Author: admin

Pakistan’s economy received a significant boost from Saudi Arabia, which has agreed to provide a $1 billion oil facility this fiscal year and roll over $5 billion in existing deposits, according to the finance ministry. The oil financing facility, valued at Rs290 billion, is being extended under Saudi Arabia’s continued economic partnership with Pakistan. Official documents reveal that over Rs85 billion worth of oil, equivalent to $300 million, was already supplied in the first three months of the current fiscal year. Saudi Arabia is providing $100 million worth of oil per month, which equals around Rs28.37 billion. The facility helps…

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate at 11 percent for the next one and a half months, keeping its focus on stabilizing the economy amid persistent inflation and external challenges. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) chaired by SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad met in Karachi to review key economic indicators, including inflation trends, foreign exchange reserves, and the balance of payments position. After a detailed assessment, the central bank announced that the policy rate would remain unchanged at 11 percent, reflecting a cautious approach to ensure economic stability while supporting gradual recovery.…

The ongoing Pakistan–Afghan Taliban talks in Istanbul have hit a deadlock, with sources confirming that the Taliban delegation’s rigid stance and lack of seriousness have stalled progress. Pakistan has maintained that it will show “no flexibility” in its stance against terrorism. According to sources, two extensive sessions spanning more than 30 hours have failed to yield any significant results. A third round of talks is expected to take place on Monday (today), though hopes for a breakthrough remain uncertain. Pakistan reportedly presented documentary evidence during the discussions, proving that Afghan soil is being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan. Officials…

Pakistan’s home textile exports to China surged 31% in the first three quarters of 2025, reaching $4.36 million compared to $3.32 million last year, according to China’s customs data. The growth was driven by strong demand for cotton bed sheets, blankets, and especially printed cotton bed-linen, which rose from $0.849 million to $1.577 million, making Pakistan the top exporter in this category. Exports of blankets and cotton bed sheets also saw notable increases. Industry experts attribute the rise to improved quality, expanded production, and Pakistan’s zero-tariff advantage under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA).

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Agricultural Expo and the 32nd Yangling Agricultural High-tech Fair opened in Shaanxi, China, bringing together over 1,800 companies from nearly 50 countries to promote global agricultural innovation. Representing Pakistan, Muhammad Akmal, Chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation, emphasized the need for technological transformation in agriculture through digitalization, green innovation, and sustainable development. Pakistani PhD student Mohammad Mushtaque Kumbhar noted China’s rapid advances in agricultural technology and their growing adoption in Pakistan, such as drone use by farmers. The event features online and offline exhibitions focusing on smart and water-saving agriculture, digital farming, and the release…

RAWALPINDI : Pakistan and Bangladesh have recognized the importance of strengthening bilateral defence and security cooperation. It came as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, called on Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Chief of Air Staff and Lieutenant General S. M. Kamrul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer (PSO), Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, during his official visit. During the separately-held meetings, both sides held detailed discussion on the evolving global and regional environment and security situation. The chairman JCSC reaffirmed Pakistan’s…

Khyber Medical University (KMU) has announced the results of the MDCAT 2025 examination, showing that only 53 percent of candidates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa qualified for MBBS programs. According to the KMU administration, only 2 percent of the candidates managed to score above 170 marks, reflecting the challenging nature of this year’s exam. University officials added that 9 percent of students scored between 160 and 170 marks, while a significant 31 percent failed to reach the minimum required score of 90 marks — making them ineligible for admission to medical or dental colleges. Thousands absent from exam The KMU administration further…

ISLAMABAD :  Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that lasting peace and stability in South Asia would remain elusive without the just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people. In a message on Kashmir Black Day observed on October 27, he said, “Every year the 27th of October marks the darkest day in the history of Kashmir. It was on this day, seventy-eight years ago, that the Indian occupation forces landed in Srinagar and annexed it — a tragic chapter in human history…

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan and Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world are observing Black Day today (Monday) India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and to convey to the world that they reject India’s illegal occupation of their motherland. The day is marked every year to express support and solidarity with Kashmiri people in their just struggle for right to self-determination and remind the United Nations and the international community of its commitments regarding the resolution of this longstanding dispute. It was on this day in 1947 that India landed its troops in…

LAHORE : Polluted winds from India continue to enter the Punjab province of Pakistan, pushing cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala into the world’s most polluted rankings. According to air quality data, Lahore once again topped the global pollution index with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 312, while India’s New Delhi ranked second at 239. Other Punjab cities also recorded alarming readings — Faisalabad (540), Gujranwala (371), Multan (364), and Bahawalpur (250) — placing them in the hazardous to very unhealthy category. Environmental officials said slow northeastern winds, traveling from Indian Punjab and Haryana, have carried smoke particles from…