Monthly Archives: February 2023

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has emphasized the need to further diversify Pak-US relations in the realm of defence.

He was talking to US Ambassador Donald Blome who called on him in Islamabad today.

The Minister called for enhanced defence cooperation framework between the two countries with a broader outlook ranging from counter-terrorism to conventional defence.

He highlighted the successful interaction with the US government to government fora.

Both sides discussed mutual interest and bilateral cooperation in the fields of defence, energy and infrastructure development.

Khawaja Asif highlighted the importance of stable and prosperous Afghanistan for region as a whole and for Pakistan in particular.

The two sides were of the view that national and regional security was an important and common concern.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have signed a one-billion dollar trade agreement to encourage the exchange of goods and services.

The agreement was signed at the 8th Session of Pakistan-Uzbekistan Inter-governmental Commission on Trade-Economic and Scientific-Technical Cooperation held in Tashkent today.

The IGC meeting was co-chaired by the Uzbek Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar.

On the occasion, Ishaq Dar appreciated the deeper interest by the Uzbek side in strengthening the relationship and lauded progress already made in the fields of transport and trade.

He invited Uzbek side to explore the areas in automobiles, information technology and natural minerals.

Both the parties agreed to hold the ninth meeting of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Inter-governmental Commission next year in Pakistan.

The meeting mainly focused on bilateral economic cooperation in various sectors including commerce and trade, banking, industries and production, energy, transportation and agriculture and tourism. Furthermore, the IGC recognized the importance of closer collaboration in order to bring sustainable development through technology, innovation, and economic partnership.

The Commission expressed satisfaction on the bilateral trade volume between the two countries and desired to enhance it further in the future.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Pakistan and the United States have affirmed a mutual commitment to advancing programs and policies that elevate women’s role in Pakistan’s long-term economic growth.

The understanding to this effect was reached in a discussion on gender equity and equality and women’s economic empowerment during the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council meeting in Washington, D.C.

The United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai joined Minister of Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar in the discussion.

The Trade Representative and the Minister for Commerce recognized the importance of women for sustainable economic growth and expressed their support for inclusive supply chains and supplier diversity.

They noted that integration of Pakistan’s women-owned businesses into value chains will be critical to promote competitiveness and supply chain resilience and expressed their intent to support upcoming training programs for women-owned businesses and corporate buyers led by WEConnect International.

Minister Qamar conveyed that the Commerce Ministry and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan are committed to boosting women’s business enterprises and, to this end, two trade fairs are being organized this year.

Syed Naveed Qamar highlighted the Women Entrepreneurship Development Plan, introduced by TDAP and the Ministry of Commerce, which aims to strengthen women’s business skills through extensive training.

Source: Radio Pakistan