Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A high-level Indonesian defense delegation visited Pakistan on Monday to discuss expanding cooperation in defense production, the Ministry of Defense Production said in a statement. The delegates focused on establishing joint working groups and exploring collaboration between the two countries&#39; defense institutions. The delegation was led by Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who met with Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Defense Production, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj, and senior officials from the ministry of defense production. Harraj said that Pakistan has immense potential in the field of defense production and agreed to establish Joint Working Groups for Defense Production cooperation between entities of both countries. Indonesia&rsquo;s minister for defense expressed keen interest in expediting the Joint Working Groups, as it will open doors to future collaboration and help explore and benefit from each other&rsquo;s capabilities. &ldquo;Pakistan is a very important country with rich culture, working democracy and vibrant economy. Both sides hoped the brotherly relationship is translated into long term relationship based on mutual trust &amp; respect,&rdquo; the statement added. During the meeting, Harraj extended an invitation to the Indonesian Authorities to actively participate in the Defense Exhibition IDEAS-2026 to explore defense collaboration. &ldquo;Federal Minister for Defense Production Raza Harraj stated that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is characterized by feelings of mutual trust, respect, and goodwill towards each other,&rdquo; the statement said. He further stated that recent significant interactions between the two countries have set the pace for a high-yielding relationship. Later on Monday, the Indonesian minister also met with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, as per a statement by Pakistan&#39;s military media wing.&nbsp; &quot;The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and exploration of avenues for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation,&quot; the statement said. &quot;The visiting dignitary lauded professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.&quot; The COAS &amp; CDF reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to fostering strong defense relationship with Indonesia based on shared values and mutual respect. Additionally, the Indonesian defense minister called on the Chief of Air Staff and Air Chief Marshal, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, following the recent state visit of the Indonesian President. &ldquo;The meeting reaffirmed the historic and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Indonesia and focused on strengthening bilateral Air Force cooperation, particularly in capacity building, training, and technological collaboration,&rdquo; according to ISPR.&nbsp; During the meeting, the air chief briefed the delegation on PAF&rsquo;s modernization drive, including infrastructure development, revamped training, and induction of niche capabilities to enhance readiness for multi-domain operations. The Indonesian Defense Minister praised PAF&rsquo;s professionalism, combat readiness, and indigenization achievements under the National Aerospace Science &amp; Technology Park, and expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation in training, aviation, and aerospace domains.&nbsp; Islamabad and Jakarta underscored the strengthening trajectory of Pakistan&ndash;Indonesia defense relations and a mutual commitment to expand cooperation through continued engagement and dialogue.

Foreign Affairs

A high-level Indonesian defense delegation visited Pakistan to discuss expanding defense production cooperation. Both sides agreed to form Joint Working Groups, explore collaboration, and strengthen bilateral ties based on mutual trust, respect, and goodwill.



Indonesia delegation visits Pakistan to boost defense production cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan firmly rejected attempts to undermine Somalia&rsquo;s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, rejecting Israel&rsquo;s recognition of Somaliland as &ldquo;illegal and provocative&rdquo; and urging international action to protect peace and stability, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Saturday.&nbsp;In a statement, the foreign office said Pakistan fully supports the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia and backs all efforts to ensure enduring peace and stability in the country.&nbsp;It added that Pakistan also reiterated its &ldquo;unequivocal rejection&rdquo; of any steps aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians from their land under any circumstances.&nbsp;Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, with Somaliland&rsquo;s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, saying his state will join the Abraham Accords.&nbsp;Qatar condemns Israel&rsquo;s Somaliland recognitionThe Foreign Ministry of Qatar said on X, that it strongly rejects the announcement of mutual recognition between the Israeli occupation authorities and the Somaliland region, affirming that this action sets a dangerous precedent. &ldquo;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the State of Qatar&rsquo;s rejection of any attempts aimed at establishing or imposing parallel entities that would undermine the unity of Somalia and reaffirms its full support for the legitimate institutions of the Somali state,&rdquo; the statement added. <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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2004840194693042502&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4846d8d03ce8d371378c2f97ef0222ae9ac8fbbc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Palestine authorities&#39; reactionThe Palestinian foreign ministry said on X that Israel had previously cited Somaliland as a potential destination for deporting Palestinians, particularly those from the Gaza Strip. &ldquo;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates recalls that Israel had previously used the name Somaliland as a destination for the deportation of members of our Palestinian people, especially from the Gaza Strip,&rdquo; the statement added. <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" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1044px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2004710774569082898&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4846d8d03ce8d371378c2f97ef0222ae9ac8fbbc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their just struggle for self-determination and for a sovereign, independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.&nbsp;US reactionUnited States President Donald Trump said he opposed US recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post published Friday, after Israeli Prime Minister and prominent Trump ally Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would become the first country to recognize it, reported AFP. &quot;No,&quot; the president told the Post when asked about US recognition of Somaliland, adding, &quot;Does anyone know what Somaliland is, really?&quot;

Pakistan rejected Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, upholding Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and reiterated support for Palestinian rights. Qatar and Palestine condemned the move, while US President Trump opposed recognizing Somaliland, questioning its status.

Pakistan rejects Israel’s Somaliland recognition, upholds Somalia’s sovereignty

Simran Siraj

KARACHI: Zoha Malik, a Pakistani-American home baker, reached the finals of Gordon Ramsay&#39;s &quot;Next Level Baker&quot;, an international food show, showcasing Pakistani food to a global audience. During the holiday-themed competition watched by millions, she showcased fusion dishes like chicken tandoori naan buns and an Eid-themed cake, which received high praise from the judges. Zoha Malik, who shares her culinary journey on her popular platform &quot;@bakewithzoha,&quot; took to Instagram to reflect on the experience. Though she didn&#39;t win the top prize, she expressed a deep sense of achievement. &quot;I know it sounds cheesy, but I still feel like a winner,&quot; Malik told her followers. &quot;My main goal on the show was to make it till the end... I got to compete in every single challenge, had an absolute blast, and was proud of every single bake I presented.&quot; <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSdQlm_EvF8/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=675&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F3006#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1288504.8999999762%2C%22ls%22%3A862.8999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A977.6999999880791%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1527" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div>Staying true to her rootsThroughout the series, Malik remained authentic and refused to compromise her cultural identity. In a heartfelt post-finale message, she emphasized the importance of representation. &quot;I want you to know you don&#39;t have to thank me. I wasn&#39;t trying to represent, I was just being myself, and that&#39;s the biggest takeaway from this entire experience,&quot; she said. &quot;It is an HONOR to be able to show who I am and where I come from on a platform like this.&quot; Growing up in Wah Cantt, Pakistan, Malik developed her skills by observing her mother and grandmother, learning early that food is a powerful way to connect with others. From engineering to bakingHer path to professional baking was unconventional. Malik moved to the United States in 2013 to pursue a STEM career, earning a biomedical engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and working as a consultant at McKinsey &amp; Company. However, she rediscovered her passion for baking during the pandemic, launching &quot;Bake With Zoha&quot; in 2020.&nbsp; What began as a digital hobby became a full-time career by 2023. Today, she balances her culinary pursuits with motherhood to her young son. Mastering the competitionDuring &ldquo;Next Level Baker,&rdquo; Malik consistently blended traditional Pakistani flavors with advanced Western baking techniques. Her standout creations included Chicken Tandoori Naan Buns, an Eid Finale Cake, and Chai Tiramisu. For the final challenge, she created an Eid celebration cake featuring festive colors and a crescent moon that impressed judges with its storytelling and technical execution. Though outside her comfort zone, Malik said she felt &quot;seen and appreciated.&quot; Malik&#39;s impact resonated deeply with the Pakistani diaspora, proving that traditional flavors can shine on the most competitive international stages. What&#39;s nextLooking ahead, Malik plans to expand her digital presence and share the recipes that defined her journey on the show, including her celebrated tandoori bread that Gordon Ramsay called &quot;delicious.&quot;&nbsp; Her path from a home kitchen in Pakistan to a Gordon Ramsay finale stands as an inspiring story of cultural authenticity through food. &quot;I&#39;m so proud of myself for doing something so out of my comfort zone... hindsight is 20/20, but it&#39;s all rooted in inspiration, not disappointment,&quot; she reflected on Instagram.

Zoha Malik (Photo @bakewithzoha/Instagram)

Culture

Zoha Malik presented Pakistani culture on the global stage with her chicken tandoori naan buns and Eid-themed cake, earning high praise from the judges for her fusion of flavors.

Pakistani-American home baker showcases Pakistani food on global show

ISLAMABAD: The deadly shooting near Sydney&rsquo;s Bondi Beach has sparked concern in Pakistan after sections of Indian media, followed by some Israeli and Afghan social media accounts, rushed to link the attack to Pakistan despite no confirmation from Australian authorities. Soon after the incident, multiple Indian media outlets circulated the name Naveed Akram, portraying him as a &ldquo;Pakistani attacker.&rdquo; The claim quickly unraveled when a Pakistani-Australian man with the same name publicly denied any connection, calling the allegations false and dangerous. Akram said his photographs were taken from his personal social media accounts and falsely linked to the attacker. &ldquo;That is not me and I have nothing to do with that incident or with that person,&rdquo; he said, stressing that the misinformation has placed his safety at risk. &ldquo;This issue is very serious. I am stressed, scared, and cannot even go outside safely,&rdquo; Akram added, describing the &ldquo;dual trauma&rdquo; caused first by the tragedy itself and then by being falsely identified online. Investigators have tentatively identified one of the attackers, according to Sky News citing three senior law enforcement officials in the US and Australia. New South Wales Police have confirmed that 16 people were killed and 40 remain in hospital following Sunday&rsquo;s shooting. The police added that &ldquo;more information will be made available soon&rdquo; and that Bondi Beach and surrounding roads would remain closed as investigators continue processing the crime scene. Nevertheless, unverified narratives continued to circulate online, with some Indian, Israeli, and Afghan-based accounts attempting to associate the attack with Pakistan. International Relations scholar Ahmad Hassan Al-Arbi noted on X that reports suggested &ldquo;at least one Afghan national may have been involved,&rdquo; while emphasizing that official details remain limited and investigations are ongoing. The rapid spread of unverified claims has renewed concerns over misinformation during crises. Observers note that Indian media, frequently criticized for disinformation, once again amplified an unsubstantiated narrative targeting Pakistan, which was then echoed across aligned online platforms. Islamabad has strongly criticized New Delhi for a recurring pattern of baseless accusations against Pakistan in the aftermath of international security incidents. The Foreign Office has repeatedly called for restraint, responsible reporting, and reliance on verified facts, warning that premature allegations undermine credibility and threaten regional stability. The Pakistan Australian Cultural Association Inc (PACA) also issued a statement expressing shock and grief over the attack, condemning the &ldquo;atrocious and inhumane act of violence and terror&rdquo; at Bondi Beach. PACA extended condolences to the victims and their families, expressed solidarity with Australia&rsquo;s Jewish community, and praised the swift response of emergency services and community members. The association urged all communities to stand together, reject violence, and reaffirm a commitment to peace, compassion, and resilience, offering professional support to those traumatized by the tragedy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Australia. &ldquo;My deepest condolences to the victims of the tragic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,&rdquo; he said in a post on X. He also conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s sympathy to the families of the victims and reaffirmed the country&rsquo;s commitment to opposing terrorism globally. <h1 style="line-height: 2;">Australian PM proposes &#39;tougher gun laws&#39;</h1>Australia&#39;s prime minister proposed &quot;tougher gun laws&quot; on Monday a day after gunmen killed 15 people in a mass shooting targeting a Jewish festival at a Sydney beach. &quot;The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws,&quot; Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after police confirmed one of the assailants was licensed to hold six firearms. Report about IS links&nbsp;Australia&rsquo;s intelligence service investigated one of the alleged gunmen in the Bondi Beach shooting for links to the Islamic State group six years ago, the national broadcaster said Monday, according to AFP. A 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son are accused of opening fire Sunday on a Hanukkah festival at the famed Sydney beach, killing 15 people and wounding more than 40 others. Australian media named the gunmen as Sajid Akram, who was killed in a shootout with police, and his son Naveed Akram, who was in hospital in a critical condition under police guard. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) looked into the son in 2019, according to public broadcaster ABC, which cited an unnamed senior official in the joint counter-terrorism operation investigating the Bondi Beach attack. It said Naveed Akram was believed to be closely connected to an Islamic State member who was arrested in July 2019 and convicted of preparing a terrorist act in Australia. Allegiance to Islamic State&nbsp;The broadcaster said counter-terrorism detectives believed the two Bondi Beach gunmen had pledged allegiance to Islamic State. Senior officials reportedly told that the ABC two IS flags were found in the gunmen&#39;s car at the beach. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess told reporters on Sunday that one of the gunmen was &ldquo;known to us but not in an immediate threat perspective&rdquo;. &ldquo;So, obviously we&nbsp;need to look into what happened&nbsp;here,&rdquo; he added. New South Wales police said they could not confirm the ABC report. ASIO said it &ldquo;does not comment on individuals or ongoing investigations&rdquo;.

Following deadly attack that killed 16 in Sydney, Pakistani-Australian Naveed Akram says he is falsely linked to the shooter online; condemns misinformation and urges people to stop spreading it.

Bondi shooting sparks false blame campaign against Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye are moving to deepen cooperation in drones, defense, and aviation after two high-level meetings this week with Turkish business and industrial delegations.&nbsp;On Thursday, a T&uuml;rkiye delegation met Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan in Islamabad to explore joint ventures, technology transfer, and local manufacturing in aerospace, drone technology, and defense systems, the Ministry of Commerce said.&nbsp;The delegation included senior professionals from T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s aviation, aerospace engineering, defense systems, automotive engineering, and advanced materials sectors.&nbsp;&ldquo;The visitors conveyed strong interest in pursuing joint ventures, technology transfer, and establishing manufacturing capabilities in Pakistan,&rdquo; the ministry said.&nbsp;Khan welcomed the delegation, noting: &ldquo;Pakistan is committed to strengthening economic and industrial ties with T&uuml;rkiye. Our longstanding goodwill provides significant potential for cooperation in aerospace, defense production, minerals development, and dual-use manufacturing.&rdquo;&nbsp;He urged Turkish companies to view Pakistan as &ldquo;a strategic production and export base for regional and global markets, including ASEAN, Africa, the Gulf, and South Asia.&rdquo;&nbsp;Khan also highlighted initiatives including the Karachi Expo Centre expansion and enhanced coordination among the commerce ministry, ministry of defense production, and national technology institutions.&nbsp;Earlier this week, a high-powered delegation of T&uuml;rkiye aerospace, defense, and industrial manufacturers visited the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) in Islamabad.&nbsp;Representing the Bursa Aerospace and Defense Cluster Association (BASDEC) and T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s Defense Industry Agency, the delegation met PEC Chairman Engr.&nbsp;Waseem Nazir, who briefed them on PEC&rsquo;s reforms, digital modernization, international accreditation, and efforts to align Pakistan&rsquo;s engineering sector with global standards.&nbsp;&ldquo;We welcome T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s rapid strides in defense and industrial innovation and remain committed to expanding international engineering linkages,&rdquo; Nazir said.&nbsp;Representatives from fourteen leading Turkish companies, including ERFA Torna, Bizpark (Ucaksan), FTS Tasarim, LEVKA, MFK, and Defense Systems, presented their capabilities and explored collaboration in R&amp;D, co-production, localized manufacturing, and technology sharing.&nbsp;PEC officials also highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s regulatory framework and opportunities in aerospace and defense engineering.&nbsp;Both sides discussed professional certification, skill development, and joint innovation programs, reaffirming &ldquo;their commitment to advancing mutually beneficial industrial cooperation,&rdquo; the PEC statement said.&nbsp;The meetings signal a major step toward deeper Pakistan-T&uuml;rkiye collaboration in drones, defense manufacturing, and aviation, laying the groundwork for long-term industrial and technological partnerships.

Economy

Islamabad and Istanbul held high-level meetings this week to strengthen cooperation in drones, defence, and aviation, exploring joint ventures, technology transfer, and long-term industrial partnerships.

Pakistan, Türkiye expand drone, defense, aviation cooperation, explore joint ventures

MATIARI: Climate change has become a serious threat, especially in a country like Pakistan that is highly vulnerable to its effects. Experts and field reports show a clear connection between rising temperatures and adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns.&nbsp;Research from the Aga Khan University&rsquo;s Institute of Global Health Development examined how heat stress affects pregnant women and children under five in the Matiari district of Sindh. They modeled interventions that incorporate indigenous knowledge to improve climate-resilient infrastructure and raise awareness of heat&rsquo;s harmful effects within the health system.&nbsp;Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, Founding Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development, speaking with Pakistan TV Digital, emphasized that urgent action and systemic changes are essential to protect women and children from this growing threat. &lsquo;Surprisingly, we are not even the ones responsible for climate change, and yet it affects our women and children,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Dr Jai Das, the institute&#39;s associate director, highlighted the alarming link between rising temperatures and pregnancy complications. He said that existing research shows every pregnant woman exposed to higher temperatures &mdash; such as a 1-degree increase &mdash; has a 10-15% higher chance of experiencing pre-term birth, low birth weight, or of newborns being small for their gestational age.&nbsp;This finding aligns with broader studies indicating that heat exposure triggers physiological responses that lead to similar complications.&nbsp;Beyond pregnancy, heat stress also disrupts women&#39;s reproductive health, especially for those in rural areas who often engage in strenuous physical labor.&nbsp;Gulshad, a senior research associate at AKU Matiari Research and Training Center, said that many women face severe heat-related problems.&nbsp;&ldquo;Their menstrual periods last longer and occur more frequently. Moreover, many women lack knowledge about sanitary protection,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;She noted that some women&#39;s cycles became &ldquo;very irregular,&rdquo; while others did not have periods at all.&nbsp;&ldquo;The health of pregnant women is also affected, and the likelihood of miscarriages increases significantly because they work in the fields and do household chores,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;These testimonies show how high temperatures, combined with physical labor and limited access to hygiene products and healthcare, cause serious menstrual irregularities.&nbsp;Tackling this complex crisis requires a dual approach focusing on community awareness and healthcare system reforms.&nbsp;Dr Bhutta calls for public protection and system improvements. He suggests raising public awareness, especially in rural areas, to help safeguard women, particularly pregnant women, from the heat. He also stresses the importance of providing care to quickly identify and reduce harmful effects.&nbsp;He said there is a need to improve the healthcare environment, especially during the summer, as current conditions are overcrowded. This highlights the urgent need for heat-resilient infrastructure and better-trained staff to handle heat-related maternal emergencies.&nbsp;The situation in provinces like Sindh is especially dire, with climate threats endangering the lives of every mother and child. Localized research is vital for developing community-informed interventions, such as heat adaptation strategies, enhanced nutritional support, and strengthened rural health systems, that can be scaled nationwide.&nbsp;Addressing this climate-induced heat stress crisis requires coordinated efforts from policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to reduce risks, improve health infrastructure, and ensure that climate change does not condemn future generations to poor health.

Health

There is a need to develop community-informed interventions, such as heat adaptation strategies, enhanced nutritional support, and strengthened rural health systems.

Climate-induced heat stress serious threat to maternal, child health in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday, the International Human Rights Day, that the country was committed to protecting and promoting human rights.&nbsp; The International Human Rights Day commemorates the historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, PM Sharif reiterated the country&#39;s commitment to protecting fundamental &ldquo;human rights, especially human dignity, equality and freedom.&rdquo; While speaking about this year&#39;s theme, &ldquo;Our Daily Needs&rdquo;, PM Sharif said human rights were not just theoretical or bookish concepts but were practical &ldquo;actions, including [the provision of] basic elements such as food, clean water, and protection of life.&rdquo; &#39;Equality for all humanity&#39; The premier said that Islam was &ldquo;the strongest, most credible and effective source of human rights,&rdquo; adding that it proclaimed equality for all humanity. He said that the religion mandated a society where there was &ldquo;no discrimination on the basis of color, race, caste, religion or belief.&rdquo; PM Sharif said the government was committed to protecting, promoting, and effectively implementing people&#39;s rights, adding that the country had always &ldquo;supported human rights at the national and international levels.&rdquo; &ldquo;Our goal is to create a society where no citizen is left behind,&rdquo; PM Sharif was quoted as saying.&nbsp; According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, President Zardari reaffirmed that the government would continue its efforts to safeguard the &ldquo;liberty, dignity and self-esteem of all citizens.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees freedom to every citizen, without distinction of caste, creed or color,&rdquo; the president said in a message. &#39;Justice for every individual&#39; President Zardari reaffirmed his commitment to upholding dignity, equality, and justice for every individual, regardless of race, religion, gender, language, or social status. He said that Islam placed &ldquo;great value on human dignity, respect for others and the freedom and equality of all people,&rdquo; adding that the government recognized &ldquo;the need to focus on vulnerable and marginalized groups.&rdquo; &ldquo;We must foster a culture of respect, tolerance, and mutual dignity. We must empower our people, particularly women, children, minorities, and persons with disabilities, to take part fully in national life. We must work with civil society, human rights defenders, national institutions, and international partners to uphold our shared values,&rdquo; he said. The president called on government institutions, civil society, the media, non-governmental organizations, and citizens to play their part in protecting and promoting human rights. &ldquo;On this International Human Rights Day, let us renew our pledge to defend human dignity, advance equality, and build a Pakistan where every citizen lives free from fear, oppression, and discrimination. May this day inspire us, as a nation and as a global community, to uphold the promise of human rights, today and in the years ahead,&rdquo; he added. Deputy prime minister&rsquo;s message&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in his message released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on International Day of Human Rights, said, &ldquo;Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its resolve to uphold human dignity, fundamental freedoms, and human rights for all.&rdquo; Dar said, &ldquo;In line with its international obligations and its commitment to promote and protect human rights, the Government of Pakistan has taken numerous institutional, policy and legislative steps, particularly to protect the rights of women, children, and minorities.&rdquo; &ldquo;The recent enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 2025, is a notable step forward in realizing the government&rsquo;s vision to provide effective redressal mechanisms to the minorities,&rdquo; the deputy prime minister said. Election to Human Rights Council&nbsp;Dar said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s recent election to the Human Right Council (HRC) for the sixth time shows the international community&rsquo;s strong confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s contribution at the national and international levels to further the goals of the global human rights framework.&rdquo; &ldquo;We reiterate our commitment to engage constructively with all HRC members, and to accord importance to all facets of human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development.&rdquo; &ldquo;As we commemorate this day, we must not forget that in situations of continued foreign occupation, millions face privation and daily assaults on their dignity and rights,&rdquo; Dar said in his message. Atrocities in Indian-occupied Kashmir&nbsp;&ldquo;Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu &amp; Kashmir (IIOJ&amp;K) and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), where people under occupation continue to suffer atrocities and serious human rights violations while striving for their inalienable right to self-determination,&rdquo; he said. The deputy prime minister said, &ldquo;We also remain concerned at the rising tide of Islamophobia and underscore the need for concerted international efforts to address this challenge that is intensifying marginalization, stigmatization and hatred in many societies.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pakistan vows to continue upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without discrimination, and looks forward to enhanced international cooperation to tackle all current and emerging challenges in this regard,&rdquo; Dar said in his message.

President, PM say Pakistan committed to protecting, promoting human rights; International Human Rights Day commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. 

Pakistan reiterates commitment to protect human rights, dignity, equality, and freedom

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have started their joint military exercise Warrior-IX, the ninth edition of the annual counterterrorism drills conducted between the two militaries, the military&#39;s media wing&nbsp;said on Tuesday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the exercise, which began on Monday at the National Counter Terrorism Center, Pabbi, focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills, and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare. ISPR said the Pakistan Army and the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army of China continue to maintain time-tested defence cooperation built on mutual trust and strategic partnership. The Warrior series, it added, reflects the strong military-to-military ties and the shared commitment of both countries to regional peace, stability, and security. The Mangla Corps Commander, along with Major General Bian Xiaoming, Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Western Theatre Command, and senior military officials from both sides, attended the opening ceremony.

Security

The exercise focuses on counterterrorism operations and aims to enhance interoperability, improve professional skills and facilitate the exchange of best practices in modern warfare.

Pakistan, China begin Warrior-IX joint military exercise

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to provide &ldquo;all possible help&rdquo; to Sri Lanka in this time of need, as the South Asian nation reels from deadly floods and landslides, with the death toll reaching 390 and 352 people still reported missing. Cyclone Ditwah, bringing powerful winds and torrential rains, triggered Sri Lanka&rsquo;s worst flooding in a decade when it struck on Friday, unleashing deadly landslides across the country&rsquo;s hilly central regions. &ldquo;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to provide all possible help [to Sri Lanka] in this time of need,&rdquo; Tarar said in a post on X. Pakistan Navy ship PNS Saif, which was on a port call at Colombo for participation in an international fleet review, is actively undertaking relief operations for the local populace. The Pakistan Navy has continued relief operations in Sri Lanka for the third consecutive day. On Monday, a Navy helicopter aboard PNS Saif successfully rescued a family that had been stranded for five days, including a seven-month-old child. With the assistance of local authorities, the Navy safely evacuated residents trapped in floodwaters from rooftops to secure locations. Earlier, the Pakistan Navy also delivered food staples, MREs, medical supplies, and other essential items to support thousands struggling in the aftermath of the disaster. India denies Pakistan air route for Sri Lanka reliefThe relief operations, however, have faced obstacles due to India&rsquo;s refusal to grant airspace access for Pakistan&rsquo;s humanitarian mission. Pakistan Army has prepared a 45-member urban search-and-rescue team from the Army, with support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft, to assist the affected population. Despite all logistical arrangements, including commercial cargo planes with a 100-ton capacity, Indian airspace restrictions have slowed down relief operations. Consequently, Pakistan&rsquo;s aid and rescue teams had to reroute shipments via sea, delaying delivery to Sri Lanka by eight days. The relief cargo includes rescue boats, pumps, life jackets, tents, blankets, food, milk, and medicines. Despite these challenges, Pakistan remains committed to assisting Sri Lanka&rsquo;s flood victims.

SAT News Desk

Relief operations have faced obstacles due to India’s refusal to grant airspace access for Pakistan’s humanitarian mission; Pakistan Army has prepared a 45-member urban search-and-rescue team from the Army, with support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft, to assist the affected population.



PM Sharif directs to provide full support for flood-hit Sri Lanka — information minister 

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has said a truly futuristic approach is essential to move forward. Speaking at PTV Home&rsquo;s programme &lsquo;Rising Pakistan&rsquo; on the occasion of the channel&rsquo;s 61st anniversary, Attaullah Tarar said new platforms are being created to connect Gen Z with PTV. The minister said during Pakistan-India war, it was realized that there was a need to start channels as a stratcom tool. &ldquo;We are encouraging private sector channels as well,&rdquo; he said. Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan TV Satellite has a fresh and new look and &ldquo;our stories are being quoted by international media outlets like BBC and Reuters&rdquo;. He said our strategic and geopolitical situation is such that exclusive stories from here have international significance.&ldquo;We brought new vigour in English media, whether it be digital or satellite,&rdquo; he said. Attaullah Tarar said very capable women were heading most departments in PTV, adding that it is a women-led initiative in the information domain.He said in sports, we got exclusive rights of many series through which we generated revenue. The minister said a sustainable model is needed.&nbsp; He went on to say that we are trying to do collaboration with the private sector for PTV Home. &ldquo;We can make good dramas and do collaborations with the private sector under profit-cost sharing basis,&rdquo; he said, adding that public-private partnership is a way forward. He said those who are leaders in entertainment in private sector should be invited to collaborate with PTV. The minister said today all those who are leading the entertainment industry say they started from PTV. He added that PTV has given birth to the entertainment, sports and news industries. Attaullah Tarar said he does not believe in criticism for the sake of criticism, adding that there should be constructive criticism to bring reforms. He said the private sector will be strongly encouraged in media projects, adding that Pakistan Idol was launched as private sector collaboration at a minimum cost. The information minister said the government aims to expand youth involvement through private sector programmes.

Speaking at PTV Home’s programme ‘Rising Pakistan’ on the occasion of the channel’s 61st anniversary, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said new platforms are being created to connect Gen Z with PTV. (Photo: Pakistan TV Satellite)

Speaking at an event marking PTV's 61st anniversary, the information minister said new platforms are being created to connect Gen Z with PTV.

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Moving forward with futuristic approach is essential: Tarar

Indonesia delegation visits Pakistan to boost defense production cooperation