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European Union (EU) top diplomat Kaja Kallas on Monday said the bloc sought stability in the region, adding that it was in everyone’s interest for the ongoing war in the Middle East to end and for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open. Kallas, who serves as vice-president of the European Commission and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to participate in the 8th round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, which was held earlier today. In an interview on the Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk’, Kallas said, “This is in everybody’s interest that this war is stopped and the Strait of Hormuz is opened. We are paying a very high price. There are a lot of things dependent on the Strait of Hormuz.” During the appearance on the show, she commended Pakistan for being a mediator between the United States and Iran, bringing all the parties together, adding that, “Eventually, the [warring] parties have to decide.” “Everybody is hoping that the first phase of this agreement is signed, so the talks on the difficult topics like nuclear can be started,” she said. Kallas added that the EU seeks stability in the region. “The problems of our neighbour today could be the problems for us tomorrow. We are all very interlinked.” She called the Strait of Hormuz a “chokepoint”, mentioning that the EU was also looking forward to diversifying its trade routes and supply chain. “You cannot remain dependent on a single route.” When asked if she sees any parallels between Russia’s war against Ukraine and Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, she replied: “I see parallels in all these crises undermining international law. We have the UN Charter, which is very clear: you can’t attack another country; you have to respect another country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. No one should be above the law.” Talking about the renewal of Pakistan’s GSP+ status, Kallas said, “We discussed it with our counterparts today. The preferential access to our markets is also conditional.” “It is true that we have a report coming up in July, and then the question of renewing this preference,” she added. “However, the conventions have to be adopted, particularly on human rights issues, where we need to see improvements.” She elaborated that the renewal process goes through the EU Parliament. “The EU Parliament is always scrutinising, and we have been raising these issues on what more can be done to improve the situation,” she said. When asked whether the EU was satisfied with Pakistan’s legislation to meet the conditions, she said: “Our counterparts are mentioning what they are doing in various files, but this is something where we clearly need to see improvements.” “We are putting forward some very concrete questions. Hopefully, there is time for improvement in those areas, and then we can renew this scheme easily,” she concluded.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday assured businessmen and industrialists that measures were being taken to make the forthcoming federal budget conducive to industrial growth and production. The government is expected to approve a consolidated national development programme of over Rs3.5 trillion and a macroeconomic framework envisaging economic growth of 4.1pc and inflation of 8.5pc for FY2026–27. The premier made these remarks while meeting presidents of chambers of commerce and industries to seek their suggestions for the 2026-27 federal budget, scheduled to be announced on June 5. During the meeting, PM Shehbaz directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to dispose of all pending cases of tax refunds by June 15. He further ordered moving the headquarters of Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL) to Karachi, in order to enhance exports and facilitate the business community and exporters. The establishment of an office of the Immigration and Passport Department in Gujrat was also ordered. Moreover, the premier urged Pakistani investors to promote e-vehicle production in the country through joint ventures. PM Shehbaz noted that consistent efforts and hard work had helped stabilise the economy. He said additional measures would be taken in the upcoming budget to promote industrial development, boost production and support the business community. The premier assured the delegation of the government’s commitment to creating a more favourable environment for investment and economic growth. The delegation, in turn, assured the PM that the entire business community and industrialists were standing by the government and supporting its economic policies. It presented recommendations regarding the upcoming federal budget and measures aimed at supporting the country’s overall economic growth. ‘New era’ in Pak-China economic partnership Earlier, PM Shehbaz said the extraordinary increase in business engagements between the private sectors of Pakistan and China heralded a new era in economic partnership between the two countries. He emphasised that enhanced industrial, agricultural and technological cooperation with China would boost Pakistan’s exports and create new employment opportunities. The premier was presiding over a review meeting to assess progress on the agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed at the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) conference held during his recent visit to China, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a press release. In the meeting, he directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the MoUs signed in Hangzhou are swiftly transformed into formal agreements and joint ventures. PM Shehbaz also decided to personally chair monthly review meetings to monitor progress on the outcomes of the B2B conference. He further ordered that cooperation between the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) be implemented effectively. The premier observed that agricultural research, modern technology and joint ventures between Pakistan and China could bring about a revolutionary transformation in the country’s agricultural sector. During the briefing, participants were informed that a total of 123 Pakistani companies and 436 Chinese companies attended the B2B conference on May 24, where 207 MoUs worth approximately $7.54 billion were signed. Those MoUs were signed in several key sectors, including battery energy storage systems, artificial intelligence (AI), mobile phones and handheld devices. Significant agreements were also reached in the areas of fertilisers, seeds, modern irrigation equipment, fisheries, and food processing. Additionally, MoUs were signed to promote joint investment in advanced industrial sectors, including biotechnology and vaccine manufacturing. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Rana Tanvir Hussain, Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with other senior government officials. Last week, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) released a set of four independent “shadow” policy studies proposing an alternative economic framework to accelerate growth, broaden the tax base, and reduce fiscal imbalances. The documents were prepared by the Economic Policy and Business Development Think Tank (EPBD) and released at the FPCCI office and focused on structural reforms to lift Pakistan’s economy onto a higher, more sustainable growth path. The documents — ‘Tax Policy and Administration Reforms’, ‘Shadow Federal Budget 2026-27’, ‘Shadow Economic Survey of Pakistan 2026’, and ‘Shadow Five-Year Development Plan 2026-31’ — collectively set out a reform agenda centred on private-sector-led growth, fiscal consolidation, and institutional restructuring.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday directed the Ministry of Interior and the Islamabad chief commissioner to provide pending documents for the delimitation of the capital’s local government within three days, warning that a 10-day deadline had already lapsed. The letter, seen by Dawn, was addressed to the secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the Islamabad chief commissioner. It was marked “IMMEDIATE” and issued under the signatures of Additional Director General (Local Government Elections) Chaudhry Nadeem Qasim, referring to a Commission meeting held on May 13, 2026, and stating that the required documents for delimitation and holding local government elections in the ICT were still awaited. The ECP has sought three sets of information: notification of the limits of town corporations, notification of the number of union councils in each town corporation, and authenticated and updated maps showing census charges, circles and blocks. The letter noted that a 10-day deadline earlier given by the commission for the provision of data had already lapsed. In its meeting today, the ECP directed that the notifications and updated maps be submitted within three days. The election commission also indicated that a National Assembly standing committee may be requested to consider draft legislation, and the matter of amendments to rules may be pursued with the Cabinet, as discussed in the previous meeting. The ECP added that “your personal attention will be highly appreciated” to expedite the process for delimitation and conduct of local government elections in Islamabad. Months after postponing local government (LG) polls in the federal capital for the fourth time, the ECP on May 13 had directed the Ministry of Interior and Islamabad administration to immediately issue notifications on town corporations’ limits and union councils for local government polls, warning it would fix the matter for a hearing if there was no progress.

GILGIT: Seven people went missing after a tourist jeep on its way to Fairy Meadows in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan fell into a ravine and was swept away in Tattu Nullah on Monday. According to the spokesperson for the GB police, the accident occurred at around 3pm on Tattu Raikot Road. According to initial reports, all six tourists in the vehicle, as well as its driver, are still missing. The spokesperson said that two tourists in the jeep were from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and four from Punjab. The driver was identified as a resident of Diamer’s Dareel area. The spokesperson added that police and rescue teams were present at the scene and a rescue operation was underway to search for the missing persons. Fatal accidents are common on roads in the mountainous regions of the country due to traffic rule violations, treacherous terrain and poor infrastructure. Last month, a tragic road accident in Neelum Valley claimed the lives of four people, including two women, and left two others injured after a passenger jeep plunged hundreds of feet into a rocky streambed. In April, a jeep carrying five passengers from Barum Kagh Kosht to Booni skidded off a wet, slippery road and plunged into a deep ravine in KP’s Upper Chitral, killing three people and injuring two others. In March, a tourists’ van collided with a truck on the Hazara Motorway, killing one passenger and injuring 13.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday met the European Union’s (EU) top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, at the PM House, where he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to cooperation with the EU and thanked EU leadership for its strong support for Pakistan’s peace efforts in the Gulf region. Kallas, who serves as vice-president of the Euro­pean Commission and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy (HR/VP), is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier said that Pakistan was keen to further strengthen its multifaceted partnership with the EU. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Tariq Fatemi and other senior officials were also present, the statement said. PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction at the 8th round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue held earlier today. “The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the EU in key areas including trade and investment, climate change, security, migration, sustainable development, and connectivity,” the statement said. In this regard, it added, he highlighted the important role of GSP+ in ensuring stronger trade ties between Pakistan and the EU. Discussions also focused on the regional and international situation, with the premier thanking the EU leadership for its strong support for Pakistan’s efforts for peace in the Middle East. He said that Dar and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir were playing a “crucial role” in these efforts. He especially called on the international community, including the EU, to work collectively to ensure lasting peace in the region, the PMO said. It added that he shared Pakistan’s perspective on the regional situation in South Asia, as well as on Afghanistan, with Kallas, also conveying his best wishes to EU Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and reiterating his invitations to both leaders to visit Pakistan soon. Kallas “appreciated the role played by Pakistan for regional peace and conveyed the EU’s strong interest in deepening strategic engagement with Pakistan”, the statement said. ‘Important partner’ Kallas, earlier today, termed Pakistan a major regional power and an important partner of the EU as the two sides held a strategic dialogue in Islamabad. She co-chaired the dialogue with Dar, which is the highest-level platform for structured discussion between the two sides. Addressing a joint press conference, Kallas said, “Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union. “Today, in our strategic dialogue, we affirmed our shared commitment to strengthening EU-Pakistan ties even further,” she stated. Kallas noted that her visit came at an “important moment”, adding that the “world and this region have experienced profound changes” since the two sides met in November last year. Kallas pointed out that the EU remained “by far Pakistan’s largest export destination”, adding that it was larger than the US and China combined. She further said Pakistan was the “world’s leading beneficiary” of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). At the same time, Kallas stressed: “But GSP+ has clear conditions. Continued preferential access to the EU market depends on progress in implementing the international conventions underpinning the scheme. “This includes good governance, environmental protection and particularly, labour and human rights. We look to Pakistan to demonstrate tangible progress on these issues.” Kallas said Pakistan and the EU were deepening cooperation on a wide range of issues, including climate resilience, digital infrastructure, clean energy, migration and mobility. She remarked that people-to-people links were also an “important part” of the partnership. “I’m also impressed that Pakistan tops the EU’s global Erasmus Mundus Scholarships rankings again, the fifth year in a row,” she said. Providing details of the dialogue, the visiting diplomat said she and Dar exchanged views on “pressing global developments, including in the Middle East”. Noting Pakistan was the “main mediator” between the US and Iran, Kallas told Dar: “Your diplomatic efforts have helped prevent a return to full-blown war on several occasions and these efforts are much recognised and appreciated across Europe.” She added, “With your support, there is now a tenuous diplomatic opening to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Yet, any temporary understanding between the US and Iran must be followed by deeper talks about Tehran’s nuclear stockpile and other critical issues. “Lasting stability will require more encompassing solutions,” she emphasised, affirming that the EU was ready to contribute to a sustainable and peaceful solution. “We bring economic leverage, hard-won nuclear expertise, long-standing relationships with partners across the Gulf and direct engagement with Iran itself,” Kallas said. “I see a concrete role for the EU in helping to make any eventual agreement durable, whether through maritime operations, economic incentives that support long-term stability or other issues.” The EU diplomat also noted that Pakistan had been “locked in a conflict with Afghanistan”, adding that the fighting in recent weeks had “grave humanitarian consequences and also risks fuelling further instability and radicalisation”. “This is why we have constantly called on both sides to exercise restraint and de-escalation. Pakistan has the right to defend itself and its people in line with the international law,” she said. Speaking at the joint press conference, Dar termed Kallas’s visit a “significant milestone” in Pakistan-EU bilateral relations. Dar said that the gap between the last EU-Pakistan dialogue in November 2025 and this one was “probably in our history the minimum between any two states”. He noted that the last visit by the EU high representative took place in 2019, followed by “virtually no visits for seven years”. Therefore, he added, Kallas’s visit “signifies the growing momentum in EU-Pakistan partnership”. He noted that the EU high representative has remained his “frequent interlocutor”, adding that their candid exchanges reflected the trust between Pakistan and the EU. “We have been constantly in touch during the last year’s India-Pakistan war and so are we in touch during the regional conflict between the US and Iran,” Dar said. “We believe that the EU as an institution embodies the universal ideals of peace, diplomacy, democracy and commitment to human rights,” he said, affirming that Islamabad remained committed to constructive engagement with the EU and its member states. During the dialogue, Dar said, both sides took stock of progress made on cooperation under the sectors outlined in the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) 2019, including trade, investment, development, human rights, and rule of law, migration and mobility, and security and counterterrorism. Dar further noted that the EU was among Pakistan’s major trading partners, with a trade volume of €12 billion. “Pakistan-EU trade cooperation under the GSP+ framework is a win-win template,” the deputy PM remarked. “Our discussions today focused on further enhancing bilateral trade and investment ties between the EU and Pakistan,” Dar reiterated, detailing that both sides also assessed the “first-ever Pakistan-EU Business Forum in April as a welcome development”. Dar expressed hope that the business forum could become a “regular feature” of Pakistan-EU ties. He said the two also held an “in-depth” discussion on regional and global issues, which included the “US-Iran conflict, the security situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, Europe and the Middle East”. At this, Dar expressed appreciation to the Kallas for the EU’s “appreciation and support” to Pakistan’s efforts in the US-Iran conflict. “We are humbled by the recognition of our efforts and will continue to work towards finding a comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict,” Dar told Kallas. On India-occupied Kashmir, Dar said he “apprised her excellency of our concerns regarding unprovoked Indian aggression and Pakistan’s principal position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, advocating for its resolution according to the wishes of the Kashmiri people in line with UN Security Council resolutions”. He also briefed the EU high representative on Pakistan’s position on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), recalling the May 15 supplemental award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). “Pakistani position on IWT stands vindicated after the court of arbitration’s supplemented award in the IWT proceedings arising from the Ratle and Kishanganga hydroelectric plant disputes. “The award affirms Pakistan’s central position that the treaty places substantive limits on India’s water control capability on the western rivers,” Dar emphasised. The two sides also discussed security issues, particularly the terrorist threat that Dar said was emanating from the Afghan soil, stressing that the continued attacks remained a “top concern” for Pakistan. Dar said that he also urged the need for the “strengthening multilateralism and consistent adherence to the fundamental principles of the UN charter”. He outlined the need “to address the existing and emerging international challenges in an effective and credible manner”. Shifting his attention back to relations with the EU, Dar said that the two sides had reaffirmed their “resolve to transform these relations into a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership”. Concluding his remarks, Dar voiced optimism that the Kallas’s visit will be “one of the many” she will undertake to Pakistan in the future. ‘Considerable untapped potential in cooperation’ During their meeting, Dar and Kallas “acknowledged the positive trajectory of Pakistan-EU ties and agreed to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership”, the FO said. “The two leaders also exchanged views [on] regional and global developments, ahead of the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue which is being held subsequently,” it added. In opening remarks before the dialogue, Dar said, “We have a great relationship with the EU; there is a great history. Pakistan sees considerable untapped potential in our cooperation.” He noted, “We have a number of areas where we can work together, particularly trade and many other areas.” Dar stressed the need to maintain a frequency of six months’ gap in strategic dialogues, as was the case between the current and the last dialogue. “We hold deep appreciation for the EU leadership and your engagement, particularly,” Dar said. He added that he and Kallas remained in touch on various matters, including the Pakistan-India conflict last year and the ongoing US-Iran war. “We keep exchanging notes and you have been very kind,” Dar remarked. “I think this interaction is very welcome,” he added. Dar mentioned an EU “strategic vision, which aims at providing long-term direction and strategic cooperation toward partnership”. “Building upon the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) 2019 and Cooperation Agreement 2004, the proposed vision seeks to elevate our engagement into a more comprehensive and forward-looking framework,” he stated. He added that the “vision document can serve as an important foundation for deepening political understanding, expanding sectoral cooperation and strengthening institutional linkages between Pakistan and the EU”. Dar highlighted that the continuation of the strategic dialogue “demonstrates our shared resolve to impart greater momentum to Pakistan-EU relations and to shape a forward-looking partnership”. He remarked that the two sides had “great discussions” in the restricted meetings. The deputy PM expressed the hope that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would find some time to visit Pakistan, as there was a standing invitation from the prime minister. In her opening remarks, Kallas welcomed the “strong momentum for EU-Pakistan trade relations”. “EU remains by far Pakistan’s largest export destination, and I was surprised to hear that it’s actually more than the US and China combined, so we really are your market,” the diplomat pointed out. Kallas said: “This is really showing that the partnership is not only commercially significant, but it’s also a driver of growth. And beyond trade and investment, there are areas where we can explore the deepening of our ties, when it comes to resilience building, climate, digital infrastructure, and migration mobility. “These are investments in long-term partnership and really looking forward to our discussions today about the regional but also global developments and how we can develop our relationship even further.” Kallas also commended Dar on “facilitating the talks between the US and Iran”. “It is a conflict that is having an impact on everybody and the world when it comes to the energy prices, prices of fertilisers, and so this is really what we need to see — the ceasefire really holding and the talks continuing,” she stressed. Kallas mentioned Dar’s “consistent” invitations to her to visit Pakistan. “As you know, in these calendars there are too few days, but we found this day and I’m happy that we are here,” she said. The visiting diplomat said the “momentum of 2026 is to develop EU-Pakistan relations into a more forward-looking footing”. She added: “We have this contested geopolitical environment, rising tensions everywhere and real risk of escalation and like we were discussing, we also share the priorities when it comes to the rules-based international order that we need to develop further. “We are working towards global and regional stability, which is in both of our interests. We also promote free and fair trade and investment, and advance sustainable connectivity.” Earlier in the day, Kallas was welcomed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Dar and other officials. ‘Multidimensional partnership with EU’ According to the FO, Kallas’s visit reflects the growing momentum in high-level political excha­nges and both sides’ commitment to further stren­gthening their multifaceted partnership. “Pakistan deeply values its long-standing, multidimensional partnership with the European Union, which is anchored in shared values, robust economic cooperation, and a mutual commitment to multilateralism,” the FO said. Kallas will also hold meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the EU said. The FO confirmed that she was set to meet Pakistan’s “senior leadership”, including the president and the premier. The EU is Pakistan’s sec­ond-largest trading partner, with the GSP+ status allowing the country to enjoy duty-free or minimum duty on European exports. The status was granted by the EU in 2014, with the European Parliament unanimously voting in October 2023 to extend it until 2027 for developing countries, including Pakistan. According to the EU, GSP+ status is a special incentive awarded to developing countries to “pursue sustainable development and good governance” in exchange for cutting import duties to zero on two-thirds of the tariff lines of its exports. Governments with this status need to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, good governance and the environment. Though it has the status, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said last November that the country needs to “do better” to fulfil its obligations, specifically on blasphemy, enforced disappearances and minority rights. In December 2025, the EU welcomed certain steps taken by Pakistan towards implementing international conventions under the GSP+ framework, while also reiterating the “need for further reforms in the medium and long term”.