PAKISTAN NEWS

Pakistan and China Celebrate 10th Anniversary of CPEC in IslamabadA special ceremony was held today in Islamabad to celebrate the completion of 1st Decade of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). High-level leadership attended the event from Pakistan and China, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative, and the Vice Premier of the State Council of China, Mr. He Lifeng.Senior Ministers of China and Pakistan, high ranking officials from both countries, and corporate executives of leading Chinese companies working in Pakistan also participated in the event.Addressing the event, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vice Premier He Lifeng paid rich tribute to CPEC for its positive contribution to Pakistan’s socio economic development...

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan left for Iraq on a special invitation of the Iraqi Interior Minister for a 4-day visitInterior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan left for Iraq on a special invitation of the Iraqi Interior Minister for a 4-day visit. A delegation of scholars is also accompanied by the Interior Minister. During his visit, the Interior Minister will meet the Iraqi President, Prime Minister and Interior MinisterMillions of pilgrims travel to Iraq every year, facing difficulties in obtaining visas and staying there, last year the situation became a crisis. During the visit, there will be discussions with the Iraqi government regarding the convenience of pilgrims and the solution to these problems, and an agreement will also be made in this regard.The Interior Mini...

CPEC symbol of prosperity, shared development: PMPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday said over the last ten years, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had emerged as a bedrock of Pakistan's socio-economic trajectory, helping to end crippling energy shortages, building high quality infrastructure, and promoting connectivity and integration not only within the country's various regions but also with the neighbouring countries.The prime minister, in a post on his Twitter account, said, "I was greatly delighted to receive Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and the members of his delegation who came to Pakistan to join us in celebrating the Decade of CPEC. As a special envoy of President Xi Jinping, he brought with him a message of abiding friendship with Pakistan and its people....

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attends the 18th Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC CFMForeign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the 18th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in a virtual format today.The Extraordinary CFM was convened to debate the recurring incidents of the desecration of the Holy Quran, which has hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world.Addressing the CFM, the Foreign Minister condemned, in the strongest terms, the Islamophobic and hateful acts of desecration of the Holy Quran, which manifested religious hatred and intolerance. He underscored that these acts, and the permission to carry them out, did not constitute freedom of expression.The Foreign Mini...

Chinese Scholars visit ISSIThe China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a 4-member Chinese delegation led by Mr. Yuan Jianmin, Counsellor of Xinjiang Autonomous Region Government. The delegation included Mr. Liu Zongyi, Secretary of China South Asian Study Centre, Shanghai Institute of International Studies; Mr. Wang Shida, Deputy Director of South Asia Studies, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR); and Mr. Li Jingfeng, Associate Professor, Sichuan Academy of Social Science.The wide-ranging exchange of views covered the evolving global environment, developments in major-power relations, impact of ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy on South Asia, achievements during the ‘Decade of CPEC’, and the salience of Pa...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited China-Pakistan Expo Centre at Gwadar along with the COASPrime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited China-Pakistan Expo Centre at Gwadar along with the COAS today to attend a ceremony where groundbreaking and inaugural ceremony was performed for various infrastructure development projects.The ceremony was also attended by relevant Federal and Provincial Ministers, Chinese officials, civil administration and representatives from Fishermen Union.The Prime Minister was briefed about various projects including Gwadar International Airport, dredging of Gwadar Port and other projects related to the CPEC.While addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister said that “Balochistan, being rich in minerals and natural resources, holds a ver...

UNODC and FIA Commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons with Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University IslamabadUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency with Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University successfully commemorated the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 27 July 2023. The event witnessed an overwhelming display of solidarity from medical students, faculty members, distinguished guests, and esteemed partners, all joining hands to raise awareness and combat human trafficking. Human trafficking is a grave human rights violation affecting millions worldwide, exploiting vulnerable individuals and subjecting them to various forms of exploitation, including organ removal, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and domestic se...

Opening Remarks for the Weekly Press Briefing by Spokesperson Thursday, 27 July 2023Thanks for joining us for the Weekly Briefing.Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had an active agenda over the last several days. He held important telephone conversations with a number of his counterparts and leaders of international organizations and institutions. These include: Foreign Minister of Iran, Dr. Hossien Amir Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary General, Hissein Brahmin Taha, and High Rep...

Pakistan Condemns the Provocative Remarks Made by India's Defence MinisterPakistan condemns the provocative remarks by India's Defence Minister, made on 26 July 2023, in Drass, Ladakh, boasting readiness to cross the Line of Control. We counsel India to exercise utmost caution as its belligerent rhetoric is a threat to the regional peace and stability, and contributes to destabilizing the strategic environment in South Asia. This is not the first time that India's political leaders and senior military officers have made highly irresponsible remarks about Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. This kind of jingoistic statements must stop. The Indian leadership is reminded that Pakistan is fully capable of defending itself against any aggression. The practice of dragging Pakis...