Islamabad: Pakistan and China on Wednesday reiterated the resolve to further deepen the bilateral ties through continued high-level exchanges and bilateral consultative mechanisms.

This resolve was expressed at the 5th round of China-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday (today).

They also renewed the commitment to advance the high quality development of CPEC in its second phase with its focus on five corridors namely growth, innovation, open, livelihood, green corridors.

Both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Noting the China Pakistan 'All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership', the Deputy Prime Minister underlined relations with China as the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy.

He also highlighted the threats posed to regional peace and security due to India's illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and appreciated China's principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.      

Karachi: Pakistani Rupee on Wednesday lost 08 paisa against US Dollar in the interbank trading and closed at Rs 278.26 against the previous day’s closing at Rs 278.18.

However, according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the buying and selling rates of the Dollar in the open market stood at Rs 277.25 and Rs 279.80 respectively.

The price of the Euro increased by Rs.1.31 to close at Rs 301.24 against the last day’s closing of Rs 299.93, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The Japanese Yen went up by 01 paisa to close at Rs 1.78; whereas an increase of Rs1.89 was witnessed in the exchange rate of the British Pound, which traded at Rs 350.44 as compared to the last closing of Rs 348.55.

The exchange rates of the Emirates Dirham and Saudi Riyal increased by 02 paisa each to close at Rs 75.75 and Rs 74.19 respectively.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday authorized an additional grant of twenty three billion rupees to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the paramount national interest.

It was apprised in a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet in Islamabad on Wednesday (today) with Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb in the chair.

The committee also gave approval to the summary for provision of twenty three billion rupees as Additional Grant to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Government through Technical Supplementary Grant as proposed by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The meeting was attended by Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister for Industries & Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Petroleum Minister Musadik Masood Malik and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan.