Pakistan and Bangladesh have held high-level discussions on the potential procurement of JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft as the air forces of both countries seek to deepen operational cooperation and long-term defence collaboration. According to a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday, Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan called on Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu in Islamabad during an official visit leading a senior defence delegation. The meeting focused on enhancing institutional synergy, operational cooperation, and collaboration in training, capacity building, and aerospace development. The visiting air chief…
Author: Imran Ali Khan
The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to engage senior executives from leading American oil companies this week to explore pathways for reviving Venezuela’s battered oil sector following the dramatic removal of President Nicolas Maduro, according to sources familiar with the matter. The discussions are central to Washington’s broader strategy to restore crude production in Venezuela home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves after nearly two decades of nationalisation, sanctions, and chronic underinvestment crippled output. Despite President Trump’s public assertions that he had already consulted “all” major US oil companies, industry sources say no formal discussions have…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed grave concern over the recent military operation in Venezuela, stating that the US action carried out on January 3 constituted a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. As Venezuela’s political and security situation continues to deteriorate, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session to assess the growing threats to international peace and security. During the meeting, a written statement by Secretary-General Guterres was formally read out to council members. In his statement, Guterres emphasized that the US military operation in Venezuela failed to comply with international legal standards.…
Vienezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has rejected all charges brought against him in a US federal court, declaring his innocence and claiming that he was forcibly abducted and unlawfully transferred to the United States. Maduro and his wife were transported under heavy security from Brooklyn to Manhattan by helicopter before being taken to court in an armored vehicle, according to US media reports. The high-profile transfer reflected the extraordinary security measures surrounding the case. During the court appearance, Maduro was presented in a prisoner’s uniform, handcuffed as he entered the courtroom. To follow the proceedings, which were conducted in English, he…
Islamabad: The King Salman Relief Center has launched a major winter aid initiative in Pakistan, aimed at providing essential winter clothing to thousands of underprivileged families across the country. The official launch ceremony was held at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad, attended by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf. Speaking at the event, Minister Yousaf highlighted the strong bond of brotherhood and trust between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, noting that the Kingdom has consistently supported Pakistan during times of need. He praised the King Salman Relief Center for its global humanitarian efforts, with Pakistan being…
KOHAT: A major breakthrough in Pakistan’s energy sector has been reported with the discovery of new oil and gas reserves in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, offering fresh prospects for domestic energy production and self-sufficiency. The Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) announced that the reserves were identified at the Bargazai X-1 well in the Nashpa Block, promising a significant boost to both oil and natural gas output. Preliminary estimates indicate that the well is expected to yield 4,100 barrels of crude oil per day and 10.5 million standard cubic feet of natural gas daily, enhancing the province’s energy supply and…
BEIJING / ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Monday issued a joint communique urging “visible and verifiable” actions to dismantle terrorist organisations operating from Afghanistan and prevent Kabul’s territory from being used for attacks against other countries. The statement followed the conclusion of the 7th round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in Beijing. “The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organisations in Afghanistan which continue to threaten regional and global security,” the communique said. Both countries agreed to maintain close coordination on Afghanistan,…
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reportedly denied “Active Taxpayer” status to individuals who filed manual income tax returns for Tax Year 2024, sparking criticism from tax experts and legal professionals. According to tax specialists, the FBR’s action violates binding directives of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) as well as FBR Circular No. 6 of 2025-26, which explicitly protects the legal rights of manual return filers. Experts say the statutory orders, internal circulars, and taxpayer rights appear to be treated as discretionary, subject to the whims of field officers. When contacted, tax lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt described the…
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its historic rally on Monday, with the KSE-100 Index crossing the 183,000 level for the first time in intra-day trading, closing at 183,245 points, up 4,210 points (2.35%) by mid-afternoon. Market participants reported strong buying interest across major sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, and power generation stocks. Heavyweights such as HUBCO, MARI, OGDC, POL, PPL, PSO, SNGPL, SSGC, HBL, MCB, MEBL, and UBL traded firmly in the green, further propelling the index. Analysts attributed the rally to a combination of domestic and international factors. Sana…
Dhaka: In a symbolic gesture that could signal a thaw in tense relations, Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, and Indian External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, shook hands in Dhaka on Wednesday. This marks the first high-level contact between Pakistani and Indian officials since the military clashes in May. The encounter occurred during Sadiq’s visit to Bangladesh for the funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. According to a press release from the National Assembly Secretariat, Jaishankar approached Sadiq, introduced himself, and extended a handshake. Since the May Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan,…