Month: July 2026

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi Wednesday called for enhanced cooperation between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in education, technology and culture.

He was speaking at the First International Conference on Islamic Civilization in Tashkent.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the five-day conference, being held from July 07 to 11 under the theme “The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment,” the minister stressed the importance of unity among the Muslim Ummah, saying, “greater collaboration among Muslim countries was essential for preserving and advancing Islamic civilization”.

The conference, organized by the International Center for Islamic Civilization, has brought together scholars, policymakers and experts from across the Muslim world to deliberate on the preservation and promotion of Islamic civilization, said a news release.

Representing Pakistan, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi congratulated the organizers and described the conference as an important platform for strengthening intellectual and cultural links among Muslim nations.

He said unity among the Muslim Ummah was indispensable for the revival and progress of Islamic civilization, adding that Allama Muhammad Iqbal consistently emphasized Muslim unity and urged believers to overcome divisions.

Highlighting the historical and spiritual links between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, the minister said Iqbal’s intellectual thought had been deeply influenced by the region’s renowned Sufi saints.

He referred to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Syed Ali Hamdani, Zia Nakhshabi and Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, saying they travelled from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent to spread the message of Islam and establish a rich spiritual and cultural tradition.

The minister said while Muslims take pride in their glorious past, they must work collectively in accordance with Islamic teachings to build a future worthy of that legacy.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to stronger relations with Uzbekistan, he expressed the country’s readiness to expand bilateral cooperation in higher education, technology, culture and other areas of mutual interest.

Pakistan was also represented at the conference by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Director General of the National Language Promotion Department (NLPD), Islamabad.

Islamabad: Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Mohsin Naqvi, held a bilateral meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Anand Wijepala, at the United Nations Headquarters, where the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation across a range of security and law enforcement sectors.

The meeting focused on enhancing coordination in the fight against narcotics trafficking, with both ministers reaffirming their commitment to closer collaboration to curb the transnational drug trade.

Recognizing the importance of capacity building, the two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in police training through the exchange of expertise and professional development initiatives.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka further agreed to intensify joint efforts to combat illegal immigration and prevent travel on forged passports. As part of the understanding, the heads of immigration authorities of both countries will establish immediate contact to improve operational coordination and information sharing.

The ministers also discussed the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation against organized criminal networks and money laundering, reflecting a shared resolve to tackle cross-border crime through institutional collaboration.

To ensure sustained engagement, both sides agreed to establish a Joint Working Group between their respective interior ministries to oversee and advance bilateral cooperation in security-related matters.

The meeting also concluded with an understanding to address visa-related issues on a priority basis, underscoring the commitment of both countries to facilitate smoother bilateral engagement while reinforcing security cooperation.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Wednesday, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to achieving a polio-free Pakistan through sustained political resolve and close collaboration with international partners.

A delegation of the Polio Oversight Board (POB) called on the DPM/FM. The delegation included Mike McGovern, POB Chair, Rotary International; Dr. Chris Elias, President, Global Development, Gates Foundation; Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director, WHO EMRO; Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO, Gavi; Sanjay Wijeskera, Regional Director, UNICEF Asia; Dr. Ziad Memish, Senior Advisor, KS Relief; and Dr. Omotayo Bola, Team Lead, GID, CDC.

The Pakistani side was represented by Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson of NCRC, who also leads the Pakistan Polio Program, Special Secretary (UN), and other senior officials from relevant ministries, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.

The DPM/FM appreciated their steadfast support for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

The delegation praised Pakistan’s strong and vibrant diplomacy in achieving regional peace and Pakistan’s proactive role in global humanitarian issues.

Islamabad: Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on 2-4 July 2026 to attend the ‘Farewell and Tribute Ceremony’ held in honour of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

He was accompanied by Muhammad Bilal Khan, Executive Assistant, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

On behalf of the D-8 Organization, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood conveyed profound condolences to the Iranian leadership, government and people. He participated in the solemn ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries, offered prayers for the departed soul, signed the condolence book and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and the people of Iran.

During his stay in Tehran, the Secretary-General called on Foreign Minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi for a bilateral meeting. The discussions focused inter alia on the long-standing partnership between the D-8 Secretariat and Iran, regional developments, D-8’s strategic priorities, and preparations for the next phase of D-8 cooperation.

The Secretary-General offered the sympathies and condolences on behalf of the Secretariat, reaffirmed solidarity with the people of Iran, and wished success for the Iranian leadership’s efforts for durable peace, progress and prosperity. He also apprised Foreign Minister Araghchi of recent progress on various tracks of cooperation within the D-8 framework and highlighted the D-8’s present profile and future trajectory.

Foreign Minister Araghchi thanked the Secretary-General for participation in the ‘Farewell and Tribute Ceremony’; underlined Iran’s strong national resolve as well as commitment for peace through dialogue and diplomacy; and emphasized the importance of enhanced economic cooperation in the transformed regional landscape.

The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed Iran’s steadfast commitment to D-8 as a founding member and assured that Iran would continue to contribute substantially to the advancement of the D-8 agenda of cooperation across the broad spectrum. Views were also exchanged on ways to realize new opportunities for increased trade, investment, energy cooperation, and hard and soft connectivity, arising from the transformation underway.

The Secretary-General also had substantive interactions with Deputy Foreign Minister and President of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) Dr. Saeed Khatibzadeh; and with Iran’s D-8 Commissioner Ambassador Alireza Tootoonchian. The exchanges in those meetings focused on enhancing policy dialogue, deepening D-8 collaboration in priority areas under the Decennial Roadmap 2020-2030, and measures to strengthen D-8’s institutional capacity, organizational effectiveness, and international profile and visibility.

Overall, during the various interactions in Tehran, the Secretary-General underscored that the D-8 is entering a new phase of strategic transformation centered on closer economic integration, trade and investment promotion, industrial cooperation, innovation, technology, energy security, sustainable development, and people-centered growth. He also emphasized that Iran’s industrial capabilities, technological expertise, manufacturing capacity, and strategic position would continue to be of immense value in advancing the collective vision and objectives of the D-8.

The Secretary-General’s visit served to further reinforce the partnership between the D-8 Secretariat and the Islamic Republic of Iran, while the exchanges highlighted shared determination on both sides to support D-8’s organizational capacity-building through enhanced human and financial resources; deeper economic cooperation and integration across the D-8 geography; and increased international awareness and profile of D-8 as it enters the 30th year since its inception in 1997.

Islamabad: The Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) has achieved a remarkable financial turnaround, converting a loss of Rs 36 billion in 2023-24 into a profit of Rs 1.05 billion in 2025-26.

As per the Ministry of Energy (Power Division), the turnaround of one of Pakistan’s largest and most difficult power distribution companies was done under the leadership of Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, said a press release issued on Wednesday. The recovery was gradual and sustained rather than a one-off correction, it added.

“Line losses reduced from 15.2 percent to 11.9 percent over the same period, while recovery improved from 98.6 percent to 100.8 percent – figures that reflect tighter billing, reduced theft, and stronger consumer confidence.”

The turnaround is attributed to a deliberate set of reforms, including the appointment of an independent Board of Directors insulated from day-to-day interference, consistent policy guidance and performance monitoring from the Ministry, automation and meterization of the network, and a renewed focus on consumer service.

The approach marks a shift from ad hoc intervention to structural, governance-led reform across the DISCO.

The Ministry said MEPCO’s result is a template rather than an exception, and that the same combination of independent governance, transparency, and technology-led monitoring is being extended across other distribution companies as part of a wider effort to end circular debt and put the power sector on a sustainable path of growth.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with Somalia’s Minister of Communications and Technology, Mohamed Adam Moalim, on the sidelines of Geneva Digital Week.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in information technology, digital transformation, and communications. Shaza Fatima congratulated Somalia on its progress towards achieving its digital transformation goals.

The minister said Pakistan and Somalia enjoy longstanding relations based on mutual trust and educational exchanges, adding that both countries have significant potential to expand cooperation in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.