Page 34 - Pakistan

Pakistan requests China to reschedule $3.4 billion debt for two years

Pakistan has requested China to reschedule USD 3.4 billion debt for two years to bridge a foreign funding gap identified by the International Monetary Fund, according to a media report on Saturday. This is the second time in the past five months that Islamabad has requested Beijing to reschedule loans provided by its Exim bank. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made the formal request during this week's visit to Beijing, The Express Tribune newspaper reported, quoting government sources. Pakistan requested the Export-Import (Exim) Bank of China to consider rearrangement of its loans due from October 2024 to September 2027, said the government officials. A two-year extension was sought to repay the official and guaranteed debt obtained from the Exim Bank. Pakistan would keep making interest payments. Sources said that Pakistan was required to identify financing sources to fill the external financing gap of USD 5 billion for the three-year programme period. They added the Chinese ...

Four SC judges in Pakistan urge Chief Justice to delay new appointments

Four Supreme Court judges of Pakistan wrote a letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, urging a delay in the appointment of new judges until a decision on the controversial 26th Constitution Amendment. The controversial amendment was passed last year to give the government more say in the appointment of the Chief Justice and judges of higher courts. However, the appointment following the tweaks led to the allegation of packing' of the high courts and the Supreme Court. The amendment was challenged in the apex court but no decision on its fate has been made so far. The judges who signed the letter include Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Athar Minallah. According to The Express Tribune, it was addressed to the chairman of the Judicial Commission, a body of senior judges under the chief justice, stressing the importance of forming a full court to address the issue of judicial appointments and the ongoing constitutional amendment case.

Pakistan faces big external financing risks despite economic growth: Fitch

Pakistan needs to repay over $22 billion in external debt in the fiscal year 2025, including nearly $13 billion in bilateral deposits, Fitch said

Hamas member attends 'anti-India' POK meet with Jaish, Lashkar terrorists

Hamas' spokesperson and representative in Iran, Khalid al-Qadoumi, met hardline Islamist leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman at the latter's home in Pakistan, reportedly for a narrative-building exercise

Pakistani exports become uncompetitive after govt doubles gas prices

Pakistani exports have become uncompetitive after the government doubled gas prices for in-house power generation by factories, endangering the target of a three-year goal of increasing exports to USD 60 billion, according to a business body. The Pakistan Business Council (PBC) informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday about the development through a letter, the Export Tribune reported. In a paradoxical situation, the miseries of industries are apparently an achievement for the government that has met an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan condition to either make gas unaffordable for in-house power generation or completely cut it off, the paper reported. The government has chosen the first option, which became the reason for the PBC a representative body of manufacturers to write a letter to the prime minister, reporter the paper. "Your USD 60 billion export target by 2027 is unlikely to be achieved. The competitiveness of manufacturing for the domestic market, which

Pakistan to send registered Afghan refugees back to their country

The Pakistan government has devised a plan to move registered Afghan refugees out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and gradually repatriate them back to their country. Authorities have also been directed to implement the plan without making any public announcement, Dawn newspaper reported quoting sources. It reported that the plan was finalised in a series of meetings presided by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week. One of the meetings was also attended by Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir, a source in the prime minister's office confirmed. Under phase I of the relocation plan, Afghan nationals having the Afghan Citizens Card (ACC) will be immediately moved out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. They will then be sent back to Afghanistan alongside illegal and undocumented refugees. ACC is an identification document issued to registered Afghan nationals by Nadra. According to the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM), ACC gives temporary legal status to Afghans durin

Pakistan signs agreement to defer $1.2 billion payment for Saudi oil

Pakistan government signed an agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to defer by one year a USD 1.2 billion payment on oil imports. Radio Pakistan reported that Pakistan and SDF on Monday signed two financing agreements worth over one billion dollar. These agreements include "Deferred Payment for Oil Import from Saudi Arabia" worth USD 1.2 billion for one year and "Construction of Gravity Flow Water Supply Scheme" at Mansehra amounting to USD 41 million. Secretary Economic Affairs Dr Kazim Niaz and Chief Executive Officer Saudi Fund for Development Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad signed the agreements. Among others, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki witnessed the signing ceremony. Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed the signing of the oil import financing facility, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement, adding that Pakistan will receive the oil on deferred payment for one year, it said. This project will strengthen .

Imran Khan writes to Army chief, urges review of establishment's approach

Jailed former premier Imran Khan wrote a letter to Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir, criticizing the establishment's policies and urging him to review its approach towards national security and governance as his party prepares for protests on the first anniversary of the general elections later this week. Khan, who has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail Rawalpindi for over a year, sent the letter from the prison, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Gohar Ali Khan told the media on Monday. The contents of the letter would be shared with the public, Gohar added. He said that Khan in his letter pointed out that the distance between the people and the establishment was widening. This [mistrust] should not take place at all, but there are certain reasons because of which this gulf is wideningOwing to those reasons, the army is being blamed, so the policy reasons must be reevaluated, Khan wrote in the letter. His lawyer, Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, told the media that Khan argued in his letter t

Pakistan signs agreement to defer $1.2 billion payment for Saudi oil

It said the fund will provide an amount of $41 million for a water supply scheme to help access to clean drinking water for 150,000 local people of a district I northwest Pakistan

Pakistan President Zardari to visit China on Tuesday on 5-day state visit

President Asif Ali Zardari will travel to China on Tuesday on a five-day state visit during which he will discuss a broad spectrum of bilateral relations with the Chinese leaders, with a focus on economic and trade cooperation, security collaboration, and the multi-billion dollar economic corridor (CPEC). The Foreign Office said on Monday that President Zardari, who is visiting Beijing at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, will hold high-level meetings with the President, Premier Li Qiang, and other senior officials. Their "discussions will encompass the full spectrum of Pakistan-China relations, with a particular focus on economic and trade cooperation; counter-terrorism and security collaboration, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and future connectivity initiatives," state-run Radio Pakistan quoted the Foreign Office as saying. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global geopolitical developments and cooperation in multilateral forums, i

Pakistan sees sharp increase in terror attacks in Jan 2025: Report

Pakistan witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks in January 2025, surging by 42 per cent compared to the previous month, a think tank has said. Quoting the data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), Dawn reported on Monday that at least 74 militant attacks were recorded nationwide, resulting in 91 fatalities, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians and 36 militants. Another 117 individuals suffered injuries, including 53 security forces personnel, 54 civilians and 10 militants. The report highlighted an intensified counterterrorism campaign by security forces, which led to elimination of at least 185 militants in January, making it the second deadliest month for militant casualties since 2016. The highest number of militants killed in a single month since 2016 was recorded in December 2024, when security forces neutralised 190 militants. The combined toll of militant attacks and security operations in January stood at 245 fataliti

Pakistan's economic growth stalls despite interest rate cuts: Report

Pakistan failed to kick-start economic growth in the first seven months of the current fiscal year despite a massive 10 per cent reduction in the interest rate by the central bank during this period, according to a media report. The State Bank of Bank in the latest cut on January 27 further reduced the interest rate by 1 per cent to set it at 12 per cent, a whopping 10 per cent down from 22 per cent in June last year. It was expected the decision would help to increase money supply and growth. The Dawn newspaper reported that despite a steep fall in the interest rate, the monetary expansion remained negative during the first seven months of the current fiscal year, noting that the frequent declines in interest rates resulted in a massive outflow of liquidity from banks to the private sector and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs). Still, it has failed to stimulate economic growth, it said. Bank advances to the private sector and NBFIs increased sharply in the second quarter of

Pak Army Chief pledges to defeat frenemies posing as 'proxy terrorists'

Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has vowed to hunt down the frenemies acting as terrorist proxies targeting the country. Munir's comments came as he visited Quetta on Saturday following the killing of 18 soldiers during clashes with terrorists in Balochistan's Kalat district. Twenty-three terrorists were also killed in clashes. During the visit, Munir was given a comprehensive brief on the prevailing security situation in Balochistan, the Army said in a statement. Munir said, "Those who are acting as terrorist proxies of their foreign masters who have mastered the art of manifesting double standards of hunting with the hound and running with the hare are well known to us." No matter what these so-called frenemies' may do, you will surely be defeated by the resilience of our proud nation and its Armed Forces Inshallah. For the defence of our motherland and its people, we will definitely retaliate and hunt you down', whenever required and wherever you may be, he said. Pakista

Pak army chief visits Balochistan after 18 security personnel killed

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir visited Balochistan on Saturday amid clashes in the restive province in which 18 security personnel and 23 terrorists have been killed in the last 24 hours, according to a media report. The army chief was given a comprehensive brief on the prevailing security situation in the province which was also attended by senior security and intelligence officials, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. The army chief along with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail offered prayers at the funeral of the slain soldiers and also visited the injured soldiers in the Combined Military Hospital Quetta, according to the Pakistan military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). No matter what these so-called frenemies' may do, you will surely be defeated by the resilience of our proud nation and its armed forces, Gen Munir said. The COAS also appreciated the efforts of the valiant officer

Who is Dodi Khan, Rakhi Sawant's third husband-to-be from Pakistan?

Rakhi Sawant is set to marry for the third time. Interestingly, she is going to marry in Pakistan this time and plans to settle in Dubai after marriage

ICC CEO Geoff Allardice steps down weeks ahead of Champions Trophy

International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice has decided to step down just weeks before the Champions Trophy with a board member indicating that his failure to present a "clear picture" of host Pakistan's lack of preparedness is one of the multiple reasons behind the move. The 57-year-old joined the ICC in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket, coming from Cricket Australia, where he served as Cricket Operations Manager. He was appointed CEO of the ICC in November 2021, after having served as acting CEO for eight months. "It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members," Allardice said in a statement. "I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges," he added. The official ICC statement made no mention of the exact reasons for Allardice's

US temporarily suspends foreign assistance to Pakistan for re-evaluation

The US has temporarily suspended foreign assistance to Pakistan for re-evaluation following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump, according to a media report on Tuesday. This move has instantly stopped a number of important United States Agency For International Development (USAID) projects in Pakistan, including the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), which is the flagship programme to promote cultural heritage preservation and protection, the Geo News reported. According to the US embassy here, the AFCP fund "helps protect historic buildings, archaeological sites, museum collections, and traditional cultural expressions like indigenous languages and crafts around the world". Quoting an unnamed official at the US Consulate in Karachi, the report said the US has paused Pakistan's foreign assistance for re-evaluation as per the executive order issued by Trump. Five projects related to the energy sector have also come to a halt as a result of this decisi

Trump 2.0 has garnered strong Muslim support: Pakistani American bizman

In his second term, US President Donald Trump has garnered strong support from the Muslim community on foreign policy issues like Gaza, a prominent Pakistani American businessman has said, dismissing the narrative that the Republican leader is opposed to Muslims. The biggest difference between Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0 is that he got endorsements from the Muslims in cities like Detroit in Michigan," Sajid Tarar, a businessman and founder of Muslims for Trump, told PTI. "At this time, he has a massive support of Muslims. The way he is handling Gaza, the Muslim Americans are behind him. They are very thankful to him, Tarar said. Tarar, a supporter of the US president since 2016, argued that a false narrative is being constructed that Trump is against the Muslim community. This is certainly not the case, he said. Speaking about India-US ties, Tarar said that Trump's second term has re-energised and reactivated the relationship. He pointed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first ...

Pakistan's central bank cuts key interest rate by 100 basis points to 12%

Pakistan's economy grew 0.92 per cent in the first quarter of fiscal 2024-25 which ends in June, according to data approved by the National Accounts Committee, released by its Statistics Bureau in Dec

Bangladesh high commissioner announces direct flights with Pakistan

To further strengthen bilateral ties, Bangladesh's High Commissioner to Pakistan announced plans to begin direct air services between Bangladesh and Pakistan. According to The Express Tribune, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain was speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on Saturday. Hussain emphasised the deep and historic relationship between the two countries and expressed the intention to initiate direct flights to facilitate travel and connectivity. He noted that such a move would enhance cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, education, and trade. However, no timeline for the direct flights was announced. The High Commissioner also highlighted the growing trade and diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan, stating that these ties would continue to grow stronger. He underscored Bangladesh's commitment to freedom of expression, noting how social media has empowered the younger generation to voice their rights, contributing to a robust culture of free speech in