Author: i2wtc
Pakistan, seven Muslim states warn of humanitarian collapse in battered enclave from Israel’s actionsPalestinians gather at a food distribution point in Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on 21 May 2025, as Israel allows a limited amount of aid into the enclave. PHOTO:REUTERS ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and seven key Muslim countries on Friday voiced deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, warning that harsh winter weather combined with Israel’s severe restrictions on aid access has pushed nearly two million displaced Palestinians to the brink of catastrophe. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt,…
A child looks at a set of lanterns at an ancient city scenic area in Huangyuan County of Xining, northwest China’s Qinghai Province on Jan. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)Tourists enjoy the lanterns at an ancient city scenic area in Huangyuan County of Xining, northwest China’s Qinghai Province on Jan. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)Tourists enjoy the lanterns at an ancient city scenic area in Huangyuan County of Xining, northwest China’s Qinghai Province on Jan. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 2, 2026 shows a tourist enjoying paddle boarding at Minjiang River wetland in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian…
State Bank of Pakistan. Photo: File KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected Rs13 trillion through both conventional and Shariah-compliant Open Market Operations (OMOs) on Friday. In the conventional reverse repo purchase segment, the central bank accepted a total of Rs12.9 trillion in face value, translating into a realised value of Rs12.6 trillion. This comprised Rs750 billion in face value for the seven-day tenor at a uniform rate of 10.51% per annum, and the entire Rs12.24 trillion offered for the 14-day tenor, also at 10.51%. Bids for both tenors ranged between 10.56% and 10.51%, with strong participation reflected in…
Trade deficit. Design: Mohsin Alam ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has booked over $19 billion trade deficit during the first half of the current fiscal year as exports further plunged and imports increased faster than projections on the back of trade liberalisation, keeping the external sector stability under pressure. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday that the gap between imports and exports reached $19.2 billion during the July-December period. The deficit was nearly $5 billion, or 35%, higher than the same period of last fiscal year, according to the national data collecting agency. The half year’s deficit was also equal…
Court decision in Panama case should help country correct budget spending, revenue collection. PHOTO: REUTERS ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis spent two out of every three rupees on just two basic needs — food and electricity — as reliance on foreign remittances and financial assistance increased to meet growing expenditures, a new government survey showed. The expenditures increased at a faster pace than the incomes due to current economic pressure and rising cost of living, according to the Household Integrated Economic Survey 2024-25, released by the Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday. The findings of the survey, conducted after a gap of…
Court decision in Panama case should help country correct budget spending, revenue collection. PHOTO: REUTERS ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis spent two out of every three rupees on just two basic needs — food and electricity — as reliance on foreign remittances and financial assistance increased to meet growing expenditures, a new government survey showed. The expenditures increased at a faster pace than the incomes due to current economic pressure and rising cost of living, according to the Household Integrated Economic Survey 2024-25, released by the Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday. The findings of the survey, conducted after a gap of…
K-P’s ATC decision comes after Zahid Afridi’s lawyer argues that charges are politically motivatedMohammad Zahid Afridi, youth president of Jamaat-e-Islami and the spokesman of the Bara Tirah Political Alliance, was arrested by the police. Source: The Express Tribune A special Anti‑Terrorism Court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has approved bail for Mohammad Zahid Afridi, a local political leader and head of the Bara Political Alliance and Jamaat‑e‑Islami Youth Wing Tirah, in a terrorism case, court officials said. Judge Fareed Khan Alizai of the Anti‑Terrorism Court (ATC) heard Afridi’s bail petition and ordered that he be released on bail after the arguments were…
This undated file photo shows the Deep Sea No. 1 energy station carrying out condensate oil transportation operation at night. China’s largest offshore gas field, named Deep Sea No. 1, has recently completed its 100th shipment of crude oil since being put into production, announced the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) on Friday. The field’s total oil and gas output in 2025 exceeded 4.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent, comparable to that of a medium-sized onshore oilfield. (CNOOC/Handout via Xinhua)HAIKOU, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) — China’s largest offshore gas field, named Deep Sea No. 1, has recently completed its 100th…
Thousands of people staged large peace march in Mir Ali, demand reopening of Ghulam Khan border by January 20People participating in a peace march offer Friday prayers in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Photo: X Thousands of people, belonging to the Utmanzai tribes, staged a large peace march in Mir Ali in North Waziristan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, warning that they would launch civil disobedience if concrete measures were not taken by January 20 to restore peace, lift the curfew, and reopen the Ghulam Khan border. The gathering was held at Noor Islam Shaheed Chowk, where participants also offered Friday prayers, led by…
New year’s first meeting also okays off-grid gas sales, captive power levy changesPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairing a federal cabinet meeting on January 1 Photo: Prime Ministers Office A new local government system will be introduced in Islamabad following the federal cabinet’s endorsement of decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC), including actions under the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. Addressing the first federal cabinet meeting of the year on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated cabinet members on the new year and stated that the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines marked significant progress…