Pakistan

Pakistan, Japan decide to boost bilateral ties on Bilawal’s maiden visit

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Both countries agree to bolster ties in multiple areas.
Skiller human resource export to Japan discussed.
They agree to explore targeted programs.

Pakistan and Japan Monday agreed to deepen further and enhance their mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in multiple areas during Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s maiden visit to the nation after assuming office last year.

Both sides agreed to bolster ties in trade, investment, human resource development and exchange, IT, tourism and agriculture sectors.

“We have also jointly agreed to explore the possibility of working together on targeted programs with higher impact in the domains of solarisation, desalination, and water purification and housing and infrastructure rebuilding in the floods affected areas in Pakistan,” FM said in a joint press stakeout along with his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo.

Later, FM Bilawal also met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in the country’s capital.

“He conveyed greetings from the Government and people of Pakistan. Both leaders expressed the desire to further enhance engagement and cooperation in different fields,” the Foreign Office said.

Earlier, the two ministers had held a meeting in a cordial environment. Both ministers appreciated the free bilateral relations while expressing readiness to engage further.

In addition, the two sides have agreed to conduct language skill assessment tests for the Japanese language in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of the skilled workforce.

FM Bilawal said the two sides also identified the import of young Pakistani skilled human resources to Japan and their language training to be a prime area of cooperation.

“We also deliberated on investments and joint ventures by Japanese enterprises in Pakistan,” the foreign minister said.

During his visit, he said he would also interact with the private sector, local media, as well as think tanks to “further broaden our engagement.”

“I believe that both sides need to stay engaged at all levels to further positive dialogue and continue exploring more avenues of cooperation.”

The foreign minister also invited his Japanese counterpart to visit Pakistan at his convenience for further discussions.

He said Pakistan and Japan were longstanding friends and shared a special bond based on deep-rooted linkages that go far in history and time.

“The people of Pakistan carry a deep sentiment of warmth and affection for Japan and the Japanese people. We have always stood with each other in times of need,” he said.

FM Bilawal said last year, both sides had seen new energy and vigour in the relationship through continued high-level exchanges.

“I also had the honour to meet Minister Hayashi at Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 4 August 2022 on the sidelines of the 29th Ministerial Meeting of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Today we continued our discussions from that meeting,” he added.

Business

In interbank trade, the Pakistani rupee modestly appreciates versus the US dollar.

Published

16 hours ago

Farwa

In the interbank market, the Pakistani Rupee increased by 0.03% against the US dollar during Monday’s early trading session.

The rupee strengthened by 8 paise against the dollar, reaching 278.48 as of 10:10 a.m. By ending at 278.56, the rupee had lost 9 paise the day before.

Globally, Monday saw a minor decline in the US dollar, but it was still close to its two-year high. In order to obtain additional understanding of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate strategy, traders are anticipating US economic data, namely the December non-farm payrolls report.

The Chinese yuan also garnered notice when, following a strong defense by the People’s Bank of China in December, it dropped below the psychological level of 7.3 per dollar for the first time in 14 months.

Last spotted, the offshore yuan increased by 0.15% to 7.3487 per US dollar, while the onshore yuan fell by 0.05% to 7.3252 per US dollar.

The speeches that various Federal Reserve policymakers are scheduled to give this week, in which they are anticipated to restate their positions on inflation and the continuous fight against price increases, are also attracting market attention.

Expectations of fewer interest rate reduction from the Fed have helped the US dollar gain strength, and last week it reached a two-year high. Meanwhile, the euro fell to its lowest level in more than two years.

Latest News

Drugs worth $1 million are seized by the Pakistan Navy in the North Arabian Sea.

Published

5 days ago

Farwa

Pakistan Navy Ship PNS MOAWIN, according to ISPR, used naval air assets to perform a boarding operation on a suspicious boat and confiscate the drugs that were concealed in the ship’s hidden compartments.

An estimated one million US dollars is the international market value of the narcotics that were seized.

International shipping lanes were being used to deliver this shipment of drugs.

Within the region’s maritime borders, the Pakistan Navy is always engaged in stopping all types of illicit activity, ISPR continued.

A spokesperson for the ANF Headquarters stated that earlier, during seven operations, another security unit of the nation’s anti-narcotics unit (ANF) seized more than 149 kg of drugs valued at more than Rs 40 million and detained four drug dealers.

He reported that 30 capsules containing heroin had been found in the stomach of a traveler at Peshawar International Airport who was headed to Jeddah.

Another operation resulted in the arrest of a suspect after 31 inebriated tablets were found in a package close to an Islamabad park.

150 grams of ice were found in a package that was shipped to Australia via a Karachi courier service.

90 kilograms of opium and 10 kg of heroin that had been concealed for smuggling were found during an operation in the Balochistani district of Chagai.

In the fifth operation, 45 kg of hashish was found in an uninhabited part of Balochistan’s Coastal Line Pasni. Three kilograms of hashish were found in Hyderabad on a suspect.

During the seventh operation, 500 grams of ice and 1 kilogram of heroin were found in the custody of a biker who was stopped close to the Iqbal Shaheed Toll Plaza Attock.

Additional investigations are underway, and cases have been filed under the Narcotics Control Act against the arrested suspect.

Latest News

Outsourcing of Airports: Deputy Prime Minister Commits to Transforming Aviation into a Profitable Sector

Published

6 days ago

Farwa

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has instructed the implementation of all feasible measures to render aviation a viable industry and to enhance service quality for travelers.

He provided these directives while presiding over a meeting in Islamabad concerning the outsourcing of airports and the advancement of the aviation sector.