Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar

Pakistan&rsquo;s recent success in Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos is a golden chapter in our national history. These operations not only safeguarded our borders but also infused new energy and confidence into Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomacy. Today, the world sees Pakistan as a nation that, while resolutely defending its security, also champions peace, cooperation, and global justice with credibility. In the aftermath of Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan&rsquo;s positions are being heard with renewed seriousness at the international level. At forums such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and other regional platforms, Pakistan has articulated its narrative with greater confidence. The message has been clear: Pakistan is not only a military power but also an increasingly influential diplomatic player. A significant outcome of Marka-e-Haq has been the acknowledgment of Pakistan&rsquo;s narrative by major global powers. The United States, in particular, recognized Pakistan&rsquo;s sacrifices and success in defeating terrorism and maintaining regional stability. Continuous engagement at senior levels in Washington reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s voice is now being taken seriously in shaping regional security and counter-terrorism frameworks. This acknowledgment by great powers underscores the credibility Pakistan has earned through both military resilience and diplomatic outreach. Following this military success, Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic activity has remained intense and continues unabated. In July, Pakistan assumed the Presidency of the UN Security Council. During this tenure, Pakistan chaired three signature events: on multilateralism, UN-OIC cooperation, and a quarterly debate on Palestine. Under Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, Resolution 2788 was unanimously adopted, further cementing our credibility on the global stage. On Palestine, Pakistan raised its voice not only for justice but also as a rallying force for the Islamic world and the Global South. From August 17-19, I undertook an official visit to the United Kingdom, where renewed connectivity through the announcement of the resumption of PIA flights, a reinvigorated UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue, and engagement with the 1.7 million-strong British-Pakistani community opened new avenues of partnership. On August 20, I traveled to Kabul for the Trilateral Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Meeting with Afghanistan and China. The talks addressed transit trade, the signing of the framework agreement of the joint feasibility study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, and counter-terrorism, areas crucial for regional peace and connectivity. The very next day, on August 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Islamabad. During this visit, both sides agreed to elevate cooperation under CPEC 2.0, expand collaboration in minerals, ICT, and agriculture, and reaffirmed strong mutual support, particularly on the issue of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. Shortly thereafter, I undertook a historic visit to Bangladesh (August 23-24), the first by a Pakistani Foreign Minister in thirteen years. The visit yielded six agreements, enhanced scholarships for Bangladeshi students, and a renewed commitment to people-to-people ties. From Dhaka, I proceeded directly to Jeddah (August 25) to lead Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation at the OIC Extraordinary Session on Palestine. The conference adopted a strong resolution condemning Israeli aggression, reflecting the united stance of the Muslim Ummah. Pakistan&rsquo;s role in building consensus and pushing for accountability was widely acknowledged. More recently, the Prime Minister and I attended the SCO Heads of State Summit in Tianjin and Beijing (August 31-September 1). This engagement provided Pakistan with an important opportunity to deepen cooperation with member states across critical areas, including connectivity, trade, energy, and regional security. The Summit reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s role within SCO is central to advancing the organisation&rsquo;s vision of regional peace and shared prosperity. Earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan also visited Islamabad (August 8-9), engaging in constructive discussions. In addition, several trade, defense, and government delegations have been visiting Pakistan, which is clear evidence that the world is now paying closer attention to us. These developments underscore an important truth: Pakistan today is not merely a military power; it is emerging as a diplomatic force. Whether it is Kashmir or Palestine, CPEC&rsquo;s expansion or the trilateral railway project, closer ties with the West and East, or Pakistan&rsquo;s enhanced role in the SCO, Pakistan is playing a meaningful and visible role at every front. Most recently, I participated in the preparatory ministerial meeting of the Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on September 14, ahead of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s participation the following day. Pakistan&rsquo;s position was clear and principled: we unequivocally condemned Israel&rsquo;s grave violations of sovereignty and international law, including the strikes against Qatar amid the ongoing onslaught in Palestine. We reaffirmed solidarity with Qatar, the Palestinian people, and all nations subjected to such unlawful aggression, while calling for enforceable measures to hold Israel accountable and for deterrent actions to prevent recurrence. Above all, we underlined that only a united and coordinated response by the Arab and Islamic world can ensure justice, safeguard peace, and uphold the collective security and sovereignty of the Ummah. Looking ahead, our responsibility is to translate this diplomatic strength into lasting national gains. That requires consolidating our economy, advancing the agenda of peace and cooperation in the region, and further strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s global standing. Together, military success and diplomatic achievement are the twin pillars that will continue to uphold Pakistan as a respected and sovereign state in the international community. The writer is the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

Articles

We need to translate our diplomatic strength into lasting national gains to consolidate our economy, advance the agenda of peace and cooperation in the region, and further strengthen Pakistan’s global standing.

Pakistan’s diplomatic strength post-Marka-e-Haq

Bordeaux: French authorities on Wednesday confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew on a British cruise ship docked in Bordeaux after an elderly passenger died, said officials, who played down any links to the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/argentinas-deadly-hantavirus-memories-resurface-after-cruise-ship-outbreak" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">hantavirus scare</a>.&nbsp;Dozens also suffered from upset stomachs aboard the Ambition &ndash; most of whose 1,233 passengers are from Britain or Ireland &ndash; which arrived in the western port of Bordeaux on Tuesday, with 514 Indian crew members also on board. But health officials said there was no connection with the hantavirus outbreak, suspected of killing three passengers on the Dutch MV Hondius <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/hantavirushit-cruise-ship-arrives-in-spains-canary-islands" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cruise ship</a> that set sail from Argentina. One 90-year-old passenger on the Ambition, run by the Ambassador Cruise Line company, had died and about 50 people have shown symptoms of stomach issues, the officials said. Initial tests ruled out an outbreak of norovirus, a highly contagious form of gastroenteritis which causes vomiting and diarrhea, but secondary tests were still underway, they added. Food poisoning had not been excluded. Passengers on board the Ambition showed peak symptoms on Monday when the ship was docked in Brest, the officials said. The 90-year-old died before they arrived at the port in France&#39;s northwestern Brittany region. The ship, which left the Shetland Islands north of Scotland on May 6, stopped in Belfast in Northern Ireland and Liverpool in England before reaching Bordeaux, from where it was scheduled to depart for Spain. No security measures were in place around the ship as it was docked in Bordeaux on Wednesday, an AFP reporter said. Passengers were taking pictures of the French city from the deck.

Norovirus particles, illustration. Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis. (AFP)

Europe

French authorities investigate gastrointestinal illness on a British cruise ship docked in Bordeaux, with health officials testing possible causes among passengers and crew.

France locks down 1,700 on cruise ship after 90-year-old dies

ISTANBUL: Turkiye and Armenia will formally resume trade relations after a 33-year freeze as part of a rapprochement between the two countries, a Turkish foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday. Turkiye shut its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of its ally Azerbaijan, which was at war with Armenia over Karabakh. Turkiye&nbsp;and Armenia have been cautiously moving towards rapprochement since late 2021, a year after Armenia was defeated by Azerbaijan in a fresh conflict over that disputed territory. &quot;Within the framework of our normalisation process with Armenia that has been ongoing since 2022... the bureaucratic preparations regarding the initiation of direct trade between our country and Armenia have been completed as of May 11,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said on X. Trade had already been passing between Turkiye and Armenia via Georgia, with taxes imposed in the transit country. But under the new regulation, goods can be formally designated as direct exports from Turkiye to Armenia, with the origin and final destination listed as being in those countries. Trade will continue to transit through an unspecified third country due to the lack of a functional border crossing. &quot;The necessary technical and bureaucratic work toward opening the common border between the two countries is still ongoing,&quot; the spokesman said. Turkiye&nbsp;and Armenia also share a border with Iran. Armenia welcomed Turkiye&#39;s decision &quot;to lift the bans on bilateral trade with Armenia&quot;, its foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson described it as an &quot;important step towards the development of full-fledged and normal relations between the two countries&quot;. Ankara&#39;s latest announcement marks a new step toward normalisation between Ankara and Yerevan after Azerbaijan&#39;s seizure of Karabakh, which saw most of the Armenian population leave. Last month, Armenia and Turkiye decided to put the Kars-Gyumri railway line back into service on both sides of their border. Turkiye&#39;s&nbsp;national carrier, Turkish Airlines, operated its first direct flight between Istanbul and Yerevan in March. But the two sides remain divided over history. The Armenians say 1.5 million of their people were killed under the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917 and seek international recognition that it was genocide. Turkiye&nbsp;strongly denies the accusation of genocide and disputes the numbers, saying that the Armenians were among hundreds of thousands of people who died in the turmoil of World War I as the Ottoman Empire disintegrated.

Central Asia

Middle East

Turkiye, Armenia resume formal trade relations after 33 years amid normalization efforts between longtime rivals

Turkiye and Armenia to restart direct trade: Ankara

ROME: The UN said Wednesday it was cutting emergency food assistance to Syria by 50% and halting a bread subsidy program&nbsp;that had supported millions because of funding shortfalls. The World Food Programme, the UN&#39;s Rome-based food aid agency, said in a statement it was reducing the number of people covered by emergency aid from 1.3 million to 650,000. The agency said Syria has stabilized since the end of the civil war, but there are still 7.2 million people suffering acute food insecurity. As part of its operations, WFP said it had supported more than 300 bakeries with fortified wheat flour. &quot;The bread subsidy program has been a vital lifeline, keeping this staple food affordable,&quot; the organization said. &quot;The reduction in WFP&rsquo;s assistance is driven solely by funding constraints, not by a decrease in needs,&quot; said Marianne Ward, WFP director in Syria. &quot;This is a critical moment for Syria. Recovery remains fragile, needs are still severe, and we are being forced to withdraw a vital safety net.&quot; The organization said funding shortfalls were also affecting Syrian refugees in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon. &ldquo;Across the region, vulnerable families are facing the cumulative effects of prolonged crises, rising costs, and shrinking assistance,&rdquo; said Samer Abdeljaber, WFP regional director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. The agency said it needed $189 million over the next six months to sustain and restore assistance in Syria.

A food distribution in Aleppo - since the escalation of conflict on 27 November, WFP has distributed 50,000 hot meals. Photo: WFP/Emad Etaki

The agency said Syria has stabilized since the end of the civil war, but there are still 7.2 million people suffering acute food insecurity.

UN cuts emergency food aid to Syria by 50%

MUMBAI: Air India said Wednesday it would reduce or cut several international routes over jet fuel price hikes and airspace restrictions due to conflict. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-war-on-iran-day-75" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Middle East War</a>&nbsp;since late February and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent aviation turbine fuel prices soaring, raising concerns over carrier profitability and leading to a rise in airline fares. Air India did not give the total number of flights affected, but said it would suspend routes to Chicago, Shanghai, and Singapore among other from certain Indian cities including New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai between June and August. The airline added that it would also cut the frequency of flights to San Francisco, Paris, Milan and Sydney. Several factors have &quot;significantly&quot; impacted the commercial viability of some flights, the airline said in a statement. &quot;Despite the challenges and beyond these adjustments, Air India will continue to operate more than 1,200 international flights every month.&quot; The Middle East war has proven to be the latest in a series of setbacks for the Indian carrier, whose chief executive resigned in April. Since taking over Air India in 2022, the Tata conglomerate has embarked on an ambitious overhaul, ordering hundreds of aircraft and upgrading its ageing fleet. While the airline has managed to modernize operations and integrate the group&#39;s aviation businesses, it has faced persistent headwinds including aircraft delivery delays and airspace closures by Pakistan in 2025. But the biggest blow to the airline&#39;s image came in June 2025, when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/father-of-air-india-crash-pilot-seeks-independent-probe" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Air India Flight 171</a>&nbsp;&ndash; a London-bound Boeing 787 8 Dreamliner &ndash; crashed shortly after take off from Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground.

India

Air India will suspend and reduce several international routes between June and August as soaring jet fuel prices, regional conflict and airspace restrictions strain the carrier’s profitability and operations.

Air India cuts some international routes as fuel prices bite

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban authorities have removed women from the government payroll, ending reduced salaries for female civil servants who have been barred from working since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, according to a new United Nations report. According to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), media outlets reported on Jan. 17 that women were no longer receiving payments in several provinces, effectively terminating their status as government employees. Some women were informed directly by their employers that they had been dismissed, while others discovered they had lost their jobs only when their monthly salaries failed to arrive, the report said. The move marks another tightening of restrictions on women under Taliban rule, which has sharply curtailed their participation in public life, education and employment. The report said Afghan women, including female UN staff, contractors and visitors, have been barred from entering UN premises nationwide since Sept 7, 2025. As of March 31, Afghan women had been unable to access UN offices across the country for 205 consecutive days, the mission said. The United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly condemned the measures, saying they amount to systematic discrimination and have deepened the humanitarian and economic crisis facing millions of Afghans.&nbsp;

Women in Herat wearing burqas (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan

Authorities remove Afghan women from the government payroll, ending reduced salaries for female civil servants barred from working since returning to power in 2021.

Afghan Taliban cut salaries of women banned from government offices: UNAMA

PARIS:&nbsp;European Union imports of Russian liquefied natural gas hit their highest level in the first quarter since Moscow&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to research published Wednesday. The surge came as nations worldwide scramble for energy supplies to replace disrupted deliveries during the Middle East war. But the EU has vowed to end all imports of Russian gas and oil by the end of 2027 due to the war in Ukraine. Russian gas shipments by pipeline to the EU have largely stopped, but countries are still buying its LNG via tankers, led by France, Spain and Belgium, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, an independent research group. Its report found that the EU imported 6.9 billion cubic meters of Russian gas in the first three months of this year, a 16% increase from the first quarter last year, and the highest since 2022. The trend continued in April, with imports up 17% on the year, the IEEFA told AFP. Russia remains the second-biggest supplier of LNG to the bloc, providing around 14% of the total, the group said. EU nations have increasingly turned toward the United States, with imports of US LNG more than tripling between 2021 and 2025, it said. In the first quarter alone, EU imports of US LNG jumped 27%. &quot;The US will become the EU&#39;s largest gas supplier in 2026 and could account for 80% of its LNG imports by 2028,&quot; the institute said, noting that US gas is the most expensive for European buyers. &quot;Europe&#39;s shift from pipeline gas to LNG was meant to provide security of supply and diversification,&quot; Ana Maria Jaller-Makarewicz, the IEEFA&#39;s lead energy analyst for Europe, said in a statement. &quot;Yet disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East and an overreliance on US LNG show that Europe&#39;s plan has failed on both counts,&quot; she said.

Zapolyarnoye oil and gas condensate field. Gas pumping stations. (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

Europe’s energy diversification strategy is under strain as Russian LNG purchases rise, US supplies grow more costly, and Middle East war disruptions intensify pressure on gas markets.


EU imports of Russian gas highest since Ukraine invasion: Report

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Dogan Bekin, Member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, has said Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement and mediation efforts have contributed positively to regional stability and enhanced its international credibility.&nbsp; Speaking at Pakistan TV&rsquo;s World This Morning program, Bekin said Pakistan&rsquo;s role in facilitating dialogue and easing regional tensions has been widely acknowledged and reflects its growing importance in global diplomacy. He said lasting peace and stability in the world cannot be achieved without the just resolution of long-standing conflicts, particularly in Kashmir and Palestine. Highlighting the Kashmir dispute, Bekin said multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir have yet to be implemented, and stressed that the dispute should be resolved in accordance with international law. Turning to the Middle East, Bekin said continued violence and humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the West Bank reflect a failure of the international community to enforce accountability and uphold human rights. He said regional tensions are further complicating geopolitical stability, urging Muslim countries to strengthen unity and collective diplomatic efforts. Bekin called for closer cooperation among Pakistan, Turkiye, Iran, and Gulf states to promote peace, political coordination and solidarity across the Muslim world. He said divided approaches weaken the ability of Muslim countries to influence global decisions and resolve conflicts effectively. He also emphasized the need to address sectarian and political divisions within Muslim societies, saying greater unity is essential to counter external pressures and divisive policies. Bekin said coordinated diplomacy and unified action among Muslim countries remain key to resolving protracted conflicts and ensuring long-term regional and global peace.

Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements contributed to regional stability: Turkish MP (Photo: Pakistan TV Satellite)

World This Morning

Turkish lawmaker Dogan Bekin said Pakistan’s diplomacy has boosted regional stability and urged greater unity among Muslim countries to help resolve the Kashmir and Palestine conflicts.

Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements contributed to regional stability: Turkish MP

LONDON: King Charles III will on Wednesday outline UK leader Keir Starmer&#39;s next legislative plans, during a pomp-filled ceremony that could have huge repercussions for the embattled prime minister&#39;s future. Starmer, fighting to face down a revolt within his ruling Labour party, has promised his government will be &quot;better&quot; and bolder to assuage disgruntled voters impatient for change. That pledge will be put to the test in Wednesday&#39;s short address in parliament, which Downing Street said will unveil an &quot;ambitious programme&quot; that will make Britain a &quot;stronger, fairer&quot; country. It is the latest crunch moment in Starmer&#39;s 22-month premiership, and comes after Labour descended into open warfare on Tuesday over the prime minister&#39;s future following the party&#39;s heavy defeats in local and regional elections. Four junior ministers resigned, and the number of MPs urging Starmer to quit passed 80, but more than 100 others signed a statement urging colleagues to back him. Several senior ministers also rallied around the Labour premier after Starmer vowed to fight on, telling them that no one had come forward to kick-start a leadership challenge. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy urged lawmakers to &quot;step back and take a breath&quot;, while a spokesman for Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood denied rumours that she was resigning. Pivotal moment&nbsp;&quot;Britain stands at a pivotal moment,&quot; Starmer, who in July 2024 became the UK&#39;s sixth prime minister in eight years, said in comments late Tuesday ahead of the King&#39;s Speech. &quot;To press ahead with a plan to build a stronger, fairer country or turn back to the chaos and instability of the past.&quot; Despite its name, the King&#39;s Speech is not written by the monarch but by the government, which uses it to detail the laws it proposes to make over the next 12 months. Downing Street said the address will include a package of more than 35 bills &quot;to bolster economic, energy, (and) national security. They will include proposals to fully nationalise British Steel and deepen Britain&#39;s relationship with the European Union. King Charles will deliver the proposals from a golden throne in the House of Lords upper chamber while wearing the diamond-studded Imperial State Crown and a long crimson robe. The day&#39;s proceedings start when royal bodyguards ritually search the basement of the Palace of Westminster for explosives -- a legacy of the failed attempt by Catholics to blow up parliament in the 1605 Gunpowder plot. Black RodThe sovereign will then travel to the Houses of Parliament by carriage from Buckingham Palace, escorted by mounted cavalry. Tradition dictates that an MP is ceremonially held &quot;hostage&quot; in the palace to ensure the king&#39;s safe return. A parliamentary official known as Black Rod will have the door of the lower chamber House of Commons slammed in their face, a tradition that symbolises parliament&#39;s independence from the monarchy. MPs will follow Black Rod to the upper chamber, where Charles, as head of state, will give the speech to assembled lords and ladies in red and ermine robes, plus invited members of the elected Commons at around 11:30 am (1030 GMT). Starmer is also due on Wednesday morning to meet Health Secretary Wes Streeting, purported to be one of his main rivals for the premiership. Streeting is popular on the right of Labour, while a would-be challenger on the left in any contest could be former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. Another much-touted contender, Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester in northwest England, is unable to stand currently as he is not an MP, but supporters want Starmer to lay out a timetable for his departure that allows Burnham to return to parliament and stand. Under party rules, any challenger would need the support of 81 Labour MPs, 20% of the party in parliament, to trigger a leadership contest. Starmer has vowed to fight any challenge.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks during a visit to the Kenton district of London on April 23, 2026. (File photo: AFP)

Keir Starmer faces growing political pressure as King Charles III prepares to outline the UK government’s legislative agenda during the traditional King’s Speech in parliament.

King Charles to unveil UK government agenda amid pressure on PM Starmer

ISLAMABAD: Israel&rsquo;s government is facing renewed political turmoil after an ultra-Orthodox party threatened to bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&rsquo;s coalition over delays to a controversial military draft-exemption bill, Anadolu Agency reported Tuesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ultra-orthodox Degel HaTorah party warned it could push for early elections if legislation exempting Haredi Jewish men from military service is postponed until after the next national vote.&nbsp;&nbsp;The dispute centers on long-running demands by ultra-orthodox parties for legal protections allowing religious students to avoid compulsory military service.&nbsp;The issue has become increasingly contentious during Israel&rsquo;s ongoing regional conflicts, with many Israelis arguing that military service obligations should apply equally across society.&nbsp;&nbsp;Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael together form the United Torah Judaism alliance, a key partner in Netanyahu&rsquo;s right-wing coalition government.&nbsp;The alliance controls seven seats in the 120-member Knesset and is reportedly seeking support from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which holds 11 seats.&nbsp;&nbsp;Exemption law must waitIsrael&rsquo;s public broadcaster KAN reported that Netanyahu and his aides informed Haredi parties that the exemption law could not currently pass in its existing form and may need to wait until after the elections.&nbsp;&nbsp;That position reportedly angered ultra-orthodox leaders, who are now considering moves to obstruct legislation in parliament and accelerate efforts to dissolve the Knesset.&nbsp;Party leader Moshe Gafni is said to have met Netanyahu&rsquo;s chief of staff this week to discuss the crisis, though doubts remain over whether the coalition has enough support to pass the bill.&nbsp;&nbsp;The controversy follows a 2024 Israeli Supreme Court ruling ordering the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men and ending state funding for religious institutions whose students refuse military service.&nbsp;&nbsp;Haredi groups have continued to protest the decision, arguing that full-time Torah study is central to their religious identity and they should be exempt from conscription.

Israeli ultra-orthodox party threatens to topple Netanyahu’s coalition over delays to a military draft exemption bill, deepening political tensions around Haredi conscription and government stability.

Netanyahu coalition faces collapse over conscription bill delay

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan on Wednesday assured full government support to Chinese investors and highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s growing potential in export-oriented manufacturing and industrial development. The minister held a meeting in Islamabad with a Chinese business delegation led by Huwang, Chairman of Challenges Fashion, and Karen Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Challenge Apparel. During the meeting, both sides discussed investment opportunities in textiles, apparel and other industrial sectors, along with broader Pakistan-China economic cooperation. The Chinese delegation briefed the minister on progress regarding their ongoing industrial project in Pakistan and shared plans for major expansion in manufacturing capacity, employment generation, and exports. Huwang informed the meeting that the company is establishing a large manufacturing facility in Pakistan under international production standards, with the first phase expected to be completed later this year. According to the delegation, the long-term expansion plan could create up to 20,000 jobs and generate annual exports worth 400 to 500 million dollars. The Chinese investors highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic geographic location, competitive workforce and regional connectivity, expressing confidence in the country&rsquo;s industrial and export potential. Khan welcomed the growing interest of Chinese companies in Pakistan and said the government is taking steps to improve the investment climate and simplify regulatory procedures. He said investor facilitation remains a key priority of the government in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s vision of promoting export-led economic growth. The minister noted that changing global supply chains and evolving economic dynamics are creating new opportunities for countries like Pakistan. He said Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic location and industrial capabilities make it an attractive destination for export-oriented investment and regional trade integration. The meeting also discussed regional connectivity, logistics, energy access and the importance of diversified trade corridors. Chinese representatives shared positive experiences regarding their operations in Pakistan but pointed out that international perceptions sometimes affect business decisions abroad. Khan acknowledged the issue and said Pakistan has made significant progress in improving the business environment and strengthening investor protection. The delegation also raised concerns regarding specialized industrial construction materials and inputs not currently manufactured locally. The minister assured the investors that the government would facilitate industrial requirements and informed them about ongoing tariff rationalization measures aimed at improving competitiveness and reducing manufacturing costs. He invited the delegation to formally submit details of products requiring tariff review within the government&rsquo;s ongoing reform framework. The meeting also reviewed progress on land approvals, infrastructure, utility facilitation and reforms in Special Economic Zone frameworks aimed at improving ease of doing business in Pakistan.

Economy

Minister assures Chinese investors of government support, as discussions focused on export-oriented manufacturing, industrial expansion, employment generation and strengthening Pakistan-China economic cooperation.

Articles by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar