Pakistan PM, Azerbaijan president vow to boost trade and investment on ECO summit sidelines

Pakistan PM, Azerbaijan president vow to boost trade and investment on ECO summit sidelines
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Khankendi, Azerbaijan on July 4, 2025, on the sidelines of 17th ECO Summit. (Handout/PMO)
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Updated 04 July 2025
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Pakistan PM, Azerbaijan president vow to boost trade and investment on ECO summit sidelines

Pakistan PM, Azerbaijan president vow to boost trade and investment on ECO summit sidelines
  • The summit brought together heads of government from ECO member states to discuss economic and political cooperation
  • Pakistan, bolstered by an IMF program, is looking to capitalize on its geostrategic location as a major trade and transit hub

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the 17th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit, Sharif’s office said, with the two leaders agreeing to boost bilateral trade and investment.

The prime minister led Pakistan’s delegation at the ECO summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan on July 3-4, which focused on the promotion of trade, sustaining development and enhancing regional connectivity.

Sharif noted that recent interactions between leaders of the two countries had helped strengthen relations and invited President Ilham to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, according to the Pakistan PM’s office.

“The two leaders agreed to enhance their cooperation in the fields of trade and investment while expressing satisfaction over the progress made regarding the investment prospects,” Sharif’s office said.

“Both leaders reiterated their resolve to strengthen the economic partnership, especially Azerbaijan’s investment in Pakistan.”

This is Sharif’s third visit to Azerbaijan in 2025. He last traveled to Baku in May as part of a broader push at economic diplomacy with the Central Asian republics, to whom Pakistan has offered access to its southern ports in Karachi and Gwadar.

The ECO summit, themed as “New ECO Vision for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future,” brought together heads of state and government from ECO member states to discuss economic and political cooperation.

Founded in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkiye, the Eurasian intergovernmental organization included Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in 1992, aiming to establish a single market for goods and services.

Pakistan, slowly recovering from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal, has been looking to capitalize on its geostrategic location to boost transit trade and foreign investment for a sustainable economic recovery.

In July 2024, Azerbaijan announced a $2 billion investment in Pakistan during a visit by President Ilham Aliyev to Islamabad. In September last year, Pakistan signed a contract to supply JF-17 Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan, marking the deepening of defense cooperation.


Rights activists welcome Pakistan Senate move to scrap death penalty for two crimes

Rights activists welcome Pakistan Senate move to scrap death penalty for two crimes
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Rights activists welcome Pakistan Senate move to scrap death penalty for two crimes

Rights activists welcome Pakistan Senate move to scrap death penalty for two crimes
  • Activists urge stronger protections for women as one offense involves publicly stripping them
  • Harsh punishments may seem tough, they say, but often let offenders of such crimes walk free

KARACHI: Rights activists in Pakistan on Saturday welcomed Pakistan’s Senate decision to abolish the death penalty for two criminal offenses— publicly stripping women and harboring hijackers— but stressed the need for stronger legislation and better enforcement to ensure justice for survivors and prevent violence.

The reform amends Sections 354-A and 402-C of the Pakistan Penal Code and replaces capital punishment with life imprisonment for the two crimes.

Lawmakers say the move is part of a broader effort to align Pakistan’s criminal justice system with international human rights standards, particularly under the European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which grants preferential trade access to countries that uphold certain rights commitments.

“Publicly stripping women of their clothes is one of the most heinous crimes and must be met with the harshest punishment,” Mahnaz Rahman, woman’s rights activist and former executive director of the Aurat Foundation, told Arab News. “While we strongly advocate for severe punishments for such acts, we do not support the death penalty for any crime, including this one.”

She said life imprisonment itself was an “extremely severe” punishment, though she insisted the change must be accompanied by comprehensive and robust legislation to prevent this and all other forms of violence against women.

“Ultimately, it is the effective enforcement of laws and accountability that will deter such crimes and help ensure that women feel genuinely safe and protected in our society,” she added.

Sarah Belal, Executive Director of Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), said the reform aligned Pakistan’s criminal justice system more closely with the principles of fairness and the rule of law.

“The death penalty has never been enforced for this offense, but its mere presence has discouraged convictions and denied survivors meaningful redress,” she said. “Harsh punishments may appear tough, but they often let perpetrators walk free.”

“Removing the death penalty for these offenses does not mean they are being decriminalized,” she added. “It simply means we are pushing for stronger, more proportionate implementation of the law.”

Senator Talal Chaudhry of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party who introduced the bill said the amendments had been thoroughly discussed and approved by a standing committee with cross-party input.

“Replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment under both sections is part of Pakistan’s legal reforms,” he said.

The bill must now be passed by the National Assembly before it can receive presidential assent and become law.

Under existing law, Section 354-A allows for capital punishment or life imprisonment for anyone who assaults and strips a woman in public, while Section 402-C applies the same punishment to individuals who knowingly harbor hijackers.

The new bill eliminates the death penalty option for both. However, some lawmakers have voiced concern over the move.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri of the Balochistan Awami Party warned that Pakistan’s low conviction rates and weak enforcement mechanisms could make reduced punishments ineffective as a deterrent.

“This is not right,” she was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper. “This is not going to help the country or its people.”

Chaudhry defended the move, pointing to the misuse of capital punishment laws enacted during the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq.

“Life imprisonment is by no means a minor punishment,” he said, noting that the law had often been abused by police to settle personal vendettas.

Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized that the changes did not affect death sentences for more serious crimes like murder or rape.

“We are only removing the death penalty from offenses that do not constitute the ‘most serious crimes,’ a key requirement under the GSP+ agreement,” he said in response to a query by Senator Shibli Faraz.

Pakistan has long faced international scrutiny over its broad application of the death penalty.

At least 31 offenses are currently punishable by death under Pakistani law. While executions have not taken place since 2020, over 6,100 people remain on death row, according to the Justice Project Pakistan.

Between 2015 and 2019, more than 500 people were executed following the end of a moratorium in 2014.

Senator Quratulain Marri of the Pakistan People’s Party, a coalition partner of the ruling PML-N, said her party opposed the death penalty on principle.

“There are numerous studies on how capital punishment is not an effective deterrent,” she told Arab News. “While the need for reforms cannot be ruled out, we have to consider bringing changes that better society in the long run. The aim is to rid society of the crime and not just the criminal.”


Pakistan cuts Karachi port charges by 50% in climate-focused maritime reform push

Pakistan cuts Karachi port charges by 50% in climate-focused maritime reform push
Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan cuts Karachi port charges by 50% in climate-focused maritime reform push

Pakistan cuts Karachi port charges by 50% in climate-focused maritime reform push
  • Government says efficient port cuts vessel idle time, fuel use and supports greener supply chains
  • Pakistan also aims to cut container dwell time by 70% using AI and drone-based port monitoring

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Saturday announced a 50% reduction in Karachi Port charges, in a move aimed at cutting trade logistics costs and promoting climate-resilient, low-emission shipping practices.

The reform is part of a broader strategy to modernize Pakistan’s maritime sector and reduce its carbon footprint, as the country works to align trade infrastructure with global environmental standards.

“By lowering operational costs and streamlining logistics, we are not only boosting trade competitiveness but also contributing to climate resilience,” Chaudhry said in a statement issued by his office.

The new measures include halving charges related to port handling, vessel services and storage while scrapping a previously planned annual five percent fee hike.

Officials say the move is expected to benefit exporters of dry bulk goods and reduce emissions by improving port turnaround times and easing congestion.

“This isn’t just a financial measure,” Chaudhry added. “It’s a pivot toward low-impact, future-ready maritime trade. A more efficient port reduces idle time for vessels, lowers fuel consumption and supports greener supply chains.”

Karachi Port is one of Pakistan’s largest and busiest deep-water seaports, handling a significant share of the country’s import-export traffic.

Officials say the reforms will enhance the port’s efficiency while positioning it as a regional hub for climate-conscious maritime activity.

The announcement follows recent steps by the ministry to improve logistics and infrastructure, including the formation of a high-level committee to reduce container dwell times by 70%, and the deployment of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones for port monitoring.


Pakistan mulls ADB role in CPEC’s flagship Main Line‑1 railway upgrade

Pakistan mulls ADB role in CPEC’s flagship Main Line‑1 railway upgrade
Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan mulls ADB role in CPEC’s flagship Main Line‑1 railway upgrade

Pakistan mulls ADB role in CPEC’s flagship Main Line‑1 railway upgrade
  • An ADB fact-finding team inspected the 480-kilometer Karachi–Rohri track on Saturday
  • Officials say the ADB is yet to take any decision while calling China the main financier

KARACHI: Pakistan is considering financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the long-delayed Main Line‑1 (ML‑1) railway upgrade — part of the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — as an ADB fact-finding team inspected a section of the track on Saturday, according to an official statement.

ML‑1, a $6.7 billion upgrade of Pakistan’s 1,687-kilometer Karachi–Peshawar rail artery, is central to CPEC. The overhaul, involving track doubling, advanced signaling and higher-speed trains, is expected to boost cargo and passenger capacity while easing the transport of trade goods to and from the country’s southern ports.

“Experts from the Asian Development Bank inspected the Karachi to Rohri railway line today,” Pakistan Railways said in a statement. “The Bank’s Chief Transport Planner, Sangyoon Kim, conducted the 480-kilometer track inspection alongside the chief engineer (open lines) of Pakistan Railways.”

“ADB’s fact-finding specialists will prepare a report on the readiness of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project, following which a final decision regarding the project’s financing will be made,” the statement added.

ML‑1 underpins Pakistan’s main rail connectivity, carrying a major bulk of the country’s cargo and passenger traffic. The project was approved by the Economic Coordination Committee in 2020 but has repeatedly stalled amid funding hitches.

Speaking to Arab News, Babar Ali Raza, spokesperson at the railways ministry, said ADB was currently only preparing the feasibility.

“The main financier is China,” he continued. “The team conducting the inspection is assessing its own feasibility to determine whether ADB can provide financing or not.”

“This would be ADB’s own financing,” he added, “however much they want to contribute.”

Pakistan and China have described CPEC as a “game-changer” for growth. The corridor comprises multibillion-dollar infrastructure initiatives covering roads, energy and rail.

The two countries are also striving for regional connectivity, with Pakistan actively pursuing economic diplomacy in the neighborhood and offering its southern ports to landlocked Central Asian countries for global trade.


Pakistan deputy PM to travel to US next week for UN meetings on Palestine, multilateralism

Pakistan deputy PM to travel to US next week for UN meetings on Palestine, multilateralism
Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan deputy PM to travel to US next week for UN meetings on Palestine, multilateralism

Pakistan deputy PM to travel to US next week for UN meetings on Palestine, multilateralism
  • Pakistan is hosting a series of UN meetings after assuming the Security Council’s presidency this month
  • Ishaq Dar will chair an open debate on strengthening multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar will travel to the United States next week to chair UN Security Council meetings in New York focused on multilateralism and the Palestinian issue, the foreign office said in a statement on Saturday.

Pakistan assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council earlier this month and is hosting a series of “signature events” — or high-level meetings organized by the Council president — to spotlight key diplomatic priorities.

Dar will chair an open debate on strengthening multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes, and preside over a quarterly debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

“The high-level debate aims at exploring ways to strengthen multilateralism, and at enhancing diplomacy and mediation for peaceful settlement of disputes,” the foreign office said.

Dar will also lead a briefing at the Council on enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as part of Pakistan’s broader effort to bolster institutional partnerships for international peace and security.

“To express Pakistan’s strong commitment, and unwavering support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, the DPM/FM will also attend the high-level Conference on the ‘Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of Two-State Solution,’” the statement added.

Pakistan has consistently supported Palestinian statehood and called for an end to Israeli occupation in various multilateral forums.

During his stay in New York, Dar is expected to hold bilateral meetings with UN officials and counterparts from other member states.

The foreign office said he will also travel to Washington for other official engagements.

“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar’s visit to New York and Washington exemplifies Pakistan’s growing role and importance in the multilateral arena as well as its expanding multifaceted relations with the US,” the statement said.


New-look Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in T20 series

New-look Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in T20 series
Updated 19 July 2025
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New-look Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in T20 series

New-look Pakistan and Bangladesh face off in T20 series
  • Pakistan skipper says squad shaping up well for next World Cup despite missing key players
  • Bangladesh will enter the series on Sunday after securing a 2-1 T20 win in Sri Lanka last week

DHAKA: Pakistan captain Salman Agha is confident his new-look side is shaping up well toward next year’s World Cup as they take on Bangladesh in a Twenty20 series starting in Dhaka from Sunday.

Agha has been leading the short format side with star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out since last year.

Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the three-match series and seam bowlers Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim are also missing because of injuries.

Agha said the missing players could still be considered for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year.

“We have changed the way we want to play but we are confident of our build-up and direction,” said Agha on Saturday.

“We are going for this series with ample preparations as Bangladesh can be a challenging team in their home conditions.”

New Zealander Mike Hesson is Pakistan’s new white-ball coach. His first assignment was a 3-0 series win at home against Bangladesh 3-0 last month.

With leg-spinner Shadab Khan also injured, Pakistan have picked two uncapped fast bowlers in Salman Mirza and Ahmed Daniyal.

Bangladesh won a T20 series 2-1 in Sri Lanka last week.

“What happened in Sri Lanka is in the past,” said captain Litton Das.

“We have to face a new challenge starting tomorrow. We are ready for this challenge.

“We have the mentality to beat any team, but we have to play well on the particular day and not entirely bank on home conditions.”

Bangladesh have kept the same squad that went to Sri Lanka

The second and third matches are on Tuesday and Thursday, also in Dhaka.