logo
Sindh CM announces 14-Day Independence celebrations

Sindh CM announces 14-Day Independence celebrations

Express Tribune5 days ago
Listen to article
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that this year's Independence Day celebrations will take place over 14 days, from August 1 to 14, under the theme Marka-e-Haq.'
Speaking at a press conference in Karachi with Senior Ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, he said the extended celebrations demonstrate a unified effort by the federal and provincial governments to commemorate the national achievements of May.
He said the decision was made in coordination with the federal government to reinforce the importance of national independence.
August 14 would not be limited to a single day this year.
The Chief Minister noted that Pakistan's armed forces gave a decisive response to the neighbouring country, and the events throughout August will recognize that.
He added, 'Those who don't participate in these celebrations will be noticed by the people.'
'We have never accepted defeat. We will not cancel any programs out of fear of terrorism,' Shah said.
He assured that the police, rangers, and Pakistan Army are fully prepared to maintain public safety during the celebrations.
He also called on the media to support the campaign by highlighting individuals, homes, vehicles, shops, and public buildings decorated for Independence Day.
Shah mentioned that Sindh has always led from the front and will continue to do so.
Commenting on potential cabinet changes, he added, 'When I decide to make changes, I will and everyone will know.'
In support, Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori met with a delegation of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), led by Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, to discuss preparations for Independence Day.
Tessori emphasized the importance of business community participation in the 'Marka-e-Haq' campaign and said it is a collective responsibility to celebrate the occasion in a dignified manner.
The FPCCI delegation assured full support and active involvement in the planned events.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Afghan FM visit postponed at last minute
Afghan FM visit postponed at last minute

Express Tribune

time2 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Afghan FM visit postponed at last minute

The long-awaited visit of Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Islamabad was postponed at the last minute due to what officials cited as a "technical issue". Muttaqi was scheduled to begin a crucial three-day trip to Islamabad from August 4, as part of renewed efforts by both sides to reset their troubled relationship. Preparations had been finalised and all of the Afghan foreign minister's engagements confirmed. However, before Islamabad and Kabul could formally announce the visit on Sunday, a "technical issue" forced a delay. While officials did not elaborate on the nature of the issue, it is believed to be related to the UNSC-imposed travel ban on Taliban leaders. The two sides are expected to work together to sort out the technical hitch, with the visit likely to take place sooner rather than later. Muttaqi's visit had been long overdue, as both countries have been working to de-escalate tensions. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has travelled to Kabul twice since April in a renewed diplomatic push to resolve the issues bedevilling bilateral ties. The high-level exchanges yielded some progress, particularly on concerns regarding the presence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other anti-Pakistan groups. According to officials, the Taliban administration has taken certain steps, including discouraging Afghan nationals from joining the ranks of the TTP. In another sign of improving ties, Pakistan and Afghanistan also agreed to upgrade their diplomatic relations to the level of ambassadorial appointments. Sources confirmed that Muttaqi remains keen to visit Pakistan and will do so as soon as the issue is resolved. This would mark his first visit to Islamabad since May 2023, when he attended a trilateral meeting involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. According to sources, Beijing has also played a key role in bringing Islamabad and Kabul closer. Pakistan had long been urging the Taliban-led government in Kabul to tackle threats posed by banned groups such as the TTP. While Kabul has publicly denied the presence of such groups, it has privately cited an inability to take action against them. Nonetheless, Pakistan has succeeded in persuading the Afghan regime to take some concrete steps, including crackdowns on Afghan nationals involved with the TTP. The Afghan authorities have also taken action against those facilitating others to join the group. The measures have helped ease tensions between the two neighbours. Officials said Pakistan would continue to encourage the Taliban government to pursue similar actions. In return, Pakistan and China are prepared to support Kabul both economically and diplomatically.

Armed forces reiterate Kashmir support
Armed forces reiterate Kashmir support

Express Tribune

time2 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Armed forces reiterate Kashmir support

COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir addressing graduating officers of National Security and War Course at the National Defence University in Islamabad on July 7. Photo: ISPR COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir, along with the CJCSC, naval chief, chief of air staff and the Pakistan Armed Forces have reaffirmed their unwavering solidarity with the resilient and courageous people of Indian Illegally IOJK. The resolve was expressed on the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal, the ISPR said in a statement. The armed forces of Pakistan fully support the legitimate and ongoing struggle of the Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in international law and UN Security Council resolutions, the statement read. The continued illegal occupation of IIOJK by Indian security forces—characterised by an unrelenting military siege, systemic human rights violations, and demographic engineering—constitutes a grave breach of international norms and remains a matter of deep concern, it added. India's repressive actions, coupled with its belligerent posture and incendiary rhetoric, serve only to exacerbate regional instability and perpetuate human suffering. It is unequivocally evident that durable peace in South Asia remains unattainable without the just and peaceful resolution of the IIOJK dispute.

TTAP urges top judge to probe sugar scam
TTAP urges top judge to probe sugar scam

Express Tribune

time2 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

TTAP urges top judge to probe sugar scam

Opposition leaders attend the first day of the two-day All Parties Conference in Islamabad on July 31, 2025. Photo: X An opposition parties' alliance has urged the country's top judge to take suo motu notice of "a systemic policy manipulation" in the sugar industry that has allowed "a select group of sugar barons" to reap immense profits "at the direct expense of common citizens". The "urgent appeal" sent to Chief Justice of Yahya Afridi by Tehreek Tahaffuz Aine-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar stated that the recent sugar crisis is a stark testament to how entrenched interests exploit national policy for personal gain. It claimed that an alarming increase in sugar prices—to an unprecedented Rs200 per kg since January—is not a mere market fluctuation but a direct consequence of deliberate policy choices and demands an immediate and decisive intervention of the Supreme Court. It said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, in a move that defies logic and public interest, first approved the export of 765,000 metric tonnes of sugar between July 2024 and May 2025, despite clear warnings of impending supply shortages. "This decision allowed a select group of sugar barons to reap immense profits. Subsequently, when local prices skyrocketed, the government paradoxically approved the import of 500,000 metric tons of sugar, further facilitating the same beneficiaries through preferential tax treatment." "The cabinet waived all duties and taxes on these imports. This tax exemption has rightly drawn the ire of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), clashing with loan conditions and exacerbating Pakistan's fiscal strain." According to the appeal, this export-import cycle, repeated over the past 24 months, unequivocally exposes the profound influence of the sugar industry over national policy. It raises serious questions about economic stewardship and, more critically, about who really benefits from these decisions. Citing "credible reports", it said a staggering 50% of sugar mills are owned by politicians, including prominent affiliates of the ruling PML-N coalition. This direct involvement of the political class, holding parliamentary seats, represents a profound conflict of interest and cements their "entrenched political clout". The appeal stated that this blending of political muscle and commercial interest has effectively entrenched a near-monopoly, enabling a calculated strategy to maximize gains for a privileged few. It said the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) previously imposed penalties totaling Rs44 billion on 81 sugar mills in August 2021, underscoring a history of cartelization and exploitative practices. "This situation is a textbook example of "extractive institutions" as described by Acemoglu and Robinson in 'Why Nations Fail', designed to 'steer the economic rewards toward a relatively small elite'. "The crisis mirrors how concentrated political power is used to create immense wealth for those who wield it, while the vast majority of Pakistanis suffer from inflation and a strained economy." It claimed that the policy shifts in the sugar sector are not accidental but are deliberate mechanisms, crafted by a politically connected elite, to extract wealth from the masses.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store