Month: July 2026

Islamabad: Former Azad Jammu and President Sardar Masood Khan on Wednesday has cautioned against expecting immediate changes in India’s strategic outlook solely due to shifts in political parties, saying ideological trends rooted in Hindutva have extended beyond electoral politics into state institutions and society.

Commenting on political developments in India, Masood Khan stressed that sustainable regional peace requires policies based on pluralism, democratic values and respect for minority rights rather than exclusionary nationalism.

He urged Pakistan to continue pursuing proactive diplomacy while safeguarding regional stability. He said dialogue, constitutional governance and peaceful engagement remain the most effective tools for resolving conflicts, protecting national interests and promoting lasting peace in South Asia and the Middle East.

Masood Khan emphasized that a balanced approach focused on diplomacy and democratic principles is essential for addressing regional challenges and building long-term peace.

Turning to developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khan described the decision to hold phased elections as a practical and balanced approach under prevailing circumstances.

He said democratic continuity must be preserved while ensuring peace, security and public confidence in the electoral process.

He emphasized that constitutional and political matters concerning the Legislative Assembly should be debated and resolved through the Assembly itself, in accordance with democratic principles and institutional procedures.

Islamabad: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has praised the security forces for successfully carrying out intelligence-based operations in the Balochistan districts of Mastung and Sohrab, describing the actions as a significant step toward ensuring peace and stability in the province.

In a statement, the Interior Minister lauded the professionalism, courage, and operational capabilities of the security forces following the elimination of ten terrorists belonging to what he referred to as Fitna al-Hindustan, a term officially used by the Government of Pakistan for India-backed militant groups.

Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the officers and personnel who participated in the intelligence-led operations, saying they had once again demonstrated exceptional bravery and unwavering commitment in safeguarding the country’s security.

He emphasized that intelligence-based operations against terrorist elements remain indispensable for maintaining peace, stability, and the rule of law, particularly in areas affected by militant violence. The minister said the continued efforts of the security forces in Balochistan deserve the nation’s appreciation and support.

“The officers and soldiers of our security forces are the pride of the nation and our true heroes,” Naqvi said, adding that the entire country stands behind the brave personnel who are making sacrifices to eliminate terrorism.

The Interior Minister further stated that the nation takes immense pride in the courageous sons of the soil who have successfully neutralized what he described as India-sponsored terrorists, reaffirming the government’s resolve to continue supporting security forces in their mission to eradicate militancy and restore lasting peace across Pakistan.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Wednesday, urged all stakeholders to become part of a unified national innovation ecosystem, stressing the need to develop indigenous knowledge and technological capabilities in Pakistan.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the ‘Indus RAS – Robotics and Autonomous Systems Expo 2026’, the prime minister said Pakistan must embrace the technological revolution while ensuring that its benefits reach every segment of society.

‘Let our universities, research and development centres, startups, industries, and farmers become part of one national innovation ecosystem, ensuring that the knowledge behind these technologies is indigenous, owned, and continuously advanced in Pakistan,’ he said.

The prime minister emphasized that the robotics and autonomous systems revolution should not remain confined to advanced economies, large corporations, or major cities.

Instead, he said, it should become a catalyst for inclusive growth by improving the lives of farmers, small businesses, women entrepreneurs, young innovators, and underserved communities across Pakistan and the Global South.

Highlighting the rapid advancement of emerging technologies, Shehbaz Sharif said their increasing power also placed greater responsibility on governments and stakeholders.

As these technologies become more powerful, the prime minister said their responsibility also grew simultaneously.

‘We must establish clear regulatory and ethical frameworks to ensure autonomous systems are safe, secure, transparent, and always used for the benefit of mankind,’ he said.

The prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting innovation and technological development while ensuring that emerging technologies are deployed responsibly and inclusively for sustainable national progress.

The ceremony was attended by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, experts, industrialists, entrepreneurs, foreign delegates, brands, companies and students.

The prime minister further announced two landmark initiatives of the government which would shape the future of robotics and autonomous systems in the country; including launching the Spark and Elevate programme to transform Pakistan’s research into world-class technologies, globally competitive enterprises, and high-productive jobs and establishing the Pakistan Venture Fund with an initial commitment of $20 million to catalyse investment in our technology ecosystem.

The prime minister said the future of robots and autonomous machines that Pakistan seeks is not merely a story of technology. It was the story of a nation of about 250 million resilient people determined to re-imagine, to compete, and to build a better future for the generations to come.

‘In fact, it is the story of our very young, bright people whose cherished dreams are ignited by the spark of curiosity whose talent knows no bounds and whose ingenuity will shape our motherland, Pakistan, for a wonderful future,’ he maintained.

Today, the prime minister said Pakistan stood at the cusp of a historic opportunity, ‘one we cannot and shall not miss, inshallah. Pakistan will not be a nation that merely inherits the choices made by others. We will shape our own destiny through innovation, enterprise, self-reliance, and untiring efforts, God willing.’

He further underscored that through untiring efforts, sweat and blood, and determination, they should build a brighter, stronger, and prosperous Pakistan for generations to come, and their posterity would feel proud.

Terming the Indus RAS Expo as ‘a landmark initiative’ that reflected Pakistan’s determination to become a leading player in the technologies that would define the 21st century.

Earlier this year, he mentioned that Pakistan hosted the Indus AI Summit, bringing together governments, technology leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs to shape Pakistan’s journey in the age of artificial intelligence. The RAS Expo gave that vision its tangible form, demonstrating how innovation could be translated into viable solutions that strengthen their economy, enhance security and improve the lives of their people.

‘We stand at an extraordinary moment in history where machines no longer merely calculate; they can perceive, decide and act swiftly. What once belonged to the realm of imagination has become part of our everyday reality. For generations, our farmers worked at the mercy of nature. They faced water scarcity, rising input costs, fragmented land holdings and a climate that no longer kept its old promises,’ he observed.

The prime minister said with the help of emerging technologies, the agriculture sector had witnessed a revolution. And in the time of crisis, he said the same technology provided access and helped save lives where roads and bridges were completely washed away.

The prime minister opined Pakistan had made remarkable progress in developing indigenous autonomous capabilities in the field of defence and security.

‘Under the dynamic leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, our armed forces have adopted cutting-edge technologies, some of which I just witnessed on display outside this hall. I have seen simulators 100% manufactured and assembled in Pakistan. Drones have already achieved more than 60% indigenization,’ he added.

The prime minister also commended the IT ministry, experts, professionals, and technocrats who had made the remarkable achievements for the motherland.

And last year, during the historic Marqa-e-Haq, he said the entire world witnessed how their valiant armed forces resolutely guarded the physical and cyber frontiers through the highly effective use of advanced autonomous systems led by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and ably supported by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

The brave armed forces proved beyond any ray of doubt that Pakistan possessed not only the iron resolve to safeguard its sovereignty, but also the indigenous capability, technological prowess, and operational excellence required to employ advanced autonomous technologies in defence of their motherland, he added.

‘These remarkable military advancements are an integral part of our national defence. They will further strengthen our security architecture, make our defence more impregnable, and enhance our resilience against emerging and future threats,’ he further observed.

Earlier speaking on the occasion, Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the countries that led the new technologies would define the future economy.

She said Pakistan would own full value chains of robotics and artificial intelligence because advanced technological self-reliance was a national decision and today, they were ready to make that.

Shaza Fatima said that under the visionary premiership of the prime minister, the government embraced a clear direction of Digital Nation Pakistan where technology was not simply another lever of the economy, but an actual engine of productivity, employment and national competitiveness.

The minister stressed that they were creating an enabling environment for the startups, investors and young people to compete globally.

‘And the results are already visible. The export numbers tell you that this year the ICT exports grew by almost 21%. This is a testament to the resilience of our industry and our policies. We’ve moved 14 ranks up in the E-Governance Development Index, and we’ve moved 27 ranks up this year in ITU’s ICT Development Index,’ she added.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Wednesday, welcomed the decision of SandP Global Ratings to upgrade Pakistan’s sovereign credit rating from ‘B-” to “B’, describing it as a significant milestone for the country’s economy.

The prime minister said the upgrade reflected the international community’s confidence in the government’s effective economic policies, fiscal discipline, structural reforms, and sustained efforts to stabilize the national economy.

He noted the improved rating served as evidence that the government’s measures to strengthen economic stability, reform the tax system, reduce the fiscal deficit, and build foreign exchange reserves were moving in the right direction, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister further said the government had taken difficult but necessary economic decisions, the positive outcomes of which were now being acknowledged internationally.

He expressed the confidence that the upgrade would boost the confidence of international investors, create new investment opportunities and further accelerate Pakistan’s economic growth.

The prime minister also commended Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, the government’s economic team, and all relevant institutions for their contributions to this achievement.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to economic reforms, he said the reform agenda would continue with determination and resolve to provide Pakistan with a strong and sustainable economic foundation.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday stated that special attention was paid to six important pharmaceutical sub-sectors in recent ‘Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference 2026’, aiming to promote investment, technology transfer and local industry in Pakistan.

While addressing a press conference here, Kamal appreciated the Ministry of Health team for its instrumental role, which led to the successful completion of the “matchmaking” process between Pakistani and Chinese companies.

“The Ministry of Health play an effective and successful role during conference, due to which 240 delegations and 140 Chinese companies participated in the two-day conference, while 340 bilateral business meetings were held,” he said.

The Minister noted that during the conference, 22 companies signed agreements worth 629.5 million US dollars, while Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth 800 million US dollars were also signed.

He added that regular communication and consultation are now underway with these companies to implement practical projects.

He highlighted that health sector is sensitive and ever-growing as the population of Pakistan is consistently increasing and it required experienced people to serve.

While appreciating the services of the Islamabad Police during the conference, he said the visiting delegations were well looked after from their arrival at the airport to their accommodation and throughout all other arrangements, adding that these efforts earned Pakistan international appreciation.

While talking about reforms in health sector, he highlighted the online system introduced in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), which would eliminate the hindrances in registration process of medical related process, devices and others.

He vowed to fully digitize the DRAP within the next year.

He further noted that all 13 vaccines used in Pakistan completely imported, underscoring that the government has prepared the country’s first national vaccine policy, which will pave the way for local vaccine production.

He also highlighted that currently, Pakistan manufactures 85 percent of its own medicines, and exporting to almost 52 countries.

He added that about 95 percent of the raw materials used for the manufacture of medicines are imported.

While concluding, he showed government optimism to strengthen the Pakistan health sector by boosting local production, which would benefit the people.

Islamabad: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to immediately unfreeze the bank and pension accounts of a retired Pakistan Navy officer, declaring the tax recovery measures taken during the pendency of his appeal as maladministration.

According to an FTO decision, the complainant, retired Pakistan Navy officer Misbah ul Islam Syed, challenged the freezing of his bank accounts, including his pension account, after the FBR initiated recovery proceedings over an income tax demand of Rs12.16 million for the tax year 2018.

The complainant submitted that the tax demand had been created through an assessment order issued under Section 122(1) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, against which he had already filed an appeal before the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals) in July 2024.

Despite the appeal remaining pending, the tax department proceeded to issue recovery notices and subsequently froze his bank accounts, including the account receiving his government pension.

The Revenue Division, through RTO-II Karachi, defended its action by arguing that the assessment order had become enforceable and that, in the absence of a stay order from the appellate authority, recovery proceedings were legally permissible.

The department also maintained that the FTO lacked jurisdiction because the assessment itself was already under appeal. However, the Ombudsman rejected the jurisdictional objection, observing that the complaint was not against the tax assessment itself but against the manner in which recovery was carried out while the statutory appeal remained undecided.

The FTO held that coercive recovery during the pendency of a first appeal was contrary to law and inconsistent with judicial precedents.

It further ruled that attaching or freezing a dedicated pension account for tax recovery was unlawful, noting that pension funds are protected under the Pensions Act, 1871, Section 60(1)(g) of the Code of Civil Procedure, and the relevant civil service regulations.

The Ombudsman also condemned the prolonged delay in deciding the taxpayer’s appeal, noting that it had remained pending for nearly two years despite the Income Tax Ordinance requiring appeals to be decided within 120 days. The delay, combined with the recovery action, amounted to maladministration under the Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance, 2000.

In its recommendations, the FTO directed the FBR to instruct the Commissioner Inland Revenue, Zone-I, RTO-II Karachi, to de-attach all bank accounts, including the complainant’s pension account, within seven days.

It further ordered the Commissioner Inland Revenue (Appeals-II), Karachi, to decide the pending appeal within 40 days and submit a compliance report to the Ombudsman within 45 days.