PAKISTAN NEWS

Opening Remarks for the Press Briefing by Spokesperson 09 March 2023I will begin with the visit of Prime MinisterMuhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Qatar on 5-6 March 2023. Emir of Qatar hadextended an invitation to the Prime Minister to attend the 5thUnited Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as a special guest. At the Conference, the Prime Minister presented Pakistan’s views on accelerating sustainable development in the Least Developed Countries and to help them make progress on the road to prosperity. He called for international support for LDCs in fighting climate change andovercoming economic challenges resulting from the pandemic and massive disruption in global supply chains. In Doha, Prime Minister held a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tam...

INDONESIAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSED WAYS TO EXPAND TRADE WITH FEDERAL MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTIONIndonesian Ambassador for Pakistan, H.E Mr. Adam M. Tugio paid a courtesy call to the Federal Minister for Industries and Production of Pakistan, Syed Murtaza Mahmud on 7 March 2023 to discuss efforts to deepening bilateral trade by exploring industries that have complementary and competitive edges, and promoting investment between the two countries.The two officials also exchanged notes on value addition industries and strategies to promote SMSEs and in particular those owned by women entrepreneurships considering their importance contribution to the economy of respective country. They further noted the importance of diversifying traded goods and expressed commitment to help fac...

General Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited GwadarGeneral Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited Gwadar. COAS was briefed on prevailing security situation, Formation’s operational preparedness CPEC security and efforts for ensuring a peaceful and secure environment.COAS appreciated the efforts of all ranks and urged to continue working with professional commitment for the good of the people of Balochistan. The Army Chief interacted with local notables, elected representatives and people from different walks of life. While interacting, COAS emphasized “handful of misguided elements cannot shake the resolve of the people of Balochistan and the Armed Forces, committed towards ensuring peace and prosperity”.    COAS laid particular emphasis on socio-econo...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Shraif special message on Women's DayPrime Minister has said in his tweet “Today we acknowledge, applaud & pay tribute to our women for their heroic struggle & incredible contribution to society. The odds could not have been heavier but their resolve to navigate through them is what gives us hope in the future. As we celebrate IWD today, it is enterprising young girls such as Ayisha Siddiqa, human rights & climate defender & poet, who are blazing the trail for us by using their talent to make the world a better place. These girls represent hope & a promise of bright future”.Editor: Raja Kamran 

Message from Dr Arif Alvi President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan On the occasion of International Women’s DayToday, Pakistan joins the international community in commemorating International Women’s Day. We reiterate our commitment towards women’s socio-economic empowerment and inclusion in all sectors of life and providing them equal opportunities to excel and grow. This year's theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” reminds us that the digital divide remains a significant obstacle to women's empowerment and inclusion in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world. Despite women’s important contributions to the digital world, they remain underrepresented in tech education, careers, and governance, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of women usi...

U.S. Government Announces Scholarships for Flood-Affected Students in PakistanThe U.S. government announced 500 new scholarships to Pakistani university students from flood-affected districts to assist them in completing their degrees. U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome announced the scholarships at an event celebrating the achievements of female scholars in honor of International Women’s Day at the Higher Education Commission in Islamabad.Present at the event were Federal Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, Higher Education Commission Executive Director Dr. Shaista Sohail, USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman, university vice chancellors, studen...

Defence Production Potential in Pakistan: Increasing through Public-Private Partnership – A Policy Construct'To exploit its defence production potential to the fullest, Pakistan needs to develop and progress in the fields of education, quality HR, R&D, industrialisation, technology, academia-industry linkages and provide an enabling environment to the private sector.’ This was the key message of the eminent speakers at the seminar on ‘Defence Production Potential in Pakistan: Increasing through Public-Private Partnership – A Policy Construct’ organised by the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS) in Islamabad.The Keynote Address was delivered by General Zubair Mehmood Hayat, NI (M) (Retd), Former Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Other distinguished speak...

Prime Minister’s telephone call with Mr. Bill Gates, Co-Chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had a telephone call with Mr. Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) today. The Prime Minister appreciated the valuable support extended by the BMGF to Pakistan in polio eradication and improving immunisation, nutrition and financial inclusion in the country particularly during the recent floods in the country. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen the fruitful partnership with the Foundation in all the ongoing areas of cooperation.The Prime Minister apprised Mr. Gates of the efforts of Federal Minister for National Health Services and his team to eradicate Polio from the country and a...

Two-day U.S.-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue Concludes in IslamabadSenior officials of the United States and their Pakistani counterparts opened the Pakistan-U.S. Counterterrorism Dialogue on March 6 at the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. The two-day policy-focused meeting was chaired by the U.S. Department of State Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism Christopher Landberg and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for the UN and Economic Diplomacy Syed Haider Shah.The Dialogue provided an opportunity to discuss the counterterrorism landscape in Pakistan and the broader region, with a focus on areas where the United States and Pakistan can better collaborate to counter regional and global threats, improve cooperation, prevent and ...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif's big decision to save the poor people from inflationA big Ramadan package is ready for the poor people suffering from inflation. Approval to provide free flour to poor families under Ramadan package. Decision in the review meeting of providing free flour under the Ramadan package in Punjab chaired by the Prime Minister. This is a first of its kind package to provide free flour to poor families for the first time. On the special instructions of the Prime Minister, a package of free flour supply was prepared. In the first phase, free flour will be provided to the poorest people in Punjab province under a special Ramadan package. Prime Minister's directive to complete the comprehensive strategy for the supply of flour to the poor families under th...