Lahore: Kashif Anwar, President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need for collaborative action to enhance trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Speaking at a meeting with an Afghan trade delegation led by Khan Jan Alokozai, Co-President of the Pakistan Afghanistan Chamber, Anwar highlighted the untapped potential in bilateral trade despite historical ties between the two nations.

Discussions centered on the importance of cultural understanding, establishment of banking channels, and exploration of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, carpets, and auto parts for trade expansion.

Alokozai emphasized the significance of transit trade and economic stability for fostering regional connectivity, while also encouraging Pakistani investors to explore opportunities in Afghanistan. Both sides expressed the need for stability and reconciliation efforts to bolster mutual trade relations.

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Saturday that the Pakistani youth is enriched with creative abilities, their youth can surprise the world through their creative abilities if they are provided government patronage.

The Punjab CM in a special message on the Creativity and Innovation Day said, “The youth should project their creative abilities by thinking something new ‘Kuch Naya Soch’, they should explore new ideas and adopt innovation in all aspects of life. It is the gift of nature which is bestowed upon the human ability to create something new. Education plays a fundamental role in our creative abilities.

She said that the establishment of Nawaz Sharif IT city in Lahore would not only generate employment opportunities but would also promote creative abilities among the youth.

“If we want to progress among the comity of nations than we will have to encourage the creative abilities among our youth,” said the CM.

She said that the Punjab government would encourage and welcome creative thinking of the youth, adding that the innovation provides creative abilities, exports and employment opportunities. Those countries which make investment in the latest research and development are progressing swiftly on the economic front.

The CM highlighted that creative ability is of utmost importance to find solutions of the problems arising with the passage of time and change. She underscored that human beings have done miracles in the fields of science, technology, medical science and engineering through their creative abilities.

She said that humans through their creative abilities attained the goal of progress in the IT, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics sectors. She emphasized that innovation is highly essential for the manufacturing of products, provision of services to make one’s business profitable. We can make our products and services acceptable in the international market through creativity and innovation.

Creative ability and innovation is the cornerstone of progress and prosperity. The CM  emphasized that we need to understand the strength of creative thinking and innovation so as to overcome global challenges, attaining economic progress and carving out a durable future for our country.

“We need to utilize the strength of innovation for economic progress, social well-being, better utilization of resources and creation of a stable society,” she added.

Islamabad: Foreign Office on Saturday strong exception to the US decision to impose sanctions against commercial entities on allegations of links with Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme.

In response to media queries regarding the US decision to impose sanctions against commercial entities on allegations of links with Pakistan’s ballistic missile programme, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said such listings of commercial entities have taken place in the past as well on allegations of links to Pakistan's ballistic missile programme without sharing any evidence whatsoever.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said while they are not aware of the specifics of the latest measures by the United States, in the past they have come across many instances where listings have been made on mere suspicion or even when the involved items were not on any control lists but were deemed sensitive under catch-all provisions.

The Spokesperson said Pakistan rejects political use of export controls. It is a reality that the same jurisdictions, which claim to exercise strict non-proliferation controls, have waived off licensing requirements for advanced military technologies for some countries. She said this is leading to arms buildup; accentuating regional asymmetries, and undermining the objectives of non-proliferation and of regional and global peace and security.

She said Pakistan has pointed out many times need to avoid arbitrary application of export controls and for discussions between concerned parties for an objective mechanism to avoid erroneous sanctions on technology needed purely for socio-economic development pursuits.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan has been ready to discuss end-use and end-user verification mechanisms so that legitimate commercial users are not hurt by discriminatory application of export controls. It is well known that the same jurisdictions, which claim strict adherence to non-proliferation controls, have waived off licensing requirements for advanced military technologies for some countries. She said such discriminatory approaches and double standards are undermining the credibility of non-proliferation regimes and also the objectives of regional and global peace and security by accentuating military asymmetries.