
US CG tours Hyd, Jamshoro
During his visit, Urbom toured the US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET).
Urbom praised USPCAS-W as a model of sustainable US-Pakistan cooperation, highlighting initiatives like training municipal staff in Jacobabad on solid waste segregation, recycling, and composting.
Urbom met with executives from Al Fateh Oil Industries, which imports American soybeans to produce animal feed and cooking oil.
Consul General Urbom attended the Sports Day celebration of the English Access Scholarship Program at Peoples School Jamshoro.
Urbom also visited the National Incubation Center, where he participated in a US Lincoln Corner-hosted event "Meet the US Diplomats." US diplomats Tyrell Walker and Reva Gupta joined Urbom to interact with young leaders.
Hashtags

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


Express Tribune
36 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
No deal, till a deal
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, perhaps, agreed to disagree at their summit in Alaska. Their rubbing of shoulders in pursuit of a permanent peace over Ukraine was, however, an arduous task to attain in a given timeframe. But the fact that they exhibited personal chemistry to overcome cynicism and kept the doors open for further talks is a milestone achievement. The subsequent willingness from Kiev to join a trilateral get-together with arch-foe, Russia, and the US indicates that proper tactical signaling has flown down the warzones in the heartland of Europe. This euphoria is, thus, likely to see some sort of an agreement in weeks to come. The sound-bites of confidence from both the heads of state, after almost three hours of one-on-one parleys, also hinted at a broad-based consensus to reflect on issues of peace and security beyond Ukraine, and to set in a new-normal at times when the world is sliding into a power struggle of multilateralism. The prelude to Alaska also witnessed some bizarreness from Washington as it tried to flag the tariffs issue with India as a conjunction to the outcome of talks. That was quite unbecoming of American leadership, and was nothing but a ploy to air its discomfort over the ongoing trade war with emerging powers in the East. Trump, nonetheless, was more forthcoming as he ensured his guest that he means business. The red carpet welcome, after months of bickering over the media, simply reflected the essence of being rational; and Putin, likewise, reciprocated by avoiding any hiccups. The summit has sent shivers down the spine for European leaders who are eager to know at what cost a 'deal' is going to be stuck. The critical demands from Moscow are neutrality of Ukraine, Kiev's distancing from NATO and return of Russian-speaking oblast territories. Washington has little to maneuver that reality as the Kremlin sits pretty comfortable in terms of strategic strength, and is winning the duel with Ukraine. Thus, the phrase from the huddle that "there is no deal until there is a deal" will keep everyone on tenterhooks.


Express Tribune
36 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Govt makes trade breakthrough with Iran
Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, led Pakistan's delegation at the High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Food Security and Agricultural Cooperation held in Tehran, achieving a major breakthrough in transforming Pakistan-Iran trade relations in the agriculture sector. According to a statement from the Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFSR) released on Monday, the minister was accompanied by the director general of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) and the joint secretary of MNFSR. The meeting was co-chaired by his Iranian counterpart, Gholamreza Nourozi, and attended by senior representatives of key ministries, research institutions, and trade authorities from both countries. Hussain secured Iran's agreement to source a major portion of its rice imports from Pakistan. Both government procurements and private sector imports will now rely primarily on Pakistani rice, opening a consistent and stable export market for Pakistan. Addressing longstanding challenges faced by fruit exporters, the minister obtained firm assurances for resolving hurdles in mango exports, particularly delays in import permits and foreign exchange allocations. With these measures in place, exports of Pakistani mangoes to Iran are set to rise substantially. The minister also prioritised Pakistan's livestock and meat sector in the discussions. Iran agreed to focus on Pakistan as a principal supplier and to ensure that around 60% of its meat procurements are sourced from Pakistan. Similarly, Iran agreed to import large volumes of maize from Pakistan, with a commitment to resolve technical and procedural issues on priority and within the shortest possible time. Recognising the need for science-driven solutions in agriculture, the statement adds that both sides agreed to enhance cooperation between the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Iranian research institutions. This collaboration will cover key areas of mutual advantage, including crop research, livestock breeding, water management, and innovation for farmers' benefit. The minister further secured consensus on a wide range of facilitation measures aimed at easing agricultural trade. These included faster customs clearance, the establishment of warehouses and cold chain systems, and improvements in border infrastructure to ensure perishable commodities reach markets efficiently and in prime quality. Both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to moving towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), providing a long-term framework for expanding bilateral agricultural trade. To ensure that these historic decisions are implemented effectively, a Joint Committee on Agricultural Cooperation was formally established. The committee will meet every six months to review progress, resolve emerging issues, and maintain the momentum of cooperation. Speaking at the conclusion of the meeting, Rana Tanveer Hussain thanked the Government of Iran for its constructive approach and warm hospitality. He highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to strengthen trade ties with neighbouring countries and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to being a reliable partner in food security and agricultural development. He termed the outcome of the meeting a turning point for both countries, creating new opportunities for farmers, traders, and agribusinesses. He also extended a formal invitation to Minister Nourozi to visit Pakistan to further consolidate this positive momentum, reads the statement. Both sides signed a Joint Communiqué at the end of the meeting, reflecting their shared resolve to implement the decisions taken today and opening a new chapter in Pakistan-Iran cooperation in agriculture and trade.


Express Tribune
36 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
PSX at peak on Fitch bank outlook
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) soared to a new all-time high on Monday, propelled by Fitch's positive outlook on Pakistan banks and Moody's upgrade of the country's rating to Caa1. Strong earnings, rupee stability and optimism about Pakistan-US trade and investment deals strengthened investor sentiment, driving the KSE-100 index up by 1,705 points to above 148,000. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corp commented that stocks closed at a new all-time high as Fitch Ratings provided investors with a brighter outlook on Pakistan banks amid Moody's rating upgrade to Caa1. A strong earnings outlook, rupee stability, speculation about Pakistan-US trade and investment deals and the government seeking further US export tariff incentives led the PSX to a record close, he said. At the end of trading, the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded an increase of 1,704.79 points, or 1.16%, and settled at 148,196.42. According to Topline Securities, bulls staged a strong comeback in Monday's trading session, with the KSE-100 index surging 1,904 points intra-day before closing at an all-time high of 148,196, up 1,705 points. Market sentiment brightened on reports of the government's circular debt reform drive, which entails reducing liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes, revising RLNG pricing and mobilising funds from savings through LNG diversion, state-owned enterprises' dividends and power sector receivables, it said. Detailed proposals are expected to be announced next week, sustaining investor optimism. Heavyweights such as Lucky Cement, Meezan Bank, Bank AL Habib and Pakistan Petroleum contributed a combined 756 points to the index's upward momentum, Topline added. Arif Habib Limited (AHL), in its report, remarked that the PSX kicked off the new week on a bullish note, resuming its northbound journey and closing above 148,000 at 148,196, higher by 1,705 points. The rally was fuelled by Fitch's latest outlook on Pakistan's banking sector, highlighting improving macro conditions, ongoing reforms and stronger capital buffers as key positives. Fitch expects lower interest rates, better credit growth and reduced reliance on public-sector lending to benefit banks. However, it also flagged risks tied to the sovereign health, inflationary pressures and dependence on state-linked exposures. The positive sentiment drove robust buying in key banking names including Meezan Bank, Bank AL Habib, UBL and Bank Alfalah, which contributed 619 points to the index, AHL said. Moreover, media reports suggested that the government may cut LNG imports to two cargoes per month, down from three to four cargoes, as part of efforts to reduce the gas-sector circular debt and improve fiscal sustainability. The brokerage house noted that the progress on circular debt resolution may sustain the bullish momentum, though consolidation or a mild correction was possible. JS Global analyst Muhammad Hasan Ather said that the KSE-100 index surged 1.2% to close at a record high, driven by strong corporate earnings, improved macroeconomic indicators and expectations of favourable inflation data. Investor sentiment was further lifted by enhanced liquidity, rising remittances and optimism about circular debt reforms. The financial sector benefited from a 12.5% year-on-year rise in bank deposits, he said. Looking ahead, the market is expected to remain buoyant amid ongoing earnings season and clarity on fiscal measures, including the potential phasing out of super tax, Ather stated. Overall trading volumes increased to 610.3 million shares compared with Friday's tally of 473.6 million. Traded value rose to Rs39.2 billion as compared to Rs32.9 billion in the previous session. Shares of 487 companies were traded. Of these, 283 stocks closed higher, 175 dropped and 29 remained unchanged. WorldCall Telecom was the volume leader with trading in 40.7 million shares, falling Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.40. It was followed by Pervez Ahmed Consultancy with 29.8 million shares, gaining Rs0.18 to close at Rs2.82 and Al-Shaheer Corporation with 26.4 million shares, gaining Rs0.52 to close at Rs12.24. Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs625 million, the National Clearing Company reported.