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Gilani meets Belgian Royal delegation

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, on Tuesday met with the Belgian Royal Delegation comprising Prince Édouard de Ligne La Trémoïlle and Princess Isabella Orsini de Ligne La Trémoïlle at Parliament House.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views in a cordial atmosphere on bilateral relations, parliamentary diplomacy, regional developments, and avenues for enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and Belgium, said a news release.

The Chairman Senate conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from the Parliament and people of Pakistan to the people of Belgium and expressed satisfaction over the growing relations between the two countries.

He remarked that the visit of the distinguished Belgian delegation reflected the longstanding friendship, mutual goodwill, and strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and Belgium.

The Chairman Senate said that Pakistan attached great importance to its friendly relations with Belgium and regarded as an important partner in Europe.

He added that Pakistan–Belgium relations were rooted in mutual respect, democratic values, and constructive engagement at bilateral and multilateral forums.

Highlighting Belgium’s significance as the host country of key European institutions, he said Belgium served as an important gateway for Pakistan’s engagement with Europe.

He also appreciated Belgium’s continued support for Pakistan’s GSP Plus status, acknowledging its positive contribution towards enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Emphasizing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, the Chairman of the Senate said that the Senate of Pakistan remained actively engaged in promoting dialogue and cooperation with parliamentary institutions across the world.

He underlined that enhanced interaction between parliamentarians and institutions of both countries would further strengthen mutual understanding and facilitate the exchange of experiences in democratic governance and policy making.

The Chairman of the Senate also highlighted the significance of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), an initiative launched under his leadership in April 2025. He described the forum as a unique platform aimed at promoting global peace, cooperation, and inclusive development through parliamentary diplomacy.

Referring to the first ISC Conference held in Islamabad in November 2025, he noted that parliamentary delegations from 39 countries participated in the event, which made it an important platform for dialogue on global peace and developmental challenges. He expressed hope for Belgium’s active participation in future editions of the conference.

Discussing economic cooperation, the Chairman of the Senate observed that Belgium was one of Pakistan’s important economic partners in Europe and served as a major trade and logistics hub for Pakistani exports.

Regional and global developments also came under discussion during the meeting.

Gilani reiterated Pakistan’s principled position in favour of peaceful resolution of conflicts, dialogue-based diplomacy, and regional stability.

He further highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and de-escalation in the Middle East and expressed hope that the recent ceasefire agreement reached in April 2026 would contribute towards lasting peace and stability in the region.

The Chairman said that Pakistan was a peace-loving country committed to the promotion of peace worldwide. He observed that India had attempted to impose conflict on Pakistan last year through false propaganda; however, Pakistan responded responsibly and defended itself with restraint and maturity.

He added that the leadership and bravery of Pakistan’s Armed Forces had been widely appreciated internationally.

The Belgian Prince and Princess thanked Chairman of the Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for the warm hospitality and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for the promotion of peace at the international level.

They acknowledged that European countries recognised and valued Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting global peace and expressed hope that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts would help avert wider global conflict and contribute to international stability.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chairman of the Senate thanked the distinguished Belgian delegation for their visit and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening relations with Belgium.

He emphasized upon the importance of enhancing parliamentary exchanges, economic cooperation, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries while conveying his best wishes for the people of Belgium.

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Pakistani Students’ UK Visa Delays Raised by Azam Nazeer Tarar with British High Commissioner

Azam Nazeer Tarar with UK High Commissioner

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott called on Federal Minister for Law & Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar. The meeting discussed Pakistan-UK bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, the Federal Minister raised the issue of delays in UK visas for Pakistani students and conveyed the Government of Pakistan’s concern to the British High Commissioner.

Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that hundreds of Pakistani students were facing difficulties due to delays in visa processing, with a risk that the delays could result in the loss of their academic year. He stressed the need to remove obstacles faced by Pakistani students seeking education abroad and facilitate them in this regard.

The Federal Minister briefed the British High Commissioner that, on the directives of the Prime Minister, a committee under his chairmanship was working to improve the legal and institutional framework concerning Pakistani students studying abroad.

He further informed the High Commissioner that, on the Prime Minister’s directives, the committee had finalized its recommendations on the matter, and work was underway to further improve the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students pursuing education abroad.

The Federal Minister said that the legal and institutional framework for Pakistani students seeking education abroad was being improved to develop an effective mechanism for addressing the issues faced by students.

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott assured the Federal Minister that the issue of delays in visas for Pakistani students would be addressed.

The meeting also discussed further strengthening educational linkages between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, as well as enhancing institutional cooperation and engagement between the two countries.

Minister of State for Law, Justice and Human Rights Barrister Aqeel Malik was also present during the meeting.

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Naqvi Sets September 30 Deadline for Completion of Islamabad Safe City Expansion

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, visited the Islamabad Safe City Headquarters on Friday and chaired a special meeting to review progress on the Safe City Expansion Project, directing officials to complete the ambitious initiative by September 30.

During the briefing, officials informed the minister that overall work on the expansion project has reached 85 percent completion. Installation of the new surveillance network is also 85 percent complete, while 415 kilometres of optical fibre have been laid to support the upgraded system. Work on the data centre, cyber architecture, and cybersecurity infrastructure has also reached approximately 80 percent completion.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of work, Naqvi stressed that the remaining tasks must be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

He said the government’s vision is to transform the Islamabad Safe City into a modern, smart, and world-class institution comparable to those in developed countries.

The interior minister said the technologically advanced Safe City system would significantly strengthen public safety through enhanced surveillance, effective monitoring, and rapid emergency response capabilities.

He noted that the project would play a vital role in improving law enforcement efficiency and ensuring better security for residents of the federal capital.

Naqvi also assigned officials the task of completing the state-of-the-art Fusion Centre within the next three months, describing it as a critical component of the upgraded Safe City network.

He further directed the relevant authorities to finalise the Safe City Bill at the earliest and present it before the National Assembly without delay to provide the legal framework necessary for the project’s long-term operation and expansion.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Interior, the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), senior Safe City officials, and other relevant officers, who briefed the minister on the progress and future roadmap of the expansion project.

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PM Shehbaz, high-level delegation perform Umrah; pray for country’s progress

MAKKAH AL-MUKARRAMAH: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along with his high-level delegation, performed Umrah here on Friday.

He was accompanied by his delegation including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi.

The door of Khana Kaaba was opened specially for the prime minister and his delegation.

Following the completion of the Umrah rituals, the prime minister, field marshal, and other members of the Pakistani delegation offered special prayers for the progress and prosperity of the country, the safety and unity of the Muslim Ummah, and for regional and global peace.

The prime minister arrived in Jeddah on Thursday evening for a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Besides meeting with his Saudi counterpart, he will also pay a visit to the Roze-e-Rasool (PBUH) in Madinah.