ISLAMABAD: The government will impose scheduled electricity outages of about 2.25 hours a day during peak evening hours across most of the country, a move designed to curb the use of expensive imported fuels and prevent electricity tariffs from surging amid disruptions to liquefied natural gas supplies triggered by the Middle East conflict.
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Sisters of Imran Khan reach gates of Adiala Jail but are turned away, despite court-ordered visitation rights
RAWALPINDI: The sisters of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan made it as far as the main gate of Adiala Jail on Tuesday before prison authorities denied them entry, the family said, in the latest example of the restrictions that have largely prevented the ousted leader from receiving visitors for months even after a court ruling granted him regular access.
Pakistan weighs eurobonds, commercial loans to replace $3.5 billion UAE facility amid Middle East shock
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is preparing to return a $3.5 billion loan from the United Arab Emirates this month and is actively exploring eurobonds, Islamic sukuk, commercial borrowing and loans from other governments to replenish its foreign reserves and avoid any slippage on its International Monetary Fund program targets, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said.
US and Iran explore path back to the table
ISLAMABAD: A new round of in-person negotiations between the United States and Iran could be held as early as this week, multiple people familiar with the discussions said Tuesday, days after the highest-level direct talks between the two countries in nearly five decades collapsed without a breakthrough.
UPDATED: US blockade of Iranian ports begins as Trump warns any approaching ships ‘will be immediately eliminated’
ISLAMABAD: The US naval blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports began on schedule Monday, hours after the collapse of high-level talks in Pakistan, with President Donald Trump warning that any Iranian vessels — including “fast attack ships” — approaching the operation “will be immediately ELIMINATED.”
Fuel price spike pushes Pakistan’s April inflation forecast to highest in nearly two years
KARACHI: Pakistan’s consumer-price inflation is projected to accelerate sharply to between 11% and 11.5% year-on-year in April, the steepest monthly reading in almost two years, as a surge in fuel costs triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East feeds through to domestic prices.
Pakistan in talks with Saudi Arabia and China to repay $3 billion UAE loan – report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is negotiating with Saudi Arabia and China to secure funding for the repayment of roughly $3 billion owed to the United Arab Emirates, Bloomberg reported on Monday.
Geo TV channel faces license threat after airing Indian songs in obituary for legendary singer Asha Bhosle
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s leading television news channel defended its decision on Monday to broadcast songs and film clips from India while reporting the death of the legendary singer Asha Bhosle, after the country’s electronic media regulator threatened fines, suspension or outright revocation of its license for violating a long-standing ban on Indian content.
Fitch affirms Pakistan’s B- rating with stable outlook, citing IMF anchor and FX cushion amid energy shocks
KARACHI: Fitch Ratings affirmed Pakistan’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at B- with a stable outlook, pointing to progress on fiscal consolidation and macroeconomic stability that has tracked the International Monetary Fund program and bolstered the country’s funding capacity.
PM Sharif says US-Iran ceasefire holds, further talks likely
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran remained in force and that “full efforts” were underway to resolve the issues still separating the two sides, one day after Pakistan hosted the first direct, face-to-face negotiations between senior American and Iranian officials in nearly half a century.