ISLAMABAD: A leading association of Pakistani journalists on Tuesday called for an investigation into a recent visit by local media professionals to Israel, describing the trip as an affront to journalists worldwide following the deaths of more than 150 media workers covering the war in Gaza.
Last month, a 10-member delegation of Pakistani journalists, intellectuals and influencers visited Israel for a week to learn about the Holocaust and the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, according to Israeli media.
The visit sparked widespread criticism in Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel and has no diplomatic relations with the country. Islamabad has consistently advocated for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders and internationally agreed parameters.
Pakistan has also been a vocal critic of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza, which it has labeled a “genocide.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the visit, calling it a breach of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of the global struggle for press freedom and human rights.
“The PFUJ urged authorities to launch a thorough investigation into how and why these journalists undertook the trip, emphasizing that such actions contradict Pakistan’s long-standing diplomatic stance,” the statement said.
“The PFUJ also condemned the move as an affront to journalists worldwide who have risked or lost their lives in conflict zones while exposing human rights abuses,” it added.
The union said the timing of the visit was particularly troubling, given that over 150 journalists — the majority of them Palestinian — have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, making it one of the deadliest conflicts for media workers in recent history.
It warned that such trips risk legitimizing those killings and undermining the sacrifices of journalists covering conflicts in Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
This is not the first time Pakistani media professionals have traveled to Israel. In 2022, a similar delegation included journalists and Pakistani-Americans participating in interfaith and diplomatic engagement efforts.
Responding to media reports on the latest visit, Pakistan’s foreign office said the country’s position on Israel “remains unchanged.”
“Pakistani passports explicitly state they are ‘not valid for travel to Israel,’” it said. “Pakistan does not recognize Israel and steadfastly supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.”
Top Pakistani journalists’ union demands probe into media delegation’s visit to Israel
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Top Pakistani journalists’ union demands probe into media delegation’s visit to Israel
- PFUJ calls 10-member media delegation’s visit to Israel an affront to journalists worldwide
- It describes the visit as ‘troubling’ given the deaths of over 150 journalists covering the Gaza war
Pakistan touts investment potential for US businesses in tech, energy and minerals
- The country’s envoy says both sides was committed to anchoring relations in economic cooperation
- He describes Pakistan’s tech-savvy youth as a competitive asset for businesses needing skilled labor
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States said on Sunday the country offered profitable opportunities for American businesses in information technology, energy and minerals, according to an official statement.
The comments come months after the US and Pakistan reached a trade deal in July, with officials on both sides signaling interest in expanding cooperation into energy, mining, digital infrastructure and other sectors.
Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at the time said the aim was to move “beyond the immediate trade imperative,” adding that the two countries had “come a long way” in their broader strategic partnership.
“Pakistan presents profitable opportunities for US entrepreneurs, particularly in the fast-growing and lucrative IT, energy and minerals sectors,” Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said, according to the statement.
Sheikh made the remarks during a meeting at the embassy in Washington with a delegation from the Yale School of Management, which plans to visit Pakistan.
He said the leadership in both countries was committed to anchoring relations in economic cooperation and providing an investor-friendly environment for American firms looking to enter a market of more than 250 million people.
The ambassador noted Pakistan was strategically located at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East, adding that it served as a vital trade corridor offering US businesses connectivity to energy-rich Central Asian states and Gulf markets.
Sheikh highlighted opportunities in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and information technology, pointing to Pakistan’s large, tech-savvy youth population as a competitive asset for businesses needing skilled labor.
“The success of over 80 US companies already operating profitably in Pakistan bears testimony to the country’s vast economic potential,” he said.
The statement added the delegation thanked the ambassador for the briefing and said it looked forward to the embassy’s support during the visit.
