ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday described 2024 as a year of economic recovery and expressed hope for self-reliance in the new year, while acknowledging persistent security challenges caused by a surge in militant violence.
Pakistan narrowly avoided a sovereign debt default in 2023 after securing short-term external financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a $3 billion bailout program.
The agreement required Islamabad to implement stringent economic reforms, including subsidy cuts and utility price hikes, to stabilize its fragile economy. While macroeconomic indicators have since improved, many Pakistanis continue to grapple with the lingering effects of years of financial turmoil and the burden of reforms.
The government also managed to secure another IMF loan of $7 billion last year in September, saying it was important to get the money to consolidate the economic gains.
“2024 was a remarkable year for Pakistan, as we marched from default to development, overcoming economic challenges with resilience and determination,” Sharif wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We made difficult but necessary decisions that rescued our economy from collapse, restored macroeconomic stability, controlled fiscal deficits, and strengthened our reserves. As a result, inflation has come down to single digits, and the prospects for economic growth have been revived.”
“We step into 2025 with renewed determination to achieve economic self-reliance and chart a brighter, more prosperous future for our nation,” he added.
Sharif’s remarks also addressed the security situation, highlighting Pakistan’s armed forces’ efforts to counter a renewed wave of militant violence.
“Amidst other challenges, Pakistan also faced a renewed surge in terrorism this year,” he said, reaffirming the military’s commitment to ensuring peace.
He credited the nation’s unwavering support for its forces in their fight against militants who, he maintained, “stand in stark opposition to the very idea of Pakistan.”
The prime minister also highlighted the launch of “Uraan Pakistan,” or “Fly Pakistan,” which is a homegrown five-year, export-oriented economic transformation plan unveiled by his administration a day earlier, which he described as a result of his government’s vision to build on recent stability and achieve sustained growth.
Pakistan PM vows to work for ‘economic self-reliance’ in 2025 amid security challenges
https://arab.news/2bxtd
Pakistan PM vows to work for ‘economic self-reliance’ in 2025 amid security challenges
- Shehbaz Sharif calls 2024 ‘a remarkable year of Pakistan’ in which it ‘marched from default to development’
- He acknowledges the renewed threat of militant violence while praising the military’s efforts to counter it
Pakistan PM takes notice of ‘unjustified delay’ of cash reward, support for boxer Shahzaib Rind
- Rind had publicly criticized government for not paying him promised cash reward of $17,360, support worth $282,080
- Information Minister Attaullah Tarar apologizes to Rind, says “inordinate delay” will be sorted out immediately
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar this week apologized to Karate champion Shahzaib Rind for the “unjustified delay” of a monetary reward and financial support the fighter said the government had promised to provide him, sharing that the prime minister has taken “serious notice” of the incident.
Rind made history in September last year when he won the World Karate Combat Light Heavyweight Championship, beating Brazil’s Luiz Victor Rocha in the final in Singapore. The remarkable feat made him the first person from Pakistan to win the world title.
Following his achievement, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari presented Rind a cheque of Rs100 million [$352,600] while as per reports, former federal minister Sardar Yaar Muhammad Rind announced he would give Rind 25 acres of land.
Rind took to social media platform X on July 23, saying that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif promised him a sum of Rs5 million [$17,630] and Rs80 million [$282,080] to support his training camp and upcoming fights. However, the Pakistani fighter said it was “all a lie, I never got a penny from them.”
“Dear Shahzeb, there seems to be some miscommunication,” Tarar wrote to Rind on X on Saturday. “We sincerely apologize for this unjustified delay, sportsmen like you are our real heroes and we value your achievements.”
The minister acknowledged that Rind had brought honor to the country and made everyone proud through his achievements.
“The Prime Minister has taken serious notice of this inordinate delay and rest assured, it will be sorted out immediately, inshallah [god willing],” Tarar added.
He said Sharif had instructed authorities that such mistakes must never happen again.
“We regret this unjustified delay and the inconvenience caused,” he added.
Rind responded by thanking Tarar, saying he appreciated Sharif taking notice of the incident.
“Inshallah, with your support, we can continue to uplift and inspire the next generation of champions,” he wrote.
Rind, who hails from the impoverished southwestern Balochistan province, won his first martial arts title in 2011 after claiming victory in a provincial-level competition. His first national title came in 2019 when he triumphed at the National Games in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
During the two-and-a-half years of an undefeated Karate Combat career, Rind has fought fighters from North America, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, France and India.
Pakistan says wants ‘strongest relations’ with US despite iron-clad partnership with China
- Pakistan Deputy PM Dar says his Friday meeting with US secretary of state was “very cordial”
- Pakistan maintains a tricky balance in its relations with the US and its traditional rival, China
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday Islamabad wished for “strongest relations” with the United States (US) despite enjoying an iron-clad partnership with Washington’s rival, Beijing.
Pakistan maintains a tricky balance in its relations with China and the US. While aligned with the US for military cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts, Islamabad has strengthened economic ties with Beijing through initiatives like the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Relations between Washington and Beijing have been strained over the past several years as both world powers compete for global influence in several domains. The US and China have disagreements over several issues such as trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea and China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“Our government and we have emphasized and will continue to emphasize that our relations and iron-clad brother partnership with China, our relations [with the US] should not be looked at through that lens,” Dar, speaking to the Pakistani community in New York, said during a televised address.
“We want strongest relations with the United States of America as well.”
Dar pointed out that Islamabad, under the previous government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif from 2022-2023, had made it clear to Washington that this was its official policy. However, the Pakistani foreign minister said the Joe Biden administration did not engage with Islamabad.
“I’m glad that they [Trump administration] have actively engaged themselves with us,” Dar said.
Dar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday in a face-to-face meeting, during which the American official recognized Pakistan’s “constructive role” for peace in the region and worldwide.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister pointed out that this was the first time in nine years that the foreign ministers of the US and Pakistan had met each other.
“I would say the meeting was very cordial, we touched all the regional and global issues. We touched our bilateral issues,” he said.
Dar is currently on an eight-day visit to the US till July 28, where he kept a busy schedule in New York and chaired several high-profile United Nations Security Council meetings under Pakistan’s rotating presidency this month.
Pakistan reports three fresh polio cases, taking 2025 tally to 17
- Two polio cases reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one from southern Sindh province, say authorities
- Pakistan has witnessed worrying resurgence in polio recently, reporting 74 cases of the disease last year in 2024
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities on Sunday reported three new polio cases across the country, taking the 2025 tally to 17 amid Islamabad’s efforts to eliminate the disease.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects young children and can cause permanent paralysis. There is no cure, but it can be prevented through multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and a complete routine immunization schedule, experts say.
Pakistan, one of only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, the other being neighboring Afghanistan, has made significant gains in recent decades. Annual cases have fallen dramatically from an estimated 20,000 in the early 1990s to single digits by 2018.
However, the country has witnessed a worrying resurgence recently. Pakistan reported 74 cases in 2024, raising alarms among health officials and global partners supporting the eradication campaign. In contrast, only six cases were recorded in 2023 and just one in 2021.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed three new polio cases— two from the districts of Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one from District Umerkot in Sindh,” Pakistan’s National Emergencies Operation Center said.
The new cases include a 15-month-old girl from District Lakki Marwat, a six-month-old girl from North Waziristan district and a 60-month-old boy from District Umerkot, the statement said.
Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has reported the highest number of polio cases this year, 10, followed by five from Sindh and one each from Punjab and northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
The NEOC noted that despite “substantial progress” in polio eradication efforts, the new polio cases underscore the persistent risk to children, especially in areas where vaccine acceptance remains low.
“It is crucial for communities to understand that poliovirus can resurface wherever immunity gaps exist,” it said. “Every unvaccinated child is at risk and can also pose a risk to others.”
The NEOC said an anti-polio vaccination campaign is currently underway, which was launched from July21-27 in Pakistan’s union councils bordering Afghanistan.
It added that a polio vaccination campaign using doses of the IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine) and OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) was started in southwestern Balochistan’s Chaman District on July 21, adding that the same campaign will expand to six more districts in the province starting from July 28.
The NEOC urged parents to cooperate with frontline polio workers in getting children vaccinated.
“Communities can protect themselves by actively supporting vaccination efforts, addressing misinformation, and encouraging others to vaccinate their children,” it added.
Despite decades of effort, Pakistan’s polio eradication drive has faced persistent challenges, including misinformation about vaccines and resistance from conservative religious and militant groups who view immunization campaigns with suspicion.
Some clerics have claimed the vaccines are a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or part of intelligence operations.
Vaccination teams and police providing security have also been targeted in militant attacks, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas of KP and Balochistan. These threats have at times forced the suspension of campaigns and restricted access to vulnerable populations.
UAE activates visa waiver for Pakistani diplomatic, official passport holders
- Pakistan, UAE signed agreement on mutual visa exemption for diplomatic, official passport holders of both countries in June
- Islamabad considers the UAE a vital economic ally as it is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States
ISLAMABAD: The UAE this week activated its visa waiver for holders of Pakistani diplomatic and official passports as per an agreement signed between the two countries last month, the Gulf state’s embassy in Islamabad said on Sunday.
Pakistan and the UAE signed an agreement on mutual visa exemption for the holders of diplomatic and official passports of the two countries on June 25. The agreement was signed at the conclusion of the 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had said.
“His Excellency Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim AlZaabi, the ambassador of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Islamabad feels immense pleasure to announce that the visa waiver for diplomatic and official passports entering the United Arab Emirates has been activated, effective July 25, 2025, at all UAE airports,” the UAE embassy in Islamabad said in a message to reporters.
The two countries discussed collaborations in trade, investment, food security, aviation, IT and energy at the 12th JMC last month, Pakistan’s state broadcaster reported.
Islamabad considers the UAE a vital economic ally as it is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States.
Bilateral trade between the two nations reached approximately $10.9 billion in fiscal 2023–24, including $8.41 billion in goods and $2.56 billion in services. Exports from Pakistan to the UAE were around $2.1 billion in FY25, compared to $8 billion in imports.
The UAE is also a major source of remittances. In 2024, money sent home by the Pakistani diaspora was $6.7 billion, which is projected to exceed $7 billion in 2025.
In flood-hit Sindh, women revive barter trade to weather climate shocks
- With farming no longer reliable, rural women turn to cashless business models to survive inflation, displacement, environmental collapse
- Backed by a German NGO, women entrepreneurs are exchanging scrap for household essentials to build low-cost livelihoods
JHUDDO, Pakistan: On any given morning in this flood-ravaged town in southern Sindh, Shamim Akhtar’s team of three men fans out on motorbikes, collecting scrap metal and plastic from doorsteps.
In return, they hand over household essentials: pots, mugs, jugs — items many families need but can no longer afford.
It’s a barter economy, resurrected not by nostalgia but by necessity.
Once a farmer scraping by on unstable harvests, Akhtar, now 48, has become a self-made entrepreneur, running what she calls a modern twist on a traditional system. The shift has brought her stability and income — nearly Rs50,000 ($175) in monthly profit — in a region where formal employment is rare and inflation relentless.
“What we do [in this business] is that we take scrap from people’s houses and in return give them new things,” Akhtar told Arab News.
“In old times, our mothers used to give some junk or grain from home and take edible items or some vegetables … We now have revived the same system that we give house utensils [in exchange for their scrap].”
RETHINKING LIVELIHOODS AFTER FLOODS
The transformation began in the aftermath of Pakistan’s devastating 2022 floods, which killed over 1,700 people and displaced millions. In Jhuddo, where vast stretches of farmland were inundated, Akhtar lost her crops and her confidence in agriculture.
“All our crops would get destroyed whenever the flood would hit us,” she said. “In the initial days of flooding, the NGOs or government would help us but later we used to face very tough financial conditions.”
Farming, once her only means of survival, was no longer viable. So she pivoted, choosing to barter in utensils, essential items that every household needs. With capital provided by Germany’s Malteser International relief agency, she set up shop with wholesale goods from Hyderabad, sold scrap to local junkyards, and launched a low-cost business model tailored to village economics.
“We don’t have a cost-intensive system of giving expensive stuff to the villagers which they can’t even afford,” Akhtar explained. “We are doing this trade at the village level and are giving stuff that the villagers can afford.”
The NGO-backed program, a €600,000, 36-month initiative implemented by the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), has helped more than 150 women launch nano-enterprises in climate-affected areas of Mirpurkhas district.
“Earlier, the people here mostly used to do farming and rear livestock, but now they have diversified [their sources of income] to business,” said Komal Jameel, a livelihood officer at SRSO.
“She [Akhtar] keeps giving us her data entry through digitalization on a daily basis. She tells our team how much loss and earnings she is making out of her business. This scrap exchange is a very good business.”
WOMEN LEAD NEW ECONOMIC MODELS
Across the region, other women are following suit. In Niaz Kapri village, 48-year-old Hameeda Tariq began a similar scrap-for-goods exchange after floods wiped out her family’s farmland and livestock.
Working with her husband, who sources utensils from nearby cities, she now earns around Rs40,000 ($140) a month.
“Before starting this business, we used to work in the fields and domesticate livestock,” said Tariq, a mother of three. “What brought us here is the recurring incidents of flooding in our village that would damage our crops and kill our animals.”
In neighboring villages, women are testing other models: a cosmetics stall in Roshanabad, a spice business in Khuda Bux II, a beauty parlor and tuck shop in Mir Allah Bachayo union council. All operate on small grants and are tracked digitally via mobile apps provided by SRSO.
“So far we have given grants to 320 individuals for starting nano businesses, of which 50 percent are females,” said SRSO district project officer Maqsood Alam.
“We are strengthening local stakeholders and communities so that they could head toward sustainable livelihood and we could protect them in terms of climate change.”
The return to barter, often dismissed as outdated, is gaining currency in places where cash flow is erratic, formal banking is inaccessible, and climate volatility threatens conventional trade.
“This is a miracle in the history of Jhuddo that a female shopkeeper is sitting there and five females are jointly running this business,” Alam said.
For Akhtar, the impact is not just economic, but personal.
“This [business] has had a huge impact on my family,” she said. “Now we are earning a very good income from this, Mashallah, and we are getting a lot of support because of this.”
