Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, held a meeting with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Alexandrovich Kolokoltsev at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation on key security issues.

The two ministers held detailed discussions on the prevailing regional situation and explored avenues to enhance collaboration in counter-narcotics, counterterrorism, cybercrime prevention, and joint police training exercises. They also discussed developing a coordinated strategy to counter terrorist networks operating in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.

During the meeting, Pakistan and Russia agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their respective interior ministries to institutionalize and expand bilateral cooperation. The discussions also included a review of progress made on decisions taken during their previous meeting.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi invited his Russian counterpart to visit Pakistan, underscoring Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening engagement with Moscow.

Speaking during the meeting, Naqvi said that more than 25 terrorist organizations are currently active in Afghanistan, describing the elimination of extremist groups as a shared international responsibility.

“We need to work together and take effective measures to eradicate this menace,” Naqvi said, emphasizing the importance of coordinated regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

Islamabad: The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved Pakistan’s first National E sports Policy, paving the way for the formal recognition and regulation of competitive gaming as a professional, educational and economic sector.

Developed by the Pakistan E sports Task Force under the chairmanship of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, the policy aims to strengthen the digital economy, create employment opportunities and position Pakistan as a regional hub for E sports.

The policy establishes a comprehensive national framework for the growth of the E sports sector through collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, academia, telecom operators, game publishers and professional players.

It seeks to build a modern, inclusive and internationally competitive E sports ecosystem by strengthening digital and institutional infrastructure and introducing a structured governance mechanism.

Under the policy, the government will establish the Esports Federation of Pakistan to regulate and promote the sector.

It also envisages structured competitive pathways for players, stronger institutional support and measures to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and digital skills development.

The policy places particular emphasis on education and training in game development, animation, visual effects (VFX) and other emerging technologies to prepare young Pakistanis for careers in the rapidly expanding digital economy.

It also promotes responsible gaming practices and includes measures to safeguard the wellbeing of young players while encouraging wider youth participation.

According to the PMYP, the policy was developed under the guidance of the Pakistan E-sports Task Force constituted by the Prime Minister. Its formulation also benefited from technical input and international best practices shared by the British E-sports Federation and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The government aims to position Pakistan as a leading regional destination for E-sports by expanding digital infrastructure, strengthening governance, attracting international partnerships and supporting the growth of the local gaming industry.

The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme said the approval of the policy marks a major step towards creating new opportunities for skills development, employment and entrepreneurship.

It added that the initiative will help enhance Pakistan’s global standing in the fast growing E sports industry while supporting the country’s broader digital transformation agenda.

Islamabad: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi on Wednesday chaired a meeting to review the ongoing recruitment process and directed officers to ensure its smooth, transparent and merit-based completion.

An official told reporter that the meeting was attended by Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Kainat Azhar Khan, DIG Safe City/Traffic Muhammad Haroon Joiya and other senior police officers, who briefed the IGP Rizvi on the progress of the recruitment process and arrangements made for its transparent execution.

Rizvi reviewed different stages of the recruitment exercise and instructed the officers concerned to strictly adhere to merit, transparency and fairness throughout the selection process.

IGP Rizvi emphasized that all recruitment-related procedures should be completed efficiently and in accordance with the prescribed rules to ensure equal opportunities for all eligible candidates.

He reaffirmed Islamabad Police’s commitment to conducting a transparent, credible and merit-based recruitment process aimed at selecting the most qualified candidates for the force, the official added.

Islamabad: Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan attended a ceremony in Islamabad as the chief guest where honorary doctorate degrees were conferred.

Addressing the gathering, he said the government is expanding cooperation with leading international institutions for youth development.

He said the PMYP aims to equip Pakistani youth with world class skills in technical education, information technology and innovation.

He added that the initiative is intended to create greater employment opportunities.

The PMYP Chairman said the government is also working to build a future ready and globally competitive workforce.

Rana Mashhood said youth empowerment remains one of the government’s top priorities.

He said investment in young people is essential for Pakistan’s economic growth and long term competitiveness.

He added that the PMYP is creating educational, technical and employment opportunities across the country.

Recalling his tenure in Punjab, he said the province introduced Pakistan’s first youth policy to empower young people.

He said the policy focused on education and skills development.

Khan said the Punjab Endowment Fund and Daanish Schools were established to expand access to quality education for deserving students.

The PMYP Chairman said the programme is strengthening cooperation with leading international institutions to provide advanced training in technical education, information technology and innovation.

He said several new skill development programmes have been launched to prepare young Pakistanis for emerging industries.

Highlighting rapid technological change, he said Pakistan is among the few countries developing an artificial intelligence curriculum.

He said the initiative will help young Pakistanis compete in the global digital economy.

Turning to agriculture, Rana Mashhood said Pakistan has significantly increased olive cultivation and production.

He said Pakistani olives are recognised among the world’s finest.

Stressing the need for greater value addition to agricultural products, he said it would boost exports and improve farmers’ incomes.

He also highlighted the importance of startups and innovation.

He said the government has made both sectors a key priority.

He added that Pakistan is establishing partnerships with Chinese technical and agricultural universities to strengthen knowledge transfer and skills development.

He concluded by saying that a highly skilled workforce is essential to maximise the benefits of these partnerships.

Islamabad: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has warmly welcomed the government’s initiatives for formulating a comprehensive strategy, in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks, to improve Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) access to finance.

In a press statement on Wednesday, Acting President ICCI Tahir Ayub termed the decision a timely and encouraging step towards revitalizing the SME sector, which serves as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and plays a pivotal role in employment generation, exports and sustainable economic growth.

The easier access to affordable financing has long remained one of the biggest challenges confronting SMEs, he said adding that emphasis on facilitating bank lending, developing dedicated financial products for SMEs and removing impediments to their growth reflects a clear commitment to creating a business-friendly environment.

He expressed confidence that these initiatives would enable thousands of small businesses to modernize their operations, enhance productivity and strengthen Pakistan’s export competitiveness and appreciated the Prime Minister’s special focus on supporting farmers engaged in value addition and processing of agricultural produce and fruits.

He observed that facilitating agro-based SMEs through financial access, technical guidance and awareness would significantly increase rural incomes, reduce post-harvest losses and expand the country’s export basket.

He reaffirmed ICCI’s commitment to working closely with the government, SMEDA, the State Bank of Pakistan and the banking sector to promote entrepreneurship, facilitate SMEs and contribute to sustainable economic development.

ICCI Vice President Mohammad Irfan Chaudhry also appreciated this proactive approach towards strengthening the SME sector, stating that timely and affordable financing is indispensable for the survival and expansion of small businesses.

He added that ICCI stands ready to collaborate with all relevant institutions to ensure that these initiatives translate into tangible benefits for the business community and the national economy.

Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday emphasized the importance of flawless execution during the final stage of preparations for 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women

to be hosted by the country and instructed all concerned ministries and agencies to ensure seamless coordination, and execution of outstanding tasks within the stipulated timelines.

The deputy prime minister chaired the 7th meeting of the High-Level Committee overseeing preparations for the 9th OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, which Pakistan will host on 12-13 July 2026, a DPM’s Office news release said.

The committee conducted a detailed review of the preparations, including the conference venue, programme, delegate facilitation, protocol, security, logistics, media arrangements, and inter-ministerial coordination, to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the Conference.

The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, Saba Sadiq, the Federal Secretaries of Human Rights and the Cabinet Division, and senior officials of the relevant ministries.