ISLAMABAD, JAN 21 /DNA/ – In response to the invitation extended to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif by the President of the United States, H.E. Donald J. Trump, Pakistan would like to announce its decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP) as part of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan under the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.

Pakistan expresses the hope that with the creation of this framework, concrete steps will be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, further scaling up of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, as well as reconstruction of Gaza.

Pakistan also hopes that these efforts will lead to the realization of the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine, through a credible, time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Pakistan looks forward to continue playing a constructive role as part of the Board of Peace for the achievement of these goals as well as to end the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.

——Interview with the Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar

“Over the past 75 years,Pakistan and China have upheld a tradition of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, and that despite changing global circumstances, the “ironclad friendship” between the two countries has continued to deepen.” n a recent interview with People’s Daily Online, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar noted that 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, the two countries have always supported each other on core interests and major issues, while steadily implementing the important consensus reached by their leadership through close cooperation in sectors including the economy and industrial development. In the new era, efforts are being accelerated to build a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

“With the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor entering a new phase of high-quality development, the both sides are placing special emphasis on building a “corridor of people’s well-being, especially in agriculture and other fields related to people’s livelihood.” said Dar. Agriculture is one of the cornerstone industries of Pakistan’s economy. In recent years companies from both countries have achieved positive results through cooperation in crops such as chili peppers, rapeseed and sesame. Meanwhile, many Pakistani agricultural products have gained access to the Chinese market.

    In 2025, Pakistan launched a training programme for 1,000 agricultural experts in China, under which two batches were sent to China to understand its experience in agricultural innovation and systematically learn modern agricultural skills. Dar said that in the next phase, both countries hope to further deepen cooperation across the entire agricultural value chain under the CPEC framework, which will help transform and upgrade Pakistan’s agriculture sector.

Ishaq Dar said that close cooperation between Pakistan and China in industry and technology is delivering direct benefits to the Pakistani people. He noted that Chinese solar photovoltaic equipment, electric vehicles, and electric motorcycles have entered the Pakistani market, making daily life and work more convenient for the public. He added that Chinese companies have also established manufacturing units in Pakistan, creating opportunities for industrial upgrading. According to him, in areas where infrastructure is weak and energy costs are high, China’s new energy technologies are generating new hope for public welfare.

Speaking about cooperation in the space sector, Dar said that Pakistan and China have jointly launched nine satellites to date, covering areas such as communications, earth observation, remote sensing, and lunar missions. He added that it is expected that a Pakistani astronaut will visit the Chinese space station this year. One success after another in China-Pakistan space cooperation reflects a “trustworthy, reliable, and enduring partnership” between the two countries in the space domain.

Ishaq Dar said that China’s prospects for economic development are vast. In 2026, China will begin its 15th Five-Year Plan, and its high-quality development and high-level opening-up are attracting global attention. He said Pakistan is eager to further strengthen cooperation with China and learn from China’s experience in modernization.

Commenting on the global situation, the Deputy Prime Minister said that amid a complex and rapidly changing international environment, the four initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping have received broad recognition from the international community. He said these initiatives offer far-sighted solutions to the major challenges facing the world today and are important for regional and global stability, long-term development, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. He pointed out that in September 2025, the two countries issued the Action Plan to Foster an Even Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2025-2029), and that both sides will further strengthen practical cooperation under this framework and jointly implement this action plan.

In the interview, Dar emphasized that Pakistan and China are All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, and that Pakistan has always provided unwavering support to China on issues related to its core interests. Pakistan has always maintained that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and will continue to firmly adhere to the One-China policy. He added that countries in the region should oppose all forms of interference in each other’s internal affairs and refrain from actions that escalate tensions or undermine mutual trust. According to him, promoting dialogue and cooperation, prioritizing development, fostering a stable and predictable environment are essential for regional peace and stability, and will provide a solid foundation for lasting peace, shared development, and common prosperity in Asia and the world.

Elections Amendment Bill now requires approval from Senate and assent from president before it can become law

Saifullah Ansar

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday passed the Elections Amendment Bill, 2026, seeking to allow the withholding of public disclosure of lawmakers’ assets and liabilities if such disclosure is deemed to pose a serious threat to the life or safety of the member or their family.

Under the proposed amendment to Section 138 of the Elections Act, the bill seeks to insert a proviso stating: “Provided that the speaker of the concerned assembly or, as the case may be, the chairman of the senate my, on an application made by a member and for reasons to be recorded in writing, by a ruling delivered in the chamber, determine that the statement of assets and liabilities of that member shall not be published publicly by the commission if such publication would pose a serious threat to the life or safety of the members or, as the case may be, his family, for a period not exceeding one year at a time and subject to the condition that a complete and true statement of assets and liabilities shall be submitted confidentially to the election commission.”

The bill was moved by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Shazia Atta Marri in the lower house.

The bill now requires approval from the Senate and assent from the president before it can become law.Under the existing law, members of the National Assembly, Senate and provincial assemblies are required to submit a statement of their assets and liabilities — including those of their spouses and dependent children — to the Election Commission on or before December 31 each year. Section 138 of the Elections Act further mandates the ECP to publish these declarations in the official gazette.

The development comes a week after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) suspended the membership of as many as 159 lawmakers belonging to different legislatures for failing to submit their financial statements.

According to the notification issued by the ECP, the membership of 32 MNAs, 50 Punjab Assembly members, 33 Sindh Assembly lawmakers, 28 KP Assembly members, seven Balochistan Assembly members and nine senators had been suspended.

The election watchdog also suspended the membership of nine Senators, including Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, PML-N’s Abid Sher Ali and Murad Saeed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

The ECP also suspended the memberships of 50 members of the Punjab Assembly, including Rana Sikandar Hayat, Adnan Dogar, and Aamir Hayat Hiraj.

Similarly, 33 members of the Sindh Assembly were suspended, including Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah, former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and provincial minister Saeed Ghani.

Moreover, the Election Commission suspended the memberships of 28 lawmakers from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and seven from the Balochistan Assembly.