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ISLAMABAD: Rejecting criticism over the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali on Tuesday said that the move does not undermine national pride but aims to restore the carrier’s lost strength and efficiency. Addressing a joint press conference with Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar, Muhammad Ali said that claims circulating on social media suggesting that the airline was sold for less than the value of its aircraft were incorrect and misleading, adding that such assertions do not reflect the facts of the privatisation process. He said that PIA once operated a fleet of around…

ISLAMABAD (DI NEWS) : The International Institute for Central Asia and Pakistan’s Center for Regional Connectivity with a Shared Future (CRCSF) formally entered into a research partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, marking an important step toward strengthening academic and policy cooperation between Central Asia and South Asia. The MoU was signed by Ambassador Javlon Vakhabov, Head of the International Institute for Central Asia, and Tahir Farooq, Head of the Center for Regional Connectivity with Shared Future. The signing ceremony was held at the Headquarters of The International Institute for Central Asia located in Tashkent. The ceremony…

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Tuesday underscored the vital role of media in strengthening China-Pakistan relations and promoting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), while addressing the 9th CPEC Media Forum. He said the Forum has emerged as an influential platform for bilateral media exchanges, contributing significantly to mutual understanding and the successful advancement of CPEC. Addressing media professionals and representatives from various sectors, Ambassador Jiang recalled that since its inception in 2015, the CPEC Media Forum has grown alongside the flagship corridor project, helping create a favourable public opinion environment for its development. He expressed gratitude to…

A Chinese envoy  urged the United States to immediately stop its campaign against Venezuela under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. The United States has continued to increase its military deployment in the waters of the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, escalating sanctions, blockades, and military threats against Venezuela, and having sunk Venezuelan vessels, shot dead crew members and seized oil tankers, noted Sun Lei, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. Noting that Washington has designated the Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization, claimed that Venezuelan land, oil and assets belong to the United States, and…

The U.S. will delay its tariff increase on Chinese semiconductor imports to June 2027, a decision announced after a year-long “Section 301” investigation launched on December 23, 2024. Zero tariff will be charged for the next 18 months on semiconductor imports from China, and future tariff rates will be determined at least 30 days in advance, according to the Federal Register filing published by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on December 23, 2025. The aforementioned filing labels China’s acts and policies in the semiconductor industry as “unreasonable.” Despite this, the USTR has decided to hold off on an immediate…

The Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will become an important gateway for China’s high-standard opening up, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday. Lin made the remarks during a regular press briefing on December 23, when asked about the recent launch of island-wide special customs operations in Hainan. “Hainan has left a deep mark on the course of China’s reform and opening-up,” Lin said. “In the face of growing uncertainties in the global economy, China’s response is to deliver its commitment to opening up with concrete actions, to fight protectionism with firm resolve and promote an open world…

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) directly administered by the central government to better serve the overall work of the Party and the country and contribute more to Chinese modernization. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction conveyed at a meeting of heads of central SOEs held on Monday and Tuesday. While affirming their pivotal role in the economy, Xi said central SOEs should serve high-quality economic and social development and the improvement of people’s livelihoods,…

ISLAMABAD (DI NEWS) : Azerbaijan’s growing role as a trusted host of major international forums is not accidental. It reflects a combination of political stability, institutional capacity, and an increasingly visible development model that resonates with global agendas. Just as Azerbaijan successfully hosted COP29 in December 2024, facilitating meaningful dialogue and landmark climate decisions, it is well-positioned to ensure the success of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), which the country will host on May 17–22, 2026, under the theme “Housing for All: Safe and Sustainable Cities and Settlements.” The decision to hold the Forum in Azerbaijan, including the first-ever…

ISLAMABAD : The British journal Financial Times has described Field Marshal Asim Munir as an expert in “multilateral foreign policy who has emerged as the most effective strategic leader in the changing global system” while changing global politics has opened a new but difficult era for the middle powers. Financial Times said that these developments have proved quite complex for middle powers, and that Field Marshal Asim Munir is among the most successful multi-aligners among middle powers. The journal noted that Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has been the most effective in aligning with US President Donald Trump’s…

ISLAMABAD : The bidding for the privatisation of the national carrier, Pakistan International (PIA), began on Tuesday with three major business groups entering the fray to acquire the airline. The bidding process would be completed in stages. Three consortiums are involved in the bidding process under the Privatisation Commission. The first consortium consists of Lucky Cement, Hub Power Holdings Limited, Kohat Cement Limited and Metro Ventures. The second consortium consists of Arif Habib Corporation, Fatima Fertilizer, City Schools (Private) Limited and Lake City Holdings Limited. The third consortium includes Air Blue (Private) Limited participating in the bidding process. Sealed bids…