فیچرڈ

  Islamabad: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has called on the government to focus on resolving the problems faced by the people instead of relying solely on the use of force to establish the writ of the state. He made these remarks in a statement criticizing the government’s economic policies and its handling of public affairs. According to Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, a state’s authority cannot be maintained through coercive measures alone. He argued that the government should prioritize addressing the everyday concerns of citizens, including rising inflation, unemployment, and the increasing cost of essential services. He said that public trust is strengthened when governments respond to people’s needs rather than depending on administrative pressure or strict enforcement. The Jamaat-e-Islami leader strongly criticized the government’s electricity policies, alleging that the ruling authorities are placing an unbearable financial burden on the public through high electricity charges. He stated that ordinary citizens are struggling to pay their utility bills at a time when the cost of living continues to rise. According to him, households and businesses alike are being severely affected by expensive electricity tariffs, making it increasingly difficult for many families to manage their monthly expenses. Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman also criticized the government’s fuel taxation policy. Referring to the petroleum levy, he alleged that the government is effectively collecting money from the public in the form of what he described as “extortion.” He argued that increasing fuel-related taxes has a direct impact on transportation costs, which in turn raises the prices of food, consumer goods, and other essential commodities. As a result, he claimed, inflation continues to place additional pressure on the country’s middle- and lower-income groups. In his statement, the Jamaat-e-Islami chief further alleged that both the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) came to power through what he referred to as “Form 47” This phrase has been used by some political parties in Pakistan to allege irregularities in the electoral process. His remarks reflect his party’s political stance regarding the legitimacy of the current governing coalition. Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman maintained that the country’s leadership should focus on providing relief to the public by reducing electricity prices, reviewing taxation policies, and introducing measures that improve the economic conditions of ordinary citizens. He emphasized that sustainable governance depends on public confidence, transparency, and policies that directly benefit the people. The government has previously defended its economic decisions by stating that measures such as electricity pricing and petroleum levies are necessary to meet fiscal requirements and maintain economic stability. However, opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, continue to argue that these policies have placed excessive financial pressure on the public. The latest remarks by Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman come amid ongoing political debate over Pakistan’s economic challenges, rising inflation, and governance. His statement highlights Jamaat-e-Islami’s continued criticism of the government’s economic policies and its call for greater public relief, while also reiterating the party’s political objections regarding the current administration’s mandate.

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has extended the tenure of its $3 billion financial facility to Pakistan, providing significant relief to the country’s external financing position and reducing immediate repayment pressure. Federal Finance Minister confirmed the development, describing it as a timely boost for Pakistan’s economy. The financial support, which was initially arranged to help Pakistan meet its payment obligations to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was originally granted for a three-month period. With the extension now in place, Pakistan has gained additional fiscal breathing space as it continues to manage its external liabilities and strengthen foreign exchange reserves. Officials at the State Bank of Pakistan said the rollover of external financial support, amounting to $5 billion in total, has further reinforced the country’s foreign exchange position while easing short-term external payment obligations. According to government officials, Saudi Arabia currently holds $8 billion in deposits with Pakistan. They added that Pakistan had secured the $3 billion facility from the Kingdom in April this year. For the fiscal year 2026–27, Pakistan’s external financing requirement has declined to $21.5 billion, reflecting an improvement in the country’s financial outlook. Officials also noted that interest payments on foreign debt have fallen by nearly half a billion dollars, helping reduce the overall debt-servicing burden. The State Bank further revealed that Pakistan repaid $2.2 billion in external loans during July. Despite these repayments, Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend the loan has provided a crucial financial cushion, supporting economic stability and strengthening investor confidence.

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Police have alleged that the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) is pursuing a coordinated agenda to disrupt peace and destabilise the region, claiming recent clashes with security forces demonstrate that the group has transformed into an armed organisation. Addressing a press conference in Rawalakot, AJK Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khawar Ali Shaukat said the violence of the past two days contradicted claims circulating on social media that the movement was peaceful. He alleged that armed individuals occupied buildings, established fortified positions and opened fire on police and security personnel using automatic and sophisticated weapons. According to the police, law enforcement personnel had been deployed across various parts of Rawalakot to maintain public order when they came under attack. Shaukat said authorities had exercised restraint throughout the situation but were compelled to respond in accordance with the law after security forces were targeted. The police spokesperson maintained that the nature of the weapons used and the organised tactics adopted during the clashes suggested the involvement of more than an ordinary protest movement. He further claimed that the group’s activities were intended to damage social harmony, weaken the atmosphere of brotherhood in AJK and create instability in the region. Officials said the confrontation claimed the life of a Rangers official, while around 15 police officers and other law enforcement personnel were injured during the exchanges. Police have reiterated that operations are being carried out under the law to restore order, while investigations into the incidents and the alleged network behind the violence remain ongoing.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Belarus have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding defence cooperation following high-level talks between senior military officials at Air Headquarters in Islamabad. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a Belarusian defence delegation led by Major General Muraveiko Pavel Nikolayevich, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and First Deputy Defence Minister, met with Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, on Thursday. The discussions focused on regional security, matters of mutual interest and opportunities to broaden military collaboration between the two countries. During the meeting, the Pakistan Air Force chief reiterated the PAF’s resolve to strengthen bilateral defence ties through greater cooperation in joint training, military exercises, technological innovation and defence industry partnerships. The Belarusian military chief praised the Pakistan Air Force for its high level of operational readiness, technological progress and growing self-reliance in defence capabilities. He also reaffirmed Belarus’ interest in expanding military cooperation with Pakistan across key areas. The meeting highlighted the shared determination of both countries to reinforce defence relations and explore new avenues of collaboration aimed at promoting mutual strategic interests

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed a comprehensive technical audit of the billing systems of electricity distribution companies (Discos), reaffirming that reforming Pakistan’s power sector remains one of the government’s top priorities. Chairing a high-level meeting on the performance of the Power Division, the prime minister acknowledged that distribution companies had shown noticeable improvement but stressed that further reforms were essential to enhance efficiency and service delivery. He described the nationwide installation of smart electricity meters as a key step toward modernising the sector and improving transparency. Shehbaz Sharif also called for strict action against electricity theft, instructing authorities to strengthen enforcement mechanisms at every level. He ordered the Power Division to establish clear performance benchmarks for distribution companies, supported by measurable targets and specific implementation timelines. To encourage better performance, the prime minister announced that the country’s best-performing distribution company would receive formal recognition and awards, promoting healthy competition among power utilities. Addressing the issue of prolonged electricity shortages in rural areas, he directed officials to prepare village-level solarisation projects, saying decentralised solar energy systems could reduce pressure on the national electricity grid while improving access to reliable power. During the meeting, officials informed the prime minister that technical and commercial losses across distribution companies had continued to decline. Islamabad, Lahore and Gujranwala electricity companies recorded the lowest transmission and distribution losses during the last fiscal year, while power utilities in Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan achieved full recovery of billed electricity dues in the 2025–26 fiscal year. The meeting was also told that specialised Disco Support Units have been established in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Lahore, Multan and Hazara to combat electricity theft, improve bill recovery and resolve technical challenges more effectively. Officials further briefed the prime minister that the first phase of the Asset Performance Management System (APMS) at the transformer level is expected to be completed by the end of September. The system is designed to improve monitoring of transformers, helping reduce both power theft and load-shedding. In addition, the government is considering the installation of 16.2 million Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) single-phase smart meters across the Multan, Lahore, Peshawar, Hazara and Quetta regions as part of its broader strategy to modernise Pakistan’s electricity distribution network.