ISLAMABAD, NOV 2: President Asif Ali Zardari will attend the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, from November 4-6, being held under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly.

The summit will bring together world leaders and policymakers to discuss ways of advancing social development, promoting decent work and employment opportunities, as well as strengthening inclusive safety nets, the President’s Secretariat said.

On the sidelines, the president will hold important meetings with global and regional leaders, including the leadership of Qatar, as well as heads of major multilateral forums such as the United Nations and other international organisations.

President Zardari will underscore Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive growth and social protection, with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) at the centre of efforts to reduce poverty and build resilience among vulnerable groups.

Pakistan’s readiness to pilot a Doha-aligned Social Protection and Jobs Compact (2026–28) aimed at expanding coverage to informal workers, persons with disabilities, and children, while promoting decent work and green employment, will also be highlighted.

The initiative aligns national plans with the Doha Political Declaration and global commitments on social protection and financing for development.

President Zardari will underline Pakistan’s intent to work closely with development partners and multilateral institutions to mobilise financing for social protection and green employment through mechanisms such as the SDG Stimulus, debt-for-social or climate swaps, and South-South cooperation under China’s Global Development Initiative.

He will also reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to translating the outcomes of the Doha Summit into concrete actions that strengthen social protection systems and support sustainable, inclusive economic growth.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 2 (APP/DNA): Development work in Islamabad’s residential sectors has gained notable momentum under the directives of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Muhammad Ali Randhawa, with visible progress being reported in multiple areas of the capital’s long-awaited housing projects.

According to source on Sunday, a review meeting held a couple of days ago at CDA Headquarters under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ali Randhawa highlighted his keen interest in ensuring the rapid completion of development works across residential sectors.

Officials briefed the chairman that infrastructure construction has commenced in subsectors 2 and 3 of Sector E-12, while in Sector I-12, base work, TST and other major development activities have entered their final stages.

The meeting underscored that the CDA’s renewed administrative drive to expedite housing projects that have remained pending for years and to deliver long-promised civic facilities to allottees.

Ateeq Sheikh, President of the E-12 Allottees Welfare Association, welcomed the progress but urged for greater speed and consistency.

“It is heartening to see the CDA putting real effort into Sector E-12 now, but there is still a lot more to be done in various subsectors. We have been waiting for civic services for decades. Although recent development brings hope, we expect substantial progress to remove the lingering disappointment of residents,” he said.

From Sector I-12, allottee representative Khumar Gul praised Chairman Randhawa’s focus on residential sector development.

“We welcome the chairman’s attention toward I-12. The development in the Markaz has gained noticeable pace, which is encouraging, but there is still much to do in the residential area. We hope the remaining work will be completed swiftly so that possession can be granted with all basic amenities in place,” he stated.

He revealed that a delegation of I-12 allottees would meet the Director General (E&M) soon to request an expedited installation of underground electricity cables.

Another allottee, Tahir Mahmood, stressed the importance of timely provision of essential utilities.

“Water, electricity, and sewerage facilities must be ensured before possession. Clear timeline for possession is crucial so that allottees can begin construction without further uncertainty,” he remarked.

Allottees from both Sectors E-12 and I-12 expressed satisfaction with the CDA’s renewed commitment and visible field activity, describing it as a positive shift that, if sustained, could finally translate long-standing promises into tangible reality for thousands of awaiting families.

PESHAWAR, Nov 2 (APP/DNA): Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Sunday expressed deep sorrow over the explosion at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station Peshawar, which occurred when explosive materials stored in the malkhana (evidence storeroom) detonated.

The Governor conveyed his heartfelt condolences on the martyrdom of a police official in the incident, paying tribute to the officer’s sacrifice in the line of duty.

Governor Kundi extended his sympathy and condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks and patience for the grieving relatives.

He also conveyed his best wishes for the speedy recovery of the injured police personnel, emphasizing the province’s gratitude for the bravery and commitment of law enforcement agencies.

In a separate condolence message, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed profound grief over the passing of renowned educationist and Vice Chancellor of Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, Professor Dr. Hameedullah Khan Alizai.

He said Dr. Alizai’s valuable contributions to the field of education would always be remembered, adding that under his leadership, Qurtuba University emerged as a distinguished institution, particularly serving the youth of Dera Ismail Khan by providing quality higher education.

The Governor prayed for the departed soul’s eternal peace and offered condolences to the bereaved family.

PESHAWAR, Nov 2 (APP/DNA): As regional tensions and economic challenges persist across South Asia and the Middle East, the upcoming Istanbul Dialogue, scheduled for November 6, has emerged as a promising platform for Pakistan and Afghanistan to rebuild trust, strengthen cooperation, counter terrorism, and pave the way toward lasting regional peace and stability.

Despite the collapse of the first round of peace talks in Istanbul due to the rigidity of the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan has agreed to participate in another round of talks aimed at addressing all outstanding issues, including cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan through peaceful means.

Observers believed that the Istanbul dialogue offers a neutral setting for candid discussions, practical confidence-building measures, and verifiable guarantees, particularly on controlling terror groups and proxies infiltrating from Afghanistan and carrying out attacks inside Pakistan.

 “All eyes are on Istanbul, Türkiye, where another round of crucial peace talks between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban will take place on November 6,” said Dr. Ejaz Khan, a foreign relations expert at the University of Peshawar, while talking to APP.

“These talks especially focused on stopping terror groups operating against Pakistan if successful hold the potential to ensure regional peace and stability.”

He said that Turkey’s facilitation added credibility and balance to the process, which could lead to a roadmap for durable peace and economic cooperation.

“The pressure is mounting on the Afghan Taliban regime to engage in constructive dialogue with Pakistan to bring Fitnaul Khwarij (TTP) to justice,” he added.

Dr. Ejaz said this is a critical moment for the Afghan Taliban, as Pakistan has raised serious concerns about the presence of terrorist groups such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Fitnaul Hindustani in Afghanistan, and has demanded decisive action against them and demanded verifiable guarantee which is right of all parties engaged in negotiations.

Citing reports, he said that Afghanistan continues to serve as a safe haven for terror groups, with an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 TTP terrorists still present there. Many hardcore TTP operatives, released from Afghan prisons after the Taliban takeover in 2021, are being used as proxies against Pakistan, he added.

Dr. Ejaz argued that the Afghan Taliban have been using terrorism as a tool to achieve financial leverage. He emphasized that Pakistan’s demand for decisive action against terror groups and dismantling of their training camps is consistent with both the Doha Agreement and the UN Charter.

He explained that under the Doha Agreement, the Afghan Taliban are obligated to prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups against any other country, including Pakistan.

Tracing the conflict’s roots, he said Afghanistan has been the epicenter of global rivalries since the 1979 Soviet invasion and later the 2001 US-led intervention that toppled the Taliban regime.

He stressed that Pakistan has consistently pursued a responsible approach toward Afghanistan, guided by shared geography, culture, and security interests.

However, he reiterated that Pakistan’s constructive role has often been misunderstood internationally due to propaganda by hostile elements and pessimistic rhetoric by anti-Pakistan forces.

“No country has suffered more from the Afghan conflict than Pakistan,” he said, pointing out that Pakistan has hosted over four million Afghan refugees, suffered thousands of casualties due to terrorism, and incurred economic losses worth billions of dollars.

He added that Pakistan has always facilitated the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees and, just yesterday, reopened the Torkham border to ease their return.

Dr. Zahid Anwar, Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar, said the Istanbul Dialogue offers a “golden opportunity” for the Afghan Taliban to rise above personal interests and provide verifiable guarantees to act against the TTP, Fitnaul Khwarij Hindustani, and other terror proxies.

He recalled that following the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan became a frontline ally in the global war on terror, losing more than 80,000 lives and suffering economic losses exceeding $150 billion.

Dr. Zahid emphasized that Pakistan’s military and strategic patience should not be mistaken for weakness.

KARACHI, NOV 2: Lashing out at the Sindh government for the city’s deteriorating infrastructure, Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has vowed to free Karachi from “land grabbing and the corrupt system.”

Speaking at a ceremony on Sunday, Naeem said that despite the challenges, JI’s elected representatives were working beyond their capacity to serve the people.

“Karachi’s roads are not even built, yet citizens are receiving e-challans worth thousands,” he said and added: “We will liberate this city from the system of loot and land-grabbing.”

The JI chief said development work had resumed in nine towns, and even projects initiated by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab had to be overseen by JI representatives due to “poor governance”.

“There is no proper transport system, roads are broken, and the Red Line BRT project has ruined University Road. Even the Orange Line doesn’t cover all of Orangi,” he lambasted

Hafiz Naeem accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of manipulating local body elections through favourable delimitations and rigging. “[The] PPP made its mayor through rigged elections. To this day, powers have not been transferred to the towns as promised,” the JI chief claimed.

He criticised the Solid Waste Management Board, saying garbage collection remained inefficient despite the funds collected from citizens. “People pay for garbage removal from their homes, yet the city remains unclean,” Naeem added.

The JI chief also pointed to Karachi’s delayed mega-projects, blaming the Sindh government for 15 years of neglect. “From sewerage systems to employment, PPP has done nothing for Karachi.”

Concluding his speech, Hafiz Naeem warned the government to end corruption and political interference.

Meanwhile, Sindh government spokesperson Sadia Javed, responding to JI chief’s speech, accused him of spreading “propaganda and lies.”

She said JI’s town chairmen had failed in their duties, adding that Karachi was progressing under PPP leadership and that Hafiz Naeem was “obsessed” with Mayor Murtaza Wahab.