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PM Sharif constitutes committee to resolve problems faced by foreign investors

This handout photograph released by the Press Information Department (PID) on April 11, 2022 shows Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L) addressing the National Assembly in Islamabad. (AFP/FILE)
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Updated 15 August 2022
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PM Sharif constitutes committee to resolve problems faced by foreign investors

  • The prime minister was told foreign companies were interested in investing $10 billion in Pakistan
  • Sharif instructed his administration officials to remove obstacles to international investment immediately
Updated 15 August 2022
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif constituted a committee on Monday to address challenges faced by international firms who want to carry out projects in the country while instructing relevant officials of his administration to remove any obstacles impeding foreign investment.

Pakistan has witnessed tough economic challenges in recent months after its current account deficit ran high and its forex reserves started depleting. The country’s national currency was also rapidly losing its value until recently, though it started recovering some of its losses in the last few weeks.

While the government tried to secure external finances from friendly nations and international lenders, it also looked into the possibility of generating foreign investment to cure its ailing economy.

“The prime minister has established a committee to solve the problems of foreign investment companies, especially those investing in Gwadar Free Zone,” said a statement released by his office after Sharif held a high-level meeting to evaluate the investment situation in the country.

“All obstacles to foreign investment in the country should be removed immediately,” the statement quoted him as saying.

The newly established committee will submit a detailed report and recommendations to the prime minister in 10 days.

Sharif said Pakistan must facilitate the Chinese firms on a priority basis.

The meeting to review the investment situation in the country was also attended by finance minister Miftah Ismail along with the other senior cabinet members.

The prime minister was informed about the companies interested in investing $10 billion in energy and infrastructure development projects.

He was also informed that the investment of one to two billion dollars was expected to flow in immediately during the first phase.

These projects, it was added, would create more than 45,000 employment opportunities in the country.

“The prime minister immediately issued instructions to the Board of Investment, Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Finance to prepare a comprehensive plan for these projects with mutual cooperation,” the statement informed.

Topics: Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif foreign investment

Pakistan vows ‘foolproof security’ for Chinese nationals after militant attacks

Updated 7 sec ago
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Pakistan vows ‘foolproof security’ for Chinese nationals after militant attacks

  • Interior minister says government implementing strict security protocols for safe movement of Chinese workers
  • A suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese nationals near Dasu earlier this year, killing five of them
Updated 7 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday the government would ensure “foolproof security” for Chinese nationals following militant attacks targeting them in the country where most of them have been working on infrastructure development projects.
Naqvi made this assurance during his visit to the Chinese consulate in Karachi, where he discussed the issue in his conversation with a top diplomat Yang Yuandong, who welcomed the minister to the facility.
Five Chinese nationals were killed earlier this year in March after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into their convoy which was on its way from Islamabad to the site of a key hydroelectric dam in Dasu.
Prior to that, Chinese workers also came under attack by Baloch separatists near the Gwadar port. The incident led to the death of eight militants.
“It is our duty to ensure foolproof security for Chinese citizens,” Naqvi said during the during his visit to the consulate. “Strict implementation of standard operating procedures for safe movement of Chinese citizens is being ensured.”
Pakistan took action against a number of senior officials after the Dasu attack, saying they showed negligence and had failed to follow the security protocol.
He said the “enemy” wanted to undermine the China-Pakistan friendship but would not succeed.
According to a statement circulated by the ministry, the Chinese diplomat expressed satisfaction with the overall security plan for the protection of the Chinese workers.

Topics: Pakistan china China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Chinese nationals in Pakistan

Pakistan’s cricket body names 18-player squad for T20I series against England, Ireland

Updated 02 May 2024
Shahjahan Khurram  
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Pakistan’s cricket body names 18-player squad for T20I series against England, Ireland

  • A 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be announced before the May 24 deadline
  • Fast bowler Haris Rauf along with all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha have been recalled
Updated 02 May 2024
Shahjahan Khurram  

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the 18-player squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England & Wales beginning on May 10 and continuing till the end of the month.
According to a PCB statement, the squad will be reduced to 15 players for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after the first T20I at Leeds on 22 May to meet the ICC’s 24 May deadline.
The men’s national selection committee has recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf, along with all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha, in the 18-player squad.
The two cricketers who did not make the cut from the original 17-player squad that faced New Zealand are wrist spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan.
“Crafting this squad was a challenging task due to the outstanding talent available,” the PCB selection committee was quoted in the statement. “After thorough deliberation and considering various cricketing aspects, we have finalized 18 players.”
“The squad encompasses a robust top-order featuring Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Usman Khan; an effective middle-order with Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Muhammad Irfan Khan; versatile all-rounders in Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan and Salman Ali Agha; a pace battery led by Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi; and the spin prowess of Abrar Ahmed,” it continued.
“We understand Usama and Zaman will be disappointed and they should be as they must be looking ahead to the tours of Ireland and England,” the statement added. “They are quality cricketers and have long careers ahead of them. They need to continue to focus on their cricket so that they are available, if required.”
Haris Rauf and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan were sidelined for the New Zealand T20Is due to injuries, while middle-order batter Muhammad Irfan Khan and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan were rested from the two T20Is in Lahore due to niggles.
The four cricketers underwent fitness assessments at the National Cricket Academy on Tuesday afternoon, showing significant improvement.
The team is scheduled to depart for Dublin on May 7 following a three-day training camp in Lahore.

Topics: t20 world cup 2024 Pakistan cricket Pakistan Cricket Board

Pakistan PM mourns death of UAE royal, lauds role in strengthening bilateral ties

Updated 02 May 2024
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Pakistan PM mourns death of UAE royal, lauds role in strengthening bilateral ties

  • Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed worked closely with the UAE founding father, helped implement the federal project
  • The UAE president has announced a seven-day mourning period after the death of Sheikh Tahnoun on May 1
Updated 02 May 2024
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed grief over the death of the United Arab Emirates royal, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, while admiring his contributions to building stronger relations between the two countries.
Sheikh Tahnoun was Abu Dhabi’s representative in the Al Ain region of the Gulf state.
His demise at the age of 82 prompted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to announced a seven-day mourning period in which the country’s flag would be flown at half-mast.
“Deeply saddened at the demise of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan,” the Pakistan prime minister said in a social media post. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the leadership and people of the UAE at this hour of grief.”
“He will be long remembered for his contribution to building stronger ties between Pakistan and the U.A.E.,” the post added. “May Allah Almighty grant him eternal peace.”

Sheikh Tahnoun worked closely with the UAE founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and was part of the team that implemented the federal project that led to the declaration of the Union in 1971.
He also served his country in several key capacities in subsequent years and worked to provide better governance to its people.

 

Pakistani think tank reports significant surge in militant attacks with 70 killed in April

Updated 02 May 2024
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Pakistani think tank reports significant surge in militant attacks with 70 killed in April

  • Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered maximum militant violence
  • Pakistan has endured 323 militant attacks during the first four months of the year, resulting in 324 fatalities
Updated 02 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani think tank circulated a report on a significant increase in the number of militant attacks in the country on Wednesday, saying 70 people lost their lives in at least 77 verifiable episodes of extremist violence in the month of April.
Pakistan has witnessed a prolonged surge in militant attacks since the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire between the government and a proscribed armed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in November 2022.
Apart from TTP fighters, other extremist and separatist groups have also targeted Pakistani security forces and civilians in recent months.
According to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), there was a brief lull in March before militant groups resumed their activities last month, with the northwester Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly its southern districts, bearing the brunt.
“According to PICSS statistics, the country experienced at least 77 verifiable militant attacks during April, resulting in 70 fatalities, including 35 civilians and 31 security forces personnel, with four militants killed, and 67 individuals injured, among whom were 32 civilians and 35 security forces personnel,” the security report said.
“In comparison, March 2024 saw 56 militant attacks, resulting in 77 fatalities and 67 injuries,” it continued. “This indicates a 38 percent increase in the number of militant attacks, although there was a 9 percent decline in deaths, with no change in the number of injuries.”
The Islamabad-based think tank informed Balochistan witnessed 16 attacks, resulting in 21 fatalities, including 17 civilians and four security forces personnel, with 31 individuals injured.
Punjab also experienced a surge in militant activities, with four attacks reported in April compared to one in March, resulting in three fatalities.
“In the first four months of the year, Pakistan experienced a total of 323 militant attacks, resulting in 324 fatalities and 387 injuries,” the report added.

Topics: Pakistan militant Militant attacks

Pakistan urges Security Council to reconsider Palestine’s UN membership bid after US veto

Updated 02 May 2024
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Pakistan urges Security Council to reconsider Palestine’s UN membership bid after US veto

  • The US blocked a strongly supported Algerian resolution calling for Palestine’s full UN membership on April 18
  • Ambassador Munir Akram says Palestine’s membership will rectify ‘historic injustice,’ benefit the two-state solution
Updated 02 May 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram said on Wednesday the Security Council should reconsider Palestine’s application for full membership to the world body after it was rejected last month following the American decision to cast a veto.
Palestine holds the status of a Permanent Observer State at the United Nations since November 29, 2012, allowing it to participate in General Assembly debates and co-sponsor resolutions, though it lacks voting rights.
Prior to that, it was considered merely an “entity” by the UN, which limited its ability to engage formally in proceedings and symbolized a lesser recognition of its sovereignty claims.
The Algerian resolution calling for Palestine’s full UN membership was blocked by the United States on April 18 despite being strongly supported by other countries.
“Pakistan has urged the UN Security Council to reconsider & recommend Palestine’s application for a full membership of the UN in line with the overwhelming global opinion,” the country’s mission at the UN announced in a social media post after a General Assembly meeting was held to review the development. “It said that such a step would rectify the historic injustice & be pivotal toward the Two-State solution.”

It informed Ambassador Akram told the meeting “diplomatic efforts being made for peace would get considerable momentum if the veto was lifted & Palestine’s admission to the UN was approved by the Security Council.”
The Pakistani diplomat reiterated his country’s stance over the ongoing war in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and demanding unrestricted access to humanitarian aid.
He also emphasized that any further escalation in the war must be prevented while seeking a revival of the peace process and asking the world community to hold Israel responsible for its “war crimes.”
“The veto cast against Palestine’s admission erodes the credibility of the assurances that have been held out to support the two-state solution,” Akram was quoted as saying by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan news agency in its report.

 

Topics: War on Gaza Pakistan Palestine Pakistan at UN

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