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    ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan’s pharmaceutical exports have reached a 20-year high of $457 million, stressing that the pharmaceutical industry must establish a clear contribution towards the country’s ambitious target of generating more than $100 billion in exports by 2035. Speaking at a roundtable conference in Islamabad organised to facilitate pharmaceutical exports under the government’s Uraan Pakistan initiative, the federal minister said the industry needed to adopt a long-term strategy to expand its presence in international markets. Ahsan Iqbal called on representatives of the pharmaceutical sector to hold consultations over the next month and prepare a comprehensive roadmap for the industry’s development through 2030 and beyond. He said Pakistan’s objective should be to transform the country into a global hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and exports. The minister emphasised that Pakistan needed to secure a significant position in the international pharmaceutical market by improving the competitiveness and quality of locally manufactured products. He said cooperation between the government and private sector could help the industry compete more effectively at the global level. According to the minister, continuity in government policies and the creation of a business-friendly environment are essential for the sustainable growth of the pharmaceutical sector. He stressed that investors and manufacturers require predictable policies and a supportive regulatory framework to make long-term investments in production, research and exports. Ahsan Iqbal also highlighted the need to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported pharmaceutical inputs and increase domestic manufacturing capacity. He said approximately 85 percent of the raw material used by the pharmaceutical industry is currently imported, creating challenges for the sector and increasing its exposure to international supply disruptions and currency fluctuations. He called for strengthening the local pharmaceutical value chain so that a greater proportion of raw materials, intermediate products and finished medicines could be produced within Pakistan. The minister said enhancing domestic production would not only reduce the country’s import bill but could also improve the competitiveness of Pakistani pharmaceutical companies in international markets. A stronger local supply chain could help manufacturers reduce production costs, improve efficiency and develop products that meet international standards. He further stressed the importance of developing a coordinated strategy involving government institutions, pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers and other stakeholders. Such cooperation, he said, would be necessary to identify the major obstacles facing the sector and develop practical solutions. The roundtable conference was held as part of efforts under Uraan Pakistan to promote exports and strengthen productive sectors of the economy. The initiative aims to improve Pakistan’s economic performance by encouraging investment, increasing exports and promoting sustainable industrial development. Ahsan Iqbal said the pharmaceutical industry had significant potential to contribute to Pakistan’s export growth if its structural challenges were addressed. He urged industry representatives to use the consultation process to develop realistic targets and identify measures that could help Pakistan increase its share in the global pharmaceutical market. The minister’s remarks come as Pakistan seeks to diversify its export base and reduce dependence on traditional export sectors. He said the pharmaceutical industry could become an important contributor to this effort by improving domestic production, investing in innovation and expanding access to international markets. The government, he added, would continue working with the private sector to create conditions that encourage investment and promote the long-term growth of Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has denied any known connection between the party and the man who was killed during a security incident in Rawalpindi, saying the party does not know which group the deceased belonged to or what actions he may have been involved in. Speaking about the incident, Raja said PTI was a peaceful political party and strongly opposed terrorism. He stressed that the party had never had any connection with terrorist activity and was pursuing its political struggle within the framework of the Constitution and law. “We do not know which group the man who was killed in Rawalpindi belonged to or what his actions were,” Raja said, according to reports. His comments came after a man was killed following an incident involving gunfire at security personnel on Mall Road in Rawalpindi. Police said a suspect opened fire on security forces, injuring a member of a patrol team before the suspect was killed. The incident has sparked a political dispute over the identity and political affiliation of the deceased. PTI leader Shafi Jan separately claimed that the man killed on Mall Road was a PTI worker. The claim contrasts with Raja’s statement that he did not know which group the deceased belonged to. The differing statements have added to questions surrounding the man’s identity and alleged activities. Raja also rejected any suggestion that PTI was involved in violent activity, saying the party was committed to pursuing its political objectives through constitutional and legal means. On the possibility of negotiations with the government, the PTI secretary general said there was currently no government offer on the table. However, he maintained that the party had never rejected negotiations on principle. Raja was also questioned about PTI Senator Shumail Yousafzai. He explained that she had not been removed from the party because the leadership did not want to create further divisions within PTI. He claimed that Yousafzai was not acting alone and had a group of people supporting her. Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi incident has become part of a broader political debate over security, terrorism and the role of political parties in Pakistan. Government officials and opposition figures have offered sharply different interpretations of PTI’s political conduct. The conflicting claims regarding the deceased man’s affiliation are likely to keep the issue in the spotlight as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the Rawalpindi shooting and determine the identity and background of the person who was killed.

Justice Sardar Ali Akbar Dogar has emerged as the highest-performing judge of the Lahore High Court during the judic ial summer vacations, disposing of the largest number of cases among all judges, according to the court’s weekly disposal report. The report, released on July 31, 2026, states that a total of 425 cases were decided at the Principal Seat of the Lahore High Court in Lahore between July 27 and July 31, 2026. According to the report, a Division Bench comprising Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf and Justice Sardar Ali Akbar Dogar disposed of 44 cases during the reporting period. Meanwhile, Justice Dogar, sitting as a Single Bench judge, disposed of an impressive 381 cases, making him the highest case-disposing judge during the vacation week. The report further reveals that the Single Bench disposed of 57 habeas corpus petitions, 33 pre-arrest bail applications, 27 post-arrest bail petitions, and 12 petitions seeking cancellation of bail. Justice Dogar also decided 32 petitions seeking the quashment of FIRs, 53 petitions relating to the registration of criminal cases, 63 petitions alleging police harassment, and 74 petitions concerning unlawful detention and illegal confinement. In addition, the court disposed of five petitions involving national identity cards and citizenship issues, while 14 cases of a religious nature were also decided during the same period. The Lahore High Court’s weekly report notes that the disposal statistics cover the period from July 27 to July 31, 2026. However, it also clarifies that the figures remain subject to official verification before being treated as final.