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Both countries agree to form working groups to enhance cooperation in diverse fields ISLAMABAD
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AhmAd AhmAdAni
akistan and Russia have reached an agreement to establish working groups to enhance cooperation in a number of fields including oil and gas. the significant decision happened on the second day of talks at the eighth Pakistan-Russia intergovernmental Commission (iGC) session in islamabad. the three-day meeting is a culmination of efforts between the two countries to establish relations regarding energy which began with a visit to Russia by petroleum minister Musadiq Malik. at thursday’s meeting, an agreement was reached to form working groups to look into ways and means of exploring new opportunities for strengthening the bilateral relations. Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation nikolay shulginov and Minister for Economic affairs sardar ayaz sadiq led their respective sides on thursday and they both will announce major decisions of the commission (iGC) on Friday, said sources. they added that signing of agreements in different fields will take place on Friday which will strengthen the bilateral relations of the two countries. “On second day of the Pak-Russia iGC, the delegation-level talks focused on energy, oil and gas, agriculture, customs, trade, investment, industry, education and science and technology sectors while both sides also discussed cooperation in communications, postal services and railway sectors and reiterated the desire to advance cooperation in the energy sector,” said sources. they added that Russia expressed willingness to provide training to Pakistani manpower while detailed discussions were also held on the construction of
karachi to Lahore gas pipeline, gas transit route etc. and the Russian side also offered that Pakistan can take benefit from their experience in science and technology and research fields. “the Russian delegation also stressed the need that Pakistan should accelerate its efforts in research and science and technology sectors,” said the sources. as per sources, the Russian side observed that the energy sector was the main focus because its Energy Minister nikolai shulginov was himself leading the negotiations and the two sides decided to move forward together in the field of energy, and Pakistan would get the benefit of Russian expertise in the oil and gas sector. though Russia is not part of the turkmenistan-Pakistan-afghanistan and india (taPi) gas pipeline projects, however, Russian
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Energy Minister nikolai shulginov on thursday hinted that Russia can consider participation in the taPi gas line project. it is also learnt from sources that on the last day of 8th Pak-Russia iGC meeting, there would be a main discussion on the implementation of the gas pipeline construction project titled “the Pakistan stream Gas Pipeline (PsGP),” oil and petroleum products delivery to Pakistan, Russian-Pakistani financial cooperation, implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the seventh meeting of the commission, besides cooperation in different sectors, before signing of the final protocol. as per details available with Profit on Pakistan-Russia bilateral trade relations, the total bilateral trade between Pakistan and Russia stood at UsD 581.7 million (Exports: UsD 124.4 million & imports: UsD 457.3 million) in the year 2021-22.
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India attaches strings to Pakistan’s talks offer, again ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt
Responding to islamabad’s desire to normalise bilateral ties with its nuclear-armed neighbouring country, india has yet again set a condition before resuming talks with Pakistan. “india reiterated its position on relations with Pakistan and said that a ‘conducive atmosphere free of terror’ is needed for talks,” state-run ani quoted the indian foreign ministry’s spokesperson as saying on thursday. Replying to a question during a press briefing arindam Bagchi, the indian foreign ministry’s spokesperson, said: “We have already said that we have always wanted normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan.” He added, “But there should be a conducive atmosphere which does not have terror, hostility or violence. that remains our position.” the comments came four days after Prime Minister shehbaz sharif, during an interview with al arabiya news channel, asked his indian counterpart narendra Modi to hold “serious and sincere talks” — to resolve the burning issues with new Delhi, including indian illegally Occupied Jammu and kashmir (iiOJk). “My message to the indian leadership and Prime Minister narendra Modi is that let us sit down [at] the table and have serious and sincere talks to resolve our burning issues like kashmir,” the premier said. PM shehbaz said that flagrant human rights violations were taking place day in and day out in iiOJk, adding that the neighbouring country had usurped any semblance of autonomy given to kashmiris according to article 370 of the indian Constitution. the autonomy was revoked in august 2019. the premier also said that the minorities in india “are being persecuted”. “this must stop so that message can go around the globe that india is ready to have talks.” PM shehbaz said Pakistan and india “are neighbours and have to live with each other”. the ties between the two nuclear-armed nations halted in 2019 after the Modi administration revoked the special status of iiOJk and has since been continuing its unabated terrorism in the Himalayan valley. islamabad and new Delhi in november 2003 agreed to a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary, but the truce was breached repeatedly after Modi came into power in 2014. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch earlier this week told journalists that Pakistan would welcome United states’ facilitation in the resolution of the Jammu and kashmir dispute. “Regarding the Pakistan–india relations and the facilitation by third parties, including the United states, Pakistan has always said that we would welcome the international community to play their role in promoting peace in the region including in facilitating dialogue and resolution of the core dispute between Pakistan and india i.e. the Jammu and kashmir dispute,” she said.
Imran says jeopardizing elections transparency akin to enmity with country LAHORE StAff RepoRt
Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) Chairman imran khan thursday made it clear that any delay in the elections would not be tolerated come what may, elaborating on that only a caretaker setup comprising well-reputed and able people could perform this important task in a befitting manner. talking to members of Pti Parliamentary Committee, who called on him at Zaman Park in Lahore on thursday, the Pti Chairman said that Pti was nominating personalities of best reputation, ability and impeccable credentials. Pti Central senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry was also present in the meeting. During the meeting, the Pti Chairman vowed that the jeopardizing the transparency of the elections would be tantamount to enmity with the country. in the meeting, they held detailed
consultation on important issues regarding nomination of Caretaker Chief Minister in Punjab. they also discussed names of ahmed nawaz sukhera, former Punjab Chief secretary naveed Cheema and naseer khan for caretaker chief minister in detail. it was said that after the final consultation, Chairman Pti would send two names to the parliamentary committee. the Pti chairman said that the country cannot afford any delay in the elections, adding that holding free, fair and transparent elections was the most serious matter and only the caretaker government with the best reputation and capacity could perform this responsibility in the best possible manner. imran khan said that Pti was nominating people of best repute for the important position. He said that it would be foolishness to allow the group afraid to face the public to do more wrongs.
He said that the constitutional requirement to establish caretaker governments should be fulfilled seriously so as the people could be given the right to make decisions through elections without any further delay. Earlier in the day, Punjab assembly speaker sibtain khan formed a six-member parliamentar y committee for finalising the nomination for the caretaker Punjab chief minister (CM) post. the parliamentary committee was formed in pursuance of letters written to the Punjab assembly speaker by the Opposition Leader Hamza shehbaz and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi. the committee members include Malik ahmed khan, Hassan Murtaza, nadeem kamran, Mian aslam iqbal, Raja Basharat and Makhdoom Hashim Jawab Bakht. the issue of the nomination of the caretaker chief minister of Punjab was referred to the parliamentary committee after the ruling alliance
and opposition failed to finalised caretaker CM Punjab. after dissolution of the Punjab assembly, consultations between the ruling Pti and PML-Q, and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League nawaz (PMLn) are underway for appointment of the caretaker chief minister. Opposition leader Hamza shehbaz has sent names of syed Mohsin Raza naqvi and ahad Raza Cheema to Pun-
jab governor for appointment as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab. the Pti-PMLQ has finalized three names for the caretaker Punjab CM. the names included Cabinet secretar y ahmad nawaz sukhera, former health minister naseer khan and former chief secretar y nasir saeed khosa.
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