Author: Pervaiz Mughal
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the government was committed to improving the welfare, professional growth and capacity building of journalists as he inaugurated the National Press Club’s new website in Islamabad. Addressing the ceremony, the minister described the National Press Club as an important institution of the Islamabad media community and said its transition towards digitalization was a positive step. He said the launch of the website would help strengthen the club’s online presence and improve access to information and services for journalists. Tarar directed the relevant authorities to take immediate measures for the establishment of…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, during which both sides discussed regional developments and emphasized the importance of diplomacy and dialogue for maintaining peace and stability. The conversation came as diplomatic efforts continued to gain attention following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, with both officials highlighting the need for constructive engagement among relevant parties to achieve lasting solutions to regional challenges. According to the Foreign Office, the two leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: The OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) hosted a farewell reception at its Secretariat in Islamabad for the outgoing Ambassadors of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to Pakistan. The event recognized their contributions to strengthening bilateral relations with Pakistan and promoting cooperation with COMSTECH in science, technology, higher education, research, innovation and capacity building. Among those attending were the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Turkmenistan, ambassadors and representatives from Tajikistan, Thailand, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yemen, Nepal, Rwanda, Mauritius, Jordan, Qatar, Iraq, Malaysia, Bangladesh, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the British…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during which the two leaders discussed the latest regional developments and reaffirmed the longstanding and close ties between their countries. The conversation reflected the continued high-level engagement between Islamabad and Riyadh at a time of heightened regional uncertainty. Both leaders reviewed the evolving situation in the region and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, with particular emphasis on the importance of dialogue and diplomatic engagement. Senator Ishaq Dar and Prince Faisal…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), under the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), hosted a welcome ceremony on Thursday for Polish adventure cyclist Sławomir Jan Strzelczyk, marking the beginning of the Pakistan–Poland Friendship Cycle Expedition 2026. The ceremony was held at the IPC Conference Room in Kohsar Block, Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad, and was attended by senior government officials, representatives of the Embassy of Poland, tourism industry members, the Pakistan Cycling Federation, Islamabad Cycling Association, media representatives and other guests. The event celebrated an initiative aimed at strengthening the long-standing friendship between Pakistan and Poland through tourism,…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned continued threats by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, saying such actions endangered regional security, freedom of navigation and global trade, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hussain Andrabi said during the weekly briefing. Opening his remarks with the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Andrabi said the Houthis had earlier this week threatened a “maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia’s commercial shipping in the Red Sea”, with reports of attacks on Saudi vessels overnight. He said Pakistan reaffirmed that any hostile act against Pakistani-flagged vessels or…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: A delegation led by Jack Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Chinese company FAMSUN, met Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who welcomed the delegation and highlighted the growing economic cooperation between Pakistan and China. The prime minister said Pakistan and China were exemplary friends, with their economic partnerships and longstanding relations continuing to strengthen over time. He said expanding business-to-business cooperation between the two countries would further deepen this friendship. Shehbaz Sharif welcomed FAMSUN’s plan to transform grain storage centers in Pakistan into modern, state-of-the-art facilities, saying the project would introduce advanced technology to the agriculture sector…
Government places digital economy at the heart of growth strategy, aiming to transform Pakistan’s technology sector into a global export powerhouse (Catchline) By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review progress on the strategic roadmap for Pakistan’s information technology sector, where he praised the country’s achievement of $4.6 billion in annual IT exports, reflecting a 21 per cent increase. The prime minister commended the Minister of Information Technology and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja and the entire team, saying the growth in IT exports was the result of government initiatives and policies aimed…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), held an event on Monday to commemorate South Africa’s National Day and Nelson Mandela International Day. The ceremony began with the national anthems of Pakistan and South Africa. Among the speakers were ISSI Director General Ambassador Moin Ul Haque, ISSI Board of Governors Chairman Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, PAIDAR President Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to South Africa Muhammad Farooq, and CAMEA Director Dr Amina Khan.…
By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar led Pakistan’s delegation to the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting held in Manila, the Philippines, where foreign ministers and senior representatives from across the Asia-Pacific gathered to discuss regional security and cooperation. The high-level meeting brought together delegates from the 27 member states of the ASEAN Regional Forum. The Secretary-General of ASEAN also attended the session, reflecting the forum’s continuing role as one of the region’s leading platforms for dialogue on political and security matters. During the ministerial meeting, Senator Dar participated in detailed…