ISLAMABAD: The government’s key coalition allies criticized its tax-heavy federal budget during a parliamentary session on Friday, urging authorities to adopt “people-friendly” policies as Islamabad’s hopes the document will prove instrumental in securing another International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package.
Pakistan’s parliament kicked off the debate into the federal budget on Thursday, with opposition party Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) labelling the government’s move to present the budget as “economic terrorism” against the people. Islamabad has set an ambitious tax revenue generation target of about Rs13 trillion ($46.55 billion) in the budget, which was presented on June 12 by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
When the budget debate resumed in the National Assembly on Friday, the government’s key coalition allies distanced themselves from the taxes imposed in the finance bill, calling on authorities to levy them on landlords and the affluent class rather than the salaried group.
“If sanity fails to prevail and a public-friendly budget is not prepared, then this traditional budget is going to be the biggest threat to the country’s security,” Dr. Farooq Sattar, a senior lawmaker of the government’s coalition partner, Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan, (MQM-P) said during the parliamentary session.
He said the budget signaled that the status quo continued to wield power in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Shazia Marri confirmed that no breakthrough had been reached in talks held between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party and the PPP’s senior leadership on their differences regarding the budget.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari led a high-level delegation of his party to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the government’s senior leadership on Thursday. The two sides attempted to iron out their differences over the federal budget.
The PPP has accused the government of ignoring its recommendations in the budget. While not a member of the federal cabinet, the PPP voted for Sharif in the prime minister’s election and forms the government in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province. The PML-N-led government requires the PPP’s votes for the budget to pass.
After the meeting between the two sides ended on Thursday, a handout issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said both sides had agreed to form committees to work out their differences over the budget.
Speaking during the National Assembly session on Friday, Marri pointed out that the government’s ministers had not attended the session.
“Relevant ministers must be present in the house during budget session,” Marri said, adding that her party was reluctant to participate in such sessions till it resolved its differences with the government on the budget.
Another PPP leader Sharmila Faruqi said both parties’ relevant committees would hold meetings to reach a consensus on the budget before voting on the finance bill takes place next week.
“Not much of a breakthrough, subsequent meetings to follow,” Faruqi told Arab News about the meeting between the two sides. “PML-N must honor its commitments to PPP.”
Meanwhile, SIC lawmaker Sajid Khan criticized the government for imposing heavy taxes in the budget on medicines and food items.
“The government should reopen border with Afghanistan from Angoor Ada [town in northwestern Pakistan] to resume trade and business activities,” he recommended.
Khan said the government should review tax measures and allocate a special budget for the development of the erstwhile tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
“The government should allocate the promised 3 percent of the National Finance Award for the development of the tribal regions,” he said.
Pakistani government’s coalition allies distance themselves from ‘tax-heavy’ budget in parliamentary debate
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Pakistani government’s coalition allies distance themselves from ‘tax-heavy’ budget in parliamentary debate
- Dr. Farooq Sattar, a lawmaker of government ally MQM-P, demands a more “people-friendly” budget
- PPP lawmakers confirm no breakthrough reached with ruling party PML-N on budget differences
Police recover bodies of 2 kidnapped constables in northwest Pakistan amid surging militancy
- Constables Hameed Shah, Ashraf Dotani were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from their homes in South Waziristan district, say police
- In separate incident, seven laborers injured in bomb blast targeting under-construction building of Rescue 1122 in northwestern Tank district
PESHAWAR: The bodies of two kidnapped constables were recovered from a deserted area in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, a police spokesperson said, as the country struggles to contain surging militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Constables Hameed Shah and Ashraf Dotani were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Wana town in South Waziristan district on Saturday, police spokesperson Habib Islam said. Members of the Dotani tribe chased the gunmen, trading fire with them. Three militants were killed while two, including a local tribesman and a girl, were injured during the clash.
“The martyred personnel were kidnapped two days ago from their homes in Tui Khula, a locality on the outskirts of Wana, the main town in the district,” Islam told Arab News.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, but suspicion is likely to fall on the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) outfit or the Pakistani Taliban. The TTP has carried out some of the deadliest attacks against Pakistani law enforcers since 2007.
The banned unit has increased its attacks on Pakistani law enforcers since November 2022, when a fragile truce between the state and the TTP broke down. Pakistan blames neighboring Afghanistan for providing sanctuary to TTP militants, a charge Kabul vehemently denies.
In a separate incident, seven laborers were injured in the northwestern Tank district on Monday when a bomb blast targeted the under construction building of a prominent rescue emergency service, police said.
Tank police spokesperson Younas Khan said the explosion struck an under-construction Rescue 1122 building located in Wazirabad area in Tank.
Rescue 1122 teams responded quickly, shifting the injured to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for medical treatment, Khan said. Following the incident, a large contingent of police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible for the blast, he said.
Pakistan parliament adopts unanimous resolution against Israel’s ‘heinous wave of atrocities’ in Gaza
- Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar presents resolution seeking immediate Gaza ceasefire, resumption of aid to Palestinians
- Gaza’s health ministry says at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when Israel resumed military attacks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution condemning Israel’s “heinous wave of atrocities” in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinian citizens and demanding an immediate ceasefire in the territory, state-run media reported.
Gaza’s health ministry said on Sunday that at least 1,574 Palestinians have been killed since Mar. 18 when a shaky ceasefire between Hamas and Israel broke down, taking the overall death toll since the war began in October 2023 to 50,944.
The resolution was moved by Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar during a session of the lower house of parliament. The resolution noted that the latest Israeli offensive has resulted in the killing of over 1500 Palestinians, rebuking the destruction of complete civil infrastructure in Gaza including houses, hospitals, schools and places of worship.
“The National Assembly on Monday adopted a unanimous resolution, once again strongly condemning the ongoing heinous wave of atrocities by the Zionist Israeli regime in Gaza,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The National Assembly expressed “unwavering solidarity” with the people of Palestine, reaffirming their inalienable right to self-determination and an independent motherland.
The resolution also expressed dismay at the international community’s failure to halt Israeli aggression, calling urgently for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. It also demanded uninterrupted and sustainable humanitarian assistance to besieged and beleaguered Palestinians in the territory.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the entire Pakistani nation stands united when it comes to Palestine. He pointed out that Pakistan has a unique distinction on its passport, which does not allow its holders to travel to Israel.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has frequently criticized the Jewish state for its military operations in Gaza. Islamabad has also called for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory and the need for a revival of negotiations leading to a two-state solution.
Islamabad consistently calls for an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Pakistan to vaccinate over 45 million children against polio in nationwide campaign in April
- Over 400,000 volunteers to participate in nationwide polio drive from Apr. 21-27, says health minister
- Stresses cooperation among federal, provincial governments and global partners to eliminate polio
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will vaccinate over 45 million children against poliovirus in April in its second nationwide campaign against the disease this year, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said on Monday, as Islamabad intensifies efforts to rid the country of the infection.
Polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure and multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine — along with completing the routine immunization schedule for children under five — are crucial to building immunity against the virus.
Pakistan, which has reported six polio cases so far in 2025, has planned three major vaccination campaigns in the first half of the year, with additional rounds scheduled for April and May.
“The second national polio campaign of the year is scheduled from Apr. 21 to 27 nationwide,” Kamal said while chairing a high-level meeting on polio eradication, which was attended by provincial health ministers.
“Over 400,000 trained polio workers will participate, aiming to administer polio vaccination drops to over 45 million children.”
Kamal lamented that Karachi’s sewage samples continued to test positive for poliovirus. The minister directed authorities to formulate a strategy for the nationwide polio campaign, highlighting that a “coordinated approach” was essential to completely eradicate the disease.
The minister stressed the importance of cooperation among federal and provincial governments, as well as international partners, to ensure the success of polio eradication efforts.
Pakistan’s polio program, launched in 1994, has faced persistent challenges including vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim immunization is a foreign conspiracy to sterilize Muslim children or a guise for Western espionage. Militant groups have also repeatedly targeted and killed polio vaccination workers.
In 2024, Pakistan reported an alarming 74 polio cases. Along with Afghanistan, it remains one of the only two countries where polio is still endemic.
Pakistan, Morocco kick off joint counterterror exercise to promote military ties
- Exercise’s third edition aimed at refining professional skills of both armies, says Pakistan military’s media wing
- Pakistan enjoys cordial relations and cooperation in trade, defense and other sectors with various Arab nations
ISLAMABAD: The armies of Pakistan and Morocco kicked off the third edition of their joint bilateral military exercise on Monday, the Pakistani military’s media wing said, stressing that the drill was aimed at enhancing professional skills of their soldiers and promoting defense relations between the two countries.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties and strong defense relations with Arab countries, which often causes them both to engage in frequent training exercises, defense production collaborations and counter-terrorism intelligence sharing.
“Opening Ceremony of 3rd Pak-Morocco Joint Bilateral Military Exercise-2025 was held between the Armies of Pakistan and Morocco in counter terrorism domain at Special Operations School, Cherat,” the Inter-Services Public Relations, (ISPR) the army’s media wing, said in a statement.
Cherat is a hill station located northwestern Pakistan’s Nowshera district.
Pakistan’s Special Services Group and the Moroccan Army’s special forces are taking part in the exercise, the statement confirmed.
“The exercise is aimed at refining professional skills through joint training and harnessing historic military to military relations among the friendly countries,” the ISPR said.
The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Morocco is marked by cordial ties and historic fraternity, according to Pakistan’s foreign office.
In November last year, Moroccan Air Force Inspector Major General Mohammed Gadih expressed his interest in collaborating with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the aerospace sector.
During his visit, the Pakistani air chief reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing military ties with Morocco through joint training programs, including those at the basic and tactical levels, for Moroccan Air Force personnel.
Pakistan Navy inducts offshore patrol vessel with advanced stealth features and weapons in fleet
- PNS Yamama’s induction to enhance navy’s seaward defense, protect sea lines of communication, says Pakistan Navy
- Offshore patrol vessel to ensure protection of maritime infrastructure, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy inducted a fourth offshore patrol vessel (OPV) named PNS Yamama in its fleet on Monday, describing it as a ship equipped with modern stealth features and sophisticated weapons that enables it to function in a multi-threat environment.
PNS Yamama was constructed at the Damen Shipyard in Romania. The multi-purpose ship is equipped with modern stealth features, the latest command and control systems, and sophisticated weapons and sensors, the navy said in a statement. A ceremony to officially induct the OPV was held at the Jinnah Naval Base in the southwestern town of Ormara in the presence of government officials, local dignitaries and senior Pakistan Navy officers.
“As the fourth in the series, the induction of this state-of-the-art ship significantly enhances Pakistan Navy’s capability to ensure seaward defense, protect sea lines of communication and maintain order at sea,” the statement said.
The development highlights Pakistan Navy’s enhanced reach on the western seaboard, providing flexibility in its fleet operations, enhancing maritime security and its ability to contribute to regional peace and stability, it added.
PNS Yamama’s induction would also ensure protection of vital maritime infrastructure, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar Chinese infrastructure project that connects Pakistan’s Gwadar city to China’s Xinjiang province.
Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted the precarious geo-strategic environment in the Indian Ocean, stressing the need for a potent naval force to counter emerging traditional and non-traditional challenges, the statement said.
“He reiterated that the addition of PNS Yamama to the PN fleet would significantly enhance Pakistan Navy’s capability to safeguard the maritime frontiers of Pakistan and reinforce its commitment to ensuring safety and security in international waters,” it said.
Besides inducting various warships in its fleet, Pakistan Navy has held several joint exercises with friendly nations in recent years in a bid to enhance joint operational capabilities and strengthen regional security.
