Day: August 2, 2026

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday paid glowing tribute to the security forces for successfully conducting an operation in the Razmak area of North Waziristan, praising their professionalism and reaffirming the nation’s resolve to eliminate terrorism.

In a statement, the chief minister expressed appreciation over the elimination of five terrorists belonging to Fitna Al-Khawarij during the operation and commended the security forces for their timely and effective action.

She paid rich tribute to Pakistan Army Major Hafiz Ahsan Elahi Shaheed, who embraced martyrdom during the operation, saying his supreme sacrifice in defence of the motherland would always be remembered with honour and respect.

Maryam Nawaz said the bravery and unwavering commitment of the security forces reflected the nation’s determination to defeat terrorism, adding that the fight against the menace would continue until its complete eradication from the country’s soil. ‘The sacrifice of Major Hafiz Ahsan Elahi Shaheed, who laid down his life for the country, will always remain a source of pride for the nation, ‘ she added.

Lahore: The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has joined hands with Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) as ‘strategic partner’ for the 21st Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS) 2026.

SMEDA’s collaboration is continuation of its efforts to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in line with the strategic direction set by the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Board of Directors to achieve national economic objectives. The auto show is scheduled to be held from September 18 to 20, 2026 at the Expo Center, Lahore, SMEDA spokesman told media here Saturday.

Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Industries and Production, presided over a meeting to discuss SMEDA’s collaboration with PAAPAM. Secretary MoIandP Saif Anjum, SMEDA Board members, CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth, Pak Suzuki head Hiroshi Kawamura and representatives of the association participated in the meeting.

SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan said the government was committed to transforming Pakistan into a competitive manufacturing economy by empowering MSMEs and strengthening industrial value chains.

‘Pakistan’s automotive industry has demonstrated remarkable resilience and potential. Platforms like the Pakistan Auto Show play a vital role in promoting local manufacturing, encouraging innovation and attracting investment, ‘ he said.

He said the upcoming event should be a ‘grand global show’ with focus on B2B, MoUs and joint ventures for a meaningful contribution to the economy. He directed constitution of a committee to be led by the private sector to draw up a plan to make it a historic event.

Mr Khan directed SMEDA to fully support PAAPAM and conduct meetings with embassies and MSMEs to ensure effective matchmaking in the event.

‘We are committed to providing MSMEs with greater market access, stronger business linkages and opportunities to integrate into regional and global value chains, ‘ emphasized the SAPM.

Secretary MoIandP Saif Anjum said the event should aim to provide market exposure to local auto part manufacturers for linkages with global competitors. He said SMEDA, PAAPAM, TDAP and EDP should collectively work to achieve the objectives of the event.

CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth said SMEDA considered the automotive sector one of Pakistan’s most dynamic industrial segments with tremendous potential for SME-led growth.

‘A number of MSMEs form the backbone of Pakistan’s auto parts and engineering industry. Through this strategic partnership with PAAPAM, SMEDA aims to provide these enterprises with a platform to showcase their capabilities, build strategic partnerships, adopt modern technologies and explore new domestic and international business opportunities, ‘ she explained.

Welcoming SMEDA as strategic partner, convener PAPS 2026 Salman Saleem said the collaboration would further strengthen the exhibition’s objective of showcasing Pakistan’s automotive industry to the world.

‘We are pleased to have SMEDA on board as strategic partner for PAPS 2026. Its support will significantly enhance SME participation and reinforce our collective efforts to promote indigenous manufacturing under the ‘Make in Pakistan’ vision, ‘ he said.

He said a symposium would be held on Sept 19 on the sidelines of the event and it would help make a roadmap for future.

Lahore: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari on Saturday said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari should first seek the resignations of his father and the Chairman Senate before predicting the downfall of the federal government.

In a statement, she said Bilawal appeared unsettled by the performance of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, adding that his recent speeches reflected frustration. She said the Pakistan Muslim League (N) would not remain silent if its leadership was targeted.

Azma Bokhari said Maryam Nawaz could be the PML-N’s candidate for the office of Prime Minister in the next general elections, adding that the party was prepared for both reconciliation and political confrontation with the PPP.

She criticized Bilawal’s political tone, saying he lacked restraint in his choice of words. Referring to the Charter of Democracy, she said it appeared Bilawal himself had disregarded its spirit. She added that the PML-N ignored most of his statements and responded only when political boundaries were crossed.

The minister said every political party had its own history, including the PPP, and therefore she was refraining from commenting further. She alleged that if opposition candidates had to disappear for Bilawal to secure his family’s seat in Nawabshah, and if local government elections in Sindh were conducted in the manner witnessed by the world, then the feudal elite of Sindh should first free the people of interior Sindh from police dominance before speaking about democracy and elections.

Commenting on the political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, she claimed the PPP had failed to win refugee seats over the past four decades and would face another defeat in the upcoming polls. She urged political leaders to focus on addressing public issues instead of engaging in personal attacks.

Azma Bokhari said Bilawal should first ensure the resignation of all those holding constitutional offices that he considered illegitimate. She pointed out that the same parliamentary majority had elected the President, while the Chairman Senate, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Governor of Punjab also held office under the existing political arrangement. She argued that if the government was truly considered illegitimate, its coalition partners should be the first to relinquish their positions.

The minister also criticized the civic condition of Karachi, saying she had visited the city about one and a half months ago and found it in a worse state than before. She said even areas near the Italian Embassy were littered with garbage, adding that such conditions created a poor impression before foreign diplomatic missions. She urged the Sindh government to at least ensure cleanliness around diplomatic missions.

Reaffirming her party’s position, Azma Bokhari said Maryam Nawaz Sharif was the future of the PML-N and could be its candidate for Prime Minister. She added that the party would decide the appropriate constituency for her to contest, but maintained there was no doubt that Maryam Nawaz’s performance during the past two and a quarter years as Punjab Chief Minister had become the backbone of the party’s political strength.

Lahore: The Dolphin Squad carried out an operation near Shahkam Chowk and arrested a proclaimed offender (PO). The arrested proclaimed offenderwas wanted by Lahore and Faisalabad police in 5 cases.

According to the Dolphin spokesperson, four cases have been registered against Muneeb in Lahore and one in Faisalabad. The arrested proclaimed offender was wanted in cases of fake cheque and breach of trust, said the spokesperson.

The arrested proclaimed offender was handed over to Sundar police for legal action.

Lahore: A 30-member United States business delegation met Punjab Chief Minister(CM), Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, as both sides discussed expanding investment, strengthening economic cooperation and exploring new business opportunities in the province.

The delegation, comprising executives from the healthcare, minerals, manufacturing, information technology, energy, hospitality, electronics and marketing sectors was briefed on the Punjab government’s investment policies, including its Punjab Innovation for Value, Opportunity and Transformation (PIVOT) programme and reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business.

Secretary Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), Jameel Qureshi also briefed the delegation on investment opportunities and ongoing initiatives to facilitate domestic and foreign investors.

During the meeting, the two sides explored avenues for greater US investment in Punjab across multiple sectors. The visiting delegation also invited the chief minister to visit the United States, an invitation she welcomed.

CM Maryam expressed interest in home dialysis technology as part of the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare services while members of the delegation showed interest in investment opportunities, including shrimp farming.

The delegation appreciated the provincial government’s hospitality and expressed confidence in Pakistan’s investment potential.

“Pakistan is fully prepared for business, “members of the delegation said, adding that the country’s young population represented a major economic asset.

The delegation also praised the Punjab government’s development initiatives, particularly the Suthra Punjab programme, describing it as a “game changer” and commending the province’s efforts to create a more business-friendly investment climate.

Lahore: The Interfaith Harmony Society of the Civil Services Academy (CSA), comprising probationary officers of the 54th Common Training Programme, organised an interfaith dialogue titled ‘Building Bridges of Understanding, Respect and Peace’ to promote mutual respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among diverse faith communities.

The programme, held in two sessions, brought together representatives of different religions, senior government officials and religious scholars to deliberate on the importance of dialogue in fostering an inclusive and harmonious society.

The first session, ‘Interfaith Harmony Dialogue: Building Bridges through Faith, ‘ featured addresses by Isphandyar M. Bhandara representing the Parsi community, Rt Rev Bishop Nadeem Kamran from the Christian community, Prof Ashoke Kumar Khatri representing the Hindu community, Dr Ruhiyeh Muffedi of the Bah¡’­ community and Ahmad Ali Kelashi from the Kalasha community.

The speakers highlighted the common values shared by their respective faiths, including compassion, justice, human dignity and service to humanity. They underscored that meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding are vital to overcoming prejudice, strengthening social cohesion and fostering respect for religious diversity.

The second session, titled ‘Challenges and Solutions to Interfaith Harmony, ‘ was addressed by Secretary Human Rights Division Abdul Khalique Sheikh, Secretary Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Department Punjab Dr Usman Ali Khan, Director Administration Auqaf Department Muhammad Shakir Sandhu and Grand Imam and Khateeb of the Badshahi Mosque Syed Muhammad Abdul Kabeer Azad.

The speakers stressed the importance of sustained engagement among religious communities, effective public policies, quality education and responsible leadership to counter intolerance and reinforce national cohesion. They observed that interfaith harmony is central to Pakistan’s constitutional vision and called for collective efforts by state institutions, civil society, educational institutions and faith leaders to safeguard the rights of all citizens and promote a peaceful, pluralistic society.

Speaking at the concluding session, CSA Director General Farhan Aziz Khawaja appreciated the Interfaith Harmony Society and the probationary officers for organising the dialogue. He said Pakistan’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and emphasised that civil servants must uphold the constitutional principles of equality, inclusion and respect for all citizens. He urged the probationary officers to carry the spirit of interfaith harmony into their professional responsibilities and contribute to building a more cohesive and peaceful society.