Iran targets US bases across Gulf

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Jordan to participate in a ministerial meeting focused on the worsening situation in occupied Jerusalem, reaffirming Pakistan’s diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause. According to the Foreign Office, the meeting, scheduled for August 5, will bring together foreign ministers from Arab League member states and several Islamic countries to discuss recent developments in Jerusalem and coordinate a unified response to the evolving situation. The Foreign Office said Dar is attending the meeting at the invitation of Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. During the visit, participating foreign ministers are also expected to meet Abdullah II to discuss regional developments and ongoing efforts aimed at addressing the challenges facing the Palestinian people. On the sidelines of the conference, Ishaq Dar is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several foreign ministers to exchange views on regional issues, including the humanitarian situation in Palestine and broader Middle East developments. The Foreign Office described Pakistan’s participation as a reflection of its longstanding and principled support for the Palestinian people. It reiterated Pakistan’s position in favor of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds Al-Sharif) as its capital. Pakistan has consistently condemned actions that it says threaten the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, including repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has said that the painful memories of August 16 are still fresh. He described the Jaranwala tragedy as a deep wound on the hearts of the affected families and communities. In a statement, Arora said the Punjab government stood with all victims of the tragedy. He said Chief Minister Punjab and the provincial government were committed to protecting the rights of religious minorities. Arora said the Punjab government had adopted an effective strategy to ensure the safety of minority communities. He added that security measures had been strengthened to protect people from violence and discrimination. The provincial minister said the protection of religious minorities was a priority for the government. He claimed that the government had taken steps to ensure that such an incident would not happen again. Arora warned that no individual or group would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. He said violations of the rights of religious minorities would not be tolerated. He stressed that every citizen had the right to live in safety and with dignity. He said the government was responsible for protecting the lives and property of all citizens, regardless of their religious background. The minister also said religious minorities in Punjab were being provided with all possible facilities. He said the government was working to address their concerns and improve their overall security. Arora said the Punjab government would continue taking measures to create a peaceful environment for all communities. He added that protection of minorities was essential for maintaining harmony and stability in the province. The minister’s statement came on August 16, the anniversary of the Jaranwala incident. The episode remains a painful memory for the Christian community and has continued to raise concerns about the protection of religious minorities. Arora said the government was determined to learn from the tragedy and prevent similar incidents in the future. He reiterated that no one would be permitted to violate the law or target minority communities.

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan’s provincial governments to generate an additional Rs430 billion in tax revenue during the current fiscal year, as part of broader efforts to strengthen public finances and increase provincial own-source revenues. According to official details, the proposed increase in tax collection is equivalent to 0.3 per cent of Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is expected to be shared among the four provinces in line with their allocations under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. The move is aimed at improving fiscal sustainability by encouraging provinces to rely more on locally generated revenues rather than transfers from the federal government. Officials believe stronger provincial tax collection would also help create greater financial discipline and support long-term economic reforms. Sources said each province would contribute to the additional revenue target based on its respective share under the NFC formula, although specific collection targets for individual provinces have yet to be announced. The recommendation comes as Pakistan continues implementing economic reforms under its programme with the IMF, with revenue mobilisation remaining one of the key priorities for both the federal and provincial governments. Meanwhile, the federal government has decided to establish an inter-ministerial committee, to be headed by the prime minister, for the implementation of decisions made by the National Economic Council (NEC). According to officials, the committee will include federal and provincial ministers along with senior government representatives. It will be responsible for monitoring the execution of national policies, reviewing progress on major development initiatives and ensuring timely implementation of decisions taken by the NEC. The committee is also expected to strengthen coordination between the federation and the provinces, particularly on economic planning, fiscal reforms and development projects that require close cooperation among different levels of government. Government sources said improved coordination is considered essential for achieving national economic objectives and ensuring that development programmes are implemented efficiently across the country. Economists say increasing provincial tax revenues has long been a key recommendation of international financial institutions, which argue that greater fiscal autonomy can improve governance, reduce dependence on federal transfers and create a more balanced financial system. The IMF’s latest recommendation is likely to shape upcoming provincial budgetary decisions as governments evaluate measures to expand their tax base while balancing the need to protect economic activity. The proposed revenue measures are expected to remain a major focus of fiscal policy discussions in the months ahead.