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UN, aid groups warn Gaza operations at risk from Israel restrictions

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NNPS Desk
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UNITED NATIONS, Dec 18 (APP): UN and other humanitarian agencies working in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) have warned that life-saving aid operations risk collapse unless Israel immediately lifts new barriers that are blocking access and forcing international charities to shut down.

In a sharply worded statement, the Humanitarian Country Team – which brings together senior UN officials and more than 200 local and international aid groups – called on the international community to press Israeli authorities to reverse measures that are choking humanitarian work, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

At the centre of concern is a new registration system for international non-governmental organizations, introduced earlier this year.

Aid groups say the process is vague, politicized and impossible to meet without breaching humanitarian principles.

Under the current rules, dozens of organizations face deregistration by the end of December, followed by the forced closure of their operations within weeks.

“These organisations are not optional extras,” the statement said. “If they are pushed out, the humanitarian response will not survive.”

International NGOs, working alongside UN agencies and Palestinian partners, deliver around one billion dollars’ worth of assistance each year across the territory.

Yet millions of dollars’ worth of food, medicines, hygiene supplies and shelter materials are now stuck outside Gaza, unable to reach families in need.

The warning comes as winter deepens and amid fears that further restrictions could destabilise a fragile ceasefire.

Aid agencies stressed that the impact of losing international NGOs could not be absorbed by the UN or local groups, especially after Israeli limits on Palestine refugee relief agency, UNRWA, have already stretched the response to breaking point.

According to the Humanitarian Country Team, international NGOs support or run much of Gaza’s basic infrastructure for survival.

They underpin field hospitals and primary health clinics, provide clean water and sanitation, distribute emergency shelter, and treat children suffering from severe malnutrition.

If they are forced to leave, one in three health facilities in Gaza would close almost immediately, cutting off care for tens of thousands of patients.

Aid leaders said they had repeatedly raised these concerns with Israeli authorities and sought workable solutions to keep operations running.

“There has been no adjustment,” the statement said, warning that the dismantling of NGO operations now appears imminent.

Humanitarian access, the agencies insisted, is a legal obligation, not a political choice.

“Lifesaving assistance must be allowed to reach Palestinians without further delay,” the statement concluded, urging Israel to allow rapid and unimpeded aid deliveries and to ensure that humanitarian organisations can operate independently and safely.

Without swift action, the team warned, the consequences for civilians in Gaza would be catastrophic.

PM approves Halal Meat Export Policy, directs measures to increase export

By
Najam ul Hassan
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Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presiding over a meeting on meat export policy and sector's reforms on 18 December 2025.

ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the Halal Meat Export Policy and issued special directions to present within two weeks, a three-years comprehensive strategy comprising practical measures to increase halal meat export.

“A comprehensive strategy, formulated through coordination among all relevant federal ministries and provincial governments, is essential to make Pakistan’s share in the halal meat market of Muslim countries and the global market, significant”, the prime minister said while presiding over a meeting on meat export policy and sector’s reforms.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif asked the committee established to enhance Pakistan’s halal meat export market, to present doable proposals to improve production, cold storage, and other related factors.

He also directed to take special measures to increase halal meat production in livestock in accordance with international standards and to remain competitive with regional production volumes.

The prime minister stressed that the organized centers, developed through cooperation between relevant federal ministries and provincial governments, were urgently needed to enhance the production and nutritional value of halal meat.

There is considerable potential to increase Pakistan’s export share not only in Muslim countries but also in the global halal meat market, the prime minister noted and assured that the government will provide full support for international certification of slaughterhouses in Pakistan and for bilateral registrations with other countries.

He also directed to take special measures to ensure disease-free conditions and international-standard hygiene arrangements in slaughterhouses across the country.

To enhance halal meat exports, particularly in the regional context, the prime minister directed to ensure minimizing costs in this sector.

The business model for increasing halal meat exports should be developed by benefiting from globally recognized best practices, the prime minister emphasized.

He stressed the need to establish special zones and centers to increase exports of disease-free halal meat from the country.

During the briefing, the prime minister was informed that Pakistan’s total halal meat production stood at 6 million metric tons, and after fulfilling domestic requirements, a substantial quantity was available for export.

“Special measures are being undertaken to increase halal meat production and ensure international-standard packaging”, the prime minister was informed.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar, and other relevant government officials.

Mohsin Naqvi extends congratulations to Qatar on National Day

By
Samina Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi has extended warm congratulations to His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar, the Royal Family, and the people of Qatar on the occasion of Qatar’s National Day, lauding the country’s remarkable progress and visionary leadership.
In a message posted on social media platform X, Naqvi conveyed his heartfelt felicitations, describing Qatar’s National Day as a symbol of enlightened leadership, national unity and a forward-looking journey. He said the occasion reflects the resilience and collective spirit of the Qatari nation under the wise guidance of its leadership.
The interior minister also conveyed his special greetings to Qatar’s Minister of Interior, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, referring to him as a dear brother and extending his warmest wishes on the national occasion.
Naqvi praised Qatar’s achievements under the leadership of the Amir, noting that the country has set a balanced and inspiring example of progress, stability and modern statecraft. He highlighted Qatar’s remarkable innovation and development across key sectors, including the economy, education, healthcare, sports and technology, which have earned it global recognition.
He further said that Qatar’s journey demonstrates how visionary leadership, coupled with national unity, can drive sustainable development and prosperity while maintaining social harmony and institutional strength.
Concluding his message, Naqvi offered prayers for the continued success of Qatar, expressing hope that Allah Almighty blesses the country with greater progress, peace and prosperity, and grants continued success to its leadership.

Ahsan urges universities to power Pakistan’s development

By
Samina Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday stressed the urgent need to transform Pakistan’s higher education system into a driver of national development, innovation and economic growth, asking that universities must move beyond paper-based research to produce solutions with real-world impact.
In his opening remarks at the National Leadership Dialogue – From Knowledge to Impact, organized by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), the minister said Pakistan’s development visions, including Vision 2010, Vision 2025 and now Uraan Pakistan, reflected a consistent resolve to build human capital, despite repeated disruptions.
“We tried to move forward through Vision 2025, but it was disrupted. Now we are once again trying to move in that direction through Uraan Pakistan,” he said, adding that earlier initiatives had nevertheless laid the foundations of today’s higher education system.
Recalling his tenure during Vision 2010, Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan faced an acute shortage of qualified faculty. “At that time, there were only around 350 PhDs in science and technology, and nearly 65 to 70 percent were close to retirement,” he noted.
To address this, he said, the government approved two major initiatives including the overseas scholarship scheme for 5,000 PhDs and the indigenous PhD scholarship programme for another 5,000 scholars.
“These 10,000 PhDs today form the backbone of our human resource base on which the system stands,” he said, adding that continuity of policy was critical for long-term gains.
The minister said higher education funding was also significantly enhanced during Vision 2025. “When we took charge, the Higher Education Commission was practically shut down and its development budget was around Rs10 to 11 billion. We raised it to Rs45 billion and introduced major reforms to make higher education inclusive and competitive,” he said.
Explaining the reform agenda, he said a two-tier university system was envisaged: one focused on broad-based access and success, and another “premier league” of universities competing globally in advanced research and academic excellence.
He added that national centres in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, cloud computing, quantum computing and nanotechnology were also initiated.
Highlighting international collaboration, Ahsan Iqbal said programmes like the US–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor and the UK–Pakistan Knowledge Gateway were launched to bridge Pakistan’s human resource gap. “Our higher education participation rate is only 13 percent, compared to 25 percent in Bangladesh and 60 percent in China. This gap is holding back our expansion,” he said.
The minister expressed concern that much of Pakistan’s research remained confined to academic journals. “We suffer from what I call academic inflation. Papers are published, but ideas that can contribute to national development are missing,” he said, calling for a shift towards innovation, commercialization and industry linkages.
He stressed that universities must become “innovation engines, startup launchpads and policy think tanks,” capable of addressing national challenges in agriculture, industry and technology, while also producing ethically grounded and socially responsible citizens.
Ahsan Iqbal said the government was developing a seven-pillar performance audit framework for universities, covering academic excellence, research and innovation, industry linkages, community contribution, technology enablement, governance and quality of graduates.
“Our universities must transition into institutions of national development, and this transition has to be made in emergency mode,” he said.

Kashmiris to celebrate Quaid-e-Azam’s birthday with great enthusiasm, devotion

By
Samina Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):The brisk preparations are afoot to celebrate the birthday of father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on December 25 across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with great enthusiasm, devotion and respect coupled  with the renewal of the pledge to continue following the foot steps, sayings and stance  of father of the nation on Kashmir.
It will be gazetted holiday across AJK to celebrate the birthday of father of the nation and founder of Pakistan.
          The day will dawn with special prayers in mosques for the integrity, solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan and AJK and for the freedom of all the occupied Muslim homelands including Indian-illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir and Palestine.
           The  special ceremonies to celebrate the birthday of Quaid-e-Azam in all district and tehsil headquarters of Azad Jammu Kashmir,  will be the hallmark of the day.
Various social, political and intellectual organizations are engaged in to design special programs to celebrate this day with great fervor and enthusiasm.
 In the ceremonies, the speakers will pay glorious tributes to the founder of Pakistan besides highlighting his hectic life, ideas and achievements –which led to the emergence of the separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent – the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

GCWUS conducts seminar on career options

By
Samina Ch
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SMEDA
SIALKOT, Dec 18 (APP):Government College Women Sialkot (GCWUS) on Thursday successfully organized an informative and motivational seminar titled “Entrepreneurship as a Career Option” in collaboration with SMEDA.
As per release of the varsity, the session aimed to promote entrepreneurial thinking and highlight self-employment and business development as viable career paths for students.
The seminar was led by Mr. Muhammad Awais Khan, an experienced entrepreneurship and business development consultant, who shared valuable insights on startup culture, innovation, and practical approaches to transforming ideas into successful ventures.
The session was highly interactive, with students participating enthusiastically, sharing their business ideas, and engaging in meaningful discussions. Such productive sessions play a vital role in motivating students, enhancing their confidence, and equipping them with real-world knowledge beyond the classroom.
GCWU Sialkot remains committed to organizing career-oriented and skill-enhancing activities to prepare students for diverse professional pathways.

DC reviews polio campaign performance

By
Samina Ch
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APP06-181025 ISLAMABAD: October 18 - A health worker administers polio drops to a child during the anti-polio vaccination campaign at Ghouri Town in the Federal Capital. APP/SAK/TZD
GUJRAT, Dec 18 (APP):Deputy Commissioner,Gujrat Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi chaired a meeting  to review the performance of the ongoing polio vaccination campaign on its third day.
Officials of the Health Department, Police Department and the World Health Organization (WHO) attended the meeting. Chief Executive Officer, District Health Authority Gujrat, Dr. Syed Ata-ul-Munim briefed the meeting on the overall progress, coverage and field activities of the campaign.
WHO Gujrat representative Dr. Sadaf Sultan presented important suggestions for further improvement of the campaign, which the District Health Authority assured would be implemented in letter and spirit.
The Deputy Commissioner directed that children missed during the past three days must be vaccinated on the fourth day of the campaign. She emphasized strict monitoring of field activities to ensure that no child remains unvaccinated.
Parents were urged to fully cooperate with vaccination teams, as polio is a crippling and incurable disease and vaccination is the only effective preventive measure. They were appealed to ensure polio drops for all children under five years of age and play their role in this national cause.

President calls for promoting agriculture technology, farmers’ welfare

By
Najam ul Hassan
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday paying tribute to Pakistan’s farmers on the occasion of World Farmers’ Day, called for taking concrete measures to ensure farmers’ welfare, promote modern agricultural technology, and improve access to markets in the country.

He stressed that targets of food security, sustainable development, and prosperity can only be achieved through strengthening the agricultural sector.

He said Pakistan’s farmer was the backbone of the national economy, food self-sufficiency, and rural development.

Being from a family associated with agriculture, I fully understand the hard work, achievements, and challenges faced by farmers, he said adding that agriculture was a source of livelihood for millions of families in Pakistan and an important pillar of national development.

Water scarcity, climate change, and rising agricultural input costs are major challenges for Pakistani farmers, the president added.

President, PM pay tribute to Lance Naik Mahfuz on his martyrdom anniversary

By
Najam ul Hassan
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0

ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 (APP):President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday paid tribute to Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed (Nishan-i-Haider) on anniversary of his martyrdom, recognizing his valor and sacrifice to safeguard the country.

The president and prime minister, in their separately issued statements, lauded the exemplary gallantry of Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed in the 1971 war when he repelled the enemy at the Wagah Border.

They prayed to Allah Almighty for the elevation of the rank of Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed in paradise.

“Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed is a symbol of bravery, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty to the nation. During the 1971 war, despite being severely wounded at the Wahga front, Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed’s steadfastness in confronting the enemy is a testament to his extraordinary courage,” the president said.

“Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed fought the enemy with bravery. The entire nation salutes him for his exemplary valor and patriotism. The people of Pakistan recognise the sacrifices of the martyrs which they will never forget,” the president remarked.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Lance Naik Mahfuz Shaheed defeated the enemy despite its overwhelming strength.

He said brave soldiers like Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed were the guarantee of Pakistan’s invincible defense.

In 1971, he said Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed proved with his courage, bravery, and valor that the entire nation stood as a solid wall in defense of the homeland.

The prime minister emphasized that the historic bravery of Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed in the battlefield will continue to inspire future generations.

“The entire nation is proud of Muhammad Mahfuz Shaheed and all the brave martyrs who laid down their precious lives for the defense of the motherland,” he added.

Custom constable injured in gunfire

By
Samina Ch
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0
MULTAN, Dec 18 (APP):A constable of the Customs Department sustained serious injuries after being fired on on Multan Road near Mahay Walls, official said.
According to spokesperson,Customs Inspector, Asif Iqbal,along with two constables, was on routine patrol when they stopped two suspicious vehicles—a white Corolla (2006) and a silver car (2016). However, instead of complying with the signal, both vehicles attempted to flee. Police said one vehicle sped away rapidly while the other maintained its speed.
During the chase, an unidentified masked man in one of the fleeing vehicles opened fire, wounding Constable Ghulam Murtaza in the leg. He was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where he was undergoing surgery.
Following the incident, police set up pickets along the motorway and launched a search to apprehend the suspects.
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