CM condoles demise of Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Fahd bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz

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Wed, 3 Dec 2025, 11:15 PM

LAHORE, Dec 03 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Fahd bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

The chief minister extended heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved royal family and prayed for the elevation of the departed soul.

She also prayed that may Allah Almighty grant the bereaved family courage and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss with patience and equanimity.

Punjab govt strengthens support for persons with disabilities on Int’l Day: Minister

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Kamran Muraad

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Wed, 3 Dec 2025, 11:15 PM

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LAHORE, Dec 03 (APP):Punjab Minister for Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal Sohail Shaukat Butt has said that under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, significant progress has been made this year in advancing social development and strengthening welfare initiatives for persons with disabilities.

In his message on international day of persons with disabilities, he said the launch of the Himmat Card is a landmark initiative of the chief minister, aimed at prioritizing financial assistance and enabling thousands of persons with disabilities to benefit from sustained support. He added that a comprehensive programme for the provision of wheelchairs and assistive devices across Punjab has also been successfully initiated and implemented.

The minister noted that the Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Mal Department has expanded its outreach to identify and include more individuals with disabilities, ensuring their access to rehabilitation services and government-sponsored welfare schemes. He said the department is preparing to launch several new projects dedicated to the rehabilitation and uplift of persons with disabilities, reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive development.

Sohail Shaukat Butt further announced that the Chief Minister’s Special Games will be held in December, with participation from persons with disabilities from across the world, adding that all arrangements for the international event have been finalized.

Islamabad issues 1,229 emission stickers in 3 days as testing points expand

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Kamran Muraad

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Wed, 3 Dec 2025, 11:09 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 03 (APP):The capital’s Vehicle Emission Testing System has added more inspection points to manage the rising flow of vehicles requiring checks.

According to officials, the increase in testing sites has reduced waiting time and made the inspection process smoother for thousands of motorists.

The newly activated checkpoints at D-Chowk, Lake View Park, Metro Cash & Carry, and F-9 Park are now fully operational. These points are handling a steady movement of vehicles arriving for routine clearance under the emission control system. With more facilities in place, teams are processing a larger number of vehicles each day.

Data shared by the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) shows that 1,229 vehicles have been inspected over the last three days, and compliant owners were issued emission stickers on the spot. Officials say this number is expected to rise as more citizens bring their vehicles for mandatory checks.

Alongside the inspection process, enforcement against smoke-emitting vehicles continues across the city. ITA teams have intensified field operations to identify vehicles contributing to air pollution. Over the past 24 hours, authorities have taken six additional vehicles into police custody for violating emission rules.

Chairman of the Islamabad Transport Authority, Irfan Memon, stated that vehicles causing air pollution will not be allowed to operate within the federal capital. He said the city administration is focused on reducing harmful emissions and ensuring compliance with environmental standards.

Memon urged citizens to bring their vehicles for inspection under the Vehicle Emission Testing System without delay. He said timely testing helps motorists avoid inconvenience and ensures their vehicles meet the required safety and environmental criteria.

The chairman also warned that enforcement would further intensify against vehicles operating without inspection stickers. Teams have been directed to carry out strict monitoring across major routes and public spaces. According to officials, the aim is to strengthen air quality measures and ensure the city adheres to environmental guidelines.

The Islamabad administration is working to expand the emission testing system further in the coming weeks. More mobile and fixed testing units are under consideration to reach high-traffic areas and ensure wider coverage. Authorities say these steps are part of the broader plan to improve air quality and regulate vehicle emissions effectively.

The ITA continues to coordinate with relevant departments to maintain checks, streamline the sticker issuance process, and address public concerns regarding inspection procedures. More updates are expected as the enforcement drive moves into its next phase.

The capital’s administration has urged citizens to cooperate with the testing teams and follow the set procedures. Officials say public participation will help improve Islamabad’s air quality and contribute to healthier urban mobility.

Women’s financial inclusion expands to 52%, gender gap shrinks to 30%: SBP Governor

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Kamran Muraad

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Wed, 3 Dec 2025, 11:07 PM

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KARACHI, Dec 03 (APP):The Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Jameel Ahmad, highlighting the progress made in financial inclusion and gender equality in the country on Wednesday, said that women’s financial inclusion has risen to 52 percent while gender gap has been narrowed to 30 percent in 2025.

The SBP Governor, while addressing the Pakistan Women Entrepreneurship Day (PWED) 2025 event at the SBP, emphasized the event as a celebration of the creativity, determination, and success of women who are driving economic transformation in Pakistan as no nation can grow when half of its population is excluded from the financial system.

Jameel Ahmad informed that women’s financial inclusion has risen from 4% to 52 % while the gender gap narrowed from 47% in 2018 to 30% in 2025. More than 17.6 million new women owned bank accounts have been added since 2021 while significant progress has been made in provision of loans to women led business, he said, adding “Over 974,000 loans have been disbursed amounting to Rs. 230.3 billion between November 2024 and October 2025.”

Under the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2024-28, the central bank was aiming to push financial inclusion to 75% and reduce the gender gap to 25% by 2028, he vowed.

SBP has pursued a deliberate, multi-pronged strategy to expand women’s financial inclusion, he said and stressed that for sustaining the progress made so far, we must continue building the ecosystem, where women-led businesses can access finance, markets and mentorship.

Indicating that most women borrowers remain clustered in micro and entry-level segments as well as structural barriers hindering financial inclusion of women, the SBP governor emphasized to focus on providing an enabling environment that can foster greater female participation in the formal economy on a sustainable basis.

The Governor appreciated the role of the banking industry in expanding financial inclusion of females and the ongoing institutional shift within the banks that is reflected from the fact that over 14,600 women have joined the banking workforce in the last three years, raising the overall ratio of female employees from 13 to 17 percent.

The State Bank hired a batch of young female graduates under Emerging Women Leaders Initiative and it now has a female member on the SBP’s Board while Pakistan became a global signatory to the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Code in February 2025, he stated and added that SBP, along with 22 banks, has pledged to share data, introduce new actions, and appoint leadership to improve women’s access to finance.

He also mentioned the collaborative efforts for conducting more than 300 awareness and mentorship programs across 55 districts, engaging over 45,000 women across the country and said ‘This puts Pakistan on the global map in terms of turning inclusion commitments into measurable accountability’.

The event featured insightful contributions from guest speakers including Chairperson Pakistan Business Council Dr. Zeelaf Munir, CEO TCS Group Saira Awan Malik and President Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry Korangi Shabista Bakhtiar, shared their expertise on women entrepreneurship, business opportunities, and the challenges faced by

women entrepreneurs in Pakistan.

The Governor SBP, at the occasion, also handed over the awards to winners of Women of Impact Awards, Business Idea Competition and Empower Her Campaign Awards.

PWED 2025 served as a platform to celebrate the ambition, resilience, and economic participation of women in Pakistan and this national celebration brought together a diverse range of stakeholders including policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, business leaders, and inspiring women entrepreneurs.

NA body stresses stronger parliamentary oversight in review of key financial laws, IMF commitments

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Kamran Muraad

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Wed, 3 Dec 2025, 11:05 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 03 (APP):The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday underscored the need for strengthened parliamentary oversight as it reviewed key financial legislation and Pakistan’s governance commitments under the IMF programme.

During a meeting, chaired by committee chairman Syed Naveed Qamar, the committee examined major legislative proposals and received a detailed briefing on Pakistan’s governance commitments under the IMF program.

The meeting reflected Parliament’s firm resolve to exercise meaningful oversight on matters of public finance, transparency, and economic governance.

The Committee considered “The Income Tax Ordinance (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025” (Government Bill) and advised the Ministry to revisit the provision and develop two to three viable options that both strengthen impartiality and eliminate undue discretion.

Ministry officials agreed to review the process and return with revised proposals. With consensus achieved on the remainder of the Bill, the Committee decided to continue its consideration in the next meeting scheduled for 9 December 2025.

The Committee considered “The Netting of Financial Arrangements Bill, 2025” (Government Bill) and deferred it for the next meeting. The Committee also deferred Briefing by the Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Chairman FBR on taxation, valuation, limits, and formalities for overseas Pakistanis bringing new and used/refurbished mobile phones into Pakistan for the next meeting of the Committee.

The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue briefed the Committee on Pakistan’s commitment to the IMF to publish the “Governance and Corruption Diagnostic (GCD) Assessment Report,” its impact on the next tranche, and the action plan based on the weaknesses identified in the report.

The Minister informed the Committee that the GCD Report published on 19 November 2025, contains 423 paragraphs, 92 recommendations, including 15 priority and 77 guiding recommendations across seven thematic areas.

The Committee conducted a detailed review and highlighted gaps between recommended reforms and existing practices. The Chair drew attention to the recommendation discouraging in-year budget adjustments without parliamentary approval.

The Committee strongly recommended that the government move from an ex-post-facto approach to prior parliamentary approval, or at a minimum, present such adjustments for approval on a quarterly basis, acknowledging that exceptional circumstances, such as wartime exigencies, may necessitate limited flexibility.

On the Report’s emphasis on digitizing the economy, the Committee observed that internet shutdowns could disrupt a fully cashless system and urged the government to proceed cautiously. The Committee stressed the need for a hybrid approach, ensuring continuity of economic activity during digital outages. The finance minister assured the Committee that the government is mindful of this challenge and will maintain close coordination with Parliament as regulatory frameworks evolve.

The Committee considered “The Corporate Social Responsibility Bill, 2025”, moved by Dr Nafisa Shah, MNA and directed the Ministry of Law to incorporate the agreed provisions in the existing Bill and present it before the Committee in the next meeting.

Pakistan must craft a future-oriented policy framework to navigate rapidly evolving threats: Experts

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Kamran Muraad

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Wed, 3 Dec 2025, 11:04 PM

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 03 (APP):Pakistan must modernize its security preparedness and craft a coherent, future-oriented policy framework to navigate rapidly evolving regional and global threats, experts said on Wednesday at the Islamabad Conclave-2025.

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted Working Session-III of the Conclave under the theme “Emerging Strategic Security Challenges: Crafting a Peaceful Path for Pakistan”, organized by its Arms Control & Disarmament Centre (ACDC), said a press release.

Ambassador (Retd.) Tehmina Janjua, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, was the keynote speaker, and other speakers included Dr. Zahir Kazmi, Advisor SPD; Dr. Nishara Mendis, Executive Director, Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, Sri Lanka; Dr. Salma Malik, Associate Professor, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi, Spokesperson, Additional Secretary ACDIS, MOFA.

Ambassador (R) Tehmina Janjua stated that “strategic security challenges” encompass a broad spectrum of military and non-military threats that directly affect Pakistan’s physical security. She identified India as the foremost regional challenge, driven by hegemonic ambitions reinforced by Hindutva ideology.

On Afghanistan, she noted that the challenge stems from deep-rooted irredentism intensified by the Taliban’s ideological worldview. To deal with it, a systematic review of Pakistan’s policy approach is required. She also highlighted climate change and water insecurity as critical non-military threats demanding urgent national attention.

Earlier in his introductory remarks, Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director ACDC, stated that South Asia is an important yet increasingly complex region shaped by both traditional and emerging threats. He noted that Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs), such as AI, hypersonic, drone swarms, and cyber warfare, are redefining deterrence and strategic stability in the region. Simultaneously, the militarization and nuclearization of the Indian Ocean by India are directly impacting the security of the littoral states. He said that despite these challenges, Pakistan’s strategic location positions it to play a constructive role in fostering cooperation and promoting regional stability.

Dr. Zahir Kazmi, in his remarks on the spread of EDTs and their impact, stated that technologies such as autonomous weapons, AI, cyber tools, hypersonic systems, and unmanned underwater vehicles are reshaping the strategic landscape.

He observed that global efforts to regulate Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), including negotiations in Geneva, remain stalled, even as traditional, gradual escalation patterns give way to digitalized and autonomous systems capable of sudden, hard-to-detect disruptions. With international law struggling to keep pace and strategic patience wearing thin, he emphasized that Pakistan must build strong institutional foresight and prepare for an increasingly complex and fast-evolving security environment.

While speaking on the Indian Ocean, Dr. Nishara Mendis emphasized that South Asia is not defined solely by its landmass; its strategic and economic future is closely tied to the Indian Ocean, which has become a critical geopolitical arena. She noted that naval modernization and maritime domain awareness are now essential for all coastal states.

Dr. Mendis identified three key deficits in the region: the absence of a security architecture, limited economic cooperation, and the lack of cohesive regional frameworks—factors that hinder South Asia’s ability to manage both longstanding and emerging threats. She stressed that addressing these gaps will require collaborative regional efforts.

Dr. Salma Malik, in her remarks, stated that Pakistan’s geostrategic location, marked by its Arabian Sea coastline with Gwadar Port, its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, and its land routes to Central Asia, gives it significant strategic value.

However, this potential is limited by ongoing challenges such as the Kashmir dispute with India, border tensions with Afghanistan, competition with India in Afghan affairs, and the decline of SAARC. With a coherent strategy, Pakistan can begin to address these issues. Its success will depend on domestic stability, economic resilience, balanced partnerships without over-alignment, and strong diplomatic agility.

Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi noted that intensifying great-power rivalry, rapid technological advances, and increasingly blurred nuclear thresholds are creating dangerous spillover risks for South Asia.

He stated that India, benefiting from global dynamics, has disregarded non-proliferation norms while modernizing its nuclear triad with ICBMs, submarines, hypersonics, and AI-enabled systems.

He further added that with missile flight times reduced, decision windows compressed, and multidomain operations and disinformation shaping perceptions, even conventional actions risk being viewed through a nuclear lens. Although Pakistan’s multidomain response has been swift, he emphasized that future crises in South Asia will likely be fast-paced, multidomain, and highly unstable, leaving the regional security architecture fragile.