Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have arrested Khariji Sultan Aziz Azam, spokesperson for the Islamic State Khorasan and founder of the group’s official media wing, the Al-Azaim Foundation, according to a United Nations report submitted to the Security Council.

The findings were detailed in the sixteenth report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The document states that Azaim served as Islamic State Khorasan’s (IS-K) central platform for propaganda and recruitment, and that the group’s media operations have been suspended following Azam’s arrest.

Pakistani authorities have carried out a series of high-profile operations targeting IS-K operatives. Among them was the detention of Azam on May 16, 2025, the report confirmed.

“There have also been a number of high-profile arrests by the Pakistani authorities, such as the arrest of an IS-K spokesperson, Sultan Aziz Azam, on 16 May 2025,” the report noted.

According to the UN assessment, Pakistan’s actions have weakened IS-K’s organisational structure at the global level. The report said several planned attacks have been foiled, while the number of the group’s fighters has declined.

“Overall, the capability of IS-K has been degraded as a result of counter-terrorism operations by the de facto authorities and Pakistan,” the document stated.

It added that the mid-2025 arrest of Abu Yasir al-Turki, a senior figure in the group’s media and logistical network, by Turkish and Pakistani authorities may have contributed to the shutdown of the IS-K publication Voice of Khorasan.

The document further stated that key IS-K commanders and ideological leaders have been neutralised, with arrests such as those of Azam and Abu Yasir al-Turki significantly reducing its operational capacity. As a result, major propaganda platforms, including Voice of Khorasan, have been taken offline.

The report also highlighted the evolving militant landscape in Afghanistan. It said Al Qaeda continues to maintain close ties with the Taliban, with a persistent presence in several Afghan provinces. IS-K, however, remains the Taliban’s primary adversary, continuing to carry out attacks both inside Afghanistan and abroad, despite losing territorial control.

Widely viewed as critical of the Afghan Taliban regime, the report rejected Kabul’s assertions that terrorist groups are not using Afghan soil for cross-border violence, calling the claim “not credible.”

It warned that neighbouring states increasingly view Afghanistan as a source of regional insecurity, with non-state actors including IS-K, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Al Qaeda and others operating in the country, some of whom are believed to be using Afghan territory to plan external attacks.

Pakistani stuntman Sultan Muhammad Golden set a new world record during a stunt show in Quetta, Balochistan, on Saturday.

Sultan Golden completed a one-mile drive in reverse in 57 seconds, surpassing the previous record set in 2022 by an American stuntman, who had covered the distance in one minute and 15 seconds.

Organisers said the timing was the fastest ever recorded for a long-distance reverse drive.

The performance drew loud applause from spectators attending the event, with officials describing the stunt as technically demanding and requiring exceptional control and concentration.

Speaking after the show, Sultan said the achievement was the result of consistent practice and hard work, adding that his goal was to represent Pakistan on the global stage.

President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Sultan Golden on setting a new world record in reverse driving.

In a statement, he said, “Sultan Golden’s success is a reflection of the courage, skill and dedication of Pakistanis”.

“This feat has further strengthened Pakistan’s positive image at the global level,” he said and expressed his best wishes for Sultan Golden and prayed for more successes for him.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to Sultan Golden on breaking the reverse car driving world record.

The premier congratulated the entire nation on Sultan Golden’s achievement for setting a new world record in reverse car driving.

He said, “Sultan Golden has brought pride to Pakistan across the world”.

The prime minister stated that the whole nation was proud of Sultan Golden.

He said that the government was determined to provide all possible facilities for the promotion of sports.

The Ministry of Finance clarified, in a statement on Sunday, that there is nothing new in the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) conditionalities. It stated that the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) is a continuation of the agreed reform agenda being implemented in a phased manner for the country’s economic stability and sustainable growth.

At the start of the IMF program, the Government of Pakistan presented its proposed reform policies, which the IMF incorporated into the MEFP in phases. The ministry stated that viewing these as sudden or unexpected new conditions reflects a lack of awareness of the facts.

The EFF reflects an agreed medium-term reform strategy, with the government already implementing many of the reforms included in it. Medium-term structural reforms are implemented in phases, with new measures included in each IMF review to gradually achieve the final targets agreed at the start of the program.

The MEFP agreed after the second review is a continuation of the MEFP of the first review, the ministry said. The matter of publication of asset declarations of government employees was included in the EFF from May 2024, with the current structural benchmark being the next logical step after amendments to the Civil Servants Act, 1973.

Improvement in the performance and autonomy of NAB was agreed in previous reviews. Strengthening NAB’s performance and cooperation with other investigative agencies is part of this continuity, a measure that was agreed before the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Report. Granting provincial anti-corruption establishments access to financial information is part of anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) reforms, which have been part of the EFF program from the outset, the ministry clarified.

The government discouraged informal channels to increase remittances, resulting in a 26% year-on-year increase in fiscal year 2025, with a 9.3% increase in remittances expected in fiscal year 2026. The government, in collaboration with the State Bank, is striving to reduce the cost of remittances, with the IMF including these measures in the MEFP.

The ministry noted that a study for the development of the local currency bond market was recommended in May 2025 and has now been included in the program as a structural benchmark.

Further, the statement highlighted that reforms in the sugar sector are an initiative of Pakistan’s government itself, with the prime minister’s Office constituting a task force under the leadership of the minister for energy. The task force is preparing recommendations in consultation with the provinces. This initiative is aligned with the objectives of the EFF, aimed at reducing government intervention in commodity markets, and the IMF has therefore made it part of the MEFP.

Reforms in FBR are part of the government’s broader revenue enhancement agenda, with the task force being led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself, the ministry said. Over the past year, the Transformation Plan was approved, the Tax Policy Office was established, and measures such as improvements in compliance risk management were undertaken.

Separating tax policy from FBR’s operational functions was a major step, with the preparation of the medium-term tax reform strategy being a continuation of this process.

Privatisation of distribution companies (DISCOs) has also been part of the EFF program since its inception and is to be carried out in phases. Finalising the terms for private sector participation in the privatisation of the Hyderabad and Sukkur electric supply companies is an agreed measure, according to the statement. Public Service Obligation agreements for seven major DISCOs are also a continuation of the agreed measures.

Amendments to the Companies Act, 2017, for regulatory reforms and improvement of the business environment are part of broader reforms. The concept note on amendments to the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act is the next stage following the earlier SEZ review study.

Alternative measures in case of potential revenue shortfalls have consistently been part of the MEFP, the ministry noted, with the initial MEFP from May 2024 also including a structural benchmark to introduce a 5% Federal Excise Duty on fertiliser and agricultural pesticides.

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, on Sunday, inaugurated a series of development projects in Block F, North Nazimabad, Central District, including construction of internal roads, a sewerage system, and a stormwater drain.

In a media briefing, the mayor recalled that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had promised development across Karachi once in power, emphasising that city funds would be spent responsibly and citizens’ sense of deprivation addressed. He stressed that projects are being completed rather than merely marked with plaques.

Highlighting areas under illegal occupation, Wahab criticised previous administrations, saying they had failed to improve citizens’ quality of life, despite controlling town administrations. He contrasted the PPP’s approach with that of its critics, asserting that his party focuses on tangible work rather than political point-scoring.

The mayor detailed several ongoing and upcoming projects:
• Internal roads in North Nazimabad have been completed at a cost of PKR 100 million.
• The four-lane bridge at Korangi Ibrahim Hyderi for access to Indus Hospital will be completed by the end of January 2025.
• An underpass connecting Shahrah-e-Bhutto will be finished by February and will accommodate heavy traffic, benefiting the wider city and country.
• A flyover at Murghi Khana is expected to be completed by the end of March.
• A four-lane flyover near the Export Processing Zone will open by mid-January.
• Construction at the Mena Bazaar underpass is ongoing and due for completion by January.

Wahab emphasised that these projects are not limited by funding and criticised previous administrations, including MQM, for failing to deliver development. He insisted that the PPP remains active across the city, addressing citizens’ problems, and attributed the leadership in resolving issues to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

On governance and accountability, he highlighted strict auditing procedures and standards for municipal works, including road construction and installation of utilities, insisting on quality over shortcuts.

The mayor also called for a positive, competitive approach to development, urging critics to focus on delivering projects in their respective towns, while stating that the PPP would continue to prioritise Karachi’s infrastructure. He added that legal measures would be taken to enforce regulations on advertising boards, parking, and unauthorised structures, and reiterated his commitment to transparency and lawfulness.

Any illegal activity discovered during the audit of towns will be subject to legal action. Plans are also being drawn up for a development package for the city’s inner streets.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has completed three hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 63 megawatts using its own resources, a move expected to generate Rs4.4 billion in annual revenue for the province.

The projects were completed during the current year and include the 40.8MW Koto hydropower project in Lower Dir, the 11.8MW Karora project in Shangla, and the 10.2MW Jabori project in Mansehra.

Secretary Energy and Power Nisar Ahmed disclosed the details while chairing a review meeting at PEDO House on the progress of seven ongoing hydropower projects in the province.

He said work had also been accelerated on a 40-kilometre transmission line along the Swat corridor, which is expected to be completed next year. Once completed, the transmission infrastructure will enable the sale of low-cost electricity to the province’s industrial sector, he added.

Briefing the meeting, Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) Chief Executive Habibullah Shah said several large hydropower projects were under various stages of development.

These include the 300MW Balakot project in Mansehra, 157MW Madain project in Swat, 88MW Gabrial project in Kalam, 84MW Matiltan project in Swat, 69MW Lawi project in Chitral, and the 6.9MW Mujahideen hydropower project in Torghar.

The energy secretary expressed strong displeasure over slow progress on three flagship energy projects in Swat district, which are expected to collectively produce 330MW of electricity. He said deadlines had been set to begin power generation from these projects within the next two years.

“Any further delay will be unacceptable,” he warned, directing project directors to ensure completion within the stipulated timelines.

Ahmed emphasised teamwork among PEDO officials, saying the energy department was monitoring the physical progress of all ongoing projects on a daily basis through Gantt charts under the provincial government’s good governance roadmap.

He described the 40-kilometre-long 132/220kV transmission line project from Matiltan to Madain as critically important and directed that it be completed within the next year.

The secretary also instructed the newly appointed project director of the 300MW Balakot hydropower project to further accelerate work on what is the province’s largest energy scheme.

During the meeting, Ahmed issued additional directives aimed at improving transparency in PEDO’s administrative affairs.