فیچرڈ

A political controversy surrounding Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has intensified after the veteran politician refused to apologize for remarks he made earlier this month regarding security issues and the role of state institutions. The comments have drawn criticism from government officials and prompted legal proceedings. Addressing lawyers affiliated with his party on Sunday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that he would not withdraw or apologize for his remarks. Instead, he argued that those who, in his view, launched a propaganda campaign against him should offer an apology. The controversy stems from a speech delivered during a party rally in Kasur, where the JUI-F leader spoke about the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. During the address, he questioned calls for political workers to take up arms against militant groups, saying he would not form a private force or militia. In the same speech, Maulana Fazlur Rehman also criticized the involvement of individuals in politics while serving in uniform, suggesting that anyone wishing to participate in politics should first leave official service and contest elections as civilians. The remarks quickly became the subject of nationwide political debate. The speech also led to legal action. On July 15, a local court in Gujranwala issued a notice to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in response to a petition filed over the remarks. The court has sought a reply from the agency by August 17 as the matter proceeds through legal channels. Senior members of the federal government strongly criticized the JUI-F chief’s comments. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said linking the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces to their salaries was unfair and disrespectful to military personnel, particularly the families of fallen soldiers. He maintained that while political leaders have the right to criticize policies or procedures, they should avoid statements that undermine the sacrifices of security forces. The controversy has sparked wider debate across Pakistan’s political landscape, with supporters arguing that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was expressing a political opinion on national security, while critics believe his remarks crossed acceptable boundaries. As political reactions continue, the legal process is expected to determine whether any further action will be taken. The issue remains a prominent topic in national politics, highlighting ongoing tensions between opposition leaders and the government over security, governance, and political accountability.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has accelerated plans to transfer a 30 percent stake in the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), establishing two high-level committees to complete the financial, commercial, and legal framework for the transaction. According to a briefing presented by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), the committees will determine key aspects of the deal, including the share price, payment schedule, dividend distribution, utilisation of sale proceeds, and the transfer of management control. The first committee, headed by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation, includes senior officials from the Finance, Law and Justice, and Maritime Affairs ministries, along with the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the Director General of NLC. Its mandate is to finalise the financial and commercial structure of the agreement, including the valuation of shares, payment mechanism, dividend arrangements, and the injection of funds into PNSC. The second committee, led by the Secretary of the Law and Justice Division, will oversee the legal documentation required for the transaction. Its responsibilities include preparing the Share Purchase Agreement, Shareholders’ Agreement, and the legal framework governing the transfer of management control. The ECC endorsed the proposal and emphasised the importance of increasing private sector participation in future maritime initiatives to improve efficiency, strengthen governance, and unlock the sector’s economic potential. To ensure smooth implementation, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has also proposed an Implementation Committee chaired by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation and co-chaired by the Minister for Maritime Affairs. The committee will develop a roadmap and supervise the execution of the transaction. The government had previously granted in-principle approval for NLC to acquire a 30 percent stake in PNSC, along with management control and consolidation rights, subject to all applicable legal requirements. PNSC, a state-owned enterprise listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, remains majority-owned by the federal government, which holds 87.56 percent of its shares. Public investors own 10.87 percent, while the PNSC Employees Empowerment Trust holds the remaining 1.57 percent. The national shipping company currently operates a fleet of 14 vessels, including three recently added ships. Despite fluctuations in earnings, PNSC has maintained strong profitability, posting net profits of Rs30 billion in FY2022-23, Rs19.4 billion in FY2023-24, and Rs20.4 billion in FY2024-25. Established under the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation Ordinance, 1979, the organisation has undergone legislative reforms in recent years, with amendments introduced in 2023 and 2024 to align its governance framework with the State-Owned Enterprises Act, 2023. These changes are intended to improve transparency, accountability, and operational performance as the government advances its broader state-owned enterprise reform agenda.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has distanced the party from recent remarks made by Imran Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, stating that her comments reflected her personal opinion and should not be viewed as the official position of PTI. Speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail on Tuesday, Gohar said he had been informed that the interview in question was recorded nearly three months ago. He emphasized that Noreen Niazi holds no office within the party and is not involved in PTI’s political decision-making process. Highlighting national security, the PTI chairman described Pakistan’s recent success in Marka-e-Haq as a matter of national pride and credited it as a blessing for the country. He said Pakistan’s response to external threats had demonstrated its strength before the world and warned that any future aggression would be met with an even stronger reaction. Gohar also appealed to political leaders and the public to avoid making controversial statements about the armed forces or the country’s martyrs, stressing that such sensitive issues should remain above political disagreements. Reaffirming PTI’s position on terrorism, he said the party fully supports decisive action against terrorist elements and called for a united national strategy to eliminate the threat through collective efforts and available state resources. On the political front, Gohar confirmed that PTI’s boycott of parliamentary standing committees and the Judicial Commission remains unchanged. Discussing the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, he said the party had received reports that the electoral process had been rescheduled into three phases. Although some members had proposed reconsidering the boycott, no agreement had been reached, and the party’s decision to stay away from the polls remains in force. Separately, prison sources confirmed that former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were allowed to meet inside Adiala Jail. The meeting reportedly took place in the prison’s conference room and lasted around 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan called on PTI lawmakers and senior leaders to actively participate in the party’s anti-government campaign instead of leaving the responsibility to a limited number of workers and family members. Expressing concern over the lack of updates regarding her brother’s condition, she questioned how long the movement could continue without stronger support from the party’s elected representatives and leadership.

LAHORE: In a major step towards prison reform and prisoner rehabilitation, the Punjab government has launched the “Naya Aaghaz” (New Beginning) Programme, an initiative designed to provide interest-free loans to eligible inmates after their release, enabling them to start small businesses and successfully reintegrate into society. The programme, introduced under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s prison reform agenda, is being implemented through a partnership between the Punjab Home Department and Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance. The agreement aims to support former prisoners by helping them achieve financial independence using vocational skills acquired during their imprisonment. Under the initiative, eligible released prisoners will be able to obtain interest-free loans of up to Rs200,000 to either establish a new business or expand an existing one. The loans will be repaid in equal monthly instalments over 36 months, while recovered funds will be recycled to support future beneficiaries. An initial revolving fund of Rs5 million has been allocated by Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance to launch the programme. All administrative and operational costs will be borne by Akhuwat, ensuring that neither the Punjab Home Department nor the Punjab Prisons Department faces any financial burden. The Punjab Prisons Department will identify inmates expected to be released within the next three months and assess their eligibility based on their conduct in prison and the vocational training they have successfully completed. Final verification of loan applications will be carried out independently by Akhuwat in accordance with its lending policies. Officials said Punjab’s prisons currently offer certified vocational training programmes across all correctional facilities, with inmates receiving technical education in 23 different trades. More than 28,000 prisoners have already earned vocational certificates through TEVTA and PVTC training centres, while approximately 6,500 inmates are presently undergoing skills training. Additionally, 74 psychologists are working in Punjab prisons to encourage rehabilitation through counselling and positive engagement. The agreement was signed by DIG Prisons Ahmed Naveed Gondal and Akhuwat CEO Dr Kamran Shams in the presence of Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Task Force on Prisons Rana Manan Khan, Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi, Akhuwat Foundation Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib, Inspector General Prisons Mian Salik Jalal, senior Home Department officials and other representatives. Speaking at the ceremony, Rana Manan Khan said the programme would enable released prisoners to become financially self-reliant and lead respectable lives after completing their sentences. He described prison reforms as one of the Punjab government’s highest priorities and said the administration was committed to transforming prisons into genuine rehabilitation centres. Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to reducing poverty, promoting social reintegration and ensuring that former prisoners return to society as productive and self-sufficient citizens. He added that education, vocational training and discipline were central to the government’s vision of modern prison reforms. Akhuwat Foundation Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib said the programme is entirely based on the principle of Qarz-e-Hasna (benevolent, interest-free loans) and will provide released inmates with a dignified opportunity to rebuild their lives. He noted that Akhuwat has so far disbursed over Rs500 billion in interest-free loans to around 4.5 million families across Pakistan. Officials also clarified that individuals listed under the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) or designated under United Nations Security Council sanctions will not qualify for the scheme. They further stated that the Punjab government and the Prisons Department will not be responsible for loan defaults, business losses or repayment issues, as all lending decisions and monitoring will remain the responsibility of Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance.

LAHORE: The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has crossed a major milestone in its Global IT Certifications Program, attracting more than 20,000 applications since the initiative was launched in September 2024. The achievement was highlighted during a progress review meeting chaired by PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf, where senior officials assessed the program’s implementation and future direction. The meeting was attended by Director General e-Governance Sajid Latif, Director of the Skills Development Wing Chaudhry Ahmed Islam, and other senior officials. Discussions focused on the pace of application processing, candidate and certification verification, as well as the reimbursement system designed to support successful participants. Officials informed the meeting that the eligibility of nearly 11,000 applicants has already been verified through a dedicated online portal developed by PITB. Payment verification has been completed for approximately 1,350 candidates, while certification verification has been finalized for around 1,150 applicants, paving the way for reimbursement of certification costs. According to the briefing, 662 candidates have so far received full reimbursement of their certification fees. The payments were transferred directly to their bank accounts after successful completion of internationally recognized IT certifications and the verification of their credentials. The Global IT Certifications Program is aimed at equipping Punjab’s youth with internationally recognized digital qualifications, helping them strengthen their professional skills, improve employment prospects, and compete in the rapidly evolving global technology sector. Speaking during the meeting, Chairman Faisal Yousaf said the strong response from aspiring professionals reflects the increasing demand for internationally recognized digital expertise. He noted that, in line with the evolving needs of the IT industry, PITB has expanded the initiative to include 125 globally recognized IT certifications, offering young Pakistanis broader opportunities to develop competitive careers in the international digital economy. PITB has encouraged interested individuals to apply for the program through its official online portal, where details regarding eligibility, available certifications, and the registration process are available.

LAHORE: The growing impact of water insecurity and climate change on women took center stage at a dialogue titled “Women and Water,” jointly organized by Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) and the University of Home Economics, Lahore. The event brought together academics, development professionals, and civil society representatives to advocate for inclusive and gender-responsive water governance in Pakistan. Addressing the gathering, Vice Chancellor of the University of Home Economics, Prof. Dr. Zaib-un-Nisa, underscored the urgent need to tackle water pollution, plastic waste, and inadequate water treatment systems. She stressed that sustainable solutions require greater investment in scientific water management, wider adoption of rainwater harvesting, improved household water storage, advanced recycling technologies, and university-led awareness campaigns to encourage responsible water use. Executive Director of WISE, Bushra Khaliq, said that Pakistan’s water challenges cannot be effectively addressed without recognizing their disproportionate impact on women and girls, who often bear the greatest burden of water scarcity. She emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from organizations working directly in urban water management and called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, academia, civil society, and local communities. She also urged policymakers to ensure women’s voices, experiences, and leadership are fully integrated into water governance at every level. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Iram Rubab, Head of the Sociology Department at the University of Home Economics, described water as a multidimensional issue linked to health, agriculture, family welfare, livelihoods, sociology, and environmental sustainability. She encouraged interdisciplinary dialogue and collaborative research, noting that adopting a gender perspective in water management leads to more effective identification of challenges and practical solutions, particularly as women remain the primary managers of household water resources. The participants agreed that addressing Pakistan’s growing water crisis requires policies that not only strengthen water management but also recognize the vital role of women in ensuring sustainable and equitable access to this essential resource.