Pakistan, Turkiye express concerns over Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza, demand urgent ceasefire 

Palestinians attend the funeral of members of the Najjar family, killed in an Israeli strike, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on August 12, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group. (AFP)
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Updated 13 August 2024
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Pakistan, Turkiye express concerns over Israel’s ‘genocide’ in Gaza, demand urgent ceasefire 

  • Turkish delegation holds bilateral political delegations with Pakistani leadership in Islamabad
  • Israel’s relentless military campaign has killed over 40,000 people in Gaza since October last year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus and Turkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz stressed the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday, state media reported, expressing concerns over Israel’s “genocide” in the Middle East. 

The development took place during a meeting between the two diplomats on the occasion of the seventh session of the Pakistan-Türkiye Bilateral Political Consultations in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. The two sides reviewed all aspects of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Türkiye, including political relations, trade and investment, energy, security and defense, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said. 

“The two sides also expressed serious concerns on Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza and genocide of the Palestinian people and stressed the need for an urgent ceasefire,” Radio Pakistan said.

The Middle East region has been thrown into turmoil by the war in Gaza, now into its 11th month. Hostilities escalated after a Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip in October last year killed some 1,200 people, with more than 250 taken into captivity, according to Israeli tallies. 

The attack proved to be one of the most devastating blows against Israel in its history. In response, Israeli forces have flattened Gaza, displaced most of the population and killed around 40,000 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry, in a war that has caused horror around the world.

Gaza health officials say most of the fatalities have been civilians while Israel says it has lost 329 soldiers in Gaza.

Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, Pakistan has repeatedly raised the issue at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other multilateral platforms and demanded international powers and bodies stop Israeli military actions in Gaza. The South Asian country has also dispatched several aid consignments for the Palestinians.


Pakistan register 2-1 win against Japan in Hockey Asian Champions Trophy match

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Pakistan register 2-1 win against Japan in Hockey Asian Champions Trophy match

  • Tournament started on Sunday with six continental heavyweights going head-to-head in China
  • Six nations participating are India, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Japan, Pakistan and hosts China

ISLAMABAD: Unbeaten Pakistan bagged their first victory in the Hero Asian Champions Trophy by beating Japan 2-1 here at the Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulun Buir, China, on Wednesday, the International Hockey Federation (IHF) said.
From the Pakistan side, Ahmad Nadeem and Sufyan Khan netted one goal each while Japan’s Raiki Fujishima scored one goal. Pakistan will now lock horns with host China tomorrow, Friday. 
“We are happy to walk away with the winning points,” Khan was quoted as saying in an IHF statement. 
“Our Coach’s instructions was to not make errors, in the first two matches we got too many cards that cost us dearly. We wanted to play a disciplined match today and we defended with all our heart. I am also happy to score for my team when we needed it the most.”
With this win, Pakistan is placed second in the pool standings with five points behind India on the top. The much-awaited India vs Pakistan match of the tournament will be played on September 14.
The championship started on Sunday with six continental heavyweights going head-to-head at the Moqi Training Base.
The six nations participating in the Asian Champion Trophy 2024 are India, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Japan Pakistan and hosts China.
India are the most successful side in the Asian Champions Trophy, having won it four times. They enter the 2024 edition as the defending champions, having beaten Malaysia 4-3 in the final in Chennai last year.


Pakistani finance minister discusses joint ventures, business collaborations with Saudi envoy

Updated 41 min 8 sec ago
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Pakistani finance minister discusses joint ventures, business collaborations with Saudi envoy

  • Last month, Pakistan said it had secured commitments from China, Saudi Arabia and UAE to roll over debt for a year
  • Debt rollovers will be a boost for Islamabad as it awaits final approval of a $7 billion IMF loan program signed in July

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb met Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki on Wednesday and discussed joint ventures and business collaborations as well as steps Islamabad is taking as it navigates a tough reforms agenda mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense and cultural ties. The Kingdom is home to over 2.7 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as the top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian nation.
In February 2019, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia inked investment deals totaling $21 billion during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Islamabad. The agreements included about $10 billion for an Aramco oil refinery and $1 billion for a petrochemical complex at the strategic Gwadar Port in Balochistan.
Both countries have been working in recent months to increase bilateral trade and investment, and the Kingdom in April this year reaffirmed its commitment to expedite an investment package worth $5 billion for Pakistan.
“Aurangzeb expressed deep appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s consistent economic support to Pakistan, while highlighting the renewed interest shown by Saudi investors in pursuing joint ventures and business collaborations with Pakistan’s private sector,” Radio Pakistan said on Thursday. 
“Aurangzeb noted the significant outcomes of the high-level business delegation’s visit from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in May, aimed at exploring investment opportunities, expanding bilateral cooperation, and scaling up partnerships across diverse sectors.”
The minister also outlined Pakistan’s “positive” economic trajectory, citing key indicators such as currency stabilization, reduced inflation, a surge in remittances, prudent management of the current account deficit and foreign exchange reserves sufficient to cover two months of imports.
“The Minister emphasized that structural reforms are pivotal for ensuring sustainable economic growth and stability, forming a cornerstone of the government’s policy agenda,” Radio Pakistan said. 
The report said Al-Malki “commended” the government of Pakistan’s efforts in implementing structural and institutional reforms and reiterated the Kingdom’s “unwavering commitment to contributing to Pakistan’s economic growth.”
“The Ambassador also acknowledged the immense potential for investment and business opportunities between the two countries,” Radio Pakistan said. “He indicated that a Saudi business delegation is expected to visit Pakistan in the coming months to further explore areas for joint ventures and collaborative investments.”
Aurangzeb has said in recent weeks Pakistan will focus on meeting its external financing needs by speaking with foreign governments and lenders to draw foreign investment as well as seeking loan rollovers. The government is also seeking to focus on more sustainable forms of external financing such as direct investment and climate financing.
Pakistan and the IMF reached an agreement for a new 37-month $7 billion loan program in July. The IMF has said the program is subject to approval from its executive board and obtaining “timely confirmation of necessary financing assurances from Pakistan’s development and bilateral partners.”
Last month, Bloomberg reported Pakistan had secured commitments from China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to roll over debt for a year, a boost for Islamabad as it awaits final approval of the IMF loan program.
Rollovers or disbursements on loans from Pakistan’s long-time allies, in addition to financing from the IMF, have helped Pakistan meet its external financing needs in the past.
Tough conditionalities placed by the IMF, such as raising tax on agricultural incomes and lifting electricity prices, have unleashed street protests and prompted concerns about poor and middle class Pakistanis grappling with rising inflation and the prospect of higher taxes.


Shanghai Cooperation Organization commerce ministers conference kicks off in Islamabad today

Updated 51 min 58 sec ago
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Shanghai Cooperation Organization commerce ministers conference kicks off in Islamabad today

  • Event is being attended by ministers of SCO countries dealing with external trade and commerce
  • Pakistan is hosting meetings in capacity as incumbent chair of SCO Council of Heads of Government

ISLAMABAD: The 23rd meeting of ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for foreign economic and trade activities will kick off today, Thursday, in Islamabad, the foreign office said. 
The event will be attended by ministers of SCO countries dealing with external trade and commerce and be chaired by Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.
“In their deliberations, the SCO Ministers will focus on ways to bolster regional cooperation for enhancing trade, advancing sustainable development and promoting connectivity among SCO countries for enhancing economic prosperity in the region,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“Deliberations and outcome of this Ministerial meeting will be discussed and approved during the upcoming meeting of Council of Heads of Government scheduled to take place on 15-16 October 2024 in Islamabad.”
Pakistan is hosting the meetings in its capacity as the incumbent chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, the second highest SCO forum that deals with all economic, trade, social, cultural and humanitarian issues as well as the personnel and budgetary matters of the organization.
The SCO represents a major cross-regional bloc, accounting for nearly half of the world’s population and a substantial portion of global GDP. 
“Strengthening trade and economic ties within this framework is crucial for addressing shared challenges and tapping into the vast economic opportunities the region offers,” the foreign office added. “As the host and Chair of SCO-CHG, Pakistan is dedicated to using this platform to promote enhanced economic cooperation within the region.
“With its strategic geographical location and growing trade potential, Pakistan seeks to play a facilitating role in shaping the future of regional commerce and trade partnerships for the mutual benefit of the people of SCO countries.”


Pakistan says China wants to build special economic zone in Gilgit-Baltistan

Updated 59 min 5 sec ago
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Pakistan says China wants to build special economic zone in Gilgit-Baltistan

  • Mountainous territory is the gateway of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor infrastructure plan
  • CPEC project had aimed to bring development to the region but proposed projects have not taken off so far

ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation of Chinese companies visiting Islamabad this week has shown “keen interest” in building a special economic zone (SEZ) in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Thursday.
GB is administered by Pakistan as an administrative territory and consists of the northern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947. The impoverished, remote and rugged mountainous territory borders Afghanistan and China and is the gateway of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure plan. But the region has so far reaped few rewards.
“Pak-China border region has significant economic and cultural importance, with trade and cultural exchanges between the two regions dating back centuries,” Pakistani Minister for Kashmir and GB Affairs, Amir Muqam, was quoted by Radio Pakistan as saying after he hosted the Chinese delegation led by renowned economist Yuan Jianmin Senior in Islamabad.
Muqam said investing in Gilgit Baltistan could benefit both China and Pakistan and foster economic growth, regional connectivity and a stronger partnership.
“The delegation showed keen interest in construction of a Special Economic Zone in Gilgit Baltistan,” Radio Pakistan added.
GB locals fought pro-India forces and opted to join Pakistan in 1948. But since then Gilgit-Baltistan has not been granted full inclusion by the Pakistani constitution over fears doing so would jeopardize Islamabad’s international stance that all of Kashmir is disputed territory.
The local assembly has few powers. Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate have no representation from Gilgit-Baltistan, and the region receives only a fraction of the national budget.
The CPEC project had aimed to bring development to the region but that has not happened, a consequence, many residents believe, of the lack of local representation at national levels.
New roads, two hydroelectric power plants, a fiber-optic Internet line, and a special economic zone to boost industrial activities have all been proposed as part of the CPEC project since 2013, but none have been materialized so far.
The only substantial project from the China-Pakistan partnership has been the construction of the Karakoram Highway, completed decades ago.


UN maritime chief in Pakistan on first-ever visit as Islamabad hosts international conference

Updated 35 min 22 sec ago
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UN maritime chief in Pakistan on first-ever visit as Islamabad hosts international conference

  • Secretary-General Velasco will attend three-day maritime sustainability conference, meet top officials
  • Foreign office says visit will give Pakistan opportunity to discuss maritime sector and blue economy

ISLAMABAD: The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco, arrived in Islamabad today, Thursday, to attend the International Maritime Sustainability Exhibition and Conference (IMSEC), the foreign ministry said in a statement.
This will be the first-ever visit to Pakistan by an IMO cheif. The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping and ensuring maritime safety, environmental protection and security on international waters. Established in 1948, its primary role is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping, which includes standards for safety, pollution prevention and legal matters surrounding global maritime operations.
“The Secretary General’s visit will afford an opportunity for Pakistan and IMO to exchange views on the maritime sector and blue economy,” the statement said.
“As a founding member of IMO, Pakistan is deeply committed to IMO’s vision of safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans … Pakistan has served for five terms on the IMO Council and has consistently contributed in upholding the IMO objectives.”
The foreign office said Velasco will be visiting Pakistan from September 12 to 14 and would hold meetings with Pakistani leaders and senior government officials.
He is scheduled to attend IMSEC, which will begin in Islamabad on Thursday before moving to Pakistan’s port city of Karachi for the next two days.
Pakistan is actively working to increase its global trade through sea-lanes and improve port facilities in Karachi and Gwadar. It also wants to position itself as a key transit hub for landlocked Central Asian states and is in talks with countries like Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan who want to use Pakistani ports for international trade.