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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ruling party is seeking support for a new constitutional amendment that could reshape the country’s judicial and federal structure, senior politician Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Monday, revealing that the government was proposing the creation of a constitutional court and a revision in how funds are distributed among provinces.

Constitutional amendments in Pakistan require two-thirds approval in both houses of parliament and have historically been used to redefine the balance of power between the legislature, judiciary and provinces. The proposed 27th amendment follows the 26th constitutional amendment, passed in October 2024 amid stiff resistance from opposition parties and the legal fraternity. That measure empowered parliament to appoint the Supreme Court’s chief justice for a fixed term and created a new panel of senior judges to hear constitutional cases, changes critics said weakened judicial independence.

Pakistan’s constitution, adopted in 1973, has been amended more than two dozen times, often reflecting the country’s shifting balance among civilian governments, the military and the judiciary. Provisions such as the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, which governs how federal revenue is shared among provinces, are especially sensitive because they underpin Pakistan’s federal structure and provincial autonomy.

Bhutto Zardari, who heads the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal coalition, said the the premier’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party had approached his party for support in passing the 27th amendment.

“Proposal includes setting up constitutional court, executive magistrates, transfer of judges, removal of protection of provincial share in NFC, amending article 243, return of education and population planning to the federation and breaking dead lock on appointment of ECP,” Bhutto Zardari said on social media platform X, referring to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Article 243 of Pakistan’s constitution deals with the command and control of the Armed Forces, essentially defining the relationship between the military and the federal government.

The PPP leader added that the party’s Central Executive Committee would meet on Nov. 6 to decide its stance.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which opposed the 26th amendment, has vowed to resist the new proposals and demanded that the government release a full draft of the amendment.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had earlier dismissed speculation about a 27th amendment, saying in August that “there was no need for it as the country was running well.”

Sharif’s government has said its earlier constitutional reforms were meant to prevent parliament from becoming “a rubber stamp,” following tensions with the judiciary that have persisted since the disputed national election of 2024.

Legal experts widely say that if passed, the 27th amendment could become one of the most consequential reforms to Pakistan’s power structure in recent years, altering how judges are appointed and how provinces receive federal funds, issues central to Pakistan’s governance and political stability.

ISLAMABAD: The four-day Pakistan International Maritime Expo and Conference (PIMEC) 2025 kicked off in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Monday, with over 133 delegates from 44 countries attending as Islamabad aims to attract international investment in its maritime sector. 

The global exhibition’s second edition will run from Nov. 3 to 6 and will feature 178 exhibitors — including 28 international firms and 150 local organizations — as well as 133 delegates from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America. 

“The event will feature business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, MoU signing and an International Maritime Conference on ‘Harnessing Blue Economy Potential for Sustainable Development’,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

Pakistan Navy’s Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi said on Saturday that PIMEC aimed to advance Pakistan’s blue economy roadmap. He added that officials and representatives from 44 countries, including the UK, Italy, ��������, Iran, Türkiye, Egypt, China and Australia will also attend.

Pakistan’s state media said these high-level engagements among foreign delegates, senior government officials and maritime stakeholders are aimed at fostering collaboration and building partnerships across key maritime sectors including ports, shipping, fisheries and coastal development.

According to its website, PIMEC will provide opportunities to the maritime industry, both in the public and private sectors, to display products and develop business relationships. 

PIMEC says it intends to provide a platform to bring together stakeholders from diverse maritime industries of hydrocarbon extraction, coastal development and shipping port, infrastructure, fisheries, marine tourism, offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed mining, marine biotechnology and others to exploit the ocean’s untapped resources.