pakistan gets 36bn
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Pakistan gets $3.6bn remittances in July, PM welco…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed a strong increase in remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis, with the country receiving $3.6 billion during July.

Reacting to the latest figures, the prime minister described the inflow as encouraging, noting that remittances recorded a 13 per cent increase compared with the same month last year.

He also highlighted a month-on-month rise, saying remittances grew by 4.5 per cent in July. The continued increase provides further support to Pakistan’s foreign exchange position and reflects the growing contribution of overseas Pakistanis to the national economy.

Shehbaz praised the Pakistani diaspora for playing an important role in supporting economic stability. He said overseas Pakistanis remain an important part of the country’s economic strength and appreciated their continued support through financial transfers.

The latest rise in remittances comes as Pakistan continues efforts to strengthen its external account, improve foreign exchange liquidity and maintain economic stability.

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    MQM-P calls for administrative units based on popu…

    Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has called for the creation of new administrative units across Pakistan based on population size, arguing that the country needs a more effective system of governance to meet the needs of its growing population. Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, Siddiqui said the business community across the country had also raised concerns similar to those voiced by his party regarding the existing administrative structure. He argued that Pakistan’s administrative system needed reforms to ensure better governance and a more balanced distribution of resources. Siddiqui said the provincial structure had changed after the abolition of the One Unit system, but the country had failed to restore an administrative framework that fully addressed the needs of its population. He stressed that his party’s demand for new administrative units did not target the country’s territorial integrity or seek to undermine the existing provinces. “We demand the creation of administrative units in Pakistan according to the population,” Siddiqui said, emphasizing that the objective was to improve administration and ensure that people received better public services. Addressing concerns over the boundaries of potential new administrative units, the MQM-P chief said his party had never called for a debate over the division of Pakistan’s territory. He described Pakistan as the “motherland” and said all four provinces remained an integral part of the country. Siddiqui maintained that the country itself was indivisible, while the Constitution allowed for changes in the administrative structure. He said the Constitution provided a mechanism for altering provincial boundaries and creating new administrative arrangements, although he believed the existing procedure had become impractical under current circumstances. The MQM-P chairman also pointed to the significance of August 1, the beginning of Pakistan’s independence month. He said the month carried a strong ideological connection with the creation of Pakistan and should encourage political leaders to discuss reforms aimed at strengthening the country. Siddiqui further revealed that his party had already introduced a constitutional amendment in the National Assembly to address the issue. He argued that Pakistan needed to revisit its administrative framework and consider reforms that could make governance more efficient and bring government closer to the people. The MQM-P has repeatedly advocated the creation of additional administrative units, maintaining that a more decentralized system could improve governance, facilitate service delivery and ensure a fairer distribution of resources. The demand, however, remains a politically sensitive issue, particularly in the context of debates over provincial boundaries and autonomy.

  • 50,000 scholarship cards announced for Pakistani youth

    Lahore – A total of 50,000 scholarship cards have been announced for Pakistani youth with the deadline for submitting applications set for August 21, 2026. According to details, the Hunarmand Punjab Advanced IT and Technical Training Program has been launched to promote digital and technical skills among Pakistani youth. The deadline for applications for the program is August 21, 2026. Eligibility criteria All Pakistani citizens aged 15 to 50 years who have at least a matriculation-level education are eligible to apply for the program. Under the initiative, 50,000 scholarship cards will be distributed across the country. Of these, 25,000 will be allocated to Punjab while the remaining 25,000 will be distributed among Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan. Applicants will be required to obtain at least 85% marks in the final evaluation test and fulfill the other program requirements to qualify for a scholarship card. According to the announced merit criteria, candidates who secure 85% marks may qualify for fee reimbursement. Candidates scoring 86% to 88% will be eligible for a solar panel while those securing 89% to 91% will be offered a Chromebook. Candidates who score 92% to 94% will be eligible for a laptop while those obtaining 95% or above will be offered an e-bike. The training program includes courses in more than 30 fields including artificial intelligence, digital marketing, web development, graphic designing, e-commerce, cybersecurity, data science, freelancing, video editing, app development and YouTube monetization. Other courses offered under the program include Amazon Virtual Assistant, Shopify and Daraz business, WordPress, React and Node.js, MERN Stack, PHP Laravel, Python programming, machine learning, SEO, Google Ads, IELTS preparation, textile designing, digital embroidery and penetration testing among others.

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    Senate panel seeks Bullah suspension until title, dialogue changes

    The release of Bullah, a Pakistani film written by veteran screenwriter Nasir Adeeb and starring Shaan Shahid and Saleem Shah, has been placed in uncertainty after a Senate standing committee recommended that its screening be halted until its title is changed and certain dialogues are revised. The recommendation emerged from a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting held on Thursday, July 24, chaired by Senator Sarmad Ali. The session was convened to review concerns that had been raised about the film’s certification process by the Central Board of Film Censors. Officials from the CBFC appeared before the committee to defend the approval process, telling members that Bullah had already been cleared without any cuts by both the Punjab and Sindh censor boards under the same title. They explained that the federal board’s jurisdiction was limited to Islamabad Capital Territory and cantonment areas, and maintained that the CBFC chairman could not unilaterally reject a film. Certification decisions, they clarified, were taken collectively by the board, with the chairman holding only a casting vote in the event of a tie. The officials further noted that if the committee believed the film should be banned or its title changed, the matter could be referred to the federal government, which serves as the next appellate authority under the applicable legal framework. Senator Pervaiz Rashid pushed back on the board’s defence, questioning whether Nasir Adeeb’s reputation as a screenwriter was a sufficient basis for approving the film’s content. He pointed out that Adeeb was primarily known for writing violence-based films, particularly Maula Jatt, and argued that this background did not establish the screenwriter’s credentials as an authority on history, national personalities or Pakistan’s cultural traditions. Senator Rashid also remarked that Maula Jatt had introduced the “gandasa” as a cultural symbol to mainstream audiences, saying he had not been aware of the weapon before the film popularised it. Following the discussion, committee chairman Senator Sarmad Ali concluded the session by proposing that the film’s title be changed and that certain dialogues be revised before it is permitted to screen. He further suggested that Bullah remain suspended until these recommended changes have been implemented. The meeting was attended by Senators Abdul Shakoor Khan, Syed Waqar Mehdi, Pervaiz Rashid and Jan Mohammad, along with Secretary Information Ashfaq Ahmed Khalil and officials from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Censors. The film’s makers have not publicly responded to the committee’s recommendations. With both provincial censor boards having already cleared the film without cuts, the situation now rests on what the federal government decides to do with the parliamentary committee’s proposal.

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    Over 1,300kg explosives used in deadly Tank attack…

    DERA ISMAIL KHAN, July 26: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has revealed that more than 1,300 kilogrammes of explosives were used in the recent attack on a security checkpost in Tank. The governor made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the Regional Police Office in Dera Ismail Khan. He had attended a security briefing on the law and order situation in the region. Kundi described the attack on the Manji Khel checkpoint as a major and tragic security incident. He said 15 people, including 14 security personnel, lost their lives in the attack. Personnel from the Pakistan Army, police and Forest Department were among those who were martyred, he said. The governor said the huge quantity of explosives used in the attack reflected the seriousness and scale of the militant threat facing the province. He called for a united national strategy to counter terrorism. He said the federal and provincial governments, security forces and the public must work together to defeat militant groups. Kundi said Pakistan was facing security challenges from both internal and external sources. He praised the sacrifices made by security forces to protect the country and its people. The governor also alleged that terrorist groups were using Afghan territory to carry out attacks against Pakistan. He further claimed that weapons left behind in Afghanistan by international forces were being used in attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Kundi said neither the people nor the security forces would be intimidated by such attacks. He praised the courage of injured personnel whom he met during his visit. He said the recommendations presented by regional police officials would be conveyed to the federal government. He also said he would raise the issue of improving compensation and support packages for injured security personnel with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the provincial government. The governor stressed that supporting the families of martyred and injured personnel was a collective responsibility. He assured them that the government would continue to support them. Kundi also called for stronger coordination between the federal and provincial governments. He said Islamabad and Peshawar must work closely to tackle the growing security threat. He urged authorities to expand intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said he would discuss the matter with the provincial chief minister. According to the military’s media wing, militants had attempted to breach the perimeter of the joint police checkpost in Tank. Security forces responded quickly and killed 12 attackers. The attackers also drove an explosives-filled vehicle into the checkpoint’s perimeter wall. The resulting blast caused extensive damage to the infrastructure. The Tank attack comes as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to face a persistent threat from militant violence. In another recent operation in South Waziristan, security forces foiled a suicide attack and killed four terrorists, including the would-be suicide bomber. Kundi said restoring peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and surrounding areas remained a national priority. He praised police personnel for continuing to perform their duties despite difficult security conditions.

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    US vows unprecedented economic pressure on Iran

    WASHINGTON: The United States hUS vows unprecedented economic pressure on Iranas warned that it will introduce an unprecedented package of economic measures against Iran as Washington prepares to intensify pressure on Tehran amid stalled ceasefire negotiations and rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said further announcements were expected next week, describing the planned measures as unlike anything previously used against a country facing economic isolation. Bessent said the new strategy would combine tougher economic restrictions with continued efforts to prevent Iranian ports from receiving or sending goods. He indicated that Washington intended to use economic pressure alongside restrictions on maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, said the American military was capable of maintaining a naval presence in the region for an indefinite period to enforce the blockade. He said US naval vessels could be rotated in and out of the region to sustain the operation. The confrontation comes as attempts to revive a ceasefire agreement have faltered. Iran has sought to use its position around the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against Washington, while the United States has continued to tighten economic pressure on Tehran. The waterway has become a major flashpoint because of its importance to global energy supplies. Before the conflict began, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the strait. Shipping activity has since fallen sharply, raising concerns over supplies, prices and the wider global economy. Two vessels belonging to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were also attacked while transiting the strait, according to the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency. The UAE government blamed Iran for the incident. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Washington has control over the strategic waterway. Iran, however, has rejected that assertion and maintained that the strait will not fully reopen unless its demands are addressed. Tehran has called for the removal of economic sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The prolonged confrontation is also putting pressure on the global energy market. The International Energy Agency has revised its forecast for global oil supply, warning that production could fall by about 4.3 million barrels per day this year. Oil prices declined by more than 2% on Thursday as markets reacted to expectations of weaker demand and a rise in US crude inventories. However, renewed attacks in the region continued to fuel fears that the conflict could spread further. The economic consequences are becoming increasingly serious. Economists have warned that a prolonged war could weaken global growth and increase the risk of recession in some economies. Hegseth declined to say whether declaring a ceasefire earlier in the year had been a mistake. He said the administration remained focused on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and insisted that the United States was taking the steps it considered necessary to achieve that objective.

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    Oil slips as higher supplies ease market fears

    Global oil prices declined on Friday as increased crude shipments through key maritime routes helped calm supply concerns, despite continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and limited progress in diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran. Brent crude futures dropped by $1.03, or 1.2%, to trade at $88 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.50, or 1.8%, to $82.09 per barrel. Even with the daily decline, both international benchmarks remained on track to post monthly gains of around 20%. Market analysts said the fall in prices was mainly driven by improving oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. The increase in exports helped offset fears that the ongoing regional conflict could lead to major supply disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz normally carries nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The route has remained under close watch since tensions escalated following the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is working with regional partners to strengthen maritime security in strategic waterways, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These routes play a vital role in global energy transportation. According to Saudi officials, 14 countries have expressed support for the proposed multinational maritime defence initiative, aimed at improving the safety of commercial shipping in the region. Meanwhile, the security situation remains uncertain after Yemen’s Houthi movement announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, raising fresh concerns over the safety of Red Sea shipping lanes, which serve as an alternative route for oil exports. Although oil tankers continue to pass through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, traders say higher security risks have pushed up shipping costs and insurance premiums. These additional expenses continue to keep a geopolitical risk premium built into global oil prices.

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