Category: 1. Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Shocking new revelations have rocked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as details, photos, and videos of luxury vehicles and properties have surfaced in the massive Rs40 billion Kohistan corruption scandal. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has upped the case, converting the inquiry into a formal investigation, signaling a major crackdown on corruption.

It has also recovered and frozen assets worth a total of Rs25 billion in this case. They include a luxury bungalow featured in the popular drama serial Pari Zaad, along with 77 high-end vehicles worth Rs940 million, including Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche Taycan, Toyota Land Cruiser, Fortuner, and Hilux Revo. NAB has also taken into custody over Rs1 billion in cash, foreign currency and more than 3 kilograms of gold. It has frozen Rs5 billion across 73 bank accounts and confiscated 30 houses, 25 flats, and 4 farmhouses. Arrests of key figures are expected within the next few hours.

According to officials, NAB has also seized 77 luxury vehicles worth about Rs 940 million, including Porsche Taycan, Toyota Land Cruiser, Lexus, Fortuner, Hilux Revo, Mark X, BMW, Mercedes, Ford Mustang, and Audi. In addition, 109 properties across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Abbottabad, and Mansehra have been confiscated. These include 4 farmhouses, 12 commercial plazas, 2 commercial plots, 30 houses, 12 shops and food courts, 25 flats and penthouses and 175 kanals of agricultural land. The estimated value of these properties is about Rs17 billion. Official sources say key arrests are likely within 24 to 48 hours, and preparations are underway.

A colossal fraud was meticulously orchestrated through explicit collusion among government officials, contractors, complicit banking authorities and others. The accused acted with chilling audacity, siphoning off billions of rupees from the public exchequer without drawing the attention of any financial regulatory authority.

RAWALPINDI: Light rain created a slushy mess in low-lying areas of the garrison city on Tuesday. However, the rain turned the weather pleasant as the mercury dropped to 29 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Department recorded 3mm of rain at the Airport, 3mm at Saidpur, 5mm at Bokra and 4mm at Golra in Islamabad, while 4mm at Shamsabad, 7mm at Katcheri, 1mm at Pirwadhai and 8mm at Chaklala in Rawalpindi.

According to a Met Office official, a well-marked low-pressure area (LPA) currently lies over North Rajasthan (India) and is affecting the eastern parts of Punjab (Pakistan).

Under the influence of this weather system, strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate the central and upper parts of the country during the next 24 to 36 hours. A westerly wave is also present over the upper parts of the country.

“Widespread rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir, while scattered rain is expected in northeast/south Balochistan, southeast/upper Sindh, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Scattered heavy falls (at times very heavy) are likely in Punjab, Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and northeast Balochistan,” he said.

The Met Office warned of chances of urban flooding and landslides until July 17, as heavy to very heavy rains may generate flash floods in local nullahs/streams of DG Khan, northeast/upper Punjab, northeast Balochistan, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Kashmir, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Murree, Galliyat, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Buner, Swabi, Nowshera and Mardan.

It stated that landslides/mudslides may cause road closures in the vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Heavy downpours may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Taunsa, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Nowshera, Peshawar and Islamabad/Rawalpindi. The public is advised to stay cautious.

Windstorms may damage loose structures such as electric poles, trees, vehicles and solar panels, as well as standing crops. The public is advised to remain cautious.

The rain started on Tuesday morning and continued till evening, varying from drizzle to moderate. However, it created a slushy mess in the low-lying areas.

When contacted, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Saleem Ashraf said there was no report of water accumulation. He said the water level in Leh Nullah remained low due to light rain in the twin cities. He said that teams had been deployed in the low-lying areas to drain water in case of heavy rain.

He added that Wasa had already divided Rawalpindi city into seven sectors and deployed machinery and staff, as there are chances of heavy rains till July 17.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

SHANGLA/SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A child was killed, his mother and two others injured when a mud-roof collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the Opal area of tehsil Chakesar, on Monday night.

According to the administration of tehsil Chakesar, the family was asleep at night when the roof collapsed due to torrential rains. The administration, in its statement, said that the locals retrieved the trapped family members who were all buried underneath the debris.

It said the roof of Ali Rehman’s house collapsed, wherein his 5-year old boy was killed, while his wife and two other children were injured.

The injured family members were taken to the Rural Health Centre, Chakesar, which referred them to a hospital in Mingora, Swat, for better treatmen, the statement added.

The residents on the occasion protested at the RHC Chakesar over the lack of life-saving drugs and shortage of doctors and paramedic staff in the health facility, which, they said, was a big problem for the local community.

They also sought financial support for the family as well as the best possible treatment to the injured.

Meanwhile, heavy downpour on Tuesday night triggered flash floods in remote area of Warai Noor in South Waziristan Lower’s Birmal tehsil, causing widespread destruction to homes, agricultural land and other infrastructure.

According to district administration officials, the floodwaters swept away at least five mud-built houses, several orchards, tube wells and fruit-bearing trees. The flood waters also devastated vegetable crops and entered residential areas, worsening the already flimsy living conditions of the local population.

A resident, Jan Mohammad, said that nearly every household in the area had been affected, with many forced to sleep under the open sky. “The flood didn’t just destroy homes but also washed away livelihoods. Our orchards, vegetables, and water sources have gone,” he said.

The district administration further revealed that a day earlier, two more houses and around 15 rooms were washed away by the flash floods.

The residents have made an urgent appeal to the national disaster management authority (NDMA) and the provincial disaster management authority (PDMA), calling for immediate compensation, food aid and shelter. They feared humanitarian crisis in case any delay in relief measures.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

ISLAMABAD: In a reference filed by the Natio­nal Assembly Speaker, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tues­day disqualified member of the National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Dasti for holding a fake intermediate degree.

The three-member ben­ch was headed by Nisar Ahmad Durra­­ni, with Shah Mohammad Jatoi and Justice (retd) Ik­­ram Ullah Khan as members.

However, PTI has criticised the election watchdog alleging that it did not de-seat the PML-N president for submitting a “fake” consent affidavit, claiming that PTI MNA Adil Khan Bazai had joined the PML-N. The party claimed that a genuinely elected public representative and a staunch supporter of Imran Khan had been disqualified unjustly.

A three-member ECP bench declared Mr Dasti’s seat vacant after finding him guilty of submitting a fake degree. The bench ruled that the MNA had committed an offence pu­­nishable under the Elec­tion Act, recommending legal action against him.

It is worth mentioning that Mr Dasti, elected from NA-175 during the current tenure of the National Assembly, was a powerful voice against the ruling party in the House. Earlier this year, ECP had sent Mr Dasti’s educational credentials to the Karachi education board for verification.

Meanwhile, PTI Cent­ral Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram lashed out at the electoral watchdog for not de-seating the PML-N president over the allegedly fake affidavit regarding MNA Adil Khan Bazai.

He asserted that such desperate and “illegal” ac­­tions could neither sile­nce the voice of the people nor prolong the government’s grip on power, adding the rising tide of public dissent would soon sweep away their “unconstitutional” rule.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Masoud Pezes­hkian on Tuesday proposed the formation of a joint front of Islamic nations to confront Israel.

Talking to Interior Min­ister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, who met him in Tehran on Tuesday, Pezeshkian said the Jewish state was trying to create division among Muslim countries and stressed that unity and harmony among Islamic nations was needed to foil machinations by Israel and its allies in the West.

“Muslim countries must wake up to the need for unity and form a united front against the Zionist regime,” the Iranian president said, according to a communication received through the media wing of the interior ministry.

President Pezeshkian stated that Iran attached great importance to its relations with Pakistan, emphasising that “we will never forget the support extended by Pakistan” during the war with Israel.

President Pezes­h­kian ex­pressed satisfaction over the current state of relations between Iran and Pakistan. He underlined the importance of diplomatic exchanges and constructive dialogue to expand bilateral cooperation.

The Iranian leader said there were many avenues to expand collaboration between Tehran and Islamabad. Mohsin Naqvi congratulated President Pezeshkian on Iran’s victory in the war thrust on it by Israel.

Mr Naqvi praised Iran’s Supreme Leader and the entire nation for standing up to Israeli aggression. He added that the prudent leadership of Ayatollah Khame­nei played a decisive role in the war. “It is a source of pride for the Muslim Ummah.”

He said Pakistan had condemned the attack on Iran at every forum, recalling “our parliament was the first to pass a resolution condemning the imposition of war on Iran”.

The interior minister conveyed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s best wishes to President Peze­sh­kian.

Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Mo­me­ni, Presi­dent Pezesh­kian’s Special Assistant, the Ambassador of Iran in Islamabad, and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Tehran were present on the occasion.

Naqvi calls on ex-FM

Mohsin Naqvi later called on Iran’s former foreign minister Dr Ali Akbar Velayati, who is currently serving as Senior Adviser on International Affairs to Ayatollah Khamenei.

The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and the regional situation. Mr Naqvi conveyed good wishes from Pakistan’s political and military leadership to Ayatollah Khamenei.

Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan and Iran have always stood by each other in war and peace. “No enemy can create rift between Pakistan and Iran,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday chaired a meeting on Daanish schools project where he was informed that several schools were being built across the country while the techno-feasibility study of Daanish University in Islamabad would be completed by the end of this month.

According to a statement, the premier was informed that seven international firms had met the required standards for the master plan, design, and construction of the university while the procurement committee was finalising the process. The PM chaired a review meeting on the construction of Daanish schools across the country and Daanish University in Islamabad.

The participants of the meeting were informed that the construction of Daanish School in Islamabad was progressing rapidly and would be completed by this year, while the construction of similar facilities in Sultanabad, Ghanche and Astore would be completed next year.

The meeting was further informed that the construction of Daanish schools had begun in Bagh and Bhimber areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while the PC-1 for Daanish schools in Sharda and Neelum had been approved.

Similarly, PC-1 for Daanish Schools in Sibi, Musakhel, Zhob, Qila Saifullah, and Dera Bugti in Balochistan had been approved, while feasibility work for the facility in Hub was underway. The statement said that the land had been demarcated for Daanish schools in Chitral, Karachi, and Tando Muhammad Khan, with feasibility studies and other steps progressing rapidly.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has urged Pakistan to implement a uniform 5 per cent general sales tax (GST) on all digital transactions — with an input tax credit for five years — to accelerate digital payments, promote e-commerce, and reduce cash-based inefficiencies in the economy.

In its report Pakistan’s Digital Ecosystem: A Diagnostic Report, the ADB also recommends cutting corporate income tax and the cost of doing business for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by 10pc for the next 10 years, conditional on digital registration and transactions.

To attract global ICT investment, the report suggests simplifying taxation and foreign exchange regimes for ICT exporters. It proposes capping payroll taxation at 15pc of income for ICT-exporting firms and offering tax credits for hiring local talent.

A “Data Exchange Layer” and full adoption of the “Pakistan Digital Stack” are recommended to digitise governance and regulation. The report recommends establishing a dedicated technology financing window at the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to provide low-interest loans and guarantees to tech firms.

Recommends dedicated tech financing window at SBP, 20-year capital gains tax exemption on investment in start-ups

The SBP should direct commercial banks to allocate at least 15pc of their loan portfolios to SMEs, with half earmarked for digital and ICT businesses. Banks that exceed this target should be rewarded, while those that do not comply face penalties.

The ADB further proposes a 20-year capital gains tax exemption on investments in tech start-ups. Income from foreign venture capital and private investment in such ventures should also be exempt from tax for a period of seven years from the date of deployment.

To develop capital markets, the report advises the SBP and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan to set annual targets—alongside the Pakistan Software Export Board and the Pakistan Software Houses Association—for listing tech companies on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The target is to increase tech listings to 5pc of total PSX listings by 2027 and 12pc by 2030.

Only 17.7pc of Pakistanis currently use digital payments, with 59 million payment cards issued — just 24pc of the population, compared to 71pc in India. Pakistan also ranks eighth globally in cryptocurrency adoption, largely as a hedge against the rupee, which depreciated 165pc between 2017 and 2024.

E-commerce spending reached $10bn in 2023, well below Bangladesh’s $16bn. Major barriers include limited POS infrastructure, cash-on-delivery practices, and low digital literacy.

Pakistan hosts around 18,000 tech and digital businesses across over 130 cities and towns, indicating the sector’s potential to generate foreign exchange and uplift smaller economies. Yet, the country has only 125,593 point-of-sale (POS) terminals — among the lowest in the region.

Digital adoption among SMEs remains weak due to policy unpredictability, tax uncertainty, and regulatory burdens. Bank credit to SMEs stands at just 4.3pc and to agriculture at 3.6pc — both the lowest in the region. Meanwhile, commercial banks lend up to 85pc of their portfolios to the government, drawn by sovereign guarantees and low default risk.

The mobile gaming and app development industry is gaining ground, with revenues of around $500m. The global market is projected to reach $799bn by 2027, growing at a 9.7pc annual rate. Pakistani-developed games experienced a threefold increase in downloads compared to the global average in 2022.

The report says growing ICT adoption in Pakistan is fostering a tech-savvy workforce in small towns, enabling high-paying jobs and new service sectors such as logistics, banking, hospitality, and entertainment.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

• Finance minister claims significant strides in stabilising economy
• Says measures implemented to expand tax base, plug leakages

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday urged the leading US rating agency — Moody’s — to improve Pakistan’s credit rating and help its return to international capital markets at favourable conditions. Pakistan has been postponing the launch of international bonds since July 2021 due to challenging macroeconomic conditions and resultant poor credit rating and relying mostly on time deposits from friendly nations to meet external liabilities and stay afloat.

Moody’s had upgraded Paki­stan’s credit rating by one notch to Caa2 from Caa3 (downgraded in February 2023 due to suspension of the IMF programme) and changed its outlook to positive from stable for improving macroeconomic conditions, including liquidity and external position from very weak levels.

On Tuesday, Mr Aurangzeb led Pakistan’s economic team, including Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmed, and senior officials from relevant ministries, and held a virtual engagement with Moody’s Rating Agency.

The rating agency was provided an in-depth briefing on Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, reform agenda, and financial stability.

During the session, the minister apprised the Moody’s team of the significant strides Pakistan has made in stabilising its economy and laying the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth, said an official statement. He underlined the successful completion of the final IMF review under the Stand-By Arrangement, including the disbursement of the second tranche and progress under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), as key milestones that have restored confidence in Pakistan’s economic management.

The minister highlighted a series of structural reforms undertaken by the government to anchor long-term stability. These included prudent fiscal measures in the recently announced budget, tariff and trade liberalisation geared towards export-led growth, and concerted efforts to rationalise expenditure. The ongoing discussions with the United States on preferential tariff access were also noted as making encouraging headway.

The meeting further outlined Pakistan’s re-engagement with global financial markets, including the successful arrangement of $1 billion in financing from the Middle East, plans for an inaugural Panda bond, and Pakistan’s intent to explore the Eurobond and other international debt markets as credit ratings improve.

The statement claimed that the Pakistani team presented evidence of macroeconomic recovery, including a reduction in inflation, a cut in the pol­i­­cy rate, stabilisation of the exchange rate, a current account surplus, and a surge in foreign exch­a­­nge reserves. Impro­vements in remittance infl­ows and export performance were also cited as signs of resilience and renewed investor confidence.

The Moody’s team was provided an overview of Pakistan’s reform journey, with emphasis on improving the tax-to-GDP ratio through technology-driven tax administration reforms and robust enforcement measures.

The finance minister emphasised that under the direct oversight of the prime minister, who chairs regular meetings on tax reform, the government was impl­e­m­e­nting measures to expand the tax base, plug leakages, and enh­ance compliance. He noted that the Rs2 trillion revenue delta achieved this year had come thro­ugh autonomous efforts, and the government was committed to reaching a tax-to-GDP target of 13 to 13.5pc in the next few years.

He also addressed queries from the Moody’s team and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to staying the course on macroeconomic reforms, including in areas of privatisation, restructuring of state-owned enterprises and rightsizing of government.

Senator Aurangzeb expressed optimism that the improving macroeconomic indicators and reform momentum would be positively acknowledged by rating agencies.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

KARACHI:

A year after being brutally maimed by a landlord who chopped off her leg in Sanghar district, Cammie the camel walked again on Tuesday on all four legs with the help of a prosthetic limb, creating a euphoric feeling among her caregivers.

She had her front leg allegedly chopped off by a landlord in June 2024, as punishment for foraging in his field for fodder, for which six suspects were remanded.

She was taken in by the Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) Benji Project for Animal Welfare in Karachi, where she has spent over a year.

On Tuesday, the shelter provided an update that Cammie had stood up for the first time since her mutilation, along with a video showing her getting used to walking with her new prosthetic leg.

“It’s been a year of tears, setbacks, rehab, pain, and quiet perseverance. A year where we were told to give up, to move on, to stop delaying the inevitable. But we chose to stand by her. And today, she stood for us all.”

The shelter thanked its team and supporters, as well as PPP MNA Shazia Marri, PPP Senator Quratulain Marri and the Sindh government for their “unwavering support and trust in [the team’s] mission”. The Sindh government had previously committed to covering the cost of the treatment.

Both sisters had taken stern notice of the camel mutilation incident. In a joint statement last year, they said that veterinary doctors referred them to CDRS, and rescuing the camel was a “joint effort”.

Shazia said today that there was “no greater feeling than when months of hard work, care and consistent efforts pay off!” while the latter said: “Dedicated service over momentary outrage any day. You stuck to this long after the temporarily infuriated had forgotten her existence. Everyone on the team who continues to care for Cammie – they are the superstars!”

PESHAWAR:

Former prime minister Imran Khan has finalised the party’s list of preferred candidates for the upcoming Senate elections.

According to sources, after a detailed consultation meeting with Adviser to the chief minister of K-P on information Barrister Ali Saif inside Adiala Jail, Imran issued the finalised priority list of Senate candidates.

For general seats, the names include Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Afridi and Pir Noorul Haq Qadri. For the technocrat seat, Azam Swati has been finalised, while Rubina Naz will contest on the women’s reserved seat.

In a surprising move, Mishal Yousafzai has been nominated in place of Sania Nishtar, who previously held the seat.

Speaking to the media following the jail meeting, Barrister Saif revealed that Imran was “deeply aggrieved” over a lack of basic facilities and the violation of human rights in prison.

“Imran Khan is being subjected to mental agony. He is in solitary confinement, without access to TV, newspapers, books and even clothes,” he claimed. “He is also being denied visitation rights, which has left him completely unaware of the outside world, he said.