ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will ban air travel for anyone without a COVID-19 vaccine certificate from Aug.1 and will require all public sector workers to get vaccinated by Aug. 31, the government announced on Thursday along with a host of other restrictions.
From Aug. 1, unvaccinated people will no longer be allowed to enter government offices, schools, restaurants and shopping malls, said Asad Umar, who heads National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), a military-run body that oversees the pandemic response, at a joint news conference with the health minister in Islamabad.
Teachers and students above 18, public transport and retail staff will also be required to get vaccinated by the enad of August, they said.
Pakistan has seen coronavirus infections soar, dominated by Delta variant, and its poor health infrastructure is under extreme pressure.
The national positive test rate for COVID stands at 7.53 percent, according to the NCOC. The rate in the southern port city of Karachi touched 23 percent in recent weeks.
“If you’re not vaccinated you can’t go to teach at schools and colleges from August 1,” Umar said.
“We can’t put our children’s lives at risk just because that you’re not ready to get the vaccine.”
The NCOC has said the Delta, Beta, and Alpha variants of the virus have all been detected in Pakistan since May.
After a sluggish start, the government ramped up its national vaccination drive, especially in the heartland Punjab province, with 850,000 doses administered on Wednesday across the country.
Umar said the target is to touch one million doses a day.
According to the NCOC, over 27.8 million have now received at least one vaccine shot, while only 5.9 million have been fully vaccinated out of a population of 220 million.
It said Pakistan registered 4,497 new cases and 76 deaths in the last 24 hours, with over 3,000 people in critical condition. So far 23,209 people have died of COVID-19 in Pakistan.
Pakistan to ban public sector, education, malls, air travel for unvaccinated
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Pakistan to ban public sector, education, malls, air travel for unvaccinated
- From Aug. 1, unvaccinated people will no longer be allowed to enter government offices, schools, restaurants and shopping malls
- Over 27.8 million Pakistanis have now received at least one vaccine shot, while only 5.9 million have been fully vaccinated
Pakistan set to unveil IMF-backed budget today, aimed at balancing growth and stability
- Pakistan missed its growth target as agriculture, industry underperformed in the outgoing fiscal year
- Analysts expect the government to focus on fiscal consolidation by widening the tax base this year
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is set to unveil an International Monetary Fund-backed federal budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year in parliament today, with economists describing it as a delicate balancing act aimed at preserving macroeconomic stability while reigniting growth.
The budget comes a day after the release of the Economic Survey of Pakistan, which showed that the country missed its annual growth target, expanding by 2.7 percent against a goal of 3.7 percent.
Economists say the government is now walking a “tightrope” as it prepares its fiscal roadmap for the coming year.
“The upcoming budget is expected to be fiscally disciplined, aiming to strike a delicate balance between economic stability and inclusive growth,” said Sana Tawfik, head of research at Karachi-based brokerage Arif Habib Limited.
Pakistan’s agriculture sector was a major drag on overall performance in the outgoing fiscal year, growing just 0.56 percent, while the industrial sector, especially large-scale manufacturing, also lagged.
The services sector fared slightly better with an estimated 2.9 percent growth. For the upcoming year, the government is targeting 4.2 percent GDP growth, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
In the new budget, businesses across sectors, including textiles, real estate, capital markets alongside foreign investors, are hoping for rationalization of key taxes such as the sales tax, capital gains tax, super tax and the levy on salaried income.
The government, however, is expected to stay the course on reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which have helped stabilize the economy after years of high debt and dollar shortages.
“With IMF engagement in focus, the government is likely to prioritize fiscal consolidation, emphasizing revenue enhancement through broadening the tax base,” Tawfik said.
The IMF has pressed Pakistan to bring more sectors into the tax net, particularly agriculture, real estate and retail.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s administration has already withdrawn subsidies and raised electricity tariffs in recent years to boost revenue, key conditions under the IMF program.
“While development spending may remain contained due to limited fiscal space, the overall direction appears to favor continuity of reform,” Tawfik said.
Mushtaq Khan, former chief economist at Bank Alfalah Limited, said the government is expected to wage a “war on cash” in the coming fiscal year by promoting a cashless economy.
He added the Sharif administration now appears more “confident” as his coalition government has seemingly gained political strength in the wake of the recent military standoff with India.
Pakistan ready to ‘fight’ in Asian Cup football qualifier against Myanmar today
- Head coach Stephen Constantine says players have trained hard and will fight to win the game in Yangon
- Pakistan lost their opening Group E match to Syria but have shown signs of progress under Constantine
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national football team is determined to fight to win in their crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying clash against Myanmar today, Wednesday, head coach Stephen Constantine said, as the side looks to build on the momentum of last year’s improved performances.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference in Yangon a day earlier, the Pakistani coach acknowledged the challenges facing his squad but remained upbeat about their preparation and intent.
“For Pakistan, all of the games are difficult,” he said, according to a statement circulated by the Pakistan Football Federation. “But we have a good group of players. They have worked hard over the last few days and we will come here to try to win the game.”
Pakistan, who lost 2-0 to Syria in their opening Group E match, have shown signs of progress in recent international fixtures, including a spirited display in that match and a stronger showing overall in 2024 compared to previous years.
Constantine highlighted the importance of continuing that upward trajectory.
“We played quite well against Syria despite the result,” he said. “Every single game you play for Pakistan is important, even friendlies.”
Myanmar, who won their last match, will have home advantage at Yangon’s Thuwunna Stadium and are widely seen as favorites. But the Pakistani coach said his team remained focused and undeterred.
“They will be favorites for this game,” he said. “But we will fight like we do in every game and we will try to get the result that we want, which is to win. We didn’t come here to lose.”
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST) today.
Pakistan to kickstart post-Hajj flight operations today to bring back pilgrims
- State media says Pakistan International Airlines’ flight carrying 307 pilgrims will leave Jeddah for Islamabad
- Over 88,000 Pakistani pilgrims under government scheme to return to country via 362 flights, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will kickstart its post-Hajj flight operations to bring thousands of pilgrims back to the country from today, Tuesday, state-run media reported, adding that they would continue till July 10.
Pakistan concluded its 33-day pre-Hajj flight operation last month, transporting more than 115,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia under both the government and private schemes for the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage took place from June 4 to June 9, drawing millions of pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Pakistan was among several countries managing large-scale contingents during the annual religious gathering.
“Post-Hajj flight operation to bring back Pakistani pilgrims is starting from Tuesday,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Monday, quoting Secretary Religious Affairs Dr. Syed Ata ur Rehman.
Sharing details, Rehman said Pakistan International Airlines’ flight PK-732 carrying 307 pilgrims will leave Jeddah for Islamabad.
“Similarly, the first post-Hajj flight from Madinah PK-7030 will depart for Lahore on Thursday,” Radio Pakistan said. “The national flag carrier will airlift 307 pilgrims.”
The Pakistani official said the flight operation would continue till July 10 during which a total of over 88,000 pilgrims under the government scheme will be transported to Pakistan via 362 flights.
“Meanwhile, Dr. Syed Ata ur Rehman highlighted that elaborate arrangements have been made for smooth transportation of the pilgrims back to their homeland,” the state broadcaster said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday thanked Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the Kingdom’s “exceptional organization” of Hajj 2025.
“Thank you for making this spiritual experience more comfortable and memorable for all those who performed Hajj this year,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.
Pakistan likely to hike defense spending but slash overall budget in 2025-26
- Media reports say government likely to present Rs17.6 trillion ($62.45 billion) budget for budget 2025-26
- Analysts expect increase of around 20 percent in defense budget likely offset by cuts in development spending
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will unveil its annual federal budget for the coming fiscal year later on Tuesday, seeking to kickstart growth while finding resources for an expected hike in defense expenditure following the conflict with India last month.
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.
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.
India’s defense spending in its 2025–26 (April-March) fiscal year was set at $78.7 billion, a 9.5 percent increase from the previous year, including pensions and $21 billion earmarked for equipment. It has indicated it will step up expenditure following the May conflict with Pakistan.
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.
RATE CUTS NOT ENOUGH
Expansion of the economy should be aided by a sharp drop in the cost of borrowing, the government says, after a succession of interest rate cuts by the central bank. But economists warn that monetary policy alone may not be enough, with fiscal constraints and IMF-mandated reforms still weighing on investment.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Monday that he wanted to avoid Pakistan’s boom and bust cycles of the past.
“The macroeconomic stability that we have achieved, we want to absolutely stay the course,” he said. “This time around we are very, very clear that we do not want to squander the opportunity.”
The budget is expected to prioritize expanding the tax base, enforcing agriculture income tax laws, and reducing government subsidies to industry, to meet the terms of a $7 billion IMF bailout signed last summer. Just 1.3 percent of the population paid income tax in 2024, according to the tax authorities, with agriculture and the retail sector largely outside of the tax net.
The IMF has urged Pakistan to widen the tax base through reforms which include taxing agriculture, retail, and real estate.
Ahmad Mobeen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said that he expected the revenue target for 2025-26 will be missed.
“The shortfall will mostly be owing to lack of optimal implementation of announced measures as well as absence of meaningful structural reforms to widen the tax net in general,” said Mobeen.
($1 = 281.8400 Pakistani rupees)
Pakistan’s Met Office warns ongoing heatwave likely to continue till June 12
- Pakistan ranks among top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change, faces irregular weather patterns
- Temperatures in upper parts of the country to remain 5°C to 7°C above normal, PMD says
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Tuesday that the ongoing heatwave in several parts of the country is expected to continue until June 12, advising citizens to take precautionary measures.
Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change and has faced increasingly frequent extreme weather events in recent years, including deadly heatwaves and devastating floods.
Temperatures in the upper parts of the country including parts of Punjab, Islamabad, northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the northern regions of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to remain 5°C to 7°C above normal, the PMD said in a press release. Temperatures in southern Sindh, eastern Punjab and southwestern Balochistan provinces are likely to stay 4°C to 6°C above normal.
“The ongoing heatwave is expected to persist until Thursday,” the PMD said. “The general public is advised to take precautionary measures by avoiding direct sunlight between 11:00 am and 4:00 p.m. and increasing water intake.”
Most parts of the country would experience dry weather with extreme heat conditions on June 10-11, the report said. It added that strong, dusty winds are expected in some parts of Islamabad, Punjab, and Balochistan during the afternoon.
According to state media, Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab’s Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said that under the directions of the chief minister, water supply is being ensured in the Cholistan desert region in southern Punjab.
He warned that special care of the children, elderly and the sick should be taken during this time.
Last week, the PMD forecast that the ongoing heatwave in the country would continue throughout the Eid Al-Adha holidays.
Pakistan experienced its most recent heatwave in May but no loss of life was reported.
In June 2024, nearly 700 people died in less than a week during a severe heatwave in the country, with most fatalities reported in the port city of Karachi and other parts of the southern Sindh province.
A similar heatwave in 2015 claimed over 2,000 lives in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi alone, while catastrophic floods in 2022 left more than 1,700 people dead and displaced over 33 million across the country.
