Pakistan

Venezuela said on Friday it had launched talks with the United States on restoring diplomatic ties, days after US forces deposed Nicolas Maduro as its president. It was the latest sign of cooperation following the leftist leader’s capture and US President Donald Trump’s claim to be “in charge” of the South American country. Officials said US diplomats were in Caracas to discuss reopening the country’s embassy, while in Washington, Trump met with oil companies over his plans to access Venezuela’s huge crude reserves. The government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez “has decided to initiate an exploratory diplomatic process with the government of the United States of America, aimed at re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries,” Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said in a statement. John McNamara, the top US diplomat in neighbouring Colombia, and other personnel “travelled to Caracas to conduct an initial assessment for a potential phased resumption of operations,” a US official said on customary conditio...

KARACHI: Terming the country’s ‘Illegal Foreigners Repat­riation Plan’ — now in its third and final phase — “unlawful… given it violates… the right to non-refoulement”, Amnesty International has called on Pakistan to halt the deportation of Afghan refugees. In an open letter to PM Shehbaz Sharif, Agnes Callamard — secretary general of the global rights watchdog — noted that Pakistan has been a generous host to refugees for over 40 years, but noted that its policy changed significantly once the repatriation plan was announced in Sept 2023. “Since then, Amnesty Inte­rnational has documented a complete lack of transparency, due process and accountability in the unlawful arrests, detentions and deportations of Afghan nationals in Pakistan,” it said. It also called on the country to create well-resourced and accessible pathways for the registration of refugees, taking proactive measures to expedite the registration of refugees particularly at risk, including but not limited to women and girls, journalists, and tho...

ISLAMABAD: Despite the government’s proclamations of reforms and economic stabilisation, the overall financial performance of state-owned entities (SOEs) deteriorated further in 2024-25, with their consolidated losses surging by 302 per cent, mainly led by the power sector, according to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The ministry confirmed that not only did overall revenues decline, but consolidated profits also fell, and financial losses and budget injections increased in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. The consolidated financial results of the SOEs firmed up by Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) of the MoF came up for review before a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on SOE (CCoSOEs) presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Friday. The committee was informed that “during 2024-25, aggregate revenues of SOEs stood at approximately Rs12.4 trillion, reflecting a decline largely attributable to reduced profitability in the oil sector following lower international oil prices,” the MoF said. Aggreg...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun soft global marketing of the 2nd Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, 2026 (PMIF26), scheduled to be held here on April 8 and 9, according to an official announcement on Friday. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik held a briefing session with Pakistan’s ambassadors and high commissioners posted in key foreign capitals to advance preparations and mobilise international participation for the event. The meeting was conducted virtually with Pakistan’s missions abroad, while senior officials from the petroleum division and representatives of key public sector entities attended in person. The session focused on aligning diplomatic outreach with national economic priorities and positioning PMIF26 as a premier global platform for investment in Pakistan’s mineral and mining sector, the petroleum division said. PM approves national policy framework to reform gemstones sector During the briefing, the minister explained the aims, scale, and strategic importance of PMIF26 as a forum represent...

Turkiye is reportedly seeking entry into a mutual defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, potentially paving the way for a new security alignment that could shift the balance of power in the Middle East and beyond, Bloomberg reported Friday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” in Riyadh last September, pledging that any attack on either nation would be treated as an act of aggression against both. Citing people familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously, Bloomberg reported that the talks are at an advanced stage and “a deal is very likely”. “The expanded alliance would make sense because Turkiye’s interests increasingly overlap with those of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in South Asia, the Middle East and even Africa,” the report read. “Turkiye also sees the pact as a way of strengthening security and deterrents when there are questions over the reliability of the US, which has strong military ties with all three ...

India’s trade pact with the United States was delayed because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make a telephone call to US President Donald Trump to close a deal they were negotiating, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Friday. The trade talks fell apart last year and Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods in August to 50 per cent, the world’s highest rate, including a levy of 25pc in retaliation for India’s purchases of Russian oil. “It’s all set up and you have got to have Modi call the president. And they were uncomfortable doing it,” Lutnick said in an interview on the All-In podcast, a US show by four venture capitalists that focuses on business and technology. “So Modi didn’t call.” The comments came after Trump stepped up the pressure for talks with a warning this week that tariffs could rise further unless India curbs its Russian oil imports. That step pushed the Indian rupee to a record low and spooked investors waiting for progress in two-way negotiations for a trade deal that remains elus...

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review environmental protection measures and the preservation of green cover in the federal capital, stressing the need for coordinated and transparent action to address public health and ecological.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said on Friday that he held a “productive meeting” with US Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the evolving partnership between the two countries.

Claims his friend Nawaz Sharif is on the wrong path.

Karachi - Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, while sharing his views, said that he began writing his book “Chahay Yousuf Say Sada” during his time in jail.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar Friday categorically declared Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) an enemy of Pakistan, and also alleged that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa leadership patronised terrorists and financially benefited from them, while deliberately avoiding condemnation of terrorism.

Sohail Afridi says legacy of Bhutto still visible in Sindh province Regrets Punjab tour was not a good experience Claims he received verbal approval from Sindh govt for today’s rally Imran being kept in jail cell where terrorists are held.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed that loss-making electricity feeders be shifted to solar power with the cooperation of local communities and provincial governments to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply in remote areas of the country.

Peshawar - Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Syed Fakhar Jehan on Friday chaired a joint meeting of the Excise Department and a private rehabilitation organization, The Haq Awaz, to launch a coordinated initiative aimed at treating and rehabilitating drug addicts across the province.

Shangla - A fresh surge in flour prices in Shangla and other upper districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has triggered widespread public concern, with residents blaming weak government oversight, hoarding and profiteering for the sharp increase.

Seeks verification of suspected weapons in Syria

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