ISLAMABAD, 17 JULY (DNA) — The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that every dispute regarding appointments in public universities could not be treated as a constitutional case.  The court emphasized that unsuccessful candidates could not invoke constitutional jurisdiction simply by alleging a lack of transparency or procedural violations.

In its detailed written judgment released on Friday, the court overturned the decision of the Sindh High Court and restored the decisions of the Karachi University’s selection committee and syndicate regarding the appointment of professors. The Federal Constitutional Court stated in its verdict that constitutional jurisdiction could only be exercised when the legality of the recruitment process was fundamentally compromised.

Intervening in every matter to conduct a judicial review would effectively turn courts into appellate forums for appointments, which was contrary to Article 199 of the Constitution. The court further observed that acting as an appellate forum for educational institutions was inconsistent with the autonomy granted to universities. Public universities were expected to complete the recruitment process in a fair and transparent manner, strictly in accordance with their respective statutes and regulations.

The case originated when Dr. Feroz Alam Jafri challenged, in Sindh High Court, the recruitment process for professors at the University of Karachi. The High Court had nullified the appointments, noting that a member of the selection committee was also a candidate for a position. However, the Federal Constitutional Court set aside the High Court’s ruling, upholding the original decisions made by the university’s selection committee and syndicate. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, Jul 17: Pakistan and China have agreed to significantly expand cooperation on immigration, border management and institutional coordination, reaffirming their shared commitment to combating illegal immigration, arms smuggling and cross-border crime through closer collaboration.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and a Chinese delegation led by Qi Jingyang, Director General of China’s National Immigration Administration.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the finalisation of a bilateral agreement aimed at streamlining immigration procedures and facilitating faster processing. They also decided to establish a Pakistan-China Joint Working Group on border management and security to strengthen coordination and improve operational effectiveness.

Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan and China would further enhance cooperation in land border management, seaport security and immigration administration. He reiterated that the Government of Pakistan was implementing a zero-tolerance policy against illegal immigration, unlawful border crossings and smuggling, adding that indiscriminate action was being taken against all those involved in such activities.

The minister also announced that a Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts checkpoint was being established at the Khunjerab Pass to further strengthen security along the strategically important border crossing.

Minister of State Talal Chaudhry said Pakistan and China would work together to effectively curb illegal immigration and other cross-border crimes through enhanced bilateral cooperation.

Chinese delegation commended Pakistan’s efforts to prevent illegal border crossings and smuggling, describing the country’s measures as effective and encouraging.

Director General Qi Jingyang said China and Pakistan were strategic partners and that Beijing remained committed to strengthening cooperation with Islamabad. He added that China would continue supporting the capacity-building of Pakistani institutions in areas related to immigration and border security.

During the meeting, the Chinese delegation delivered an invitation from China’s Minister of Public Security to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to participate in the upcoming Public Security Forum. The delegation also invited a team from Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to attend the forum.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan said Pakistani police officers would travel to China later this month for specialised training. He also noted that Chinese language instructors were currently providing language training to personnel of Pakistan’s Special Protection Unit to enhance communication and operational coordination.

The meeting was also attended by the Chinese Ambassador, the Interior Secretary, the Director General of the FIA, the Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad and the Inspector General of Islamabad Police.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 17 /DNA/ – The Twelfth Meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States was held in Islamabad on 17 July 2026 under the chairmanship of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by the heads and representatives of the border services of the competent authorities of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

The participants exchanged information and assessments regarding the situation along the international borders of the SCO Member States, as well as trends and forecasts relating to its development.

During the meeting, the participants discussed and approved the results of the Joint Border Operation “Solidarity-2025”, which was previously conducted by the border services of the competent authorities of the SCO Member States. They also considered and approved the plan for the preparation and conduct of the Joint Border Operation “Solidarity-2026”.

Furthermore, the Work Plan of the Group of Experts of the Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO Member States for 2027 was approved. The delegates supported the proposal of the Republic of Tajikistan to host the Joint Border Operation “Solidarity-2027” in 2027. Discussions were also held regarding proposals concerning the venue and timing of the next meeting of the Heads of Border Services of the Competent Authorities of the SCO Member States.

The participants noted that the exchange of views and the development of common positions on countering emerging challenges and threats along the borders of the SCO Member States would contribute to further strengthening cooperation among their border services, while enhancing security and mutual trust along their shared borders. The meeting was held in a constructive and cordial atmosphere in Islamabad on 17 July 2026.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 17: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday hailed the signing of nine agreements worth around US$ 440 million between Pakistani and Chinese private enterprises in the pharmaceutical sector, describing the development as a major step towards strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and advancing the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0).

Addressing the Pakistan-China Pharmaceutical Business-to-Business Conference here, the prime minister expressed confidence that the agreements would turn into practical projects, saying they would boost investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines, research and development, and help Pakistan emerge as a regional centre for the production and export of life-saving medicines.

“I think this will ultimately result into manufacturing life saving medicines, vaccines, research and development and become a center of excellence for exporting our wonderful products to neighboring countries,” he said.

He said China had consistently stood by Pakistan during difficult times and had already invested more than US$ 30 billion under first phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), calling the new partnerships another milestone in expanding economic cooperation.

The prime minister congratulated Pakistani and Chinese entrepreneurs on the agreements and praised the efforts of Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, government institutions and business leaders for making the conference a success.

The prime minister also highlighted Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace, saying Islamabad had played an important mediating role during the recent regional crisis with the support of friendly countries, particularly China.

He appreciated the contributions of President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other Chinese leaders, while also acknowledged the efforts of Field Marshal, Syed Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar in diplomatic engagements.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to Chinese investors, he said the security of Chinese nationals working in Pakistan remained the government’s highest priority and assured them of comprehensive protection.

Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the sighing of agreements worth US$ 440 million between the two sides in the pharmaceutical sector.

Health Minister, Syed Mustafa Kamal said the conference was held on the vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, adding that weeks of intensive meetings had paved the way for the business-to-business engagements. He said Pakistan’s ambassador in Beijing had also played an important role in facilitating the initiative.

Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan and China had enormous untapped potential for trade and investment in healthcare and other sectors. He said the government was taking measures to improve public access to quality healthcare and thanked Chinese companies for their participation and confidence in Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector.

Chinese Ambassador, Jiang Zaidong said Pakistan’s large and growing population had created significant demand for healthcare, making the country’s pharmaceutical sector an attractive destination for investment and cooperation. He said the embassy had worked as a bridge between enterprises of both countries to promote business partnerships.

The ambassador welcomed Pakistan’s improving economic indicators under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership and appreciated Islamabad’s constructive role in recent regional developments.

He expressed hope that Pakistan would continue providing a stable and secure environment for Chinese enterprises and noted the prime minister’s special focus on facilitating Chinese investment.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan said Pakistan was pursuing innovation-driven industrial growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose vision emphasised implementation, technology transfer and global competitiveness.

He said the prime minister’s recent visit to China had opened a new chapter in bilateral economic cooperation and created fresh opportunities for industrial collaboration.

Haroon Akhtar said pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing had been identified as national industrial priorities, supported by reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy and improving the investment climate. He invited Chinese companies to partner with Pakistan in research, manufacturing and exports, saying the two countries could jointly serve regional and international markets through deeper industrial cooperation.