Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa.

Pakistan’s views on major global issues and concerns will be discussed at the conference by the Deputy Prime Minister, who will concentrate on climate change, economic growth, and enhancing international collaboration within the Commonwealth.

His keynote speech at the Commonwealth Business Forum on “Transforming Our Workforce” will focus on Pakistan’s focus on digital transformation, skill development, and youth empowerment.

He will converse with the heads of delegation from other Commonwealth nations as well.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, said in a statement that Pakistan’s attendance at CHOGM 2024 is a reflection of its ongoing dedication to the Commonwealth and its ties with tiny island pacific nations.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has registered 2,617 new firms this year, a 6% increase from 2023, with assistance from the Special Investment Facilitation Council. This increases the overall number of businesses that are registered to 231,111.

Non-profits, trade associations, and public unlisted firms make up 4% of these, while private limited corporations make up 55% and single-member companies 41%. It is noteworthy that 99.8% of the registrations were done online, demonstrating SECP’s attempts to digitise.

Real estate has 237 new businesses, services has 306, and trade has 377 new businesses. These are the main sectors exhibiting growth. While the healthcare and textile industries each had 49 new businesses, the education sector saw 101.

China contributed the most, adding 43 new companies, out of the 61 new companies that were registered as a result of foreign investment.

These recently registered businesses are anticipated to decrease imports, increase domestic production, and contribute to closing the trade deficit.

In the ongoing battle against polio, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, recommended fostering media involvement and enhancing collaboration.

She was speaking to the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication’s Media Engagement Session of health journalists.

Health reporters from a range of print, electronic, and online media outlets were invited to the event with the goal of giving them accurate information, outlining the program’s current poliovirus prevention strategy, and answering any questions from the media in advance of the October 28, 2024, start of the nationwide polio vaccination campaign.

NEOC Coordinator Anwarul Haq discussed the main obstacles to the eradication efforts, including as ongoing vaccination hesitancy, demographic shifts, and security issues in high-risk areas that impact regular access to the vaccine for children.

By mid-2025, a consensus strategy is being executed to stop the spread of the virus, according to Ayesha Raza, who stated that polio eradication is being pursued as a national priority agenda.

Regarding the poliovirus’s comeback this year, she stated that 39 instances of polio had been documented.