Kazakhstan’s president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday urged Russia and Ukraine to end fighting and start peace talks, saying that may pave the path for a long-term settlement.

Tokayev spoke alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russia-Kazakhstan summit in the Siberian city of Omsk on Saturday, praising Putin’s “utmost diplomatic flexibility”.

“Maybe it’s time to ‘freeze this conflict and go back to the Istanbul Formula 2.0, which is my personal perspective,’” he said.

In 2022, just after Moscow started a full-scale invasion, Russia and Ukraine had peace talks in Istanbul, and they went back to the negotiating table in 2025. However, neither round of talks generated a breakthrough.

“Meaningful progress towards peace would need security assurances from major powers, including Russia,\” Tokayev added.”With guarantees from the great powers, including Russia, we could move forward towards a long-awaited peace,” he added, adding the conflict “must be brought to an end”.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries & Production Haroon Akhtar Khan has reiterated the government’s commitment to create a stronger and more competitive ecosystem for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), citing the sector as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic future.

Expo Faisalabad 2026 has brought together top manufacturers, exporters, investors, entrepreneurs and business support groups, showcasing Faisalabad’s industrial prowess and providing fresh chances for trade, investment and business partnership.

“Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are at the centre of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s vision for sustainable economic growth, industrial development and export promotion,” he said addressing the show, which is being held from July 24 to 26 at the Expo Centre in Lahore.

“Pakistan has proved its military strength to the world, now it’s time to show the economic resilience and development of the country,” stated Haroon Akhtar Khan. He said that Faisalabad is still the hub of industry and textile in Pakistan and also plays a big role in exports and the manufacturing sector of the country. He thanked Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) for arranging the show.He said platforms like Expo Faisalabad provide good possibilities for the entrepreneurs to promote their products, build business alliances and explore new markets.

The SAPM said the government was focusing in particular on improving access to finance, promoting business formalisation, boosting exports and creating an enabling climate for entrepreneurs to develop, invest and grow their enterprises.

He also expressed gratitude to Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) for its active engagement with the business community and efforts to connect the entrepreneurs with government support programmes through exhibitions and outreach activities across the country.

Earlier, SMEDA CEO Nadia Jahangir Seth reiterated the authority’s commitment to support entrepreneurs through strategic partnerships and market-driven interventions.

She said Expo Faisalabad and other such shows provide a good platform to connect the entrepreneurs with commercial prospects, industry knowledge and government support services. “SMEDA’s participation is a demonstration of its commitment to promote business formalisation, enhance competitiveness, facilitate market access and strengthen Pakistan’s MSME ecosystem through sustained engagement with the private sector,” she said.

SMEDA has set up a helpdesk at the show, where entrepreneurs and visitors are being given information on flagship programmes, government support programmes and company development services. The helpdesk is also promoting free registration of informal enterprises through the SME Registration Portal (SMERP) to formalise their activities and have better access to development opportunities, finance and new markets.

SMEDA is also planning to conduct training sessions on Marketing Strategies for SMEs and Improving Product Quality for Export Markets under its capacity building programme, which would equip entrepreneurs with practical knowledge to enhance their competitiveness and strengthen their presence in domestic and international markets.

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Petroleum Division said that the pricing of petrol and high-speed diesel will not be adjusted till July 27.

Prices of petrol and diesel will not change over the weekend and the existing rates will continue, the Petroleum Division said in an official notification.

“The notification stated that the existing prices of petrol, high-speed diesel and other petroleum products will remain intact till July 27 (Monday) and the consumers will be able to purchase fuel at the existing rates during this period.

The government has also not announced any hike or cut in the price of petroleum products, officials said.

The present pricing will remain in force until the next price review, when a new decision will be taken.

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