Day: July 24, 2026

Beijing: Loudi of Hunan Province and Gujrat of Punjab, Pakistan, signed a sister-city memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 21, marking a new phase of institutionalized and pragmatic cooperation between the two cities.

The MoU was signed by Yang Wei, Mayor of Loudi City, and Shafay Hussain, Minister for the Industries, Commerce and Investment Department of the Government of Punjab, at a ceremony in Lahore, witnessed by Sun Yan, Consul General of China in Lahore.

The agreement established a framework for long-term collaboration in economic development, trade, investment and cultural exchange, reflecting the growing synergy between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, CEN reported.

The sister city partnership was expected to facilitate knowledge sharing and technical cooperation in key sectors, particularly in agricultural modernization where Loudi’s manufacturing strengths complement Gujrat’s industrial and agricultural base.

During the visit, Mayor Yang Wei led a delegation of chairpersons from five leading agricultural machinery enterprises from Loudi for a three-day business mission in Lahore. The delegation conducted on-site inspections and held substantive discussions with their Pakistani counterparts to explore cooperation projects in the agricultural machinery sector.

In a parallel development, the Loudi Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) signed a friendship and cooperation agreement with the Pakistan-Hunan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Under the agreement, the two sides would strengthen exchanges and cooperation in economic development, science and technology, cultural engagement, investment promotion and personnel visits, further facilitating business-to-business ties and fostering a more robust bilateral trade ecosystem.

Peshawar: Armed robbers deprived a gold trader of Rs17.8 million in Bhana Mari area here on Thursday, police said. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the trader had sold 488 grams of gold before the incident and placed the cash amounting to Rs17.8 million in the trunk of his vehicle.

Police said the traders stopped near a shop in Civil Quarter area to purchase some items when armed men riding a motorcycle intercepted him. The suspects held the trader at gunpoint opened the vehicle’s trunk and took the cash before fleeing the scene.

A case has been registered at Bhana Mari Police Station and police have launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the crime scene and nearby areas is being reviewed to identify and arrest the suspects.

Sargodha: Deputy Commissioner Hussain Ahmad Raza Chaudhry on Thursday ordered all relevant departments to accelerate measures aimed at eliminating malnutrition among children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

He issued these orders while chairing a meeting of the District Malnutrition Alleviation Committee (DMAC) here, which reviewed the prevailing situation of malnutrition in the district, ongoing initiatives and future strategy.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Arshad Ahmad Wattoo, CEO Health Dr Kashif Nabeel Azam and officers from the Food Authority, Social Welfare, Education, Livestock, Local Government, Public Health Engineering, Agriculture and other departments.

The DC directed that malnourished children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers be identified, examined and provided timely treatment.

He said eliminating malnutrition was a collective responsibility of all concerned departments, requiring coordinated efforts, effective liaison and continuous monitoring.

He also directed the departments to intensify public awareness campaigns regarding balanced diets, the importance of breastfeeding, the use of clean drinking water and hygiene practices.

On the occasion, the officials of various departments briefed the meeting on their performance and ongoing measures, while the Deputy Commissioner directed all institutions to enhance coordination, achieve assigned targets and regularly review progress.

Mirpur (ajk): The authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have intensified preparations to ensure the July 27 elections are conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner, a senior district official said on Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Sajid Aslam chaired a meeting in Mirpur to review election arrangements with officials from the district administration, police and key government departments, according to an official statement.

The representatives from the health, education, local government, civil defence, highways, buildings, social welfare, Auqaf and information departments briefed the meeting on logistical preparations, assigned responsibilities and measures to support polling operations.

The meeting decided to strengthen the election monitoring and control system to enable timely coordination and response to any emerging situation.

The departments were instructed to appoint focal persons to maintain constant communication and ensure rapid information sharing throughout polling day.

Addressing the meeting, Sajid Aslam directed all departments to complete election-related arrangements well before the vote and carry out their responsibilities with diligence.

He also directed the education department to provide administrative support where required for election management.

The deputy commissioner said close coordination among the district administration, police and other departments would be essential to ensuring a transparent and orderly electoral process.

He called on officials to remain in regular contact through designated focal persons and make full use of available resources to provide voters with a safe and peaceful environment.

Appealing to the public, Sajid Aslam urged eligible voters to cast their ballots peacefully on July 27 and participate actively in the electoral process, adding it would help strengthen democratic institutions.

The meeting concluded with participating departments reaffirming their commitment to coordinated efforts for the peaceful, secure and successful conduct of the AJK elections.

Peshawar: A police official and a 13-year-old boy died in a shooting incident near Chashma Jat in Jangal Khel area of Kohat on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122, the victims sustained critical injuries in the firing. Rescue medical teams reached the scene promptly, provided first aid and shifted both victims to DHQ Hospital Kohat in critical condition.

Hospital doctors later confirmed that both had succumbed to their injuries.

The deceased were identified as 50-year-old police Havaldar Rahim, a resident of Jangal Khel and 13-year-old Naqeebullah, a resident of Mian Ghari.

Police collected evidence from the scene and launched an investigation. Police said efforts are underway to determine the motive behind the shooting and trace those responsible.

Manila: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Thursday called upon the international community and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) to support a peaceful resolution of core regional conflicts, emphasizing that the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Indian unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance remained at the heart of South Asian instability.

The deputy prime minister, addressing the 33rd ARF Ministerial Meeting here, outlined eight key challenges threatening global and regional security, highlighting South Asian stability, the Gulf situation, Gaza, counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, Ukraine, the South China Sea, and climate change.

He told the meeting that the failure to resolve long-standing disputes, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, accelerated serious regional stability issues. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advocating for a just and peaceful settlement in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant Security Council resolutions, and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Expressing deep concern over India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, Dar warned that attempting to weaponize water resources violated international obligations and threatened the lives and livelihoods of 250 million people in Pakistan.

“We simply cannot afford to let this serious, provocative development remain unaddressed. Let us all be the architects of peace and stability and work together to address the challenges posed by arbitrary, illegal, unilateral actions,” he commented.

He urged the international community, particularly ARF members, to address these arbitrary, illegal, and unilateral actions and uphold international law.

Turning to the situation in the Gulf, the deputy prime minister noted that regional developments have impacted nations globally. Reaffirming Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace and de-escalation, he highlighted Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts, including facilitating a ceasefire and convening leadership-level talks that led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Dar expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in Pakistan by the United States, Iran, Gulf nations, and international partners, urging all parties to uphold their commitments, exercise restraint, and support dialogue to ensure regional stability, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the unconditioned resumption of international shipping.

Addressing the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory, DPM Dar condemned the atrocities in Gaza and reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast support for an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

On global counter-terrorism, he highlighted Pakistan’s immense sacrifices-losing over 90,000 lives and incurring over $150 billion in economic losses. He urged the Afghan Taliban regime to ensure its territory is not exploited by terrorist groups, including TTP (Fitna Al-Khawarij) and affiliated factions, against neighboring states, emphasizing that honoring these commitments would unlock vast trade and connectivity opportunities across South and Central Asia.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on other global priorities, Deputy Prime Minister Dar reiterated support for diplomatic resolutions in Ukraine and the South China Sea while reaffirming Pakistan’s firm adherence to the One-China policy. He also highlighted Pakistan’s high vulnerability to climate change despite contributing less than 1% to global emissions, calling for international cooperation based on common but differentiated responsibilities.

The deputy prime minister welcomed the adoption of the Manila Plan of Action 2026 and commended the host nation, the Philippines, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the cardinal principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and the consensus-driven vision of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

He said that Pakistan deeply valued ASEAN’s consensus-based approach and supports stronger cooperation to address both traditional and emerging challenges, including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, climate change, food and energy security, disaster resilience, and public health preparedness.

ARF must continue to promote dialogue, practical cooperation, and strengthen its capacity to address evolving regional and global security challenges, he added.