Pakistan | News

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that many countries were facing difficulties in maintaining the balance between demand and supply of essential commodities due to the global situation, but Pakistan was addressing the challenging situation “successfully and effectively,” the Prime Minister Office (PMO) said. According to a statement by the PMO, the prime minister made these remarks during a review meeting which was held to devise a comprehensive strategy to prevent the country from the financial and economic impacts arising from the regional conflict. PM Shehbaz commended the effective and timely measures taken by institutions to prevent any emergency situation regarding the demand and supply of essential goods. He appreciated the steps taken by relevant ministries and institutions through mutual coordination to address the financial and economic challenges and directed them to further enhance their cooperation. “After meeting domestic needs of food and essential items, progress is being made on...

Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi conveyed his country’s appreciation and support to Pakistan’s active diplomatic role and efforts to end the conflict and promote peace in West Asia.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has conveyed Beijing’s appreciation for Pakistan’s “active diplomatic role” and efforts towards ending the Middle East conflict, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday. Wang made the remarks during his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday, where the two sides had issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace in the Middle East. Referring to their discussions, the FO said in a statement, “The meeting was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality. Both dignitaries exchanged notes on the regional developments in West Asia as well as bilateral relations.” Dar briefed Wang in detail on Pakistan’s continued efforts towards the cessation of the Middle East conflict and resumption of dialogue, including its recent quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt. According to the FO, both sides “reviewed the regional security environment and expressed deep concern over its seri...

Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration have resumed talks in China, which is mediating between the two sides in an effort to secure a durable ceasefire after weeks of heightened tensions, officials said on Wednesday.

Pakistan and China on Tuesday issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, in which they called on the immediate cessation of hostilities and starting peace talks as soon as possible. The development came as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar undertook a one-day visit to Beijing at the invitation of China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, for “in-depth discussions on regional developments”, according to the Foreign Office (FO). In a statement released after the meeting, the FO said the two reviewed the situation in the Gulf and Middle East region and put forward five points. Both countries called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading”. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas, the statement said. The two countries also called for starting peace talks as soon as possible. “Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independen...

ISLAMABAD: Showing cautious optimism over Pakistan’s short-term economic outlook, the finance ministry on Tuesday warned that rising global oil prices due to the US-Israel war on Iran posed risks to the country’s import bill and macroeconomic conditions in the long-term. “Rising global oil prices and potential supply chain disruptions may exert pressure on industrial input costs”, said the Ministry of Finance in its Monthly Economic Update and Outlook, with the estimated rate of inflation growing by up to 8.5 per cent for the month. It said the near-term outlook for the country’s economy remained cautiously optimistic despite emerging geopolitical risks. Recent data indicated improving momentum in the industrial sector, with higher imports of textile machinery, transport and construction-related inputs, likely to translate into higher domestic industrial activity. The finance ministry said the government was actively pursuing prudent measures, including maintaining adequate petroleum reserves, managing energy...

Flight operations across Pakistan faced major disruption on Tuesday, with 62 flights cancelled due to the escalating crisis in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday called on President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the overall national security situation and key challenges facing the country, according to the President’s Secretariat. The meeting comes a day after the quadrilateral ministerial moot in Islamabad, involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, discussing possible ways to bring an “early and permanent end” to the war in the region. The foregin ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye had also called on PM Shehbaz after the meeting concluded. According to President’s Secretariat, the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. National Security Adviser and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) Asim Malik also participated in the meeting. During the meeting, participants held a detailed discussion on the overall national security situation, reviewed the evolving...

ISLAMABAD: Kuwait has assured full facilitation in the supply of diesel and jet fuel to Pakistan, which has been stalled due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran. The assurance for the revival of oil exports to Pakistan came after Tehran allowed 20 cargoes with Pakistani flags to pass the Strait of Hormuz, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday. Pakistan imports more than 60 per cent of its diesel from Kuwait under a long-term contract between state-run oil giants of the two countries — Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) and Pakistan State Oil. Alternative routes, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have resulted in additional freight costs for Pakistan. On Monday, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting with Kuwait’s Ambassador to Pakistan Nassar Abdulrahman Jasser Almutairi to discuss bilateral relations, energy cooperation, and regional developments. According to an official statement, Malik exp...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed his gratitude towards the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt after a quadrilateral meeting to discuss the situation in the Middle East, appreciating their confidence in Pakistan’s efforts for peace. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, brought together foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt as part of a coordinated regional push to de-escalate the conflict between the United States and Iran that has now completed its first month, raising fears of wider spillover and disruption to global energy supplies. “It was a pleasure to receive His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan this evening,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X early on Monday morning. According to the statement, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with the Kingdom and appreciated Saudi Arabia’s “remarkable restraint in these challenging times”. He recognised Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in the Muslim Ummah ...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that both the US and Iran had expressed confidence in Pakistan to facilitate talks between them amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. He made these remarks in a televised address after a quadrilateral moot on the ongoing Middle East crisis. The meeting in Islamabad was also attended the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt. Dar said he had also held “very productive” bilateral meetings with the three foreign ministers, who also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “As you know, the purpose of this visit of the foreign ministers was to participate in the second meeting of consultations among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, which was held today in Islamabad. “You may recall that our first meeting was held in Riyadh on March 19, 2026,” he added. Sharing details of today’s quadrilateral meeting, Dar said the four foreign ministers had a very detailed and in-depth discussion on the current regional situation. “We al...

Islamabad - While reaffirming Pakistan’s full and unwavering solidarity and support with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appreciated the remarkable restraint exercised by Saudi Arabia amid the current crisis and assured the Saudi Foreign Minister that Pakistan would always stand shoulder to.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the “remarkable restraint” exercised by Saudi Arabia amid the Middle East crisis in a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Islamabad, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Sunday. He also assured him of Pakistan’s full and unwavering solidarity and support, the statement said. The Saudi foreign minister called upon PM Shehbaz after the conclusion of quadrilateral ministerial meeting in Islamabad, attended by the FMs of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye. PM Shehbaz shared with FM Faisal Pakistan’s extensive diplomatic outreach during the current crisis, including mediation efforts for de-escalation and attempts to bring both the United States and Iran to the negotiating table, the PMO said. The Saudi FM also shared the latest Saudi perspective on the regional situation with the prime minister, who assured the visiting dignitary of Pakistan’s full and unwavering solidarity and support. The premier also emphasised Saudi Arab...

Pakistan has stepped up its diplomatic efforts to help ease tensions in the Middle East, as foreign ministers from key regional countries gather in Islamabad for high-level discussions.

Pakistan on Saturday rejected India’s remarks regarding its Shia community as cynical and diversionary, calling it an exercise in deflection masquerading as concern.

Pakistan eases banking rules for Iran exports

The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday rejected the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ concern over the treatment of Pakistan’s Shia community, terming its remarks “cynical and diversionary” and an “exercise in deflection masquerading as concern”. The statement comes a day after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs commented on remarks it attributed to Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir, wherein — during an interaction with Shia clerics — he allegedly said agitators responding violently to events in Iran should go to Iran. It should be mentioned that CDF Munir had met with Shia clerics in Rawalpindi earlier this month. A participant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said CDF Munir had adopted a stern tone, describing Iran as being under pressure from major powers, and asserted that Pakistan’s territory was not being used against Tehran. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss matters of national security and the role of ulema in societal harmony, according to a statement issued ...

Flight operations between Pakistan and several Middle Eastern destinations remain severely affected due to ongoing regional tensions linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

Pakistan has entered a new phase of digital development with the rollout of 5G services under the strategy of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday announced that it had reached a staff level agreement (SLA) for disbursement of about $1.2 billion on successful conclusion on the third review under Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). The Fund tacitly endorsed Islamabad’s fuel pricing policy in the wake of Middle East crisis. It said program implementation by Pakistan under the EFF remained broadly aligned with the authorities’ objectives to strengthen public finances, ensure inflation remains durably within the State Bank of Pakistan’s target range; advance reforms to improve the viability of the energy sector; and deepen structural reforms, while strengthening social protection and rebuilding health and education spending. The authorities’ climate reform agenda, backed by the RSF, is progressing, and the authorities remain committed to implementing comprehensive reforms and policies that enhance resilience and redu...