PAKISTAN NEWS

Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson Thursday, 11 January 2024 Thank you for joining us for the Weekly Briefing.The First ever Global Health Security Summit commenced in Islamabad yesterday to discuss global health threats and foster international cooperation and strategic partnerships to increase global health security. The participating Health Ministers and international health leaders and experts from over 70 countries are discussing the impact of global health security on national health security; pandemic preparedness and response; climate change and emerging public health threats; multi-sectoral coordination; sustainable and equitable financing for global health security; access to universal health coverage; and, ensuring vaccine equity.In his opening remarks, Foreign M...

A fire exchange took place between security forces and terrorists in Lakki Marwat districtOn 10 January 2024, a fire exchange took place between security forces and terrorists in Lakki Marwat district.Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists' location as a result of which two terrorists were sent to hell; Aftab @Malang and Terrorist Masood Shah.These terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as target killings of innocent civilians. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from them.However, during intense exchange of fire, two brave soldiers; Sepoy Muhammad Afzal (age 29 years; resident of district Bhimber, Azad Kashmir) and Sepoy Ibrar Hussain (age 27 years; resident of district Mans...

SOS Foundation and BECS Join Hands to Educate Out-of-School Children in IslamabadIn a landmark move towards providing education to marginalized children, SOS Foundation and Basic Education Community Schools (BECS), Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today.This collaboration aims to create educational opportunities for out-of-school children residing in the underprivileged slum areas of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).The MoU was signed by Nishat Fatima, Director of SOS Foundation, and Nabgha Najeeb Hashmi, Assistant Director of BECS, in the presence of distinguished guests. Director General BECS Hameed Khan Niazi, Air Vice Marshall (r) Ijaz Mehmood, Major (r) Tariq Mehmood, Riaz Jan, and Abdus Salam also grace...

The British High Commissioner celebrates the UK and Pakistan’s strong people-to-people ties while visiting Mirpur The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, visited the UK-Pakistani diaspora in Mirpur. She was accompanied by the Head of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Pakistan Department, Richard Lindsay. Mirpur is called by some as a home away from home for Pakistani Brits. This is due to the large number of dual nationals. The UK-Pakistani diaspora is at the heart of the UK and Pakistan’s relationship. With an estimated 70% of British Pakistanis originating from Mirpur, the High Commissioner was delighted to gain insight into how cross-cultural influences have shaped Mirpur into the city it is today. This followed her visit to Birmingham on 12 December. ...

Dinner in honor of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the delegation of Pakistani Ambassador posted in AfghanistanMaulana Fazlur Rehman was received by Ambassador Obaidul Rehman Nizamani on his arrival at the Pakistani Embassy in KabulPakistani Obaidul Rehman Nizamani posted in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan informed Maulana Fazlur Rehman about the diplomatic situationMaulana Fazlur Rehman appreciated the services of Pakistani ambassador and embassy staffIn these circumstances, your visit to Afghanistan is of utmost importance, Pakistani AmbassadorMeetings with the Prime Minister of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and other dignitaries have been positive. Maulana Fazlur RehmanA good and strong relationship between the two countries is the need of the hour. Maulana Fazlu...

PAK-QATAR JOINT AERIAL EXERCISE "ZILZAL-II" KICKS OFF IN QATARPakistan Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force are all geared up to participate in joint aerial Exercise Zilzal-II, commencing in Qatar. First held in the year 2020, Zilzal-II air exercise is the 2nd in the series of these exercises, hosted by State of Qatar. The exercise is one of the most complex joint air force exercises, which aims at promoting interoperability between the two allied nations while providing an opportunity for shared learning. The exercise will mimic a near realistic aerial warfare scenario coupled with real-time opportunity for the participating Air Forces to test their operational readiness. Exercise Zilzal-II, aimed at improving joint planning mechanism, is considered as a historical benchmark to furth...

Caretaker Prime Minister meets a group of envoys from African and Asian countriesCaretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met a group of resident envoys representing African countries as well as select Asian countries over lunch today.The meeting was attended by the Ambassadors of Algeria and Sudan as well as High Commissioners of Bangladesh, Brunei, Malaysia, Mauritius, and South Africa. Other participants included the Charge d’ Affaires of Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.The Prime Minister highlighted the importance Pakistan attached to Africa. He expressed the desire to strengthen ties with African countries, at the bilateral as well as regional level. While acknowledging that Pakistan and Africa had enjoyed excellent political relat...

Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs presided over a meeting of the (ECC)The Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar presided over a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, today. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Privatization and Inter Provincial Coordination Mr. Fawad Hasan Fawad, Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Mr. Sami Saeed,DeputyChairmanPlanning Commission Dr. Muhammad Jehanzaeb Khan, Minister for Law and Justice, Water Resources and Climate Change Mr. Ahmed Irfan Aslam, Advisor to PM on FinanceDr. Wagar Masood, Federal Secretaries, and other senior government officers of the relevant ministries.ECC was presented with five agenda...

MARITIME SECURITY EXERCISE SEA GUARD-24 COMMENCES AT KARACHIOpening Brief of Exercise SEA GUARD-24 was held at Karachi. Commander Coast Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The exercise involves representation of various ministries, departments and organizations having linkages with maritime sector like Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Livestock and Fishing Sindh, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Narcotics Control, private entities and NGOs to support multifaceted challenges of Maritime arena both from traditional and non-traditional threats. Leadership of various organizations attended the session which includes Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Anti-Narcotics Force, Pak...