Pakistan’s evolving monetary and taxation policies came under detailed discussion during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, where senior officials from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) briefed lawmakers on key developments. The session covered a wide range of issues, including the introduction of newly designed currency notes, the future of high-denomination bills, the implementation of super tax, and concerns over tax collection practices. Addressing the committee, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad provided clarity on the long-discussed plan to introduce redesigned currency notes. He informed lawmakers that the process had…
Author: Baseerat Talib
Saudi Arabia has taken a pioneering step in the field of animal identification, heritage preservation, and livestock governance by announcing the launch of a global “Camel Passport” system, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to formally register and identify camels at an international level. The project represents a major shift toward modernizing the management of one of the Kingdom’s most culturally and historically significant animals. The initiative was officially inaugurated by Mansour Al-Mushaiti, Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister for Environment, Water, and Agriculture, who described the program as a strategic move aimed at integrating advanced technology with traditional heritage. Saudi officials emphasized that…
Pakistan and Uzbekistan are moving toward a new phase of strategic and economic partnership following an intensive round of engagements held in Islamabad during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s two-day official visit. The visit, marked by extensive diplomatic, economic, and defense-related interactions, resulted in the signing of 28 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and bilateral agreements, signaling a clear intent by both countries to expand cooperation across multiple sectors. President Mirziyoyev arrived in Pakistan on Thursday evening accompanied by a large delegation comprising senior government officials, business leaders, and policy experts. His arrival underscored the growing importance both sides attach to strengthening…
A high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in Pakistan on Monday, signaling a major step toward establishing local vaccine production facilities in the country. The visit, confirmed by Pakistan’s Ministry of Health, is expected to serve as a landmark moment in advancing bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the areas of health, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and industrial collaboration. According to officials, the Saudi delegation comprises eleven members, including senior policymakers and industry experts, all tasked with evaluating practical measures to facilitate vaccine production within Pakistan. This historic engagement comes after months of sustained diplomatic and technical dialogue between the two…
Pakistan’s cricket team embarked on its journey to Sri Lanka on Monday to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup amid escalating tensions surrounding its refusal to face India in the tournament. The team departed from Lahore after preparing meticulously for the high-profile event, with players seen boarding a bus from their hotel to the airport dressed in the new World Cup kit, as released in video footage by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The departure marked the start of a campaign fraught with both sporting excitement and political controversy. While India and Pakistan are among the co-hosts of this…
Saudi Arabia’s Wafi Energy Pakistan is planning a significant expansion of its operations in the country, with potential investments estimated at $100 million over the next two to three years. According to Pakistan’s Finance Division, the investment will focus on enhancing retail infrastructure, modernizing operations, and implementing digital technologies aimed at improving efficiency and customer service. The announcement underscores growing investor confidence in Pakistan’s economic potential and the country’s emerging energy market. Wafi Energy, part of the Saudi conglomerate Asyad, acquired a controlling stake in Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL), one of Pakistan’s oldest multinational energy companies, in November 2024. This…
Pakistan and Kazakhstan are set to enter a new phase of diplomatic and economic engagement as Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev prepares to undertake his first official state visit to Pakistan later this week. The visit is being viewed in Islamabad as a significant opportunity to deepen bilateral relations, expand economic cooperation, and strengthen regional connectivity between South Asia and Central Asia. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Tokayev will arrive in Islamabad on February 3 for a two-day visit that will continue through February 4. He will be accompanied by a senior-level delegation comprising key cabinet members and…
Pakistan has once again mobilized its vast public health machinery in a renewed push to eradicate poliomyelitis, launching the first nationwide anti-polio immunization campaign of the year on Monday. The campaign reflects Islamabad’s continued resolve to wipe out a disease that still poses a serious challenge to the country’s health system and global standing, particularly as Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where the poliovirus has not yet been eliminated. According to state-run media, the latest vaccination drive aims to immunize more than 45 million children below the age of five across the country. This massive…
Pakistan is moving steadily toward strengthening overseas employment opportunities for its workforce, with fresh momentum emerging from discussions with Kuwait on a formal labor cooperation framework. Senior officials from both countries have indicated that a long-proposed agreement governing labor recruitment and employment could be signed in the near future, possibly coinciding with a high-profile diplomatic visit from Kuwait. The development came to light following a meeting between Pakistan’s federal minister responsible for overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, and Rabab Abdullah Al-Othaimi, the director general of Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower. The talks focused on expanding structured…
Pakistan has made it explicitly clear that it will not become a part of the Abraham Accords and that linking the recently formed “Board of Peace” to the Abraham agreement is a misunderstanding. This was emphasized by the Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Inderabi, during his weekly briefing in Islamabad, where he outlined Pakistan’s foreign policy stance and its ongoing efforts to contribute to global peace initiatives, particularly concerning the situation in Gaza and Palestine. Inderabi underscored that Pakistan’s participation in the Board of Peace was undertaken with the sole intention of promoting stability in Gaza, facilitating reconstruction efforts, and supporting…