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DEPUTY PM DAR ENGAGES EU LEADERSHIP ON GSP+, TRADE AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Thursday, 20 November, 2025 | 28 Jamadiul Awwal, 1447
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DAR MEETS EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANTONIO COSTA AHEAD OF GSP+ REVIEW, EMPHASIZES TRADE AND ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 134 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
BOTH LEADERS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO MULTILATERALISM, EXPRESSING SATISFACTION OVER POSITIVE TRAJECTORY OF PAKISTAN-EU RELATIONS
FO CALLS VISIT A ‘SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE’ IN PAKISTAN-EU RELATIONS, REAFFIRMING COMMITMENT TO A COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP
Pakistan, Russia FMs express satisfaction over ‘positive trajectory’ of bilateral ties
ISLAMABAD/BRUSSELS Staff RepoRt
EPUTY Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday held high-level talks with European Union Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels ahead of an upcoming GSP+ review, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to deepening trade, economic cooperation, and multilateral engagement with the EU. According to the Foreign Office (FO), during his meeting with Costa, FM Dar “exchanged views on various areas of mutual interest, including GSP+, trade and economic cooperation expansion, and regional and global security developments.” Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and noted with satisfaction the positive trajectory of Pakistan-EU relations, agreeing to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership across multiple domains. Dar also acknowledged and appreciated EU support to Pakistan at both bilateral and multilateral levels. The Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), granted to Pakistan by the EU in 2014,
MOSCOW
Staff RepoRt
had previously led to a 108 percent surge in Pakistani textile exports to European markets due to concessional tariffs. In October 2023, the European Parliament unanimously extended the scheme for another four years until 2027, allowing developing countries, including Pakistan, to benefit from duty-free or minimum-duty access to EU markets.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday held a substantive meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, with both sides expressing deep satisfaction over the “positive trajectory” of Pakistan-Russia ties, reaffirming their commitment to further strengthen cooperation across political, economic and multilateral domains. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government in Moscow, featured a comprehensive review of the entire spectrum of bilateral relations. Senator Dar congratulated his Russian counterpart on the successful convening of the SCO-CHG meeting and noted that the steady progress in Pak-
istan-Russia relations reflected the visionary role of the leadership of both countries as well as the contribution of robust bilateral institutional mechanisms. Both leaders also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and international developments. Taking note of the excellent coordination between Islamabad and Moscow at multilateral platforms—including the United Nations and the SCO—they agreed to deepen that cooperation further in pursuit of shared objectives of regional stability, connectivity and sustainable economic growth. On the sidelines of the SCO-CHG meeting, the deputy prime minister also held a series of bilateral engagements with the prime ministers of Russia, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Qatar and senior leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic.
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PM Shehbaz hails Pakistan’s positive image, peace through hosting int’l cricket events ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the continuous hosting of international cricket events in Pakistan is a clear reflection of the country’s positive image, peace, and stability. The premier made these remarks while hosting a luncheon at the PM House in honour of the cricket teams of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, who are participating in the ongoing Tri-Nation Series. Addressing the gathering, PM Shehbaz Sharif commended the passion, skill, and dedication demonstrated by all three teams, highlighting that the players were representing their respective countries exemplarily on and off the field. He urged the players to continue displaying sportsmanship and mutual respect in their matches, setting a guiding example for the younger generation of cricket enthusiasts. The luncheon was attended by senior officials, including Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi. Diplomats,
including Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear Admiral Fred Seniviratne and Zimbabwean High Commissioner Titus Abu Basutu, were also present. The prime minister lauded PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for successfully conducting all matches of the series with excellent arrangements, effective strategy, and high professional standards. He noted that the ongoing Tri-Nation Series was delivering top-quality cricket, providing fans with an engaging sporting spectacle. PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that cricket would continue to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation among Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, and reiterated the government’s commitment to hosting international
teams in the same spirit in the future.
PM SHEHBAZ MEETS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MINISTER: In a related development, the prime minister also met Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Magsi at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday. Former Senate Chairman and Balochistan Assembly member Sadiq Sanjrani attended the meeting, according to an official PMO release. During the discussion, matters pertaining to the Ministry of Science and Technology were reviewed, and the leaders exchanged views on the broader national landscape, including the current political situation.
Security forces neutralise four terrorists in KP IBOs RAWALPINDI
Staff CoRReSpondent
Four terrorists affiliated with Indian proxy, Fitna alKhawarij, were killed in a series of operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from November 17 to 18, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. An intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted by the security forces in Bajaur district on the reported presence of terrorists. During the conduct of the operation, troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, one militant was killed. Two more terrorists were neutralised in separate IBOs conducted in Spinwam and Zakir Khel areas of KP’s North Waziristan district. In another encounter that took place in Dera Ismail Khan district, security personnel successfully neutralised one more terrorist. “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from Indian sponsored killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in these areas,” the military’s media wing said. “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharji found in the area,” it added. The army vowed to continue a relentless counterterrorism campaign, along with law enforcement agencies, under the vision of “Azm-eIstehkam” at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country. Fresh IBOs were followed by the security forces’ action in the KP province, in which they neutralised 23 Indian-sponsored terrorists in separate engagements from November 16 to 17. Pakistan has faced increased cross-border terrorist incidents since the Taliban regime returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.KP and Balochistan, the two bordering provinces, have borne the brunt of these attacks.
Pakistan urges inclusive UNSC reform, slams G4 for blocking Council’s restructuring UNITED NATIONS Staff RepoRt
Pakistan has urged a comprehensive and inclusive reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), warning that the push by a “select group of countries for permanent seats” is blocking progress toward a more representative and effective Council. Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, emphasized that Security Council reform must serve the interests of all member states rather than “privileging a few.” Speaking during a debate on the restructuring of the 15-member Council, Ambassador Ahmad did not name any country directly but noted that the G4 countries — India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan — were obstructing the reform process. “The inability to reach agreement on reform does not stem from flaws in the process itself, but rather from the position of a few Member States unwilling to accommodate the broader interests and perspectives of the wider UN membership,” he said. “Instead of reform for all, they are seeking privilege for some. That is the biggest roadblock to meaningful reforms.” Full-scale negotiations for Security Council reform began in the General Assembly in February 2009, focusing on five critical areas: membership categories, the use of the veto, regional representation, the size of an expanded Council, and the Council’s working methods and relationship with the General Assembly. Progress toward restructuring remains stalled as the G4 countries continue to demand permanent seats, while the Italy/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group opposes any additional permanent members, arguing that it would create “new centers of privilege.”
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