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Wednesday, 29 April, 2026 | 11 Dhul-Qadah, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 34 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
PAKISTAN INTENSIFIES DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH, DEEPENS GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT ON PEACE AND TRADE
g PM SHEHBAZ, NEW ZEALAND
COUNTERPART DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST SITUATION, STRESS PEACE EFFORTS IN ‘WARM TELEPHONIC TALK’
g TWO LEADERS REVIEW PAKISTAN’S PEACE
AND DE-ESCALATION EFFORTS, STRESSING DIPLOMACY, DIALOGUE AS ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE CONFLICT
g PM LUXON LAUDS PAKISTAN’S OUTREACH TO WASHINGTON g PM SHEHBAZ INVITES NEW
AND TEHRAN, WITH TWO LEADERS AGREE TO STRENGTHEN PAKISTAN–NEW ZEALAND BILATERAL RELATIONS
ZEALAND COUNTERPART FOR OFFICIAL VISIT TO PAKISTAN
g EU DELEGATION PRAISES PAKISTAN’S FACILITATION OF BUSINESS FORUM AND INVESTMENT CLIMATE
UN chief, Iran envoy laud Pakistan’s diplomatic push as Islamabad emerges key regional facilitator ISLAMABAD
staff report
P
ISLAMABAD
saleem jadoon
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a telephone conversation with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon, during which the two leaders exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Middle East and reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and stability. In what was described as a “warm and
cordial conversation,” the Prime Minister briefed his New Zealand counterpart on Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach and sustained efforts to promote peace and de-escalation in the region, according to a press release issued by the PM Office. Prime Minister Luxon expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic initiatives, including its engagement with both Washington and Tehran, and conveyed his best wishes for the success of ongoing mediation efforts.
Govt expands HIV response as minister flags funding opacity and calls for accountability ISLAMABAD
staff report
Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday revealed that Pakistan currently has 84,000 registered HIV patients, of whom 61,000 are under treatment, with the remaining un-traced, vowing to investigate the alleged irregularities in global funds allocated for HIV programmes to external organisations. Addressing a press conference, the minister said Pakistan had “emerged stronger and more influential globally,” attributing recent diplomatic and strategic gains to the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. He said Pakistan today stood in a markedly improved position compared to two months ago, having effectively responded to national challenges, strengthened its international standing, and contributed to ongoing global peace efforts. Turning to HIV/AIDS, Kamal shared details of the 2024–26 programme, stating that $65 million had been allocated for Pakistan. Of this, only $3.9 million was received by the government, while $61.1 million was channelled to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a private NGO. He noted that while the government maintained full transparency regarding funds directly handled by it, there was limited visibility over the utilisation of funds managed by external organisations, adding that certain NGOs had declined to share detailed expenditure data. Highlighting progress in screening and detection, the minister said that in 2020, 37,944 individuals were tested at 49 centres, identifying 6,910 positive cases. By 2025, the number of testing centres had increased to 97, with 374,126 tests conducted and 14,182 cases detected.
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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam on Tuesday commended Pakistan’s ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability and expressed deep appreciation for Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for his facilitation of talks with the United States, according to the Foreign Office (FO). In a post on X, the FO said that DPM/FM Dar received a telephone call from the UN Secretary-General during which both sides discussed the latest regional developments as well as Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic engagements and outreach with relevant parties. The FO stated that the UN Secretary-General appreciated Pakistan’s continued efforts, conveying the international community’s “deep appreciation and support for Pakistan’s
constructive role in regional and international peace and stability.” It added that Guterres also expressed the United Nations’ full support for Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic initiatives. Earlier, Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam, in a post on X, extended appreciation for what he described as the “veteran, competent and career diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Pakistan.” He termed diplomats “trusted harbingers of international harmony” and described them as architects of peace entrusted with managing complex international relations through dialogue, empathy, and understanding. The ambassador also praised FM Ishaq Dar and officials of the Foreign Ministry for their “tireless efforts in facilitating, coordinating and meticulously preparing arrangements for delegations and talks, often long before the talks themselves commenced.”
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Pakistan tests indigenous Fateh-II missile, showcasing precision strike capability RAWALPINDI
staff report
Pakistan’s Army Rocket Force Command on Tuesday carried out a successful training launch of the indigenously developed Fateh-II missile system, underscoring the country’s growing advancements in missile technology. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the missile is equipped with advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigation systems designed to ensure greater accuracy and operational effectiveness. The launch was conducted as part of routine training to enhance troop readiness, validate key technical parameters, and assess the performance of various sub-systems
President Zardari in Sanya as Pakistan, China deepen CPEC and naval cooperation ISLAMABAD
staff report
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday arrived in China’s tropical resort city of Sanya for high-level talks with the Chinese leadership on a multi-billiondollar infrastructure and development framework, alongside attending the commissioning ceremony of a submarine for the Pakistan Navy, according to an official statement. China remains Pakistan’s key strategic partner and major investor, having pledged over $65 billion in road, infrastructure, and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship initiative of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative. The President arrived in China on Saturday for a fiveday official visit. He first visited Changsha in China’s Hunan province from April 25 to 27, before reaching Sanya in Hainan province, where he is expected to stay until May 1, the Foreign Office said. In a post on X, the President’s Office said: “President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Sanya after completing his visit to Hunan.” It added that he will hold discussions on bilateral cooperation and CPEC-related projects with Chinese leadership and attend the commissioning ceremony of the submarine Hangor. Pakistan has signed an agreement with China for the acquisition of eight Hangor-class submarines, under which four submarines are being built in China, while the remaining four will be constructed in Pakistan at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Ltd. Islamabad has long remained Beijing’s top arms customer, accounting for more than 60 per cent of China’s weapons exports during 2020–2024, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Pakistan warns UN maritime disruptions threaten trade, energy and global stability NEW YORK
staff report
aimed at improving precision and survivability in combat scenarios. Senior officials from the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), Army Rocket Force Command, and the Pakistan Army witnessed
the exercise, alongside scientists and engineers from strategic organisations. The forum praised the successful execution of the launch, highlighting the progress of the Fateh missile series.
Pakistan told the United Nations Security Council that growing threats to maritime routes are endangering global trade, energy supplies and wider economic stability, while stressing that the safety of waterways is central to international peace and development. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, presented the country’s position during the High-Level Open Debate on The Safety and Protection of Waterways in the Maritime Domain.
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JCP greenlights high-profile judges' transfers amid legal tensions ISLAMABAD
staff Correspondent
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Tuesday approved the transfer of three judges from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to other provincial high courts, in a move that comes against the backdrop of deepening institutional tensions and ongoing judicial reshuffles. A meeting of the commission, chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi at the Supreme Court, endorsed the relocation of Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiani to the Lahore High Court (LHC), Justice Babar Sattar to the Peshawar High Court (PHC), and Justice
Saman Rafat Imtiaz to the Sindh High Court (SHC). The decision was approved by a majority of members. According to an official statement, the session was convened under Article 175A(22) of the Constitution after a requisition by one-third of JCP members, despite the chairman’s initial reluctance to call the meeting. The commission also ruled that vacancies created by such transfers would be filled strictly through further transfers, not fresh appointments—effectively reshaping the mechanism of judicial placements. Meanwhile, proposals to transfer Justice Arbab M. Tahir and Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro were withdrawn by the
member who had originally moved them. The development coincides with ongoing deliberations over new inductions to the IHC. Several prominent lawyers, including Ayyaz Shaukat, Usman G. Rashid Cheema, Umair Majeed Malik, and Sultan Mazhar Sher Khan, are under consideration, alongside serving district judges Shahrukh Arjumand and Humayun Dilawar. Notably, Chief Justice Afridi had earlier expressed serious constitutional reservations about such transfers, warning they could undermine federal balance, create instability, and risk being perceived as punitive actions without due process. He stressed that the Constitution already pro-
vides a mechanism under Article 209 for addressing judicial misconduct. The transfers follow a key amendment to Article 200, which now empowers the JCP to recommend transfers without requiring judges’ consent—a significant shift from previous rules. Judges refusing transfers may now face proceedings before the Supreme Judicial Council. The move also comes amid lingering friction within the IHC. The transferred judges were among those who had previously raised allegations of interference by state agencies and had opposed earlier judicial appointments, including that of IHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar.
Iran in ‘state of collapse’, wants US to reopen Strait of Hormuz: Trump WASHINGTON/DOHA/TEHRAN staff report/agenCies
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Iran has informed the US that it was in a “state of collapse” and had asked for the “opening of the Hormuz Strait as soon as possible”. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Iran made the request as it sought to address its leadership situation, adding that he believed it would be able to do so. Qatar supports Pakistani mediation, calls for diplomatic end to regional crisis According to Al Jazeera, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Mohammed al-Ansari said that their position has been "clear from day one" that "any conflict in the region should be solved on the ne-
gotiation table," and supported Pakistan's role in mediation efforts. "We do not need to expand the circle of negotiations. We support Pakistani mediation,” he said. He added that they are engaging with all their respondents over reopening the Strait of Hormuz in a press briefing, according to Al Jazeera. “We believe it should have never been closed and it should be opened immediately regardless of other considerations going on in the region,” he said. “We are, as I said, supportive of this and has always been in coordination with all its partners regionally and beyond over that issue. We remain in full solidarity with Pakistan in their goal as mediator." The spokesperson added that Doha would favour a “comprehensive deal” to end the conflict, following a question about re-
ports that Iran wants to decouple the Strait of Hormuz talks from nuclear discussions. Al-Ansari stressed that Qatar’s main concern was regional security, as Iran’s attacks on regional US bases have called regional stability in question. The Strait of Hormuz should not be used as a pressure card, he said, adding that the act of blocking navigation cannot be justified. US no longer in a position to dictate policy to independent nations Iran’s deputy defence minister said the US can no longer “dictate” what other countries do as Washington reviews Tehran’s new proposal. “The US is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations,” Reza Talaei-Nik was quoted as saying by state TV, according to Al Jazeera.
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