Day: July 29, 2026

Islamabad: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan on Tuesday, said the government was pursuing a comprehensive industrial policy aimed at enhancing industrial competitiveness, promoting export-led growth and attracting investment from China, Trkiye and the Central Asian Republics (CARs).

He was addressing a press conference at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) regarding the Chamber’s Business Opportunity Conference and Excellence Awards, scheduled to be held in Istanbul on August 13.

Haroon Akhtar said the government was committed to creating a business-friendly environment through reforms focused on improving the ease of doing business, simplifying regulations, rationalizing tariffs and strengthening industrial competitiveness.

He said these measures would help transform Pakistan into a competitive manufacturing and export hub while encouraging greater foreign investment.

He noted that Pakistan has entered a new phase of political and macroeconomic stability, resulting in increased international confidence in the country’s economy. He emphasized that the private sector would remain the driving force behind sustainable economic growth and industrial development.

The SAPM said the government was finalizing a comprehensive industrial policy to attract Chinese investors and other regional partners, particularly the Central Asian Republics, to enhance market competitiveness and expand industrial cooperation.

Highlighting key policy initiatives, he said the government was introducing progressive industrial, automobile and electric vehicle policies while creating investment opportunities in renewable energy, battery manufacturing, electronics and pharmaceuticals.

He added that special attention was being given to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and exporters through easier access to finance, export refinancing facilities, long-term financing schemes and targeted tax incentives.

Haroon Akhtar described ICCI’s Business Opportunity Conference in Istanbul as a timely initiative that complements the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and Trkiye to US$ 5 billion.

He said Trkiye was Pakistan’s second home and stressed that the strong political and brotherly relations between the two countries should now be translated into stronger economic partnerships through investment, joint ventures, technology transfer and enhanced business-to-business (B2B) collaboration.

He also announced that he would lead the Pakistani business delegation to Trkiye and facilitate productive engagements with Turkish investors and entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood thanked the SAPM for supporting the Chamber’s international outreach initiatives.

He said the Istanbul conference was aimed to showcase Pakistan’s economic potential, facilitate high-level B2B meetings, attract investment, promote joint ventures, encourage technology transfer and generate new export opportunities in sectors including real estate, construction, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture, food processing, textiles, tourism, engineering and logistics.

He said ICCI remained committed to projecting Pakistan as a peaceful, reliable and investment-friendly destination while strengthening economic diplomacy through private-sector engagement.

He expressed confidence that the conference would contribute significantly towards achieving the shared Pakistan-Trkiye target of increasing bilateral trade to US$5 billion.

Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Trkiye in Islamabad, Enes Malik Cetin, appreciated ICCI’s initiative and expressed confidence that the visit and B2B matchmaking sessions would further strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Among those present were ICCI Founder Group Chairman Sheikh Tariq Sadiq, Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub, Vice President Irfan Chaudhry, former presidents Zubair Ahmed Malik, Mohammad Ejaz Abbasi, Khalid Javaid and Sheikh Aamir Waheed, along with executive members, trade leaders and representatives from various business sectors of the capital.

Islamabad: Brigadier (Retd) Riaz ud Deen Kasi has been elected President of the Balochistan Golf Association (BGA) unopposed in its annual elections.

Among other office-bearers elected unopposed are Haji Muhammad Farook Khan as Senior Vice President, Muhammad Zakria Nasir as Vice President, Muhammad Ali as Honorary Secretary, Ramzan Ali as Treasurer, and Lt Col (Retd) Altaf Hussain as Joint Secretary.

According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF), the annual elections of the Balochistan Golf Association were successfully conducted at the Quetta Golf Club. The electoral process took place under the supervision of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Election Commission, with representatives from the Provincial Olympic Association and the PGF in attendance.

The election was conducted in strict accordance with the constitutions of the PGF and BGA, as well as the directives of the PSB, and was officially confirmed following thorough scrutiny and verification by the Election Commission.

Extending its heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected office-bearers, the Pakistan Golf Federation expressed confidence that the new leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening the sport at the grassroots level, encouraging junior players, and raising the standard of golf across the province. The PGF also extended its appreciation to the Pakistan Sports Board, the Provincial Olympic Association, the Election Commission, Quetta Golf Club, and all relevant stakeholders for ensuring a transparent, fair, and orderly election process.

Islamabad: The National Highway Authority (NHA) has successfully completed the restoration work on Haramosh Bridge, located at RD 25 on the Jaglot-Skardu Road (JSR), which was recently affected by heavy rainfall.

According to an NHA spokesperson, the bridge has been fully restored and reopened for all types of traffic, ensuring uninterrupted movement across the region.

The restoration was carried out on an emergency basis following the explicit directives of the Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan. The minister visited the site yesterday to review the progress of the restoration work and instructed officers to ensure the earliest possible completion.

Thanks to the swift execution by NHA maintenance teams, traffic flow on this vital route has now resumed smoothly without any delay.

Islamabad: A U. S. Congressional Delegation (CODEL), comprising Rep Ryan Zinke and Michael Baumgartner on Tuesday called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and discussed matters of mutual interests.

Welcoming the delegation, the DPM/FM highlighted the positive momentum in Pakistan-U. S. relations. The two sides discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in trade, investment, IT, energy, and other areas of mutual interest, according to a news release issued by the Foreign Office Spokesperson.

They underscored the importance of sustained parliamentary exchanges in fostering mutual trust and further reinforcing the longstanding partnership between the two countries.

The congressional delegation acknowledged the valuable contributions of the vibrant Pakistani diaspora to the U. S. economy and society, recognizing it as a vital bridge between Pakistan and the United States.

They also exchanged views on regional and international developments. The Congressmen appreciated Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court on Tuesday adjourned until after the summer recess the hearing of a constitutional petition filed against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and others over the alleged formation of a “release force” for the party’s founder.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of the Federal Constitutional Court, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, heard the petition.

During the proceedings, counsel for the PTI leaders, Ali Bukhari, sought time to file his power of attorney and written reply. He informed the court that, in addition to representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, he had also been instructed to represent Salman Akram Raja in the case and had been informed of the latter’s representation only on Tuesday morning.

The Advocate General for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa told the court that the matter was political in nature and requested that PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja be granted time to submit his reply. He said the constitutional petition alleged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister was establishing a private militia.

Counsel for the petitioner submitted that only one respondent had so far filed a reply before the court. He requested the court to extend its earlier order directing the parties not to disturb the law and order situation.

However, Chief Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan observed that there was no need to extend the order, as it was not confined to the day’s proceedings and therefore remained effective.

The court subsequently adjourned further hearing of the case until after the summer recess.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Tuesday invited American businesses to take advantage of Pakistan’s improving investment climate, saying the two countries had the potential to double bilateral trade to US$20 billion over the next five years through enhanced economic cooperation and investment.

Addressing a visiting U. S. Congressional delegation (CODEL) and a high-level American business delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the deputy prime minister said Pakistan attached great importance to its longstanding strategic and economic partnership with the United States and was committed to expanding cooperation in trade, investment and emerging sectors.

Welcoming the delegation, DPM/FM Ishaq Dar said the visit reflected the enduring friendship between the two countries and the growing positive momentum in Pakistan-U. S. relations.

He said Pakistan and the United States, home to the world’s fifth and third largest populations respectively, possessed immense potential to build a mutually beneficial partnership by leveraging each other’s economic strengths.

“The United States is Pakistan’s largest single-country export destination, with bilateral trade reaching US$9. 4 billion during the last fiscal year, ” he said, expressing confidence that the volume could be doubled to US$20 billion over the next five years.

The deputy prime minister said Pakistan believed in fair, balanced and reciprocal trade that created value for both economies and delivered shared prosperity for their peoples.

He noted that Pakistan remained among the largest importers of U. S. cotton and soybeans, supporting American farmers, while also emerging as an important market for U. S. hydrocarbons. Likewise, Pakistan’s growing demand for advanced machinery, technology and capital goods offered significant opportunities for U. S. manufacturers.

He said leading U. S. companies were exploring opportunities in Pakistan’s technology, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy, defence and manufacturing sectors, adding that the country’s ongoing structural reforms and competitive U. S. tariff regime had further enhanced its attractiveness as an investment destination.

DPM/FM Dar highlighted the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), describing it as a one-window platform established to facilitate investors by streamlining approvals and ensuring effective coordination among government institutions.

He encouraged the visiting business leaders to continue engaging with the SIFC to convert emerging opportunities into long-term commercial partnerships.

“The Government of Pakistan remains committed to deepening its constructive engagement with the U. S. government, businesses, investors and entrepreneurs to expand bilateral trade and investment across goods and services, including IT, AI, energy, manufacturing, critical minerals, agriculture and other emerging sectors, ” he said.

He said Pakistan remained ready to offer competitive incentives for greater U. S. investment, including opportunities in special economic zones and technology parks.

The deputy prime minister also expressed the hope that the U. S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), the U. S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the U. S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) would continue supporting expanded trade and investment between the two countries.

Inviting American investors to become partners in Pakistan’s economic transformation, the deputy prime minister assured them that the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, would continue providing full facilitation for their long-term success.

He said Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, D. C. , and its consulates across the United States would remain available to assist American investors in connecting with relevant institutions in Pakistan.

Highlighting the broader bilateral relationship, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and the United States shared the common objective of promoting lasting peace, stability and prosperity. He said Pakistan remained committed to dialogue and diplomacy as the only sustainable path towards resolving disputes and maintaining regional peace.

The deputy prime minister said Pakistan had transformed its diplomatic standing over the past few years and was now widely recognised as a responsible peacemaker contributing to regional and international stability.

He urged members of the visiting U. S. business delegation to serve as ambassadors of Pakistan’s positive image in the United States and play an active role in promoting the country’s vast economic potential and investment opportunities among the American business community.