Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday warned India that any aggression would be met with a &ldquo;swift, calibrated, and decisive&rdquo; response, after his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, issued fresh warnings amid rising regional tensions.&nbsp;The exchange underscores renewed friction between the nuclear-armed neighbors months after a brief but intense conflict in May 2025, raising concerns for international observers about escalation risks in South Asia, at a time when the world is already grappling with heightened instability in the Middle East following the ongoing Iran crisis and widening regional tensions.&nbsp;Addressing a Sainik Sammelan in Indian state of Kerala, Singh said India remained alert to the possibility of &ldquo;hostile actions from across the border&rdquo; and cautioned that any such move would be met with a &ldquo;firm and decisive response,&rdquo; according to Indian media reports.&nbsp;Referring to India&rsquo;s &ldquo;Operation Sindoor,&rdquo; Singh claimed Indian forces had brought Pakistan &ldquo;to its knees&rdquo; within 22 minutes and warned that further provocation could trigger &ldquo;unprecedented action.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding sharply, Asif dismissed the remarks as part of a &ldquo;predictable pattern,&rdquo; accusing New Delhi of &ldquo;externalising internal fragility&rdquo; and attempting to &ldquo;provoke escalation&rdquo; under the guise of &ldquo;unsubstantiated allegations&rdquo; for political purposes.&nbsp;&ldquo;Such threat-mongering from India is not new,&rdquo; Asif said, adding that the rhetoric reflected &ldquo;not strength, but visible strategic anxiety.&rdquo;&nbsp;He warned that &ldquo;miscalculation has consequences,&rdquo; saying recent history remained &ldquo;fresh in our minds,&rdquo; and cautioned that any future confrontation would draw an even more &ldquo;forceful and decisive&rdquo; response.&nbsp;Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s official position, Asif said the country remained committed to peace and regional stability but its &ldquo;resolve to defend sovereignty is absolute.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Our preparedness is complete, and our response will be swift, calibrated, and decisive,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He further cautioned that the notion of conventional conflict between two nuclear-armed states was &ldquo;inconceivable&rdquo; and would carry &ldquo;drastic consequences.&rdquo;&nbsp;The latest war of words follows a four-day conflict in May 2025, triggered by a militant attack on civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the attack, a charge Pakistan firmly rejected. The fighting, involving missile, drone and artillery strikes, marked the deadliest cross-border escalation since 2019 and ended only after a US-brokered ceasefire.

Foreign Affairs

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif says Pakistan will respond swiftly, decisively to India’s warnings, calling its rhetoric a sign of “strategic anxiety” as tensions rise months after the May 2025 conflict.

Pakistan issues tit-for-tat warning after Indian defense minister remarks

ISLAMABAD: Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty expressed his gratitude to Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for the hospitality shown during the recent meeting of foreign ministers in Islamabad. He also welcomed the Pakistan-China five-point initiative, which aims to promote dialogue and help resolve conflicts, as stated by Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Office in a post on X. The conversation highlighted Islamabad&rsquo;s efforts to build support for a diplomatic, negotiation-led approach amid heightened instability in the region.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039620873490227229&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=ae7ddec59798bc7abb6eee7d2c7b3f942873f552&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 746px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Egypt&rsquo;s positive response to the five-point proposal suggests that Pakistan&rsquo;s outreach is resonating with key regional actors seeking de-escalation rather than further confrontation. Both ministers reaffirmed the close fraternal relations between Pakistan and Egypt and agreed to remain in close contact.&nbsp;The exchange underscored the importance both governments attach to sustained engagement as the regional situation continues to evolve. The call also reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s broader diplomatic position as an advocate of dialogue, political settlement and peace while strengthening coordination with influential partners in the Muslim world.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, spoke by telephone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday night, with both sides reaffirming close bilateral ties and continued diplomatic coordination amid wider regional tensions.

 Pakistan-Egypt FMs reiterate support for peace initiatives

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said the responsibility for ending hostilities with Afghanistan rests with Kabul, as both sides engage in ongoing talks aimed at easing tensions following weeks of cross-border conflict.&nbsp;Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan is participating in the dialogue process but expects concrete action from Afghan authorities.&nbsp;&ldquo;The burden of real process&hellip; lies with Afghanistan, which must demonstrate visible and verifiable actions against terrorist groups using its soil against Pakistan,&rdquo; Andrabi told reporters at a weekly briefing.&nbsp;Talks began in Urumqi, China, after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar traveled to Beijing for discussions with Chinese officials, including Wang Yi.&nbsp;Andrabi described the engagement as preliminary.&nbsp;&ldquo;These are working-level talks&hellip; our delegation has not returned yet,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan is seeking a &ldquo;durable solution.&rdquo;&nbsp;Conflict, pause and renewed diplomacyThe talks come after weeks of heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where Islamabad launched Operation Ghazab lil Haq following sustained cross-border terrorist attacks.&nbsp;The operation was briefly paused during Eid-ul-Fitr at the request of regional partners before resuming after the truce period ended.&nbsp;Pakistani officials say the campaign targets terrorist infrastructure, including camps, logistics networks and support systems used to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.&nbsp;Pakistan highlights diplomatic outreachAndrabi said Pakistan has simultaneously intensified diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions both regionally and beyond.&nbsp;He noted that Islamabad hosted a second round of four-party consultations with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt, following an earlier meeting in Riyadh.&nbsp;The discussions focused on de-escalation, humanitarian concerns and promoting dialogue amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the Gulf region.&nbsp;&ldquo;The ministers agreed on dialogue as the primary path to prevent conflict and strengthen cooperation,&rdquo; Andrabi said.&nbsp;He added that Pakistan has also engaged in extensive diplomatic outreach through high-level calls and consultations with regional and global leaders.&nbsp;China engagement and regional coordination&nbsp;Andrabi highlighted Dar&rsquo;s recent visit to China as a key development, where both sides discussed Afghanistan and broader regional stability.&nbsp;He said a five-point peace initiative jointly emphasized cessation of hostilities, humanitarian assistance, civilian protection, dialogue and adherence to international law.&nbsp;Pakistan also welcomed steps aimed at maintaining stability in critical global trade routes, including safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, he added.&nbsp;Push for verifiable actionDespite ongoing talks, Pakistan maintains that progress depends on concrete steps by Afghan authorities.&nbsp;&ldquo;We did explore all avenues&hellip; but violence and attacks from Afghanistan did not stop,&rdquo; Andrabi said, referring to past diplomatic engagement efforts.&nbsp;Officials say Islamabad remains committed to dialogue but insists that any sustainable resolution requires guarantees that Afghan territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.&nbsp;The talks in China are ongoing, with Pakistani officials framing them as part of a broader effort to balance military action with diplomacy amid a complex and evolving regional security landscape.

Pakistan intensified its diplomatic efforts last week to address ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf, and Iran, engaging in high-level meetings, bilateral talks, and regional consultations.

Pakistan says Afghanistan must act as talks seek end hostilities

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Political analyst Zoon Ahmed Khan has highlighted Pakistan and China&rsquo;s crucial roles in promoting stability and dialogue in the region on Tuesday.&nbsp; Speaking on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s The Newsroom with Sana Maqbool from Beijing, China, Zoon Ahmad Khan emphasized that both countries have long-term stakes in regional peace, connectivity and adherence to international law. She said China and Pakistan have consistently supported regional efforts, including trilateral dialogues with Iran focused on peace.&nbsp; &ldquo;We are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and have spearheaded initiatives to reduce misunderstandings and improve dialogue,&rdquo; the political analyst said. On Pakistan&rsquo;s role in the Middle East, Zoon said Pakistan has a security pact with Saudi Arabia, strong ties with neighbors like Iran, and has repeatedly pursued diplomacy and dialogue despite challenges. <div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"> </div>&ldquo;Pakistan, with a very balanced approach towards its neighbors and towards the Middle East region at large, is an excellent candidate; a country that can bring together the foreign ministers&#39; dialogue,&rdquo; she said, adding that, &ldquo;You have Turkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia coming together, trusting Pakistan, again, because of Pakistan&#39;s track record and the way Pakistan has conducted itself for years&rdquo;. Zoon also&nbsp;praised China&rsquo;s role in global peace initiatives.&nbsp; &ldquo;China promotes peace, connectivity, and dialogue through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative and multilateral mediation efforts. Its five principles of peaceful coexistence, central to its foreign policy, echo the spirit of the Bandung Movement and the rise of the Global South,&rdquo; she said. Highlighting Pakistan-China cooperation, Zoon Ahmad Khan said the strategic partnership, mutual trust and regional experience position both countries to facilitate positive developments.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan previously played a key role in easing tensions between China and the US, demonstrating our capacity to act responsibly in times of global crises,&rdquo; she added. Zoon said the stakes are high, and all responsible countries must step up to prevent conflicts that could affect the world at large.

Middle East War ceasefire being discussed on Pakistan TV Satellite show, The Newsroom. (Screengrab: Pakisan TV Satellite)

Zoon Ahmed Khan says Pakistan and China play key roles in promoting regional peace, dialogue, and stability through cooperation and diplomacy.

Pakistan, China positioned to foster regional peace, analyst Zoon says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Tuesday reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and proposed a five-point initiative to review the situation in the Gulf and Middle East region as Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Ishar Dar meet in Beijing, said the Foreign Office in a statement. Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to further strengthening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, according to the Foreign Office statement. According to it, particular emphasis was placed on &ldquo;advancing high-quality development, deepening economic and strategic cooperation, including under CPEC 2.0,&rdquo; and enhancing high-level exchanges and collaboration across all domains. Dar is on an official one-day visit to China at the invitation of his counterpart Wang Yi, where both leaders will review bilateral ties and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, said the Foreign Office earlier.&nbsp;This is Dar&rsquo;s second trip to Beijing this year and comes shortly after he chaired a quadrilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt to explore ways to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Foreign Office Statement earlier, the Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, Wang Yi, and his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, met in Beijing. The two sides put forward the five-point initiative to review the situation in the Gulf and the Middle East region. &#39;Immediate Cessation of Hostilities&#39;Both sides called for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. The statement added that the humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas&nbsp;&#39;Start of peace talks as soon as possible&#39;China and Pakistan called for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence, and security of Iran and the Gulf states, which should be safeguarded. &ldquo;Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts,&quot; the statement added. The statement reaffirmed support for the involved parties to start talks, with all sides committed to peacefully resolving disputes and avoiding the use or threat of force during negotiations.&nbsp;&#39;Security of nonmilitary targets&#39;According to the statement, the principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. &ldquo;China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants,&quot; added the statement.&nbsp;&#39;Security of shipping lanes&#39;The statement said that the Strait of Hormuz and its surrounding waters are a crucial global shipping route for goods and energy. It called on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz while allowing the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships and restoring normal passage through the Strait &ldquo;as soon as possible.&rdquo; &#39;Primacy of the United Nations Charter&#39;It called for efforts to practice &ldquo;true multilateralism,&rdquo; to jointly strengthen the primacy of the UN, and to support the conclusion of an agreement to establish a comprehensive peace framework and realize lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.&nbsp;All-weather strategic cooperative partnersPrior to Dar landing in Beijing, responding to a question regarding the Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar&#39;s ongoing visit to China, the China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning called the bilateral relations between the two &ldquo;all-weather strategic cooperative partners&rdquo; that support each other. &ldquo;The two countries share similar positions and maintain close communication on major international and regional issues,&rdquo; she said. The spokesperson said that she believes that the foreign ministers of the two countries will strengthen strategic communication and coordination on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the situation in Iran. &lsquo;Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks&rsquo;This is Dar&rsquo;s second trip to Beijing this year and comes shortly after he chaired a quadrilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt to explore ways to end the ongoing Middle East conflict.&nbsp;The crisis began late last month following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which were followed by retaliatory actions. The situation has since heightened tensions across the Gulf and affected global energy markets, contributing to rising oil prices and inflation.&nbsp;Dar said the participating foreign ministers expressed full support for the possibility of US-Iran talks being held in Islamabad and agreed to establish a committee of senior officials to work out the next steps.&nbsp;He emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only practical path to avoid further conflict and ensure regional peace.&nbsp;In recent days, Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have also held several discussions with Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while maintaining coordination with the United States.&nbsp;Dar added that Pakistan welcomes the trust shown by both Iran and the US and would be honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the near future.&nbsp;&#39;Diplomacy a gradual process&#39;Echoing this stance, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said that diplomacy takes time but remains essential to easing tensions. &ldquo;Diplomacy is a gradual process. It takes patience, but we hope to move things forward faster in the interest of the broader region,&rdquo; he said in an interview with Fox News, expressing optimism about de-escalation efforts.

Both sides reaffirm strategic partnership, propose a five-point peace plan addressing Middle East tensions, urging ceasefire, dialogue, civilian protection, secure shipping routes, and UN-led multilateral diplomacy

Pakistan, China call for ceasefire, propose five-point Middle East plan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Petroleum, Ali Pervaiz Malik, met with French Ambassador to Pakistan Nicolas Galey on Tuesday to discuss the evolving regional and energy situation, according to an official statement.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the meeting, Galey reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s strong bilateral ties with France, noting that energy cooperation between the two countries had expanded in recent years.&nbsp;According to the statement, the ambassador said that French companies have expressed growing interest in Pakistan&rsquo;s mining sector.&nbsp;He&nbsp;said&nbsp;that French firms would actively participate in the upcoming Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum,&nbsp;scheduled for November.&nbsp;The French ambassador&nbsp;lauded Pakistan&rsquo;s effective handling of the petroleum supply challenges, remarking that there had not been even one hour of panic in Pakistan in contrast to other South Asian nations.&nbsp;Ali Pervaiz&nbsp;Malik&nbsp;said&nbsp;that the diplomatic efforts led by the military and civilian leadership helped secure petroleum supplies through alternate channels at critical moments.&nbsp;The government is&nbsp;working on measures to provide targeted subsidies to protect vulnerable segments of society, he added.&nbsp;Both sides reiterated their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in energy security, mineral development, and sustainable economic growth, the statement said.

Ali Pervaiz Malik and Nicolas Galey discuss expanding Pakistan and France's energy and mining cooperation, with French firms showing interest in investment and both sides pledging deeper economic collaboration.

Pakistan, France deepen energy and mining cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s former ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s growing significance as a mediator in global conflicts, particularly between the United States of America and Iran. Speaking at Pakistan TV&#39;s programme &#39;Unfold&#39;, Haqqani emphasised that Pakistan has earned trust from both sides, making it a key channel for dialogue. He noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s strong relations with the US, Iran, and Arab Gulf countries give it credibility as a neutral actor. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s position has already been established, recognised, and acknowledged,&rdquo; he said, praising the country&rsquo;s enhanced diplomatic role. He also pointed to the strength of Pakistan&rsquo;s military and political leadership, whose coordinated efforts have created an environment where Pakistan is seen as a reliable convener for complex negotiations. This reflects the nation&rsquo;s strategic depth, institutional stability, and capacity to engage multiple stakeholders effectively, he added. Hussain Haqqani underlined Pakistan&rsquo;s balanced approach in mediation.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan facilitates dialogue while respecting each side&rsquo;s positions,&rdquo; he said, adding that &ldquo;outcome will depend on all the actors, but Pakistan&rsquo;s effort is recognised and appreciated. He highlighted the country&rsquo;s growing diplomatic credibility. The former ambassador said by providing a platform for peace talks, Pakistan is establishing itself as a stabilising force in a volatile region.&nbsp; He described these efforts as a &ldquo;positive thing,&rdquo; demonstrating the nation&rsquo;s ability to contribute meaningfully to global peace. He further said through persistent engagement, Pakistan shows it can bridge divides, foster dialogue, and promote peace and stability.&nbsp; Its strategic role in mediation underscores the country&rsquo;s diplomatic maturity, reinforcing its position as a credible and responsible global actor, Haqqani added.

Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has highlighted Pakistan’s growing significance as a mediator in global conflicts, particularly between the United States of America and Iran

Pakistan emerges as a trusted mediator in global conflicts: Haqqani

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and European Council President Antonio Costa spoke by phone Monday, with PM Sharif outlining the latest steps Islamabad has taken to reduce tensions in the Middle East, and the two leaders exchanging views on what the widening conflict means for the global economy. According to an official statement released by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, both leaders said they were deeply worried about the fighting involving Iran and the Gulf states and called for the situation to be settled through &quot;dialogue and diplomacy.&quot; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2038584095127879726&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=644a46dd8d0d79b531cbdf97a9fc7c9faa515e78&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Islamabad: 30 March 2026. Telephone call between the Prime Minister and the President of the EU Council Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from H.E. Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, this afternoon. During their warm and cordial&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/V1OV32WFoq" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/V1OV32WFoq</a>&mdash; Prime Minister&#39;s Office (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/2038584095127879726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">March 30, 2026</a></blockquote></div> Costa backed Pakistan&#39;s peacemaking role, saying the European Council stood behind every diplomatic channel working to bring order back to the region. PM Sharif told Costa that Islamabad places considerable weight on its ties with the European Union. He also brought up a Brussels trip he was forced to postpone last month. The European Council President said he expected to host the prime minister in the Belgian capital &quot;on mutually convenient dates.&quot; PM Sharif talked about the GSP+, the EU&#39;s preferential trade arrangement for vulnerable developing economies. The prime minister said he planned to open the first Pakistan-EU Business Forum in Islamabad on April 28-29.

The President of the European Council António Costa's opening remarks to the European Parliament on 25 March 2026 in Brussels. (EU Council Newsroom)

The European Council endorsed Pakistan's push for dialog to de-escalate the Middle East crisis, with Brussels signaling support for all efforts to pull the region back from the brink.

PM Sharif briefs European Council president on Pakistan's US-Iran mediation efforts

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will undertake an official visit to China on Tuesday, March 31, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Office said Monday. The statement said the upcoming visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regional developments, as well as bilateral and global issues of mutual interest. Despite medical advice to rest following a hairline shoulder fracture, Dar&rsquo;s decision to travel underscores the priority Pakistan places on its relationship with China, the statement noted. &lsquo;Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks&rsquo;The meeting comes days after Dar chaired a quadrilateral meeting alongside foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt to discuss ways to bring an end to the Middle East war. The conflict, triggered late last month by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions, has escalated tensions across the Gulf and disrupted global energy markets, keeping oil prices and inflation under pressure. Dar said the foreign ministers &quot;expressed their full support&quot; for potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad and agreed to form a committee of senior officials to coordinate follow-up modalities.&nbsp;&quot;The foreign ministers advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable pathway to prevent conflict and to promote regional peace and harmony,&quot; he told reporters. In the past days, Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have held several calls with Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while actively coordinating with the US administration. &quot;In this context, Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks,&quot; he said, adding that Pakistan would be &quot;honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days.&quot;

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Tianjin, northern China, on July 16, 2025. (File photo: Xinhua)

Says the upcoming visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regional developments, as well as bilateral and global issues of mutual interest.

Pakistani FM to undertake day-long visit to China on Tuesday: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt for their support to Pakistan&rsquo;s peace efforts following a quadrilateral meeting on the Middle East situation.&nbsp;The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, brought together top diplomats from the four countries to discuss de-escalation of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.&nbsp;The prime minister said on X that it was a pleasure to receive Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering solidarity&rdquo; with the Kingdom and appreciating its restraint during the crisis.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 417px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2038382813595242724&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c1b39f9e0ac1b0a2c0d06a687831becaeb0a71d0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>He also met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, stressing the need for urgent collective efforts to end hostilities affecting multiple countries in the region.&nbsp;The prime minister appreciated the role of Turkiye and Egypt and reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp;Pakistan has intensified diplomatic outreach in recent weeks and has offered to host direct talks between the United States and Iran, aiming for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.&nbsp;Diplomatic efforts underway to end Mideast warIn a separate development, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Sunday that both the United States and Iran have expressed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-and-us-express-confidence-in-pakistan-holding-peace-talks-says-fm-dar" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">confidence in Islamabad</a>&nbsp;to facilitate peace talks, as diplomatic efforts intensify to contain a rapidly expanding regional conflict.&nbsp;Speaking after a quadrilateral meeting with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye and Egypt, Dar said Pakistan stands ready to host negotiations aimed at ending the war.&nbsp;&ldquo;It would be an honor to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The development signals a rare convergence of trust from opposing sides, with Pakistan emerging as a key channel for communication as the conflict, sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, continues to reverberate across the Gulf, disrupting energy routes and heightening global economic uncertainty.

Foreign Minister of Turkiye Hakan Fidan and Foreign Minister of Egypt Badr Abdelatty call on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a meeting in Islamabad on March 29, 2026. (Photo: X/@PakPMO)

Pakistani PM appreciates Saudi, Turkiye, Egypt's support after Mideast talks

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday issued its first-ever presidential statement on closer cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)&nbsp;to address regional challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, and food and water security.&nbsp; The statement, submitted by Bahrain&#39;s UN representative in his capacity as Council President for April, recognizes the GCC&rsquo;s &quot;position and expertise&quot; in promoting regional peace and security, and acknowledges its &quot;contributions to regional and international stability through mediation, preventive diplomacy, technical and financial support, and humanitarian engagement.&quot; The Council requested that the UN Secretary-General, Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, include recommendations on strengthening institutional ties with the GCC in his next report, and encouraged regular briefings by the GCC Secretary-General. &quot;The ongoing escalation underlines the urgent need for coordinated multilateral action,&quot; said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General, stressing the importance of &ldquo;strengthened&rdquo; UN-GCC cooperation. He highlighted the GCC&#39;s role in de-escalating regional tensions, supporting mediation in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, and its cooperation with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. &#39;Cornerstone of the global economy&#39;GCC Secretary-General Jassim Albudaiwi told the Council the bloc is a &quot;cornerstone of the global economy&quot;, noting its combined output exceeded $2.3 trillion in 2024 and its members&rsquo; major contribution to global oil and gas supplies. He warned that instability in the Gulf carries global consequences. &quot;Stability in the Arabian Gulf is not merely a regional concern, but is rather a global necessity,&quot; he said. Bahrain&#39;s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al Zayani announced that his country had submitted a separate draft resolution to the Council addressing what he described as Iran&#39;s &quot;unlawful and unjustified&quot; attempts to control navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with a vote expected Friday. Delegates from the United Kingdom and France backed GCC states&#39; right to defend their sovereignty, with France stating Iran &quot;bears the primary responsibility for the current escalation.&quot;&nbsp; Russia countered that the conflict was &quot;the direct result of an unprovoked act of aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran&#39;s territory.&quot; China and Pakistan jointly called for an immediate ceasefire and the launch of peace talks. The GCC, founded in 1981, comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Americas

Europe

Middle East

The statement, submitted by Bahrain's UN representative, recognizes the GCC’s 'position and expertise' in promoting regional peace and security, and calls for deeper UN-GCC coordination on terrorism, maritime security, water and food security.

UNSC backs stronger cooperation with Gulf bloc in first-ever presidential statement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday extended Good Friday greetings to the Christian community at home and abroad, emphasizing the values of compassion, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Prime Minister Sharif in a post on X on Friday stated: &quot;On the occasion of Good Friday, I extend sincere greetings to our brothers and sisters of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-extends-heartfelt-greetings-on-joyous-blessed-christmas" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christian community</a>&nbsp;in Pakistan and members of the Christian faith across the world.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039943098672025844&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cf1149a8b3beaafec088d9fab9bb7e3150ffa371&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;May this sacred day, marked by sacrifice and reflection, strengthen our shared commitment to compassion, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence,&quot; the prime minister added.

Culture

Says, ​'May this sacred day, marked by sacrifice and reflection, strengthen our shared commitment to compassion, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence'. 

Pakistan's PM Sharif extends Good Friday greetings, urges compassion and tolerance

PARIS:&nbsp;Iran should make a deal with the United States to end the war by offering to curb its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief, a former Iranian foreign minister said. Mohammad Javad Zarif, who served as foreign minister from 2013-2021, claimed in an op-ed for American journal Foreign Affairs that Tehran had the &quot;upper hand&quot; in the conflict against the US and Israel, but argued Iran needed to stop the war to prevent the loss of more civilian lives and damage to infrastructure. &quot;Iran should use its upper hand not to keep fighting but to declare victory and make a deal that both ends this conflict and prevents the next one,&quot; Zarif said in the piece published late Thursday. &quot;It should offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions a deal Washington wouldn&#39;t take before but might accept now,&quot; he added. &#39;Nonaggression pact&#39;&nbsp; Iran should also be prepared to accept a mutual &quot;nonaggression pact&quot; with the United States, as well as economic relations, he said. Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic ties since shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution. Zarif, one of the architects of the now moribund 2015 deal over the Iranian nuclear program, is seen as a relative moderate within the Islamic republic elite, but has no official post in the current government. However this is one of the first times during this conflict that a high profile figure in Iran has called for a deal and an end to the war, with top military and political officials urging daily for fighting to continue until the US is defeated. &#39;Back to the stone ages&#39;US President Donald Trump has evoked ongoing talks with Tehran without giving details but also threatened to send the country &quot;back to the stone ages&quot; if it fails to agree terms. &quot;As an Iranian, outraged by Donald Trump&#39;s reckless aggression and crude insults, yet proud of our armed forces and resilient people, I am torn about publishing this peace-plan in Foreign Affairs,&quot; Zarif wrote in English on X Friday. &quot;Yet I&#39;m convinced that war must end on terms consistent with Iran&#39;s national interests,&quot; he added. Zarif in the Foreign Affairs piece warned that &quot;although continuing to fight the United States and Israel might be psychologically satisfying, it will lead only to the further destruction of civilian lives and infrastructure&quot;.

Mohammad Javad Zarif (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Mohammad Javad Zarif urges Iran to end the conflict with the US by negotiating a deal to limit its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iran's former top diplomat urges deal with US to end war

ISLAMABAD: Congress&rsquo; National spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed renewed scrutiny of alleged RSS backing for propaganda-style films in an X post, on Thursday.&nbsp;Dr. Shama said producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah had &ldquo;openly admitted&rdquo; that the RSS supported &ldquo;Kerala Story 2&rdquo; and arguing that this showed the organisation had backed a film meant to defame Kerala. Her post brought fresh attention to a wider debate over how the BJP and the RSS ecosystem support politically aligned cinema through ideological links, endorsements, tax breaks and promotion.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039579655645348127&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c92d3faf5176e582d37f5cad3e26fa7ac3e0dbe2&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>At least ten films have been produced or directed by individuals linked to the BJP, the RSS, or affiliated Hindutva organisations, an Indian news outlet, The Quint, reported on Friday. The films named in the report include The Kerala Story, The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond, Bastar: The Naxal Story, Razakar, Swatantra Veer Savarkar, PM Narendra Modi, Accident or Conspiracy: Godhra, Bengal 1947, The Accidental Prime Minister, and Jahangir National University.&nbsp;One of the most striking claims in that report concerns producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The Quint said Shah acknowledged at the 2023 World Hindu Congress that The Kerala Story could not have been made without RSS &ldquo;guidance and support.&rdquo; The report said he described the RSS as the film&rsquo;s &ldquo;guardian angels.&rdquo;&nbsp;Political endorsement has also come from the top. Reuters reported that Indian PM Narendra Modi publicly praised The Kashmir Files in 2022. BJP-ruled states then moved to make the film tax-free, helping widen its reach.&nbsp;A similar pattern was seen with The Kerala Story and Article 370. NDTV reported that BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh made The Kerala Story tax-free. NDTV also reported that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh made Article 370 tax-free.&nbsp; Taken together, the reporting suggests these films are not just cultural products. They are increasingly part of a political ecosystem where cinema, ideology, and state patronage intersect.

India

The BJP and the wider RSS ecosystem are backing a string of ultra-nationalist and propaganda-style films in India; the support is not always visible as direct funding but through political links, public endorsements, tax breaks, and coordinated promotion by party leaders and allied networks. 

Scrutiny grows over BJP-RSS backing of propaganda films

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the suicide attack on a police station in the Domel area of District Bannu, said a press release issued by Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office on Friday. The prime minister expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the incident that took place in the northwest of the country. Sharif prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, the press release said. &ldquo;We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country&rdquo;, the prime minister said.

Security

‘We are determined to completely eradicate all forms of terrorism from the country,’ the prime minister said, according to a press release.

PM Sharif strongly condemns suicide attack in northwest Pakistan  

JINJA: Giggles and songs ripple across a field in rural eastern Uganda where elderly women swing cricket bats as a way to reshape what ageing, health and sports can look like in later life. The so-called &quot;cricket grannies&quot; are bound together by a growing love of a game they initially knew nothing about but is now helping them manage age-related health conditions, stress and loneliness. Clad in floor-length dresses and mostly barefoot, the women, aged 50 to 90, gather weekly at a playground in Jinja district, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the capital, Kampala. Each swing draws cheers from teammates as the women turn Saturday morning practice into a lively spectacle. &quot;With the exercises I&#39;ve been doing, my legs used to hurt, but they no longer do,&quot; Jennifer Waibi Nanyonga, 72, told AFP. &quot;I spent the whole of last year without seeing a doctor for my back, yet it had previously been paining me,&quot; added the grandmother of 29. The initiative began in 2025 with just 10 grandmothers in the remote village of Kivubuka and has since grown more than tenfold. The programme was initially aimed at children, but when cricket coach Aaron Kusasira realised their caregivers had little knowledge of the game and often kept them from joining, he decided to involve the elderly women, too. &quot;We come here, we jog, we move around, we do some stretches,&quot; Kusasira, 26, said. They &quot;unknowingly have to run because they have to compete,&quot; he added. Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for deaths from noncommunicable diseases and, according to the World Health Organization, it is more common among women globally. International health data estimates that sedentary lifestyles are costing public health systems roughly US$27 billion per year and will continue to rise if activity levels are not improved. Fresh start&nbsp; Beyond physical activity, cricket has also fostered a sense of community among the Ugandan grannies. &quot;When at home, you have no company and spend your time buried in your thoughts,&quot; said an elderly woman who only gave her first name, Patriciah. For others, the weekly meetings have proved cathartic. &quot;When I arrive here and see my friends, we get together and talk about our problems, we counsel each other,&quot; said Jennifer Waibi Nanyonga. &quot;By the time we return home, everyone is lighter and with a fresh start,&quot; she added. For coach Kusasira, training the women has been a win-win, giving him the opportunity to coach children in the area without opposition. &quot;From the kids to the elders, provided I see the smiles it&#39;s enough. I know that is a day well spent,&quot; he said.

In eastern Uganda’s Jinja district, groups of older women have embraced cricket as a way to stay physically active and socially connected later in life. Often referred to locally as “cricket grannies”, they take part in informal games and training that co

Africa

The so-called "cricket grannies" are bound together by a growing love of a game they initially knew nothing about but is now helping them manage age-related health conditions, stress and loneliness.

From bats to bonds: Uganda's 'cricket grannies'

DHAKA: The Bangladesh government has introduced a series of measures aimed at addressing the impact of global disruptions and ensuring stability in fuel oil supply, following a high-level cabinet meeting held at night at the Cabinet Room in the Parliament Secretariat.&nbsp; Under the new directives, all government and private offices will operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Banking hours for public transactions will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, while banks will officially close at 4:00 pm, Bangladeshi state media Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported.&nbsp; In an effort to conserve energy, shopping malls and markets nationwide must shut down by 6:00 pm. However, essential services including kitchen markets, food outlets, and pharmacies will remain exempt from this restriction. The decisions were taken by the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday night. Later, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed the journalists at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, saying that the government took measures considering fuel supply disruptions caused by the Middle East war.&nbsp;&nbsp;Prime Minister&rsquo;s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly was present at the briefing. Noting that several steps have been taken for the next three months to reduce government expenditure, the cabinet secretary said, &ldquo;No new vehicles, watercraft or aircraft will be purchased during this period&rdquo;.&nbsp;&nbsp;Procurement of new equipment, including computers, will also remain suspended, he said, adding, internal training has been reduced by 50 percent, while all foreign training under government funding will remain suspended until further notice.&nbsp;&nbsp;Expenditure on meetings and seminars has also been cut by 50 percent, Ghani said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Besides, he said, government spending in the power, energy and gas sectors will be reduced by 30 percent. The meeting issued a directive to reduce unnecessary travel expenses by 30 percent, the cabinet secretary added.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said new directives will be issued for the education sector.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Ministry of Education will start issuing instructions in phases from Sunday, considering the needs of different levels, so that the measures do not have a negative impact on the education system, Ghani said.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a bid to reduce traffic congestion in the capital city during the school hour, he said, the government has decided to introduce electric buses for school students instead of private cars.&nbsp;&nbsp;Educational institutions joining the initiative will be able to import buses duty-free, the cabinet secretary said, adding, the private sector will also get this facility, but a 20 percent duty will apply for commercial purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, only new buses will be allowed for import, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Noting that imports from alternative sources are also being increased to maintain normal fuel supply, Ghani said initiatives have already been taken to import fuel from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed the journalists at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (Photo : BSS)

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh government has introduced reduced working hours, spending cuts, and energy-saving measures to manage fuel shortages caused by global disruptions.

Bangladesh cuts expenditure, reduces office hours, orders markets shut after 6pm

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;US President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday and named his former personal lawyer to serve as the acting chief of the Justice Department. The US president announced the move in a social media post. &quot;Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year,&quot; Trump said on Truth Social. &quot;Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country.&quot; Bondi &quot;will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector,&quot; the president said, and will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who Trump described as &quot;a very talented and respected Legal Mind.&quot; According to The New York Times, Trump may name former Republican congressman Lee Zeldin, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, to be the next attorney general.In the meantime, the post will be filled by Blanche. &#39;Honor of a lifetime&#39;Bondi, in a post on X, said serving as attorney general had been &quot;the honor of a lifetime&quot; and said she will &quot;continue fighting for President Trump&quot; in her unspecified new private sector job. &quot;Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche,&quot; she said. &quot;I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to Make America Safe Again.&quot; Bondi&#39;s ouster comes nearly a month after Trump fired Kristi Noem as the head of the Department of Homeland Security.&nbsp;Democratic lawmakers welcomed Bondi&#39;s firing. Bondi served as a prosecutor for 18 years before being elected Florida&#39;s attorney general in 2010, the first woman to hold the post.&nbsp;She was reelected to a second term in 2014.

Bondi 'will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector,' the president said, and will be replaced on an interim basis by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who Trump described as 'a very talented and respected Legal Mind.'

Trump sacks attorney general Pam Bondi, replaces with lawyer Todd Blanche

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan&rsquo;s digital economy could contribute between 5%-7% of gross domestic product by 2030, provided structural constraints are addressed and reforms accelerate, according to a new report by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI).&nbsp;Titled &ldquo;Recommendations for Pakistan&rsquo;s Digital Future,&rdquo; the OICCI Digital Report 2025 presents a detailed assessment of the country&rsquo;s digital landscape, highlighting both measurable gains and persistent bottlenecks shaping future growth.&nbsp;The report frames Pakistan&rsquo;s digital sector as a rapidly expanding but uneven ecosystem, where strong growth in connectivity, exports and digital finance is being tempered by infrastructure gaps and slow policy execution, raising the stakes for reforms needed to unlock its full economic potential.&nbsp;The report identifies the digital sector as an emerging driver of productivity, exports and financial inclusion, supported by a growing user base and rising adoption of digital services.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) exports have reached $3.8 billion, while the freelance economy contributes $779 million in earnings.&nbsp;Digital access continues to expand, with more than 150 million broadband subscriptions and over 200 million telecom connections. The broader mobile ecosystem contributes an estimated $17 billion to the national economy.&nbsp;The report also underscores rapid growth in digital finance.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan has made notable strides in digital payments and financial inclusion. The Raast instant payment system processed Rs18 trillion in peer-to-peer transactions in FY26, demonstrating the rapid adoption of digital financial services,&rdquo; said OICCI President Yousaf Hussain.&nbsp;However, infrastructure limitations remain a key constraint.&nbsp;Only 18% of cellular towers are connected through fiber, well below the global benchmark of around 40%, limiting network capacity and readiness for next-generation technologies.&nbsp;Policy execution is another concern.&nbsp;While engagement on digital policy has improved, implementation remains slow. The report notes that only about one-quarter of recommendations from OICCI&rsquo;s 2022 Digital Report have been carried out.&nbsp;&ldquo;Only about one-quarter of OICCI&rsquo;s digital policy recommendations issued in OICCI&rsquo;s Digital Report 2022 have been implemented so far. Faster execution, improved fiber penetration and a more investment-friendly regulatory environment will be essential to unlock Pakistan&rsquo;s digital potential,&rdquo; said M. Abdul Aleem, Secretary General of OICCI.&nbsp;To address these gaps, the report recommends reducing taxes on broadband services and digital devices, accelerating fiber deployment, ensuring regulatory clarity in data protection and cybersecurity, and strengthening public-private collaboration.&nbsp;The government has set a target of $5 billion in IT exports for FY26, while analysts project exports could reach around $4.5 billion, implying annual growth of 18% to 20% from the $3.8 billion recorded in FY25.&nbsp;Under the broader Uraan Pakistan framework, policymakers are targeting $10 billion in IT exports by FY29, requiring a compound annual growth rate of approximately 27%.&nbsp;The report concludes that while Pakistan&rsquo;s digital economy is expanding and foundational elements are in place, closing infrastructure gaps, accelerating policy implementation, and investing in advanced skills such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity will determine whether current momentum translates into sustained economic impact

Economy

Pakistan’s digital economy is growing fast and could reach 5–7% of GDP by 2030, driven by rising IT exports, digital payments, and increasing internet and mobile use.

Pakistan digital economy seen reaching 7% GDP by 2030: Report

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