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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan pledged to deepen economic cooperation and regional connectivity during the 8th Review Session of Pakistan-Uzbekistan Cooperation on Monday, focusing on trade expansion, sector collaboration, and long-term strategic partnership.&nbsp;According to a Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting press release, the meeting was chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, and attended by Uzbek Ambassador Alisher Takhtayev, senior officials, and business leaders.&nbsp;Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in textiles, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, mining, and information technology, with Pakistan targeting $2 billion in bilateral trade.&nbsp;Khan announced the formation of a joint committee comprising DRAP, the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Association, and Uzbek regulators to expedite certification of Pakistani medicines. Uzbekistan also highlighted its Pharma Park model, which could be replicated in Pakistan.&nbsp;In a major development, it was agreed to enhance aviation connectivity with&nbsp;direct flights from Karachi to Uzbekistan, aimed at boosting trade, tourism, and regional travel. Khan said, &ldquo;The Prime Minister has issued clear instructions to commence direct flights at the earliest.&rdquo;&nbsp;Both countries emphasized the need to strengthen financial cooperation, with the National Bank of Pakistan set to open a branch in Uzbekistan to facilitate smoother cross-border trade, while addressing banking barriers affecting transactions.&nbsp;Provincial governments will be involved in all joint projects; collaboration in the minerals sector was reviewed, with working groups instructed to submit progress reports at the next session.&nbsp;&ldquo;The leadership of both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing economic cooperation, regional connectivity, and long-term strategic partnership,&rdquo; the statement concluded.

Foreign Affairs

Pledge to deepen economic cooperation, targeting $2 billion in trade; agreements include collaboration in textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT, direct flights, banking integration, provincial involvement, and minerals sector cooperation.

Pakistan, Uzbekistan to enhance economic and trade cooperation

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: The recent thaw in Pakistan&ndash;Bangladesh relations has been welcomed by journalists, commentators, and diplomats, following signals from Dhaka that it is considering restoring direct flights and easing visa restrictions between the two countries.&nbsp;Senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir called the development &ldquo;great news&quot;, expressing hope that visa procedures will become simpler and more accessible for ordinary people.&nbsp;In a video message, Hamid Mir said: &quot;It was a very pleasant surprise to watch the interview of an adviser of the Bangladeshi government, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, on Pakistan TV when she disclosed that there is a possibility of direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh.&quot;&nbsp;Many analysts say improved travel could help reconnect families, business communities, academics and cultural groups separated by decades of strained ties.&nbsp;The reactions came after Syeda Rizwana Hassan, Adviser for Environment in Bangladesh&rsquo;s interim government, in an interview with Pakistan TV, said Dhaka is actively considering reinstating direct air links and may even explore visa-free travel in the future. <figure class="fr-media"><video controls="" src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/28214c1f-315d-4778-8815-ad385e4b0024-ANPK_16x9_xxxxx.mp4" class="fr-draggable fr-fvc fr-dvb"> </video></figure> &nbsp;She said such steps would support business confidence, enhance people-to-people contact, and strengthen regional cooperation.&nbsp;Bangladeshi journalist Wahiduzzaman Noor described the shift as &ldquo;a major move after years of diplomatic deadlock&rdquo;, while former US diplomat Jon Danilowicz welcomed the idea, noting that South Asia remains &ldquo;one of the least connected regions in the world&rdquo;, and that easier travel and trade corridors could encourage stability and economic growth.&nbsp;On social media, many described the development as a &ldquo;much-needed reset&quot;, saying the change in tone could help rebuild trust and revive the historic and cultural ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh.&nbsp;Observers say that progress may be gradual, but the gesture is widely seen as a positive step towards renewed engagement and regional understanding.

Beyond Borders

Pakistan and Bangladesh are moving towards restoring direct flights and easing visas, a development welcomed by journalists and diplomats as a positive step to rebuild trust, boost connectivity, and strengthen regional cooperation.


Thaw in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations welcomed

RAWALPINDI: South Africa beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the second Test in Rawalpindi on Thursday to draw the series 1-1 with Simon Harmer taking a maiden five-wicket haul.&nbsp;The 36-year-old off-spinner finished with 6-50, taking his 1,000th first-class wicket in the process, on a deteriorating Rawalpindi stadium pitch.&nbsp;South Africa eased to the 68-run target for the loss of captain Aiden Markram (42) and Tristan Stubbs (nought), both to spinner Noman Ali, who finished with 2-40.&nbsp;Ryan Rickelton, who scored 25 not out, hit Sajid Khan for a six to seal an emphatic win minutes before the lunch break for the World Test Championship holders.&nbsp;Markram was delighted by his side&#39;s display after losing the first Test by 93 runs.&nbsp;&quot;It was a great response after Lahore,&quot; said Markram, standing in for regular skipper Temba Bavuma, who missed the tour with a calf injury.&nbsp;Like Lahore, where spinners took 34 of the 40 wickets to fall, it was a battle of the slow bowlers.&nbsp;Pakistan made 333 in their first innings before the South African tail wagged to help them pile up 404 for a crucial 71-run lead.&nbsp;Thursday&#39;s morning session saw Pakistan&#39;s batters fold, adding just 44 runs after resuming the fourth day on 94-4.&nbsp;Harmer torpedoed Pakistan&#39;s hopes of saving the Test when he trapped Babar Azam leg-before with the fifth ball of the day after the batsman had reached his 30th Test half-century.&nbsp;Markram said the performance of the South African spinners, especially Harmer and Keshav Maharaj, gave them a big boost with two Tests in India next month.&nbsp;&quot;In South Africa you&#39;d think just seamers and some spinners, but we are a work in progress heading to India,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Pakistan captain Shan Masood said some of his side&#39;s batting was &quot;not up to the mark&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;You have to give credit to South Africa,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;They have kept fighting and our lower-order batting, finishing innings off, third-innings collapses are not up to the mark.&quot;

Cricket

South Africa defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in Rawalpindi to level the Test series 1-1, with Simon Harmer taking 6-50 and his 1,000th first-class wicket as Pakistan’s batting collapsed despite Babar Azam’s fifty.


Harmer stars as South Africa beat Pakistan to draw series

LAHORE: Pakistan rode on a brilliant 93 from Imam-ul-Haq to reach 313-5 after a brief fightback from South Africa on the opening day of the first Test in Lahore on Sunday.&nbsp;Shan Masood hit 76, but Haq missed out on his hundred as Pakistan slumped to 199-5 as four wickets fell quickly.&nbsp;Mohammad Rizwan, 62 not out, and Salman Agha, unbeaten 52 at the close, rebuilt the innings during an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 114 in the final session on a spin-friendly Gaddafi Stadium pitch.&nbsp;Rizwan hit two fours and two sixes in his 12th Test half-century while Agha had two fours and a six in reaching his 10th fifty.&nbsp;Pakistan dominated most of the first two sessions, but then had a mini-collapse from 163-1 to 199-5 as they lost four wickets for 36 runs, the last three without adding a run either side of the tea interval.&nbsp;Spinner Prenelan Subrayen trapped Masood lbw for 76, including nine fours and a six, to end a 161-run stand with Haq.&nbsp;Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy then had Haq caught at short-leg by Tony de Zorzi, after a 236-minute knock that included seven fours and a six.&nbsp;Next ball, the last before tea , Muthusamy had Saud Shakeel caught and bowled to bring South Africa back into the game at 199-4.&nbsp;Local hero Babar Azam fell for 23, trapped leg-before by off-spinner Simon Harmer after the interval to make it 199-5 and leave a good 10,000 holiday crowd disappointed.&nbsp;South Africa could have been in a better position had they not dropped Masood on 61 and Haq on 72 with Subrayen the unlucky bowler on both occasions.&nbsp;With the pitch likely to turn, Masood opted to bat after winning the toss and named specialist spin duo Noman Ali and Sajid Khan in the team&nbsp;Pakistan lost opener Abdullah Shafique leg before to pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada off the third ball of the day.&nbsp;South African captain Aiden Markram turned to his spinners in the sixth over and by lunch had used all three -- Subrayen, Harmer and Muthusamy.&nbsp;But there were no further dramas in the opening session as Pakistan reached 107-1 at lunch after Haq had brought up his 10th Test fifty.&nbsp;The two-match series is part of the new World Test Championship two-year cycle. South Africa won the title by beating Australia in June.

Pakistan reached 313-5 on day one of the Lahore Test against South Africa, led by Imam-ul-Haq’s 93 and a 114-run stand between Rizwan (62*) and Agha (52*) after a mid-innings collapse from 163-1 to 199-5.

Pakistan recover to 313-5 after South Africa strike back in first Test

ISLAMABAD: The Asia Cup 2025 final between Pakistan and India has become the biggest television event in Pakistan&rsquo;s history, with PTV Sports recording unprecedented viewership ratings.&nbsp;Official data released Wednesday showed that 80&ndash;100 million people tuned in to the live telecast, with ratings peaking at 42%, the highest ever for any program in the country. The record shattered the previous benchmark of 32% set by ARY Digital&rsquo;s hit drama Meray Paas Tum Ho.&nbsp;&ldquo;This performance confirms the Asia Cup final was not only a sporting triumph but also the biggest television event in Pakistan&rsquo;s broadcast history,&rdquo; said Pakistan Television Corporation Manager Corporate Research Arshad Hussain. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/6d2bbf0b-5051-4708-9759-a38dffba6c21-asia cup whatzapp image.jpg" alt="asia cup whatzapp image.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Source-PTV</figcaption></figure> The match carried special significance as it marked the first-ever Asia Cup final between Pakistan and India, intensifying interest on both sides of the border. Cricket has long dominated TV viewership in Pakistan, but never before had a sports event surpassed the nation&rsquo;s top-rated drama serials.&nbsp;The milestone underlines cricket&rsquo;s unrivaled grip on Pakistani audiences and cements PTV Sports&rsquo; place as the home of historic live broadcasts.

Film & TV

The state broadcaster made history as the Asia Cup 2025 final between Pakistan and India drew 80–100 million viewers, hitting a record 42% peak rating and surpassing all previous television viewership benchmarks in Pakistan.

Articles tagged with "PAKISTAN"

Pakistan, Uzbekistan to enhance economic and trade cooperation

Thaw in Pakistan–Bangladesh relations welcomed

Harmer stars as South Africa beat Pakistan to draw series

Pakistan recover to 313-5 after South Africa strike back in first Test

PTV Sports sets historic record with Asia Cup final broadcast