Category: 1. Pakistan

KARACHI:

A protest by the Sindh Employees Grand Alliance turned violent as negotiations over salary increases failed. A large number of employees gathered outside the Karachi Press Club to stage a protest, demanding payment of pensioners’ dues, increase in salaries and pensions by 70 per cent, and increase in the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA), and House Rent Allowance by 50 per cent. A government delegation, including the provincial energy minister and city commissioner, tried negotiating with the protesters, however, talks failed, prompting the protesters to march towards the CM House. Police tried to block them by placing barricades on the roads around the press club, however, protesters crossed the obstacles and entered the Red Zone, reaching Polo Ground. They were pushed back towards the press club, with the chaos continuing at Fawara Chowk near Saddar.

Police resorted to tear gas shelling, resulting in a clash with the protesters, which turned Fawara Chowk and the surrounding areas into a battleground, causing severe traffic congestion, and resulting in some people, including a female cop, falling ill due to tear gas exposure. Over 20 protesters were also arrested.

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari has officially signed the Finance Bill 2026 into law following its approval by both the National Assembly and the Senate. The signing took place after the bill was passed through the necessary legislative processes.

In accordance with the Constitution, the bill, which includes various fiscal measures for the upcoming financial year, was presented to President Zardari after being debated and passed in both houses of Parliament.

Following the president’s signature, the official Gazette notification has been issued, making the bill’s provisions effective immediately.

On June 10, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled a Rs17.6 trillion federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26, laying stress on the government’s focus on economic stability and growth.

Read more: Govt has agreed to income tax exemption on annual salary below Rs1.2m: Bilawal

In his budget speech in the National Assembly marred by the opposition’s pandemonium, Aurangzeb outlined key economic achievements, saying that remittances have reached $31.2 billion, with projections to rise to $37-38 billion by the end of the current financial year.

Last week, National Assembly approved the budget with certain amendments, rejecting opposition calls for public consultation and clearing the way for a raft of tax reforms, revenue measures, and government spending plans for the coming year.

The session, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, began with Aurangzeb moving the Finance Bill 2025, which was taken up for a clause-by-clause review.

Opposition members proposed an amendment to delay the approval of the bill and seek public consultation, but this amendment was overwhelmingly rejected.

Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf underscored the importance of operational preparedness as the key to success in modern warfare during a speech at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air War College Institute in Karachi on Monday, Radio Pakistan reported.

Addressing participants as the chief guest, Admiral Ashraf highlighted the significance of constant readiness and strategic foresight, citing recent developments along the eastern front as a critical example.

He also praised the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, commending the Pakistan Air Force’s efforts in modernising and swiftly integrating advanced technologies. These measures, he said, have greatly improved the operational readiness of the Air Force and reshaped the region’s deterrence strategy.

He added, “Pakistan Navy’s combat capabilities have undergone significant enhancement across all operational domains, including surface, sub-surface, and aerial forces. This transformation has made our maritime force more agile and potent.”

The navy chief stressed the necessity of cohesive national defence, emphasising the importance of inter-service collaboration. He revealed plans for more frequent joint operational exercises with the PAF, aimed at enhancing synergy and interoperability between the two institutions.

Admiral Ashraf also discussed the pivotal role of technological advancements in modern conflicts, specifically highlighting the importance of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

He announced a strategic collaboration between the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park and the Pakistan Maritime Science and Technology Park to advance indigenous capabilities in unmanned systems.

This partnership, he said, will bolster Pakistan’s technological self-reliance and enhance its operational edge in defence.

The navy chief further praised the Air War College Institute for its academic excellence, recognising its critical role in preparing future military leaders to tackle the complex challenges of modern warfare. He was welcomed by Air War College Institute President Air Vice Marshal Rashid Habib upon his arrival.

A protest by the Sindh Employees Grand Alliance demanding salary and pension increases turned violent on Monday after demonstrators clashed with police while attempting to march toward Karachi’s Red Zone, following failed negotiations with the provincial government.

The demonstration began outside the Karachi Press Club, where large crowds of government employees gathered.

Tensions escalated as protesters advanced toward the restricted area, prompting police to respond with batons, tear gas, and water cannons in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Protesters retaliated by hurling stones, intensifying the unrest.

Chanting slogans against the provincial government, protesters breached barricades and staged a sit-in near the Red Zone.

Another wave of tear gas was fired, affecting nearby civilians—many of whom reported breathing difficulties. A female police officer collapsed during the confrontation and was rushed to the hospital.

In an effort to contain the protest, police set up roadblocks on major routes, including I.I. Chundrigar Road, causing massive traffic jams in the area.

Earlier in the day, access to the Press Club had also been blocked, disrupting the movement of journalists and daily commuters.

Following the clash, more than 20 demonstrators were arrested and taken to local police stations.

DIG South warned that road blockades would not be tolerated and emphasized that maintaining law and order remains a top priority.

President Asif Ali Zardari has given his assent to the Finance Act 2025, which outlines the budget for the upcoming fiscal year with an outlay of Rs17.57 trillion, it emerged on Monday.

According to a gazette notification dated June 29, available with Dawn.com, the Finance Act 2025, as approved by the National Assembly, received the president’s assent on June 27. The act will be applicable from July 1, according to the information ministry.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled Pakistan’s annual federal budget in a charged June 10 National Assembly session, outlining ambitious proposals to drive 4.2 per cent economic growth in the coming fiscal year while cutting back on overall spending and tightening tax measures.

The National Assembly passed the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year on June 26, with an outlay of Rs17.57tr, despite opposition calls for the budgetary proposals to be made public and for the passage to be delayed until public input had been sought.

The House passed it with certain amendments, incorporating around half of the suggestions put forward by the finance committees of both houses of parliament. All amendments proposed by the opposition were rejected.

Budget 2025-26

The federal budget for the next fiscal year projects an economic growth rate of 4.2pc and an inflation rate of 7.5pc. The net revenue receipts have been estimated at Rs11.07tr, with FBR collections projected to rise by 18.7pc to Rs14.13tr. Non-tax revenues are estimated at Rs5.15tr.

Key allocations include Rs2.55tr for defence, Rs1.06tr for pension expenditures, and Rs1.19tr for subsidies on electricity and other sectors. Relief measures in the budget include a 10pc increase in salaries, 7pc in pensions and tax relief for the salaried class across all income brackets.

The budget also includes Rs716bn for BISP and Rs1tr for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), in which the largest allocation of Rs328bn is earmarked for transport infrastructure projects.

The PSDP for the next fiscal year has been aligned with the objectives of URAAN Pakistan, prioritising high-impact, near-completion foreign-funded projects and new initiatives of national importance.

Key infrastructure projects like Diamer Bhasha, Mohmand Dam and K-IV have been allocated Rs32.7bn, Rs35.7bn and Rs3.2bn, respectively. Besides, Rs10bn has been allocated for the lining of Kalri Baghar Feeder and Rs4.4bn for installing a telemetry system on the Indus Basin System.

The Higher Education Commission has been allocated Rs39.5bn for 170 projects. Additionally, Rs18.5bn has been earmarked in the PSDP for various education initiatives.

The agriculture sector will receive Rs4bn for 10 ongoing and five new schemes. The budget also includes incentives for the construction industry, such as a reduction in withholding tax on property purchases.

Authorities say forecasters cannot rule out a repeat of extreme weather like the devastating floods of 2022.

Nearly a week of heavy monsoon rains and flash floods across Pakistan have killed at least 46 people and injured dozens, officials say.

The government announced the death toll on Monday and said the fatalities were caused by several days of abnormally strong downpours.

They included 22 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan, 13 in the eastern province of Punjab, seven in Sindh in the south and four in Balochistan in the southwest, the National Disaster Management Authority and provincial emergency officials said.

“We are expecting above-normal rains during the monsoon season, and alerts have been issued to the concerned authorities to take precautionary measures,” Irfan Virk, a deputy director of Pakistan’s Meteorological Department, told The Associated Press news agency.

Virk said forecasters cannot rule out a repeat of extreme weather like the devastating floods in 2022.

Severe rains then inundated a third of the country, killing 1,737 people and causing widespread destruction.

The deaths from the past week include 13 tourists from a family of 17 who were swept away on Friday. The other four family members were rescued from the flooded Swat River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Rescuers found 12 bodies from the family, and divers continued searching on Monday for the remaining victim, said Bilal Faizi, a provincial emergency service spokesman.

The incident drew widespread condemnation online over what many called a slow response by emergency services.

On Sunday, the National Disaster Management Authority had warned of potential hazards and advised people against crossing rivers and streams.

Karachi faced severe traffic jams on Monday after police used tear gas and water cannons to stop protesting government employees. The protesters, part of the Sindh Employees’ Alliance (SEA), were marching towards the Chief Minister’s House to demand better salaries and pensions. Police intervened when talks between the protest leaders and government officials failed to reach an agreement.

DIG South Syed Asad Raza said the protesters wanted a 70% pay and pension raise for grades 1 to 22 employees. They also demanded a 50% Disparity Reduction Allowance and post-retirement benefits similar to those in Balochistan. After talks collapsed, the protesters began moving from the Karachi Press Club towards the CM House, where police had already blocked roads.

To stop them, law enforcement used water cannons and fired tear gas near Aiwan-e-Saddar Road, close to the Governor House. Protesters were pushed back and redirected to the Karachi Press Club. Police confirmed that no arrests were made, but protest leaders claimed officers used force and “tortured” some demonstrators.

SEA leaders said that Planning and Development Minister Nasir Shah had accepted their demands. However, CM Murad Ali Shah asked for three days to finalize discussions. The protest leaders are now planning their next move, possibly marching to Bilawal House in Clifton if their demands remain unmet.

The protest caused chaos on Karachi’s roads. Major roads like Aiwan-i-Saddar, Dr Ziauddin Ahmad, and Din Muhammad Wafai were closed. As a result, traffic from 4pm to 7pm was badly affected, especially on I.I. Chundrigar, Abdullah Haroon, and Saddar. Police diverted vehicles to alternative routes to manage the congestion.

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, Ambassador Kamran Akhtar, has been elected president of the 53rd session of the United Nations Industrial Development Board (UNIDO). This marks the first time Pakistan has been awarded this prestigious position.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed pride in Pakistan’s achievement on X. “Pakistan continues to make significant contributions to the UN system and remains deeply committed to an international order based on the UN Charter & international law,” he said.

The election reflects the trust placed in Pakistan by UNIDO Member States, reaffirming the country’s active diplomatic role within Vienna-based international organisations.

Pakistan’s commitment to industrial development, particularly in developing countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), has been central to its profile at UNIDO.

Ambassador Akhtar expressed gratitude to UNIDO Member States for their trust and outlined his commitment to further enhancing the organisation’s role in promoting industrial development globally. He highlighted Pakistan’s focus on sustainable, inclusive growth, particularly in vulnerable nations.

The director general of UNIDO congratulated Ambassador Akhtar, praising Pakistan’s ongoing contribution to the organisation’s core mission.

Pakistan has one of the largest portfolios with UNIDO, with over 350 million Euros invested in ongoing and planned projects across various sectors, including textiles, leather, fisheries, food safety, climate action, and renewable energy.

Key initiatives such as PAIDAR and PAFAID have been instrumental in poverty alleviation, job creation, and the sustainable development of rural communities in Pakistan.

This year, Pakistan is set to launch a new cycle of its Country Partnership Programme with UNIDO, alongside several new projects across diverse sectors aimed at fostering industrial development and economic growth.

LAHORE: While conflict raged between the powerful militaries of India and Pakistan, a battle was also fought on the cultural front lines despite years of shared love for films and music.

The deadly fighting in early May — the worst in decades — affected artists previously untouched by animosity between their leaders.

Ali Gul Pir, a Pakistani rapper and comedian with a huge Indian following, released a song years ago mocking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While he was spared consequences then, in May, his YouTube channel and Instagram profile were blocked in India.

“Indians now recognize that the digital space serves as a bridge between Pakistanis and Indians, and they seem intent on severing that connection,” Pir told AFP.

The collapse in bilateral relations was caused by a deadly April attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad.

Pakistan denied the allegation and, after tit-for-tat diplomatic retaliation, their militaries fought for four days before a ceasefire was reached.

The conflict hit the music industry for the first time, with Pakistani singer Annural Khalid also remembering how her Indian following dropped off.

“Delhi was my top listening city before the ban,” said Khalid, who has 3.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

“I suffered a great loss in the audience” from India, she told AFP.

“Listeners were deprived of content because music was turned into something it is not,” Khalid added.

The conflict also scrubbed out some prior exchanges, such as the soundtrack of the 2017 film “Raees” on Spotify in India.

It now shows only Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan, without his Pakistani co-star Mahira Khan.

With Pakistan producing just a handful of movies each year under strict censorship rules, Bollywood has always proven popular among viewers.

“I grew up watching Bollywood. We have the same traumas, we have the same history, we have the same stories,” said Pakistani film critic Sajeer Shaikh.

Pakistani actors and directors have for decades seen making it to Bollywood as the ultimate recognition.

But this month, Indian star Diljit Dosanjh announced his latest movie, “Sardaar Ji 3,” which features four Pakistani actors, would be released “overseas only,” after New Delhi banned Pakistani content and artists from productions.

“Abir Gulaal,” a love story starring Pakistan’s Fawad Khan and Indian actor Vaani Kapoor, was scheduled to hit Indian cinemas on May 9 but the release was postponed.

Even some in the industry who had previously backed the cross-border artistic trade changed their tune last month.

“Everything should be banned… cricket, films, everything,” said Indian actor Suniel Shetty, who has a big fan following in Pakistan.

He starred in the 2004 movie “Main Hoon Na,” which subtly promotes peace between India and Pakistan.

“It’s something really unfortunate about politics, creating that rift and putting boundaries around art,” said Dua Zahra, assistant manager at Warner Bros South Asia’s music label in Pakistan.

As part of its measures in the wake of the Kashmir attack, New Delhi’s ban on some Pakistani YouTube channels included private broadcaster HUM TV.

The channel, which says around 40 percent of its viewers are from India, simply told its fans to use a VPN to continue watching.

Since Modi took office more than a decade ago, many Indian critics and filmmakers have warned that Bollywood is now increasingly promoting his government’s Hindu nationalist ideology.

While the conflict has created divisions on the cultural scene, there are signs that the trade will endure.

Over a month after the ceasefire, three Indian films were in the top 10 on Netflix Pakistan, while the top 20 trending songs in India included two Pakistani tracks.

Pir, the rapper and comedian, vowed to “bridge gaps.”

“Let’s not make war, let’s just make art,” he said.

“Let’s just not bomb each other.”