Author: S.M. Inam

By S.M. Inam ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik held a meeting in Kuwait with Tariq Sulaiman Al-Roumi, Kuwait’s Minister of Oil, to discuss issues of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the petroleum sector. According to an official statement issued on Monday, the meeting was also attended by Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, chief executive of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), the chief executive of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), and members of their senior management teams. The Pakistani delegation included the managing director of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Ahmed Hayat Lak, and…

The finance minister said the prime minister’s clearly articulated strategic direction signaled renewed economic confidence and a forward momentum for reform By S.M. Inam ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan was no longer seeking aid-based support and was shifting decisively towards trade- and investment-led engagement to secure long-term economic sustainability and mutually beneficial partnerships, particularly with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In an interview with Arab media outlet, Finance Minister said this strategic direction, clearly articulated by the prime minister, reflected renewed economic confidence and reform momentum. He noted that Pakistan had remained on…

By S.M. Inam The United States’ recent approval of a $686 million package to upgrade Pakistan’s fleet of F‑16 fighter jets represents a notable moment in the long-standing, and at times complex, military relationship between the two countries. Announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 8 December, the deal is officially framed as an effort to ensure Pakistan’s ability to respond to both current and emerging security threats. Yet the significance of this development extends beyond mere equipment transfers, touching on broader strategic, regional, and political considerations that have shaped Islamabad’s defence posture for decades. At the…

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: The President of Kadin Karachi, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s business platform, Muhammad Reihan Hanif, welcomed an Indonesian business delegation ahead of the International Consumer Product Fair 2025, officials said. The delegation introduced a range of their featured products to Kadin members, providing an opportunity for local businesses to familiarize themselves with Indonesia’s commercial offerings and explore potential avenues for collaboration. During the session, delegates highlighted key product lines, emphasizing quality, innovation, and market readiness. Business representatives from Karachi engaged with the visitors, discussing market preferences, distribution possibilities, and consumer demand, setting the stage…

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: The President of Kadin Karachi, the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s business platform, Muhammad Reihan Hanif, welcomed an Indonesian business delegation ahead of the International Consumer Product Fair 2025, officials said. The delegation introduced a range of their featured products to Kadin members, providing an opportunity for local businesses to familiarize themselves with Indonesia’s commercial offerings and explore potential avenues for collaboration. During the session, delegates highlighted key product lines, emphasizing quality, innovation, and market readiness. Business representatives from Karachi engaged with the visitors, discussing market preferences, distribution possibilities, and consumer demand, setting the stage…

By S.M. Inam KARACHI: A delegation of eleven Indonesian companies carried out a market survey at Imtiaz Supermarket Zamzama, one of Pakistan’s largest retail chains, in a bid to explore consumer demand and potential opportunities for expanding Indonesian products in the local market. The visit marked a concerted effort by Indonesian businesses to better understand shopping trends, preferences, and high-demand items among Pakistani consumers. Imtiaz Supermarket, which already stocks a range of Indonesian products, welcomed the delegation and facilitated the survey by providing detailed insights into customer behaviour and sales patterns. The store manager personally guided the visiting companies, highlighting…

By S.M. Inam ISLAMABAD: The US Chargé d’Affaires in Pakistan, Natalie Baker, announced that the US Export-Import (EXIM) Bank would invest $1.25 billion in the Reko Diq mining project in Balochistan under a bilateral partnership. Earlier, daily Metro Morning had already published a report regarding US bank’s investment in Reko Diq. In a video statement shared on X by the US Embassy in Islamabad, Baker said the EXIM Bank had recently approved the financial support to bolster mining and critical minerals initiatives within the Reko Diq project. She explained that the funds aimed to strengthen collaboration between the two nations,…

By S.M. Inam ISLAMABAD: Karachi port has long served as the fastest and cheapest route for Afghanistan’s imports and exports, with goods typically moving from Kabul to Karachi in three to four days. The average cost of transporting a single container along this route is about USD 2,000. According to Afghan media, Afghan traders are facing mounting financial and logistical problems after cross-border commercial traffic through Pakistan remained suspended for a second month, cutting off what many consider the country’s most efficient trade corridor. By contrast, Afghan broadcasters reported that shipments sent via Iran’s Chabahar port take seven to eight…

By S.M. Inam There are stories that break with a loud crash — explosions, scandals, elections, wars. And then there are those that slip quietly into the public domain, revealing themselves not with drama but with discomfort. Amnesty International’s latest “Predator Files” report belongs firmly in the second category. It does not shout. It does not accuse with sensationalism. Instead, it walks the reader through the unsettling reality of a modern world where states no longer need to cross borders to interfere with their neighbors; their machines can do it for them. At the center of this new chapter is…

By S.M. Inam ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom sought to strengthen economic cooperation and institutional reforms during a high-level meeting in Islamabad this week, underscoring shared concerns over fiscal stability and development priorities. Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with British Minister for Development, Baroness Chapman, in a session attended by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and senior UK officials, where both sides explored avenues to bolster economic resilience and growth. During the discussions, Pakistan expressed gratitude for Britain’s support in the successful implementation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, which officials said had played a key role…