Category: Islamabad

Islamabad: Pakistan and Turkiye on Thursday exchanged the signed documents of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), protocols and cooperation agreements in various fields to step-up bilateral ties in various fields during the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan witnessed exchanges of the accords between the two sides.

On the occasion, PM Shehbaz Sharif and President Erdogan also signed the joint declaration of 7th meeting of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) to further deepen strategic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat exchanged the signed documents of the declaration on the MoU between Export Credit Bank of Turkiye and Export Import Bank of Pakistan.

Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, and Turkish Minister for Trade Omer Bolat exchanged documents of the joint ministerial statement on cooperation of the verification of origin certificates used in trade and an MoU on digitalization of the verification of origin certificates used in trade.

Similarly, an MoU on cooperation in the field of industrial property was also exchanged by Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir.

In defence sector, an MoU on exchange of military and civilian personnel for social and cultural purposes was exchanged by Minister of Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Turkish Minister of Defence Yasar Guler.

Minister of Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Turkish Minister of Defence Yasar Guler also exchanged the signed documents of MoU on cooperation in Air Force Electronic Warfare and an MoU between the Secretariat of Defence Industries and the Ministry of Defence Production, Pakistan.

Likewise, a protocol on training and cooperation in the field of military health was exchanged between Minister of Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Turkish Minister of Defence Yasar Guler.

Another MoU between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and Naval Research and Development Institute (NRDI) of Pakistan was exchanged by DG NRDI Pakistan Navy, R/Admiral Javed Iqbal HI (M) and Director Turkish Aerospace Industries Dr Mehmet Demiroglu.

In the field of Science and Technology, an MoU for cooperation in halal trade was signed by Minister of Science and Technology Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat. Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Turkish Minister of Industries and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir also exchanged the signed copies of an MoU on the Establishment of Legal Metrology Infrastructure.

Additionally, in National Food Security and Research sector, the two sides signed cooperation agreement on Seed Protocol to amend the agreement. The documents were exchanged between Minister of National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli.

Similarly, in energy sector, the two sides signed protocol to amend the agreement on cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons. The documents were exchanged between Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar.

The two ministers also exchanged documents of two MoUs on cooperation in the field of energy transition, and cooperation in the field of mining.

The two sides also signed cooperation agreement in the field of water. The documents were exchanged between Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun exchanged the signed documents of MoUs on cooperation in the field of public relations and communications, and cooperation in the field of media and communications.

Meanwhile, the two sides signed MoU on cooperation in the fields of religious services and religious education. The signed documents were exchanged by Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain and Professor Dr Ali Ebras.

Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir also exchanged documents of MoU between Scientific and Technological Research Council Trkiye and National Textile University (NTU), Faisalabad, for Technical Assistance and development of Pakistan-Trkiye textile technology center.

Rana Tanveer Hussain and Hakan Fidan exchanged documents of MoU on technical cooperation in the field of health and pharmaceuticals.

Likewise, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan exchanged the signed documents of MoU in the field of technical cooperation between Central Bank of Turkiye (CBRT) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Attaullah Tarar and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan exchanged two documents of agreement on cultural cooperation, and agreement on co-production in audio visual services.

In addition to exchange of the documents, two MoUs have also been signed at Pakistan-Turkiye Business Forum.

Islamabad: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast cold and dry weather for most parts of the country, with very cold conditions expected in hilly areas, particularly during morning and night hours.

The weather will remain cold and dry in the federal capital and its surrounding areas.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, most districts will experience cold and dry weather, while northern areas will see very cold conditions in the morning and at night. Punjab will also witness cold and dry conditions in most districts, with Murree, Galiyat, and surrounding areas likely to experience very cold and partly cloudy weather.

Sindh will remain dry, with no significant weather activity expected.

In Balochistan, most districts will have cold and dry weather, while northern areas will face severe cold during morning and night hours. Quetta, Qilla Abdullah, Mastung, Kalat, Chagai, and nearby areas may experience partly cloudy conditions with gusty winds and light rain during the evening or night.

Kashmir will experience very cold and dry weather, while Gilgit-Baltistan may receive light rain or snowfall at isolated places in the evening or night.

Cold and dry conditions prevailed across most regions of the country in the past 24 hours.

The lowest recorded temperatures today were Leh at -11 C, Kalam at -6 C, Gopis and Astore at -4 C, and Malam Jabba and Bagrot at -3 C.

The PMD advises residents in colder regions to take necessary precautions against extreme temperatures, particularly during night hours.

Islamabad: The price of 24 karat per tola gold increased by Rs.2,500 and was sold at Rs 304,000 on Thursday against its sale at Rs 301,500 on previous trading day, All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewelers Association reported.

The price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold also increased by Rs 2,144 to Rs 260,631 from Rs 258,487 whereas that of 10 gram 22 karat went up by Rs.1,965 to Rs 238,920 from Rs 236,955.

The prices of per tola silver increased by Rs.55 to Rs,3,367 and that of ten gram went up by Rs.47 to Rs.2,886.

The price of gold in the international market increased by $25 to $2,913 from $2,888 whereas tte prices of silver in international market increased by $0.55 to $32.25, the Association reported.

Islamabad: Awami National Party's (ANP) spokesperson Engineer Ehsanullah Khan on Thursday announced that the party's planned meeting at Liaquat Bagh has been postponed due to non-issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by district management Rawalpindi for security reasons.

Addressing the press conference, he expressed hope that the concern authorities would issue the NOC for their next meeting at same place.

Unlike the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), the ANP has always adhered to a philosophy of peace and harmony, rejecting the politics of aggression and abuse that has become a hallmark of the PTI's approach, he added

He said ANP believed in resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, rather than resorting to violent or coercive means.

Islamabad: Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday appreciated the efforts of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and National Assembly officers in improving Parliament's cleanliness and sanitation.

He also directed the enhancement of banking services within the National Assembly, instructing officials to initiate negotiations with other banks to facilitate MNAs and employees better.

The Speaker emphasized that all essential banking services, including credit card facilities, should be made available through renowned banks.

Furthermore, he highlighted the need for separate parking arrangements for different categories of visitors and directed National Assembly security staff to implement stricter security checks at the entrance.

He also urged the CDA to expedite the implementation of improved operational and infrastructural mechanisms for the Parliament.

The Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also approved the establishment of a Parliament Museum, which will serve as a historical and educational centre for visitors.

MNA Bilal Azhar Kayani proposed the establishment of separate entry lines for MNAs, guests, and staff of the National Assembly.

He also suggested that Assembly staff use a dedicated entrance for the National Assembly Secretariat, calling for an official circular to enforce the regulation. Additionally, he stressed the importance of coordination with the Senate Secretariat to improve parking management.

MNA Junaid Anwar Chaudhry called for separate and improved parking spaces within the Parliament House. He also emphasized the necessity of better-regulated entry into Parliament House, urging the National Assembly security staff to strengthen access control measures.

Senior officers of the National Assembly, including Secretary General Tahir Hussain, Advisor Legislation Muhammad Mushtaq, Additional Secretary Administration/Principal Secretary to Speaker Saeed Ahmed Maitala, and Special Secretary Syed Shamoon Hashmi, attended the meeting.

Islamabad: A three-day road safety campaign aimed at educating motorcyclists on traffic rules and safe riding practices concluded in the capital, on Thursday. The initiative, launched by the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) in collaboration with a private organization, focused on raising awareness and ensuring compliance with road safety regulations.

A public relations officer told reporter that traffic police teams engaged with bikers, providing safety tips and highlighting the importance of helmets, side mirrors, and properly functioning indicators.

The campaign was carried out under the direction of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi as part of efforts to establish a well-integrated traffic system and facilitate safe commuting for citizens.

During the first phase, motorcyclists with missing helmets, defective lights, and broken indicators were informed about necessary safety measures. Faulty equipment was also repaired to encourage compliance.

Special squads, supervised by Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Islamabad Captain (R) Zeeshan Haider, were deployed on major city roads to assist and guide bikers. Motorcyclists were advised to replace defective mirrors and lighting systems within two days.

In the next phase, stricter enforcement will be implemented against those failing to comply with safety standards.