Foreign minister also exchanges views with counterparts from Iran, Uzbekistan and Belarus on sidelines of CFM meeting

DNA

BEIJING: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Chinese President Xi Jinping as he represented Pakistan at the joint call of the Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States in Beijing on Tuesday.

“Delighted to meet earlier today with President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Conveyed the warm greetings of the leadership, government and people of Pakistan,” FM Dar said in a post on X.

“As iron-clad brothers and All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners, we remain committed to deepening Pakistan-China enduring friendship and advancing shared regional goals,” he added.

The high-level interaction comes as the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) is convening in Beijing with representatives from Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in attendance.

The CFM is the third-highest forum in the SCO format. It focuses on the issues of international relations, as well as foreign and security policies.

The forum also approves the documents, including declarations and statements, etc, that are to be presented for the consideration of the Council of Heads of State as well as the decisions to be adopted by the CHS.

Meanwhile, the Chinese president, welcoming the heads of delegations, underlined the salience of regional cooperation under the ambit of SCO, an organisation covering the Eurasian land mass and a large expanse of the world’s population.

Apart from his interaction with President Xi, FM Dar also met Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic, his counterpart from Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the longstanding bilateral relationship and to enhancing collaboration across all areas of mutual interest.

ISLAMABAD, JUL 14: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Yahya Afridi chaired a high-level meeting at the Supreme Court Quetta Registry on Monday, emphasizing the need for strengthened institutional cooperation to improve the delivery of justice, especially in underdeveloped districts of the country.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Balochistan High Court, the Supreme Court Bar Association, and the Pakistan Bar Council. During the session, concerns were raised about the lack of judicial infrastructure in remote and underserved districts, which continues to hamper access to justice for vulnerable communities.

In a major decision aimed at promoting equal access to legal representation, the CJP announced that free legal aid will be provided to poor litigants, with qualified lawyers being compensated by the state up to Rs50,000 for their services.

Justice Yahya Afridi also announced the appointment of Law and Justice Commission representatives in every province, tasked with monitoring development projects in district bar associations and ensuring proper implementation of justice initiatives at the grassroots level.

The meeting further decided to expand the scope of legal assistance to cases at the Supreme Court level. Bar councils were instructed to nominate competent and qualified lawyers for this initiative.

To enhance professional capacity, emphasis was laid on utilizing training opportunities offered by the Federal Judicial Academy. Bar associations across the country were directed to distribute the academy’s training calendar widely to encourage participation among lawyers.

“This is a collective responsibility. All stakeholders must work together to strengthen the justice system,” Chief Justice Afridi said, delivering a strong message of unity and reform to the legal community.

The next high-level meeting will be held in Karachi, where further consultations will take place to address the concerns of bar associations and advance judicial reforms.

TEHRAN: Iranian Interior Minister Abbas Araghchi warmly welcomed Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Tehran on Monday. Araghchi called the visit a “positive step” towards stronger relations between the neighboring countries.

Both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on border security, regional stability, and pilgrim movement, aiming for long-term peace and partnership.

In their high-level talks, the two ministers discussed key issues, including the ease of trade, safe and smooth pilgrim travel, and solutions to border management problems.

Araghchi expressed hope that this visit would open a new chapter in bilateral ties. He highlighted the need for practical solutions to long-standing challenges affecting people on both sides of the border.

Naqvi, in turn, stressed the importance of the upcoming trilateral conference between Pakistan, Iran, and Iraq. The conference will address major concerns related to pilgrim safety, visa issues, and border crossings—especially ahead of large religious gatherings.

He said he hoped it would lead to better travel experiences for thousands of Zaireen (pilgrims) who travel between the countries every year.

MURREE, JUL 14 /DNA/ – In connection with World Population Day, Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA), in collaboration with the Family Health Clinic, THQ Murree, organized a workshop emphasizing the urgent need to end child marriage in order to empower youth to make informed decisions about their future, including when to start a family and how to determine family size.

A significant number of Lady Health Supervisors, THQ staff, and Lady Health Workers affiliated with various Basic Health Units across the district attended the workshop. The session stressed the importance of empowering both girls and boys through access to education and opportunities for meaningful employment.

World Population Day is observed annually on 11 July to raise awareness about population-related issues. The workshop was part of the 3-Year project “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality,” supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad. PODA is implement this project in 41 districts of Punjab.

Representing PODA, Nabeela Aslam emphasized the need to advocate for a uniform minimum legal age of marriage for girls across the country, similar to the recent legal reform implemented in the Islamabad Capital Territory. She explained that raising the legal age helps ensure girls can complete their education and acquire skills for a dignified life. She highlighted the contradiction that, while women are central to bringing future generations into the world, they are frequently denied access to accurate information and essential services related to their sexual and reproductive health.

She also stressed the importance of better menstrual hygiene management, hydration, and personal cleanliness during menstruation to prevent serious health issues such as urinary tract infections. During the workshop, it was found that the hemoglobin levels of participants varied significantly—eight to ten had levels below 9, around ten had levels above 10, and a few had levels above 12. These findings highlighted and emphasized the need for participants to prioritize their own health.

The participants discussed how many women and girls lack access to the knowledge and resources needed to protect their reproductive health, including basic menstrual hygiene. In some cases, girls stop drinking water during school or work hours to avoid using unhygienic toilets, leading to dehydration and an increased risk of urinary tract infections. If left untreated, these infections can result in serious health complications.

Dr. Maryam Ali, Incharge of the Family Health Clinic, Murree highlighted the importance of equipping the younger generation with knowledge, resources, and opportunities to lead informed and practical lives. She noted that girls who marry early face higher risks of early pregnancies, complications such as obstetric fistulas, and elevated maternal and neonatal mortality.

The participants collectively expressed the view that Pakistan can only achieve sustainable progress through an empowered younger generation. However, they noted with concern that access to essential services and opportunities is rapidly shrinking due to the country’s high population growth rate. If current trends continue, Pakistan is expected to become the fourth most populous country in the world by 2030.

The workshop also addressed the impact of internal migration on local social dynamics. Participants shared that migration from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Murree has brought in communities with more conservative views, where child marriage is more common. Among the 30 participants, seven to eight reported knowing underage girls who had been married in their communities. Poverty was identified as one of the key drivers of this practice.

All participants agreed that poverty, limited access to education, and gender inequality remain major contributors to child marriage in Pakistan. The burden falls disproportionately on girls, who are often denied education, economic opportunities, and the ability to make autonomous decisions about their lives.

To strengthen future collaboration on these critical issues, a letter of coordination between PODA and THQ Murree was signed, marking a step forward in promoting the health and well-being of women and girls in the Murree district.

Following the workshop, the participants held a brief awareness walk at GPO Chowk, Murree to engage the public and highlight the harmful impact of child marriage on girls’ health, education, and overall well-being. The walk also aimed to advocate for balanced families in accordance with available resources, emphasizing the importance of planning and informed decision-making for a healthier and more sustainable future.