ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan and Turkish navies held staff-level expert talks on Saturday, according to an official statement, to discuss matters of professional interest and cooperation.
The two naval forces have a robust and evolving relationship, particularly in defense production and military exercises.
Turkiye is building state-of-the-art corvette ships for Pakistan, which are fast and highly maneuverable vessels typically used for coastal defense, patrol and escort missions.
Additionally, the two navies engage in joint military exercises, exchange expertise and collaborate at the operational level, underscoring strong military ties.
“Chief of Staff of the Turkish Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Ibrahim Ozdem, visited Naval Headquarters in Islamabad,” said the military’s media wing, Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement, adding he was received by Vice Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami.
“The sixth staff-level expert talks between the Pakistan Navy and Turkish Navy were held,” it added. “During the talks, extensive discussions were held on joint operations, training and technical fields.”
The visiting Turkish official praised the Pakistan Navy’s efforts in maritime security in the region.
A day earlier, Pakistani and Turkish naval ships have conducted coordinated patrol and naval drills in the North Arabian Sea to enhance interoperability between the two forces.
Pakistan and Turkish navies hold expert-level talks to discuss joint operations
https://arab.news/9mbt9
Pakistan and Turkish navies hold expert-level talks to discuss joint operations
- Turkiye is building fast and highly maneuverable corvette ships for Pakistan, typically used for coastal defense
- A top Turkish official visits Pakistan’s Naval Headquarters, praises its role in the maritime security of the region
Pakistan’s Mahnoor Omer named among TIME’s ‘Women of the Year’ for 2026
- Omer moved a Pakistani court against the so-called ‘period tax’ in Sept. 2025 which has since sparked a national debate
- Taxes on sanitary pads in Pakistan can add up to 40 percent to retail price, UNICEF says only around 12 percent women use such products
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani women’s rights activist Mahnoor Omer, who fought against taxes on menstrual products, has been named among the TIME magazine’s ‘Women of the Year’ for 2026.
Omer’s efforts have been recognized alongside 16 activists, artists, athletes and businesswomen in the TIME’s Women of the Year 2026 list, including Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Chloe Zhao.
Dissatisfied with the efforts to educate Pakistani girls about sexual violence, Omer founded the Noor Foundation at the age of 14 and held her own workshops with village girls about everything from climate change to menstruation, according to the TIME magazine.
Two years later, a conversation with a domestic worker about the price of pads made her realize that not everyone could afford these essentials. She moved a court against the so-called “period tax” in Sept. 2025 and the case has sparked a national debate on the subject, considered a taboo by many in Pakistan, since its first hearing late last year.
“A decade and one law degree after her interest in activism was sparked, Omer, now 25, is putting her passion and expertise to work in the name of gender equity,” TIME wrote about Omer on its website.
Taxes imposed on sanitary products in Pakistan can add up to 40 percent to the retail price. UNICEF estimates just 12 percent of women in the country use commercially produced pads or tampons. The alternative, using cloth, risks health impacts including rashes and infections, and can make it impossible for girls to attend school while menstruating.
Omer’s suit, which awaits the government response, has sparked a national discussion. She says she spoke about menstruation to her father and male cousins, who thanked her for standing up for their daughters.
The 25-year-old, who is currently enrolled in a master’s degree in gender, peace, and security at the London School of Economics, sees this case as just the first of many.
“I’m not free until every woman is free,” she was quoted as saying by TIME. “I want to leave no stones unturned in terms of what I can do with the next few decades, as a lawyer for the women in my country and gender minorities in general.”
