Wednesday, February 4th, 2026
French cultural and human rights voices at Lahore Literary Festival 2026
LAHORE, FEB 4 (DNA) – The Embassy of France in Pakistan, the Alliance Française de Lahore, and the Honorary Consulate of France in Lahore are pleased to announce a distinguished French delegation at the 14th Lahore Literary Festival (LLF). The delegation brings together voices from literature, human rights, and cultural heritage. It includes Irène Frain, the famous best-selling novelist and historian; Isabelle Rome, France’s Ambassador for Human Rights; and Nicolas Engel, Head Curator for Pakistan and Afghanistan collections at the National Museum of Asian Arts – Guimet in Paris, oneRead More
Japan grant boosts artefact preservation at Punjab’s Taxila Museum
ISLAMABAD, FEB 4 /DNA/ – The Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has successfully completed the provision of exhibition and conservation equipment to the Taxila Museum under the Grant Assistance project titled “Improvement of Equipment for Exhibition and Conservation of the Taxila Museum.” The assistance, amounting to 48.8 million Japanese Yen, reflects Japan’s continued commitment to the preservation of cultural heritage in Pakistan. On this occasion, Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi underscored the historical and spiritual importance of Taxila as the centre of Gandhara civilization and highlighted itsRead More
Kashmir Solidarity Day and an Unfulfilled Right
by Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal Conflicts among human societies are as old as civilisation itself. Differences of belief, territory, power, and perception have repeatedly pushed nations and communities into confrontation. History shows that such disputes are resolved in only a few recognised ways: through the imposition of force, through reconciliation by mutual consent, or through impartial mediation supported by law and moral authority. Where none of these paths is followed with sincerity, conflicts harden with time, embedding themselves into collective memory and passing unresolved from one generation to the next. SinceRead More
FPCCI opens Pakistan-EU business forum membership for 2026
KARACHI, FEB 4: /DNA/ – Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI, has announced that the Pakistan-EU Business Forum at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) is now inviting applications for new membership and renewal of existing membership for the year 2026, with the last date for submission set as 16 February 2026. Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted that Pakistan’s trade with the European Union – a key export destination and economic partner – showed positive momentum in FY 2025, with exports to the EU rising to approximatelyRead More
Nipah Virus: AKUH experts confirm no immediate threat to Pakistan
KARACHI, FEB 4 /DNA/ – Infectious Disease experts at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) have stated that recent developments related to the Nipah virus (NiV) in Eastern India and Bangladesh do not currently pose a direct threat to Pakistan. While geographical factors and known transmission patterns keep the risk low, experts noted that the situation presents an important opportunity to reflect on national pandemic preparedness. Speaking at a media roundtable with journalists, AKUH’s Infectious Disease specialists shared that since 2025, only 10 cases of the Nipah virus have beenRead More
PM Shehbaz eyes $1bn trade volume as Pakistan, Kazakhstan ink over 30 MoUs
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged an increase in trade volume between Pakistan and Kazakhstan to $1 billion as both countries signed over 30 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in several sectors, including petroleum, mining, and maritime affairs. Addressing a joint press conference after the signing ceremony, the prime minister said the existing level of trade between Islamabad and Astana did not reflect the true strength of relations or the economic potential of the two sides. “Unfortunately, our trade volume is a meagre $250 million, which does not reflectRead More