Page 19 - Pakistan

Pakistan braces for economic meltdown exposure without IMF umbrella

At the moment, Pakistan's shrinking foreign exchange reserves and inflation remain as the two most challenging and key factors for the government

Inflation to remain high, between 21-23%: Pakistan's Finance Ministry

Pakistan's Ministry of Finance has forecast that country's inflation will remain high, between 21 to 23% as the south Asian nation's fiscal deficit widened by more than 115% between July and October

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif to convene NSC meeting to discuss growing militancy

Top civil and military leaders of Pakistan are set to meet in a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday to discuss the strategy to counter the rising threat of militancy in the country. The NSC meeting would also be attended by all service chiefs, key cabinet ministers, and other high officials. The decision to convene the meeting was taken after Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir called on Prime Minister Sharif on Thursday to brief him about professional as well as national security matters, according to government officials. Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum will brief the meeting on the recent terror wave in Pakistan and the Pakistan-Afghan border situation, while an integrated strategy against terrorism would be formulated, The News International newspaper reported. Official sources said that the meeting would discuss the modalities to counter the latest threat by the outlawed ...

Protests in Pak's Gwadar threaten country's stability, China's CPEC dream

People of Balochistan are rising up in protests across Pakistan province, threatening stumbling country, challenging politicised army and upsetting Chinese dreams of a transnational corridor project

The country will not default: Pakistan's finance minister Ishaq Dar assures

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has reiterated that Pakistan will not default amid concerns over the country's economic situation, The News International reported

ISI's potential should be used to establish accountability: Imran Khan

PTI chairman Imran Khan said the potential of the ISI should be used for ensuring accountability and the rule of law in the country, said a report in The News International, a Pakistani publication

Pakistan has 'no other option' except implementing IMF deal, says Pak PM

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that his government has no other option but to implement the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme to revive the cash-starved economy. He regretted that if the government wanted to give any subsidy in any sector, it had to go to the IMF "which is a factor and a painful reality", the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Sharif as saying during a meeting on Tuesday. He said the coalition government never wanted to transfer the burden of price hikes to the people but added that the country would have to implement the IMF programme as they had no other option. The prime minister also said that the agreement with the IMF was blatantly breached by the Imran Khan-led PTI government in the past. Cash-strapped Pakistan revived a stalled USD 6 billion IMF programme this year which was initially agreed upon in 2019 but is finding it hard to meet the tough conditions of the Washington-based global lender. There are reports that the

Pakistan to seek US help to secure $13 bn loans at Geneva meet for projects

Over two dozen infrastructure projects worth $13 billion will be shared that have been cleared by relevant and competent forums and are ready to be invested in at any time

About 17% seats reserved for women in Islamabad local polls uncontested

According to the study, of the 434 women nominated, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) fielded the most candidates (32pc

Pakistan makes 'special' security plan for Islamabad amid terror alert

Pakistan Police on Tuesday announced special security measures, including setting up 25 new check-posts, to tighten security in the federal capital here after several countries, including the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Australia asked their citizens to restrict their movement, warning of a possible terror threat. According to the security plan, shared on Islamabad police's official Twitter account, entry points of the Red Zone will be recorded via Safe City cameras while video surveillance of metro bus passengers would also be conducted. Pakistani citizens as well as foreign nationals have been asked to carry their identification documents with them. Special security plan issued in view of the current security situation in Islamabad. Temporary security check posts have been established at 25 different locations in Islamabad, it said. Police also advised the local people to register tenants and employees at the nearest police station and warned that those employing unregistered local

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif vows to eliminate terrorism in all its forms

As Pakistan reels from multiple incidents of terrorism, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed his vow to eradicate the menace amid criticism from ousted premier Imran Khan on the government's "failure" to curb militancy during its eight-month stint. Addressing a gathering in the Dera Ismail Khan district of the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, Sharif said that the menace of terrorism was on the rise and the state would crush it very soon, the Dawn newspaper quoted him as saying. He said that with the help of provincial governments and security forces, the government would eliminate terrorism in all its forms. Sharif said that a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) would be summoned in a few days to take stock of the security situation. Commenting on the attack on a security compound claimed by the outlawed Pakistani Taliban (TTP) terror group in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu district last week, Sharif said it was heart-breaking and added th

Saudi Arabia, Australia ask citizens in Pakistan to limit movement

The warnings came a day after the US embassy stopped its staff from visiting the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad due to fears of an attack

Pakistan ill-prepared for another Covid-19 wave, says local media report

At the country's airports, no protective measures like rapid testing and screening of inbound travellers have been put in place to detect Covid-19 cases, the Dawn reported

General election to take place in Pakistan after August: Minister

Sadiq said, "First we will go to local government elections in April 2023 and then general elections will be held after August 15"

Will not accept a weak govt this time: Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan

Khan also criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for being charged with Rs 16 billion in corruption but being released owing to their powerful position

5 security personnel killed, 15 injured in multiple blasts in Balochistan

The bomb disposal squad reached the site of the attack after reports of another grenade at the site

5 killed, 10 injured in multiple blasts in Pakistan's Balochistan: Report

Five people were killed and 10 others were injured in multiple blasts in Pakistan's Balochistan province, The News International newspaper reported on Sunday.

Huge desperation on Pakistan to infiltrate terrorists into Kashmir: Officer

There is huge desperation on the Pakistani side to either infiltrate terrorists or smuggle war-like stores into Kashmir as the number of ultras and arms and ammunition was at an all-time low in the Valley, a senior Army official said on Friday. He said such manoeuvres were seen when the situation was near normal in Kashmir. General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army's 19 Infantry Division Major General Ajay Chandpuria made these remarks while addressing reporters in Baramulla after security forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Halanga area of Uri in the north Kashmir district. The situation is near normal in Kashmir valley as the number of terrorists and the availability of war-like stores is at an all-time low. So, there is a huge desperation from the other side to either infiltrate terrorists or smuggle war-like stores, he said. Security forces keep getting such reports on a regular basis and whether it was an attempt by terrori

IMF asks Pakistan to meet demands within 3 weeks to revive loan programme

International Monetary Fund has shared list of prerequisite actions with Pakistani authorities for moves towards implementing them in the next three weeks if they are keen to revive the loan programme

New Covid variant a threat to Pakistan, country fully prepared: NCOC

The new coronavirus variant spreading in China is a threat to Pakistan, the country's National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Saturday, according to a report by Geo News