Page 2 - Pakistan Government

Pak to boost storage capacity as India stays firm on Indus water decision

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his government decided to enhance the water storage capacity, as India continued to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. A day after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India took a series of punitive measures against Pakistan that included putting the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in "abeyance". Pakistan's massive agriculture is dependent on the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers, and any effort to divert water, and even temporarily stop it, may spell disaster for the country. State-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Sharif, during a visit to the National Emergencies Operations Centre on Tuesday, talked about the water issue. Sharif said the "enemy" wants to take steps against the waters treaty. "For that, the government has decided that we will build our water storage," he said. He said the government would build a non-controversial water storage capacity by utilising resources such as the Diamer Bhasha dam

2 suspected militants killed as police foils terror attack bid in Pakistan

Two suspected militants were killed when police foiled a major terror attack bid in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an official said on Monday. The counter terrorism department (CTD) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police eliminated the terrorists during an overnight intelligence based operation in Peshawar city's Urmar Payan neighbourhood, once home to one of the largest Afghan refugee camps, the official said. The CTD said the suspects, a suicide bomber and the handler, were planning a large-scale attack on a sensitive target in the city when its team carried out the raid. A significant cache of weapons, ammunition, a suicide vest, an SMG rifle, a pistol, and several rounds of live ammunition were recovered from their possession, the official said. He said Munir Ahmed, the suicide bomber, was being traced by intelligence services since November last year. The CTD official said Ahmed was a wanted fugitive from Nangarhar in Afghanistan and had crossed into Pakistan from Khost. The

Powering change: How Pakistan is crowdfunding its energy revolution

Across Pakistan, a grassroots energy revolution is reshaping the grid, and offering a possible model that could transform similar fast-growing, energy-poor countries in Asia and Africa

13 security personnel killed in suicide bombing in Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least 13 security personnel were killed and 24 others injured in a suicide attack on Saturday in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, security sources said. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle belonging to the Bomb Disposal Unit early this morning in Khaddi area of North Waziristan district, the sources added. Among the 24 injured are 14 civilians, including women and children, with several said to be in critical condition. A curfew was imposed in the area at the time of the incident due to ongoing military movement, the sources said. Security agencies launched a rescue operation following the explosion. The militant group Usud al-Harb, a sub-faction of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, they added. This incident is being described as one of the deadliest in North Waziristan in recent months and has raised serious concerns about the security situation in the

As Munir meets Trump, a look at the past legacy of Pak's military chiefs

As Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir meets US President Donald Trump, here's a look at the past army generals in Pakistan and how they consolidated military power

Pakistan's tax exemptions rise to $21 million, economic survey shows

Tax exemptions to various sectors cost Pakistan more than USD 21 billion this year, a higher amount than the USD 17 billion the country is required to repay against its maturing commercial and bilateral external debt, according to the latest economic survey. Unveiled by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday, the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2024-25 documents various economic developments and indicators in a fiscal year. According to the document, the cost of tax exemptions surged to a record Rs 5.8 trillion in the current fiscal year (2024-25), a rise of nearly Rs 2 trillion in the first year of the present government from the previous fiscal year's Rs 3.9 trillion. The Express Tribune newspaper reported that in dollar terms, the cost of tax losses was USD 21 billion, substantially higher than the USD 17 billion Pakistan is required to repay this year against its maturing commercial and bilateral external debt owed to China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and ...

Pakistan hikes assembly speaker, Senate chairman salaries to Rs 1.3 million

The Pakistani government has formally raised the monthly salaries of the National Assembly speaker and the Senate chairman to Rs 1.3 million, according to a media report on Saturday. The new salary marks a significant rise from their previous salary of Rs 205,000. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs issued the notification on May 29, but details surfaced on Friday, Samaa TV reported. The monthly salary for both officials has been fixed at Rs 1.3 million and they will also receive an additional 50 per cent as a temporary allowance on top of it, according to the notification. The revised salary structure will be effective retrospectively from January 1, 2025. Earlier on March 21, it was reported that the salaries and allowances of federal cabinet members had been significantly increased, with federal ministers, ministers of state and advisers receiving hikes of up to 188 per cent. Sources had said that the federal ministers approved a summary of the salary increments for themselv

Pak's Bilawal Bhutto called out by journalist at UN over Kashmir remark

Pakistan's former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was called out here by a journalist on his comments about alleged demonisation of Muslims in India. The former Pakistan foreign minister, who is leading a team of experts to inform the world about the recent conflict with India, was briefing the media about their perspective on Tuesday. During the question-answer session, Egyptian-American journalist Ahmad Fathi, UN correspondent of American Television News (ATN), asked Bilawal about his comments on India's treatment of Muslims and reminded him that it was an Indian Muslim military officer who was briefing the media during the conflict. Let me start with a statement you made today, saying that the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir is being used as a political tool to demonise Muslims in India. Sir, I have watched the briefings on both sides, and as far as I recall, there were Muslim Indian military officers who were conducting the briefing on the Indian side, Fathi said. He

Pak passes law to curb child marriages, sets minimum marriage age to 18

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed into law a bill fixing the minimum age for marriage at 18 years to curb child marriages despite opposition from right-wing clerics. The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, seeking to protect the rights of children and eventually eradicate marriages of children under the age of 18, was sent to the president's approval on May 27 after sailing through both houses of Parliament. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman shared on X a presidential notification related to the approval of the legislation. The Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025 is assented to, as passed by the Parliament, the notification read. Pakistan has reached a milestone in the enactment of important legislation against child marriages, she said. Zardari accented to the bill despite strong opposition from religious groups and even the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), a constitutional body tasked to off

Pakistan plans bitcoin reserve but govt says crypto still banned at home

Within a day of unveiling a state-backed bitcoin reserve plan in the US, Pakistani officials said cryptocurrency remains illegal under current regulations and no legal change has been made

Clerics in Pakistan urge President to reject bill against child marriage

Clerics in Pakistan have urged President Asif Ali Zardari not to sign a bill banning child marriage, calling it un-Islamic and a 'western conspiracy'

India-Pak truce talks lift Nifty, Sensex 2%: reasons for market rally today

The benchmark indices recorded their strongest intraday rally since November 22 of last year

Fact Check: Govt debunks Pak's claims of striking India's S-400 system

The Government of India issued a detailed report highlighting multiple instances of disinformation detected between May 8 and May 9

Pak shuts airspace for commercial flights at Lahore, Islamabad airports

In a late-night development Wednesday, the Pakistan government has closed its airspace for all commercial flights at Lahore and Islamabad airports. The country's airspace is closed for all commercial flights at Lahore and Islamabad airports, said the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) in a statement late Wednesday night. The Karachi airport is however operational. Pakistan earlier on Wednesday announced a 48-hour closure of its airspace for all air traffic after India carried out a military strike on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The PAA said that it has formally conveyed its concerns to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regarding the serious risks posed to civil aviation safety by India's reckless and provocative actions. Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. It was launched in retaliation for the terror attack in Jammu

Pak security huddle reviews situation after strike; PM Sharif to speak

Pakistan's high-level security huddle on Wednesday discussed the situation arising out of the Indian missile attack. Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the National Security Council (NSC) meeting, which was attended by cabinet ministers, chief ministers, all services chiefs and senior officers. The NSC meeting lasted for more than two hours and discussed the security situation at length. However, no decisions were announced as Sharif has summoned a cabinet meeting at 3:30 pm to further discuss the developments. Later, he would share the decisions regarding the ongoing tension with the nation through his address in the parliament, officials said. Earlier, the Pakistan army said that at least 26 people were killed and 46 injured in the Indian strikes launched shortly after midnight on cities in the Punjab province and ...

Pak ready to 'wrap' tensions if India de-escalates: Defence Minister Asif

Pakistan is ready to "wrap up" tensions with India, if New Delhi de-escalates the situation, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday. His remarks came hours after India carried out a military strike on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Asif was reported as saying by Bloomberg Television that Pakistan will only respond if attacked. "We have been saying all along in the last fortnight that we'll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But if we're attacked, we'll respond. If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up this tension," he said. Regarding the possibility of talks, the minister said he was not aware of any such potential engagements. Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.

Do not travel to Pakistan: US government issues advisory to its citizens

This latest travel advisory for US citizens came after India launched strikes on nine terror sites in Pakistan on Wednesday

Pakistan losing Rs 3.4 trn due to misuse of Afghan Transit Trade facility

Pakistan is losing Rs 3.4 trillion, including a nearly 30 per cent loss because of misuse of the Afghan Transit Trade facility due to illicit trade, according to a report. The losses estimated by the Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME) in its report titled "Combatting Illicit Trade in Pakistan" are equal to 26 per cent of this fiscal year's annual tax target, reported The Express Tribune newspaper. The report estimates an annual tax revenue loss of Rs 3.4 trillion on account of an estimated USD 123 billion informal economy, according to the report released on Thursday. It underlined that the illicit trade has emerged as a critical challenge for Pakistan's economy, undermining formal businesses, eroding government revenues, and jeopardising consumer safety. From smuggled petroleum and counterfeit pharmaceuticals to non-tax-paid cigarettes and under-invoiced consumer goods, illicit trade has entrenched itself across key sectors, it added. The country's intelligence a

'Pakistan has a past' admits Bilawal Bhutto, marked by waves of extremism

His remarks came shortly after Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also admitted that the country had supported terror groups in the past

India asks IMF to review loans to Pakistan after Pahalgam terror attack

This request comes after a deadly attack on tourists in Phalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which has made tensions worse between the two countries.