News

Belarusian president arrives in Islamabad on three-day visit

Pakis­tan and Belarus are seeking to strengthen bilateral relations, with a focus on boosting trade and econo­mic cooperation, as Belar­u­sian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on Monday began a three-day official visit to the country. President Lukashenko was welco­med at Nur Khan Airbase by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by key cabinet ministers, inc­luding Deputy Prime Min­is­ter an

Ecnec clears 10 projects worth Rs172.7bn

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Monday approved 10 out of 11 proposed development projects costing R 172.7 billion. A project presented by the Ministry of Health was deferred, requiring further clarification before approval. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Six of the approved projects belonged to the province

Oil falls $2 on possible peace deal in Mideast

Oil prices fell more $2 on Monday after multiple reports that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to the terms of a deal to end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, citing unnamed senior US officials. Brent crude futures were down $2.02, or 2.69 per cent, at $73.15 a barrel by 9:57 a.m. CST (1557 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $2.08, or 2.92pc, at $69.16 a barrel. Israel

Dryout fears mount as lockdown disrupts fuel transportation

The tight lockdown of major cities, motorways and national highways imposed by the government to thwart PTI’s march on the federal capital has started breaking down the supply chain of petroleum products, particularly in Punjab and Islamabad. Senior government officials said the POL-carrying tankers and lorries movement had been severely affected in major cities because of official barricades.

Debt inflows plunge 55pc in July-October

Pakistan’s foreign assistance inflows fell by more than 55 per cent to about $2.7 billion in the first four months (July-October) of the current fiscal year, apparently because of delays in securing a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and subsequent $1bn disbursements. Last year, inflows had amounted to $6.05bn in these four months. In its monthly report on Foreign Economic Ass