Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON: New York City takes the world&#39;s political center stage as it approaches its mayoral election on Tuesday, with over 750,000 votes already cast through early voting. New York City, home to 8.7 million people, faces a stark political choice among three candidates: charismatic democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and seasoned independent Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani currently leads by double digits in all major surveys. If victorious, he would make history as the city&#39;s first self-declared democratic socialist and its first Muslim mayor. According to experts, Mamdani is up against two less-than-bright candidates. Cuomo has little chance due to his past scandals, and Sliwa is not very popular. American Dream personified&quot;He is presenting the classic American dream,&quot; said Jahangir Khattak, an academic and New Yorker. Mamdani, born in Uganda to South Asian parents, is a foreign-born immigrant in a city where 40% of the population was born abroad. His ethnic and immigrant background serves as a powerful symbol of New York&#39;s diversity, providing the foundation for his inclusive vision, promoted with the slogan &quot;Roti and Roses.&quot; Youth and immigrant supportMamdani&#39;s meteoric rise depends heavily on young voters &mdash; particularly Gen Z New Yorkers and immigrants &mdash; who view him as &quot;an authentic and long-overdue break&quot; from the political establishment. Muslim voter baseThe city boasts a large and growing Muslim population of around 1 million. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, more than 300,000 Muslims are registered voters among the city&#39;s 5.1 million registered voters, providing a critical base of support for the first Muslim mayoral candidate. Policy platformMamdani&#39;s core platform promises a steep economic shift to ensure affordability for working-class New Yorkers. His key proposals include a rent freeze for stabilized units, fare-free city buses, and universal childcare, all funded by raising income and corporate taxes on the wealthiest. &quot;If Mamdani wins, it will be because of his ideas to work for the benefit of the working class,&quot; says Khattak, who believes that for a working-class person, &quot;saving a single dollar&quot; means a lot daily. However, the agenda is &quot;radical and ambitious,&quot; and &quot;these are still promises that need to be seen how they materialize,&quot; Khattak emphasized.&nbsp; Many projects are at the grassroots level but will undoubtedly require &quot;federal funding at some point,&quot; noted Dr Sohail Khalid, an expert on international affairs. Anti-Zionist positionMamdani&#39;s unapologetic anti-Zionist stance and intense criticism of the Israeli government have become a powerful rallying point for the progressive and younger electorate. He has consistently spoken out against what he calls the &quot;genocidal war&quot; in Gaza, saying the struggle there is &quot;tied to capitalist interests over here.&quot; Netanyahu arrest pledgeMamdani has said that if elected, he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Israel-Hamas war. However, analysts note that &quot;New York is the bastion of Jewish population&quot; and believe Mamdani&#39;s statement is extreme, with actually arresting the Israeli prime minister &quot;almost impossible.&quot; Political fallout&quot;Mamdani, if he wins, will have to defeat many Democrats as well,&quot; Dr Khalid pointed out, as a considerable chunk of Democrats is siding with Cuomo due to Mamdani&#39;s anti-Israel stance. Despite this, Mamdani has backing from prominent Jewish and ethnic politicians, including Bernie Sanders and former President Barack Obama. Immigration policy clash?A Mamdani victory would set the stage for immediate conflict with President Trump&#39;s administration. Trump has made mass deportation a central policy, defending aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics and asserting that enforcement actions &quot;haven&#39;t gone far enough.&quot; Mamdani has pledged to defy federal immigration policies, announcing plans to transform New York City into an &quot;impregnable shield against ICE activities.&quot; He vowed that, &quot;We&#39;re taking every step we can to keep New Yorkers safe, to keep New Yorkers together, and to show the world that they are welcome in this city.&quot; Federal funding at riskPresident Trump has relentlessly attacked Mamdani, labeling him a &quot;communist,&quot; and warned that a Mamdani mayoralty would face &quot;problems with Washington like no mayor in the history of our once great city.&quot; Khattak fears a triumphant Mamdani would put the city in &quot;direct confrontation&quot; with Trump, who opposes Mamdani&#39;s socialist ideas and controls the &quot;federal purse strings.&quot; The Cuomo factorFormer Governor Andrew Cuomo, technically an independent candidate representing the centrist Democratic status quo, has repeatedly attacked Mamdani&#39;s inexperience and policy proposals as reckless and unrealistic. Challenging Mamdani&#39;s leadership capacity, Cuomo has asserted, &quot;This is no job for on-the-job training.&quot; He argues that his own prior experience dealing with the federal government makes him the only candidate who can protect the billions in federal funds the city depends on. In response, Mamdani has repeatedly pointed out Cuomo&#39;s past scandals and questioned his &quot;integrity&quot; as a politician. What&#39;s at stakeA Mamdani victory would not only dramatically reshape New York&#39;s political economy with sweeping social programs but also set the stage for an unprecedented legal and political showdown between a democratic socialist city hall and the Republican White House over the rights and safety of immigrants, even as the city faces continuous criticism from President Trump himself. The question remains: What would this win mean for New Yorkers, and how would it affect the broader political landscape in the deeply divided USA?

Americas

According to the city government, more than 750,000 votes have already been cast through early voting; Zohran Mamdani is currently showing a double-digit lead in all major surveys.

NYC's political choice: democratic socialist Mamdani, Republican Sliwa, or independent Cuomo?

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s announcement signaling a possible resumption of US nuclear testing after more than three decades has drawn mixed reactions from nuclear policy experts, who warned of legal hurdles and global security risks.&nbsp;Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters the United States would conduct nuclear tests if other nations do.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to do some testing, yeah, and other countries do it,&rdquo; Trump said in response to a question from AFP. &ldquo;If they&rsquo;re going to do it, we&rsquo;re going to do it.&rdquo;&nbsp;He did not clarify whether he was referring to warhead tests, missile tests, or subcritical experiments.&nbsp;The statement came ahead of Trump&rsquo;s meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in South Korea, where both leaders were expected to discuss tariffs.&nbsp;Dr. Kelly Voss Coletti, a nuclear nonproliferation expert at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology, told Pakistan TV Digital that it was &ldquo;too early to call this announcement official.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It is still a statement, not a policy,&rdquo; she said, noting that any resumption of nuclear explosive testing in the United States would require congressional approval and a lengthy authorization process.&nbsp;Miles Pomper, a senior fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Washington, said the president&rsquo;s wording left critical questions unanswered.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not clear whether he meant testing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads or the warheads themselves,&rdquo; he said. Pomper noted that &ldquo;missiles are routinely tested in all nuclear states, including Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;Dr. Coletti cautioned that US moves carry global ripple effects.&nbsp;&ldquo;The international system tends to look to the United States for leadership on nuclear nonproliferation,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If the US begins the long process of resuming nuclear weapons testing, other countries will likely follow.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pomper acknowledged that the US deterrence strategy plays a political role.&nbsp;&ldquo;Testing is the only way to know how aging plutonium pits perform,&rdquo; he said, adding that deterrence remains central to US strategic policy.&nbsp;Coletti urged Washington to honor its moratorium and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to &ldquo;demonstrate the US&rsquo; commitment to global peace.&rdquo; Pomper, meanwhile, suggested such a move would signal a shift back into &ldquo;an already ongoing arms race.&rdquo;&nbsp;Russia and China, both considered strategic competitors, have recently expanded their advanced weapons testing capabilities. Moscow recently announced tests of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater torpedo.&nbsp;Since 1992, the United States has relied on the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program, using simulations and non-detonating experiments, to ensure the reliability of its arsenal without live testing.&nbsp;Coletti also emphasized that the president does not hold exclusive authority in approving nuclear explosive tests.&nbsp;&ldquo;The power lies with Congress,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Even if proposed, the decision will take time to implement.&rdquo;&nbsp;On regional implications, experts said US testing would not immediately alter deterrence dynamics between Pakistan and India. However, Pomper noted it could &ldquo;provide Iran and North Korea with talking points,&rdquo; ahead of the 2026 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty review conference.&nbsp;Environmental risks also remain contentious. While Pomper argued underground testing is &ldquo;not hazardous,&rdquo; Coletti warned of long-term groundwater contamination, pointing to the US National Cancer Institute&rsquo;s fallout risk assessments from Cold War&ndash;era tests.&nbsp;&ldquo;Even underground, radioactive materials can escape through cracks caused by the explosion,&rdquo; she said. With additional inputs from AFP

President Donald Trump signaled the US could resume nuclear testing if rivals do, prompting nonproliferation experts to warn of legal hurdles, environmental risks, and a potential renewed arms race, though some argue testing may support deterrence credibility.

Trump nuclear testing plan sparks expert concern

WASHINGTON: Nearly 950,000 workers have been laid off across the United States (US) this year, the highest total since the pandemic era, according to a recent report by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray &amp; Christmas. The firm warned that the total is on track to reach one million job cuts before the end of 2025, intensifying uncertainty for new graduates, especially foreign students whose stay in the US depends on employment authorization. The steepest losses are in the technology sector. Major firms, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Intel, have collectively eliminated more than 170,000 jobs this year, the report said. &ldquo;The often-used term &lsquo;learn to code&rsquo; is a crueler reminder of a career choice than a phrase of encouragement,&rdquo; Syed Murtaza Hussain, a recent computer science graduate from the University of Texas at Austin, told Pakistan TV Digital. Hussain, who is originally from Lahore and holds an F-1 student visa, said the collapse in hiring has altered expectations dramatically. &ldquo;Everything has changed, especially how the foreign students envisioned their future,&rdquo; he said. His visa expires in three months. Despite offering some of the highest starting salaries in the US labor market, about $80,000 a year for new graduates, tech has become increasingly inaccessible to entry-level workers. Companies are relying more heavily on generative AI systems to perform work once assigned to junior programmers. &ldquo;I had to restructure my company,&rdquo; said Dale Steen, CEO of a tech firm based in the Bay Area. &ldquo;Why should I pay anyone for the services I am getting at a much cheaper rate?&rdquo; Steen said that sponsoring work visas for new graduates is &ldquo;almost out of the question.&rdquo; Recent labor data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that computer science graduates now face a 6.1% unemployment rate, more than double the rate for students who majored in philosophy. Enrollment, however, continues to surge. More than 680,000 students were enrolled in computer science programs across the US. last year, including approximately 278,000 international students. Pakistan sent nearly 11,000 students to US universities during the same period, and more than half pursued science and technology degrees, according to the US State Department. Hussain said he spent more than $130,000 completing his degree. &ldquo;I thought it was worth it, that I would earn it back in a year&rsquo;s time. But I have failed to land a decent entry-level job so far,&rdquo; he said. He now works at a fast-food restaurant while applying for positions and trying to expand his professional network. Industry hiring has also shifted. &ldquo;Fresh graduates lack the expertise that is now required by the industry,&rdquo; said Mansoor Qureshi, head of a staffing firm in Virginia. &ldquo;Companies are replacing basic roles with automated systems, and that gap is expanding.&rdquo; Steen said that while companies no longer need entry-level workers, they desperately need senior engineers and decision-makers. &ldquo;Who will replace them when the current professionals retire?&rdquo; he asked. &ldquo;We have cut off the ladder that leads to expertise.&rdquo; To address that gap, Qureshi has launched an internship and certification program backed by the state of Virginia, designed to help new graduates gain hands-on experience. But he acknowledged that foreign students may not have enough time under their visas to benefit. &ldquo;I find it disheartening, but I am still trying,&rdquo; Hussain said.

Business

Massive US tech layoffs exceeding 950,000 jobs have devastated opportunities for foreign graduates. Automation and visa hurdles worsen unemployment, leaving international computer science students struggling to find entry-level roles and secure their futures

Tech layoffs worsen US job market for foreign students, jeopardize futures

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has strongly rejected India&rsquo;s accusations at the United Nations, saying New Delhi&rsquo;s ruling ideology has transformed the country into what it described as the &ldquo;world&rsquo;s largest factory of hate,&rdquo; fueled by Hindutva extremism and systematic repression in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In a right of reply during a UN Security Council debate, Pakistan&rsquo;s Counsellor Gul Qaiser Sarwani called out India&rsquo;s representative for what he termed &ldquo;baseless and diversionary claims,&rdquo; stressing that the situation in Kashmir remains one of &ldquo;custodial killings, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, demographic engineering, and sweeping media blackouts.&rdquo; Sarwani contrasted conditions in Indian-occupied Kashmir with those in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which he said &ldquo;stands as evidence of Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to democratic governance,&rdquo; where citizens elect their leadership and &ldquo;enjoy freedoms unimaginable under Indian occupation.&rdquo; He underlined that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute, stating: &ldquo;Kashmir is not India&rsquo;s internal matter, it never was and never will be. It remains on the UN agenda, and no decree from New Delhi can alter that reality.&rdquo; Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s longstanding position on the UN-mandated plebiscite, Sarwani said it is India that has &ldquo;reneged on every commitment,&rdquo; instead deploying nearly 900,000 troops to enforce control over the region, which he described as &ldquo;the densest military occupation of our time.&rdquo; He added that India&rsquo;s allegations against Pakistan aim to deflect attention from the situation in Kashmir. &ldquo;The mask of democracy slips,&rdquo; Sarwani said, &ldquo;when minorities across India face persecution, Muslims lynched in public, Christians attacked in places of worship, Sikhs vilified, and Dalits dehumanized. The tragedies of Gujarat, Delhi and Manipur speak for themselves.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

In a UNSC debate, Pakistan rejected India’s accusations, saying New Delhi’s Hindutva-driven policies fueled repression in Indian-occupied Kashmir and undermine democratic values, while reaffirming Kashmir as UN-recognized dispute requiring a plebiscite.

Pakistan rebuts India at UN, says Hindutva policies eroding democratic values

ISLAMABAD: The US federal government shutdown has become the second-longest in its history, entering its 23rd day, with no immediate end in sight. This is jeopardizing the legal status of many individuals, including Pakistanis, in the US workforce who are employed on H-1B, EB-2, or EB-3 visa programs.&nbsp; One of the hardest-hit areas is immigration services, which have been scaled back due to funding constraints. These services collectively manage visa applications of individuals employed under various employment visa programs in the US and include the Department of Labor,&nbsp;US Citizenship and Immigration Services,&nbsp;and the Department of State.&nbsp; Mujeeb Ullah Kakar, a&nbsp;43-year-old&nbsp;Pakistani IT professional,&nbsp;is among those dealing with the repercussions of a prolonged federal shutdown.&nbsp; A resident of Maryland, Kakar arrived in the US in 2022 from Karachi on an H-1B visa sponsored by a multinational company.&nbsp; Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, he said, &ldquo;I was supposed to apply for a three-year visa extension. My company was ready to submit papers, but [they are] not anymore.&rdquo; To continue with his employment, Kakar must obtain a legal document issued by the Department of Labor (DOL), which is currently not operational.&nbsp; Kakar says he is anxious about the uncertainty of the situation, which was troubling him and his family of five.&nbsp; &ldquo;The first thing I do when I wake up is to check the news. [Check] if the shutdown has ended,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; Which immigration services are still working&nbsp;Certain immigration-related agencies that are still operating include United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which handles adjustment of status cases and other visa services paid by the client, said US-based immigration attorney Waseem Chachar.&nbsp; He said that the Department of State was also operational.&nbsp; According to Chachar, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was indispensable, but the visa sections overseas might be understaffed, leading to longer wait times and delayed interview appointments for new visa issuance.&nbsp; On the other hand, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department, allegedly carrying out controversial raids against &quot;illegal immigrants,&quot; will continue working as before. Services that are completely shut down&nbsp;While DOL has suspended all its functions, certain visa categories require approval of a Labor Condition Application before an H-1B visa application is submitted. Kakar is waiting to apply for one.&nbsp; But the H-1B visa is not the only employment-based visa category that requires a letter from DOL; the EB-2 and EB-3 categories also require a Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) from DOL to proceed. DOL is also responsible for providing certain documents for H2-A, H2-B visa categories, issued for agriculture workers; CW visas for crewmembers working in longshore positions; U visas, issued to protect victims of crime who have suffered mental and physical abuse, and T visas, reserved for victims of human trafficking who agree to assist law enforcement agencies. How many Pakistanis are on H1B, EB-2, and EB-3 visas?According to US government statistics, more than 3,000 Pakistanis hold H-1B visas, issued in 2024.&nbsp; Pakistan ranks 8th among the countries eligible to avail of this visa.&nbsp; Most of these professionals are either associated with software development or with project management and networking.&nbsp; There is little data available on Pakistanis who have been approved for EB-2 and EB-3 visas, which are offered to competent professionals.&nbsp; How worrisome is the situation for these visa holders?Kakar is troubled by missing his official deadline to submit extension papers, which can complicate his legal status in the US.&nbsp; &ldquo;I mean, these are strange times. So many people are detained. Sometimes for no reason these days. You cannot be sure of your future,&rdquo; Kakar said while referring to the ICE mass deportation raids.&nbsp; Attorney Chachar sees a fully functional USCIS as a silver lining.&nbsp; He admitted that the fear of deportation or failing to meet legal requirements while on US soil was not entirely unfounded, but these are considered &quot;extraordinary circumstances.&quot;&nbsp; He said that people who miss their legal deadlines might have their immigration cases and visa statuses addressed by USCIS later under that clause.&nbsp; They will have to &ldquo;explain and convince the department that things were beyond their control&rdquo; to avoid all legal issues.&nbsp;Although no one can be sure of the outcome due to ongoing federal policy changes, he added. For individuals like Kakar, appealing to USCIS could be a legitimate option to pursue his visa case further once the shutdown ends. &nbsp; Kakar said his lawyer told him that, once the shutdown ends, he will receive the required letter from DOL to apply for an extension of his H-1B visa. But to him, &ldquo;this is the worst time to do this, as immigration laws are stricter than they have ever been.&rdquo;&nbsp; Kakar said he was more concerned about his children, all school-age, who he feared were also struggling with the unpredictability surrounding the future of their education.&nbsp; &ldquo;I had to find a new school for my eldest daughter; she is completing her middle school. But I am just waiting and thinking that we might have to head back,&rdquo; he lamented.

Federal departments currently affected include the immigration department; scaled-back operations are jeopardizing the legal status of many individuals, including Pakistanis, in the US workforce.

US govt shutdown threatens legal status of employment visa holders

WASHINGTON, DC: Pakistan&rsquo;s mining sector is poised for major expansion, with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb projecting that the first year of commercial operations at the Reko Diq copper and gold project could generate $2.8 billion in copper exports, a 10% increase in the country&rsquo;s overall export base.&nbsp;Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV Digital&nbsp;at the conclusion of his weeklong US visit for the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, Aurangzeb said the project is only the beginning, with additional mines and concessions expected to come online in the coming years.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is just the start because there are other mines and concessions coming through,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Aurangzeb highlighted that the Reko Diq project is attracting US investment, with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) leading the syndication and the US EXIM Bank expected to participate once the US government shutdown concludes.&nbsp;Islamabad&rsquo;s long-term vision includes smelting and value addition, which will enhance Pakistan&rsquo;s industrial output. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not going to happen overnight, but where we are headed has huge upside for Pakistan,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Yuan bonds: diversifying Pakistan&rsquo;s fundingAlongside mining, Pakistan plans to issue its first-ever yuan-denominated bonds worth $250 million by the end of 2025, part of a strategy to diversify funding sources and strengthen macroeconomic resilience.&nbsp;&ldquo;From our perspective, this is a very important trade, a funding diversification discussion,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said. &ldquo;We have previously done Euro issuances and US dollar Islamic support, so we have been late, quite frankly, in terms of tapping the second-largest and second-deepest capital market in the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the government will raise about $250 million equivalent in Chinese yuan (RMB) in the first phase and called the move &ldquo;long overdue&rdquo; to strengthen ties with Asian markets and reduce reliance on Western financial channels.&nbsp;Aurangzeb confirmed that the issuance will feature credit enhancement from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).&nbsp;&ldquo;We are following the Egyptian model because they had credit enhancement so that we will have the same from AIIB and ADB,&rdquo; he explained.&nbsp;Two non-deal roadshows have already generated &ldquo;strong investor interest,&rdquo; and the minister said the issuance is expected to be completed before the end of the calendar year, supported by &ldquo;very strong underwriters.&rdquo;&nbsp;Macroeconomic stability and reform commitment&nbsp;Aurangzeb said the bond issuance is part of a broader strategy to consolidate macroeconomic stability, which has shown notable improvements.&nbsp;&ldquo;If we look at it holistically, around macroeconomic stability, a stable currency, FX reserves, inflation coming into single digits, and the policy rate coming down. We are making progress that now has two external validations,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He cited the IMF staff-level agreement and upgrades from all three major credit rating agencies as indicators that Pakistan&rsquo;s reform direction is recognized internationally.&nbsp;&ldquo;That too has happened after the test of two and a half to three years,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Aurangzeb stressed that the government is focused on long-term sustainability, emphasizing reforms in taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises, and public finances.&nbsp;&ldquo;That is what is going to give permanence, because oil prices can go up and down,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Privatization drive&nbsp;On privatization, Aurangzeb acknowledged past delays but emphasized that progress is now decisive.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is one area where we haven&rsquo;t done well in the last 18 months,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But we are beginning to move in that direction.&rdquo;&nbsp;The first privatization in this cycle was the sale of a small public-sector bank to a UAE-based conglomerate.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a step in the right direction. They have big plans in terms of investment flows and maybe even going digital with that institution,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Describing the transaction as the &ldquo;first run on the board,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said it demonstrates the government&rsquo;s commitment to structural reform.&nbsp;The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) privatization is also advancing.&nbsp;&ldquo;Last year we weren&rsquo;t successful, but this year, with the reopening of flight routes to Europe in January and to the UK recently, the airline&rsquo;s value proposition has improved,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;A shortlist of qualified bidders has been finalized, and due diligence is ongoing.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m quite sanguine that before the year is out, this is going to go through,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;The minister also mentioned finalizing a sell-side advisor for the Roosevelt Hotel transaction in New York. Additionally, three power distribution companies (DISCOs) are in Phase One of privatization, with international advisors Albert Alers and Marcelis leading the process.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have good traction there as well,&rdquo; he said, noting that 24 state-owned enterprises have been handed over to the Privatization Commission. &ldquo;The first one is the first drop,&rdquo; he added, echoing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s remarks.&nbsp;Building economic resilience&nbsp;Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of fiscal and external buffers to manage global economic cycles.&nbsp;&ldquo;At some point, these cycles will reverse. Commodities go through cycles, and countries go through cycles. Countries that do well are those that build buffers, fiscal and external, and let the private sector lead growth,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He added that with renewed investor confidence, structural reforms, and diversified funding, Pakistan is now positioned to convert early recovery signs into long-term sustainable stability.&nbsp;&ldquo;The direction of travel is clear. We are turning the first drops of progress into a steady stream of sustainable reform,&rdquo; Aurangzeb concluded.

Pakistan finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb

Economy

In a wide-ranging interview with Pakistan TV Digital, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb says Pakistan will generate $2.8 billion in copper exports, issue $250 million yuan bonds, and advance privatizations.

Pakistan’s Reko Diq copper project to generate $2.8B in first-year: finance minister

WASHINGTON DC: &nbsp;Pakistan faces a critical challenge in balancing its $1.2 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid with the urgent need for climate resilience, as experts urge a shift from short-term bailouts to long-term investments in flood defenses, early warning systems, and community-level adaptation. The recent climatic changes faced by Pakistan, especially in the form of widespread flooding, have left it reeling from financial and social impacts. The IMF recently reached an agreement with Pakistan to provide $1 billion under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $200 million under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) this week, bringing total disbursements under the two arrangements to about $3.3 billion up till now. In its recently issued statement, the IMF highlighted the devastation caused by flash floods that impacted &quot;7 million people, causing over 1,000 deaths and severely damaging&quot; everything from housing to agricultural land, consequently bringing down the projected FY26 GDP to about 3&frac14; &ndash; 3&frac12; percent. Because the IMF deems Pakistan &quot;vulnerable&quot; to natural disasters, this has sparked a new debate on how to achieve &quot;climate resilience.&quot; Expenditure transparency&nbsp;Climate change and economic experts view no single fix to this situation but rather look for a multi-pronged approach, starting with the right allocation of funds released under the RSF program. Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri, the executive director of the Pakistan-based think-tank, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), told Pakistan-TV Digital that to ensure expenditure transparency, &quot;Each rupee should be tied to clearly defined resilience outcomes&mdash;such as improved flood protection, drought-resistant agriculture, or community-level adaptation projects&mdash;and implemented through provincial and district mechanisms that involve local stakeholders.&quot; &lsquo;Ex-ante measures&rsquo;As a cash-strapped country, staying aligned with the conditions of the EFF loan program while managing the catastrophic climatic changes Pakistan is dealing with can be challenging. But is there room for making arrangements ahead of a climatic event? &nbsp;Zainab Majoka, a social protection economist based in Washington and working with the World Bank, commented that it is hard to fix anything once the catastrophe has already hit. &quot;A delay of even a few hours can lead to huge losses of life.&quot; Therefore, for countries like Pakistan, which are increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks, there is a dire need to invest in &quot;ex-ante measures,&quot; or measures implemented before the shock hits. &lsquo;Switching the composition&rsquo;&nbsp;One such area is Early Warning Systems (EWS). Majoka added that EWS are integrated data systems designed to provide timely and actionable warnings of impending hazards.&nbsp; &quot;In the recent past, these data systems have improved significantly in their accuracy and can provide robust information in advance,&quot; creating a time window where the government can start planning before the shock hits. The real question is whether Pakistan can allocate a major amount for such systems with proper checks and balances in place while availing the EFF, which comes with strings attached. &quot;Pakistan can expand climate adaptation and green infrastructure without breaching the EFF ceiling by switching the composition of spending rather than its size,&quot; summed up Dr Suleri. &lsquo;Phasing out untargeted subsidies&rsquo;He suggested phasing out untargeted energy subsidies and bailouts; ring-fencing the savings for flood defenses, drainage, resilient roads, and water systems; pruning low-priority Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) schemes; and lowering the priority of &quot;discretionary&quot; projects as steps in the right direction. Majoka and Dr Suleri both emphasized the need to strengthen not just a sector but the &quot;whole community&quot; to face any untoward climatic incident. The experts believe a shift from blanket price support to targeted cash via the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) is one of the best measures to keep all &quot;costs low.&quot;&nbsp; The money to ensure that communities are built to face recent flooding-like situations can be procured by unwinding costly tax exemptions, bringing high-end real estate and retail into the revenue net, enforcing provincial agriculture-income taxation, and introducing a modest carbon levy with part of the yield earmarked for adaptation. Livelihood diversificationMajoka also advocated for providing easy access to safety nets, such as income support programs already helping vulnerable and poor households, which can further build resilience against shocks. In Pakistan, &quot;Benazir Income Support Program can be leveraged for that.&quot;&nbsp; She seconded Dr Suleri on this point. Such programs can be complemented with other measures such as livelihood diversification, where a household has multiple sources of income.&nbsp; &quot;We know from evidence that such programs also help to cope with climate shocks.&quot; RSF as &lsquo;strategic anchor&rsquo;&nbsp;According to Dr Suleri, Pakistan can use the IMF&rsquo;s RSF as a strategic anchor for a long-term climate-resilient growth model rather than a short-term disaster fund. To do so, the government should align RSF-supported reforms with a broader green industrial strategy: one that links climate adaptation with competitiveness, investment, and jobs.&nbsp; This means embedding resilience criteria into all infrastructure planning, incentivizing green energy and water-efficient industries, and setting measurable national targets for emission reduction and resource efficiency. But a long-term planning approach should be taken into account for that timely access to resources and money is a key element guaranteeing preparedness against disasters. Contingency financing&nbsp;Contingency financing is another tool that many Latin American countries are already using to achieve this goal, Majoka said. &quot;Contingency financing can take many forms, but it essentially means that the government has access to liquid funds. So, instead of once the shock hits, the government starts to look for money, it already knows that certain triggers are set linked to the contingency financing.&quot; In countries such as Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, they have catastrophe bonds that provide liquidity as soon as the shock hits. This improves the timeliness of the response and reduces the overall cost of recovery and relief. Even with all the appropriate and necessary steps taken, the IMF views that &quot;maintaining tight and data-dependent monetary policy will go a long way to build resilience against climatic changes that are rapidly changing the geo-economic structure of Pakistan.&quot;

Climate & Environment

The IMF recently reached an agreement with Pakistan to provide $1 billion under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $200 million under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) this week.

IMF aid vs climate reality: Can Pakistan achieve resilience? 

WASHINGTON: Pakistan&#39;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday said that his country&nbsp;was making a deliberate shift towards export led growth driven by the private sector, aiming to end the reliance on consumption and import-fueled boom-bust cycles. While speaking to a panel at the Atlantic Council &mdash; a DC based think-tank focused on international affairs &mdash; during his visit to the US, the finance minister said that the government had adopted the bold National Tariff Policy (NTP) to enable the plans.&nbsp; Aurangzeb also provided an overview of the country&#39;s economic trajectory, structural reforms, and the immediate challenges posed by climate change, adding that the shift in the policy reflected an &quot;East Asia view&quot; of economic growth, aiming to significantly reduce custom duties, additional custom duties, and regulatory duties over the next few years.&nbsp; The finance minister said that the focus was on making raw materials and intermediate goods cheaper to boost the competitiveness of exporters.&nbsp; He said that while textiles remain the core export sector, IT services were set to play a crucial role.&nbsp; &ldquo;A major upcoming boost is the Reko Diq project, which is expected to inject approximately $2.8 billion in exports in its first year, representing about 10% of the current export base,&rdquo; he said. The finance minister said that the early signs of success included the auto industry starting to finally export.&nbsp; He said that the strategy to enable private-sector growth also involves tackling energy issues, specifically by addressing power sector circular debt and handing over distribution companies to the privatization side. Pakistan reached a Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund that has completed the second review of its loan program, allowing the country to access $1.2 billion after approval from the fund&#39;s board. The IMF will provide Pakistan $1 billion under its Extended Fund Facility and $200 million under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility, bringing total disbursements under the two arrangements to about $3.3 billion. While talking about managing the macroeconomic stability front &mdash; something the minister talked about on Wednesday during a meeting with the IMF managing director &mdash; the minister noted that Pakistan was on the right direction in this regard.&nbsp; The progress received significant external validation, including the successful completion of the IMF program reviews (EFF and RSF) and, importantly, the alignment and upgrading of Pakistan&#39;s credit ratings by all three major agencies: Fitch, S&amp;P, and Moody&#39;s. The minister agreed that a major element of the stability effort was addressing the nation&rsquo;s largest fiscal burden &mdash; &lsquo;debt servicing.&rsquo;&nbsp; To tackle the single biggest expense for the government, the ministry was employing liability management trades and buying back domestic debt.&nbsp; While responding to a question, the finance minister termed the recent decline in the policy rate a help in reducing the overall volume of debt service.&nbsp; He added that the government is preparing to initiate politically sensitive discussions around the National Finance Commission (NFC) award to reform the revenue-sharing arrangement between the Federation and the provinces.&nbsp; The current setup leaves the Federation with little fiscal liberty after debt servicing, and the minister stressed that it needed to be addressed for the system to remain sustainable. &ldquo;The path to long-term sustainability is anchored in aggressive tax reform. The ministry&rsquo;s commitment is clear, to raise the tax-to-revenue ratio from the previous year&rsquo;s 10.2% to 11% by the end of the current fiscal year, and ultimately to 13% under the IMF program,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; On how to broaden the tax base in Pakistan, he said that it would be achieved through a two-pronged strategy of broadening and deepening the tax base.&nbsp; Broadening efforts included legislating an agriculture income tax at the provincial level and moving to bring the retail, wholesale, and real estate sectors into the net.&nbsp; Deepening relies heavily on technology, utilizing data analytics and artificial intelligence for digital monitoring and invoicing to curb tax leakages in key sectors like cement, sugar, tobacco, and beverages. The minister termed climate change as one of the two existential threats facing Pakistan &mdash; alongside population growth. Following this year&#39;s flooding, the government opted to use its resources and existing fiscal space for rescue and relief given that the intensity and frequency of devastating floods were on the rise.&nbsp; Due to damage, particularly in the rice and cotton crops, country&rsquo;s GDP growth projection will be shaved down from over 4% but is still expected to land north of 3% for the year. Finance Minister&nbsp;vows deeper economic partnership Saudi ArabiaEarlier in the day, the finance minister reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to fostering a deeper economic partnership with Saudi Arabia. During a meeting with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan on the sidelines of the IMF&ndash;World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, Aurangzeb sought Saudi support for infrastructure development projects with both sides reviewing the growing trade and investment relations. According to Radio Pakistan, he apprised his Saudi counterpart of the ongoing privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and key airports, underscoring the government&rsquo;s resolve to attract strategic investments through transparency and efficiency. The two ministers agreed that institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) could play a vital role in mobilizing and de-risking private sector investments in Pakistan. During a meeting with CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation in Washington DC, Aurangzeb highlighted significant investment opportunities with Pakistan&#39;s oil and gas, mines and minerals, agriculture, IT and pharmaceutical sectors. Finance Minister underscored the consensus at the leadership level to enhance trade and investment ties, welcoming DFC&#39;s interest in facilitating private sector-led funding for projects in Pakistan.

Aiming to end country’s historical reliance on consumption, import-fueled boom-bust cycles.

Pakistan finance minister says focus on export led growth

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026&ndash;2028 term with a resounding majority of 178 votes, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Tuesday, reaffirming its position as an active voice for human rights on the global stage. The election took place at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, where thirteen other nations also secured seats on the 47-member body. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the development, calling it &ldquo;a testament to Pakistan&rsquo;s effective and vibrant role at the United Nations.&rdquo; In a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Sharif reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting human rights across all dimensions, civil, political, economic, social, and cultural.&rdquo; Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, expressing gratitude to UN member states for their &ldquo;overwhelming trust and support,&rdquo; said on X, formerly Twitter, &ldquo;This election reflects global recognition of Pakistan&rsquo;s strong credentials and active contributions toward strengthening the international human rights framework.&rdquo; He added that Pakistan would continue to &ldquo;work constructively with all partners in the spirit of tolerance, respect, and consensus-building.&rdquo; This marks the sixth time Pakistan has been elected to the Human Rights Council since its establishment in 2006. A recognition that underscores the international community&rsquo;s confidence in Islamabad&rsquo;s consistent advocacy for universal human rights and multilateral engagement. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan will use its upcoming term to &ldquo;advance dialogue and cooperation&rdquo; on key issues such as the right to development and the protection of people living under foreign occupation. The ministry also reiterated that Pakistan will continue to raise concerns about &ldquo;grave human rights violations&rdquo; in the Indian occupied Kashmir and Palestinian Territory, in line with the Council&rsquo;s mandate. Based in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council is the UN&rsquo;s principal intergovernmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally. With its renewed mandate, Pakistan aims to strengthen its role as a consensus-builder and advocate for fairness, transparency, and universality in global human rights discourse. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s election is not just a diplomatic achievement,&rdquo; said a senior diplomat at the UN, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a reaffirmation of the country&rsquo;s enduring belief in dialogue, inclusivity, and the universality of human dignity.&rdquo;

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan’s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council reflects its vibrant and effective role at the UN and reaffirms Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting global human dignity

Pakistan secures UN Rights Council seat, reaffirms commitment to global justice 

WASHINGTON: While Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of a long-awaited peace agreement, analysts urge &ldquo;necessary caution,&rdquo; warning that without addressing the core political questions of Palestinian sovereignty and statehood, the ceasefire risks becoming yet another short-lived truce. The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, includes a temporary pause in fighting, a swap of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The announcement sparked cautious optimism across global capitals, but also deep skepticism among regional experts interviewed by Pakistan TV Digital. Canada-based decolonial scholar and activist Dr Sabreena Ghaffar said the euphoria surrounding the truce overlooks painful lessons from the past. &ldquo;In January, we saw a deal made and people rejoiced, but the bombardment didn&rsquo;t stop,&rdquo; she said, noting that over 30 Palestinians had been killed since the latest announcement. &ldquo;Even now, airstrikes continue. Until the root causes are addressed, no ceasefire will hold.&rdquo; According to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, one of the deal&rsquo;s key mediators, an immediate ceasefire must precede the agreement&rsquo;s implementation to prevent further loss of life. Arif Ansar, chief analyst at PolitTact, shared cautious optimism, saying, &ldquo;A ceasefire at all costs saves lives.&rdquo; But he emphasized that the underlying challenges, particularly disarmament and governance, could derail the process. Under the agreement, Hamas and Israel have pledged to begin phased de-escalation. The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Israel&rsquo;s military aggression in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry, with roughly half of the casualties being women and children. Dr Ghaffar noted that the agreement makes no mention of Hamas disarming.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hamas will disarm when there is a Palestinian state,&rdquo; she stated, arguing that the demand for unilateral disarmament is unrealistic. Ansar agreed, describing Hamas&rsquo;s weapons as &ldquo;an existential and ideological symbol of resistance.&rdquo; Disarmament without a roadmap for statehood, he said, would be seen by Hamas as &ldquo;total moral and political surrender.&rdquo; Analysts also expressed concern over reported plans for a foreign-led &ldquo;Board of Peace&rdquo; to administer Gaza. &ldquo;An externally imposed trusteeship, featuring figures like Tony Blair, will lack legitimacy and fuel resentment,&rdquo; Ansar warned. &ldquo;Any unelected authority risks being branded a new occupation.&rdquo; Dr Ghaffar added that Blair&rsquo;s role would be &ldquo;deeply problematic,&rdquo; recalling his controversial record during the 2003 Iraq War. Both experts stressed that true peace requires addressing fundamental political issues. Sovereignty, self-determination, and justice. &ldquo;Ignoring these in favor of reconstruction or investment-only deals turns peace into a real estate project,&rdquo; said Ansar.&nbsp; Dr Ghaffar concurred, describing Israel&rsquo;s approach as &ldquo;colonial and PR-driven,&rdquo; warning that global opinion may be shifting but &ldquo;not fast enough to save unarmed Palestinians.&rdquo; The analysts agreed that without confronting the legacy of occupation and ensuring accountability, any peace plan would be doomed to repeat history. &ldquo;The Oslo Accords failed for the same reasons,&rdquo; said Ansar. &ldquo;Key questions, statehood, refugees, Jerusalem, were postponed, and that &lsquo;later phase&rsquo; never arrived.&rdquo; As the world cautiously welcomes the latest truce, regional observers insist the real test lies not in ending the violence, but in addressing the injustices that fuel it.

Middle East

Experts caution that the Gaza ceasefire, while a welcome pause in bloodshed, risks collapse without concrete guarantees on Palestinian sovereignty, disarmament terms, and legitimate post-war governance free from external control.



Skepticism clouds Gaza truce as analysts warn of deeper fault lines

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Youm-e-Takbeer (28 May) remains a powerful symbol of national unity, unwavering resolve, and collective strength. He emphasized that it reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to safeguarding its independence while ensuring peace and strategic stability in the region. Youm-i-Takbeer commemorates May 28, 1998, when Pakistan became a nuclear power following atomic tests conducted in the Chagai Hills of Balochistan. Sharif, in his message shared on X on the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer, said, &ldquo;28 May 1998 was a defining moment in our national history - a day when Pakistan demonstrated to the world that it would never compromise on its sovereignty, security, dignity, or right to self-defence.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059882929031880861&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9cfb5131b4917d6a01888e54fe609d9c3fc3c6d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2059882929031880861"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;As we commemorate Youm-e-Takbeer today, we pay glowing tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who laid the foundation of Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear programme, and to Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, whose bold, courageous, and resolute leadership in May 1998 transformed that vision into reality despite immense international pressure.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Symbol of national unity&rsquo;&nbsp;Sharif said, &ldquo;We also honour Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr. Samar Mubarakmand and the countless brilliant scientists, engineers, valiant armed forces personnel, and all those associated with the nuclear programme, whose dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment made Pakistan&rsquo;s defence invincible.&rdquo; The prime minister said, &ldquo;Youm-e-Takbeer remains a symbol of national unity, unwavering resolve, and the collective strength of all elements of national power in safeguarding Pakistan&rsquo;s independence while ensuring peace and strategic stability in the region.&rdquo; &ldquo;On this historic day, let us renew our pledge to build a strong, prosperous, united, and self-reliant Pakistan founded on faith, unity, and discipline,&rdquo; he said.

Security

Says, ‘We honor Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Dr Samar Mubarakmand and the countless brilliant scientists, engineers, valiant armed forces personnel, and all those associated with the nuclear programme.’

Youm-e-Takbeer symbolizes unity, resolve and strategic stability, says Pakistan PM

ISLAMABAD: Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has condemned the Indian authorities&rsquo; denial of Eid prayers at Eidgah and Jamia Masjid for the eighth consecutive year in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Kashmiri leader, in a post on X on Wednesday, stated: &ldquo;For the 8th consecutive year, Muslims of <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/former-occupied-kashmir-cm-abdullah-survives-attempt-on-life-man-arrested" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kashmiris</a> have been denied the right to offer Eid prayers at the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/bjp-targeting-islamic-institutions-to-erase-iiojk-identity-says-former-cm" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eidgah/Jama Masjid</a>, and I have been placed under house arrest.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059492307200868521&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9cfb5131b4917d6a01888e54fe609d9c3fc3c6d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2059492307200868521"></iframe></div></div>&lsquo;Assault on religious identity&rsquo;&nbsp;He said, &ldquo;On the revered and celebratory occasion of Eid, Muslims of Kashmir are greeted with barricades, restrictions, locked gates and intimidation.&rdquo; Farooq further said, &ldquo;This is not governance; it is a systematic assault on our religious identity, dignity and fundamental rights which deeply hurts us.&rdquo;&nbsp;A generation deprived&nbsp;The Kashmiri leader lamented, &ldquo;It is very unfortunate that children in Kashmir are growing up without witnessing the spiritually uplifting Eid prayers at Eidgah and the festivities thereof.&rdquo; &ldquo;An entire generation is being deprived of knowing their traditions and making memories that have shaped our collective life for centuries.&rdquo; Farooq said, &ldquo;But let those in power know that no power on earth can erase the deep spiritual bond people of Kashmir share with Eidgah, Jama Masjid and their religious institutions.&rdquo; &ldquo;Faith cannot be imprisoned or suppressed through force,&rdquo; he said in his social media post.

India

The Kashmiri leader, in a post on X on Wednesday, stated, 'For the 8th consecutive year, Muslims of Kashmiris have been denied the right to offer Eid prayers at the historic Eidgah/Jama Masjid, and I have been placed under house arrest.'

Mirwaiz condemns continued Eid prayer ban at Jamia Masjid in occupied Kashmir

HONG KONG:&nbsp;Oil prices bounced higher on Thursday while Asian stocks mostly fell, as new US strikes on Iran marked the latest test of a shaky ceasefire in the Middle East war. The price jumps erased much of Wednesday&#39;s declines on the hopes of an imminent deal to end the conflict that has all but halted shipping through the crucial <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/asia-stocks-oil-prices-mixed-on-usiran-deal-uncertainty" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strait of Hormuz</a> for months. An American official said the military had shot down four Iranian drones and struck a control center in the southern city of Bandar Abbas. The official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, described the latest actions as &quot;measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire&quot;. Tehran&#39;s state media said Iranian forces had fired at four ships in the strait, while Kuwait said its air defenses were responding to missile and drone attacks. The developments came despite an Iranian official saying renewed hostilities with the United States were unlikely, and a threat from US President Donald Trump to &quot;finish the job&quot; if a peace deal was not reached.&nbsp;Mixed signals&nbsp;The mixed signals underscored the fragile state of talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, which has profoundly shaken <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/oil-falls-asian-stocks-climb-on-hopes-of-usiran-hormuz-deal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">global energy markets</a>. Brent North Sea crude, the main international benchmark, rose by 1.8% in Thursday morning trade to $95.95 a barrel, while the main US contract, WTI, increased by 1.7% to $90.17. Stock markets across Asia were mostly down, with Hong Kong&#39;s Hang Seng index dipping more than 1.5%. Seoul was down nearly one percent, while Shanghai ticked 0.3% lower. Taipei&#39;s main index gained more than one percent, while Tokyo was flat at the midday break. The declines came after a strong day for global stocks on Wednesday, as investors, bullish on artificial intelligence, looked past the conflicting headlines on Iran. In Asia, South Korean chipmaker SK hynix hit a $1 trillion market capitalization, placing it alongside regional tech heavyweights Samsung Electronics and TSMC, as well as US chipmaker Micron. The tech surge has coincided with a persistent spike in energy prices, which has threatened several major Asian economies that rely on oil shipments from the Middle East. Economists warn that central banks may have to raise interest rates if inflation worsens as a result of the war, increasing borrowing costs and potentially weighing on economic growth. On Wednesday, &quot;every headline pulled the market in a different direction, leaving traders with the same conclusion they have been wrestling with for weeks&quot;, said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. &quot;The Strait may eventually reopen fully, but until there is something more concrete than draft frameworks and political theatre, every barrel remains hostage to headline volatility, even if sub-$100,&quot; he said. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Key figures at around 0230 GMT&nbsp;</h2>Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.8% at $95.95 a barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.7% at $90.17 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 64,980.63 points Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.5% at&nbsp;24,943.99 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.3% at&nbsp;4,082.86 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1614 from $1.1629 on Wednesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3405 from $1.3434 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.54 from 159.53 yen Euro/pound: UP at 86.64 from 86.59 pence New York - DOW: UP 0.4% at 50,644.28 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.1% at 10,505.01 (close)

The mixed signals underscored the fragile state of talks aimed at ending the Middle East war, which has profoundly shaken global energy markets.

Oil prices bounce higher after new US strikes on Iran   

Faraz Saeed

Pakistan TV Digital&#39;s Faraz Saeed marks Eid Al-Adha in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, offering prayers at the central mosque while covering the International Water Conference 2026.

Asia

Pakistan TV Digital's Faraz Saeed marks Eid Al-Adha in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, offering prayers at the central mosque while covering the International Water Conference 2026.


Eid Al-Adha in Dushanbe: Pakistan TV Digital's Faraz Saeed joins prayers at landmark central mosque

Muhammad Usman Amin

As Eid Al-Adha is celebrated across Pakistan, markets stocked up on everything from sacrificial knives and cleavers to barbecue skewers, grills, and charcoal.&nbsp; Peshawar&#39;s Reti Bazar emerged as a key hub for sacrificial tools and barbecue gear, with ironmongers and wholesalers moving 1&ndash;2 tons of skewers per shop daily to meet the national demand.

Shorts

Peshawar's Reti Bazar emerged as a key hub for sacrificial tools and barbecue gear, with ironmongers and wholesalers moving 1–2 tons of skewers per shop daily to meet the national demand.



Peshawar's Reti Bazar braces for Eid rush as demand for sacrificial tools, barbecue gear surges

Asfandyar Yahya

Eid ul-Adha goes back 4,000 years to Prophet Ibrahim&#39;s test of devotion.&nbsp; Today in Pakistan alone, over six million animals are sacrificed across three days, with 1.8 billion dollars changing hands and one-third of all meat distributed directly to those who cannot afford it.

Tell Me Why

Today in Pakistan alone, over six million animals are sacrificed across three days, with 1.8 billion dollars changing hands and one-third of all meat distributed directly to those who cannot afford it.



Tell Me Why: We celebrate Eid al-Adha

Web Desk/AFP

The US military shot down four drones launched from Iran and struck a control center in the port city of Bandar Abbas; Iranian forces fire at four ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz; Israel's military issues evacuation warning for residents of the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.







US strikes Iran, drawing retaliatory attack on American base

Maryam Shah

ISLAMABAD: As Eid al-Adha approaches, millions of Muslims living in conflict zones and displacement camps continue to observe the festival despite circumstances shaped by war, hunger and displacement. In the besieged and bombarded territories of Palestine, famine-hit regions of Sudan, and camps scattered across Syria and Yemen, the rituals of Eid persist even where normal life has largely collapsed. According to the Elham Fund, Gaza resident Nahidh Abu Armaneh said his family woke up to the sound of Takbeer, wore their best clothes &ldquo;even if they weren&rsquo;t new,&rdquo; and gathered for Eid prayers. &ldquo;We started by greeting everyone we met, whether we knew them or not, because people especially need kindness and peace in these times,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After that, we visited relatives to extend our Eid wishes, ate sweets and drank coffee, though the coffee tasted as bitter as our lives.&rdquo; Nahidh and millions of others across conflict zones, displacement camps and war-damaged cities continue observing Eid al-Adha each year under conditions that would ordinarily make celebration unimaginable. In peaceful societies, Eid al-Adha is built around abundance and sharing.&nbsp; To commemorate Prophet Ibrahim&rsquo;s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah, Muslims slaughter livestock animals and traditionally divide the meat into three portions: one for the household, one for relatives and neighbors, and one for the poor. The ritual centers on generosity flowing outward from the family to the wider community. But in war zones where many families have lost homes, livelihoods and livestock, the practice increasingly depends on humanitarian aid. According to Islamic Relief Worldwide, Sudan is facing the world&rsquo;s largest displacement crisis, with nearly 14 million people uprooted by conflict and famine conditions reported in parts of Darfur. The organization said Eid al-Adha meat distributions had become the only source of meat for many displaced families, with its Qurbani program reaching 3.2 million people across 29 countries in 2025. &ldquo;Eid al-Adha means everything to me,&rdquo; displaced Sudanese resident Halima said in a statement released by the organization, adding that she did not expect to eat meat this year. In Syria and Yemen, where wars have stretched on for more than a decade, Eid al-Adha has become an annual confrontation with memory and loss. According to Al Jazeera, Umm Ghadi, a displaced Syrian mother living in an Idlib camp, gathered with neighbors to prepare sweets for children ahead of Eid despite harsh camp conditions. &ldquo;At the camp, there is no joy for the Eid, but we need to make the children happy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Eid al-Adha in the villages is nicer.&rdquo; In Yemen, Abdul-Raqeeb al-Samey traveled through front-line areas to return to his home village in Taiz after purchasing a traditional jambiya &mdash; a ceremonial dagger worn during Eid celebrations &mdash; in Sanaa, according to Al Jazeera. Meanwhile in Syria, former residents of the remote Rukban displacement camp returned home for Eid only to find destroyed houses and devastated neighborhoods. According to Al Jazeera, Yasmine al-Salah returned home during Eid al-Adha 2025 after spending nine years in the camp. &ldquo;Even though our house is destroyed, and we have no money, and we are hungry, still, it&rsquo;s a castle in my eyes,&rdquo; she said. Across these conflict zones, Eid functions not as denial of suffering but as an insistence that interrupted lives are not extinguished lives. What unfolds during Eid al-Adha in such places reflects something central to the story of Prophet Ibrahim: the ability to move through catastrophe while refusing to surrender hope entirely. This is not simple optimism. While optimism assumes improvement, people living through war often continue their traditions fully aware of destruction around them, choosing meaning despite devastation. For many trapped in conflict, the acts of washing, dressing, praying and sharing whatever food remains become assertions of dignity and humanity against conditions designed to strip both away. None of these moments erase the catastrophes surrounding them. Hunger, displacement and violence persist. Yet the prayers are still offered, sweets are still prepared and families still gather where they can. In places shaped by siege and loss, Eid al-Adha becomes more than a religious celebration.&nbsp; For many, it is also a quiet declaration that war has not succeeded in erasing faith, memory or the will to endure.

Across conflict zones and displacement camps, Muslims observe Eid al-Adha despite war and famine, turning sacrifice and shared traditions into acts of resilience, dignity and hope amid devastation and loss.


Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha across war zones despite devastation and displacement

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund&#39;s board on Wednesday approved two reviews of Sri Lanka&#39;s loan program, making $695 million in additional loans immediately available to the crisis-hit island nation. It is the latest tranche in the country&#39;s four-year $3 billion bailout, with the Fund warning of further risks due to the economic impact of the Iran war. Surging oil prices due to the war, launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, have heavily impacted many import-dependent Asian countries. &quot;Sri Lanka&#39;s strong implementation under the EFF arrangement has continued despite challenging circumstances,&quot; said Kenji Okamura, the IMF&#39;s Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair. &quot;Gains from the economic reform program helped preserve economic resilience and provided room to respond to cyclone Ditwah and the Middle East war. The latter, however, has significantly worsened Sri Lanka&#39;s economic outlook and tilted risks to the downside.&quot; The IMF projects 2026 growth to slow to 3%, with higher oil prices increasing inflation and weighing on the current account balance. The board&#39;s approval was contingent on Sri Lanka adjusting certain energy market subsidies issued in the wake of the war. Wednesday&#39;s statement said the Sri Lankan authorities had met the Fund&#39;s requirements on fuel and electricity prices, meeting cost-recovery criteria. Criteria on ensuring no new external debts and on not imposing or intensifying import restrictions &quot;were not observed,&quot; however.

Sri Lanka

It is the latest tranche in the country's four-year $3 billion bailout, with the Fund warning of further risks due to the economic impact of the Iran war.


IMF approves $695M for crisis-hit Sri Lanka

KAMPALA, Uganda: Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is complicating efforts to rein in a deadly Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization chief warned Wednesday, while Uganda announced it was shutting its border. The WHO has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the DRC since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, out of more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases. Its chief fears insecurity in the eastern DRC, which has been plagued for three decades by conflict involving a litany of armed groups, is making it extremely difficult to contain the outbreak. &quot;Eastern DRC now faces a catastrophic collision of disease and conflict with the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response,&quot; the UN agency&#39;s head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X. No vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is behind the DRC&#39;s 17th recorded outbreak of the disease. State services in rural Ituri province, where it was first detected, have been largely absent for decades. In Rwampara, one of the epicentres of the outbreak, AFP saw a symptomatic woman being brought to hospital on a motorbike, squeezed between her sister and the driver. A health worker recorded a high fever and bleeding from her nose, a common symptom of Ebola, which causes a haemorrhagic fever. He rushed to spray chlorine on the bike and driver, who wore a surgical mask but little else to protect him against a virus that spreads through bodily fluids. With no ambulances available, &quot;people make do with motorbikes&quot;, the health worker, Dieudonne Sezabo, told AFP. The hospital has set up a temporary isolation centre but is still awaiting crucial equipment deliveries. Uganda shuts borderNeighbouring Uganda, which has recorded one death confirmed to be from Ebola and six additional cases, announced it was shutting its border with the DRC with immediate effect. It also said it was imposing a 21-day quarantine on anyone arriving from the DRC, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and district surveillance teams. The WHO said the case fatality rate was under 25 percent -- much lower than in other recent outbreaks. But experts suspect the virus was circulating under the radar for some time and the true extent of the health crisis has yet to be seen. The WHO chief lamented that clashes were &quot;driving mass displacement, pushing exposed contacts into overcrowded camps and severing critical containment corridors&quot;. &quot;Frontline workers are risking everything, while attacks on health facilities make tracking cases and their contacts nearly impossible,&quot; Tedros warned. &quot;We cannot build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling,&quot; Tedros said, urging &quot;all warring parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire to contain this outbreak&quot;. The United States plans to open a quarantine centre in Kenya, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, primarily intended for Americans who need to leave the DRC quickly and quarantine. Kenya said it had screened some 55,000 people crossing the border from Uganda and had yet to confirm an Ebola case.

Response team members are helped to wear protective suits before burying a person suspected of having died from Ebola in Bunia, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on May 25, 2026. (AFP)

Africa

The World Health Organization chief warns that conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is complicating efforts to rein in a deadly Ebola outbreak, while Uganda shuts its border.

Articles by Gaitty Ara Anis