黑料社区

Pakistan ruling party chief discusses strengthening bilateral defense, economic ties with Saudi envoy

Pakistan ruling party chief discusses strengthening bilateral defense, economic ties with Saudi envoy
President of Pakistan鈥檚 ruling Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party Nawaz Sharif (center) and his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz (right), meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on July 31, 2025. (@NaureenJanjua/ X)
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Pakistan ruling party chief discusses strengthening bilateral defense, economic ties with Saudi envoy

Pakistan ruling party chief discusses strengthening bilateral defense, economic ties with Saudi envoy
  • Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz meet Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki聽
  • Maintaining close contact with 黑料社区 at consular level is a top priority of Punjab government, says Nawaz聽

ISLAMABAD: The president of Pakistan鈥檚 ruling Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party Nawaz Sharif and his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Thursday to discuss strengthening bilateral defense, political and economic ties between the two countries, an official of the Punjab government said.聽

Pakistan and 黑料社区 enjoy close defense, economic and diplomatic ties. In recent months, the two countries have sought closer economic cooperation, with Islamabad and Riyadh signing 34 business-to-business agreements last year worth $2.8 billion.聽

During their meeting, Sharif and the Punjab chief minister conveyed their sincere wishes and respect for 黑料社区鈥檚 King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the public relations officer to the Punjab chief minister said in a message circulated to media.

鈥淭he meeting included discussions on matters of mutual interest, economic cooperation, defense partnership, and unity of the Muslim Ummah,鈥 the statement said.聽

It added that both sides reaffirmed to further strengthen the historic, political, economic and defense ties between Pakistan and 黑料社区.

鈥淏oth sides agreed to expand defense partnership, joint training, intelligence sharing and mutual cooperation,鈥 it said.聽

The Punjab chief minister said Pakistan and 黑料社区鈥檚 relationship is based on mutual trust, shared values and long-standing brotherhood.

鈥淩elations with 黑料社区 are a central pillar of Pakistan鈥檚 foreign policy, which continues to grow stronger in political, economic, and other sectors,鈥 she was quoted as saying.聽

Nawaz said Islamabad is grateful to 黑料社区 for hosting 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates in the Kingdom.聽

鈥淢aintaining close and continuous contact with 黑料社区 at the consular level is a top priority of the Punjab government,鈥 she added.聽

Apart from being a key regional ally and close business partner, 黑料社区 also happens to be the largest source of foreign remittances for Pakistan.
These remittances are a lifeline for Pakistan鈥檚 cash-strapped economy, playing a critical role in stabilizing foreign exchange reserves and its supporting balance of payments.聽


Pakistan gets offers in 100,000 metric tons white sugar tender, traders say

Pakistan gets offers in 100,000 metric tons white sugar tender, traders say
Updated 31 July 2025

Pakistan gets offers in 100,000 metric tons white sugar tender, traders say

Pakistan gets offers in 100,000 metric tons white sugar tender, traders say
  • Lowest price offered in international tender to buy 100,000 metric tones of white sugar believed to be $539, say traders
  • Traders say offers in tender from state trading agency TCP still being considered and no purchase has yet been reported

HAMBURG: The lowest price offered in the international tender to buy 100,000 metric tons of white refined sugar from Pakistan on Thursday was believed to be $539.00 a metric ton cost and freight included, European traders said in initial assessments.

Offers in the tender from the state trading agency Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) are still being considered and no purchase has yet been reported, they said.

The TCP can negotiate for some time in tenders before deciding whether to purchase.

Reports reflect assessments from traders and further estimates of prices and volumes are still possible later.


Fueled by Pakistan-US trade deal, PSX breaches 140,000 mark during intraday trade聽

Fueled by Pakistan-US trade deal, PSX breaches 140,000 mark during intraday trade聽
Updated 31 July 2025

Fueled by Pakistan-US trade deal, PSX breaches 140,000 mark during intraday trade聽

Fueled by Pakistan-US trade deal, PSX breaches 140,000 mark during intraday trade聽
  • KSE-100 index reached intraday high of 140,215.22 points before closing at 139,390.42 points聽
  • Pakistan says deal will lead to reduction of reciprocal tariffs, especially on Pakistani exports to US

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) briefly crossed the 140,000-point mark during intraday trading on Thursday, with analysts attributing the surge to strong investor confidence following a 鈥渓andmark鈥 trade deal between Pakistan and the United States. 

The KSE-100 index reached an intraday high of 140,215.22 points, gaining by 1,802.97 points or 1.3 percent from the previous close of 138,412.25. However, the Pakistani stocks closed at 139,390.42 points, posting a gain of 978.17 points or 0.71 percent.

The investor confidence was driven by Pakistan鈥檚 finance ministry announcement on Wednesday that Islamabad had reached a trade deal with Washington after weeks of extensive negotiations. The ministry said the deal would pave the way for reduced tariffs and deeper economic ties. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, separately spoke about a new partnership with Pakistan to develop its oil reserves.

Ahsan Mehanti, CEO of Arif Habib Commodities, said rupee stability and reports of rising Pakistan sovereign bonds following a recent S&P ratings upgrade played a key role in fueling bullish activity at the PSX.

鈥淪tocks traded near all-time high after US strikes trade deal with Pakistan affirming work over massive oil reserves,鈥 he told Arab News.

The agreement between Pakistan and the US is expected to reduce reciprocal tariffs, marking the beginning of a new era of economic collaboration in sectors such as energy, mining, IT, cryptocurrency and more, Pakistan鈥檚 finance ministry said. 

Meanwhile, Sana Tawfik, the head of research at Arif Habib Ltd., also said the 鈥減rimary driver鈥 behind the stock market鈥檚 intraday impressive performance was the development regarding the US-Pakistan trade tariff deal.

鈥淭he deal triggered positive momentum, especially in the energy chain, which was largely in the green and led the market鈥檚 upward movement,鈥 she told Arab News.

鈥淎nother factor was the ongoing results season 鈥 today鈥檚 banking sector results came in as well, which were more or less in line with expectations, contributing to market sentiment.鈥

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also reacted to the development, expressing hope that the deal would pave the way for deeper collaboration between the two countries.

鈥淚 wish to convey my profound thanks to President Trump @realDonaldTrump for his leadership role in finalization of the historic US-Pakistan trade agreement, successfully concluded by our two sides in Washington, last night,鈥 he said in a social media post.

鈥淭his landmark deal will enhance our growing cooperation so as to expand the frontiers of our enduring partnership in days to come.鈥


India PM Modi faces opposition fury after Trump鈥檚 25 percent tariff threat

India PM Modi faces opposition fury after Trump鈥檚 25 percent tariff threat
Updated 31 July 2025

India PM Modi faces opposition fury after Trump鈥檚 25 percent tariff threat

India PM Modi faces opposition fury after Trump鈥檚 25 percent tariff threat
  • Opposition lawmaker says US tariff threat reflects 鈥渂roader collapse鈥 of foreign policy under the Modi government
  • Economists warn steep tariff could hurt India鈥檚 manufacturing ambitions, trim up to 40 basis points off economic growth

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Indian opposition parties criticized the government on Thursday, describing US President Donald Trump鈥檚 threat of a 25 percent tariff as a diplomatic failure for New Delhi, while the rupee currency tumbled and equity indexes slid in response to the news.

The 25 percent rate would single out India more harshly than other major trading partners, and threatens to unravel months of talks, undermining one of Washington鈥檚 strategic partners in the region, viewed as a counterbalance to China.

Trump said the tariff on imports from India would start from Friday, in addition to an unspecified penalty for Russian dealings and involvement in the BRICS grouping of nations.

In response, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was studying the implications of Trump鈥檚 remarks and was dedicated to securing a fair trade deal.

鈥淭his development reflects a broader collapse of foreign policy under the Modi government,鈥 a lawmaker of the main opposition Congress party said in a notice to the lower house of parliament, asking for a discussion on the matter.

The debate would focus on the 鈥済overnment鈥檚 economic and diplomatic failure in preventing the imposition of 25 percent US tariffs plus penalties on Indian exports,鈥 the notice added.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was expected to brief the lower house later on Thursday, his office said.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 care what India does with Russia,鈥 Trump said in a Truth Social post on Thursday, adding, 鈥淭hey can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.鈥

Russia remained India鈥檚 top oil supplier during the first six months of 2025, accounting for 35 percent of overall supplies.

Economists warned the steep tariff could hurt India鈥檚 manufacturing ambitions and trim up to 40 basis points off economic growth in the financial year to March 2026.

India鈥檚 benchmark equity indices, the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex, fell as much as 0.9 percent each in early trade before paring losses and trading flat.

The rupee was trading down 0.2 percent at 87.6175 after touching its lowest in more than five months earlier in the day.

鈥楻AW DEAL鈥

India has received a 鈥渞aw deal,鈥 said Priyanka Kishore, an economist at Asia Decoded.

鈥淲hile further trade talks may bring the tariff rate down, it appears unlikely that India will secure a significantly better outcome than its eastern neighbors,鈥 she added.

That would raise questions about India鈥檚 relative appeal as a China plus one destination, she said, referring to a strategy of diversifying supply chains through manufacturing outside China to reduce geopolitical and operational risks.

Trade talks continued, Trump said on social media, however, as nations face a Friday deadline to strike deals on reciprocal tariffs or have a US tariff slapped on their exports.

The US levy on India exceeds those agreed by some other nations in deals with the Trump administration. For example, the tariff on Vietnam is set at 20 percent and on Indonesia at 19 percent, with levies of 15 percent on Japanese and European Union exports.

On Wednesday, Trump said Washington had reached a trade deal with India鈥檚 arch-rival Pakistan that Islamabad said would lead to lower tariffs on its exports, but neither side has yet revealed the agreed rate.

Since India鈥檚 short but deadly conflict with Pakistan in May, New Delhi has been unhappy about Trump鈥檚 closeness with Islamabad and has protested, casting a shadow over trade talks.

Despite former public displays of bonhomie between Trump and Modi, India has taken a slightly harder stance against the United States in recent weeks.

Trump has repeatedly taken credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire he announced on social media on May 10, but India disputes his claim that it resulted from his intervention and trade threats.

鈥淭he government has destroyed our economic policy, has destroyed our defense policy, has destroyed our foreign policy,鈥 opposition leader Rahul Gandhi told reporters.

The United States, the world鈥檚 largest economy, now has a trade deficit of $45.7 billion with India, the fifth largest.

Trump鈥檚 announcement and the lack of clarity on the penalty have created 鈥渃onsiderable uncertainty,鈥 said Krishan Arora, a partner at consultants Grant Thornton Bharat.

鈥淚ndia is also actively realigning its position in global supply chains through deeper trade and investment linkages with other countries 鈥 an effort that must now accelerate to reduce long-term vulnerabilities,鈥 Arora said.


Top opposition leaders from Imran Khan鈥檚 party get 10-year sentences over 2023 riots

Top opposition leaders from Imran Khan鈥檚 party get 10-year sentences over 2023 riots
Updated 59 min 55 sec ago

Top opposition leaders from Imran Khan鈥檚 party get 10-year sentences over 2023 riots

Top opposition leaders from Imran Khan鈥檚 party get 10-year sentences over 2023 riots
  • Opposition leaders Omar Ayub and Shibili Faraz are also among 108 PTI members convicted
  • PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan calls verdicts damaging for the country and the nation

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Thursday sentenced a group of senior leaders from former Prime Minister Imran Khan鈥檚 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to 10 years in prison over their alleged involvement in violent protests on May 9, 2023, according to PTI officials and local media reports.

The protests erupted after Khan was briefly arrested by paramilitary forces in Islamabad on corruption charges, sparking widespread demonstrations by his supporters waving PTI flags. Several demonstrators turned violent, attacking government buildings and military installations, prompting a sweeping crackdown by the state.

Thousands of PTI members and supporters were detained, and dozens were charged under anti-terrorism laws, with some cases referred to military courts.

鈥淎n anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad city of Punjab has announced the decision of sentencing 108 people from PTI, including the opposition leader in the National Assembly, Omer Ayub Khan, the opposition leader in Senate, Shibli Faraz, along with parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Zartaj Gul Wazir, and many others,鈥 Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to Khan and former federal minister, said in a statement.

鈥淭heir status in both houses stands disqualified,鈥 he added.

Bukhari called the sentencing 鈥渁 sad day for democracy鈥 in Pakistan.

The verdict follows another court ruling last week in Lahore where several other senior PTI members were handed sentences on similar charges related to May 9 rioting. Those convicted in Lahore included Yasmin Rashid, a former provincial health minister; Senator Ejaz Chaudhry; Mehmoodur Rashid, a former housing minister; and Umar Sarfraz Cheema, a former provincial governor and aide to Khan.

However, the court acquitted PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who remains in custody in connection with other cases.

According to Geo News TV, his son, Zain Qureshi, was also acquitted by the Faisalabad court on Thursday, along with Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a former federal minister under Khan鈥檚 administration.

The sentencing comes as PTI is planning to launch a protest campaign on August 5, coinciding with the second anniversary of Khan鈥檚 incarceration. The former prime minister, who was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022, remains in prison facing multiple charges he claims are politically motivated.

Speaking to reporters, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan condemned the verdicts, saying those sentenced were not supporters of political violence.

鈥淭hey sacrificed their entire families, yet remained committed to the system and within the bounds of Parliament,鈥 he said.

鈥淭hese verdicts are causing immense damage to the country and the nation.鈥

Gohar added the party would 鈥渄ecide whether to return to Parliament, whether to boycott it, whether to permanently disengage from this system or whether to launch a movement.鈥

The government has yet to issue a formal statement. However, State Minister for Law and Justice Aqeel Malik told a press conference last week that verdicts in the May 9 cases were 鈥渋n line with the law and the constitution.鈥

Authorities say the May 9 riots caused billions in damages and led to over 3,000 arrests in Punjab province alone. Khan denies any wrongdoing.


Pakistan warns of flash floods in north as monsoon death toll nears 300

Pakistan warns of flash floods in north as monsoon death toll nears 300
Updated 31 July 2025

Pakistan warns of flash floods in north as monsoon death toll nears 300

Pakistan warns of flash floods in north as monsoon death toll nears 300
  • High-risk districts include Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad and Murree
  • At least 291 people, including 138 children, killed in rain-related incidents since June 26

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a warning for heavy rains and potential flash floods from Thursday night in the northern regions, as the total monsoon death toll nears 300, with a majority of the victims being children.

Torrential rains have continued to wreak havoc across Pakistan since June 26, claiming 291 lives, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Among the victims are 138 children. The NDMA said 698 people have also been injured, including 236 children.

鈥淒uring tonight, heavy rains may generate flash floods in local streams of Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Tank, Dera Ghazi Khan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir,鈥 the PMD said in its daily weather report on Thursday.

鈥淗eavy falls, windstorm and lightning may damage weak structures like roof/wall of houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels etc during the forecast period.鈥

The Met Office added widespread rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds is also expected across eastern Pakistan today, affecting areas including Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur.

Isolated showers are expected in northern and central regions on Friday, with heavier downpours likely in southern and western areas like Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalnagar.

Pakistan, which ranks among the world鈥檚 most climate-vulnerable nations, has witnessed increasingly erratic weather events in recent years.

In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, while a third of the country was submerged by devastating floods in 2022 that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages.