PM warns Afghanistan over cross-border terrorism

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan continued to seek good relations with Afghanistan but urged the Afghan interim government not to allow its territory to be used for terrorism against Pakistan.

“We share a 2,000-kilometre border with Afghanistan. We are neighbours and have to live together, but we continue to urge the Afghan interim government not to allow its soil to be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” he said.

Addressing participants at the Balochistan National Workshop in Islamabad, the prime minister also said Balochistan’s vast geography and scattered population posed development challenges unlike those faced by other provinces, stressing that Pakistan could only prosper if all four provinces progressed together.

He welcomed attendees from across the province, saying they represented not only Balochistan but Pakistan. “You are all representing Pakistan here,” he said.

PM Shehbaz said Balochistan had played an important role in Pakistan’s creation, recalling that the province’s political and tribal leadership had voluntarily joined the federation after independence.

“In 1947, the leadership of Balochistan accepted Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s leadership and became part of Pakistan. The loyal leadership of Balochistan put aside personal interests and egos and overwhelmingly supported the federation.”

Describing Balochistan as Pakistan’s largest province by area but its smallest by population, the prime minister acknowledged that its geography presented unique development challenges.

“The distances between cities are vast, settlements are scattered, and the problems are different from those faced by other provinces,” he said.

PM Shehbaz said the federation had recognised those challenges through the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, adding that Punjab had voluntarily supported a larger financial share for Balochistan.

“This was not a favour; it was an act of brotherhood. When a family has four members, they support one another,” he said, adding that Punjab had contributed around Rs150 billion to Balochistan over the years and continued to do so.

Turning to security, the prime minister expressed sorrow over Thursday’s attack in Mastung in which District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and his security guard were killed.

AI Cloud Sky47

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday described the newly inaugurated AI and cloud computing facility as a landmark achievement for Pakistan, reflecting the country’s growing technological capabilities and demonstrated that Pakistan could accomplish world-class initiatives through unity, vision and determination.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the country’s first ever AI Cloud Sky47, the prime minister said he was deeply inspired after touring the state-of-the-art facility, which had been completed in record time. Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif praised the engineers, experts and institutions involved in the project, and said the successful execution of the facility showcased the extraordinary talent available in both Pakistan’s military and civilian sectors.

Quoting the national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the prime minister said nations were built through fresh ideas and visionary thinking rather than bricks and stones alone. He stressed that innovation, commitment and collective resolve were the driving forces behind national progress.

Paying tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s leadership, the prime minister said the project stood as a testament to what could be achieved when state institutions worked together with a shared national purpose. He expressed confidence that if the same model of coordination and execution was replicated across other sectors, Pakistan could not only recover from past setbacks but also emerge as a modern, dynamic and forward-looking nation.

“This journey will not be easy, but it is certainly not impossible,” the prime minister said, adding that Pakistan’s success during Marka-e-Haq had already demonstrated that determination, courage and unity could transform seemingly impossible goals into reality.

He maintained that every major challenge presented an opportunity, whereas serious planning, innovation and sustained hard work would shape Pakistan’s future in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

The prime minister also acknowledged the contributions of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Ministry of Information Technology, the IT Secretary and strategic technology partner ZTE for their role in delivering the project. He revealed that the facility had an initial capacity of 8.5 megawatts and announced that similar AI and cloud infrastructure would soon be replicated in Karachi and Lahore.

Prime Minister Shehbaz directed all state institutions to align themselves with the country’s digital transformation agenda. He described the facility as a priceless gift to the people of Pakistan, and added that it would significantly strengthen the country’s digital security, enhance technological self-reliance and inspire confidence that Pakistan was fully capable of competing in the global digital economy.

The prime minister in his conclusion once again invoked Allama Iqbal’s message of national unity, reminding the audience that an individual derives strength from the collective power of the nation. He ended his speech with prayers for Pakistan’s prosperity and stability and the slogan, “Pakistan Zindabad.”

The inaugural ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Attaullah Tarar, senior government officials and distinguished guests.