
Fifth round of Pakistan–European Union dialogue held
The Pakistan delegation was led by Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, Additional Foreign Secretary for Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS), while the European Union delegation was headed by Ambassador Stephan Klement, EU Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.
Both sides engaged in a comprehensive exchange of views on issues related to international and regional peace, security, and strategic stability. Pakistan side briefed their EU interlocutors on developments in the wake of recent Pakistan-India conflict.
The discussions also focused on various dimensions of disarmament and non-proliferation, with particular reference to the agenda of the UN General Assembly's First Committee, the Conference on Disarmament and International Conventions, including the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
In addition, the dialogue reviewed recent trends in Multilateral Export Control Regimes (MECRs) and assessed the implications of Emerging Technologies on global security. The avenues for enhanced cooperation in the domain of Science Diplomacy were explored as well.
The two sides agreed to hold the sixth round of the dialogue in Brussels in 2026.
During his visit to Pakistan, the EU Special Envoy met the foreign secretary and attended roundtable discussion at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad.
The Pakistan–EU Dialogue on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament is an integral part of the broader strategic engagement between Pakistan and the European Union, which has been institutionalised since 2012.
Pakistan attaches high importance to this regular mechanism of dialogue, recognising it as a vital platform for constructive engagement on global and regional security as well as on disarmament and non-proliferation issues.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
7 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Romania explore joint ventures for EU, Gulf markets
Pakistan and Romania are exploring cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, with proposed joint ventures in software development for the EU and Gulf markets. A statement on Saturday read that the development came during a meeting between Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi and the Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, Dan Stoenescu, to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and education. Stoenescu proposed signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan, and Romania's National Authority for Digitalisation and National Authority for Research. A proposal for organising a Romania–Pakistan Science and Technology Forum, with a special focus on the IT sector, was also tabled. 'Romania stands ready for practical, results-oriented cooperation that supports Pakistan's national priorities while strengthening our bilateral partnership,' said Stoenescu. Romania offers Constanța Port as gateway for Pakistani exports to Europe During the meeting, the Romanian envoy reaffirmed his country's commitment to fostering strong collaboration with Pakistan, especially recognising the nation's steady progress in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and regional technology inclusion. Stoenescu offered Pakistan access to key European Union-funded programs through Romania's facilitative role in the EU. These include Horizon Europe (€95.5 billion research and innovation programme), Erasmus+ (education and academic exchange), and the Digital Europe Programme. These platforms create opportunities for Pakistani institutions to engage in collaborative initiatives in AI, cybersecurity, renewable energy, space technology, agriculture, and green innovation. Meanwhile, Federal Minister Magsi commended Romania's leadership in producing globally recognised tech solutions and unicorn companies, and he also expressed Pakistan's interest in learning from Romania's successful transition to a knowledge-based economy. The two sides explored further areas for long-term collaboration, including establishing joint ventures for software development targeting EU and Gulf markets, capacity building in cybersecurity, academic and tech exchanges between Romania's innovation hubs and Pakistan's National Incubation Centres, and joint research in AI, IoT, and blockchain under Horizon Europe and Digital Europe frameworks. Collaboration in e-government solutions and digital public service transformation was also discussed.


Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Swiss gold refining sector stung by US tariffs
The first casualty of a hefty 39-percent tariff on Swiss imports into the United States may be gold refining, after it emerged that certain gold bars could face the levy. The price of gold on the US futures market hit a record high Friday after US customs authorities clarified that gold bars weighing either one kilogram or 100 ounces (2.8 kilograms) should be classified as subject to so-called reciprocal tariffs. The July 31 letter was first reported late Thursday by the Financial Times. But a White House official told AFP that President Donald Trump's administration plans to "issue an executive order in the near future clarifying misinformation about the tariffing of gold bars and other specialty products". It was not immediately clear if this meant the products would therefore be exempt from Trump's "reciprocal" levies, imposed to address what Washington deems as unfair trade deficits. One-kilo gold bars are the most traded type of bullion on Comex — the world's biggest futures market — and Switzerland is a major supplier of the bars on the physical market. Expectations had been widespread that gold bars would be classified under a different customs code that excludes them from Trump's countrywide tariffs. Higher "reciprocal" rates took effect Thursday on dozens of economies. Swiss officials travelled to Washington this week to seek a deal similar to the European Union, whose products now face a 15-percent rate. But they came back empty handed. The customs update increased pressure on the Swiss government as gold trading weighs heavily on its trade balance. John Plassard, head of investment strategy at Cite Gestion, expects some of the gold refining business would likely flow to other industry centres such as Antwerp. Gold bars produced in the Belgian city Antwerp face a 15-percent US tariff applied to EU goods. Switzerland is home to four of the world's largest gold refineries, the largest being Valcambi in Balerna, in the Italian-speaking part of the country. They import unrefined gold coming from mines, recycled jewellery or lower-purity bars to be recast into high-quality bars, making Switzerland a hub for the global gold trade. These bars are then reintroduced to the market for jewellery, watchmaking, industry and tech products, as well as the banking sector and for use as central bank reserves. According to a Swiss Federal Customs Administration report, the country imported 2,372 tonnes of gold in 2023 and re-exported 1,564 tonnes. The value of these exports approached 88 billion Swiss francs ($109 billion at current rates), with the main buyers being China at 25.1 billion francs and India at 13.1 billion francs. Including other precious metals like silver and palladium, the sector accounts for 1,500 direct jobs in the country and 1,000 indirect jobs, according to the Swiss association of manufacturers and traders of precious metals. In 2023, Switzerland accounted for 34 percent of the total refined gold worldwide, according to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Swiss gold exports to the United States soared to 11 billion Swiss francs last year, nearly doubling from 6.1 billion in 2023.


Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Romania, Pakistan to strengthen bilateral ties
Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan Dan Stoenescu has reaffirmed Romania's commitment to deepening cooperation with Pakistan in science, technology, education, and innovation, recognising Pakistan's progress in digital transformation, artificial intelligence. The ambassador said in a meeting with Federal Minister of Science Khalid Hussain Magsi. Romania offers Pakistani partners access to flagship EU-funded initiatives such as Horizon Europe (95.5 billion for research and innovation, 20212027), Erasmus+ (education, training, and academic exchange), and the Digital Europe Programme.