ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday called for just and inclusive political solutions to long-standing global disputes, such as Palestine and Kashmir, at the 7th Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).
CICA, a 28-member forum established in 1992 and headquartered in Kazakhstan, began as a Central Asian initiative, though it now includes members from other region like the Middle East and Southeast Asia. As a founding member, Pakistan sees the platform as vital for addressing issues related to economic development and regional integration in its neighborhood.
The meeting, hosted by Azerbaijan, was addressed virtually by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who participated from Egypt, where he is attending a summit of D-8 developing nations focused on Gaza and Lebanon.
Dar highlighted Pakistan was working to promote corporation and advance peace, stability and security in Asia, though he also noted the challenges hindering the shared economic and political objectives of the member states.
“Lasting progress cannot be achieved in isolation,” he told the gathering. “Persistent challenges, including political disputes, conflicts, foreign occupations and the denial of self-determination, along with poverty and illiteracy, undermine the collective development of Asia.”
He emphasized that sustainable peace and security depended on addressing the root causes of conflicts.
“A just resolution of the Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir issues and guaranteeing their right to self-determination is key to fostering lasting peace in the region,” Dar added.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister also highlighted the importance of strengthening regional connectivity to drive economic integration and sustainable development.
He noted that initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could serve as “catalysts for regional economic cooperation and prosperity.”
“As the global economic center of gravity shifts, it is essential that we seize the moment of opportunity to ensure inclusive regional transformation,” he said, underscoring CICA’s role in fostering collaboration across Asia.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to CICA’s vision of advancing dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to international law to resolve disputes.
Dar urged member states to continue utilizing the platform for regional cooperation and collective progress.
Pakistan calls for just solutions to global conflicts like Palestine for Asia’s enduring prosperity
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Pakistan calls for just solutions to global conflicts like Palestine for Asia’s enduring prosperity
- Ishaq Dar virtually addresses CICA’s ministerial meeting, asks member states to address root causes of conflicts
- The deputy PM also seeks strengthening regional connectivity for economic integration, sustainable development
Authorities to bar vehicles without e-tag from entering Islamabad starting Jan. 1
- Authorities made e-tags mandatory for all vehicles in Islamabad to enhance security
- Vehicles already equipped with a motorway tag, or m-tag, do not require an e-tag
ISLAMABAD: Authorities will bar vehicles without an electronic tag, or e-tag, from entering the federal capital of Islamabad starting Jan. 1, the Pakistani interior ministry announced on Sunday, in a move aimed at streamlining traffic management and improving monitoring at Islamabad’s entry and exit points.
Authorities made e-tags mandatory for all vehicles in the capital in Nov. to enhance security in the city. Vehicles already equipped with a motorway tag, or m-tag, do not require an e-tag.
The enforcement will rely on e-tag readers installed at entry and check points across the capital, which will automatically identify untagged vehicles and allow authorities to take action without manual checks.
The move is aimed at regulating traffic flow, improving record-keeping, and ensuring that vehicles entering the federal capital are properly registered within the system, according to the officials.
“Reforms in Safe City operations and the effective use of technology are the need of the hour,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was quoted as saying, following a review of the city’s monitoring system.
He presided over a meeting at the Safe City headquarters to review measures taken for the protection of citizens’ lives and property.
Under the Capital Smart City initiative, citizen services such as Rescue 1122, traffic management, security, and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) would be integrated into a centralized system,” Naqvi said.
At present, 16 e-tag points have been set up at different locations across Islamabad to tag vehicles.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon advised citizens to get their vehicles tagged immediately to avoid legal action.
“The administration is making efforts to facilitate the public, but compliance from citizens is essential for smooth implementation,” he was quoted as saying by the state-run APP news agency.
