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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of sluggish economic growth and rising inflation in Pakistan, projecting that price pressures will intensify even as economic expansion remains limited over the next two fiscal years. In its latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, the IMF forecast Pakistan’s economic growth at 3.6% for fiscal year 2026 and 3.5% for fiscal year 2027, while inflation is expected to rise from 7.1% to 9.9% over the same period. The IMF’s projections indicate that Pakistan’s economic growth will remain modest, with the growth rate expected to ease from 3.6% in the current fiscal year to…

The government has renewed its invitation to Opposition Leader Mahmood Achakzai to meet at the National Assembly Speaker’s Chamber for consultations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the venue should not be an obstacle when discussions concern national interests and constitutional affairs, urging the opposition leader to visit the speaker’s chamber and hold talks. The renewed invitation comes amid an issue over Achakzai’s reported refusal to meet at either the Prime Minister’s House or the speaker’s chamber. Chaudhry maintained that the specific…

India captain Shubman Gill has won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for September 2026, extending his record with a fifth monthly honour after a remarkable run of performances against the West Indies. The International Cricket Council announced Gill as the winner on Tuesday, October 13, with the batter finishing ahead of fellow Indian Abhishek Sharma and Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. Gill scored 333 runs in the first two ODIs against the West Indies, including a century in the opening match and an unbeaten double-century in the second. India won both matches by eight wickets. Meanwhile, India opener…

Educational institutions across several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remained closed on Tuesday, October 13, amid security concerns and efforts to maintain law and order. District administrations have issued closure notifications, with Dera Ismail Khan also cancelling all examinations scheduled for the day. However, primary, middle and secondary schools in Karak will remain open as usual. The district administration of Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) has ordered the closure of all public and private educational institutions across the district on October 13. According to the official notification, all examinations and papers scheduled for Tuesday have also been cancelled. Authorities said…

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had links with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying the government would present evidence to support the allegation soon. Addressing a briefing for foreign media representatives in Islamabad alongside Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the information minister said a country could not pursue two foreign policies while combating terrorism. He said the federal government wanted to establish a unified national approach to counterterrorism, arguing that Islamabad could not ask Afghanistan to prevent militant activity against Pakistan while the provincial government followed what he described as a conflicting policy.…

Iran is preparing to respond to the United States while maintaining its readiness for both diplomatic negotiations and military confrontation, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has said. In an interview with Al Araby television, the Iranian official said Tehran remained open to a diplomatic solution but would not be expected to show further flexibility until Washington honoured its commitments and demonstrated that its demands were genuine and realistic. Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said Tehran was reviewing the American position on a proposal Iran presented during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He…

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against Pakistan, with Kusal Mendis named captain for the tour scheduled from November 9 to 21, 2026. The series forms part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 cycle, with the opening Test set to begin in Rawalpindi on November 9 and the second match scheduled to start in Lahore on November 17. The squad includes experienced batters Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, alongside bowlers Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando and Eshan Malinga. Pathum Nissanka’s participation subject to fitness Sri Lanka…

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has called for reforms to the global financial system, warning that trade barriers and climate change are creating additional challenges for developing economies. Addressing the G-24 Central Bank Governors’ meeting in Bangkok as the group’s first vice-chair, Aurangzeb highlighted the financial constraints faced by developing countries and called for timely international assistance to support their development needs. He said tighter financing conditions and limited access to financial resources were making it increasingly difficult for developing economies to address their economic challenges. Aurangzeb urges reforms in global financial architecture Aurangzeb emphasised the need to reform the…

Authorities have extended the closure of Riyadh’s international airport until ​Saturday and airlines scrapped flights after continuing attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis emptied the skies over Saudi Arabia’s capital. Operations at King Khalid International Airport, Saudi ‌Arabia’s second-busiest airport after Jeddah, were suspended to “allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities”, the Saudi civil aviation authority said in a statement. Late on Monday, the Houthis said they had attacked the airport with a ballistic missile, shortly after Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by…

US President Donald Trump said ‌late on Monday he did not believe that China and Russia were helping Iran “at all,” adding that Moscow and Beijing had “too much to lose” if they enabled Tehran. Trump said on Truth Social that he ​had seen comments from his critics and opponents that China and Russia were ​helping Iran. “If they are, it’s at a very low level, but I ⁠don’t believe they are at all. They have too much to lose, and we ​would know about it, and know about it very fast,” Trump wrote. Trump said in July ​he trusted…