Day: June 21, 2024

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan is ready for the new phase of CPEC with a focus on industrial sectors and business to business collaboration. He was talking to Chinese delegation headed by Minister of International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Liu Jianchao in Islamabad tonight. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong was also accompanying the delegation. The Prime Minister said early completion and implementation of all ongoing and new projects of CPEC will play an important role in economic growth and overall development of Pakistan. He expressed satisfaction that there is complete political consensus between the two countries on China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Shehbaz Sharif said the Special Investment Facilitation Council is providing all possible facilities for Chinese investment in Pakistan. He appreciated the vision of Chinese leadership to work together for continuous promotion of Pak-China strategic relations and the upgradation of CPEC. S hehbaz Sharif said Pak-China friendship has stood the test of time and is indispensable not only for the two countries but for peace and development of the entire region and the world. He congratulated the Chinese minister and his delegation and the political leaders of Pakistan on the successful organizing of Pak-China Political Parties Forum and the third round of the Joint Consultative Mechanism of Political Parties. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of regular exchange between the political parties of the two countries. He appreciated the support of Communist Party of China to further strengthen China's iron-clad brotherhood with Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Minister Liu Jianchao emphasized that Pakistan and China are iron brothers, strategic partners and most reliable friends. He said China has accorded a special place to Pakistan in its foreign policy and will continue to support Pakistan's economic development. He said China is ready to work jointly for upgraded version of CPEC. He said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's recent visit to China was very successful. The meeting agreed to enhance government-to-government and business-to-business partnership between the two countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir were also present in the meeting. The Prime Minister also hosted a dinner in honour of the Chinese minister and his delegation. Source: Radio Pakistan

The 71st birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was observed on Friday. Pakistan Peoples Party has arranged ceremonies to pay tributes to her services for country. The main ceremony will be held in Karachi. Meanwhile, during Senate session in Islamabad today, Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan paid tributes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's struggle for democracy and supremacy of the constitution. The House also offered fateha for the departed soul. In this connection, President Asif Ali Zardari visited Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto Larkana today. He offered fateha and paid tribute to Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mohtarma Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and others. Speaking on the occasion, he said today is the 71st birthday of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and we will follow her footsteps. President said we are working for the welfare of our people. President's sister MPA Faryal Talpur also accompanied him. Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan and China have agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level engagements and to further enhance communication on important regional and global issues. The understanding to this effect reached during meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Minister of Central Committee of the International Department of Communist Party of China Liu Jianchao in Islamabad today. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister appreciated the positive contribution of CPEC to Pakistan's socio-economic development, and progress and prosperity. He underscored that as the flagship project of President China's Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC has transformed energy security. Lauding the unanimous political consensus on CPEC in the two countries, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed Pakistan's firm resolve to building upon the achievements of CPEC and for its high quality development in its Phase-II. Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese Minister said that as iro n brother and time-tested friend, China accords a special place to Pakistan in its foreign policy and desires to further strengthen the All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with Pakistan. Expressing satisfaction at the steady pace of CPEC, Liu added that China would extend full cooperation to Pakistan for the timely implementation of all ongoing and new CPEC projects in Pakistan. He also appreciated the political parties of Pakistan for their steadfast support to CPEC and China-Pakistan friendship, and reiterated China's keen desire to further enhance linkages between the Communist Party of China and the political parties of Pakistan. Source: Radio Pakistan

Radio Pakistan and a renowned digital media advertising company have signed an agreement to utilize different social media accounts of the national broadcaster for digital advertising and marketing. Under the agreement, Radio Pakistan will get eighty-five percent profit of the digital advertising. The step has been taken in view of huge following of Radio Pakistan on various social media accounts and website which have already been subscribed by millions of followers from across the world to listen to news, entertainment and other informative programs. Radio Pakistan is the largest broadcasting organization of the country. Currently, twenty-two Medium Wave, fifty-nine FM and eighteen Saut-ul-Quran channels of Radio Pakistan are functional, while transmission of more than fifty channels can be heard all over the world through Radio Pakistan App. Similarly, various news bulletins including Radio Khabarnama and other programs are also available on various social media accounts. Keeping in view all these fa ctors, Radio Pakistan has decided to take advantage from the rapidly expanding digital market in the world, which will not only increase the revenue of Radio Pakistan, but it will also benefit millions of users who have subscribed various social media accounts of the national broadcaster. Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan has called for a comprehensive International Cyber Security Framework. During the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on 'Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Addressing Evolving Threats in Cyberspace, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Munir Akram said the regulatory framework needs to be negotiated within the United Nations, ensuring equal participation from all states. He highlighted that several countries, including Pakistan, have been victims of sustained disinformation campaigns. Ambassador Munir Akram referred to the 2019 and 2020 reports by EU DisinfoLab, which exposed anti-Pakistan propaganda, disinformation activities, and cyber warfare. He emphasized that this systematic, state-led campaign aimed to malign Pakistan by misusing the UN and European institutions. He stressed that the EU DisinfoLab's exposé on disinformation campaigns requires global attention. Source: Radio Pakistan

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of security forces personnel in the IED blast in Kurram district. In a statement, he strongly condemned the act of terrorism and said the whole nation salutes the martyrs. The Prime Minister expressed condolences to the families of the martyrs and prayed for high ranks of the martyrs in the hereafter. He vowed to continue the fight against terrorism till complete elimination of the menace. Source: Radio Pakistan

The United States says it supports direct discussions between Pakistan and India but the two countries should work out the mode for talks themselves. This was stated by US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller in response to a question from a Pakistani reporter at his daily news briefing. Miller said the United States has a common goal with Pakistan of addressing regional security threats. Miller said we will continue to discuss regional security with Pakistani leaders in detail, including through our annual counter-terrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations. Source: Radio Pakistan