Pakistan Airports Authority holds e-balloting to select employees for Hajj

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday congratulated China on convening two major annual political meetings, where Beijing set an ambitious economic growth target and announced a substantial increase in defense spending amid a changing geopolitical environment, while also inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit.
China’s “Two Sessions,” comprising the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, began on March 4 and 5, respectively, shaping the country’s policy direction for the year.
The meetings upheld a GDP growth target of approximately 5 percent for 2025, as Beijing navigates global trade uncertainties following the return of Donald Trump’s administration in Washington.
China also announced a 7.2 percent increase in defense spending, underscoring its commitment to military modernization and national security amid rising regional and global tensions.
“I extend my warm congratulations to President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and the Chinese people on the successful convening of the ‘Two Sessions’ in Beijing,” Sharif said in a social media post on X.
“China is making remarkable progress in achieving its national development goals,” he continued. “We are particularly impressed by China’s modernization under President Xi’s visionary leadership.”
The prime minister reaffirmed that Pakistan and China would continue to work together to strengthen bilateral cooperation and achieve the “shared objectives of peace and development.”

Pakistan and China have long collaborated on infrastructure development and regional connectivity, with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) serving as the flagship project of their strategic partnership.
As both nations move toward the next phase of CPEC, their focus has shifted to business and industrial cooperation, aiming to boost investment, manufacturing and technology transfer.
Bilateral cooperation, however, faces challenges, particularly security threats to Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan. Attacks on CPEC-linked infrastructure and Chinese nationals by militant groups have raised concerns.
Additionally, delays in project execution, financial constraints and bureaucratic hurdles have slowed some CPEC initiatives, requiring both countries to enhance policy coordination and implementation efficiency.

The Prime Minister’s Office also issued a statement on Friday, saying China’s Ambassador Jiang Zaidong met Sharif earlier in the day. Among other things, they discussed “progress on security and counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.”
The prime minister also noted this year marked the tenth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan in 2015, as he renewed his invitation for the Chinese leader to visit the country again.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed new heads for the key petroleum and privatization portfolios on Friday, both departments seen as central to the country's recovery from an economic crisis.
Former junior finance minister Ali Pervaiz Malik was appointed as petroleum minister in a broader cabinet reshuffle.
His key task will be spearheading a major transaction in the Reko Diq copper and gold project.
Barrick Gold, which owns 50% of the project, is also in talks with railway authorities to revamp Port Qasim's coal terminal for copper transport, CEO Mark Bristow told Pakistan's Dawn News in January.
Muhammad Ali, formerly the special assistant to the prime minister on the power sector, has taken over as adviser for privatization. This follows Pakistan's failed attempt at offloading a 60% stake in debt-ridden airline PIA, which only received a single offer, well below the asking price.
Privatizing PIA and other state-owned enterprises is crucial for raising funds and reforming these entities under the ongoing $7 billion International Monetary Fund bailout program, set up to address an economic crisis stoked by surging inflation and a trade deficit caused by ballooning energy imports.
Bilal Azhar Kayani will take over as Pakistan's Minister for Railways.
The ministry is in talks with China to upgrade and reconstruct Pakistan's railway network, and develop the Gwadar port, under China's $65 billion investment in Pakistan, part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.