ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is in Saudi Arabia to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting that will discuss Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon, state-run media reported on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia will host the extraordinary Arab–Islamic summit between the Arab League and the OIC on Nov. 11 to address Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza and Lebanon.
Muslim countries have called on Israel to impose an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East after its military campaigns in Gaza have killed over 43,000 people in the strip and injured thousands more. Its military campaigns in Lebanon and attacks on Iran last month have heightened fears of a wider war in the Middle East.
“Deputy Prime Minister is in Saudi Arabia on an official visit to attend the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said.
It said Dar visited the holy city of Madinah where he offered prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque and prayed for the peace, unity and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah.
Pakistan’s foreign office said this week that the CFM will be a preparatory session for the Nov. 11 summit on Monday, which will be attended by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The Nov. 11 summit will be a follow-up to the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit held in November 2023 in Riyadh, the foreign office said.
“At the Summit, the prime minister will reiterate Pakistan’s full support to the Palestinian cause,” it said. “He will call for an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza; an urgent and unconditional ceasefire; immediate cessation of the ongoing Israeli adventurism in the region that is endangering the security of the countries in the Middle East.”
On the sidelines of the summit, Sharif is expected to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from other Arab League and OIC Member States.
Pakistan deputy PM in Saudi Arabia to attend OIC meeting on Gaza, Lebanon
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Pakistan deputy PM in Saudi Arabia to attend OIC meeting on Gaza, Lebanon
- Ishaq Dar to take part in OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Saudi Arabia today
- Pakistan PM to attend Nov. 11 Arab–Islamic summit to show solidarity with Palestine
Pakistan announces tax relief for salaried class in FY2025-26 budget
- Tax rate for low-income earners slashed from 5% to 1%
- Rs17.57 trillion budget focuses on economic stabilization
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced significant income tax relief for low- and middle-income earners on Tuesday as it presented its federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, aiming to ease the burden on salaried individuals amid high inflation and economic uncertainty.
Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains below 10%, among the lowest in the region. The government has pledged to raise this ratio to 14% through tax reforms, digital enforcement, and expanding the tax base.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, presenting his first full-year budget in the National Assembly, said the income tax rate for individuals earning between Rs600,000 and Rs1.2 million ($2,128–$4,255) annually would be cut from 5% to 1%.
“First of all, we are giving relief where it is needed the most,” Aurangzeb told parliament, adding that the measure was in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directive to support wage earners and retain talent in the country.
The government has also proposed reducing the tax on annual income up to Rs1.2 million from Rs30,000 to Rs6,000, lowering the tax rate from 15% to 11% for those earning up to Rs2.2 million ($7,800) and cutting the rate from 25% to 23% for income between Rs2.2 million and Rs3.2 million ($11,350).
For high-income earners making over Rs10 million ($35,460) annually, a 1% reduction in the additional surcharge has been recommended to help curb the ongoing brain drain, the minister said.
Aurangzeb described the changes as part of broader efforts to simplify the tax structure and “strike a balance between inflationary pressures and take-home pay.”
The federal budget, with a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion ($62 billion), comes as Pakistan seeks to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout program.
The budget also includes a 20% increase in defense spending, while total government expenditure is expected to be 7% lower year-on-year, reflecting fiscal consolidation goals tied to IMF negotiations.
The proposed budget will be debated in parliament before final approval.
Pakistan announces $62 billion budget 2025-26, raises defense spending by 20% to $9 billion
- Rs17.57 trillion ($62 billion) outlay represents overall decrease in spending by 7 percent
- Total gross revenue of Rs19.28 trillion, total tax revenue of Rs14.1 trillion targeted
KARACHI: Pakistan on Tuesday announced its federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion ($62 billion), an overall decrease in spending by 7%, but hiked the defense expenditure by 20% following a recent military conflict with nuclear-armed neighbor India.
Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented a budget that allocated Rs2.55 trillion ($9 billion) for defense spending in FY26, compared to Rs2.12 trillion in the fiscal year ending this month.
“This budget is being presented at a very important and historic moment when the nation in recent days showed extraordinary unity, determination and strength,” Aurangzeb said, referring to the recent military confrontation with India, in which the militaries of the two nations exchanged drone, missile and artillery attacks, with a combined 70 people killed on both sides.
“With this same national unity and determination, we should turn our focus to our economic strength, growth and welfare,” the finance minister said.
“The spirit with which we protected and strengthened our national sovereignty, we need to ensure our financial security and the welfare of the people with the same unity and strength.”
The military clash between India and Pakistan was sparked by an April attack by assailants who targeted Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir in April, killing 26 men. New Delhi blamed the attack on militants backed by Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad. The two sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery against each other before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10 after four days of fighting, their worst in nearly three decades.
Here are some of the key highlights from the country’s 2025-26 budget:
GDP/DEFICIT
* GDP growth projected to be 4.2 percent
* Nominal GDP seen at 129.57 trillion rupees
* Fiscal deficit expected to be 3.9 percent of GDP
* Targets primary surplus of 2.4 percent of GDP
INFLATION
* Targets inflation at 7.5 percent
EXPENDITURE
* Total spending seen at 17.57 trillion rupees
* Defense expenditure of 2.55 trillion rupees targeted
* Interest payments projected at 8.21 trillion rupees
REVENUE
* Total gross revenue of 19.28 trillion rupees targeted
* Targets total tax revenue of 14.1 trillion rupees
* Aiming for net external receipts of 106 billion rupees
($1 = 282.0000 Pakistani rupees)
- With inputs from Reuters
Pakistan PM urges global powers to take ‘immediate action’ to end Israeli offensive in Gaza
- Over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its latest military offensive in Oct. 7, 2023
- Pakistan has for decades called for establishment of independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged world powers to take immediate action to end Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, saying he hoped innocent Palestinians would achieve their dream of freedom soon.
Over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed and much of the coastal enclave of Gaza devastated since Israel’s latest air and ground offensive began in October 2023, health authorities in Gaza say.
“The oppression, cruelty and barbarism taking place in Palestine and Kashmir — no matter how much we condemn it, it is not enough” Sharif said while addressing a federal cabinet meeting.
“But I believe this is a very critical time for the global powers to effectively use their influence to ensure a ceasefire in Palestine, because what is happening there is the shedding of innocent Muslim blood — the blood of little girls, children and parents.”
The Pakistani PM added:
“I have strong hope in Allah Almighty, God willing, that the people of Palestine will gain freedom, the people of Kashmir will gain freedom. They have made tremendous sacrifices.”
Pakistan has been calling for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza since the latest war broke out.
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has for decades called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Although nearly 150 countries have recognized Palestine statehood, most major Western powers including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan, have not.
Muslim countries that do not recognize Israel include Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Pakistan shares range bound amid uncertainty over budget announcement
- Index recorded intraday high of 970 points and low of 51 points, eventually closing at 122,024, gaining 383 points or 0.32 percent
- Pakistan will unveil annual federal budget, seeking to kickstart growth while finding resources for hike in defense expenditure
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Market witnessed a range-bound session today, Tuesday, with the index fluctuating within a narrow band amid uncertainty surrounding the budget announcement.
Pakistan will unveil its annual federal budget for the coming fiscal year on Tuesday evening, seeking to kickstart growth while finding resources for an expected hike in defense expenditure following a military conflict with India last month, the worst between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.
Islamabad will also have to contend with remaining within the discipline of its International Monetary Fund program and the uncertainty from new trade tariffs being imposed by the United States, its biggest export market.
“The index recorded an intraday high of 970 points and a low of 51 points, eventually closing at 122,024 — gaining 383 points or 0.32 percent,” brokerage house Topline Securities said in its daily market review.
“Market participation remained healthy, with total traded volume reaching 591 million shares and a traded value of PKR 21 billion.”
Media reports say the government is likely to present a 17.6 trillion rupee ($62.45 billion) budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, down 6.7 percent from this fiscal year. It has projected a fiscal deficit of 4.8 percent of GDP, against a targeted 5.9 percent deficit in 2024-25, the reports say.
Analysts said they expect an increase of around 20 percent in the defense budget, likely offset by cuts in development spending.
Pakistan allocated 2.1 trillion Pakistani rupees($7.45 billion) for defense in the outgoing fiscal year, including $2 billion for equipment and other assets. An additional 563 billion rupees ($1.99 billion) was set aside for military pensions, which are not counted within the official defense budget.
The government of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has projected 4.2 percent economic growth in 2025-26, saying it has steadied the economy, which had looked at risk of defaulting on its debts as recently as 2023. Growth this fiscal year is likely to be 2.7 percent, against an initial target of 3.6 percent set in the budget last year.
Pakistan’s growth lags far behind the region. In 2024, South Asian countries grew by an average of 5.8 percent and 6.0 percent growth is expected in 2025, according to the Asian Development Bank.
With inputs from Reuters
Pakistan deports over 216,000 illegal migrants since April under ongoing repatriation drive
- The drive against illegal foreigners was launched in November 2023 amid a surge in militancy
- The country has repatriated a total of 1,102,441 illegal foreigners since the deportations began
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has deported over 216,000 undocumented foreign nationals since April this year as part of a nationwide campaign targeting illegal migrants, mostly Afghan citizens, the country’s interior ministry said on Tuesday.
The repatriation drive, which began in November 2023, was launched in the wake of a spike in suicide bombings and militant activity that Pakistani officials linked to Afghan nationals, though no public evidence was provided to support the claim.
“Since April 1, 2025, a total of 216,103 illegal foreigners have been repatriated and the campaign is ongoing,” the ministry said in its statement.
“Since October 2023, a total of 1,102,441 illegal foreigners have been repatriated under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program,” it added.
Initially, authorities had said the crackdown would focus on those lacking any legal documentation. However, in early 2025, the government expanded the scope to Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, ordering them to leave by March 31 or face deportation starting April 1.
The interior ministry said food and health care arrangements had been made for those in the repatriation process, and that women, children and the elderly are being treated “with dignity and respect.”
It warned that anyone aiding undocumented foreigners with employment or accommodation would also face legal action.
Pakistan has hosted more than 2.8 million Afghan refugees over the past four decades due to prolonged conflict in Afghanistan.
The current deportation campaign has drawn criticism from human rights groups and the Afghan Taliban, who have accused Islamabad of harassment and called for the safe and dignified return of Afghan nationals.
The Pakistani government has denied these allegations, maintaining the repatriation process is being carried out respectfully and in accordance with the law.
