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Monday, 6 October, 2025 | 12 Rabius Sani, 1447
Rs 50.00 | Vol XVI No 89 | 48 Pages | Karachi Edition
PM SHEHBAZ ARRIVES IN MALAYSIA TO DEEPEN BILATERAL ‘ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP’
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THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO KUALA LUMPUR AIMS AT EXPANDING COOPERATION IN IT, HALAL INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, AND DIGITAL ECONOMY
HIGH-LEVEL TALKS TO COVER TRADE, IT, HALAL INDUSTRY, DIGITAL ECONOMY, AND EDUCATION SECTORS
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KUALA LUMPUR
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MALAYSIAN PM ANWAR IBRAHIM WELCOMES PREMIER SHEHBAZ WITH ROYAL PROTOCOL ON ARRIVAL
AGREEMENTS AND MOUS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED IN MULTIPLE AREAS OF COOPERATION
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PAKISTAN EYES GREATER ACCESS TO ASEAN MARKETS, ESPECIALLY HALAL MEAT EXPORTS
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s bilateral trade and investment ties, particularly in emerging sectors such as information technology, the halal industry, and the digital economy, according to state media. According to state broadcaster PTV News, the prime minister was received at Kuala Lumpur’s Banga Raya International Airport with royal protocol by Malaysian Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil, Pakistan’s High Commissioner Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, and other senior officials. He was later escorted to his official residence, where he was welcomed by his Malaysian counterpart, Anwar Ibrahim. “This visit will further strengthen Pakistan–Malaysia bilateral relations,” PTV News quoted the prime minister as saying. “I am extremely delighted to be in Malaysia and express my gratitude to the prime minister for the warm reception.” The visit, part of Islamabad’s broader push for export-led growth, comes as Pakistan seeks to attract new investment and markets to recover from a prolonged economic crisis that had brought it to the brink of default two years ago. In a post on X before his departure,
PM Shehbaz said he looked forward to “a comprehensive exchange of views on our common desire to enhance trade and economic engagement as well as bilateral cooperation in various fields.” He added that global and regional matters of mutual interest would also be discussed. According to the Foreign Office, the prime minister is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, other federal ministers, and senior officials. Talks between the two prime ministers will focus on cooperation in trade, IT and telecommunications, investment, education, energy, infrastructure, halal industry, and
the digital economy. “The leaders are expected to witness the signing of agreements and MoUs for cooperation in several existing and new sectors,” the FO said in a statement, describing the visit as a reflection of the “strong and enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and Malaysia, rooted in mutual respect, shared interests, and close cooperation across a wide range of sectors.” Malaysia is one of Pakistan’s key partners in the ASEAN region and a leading supplier of palm oil to the country. During the visit, both sides are ex-
Pakistan weighs demolition of New York’s Roosevelt Hotel amid IMF-led asset reforms ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK staff report
Pakistan is exploring multiple options for New York’s iconic Roosevelt Hotel — including the possibility of demolishing the century-old building — as part of its broader effort to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions and restructure loss-making state assets, according to state-run Associated Press of Pakistan citing Bloomberg on Sunday. Named after former US president Theodore Roosevelt, the hotel, located in midtown Manhattan, was shut down in 2020 following a sharp decline in revenue during the Covid19 pandemic. The historic 1,000room property, owned by Pakistan
International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL), briefly reopened in 2023 to house migrants before closing again. It remains one of Pakistan’s most valuable foreign holdings, acquired in 2000. Under the $7 billion IMF loan programme, the federal government approved a “transaction structure” for the Roosevelt in July this year. The plan ruled out an outright sale and opted instead for a joint venture (JV) model aimed at maximising long-term value while retaining ownership of the prime Manhattan land. Muhammad Ali, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation, told Bloomberg that one of the proposals under review is to raze the building and construct a skyscraper on the site. “The government is keen on a
joint venture where Pakistan will contribute the land and the partner will bring in the equity,” he said. “The other option is to retain the hotel if it makes economic sense.” Ali said the government expects “clarity in the next few months” after the finalisation of the JV partner and market sounding. He confirmed that the government is also in the process of appointing advisers for the transaction, with bids received from seven groups, including Citigroup Inc., CBRE Group Inc., and Savills PLC. “A new adviser will be finalised later this month,” he said, noting that the project has been dubbed by some as “the new Ellis Island” because of its role in housing migrants during New York’s recent crisis.
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Kh Asif: Indian statements aim to restore lost reputation, warns of strong response ISLAMABAD
staff report
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday dismissed recent remarks by Indian military and political figures as a failed effort to recover what he described as New Delhi’s tarnished reputation, and he warned that Pakistan would respond forcefully to any renewed aggression. Posting on X, Asif criticised unspecified statements from India’s political and military leadership and recalled the four-day escalation between the two countries in May. He
asserted that Pakistan inflicted a decisive setback on India during the confrontation and said, “If they try again, God willing, the score will be much better than the last time.” He added: “This time, God willing, India will get buried under the rubble of its own jets.” The defence minister’s comments followed a terse warning from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), which said provocative remarks by India’s defence and military chiefs risked triggering a confrontation that could cause “cataclysmic devastation.” The ISPR
said Pakistan would “resolutely respond, without any qualms or restraint” if hostilities resumed. Indian officials had in recent days made blunt statements attributing cross-border terrorism to Pakistan and warning of punitive action. Reports in Indian media quoted senior military leaders asserting that India would not exercise restraint if provoked. The Indian air chief, according to those accounts, claimed his forces had downed several Pakistani jets during the May clashes — a claim Islamabad disputes.
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‘Purely exploratory’: Pakistan denies reports it proposed US to build Pasni port ISLAMABAD
Monitoring report
Pakistan on Sunday dismissed reports that it had offered the United States to build and operate a proposed port at Pasni, clarifying that there had been no official communication with Washington and any conversations on the matter were “purely exploratory,” according state-run Pakistan TV citing a senior
security official. The denial came after a Financial Times report earlier this week claimed that advisers to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had approached US officials with a proposal to construct and manage a port on the Arabian Sea. The report said the proposed facility — in the coastal town of Pasni, located in Balochistan’s Gwadar district — would enable American in-
vestors to develop and operate the port to facilitate access to Pakistan’s vast reserves of critical minerals. A senior security official told staterun Pakistan Television (PTV) on Sunday that the report “does not represent any official government or military policy.” “Conversations with private companies were exploratory, not official initiatives,” the official was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity.
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pected to explore new opportunities to boost Pakistan’s exports, especially halal meat, which remains a largely untapped area of bilateral trade. Last month, PM Shehbaz directed his administration to formulate a plan to enhance exports to Malaysia, citing “enormous potential” in the food and agriculture sectors. Pakistan and Malaysia established diplomatic ties in 1957, soon after Malaysia’s independence, and have since cooperated closely in multilateral forums such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Commonwealth. In April, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed that Pakistani investments in Malaysia had reached about $397 million, while in May, Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani highlighted the two countries’ collaboration in combating challenges faced by the Islamic world, including Islamophobia. “The visit underscores Pakistan’s continued commitment to strengthening ties with Malaysia,” the FO statement added. “It also reaffirms the importance both countries place on working together to promote peace, stability, trade and investment, and sustainable development.” Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued separate messages reaffirming the government’s commitment to support the teachers’ community.
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Twin gun attacks targeting cleric, Chief Court judge, spark tension in Gilgit
irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk
GILGIT
staff report
Tension gripped Gilgit on Sunday folloowing two separate gun attacks, targeting cleric Maulana Qazi Nisar Ahmed and Chief Court Judge Malik Inayatur Rehman, left five people injured and triggering a citywide shutdown, the police confrimed. According to Gilgit-Baltistan Interior Minister Shams Lone, unidentified gunmen opened fire near the Police Headquarters, injuring Maulana Qazi Nisar Ahmed — the Ameer of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat — along with his driver and two security guards. All injured were reported to be in stable condition. A second attack occurred near City Hospital, where assailants fired at the vehicle of Chief Court Judge Malik Inayat ur Rehman. The judge escaped unhurt, though his car was struck by multiple bullets. Authorities said the attackers abandoned two vehicles before fleeing. “No one will be allowed to disrupt peace in Gilgit-Baltistan,” said Minister Lone, vowing to bring the culprits to justice. Government spokesperson Faizullah Faraq called the attack on Qazi Nisar a “cowardly attempt to drag the region into chaos,” while Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and Governor Syed Mehdi Shah condemned both incidents as a “conspiracy to destabilise peace.” Following the attacks, markets and transport services were shut as fear and anger spread across the city. Protesters blocked roads, demanding immediate arrests. Intercity travel between Gilgit and Islamabad was suspended amid tight security measures. Residents and youth groups across the region strongly denounced the violence, urging authorities to ensure lasting peace. Social media users also expressed outrage, demanding swift accountability for those involved.