Islamabad

Islamabad, Feb 3 (PTI) The International Monetary Fund has approved the completion of the sixth review of its stalled USD 6 billion programme for Pakistan, paving the way for an immediate disbursement of about USD 1 billion loan tranche for the cash-strapped country.

The IMF's Executive Board held a meeting in Washington DC on Wednesday to consider Pakistan's request for completion of the sixth review and release of a USD 1 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

24 Jan 2022; MEMO: Pakistani police have asked Iranian authorities to help arrest three Pakistani citizens suspected of killing a Saudi diplomat in Karachi in 2011. The suspects are thought to be hiding in Iran.

Hassan Al-Qahtani, an employee of the Saudi consulate in Karachi, was killed in 2011 when gunmen opened fire on his car in the city's Defence Housing Authority neighbourhood.

Islamabad, Jan 22 (PTI) In a move aimed at placating its all-weather ally China, Pakistan in a "goodwill gesture" will pay USD 11.6 million in compensation to the 36 Chinese nationals working on a major hydropower project who either died or were injured in a terrorist attack in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province last year.

Islamabad, Jan 13 (PTI) Pakistan's National Assembly Thursday passed the controversial Finance (Supplementary) Bill, also called the "mini-budget" despite stiff resistance by the opposition parties.

The bill aimed to raise more taxes and duties and to empower the central bank were tabled on December 30 by the government to fulfill a key condition by the International Monetary Fund to approve USD 1 billion under the USD 6 billion Extended Fund Facility.

06 Jan 2022; MEMO: The first train carrying goods from Pakistan to Turkey arrived in Istanbul yesterday, completing the first such journey in a decade.

The Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) cargo train – made up of eight wagons with a capacity of 22 tonnes – started its journey from Islamabad on 21 December and travelled 5,981 kilometres. It is hoped the new link will boost trade between the three countries.

11 Jan 2022; MEMO: Pakistan has finalised an Rs11.2 billion ($63 million) education package for Afghan students and plans to establish a university campus in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital, a senior official said on Monday and Anadolu News Agency reports.

20 Dec 2021; MEMO: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) yesterday pledged to coordinate with the United Nations as part of efforts to free hundreds of millions of US dollars in frozen Afghan assets, to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country.

The 57-member OIC delegates said, during an emergency meeting held in Pakistan, they would work "to unlock the financial and banking channels to resume liquidity and flow of financial and humanitarian assistance."

13 Nov 2021; MEMO: Pakistan's Prime Minister on Friday reiterated the need for the US to release Afghanistan's frozen assets to "prevent an economic meltdown" in the country.

In a meeting with the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and a visiting Afghan delegation, Imran Khan "underscored the urgent need to release Afghanistan's frozen assets and facilitation of banking transactions to prevent an economic meltdown," according to a statement by the premier's office.

Islamabad, IRNA -- Pakistan has lifted COVID-19 travel restrictions from the Islamic Republic of Iran while announcing new conditions for air travel to the country.

National Command Operation Center on Wednesday in a meeting decided to relax coronavirus-related restrictions after the enforcement of obligatory vaccination for inbound travelers.

Accordingly, six countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was previously on List C of the air travel ban to Pakistan, were removed from the list.

Islamabad, Sep 27 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said it is important to incentivise the Taliban so that the new rulers of Afghanistan fulfil the promises they made after they seized power in Kabul last month.