Category: 1. Pakistan

• Wang Yi to co-chair Islamabad dialogue.
• CPEC, trade, peace top agenda in talks.
• First Pakistan visit since India’s May aggression.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Islamabad to co-chair the 6th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue on August 21, the Foreign Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the visit forms part of regular high-level exchanges aimed at further strengthening the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between Pakistan and China.

The dialogue will reaffirm mutual support on each other’s core interests, enhance economic and trade cooperation, and underline both countries’ commitment to regional peace, development, and stability.

According to The News, Wang Yi’s engagements will include meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with a focus on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) progress, economic collaboration, regional security, and defence ties. 

The Chinese foreign minister is also expected to meet Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir in Rawalpindi.

This will be Wang Yi’s first visit to Pakistan since India’s cross-border aggression in May last year and comes weeks after his meeting with Field Marshal Munir in Beijing, a development seen as reinforcing the “ironclad” relationship between Islamabad and Beijing.

Diplomatic sources have further indicated that the much-anticipated trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan is expected to take place in Kabul immediately after Wang Yi’s visit.

DPM Dar is likely to accompany him for the talks with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, though officials have not ruled out the possibility of the Afghan foreign minister travelling to Islamabad instead. The discussions are expected to cover regional stability and Pakistan’s security concerns regarding Afghanistan.

Sources noted that some global capitals had attempted to obstruct the trilateral dialogue, but after weeks of negotiations, the three sides agreed to proceed. The meeting is seen as an important step in advancing trilateral cooperation.

Wang Yi’s trip carries significant regional weight as it follows his stop in New Delhi and precedes Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit the country this week for the sixth Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Tuesday.

Pakistan and China share a longstanding strategic partnership with
ties ranging across different sectors — including trade, energy, defence and infrastructure. The fifth round of Strategic Dialogue in May 2024 was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart Wang in Beijing.

According to the FO’s statement today, “On the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar … Mr Wang Yi is visiting Islamabad for co-chairing the sixth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue on August 21, 2025.”

“The visit is part of the regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China to further deepen their ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’, reaffirm support on the issues of respective core interests, enhance economic and trade cooperation, and reaffirm their joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability,” the statement added.

The development comes during Wang’s ongoing visit to India. During talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday, Wang said that China and India should “view each other as partners and opportunities, rather than adversaries or threats”.

He pointed to the resumption of “dialogue at all levels” and “maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas” as evidence that bilateral ties were on a “positive trend of returning to the main path of cooperation”.

Last month, Dar met with Wang on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation event, where the pair discussed and reaffirmed mutual support in core sectors, including agriculture, mining, industry and security.

“China is ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and push forward the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future,” Wang had said.

In February, President Asif Ali Zardari held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, with the two sides vowing to strengthen the Pakistan-China strategic cooperative partnership.

The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has released its forecast for the sighting of the Rabi-ul-Awwal moon for the Islamic year 1447 AH.

According to the report, the new moon is expected to be born on August 23, 2025, at 11:06 a.m. By the evening of August 24, it will be over 32 hours old, making it visible under favorable conditions.

Based on this calculation, the first day of Rabi-ul-Awwal is likely to fall on August 25, with 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal expected on Friday, September 5.

The following day, September 6, marks Defence Day, which is commemorated nationwide to honor the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces. While it is not officially listed as a public holiday, the government may declare one this year in light of Pakistan’s recent victory against India in the May conflict.

With Sunday, September 7, already a weekly holiday, citizens could have three consecutive days off at the start of September — combining religious observance, national commemoration, and the regular weekend break.

The wait is finally over as Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) announced the O Level results for the May–June session today, Tuesday, August 19.

More than 100,000 students from over 700 schools across the country sat the Cambridge qualifications this year, including O Levels, IGCSEs, and A Levels.

The results mark a key milestone for thousands of candidates as they prepare for higher education pathways.

An O’ Level student was overcome with emotion. “Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha mein kya bol rahi hoon, but I am happy with 3A*s, 3As and 2Bs,”* she said, wiping away the tears. She had attempted all her exams in a single year. The grade thresholds in English and Mathematics were higher this time. “I think I am happy with my result,” she said.

Another O’ Level student said she was nervous walking into school. “I told myself I couldn’t take my results, but eventually I did. I didn’t get exactly what I wanted, yet I am happy and content with what I achieved. I’ve grown comfortable with it,” she said.

An O’ Level Business Studies teacher was proud of her class. “I was responsible for 32 students, and not a single one got a U. All of them are clear. I am grateful,” she said.

Read: AS, A Level results for May-June to be released on Tuesday

The A Level results were released earlier this month, with O Level and IGCSE results following today.

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 19 (APP): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday called for renewed international solidarity and decisive action to confront a growing wave of humanitarian crises across the world.

“Let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to protect life, uphold human dignity, and advance peace. The challenges we face are immense, but through global solidarity, decisive action, and adherence to justice and humanitarian
principles, the international community can alleviate suffering and restore hope by securing a just and peaceful future for all,” Ishaq Dar said in a message on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day.

The deputy PM honoured the courage, resilience, and compassion of humanitarian workers who risk their lives to protect distressed persons amid escalating humanitarian crises across the world.

“Today, the international community must renew the resolve to address root causes of humanitarian crises, including wars and conflicts,” he said adding that “Unchecked aggression and jingoistic narratives for political gains are among the major drivers of humanitarian crises. It is essential to resolve conflicts through peaceful means, mediation, dialogue, and diplomacy, in accordance with the UN Charter”.

In Gaza, he said the ongoing occupation and blockade continued to inflict suffering on civilians by restricting humanitarian aid, vital food supplies, and essential medical services. “The impact of ongoing genocide in Palestine is profound, with families, children, and civilians facing unimaginable suffering. The international community must urgently address the humanitarian situation in Gaza consistent with international law.”

The deputy PM also called upon the international community to also pay close attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. “Years of oppression, forced displacement, arbitrary detention, demographic changes, and the systematic denial of Kashmiris’ legitimate right to self-determination have continued to exacerbate humanitarian crises in the occupied territory. India’s weaponisation of water and essential resources represents a new and alarming threat, with the potential to trigger humanitarian catastrophes of unprecedented scale across the region.”

He said climate-induced humanitarian situations across the world called for a joint international response.

In recent years, climate change has also disproportionately affected Pakistan. The ongoing floods being witnessed in Pakistan once again highlight the urgency of concerted global action to address climate-induced humanitarian challenges, he said adding that humanitarian partnerships to support the affected populations must continue.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s stock market reached a historic milestone on Monday, with the benchmark KSE-100 index closing at 150,000 points for the first time in its history, a senior government adviser said.

Khurram Schehzad, adviser to the finance minister, wrote on X that the rise reflected growing investor confidence, homegrown reforms, and a more positive macroeconomic outlook.

“Pakistan Stock Exchange Makes New History – Reaches 150,000 Points Mark,” Schehzad said in his post, noting that the index’s growth had sharply accelerated over the past decade.

“First 50,000 took 26 years (1991-2017). Second 50,000 took 8 years (2017-2024). Third 50,000 took just 10 months (Nov 2024–Aug 2025),” he wrote.

Schehzad also highlighted other achievements, including the return of large-cap valuations and a surge in investor participation:

“Total Billion Dollar+ Valuation Companies at PSX are now 16 – highest after 15 in 2018, and only 3 in 2022,” he said, adding that “Number of new investors added in last one year – 73,000, up 22 percent YoY, highest in a single year! Total investors at Pakistan’s public markets now over one million (99 percent with PSX + Mutual Funds).”

The adviser attributed the performance to reforms and improved credibility. Schehzad said Pakistan’s improving global credibility, structural reforms and a stronger macroeconomic outlook were fueling investor confidence and driving the market’s rise.

The rally comes amid signs of stabilization in Pakistan’s economy after securing a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout in September 2024 and recent upgrades by international ratings agencies.

Inflation has eased from a peak of 38 percent in 2023 to 4.1 percent in July 2025, while the rupee has stabilized against the dollar.

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday sentenced four Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers to four months in prison over the November 26 protest case.

ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah announced the verdict after hearing arguments from prosecutor Zaheer Shah and defence lawyers. The convict Amir Khan, Sardar Khan, Khan Muhammad, and Javed Iqbal—were found guilty of arson and vandalism in a case registered at Attock’s Hanjra police station.

During proceedings, the workers admitted to participating in the violent protest on the call of party leadership and sought leniency, citing their status as poor labourers.

Earlier this year, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted bail to dozens of PTI workers in the same case.

In May, a two-member bench led by Acting Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif ordered the release of 86 workers on surety bonds of Rs 10,000 each, while in February the court had granted bail to 120 detainees and directed their immediate release.

LAHORE  –  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, has issued directives for Punjab Police to remain on high alert due to the expected cloudburst in upper Punjab and the risk of floods and landslides in other districts. According to the Punjab Police spokesperson, the IGP has instructed police in vulnerable districts including Murree, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, and Chakwal to stay vigilant and actively participate in rescue operations in case of heavy rains and flooding. Dr. Usman emphasised that RPOs and DPOs should personally oversee police relief activities in potentially affected areas. The police force must maintain close coordination with district administrations and rescue agencies to ensure effective relief efforts. Police teams have been directed to regularly patrol villages and populated areas along riverbanks, establish relief camps, assist affected citizens and implement security measures in flood-prone districts. The protection of citizens’ lives, property and belongings must be prioritised at all costs. Additionally, patrols should continue in vulnerable areas and at river check posts. Flood victims must be provided with protection, food, medicine, and other essential supplies. Dr. Usman Anwar confirmed that Punjab Police control centres are continuously monitoring the concerned districts in light of the potential flood situation.