The Trans-Afghan Railway project (Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar) is a top priority for Pakistan and Uzbekistan. In 2025, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to this project within the SCO framework to provide landlocked Central Asian states with the shortest route to the Arabian Sea via Pakistani ports.
13852
Which Pakistani official served as the 13th Secretary-General of SAARC from 2017 to 2020?
Amjad Hussain B. Sial was the second Pakistani official to hold the post of SAARC Secretary-General. His tenure was marked by efforts to maintain the functionality of the organization's regional centres during a period of high political tension and the postponement of the Islamabad summit.
13853
The 'Ababeel' and 'Shaheen' missile tests by Pakistan are often discussed in the context of 'Nuclear Stability' in South Asia, an issue that SAARC:
While nuclear stability and arms control are critical for South Asia, the SAARC Charter's Article X prevents these issues from being raised at the forum. Such strategic matters are handled through bilateral 'Nuclear Confidence Building Measures' (CBMs), which have been largely frozen since 2019.
13854
Which Pakistani official served as the SAARC Secretary-General from 2017 to 2020?
Amjad Hussain B. Sial was the second Pakistani to serve as SAARC Secretary-General. His tenure was challenging as it coincided with the period of summit postponement. He focused on maintaining the functionality of the specialized bodies and regional centres during the diplomatic stalemate.
13855
Which regional disaster management framework was hosted as a virtual conference by Pakistan in 2020 to coordinate the regional COVID-19 response?
In early 2020, following a video conference of SAARC leaders, Pakistan hosted a follow-up video conference of Health Ministers and senior officials. Pakistan proposed a regional mechanism to share real-time data and best practices to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This highlighted Pakistan's commitment to using the SAARC platform for humanitarian and health emergencies despite political tensions.
13856
The first-ever meeting of the OIC was held in 1969 in which country?
The first Islamic Summit was held in Rabat, Morocco, in September 1969. This summit marked the birth of the OIC. Pakistan's delegation, led by General Yahya Khan, played a significant role, though the meeting was marred by the exclusion of India following Pakistani protests.
13857
Ambassador Munir Akram served as the President of which principal UN organ during the 2020-2021 term?
Ambassador Munir Akram was elected as the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2020-2021 term. In this role, he led the council's response to the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for debt relief and equitable vaccine access for developing nations.
13858
Which Pakistani city hosts the headquarters of the 'UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan' (UNMOGIP) on the Pakistani side?
UNMOGIP maintains its main office in Rawalpindi and an alternate office in Srinagar. The mission is one of the oldest in the history of the UN, and its continued presence in Rawalpindi is a testament to Pakistan's commitment to the UN's role in the Kashmir dispute.
13859
The 'Debt Service Suspension Initiative' (DSSI) during COVID-19 was heavily championed by which Pakistani leader at the UN?
During his address to the UN General Assembly in 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan proposed a 'Global Initiative on Debt Relief' for developing countries struggling with the economic fallout of the pandemic. This proposal contributed to the international momentum for the G20's DSSI, providing much-needed fiscal space for Pakistan.
13860
Which Pakistani official chaired the 'Economic and Social Council' (ECOSOC) for the 2020-2021 term during the peak of the pandemic?
Ambassador Munir Akram was elected as the President of ECOSOC in 2020. During his presidency, he led the council's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on equitable vaccine distribution, debt relief for the world's poorest countries, and mobilizing investment for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
