Pakistan

Pakistan’s plan to issue Panda Bonds in 2025 has been shelved, pushing the launch into early next year, according to official sources.

The United States is the biggest recipient of China’s lending activities globally, according to a study that tracked Beijing’s credit activities and found it is increasingly lending to higher-income countries over developing countries. The report, published on Tuesday by AidData, a research lab at US university William & Mary, said China’s lending and grant giving totalled $2.2 trillion across 200 countries in every region of the world from 2000 to 2023. During this period, Pakistan received $74 billion, the report shows, ranking it as the fifth largest recipient. China has long been seen as a creditor to developing countries through its Belt and Road initiative, but is shifting toward lending to advanced economies — backing strategic infrastructure and high‑tech supply chains in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and clean energy. Beijing’s portfolio size is two-to-four times larger than previous estimates suggest, AidData said, adding that China remains the world’s largest official credit...

Terrorists’ bid to blow up a bridge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district failed on Tuesday when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated prematurely while it was being installed, police said. Amir Khan, the spokesperson for the District Police Office in Bannu, told Dawn that two terrorists intended to blow up Doghoda Bridge. He said that one of them died on the spot when the IED detonated prematurely while it was being installed. The other terrorist was injured and escaped the scene, he added. The spokesperson said police had reached the spot and were collecting evidence. Meanwhile, the process for the identification of the dead terrorist had also been initiated, he said. A search operation was also under way to track down the other terrorist, he added. Today’s incident comes around a month after law enforcers foiled an attack by terrorists at a police station in Bannu. According to police, terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij — a term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP...

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has issued a warning to overseas Pakistanis—particularly those residing in the United Kingdom—about a fraudulent website impersonating its services.

Vitol and Cnergyico, Pakistan’s largest oil refiner, have delivered the country’s biggest single shipment of very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) for ship refuelling, the global trading firm said in a statement late Monday. The move will enable large vessels refuelling in Pakistan to now sail longer routes from east to west without needing to stop elsewhere, while also giving the country a stronger local supply of environmentally compliant marine fuel. This shipment came from Cnergyico’s first large-scale batch of fuel that meets International Maritime Organisation (IMO) low-sulphur rules. The company began producing it after importing its first US crude oil cargoes earlier this year. Vitol delivered the VLSFO to a vessel owned and operated by shipping major MSC at Port Qasim, using a Singapore-flagged bunker barge Marine Ista that has the capacity to supply 6,800 metric tons of marine fuel in a single delivery. It was also the first barge to load fuel directly from the Karachi Port Trust’s Oil Pier rather than ...

Pakistan’s security forces have killed at least 15 suspected Fitna-al-Khawarij militants in two intelligence-based operations conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

MUZAFFARABAD - The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Assem­bly on Monday voted to remove Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq from his post, replacing him with Pakistan Peo­ples Party’s (PPP) Raja Faisal Rathore.

• Two more judges sworn in • Seven courtrooms arranged on IHC floors • Three benches hear several cases on first working day ISLAMABAD: After the swearing-in of two more judges, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) finally commenced operations on Monday, hearing a number of cases within the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises. The day began with the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Rozi Khan Barrech and Justice Arshad Hussain Shah inside the conference room on the ground floor of the IHC building on Constitution Avenue. The oath was administered by FCC Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan, bringing the court’s existing strength to seven judges. View this post on Instagram Earlier, the FCC chief justice had told the media that the total sanctioned strength of the court would be 13 judges. Seven courtrooms have been arranged for FCC judges on different floors of the IHC building. After the ceremony, the formal proceedings commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran at the main FCC courtroom situated on the first f...

KARACHI: Pakistan’s current account deficit (CAD) widened by over 255 per cent year-on-year during the first four months of FY26, primarily driven by rising imports and falling exports. The latest data issued by the State Bank on Monday showed that the country posted a CAD of $733 million in July-October compared with $206m in the same period last year. Another vital change was that October posted a $112m deficit, compared with a $83m surplus in September. The pressure on the current account is directly related to higher imports, while the exports remained stagnant during the current fiscal year. Under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, the government had relaxed import curbs. The government is under severe criticism for failing to boost economic growth over the last three years, and financial circles believe it was a deliberate attempt to cut GDP growth to keep the current account under control. The government achieved a surplus of $1.9bn in FY25, but economic growth remained at 2.6pc, which was ...

The United Nations Security Council on Monday voted to adopt a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza and authorising an international stabilisation force for the Palestinian enclave. Israel and Hamas agreed last month to the first phase of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza — a ceasefire in their two-year war and a hostage-release deal — but the UN resolution is seen as vital to legitimising a transitional governance body and reassuring countries that are considering sending troops to Gaza. The text of the resolution says member states can take part in the Board of Peace, envisioned as a transitional authority that would oversee the reconstruction and economic recovery of Gaza. It also authorises the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), which would ensure a process of demilitarising Gaza, including by decommissioning weapons and destroying military infrastructure. Trump’s 20-point plan is included as an annexe to the resolution. Russia, which holds a veto on the ...

Formula One star recognised at Sport Australia Hall of Fame for exceptional year and national pride

The 40-year-old has not played at all this season after being laid low with sciatica last month

Claim involves sidelining, contract classification, and lost revenue, with both sides demanding payouts

With the FIFA Pass fans would gain quicker visa slots, but US authorities maintain strict entry requirements

Nagelsmann’s side hit six in Leipzig as the Dutch team cruise to a four-goal victory over Lithuania

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a bail plea filed by a courier company manager in a narcotics case, while directing the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to submit the accused’s CCTV footage in court.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan at the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), scheduled for 17–18 November 2025 in Moscow.

QUETTA - Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhel on Monday took the oath as Acting Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court (BHC).

ISLAMABAD - Four newly designated envoys presented their credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari at a ceremony held on Monday at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

MUZAFFARABAD - Newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has said that he is grateful to Allah Almighty for entrusting a political worker like him with the responsibility of the premiership, calling it a great honour.