EU Policy: Italy to challenge Nutri-Score with constitution

Rome: Giorgia Meloni’s party is proposing a tweak in the country’s constitution that would complicate adoption of the colour-coded front-of-packet labelling in Italy – and Europe. The Italian government is proposing an amendment to its constitution that would stymie introduction of the EU-backed Nutri-Score system in the mediterranean state, Euronews reported. Italy has long been […]

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USD 25 billion Chinese investment in Pakistan brought prosperity: CPEC preparatory meeting

Gwadar Pro Islamabad: Pakistan this week acknowledged that an influx of approximately USD 25 billion of Chinese investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) between 2013 and 2018 put several Pakistani sectors on the highway of prosperity. The observation was made during a high-level meeting here chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. The event served […]

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Ambassador Marilina Armellin appreciates pace and output of Olive Culture Project in Pakistan

Celina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador of Italy Marilina Armellin has expressed her appreciation at the pace and output of Olive Culture Project with the close cooperation of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. She expressed these views at the recent Steering Committee meeting for the “Olive Culture – Holistic and Multi Professional Mechanism for […]

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China’s pivotal role in replicating highly successful experience of hybrid rice in Pakistan highlighted

Gwadar Pro Lahore: Pakistan Hitech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) Chairman Shahzad Ali Malik this week highlighted China’s pivotal role in replicating the decades-long highly successful experience of hybrid rice in Pakistan. He emphasized the immense potential of hybrid seeds in achieving import substitution and fostering surplus production for export in various crops, including cotton, wheat, […]

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Pakistan’s export of goods and services to China up by 42.02% in eight months

Gwadar Pro Islamabad: Pakistan’s export of goods and services to China witnessed an increase of 42.02% during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (2023-24) as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Tuesday afternoon. The overall exports to China were recorded […]

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Zong, Zindigi join hands to elevate digital financial services in Pakistan

Gwadar Pro Islamabad: In a significant move towards financial digitization in Pakistan, Zindigi, powered by JS Bank, has entered a strategic partnership with Zong, the China-based leading telecommunications provider in Pakistan. This collaboration aims to provide seamless and innovative digital financial solutions, reinforcing the shared vision of both entities to drive financial inclusivity and digital […]

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EU ends antitrust probe into fashion designers

Newswire Brussels: The European Union’s antitrust regulators have announced the termination of a two-year-long investigation into a group of fashion designers, citing “priority reasons,” the European Commission revealed this week. The competition watchdog had initiated the investigation in May 2022, conducting raids on several fashion companies amid concerns of potential participation in a cartel to […]

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Italy sees debt ‘surely’ staying below 140% of GDP this year

Newswire Rome: Italy’s government expects debt this year to “surely” stay below 140% of gross domestic product. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Workshop in Cernobbio, Italy, Finance Ministry undersecretary Federico Freni said the country’s expected growth will be “around 1%” in 2024. Last Friday, the Bank of Italy said the country’s […]

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Punjab CM orders policy formulation to export buffalo meat, milk to China

Gwadar Pro Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz this week ordered policy formulation to export buffalo meat and milk to China. In a meeting on the Livestock Department, the CM reviewed the livestock related measures. The CM stressed that only vaccinated and tagged cattle would be brought to cattle markets and slaughterhouses, adding that authentic […]

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CCP to sign MoU on China’s SAMR

Newswire Islamabad: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is preparing to put in place a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework, said an official announcement. The CCP said China had made significant investments in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and various Chinese companies operating in the country. “This investment is expected to increase manifold […]

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Ambassador Baloch highlights trade, investment opportunities in Pakistan’s textile sector

Brussels: Ambassador of Pakistan to European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg Amna Baloch this week said that there were numerous trade and investment opportunities available to foreign firms in Pakistan’s multiple sectors. The ambassador, addressing a webinar on opportunities in Pakistan’s textile sector, emphasized the government’s commitment to facilitating them through the Special Investment Facilitation Council […]

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France warns of strong-arm industry to boost missile output

Rudy Ruitenberg ParisL: The French government this week threatened local defense firms with measures including requisitioning and order prioritization to accelerate the production of missiles and artillery shells. Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he may force firms to put defense orders before civilian ones in coming weeks if manufacturing doesn’t speed up, especially for […]

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European enterprises eye investment opportunities in China

China Economic Net Wuhan: The 2024 Cherry Blossom Viewing: Business Cooperation & Fortune Global 500 with Hubei, a talk platform, held a series of activities this week in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, with an eye on international cooperation between European enterprises and Hubei. More than 600 attendees, including diplomatic envoys, representatives of domestic and […]

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Pakistan and China share a long and storied friendship: Umar Rehman Malik

Abdullah Jan Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik said this week that Pakistan and China share a long and storied friendship. “The PPP starting with #SZAB (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) has been at the forefront of fostering and further strengthening this relationship,” he said. Umar Rehman Malik added: “Asif Ali Zardari who conceived […]

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Kazakhstan strengthens China-Russia trade links with railway expansion

Astana: Kazakhstan Railways is bolstering its presence in both China and Russia to cement the Central Asian state’s role as a hub for both Europe- and Russia-bound freight rail traffic originating in East Asia. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaking via video link, inaugurated a Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) logistics and innovation center in the central Chinese […]

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Ambassador Marilina Armellin appreciates progress on Olive Culture Project

Celina Ali Islamabad: The 4th Steering Committee meeting for the “OliveCulture – Holistic and Multiprofessional Mechanism for a Pakistani Olive Oil Value Chain” Project convened this week in Islamabad, marking another significant step towards enhancing Pakistan’s olive sector. Chaired by Muhammad Asif, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security & Research, Government of […]

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Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers luxury train travel from Paris to Italy

Newswire Venice: A new luxury train route from Paris to Portofino on Italy’s Ligurian coast will become a reality this summer courtesy of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. The three-night experience includes one night on board the iconic train followed by a two-night stay at the five-star Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio in […]

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Pakistan expects bumper yield of cotton crops this year with China’s help: Official

Faisalabad: Pakistan is expecting a bumper yield of cotton crops this year with the help of China, a senior official said. Deputy Director (DD) Agriculture (Extension) Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood said that the early cultivation of cotton crops would give bumper yield and play a pivotal role to stabilize the national economy. Addressing a farmers’ day […]

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EU must find ‘enormous amount’ of money to face global challenges, says Draghi

Brussels: The European Union needs to invest an “enormous amount of money in a relatively short time” to deal with the deep challenges the bloc is facing, former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said this week. Draghi, who has been tasked with producing a high-level report on the EU’s competitiveness, met with EU ministers […]

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Zong, Batik sign agreement encompassing GSM Connectivity

Newswire Islamabad: Chinese giant Zong 4G and Batik this week signed a formal agreement encompassing GSM Connectivity, Attendance Management Solutions, and Push to Talk devices for their dispersed workforce stationed throughout Pakistan. Batik Clothing is a renowned Pakistani clothing brand with a presence in seven major cities of Pakistan, said a news release. The brand […]

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China-funded mega solarization project inaugurated in Balochistan

Gwadar Pro Quetta: Balochistan Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki inaugurated the China-funded mega solarization project this week, aimed at converting various public department buildings, including educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and civic departments, to renewable energy sources. The China-funded project will provide clean, affordable, and uninterrupted power supply to the government departments. With […]

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Pakistan exhibitors show substantial presence at Texworld Evolution Paris

Newswire Islamabad:With a total of 19 enterprises, the Pakistani exhibitors show a substantial presence and impact at the internationally acclaimed trendsetting innovative ‘Texworld Evolution Paris’. The three-day exhibition that opened on February 5 with over 1300 companies from around the globe catering tofuture vogue and sourcing requirements remained the central attraction for global fashion and […]

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