Author: i2wtc
ISLAMABAD: The 20-point Gaza peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump this week does not align with the draft proposed by a coalition of Arab and other Islamic countries, according to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Delivering a policy speech on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday, Dar, however, clarified that eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, have endorsed Trump’s plan, viewing it as the only viable option to halt the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza under the current circumstances. The US president announced the 20-point Gaza peace plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, which was immediately…
Retail investors’ fear of an “AI bubble” appears to have fallen off after spiking this summer. It could mean the stocks have further to balloon before they ultimately top out. The number of U.S. and worldwide web searches for the term “AI bubble” peaked on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, respectively, according to Google Trends data spanning the past three years. Searches for the term dramatically outpaced searches for “stock market bubble,” “AI boom” and “crypto bubble” at the time. Peak interest in AI bubble searches came shortly after a Massachusetts Institute of Technology report found that 95% of organizations…
Hamas has agreed to release all the remaining Israeli hostages but has said it wants further negotiations on a number of key points outlined in the US peace plan. In a statement the movement said it agreed “to release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal” — if field conditions for the exchanges were met. But it appears to suggest it is seeking further negotiation on other issues regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the rights of the Palestinian people saying that they are still being discussed. The Hamas…
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended the University of Karachi’s (KU) decision to cancel the degree of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri. A division bench led by Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro issued this order on Friday while hearing Justice Jahangiri’s petition against the university’s last week order. On August 31, 2024, the University of Karachi’s Syndicate annulled the allegedly “invalid” degree of Justice Jahangiri on the recommendations of the university’s Unfair Means (UFM) Committee. The SHC on September 5, 2024 suspended the university’s decision. However, the university’s registrar on September 25, 2025 issued a “declaration”,…
ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a moot on Friday underscored the need to bridge gaps in the national artificial intelligence (AI) roadmap through the effective implementation of the newly launched AI Policy on the country’s economy, governance and society The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) hosted a high-profile seminar on Pakistan’s National Artificial Intelligence Policy, centred on the theme “Bridging Gaps in Pakistan’s AI Roadmap: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward.” The event brought together policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to deliberate on the transformative potential of AI for Pakistan’s economic development, governance, and wider society. The panel featured distinguished…
ISLAMABAD: The row over columnist Shama Junejo’s alleged inclusion in an official delegation turned into a storm in Parliament on Friday, with opposition members in the National Assembly accusing the government of bypassing consultation on Palestine and criticising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s handling of the Gaza issue. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar washed his hands of responsibility as the opposition members, led by former NA speaker Asad Qaiser, sharpened their knives over the government’s handling of Palestine. Speaking in Parliament, Ishaq Dar categorically stated that he had not signed any letter containing Shama Junejo’s name. “The name of Shama Junejo…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said India must respect the inalienable rights of the Kashmiri people, most importantly their fundamental right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. In a statement, the Foreign Office spokesperson said, “Pakistan believes that the path to lasting peace and stability in South Asia lies in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.” He said, “The people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) freely enjoy their civil and political rights and actively participate in shaping their democratic future.” He said Pakistan remained firmly committed to upholding its dignity, safeguarding its rights, including…
Pastry artisan Cheng Guisheng (L) and his wife display “Huizhou-style Sesame Seed Mooncakes” at Wan’an Old Street in Xiuning County of Huangshan City, east China’s Anhui Province, Sept. 25, 2025. As China’s Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, in Wan’an Old Street, a historic lane in Xiuning County, traditional Huizhou pastry artisan Cheng Guisheng and his family are bustling with mooncake making. They craft “Huizhou-style Sesame Seed Mooncakes” using time-honored methods, which involve steps such as preparing the pastry, rolling out the dough, wrapping the fillings, shaping, stamping, and baking. These mooncakes, renowned for their crispy exteriors and soft fillings, are welcomed by…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level meeting on Pakistan’s economy and foreign investment, reviewing the overall economic situation, foreign direct investment (FDI), and development projects in energy, infrastructure, information technology, and industry. The prime minister said the government’s foremost priority was to place the economy on a strong and sustainable foundation. He stressed that the private sector must play a central role in shaping economic activity and directed ministries and institutions to provide full facilitation to international investors. Shehbaz noted that recent positive trends in the economy reflected growing foreign investor confidence. He vowed to turn…
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund is ready to allow roughly Rs500 billion adjustments within the budgets to offset the impact of floods but without compromising on the overarching goal of maintaining fiscal discipline. But Pakistani authorities are insisting upon getting relaxation by the same amount against the primary budget surplus annual target, according to the federal and the provincial authorities engaged in these negotiations. Punjab, which is the worst-affected province, also conditionally remains committed to deliver the Rs740 billion cash surplus, provided the Federal Board of Revenue meets its Rs14.1 trillion target. The provincial government is still looking for fiscal…