Pakistan's UN proposal on Israel watered down under US pressure, say diplomats

Two months after President Donald Trump announced a halt to US engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council, Washington is influencing its work by applying pressure publicly and behind the scenes, seven diplomats and rights workers said. The United States left its seat empty during a six-week session of the 47-member council ending on Friday, but its lobbying and pressure had some success, the sources told Reuters. They said the US, which has accused the council of an anti-Israel bias, had focused on blunting a proposal by Pakistan on the creation of an International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), the most rigorous type of UN investigation, on Israel's actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The version of Pakistan's proposal that was passed on Wednesday by the council, whose mission is to promote and protect human rights worldwide, did not include the creation of the IIIM. The council already has a commission of inquiry on the Palestinian Territories, but Pakistan's proposal would have created an additional probe with extra powers to gather evidence for possible use in international courts. A March 31 letter sent by Brian Mast, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, and James R Risch, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cautioned against voting the proposal through. “Any HRC member state or UN entity that supports an Israel-specific IIM ... will face the same consequences as the ICC faced,” the letter said. It appeared to be referring to sanctions approved by the House of Representatives on the International Criminal Court in protest at its arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and former defence minister over Israel’s campaign in Gaza. The final version of Pakistan’s proposal referred only to an invitation to the UN General Assembly to consider an IIIM in the future. Two Geneva-based diplomats said they had received messages from US diplomats before the change of wording asking them to oppose the new investigation. “They were saying: ‘back off on this issue,’” said one, who spoke on condition of anonymity. A US State Department spokesperson said it was complying with the executive order signed by Trump on Feb. 4 withdrawing the US from the council and would not participate in it, adding: “As a matter of policy, we do not comment on private diplomatic conversations.” “The US seems to be trying to have it both ways. It doesn’t want to pay for or participate in the UN but it still wants to boss it around,” said Lucy McKernan, Deputy Director for United Nations at Human Rights Watch’s Geneva office. ‘RAW POWER’ The US and Israel are not members of the council but, like all UN member states have informal observer status and a seat in the council’s meeting chamber. International human rights institutions are now at a critical juncture, said Phil Lynch, Director of International Service for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization. “We are potentially confronting a future characterised by lawlessness and raw power,” he said. The US was once the top donor to the UN rights system, but Trump has said the UN is “not being well run” and aid cuts by his administration have forced scalebacks. The US and Israel have also opposed the mandate of one of the council’s independent experts during this session. The Israeli ambassador said on March 24 that Francesca Albanese, a critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, had breached a UN code of conduct through “blatant antisemitic behaviour and discourse,” a diplomatic note showed. The US State Department spokesperson said Albanese was “unfit for her role.” “The correspondence received is under consideration,” council spokesperson Pascal Sim said, adding that whenever the council makes a nomination, “it does so with the knowledge that the mandate-holder is expected to serve up to six years in this function.” The internal body that ensures UN experts adhere to a code of conduct condemned what it described as a coordinated campaign against Albanese, according to a letter from the Coordination Committee of Special Procedures dated 28 March. It found no evidence to support Israel’s complaints against Albanese. However, it is introducing social media guidelines for UN experts in light of some concerns raised about her X posts.

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Azma Bokhari hits back at PPP over canal project criticism

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Thursday responded to criticism from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders over the controversial canal project, advising them to direct their questions to the President of Pakistan rather than the Punjab chief minister. Reacting to PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor’s recent press conference, Bokhari said it would be more appropriate for the PPP to first resolve its internal disagreements over the ownership of water resources before blaming Punjab, Express News reported. “Sindh says it’s their water, and you [PPP] say it belongs to Punjab. The PPP should first decide among themselves whose water it actually is,” she said. Bokhari questioned whether Chaudhry Manzoor, a Punjab resident, was willing to stand up for the province. “Can you not fight for Punjab’s rights while living in Punjab?” she asked. She further alleged that politicising canals has historically been Sindh’s tactic, but insisted that Punjab does not follow such an approach. “Before claiming to stand with farmers, check if the farmers even stand with you,” she added. The Punjab minister emphasised that the province neither usurps anyone’s rights nor allows others to infringe on its own. “Punjab has always acted as the elder brother,” she stated. Reiterating her stance on the matter, Bokhari said that instead of criticising Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz or the provincial government, PPP leaders should direct their concerns to President Zardari. “The PPP should refrain from dragging internal disagreements into the media,” she added.

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PM orders inquiry into reduction of private Hajj quota for Pakistanis

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the reduction in the private Hajj quota for this year, which left thousands of Pakistanis unable to perform Hajj under the private scheme. The PM directed an immediate inquiry into the matter and established a three-member committee tasked with identifying the responsible parties within three days, Express News reported. The inquiry follows the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony's failure to secure the private Hajj quota from Saudi Arabia for 2025 despite the timely fulfillment of necessary procedures. PM Shehbaz expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in securing the quota, instructing the committee to investigate why the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed to implement the Saudi Ministry of Hajj's policy in a timely manner and why the request for the private quota was not made on time. The three-member committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Cabinet Division, includes the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Federal Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan. The committee has been tasked with determining why the Ministry of Religious Affairs failed to meet the deadlines and secure the private Hajj quota, leaving thousands of Pakistanis without an opportunity to perform the pilgrimage. The committee is required to complete the inquiry within three days and identify those responsible for the oversight. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has been instructed to fully cooperate with the committee in its investigation. The Cabinet Division has issued a notification regarding the formation of the committee and the commencement of the inquiry.

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Azma Bokhari hits back at PPP over canal project criticism

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Thursday responded to criticism from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders over the controversial canal project, advising them to direct their questions to the President of Pakistan rather than the Punjab chief minister. Reacting to PPP leader Chaudhry Manzoor’s recent press conference, Bokhari said it would be more appropriate for the PPP to first resolve its internal disagreements over the ownership of water resources before blaming Punjab, Express News reported. “Sindh says it’s their water, and you [PPP] say it belongs to Punjab. The PPP should first decide among themselves whose water it actually is,” she said. Bokhari questioned whether Chaudhry Manzoor, a Punjab resident, was willing to stand up for the province. “Can you not fight for Punjab’s rights while living in Punjab?” she asked. She further alleged that politicising canals has historically been Sindh’s tactic, but insisted that Punjab does not follow such an approach. “Before claiming to stand with farmers, check if the farmers even stand with you,” she added. The Punjab minister emphasised that the province neither usurps anyone’s rights nor allows others to infringe on its own. “Punjab has always acted as the elder brother,” she stated. Reiterating her stance on the matter, Bokhari said that instead of criticising Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz or the provincial government, PPP leaders should direct their concerns to President Zardari. “The PPP should refrain from dragging internal disagreements into the media,” she added.

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PTI denies reports of Imran Khan tasking K-P leadership with talks with establishment

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) officials on Thursday dismissed reports that PTI founder Imran Khan had assigned Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and government spokesperson Barrister Saif the task of negotiating with the establishment. The denial comes amid widespread speculation on mainstream and social media, claiming that Khan had instructed the K-P leadership to “re-engage” with the establishment during a recent meeting at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. Barrister Saif, responding to the reports, stated: “Nobody was assigned a new task to hold negotiation with the establishment by the PTI founder.” He clarified that the April 2 meeting between Khan and Gandapur revolved around governance, terrorism, and regional affairs, including the situation in Afghanistan. Saif added that Khan issued instructions to the K-P chief minister related to administrative matters. According to Saif, Khan reiterated his stance of not engaging in any talks for personal benefit. “He would not talk to anyone for personal gains including securing release from jail,” he said, quoting the former prime minister. The meeting marked the first interaction between Khan and Gandapur in nearly a month and a half, lasting over two hours. Discussions reportedly also touched upon institutional confrontations and criticism directed at the party leadership on social media. Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had earlier refuted claims of any deal with the establishment. He stated that although contact had been reestablished, “final negotiations had not even begun,” and described speculation of a deal as “baseless” and disconnected from ground realities. Echoing the party line, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram also rejected the reports, calling them “false claims” designed to mislead the public. “No one went to convince the PTI founder to negotiate,” he told a private news channel, insisting that Khan had not tasked anyone with initiating talks. Akram criticised efforts to twist facts for political advantage and said the meeting focused solely on the functioning of the K-P government and internal party matters. “Gandapur will present Khan’s directives before the party's political committee,” he added.

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Minerals policy to be unveiled at PMIF25

The government is set to unveil its National Minerals Harmonisation Framework 2025 at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 (PMIF25), scheduled for April 8-9. The framework aims to streamline mining regulations across provinces, ensuring a structured and investor-friendly mineral policy to attract both domestic and foreign investments said a news release. The federal government, in collaboration with provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), has devised the framework to create a uniform regulatory structure. It focuses on safety, environmental sustainability, and efficient resource extraction while fostering strategic international partnerships in the mining sector. The framework has been developed through extensive consultation with key stakeholders to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness. Provincial governments have played an active role in the process. Briefings have been provided to chief secretaries and chief ministers to keep them informed and involved in decision-making. Their input has been essential in shaping the framework to align with regional needs and priorities.

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Govt spends millions on petrol-hybrid cars for ‘eco-force’

For more than a decade, Lahore has choked under a thick blanket of smog and air pollution. But successive governments seem more focused on polishing their green credentials than making a real difference. Continuing this trend, the newly formed Environment Protection Force aims to lead by example in a city where most commercial and private vehicles still run on petrol, with no proper emissions monitoring. Its solution? Patrolling the streets and conducting inspections in 25 gleaming hybrid cars—purchased at a staggering cost of Rs 250 million, funded under the World Bank Green Program. To give the government the benefit of the doubt, some might call it a step in the right direction. But that argument quickly falls apart when most commuters in the city can barely afford an electric motorbike, let alone an eco-friendly car. The new force, however, will have access to 250 electric motorbikes, along with modern inspection equipment—including tablets and instruments for gas and water analysis—purchased for an additional Rs 300 million, funded by the provincial administration. According to figures gathered by The Express Tribune, Lahore, Punjab’s capital, has 7.5 million registered vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, and taxis. An overwhelming 99% run on petrol, making them a major contributor to the city’s persistently unhealthy air quality. As of April 2, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) ranges from 100 to 166, placing it in the ‘unhealthy’ category for much of the day. During the first two days of the month, PM2.5 levels varied between 60–90 µg/m³—more than four times the 24-hour safe limit set by the World Health Organization. So, can the new environment protection force, with its fleet of hybrid cars, make a difference? Environmental experts say no. Even those familiar with vehicle mechanics see little benefit in adding 25 hybrid cars to the Environment Protection Force when the vast majority of vehicles on Lahore’s roads still run on petrol. “If the government was serious about environmentally friendly transport, it should have gone for fully electric vehicles instead of hybrids, which still rely on fossil fuels,” said Sunil Sarfaraz Munj, who runs PakWheels, the country’s largest automotive website. “It’s like preaching to others while not practicing it yourself—hybrids still have an engine and require fuel,” he added. “If the government was serious about its ‘Go Green Go’ slogan, it should have committed to all-electric transport.” Casting further doubt, Munj pointed out that if the aim was to cut emissions and set an example, the government could have saved money by opting for BYD’s entry-level Atto 3, a more affordable electric vehicle from the Chinese manufacturer. Taking the auto expert’s advice into account, The Express Tribune conducted a market survey. The latest entrant to Pakistan’s electric vehicle market, BYD, has models priced between 9 million and 17 million rupees—well beyond reach for most. Independent financial experts calculate the median monthly salary in Pakistan at Rs 70,700, making EV ownership a distant dream for the average consumer. That salary also puts electric bikes—priced between Rs 140,000 and Rs 250,000—out of reach. How deep is the Go Green promise?  Environmental experts argue that the government is pushing its 'Go Green Go' slogan without focusing on concrete actions. For one, they say, the Environment Protection Force patrolling in hybrid vehicles will have little inspirational value if the average citizen can’t afford the prohibitively expensive eco-friendly alternatives. More critically, they point out that for Lahore to see any real improvement in air quality, the provincial administration needs to take multiple, simultaneous steps—improving urban transport, offering better connectivity, and providing incentives for the average commuter. Right now, they note, the system falls far short of meeting the needs of a city of 14.8 million people. Take Lahore’s Metro-bus -- a fleet of 60 buses covering just 27 kilometers from Gajju Matah to Shahdara. Experts argue this is nowhere near enough to convince commuters to abandon their personal transport. Likewise, the Orange Line Metro Train, spanning 27.1 kilometers with 26 stations, needs a carefully planned expansion to cover more routes across the city—something policymakers have yet to address. Without an effective public transport system, they cautioned, any other measures will do little to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads—making any meaningful reduction in emissions unlikely. Inspirational value  When questioned about the costly purchase of hybrid vehicles for the newly formed Environment Protection Force, Punjab’s Environmental Protection Agency Secretary, Raja Jahangir Anwar, defended the decision. Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said that 250 electric motorcycles and 25 hybrid vehicles had been procured to inspect pollution-causing industrial units, factories, and brick kilns. “Since the province is moving toward zero emissions, it was essential to ensure that the vehicles used by the department were also environmentally friendly,” he added. Environmental experts argue that without a significant shift in public transport, industrial regulation, and fuel quality, such measures will do little to control Lahore’s worsening air pollution. Despite the provincial government’s claims of progress toward net-zero emissions—and the establishment of a ‘smog war room’—Pakistan’s most populous province remains a major contributor to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.  While specific figures for Punjab are unavailable, its industrial output, vehicle emissions, and agricultural practices suggest it accounts for a significant share of the national total. Nowhere is this more evident than in the provincial capital, which, every winter for the past 15 years, has come to a grinding halt under a thick blanket of toxic smog—at times competing with New Delhi for the dubious title of the world’s most polluted city. Pollution mix According to a report by the Urban Unit of the Punjab Planning and Development Department, transportation accounts for 83% of Lahore’s air pollution. Within this sector, motorcycles, scooters, and auto-rickshaws—many of them using two-stroke engines—are among the worst offenders. Making matters worse, low-quality fuel is widely available, exacerbating vehicular emissions and further deteriorating air quality. Industrial activity is another major contributor Recent estimates suggest that factory emissions account for around 25% of Lahore’s total air pollution. Combined with the transport sector, these emissions fuel the hazardous smog that frequently blankets the city. Climate Change Action Plan A review of Punjab’s Climate Change Action Plan, unveiled last year, lays out ambitious targets: electric vehicle (EV) sales should reach 15% by 2030 and 20% by 2035. But experts caution that even if these targets are met, the overall impact on vehicular emissions is likely to be negligible. Under the 2024 plan, the provincial government aims for 60% of its energy to come from renewable sources and for EVs to account for 30% of vehicles on the road by the end of the decade. Dawar Hameed Butt, an environmental specialist, remains deeply sceptical. “While the renewable energy goal might reach 40-45% by 2030, the electric vehicle target is wildly unrealistic and may barely scrape 1%,” he said. The fundamental issue, Butt argued, is the lack of infrastructure. Charging networks remain inadequate, and with EV adoption currently minimal, he sees little chance of rapid expansion in the coming years. Beyond electric cars, Punjab’s transport woes are exacerbated by the lack of efficient options. Sani e Zahra, an urban planner based in Lahore, draws comparisons with cities such as Bogotá and Beijing, which have successfully built integrated, sustainable public transport systems.  She urged policymakers to view public transport as a long-term investment rather than a tool for political gains. “Sustainable, well-planned transport solutions are crucial—not just for urban mobility but for improving quality of life,” Zahra said.

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