The federal government has greenlit 28 high-value projects under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). These initiatives are worth billions of dollars and are aimed at stabilizing Pakistan’s economy. As part of this economic roadmap, the government has decided to invite investors from 23 countries. The list includes Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain. These nations are expected to play a central role in the execution of priority projects. Among the major ventures highlighted under the Special Investment Facilitation Council are the Saudi Aramco Refinery, Diamer-Bhasha Dam, and the Reko Diq mining project. These flagship projects are…
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The final round of talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to end today. The government has successfully convinced the IMF that there will be no mini-budget before June. This assurance helped ease concerns of additional tax burdens for now. Officials at the Finance Ministry stated that the IMF has shown satisfaction with Pakistan’s economic indicators. As a result, the next $1 billion installment under the IMF loan programme is expected to be released soon. The funding comes from a total $7 billion assistance package that Pakistan is currently under. Sources revealed that Nathan Porter, who…
Negotiations between Pakistani and Afghan jirgas to resolve the Torkham border dispute have collapsed. Sources revealed that the Afghan delegation walked out of the talks, blaming Pakistan for not treating the dialogue with seriousness. The ongoing Torkham border dispute began 19 days ago. It started when Afghan forces allegedly began building structures inside Pakistani territory near the Torkham crossing. This move sparked a strong objection from Pakistan. Tensions quickly escalated. In response, trade activities and cross-border movement were suspended. The border closure has severely affected businesses and stranded many travellers on both sides of the crossing. To defuse the situation,…
ISLAMABAD – The UAE visa policy for Pakistanis has not changed in terms of any official ban, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified on Wednesday. The statement came in response to a query raised by Dr Nafisa Shah in the National Assembly. The Ministry shared that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed there is no official visa restriction on Pakistani citizens. A formal letter from the UAE Embassy stated that their Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security has simply introduced a new five-year visa policy. As per the new UAE visa policy for Pakistanis, applicants now…
The Jaffar Express attack in Balochistan has sparked outrage and strong condemnation from the United States. The US Embassy in Islamabad has denounced the violent assault on the passenger train and the hostage-taking incident in Kacchi district. This Jaffar Express attack was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which is already listed by the United States as a global terrorist organization. The brutal act has been condemned across the board. Through an official statement on its X account, the US Embassy extended heartfelt sympathy to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragic event. “We strongly…
All militants involved in the Jaffar Express attack have been killed. All passengers were rescued safely. This was confirmed by Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR). Security forces carried out a large-scale operation. In this decisive mission, 33 terrorists were eliminated. Speaking to a private news channel, the DG ISPR explained the incident in detail. He said the Jaffar Express attack began on March 11 at around 1pm. Terrorists first destroyed a portion of the railway track near Bolan. After that, they stopped the train and took passengers hostage. The attackers stayed in…
BOLAN: Security forces have rescued 190 passengers and killed 30 militants in a major operation after the Jaffar Express attack in Balochistan’s Bolan district. Officials said the rescue mission will continue until every terrorist is eliminated. The Jaffar Express was heading from Quetta to Peshawar on Tuesday. It had over 400 passengers in nine bogies when heavily armed militants hijacked it. The terrorists took several passengers hostage, according to security sources. The operation is still ongoing to recover the remaining hostages. Authorities confirmed that some militants were wearing suicide vests and using civilians as human shields. Forces are moving carefully…
LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly protested what it calls ICC bias after its representative was excluded from the post-match ceremony of the Champions Trophy final. PCB’s Chief Operating Officer, Sumair Ahmed Syed, was present at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium during the final clash between India and New Zealand on Sunday. He also served as the tournament director. Yet, despite his dual role, Syed was not invited on stage during the presentation ceremony. The PCB called this move a “clear disrespect” to Pakistan’s position as the official host of the event. The board has submitted a…
The International Monetary Fund has approved Pakistan’s electricity tariff reduction plan during recent discussions on the release of the next $1 billion loan installment, sources confirmed on Tuesday. This development comes under the $7 billion, 37-month Extended Fund Facility that Pakistan signed with the IMF in July. The program aims to ensure macroeconomic stability and support inclusive economic growth. The facility involves six scheduled reviews. The release of the next installment depends on the results of the upcoming performance review. One major goal for Pakistan under this agreement is to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio. This step is crucial to managing…
Pakistan has strongly warned the international community about the TTP threat, saying the outlawed group is becoming a central hub for regional terrorist outfits. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council briefing on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Munir Akram, raised serious concerns. He said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan aims to harm the security and stability of Afghanistan’s neighbors. Pakistan believes that the group is receiving support from Afghanistan’s interim government. This TTP threat, according to Akram, has grown into a larger risk for the entire region. In previous sessions, Pakistan had already informed the global community about the presence of…
