Pakistan | Pakistan

Pakistan used a high-level diplomatic gathering at the United Nations on Wednesday to build international support for stronger global action against viral hepatitis, while new World Health Organisation (WHO) data underscored the scale of the challenge facing the country. The Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN and the Secretariat of the UN Group of Friends to Eliminate Hepatitis co-hosted a strategic briefing on the sidelines of the UN High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS under the theme, “Advancing Hepatitis Elimination: Building Momentum toward High-Level Political Action”. The meeting brought together health ministry officials, diplomats and global health experts to discuss viral hepatitis, a disease that claims approximately 1.3 million lives annually worldwide. Participants also explored pathways toward securing a standalone UN High-Level Meeting on Viral Hepatitis by 2028. Opening the event, Pakistan’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Usman Jadoon highlighted Islamabad’s commitment to ...

SIALKOT - In a landmark development for Pakistan’s aviation and export sectors, the country’s first-ever Explosive Detection System (EDS) has been installed and formally inaugurated at the Cargo Terminal of Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL).

Vehari - Pakistan Peoples Party South Punjab Secretary General and Member of the National Assembly Natasha Daultana has said that Pakistan has played a positive and constructive role in ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability between the United States and Iran, adding that the efforts of Field Marshal Asim Munir have also.

Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Irfan Neziroglu on Wednesday described Pakistan–Türkiye relations as a strong brotherly bond founded on shared history, culture, religious harmony and mutual trust, saying the two countries continue to deepen cooperation in education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said Pakistan is set to assume key roles in upcoming multilateral forums, including chair positions in regional organisations, reflecting growing international confidence in the country’s diplomatic engagement.

Speaking from the negotiation room at a Swiss resort, US Vice President JD Vance reflected on the complex realities of South Asian diplomacy. Referring to his Indian wife and Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, he remarked: “I have joked that I have two very, very important people in my life — an Indian and a Pakistani. The Indian is my wife, and the Pakistani is Field Marshal Munir.” Field Marshal Munir’s engagement with senior international figures, including his role alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in welcoming foreign delegations to Islamabad, has become a visible feature of Pakistan’s expanding diplomatic role, from South Asia to the Middle East. This trajectory runs counter to India’s efforts to isolate Pakistan following the April 22, 2025 Pahalgam attack. New Delhi reportedly sent 59 politicians to 32 countries to shore up international support, yet Pakistan came out of the four-day war with its regional and international standing intact, and according to some ass...

The commitment was made during a high-level meeting in Islamabad between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Iran’s Minister of Agriculture, Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, and stated that Pakistan would continue its efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East, the interior ministry said on Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry said the two ministers met in Islamabad, and held a detailed discussion on Pak-Iran ties and the latest situation in the region. Momeni was part of a delegation led by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which visited Pakistan on Tuesday after the US and Iran signed a ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) to end the Middle East conflict and held high-level talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland. According to the ministry, the Iranian minister thanked Naqvi for the warm welcome accorded to Pezeshkian and the Iranian delegation. Both ministers expressed satisfaction at the de-escalation in the region. Meanwhile, Naqvi congratulated the Iranian minister on the joint statement issued after the US-Iran talks in Switzerland. “This agreement would not have been possible with...

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and Russia on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation against terrorism as senior officials from both countries met in Islamabad for the 12th round of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group on Countering International Terrorism.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian will undertake an official visit to Pakistan tomorrow, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday. During his visit, which is at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the president will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and other high-ranking officials. During his visit, Pezeshkian will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will call on the visiting dignitary, the FO said. “This will be Dr Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan in his capacity as President of Iran,” the FO noted. “During the visit, the two sides will review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new avenues to further deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges, and regional connectivity,” it stated. It also termed the visit an “imp...

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Monday received the Ambassador of China, Jiang Zaidong, who conveyed to him China’s commendation of Pakistan’s successful contribution to de-escalation and reaffirmed China’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s mediation role for durable peace and.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday for a brief one-day visit, according to media reports citing diplomatic sources.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed Pakistan’s continued commitment to play an “honest and sinere” role in advancing dialogue in what were his first remarks after the conclusion of a high-level meeting between the United States and Iran under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ending the Middle East conflict. In a post on X, PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction at the “successful conclusion” of the meeting held in Switzerland’s Burgenstock. The premier stated that the discussions were held in a “positive and constructive atmosphere and yielded encouraging progress,” which included a roadmap towards the final deal within 60 days, the establishment of a high-level committee for political oversight and the commencement of further technical talks. PM Shehbaz commended the leadership of both the US and Iran for “continued commitment to constructive engagement”. He also expressed thanks for “all brotherly and friendly countries for their valuable support in advancing this historic process...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to return to Pakistan on Monday after participating in the latest round of talks between Iran and the United States aimed at finding a lasting resolution to tensions in the Middle East.

ISLAMABAD - The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye yesterday welcomed the signing of the historic Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran, describing it as a significant breakthrough for regional diplomacy and a constructive step toward de-escalation in the Middle East.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s extraordinary diplomatic intervention in the Middle East has emerged as one of the most consequential peace efforts in recent history, earning widespread international acclaim and reinforcing Islamabad’s stature as a pivotal force for regional and global stability.

ISLAMABAD - A photograph showcasing the top tier of the banned Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group lounging at the luxury InterContinental Hotel in Kabul has provided undeniable, concrete proof of Pakistan’s longstanding stance that anti-Pakistan militant groups are not only operating from Afghan soil but are enjoying premium, high level.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt on Sunday welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran during a Regional Four (R-4) meeting in Cairo, emphasising the importance of achieving a “swift and successful” conclusion to the subsequent phase of negotiations. The meeting came the same day as Pakistan, along with c0-mediator Qatar, hosted delegations from the US and Iran in Switzerland for high-level technical talks ironing out the details of the MoU. On Friday, the FO had announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would attend the fourth meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo on June 21 at the invitation of his Egyptian counterpart. In a joint statement issued by the participating nations, shared by the Foreign Office on X, the R-4 meet which convened in Cairo on Sunday at the invitation of Egypt, welcomed the signing of the Islamabad MoU. The participating nations viewed the important development as a “constructive step towards de-es...

Pakistan is targeting the training and deployment of 300,000 to 400,000 workers for projects linked to the FIFA World Cup 2034 which will take place in Saudi Arabia as part of a broader strategy to expand overseas employment opportunities and strengthen the country’s position in international labour markets. According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, workforce planning is being aligned with anticipated demand arising from the FIFA World Cup 2034, with trained Pakistani workers expected to support infrastructure development, aviation, tourism and related service sectors between 2026 and 2034. The initiative forms part of the government’s wider efforts to boost manpower exports and enhance the skills profile of Pakistani workers for overseas employment. During July-March FY2025-26, a total of 215,719 workers received soft-skills training aimed at improving adaptability, productivity and global employability. The documents indicate that overseas employment remains a key pillar of Pakistan’s ...

ISLAMABAD: Setting a rapid pace for judicial appointments, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has formally invited nominations to fill 10 vacant positions of additional judges in the Lahore High Court (LHC). The move comes just a day after the commission approved the Inter­views of Judges Appointment Rules, creating a specialised seven-member panel to vet prospective candidates for the superior judiciary. According to an official communication circulated by the JCP Secretariat, nominations on the prescribed format have been sought for the LHC benches and must reach the commission by July 4. Sources told Dawn that following the compilation of these nominations, the JCP is scheduled to convene intensive sessions from July 21 to 23 to evaluate and finalise selections for the Lahore, Sindh, and Balochistan high courts. Concurrently, candidate recommendations for the Peshawar High Court (PHC) are being finalised and are expected to be placed before the commission during the same period. The swift procedural...