ICCI hosts Chinese delegation to boost Pharmaceutical, healthcare cooperation


Islamabad: A high-level delegation of Yuzhonghe (Hubei) Supply Chain Co. , Ltd. , China, led by its CEO Vince Ma, visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) here on Monday to explore business opportunities and forge strategic partnerships in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical, healthcare, and supply chain sectors.



Speaking on the occasion, Vince Ma said the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to identify reliable Pakistani partners and explore long-term collaboration in pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare products, medical technologies, and integrated supply chain solutions.



He said his company saw Pakistan as a promising market with strong growth potential and was keen to promote investment, technology transfer, and mutually beneficial joint ventures.



He emphasized that stronger collaboration between Chinese and Pakistani enterprises would help improve healthcare services, strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains, facilitate knowledge sharing, and create new avenues for bilateral trade and investment.



He expressed confidence that today’s B2B interactions would lay the foundation for sustainable commercial partnerships between the business communities of the two countries.



Welcoming the delegation, Sardar Tahir Mehmood, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the visit reflects the growing momentum in Pakistan-China economic cooperation and opens a new chapter of collaboration in high-potential sectors.



He highlighted that federal capital and its surrounding region have emerged as one of Pakistan’s leading pharmaceutical and healthcare hubs, offering excellent opportunities for investment, joint ventures, technology transfer, and industrial collaboration.



He assured the delegation that ICCI would continue to facilitate business-to-business linkages and extend every possible support to Chinese investors seeking credible partners in Pakistan.



ICCI Senior Vice President, Tahir Ayub said that China’s global leadership in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, healthcare innovation, and modern supply chain systems, combined with Pakistan’s strategic location and expanding market, provides a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation.



Vice President, Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry expressed confidence that the interaction would definitely yield fruit and the bilateral partnership between the two countries would strengthen further in the days to come.



Aleem Khan directs early restoration of flood-hit Skardu-Gilgit Road


Islamabad: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan on Monday conducted an emergency inspection at the flood-affected bridge near Sassi Haramosh Ansar Camp along the Skardu-Gilgit Road to assess the damage caused by recent flash floods and review ongoing repair operations.



During his visit, he issued strict directives to operational staff to expedite restoration work and deploy additional heavy machinery to relieve the severe inconvenience faced by stranded commuters and local residents, said a press release.



“Immediate and effective measures must be taken to minimize public hardship. By the Grace of Almighty Allah, full restoration of the Gilgit-Skardu Road will be achieved very soon, ” he added.



Th Minister lauded the dedication and resilience of field personnel from the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organisation / NWO working round the clock under challenging environmental conditions.



A high-level official delegation accompanied the Minister, including Chairman NHA, Secretary Communications, Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, and Commissioner Gilgit.



IHC reissue notices to Aramco Petroleum


Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday reissued notices to respondents who failed to submit replies in a petition challenging the replacement of ‘GO’ petrol stations with ‘Aramco’ branding, warning that ex parte proceedings would be initiated against those who continue to default.



Justice Muhammad Azam Khan heard the petition filed by Muhammad Shafiq Mir. During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel, Kashif Malik Advocate, submitted that nearly a year had passed but several respondents had yet to file their replies. He argued that contradictory positions had been taken by the respondents, with one side claiming GO and Aramco were separate entities while elsewhere stating that Aramco held a 40 per cent shareholding.



Expressing displeasure over the failure to submit replies, the court reissued notices to the Deputy Commissioner, Capital Development Authority (CDA), District Magistrate, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Exposio, Aramco and other respondents, directing them to file their responses.



The court observed that if the defaulting respondents failed to submit their replies, ex parte proceedings would be initiated against them and an order would be passed on the petition.



The hearing was adjourned after the issuance of fresh notices.



IIUI President visit Jamia Salfia, interacts with students and appreciate their performance


Islamabad: President and Acting Rector of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Prof. Dr Ahmed Saad Alahmed visited the Jamia Salfia, here on Monday, where he was received by head of institute, Hafiz Sheikh Muhammad Shafiq, along with members of the faculty.



He toured the institute in detail and interacted with students in classroom and put several questions before them. He also appreciated those who gave correct answers. He later reviewed the facilities at the seminary’s library and Al Athar Studio.



Addressing the students, the IIUI President, highlighted the importance of the knowledge and Islam’s presence in our lives. He said the struggle for knowledge is all about bringing change in society in the light of Islamic teachings.



At the close of the ceremony, the Head of Jamia Salfia Islamabad presented a shield to Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed in recognition of his visit. Shaikh ul Hadith of Jamia Salfia Islamabad, Dr. Abdul Basit Faheem, also presented him a copy of his book, “Al Qawa’id al Tafsiriyyah ‘ind al Imam Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah. ”



Khawaja Asif dismisses Indian defence minister’s remarks on Kashmir


Islamabad: Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif strongly dismissed recent irresponsible remarks by the Indian defence minister on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, calling them irresponsible and misleading.



Asif said the comments were another attempt to distort internationally recognised legal realities through political rhetoric and coercive posturing, he wrote on his social media platform X.



He said that such statements do not change the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, nor do they help promote regional peace, stability, or meaningful dialogue.



He said Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised disputed territory, the final disposition of which is to be determined in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the freely expressed will of the Kashmiri people.



Asif said India’s repeated attempts to malign Pakistan lack credibility in light of its own well-documented record of state-sponsored terrorism and criminal activities.



In fact, India remains the biggest sponsor of terrorism and perpetrator of instability in South Asia, holding the region hostage to its aggressively revisionist designs.



The Minister said equally alarming is India’s irresponsible rhetoric which risks lowering the threshold for interstate conflict in the region.



He said Pakistan remains committed to peace and dialogue, but its resolve to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security is absolute and must never be tested.



Asif said the Indian Defence Minister’s rhetoric is an attempt to deflect attention from internal turmoil and increasing unrest and discontent against Modi’s autocratic and divisive style of governance.



14 suspects held for online financial fraud


Lahore: The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on Monday arrested 14 suspects from Lahore and Multan in a major crackdown on online financial fraud, fake identities and social media scams.



According to an NCCIA spokesperson, four suspects were arrested in Lahore in three separate cases. They were identified as Muhammad Amir, Muhammad Ashfaq, Muhammad Qamar and Ameer Kareem.



Initial investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly posed as marriage bureau representatives or close acquaintances to deceive victims into transferring money. Authorities said evidence suggested they had fraudulently obtained millions of rupees from citizens. Mobile phones used in the offences were also seized.



In Multan, authorities arrested 10 suspects in three separate operations. The arrested individuals were identified as Muhammad Asghar, Amir Shehzad, Muhammad Kamran, Rizwan Talib, Saqib Ali, Kamran Talib, Iftikhar Manzoor, Muhammad Adnan, Muhammad Sultan and Muhammad Naeem.



The spokesperson said the suspects allegedly impersonated officials of Customs, Police, banks and other government departments through social media and WhatsApp. They reportedly lured victims by offering fake prizes, gifts and donations or on the pretext of bank verification and parcel clearance to obtain money fraudulently.



The spokesperson said one case involved alleged fraud amounting to Rs1 million, while another involved Rs588, 000.



During the operations, NCCIA recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, fake WhatsApp accounts, social media accounts and other digital evidence, which was being subjected to forensic examination.



Cases have been registered against the suspects under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, as amended in 2025, along with relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. Further investigations are underway, while efforts are continuing to arrest other facilitators linked to the cyber fraud networks.