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Tuesday, 21 July, 2026 | 6 Safar, 1448
Rs 50.00 | Vol XVII No 116 | 48 Pages | Islamabad Edition
PAKISTAN, CANADA FORGE ‘BROAD PARTNERSHIP’ WITH FOCUS ON TRADE, SECURITY AND INVESTMENT g
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PM SHEHBAZ, CANADIAN FM AGREE TO EXPAND COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, MINING AND AUTO SECTORS
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BOTH SIDES PLEDGE TO FAST-TRACK FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND PROTECTION AGREEMENT
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FIELD MARSHAL ASIM MUNIR, ANITA ANAND REAFFIRM RESOLVE TO DEEPEN DEFENCE AND SECURITY COOPERATION
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CANADA TO INVEST OVER $2.2M IN NEW SECURITY INITIATIVES AND LAUNCH $45M DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
PROTOCOL SIGNED TO FACILITATE CANADIAN CANOLA IMPORTS AS LEADERS SEEK STRONGER TRADE AND INVESTMENT TIES ANITA LAUDS PAKISTAN'S REGIONAL PEACE EFFORTS, BACKS DIALOGUE TO EASE MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS
pakistan, Canada agree to deepen cooperation in trade, security and migration ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
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ISLAMABAD SALEEM JADOON
ANADA and Pakistan on Monday agreed to inject fresh momentum into their bilateral relationship by expanding cooperation in trade, investment, security, defence and development, as Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, during the first bilateral visit by a Canadian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly two decades, held a series of high-
level meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The visit culminated in commitments to accelerate negotiations on a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA), broaden cooperation in key economic sectors, deepen security collaboration and launch new development and law enforcement initiatives.
Noreen Niazi submits initial reply to NCCIA over controversial interview ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The lawyer representing Noreen Niazi, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, said on Monday that an initial written response had been submitted to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) after the agency issued her a notice over controversial remarks made during a recent interview. The development comes after the NCCIA on Saturday summoned Noreen Niazi for an inquiry following an interview in which she alleged that Operation Marka-eHaq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to reporters after appearing before the NCCIA, Noreen's counsel, Faisal Malik, said his client became aware of the notice through social media on Monday morning, after which her legal team promptly submitted a preliminary written reply before the agency. Malik said the defence had requested a copy of any complaint, report or application registered against Noreen Niazi and also sought details of the legal provisions under which the notice had been issued. He said the NCCIA had directed Noreen Niazi to appear before the agency in person on Tuesday. However, her legal team had requested four weeks to submit a comprehensive response to the notice. Quoting his client, Malik said Noreen maintained that, "as a Pakistani, she respects all state institutions" and "could never do anything that would bring disrepute to Pakistan." The lawyer added that Noreen Niazi would not be able to appear before the NCCIA on Tuesday. According to the notice issued by the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre on Saturday, Noreen Niazi had originally been directed to appear before the agency on Monday to record her statement in connection with the ongoing inquiry.
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Pakistan and Canada on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to broadening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on trade, security, migration management and institutional collaboration, as Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand held high-level talks aimed at further strengthening relations between the two countries. During the meeting at the Ministry of Interior, the two sides reviewed the overall state of Pakistan-Canada relations and explored new avenues for expanding cooperation in trade, security and people-to-people exchanges. Both ministers underscored their shared resolve to deepen engagement through enhanced institutional coordination and sustained bilateral dialogue, said a statement issued by the
Interior Ministry. The discussions also focused on strengthening joint efforts to combat illegal immigration, human trafficking and cybercrime, with both sides emphasizing the importance of closer coordination to effectively address evolving transnational security challenges. Recognising the importance of institutional capacity building, the two ministers exchanged views on launching training and exchange programmes for law enforcement personnel to enhance professional expertise, operational coordination and cooperation between relevant institutions, the statement said. Pakistan and Canada also agreed to expedite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will provide a structured framework for broadening cooperation in areas of mutual interest and further institutionalising bilateral engagement.
pakistan, iran reaffirm $10b trade goal as regional tensions dominate high-level talks ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Pakistan and Iran on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to raising bilateral trade to $10 billion, as Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni held highlevel talks with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad, with both sides also exchanging views on the evolving regional security situation amid renewed tensions between Tehran and Washington. Momeni's visit comes at a critical juncture as renewed hostilities between the United States
and Iran, after more than a week of fighting, have threatened to derail Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that began in February and have heightened concerns over the possibility of a wider regional escalation. The visit also underscores the growing momentum in PakistanIran relations, with the two neighbouring countries having signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding in recent months aimed at increasing bilateral trade from the existing around $3 billion to $10 billion. Speaking after his meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin
Naqvi, Momeni said achieving the ambitious trade target would require a significant increase in cross-border commercial activity and corresponding improvements in infrastructure on both sides of the border. "To achieve this goal [of $10 billion trade volume], in practice around 2,000 trucks or containers need to move between the two countries every day on average. At present, only about 20 percent of that target is being realized," Momeni said, according to a statement issued by Pakistan's Interior Ministry.
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Petrol price cut, diesel hiked for next 24 hours ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The federal government has reduced the price of petrol while increasing the rate of high-speed diesel for the next 24 hours as it reviews petroleum pricing. Petrol has been reduced by Rs7.54 per litre, bringing the new price down to Rs264.61 per litre. Meanwhile, the price of high-speed diesel has been increased by Rs1.48 per litre to Rs286.48 per litre. The temporary adjustment will remain in effect for 24 hours. The government is expected to announce revised petroleum prices for the next fortnight after completing its review of international oil prices and other pricing factors. Petroleum prices in Pakistan are reviewed every two weeks based on global market trends, the exchange rate and applicable taxes and levies.
Chenab flows may rise to high flood level as heavy rains continue LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Water flows in the Chenab River are expected to rise sharply over the next few days as rain continues in the catchment areas of Indian-occupied Kashmir and fresh heavy showers are forecast in parts of Punjab, according to officials and flood monitoring authorities. A senior Punjab Irrigation Department official said the Chenab was currently flowing at a medium flood level, but could move into the high-flood category if the forecast rainfall materialises over the next three to four days in both held Kashmir and Punjab. The official warned that conditions could become more serious if the expected heavy rain falls in the river’s catchment zones. In the meantime, the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) issued a warning that major rivers and nullahs could see high flood levels because of heavy rainfall expected until July 24. Flood forecast and vulnerable areas The FFD’s flood bulletin issued on Monday said flows in all major rivers are likely to increase substantially by July 24 due to a prevailing westerly wave combined with a strong monsoon system advancing from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal across the catchments of the country’s main rivers. The division said high flood levels were expected in the Chenab at Marala, the Jhelum upstream of Mangla, and in associated nullahs linked to the Jhelum and Chenab, including Dora, Dotta, Dowara, Bhimber, Halsi, Aik and Palkhu. It also forecast high flows in nullahs connected to the Ravi, including Bein, Bassanter, Deg and Sakki, as well as in the Kabul River and its tributaries. The FFD warned of possible flash flooding in the hill torrents of DG Khan, streams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan, and urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Khushab, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar and Faisalabad.
KP moves Constitutional Court over NFC share, seeks post-FATA merger fiscal rights ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR STAFF REPORT
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday moved the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC), filing a constitutional petition challenging the continued extension of the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award after the merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into the province. The petition seeks a constitutional determination on whether KP's share under the NFC Award should be revised to reflect its expanded population, territory and administrative responsibilities following the 25th Constitutional Amendment. The province contends that since the enactment of the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, which
formally integrated FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it has consistently maintained at every NFC forum that the continuation of the 7th NFC Award beyond 2018 is ultra vires and requires constitutional correction. According to the petition, despite a landmark constitutional change that significantly increased the province's governance, fiscal and development responsibilities, KP's share under the NFC framework continues to be calculated on the basis of its pre-merger configuration. According to the petition, the province's population, geographical area and development requirements expanded substantially following the merger of the erstwhile tribal districts through the 25th Amendment. However, the province argues that the NFC distribution formula has never been updated to incorporate the Merged Districts, resulting in what it describes as a vi-
olation of the internationally recognised principle that "finance follows functions." It maintains that this has led to a persistent under-allocation of financial resources for the additional population and responsibilities constitutionally transferred to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The provincial government further argues that, for the first time, a federating unit has approached the Court seeking recognition of what it terms a "living NFC" by questioning the prolonged continuation of an outdated Award. It submits that the matter extends well beyond a provincial fiscal claim and seeks constitutional clarity on whether, under Article 160 of the Constitution, the Federation can continue to rely on claims of institutional deadlock or decline to discharge its constitutional obligations.
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trump warns iran of devastating retaliation as pakistan, Qatar push fresh peace roadmap TEHRAN/WASHINGTON
STAFF REPORT/AGENCIES
United States President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Iran would pay “many times over” for any American troops killed as hostilities between Washington and Tehran continued to intensify, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that his country was engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States. Meanwhile, Pakistan and Qatar jointly urged both sides to return to their pre-July 9 positions as the first step towards reviving stalled peace talks amid the rapidly escalating situation in the Gulf. “Every time Iran kills an American soldier they will pay for that killing many times over,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “This directive has been passed on to Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Caine, and every leader in the military,” he added.
Pakistan, Qatar propose return to preJuly 9 positions Pakistan and Qatar have jointly proposed that the United States and Iran return to their pre-July 9 positions "as a first step" towards reviving negotiations aimed at permanently ending their months-long conflict, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Monday. The proposal, jointly drafted by Islamabad and Doha after consultations with regional partners, calls on both sides to restore the positions they held before the latest round of hostilities erupted. "Returning to the pre-July 9 position will be the first step to halt the raging hostilities and pave the way for the resumption of talks either in Islamabad or Doha," a Pakistani source close to the ongoing mediation efforts said. According to the proposal, Iran would "immediately" reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States would end the blockade of Iranian ports and lift sanctions on the
sale of Iranian oil. The proposal also recommends a two-week ceasefire to halt ongoing retaliatory military strikes and create space for the resumption of negotiations. Pakistani sources said that, if accepted by both sides, Washington and Tehran would "immediately" resume the stalled talks, with implementation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon placed at the top of the agenda. The mediators remain hopeful of a "positive" response from both countries and expect negotiations to resume "very soon," the sources added. Iran engaged in 'full-scale war' with US: Pezeshkian Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Iran was now engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States and that the country must be prepared to bear the consequences of the conflict. “The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war. We
must be realistic and accept the natural consequences of this resistance,” Pezeshkian said in a presidential statement carried by Al Jazeera. Referring to the Islamabad Memoran-
dum of Understanding signed with the United States, Pezeshkian said the agreement overwhelmingly favoured Iran.
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