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PM orders repatriation of Pakistanis from Iran

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take all necessary steps to ensure the safe repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in Iran. The premier chaired a high-level review meeting on Saturday regarding the overall security situation in the country following the US-Israeli attack on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks. Referring to the Pakistanis currently visiting Iran, the PM directed that all citizens should be brought back safely to Pakistan via Azerbaijan. In this regard, he directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately contact the government…

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Iran embassy in Pakistan condemns ‘barbaric’ killing of Khamenei

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The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan, in a statement released on Sunday, condemned, “in the strongest possible terms,” what it termed “the cowardly, hideous and barbaric terrorist act of targeting the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The statement comes amid confirmation from Iranian state media that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in Israeli and United States strikes launched yesterday against Iran. “Recalling the bravery, resistance, steadfastness, and lifelong devotion of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to the ideals of independence, dignity,…

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Pakistan in delicate balancing act

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday condemned both the Israeli and US strikes against Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks on several Gulf countries, in what appears to be a carefully calibrated diplomatic response aimed at maintaining balance amid a rapidly escalating regional crisis. In a strongly worded statement, the Foreign Office expressed regret over the “breakdown of talks and outbreak of hostilities” in the Middle East, saying the attacks on Iran came at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to secure a peaceful and negotiated settlement. “These attacks will undermine the…

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PM reviews security, evacuation plans

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review regional and national security issues, including the evacuation of Pakistani citizens from Iran amid escalating tensions following the US-Israel attacks on Iran. The meeting was convened following confirmation of the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — a development that was followed by country-wide protests in Pakistan with at least 10 people dying in Karachi. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting took a detailed look at the regional situation,…

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Military Operation Launched this Morning in Iran by the United States and Israel reflects longstanding concerns

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The military operation launched this morning in Iran by the United States and Israel reflects longstanding concerns regarding the policies and actions of the Iranian regime. Iran supports and finances a number of terrorist and armed groups, thereby contributing to instability in the Middle East and threatening international security.   In this context, the Czech Republic strongly condemns Iranian missile attacks against states in the region and expresses its deep concern over any actions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Gulf countries and further escalate tensions across the…

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South Africa offers gateway to businesses

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ISLAMABAD: Acting South Africa High Commissioner Rudolph Pierre Jordaan has said that South Africa is a land of infinite possibilities and one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners in Africa, offering an investor-friendly environment supported by progressive policies and a young, energetic workforce. He expressed these views while addressing an interactive session at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). Highlighting the historic and cordial relations between Pakistan and South Africa since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1994, the envoy underscored the vast potential for expanding bilateral trade and…

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Berlin puts Rosneft units into trusteeship

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BERLIN: The German government has placed the German units of Russia’s Rosneft under a trusteeship, the economy ministry said on Saturday, as Berlin seeks to establish long-term control over the German assets of the Russian oil group. The assets, which include a stake in the PCK Schwedt refinery, were placed in the German government’s trusteeship in 2022 after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine shook Germany’s decades-long energy ties with Russia. However, that trusteeship has to be renewed every six months on grounds of preserving energy security, creating uncertainty mainly over the…

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Retailers urge review of POS disconnection claims

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LAHORE: The Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) has called for a careful examination of claims that over 80-90% of tier-1 retail branches are disconnected from the Point of Sale (POS) systems. “The lists available on the FBR website appear to be auto generated around 8:00 am, when the overwhelming majority of physical retail outlets are closed and their POS systems are naturally offline, apart from their e-commerce stores. This creates a distorted snapshot of connectivity status,” the association said in a statement on Saturday. More importantly, it said, the financial…

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Rs221b given under youth loan

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ISLAMABAD: An amount of Rs221 billion has been disbursed Under the Prime Minister’s Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme while the banking sector has provided overall SME financing of Rs882.4 billion to 302,922 borrowers. The 15th meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development was held under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan. The meeting was attended by Ministry of Industries and Production Secretary Saif Anjum, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) CEO,…

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OGRA orders refineries to ensure adequate oil reserves due to Middle East situation

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The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Saturday ordered all stakeholders to make certain and ensure an adequate stock of petroleum products amid the raging conflict in the Middle East unleashed by attacks of Israel and the United States on Iran that prompted retaliatory strikes. Earlier in the day, the US and Israel jointly launched strikes on Iran that pushed the Middle East into renewed military confrontation and further dimmed hopes for a diplomatic solution to the West’s long-standing effort to denuclearise Iran, despite Tehran’s repeated assertions that it will not pursue nuclear…

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