Author: Asghar Ali Mubarak

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Myanmar’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency U Than Swe, visited Pakistan on an official tour and held a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. The Prime Minister welcomed the distinguished guest and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its longstanding relationship with Myanmar, describing the ties as “mutually beneficial and historically grounded.” During their discussions, both leaders underscored the importance of expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, economic development, education, culture, and capacity-building. They also highlighted the value of strengthening people-to-people contacts to foster greater understanding and collaboration between…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: A startling disclosure before the Senate Standing Committee on Interior revealed that 33,000 gun licences in Pakistan have been issued to non-tax filers, while only 3,000 were granted to those who comply with tax obligations. Senator Talha Mehmood highlighted the disparity, noting that the overwhelming majority of licences went to non-filers. The committee chairman called for the immediate cancellation of licences held by those who have not paid taxes, stressing that citizens may have the right to own firearms, but only after fulfilling their fiscal responsibilities. Talal Chaudhry defended the current policy, saying previous governments…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar underlined the importance of sustaining the momentum of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, reiterating the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad. The discussions reflected both sides’ commitment to nurturing a decades-long partnership encompassing political, economic, and strategic dimensions, which has consistently been a cornerstone of regional stability. During the talks, Deputy Prime Minister Dar and Ambassador Jiang reviewed a wide range of bilateral issues of mutual interest, with both emphasizing the shared priority of deepening collaboration across multiple sectors.…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Myanmar on Monday pledged to reinvigorate their bilateral relationship, reaffirming their commitment to deepen multi-sectoral cooperation after a prolonged pause in high-level exchanges. The two countries expressed their intention to expand collaboration across diverse sectors, including religious tourism, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, trade, economy, science, and academic linkages, with the aim of promoting shared prosperity. The announcement followed delegation-level talks and a joint press briefing by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Myanmar’s Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Than Swe in Islamabad. In his remarks, Dar described the discussions…

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi briefs PM Shehbaz on recent developments regarding T20 World Cup, no authentic report of meeting comes, decision gets delayed, chaos in world cricket By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday that a final decision on Pakistan’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 would be taken either on Friday or next Monday. Naqvi made the remarks after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz in Islamabad, where he briefed him on Pakistan’s stance regarding the tournament. Taking to X, Naqvi said the prime minister had directed that all options remain…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, Than Swe, arrived in Islamabad on a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries. He was received at the airport by the Director General of the East Asia Pacific Division of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with officials from the Myanmar Embassy. The visit comes at a time when both Pakistan and Myanmar are seeking to deepen diplomatic engagement and explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment, and cultural exchanges. During his stay, Than Swe is expected to hold a series…

Pakistan’s mining sector surges as SIFC-led global partnerships deliver landmark economic gains, signaling a transformative moment for national growth and investment By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has described the Reko Diq project as a landmark achievement in its minerals sector, presenting it as a symbol of growing international confidence and a key pillar of the country’s long-term economic prospects. Officials said facilitation by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and its broader vision were helping to promote global partnerships in Pakistan’s mining industry, calling recent developments a major success for the national economy. The remarks followed a meeting between…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with Indonesia during a meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan, Chandra W. Sukotjo, in Islamabad today. Speaking at the meeting, Malik highlighted the significant potential of Pakistan’s mineral and exploration sector, noting that Indonesian companies could play a key role by partnering with local exploration and mineral firms. He said that such collaborations could unlock opportunities for sustainable growth in both countries, while fostering stronger economic ties. Ambassador Sukotjo welcomed the discussion, expressing Indonesia’s keen interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak/Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: The 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) on Disaster Risk Reduction began from Jan 21 and would end on Jan 22 in Islamabad, bringing together ministers, senior officials, and representatives from regional and international partner organizations. Hosted by Pakistan and organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the two-day forum aims to strengthen collective efforts to enhance disaster resilience across the ECO region. The opening session featured inaugural remarks reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. Pakistan’s delegation, representing the host country, was…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally accepted an invitation to join the Board of Peace, signaling its commitment to contributing to lasting stability in Gaza. The decision, announced by the Foreign Office, is part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan under the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803. The invitation was extended to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by US President Donald J. Trump, reflecting international recognition of Pakistan’s longstanding support for the Palestinian people. In accepting the role, Pakistan expressed hope that the Board of Peace would help facilitate…