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Showing posts from October, 2025

Colombia UAE CEPA: Unlocking a New Era of Tariff-Free Trade

The highly anticipated Colombia UAE CEPA is officially making waves across the global market, recently passing its first critical debate in the Colombian Senate. In my opinion, this Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement represents a monumental shift in how South America engages with the Middle East. By drastically reducing tariffs and fostering bilateral cooperation, this treaty is set to unlock unprecedented economic growth. I believe that for local exporters, understanding the mechanics of this agreement is the absolute first step toward dominating a highly lucrative international market. What does the CEPA mean for Colombian exporters? Navigating international trade can be complex, but the benefits of this specific treaty are incredibly straightforward. Once the agreement is fully ratified, 85% of Colombian products will enjoy immediate tariff-free access to the Emirati market. An additional 13% of goods will see tariffs gradually eliminated over a five-year perio...
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UAE Welcomes Ceasefire Agreement Between Pakistan and Afghanistan – A New Chapter of Hope for the Region

In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the United Arab Emirates has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling it a positive and humanitarian step towards restoring peace and stability in the region. The UAE’s statement reflects its consistent role as a bridge for dialogue, unity, and cooperation among Muslim nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE praised the mediation efforts of Qatar and Türkiye, acknowledging their contribution in bringing both sides to the table. This gesture underlines the UAE’s belief in collective diplomacy that lasting peace is achieved not through pressure, but through partnership and understanding. UAE officials described the ceasefire as “a humanitarian victory more than a political achievement”, emphasizing that calm along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border will open doors for trade, education, and cross-border cooperation. For Pakistan, this peace offers renewed opportunities for economic growth and border stab...
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BISP 8171 web portal re-launched

    The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has re-launched its 8171 web portal, revolutionizing the way millions of Pakistani families access financial assistance. This upgraded platform aims to streamline the process of checking eligibility, registration status, and payment verification, eliminating the need for beneficiaries to visit BISP centers in person or rely on intermediaries. Why the Bisp 8171 web portal re-launch is important The re-launched portal brings several key improvements, including: Instant eligibility checks: Beneficiaries can now quickly confirm their eligibility status by simply entering their CNIC number on the portal. Payment tracking: The portal provides real-time updates on the latest installment payments, including Rs. 13,500 for September 2025. Reduced waiting time: By allowing users to check their status online, the portal helps avoid long queues at BISP centers, making it more convenient for families, particularly women and the elderly. This ...
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No space for war in nuclearised environment, COAS Munir cautions India

  Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday cautioned India that there was “no space for war in a nuclearised environment” as he hailed Pakistan’s “clear victory” during the   May conflict   with the neighbouring country. Addressing a passing out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul, COAS Munir said, “I advise and firmly caution India’s military leadership that there is no space for war in a nuclearised environment.” Calling on New Delhi to settle core issues as per international norms, the army chief asserted, “We will never be intimidated nor coerced by your rhetoric and shall respond decisively, beyond proportions, to even a minor provocation without any qualms. “The onus of ensuing escalations — one that may ultimately bear catastrophic consequences for the entire region and beyond — will squarely lie with India.”
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Pakistan cannot bear Afghan refugee burden any longer, says PM amid border tensions

  Pakistan is witnessing heightened border tensions with Afghanistan amid rising terror attacks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan could no longer bear the burden of hosting Afghan refugees indefinitely, directing authorities to ensure their immediate repatriation. Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, the premier reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, regretting that the country had paid a heavy price for decades of instability in Afghanistan. meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and a representative of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, along with senior federal and provincial officials. "Pakistan had suffered thousands of lives lost and billions in economic damages during the war against terrorism," he said, expressing concern over the recent cros...
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Pakistan suspends Afghan cargo transport in aftermath of border clashes

FBR suspends trade indefinitely after Quetta, Peshawar stations become incapacitated to accommodate additional containers KARACHI: Amin ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan owing to violent border clashes, Islamabad has suspended cargo transport under the Afghan Transit Trade from Karachi ports,  The News  reported on Thursday. Following the directives issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), all port terminals have begun offloading containers already loaded onto vehicles. Both countries have been engaged in fierce border clashes in recent days first triggered after Pakistani forces acted in self-defence while responding to unprovoked overnight attack by the Taliban forces and India-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) alias Fitna al-Khawarij last week. The skirmishes saw Pakistan carrying out "precision fires and strikes, as well as physical raids against Taliban camps and posts, terrorist training facilities and support networks operating from Afgha...
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TLP chief Saad Rizvi on FIA radar for ‘money laundering’

  Huge cache of foreign currency, around 2kg gold recovered from Rizvi’s home • FIA says outfit’s financiers will be placed on stop list • Punjab police register over 20 FIRs against TLP leadership, say Rizvi escaped during crackdown • Mufti Muneeb, HRCP call for probe into ‘excessive force’ against protesters LAHORE: The authorities have launched a money-laundering investigation against Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan chief Saad Rizvi after “huge sums” of foreign currency were allegedly recovered from his residence in Lahore during a raid by the law enforcement agencies. The Punjab police said the raid was conducted by the provincial police, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), adding that all items, including the gold ornaments, were confiscated. The raid at the residence of the TLP chief came after the  crackdown  on the outfit’s march on Sunday night. Police said Mr Rizvi had escaped during the crackdown in Murid...
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Pakistan to be sold advanced US air-to-air missiles by Raytheon

  Pakistan will be sold Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) by United States defence group Raytheon following a modification in the firm’s contract that included the country in the list of buyers, it emerged on Tuesday. The US missiles are equipped on F-16 Falcons flown by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). A September 30  press release  on the contracts issued by the US Department of War for the US Air Force said Raytheon was awarded a $41.6 million firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract for the enhanced C8 and D3 AMRAAM variants and their production. It added that the modification brought the total cumulative face value of the contract to $2.5 billion from $2.47bn. “Work will be performed at Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2030. This contract involves foreign military sales to United Kingdom, Poland, Pakistan, Germany, Finland, Australia, Romania, Qatar, Oman, Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, ...
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Pakistan plans to double manpower exports to Saudi Arabia

  ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is planning to double its manpower exports to Saudi Arabia after the signing of a landmark defense deal between the two countries last month, officials told Arab News on Monday. The country’s human resource exports to Saudi Arabia have already witnessed a steady rise over the past five years, according to the Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment. Pakistan sent 1.88 million workers to Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2024, up 21 percent from 1.56 million in 2015–2019.  Remittances from the Kingdom rose from $7.39 billion in 2020 to $8.59 billion in 2024, reflecting steady demand for Pakistani labor. In contrast, inflows from the United Arab Emirates fluctuated between $5.8 billion and $6.8 billion during the same period, while those from Qatar remained below $1 billion annually, according to the State Bank of Pakistan. In September, both countries signed a landmark defense pact that is meant to enhance joint deterrence and deepen decades of military...
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elcome step’: PM hails Malaysian announcement of import of Halal meat worth $200m from Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed on Monday his Malaysian counterpart’s announcement of the import of Halal meat worth $200 million from Pakistan a “welcome step”, which he said would further augment engagement in this sector between the countries. The PM’s remarks came in a post on X after he addressed a joint press conference alongside Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya following bilateral talks between the two leaders. PM Shehbaz had also mentioned during the press conference that the Malaysian premier had indicated interest in meat exports from Pakistan. Shehbaz, who reached Malaysia yesterday on a state visit, further shared in his post that he had a “most productive exchange of views with my dear brother Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya today”. “We held wide-ranging discussions on ways to further strengthen our historic partnership — focusing on trade and investment, climate, defence, education, and tourism.” The prime minister added that the two lead...
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Gold prices remain steady in Pakistan after record surge

  Gold prices in both global and local markets remained stable on Friday, although per tola rates continued to hover at record highs. In the international bullion market, the price of gold per ounce held steady at $3,865 with no change. Similarly, in local bullion markets, the price of gold per tola stayed unchanged at Rs407,778. In line with the global movement, domestic prices followed suit, with gold per 10 grams remaining stable at Rs349,603. Meanwhile, spot gold inched up 0.03% to $3,857.25 per ounce after hitting a record high of $3,896.49 on Thursday. The bullion has gained 2.6% so far this week. Among other precious metals, spot silver climbed 0.6% to $47.24 per ounce, platinum rose 0.5% to $1,576.25, and palladium gained 1.4% to $1,258. 25.
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Israel’s interception of Gaza flotilla draws global ire as Pakistan demands release of detained activists

  Pakistan and several other  countries  on Thursday condemned Israel’s “dastardly attack” on the  Global Sumud Flotilla  (GSF) after its forces intercepted the flotilla heading to break Israel’s siege of Gaza and deliver aid. Israeli forces  began intercepting  the flotilla’s latest bid to reach Gaza late last night, the fleet said. Israel has so far intercepted 39 boats with foreign activists on board to Gaza, leaving only one vessel still sailing towards the Palestinian enclave, the flotilla organisers said today. The 45-vessel flotilla, with activists and politicians including  Greta Thunberg  on board, left Spain last month to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of famine. Former Pakistani senator  Mushtaq Ahmad Khan  was also on board. Hours after Tel Aviv’s move drew global condemnation, Israeli foreign ministry posted on X that all on board the flotilla were safe would be “deported to Europe”...
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Pakistan may send troops to Palestine as part of Gaza peacekeeping force: DPM

  ISLAMABAD:  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Indonesia has offered to send troops to Palestine, but Pakistan has not yet decided. He added that Pakistan's leadership will make a decision on deploying peacekeeping forces in Gaza. "We are committed to ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestine. Under the proposed plan, a peacekeeping force will be deployed in Palestine, with a majority of Palestinian officials on the peace board. Indonesia has offered to send 20,000 troops to Palestine for the Gaza Special Force, and we hope that Pakistan will also decide to deploy military personnel to the region," said Dar while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday. Dar stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the country’s delegation at the United Nations General Assembly, where he engaged with leaders from Australia, Kuwait, Arab countries, Islamic nations, and the United States. He highlighted Pakistan's s...
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