Day: July 12, 2026

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia and exchanged views on the recent developments in the region.

They expressed deep concern over the escalations despite the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran in June 2026. They agreed that the renewed conflict serves no one’s interest and undermines efforts toward regional peace and stability.

The Saudi Foreign Minister shared the Kingdom’s perspective on ongoing diplomatic efforts and emphasized the importance of de-escalation and continued dialogue. DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and allow mediation efforts the necessary time and space to achieve a peaceful and meaningful outcome.

The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

Islamabad: The 25th death anniversary of legendary Urdu poet Qateel Shifai was observed on Saturday with tributes paid from the literary circles who honoured his unforgettable contribution to poetry and his enduring place in Urdu literature.

According to media reports, he rose to prominence under the pen name Qateel Shifai and became a symbol of literary excellence.

With his unique style, emotional depth and powerful expression, Qateel Shifai captivated generations of poetry lovers.

His poetic verses reflected human emotions, love and social realities, thus leaving an unforgettable mark on Urdu poetry.

Throughout his illustrious career, he authored more than 20 collections of poetry and penned over 900 songs for more than 200 films, making him one of the most influential lyricists in the history of Urdu literature and cinema.

In recognition of his outstanding literary services, Qateel Shifai was honoured with the Pride of Performance award in 1994.

Qateel Shifai’ s poetic journey remains an enduring chapter in Urdu literature, with his verses continuing to inspire readers and artists across generations.

His unmatched contribution to poetry and film songwriting has secured him place among the most respected literary figures of the Urdu world.

He passed away in Lahore on this day in 2001, but his poetic legacy continues to live on.

Islamabad: Pakistan will host the 9th Ministerial Conference on Women of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) here, to be held from July 12-13, bringing together around 190 delegates from 57 OIC member states, including ministers, senior government officials and prominent women leaders.

The two-day conference aims to strengthen cooperation among OIC member states for the empowerment of women by promoting their social, economic, political and professional participation while advancing inclusive and sustainable development across the Muslim world.

According to official details, delegates will deliberate on measures to expand women’s access to economic opportunities, financial systems, entrepreneurship, technology and digital platforms, besides addressing the digital gender gap and enhancing financial inclusion.

The conference will also discuss strategies to improve women’s participation in decision-making processes and review progress made on commitments adopted at previous OIC ministerial conferences. Participants are expected to exchange experiences and best practices while exploring new avenues for promoting women’s rights and socio-economic development within member states.

The meeting will further focus on expanding women’s access to quality education and healthcare and promoting policies aimed at achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development across the Muslim world.

The conference builds on the outcomes of previous OIC ministerial meetings on women, particularly the eighth session held in Cairo in 2021, which focused on women’s empowerment, protection frameworks and enhancing their socio-economic participation.

Pakistan, as the host country, is expected to use the conference as a platform to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening cooperation among OIC member states for promoting gender-inclusive development and creating greater opportunities for women across diverse sectors.

Islamabad: At least four people were killed and nine others sustained injuries after a collision involving multiple motorcycles and a roadside-parked mini-truck in Nowshera Virkan, Punjab province, during the early hours of Saturday.

According to police, the accident occurred when five motorcycles crashed into a mini-truck that had been parked on the roadside. The collision claimed the lives of four people on the spot, while nine others sustained injured, local media channel reported.

Police and rescue teams rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident. The victims were shifted to a nearby hospital, where the injured were provided medical treatment.

Rescue officials identified the deceased as Ali Haider, Hamza, Faisal and Sabnam Bibi. The condition of some of the injured was reported to be serious.

After the completion of medico-legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to the victims’ families for burial. Police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Foreign Minister of Maldives Dr. Iruthisham Adam and exchanged views on regional and international developments.

DPM/FM congratulated Dr. Adam on the forthcoming 61st anniversary of the Maldives’ Independence.

Foreign Minister Adam appreciated Pakistan’s role in mediating the Iran-US conflict.

While reaffirming their shared commitment to further strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between Pakistan and the Maldives, the two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

Islamabad: The government is set to further expand cellular services in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan with a proposed allocation of Rs298.875 million for the financial year 2026-27.

According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the initiative titled ‘Expansion of Cellular Services in AJK and GB Phase-IV’ began in 2024 and is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The project’s total cost is Rs1.997 billion.

The project has achieved 90% physical progress and 85% financial progress. So far, Rs1.698 billion has been spent, and the expected throw-forward of Rs298.875 million has been proposed for allocation in FY2026-27.

Under the initiative, the government plans to install 28 essential cellular sites in AJK and GB along with the required civil infrastructure. The project is designed to improve mobile connectivity, extend 4G services, and strengthen communication facilities in these difficult terrains where people often face limited access to reliable telecom services.

According to the progress report, civil work on 23 sites has been completed, while power has also been extended to all 23 locations. In addition, 4G cellular equipment has been commissioned at 23 sites, improving mobile broadband services in targeted areas.

Work on digging and laying 50 kilometres of optical fibre cable is also in progress, which will help improve network reliability and support stronger backhaul connectivity for cellular services.

The initiative is expected to benefit local communities, students, businesses, tourists, emergency services, and public sector institutions by improving access to digital communication. Better cellular coverage in AJK and GB can also support online education, telemedicine, e-commerce, tourism promotion, and disaster response.

The project reflects the government’s efforts to bridge the digital divide by extending modern telecom infrastructure to geographically challenging and less-connected regions. Once completed, the initiative is expected to provide more reliable cellular and broadband services to the remote communities across AJK and GB.