Month: August 2026

Islamabad: Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Syedaal Khan Nasar, said on Friday that the services rendered by the Kashmiri community residing in Balochistan for the province’s development and prosperity were invaluable and deserve due recognition.

He reaffirmed that every possible effort would be made to address the issues faced by the Kashmiri community, emphasising that Balochistan was the shared home of all its people and that its progress and prosperity required collective efforts.

He expressed these views while meeting with various delegations in Quetta, including representatives of the Kashmiri community residing in Balochistan, said a message received here.

The delegations included Advocate Tariq Butt, Javed Ahmed Khan, Jahangir Khan Khuroti, Sameera Khan, Mir Zaman Lehri, Mir Liaquat, Liaquat Rajput, and others.

During the meetings, discussions were held on the country’s overall political situation, ongoing federally funded development projects in Balochistan, and other matters of public importance.

The delegations apprised the Deputy Chairman Senate in detail of the issues being faced by the local population, upon which he assured them that all possible measures would be taken to resolve their concerns.

Deputy Chairman, Senate Syedaal Khan Nasar reiterated that Pakistan had consistently extended its unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people and had always strongly condemned the atrocities committed against them by India. He affirmed that Pakistan would continue to stand firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He further stated that the Kashmiri community had been living in Balochistan for centuries in an atmosphere of brotherhood and harmony, making significant contributions to the province’s socio-economic development.

He emphasised that Balochistan belonged to all communities residing in the province and that safeguarding its development and prosperity was a shared responsibility.

He assured that every possible effort would be made to address the issues faced by Kashmiris living in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. During the meeting, the Deputy Chairman Senate’s Coordinators briefed him on their performance over the past month and provided a detailed overview of the public issues brought to their attention across the province.

Syedaal Khan Nasar said that Coordinators had been appointed to maintain close contact with the people, identify their problems, and communicate them directly to him so that practical and timely measures could be taken for their resolution.

He further stated that President Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attached special importance to the development of Balochistan and had allocated substantial funds in the federal budget for development projects in the province.

He expressed confidence that the completion of these projects would significantly improve the provision of essential public services and enhance the quality of life of the people.

The Deputy Chairman Senate concluded by assuring the Coordinators and the visiting delegations that every possible step would be taken to resolve the issues they had highlighted.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Friday held a meeting with the outgoing Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, and appreciated his invaluable contributions towards strengthening the longstanding friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

The Minister lauded Ambassador Farhadov’s efforts in enhancing bilateral cooperation during his tenure, particularly in the energy sector.

He noted that Pakistani companies and SOCAR have significantly expanded their cooperation, laying the foundation for greater collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

Ali Pervaiz Malik conveyed his best wishes to Ambassador Farhadov for his future endeavours and thanked him for his commitment to furthering Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations.

The Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening cooperation with Azerbaijan, especially in the petroleum and energy sectors. He emphasized that both countries are working with a shared vision to build stronger economic ties and create opportunities that will benefit future generations.

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov thanked the Government of Pakistan for its support and hospitality during his tenure. Both sides expressed confidence that the close partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan would continue to grow and achieve new milestones in the years ahead.

Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in a coal mine explosion in the Sorange area of Quetta, where several workers were killed.

In separate statements, the president and the prime minister directed the relevant authorities to rescue all workers trapped in the mine and ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

They extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the elevation of the ranks of those who lost their lives in the incident. They also prayed for grant of strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss with patience.

They emphasized the need for strict implementation of safety measures in coal mines to protect the lives of workers and prevent such tragic incidents in the future.

President Asif Ali Zardari said the contribution of workers to the country’s development was invaluable and that ensuring their safety was a shared responsibility of the state.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and other relevant departments to continue rescue operations in an effective and expeditious manner until all affected workers had been rescued and provided with the necessary relief.

He said the country’s workers were a valuable national asset and stressed the need for permanent safety measures to safeguard the lives of coal mine workers.

Islamabad: A technical delegation of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan, and Chairman of the National Judicial Automation Committee concluded official visit to the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China from 26 to 30 July 2026.

The delegation comprised officers of the Court’s Information Technology Section.

The visit formed part of the continuing institutional engagement between the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Supreme People’s Court of China under the judicial cooperation framework between the two institutions.

It was undertaken in furtherance of the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s digital reform vision for an efficient, technology-enabled, and citizen-centric justice system.

During the visit, the delegation held meetings with senior officials of the Supreme People’s Court of China, including Mr. Liu Guixiang, Justice and Standing Member of the Adjudication Committee, and Mr. Duan Nonggen, Director of the International Cooperation Department.

The delegation also held detailed discussions with Mr. He Fan, Director General of the Adjudication Management Office, and Mr. Chen Qiwei, Deputy Director General of the Information Technology Service Center, and received practical demonstrations of technology-enabled adjudication, case management, and court administration systems.

Further engagements were held with Mr. Yu Maoyu, President of the Publishing House; Mr. Zhang Chengbing, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of the Publishing House and General Manager of Faxin Digital Technology Co. Ltd.; Mr. Yuan Dingho, Head of the Publishing House Office and Legal Department; and officers of Faxin Technology.

As part of the technical exchange, the delegation visited the Legal Information Intelligent Achievement Presentation Hall, Digital Court Laboratory of the Supreme People’s Court of China, Beijing Internet Court, and Litigation Service Hall at the Xicheng District Court.

Practical demonstrations were provided on artificial intelligence applications, e-filing systems, digital judicial infrastructure, intelligent case management, data-driven court administration, and technology-enabled public service delivery.

The engagements provided valuable insight into the responsible use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in judicial and administrative processes and enabled the delegation to identify suitable practices that may be adapted to Pakistan’s institutional and legal requirements.

The visit strengthened judicial cooperation, technical capacity building, knowledge-sharing, and mutual learning between the two apex courts.

It also reaffirmed the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve accessibility, efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness in the administration of justice.