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Pakistan deputy PM in Washington to discuss trade, economic cooperation

Pakistan deputy PM in Washington to discuss trade, economic cooperation
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar (center) arrives in Washington DC, US in a picture shared by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 25, 2025. (Government of Pakistan)
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Updated 3 min 53 sec ago

Pakistan deputy PM in Washington to discuss trade, economic cooperation

Pakistan deputy PM in Washington to discuss trade, economic cooperation
  • Pakistan, US have been in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent ‘reciprocal tariff’ on Pakistani exports in April
  • The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling 5.44 billion dollars in fiscal year 2023-2024

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has arrived in Washington to discuss trade, economic cooperation and other matters, the Pakistani foreign ministry said on Friday.

Pakistan and the United States (US) have been engaged in talks after Washington announced a 29 percent “reciprocal tariff” on Pakistani exports in April. Islamabad said the move, paused in June for a 90-day period, may undercut its fragile, export-led recovery.

The US is Pakistan’s top export destination, with shipments totaling $5.44 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, according to official data. From July 2024 to February 2025, exports rose 10 percent from a year earlier.

Deputy PM Dar, who was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh upon arrival in Washington, is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.

“The meeting will discuss important facets of Pakistan-US relations exploring ways and means to strengthen bilateral ties, with a particular focus on promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said.

“The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister is also scheduled to speak at the US think tank, The Atlantic Council, sharing Pakistan’s perspective on regional and global issues as well as the future of Pakistan-US relations.”

Nearly 90 percent of Pakistan’s exports to the US are textiles, a sector that is most vulnerable to the duties. The South Asian country is also seeking to diversify its trade destinations and export base to mitigate risks related to its international trade as it recovers from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said last week that Islamabad and Washington are exploring a shift in their economic engagement from a trade-focused relationship to one anchored in long-term investment, following his meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington.

“One thing we discussed was that we have to move beyond the immediate trade imperative for it to be brought into the next level and bring in a real step change,” Aurangzeb said.

“So, the investment imperative will come forward, and areas have already been identified in terms of minerals and mining, in terms of AI [artificial intelligence], in terms of digital infrastructure [and] crypto,” he continued. “We feel that this will be a real game changer, God willing, in terms of the relationship and the economic relationship between Pakistan and the United States.”

The Pakistani finance chief said both sides were committed to resolving outstanding trade issues to move “toward the finishing line” and begin investment-related discussions “very quickly.”


Pakistan to implement first-ever Competitive Energy Market Policy in two months — minister

Pakistan to implement first-ever Competitive Energy Market Policy in two months — minister
Updated 4 sec ago

Pakistan to implement first-ever Competitive Energy Market Policy in two months — minister

Pakistan to implement first-ever Competitive Energy Market Policy in two months — minister
  • The development comes as Pakistan grapples with ballooning ‘circular debt,’ unpaid bills and subsidies
  • The new policy aims to end government-led purchasing, shifting the sector to open-market competition

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be implementing its first-ever Competitive Energy Market (CEM) within the next two months as it seeks to streamline its power sector, Energy Minister Awais Leghari said on Thursday, in a bid to shift the power sector toward open-market competition.

Leghari said this during his meeting with a World Bank delegation led by Ousmane Dione, the Bank’s regional vice president for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to the Pakistani energy ministry.

Once in effect, the policy will end government-led electricity purchasing and allow its free trade producers and consumers under a Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) model, which introduces mechanisms such as wheeling charges.

“Pakistan is set to launch its first-ever competitive Energy Market Policy within two months, marking a major shift toward competitive electricity trading under the CTBCM model,” Leghari was quoted as saying by the energy ministry on X.

The policy aims to limit the government’s role to regulation only.

“The government will step back from power procurement, focusing instead on a strong regulatory framework,” the minister said.

The development comes as the government, which owns or controls much of the power infrastructure, grapples with ballooning “circular debt,” unpaid bills and subsidies, that has choked the power sector and weighed on the economy.

Pakistan relies heavily on fossil fuels and generates 56 percent electricity from thermal power plants, 24.4 percent from hydel, 8 percent from nuclear and 12.2 percent from renewable energy sources, while the nation’s total installed electricity generation capacity stood at 46,605 megawatts from July 2024 till March 2025, according to Pakistan’s latest economic survey.

The liquidity crunch has disrupted supply, discouraged investment and added to fiscal pressure, making it a key focus under the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $7 billion loan program secured in Sept. last year.

In June, Pakistan also signed term sheets with 18 commercial banks for a 1.275 trillion Pakistani rupee ($4.50 billion) Islamic finance facility to help pay down mounting debt in its power sector, government officials said.

The government expects to allocate 323 billion rupees annually to repay the loan, capped at 1.938 trillion rupees over six years.

Leghari apprised the World Bank delegates of the key reforms his government was planning in various fields, including the power sector.

“The World Bank reaffirmed its support for building a sustainable and investor-friendly energy ecosystem in Pakistan,” the Pakistani energy ministry said.


Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty

Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty
Updated 31 min 31 sec ago

Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty

Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty
  • Powered by a Rs2 million loan, BRIT Women’s Garment Unit supplies leading garment exporters
  • For Hindu women in rural Sindh, the factory offers rare financial independence and dignified work

MIRPURKHAS, PAKISTAN: In the quiet town of Sufi Colony on the outskirts of Mirpurkhas, the hum of 20 sewing machines fills the air each morning as women gather for work at the BRIT Women’s Garment Unit. 

Among them is 25-year-old Sanjana Dileep, the fastest stitcher on the floor, a divorced mother of one, and one of the four women who co-own the factory.

“In the factory we manufacture suits and jackets that are exported,” Dileep said, her voice calm but proud. “We do a variety of sewing there.”

Launched with a Rs2 million ($7,000) interest-free loan under the Sindh government’s People’s Poverty Reduction Program (PPRP), BRIT has become a symbol of what financial inclusion can mean for marginalized women, especially in Hindu-majority villages where caste, religion and gender often intersect to limit opportunity.

“Earlier, we were living in poverty … But now we are doing this work that fetches us a good salary,” Dileep told Arab News, saying she now supports an extended family of eight, including a cancer-stricken uncle.

In rural Sindh, female labor force participation stands at just 10.8 percent, compared with 49.1 percent for men, according to the Pakistan Labour Force Survey 2020‑21.

In Mirpurkhas district, where the BRIT factory is located, over 1.68 million people live, more than 70 percent in rural area, with a literacy rate of just 34.8 percent among women. Social indicators show that 37 percent of children in the district are engaged in child labor, the highest rate in Sindh.

In this context, the BRIT Women’s Garment Unit offering stable income and skill development represents a rare opportunity for personal and community uplift.

On average, women at the BRIT unit earn around Rs25,000 ($88) per month, a life-changing income for families in southern Sindh. The garments they stitch — cargo jeans, jackets, and other apparel — end up in supply chains that serve global brands like Izod and NewYorker, through large Karachi-based exporters such as Apex Garments and H. Nizam Din & Sons.

“We have 20 machines right now that are fully occupied as some of these females are training while others are working,” said Mohan Das, a project supervisor. 

He said the unit is planning to scale up to as many as 100 machines.

“WORK WITH DIGNITY”

In Mirpurkhas district, where employment, especially for women, is rare and often informal, the BRIT initiative has opened a new path.

Hindu women, who typically work as housemaids or on farms, now have access to structured jobs and a degree of independence.

“The Hindu community here is very poor and women usually work as housemaids in the village so we thought about setting up a plant like what we have established, this BRIT female garment plant,” said Das.

Eighteen-year-old Madhu Omprakash joined BRIT a month ago. She is now one of its fastest learners.

“This job is giving a lot of [financial] support to my family and we are doing this with dignity,” she said, explaining that she took the job to help pay for her education and support her widowed mother and two younger sisters.

She dreams of becoming a doctor.

Another tailor, Kaushila, was found stitching inner linings for export jackets, her arms wrapped in traditional colorful Thari bangles. 

“I am sewing about 15 to 20 pieces daily that are of different rates and fetch me as much as Rs800 [about $3] a day,” she said.

The factory currently produces around 5,000 pieces each month, earning about Rs600,000 ($2,100) for its owners. The CMT (Cut, Make and Trim) model enables them to partner with larger firms that supply pre-cut fabric and export the finished goods.

“Yes, absolutely, we produce export products,” Das said. “We bring [cut clothes] from Karachi’s big companies like Apex, Emaan, Zohra and manufacture it for further exports.”

But the global economic picture is changing. 

Das says uncertainty in international textile demand, especially from the US, has affected their export pipeline.

“Our business has shrunk and that’s why we have focused on local sales,” he said. “Our female tailors don’t sit idle.”

Marketing manager Lal Chand said the team is now approaching local brands such as Mama’s Choice and Al Jobat Garments and exploring the possibility of building their own export platform to bypass middlemen.

“We are planning to create our own export platform and manufacture products to directly export,” he said.

Syed Shahanshah, district manager of the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), which implements the PPRP program, said BRIT is among several microenterprises the eight-year initiative helped launch before it formally concluded in June 2025.

“Our ultimate objective is to promote job creation, livelihood improvement and poverty reduction,” he said. “The kind of awareness this community has got — we are receiving different business plans from them. This project has a future in the eyes of the government and I am sure about its expansion.”

Dileep, too, believes the project is just beginning.

“I belong to the Hindu community and we want to expand this factory as this is benefitting us,” she said.

“Earlier my father and brother used to work, but now we too are working and earning money. That really excites us.”


Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series

Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series
Updated 42 min 5 sec ago

Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series

Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series
  • Farhan’s 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six fours got Pakistan off to a strong start
  • Mirza, playing only his third international, demolished Bangladesh’s top order with his 3-19

DHAKA: Paceman Salman Mirza grabbed three wickets and opener Sahibzada Farhan struck an aggressive fifty in Pakistan’s consolation 74-run win in the third T20 on Thursday as Bangladesh took the series 2-1.

Mirza, playing only his third international, demolished Bangladesh’s top order with figures of 3-19 as the home team was bowled out for 104 in 16.4 overs in Dhaka.

Farhan’s 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six fours got Pakistan off to a strong start and Hasan Nawaz clubbed 33 off 17 balls to help them to 178-7 after they were sent in to bat.

Mirza struck with the second ball of the innings, dismissing Tanzid Hassan caught behind for nought which triggered a batting collapse. Only Mohammad Saifuddin contributed a score of note as he made an unbeaten 35.

Mohammad Naim (10) was the only other Bangladesh batsman to reach double figures.

Seamer Faheem Ashraf took 2-13 and Mohammad Nawaz wrapped up the win with the final two wickets.

“I am very proud of my team,” said Pakistan captain Salman Agha.

“This is what we talked about as a team, no matter what situation we are in, we want to show character.”

Bangladesh skipper Litton Das praised his’s team effort in the series win.

“We played some good cricket and it’s great to win a series against Pakistan,” said Litton, who also led the team to a T20 series win in Sri Lanka last week.

Having already won their first-ever T20 series against Pakistan with victories in the first two matches, Bangladesh rested five of their main players including spearhead Mustafizur Rahman.

Pakistan had scored 110 and 125 in the first two matches — also in Dhaka — losing by seven wickets and eight runs respectively.

Farhan, who replaced Fakhar Zaman as one of two changes for Pakistan, put on 82 for the opening stand with Saim Ayub (21).

Farhan fell in the 12th over to spinner Nasum Ahmed who finished with 2-22 in his four overs. Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed took 3-38.

Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with 27 off 16 balls down the order to help Pakistan add 46 runs in the last five overs.


Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest

Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest
Updated 25 July 2025

Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest

Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest
  • In latest message from prison, Khan warns any party member found engaging in “factionalism” will be expelled
  • Khan’s party has warned its nationwide anti-government protest campaign will reach its “peak” on August 5

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan this week said he did not see any “meaningful momentum” building behind his party’s anti-government protest scheduled for Aug. 5, urging members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to set aside their differences and unite. 

Reports of a rift within the party began to emerge after Ali Amin Gandapur, a close Khan aide and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister, announced on July 13 that a 90-day “do-or-die” protest drive against the government is underway. The protest call, however, appeared to contradict an earlier demand for a nationwide protest posted on Khan’s official X account, which the party says will reach its “peak” on Aug. 5. The day marks the second anniversary of Khan’s imprisonment on corruption charges.

Speculation of conflicts within the party further grew after senior PTI leader and Punjab Chief Organizer Aliya Hamza Malik publicly voiced concerns on X about a lack of clarity around the campaign after Gandapur’s announcement. Malik questioned the origin of the 90-day plan and asked for details on the party’s strategy to secure Khan’s release.

In a message shared last week through his official X account— which Khan does not operate as he is in jail— the PTI founder instructed his party leaders and supporters to avoid airing their personal differences on media. 

“Let me make this absolutely clear: every member of the party must immediately set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the movement planned for August 5th,” a message shared from Khan’s account read on Thursday. “I do not see any meaningful momentum building behind this initiative at present.”

Khan’s message said the public had voted for the PTI in the 2024 February national election despite the party losing its electoral symbol. He said after receiving such a “clear mandate,” it is the moral and political responsibility of every party member to “become the voice of the people.”

“It will be nothing short of disgraceful and condemnable if PTI leaders waste time on internal conflicts at this critical juncture,” his message read. “Anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled.”

The PTI alleges it won the 2024 national election but was denied victory through massive rigging, a charge the election commission and Pakistan’s government have both vehemently rejected. The party also accuses the government of denying Khan basic human rights in prison, allegations that have also been rejected by authorities. 

Pakistan’s government accuses Khan’s party of sabotaging its efforts aimed at reviving the country’s economy by staging violent protests. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar earlier this month dismissed the PTI’s protest call as a “political gimmick.”

“PTI has lost street power and its credibility, and is heading toward irrelevance,” the minister had said.

Khan’s party has led several anti-government protests since the cricketer-turned-politician was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and jailed in August 2023. One of these protests included a march by thousands of supporters to Islamabad in November 2024 to demand Khan’s release from prison and challenge the legitimacy of the February 2024 general election.

The government says four troops were killed during the protests after clashes between Khan supporters and law enforcers erupted in several parts of the country. The PTI denies it instigated its workers to clash with law enforcers. 


Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation

Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation
Updated 24 July 2025

Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation

Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation
  • Inaugural meeting of Pakistan-Türkiye Joint Standing Committee on Security, Defense and Intelligence held in Islamabad, says foreign office
  • Islamabad, Ankara have eyed greater defense collaboration after Türkiye’s public support for Pakistan during its recent conflict with India

ISLAMABAD: Officials from Islamabad and Ankara discussed regional and global security issues on Thursday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said, as both countries eye greater collaboration in defense and other sectors.

A delegation of Turkish officials led by the country’s Director General for South Asia Ambassador Cihad Erginay met a Pakistani delegation headed by Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani. The two sides met during the inaugural meeting of the Pakistan-Türkiye Joint Standing Committee (JSC) on Security, Defense and Intelligence.

The joint committee was created after the seventh session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) between Pakistan and Türkiye on February 12 and 13, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.

“Both sides discussed emerging geo-political trends including global and regional security issues,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It said discussions at the joint committee will contribute to preparations for a meeting of the joint commission between the two nations, which will be co-chaired by Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and Türkiye’s foreign minister.

“Both countries continue to work closely across a broad spectrum of areas, including defense, trade, energy, transport, culture, tourism, education, defense industries, agriculture, health, science and technology,” the statement concluded.

The development takes place amid deepening relations between the two countries and follows Türkiye’s public condemnation of Indian cross-border strikes in Pakistan during a brief conflict between the two South Asian neighbors in May.

Both countries have maintained close military ties in recent years. Under a 2018 agreement, Türkiye is delivering four MILGEM-class corvettes to the Pakistan Navy, with two built in Istanbul and two at Karachi Shipyard under a technology transfer arrangement.

The first vessel, PNS Babur, was delivered in 2023.

Türkiye’s foreign and defense ministers also arrived in Pakistan earlier this month for a series of high-level meetings focusing on counterterrorism, defense cooperation and broader strategic ties.

Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad attended the 17th International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The top Pakistani general held separate meetings with the defense ministers of Türkiye and Azerbaijan to discuss bilateral security cooperation, the Pakistani military’s media wing said.