Women’s rights

PAKISTAN’S legal system has issued some important rulings in recent days concerning women, which deserve more discussion and debate on mainstream media. For example, in what can be seen as a strong affirmation of gender equality, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court held last week that a woman’s legal rights cannot be tied to her marital status. The court’s observations — that a woman’s legal rights, personhood and autonomy are neither erased by marriage nor should they depend on it, and to assume that a married woman is financially dependent on her husband “is legally untenable, religiously unfounded and contrary to the egalitarian spirit of the Islamic law” — may seem like common sense, but they challenge patriarchal attitudes that are not often discussed and which passively undermine women’s autonomy in everyday life. In particular, the court’s observation that excluding married daughters from entitlement to job quotas usually reserved for compassionate causes “reveals a deeper structural flaw grounded in patriarchal assumptions about a woman’s identity and her role within the legal and economic order” cuts right to the heart of this problem.

The ruling has followed on the heels of another verdict issued some days earlier by the Federal Shariat Court, in which the FSC condemned customs that deprive women of their inheritance as ‘unlawful’ and directed provincial authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against those who perpetuate such practices ‘as a moral obligation’. But though both courts have reaffirmed that women’s rights are non-negotiable, has society at large also received this important message?

Patriarchal attitudes are often so entrenched that they colour individuals’ judgement about what is right and wrong without them realising it. It would be quite helpful, therefore, if judgements such as these, and others which directly impact women’s rights, were to be given more airtime in the media. Doing so could help empower more women to identify situations in which they are being wronged and encourage them to seek their rights through the law if necessary. The courts alone cannot change society, but if the message they are sending is heard by all, it could trigger positive change.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2025

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The certain uncertainty of wheat

With March ending relatively cool (average temperature according to meteorological officials recorded at 27.6°C), wheat crops might have had the chance to recover from earlier losses caused by smog at the tillering stage in November, loss of acreage and a long dry spell early this year.

At least farmers and Punjab’s agriculture officials are hopeful, though at varying levels. Apart from a cooler March, the agriculture bureaucracy in the province also counts positive policy impacts of initiatives like subsidised solarisation of tubewells, Kissan and Livestock Cards, distribution of laser-levellers and e-credit for a better, if not bumper, crop.

Based on these factors, they hope wheat will cross 21 million tonnes.

Alas, these hopes are not without critique by those who base their case on the massive loss of acreage — 16.25m acres this year against 17.44m acres last year. Official average yields were recorded at 34.74 maunds per acre a year ago. There is no way the crop can even come close to that average rate this year; the long dry spell has largely ruined the crop in 2m acres of rain-fed areas.

Wheat crop size and price remain up in the air owing to weathering challenges, loss of acreage and the end of provincial procurement

In the plains of the province, long dry spells, followed by rains, heavy hail and thunderstorms, hit three central districts during March; all these negative factors would take a toll on the crop, but by how much? The next few weeks will make things clear, and for now, the parties insist: “Let’s keep our fingers crossed before crowing self-serving rhetoric.”

However, both sides agree on one point: “A cooler March must have helped wheat, which, otherwise, could have been a disaster.” They also agree that the next two to three weeks would quantify the feared losses, recovery and crop size. Both sides share a common fear as well: “The country is entering yet another wet spell. If it prolongs or keeps the early part of April cooler, crop maturity will be delayed and inflict wounds on the final yield figure.

Weather, fasting and the arrival of Eid have already delayed the Sindh harvest, putting additional pressure on supply from Punjab. If the Punjab harvest is late as well, the market may take a spin.“

Whereas the crop size is somewhat “uncertainly certain” in Punjab, the marketing side is chock full of uncertainties this year. A year ago, Punjab backed off at the last moment from the long-anticipated wheat procurement and created chaos in the market, letting it adjust itself at the cost of the farmers. This year, for the first time, it has a declared policy of “no official purchase” and will be joined by the second biggest purchaser, Sindh. With both provinces out of the procurement drive, the entire tradable surplus would either be absorbed by the millers or the stockists.

In the absence of hundreds of billions of rupees, with which the Food Departments of Punjab and Sindh had been entering the market and stabilising prices on the higher side from the beginning, the behaviour of the market, ruled by the millers or hoarders, would, most probably, be anti-farmer; the hoarders and millers would wait for the price crash before they stepped in.

Furthermore, there are almost no chances of export, as wheat prices in Pakistan, even at this current, much-reduced level, are higher in the region and the world. Thus, the entire crop would be stuck within Pakistan and up for grabs by those who want to make a windfall.

On the positive side, the millers, who used to purchase six months of stock because wheat was coming from official stocks from September onwards, now have to spend the entire year grinding wheat and keeping it as well. The millers used to purchase 1.5-2m tonnes. This year, they would need at least double that quantity, if not more, for contingencies. This creates an opportunity for the government to push millers into the market by facilitating them at a fraction of the cost it used to bear in Food Department operations.

This can offer millers some relief on bank markups for purchases, especially for the early ones. It can link interest rates with the time of purchase and push the millers into the market early to stabilise it at a reasonable level.

To clarify the point through an example, the government can divide the historical 50-day drive into three parts: the first fortnight, the second and the third. It can offer a certain markup rate reduction for the first 15 days and progressively reduce the rate for the second and third fortnight. By doing so, it would push millers into the drive from day one and help stabilise the market throughout the traditional procurement drive.

Since purchases by the millers are part of the official record, because they are one of the most organised stakeholders, second only to the provincial food departments, any subsequent manipulation would be easy to track down and rectify.

Smaller farmers are always early sellers. Since they are massive in numbers, they also hue and cry at very high decibels. If they are taken care of at the earlier stage, the chances of market stabilisation could brighten up for the rest of the drive. Bigger farmers also have some holding capacity and can wait for price recovery in case of a crash. It is the smaller ones who need, and demand, help at the early stages.

This year, since the most organised players — the provincial governments — are opting out, they should ensure some kind of replacement is in place; the millers could be one and must be pushed into playing their role and be reasonably facilitated.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, March 31st, 2025

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Sit-in will continue until our women reach home after being released: BNP’s Mengal

BNP-M President Sardar Akhtar Mengal said on Monday that his party’s sit-in demanding the release of arrested Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders will continue until “our women are released and reach their homes.”

Mengal had announced a “long march” from Wadh to Quetta to protest the arrests of BYC chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other leaders as well as police crackdowns on a sit-in. However, the Quetta administration had denied the party permission for the rally.

On Saturday evening, a provincial government delegation comprising Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Bakht Muhammad Kakar and Sardar Noor Ahmed Bangulzai met Mengal and other BNP-M leaders at the party’s sit-in site in Mastung but could not convince Mengal to end the sit-in, which continued.

Addressing the protesters today, Mengal said, “The sit-in will be written in history and will continue until our women reach home after being released.”

“Let’s promise that until we take our imprisoned women home, it will be forbidden for us to go home,” he said.

On the first day of Eidul Fitr, Eid prayers were offered at Lakpas, in which protesters, as well as people from Mastung and nearby areas also participated.

“Yesterday, the government came with its butterfly-shaped drone and took pictures of our sit-in to prove how small the sit-in was. But today, I ask them to bring their big butterfly (helicopter) and see how many participants we have,” Mengal said.

BNP central leader and former senator Sana Baloch told Dawn.com that BNP-M or BYC are not a campaigning party or organisation.

“They are raising their voice for their rights in a democratic manner. Rana Sanaullah says that Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s speeches are promoting extremism in Balochistan, which is very sad.

“When the PML-N leaders talked about respecting the vote, the leadership including Sanaullah were put under arrest and today those same PML-N leaders are telling us that our speeches and statements are promoting extremism.”

Baloch added, “It is not our statements and speeches but the government’s policies that are causing extremism, due to which Pakistan’s relations with neighboring countries are not good today and due to these policies, the people of Mastung are offering Eid prayers on the highways today.”

Baloch said that if the report of the commission headed by Mengal had been implemented on the instructions of the Islamabad High Court, the situation would not have deteriorated so much today and further deterioration would have been avoided.

On the fourth day of the ongoing protest sit-in at Lakpas area of ​​Mastung, BNP Awami chief and member of Balochistan Assembly Mir Asad Baloch, National Party leader Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai, Prince Muhammad Baloch, son of the Khan of Kalat, and other political leaders also expressed solidarity with the sit-in protesters.

Marchers and motorists from different political parties had started their journey to Quetta from Mengal’s native town of Wadh at around 9am on Friday.

On Saturday, after the BNP-M claimed that over 250 of its activists were detained as its march was met with police action near Mastung, Mengal and other party workers also survived a suicide bombing.

Addressing the sit-in on Saturday, Mengal had said: “The government delegation spoke to us about cooperation and finding a way.

“We told them that they must find a way and let us go to Quetta.”

Mengal elaborated: “The government delegation asked us if we wanted to hold a rally, to which we said that if we wanted to hold a rally, we would have done it in Khuzdar.

“We told the government our only demand is to release the women,” Mengal said. “We told them that we will march towards Quetta, demanding the release of our women.”

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Twin cities turn into ‘no-go area’ for Afghans after deadline expires

• Rawalpindi police chief orders expulsion of Afghan refugees residing in district; families of those ‘found involved in criminal activities’ liable to be deported
• PoR holders allowed to stay until June 30, but ACC holders must exit country voluntarily or face deportation
• UNHCR calls for comprehensive approach to address needs of ‘Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Afghans’, says Islamabad cannot do it alone

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: As the government’s deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country ends today, law enforcement officials in the twin cities have been ordered to nab and deport any Afghan nationals found involved in criminal activities, along with their families.

March 31 was also the deadline set by authorities to shift all Afghan citizens out of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Sources told Dawn the Rawalpindi police chief has directed the superintendents of the Rawal, Potohar and Saddar divisions to take legal action against illegal Afghan nationals residing or working in the district.

Police have been directed to detain any Afghans who are found involved in criminal activity. However, the order advocates a form of collective punishment, stating that if any member of a family is found implicated in a crime, the entire family will be liable for deportation.

Following the Rawalpindi city police officer’s (CPO) orders, all station house officers (SHOs) have been directed to detain Afghan nationals residing in their respective jurisdictions, as well as their families.

“We have received directions that all Afghan nationals holding ACC cards must be expelled from Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” a police official told Dawn on Sunday.

In addition, the directives state that Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards who are residing in the twin cities should be cautioned that they and their families have to leave Pakistan in line with the government policy. The deadline for PoR cardholders to leave the country is June 30, 2025. However, there is no clarity in the police order about whether the documented refugees will be evicted by the authorities.

Police have been continuing search operations in different parts of Rawalpindi district to verify residents – especially those who had been living in rented properties.

Since the crackdown against illegal foreigners was launched in January this year, as many as 923 Afghan nationals were rounded up and shifted to the refugee holding centre near Golra Mor.

Official data shows that as of March 26, 923 Afghan nationals had been brought to the camp, of whom 715 were released after scrutiny. At least 213 were sent to Torkham for repatriation.

The data also reveals that in addition to 116 ACC holders, 290 PoR card holders and 21 UNHCR token holders had been detained at the centre. Moreover, at least 24 individuals who had applied for third-country resettlement had also been brought to the centre.

‘Pakistan and Afghanistan must work together’

Separately, a statement by the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) acknowledged the hospitality Paki­stan extended to the refugees while stressing that the solution lie in “all of us working together — Afghanistan, Pakistan and the international community”.

In her Eid message, UNHCR Pakistan representative Philippa Candler said Pakistan could not be expected to carry the responsibility of hosting Afghan refugees forever, and advocated a comprehensive approach that addressed both the immediate and long-term needs of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and of the Afghans themselves.

She said that the international community has a significant role to play, adding that humanitarian aid needs to continue, not just to provide short-term relief but to support long-term development programmes.

According to the UN official, Pakistan and Afghanistan must work together to make sure that Afghan refugees can voluntarily and safely return home. She observed that those who were pushed to return in 2023 are back in Pakistan again.

She said that sustainable returns means creating a peaceful and secure environment in Afghanistan so refugees don’t have to fear persecution or discrimination when they go back.

She pointed out that for Afghans who cannot return safely for the moment, efforts must be made in Pakistan to expand access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, while also granting them legal recognition and protection under international refugee law.

Pakistan hosts 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers, an estimated 800,000 Afghan citizenship holders, along with others living in the country without official recognition.

“Pakistan’s continued support for Afghan refugees is admirable, but undeniably a challenge for the host state,” she said, adding that healthcare, education, and other public services were often overburdened, and host communities were feeling the strain.

Pakistan is stuck in a tough spot — balancing the needs of its own people, dealing with a growing security challenge, and shouldering the financial impact of hosting refugees, Ms Candler added.

The UN refugee agency representative said promises were made for the relocation of Afghans who have entered the country since 2021.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2025

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BNP-M sit-in continues after talks with govt fail

• Akhtar Mengal refuses to end protest until BYC leaders are released
• Quetta remains inaccessible after authorities place more containers

QUETTA: Negotiations bet­ween Sardar Akhtar Mengal and a government delegation failed on Sunday, as the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader refused to call off the sit-in at Lakpass until his demands were met.

Mr Mengal insisted that the protest would continue until the release of all detained Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) female leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch, and until protesters were allowed to enter Quetta peacefully.

A government team, led by provincial minister Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, met with BNP-M leadership, including Mr Mengal, Agha Musa Jan, Sajid Tareen Advocate, Mir Akhtar Hussain Langove, Sana Baloch and Mir Hammal Kalmati, to urge an end to the protest.

The delegation cited security concerns and travel disruptions for residents of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as reasons to call off the sit-in.

However, Mr Mengal remained firm, stating, “We have a one-point agenda — the release of Dr Mahrang and other female detainees.”

Key routes blocked

The BNP-M protest at Lakpass entered its third day on Sunday, with hundreds of participants blocking key access routes. The local administration has refused to allow the marchers to enter Quetta.

As a result, residents from 12 districts — including Mastung, Kalat, Surab, Khuzdar, Hub, Lasbela, Noshki, Kharan, Dalbandin, Nokundi and Washuk — are facing severe travel difficulties ahead of Eidul Fitr.

To prevent BNP-M’s long march from entering Quetta, the provincial administration has reinforced security, placing shipping containers and barricades at Lakpass Tunnel, Kund Mesori, Aghbarg, and other key entry points.

The blockade has left hundreds of travellers stranded, unable to return home for the holiday, while patients requiring medical attention struggle to reach hospitals due to restricted access.

In a significant political development, a delegation from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Balochistan, led by Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey, visited the BNP-M sit-in camp to exp­ress solidarity and discuss the ongoing situation. The delegation also incl­uded Senator Kamran Murtaza Advocate, MPA Nawabzada Mir Zafarullah Zehri, and Mir Usman Pirkani.

During their visit, the JUI-F representatives eng­a­ged with BNP-M leaders and shared their perspectives on the protest and the government’s response.

Despite repeated calls for dialogue, the Balochi­stan government continues to block BNP-M’s long ma­rch, keeping the Lakpa­s­s route closed for the third consecutive day. This has severed Quetta’s connectivity with multiple districts, affecting thousands of people, particularly those traveling for Eid celebrations.

On Sunday, authorities further tightened restrictions by placing additional containers at Kund Mesori and Aghbarg, effectively cutting off Quetta’s major entry and exit points. The move has doubled the hardships for citizens.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2025

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Child killed, 16 injured in aerial firing across KP: rescue official

A child was killed and 16 other people were injured in aerial firing across Khyber Pakthunkhwa to celebrate Chand Raat, a rescue official said on Sunday.

Pakistan would mark the first day of Eidul Fitr tomorrow, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee said on Sunday, after sighting the moon for the Islamic month of Shawwal.

Speaking to Dawn.com, District Emergency Officer (DEO) Bakhtullah Wazir said, “We have shifted 15 injured to District Headquarters Hospital, Bannu so far. Children and women are among the injured.”

DEO Wazir appealed to citizens to refrain from celebratory firing, as it “turns the joy of Eid into mourning”.

In an earlier statement, he confirmed that the casualties were reported in Bannu and that Section 144 was imposed for Eidul Fitr. “A child died and nine people were seriously injured in aerial firing in Bannu,” Wazir was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Tank City Station House Officer (SHO) Sher Afzal told Dawn.com that a revenue officer, Mohammad Asif, was injured by celebratory gunfire.

“There are no other injuries caused by aerial firing within City police limits,” he added.

Celebratory gunfire ahead of Eid has led to deaths and injuries across KP in the past.

Last April, police booked over 100 people over celebratory gunfire on Chand Raat and Eid days in KP’s Lakki Marwat district.

An official told Dawn.com that separate cases were registered with the relevant police stations. He added that the district administration had banned celebratory firing and the display of weapons and imposed other restrictions to observe Eid peacefully.

“Despite restrictions and an awareness drive against the menace of festive firing, scores of people, mostly youth, indulged in the illegal activity,” he maintained.

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Myanmar quake death toll passes 1,600

• 2,900 buildings, 30 roads, seven bridges damaged, says opposition
• China, India send aid; Russia, Malaysia, US, Singapore, South Korea not far behind
• Authorities in Bangkok struggle to find workers trapped under rubble

BANGKOK: Myanmar’s military rulers let in hundreds of foreign rescue personnel on Saturday after an earthquake killed more than 1,600 people, the deadliest natural disaster to hit the impoverished, war-torn country in years.

Friday’s 7.7 magnitude quake, among the biggest to jolt the Southeast Asian nation in the last century, crippled airports, bridges and highways amid a civil war that has wrecked the economy and displaced millions.

The death toll in Myanmar climbed to 1,644, the military government said on Saturday, according to BBC Burmese news service.

In neighbouring Thailand, where the quake rattled buildings and brought down a skyscraper under construction in the capital Bangkok, at least nine people were killed.

Survivors in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-biggest city, dug with their bare hands on Friday in desperate attempts to save those still trapped, lacking heavy machinery and with authorities absent.

In Bangkok on Saturday, rescue operations continued at the site of the 33-story tower’s collapse, where 47 people were missing or trapped under the rubble — including workers from Myanmar.

The US Geological Service’s predictive modelling estimated Myanmar’s death toll could exceed 10,000 and losses could exceed the country’s annual economic output.

A day after making a rare call for international assistance, Myanmar’s junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, travelled to hard-hit Mandalay near the epicentre of the quake, which brought down buildings and triggered fires in some areas.

“The Chairman of the State Administration Council instructed authorities to expedite search and rescue efforts and address any urgent needs,” the junta said in a statement on state media, referring to Min Aung Hlaing.

Airports closed

An initial assessment by Myanmar’s opposition National Unity Government said at least 2,900 buildings, 30 roads and seven bridges had been damaged by the quake.

“Due to significant damage, Naypyitaw and Mandalay international airports are temporarily closed,” said the NUG, which includes remnants of the elected civilian government ousted by the military in a 2021 coup that triggered the civil war.

The control tower at the airport in Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s purpose-built capital city, collapsed, rendering it inoperable, a person with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.

A Myanmar junta spokesman did not respond to calls seeking comment.

A Chinese rescue team arrived at the airport in Myanmar’s commercial capital of Yangon, hundreds of kilometres from Mandalay and Naypyitaw, and will travel upcountry by bus, state media said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with the junta chief, China’s embassy in Myanmar said on Saturday. Beijing would provide $13.77 million worth of aid, including tents, blankets and emergency medical kits.

The United States, which has a testy relationship with the Myanmar military and has sanctioned its officials, including Min Aung Hlaing, has said it would provide some assistance.

Relief supplies from India on a military aircraft also landed in Yangon, according to Myanmar state media, and India’s government said it was also dispatching ships with 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid.

Russia, Malaysia and Singapore were also sending planeloads of relief supplies and personnel.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-country bloc that includes Myanmar, said that it recognised the urgent need for humanitarian assistance. “ASEAN stands ready to support relief and recovery efforts,” the group said a statement.

South Korea said it would provide an initial $2m in humanitarian aid to Myanmar through international organisations.

No help coming

Residents in the hardest-hit areas are desperate for the help.

The quake, which hit around lunchtime on Friday, affected wide swathes of Myanmar, from the central plains around Mandalay to the hills of Shan in the east, parts of which are not completely under the junta’s control.

Rescue operations in Mandalay could not match the scale of the disaster, one resident said by phone, asking not to be named because of security concerns.

“Many people are trapped but there is no help coming just simply because there isn’t manpower or equipment or vehicles,” he said.

In Bangkok, 1,000km from the epicentre, authorities on Saturday pushed ahead with efforts to find construction workers trapped under the rubble of the collapsed tower, using excavators, drones and search-and-rescue dogs.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said all possible resources had been deployed to search for survivors and to bring out bodies of the deceased.

“We always have hope,” he told reporters. “We’re still working around the clock.”

Chanpen Kaewnoi, 39, said she rushed over on Friday afternoon after seeing news reports that the under-construction building where her mother and younger sister were working had collapsed.

“I called my sister, but no matter how many times I tried to call her there was no connection,” she said after a sleepless night at the site.

“I want to wait for my mother and sister,” said Chanpen, herself a construction worker, “I want to see their faces again.”

Across the sprawling metropolis, where such quakes are rare, there may be up to 5,000 damaged buildings, including residential towers, said Anek Siripanichgorn, a board member of Council of Engineers Thailand, which is helping municipal authorities.

“We are going through hundreds of cases,” he said.

“If we see cases where there is potential danger, we will immediately send engineers.”

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2025

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Kurram tribes come to terms on 8-month peace deal ahead of Eidul Fitr

Tribal leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram district on Saturday came to terms on an eight-month peace agreement ahead of Eidul Fitr.

Violence stemming from decades-old land disputes has claimed at least 130 lives in the fragile district, with multiple efforts to establish peace between tribes. A ceasefire agreement was reached following months of conflict in January.

However, the KP government had announced a fresh operation against militants in Kurram last month after security officials were martyred in multiple attacks. There were also several attacks on aid and supply convoys in the days after the ceasefire.

According to a press release issued by the jirga that inked the agreement, tribal elders gathered in Qila Abbas Saddar today to restore regional peace. Important decisions were taken in this jirga which would “promote harmony and cooperation among the people of the area”.

“In this jirga, the Shia leaders of Alizai and the Sunni leaders of Bagan agreed to a peace treaty to restore peace and establish tolerance in the area through mutual consultation,” the press release read.

“The representatives of both sects agreed on establishing a peace treaty for a period of eight months to prevent any kind of conflict in the area and to try to improve the situation.”

Under Saturday’s deal, the tribal elders decided that if any “unpleasant incidents” were reported on Kurram’s roads, then legal action would be taken according to the Kohat Agreement.

“In this agreement, both parties have pledged that in case of any incident detrimental to peace in the area, they will consult each other and find a solution through legal means,” the press release reads, adding that after reaching a consensus, the KP governor and military leadership will be consulted.

The press release added that Saturday’s agreement also aimed to establish “cooperation with state institutions” and ensure that they take steps to establish peace in the region. Additionally, it was agreed that federal and provincial institutions would jointly announce the formal opening of roads.

“As a result of this jirga, both sects recognised the importance of cooperation and establishing peace with each other, which will improve the lives of the people of the region,” the release added.

The jirga called Saturday’s agreement “a new message of hope” for Kurram and that an attempt would be made “to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in the region”.

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KP govt apologises for civilian casualties in Mardan operation; probe underway

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Saturday issued a statement apologising for civilian casualties caused by a counterterrorism operation in Mardan district’s Katlang area and said it was investigating the incident.

Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities over the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.

According to the press statement, the operation was carried out in the early hours of Saturday “based on credible intelligence regarding the presence of armed militants” using a remote hilltop in the area as a hideout and transit point.

“The operation successfully neutralised several high-value targets linked to ongoing militant activities in the region,” the statement read.

“Unfortunately, subsequent reports have confirmed the presence of non-combatants, including women and children, at the periphery of the target zone, resulting in tragic civilian casualties,” it added.

The government called the development “immensely painful and regrettable” and emphasised that all efforts are made to avoid collateral damage during such operations.

“However, the complex terrain, the deliberate tactics of militants to embed within civilian populations, and the fog of war can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.

“The government extends its deepest condolences to the affected families and stands with the affected families in this moment of grief.”

It added that immediate steps were being taken to “investigate the circumstances surrounding civilian presence in the area, extend medical assistance to the injured [and] facilitate relief and compensation for the victims’ families”.

“Security forces are committed to upholding the highest standards of operational conduct and remain focused on eliminating threats while preserving civilian safety,” the statement added.

“The sacrifices of our people are not forgotten, and we remain united in our resolve for peace and security in KP.”

Protests erupt in Swat over ‘drone strike’

Swat MPA Dr Amjad Ali uploaded a video statement to his Facebook page today, claiming that the operation was a “drone strike” in which nine civilians were killed.

“This morning, a tragic incident took place in the Katlang area, where a family belonging to the Gujjar community was hit in a drone attack,” the lawmaker said.

“Nine people were martyred in the strike, who have thus far been identified and some children are still missing. Dead bodies are difficult to identify because of their condition,” he added.

Dr Ali continued, “I want to ask the federal government and the authorities: what crime did these people commit? These people were grazing cattle in the mountains and hail from Swat. These mountainous areas in Swat and Mardan are connected.

“The real problem is that we are not being allowed to enter the area and collect the bodies,” he added. “We were told, ‘You will not collect dead bodies, you will not film videos here’. These people were locals from Swat, it is not as if they crossed the border.

“These are peaceful people who have lived here for thousands of years.”

Meanwhile, members of the Gujjar community staged a protest in KP’s Swat district today against the incident. The demonstrators similarly told Dawn.com that the incident was a drone strike and that nine people belonging to the same family were killed.

The demonstrators blamed security forces for carrying out the strike, which claimed the lives of shepherds who had temporarily settled in the Katlang area for the winter before their annual migration back to Upper Swat in the summer with their livestock.

The deceased, all belonging to the Gujjar community, were identified as Hazrat Bilal, Noor Muhammad, Wazir, Amroz Khan, Shahazada alias Shah Da, two women, and two children.

Grief-stricken relatives placed the bodies on the Swat Motorway, blocking both lanes in a demonstration demanding justice. A heavy police contingent was deployed at the scene to maintain order.

Jannat Gul, a relative of the victims, told Dawn.com, “Nine people were killed in a drone strike in the Katlang area.”

Lamenting the tragedy, he added, “We are a peaceful shepherd community engaged in seasonal migration. We move to lower regions in winter and return to Upper Swat in the summer to graze our animals. We carry only small sticks to tend to our livestock and sickles to cut grass.”

Relatives lay the bodies of civilians killed in a drone strike along the Swat motorway during a protest on March 29. — Fazal Khaliq

Jalat Khan, a leader of the Gujjar community in Swat, called for justice and urged the government to compensate the bereaved families under the martyrs’ package. He warned that if their demands were not met, “the entire Gujjar community will take to the streets after Eidul Fitr”.

Demonstrators also pressed the authorities to register a first information report regarding the killings, threatening further demonstrations and another blockade of the Swat Motorway if their call for justice was ignored.

February saw a marginal increase in terrorist attacks but a sharp surge in civilian casualties, according to a report published by the Islamabad-based think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (Picss).

According to Picss, the country witnessed 79 terrorist attacks last month, resulting in the deaths of 55 civilians and 47 security personnel, while 45 civilians and 81 security personnel were injured. Security forces, meanwhile, intensified counter-terrorism operations, eliminating 156 terrorists, injuring 20, and arresting 66, it said.

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Pakistan win toss, bowl in first New Zealand ODI

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl in the first one-day international against New Zealand in Napier on Saturday.

Both teams feature numerous changes to the squads that played out a five-match T20 series, won 4-1 by New Zealand.

The tourists have welcomed back captain Mohammad Rizwan and batter Babar Azam after the key veterans were omitted for the T20 series.

Seamer Akif Javed will make his international debut for Pakistan, while opening batsman Usman Khan and seamer Mohammed Ali are both playing their first ODI.

New Zealand handed international debuts to opening batsman Nick Kelly and Pakistan-born all-rounder Muhammad Abbas.

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Usman Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Salman Agha, Tayyab Tahir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed

New Zealand: Nick Kelly, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (capt), Muhammad Abbas, Mitch Hay, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke

Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL), Paul Reiffel (AUS)

TV umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

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US VP Vance lands in Greenland as anger mounts over Trump takeover bid

United States Vice President JD Vance landed in Greenland on Friday for a visit to a military base viewed by Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation at a time when President Donald Trump is seeking to annex the strategically placed, resource-rich Danish territory.

Trump argues that the US needs the vast Arctic island for national and international security and has refused to rule out the use of force to get it.

“We have to have it,” the US president reiterated on Wednesday.

The US delegation — which included National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright — landed at the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland at 12:52pm (1552 GMT), according to journalists on board the flight from Washington.

“The president is really interested in Arctic security, as you all know, and it’s only going to get bigger over the coming decades,” Vance said as he arrived at the mess hall of the base. He was also accompanied by his wife Usha, Utah Senator Mike Lee and former homeland security adviser Julia Nesheiwat, who is Waltz’s wife.

They were due to meet US Space Force members and “check out what’s going on with the security” of Greenland, Vance said in a video message this week.

Danish and Greenlandic officials, backed by the European Union, have insisted the US will not get Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has condemned the US decision to visit the Arctic island uninvited — for what was initially a broader visit to Greenlandic society — as “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland and Denmark.

A majority of Greenlanders oppose US annexation, according to a January poll.

Key base

The US vice president angered Danes in early February when he claimed Denmark was “not doing its job” protecting Greenland and was “not being a good ally”.

A fuming Frederiksen quickly retorted that Denmark had long been a loyal US ally, fighting alongside the Americans “for many, many decades”, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Pituffik base is an essential part of Washington’s missile defence infrastructure, its location in the Arctic putting it on the shortest route for missiles fired from Russia at the US.

Known as Thule Air Base until 2023, it served as a warning post for possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. It is also a strategic location for air and submarine surveillance in the northern hemisphere, which Washington claims Denmark has neglected.

Vance is “right in that we didn’t meet the American wishes for an increased presence, but we have taken steps towards meeting that wish”, Marc Jacobsen, a senior lecturer at the Royal Danish Defence College, told AFP.

He said the Trump administration needed to present more specific demands if it wanted a proper Danish response.

In January, Copenhagen said it would allocate almost $2 billion to beef up its presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic, acquiring specialised vessels and surveillance equipment.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he considered Trump’s plans for Greenland “serious”. He voiced concern that “Nato countries, in general, are increasingly designating the far north as a springboard for possible conflicts.”

Frosty response

Greenland is home to 57,000 people, most of them Inuits. It is believed to hold massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, although oil and uranium exploration is banned.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former mining executive, told Fox News on Thursday he hoped the United States and Greenland could cooperate on mining to “bring jobs and economic opportunity to Greenland and critical minerals and resources to the United States”.

Trump’s desire to take over the ice-covered territory, which is seeking independence from Denmark, has been categorically rejected by Greenlanders, their politicians and Danish officials.

While all of Greenland’s political parties are in favour of independence, none of them support the idea of becoming part of the US.

A new broad, four-party coalition government was announced in Greenland just hours before the US delegation’s arrival, following elections earlier this month.

Incoming prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory needed unity at this time.

“It is very important that we put aside our disagreements and differences … because only in this way will we be able to cope with the heavy pressure we are exposed to from outside,” he said when he unveiled his government.

Nielsen said that by visiting Greenland when there was no government in office there, the US administration was “not showing respect to an ally”.

Initially, Vance’s wife Usha had initially been due to travel to Greenland just with her son and attend a dogsled race in the town of Sisimiut. Locals said they had planned to give her a frosty reception, with several protests scheduled.

The visit to Sisimiut was then cancelled and replaced with a visit to the military base.

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Capacity issues

TALK about disjointed development. Pakistan is now producing high-speed train coaches for its low-speed tracks.

According to a recent news report, the Islamabad Carriage Factory, which locally produces locomotives and coaches, is set to deliver its first batch of advanced, ‘new generation’ passenger coaches in about three months. These coaches, which can go as fast as 200km per hour and are equipped with some state-of-the-art features, have been developed with the help of our Chinese brethren, who themselves boast some of the most advanced railway technology in the world.

But, impressive as the achievement is, it will do little to make travel more convenient for Pakistan Railways passengers because our rail network simply does not support trains going as fast as that.

For a rough idea of how much of a disappointment this is, take the current travel times between two of Pakistan’s busiest railway stations, Karachi Cantonment and Lahore Junction. A train trip from one to the other, which spans roughly 1,200km, usually takes anywhere from 18 to 24 hours, depending on the service that day. If Pakistan Railways also had tracks and locomotives that were compatible with the new coaches, that travel time could theoretically be cut at least in half, making it so much more convenient for routine travellers and also enhancing the appeal of train trips as a relatively safer, convenient and far more affordable option for all manner of travellers.

Unfortunately, the development of railway capacity to facilitate ordinary travellers does not seem to have been a priority for Pakistan. One cannot help but envy China in this regard. The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway covers more distance than the Karachi to Lahore track but takes as little as 4.5 hours to traverse.

If only our politicians could get over their obsession with shiny motorway projects that carry their nameplates, perhaps ordinary travellers too could hope for such cheap, convenient and quick train journeys.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2025

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Women’s legal rights not tied to marriage: SC

• Presumption a woman is financially dependent on her husband contrary to Islamic law, says Justice Mansoor; asks authorities to adopt ‘gender-sensitive’ language
• Exclusion of married daughters from appointment rules termed exclusionary
• Education department ordered to restore petitioner’s appointment with all back benefits

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a woman’s legal rights, personhood and autonomy were neither erased by marriage nor should they depend on it.

In a written judgement, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah stated: “Any presumption that a married woman becomes financially dependent on her husband is legally untenable, religiously unfounded and contrary to the egalitarian spirit of the Islamic law.”

Leading a two-judge bench alongside Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Shah also delivered a clear directive by stating: “We deem it imperative to reaffirm that all judicial and administrative authorities have a constitutional duty to adopt gender-sensitive and gender-neutral language.”

The case at hand concerns the March 17, 2023 appointment of Zahida Parveen as a primary schoolteacher (BPS-12) at Government Girls Primary School, District Karak under the deceased’s son/daughter quota pursuant to Rule 10(4) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion, and Transfer) Rules 1989.

However, the district education officer withdrew the petitioner’s appointment order on May 15, 2023 without issuing a show cause notice and terminated her services through a clarification, which stipulates that the benefit of appointment under the deceased’s son/daughter quota was not available to a female who contracts marriage.

A further guidance/clarification was issued by the provincial government on April 28, 2023, providing that a married daughter may be considered eligible for appointment only if she has separated from her husband and become dependent on her parents.

Aggrieved, the petitioner filed an appeal before the KP government which was not responded to, leading her to challenge the impugned order in the Service Tribunal, which was dismissed on June 3, 2024 against which she moved the Supreme Court.

‘Structural flaw’

The exclusion of married daughters from the ambit of Rule 10(4) is not merely a procedural irregularity “it reveals a deeper structural flaw grounded in patriarchal assumptions about a woman’s identity and her role within the legal and economic order’’, observed Justice Shah in the nine-page judgement.

It presumes that upon marriage, a woman relinquishes her independent legal identity and beco­m­­es economically depen­de­­nt on her husband, there­­by forfeiting entitlements available to similarly situated male counterparts.

At its core, this exclusion constitutes a denial of a woman’s right to fina­n­cial and economic independence — “rights that are not ancillary but essential to the exercise of constitutional personhood”, Justice Shah explained.

Women are autonomous, rights-bearing citizens in their own right, not by virtue of their relationship to a man, be it father, husband, or son, Justice Shah emphasised.

The apex court declared as discriminatory the exclusion of married daughters from compassionate appointment under Rule 10(4) through the impugned clarification and the April 28, 2023, letter. It declared that the clarification and the letter were ultra vires, issued without lawful authority and incompatible with constitutional guarantees.

The department was ordered to restore the petitioner’s appointment with all back benefits.

Concerned at language

The SC expressed concern over the language used in the impugned judgement, particularly the phrase “a married daughter becomes a liability of her husband”.

Such language is not only factually and legally erroneous but also deeply patriarchal, reinforcing outdated stereotypes that are fundamentally incompatible with constitutional values.

It assumes that a woman’s identity, legal capacity, personhood, and entitlement to support are subsumed into that of her husband upon marriage, treating her as a dependent rather than an autonomous, rights-bearing individual, the SC judgement said.

The use of gender-biased language by judicial or administrative bodies does not merely reflect prevailing social prejudices, it also legitimises structural discrimination and risks encoding bias into the law itself.

Globally, it has been recognised that the language of judicial reasoning plays a critical role in shaping, affirming, or undermining substantive equality, the judgement said, adding that as constitutional subjects, women were entitled to equality not only in result but also in the form, tone, and respect with which the law addresses them.

In this context, the Feminist Judgments Project undertaken in several jurisdictions, including Pakistan, has demonstrated how judicial reasoning can be reframed through a feminist lens, applying existing legal principles while eschewing gendered assumptions and incorporating inclusive, equality-affirming language, Justice Shah observed.

Internship programme

Meanwhile, the SC has announced that it “does not sponsor any seasonable internship for students of any institution, including Harvard Law School”.

The announcement said this is to caution the students to remain careful and report to the Registrar office if anyone comes across such malicious programme, also clarifying that the SC runs a yearly internship programme which was conducted through a proper process and handled by a Committee of senior Supreme Court judges.

Other than this, the SC does not sponsor nor own any internship programme, it said.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2025

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Power levy would have cut consumer costs

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stayed the government’s plan to collect Rs100 billion from industrial captive power plants under an IMF agreement, which imposed a Rs791 per mmBtu levy to discourage the use of gas by industries for power generation, forcing them to shift to the national grid and using that revenue to cut electricity costs for consumers.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro of the IHC suspended the implementation of the levy following a petition filed by 20 major industrial companies, including Engro Polymer and Chemicals Ltd, Lucky Cement Ltd, and Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Ltd. The court’s interim order will remain in effect until the next hearing, scheduled for April 30.

The petitioners challenged the Off the Grid (Captive Power Plants) Levy Ordinance, 2025, arguing that it was unconstitutional. They contended that the ordinance, promulgated by the president on Jan 30, bypassed parliamentary authority and violated Article 77 of the Constitution, which stipulates that taxes can only be imposed through an act of parliament.

The industrial groups further argued that they already pay sales tax on natural gas under the Sales Tax Act, 1990, and that the grid levy amounts to double taxation. They also claimed that the charge could not be classified as a “fee,” as the government does not provide any corresponding service in return.

Represented by senior advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan, the petitioners maintained that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) is the sole entity authorised to determine gas tariffs under the Ogra Ordinance, 2002. They argued that the separate imposition of the levy exceeds the federal government’s jurisdiction.

Citing Supreme Court precedents (PLD 2015 SC 354 and 2013 SCMR 1337), the petitioners emphasised that executive-imposed taxes without parliamentary approval are unlawful.

The court has issued notices to all relevant parties, directing them to respond by 30 April. Until then, the government is barred from enforcing the levy.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2025

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5 of a family killed, 3 injured as jeep plunges into ravine in KP’s Shangla: officials

At least five members of a family were killed and three others were critically injured on Thursday when a jeep plunged into a ravine in the Kotkay area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla district amid slippery conditions and heavy rain, according to officials.

Alpuri Station House Officer (SHO) Mohammad Arif Khan told Dawn.com that a family was heading towards Peshawar to see off one of their relatives to Saudi Arabia.

“When they reached the Kotkay area of Alpuri, their car skidded off the road and plunged into the ravine, resulting in five deaths and three injuries,” Arif said, adding that all eight casualties belonged to the same family.

Rasool Khan Sharif, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122, told Dawn.com that after receiving an emergency call, their team reached the location and moved three bodies and five injured to District Headquarters Hospital Alpuri.

According to the SHO, two of them succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital.

He said a total of five were dead and three were injured in the incident, and the cause of the fatal accident seemed to be heavy rain and a slippery road.

SHO Khan said that the family hailed from the Pishlor area of Martung Tehsil.

He identified the deceased as Mohammad Salman, Rehmatullah, Amir Sohail, Mohammad Faisal and Afzal Khan.

He said he was present at the district headquarters hospital and making arrangements to dispatch the bodies to Pishlor while the injured were taken to Swat’s Saidu Teaching Hopsital as their condition was critical.

Earlier this month, Awami National Party (ANP) provincial deputy general secretary Mutawakil Khan was killed in a road accident and laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Barkana, Shahpur.

His funeral was attended by Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Amir Muqam, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain, ANP secretary general Saleem Khan, local leaders of PPP and other political parties, civil society and people from all walks of life.

Officials at the Karora police station said he was going home in a jeep after offering condolences to relatives of a deceased person when the vehicle’s brakes failed and it fell into a ravine in Sangrai area of Shangla. As a result, Mutawakil died on the spot.

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Carbon levy on the cards after IMF funding secured

• Pakistan, lender reach staff-level agreement on Extended Fund Facility review, another $1.3bn secured for climate resilience
• About Rs7 cut in electricity tariff likely; water pricing to be introduced; gradual end to automobile protectionism on the cards
• IMF appreciates Pakistan’s economic strategy; PM says deal secured without imposing more taxes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to introduce a new carbon levy, reduce electricity tariffs, increase water pricing, and open up the automobile sector to global trade under the Staff-Level Agreement (SLA), announced on Wednesday.

“The IMF team has reached a SLA with the Pakistani autho­rities on the first review of the 37-month Extended Arran­gement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and on a new 28-month arrangement under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) with total access over the 28 months of around $1.3 billion,” the Fund said in a statement.

This takes the combined volume of IMF support for Pakistan to about $8.3bn.

The agreement is subject to the approval of the IMF’s Executive Board. Upon approval, Pakistan will have access to about $1bn under the EFF, bringing total disbursements under the programme to about $2bn.

Senior officials privy to the SLA entailing the Memo­randum of Economic & Financial Policies (MEFP) said that about Rs7 per unit reduction in average electricity rates would be announced by the prime minister in a few days, but with effect from April 1, 2025.

Other major steps — carbon levy, water pricing and automobile protectionism — would be gradual, with implementation starting from July 1, 2025. The overall fiscal consolidation will continue in the upcoming budget through a reduction in energy subsidies and tight development spending.

Officials said the government had requested a reduction in the GST rate on electricity to bring down costs. The IMF did not allow any more distortions in the GST system, but allowed the use of a higher petroleum levy to compensate for power tariffs.

A Rs10 per litre increase in the petroleum levy was estimated to provide a roughly Rs1.80 per unit cushion. The combined impact of savings from all power purchase agreements and pending quarterly tariff adjustments would mean about Rs7 per unit reduction in the overall rate, to be announced by the prime minister on a date of his choice.

Officials said the government has committed to introducing a carbon levy on all hydrocarbons, including petroleum products and coal, starting with Rs3-5 per litre or equivalent. This will gradually increase. The revenue will be spent on specific climate-related expenses.

Average trade tariffs (such as custom duties) for the automobile sector would also be reduced from about 10.5pc to 6pc from now on to FY2030. Both the IMF and the authorities agreed that the auto sector had enjoyed too much protection for far too long, and this should end.

The cabinet approvals for these two measures would be shared with the IMF and then introduced through the finance bill 2025-26 for implementation with effect from July 1, 2025. Water pricing would also be approved in consultations with the provinces and be dealt with separately, sources said.

Macroeconomic stability

The IMF appreciated the significant progress made by Pakistan over the past 18 months in restoring macroeconomic stability and rebuilding confidence despite a challenging global environment.

While economic growth remains moderate, inflation has declined to its lowest level since 2015, financial conditions have improved, sovereign spreads have narrowed significantly, and external balances are stronger.

The Fund also highlighted elevated downside risks and warned against potential macroeconomic policy slippages driven by pressures to ease policies along with geopolitical shocks to commodity prices, tightening global financial conditions, or rising protectionism, which could undermine the hard-won macroeconomic stability.

Additionally, climate-related risks continue to pose a significant challenge for Pakistan, creating a need to build resilience, including through adaptation measures.

“In this regard, it is critical to stay the course and entrench the progress achieved over the past one and a half years, building resilience by further strengthening public finances, ensuring price stability, rebuilding external buffers and eliminating distortions in support of stronger, inclusive and sustained private sector-led growth,” it said.

The authorities are on track to achieve an FY25 underlying primary surplus of at least 1pc of GDP and committed to sustaining consolidation in the FY26 budget. While refraining from increasing current spending beyond that budgeted, the government would further reduce energy subsidies and prioritise development spending.

The government would continue to enhance revenue mobilisation, spending efficiency and transparency, and broaden the tax base. Agriculture Income Tax (AIT) regimes in the provinces for implementation with effect from July 1, 2025 and greater fiscal devolution in FY26 would be ensured.

Pakistan also committed to maintaining an appropriate tight monetary policy based on data to ensure inflation remained anchored within the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) medium-term target range of 5–7pc and also to preserve “a fully functioning foreign exchange market to support exchange rate flexibility while rebuilding FX reserve buffers”.

The fundamental cost-reducing reforms in the energy sector will continue to enhance viability and lower tariffs. Tariff adjustments would remain a priority to reduce the stock and flow of the sector’s circular debt. The government would accelerate cost-side reforms, including improving distribution efficiencies, integrating captive power into the electricity grid, enhancing the transmission system, privatising inefficient generation companies, and expanding renewable energy adoption.

The government will advance its efforts to fully implement the SOE governance framework across all SOEs, while adopting appropriate governance mechanisms and safeguards for the Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund (PSWF).

Under the RSF, the government will strengthen public investment processes across all levels of government to prioritise projects that enhance disaster resilience; improve the efficiency of scarce water resource usage; enhance intergovernmental coordination on disaster financing; improve information architecture and disclosure of financial and corporate climate-related risks; and promote green mobility to mitigate significant pollution and adverse health impacts.

APP adds: Speaking during the federal cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the staff-level agreement with the IMF, saying that the agreement was achieved without the need for additional taxation measures, proving the government’s resolve and planning.

He acknowledged the hardships faced by common people, who had borne the burden of a price hike during the process of achieving economic stability. He also paid tribute to salaried persons who contributed a major portion in tax collection.

The government will receive $1.3 billion from the IMF, which will bolster Pakistan’s foreign reserves to $8.3 billion, the prime minister said. He also highlighted the contributions of all the provincial governments in supporting the federal government in securing the IMF agreement.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2025

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Chinese doctors implant pig liver in human for first time

Chinese doctors said on Wednesday that they had transplanted a liver from a genetically modified pig into a brain-dead human for the first time, raising hopes of a live-saving donor option for patients in the future.

Pigs have emerged as the best animal organ donors, with several living patients in the United States having received pig kidneys or hearts in the last few years.

Livers have proved trickier — and had not previously been tested out inside a human body. But with a huge and growing demand for liver donations across the world, researchers hope that gene-edited pigs can offer at least temporary relief to seriously ill patients on long waiting lists.

Doctors at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi’an, China, announced the field’s latest breakthrough in a study in the journal Nature.

A liver from a miniature pig, which had six edited genes to make it a better donor, was transplanted into a brain-dead adult at the hospital on March 10, 2024, according to the study.

The trial was terminated after 10 days at the request of the family, the doctors said, adding that they had followed strict ethical guidelines.

‘Bridge organ’

The patient, whose name, gender and other details were not revealed, still had their original liver, receiving what is called an auxiliary transplant.

The hope is that this kind of transplant can serve as a “bridge organ” to support the existing liver of sick people waiting on a human donor.

Over the 10 days, the doctors monitored the liver’s blood flow, bile production, immune response and other key functions.

The pig liver “functioned really well” and “smoothly secreted bile” as well as producing the key protein albumin, study co-author Lin Wang of the Xi’an hospital told a press conference. “It’s a great achievement” that could help people with liver problems in the future, he added.

Other researchers also hailed the breakthrough but emphasised that this early step could not confirm whether the pig organ would work as a replacement for human livers.

Transplants of livers have proved difficult because they carry out several different functions — unlike hearts, for example, which simply pump blood, Lin said.

Livers filter the body’s blood, breaking down things such as drugs and alcohol, as well as producing bile that carries away waste and breaks down fats.

“The pig liver produced far smaller amounts of bile and albumin than a human liver could achieve,” Lin said. “More research is needed, including studying the pig liver for more than 10 days,” he added.

Next, the doctors plan to trial the gene-edited pig liver in a living human.

‘Impressive’

Oxford University transplantation professor Peter Friend, who was not involved in the study, said the results were “valuable and impressive”.

However, “this is not a replacement for liver transplantation from human donors [at least in the near-term],” he told AFP in an email.

“This is a useful test of the compatibility of genetically modified livers with humans and points to a future in which such livers can provide support for patients in liver failure.”

Lin emphasised that collaboration with US researchers was crucial.

“To be frank, we have learned quite a lot from all the research performed and investigated by the United States doctors,” he said.

Last year, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania attached a pig liver to a brain-dead patient — but instead of being transplanted, the organ remained outside the body.

Both US recipients of pig heart transplants died.

However, Towana Looney, 53, is back home in Alabama after receiving a pig kidney on November 25, 2024.

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PTI to hold protest at Adiala jail over Eid

ISLAMABAD: After failing to get any concession for the party’s founding chairman, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) will hold protests outside the Adiala Jail on three days of Eidul Fitr.

The Chairman of Public Accounts Committee and head of the PTI Khyber Pakht­unkhwa Chapter, Junaid Akbar, in a televised interview, said that the party workers will hold protest on all three days of Eidul Fitr outside the Adiala jail where the former prime minister, Imran Khan, is imprisoned.

He also said if the government wanted to hold talks with the main opposition party, it (government) has to take the first step and show its seriousness in the talks.

He said that everything is not ideal in the opposition alliance, but said that efforts are being made to strengthen the alliance.

“The parties in Tehreek-i- Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pak­istan (TTAP) are supporting us. Now we have been trying to get the support of the political forces which are not part of the parliament. We have also contacted Jamaat-i-Islami leadership and I am quite hopeful that the situation will improve,” he said.

While admitting that there are some differences within parties, Mr Akbar said that such small obstacles will not affect the alliance.

“We will march towards Islamabad after Eidul Fitr, but it is also possible that we may hold a protest outside the Adiala jail on three Eidul Fitr days, he said.

The PTI has been trying hard to get concessions for the founding chairman and it did all possible efforts to get Imran Khan released on payroll to attend a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security which was briefed by armed forces after the Jaffar Express incident.

After failing to get him [Imran Khan] released, the PTI tried to get approval for the party leaders to meet Mr Khan in the jail, but even that request was not allowed by the government due to which the party has now decided to boycott the meeting of the committee. Now the PTI has been aiming to start a massive movement after Eid to put pressure on the government to get some concessions for the incarcerated ex-PM.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025

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KP action plan to give civilian agencies lead role in counterterrorism efforts

• Envisions new recruitments, training, procurement of modern weapons
• Database of terrorists, facilitators to be established

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday unveiled an 84-point Provincial Action Plan against terrorism, assigning a lead role to the civil administration and law enforcement agencies in counterterrorism efforts.

The decision was finalised during a meeting chaired by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur. Sources said that the shift towards a civilian-led counterterrorism approach follows recommendations from the military, which seeks to redeploy personnel to other security hotspots.

The action plan is structured around seven key pillars, including counterterrorism measures, political and social initiatives, legal reforms, good governance, general administrative measures, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns.

“It outlines 84 specific actions across 18 thematic areas, assigning responsibilities to relevant provincial departments and federal agencies with defined timelines,” said a statement from the office of the press secretary to the KP chief minister.

The statement said the action plan includes strengthening the state’s authority, restoring public confidence in the system through visible action against terrorists, continuation of kinetic operations against terrorists, strict enforcement of counterterrorism laws, improving public service delivery and incorporating community input in security and development matters.

Under the action plan, a comprehensive database of terrorists and their facilitators will be established, regular updates to Schedule IV and strict surveillance of individuals on the list and monthly reviews of bounty cases on wanted terrorists will be carried out. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against government employees found facilitating the terrorists.

“Fast-track capacity enhancement of police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), including new recruitments, training and procurement of modern weapons and equipment, is also part of the action plan,” the statement said. “Priority projects for police infrastructure in southern and merged districts will be included in the Annual Development Programme.”

The action plan also emphasises the formulation of a policy to counter cross-border terrorism. “Furthermore, after the approval of Terms of Reference (TORs) by the federal government, a provincial delegation will engage with Afghan tribal elders for negotiations,” it said.

The federal government will also be urged to enhance diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan.

A centralised intelligence collection and sharing system will be developed, integrating local intelligence databases with provincial and federal agencies. Regular meetings of Apex Committee, Steering Committee, and Intelligence Coordination Committees at the divisional and district levels. Public Liaison Committees at police station levels will be constituted to enhance community oversight of security threats.

Action will be taken against illegal spectrum being used as funding sources for terrorism activities including smuggling of narcotics and weapons, etc. To curb smuggling of illegal items, advanced scanners and AI-based monitoring systems at transit points will be installed.

Similarly, profiling of non-custom-paid (NCP) vehicles will be completed by Aug 1, 2025, with GPS tracking for their movements.

Moreover, audit of madressahs receiving foreign funding will be carried out to ensure transparency.

Similarly, digital tracking of chemical substances used in explosives, blockchain-based monitoring of explosive material transportation, collaboration with Nadra for oversight of explosive dealers, upgrading of arms licensing software to regulate weapons sales, electronic cargo tracking system for smuggled goods and joint checkpoints at key smuggling routes are some of the main points of implementation.

Under the socioeconomic domain, key measures to be taken under the action plan include job creation and alternative livelihoods for youth in terrorism-affected areas, skill development and vocational training to integrate youth into industries, District Economic Plans for merged districts, accelerating economic zone development, and promotion of high-value alternate cash crops in merged districts with financial incentives for farmers.

The action plan also features resettlement plans for temporarily displaced populations of merged areas ensuring basic amenities in their hometowns.

“Legal reforms for effective counterterrorism include the strengthening of legal framework by reviving the Preventive Magistracy System, formulation of a coordinated system between police, judiciary, and district administration, strengthening the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, enactment of the KP Enforcement and Regulation Act, reforms in the criminal justice system, including special trials for terrorists in anti-terrorism courts, increasing prosecution staff in anti-terrorism courts as needed, and establishment of faceless courts for security-sensitive trials,” the statement said.

As another important pillar of the action plan, public awareness and communication strategy is to be developed for counter narrative and inform and educate the citizens about government efforts in counterterrorism and development initiatives.

Regular security reviews at the district level to assess risks and propose countermeasures, developing political consensus on counterterrorism strategies and security measures are also the key features of the action plan.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025

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Govt, IMF reach staff-level deal to unlock $1.3bn in new climate resilience funding

The federal government has reached a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new $1.3 billion arrangement and also agreed on the first review of the ongoing 37-month bailout programme, the Fund said on Tuesday.

Pending board approval, the government can unlock the $1.3bn under a new climate resilience loan programme spanning 28 months.

It will also free $1bn for the country under the $7bn bailout programme, which would bring those disbursements to $2bn.

Pakistan had requested $1bn from the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RSF) in October. The funding under RSF is made available to nations who commit to high-quality reforms to build resilience against climate catastrophes through adaptation. It is repayable over 30 years, including a 10-year grace, and is normally cheaper than terms for an Extended Fund Facility (EFF), such as the $7bn loan programme with Pakistan which is underway.

The programme, secured mid-year in 2024, has played a key role in stabilising the economy and the government has said the country is on course for a long-term recovery.

“Over the past 18 months, Pakistan has made significant progress in restoring macroeconomic stability and rebuilding confidence despite a challenging global environment,” the IMF said in a statement.

“Upon approval (by the IMF board), Pakistan will have access to about $1bn under the EFF, bringing total disbursements under the programme to about $2bn,” the IMF said.

Inflation is likely to remain steady in March, in the 1-1.5 per cent range, the finance ministry said in its monthly economic outlook, after slowing to its lowest level in almost a decade the previous month.

Inflation has been declining for several months, hitting 1.5pc in February, after it soared to around 40pc in May 2023.

The government says the $350bn economy has stabilised under the $7bn IMF bailout that had helped it stave off a default threat.

“While economic growth remains moderate, inflation has declined to its lowest level since 2015, financial conditions have improved, sovereign spreads have narrowed significantly, and external balances are stronger,” the IMF said about Pakistan.

The government had been awaiting the IMF agreement on the first review of the bailout and disbursement of $1bn ahead of the annual budget, usually presented in June.

The IMF statement also noted what it called elevated downside risks such as geopolitical shocks to commodity prices, tightening global financial conditions or rising protectionism.

It said such risks could undermine Pakistan’s “hard-won macroeconomic stability”.

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Edhi Foundation funds $4m equipment at Karachi’s JPMC for free breast cancer treatment

The Edhi Foundation is funding breast cancer treatment equipment worth $4 million for Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) Breast Radiation Bay, named after Abdul Sattar and Bilquis Edhi.

The Edhi Foundation is the country’s premier social welfare organisation. The Bilquis & Abdul Sattar Edhi-Breast Radiation Bay is set to begin its services in April 2026 and will be jointly operated by the Patients Aid Foundation (PAF) and the Sindh government, according to a statement issued today from Dr Tariq Mahmood, professor emeritus of radiation oncology at JPMC.

“Every day, 160 breast cancer patients will get free of charge treatment on state-of-the-art Helix Tomotherapy units,” it said.

The statement said the units would utilise new technology for accurate localisation of lesions and deliver radiation with zero risk of unnecessary exposure to the heart.

It added that the Sindh government had also pledged to provide funds needed for the repair and maintenance of the equipment after the expiry of its annual warranty to ensure smooth and efficient operations.

“Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in females. Around 30,000 new breast cancer cases are diagnosed every year in Pakistan,” the statement said, adding that almost all cases of malignant breast cancer required surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

It pointed out that even though surgery and chemotherapy facilities were widely available in the public and private sectors, slots for radiation therapy were not available for the timely management of cancer due to the lack of availability of linear accelerators in the country.

“Most of the centres in Pakistan, which are offering breast radiotherapy, are treating breast cancers with 2D/3D CRT, whereas the updated worldwide standard of care demands IMRT/VMAT radiotherapy and that is available at very few centres but the cost of treatment is beyond the reach of a common man,” it added.

The statement said that a new technology was introduced around the world to deliver radiation at an accurate site through Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) and Deep Inhalation Breath Hold (DIBH) to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure to healthy critical structures.

It said that to date, this technology was not available in Pakistan. “SGRT and DIBH saves women’s hearts from unnecessary exposure, and it is of extreme importance, especially in younger aged breast cancer patients,” the statement added.

It said PAF was working in a public-private partnership with the Sindh government and so far, JPMC’s bed capacity had been increased from 1,100 to 2,208 by constructing new buildings for various wards while outfitting them with the latest equipment and machinery, and ensuring their continuous maintenance.

The statement said that a further 600 bedded new projects were under completion.

The statement concluded by saying that JPCMC’s Radiation Oncology was the only centre in the world that offered “absolutely free of charge cancer treatment with cutting-edge technologies” irrespective of nationality, religion and ethnicity.

“So far, patients from 167 cities of Pakistan and 15 countries have availed this free facility,” the statement said.

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Hard state, soft state

OUR violence is counterterrorism; theirs is terrorism.

Recently, the army chief addressed parliament after the Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan. He said Pakistan had to become a “hard state” to fight militancy and asked how long would countless lives be sacrificed in a soft state, and how long would governance gaps be filled by the blood of soldiers and martyrs.

The global community also condemned the incident as an act of terror. Nevertheless, human acts, including criminal acts, have context and cause which need to be understood to ensure they are not repeated. This has never happened in Balochistan. Since independence, it has been overtly and/or covertly ruled by the centre. Protests against all kinds of exploitation and denial of human and political rights are equated with disloyalty, and when in desperation they lead to insurgencies they are mercilessly crushed as acts of rebellion, treason, and terror.

The number of Baloch killed, Baloch crippled and wounded, Baloch tortured, Baloch missing, Baloch families forever traumatised, and the Baloch intelligentsia almost irretrievably alienated has, over the decades, added up to maybe millions. Akhtar Mengal, former chief minister of Balochistan who is a political moderate and son of the revered Baloch leader, Ataullah Mengal, has warned the situation in Balochistan today is the biggest threat to Pakistan. Moreover, Baloch alienation has linked up with increasing Pakhtun alienation. This enlarges the problem beyond any military solution. Accordingly, continued military action will only provide neighbours with increased opportunities and incentives to interfere which would eventually render the situation beyond control.

What is absolutely required is a Nelson Mandela-like initiative to help heal the country.

Cynical politicians in Punjab used to say “Balochistan yahan se nahin dikhta” (Balochistan is not seen from here.) With this attitude the problem has metastasized, and today the whole of Pakistan has become Balochistan while Pakistan is being transformed into ‘Greater Punjab’. The last time a ‘Greater Punjab’ was attempted in the form of One Unit it led to the breakup of Pakistan. Accordingly, our national decision-makers need to be aware that ill-considered policies may have short-term gains but far more severe and irreparable longer-term consequences. Unfortunately, as a country, we never learn or are never permitted to learn from our many disasters.

The concept of a “soft state” was coined by Swedish economist and sociologist, Gunnar Myrdal, who wrote his famous Asian Drama in 1968. The concept has now evolved into that of a “failing state”. Myrdal defined a soft state as one “characterised by weak governance, a lack of effective law enforcement, and a general societal and political indiscipline”. This almost exactly describes the political state of Pakistan today. Reliance on the use of force to resolve complex political challenges is not an indication of a strong or hard state. It is, on the contrary, a demonstration of a weak soft state shying away from seriously addressing such issues with an irrelevant show of state power against its own citizens.

Myrdal notes that in South Asian countries, despite talk about the need for social and economic revolutions, policymakers “tread most warily in order not to disrupt the traditional social order”. As a result, “they remain soft states that cannot accomplish what they need to.” What is true of society and the economy applies also to nation building. A military ‘unity of command’ approach can never resolve complex historical, identity, class conflict, resource sharing, sociopolitical, and institutional challenges. The pretence that it can is actually symptomatic of a soft ‘no can do’ state pretending to be a hard ‘can do’ state. Sixty years later, India is the only South Asian state to have substantially emerged — if neither completely nor irreversibly — from this soft state syndrome. Tragically, Pakistan remains stuck in it.

In 2011, Prof Anatol Lieven published his book Pakistan: A Hard Country.” Interestingly, he considered ‘Requiem for a Country’ as an alternative title. His description of Pakistan still applies, ie, “divided, disorganised, economically backward, corrupt, violent, unjust, often savagely oppressive towards the poor and women, and home to extremely dangerous forms of extremism and terrorism”. While Pakistan’s participation in America’s ‘war on terror’ alleviated the immediate threat of terrorism, it addressed none of its deeper causes. As a result, we are where we are.

According to Lieven, while the state of Pakistan is soft, its society is hard and enduring. It is resistant to radical change. He suggests it is stuck in some kind of low-level equilibrium and oddly enough this low-level resilience ensures Pakistan’s survival rather than anything the state attempts to do. One might ask whether this is a blessing or a curse. It reminds one of the Chinese saying “May you live in interesting times!” And in Pakistan we are indeed living in interesting but treacherous times.

The interconnected challenges facing the world today, as listed in the annual reports of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, include climate heating and its consequences; the threat of nuclear war; pandemics waiting to happen; unregulated artificial intelligence development; democratic deficits widening as a result of fascist, racist and far-right takeovers in the US and Europe; genocidal policies unleashed on the Middle East by Israel, and threatened in South Asia by India according to two ‘genocide alerts’ by Genocide Watch; etc. A failing state, whether caused by a weak state or a hard society, or the reverse, has almost no chance of longer-term survival.

What is absolutely required is a Nelson Mandela-like initiative to help heal the country and bring about a national reconciliation. The emphasis would be on putting our tragic past behind us and holding people accountable, but not on prosecuting responsible individuals for their past crimes. This may be unacceptable to many victims, but it should remove any fear of redressing the deep wrong done to the nation on Feb 8, 2024, and begin the process of restoring the image of the military without compromising on civilian supremacy, judicial and parliamentary independence, essential socioeconomic reforms, and undiluted constitutional and democratic governance. There need not be any losers on this road to Pakistan’s liberation.

The writer is a former ambassador to the US, India and China, and head of UN missions in Iraq and Sudan.

ashrafjqazi@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025

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