News Digest- Pakistan

Pakistan remains on UK red list for travel: Dawn
Despite weeks of lobbying by the Pakistan High Commission and British Pakistani MPs, the UK government’s travel review on Thursday showed no change for the country, which continues to remain on the red list.

In meeting with Iranian president, FM Qureshi emphasises continued consultations on Afghan future: Dawn
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday, emphasised that continued consultations by Afghanistan’s neighbours on the situation in the war-torn country were the “way forward”.

Making efforts to help Afghanistan achieve peace, COAS tells MI6 chief: The Express Tribune
Chief of the UK Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) Richard Moore called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discussed matters of mutual interests particularly evolving situation in Afghanistan, military said in a statement issued late Thursday.

SBP reserves fall $47m to $17.58b: The Express Tribune
The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank declined 0.3% on a weekly basis, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday. On August 20, the foreign currency reserves held by the SBP were recorded at $17,578.9 million, down $47 million compared with $17,625.9 million on August 13.

PPP, PML-N, JI lambast PTI’s three-year performance: The News
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have strongly criticised three-year performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday.

‘Afghan instability means more terrorism, refugees for Pakistan’: The News
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said, “Afghan instability could lead to more terrorism, refugees and economic hardship for Pakistan,” in a phone interview with The Washington Post columnist, Josh Rogin, whose opinion piece appeared in the newspaper on Thursday under the headline: Pakistan wants to be treated like an ally, not a scapegoat
Pakistan, Russia to finish PGSP on time: The Express Tribune
Pakistan and Russia on Thursday agreed to follow the timelines laid down to successfully implement the Pakistan Gas Stream Pipeline project. According to a statement, the scheme has made a significant headway at the conclusion of first technical session parleys between the two sides.

Pakistan remains on UK red list for travel: Dawn
Despite weeks of lobbying by the Pakistan High Commission and British Pakistani MPs, the UK government’s travel review on Thursday showed no change for the country, which continues to remain on the red list.

In meeting with Iranian president, FM Qureshi emphasises continued consultations on Afghan future: Dawn
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday, emphasised that continued consultations by Afghanistan’s neighbours on the situation in the war-torn country were the “way forward”.

SBP reserves fall $47m to $17.58b: The Express Tribune
The foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank declined 0.3% on a weekly basis, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday. On August 20, the foreign currency reserves held by the SBP were recorded at $17,578.9 million, down $47 million compared with $17,625.9 million on August 13.

PPP, PML-N, JI lambast PTI’s three-year performance: The News
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have strongly criticised three-year performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday.

‘Afghan instability means more terrorism, refugees for Pakistan’: The News
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said, “Afghan instability could lead to more terrorism, refugees and economic hardship for Pakistan,” in a phone interview with The Washington Post columnist, Josh Rogin, whose opinion piece appeared in the newspaper on Thursday under the headline: Pakistan wants to be treated like an ally, not a scapegoat

Pakistan, Russia to finish PGSP on time: The Express Tribune
Pakistan and Russia on Thursday agreed to follow the timelines laid down to successfully implement the Pakistan Gas Stream Pipeline project. According to a statement, the scheme has made a significant headway at the conclusion of first technical session parleys between the two sides.

Rising current account deficit, imports pose threat to economy: Dawn
Pakistan’s economic managers on Wednesday noted rising international commodity prices, higher import bill and current account deficit (CAD) as key risks to macroeconomic outlook and decided to have closer coordination and vigilance for policy adjustments to support higher growth.

In call with Putin, PM Imran stresses coordinated approaches to evolving Afghan situation: Dawn
Prime Minister Imran, who received a call from Putin exchanged views on the Afghan situation as well as bilateral relations with the Russian president. The prime minister emphasised that a stable, secure and peaceful Afghanistan was “vitally important” for Pakistan and regional stability

97% work on Pak-Afghan transit trade deal completed: The Express Tribune
According to Ministry of Commerce secretary, Pakistan and Afghanistan have already agreed on extending the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) for six months and 97% work on the APTTA has been completed.

Qureshi for close coordination among Afghan neighbours amid crisis: The Express Tribune
FM Qureshi during a meeting with his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov in the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, discussed the regional security situation, particularly the evolving situation in Afghanistan. During the meeting, they also exchanged views on ways and means to intensify bilateral relations in all areas.

Maintaining strategic reserves: ECC approves import of sugar, wheat: The News
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday approved the import of 200,000 metric tons of sugar and 400,000 metric tons of wheat for maintaining strategic reserves in the country.

President Alvi visits GHQ: Discusses regional developments, national security with COAS: The News
President Dr Arif Alvi and COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday discussed regional developments and matters of national security. A briefing on cyber security was also given by Communication & Information Technology Branch.

Chinese ambassador takes up security issue with Rashid: Dawn
Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong on Sunday met Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid to take up the issue of safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, demanding stronger security protocol for them. The one-on-one meeting took place in the federal capital a couple of days after a suicide attack on a motorcade carrying Chinese nationals in Gwadar East-Bay Expressway claimed the lives of three Pakistani children and hurt one Chinese worker.

PML-N to back no-trust move if PPP presents workable idea: Dawn
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) says it is ready to support a no-confidence motion to topple the government provided the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) comes up with a workable proposal. “We’re ready to support the PPP’s idea for dislodging the PTI government through a no-confidence motion but it should put forward a workable proposal for this purpose,” PML-N secretary general Ahsan Iqbal told a press conference on Sunday.

Pakistan working with ‘all groups to ensure Taliban live up to promises’: The Express Tribune
Pakistan is working with Afghans and extended “Troika” – which includes the United States, Russia, and China – to ensure that the Taliban live up to the promises and declarations about upholding human rights that they have made to the international community, said Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan.In an interview with a Fox 5 News programme on Sunday, the Pakistan envoy to the US said that Pakistan is fully focused on helping in every possible way in the evacuation and repatriation of those who wish to leave Afghanistan.

OIC urges Afghan leaders to not let Afghanistan become ‘terrorist haven’: The Express Tribune
The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) pledged on Sunday to help achieve peace in Afghanistan and said its future leaders must guard against allowing the country to be used as a backyard for international militancy.The organisation urged “the future Afghan leadership” and the international community to work together to ensure that Afghanistan is never again used as a platform or safe haven for “terrorists”.

Corona claims 75 more lives, infects 3,842 in 24 hours: The News
The national tally of total active COVID-19 cases was recorded at 89,334, one of the highest during the fourth wave of pandemic on Sunday with 3,842 more people testing positive for the deadly virus and 3,477 people recovering from the disease during the last 24 hours.

Will continue supporting Afghanistan to avoid 90s situation, Qureshi tells EU: The Express Tribune
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday said that Afghanistan should not be left alone in order to avoid a “90s like situation”, and that the crisis in the neighbouring country required a sustained international support. “At this critical juncture, it was vitally important to remain in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and extend support to them, both in the humanitarian arena and for economic sustenance,” the foreign minister said in a telephonic conversation with Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission.