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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday reiterated their resolve to expand bilateral trade to $10 billion, with Commerce Minister Jam calling for transforming “historic brotherly relations” with Iran into a robust economic partnership. Since March this year, both countries have rolled out a series of measures to facilitate border trade, including easing customs procedures, formalising Taftan as a customs station, and notifying new transit routes, against the backdrop of the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the Middle East that has strained economies in the region and beyond. Their latest engagement took place at the 10th session of the Pak–Iran Joint Trade Committee (JTC), which is being held in Islamabad from August 3-5. The meeting was co‑chaired by Iranian Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mohammad Atabak and Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan. On the occasion, Khan also underscored the urgency to finalise the Pak–Iran Free Trade Agreement, a statement issued by his ministry said. He called for the rem...

Former South African cricketer Michael Smith has been appointed as the batting coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team for two years, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday. According to a press release issued by the PCB, the “46-year-old will work with the team across both red-ball and white-ball formats”. He will join the Pakistan team ahead of the three-match Test series against England, commencing on Aug 19, the press release stated. Elaborating on Smith’s experience, the press release stated that he had featured in 89 first-class matches, 72 List-A matches and 16 T20 matches between 2003 and 2013. “The right-handed batter scored 7,029 runs across the three formats, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries,” the PCB said. Smith, who holds a Level 4 coaching qualification, has served on the coaching staffs of three HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises — Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, it added The press release further stated that he has also worked as a batt...

According to Anadolu NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Tehran's chief negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf to visit Pakistan

• Washington makes visa bond programme permanent; Bangladesh, Nepal among 50 countries covered, India also excluded • Visitors from listed nations face refundable deposits of up to $20,000 WASHINGTON: Pakistan is not among the 50 countries whose citizens may now be required to deposit up to $20,000 as a financial guarantee before obtaining a US visitor visa under a new programme that took effect on Aug 1. The list published in the US Federal Register does not include Pakistan. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal are covered by the programme, while India is not. Afghanistan and Iran are not included because the United States does not maintain normal diplomatic relations with either country. The State Department said the decision followed a review of the 2025 pilot programme, which it said significantly reduced visa overstays among travellers from participating countries and improved compliance with US immigration rules. Officials said those findings prompted Washington to make the programme perma...

ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan on Monday invited Iran’s parliament speaker and foreign minister for urgent consultations on regional developments, as Tehran described Islamabad as its primary mediator with the US. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator with Washington and speaker of parliament. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, meanwhile, invited his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The invitations were delivered in Tehran late Monday night after Dar spoke with Araghchi. “They exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the deteriorating situation in Occupied East Jerusalem,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. It remained unclear when Ghalibaf and Araghchi would travel to Pakistan. A diplomatic source said both men had been asked to come as soon as possible for discussions on regional and international developments. Araghchi was in Iraq on Monday for Arbaeen, which is being observed on Tuesday. The invitations came roughly 36 ho...

Justin Greaves made an unbeaten 64 to steer West Indies to 239-5 at stumps on a rain-shortened opening day of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Trinidad on Sunday. After a match-winning display with the ball in the first Test last week, Greaves displayed what has now become his trademark ease and composure at the crease in a battling knock at Queen’s Park Oval. His only error of judgement came just after reaching the half-century mark when captain Babar Azam put down a straightforward chance at leg-slip off spinner Sajid Khan. Greaves at that time was almost hobbling after a left leg injury sustained while completing a sharp run that necessitated lengthy treatment on the field. His sixth-wicket partnership with Roston Chase (36 not out) was worth 66 runs at the close of play and Greaves will be hoping for a return to his usual athletic mobility when he resumes the innings with his captain on the second morning. He had come to the crease in mid-afternoon at 91 for three as Kavem Hodge became Khan’s...

Dr Tanaka Akihiko's first visit to Pakistan as JICA chief focuses on uplift projects

Pakistan has issued a flood alert after India released water from the Salal Dam for the 11th consecutive time, prompting concerns over rising water levels.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Friday said Pakistan welcomes developments under the Board of Peace towards implementation of the process of disarmament under the Gaza Peace Plan.

PAKISTAN’S request for a $10 billion Exchange Stabilisation Support Facility from the US Treasury involves one of Washington’s most powerful, but least understood financial tools. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb requested the facility, with a maturity period of up to five years, during a visit to Washington earlier this month. The request comes as Pakistan continues to face external financing pressures, including the need to maintain foreign exchange reserves, meet international debt obligations and support stability in the currency market. Unlike traditional assistance programmes from multilateral lenders, an arrangement through the US Treasury’s Exchange Stabilisation Fund (ESF) would represent a direct bilateral financial mechanism between Washington and Islamabad. From Mexico in 1995 to Argentina last year, the US has quietly deployed its Exchange Stabilisation Fund to rescue struggling economies If approved, an ESF-backed facility could provide Pakistan with additional liquidity at a critical junctur...

KARACHI: Although all eyes were on Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem to produce the goods, Pakistan’s first medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games came in women’s boxing. Fatima Zahra, who had guaranteed herself a medal after qualifying for the semifinals of the 60kg event, picked up a bronze after losing to Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh. Under the competition’s format, losing semi-finalists receive the bronze medal. Olympian Arshad Nadeem eliminated after first three rounds of javelin final Meanwhile, in the javelin final, while the world fixed its gaze on the India-Pakistan rivalry of Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem, Sri Lankan Rumesh Pathirage stole the show with a stellar 89.75-metre throw. Arshad’s best effort of 77.41m was well off the pace, putting him among the four eliminations out of 12 competitors, after the first three rounds. Chopra, meanwhile, managed a throw of 85.83m, putting him in second place. Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2026

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Pakistan welcomed developments under the Board of Peace towards implementing the disarmament process under the Gaza Peace Plan. Earlier today, US President Donald Trump said talks in Cairo between mediators and Hamas leaders on Thursday have led to a phased disarmament agreement in Gaza, but a Hamas official described the deal as a draft and US officials said Israel was sceptical the Palestinian group would surrender its weapons. “Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza,” Trump said in a social media post, adding that the disarmament would come in phases. In a social media post on X, PM Shehbaz said, “Pakistan welcomes developments under the Board of Peace towards the implementation of the disarmament process under the Gaza Peace Plan.” He emphasised that the mediating countries, including the United States of America, Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye, deserved “special appreciatio...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan’s constitutional federal structure, provincial autonomy, and cooperation and consultation between the federation and the provinces were of fundamental importance for the country’s development and stability.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday termed good governance “quintessential” for Pakistan’s security and stability. He made the remarks while addressing a press conference on the country’s overall security situation, particularly the situation in Balochistan. The DG ISPR, during his presser, commented on Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s remarks about the need for new administrative units in Pakistan: “We have been saying this earlier also as a primary stakeholder in security that good governance is essential for the security and stability of Pakistan.” Without this, he stressed that none of Pakistan’s issues could be resolved. The military spokesperson said the National Action Plan (NAP), with its 14-point agenda and the consensus of all political parties, required good governance for its implementation, adding, “Good governance is quintessential for Pakistan.” “Now, how to achieve good governance? The politicians and political parties have...

ISLAMABAD: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan’s long-term security depends not only on military strength but also on effective governance, stressing that structural and administrative reforms should be considered if required to improve public service.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday said that Pakistan welcomed the decision of the Lloyd’s Market Association’s Joint War Committee (JWC) to remove Pakistan from its Listed Areas for war risk insurance.

• Condemns attacks by non-state actors against kingdom • Stresses Islamabad will honour defence commitments with Gulf partners • Insists defence agreements don’t undermine Pakistan’s role as mediator • India to be invited to SCO summit in Pakistan next year ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday endorsed Saudi Arabia’s air strikes in Iraq as an exercise of its right to self-defence, while reaffirming that it would honour all defence commitments undertaken with its Gulf partners. The country also insisted that those arrangements did not diminish Islamabad’s role as a mediator in the Iran-US conflict. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and we respect that right,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at the weekly media briefing. The remarks came two days after Saudi Arabia and the United States carried out coordinated strikes against installations of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Units, accusing elements within the umbrella force of launching attacks ...

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Thursday chaired an inter-ministerial meeting to review Pakistan’s international education cooperation and scholarship programmes for students from friendly countries.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and its territorial waters have been removed from the Listed Areas of the Lloyd’s Market Association’s Joint War Committee (JWC), it emerged on Thursday, a move that will help reduce war-risk insurance premiums and shipping costs. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry welcomed the decision and said it would improve the competitiveness of Pakistani exports and strengthen the confidence of international shipping companies, traders and investors in the country. He added that Pakistan’s removal could also make Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar more attractive to global shipping lines and investors, creating opportunities for regional trade, cargo transit and transshipment. According to the minister, the issue was taken up on March 13, 2026, when it was noted that Pakistan and its maritime areas had been among the JWC’s Listed Areas for two decades — after the US declared its war on terror following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Their inclusion had resulted in addit...

The Emergency Response Committee (ERC) on Thursday held its seventh session at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headquarters to review the flood situation, rescue operations, relief efforts and preparedness measures across Pakistan, with federal and provincial authorities pledging stronger coordination to deal with emerging.