ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that Pakistan could eliminate its dependence on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) if the country successfully reduced corruption by 50%. Addressing industrialists in Sialkot, Asif said that the reduction in corruption would unlock the potential for Pakistan to chart its own path of development and economic independence. He added that such a change would …
CAIRO: Speaking at the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries in Cairo, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday stressed that investing in youth was “crucial” for Pakistan’s socioeconomic development and progress. Founded in 1997 in Istanbul, the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, also known as Developing-8, is an organisation for development cooperation among Egypt, Nigeria, Turkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia, …
ISLAMABAD: The PTI has agreed to put its planned civil disobedience movement on hold till Sunday as the opposition party expressed its willingness to engage with the government for the sake of the country and its development. PTI lawyer Chaudhry Faisal Hussain on Wednesday said Imran Khan had asked the party leadership to wait till Sunday and if the government …
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday said recent additional sanctions imposed by the United States on four Pakistani firms for their alleged involvement in the country’s ballistic missile programme were “biased” and “endanger regional and international peace”. The statement came in response to the US announcing additional sanctions yesterday on four entities it claimed were contributing to the proliferation or …
ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis lodged 28,000 applications for international protection in the European Union Plus countries between October 2023 and October this year, the EU’s Agency for Asylum (EUAA) said in a Pakistan-specific report released on Wednesday. The monthly figures have followed a downward trend since reaching a peak in October last year, when Pakistanis lodged around 3,400 applications. The number for …
ISLAMABAD: The jail reforms subcommittee informed Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi on Wednesday that its members were denied a meeting with former prime minister Imran Khan during their visit to Adiala jail. Khadija Shah, a member of the subcommittee and a renowned fashion designer, shared their experiences in a letter to the CJP regarding Tuesday’s visit to the …
ISLAMABAD: The opposition leader of the National Assembly and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub staged a walkout from the National Assembly on Wednesday, demanding the release of the party’s imprisoned leaders, including founding chairman Imran Khan, and a halt to alleged threats against party members. As the session began, Deputy Speaker Syed Mir Ghulam Mustafa Shah announced the assembly …
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to take decisive action against human trafficking, which he said tarnishes Pakistan’s global image, and demanded a report on cases involving Pakistani citizens over the past year. Chairing a meeting on the deaths of Pakistani nationals in a recent boat capsize near Greece, the prime minister expressed dismay over recurring tragedies and the …
ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday said the government did not “deny user challenges” resulting from slow internet speeds, claiming improvements in the tech sector, as lawmakers of ally PPP criticised measures resulting in internet issues. In recent months, users have experienced sluggish speeds, difficulty downloading media on WhatsApp, and intermittent connectivity issues. Digital analysts …
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Wednesday he was “ready to play his role” in facilitating talks between the government and the opposition — mainly the PTI — with his “office and residence open 24 hours”. Sadiq’s statement comes a day after senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said in the lower house of the parliament that the …