Latest news with #PTA
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Afghan Deputy Minister arrives
ISLAMABAD: Afghan Deputy Minister for Commerce and Industry Ahmadullah Zahid, along with senior technical experts, has arrived in Pakistan for talks with officials of Ministry of Commerce on bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) and Pakistan Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq announced this on Monday. He has termed the visit and signing of expected PTA, as an important step towards normalisation and strengthening relations between the two neighbouring countries. According to statement issued by Afghan Commerce Ministry, a delegation led by Ahmadullah Zahid, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, began its official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from July 21 (Monday). The purpose of this visit is to discuss the transit, between the two countries. There will be discussions and exchanges on important issues related to trade and preferential tariffs, the statement said, adding, it is expected that an agreement on preferential tariffs will be signed during this visit, to further strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is committed to continuing to grow the country's trade, transit, and industry and to taking advantage of all available opportunities to strengthen the national economy, it further added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan-Vietnam trade to hit $1b, eyes $10b target
Vietnam's Ambassador to Pakistan, Pham Anh Tuan, on Monday, said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Vietnam is expected to soon reach $1 billion, paving the way for a stronger economic partnership. "The steady growth shows the solid foundation on which we can build toward our ambitious target of $10 billion in bilateral trade," the ambassador told APP. The prime ministers of both countries have already agreed on this long-term goal. The ambassador said the vision goes beyond traditional trade and aims to develop a comprehensive economic partnership. With a combined market of 350 million people, both sides see strong potential for deeper integration. He noted Vietnam's global trade volume stands at $800 billion, with plans to reach $1 trillion, creating major opportunities for Pakistani exporters. The ambassador said bilateral trade had reached approximately $850 million in 2024. Pakistan's imports from Vietnam were $522 million, while its exports stood at $328 million. This reflects progress from the previous year, when trade totalled $750 million in 2023. According to 2024 data, Pakistan's main exports to Vietnam include cereals ($117.26 million), cotton ($65.64 million), raw hides and leather ($26.59 million), meat products ($14.33 million), and pharmaceuticals ($10.67 million). Vietnam's key exports to Pakistan include electrical and electronic equipment ($186.67 million), coffee, tea and spices ($30.70 million), and man-made filaments ($20.63 million). Both countries have identified priority sectors for cooperation, such as textiles, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, information technology, and energy. Vietnam is also interested in importing more Pakistani rice, textiles, and leather, while encouraging Pakistani investment in Vietnam's manufacturing and tech industries. The ambassador said the complementary nature of the two economies provides a strong base for growth. Vietnam's strengths in electronics, machinery, and processing align with Pakistan's capabilities in textiles, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals. He highlighted the 5th Meeting of the Pakistan-Vietnam Joint Trade Committee, held in Hanoi on July 11, 2025, as a major development in bilateral relations. The meeting was witnessed by Pakistan's Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dien. At the meeting, both sides agreed to begin negotiations on a Pakistan-Vietnam Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) within 2025. This step is expected to formalise trade ties and reduce commercial barriers. The reactivation of the Joint Trade Committee after eight years marked a strategic reset, said the envoy. The committee serves as a structured platform for sustained dialogue and cooperation. The committee agreed to promote PTA talks, trade promotion, textile and garment cooperation, aquaculture, trade facilitation, and halal trade development. Other areas discussed included aviation, finance, healthcare, human resources, and visa facilitation. The ambassador said both countries aim to enhance trade, investment, technology transfer, and industrial collaboration. He added that the partnership will be supported by institutional frameworks and regular high-level exchanges.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Yoga, art and nature: Thrive Day inspires pupils at Maidenhill School
PUPILS in Stonehouse spent a day exploring mindfulness, creativity and emotional growth through hands-on activities. The event, known as Thrive Day, took place on Thursday, July 17, at Maidenhill School and was designed to promote wellbeing through the Thrive approach, which focuses on emotional resilience and personal development. It was funded by the school's parent-teacher association (PTA). Andrea Roberts, who organised the event, said: "Thrive Day is about more than just fun. "It's about helping children understand their emotions, build strong relationships and develop the life skills they need to flourish." Children took part in a wide range of activities, including yoga, storytelling, nature exploration, music and creative arts. Each session was designed to support children at their individual stage of emotional development. A yoga teacher from Calm Club led sessions focused on relaxation and body awareness, while former primary headteacher Bill Church delivered live storytelling. Other activities included sensory play, pond dipping, painting and a climbing wall challenge. Eco-themed activities took place in the school's garden with the support of parent volunteer Sarah, giving children the chance to connect with nature through hands-on exploration. Artistic activities ranged from finger painting in the nursery to mandala drawing in Year 6. Classrooms also gathered for Thrive circle time, where pupils shared fruit, played connection games, and reflected on kindness and empathy. The Thrive approach is embedded throughout the federation and focuses on supporting unmet emotional needs, building resilience and celebrating progress. The day brought these principles to life in a practical and engaging way. Mrs Jones, executive headteacher, said: "It was a day full of smiles, laughter and connection. "We saw children shine in ways that go beyond the classroom." The school extended its thanks to the PTA, staff, volunteers, and visiting practitioners who helped make the day possible.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
Huawei Technologies license for vehicle tracking services suspended: PTA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that Huawei Technologies (Private) Limited was granted Data CVAS License No DIR(L)/CVAS-877-PTA/2017, dated 8th September 2017, for tracking its vehicle fleet in Pakistan, said a press release. The company, however, did not commence the intended operations, and the license was accordingly suspended solely due to non-commencement of services. However, a segment of the media reported the suspension of the said license, creating the impression that Huawei Pakistan's overall service provision had been suspended. It is clarified that this suspension applies exclusively to the aforementioned license for vehicle tracking services and has no impact on any other operations provided by Huawei Technologies (Private) Limited to telecom operators in Pakistan. All other operations engagements remain unaffected and continue as usual. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Digital promise, analogue problems
Pakistan stands at the edge of a digital breakthrough if we look at the mobile broadband covering nearly 98 percent of its population, a growing digital services sector, and the presence of proactive regulatory institutions like the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). On the face of it, the foundations of a thriving digital economy are already in place. Yet, the promise remains largely unfulfilled. The Asian Development Bank's new report—Pakistan's Digital Ecosystem: A Diagnostic Report—is a timely reality check. It spells out a hard truth: structural weaknesses, fragmented governance, poor digital literacy, and limited private investment are weighing down Pakistan's digital ascent. Without urgent, coordinated, and strategic reforms, the country risks losing its digital dividend and leaving behind the very populations it seeks to uplift. Looking at the telecom sector, a vital backbone of any digital economy, it mirrors this paradox. On paper, Pakistan boasts one of the most liberalized telecom markets in the region. The PTA and MoITT have actively pursued policies that encourage competition and private participation. The Universal Service Fund (USF), for instance, has made headway in expanding infrastructure to underserved regions. However, the on-ground reality is less broadband coverage is near-universal, actual usage lags due to affordability barriers and poor digital literacy. Service reliability is patchy, particularly in rural areas, where quality-of-service issues persist. Secondly, the telecommunication is a competitive market and is under pressure. While multiple operators operate in the country, declining investment levels, macroeconomic instability, currency depreciation, and difficulty in repatriating profits have left telecom players cautious and constrained. Sector-specific taxes and regulatory fees further erode margins, reducing incentives for expansion and innovation. Then the fragmented governance in a challenge. Policy implementation suffers from overlapping jurisdictions between the MoITT, PTA, and provincial IT boards. The private sector often remains on the sidelines during policymaking, eroding trust and weakening reform outcomes. Not to forget the unfinished 5G roadmap. The sector has been preparing for 5G rollout. Yet timelines remain vague, and the broader regulatory and investment environment remains uncertain—delaying momentum at a time when digital economies across the region are accelerating. ADB calls for some bold moves: streamlining the roles of key institutions, lowering sector-specific taxes, improving spectrum management, and fostering an investor-friendly environment. These aren't new ideas—but the urgency today is. Nothing captures the friction between promise and paralysis better than the stalled merger between PTCL and Telenor Pakistan. On the surface, the merger is part of Telenor's global strategy: exit from financially unviable markets through consolidation. It has done so in Myanmar and India, driven by regulatory uncertainty and poor market conditions. But Pakistan adds its own twist to the story—one that underscores why digital progress here remains stuck in second gear. The unresolved dues from PTCL's privatization to Etisalat continue to haunt the merger process. The issue has remained a political and legal minefield. Then the absence of cohesive digital governance and the lack of clarity on licensing, spectrum pricing, and competition regulation have made it harder for such a deal to pass cleanly through institutional channels. Judicial entanglements beyond CCP are also stalling the process further. Moreover, precarious financials, fears of market concentration and unclear documentation have also kept the deal in limbo. In a recent interview with BR Research, Jon Omund Revhaug, Executive Vice President and Head of Telenor Asia, pointed out, 'Telecom is a capital-intensive industry, and the current industry structure does not support meaningful investment in the sector. A swift resolution of the ongoing sale process would create a stronger second-position player in the market, one who is better positioned to invest in critical digital infrastructure, resilient data networks, and future technologies that can drive innovation at an accelerated pace.' The numbers reinforce this urgency. Telecom investments in Pakistan have plunged by over 60 percent in under four years, as reported in the Pakistan Economic Survey FY 2025—underscoring the urgent need for sectoral restructuring to revive investor confidence and sustain future growth. The message of the ADB's diagnostic is clear: Pakistan's digital story doesn't need new chapters—it needs editing, clarity, and better structure. The tools, coverage, and institutional frameworks are there. But unless governance becomes more coherent, regulations more investor-friendly, and digital literacy more widespread, the country's digital ecosystem will continue to look like an impressive building—missing a roof. If there's one lesson from the PTCL-Telenor case, it's that no amount of infrastructure or global strategy can override weak systems, legacy burdens, and fragmented leadership. For Pakistan to truly unlock its digital dividend, it must stop laying more bricks and start fixing the foundation.
