Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Pakistan and Croatia on Thursday agreed to undertake concrete steps to “inject greater momentum” into their political and economic relations, expanding bilateral cooperation across a wide spectrum of mutual interests including trade, investment, infrastructure, and visa facilitation.

The agreement was reached during “warm, constructive, and comprehensive” delegation-level talks held between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and the visiting Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, Dr. Gordan Grlic Radman here.

“We reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Croatia relations and agreed to undertake steps to inject greater momentum toward political and economic relations as well as to enhance our cooperation in all other areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, development, agriculture, labour mobility, visa facilitation, education, defence, climate change, tourism, infrastructure, IT, sea ports collaboration,” Deputy Prime Minister Dar said addressing a joint press stakeout here along with the visiting foreign minister.

This is the first-ever official visit by a Croatian foreign minister to Pakistan, marking a new chapter in the diplomatic history of the two countries.

Acknowledging that bilateral trade remained below its true potential, Deputy Prime Minister Dar said a rising trend in bilateral trade volume and stated that both sides agreed to revitalize economic ties, “including through encouraging B2B exchanges for common benefit.” Both sides considered plans to hold a future business-to-business (B2B) trade forum to connect the private sectors and business communities of both nations.

He said that the two sides decided to make the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral political consultations fully functional and that the first round of these consultations could be held either this year or early 2027.

The two leaders announced coordinated efforts to expedite the opening of a Croatian visa processing facility in Islamabad as currently, Pakistani applicants have to travel to Iran for visa processing.

“We greatly value people-to-people links, and therefore, Croatia would like to enable Pakistani citizens to submit visa applications in Pakistan, so they don’t need to travel abroad to apply,” Foreign Minister Radman announced, confirming that Croatia looks forward to opening the facility soon.

Deputy Prime Minister Dar stressed the need for combating human smuggling and illegal migration, saying that providing safe, orderly, and regular channels for migration was vital to protect the rights and lives of migrants as well as dismantling the illegal model of smuggling networks.

Highlighting the strategic geographical positions of both nations, he briefed the Croatian delegation on the capacity, facilities, and connectivity of the Karachi Port, initiating discussions on collaborative arrangements between the maritime ports of both countries.

During the talks, Dar appraised the visiting delegation on the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, suggesting a reactivation of peace efforts at the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA 2026) in New York.

He also raised concerns regarding India’s unilateral action of holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and sought support from the friendly countries to help bring an end to the weaponisation of water.

He also apprised the Croatian delegation of security challenges originating from terrorist networks like the TTP and BLA operating out of Afghanistan and stressed the need for the Afghan Taliban regime to abide by its international commitments and that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries, particularly Pakistan.

Both sides also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, emphasizing the necessity of resolving international conflicts in line with international law.

The deputy prime minister said that Pakistan’s access to the EU GSP Plus scheme remained a cornerstone of Pakistan-European Union economic cooperation. As the new GSP Plus regulation is scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2027, Pakistan has already initiated preparatory work for re-application in early 2027, he added.

In response, Foreign Minister Radman said that the GSP Plus served as a catalyst for Pakistan’s integration into the global economy.

He welcomed investment from Pakistani companies, highlighting that Croatia, given its excellent geopolitical position, has become an energy hub and was an open door to the European market. Mentioning the long-standing presence of Croatian companies in Pakistan, he expressed hope for an expanded market presence in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, IT, and tourism sectors.

“With nine strategic airports and six major maritime ports, Croatia can also be a gateway for international travel and trade,” he said and emphasised that Croatia’s railway links with Central Europe supported resilient transport, energy, and digital connectivity networks.

The two sides expressed strong convergence on major global issues, reaffirming their shared commitment to multilateralism, the UN Charter, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Foreign Minister Radman welcomed Pakistan’s active engagement in the UN Security Council and praised its recent diplomatic mediation.

“We particularly appreciate Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to end the conflict between the United States and Iran,” he said.

Calling Islamabad the “city of peace and diplomacy” the Croatian foreign minister thanked DPM Dar for a warm welcome and hospitality, expressing hope that his visit would help intensify ties, enhance trade and investment, and explore new avenues of cooperation.

Foreign Minister Radman extended an official invitation to Deputy Prime Minister Dar to attend the upcoming Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia at the end of June next year.

Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in an illegal money value transfer case involving Rs5.6 million, following a raid conducted by the Commercial Banking Circle Islamabad.

An official told reporter on Thursday that the accused, Hamza Faisal, son of Faisal Mushtaq, was arrested from Rawalpindi on the basis of credible intelligence after remaining in hiding to evade arrest.

The official said the suspect was a proclaimed offender nominated in FIR No. 42/2025 registered with the FIA Commercial Banking Circle Islamabad.

According to the investigation, the accused allegedly caused a loss of Rs 5.6 million to the complainant through illegal money value transfer services.

Following his arrest, the suspect was produced before the competent court, which granted the FIA a three-day physical remand for further investigation.

The official said the investigation was continuing to identify other individuals who might have been involved in the illegal financial network and to recover additional evidence related to the case.

Islamabad: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Thursday held a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and discussed ways to further strengthen the longstanding Pakistan-China friendship, bilateral cooperation and development partnership.

The meeting was attended by Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Babar Saleem Swati, President of Pak-China Friendship in the KP Assembly Akbar Ayub Khan, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam, PPP Parliamentary Leader Ahmad Kundi, JUI-F Parliamentary Leader Maulana Lutfur Rehman, ANP Parliamentary Leader Arbab Usman, PMLN Deputy Parliamentary Leader Jalal Khan, NDM leader Afrasiab Khattak, Provincial Adviser on Minerals Arif Ahmadzai and members of the provincial assembly.

The two sides exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in economic, trade and development sectors, besides discussing matters of mutual interest.

Governor Kundi said the Pakistan-China friendship was based on mutual trust, respect and shared interests, adding that the time-tested relationship continued to grow stronger with the passage of time.

He said Chinese investment and development projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and other parts of the country reflected the enduring partnership between the two countries.

The Governor stressed the need to pay special attention to the timely implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects so that both countries could fully benefit from the initiative.

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s commitment to further expanding cooperation with Pakistan in diverse sectors and strengthening the longstanding bilateral ties.

Islamabad: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), in collaboration with United Nations agencies, has extended the Benazir Nashonuma Programme for another three years to protect an additional 3.3 million children and women from malnutrition across Pakistan.

The three-year extension was jointly announced by BISP, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), reaffirming their commitment to improving maternal and child nutrition and reducing malnutrition among vulnerable communities across the country.

Integrated into BISP, the Benazir Nashonuma Programme delivers nutrition and health services to the most vulnerable pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under the age of two through a nationwide network of 578 facilitation centres and 224 nutrition stabilization centres. Since its launch in 2020, the programme has reached 4.7 million people.

With this extension, its total reach is expected to increase to eight million people.

“The Benazir Nashonuma Programme is a powerful demonstration that when social protection is combined with nutrition, healthcare and strong partnerships, we can transform the lives of mothers and children,’ said Senator Rubina Khalid chairperson BISP. ‘Benazir Nashonuma carries forward the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who dreamed of a Pakistan where no mother or child would be left behind because of poverty. I feel proud to play a role in turning that vision into reality”.

“Today’s signing of BNP 3.0 is not merely the continuation of a programme, it is a renewed national commitment to giving every child a healthier start in life and every mother the opportunity to build a better future for her family. Together with our development partners, we will continue to expand this impact so that no deserving woman or child is left behind’, she added.

The partnership aimed to consolidate a science-based initiative that has achieved some of the strongest results ever documented globally for a nutrition programme. Children enrolled in the programme were 22 percent less likely to be stunted at 6 months of age.

In Pakistan, four in every ten children under five are stunted as a result of chronic malnutrition, equivalent to 10 million children, while wasting stands at 17.7 percent, affecting 5 million children and contributing to an estimated annual economic loss of USD 17 billion.

The Benazir Nashonuma Programme addresses these challenges by embedding nutrition services within Pakistan’s national social protection system. Evidence generated also found improved maternal nutrition and child survival, increased uptake of antenatal care, healthier pregnancy weight gain, and improved birth outcomes.

‘The results of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme are extremely promising for the prevention of child malnutrition,’ said Anita Hirsch, WFP Representative and Country Director in Pakistan. ‘Building on this success, the three-year extension will allow WFP to continue supporting the Government of Pakistan and BISP in reaching more mothers and children with the nutrition services they need, and consolidating the positive results we have seen so far.’

‘We commend the Government of Pakistan for its strong leadership and continued commitment to advancing nutrition-responsive social protection through the Benazir Nashonuma Programme,’ said Sharmeela Rassool, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Pakistan. ‘Together with WFP and WHO, UNICEF is proud to support the Government in improving nutrition outcomes for the most vulnerable mothers, adolescent girls and children. Building on this strong partnership, we will continue working together to strengthen systems, expand equitable access to and demand for high-impact nutrition interventions, and empower communities with essential care practices. Investing in nutrition is ultimately an investment in Pakistan’s future, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to survive, grow and thrive’.

‘The positive results achieved by the Benazir Nashonuma Programme prove the power of integrated whole-of-government and science-based approaches across health, nutrition, social protection, WASH, food systems, and education,’ said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng. ‘WHO stands ready to work with Pakistan and partners to use science to protect every child and every mother regardless of economic and social status, no matter where they live or who they are’.

Through this renewed partnership, the Government of Pakistan, BISP, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO will continue working together to strengthen nutrition and health services, protect the most vulnerable women and children, and build a healthier, more resilient future for Pakistan.

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar on Thursday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the demise of Comrade Shahid Usmani, husband of Fouzia Shahid, former Secretary General of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

In his condolence message, the minister extended his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved family.

He said he was deeply saddened by the news of Comrade Shahid Usmani’s passing, adding that the deceased’s journalistic and social services would always be remembered.

Paying tribute to his services, Attaullah Tarar said that Comrade Shahid Usmani spent his life striving for principles, democratic values, and public rights.

The minister prayed to Allah Almighty to grant the departed soul an exalted place in eternal peace and to bestow courage and patience upon the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

Islamabad: Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police carried out large-scale combing and search operations in seven police station jurisdictions, checking 365 individuals as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security across the federal capital.

An official told reporter on Thursday that, acting on the directions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, the operations were conducted under the supervision of zonal SPs in the jurisdictions of Sihala, Shalimar, Humak, Bhara Kahu, Sabzi Mandi, Kohsar and Tarnol police stations.

The official said women police personnel also participated in the operations, during which 365 individuals and 202 households were checked.

According to the official, police also inspected 19 hotels, 53 shops, 197 motorcycles and 63 vehicles during the search operations.

He said 10 suspicious persons and 21 motorcycles were shifted to the respective police stations for further verification and legal action.

The official said special checking points had also been established at entry and exit points of the city, while patrolling units and special police squads remained active across Islamabad to enhance security.

He urged citizens to cooperate with police during checking and immediately report any suspicious activity, reaffirming that Islamabad Police remained committed to protecting the lives and property of residents through proactive policing and intelligence-based operations.