Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Friday concluded a two-day “productive” official visit to Shanghai, China, expressing sincere appreciation to the Chinese government and its leadership for their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements.

“Just concluded a productive visit to Shanghai, China. I express my sincere appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China and its leadership for its warm hospitality and excellent arrangements throughout my short visit,” Deputy Prime Minister Dar wrote on his X timeline.

He commended Chinese President Xi Jinping for his insightful keynote address at the opening ceremony of the World AI Cooperation Organization, in which he aptly observed, ‘AI is an invaluable asset that accumulates the collective wisdom of humanity’ which is a timely reminder that this transformative technology carries both immense promise and a shared responsibility to ensure it serves the common good.

The deputy prime minister thanked Foreign Minister Wang Yi for his warm hospitality and their productive discussions.

“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to the continued advancement of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, with a special focus on high-quality development under CPEC 2.0, including the Siah Diq mining project, Karakoram Highway (KKH) Realignment Project, as well as other priority areas of bilateral cooperation agreed between our two countries during the official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in May 2025,” he sharing details of their bilateral meeting.

He also commended the valuable contributions of his accompanying delegation, including Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Adviser to Chief Minister of Punjab on Artificial Intelligence and Special Initiatives Ali Mustafa Dar, Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Bilal Bin Saqib, and Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Dr. Syed Asad Ali Gillani, whose dedication helped make this visit both productive and successful.

Appreciating the officials of the Pakistan Mission and Shanghai consulate in China for their support during the visit, Dar said he was returning to Islamabad for an “important next week of diplomatic engagements and other official responsibilities.”

Islamabad: Director General Safe City/Deputy Inspector General (Traffic) Muhammad Haroon Joiya chaired an important meeting to review plans for the installation of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered traffic signals in Islamabad under the Safe City Expansion Project.

An official told reporter on Friday that representatives of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Safe City technical team attended the meeting and discussed various technical and operational aspects of the project.

The meeting reviewed the proposed installation of modern AI-enabled traffic signals aimed at improving traffic management, reducing congestion and enhancing the overall flow of vehicles on the capital’s road network.

DG Haroon Joiya directed the concerned authorities to ensure timely implementation of the project and maintain close coordination among all stakeholders for its successful execution.

He said the installation of intelligent traffic signals would help improve traffic discipline, enhance road safety and provide smoother and more efficient travel facilities to commuters across Islamabad.

The official said the initiative forms part of the Safe City Expansion Project, which seeks to utilize advanced technology and artificial intelligence to modernize traffic management and strengthen smart policing in the federal capital.

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has fixed July 24, for hearing the suspension of sentence applications filed by lawyer Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha in the controversial tweets case.

According to the cause list issued by the IHC Registrar’s Office, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan will hear the applications.

Earlier, the Supreme Court, in its July 12 order, directed the Islamabad High Court to decide the suspension of sentence pleas within two weeks.

The case had previously been fixed for hearing before the IHC on June 4, but the cause list was later cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also scheduled the suspension of sentence applications of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha for hearing on July 21.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Friday termed the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Conference a “game changer” for the country’s pharmaceutical industry, noting agreements worth around $100 million were expected to be signed during the event.

Addressing a joint press conference with the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, the minister said the conference marked a significant milestone for Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector.

He said the B2B conference covered all six segments of the pharmaceutical industry and brought together 170 delegations representing different categories of the sector.

The minister underscored that the initiative was in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision of expanding Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports and integrating the country into new international markets.

While talking about preparations of the conference, Mustafa Kamal said extensive consultations had been held over the past six weeks between Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), and other stakeholders to ensure the conference’s success.

He appreciated Haroon Akhtar Khan for holding dozens of meetings during the past six weeks and said every aspect of the conference had been planned through close coordination between the Ministry of Health, DRAP and other relevant institutions.

The minister also acknowledged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for translating all documentary material into Chinese language to facilitate engagement with Chinese participants.

Describing the conference as a landmark initiative, Mustafa Kamal said it had projected Pakistan’s potential and positive image before the international business community.

He said technology transfer through enhanced Pakistan-China cooperation would enable the country to access new global pharmaceutical markets while creating employment opportunities and strengthening the local industry.

Mustafa Kamal thanked all stakeholders whose collective efforts made the conference possible and expressed confidence that it would open a new chapter of cooperation between Pakistan and China in the pharmaceutical sector.

Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Friday warned of rising water levels in the Indus River after the spillways of Tarbela Dam were opened due to increased inflows caused by rapid glacier melt and rainfall in upper catchment areas.

The move is expected to increase water discharge downstream, posing risks to low lying areas, particularly in Layyah, Bhakkar and Mianwali, prompting authorities to urge residents and tourists to stay away from the river and water channels.

NDMA said the rise in river flows was driven by increasing temperatures that have accelerated glacier melt, coupled with rainfall in northern parts of the country.

The opening of Tarbela Dam’s spillways is part of efforts to safely manage water levels at the reservoir.

The authority cautioned that water levels and flow in downstream areas of the Indus River may rise significantly.

Residents living near the riverbanks have been advised to remain vigilant and strictly follow instructions issued by local administrations.

Tourists have been urged to avoid recreational activities in and around the Indus River during this period, while the public has been advised to stay away from water channels and river crossings experiencing strong currents.

NDMA said it is continuously monitoring the evolving situation through its National Emergencies Operation Center and ensuring timely dissemination of risk assessments and advisories to relevant institutions and the public to minimise potential hazards.

Islamabad: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) directed universities across the country to review their degree programs and curricula to promote higher education in line with the requirements of Industrial Revolution 5.0.

According to a statement issued by the HEC, the aim of this move is to make the higher education system compatible with future needs, equip students with modern skills and support Pakistan in its transition towards a green, digital and inclusive economy.

The statement said that universities should align their curricula according to the needs of the future workforce, make artificial intelligence, digital skills and emerging technologies a part of educational programs, strengthen linkages between industry and universities and increase opportunities for practical education.

It added that special attention will be paid to the development of critical thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship skills.

According to HEC, these activities are being carried out under the guidance of a national task force to support national transformation process.

It further said that universities have also been directed to identify new and emerging academic fields, develop existing programs on modern lines and produce graduates who have the required knowledge and skills to take full advantage of the opportunities of Industrial Revolution 5.0.

HEC says that this initiative is a significant step towards aligning Pakistan’s higher education sector with global trends and making the role of universities more effective in national economic development.