Latest News from Balochistan
Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday held a meeting here at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.
During the meeting, both the dignitaries exchanged views on issues of national importance and shared perspectives on the overall political and national situation, including matters relating to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a DPM’s Office news release said.
Islamabad: Allottees of Sector I-12 have urged the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to complete the provision of basic civic infrastructure alongside the ongoing handover of plot possession, saying the absence of essential utilities would hinder residential construction.
The appeal comes after the CDA began handing over possession of plots in the sector, a long-awaited step welcomed by allottees.
They said the sector still lacked electricity, gas, water supply, sewerage and completed roads, adding that these facilities were necessary before construction activity could gather pace.
The allottees also called on the civic agency to install an underground electricity distribution network across the sector, arguing that I-12, as one of Islamabad’s relatively new residential sectors, should be developed with modern utility infrastructure instead of overhead power lines.
Tahir Mahmood, an allottee, said the handover of possession marked significant progress but should be followed by the completion of development works.
“Possession alone will not enable allottees to start construction. Electricity is essential, and the CDA should prioritise an underground distribution network,” he said.
Another allottee, retired professor Khumar Gul, said the authority should complete the remaining infrastructure on a priority basis to facilitate development in accordance with the capital’s master plan.
He said electricity, gas, water supply, roads and sewerage were all integral to making the sector habitable.
Kashif Iftikhar, who recently took possession of his plot, said construction activities could not proceed without a reliable electricity supply.
He expressed the hope that the CDA would provide power connections at the earliest to enable allottees to begin building their homes.
The CDA has yet to publicly respond to the allottees’ demands.
Islamabad: Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan on Tuesday called for enhanced climate finance, technology transfer, stronger institutions and international partnerships to accelerate climate action, saying Pakistan requires greater global support to strengthen its resilience against the growing impacts of climate change.
Addressing a high-level policy dialogue titled ‘Climate Finance and International Cooperation for Strengthening Climate Resilience in Pakistan,’ organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), she said climate change had emerged as a defining threat to Pakistan’s economic stability, food and water security, public health and sustainable development, said a press release.
She noted that although Pakistan contributes less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. She stressed that international climate finance must be made more accessible, predictable, and responsive to support vulnerable countries.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, underscored the strategic importance of climate finance and international cooperation in strengthening Pakistan’s climate resilience. He said climate finance is not merely about mobilizing resources but about enabling resilient development, strengthening institutions, accelerating innovation, and expanding opportunities for sustainable economic growth.
He expressed hope that the dialogue would generate practical recommendations and contribute to strengthening Pakistan’s engagement with the evolving global climate finance architecture.
Dr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative of UNDP Pakistan, said strengthening governance, institutional capacity, and policy coherence is fundamental to building climate resilience. He observed that effective climate finance is measured not only by the volume of resources mobilized but by its accessibility, quality, and ability to deliver tangible benefits to vulnerable communities, calling for stronger institutional coordination, greater investment in resilience-building, and integrated approaches to help Pakistan anticipate, withstand, and recover from climate impacts.
Climate change expert Ali Tauqeer Sheikh emphasized that Pakistan’s key challenge lies not in the availability of climate finance but in the absence of a coherent governance framework for coordinating and mobilizing financial resources. He called for institutional reforms to establish a single coordinating authority for climate finance, greater transparency and accountability through ring-fencing and independent auditing of climate-related funds, and improved access to international climate finance.
He also highlighted the importance of innovative financing instruments, including blended finance, risk-
sharing mechanisms, and contingent financing, to leverage greater public and private investment in climate resilience.
Hamza Haroon, Regional Director for West and South Asia at the Climate Vulnerable Forum-V20 (CVF-V20), highlighted inequities in the global climate finance architecture and the challenges faced by climate-vulnerable countries in accessing affordable finance.
He called for scaled-up concessional finance, greater mobilization of private investment, and stronger country-led climate financing mechanisms. Referring to Pakistan’s Climate Prosperity Plan, he said it offered significant potential for attracting investment in climate-resilient development and stressed the need for a national platform to improve coordination and project implementation.
Amir Khan Goraya, Chief Executive Officer of the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF), underscored the importance of shifting from disaster response to risk-informed investment. He said greater investment in resilient infrastructure, preparedness, and locally driven adaptation measures is essential to building long-term resilience to climate change, and called for integrating climate risk considerations into national development planning and investment decisions to safeguard development gains.
He further stressed that strengthening institutional capacities and fostering collaboration among government, development partners, and local communities are critical to building a climate-resilient Pakistan.
The dialogue was attended by senior government officials, representatives of international organisations, development partners, climate experts, policymakers, academics, and members of the diplomatic community.
Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar congratulated Ambassador-designate to Nepal Aamir Khan on his appointment.
He underscored the importance of strengthening Pakistan-Nepal relations by enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, tourism, education, and people-to-people exchanges
During a call-on paid by the Ambassador-designate here, the deputy prime minister encouraged Ambassador Khan to work closely with the Nepalese leadership and business community to unlock new avenues of economic collaboration.
The DPM/FM also appreciated Aamir Khan’s dedicated services as Director General (Americas) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and wished him every success in his new assignment.
Islamabad: The Pakistan Ulema Council and the International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council on Tuesday condemned the ballistic missile attack launched by the Houthi group against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, describing it as an unacceptable act of aggression that threatens regional peace and security.
In a statement issued by Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council and Secretary General of the International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, the two organizations praised the Saudi Armed Forces for successfully intercepting and neutralizing the missile, saying the swift response demonstrated the Kingdom’s robust and highly effective defence capabilities.
The The organizations urged the Houthis to immediately cease all hostile actions against the land of the Two Holy Mosques and refrain from any aggression that could endanger the security, stability and sanctity of Saudi Arabia.
Reaffirming their unwavering support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Pakistan Ulema Council and the International Tazeem-e-Haramain Sharifain Council declared their full solidarity with the Saudi leadership and people in safeguarding the country’s defence, security and stability.
Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif urged the nation to renew its collective resolve to build a future where the talents and abilities of the youth are fully realized and transformed into lasting national prosperity.
In his message on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day celebrated on July 15, the prime minister underlined that Pakistan joined the international community in observing World Youth Skills Day, marked under the theme Skills for a Shared Future, and paid tribute to the talent, determination, and immense potential of its young people.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said the country’s youth were reckoned among its nation’s most valuable assets. However, through quality education,character building and the acquisition of contemporary knowledge and skills, the youth were confidently advancing towards a brighter and more prosperous future.
He said the current era of digital innovation, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and a rapidly evolving global economy was reshaping the future of labour and employment sector. “In this changing landscape, internationally competitive skills have become the true foundation of sustainable progress. Technical and vocational education and training, equitable access to opportunities, enhanced productivity, and entrepreneurial innovation are the key drivers of economic prosperity and global competitiveness,” he added.
Recognizing the central importance of skills development, he said the government had transformed the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) into a modern, dynamic, and future oriented national institution.
The prime minister said the Commission was equipped to deliver internationally benchmarked training, globally recognized certifications, and industry aligned skills that would enable Pakistani youth to compete with confidence, both at home and abroad.
He added that this year, the government had allocated a substantial budget through the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) to strengthen technical skills development, reflecting its unwavering commitment to investing in Pakistan’s human capital. Under this policy, skills development was established as a fundamental pillar of Pakistan’s economic growth and prosperity, he said.
The prime minister noted that another central pillar of the government’s strategy was not only to expand employment opportunities but also to nurture skilled professionals, entrepreneurs, and a highly competent workforce capable of generating jobs, increasing exports, enhancing national productivity, and contributing meaningfully to sustainable economic development.
The government, he said was also expanding collaboration and partnerships with industry stakeholders and international institutions under a comprehensive strategy to ensure that Pakistan’s workforce meets global standards and remains competitive in international markets.
“Harnessing and nurturing the full potential of our national workforce by ensuring equal opportunities for all men and women, without discrimination of any kind, remains one of the government’s foremost priorities,” he vowed.
The prime minister expressed his confidence that with the effective performance of the country’s training institutions, coordinated strategies at the federal and provincial levels, and the sincere collaboration of the private sector and industry, Pakistan’s skilled workforce would emerge as a global symbol of competence, innovation, and excellence.