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Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting
The handout photograph released by the Pakistani military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, shows Libyan Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Saddam Khalifa Haftar (second left) and Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir (third right) attend a meeting in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on July 18, 2025. (ISPR)
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Updated 1 min 19 sec ago

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting

Pakistan and Libya to expand defense industrial collaboration after top military meeting
  • The understanding comes during the Libyan armed forces commander-in-chief’s visit to Pakistan
  • Defense ties between both countries remain robust with Pakistan training Libyan military officers
Updated 1 min 19 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Libya have agreed to pursue defense industrial collaboration and exchange technical expertise to tackle security challenges, according to an official statement issued on Friday after a meeting between the top army commanders of the two countries.

The meeting took place in Rawalpindi between Libyan Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Lt Gen Saddam Khalifa Haftar and Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to the military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Defense ties between the two countries date back to the Cold War era, when Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi famously called Pakistan “the fort of Islam” at the 1974 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Lahore and later supported its arms procurement efforts.

In the post-Qaddafi period, the two nations signed a series of memoranda of understanding focused on labor, education and political consultations, laying the groundwork for broader cooperation.

“Meeting encompassed discussion on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional dynamics, security challenges and matters pertaining to defense cooperation,” the ISPR said in a statement after the meeting.

“Both leaders agreed to undertake defense industrial collaboration and exchange of technical expertise to address contemporary security challenges.”

Haftar was presented a guard of honor by a Pakistan Army contingent upon his arrival at the General Headquarters, where he laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Corner.

The ISPR statement maintained the visit by Libya’s top military leadership marks a significant step in reinforcing the longstanding defense partnership between both countries.

Pakistan and Libya established diplomatic relations in 1951 and have maintained friendly ties rooted in shared Islamic heritage and cultural bonds.

Bilateral trade reached approximately $19 million in 2022–23, while defense ties remain robust, with Pakistan having trained Libyan officers in aviation, infantry and technical fields in the past.

Topics: Pakistan Army

Pakistan links 40,000 missing pilgrim figures in Middle East to outdated paper records

Pakistan links 40,000 missing pilgrim figures in Middle East to outdated paper records
Updated 12 sec ago

Pakistan links 40,000 missing pilgrim figures in Middle East to outdated paper records

Pakistan links 40,000 missing pilgrim figures in Middle East to outdated paper records
  • Religious affairs minister says his ‘missing pilgrims’ remark did not imply mass disappearances in the region
  • Pakistan has unveiled a new system for pilgrims traveling to Iran, Iraq and Syria to improve record keeping
Updated 12 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs minister, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, on Friday downplayed his earlier remarks about “40,000 missing pilgrims” in the Middle East, saying the number reflected outdated travel records, not mass disappearances, amid growing scrutiny of undocumented religious travelers in the region.

The clarification follows media reports, citing official data, that around 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims to Iran, Iraq and Syria had either gone missing or overstayed in the past decade, prompting the government to draft a new pilgrimage monitoring policy and raise the issue with host countries.

Each year, thousands of Pakistani Shia pilgrims travel to religious shrines in these countries, but host governments have repeatedly flagged the issue of undocumented or unreturned visitors.

Speaking to Arab News a day earlier, Mustafa Jamal Kazi, Director General of Immigration and Passports, said most of the disappearances occurred in Iraq due to the lure of employment in its booming construction sector, and that the exploitation of religious tourism for begging was among the most common motives for absconding.

He also confirmed the officially stated number of missing pilgrims, saying these people “never returned during the last almost one decade.”

“My reference to 40,000 pilgrims was never intended to give the impression that thousands of Pakistanis are missing abroad,” the religious affairs minister said in a statement. “The real issue is that older paper records have not yet been fully transferred to our central digital registry.”

He said the religious affairs ministry had launched a modern digital portal where pilgrims and group organizers are issued QR-coded e-cards, allowing families and the government to access real-time travel data.

“This step will eliminate room for misunderstanding or propaganda, and ensure timely sharing of pilgrim data with officials in Iran, Iraq, and Syria,” the minister said, calling the move a key measure toward secure and accountable pilgrimage.

Yousaf also appealed to tour operators and prospective pilgrims to register their information on the new system by August 31 to avoid being flagged as part of “incomplete lists.”

“Our goal is to make every Pakistani’s journey safe,” he said. “Let’s work together to show the world that our records are transparent and that Pakistan is using modern technology to ensure responsible oversight.”

As part of broader reforms, the government has also abolished the traditional “Salar system” — in which private group leaders managed logistics — and introduced a centralized framework under the new Ziyarat Management Policy, holding licensed organizers accountable for each pilgrim’s return.

Topics: Ministry of Religious Affairs

Pakistan posts first annual current account surplus in 14 years

Pakistan posts first annual current account surplus in 14 years
Updated 34 min 59 sec ago

Pakistan posts first annual current account surplus in 14 years

Pakistan posts first annual current account surplus in 14 years
  • Stock market hits record 140,000 points amid macroeconomic rebound under IMF program
  • Remittances top $38 billion, foreign direct investment, textile exports also rise in FY25
Updated 34 min 59 sec ago
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Pakistan has posted a full-year current account surplus for the first time in 14 years, alongside record-breaking performance in its equity market, reflecting broad signs of economic stabilization under the country’s $7 billion IMF program approved in September 2024.

Khurram Schehzad, adviser to the finance ministry, shared the data on social media, highlighting a $328 million current account surplus in June 2025.

“Country’s Current Account (CA) for June 2025 closes in $328Mn Surplus, taking full-year Surplus to over $2.1Bn — annual Surplus recorded after 14 years, and the largest Surplus in 22 years,” the adviser wrote on X. 

He said textile exports rose by 7.4 percent year-on-year to $17.9 billion, foreign direct investment increased 5 percent to $2.5 billion, and remittances surged 27 percent to a record $38 billion.

The Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) dropped further to 96.6, enhancing the Pakistani rupee’s competitiveness against the dollar, which would support the country’s exports and keep the external account in check, Schehzad said.

He also cited a rally in the Pakistan Stock Exchange, where the benchmark KSE-100 index crossed 140,000 points for the first time, with market capitalization exceeding Rs16.8 trillion (about $60 billion). He noted that Pakistan is currently ranked the fourth-best performing equity market globally in July 2025 to date.

According to Topline Securities, the FY25 current account surplus of $2.1 billion (0.5 percent of GDP) marks a sharp turnaround from a $2 billion deficit in FY24, driven by a 27 percent increase in remittances and a 16 percent drop in services deficit. The goods deficit, however, grew to $27 billion.

Topline added that the surplus was bolstered by record-high March remittances of over $4 billion and structural reforms that reduced the exchange rate differential between official and informal channels.

Looking ahead, the brokerage house expects a mild current account deficit of $0.5–1.5 billion (0.1–0.3 percent of GDP) in FY26.

The economic turnaround follows structural reforms implemented under the IMF program, including currency market liberalization, energy pricing reforms and taxation measures aimed at unlocking further global financing and restoring investor confidence.

Topics: current account surplus Current account Pakistan economy

Pakistan launches major electric vehicle push, targets students and unemployed

Pakistan launches major electric vehicle push, targets students and unemployed
Updated 18 July 2025

Pakistan launches major electric vehicle push, targets students and unemployed

Pakistan launches major electric vehicle push, targets students and unemployed
  • The scheme, likely to be launched soon, will provide free electric bikes to students who perform exceptionally well at the intermediate level
  • Last month, Pakistan also unveiled a new Electric Vehicle Policy 2025–2030, which targets 30 percent of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030
Updated 18 July 2025
KASHIF IMRAN

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani federal government is targeting students and unemployed individuals in a major scheme to promote the use of electric vehicles, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday, saying the move will save billions of dollars in fuel imports, help protect environment and promote local industry.

The prime minister said this while presiding over a meeting in Islamabad to review promotion of electric vehicles in the country and the government assistance in acquisition of electric bikes, rickshaws and loaders, according to Sharif’s office.

The proposed scheme comes amid the cash-strapped South Asian country’s efforts to avoid costly oil imports that shrank five percent to $15 billion from July 2024 till May 2025, according to latest official figures. Islamabad is currently trying to formulate a plan to make electric vehicles accessible to people.

Officials briefed participants of Friday’s meeting that steps were being taken to enable people to acquire electric bikes, rickshaws and loaders through low-cost loans and the government will assist provision of more than 100,000 electric bikes and 3,000 rickshaws and loading vehicles.

“The federal government, including the federal board, will provide electric bikes to the toppers of boards across the country,” Sharif was quoted as saying. “The government will provide electric rickshaws and loaders to unemployed people for employment on a priority basis.”

Under the scheme, which is likely to be launched soon, free electric bikes will be provided to students who have shown exceptional performance at the intermediate level in educational boards across the country, according to Sharif’s office. A special quota of 25 percent has been kept for women, while the quota of provinces has been allocated in proportion to the population.

Pakistan last month unveiled a new Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2025–2030, which targets 30 percent of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. The policy, which covers cars, buses, motorcycles and rickshaws, aims to accelerate the country’s shift toward sustainable transport, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and curb climate-warming emissions.

Sharif instructed officials to ensure a complete ecosystem for the production and maintenance of electric vehicles in the country, preferring people belonging to the economically weaker section in the government’s scheme.

“Third-party validation should be done for the entire mechanism of distribution of electric vehicles and government assistance in it,” he said.

Officials informed the meeting’s participants that four new battery manufacturing companies are starting their operations in the country, which will create new business opportunities and employment in Pakistan.

“The prime minister instructed [officials] to ensure that the electric bikes, rickshaws and loaders provided in the proposed scheme meet the best quality and safety standards,” Sharif’s office said.

Topics: electric vehicle (EV) Electric Vehicle Policy electric vehicles in Pakistan

Pakistan condemns Israel’s ongoing military actions against Syria 

Pakistan condemns Israel’s ongoing military actions against Syria 
Updated 18 July 2025

Pakistan condemns Israel’s ongoing military actions against Syria 

Pakistan condemns Israel’s ongoing military actions against Syria 
  • UN Ambassador Ahmad calls for respect of Syria’s sovereignty and immediate cessation of violations
  • Pakistan warns continued Israeli strikes risk escalation, further destabilization in region
Updated 18 July 2025
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has condemned Israel’s ongoing military actions in Syria, calling them “dangerous and deliberately destabilizing,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported  on Friday.

Israel has ramped up airstrikes over the past week against military and strategic sites in Damascus and southern Syria.

According to Syrian and regional monitoring groups, these strikes have resulted in civilian casualties and extensive infrastructure damage. The intensifying campaign has prompted rebukes from Syria’s government and other UN Security Council members.

“Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called for the immediate cessation of all violations of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Radio Pakistan reported after he addressed a national statement during the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in Syria, 

Violence in Syria pitting the Islamist-led government against members of the Druze community has put a spotlight on the small but influential minority.

Straddling Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the Druze occupy a special niche in the region’s complex politics.

Israel has cited protecting the Druze as a reason for attacking Syrian government forces this week.

Ahmad described the strikes as “repeated violations” that “must be unequivocally condemned,” warning that they threatened regional peace .

Israel bombed Syria frequently when President Bashar Assad was in power, seeking to roll back the influence established by Iran and Iran-backed groups that were deployed there to help him fight rebels.

Israel has painted the new Syrian government as a jihadist threat, saying it won’t allow it to deploy forces into southern Syria. Israel has said it wants to avoid any hostile build-up at its border, whilst also vowing to protect the Druze minority.

Israeli troops have also seized Syrian territory adjoining the occupied Golan Heights since December.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Thursday said Israel was promoting division among Syrians, accusing it of seeking to “dismantle the unity of our people,” saying it had “consistently targeted our stability and created discord among us since the fall of the former regime” in December. 

With inputs from Reuters

Topics: Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Syria UNSC

97 percent of cigarette retailers in Pakistan never contacted by tax officials — study 

97 percent of cigarette retailers in Pakistan never contacted by tax officials — study 
Updated 18 July 2025

97 percent of cigarette retailers in Pakistan never contacted by tax officials — study 

97 percent of cigarette retailers in Pakistan never contacted by tax officials — study 
  • Most retailers unaware of tax rules or stamp verification tools, fueling illicit trade
  • Health nonprofit urges tougher enforcement, awareness drives to combat illegal sales
Updated 18 July 2025
Ismail Dilawar

KARACHI: Nearly all cigarette retailers in Pakistan have never been contacted by tax officials, according to a new public health study that blames weak enforcement and low awareness for the country’s growing illicit tobacco trade.

The report, released on Friday by the nonprofit Umeed-e-Sehar, surveyed 2,000 retailers across seven major cities and found widespread gaps in knowledge about tax stamps, legal compliance and penalties for illegal sales. The nonprofit warned that these lapses are enabling the black market in cigarettes to thrive and undercutting public health policy and government revenues.

Pakistan’s cigarette industry sees an estimated consumption of 80 billion sticks annually, involving over 50 local and international manufacturers. Illicit sales have long been a challenge for regulators and health advocates, but the study suggests the scale of the problem may be far greater than previously acknowledged.

“97 percent of retailers reported that FBR officials had never approached them for compliance guidance, while 86 percent were unaware of government-imposed penalties for selling illicit cigarettes,” the report said.

The study, titled ‘Tax Stamps and Illicit Cigarette Sales in Pakistan: Understanding Retailers’ Knowledge Gap,’ also found that only 27 percent of retailers could differentiate between tax-paid and illicit cigarette packs while 73 percent did not know the correct placement and purpose of tax stamps:

“The majority of retailers, about 86 percent, identified price as the primary indicator of cigarette legality rather than checking for tax stamps, which only 12 percent of them considered.”

Nearly 59 percent of retailers estimated that between 30 to 60 percent of cigarette packs in their inventory lacked tax stamps, while 29 percent believed more than 60 percent were illicit.

The report noted that while the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introduced the TransAct App to help verify tax stamps, 98 percent of the surveyed retailers were unaware of its existence, and 99 percent never used it.

“Consumer promotions and advertisements promoting cheaper, untaxed cigarettes influenced 43 percent of retailers, while 31 percent cited high demand and low pricing as major factors,” the study said.

“These results show an immediate need for stricter regulatory oversight, including increased inspection frequency and harsher penalties to curb illicit trade.”

The report recommended region-specific interventions to address localized challenges in the illicit cigarette trade and enhanced collaboration between the FBR and local law enforcement agencies, along with “targeted awareness campaigns and retailer training on tax stamps, legal requirements, and the risks of selling illicit cigarettes, supported by digital outreach and community programs.”

Topics: Cigarettes cigarette retailers tax

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