Day: July 9, 2026

Islamabad: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has warmly welcomed the government’s initiatives for formulating a comprehensive strategy, in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks, to improve Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) access to finance.

In a press statement on Wednesday, Acting President ICCI Tahir Ayub termed the decision a timely and encouraging step towards revitalizing the SME sector, which serves as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and plays a pivotal role in employment generation, exports and sustainable economic growth.

The easier access to affordable financing has long remained one of the biggest challenges confronting SMEs, he said adding that emphasis on facilitating bank lending, developing dedicated financial products for SMEs and removing impediments to their growth reflects a clear commitment to creating a business-friendly environment.

He expressed confidence that these initiatives would enable thousands of small businesses to modernize their operations, enhance productivity and strengthen Pakistan’s export competitiveness and appreciated the Prime Minister’s special focus on supporting farmers engaged in value addition and processing of agricultural produce and fruits.

He observed that facilitating agro-based SMEs through financial access, technical guidance and awareness would significantly increase rural incomes, reduce post-harvest losses and expand the country’s export basket.

He reaffirmed ICCI’s commitment to working closely with the government, SMEDA, the State Bank of Pakistan and the banking sector to promote entrepreneurship, facilitate SMEs and contribute to sustainable economic development.

ICCI Vice President Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry also appreciated this proactive approach towards strengthening the SME sector, stating that timely and affordable financing is indispensable for the survival and expansion of small businesses.

He added that ICCI stands ready to collaborate with all relevant institutions to ensure that these initiatives translate into tangible benefits for the business community and the national economy.

Islamabad: The US Department of Justice has announced a series of indictments targeting India-based transnational organized crime networks, charging prominent Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associate Satinderjeet ‘Goldy Brar’ Singh with orchestrating the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

The landmark development was announced by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles following a major international law enforcement crackdown codenamed ‘Operation Hardball.’

The years-long joint operation, executed by law enforcement agencies across the US, Canada, and Europe, targeted three India-based organized crime groups engaged in targeted killings, extortion, human smuggling, arms dealing, and international drug trafficking.

According to the US Department of Justice, a total of 37 defendants have been charged across three indictments. Out of these, law enforcement agencies have arrested 24 suspects across the United States, Canada, and Spain, while 10 defendants remain at large.

Eleven (11) arrests were made in the state of California alone. The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar, who remains at large.

During the investigation, authorities seized approximately 1,000 kg of cocaine, 1 kg of heroin, $40,000 in cash, and a dozen firearms.

‘Transnational criminal gangs who spread fear, drugs, and violence will face the full force of justice and the weight of the federal government,’ stated First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli.

Hardip Singh Nijjar, 45, a prominent Sikh separatist leader who publicly campaigned for ‘Khalistan’-an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region of India-was shot dead three years ago by two masked gunmen in the busy car park of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.

The killing triggered a massive diplomatic row between Canada and India. In 2024, four Indian nationals were arrested and charged over the killing in Canada, where they currently await trial.

Last year, Canada formally designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, freezing its financial assets.

Federal prosecutors have now explicitly charged the leader of the Lawrence Bishnoi Group and Goldy Brar with ordering the assassination of Nijjar. The indictment reveals that the plot was facilitated by providing co-conspirators with Nijjar’s photograph and multiple addresses to execute the targeted killing.

US prosecutors highlighted a deeply concerning trend, alleging that the leadership of these brutal transnational networks operates directly from within the Indian prison system.

Lawrence Bishnoi (33) has been imprisoned in India since 2015 and is currently held in Ahmedabad Jail. Another gang leader Jaggu Bhagwanpuria is running a parallel global syndicate while currently incarcerated in Assam, India. The US Justice Department stated that despite being behind bars, they have been utilizing contraband smuggled cellphones and voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) devices to directly issue commands for political assassinations, murders, shootings, extortions, and drug trafficking across the globe.

The indictment also outlined the operations of the Dhanda Network, which has been actively smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine from the United States into Canada.

Two associates, Jaskaran Bagri and Gurtej Singh Samra, have been charged with transporting, smuggling, and distributing narcotics alongside the Dhanda network.

The documents state that these India-linked criminal networks targeted prominent religious and political leaders with violence to extort millions from diaspora communities. In December and January, the Bishnoi gang attempted to extort $5 million from a victim residing in California.

US authorities emphasized that this criminal command system operating out of Indian jails poses a severe threat to Western security and the rule of law.

The US is currently investigating the group’s exploitation of American communication networks, financial pathways, and logistics routes.

Political and security experts monitoring the developments noted that the comprehensive findings of the US Justice Department have raised serious questions about India’s security credibility and international standing.

Experts underlined that the operation effectively exposes a ‘corrupt system’ within India that acts as a facilitator for global gangsters, where police and government officials are allegedly linked to international extortion and transnational crime.

‘India, which frequently lectures other nations on terrorism, must now answer for this highly dangerous crime-terror nexus operating right from its own soil,’ remarked a political analyst.

Legal and political experts viewed that the comprehensive operation by Western law enforcement has severely dented India’s security image, exposing deep double standards. They emphasize that it is absolutely imperative for India to carry out transparent, independent investigations into the role of its prison administrations, police, and administrative facilitators, while offering full judicial cooperation to the ongoing legal processes in the US and Canada.

Islamabad: The Federal Directorate of Education’s (FDE) decision to open admissions for the 2026 academic session and restore several discontinued BS programmes in Federal Government colleges has been widely welcomed by teachers, who described the move as a major step towards strengthening affordable higher education in Islamabad.

FDE recently invited online applications for its 4-Year BS and 2-Year BS Lateral Entry programmes in 17 public colleges affiliated with Quaid-i-Azam University. Applications will remain open until 15 July 2026. Result-awaiting students of HSSC have also been allowed to apply for admission.

Teachers particularly appreciated the restoration of several BS programmes in boys’ colleges of the former Federal Government (Ex-FG) setup, saying the decision would significantly benefit male students of Islamabad by providing access to quality, globally competitive education at a fraction of the cost charged by many universities.

Under the new admissions plan, Islamabad Model Postgraduate College H-8 has been allowed to resume BS Geography alongside continuing BS Environmental Sciences. Similarly, Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) H-9 has been permitted to restart BS Islamic Studies after a one-year gap, while IMCB F-10/4 will relaunch BS English and introduce a new BS Data Science programme in addition to its existing Statistics discipline.

A senior teacher said the initiative had been warmly received by the academic community and parents alike, as it would enable students to pursue quality higher education at public sector colleges with affordable tuition fees.

Akram Khan Khosa, President of the Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA), lauded FDE’s vision of expanding BS programmes in both traditional and emerging disciplines. He said the introduction of market-oriented fields would equip graduates with skills needed for secure and rewarding careers while contributing to the country’s socio-economic development.

He also appreciated FDE for announcing admissions well ahead of the academic session, saying the timely schedule would help Islamabad’s colleges attract talented students who previously opted for universities due to delayed admissions in public colleges. Teachers expressed hope that these reforms would usher in a new era of academic excellence and strengthen the role of federal colleges in higher education.

Islamabad: Hot and humid weather is expected to prevail over most parts of the country on Thursday with chances of isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers in Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeast Punjab, eastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan during the evening and night, as per Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast.

According to the PMD’s latest weather forecast, Islamabad and adjoining areas are likely to remain hot and humid during the day, with partly cloudy conditions and rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms expected in the evening and night. The probability of rainfall in the federal capital has been estimated at 30 percent.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, mainly hot and humid weather is expected in most districts. However, isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers are likely during the afternoon in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Buner, Bajaur, Waziristan and Kurram.

Punjab is expected to experience hot and very humid conditions across most districts. Isolated rain accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms is likely during the evening and night in Murree, Galiyat, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Khushab, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal and Kasur.

Sindh will remain mainly hot and humid, with very hot weather expected in the upper districts during the daytime, while partly cloudy conditions are likely in coastal areas.

In Balochistan, hot and dry weather is expected in most districts, with central parts of the province likely to remain very hot during the day. Isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers are forecast during the evening and night in Zhob, Barkhan, Musakhel, Sibi, Kohlu, Khuzdar, Awaran and adjoining areas.

Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to witness partly cloudy weather, with rain-windstorms and thundershowers likely during the afternoon.

During the past 24 hours, hot and humid weather prevailed over most parts of the country, while isolated rain-windstorms and thundershowers occurred in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, northeast Balochistan, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The highest rainfall was recorded in Mir Khani (33 mm), followed by Hafizabad (23 mm), Babusar (22 mm), Sialkot Airport (17 mm), Chakwal (9 mm), Kotli (7 mm), Gujranwala (7 mm), Barkhan (6 mm), Zhob (4 mm), Gujrat (4 mm), Parachinar, Drosh, Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin (3 mm each), while Sheikhupura, Hunza, Skardu and Murree received light rainfall.

The highest maximum temperatures recorded on Wednesday were 45 degrees Celsius in Turbat and Dadu, followed by 44 degrees Celsius in Sibi, Bhakkar and Khanewal.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow and grief over the passing of Comrade Shahid Usmani, the husband of Fouzia Shahid, former Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In a condolence message, the minister extended his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved family, stating that he was deeply saddened to hear the news of Comrade Shahid Usmani’s demise.

“The journalistic and social services of the deceased will always be remembered. Comrade Shahid Usmani dedicated his life to the struggle for principles, democratic values, and public rights,” he remarked.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant the departed soul an exalted place in eternal peace and to bestow courage, fortitude, and patience upon the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to assess the regulator’s performance, emphasizing regulatory reforms and measures to further improve the ease of doing business.

Appreciating the Commission’s progress, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb underscored the importance of maintaining an effective balance between facilitating businesses and ensuring a robust regulatory environment.

He emphasized that technological advancements should be accompanied by comprehensive process re-engineering to simplify regulatory procedures, enhance service delivery, and improve the overall ease of doing business while reducing cost of doing business.

The Finance Minister also encouraged the Commission to institutionalize regular engagement with businesses, investors, and other stakeholders through focused consultations to obtain practical feedback and ensure that regulatory reforms remain responsive to the needs of market participants.

Earlier, Chairman SECP, Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, along with the Commissioners and senior officers, gave a detailed presentation on the Commission’s performance and key reform initiatives undertaken during the period from January 2026 to June 30, 2026.

The Finance Minister was briefed on SECP’s initiatives to promote investment, strengthen capital markets, improve corporate governance, facilitate ease of doing business, and modernize the regulatory framework through digital transformation and process improvements.

Progress on legislative reforms, investor facilitation, and enforcement measures was also reviewed.

During the presentation, the meeting was informed that over 18,000 new companies had been registered during the review period, alongside significant progress in post-incorporation services, licensing, and digital regulatory processes.

The Commission also highlighted ongoing work on an artificial intelligence-based company registration system, transforming regional SECP offices into Business Facilitation Centres, development of a Central UBO Registry Portal, and digitization of shareholding records of unlisted companies.

Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb appreciated the Commission’s enforcement and compliance efforts, particularly the action taken against state-owned enterprises for regulatory non-compliance.

He emphasized that regulatory standards be applied fairly and consistently across both public and private sector entities to strengthen corporate governance and reinforce market discipline.

The meeting also reviewed measures to deepen Pakistan’s capital markets and broaden investor participation.

The Finance Minister was informed that 10 Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) had been approved during the review period, with a number of IPOs in the pipeline. Progress was also shared on simplifying investor onboarding, enhancing digital investment platforms, increasing the investment limit under the Sahulat Account and Sehl Account, and strengthening coordination with financial institutions to facilitate greater participation in the capital market.

The SECP further briefed the meeting on reforms in the insurance and non-bank financial sectors, including initiatives to expand insurance coverage, promote Islamic finance and Takaful, facilitate housing finance and women’s entrepreneurship, and strengthen financial inclusion through innovative digital products.

The Finance Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting reforms that promote investment, strengthen capital markets, facilitate business activity, and contribute to the sustainable development of Pakistan’s corporate and financial sectors.