Latest news with #AhsanIqbal
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Minister, Chinese delegation discuss projects under CPEC Phase-2
ISLAMABAD: A senior Chinese delegation, Thursday, discussed development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-2 with Planning Ministry for preparation of the upcoming 14th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting in next month (July). Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal hosted a senior Chinese delegation in Islamabad for a luncheon meeting aimed at boosting cooperation under the second phase of the CPEC. The Chinese delegation was led by Hu Zhaoming, spokesperson of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) and Director General of its Information and Communication Bureau. He was accompanied by senior officials including Hu Xiaodong, Fan Shilian, and Li Zishuo. Diplomats from the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, including Deputy Chief of Mission Shi Yuanqiang and Attaché Zhang Duo, were also in attendance. During the meeting, Minister Iqbal highlighted the significance of the upcoming JCC meeting and said that it would be a key milestone in CPEC's journey, with preparatory working group sessions already underway to ensure smooth proceedings. He emphasised the need to nurture critical thinking and innovation among Pakistan's youth, drawing parallels with China's success in aligning public confidence with national development goals. He appreciated China's continued support and underlined the importance of people-to-people and media exchanges in deepening bilateral relations. The discussions also featured innovative ideas to bridge cultural and information gaps between the two nations. These included proposals for exchange programmes between journalists and digital content creators, as well as sharing English-dubbed Chinese content on popular OTT platforms to help Pakistani youth better understand Chinese society and CPEC developments. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar, who also attended the meeting, suggested initiating a digital exchange programme specifically for journalists and influencers with strong social media presence from both countries. The goal, he said, is to promote mutual understanding and dispel misconceptions about CPEC through authentic storytelling. Amenah Kamal, Member Development Communica-tion from the Planning Commission, supported the idea and proposed that dubbed content in English and Urdu should be made widely accessible through digital streaming platforms to engage young audiences more effectively. Other senior attendees included Javed Sikandar, Chief Governance at the Planning Commission, Dr Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), and Dr Muzamil Zia, CPEC's Regional Connectivity and Infrastructure Specialist. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen Pakistan-China cooperation through dialogue, creativity, and inclusive public engagement. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Islamabad says will not let militants exploit Iran-Israel conflict to attack Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday that Islamabad would not allow militants based in Iran and Afghanistan to take advantage of Tehran's ongoing conflict with Israel to increase its 'terrorist' attacks in neighboring Pakistan. Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province shares porous borders with Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west. It has experienced a surge in militant attacks by Baloch separatists and other armed groups in recent years, who demand a greater share of Balochistan's mineral resources for locals. Pakistan has remained at odds with both Afghanistan and Iran over instability at its shared, porous borders with the two countries. Islamabad blames Kabul for not taking action against Pakistani Taliban militants who it says regularly launch attacks in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces, allegations that Afghanistan denies. Ties between Islamabad and Tehran have also been strained in the past, with both nations blaming each other for not rooting out militancy in their countries. 'Pakistan leadership has recently had very good, close coordination with both the leadership in Iran and with leadership in Afghanistan ensuring that their soil is not used by the terrorist groups to carry out terrorist attacks in the country,' Iqbal told foreign media reporters during a briefing in Islamabad. He added that Pakistani security forces were carrying out operations against militant groups in Balochistan and were confident they could 'control' them. 'They are Indian-sponsored terrorist groups and they have already taken a hit with the defeat of India in the limited war we had and won't get any space now [in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict],' the minister said. Iqbal was referring to Pakistan's days-long military confrontation with India last month in which both countries targeted each other with artillery fire, missiles, fighter jets and drone strikes before Washington brokered a ceasefire on May 10. Regional tensions have flared once again after Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities and military leadership last Friday. The two countries have traded missiles since then, with world leaders calling for dialogue and restraint. The minister hoped Irani forces would not allow militants based in their country to carry out attacks against Pakistan. 'We hope and are confident that the leadership in Iran will also exercise its full jurisdiction to make sure that no groups use the territory of Iran to carry out any terrorist action in Pakistan,' he said. He called on the international community, especially the G7 countries, to intervene and stop Iran's conflict with Israel from escalating further. 'This can have very serious consequences because this region supplies energy to the global economy and if there is any disruption in the supply of energy through escalation in this conflict, it will not just affect Iran, it will not just affect Israel, it will affect the entire world,' Iqbal warned. CPEC WORK TO CONTINUE Iqbal said the Israel-Iran conflict will not affect the pace of development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion infrastructure network between Pakistan and China, as the military confrontation was not taking place in Pakistan. China has invested $65 billion in CPEC, its flagship project which is part of its Belt and Road Initiative, to build roads, railways, pipelines, and ports connecting China to the Arabian Sea. A key project is the deep-sea port at Gwadar in Balochistan, a province that faces a long-running separatist insurgency. 'So, our work in Pakistan will continue and CPEC will move forward as we are hoping and anticipating by the end of July, the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting will take place for CPEC,' Iqbal said, adding that by then the roadmap for the project's phase 2 will be approved. Ethnic Baloch separatist groups, most prominent among them the Baloch Liberation Army, have targeted Chinese interests in Balochistan in recent years. This has led to China expressing concerns over the safety of its nationals in Pakistan. Iqbal said Beijing has expressed satisfaction over the improving security situation in Pakistan. 'Chinese are very convinced that Pakistan is fully committed to improving the security situation in the country and in the coming months and years, we will have greater cooperation because Pakistan has worked very hard to counter these elements who have been involved in actions against Chinese,' the minister said.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan, UAE ink agreement to share knowledge and expertise in various sectors
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday signed an agreement to share knowledge and expertise in diverse fields such as public sector reforms, science and technology, urban planning and human resource development, state-run media said. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries as a high-level UAE delegation, led by Deputy Minister For Competitiveness and Knowledge Exchange Abdulla Nasser Lootah, arrived in Pakistan to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation. The UAE is one of Pakistan's most important regional partners, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, defense, energy, and diaspora affairs. Roughly 1.5 million Pakistanis live in the UAE, making it the second-largest overseas Pakistani population after Saudi Arabia. 'Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchanging knowledge and expertise in diverse spheres of development,' state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. The MoU was signed by Pakistan's Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Lootah. The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. 'The fields identified for sharing knowledge and guidance include good governance, development planning, public sector reforms, human resource development, urban planning and science and technology,' the state broadcaster said. Earlier, the UAE delegation met Sharif during which the Pakistani prime minister spoke about steps taken by his government to promote digitization, a paperless economy, a faceless customs system and data-based decision-making in the country. Sharif said Pakistan wanted to benefit from the UAE's experiences to make its initiatives more effective, the state-run media reported. Lootah appreciated the Pakistani community's role in the UAE's development, the state broadcaster said. 'He said the UAE is happy to share knowledge and experiences with Pakistan,' Radio Pakistan said. Bilateral ties between Pakistan and the UAE have deepened in recent years, especially in areas like infrastructure, renewable energy and logistics. In May 2024, the UAE pledged to invest $10 billion in Pakistan's key economic sectors as part of its long-term regional economic strategy. Pakistan needs foreign investment to boost its economy and shore up its currency reserves to meet rising external repayment obligations as it treads a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion IMF bailout deal.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
CDWP approves eight development projects
ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) approved eight development projects at a cost of Rs25.191 billion and recommended a project at cost of Rs10.671 billion to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval. The CDWP met here with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal in the chair. The meeting was attended by Awais Manzur Sumra, Secretary Planning, along with Chief Economist, VC PIDE, other members of the Planning Commission, federal secretaries, heads of Provincial Planning and Development (P&D) boards/ departments, and senior representatives from relevant federal ministries and provincial governments. CDWP approves 15 uplift projects worth Rs422.704 billion The agenda focused on development projects across key sectors, including food and agriculture, higher education, information technology, power, and transport and communications. A project related to food and agriculture presented in the meeting namely, 'Speed Breeding Platform for Development of Climate Smart Hybrids Crops' worth Rs990 million approved by the CDWP. The minister directed that all stakeholders including private sector should be engaged in setting research and seed development agenda at NIAB. 'We need to develop high weather resistant and productivity seeds using hybrid technology,' he said A project related to higher education sector presented in the meeting namely, 'Dr A Q Khan Institute of Materials & Emerging Sciences' worth Rs3,538.364 million was approved by the CDWP forum. Dr AQ Khan Institute of Materials & Emerging Sciences will be established in Quaid-i-Azam University and provide state-of-the-art education and research facilities in material and emerging sciences. University of Cambridge, UK, agreed to provide technical assistance when Minister Planning visited that university last year. A project related to information technology sector presented in the meeting namely, 'Digitalisation of In-House Processes & Automation of Examination System of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC)' worth Rs3047.772 million approved by the forum. The project shall improve the overall governance paradigm of the federal government through speedy recruitment process, provision of quality human resource to the Federal Ministries/ Divisions/ Departments in minimum possible time with ease and transparency. Moreover, the project has been designed keeping in view the vision of the federal government for e-governance under the digitalisation drive. This project also serves the objectives as envisioned in Digital Pakistan Policy & Vision 2025. The project shall enhance the functional capacity of FPSC and modernise its processes through business process reengineering (BPR). The minister emphasised that this step is essential for achieving long-term operational efficiency which will benefit the entire government by cutting delays in recruitment processes and aligns with the broader government's governance reform agenda. A project related to science and technology presented in the meeting namely, 'NILOP - PIEAS Emerging Technologies Centre' worth Rs.3385 million approved by the forum. The minister said it is vital that we develop strong technological capability for meeting challenges of the new digital and industrial revolution 4.0 and 5.0. A project related to Special areas (GB) presented in the meeting namely, '16-MW Hydropower Project Nalter-III Gilgit' was recommended to ECNEC at revised cost of Rs.1,0671.357 million. The scope of work includes construction of a 54-meter-long connecting canal linking the weir to a single-chamber sedimentation basin, which is 84 meters long, 6 meters wide, and 5 meters deep, designed to remove sediment particles larger than 0.2 mm. A gravel trap is provided at the end of the canal. This project will help in addressing energy shortages in GB. Four projects related to transport and communications were approved by the forum during the meeting. The projects named 'Widening/ carpeting of Booni Buzund Torkhow Road in District Chitral Upper- 28Km' worth Rs1,894.148 million, 'Constriction of Black Top Northern Bypass Road Loralai (15.50 Km)' worth Rs3828.165 million, 'Extension of Margalla Highway from GT Road (N-5) to Motorway (M-1); (Punjab Limits), (Length: 2.5 Km)' worth Rs7106.374 million and 'Feasibility Study for Trans Afghan Rail connectivity from Kharlachi (Pakistan) to Mazar-e-Shairf (Afghanistan) via Logar (677 Kms Approx.)' worth Rs1401.400 million, which is part of multi-modal regional connectivity framework under URAAN Pakistan initiative were presented. The forum also cleared the concept paper related to the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training titled, 'Action to Strengthen Performance for Inclusive and Responsive Education', funded by the World Bank. While reviewing the project, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Ahsan Iqbal, emphasised the need to transform Islamabad's education system into a model for other provinces. He questioned whether the current system in the federal capital is exemplary enough to be replicated nationwide and stressed that educational reforms in Islamabad should serve as a benchmark across the country. Ahsan Iqbal expressed concern that education offices have become centres for issuing transfer orders, rather than hubs of innovation and technological integration. While acknowledging improvements in some urban schools of Islamabad, he pointed out that rural schools in the capital territory remain in poor condition. The minister gave the Ministry of Education a one-month deadline to present a comprehensive roadmap for educational reforms in Islamabad, with the goal of setting an example that can be replicated across all provinces. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
National Open Data Portal launched
LAHORE: The National Center in Big Data and Cloud Computing (NCBC) at LUMS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives (MoPD&SI), hosted the Pakistan Open Data Conference 2025 in Islamabad. The event marked a pivotal moment in the country's digital transformation journey with the official launch of the National Open Data Portal (NODP). This first-of-its-kind portal, developed by NCBC at LUMS, will serve as Pakistan's central platform for public access to government datasets across vital sectors such as health, education, economy, environment, infrastructure, and demographics. The portal is designed to promote transparency, empower researchers and civil society, and enable data-driven policymaking and innovation. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary inaugurated the portal and commended the achievement of the NCBC and the LUMS team in making this national platform a reality. He noted that it was a great privilege to be part of the journey that led to the establishment of NCBC, which he said has played a pivotal role in building local capacity in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. He stated that 'Pakistan's development narrative will now be written in code and understood through data,' adding that leveraging digital tools is no longer optional but an urgent national priority. He emphasized that the launch of the National Open Data Portal marks another major milestone, one that will empower policymakers, researchers, and the public by providing access to valuable, structured datasets across key sectors supporting better decision-making, innovation, and transparency for a stronger, more data-informed Pakistan. Ahsan Iqbal concluded with a powerful message: 'In a rapidly digitizing world, it is no longer enough to make declarations – we must deliver results. Let us unite – government, academia, industry, and our youth – to build a data-smart, cloud-enabled, globally competitive Pakistan. The launch of the National Open Data Portal is not the conclusion – it is the beginning of a new era'. Dr Naveed Arshad, Director of NCBC at LUMS, welcomed participants by highlighting the strategic importance of open data in enabling a digitally empowered Pakistan. He remarked that 'data is the new oil but unlike oil, the more we share it, the more value we unlock.' He added that the launch of the Open Data Portal is a critical investment in transparency, knowledge-sharing, and innovation for Pakistan's digital future. Reflecting on the establishment of NCBC at LUMS in 2018, made possible through the generous support of the Government of Pakistan, he shared that working alongside 12 partner institutions across the country has been a journey of collective growth and technical excellence. He acknowledged the dedication of all contributors to the effort, emphasizing that their commitment deserves the highest appreciation and recognition. The conference brought together senior stakeholders from government, academia, development partners, and the tech industry for strategic discussions on the role of open data in advancing inclusive development. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
