Page 41 - Pakistan

Pakistan PM Shehbaz, Army chief Munir discuss security issues in country

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir held a meeting to discuss the key security issues in the country, including a recent protest by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party in Islamabad in which several people were killed. The government did not officially share the details of the huddle held on Monday, but Dawn reported quoting a source privy to the meeting that they discussed the November 24 D-Chowk protest and vowed to spare nobody involved in violence and the killing of law enforcers. It was decided that no leniency will be shown for those who killed security personnel and destroyed state property, the source said. The meeting, attended by top security officials, also discussed a surge in terrorism, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. The huddle also took stock of a renewed threat by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur about another protest march to Islamabad if the government did not release PTI founder Khan from ...

Pakistan's central bank cuts key policy rate by 200 basis points to 13%

Pakistan's central bank on Monday further reduced the key policy rate by 200 basis points (bps) to 13 per cent from 15 per cent amid improvement in inflation. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced that its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to cut the policy rate by 200 bps to 13 per cent, effective from December 17, 2024. It said that the decision was helped by the continued decline in food inflation as well as the phasing out of the impact of the hike in gas tariffs in November 2023. However, it added that core inflation, which stood at 9.7 per cent, was proving to be sticky, whereas inflation expectations of consumers and businesses remain volatile. The MPC also noted that the current account had remained in surplus for the third consecutive month in October 2024, which, amidst weak financial inflows and substantial official debt repayments, helped increase the foreign exchange of the central bank to around $12 billion. The committee also said global prices had remaine

Pakistan's week-long polio eradication campaign begins amid tight security

A week-long polio eradication campaign across Pakistan began on Monday amid tight security to ensure its smooth sailing against the crippling disease that saw a surge this year with 63 cases reported so far. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where the paralysing virus is still rampant. During the campaign, more than 44.7 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated. The campaign has started across 143 districts of the country to prevent the resurgence of the polio virus. A target has been set to vaccinate 23.3 million children in Punjab's 36 districts, 7.2 million in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's 36 districts, 10.6 million in Sindh's 30 districts and 2.6 million in Balochistan's 36 districts. Additionally, more than 800,000 children will be vaccinated in Islamabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and five districts of Gilgit-Baltistan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province alone, 54,000 security personnel, including police

Pak made progress in countering terrorist financing: US state dept report

Pakistan has made substantial progress in countering terrorist financing and addressing regional extremist networks, a US State Department report states while also highlighting significant security challenges, including a sharp rise in terrorist attacks in 2023. The Dawn newspaper said that the report released this week commends Pakistan for completing its updated National Risk Assessment (NRA) on money laundering and terrorist financing in 2023. This assessment evaluated 87 terrorist organisations, conducted sectoral vulnerability analysis and identified donations and extortion as key funding sources for terrorism. According to the assessment, 41 groups remain active in Pakistan, leveraging cash couriers and illegal money transfer services. The report flagged porous borders with Afghanistan as critical vulnerabilities facilitating illicit financial flows. The report notes that consistent with its commitment to relevant UN resolutions, Pakistan prosecutes its returning citizens who

Pakistan reports four new cases of polio, year's tally rises to 63

Pakistan has reported four new polio cases, bringing the crippling disease's total in the country for the year to 63 more than a ten-fold increase from last year's tally of just 6 cases. Despite repeated countrywide polio vaccination campaigns, two new cases were detected on Friday in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh provinces each, the Dawn newspaper reported, citing a statement from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). On Friday, December 13, the lab confirmed one polio case each from Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, and Jacobabad, where female children are affected, and Sukkur, where a male child is affected, the statement said. "This is the ninth polio case from Dera Ismail Khan, third from Tank and Jacobabad and first from Sukkur this year, it said. Of the 63 cases reported in the country so far this year, 26 were from Balochistan, 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 17 from Sindh and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. Last year, Pakistan reported six polio cases, a sharp declin

China keen to invest $1 billion in Pakistan to establish medical city

A Chinese business delegation has met with President Asif Ali Zardari here and expressed interest in investing USD 1 billion to establish a medical city in Pakistan, according to a media report. Pakistan has held strong bilateral relations with China which has supported it through many investments and development projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project which was termed as a lifeline for the country's economy. The delegation of Chinese investors during a meeting with Zardari on Thursday outlined their plans to invest USD 1 billion into creating the medical city in Karachi's Dhabeji Economic Zone which is outside Pakistan's biggest city and financial hub. The medical city would be Pakistan's first fully integrated pharmaceutical and medical ecosystem. Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) which is tasked with the running of the Dhabeji Economic Zone said in a statement that the pledge by the Chinese investors is an example of the growing economic ties

Half of PIA's fleet grounded due to shortage of essential components

A shortage of essential components and spare parts has grounded 17 of the Pakistan International Airlines' 34 aircraft, leaving them out of service, according to sources. The position is that 17 aircraft of the PIA fleet remain out of service, a source in the airlines said. At present, seven out of 12 planes in the airline's Boeing 777 fleet are grounded. Additionally, seven out of 17 Airbus A320 planes are also non-operational. The airline's smaller ATR aircraft have not been spared, with only two of the five aircraft currently active. The grounded planes have been affected by a lack of essential components, including engines, landing gear, Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), and other vital parts. Sources in the airlines said that shortage of funds and due clearance from relevant ministries were the primary reasons for the shortage. This has severely affected the operational efficiency of the country's national flag carrier, which is set to resume flights to Europe on January 10 afte

BS In-Depth: Why is Pakistan always in an economic crisis?

Why does Pakistan repeatedly face economic crises? This video delves into the deep-rooted causes of the country's financial struggles, from historical missteps and political instability

Good ties with Pakistan possible, but terror must stop first: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Lok Sabha that India seeks good ties with Pakistan but stressed they must be free of terrorism, adding the ball is in Pakistan's court

China look forward to $1 billion investment in Pakistan's healthcare sector

President Zardari met with a delegation led by the Chinese Consul General Yang Yundong at Bilawal House in Karachi, where he called for greater Chinese investment in Pakistan's various sectors

Faiz Hameed case: Why this former Pakistan ISI head is facing court martial

Retired Lt Gen Faiz Hameed is the first former intelligence chief in Pakistan's history facing a court martial

Pakistan indicts former ISI chief Faiz Hameed on multiple charges

In an unprecedented move, Pakistan's former spymaster Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed has been indicted on multiple charges, including engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act, and misusing authority and government resources, the army said on Tuesday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, the process of Field General Court Martial (FGCM) was initiated against Hameed on August 12, 2024. The former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief was charged under provisions of the Pakistan Army Act and "in first place Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd) has been formally arraigned on charges of engaging in political activities, violations of Official Secret Act detrimental to safety and interest of the state, misuse of authority & government resources and causing wrongful loss to a person(s)." "During the process, involvement of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), in events related to creating agitation and unrest, ...

Extreme heat, high temperature puts garment factory workers at risk: Study

Report identified only three retailers - Nike, Levi's, and VF Corp - which specifically include protocols to protect workers from heat exhaustion in their supplier codes of conduct

Grand jirga brokers 'indefinite ceasefire' in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Key decisions were also made during the talks to ensure sustainable peace in Kurram

India lodges protest with Pak on objectionable remarks against Bhagat Singh

India has noted the recent reports regarding objectionable remarks made against Bhagat Singh in Pakistan and lodged a strong protest with Islamabad on the issue, the government said in Lok Sabha on Friday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said New Delhi has also been raising with Islamabad issues "concerning attacks on cultural heritage, growing intolerance and lack of respect for minority communities in Pakistan." "The government of India has noted the recent reports regarding objectionable remarks made against Shaheed Bhagat Singh in Pakistan and has lodged a strong protest with the government of Pakistan on the incident through diplomatic channels," he said. Singh was responding to a question. The minister said the government and the entire nation recognise the invaluable contribution of Shaheed Bhagat Singh in India's freedom struggle. The advocate general of Pakistan's Punjab government, Asghar Leghari last month reportedly made some objectionable ..

Saudi Arabia extends $3 billion loan to Pakistan for another year

Saudi Arabia has extended the USD 3 billion debt repayment period with Pakistan for another year after the cash-strapped nation could not pay the debt, the country's central bank has said. The term of the deposit was maturing on Thursday. The State Bank of Pakistan stated that Saudi Arabia had placed the USD 3 billion deposit initially for one year in 2021 and subsequently rolled over it in 2022 and 2023, after the issuance of the royal directives that reflect the continuation of the close relationship between the two brotherly countries, the Express Tribune reported. It was the first extension in a series of debt extensions, which Pakistan would need from now till the end of June next year to avoid at least USD 13 billion more repayments to Saudi Arabia, China and the United Arab Emirates. Another USD 2 billion Saudi cash deposit will be maturing by mid-June next year, which Pakistan will again not pay back and get a rollover, said the Finance Ministry sources. "The Saudi Fund for

China remains Pak's top bilateral creditor, share drops to 22%: World Bank

With almost USD 29 billion in loans, China continued to be Pakistan's largest bilateral creditor while Saudi Arabia emerged as the second largest bilateral lender with about USD 9.16 billion, a World Bank report has said. However, China's share in Pakistan's total external debt went down to 22 per cent compared to 25 per cent in 2023 with Saudi Arabia increasing its share from 2 per cent in 2023 to 7 per cent in 2024. The World Bank's International Debt Report 2024 released on Tuesday ranks Pakistan among the top three loan recipients from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this year and also notes that Pakistan's high debt-to-export and debt-to-revenue ratios indicate a weakening fiscal position. The International Debt Report 2024 put Pakistan's total external debt (including that from IMF) at USD 130.85 billion in 2023, accounting for 352 per cent of its total exports and 39 per cent of gross national income (GNI) while Pakistan's total external debt servicing amounted to 43 p

Pakistan govt to implement steps to stop terrorists from using social media

Pakistan government on Tuesday said it will take comprehensive steps to curb the activities of banned terrorist organisations from operating on social media platforms. During a meeting of the National Action Plan (NAP) Coordination Committee, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in collaboration with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the government will work to block the accounts of terrorist groups. Provinces are also expected to implement a cohesive strategy to prevent the usage of illegal SIM cards. Naqvi strongly condemned the recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, calling them "deeply regrettable and condemnable". He said to counter terrorism, the professional capabilities of Counter Terrorism Forces (CTFs) in these regions will be enhanced through full cooperation. The minister said efforts to strengthen law enforcement agencies such as the police and the Frontier Constabulary would be prioritised to improve security. "To imp

After days of clashes, ceasefire reached in Pakistan's Kurram region

A ceasefire agreement has been reached between two warring tribes in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province following days of clashes between them that killed 130 people in the volatile Kurram district. Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javedullah Mehsud confirmed on Sunday that peace has been established across the conflict zones in the restive Kurram district. The clashes between Alizai and Bagan tribes in the district started on November 22, after an attack on a convoy of passenger vans near Parachinar in which 47 people were killed a day earlier. Several passengers who had sustained grave injuries succumbed later, raising the toll in the convoy killing to 57. The death toll from the violence surged to 130, with at least six people killed and eight injured on Sunday, as clashes in the volatile Kurram district continued for the eleventh consecutive day. The district administration finally succeeded in arranging a lasting ceasefire on Sunday between two warring tribes engaged in

BSF deploys 2 more battalions in Jammu to check Pakistani infiltration

The Border Security Force (BSF) has completed the deployment of two fresh battalions, comprising more than 2,000 personnel, in the Jammu region to better plug infiltration from across the Pakistan front and check the recent spurt of terrorist activities in the area. Officials in the security establishment told PTI that the new troops of these units have been deployed "in depth areas" as the "second line of defence" just behind the BSF border deployment along the international border (IB) with Pakistan. These two BSF battalions were recently withdrawn from the anti-Naxal operations theatre of Odisha and have now been deployed fully in the Jammu region. This was a task to be accomplished before the onset of winters when securing the IB against infiltration from Pakistan becomes challenging, the sources said. The personnel of the new units have been deployed around the Samba area, some other vulnerable patches in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and along the Punjab boundary that