ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a Rs4.4 cut in electricity tariffs per unit for the industrial sector on Friday, along with other measures aimed at easing costs for businesses and spurring exports amid efforts to sustain economic recovery.
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Security forces kill 41 militants in two operations in Balochistan, military says
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed 41 militants in two separate operations in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan, the military said on Friday, amid a surge in militant violence that has plagued the region bordering Afghanistan.
Pakistan telecom regulator sets March 10 date for 5G spectrum auction
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s telecom regulator on Thursday announced plans to auction spectrum for 5G services in March, a step aimed at easing network congestion and boosting Internet speeds in a country where demand has outpaced available bandwidth.
IMF urges Pakistan to speed up reforms under $7bln bailout to bolster growth
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund urged Pakistan on Thursday to quicken the pace of structural reforms pledged under its $7 billion bailout package, saying the step would help the cash-strapped South Asian nation solidify economic growth, preserve macroeconomic stability and ramp up exports.
Pakistan repays record debt early, draws global investors in landmark roadshow – advisor
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has repaid more than Rs3,650 billion in debt ahead of schedule for the first time in its history, while a virtual investor roadshow drew unprecedented participation from global asset managers, signalling renewed confidence in the country’s economic reforms, an advisor to the finance minister said.
Pakistan rejects coercive steps against Iran, supports talks under UN framework
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday voiced opposition to the use of force or coercive measures against Iran, urging that disputes be settled through dialogue and diplomacy as Western powers intensified pressure on Tehran with fresh European sanctions and a U.S. military build-up in the Gulf.
Security forces kill five militants in northwest raid, three civilians reported killed
BANNU: Security forces killed five militants, including a commander wanted in multiple cases, during a day-long operation in the restive northwestern district of Bannu on Thursday, but the clashes also left three civilians dead and several others wounded, according to officials and local residents.
KP seeks federal help as Afghan border closure slashes revenues by over 50 percent
PESHAWAR: The northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has appealed to the federal government for urgent intervention after a prolonged closure of trade routes along the Afghan border triggered a 53.02 percent drop in provincial revenues, with collections from a key infrastructure cess plunging amid stalled cross-border commerce.
Rights groups decry ‘arbitrary’ conviction of lawyer couple, demand release
ISLAMABAD: The International Commission of Jurists and several partner organisations on Thursday condemned the arrest and conviction of two Pakistani lawyers, calling the actions arbitrary and demanding their immediate release.
Pakistan, Bangladesh resume direct flights after 14-year gap, boosting ties
KARACHI: Direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh resumed after a 14-year suspension on Thursday, with Biman Bangladesh Airlines operating its inaugural service from Dhaka to Karachi, a move officials said would bolster connectivity, tourism and people-to-people ties between the two South Asian nations.