JOHANNESBURG: South Africa became the latest African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Rwanda 3-0 Tuesday to top its qualifying group, despite being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in earlier games. It will be South Africa&#39;s first appearance at a World Cup since it qualified automatically as the host in 2010. &nbsp;South Africa&rsquo;s victory meant Nigeria finished second in the group and will have to qualify through a playoff. &nbsp;Nigeria beat Benin 4-0 at home after a hat trick from star striker Victor Osimhen. Benin had led the group before the last round.&nbsp;

Football

South Africa became the latest African nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Rwanda 3-0 Tuesday to top its qualifying group

South Africa secures World Cup spot with 3-0 win over Rwanda

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Tuesday posthumously awarded America&#39;s highest civilian honor to Charlie Kirk, the assassinated activist who inspired a generation of young conservatives and helped push the nation&#39;s politics further to the right. The ceremony coincided with what would have been Kirk&rsquo;s 32nd birthday. It came just over a month after the Turning Point USA founder was fatally shot while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University. In a sign of Kirk&#39;s close ties to the administration, he was the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Trump&rsquo;s second term. The president also spoke at Kirk&rsquo;s funeral in September, calling him a &ldquo;great American hero&rdquo; and &ldquo;martyr&rdquo; for freedom, while Vice President JD Vance accompanied his body home to Arizona on Air Force Two along with Kirk&#39;s widow, Erika. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I&rsquo;ve ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber,&quot; Trump said on Tuesday afternoon. Of Kirk&#39;s killing, Trump said, &ldquo;He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentless fighting for a better and stronger America.&rdquo; The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 for individuals making exceptional contributions &ldquo;to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.&rdquo; Trump returned to the US in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday after a whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt to celebrate a ceasefire agreement in Israel&#39;s war with Hamas in Gaza that his administration was instrumental in brokering. Trump joked that he almost requested to reschedule the ceremony because of the trip. &ldquo;I raced back halfway around the globe,&quot; Trump said. &ldquo;I was going to call Erika and say, &lsquo;Erika, could you maybe move it to Friday?&#39; And I didn&rsquo;t have the courage to call. But you know why I didn&rsquo;t call? Because I heard today was Charlie&rsquo;s birthday.&rdquo; In a sign of Trump&#39;s crowded schedule, Argentine President Javier Milei, who had been visiting with the president at the White House earlier, stayed on to attend the ceremony. Trump has awarded a string of presidential medals going back to his first term, including to golf legend Tiger Woods, ex-football coach Lou Holtz, and conservative economist Arthur Laffer as well as to Yankees Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, the latter of which came during the 2020 State of the Union. He awarded posthumous medals to Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley. This term, Trump has also announced his intentions to award the medals to Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and a close former adviser, and to Ben Carson, who served as Trump&#39;s first-term secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012. Trump praised Kirk as one of the key reasons he was reelected. But Kirk&#39;s politics were also often divisive. He sharply criticized gay and transgender rights while inflaming racial tensions.&nbsp; Kirk also repeated Trump&rsquo;s false claims that former Vice President Kamala Harris was responsible for policies that encouraged immigrants to come to the US illegally and called George Floyd, a Black man whose killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a national debate over racial injustice, a &ldquo;scumbag.&rdquo; As the ceremony was underway, the Trump administration said it had revoked the visas of six foreigners who US officials deemed had made derisive or mocking comments about Kirk&rsquo;s assassination. The six foreigners who had their visas revoked were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa. It comes as the Trump administration and its supporters have zeroed in on people who made critical comments about Kirk, leading to firings and other discipline. Trump wrote in a social media post hours before the event that he was moving the ceremony from the White House&rsquo;s East Room to the Rose Garden to accommodate a crowd he said would be &ldquo;so big and enthusiastic.&rdquo; When it started, he noted how the weather had cleared up after it was expected to be raining. He said: &ldquo;I was telling Erika, God was watching. And he didn&rsquo;t want that for Charlie.&rdquo;

Americas

The US president has announced intentions to award medals to Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and a close former adviser, and to Ben Carson, who served as Trump's first-term secretary of Housing and Urban Development.



Trump honors Charlie Kirk with Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would be his 32nd birthday

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;Sri Lanka and New Zealand shared points in their ICC Women&#39;s World Cup 2025 fixture after heavy rain washed out play following the innings break in Colombo on Tuesday. Sri Lanka had posted a strong 258-6 and looked confident with their spin-heavy attack on a slow surface.&nbsp; The highlight of the innings was Nilakshika Silva&rsquo;s explosive fifty, the fastest of the World Cup. Coming in at number six, she reached her half-century in just 26 balls, beating Bangladesh&rsquo;s Shorna Akter&rsquo;s record of 34 deliveries.&nbsp;It was her fourth half-century in ODIs, and she crossed the 1,000-run mark in the process, becoming only the eighth Sri Lankan to do so. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu returned to form with her 20th ODI fifty, adding 101 runs for the opening stand with Vishmi Gunaratne (42), while Hasini Perera (44) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (26) added useful runs before Nilakshika&rsquo;s late fireworks powered the total. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine took three wickets, while Bree Illing claimed two. The Kiwis will stay in Colombo to face Pakistan on Saturday, while Sri Lanka will take on an in-form South Africa on Friday.

Cricket

Kiwis to stay in Colombo to face Pakistan on Saturday, Sri Lanka will take on an in-form South Africa on Friday.



Rain ruins Sri Lanka’s strong start in World Cup clash

Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026&ndash;2028 term with a resounding majority of 178 votes, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Tuesday, reaffirming its position as an active voice for human rights on the global stage. The election took place at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, where thirteen other nations also secured seats on the 47-member body. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the development, calling it &ldquo;a testament to Pakistan&rsquo;s effective and vibrant role at the United Nations.&rdquo; In a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, Sharif reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting human rights across all dimensions, civil, political, economic, social, and cultural.&rdquo; Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, expressing gratitude to UN member states for their &ldquo;overwhelming trust and support,&rdquo; said on X, formerly Twitter, &ldquo;This election reflects global recognition of Pakistan&rsquo;s strong credentials and active contributions toward strengthening the international human rights framework.&rdquo; He added that Pakistan would continue to &ldquo;work constructively with all partners in the spirit of tolerance, respect, and consensus-building.&rdquo; This marks the sixth time Pakistan has been elected to the Human Rights Council since its establishment in 2006. A recognition that underscores the international community&rsquo;s confidence in Islamabad&rsquo;s consistent advocacy for universal human rights and multilateral engagement. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan will use its upcoming term to &ldquo;advance dialogue and cooperation&rdquo; on key issues such as the right to development and the protection of people living under foreign occupation. The ministry also reiterated that Pakistan will continue to raise concerns about &ldquo;grave human rights violations&rdquo; in the Indian occupied Kashmir and Palestinian Territory, in line with the Council&rsquo;s mandate. Based in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council is the UN&rsquo;s principal intergovernmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights globally. With its renewed mandate, Pakistan aims to strengthen its role as a consensus-builder and advocate for fairness, transparency, and universality in global human rights discourse. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s election is not just a diplomatic achievement,&rdquo; said a senior diplomat at the UN, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s a reaffirmation of the country&rsquo;s enduring belief in dialogue, inclusivity, and the universality of human dignity.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan’s election to the United Nations Human Rights Council reflects its vibrant and effective role at the UN and reaffirms Islamabad’s unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting global human dignity

Pakistan secures UN Rights Council seat, reaffirms commitment to global justice 

ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants opened unprovoked fire in the Kurram sector in Pakistan&rsquo;s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, security sources said on Tuesday.&nbsp;The Pakistan Army responded with strong and intense retaliatory fire, destroying multiple Taliban posts and a tank position, according to sources. Fires broke out at the militants&rsquo; posts, and the Taliban fled, leaving behind several of their dead. The Pakistan military demonstrated exceptional skill by targeting and destroying a moving Taliban tank, sources said, adding that a key commander of the militant group was killed in the operation. The latest exchange comes after the neighboring countries engaged in a cross-border assault on the night of October 11&ndash;12. According to the Pakistani military, Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants launched coordinated attacks along multiple border sectors.&nbsp;Pakistani forces repelled the offensive, killing over 200 attackers, while 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.&nbsp; Islamabad identifies Indian-sponsored proxies Fitna al-Khawarij, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Fitna al-Hindustan as key instigators behind the assault.

Security

Forces retaliated after Afghan Taliban, militants opened unprovoked fire in Kurram, destroying several posts and a tank. Fires engulfed Taliban positions as they fled, leaving behind multiple bodies. Militant group's key commander killed in the operation.

Pakistan Army destroys Taliban posts after Kurram attack: sources

Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Pakistan is set to sign a preliminary deal on a review of its loan programme with the International Monetary Fund this week, the country&#39;s finance minister said, a key step to securing another $1.24 billion payout from the lender. An IMF team left Pakistan last week without signing so-called staff-level agreements on reviews of its two main support programmes which are worth a combined $8.4 billion. &quot;The mission was on the ground for a couple of weeks, we had very constructive dialogue with them around the quantitative benchmarks, the structural benchmarks, and we&#39;ve been having some follow-up discussions,&quot; Muhammad Aurangzeb told Reuters during an interview on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings. &quot;During the course of this week, we&#39;re hoping that we can get the SLA done.&quot; RETURN TO CAPITAL MARKETSPakistan stocks closed 4% up after the news. Countries under IMF lending programmes need to pass regular reviews, which, once signed off by the Fund&#39;s executive board, trigger loan tranche payments. The IMF support agreed in September 2024 helped shore up Pakistan&#39;s $370 billion economy following a severe economic crisis that sent its currency tumbling. Aurangzeb said the government now plans to return to capital markets, starting with its first green bond denominated in Chinese yuan before the end of the year, followed by an at least $1 billion international bond. &quot;Euro, dollar, Sukuk, Islam Sukuk - we&#39;re keeping our options open,&quot; he said. Long-delayed state asset sales are also expected to gain traction now after disappointing progress last year. Islamabad wants to sell off three power distribution companies and national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines. &quot;We are quite hopeful,&quot; Aurangzeb said about the planned airline sale, adding that lucrative reopened routes to Europe and Britain made it &quot;a very good proposition.&quot; If it takes off it would be Pakistan&#39;s first major privatisation in roughly two decades. A deal collapsed last year after a single lowball offer, but the government has since drawn interest from five domestic business groups including Airblue, Lucky Cement, investment firm Arif Habib and military-backed Fauji Fertilizer. Final bids are expected later this year. The government also hopes the privatisation of a yet to be named financial institution could move ahead this month. MEETING WITH US OFFICIALSAurangzeb, who is expected to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week, said Pakistan was relieved to have ended up with a 19% U.S. tariff having originally braced for a 29% levy. Discussions about U.S. investments in the country&#39;s oil and gas and minerals and mining sectors are now taking place, he said, though he added it was early days. Pakistan recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Reko Diq, run by mining firm Barrick Gold, for a first copper mine, with the overall project potentially growing to as much as $6.5 billion to $7 billion, Aurangzeb said. &quot;The potential of this sector is huge,&quot; he said, citing growing demand due to the global energy transition away from fossil fuels. Pakistan is also trying to maintain strong ties with China. &quot;I don&#39;t quite frankly see it as an and-or discussion, it&#39;s very much an and-and discussion for us,&quot; he said, when asked whether Pakistan&#39;s growing ties with Washington signalled a shift in its dealings with Beijing. Asked whether Washington&#39;s reluctance to fund climate change projects could hit Pakistan, Aurangzeb said the country was well-positioned to weather it, given a $1.3-billion Resilience and Sustainability facility with the IMF as well as a $2-billion World Bank programme, of which one-third is earmarked for climate change, and other programmes. &quot;I think there is enough (available funding) at this point in time that we can move forward with the adaptation agenda. The ball is in our court.&quot;

Economy

Pakistan will sign a preliminary IMF loan review deal this week, unlocking $1.24 billion. Finance Minister Aurangzeb said the government plans green and international bonds, privatisation of PIA, and renewed investment talks with the U.S. and China.

Pakistan finmin sees staff deal on $1.2 billion IMF payout this week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reaffirmed its vision to position Information Technology (IT) as a key driver of economic growth, setting ambitious export and investment targets and pursuing partnerships with emerging digital markets worldwide. The Pakistan Mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), hosted a high-profile networking event titled &ldquo;Pakistan Night&rdquo; to promote Pakistan&rsquo;s digital potential and attract international investors. IT and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who served as the chief guest, reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;strong commitment to supporting the IT industry in key areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software development, and data processing.&rdquo;&nbsp; She highlighted the success of programs like Ignite, which have enabled Pakistani startups to connect with global opportunities. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s digital economy is expanding rapidly, and we are committed to building an ecosystem that fosters innovation and international collaboration,&rdquo; the minister said. Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said the government aims to increase IT exports from the current $4 billion to $100 billion, driven by innovation, foreign investment, and strategic partnerships. &ldquo;Pakistan has immense digital potential and a growing base of skilled professionals. By engaging with emerging IT markets, we can transform this potential into global competitiveness,&rdquo; Tirmizi said. The event brought together senior diplomats, Emirati officials, and representatives from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, business councils, and GITEX Global 2025 exhibitors. Rana Ihsan Afzal Khan, coordinator to the prime minister on commerce, described Pakistan&rsquo;s IT sector as &ldquo;the fastest-growing industry in the country,&rdquo; noting an average annual growth rate of around 20%. According to official data, Pakistan&rsquo;s IT sector currently contributes nearly 1% to national GDP, employs over 120,000 professionals, and comprises more than 12,000 companies. The sector has doubled in size over the past four years, with IT exports reaching $1.53 billion in the first five months of the current fiscal year. A 33% increase from the previous year. The government&rsquo;s broader digital strategy includes the &ldquo;Uraan Pakistan&rdquo; initiative, targeting $10 billion in IT exports by 2029, and a $10 billion partnership with South Korea to develop technology parks across the country. &ldquo;These initiatives are not just policy goals, they represent a roadmap to Pakistan&rsquo;s digital future,&rdquo; Khawaja said, lauding the efforts of Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic missions and industry leaders in promoting innovation-led growth.

In Dubai, Islamabad showcases its growing IT potential at the “Pakistan Night” event, where officials outlined plans to boost exports to $100 billion through innovation, global partnerships, and major investments in technology infrastructure.

Pakistan eyes $100 billion in IT exports through global partnerships

ISLAMABAD: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pledged to rebuild all football facilities in Gaza following last weekend&rsquo;s ceasefire, saying the sport must &ldquo;bring hope&rdquo; to the war-torn territory on Monday.&nbsp;Speaking at the Summit for Peace in Egypt, co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Infantino said that football&rsquo;s role is to support, to unite and give hope in the region.&nbsp;He added that FIFA will help rebuild all football facilities in Palestine, provide equipment, construct new pitches, bring in instructors, and assist in organizing local competitions.&nbsp;FIFA will launch a dedicated fund to rebuild football infrastructure in Palestine, adding that the organization had already contributed through its FIFA Arena programme and the construction of mini-pitches.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;We will help to bring football back together with the Palestinian Football Association in every corner of the country&rdquo;, he added.&nbsp;Infantino stated that FIFA has contributed with mini-pitches, with the FIFA Arena programme, adding: &ldquo;We want the whole world to contribute, because football brings hope to children, it&rsquo;s very, very important.&rdquo;&nbsp;FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.&nbsp;The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.

Gianni Infantino pledged to help restore football infrastructure in Gaza, establish a reconstruction fund, and revive local tournaments, emphasizing that the sport should serve as a source of hope for the Palestinian people in the aftermath of the ceasefire and the peace summit held in Egypt.

FIFA vows to bring football back to Palestine after peace summit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s national football team faces Afghanistan on Tuesday in a must-win AFC Asian Cup qualification match for Saudi Arabia 2027, aiming to revive their campaign after a 0-0 draw previously. The match is taking place at Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium in Ardiyah, Kuwait. Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano said ahead of the match, &ldquo;We [are determined] to win, the focus is on getting three points. It&rsquo;s football &mdash; anything can happen. We&rsquo;ll also have another chance against Syria at home in [&hellip;] but tomorrow&rsquo;s game is key.&rdquo; <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/a55d3c9c-6965-4c82-9d01-02ef396d7a43-2.jpg" alt="Pakistani national football team practice ahead of their match against Afghanistan. (PFF)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Pakistani national football team practice ahead of their match against Afghanistan. (PFF)</figcaption> Squad Solano confirmed no major lineup changes, with goalkeeper Saqib Hanif and captain Abdullah Iqbal leading the squad. Mohammad Fazal, Syed Abdullah Shah, Mohib Afridi, Tufail Khan, Haris Ali Zeb, Etzaz Hussain, Otis Khan, Mckeal Aaron Abdullah, and Ahmed Faraz complete the lineup. 0-0 draw against Afghanistan The first leg between Pakistan and Afghanistan, played at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad, ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Pakistan dominated possession and created numerous chances but were repeatedly frustrated by Afghanistan&rsquo;s defense and goalkeeper Ovays Aziz&rsquo;s key saves. A critical moment came in the 67th minute when Pakistan was awarded a penalty, but Otis Khan shot the ball over the bar. Despite disappointment from the home draw, Solano praised his young team. &ldquo;We were a little disappointed [but] we&rsquo;re a team that loves the ball. This is part of the process&mdash;these young lads are playing together for the first time, and I am very pleased with their performances.&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s Group E campaign so far Pakistan&rsquo;s road in Group E has been difficult, with two prior losses: &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;A 2-0 defeat to Syria (23-minute opener by Ahmad Faqa and captain Omar Alsoma&rsquo;s second half goal) at Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Stadium, Saudi Arabia, on 25 March. &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;A 1-0 loss to Myanmar at Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, sealed by a precise free-kick from Than Paing on 10 June. Group E Points Table (as of latest matches) <table width="750" id="isPasted"><thead><tr><td>Position</td><td>Team</td><td>Played</td><td>Wins</td><td>Draws</td><td>Losses</td><td>Goals For</td><td>Goals Against</td><td>Goal Difference</td><td>Points</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Syria</td><td>4</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>11</td><td>1</td><td>+10</td><td>12</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Myanmar</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>9</td><td>-5</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Afghanistan</td><td>4</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>4</td><td>-4</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Pakistan</td><td>3</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>3</td><td>-3</td><td>1</td></tr></tbody></table> Both teams are currently trailing behind group leaders Syria and Myanmar in the race for the only qualification spot to the 2027 Asian Cup. Rising popularity of football in Pakistan The Afghanistan vs Pakistan qualifier attracted significant fan interest, with over 7,345 attendees filling Jinnah Stadium. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) celebrated the turnout, stating on Instagram, &ldquo;7,345 fans filled the stadium with passion, pride, and energy.&rdquo; Upcoming matches Pakistan will face Syria on Tuesday in another Group E qualifier. 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualification overview The Asian Cup qualification pathway involves 46 AFC member nations competing across four rounds, with the first two rounds doubling as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Asia. The top 18 teams from the second round, plus Saudi Arabia as hosts, automatically qualify. Remaining teams compete in the current third round for the last six tournament spots. So far in the third round, six group winners have emerged as qualifiers: Philippines (Group A), Lebanon (Group B), Hong Kong (Group C), Thailand (Group D), Syria (Group E), and Malaysia (Group F). The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will be hosted in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February 2027, featuring 24 teams competing for continental glory.

Pakistan national football team warm up ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Afghanistan on November 14, 2025. (PFF)

Pakistan and Afghanistan meet in key AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier in Kuwait, aiming to advance despite earlier goalless draw and tough Group E challenges.

Pakistan vs Afghanistan: Neighbors clash in AFC Asian Cup qualifier

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Vietnam signed and launched negotiations on a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) on Tuesday, aiming to boost bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation by the end of 2025. The signing took place during the Pakistan-Vietnam Business Forum held in Islamabad.&nbsp; The session was co-chaired by Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Vietnam Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Di&ecirc;n, according to a statement by Khan on his social media handle X. Jam Kamal Khan described the Vietnamese minister&#39;s visit as a sign of the two nations&rsquo; evolving economic partnership rooted in longstanding friendship and mutual respect.&nbsp; Minister highlighted that while progress was achieved in the bilateral trade between the two countries, it remained &ldquo;below its potential.&rdquo;&nbsp; He identified key sectors with potential for collaboration, including textiles, leather, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, fisheries, construction materials, and information technology. The signing of the joint statement on launching negotiations was hailed as historic, setting a structured timeline to conclude the agreement by year-end. The PTA will provide a comprehensive guideline to bolster market access, diversify trade baskets, and remove tariff and non-tariff barriers, the statement read.&nbsp; &ldquo;It is expected to foster a balanced and mutually beneficial trading partnership, boosting competitiveness and export potential for both countries&rdquo;, it said. The minister also encouraged the private sectors of both countries to see each other as long-term collaborators rather than short-term trading partners. According to the statement, he also invited Vietnamese investors to explore opportunities in Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for joint ventures, manufacturing partnerships, re-exporting, and people-to-people partnerships.&nbsp; Kamal highlighted the potential for cultural and religious tourism in Pakistan&rsquo;s Gandhara and Taxila civilizations, some of the world&#39;s sacred Buddhist heritage sites in the world.&nbsp; Both sides are committed to enhancing connectivity through direct flights and visa facilitation to promote trade and tourism. The commerce minister concluded by stating that the signing represents the beginning of a new chapter in our bilateral relations &ndash; one defined by trust, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity. The Business Forum included several Pakistani federal ministers and senior officials alongside diplomats and business leaders from both countries.

The PTA launch at the Pakistan–Vietnam Business Forum in Islamabad signals deeper economic partnership, focusing on textiles, agriculture, technology, and connectivity, with commitments to balanced trade, investment, tourism, and cultural collaboration