ISLAMABAD
President Zardari visits MNA Samina Ghurki in Lahore
LAHORE, Dec 11 (APP):President Asif Ali Zardari visited the residence of MNA, senior PPP leader Samina Khalid Ghurki and felicitated her on the forthcoming wedding of her son here on Thursday night.
The President appreciated Samina Khalid Ghurki’s long services to the party and her active role in the National Assembly.
President Zardari also acknowledged Samina Khalid Ghurki’s work with the PPP Women’s Wing in Punjab and noted her continued contribution to strengthening party’s organisational efforts.
Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan accompanied President Asif Zardari during the visit.
Pakistan calls for resolving outstanding disputes that fuel humanitarian crises
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 11 (APP): Amid shrinking resources, intensifying conflicts and climate shocks, Pakistan has urged the international community to focus on preventing and resolving outstanding disputes, saying peace is not only a moral imperative — it is a humanitarian necessity.
“Unless conflicts are prevented and resolved, appeals will continue to grow and humanitarian response will continue to be overstretched,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, told the General Assembly.
Speaking in a debate on Humanitarian Assistance, he called for harnessing renewed solidarity and strengthened multilateralism to peace in order to address the alarming rise in global humanitarian needs, emphasizing that unresolved conflicts remain the primary driver of humanitarian need.
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy reiterated that humanitarian assistance cannot substitute for political solutions.
“Mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes, including preventive diplomacy, mediation, and good offices of the Secretary-General must be strengthened to resolve longstanding conflicts and disputes,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad added.
He highlighted findings from the UN’s 2026 Global Humanitarian Overview, noting that 293 million people will require humanitarian support in 2026, while current resources allow aid to reach only 135 million.
This growing gap, he stressed, is not an abstract deficit but a matter of “lost lives, preventable suffering, and deepening instability.”
Ambassador Asim Ahmad underscored that the humanitarian system is under “unprecedented strain,” driven by entrenched conflicts, record displacement, declining respect for international humanitarian law, increasing aid worker casualties, and escalating climate shocks.
The year’s record-breaking heat, droughts, and floods have pushed millions into hunger and displacement, he pointed out.
The Pakistani envoy emphasized the urgent need for full respect of international humanitarian and human rights law, protection of civilians and infrastructure, and unimpeded humanitarian access.
He denounced the use of starvation, sieges, and attacks on medical care, calling for “zero tolerance” of such violations and greater accountability.
Supporting the proposed humanitarian reset, he stressed that any reform must be shaped by member state ownership rather than technocratic processes. He added that the reformed system must be efficient, flexible and predictable with a focus on developing capacity, simplifying coordination, and improving accountability and oversight.
Calling the current financing model unsustainable, Ambassador Ahmad urged predictable, multi-year funding and fair burden-sharing. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for expanding pooled mechanisms such as the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and promoting innovative financing tools, including debt-for-climate or debt-for-development swaps.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad emphasized the importance of strong national systems, disaster risk reduction, shock-responsive social protection, and early warning mechanisms. He underscored that the commitment to triple adaptation finance by 2035 must be honoured through new, additional, predictable, and grant-based climate finance, particularly for countries on the frontlines of climate change — such as Pakistan.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s consistent focus on human dignity, he called for prioritizing the protection of women, children, persons with disabilities, and displaced populations. He also highlighted the need to ensure safety and support for humanitarian personnel facing unprecedented risks in the field.
As the United Nations approaches its 80th anniversary, Pakistan urged Member States to seize this moment as a turning point.
“We cannot accept a future where humanitarian appeals double, conflicts remain unresolved, and climate crises overwhelm communities.”
In conclusion, he called for a reimagined global humanitarian architecture built on the basis of international law, multilateral cooperation, and collective commitment — one that is capable of responding to urgent needs.
Ambassador Tirmizi hosts former ambassador of Russia
MOSCOW, Dec 11 (APP):Ambassador of Pakistan to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi Thursday, hosted former ambassador of Russia to Saudi Arabia Baklanov Andrey Glebovich, Professor of the Department of International Regional Studies at the Higher School of Economics (HSE), at the Pakistan House, Moscow.
Ambassador Baklanov was leading a group of students of HSE studying international relations from Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
During his talks, Ambassador Tirmizi acquainted international students with the rich history of the Indus Valley Civilization and Pakistan. Ambassador also highlighted Pak-Russia progressive relations in all spheres. He also briefed on the projects of connectivity with Russia through the Central Asian States.
Ambassador Tirmizi also answered several questions of students on international politics and foreign policies with special focus on current world affairs and the ever-changing world order. Ambassador Tirmizi was also invited to deliver a talk at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow.
Customs Quetta seizes smuggled diesel, prime movers worth Rs. 190 mln in major crackdown
ISLAMABAD, Dec 11 (APP):Customs Enforcement Quetta has seized 275,000 litres of smuggled diesel and two prime movers, together valued at Rs. 190 million, in two major anti-smuggling operations conducted in and around the city.
A total of 11 diesel-laden vehicles were intercepted during the coordinated raids, said a news release here on Thursday.
Acting on credible intelligence from the Collector of Customs Enforcement Quetta, enforcement teams, supported by other law enforcement agencies, carried out targeted actions that successfully disrupted significant smuggling attempts involving diesel transportation and heavy vehicles.
The seized diesel, trucks, and prime movers have been taken into custody, and legal proceedings under the Customs Act, 1969 are now underway.
These operations form a key component of the Collectorate’s intensified enforcement drive to curb smuggling and dismantle illegal trade networks across the region.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has commended the Quetta Enforcement team and reiterated its unwavering commitment to combating smuggling, illicit trade, and all forms of unlawful economic activity.
Putin reaffirms support for Venezuela’s Maduro over US tensions
Moscow, Dec 11 (AFP/APP): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reaffirmed his support to Venezuela in a phone call with long-time ally President Nicolas Maduro, the Kremlin said.
The call comes after the United States seized an oil tanker off Venezuelan coast, the latest point of several points of friction between the two countries.
Russia has fostered warm ties with Venezuela, with Maduro earlier this year visiting Moscow, where he attended an annual military parade and signed a broad partnership agreement with Putin.
In a phone call on Thursday, “Vladimir Putin expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people,” the Kremlin said in a read-out.
The Russian leader had also “confirmed his support for the Maduro government’s policy aimed at protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure”, the statement added.
On Wednesday, the US military seized a Venezuelan oil tanker — troops rappelled onto the tanker’s deck from a helicopter and entered the ship with rifles raised.
Washington has accused Venezuela’s leftist leader Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug cartel, which he denies. Maduro has said the US is seeking regime change because of Venezuela’s vast stores of oil.
US President Donald Trump has deployed warships within striking distance of Venezuela, and at least 87 people have been killed in at least 22 strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea.
DPM reiterates Pakistan’s support for ECO vision 2025
ASHGABAT, Dec 11 (APP):: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Thursday met with Secretary General of ECO, Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, on arrival here.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistan delegation is in Ashgabat to attend the International Conference on Peace & Trust to be held Friday morning.
As Pakistan prepares to assume the ECO Council of Ministers Chair (2026 and 2027), the DPM/FM reaffirmed the country’s commitment to working with the ECO Secretariat and all Member States to promote regional economic integration, connectivity, & prosperity.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s support for ECO Vision 2025 and suggested that ECO Secretariat should start working for next upgraded version of ECO Vision 2035.
