CM praises UK's role amid regional tension
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has appreciated the positive and prudent role of the United Kingdom amid the recent Pakistan-India strained relations.
The chief minister met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott. A luncheon was also hosted in the honour of outgoing Political Advisor to the British High Commission Zoe Ware on the occasion. Matters pertaining to mutual interest, bilateral cooperation, education, investment, environmental protection and promotion of partnership in the field of governance were discussed.
The chief minister offered to enhance mutual cooperation in the fields of education, trade, investment, climate protection and governance.
She appreciated Political Advisor Zoe Ware's role in global environmental projects like the 'Earthshot Prize'.
She said, "The Punjab government holds in high esteem Jane Marriott's diplomatic services as a British High Commissioner. Her global diplomatic experience has enabled elevation of Pakistan-UK relations to a new height."
She highlighted, "The Punjab government is determined to expand its partnership with the UK so as to explore new avenues of opportunities for enhancing bilateral cooperation. The presence of 1.7 million British-Pakistani community members belonging to Punjab speaks volumes of a long lasting mutual relationship between Pakistan and the UK."
District beautification
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved beautification projects for 17 districts and directed the local administrations to take steps to provide funds for the schemes.
Presiding over the 3rd session of a meeting with the commissioners and deputy commissioners, she was informed about the ongoing anti-encroachment operations and beautification plans in the districts. She comprehensively reviewed the ongoing development projects of various districts.
The chief minister was given a briefing about the annual development programme of the districts. She announced honorarium for the DCs of Hafizabad, Rawalpindi and Narowal.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
US role key to regional peace: CM
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has appreciated the constructive and positive role of the United States amid the Pakistan-India strained relations recently. During a meeting with US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie A Baker and Consul General Kristin K Hawkins, she highlighted the active and positive role of the United States and deemed it highly important for attaining sustainable peace in the South Asian region. Pakistan-US relations are a valuable partnership based on shared values and strategic interests, she said. The chief minister reaffirmed her keenness to strengthen the cordial relations between Punjab and California. She expressed solidarity with the people of California on being a sister state and described her meeting with the US Congressional Pakistan Caucus as positive and constructive. She highlighted, "Pakistan is emerging as a strategic partner for the United States in various sectors, including textile. Punjab is the largest and most economically vibrant province in the country and welcomes US investment and cooperation in multiple sectors. The Pakistani-American community play the role of a strong bridge in further strengthening cordial relations between the two countries." She outlined, "We deem the United States as an important global ally on confronting formidable challenges such as climate change, food security and sustainable development. The Punjab government is keen to further expand its strategic partnership with the United States." Matters pertaining to strengthening the long-standing Pakistan-US relations and enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest were discussed in the meeting. The chief minister thanked Natalie A Baker for supporting Lahore Qalandars in the PSL tournament. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated in her message on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, "The everlasting solution to the ongoing atrocities in Palestine and Occupied Kashmir is only possible by initiating meaningful dialogue. The international community has to decide and ascertain whether we will continue to lift the dead bodies of innocent children or choose the path of peace through dialogue." She said dialogue among civilizations is the path needed to attain peace, progress and safeguard the humanity. Adopting a culture of respect and tolerance is an effective response to war and hatred. The chief minister said, "Pakistan is a peaceful country, which has always advocated dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect among the comity of nations. We all have to comprehend the spirit of dialogue and abandon the attitude of considering differences, which triggers undue hostility among the nations."
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Statute and salvation
Listen to article In a moment of historic magnitude and noble resolve, the Parliament of Pakistan has enacted the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act 2025, a legislative triumph in the pursuit of justice, equality and preservation of childhood. By raising the minimum legal age of marriage to eighteen years for both young men and women within the federal capital, this enlightened decree supplants the antiquated ordinance of 1929, a relic of colonial jurisprudence. This bill, advanced with conviction by the member of the National Assembly, Ms Sharmila Faruqui, and championed with eloquence in the Senate by Senator Sherry Rehman, met stiff resistance from conservative quarters who claimed its incompatibility with religious and cultural tenets. Yet, the force of reason triumphed, notably drawing strength from the province of Sindh, where a similar statute has withstood the test of time since 2014. Even the Council of Islamic Ideology, the highest body of religious deliberation in the land, had previously given its assent to Sindh's reform, thereby rendering obsolete the theological objections to the federal measure. Under the auspices of the 2025 Act, any nuptial arrangement involving individuals below the age of maturity is henceforth unlawful within the jurisdiction of Islamabad. Nikah registrars are now duty-bound to authenticate the ages of both parties through national identity documents issued by NADRA. Those who dare defy the law — be they officiants, adult men preying upon minors, or conspirators enabling such unions — shall face stringent punishment, including imprisonment of up to three years and pecuniary penalties scaling to one million rupees. More significantly, the law designates all conjugal relations with a minor as statutory rape, regardless of consent or marital sanction. This legislative deliverance is not merely timely; it is imperative. According to the 2023 Demographic and Health Survey, nearly 28.9 per cent of Pakistani girls are wed before they attain the age of eighteen, while 4 per cent are forced into matrimony before the tender age of fifteen. Such unions, forged in coercion and cloaked in custom, breed domestic violence, maternal mortality and educational deprivation. Though limited in geographical application, the reverberations of this statute are felt far and wide. It heralds a new era wherein the voice of conscience may triumph over the outdated traditions. Provinces such as Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where child marriage remains alarmingly prevalent, must now reflect upon their own legislative inertia and consider whether silence in the face of national reform is a tenable position. A consensus across the republic must now be forged. The provinces must harmonise their legal frameworks with the capital's enlightened statute, thereby affording equal protection to every child beneath the crescent and star. The state must invest in grand campaigns to enlighten families and communities about the grievous costs of premature marriage. The machinery of justice must be fortified with special courts and trained officers capable of swift intervention and resolute enforcement. Moreover, the nation must extend its hand to those vulnerable girls who stand at the precipice of such fates, offering them the sanctuaries of education, psychological support and shelter. Community leaders should emphasise the importance of every child's dignity and protection The latest turn in the saga of the bill reveals that the Council of Islamic Ideology has challenged the Act as un-Islamic, and a petition in the Federal Shariat Court now seeks its annulment on constitutional and religious grounds. The bill's landmark move to ban child marriage and set the legal age at 18 marks a major victory for child rights yet faces constitutional challenges and implementation hurdles that will determine its true effectiveness.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
India's unilateral suspension of IWT could destabilise regional peace: Bilawal
Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto with All Party Parliamentary Group and cross-party British parliamentarians on June 10. Photo : Listen to article Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, head of Pakistan's parliamentary delegation to the United Kingdom, has firmly rejected India's allegations against Pakistan, calling them baseless and unsupported by credible evidence, following the recent Pahalgam incident. After successfully completing their visit to the United States, the Pakistani delegation arrived in the United Kingdom on Sunday to present Pakistan's stance on Indian aggression. The nine-member group held talks with United Nations representatives, diplomats from member states, and senior US officials in an effort to present Pakistan's narrative on the recent Pakistan-India conflict and advocate for peace in South Asia. At Westminster, led Pakistan HL Delegation to brief the UK APPG on Pakistan, grateful to Chair @YasminQureshiMP and cross-party MPs for the candid exchange. We shared grave concerns over India's unprovoked aggression, violations of our sovereignty, and the unilateral & illegal… — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 10, 2025 Speaking at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pakistan, hosted by Member of Parliament Yasmin Qureshi at Westminster Palace in London on Tuesday, Bilawal addressed cross-party British parliamentarians, briefing them on Pakistan's stance. "Indian attacks on civilians, violations of Pakistan's sovereignty, and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty could lead to dangerous consequences for regional and international peace," Bilawal said. He criticised India's unilateral actions and urged a renewed commitment to peace and dialogue. "We are committed to a calibrated, responsible response in line with international law, particularly the right to self-defence under the UN Charter," he affirmed. He stressed Pakistan's dedication to restraint and called for a renewed dialogue, focusing on all outstanding issues, notably the Kashmir dispute. Together with Pakistan's high-level delegation, I called on Speaker @LindsayHoyle_MP at the historic Speaker's House. We underscored the urgent need for peace in South Asia and highlighted the unfinished agenda of the partition, Jammu & Kashmir dispute. Raised serious concerns… — BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 10, 2025 In his meeting with Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, former foreign minister expressed Pakistan's concerns over India's unwarranted military strikes against civilians and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. He urged for the protection of the sanctity of international treaties and warned against the "weaponisation of water." The delegation emphasised that sustainable peace in South Asia could only be achieved through a just resolution of the Kashmir issue, as outlined by the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions. The Speaker of the House of Commons acknowledged the longstanding, cordial relations between the UK and Pakistan and reiterated the UK's commitment to peace and stability in the region. Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik also highlighted the environmental dangers posed by India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. He warned of significant threats to food security and the livelihoods of Pakistan's 240 million people, particularly in its agrarian economy. The facts need to matter ... — SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) June 10, 2025 Senior leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and member of Pakistan's parliamentary delegation visiting the United Kingdom, Senator Sherry Rehman, also reiterated that Pakistan is committed to promoting peace and reducing tensions in the region. In an interview with Sky News, Rehman emphasised that while Pakistan seeks peace, it should not be perceived as a sign of weakness. "We do not want regional conflicts to escalate into crises, but our desire for peace should not be mistaken as vulnerability," she said. She clarified that Pakistan's diplomatic engagements in the United States and the United Kingdom aim to ensure the international community receives an accurate portrayal of the situation. "The purpose of our diplomatic visits is to keep the facts intact and provide a truthful account of events," she said, highlighting Pakistan's active role in international dialogue. Read More: Bilawal warns Pakistan-India war threshold at 'historic low' Addressing the recent tensions with India, Rehman described the conflict as unnecessary and unprovoked, attributing its origins to Indian actions. She also criticised certain Indian media outlets for exacerbating tensions by spreading misinformation and aligning with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist agenda. "These media outlets are stoking war rhetoric and propagating false reports," she said. Senior PPP leader also drew attention to Pakistan's significant counter-terrorism efforts, acknowledging that the country faces one of the highest rates of terrorist attacks globally. She affirmed that Pakistan continues to work tirelessly to combat terrorism and ensure regional stability. "Pakistan is committed to peace and security, and we are doing everything in our power to counter terrorism and promote stability in the region," she concluded. Read More: PM assigns Bilawal to lead peace delegation After ceasefire with India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilawal to lead a high-level delegation tasked with presenting 'Pakistan's case for peace' on recent Indian aggression to the international community. The committee aims to engage with global leaders and institutions to raise awareness about India's actions and Pakistan's concerns regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. The government has also planned to send additional delegations to other countries as part of a broader diplomatic outreach.
