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A high-level Norwegian delegation led by Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide met Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Thursday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, regional security and Pakistan-Norway bilateral relations. During the meeting, Field Marshal Asim Munir presented Pakistan’s perspective on global peace and regional stability. He stressed the need for greater cooperation and joint efforts to address emerging security challenges. The two sides also discussed the evolving security environment in the region and the importance of strengthening coordination between Pakistan and Norway. The Norwegian foreign minister acknowledged the role of the Pakistan Armed Forces in contributing to regional peace and stability. Both sides expressed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation, particularly in the fields of defence and security. The meeting comes as Pakistan continues to engage with international partners on regional security, peace and broader strategic issues. The discussions with the Norwegian delegation provided an opportunity for both countries to explore avenues for deeper institutional and defence-related engagement. The two sides reaffirmed their resolve to maintain regular engagement and enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced Pakistan’s first Youth Employment Policy. He said the government is focusing on education, skills, employment and entrepreneurship for young people. Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Shehbaz said a significant amount of money had been allocated for youth development this year. He stressed the importance of equal educational opportunities. He said every child should have access to quality education.The prime minister said Pakistan could not achieve the vision of Quaid-e-Azam if quality education remained limited to wealthy families. He criticised the gap between privileged and poor students. He said elite institutions provide better facilities to children from affluent families. According to Shehbaz, this inequality has contributed to Pakistan’s weak performance in the education sector. He said his government had worked to bring students from remote and less-developed areas into the education system. The prime minister also highlighted the Daanish Schools programme. He said its network is being expanded beyond Punjab. New Daanish Schools are being established in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, he added. Shehbaz said young people must be given access to modern education and technology. He warned that Pakistan would fall further behind if its youth were not prepared for the changing global economy. 35% quota for women The prime minister announced important measures under the new employment policy. He said women would receive a 35% quota across the labour force.He also announced a 10% annual quota for startups. The measure is aimed at encouraging young entrepreneurs and creating new employment opportunities. Shehbaz said young people should not only look for jobs. They should also be encouraged to establish businesses and create employment for others. Daanish University in Islamabad The prime minister also announced progress on Daanish University in Islamabad.He said the university is being established to provide modern and quality education. Classes are expected to begin next year.Shehbaz said financial difficulties should not prevent talented students from pursuing higher education. He said students with strong academic results would be given opportunities even if they could not afford expensive education. The prime minister pledged that his government would take every possible step for youth development. He said higher education and employment would remain among the government’s key priorities. Shehbaz also highlighted the government’s laptop distribution programme. He said around 700,000 laptops had already been distributed among deserving students.According to the prime minister, the laptops were awarded strictly on merit. He recalled that the programme had faced criticism in the past. Some critics had accused the government of using laptops for political purposes.Shehbaz rejected the criticism and said deserving students received the devices based on their academic performance. He further announced that 250,000 students would receive Chromebooks this year.The devices will also be distributed on merit. The prime minister said investment in education and digital skills was essential for Pakistan’s future.He said young people represent the country’s biggest resource. Providing them with education, technology and employment opportunities, he added, would help build a skilled workforce and strengthen the national economy.The new Youth Employment Policy is therefore being presented as a broader government effort to connect education with employment and entrepreneurship.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched Vision Pakistan 2047, a long-term national development framework focused on economic growth, youth empowerment, employment, education, technology and sustainable development. Addressing a youth event in Islamabad, the prime minister pledged to do everything within his power for the prosperity and employment of young Pakistanis as long as he remained responsible for serving the country. Shehbaz said Pakistan’s founders built the country in 1947, while the Pakistan of 2047 would be shaped by the vision, energy and capabilities of its young generation. He urged students to prepare themselves to play a leading role in the country’s future development. Youth development is a major component of Vision Pakistan 2047. The government plans to expand opportunities in education, employment, entrepreneurship and technology so that young people can acquire skills required by the modern economy. The prime minister also announced Pakistan’s first national youth employment policy. Under the policy, women will have a 35 per cent share in the labour force, while 10 per cent of the allocation will be reserved for startups. The initiative aims not only to help young people find jobs but also encourage them to establish businesses and create employment for others. Shehbaz stressed that equal access to quality education was essential for building the welfare state envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam. He said talented children from villages and less-developed areas should receive opportunities comparable to those available to students from privileged backgrounds. The government plans to expand the Danish Schools network to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan. The initiative is intended to provide quality education to deserving students without financial barriers. A Danish University is also being established in Islamabad, with classes expected to begin next year. The institution will focus on modern education and emerging disciplines. The prime minister said Pakistan must increase its focus on information technology, artificial intelligence and technical education to remain competitive globally. He said 1,000 students had already been sent to China for training in agricultural technology, while high-achieving students would receive opportunities for IT and AI education. The government has also distributed around 700,000 laptops among deserving students. Another 250,000 laptops are expected to be provided to high-achieving students this year. Vision Pakistan 2047 will be aligned with the government’s Uraan Pakistan programme. Ministries and relevant institutions have been directed to set long-term targets covering economic transformation, human capital, technology, innovation, governance and sustainable development. The broader objective is to create a competitive and inclusive economy and move Pakistan towards a trillion-dollar economic target while improving living standards and expanding opportunities for its young population. Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan also addressed the gathering. He said the government was working continuously to create opportunities for young people and praised Shehbaz Sharif for initiatives taken for youth development.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is making fresh diplomatic efforts to revive its role as a mediator between Iran and the United States. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Tehran on Tuesday for talks with senior Iranian officials. During his visit, he met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The visit is aimed at keeping Pakistan’s mediation channel active. Islamabad is seeking progress on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which emerged from earlier efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States. Naqvi was received in Tehran by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. He later held discussions with Araghchi on bilateral relations and regional developments. Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts had slowed after Oman became more directly involved in talks concerning arrangements for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, recent contacts between Oman and Iran appear to have created an opportunity for Islamabad to renew its broader mediation initiative. A diplomatic source said Pakistan wants to follow up on the Islamabad MoU and encourage both sides to return to a wider diplomatic process. The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains particularly sensitive. The waterway is vital for international energy and trade routes. Iran has maintained that the Islamabad MoU remains the key framework for resolving the wider dispute. Tehran has also linked the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to implementation of the commitments contained in the agreement. Iran and Oman have been discussing arrangements for safer passage through the strategic waterway. Their discussions include possible shipping routes and mechanisms for managing navigation. However, Tehran has indicated that any understanding with Oman would initially address technical matters. It would not necessarily represent a complete resolution of the wider dispute. Iran has also called for concrete assurances from Washington before moving towards the next stage of negotiations. Tehran wants guarantees that can be verified rather than verbal commitments. Pakistan has continued to encourage dialogue between the two sides. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also indicated that Washington and Tehran could be moving closer to an understanding. He said recent signals suggested that the two countries were again moving towards a possible peace arrangement or deal. Meanwhile, Pakistan has invited Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf to visit Islamabad. Iranian officials have said the visit would take place at an appropriate time. Naqvi’s trip to Tehran is therefore significant because Islamabad is maintaining direct engagement instead of waiting for the Iranian delegation to visit Pakistan. During his meeting with President Pezeshkian, Naqvi described Pakistan-Iran relations as strong and longstanding. He conveyed Islamabad’s intention to further strengthen ties with Tehran. Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of bilateral relations. He said stronger cooperation between Pakistan and Iran could serve their national interests and contribute to regional stability. The discussions come amid broader diplomatic and security developments in the region. Pakistan recently signed a trilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Islamabad has maintained that the arrangement is defensive and is not directed against any country. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the agreement with his Iranian counterpart. He briefed Araghchi on its objectives and stressed its focus on strategic cooperation and regional peace. At the same time, US President Donald Trump has adopted a tougher tone towards Iran’s negotiating team. Trump described Iranian negotiators as difficult and accused them of making commitments privately and later presenting them differently in public. He also warned that Iran’s economic problems and inflation were becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Trump said Washington could continue applying economic pressure on Tehran. He also suggested that the United States could take stronger measures if necessary. The contrasting positions underline the difficulties facing diplomatic efforts. Pakistan is now attempting to keep communication channels open with Tehran while encouraging a broader political process involving Iran and the United States.

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Wednesday said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s ongoing visit to Iran is focused on strengthening bilateral relations, discussing security matters and supporting efforts for peace and stability in the region. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly briefing that Naqvi, who reached Tehran on Tuesday, was meeting senior Iranian officials as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement. The spokesperson said the visit provides an opportunity for Pakistan and Iran to discuss bilateral relations, security concerns and developments in the region. He added that particular attention was being given to promoting peace, stability and constructive dialogue among regional parties. Naqvi was received in Tehran by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. He subsequently met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iranian media reports. Pakistan’s broader mediation efforts between Iran and the United States also featured prominently in the briefing. Andrabi said Islamabad remains engaged with other friendly countries to help address tensions and create conditions for dialogue. He said Pakistan was making efforts to bring the two sides to the negotiating table and build on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. According to the spokesperson, Islamabad wants diplomatic engagement to help reduce tensions and contribute to regional stability. Andrabi also said Pakistan would continue using both direct and indirect diplomatic channels to deal with obstacles to dialogue and encourage a constructive process for resolving outstanding issues. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye defence pact The Foreign Office spokesperson also highlighted the recently signed defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. The pact was signed in Makkah last Friday and seeks to strengthen cooperation and collective deterrence among the three countries. Under the agreement, an attack against one member is to be treated as an attack against all signatories. Andrabi described the agreement as defensive in character and said it reflected the three countries’ longstanding ties and shared responsibility for regional security. He stressed that the pact was not directed against any particular country. Instead, he said, it provides a framework for coordinated efforts to address security threats and challenges facing the member states. Pakistan rejects India’s AJK remarks The Foreign Office also rejected recent comments by India’s Ministry of External Affairs concerning alleged human rights violations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Andrabi termed India’s remarks baseless and questioned New Delhi’s criticism by pointing to what Pakistan describes as a record of repression in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that excessive use of force, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on political activity and extensive security powers continued to raise serious human rights concerns there. The spokesperson said India’s attempts to politicise developments in AJK could not divert attention from the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s stated commitment to protecting fundamental rights and democratic freedoms in AJK.