Page 61 - Pakistan

Statements made by INDIA bloc leaders echoes voice of Pakistan: BJP

The BJP on Monday highlighted a series of statements made by INDIA bloc leaders that it said were against the nation's interest, as the ruling party accused the opposition of echoing the voice of Pakistan and asked people to be wary of such "traitors". BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi cited Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar's allegation that an RSS-affiliated police officer and not terrorist Ajmal Kasab killed the then anti-terrorism squad chief Hemant Karkare and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi's claim that the attack on IAF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir was a poll stunt to slam the party. He cited five other instances, including Pakistani leader Chaudhry Fawad Hussain's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praise of Rahul Gandhi, and Farooq Abdullah's reference to Pakistan having nuclear weapons, to allege that these INDIA bloc leaders are echoing the neighbouring country's stand. What the National Conference leader has said is very ...

ICC T20 World Cup: CWI assures safety after tournament gets terror threat

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup received a terror threat to the tournament from North Pakistan; Cricket West Indies (CWI) provides assurances regarding implementation of all necessary safety measures

PoK is very much a part of India, we were made to forget about it: EAM

Asked about India's plans for PoK during an interactive session in Cuttack, Jaishankar responded, "PoK has never been out of this country

All that is left for Pak Army is to 'murder me': Imran writes from prison

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan has lamented the sorry state of affairs in the country where political leaders like him languish in jail and said all that is left for the powerful military leadership was to "murder" him. In a column for the UK's Daily Telegraph' newspaper, penned from the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi where he is being held for disputed corruption charges, the 71-year-old cricketer-turned-politician reiterated his previous assertion that if anything happens to him or his wife, General Asim Munir the Chief of Army Staff, will be responsible.

Pakistan's 'ICube Qamar' lunar mission launched with Chinese support

Pakistan's first satellite mission to the moon, ICube Qamar, was launched on board China's Chang'e 6 from Hainan on Friday

UNGA: India slams Pak, says it harbours dubious track record on all aspects

In a sharp retort, India has said Pakistan harbours a most dubious track record on all aspects, as it slammed destructive and pernicious remarks made by Islamabad's envoy in the UN General Assembly here. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj's stern response came after Pakistan's UN envoy Munir Akram made lengthy remarks against India, including references to Kashmir, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, during his address to the UN General Assembly meeting on Culture of Peace.' One final pointin this Assembly, as we endeavour to cultivate a culture of peace amid these challenging times, our focus remains steadfast on constructive dialogue. We thus choose to set aside the remarks from a certain delegation, which not only lack decorum but also detract from our collective efforts due to their destructive and pernicious nature, Kamboj said on Thursday. We would strongly encourage that delegation to align with the central principl

Cong Pak 'disciple'; neighbour eager to make 'shehzada' next India PM: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dubbed the Congress party a "disciple" of Pakistan, and said the neighbouring country was eager to make the 'shehzada' of the grand old party the next prime minister of India. His comments came amid reports that Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a former minister in Imran Khan's cabinet in Pakistan, shared a video featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his social media handle and praised him. "Pakistan is crying because Congress is dying here. Pakistani leaders are praying for Congress. Pakistan is eager to make 'shehzada' (referring to Rahul Gandhi) the next prime minister. This is not surprising because we already know that Congress is Pakistan's 'mureed' (disciple). The partnership between Pakistan and Congress has been exposed. It shows the country's enemies want a weak government in India, not a strong one," Modi said. Addressing a poll rally in Anand town of central Gujarat in support of BJP candidates for Anand and Kheda Lok Sabha seats, PM .

Pak authorities to block sim cards of over half a million tax evaders

Authorities in Pakistan have decided to block the mobile phone SIM cards of over half a million tax defaulters as part of the drive to take action against tax evaders. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in an Income Tax General Order (ITGO) said the mobile SIMs of 506,671 individuals, who failed to file their tax returns for 2023, will stay blocked until restored by the FBR or the Commissioner Inland Revenue having authority over the person. It ordered the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and all telecom providers to immediately implement the Income Tax General Order (ITGO) no 01 of 2024 to block their SIMs and file a compliance report by May 15, Dawn News reported. An official source said the FBR has identified 2.4 million potential taxpayers who did not exist on the tax rolls. Notices were subsequently issued to these individuals. The FBR has selected over 0.5 million individuals out of the 2.4 million for SIM blockade based on one criterion: they must have declared ...

One kg flour for Rs 800, roti for Rs 25: How bad is inflation in Pakistan?

Inflation in Pakistan is increasing sharply, making it difficult for people to buy basic necessities for their families' meals

T20 WC-bound England players to leave IPL in time for series against Pak

The upcoming T20 World Cup-bound England players who are currently fulfilling their IPL commitments will "return in time" for a preceding four-match T20I series against Pakistan, the country's cricket board said on Tuesday. England on Tuesday named a 15-member squad for the T20 showpiece, which will be held across June in the USA and the West Indies, with Jofra Archer returning to international cricket after a hiatus of more than 14 months. The same squad has been selected for the T20I series against Pakistan, which will commences on May 22 in Headingley. "Selected players, currently playing in the Indian Premier League, will return in time for the series against Pakistan, which gets underway at Headingley on Wednesday 22 May 2024,' the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement after naming the T20 World Cup squad. Some of the prominent English players who would have to leave the IPL before the start of the Pakistan series are: Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals), Phil ...

Pak finance ministry sees inflation at 18.5%-19.5% in April, easing in May

Gross domestic product growth for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending in June is estimated at 1% and expected to improve in the second half of the fiscal year, it said in its monthly report

'Informed Pakistan before disclosing to world': PM Modi on Balakot strikes

From revealing details of dialing Pakistan's top authorities after the Balakot strike to reiterating 'ghar mein ghuske marenge' call, here's what PM Modi at a poll rally in Bagalkot

Pakistan keeps key interest rate unchanged at 22% for 7th straight meet

It added that it expected inflation to remain on a downward trajectory, but that recent oil price volatility poses a risk to the outlook. Consumers' inflation expectations also edged up in April

Pakistan working hard to eradicate polio: Shehbaz Sharif assures Bill Gates

Pakistan, one of two countries where polio remains endemic, was working tirelessly to eradicate the disease, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, as he underlined that all partners needed to put in continuous efforts to reach the ultimate goal of a polio-free Pakistan. Prime Minister Sharif discussed with Bill Gates, the founder and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the ongoing activities between Pakistan and the foundation in the areas of immunisation, nutrition and financial inclusion on the sidelines of a special meeting of the World Economic Forum. Gates, in the interaction with the prime minister on the sidelines of the WEF special meeting here, praised the programme of immunisation and polio immunisation in Punjab under Sharif's leadership as chief minister of the province and suggested the spread of the practice across the country, a statement released on X said. Recalling Gates' visit to Pakistan in February 2022, the prime minister invited him to .

Millions of Afghans sought refuge in Pak; Now hiding to evade deportation

Born and raised in Pakistan to parents who fled neighbouring Afghanistan half a century ago, an 18-year-old found himself at the mercy of police in Karachi who took his cash, phone and motorbike, and sent him to a deportation centre. Scared and bewildered, he spent three days there before he was sent back to Afghanistan, a place he has never been to, with nothing but clothes on his back. The youth is one of at least 1.7 million Afghans who made Pakistan their home as their country sank deeper into decades of war. But they've been living there without legal permission, and are now the target of a harsh crackdown on migrants who Pakistan says must leave. Some 600,000 Afghans have returned home since last October, when the crackdown began, meaning at least a million remain in Pakistan in hiding. They've retreated from public view, abandoning their jobs and rarely leaving their neighbourhoods out of fear they could be next for deportation. It's harder for them to earn money, rent ...

Pak PM Sharif discusses new loan programme with IMF chief Georgieva

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has met IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and discussed a new loan programme for the cash-strapped country to put the economy back on track. In a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting in Riyadh, the premier thanked Georgieva, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, for her support to Pakistan in securing the USD 3 billion standby arrangement (SBA) from IMF last year that was now nearing its completion. Pakistan secured the USD 3 billion IMF programme in June last year, which helped it avert a sovereign default. Pakistan is seeking a new long-term Extended Fund Facility (EFF) after the current SBA expires this month. Both sides also discussed Pakistan entering into another IMF program to ensure that the gains made in the past year were consolidated and its economic growth trajectory remained positive, according to a statement issued by the PM Office on Sunday. Sharif reiterated his government'

Pakistan PM Sharif removes 25 senior tax officers for corruption: Report

In a major crackdown to rid Pakistan's top tax collection body of corrupt and inefficient officials, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif removed 25 senior officers from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Sharif took action against the senior officers based on inputs from three intelligence agencies about their lack of financial integrity and competence, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. On the advice from the Prime Minister's Office, the FBR on Friday issued the notifications for the removal of 13 officers with immediate effect. Another 12 officers who were either already having no positions or were working on deputation in other ministries were recalled. Among those who have been ousted included the top-tier members of the board, chief commissioners and a former FBR chairman, who was already without a position for the past two years. Their replacements will be from among those who have been declared competent and righteous by the three intelligence agencies, according to governmen

Islamabad urges Indian leaders to not use Pakistan for political mileage

Pakistan on Friday urged Indian leaders to stop dragging the country in their speeches for political mileage during the election season. Speaking at a press briefing here, Pakistan's Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Islamabad rejects all the claims made by Indian leaders over Jammu and Kashmir. Indian politicians to cease their reckless practice of dragging Pakistan into India's populist public discourse for electoral motives, she said. We are witnessing an alarming surge in provocative statements from Indian leaders asserting unwarranted claims on Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan rejects these claims. Fuelled by hyper-nationalism, this inflammatory rhetoric poses a grave threat to regional peace and susceptibility, she said. Zahra claimed that Indian claims were contrary to historical and legal facts. Historical and legal facts as well as ground realities refute India's baseless claims over Jammu and Kashmir, she said. India has previously rejected such state

Pakistani teen receives life-saving heart transplant in Chennai hospital

The hospital and Chennai-based NGO helped Pakistani family settle bill of more than Rs 35 lakh for the transplant

Business leaders urge Pak PM Shehbaz to initiate trade talks with India

Pakistan business leaders in an interactive session with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged him to initiate trade talks with India to promote business and commerce which would greatly benefit the economy of the cash-strapped country. Posing tough questions during an hour-long meeting at the Sindh CM House here in Pakistan's commercial capital on Wednesday, Karachi's business community appreciated the prime minister's determination to tackle economic issues but advised him to focus on bringing about political stability to turn around the economy. The Prime Minister sat down with the business community to find ways to uplift the economy through exports but his resolve was met with apprehensions from industry leaders who said it was almost impossible to do business under the current circumstances, particularly with high energy costs and inconsistent government policies, the Dawn newspaper reported. After the prime minister's brief speech, the house was opened for a question and answer