Pakistan-US continue discussions for investment trade deals
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government aims to secure a better tariff on certain exports during the ongoing talks with the US, Bilal Azhar Kayani said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
The South Asian nation reached a trade deal last month with a 19 percent tariff as the two nations have seen an improvement in relations recently. Trump hosted Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir for rare talks at the White House who is on a second trip to the US within a few months.
President Donald Trump while announcing the trade deal said the US will work with Pakistan on developing 'their massive oil reserves' and its in the process of choosing an oil company to lead the partnership.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
41 minutes ago
- Arab News
Pakistan extends deadline for Hajj applications under government scheme by one day
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced on Saturday it has extended the deadline for receiving Hajj applications under the government scheme by one day, with designated banks set to accept forms on Monday, as authorities reported receiving more than 110,000 applications over the past 12 days. The country has a Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, of which 129,210 seats have been allocated to the government scheme and the rest to private tour operators. The religious affairs ministry said earlier the State Bank of Pakistan had accepted its request and ordered 14 designated banks to keep branches open for Hajj applications on the final day, which fell on Saturday, though the deadline was later extended in the evening. 'The receipt of Hajj applications has been extended by one day,' a ministry spokesperson said in a statement. 'Designated banks will continue receiving applications on Monday, Aug. 18," it added. "More than 110,000 applications have been received in the last 12 days, with only 7,000 seats left under the government scheme.' The ministry said the extension was on a 'first-come, first-served basis' and that applications would close as soon as the quota was filled. It clarified that no extension would be granted for the ministry's online portal, which would stop accepting applications at midnight on Aug. 16. Pakistan began receiving applications on Aug. 4. Applicants were advised to obtain computerized receipts and verify their details through the ministry's portal or the Pak Hajj 2026 app. Under the government scheme, pilgrims can choose between a long package (38-42 days) and a short package (20-25 days), with costs ranging between Rs1,150,000 and Rs1,250,000 ($4,050–4,236). Applicants are required to deposit a first installment of Rs500,000 or Rs550,000 depending on the package, while the remaining dues will be collected in November. Saudi Arabia had approved the same quota for Pakistan in 2025, though private tour operators last year struggled to utilize their share, saying they faced technical and financial delays, even as the government filled its quota of over 88,000 pilgrims.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Stops Visitor Visas for People from Gaza
The US State Department on Saturday said it was halting all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza while it conducts "a full and thorough" review. The Department said "a small number" of temporary medical-humanitarian visas had been issued in recent days but did not provide a figure. The US issued more than 3,800 B1/B2 visitor visas, which permit foreigners to seek medical treatment in the United States, to holders of the Palestinian Authority travel document, according to an analysis of monthly figures provided on the department's website. That figure includes 640 visas issued in May. The State Department's move to stop visitor visas for people from Gaza comes after Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and an ally of President Donald Trump, said on social media on Friday that the Palestinian "refugees" had entered the US this month. According to Reuters, Loomer's statement sparked outrage among some Republicans, with US Representative Chip Roy, of Texas, saying he would inquire about the matter and Representative Randy Fine, of Florida, describing it as a "national security risk". Gaza has been devastated by a war that was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The US has not indicated that it would accept Palestinians displaced by the war. However, sources told Reuters that South Sudan and Israel are discussing a plan to resettle Palestinians.
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Prominent religio-political leader's children killed, wife injured in northwestern Pakistan home shooting
PESHAWAR: A shooting at the residence of a prominent religio-political party leader, Mufti Kifayatullah, in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province left his son and daughter dead and his wife critically wounded on Saturday, while he himself sustained serious injuries, according to an official statement. A former provincial lawmaker from Malakand division and district chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) party, Kifayatullah was attacked inside his residence in Batkhela, Levies officials said in a statement. 'A shooting incident took place at the house of Mufti Kifayatullah, district chief of JUI-F in Batkhela,' the statement said. 'As a result of the firing, Kifayatullah was seriously injured, his daughter and son were killed, and his wife was also critically wounded.' Authorities said the assailant was the JUI-F politician's own son, who managed to escape after the attack. The bodies and the injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Batkhela, where doctors later said Kifayatullah's condition was out of danger. The motive behind the shooting was not immediately clear, though the incident appeared to be linked to some domestic dispute. The JUI-F, a major religio-political party with deep roots in northwestern Pakistan, has long exercised influence in the area. However, it struggled in the 2024 general elections, with leaders blaming security threats for their inability to run a full campaign.
