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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Private defence suppliers seek review of rules limiting ammunition procurement to public sector
Private defence suppliers have requested the Defence Ministry (MoD) to review defence procurement manual (DPM) which restricts supply of ammunition only from public sector manufacturers, saying that they are capable of fulfilling the munitions requirement of the defence forces. A private defence manufacturer said that if the MoD amended the existing rule to allow for open Request For Proposal (RFP) to be issued to both public and private sector, it would provide a big boost to the ammunition industry and allow private sector players, who had invested hugely to join the Make In India initiative, to supply ammunition to India's Armed Forces. 'We had a meeting where we have given presentation over the concern and the MoD assured that the proposal is under review by the MoD and Department of Military Affairs,' said a top official of a private defence manufacturer. Adani Defence and Aerospace ammunition manufacturing facility in Kanpur, under Uttar Pradesh defence corridor, is already rolling out 150 million rounds of small calibre ammunition of — 5.56 mm (used majorly in Insas rifles), 7.62 mm (7.62x39 mm cartridge which is used in AK-47 and AK-203 rifles and 7.62x51 mm NATO round which is used in self-loading rifles (SLR) and machine guns), .338 mm (sniper rifles) and 9 mm (pistols). 'Adani already has capacity to produce 300 million rounds of small calibre ammunition and can fulfil all the requirement of defence forces with world-class quality and highly competitive costs. Having done full indigenisation, Adani Defence is also setting up the Propellant (explosive material) capacity which is otherwise imported into the country and it will reduce dependence on Europe and the U.S. It will ensure that India becomes completely self-reliant in ammunition and can overcome any global supply chain disruptions,' said Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO, Adani Defence & Aerospace, in a virtual interaction with journalists, who had been invited by the company, at its Kanpur ammunition complex. He emphasised that the ammunition produced by Adani Defence & Aerospace is of the highest quality and NATO-certified, which allows them to export it to global markets, based on the approved list of countries by the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) and the MoD. The company is already exporting ammunition to four countries. At the State police level, the company recently supplied ammunition to the U.P. Police, through bidding which was done on the Government e-Marketplace (GEM) portal, he said. Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had announced that the Ministry had declared 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms', aiming to transform the Armed Forces to become technologically advanced and combat-ready. He had also quoted that defence exports had surged from ₹686 crore in 2013–14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024–25.
Malaysian Reserve
2 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Dasar Wanita Negara 2025-2030 outlines inclusive push for women's development
by AKMAR ANNUAR MALAYSIA'S renewed commitment to women's empowerment takes centre stage at Parliament with the launch of a special walkabout event highlighting the National Women's Policy or Dasar Wanita Negara (DWN) and its 2025-2030 Action Plan today. Spearheaded by former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Women, Family and Community Development Minister (KPWKM) Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, the DWN is the most comprehensive update to the country's gender policy framework since 2009. The policy seeks to position women as key agents of inclusive national development, with strategic focus on four pillars — economy, leadership, safety and wellbeing — while embedding gender-sensitive budgeting, data and governance across ministries and agencies. 'It is important for a woman to raise the image of a woman and what she can contribute to the country. When the policy shows that we pay attention to this, it shows the goodness of the future, God willing, for women in the development of the country,' Dr Wan Azizah said during the event. She added that the policy must also account for the often-overlooked contributions of women in informal roles, including as unpaid homemakers and caregivers. 'As a mother and a homemaker who is not paid, it is important for us to be inspiring and provide (the necessary) support,' she said. The remarks highlight an ongoing challenge in Malaysia's labour landscape: Despite women making up nearly half of the population, their participation in the formal workforce remains low. In 2023, the female labour force participation rate stood at just 56.2% compared to 82.3% for men. Data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) further revealed that many women leave the workforce mid-career, with limited return. This is particularly acute among mothers and informal caregivers, whose economic contributions are often excluded from official productivity measures. DWN 2025-2030 aims to address this imbalance through structural reforms and support systems that enable more women to enter and remain in the workforce. These include expanding access to affordable childcare, promoting flexible work arrangements and increasing women's participation in high-growth sectors such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), artificial intelligence (AI) and green technology. Among its key targets, the policy sets an ambitious goal to raise the female labour force participation rate to 60% by 2030 and to grow the number of women entrepreneurs registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) by one million. The government also plans to strengthen leadership pipelines for women, with the aim of ensuring at least 30% female representation in decision-making positions across public and private sectors. Yet current statistics reveal a gap. As of July 2025, only 13.5% of Dewan Rakyat members and 16.1% of Dewan Negara members are women — well below the 30% benchmark recommended in the policy. The walkabout event held in Parliament was intended to rally cross-party support and catalyse institutional change to address this deficit. Nancy described the renewed policy as a catalyst for elevating Malaysia's international standing on gender equity and social inclusion, especially in line with global frameworks like the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). 'I believe that the National Women's Policy 2025-2030 will continue to serve as a strong foundation in championing women's rights in Malaysia,' she said in the preface to the executive summary of the policy document. Nancy also said the policy's emphasis on inclusivity would help improve Malaysia's scores in key global indices such as the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) and the World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR), where Malaysia currently lags behind regional peers. Malaysia ranked 114th out of 148 countries in the 2024 GGGI, with a score of 0.668. Within ASEAN, the country sits ninth among 10 member states, reflecting persisting gender gaps in economic participation, political representation and leadership. DWN 2025-2030 proposes a whole-of-nation approach to address these issues, with 12 'change drivers' and four enablers: Gender-responsive budgeting, gender-disaggregated data, gender impact assessments and gender audits. In practical terms, this means each government ministry is expected to incorporate gender-based analysis into policy development and budget planning. This includes improving access to sex-disaggregated data and introducing mechanisms to track the outcomes of policies on women's participation, safety and wellbeing. The plan also calls for a gender-inclusive public safety framework, including the introduction of a dedicated women's security sub-index within Malaysia's national safety indicators. Moreover, it encourages more women to enter traditionally male-dominated sectors such as defence, law enforcement and public order. Complementing the macro policies are proposals to strengthen social support systems and outreach programmes, including mobile health clinics for women in rural areas, expanded literacy on legal rights and improved digital infrastructure for women entrepreneurs in Sabah and Sarawak. The policy also outlines the creation of a Women's Leadership Hub and a national campaign to promote visibility and public trust in female leaders. This includes strategic use of media and community engagement to amplify the contributions of women at all levels of society — from Parliament to the 'kampung'. Ultimately, DWN 2025-2030 reaffirms the government's commitment to build a fairer and more competitive Malaysia by unlocking the potential of its female population. By removing structural barriers and investing in inclusive systems, the policy aims to reposition women not as secondary stakeholders, but as equal partners in the nation's growth. 'The success of a nation lies in its ability to empower all its people — and that includes women in every sphere of life,' Nancy said. The full implementation of DWN 2025-2030 will span the next five years, synchronised with the national development planning cycle, and will be spearheaded by the Women's Development Department under KPWKM.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar says Pakistan for ‘strongest ties' with US
NEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday Islamabad wished for 'strongest relations' with the United States (US) despite enjoying an iron-clad partnership with Washington's rival, Beijing. In his televised address to the Pakistani community in New York, DPM/FM Dar asserted that Pakistan is no longer isolated and enjoys numerous friends within the international community. This is evidenced by recent high-level meetings with officials from China, the United States, and several other countries that focused on economic and strategic ties. Pakistan maintains a tricky balance in its relations with China and the US. While aligned with the US for military cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts, Islamabad has strengthened economic ties with Beijing through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Rubio lauds Pakistan's anti-terror role, vows deeper ties in meeting with FM Dar Relations between Washington and Beijing have been strained over the past several years as both world powers compete for global influence in several domains. The US and China have disagreements over several issues such as trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea and China's Belt and Road Initiative. 'Our government and we have emphasized and will continue to emphasize that our relations and iron-clad brother partnership with China, our relations [with the US] should not be looked at through that lens,' Dar said. 'We want strongest relations with the United States of America as well.' Dar pointed out that Islamabad, under the previous government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from 2022-2023, had made it clear to Washington that this was its official policy. However, the Pakistani foreign minister said the Joe Biden administration did not engage with Islamabad. 'I'm glad that they [Trump administration] have actively engaged themselves with us,' Dar said. During a nearly two-hour interaction with the Pakistani community at the Pakistan Consulate in New York, the Deputy Prime Minister also stated that Pakistan decisively countered Indian aggression by downing six fighter jets, including four Rafale aircraft. Dar said commended their solidarity during recent Pakistan–India tensions and their efforts to raise awareness on the country's core issues. Senator Dar drew loud applause when he narrated the events of the standoff, including Pakistan Air Force's shooting down of six Indian aircraft, leading up to ceasefire and the nation's unity in support of the of armed forces. He highly praised the leadership of the Army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, in dealing with that crisis. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has stated that Pakistan is experiencing a significant positive boost in its standing on the world stage, saying it had emerged from a period of isolation and witnessing economic revival. 'We have made considerable progress, especially in political and economic fields, in the past three years, despite heavy odds– we are indeed a resilient nation,' he added. The DPM/FM, who earlier in the day returned from Washington, DC, told the slogan-chanting audience that his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday was held in a cordial atmosphere. 'The meeting went very well. We discussed key global and regional issues', DPM/FM Dar said, hoping that US-Pak ties would be further strengthened. Present on the occasion were Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and the Consul General in New York, Aamir Ahmed Atozai. He painted an optimistic picture of Pakistan's economic trajectory, noting a significant drop in inflation from 40% to 2.4% as of January 2025 as evidence of effective government policies and robust diplomatic efforts. Noting Pakistan's ongoing economic recovery, the DPM/FM cited the successful completion of the IMF programme, reduced inflation, and restored investor confidence, a fact the global credit rating agencies have acknowledged. He reiterated the government's aspiration for Pakistan to join the ranks of G-20 economies. In this regard, Senator Dar credited PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif's leadership who he said continues to guide the federal and Punjab governments, calling him an able statesman. Highlighting key government initiatives, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar briefed the community on the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which streamlines investment procedures across priority sectors. He also informed them that the government is actively working toward the early resumption of PIA flights to New York, after restoring routes to Europe and the United Kingdom. The DPM/FM expressed appreciation for the contributions of the Pakistani-American community to both Pakistan and the United States, acknowledging their vital role in strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing Pakistan's global image. Dar also highlighted Pakistan's active engagement on the multilateral front, particularly its current presidency of the United Nations Security Council, secured with the support of 182 countries—reflecting the international community's confidence in Pakistan's principled diplomacy. He especially referred to the unanimous adoption of Pakistan-sponsored resolution calling for pacific settlement of disputes. Pakistan, he said, was a peaceful country which believes in diplomacy and dialogue to resolve outstanding problems. Referring to regional developments, he underscored Pakistan's outreach to Afghanistan with a view to enhancing regional connectivity through trade and rail corridors to Central Asia. He emphasized Pakistan's expectation that Afghan soil will not be used for terrorism, and noted assurances received from Afghan authorities. Senator Dar said Pakistan will continue to work for the release of Aafia Siddiqui who is incarcerated in an American prison, citing a series of steps already taken in this regard. He concluded by reaffirming the Government of Pakistan's firm commitment to partnering with the Pakistani-American community as strategic stakeholders in national development and in advancing Pakistan–U.S. cooperation rooted in mutual respect and shared aspirations. Earlier, Ambassador Sheikh, the envoy to the US, said that Pakistan's image got a huge boost following its armed forces' spectacular performance in defending the country. He also said, 'To make our defence impregnable, our economy has to be strong,' and urged the community to invest in their homeland.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Growing global turbulence: Dar calls for inclusive dialogue, cooperative diplomacy over confrontation
NEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Wednesday called for an inclusive dialogue and cooperative diplomacy over confrontation amid times of growing turbulence across the world as 'the cost of unresolved disputes, long-running conflicts, unilateral actions, and disregard for international law are being felt in every region.' In his address delivered at the reception hosted by Pakistan's Mission in New York on the occasion of Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council, the DPM emphasized Pakistan's unwavering commitment to multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution, and the foundational principles of the UN Charter. Speaking to diplomats, UN officials and representatives of member states, Dar underscored that at the heart of Pakistan's foreign policy was a firm belief in multilateralism and the rule of international law. 'The purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, especially the peaceful settlement of disputes and the non-use or threat of force, are foundational to the United Nations and indispensable for a just international order,' he stated. Dar's remarks came as Pakistan holds the presidency of the UN Security Council this month. He noted that Pakistan's leadership has been guided by these very principles in both deliberations and concrete actions taken during its tenure. Under Pakistan's presidency, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2788 earlier today, following a high-level open debate on the peaceful settlement of disputes, the first of three key priorities outlined by Dar. He described this core principle of the UN Charter as 'too often sidelined,' and emphasized the need to bring it back to the center of the Council's work. Dar also stressed the importance of revitalizing multilateralism, describing it not as a slogan but as a necessity. 'The Security Council must be seen not only as a chamber of reaction but as a forum of prevention, problem-solving, and principled leadership,' he asserted. A third focus of Pakistan's presidency is enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Dar announced that a Council briefing with the OIC was scheduled for July 24, highlighting the 57-member body's vital role in global peacebuilding. Reaffirming Pakistan's active diplomatic engagement, Dar said the country remains committed to working with partners around the world to advance the shared goals of peace, development, and human rights. 'Our engagement transcends the Security Council and is reflected across the UN system — from the General Assembly to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and beyond,' he noted. Dar highlighted Pakistan's leadership in global climate and development discourse and reiterated its support for strengthening the UN's three pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights. He also announced Pakistan's candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term, which is endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Group. 'Our engagement with the Human Rights Council is guided by the values of truth, tolerance, mutual respect, consensus-building, and engagement,' he said, expressing the hope for broad international support. Concluding his address, Dar urged the global community to rise above divisions. 'In a world facing deepening divides and mounting challenges, we must choose cooperation over confrontation, and diplomacy over force. Pakistan stands ready to work with all of you to advance these common goals,' he affirmed.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Dar for inclusive dialogue over confrontation
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addresses the UNSC's Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question on Wednesday in New York. Photo: X Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Wednesday called for an inclusive dialogue and cooperative diplomacy over confrontation amid times of growing turbulence across the world as "the cost of unresolved disputes, long-running conflicts, unilateral actions, and disregard for international law are being felt in every region". In his address delivered at the reception hosted by Pakistan's Mission in New York on the occasion of Pakistan's Presidency of the UN Security Council, the DPM emphasized Pakistan's unwavering commitment to multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution, and the foundational principles of the UN Charter. Speaking to diplomats, UN officials and representatives of member states, Dar underscored that at the heart of Pakistan's foreign policy was a firm belief in multilateralism and the rule of international law. "The purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, especially the peaceful settlement of disputes and the non-use or threat of force, are foundational to the United Nations and indispensable for a just international order," he stated. "The Security Council must be seen not only as a chamber of reaction but as a forum of prevention, problem-solving, and principled leadership," he asserted. Reaffirming Pakistan's active diplomatic engagement, the Deputy Prime Minister said the country remains committed to working with partners around the world to advance the shared goals of peace, development, and human rights.
