Punjab announces Rs60m scholarships for 500 students

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has welcomed the joint defence agreement signed between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, calling it a decisive moment in the history of the Muslim world. In a statement, Maryam said the agreement sent a strong message to the world from the holy city of Makkah that the Muslim world was united. She said the coming together of three major economic, military and political powers was a positive development for the entire Muslim Ummah. Maryam described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter for the Islamic world. She said the pact would strengthen collective security and defence cooperation among the three countries. She praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for standing alongside the Saudi and Turkish leadership, saying their efforts had raised the nation’s pride. “The agreement will not only strengthen the security of our borders but also raise the head of the Muslim Ummah with pride,” she said. Maryam added that the Makkah defence agreement had reinforced the message of unity among Muslim countries. The agreement was signed in Makkah by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the agreement stipulates that an attack on any one of the three countries will be considered an attack on all three. The pact aims to strengthen their joint defence capabilities against any aggression and expand defence cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that lasting peace in the province can only be ensured by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), stressing that no other force can replace their role in maintaining law and order. Speaking to reporters after visiting those injured in the recent explosion in Swat, the chief minister said peace is a shared responsibility and a common need for every citizen. He added that all political parties, religious groups, and people from different schools of thought are united in their desire to restore peace across the province. Afridi said the provincial government remains fully committed to its security policy and will implement it without compromise. He urged the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to stand together in support of peace and stability. He praised the sacrifices made by the provincial police and said the government is providing the force with all the resources it needs to combat terrorism and maintain security. According to the chief minister, more than Rs35 billion has been allocated to strengthen police infrastructure, modern equipment, and operational capacity. He maintained that the KP Police and CTD have the experience, capability, and commitment required to tackle security challenges and said no third party could establish peace in the province more effectively than these institutions. The chief minister said peace is essential for economic growth and public prosperity, adding that development cannot take place without a secure environment. He reaffirmed that strengthening law enforcement agencies remains one of the provincial government’s top priorities. Commenting on national politics, Afridi criticised the federal government, claiming it came to power through what he described as a “Form 47 mandate.” He urged the federal leadership to focus on addressing its own governance and economic challenges instead of criticising the provincial government. He also alleged that Rs5 trillion had been paid under the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) framework and claimed that the country’s economic indicators, including GDP growth, were declining.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that some elements within the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are weakening Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s position and creating divisions between the government and its political allies. Addressing an election rally in Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Bilawal said the PPP’s political differences with the PML-N were normal during elections. However, he claimed that the real problem was internal and involved elements within the ruling party. Bilawal said reports suggesting that the government had collapsed were incorrect. He described Prime Minister Shehbaz as a person with “good intentions”, but questioned whether the premier could succeed if people around him were working against his interests. The PPP chairman alleged that a significant section of the PML-N wanted the prime minister to confront not only opposition parties but also his coalition partners. He also criticised the phased AJK election schedule, questioning why polling was not held on a single day if the region was considered one electoral unit. Bilawal said the elections were being conducted in phases in the name of maintaining peace and ensuring free and fair polling. However, he alleged that the process had instead created opportunities for electoral manipulation. He accused the PML-N of securing seats in advance and alleged that the party had already “taken” seats in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad and was now targeting Poonch and Bagh. The PPP leader urged voters in Poonch and Bagh to respond through their votes in the upcoming elections. The AJK elections are being conducted in three phases. Polling in the Mirpur division was held on July 27, while the second phase in the Muzaffarabad division took place on August 2. The PML-N won nine of the 13 seats contested in Mirpur, while the PPP secured four. In the second phase, the PML-N won 15 additional seats in Muzaffarabad, while the PPP added six. The third phase was originally scheduled for August 10 across the Poonch division. However, the AJK Election Commission has revised the schedule because of security concerns. Under the revised plan, polling on August 10 will be held only in Bagh and Haveli districts. Elections in Poonch district and Pallandri in Sudhnoti district have been postponed. The Election Commission said it took the decision after receiving a report from the AJK home secretary highlighting concerns about the law and order situation in parts of Poonch and Pallandri. The decision follows clashes between protesters and law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot on July 27, which reportedly resulted in several casualties. Tensions have persisted in Rawalakot since early June, with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) organising periodic protests and sit-ins. The group has been demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK legislature reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir.