ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemns fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza that have killed hundreds of people and threatened a ceasefire with Hamas, the Pakistani foreign office said on Tuesday, expressing fears about renewed regional instability.
Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday that killed more than 300 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital officials.
The surprise bombardment threatened to wreck the ceasefire in place since January and fully reignite the 17-month-old war, with Israeli officials saying the operation was expected to expand.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office condemned the strikes as a “horrific act of aggression” in the holy month of Ramadan and called it a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement.
“This horrific act of aggression, in the holy month of Ramadan, is a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement and marks a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilize the entire region once again,” it said in a statement.
The surprise attack shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and raised the prospect of a full return to fighting in a 17-month war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction across Gaza. It also raised questions about the fate of the roughly two dozen Israeli hostages held by Hamas who are believed to still be alive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire. The White House said it had been consulted and voiced support for Israel’s actions.
A senior Hamas official said Netanyahu’s decision to resume the war amounts to a “death sentence” for the remaining hostages. Izzat Al-Risheq accused Netanyahu of launching the strikes to try and save his far-right governing coalition and called on mediators to “reveal facts” on who broke the truce.
“We urge the international community to play it’s role to immediately end the violence and resume diplomatic efforts toward an immediate and lasting peace in Gaza and the Middle East,” the Pakistani foreign office said.
Israel’s war on Gaza began after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on Oct.7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and over 200 others were taken into Gaza as hostages. The subsequent Israeli campaign killed around 50,000 Palestinians and displaced almost all of Gaza’s 2 million population, leaving the territory a wasteland.
Both sides agreed to an uneasy, six-week truce on Jan. 19 which paved the way for the release of hostages from both sides.
Pakistan condemns fresh Israeli strikes killing hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza
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Pakistan condemns fresh Israeli strikes killing hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza
- The surprise bombardment threatened to wreck the ceasefire in place since January and fully reignite the 17-month-old war
- Islamabad urges international community to end violence, resume diplomatic efforts for lasting peace in Gaza and Middle East
Pakistan floats bitcoin mining proposal using surplus electricity at first crypto council meeting
- The council was officially launched this month to integrate crypto technologies into Pakistan’s financial system
- The country’s finance chief emphasizes the need for a future-ready financial ecosystem that attracts investment
KARACHI: A proposal to leverage surplus electricity for bitcoin mining was floated at the inaugural meeting of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) on Friday, according to a statement by the Finance Division, as members of the newly established body vowed to open a new digital economy chapter in the country’s history.
The PCC was officially launched on March 15 to explore the integration of crypto and blockchain technologies into Pakistan’s financial ecosystem and draft a regulatory framework for the sector. Its formation marked a significant shift for the country that was once reluctant to embrace cryptocurrencies due to regulatory and security concerns.
The council’s first meeting was presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and attended by senior officials, including the governor of the State Bank, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan and the federal IT and law secretaries.
“The meeting focused on Pakistan’s untapped potential in the crypto space, with [PCC] CEO Bilal Bin Saqib presenting a comprehensive vision and mission for the Council,” the statement said.
“Saqib emphasized the importance of regulatory models and use cases, particularly in the region, that could be tailored to Pakistan’s unique context,” it added. “He also presented the concept of leveraging Pakistan’s surplus electricity for Bitcoin mining, potentially turning the country’s liabilities into assets.”
Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoins are created and transactions verified through complex mathematical computations that require powerful, energy-intensive computers.
Pakistan’s surplus electricity, which often goes unused due to low demand or inadequate infrastructure, could be redirected to power these mining operations, according to the proposal, and generate revenue from otherwise wasted energy.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb praised the council’s vision and underlined its strategic importance for Pakistan’s digital transformation.
“This is the beginning of a new digital chapter for our economy,” he said. “We are committed to building a transparent, future-ready financial ecosystem that attracts investment, empowers our youth and puts Pakistan on the global map as a leader in emerging technologies.”
Aurangzeb noted that while Pakistan should learn from global best practices, it must develop business and revenue models grounded in local realities.
He called for building on previous work by various stakeholders to ensure the country doesn’t start from scratch.
Other council members highlighted the need for regulatory clarity, consumer protection, licensing regimes and a national blockchain policy. They also stressed the importance of sequencing the rollout, running pilot programs and ensuring compliance with international obligations.
Pakistan stocks post 2.5% weekly gain as IMF talks fuel investor confidence
- The bullish sentiment was triggered by a recent IMF visit, raising hopes for a staff-level agreement
- Analysts expect the market to remain positive as Pakistan seeks $1.5 billion in IMF climate financing
KARACHI: Pakistan’s stocks ended the week on Friday with a 2.5 percent weekly gain, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index hitting a record high as investors expected a positive outcome from the country’s ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the first review.
The last trading session of the week witnessed the stocks gauge rising to 119,405 points during the day before closing in the red at 118,442 points, 0.3 percent lower than the last close due to profit-taking.
An IMF staff mission left Pakistan last week after concluding a visit that lasted for over half a month, with its chief, Nathan Porter, issuing a statement saying the two sides “made significant progress toward reaching a Staff Level Agreement,” triggering a bull run at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
“The week commenced with the completion of the IMF mission’s visit to Pakistan for the first review of the ongoing $7 billion Extended Fund Facility, though a staff-level agreement remains awaited,” he said.
Pakistan, he continued, was also in the process of securing an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) with the IMF for additional financing to address the impacts of climate change.
Pakistan is one of the world’s most affected nations by climate change and has witnessed extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heatwaves. The country is seeking about $1.5 billion in climate financing from the global lender, which is currently evaluating the country’s request.
The Karachi-based brokerage research firm Arif Habib Ltd. said the market remained “jubilant” during the week as investor sentiment was supported by expectations of a staff-level agreement between Pakistan and the IMF that will lead to the disbursement of $1.1 billion to Pakistan.
The IMF, it said, shared a draft of the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies with the authorities in Pakistan, which signaled progress.
“Furthermore, potential resolution of power circular debt charged up the overall sentiment,” it said.
The IMF has also allowed the government to recalibrate its Rs12.97 trillion tax collection target for the current fiscal year to Rs12.35 trillion.
“We expect the market to remain positive in the upcoming week,” said the research firm. “The equity investors will closely follow developments leading up to Pakistan’s pact with the IMF that is projected to keep the momentum at the bourse buoyant.”
Pakistan highlights ‘positive’ IMF response as it seeks $1.5 billion in climate funding
- Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb calls talks with the global lender ‘very constructive’
- The minister oversees the signing of Pakistan’s first green bond denominated in local currency
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Friday the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) response to his country’s request for climate financing was “very positive,” as he oversaw the signing of Pakistan’s first green bond denominated in the local currency.
The IMF’s climate finance funding provides long-term, low-interest loans to help vulnerable countries tackle climate-related risks and transition to greener economies.
Pakistan, which has experienced extreme weather events like floods, droughts and heatwaves, is in talks with the Washington-based lender to secure as much as $1.5 billion in climate resilience funding.
The IMF is also reviewing Pakistan’s economic performance under its $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.
“Over the last few weeks, we have had very constructive discussions with the IMF with respect to the climate resilience fund,” the minister said while addressing an event in Islamabad, adding it was the first time his country had approached the global lender for climate financing and had got a “very positive” response.
“In the coming days, hopefully, we will get to hear more about it,” he continued.
Aurangzeb witnessed the signing of Parwaaz Green Action Bond, Pakistan’s first-ever rupee-denominated green bond to be listed on the stock exchange.
The Rs1 billion ($3.6 million) bond aims to mobilize capital for environmentally sustainable projects and strengthen Pakistan’s green investment ecosystem.
This is the second green bond after Pakistan issued the $500 million Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) bond, which was oversubscribed by six times.
Recalling the devastating effects of the 2022 floods and growing pollution, the finance minister said Pakistan was beginning to see and accept climate change as an existential threat.
He said out of a total 13,000 glaciers in Pakistan, 10,000 were receding and were expected to cause significant water disruptions.
He pointed out Pakistan needed financing to deal with such challenges for which it looked toward its multilateral and development partners. However, he emphasized the importance of building Pakistan’s own capacity “in terms of investable, bankable projects” in the context of increasing climate disasters.
“After the 2022 flood, the pledges which were made exceeded $10 billion,” he noted. “What we finally received in the country was one third of it.”
About Pakistan’s first rupee-denominated green bond, he said the country would require some key enablers, such as a proper bond yield curve, secondary market liquidity and a green taxonomy framework.
“Hopefully, as it gets sold out, it should encourage more people both locally and internationally to come up with the financing structures,” he added.
Pakistani religio-political party holds protests over US backing of Israel’s renewed Gaza offensive
- Jamaat-e-Islami asks the government to clarify its position on the reported visit of Pakistani journalists to Israel
- Its top leader blames Washington for encouraging ‘Israel’s terrorism’ leading to the Palestinian ‘genocide’ in Gaza
KARACHI: A prominent Pakistani religio-political party held pro-Palestine protests outside the American diplomatic missions in major cities on Friday, condemning Washington’s support for Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes have killed over 500 Palestinians, with more than half of them women and children, since Tuesday, according to Palestinian health authorities in Gaza.
The renewed escalation is a blow to the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on Jan. 15, following more than a year of Israeli airstrikes that flattened much of Gaza’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods.
Around 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza were killed during the 15-month war that began in October 2023.
Reacting to the development, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan decided to bring out pro-Palestine rallies, with its chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rahman addressing his followers in Lahore to highlight the gravity of the situation.
“People are on the streets showing solidarity with their Palestinian brothers, sisters and children,” he said. “This is the month of Ramadan, and the calamity happening during this month is a shameful reality for humanity.”
Rahman condemned the “relentless bombardment” in Gaza that has led to the death of hundreds of people and caused widespread destruction in the area.
“If there is any power behind Israel’s terrorism and the genocide of Palestinians, it is the power of America,” he said. “This is why America is complicit in the bloodshed of Palestinians, supporting Israel and Netanyahu.”
He criticized the international community’s inaction and the perceived complacency of Muslim rulers, questioning the silence of their armies and the continuation of trade with the US and Israel.
“All these people share equal responsibility for the blood of Palestinians,” he declared.
The JI chief demanded the government to clarify how a group of Pakistani journalists recently managed to travel to Israel.
“Reports are circulating on social media about Pakistani journalists traveling to Israel,” he said. “The government should present its stance on this matter. If a deal is made with the Zionists and the blood of Palestinians traded, the nation will turn these rulers into an example for others.”
Pakistan does not recognize Israel and explicitly states this on its passport. The foreign office said this week it was seeking more information about the reported visit of the Pakistani delegation while ruling out any possibility of recognizing Israel.
In Karachi, JI’s city head, Munim Zafar Khan, led a protest outside the US Consulate, where he reiterated the importance of protecting Jerusalem by framing it as a matter of faith.
“The people of Gaza remain steadfast despite the devastation Israel has inflicted upon them,” he said. “With faith in Allah and perseverance, no worldly power can defeat you.”
Khan echoed Rahman’s criticism of Muslim rulers, accusing them of being “meek before America” and failing to protect the Palestinian people.
He also praised young people around the world for showing solidarity with Palestine and highlighted the resilience of the Gazan people, who are observing Ramadan under dire conditions.
Elon Musk’s Starlink gets temporary go-ahead to boost Internet access in Pakistan
- Country’s IT minister calls it a ‘milestone’ development that will enhance Pakistan’s Internet infrastructure
- Shaza Fatima Khawaja says the decision was taken with the consensus of all security and regulatory bodies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has granted temporary registration to Starlink, a satellite Internet service by SpaceX that promises high-speed connectivity, particularly in underserved areas, state media reported on Friday.
The move comes as the international company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, applied to secure a full operating license in Pakistan, where demand for improved Internet access remains high.
Musk, who has drawn global attention for his proximity to US President Donald Trump and controversial political stances, has pushed to expand Starlink’s footprint globally despite regulatory hurdles in several countries.
“With the consensus of all security and regulatory bodies, Starlink has been issued a temporary No Objection Certificate (NOC),” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said while quoting an official statement.
APP said the decision was described by Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja as part of the government’s initiative to enhance the country’s Internet infrastructure.
“Starlink’s registration is a major step forward in this journey,” she continued.
The IT minister said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) would oversee compliance with fee payments and other licensing requirements by the company.
“Modern solutions like satellite Internet will greatly enhance connectivity, particularly in underserved and remote areas of the country,” she added, calling the approval a milestone.
Khawaja highlighted the Pakistani administration adopted a “whole-of-government” approach, working in close collaboration with all relevant institutions to facilitate Starlink’s registration process.
She also acknowledged the respective roles played by cybercrime and security agencies, the PTA and the country’s space agency in this regard.
The minister expressed optimism that Starlink’s entry into Pakistan would formally launch satellite Internet services and bridge the digital divide.
