Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday forecast widespread rain, windstorms and thundershowers across most parts of the country from July 18 to 25, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides and urban flooding in vulnerable areas.

According to the PMD, monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and are likely to strengthen over the weekend, while a western disturbance is expected to approach the upper parts of the country on Monday, enhancing rainfall activity.

The Met Office said Kashmir is likely to receive rain, windstorms and thundershowers, with scattered heavy to very heavy falls, from the evening of July 18 to July 25 with occasional gaps. Areas expected to be affected include Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain, windstorms and thundershowers with scattered heavy to very heavy falls are expected from the evening of July 19 to July 23 in Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Nowshera, Charsadda, Karak, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Kohat, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, North and South Waziristan, Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan and Hangu.

The PMD said Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Faisalabad, Khushab, Sargodha, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot and Okara are likely to receive rain, windstorms and thundershowers with scattered heavy to very heavy falls from the evening of July 19 to July 23. Southern and western districts, including Noorpur Thal, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur, are expected to receive rainfall from July 20 to 24.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, moderate to heavy rain, windstorms and thunderstorms are expected in Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche and Shigar from the evening of July 18 to July 25.

Balochistan is likely to receive rain, windstorms and thundershowers with isolated heavy falls in Zhob, Sherani, Loralai, Kohlu, Sibi, Naseerabad, Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, Barkhan, Dera Bugti and Khuzdar from the evening of July 19 to July 23.

The Met Office said most parts of Sindh would remain hot and very humid; however, isolated rain and thundershowers are expected in Tharparkar, Mithi, Sukkur, Larkana, Shikarpur, Dadu and Jacobabad from the evening of July 20 to July 24.

The PMD warned that windstorms and lightning could damage vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electric poles and billboards. It also cautioned that landslides may occur in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir between July 20 and 25.

The department further warned of possible flash flooding in local streams and nullahs of Kashmir, Murree, Galliyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan during the wet spell.

Heavy rainfall may also trigger urban flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad from July 20 to 23.

The PMD advised tourists and travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys during the forecast period, while farmers were urged to manage crop activities according to the weather conditions and ensure proper care of livestock.

The department said the prevailing hot and humid weather is likely to subside during the forecast period and advised all concerned authorities to remain vigilant and take necessary precautionary measures to avoid any untoward situation.

Islamabad: The District and Sessions Court of Islamabad on Friday rejected the post-arrest bail applications of four suspects accused in a case involving the illegal trade of human organs and human placenta.

The court ruled that the available evidence points to a serious offence and does not justify granting bail at this stage.

According to a written order issued by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, the bail pleas of Muhammad Waqas, Li Ganglei, Wang Bao, and Pengfei Gaowere dismissed in connection with an ongoing investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The court noted that FIA officials conducted a raid in Islamabad and recovered human organs along with a large quantity of placenta. Investigators stated that placenta is commonly used in the production of creams, anti-aging products, and injectable materials used in plastic surgery procedures.

The written judgment said that a forensic examination confirmed the presence of human DNA in the seized placenta. The court observed that placenta is a part of the human body and that its unauthorized sale and purchase constitutes a serious criminal offence under the law.

Judge Majoka further stated that the recovery of a substantial quantity of placenta raises concerns about possible illegal activities linked to the handling and trade of human biological material. The court held that the evidence collected so far establishes a prima facie case against the accused.

The order emphasized that the nature of the allegations, the forensic findings, and the quantity of material recovered make the case serious. As a result, the court concluded that the accused were not entitled to post-arrest bail.

The FIA investigation into the alleged illegal trade of human organs and related biological material remains underway, while the suspects will continue to remain in custody as legal proceedings move forward.

Islamabad: The Government of Pakistan on Friday officially launched the historic two-day Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical and Healthcare B2B Investment Conference.

Conceived as a premium, project-driven facilitation initiative, the conference is organized by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRandC), the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and the Board of Investment (BOI).

The summit brings together a magnificent assembly of over 450 companies under one roof, including over 300 leading Pakistani firms and 150 elite Chinese industrial groups.

Proving the project-driven nature of the alliance, the launching ceremony culminated in an immediate, landmark Exchange of Official Agreements.

Moving decisively past general trade understandings, the summit finalized nine ground-breaking commercial agreements totaling an extraordinary USD 446 million in immediate investment value.

These partnerships represent concrete operational commitments across critical sub-sectors.

Federal Minister for National Health Services, Syed Mustafa Kamal presented an executive brief on the intensive groundwork that enabled the summit.

Minister Kamal transitioned the bilateral narrative into a bold, operational mandate. He said, “Today is not a day for mere diplomatic rhetoric; it is a day of execution.”

He noted that the Ministry and DRAP worked day and night for two months alongside the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing to run compatibility audits, pre-mapping companies to precisely bridge market gaps.

He detailed the seven core localized tracks optimized for investment, spanning APIs, high-precision medical devices, and advanced biotherapeutics.

Emphasizing China’s unwavering commitment to building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, delivered a powerful message of solidarity and joint industrial growth.”

He said, “Our All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with Pakistan remains unbreakable, and healthcare is a vital pillar of this enduring bond.”

He said, “China stands ready to fully align technological strengths with Pakistan’s healthcare requirements under CPEC Phase 2.0.”

He said this B2B conference is not just about commercial transactions as it represents a deep strategic commitment to technology transfer and capacity building.

He said by establishing localized joint ventures, we are not only enhancing Pakistan’s healthcare self-reliance but are also building a resilient, high-tech export corridor that will serve the entire region.

He said the Chinese corporate sector enters this alliance with long-term trust, high-end science, and an absolute commitment to joint prosperity.

In a massive boost to localized preventative medicine, OBS partnered with Chinese biotech giant CanSino Biologics to execute an immediate USD 50 million agreement dedicated to the local manufacturing of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13).

Concurrently, AGP finalized a USD 50 million joint venture with Shanghai United Cell Biotechnology (SUCB), this landmark project will focus on local cell-line development and advanced biotechnology manufacturing for Recombinant Human Growth Hormone (Genheal®), Teriparatide (OstioGen®), and the Oral Cholera Vaccine.

Expanding localized access to critical generic injectables and family planning technologies, OBS Pharma signed a USD 50 million joint venture with Liaoning Ludan Pharmaceutical to establish a domestic manufacturing setup for Levonorgestrel Contraceptive Implants over a 2-year execution timeline.

In the biotherapeutic domain, Genix Pharma Pvt Ltd executed a USD 23 million agreement with a high-tech Chinese consortium comprising Intellective Biologics (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., Nanjing Cellnuo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Tofflon Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd. to establish Pakistan’s first internationally integrated biopharmaceutical manufacturing platform for monoclonal antibodies, peptide therapeutics, insulin products, and future biological medicines.

The medical devices and diagnostic landscape witnessed a major transformation as Lab Diagnostic Systems (SMC) Pvt. Ltd. (LDS) signed a USD 25 million collaboration agreement with Chongqing LianXin ZhiKang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. for the localization, registration, assembly, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) products in Pakistan and selected export markets.

In the largest individual financial commitment of the day, Lab Diagnostic Systems (SMC) Pvt. Ltd. (LDS) further expanded its portfolio by executing a monumental USD 200 million agreement with Sinovac Holding Group Co., Ltd. to collaborate on product registration, commercialization, and phased localization of selected critical vaccines.

Upstream raw material autonomy was firmly addressed by Citi Pharma Limited, which entered into a USD 10 million strategic collaboration with Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group for technology transfer, knowledge sharing, investment, and localized synthesis of selected Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in Pakistan.

Concurrently, Lucky Core Industries Limited formalized a USD 13 million agreement with HuaHui Health (Hong Kong) Co., Limited aimed at accelerating direct patient access to Libevitug for the treatment of Hepatitis Delta.

Rounding out the historic text, Weatherfolds Pharmaceuticals and Welcome Pakistan Pvt. Ltd. partnered with Tian Yuan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd to establish an immediate USD 25 million project.

This landmark initiative will build Pakistan’s very first manufacturing facility utilizing advanced synthetic technology for the production of highly sought-after Semaglutide and Tirzepatide APIs as well as their finished pharmaceutical forms.

The launching ceremony also featured strategic diplomatic and industrial addresses, including speeches by the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan.

Following the official exchange of documents, the conference immediately transitioned into the first of three highly anticipated, structured B2B matchmaking sessions.

To sustain this investment velocity, live Information and Facilitation Desks staffed by active directors from DRAP, BOI, and SIFC are operating directly inside the venue boardrooms to assess, facilitate, and clear regulatory inquiries and licensing tracks in real-time.

Day two of the technical sessions will commence with a masterclass led by DRAP, focusing on its global regulatory alignment with WHO and ICH criteria and its seamless integration with the Pakistan Single Window (PSW), before concluding with the finalization of subsequent corporate MoUs.

Islamabad: Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Danyal Chaudhry on Friday called out ‘selective lectures’ directed at Pakistan regarding minority rights during its GSP+ assessment.

‘Pakistan’s GSP+ assessment has once again become a platform for selective lectures on minority rights,’ the parliamentary secretary stated in a post on X, highlighting religious tolerance and inter-faith harmony in the country.

‘Pakistan with a 97% Muslim population has got 2,189 churches (1 per 1,206 Christians), 732 temples (1 per 5,669 Hindus) and 58 gurdwaras (1 per 159 Sikhs),’ he said, contrasting this with the UK, which, he noted, has one mosque for every 2,249 Muslims.

In Pakistan, neither the state nor society discriminated against religious minorities, he added.

The parliamentary secretary emphasized that special measures were undertaken by federal and provincial governments for the celebration of minority religious occasions, alongside the maintenance and protection of their holy places.

He also questioned the tolerance levels of other nations, pointing to France, where a hijab ban was imposed in 2004, a face veil ban in 2011, and an abaya ban in schools in 2023.

Danyal also noted face-covering restrictions in Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

‘Yet the EU continues to recycle narratives sourced from agenda-driven NGOs while ignoring Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees, legal reforms, and sustained efforts to protect minorities,’ he remarked.

Islamabad: Pakistan and China have agreed to significantly expand cooperation on immigration, border management and institutional coordination, reaffirming their shared commitment to combating illegal immigration, arms smuggling and cross-border crime through closer collaboration.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and a Chinese delegation led by Qi Jingyang, Director General of China’s National Immigration Administration.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the finalisation of a bilateral agreement aimed at streamlining immigration procedures and facilitating faster processing. They also decided to establish a Pakistan-China Joint Working Group on border management and security to strengthen coordination and improve operational effectiveness.

Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan and China would further enhance cooperation in land border management, seaport security and immigration administration. He reiterated that the Government of Pakistan was implementing a zero-tolerance policy against illegal immigration, unlawful border crossings and smuggling, adding that indiscriminate action was being taken against all those involved in such activities.

The minister also announced that a Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts checkpoint was being established at the Khunjerab Pass to further strengthen security along the strategically important border crossing.

Minister of State Talal Chaudhry said Pakistan and China would work together to effectively curb illegal immigration and other cross-border crimes through enhanced bilateral cooperation.

Chinese delegation commended Pakistan’s efforts to prevent illegal border crossings and smuggling, describing the country’s measures as effective and encouraging.

Director General Qi Jingyang said China and Pakistan were strategic partners and that Beijing remained committed to strengthening cooperation with Islamabad. He added that China would continue supporting the capacity-building of Pakistani institutions in areas related to immigration and border security.

During the meeting, the Chinese delegation delivered an invitation from China’s Minister of Public Security to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to participate in the upcoming Public Security Forum. The delegation also invited a team from Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to attend the forum.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan said Pakistani police officers would travel to China later this month for specialised training. He also noted that Chinese language instructors were currently providing language training to personnel of Pakistan’s Special Protection Unit to enhance communication and operational coordination.

The meeting was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador, the Interior Secretary, the Director General of the FIA, the Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad and the Inspector General of Islamabad Police.

Islamabad: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan on Friday invited Chinese companies to not only invest in Pakistan but also innovate, manufacture and grow together.

Addressing the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Conference, Haroon Akhtar said Pakistan envisioned a new era of cooperation with China where both countries would jointly advance science, strengthen healthcare, create opportunities and improve the lives of millions of people.

He said every great nation was transformed by leaders who refused to accept the limits of the present and possessed the courage to shape the future by turning vision into action and ambition into national progress.

Paying tribute to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the SAPM said Pakistan was fortunate to have visionary leadership that consistently encouraged institutions to think bigger, move faster and compete globally.

He said the prime minister had made it clear that Pakistan could not achieve sustainable prosperity by following outdated models and must instead embrace innovation, strengthen its industrial base, invest in science and technology, and build partnerships capable of unlocking the country’s full potential.

Haroon Akhtar said Pakistan was determined not merely to participate in the industries of the future but to help shape them. He added that the prime minister’s recent visit to China had opened a new chapter in Pakistan-China economic cooperation by creating fresh opportunities for investment, technology transfer and industrial collaboration.

He said the prime minister’s emphasis on implementation reflected true leadership, adding that success should be measured not by the agreements signed but by the transformation delivered.

Highlighting China’s remarkable development, Haroon Akhtar described the country’s transformation as one of the defining development stories of modern times, driven by visionary leadership, long-term planning and relentless innovation in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and healthcare.

He said Pakistan greatly valued China’s experience and looked forward to expanding cooperation in research, technology transfer, innovation and high-value manufacturing.

The SAPM said the government was creating an investment-friendly environment through the National Industrial Policy, National Tariff Policy and the Regulatory Guillotine Initiative to strengthen industrial competitiveness, simplify regulations and make Pakistan a more attractive destination for investors.

“Our objective is simple-less bureaucracy, more facilitation; less complexity and more competitiveness,” he said.

Haroon Akhtar said healthcare had become one of the world’s most important drivers of innovation, industrial growth and economic resilience, while the COVID-19 pandemic had underscored that the ability to produce medicines, vaccines and medical technologies was a strategic necessity.

He said Pakistan had therefore placed pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing among its highest industrial priorities, adding that the National Vaccine Policy would strengthen local manufacturing, promote technology transfer, encourage research collaboration and help build a resilient healthcare ecosystem capable of serving Pakistan and the wider region.