Day: July 9, 2026

Islamabad: The Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) have successfully located and recovered the wreckage of a K2 Airways cargo Boeing 737 after a 12-hour search and rescue operation in the deep sea.

The wreckage of the missing aircraft was found approximately 53 nautical miles south of the Ormara coast, according to a statement posted by the Pakistan Airports Authority on X.

Islamabad: A two-day national seminar on Nature-based Solutions (NbS), organised by WWF Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), began in Islamabad on Wednesday.

The event brought together senior government officials, humanitarian organisations, development partners, academics, civil society representatives and private sector leaders to identify practical pathways for scaling up Nature based Solutions across Pakistan.

The seminar is aimed at strengthening partnerships and integrating NbS into climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development efforts.

Addressing the inaugural session as chief guest, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Amir Mohyuddin said Pakistan’s flood patterns are changing, with monsoon systems shifting westwards and disasters increasingly occurring in the form of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and urban flooding.

He said healthy forests, wetlands, rangelands and protected areas are vital for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Mr Amir appreciated the efforts of WWF Pakistan and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society in promoting innovative Nature based Solutions across the country.

WWF Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi Khan said the organisation has developed and expanded a range of Nature based Solutions, including floating treatment wetlands, gabion bunds, check dams and recharge wells, to improve water security, reduce flood risks, restore ecosystems and strengthen climate resilience.

He said that under the Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) project, WWF Pakistan has implemented more than 320 Nature based Solutions interventions across 16 districts of Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab during the past five years.

He said the project has benefited more than 500,000 people. Building on these achievements, WWF Pakistan is preparing to implement the Recharge Pakistan initiative across the Indus Basin.

He said the project will directly benefit more than 680,000 people and strengthen the climate resilience of over seven million people.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society Chairperson Farzhana Naek said scaling up Nature based Solutions requires stronger institutional coordination, supportive policy frameworks, sustainable financing and meaningful engagement of local communities.

She reaffirmed the need for stronger partnerships among government institutions, humanitarian organisations, academia, civil society organisations and the private sector to accelerate implementation across the country.

During technical and panel discussions, participants reviewed successful Nature based Solutions initiatives from different parts of Pakistan.

They also discussed policy reforms, financing mechanisms, innovation and cross-sector collaboration needed to expand climate-resilient development and scale up Nature based Solutions nationwide.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari, during an official visit to the Kyrgyz Republic, Wednesday, paid tribute to the nation’s historical legacy.

He also held a key meeting with Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament Mamataliev Marlen Abdyrakhmanovich, in Bishkek, aimed at converting deep-rooted political goodwill into tangible economic and parliamentary cooperation.

The president visited the Ata Beit Memorial Complex (literally “Grave of our Fathers”) in Chong-Tash, a solemn historical site and resting place of Kyrgyzstan’s national figures.

He laid a wreath at the central monument and paid tribute to the Kyrgyz nationals martyrs of different historical eras and the nation’s struggle for independence, President Secretariat Media Wing said in a press release.

He then visited the Ata-Beit Memorial Museum, where he viewed historical artefacts chronicling Kyrgyzstan’s journey to sovereignty, including the memorial dedicated to the renowned Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov, also buried there.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari was seen off at Issyk-Kul Airport, Tamchy by President Sadyr Zhaparov. Upon arrival at Manas International Airport, Bishkek, he was received by the Speaker of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mamataliev Marlen Abdyrakhmanovich and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Altamash Wazir Khan.

Later, Speaker Mamataliev Marlen Abdyrakhmanovich called on President Zardari, accompanied by prominent members of the Kyrgyz Parliament.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Dr. Asim Hussain, Adviser to the President, and senior Pakistani officials also attended the meeting.

The two sides discussed ways to deepen parliamentary cooperation, expand trade, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

President Zardari underscored the importance of robust inter-parliamentary engagement in ensuring continuity in bilateral relations.

He highlighted the active Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Friendship Group in Pakistan’s National Assembly and recalled that during President Sadyr Zhaparov’s visit to Islamabad in 2025, the speaker of the National Assembly and the chairman Senate jointly called on the Kyrgyz President, reaffirming the importance of sustained parliamentary contacts.

‘The President reiterated that Pakistan attached great significance to its close, fraternal and longstanding ties with the Kyrgyz Republic, founded on shared faith, historical links, cultural affinity and mutual goodwill.

He also congratulated the Kyrgyz leadership on the country’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term. Both sides reviewed progress on land and air connectivity, bilateral trade, and cooperation on certification mechanisms and professional pathways for students,’ the press release added.

The speaker warmly welcomed the president and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s enduring friendship with the Kyrgyz Republic.

The meeting was followed by a dinner hosted by the speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament in honour of President Zardari, which was attended by senior Pakistani and Kyrgyz officials.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has paid glowing tribute to Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah on her 59th death anniversary, and described her as one of the most courageous, visionary and devoted daughters of the nation whose services to the Pakistan Movement and democratic ideals continue to inspire generations.

In a message issued on the occasion of her 59th death anniversary, to be observed on July 9, the president said the nation pays homage to Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah for her unwavering struggle in the creation of Pakistan, her steadfast companionship to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and her tireless efforts during the Pakistan Movement.

The president said Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah remained an immovable pillar of strength during the most formative and testing times in the country’s history. He noted that despite the social barriers of her era, she mobilised women across the subcontinent and transformed them into a powerful force in the struggle for independence.

Highlighting her humanitarian services after the creation of Pakistan, the president said she played a leading role in the rehabilitation of millions of refugees, providing hope and dignity to countless families through her compassion, practical leadership and resilience during a period of immense hardship.

The president further said that Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law, constitutionalism and her fearless stand against authoritarianism remain a lasting source of inspiration for the nation.

He observed that her enduring legacy serves as a timeless reminder that the true strength of a nation lies in the moral courage of its people and their steadfast adherence to the principles of justice, equality and freedom.

The president said the nation honours the blessed memory of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and reaffirms its collective resolve to uphold the democratic ideals she cherished throughout her life.

Praying for the departed soul, the president said, “May Allah Almighty bless her soul and guide us to follow her example of courage, integrity, strength, sacrifice and selfless service to the people of Pakistan.”

Islamabad: At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, will undertake an official visit to Pakistan on Thursday.

This will be the first-ever visit by a Croatian foreign minister to Pakistan.

‘The DPM/FM and the visiting Foreign Minister will hold talks on the entire range of bilateral ties. They would discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, visa facilitation, education, defence, IT and maritime cooperation. The two Ministers will also exchange views on regional and global developments of interest,’ the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a press release

During the visit, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman is scheduled to call on the leadership including the Prime Minister and Chairman Senate.

This high-level visit from Croatia to Pakistan will help boost bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in the fields of mutual benefit.

Islamabad: Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday expressed profound grief over the loss of lives and widespread property damage caused by torrential rains and subsequent flooding in China.

The acting president, in a statement, extended Pakistan’s solidarity, saying that the nation stood firmly with its Chinese brethren during this challenging natural calamity.

He said that the time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China grew stronger in the face of adversity.