Page 32 - Pakistan

Pak can build itself despite internal, external conspiracies, says Zardari

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday that his country will continue to build itself despite internal and external conspiracies. Addressing the Pakistan Day military parade at Aiwan-e-Sadr (President's House), Zardari congratulated the nation and said that the objective of Pakistan was to set up a welfare state where the rule of law should be supreme. Pakistan was achieved after many sacrifices and we would not hesitate from any sacrifice to keep it safe, he said. He said that Pakistan, being a strong and determined nation, has the ability to face challenges and we will continue to build Pakistan despite internal and external conspiracies. He alleged that India had always tried to cast an evil eye on Pakistan while militants through the fitna-e-Khawarj (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) also posed a threat to the country. We want to tell them that the Pakistani nation and its armed forces stand shoulder to shoulder and would foil their nefarious designs, he said. He also s

Pakistan, IMF agree to cut average applied tariffs by 43% over five years

Pakistan and the IMF have made further adjustments to the economic liberalisation plan and agreed to cut weighted average applied tariffs to around 6 per cent a reduction of 43 per cent over five years in the protection level available to local industries, according to a media report. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had long been raising concerns over the protection available to local industries, but Pakistani authorities were reluctant to open these areas. The country has the third-highest trade-weighted average tariffs in South Asia at 10.6 per cent. After the implementation of the full liberalisation plan, it will have the lowest weighted average tariffs in the region. A weighted average applied tariff is the average of effectively applied tariff rates, weighted by the value of imported goods to which they are applied. The final adjustments were made during a virtual meeting held on Thursday, The Express Tribune newspaper reported quoting government sources. It has been

Pak sends envoy to Afghanistan to discuss trade, terrorism and refugees

Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq Khan on Friday met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul with both sides agreeing to enhance high-level engagements and dialogue to further consolidate bilateral relations. Khan is undertaking an official visit to Afghanistan from March 21-23 at the direction of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release here. The visit comes days after Pakistan formally lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over the use of its soil in the recent train hijacking in the restive Balochistan by Balochistan Liberation Army militants in which 21 civilians and four soldiers were killed. It also comes three days after the Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan reopened after 27 days of closure following successful negotiations between jirga members from both sides. Met Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul, today. ...

IMF proposes tax target of over Rs 15 trillion in Pakistan's next Budget

The International Monetary Fund has (IMF) proposed a tax target of over Rs 15 trillion for Pakistan in the next budget, according to a media report on Saturday. The development comes days after the IMF urged Pakistan's Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to refrain from granting tax exemptions to international investment projects, including the Chaghi-Gwadar railway track project worth USD 2 billion. ARY News reported citing sources that the IMF delegation maintained that tax exemptions for international investments would hinder the country's revenue generation. The IMF and Pakistan are holding virtual talks, with 85 per cent of the discussions completed successfully. The talks are focused on finalising the details of the next budget, which is expected to be presented in the National Assembly soon. The new budget is expected to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio to 13 per cent and collect Rs 2,745 billion in non-tax revenue. The government is also expecting the economy to gro

Balochistan leader Mahrang Baloch arrested while protesting in Pak's Quetta

Mahrang Baloch, who had been with the protestors during the sit-in protest, had shared messages on Friday night bringing attention towards the atrocities being faced by Baloch people

Imran Khan's party PTI denied permission to hold rally at Minar-i-Pakistan

According to Dawn, the request had been rejected "in view of serious security issues, threats, and the general law and order situation in the country"

Elon Musk-owned Starlink gets NOC to launch services in Pakistan

Interestingly, Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) is banned in Pakistan

Pak Army captain, 10 terrorists killed in operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A Pakistani Army captain and at least 10 terrorists associated with a banned outfit were killed during a gunfight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said. The intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted on Thursday following reports of the presence of terrorists in the area, a statement from the military's media wing said. It said that during the intense fire exchange, Captain Hasnain Akhtar fought gallantly and made the ultimate sacrifice, leading his troops from the front. Hasnain was a brave officer and renowned for his courage and bold and daring actions during previous operations, it said. The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were seized from the killed terrorists who were involved in numerous attacks against law enforcement agencies as well as target killing of innocent civilians. It further said, A sanitisation operation is being conducted in the area and the security forces are determined to wipe out the .

India ranks below Pakistan on global happiness index; Finland on top

Pakistan's healthy life expectancy (at birth) was 56.9 years, while that of India was 58.1 in 2021

Cash-strapped Pakistan plans to legalise crypto to spur foreign investment

Newly-established Pakistan Crypto Council will be establishing a regulatory framework aimed at integrating blockchain technology into its economy

Taliban rejects Pak proposal to halt construction of 2 posts near border

Afghanistan's Taliban regime has rejected Pakistan's proposal regarding suspending the construction of two posts near the border as a result of which the Torkham border crossing will remain closed. The movement of people via the Torkham border crossing has been suspended since February 21 after Pakistani and Afghan security forces developed differences over construction activities on both sides of the border. The Afghan Jirga (tribal council) members on Monday requested time until the same evening to consult their concerned authorities in Kabul about halting construction of check posts on disputed land. Afghan sources said the Taliban has rejected the Pakistani delegation's proposal to halt the construction of two posts near the border. Although the Pakistani delegation was hopeful that their recommendations would be accepted, Afghan officials dismissed the proposal as unreasonable. Afghan sources stated that the conditions presented by the Pakistan government were against the Isl

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Saudi Arabia to boost bilateral ties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Saudi Arabia from March 19-22 to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance economic cooperation, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday. A FO statement said Sharif's delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, key federal ministers and senior officials. During the visit, the prime minister will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the statement said. The two leaders will discuss ways to boost trade, enhance partnerships in key sectors, and facilitate greater economic collaboration. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties, enhance economic cooperation, and promote investment between the two countries, the statement said. It said matters of mutual interest and concern, including global and regional developments, particularly the Gaza situation, evolving Middle East dynamics, and issues related to the Muslim Ummah, will figure high on the agenda. The prime minister's visit underscores the deep-rooted ...

Pak lodges formal protest with Kabul over train hijacking in Balochistan

Pakistan formally lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over the use of its soil in the recent train hijacking in the restive Balochistan by Balochistan Liberation Army militants in which 21 civilians and four soldiers were killed. The Express Tribune reported quoting sources that a senior Afghan diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office on Monday to register the protest. However, there was no official statement from the FO about the summoning of the Afghan diplomat. On March 11, terrorists attacked and hijacked the Jaffar Express at Bolan Pass, holding over 400 passengers hostage for 30 hours. The train was en route from Quetta to Peshawar. Pakistani security forces, backed by the Air Force and elite army commandos, successfully rescued over 350 passengers. However, authorities confirmed that terrorists killed 25 passengers before the operation commenced. All 33 attackers were killed during the operation. Following the attack, Pakistan stated that it had found evidence ...

J-K on high security alert following recent terror attacks in Pakistan

A high-security alert has been sounded across Jammu and Kashmir in view of the recent terror attacks in Pakistan, including the killing of a top commander of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), officials said on Tuesday. All the protected persons, including politicians, have been advised to be conscious and strictly follow the security protocols for their safety, the officials in the security establishment said. They said the forces have been directed to maintain a close watch and "extraordinary" vigil to thwart any attempt by anti-national elements to carry out any attack, especially on soft targets, by intensifying area domination patrolling and search operations. Several recent terror attacks in Balochistan, including a train hijacking and the killing of top LeT commander Zia-ur-Rehman alias Nadeem alias Abu Qatal alias Qatal Sindhi have prompted the security alert, the officials said. Rehman, who was wanted by the Indian security agencies for several deadly terror attacks in

5 people injured in grenade attack on SHO's house in Balochistan

Five people including four children were injured on Monday in a grenade attack on the residence of a Station House Officer (SHO) in Pakistan's Balcohistan, as insurgents continued terror attacks in the restive province. The attack took place at the house of SHO Qadir Sheikh in Khuzdar, according to authorities. Khuzdar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Javed Zehri told the media that unknown assailants threw a hand grenade at the residence of the Hub City SHO, injuring his father as well as his brother's four children. The father has been moved to Karachi for treatment while the children have been given treatment, he said, adding that the incident was being investigated. There have been a series of terror attacks in different parts of the province since militants from the banned separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) ambushed Jaffar Express carrying 440 passengers last week. The militants killed 26 hostages before the Army eliminated all 33 terrorists the next day. On

Pakistan terms as 'misleading and one-sided' PM Modi's remarks on J&K

Pakistan on Monday rejected as misleading and one-sided the remarks made on Jammu and Kashmir by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a podcast. The Indian leader said during the interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman on Sunday that every attempt to foster peace with Pakistan was met with hostility and betrayal and that he hoped that wisdom would prevail on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties. Pakistan Foreign Office issued a statement in response to media queries regarding the remarks made by Modi and rejected his assertions. The remarks are misleading and one-sided. They conveniently omit the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which remains unresolved for the last seven decades despite India's solemn assurances to the United Nations, Pakistan and the Kashmiri people, according to the statement. It alleged that India was involved in fomenting trouble on Pakistani soil and carrying out state-sanctioned oppression in Jammu and Kashmir. It also accused India of orchestrat

Pakistan's economy recovers, but rising terrorism threats test stability

The resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan's wild west has complicated Sharif's already difficult job

Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia among 43 nations to face Trump's travel ban

The draft also places 10 countries, including Afghanistan and Bhutan, on the Red List, meaning their citizens could face a full visa suspension

We connect well as nation comes first for both of us: PM Modi on Trump

Apart from elaborating on his rapport with the US President, the PM covered other international issues, such as his efforts at fostering peace with Pakistan

Highlights: My strength lies not in my name but in the backing of 1.4 bn Indians, says PM Modi

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