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President Zardari to undertake five-day official visit to Republic of Iraq

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP):President, Asif Ali Zardari, will undertake an official visit to the Republic of Iraq from December 20 to 24 at the invitation of President of the Republic of Iraq, Dr Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid.
The visit underscores the longstanding, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iraq, rooted in shared bonds of faith, culture, and mutual respect, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs news release said.
During the visit, the president will hold high-level meetings with the Iraqi leadership to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore ways to further strengthen cooperation across key areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, energy, reconstruction, manpower, technology, education, and people-to-people exchanges. Discussions will also cover regional and international developments, as well as cooperation at multilateral fora.
The visit is expected to reinforce the traditionally warm and cordial ties between the two countries, identify new avenues of partnership, and enhance people-to-people linkages, particularly in the context of religious tourism and economic collaboration.
The official visit reflects Pakistan’s continued engagement with Iraq and its commitment to fostering a results-oriented, forward-looking, and strategic partnership that contributes to Iraq’s stability and development, as well as to regional peace and prosperity.

CDA, IFC sign agreement to improve Islamabad’s water, sewage services

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP):The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, on Friday signed an agreement to provide technical assistance for improving water supply and sewage services in the federal capital under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
The signing ceremony was held at CDA Headquarters and was attended by Federal Secretary Interior Muhammad Khurram Agha, Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Member Planning and Design Dr Khalid Hafiz, the IFC regional director and senior officials from CDA’s Islamabad Water Agency and IFC.
CDA, IFC sign agreement to improve Islamabad’s water, sewage services
Under the agreement, IFC will extend transaction advisory services to the Islamabad Water Agency for three water and sewerage-related projects to be implemented through PPPs.
Prior in-principle approval for the execution of these projects has already been granted by the CDA Board as well as the Public-Private Partnership Board.
According to officials, the advisory services are being procured in line with relevant rules and regulations. The projects aim to address long-standing issues related to water supply and sewage management in Islamabad.
Key components include improving the supply of clean drinking water, installation of water meters, reduction of non-revenue water, making water pumping systems more energy-efficient, and repair and rehabilitation of sewage lines, including sewage treatment plants.
Officials said completion of the projects would not only enhance service delivery but also significantly increase CDA’s revenue, which would be reinvested in further improving water supply in the capital.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that implementation of these projects under a PPP model would strengthen monitoring mechanisms and help curb water wastage.
He added that modern technology would be used to monitor all installations and water pumps of Islamabad Water, leading to improved efficiency and reliability of supply.
He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to utilising all available resources to provide residents of Islamabad with improved water and sewage facilities, and to fully benefit from the technical expertise, experience and capacity of IFC.

FCCP declares Supreme Court verdicts final in land reforms case

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP):The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan (FCCP) has ruled that judgments of the Supreme Court are final and binding, and no subordinate forum has the authority to reopen or review them—even after the passage of decades.
In a detailed judgment approved for reporting on Friday, a two-member bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Rozi Khan Bareech dismissed civil petitions challenging a Lahore High Court decision dated November 24, 2022.
The case concerned agricultural land reforms dating back to 1977, when Karam Ali was declared a landholder with ownership of 12,691 Produce Index Units (PIUs), while 4,819 PIUs were taken over by the state as surplus land. After multiple appeals and review petitions, the Supreme Court had finally settled the matter on December 6, 1986.
Despite the finality of that verdict, the court noted that Karam Ali’s legal heirs filed a fresh review petition before the Chairman of the Federal Land Commission 24 years later, concealing material facts. The chairman allowed the review on February 7, 2011.
The Federal Constitutional Court held that this action violated Article 189 of the Constitution, which makes Supreme Court decisions binding on all subordinate courts and authorities. It ruled that the Land Commission chairman had acted without jurisdiction and that the order was void ab initio.
Reiterating the principle of res judicata, the court said a matter conclusively decided cannot be reopened. It also upheld the Lahore High Court’s decision to allow applications under Section 12(2) CPC, observing that a lawyer cannot withdraw a petition or enter into a compromise without the clear consent of all parties.
Finding no legal, constitutional, or jurisdictional defect in the impugned judgment, the court dismissed the petitions and refused leave to appeal.

Weekly inflation up by 0.24 percent

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): The weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), recorded increase of 0.24 percent for the combined consumption group during the week ended on December 18, 2025, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.
According to the PBS data, the SPI for the week under review was recorded at 336.53 points, up from 335.73 points last week. On a year-on-year basis, the SPI increased by 3.75 percent.
The weekly SPI with base year 2015-16 = 100 covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.
The SPI for the lowest consumption group (up to Rs17,732) increased by 0.07 percent, to 327.07 points from 326.84 points.
The SPI for consumption groups of Rs17,733–22,888; Rs22,889–29,517; Rs29,518–44,175; and above Rs44,175 increased by 0.14 percent, 0.18 percent, 0.24 percent and 0.28 percent, respectively.
During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 17 (33.33 percent) items increased, 14 (27.45 percent) items decreased, and 20 (39.22 percent) items remained stable.

Major commodities registering a week-on-week decrease included tomatoes (11.38 percent), potatoes (8.39 percent), diesel (5.00 percent), sugar (4.52 percent), onions (3.52 percent), pulse mash (1.29 percent), garlic (1.26 percent), salt powder (1.12 percent), gur (1.05 percent) and LPG (0.14 percent).
Items showing an increase in prices included chicken (11.11 percent), chilies powder (3.08 percent), eggs (2.88 percent), shirting (1.64 percent), firewood (0.86 percent), cooking oil 5 litre (0.32 percent), energy saver (0.31 percent), pulse moong (0.31 percent), mustard oil (0.25 percent) and beef (0.23 percent).
On a year-on-year basis, major increases were observed in the prices of gas charges for Q1 (29.85 percent), sugar (24.10 percent), wheat flour (22.52 percent), chicken (20.78 percent), beef (13.66 percent), gur (13.43 percent), firewood (12.08 percent), powdered milk (9.50 percent), eggs (8.75 percent), lawn printed (8.29 percent), shirting (8.07 percent) and bananas (7.83 percent).
Commodities witnessing year-on-year decline included tomatoes (66.49 percent), potatoes (45.31 percent), garlic (39.10 percent), onions (29.77 percent), pulse gram (28.95 percent), tea Lipton (17.79 percent), pulse mash (14.23 percent), electricity charges for Q1 (8.40 percent), salt powder (6.14 percent) and LPG (0.15 percent).

Cybersecurity awareness seminar held at Agriculture University

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
Dera Ismail Khan , Dec 19 (APP): On the special instructions of Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan, Professor Dr. Shakeeb Ullah, a cybersecurity awareness seminar was successfully organized for faculty members and administrative officers at the university.
The seminar, held at the university’s conference hall, was attended by a large number of faculty members, administrative staff and officers. The objective of the session was to enhance awareness about emerging digital threats and to highlight the importance of adopting safe and responsible online practices in the modern digital environment.
During the seminar, speakers shed light on contemporary cybersecurity requirements, online risks, data protection measures and ways to safeguard sensitive information. They emphasized that in the present digital age, awareness of cybersecurity principles has become essential for every individual to protect institutional as well as personal data from potential cyber threats.
Participants termed the seminar informative and timely and expressed the need for organizing more such training and awareness programs in the future so that university staff and officers could remain well-informed about cyber risks.
At the conclusion of the seminar, the university administration thanked the participants and reaffirmed its commitment to launching regular training initiatives aimed at strengthening digital security awareness across the university.

Greyhound race starts at UAF

By
Kamran Muraad
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FAISALABAD, Dec 19 (APP):A three-day greyhound race began at the tent pegging Ground of University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).
Directorate of Farms UAF; Qaiser Saleem Bukhari Group and Gill Group jointly organized the championship in which more than 80 greyhounds from all over the country are participating in the championship.
Director Farm Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Dr. Haroon Zaman, Rana Javed Sarwar, Chaudhary Nawazish Chattha and others inaugurated.
Dr. Muhammad Aslam said that such competitions not only provide entertainment opportunities but also strengthen ties between farmers and agricultural experts.
Dr. Haroon Zaman said that today’s man is suffering from various issues and such competitions give them opportunity to get refuge from monotonous routine.

Ahsan Iqbal urges results-oriented reporting on constitutional principles

By
Kamran Muraad
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, on Friday stressed that ministries’ annual reports should go beyond formalities and focus on measurable, real results.
Speaking at a national workshop on the Principles of Policy, organized by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the minister pointed out that ministries usually submit standard reports without any system to check real outcomes.
The government plans to create a transparent and effective national framework to ensure these constitutional principles are properly applied, he said.
He said that annual reporting on the constitution’s principles of policy should move from being a routine task to a process that shows clear results and benefits for the public, adding turning these principles into concrete actions was urgently needed.
He noted that while creating the constitution was an important milestone, putting it into practice is equally important. The constitution provides the direction for the state, but a clear plan for implementing the ‘principles of policy’ is still missing.
The minister emphasized that the goals of these principles should match development priorities and governance results. He added that the true measure of reporting is the impact it has on people’s lives, not just how the report looks.
He highlighted that even after 52 years, there is still no complete system to implement the principles of policy, making a clear action plan necessary.
He further said that with guidance from stakeholders, each principle of policy will be turned into a clear action plan. The government aims for a national framework that is transparent, result-oriented, and accountable, promoting inclusive development and equal opportunities.

FCCP says jurisdiction must be determined before hearing any case

By
Kamran Muraad
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP):The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan (FCCP) has ruled that determining jurisdiction was a fundamental precondition for hearing any case, warning that any order passed without proper constitutional authority has no legal effect.
In a detailed judgment approved for reporting, a two-member bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Rozi Khan Bareech decided Civil Petition No. 2202 of 2025, filed against a May 5, 2025 order of the Sindh High Court.
The case arose after petitioner Khalid Mahmood disclosed ownership of an offshore company, Red Castle, under the 2018 amnesty scheme, but was later issued a notice under Section 109-A of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001. He challenged the notice before the Sindh High Court, which granted interim relief on December 20, 2023, restraining the tax authorities from taking final action.
Following the creation of constitutional benches after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, the Sindh High Court’s constitutional bench withdrew the interim order on May 5, 2025, prompting the petitioner to approach the Federal Constitutional Court.
The court held that jurisdiction must be conclusively determined before a case is heard, and that even interim orders can only be passed by a bench competent to decide the main matter. Any order issued by a bench lacking jurisdiction, it said, would be without lawful authority.
Clarifying the scope of powers, the court observed that prior to the 27th Constitutional Amendment, constitutional benches under Article 202-A had limited jurisdiction and were not empowered to exercise all writ powers. Upholding the Sindh High Court’s “dominant object” theory, the court said jurisdiction depends on the principal relief sought in a petition.
It noted that matters seeking mandamus or prohibition fall within the jurisdiction of constitutional benches, while petitions for certiorari, habeas corpus or quo warranto are to be heard by regular benches. The court indicated that the issue of jurisdiction in the present case required serious consideration and may warrant remand for fresh hearing.

SBP injects Rs 12.43 trillion in the market

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
KARACHI, Dec 19 (APP):The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), on Friday, injected Rs 12,427.35 billion through Reverse Repo Purchase and Shariah Compliant Mudarabah-based Open Market Operations (OMO) to maintain liquidity in the market.
The central bank conducted the Open Market Operation, Reverse Repo Purchase (Injection) for 7 and 14-day tenors on December 19, 2025, and injected Rs 12,346.35 billion against 32 bids, while the remaining Rs 81 billion were inserted separately through Shariah Compliant Mudarabah-based OMO.
The central bank, for the Reverse Repo Purchase of 7-day tenor, received 13 bids cumulatively offering Rs 1,540.2 billion at a rate of return ranging between 10.49 to 10.58%. The SBP accepted Rs 1,270.2 billion against 12 quotes at a 10.51% rate of return.
Moreover, the SBP also received 20 quotes for the 14-day tenor, cumulatively offering Rs 11,076.15 billion at a rate of return ranging between 10.51% to 10.60%. The SBP accepted the entire amount at a 10.51% rate of return.
Meanwhile, SBP also conducted Shariah-compliant Mudarabah-based Open Market Operation for the 7 and 14-day tenors. The central bank received one quote for the 7-day tenor offering Rs 41 billion at a 10.57% rate of return. SBP accepted the bid with the entire amount at the offered rate.
The central bank also received two bids for the 14-day tenor offering Rs 40 billion at a rate of return ranging between 10.56% to 10.57%. SBP accepted the entire amount of both the quotes at a 10.56% rate of return.

Rawalpindi Police nab 7 suspects, seize over 37 litres of liquor & illegal arms

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
RAWALPINDI, Dec 19 (APP): The Rawalpindi Police arrested seven suspects and recovered more than 37 litres of liquor along with arms and ammunition in separate operations across the district, a police spokesman said on Friday.
According to the spokesman, the Ganjmandi Police apprehended one person and recovered 20 litres of liquor, while the Kallar Syedan Police held three suspects, seizing 12 litres of liquor as well as illegal weapons with ammunition.
Likewise, the City Police detained one individual with five litres of liquor, while the Civil Lines Police recovered a bottle of liquor from another person. The Chaklala Police also arrested one suspect and seized weapons with ammunition.
Separate cases have been registered against all the accused.
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