Friday, October 17th, 2025
Pakistan cannot bear Afghan refugee burden any longer, says PM amid border tensions
ISLAMABAD, OCT 17: As Pakistan is witnessing heightened border tensions with Afghanistan amid rising terror attacks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan could no longer bear the burden of hosting Afghan refugees indefinitely, directing authorities to ensure their immediate repatriation. Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, the premier reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, regretting that the country had paid a heavy price for decades of instability in Afghanistan. The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, theRead More
UK based Group visits ICCI
ISLAMABAD, OCT 17 /DNA/ – A high-profile business delegation from the Adam Mercer Group of Companies (AM Group), led by its Chairman Chaudhry Shafiq Ur Rehman, who is also a Corporate Member of the UK-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, paid a visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to explore avenues for trade and investment in Pakistan. The delegation included Amman Rehman, Chief Executive Officer of the Group in London; Ihsaan Rehman, Chief Executive Officer of the Group in Pakistan; Farhaan Rehman, the youngest Councillor ofRead More
Pakistan exercised its right to self defence: FO Spox
Saifullah Ansar ISLAMABAD, OCT 17 /DNA/ – Foreign Office Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan, in his final weekly media briefing on Friday announced key diplomatic developments, including Pakistan’s re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the implementation of a temporary ceasefire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and the country’s active participation in the recent Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. Delivering his last official briefing as spokesperson, Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment to regional peace, sovereignty, and constructive diplomacy,” emphasizing that Pakistan had “effectively repulsed unprovokedRead More
PM Shehbaz chairs high-level meeting on repatriation of Afghan refugees
Ansar M Bhatti ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review progress regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, federal ministers, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as senior federal and provincial officials. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was represented by Muzzammil Aslam in place of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Welcoming the participants, the Prime Minister reiterated theRead More
Meta and PTA collaborate
DNA ISLAMABAD, OCT 17: Meta in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) educational platform, EYEYAH!, has launched a social campaign and interactive online experience named “Is This Legit?” to raise awareness for common scam traps within Pakistan. This initiative is part of a broader APAC-wide campaign rolling out across more than 15 countries, promoting safer digital experiences. The campaign educates users on seven prevalent scam types, including romance, shopping, impersonation, investment, job, account hacking and messaging scams through engaging and gamified content designed to build awareness of scam indicators and red flags.Read More
France, Pak strengthen academic ties under ‘Choose France’ initiative
The ambassador also underlined that Choose France events allow French delegates to visit Pakistani universities, explore joint programs, and strengthen institutional collaboration Ansar M Bhatti ISLAMABAD: The Embassy of France in Pakistan hosted the “Choose France” event at the French Residence in Islamabad, highlighting the growing academic cooperation between France and Pakistan. The event, held under the aegis of Campus France Pakistan, brought together French Embassy officials, visiting representatives of French universities, Pakistani academics, and students who have recently studied in France. Speaking on the occasion, French Ambassador to PakistanRead More