Teachings of Hazrat Pir Makki Sharif (RA) promote divine love, service to humanity and social harmony: Bilal Yasin & Dr. Ehsan Bhutta

  A meeting of the investigation team probing the death of Karachi-based young businessman Mir Raza has concluded at Ferozabad Police Station, where several important decisions were taken regarding the ongoing investigation. According to investigative sources, different tasks have been assigned to members of the committee as part of the inquiry. The family of Mir Raza will be formally interviewed and their statements will be recorded. The team has also decided to record the statements of 21 individuals who were taken into custody during the investigation. Following the meeting, members of the investigation committee left for the crime scene to inspect the location and collect additional evidence. The former investigating officer will also accompany the new investigation team during the visit. Meanwhile, the new investigation team has contacted the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in connection with the case. The team has requested details of Mir Raza’s social media profiles and digital accounts to examine his online activity and determine whether it could provide any clues regarding his disappearance and death. The new team has written four letters to the NCCIA. In one of the letters, the agency was asked to conduct a forensic examination of Mir Raza’s smartwatch. The smartwatch was handed over to the NCCIA a day earlier for examination. However, the victim’s family has requested that the forensic examination of the smartwatch be conducted at a forensic laboratory in Lahore rather than by the NCCIA. The family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, said the smartwatch had remained in the possession of the former head of the investigation committee for several days, raising concerns about possible tampering. He demanded that the forensic examination be carried out in Lahore to ensure transparency and credibility. Earlier, on August 12, Dr Usama Sheikh, who conducted Mir Raza’s initial post-mortem examination, was removed from his position as a medico-legal officer. Officials said the doctor had committed serious errors during the initial post-mortem. He will appear before officials during an inquiry into the matter. A preliminary medical report following the exhumation and second post-mortem of Mir Raza indicated signs of physical trauma on his body. The report stated that the gunshot wound was smaller at the back and larger at the front, suggesting that the bullet may have entered from the rear. The report also revealed that Mir Raza had suffered fractured ribs and multiple injuries to his head and face. A fracture and wound approximately 12 centimetres long were found on his right thigh, while blood stains were also detected in tissues in the lower part of his body. The preliminary findings obtained after his exhumation on August 8 differed significantly from the initial post-mortem report. Evidence of a deep injury and fracture was found in his jaw, while injuries were also detected on his nasal bone and various parts of his face. Investigative sources said 17 samples were collected during the exhumation. Samples from Mir Raza’s parents were also obtained for DNA matching. The samples will be submitted to the forensic laboratory of the University of Karachi. After the samples were collected, Mir Raza was reburied on the same day, August 8. Mir Raza Ali Khan went missing from the PECHS area of Karachi on July 28. He left home at 4:09 a.m. in an online taxi, and his body was recovered from Gulistan-e-Johar two days later. Police said the body was found in a severely damaged condition and had a gunshot wound to the chest. His social media accounts had reportedly been shut down one day before his body was recovered. According to Mir Raza’s father, his son was scheduled to marry on August 30 at Bait-ul-Mukarram Mosque in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and had been very happy about starting a new chapter in his life.

  Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of Pakistan’s National Integrated Digital Policy Framework, with discussions focusing on strengthening digital governance, expanding the digital economy, and improving public services through modern technology. During the meeting, the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to make the facilities of the National Data Center, “Sky 47,” available to all federal government institutions. He emphasized that the initiative would serve as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s digital transformation strategy and significantly improve the efficiency of government operations. Shehbaz Sharif said the National Data Center would function as a centralized platform for storing and managing data from all government institutions. He explained that maintaining a unified data infrastructure would eliminate the need for individual departments to establish separate data centers, resulting in substantial savings of public resources while ensuring greater coordination and improved data security. The prime minister highlighted the role of the Pakistan Digital Authority in leading the country’s digital transformation. He said the authority was providing an effective direction for the delivery of government services and citizen-centric facilities. According to him, the implementation of the National Digital Vision would play a key role in building a modern, integrated, and technologically advanced society capable of meeting future challenges. Appreciating the progress made so far in promoting digital governance, the digital economy, and digital public services, Shehbaz Sharif instructed officials to strengthen international partnerships under the National Integrated Digital Policy. He stressed the importance of increasing collaboration with global technology partners and ensuring Pakistan’s effective representation at international digital forums to benefit from global expertise and innovation. The prime minister further directed that the National Digital Vision should be implemented across multiple sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, public utilities, housing, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He noted that the adoption of digital technologies in these sectors would improve service delivery, enhance efficiency, and provide citizens with faster, more reliable, and transparent access to government services. He also instructed authorities to accelerate efforts to provide better digital facilities to the public without delay. According to the prime minister, the introduction of a Digital ID system would allow citizens to access multiple government services through a single, integrated platform. This initiative is expected to simplify administrative procedures, reduce paperwork, improve transparency, and make public services more accessible for people across the country. The meeting also decided that a session of the National Digital Commission would be convened in the near future. The commission will engage provincial governments and other key stakeholders to ensure coordinated implementation of the National Digital Policy across Pakistan. Officials said the collaborative approach would help align federal and provincial initiatives while accelerating the country’s digital transformation agenda. Several senior cabinet members and government officials attended the meeting, including Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Atta Tarar, National Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, and State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad, along with other senior officials. The meeting reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a digitally connected Pakistan by modernizing public administration, strengthening the digital economy, and ensuring that technology-driven services improve the daily lives of citizens while supporting sustainable economic growth.

Pakistan and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in food security, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and livestock development. The renewed partnership aims to address the growing challenges posed by climate change while supporting Pakistan’s long-term agricultural and economic development. The commitment was made during a meeting held in Islamabad between Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and a delegation from the FAO led by Deputy Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Robert Simpson. The discussions focused on strengthening existing partnerships and accelerating the implementation of projects designed to improve agricultural productivity and food systems across the country. During the meeting, Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized that Pakistan remains one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite contributing only a minimal share to global greenhouse gas emissions. He stressed that unpredictable weather patterns, floods, droughts, and rising temperatures continue to threaten agricultural production, food availability, and the livelihoods of millions of farmers. The minister called for enhanced technical assistance from the FAO and urged the timely implementation of ongoing development initiatives. He highlighted the importance of adopting modern farming practices, improving water management, and strengthening institutional capacity to help Pakistan build a more resilient agricultural sector. Rana Tanveer Hussain also outlined the government’s key priorities for the agriculture sector. These include improving food safety standards, strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) systems to boost agricultural exports, expanding livestock development programs, and increasing livestock exports to international markets. He further stressed the need to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported wheat and edible oil by increasing domestic agricultural production and promoting sustainable farming practices. The FAO delegation reaffirmed its continued support for Pakistan’s agricultural development agenda. Robert Simpson assured the minister that the organization would continue working closely with the government to mobilize financial resources from international financial institutions and development partners. The funding is expected to support climate adaptation projects, food security initiatives, and sustainable agricultural development across the country. The meeting reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and the FAO to building a resilient and sustainable food system capable of addressing future challenges. By strengthening cooperation and investing in climate-smart agriculture, both sides aim to improve food security, enhance rural livelihoods, and promote sustainable economic growth for the benefit of future generations.