Day: July 9, 2026

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to the Secretary Establishment Division and other respondents in a case concerning the repatriation of the Director General of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) to the Punjab government.

Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas heard the petition filed by Professor Dr. Zeeshan Danish. Advocate Shah Khawar appeared on behalf of the petitioner and argued that a notification regarding his client’s services was uploaded on the government website on May 20, 2026, without any prior hearing or notice to the petitioner. The counsel argued the notification was based on malafide intent and should be declared null and void.

Justice Minhas stated that the court would first seek a response from the respondents before proceeding further. The court issued notices to the Secretary Establishment Division, Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, and the Managing Director of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, adjourning the hearing until the last week of July.

According to the petition, the notification was issued on May 20, 2026, repatriating Prof. Dr. Zeeshan Danish to the Punjab government. The petitioner claims the decision was taken without hearing him and that he only came to know of the action after the notification was uploaded.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Wednesday said agriculture and industry are the two sectors that can strengthen Pakistan’s economy, increase exports, create jobs and raise national revenue.

Speaking at the 10th mango festival, he said the country must support farmers and industries to achieve sustainable economic growth.

The minister praised investors and business leaders who continued to invest in Pakistan and contributed to promoting the country’s products in local and international markets. Referring to the mango festival, he said the event has become an important platform for introducing Pakistani mangoes to buyers and consumers from around the world.

Abbasi said Pakistan’s mangoes have earned recognition in international markets because of their quality and demand. He added that festivals and exhibitions help showcase agricultural products and create opportunities for export growth.

He also appreciated the role of Nawaz Sharif Agriculture University Multan in supporting agricultural research and sharing modern farming knowledge with growers. He said research institutions play an important role in improving production and helping farmers adopt better agricultural practices.

The minister announced that Pakistan Railways is prepared to support exporters and farmers through special freight rates for transportation from Lahore, Multan and Khanewal. He said an efficient transport network is necessary for increasing exports and reducing costs for producers.

Highlighting economic priorities, Abbasi said agriculture and industry should remain at the center of national policy. He noted that Pakistan spends billions of dollars on imports, including pulses, despite having the land and resources needed to produce many agricultural commodities domestically.

He urged policymakers to provide greater support to farmers, including affordable electricity and other incentives. While acknowledging measures already taken by provincial and federal governments, including solar-powered tube wells in some areas, he said more steps are required to improve agricultural productivity and support rural communities.

Discussing industrial development, Abbasi said businesses face challenges due to energy costs, taxes and financing expenses. He stressed the need to address these issues to improve competitiveness and encourage investment.

Turning to the railway sector, the minister said Pakistan Railways is undergoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency and expanding freight services. He noted that rail transport remains one of the most cost-effective and secure methods of moving goods and is widely used across the world.

According to Abbasi, Pakistan Railways increased its revenue through operational improvements and better management. He said freight operations recorded significant growth despite challenges in the regional trade environment.

The minister added that new initiatives are being introduced in freight transportation, including services for edible oil and automobile vehicles. He said expanding rail-based logistics will help reduce transportation costs and support economic activity.

Abbasi concluded by stressing the importance of national unity and collective efforts for development. He said progress depends on strengthening institutions, supporting productive sectors and working together to advance the country’s economic interests.

The annual mango festival brought together farmers, exporters, researchers and business representatives, highlighting the role of Pakistan’s mango industry in promoting agricultural exports and international trade.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi Wednesday called for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in education, technology and culture.

He was speaking at the First International Conference on Islamic Civilization in Tashkent.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the five-day conference, being held from July 07 to 11 under the theme “The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment,” the minister stressed the importance of unity among the Muslim Ummah, saying, “greater collaboration among Muslim countries was essential for preserving and advancing Islamic civilization”.

The conference, organized by the International Center for Islamic Civilization, has brought together scholars, policymakers and experts from across the Muslim world to deliberate on the preservation and promotion of Islamic civilization, said a news release.

Representing Pakistan, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi congratulated the organizers and described the conference as an important platform for strengthening intellectual and cultural links among Muslim nations.

He said unity among the Muslim Ummah was indispensable for the revival and progress of Islamic civilization, adding that Allama Muhammad Iqbal consistently emphasized Muslim unity and urged believers to overcome divisions.

Highlighting the historical and spiritual links between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, the minister said Iqbal’s intellectual thought had been deeply influenced by the region’s renowned Sufi saints.

He referred to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Syed Ali Hamdani, Zia Nakhshabi and Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, saying they travelled from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent to spread the message of Islam and establish a rich spiritual and cultural tradition.

The minister said while Muslims take pride in their glorious past, they must work collectively in accordance with Islamic teachings to build a future worthy of that legacy.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to stronger relations with Uzbekistan, he expressed the country’s readiness to expand bilateral cooperation in higher education, technology, culture and other areas of mutual interest.

Pakistan was also represented at the conference by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Director General of the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), Islamabad.

Islamabad: Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Mohsin Naqvi, held a bilateral meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Anand Wijepala, at the United Nations Headquarters, where the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation across a range of security and law enforcement sectors.

The meeting focused on enhancing coordination in the fight against narcotics trafficking, with both ministers reaffirming their commitment to closer collaboration to curb the transnational drug trade.

Recognizing the importance of capacity building, the two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in police training through the exchange of expertise and professional development initiatives.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka further agreed to intensify joint efforts to combat illegal immigration and prevent travel on forged passports. As part of the understanding, the heads of immigration authorities of both countries will establish immediate contact to improve operational coordination and information sharing.

The ministers also discussed the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation against organized criminal networks and money laundering, reflecting a shared resolve to tackle cross-border crime through institutional collaboration.

To ensure sustained engagement, both sides agreed to establish a Joint Working Group between their respective interior ministries to oversee and advance bilateral cooperation in security-related matters.

The meeting also concluded with an understanding to address visa-related issues on a priority basis, underscoring the commitment of both countries to facilitate smoother bilateral engagement while reinforcing security cooperation.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Wednesday, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to achieving a polio-free Pakistan through sustained political resolve and close collaboration with international partners.

A delegation of the Polio Oversight Board (POB) called on the DPM/FM. The delegation included Mike McGovern, POB Chair, Rotary International; Dr. Chris Elias, President, Global Development, Gates Foundation; Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director, WHO EMRO; Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO, Gavi; Sanjay Wijeskera, Regional Director, UNICEF Asia; Dr. Ziad Memish, Senior Advisor, KS Relief; and Dr. Omotayo Bola, Team Lead, GID, CDC.

The Pakistani side was represented by Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of NCRC, who also leads the Pakistan Polio Program, Special Secretary (UN), and other senior officials from relevant ministries, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.

The DPM/FM appreciated their steadfast support for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

The delegation praised Pakistan’s strong and vibrant diplomacy in achieving regional peace and Pakistan’s proactive role in global humanitarian issues.

Islamabad: Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on 2-4 July 2026 to attend the ‘Farewell and Tribute Ceremony’ held in honour of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

He was accompanied by Muhammad Bilal Khan, Executive Assistant, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

On behalf of the D-8 Organization, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood conveyed profound condolences to the Iranian leadership, government and people. He participated in the solemn ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries, offered prayers for the departed soul, signed the condolence book and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and the people of Iran.

During his stay in Tehran, the Secretary-General called on Foreign Minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi for a bilateral meeting. The discussions focused inter alia on the long-standing partnership between the D-8 Secretariat and Iran, regional developments, D-8’s strategic priorities, and preparations for the next phase of D-8 cooperation.

The Secretary-General offered the sympathies and condolences on behalf of the Secretariat, reaffirmed solidarity with the people of Iran, and wished success for the Iranian leadership’s efforts for durable peace, progress and prosperity. He also apprised Foreign Minister Araghchi of recent progress on various tracks of cooperation within the D-8 framework and highlighted the D-8’s present profile and future trajectory.

Foreign Minister Araghchi thanked the Secretary-General for participation in the ‘Farewell and Tribute Ceremony’; underlined Iran’s strong national resolve as well as commitment for peace through dialogue and diplomacy; and emphasized the importance of enhanced economic cooperation in the transformed regional landscape.

The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed Iran’s steadfast commitment to D-8 as a founding member and assured that Iran would continue to contribute substantially to the advancement of the D-8 agenda of cooperation across the broad spectrum. Views were also exchanged on ways to realize new opportunities for increased trade, investment, energy cooperation, and hard and soft connectivity, arising from the transformation underway.

The Secretary-General also had substantive interactions with Deputy Foreign Minister and President of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) Dr. Saeed Khatibzadeh; and with Iran’s D-8 Commissioner Ambassador Alireza Tootoonchian. The exchanges in those meetings focused on enhancing policy dialogue, deepening D-8 collaboration in priority areas under the Decennial Roadmap 2020-2030, and measures to strengthen D-8’s institutional capacity, organizational effectiveness, and international profile and visibility.

Overall, during the various interactions in Tehran, the Secretary-General underscored that the D-8 is entering a new phase of strategic transformation centered on closer economic integration, trade and investment promotion, industrial cooperation, innovation, technology, energy security, sustainable development, and people-centered growth. He also emphasized that Iran’s industrial capabilities, technological expertise, manufacturing capacity, and strategic position would continue to be of immense value in advancing the collective vision and objectives of the D-8.

The Secretary-General’s visit served to further reinforce the partnership between the D-8 Secretariat and the Islamic Republic of Iran, while the exchanges highlighted shared determination on both sides to support D-8’s organizational capacity-building through enhanced human and financial resources; deeper economic cooperation and integration across the D-8 geography; and increased international awareness and profile of D-8 as it enters the 30th year since its inception in 1997.