

PM URGES PREPARATIONS AS PAKISTAN WILL HOST NEXT SCO SUMMIT
g
TO
S
g PERFORMS GROUNDBREAKING OF TCHOWK FLYOVER, DIRECTS NEW BENCHMARKS FOR WORK, QUALITY AND ADHERENCE TO TIMELINES
g SAYS RAILWAYS AND INTERIOR MINISTRIES WORKING ON A RAIL PROJECT WHICH WILL CONNECT ISLAMABAD, RAWALPINDI

s
R I M E Minister Shehbaz
on Friday announced that Pakistan will host the next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) sum-
Pakistan last hosted the SCO in 2024 for the Council of Heads of Government Summit, where PM Shehbaz called for investing in the region’s collective capacity for connectivity Foundation stone for T-Chowk flyover laid
The ceremony was held to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the T-Chowk flyover, which aims to provide relief to the citizens of Islamabad Rawalpindi and the surrounding area “We have laid the foundation stone of this project which will be a milestone for traffic, the PM said This one-kilometre flyover will give the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi relief ”
Lauding the efforts of the interior minister and CDA who conceived the project the PM congratulated them on the occasion
This development comes less than a fortnight after the SCO Summit in Tianjin China where Pakistan raised the issue of the Indus Waters Treaty and a joint declaration was issued condemning the attacks on the Jaffar Express, Khuzdar and Pahalgam
stating that authorities need to start preparations immediately “We need to build accommodation and beautify Islamabad Tajikistan has already given us saplings as a gift and Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) along with his team has been working day and night to plant them,” Premier Shehbaz Sharif stated Without giving a date for the summit the prime minister declared that the authorities have to start preparing now Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the T-Chowk flyover, PM Shehbaz stated the authorities had to start preparing for the incoming dignitaries The prime minister lauded Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Chairman CDA, and their teams for initiating such a vital public interest project
This will serve the public interest greatly, he said We need to set new benchmarks for work, quality and adherence to timelines There must be no compromise on quality ” PM Shehbaz added that the railways and interior ministries are working on a rail project which will connect Islamabad and Rawalpindi “I was informed by Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi that there will be another form of transport to serve the public interest in the form of a rail car which connects Islamabad and Rawalpindi, he stated



R T S
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Barkat Frisian Agro approves investment in poultr y layer farming for supply chain resilience

S teering Committee formulates plan to tackle rising prices and inflation
causes of inflation and submitting actionable recommendations aligned with their respective Terms of Reference (ToRs)
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research will monitor stock levels of essential commodities and provide timely updates to the public via mass media to prevent panic buying Additionally, a digital dashboard will be used to identify disruptions in the supply chain and instances of hoarding and profiteering with data shared with law enforcement agencies for swift action
The Petroleum Division will provide PBS with data on gas consumption to enable more accurate assessments of price pressures Coordinated measures are expected to stabilize prices protect vulnerable groups and curb speculative practices that contribute to inflation
investigating the root
The committee reviewed the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) and examined the trends in key commodities like onions tomatoes rice wheat sugar and edible oil It was noted that sufficient wheat stocks excluding strategic reserves are available Initial damage assessments of rice and sugarcane crops suggest manageable losses The Finance Minister emphasized the importance of monitoring and preventing market speculation to avoid artificial price hikes The committee also discussed preparations for the upcoming sowing season, stressing the need for timely availability of seeds and agricultural inputs The next meeting of the Steering Committee is scheduled for next week to review the progress of the action plan and further ensure price stability

Speaking on the occasion Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the project Islamabad expressway was already completed but it was decided that the formal inauguration will be held once the final segment (T-Chowk Flyover) was done He commended the Capital Development Authority (CDA), NESPAK, and other relevant stakeholders for de-
signing the T-Chowk
The flyover project to be completed at a cost of Rs1,495 million in a duration of 150 days and is expected to be completed by February 9, 2026
According to officials the project is being constructed on existing available land with no need for land acquisition and is financed through self-financing by the CDA
Earlier officials briefed the prime minister


COMMENT
Climate contingency planning
PM’s direc tive for climate mitigation plan not able to do much
o

NM
and Council of islamic ideology exist precisely for this purpose even more decisive was the Paigham-e-Pakistan fatwa of 2018, endorsed by 1,800 scholars from across sects which branded terrorism and suicide bombings as fasād-fil-ardh (mischief in the land) so when Kifayatullah claims he is calling for sharia the question arises: which sharia? it is not the islamic framework of Pakistan, but the distorted creed of the tehrik taliban Pakistan the same Khawarij who murdered children in APs Peshawar bombed mosques and tore through jirgas to declare such men martyrs is not a slip of the tongue it is treachery in islam, shahadat (Martyrdom) belongs only to those who defend life, faith, and homeland it cannot be granted to those who
story of betrayal is not his alone the Pashtun National Jirga (PNJ) exposed its own duplicity by giving Kifayatullah a stage When outrage followed PNJ spokesman Barkat Afridi dismissed the remarks as personal opinion such excuses fool no one inviting a man who celebrates


History belongs to those who hold power because it is power that determines who is remembered and who is forgotten in the global order not all nations are equal and some are never meant to be Africa rich in history, resilience, and potential, has been deliberately kept at the margins of strategic power Not because it lacks the capacity to rise, but because its rise threatens the very foundations of global dominance Why has an entire continent been excluded from nuclear power while others remain heavily armed?
Because a strong Africa challenges the existing order it disrupts the carefully maintained balance that keeps it dependent it demands a seat at the table, not as a subject, but as a sovereign power And for those who have long benefited from Africa’s weakness, that is the real threat to fully understand this exclusion we must look beyond surface-level nuclear capability it isn t merely a question of scientific advancement or technological progress instead it is rooted in a deeper, more complex story, one shaped by the legacies of colonialism, the manoeuvres of great power politics, and a racialized global order that continues to benefit from Africa’s resources while turning a blind eye to its rightful place on the global stage Although Africa s resources have powered nuclear ambitions elsewhere African voices remain excluded from the strategic decisions that shape the world s future this silence isn t incidental– it is deliberate, and it is time we ask why the truth is, Africa didn’t simply step away from the nuclear path; it was pushed away the decision to remain nuclear-free often viewed as a moral stance was influenced by intense pressure from powerful countries with significant stakes When African nations signed the treaty of Pelindaba in 1996, guaranteeing never to build nuclear weapons, the world applauded But behind the applause was relief from former colonial powers and global giants who worried about what a nuclear-armed Africa could mean for their interests After all a continent with its own nuclear deterrent wouldn t be as easy to influence exploit or ignore instead of supporting Africa s right to develop strategic capabilities, a major power pushed for disarmament in Africa they called it peacebuilding
pawns of hostile intelligence services, and enemies of islam their crimes are countless more Pashtuns killed than any other group villages reduced to rubble and progress repeatedly sabotaged islam itself rejects them the Paigham-e-Pakistan fatwa declared their ideology a Khawarij-style rebellion, forbidden by consensus of the ulema yet PNJ, PtM, and Mufti Kifayatullah give these butchers legitimacy by laundering their message in the language of rights and religion such rhetoric thrives on manipulating genuine grievances By invoking religion and nationalism, extremists pretend to champion justice while destroying the very people they claim to protect the record is undeniable: wherever their ideology took hold devastation followed By contrast Pakistan’s security forces maligned by PtM and PNJ sacrificed thousands of lives in operations like rahe-Nijat Zarb-e-Azb and radd-ul-Fasaad Without those sacrifices, Waziristan would still be a global hub of terror today, schools, hospitals, and markets are reopening, proving who truly defends the Pashtuns the duplicity of PNJ and PtM is impossible to miss they provide platforms to extremists amplify their voices then claim neutrality when held accountable But neutrality in the
But in truth it kept the power balance heavily skewed in their favor African uranium powered their bombs and lit their cities while Africans were told they didn t need such power themselves one can see that they didn t disarm Africa to save it; they disarmed it to dominate it And beneath that domination lies a deeper more insidious force racism Africa’s exclusion from the nuclear world is not just geopolitical; it is racialized the global nuclear order has always been selective about who gets to have power and who doesn t As author and activist Arundhati roy puts it, nuclear weapons have been kept at “the very heart of whiteness” that means decisions about who can build the bomb who

face of terror is not neutrality it is complicity the Paigham-e-Pakistan fatwa leaves no ambiguity: offering space or justification to terrorists itself constitutes fasād-fil-ardh By this measure PNJ and PtM are guilty of enabling what they claim to oppose the choice for Pashtuns could not be clearer either follow leaders who glorify killers and lead their communities back into bloodshed or stand with those who build schools roads and hospitals on the ashes of war true dignity for Pashtuns lies in peace education and development under Pakistan s Constitution not in recycled rhetoric from PNJ, PtM, or Kifayatullah to defend terrorists is to betray Pashtuns to call them martyrs is to desecrate islam the martyrs of Pakistan the soldiers who fell in battle the policemen gunned down on duty the children murdered in APs are the ones whose memory demands respect their sacrifice is the foundation of today s fragile peace the lesson is sharp: terrorism cannot be repackaged as religion, and extremists cannot be recast as protectors of Pashtuns those who try are not defenders but destroyers the future of Pashtuns will be secured not by Kifayatullah s slogans or PNJ and PtM s duplicity but by stability, justice, and the sacrifices that rid their homeland of terror
The writer is a freelance columnist

True Islamic priorities
The decline of International Law


Tof
but
ture
of
That is not
that
preemption by
If this type of
becomes the accepted
then any nation may soon feel free to claim its neighbour harbours threats and send missiles across borders The world would quickly resemble a lawless chessboard with sovereignty little more than a rhetorical shield For smaller states, this erosion is not a
fear Qatar, a Gulf nation more often associated with mediation and diplomacy than war suddenly found itself bombed in its
brows across the region: if a state that has hosted peace talks and invested in international cooperation can be hit so brazenly, then no one is safe
Years of conflict have already devas-
across the Middle East that international law is not a universal shield but a political tool, invoked when convenient and ignored when awkward That perception alone is corrosive The moment ordinary people stop believing that law has meaning the moment governments conclude that force will face no real consequence is the moment the system collapses Yet international law
b o dy c a r e s fo r i n t e r n a t i o n a l l aw.


T h e s i t u a t i o n c a l l s fo r a n i m m e d i a t e s o l u t i o n C h i n e s e
P r e s i d e n t X i J i n p i n g h a s r e c e n t ly f l o a t e d a n i d e a o f
G l o b a l G ov e r n a n c e I n i t i a t i v e ( G G I ) w h i ch c a l l s fo r a n
a l t e r n a t i v e p l a t fo r m fo r c o n f l i c t r
o n I
S
l
t o e n fo rc e i n t e r n a t i o n a l l aw, X i Ês i d e a o f G G I c a n a t t r a c t w e a k e r n a t i o n s t ow a rd s a n a l t e r n a t i v e p l a t fo r m
in
job alone; larger powers must decide whether the rules that protect them in some situations are worth upholding in all Civil society too has a role in demanding consistency from governments and pressing international institutions to respond not only with words but with mechanisms of accountability The future of international law in the Middle East is currently in jeopardy Treating Israeli strikes as aberrations condemning them and correcting them can still salvage the principle of sovereignty Should these strikes quietly become part of state practice, history will recall them as the times when the world abandoned the principles of restraint Already powerful nations elsewhere are watching calculating how far they too might go without repercussions What is at stake is not just the Middle East but the future of the entire international order Israel’s repeated incursions are more than military operations These incursions serve as
After Doha attack, US protection is gone. Arab states must stand up to Israel
Z i o n i s t w r i t e
Toppling of Nepal gov t after violent protests


and the UN, EU and Arab League denounced the attack as a threat to regional stability The deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s maxim stands vindicated: “Those who are covered by America are left naked ” Trump returned to Washington rich from Gulf rulers tributes but the plunder bought no restraint The genocide in Gaza only deepened Starvation is now rampant In the West Bank settlers torched villages under army protection Soldiers stormed Jenin, Nablus and Hebron with impunity Israel pockets Arab money with one hand and burns Arab soil with the other Plunder their wealth unleash the warplanesthat is the new order
NEGOTIATORS BOMBED: The irony cuts deeper still The men bombed in Doha were not fighters but negotiators - delegates present because Washington asked Qatar to host them Just as Qatar once hosted the Taliban at America’s request, it hosted Hamas leaders so dialogue could continue And still Israel bombed its capital under American cover If Qatar with its bases its tributes its gifts is not immune who is? And when the assassination attempt failed America wasted no time in stepping back, washing its hands and leaving Israel to bear the burden alone
The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations bluntly declared: “Sometimes we inform the American administration and sometimes we do not But in the end we alone bear the responsibility for this operation Thus Washington reaps the benefits when Israel succeeds, and disowns the failures when Israel falters The wolf and its handler know their roles well As US special envoy Tom Barrack once admitted: for Israel, “the Sykes-Picot lines are meaningless They will go where they want when they want and do what they want ”
BLUEPRINT REVEALED: This doctrine of impunity is not improvised but follows the blueprint of the 1982 Yinon Plan Published by Oded Yinon in the journal Kivunim and translated by late Israeli professor Israel Shahak, the plan called for the fragmentation of Arab states into sectarian enclaves: Iraq splintered into Sunni Shia and Kurdish entities; Syria divided into Alawite Druze and Sunni fiefdoms; Egypt weakened to the point where the Sinai could be reoccupied; Palestinians transferred across the Jordan River The same vision resurfaces in today s Israeli discourse In one interview, Israeli politician Avi Lipkin, founder of the Judeo-Christian Bible Bloc party, predicts that Israel’s borders will extend “from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia which he called the Great Desert and from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates He adds: And who s on the other side of the Euphrates? The Kurds, and the Kurds are friends So, we have the Mediterranean behind us and the Kurds in front of us Lebanon, which really needs the umbrella of protection of Israel and then we’re going to take I believe we’re going to take Mecca Medina and Mount Sinai and purify those places Zionist writers openly fantasise about Israel s borders stretching to Mecca
and Medina and books like Return to Mecca lay out biblical blueprints for conquest The ultimate goal was always clear: to dissolve Arab power into fragments so Israel could reign supreme Look around: Syria reduced to shards, Iraq carved up, Yemen shattered, Gaza besieged, Lebanon bleeding The Yinon map has become our present ARAB COMPLICITY: Arab regimes bear heavy responsibility for enabling this expansionist supremacist project Decade after decade they signed away dignity under the illusion that appeasement would bring security: Camp David, Oslo Accords, Wadi Araba, and the Abraham Accords Each time, they thought they could buy protection by becoming Washington’s favourite or Israel’s “partner” Each time Israel pocketed the concessions and came back for more Egypt is the clearest example: while its officials issue rhetorical condemnations of genocide in Gaza its trade with Israel soars Egyptian exports to Israel doubled in 2024, rising another 50 percent in the first half of 2025, and Cairo is negotiating a $35bn gas deal with Israel - the largest in its history - even as Norway’s sovereign wealth fund divests from Israeli companies over war crimes Worse still Netanyahu now uses these deals as leverage against Egypt halting them to extract political concessions And beyond trade, Arab regimes enable Israel with their skies When war broke out in Ukraine, the Europeans closed their airspace to every Russian plane - civilian, commercial private The Americans did the same Russia retaliated in kind No one cut off diplomatic relations but the skies were sealed Yet Arab and Muslim rulers have not dared to take even this minimal step Israeli commercial flights still cross Saudi, Omani and Jordanian airspace, shortening


Utah man suspec ted in Charlie Kirk murder taken into custody
of interest Investigators spoke to Robinson s roommate who showed them comments Robinson had made on Discord, a chat and streaming platform popular with gamers, discussing retrieving a rifle from a drop point and then leaving the rifle in a bush wrapped in a towel This matched the description of the gun that authorities recovered after the shooting in a wooded area near campus Ammunition found at the scene had been inscribed, Cox said The messages on the casing included: “What’s this”; “Oh Bella Ciao Bella Ciao Bella Ciao Ciao ; If you read this you are gay LMAO and Hey fascist catch! Cox told reporters Trump earlier said that authorities had captured the suspect “I think, with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody ” Trump said on Fox News programme Fox and Friends Everybody did a great job; we worked with the local police the governor The president claimed that the suspect was turned in by somebody very close to him”, noting that the authorities
had “very good pictures but not great, not perfect” “Somebody very close to him said ‘Oh it’s him’ ” Trump said “Essentially they went to a US marshal and the person involved was involved with law enforcement and a person of faith The father convinced the son, This is it Additionally, Trump backed a call by Cox to give the suspect the death penalty if the suspect is found guilty “This trial will start in two three [or] four years In certain places that do it differently they have what s called quick trial You have a fast trial and fast verdict, the president said “If he’s guilty, we’ll need to keep him feed him take care of him like for 50 years ” Trump added “In Utah you have the death penalty The governor is very intent on the death penalty in this case, and he should be The father-of-two used his audiences on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to build support for anti-immigration policies outspoken Christianity and gun ownership and to spread carefully edited clips of his interactions during debates at his many college events according to AFP Kirk, a well-connected activist, author and podcast host, helped build support for Trump and the Republican Party
among younger voters Kirk was the co-founder and president of the conservative student group Turning Point USA and appeared at Utah Valley on Wednesday as part of a planned 15-event American Comeback Tour of US college campuses His killing stirred outrage and denunciations of political violence from Democrats, Republicans and foreign governments Kirk had 5 2 million followers on X and hosted a popular podcast and radio programme The Charlie Kirk Show Additionally, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau warned on Thursday that Washington may take action against foreigners “praising rationalising or making light” of Kirk’s killing adding he had directed consular officials to take appropriate action In light of yesterday s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country ” Landau said in a post on social media platform X I
Chinese vice premier to hold talks with US delegation in Spain next week
sues, the meeting indicates their communication mechanism is becoming routine – a strong and important signal not only to the two major trading partners but also to the world that needs greater predictability and certainty said Li Yong The upcoming meeting in Madrid came just a month after China and the US released a joint statement following their economic and trade meeting in Stockholm on August 12, which said the US will extend the tariff suspension on China for another 90 days and China likewise will continue to suspend its earlier tariff hike on US goods for 90 days
The pause is the latest development in trade relations between the world s two largest economies following their trade talks in Geneva, London and Stockholm
The announcement has gained wide attention, with experts noting that the 90-day extension indicates that the economic and trade relationship between the two countries is moving toward a “phased easing ”
munist Party of China Central Committee, held a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
On Tuesday Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a video talk with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The intensive meetings between high-level officials of the two countries underscores the importance that both sides take on their relationships, He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told Global Times on Friday

the relations of the world s two major economies, one thing is certain both sides have been steadily carrying out the spirit of their leaders’ phone calls and this ongoing progress is very important ” Li Yong a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade told media on Friday
The planned Madrid talks show that while the two sides have yet to reach a consensus on certain trade is-
There have been intensive meetings between Chinese and US officials recently Li Chenggang, China international trade representative with the MOFCOM, visited the US and held talks with US officials and business representatives from August 27 to 29 local time according to the MOFCOM
On Wednesday Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Com-
Economically the US remained China’s third-largest trade partner in the first eight months though bilateral trade declined by 13 5 percent during the period accounting for 9 2-percent of the total in value according to the latest data from the General Administration of Customs However, there is still more to be done, experts said To reach an agreement with China, the US side needs to show sincerity He Weiwen said noting that the US currently continues to follow a policy of unilateral action toward China If it persists in such unilateralism and bullying undermining the WTO rules reaching an agreement with China could be very difficult, Chinese experts noted
“It is important for the US to return to the path of multilateral rules uphold mutual respect and work on resolving bilateral issues by meeting China halfway ” He Weiwen said
BY DAVRONBEK MAKSUDOV
adoption of the Bukhara Declaration, which supplemented earlier declarations adopted in Marrakesh Mecca Jakarta Potomac and Punta del Este This document became an important contribution of Uzbekistan to strengthening the ideas of religious tolerance and interethnic harmony at the international level It is important that this dialogue has become a regular tradition: on 10-13 September of this year the second international forum Dialogue of Declarations is taking place in Tashkent and Samarkand This forum represents an integral part of the international community s efforts to ensure freedom of religion and to strengthen interfaith dialogue, as well as a demonstration of Uzbekistan’s readiness to actively promote at the global level its firm adherence to international obligations in the field of human rights and freedoms It should be emphasized that while in many parts of the world fundamental rights to




CM MARYAM VISITS FLOOD-HIT LIAQUATPUR, OVERSEES RESCUE AND RELIEF OPERATIONS









TThe Armed Forces of Pakistan on Thursday solemnly observed the 60th martyrdom anniversary of Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider paying glowing tribute to his unparalleled bravery and sacrifice during the 1965 War Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff; General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, NI, NI (M), Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee; Admiral Naveed Ashraf NI NI (M) Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu NI (M) HJ Chief of Air Staff joined in commemorating the day on behalf of the armed forces, said an ISPR statement Major Bhatti, who embraced martyrdom while defending the Burki sector near Lahore, held his position for five days and nights against repeated enemy assaults His steadfast resolve and inspirational leadership halted the enemy advance making his sacrifice one of the defining moments of the war and a timeless symbol of courage and patriotism His selfless leadership and devotion to duty serve as a beacon of inspiration for our future generations, the ISPR said, adding that the armed forces and the nation remain forever indebted to his sacrifice Reaffirming their resolve the armed forces vowed to defend the country with the same spirit of courage will and character that Major Bhatti personified Pakistan
Security forces in Pakistan have successfully neutralised four terrorists associated with the Indian-backed group, Fitna al Hindustan, during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Mastung, Balochistan, on Friday
The operation carried out by the Pakistan Army involved a strategic engagement with the terrorists After a fierce exchange of fire, the security forces neutralised the four terrorists, who were reportedly involved in various terrorist activities in the region Weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from their possession
A sanitisation operation is currently underway to clear any remaining threats in the area The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s commitment to eradicating Indian-sponsored terrorism and bringing all perpetrators of such acts to justice
This operation comes amid a growing number of cross-border terrorism incidents, particularly

following the Taliban s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 Pakistan s Balochistan and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa provinces have seen a significant rise in militant attacks
According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) militant incidents increased by 74% in August compared to July 2025, resulting in 194 fatalities In addition, government sources have disclosed that over 8 000 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists categorized as Fitna alKhawarij are operating in Khyber
‘Serial Rapist’ arrested
with many having crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan via porous border routes
The province has been particularly affected, with over 600 terrorism-related incidents reported in the first eight months of 2025 These attacks have resulted in significant civilian casualties including the martyrdom of 138 civilians and injuries to 352 others, along with the loss of 79 police personnel
The security forces have pledged to continue their efforts to combat terrorism and maintain peace in the region

s ta f f r e p o r t
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, on Friday met with Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam to discuss bilateral cooperation on religious affairs the promotion of interfaith harmony and facilitation of pilgrims During the meeting, the Iranian envoy expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property caused by recent rains and floods in Pakistan assuring
that Iran stood shoulder to shoulder with its brotherly neighbor in this time of trial The two sides held wide-ranging discussions on tackling global challenges including religious intolerance terrorism sectarianism, and the need to strengthen interfaith dialogue Sardar Yousaf said Pakistan was taking steps to regularize the travel of pilgrims to Iran and Iraq He announced that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) concerning Pakistani pilgrims and workers traveling to Iran would soon be signed, with the assistance of the Ministries of Religious Affairs, In-
terior, and Overseas Pakistanis
The Iranian ambassador congratulated the minister and the government of Pakistan on hosting the 50th International Seerat-unNabi Conference noting that contemporary issues including the responsible use of social media should be addressed in the light of the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)
He also expressed gratitude to Pakistan s government and people for their support during Israel s recent aggression against Iran, adding that Pakistan s role in combating Islamophobia and terrorism
remained highly significant Sardar Yousaf announced that Pakistan would host international Quran recitation competitions in November this year describing it as another major honor following the International Seerat-unNabi Conference The Iranian envoy welcomed the initiative, calling it a unique recognition for Pakistan Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in facilitating Hajj and Umrah as well as expanding exchanges of scholars and students from religious seminaries to promote modern education and mutual understanding

Pakhtunkhwa