Page 20 - Pakistan

GST largest marginal contributor to rising poverty in Pakistan: World Bank

The General Sales Tax has the largest marginal contribution to the rise of poverty while a monthly cash transfer programme to the poorest families has the largest positive impact on inequality reduction in Pakistan, a World Bank study has said. The Effects of Taxes and Transfers on Inequality and Poverty in Pakistan' reports that the General Sales Tax (GST) payments account for over 7 per cent households' pre-tax expenditure, which leads to further impoverishment among poor and vulnerable households. Dawn reported on Sunday quoting the World Bank (WB) study that estimations of the marginal contributions of individual fiscal instruments or the additional impact that individual fiscal instruments have on poverty or inequality when all other fiscal instruments are included demonstrate that GST has the largest marginal contribution to the national poverty increase. The second-largest impact on inequality comes from pre-primary and primary education expenditures, the WB study said. It

FY26 budget talks with Pakistan 'constructive', to continue ahead: IMF

IMF concludes staff visit to Pakistan, says FY26 budget talks constructive and ongoing; confirms next review of Pakistan's funding programme set for second half of 2025

India slams Pakistan at UNSC over decades of Islamabad-backed terror

India on Friday slammed Pakistan at the UN Security Council, saying it has experienced decades of Pakistani sponsored terrorist attacks ranging from the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to barbaric mass murder of innocent tourists in Pahalgam last month. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish made these comments while delivering a statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate. I am constrained to respond to the baseless allegations of the representative of Pakistan on a number of issues, Harish said in his statement at the debate on the theme 'Addressing emerging threats, ensuring safety of civilians, humanitarian and UN Personnel, journalists and media professionals and enhancing accountability mechanisms' under the agenda item Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. India has experienced decades of Pakistani sponsored terrorist attacks across our borders. This has ranged from the horrific 26/11 attack on the city of Mumbai to the barbaric mass murder o

Pakistan extends closure of airspace for Indian flights till June 24

Pakistan on Friday extended closure of its airspace for Indian flights until June 24, according to a new NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority. The extension follows the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules that restrict such closure for a month at a time. The ban on Indian aircraft flying over Pakistan airspace has been extended until 4:59 am June 24, 2025, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said in a statement here. All aircraft that are Indian-registered, operated, owned, or leased will remain subject to the ban, the PAA statement said. This ban will also apply to Indian military aircraft. No flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to use Pakistani airspace, the statement said. Under the directive, no flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to enter or transit through Pakistani airspace, the PAA said. Pakistan had banned its airspace for India last month after steps taken by New D

Rahul takes swipe at Jaishankar, says India's foreign policy has collapsed

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that India's foreign policy has "collapsed" and asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to explain why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan and who asked US President Donald Trump to "mediate" between the two South Asian neighbours. Gandhi tagged a post by the Congress which carried a video clip of Jaishankar answering questions on the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent tensions between India and Pakistan, during an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS "Will JJ explain: Why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to mediate between India & Pakistan?" Gandhi said. "India's foreign policy has collapsed," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed. Gandhi on Thursday had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having compromised with India's prestige and asked him why he sacrificed the nation's interests by agreeing to halting of military ..

Despite terror concerns, what led IMF to approve Pakistan's bailout package

India abstained from the IMF vote, warning of potential misuse of funds; the IMF said Pakistan met reform targets and that disbursed funds were directed to the central bank

Pakistan met all conditions: IMF on financial assistance to Islamabad

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said its executive board granted USD one billion in assistance to Pakistan this month after finding out that the country met all conditions and targets for it. The IMF carried out a review of its extended fund facility (EFF) granted to Pakistan in September last year and based on it, the board approved the amount on May 9, said Julie Kozack, a director at global body's communications department. The IMF executive board approved the fresh assistance to Pakistan notwithstanding New Delhi's apprehensions that the funds could be used for cross-border terrorism. India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 16 pressed the IMF to reconsider the financial assistance, saying Islamabad could use a large part of it to fund the terrorist infrastructure. At a media briefing Kozack, answering a question, said the IMF executive board approved Pakistan's EFF programme in September last year and the first review at that time was planned for the first quart

MP delegation arrives in Moscow to expose Pak-sponsored terrorism globally

A multi-party delegation of Members of Parliament led by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi arrived here on Thursday night on the first leg of five-nation tour to sensitise international community on Pakistan-sponsored cross border terrorism, a month after the Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed. At the Domodedovo International Airport, Karunanidhi and members of her team were received by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar and other officials. The delegation is scheduled to meet on Friday with the members of Russian Duma and foreign ministry officials and interact with top experts of local think-tanks. On Saturday, they are scheduled to address a press conference and interact with the local media before leaving for Slovenia. The Indian delegation is also scheduled to visit Greece, Latvia and Spain as part of the Indian government's diplomatic outreach post-Pahalgam, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a new normal that New Delhi will consider any act of cross border terrorism as an a

With a stagnant economy, Pakistan needs to focus on citizens' welfare

In a low-income country, there will always be competing demands for resources

Centre justifies revoking Celebi clearance, cites national security risk

The Indian government defended revoking Celebi's security clearance in court, citing national security concerns. Celebi claims the move was sudden, vague, and impacts jobs and investor confidence

'Relationship built on sensitivities': India warns Turkey over Pak ties

India asked Turkey to press Pakistan on terrorism and warned that bilateral ties must be built on mutual sensitivities amid tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack

Pakistan expels Indian high commission staffer in tit-for-tat move

Pakistan government on Thursday announced expulsion of a staffer of the Indian High Commission. India on Wednesday expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistan high commission on charges of involvement in espionage, in the second such expulsion in a week, people familiar with the matter said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the staffer at the Pakistan mission has been declared "persona non grata" for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status and that he has been given 24 hours to leave India. On May 13, India had expelled another Pakistani official for allegedly indulging in espionage. Following India's action, Pakistan had also expelled an Indian staffer posted at the Indian high commission in Islamabad. According to a statement by the Foreign Office, the "Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the High Commission of India, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities inconsistent with his privileged status.

5 children killed in suicide attack on school bus in Balochistan | What we know

A suicide bombing targeting a school bus in Pakistan's Balochistan province has left five children dead and nearly 40 injured. What happened? Who's behind the attack? Here's what we know so far.

Pakistan promotes army chief Asim Munir to Field Marshal: What it means | Shehbaz Sharif

The Government of Pakistan has promoted army chief General Asim Munir to the rank of Field Marshal, making him only the second person in the country’s history to hold this title.

Bus blast kills 5, including 3 children in Pakistan's Balochistan

At least four children were killed and 38 others injured when a school bus was hit by a blast in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Wednesday morning, according to media reports. The blast occurred in the Khuzdar district, the Dawn newspaper reported, quoting Khuzdar Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti. The bus was targeted when it was near Zero Point. Four children were killed in the blast while 38 others were injured, Dashti said, adding that the bodies and those injured were shifted to a nearby hospital. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the explosion. The beasts who target innocent children do not deserve any leniency, he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

How a no-limits Russia-China pact is reshaping the post-war world order

The efficacy of India's military partnership with the US and the West, in general, may diminish as China emerges as a peer technological power with comparable military capabilities

Pakistan's govt trims its growth projection amid trade headwinds

Gross domestic product is estimated to expand 2.68 per cent in the fiscal year through June, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday

Pakistan govt promotes Army Chief Asif Munir to field marshal rank

The elevation makes Munir only the second serving chief to be awarded the rank in Pakistan's history, the first being Gen Ayub Khan, who awarded himself the honour

Pakistan govt promotes Army Chief General Asim Munir as Field Marshal

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir was on Tuesday promoted as the Field Marshal for "successfully" leading the armed forces in the recent conflict with India, state-run TV reported. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The state-run PTV reported that the cabinet took the important decision to promote General Asim Munir as Field Marshal of the country. The decision was taken for his "exemplary role" in the conflict with India, it added.

Pakistan joins India in UAE's 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa list

The five-year tourist visa allows holders to enter the UAE multiple times from the date of issue without needing a local sponsor or host