ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said on Monday a proposed judicial legislation to reportedly extend retirement age of top court judges among other things would be in “greater good” of the masses, with the opposition criticizing the intended constitutional amendment.
The coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is planning to get a constitutional amendment passed from parliament to allegedly give an extended term to the country’s top judge. The amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament, which are currently in session.
Pakistan’s main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has criticized the move and alleges that it is designed to favor the country’s top judge. Former PM Imran Khan, the PTI founder, this week warned of countrywide protests if the amendment was approved.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the presentation of the amendment before the cabinet, Tarar said judicial reforms were essential to provide speedy justice to the masses and any legislation would be made in collective interest of the nation.
“We are positive about the number game,” he said. “It’s not going to be a person-specific or individual-specific legislation. Whatever is going to happen will be in greater good of the people. It would be to benefit the people, the nation.”
Tarar said it took the courts decades to resolve the cases and measures needed to be taken to ensure speedy justice. Many times, the cause list is not issued, notices are not issued and orders are issued, there should be a balanced system,” he said.
On Saturday, PM Sharif said parliament was the “supreme institution” through which important matters should be resolved.
“To ensure the sanctity of the parliament is maintained, it is necessary that legislation in the national and public’s interest takes place,” Sharif’s office quoted him as saying at a dinner for legislators on Saturday night.
Sharif’s weak coalition government is trying to muster support of enough lawmakers for a two-thirds majority to get the constitutional amendment passed, fearing it can lose a portion of its existing number of seats after an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court on reserved parliamentary seats for women and minorities.
In a verdict on July 12, a 13-member bench of the court declared the PTI eligible for the reserved seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) forced the party’s candidates to contest the Feb. 8 polls as independents.
The ECP took the decision after the PTI lost its election symbol in the wake of a prolonged legal battle for not holding proper intra-party polls. Subsequently, the election body refused the reserved seats to the PTI on technical grounds, saying they were only meant for political parties instead of independent candidates.
The Supreme Court overturned the ECP decision, saying it had misconstrued an earlier verdict related to the election symbol by depriving the PTI of the reserved seats. Instead of giving the seats to the party, however, the election body filed a petition, seeking guidance on the matter and questioning the validity of the party’s organizational structure under the circumstances.
In a short order on Saturday, the apex court censured the election regulatory authority for its “dilatory tactics” to avoid the implementation of the judgment.
As per the official tally, the ruling coalition is short of at least 13 lawmakers in the National Assembly and nine in the Senate to gain the required two-thirds majority.
Pakistan government says recently proposed judicial legislation to be in ‘greater good’ of people
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Pakistan government says recently proposed judicial legislation to be in ‘greater good’ of people
- The government plans to bring constitutional amendments in parliament to increase retirement age of apex court judges
- Ex-PM Khan’s PTI opposition party has criticized the move and alleges it is designed to favor the country’s top judge
New warehouse fire breaks out in Karachi as factory blaze continues for second day
- Karachi hosts thousands of industrial units but struggles with outdated firefighting infrastructure
- The new warehouse fire near Mauripur follows factory blaze in Landhi that injured five on Sunday
KARACHI: A fire broke out at an oil warehouse near Karachi’s Mauripur truck terminal on Monday, rescue officials said, as firefighters continued battling a separate blaze that erupted a day earlier at the city’s Landhi Export Processing Zone and has yet to be fully extinguished.
Karachi, Pakistan’s financial hub, is home to thousands of industrial units but suffers from outdated firefighting infrastructure and lax safety enforcement.
“Fire and rescue teams were dispatched with one ambulance and two fire brigade trucks immediately upon receiving the alert,” Rescue 1122 said in a statement. “Efforts are under way to bring the blaze under control.”
Meanwhile, firefighting operations at the Landhi zone, which began on Sunday, entered their second day, with flames still active inside some of the affected factories.
Authorities said the fire has been partially contained but full extinguishment and cooling may take additional time.
At least five people were injured on Sunday after part of a building collapsed at the industrial site, which houses multiple textile factories, officials confirmed.
The injured were moved to a nearby hospital.
A total of 11 fire brigade trucks and a snorkel were involved in efforts to control the blaze, which were hindered by thick smoke and water shortages in the city of over 20 million.
Hundreds of fire incidents are reported every year in Karachi.
Last November, a shopping mall blaze killed a dozen people.
In April 2023, four firefighters died responding to a garment factory fire, and in 2021, a chemical factory blaze claimed 10 lives.
The deadliest such incident in the city’s history occurred in 2012, when 260 workers were killed in a garment factory fire.
Inside Islamabad’s thriving farmers market, where nature meets community
- 79 approved sellers selected through rigorous vetting process that includes soil and water testing, on-site visits to farms
- Many vendors have been displaying at 12-year-old market for years, new entrepreneurs have also found their footing
ISLAMABAD: Every Saturday morning, a quiet corner of Pakistan’s capital comes alive with the earthy scent of fresh produce, the hum of friendly chatter and the unmistakable feel of community.
This is the Islamabad Farmers Market, now more than a decade old and having grown from a humble initiative into a thriving hub of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and local connection.
Launched in 2013 with just six vendors, the market now hosts 79 approved seller, each selected through a rigorous vetting process that includes soil and water testing as well as on-site visits to farms.
The aim? To keep the food chain clean, ethical, and transparent.
“The main goal was to eliminate the middleman and help small-scale farmers and producers connect directly with customers,” said Ali Raza, a representative of the market. “Today, we have created a trusted space for clean, organic, and ethical products.”
Each stall at the market tells a different story. Beneath canopies strung with fairy lights and shaded by leafy trees, you’ll find everything from heirloom tomatoes and farm-fresh eggs to artisan sourdough and wild honey from the mountains.
Among the market’s earliest supporters is Naghma, a 70-year-old anthropologist and environmentalist who only gave her first name.
A regular since its inception, she now sells her homemade hummus and baba ghanoush, an Arab eggplant dip, prepared with hand-ground tahini, alongside a variety of other organic spreads.
“I come here every Saturday with three bags and go back with five or six,” she laughed. “I buy all my raw materials here.”
For Naghma, organic eating is more than a preference, it’s a lifelong passion rooted in gardening and the rhythms of the seasons.
“I follow seasons because organic by definition is seasonal,” she said. “So, I make French Boursin cheese. My products, I call them ‘Les Deli De Naghma,’ so there’s a definite French touch.”
The Farmers Market has also become a vital platform for small-scale growers not just from Islamabad, but also more remote northern areas of the country such as northern Gilgit-Baltistan.
Sherazam, the founder of Hunza Organic, is one such vendor who has been displaying at the market for over a decade. On his table: ruby-red dried cherries, sun-cured apricot oil, and jars of thick wild honey, all harvested by hand and brought straight from the mountains.
“Our clientele knows that our products are pure. Many others also source their raw materials from us,” he told Arab News.
Sherazam said his business model was deeply community-driven.
“In Hunza, everyone farms. The women in my village produce these items, and we handle the packaging in Islamabad,” he added.
“RELIABLE, FRESH, FAMILY-FRIENDLY“
New entrepreneurs are also finding their footing at the Islamabad Farmer’s market.
Waleed Noor Malik, representing “Guy Knows Food,” a popular kimchi brand, said the market had helped launch their business and acted as an accelerator.
“We started selling kimchi here because we couldn’t find a brand in Pakistan that matched our taste,” he said. “Sampling at the market really helps build our brand. People try it here and often follow up on social media.”
Engineer-turned-farmer, who manages 300 beehives and a young olive orchard near Taxila, shared a similar experience. His small-batch raw honey and extra virgin olive oil are bottled with care and sold directly to those who seek quality over mass production.
“It’s not easy to compete with bulk commercial sellers, but here, people appreciate authenticity,” he said.
Raza, the curator of the market, said many of its vendors had started small, with just a few pots or a home kitchen and now had full storefronts.
“Many people in and around Islamabad, from Chak Shehzad and Barakahu, were producing and running small-scale farms but they didn’t have a platform to sell their fruits and vegetables. So, the main aim was to provide them with a platform,” he added.
Much of the market’s success hinges on its rigorous commitment to quality. Vendors undergo lengthy screening processes, including environmental checks and farm inspections.
“We look for the soil test, water test, and then we do a site visit,” said Raza. “We make sure that no insecticides, pesticides, or urea are used.”
This transparency has earned the market a loyal following. Dr. Shanza Khan, a dentist and long-time visitor, summed it up simply:
“The vendors are reliable, and their products are fresh. It’s a very family-friendly environment.”
More than a market, this is clearly a community garden in motion, where each bag of microgreens or bottle of honey is part of a larger story of connection and care for the land. And with the launch of an online platform, the market has extended its reach beyond Saturdays, giving customers access to their favorite organic products throughout the week. For vendors, this means steadier sales and greater visibility in a growing wellness economy.
Another attraction lies at the far end of the market, where food and coffee stalls beckon with the smell of sourdough sandwiches, artisanal cheese, and specialty brews. Some mornings, live music plays in the background, or a spontaneous art therapy session spills onto the grassy space beside the Dino Park. Children run through the park’s dino sculptures while parents sip cappuccinos under the trees.
Mahnoor Omer, a lawyer and regular visitor, has made coming here a weekly ritual.
“Coffee, sourdough, cheese sandwiches, and sometimes, spontaneous catch-ups with friends,” she said, smiling.
“It’s a great outlet for home-based growers and vendors from northern areas to bring their produce straight to our kitchens.”
Pakistan National Assembly speaker meets Saudi crown prince, urges deeper ties at Hajj luncheon
- Pakistan National Assembly speaker meets Saudi crown prince, urges deeper ties at Hajj luncheon
- The Crown Prince reaffirmed his commitment to addressing challenges facing the Muslim world
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday at a luncheon hosted for Muslim leaders visiting the Kingdom for Hajj, expressing hope for even stronger ties between the two countries, according to an official statement.
The meeting underscored a longstanding relationship rooted in economic, diplomatic and military cooperation.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly come to Pakistan’s aid during financial crises, including through multibillion-dollar deposits in Pakistan’s central bank and deferred oil payment facilities in the past. Such support has helped Islamabad shore up its foreign currency reserves and even unlock International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programs during periods of acute external financing pressure.
“Saudi Arabia has always stood by Pakistan in times of adversity,” Sadiq said during the meeting, thanking the crown prince for Riyadh’s consistent backing.
“We hope that ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will grow even stronger,” he added.
According to the National Assembly, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reiterated his commitment to addressing challenges facing the Muslim world.
The speaker’s meeting follows a two-day trip to the Kingdom last week by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who performed Umrah alongside Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other senior officials.
During the visit, Sharif thanked Saudi leadership for its role during last month’s military standoff between Pakistan and India and praised Riyadh’s efforts to promote regional and global stability.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also been expanding their economic ties.
In October last year, the two countries signed business-to-business agreements and memoranda of understanding worth $2.8 billion aimed at boosting trade and investment.
Pakistan to unveil economic survey today as National Assembly clears federal budget schedule
- The economic survey outlines key socio-economic achievements and shortfalls of an outgoing fiscal year
- The federal budget is scheduled for a vote on June 26, a day before supplementary grants are finalized
KARACHI: Pakistan’s finance chief, Muhammad Aurangzeb, will present the Economic Survey 2024-25 today, Monday, a day after the National Assembly approved the schedule for the upcoming federal budget, according to the state media.
Traditionally released a day before the budget announcement, the economic survey outlines key socio-economic achievements and shortfalls of an outgoing fiscal year. It serves as a snapshot of the country’s economic performance across sectors such as agriculture, industry, services, energy, information technology and telecom, health, education and transport.
The annual document also reviews trends in major economic indicators including inflation, trade and payments, public debt, population, employment, climate change and social protection. Invitations for the launch ceremony at the Pakistan Secretariat in Islamabad were circulated by the finance ministry on Sunday.
“Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will release the Economic Survey 2024-25 at a ceremony to be held in Islamabad on Monday,” the Radio Pakistan reported.
Meanwhile, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had approved the schedule for the upcoming budget sessions for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
According to the schedule, the federal budget will be presented on June 10, followed by a two-day recess. A general debate will begin on June 13 and continue through June 21, with time allocated for all parliamentary parties in line with Assembly rules.
No sitting will be held on June 22. Charged expenditures for the next fiscal year will be taken up on June 23, followed by discussions and voting on Demands for Grants and Cut Motions on June 24 and 25.
The Finance Bill 2025 is scheduled for a vote on June 26, and supplementary grants and related matters will be finalized on June 27.
The federal budget will be announced as Pakistan navigates a fragile economic recovery under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
The country’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.5% in May, though officials say the macroeconomic outlook has improved on the back of a stronger current account balance and increased remittances.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently said the government had earmarked Rs1 trillion ($3.5 billion) for development projects in the upcoming budget.
Authorities have pledged to maintain macroeconomic stability, advance structural reforms and ensure growth translates into inclusive progress.
Pakistan to unveil Economic Survey 2024-25 on Monday
- The survey will include details about performance and trends of various sectors in outgoing fiscal year
- The survey will be followed by federal budget, which is expected to lay out targets for macroeconomic stability
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will unveil its Economic Survey 2024-25 tomorrow, Monday, and detail major socio-economic achievements of the outgoing fiscal year, Pakistani state media reported.
The survey will include details about performance and economic trends of various sectors, including agriculture, industry, services, energy, information technology and telecommunications, capital markets, health, education and transport.
Annual trends of major economic indicators regarding inflation, trade and payments, public debt, population, employment, climate change, and social protection will also be part of the survey.
“Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will release the Economic Survey-2024-25 at a ceremony to be held in Islamabad,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
The survey will be followed by the presentation of the national budget. The earlier dates for the announcement of Economic Survey 2024-25 and federal Budget 2025-26 were June 1 and June 2, respectively, but the government extended the dates to June 6 and June 7.
Pakistan is currently bolstered by a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program and is navigating a long path to economic recovery. The country’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.5 percent in May, though its macroeconomic outlook has improved in recent months, supported by a stronger current account balance and increased remittances.
The Pakistani government says it remains committed to maintaining macroeconomic stability, accelerating structural reforms, and ensuring that economic growth translates into real and inclusive progress for all citizens.
Earlier this month, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced the government has allocated Rs1 trillion ($3.5 billion) for development projects in the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2025-26.
