MINSK, JUL 27 /DNA/ – The 5th round of Pakistan – Belarus Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) was held today at Minsk. The Pakistan side was led by Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Additional Secretary (Europe) while Mr. Nikolai Boresivich, Deputy Foreign Minister led the Belarus side. Ambassador of Pakistan, Sajjad Haider Khan and Ambassador of Belarus in Islamabad also attended the meeting.

The two delegations discussed progress on implementing various agreements/MoUs signed between the two countries in diverse fields. Both sides agreed on the importance of high level exchanges as well as enhancing collaboration in economic & trade, agriculture, industry, science & technology, information technology, education, culture, tourism and defence sectors. It was also agreed to expeditiously conclude the Agreements/MoUs currently under process. The Additional Secretary highlighted Pakistan’s focus on ensuring economic security through leveraging its geo-economic location, building development partnerships, and promoting regional peace and security. The Additional Secretary also briefed Belarusian side on the government’s efforts to tackle the pandemic without jeopardizing economic wellbeing of people. 

Additional Secretary apprised the Belarusian side of Pakistan’s positive efforts in facilitating Afghan peace process with the aim of promoting an inclusive and broad-based political settlement with emphasis on Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. The Additional Secretary highlighted the human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and stressed that Indian actions of 5 August 2019 had vitiated the atmosphere and the onus was on India to create an enabling environment for engagement and result-oriented talks. The Additional Secretary stressed the importance of solution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.

Consultations ended with both sides agreeing to hold the next round on mutually convenient dates in Islamabad.

BAKU, JUL 27 – The trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani parliament speakers at Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan has featured the signing of the Baku Declaration.

The Declaration was signed by Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop and Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Asad Qaiser.

Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said that the document would contribute to the strengthening of strategic relations among the countries.

Islamabad, July 27 /DNA/ – Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have underscored the need to broaden the spectrum of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interests. Both countries reiterated their commitment to institutionalise the bilateral relations so as to make enhanced progress in the areas of trade and economy. This was discussed at a meeting between President Dr Arif Alvi and the visiting Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who called on him, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today.

Welcoming the Saudi Foreign Minister, the President said that Pakistan highly valued its ties with KSA and wanted to further expand economic and trade relations with the brotherly country. He highly commended the vision of Saudi leadership, particularly the Vision-2030 and the “Green Saudi Arabia” and “Green Middle East” Initiative, recently launched by His Royal Highness Crown Prince. He thanked the leadership of KSA for taking care of the Pakistani community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The President congratulated the Saudi Government over the successful organization of Hajj during the global pandemic. He also highlighted the atrocities being committed by India against the innocent Muslims of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). He urged the international community to put pressure on India to stop human rights violations and grant the Kashmiris their right to self-determination in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.

The President asked the visiting dignitary to convey his sincere wishes and warm regards to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman. He expressed the hope that the visit of Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud would further cement bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Saudi Foreign Minister said that both countries enjoyed true brotherly relations and Saudi Arabia desired to maintain the existing momentum of bilateral cooperation. He added that the leadership of his country attached importance to its ties with Pakistan and wanted to further push forward economic relations between the two brotherly countries.

BAKU, JUL 27 – “Zangazur corridor will also ensure new corridor from brotherly Pakistan to Turkey, Azerbaijan,” said the speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova at the first trilateral meeting of the speakers of Azerbaijani, Turkish, and Pakistani parliaments.

There is no question of any coercion or pressure on Pakistan’s judiciary: FO

Shujaat Hamza

ISLAMABAD:  Responding to media queries regarding the Investment Climate Statements for 2021 released by the US Department of State, the Spokesperson said on Tuesday Pakistan has taken  a strong exception to the gratuitous and unwarranted comments made in the report on Pakistan’s judicial system.

The judiciary in Pakistan is independent and the Courts are functioning in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the country. The allegations to the contrary are firmly denied as factually incorrect and misleading.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7078513716629609&output=html&h=280&adk=1011146866&adf=753124281&pi=t.aa~a.2356292401~i.12~rp.4&w=696&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1627387709&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=2527759049&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=696×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamabadpost.com.pk%2Fus-remarks-on-pak-judicial-system-unwarranted%2F&flash=0&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=174&rw=696&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAI8N3-hwYQzJ7li-_y-r8QEkgA1Z0-2_ap1gMrTWg4vf6vKApRKLExkefvDRRLjMBY8jyJLif00qsQDYmyvhbDVCT88xDohjoPcJJwwDNrbck_weJtWrPsY2E&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiNi4xIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTIuMC40NTE1LjEwNyIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hdHRlc3RhdGlvbi5hbmRyb2lkLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo3fV0.&dt=1627387701435&bpp=10&bdt=3009&idt=10&shv=r20210722&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D2cab8dd1d7a97507-2251d758ada700c6%3AT%3D1619371132%3ART%3D1619371132%3AS%3DALNI_MbCWjL6fpbAI7C_Q4Gb9OcZB0P5kA&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=2&correlator=7314503349173&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1444650627.1627387700&ga_sid=1627387700&ga_hid=1757432753&ga_fc=0&u_tz=300&u_his=22&u_java=0&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=141&ady=1254&biw=1349&bih=600&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=42530672%2C20211866%2C21067496&oid=3&pvsid=1941250598158628&pem=180&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1366%2C0%2C1366%2C728%2C1366%2C600&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=93PwmOhu0F&p=https%3A//islamabadpost.com.pk&dtd=8231

As a vibrant democracy, the government of Pakistan firmly believes in the separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the state. There is no question of any coercion or pressure on Pakistan’s judiciary. The baseless assertions made in the report are contradicted by innumerable decisions by Pakistani courts at all levels that meet the highest standards of judicial independence.

While the statement acknowledges the progress made and reforms undertaken by Pakistan in improving its business and investment climate, despite extremely difficult circumstances due to the Pandemic, it speculates on alleged shortcomings in Pakistan’s regulatory framework and bases its conclusions on unverifiable sources.

Mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of economy, trade and investment with the international community including the US is one of the key priorities of the Government of Pakistan. We will continue to take steps to optimally realize Pakistan’s geo-economic potential, the spokesman further added.