MULTAN, Aug 12: Pakistan's inclusion in the ASEAN regional forum will usher new avenues of partnership with Indonesia. This was stated by Indonesian ambassador in Pakistan, Mr Anwar Santoso , while addressing the executive committee members of the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Thursday.

The ambassador conveyed willingness of the corporate sector of his country to expand trade relations in all the fields with Pakistani businessmen. He said the economy of his country was progressing on solid grounds.

He informed the MCCI executive committee that a two-day business seminar was being organized in Lahore from Sept 9 to provide an opportunity to the business community of both the countries to interact with each other.

Mr Santoso also invited the Multan chamber to participate in the 19th National Merchandise and Community Show to be held in Jakarta from October 13 to 17 this year. MCCI president Malik Israr Ahmed Awan listed oil and gas, power, cotton and other agricultural products, footwear and leathers products, minerals, automobiles and edible oil processing machinery as the potential sectors for which the businessmen of both the countries could enter into mutual trade.

LIFE-TERM: A court in Jalalpur Pirwala handed down life imprisonment to an accused in a murder case on Thursday. Additional district and sessions judge Abdul Haseeb Sheikh also directed convict Tassaduq Hussain to pay Rs100,000 as compensation to the heirs of deceased Khadim Hussain.

In case of non-payment, the convict would have to undergo six months more in imprisonment. The judge acquitted Shaukat Hussain and Nasir Abbas, who along with Ishfaq and Amjad Hussain, were declared co-accused by the prosecution. Ishfaq and Amjad have been absconding.

According to the prosecution, Ishfaq's wife had some dispute with the sister-in-law of Khadim Hussain. On Dec 13, 2002, the area elders convened a panchayat to sort out the matter. However, when Khadim arrived at the panchayat, Ishfaq, Tassaduq and others attacked him and clubbed him to death.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

MATTERS have worsened in the stand-off between the Azad Kashmir government and the Joint Awami Action Committee,...
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...