ISLAMABAD, SEPT 20 /DNA/ – In a significant move to strengthen economic ties, the Azerbaijan–Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce & Industry (APJCCI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with prominent Azerbaijani business interests. The signing ceremony, held in the federal capital, marks a pivotal step towards enhancing trade and investment cooperation between the two brotherly nations.

The MoU was formally signed by Mr. Zafar Bakhtawari, Chairman of the APJCCI, and Mr. Babak Hussaini, a leading Azerbaijani businessman and investor. The agreement outlines a framework for collaborative efforts in key sectors, including energy, textiles, logistics, agriculture, and tourism.

The ceremony was witnessed by a delegation of high-profile business leaders from both countries, underscoring the broad-based support for this initiative. Attendees included Ms. Naima Ansari, Senior Vice President of APJCCI; Mr. Murat Gelpish, a noted Turkish businessman, highlighting the regional importance of the partnership; Ms. Samina Fazil, President of the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Malik Nadeem Kakazai, among other distinguished participants.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Zafar Bakhtawari stated, “This MoU is more than a document; it is a testament to the deep-rooted fraternal bonds between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. We are committed to transforming this relationship into a robust economic partnership that creates opportunities for businesses in both countries and opens new avenues for joint ventures and investments.”

Mr. Babak Hussaini, representing the Azerbaijani business community, echoed these sentiments, saying, “Pakistan offers a dynamic market and tremendous potential for collaboration. This agreement provides a structured platform to connect Azerbaijani investors with their Pakistani counterparts. We are eager to explore the many possibilities and contribute to a new chapter of shared prosperity.”

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 20 /DNA/ – The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), Islamabad, hosted a seminar on “Resilient Food Systems in Pakistan” emphasizing the urgent need for Pakistan to transition from reactive disaster management to proactive climate adaptation strategies to strengthen food security.

Addressing the seminar, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President IRS, noted the irony that Pakistan, contributing less than 1% to global emissions, is among the most severely impacted countries by climate change. Citing cities like Lahore ranking among the world’s most polluted, he stressed that “Pakistan’s survival hinges on a new green revolution.”

Ms. Farrah Naz, Country Director of GAIN, highlighted South Asia’s alarming nutrition crisis, pointing out that nearly half of women of reproductive age in the region suffer from anemia, one in four infants are born underweight, and stunting rates continue to rise. She urged the adoption of nutrition-sensitive policies to address these systemic challenges.

Presenting data-driven insights, Dr. Zaffar Bukhari shed light on Pakistan’s fragmented value chains, food safety concerns, and limited dietary diversity. He underlined the importance of dashboards in guiding evidence-based policymaking for a more sustainable food system.

Dr. Haroon Malik, representing the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, highlighted the struggles of Pakistan’s smallholder farmers, who make up nearly 90% of the agricultural sector. He shared that the government is providing Rs.10,000 per farmer in support, expanding mechanization and rental services, and enhancing the Kisan Package 2022.
In the aftermath of the 2025 floods, he revealed that the government is exploring canola oil imports to reduce reliance on palm oil and strengthen resilience.

Moderating the session, Mr. Talha Tufail Bhatti, Assistant Research Officer at IRS, highlighted the concept of Food Sovereignty in Pakistan. The seminar was well attended by diplomats, researchers, journalists, and students, reflecting the growing concern over Pakistan’s food security in the face of climate challenges.

KASHGAR, SEPT 20 /DNA/ – President Asif Ali Zardari visited the Kashgar Free Trade Zone, the only facility of its kind in southern Xinjiang and an important hub for trade and logistics in the region.

The President was received by Mr Yao Ning, CPC Party Secretary of Kashgar, and was briefed on the zone’s growth since its establishment in 2015. Spread over 3.56 square kilometres, the zone brings together bonded warehousing, logistics, processing, customs clearance, and air freight services. It has trade links with 118 countries, with exports ranging from electric vehicles and batteries to solar cells, high-tech goods, and auto parts.

President Zardari was informed that the zone is connected by road, rail and air to both Asia and Europe, with its own international airport. It is linked with Sost port in Gilgit-Baltistan, just 400 kilometres away, and with Gwadar port at a distance of 2,000 kilometres. The zone handles both imports and exports through these routes.

The President also visited stalls and kiosks representing various countries, including Central Asian states, European countries, South Korea, and Japan.

Officials further briefed the President on the digital trade centre established in 2024, now home to more than 5,400 companies, and the cross-border e-commerce exhibition centre showcasing duty-free products from across Central Asia, Europe, and beyond.

President Zardari was also updated on the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” initiative, including an authorised Uzbekistan industrial park that enables warehouse-to-warehouse delivery within 72 hours, and a Kyrgyzstan-backed park under development for automotive assembly and LED production.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, along with the Pakistani Ambassador to China and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, accompanied the President during the visit.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 20 – Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman has revealed that personal data of approximately 300,000 individuals who applied for Hajj has surfaced on the dark web.

The PTA chief made these revelations during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on IT, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, on Friday.

He added that there is a need for a comprehensive inquiry to identify the sources of these leaks. Rehman further said that the PTA had conducted an internal inquiry in 2022, while the Ministry of Interior has now initiated a formal investigation.

During the briefing, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan apprised the committee that data is stolen separately from various institutions, compiled, and subsequently sold, The News reported on Saturday.

The committee’s chairperson shared a personal experience of receiving a fraudulent call regarding a bank transaction and raised concerns about how fraudsters gain access to such sensitive information.

The telecommunication authority’s chairman clarified that during the last two years, no telecom data has appeared on the dark web, but emphasised the urgency of establishing a national-level mechanism for data security.

The Senate committee expressed concern over the delay in introducing legislation to secure personal data.

The Ministry of IT announced that a draft bill had been prepared and consultations with stakeholders were underway.

Senator Afnan Ullah cautioned that failure to enact data protection legislation would expose the country to serious consequences.

During the session, the committee also reviewed the delayed merger of Ufone and Telenor. Officials from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) informed that the merger deal was in its final stages and expected to be completed within two weeks.

They said that the process had already taken 18 months due to delays in the submission of the requisite data. The PTA chief clarified that until the merger is finalised, the auction of spectrum for 5G services cannot be undertaken.

Senator Kamran Murtaza, however, questioned the feasibility of completing the matter within two weeks when it had already been delayed for eighteen months.

Officials from the Ministry of IT briefed the committee that the 5G auction would be held in December. Rehman also said that the authority was fully prepared for the auction, though certain outstanding issues still required resolution.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 20 /DNA/ – The China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised the launch of its latest book titled Pakistan and China: Connecting at People’s Level. The event featured remarks by Ambassador Masood Khalid, Pakistan’s former Ambassador to China; Ambassador Moin-ul-Haque, Pakistan’s former Ambassador Pakistan to China; Dr. Hassan Daud Butt, Senior Associate Professor at Bahria University; Dr. Sundus Mustaqeem, Assistant Professor at NUST; and Ms. Aiza Azam, Lecturer at Air University. Mr. Xu Hangtian, Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China was the guest of honour.

Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, in his welcome remarks, termed Pakistan-China relations as ‘unique in inter-state relations,’ based on mutual respect, strategic mutual trust, and mutual support on each other’s issues of core interests. He highlighted that this all-weather strategic cooperative partnership has endured regional and global changes for more than seven decades, and continues to serve as a positive factor for peace, stability and development in the region and beyond. Ambassador Soahil Mahmood emphasized that the launch of this book is both timely and significant. He stressed that while CPEC and the Belt and Road Initiative have reinforced economic and physical connectivity, the human and cultural connectivity will secure the relationship for the future generations. He pointed out that the book makes a valuable contribution by shedding light on public diplomacy, cultural exchanges, academic linkages, tourism, and soft power, areas that need to be systematically strengthened.

Referring to the recently adopted China-Pakistan Five-Year “Action Plan” (2025–29), Ambassador Soahil Mahmood noted that a full chapter has been devoted to people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. He said this reflects the recognition at the highest levels that sustained friendship rests on social, cultural, and academic linkages. Looking ahead, he proposed that the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations in 2026 should be commemorated through special initiatives in these areas, with wider participation of the youth, students, artists, media professionals, and think-tanks. He also proposed closer collaboration in benefiting from China’s immense expertise in the field of sports as well as in preservation of civilizational and cultural heritage. He concluded by stressing the importance of visa facilitation and enhanced air connectivity to foster deeper P2P links.  

Ambassador Moin-ul-Haq underlined that Pakistan-China relations remain the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He highlighted the deep warmth and respect the Chinese people hold for Pakistan. He identified five priority areas for strengthening people-to-people ties: civilizational connections, cultural exchanges, economic partnerships, technological collaboration, and tourism. He highlighted the role of initiatives such as Gandhara civilization exhibitions and proposed establishment of joint IT parks in every province, as well as group tourism programs. He stressed that the forthcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026 provides an ideal opportunity to launch people-centric initiatives.

Dr. Hassan Daud Butt noted that the book coincides with the second phase of CPEC, characterized by deeper institutional and societal linkages. He underlined that people-to-people interaction forms the backbone of sustainable partnerships and praised the book’s contribution in showcasing cultural, educational, and social dimensions, from student exchanges to maritime tourism. He said the findings align with President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative and called for wider dissemination.

Dr. Sundus Mustaqeem stressed that education, culture, media, and tourism are vital for deeper people-to-people ties and urged Pakistan to strengthen its film and digital media presence. Ms. Aiza Azam highlighted that people-to-people connections span business, cuisine, education, and the arts. She emphasized the value of structured exchanges and academic dialogue in shaping a shared vision.

Ambassador Masood Khalid praised the inclusion of themes such as maritime tourism and the blue economy, noting that Pakistan could generate up to USD 1.5 billion annually from tourism with China’s collaboration. He stressed the importance of expanding sister-city partnerships, cultural exchanges, and think tank cooperation under the new five-year Action plan. He also cautioned that attempts are being made to create misunderstandings in Pakistan-China relations and argued that the best response is to deepen people-to-people linkages.

Mr. Xu Hangtian, echoing President Xi Jinping’s words, emphasized that people are the foundation of history and the future. He cited examples of solidarity between the two nations during COVID-19 and natural disasters, highlighting the resilience of the friendship. He noted rising cultural and educational exchanges, with sister-city linkages growing from 8 to 19 in the last decade and Pakistani student enrollment in China nearly doubling. He also pointed to the 17% rise in Chinese visas for Pakistani businessmen in 2024 and further increases in 2025. Stressing the importance of media, tourism, and youth engagement, he warned against disinformation campaigns and underlined the need for counterterrorism cooperation to unlock the full potential of exchanges. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties under the five-year action plan, including new measures such as expanding direct air links.

Earlier, Dr. Talat Shabbir observed that the book highlights the often-overlooked people-to-people dimension of Pakistan–China relations. By focusing on education, tourism, cultural exchanges, media cooperation, and soft power, it shows how shared human experiences and cultural empathy can sustain the partnership beyond strategic projects like CPEC.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood highlighted the significance of people-to-people contacts in advancing Pakistan–China relations within the framework of public diplomacy. He commended CPSC for producing a timely and well-researched publication that makes a valuable contribution in this important domain.

The event brought together senior diplomats, academics, scholars, and policymakers to reflect on the often-overlooked social and cultural dimensions of Pakistan-China relations.

KASHGAR, SEPT 20 /DNA/ – Yunchun Yang, Owner and CEO of Serene Air, called on President Asif Ali Zardari in Kashgar today and informed him of airline’s future plans for operations in Pakistan.

The President requested that Serene Air should increase the number of aircraft in Serene Air’s fleet to strengthen the airline’s network and connectivity.

Dr Yang, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of California and is founder and president of a listed semiconductor company in China with subsidiaries in Sweden and the USA, assured the President of his commitment to invest further in Serene Air’s operations in Pakistan.

Serene Air is the first Chinese private investment in Pakistan’s aviation sector and the first private Pakistani airline to operate flights to Beijing. Dr Yang also highlighted the company’s collaborative projects with the Pakistan Air Force on JF-17 avionics.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, along with the Pakistani Ambassador to China and the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, were also present at the meeting.