Tag: The Pakistan Times

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Islamabad, May 19, 2026(Ghufran): The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, in collaboration with the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), hosted a special launch event to officially begin the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting the power of sports diplomacy and the growing cultural and economic connections fostered through international sporting events.The event was hosted at the U.S. Embassy and attended by approximately 150 distinguished guests from the diplomatic corps, sports community, corporate sector, and government institutions.Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker and PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani welcomed chief guest Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, representatives from leading football ...

Quetta, May 19, 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan (NAP) in Quetta today. During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed on the overall security situation in Balochistan, progress on counterterrorism measures, development projects, governance reforms, digitization initiatives, efforts toward a cashless economy, and other key matters.The Prime Minister paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the Armed Forces of Pakistan for their unwavering efforts and sacrifices in combating terrorism across Balochistan and the rest of the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also appreciated Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti and his team for undertaki...