ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday urged the international community to hold Israel accountable for its conduct in Gaza, citing a recent United Nations report describing it as consistent with genocide.
The UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices, established in 1968, released its latest findings on Nov. 14. The report highlights mass civilian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza, pointing out the intentional imposition of life-threatening conditions on Palestinians, including starvation as a weapon of war.
It also called for immediate international intervention to address the humanitarian crisis and ensure accountability for violations of international law.
“We welcome the last, latest report of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices released last week,” foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said during her weekly news briefing. “The report describes Israel’s warfare practices in Gaza as acts of genocide and documents millions of civilian casualties and grievous conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians.”
“Pakistan welcomes the committee’s condemnation of the ongoing smear campaign and attacks against UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency] and the United Nations, and supports its call on all member states to uphold their legal obligations to prevent and stop Israeli violations of international law and holding it accountable,” she added.
The UN report was released in the context of intensified violence in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes and a crippling blockade have led to a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. According to the document, the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure and essential supplies has compounded the suffering of millions of Palestinians.
Pakistan has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights and the two-state solution. It also expressed “deep regret” over the United States’ veto of a ceasefire resolution a day earlier, noting that Washington cast the “sole negative vote” among UNSC permanent members.
Pakistan urges action after UN labels Israel’s war in Gaza consistent with genocide
https://arab.news/m6twv
Pakistan urges action after UN labels Israel’s war in Gaza consistent with genocide
- The UN report pointed at high civilian casualties, Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war
- Pakistan welcomes the report’s condemnation of Israel’s smear campaign against UN agencies
Pakistan launches crypto testing framework to regulate digital assets
- Regulatory ‘sandbox’ to let firms test crypto products under supervision
- Move comes amid broader push to formalize Pakistan’s digital asset sector
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) on Friday launched a crypto testing framework to regulate digital assets, allowing firms to trial new products and services under official supervision.
The initiative, formally structured as a regulatory “sandbox,” creates a controlled environment where companies can test crypto-related services under the oversight of the regulator before full-scale approval.
According to PVARA, the sandbox will support real-world use cases including tokenization, stablecoins, remittances and on- and off-ramp infrastructure.
Tokenization refers to converting real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, while stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to a fiat currency to maintain a stable value. On- and off-ramp infrastructure allows users to convert between fiat money and digital assets, enabling the practical use of virtual asset products.
“The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has formally approved and launched its Regulatory Sandbox for virtual assets,” PVARA said in a post on X. “Sandbox Guidelines and the application process will be published shortly on our website.”
The move comes as the government seeks to build a formal regulatory framework for digital assets while attracting investment and strengthening oversight of the sector.
Pakistan has stepped up efforts recently to regulate its digital asset sector and is exploring digital currency initiatives as part of broader measures to reduce cash usage.
In January, Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding with a company affiliated with World Liberty Financial, a crypto-based finance platform launched in September 2024 and linked to US President Donald Trump’s family to explore the use of a dollar-linked stablecoin for cross-border payments.
