Tag: The Pakistan Times

Islamabad – 25 February 2026(News Desk): The Country Director of the World Bank for Pakistan, Ms. Bolormaa Amgaabazar, called on the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, at the Finance Division today. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation under the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) and advancing key reform priorities of the Government of Pakistan. Discussions covered a broad range of areas including population and human capital development, climate resilience, agriculture sector reforms, energy sector sustainability, and overall portfolio performance. The Finance Minister emphasized the importance of effectively operationalizing the CPF, particularly in priority areas such as population management and climate change. He underscored...

Rome, February 25, 2026(Kamran Raja): ‎‎Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with his Italian counterpart, Matteo Piantedosi, in Rome. During the meeting, both sides reviewed internal security cooperation between Pakistan and Italy, as well as measures to curb illegal immigration. The Italian Interior Minister stated that, in order to promote legal migration, Italy will issue 10,500 work visas for Pakistan’s skilled labor force. At the request of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, holders of Pakistani diplomatic passports will be granted visa exemption for Italy. The Italian Interior Minister recalled that this matter had been raised in a previous meeting regarding visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders. ‎ ‎The two ministers also discussed enhancing cooperation in combating na...

Islamabad, 24 February 2026(Kamran Raja): The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad hosted an Iftar and dinner in connection with the holy month of Ramadan. On the occasion, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia His Excellency Nawaf bin Saeed al-Maliki personally received and welcomed the guests upon their arrival. The event was attended by distinguished guests, including government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, community leaders, and representatives from various walks of life. The gathering reflected the strong fraternal ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and provided an opportunity to further strengthen mutual goodwill and cooperation. The participants appreciated the warm hospitality extended by the Saudi Embassy and underscored the enduring brot...

Doha : Tuesday, 24 February, 2026(Kamran Raja): His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Pak-Qatar Joint Business Taskforce, called on the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, during his official visit to Doha this morning. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral trade and economic cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan–Qatar relations. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral trade volumes and diversifying Pakistan’s exports to Qatar, particularly in agricultural produce, food items, and value-added goods. He emphasized the need to fully capitalize on the existing potential for expanding economic engagement between the ...

Islamabad, February 21, 2026(Kamran Raja): The 14th UAE Ambassador’s Cup Ramadan Football Tournament 2026 commenced in Islamabad with an impressive opening ceremony attended by a large gathering of diplomats, government officials, and football enthusiasts.The ceremony was graced by the Ambassador of Kuwait, the Ambassador of Lebanon, the Ambassador of Zimbabwe, and the Deputy Head of Mission of the United States, along with senior Pakistani government officials, members of the diplomatic community, and representatives of the media.Organized annually by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, the tournament serves as a platform to promote sportsmanship, cultural exchange, and community engagement during the holy month of Ramadan. Over the years, the event has become a symbol of uni...

Washington: 20 February 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the Board of Peace Leaders’ meeting in Washington, today. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Sen. Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The Prime Minister congratulated President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio on the successful inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace and reaffirmed that Pakistan was ready to work with the Board of Peace for the implementation of Gaza Peace Plan.Both sides underscored the importance of Pakistan-U.S. strategic relations and expressed satisfaction over the momentum and positive trajectory of the partnership, under the leadership of President Trump. Both sides agreed to enhance bil...

KARACHI, 19 February 2026(Kamran Raja): The Government of Sindh and the United States Department of Agriculture’s McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, on February 17, launched the Sindh School Meals Program, which leverages U.S.-provided commodities to deliver daily cooked meals and take-home rations to more than 200,000 students across nearly 1,300 primary schools in Sindh. With a USD $80 million funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the initiative will be implemented by Save the Children and the World Food Programme (WFP), in coordination with Sindh’s Planning and Development Department, School Education and Literacy Department, and provincial Food and Health departments, contributing to improved enrolment, attendance, and foundati...

London, Wednesday, 18 February 2026(Ghufran): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has lauded the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Balochistan for carrying out a successful intelligence-based operation against terrorists belonging to Fitna al Khwarij in Quetta. In his statement issued from London on Wednesday, the Prime Minister praised the professionalism, bravery, and swift action of CTD personnel, which resulted in the elimination of eight terrorists during a fierce exchange of fire. He noted that the timely and decisive response of the CTD thwarted the nefarious designs of the militants and prevented potential loss of innocent lives. The Prime Minister also expressed deep concern over the injuries sustained by three CTD officials during the operation. He prayed for their swift and complete ...

Islamabad, February 17, 2026(Kamran Raja): Huawei, a global leader in ICT solutions, has reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting Pakistan’s digital transformation journey, positioning Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a central pillar for economic growth, governance efficiency, and ICT innovation.As Pakistan enters a critical phase of digital evolution, AI is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of the country’s digital future. The government has underscored the importance of AI adoption across governance, industry, and education, with initiatives focused on establishing Centers of Excellence, expanding AI curricula in universities, and equipping professionals with advanced digital skills.AI is expected to transform public services and key sectors through smarter healthcar...