Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Oman across all spheres.

He expressed this resolve during a telephonic conversation with Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman Haitham bin Tariq on Saturday.

The prime minister expressed his satisfaction on the recent visit of the Pakistan’s commerce minister to Muscat, which would pave the way for the two sides to explore mutually beneficial avenues for cooperation.

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He also reiterated his invitation to the Sultan of Oman and requested him to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

Shehbaz Sharif conveyed his warm greetings and best wishes to the Sultan as well as the brotherly people of Oman on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr.

In his remarks, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq warmly reciprocated the prime minister’s Eid greetings and conveyed his best wishes for the people of Pakistan.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Tuesday finalised the ‘Provincial Action Plan’ to eliminate the scourge of terrorism and improve the overall law and order situation in the province, Dunya News reported.

KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur presided over the important meeting which was attended by senior officials, including CM’s advisor on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, chief secretary, IGP, additional chief secretaries, divisional commissioners, and regional police officers.

The action plan outlines seven key pillars including counterterrorism measures, political and social initiatives, legal reforms, good governance, general administrative measures, monitoring and public awareness campaigns.

It also outlines 84 specific actions across 18 thematic areas, assigning responsibilities to relevant provincial departments and federal agencies with defined timelines.

“Fast-track capacity enhancement of police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), including new recruitments, training and procurement of modern weapons and equipment, is also part of the action plan,” the statement said. “Priority projects for police infrastructure in southern and merged districts will be included in the Annual Development Programme.”

The action plan also stressess the formulation of a policy to counter cross-border terrorism. “Furthermore, after the approval of Terms of Reference (TORs) by the federal government, a provincial delegation will engage with Afghan tribal elders for negotiations,” it said.

Main features of the action plan include strengthening the state’s authority, restoring public confidence in the system through visible action against terrorists, continuation of kinetic operations against terrorists, strict enforcement of counterterrorism laws, improving public service delivery and incorporating community input in security and development matters.

Under the provincial action plan, a comprehensive database of terrorists and their facilitators will be established, regular updates to Schedule IV and strict surveillance of individuals on the list and monthly reviews of bounty cases on wanted terrorists will be carried out. Other than that, strict disciplinary action will be taken against government employees found facilitating the terrorists while civil administration will be given a lead role in counterterrorism efforts.

Fast-track capacity enhancement of police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), including new recruitments, training, and procurement of modern weapons and equipment is also part of the action plan. Priority projects for police infrastructure in southern and merged districts will be included in the Annual Development Program.

After the approval of terms of reference (TORs) by the federal government, a provincial delegation will engage with Afghan tribal elders for negotiations. The federal government will be urged to enhance diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan.

“Legal reforms for effective counterterrorism include the strengthening of legal framework by reviving the Preventive Magistracy System, formulation of a coordinated system between police, judiciary, and district administration, strengthening the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism, enactment of the KP Enforcement and Regulation Act, reforms in the criminal justice system, including special trials for terrorists in anti-terrorism courts, increasing prosecution staff in anti-terrorism courts as needed, and establishment of faceless courts for security-sensitive trials,” the statement further said.

Furthermore, a centralised intelligence collection and sharing system will be developed, with integration of local intelligence databases with provincial and federal agencies. Regular meetings of Apex Committee, Steering Committee, and Intelligence Coordination Committees at the divisional and district levels will be held.

Journalist Farhan Mallick has been handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for five days following a court ruling.

Farhan Malik is accused of running an illegal call centre. He was initially presented before the judicial magistrate of Karachi’s East district, where the defence lawyer filed a discharge request, while the investigating officer claimed that anti-state videos had been posted. The court had then asked for the videos to be shown.

Previously, the judicial magistrate had sent Malik to jail on judicial remand. Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court had issued notices to the respondents on a petition seeking the dismissal of the case against him.

The FIA Cyber Crime Circle had arrested the journalist in Karachi over alleged anti-state propaganda on social media.