Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar

Pakistan&rsquo;s recent success in Marka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos is a golden chapter in our national history. These operations not only safeguarded our borders but also infused new energy and confidence into Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomacy. Today, the world sees Pakistan as a nation that, while resolutely defending its security, also champions peace, cooperation, and global justice with credibility. In the aftermath of Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan&rsquo;s positions are being heard with renewed seriousness at the international level. At forums such as the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and other regional platforms, Pakistan has articulated its narrative with greater confidence. The message has been clear: Pakistan is not only a military power but also an increasingly influential diplomatic player. A significant outcome of Marka-e-Haq has been the acknowledgment of Pakistan&rsquo;s narrative by major global powers. The United States, in particular, recognized Pakistan&rsquo;s sacrifices and success in defeating terrorism and maintaining regional stability. Continuous engagement at senior levels in Washington reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s voice is now being taken seriously in shaping regional security and counter-terrorism frameworks. This acknowledgment by great powers underscores the credibility Pakistan has earned through both military resilience and diplomatic outreach. Following this military success, Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic activity has remained intense and continues unabated. In July, Pakistan assumed the Presidency of the UN Security Council. During this tenure, Pakistan chaired three signature events: on multilateralism, UN-OIC cooperation, and a quarterly debate on Palestine. Under Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, Resolution 2788 was unanimously adopted, further cementing our credibility on the global stage. On Palestine, Pakistan raised its voice not only for justice but also as a rallying force for the Islamic world and the Global South. From August 17-19, I undertook an official visit to the United Kingdom, where renewed connectivity through the announcement of the resumption of PIA flights, a reinvigorated UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue, and engagement with the 1.7 million-strong British-Pakistani community opened new avenues of partnership. On August 20, I traveled to Kabul for the Trilateral Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Meeting with Afghanistan and China. The talks addressed transit trade, the signing of the framework agreement of the joint feasibility study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project, and counter-terrorism, areas crucial for regional peace and connectivity. The very next day, on August 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Islamabad. During this visit, both sides agreed to elevate cooperation under CPEC 2.0, expand collaboration in minerals, ICT, and agriculture, and reaffirmed strong mutual support, particularly on the issue of Jammu &amp; Kashmir. Shortly thereafter, I undertook a historic visit to Bangladesh (August 23-24), the first by a Pakistani Foreign Minister in thirteen years. The visit yielded six agreements, enhanced scholarships for Bangladeshi students, and a renewed commitment to people-to-people ties. From Dhaka, I proceeded directly to Jeddah (August 25) to lead Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation at the OIC Extraordinary Session on Palestine. The conference adopted a strong resolution condemning Israeli aggression, reflecting the united stance of the Muslim Ummah. Pakistan&rsquo;s role in building consensus and pushing for accountability was widely acknowledged. More recently, the Prime Minister and I attended the SCO Heads of State Summit in Tianjin and Beijing (August 31-September 1). This engagement provided Pakistan with an important opportunity to deepen cooperation with member states across critical areas, including connectivity, trade, energy, and regional security. The Summit reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s role within SCO is central to advancing the organisation&rsquo;s vision of regional peace and shared prosperity. Earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan also visited Islamabad (August 8-9), engaging in constructive discussions. In addition, several trade, defense, and government delegations have been visiting Pakistan, which is clear evidence that the world is now paying closer attention to us. These developments underscore an important truth: Pakistan today is not merely a military power; it is emerging as a diplomatic force. Whether it is Kashmir or Palestine, CPEC&rsquo;s expansion or the trilateral railway project, closer ties with the West and East, or Pakistan&rsquo;s enhanced role in the SCO, Pakistan is playing a meaningful and visible role at every front. Most recently, I participated in the preparatory ministerial meeting of the Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha on September 14, ahead of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s participation the following day. Pakistan&rsquo;s position was clear and principled: we unequivocally condemned Israel&rsquo;s grave violations of sovereignty and international law, including the strikes against Qatar amid the ongoing onslaught in Palestine. We reaffirmed solidarity with Qatar, the Palestinian people, and all nations subjected to such unlawful aggression, while calling for enforceable measures to hold Israel accountable and for deterrent actions to prevent recurrence. Above all, we underlined that only a united and coordinated response by the Arab and Islamic world can ensure justice, safeguard peace, and uphold the collective security and sovereignty of the Ummah. Looking ahead, our responsibility is to translate this diplomatic strength into lasting national gains. That requires consolidating our economy, advancing the agenda of peace and cooperation in the region, and further strengthening Pakistan&rsquo;s global standing. Together, military success and diplomatic achievement are the twin pillars that will continue to uphold Pakistan as a respected and sovereign state in the international community. The writer is the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

Articles

We need to translate our diplomatic strength into lasting national gains to consolidate our economy, advance the agenda of peace and cooperation in the region, and further strengthen Pakistan’s global standing.

Pakistan’s diplomatic strength post-Marka-e-Haq

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from Sanae Takaichi, the Prime Minister of Japan, today, during which the Japanese premier appreciated Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomatic role in facilitating the ceasefire and talks, according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO) on Monday. During their warm and cordial conversation, the two leaders discussed the recently held Islamabad Talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Pakistan. Prime Minister Takaichi appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic role in facilitating the ceasefire and talks.<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" allowtransparency="true" 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=2043602442844303697&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8654ef1b046cef633ea3e6d53eee44f27c4a12bc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 677px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2043602442844303697">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>She expressed Japan&rsquo;s full support for the peace process and its importance for regional stability and global energy security. While thanking the Japanese prime minister for her good wishes, Prime Minister Sharif said that he was grateful to both the US and Iranian delegations for their extensive discussions in Islamabad and said that Pakistan would continue with its efforts to ensure that the ceasefire is maintained. The prime minister expressed his desire to further strengthen Pakistan-Japan bilateral cooperation, which was reciprocated by the Japanese prime minister as well. Both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination.

Foreign Affairs

Expresses Japan’s full support for the peace process and its importance for regional stability and global energy security.

Japanese PM appreciates Pakistan’s role in US-Iran ceasefire, talks    

BEIJING: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China this week, Beijing said on Monday, as the two sides hope to boost cooperation. &quot;Russia&#39;s foreign minister Lavrov will pay an official visit to China from April 14 to 15,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference. Lavrov will hold talks with China&#39;s top diplomat Wang Yi in which the two will &quot;exchange views and coordinate positions on the development of bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common concern&quot;, Guo said. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the pair would discuss the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Beijing and Moscow are close economic and political partners, and the relationship has deepened further since Russia&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Wang held a call with Lavrov on April 5, when the pair agreed Beijing and Moscow would work together to deescalate tensions in the Middle East.

China

Asia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China on April 14-15 for talks with Wang Yi on bilateral ties, Ukraine and the Middle East, as Beijing and Moscow seek closer coordination.

Russian FM to visit China April 14-15: Beijing

ISLAMABAD: A Hindutva gathering in Kodagu district of Indian State of Karnataka &nbsp;was flagged by rights watch Clarion India on Sunday. The event triggered outrage after videos circulated online showed speakers urging Hindus to boycott Muslim businesses, in the latest incident to spotlight concerns over rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in India.&nbsp; The gathering, held in Napoklu on April 1 under the banner of &quot;Hindu Raksha Samiti&quot;, was described by organizers as an &ldquo;awareness drive&rdquo;.&nbsp; However the &quot;No Muslims allowed&quot; banner at the entrance and hate speeches calling on attendees to avoid trade with Muslims and other non-Hindus, drew sharp criticism.&nbsp; According to Clarion India, speakers at the event invoked terms such as &ldquo;love jihad,&rdquo; &ldquo;land jihad&rdquo; and &ldquo;economic jihad,&rdquo; and those present were asked to take a pledge not to engage in commercial dealings with Muslims.<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" allowtransparency="true" 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=2042886052050821226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=df1af13ac48c3eb4ff9e018d480fbebacb50aae5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 743px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2042886052050821226"></iframe></div></div>Community members said such calls could damage livelihoods in an area where many families depend on small businesses and daily trade.&nbsp; One organizer, Kukkera Ajith, was quoted as saying the meeting was intended to raise awareness after a recent local attack on a Hindu man.&nbsp;The controversy comes against a wider backdrop of growing concern over Islamophobia in India.&nbsp; Hate speech in IndiaIn January, international media reported that anti-minority hate speech in India rose by 13% in 2025, citing data from India Hate Lab, a project of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH).&nbsp; The report documented 1,318 incidents, up from 1,165 in 2024, with 1,289 of those speeches targeting Muslims either explicitly or alongside Christians.&nbsp; The majority of incidents occurred in states ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its allies.&nbsp; CSOH&rsquo;s 2025 report said hate speech in India continued to rely heavily on Hindu nationalist tropes portraying Muslims as outsiders and as an existential threat, often through conspiracy narratives built around various forms of &ldquo;jihad.&rdquo;&nbsp; Researchers also identified a sharp surge in such speeches during moments of political and communal tension.&nbsp; As of now, no public statement from the Kodagu district administration or police has come forward in connection with the Napoklu speeches.&nbsp; The episode has renewed demands from local residents and activists for legal action, with critics warning that calls for a Muslim boycott risk deepening communal divisions in a state long seen as socially diverse and commercially interdependent.&nbsp;

India

A Karnataka gathering urging Hindus to boycott Muslim businesses has sparked outrage in India, with critics warning it reflects deepening Islamophobia and a wider rise in anti-Muslim hate speech.

Anti-Muslim boycott call at Karnataka event stirs outrage in India

SYDNEY: A woman will command Australia&#39;s army for the first time since its founding 125 years ago, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Monday as he unveiled the &quot;deeply historic&quot; appointment. Lieutenant general Susan Coyle was named Australia&#39;s Chief of Army following a three-decade career during which she has served in the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Middle East. &quot;Her achievement means that she will be the first woman to command a service in Australian history,&quot; Marles told reporters. &quot;And it is a deeply historic moment. As Susan said to me, you cannot be what you cannot see.&quot; Australia&#39;s army is in the throes of a major transformation, equipping itself with long-range firepower, drones and other modern combat tools. Coyle stressed her experience in areas such as cyber-warfare. &quot;This breadth of experience provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of command and the trust placed in me,&quot; she said.

This handout photo from the Australian Defence Force taken on July 4, 2024, shows Lieutenant general Susan Coyle reacting as she attends an official event in Canberra. Coyle will command Australia's army for the first time since its founding 125 years ago

Australasia

Lieutenant general Susan Coyle was named Australia's Chief of Army following a three-decade career during which she has served in the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Australia names Susan Coyle first woman to lead army 

HONG KONG: Oil prices surged and stocks sank Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, adding to fears of energy supplies from the Middle East. Negotiations in Islamabad at the weekend fell apart with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance blaming Iran&#39;s refusal to give up its nuclear program and Tehran hitting out at &quot;maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade&quot;. The news dealt a blow to hopes for an end to the six-week conflict, which has sent crude prices soaring, pushing inflation up and sending shivers through the global economy. Oil prices which tumbled last week after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire jumped around eight percent Monday, with both contracts topping $100 a barrel. Equities fell across Asia, with Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul off at least one percent, while Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Jakarta were also down. In a lengthy social media post, US President Donald Trump said his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping. But he said that Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the waterway through which a fifth of global oil and gas usually passes. &quot;Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; Trump wrote on Truth Social. &quot;Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!&quot; He said the blockade would only apply to vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports. The US military said Sunday it will blockade all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT, effectively seizing control of maritime traffic. Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards said its security forces had full control over the strait and warned enemies would be trapped in a &quot;deadly vortex&quot; in case of any &quot;wrong move&quot;. Iran&#39;s navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump&#39;s threat &quot;ridiculous and funny&quot;, according to state TV. After the talks the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution Vance said Washington had made Tehran its &quot;final and best offer,&quot; adding: &quot;We&#39;ll see if the Iranians accept it.&quot; Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the rivals had been &quot;inches away&quot; from a deal, writing on X that &quot;Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war&quot;. But he added &quot;we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade&quot;. Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at the Center for International Research at Sciences Po in Paris, warned that a US blockade was &quot;not a minor coercive signal&quot; but would rather be considered an effective resumption of the war. Fawad Razaqzada, a market analyst at <a data-fr-linked="true" href="//Forex.com" id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">Forex.com</a> said: &quot;The fundamental issue remains trust or rather, the lack of it between two long-standing adversaries who still appear some distance from common ground.&quot; Investors are also keeping an eye on attempts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he was pushing to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces. &quot;We will continue to work to stop this war, to ensure the Israeli withdrawal from all our lands, the return of all the prisoners, to rebuild our destroyed villages and towns, and the safe return of the displaced,&quot; Salam said. The prospect of the Middle East crisis continuing for the foreseeable future ramped up inflation fears and weighed on gold amid expectations interest rates would be kept elevated. Data Friday highlighted the impact of the conflict on prices, with the US consumer price index spiking at 3.3% in March, its highest since May last year. Key figures at around 0230 GMT West Texas Intermediate: UP 8.0% at $104.33 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 6.9% at $101.73 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0% at 56,357.40 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.0% at 25,627.75 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1% at 3,981.08 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1686 from $1.1728 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3401 from $1.3463 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.67 yen from 159.19 yen Euro/pound: UP at 87.20 pence from 87.11 pence

A stockbroker walks past share prices on a digital board during a trading session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi

Business

Oil prices jumped and global markets fell after Donald Trump announced a Strait of Hormuz blockade following the collapse of US–Iran talks.

Oil surges, stocks fall as Trump says to blockade Strait of Hormuz

ISLAMABAD: A deadly attack in western Afghanistan has drawn strong international condemnation, after gunmen opened fire on families gathered near a religious site in Herat province. The attack took place on Friday in Deh Mehri village, located in the Injil district of Herat Province, where families had assembled for a picnic near a Shia shrine, according to local media.&nbsp; At least 11 people were killed and 11 others injured, including women and children. Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as the unidentified attackers began shooting into the crowd. Emergency responders transported the wounded to nearby medical facilities, where several remain in critical condition, local media reported. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed condolences to the victims and their families, describing the incident as a &ldquo;terrible crime.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We express our condolences to the victims and to the families affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,&rdquo; said the UN&rsquo;s Officer-in-charge of Afghanistan Georgette Gagnon, who also called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the protection of all communities across Afghanistan.&nbsp; The UN&rsquo;s Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett, meanwhile. strongly condemned the attack, describing it as &ldquo;brutal&rdquo; and urged that those responsible be brought to justice.&nbsp; He noted that the victims were members of the Shia community and stressed that such targeted violence must not go unpunished. The European Union also denounced the killings, stating that violence against civilians is unacceptable under any circumstances. The bloc extended its condolences to the victims&rsquo; families and expressed solidarity with those affected.&nbsp;

Afghan men walk past shops closed in solidarity with victims killed in an attack by unidentified armed men on the outskirts of the Sayed Mohammad Agha Shia shrine, a day after the incident in Herat on April 11, 2026.

Afghanistan

Gunmen attacked families at a Shia shrine gathering in Herat, Afghanistan, killing at least 11 people and drawing strong international condemnation.

Deadly attack on civilians in Afghanistan draws international condemnation 

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;Indian activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa has been continuing his protest atop a mobile tower in Samana (Indian Punjab), where he has been stationed since Oct. 12, 2024, demanding the implementation of an anti-sacrilege law in Punjab, according to Indian media.&nbsp; The protest has come under media spotlight as the Legislative Assembly (Punjab Vidhan Sabha) prepares to deliberate on the proposed anti-sacrilege law,&nbsp;Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026.&nbsp; The bill seeks to introduce strict penalties for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, including imprisonment ranging from a minimum of 10 years to life, along with hefty fines and potential confiscation of property. Call for implementation of law&nbsp; Indian media outlet quoted the activist as saying, he would continue his protest atop the tower until the anti-sacrilege law is implemented.&nbsp; &ldquo;I have full faith in my Guru. Even last month, when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, along with MLAs Inderbir Singh Nijjar and Chetan Singh Jouramajra, visited the protest site to persuade me to end the protest, I had made it clear that the Assembly and the Bill have no value until the government ensures the law is implemented,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; Although the speaker had assured him that he would return with the draft of the bill after the Assembly session, Khalsa rejected the assurances. &ldquo;I am neither a politician nor a leader. My fight is against religious bias and for a stricter law against sacrilege,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I am ready to continue this protest for days, months, or even years. I am in no hurry and remain in charhdi kala (high spirits),&rdquo; he added. The proposed bill also seeks to impose fines ranging from 0.5 million INR to 2.5 million INR on those found guilty of sacrilegious acts, along with provisions for confiscation of property of the accused.&nbsp; It broadens the definition of desecration to include spoken or written words, signs, or any visible representation, including electronic content, that hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs.

Village Gurdwara, Patiala India (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa continues his prolonged tower protest in Punjab, demanding strict implementation not just passage of a proposed anti-sacrilege law.

Indian activist refuses to end ‘tower-top’ protest until anti-sacrilege law is implemented

Romesa Umar

Pakistani defender Kayla Siddiqui is chasing her professional dream while proudly representing her roots on the international stage.&nbsp; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">On the sidelines of the FIFA event in Abidjan, she opened up about her journey from growing up inspired by Sydney Leroux to now wearing Pakistan&#39;s colors.&nbsp; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">&quot;Keep putting Pakistan on the map and making a big name for itself&quot; is the mission she has set for herself.&nbsp;

Shorts

Pakistani Kayla Siddiqui is chasing her professional dream while proudly representing her roots on the international stage; the defender opens up about her journey from growing up inspired by Sydney Leroux to now wearing Pakistan's colors. 





'I have it rooted in my name': Pakistani defender on identity and representing her nation at FIFA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Sunday underscored that the two critical long-term challenges facing Pakistan were population growth and climate change.&nbsp; The finance minister departed for the United States to participate in the World Bank Group&ndash;IMF Spring Meetings 2026, scheduled to be held in Washington, DC from April 13 to 18, 2026, where he is set to meet senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) leadership and discuss the country&rsquo;s macroeconomic outlook, reform progress, and future cooperation on his Washington trip.&nbsp; While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, the finance minister emphasized that sustained economic progress would not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, and highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation. According to a statement issued on the Ministry of Finance&rsquo;s X account, the finance minister acknowledged that further work was required in areas such as regulatory reform and ease of doing business, noting that these remain key priorities for improving the investment climate. The minister reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to structural reforms, including taxation, which has shown progress but remained below desired levels. He highlighted the ongoing transformation efforts within the Federal Board of Revenue, further emphasizing the need to move away from a model of perpetual subsidies for industry, advocating instead for competitiveness and export-led growth.&nbsp; The minister also highlighted the trade liberalization measures, including tariff rationalization, aimed at encouraging efficiency and integration into global markets. According to the finance minister, Pakistan&rsquo;s solar generation had reached approximately 8,000 megawatts. He underscored the government&rsquo;s ambition to significantly increase the share of renewables in the energy mix over the coming decade. The session was moderated by former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Reza Baqir, and included&nbsp;panelists such as Princeton University&#39;s Professor Atif Mian and Nobel Laureate and Massachusetts Institute of Technology&#39;s Professor Daron Acemoglu.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Climate & Environment

While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, finance minister emphasizes sustained economic progress will not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, while also highlighting Pakistan’s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation.

At Harvard, Pakistan's finance chief highlights population, climate as key future challenges

BUDAPEST: Viktor Orban, who has ruled Hungary for 16 years as a self-described &quot;thorn&quot; in the EU&#39;s side and a defender of &quot;illiberal democracy,&quot; on Sunday conceded defeat to conservative Peter Magyar, who won a thumping majority in parliamentary elections. Orban&#39;s defeat, in a vote that saw a record turnout, dealt a heavy blow to nationalists. It also deprives Russian President Vladimir Putin of his most sympathetic ear inside the European Union. Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters of Magyar&#39;s Tisza party cheered the results outside the party&#39;s election headquarters on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, waving Hungarian flags and dancing, as car horns sounded in the capital. &quot;I feel fantastic!&quot; Zoltan Sziromi, a 20-year-old student, celebrating in the crowd, told AFP. &quot;We&#39;ve finally got rid of that system, and it was about time.&quot; Magyar, who arrived waving the Hungarian flag, told the cheering crowd that voters had &quot;liberated Hungary,&quot; calling his party&#39;s win a &quot;miracle&quot; in the central European country of 9.5 million people. &quot;Today, the Hungarian people have said &#39;yes&#39; to Europe,&quot; the 45-year-old former government insider and political newcomer told supporters. He promised to &quot;restore the system of checks and balances..., guarantee the democratic functioning of our country&quot; and put Hungary &quot;back on track.&quot; Acknowledging it was an &quot;enormous&quot; task, he called for unity, saying the victory belonging to &quot;all Hungarians.&quot; &#39;Unambiguous&#39;&nbsp;With 98.15% of precincts counted, Tisza secured a two-thirds majority with 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament on 53.6% of the vote, according to official election results. Orban&#39;s Fidesz took 55 seats on 37.9% of the vote. Earlier Sunday, Orban, 62, conceded defeat. &quot;The election results, though not yet final, are clear and understandable; for us, they are painful but unambiguous,&quot; Orban, 62, told reporters. &quot;We have not been entrusted with the responsibility and opportunity to govern. I congratulated the winning party,&quot; he said. Turnout in the election reached a record 79.50%, according to the near-complete vote count. Orban, who was seeking a fifth straight term, has transformed his country into a model of &quot;illiberal democracy,&quot; clashing with Brussels over rule-of-law issues, as well as over support for war-torn Ukraine. Magyar burst onto the scene just two years ago, promising to fight corruption and offering better public services. He drew support against a backdrop of economic stagnation, and despite an electoral system skewed in favor of Orban&#39;s Fidesz party. Congratulations for Magyar poured in from around Europe, with France and Germany urging him to work together for a &quot;strong Europe.&quot; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to work with Magyar &quot;for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe.&quot; &quot;Hungary has chosen Europe,&quot; head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, posted on X. Ahead of the vote, both Orban&#39;s and Magyar&#39;s camps had alleged foreign interference during the campaign. &#39;Defeat for authoritarianism&#39;&nbsp;Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, said Oran&#39;s defeat was a major blow to those who have looked to Viktor Orban&#39;s corrupt model as a blueprint. &quot;This is a resounding defeat for authoritarianism that echoes far beyond Hungary&#39;s borders,&quot; Tanden added. Orban had focused on making Ukraine the central topic of his campaign, portraying the neighboring country, which is fighting off a Russian invasion, as &quot;hostile&quot; to Hungary. He had also vowed to continue his crackdown against &quot;fake civil society organizations, bought journalists, judges (and) politicians.&quot; Fidesz supporters gathered for the results-watching event in Budapest were stunned. &quot;I am a Fidesz supporter with all my heart,&quot; Juliana Varga Szabo, a 58-year-old teacher, told AFP, tears in her eyes, saying that perhaps she had been living in a &quot;bubble.&quot; &quot;Now that bubble is burst. I won&#39;t change my values. We&#39;ll just have to see what the future brings,&quot; she added.

Europe

Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters of Magyar's Tisza party cheer results outside the party's election headquarters on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, waving Hungarian flags and dancing, as car horns sounded in the capital.



Articles by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar