ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir applauded the role of security forces and law enforcement agencies during his visit to Wana in South Waziristan district on Tuesday, saying the army would provide technical assistance to the province’s police for capacity building.
Militant factions operating in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, where South Waziristan is located, have targeted the police in recent months, leading to protests by law enforcement personnel against these killings.
The area’s security has mostly been dominated by the army, which has been fighting proscribed militant factions like Al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban for about two decades, with the police seeking greater government support to empower them to deal with extremist violence.
The army chief received a comprehensive briefing on the prevailing security situation, ongoing counterterrorism operations and development initiatives in the northwestern region.
“COAS paid heartfelt tribute to the security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) who have made ultimate sacrifices in the line of duty,” the army media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement. “He emphasized that Pakistan Army will continue to provide steadfast support and technical assistance to LEAs, particularly KPK Police, to enhance their capacity.”
The army chief acknowledged the “pivotal role” of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in maintaining peace and advancing various projects under the South Waziristan Integrated Development Plan.
He also expressed gratitude for the support of tribal elders in Wana who helped combat militancy and provided unwavering backing to the army.
Pakistan’s army chief vows support for police during South Waziristan visit
https://arab.news/53969
Pakistan’s army chief vows support for police during South Waziristan visit
- General Asim Munir received a briefing on security situation and development initiatives in the region
- He applauded the ‘pivotal role’ of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s residents in helping maintain the area’s peace
Pakistan, Canada explore deeper trade, mining and agriculture cooperation
- The development comes as Pakistan seeks to boost trade, foreign investment to strengthen its more than $400 billion economy
- Both sides reviewed the evolving global economic landscape, underscored the need for adaptive trade strategies, Islamabad says
KARACHI: Pakistani and Canadian officials have discussed ways to deepen cooperation in trade, mining and agriculture, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Saturday, with both sides seeking to expand economic ties.
The statement came after Pakistani Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan’s meeting with Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tarik Ali Khan that focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, mining, agriculture, energy and emerging sectors.
Pakistan, which is recovering from a prolonged economic meltdown under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, has sought to boost trade, foreign investment to strengthen its more than $400 billion economy.
“During the meeting, both sides reviewed the evolving global economic landscape and underscored the need for adaptive trade strategies amid shifting supply chains and geopolitical realignments,” the Pakistani commerce ministry said in a statement.
“The federal minister emphasized Pakistan’s intent to diversify partnerships and attract quality foreign investment, particularly in value-adding and export-oriented sectors.”
A major focus of discussions was cooperation in the mining and minerals sector. Pakistan has vast mineral resources, including Reko Diq copper-gold mine, which is one of the world’s largest undeveloped mines.
The Reko Diq project, located in the Balochistan province, is also being developed by Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold in partnership with Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments.
Commerce Minister Khan highlighted Pakistan’s growing interest in developing small and medium-scale mining projects and stressed the importance of modern exploration techniques, surveying expertise and responsible mining governance.
“The Canadian high commissioner noted Canada’s global leadership in mining services and exploration technologies and expressed willingness to support Pakistan through capacity-building initiatives, technical assistance and business-to-business matchmaking,” the commerce ministry said.
“In this context, both sides discussed Pakistan’s participation in the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto, with an emphasis on linking Pakistani miners with reputable Canadian exploration companies and service providers.”
The meeting also covered agricultural cooperation, with particular reference to the recent resumption of Canadian canola exports to Pakistan, according to the statement. The two sides acknowledged the successful arrival of initial shipments and agreed to work closely on addressing regulatory and procedural bottlenecks to ensure smooth and timely imports.
“Discussions further explored potential cooperation in dairy and livestock development, including animal genetics, modern dairy farming technologies and disease-control mechanisms, aimed at enhancing productivity and quality standards in Pakistan,” the commerce ministry added.
“On the energy front, the Canadian High Commissioner raised issues related to Canadian investments in renewable energy projects in Pakistan and stressed the importance of regulatory predictability and timely approvals to sustain investor confidence. Both sides also reviewed progress on the Pakistan–Canada Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) and agreed on the need to maintain momentum in negotiations to encourage greater Canadian investment.”
