Day: May 30, 2025
Pakistan co-signs China-led mediation organisation
Pakistan joined China and other founding members in signing a convention in Hong Kong on Friday that Beijing hopes will be on par with the International Court of Justice and bolster the city’s international credentials. The move comes amid growing geopolitical tensions that have been exacerbated by US President Donald Trump’s global trade war and fuelled risks of a sharp worldwide economic downturn. The mediation body aims to cement Hong Kong’s presence as a top centre to resolve disputes between countries, leader John Lee said earlier this week, adding that…
Read MorePakistan won’t allow Indus Water Treaty violation, PM warns India
ISLAMABAD: While condemning the India’s weaponisation of water, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned on Friday that Pakistan will not let the neighbouring country cross the red line by stalling the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and putting millions of lives in risk for petty political benefits. It is extremely regretful that India has unilaterally and illegally decided to put the Indus Water Treaty, which regulates the sharing of water in the Indus Basin, on hold, said PM Shehbaz, addressing the three-day High-Level International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. “Pakistan…
Read MoreTrump tariffs stay in place for now, after appellate ruling
United States President Donald Trump on Thursday celebrated a temporary reprieve for his aggressive tariff strategy, with an appeals court preserving his sweeping import duties on China and other trading partners — for now. The short-term relief will allow the appeals process to proceed, after the US Court of International Trade on Wednesday barred most of the tariffs announced since Trump took office, ruling that he had overstepped his authority. Welcoming the latest twist in his legal skirmishes over his trade policies, Trump lashed out at the Manhattan-based trade court,…
Read MoreCourt shields Harvard’s global students from Trump visa crackdown
CAMBRIDGE: A US court has said that it will issue a temporary court order to help protect international students at Harvard. This decision comes as President Donald Trump tries to block the prestigious university from enrolling students from other countries. Thousands of Harvard students in crimson-trimmed gowns celebrated their graduation on Thursday, as a judge extended a temporary block on Trump admin’s order. Trump has made Harvard the central target of his campaign against elite US universities, which he has also threatened with funding freezes over what he claims is…
Read MoreUS student visa freeze to be short-lived: State Department
WASHINGTON: The United States government has said that the freeze on student visa processing will not last long. The State Department has promised that appointments will restart soon, even as new rules for checking students’ social media accounts are being worked out. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce encouraged prospective students to seek visa appointments, stating: ‘I would not be recommending that if this was going to be weeks or months.’ ‘I can tell you that it’s something that would happen perhaps sooner rather than later,’ she told reporters. Secretary of…
Read MoreDevelopment budget proposals to be prepared on June 2
ISLAMABAD: The Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) will meet on Monday, June 2, to draft proposals for the next fiscal year’s development budget, Geo News reported citing sources. The sources said Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal would chair the important meeting. Representatives from all federal ministries and the four provinces will participate in the APCC session. During the meeting, the committee is expected to approve the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the next fiscal year. APCC is a consultative body that gives recommendations on macroeconomic and development framework…
Read MoreMay inflation expected to fall to 1.5%, pick up in June, govt estimates
Inflation in Pakistan is projected to drop sharply in May, hovering between 1.5% and 2% on an annual basis before rebounding to 3%–4% in June, the Ministry of Finance said in its monthly economic outlook on Thursday. Pakistan’s average inflation in the fiscal year ending June 2025 is expected to be in the range of 5.5%-7.5%, the central bank said in its half-yearly report last month. The headline inflation cooled to 0.3% (YoY) in April 2025, down sharply from 17.3% a year earlier and 0.7% in March, driven by broad-based…
Read MoreReko Diq fast-tracked with nearly 1,000 local hires on-site: Barrick Gold
The Reko Diq copper-gold project is advancing rapidly, with a significant workforce on-site and major infrastructure development underway, according to a senior Barrick Gold official. At the Reko Diq Suppliers Roadshow, Geo News spoke with Martin Henuse, a senior executive at the mining giant, to discuss the project’s progress, local impact, and long-term vision. Below is their conversation: Question: How is the progress so far? Henuse: It’s moving incredibly fast. Right now, we have nearly 1,000 employees on-site at Reko Diq. We’ve moved massive amounts of earth, built accommodations, secured a water…
Read MorePakistan earns China’s praise for ‘responsible’ conduct in India row
China, Pakistan’s iron brother, on Thursday praised Islamabad’s “responsible conduct” during the recent standoff with India. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong appreciated the recent return of peace and stability in the region and hoped that peace will bring dividends for Pakistan. Earlier this month, Pakistan’s armed forces launched a large-scale retaliatory military action, named “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”, and targeted several Indian military targets across multiple regions. The strikes, described by officials as “precise and…
Read More