ISLAMABAD: An alliance of opposition parties has called on its supporters to delay a “long march” to the capital due to the presence of foreign ministers of Islamic countries in Islamabad next week for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
On Monday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), who also heads the Pakistan Democratic Movement, an opposition alliance against Prime Minister Imran Khan, had asked supporters to embark on a long march to the capital on March 23.
On Tuesday, however, Rehman asked opposition supporters to enter the capital on the evening of Friday, March 25, instead of March 24.
“We have great respect for Muslim countries and do not want to create any problems for the foreign dignitaries,” the politician told reporters, referring to Islamabad hosting the 48th Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting on March 22-23 for which at least 46 OIC foreign ministers have confirmed participation.
The opposition long march call came days after PM Khan announced a rally in Islamabad on March 27 as a show of force by his government ahead of a parliamentary vote on a no-confidence motion filed against him by the opposition in parliament last Tuesday. The date for the vote has not yet been set. First the speaker of the national assembly must convene a session where the motion can be tabled.
The opposition requires at least 172 votes in the 342-member National Assembly to topple Khan’s government. The current party position in the lower house of parliament shows the opposition collectively has 162 members while the government enjoys the support of 179 lawmakers, including its coalition partners.
Opposition parties say they have the required numbers to win the no trust vote as they struggle to convince the government’s allied parties to leave the coalition.
Opposition delays long march to Islamabad due to OIC foreign ministers’ meeting
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Opposition delays long march to Islamabad due to OIC foreign ministers’ meeting
- Opposition leaders had earlier called supporters to march to the capital starting March 23
- Islamabad is hosting the 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers on March 22-23
Pakistan showcases smart solutions, tech innovation at ITCN Asia expo in Lahore
- ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference
- It highlights developments in cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, e-commerce and digital governance
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is showcasing its growing technology sector at the 27th edition of ITCN Asia at the Expo Center in Lahore, bringing together innovators, startups, investors and policymakers for one of the country’s premier technology exhibitions, Pakistani state media reported on Saturday.
ITCN Asia is Pakistan’s largest information and communications technology exhibition and conference, which is regularly held to highlight developments in fields including cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and digital governance.
The three-day event, which began on Saturday, focuses on networking, knowledge-sharing and lead generation, with conferences facilitating a learning environment for tech enthusiasts and professionals.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja called ITCN Asia a “distinguished” global event showcasing tech advancement in Pakistan, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“Pakistan’s use of cybersecurity has put the country on the forefront of technological advancement and strengthened global trust in our technology sector,” she was quoted as saying.
The exhibition features more than 850 booths, over 3,000 global brands, international delegates, investors and government leaders, according to the organizers.
Pakistan’s Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) is showcasing electric vehicle and electronics assembly by global brands, including BYD, Samsung and Google at the exhibition.
The STZA has set up a national pavilion at the exhibition with facilitation from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to a statement issued by the cabinet division.
The move is part of Pakistan’s efforts to boost foreign investment in its technology sector as the country’s startups and software houses have attracted global interest in recent years. Pakistan’s IT exports rose by $180 million to $1,057 million during
July-September last year, compared with $877 million in the same period of 2024, according to the information technology ministry.
Pakistan’s technology sector is also advancing in AI and cloud computing, marked by the launch of Pakistan’s first sovereign AI cloud in November, designed to keep sensitive data domestic and support growth in the broader digital ecosystem.
