Web Desk

DHAKA: Khalilur Rahman, foreign minister of Bangladesh, left Dhaka on Saturday for the United States to take part in a series of engagements aimed at boosting the country&rsquo;s campaign for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency reported. On his way to New York City, the minister will make a brief stopover in Turkiye, where he is scheduled to hold several meetings and engagements as part of Bangladesh&rsquo;s diplomatic outreach in support of its UNGA presidency bid, a foreign ministry official said to BSS.&nbsp; During the visit, Dr Rahman is expected to meet diplomats and other stakeholders to strengthen support for Bangladesh&rsquo;s candidature for the upcoming UNGA session.

Bangladesh

FM Khalilur Rahman left Dhaka for the United States to rally support for Bangladesh’s bid for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Bangladesh foreign minister leaves for US, Turkiye on UNGA campaign

Shizza Jasmin

ISLAMABAD: Germany and Pakistan are expanding cooperation in climate action, education and development partnerships, even as both countries seek to reinvigorate trade and investment ties, German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital. Lepel, currently serving her third posting in Pakistan, described bilateral relations as broadly positive with active political engagement and growing people-to-people connections. &ldquo;Overall the trajectory is going in a good direction,&rdquo; she said, noting that the two countries maintain regular high-level contact. She added that Pakistan and Germany share a commitment to international cooperation and rule-based global governance. &ldquo;We depend on a reliable international world order that is governed by rules and not by the law of the strongest,&rdquo; Lepel said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why we are both big friends of multilateralism.&rdquo; Climate cooperation expandingGermany&rsquo;s development partnership with Pakistan is increasingly focused on climate and energy transition, the ambassador said, highlighting a &euro;114 million commitment announced late last year for climate-related cooperation and other development initiatives. According to Lepel, climate action offers both countries an opportunity to strengthen long-term economic competitiveness while addressing a global challenge. &ldquo;Climate change does not stop at borders and we don&rsquo;t get to negotiate with the planet,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The planet follows the law of physics, so this is a global challenge we have to tackle together.&rdquo; Germany is supporting several climate-related initiatives across Pakistan, including rebuilding flood-affected homes in Balochistan using climate-resilient methods and improving freshwater access in Punjab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Berlin is also contributing to forest restoration efforts linked to a provincial tree-planting initiative. Lepel said community participation is key to ensuring such environmental projects succeed. &ldquo;Planting the forest is the easy part,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Without taking the local communities along it&rsquo;s very difficult to keep it.&rdquo; Education links growingEducational exchange remains one of the fastest-growing areas of bilateral engagement, with nearly 10,000 Pakistani students currently studying in Germany, according to Lepel. She said Germany has digitalized its student visa application system to improve transparency and processing times, while the growing availability of English-language programs is making German universities more accessible to international students. &ldquo;The attractiveness of studying in Germany just is growing so much,&rdquo; she said. Lepel also encouraged prospective Pakistani students to rely on official information portals rather than private education agents. &ldquo;It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on agencies,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If you just Google &lsquo;study in Germany&rsquo; you come to a very accessible and intuitive portal where people are guided through all the universities.&rdquo; Trade potential yet to be realizedWhile political dialogue and development cooperation remain strong, the ambassador acknowledged that trade and investment between the two countries have not grown as quickly as other areas of partnership. &ldquo;The numbers in terms of trade are pretty much the same when I left eight years ago,&rdquo; Lepel said, adding that improving the ease of doing business could help attract greater foreign investment. Pakistan&rsquo;s large market, young population and strategic geographic location remain significant advantages for potential investors, she noted. &ldquo;There are quite a few German companies that have a presence in Pakistan,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Hopefully as ease of business improves we can build on that.&rdquo; Opportunities in innovation and diversificationLepel said changing global economic dynamics are prompting German companies to diversify supply chains and explore new markets &mdash; a trend that could create opportunities for Pakistan. &ldquo;We have learned the hard way that it&rsquo;s not a good idea to be unilaterally dependent on any one partner,&rdquo; she said. She also pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s innovative talent pool as a potential area for collaboration in research and development. &ldquo;I have really met amazing people who are very innovative, creative, resourceful and agile,&rdquo; she said. Energy efficiency and sustainable building technologies are additional areas where German expertise could support Pakistan&rsquo;s transition toward a low-carbon economy, Lepel added. &ldquo;The best energy is the energy we have never used,&rdquo; she said, highlighting opportunities in building insulation and energy-saving infrastructure. Despite global economic uncertainty, the ambassador expressed optimism about the future direction of bilateral relations. &ldquo;There is a positive mood,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;People are taking more of an interest in how things go in Pakistan.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

In a wide-ranging interview to Pakistan TV Digital, German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel says Pakistan-Germany relations are progressing through climate cooperation, education links and political engagement, while noting untapped potential in trade, investment and innovation partnerships.

Germany-Pakistan ties deepen through climate, education partnerships, ambassador says

Asfandyar Yahya

Ever wondered why mosquitoes always seem to bite you first? In this episode of Tell Me Why, we break down the science behind mosquito attraction and why the world&rsquo;s deadliest animal might already have you on its radar.

Tell Me Why

In this episode of Tell Me Why, we break down the science behind mosquito attraction and why the world’s deadliest animal might already have you on its radar.

Tell me why you're a mosquito magnet

PARIS: Two more players of the Iranian women&#39;s football team, which competed in the Asian Cup in Australia, and one member of the backroom staff have withdrawn their requests for asylum in the country, Iranian state media said on Saturday.&nbsp;Seven members of the visiting women&#39;s football delegation, six players and one backroom staff member, had sought sanctuary in Australia after they were branded &quot;traitors&quot; at home for refusing to sing the national anthem during the ongoing war between Iran and the US and its ally Israel.&nbsp;One of the players had withdrawn her request earlier in the week and linked up with the rest of the team, who are returning to Iran via Malaysia, according to Iranian media and Australian authorities.&nbsp;State broadcaster IRIB said on Saturday, &quot;two players and a member of the technical staff of the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iranian-womens-football-team-member-changes-mind-on-asylum-in-australia" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">women&#39;s national football team</a> have given up on their asylum application in Australia and are currently heading to Malaysia.&quot;&nbsp;It posted a picture of the three women as they were apparently about to board a plane.&nbsp;The rest of the team are believed to still be in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, awaiting their return to Iran.&nbsp;According to Australian authorities, the first woman who changed her mind over the asylum application exposed the location of the other <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/five-iran-women-footballers-take-asylum-in-australia" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">asylum seekers</a> when she contacted Iran&#39;s embassy in Australia.&nbsp;They were then forced to change the safe house where they were living.&nbsp;Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.&nbsp;Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lauded the bravery of the women, vowing they would be welcomed with open arms.&nbsp;But Iran&#39;s governing football body has accused Australia of kidnapping the players and forcing them to forsake their home nation against their will.&nbsp;Iranian players fell silent as the national anthem played ahead of a tournament match in Australia, an act seen as a symbol of defiance against the Islamic republic.&nbsp;A presenter on Iranian state TV branded the players &quot;wartime traitors&quot;, fuelling fears they faced persecution, or worse, if they returned home.&nbsp;Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, slipped away from the team hotel under the cover of darkness to claim asylum in Australia.&nbsp;Two more team members, a player and a support staffer, claimed asylum before the team flew out of Sydney earlier this week.

An undated photo released by Australia's Department of Home Affairs on March 11, 2026, shows two more members of the Iranian women's football team, which took part in the Asian Cup. (Photo: AFP/File)

Football

State broadcaster IRIB says "two players and a member of the technical staff of the women's national football team have given up on their asylum application in Australia and are currently heading to Malaysia."


Iran state media says two more footballers pull Australia asylum bids

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s petrol stocks remain at comfortable levels, and supply chains are functioning smoothly, the government said on Saturday after a high-level committee reviewed national fuel reserves and energy preparedness amid ongoing regional tensions.&nbsp;A government committee reviewing petrol prices and fuel supply has confirmed that Pakistan currently has comfortable stocks of petroleum products and that nationwide supply remains stable.&nbsp;The meeting of the Committee to Monitor Petrol Prices was held virtually on Saturday under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb as part of the government&rsquo;s daily review of developments in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistans-pm-sharif-heads-to-qatar-for-key-trade-energy-talks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">energy sector</a>.&nbsp;Officials informed the committee that the national inventory of crude oil and refined petroleum products remains adequate. Cargoes carrying petroleum products are already en route to the country, while additional shipments are being arranged to further strengthen reserves.&nbsp;The committee noted with satisfaction that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-seeks-red-sea-oil-route-as-gulf-crisis-disrupts-supply" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">supply chains</a>&nbsp;are operating smoothly and that arrangements are in place to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuel in the coming weeks.&nbsp;During the meeting, members also reviewed global crude and refined petroleum market trends, which have shown increased volatility in recent days due to regional geopolitical developments. Officials briefed the committee on international price movements and possible scenarios that could affect Pakistan&rsquo;s energy sector.&nbsp;The government, the committee was told, is closely monitoring international market developments and undertaking continuous planning to safeguard domestic energy security and economic stability.&nbsp;Operational arrangements related to crude imports, refinery operations, and maritime logistics were also reviewed. Authorities said steps are being taken to facilitate cargo movement, maintain optimal refinery throughput, and ensure smooth functioning of the petroleum supply chain.&nbsp;Officials further briefed the committee on the supply outlook for petrol, diesel, aviation fuels, and LPG, noting that current supply levels and planned imports are expected to meet domestic demand in the coming weeks adequately.&nbsp;The meeting also discussed potential fuel-conservation and demand-management measures to reduce import pressures during periods of global price volatility. These include initiatives to promote efficient fuel consumption, particularly within the public sector.&nbsp;In addition, progress on strengthening monitoring mechanisms across the petroleum supply chain was reviewed, including the development of a digital dashboard that will provide real-time visibility of stock levels, depots, and retail supply conditions.&nbsp;Addressing the meeting, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the government&rsquo;s top priority is ensuring the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products across the country while minimizing the burden on the public.&nbsp;He added that despite volatility in global energy markets, Pakistan&rsquo;s supply position remains stable due to proactive planning and coordination among relevant institutions.&nbsp;The committee will continue to monitor international energy markets, domestic stock levels and supply chain dynamics daily to ensure timely policy responses, the minister said.&nbsp;The meeting was attended by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, and senior officials from relevant ministries and regulatory bodies.

Economy

The committee notes with satisfaction that supply chains are operating smoothly and that arrangements are in place to ensure the uninterrupted availability of fuel in the coming weeks.


Petrol stocks at comfortable levels as Pakistan reviews energy preparedness amid Gulf war

BEIRUT: UN chief Antonio Guterres said Saturday on a visit to Beirut that diplomatic channels remained open to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah and urged the international community to support Lebanon.&nbsp;&quot;There is no military solution, only diplomacy, dialogue and full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions. The diplomatic avenues are available, including through my special coordinator for Lebanon... and through key member states,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;We are doing everything we can now to bring about an immediate de-escalation and the cessation of hostilities,&quot; Guterres told reporters.&nbsp;&quot;My special coordinator is engaging with all actors around the clock to bring the parties to the table and UNIFIL peacekeepers... remain in position,&quot; he said, referring to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.&nbsp;He said attacks against peacekeepers and positions were &quot;completely unacceptable and they must stop. They are in breach of international law and may constitute war crimes&quot;.&nbsp;Three peacekeepers serving with the Ghanaian contingent were wounded earlier this month in south Lebanon.&nbsp;Guterres arrived in Beirut on Friday for what he called a &quot;solidarity&quot; visit, and launched a $325 million humanitarian appeal to support Lebanon as it responds to the displacement crisis.&nbsp;&quot;My message to the international community is simply step up your engagement, empower the Lebanese state and support the Lebanese Armed Forces to secure the capabilities and resources they need. Respond generously to the humanitarian appeal,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The Israeli army has issued sweeping evacuation orders to residents of south Lebanon and Beirut&#39;s southern suburbs, with the Norwegian Refugee Council saying they cover 14 percent of Lebanese territory.&nbsp;&quot;Evacuation orders in a situation where so many vulnerable populations exist in the areas that are asked to be evacuated does not create enough security for civilians, and whatever does not create enough security for civilians inevitably becomes in violation of international humanitarian law,&quot; Guterres said.

Middle East

UN chief Antonio Guterres said the fighting in Lebanon should be stopped through talks, not war. He urged all sides to stop fighting and use talks, diplomacy, and UN rules and resolutions to find peace.

UN chief says 'diplomatic avenues' available to stop war in Lebanon

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has rejected the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s claims about capturing posts and inflicting damage as &ldquo;false&rdquo; and &ldquo;fabricated&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;The official X account of Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared a post on Saturday rejecting claims attributed to what it described as the &ldquo;so-called Ministry of Defence of Afghan Taliban Regime,&rdquo; calling them false and misleading.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 745px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032768048441262142&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=5230f194f2368e7167636f318bc33f78bb3fcf6e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2032768048441262142"></iframe></div></div>In the social media post, the ministry stated: &ldquo;This latest claim of the so called Ministry of Defence of Afghan Taliban Regime regarding capturing some post and made up damages etc is false as always, fabricated and designed to mislead Afghan internal public opinion, which are unfortunately first hand experiencing and suffering under these terror sponsors.&rdquo; The ministry further said that &ldquo;Damages and losses incurred by Master Proxy Afghan Taliban and their extension Fitna Al Khawarij are being regularly updated by MOIB.&rdquo; &lsquo;Video and pictorial evidence&rsquo;&nbsp;It added that &ldquo;Related video and pictorial evidence, where applicable, is also shared with media, rather than resorting to fake claims and propaganda.&rdquo; According to the post, &ldquo;Great care is being exercised to provide credible and timely information about the ongoing targeted operations against terrorist and support infrastructure inside Afghan Taliban regime occupation area.&rdquo; The statement also said that &ldquo;beyond the amplification cycle of terrorists and Indian media /social media networks, there has been no credible and verifiable evidence of such repeated frivolous claims made by the Taliban outlets.&rdquo; It added: &ldquo;These claims have in fact always fallen on their face once fact checked.&rdquo;

Security

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejects the Afghan Taliban’s claims about capturing posts and inflicting damage as ‘false’ and ‘fabricated’.  

Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban claims about capturing posts as ‘false’ 

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday said Lebanon was ready to engage in &quot;direct talks&quot; with Israel and offered to host negotiations in Paris. &quot;The Lebanese government has signalled its willingness to engage in direct talks with Israel,&quot; he said on X, adding that &quot;all sections of society must be represented in these talks.&quot; &quot;France is ready to facilitate these talks by hosting them in Paris,&quot; Macron said, adding he had spoken to the president and prime minister of Lebanon, a former French protectorate. &quot;Everything must be done to prevent Lebanon from descending into chaos,&quot; Macron added. &quot;Hezbollah must immediately halt its reckless course. Israel must abandon plans for a large-scale offensive and cease its massive air strikes.&quot; Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Friday his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel.

Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron says Lebanon is ready for direct talks with Israel and offers Paris as a venue for negotiations, while urging Hezbollah to halt attacks and Israel to abandon plans for a large-scale offensive

Macron urges Israel to hold 'direct talks' with Lebanon

ISLAMABAD: The Chairperson of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Vicky Hartzler, said in a post on X on Saturday that the Indian government &ldquo;continues to implement and enforce discriminatory legislation, including harsh anti-conversion laws&rdquo; used to target and harass religious minorities, as the commission renewed concern over freedom of religion conditions in the country.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032109645666410862&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=7d0fa49dd67c9941107d432a928e8889b5009988&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The remarks accompanied the release of the commission&rsquo;s 2026 annual report, which again recommended that India be designated a &ldquo;country of particular concern&rdquo; for what it described as particularly severe violations of religious freedom.&nbsp; The report, released in March 2026, said conditions in India &ldquo;continued to deteriorate&rdquo; in 2025 as the government introduced and enforced legislation targeting minority communities and their places of worship. According to the report, several Indian states moved to introduce or strengthen anti-conversion laws, including tougher prison terms.&nbsp; It said Uttarakhand increased jail terms for what it called illegal conversions, Rajasthan adopted legislation allowing life imprisonment in some cases, and other states announced plans for stricter measures.&nbsp; The report also noted that India&rsquo;s Supreme Court sought responses from nine states facing legal challenges over such laws. The commission further said Indian authorities facilitated the detention and expulsion of citizens and religious refugees and tolerated vigilante attacks against minorities.&nbsp; It cited communal violence in Maharashtra, attacks on Christian families in Odisha, and heightened anti-Muslim sentiment after the April 2025 Kashmir incident.&nbsp; In its broader overview, the report also referred to India&rsquo;s expulsion of hundreds of Muslim citizens and dozens of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh. The commission&rsquo;s India chapter appears in its 2026 annual report among the countries it recommends for designation as countries of particular concern.

India

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom says India’s religious freedom conditions worsened in 2025, citing anti-conversion laws, attacks on minorities; recommends designation as a country of concern.

US watchdog criticizes India over minority rights

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a Pakistan-hosted side event on the margins of the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) emphasized that education and financial inclusion are essential to advancing women&rsquo;s empowerment and sustainable development, said a press release shared on X by Pakistan&#39;s Permanent Mission to the UN on Saturday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 864px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032659588319760585&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f6c1300bdc2b7a06187cd45187bce83ff7dd2c75&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2032659588319760585">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The event, titled &ldquo;Empowerment of Women in Pakistan: The Role of Education and Microfinance in Advancing Justice and Equality,&rdquo; was organized by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in collaboration with the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA), a US-based non-profit organization.&nbsp; The discussion brought together diplomats, academics, civil society representatives, and policymakers to examine how education and economic opportunity can strengthen women&rsquo;s rights and participation in society. Participants stressed that empowering women through education is not only a social development goal but also a strategic investment in the future of societies.&nbsp; Countries that educate girls tend to experience stronger economic growth, greater resilience, and more inclusive development. Empowerment through education&nbsp; Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, said women&rsquo;s empowerment through education remains both a constitutional commitment and a national development priority for Pakistan.&nbsp; She highlighted that Article 25-A of the Constitution guarantees free and compulsory education for every child. She noted that federal and provincial governments have taken steps to expand access to education by building schools in underserved areas, improving school infrastructure, and increasing scholarships.&nbsp; Programs such as the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund and Waseela-e-Taleem under the Benazir Income Support Programme, she said, provide conditional cash transfers to encourage families to keep girls in school. Senator Butt also highlighted efforts to align education with employment opportunities, noting that institutions such as the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission are integrating vocational, technical, and digital skills into education systems to improve women&rsquo;s employability.&nbsp; She added that Pakistan&rsquo;s growing microfinance ecosystem and initiatives like the Kamyab Jawan Program are enabling women to access credit and establish small businesses. At the same time, she acknowledged that extremist groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have targeted schools and educational infrastructure in some areas, affecting opportunities for girls. Girls&rsquo; access to educationDespite these challenges, she said Pakistan remains committed to policies that expand girls&rsquo; access to education and promote women&rsquo;s economic participation. In his opening remarks, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, noted that millions of girls around the world continue to face barriers to education due to poverty, discrimination, displacement, and conflict. He said these challenges are often intensified in conflict situations, where instability and insecurity disrupt schooling and limit opportunities for girls. Ambassador Asim pointed to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as examples where conflict and restrictions have significantly affected access to education. &ldquo;For many young girls, the simple act of going to school, something that should symbolize hope and opportunity, has often been overshadowed by insecurity and uncertainty about the future,&rdquo; he said. The ambassador emphasized that linking education with economic opportunities is essential to transform learning into empowerment.&nbsp; Technical and vocational training initiatives, digital skills programs, and university-based innovation and incubation centers, he said, are helping prepare young women to participate in an increasingly technology-driven global economy. Pathway out of poverty Maha Khan, chairperson of MALA, highlighted the long-term impact of girls&rsquo; education, noting that educating one girl can uplift entire families and communities.&nbsp; She stressed that education becomes truly transformative when it leads to meaningful economic empowerment and when governments, institutions, and communities work together to support it. Dr Beverley Barrett of Lumen Veritas LLC underscored the importance of a comprehensive approach to women&rsquo;s empowerment that combines education, governance, technology, and cultural change.&nbsp; While acknowledging progress in Pakistan&rsquo;s education enrollment and women&rsquo;s labor force participation, she noted that significant gaps remain and sustained political commitment will be necessary to address them. Afreen Mushtaq, a Fulbright scholar from Pakistan, shared her personal journey from Orangi Town in Karachi to higher education at the Institute of Business Administration Karachi and Harvard Business School.&nbsp; She described education as a pathway out of poverty, particularly for girls from underserved communities, and said educating one girl can create a ripple effect across families and communities. The discussion was moderated by Saima Saleem, counsellor at Pakistan&rsquo;s Mission to the United Nations.&nbsp; The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session in which students engaged panelists on challenges, opportunities, and the way forward for advancing women&rsquo;s empowerment.

Speaker Asim Iftikhar at Pakistan-sponsored event call for prioritizing financial inclusion & education to drive women's empowerment. (Photo: APP)

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Pakistan at a U.N. event highlighted education and financial inclusion as key drivers of women’s empowerment and economic opportunity.

Pakistan-hosted UN event highlights education, financial inclusion as key to women’s empowerment

ISLAMABAD: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly criticized a petition before the Supreme Court of India seeking to invalidate Islamic inheritance law, describing the move as &ldquo;mischievous&rdquo; and warning it threatens constitutionally protected religious freedoms.&nbsp;The petition, reportedly filed by the Naya Nari Foundation, challenges the application of Shariat-based inheritance rules among Muslims in India, arguing that the provisions discriminate against Muslim women.&nbsp;In a statement to the media, AIMPLB spokesperson S. Q. R. Ilyas rejected the claim and said the plea was based on misleading assumptions about Islamic law.&nbsp;&ldquo;The petition is mischievous and presents Islamic inheritance law in a distorted manner,&rdquo; Ilyas said, adding that it ignored constitutional protections guaranteed to religious communities.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032348625565778055&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=7d0fa49dd67c9941107d432a928e8889b5009988&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Board argued that the challenge contradicts Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees citizens the freedom to profess, practise and propagate their religion.&nbsp;According to the AIMPLB, Islamic personal law forms part of that protected religious sphere and cannot be set aside through litigation.&nbsp;Ilyas also pointed to the landmark Narasu Appa Mali case decided by the Bombay High Court, which held that personal laws are not subject to constitutional scrutiny in the same way as statutory legislation.&nbsp;&ldquo;That judgment makes it clear that personal laws cannot be treated as ordinary statutory provisions open to constitutional challenge,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Responding to claims that Islamic inheritance rules are not an essential religious practice, the Board said Muslim family laws derive directly from the Quran and Sunnah, making them binding within the religious framework.<iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2031701672641311119&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=7d0fa49dd67c9941107d432a928e8889b5009988&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 641px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe><div class="fr-embed"> </div>&ldquo;These laws are rooted in the Quran and Sunnah and therefore form an integral part of Islamic life,&rdquo; Ilyas said.&nbsp;Addressing allegations of gender discrimination, the AIMPLB said Islamic law grants men and women equal dignity while assigning them different financial responsibilities.&nbsp;&ldquo;Men are obligated to provide maintenance and bear household expenses, while women are under no financial obligation and may independently retain and use their own income,&rdquo; Ilyas said.&nbsp;The Board also rejected suggestions that the issue could be resolved through the adoption of a Uniform Civil Code, noting that Article 44 of the constitution is only a directive principle and cannot override fundamental rights.&nbsp;&ldquo;Article 44 cannot be imposed on Muslims in a way that violates their fundamental right to practise religion,&rdquo; Ilyas said, urging the court to dismiss the petition.&nbsp;During the hearing, however, the Supreme Court observed that a Uniform Civil Code could potentially address concerns raised in the petition.&nbsp;The bench also questioned whether striking down Shariat inheritance provisions might create a legal vacuum in the absence of an alternative statutory framework governing Muslim inheritance.&nbsp;The case has reignited debate over religious autonomy and minority rights in India, where critics say legal and political pressure on Muslim personal laws has intensified in recent years.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board opposes a Supreme Court petition challenging Islamic inheritance law, warning it threatens religious freedom, while judges suggest a Uniform Civil Code and question whether scrapping Shariat rules would create legal uncertainty.

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