PAKISTAN NEWS

ISLAMABAD, 31 August 2026 (Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar attended the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, in Istanbul on Monday. The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with their Turkish and Saudi counterparts. The committee has been established under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement to strengthen strategic political and defence cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The inaugural meeting provided an important platform for the three countries to discuss matters of mutual interest and explore ways to further enhance coord...

 ISLAMABAD, 31 August, 2026 (Ghufran): The National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), chaired by Ms. Noureen Bano Lehri, has demanded immediate and effective police action to curb the alarming rise in violence, rape, murder, harassment and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls across the country. The demand was made during a high-level meeting with senior police officials from across Pakistan to review the prevailing situation and assess measures being taken to protect women and girls. Chairperson NCSW Ms. Noureen Bano Lehri expressed grave concern over the increasing incidents of violence and took strict notice of cases including Hina Javed, Ayat Noor and Asma Jattak, as well as recent cases reported in Sindh, including the tragic deaths of th...

 ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Turkiye on Monday for a two-day official visit, state media reported. According to security sources cited by state-run media, Field Marshal Asim Munir received a warm welcome upon his arrival in Turkiye. During his visit, the CDF is scheduled to hold important meetings with Turkiye’s military and political leadership. The meetings are expected to focus on matters of mutual interest, regional security and bilateral defence cooperation. State-run Pakistan Television and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) also reported Field Marshal Munir’s arrival in Turkiye and his planned meetings with the Turkish military and political leadership. Last mo...

ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Ethiopian coffee has made its debut in Islamabad with the inauguration of the first-ever dedicated Ethiopian coffee cafe in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. H.E. Dr. Oumer Hussien Oba, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, inaugurated the cafe on Sunday. The inauguration was preceded by a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony attended by members of the Ethiopian community, Embassy staff and representatives of the media. Following the ceremony, Ambassador Oba held an interactive session with the media and highlighted the growing bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Pakistan. The Ambassador said the opening marked the debut of Ethiopian coffee i...

 ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Nosheen): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security, following successful talks between a Saudi delegation led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Engr. Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research under the patronage and personal interest of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The two sides issued a joint statement following the Saudi ministerial delegation’s visit to Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026, during which the sides discussed a wide range of areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation, investment and trade in the agriculture and food sectors. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also met the Saudi delegat...

MURREE, 30 August 2026 (Nosheen): The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), along with public health experts, journalists, social media influencers and media professionals, has urged the Government of Pakistan to expedite the introduction of mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWLs) on ultra-processed food and beverage products to protect consumers, curb unhealthy food consumption and promote healthier dietary choices. PANAH called for the introduction of black octagonal warning labels in Urdu on products exceeding World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended thresholds for sugar, sodium and saturated fats, as well as products containing non-sugar sweeteners. The association said such clear and prominent warnings were particularly important in Pakistan's low-literacy settings a...

ISLAMABAD, 30 August (Kamran Raja): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security, following successful talks between Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research under the personal interest and patronage of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. A joint statement on enhancing the agricultural and food security partnership between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was issued following the Saudi delegation’s visit to Islamabad from August 26 to 28, 2026. The Saudi delegation, led by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Eng. Abdulrahman A. Al-Fadley, comprised senior officials from the Ministry of En...

ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has extended his heartfelt felicitations to the leadership, government and brotherly people of Türkiye on the auspicious occasion of the 104th anniversary of Victory Day. In a message posted on X, Ishaq Dar said Pakistanis joined their Turkish brothers and sisters in celebrating the historic victory and paid tribute to the memory of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, along with all the heroes and martyrs of Türkiye’s War of Independence. He also saluted the enduring spirit, courage and resilience of the Turkish nation, describing Victory Day as an important occasion that reflects Türkiye’s historic struggle and national determination. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister emphasized that P...

PHNOM PENH, August 30, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan and Founding Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, led a delegation in a courtesy call on King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of the 2nd ISC. During the meeting, Gilani stressed that amid growing conflicts and economic challenges around the world, parliaments have a crucial role in keeping dialogue alive and building bridges among nations. He said the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference provides an important platform for promoting peace, cooperation and greater understanding among countries. Gilani also announced that Indonesia will host the 3rd Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference, expressing pleasure over the upcoming event...

ISLAMABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan has made an early repayment of Rs1,200 billion in debt, marking the largest-ever single early debt repayment by the country. Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Shehzad said in a post on social media platform X that Pakistan’s cumulative early debt repayments have now approached Rs6,000 billion. He said Pakistan has so far repaid approximately Rs5,920 billion in debt ahead of schedule, surpassing the previous record of Rs1,133 billion set in August 2025. Khurram Shehzad said a total of Rs2,900 billion in debt had been repaid ahead of schedule during the fiscal year 2025-26 so far. He added that Pakistan has made another Rs1,200 billion in early debt repayments during the fiscal year 2026-27 so far.According to the adviser, early debt r...