Author: Pervaiz Mughal

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have agreed to strengthen cooperation in immigration management, border security and institutional coordination following discussions between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a visiting Chinese delegation. The delegation was led by the Director General of China’s National Immigration Administration, who held talks with the interior minister to discuss ways to improve coordination between the two countries. Both sides agreed to expand collaboration in immigration affairs and border management while accelerating efforts to finalize an agreement aimed at making immigration procedures more efficient. Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan was committed to maintaining strict control over illegal…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) trained around 5,000 scientists and researchers from 54 countries and awarded 759 scholarships and fellowships during 2025, reflecting a significant expansion of its scientific, educational and research outreach across the Muslim world, according to its annual report. The Islamabad-based organisation said it implemented 174 projects and initiatives over the course of the year, while awarding 52 research grants and organising 68 specialised training programmes. It also broadened its academic partnerships by expanding its network to more than 80 universities, research centres and…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across trade, education, technology and sustainable development as diplomats, policymakers and scholars gathered in Islamabad to commemorate Rwanda’s Liberation Day. The event was jointly organised by the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR). It began with the national anthems of Pakistan and Rwanda and brought together senior diplomats and policy experts to reflect on Rwanda’s transformation since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), organised an event to mark Somalia’s Independence Day. The proceedings began with the national anthems of Pakistan and Somalia. Speakers included Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Governors at ISSI; Somalia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Sheikhnur Mohamed Hassan; Pakistan’s Ambassador to Djibouti, accredited to Somalia, Aqsa Nawaz; and CAMEA Director Dr Amina Khan. Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, president of PAIDAR, attended as chief guest. Ambassador Khalid…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has inaugurated a two-day meeting of the SATRC Working Group on Policy, Regulation and Services in Islamabad. The meeting, held from 1–2 July 2026, brings together delegates from SATRC member administrations including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, along with representatives of the APT secretariat and local stakeholders. It is the first meeting under the SATRC Action Plan Phase X (SAP-X), which was endorsed at SATRC-26 held in Islamabad in 2025. In a virtual address, APT Secretary General Dr…

He emphasised that negotiations remained centred on regional stability, de-escalation and economic cooperation rather than military or defence capabilities, signalling a diplomatic emphasis on restraint By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the issue of ballistic missiles was never part of any negotiating agenda, firmly pushing back against speculation during a joint press conference in Islamabad with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, where both leaders sought to project unity on regional diplomacy and expanding bilateral cooperation. Speaking alongside the visiting Iranian president, Sharif said he could state “without hesitation” that discussions on ballistic missiles were not included…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the next phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran is likely to be more complex, even as he maintained that a comprehensive agreement remains achievable if momentum from the current diplomatic track is sustained. Speaking in an interview with an Arab news outlet, Dar said Iran was expected to reduce the level of its uranium enrichment under the emerging understanding, while rejecting earlier US proposals that had sought the removal of enriched uranium stockpiles from Iranian territory. He suggested that both sides had…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to see relief in petroleum prices in the coming days as global oil markets soften following easing tensions linked to the Iran conflict, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said on Friday. Speaking to Geo News, the petroleum minister said the government would soon announce “good news” for consumers regarding fuel prices, adding that recent geopolitical tensions, including the Iran-US conflict, had already put pressure on household budgets. He said the government was committed to passing on any benefit from falling international oil prices directly to the public, in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz…

Aurangzeb says Pakistan has made comprehensive efforts to create an enabling environment for export-led growth under renewed economic policy direction By Pervaiz Mughal ISAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Saturday that Pakistan’s economy was firmly moving from stabilisation towards growth, as he elaborated on the federal budget proposed on Friday for the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27. “The economy is moving in the right direction […] we will now move from economic stability to growth,” Aurangzeb said while addressing a post-budget press conference, flanked by Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Bilal Azhar Kayani, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and…

By Pervaiz Mughal ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit Pakistan on Friday, according to Arab media reports citing diplomatic sources. Sources within Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that a potential US-Iran understanding may be concluded in Geneva, with Pakistan reportedly present in some capacity during the process. The reports also suggested that meetings between US and Iranian delegations could take place in Geneva as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between the two countries. No official confirmation of the visit has yet been issued by Pakistan or Iran. The developments come amid a period…