planning trip russia
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Planning a trip to Russia? Visit Russia offers all-in-one travel platform

ByJustpaste.in

Planning a trip to Russia has become easier with Visit Russia, a comprehensive digital travel platform designed for international tourists. Available through both a website and mobile application, the platform aims to make travel planning simpler, more organised and enjoyable.

Powered by artificial intelligence, Visit Russia provides a range of services to help travellers prepare for their journey. From creating personalised itineraries and accessing reliable travel information to booking flights, hotels, travel insurance and airport transfers, the platform brings essential travel services together in one place.

Through the Visit Russia website, travellers can explore some of the country’s most attractive destinations, including Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi, and begin planning their trips.

The platform also offers information about Russia’s world-famous historical landmarks, grand museums, cultural centres, scenic landscapes and popular travel routes. Alongside destination guides, visitors can access practical information and useful travel tips designed to make their journeys easier, safer and more enjoyable.

Whether travelling to Russia for leisure, business or cultural exchange, Visit Russia aims to serve as a digital travel companion throughout the journey. The platform supports travellers from the initial planning stage to their stay in Russia, helping them make their trips more convenient, meaningful and memorable.

International visitors can explore destinations, plan itineraries and access travel-related services through the Visit Russia platform.

Visit Russia: https://visitrussia.online/

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    PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir begin Saudi visit

    ByJustpaste.in

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir will pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8 to hold high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and discussing key regional developments. According to the Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also join the delegation after completing his visit to Jordan. During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The discussions will focus on expanding cooperation between the two countries, enhancing strategic relations and reviewing regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Foreign Office said the visit reflects the deep-rooted relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, built on decades of close cooperation, mutual trust and strong brotherly ties. Officials said the high-level engagements are expected to further strengthen political, economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Both sides are also likely to discuss ways to improve coordination on regional security and international affairs. The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Gulf region, giving the meetings added diplomatic significance. However, Pakistani officials said the agenda extends beyond the current regional situation and is aimed at reinforcing the long-term strategic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh. The Foreign Office added that the visit will help deepen bilateral relations, expand cooperation in areas of shared interest and enhance collaboration at multilateral forums. Prime Minister Shehbaz last visited Saudi Arabia in April, where he held meetings with the kingdom’s top leadership to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

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    Pakistan posts Rs3.6tr primary surplus as fiscal position improves in FY2025-26

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan closed the financial year 2025-26 with a primary budget surplus of around Rs3.6 trillion, marking the third consecutive year of a surplus and allowing the country to comfortably meet a key fiscal condition agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The improvement came despite the government falling short of its tax collection targets, with stronger petroleum levy receipts, tighter expenditure controls and lower-than-expected debt servicing costs helping offset the revenue shortfall. According to the latest fiscal operations data released by the Ministry of Finance, the unadjusted primary surplus reached Rs3.63 trillion, equivalent to 2.6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The figure was approximately Rs464 billion higher than the IMF’s target of Rs3.16 trillion. The primary balance is considered an important indicator under Pakistan’s IMF programme because it measures the government’s fiscal position before interest payments on public debt. The latest figures indicate that the government maintained fiscal discipline despite continued pressure on revenues and expenditure. Overall fiscal deficit below target Pakistan’s overall budget deficit, after accounting for provincial cash surpluses, stood at approximately Rs3.3 trillion during FY2025-26. This was around Rs1.7 trillion lower than the amount initially projected in the federal budget. The federal government’s own deficit was recorded at Rs4.8 trillion, also significantly below the budgeted level. The better-than-expected outcome was primarily attributed to lower interest payments, stronger petroleum levy receipts and restrained development expenditure. Interest payments were around Rs1.3 trillion below the amount originally allocated in the budget. The government also collected approximately Rs101 billion more than its petroleum levy target, while federal development spending remained Rs82 billion below the initially approved allocation. The fiscal improvement also contributed to a moderation in the growth of public debt. Public debt increased by around 7% during the year, bringing some relief after several years of double-digit debt expansion. Provinces narrowly miss IMF cash surplus target The four provincial governments collectively generated a cash surplus of around Rs1.45 trillion during the fiscal year. Although the amount fell marginally short of the IMF’s combined requirement, the shortfall was only around Rs14 billion. Punjab contributed the largest share, recording a cash surplus of approximately Rs914 billion. Sindh posted a surplus of around Rs350 billion, followed by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with Rs165 billion and Balochistan with approximately Rs21 billion. Provincial governments, meanwhile, performed slightly better on revenue collection. Their combined tax receipts exceeded the IMF condition by around Rs18 billion, with collections crossing Rs1.2 trillion. FBR misses tax target Despite the overall improvement in the fiscal position, tax collection remained a major area of concern. The Federal Board of Revenue collected approximately Rs13 trillion during FY2025-26, falling nearly Rs1 trillion short of the IMF’s revised target. FBR tax receipts increased by about 11% compared with the previous year. However, this increase was broadly in line with nominal GDP growth, indicating that the tax-to-GDP ratio remained largely unchanged at around 10.3%. The figures suggest that additional revenue expected from new taxation and enforcement measures did not fully materialise. The government had anticipated around Rs700 billion in additional revenue from such measures. Non-tax revenue also remained below expectations by approximately Rs63 billion. Total non-tax receipts stood close to Rs5.1 trillion, including around Rs2.4 trillion in profits transferred by the central bank. Petroleum levy becomes key revenue source A major contributor to the stronger fiscal outcome was the petroleum levy. Collections under the petroleum levy climbed to around Rs1.567 trillion, representing an increase of approximately 28% over the previous year. The amount was also Rs101 billion above the target agreed with the IMF. The additional collection effectively represented roughly 25 days of petroleum price relief at a levy rate of Rs80 per litre on petrol and high-speed diesel. For the current financial year, the government has committed to collecting approximately Rs1.7 trillion through the petroleum levy. Meeting this objective is expected to require maintaining the levy at around Rs80 per litre, subject to the applicable petroleum pricing mechanism and market conditions. Development spending remains restrained The government’s fiscal consolidation strategy also affected development expenditure. Federal development spending was recorded at around Rs918 billion, approximately Rs82 billion below the originally approved budget allocation. However, the amount was still around Rs100 billion higher than the subsequently revised allocation. The figures reflect the government’s efforts to contain expenditure and prioritise fiscal targets amid pressure from debt servicing and revenue mobilisation. Debt servicing costs fall Lower-than-expected debt servicing provided another significant boost to the government’s fiscal position. The Ministry of Finance reported that debt servicing remained around Rs6.95 trillion during the year, compared with the budgeted amount of approximately Rs8.2 trillion. The government attributed the savings to tight fiscal management, improved cash handling and the early retirement of around Rs1.9 trillion in domestic debt. These measures helped reduce domestic debt servicing costs by nearly Rs1.97 trillion compared with the original estimates. Statistical discrepancy highlighted The fiscal operations report also identified a statistical discrepancy of around Rs853 billion across the federal and provincial accounts. According to the Ministry of Finance, the discrepancy was linked largely to changes in cash balances and differences in the recording and reporting of financial data. The negative discrepancy indicated that cash inflows were higher than recorded outflows. At the federal level, the discrepancy stood at approximately Rs448 billion. The ministry attributed the difference mainly to changes in commercial bank deposits as well as variations in reporting and accounting adjustments involving the State Bank of Pakistan, FBR and Economic Affairs Division. Provincial accounts showed a combined statistical discrepancy of approximately Rs405 billion. Punjab accounted for around Rs266 billion, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Rs95 billion, Balochistan Rs72 billion and Sindh around Rs28 billion. The ministry said movements in commercial bank deposits were among the principal factors behind the provincial differences. IMF review ahead The improved fiscal performance is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s position ahead of the next IMF assessment. An IMF mission is expected to visit Islamabad in the third week of September to review Pakistan’s economic performance during the previous fiscal year. The mission is also expected to

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    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says Pakistan’s independe…

    ByJustpaste.in

      Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan has completed 79 years of independence and that the country will celebrate the centenary of its independence 21 years from now, in 2047. In a video message issued on the occasion of Independence Day, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reflected on the meaning of Pakistan’s independence and emphasized that freedom was not simply about acquiring a separate territory. According to him, the creation of Pakistan represented a broader promise of rights and dignity for its people. Bilawal said that independence should be understood as more than the establishment of a geographical homeland. He described it as a commitment made to the people of Pakistan and to the regions and states that chose to become part of the country at the time of its creation. He said that this commitment was subsequently incorporated into Pakistan’s Constitution and has continued to be reaffirmed over the years. According to Bilawal, the constitutional promise represents an important responsibility for successive generations and should not remain limited to political speeches or written documents. The PPP chairman stressed that the younger generation has an important role to play in fulfilling this promise. He said it is the responsibility of the present generation to ensure that the constitutional guarantees and principles associated with Pakistan’s founding vision reach every household by 2047, when the country will mark 100 years of independence. Bilawal’s remarks came as Pakistan celebrated its 79th Independence Day with nationwide ceremonies, flag-hoisting events and public celebrations. The day is observed every year on August 14 to commemorate Pakistan’s independence from British rule in 1947. In his message, Bilawal focused on the relationship between independence, constitutional rights and the responsibilities of citizens. He suggested that the true meaning of freedom lies not only in national sovereignty but also in ensuring that citizens are able to enjoy their fundamental rights. He further emphasized the importance of remembering the commitments associated with the creation of Pakistan while looking toward the country’s future. As Pakistan approaches its centenary in 2047, he called for collective efforts to translate constitutional principles into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens. According to Bilawal, fulfilling the promise of Pakistan is a responsibility shared by every generation. He said the country’s future depends on ensuring that the principles of rights and justice are reflected in the everyday lives of people across the country. The PPP chairman also extended his greetings to the nation on Independence Day and expressed his hopes for Pakistan’s continued progress and prosperity. Concluding his message, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reaffirmed his commitment to Pakistan and expressed the slogan “Pakistan Khappay, Pakistan Paindabad,” conveying a message of support for the country’s unity, stability and lasting prosperity. His Independence Day message centered on the idea that Pakistan’s journey should be viewed not only through the achievement of independence but also through the fulfillment of the rights and aspirations that accompanied the country’s creation. With 2047 approaching as the centenary year of Pakistan’s independence, Bilawal called on the current generation to work toward realizing the constitutional promise for every citizen and household. His message highlighted the importance of connecting the ideals associated with independence to the everyday realities of the Pakistani people.

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    Pakistan launches virtual asset licensing regime

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan has formally introduced a licensing system for virtual asset service providers, requiring existing operators to apply for regulatory approval by September 5, 2026, or stop providing services. The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has notified new licensing regulations and launched its online application portal under the Virtual Assets Act, 2026. The move establishes a formal regulatory structure for the country’s rapidly growing virtual asset sector. The new framework includes 10 licence categories covering major activities such as cryptocurrency exchanges, custody services, broker-dealer operations, advisory services, lending and borrowing, derivatives, asset management, transfer and settlement, asset issuance and mining-related services. Each category will be subject to specific rules covering business conduct, financial safeguards, technology standards and anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing requirements. Existing virtual asset service providers have been given a statutory deadline of September 5. Under Section 70 of the Virtual Assets Act, businesses that were already providing such services before the law came into force must submit an application for a No-Objection Certificate by the deadline. Those failing to submit an application will be required to cease operations, while continuing to operate without applying after the deadline will constitute an offence. PVARA Chairman and Minister of State Bilal Bin Saqib said the regulatory system was designed to bring an already active market into the formal economy. He said young Pakistanis had helped build the virtual asset market before the state had established a regulatory structure for it. The new system, he added, would provide legal protections for customers while creating opportunities for legitimate businesses. Under the regulations, licensed service providers will be required to keep customer assets separate from their own holdings. They will also be prohibited from lending or pledging customer assets without written consent and will face legal obligations regarding the protection of client holdings if a platform encounters financial difficulties. The licensing system follows a public consultation held between June 11 and July 2, 2026. The consultation also included a webinar for stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed framework. The licensing process will operate in two stages for applicants planning to establish businesses in Pakistan. They can either enter a regulatory sandbox or obtain a No-Objection Certificate under Section 19 before incorporation and subsequently seek a full licence. Existing operators, however, must submit their NOC applications by September 5. The new framework also provides licensed virtual asset businesses with access to Pakistan’s formal banking system. The State Bank of Pakistan’s Circular No. 10 of 2026, issued on April 14, allows regulated financial institutions to open accounts for PVARA-licensed virtual asset service providers, including segregated client money accounts. This replaces the restrictions on banking services for virtual asset businesses that had remained in place since 2018. PVARA was established as a permanent statutory authority through an Act of Parliament in March 2026. Within months, the authority secured a formal banking framework for licensed operators and completed the licensing regulations following public consultation.

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    Gazans welcome Hamas disarmament plan but remain doubtful of Israeli withdrawal

    ByJustpaste.in

    Many Palestinians in Gaza have cautiously welcomed reports that Hamas has agreed to disarm under a new United States backed proposal, hoping it could eventually bring an end to the devastating conflict. However, despite this small sign of progress, many remain unconvinced that Israel will withdraw its forces or that lasting peace is within reach. US President Donald Trump recently announced that Hamas had accepted a plan to surrender its weapons as part of a broader roadmap aimed at stabilising Gaza and beginning reconstruction. Hamas later confirmed the agreement. Even so, Israeli military operations have continued, leaving many residents uncertain about whether the proposal will lead to any real change. Thousands of families remain displaced, while many others continue living in overcrowded tent camps where shortages of food, clean water, medicine and proper sanitation have created severe humanitarian conditions. Disease outbreaks and poor living conditions have become an everyday reality for much of the population. For many Palestinians, survival remains the immediate concern. Abdel Moneim Aboul Roos, a 24 year old tuk tuk driver who lost a leg in an Israeli airstrike, said discussions about disarmament and troop withdrawals mean little while people continue to struggle for basic necessities. He said access to food and medical care matters more than political agreements that have yet to improve conditions on the ground. The latest proposal builds on a ceasefire agreement reached last year with US support. That deal ended large scale fighting for a period, secured the release of Israeli hostages and increased humanitarian aid entering Gaza. It also included plans for a gradual Israeli military withdrawal, the formation of an international stabilisation force and the dismantling of Hamas’ weapons. However, the agreement soon stalled as both Israel and Hamas accused each other of violating its terms. Hamas retained its weapons while Israeli forces remained in the territory, causing negotiations to break down. The newly announced roadmap provides more detailed arrangements for transferring Hamas’ weapons to a technocratic Palestinian administration. According to the proposal, Israel would not participate in the disarmament process and would instead halt military operations to allow political transition and reconstruction efforts to move forward. Despite these commitments, many Gazans remain deeply sceptical because previous promises of peace failed to deliver lasting results. Displaced resident Ayman Ahmed said people have repeatedly been told that the war would end, only to see the violence continue. While he hopes Hamas eventually lays down its arms, he believes such a step is unlikely in the near future and expressed frustration that ordinary Palestinians continue to suffer while political leaders remain divided. The conflict began after Hamas launched its October 2023 attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages. Israel responded with a large military campaign in Gaza that has caused widespread destruction and heavy casualties. According to Gaza health authorities, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war, while the fighting has displaced most of the territory’s population. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and fighters, although officials say women and children account for a large share of those killed. Many residents also fear that Israel has no intention of fully leaving Gaza even if Hamas is disarmed. Israeli officials have not publicly endorsed the latest roadmap and anonymous government sources have suggested that it does not match Israel’s security objectives. They have also indicated that Israeli forces intend to remain along the Yellow Line, a military zone separating Israeli controlled territory from the rest of Gaza. The military has strengthened its positions in these areas by building defensive barriers and carrying out demolition operations, leaving many displaced families uncertain whether they will ever return to their homes. Despite these fears, many Palestinians continue to hold onto hope. Anas Nakla, whose home in Rafah was destroyed during the war, said he still dreams of returning with his family even though nothing remains of his house. Mohamed Hamad, displaced from northern Gaza, believes that if the new plan results in even a partial Israeli withdrawal, it would restore hope that one day all displaced families could rebuild their lives in their own communities.

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    Iran claims strike on Amazon data center in Bahrai…

    ByJustpaste.in

    TEHRAN/MANAMA: Iran has claimed that it targeted an Amazon data center in Bahrain in what it described as part of its ongoing retaliatory campaign against the United States, marking a dramatic new allegation that could further heighten tensions across the Middle East. According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the operation targeted an Amazon facility that it alleged was providing information and technological support to the US military. Iranian officials claimed the installation was successfully struck and destroyed during the operation. However, the statement was not accompanied by any evidence, satellite imagery, or operational details to substantiate the claim. As of Friday, no independent organization had verified that an attack had taken place or confirmed any damage to the reported facility. Neither Amazon, the Bahraini government, nor US officials had issued an official response by the time of publication. There has also been no confirmation from independent monitoring groups regarding the alleged strike or its potential impact. The claim comes amid rapidly escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, with both sides exchanging accusations over recent military operations in the region. Tehran has repeatedly warned that any military bases or strategic facilities used by Washington for operations against Iran would be considered legitimate targets for retaliation. Iranian officials reiterated that stance following the latest announcement, saying that infrastructure allegedly supporting US military activities could face further attacks if hostilities continue. Security analysts say the claim is particularly significant because it involves a major global technology company rather than a conventional military installation. If independently verified, it would represent one of the first publicly acknowledged cases in which Iran has declared a large international technology facility as the target of a military operation. Experts also cautioned that the absence of independent verification makes it impossible to determine whether the reported strike occurred or whether the alleged target sustained any damage. They noted that governments involved in conflicts often release competing narratives, making external confirmation essential before drawing conclusions. The latest claim underscores the growing overlap between military conflict and critical digital infrastructure, raising fresh concerns about the security of data centers and technology assets in regions experiencing geopolitical instability. For now, the reported attack remains an unverified Iranian claim, with the international community awaiting official responses and independent assessments to establish what, if anything, occurred on the ground.

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