ISLAMABAD, JAN 16 /DNA/ – Finance Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Aurangzeb, welcomed the US Acting Ambassador, Natalie Baker, at the Finance Ministry, today.

During their talks, the American side commended Pakistan’s economic stability and improvement. Ambassador Natalie Baker specifically praised Pakistan’s reform agenda and macroeconomic policies.

She reaffirmed the United States’ full support for enhancing trade and investment ties with Pakistan. The meeting also welcomed a new cooperation agreement between Pakistan’s Finance Ministry and the American company, Liberty Financial, focusing on digital currency.

Ambassador Baker expressed her desire to further strengthen US-Pakistan trade and investment relations. In response, Finance Minister Aurangzeb reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continuing economic reforms and ensuring an environment friendly for investors.

The meeting highlighted ongoing cooperation and positive economic momentum between the two countries.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has officially launched the Prime Minister’s Health Card, marking a key step in providing healthcare facilities directly at citizens’ doorsteps.

The program, first introduced in Pakistan in 2016 by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, aims to expand access to medical services nationwide.

Speaking at the launch, the Prime Minister emphasized the link between good health and national achievements, saying, “When people are healthy, they can excel in sports and overcome challenges posed by opponents.”

The rollout of the Health Card program was announced today for regions including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Commenting on the initiative in Sindh, the Prime Minister described the provincial proposal for a health card as ‘a good idea’ and stated he would personally discuss the matter with the Chief Minister of Sindh. 

He added that Sindh likely has its own health-related programs that complement the federal initiative.

The launch is being seen as a major step toward improving healthcare access and ensuring that essential medical services are available to all citizens across Pakistan.

WASHINGTON: The CIA has published a short recruitment video aimed at attracting informants from China, providing step-by-step guidance for secure contact while emphasizing strict caution against surveillance.

The video, posted on the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, features Chinese subtitles to reach its intended audience.

The two-minute video clearly states the agency’s goal: “The CIA wants to know the truth about China, and we are looking for people who know and can tell the truth.” The agency is seeking informants with valuable insights into China’s government, military, or economic activities.

The post includes instructions for submitting tips through a secure form on the CIA website, though it does not mention any potential remuneration or benefits for participants.

Guidance for prospective informants

The video repeatedly stresses operational security. Viewers are urged to:

• Avoid using personal devices
• Delete browsing history
• Use tools to mask IP addresses and locations

The message closes with a call to action: “Contact us securely.”

Public reaction

The CIA’s recruitment attempt drew mixed reactions online. Some users criticized the move as foreign interference, while others expressed reluctance to participate. One user wrote, “No one wants to work with y’all,” highlighting skepticism and caution among the public.

KARACHI, JAN 16: A massive fire broke out at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) at Karachi Port on Friday, engulfing around 20 containers and forcing the suspension of handling operations of two ships, officials said.

According to port sources, the blaze erupted in a pile of containers inside the ICT terminal. Initial reports suggested that the fire may have originated in chemical containers, while some affected containers were carrying electronic items, chemicals, cloth and lithium batteries.

Rescue 1122 said the fire rapidly spread, trapping multiple containers at the terminal. Firefighting operations were launched immediately, with 13 fire tenders initially deployed to control the blaze.

As the intensity increased, the number of fire tenders was raised to 20, with all rescue personnel and port security teams remaining present at the site.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry took notice of the incident and directed authorities to utilise all available resources to bring the fire under complete control.

On his instructions, the Chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and all relevant officers were ordered to reach the site.

The fire extinguishing operation was being carried out under the direct supervision of the KPT chairman. Officials said more than 80% of the fire had been brought under control, adding that no casualties were reported.

The KPT chairman has sought a detailed report from the port team on the incident and its causes, while efforts remain underway to fully extinguish the remaining flames and prevent further damage.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed the government’s resolve to defeat terrorism through a unified national efforts, stressing that peace, stability and prosperity remained core objectives.

Chairing a meeting of the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee (QPAC), PM Shehbaz said the committee would play a pivotal role in strengthening the national narrative against extremism and terrorism, similar to the historic role played by ulema in the creation of Pakistan.

“This task is difficult but not impossible,” the premier remarked while terming terrorism as the most serious challenge and stressing the need for collective resolve.

Highlighting that more than 100,000 Pakistanis had embraced martyrdom in the war against terrorism, the premier urged the international community to acknowledge the country’s immense sacrifices.

The remarks come as the country has witnessed a notable surge in terror incidents since Afghan Taliban took over Kabul in 2021. In 2025, the law enforcement agencies in Pakistan, as per the statistics revealed by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, carried out 75,175 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the country, wherein as many as 2,597 terrorists were killed.

The PM also pointed out that Islamabad possessed concrete evidence of external support being extended to the terrorist elements in the country and expressed the confidence that Pakistan would once again defeat terrorism.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar said the national narrative to discourage terrorism and promote peace and stability would be further strengthened.

The minister noted that the QPAC members would visit different parts of the country to convey a message of peace and counter hate-based narratives.

Tarar also said that a two-day conference would be organised in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing together ulema from all schools of thought to promote peace and discourage terrorism.

Expressing his views, Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) Chairman and Coordinator of the QPAC, Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, said committee members would visit terrorism-affected areas, interact with local communities, religious scholars and the armed forces, and serve as frontline ambassadors of peace.

Additionally, participants of the meeting, including ulema from various schools of thought and representatives of minority communities, expressed full support for the government’s initiative and unanimously declared terrorists and Fitna-al-Khawarij as enemies of the state and stressed the need to counter anti-state narratives, particularly by positively engaging and guiding the youth.

ISLAMABAD: Zong has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ZTE Corporation and its authorized distributor Siccotel, forging a pioneering collaboration to expand inclusive access to advanced devices for customers nationwide.

The MoU establishes a strategic collaboration to significantly broaden Zong’s device portfolio across multiple customer segments, with a strong focus on inclusive access to 5G technology. Under this partnership, ZTE will introduce a diverse range of entry-level and mid-to-high tier 5G smartphones, along with gaming-focused devices designed for high-performance users and the youth segment.

To further enhance affordability and adoption, the partnership will also introduce Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) schemes, enabling customers to access advanced smartphones through flexible payment options. All devices will be offered at competitive market rates and bundled with Zong’s packages, including value-added services such as gaming, esports, entertainment, and data-focused offerings.

Speaking on the occasion, Sajid Munir, Head of Marketing, Zong, said: “This partnership represents a major step in Zong’s strategic direction to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation. With 5G on the horizon and smartphone penetration still evolving, it is critical to ensure that advanced technology is both accessible and affordable. By introducing inclusive 5G devices, high-performance gaming smartphones, and flexible payment solutions, we are empowering more Pakistanis to participate in the digital economy, fostering innovation, and unlocking new possibilities for connectivity and engagement.”

This initiative will significantly expand smartphone accessibility while meeting the growing demand from tech-savvy and gaming-focused users. By combining next-generation devices, innovative financing solutions, and value-driven service bundles, the collaboration strengthens Zong’s leadership in delivering future-ready digital experiences and advances the national vision of a truly Digital Pakistan.