Author: i2wtc

Secretary of State says growing engagement with Pakistan does not come at the expense of US friendship with IndiaUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: File The United States sees an opportunity to strengthen its strategic relationship with Pakistan as part of a broader, pragmatic foreign policy approach, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a press briefing. Responding to questions about possible Indian concerns over Washington’s renewed diplomatic outreach to Islamabad, Rubio said New Delhi understands that the US must engage with multiple partners to pursue common interests. “We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with…

* Being each other’s largest trading partner for the fifth consecutive year, China and ASEAN have scored numerous achievements amid rising external uncertainties.* Beyond trade, the China-ASEAN economic cooperation has also expanded into deeper integration of industrial and supply chains.* From large-scale infrastructure cooperation to daily travel and consumption, closer exchanges between Chinese and ASEAN people are reinforcing trust, understanding and friendship.KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) — As Chinese and ASEAN leaders gather here this week, a planned upgrade of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area comes into the spotlight.Within this year, the two sides will formally sign the China-ASEAN Free…

Riffat Alvi passes away just three days after the third anniversary of her son Arshad Sharif’s death Riffat Ara Alvi, the mother of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, has died, her family confirmed on Sunday. Riffat Alvi passed away just three days after the third anniversary of her son Arshad Sharif’s death. Arshad Sharif, a prominent journalist awarded the Pride of Performance in 2023 by then-President Arif Alvi, was shot dead in Kenya on October 23, 2022. Politicians and media organisations called for an investigation into his killing, but the Supreme Court and media have criticised the lack of progress in…

Deputy commissioners, health officers told to remove stagnant water to prevent mosquito breeding The Sindh Health Department has released its latest report on confirmed dengue cases across the province, revealing that 439 new cases have been reported so far in October, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in 2025 to 1,083. According to Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, the Karachi Division remains the most affected, with 188 cases reported this month, followed by Hyderabad Division with 154 cases, Mirpurkhas with 83, Sukkur with 10, Shaheed Benazirabad with 3, and Larkana Division with 1…

Talks with Saudi to focus on trade, investment, energy, human resources and regional, international developmentsPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: PM office/ File Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is due to depart for Riyadh tomorrow on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office on Sunday.  The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and senior members of the federal cabinet. The visit comes at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. During the visit from October 27 to…

‘The discussions between Pakistan and the Taliban government, hosted by Turkey, lasted nine hours’Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the announcement of an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Source: x.com/arabnews Pakistan has presented a detailed plan to Afghanistan aimed at eliminating terrorism emanating from its territory, during the second round of bilateral talks in Istanbul. The discussions between Pakistan and the Taliban government, hosted by Turkey, lasted nine hours, sources say. The seven-member Pakistani delegation took part in the talks and reiterated Islamabad’s demand for the dismantling of terrorist and training camps inside Afghanistan, Express News reported. During the meeting,…

‘An operation will not succeed unless the public stands behind you’, says Junaid Khan Sohail Afridi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, speaking at a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) rally in Karak on Sunday, highlighted pending federal funds for the tribal districts, saying, “For the administration of tribal areas, we promised 100 billion from the tribal districts. The federal government owes 550 billion to these areas”. Afridi also stressed securing additional federal funds and providing scholarships for local students, while emphasising that peace and good governance remain the government’s primary focus. He added that the province’s share was being withheld, noting, “They are withholding…

Party sources say PTI’s central leadership suggested forming short cabinet to ensure governance continuityChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, speaks during assembly session in Peshawar on October 13. Photo: K-P government/File It has been 12 days since new Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi took oath of the office, yet his cabinet remains unannounced, leaving the province effectively without a functional government. CM Afridi has maintained that he will not form his cabinet without consulting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. Following the resignation of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur earlier this month, PTI nominated Sohail Afridi as…

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has implemented another condition of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by amending the powers of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Under the new arrangement, the FBR will now only be responsible for tax collection, while tax policy formulation will no longer fall under its jurisdiction. According to sources, the government has activated the Tax Policy Office within the Ministry of Finance. Following this change, the FBR will serve solely as a tax collection agency, whereas the newly established office will handle all matters related to tax policy formulation. Sources said that Dr Najeeb Ahmed Memon…

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessett said Sunday he, too, has “felt pain” from China refusing to buy U.S.-grown soybeans during a trade conflict with President Donald Trump because “I’m actually a soybean farmer.”Bessent’s comment came during an interview with ABC News’ “This Week,” where he said that trade negotiations with China in the past two days had led to a “substantial framework” that he believed would alleviate American soybean farmers’ concerns about the boycott.Trump is set to meet later this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.Bessent, a former hedge fund executive whose net worth is estimated by Forbes…