Day: July 18, 2026

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday paid tribute to the security forces and law enforcement agencies for killing 24 Indian-backed Fitna al Khawarij terrorists during a successful intelligence-based operation in Bannu and nearby areas.

In separate statements, the president and the prime minister said the security forces’ timely and effective action against the elements responsible for attacks on police personnel and innocent civilians, particularly in Bannu, was commendable.

“The operations against Fitna al Khawarij and their facilitators working under Indian patronage will be taken to their logical conclusion,” the president said, adding that the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with the security forces and law enforcement agencies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said eliminating terrorists and their facilitators remained the government’s top priority.

He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to foil the nefarious designs of Indian-backed terrorist elements and bring those involved in attacks on security personnel and civilians to justice.

Islamabad: Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Danyal Chaudhry on Friday called out ‘selective lectures’ directed at Pakistan regarding minority rights during its GSP+ assessment.

‘Pakistan’s GSP+ assessment has once again become a platform for selective lectures on minority rights,’ the parliamentary secretary stated in a post on X, highlighting religious tolerance and inter-faith harmony in the country.

‘Pakistan with a 97% Muslim population has got 2,189 churches (1 per 1,206 Christians), 732 temples (1 per 5,669 Hindus) and 58 gurdwaras (1 per 159 Sikhs),’ he said, contrasting this with the UK, which, he noted, has one mosque for every 2,249 Muslims.

In Pakistan, neither the state nor society discriminated against religious minorities, he added.

The parliamentary secretary emphasized that special measures were undertaken by federal and provincial governments for the celebration of minority religious occasions, alongside the maintenance and protection of their holy places.

He also questioned the tolerance levels of other nations, pointing to France, where a hijab ban was imposed in 2004, a face veil ban in 2011, and an abaya ban in schools in 2023.

Danyal also noted face-covering restrictions in Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

‘Yet the EU continues to recycle narratives sourced from agenda-driven NGOs while ignoring Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees, legal reforms, and sustained efforts to protect minorities,’ he remarked.

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan received a delegation, Friday, representing Pakistan’s religious minority communities on the occasion of International Justice Day, reaffirming the Court’s commitment to the constitutional principles of equality, inclusion, justice, and protection of the fundamental rights of all citizens.

The delegation, led by Mr Samuel Payara, comprised 13 representatives from diverse religious communities, including the Christian, Sikh, Hindu, Sanatan Dharam, Bah¡’­, and Kalash communities.

The visit was organized following a request submitted by the Implementation Minority Rights Forum (IMRF).

The delegation had a meeting with Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Chief Justice, Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan, at the Committee Room of the Court. Justice Baqar Ali Najafi and Registrar Muhammad Hafeez Ullah Khan were also present.

During the meeting, the Chief Justice warmly welcomed the participants and underscored the constitutional guarantee of equal rights, religious freedom, and access to justice for every citizen, irrespective of faith or background.

The interaction provided an opportunity for an open and meaningful exchange of views on the role of constitutional institutions in safeguarding minority rights, promoting interfaith harmony, and strengthening public confidence in the rule of law. The Chief Justice reaffirmed the Court’s unwavering commitment to upholding the Constitution of Pakistan and ensuring the protection and enforcement of fundamental rights guaranteed therein.

Members of the delegation appreciated the opportunity to engage directly with the leadership of the Court and expressed their confidence in the judiciary’s role as the guardian of constitutional rights. They also acknowledged the significance of observing International Justice Day through constructive dialogue aimed at fostering inclusivity, mutual respect, and national cohesion.

Following the meeting, souvenirs were presented to the members of the delegation as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation. The visit concluded with a group photograph commemorating the occasion and reflecting the shared commitment to constitutional values, justice, tolerance, and unity.

The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan remains steadfast in promoting public engagement and meaningful dialogue with all segments of society to strengthen constitutional awareness and reinforce the principles of justice, equality, and the rule of law across the country.

Islamabad: Zong, Pakistan’s leading technology services enterprise, has commenced the deployment of its exclusive 5G-ready Indoor Building Solution (IBS) as the only telecom operator at Islamabad International Airport.

The company has also established a Customer Facilitation Desk, marking a significant milestone in advancing next-generation digital infrastructure.

The initiative will provide seamless, high-speed indoor network coverage across the airport while enabling travellers to access instant SIM activation, data services, and dedicated on-ground customer support.

As Pakistan advances toward a digitally connected future, the initiative lays the foundation for intelligent services and next-generation travel experiences powered by 5G.

With the deployment of its 5G-ready IBS, Zong will significantly enhance customer experience across key airport facilities, ensuring uninterrupted high-speed connectivity throughout passenger terminals.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior leadership from Zong, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), and Huawei Global, reaffirming their collective commitment to advancing Pakistan’s digital transformation through 5G-ready infrastructure and strategic collaboration across the aviation ecosystem.

Speaking at the ceremony, Zong Chief Technical Officer Mao Weiliang said, “Connectivity is no longer just about communication; it is the backbone of intelligent travel, digital services, and economic growth. Through our collaboration with our partners, we are building a future-ready 5G digital ecosystem at Islamabad International Airport that enhances today’s passenger experience while preparing Pakistan for the next era of smart aviation. This initiative reflects the enduring technology partnership between China and Pakistan and our shared vision of delivering the ultimate technology experience to the people of Pakistan. As we move toward full-scale 5G services at Islamabad International Airport, we remain committed to accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation through innovation, collaboration, and trusted technology.”

Zong Executive Director Sales and Distribution Faheem Durrani added, “At Zong, every customer touchpoint is an opportunity to deliver a better digital experience. By bringing our Customer Facilitation Desk together with 5G-ready infrastructure at Islamabad International Airport, we are making it easier for travellers to stay connected while strengthening our commitment to seamless service delivery. As Pakistan’s digital ecosystem continues to evolve, we remain focused on expanding customer access to innovative technology solutions that create meaningful value wherever our customers are.”

On the occasion, Islamabad International Airport Manager Aftab Gillani said, “Today’s travellers expect airports to provide seamless digital experiences alongside world-class physical infrastructure. The deployment of Zong’s 5G-ready Indoor Building Solution and Customer Facilitation Desk strengthens our ability to deliver reliable connectivity, enhance passenger convenience, and support the evolving needs of modern aviation. We value this collaboration as an important step toward creating a smarter and more digitally enabled airport.”

The initiative forms part of Zong’s long-term strategy to build intelligent digital infrastructure across Pakistan’s major transit hubs. By combining trusted 5G connectivity with AI enablement, diversified products and services, and an unwavering focus on delivering the ultimate customer experience, Zong continues to accelerate the Digital Pakistan agenda while creating smarter, more connected travel experiences for millions of passengers.

By expanding 5G-ready infrastructure and instant customer facilitation at Islamabad International Airport, the partnership will help shape a more connected, inclusive, and future-ready Pakistan.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the relevant authorities that the implementation of the government’s policy initiatives and the Ease of Doing Business Act, 2025 be expedited.

Chairing a review meeting regarding ease of doing business, the prime minister instructed that third-party validation by international organizations be ensured to assess the effectiveness and implementation of the ease of doing business measures.

He said that fully utilizing Pakistan’s vast potential for both domestic and foreign investment remained one of the government’s top priorities.

He also directed that a comprehensive report on the implementation of ease of doing business policy measures be prepared and submitted at the earliest.

The prime minister appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the Board of Investment, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industries and Production, and all other relevant institutions for their work on legislation and policymaking to facilitate business.

The meeting was briefed on the progress made in implementing the reforms and on the future course of action.

Participants were informed that work had been completed on 558 reforms aimed at reducing regulatory requirements, paperwork, and approval procedures for businesses. Of these, 71 policy measures have already been implemented, while implementation of 272 measures is progressing rapidly. The reforms are being introduced across various sectors in seven phases. It was stated that these measures are expected to generate estimated savings of Rs468.7 billion for the business community by reducing compliance costs associated with regulatory requirements.

The meeting was further informed that eliminating unnecessary and complex paperwork and regulations would help boost exports, attract greater foreign direct investment, and create new employment opportunities.

The prime minister directed that the implementation of ease of doing business measures and the employment opportunities generated as a result should be treated as key performance indicators in the evaluation of officials of the relevant institutions.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Syed Mustafa Kamal; Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani; Adviser to the Prime Minister Muhammad Ali; Special Assistant Haroon Akhtar; Attorney General Mansoor Awan; and senior officials from the relevant departments.

Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan Jameel Ahmad, the chief secretaries of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, as well as internationally renowned experts in the field, participated in the meeting via video link.

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that every dispute regarding appointments in public universities could not be treated as a constitutional case.

The court emphasized that unsuccessful candidates could not invoke constitutional jurisdiction simply by alleging a lack of transparency or procedural violations.

In its detailed written judgment released on Friday, the court overturned the decision of the Sindh High Court and restored the decisions of the Karachi University’s selection committee and syndicate regarding the appointment of professors.

The Federal Constitutional Court stated in its verdict that constitutional jurisdiction could only be exercised when the legality of the recruitment process was fundamentally compromised.

Intervening in every matter to conduct a judicial review would effectively turn courts into appellate forums for appointments, which was contrary to Article 199 of the Constitution.

The court further observed that acting as an appellate forum for educational institutions was inconsistent with the autonomy granted to universities. Public universities were expected to complete the recruitment process in a fair and transparent manner, strictly in accordance with their respective statutes and regulations.

The case originated when Dr. Feroz Alam Jafri challenged, in Sindh High Court, the recruitment process for professors at the University of Karachi. The High Court had nullified the appointments, noting that a member of the selection committee was also a candidate for a position. However, the Federal Constitutional Court set aside the High Court’s ruling, upholding the original decisions made by the university’s selection committee and syndicate.