ISLAMABAD, SEPT 14: /DNA/ – Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met today with Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamad Hasan on the sidelines of the Emergency #ArabIslamicSummit preparatory meeting in Doha.

They strongly condemned Israeli strikes on #Qatar and other Muslim nations as gross violations of sovereignty and international law. They reaffirmed unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and emphasized the vital importance of unity across the Muslim Ummah. They welcomed the Arab Islamic Summit as timely and essential for collective action at this critical juncture.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 14: /DNA/ – As part of its nationwide support for flood-affected communities, Serena Hotels has launched a targeted relief initiative under its ‘Jazba-e-Khidmat’ program in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. This humanitarian effort is currently active across six severely impacted districts.

Demonstrating hands-on leadership and solidarity, Serena Hotels’ management and associates personally visited the flood-affected areas in all six districts to distribute essential food ration bags and hygiene kits. Their on-ground presence ensured that support reached 565 directly affected households in 24 remote villages, including Hurchos, Sino, Kayo, Bundo, Doghoro, Karpito Shigrikurd, Fapa Shigrikhurd, Gultari Coloney Burgay, Baragam Sadpara, Olding Koro,Karpito, Kondos Chugozong, Goursa, Haldi, Tali Das, Rawoshan, Thingi, Hakis Bala, Hakis Payean, Khalti, Faizabad Ishokmen, Dain Ishkomen, Chatorkhand and Asumbar.

“Jazba-e-Khidmat is more than just a relief effortit embodies our core values of compassion, service, and solidarity,” said the General Manager North. “At Serena Hotels, we are committed to standing by our communities and helping rebuild lives with dignity, trust and hope.”

The relief efforts is carried out in close coordination with local District Government Authorities, GBNDMA,AKAH and community stakeholders, ensuring timely and effective aid delivery to those most in need.

This initiative reflects Serena Hotels’ enduring commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its broader vision of community development and sustainability. Beyond excellence in hospitality, Serena continues to invest in initiatives that bring lasting, positive change to the regions it serves.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 14: /DNA/ – President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Sardar Tahir Mehmood, has said that in the aftermath of the recent floods, reducing the interest rate is extremely crucial to support the economy and revive business activities. He emphasized that bringing the interest rate down to seven percent would save over Rs. 3 trillion.

He noted that the interest rate has not been reduced for several months, despite the fact that the current situation presents the government with an ideal opportunity to bring it to a single-digit level. According to Sardar Tahir, lowering the interest rate would not only enhance exports but also generate new employment opportunities.

Highlighting the need to reduce production costs to remain competitive in the region, he said that doing business has become increasingly difficult under the current 11 percent markup rate and high input costs.

The ICCI President pointed out that the recent floods have caused massive destruction across the country, particularly in Punjab. He added that 60 percent of the rice crop, 35 percent of the cotton crop, and 30 percent of the sugarcane crop have been destroyed, inflicting severe losses on the economy.

He urged the government to take immediate measures to cut the interest rate in order to support the business community, encourage investment, and put the economy back on the path of growth.

CHENGDU, Sept 14 /DNA/ – On the 128th day since the ceasefire with India, President Asif Ali Zardari, constitutionally the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Pakistan, visited the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), China’s flagship aerospace and defence conglomerate engaged in the design and production of a wide range of military and civilian aircraft.

During the visit, the President toured the sprawling complex in its entirety, which produces the J-10C fighter jet that played a crucial role during the recent conflict. He also met AVIC’s engineers and scientists, listening to their insights on innovation, production and future technologies.

President Zardari was briefed on AVIC’s advanced capabilities, including the J-10 fighter jet, the co-production of the JF-17 Thunder with Pakistan, as well as progress in the J-20 stealth 5th-generation fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, fully automated units, and integrated command-and-control systems for modern multi-domain operations.

The President noted that the J-10 and JF-17 have greatly strengthened the Pakistan Air Force, a fact clearly demonstrated during May 2025’s Ma‘raka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. He lauded AVIC as a symbol of China’s technological advancement and of the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.

President Zardari’s visit also marked a historic first, as no foreign head of state had previously visited the AVIC complex.

The President was accompanied by Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, and China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, who is travelling with the President throughout the visit.

He reaffirmed that the two countries would continue to expand collaboration in defence production and aviation, further deepening their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 14: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Egypt’s Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty on Sunday, where both condemned Israel’s recent strikes on Qatar and voiced unwavering support for Palestine.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Doha on Sunday to attend a ministerial meeting ahead of an emergency Arab-Islamic Summit.

He was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar Muhammad Aamer, Pakistan’s envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and senior Qatari officials.

The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed that Dar would lead Pakistan’s delegation to the preparatory ministerial meeting, which precedes the high-level summit of Arab and Muslim leaders.

Israel’s strikes on Doha
Israel targeted Hamas leaders in strikes on the Qatari capital on Tuesday, killing five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. The attacks sparked international condemnation, including from Gulf monarchies allied with Washington, Israel’s primary backer.

The FO said the emergency summit, co-sponsored by Pakistan, was convened “in the wake of Israel’s airstrikes on Doha and the escalating developments in Palestine — following Israeli attempts to occupy Gaza, expand settlement activities in the West Bank, and forcibly displace Palestinians.”

Meeting with Egyptian counterpart

On the sidelines of the preparatory meeting, Dar held talks with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty.

“They condemned illegal Israeli strikes on Qatar and other Muslim nations, terming them blatant violations of sovereignty and international law,” FO said in a statement. Both leaders stressed the urgent need for unity among the Muslim Ummah while reaffirming their countries’ unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.

High-level Arab-Islamic summit

The summit, taking place under the 57-member OIC umbrella, is drawing heads of state, government leaders, and senior officials from across the Muslim world.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to attend the gathering, along with leaders such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, according to Doha-based Al Jazeera.

Diplomats said more than 50 OIC member states will participate, with discussions likely to touch on Palestinian statehood efforts at the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York.

ISLAMABAD, SEP 14 (DNA) — Thousands of Pakistani students and professionals are set to benefit from a series of landmark agreements signed between Pakistan’s National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and leading Chinese institutions during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China.

NAVTTC has released complete details of the MoUs that were finalized at the second Pakistan–China B2B Investment Conference, aim to modernize Pakistan’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector across multiple disciplines, Gwadar Pro reported on Saturday.

NAVTTC said the MoUs cover engineering, healthcare, agriculture, information technology, and digital skills, and will introduce Chinese curriculum standards, dual diploma programs, and digital education platforms in Pakistan. Training bases, joint colleges, and cultural exchange initiatives will create new opportunities for Pakistan’s youth to access global markets and employment.

Under the agreement with Gansu Vocational College of Nonferrous Metallurgy, Pakistan will host the “Bailie Workshop” Overseas Engineering Technology College, while a China–Pakistan International Education Digital Platform and overseas training base will support student mobility and academic collaboration.

Healthcare education will be strengthened through partnerships with Sichuan Vocational College of Health & Rehabilitation and Pingxiang Health Vocational College, including a “Chinese + Vocational Skills Training Base,” a new international college, and updated curricula in nursing and rehabilitation technology.

Guangzhou Polytechnic University will expand cooperation in software technology with Pakistan’s National University of Technology, while Wuhan Technical College of Communications will provide training for more than 30 Pakistani professionals and host international cultural exchange events.

Agriculture-focused agreements include Jiangxi Agricultural Engineering Vocational College, which will introduce programs in medicinal herb cultivation and herbal education, and Xinjiang Agricultural Vocational & Technical University, which will set up an Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Academy offering veterinary and animal husbandry training. Jiangxi Vocational College of Industry & Engineering will also establish the “BATIE Friendship Language Center” in Pakistan, teaching Chinese language, artificial intelligence, and new energy technology to 200–400 participants annually.

Yunnan Vocational Institute of Energy Technology will help establish the Pakistan Overseas Engineering & Technology University and train 50–100 Pakistani students in China each year, while Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Technicians will create an e-commerce live streaming academy and host the 2026 China E-Commerce Streamer Contest in Pakistan.

NAVTTC said the agreements mark one of the most comprehensive TVET cooperation packages between Pakistan and China, expected to benefit thousands of Pakistanis annually through training programs, academic exchanges, and digital education initiatives. — DNA

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Pakistan’s exports to China grow in August despite overall decline

ISLAMABAD, SEP 14 (DNA) — Pakistan’s exports to China rose 2% in August to $158 million, even as the country’s overall shipments fell sharply and the trade deficit widened, provisional data from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) showed.

In the first two months of the fiscal year (July–August), exports to China climbed 7% to $331 million, making it Pakistan’s third-largest buyer after the United States and the United Kingdom, according to Gwadar Pro on Sunday. Overall exports dropped 12.5% year-on-year to $2.42 billion in August, while imports rose 6.4% to $5.29 billion.

That pushed trade deficit to $2.87 billion, up 30% from a year earlier. For July–August, the deficit widened 29% to $6.01 billion. China also remained Pakistan’s top source of imports, with inbound shipments rising 33% to $2.99 billion in the first two months. Beijing thus remained both Pakistan’s biggest market for growth and its largest supplier of goods.

Despite the downturn, some categories bound for global and Chinese markets showed resilience. Textiles and leather, Pakistan’s mainstay sector, earned $3.39 billion during July–August, up 10% from last year. Bed linen, men’s apparel, cotton yarn and women’s garments led the way, while cement and dates also posted strong growth. Rice exports, however, fell by nearly a third.

Regionally, exports to Asia dropped 11% in the first two months, though China bucked the trend with steady growth. Economists say Beijing’s demand for Pakistani textiles, raw materials and food products is providing a crucial cushion as traditional markets in Europe and America record declines.

“China’s consistent demand has become a vital anchor for Pakistan’s exports,” economist Subhan Ahmad told Gwadar Pro. “As other markets slow, our trade with Beijing is helping sustain industrial activity and providing exporters with a reliable outlet.” — DNA

ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: China has offered support to Pakistan in dealing with flood-hit areas, with Beijing’s top diplomat in Islamabad expressing condolences over the nearly 1,000 people killed during this year’s monsoon season.

“China stands with Pakistan in mitigating the impacts of floods and enhancing resilience to climate challenges,” said Shi Yuanqiang, the Chinese chargé d’affaires, according to a report carried by Gwadar Pro on Saturday.

Since June 26, heavy monsoon rains, cloudbursts and flash floods have killed at least 956 people and injured more than 1,060, according to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).  The disaster has affected more than 5.8 million people nationwide, including 4.2 million in Punjab province.

 Around 2.4 million people have been evacuated, with nearly 94,000 taking shelter in 1,630 relief camps.  Authorities said the rains have damaged 8,481 homes – including 2,216 destroyed – and killed more than 6,500 livestock.

On Friday, Shi led a Chinese Embassy delegation to the National Emergencies Operations Center at NDMA headquarters, where NDMA Chairman Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik briefed him on relief and response efforts.  These included coordination with provincial governments and disaster management authorities, as well as evacuations under the Prime Minister’s Relief Assistance programme.

Officials also highlighted the centre’s disaster early warning systems, risk communication measures, anticipatory actions and simulation exercises aimed at aligning with global best practices. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, SEP 13 (APP/DNA): Pakistan valued its partnership with Africa, a region of immense potential and opportunity and will make further efforts to enhance ties with the continent, Ambassador Hamid Ali Asghar, Additional Foreign Secretary for Africa said at a grand diplomatic reception hosted at his residence here.

He said, “Through the Engage Africa Policy, we are committed to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, education, and technology.”

The dinner brought together the ambassadors of Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia, along with senior civil and military officials, Honorary Consuls, parliamentarians, business leaders, and media professionals.

Notable participants included MNA Isphanyar M. Bhandara, former federal minister Daniyal Aziz, Federal Secretary Joudat Ayaz, former Secretary Arif Azim, former PTV MD Mubasher Tauqir, Shabaz Zaheer, Director PEL, Major General Zia, Adnan Cheema, Parvez Khan, UD Afridi, Tariq Saleem, Senator Walid Iqbal, AJK Minister Faisal Rathor, Honorary Consul General of Ghana Omar Shahid Butt and senior journalist Faisal Zahid Malik and Malik Manzoor Ahmed among others.

The event was hosted in a warm, friendly manner and was a unique diplomatic occasion, symbolizing Pakistan’s deep-rooted relations with Africa and its commitment to building stronger ties of people to people friendship and cooperation around the globe.