President Asif Ali Zardari has extended his heartfelt felicitations to Prime Minister Andy Burnham on assuming office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The President expressed the hope that under Prime Minister Burnham’s leadership, Pakistan and the United Kingdom would further strengthen their longstanding bilateral partnership and expand cooperation across areas of mutual interest.

President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes. He noted that, as the world, particularly the Gulf region, has been passing through a turbulent period since late February, Pakistan has played its part in promoting peace with the support of many brotherly countries. He expressed the hope that the United Kingdom, under Prime Minister Burnham’s leadership, would also play its part in securing a cessation of the current hostilities and return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

The President wished Prime Minister Burnham success in his new responsibilities and said that he looked forward to working together to further deepen the enduring ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

Sikandar Hayat Stadium, Kotli, 19 July 2026: Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, addressing a massive election rally in Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, said that Kotli feels like home to him. The PPP candidates contesting the elections are not merely party workers, but members of the PPP family. Chairman Bilawal said that today, Chaudhary Yasin’s fourth generation addressed the rally, adding that he still remembered Chaudhary Yasin standing by the party during their years in exile. He described Chaudhary Yasin as a symbol of loyalty in Kotli, saying that the bond between the PPP and the people of Kotli had been forged over generations and would endure for generations to come.

Chairman PPP said that the PPP remains the most popular political force in the election. So many aspirants wished to contest on the PPP ticket that the party had more deserving candidates than available seats. He said the leadership had to choose between rewarding long-standing loyalists and accommodating new entrants. “When the party was considering candidates, I instructed the leadership to prioritise our loyal workers,” Chairman Bilawal said. Recalling the selection process for LA-13, he said it was not a difficult decision to choose between a new entrant and the son of Matloob Inqalabi. Matloob Inqalabi had dedicated his life to the PPP, and today his son is carrying forward that legacy on the party’s ticket. Chairman Bilawal said that he has fulfilled his responsibility by awarding the ticket, and it is now the responsibility of the people to ensure his victory.

Recalling the previous elections, Chairman PPP said that the PPP had contested under far more challenging circumstances, when PML-N governed Kashmir and PTI was in power in the centre. Despite those obstacles, the people of Kashmir placed their trust in the PPP. Today, the circumstances are different. The PPP has been governing Kashmir for the past six months, while PML-N is in the federal government. Therefore, the challenges are no longer the same.

Addressing the rally, Chairman Bilawal declared that he wanted every seat in Kotli. He said the rivals knew Javed Badhanvi was heading towards victory and retaliated by registering an FIR against him. They want to portray the people of Kashmir as terrorists, but they will never succeed in intimidating PPP workers, he said. They have forgotten that this is the party whose leader embraced the gallows rather than bow before dictatorship. The people of LA-9 will elect Jawed Badhanvi with a resounding mandate, he added, warning that those responsible for harassing PPP workers would be held accountable.

Addressing the jiyalas of LA-8, Chairman Bilawal expressed confidence that Malik Zafar would emerge victorious, while Chaudhary Akhlaq too must secure a landslide mandate from LA-11. He said the remaining two seats rested with Chaudhary Yasin, who had previously won both under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, even while his son was arrested. Those who once sought to imprison them are now facing imprisonment themselves, he said. This time, he said, Chaudhary Yasin must emerge victorious with an even larger majority.

Chairman Bilawal said that the manifesto he has brought before the people has already been endorsed by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that he has now come to Kashmir with the same three fundamental principles, the right to rule, the right to ownership, and the right to employment. He said the struggle for Kashmir’s right to rule had been helmed internationally by Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, carried forward by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and later by himself as Pakistan’s youngest ever foreign minister on a global level and even on Indian soil. Chairman Bilawal said the third generation of the PPP stands ready to continue Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s mission, following her pledge that “we will spill blood where the sweat of Kashmiris has spilled.”

Chairman PPP said that Quaid-e-Awam had always maintained that only the people of Kashmir could determine Kashmir’s future. He said the younger generation seeks change and demands greater constitutional and political rights. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto secured Observer Status for AJK in the OIC, he noted, expressing that his vision is to secure a similar status for Kashmir within Pakistan itself. He said the PPP seeks observer representation for Kashmir in key national institutions, including the CCI, NFC and the National Assembly. Chairman Bilawal said that he envisions a day when representatives of Kashmir would sit alongside the MNA from Larkano. Chairman Bilawal added that in future elections Chaudhary Yasin could contest as an interim MNA, enabling Kashmir’s own representatives to directly raise the voice of the Kashmiri people in Parliament.

Chairman PPP said that Kashmir’s mountains, rivers, and natural resources belong to the people of Kashmir. Just as the PPP has pledged to protect the resources of GB, it would make the same commitment to the people of Kashmir. He said that whenever employment has been created in Pakistan, it has been under the PPP. Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto created opportunities for Pakistanis not only at home but also across Europe and the Gulf. Even today, Pakistan’s economy benefits from remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis whose opportunities were created during his tenure. He said that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also became synonymous with employment generation, so much so that the slogan, “Benazir Aaye Gi, Rozgaar Laaye Gi,” became part of everyday political discourse.

Chairman Bilawal said that every Pakistani is deeply concerned about the prevailing situation in Kashmir. He said he personally understands the pain of loss, having lost Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, both his maternal uncles, and his mother. That is why, he said, he empathises equally with the families of martyred soldiers and police officers, as well as with the families of young people who have not returned from the protests. Human life, he stressed, is above any legislative dispute. Just as the PPP believes Sindh should decide for Karachi and Balochistan should decide for itself, it believes that only Kashmir can decide its own future.

Chairman Bilawal said that when he visited Muzaffarabad, the Action Committee wrote to him, and he responded the very next day. He said he also presented the same proposal to PM Shehbaz Sharif. The proposal calls for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to independently investigate the matter and present its findings. Until then, the protestors would suspend their activities while the State would halt its actions. Such an arrangement, he said, would create space for dialogue and progress. However, neither the protestors nor the PM’s representative have responded. If they do not agree to this proposal, they should present an alternative, he said, stressing that Kashmir has remained shut for days. Addressing the protestors directly, Chairman Bilawal said that ordinary Kashmiris are paying the price for a dispute with the State. He urged the federal government to immediately restore internet services, saying that collective punishment of innocent citizens and damage to their livelihoods was unacceptable.

Chairman PPP said that the people of Kashmir are courageous, loyal, and patriotic, and that all their grievances deserve to be addressed. Referring to the upcoming election on 27 July, he said it is now for the people to decide whether they wish to be represented by the PPP or by those who do not even consider Rawalakot and Mirpur to be part of Kashmir. He noted that the federal government has still not clarified whether the remarks made by its representative from Sialkot reflect official policy. If any minister believes that certain parts of Kashmir can simply be discarded, or that the seats of Kashmir are in their “pocket”, they should remember that the future of Kashmir rests only with the Kashmiri people.

On polling day, Chairman PPP said that the rain of arrows would hunt down the lion, and history would remember every corner of Kashmir echoing with the slogan of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

“Pakistan has consistently advocated a peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. We urge the international community, particularly the United Nations, to fulfil its responsibility by supporting efforts aimed at ensuring the realisation of the Kashmiri people’s inalienable right to self-determination.”

~ President Asif Ali Zardari Message on Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day (Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan),

Her Excellency Ms. Asifa Bhutto Zardari, Honorable First Lady of Pakistan, received the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Chandra Warsenanto Sukotjo, who called on her at Bilawal House, Karachi, today. The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse.

Welcoming the Ambassador and his spouse to Karachi, the First Lady congratulated him on the successful organisation of the Pakistan-Indonesia Investment Forum in Karachi and appreciated his efforts to further strengthen bilateral economic engagement.

The First Lady observed that Pakistan and Indonesia enjoy longstanding and friendly relations founded on mutual respect, shared values, and close cooperation. She said that the two countries have consistently supported each other and worked together to promote peace, development, and prosperity in the region and beyond.

Recalling the historical bonds between the two nations, the First Lady said that Indonesia’s founding President, Dr. Ir. Sukarno, shared a close personal friendship with her grandfather, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She noted that both leaders were united by their commitment to the dignity of newly independent nations, Asian solidarity, and a more equitable international order. Their friendship, she remarked, imparted added warmth and depth to Pakistan-Indonesia relations and continues to inspire efforts to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, education, healthcare, technology transfer, vaccine development, women entrepreneurship, tourism, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people contacts.

The First Lady underscored the importance of enhancing agricultural cooperation, noting that Indonesia remains an important destination for Pakistan’s rice exports, particularly premium rice produced in Sindh. She welcomed the ongoing efforts of both governments to revive the Government-to-Government rice cooperation framework, expressing confidence that it would further strengthen agricultural collaboration and create new opportunities for farmers and exporters. She also highlighted the significance of continued cooperation in palm oil and other agricultural commodities for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Highlighting opportunities for future collaboration, the First Lady said that agriculture, food security, women-led entrepreneurship, education, and stronger people-to-people exchanges offer considerable potential for further broadening bilateral cooperation. She also expressed interest in benefiting from Indonesia’s successful experience in family planning and population management, as well as expanding cooperation in healthcare, including technology transfer, vaccine development, and Pakistan’s ongoing efforts towards the eradication of polio.

The Ambassador briefed the First Lady on his recent visit to various parts of Sindh and shared his positive impressions of the province’s agricultural, economic, and investment potential. He reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, agriculture, palm oil, rice, investment, healthcare, and cultural exchanges.

The Ambassador also presented the First Lady with a commemorative publication containing infographics and historical timelines depicting the evolution of Pakistan-Indonesia relations.

The First Lady asked the Ambassador to convey her warm greetings and best wishes to the Government and the people of Indonesia. She expressed confidence that the friendship between Pakistan and Indonesia would continue to flourish and that the two countries would further expand cooperation across diverse fields for the mutual benefit of their peoples.

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Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on the overall situation in the country, including matters relating to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

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According to the press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, the PPP Chairman said that the blood of the martyrs of July 13, 1931, laid the foundation of the Kashmiri people’s long and dignified struggle for their democratic, political, and human rights. “Their sacrifice reminds the world that the yearning for dignity, justice, and the right to determine one’s own future can never be silenced by force,” he said.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed the PPP’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying that lasting peace in South Asia is inseparable from a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant United Nations resolutions.

Recalling the principled legacy of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the PPP has always stood firmly with the oppressed and voiceless. He expressed the hope that the sacrifices of the Kashmir martyrs would bear the fruit of peace, justice and freedom very soon.

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Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chaired a high-level meeting at Bilawal House, Karachi, to review a number of strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating economic growth, attracting international investment, and positioning Sindh as a regional hub for infrastructure, finance, technology and sustainable development.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister for Agriculture Sindh, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sindh, Agha Wasif.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister briefed the Chairman on three landmark strategic initiatives to be undertaken under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

The meeting reviewed the Keti Bandar Integrated Corridor, a long-term strategic initiative aimed at developing Keti Bandar into a world-class maritime, logistics, industrial and energy hub. The proposed corridor envisions modern port infrastructure, logistics facilities, industrial development, energy infrastructure, fisheries, tourism and associated economic activities that will strengthen Sindh’s maritime economy, promote exports, generate employment and attract significant domestic and foreign investment.

The meeting also reviewed the proposed Sindh International Financial Centre (SIFC), envisioned to reinforce Karachi’s position as Pakistan’s financial capital by facilitating infrastructure finance, Islamic finance, climate finance, financial technology, international commercial services, dispute resolution and global investment. The initiative is expected to mobilize capital for infrastructure, housing, technology, industrial development and climate-resilient projects while enhancing investor confidence.

The Data Infrastructure Initiative was also presented. The project aims to leverage Sindh’s abundant renewable energy resources for establishing renewable energy-powered data centres, cloud computing facilities, AI infrastructure and digital technology parks. The initiative is intended to attract leading global technology companies and position Sindh as a regional destination for sustainable digital infrastructure and next-generation technology investments.

The meeting was also briefed on an initiative relating to Farmers’ Agricultural Collectives. Minister for Agriculture Sindh, Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mahar, presented the initiative, which aims to organize small farmers into legally recognized, democratic collectives to improve productivity, strengthen collaboration and enhance access to modern agricultural services. The initiative is designed to facilitate the shared use of farm machinery, efficient water management, renewable energy solutions, digital advisory services, market linkages, financing opportunities and technical support, while promoting climate-smart agriculture, rural employment and higher farm incomes. The meeting noted that the initiative has the potential to strengthen the agricultural sector through modern, efficient and collaborative farming practices.

The meeting noted that these strategic initiatives have the potential to significantly enhance economic activity, create high-value employment opportunities, attract international investment, strengthen exports and contribute substantially to the economic development of both Sindh and Pakistan.

After detailed deliberations, it was agreed that the successful execution of projects of this scale requires institutional strengthening and specialized technical capacity. The meeting therefore endorsed the proposal to transform the existing PPP Unit into a company to provide greater operational flexibility and enable the engagement of highly qualified specialists from the market to lead and manage complex strategic PPP initiatives.

It was further agreed that internationally renowned transaction advisors will be engaged to undertake comprehensive feasibility studies, develop internationally competitive project structures and legal frameworks, and assist the Government in attracting a broad pool of reputable domestic and international investors for the implementation of these transformational projects under the PPP framework.

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized that these strategic initiatives represent a long-term vision for the economic transformation of Sindh and reaffirmed the commitment to creating an enabling environment for private investment, innovation and sustainable development through world-class Public-Private Partnerships.

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President Asif Ali Zardari, accompanied by a high-level delegation, met with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov Nurgozhoevich, today during an official visit to Kyrgyzstan.

President Zardari’s visit, underscores the enduring friendship and time tested relations between Pakistan and Kyrgysztan, based on common faith, shared history and cultural affinity.

The meeting was preceded by an official Welcoming Ceremony held in honour of the President of Pakistan at the Rukh Ordo Cultural Centre.

In the meeting, both leaders discussed ways to further deepen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. They reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and explored opportunities in trade, energy, connectivity, political and commercial cooperation, culture, education, people-to-people exchanges and progress on CASA-1000 Project, highlighting the potential for expanding economic, cultural, inter-parliamentary and strategic partnership.

The President recalled the Kyrgyz President’s recent State Visit to Pakistan in December 2025, the first visit by a Kyrgyz President to Pakistan in two decades, saying that the visit imparted fresh momentum to this bilateral relationship and resulted in signing of 16 Agreements/MoUs. He said that Kyrgyzstan occupy an important position for Pakistan’s “Vision Central Asia” policy.

President Zardari also congratulated the Kyrgyz President on the country’s historic election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027-2028 term.

The President stated that Pakistan looks forward to continued close coordination with the Kyrgyz Republic at the United Nations, OIC, ECO, SCO and other multilateral platforms and said that enhanced parliamentary, defence, security and strategic-policy exchanges to build greater mutual understanding on regional and global developments will be welcomed.

Both sides exchanged views on a range of important regional and international developments and reaffirmed their mutual commitment to promoting peace, stability and progress through dialogue.

A Memorandum of Understanding, between the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), was signed by Mr Damirbek Osmonov, the Kyrgyz Minister of Health and Dr Mukhtar Bharath, Minister of State for National Health Services.
A Joint Statement was later signed by the two Presidents on this occasion.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry; Minister of State for National Health Services, Dr Mukhtar Bharath; Senator Saleem Mandviwalla; Dr Asim Hussain; Spokesperson to the President, Mr Murtaza Solangi and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan were also present during the meeting.

The meeting was followed by an official reception, hosted by the Kyrgyz President, in honour of the President of Pakistan.

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Acting President of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani paid glowing tribute to Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) on the occasion of his 27th martyrdom anniversary, describing him as a shining symbol of courage, patriotism, and unwavering devotion to the defence of the motherland.

The Acting President said Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed displayed extraordinary bravery and steadfast determination during the Kargil conflict, defending Pakistan’s frontiers with exceptional gallantry until he embraced martyrdom on July 7, 1999. He said the martyr’s supreme sacrifice remains a source of inspiration for future generations and reflects the highest traditions of service and sacrifice.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said the nation salutes its martyrs and their families, whose sacrifices have strengthened Pakistan’s sovereignty, unity, and national resolve. He prayed that Almighty Allah may elevate the ranks of Havaldar Lalak Jan Shaheed in Jannah and bless Pakistan with lasting peace, stability, and prosperity.

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President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari is presented with traditional Kyrgyz boorsok and honey as part of the official welcome ceremony upon his arrival at Issyk-Kul International Airport, in the presence of President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov.

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