Author: Asghar Ali Mubarak

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a high-level committee to review a proposal declaring an export emergency, aimed at doubling Pakistan’s exports to $60 billion by removing bottlenecks such as delays in issuing genuine tax refunds, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Monday. Addressing a press conference, Iqbal said the committee would be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and tasked with reviewing proposals to boost exports. He added that the planning ministry had last month briefed civil and military leadership on strategies to reduce reliance on the International Monetary Fund, including a target…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to introduce a pre-immigration clearance system aimed at streamlining travel between the two countries, officials said, with a formal agreement expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The initiative was finalized during meetings between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the UAE’s Director General of Customs and Port Security, who discussed the launch of a pilot scheme and agreed to maintain close coordination to ensure its smooth implementation. Under the proposed system, passengers departing from Pakistan will complete immigration and customs procedures before leaving the country,…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is seeking to ease rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over the conflict in Yemen. The diplomatic effort follows an airstrike by the Saudi-led Arab coalition on shipments of weapons and military vehicles reportedly coming from the UAE. In response, Saudi Arabia has demanded that the UAE withdraw its forces from Yemen within 24 hours. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has travelled to Rahim Yar Khan to meet the UAE president amid the escalating crisis. A spokesperson for the Arab coalition said the weapons were being delivered to Hadhramaut. The Saudi…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: The 50th Chief of the Army Staff Polo and Tent Pegging Championship 2025 concluded at Lahore’s Jinnah Polo Fields with a closing ceremony that combined sporting spectacle with institutional symbolism, drawing senior officials and a large public audience to one of the country’s most prominent equestrian venues. Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the ceremony as the chief guest. He was welcomed on arrival by the Corps Commander Lahore and the chairman of the Pakistan Polo Federation. The interior minister and the chief secretary of Punjab…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs has uncovered alleged irregularities worth billions of rupees in a Rs27bn solar energy project in Sindh, raising concerns over mismanagement and potential corruption in a program intended to provide renewable energy to low-income households. The committee chairman, Saifullah Abro, said during the session that NGOs had been selected without proper tendering procedures, with contracts reportedly awarded to preferred individuals. He highlighted a striking discrepancy in costs, noting that solar panels which should have cost Rs21,000 were reportedly procured at Rs60,000, suggesting deliberate manipulation to benefit certain parties. Officials from…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: The 50th Chief of the Army Staff Polo and Tent Pegging Championship 2025 concluded at Lahore’s Jinnah Polo Fields with a closing ceremony that combined sporting spectacle with institutional symbolism, drawing senior officials and a large public audience to one of the country’s most prominent equestrian venues. Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir attended the ceremony as the chief guest. He was welcomed on arrival by the Corps Commander Lahore and the chairman of the Pakistan Polo Federation. The interior minister and the chief secretary of Punjab…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has voiced serious concern over what it described as a surge in attacks on minorities in India, with particular alarm over incidents targeting Muslims during the recent Christmas period. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office characterized the situation as “alarming” and condemned acts of vandalism and violence directed at Muslim communities, highlighting what they described as a broader pattern of state-backed campaigns against the minority population. The spokesperson pointed to reports of homes being destroyed and communities under threat, saying these incidents contributed to an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. Citing the lynching of…

Pakistan’s military, tested by a brief yet intense South Asian clash, demonstrated disciplined resolve and strategic precision, asserting its regional readiness By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has said that the country has regained respect and recognition on the global stage, arguing that recent diplomatic and military developments had tested and strengthened Pakistan’s standing. Briefing journalists in Islamabad on what he described as Pakistan’s diplomatic successes, Dar reflected on the recent four-day conflict between Pakistan and India, relations with neighboring and regional countries, and expanding ties with key global partners. He said…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: The 18th anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was marked across Pakistan on Saturday with tributes, prayers and political gatherings held in her memory. Events organized by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) took place nationwide, with supporters observing the day with what the party described as devotion, respect and renewed political resolve. The central commemorative rally was held at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Sindh, where Bhutto is buried, drawing party workers and supporters from across the country who arrived in large convoys. Addressing the gathering, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq suggested that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are considering a long-term strategic approach in parliamentary affairs, reflecting ongoing political negotiations in the country. Speaking in Sukkur, Sadiq emphasized that any engagement by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would require the party’s representatives to participate directly in National Assembly discussions, underlining the importance of formal parliamentary channels for dialogue. The remarks followed Sadiq’s visit, alongside Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, to the mausoleum of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where both leaders offered…