ISLAMABAD: World Bank Vice-President for South Asia Martin Raiser concluded his three-day visit to Pakistan on Wednesday and reaffirmed the bank’s readiness to collaborate with Pakistan in its journey of economic transformation aimed at sustainable development. During his stay, Mr Raiser met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, members of his government, and key counterparts to discuss Pakistan’s development priorities. The discussions focused on economic and fiscal reforms, human capital development, adaptation to climate change, energy sector reforms, and digitalisation as a foundational enabler and accelerator of development. “I am pleased to learn about Pakistan’s reform plans to boost growth and…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is criss-crossing the country in a marathon election campaign but, for the first time since 1996, his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not contesting in Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK), where a 35-year freedom movement against New Delhi’s rule has killed tens of thousands of people. Instead, the main contenders for the three seats in the Muslim-majority region are powerful local parties, the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). They will contest against each other but both say they are opposed to the Hindu nationalist BJP and will align with the Congress party-led opposition alliance. Analysts…
GAZA STRIP: Medical teams found a third mass grave inside Al-Shifa hospital and a seventh mass grave across Gaza hospitals, with the recovery of 49 bodies from the premises, as Israel bombarded Rafah on Wednesday amid the ongoing negotiations in Cairo and Doha for ceasefire and prisoner swap. Israel has defied international objections and sent tanks into Rafah, which is crowded with Palestinian civilians sheltering near the Egyptian border, seizing on Tuesday a crossing that is the main conduit for aid into the besieged territory. The White House condemned the interruption to humanitarian deliveries, with a senior US official later revealing Washington…
ISLAMABAD: Expressing concerns over increasing political polarisation in the country resulting in greater restrictions on civil and political rights, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for economic justice and protection of civil rights and emphasised on the importance of upholding democratic principles and the rule of law. In its annual report “State of Human Rights 2023”, released here on Wednesday, the HRCP noted with deep concern that irreparable political divisions spilled over into public acts of arson and violence on May 9, 2023, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. “What followed was flagrant disregard for…
ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division has requested the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) to extend the deadline for signing upgrade agreements with five domestic refineries for six months until October this year, but most refiners smell a rat for the delay. “The government seems to be more focused on attracting foreign investment, which is no doubt important, but it needs to realise that foreign investment flows in only when existing foreign and local investors are listened to,” said Adil Khattak, who is chairman of Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) and chief executive officer of Attock Refinery Ltd. He said the deadline…
KARACHI: Industrialists and analysts express growing concerns as political protests and wheat farmer demonstrations escalate, casting shadows over business activities and economic stability. The business community, already beset by high inflation and interest rates, feels that political issues overshadow economic priorities. “A rising tide of unrest and protests against the government has cornered the economy, making it difficult for businesses to operate effectively,” one businessman stated anonymously, reflecting the prevalent fear of backlash for speaking out. Some traders and industrialists note that persistent political disturbances have dashed hopes for stability after visible economic improvements compared to last year. Industrialists, analysts lament govt yet to…
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has agreed in principle to suspend another senior taxman, who sought adjournment in a case involving Rs456 million in tax payments, for allegedly demonstrating lack of commitment to resolving tax concerns, Dawn has learnt through reliable sources. They said FBR Chairman Zubair Tiwana forwarded the name of Sahibzada Abdul Mateen, chief commissioner of Medium Taxpayers Office (MTO), Karachi, to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for suspension or removal from his current position. Mr Mateen will become Inland Revenue Service’s (IRS) second senior officer after Yousif Hyder Shaikh, chief commissioner-IR, Large Taxpayers Office, Islamabad, who was suspended…
Pakistan State Oil (PSO) said it is in talks with the government on a plan to acquire stakes in public sector energy companies and offset mounting debt it is owed by firms such as the national airline. Stopping the pile-up of unresolved debt across the country’s power sector, and ultimately settling it, is a top concern of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with which the government will begin talks this month for a new long-term loan deal. “Everything will be done through competitive bidding and we will participate and if we win, the stakes will be offset against (PSO’s receivables),” said Syed…
THE HAGUE PARIS/WASHINGTON: Dutch riot police clashed with pro-Palestinian demonstrators on Wednesday after moving in to ‘clear barricades’ at Amsterdam’s main university. Images from local television outlets showed dozens of police officers (wearing riot gear) ‘exchanging’ baton blows with a group of protesters, when officers started clearing out an area in front of the Binnengasthuis building, within Amsterdam’s city centre . “The operation has been authorised by the mayor,” they stated. The UvA alleged charges including ‘disturbing the peace and destruction of property’. Images on the local AT5 channel portrayed police arresting demonstrators, numbering a few hundred. They went so…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party on Wednesday deleted a cartoon video posted on social media platform X that was criticised for targeting minority Muslims during an ongoing national election. India’s election code bans campaigning based on “communal” incitement but the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has frequently invoked the country’s main religious divide on the campaign trail. The video, posted by an official BJP account, featured caricatures of opposition politicians scheming to abolish special affirmative action programmes for marginalised Hindu groups and instead distribute them to Muslims. The election commission wrote to the platform’s Indian office on Tuesday saying the “objectionable” post…
