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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called on member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to strengthen regional cooperation against terrorism, saying lasting peace and economic development cannot be achieved unless militant groups operating from Afghan territory are effectively eliminated. Addressing the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Dar said Pakistan remains committed to regional peace and wants to see Afghanistan emerge as a peaceful, stable, regionally connected and economically prosperous country. He said a secure Afghanistan would benefit not only Pakistan but all SCO member states and the wider region. The foreign minister described terrorism originating from Afghan territory as one of the most serious security challenges facing Pakistan. He said militant organisations continue to use Afghan soil for recruitment, training and planning attacks, creating persistent threats to regional stability. Dar said Pakistan has suffered heavily from terrorism in recent years. According to him, more than 560 Pakistanis have lost their lives in over 2,000 terrorist incidents since the beginning of this year. He added that investigations into several attacks had also identified the involvement of Afghan nationals. He urged the SCO to play a more active role in addressing the security situation and called on the Afghan authorities to honour their international commitments against terrorism. He stressed that no country’s territory should be allowed to serve as a base for militant activities targeting neighbouring states. Speaking about the SCO, Dar said the organisation has developed into one of the region’s most important platforms for cooperation over the past 25 years. He noted that it now promotes collaboration not only in security but also in trade, economic development, connectivity, culture and regional stability. Looking ahead, Dar said the organisation should place greater emphasis on digital development, technological cooperation, innovation and energy security to meet future regional challenges and promote sustainable economic growth among member states. Turning to the Middle East, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s position that dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect remain the only effective means of resolving international disputes. He said peaceful negotiations are essential for achieving lasting regional peace and preventing further conflict. He also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran. Dar said Pakistan played an important role in encouraging direct engagement between the two countries, leading to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year. He described the agreement as a significant diplomatic achievement and encouraged the international community to build on the progress made through continued negotiations. On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Dar held separate meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing regional cooperation and expanding collaboration through multilateral organisations. During his meeting with Wang Yi, both leaders reviewed Pakistan-China relations and exchanged views on regional developments. The Chinese foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote regional peace and extended best wishes for Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship of the SCO for 2026-27.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has credited pre-monsoon flood protection measures with preventing urban flooding in Gujrat during the recent spell of heavy rains. Managing Director WASA, Kashan Hafeez, said the city remained safe from potential flooding because of advance planning and the timely completion of key drainage projects before the arrival of the monsoon season. He said a three-kilometre-long protective drain constructed along Mehsam Mor and Fatehpur Road proved highly effective in managing the flow of rainwater. According to him, the project successfully diverted excess water away from residential and commercial areas, significantly reducing the risk of flooding. Kashan Hafeez said rainwater was redirected toward the Halsey Nullah through the newly developed drainage network. By channeling water into natural waterways, authorities were able to prevent water from accumulating in densely populated neighborhoods and major roads. He added that the drainage system functioned as planned despite heavy rainfall, allowing rainwater to flow smoothly without causing widespread disruption to daily life or damage to infrastructure. The WASA chief said the protective drainage network was developed under a Rs2 billion infrastructure project aimed at strengthening Gujrat’s flood management system. As part of the initiative, four major protective drains were constructed to improve stormwater disposal and enhance the city’s resilience against seasonal flooding. He said the successful performance of the project demonstrates the importance of proactive planning and investment in urban infrastructure. According to WASA, the newly built drainage system will continue to play a vital role in protecting Gujrat from future monsoon-related flooding and ensuring the safety of residents during periods of heavy rainfall.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has raised questions about the performance and accessibility of the Daanish School System. He said education at Daanish schools was expensive. As a result, the system had enrolled only around 40,000 students in 15 years. The minister questioned the effectiveness of earlier education initiatives in the province. He specifically referred to comprehensive and pilot schools established in Punjab. He asked where those schools had gone and why they had failed to deliver the expected results. Rana Sikandar Hayat said the Punjab government was working to reduce the gap between public and private education. For this purpose, the government had moved towards a public-private partnership model. He said the approach could help improve the quality of education and increase access for children. The provincial minister also highlighted the enrolment performance of the Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence programme. He said these schools had recorded an average enrolment of around 112 per cent so far. Rana Sikandar Hayat also spoke about the issue of inaccurate student records in government schools. He claimed that authorities had removed around 1.5 million ghost students from government school records across Punjab. The minister said the province still faced a major education challenge. Around 25 per cent of children in Punjab remain out of school, according to him. He said the dropout problem becomes particularly serious when students reach the high-school level. A significant number of children leave education after reaching secondary-level schools, he said. This affects the overall literacy and education indicators of the province. The minister said the government was now focusing on bringing children who are outside the education system back into schools. He said schools operating under outsourcing arrangements had been given a specific target. They would be required to enrol 5 per cent of children currently deprived of education. The initiative is aimed at increasing school enrolment and reducing the number of children who remain outside the formal education system. Rana Sikandar Hayat said improving access to education required both enrolment and retention. Bringing children into schools would not be enough if they later dropped out. He stressed the need to strengthen the education system and ensure that children continue their studies through higher grades. The minister’s remarks highlight the challenges facing Punjab’s education sector. Despite having a large network of schools, the province continues to deal with out-of-school children, inaccurate enrolment records and high dropout rates. The government is now looking towards partnerships with the private sector and reforms in public schools to address these problems. The minister said the ultimate objective was to provide more children with access to quality education and reduce the divide between public and private schooling.