Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
Uzbek President to visit US for inaugural peace council
TASHKENT, FEB 18 /DNA/ – At the invitation of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will pay a working visit to Washington, D.C. on February 17–19 of this year to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Council. The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has prepared an infographic presenting key indicators of trade, economic and investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United States over the past 9 years. History of visits The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan hasRead More
Pakistan eyes Thai UHC model to reduce medical expenses
ISLAMABAD, FEB 18 /DNA/ – Rongvudhi Virabutr, Ambassador of Thailand to Pakistan, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Syed Mustafa Kamal, Federal Minister of Health, to discuss the establishment of strategic cooperation on health issues through bilateral exchange of knowledge for sustainability while promoting Thailand as a world class medical centre for Pakistani people. The two sides agreed to expand their scope of cooperation in various areas; in particular, the systemic promotion of UHC in Pakistan through the Thai model in order to reduce out-of-pocket spending on medical expenseRead More
T20 World Cup: Sahibzada Farhan’s ton helps Pakistan hand Namibia 200-run target
COLOMBO, FEB 18: Sahibzada Farhan’s stunning century on Wednesday powered Pakistan to 199-3 setting a 200-run target against Namibia in crucial T20 World Cup group stage match being played at the SSC Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka’s Colombo. Batting first, Pakistan got off to a solid start, with openers Saim Ayub and Farhan scoring freely from the outset to provide an early advantage. However, the 40-run opening stand was broken when Saim was dismissed by Jack Brassell for 14 off 12 balls, including two fours. Captain Salman Ali Agha thenRead More
RCCI pushes for reforms as U.S. investors show strong interest in Pakistan
RAWALPINDI, FEB 18 /DNA/ – President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Usman Shaukat, addressed a press conference following the Chamber’s high-level trade delegation visit to the United States, highlighting strong investor interest across multiple sectors and emphasizing that structural economic reforms are essential to unlock large-scale foreign investment. He said U.S. investors expressed keen interest in Pakistan in areas including rare earth minerals, mining, information technology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, medical devices, construction, and data infrastructure. He stressed that targeted policy support—particularly for the mining sector—can position Pakistan as a competitiveRead More
ICCI to expand facilitation desks for business community: Sardar Tahir Mehmood
ISLAMABAD, FEB 18: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Sardar Tahir Mehmood has reiterated that the Chamber, being the mother body of the business community, is fully committed to promoting business growth by playing an effective advocacy role between the public and private sectors to ensure ease of doing business. He expressed these views while addressing a large delegation of Traders Welfare Association I-8 Markaz, which visited the Chamber under the leadership of its President, Chaudhry Waheed Mushtaq Cheema. Highlighting the Chamber’s facilitation initiatives, the ICCI President saidRead More
Pakistan, Qatar bust cocaine smuggling at Islamabad airport in joint operation
RAWALPINDI, Feb 18: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), working in coordination with Qatari authorities, has seized as many as 4.48 kilograms of cocaine at Islamabad International Airport and arrested two suspects in a joint, intelligence-led operation. According to the ANF spokesman, the operation followed enhanced cooperation agreed at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Conference on Counter Narcotics held in Islamabad in April 2025. Acting on shared intelligence, ANF officials intercepted a Pakistani woman, identified as Sehrish Bano, who was travelling from Sharjah to Islamabad via Doha. A search of her hand-carriedRead More

