Category: 1. Pakistan

Pakistan on Tuesday assumed the role of president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July — marking a key step in the country’s progress and achievement in the diplomatic domain.

The development, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in a post on X, comes weeks after Pakistan was named vice-chair of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee, tasked with overseeing implementation of resolution 1373 (2001) concerning international anti-terror efforts.

The country, back in January earlier this year, had begun its eighth term for two years (2025-26) as a non-permanent member of the 15-member body.

The UNSC has 15 members, five of which — Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States — are permanent ones. The 10 non-permanent seats of the Council are allocated by geographic region, with five replaced each year.

The key UN body is considered to be the most powerful body of the United Nations. The council, which is tasked to maintain international peace and security, can make legally binding decisions and has the power to impose sanctions and authorise the use of force against states.

“Today, Pakistan assumes the Presidency of the UN Security Council for July 2025, during its 8th term (2025–26) as an elected member of the UNSC,” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in a post on X.

“Pakistan takes on this responsibility with humility, conviction and profound commitment to the UN Charter, international law, and multilateralism,” the FM added while further highlighting that the country’s role as UNSC president comes “at a time of escalating conflicts and humanitarian crises across the world”.

“We will strive to steer the Security Council towards responsive and effective action grounded in dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful dispute resolution,” he remarked.

Apart from the UNSC presidency, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Kamran Akhtar has also been elected as President of the 53rd session of the Industrial Development Board (UNIDO) — marking the first such instance for Islamabad.

“The director general of UNIDO, while congratulating Ambassador Kamran Akhtar, praised Pakistan’s commitment and contribution to the organisation,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Akhtar in his statement thanked all UNIDO member states for their trust and expressed his commitment towards further enhancing the Organization’s role in industrial development, particularly in developing countries, LDCs, and SIDS.

“The election manifests the trust reposed in Pakistan by the UNIDO Member States. Like all Vienna-based international organizations, Pakistan maintains an active diplomatic profile at UNIDO and remains committed to the organization’s core mandate, which is inclusive and sustainable Industrial Development,” the FO added, further highlighting that the country had one of the largest portfolios with UNIDO, with several ongoing and planned projects worth over €350 million.

Furthermore, the UN body has supported Pakistan’s textile, leather, fisheries, food safety, climate action, and renewable energy sectors with projects like PAIDAR and PAFAID have helped in poverty alleviation, job creation, and the sustainable growth of rural communities.

ISLAMABAD   –   Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday met with Speaker Balochistan Assembly Captain (Retd) Abdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai at Parliament House.  The two dignitaries discussed the overall political and economic situation of the country, along with matters of mutual interest. During the meeting, Ayaz Sadiq stressed the importance of strong coordination between the federal government and all provincial administrations in addressing the country’s ongoing challenges.  “Close cooperation between the federation and the provinces is essential for overcoming national issues,” he said. Highlighting the strategic significance of Balochistan, the Speaker NA said, “Balochistan is a vital province, and the country’s development is closely linked with the development of the province.”

ISLAMABAD  –  The 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit is all set to begin on July 3–4 in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, reaffirming its leadership in promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development.  Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif would lead Pakistan delegation in the summit, which includes DPM/foreign minister and other cabinet members and senior officials.

The PM would also deliver a key note address at the summit.  On the sideline of the summit, Shehbaz would meet leaders participating in the summit.  The Summit will convene ECO Heads of States/Government, Ministers, ECO Observers, Special Guests from non-ECO countries and heads of international organizations to achieve development and prosperity through fragile economic integration. The Summit will feature a dynamic and inclusive ECO Week, held from July 1–4, 2025, across multiple cities in Azerbaijan.

The ECO Week will include a series of thematic forums aimed at advancing youth engagement, gender inclusion and economic connectivity within the region.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 Index rose by 60 percent during the outgoing fiscal year, a top brokerage firm said in its report this week, crediting the stock market’s impressive performance to macroeconomic stability, improved credit ratings and “aggressive” easing of the monetary policy. 

Pakistan has undertaken a series of International Monetary Fund-recommended structural reforms and fiscal adjustments aimed at stabilizing the economy since it came to the brink of a sovereign default in 2023. These measures have led to increasing macroeconomic stability, reduced inflation and improved ratings from international credit agencies. 

“Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 index is up 60 percent YoY in PKR terms and 57 percent in USD terms in FY25,” Topline Securities, a Karachi-based top brokerage firm, said on Monday. 

The report said that over the past two fiscal years (FY24 and FY25), the PSX has recorded a total gain of 203 percent in terms of the Pakistani rupee and 206 percent in terms of the US dollar. It credited the Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) rise to macroeconomic stability achieved by the country after it secured a $7 billion International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) loan program. 

Topline Securities said other factors contributing to the “remarkable rally” at the stock market are the completion of the IMF’s first review by Pakistan in March, the central bank’s “aggressive” monetary easing from 20.5 percent to 11 percent, and improvement in the country’s credit rating by Fitch from CCC+ to B-.

“As per Bloomberg data, Pakistan’s market was the 8th best performer in FY25 with a total USD return of 57 percent,” the report said. “However, over the cumulative two-year period (FY24 and FY25), it ranked as the best-performing market in the world.”

The report noted that average traded volumes in the cash/ready market increased by 37 percent YoY to an average of 631 million shares per day during FY25, adding that the average traded value also jumped by 80 percent YoY to Rs28 billion per day.

The report warned Pakistan may face pressure in achieving its revenue targets for FY26 but said it expected the government to pass the IMF’s program reviews in a timely manner by meeting the lender’s objectives. This, the report said, Islamabad would achieve through cutting development and other non-essential expenditures.

Topline Securities said it also expected a credit rating upgrade for Pakistan in the current fiscal year.

“The rating upgrade in our view is quite likely as debt ratios and FX reserves are showing improvements,” the report said. “With the credit rating upgrade to ‘B’ category, Pakistan may resort to the international bond market by issuing Eurobond and Sukuks which will further support FX reserves and strengthen the debt maturity profile of the country,” it added. 

The report pointed out that any developments in Pakistan–US relations under President Donald Trump’s administration, along with regional tensions, could “significantly influence market sentiment.”

“Currently, a ceasefire is in place between India and Pakistan; however, any escalation could negatively affect investor confidence,” it said.

It also warned that any further conflict in the Middle East is likely to have broader macroeconomic implications for Pakistan amidst its dependency on oil imports, which could then weigh on the stock market’s performance.

• Report says alerts were sent multiple times to DCs, PDMA.
• Dept recommends providing flood rescue equipment to Rescue 1122.
• It suggests developing policy to confine tourists to safe areas.

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PESHAWAR: As the concerns regarding the tragic death of 12 people by drowning in the Swat River due to a deluge grow, worrisome reports of official negligence continue to emerge. 

A departmental probe revealed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa irrigation department had issued multiple warnings to relevant organisations and the deputy commissioners of Swat, Charsadda, and Nowshera just hours before a flash flood in the Swat River that lead to the loss of precious lives.

The tragedy occurred when 17 members of a family from Sialkot were swept away by a sudden surge in the river while picnicking on a mound near the bank. Disturbing videos circulating on social media showed the family stranded on a rapidly shrinking patch of land, crying out for help for nearly an hour, with no immediate rescue response.

So far, 12 bodies have been recovered, including that of a child found in Charsadda on Sunday. Search is still underway as one person remains missing.

The report stated that the river’s flow at Khwazakhela spiked dramatically from 6,738 cusecs to 77,782 cusecs within a few hours on June 27. The first warning was issued at 8:41am, alerting all concerned authorities — including the deputy commissioners of Swat, Charsadda, and Nowshera — of the potential flood risk.

The department continued to send real-time updates through WhatsApp and issued a severe flood warning by 10:30am. Repeated alerts were sent to the DCs, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), ADC Relief, and other relevant bodies, indicating that the department had issued timely and comprehensive warnings.

According to the report, tourists at Khwazakhela had entered the river when water levels were still normal but became trapped as the flow rose sharply due to heavy rainfall. 

It also noted that silt accumulation in the riverbed since 2022 has made it easier for visitors to wade deeper into the stream, increasing the risk during sudden surges.

In its recommendations, the Irrigation Department suggested equipping Rescue 1122 with flood rescue gear, restricting access to tourist areas, and holding hotel owners accountable for allowing visitors into hazardous zones. 

It also proposed that local administrations develop a policy to confine tourists to safe areas and recommended the installation of additional telemetry gauges in Madyan and Kalam to enhance monitoring of river levels.

Failures in oversight, rescue efforts

The rescue services has also come under fire after the Swat River tragedy. Despite being stationed just 3 to 4 kilometres from the site, Rescue 1122 teams reportedly took 19 minutes to arrive and were ill-equipped, lacking boats, ropes, and trained divers. Equipment had to be ordered during the operation, arriving too late to make a meaningful difference.

Additionally, attention has turned to encroachments along the riverbank. Critics have questioned how structures were allowed to be built within 200 feet of the river, in violation of safety regulations.

Although the government has since launched a crackdown on such illegal constructions, there are calls for accountability against the officials who issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) and building permits.

Observers stress that for the operation to be effective and accepted by the public, it must be carried out without bias, regardless of the socioeconomic or political status of those affected.

In response to the incident, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has imposed a complete ban on mining along riverbeds and initiated a province-wide operation to remove illegal structures.

The authorities are now under increased pressure to address the systemic issues that contributed to the deadly incident and to implement reforms that prioritise safety and accountability.

KURRAM: Two terrorists were killed during an operation conducted by the security forces in the border area of Teri Mangal in Kurram district on Monday.

According to sources, the terrorists, who carried Rs5 million head money each, were involved in the May 4, 2023, attack at Teri Mangal school, in which seven people, including four teachers, were killed.

The terrorists were identified as Abdul Rehman Mangal and Wajid Gul Mangal. They were wanted in multiple acts of terrorism, including attacks on police and security forces.

In July 2024, the provincial government had announced a bounty of Rs5 million each on five terrorists, including Abdul Rehman and Wajid Gul.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2025

• FBR had set out Rs12.97tr tax revenue target in FY25.
• Tax target was revised twice during last fiscal year.
• Was brought down to Rs12.332tr and then Rs11.9tr.
  

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ISLAMABAD: With the Fiscal Year 2024-25 coming to an end, it has come to light that the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) missed its tax collection target of Rs12.97 trillion by Rs1.235 trillion, collecting only Rs11.735 trillion.

As per a report published in The News, the tax collection target was revised downward twice — first in February-March 2025, from Rs12.97tr to Rs12.332tr, and then during the 2025-26 budget, when it was further reduced to Rs11.9tr.

Achieving next year’s tax collection target of Rs14.131tr for FY 2025-26, starting July 1, 2025 (today) will be challenging for the FBR, as it failed to meet the base collection of Rs11.9tr. This means the revenue authority will have to intensify efforts to reach the upcoming fiscal year’s goal.

Due to this shortfall, the government has limited options but to restrict expenditures to keep the fiscal deficit—particularly the primary balance — within the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) agreed limit for June 2025. Reduced interest payments, initially projected at Rs9.7tr for the outgoing fiscal year, were lowered to Rs8.9tr, resulting in savings of Rs0.8tr.

“The annual tax collection target was ambitiously set at Rs12.3tr, marking a substantial 32% increase compared to the Rs9.3tr collected during FY 2023-24,” a FBR statement said.

It stated the target was formulated based on the assumption of an autonomous growth rate of 15 per cent in FY25.

“Given the subdued economic environment and lower than expected autonomous growth, the estimated tax collection for FY25 without any corrective measures would have been projected to Rs10.07tr,” it added.

The tax collection body further said: “If the government had opted for fiscal policies that sustained higher inflation, it would have led to a corresponding increase in interest rates along with an increase in debt repayments. Such policies would have disproportionately burdened lower-income households, decreasing their purchasing power and deepening economic inequality. In contrast, by maintaining inflation at relatively low levels, the government has provided critical relief to vulnerable segments of the population, particularly those living near or below the poverty line, and safeguarded their real incomes and cost-of-living pressures.”

It explained that in response to the challenge of lower collection due to macroeconomic pressures, the FBR undertook significant efforts to strengthen enforcement, improve administrative efficiency, and implement new policy measures. “These interventions successfully elevated the provisional total tax collection to Rs11.735tr, representing a 26% increase over the previous year,” it added.

Provisionally, the total collection of Rs11.735tr consists of Rs5.784tr in income tax (28% growth from previous year), Rs3.9 trillion in sales tax (26% growth from previous year), Rs0.767tr in customs duty (16% growth from previous year), and Rs1.284tr in customs duty (27% growth from previous year).

ISLAMABAD: While the capital police have devised a security plan for Muharram, 13 points have been identified as potential trouble spots with a history of tension in the past.

The points included Burma Town, Alipur, Noorpur Shahn, Shah Allah Ditta, Imambargah Musa Kazim, Imambargah Qadeemi Talha Syedan, Darbar Shah Mubarak, Darbar Sakhi Mehmood, Ali Masjid G-7 and Imambargah Qadeemi Dhoke Mohri.

Police officers said as part of security, organisers of processions will be asked not to accept Niaz or any kind of drink for distribution amongst the participants without prior checking. There had been incidents in which poison was mixed in Niaz by saboteurs in the past.

Police officials said 88 processions were taken out from Muharram 1 to 10 – 20 from Muharram 11 to 20, 18 from Muharram 21 to 29/30 and 55 in Safar. Out of the total, 16 are placed in category A, 93 in B and 72 in C.

About 31 processions are also scheduled to be taken out without getting no-objection certificates. Besides, 27 new processions will be held first time this year.

About 956 majalis are also scheduled to be held; 681 from Muharram 1 to 10, 95 from 11 to 20 and 31 from 21 to 29/30 and 158 in Safar.

Police will be deployed in three tiers as part of the security plan. The first tier will be deployed at 200 yards from a procession’s front.

On the request of the police, the district administration has banned the entry of 17 firebrand Ulema belonging to different schools of thought in the capital for two months. Besides, the administration has also restricted seven Ulema from delivering speeches and sermons at any public and religious gathering in Islamabad for two months.

Police along with magistrates will inspect mosques and seminaries and will ensure that no stranger is allowed to stay on the premises without due verification and their particulars incorporated in their registers.

The routes of processions will be cleared by Bomb Disposal Squad of Special Branch.

The squad will also carry out checking of vehicles through their special gadgets at different places.

Special Branch will collect and communicate information concerning terrorism/sabotage. It will also make arrangements for recording of speeches and sermons in mosques and majalis.

Security Division will make arrangements at all key points, foreign installations, diplomatic enclave and high security zone. All guest houses, hotels will maintain a proper record of all visitors.

Counter Terrorism Department will depute police in plainclothes at shrines, including Bari Imam, Golra Sharif and Sain Boota Sarkar. Traffic police will make diversions and parking arrangements.

Police will check pillion riders especially youngsters and record their details, especially around Imambargahs.

A flag march involving all forces and district administration will be held on Muharram 6 and 8.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2025