Latest news with #AhsanIqbal
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan says formulating national policy to counter India's ‘water aggression'
ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced this week that Islamabad was formulating a comprehensive national policy to counter India's move to suspend a decades-old water-sharing treaty with Pakistan, stressing that it aims to safeguard the country's water resources. India announced its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between the two countries in 1960, after Delhi blamed Islamabad for being involved in an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people on April 22. Islamabad denied involvement in the incident. Pakistan has warned Delhi's move to suspend the treaty that guarantees water access for 80 percent of Pakistan's farms, can trigger a nuclear war between the two countries. 'Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal says a comprehensive national policy is being formulated in consultation with all four provinces to counter Indian water aggression,' state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday. Iqbal said the policy aims to safeguard Pakistan's water resources in the face of ongoing regional challenges, referring to India's move to hold the treaty in abeyance. 'The minister announced to establish a special technical committee comprising water experts and engineers to provide technically sound recommendations to address water disputes and related challenges,' the report said. TREATY'S HISTORY The Indus Waters Treaty took effect on April 1, 1960, and was officially signed on September 19, 1960, in Karachi by Pakistan's then President Ayub Khan and India's then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. As per the treaty, Pakistan has rights to the western rivers— Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab— for irrigation, drinking, and non-consumptive uses like hydropower. India controls the eastern rivers— Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej— for unrestricted use but must not significantly alter their flow. India can use the western rivers for limited purposes such as power generation and irrigation, without storing or diverting large volumes. Experts, like Hassaan F. Khan from Tufts University, argue that India lacks the infrastructure to divert large amounts of Indus waters. The treaty also created a permanent Indus Commission and a dispute resolution framework, and despite wars and decades of tensions between Pakistan and India, it remains one of the world's most resilient water-sharing agreements. There is no provision in the treaty for either country to unilaterally suspend or terminate the pact, which has clear dispute resolution systems. The April 22 attack triggered a days-long conflict between India and Pakistan in early May, raising fears of a nuclear war before US President Donald Trump intervened and brokered a ceasefire on May 10. The conflict killed over 70 people on both sides of the border, with both countries claiming victory over the other. Pakistan and India both dispatched delegations to world capitals in June to defend their stances regarding the conflict. India and Pakistan have fought two out of three wars in the past seven decades over the disputed Himalayan Kashmir territory. Both sides claim the valley in full but administer only parts of it.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Chinese experts' report: Minister reviews finalisation of sectoral action plan
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad to review the implementation and finalisation of the sectoral action plan based on the Chinese experts' Report. The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, Vice Chancellor PIDE, Chief Economist, Project Director CPEC Secretariat, and senior officials from various ministries and divisions. The report shared by the Chinese Embassy was prepared by Chinese Working Teams following their visit to Pakistan to assess potential areas of enhanced economic cooperation. The report outlined key observations and recommendations in different sectors such as connectivity, the development of a national agricultural plan, Gwadar Port linkages, IT collaboration, and other strategic areas. Ministries were requested to review the report and provide feedback. In line with the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 10 federal focal groups were constituted to develop sector-specific action plans in response to the technical assessments presented by the Chinese expert teams. Since then, the Ministry of Planning under the chairmanship of Minister Ahsan Iqbal has held multiple rounds of meetings to shape the final action plan and has consistently encouraged the ministries to align their inputs with Chinese recommendations and outline a clear path forward. During the meeting, all relevant ministries discussed the sectoral suggestions made by the Chinese teams and presented updates on their respective projects. Minister Ahsan Iqbal directed that each ministry must prepare a comprehensive response based on the Chinese Experts' Report so that the CPEC Secretariat can compile and submit a unified, detailed reply to the Chinese side. He also directed that China should be formally informed about the progress made by Pakistan on the recommendations, and efforts should be made to fully capitalize on the areas and projects for which China has already expressed willingness to cooperate. The meeting marks a significant step towards deepening Pakistan-China economic cooperation and ensuring that both sides move forward with a shared understanding and commitment to mutual development goals. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Indian water aggression: National policy being formed: Ahsan
LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Sunday that a comprehensive national policy is being formulated in consultation with all four provinces to counter Indian water aggression. He said this while inaugurating the newly established Engineers' Lounge at the Institution of Engineers Pakistan, here. Ahsan maintained that the proposed policy is aimed at effectively safeguarding Pakistan's water resources in the face of ongoing regional challenges. He also announced to establish a special technical committee comprising water experts and engineers to provide technically sound recommendations to address water disputes and related challenges. Highlighting the importance of engineering for national progress, Ahsan stressed the need for mobilising engineers as part of a national mission to address Pakistan's pressing challenges. Ahsan Iqbal further said that Pakistan's engineers were a valuable national asset, and their intelligence and hard work must be harnessed for the country's development agenda. He assured that the government stands shoulder to shoulder with all engineering bodies in this mission. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan plans to launch transshipment operations between Gwadar and Gulf region
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government is actively engaging private shipping liners to commence transshipment operations between Gwadar and the Gulf region, Pakistani state media reported on Friday. The statement came from officials at a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Gwadar Port operationalization, which was presided over by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. Maritime officials informed the participants that initial cargo categories will include minerals, dates, seafood, and cement, targeting sectors such as mining, fisheries, and processing industries. Iqbal said Gwadar's geostrategic position as the shortest trade route to the Gulf and Central Asia highlighted the port's potential as a regional transshipment hub, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported. 'Iqbal emphasized the need to showcase Gwadar Port in international road-shows as a strategic trade hub linking the Gulf and Central Asia,' the report read. 'He directed stakeholders to promote the port's cost-effective trade routes and available incentives for international businesses.' Gwadar, situated along the Arabian Sea, lies at the heart of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), under which Beijing has funneled tens of billions of dollars into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan. Pakistan, slowly recovering from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal, has been looking to capitalize on its geostrategic location to boost transit trade and foreign investment for a sustainable economic recovery. The country plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70 percent to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion, while it last month reduced port charges for exporters by 50 percent at the country's second biggest Port Qasim.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Stakeholders told to promote Gwadar trade routes
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal directed stakeholders to promote the Gwadar Port's cost-effective trade routes and available incentives for international businesses and early commencement of transshipment operation between Gwadar and the Persian Gulf. The minister chaired a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the Operationalisation of Gwadar Port on Friday. The meeting, coordinated by Member Infrastructure, Planning Commission Dr Waqas Anwar was attended by senior officials from Gwadar Port Authority, the ministries of Maritime Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Defence Production, Interior, Finance, Commerce, Communications, Railways, and Industries and Production. The meeting focused on finalising a comprehensive and well-coordinated plan to accelerate the operationalisation of Gwadar Port. Key agenda items included organising an international conference in Islamabad to raise global awareness about Gwadar Port, devising a robust marketing strategy, and enhancing diplomatic outreach to attract investment and trade interest from Central Asian Republics and other relevant countries. The planning minister was briefed that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs is actively engaging private shipping liners to commence transshipment operations between Gwadar and the Persian Gulf. Initial cargo categories will include minerals, dates, seafood, and cement, targeting sectors such as mining, fisheries, and processing industries. Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasised the need to showcase Gwadar Port in international roadshows as a strategic trade hub linking the Gulf and Central Asia. 'Well-designed promotional materials must be disseminated through Pakistan's embassies and diplomatic missions worldwide to ensure global visibility for Gwadar Port,' he said. The federal minister underscored Gwadar's geostrategic value, citing its position as the shortest trade route to the Gulf and Central Asia, including countries such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. He highlighted the port's potential as a regional transshipment hub. The planning minister instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate a four-nation consortium to undertake a pre-feasibility study aimed at linking South Asia with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from Gwadar to Oman through undersea tunnel. Proposals are also under consideration to establish ferry connections with Gulf Countries leveraging China's strong trade presence in the region. Minister Iqbal directed the Director General of Gwadar Port Authority to ensure quality accommodation and recreational facilities for international shipping crew members, encouraging repeat visits to the port. The DG confirmed that high-standard lodging, including a 5-star hotel (Pearl Continental), is available for international shipping crew members. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
