Officials said the tax burden ranged from Rs1,500 per unit to as high as Rs141,500, increasing with the price of the handset. They added that 44pc of imported phones fell within the $31 to $100 category, which carries one of the lower tax slabs. The average effective tax rate across all categories stands at 39.6pc. Lawmakers expressed concern over the widespread use of non-PTA phones and proposed introducing an instalment-based tax payment system, noting that such facilities are common internationally even for small consumer items. Committee chairman Naveed Qamar directed the FBR to work with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to develop a feasible instalment plan. Members also questioned whether recent changes in the Finance Bill offered any relief to consumers. MNA Javed Hanif Khan said no meaningful relief had been provided despite amendments. FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial suggested that taxes on phones priced up to $200 could be reduced, but some members, including MNA Hina Rabbani Khar, questioned the intent behind the proposal. She asked whether the move was aimed at raising revenue or favouring a particular company. Langrial said mobile phones remained a major source of revenue, contributing Rs37bn annually from imports, with Apple devices accounting for Rs21bn. He warned that lowering taxes on low-priced phones could create a Rs1bn shortfall, which would need to be offset elsewhere. Auto policy, EV taxes The committee also took up the proposed five-year automobile policy, as the current framework is set to expire on June 30. Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani said the existing policy would lapse at the end of the month, while Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul briefed members on plans to rationalise duties across engine categories. Under the proposals, total duties and taxes on 1800cc vehicles would be reduced from 156pc to 74pc. For cars between 1500cc and 1800cc, the combined rate would fall from 91pc to 57pc, while vehicles between 1000cc and 1500cc would see a reduction from 76pc to 52pc. Similarly, duties on 850cc cars are proposed to be cut from 66pc to 42pc. Customs duty on vehicles above 1800cc would be reduced from 100pc to 50pc, while rates for 1500cc to 1800cc cars would fall from 75pc to 45pc. Duties on 1000cc to 1500cc vehicles would drop from 60pc to 40pc, and for 850cc to 1000cc cars from 55pc to 35pc. For cars up to 850cc and motorcycles, the rate would decline from 50pc to 30pc. The committee was also informed that customs duty on auto parts would be reduced from 35pc to 25pc, while specialised vehicles would continue to face a 30pc duty. The commerce secretary said the measures were aimed at lowering import tariffs and reducing business costs. However, members raised concerns over the taxation of electric vehicles. FBR officials said electric cars priced up to $75,000, or around Rs20m, would remain exempt from federal excise duty, while higher-priced vehicles would be taxed. MNA Shahida Akhtar Ali questioned the absence of charging infrastructure, asking how such vehicles would operate given the country’s power constraints. MNA Sharmila Faruqui called for policy clarity, saying the government should either promote electric vehicles or avoid creating a luxury category within them. Aviation policy The committee decided to extend sales tax exemptions on aircraft leases and spare parts purchases to all airlines, not just PIA, as part of the Finance Bill. FBR officials briefed the committee that under the revised proposal, 18pc sales tax would not apply to new aircraft leases and spare parts procurement. Initially, the exemption was sought only for PIA, but members argued that such relief should be sector-wide to ensure fair competition. Qamar questioned why the benefit should be restricted to PIA, suggesting a compromise under which the exemption could be granted to the national carrier for one year while negotiations with the IMF continued. However, members, including Dr Nafisa Shah and Sharmila Faruqui, stressed that policy should not be tailored to a single airline. “Tomorrow, if a new airline enters the market, it will immediately suffer from the 18pc tax burden,” Faruqui warned, calling for a neutral policy across the sector. Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal initially urged limiting the relief to PIA, but the committee resolved to incorporate the broader exemption into the Finance Bill, effective July 1, 2027. Tax officials noted that the government would explain to the IMF that the measure was necessary to maintain market competition.MNA Javed Hanif added that if such significant relief was being granted, its impact should also be reflected in ticket prices. Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2026
Pakistan'da iklim bütçesi kesintisi: Şok edici düşüşe Rehman'dan sert tepkiPTI slams govt for ‘anti-poor’ fiscal policies
ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Saturday slammed the government for its “anti-farmer” and “anti-poor” policies, accusing the ruling coalition of weakening the economy and burdening the underprivileged with over-taxation. At a press conference, PTI MNAs Usama Mela, Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood, Mubeen Arif Jutt, and Shandana Gulzar presented a grim picture of the nation’s agriculture, economy, and law and order, exposing the “disconnect” between the government’s statistics and the ground realities. They claimed the rulers were directly responsible for the worsening economic situation, as they continued to increase their own lavish expenditures while ordinary citizens bore the burden of economic hardship. MNA Usama claimed that the agriculture sector was facing a “total collapse” under the PML-N government. He noted that cotton cultivation declined significantly, and that the agriculture sector failed to achieve even 0.6pc growth against a target of 6pc. “Due to crippling taxation policies, the total cultivable area for cotton has been drastically reduced from 2.4 million to just 5.5 lakh acres,” he claimed. Lawmakers accuse rulers of enjoying luxuries at taxpayers’ expense Shandana Gulzar spoke about the “stark contrast” between the “economic stability” in the Imran Khan era and the current government’s data. Referring to World Bank reports, she claimed that the current government was misquoting figures across every sector, from agriculture and poverty to petrol prices, education, and healthcare. She wondered that tax relief, in the form of a reduction in the super tax, has been handed to wealthy industrialists and big businesses, while the government has taxed essential household items for the poor. On the occasion, Khawaja Sheraz warned that the government was not interested in agriculture. He said Pakistan once produced 16 million bales of cotton, trailing India by only one million bales. Today, Pakistan’s output has crashed to nearly five million bales, he added. The PTI MNA noted that the Federal Seed Certification Department was abolished in the name of downsizing and replaced with a seed authority. He said instead of reforms, the government hired new personnel at more than double the previous salaries, rendering the institution counterproductive. Mr Sheraz stated that despite a surplus of sugar, the government imported more simply to benefit sugar mill owners because they enjoyed powers, adding that the government often blamed the IMF for crushing the public with inflation, fuel levies, and tough decisions; however, they ignored IMF objections when their own financial interests were at stake. Mubeen Arif Jutt said that the government has slashed spending on public welfare projects but refuses to cut down on its own luxuries, adding that public funds were being squandered on personal publicity. Mughalpura case Meanwhile, the PTI criticised the 10-year imprisonment sentences awarded to its senior leaders, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmoodur Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, and Umar Sarfraz Cheema, in the Mughalpura vehicle burning case linked to the May 9 events. Sheikh Waqas Akram, PTI information secretary, described the verdict as a grave miscarriage of justice. Published in Dawn, June 21st, 2026
May 9 riots: Lahore ATC acquits Shah Mahmood Qureshi, sentences 4 leaders, others to 10 years
LAHORE: In another case of May 9 riots, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday acquitted former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi while sentencing senior PTI leaders Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and former senator Ejaz Chaudhry to 10-year imprisonment each. ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill announced the verdict, which was reserved on Thursday. In the case registered at Mughalpura Police Station, the leaders were accused of attacking and burning police vehicles in the Mughalpura area during the 2023 riots. The suspects were presented in the makeshift court established inside Kot Lakhpat Jail. Besides Qureshi, the court also acquitted 11 party workers. A total of 22 PTI leaders and workers were nominated in the case, while two accused had been declared proclaimed offenders after allegedly evading arrest. However, a few other workers were sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment each. The prosecution alleged that the PTI leaders and other accused persons had planned the May 9 incidents and incited workers to engage in riots and acts of violence. The prosecution presented 37 witnesses against the accused and urged the court to convict them under the law. The May 9, 2023 riots had erupted as PTI supporters protested the arrest of party founder Imran Khan by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from the Islamabad High Court premises in the Al-Qadir Trust case. The workers and supporters staged violent protests throughout the country, vandalising military installations and state-owned buildings, while also attacking the Lahore corps commander’s residence. Following the riots, thousands of protesters, including party leaders, were arrested. So far, verdicts in seven other May 9 cases have been announced, with Rashid, Cheema, Rasheed and Chaudhry being sentenced in multiple. In December 2025, Judge Gill’s ATC acquitted Qureshi while sentencing the other four to 10 years in a case over an attack on the entrance gate of Government Officers’ Residence-I, Club Chowk. Other verdicts were delivered in cases related to an attack on the Shadman police station, violence at Sherpao Bridge, the burning of police vehicles near Rahat Bakery, and the torching of a Supreme Court judge’s squad vehicle near Jinnah House during the May 9 protests.
May 9 riots : Verdict reserved in police vehicle burning case
LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday reserved its verdict after completion of proceedings in a case of burning police vehicles in Mughalpura during the May 9 riots. ATC Judge Manzer Ali Gill conducted the hearing of the case and reserved the decision after both prosecution and defence concluded their final arguments. The judge is likely to announce the verdict on June 20. During the trial, 37 prosecution witnesses recorded their statements before the court. Police had registered the case against several Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Umar Sarfraz Cheema, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed. The prosecution urged the court to convict the accused persons on charges of attacks, vandalism and setting police vehicles on fire during protests following the events of May 9. These PTI leaders, except Mr Qureshi, have been handed down sentences by the ATCs in five cases, including those pertaining to an attack on Shadman police station, violence at Sherpao Bridge, burning police vehicles near Rahat Bakery and torching a vehicle of a Supreme Court judge’s squad near Jinnah House during the May 9 protests. The convictions involve charges, including abetment of violence and criminal conspiracy, with each accused awarded an average sentence of 10-year term in the respective cases. Qureshi was acquitted in all the five cases for being not present in Lahore on the day of occurrences. The May 9 riots had erupted after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan by the National Accountability Bureau on the Islamabad High Court premises in Al-Qadir Trust case. Following Khan’s arrest, PTI leaders and workers attacked military facilities and public property across the country. Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2026
World leaders rally behind landmark US-Iran deal
• Putin says deal could stabilise Middle East, ease energy pressures; Beijing calls it ‘positive step’ for de-escalation • Qatar praises ceasefire terms and Hormuz assurances • G7 leaders back deal, call it key to blocking nuclear escalation risk • Hezbollah calls truce extension a ‘major victory’; Israel signals caution as Netanyahu says ‘challenges lie ahead’ WORLD powers and international leaders on Thursday welcomed a landmark ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ signed by the United States and Iran to end their conflict, with many hailing Pakistan’s mediation efforts and expressing hope that the deal would pave the way for lasting peace. Among the first to react were China and Russia, both of which welcomed the agreement and urged all parties to build on the momentum created by the ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at an ASEAN summit in Kazan, praised the agreement, noting that Middle East stabilisation will significantly benefit global energy markets. The Russian Foreign Ministry formally welcomed the pact signed on Wednesday by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called the first-phase MoU a move of “positive significance for easing tensions”. Highlighting intense diplomatic efforts, including a five-point initiative jointly issued by China and Pakistan, Lin emphasised that force cannot solve problems. “Equal-footed negotiation is the right path,” he said, urging both nations to approach second-phase negotiations with a rational, pragmatic attitude to achieve positive outcomes. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement welcoming the document’s electronic signing in both English and Farsi. Doha praised the deal for addressing outstanding issues, including the cessation of military operations and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Hormuz, saying it considers the MoU a “renewed affirmation of the two sides’ commitment to resolving their differences” via peaceful means. While Qatar emphasised the agreement represents a “solid foundation” for talks and praised Pakistan’s mediation efforts, other Gulf countries have yet to issue official reactions to the diplomatic breakthrough. Western leaders expressed profound relief over the economic and security implications. G7 countries welcomed the deal, calling it a “historic opportunity to prevent Iran from acquiring any nuclear weapon”. French President Emmanuel Macron said the pact would stop a “situation of great instability that had terrible consequences for our economies.” “This agreement paves the way for lasting peace and allows the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron wrote. “It is an important step in the right direction for our compatriots that will soon enable a decrease in energy prices.” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi echoed these economic priorities, emphasising it was vital that “free and safe navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz be promptly restored through the “steady implementation of the memorandum by all parties”. In Lebanon, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem hailed the diplomatic breakthrough as a “big victory”. In a televised address, Mr Qassem thanked Iran for linking the Lebanon front and forcing Israel to stop its aggression. However, he drew a hard line on domestic concessions. “The ceiling for the negotiations with the Israeli enemy is mutual security … and any proposal under the banner of disarmament will not pass, as this is an Israeli recipe for taking everything and wrecking the country,” he said. Conversely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored the importance of maintaining close ties with the United States on Thursday, saying Washington had stood by Israel during the war. “The struggle is not yet over, and further challenges lie ahead,” Netanyahu said. “They require calm judgement, steadfast defence of Israel’s security interests, and at the same time the preservation of our vital relationship with our American friends, who stood shoulder to shoulder with us in this fight — a partnership we deeply appreciate.” Meanwhile, diplomatic support continued to ripple outward. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received telephone calls from Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Egyptian FM Badr Abdelatty, Turkiye’s Hakan Fidan and Bahrain’s Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. They congratulated Dar on the signing of the memorandum and Pakistan endorsed as a mediator. They also appreciated Pakistan’s sincere and sustained diplomatic efforts that contributed to this development. Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2026
ABD ve İran Arasında 14 Maddelik Mutabakat: 60 Günde Nihai Anlaşma HedefiBUDGET 2026-27: Senate panel backs 5pc tax on earnings from social media
• Govt signals gradual end to super tax • State minister says target of bringing 3.5m retailers into tax net in one year ‘unrealistic’ • NA panel seeks detailed estimates of revenue generation, relief measures to assess their overall economic impact ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Monday approved a five per cent tax on earnings generated through social media platforms by both local and foreign digital content creators, as lawmakers continued their review of proposals under the Finance Bill 2026. The move reflects the growing significance of social media as a source of income, with digital platforms increasingly serving as lucrative business avenues rather than merely communication tools. Content creators, influencers and online entrepreneurs are now generating millions of rupees annually through platform monetisation, advertising revenue and audience engagement. The Senate Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, reviewed the proposed taxation framework and endorsed the mechanism for bringing social media earnings into the tax net. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial briefed the committee on the bill’s provisions. Separately, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance in its meeting, headed by MNA Naveed Qamar, directed the finance ministry and FBR to submit detailed estimates of revenue generation and relief measures to assess their overall economic impact. The proposed tax on social media income sparked debate among committee members, with some expressing concerns that additional taxation could discourage foreign exchange inflows. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla warned that higher taxes might reduce incentives for digital earners to bring income into Pakistan. Senator Abdul Qadir echoed similar concerns, arguing that individuals earning through overseas digital platforms should be encouraged rather than burdened with excessive taxation. Responding to the criticism, the FBR chairman said social media earnings should be treated like any other taxable income. FBR officials informed the committee that annual social media income of up to Rs600,000 would remain exempt. Earnings between Rs600,000 and Rs1.2 million would be subject to a five per cent tax under the proposed framework. “We are simply asking for our share from social media income,” Mr Langrial told the committee. During the proceedings, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reiterated the government’s intention to gradually phase out the super tax. He said the policy direction was clear and that efforts would continue each year to reduce the levy before eventually abolishing it altogether. Senator Abdul Qadir proposed raising the exemption threshold under the Finance Bill 2026 from Rs500 million to Rs1 billion. However, Mr Langrial opposed the proposal, warning that such a move would create a revenue shortfall of approximately Rs250 billion and necessitate additional taxation measures elsewhere. The proposal did not gain support from tax authorities. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani informed the NA committee that the first six slabs of the super tax had already been eliminated. He added that fertiliser, banking and petroleum companies with incomes exceeding Rs500 million would continue to face a 10pc super tax, while other sectors above the same threshold would remain subject to an 8pc levy. Retail tax scheme draws criticism The NA committee also discussed the government’s proposed trader taxation scheme, which faced criticism from several lawmakers, while the state minister defended the initiative. Committee chairman Naveed Qamar remarked sarcastically that those responsible for designing the retail scheme deserved “special awards”, reflecting concerns over its structure and implementation. Kayani argued it would be unrealistic to bring all 3.5m shopkeepers into the tax net within a year. He said the proposal had been developed after consultations with trader associations and retailer groups. FBR Member Hamid Ateeq Sarwar noted that while Pakistan has around 4.4m commercial power connections, only 400,000 businesses are currently registered with the tax authority. The scheme initially aims to bring 100,000 large retailers into the documented economy, he said. Sarwar added shopkeepers owning significant assets, such as plots or luxury vehicles, could be selected for audit under the proposed system. Export sector, other tax measures The committees also examined proposals affecting exporters and other sectors of the economy. Sarwar informed lawmakers that the government had proposed reducing the advance tax rate for exporters from 2pc to 1.25pc. He also stated that Pakistan and Bangladesh remain among the few countries operating a final tax regime, noting that the system is generally not recognised under IMF frameworks. The FBR chairman opposed suggestions to restore the final tax regime for exporters. On sales tax measures, officials clarified that the inclusion of 19 additional items in Schedule III of the Sales Tax Act would not increase tax rates. Instead, manufacturers would simply be required to clearly display prices and applicable taxes on products. Officials added that all packaged goods fall within the scope of Schedule III. The committee was also informed that the so-called “pink tax” had been reduced from 18pc to zero. Following objections from lawmakers over the term itself, officials indicated that the name would be changed. Insurance, inheritance The Senate committee approved a proposal to tax only the profit component of life insurance policies from Tax Year 2026, while keeping the principal amount exempt. Insurance payouts related to death, disability and policies maturing after seven years would remain tax-free. Lawmakers also endorsed the continuation of sales tax exemptions for property transfers resulting from inheritance following the death of parents. No tax will apply to inheritance-related divisions or valuation adjustments under the proposed framework. In a separate briefing, officials revealed that data analysis had identified approximately 8,697 individuals holding deposits worth nearly Rs750 billion despite not paying income tax. The findings were cited as evidence of the need to broaden the tax base and improve compliance. While directing the finance ministry and FBR to submit detailed fiscal impact assessments and implementation plans before further deliberations on the Finance Bill 2026, Mr Qamar highlighted that tax relief measures should remain fair and consistent with efforts to expand the country’s tax net. Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2026
Pakistan Senatosu'ndan Sosyal Medya Gelirlerine Yüzde 5 Vergi OnayıGulf states can contain the threat from Iran and Israel. But they’ll need help
Gulf states can contain the threat from Iran and Israel. But they’ll need help The World Today iallan.drupal 8 June 2026 The Iran war and its prelude have confirmed for GCC countries that they are in the crosshairs of their volatile neighbours. Yet with global support, Gulf allies can build a security architecture to protect their transforming economies, writes Rashid Al-Mohanadi. In 2019, swarms of drones and cruise missiles struck vital energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, temporarily halting a large part of the kingdom’s oil production and sending shockwaves through energy markets. Tehran denied direct involvement, but the geopolitical reality was undeniable. Fast forward to June 2025: after a series of US military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Qatar, most intercepted by Qatar’s integrated air and missile defence systems. Iran framed this as a measured, coordinated exchange. The Qatari government – whose sovereign territory was targeted – fundamentally disagreed. That year brought another unprecedented escalation. In September, Israel conducted its first-ever direct military attack on a Gulf capital, striking a residential neighbourhood in Doha, Qatar, in an attempt to derail President Donald Trump’s emerging peace initiative for Gaza and killing a young Qatari officer. Then, in February 2026, after the collapse of negotiations and the eruption of a broader US–Israel military campaign against Iran, Tehran unleashed missile and drone attacks across all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan. Iran and Israel each operate on the conviction that security can only be achieved through the subordination of its neighbours. An instinct persists in western policy circles to view the Middle East in terms of an irreconcilable Iran–Israel rivalry. Such a reading obscures a profound and dangerous similarity between them. Beneath their mutual hostility, Iran and Israel share a foundational logic: however their public statements differ, each has concluded that its survival cannot be guaranteed through regional integration, diplomatic accommodation or collective security. Instead, each operates on the conviction that security can only be achieved through regional hegemony and the subordination of its neighbours. Such a zero-sum pursuit has generated systemic instability across the region. More critically, it has placed the Gulf states in the crosshairs of both Israeli and Iranian adventurism. The time has come for a fundamental review of how the Gulf and its global partners engage with these two disruptive powers. Shared strategic endgames Iran and Israel share a strategic endgame, and though their operational methods differ, both inevitably sow chaos. Israel relies on unilateral, overwhelming military action, shielded by unconditional diplomatic and military backing from the US. This insulates Israel from international accountability, rendering UN Security Council resolutions toothless even amid violations of international humanitarian law. Yet this architecture of impunity faced a severe test in September 2025. When Israel’s strike on Doha killed a young Qatari security officer and incinerated the pending Gaza peace plan, Washington was forced to respond. The administration took unprecedented punitive action against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, compelling a formal apology to Qatar. Crucially, the crisis also produced a historic executive order guaranteeing Qatari security, a commitment akin to a NATO Article 5 clause. Related work How the Iran war is reshaping Saudi strategy: From Hormuz and Houthis to the UAE’s OPEC exit Iran, by contrast, pursues hegemony through asymmetric instruments designed to maximize plausible deniability and externalize costs. Where Israel relies on direct state action, Iran has spent decades cultivating an expansive proxy network: Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq to name a few. It has concentrated its military investment on stand-off offensive capabilities, namely ballistic missiles and drone swarms, while deliberately under-investing in conventional defence and supporting spy cells within neighbouring states for espionage and sabotage. Iran’s overarching strategy is extortion: raising the cost of escalation to intolerable levels. This was glaringly evident during the aggression of February to April 2026. Despite the GCC actively mediating and making clear that Gulf airspace, land and maritime areas would not be used for offensive operations against Iran, Tehran launched widespread strikes. Iran claimed these targeted American military interests, yet the majority targeting Qatar struck civilian infrastructure and sovereign economic sectors. The Ras Laffan energy facilities were hit on 2 March, even before Israel struck fuel tanks in Tehran. Few munitions were aimed at the US presence at Al-Udeid Air Base. According to the Qatari government, roughly two-thirds of attacks targeted civilian sites. Beyond inflicting damage on the Arab Gulf states, Iran aimed to manufacture a global economic crisis. By weaponizing Gulf energy infrastructure and the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran hoped to frighten international markets and coerce Gulf states into forcing Washington to halt its campaign. The strategy failed because Iran under-estimated Gulf resilience. Iran’s most effective tactic was using asymmetric and conventional capabilities to dissuade commercial shipping from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Whatever the outcome of attempts to reopen the strait, preventing future attempts to deny the free navigation of this waterway must become an urgent priority of Gulf states with international partners. Gulf states’ positive-sum paradigm The regional instability caused by Israel and Iran poses a challenge to the Gulf states, because the GCC operates on a different strategic paradigm. Rather than acting as zero-sum security maximizers, GCC members are focused on prioritizing development, diversification, open trade routes, stable energy flows and regional predictability. The doctrine underlying Gulf strategy is that stability is a multiplier. This drives Saudi Arabia’s investments under Vision 2030, Qatar’s mediation networks and UAE negotiation efforts in Russia and Ukraine. The Gulf believes regional problems can be managed through dialogue and that prosperity is best secured when shared. The UAE’s exit from OPEC in May doesn’t necessarily undermine this. What matters is that differences in economic priorities across the region don’t jeopardize core commitments to collective security. The doctrine underlying Gulf strategy is that stability is a multiplier, not a scarce resource. To foster such stability, the Gulf, for decades, tried to accommodate Israel and Iran. In the 1990s, Qatar opened an Israeli commercial office in Doha. In the 2000s, Saudi Arabia championed the comprehensive Arab Peace Initiative. More recently, the UAE and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords, hoping to halt the Israeli annexation of the West Bank. With regard to Iran, Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties via Chinese mediation in 2023, while Qatar brokered ceasefires between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and Israel and Iran last June. Yet leaders in both Israel and Iran view the Gulf states’ positive-sum logic not as a pragmatic virtue but as naive vulnerability. Every attempt at accommodation has been met with adventurism. Israel bypassed the Arab Peace Initiative, proceeded with de facto annexation of Gaza, and later bombed a mediating capital. Iran exploited the diplomatic platforms provided by Doha, only to launch hundreds of missiles at Qatari civilian infrastructure the moment a broader conflict erupted.
Körfez, İran-İsrail tehdidine karşı küresel destek arayışındaThe optics of relief for the masses
The bulk of FBR’s tax revenue is generated from tax on income (50% of tax revenue) and sales tax (32% of tax revenue). The former falls in the captive tax-compliant category. The latter is deeply regressive, directly impacting the lowest-income segments and worsening economic inequality. This leaves everyday citizens bearing a disproportionate brunt of the state’s financial burden. The budget serves as a reminder that the vast majority of Pakistanis in the middle of the social spectrum will continue to bear the cost of government missteps and the inefficiencies of inadequate physical and social infrastructure providers, in addition to the fallout of the volatile global situation and tensions with Afghanistan. In the fiscal year ahead, their relentless struggle to make ends meet and to provide a decent life for their families will remain all-consuming. The proposed budget offers the salaried class a modest three to five per cent reduction in tax liability, applicable only for those earning at least three times the taxable monthly income threshold of Rs50,000. While the relief may be meaningful for its beneficiaries, excluding poor and lower-middle-class taxpayers, who arguably need support even more, is difficult to justify. Unless policymakers attach value to retaining a larger number of lower-income taxpayers in the tax net, the rationale of this exclusion remains unclear. Pakistan’s income tax compliance remains dismally low. A wide gap persists between the number of registered taxpayers and those who actually pay taxes. By some estimates, fewer than 5pc of adults in Pakistan pay income tax. Enforcing compliance is challenging in a cash-dominated economy with a vast informal sector and limited documentation. Modest tax cuts offer limited comfort as inflation, fuel costs and economic uncertainty continue to squeeze middle- and lower-income households In contrast, salaried employees are effectively captive taxpayers because their taxes are deducted at source. Meanwhile, successive governments have been reluctant to aggressively pursue powerful tax-averse groups, such as large farm owners, realtors and traders, fearing political backlash. The war in the Gulf has pushed up oil prices and freight costs, raising the cost of trade, travel and transportation. It also threatens to disrupt supply chains. Meanwhile, the closure of Torkham and Chaman border crossings has hurt cross-border trade and adversely affected the livelihoods of communities that depend on border-related economic activities. “Raising the taxable income threshold would have shrunk already narrow tax base. Without credible measures to offset the revenue loss and a fall in the number of tax filers from exempting lower-income salaried workers, the government considered the move too risky, particularly given the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) sensitivity to any erosion of the tax base. “The failure of last year’s Tajir Dost Scheme also undermined the confidence in the fixed-tax regime for traders introduced in the current budget, reinforcing the decision to leave the taxable income threshold unchanged,” an analyst said. “Yes, it may seem unfair, but the government appears more concerned about satisfying its core supporters and the IMF. By refraining from raising the general sales tax [GST], increasing salary and pensions for public-sector employees, allocating additional funds to Benazir Income Support Programme, and lowering tax rates for taxpayers in the upper-income brackets, it likely believes it has done enough to provide relief,” an economist remarked. Dr Rashid Amjad, former deputy chairman of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (BISP), was sceptical. He argued that the budget had effectively been negotiated with the IMF before its presentation, leaving little room for independent policymaking. He questioned the government’s claim of shifting from stabilisation to growth, arguing that a cut in development spending would dampen growth while aggravating unemployment and poverty. While welcoming the increase in the minimum wage, public sector salaries and pensions, and BISP allocations, he said these measures would offer limited relief in an environment of expected double-digit inflation and high petroleum levy. “The tax cuts for the middle class are more window dressing than meaningful relief,” he remarked. “All in all, it is a budget that tries to please everyone and ends up pleasing hardly anyone except the IMF”, he added. The proposed budget lowers income tax rates for three upper-salaried income brackets, leaving the income threshold and tax rates on the two lowest income slabs unchanged. The rate for monthly incomes between Rs1,83,000 and Rs2,66,000 has been reduced to 20 per cent from 23pc; for incomes above Rs2,66,000 and up to Rs3,41,000 per month, it has been cut to 25pc from earlier 30pc; and for those earning Rs3,41,000 and Rs4,67,000 a month, the rate has been lowered to 32pc from 35pc. The annual surcharge on high-salaried individuals has also been abolished. Previously, a 9pc surcharge applied to income earners with a monthly salary exceeding Rs8,33,000. Over the next financial year, low-salaried households are likely to further tighten their budgets to cope with rising inflation and high fuel costs. Many families may be compelled to supplement incomes by working longer hours or pushing more household members into the workforce. As spending on food, transport and utilities consumes a larger share of earnings, less will remain for housing, rent, education, healthcare and leisure. For many, saving will become impossible, forcing them to draw down assets to maintain basic living standards. “Confronted with serious economic challenges amid a highly volatile global environment, any government would have struggled to balance fiscal responsibility with socio-economic goals while building public support. The task is even more daunting for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition government, which must navigate the demands of political allies, powerful lobbies and stringent donors, leaving little room for manoeuvre. “Within these constraints, delivering meaningful relief to the roughly 80 per cent of households that fall between the affluent and the poorest segments remains a formidable challenge. His team did try to make the budget people-friendly,” a supporter defended the government. Beyond the routine political rhetoric condemning the government’s performance and its failure to match public expectations, most Pakistanis assess the federal budget primarily through its impact on their household finances. According to unverified online estimates, around 15-20 per cent of the population, including taxpayers, professionals, politically engaged citizens, analysts, media personnel and members of the business community, closely follow the annual budget process, tracking fiscal priorities, taxation measures and policy changes that shape the economic outlook. Some analysts consider these estimates overly optimistic. “I would be pleasantly surprised if even five per cent of Pakistanis could meaningfully decipher the budget,” remarked one observer. “For most people, it appears to be little more than a juggling of numbers and a politically motivated accounting exercise. This perception persists largely because there is neither a serious effort within the power corridors to generate and utilise credible data to identify weaknesses in the framework, nor a genuine commitment to reforming it to make it people-centric and responsive to the interests of the majority.” Others attribute the public’s limited interest and engagement in what is arguably the most important exercise in the country’s annual financial cycle to the government’s own conduct. “To conceal the cost of its inefficiencies and mask policies that disproportionately favour elite segments, budget makers deliberately make the process and its contents complex,” observed a retired civil servant. Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, June 15th, 2026
PTI rules out CoD-style Charter of Economy
• Khosa questions effectiveness of 2006 charter, claiming its commitments were never honoured ISLAMABAD: As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered dialogue to the opposition and suggested that all political parties work towards a “Charter of Economy”, the PTI on Sunday made it clear that the premier should not expect a PPP-PML-N-style CoD from the party. Party leaders Sardar Latif Khosa, Taimur Khan Jhagra, Mobeen Arif Jutt and Rana Atif were speaking at a press conference in Islamabad. Mr Khosa questioned the outcome of the earlier CoD signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in 2006, stating that not a single commitment under the accord had been honoured. He claimed that subsequent governments had acted contrary to its spirit by weakening democratic norms and constitutional supremacy, eroding judicial independence, manipulating electoral processes, restricting political freedoms and freedom of expression, shrinking political space, and undermining the overall democratic framework. He further said the PML-N formed the government despite securing only 17 seats, while PTI was denied power despite winning more than 180 seats in the general elections. The PTI leader maintained that party workers and leaders had been subjected to political victimisation, with hundreds of cases registered against Imran Khan, his wife and associates, including Dr Yasmin Rashid, a cancer survivor. He expressed concern that the budget would not only deepen the suffering of the masses but also negatively affect the national economy. He questioned how the government intended to achieve its revenue targets after failing to meet earlier benchmarks, warning that additional taxation would further burden existing taxpayers and potentially push millions of lower- and middle-income families below the poverty line. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jhagra criticised the government for increasing the petroleum levy to as much as Rs100 per litre, arguing that the move would have a cascading impact across all segments of society. He said the “elephant in the room” was the ever-rising cost of running the state. If the government was serious about putting Pakistan on the path to prosperity, he argued, it would need to demonstrate the courage to slash extravagant expenditures. Rejecting the government’s claims of economic recovery, he said exports had declined by six per cent and investment by 26.5pc, while most economic targets had been missed across key sectors. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jutt said the government had failed to present a clear strategy for broadening the tax base or bringing new taxpayers into the net. He noted that the ruling coalition was presenting its fifth budget, yet had not delivered meaningful relief to the public over the past five years. Mr Atif questioned the government’s claims of economic stabilisation, arguing that the ruling coalition had imposed unprecedented taxes over the past five years while failing to implement meaningful structural reforms. Meanwhile, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said the government had “handed over the economy to the IMF”, leaving farmers, industrialists and other segments of society in distress. He said PTI had been denied a level playing field in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections. Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2026
Bannu jirga demands restoration of peace, reopening of roads
BANNU: A peace jirga here on Thursday demanded restoration of peace, reopening of roads and resolution of public grievances and warned if the demands weren’t met, a protest sit-in could be staged in Islamabad or Peshawar. The jirga extended its full support to the police peace committee but expressed serious concerns over the alleged detention of citizens by security personnel in plain clothes and desecration of dead bodies. The jirga was held at the Darul Uloom Islamia seminary, with Malik Dilnawaz Khan, a representative of Bannu’s residents in Islamabad, in the chair. The participants included former Senator Prof Ibrahim Khan, MNA Maulana Syed Naseem Ali Shah, former mayors Irfan Durrani and Junaid Rashid, elders Dr Pir Sahib Zaman, Malik Raza Khan, Malik Nek Daraz Khan, Nisar Khan, Sahibzada Idrees Khan and Mureed Hayat, Traders Association president Gul Pir, as well as a large number of tribal elders, religious scholars, and representatives of various segments of society from across the district. Threatens sit-in in Islamabad or Peshawar The participants unanimously adopted resolutions, calling on the federal and provincial governments to ensure lasting peace in the district and resolution of public issues. They announced their complete support for all lawful measures taken by the police and other relevant institutions to establish peace and stability in Bannu. While condemning terrorism in all its forms and describing it as the greatest obstacle to peace and development, the jirga voiced reservations about the alleged detention of people by plain-clothesmen. It stressed that the police should perform their duties strictly within the framework of the law and the Police Act, 2017, emphasising that the people will not take up arms. The jirga urged the provincial government to provide the Bannu police with all necessary resources, powers and facilities to maintain peace in the district. It declared that the people and elders of Bannu stood shoulder to shoulder with the government and law-enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism. The jirga paid tribute to law-enforcement personnel and civilians who lost their lives in recent incidents of violence and demanded a special compensation package for their families. It also called for the immediate reopening of major highways and roads connecting different areas of Bannu to ease public movement and reduce hardships faced by residents. The jirga demanded a review of FIRs and cases registered against Bannu elders following the July 19, 2024, peace march and sought the immediate release of all “innocent individuals”, including Abdul Samad Khan. It demanded the reopening of the blocked Juma Khan Road, Kot Adil Road, Amandi Road and other arteries, along with markets and business centres. The jirga called for speedy work on development projects across the district. The elders announced that they would seek meetings with the corps commander and the chief secretary to pursue the implementation of their demands. They also warned that if the issues remain unresolved, a sit-in protest could be staged in Islamabad or Peshawar. Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2026
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