ISLAMABAD, JUL 28 /DNA/ – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable integration of HEC’s degree verification system with PSEB’s upcoming national digital workforce platform.

The initiative aims to facilitate digital verification of academic credentials, strengthen academia-industry linkages, and enhance graduate employability.

Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and Chief Executive Officer PSEB Mr. Faisal Jeddy graced the MoU signing ceremony with their presence along with other senior officials from both sides.

The integration will facilitate digital degree verification, enabling authenticated academic credentials of students and professionals while enhancing transparency, credibility, and trust across digital workforce and talent development initiatives.

The platform will establish Pakistan’s first national verified digital talent repository, featuring authenticated digital profiles of students and IT professionals. This will provide employers – both within Pakistan and internationally – with access to a trusted and verified talent pool, strengthening talent matchmaking, recruitment, and global employment opportunities for Pakistan’s digital workforce.

This collaboration marks another significant step towards building an integrated, data-driven ecosystem that supports skills development, employability, and Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 27 /DNA/ – Pakistan on Tuesday issued a strong condemnation of recent drone attacks targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, describing the incidents as provocative acts that seriously undermine regional peace and stability.

In an official statement, the Pakistani Foreign Office expressed unwavering solidarity with the Saudi leadership and people, while reiterating its firm commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Such provocative attacks pose a grave threat to peace and stability across the entire region,” the statement read, without specifying the exact location or date of the strikes. Pakistani officials confirmed that the government views any act of aggression against Saudi Arabia as a direct threat to the broader Muslim world.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the country’s “strong and unwavering support” for the Kingdom’s security, prosperity, and territorial integrity. The statement further noted that Islamabad has already taken steps—and will continue to do so—in support of regional efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace, security, and stability.

The condemnation comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, where Saudi Arabia has faced repeated drone and missile attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen. Pakistan, a long-standing ally of Saudi Arabia, has historically offered political, diplomatic, and military support to the Kingdom in times of crisis.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also echoed the official stance, emphasizing that Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is rooted in deep brotherly ties and mutual strategic interests. He called on the international community to take immediate notice of such attacks and to work collectively toward deterring further acts of aggression.

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, and Saudi authorities have not yet issued a detailed public response regarding the specific incident.

Pakistan has reiterated that it remains committed to playing a constructive role in de-escalating tensions and fostering dialogue to ensure enduring peace across the region.

Nazir Siyal

KARACHI: 27 Jul /DNA/ — President Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting to review progress of various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and other cooperation initiatives between the Government of Sindh and Chinese companies, directing that the agreed projects be advanced expeditiously and any remaining procedural and technical requirements completed at the earliest.

The President said this during a meeting with Chinese delegations of Anhui Nengtong New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and Luoyang Modern Biology Group at CM House here today. Facilitated by the China-Pakistan-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Association, the meeting reviewed the implementation status of previously agreed areas of cooperation and discussed steps to advance their execution.

The President was briefed on the progress made on cooperation in areas including electric vehicle charging infrastructure, veterinary biological vaccines, animal identification and traceability, agricultural technology, healthcare, fire safety equipment and other sectors. The briefing also covered the steps taken by the Government of Sindh to coordinate with Chinese companies and facilitate the implementation of these initiatives.

The President said the government is fully facilitating Chinese businesses and investors. He said Pakistan highly values its All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China and remains committed to further strengthening economic cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with CPEC 2.0 now underway.

The President said his regular visits to China reflect Pakistan’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations and promoting mutually beneficial economic cooperation.

During the briefing on cooperation with Anhui Nengtong New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., the President was informed about the company’s interest in manufacturing and supplying EV charging stations and developing related infrastructure in Sindh. The discussions covered the development of EV charging stations, solar-storage-charging facilities, energy storage solutions, smart charging networks, technology transfer and training.

The President said Karachi and Hyderabad offer significant potential for the development of EV infrastructure, while the Karachi-Hyderabad M-9 corridor could serve as an important starting point for intercity charging facilities. He expressed the confidence that cooperation in this area will support Pakistan’s transition towards green mobility and contribute to the development of the new energy sector.

The President was also briefed on progress in cooperation between the Government of Sindh and Luoyang Modern Biology Group on veterinary biological vaccines and animal identification and traceability. The briefing covered the roadmap for cooperation, including the ongoing visit of the Chinese delegation, the planned visit of a Sindh Institute of Animal Husbandry delegation to China in August and technical work relating to the Sindh-08 strain of the foot and mouth disease.

The President was informed that vaccine trials in China and Pakistan are expected to be concluded by November 2026, following which the cost and timelines would be finalised.

The President appreciated the cooperation between the Government of Sindh and Modern Biology Group and said that the initiatives would help strengthen veterinary epidemic prevention, improve livestock management and enhance disease control and food safety.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 27 /DNA/ – The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized an in-house discussion with the U.S. Congressional delegation. The U.S. delegation included Rep. Ryan Zinke, Rep. Michael Baumgartner, along with Mr. ⁠Graham Gunter, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Ryan Zinke and Mr. Harris Cull, Legislative Aide to Rep. Baumgartner. The delegation was received by Chairman BoG, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood and Director General ISSI, Ambassador Moin Ul Haque. This was the first ever visit of a U.S. Congressional delegation to ISSI.

Director General briefed the delegation about ISSI and its work and expressed desire to establish more institutional linkages between ISSI and U.S. Congress and American think tanks.

The participants held an exchange of views on issues of mutual interest, including Pakistan–U.S. relations, focusing on economic cooperation, educational and cultural exchanges, and the broader geopolitical developments in the region.

The meeting was also joined by Ambassador Masood Khalid, Pakistan’s former Ambassador to China; Ambassador Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the U.S.; Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and also Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the U.S.; and Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan’s former Ambassador to Iran.