
1JunNo Comments
Pakistan must continue smartly reform and increase taxes on all sweet drinks to curb deadly NCDs. General Kiani
Islamabad, 1st June 2026(Ghufran): Protecting children from diseases risks associated with consumption of juices and sweetened beverages must remain a national fiscal priority. General Masud-ur-Rehman Kiani, a renowned cardiac surgeon, former commandant Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and President of the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), has reaffirmed the urgent need to maintain and strengthen fiscal measures on all sweetened beverages, including juices and related products, as a critical public health intervention during finance bill 2026-27.
“Pakistan is facing a national health emergency that requires strong and sustained action,” he said. “Increasing taxes on all sweetened beverages including juices by 40% in the Finance Bill 2026–27 should be a cornerstone of the co...

1JunNo Comments
Pakistan, European Union Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthen Strategic Partnership at 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue
Islamabad June 1,2026(Kamran Raja): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas today co-chaired the 8th Pakistan-European Union Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad. During the Dialogue, both sides held comprehensive discussions on the full spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations, including trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, migration, and multilateral engagement. The talks reflected the growing depth and breadth of cooperation between Pakistan and the European Union across areas of mutual interest.
The two leaders also exchanged views on key regional and global developments, emphasizing the importance of dialogue, diplomacy,...

26MayNo Comments
Pakistan, China Enter New Phase of Strategic Partnership as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Meets President Xi Jinping in Beijing
Beijing, May 25, 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a warm and highly productive meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing today, reaffirming the enduring strength of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and charting a renewed course for future-oriented bilateral cooperation. The meeting coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with senior federal ministers and officials, accompanied the Prime Minister during the meeting.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound gratitude to President Xi Jinping an...

23MayNo Comments
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Calls for Enhanced Pakistan–Zhejiang Cooperation in Technology, Green Development and Industrial Growth
Hangzhou, May 23, 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Mr. Wang Hao, Party Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee, in Hangzhou today. Mr. Wang Hao warmly welcomed the Prime Minister to Zhejiang Province and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China.During the meeting, the Prime Minister lauded the remarkable development achievements of Zhejiang Province and paid tribute to the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping during his tenure as Party Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee. In particular, he appreciated the guiding concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” describing it as a powerful model for sustainable and inclusive development.The Prime Mi...

20MayNo Comments
Call on the Prime Minister by Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), Mr. Cai Dafeng
ISLAMABAD: 20 May 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a highly level Chinese delegation, led by H.E. Mr. Cai Dafeng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), that is visiting Pakistan to participate in the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Attaullah Tarar, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Amb. Amna Baloch attended the meeting
While welcoming the Chinese dignitary to Pakistan on this auspicious occasion, the P...

20MayNo Comments
ACDC-ISSI Launches Latest Book “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos: Deterrence, Doctrinal Shifts, and Strategic Stability in South Asia” to Commemorate Marka-e-Haq
Islamabad, May 20, 2026(Nosheen): The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized the launch of its book titled “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos: Deterrence, Doctrinal Shifts, and Strategic Stability in South Asia,” edited by Malik Qasim Mustafa, at ISSI. The book offers a comprehensive, multi-domain analysis of the May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis. The event featured contributing authors, including Dr. Asma Shakir Khawaja, Executive Director, CISS AJK; Vice Admiral Dr. Ahmed Saeed (Retd.), former President, NIMA; and Maj. Gen. Ausaf Ali (Retd.), former Director General Policy, Doctrine and Strategy, SPD. The event was graced by the Chief Guest, Mr. Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, while Gen. Zubair...

20MayNo Comments
Statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN At the Security Council Briefing on “The Situation in the Middle East”
United Nations, 19 May 2026(Ghufran):Mr. President,I thank Director General Grossi for his briefing.2. Pakistan strongly condemns the drone attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates on 17 May. Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the Government and the brotherly people of the UAE in the wake of this heinous attack and reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all friendly countries of the region.3. Pakistan also condemns in the strongest possible terms the drone attacks carried out against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which constitute a serious violation of Kingdom’s sovereignty, and territorial integrity and appear to be an attempt to further undermine the regional peace and stability. We stand in solidar...

20MayNo Comments
Pakistan Completes Offshore Bid Round 2025 Agreements, Reopens Offshore Energy Frontier After Two Decades
Islamabad, May 20, 2026(News Desk): Federal Minister for Petroleum Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik today witnessed the signing ceremony of Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) and Exploration Licences (ELs) for offshore exploration blocks awarded under the Offshore Bid Round 2025, marking the formal reopening of Pakistan’s offshore exploration frontier after nearly two decades. The awarded blocks are located in the Indus and Makran offshore basins adjoining the territorial waters of Sindh and Balochistan. The Offshore Bid Round 2025 attracted bids covering approximately 54,600 square kilometres of Pakistan’s offshore area, resulting in the award of 23 offshore blocks. Two offshore blocks — Offshore Deep-C and Offshore Deep-F — had earlier been executed on December 2, 2025, with Mari Energies Limited...

20MayNo Comments
Chinese Parliamentary Delegation Arrives in Islamabad to Mark 75 Years of Pakistan-China Diplomatic Relations
Islamabad, 20 May 2026(Kamran Raja): A high-level delegation from the People’s Republic of China, led by Mr. Cai Dafeng, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), arrived in Islamabad today to participate in commemorative activities marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. Upon arrival, the distinguished delegation was warmly received by the Honorable Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, along with Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, MNA and Convener of the Pakistan-China Parliamentary Friendship Group.
The visit, taking place from 20–21 May 2026, reflects the enduring and time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China, often described as an “All-Weat...
