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PPP opposes proposed park project at Margalla’s foothills

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Wednesday opposed a proposed park project that the government plans to set up at the foothills of the Margalla Hills on 1,000 kanal. A press release issued by the Interior Ministry stated that a new park would be established at the foothills of the Margallas. According to the press release, the decision to develop the park was made in a meeting on CDA issues chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Reacting to the proposal, General Secretary PPP Human Rights Cell Malaika Raza issued a statement and strongly opposed the plan. “The proposed Margalla Park plan amounts to ecological terrorism, an assault on Islamabad’s geography, environment and social fabric with long-term repercussions,” she said. Pakistan is already facing a climate crisis. Islamabad, once celebrated as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world due to its greenery and hills, is under urgent threat as tree felling accelerates and natural beauty erodes, she a...
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PM Shehbaz directs to accelerate efforts for promoting electric vehicles in Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed that efforts for promoting electric vehicles (EVs) in the country be accelerated. He expressed these views while chairing a review meeting on promoting electric vehicles in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. “In view of the prevailing regional situation and the requirements of the future, the promotion of EVs will not only reduce the fuel import bill, but it is also extremely important for protecting the environment and energy security,” the prime minister was quoted as saying. According to the statement, the prime minister directed that transparency be ensured in the subsidy provided on electric motorcycles for low-income individuals under the National Electric Vehicle Policy. It added that the meeting was also briefed on ongoing steps to promote EVs nationwide. The meeting was told that 72 certificates were issued for the manufacturing electric motorcycles and rickshaws, while four certificates ...
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New Zealand minister slammed for ‘butter chicken tsunami’ comments about planned FTA with India

A senior New Zealand minister has sparked outrage by deriding a planned free trade deal with India as a “butter chicken tsunami”. Wellington is poised to sign a free trade agreement with India in New Delhi next week. The New Zealand government has hailed it as a “once in a generation” deal that will give its businesses access to the world’s most populated country’s vast domestic market. But its ruling coalition partner, the right-wing populist NZ First party, has pulled support over fears it will open the country’s borders to thousands of Indian nationals. The split will mean the government will need the opposition Labour Party to vote in favour when legislation goes before parliament in the coming months. On Monday, the party’s deputy leader and Minister for Regional Development, Shane Jones, said his party would “never accept” the deal. “I don’t care how much criticism we get, I am just never going to agree with a butter chicken tsunami coming to New Zealand,” Jones told R...
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Ink and rubble: The systematic assault on Iran’s intellectual soul

Last year, my plans to celebrate Eid in Iran were dismantled by the sudden escalation of regional aggression. What was meant to be a personal pilgrimage became a casualty of geopolitics. Yet, in a twist of fate this past September, I found myself touching down at Tehran’s IKA Airport, not for a holiday, but as an invitee to the “Nobel of the Muslim World” or the Mustafa (PBUH) Prize granted to top science and technology researchers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states. The September 6 to 10, 2025, award week is organised by the Mustafa (PBUH) Science and Technology Foundation, which stands as a testament to the enduring power of human inquiry. I had expected it to be a sombre affair. The mystics of Qom I was keen to visit the holy city of Qom before the events kicked off and so the organisers assigned me guides, two cheerful women, who led me through its striking salt ranges and mineral-dense rainbow rocks. Qom greets you with pristine air and radiance. It w...
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What are the main points of contention between US and Iran?

Uncertainty over a second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad has persisted over the past few days as the fragile truce between the two countries nears its end. While a US delegation — headed by US Vice President JD Vance — is expected in Islamabad for negotiations, the Iranian side has not yet confirmed its participation in the high-stakes talks. US President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has ramped up his threats against Iran, stating that it could “face problems” if it did not return to the negotiating table. Iran’s top leadership has maintained that it will not negotiate “under the shadow of threats”. The latest tension also follows the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz, while a US blockade of Iranian ports has been in place since April 13 , prompting Tehran to close the strait again on Saturday. Here are the main sticking points that are expected to be the centre of closed-door discussions, if the two parties meet at the negotiating table ag...
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Japan opens door to global arms market with overhaul of defence export rules

Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defence export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons. The move aimed at strengthening Japan’s defence industrial base marks another step away from the pacifist restraints that have shaped its postwar security policy. It has been made in tandem with efforts to deepen ties with other nations in Asia to counter China’s growing regional influence. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are also straining US weapons production, expanding opportunities for Japan. At the same time, US allies in Europe and Asia are looking to diversify suppliers as Washington’s long-held security commitments look less certain under President Donald Trump. “No single country can now protect its own peace and security alone, and partner countries that support each other in terms of defence equipment are necessary,” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a p...
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Pakistan engages IFC for investors in installation of 10m smart meters across all Discos

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday engaged the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank as transaction adviser for inducting private investors in the installation of 10 million smart meters across all electricity distribution companies (Discos). The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) had announced a large-scale rollout of smart meters across Discos in October 2025. On Monday, the Power Division said it has signed a Transaction Advisory Services Agreement (Tasa) with the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. Under this agreement, the IFC will act as transaction advisor and conduct a comprehensive techno-commercial assessment for a service-provider model or public-private partnership framework to support the large-scale rollout of smart metering infrastructure for 10m single-phase connections. The initiative was intended to attract local and international investors to install, maintain, and operate the infrastructure, thereby advancing Pakistan’s digital transformatio...
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