Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, hosted a special seminar to commemorate the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), titled ‘China’s Remarkable Socioeconomic Transformation under the Leadership of the CPC and Its Growing Contributions to Global Public Good’. Moderated by Ms. Nabila Jaffer, Head of the China Program, the seminar brought together senior diplomats, government officials, scholars, youth, and media, said a press release.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, described China’s rise as one of the most remarkable transformations in contemporary history, lifting around 800 million people out of poverty and raising per capita income from about 156 US dollars in the 1970s to close to 13400 US dollars today, and leaping towards modernization.

He identified meritocracy as the single most important lesson of China’s development, noting that several of its top leaders had engineering backgrounds, and pointed to Beijing’s dramatic improvement in air quality as a symbol of the change. Pakistan and China, he said, were ‘partners in peace, partners in progress, and development partners.’

Professor Gao Jian, Secretary General at Shanghai International Studies University, stated that China’s path to modernization, achieved through a governance model rooted in China’s own realities, has proved Fukuyama’s claim wrong that modernization would ultimately take the form of Westernization. Chinese modernization, he stressed, is not a template to be copied but an example that every nation must adapt to its own social realities.

Ambassador Masood Khalid, Pakistan’s former ambassador to China, traced the CPC’s journey from its founding in Shanghai in 1921 to the current 15th Five-Year Plan. He highlighted China’s system of five-year planning, begun in 1953, as systematic, scientific, and pragmatic, with built-in course correction and a strong emphasis on data accuracy. He emphasized the Party leaders’ critical role in setting the stage for China’s socioeconomic ascent, delineating the policies from Mao to Xi era. He also opined that China is steering the rise of Asia as well. China’s rise, he said, had been peaceful; it sought not to dismantle the international order but to seek adjustments reflecting new realities, and aimed to become a fully modern country by 2049.

Ambassador Moin ul Haque, Pakistan’s former Ambassador to China, focused on the CPC’s engagement with the Global South. He traced the evolution of Chinese foreign policy from the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the 1955 Bandung Conference to President Xi Jinping’s global initiatives, under which China had moved from a recipient of development assistance to a development provider. He detailed China’s contributions to global public goods across infrastructure connectivity, development financing, poverty reduction, science and technology, public health, green development and human capital, citing CPEC projects, the provision of COVID-19 vaccines as a global public good, and training and scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students, officials and farmers.

Delivering the guest of honour address, Shi Yuangqiang, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Islamabad, drew on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s July 1 address in Beijing to outline three keys to the CPC’s success: a people-centered approach, a global vision oriented toward the common good, and rigorous party self-governance guided by ‘seeking truth from facts’.

He said China moved from winning the battle against poverty to building a transport network exceeding six million kilometers and making rapid advances in artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and quantum technology. Describing CPEC as a pilot project of the BRI that had brought more than 25.5 billion US dollars in direct investment and over 260,000 jobs to Pakistan, he reaffirmed China’s commitment to an upgraded ‘CPEC 2.0’ as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Rana Ihsaan Afzal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Commerce, in his special remarks, said the true measure of any governance model was its impact on people’s lives, and China’s record of improvement in public livelihood showed a model that had genuinely delivered. He attributed this to China’s ability to harmonize long-term vision with disciplined execution through its five-year plans and a ‘whole-process democracy’ in which policies are piloted, tested and then scaled.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem said the seminar’s central message was that political systems are a means to an end and not an end in themselves: ‘Politics is for people; people are not for politics.’ He said people-centric governance, meritocracy, and a firm stand against corruption lay at the heart of China’s success. While acknowledging Pakistan’s challenges, from out-of-school children to stagnant growth, he said China’s experience offered valuable lessons not only for Pakistan but for many developing countries and opened new avenues of partnership as China advances in emerging technologies.

Islamabad: The District and Sessions Court of Islamabad on Wednesday rejected the post-arrest bail application of YouTuber Razi Tahir in a case linked to controversial social media posts regarding an alleged meeting between the founder of PTI and a former senior public figure.

The case has been registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), which is continuing its investigation.

Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah heard the bail petition and reserved the decision after listening to arguments from both sides. The court later dismissed the request for post-arrest bail.

During the hearing, the NCCIA prosecutor opposed the bail application and asked the court to keep the accused in custody. The prosecution informed the court that the investigation was still underway and that forensic examination reports of mobile phones and other electronic devices had not yet been received.

Counsel for the defense argued that the investigating agency had already obtained the accused’s mobile phone and account details. The lawyer maintained that questioning of the accused had been completed and there was no legal basis to continue his detention.

The defense further referred to several judgments of higher courts, arguing that the available evidence did not justify keeping the accused behind bars while the investigation proceeded.

In response, the prosecution stated that the forensic analysis of the seized devices remained an important part of the investigation and could provide further evidence related to the case. The agency requested the court to reject the bail plea until the investigative process was completed.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Judicial Magistrate Abbas Shah dismissed the post-arrest bail application of Razi Tahir.

The NCCIA has already registered a case against the YouTuber over the controversial tweets, and further legal proceedings will continue in accordance with the investigation findings.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, paying tribute to renowned humanitarian and social figure Abdul Sattar Edhi on his 10th death anniversary, said that personalities like him served as a role model for the younger generation to drive social reform.

The prime minister, in his message on the anniversary, said that the late Edhi proved that every individual in the society could play a constructive role in social reform on their own.

Lauding his valuable national and welfare services, the prime minister said that a humanitarian and advocate for public service like Abdul Sattar Edhi was undoubtedly a matter of pride and a national asset for the country.

The prime minister said that Edhi’s sincere commitment to public welfare helped highlight the social dimensions of problem-solving, calling his invaluable services a remarkable part of Pakistan’s social fabric.

He said that Edhi’s public services held a prominent position in promoting positive values in society, such as empathy, tolerance, and mutual harmony.

Praying for peace for the departed soul of Edhi, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that his social services would always be remembered.

Islamabad: Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday expressed profound grief over the loss of lives and widespread property damage caused by torrential rains and subsequent flooding in China.

The acting president, in a statement, extended Pakistan’s solidarity, saying that the nation stood firmly with its Chinese brethren during this challenging natural calamity.

He said that the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China grew stronger in the face of adversity.

Islamabad: Federal Tax Ombudsman, Zafar Hijazi, has ruled that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) cannot lawfully retain money recovered under an assessment order once that order has been set aside by the appellate authority.

The FTO held that once an assessment order is annulled in appeal, it ceases to exist in the eyes of law. Consequently, the legal basis for recovery also disappears and the recovered amount cannot be withheld merely because reassessment proceedings are pending, said a press release issued by the FTO on Wednesday.

Rejecting the department’s objection regarding jurisdiction, the FTO observed that the complaint related to maladministration arising from failure to implement the appellate order, continued attachment of the taxpayer’s bank account, and delay in deciding the pending refund application. These issues fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the FTO.

The FTO directed FBR to immediately implement the appellate order by lifting the bank attachment, decide the refund application strictly in accordance with law, and submit a compliance report within 45 days.

The decision reaffirms that while tax authorities are free to complete reassessment proceedings in accordance with law, they cannot deny taxpayers the relief flowing from a valid appellate order or retain amounts without lawful authority. It reinforces the principles of lawful administration, prompt implementation of appellate decisions, and protection of taxpayers against arbitrary recovery measures.

Islamabad: In a landmark initiative to promote research culture and recognize outstanding scholarly contributions, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) through its Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) has organized the Research Awards 2026 Ceremony during which 171 research awards were distributed among faculty members and researchers.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood graced the ceremony as the chief guest and congratulated the award recipients for their outstanding academic achievements. Addressing the gathering, he reaffirmed the University’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation, describing research as the foundation of sustainable national development and academic excellence.

The Vice Chancellor announced a significant increase in the University’s internal research grant, raising it from Rs. 250,000 to Rs. 1 million per project. He said the decision reflects AIOU’s determination to encourage high-quality, impactful research capable of addressing national challenges and contributing to global knowledge.

Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood emphasized that universities must move beyond traditional teaching and become centers of innovation, research and knowledge creation. He urged faculty members and young researchers to undertake interdisciplinary and solution-oriented research that directly benefits society and supports national development.

He appreciated the role of ORIC in promoting research activities and creating opportunities for researchers to excel. He also stressed the importance of commercializing research outcomes and strengthening collaboration between academia, industry and public institutions to maximize the impact of university research.

Director ORIC highlighted the University’s remarkable progress in research during the past year and said that AIOU has witnessed a substantial increase in research publications, funded projects, patents, and collaborative initiatives. He added that the Research Awards are intended to acknowledge excellence, motivate researchers, and cultivate a competitive research environment within the University.

The ceremony was attended by deans, faculty members, researchers, administrative officers, and a large number of students, who appreciated the University’s continued efforts to promote research, innovation, and academic excellence.

The event concluded with the distribution of 171 research awards, recognizing distinguished contributions in research publications, funded projects, innovation, and other scholarly achievements.