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ISLAMABAD : Pakistan is prepared to engage in dialogue with India on all pending issues, but the decision now lies with New Delhi. This was stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan during the weekly press briefing on Thursday. Speaking about the upcoming diplomatic engagements, he mentioned that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is currently on an official visit to the United States. His meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will cover regional and global matters, including Iran and ceasefire efforts. He clarified that the Iranian President’s visit to Pakistan has not been canceled;…

England will host Pakistan and New Zealand for two separate three-match Test series during the summer of 2026, while India and Sri Lanka will visit for white-ball assignments, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Thursday. Pakistan’s much-anticipated red-ball return to English soil is scheduled to begin on August 19, marking their first Test tour of the country since 2020. The three-match series will be played at iconic venues — Headingley in Leeds, Lord’s in London, and Edgbaston in Birmingham — all of which have been at the heart of many historic moments between the two sides. New…

Pakistan and China have entered a new phase of maritime cooperation with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and China’s Shandong Xinxu Group. Under the agreement, the Chinese company will provide capital investment and vessels to PNSC, facilitating collaboration in ship procurement, leasing, and management services. The deal also covers cooperation in ship operations, marketing, and crew management. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwaar described the agreement as a milestone for mutual growth, stating that it would enhance regional trade, connectivity, and investment. He added that the initiative will strengthen Pakistan’s…

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD plans to roll out its first car assembled in Pakistan by July or August 2026 to capture growing demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region, a company executive said on Wednesday. BYD, the world’s top EV maker, has been expanding rapidly outside its home market, where it is in a strong price war. The Pakistan plant addresses rising demand from emerging markets and allows the company to take advantage of incentives offered by the Pakistani government. The plant has been under construction since April near Karachi in a partnership between BYD and…

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation with China, highlighting the immense potential for collaboration in trade, economy, culture, and regional connectivity. During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong at the Presidency, President Zardari praised China’s pivotal role in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and said Pakistan highly values its all-weather strategic partnership with Beijing. “China has always stood by Pakistan in times of need, and the people of Pakistan remain grateful to their iron-clad brother for its steadfast support,” the president said, acknowledging Beijing’s consistent assistance in Pakistan’s development journey. Zardari emphasized…

Economic and trade cooperation between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates has seen a significant boost, thanks to the effective policies of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). According to the State Bank of Pakistan, bilateral trade between the two countries surged by 20.24 percent, reaching $10.1 billion. The development follows the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission, which focused on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, food security, aviation, IT, and energy sectors. Analysts believe this growing partnership could help Pakistan reduce its import bill and create employment opportunities through increased bilateral trade and industrial collaboration. Economic experts…

In a bid to tighten financial controls, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has launched an austerity drive and issued instructions to various departments to implement cost-cutting measures across the board. As part of the initiative, players training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will now have to pay for their own meals unless they are attending a PCB-organised training camp. Sources within the board confirmed that the new directive applies to all cricketers utilising the academy’s facilities independently. “All departments have been directed to reduce unnecessary expenditure,” a senior PCB official added.

A Russian passenger aircraft carrying 49 people, including five children, crashed in the country’s far eastern Amur region on Thursday, with all on board feared dead, according to preliminary reports from local authorities and state media. The An-24 twin-engine turboprop, operated by Angara Airlines — a Siberia-based carrier — had been en route from the border city of Blagoveshchensk to the remote town of Tynda when it vanished from radar during its final approach. Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed that the aircraft’s debris was located by a search helicopter near the mountainous area bordering China. A large fire had…

ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that the Baloch people are bound to Pakistan through strong ties of religion, culture, history, and tradition. A handful of terrorists cannot stop the development of Pakistan and Balochistan. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif visited King Edward Medical University in Lahore, where he was warmly welcomed by the administration, students, and faculty. During his address, he shed light on the success of Operation Baniyan Marsous, national unity, and the Pakistan Army’s strategy against hostile forces. He said the victory in the battle for truth was made possible with the strong support…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, emphasizing their protection as a top priority amid the ongoing expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Chairing a high-level meeting, he highlighted the implementation of advanced security measures, including Safe City projects, special escorts, and surveillance-equipped housing. At a separate event at the National Police Academy, the PM outlined a major institutional overhaul, announcing new facilities, a Master’s program, elite training centers, and international collaboration to modernize police training. He stressed justice, merit, and national security, paying tribute to police martyrs and…