Pakistan eyes $50 billion Chinese exports in 10 years, greenlights joint venture for industry relocation

Pakistan Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal is chairing a meeting in Islamabad on June 22, 2024, to develop a roadmap ahead of the visit of Chinese experts at the end of June. (@PlanComPakistan/X)
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Updated 26 June 2024
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Pakistan eyes $50 billion Chinese exports in 10 years, greenlights joint venture for industry relocation

  • Chinese experts scheduled to visit Pakistan this month “to foster innovation, technology transfer, capacity building”
  • Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was on a five-day visit to China in which dozens of MoUs were signed 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan planning ministry said this week it planned to increase exports to China to $50 billion in the next ten years, as the Prime Minister on Wednesday greenlit a joint venture project to relocate Chinese industries to Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif went on a five-day visit to China that included meetings with top political and business leaders with the aim of upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), through which Beijing has pledged over $60 billion to Pakistan. Dozens of MoUs were also signed during the visit. 

“The Planning Minister highlighted the goal of exporting fifty billion dollars to the Chinese market. The aim is to increase Pakistan’s exports from 30 billion dollars to 150 billion dollars in the next 10 years,” the ministry said in a statement, emphasizing the importance of learning from China’s experience and know-how.

“A delegation of Chinese experts from various fields is scheduled to visit Pakistan at the end of this month, aiming to foster innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building,” the statement added. 

“The focus will be on capacity building of Pakistani experts through training and knowledge sharing, learning from China’s experience in innovation and technological advancements, adapting innovative solutions to Pakistan’s specific needs, and skill development in key sectors.”

While chairing a meeting to prepare for the Chinese delegation’s visit, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed line ministries to be “selective and strategic” and focus on areas where China had experience that could be shared with Pakistani professionals. 

“He noted that China has 2.7 trillion dollars in imports, and Pakistan must focus on areas through which it could enhance exports and secure a share in Chinese imports,” Iqbal said, emphasizing the need for Pakistan to learn from China’s strategic advancements in knowledge and technology. 

“The visit aims to transfer Chinese expertise to promote innovation and technology across various sectors in Pakistan, with a focus on mutual cooperation and knowledge sharing.”

Separately on Wednesday, Sharif chaired a meeting of the Board of Investment (BoI) to discuss promoting both local and foreign investment in Pakistan.

“There was significant potential for relocating China’s textile, leather, footwear, and other industries to Pakistan,” state-run APP said in a report, quoting the PM, who okayed a joint venture project to relocate Chinese industries to Pakistan.


Iranian envoy makes veiled criticism of US resolution on Pakistan’s elections, calls it ‘modern Ignorance’

Updated 19 sec ago
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Iranian envoy makes veiled criticism of US resolution on Pakistan’s elections, calls it ‘modern Ignorance’

  • US House of Representatives called for impartial probe into the rigging allegations that followed Pakistan’s February 8 elections
  • Iranian envoy to Pakistan criticizes the US and describes the development as ‘extortion under the guise of supporting democracy’

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, made a veiled reference on Saturday to a resolution passed by the United States House of Representatives, criticizing it for demanding an impartial probe into the rigging allegations that followed Pakistan’s February 8 elections and calling it “modern ignorance.”
The resolution, overwhelmingly adopted by US lawmakers this week, expressed concern over the state of democracy in Pakistan and called for freedom of media and speech. It also condemned attempts to “suppress” the participation of people in their democracy, asking the government to uphold their human, civil, and political rights.
Pakistan sharply reacted to the development, describing it as “unsolicited” advice and demanding that bilateral relations with the US be based on the principles of “mutual respect and non-interference.”
“Among wonders of modern ignorance: a country prevents ceasefire by veto, supports #GenocideinGaza by providing lethal weapons to Zionist regime, but Congress passes a resolution questioning election in an independent UN member,” Ambassador Moghadam wrote in a social media post, calling it “extortion under the guise of supporting democracy.”


Iran is among the nations that have criticized the United States for its support of Israel’s actions in Gaza, particularly highlighting the US use of its veto power in the United Nations Security Council.
Additionally, Iran has issued a stern warning to Israel, indicating that any attack on Lebanon could lead to a “devastating” war.


Another camel found mutilated and dead in Sindh, days after similar act of animal cruelty reported in province

Updated 57 min 4 sec ago
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Another camel found mutilated and dead in Sindh, days after similar act of animal cruelty reported in province

  • The owner of the camel refuses to accuse anyone after the animal was found dead with all of its legs amputated
  • Previously, a landlord was accused of torturing another camel and chopping off its leg after it strayed into his fields

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s southern Sindh province witnessed yet another act of animal cruelty, as widely reported by the local media on Saturday, after a camel was found dead in the region with its legs amputated.
The incident took place only a few days after a local landlord in Sanghar district was accused of torturing a camel and chopping off its leg with his employees’ help since it had strayed into his fields for grazing.
The story, which triggered significant uproar on social media, led to the camel being transported to Karachi for treatment and a prosthetic leg. Six individuals involved were also arrested by the police.
The most recent incident took place in a modest settlement near Umerkot in Sindh.
“I don’t want to accuse anyone,” Abdul Rashid, the owner of the dead camel, was reported as saying by Geo News. “I have around 40 to 45 female camels. While all of them returned after grazing last evening, she was left behind alone.”
“God knows who made her run, beat her and cut her legs,” he added. “We don’t know anything yet ... We’ll see what to do next.”
Pakistan’s existing animal cruelty laws, rooted in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890, prohibit various forms of animal cruelty, including beating, overdriving, and mutilation.
The legislation also prescribes penalties for breaches of these anti-cruelty provisions, which can include fines and imprisonment, though these are not always effectively enforced.


Pakistan Football Federation announces women’s futsal team participation in next year’s Asian Cup

Updated 29 June 2024
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Pakistan Football Federation announces women’s futsal team participation in next year’s Asian Cup

  • Futsal, a dynamic indoor variant of soccer played with a smaller ball, emphasizes skill and control over physical power
  • The competition will mark the first time the national women’s futsal squad will compete in any premier competition

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced on Saturday the participation of the country’s national women’s futsal squad in the Asian Cup tournament next year, marking it their first competition under the auspices of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Futsal, a dynamic indoor variant of soccer played with a smaller, harder ball, emphasizes skill and control over physical power, and is popular in countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. Recognized by major soccer organizations, including FIFA, the game’s focus on quick passing and space management has contributed to its growing global appeal.
“I am pleased to announce that the PFF has confirmed the participation of the Women’s Futsal team in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025,” PFF Chairman Haroon Malik said in a statement. “This participation highlights PFF’s commitment to developing women’s futsal in Pakistan and providing our players with opportunities to compete at the international level.”
To prepare for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025, the PFF has organized five Futsal National Cup (FNC) competitions in major cities across Pakistan.
The qualification round for the tournament will begin at the start at the outset of the next year, with the round of 12 set to take place in May 2025.
Pakistani authorities have been actively seeking to diversify athletic interests and skills beyond the nation’s predominant passion for cricket, promoting sports like futsal to broaden the athletic landscape.
Despite the cultural and social hurdles, these efforts include encouraging more participation among women, who rarely have opportunities to engage in sports and international competitions.


India win toss and bat in T20 World Cup final against South Africa

Updated 29 June 2024
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India win toss and bat in T20 World Cup final against South Africa

  • India crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday
  • A day before that, South Africa thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad

Bridgetown, BARBADOS: India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat in the final of the T20 World Cup against South Africa at the Kensington Oval on Saturday.
The toss was held in bright sunshine and with a gusty wind blowing across the 28,000 capacity venue which is expected to be sold out for the game.
Rohit and his South African counterpart Aiden Markram both named unchanged line-ups from the teams which won their respective semifinals.
The possibility of stormy weather over the weekend, with some rain forecast for Saturday, had raised concerns among organizers but as early arrivals began taking their seats there was no sign of rain.
The final concludes a near month-long tournament, held in the USA and the Caribbean and features two teams who have yet to lose in the competition.
The event which has been a mixed bag in terms of quality, entertainment and attendances has certainly succeeded in setting up a final between the two best teams in the shortest format.
India crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in Guyana on Thursday, the day after South Africa thrashed Afghanistan by nine wickets in Trinidad to end a long and agonizing wait for a title game.
Since their first appearance at a World Cup in 1992, following the end of apartheid, South Africa had lost seven semifinals in the two limited overs formats.
This will be South Africa’s first senior men’s final since the inaugural Champions Trophy in Bangladesh in 1998 when the Proteas beat the West Indies.
India experienced the double disappointment last year of defeat in the World Test Championship final and the 50-over World Cup — losing both to Australia.
The country which more than any other popularised the shortest form with the hugely successful Indian Premier League now stands on the brink of their second T20 World Cup title and first since the inaugural edition in 2007.


Vice President Harris encourages voter awareness at Pakistani-American event as US election nears

Updated 29 June 2024
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Vice President Harris encourages voter awareness at Pakistani-American event as US election nears

  • Kamala Harris recognizes the contest will not be easy, though she expresses optimism that Biden will ultimately win
  • She says the presidential election in November will determine what kind of a country the United States wants to be

ISLAMABAD: United States Vice President Kamala Harris has urged people to “understand the power of their vote” while speaking at a ceremony organized by Pakistani-Americans, reported Geo News on Saturday, as the US gears up for a close presidential contest in November.
The race to the office of the head of the state features incumbent President Joe Biden facing off against Donald Trump amid a highly polarized political climate.
The Biden administration’s popularity has waned, particularly due to its stance on Israel’s war on Gaza, leading to significant disenchantment within his own party base, with some supporters distancing themselves from his policies.
Adding to the administration’s challenges, Biden’s recent performance in a presidential debate against Trump was widely criticized, marking another setback in his campaign efforts.
“We are going to win. It’s not going to be easy but we are going to win,” Harris told the gathering of around 50 people co-hosted by Dr. Asif Mahmood and business tycoon Tanweer Ahmad in Bradbury, California.
“In this election, we will determine what kind of country we want and we will make a statement about who we are as a country,” she continued. “I hope everyone must understand the power of their vote and that their vote being an extension of their voice in weighing in what kind of country we want to live in.”
Harris highlighted Trump’s anti-immigrant policies at the occasion and steps taken by Biden to “uplift the middle class.”
She said Trump only cared about himself and sought personal gains.
“The fundamental thing is freedom and liberty,” she added. “We are talking about freedom from hate and bigotry in a world where these extremists are intentionally trying to divide our country by spewing hate.”
Pakistani-Americans have made significant contributions to their adopted country, excelling in various fields such as technology, medicine, academia and business, thereby enriching the American cultural and economic fabric.
Politically active across the spectrum, they are involved in various advocacy and community initiatives, supporting diverse causes and candidates that span the breadth of American political discourse, reflecting their varied perspectives and commitment to civic engagement.