ISLAMABAD: A leading association of Pakistani journalists on Tuesday called for an investigation into a recent visit by local media professionals to Israel, describing the trip as an affront to journalists worldwide following the deaths of more than 150 media workers covering the war in Gaza.
Last month, a 10-member delegation of Pakistani journalists, intellectuals and influencers visited Israel for a week to learn about the Holocaust and the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, according to Israeli media.
The visit sparked widespread criticism in Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel and has no diplomatic relations with the country. Islamabad has consistently advocated for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders and internationally agreed parameters.
Pakistan has also been a vocal critic of Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza, which it has labeled a “genocide.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemned the visit, calling it a breach of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of the global struggle for press freedom and human rights.
“The PFUJ urged authorities to launch a thorough investigation into how and why these journalists undertook the trip, emphasizing that such actions contradict Pakistan’s long-standing diplomatic stance,” the statement said.
“The PFUJ also condemned the move as an affront to journalists worldwide who have risked or lost their lives in conflict zones while exposing human rights abuses,” it added.
The union said the timing of the visit was particularly troubling, given that over 150 journalists — the majority of them Palestinian — have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, making it one of the deadliest conflicts for media workers in recent history.
It warned that such trips risk legitimizing those killings and undermining the sacrifices of journalists covering conflicts in Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
This is not the first time Pakistani media professionals have traveled to Israel. In 2022, a similar delegation included journalists and Pakistani-Americans participating in interfaith and diplomatic engagement efforts.
Responding to media reports on the latest visit, Pakistan’s foreign office said the country’s position on Israel “remains unchanged.”
“Pakistani passports explicitly state they are ‘not valid for travel to Israel,’” it said. “Pakistan does not recognize Israel and steadfastly supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.”
Top Pakistani journalists’ union demands probe into media delegation’s visit to Israel
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Top Pakistani journalists’ union demands probe into media delegation’s visit to Israel
- PFUJ calls 10-member media delegation’s visit to Israel an affront to journalists worldwide
- It describes the visit as ‘troubling’ given the deaths of over 150 journalists covering the Gaza war
Fitch upgrades Pakistan’s credit rating to ‘B-’ on improving deficits and reforms
- Fitch upgrades credit rating citing increased confidence in country’s progress on narrowing budget deficits
- Upgrade also reflects confidence that the country would implement structural financial reforms, says Fitch
Global ratings agency Fitch on Tuesday upgraded Pakistan’s foreign currency credit rating to ‘B-’ from ‘CCC+’, citing increased confidence in the country’s progress on narrowing its budget deficits.
The upgrade also reflects confidence that the country would implement structural reforms, supporting its International Monetary Fund (IMF) program performance and funding availability, Fitch said.
The agency said though ongoing global trade tensions could create external pressures on Pakistan, its low dependence on exports and market financing should mitigate risks.
Pakistan’s economy had been teetering on the brink of default ever since inflation rose to a record high in May 2023 and reserves started shrinking, but has seen some respite thanks in part to a $7 billion bailout program from the IMF.
In March, the IMF reached a new deal with Pakistan which could unlock $1.3 billion in cash.
Pakistan assembly speaker to attend upcoming Gaza conference in Turkiye
- Istanbul to host pro-Palestine conference for speakers of various Muslim countries on Apr. 18
- Pakistan parliament approved resolution on Monday condemning Israel’s bombardment of Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced on Tuesday he would attend an upcoming conference on Gaza being hosted this month by Turkiye and would present his country’s stance on Israel’s military aggression.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus has invited his counterparts from Palestine, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, among other nations, to an Apr. 18 meeting of the pro-Palestine Parliamentary Speakers Group in Istanbul.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Sadiq said he had been invited by the Turkish parliament speaker to attend the conference.
“So, god willing, I will go there [to the conference] and say the hard truth about Gaza,” he said. “I will present Pakistan’s stance.”
Sadiq said Pakistan is raising the issue of Gaza with foreign delegations that arrive in the country similar to the way it raises the issue of the disputed Kashmir territory.
“It is very disappointing to see videos from there [Gaza] on what is happening there, the way people are being subjected to injustice,” he said. “It feels painful that maybe Islamic countries were not able to play our role the way we could have played it.”
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in January that lasted eight weeks before Israel resumed the war last month.
The initial ceasefire agreement was meant to bring the sides toward negotiating an end to the war, something Israel has resisted doing because it wants to defeat Hamas first.
Since the ceasefire fell apart last month, Israel has blocked aid from entering Gaza and its forces have also seized swaths of the coastal enclave in a bid to ratchet up pressure on Hamas to agree to a deal more aligned with Israel’s terms.
Hundreds have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed.
Pakistan’s parliament on Monday passed a unanimous resolution condemning Israel’s “heinous” wave of hostilities in the Palestinian territory, demanding an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.
Pakistan mulls US oil imports to ease trade imbalance
- Pakistan said that it would send a delegation to the US in the coming weeks to negotiate new tariffs
- Countries are scrambling to find ways to lower their US tariff burdens, including buying more US oil and gas
KARACHI: Pakistan is considering importing crude oil from the United States for the first time to offset a trade imbalance that triggered higher US tariffs, according to a government source directly involved with the proposal and a refinery executive.
Countries are scrambling to find ways to lower their US tariff burdens, including buying more US oil and gas, as President Donald Trump’s sweeping import duties rattle economies and markets.
“It is one of the products being reviewed ahead of a delegation leaving for the US to talk about tariffs,” said a government source directly involved with the proposal to the prime minister to buy more US crude.
“It is under active consideration. We are exploring opportunities and the structure to do it, but the PM has to approve it,” he said.
Trump has imposed a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imports to the US and higher duties on dozens of other countries. Pakistan faces a 29 percent tariff due to a trade surplus with the US of about $3 billion, although that is subject to the 90-day pause Trump announced last week.
The refinery executive told Reuters that the idea is to buy US crude equivalent to Pakistan’s current imports of oil and refined products, or about $1 billion of oil.
The sources declined to be named as the proposal is in its preliminary stage.
Pakistan’s petroleum ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pakistan imported 137,000 barrels per day of crude in 2024, mostly light grades from the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates among its top suppliers, data from analytics firm Kpler showed. Oil imports amounted to $5.1 billion in 2024, data from Pakistan’s central bank showed.
In February, Saudi Arabia, through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), extended a $1.2 billion financing facility to Pakistan for the import of oil products for a year. The SFD has provided approximately $6.7 billion to Islamabad for oil products since 2019.
Before Trump’s partial tariff pause last week, Pakistan said that it would send a delegation to the US in the coming weeks to negotiate new tariffs.
Several big energy importers are looking to buy more from the US to ease trade surpluses.
Last Friday, Indian state gas firm GAIL India Ltd. issued a tender to buy a 26 percent stake in a US liquefied natural gas (LNG) project and import LNG, while Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have discussed participating in an LNG project in the US state of Alaska.
Uzbekistan Airways to launch direct flights between Tashkent, Islamabad from May
- Airline already operates bi-weekly flights between Tashkent and Lahore on Wednesdays and Fridays
- Uzbekistan Airways also exploring plans to introduce direct flights to Karachi in the near future, APP reports
ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan Airways is set to launch direct flights between Tashkent and Islamabad starting May 24 in a “significant step toward enhancing bilateral connectivity,” state-run APP news agency reported on Tuesday.
The new route is expected to bolster people-to-people exchanges, trade and tourism between Uzbekistan and Pakistan, APP said, quoting the Uzbek Embassy in Islamabad. The airline already operates bi-weekly flights between Tashkent and Lahore on Wednesdays and Fridays.
“In the initial phase, the airline will operate weekly flights every Saturday,” the state news agency said.
“Discussions are currently ongoing with Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority to finalize the necessary logistical and regulatory arrangements. Subject to demand and operational considerations, the frequency of flights is expected to increase over time.”
In addition to the Tashkent-Islamabad route, Uzbekistan Airways is also exploring plans to introduce direct flights to Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub, in the near future.
“The expansion of Uzbekistan Airways’ flight network is anticipated to offer greater convenience for travelers, while simultaneously contributing to increased tourism and stronger economic and cultural exchanges between Uzbekistan and Pakistan,” the APP report said.
Pakistan moves to amend company laws to curb financial crimes under FATF guidelines
- SECP plans to introduce centralized registry of Ultimate Beneficial Owners of corporate companies
- UBO register helps to prevent crimes such as money laundering, financing terrorism, tax fraud and corruption
KARACHI: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said on Tuesday it had proposed amendments to the Companies Regulations 2024 to set up a centralized UBO Registry for the corporate sector in line with guidelines on financial transparency by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
UBOs (Ultimate Beneficial Owners) are the owners or the persons who are in charge of a company. A UBO register helps to prevent financial and economic crimes such as money laundering, financing terrorism, tax fraud, and corruption. The register makes it clear to whom money is sent so any potential financial crimes cannot be hidden behind a corporation.
“In terms of the proposed changes, companies would be required to submit UBO information, already being obtained from their shareholders, to the Commission [SECP] through the eZfile portal along with other relevant regulatory returns/forms,” the SECP said in a statement.
“This information can be accessed by Financial Institutions, as and when required.”
Pakistan was removed in 2022 from a FATF grey list that warranted increased surveillance for terrorism financing. Pakistan was listed in 2018 because of “strategic counter-terrorist financing-related deficiencies.”
“In line with FATF standards, the centralized corporate UBO Registry will ensure maintenance of an accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive UBO data. This reform is expected not only to highlight Pakistan’s commitment to global best practices but also strengthens investor confidence in the country’s financial ecosystem,” SECP said.
The Commission said the centralized registry concept was aimed at boosting financial transparency and aligning Pakistan’s ‘Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism’ framework with global standards set by FATF, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other international organizations.
