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Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi passes away in Lahore

By
Shafek Koreshe
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ISLAMABAD, Nov 19 (APP): APP Digital NewsAllama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, the leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan breathed his last Thursday night at Lahore, his party announced. He was 55.

No reason for his death was given. His party officials said he was rushed to a hospital after he had problem breathing and had fever for past few days. However he was pronounced dead when he arrived at the hospital.

Senior TLP leader Syed Inayat-ul-Haq Shah also confirmed the news and asked the TLP workers to proceed to Lahore to participate in his last rites. The Tehreek-e-Labbaik announced that his funeral would be held on Saturday at 10 in the morning at Minar-e-Pakistan.

Videos on several social media accounts showed large number of his followers rushing to his home and crying over his sad demise.

The fire brand clerk was known for his protest marches, that often became violent and created law and order problems. His last protest was relatively shorter at Faizabad and ended only after a two day blockade of the twin cities on Monday.

Immediately after the confirmation of the news condolences poured in from all sections of society; including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, Information Minister, Chief of Army Staff, Chief Minister Punjab and political leaders of many parties.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in a tweet expressed his grief over the sad demise of Allama Khadim Rizvi and conveyed condolences to his family.

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa also conveyed his condolences over the demise of the TLP leader.

 

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information in Punjab also expressed grief over his sad demise.

Amir Jamat Islami also expressed his grief and prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the departed soul.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s consistent stance on Kashmir

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance on Kashmir at international fora to highlight gruesome human rights violations by India

 

Indian media’s fake “civil war” in Pakistan, falls flat on face

By
Shafek Koreshe
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0
APP Digital Small logo
By Shafek Koreshe

In an abortive attempt to create diversion from Narendra Modi’s human rights abuses in Kashmir, the Indian media went berserk by propagating fake news about a “civil war” like situation in Karachi, triggering a hilarious response from the twitterati in Pakistan, who enjoyed every bit of the ridiculous reports.

#CivilWarInPakistan and #KarachiCivilWar were in no time the top trends, with the young twitter users going crazy by posting video clips from action movies, comics, images of the Indian MiG pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down by Pakistan Air Force inside Pakistan’s territory, as scenes from the Civil War, getting an equally enthusiastic response with numerous retweets and likes.

The arrest of PML-N leader Captain (Retd) Safdar on charges of political sloganeering at Quaid’s Mausoleum and leave applications by senior police officers was exploited by the top Indian news channels, who portrayed an administrative issue as a “civil war” and went to the extent of even reporting casualties, and armed clashes.

Indian Media ditches professionalism to dip at to its lowest 

#FakeNews CNN18News
#FakeNews CNN18News

The news reports were part of a persistent barrage of fake news from Indian mainstream media and its RAW controlled assets on social media over the past few months. The trend has witnessed a sharp spike as part of India’s fifth generation war (5GW) against Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office on the “malicious and fabricated propaganda” by Indian mainstream and social media claiming civil unrest in Pakistan, said planting such baseless stories were reflective of the “Pakistan-obsessed BJP-RSS” mindset.

“Needless to say that Indian media continues to hit new lows,” he said, when asked to respond over the series of fake news flashed as breaking news across the Indian media about a “civil war in Pakistan”.

“Indian media continues to hit new lows”: FO

The Spokesperson said through “peddling fake news and running propaganda machinery”, India could not wash away the truth about its own gross and systematic human rights violations in Indian Ilelgally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“Rather than reporting on humanitarian crisis in IIOJK, the Indian media chooses to spread fake and sensational news about Pakistan to detract from core issues,” he said.

5th Gen War – Twitterati bust RAW’s #Fake letter attributed to COAS

 

#FakeNews - Yet another figment of imagination of Indian Media
#FakeNews – Yet another figment of imagination of Indian Media

The Indian media tried hard to appease its own consumers and to create a diversion from its human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir. However in its abortive attempt it created history by churning out fake news overpowered by the anti-Pakistan hysteria, undermining its professional ethics and credibility.

#FakeNews - India Today with its concocted news story
#FakeNews – India Today with its concocted news story

The unleashing of the Indian media did not go unnoticed, as Michael Kugelman, deputy director at the @AsiaProgram and South Asia senior associate @TheWilsonCenter in a tweet pointed that the Indian disinformation accounts were exploiting Pakistan’s current political crisis, and “falsely claiming that the country is no experiencing urban warfare.”

He described the trend as “dangerous and disturbing”, as several of these accounts were verified and had huge followings.

Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said the Indian media was in “hyper drive with fake news on Pakistan” and regretted that it was “unfortunate that Twitter is [deliberately ignoring it].”

All major media outlets in so-called world’s biggest democracy decimated all journalistic norms as none bothered to fact-check such a huge gaffe. India’s News18, India Today, Zee News, India.com and several others quoted the International Herald which showed old videos of bomb explosions in Pakistan and portrayed it as the ongoing civil war.

#FakeNews - Indian International Herald tweet
#FakeNews – Indian International Herald tweet

The Institute of Policy Research in a report said their data indicates a pattern of Indian propaganda against Pakistan on digital media that grew exponentially after 2018 General Elections in #Pakistan. The propaganda hovers around largely 4 key themes.

IPRI Timeline of Indian Propaganda
IPRI Timeline of Indian Propaganda

Minister for Ports and Shipping pointed that the Indian propaganda was at its peak and “sadly fueled by the PDM Circus.” He said the food inflation was artificially manufactured, but was being brought under control.

Minister for Kashmir Affairs also lambasted the “fake, fabricated and malicious propaganda campaign to malign State institutions of Pakistan. He urged @Twitter to take action against Indian accounts for #FakeNews against Paksitan.

However, this idiocy of Indian media gave the Twitterati a perfect chance to enjoy as the microblogging site was flooded with messages to ridicule the Indian media’s insanity.

“Karachi civil war has gotten so bad that my food panda delivery boy had to crawl through mine fields carrying his AK47, RPG & 9mm along with my nihari and Biryani. This thing is getting so serious. Multiple cows have been killed & people are dying of over eating. #IndianMedia,” commented renowned singer Fakhr-e-Alam.

Besides numerous other fake photos, the Indian media also used an image of a building collapsed following a gas leakage blast in Karachi earlier in the day to substantiate its fake news of civil war.

“A little investigation would have informed Zee News that it wasn’t a bomb blast in ‘civil war’ in Pakistan but the result of a  gas leak in Karachi. Whither truth, objectivity, balance and fairness in reporting?,” said Farhatullah Babr, former senator of Pakistan Peoples Party which rules Sindh province.

“An Aircraft shot during civil war in Karachi… and the pilot captured…,” commented another Twitter user Fasihuddin while sharing the images of Indian aircraft MiG-21 and captured injured pilot Abhinandan following an aerial dogfight during India-Pakistan standoff in 2019.

ECC approves sale of 0.5 MMT wheat held by PASSCO

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Tuesday approved the sale of 500,000 metric tons of wheat held by PASSCO through competitive bidding on a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) basis at revised reserve prices of PKR 4,150 per 40 kg for local wheat and PKR 3,800 per 40 kg for imported wheat.

The meeting of the cabinet committee was chaired by the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, according to press release issued by the finance ministry.

It said, the ECC considered a proposal of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research regarding the disposal of 500,000 metric tons of wheat stock held by PASSCO through competitive bidding.

The Committee was informed that an earlier attempt to sell the wheat at previously approved reserve prices could not be finalized due to lower bids received.

The ECC also approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) amounting to Rs. 536 million for PSDP projects of the defunct Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak-PWD).

The approved amount will be transferred to the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for specific ongoing projects in accordance with the relevant legal and constitutional provisions.

In addition to the regular agenda items, a summary by the Petroleum Division regarding a fact-finding report on the Deed of Settlement with Cnergyico PK Limited, submitted in compliance with earlier ECC directions concerning delayed payment of Petroleum Levy, was also tabled and returned with the observations that a more comprehensive presentation be made in a subsequent meeting.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain; Federal Minister for Investment, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh (virtually); Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan (virtually), and senior officials from the relevant ministries and divisions.

Kachehri Chowk project gathers pace to meet April 30 deadline

By
Kamran Muraad
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RAWALPINDI, Feb 24 (APP):Work on the Kachehri Chowk remodelling project has reached 61.8 per cent completion, with physical progress at Kachehri Chowk at 64 per cent, Iftikhar Janjua Chowk at 65 per cent and Annexi Chowk at 62 per cent.
Commissioner Rawalpindi Engineer Aamir Khattak was informed of the status when he visited the project site along with officials of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) to review construction activities and the pace of work.
Work on the project is continuing with double shifts underway to ensure timely completion. It was launched in November 2025 with an 18-month completion deadline; however, authorities have now set April 30, 2026, as the target date, keeping in view public convenience and the pace of work.
Commissioner Khattak said the project was being executed to facilitate citizens and improve urban mobility, adding that the modern infrastructure would help transform Rawalpindi into a modern, connected and smart city.
He said the project was part of the Rawalpindi Signal-Free Corridor, which was bringing revolutionary improvement in traffic flow across the city. Under the mega project, dual flyovers and underpasses were being constructed at Jinnah Park and Kachehri Chowk.
He directed that the traffic management plan be implemented strictly during construction to minimise inconvenience to the public. He emphasised that the project must be completed within the stipulated deadline and that no compromise would be made on the quality of construction.

First 200MW power market transaction expected by June: Leghari

By
Kamran Muraad
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP):Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Tuesday said that the first 200 megawatt (MW) electricity transaction under the newly launched Competitive Market Operations Date (CMOD) regime is expected to be completed by June this year, marking a significant milestone in Pakistan’s transition towards a competitive power market.
First 200MW power market transaction expected by June: Leghari
Addressing the CMOD declaration ceremony, the minister said the reform journey, originally envisioned decades ago and initiated in 2016-17 in its practical form, had finally entered the implementation phase after years of deliberations and institutional groundwork.
The symbolic activation of CMOD was jointly performed by Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and Secretary Power Division Dr Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan.
Reflecting on the delay in implementation despite conceptual approval of competitive market reforms in the early 1990s, the minister termed it a governance lag that cost the country valuable time. “When you conceptualize something and approve it in 1992 but only begin serious implementation nearly two decades later, it reflects the challenges in our governance framework,” he observed.
The minister emphasized that reform was a collaborative institutional effort and appreciated the role of senior officials, including Secretary Power Division Dr. Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan, Chairperson BoD ISMO Ermeena Asad Malik, Chairman NGC Dr Fayaz, CEO ISMO Imtiaz Shah, and other stakeholders for their intellectual input and implementation support.
“I think this entire team has done an amazing amount of work in the past few years,” he said, acknowledging the contributions of the Power Division, regulators, and market institutions.
“This is not just a formality. It shows that not only political leadership but officers at the helm of affairs truly matter. The intellectual input we receive as policymakers and the way we jointly work toward implementation is critical for the betterment of the people,” he said.
Leghari also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office for their ownership and trust, stating that without their continued support, the reform process could not have reached the implementation stage.
Highlighting ongoing challenges, the minister noted that certain procedural and regulatory matters, including determination of wheeling charges, were still under process. He said a summary had been moved for the Prime Minister’s consideration and expressed optimism that following April, auction-related transactions would proceed smoothly.
“We are expecting that by June this year, the first 200MW transaction will be completed. It has taken 20-25 years of discussions and efforts. Achieving this will be a major step forward,” he remarked.
Leghari expressed hope that the transition from wholesale to retail electricity market would proceed at a much faster pace than past reforms. He stressed the need to adopt global best practices rather than relying solely on domestic trial-and-error learning.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the minister distributed certificates among key senior officials in recognition of their contributions to the reform process.
Those who received certificates included CEO ISMO Imtiaz Shah, Arshad Javed Minhas, Executive Director (IT/HR & Admin); Muhammad Zakria, Executive Director (System Operations); Noman Rafiq, Company Secretary; Omer Haroon Malik, Executive Director (Market Operations); Syed Shaheer Ali, Additional Senior Director; and Zeeshan Khan, Director Corporate Communications, along with other officials who played a vital role in achieving this milestone.

Governor KP visits UAE Embassy, discusses bilateral cooperation with Ambassador

By
Kamran Muraad
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PESHAWAR, Feb 24 (APP):Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Tuesday visited the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and held a meeting with the UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem Mohammed Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi.
During the meeting, matters relating to bilateral relations, investment opportunities and the promotion of mutual cooperation were discussed in detail.
On the occasion, the UAE Ambassador presented dates as a gift on behalf of his country for distribution among deserving people of the province.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding, brotherly and friendly relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking on the occasion, Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi said the two countries enjoy strong religious, cultural and historical ties.
He said that the UAE is a second home to Pakistanis, where around two million Pakistanis are serving in various sectors and playing a significant role in the development of the UAE.
He also expressed the desire that the UAE requires skilled and technical persons in different fields, adding that the arrival of trained individuals from Pakistan, particularly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, would be beneficial for both countries.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa offers vast investment opportunities in mines and minerals, energy, agriculture, tourism and other sectors. He invited UAE investors and businessmen to explore and invest in the province to benefit from the available opportunities.
The Governor also formally invited the UAE Ambassador to visit Peshawar.

Court declares 30 PTI workers as absconder

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP): An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday declared 30 PTI workers as proclaimed offenders in a case pertaining to November 26, riots registered by the Khanna police station.
The court had initiated the process of declaring 31 PTI workers as absconder in the previous hearing. When a PTI worker appeared in court today, the process of declaring his as absconder was terminated and the hearing of the Khanna police station case was adjourned until April 2.
The court adjourned the hearing of the Margalla police station case to April 4. The hearing of the Kohsar police station case to March 26, and the hearing of the Tarnol and Aabpara police stations to March 10.
Due to unavailability of police records, testimonies could not be recorded in any case. Cases have been registered against PTI workers under terrorism, vandalism, and other sections.

HEC reaffirms regulatory mandate, calls for strategic alignment with accreditation councils

By
Qadir Rajpoot
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP):The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) convened a high-level consultative meeting to deliberate on jurisdictional clarity and enhance coordination among Accreditation Councils in the accreditation of undergraduate programs.
According to the commission, the meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman HEC. Mr. Muhammad Raza Chohan, Member, HEC, along with other senior officials representing the Academics and Curriculum, Quality Assurance, Legal Affairs, Attestation and Accreditation divisions and officials from Accreditation Councils participated in the meeting. The discussion was focused on reinforcing institutional alignment, streamlining accreditation processes, and safeguarding regulatory coherence within the higher education framework.
During the meeting, Mr. Muhammad Raza Chohan reiterated HEC’s statutory authority under the HEC Ordinance 2002, particularly emphasizing Clause 20, which establishes the overriding effect of the Ordinance over any conflicting legislation. The participants reaffirmed that HEC serves as both regulator and facilitator of higher education in Pakistan.
It was emphasized that compliance with HEC-prescribed standards is mandatory at every stage of an institution’s academic lifecycle – from establishment and program approval to curriculum development, inclusion in the Pakistan Qualification Register (PQR), and degree attestation.
The meeting also provided clarity on the delineation of responsibilities between HEC and Accreditation Councils within the National Qualifications Framework, whereby the Accreditation Councils retain the mandate for accrediting professional undergraduate programs that lead to licensure, while oversight of MS, MPhil, and PhD programs remains within the exclusive purview of the QAA-HEC, unless specific authorization is granted. This clarification aims to eliminate overlaps, enhance coordination, and ensure consistency in quality assurance mechanisms across all academic tiers.
Reaffirming HEC’s commitment to academic excellence, Chairman HEC Prof. Dr Niaz Ahmad directed the convening of a plenary session with all Accreditation Councils to strengthen institutional collaboration and foster a unified quality enhancement strategy.
“The integrity and global credibility of Pakistan’s higher education system depend upon close coordination between HEC and professional councils,” the Chairman stated.
“Our shared objective must be to ensure that university programs consistently meet national standards and align with international benchmarks,” he added.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative governance, regulatory clarity, and sustained efforts toward strengthening the quality and credibility of higher education in Pakistan.

Fayyaz Ali Shah orders verification of allotments, removal of encroachments to improve vegetable market system

By
Qadir Rajpoot
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0
ABBOTTABAD, Feb 24 (APP):Commissioner Hazara Division Fayyaz Ali Shah Tuesday, has directed authorities to immediately verify market allotments, remove encroachments, and ensure transparent auction of fruits and vegetables, stating that strict steps are necessary to resolve longstanding issues and improve the overall functioning of the vegetable market.
He issued these directions while chairing an important meeting held to address problems faced by the vegetable market in Abbottabad.
The meeting was attended by the Assistant Commissioner Abbottabad, District Food Controller, Deputy Director Labour Haripur, Tehsil Infrastructure Officer TMA Abbottabad, and representatives of both vegetable market unions.
During the meeting, union representatives highlighted administrative and legal issues and proposed measures for system improvement, elimination of encroachments, and transparent price fixation.
The Commissioner directed the Tehsil Infrastructure Officer to immediately scrutinize the allotment records of 56 allottees to ensure that no shop has been illegally rented out, warning that allotments in violation of rules would be cancelled as per law.
He also ordered identification of all encroachments, issuance of notices to those responsible, and removal of illegal constructions to restore order in the market.
Furthermore, relevant officers were instructed to review union-related laws within two days and present a comprehensive report at the next meeting to ensure a permanent and practical solution to the issues.
The meeting emphasized that regular auctions of fruits and vegetables must be ensured to maintain transparency in price determination and provide quality food items to the public at reasonable rates.

PM underscores Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening defence cooperation, expanding collaboration with Qatar

By
Qadir Rajpoot
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0
DOHA, Feb 24 (APP):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in a call on paid by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani here on Tuesday, underscored Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening defence cooperation and expanding bilateral collaboration.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs of the State of Qatar, met the prime minister who is currently on an official visit to Doha.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation in defence and security and reaffirmed the strong and historic ties between Pakistan and Qatar.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the ongoing collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries.
Sheikh Saoud appreciated the professionalism and expertise of the Pakistan Armed Forces and conveyed Qatar’s interest in deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
Regional developments were also discussed, in particular the situation in Iran and Afghanistan. Both sides emphasized the importance of dialogue, de-escalation and collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
The meeting reflected the shared resolve of Pakistan and Qatar to further elevate their strategic partnership across all areas of mutual interest.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister  Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi were also present in the meeting.

12 detained for violating rent laws in Rawalpindi

By
Qadir Rajpoot
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0
RAWALPINDI, Feb 24 (APP):Police have intensified a crackdown against violations of the tenancy law, registering 12 cases and detained12 people for failing to register tenants, a police spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The operation was carried out on the directives of City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Mahmood Hamdani, as part of ongoing efforts to enforce the Tenancy Act and maintain public order.
Operations were conducted in the areas of Westridge and Jatli, where police said daily search operations were under way to ensure compliance with the law.
The spokesperson urged citizens to ensure timely registration of tenants and domestic employees to help maintain law
and order in the city.
The residents were advised to register tenants at their respective police stations, police service centres or through the Punjab Police mobile application.
The spokesperson added that citizens could report violations to the nearest police station, assuring that informer s’ identities would be kept confidential.

FPCCI begins regional business engagements under ECO Framework

By
Qadir Rajpoot
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0
KARACHI, Feb 24 (APP):Following recent high-level visits of the leadership of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to Pakistan focused on strengthening economic and trade cooperation, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) initiated steps to enhance private sector collaboration among ECO member states.
President FPCCI Atif Ikram Sheikh- who is also the President of the Economic Cooperation Organization’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECO-CCI)- apprised through a statement issued here on Tuesday that he has invited the national chambers of commerce and industry of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to convene bilateral Joint Business Council meetings with FPCCI to promote trade and economic cooperation for regional connectivity, economic interdependencies and shared prosperities for their populace.
He elaborated that the proposed meetings aim to review existing bilateral trade relations, assess progress and opportunities vis-a-vis commercial understandings reached during recent high-level engagements and identify priority sectors for future growth and investment.
The initiative also envisages organizing Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings, facilitating single-country exhibitions and promoting exchange of trade delegations to strengthen direct linkages between the business communities.
FPCCI Chief informed that the letters have been addressed to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.
The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan “Atameken”, highlighting the importance of structured institutional engagement to translate high-level political goodwill into tangible economic outcomes.
Both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are active members of ECO and Atif Ikram Sheikh, as President ECO-CCI, has emphasized that closer coordination among ECO member chambers would play a vital role in enhancing regional connectivity; promoting intra-regional trade and advancing economic integration across the ECO region.
FPCCI has reaffirmed its commitment, in collaboration with ECO CCI member chambers, to creating new opportunities for businesses and strengthening regional economic cooperation, it conclude
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