Shizza Jasmin

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s government has reduced the country&rsquo;s mounting power-sector circular debt by Rs800 billion, roughly $2.8 billion, over the past two years and aims to eliminate the remaining burden before the end of its term, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said in an interview with Pakistan TV Digital earlier this week. Circular debt, a chronic financial problem in Pakistan&rsquo;s energy sector caused by unpaid bills, subsidies and system losses, stood at about Rs2.4 trillion when the current government took office, Leghari said.&nbsp; He said the figure has now fallen to around Rs1.6 trillion. &ldquo;We plan to get this off our books in the next three to four years so circular debt should vanish by the end of this government&rsquo;s term,&rdquo; Leghari said. The minister presented the reduction as part of broader reforms aimed at stabilizing Pakistan&rsquo;s energy sector, lowering electricity prices and reducing dependence on imported fuel amid regional instability and volatile global energy markets. Leghari said recent disruptions tied to the conflict involving Iran exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan&rsquo;s energy mix, particularly in liquefied natural gas supplies from the Middle East. &ldquo;The Iran war has been an eye-opener,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan currently depends on imported fuels for about 26% of its electricity generation, according to the minister.&nbsp; He said the government aims to reduce that reliance to just 3% to 4% within the next eight to 10 years. To achieve that target, Pakistan plans to expand domestic electricity generation through hydropower, nuclear energy and renewables. Leghari said the government expects to add 10,000 megawatts of hydropower capacity, 17,000 megawatts of renewable energy and another 1,500 megawatts of nuclear generation over the next decade. &ldquo;Pakistan has been through a solar revolution,&rdquo; he said, referring to rapid growth in privately financed rooftop and distributed solar systems across the country. The minister also defended the government&rsquo;s planned subsidy reforms, arguing that the current system unfairly burdens middle-income consumers. Pakistan currently provides electricity subsidies to more than 22 million consumers who use fewer than 200 units of electricity per month, compared with about 9 million consumers previously, Leghari said. The subsidies range from 65% to 85% and cost more than Rs500 billion annually, according to the minister. He said many recipients are not among the country&rsquo;s poorest households and that the government plans to link electricity meters with national identity cards and Benazir Income Support Programme records to better target low-income consumers. &ldquo;Only those in the lowest income levels will continue to get the subsidy,&rdquo; Leghari said. The savings, he added, would help reduce costs for middle-income consumers using between 200 and 700 units per month, who currently absorb much of the subsidy burden through cross-subsidization. Leghari also said electricity prices for industrial users have already fallen significantly after the government reduced cross-subsidy costs. Industrial tariffs dropped by about 16 rupees per unit, from roughly 17 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour to around 12 cents, while household consumers saw average reductions of 8 to 9 rupees per unit, he said. According to the minister, lower electricity prices have already contributed to a 6% to 7% increase in demand. The government is also preparing optional time-of-use electricity pricing that would allow consumers to use cheaper power during peak solar-generation hours, pending approval from the International Monetary Fund, Leghari said. On power outages, the minister acknowledged that some parts of Pakistan experienced six to seven hours of load shedding in late April. He attributed the outages to reduced LNG supplies and a temporary drop in hydropower generation, which fell to nearly 1,000 megawatts before recovering above 6,500 megawatts. Leghari said 11,000 of Pakistan&rsquo;s 14,000 electricity feeders currently operate without load shedding. The remaining 3,000 feeders face what the government describes as &ldquo;economic load shedding&rdquo; because of high electricity theft and non-payment rates. &ldquo;We are moving toward technology at the transformer level so we can switch off only the specific communities involved in theft, rather than the whole feeder,&rdquo; he said. As Pakistan heads into peak summer demand, Leghari said the national grid is prepared to meet electricity consumption levels that typically reach around 29,000 megawatts. &ldquo;There will be no load shedding due to lack of demand or capacity,&rdquo; he said. The government is also working to modernize the national grid and encourage private-sector investment in large-scale battery storage systems to improve stability and integrate more renewable energy into the network, according to the minister.

Economy

Talking to Pakistan TV Digital, Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari says Pakistan is preparing to sharply reduce imported fuel dependence, reform electricity subsidies, expand renewable energy capacity and prevent summer power shortages nationwide.

Pakistan cuts circular debt by $2.87 billion, targets zero by term-end

A Tamil cinema superstar, C. Joseph Vijay, or Thalapathy Vijay, is set to become Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Chief Minister, once again blurring the lines between the silver screen and the secretariat. From Kangana Ranaut in the North to the legends of the South, the bridge between stardom and statehood has never been shorter.

Shorts

How identity politics keeps putting Indian stars in power

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.07px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">In just 24 hours, a flurry of fast-moving diplomacy has once again placed Pakistan at the heart of the 58-day Iran-US conflict. Here&#39;s what you need to know.

In last 24 hours: Pause in US-Iran talks, but both sides praise Pakistan's peace efforts

ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan prepares to host high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran, the spotlight has turned to Islamabad, a city now central to efforts aimed at preventing a wider regional conflict. The upcoming negotiations follow a fragile two-week ceasefire, brokered through Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic engagement, positioning the country as a neutral facilitator between two long-standing adversaries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized Islamabad&rsquo;s role in advancing dialogue, urging all sides to sustain the truce and give diplomacy a chance. &ldquo;I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint&hellip; so that diplomacy can take a lead role,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan&rsquo;s position, maintaining ties with both Washington and Tehran, has allowed it to emerge as a credible intermediary at a time when tensions have disrupted global energy flows, shaken markets, and raised fears of a broader Middle East war. With delegations from both sides expected in Islamabad, officials say the talks represent a critical window to transform a temporary ceasefire into a more durable peace framework.

Upcoming negotiations follow a fragile two-week ceasefire, brokered through Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement, positioning the country as a neutral facilitator between two long-standing adversaries.



Why Islamabad matters as US-Iran talks shift global focus

ISLAMABAD: Germany and Pakistan are expanding cooperation in climate action, education and development partnerships, even as both countries seek to reinvigorate trade and investment ties, German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital. Lepel, currently serving her third posting in Pakistan, described bilateral relations as broadly positive with active political engagement and growing people-to-people connections. &ldquo;Overall the trajectory is going in a good direction,&rdquo; she said, noting that the two countries maintain regular high-level contact. She added that Pakistan and Germany share a commitment to international cooperation and rule-based global governance. &ldquo;We depend on a reliable international world order that is governed by rules and not by the law of the strongest,&rdquo; Lepel said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why we are both big friends of multilateralism.&rdquo; Climate cooperation expandingGermany&rsquo;s development partnership with Pakistan is increasingly focused on climate and energy transition, the ambassador said, highlighting a &euro;114 million commitment announced late last year for climate-related cooperation and other development initiatives. According to Lepel, climate action offers both countries an opportunity to strengthen long-term economic competitiveness while addressing a global challenge. &ldquo;Climate change does not stop at borders and we don&rsquo;t get to negotiate with the planet,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The planet follows the law of physics, so this is a global challenge we have to tackle together.&rdquo; Germany is supporting several climate-related initiatives across Pakistan, including rebuilding flood-affected homes in Balochistan using climate-resilient methods and improving freshwater access in Punjab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Berlin is also contributing to forest restoration efforts linked to a provincial tree-planting initiative. Lepel said community participation is key to ensuring such environmental projects succeed. &ldquo;Planting the forest is the easy part,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Without taking the local communities along it&rsquo;s very difficult to keep it.&rdquo; Education links growingEducational exchange remains one of the fastest-growing areas of bilateral engagement, with nearly 10,000 Pakistani students currently studying in Germany, according to Lepel. She said Germany has digitalized its student visa application system to improve transparency and processing times, while the growing availability of English-language programs is making German universities more accessible to international students. &ldquo;The attractiveness of studying in Germany just is growing so much,&rdquo; she said. Lepel also encouraged prospective Pakistani students to rely on official information portals rather than private education agents. &ldquo;It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on agencies,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If you just Google &lsquo;study in Germany&rsquo; you come to a very accessible and intuitive portal where people are guided through all the universities.&rdquo; Trade potential yet to be realizedWhile political dialogue and development cooperation remain strong, the ambassador acknowledged that trade and investment between the two countries have not grown as quickly as other areas of partnership. &ldquo;The numbers in terms of trade are pretty much the same when I left eight years ago,&rdquo; Lepel said, adding that improving the ease of doing business could help attract greater foreign investment. Pakistan&rsquo;s large market, young population and strategic geographic location remain significant advantages for potential investors, she noted. &ldquo;There are quite a few German companies that have a presence in Pakistan,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Hopefully as ease of business improves we can build on that.&rdquo; Opportunities in innovation and diversificationLepel said changing global economic dynamics are prompting German companies to diversify supply chains and explore new markets &mdash; a trend that could create opportunities for Pakistan. &ldquo;We have learned the hard way that it&rsquo;s not a good idea to be unilaterally dependent on any one partner,&rdquo; she said. She also pointed to Pakistan&rsquo;s innovative talent pool as a potential area for collaboration in research and development. &ldquo;I have really met amazing people who are very innovative, creative, resourceful and agile,&rdquo; she said. Energy efficiency and sustainable building technologies are additional areas where German expertise could support Pakistan&rsquo;s transition toward a low-carbon economy, Lepel added. &ldquo;The best energy is the energy we have never used,&rdquo; she said, highlighting opportunities in building insulation and energy-saving infrastructure. Despite global economic uncertainty, the ambassador expressed optimism about the future direction of bilateral relations. &ldquo;There is a positive mood,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;People are taking more of an interest in how things go in Pakistan.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

In a wide-ranging interview to Pakistan TV Digital, German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel says Pakistan-Germany relations are progressing through climate cooperation, education links and political engagement, while noting untapped potential in trade, investment and innovation partnerships.

Germany-Pakistan ties deepen through climate, education partnerships, ambassador says

Faraz Saeed

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: An Indian Muslim lawmaker has condemned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor during an official ceremony, describing the act as &ldquo;foolish&rdquo; and &ldquo;condemnable,&rdquo; amid growing concern over India&rsquo;s treatment of religious minorities.&nbsp;Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Tariq Anwar said the incident was unacceptable but suggested it may have been linked to what he described as the chief minister&rsquo;s ongoing neurological or mental health issues.&nbsp;He added that Kumar had previously been criticized for similar conduct and was reportedly undergoing medical treatment, while maintaining there was no history of him intentionally targeting Muslims.&nbsp;&ldquo;It has been said for the last several months that he has some neurological and mental problems,&rdquo; Anwar said. &ldquo;However, if anyone commits such an act, it is certainly wrong.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We do not appreciate it; rather, we condemn the incident.&rdquo;&nbsp;The controversy erupted earlier this week during an appointment ceremony at the Bihar Chief Minister&rsquo;s Secretariat, Samvad, where newly recruited doctors were receiving appointment letters. Indian media reported that 1,283 doctors were appointed, including practitioners of Ayurveda, homeopathy, and Unani medicine.&nbsp;As Nusrat Parveen, a newly appointed Unani doctor, stepped forward to receive her letter, Kumar appeared startled by her hijab, which partially covered her face, and reached out to pull it down. A video of the moment quickly went viral, triggering widespread outrage and renewed debate over minority rights and intolerance in public life.&nbsp;Anwar said the chief minister&rsquo;s conduct appeared to be the result of illness or medical treatment and reiterated that there had never been any complaint of Kumar intentionally committing such an act. Nevertheless, he stressed that the incident was &ldquo;not right&rdquo; and remained condemnable.&nbsp;Opposition parties were far less charitable. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Kumar&rsquo;s former ally, publicly questioned his fitness to govern. &ldquo;What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental state reached a completely pitiable condition, or has Nitish Babu become 100% Sanghi now?&rdquo; the party said in a post on X.&nbsp;RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed framed the episode as part of a broader pattern. &ldquo;The removal of the hijab from a Muslim woman&rsquo;s face clearly reflects the National Democratic Alliance government&rsquo;s mindset toward the Muslim community,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The incident also drew criticism from politicians and academics, who described it as further evidence of a shrinking space for minorities in India. Ashok Swain, a professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, linked the episode to the political climate under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;&ldquo;Modi&rsquo;s key ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forcibly pulls down the veil of a Muslim woman doctor while handing her an appointment letter,&rdquo; Swain wrote on X. &ldquo;In Modi&rsquo;s India, misogyny and Islamophobia have official sanction.&rdquo;&nbsp;Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra said the act disqualified Kumar from holding office. &ldquo;This incident clearly shows that the Chief Minister of Bihar is not mentally stable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After this, he has no moral right to remain in office even for a single day.&rdquo;&nbsp;Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi described the conduct as &ldquo;indefensible and deeply disturbing,&rdquo; calling for accountability.&nbsp;&ldquo;He owes the woman and the public an unconditional apology,&rdquo; Mehdi said. &ldquo;This erratic conduct is alarming and raises serious concerns about his capacity to hold constitutional office.&rdquo;&nbsp;India&rsquo;s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, also demanded Kumar&rsquo;s resignation, raising questions about women&rsquo;s safety and Muslim dignity in Bihar.&nbsp;&ldquo;Look at his shamelessness, a female doctor had come to collect her appointment letter, and Nitish Kumar pulled off her hijab,&rdquo; the party said. &ldquo;This vileness is unforgivable.&rdquo;&nbsp;For critics, the episode is not an isolated lapse but a stark illustration of how Muslim identity is increasingly treated as a provocation in India&rsquo;s public sphere, where even state ceremonies are no longer free from humiliation and coercion.

India

Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Tariq Anwar condemns Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for pulling down a Muslim woman doctor’s hijab, calling the act foolish and unacceptable

Pulling veil by Bihar CM condemnable, ‘foolish’ act: Indian Muslim lawmaker

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye share an enduring bond founded on brotherhood, shared struggle, and resistance to imperial domination, a leading Turkish civil society figure said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital last week.&nbsp;&nbsp;He urged global powers to &ldquo;abandon their colonial ambitions&rdquo; and allow smaller nations to thrive in peace.&nbsp;In a wide-ranging interview, İsmail Hakkı Turun&ccedil;, president of T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s July 15 Association, condemned the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, describing them as &ldquo;a direct consequence of imperial greed&rdquo; and a reflection of the exploitative mindset that continues to shape global politics.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is absolutely wrong for any country, especially those backed by powers like the US, the UK, France, or Germany, to invade others and take away their rights,&rdquo; Turun&ccedil; said. &ldquo;Such actions bring neither peace to Gaza nor security to those who support these aggressions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Turun&ccedil;, who has personally visited Gaza six times, said he was &ldquo;tortured&rdquo; during his last visit, adding that the suffering of Gazans mirrors the world&rsquo;s moral collapse in the face of oppression.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over 80,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza, thousands more have been wounded, and millions are confined to a tiny strip of land,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is not only a humanitarian tragedy but a reflection of an imperial, exploitative mentality that must end.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;T&uuml;rkiye stands with Pakistan&rsquo;&nbsp;Reaffirming T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s solidarity with Pakistan, Turun&ccedil; said his country has &ldquo;always stood by its brotherly nation,&rdquo; particularly in times of crisis or tension with India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whenever we face hardship, the first country to rush to our side has always been Pakistan, both its government and its people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are brothers, and if a brother does not share in his brother&rsquo;s sorrow or joy, that cannot be called brotherhood.&rdquo;&nbsp;He recalled his first visit to Pakistan following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, when he came as part of a Turkish humanitarian delegation.&nbsp;&ldquo;We built schools, established soup kitchens, and distributed food,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That bond of brotherhood was not symbolic.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It was lived and felt on the ground.&rdquo;&nbsp;Turun&ccedil; emphasized that both countries must continue to expand cooperation in areas such as economic development, energy, and humanitarian work.&nbsp;&ldquo;Each country should make use of its own resources to improve the lives of its citizens,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;No state should covet the wealth of another, that is what separates sovereignty from imperialism.&rdquo;&nbsp;The July 15 Association is a leading non-governmental organization in T&uuml;rkiye, established after the failed 2016 coup attempt, which left more than 250 people dead and thousands injured. The association works to commemorate the martyrs and veterans of that night, support their families, and preserve the memory of the public&rsquo;s resistance as a defining moment in T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s democratic history.&nbsp;On the night of July 15, 2016, a faction within the Turkish military attempted to overthrow the elected government. The attempt was thwarted after millions of civilians took to the streets in response to a call from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish government blames the coup on the G&uuml;len movement (FET&Ouml;), which has since been designated a terrorist organization by T&uuml;rkiye.&nbsp;Reflecting on those events, Turun&ccedil; said the coup attempt was &ldquo;an initiative backed by several imperial powers and carried out by traitors within the system.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Thanks to the trust our people have in President Erdoğan, millions took to the streets,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The people won, the coup plotters lost. Praise be to God, there was joy and peace in our victory.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s experience serves as a lesson for nations like Pakistan that continue to resist foreign interference.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will never recognize any system other than democracy,&rdquo; he quoted President Erdoğan as saying. &ldquo;Those who want to abolish democracy will never be given the chance.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;World has enough for all, if shared fairly&rsquo;Calling for global cooperation and ethical resource distribution, Turun&ccedil; said the world must learn to share its wealth rather than exploit others.&nbsp;&ldquo;The world has enough resources to sustain far more than eight billion people if used wisely,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But the egoism of some and the exploitative mentality of others prevent fair sharing. This greed drives conflicts, occupations, and suffering, from Gaza to beyond.&rdquo;&nbsp;Concluding the interview, Turun&ccedil; expressed affection for the Pakistani people and optimism about the future of bilateral relations.&nbsp;&ldquo;The people of T&uuml;rkiye love Pakistan deeply,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;God willing, this brotherhood will last forever, and our friendship will continue for many generations to come.&rdquo;

In a wide-ranging interview, İsmail Hakkı Turunç, president of Türkiye’s July 15 Association, praises Pakistan-Türkiye brotherhood, condemns Gaza atrocities, recalls resisting the 2016 coup, and urges world powers to end imperial exploitation and share resources equitably.

Pakistan, Türkiye stand united against imperial aggression: Turkish leader

If you&#39;re a regular online shopper, you&#39;re familiar with the frustration of hearing &quot;card not accepted&quot; just as you&#39;re about to pay. Even worse is being told, &quot;You can transfer online.&quot; Navigating banking apps and entering merchant details can be a clumsy and frustrating experience. After recently returning to Pakistan, I decided to tackle this issue. To get more insight, I interviewed Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kiyani, on my podcast, &quot;Chatroom with Shizza.&quot; Our goal was to explore Pakistan&#39;s digital transformation plans. The vision of a cashless Pakistan A cashless future isn&#39;t just a dream; it&#39;s becoming a reality. Kiyani said the &quot;Cashless Pakistan&quot; initiative is more than just government talk. It is a top priority for the prime minister, who meets biweekly with the Cashless Economy Steering Committee. The stakes are high: increased transparency, improved efficiency, and an alarming Rs18 billion ($63.8 million) lost each year in payment processing. A unified effort: Government, telecom, and banks One of the most promising aspects of this transformation is the cooperation among key players. Major telecom companies like Jazz and Easypaisa, along with the Pakistan Banks Association, are now working together. Kiyani described the effort as a comprehensive movement, merging both government and private sector goals. The strategy is built on three main pillars, each led by a government organization. The State Bank of Pakistan aims to increase the number of merchants accepting digital payments from 500,000 to 2 million. They also want to grow digital banking users from 95 million to 120 million and double annual digital transactions from 7.5 billion to 15 billion by June 2026. Economic transparency and tax reform This transformation isn&#39;t just about technology. For instance, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is the largest social safety net in the country. Previously, it relied on cash payments, which led to issues like middlemen and mistakes. Now, 10 million beneficiaries are receiving e-wallets, making digital banking more accessible. &quot;This isn&#39;t just about technology,&quot; Kiyani said, &quot;It&#39;s about education.&quot; The new Pakistan Digital Authority will oversee digital payments and promote financial literacy across the country. Tax reform is also critical. Pakistan&#39;s tax-to-GDP ratio improved from 8.2% to 10.6% last fiscal year. Digital transactions can help with better economic documentation and fairer tax distribution. &quot;Digital payments increase transparency,&quot; Kiyani said. &quot;They reduce wrongdoing and lessen our reliance on human resources.&quot; Expected timeline The government has set an ambitious timeline. By the end of 2026, all payments involving federal, provincial, and state-owned enterprises will be digitized. They plan to subsidize QR-based payment systems for small merchants, encouraging digital payment adoption through lower processing fees. When I asked Kiyani if this effort might be too late, he remained positive. &quot;The pace has been organic,&quot; he said. &quot;But the ecosystem is maturing. The prime minister has set clear targets.&quot; The road ahead After the interview, I felt hopeful. The combination of improved infrastructure, political will, and private-sector cooperation appears stronger this time. Success will depend on effective implementation, education, and convincing everyday vendors that digital payments are not just feasible but preferable. As someone who prefers scanning to fumbling with cash, I&rsquo;ll be watching this digital revolution closely. Until then, I&rsquo;ll continue with manual transfers &mdash; and some grumbling. Catch the full episode of &quot;Chatroom with Shizza&quot; on our YouTube channel.

Banking

Taxation

Business

Pakistan’s digital payment push aims to boost digital transactions by 2026 through government-private cooperation, improving transparency, tax reform, and financial education.

Cashless Pakistan: A nation's ambitious leap toward transparency

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, outlined his vision on youth, agriculture and economic prosperity. The prime minister made these remarks during the launch of Pakistan TV Digital, an English-language platform designed to present Islamabad&rsquo;s voice to global audiences through credible, video-first journalism.&nbsp; &ldquo;These devastating floods have damaged our economy in a way which we did not foresee,&rdquo; PM Sharif said on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s podcast The Chatroom with Shizza. &ldquo;We are meeting this challenge with joint efforts,&rdquo; referring to the coordinated flood response and rescue operations by the federal government, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), provincial governments, and the military.<div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kuOoFRxCQsI" title="Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Launches Pakistan TV Digital" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;"></iframe></div></div>He outlined a future where Pakistan leverages its &ldquo;youth bulge,&rdquo; expands its agricultural sector, and implements vocational training programs to convert demographic challenges into economic opportunities. Once on the brink of economic collapse, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s economy is now stable&rdquo;, the prime minister said. He credited the change to what he called &ldquo;extraordinary teamwork, untiring efforts, and a sense of purpose to achieve results.&rdquo;

Launches Pakistan TV Digital, affirms resilience after floods, Islamabad’s shift toward stability and growth, hails synergy among stakeholders.

Economic collapse averted, focusing on youth: PM Shehbaz

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has warned that attempts to undermine the Indus&nbsp;Waters Treaty could set a dangerous global precedent threatening the water rights of downstream countries across the world. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV&rsquo;s senior correspondent Saima Shabbir, on the sidelines of the fourth High-Level International Water Conference in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Musadik Malik said Pakistan had raised the issue before the international community not only as a national concern but as a matter affecting all downstream countries.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059320793033576785&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=45837a80478787485a76343f8ec275364ec40306&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 647px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>He said India&rsquo;s unilateral actions regarding transboundary rivers posed a serious challenge to established international water-sharing principles.&nbsp; Referring to recent legal developments, the minister said international arbitration forums had supported Pakistan&rsquo;s position by rejecting attempts to justify excessive water storage under the guise of run-of-the-river hydropower projects.He said if the precedent of suspending or undermining a water treaty was accepted, many downstream countries would face uncertainty over their water access and food security. He said it is not just Pakistan&rsquo;s issue, every downstream country in the world would be vulnerable if upstream states begin choking water flows, adding that such actions could endanger the survival, agriculture and economic stability of downstream nations. The minister said Pakistan had informed participants at the conference that water was fundamentally linked to the right to existence and should be treated as a universal right rather than merely a technical issue. Highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s dependence on water resources, Malik said the country&rsquo;s agriculture, food security and employment were deeply connected to the Indus River system.&nbsp; He further said a significant share of Pakistan&rsquo;s GDP and workforce relied on agriculture, making water security a national priority. The federal minister said Pakistan was now taking a leadership role in advocating for equitable water rights at the global level, adding that delegates, ministers and journalists attending the conference had expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on protecting downstream countries from unilateral upstream actions.

SAT News Desk

Federal Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik has warned that attempts to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty could set a dangerous global precedent threatening the water rights of downstream countries across the world.



Pakistan terms Indus Waters Treaty issue a global concern at Dushanbe conference

RAMALLAH: Israel has issued an expropriation order for land in the occupied West Bank near the site of a Biblical prophet&#39;s grave north of Jerusalem, an Israeli NGO reported Tuesday. The site, known as Nabi Samuel, is believed in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim tradition to include the grave of the Biblical figure of prophet Samuel, and includes a mosque owned by Palestinian religious authorities, the Waqf. &quot;This marks the first time that the (Israeli) Civil Administration has expropriated a holy site owned by the Muslim Waqf in the occupied West Bank&quot;, Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now said in a statement. According to the Israeli order, dated May 9 but published this week, the area for expropriation will include 109.79 dunams (roughly 11 hectares), including access roads, agricultural land, and a mosque. The order says the decision was made &quot;for the development and preservation of the archaeological site of the Tomb of the Prophet Samuel&quot;. A source in COGAT, the Israel defence ministry body in charge of civilian matters in the Palestinian territories, said the decision was made &quot;following the refusal of Waqf officials to cooperate with the procedures required for the renovation of the tomb compound&quot;. The Palestinian Authority&#39;s Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs issued a &quot;strong condemnation&quot; of the expropriation order for Nabi Samuel. &quot;This confiscation is part of a policy aimed at suffocating the mosque and completely isolating it from its Palestinian surroundings, turning it into a Jewish archaeological site by force of arms,&quot; the ministry said in a statement. Peace Now&#39;s Yonatan Mizrahi pointed out that Israeli authorities had already taken over administration of much of the land by converting it into an Israeli national park in the 1990s, decades after demolishing a Palestinian village on the site. &quot;There was no need to decide about the expropriation of the land&quot;, Mizrahi told AFP, while Peace Now denounced &quot;the messianic agenda of the Israeli government&quot;. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. In 2025, Israel expropriated an area in the centre of the Tomb of the Patriarchs in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, arguing the order concerned an open area intended for roofing works and not a religious structure.

Middle East

Israel has issued an expropriation order for land in the occupied West Bank near the site of a Biblical prophet's grave north of Jerusalem, an Israeli NGO reported Tuesday

Israel issues expropriation order for West Bank religious site

ISLAMABAD: Bilal bin Saqib, chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), has said Pakistan is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global digital economy, with the country&rsquo;s youth driving growth in blockchain, crypto adoption and financial technology. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV head Adil Shahzeb in Beijing, Bilal bin Saqib said Pakistan has become the world&rsquo;s third-largest consumer market for digital assets, reflecting the talent, innovation and technological awareness of its young population. He said Pakistan&rsquo;s crypto growth took place without formal institutional support, proving that the country&rsquo;s youth are capable of competing at a global level, adding that technology has eliminated geographical barriers. Bilal bin Saqib highlighted the establishment of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, an independent body created to regulate, incubate and accelerate crypto-related activities in the country. He said the authority was established within a few months, a pace faster than several leading global jurisdictions. He said international crypto exchanges including Binance and HTX are expected to enter Pakistan after receiving approvals, helping shift crypto activities from the gray market into a regulated framework focused on consumer protection, licensing and oversight. Discussing economic opportunities, Bilal bin Saqib said blockchain technology could transform sectors such as freelancing, remittances and investment. He said blockchain-based systems and stablecoins could significantly reduce transfer fees for overseas Pakistanis sending money home. He also stressed the importance of tokenization, explaining that assets such as land, stocks and bonds could be digitally divided into smaller investment units, allowing ordinary Pakistanis to invest with limited capital. Bilal bin Saqib said Pakistan&rsquo;s large youth population and growing freelancer market provide a strong foundation for future growth in blockchain and artificial intelligence. He said many countries are now approaching Pakistan to understand how it regulated the digital assets space, adding that some of the world&rsquo;s biggest technology brands are also showing interest in exploring opportunities in Pakistan. He emphasized the need for a &ldquo;Pakistan-first&rdquo; approach where young people can build billion-dollar companies within the country instead of moving abroad. He said emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence could become major drivers of economic growth and innovation in Pakistan. Bilal bin Saqib credited Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership for improving the country&rsquo;s global image and said the focus now should be on attracting investment, encouraging innovation and ensuring Pakistan secures a leading role in the future digital economy.

Bilal bin Saqib, chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), has said Pakistan is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global digital economy, with the country’s youth driving growth in blockchain, crypto adoption and financial technology

Pakistan emerging as key player in global digital economy: Bilal bin Saqib

DUSHANBE: Pakistan on Tuesday called for a binding international legal framework to protect transboundary water rights, warning that existing global mechanisms had failed lower riparian states after the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.&nbsp;Addressing the plenary session of the 4th High-Level International Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Masood Malik said the current global water governance structure lacked effective enforcement mechanisms against unilateral actions by upper riparian countries.&nbsp;Referring to the Indus Waters Treaty between Pakistan and India, Malik described it as &ldquo;until recently, considered the most successful transboundary water treaty in the world,&rdquo; noting that it had survived wars and decades of tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.&nbsp;&ldquo;Last year, it was unilaterally suspended,&rdquo; Malik told delegates. &ldquo;The treaty did not collapse. It was revealed. It was revealed that a lower riparian country&rsquo;s water rights are only as secure as the goodwill of the upper riparian state.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister said Pakistan approached the institution that brokered the treaty after its suspension, but found there was no effective mechanism to compel compliance by a sovereign state.&nbsp;The remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following the 2025 Pahalgam incident, after which India announced suspension of cooperation measures related to the Indus Waters Treaty framework.&nbsp;Pakistan has maintained that the treaty is an internationally binding agreement that cannot be unilaterally suspended or held in abeyance.&nbsp;Malik said vulnerabilities faced by lower riparian states extended beyond South Asia and affected river basins worldwide where power asymmetries shaped water-sharing arrangements.&nbsp;Calling for reforms ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, he urged the international community to establish &ldquo;a binding international covenant on transboundary water rights&rdquo; with compulsory dispute resolution mechanisms and enforceable consequences for violations.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have had enough of committing. It is time to start complying,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Highlighting the broader global water crisis, Malik said nearly two billion people still lacked access to safe drinking water, while three billion faced water scarcity for at least one month annually.&nbsp;He said Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;Referring to melting glaciers feeding the Indus River system, recurring floods and droughts, groundwater depletion and soil degradation, the minister warned that water insecurity was intensifying across the region.&nbsp;Throughout his address, Malik cited the human impact of water scarcity, including women travelling long distances to fetch water, children dying from waterborne diseases and farmers losing ancestral lands to climate-related disasters.&nbsp;Concluding his remarks, the minister said water must be treated as a fundamental right protected under international law.&nbsp;&ldquo;Water is a right. And rights require protection,&rdquo; Malik said, adding that Pakistan stood ready to support stronger international cooperation on global water governance.

Pakistan on Tuesday called for a binding international legal framework to protect transboundary water rights, warning that existing global mechanisms had failed lower riparian states after the unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

At Dushanbe summit, Pakistan warns India over weaponization of water

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that disagreements over the wording of a proposed agreement were slowing progress in negotiations with Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire. Speaking to reporters during a visit to India, Rubio said talks remained active but cautioned that finalizing an agreement could still take several days as negotiators worked through differences in the draft text. &ldquo;I think like anything with something like this, it&rsquo;s going to take a couple of days, to settle on even down to the disagreements over a word, sentence,&rdquo; Rubio said. &ldquo;So we&rsquo;ll have to work through that.&rdquo; The remarks came a day after US forces carried out what Washington described as defensive strikes in southern Iran, even as negotiators met in Doha for another round of discussions focused on ending months of conflict that disrupted regional stability, energy markets and maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio said the strategically vital waterway &ldquo;has to be open,&rdquo; adding: &ldquo;They&rsquo;re going to be open one way or the other.&rdquo;&nbsp; He described the continued disruption to maritime navigation as &ldquo;unlawful,&rdquo; &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; and &ldquo;unsustainable for the world.&rdquo; Despite the renewed military tensions, Rubio said diplomatic engagement was continuing.&nbsp; &ldquo;There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we&rsquo;ll see if we can make progress,&rdquo; he said, adding that discussions were centered on &ldquo;specific language in the initial document.&rdquo; The negotiations are part of broader mediation efforts involving regional actors, including Pakistan, following a ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after months of confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel.

US official says disagreements over wording in a draft agreement are slowing progress in ongoing Iran negotiations, despite continued diplomatic talks aimed at preserving the fragile ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz

‘Disagreements over a word’ delaying US-Iran deal progress: Rubio

GAZA CITY: Gaza health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people and wounded several others on Tuesday, in the latest violence to hit the territory despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. &quot;Five martyrs and several wounded were transferred (to hospital) after an Israeli airstrike targeted a group of citizens in eastern Al-Maghazi,&quot; the civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas said. Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital and a Palestinian security source confirmed the incident and the casualties.

Graphic content / TOPSHOT - Injured children wait for medical care at the trauma ward at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on May 25, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

At least five people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on eastern Al-Maghazi in Gaza despite a ceasefire, according to health officials.

Gaza health officials say five killed in Israeli airstrike

SEOUL: North Korea launched several projectiles, including a ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, South Korea&#39;s military said. Pyongyang has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent weeks, and analysts have said the diplomatically isolated state may be trying to take advantage of eroding international norms to cement its nuclear status. The North has also repeatedly shunned efforts by the South Korean government to improve relations, repeatedly calling Seoul its most &quot;hostile&quot; adversary. South Korea&#39;s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Tuesday they had detected the launches of &quot;several projectiles&quot;, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea from the North Korean city of Chongju at around 1:00 pm (0400 GMT). The Yellow Sea is the body of water separating the Korean peninsula from China. The missiles flew about 80 kilometres (50 miles), Seoul&#39;s military said, adding that it was analysing their specifications and flight range, and had &quot;strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for possible additional launches&quot;. South Korea, its main security partner the United States, and Japan were &quot;maintaining a state of full readiness&quot; and closely sharing intelligence, Seoul&#39;s military said. The launch was North Korea&#39;s first for 37 days and its eighth this year. In April, Pyongyang conducted another such test to &quot;verify the characteristics and power of a cluster bomb warhead&quot;, its state media said at the time. South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency reported last week, citing unnamed government sources, that Chinese President Xi Jinping would likely visit North Korea sometime this week. China is North Korea&#39;s main economic and political backer, though Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia in recent years. Neither Beijing nor Pyongyang have yet confirmed Xi&#39;s visit.

A woman watches a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on May 26, 2026. North Korea launched an "unidentified projectile" into the Yellow Sea off its west coast on May 26,

Asia

North Korea fired several projectiles, including a short-range ballistic missile, into the Yellow Sea as tensions rise amid its continued weapons tests and reported regional diplomatic activity.

North Korea fires ballistic missile into Yellow Sea: Seoul

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in New York on Tuesday for an official visit focused on multilateral diplomacy, global governance and international peace and security discussions at the United Nations. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, Dar will participate in a high-level United Nations Security Council open debate titled &ldquo;Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-centered International System,&rdquo; convened under China&rsquo;s rotating presidency of the Security Council for May 2026. The session will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.&nbsp; Pakistan welcomed the initiative, with the Foreign Office describing it as a &ldquo;timely initiative&rdquo; that highlights &ldquo;the importance of strengthening multilateralism and upholding the central role of the United Nations in addressing today&rsquo;s complex global challenges.&rdquo; Dar is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the Group of Friends on Global Governance under the theme &ldquo;Reforming and Improving Global Governance, Working Together to Address Global Challenges,&rdquo; while holding separate bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials on the sidelines of the visit. The visit comes amid heightened international diplomatic activity linked to conflicts in the Middle East, maritime security concerns and broader debates over the role of multilateral institutions in addressing global crises.&nbsp; Pakistan has recently intensified diplomatic engagement at regional and international levels, including mediation efforts linked to the Iran-US ceasefire process and wider regional stability initiatives. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2059142712172093811&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=bb02a3f6b35f2bac096cdc7ad81b06fa00722b0d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>On arrival in New York, Dar was received by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and Pakistan&rsquo;s Consul General in New York Aamer Ahmad Atozai, according to the Foreign Office.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar arrived in New York for an official visit from 26-28 May. (Photo: MOFA)

Ishaq Dar will attend high-level United Nations meetings on international peace, security and global governance, while also holding bilateral engagements with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials.

Pakistan foreign minister in New York for key United Nations meetings

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban have intensified restrictions on public life and independent media, banning music in a major tourist province and shutting down several local radio stations in moves critics say reflect a widening crackdown on freedoms across Afghanistan. Authorities in Nuristan province announced new Eid al-Adha measures prohibiting music for both residents and tourists, according to statements carried by London-based Afghanistan International. Under the restrictions, bringing musical instruments into the province has been banned, with officials warning that any instruments discovered at entry points would be confiscated and destroyed. The Taliban police command in Nuristan said the measures were aimed at maintaining &ldquo;order and public security&rdquo; during the holiday period. The group has long opposed music and, since returning to power in 2021, has steadily removed it from public life, banning broadcasts on television and radio and restricting performances in markets, public gatherings and celebrations. Many Afghan musicians have since abandoned their profession or fled the country. The latest directives also ban celebratory gunfire and unauthorized weapons, while tourists have been instructed to hold recreational gatherings only in designated areas. Taliban members travelling through the province were additionally told to keep personal weapons inside vehicles. The restrictions come despite Nuristan emerging in recent years as one of Afghanistan&rsquo;s most visited domestic tourist destinations during Eid holidays, drawing thousands seeking cooler weather and mountain scenery. In a separate development, Afghan media watchdogs accused the Taliban of using bureaucratic measures to silence independent media outlets after authorities shut down three local radio stations in Kandahar province. Local sources told Afghanistan International that Taliban intelligence personnel and officials from the Ministry of Information and Culture closed the stations &ldquo;Tahsin-al-Quran,&rdquo; &ldquo;Sanga,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Zama Zeewar.&rdquo; Taliban officials claimed the outlets lacked proper licences, had unpaid taxes and aired what they described as &ldquo;non-standard&rdquo; programming. However, the Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) rejected those claims, saying the renewal of licences and administrative procedures had been delayed by Taliban authorities themselves. &ldquo;Silencing media outlets because of administrative delays is unreasonable and unjust,&rdquo; the organisation said. One station manager also disputed the allegations, telling the Afghanistan Journalists Center that claims regarding tax violations and broadcasting standards were &ldquo;false&rdquo; and merely a pretext to suppress independent media. AMSO warned that the closures further weaken Afghanistan&rsquo;s already shrinking media landscape and threaten the livelihoods of journalists amid worsening economic conditions. &ldquo;Closing media outlets amid the country&rsquo;s severe economic difficulties not only deprives citizens of access to information but also exposes many journalists and media workers to unemployment,&rdquo; the organisation said. According to media advocates, at least four local media outlets have been suspended by Taliban authorities within the past week alone, including a radio station previously shut down in Bamiyan province over licensing issues. The latest actions add to growing international concern over freedom of expression and civil liberties in Afghanistan, where rights groups say the Taliban have increasingly relied on morality regulations, censorship and administrative pressure to tighten control over public and cultural life.

Daily life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule - (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

Afghanistan

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have banned music in Nuristan during Eid holidays and shut down three radio stations in Kandahar, moves media watchdogs and rights advocates say reflect widening restrictions on cultural expression, independent journalism and public freedoms.

Taliban tighten grip on Afghan media, expand public restrictions ahead of Eid

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China agreed to accelerate work on major infrastructure, industrial and connectivity projects under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a four-day visit to China focused on expanding strategic, economic and security cooperation.&nbsp; In a joint statement issued Tuesday after meetings between PM Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, the two sides pledged to &ldquo;promote the high-quality development of the upgraded version of CPEC 2.0&rdquo; and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues.&nbsp; The agreement reflects Islamabad&rsquo;s broader push to reposition CPEC beyond traditional infrastructure financing toward industrial cooperation, manufacturing, agriculture, technology and regional trade connectivity as Pakistan seeks long-term economic modernization and export-led growth. Both countries agreed to &ldquo;move faster to build an even closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era,&rdquo; describing the relationship as carrying &ldquo;even more strategic importance and relevance&rdquo; amid shifting regional and global dynamics.&nbsp; The statement said the two sides would advance the Karakoram Highway realignment project &ldquo;in a phased and orderly manner,&rdquo; expand the role of Gwadar Port as a regional connectivity hub and strengthen land connectivity through the Khunjerab Pass.&nbsp; China and Pakistan also welcomed third-party participation in CPEC projects &ldquo;under the model agreed upon by China and Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp; The two countries agreed to deepen cooperation in industrial parks, mining, oil and gas exploration, digital economy, artificial intelligence, finance, information technology and energy.&nbsp; Both sides also committed to strengthening industrial supply chains and expanding cooperation in scientific and technological innovation.&nbsp; China agreed to support Pakistan&rsquo;s agricultural modernization efforts and facilitate market access for &ldquo;more high-quality Pakistani agricultural products&rdquo; following the completion of a Chinese training program for 1,000 Pakistani agricultural technicians.&nbsp; The joint statement highlighted expanding educational, cultural and scientific exchanges, including plans for two Pakistani astronauts to train in China. &ldquo;China welcomes two Pakistani astronauts to come to China for training and looks forward to a Pakistani astronaut becoming the first foreign astronaut for the early entrance into the China Space Station,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp; On security cooperation, the two sides agreed to establish a &ldquo;China-Pakistan Security Partnership,&rdquo; expand military and counter-terrorism cooperation and strengthen security measures for Chinese personnel and projects operating in Pakistan.&nbsp; The statement said both countries opposed &ldquo;double standards on counter-terrorism&rdquo; and agreed that militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), should not be allowed to use any territory to threaten regional security.&nbsp; Pakistan reaffirmed support for China&rsquo;s positions on Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea, while Beijing reiterated support for Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development priorities.&nbsp; The two countries also reiterated support for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute peacefully in accordance with United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements.&nbsp; During the visit, the two sides signed multiple cooperation agreements across various sectors, according to the statement.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese President Xi Jinping during delegation-level talks in Beijing on May 25, 2026, as the two sides discuss CPEC expansion, regional connectivity and broader strategic cooperation. (Handout/PMO)

As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concludes a high-level China visit, Islamabad and Beijing pledge to accelerate CPEC 2.0 projects, deepen security and economic cooperation, and strengthen coordination on regional and international issues.

Articles by Shizza Jasmin