
Pakistan-UAE JMC to be held in Abu Dhabi
Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the upcoming 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting was attended by SAPM to DPM Office, federal secretaries of economic affairs, commerce, maritime affairs, interior, inter-provincial coordination, national heritage, and health, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and departments, including MoFA, overseas Pakistanis, finance, railways, defence, and tourism.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
14 hours ago
- Business Recorder
FPCCI slams 18pc tax on e-commerce transactions, solar panels
KARACHI: Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Muhammad Amaan Paracha has said that the federal budget for the new fiscal year does not align with the expectations of the trade, industry, and the general public. He criticised the imposition of taxes on e-commerce transactions, saying it is an unjust move. 'Unemployed youth were earning through e-commerce, and this step will stifle their potential,' he said. Expressing serious concern over the 18% tax imposed on solar panels, Paracha said the government has retrieved Rs 3 trillion through the termination of Independent Power Producer (IPP) agreements — a positive move for the power sector. However, instead of formulating an effective alternative energy policy, the government has imposed 18% sales tax on solar panels. This has already caused a spike in solar panel prices in the market. 'The entire business community unanimously demands the immediate withdrawal of this sales tax,' he added. 'We had hoped for relief to help the industry stabilize, but even the agricultural sector received no support, and the government turned a blind eye to education, offering no relief,' Paracha stated. He further pointed out that the federal budget for 2025–26 contains over 40% anomalies that the government must address. The industrial sector had expected the budget to be business-friendly and in the public interest, but instead, it has led to deep disappointment. Due to rising electricity prices, industrial production costs are already extremely high, and taxing solar panels will deprive industries of cheap energy options — effectively forcing them to buy expensive electricity, which is unfair. Paracha acknowledged that given the current post-Pakistan-India war scenario, an increase in the defense budget was inevitable. He cited the regional situation, recent surge in terrorism, India's water aggression, and non-traditional threats as reasons to prioritize national security. A 21% increase in the defense budget, allocating Rs 2,550 billion, was a necessary and vital step, he said. He also urged the SBP governor to reduce the interest rate by 3% in the monetary policy scheduled to be announced on Monday. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan-UAE JMC to be held in Abu Dhabi
Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the upcoming 12th session of the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was attended by SAPM to DPM Office, federal secretaries of economic affairs, commerce, maritime affairs, interior, inter-provincial coordination, national heritage, and health, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and departments, including MoFA, overseas Pakistanis, finance, railways, defence, and tourism.


Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Pakistanis advised to reconsider Iran visit
ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has advised Pakistanis to reconsider their visit to Iran with estimated 5,000 Zaireen stuck in the Iran in wake of brutal Israeli strikes on several Iranian cities. With respect to queries about Pakistani Zaireen, a senior official at MoFA said that currently, 45,000 to 50,000 Pakistanis are residing in different cities of Iran. The number of Zaireen travelling to Iran fluctuates, and most do not contact our diplomatic missions. In light of the current security situation in the region, we have advised Zaireen to reconsider travel plans to Iran and Iraq, said the source. Our Embassy in Tehran and consulates remain available to assist and facilitate Pakistani nationals in Iran, said a senior MoFA official. The official statistics show that an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 Pakistanis are reportedly staying in the country without legal documentation. Sources indicate that Pakistan and Iran share a 909-kilometre-long border, which includes three remote entry and exit points located at Taftan, Gabd, and Mand. In response, the Pakistani Embassy in Iran has issued advisories, urging citizens to remain in safe locations and avoid unnecessary travel. A large portion of the Pakistani population in Iran consists of religious pilgrims, who frequently visit holy sites in Mashhad, Qom, and Tehran. In addition to pilgrims, the Pakistani community also includes students, labourers, traders, and professionals. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025