Page 18 - Pakistan

Pakistan raises defence expenditure by 20% to $9 billion in annual budget

But slashes overall federal spending by a hefty 7%

Pakistan raises defence budget by 20% after Op Sindoor, cuts overall outlay

Pakistan's total budget outlay decreases by 7% to 17.573 trillion Pakistani rupees ($62 billion)

Operation Sindoor was India's biggest action against terrorism: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the Pahalgam terror strike was not just an attack on our people but also an assault on the social unity of India, as he asserted that Operation Sindoor carried out in retaliation was the "biggest action" taken against terrorism in India's history. In his address at an event in Dehradun, he also said that terrorists killed people in Pahalgam asking their religion but "we didn't ask their 'dharm' (religion) but hit back seeing their 'karm' (deeds)". Singh said in the last 11 years, the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership has bolstered the circle of national security. "On every matter related to national security, we have changed both attitude and way of action of the government. The world saw this change during the recent Operation Sindoor," he said. On April 22, terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam in south Kashmir. India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 to destroy nine terror ...

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 ...

Two neighbours, two futures: India's rise amid Pakistan's mounting woes

India and Pakistan are charting opposite courses, with New Delhi rising in global influence while Islamabad battles economic turmoil and diplomatic isolation, according to World Bank

Pakistan's debt increases to PKR 76,000 billion by end-March 2025

Pakistan's debt has increased to PRs 76,000 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, according to the economic survey, which indicated that the cash-strapped country's economy is likely to grow by 2.7 per cent this year. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who released the Economic Survey 2024-25 Monday, said Pakistan's economy has been on the path to recovery for the last two years, and the process was further stabilised and strengthened in the current fiscal year. The survey is a key pre-budget document highlighting the economic performance of the government in the fiscal year 2024-25. Pakistan's financial year begins on July 1. In the first nine months of the current fiscal year, the government's debt increased to PRs 76,000 billion, including PRs 51,500 billion from local banks and PRs 24,500 billion in loans from external sources, according to the document, which comes a day before the presentation of the budget. Addressing a press conference after launchi

Allahabad HC quashes plea challenging FIR for post targeting PM Modi

The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against the petitioner for his alleged Facebook post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the halt in military action between India and Pakistan on May 10. During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel argued that his client Ajeet Yadav (24) put up the post after getting carried away by emotions. Rejecting the submission, a division bench comprising Justices J J Munir and Anil Kumar said, "The post written by the petitioner against the prime minister carried scurrilous language against the head of the government. Emotions cannot be permitted to overflow to an extent that constitutional authorities of the country are dragged into disrepute by the use of disrespectful words. The court dismissed the plea saying it was not a fit case to interfere with the FIR in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution. Yadav has been booked for his Facebook post under various sections of t

Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan likely to be released on June 11: Report

Incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan is likely to get bail on June 11 in the Al-Qadir Trust case, a top party leader has said here. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) is set to hear the petitions requesting the suspension of sentences to Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the 190 million Pound Al-Qadir Trust case on June 11. Khan, 72, has been lodged at the Adiala Jail since August 2023 in multiple cases.

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

Stopped war between India and Pakistan, it could have gone nuclear: Trump

Trump pointed out that a war between India and Pakistan could have gone nuclear if the US had not intervened between the two countries

Two fronts & The King's Gambit: China uses Pakistan to triangulate India

It is safer to presume that the Chinese now see Pakistan as an extension of their Western Theatre Command

Mediation between two unequals not possible: Tharoor on Trump's claims

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said that to suggest one can mediate between two unequals is not possible because there is no equivalence between terrorists and their victims, amid repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that he "helped settle" the tensions between India and Pakistan. Tharoor, currently in the US leading a multi-party delegation on Operation Sindoor, made the comments in response to a question during a conversation at the Council on Foreign Relations here Thursday. "Mediation is not a term that we are particularly willing to entertain. I'll tell you why not. The fact is that this implies, even when you say things like broker or whatever, you're implying an equivalence which simply doesn't exist," Tharoor said. He said there is no equivalence between terrorists and their victims. "There is no equivalence between a country that provides safe haven to terrorism, and a country that's a flourishing multi-party democracy that's trying to get on with its business," he

Pakistan attacked 'insaniyat', Kashmiriyat in Pahalgam: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused Pakistan of attacking 'insaniyat' and Kashmiriyat by targeting tourists in Pahalgam, saying the intent was to trigger communal clashes in India and rob Kashmiri people dependent on tourism of their livelihoods. The prime minister was speaking after flagging off the first train service to the Kashmir Valley, and inaugurating several development projects, including the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river and India's first cable-stayed Anji bridge. He said tourism provided employment and acts as a connecting link between people, but unfortunately, the neighbouring country is an enemy of humanity, harmony and tourism. "Not only that, Pakistan is also the enemy of the poor's bread and butter. What happened on April 22 in Pahalgam is an example of that. Pakistan attacked 'insaniyat' and Kashmiriyat in Pahalgam. "The intent of Pakistan was to trigger communal riots in India. It wanted to strip people of Kashmir of their ...

Mutual understanding among political class should continue: RSS chief

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the mutual understanding shown by the political class following the Pahalgam terror attack and action taken by India later should continue and become a permanent feature. The society also gave a message of unity, Bhagwat said, addressing the concluding event of the Karyakarta Vikas Varg for RSS volunteers. After the heinous terror attack, people were sad and angry and wanted the culprits to be punished. Action was taken and punishment was meted out, Bhagwat said. Everyone saw the grit of our country's decision makers in the action taken after the Pahalgam terror attack, he said. Action was taken after the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. The valour of our army shone once again in it. The firmness of the administration was also seen. The political class also showed mutual understanding. The society also gave the message of its unity. This should remain continue and be a permanent feature, he said. India should be self-dependent in matters

Gujarat HC declines Celebi's plea in Ahmedabad airport ground handling case

The court refused to restrain Adani Group from appointing a new ground handler after Celebi lost security clearance due to geopolitical tensions

Pakistan is a front for China, US needs to be conscious: Ex-envoy Sandhu

Taranjit Singh Sandhu further stressed that the Pakistan Army remained in complete control of the country, making it necessary to take a firm stance against terrorism

India opposes ADB's $800 million aid to Pakistan, flags misuse concerns

India has raised strong objections to ADB's financial aid to Pakistan, citing concerns over cross-border terrorism, high defence spend, weak reforms, and governance risks

Who was TikTok star Sana Yousaf and why was she killed in Pakistan?

17-year-old Pakistani TikTok and Instagram influencer Sana Yousaf was shot dead inside her home in Islamabad on June 2. Watch the video for details.

1 million subscribers, Pakistan links: Another YouTuber held for 'spying'

Punjab YouTuber Jasbir Singh arrested for alleged espionage and terror links, amid growing scrutiny of online creators with connections to Pakistani operatives

Who was Sana Yousaf, 17-year-old Pakistani influencer shot dead at home?

Sana Yousaf, 17, was shot dead in her Islamabad home by a visiting relative. Police are probing rejected advances and honour killing as possible motives