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Pakistan PM Orders Strategy to Stabilize Electricity Tariffs
PoliticsDawnexpress-tribunegeo-news15h ago3 sources

Pakistan PM Orders Strategy to Stabilize Electricity Tariffs

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed officials to formulate a comprehensive strategy to stabilize and rationalize electricity tariffs across the country. The move aims to address the rising cost of power for consumers.

Pakistan PM Blames Middle East Conflict for Economic Setback
Worldexpress-tribunegeo-news3d ago2 sources

Pakistan PM Blames Middle East Conflict for Economic Setback

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the Middle East conflict, particularly US-Iran tensions, has negatively impacted Pakistan's economic gains. He noted that the country's weekly oil import bill surged to $800 million due to the situation.

Saudi Arabia Pledges $3 Billion Aid to Pakistan
WorldbloombergDWFrance 24+18NHK Worlddelfi-ltdigi24YahooTimes of Indiahindustan-timesstraits-timesDawn+10 more17d ago21 sources

Saudi Arabia Pledges $3 Billion Aid to Pakistan

Saudi Arabia has pledged $3 billion in financial support to Pakistan, aimed at boosting the country's foreign exchange reserves as it faces an impending UAE debt repayment. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is on a tour to several mediating countries, including Saudi Arabia.

PM tells provincial govts to take strict action against those hoarding petroleum products
PoliticsDawn1mo ago

PM tells provincial govts to take strict action against those hoarding petroleum products

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday presided over a high-level meeting on petroleum products, directing provincial governments to take strict legal action against those hoarding the commodities. According to a handout by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Ministry of Petroleum gave a detailed briefing about stocks of petroleum products in the country, in the context of the changing situation in the region. According to the briefing, sufficient reserves of pe...

PM Shehbaz postpones official visit to Russia citing regional, internal situation
PoliticshinduDawn2mo ago2 sources

PM Shehbaz postpones official visit to Russia citing regional, internal situation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday postponed his official visit to Russia, citing the recent “regional and internal situation”. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the development in a statement. It added that the premier’s visit to Russia was of “great significance” for advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries, but given the current situation, it was being postponed. A new date would be decided after “mutual consultations”, the statement added. According to Ru...

PM Shehbaz to meet Qatari emir, senior leadership in Doha today
PoliticsDawn2mo ago

PM Shehbaz to meet Qatari emir, senior leadership in Doha today

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other senior leaders in Doha on Tuesday to further strengthen bilateral ties. PM Shehbaz arrived in Qatar on Monday night on a two-day official visit. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier is set to meet the Qatar emir, as well as his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. The Qatari prime minister will host an Iftar dinner ...

Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee to meet in Peshawar today for Ramazan moon sighting
CultureThe GuardianThe IndependentDawn+1Daily Sabah2mo ago4 sources

Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee to meet in Peshawar today for Ramazan moon sighting

The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee will meet today (Wednesday) in Peshawar to sight the Ramazan moon. The committee chairman, Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, will preside over the meeting. The zonal and district Ruet-i-Hilal Committees in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and other cities will also gather to sight the new moon. Earlier this month, based on the moon’s expected age, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) predicted that the first day of Ramazan was “likely to fall” on February 19. However, Suparco said the final announcement regarding the beginning of the holy month would be made by the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, “which is the sole competent authority, based on credible witness testimonies from across the country”. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan observed their first day of fasting on Wednesday after the Ramazan moon was sighted on Tuesday night. It is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs38 billion Ramazan Relief Package for 12.1 million deserving families across the four provinces as well as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). “Every deserving family will receive Rs13,000 through a digital wallet or bank transfer, without discrimination based on party affiliation or point of view,” he said.

Pakistan Selects Astronauts for China's Tiangong Space Program
Technologyindian-expressDawnndtv+1express-tribune9d ago4 sources

Pakistan Selects Astronauts for China's Tiangong Space Program

Pakistan has selected two candidates to train for China's Tiangong space station, marking a historic first for the nation's manned space mission. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the chosen astronauts, expressing hopes for a new era of space research.

Turkey hosts diplomatic forum on Middle East crisis
Politicsnewsbeast15d ago

Turkey hosts diplomatic forum on Middle East crisis

Turkey is organizing a diplomatic forum on the Middle East crisis, with participants including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russia's Sergey Lavrov, as Islamabad intensifies efforts to end the war in the region.

PM Shehbaz Meets Turkish FM in Antalya
Worldexpress-tribune16d ago

PM Shehbaz Meets Turkish FM in Antalya

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the Turkish Foreign Minister in Antalya ahead of a diplomacy forum, describing Turkiye as his 'second home' and expressing pleasure in visiting the country.

Govt decides in principle to implement work-from-home, distance learning for fuel conservation
BusinessDawn1mo ago

Govt decides in principle to implement work-from-home, distance learning for fuel conservation

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday decided in principle to start weekly revisions for petroleum prices effective from March 8 and to implement measures such as distance learning and work-from-home for the conservation of fuel amid possible oil supply disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The national action plan was crystallised in consultation with the provinces at a meeting of the cabinet committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for monitoring petrol prices...

Pakistan’s stocks of petroleum products at ‘comfortable levels’, committee told
BusinessDawn2mo ago

Pakistan’s stocks of petroleum products at ‘comfortable levels’, committee told

A high-level committee formed to monitor petrol prices in the aftermath of heightened tensions in the Middle East was informed on Monday that national stocks of petroleum products were currently at “comfortable levels”. In a post on X, the finance ministry said the committee was formed a day earlier by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It said that the committee met on Monday under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurganzeb. During the meeting, the committ...

Hockey turmoil deepens after PHF chief steps down
BusinessDawn2mo ago

Hockey turmoil deepens after PHF chief steps down

(LEFT) PHF President Tariq Hussain Bugti announces his resignation; while, PCB Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi meets players from the national team.—Dawn • PM accepts Tariq Bugti’s resignation, Wani named interim president • Outgoing chief imposes two-year ban on captain Ammad Butt before quitting • PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi meets players, hands ‘compensation’ cheques • PSB blames PHF for mismanagement; Bugti alleges board delayed payments • Shake-up follows Australia tour fiasco, when players were left without hotel upon arrival LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: Amid a deepening crisis in Pakistan hockey, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday accepted the resignation of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Tariq Hussain Bugti and appointed Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Federal Secretary Mohiy­uddin Ahmed Wani as ad-hoc president of the federation. The premier also accepted the resignations of PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid and Treasurer Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara. Their replacements had not been announced until late Thursday night. The developments came amid controversy over the national team’s tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League, where accommodation arrangements could not be secured on time, forcing players to spend several hours on the road. The team’s overall performance in the Pro League also came under criticism. In addition, PHF elections had been facing delays. Mr Bugti had been appointed by interim prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to hold elections but did not complete the process during his tenure. Similarly, in his tenure, Mr Bugti-led PHF was accused of inaction over alleged corruption, pointed out by the Auditor General of Pakistan. There are more than 100 audit paras related to the PHF, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been probing the matter for over a year. Speaking after his appointment, Mr Wani said the governance mechanism of the PHF would be improved. “In the next six weeks, we will prepare a business plan for the PHF and take steps to run this federation on professional grounds,” he said. He added that IPC would form a working group with all sports boards and education bodies to focus on grassroots development and that international trainers and coaches would also be engaged. “There is no shortage of resources, but the PHF is facing financial management issues. We will work on this,” he said, adding that he would ensure free, fair and transparent elections. “Hockey, being the national game, is close to our hearts and we will take every possible step to bring positive change,” he said. National captain ‘banned’ Earlier on Thursday, before the prime minister’s decision, Mr Bugti announced his resignation, but not before imposing a two-year ban on national captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, citing findings of a committee regarding alleged misconduct. “I received a message (from a certain quarter) and I am resigning from the post as it is not a big issue. Had the prime minister asked me six months earlier, I would have left,” Mr Bugti said, appealing to the prime minister and Field Marshal Asim Munir to constitute an independent committee to probe the entire episode. He said he was ready to face any punishment if found responsible. However, shortly after Mr Bugti’s resignation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the hockey players, including Ammad Butt and Hanan Shahid. In a message on X, Mr Naqvi said: “I am not becoming Hockey Federation President but we will assist players till this turmoil ends.” Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr Butt said Mr Naqvi directed that a training camp be set up in Lahore from Friday for the World Cup qualifiers to be held in Egypt and that immediate steps be taken to hire foreign coaches. Mr Butt said former Pakistan coach Roelant Oltmans had been contacted and might join the team directly in Egypt. On the reported two-year ban, Mr Butt said Mr Naqvi told him there was no ban and that the same team which toured Australia would travel to Egypt. The ban had reportedly been imposed under the PHF constitution, raising questions over the process for its reversal. The PCB later issued a statement confirming Mr Naqvi’s meeting with the players and announcing that cheques of Rs1,000,000 had been distributed to each member of the national team, which took second position in the last six international tournaments. The cricket board said Mr Naqvi had assured full cooperation in streamlining the affairs of the players and confirmed that tickets, hotel accommodation and kits would be arranged for the World Cup qualifying round. Outgoing PHF president Mr Bugti told Dawn that arrangements for the qualifiers had already been made through a grant from the Balochistan government. PSB-PHF blame game Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) issued a statement rejecting allegations levelled by the PHF and placing responsibility for the Australia tour’s mismanagement on the federation. The PSB said it had fulfilled all financial obligations for the FIH Pro League Phase 2 in Hobart and made timely payments. It alleged that the PHF had submitted visa applications late and with incomplete information, delaying the team’s departure from Feb 2 to Feb 5. According to the PSB, it bore Rs27.1 million in air ticket expenses and an additional Rs9.7m burden caused by the visa delays. It said that, at the PHF’s request, an advance of 49,280 Australian dollars was issued for hotel accommodation, along with daily allowances of USD 1,610 per player and USD 3,000 for miscellaneous expenses. The PSB also stated that while the PHF had sought a total grant of Rs350m for the Pro League, the government approved Rs250m, with the remaining amount to be arranged by the federation. It alleged that most of the PSB’s grant had been spent on salaries and foreign tours of PHF officials, prompting the board to stop issuing direct grants. In contrast, Mr Bugti had alleged that the PSB failed to make timely payments for hotel bookings and criticised the formation of a probe committee comprising PSB officials. He also urged the formation of a Pakistan Hockey Board and the transfer of stadium control to the PHF to generate funds. Meanwhile, Hockey legend Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, who had opposed Pakistan’s participation in the Pro League, said the national game deserved special treatment from the government. He criticised the heavy expenditure on the league and said the funds should have been directed towards grassroots development in schools, colleges and districts. Pakistan, a four-time World Cup winner and three-time Olympic champion, has faced a prolonged decline in international hockey over the past 30 years, amid repeated allegations of poor administration and negligence in the PHF officialdom, non-existent planning and upgrading, sheer lack of accountability, nepotism and a high frequency of changes in the federation. Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026

Pakistan PM Directs Reforms to Boost Exports
Worldexpress-tribune5d ago

Pakistan PM Directs Reforms to Boost Exports

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed officials to facilitate investors and implement regulatory reforms aimed at boosting Pakistan's exports, with a goal to raise the share of Special Economic Zones in exports to 8% by 2028.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Approves Streamlining P3A for Development Projects
Politicsexpress-tribune12d ago

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Approves Streamlining P3A for Development Projects

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the streamlining of the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) to accelerate development projects across the country. He emphasized that PPP-based projects should be integrated into the key performance indicators of ministries and departments.

Pakistan PM Praises Saudi Economic and Defense Support
Worldexpress-tribune17d ago

Pakistan PM Praises Saudi Economic and Defense Support

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded Saudi Arabia's economic backing and highlighted their strong defense partnership, expressing appreciation for its patience in the Mideast conflict and briefing Saudi leadership on peace efforts.

US, Iran sit down for talks in Islamabad
World21d ago

US, Iran sit down for talks in Islamabad

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US Vice President JD Vance met in Islamabad on Saturday as peace talks to end the broadening war in the Middle East got under way.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Reviews Fuel Reserves Amid Gulf Crisis
Politicsexpress-tribune1mo ago

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Reviews Fuel Reserves Amid Gulf Crisis

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reviewed the impact of the Gulf crisis on fuel and domestic reserves, receiving briefings on fuel-saving measures, future plans, and current stock, with an audit report confirming compliance with austerity measures.

Legislators grumble about PM’s call to forgo pay
PoliticsDawn1mo ago

Legislators grumble about PM’s call to forgo pay

• Parliamentarians issued form to choose salary donation • Say cuts acceptable for national causes, but not by ‘dictation’ ISLAMABAD: Some parliamentarians from both sides of the aisle are branding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent order regarding the forgoing of their two months’ salaries as “direct interference in constitutional matters”, creating a divide among lawmakers over the announced deduction. A senior legislator, who did not wish to be named, told Dawn on Sunday that parliamen...

PPP delegation meets with PM Shehbaz, discusses prevailing local and regional situation
PoliticsDawn2mo ago

PPP delegation meets with PM Shehbaz, discusses prevailing local and regional situation

A PPP delegation met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the political situation in the country as well as the regional situation. A press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that a delegation of PPP parliamentarians met with the premier today. “The Pakistan People’s Party is an important coalition party of the government,” PM Shehbaz said according to the statement. “The PPP supported the government at every step in important decisions f...

PM Shehbaz to undertake 2-day Doha visit, set to meet Qatari emir
PoliticsDawn2mo ago

PM Shehbaz to undertake 2-day Doha visit, set to meet Qatari emir

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday will depart on a two-day official visit to Doha, where he will meet the Qatari emir, the Foreign Office (FO) said. The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the FO said in a press release. During his visit, PM Shehbaz will hold a bilateral meeting with Sheikh Tamim, “covering the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including political engagement, economic collaboration, energy partnership, and p...

JI chief terms govt participation in Trump’s Board of Peace meeting on Gaza ‘unacceptable’
Politicsstraits-timesDawn2mo ago2 sources

JI chief terms govt participation in Trump’s Board of Peace meeting on Gaza ‘unacceptable’

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday criticised the government for participating in the Boa­rd of Peace’s (BoP) first meeting over Gaza, terming it “unacceptable”. His remarks came after the inaugural BoP meeting on Thursday in Washington, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the peacemaking efforts of United States President Donald Trump, who is heading the forum. Addressing the media in Lahore on Saturday, the JI leader said it was “unacceptable at any cost” to...

ECC approves release of Rs19bn for PM’s Ramazan package
PoliticsDawn2mo ago

ECC approves release of Rs19bn for PM’s Ramazan package

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday approved the release of Rs19 billion for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Ramazan package. On February 12, PM Shehbaz had announced a Rs38bn Ramazan relief package, which would benefit more than 12 million families — around 36m people — through direct digital payments. In a post on X, the finance ministry said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurengzeb remotely chaired a meeting of the ECC. The post said that the ECC approved the “immediate release” of Rs19bn for the prime minister’s package to “ensure timely disbursement of assistance to vulnerable families”. “The remaining requirement out of the proposed Rs25bn will be released as and when necessary, in line with fiscal space,” the ministry said. “The prime minister’s Ramazan relief package 2026 is designed to provide targeted cash assistance to low-income households during the holy month, using National Socio-Economic Registry data to ensure transparency and objective beneficiary selection,” the finance ministry said. It added that the “funds will be disbursed directly through formal banking and digital channels to ensure secure, efficient and dignified delivery”. The ministry further said that during the meeting, the ECC also granted “in-principle approval for Rs1bn operational expenses, directing that detailed cost breakdowns be shared with the Finance Division to ensure transparency, fiscal prudence, and compliance with financial rules”. It stressed “balancing swift relief delivery with strong financial oversight” and further noted that “any unutilised funds would be surrendered in accordance with established procedures”.

PM Shehbaz in Vienna on 2-day visit; present guard of honour upon arrival at Austrian Chancellery
WorldDawn2mo ago

PM Shehbaz in Vienna on 2-day visit; present guard of honour upon arrival at Austrian Chancellery

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began his two-day visit to Austria on Monday, during which he will hold bilateral meetings and delegation-level talks, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. The premier arrived in Vienna for the two-day visit on Sunday, at the invitation of Austria’s Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker. As per a PMO statement, PM Shehbaz arrived at the Austrian Chancellery today, where he was presented with a guard of honour and welcomed by Stocker. The statement said that the national anthems of both countries were played at the arrival, and both leaders “introduced their respective delegations to each other before proceeding for tête-à-tête and the delegation-level talks, wherein both sides will take stock of the entire gamut of bilateral relations”. PM Shehbaz also penned his remarks in the guest book at the Chancellery. The premier is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and one of his aides, Tariq Fatemi, during the two-day visit. This visit marks 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In its statement issued on Sunday, the Foreign Office (FO) noted that the trip marked “the first visit by a Pakistani prime minister to Austria in over three decades, the last having been undertaken by the then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 1992”.