ISLAMABAD: Pakistan marked its 79th Independence Day on Thursday with nationwide celebrations centred on a recent military victory over India, as leaders urged unity and paid tribute to the armed forces for defending the nation’s sovereignty during a brief but intense conflict earlier this year.
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SBP forecasts stronger growth, stable inflation, modest deficit in FY26
KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank anticipates economic growth accelerating to as much as 4.25% in fiscal year 2026, with inflation holding steady within target as the benefits of prior interest-rate reductions continue to ripple through the economy.
Pakistan secures 55,000 tons of sugar imports to curb soaring prices
KARACHI: The state-owned Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has purchased approximately 55,000 metric tons of white sugar through an international tender that closed this week, according to European traders cited by Reuters.
Flash floods paralyse Karakoram Highway, strand thousands in Gilgit-Baltistan
ISLAMABAD: A fresh torrent of flash floods on Wednesday halted repair efforts on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Hunza’s Gulmit Gojal area, leaving thousands of people, including tourists, stranded across multiple locations in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, as authorities scramble to restore infrastructure devastated by glacial flooding.
Field Marshal Munir awarded Azerbaijan’s Patriotic War Medal for military cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was honoured with Azerbaijan’s prestigious Patriotic War Medal on Wednesday, a recognition of his pivotal role in deepening military ties between the two nations, military said.
NA restores 90-day anti-terror detentions powers
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday approved a contentious amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, reinstating powers for law enforcement and armed forces to detain suspected individuals for up to three months without charge, a move hailed by the government as vital for national security but condemned by opposition as a threat to fundamental rights.
Moody’s lifts Pakistan’s credit ratings to Caa1 on reserves rebound, IMF progress
KARACHI: Moody’s Ratings upgraded Pakistan’s local- and foreign-currency issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa1 from Caa2, pointing to the country’s strengthening external buffers and headway on reforms tied to its $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
FM Aurangzeb sees room for rate cuts
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb signalled on Wednesday that the central bank could lower interest rates further before the end of 2025, a move aimed at sustaining the country’s nascent economic recovery.
Pakistan sounds alarm as poliovirus found in 42 sewage samples
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health authorities warned of a persistent polio threat on Tuesday after detecting the virus in 42 out of 127 sewage samples from 87 districts, signalling ongoing transmission in the South Asian nation, one of only two countries where the crippling disease remains endemic.
Pakistan teams up with Japanese firm for digital currency pilot
By Staff Reporter KARACHI: Pakistan has enlisted Japanese blockchain developer Soramitsu to launch a pilot for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a move to