POLITICAL ISSUES

EGYPT

Islamabad, Cairo to enhance bilateral ties

Islamabad, Thursday, 11 October 2018      

Pakistan’s new President Arif Alvi met with Egyptian envoy to Pakistan Fadel Yakoub, discussed their shared faith and heritage, and underlined the scope for furthering political, economic and trade relations between the two countries. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

IRAN

Iranian envoy meets Balochistan’s CM

Quetta, Wednesday, 3 October 2018

Iranian envoy Mehdi Hunar Dost met Balochistan’s Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and two discussed Pak-Iran gas pipeline, Balochistan-Sistan banking channels, Gwadar-Chabahar railway connectivity, and facilities for Shia pilgrimage in Balochistan. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

IRAQ

Islamabad raises pilgrim visa issue with Baghdad

Quetta, Friday, 19 October 2018

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with Iraq’s ambassador Ali Yassin and discuss visa obstructions faced by Pakistani zaireen (pilgrims) aspiring to attend Arbaeen – the religious commemoration marking 40 days after the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali in the battle of Karbala. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

ISRAEL

Islamabad denies any links with Israel

Quetta, Saturday, 27 October 2018

Information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain Chaudhry dismissed the reports of an Israeli jet landing in Islamabad as a baseless rumour and clarified that Pakistan had no “covert” links with Israel. In a separate statement, Pakistan President Arif Alvi also reiterated Islamabad’s non-recognition of Israel and support for Palestine.  Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad, Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad, Business Recorder, Karachi

ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES

Islamabad gets aboard OIC water council 

Islamabad, Tuesday, 16 October 2018        

Pakistan was included in the OIC Water Council for two years tenure 2019-2020 and elected as the Vice Chairman to the ICMW (Islamic Conference of Ministers Responsible for Water) Bureau during the fourth session of the Conference of the OIC Ministers for Water held at Cairo on 15 October. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

QATAR

Islamabad to export workforce for Qatar FIFA cup

Islamabad, Friday, 19 October 2018           

Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mehmood Qureshi assured export of professional workforce for preparations of 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, during a bilateral meeting with his Qatari counterpart Abdul Rahman Al Thani in Islamabad. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia offers financial aid to debt-ridden Pakistan

Islamabad, Tuesday, 23 October 2018        

During Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia for the Future Investment Initiative Conference on October 22-23, the two countries signed an MoU which entitled Pakistan to receive a deposit of US$ 3 billion for one year as balance of payment support. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

TURKEY

Islamabad invites Ankara to join CPEC

Rawalpindi, Thursday, 4 October 2018

Federal Minister for Defence Production Zobaida Jalal met Turkish envoy Ihsan Yurdakul and invited Turkey to invest in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).  Source: Business Recorder, Karachi  

President pays official visit to Turkey 

Islamabad, Saturday, 27 October 2018       

Pakistan President Arif Alvi paid a three-day official visit to Turkey to address the inauguration ceremony of the newly-built Istanbul International Airport and hold bilateral talks with important dignitaries. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

Turkish officials participate in ‘Kashmir Black Day’

Islamabad, Saturday, 27 October 2018       

Turkish officials including Deputy Governor of Konya Mehmet Aydin, Deputy Mayor of Konya’s Selcuklu Municipality Ziya Yalcinkaya and parliamentarian Ali Sahin presided over the ‘Kashmir Black day’ seminar, jointly organised by the Youth Assembly of Konya’s Selcuklu Municipality and Pakistan Embassy, to express their solidarity with the people of Kashmir. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

SAUDI ARABIA-TURKEY

Pakistan welcomes joint investigation in Khashoggi case 

Islamabad, Monday, 15 October 2018        

Islamabad welcomed joint efforts by Saudi Arabia and Turkey to investigate the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who went missing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

UAE

Imran Khan invites Crown Prince

Islamabad, Monday, 22 October 2018        

In a telephonic conversation with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Zayed Sultan Al-Nahyan, Prime Minister Imran Khan touched upon bilateral issues and extended him an invitation, while the Crown Prince assured his country’s support. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

Pakistan embassy observes ‘Kashmir Black Day’

Islamabad, Saturday, 27 October 2018       

Many Kashmiri and Pakistani community members participated in the ‘Kashmir Black Day’ events organised by the Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate in Dubai. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

ECONOMIC ISSUES

IRAN

Iran-Pakistan discuss trade and commerce

Quetta, Saturday, 20 October 2018

Iran Consul General Reza Nazeri addressed the business community at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to discuss trade opportunities, particularly in dairy and construction sector. Source: The News International, Karachi

QATAR

Qatar to absorb more Pakistani workforce  

Islamabad, Wednesday, 17 October 2018   

Qatar’s envoy Ahmed Al Marhoon met Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfikar Bukhari and announced over 100,000 more jobs for Pakistanis as a special visa centre in Islamabad is underway for facilitation of workforce, easy flow of remittances and legal protection of worker rights. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

Officials discuss scope of Gwadar-Muscat ferry service  

Islamabad, Thursday, 18 October 2018      

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani Sheikh met Oman’s envoy Ahmed Al Marhoon to discuss the economic prospects and feasibility of a ferry service between Gwadar port and Muscat to benefit from enhanced trade and tourism. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

SAUDI ARABIA

Riyadh to invest in oil refinery near Gwadar

Islamabad, Thursday, 4 October 2018                                           

Federal Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, held on 4 October, gave preliminary approval to the Saudi proposal for construction of oil refinery near Gwadar Port and an agreement is likely to be signed between the two governments by next month. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

UAE

Pakistan, UAE discuss workforce issues

Islamabad, Thursday, 18 October 2018      

UAE envoy Hamad Al Zaabi and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Zulfikar Bukhari held a meeting in Islamabad to increase employment avenues and improve the general working conditions for Pakistani workforce and orchestrate an effective strategy for extradition of Pakistani workers imprisoned in the UAE for minor crimes. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

Business delegation visits Islamabad

Islamabad, Friday, 26 October 2018           

Minister of State and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan Aljaber led a high-level delegation to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi and discuss avenues for enhanced economic and strategic partnership. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad, Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad,

DEFENCE ISSUES

IRAN

Tehran requests release of border guards  

Islamabad, Saturday, 20 October 2018       

Chief of Staff of the Iranian armed forces Hossein Baqheri, in a telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart General Javed Bajwa, urged Islamabad to release the Iranian border guards arrested at Mirjaveh border point in Iran's Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Source: The Nation, Lahore

JORDAN

Jordan felicitates Pakistan’s Army Chief

Islamabad, Wednesday, 3 October 2018     

Jordan’s King Abdullah II felicitated Pakistan’s Army Chief Qamar Bajwa with the ‘Order of the Military Merit’ medal during the latter’s three-day visit to Jordan to discuss avenues for bilateral cooperation in areas of security and defence production. Source: The Nation, Lahore

LEBANON

Islamabad, Beirut hold military talks

Islamabad, Thursday, 18 October 2018      

Pakistan delegation led by Director-General, Joint Staff Headquarters Lieutenant General Malik Iqbal held a meeting with Deputy Chief of Staff (Planning) Brig. General Joseph Sarkis and other military officials in Beirut to deliberate respective counter-terrorism experiences and regional security challenges. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

QATAR

Qatar’s Foreign Minister meets Army Chief

Islamabad, Saturday, 20 October 2018       

Qatari Foreign Minister Abdul Rahman Al Thani held a meeting with Army Chief General Javed Bajwa and deliberated bilateral concerns and regional security situation. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

SAUDI ARABIA

Air Chief visits Saudi Arabia

Islamabad, Wednesday, 24 October 2018   

Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Anwar Khan visited Saudi Air Force Headquarters as well as Saudi Ministry of Defence to discuss matters relating security cooperation and regional stability with Turki Abdulaziz Al Saud, Commander Saudi Air Force and Abdullah Al Ayesh, Assistant Defence Minister respectively. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad, Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

TURKEY

Turkish envoy meets Army Chief

Islamabad, Monday, 8 October 2018          

Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Ihsan Yurdakul and Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa held a meeting to discuss regional security landscape.  Source: Daily Times, Lahore

Pakistan Naval Ship visits Turkey for exercise

Islamabad, Tuesday, 9 October 2018          

Pakistan Navy Ship SAIF visited Port Aksaz in Turkey to participate in Exercise Mavi Balina from 30 September to 6 October and 2^nd PN-TN Bilateral Exercise Turgutreis-II from 8 to 9 October in East Mediterranean Sea. Source: The News International, Karachi

Pakistan, Turkey discuss defence ties

Islamabad, Wednesday, 17 October 2018   

Pakistan’s Defense Production minister Zobaida Jalal held a meeting with Turkey’s Deputy Defence Minister Mohsin Dere in Islamabad to discuss defense industrial and technical cooperation. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

UAE

Air Chief visits UAE

Islamabad, Sunday, 21 October 2018          

Pakistan’s Air Staff Chief Anwar Khan met Commander UAE Air Force and Air Defence (AF&AD) Major General Al-Alawi at the UAE Air Force headquarters to discuss avenues for enhancing cooperation in the field of defence. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

EGYPT

Pakistan, Egypt to enhance media collaboration

Islamabad, Wednesday, 10 October 2018   

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain held a meeting with Egyptian ambassador Fadel Yakoub to discuss avenues for collaboration in entertainment industry by promoting exchange visits of film producers and encouraging co-production of films and dramas. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

SAUDI ARABIA

Islamabad, Riyadh discuss media cooperation

Islamabad, Tuesday, 16 October 2018        

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain and Saudi envoy Nawaf Saeed Al-Malkiy held a meeting in Islamabad to enhance cooperation in the field of media and cultural by promoting films and dramas. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

TURKEY

Turkish literacy program launched in Lahore

Islamabad, Tuesday, 23 October 2018        

Turkey’s Consul General Emir Özbay along with Ulaş Ertaş, director of the Turkish cultural centre Yunus Emre Institute launched a special literacy programme for orphans in Lahore. Source: Business Recorder, Karachi

Pakistan-Turkey engage in food diplomacy

Islamabad, Thursday, 25 October 2018      

An eight-day Turkish Food Festival was held at the Zamana Restaurant in Islamabad where chefs from Istanbul served Turkish flavours and delicacies to the guests. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy