With the Lok Sabha elections 2019 over, Pakistan is considering backchannel options to open talks with India. According to reports, Islamabad is considering the appointment of a retired military officer as national security advisor to revive the cold diplomatic ties with New Delhi.

Pakistan planning to appoint NSA to resume back-channel talks with India

The Pakistan Army will raise another division-size special force to protect Chinese nationals and projects under the CPEC, military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor has said, days after the brazen terror attack on a luxury hotel in Balochistan.

Describing the $50 billion <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-cpec-is-used-to-traffic-young-pakistani-women-to-china-210874">China-Pakistan Economic Corridor</a> (CPEC) as a living example of deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and China, Major General Ghafoor, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the Pakistan Army was fully determined to ensure the security of the project.

Talking to the Chinese media in Rawalpindi on Saturday, he said the Pakistan military had raised a whole division-size force to protect the project and they were planning to deploy another division for this purpose.

Earlier reports said a Special Security Division (SSD) comprising 9,000 Pakistan Army soldiers and 6,000 para-military forces personnel has been set up for the security of the CPEC project and Chinese nationals working on it.

Ghafoor said Pakistan faced a very challenging war against terrorism during the last two decades, and now the security situation was under control.

Talking about the CPEC role in the country, he said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-denies-cpec-intensified-pakistans-economic-risks-208789">economic prosperity brought about by the CPEC</a> will fail the motives of terrorists, as with the success of project more employment and business opportunities will be unveiled and with more economic opportunities coming in, people's lifestyle will improve and inimical elements will fail gradually, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

He claimed that the security situation in Balochistan had improved since the launch of the CPEC and now there was a better infrastructure, as many Chinese projects were underway, and with every coming day security, development and investment situation will get better.

The Pakistan Army spokesman's comments came days after terrorists attacked the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-dead-in-pakistan-luxury-hotel-attack-military-218136">Pearl Continental luxury hotel in the port city of Gwadar</a> in the restive Balochistan province, killing at least eight persons, including four civilians and a Pakistan Navy soldier.

The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army -- one of the most-organised terrorist groups of Baloch nationalists fighting against security forces. The group was also involved in the terrorist attack at the Chinese consulate in Karachi last year.

Ghafoor said, "Today's Gwadar is not what it used to be two years ago and in future, it will be on a par with the ports of developed countries".

Gwadar port is one of the focal points of the CPEC with many Chinese workers from other provinces of Pakistan working at the port. China is investing heavily in Balochistan under the CPEC.

The CPEC, launched in 2015, is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.&nbsp;

Talking about the investment opportunities in Pakistan, Ghafoor said Pakistan was doing its best to create an environment where investors could come and do their business as the security situation had greatly improved.

"Though there are a few sporadic terrorist incidents, investors should not be discouraged by them and keep their trust intact in peace," he added.&nbsp;

The Pakistan Army will raise another division-size special force to protect Chinese nationals and projects under the CPEC, military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor has said, days after the brazen terror attack on a luxury hotel in Balochistan.

The Pakistan Army will raise another division-size special force to protect Chinese nationals and projects under the CPEC, military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor has said, days after the brazen terror attack on a luxury hotel in Balochistan. Describing the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a living example of deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and China, Major General Ghafoor, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the Pakistan Army was fully determined to ensure the security of the project. Talking to the Chinese media in Rawalpindi on Saturday, he said the Pakistan military had raised a whole division-size force to protect the project and they were planning to deploy another division for this purpose. Earlier reports said a Special Security Division (SSD) comprising 9,000 Pakistan Army soldiers and 6,000 para-military forces personnel has been set up for the security of the CPEC project and Chinese nationals working on it. Ghafoor said Pakistan faced a very challenging war against terrorism during the last two decades, and now the security situation was under control. Talking about the CPEC role in the country, he said the economic prosperity brought about by the CPEC will fail the motives of terrorists, as with the success of project more employment and business opportunities will be unveiled and with more economic opportunities coming in, people's lifestyle will improve and inimical elements will fail gradually, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported. He claimed that the security situation in Balochistan had improved since the launch of the CPEC and now there was a better infrastructure, as many Chinese projects were underway, and with every coming day security, development and investment situation will get better. The Pakistan Army spokesman's comments came days after terrorists attacked the Pearl Continental luxury hotel in the port city of Gwadar in the restive Balochistan province, killing at least eight persons, including four civilians and a Pakistan Navy soldier. The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army -- one of the most-organised terrorist groups of Baloch nationalists fighting against security forces. The group was also involved in the terrorist attack at the Chinese consulate in Karachi last year. Ghafoor said, "Today's Gwadar is not what it used to be two years ago and in future, it will be on a par with the ports of developed countries". Gwadar port is one of the focal points of the CPEC with many Chinese workers from other provinces of Pakistan working at the port. China is investing heavily in Balochistan under the CPEC. The CPEC, launched in 2015, is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea. Talking about the investment opportunities in Pakistan, Ghafoor said Pakistan was doing its best to create an environment where investors could come and do their business as the security situation had greatly improved. "Though there are a few sporadic terrorist incidents, investors should not be discouraged by them and keep their trust intact in peace," he added.

Pakistan Army to raise another division to protect CPEC projects, Chinese nationals

Pakistan's hopes for the discovery of large reserves of oil and gas off Karachi coast in the Arabian Sea faded as it stopped the much-celebrated offshore drilling after no oil and gas reserves were found, a media report said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier this year said Pakistan would not need to import oil after reserves were found near Karachi coast. "God willing the reserves will be so large that we will not need to import any oil," he said.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum, Nadeem Babar, announced that the offshore drilling in Kekra-1 did not yield desired results, Dawn reported.

"The operators of the well have decided to plug it in the coming days," the paper said.

Around 17 attempts have been made in the past, but all remained unsuccessful despite encouraging data from each drilling, it said.

A senior official of the petroleum division said that after drilling more than 5,500 metres reserves were not found. Therefore, he added, it had been decided to plug the well and abandon the project.

Around $100 million has been invested in the project, but the officials of the petroleum division maintain that the data received from the drilling and other seismic studies of the well will be useful for future exploration activities in the region, the paper said.

At the same time, the officials say, oil and gas E&amp;P is described as a "high risk-high reward" business and the failures should not be taken as a loss.&nbsp;

The drilling was initiated around four months back by ENI, an Italian oil and gas exploration and production (E&amp;P) giant, which is the operator of Kekra-1. The other four partners of the well were ExxonMobil of the US one of the world's largest oil and gas firms Pakistan Petroleum Limited and the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).

"Based on previous data the prospects were high and at the start of drilling the chances of success were between 13 and 15 per cent, which is fairly good," OGDCL spokesman Ahmed Lak said.

"Among the highest prospects of finding the hydrocarbon reserve is 20 per cent, therefore, our record was good enough to proceed with drilling," he added.

The last offshore activity was conducted by Dutch E&amp;P firm Shell in 2005, but it failed to find hydrocarbon reserves. The first offshore well in Pakistani waters was drilled in 1963 by a US E&amp;P company, the well was found dry.

Pakistan's hopes for the discovery of large reserves of oil and gas off Karachi coast in the Arabian Sea faded as it stopped the much-celebrated offshore drilling after no oil and gas reserves were found, a media report said on Sunday.

Pakistan's hopes for the discovery of large reserves of oil and gas off Karachi coast in the Arabian Sea faded as it stopped the much-celebrated offshore drilling after no oil and gas reserves were found, a media report said on Sunday. Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier this year said Pakistan would not need to import oil after reserves were found near Karachi coast. "God willing the reserves will be so large that we will not need to import any oil," he said. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum, Nadeem Babar, announced that the offshore drilling in Kekra-1 did not yield desired results, Dawn reported. "The operators of the well have decided to plug it in the coming days," the paper said. Around 17 attempts have been made in the past, but all remained unsuccessful despite encouraging data from each drilling, it said. A senior official of the petroleum division said that after drilling more than 5,500 metres reserves were not found. Therefore, he added, it had been decided to plug the well and abandon the project. Around $100 million has been invested in the project, but the officials of the petroleum division maintain that the data received from the drilling and other seismic studies of the well will be useful for future exploration activities in the region, the paper said. At the same time, the officials say, oil and gas E&P is described as a "high risk-high reward" business and the failures should not be taken as a loss. The drilling was initiated around four months back by ENI, an Italian oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) giant, which is the operator of Kekra-1. The other four partners of the well were ExxonMobil of the US one of the world's largest oil and gas firms Pakistan Petroleum Limited and the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL). "Based on previous data the prospects were high and at the start of drilling the chances of success were between 13 and 15 per cent, which is fairly good," OGDCL spokesman Ahmed Lak said. "Among the highest prospects of finding the hydrocarbon reserve is 20 per cent, therefore, our record was good enough to proceed with drilling," he added. The last offshore activity was conducted by Dutch E&P firm Shell in 2005, but it failed to find hydrocarbon reserves. The first offshore well in Pakistani waters was drilled in 1963 by a US E&P company, the well was found dry.

Pakistan stops much-celebrated offshore drilling as no oil and gas reserves found

Afghanistan has asked the US to reveal the exact nature of the relationship between Pakistan and Taliban.

Afghanistan seeks clarity from US on Pakistan's relationship with Taliban

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jason-roy-ben-stokes-help-england-defeat-pakistan-in-fourth-odi-219557">England defeated Pakistan</a> in the fourth one-day international by three wickets&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;at Trent Bridge.&nbsp;Now, England go in the last match of the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead.&nbsp;

Jason Roy smashed 114 and Ben Stokes finished on 71 not out as England chased down a target of 341 with three deliveries to spare.&nbsp;

However, Roy&nbsp;was at a loss to explain&nbsp;how he had scored&nbsp;the century following an overnight visit to the hospital with his baby daughter.&nbsp;

"It was a very emotional hundred. I didn't see it coming," Roy told BBC Radio's Test Match Special.

"I had a bit of a rough morning so this one is a special one for me and my family," added Roy, who returned to hospital after a three-wicket win, although his daughter's condition is not believed to be serious.

"It was my little one. We had to take her to hospital at 1:30 in the morning. I stayed there until 8:30 am, came back for a couple of hours sleep and got to the ground just before warm-up and cracked on."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
For his 75-ball century, Jason Roy is the Player of the Match! <a href="https://t.co/pqVfYAOwyc">pic.twitter.com/pqVfYAOwyc</a>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1129491787549171713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

He was given Man of the Match for his performance.&nbsp;

England defeated Pakistan in the fourth one-day international by three wickets on Friday at Trent Bridge. Now, England go in the last match of the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead.

England defeated Pakistan in the fourth one-day international by three wickets on Friday at Trent Bridge. Now, England go in the last match of the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead. Jason Roy smashed 114 and Ben Stokes finished on 71 not out as England chased down a target of 341 with three deliveries to spare. However, Roy was at a loss to explain how he had scored the century following an overnight visit to the hospital with his baby daughter. "It was a very emotional hundred. I didn't see it coming," Roy told BBC Radio's Test Match Special. "I had a bit of a rough morning so this one is a special one for me and my family," added Roy, who returned to hospital after a three-wicket win, although his daughter's condition is not believed to be serious. "It was my little one. We had to take her to hospital at 1:30 in the morning. I stayed there until 8:30 am, came back for a couple of hours sleep and got to the ground just before warm-up and cracked on." For his 75-ball century, Jason Roy is the Player of the Match! pic.twitter.com/pqVfYAOwyc — ICC (@ICC) May 17, 2019 × He was given Man of the Match for his performance.

'Emotional hundred': Jason Roy reveals baby daughter was hospitalised when he scored century

Masood Azhar, head of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), was designated a ‘global terrorist’ by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanction Committee on May 1, 2019.

This is a major political, security and diplomatic victory for India. This listing makes all UN member states compulsorily freeze all assets, ban travel and place an arms embargo on Masood Azhar.&nbsp;

Ironically, a number of commentators, including some senior security analysts, have been discounting this achievement.&nbsp;

In their support, they cite the example of Hafiz Saeed, head of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), who was also designated as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council in December, 2008, but remains a free man in Pakistan.

The UNSC’s limitations in monitoring its sanctions have rendered Saeed’s listing as symbolic, according to them.&nbsp;

The logical question that arises is — &nbsp;if such a listing by the UNSC is no big deal, then why did China and Pakistan fight tooth and nail to prevent Azhar from being listed as a global terrorist since back in 2009?&nbsp;

The fact is that as recently as February 15, 2019, when the Pulwama attack had already taken place, China had rejected India’s call to have Azhar put on the UN terror list.&nbsp;

“The 1267 Committee of the Security Council has a clear stipulation on the listing and procedure of terrorist organisations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on February 15, adding, “China will continue to handle the relevant sanctions issue in a constructive and responsible manner”.&nbsp;

Wang Dehua, head of the Institute for South and Central Asia Studies at the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies, was blunter. “It is useless to blame China for obstructing,” he said, arguing that UNSC resolution 1267 was drawn up specifically to target individuals with links to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. “No matter the nature of the JeM, there is no evidence that its leader Masood Azhar is subordinate to Al-Qaeda and IS. Therefore, the JeM is not subject to resolution 1267, which specifically names the two organisations.”

Following this logic, the Chinese put a technical hold on March 13, 2019, when France, the UK and the USA initiated a proposal for naming Azhar to the UN Sanctions list after JeM took responsibility for the terror attack in Pulwama. &nbsp;

That these arguments are completely specious is evident from the fact that the 1267 Sanctions Committee had placed JeM itself on the sanctions list in October 2001 and its linkages with the Al-Qaeda had been proven beyond doubt.&nbsp;

Even at that time, Azhar was the leader of the JeM. In fact, Azhar should have been listed as a global terrorist at that time itself, but India missed an opportunity to do so.

It may be recalled that soon after the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008, India had moved a proposal for declaring Azhar a global terrorist. This attempt failed due to Chinese opposition in 2009.&nbsp;

Again in 2016, after the attack on the Pathankot Air Base, India attempted to have him listed, but China came in the way.&nbsp;

In 2017, yet again, a similar motion was moved, but China, citing insufficient proof against Azhar, blocked the proposal from being adopted.&nbsp;

It was only when the concerted move by the US, UK and France to shift the issue to the main Security Council from the 1267 Committee was mooted that China blinked. This is because while the Sanctions Committee functions in an opaque manner and its deliberations are not public, the Security Council operates in a glare of publicity.

The US had circulated a draft resolution in the UNSC to ban Azhar. The draft, which was backed by France and the UK, discussed China’s double standards on terrorism by mentioning the atrocities on Uighurs in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

If the US draft had been tabled in the Security Council, China would have to publicly justify its decade-long campaign to block attempts to designate Azhar as a global terrorist.&nbsp;

The fear that China would be exposed — and be the only SC member amongst 15 to oppose this move — led to Beijing seeking a face-saving way out.&nbsp;

It strongly protested against shifting of this issue from the Sanctions Committee to the main Security Council. The visit of India’s foreign secretary to China on April 21-22 and his presenting a detailed dossier on the terrorist activities of Azhar, ostensibly allowed the Chinese to claim that in view of new evidence, it was withdrawing its technical hold in the 1267 Sanctions committee, thus paving the way for Azhar to be declared a global terrorist.&nbsp;

It is clear that 2019 is not 2008 when the terror attack on Mumbai occurred. India is willing to exercise its strength, as the air strikes on Balakot clearly brought out. It is also willing to challenge the China-Pakistan axis squarely, both diplomatically and politically. But for these Balakot air strikes, chances are that China would not have backed down and continued to support Pakistan’s terror proxies like Azhar.&nbsp;

It is a triumph for Indian diplomacy, strategic thinking and political sagacity that the entire world supported its stand to completely isolate China so that it was forced to abandon its “all-weather ally” Pakistan and expose it as a source of global terror.&nbsp;

It is these changed circumstances, which make the designation of global terrorist much more meaningful now.

Pakistan already has the sword of being put on the FATF blacklist hanging over its head, which it just cannot afford, given its precarious financial situation. India should follow up now and have its rogue intelligence agency, the ISI also designated as a global terrorist outfit.&nbsp;

 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Masood Azhar, head of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), was designated a ‘global terrorist’ by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanction Committee on May 1, 2019.

Masood Azhar, head of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), was designated a ‘global terrorist’ by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanction Committee on May 1, 2019. This is a major political, security and diplomatic victory for India. This listing makes all UN member states compulsorily freeze all assets, ban travel and place an arms embargo on Masood Azhar. Ironically, a number of commentators, including some senior security analysts, have been discounting this achievement. In their support, they cite the example of Hafiz Saeed, head of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), who was also designated as a global terrorist by the UN Security Council in December, 2008, but remains a free man in Pakistan. The UNSC’s limitations in monitoring its sanctions have rendered Saeed’s listing as symbolic, according to them. The logical question that arises is — if such a listing by the UNSC is no big deal, then why did China and Pakistan fight tooth and nail to prevent Azhar from being listed as a global terrorist since back in 2009? The fact is that as recently as February 15, 2019, when the Pulwama attack had already taken place, China had rejected India’s call to have Azhar put on the UN terror list. “The 1267 Committee of the Security Council has a clear stipulation on the listing and procedure of terrorist organisations,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on February 15, adding, “China will continue to handle the relevant sanctions issue in a constructive and responsible manner”. Wang Dehua, head of the Institute for South and Central Asia Studies at the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies, was blunter. “It is useless to blame China for obstructing,” he said, arguing that UNSC resolution 1267 was drawn up specifically to target individuals with links to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. “No matter the nature of the JeM, there is no evidence that its leader Masood Azhar is subordinate to Al-Qaeda and IS. Therefore, the JeM is not subject to resolution 1267, which specifically names the two organisations.” Following this logic, the Chinese put a technical hold on March 13, 2019, when France, the UK and the USA initiated a proposal for naming Azhar to the UN Sanctions list after JeM took responsibility for the terror attack in Pulwama. That these arguments are completely specious is evident from the fact that the 1267 Sanctions Committee had placed JeM itself on the sanctions list in October 2001 and its linkages with the Al-Qaeda had been proven beyond doubt. Even at that time, Azhar was the leader of the JeM. In fact, Azhar should have been listed as a global terrorist at that time itself, but India missed an opportunity to do so. It may be recalled that soon after the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008, India had moved a proposal for declaring Azhar a global terrorist. This attempt failed due to Chinese opposition in 2009. Again in 2016, after the attack on the Pathankot Air Base, India attempted to have him listed, but China came in the way. In 2017, yet again, a similar motion was moved, but China, citing insufficient proof against Azhar, blocked the proposal from being adopted. It was only when the concerted move by the US, UK and France to shift the issue to the main Security Council from the 1267 Committee was mooted that China blinked. This is because while the Sanctions Committee functions in an opaque manner and its deliberations are not public, the Security Council operates in a glare of publicity. The US had circulated a draft resolution in the UNSC to ban Azhar. The draft, which was backed by France and the UK, discussed China’s double standards on terrorism by mentioning the atrocities on Uighurs in Xinjiang. If the US draft had been tabled in the Security Council, China would have to publicly justify its decade-long campaign to block attempts to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. The fear that China would be exposed — and be the only SC member amongst 15 to oppose this move — led to Beijing seeking a face-saving way out. It strongly protested against shifting of this issue from the Sanctions Committee to the main Security Council. The visit of India’s foreign secretary to China on April 21-22 and his presenting a detailed dossier on the terrorist activities of Azhar, ostensibly allowed the Chinese to claim that in view of new evidence, it was withdrawing its technical hold in the 1267 Sanctions committee, thus paving the way for Azhar to be declared a global terrorist. It is clear that 2019 is not 2008 when the terror attack on Mumbai occurred. India is willing to exercise its strength, as the air strikes on Balakot clearly brought out. It is also willing to challenge the China-Pakistan axis squarely, both diplomatically and politically. But for these Balakot air strikes, chances are that China would not have backed down and continued to support Pakistan’s terror proxies like Azhar. It is a triumph for Indian diplomacy, strategic thinking and political sagacity that the entire world supported its stand to completely isolate China so that it was forced to abandon its “all-weather ally” Pakistan and expose it as a source of global terror. It is these changed circumstances, which make the designation of global terrorist much more meaningful now. Pakistan already has the sword of being put on the FATF blacklist hanging over its head, which it just cannot afford, given its precarious financial situation. India should follow up now and have its rogue intelligence agency, the ISI also designated as a global terrorist outfit. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

'Global terrorist’ tag on Masood Azhar is a major triumph for Indian strategic thinking and political sagacity

Watch Gravitas full segment for 15th May, 2019

Gravitas; Watch Gravitas full show; 15th May, 2019

Pakistan Is In The Cross-Hairs Of Asia-Pacific Group, An Affiliate Of FATF. Is The Arrest Of Abdul Rehman Makki An Attempt To Keep International Partners In Good Humour Facing international criticism over its inaction against terrorism, Pakistan arrests terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki. The arrest comes barely hours after FATF began its meeting in China. Is this a token measure from Pakistan to divert attention? Palki takes stock of the development

Gravitas: Abdul Rehman Makki's arrest: Is Pakistan hoodwinking the world?

Hafiz Saeed's Brother-in-Law Abdul Rehman Makki Has Been Arrested In Pakistan Today. What Happens The Timing LeT second-in-command and Hafiz Saeed's brother-in-law Abdul Rehman Makki has been arrested in Pakistan. But the arrest is not over terror charges, but under Maintenance of Public Order Act. Is Pakistan taking token measures even in the face of global condemnation. Palki explains the development

Gravitas: LeT Second-in-Command arrested in Pak

Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday secured interim bail from the Islamabad High Court in six corruption cases that are being probed by the country's anti-corruption watchdog.&nbsp;

The 63-year-old Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairperson is named in 36 inquiries and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claims that his role has been established in at least eight cases, according to an 11-page report submitted by the bureau to the court on Tuesday.

A two-judge bench led by Justice Umar Farooq heard the cases regarding Zardari's pre-arrest bail in six different cases before granting interim bail to him and his sister Faryal Talpur.

The court granted Zardari interim bail in the money laundering case until May 30. He was also granted interim bail in an inquiry pertaining to the Opal 225 property&nbsp;that is owned by the Zardari group until June 12 against surety bonds of Rs 500,000. He also received an interim bail in the Park Lane probe until June 12.

The IHC extended Zardari's interim bail in the Tosha Khana vehicles inquiry until June 20. In an investigation pertaining to suspicious transactions, Zardari's interim bail was extended until May 21.

In a probe related to Harish and Company, the court adjourned the hearing until May 30.

Justice Farooq, during the hearing of the pleas, remarked that "it seems like there is a flood of bail (applications)".

According to media reports, the NAB has issued arrest warrants for the former president only in the Park Lane case, while it has filed two interim cases against him.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating more than 30 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and his sister Talpur.&nbsp;

Several 'benami' accounts at multiple private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, Geo News reported.

The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes, it said, quoting FIA sources as saying.&nbsp;

Zardari served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013.

Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday secured interim bail from the Islamabad High Court in six corruption cases that are being probed by the country's anti-corruption watchdog.

Former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday secured interim bail from the Islamabad High Court in six corruption cases that are being probed by the country's anti-corruption watchdog. The 63-year-old Pakistan People's Party (PPP) co-chairperson is named in 36 inquiries and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) claims that his role has been established in at least eight cases, according to an 11-page report submitted by the bureau to the court on Tuesday. A two-judge bench led by Justice Umar Farooq heard the cases regarding Zardari's pre-arrest bail in six different cases before granting interim bail to him and his sister Faryal Talpur. The court granted Zardari interim bail in the money laundering case until May 30. He was also granted interim bail in an inquiry pertaining to the Opal 225 property that is owned by the Zardari group until June 12 against surety bonds of Rs 500,000. He also received an interim bail in the Park Lane probe until June 12. The IHC extended Zardari's interim bail in the Tosha Khana vehicles inquiry until June 20. In an investigation pertaining to suspicious transactions, Zardari's interim bail was extended until May 21. In a probe related to Harish and Company, the court adjourned the hearing until May 30. Justice Farooq, during the hearing of the pleas, remarked that "it seems like there is a flood of bail (applications)". According to media reports, the NAB has issued arrest warrants for the former president only in the Park Lane case, while it has filed two interim cases against him. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating more than 30 people in relation to money laundering from fictitious accounts, including Zardari and his sister Talpur. Several 'benami' accounts at multiple private banks were opened in 2013, 2014 and 2015 from where transactions worth billions of rupees were made, Geo News reported. The amount, according to FIA sources, is said to be black money gathered from various kickbacks, commissions and bribes, it said, quoting FIA sources as saying. Zardari served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013.

Ex-Pakistan president Zardari secures interim bail in 6 corruption cases

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 16th 2019

Pakistan's ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to jail here in a procession of Pakistani workers on Tuesday to complete the remaining period of his seven years imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case.

Sharif, 69, was granted six-week interim bail by the top court on March 26 to undergo medical treatment and he filed the petition on April 27 for permanent bail as he was suffering from acute anxiety and depression that may lead to "sudden death".

The bail expires on May 7 as the apex court rejected his review petition seeking permission to go to the UK for the treatment.

"Nawaz Sharif will return to Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore on Tuesday in a procession of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers. A call has been given to the workers to gather at the Jati Umra residence of Sharif to march towards the jail along with him," PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told PTI on Monday.

She said the PML-N workers are eager to come to roads against Prime Minister Imran Khan's anti-people policies and they are waiting a call from the leadership.

"Sharif did not want to go to jail in the procession but the workers insisted him for this,' she added.

Sharif, three-time prime minister, has been serving a seven-year prison term at the jail since December 24, 2018, when an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed in the wake of the apex court's July 28, 2017 order in Panama Papers case.

He was imprisoned in Adiyala Jail and shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail on his request.&nbsp;

Pakistan's ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to jail here in a procession of Pakistani workers on Tuesday to complete the remaining period of his seven years imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case.

Pakistan's ailing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to jail here in a procession of Pakistani workers on Tuesday to complete the remaining period of his seven years imprisonment in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case. Sharif, 69, was granted six-week interim bail by the top court on March 26 to undergo medical treatment and he filed the petition on April 27 for permanent bail as he was suffering from acute anxiety and depression that may lead to "sudden death". The bail expires on May 7 as the apex court rejected his review petition seeking permission to go to the UK for the treatment. "Nawaz Sharif will return to Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore on Tuesday in a procession of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers. A call has been given to the workers to gather at the Jati Umra residence of Sharif to march towards the jail along with him," PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told PTI on Monday. She said the PML-N workers are eager to come to roads against Prime Minister Imran Khan's anti-people policies and they are waiting a call from the leadership. "Sharif did not want to go to jail in the procession but the workers insisted him for this,' she added. Sharif, three-time prime minister, has been serving a seven-year prison term at the jail since December 24, 2018, when an accountability court convicted him in one of the three corruption cases filed in the wake of the apex court's July 28, 2017 order in Panama Papers case. He was imprisoned in Adiyala Jail and shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail on his request.

Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to jail on Tuesday

Hundreds of women and girls from Pakistan's Christian minority have been trafficked to China as brides in recent months. Watch this video to know more.

Pakistani girls being trafficked to China

A Pakistani court on Tuesday granted bail to the leader of an ultra-right Islamist group arrested last year after his supporters shut down cities and threatened judges following the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.&nbsp;

The leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) party, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, and his deputy, Pir Afzal Qadri, were arrested last year and charged with inciting terrorism and sedition after protesting against the acquittal of Asia Bibi who had spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges.

"Today, the Lahore High Court has granted bail to Rizvi and Qadri in the cases of terrorism, sedition and inciting for violence," TLP lawyer Muhammad Arif Awan told Reuters.&nbsp;

Bibi left for Canada last week after living at an undisclosed location inside Pakistan since her acquittal. Hardline Islamists in Pakistan had rallied against her being allowed to leave and called for her to be killed.&nbsp;

Rizvi`s November arrest led to clashes between police and his supporters in the eastern city of Lahore, wounding five people in violence authorities say was instigated by the TLP leader after he called on his faithful to take to the streets if he was arrested.&nbsp;

The two men are due to be released on Wednesday.

TLP leaders had threatened the Supreme Court judges who acquitted Bibi, urging their cooks and servants to kill them, and called for the overthrow of the army chief, an unthinkable comment in Pakistan where the military is rarely criticized in public and the army normally does not tolerate such dissent.

The TLP, whose main focus is protecting Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws, was founded out of a movement supporting a bodyguard who assassinated Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer for advocating for Bibi in 2011.

Blasphemy is a deeply emotive issue in Pakistan’s staunchly religious society, and officials have been unnerved by how much support Rizvi’s TLP has garnered across the country in the two years since the group entered mainstream politics.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday granted bail to the leader of an ultra-right Islamist group arrested last year after his supporters shut down cities and threatened judges following the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday granted bail to the leader of an ultra-right Islamist group arrested last year after his supporters shut down cities and threatened judges following the acquittal of a Christian woman accused of blasphemy. The leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) party, Khadim Hussain Rizvi, and his deputy, Pir Afzal Qadri, were arrested last year and charged with inciting terrorism and sedition after protesting against the acquittal of Asia Bibi who had spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges. "Today, the Lahore High Court has granted bail to Rizvi and Qadri in the cases of terrorism, sedition and inciting for violence," TLP lawyer Muhammad Arif Awan told Reuters. Bibi left for Canada last week after living at an undisclosed location inside Pakistan since her acquittal. Hardline Islamists in Pakistan had rallied against her being allowed to leave and called for her to be killed. Rizvi`s November arrest led to clashes between police and his supporters in the eastern city of Lahore, wounding five people in violence authorities say was instigated by the TLP leader after he called on his faithful to take to the streets if he was arrested. The two men are due to be released on Wednesday. TLP leaders had threatened the Supreme Court judges who acquitted Bibi, urging their cooks and servants to kill them, and called for the overthrow of the army chief, an unthinkable comment in Pakistan where the military is rarely criticized in public and the army normally does not tolerate such dissent. The TLP, whose main focus is protecting Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws, was founded out of a movement supporting a bodyguard who assassinated Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer for advocating for Bibi in 2011. Blasphemy is a deeply emotive issue in Pakistan’s staunchly religious society, and officials have been unnerved by how much support Rizvi’s TLP has garnered across the country in the two years since the group entered mainstream politics.

Protestors who opposed Asia Bibi's acquittal get bail 

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-imposes-sanction-on-pakistan-after-islamabad-refuses-to-take-back-deportees-213833">US has imposed visa sanctions</a> on three senior Pakistani interior ministry officials following a row between the two countries over deportation of dozens of Pakistanis in America for their visa overstay and other allegations.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday informed the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs about that visa curbs by the US.

The officials who are facing the visa restrictions are an additional secretary and a joint secretary of the interior ministry as well as the director general passports, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Also read- <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-visa-cut-for-pakistan-citizens-reduced-from-five-years-to-three-months-report-201472">US visa cut for Pakistan citizens reduced from five years to one year: Report</a>

The sanctions on the officials have been put in place after a row between Pakistan and America over deportation of dozens of Pakistanis, currently in the US, because of visa overstay and other allegations, it said.

Qureshi said the US authorities intended to deport more than 70 Pakistanis, but the government had asked them to fulfil the legal requirements.

The US put the restrictions on three officials that are said to be overseeing the country's policy on accepting back nationals deported from other countries.

The US has over the past 18 months deported over 100 Pakistanis, all of whom were accepted back.

It is the first time that Pakistani authorities have insisted on a verification of the credentials of the deportees.

The foreign minister, however, clarified that there were no visa restrictions by the US government on Pakistani citizens in general.

He said consular operations of the US embassy in Islamabad were continuing and are granting visas to the eligible applicants.&nbsp;

The US has imposed visa sanctions on three senior Pakistani interior ministry officials following a row between the two countries over deportation of dozens of Pakistanis in America for their visa overstay and other allegations.

The US has imposed visa sanctions on three senior Pakistani interior ministry officials following a row between the two countries over deportation of dozens of Pakistanis in America for their visa overstay and other allegations. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday informed the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs about that visa curbs by the US. The officials who are facing the visa restrictions are an additional secretary and a joint secretary of the interior ministry as well as the director general passports, the Dawn newspaper reported. Also read- US visa cut for Pakistan citizens reduced from five years to one year: Report The sanctions on the officials have been put in place after a row between Pakistan and America over deportation of dozens of Pakistanis, currently in the US, because of visa overstay and other allegations, it said. Qureshi said the US authorities intended to deport more than 70 Pakistanis, but the government had asked them to fulfil the legal requirements. The US put the restrictions on three officials that are said to be overseeing the country's policy on accepting back nationals deported from other countries. The US has over the past 18 months deported over 100 Pakistanis, all of whom were accepted back. It is the first time that Pakistani authorities have insisted on a verification of the credentials of the deportees. The foreign minister, however, clarified that there were no visa restrictions by the US government on Pakistani citizens in general. He said consular operations of the US embassy in Islamabad were continuing and are granting visas to the eligible applicants.

US imposes visa restrictions on three senior Pakistani officials

Pakistan on Wednesday decided not to lift its airspace ban for Indian flights till May 30, as Islamabad is awaiting the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls in India.

Pakistan fully closed its airspace after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26. However, Pakistan opened its airspace for all flights except for New Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on March 27.

"The top officials of defence and aviation ministries held a meeting on Wednesday to reconsider opening its airspace for Indian flights. They decided that Pakistan's airspace will remain banned for the Indian flights till May 30,? a senior government official told PTI after the meeting.&nbsp;

He said the Civil Aviation Authority has also notified the decision to the airmen. The authority issued a notification (Notam) after the meeting to pilots, advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying.&nbsp;

The official said the government will now consider lifting of the ban on Pakistan's airspace for Indian flights on May 30.&nbsp;

Pakistan on Wednesday decided not to lift its airspace ban for Indian flights till May 30, as Islamabad is awaiting the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls in India. Pakistan fully closed its airspace after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26.

Pakistan on Wednesday decided not to lift its airspace ban for Indian flights till May 30, as Islamabad is awaiting the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls in India. Pakistan fully closed its airspace after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26. However, Pakistan opened its airspace for all flights except for New Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on March 27. "The top officials of defence and aviation ministries held a meeting on Wednesday to reconsider opening its airspace for Indian flights. They decided that Pakistan's airspace will remain banned for the Indian flights till May 30,? a senior government official told PTI after the meeting. He said the Civil Aviation Authority has also notified the decision to the airmen. The authority issued a notification (Notam) after the meeting to pilots, advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying. The official said the government will now consider lifting of the ban on Pakistan's airspace for Indian flights on May 30.

Pakistan's airspace to remain shut for Indian flights till May 30

Pakistan's Punjab police on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of Abdul Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed.

Makki was arrested late Tuesday night on charges of hate speech as part of the national action plan from Gujranwala.

Under the national action plan, hate speech has been defined as&nbsp;a criminal offence. The plan also prohibits&nbsp;banned organisations to collect any donations.

Abdul Rehman Makki is the deputy Ameer of Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD), second in command to Hafiz Saeed and Saeed's brother-in-law as well.

Makki had recently delivered&nbsp;a speech criticising the recent terror outfits in Pakistan.

He had also appealed for collecting funds for JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and had also criticised the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylisting of Pakistan.

Makki's speech was a direct confrontation with the state and challenged its writ on the implementation of the National Action Plan.

Following the&nbsp;arrest of Makki, the Punjab province was put on high alert.

Pakistan's Punjab police on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of Abdul Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. Makki was arrested late Tuesday night on charges of hate speech as part of the national action plan from Gujranwala.

Pakistan's Punjab police on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of Abdul Rehman Makki, the brother-in-law of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. Makki was arrested late Tuesday night on charges of hate speech as part of the national action plan from Gujranwala. Under the national action plan, hate speech has been defined as a criminal offence. The plan also prohibits banned organisations to collect any donations. Abdul Rehman Makki is the deputy Ameer of Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD), second in command to Hafiz Saeed and Saeed's brother-in-law as well. Makki had recently delivered a speech criticising the recent terror outfits in Pakistan. He had also appealed for collecting funds for JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) and had also criticised the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylisting of Pakistan. Makki's speech was a direct confrontation with the state and challenged its writ on the implementation of the National Action Plan. Following the arrest of Makki, the Punjab province was put on high alert.

Hafiz Saeed's brother in law Abdul Rehman Makki arrested in Pakistan

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 14th 2019

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday (May 13), killing at least four policemen and wounding 11,

Blast in Pakistani city Quetta kills four police

After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-strike-heres-why-balakot-was-chosen-by-indian-air-force-199792"> the Indian Army is planning to deploy</a> a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan.

"Some of the fighting formations including air defence and other defensive formations are now planned to be moved closer to the borders," top Army sources told ANI.

"With these air defence units deployed closer to the border, we would be able to tackle any possible aerial strike from enemy side and thwart it close to the border itself," they said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-inside-indias-balakot-airstrikes-new-report-uncovers-fresh-insights-217094/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The sources said the location of the air defence units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan were reviewed by the force and it was felt that a number of them can be moved to forward locations to thwart enemy aerial strikes close to the borders itself.

The air defence assets of the Indian Army include the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems along with the Russian Kvadrat and other old legacy systems. The force is also set to receive the latest MR-SAM air defence system which has been produced by the DRD-Israel joint venture.

After India hit the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot town of Khyber Pakhtunwa province of Pakistan, the neighbouring country launched a big aerial attack in Jammu sector along the Line of Control.

Even though the attack was thwarted by the Air Force air defence fighters including the MiG-21s and the Su-30MKIs and one Pakistani F-16 was also shot down, it was felt that presence of air defence units in the area could have caused more damage to the Pakistanis.

Due to the aggressive response of the Air Force, the Pakistanis could come only a couple of kilometres inside the Indian territory.

The Pakistani air attack on February 27 was in response to the Balakot hits by the Indian Air Force a day earlier.

After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan, the Indian Army is planning to deploy a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan.

After a deep internal review of the recent conflict with Pakistan, the Indian Army is planning to deploy a number of its air defence units close to the border to thwart aerial threats emanating from Pakistan. "Some of the fighting formations including air defence and other defensive formations are now planned to be moved closer to the borders," top Army sources told ANI. "With these air defence units deployed closer to the border, we would be able to tackle any possible aerial strike from enemy side and thwart it close to the border itself," they said. The sources said the location of the air defence units deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan were reviewed by the force and it was felt that a number of them can be moved to forward locations to thwart enemy aerial strikes close to the borders itself. The air defence assets of the Indian Army include the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems along with the Russian Kvadrat and other old legacy systems. The force is also set to receive the latest MR-SAM air defence system which has been produced by the DRD-Israel joint venture. After India hit the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot town of Khyber Pakhtunwa province of Pakistan, the neighbouring country launched a big aerial attack in Jammu sector along the Line of Control. Even though the attack was thwarted by the Air Force air defence fighters including the MiG-21s and the Su-30MKIs and one Pakistani F-16 was also shot down, it was felt that presence of air defence units in the area could have caused more damage to the Pakistanis. Due to the aggressive response of the Air Force, the Pakistanis could come only a couple of kilometres inside the Indian territory. The Pakistani air attack on February 27 was in response to the Balakot hits by the Indian Air Force a day earlier.

Indian Army to move air defence units closer to Pakistan border post-Balakot strikes

Pakistan has secured a $6bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the country battles to stave off an economic crisis.

WION CHAT: Lawrence Sellin, Retd U.S Army Col on IMF bailout to Pakistan

After years of ill-treatment, the Pakistani women have appealed to PM Modi and Pak PM to enable their travel to India and have also said that they want to live in India. Watch full video to know more.

We Want to live in India, says Pakistani women

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, killing at least four policemen and wounding 11, officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which came amid high security during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Quetta police chief Abdul Razzaq Cheema said the four dead were all police and there were two police among the wounded.

Last week, at least 10 people were killed in a suicide attack on a police van guarding a major Sufi shrine in the eastern city of Lahore.

Ziaullah Langove, home affairs minister in the province of Balochistan said Monday's bomb targeted police guarding the mosque, where people were performing evening prayers.

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, killing at least four policemen and wounding 11, officials said.

An improvised bomb rigged to a motorcycle and apparently targeting a police vehicle exploded near a mosque in the western Pakistani city of Quetta on Monday, killing at least four policemen and wounding 11, officials said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which came amid high security during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Quetta police chief Abdul Razzaq Cheema said the four dead were all police and there were two police among the wounded. Last week, at least 10 people were killed in a suicide attack on a police van guarding a major Sufi shrine in the eastern city of Lahore. Ziaullah Langove, home affairs minister in the province of Balochistan said Monday's bomb targeted police guarding the mosque, where people were performing evening prayers.

Blast in Pakistani city Quetta kills four policemen

Pakistan Army's Invisible Hand In The Election Of Imran Khan Is Turning Into An Epic Failure As The Country Stares At A Political Economic Collapse.

Gravitas: Is Pakistan Army's Project Imran Turning Out To Be Dud?

Imran Khan Promised The World To Pakistan's Public. But A Look At The Economy Makes For Dismal Viewing.

Gravitas: In Naya Pakistan, The Macro Indicators Look Bleak

Pakistan Gets Another Bailout From IMF, But With Riders.

Gravitas: Is The IMF Bailout A Lifeline For Pakistan's Economy?

Gravitas: Is Pakistan A Bailout Nation?

Pakistan is facing a "challenging" economic environment and "decisive" policies and reforms are needed to stabilise the economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned as it reached a deal with the cash-strapped government of Prime Minister Imran Khan on a $6 billion bailout to stave off a financial crisis.

The funding, which still needs <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imf-agrees-to-6-billion-bailout-for-pakistan-but-wants-action-on-terror-funding-218179">approval from the IMF's management</a>, would be provided over three years. The agreement comes after months of negotiations that saw the sacking of Pakistan's finance minister, the governor of the central bank as well as the top revenue officer.

Pakistan has faced an economic crisis with short supplies of foreign currency reserves and stagnating growth. In February, the central bank had only $8 billion left in foreign reserves.

"Pakistan is facing a challenging economic environment, with lacklustre growth, elevated inflation, high indebtedness, and a weak external position," IMF representative Ernesto Ramirez Rigo said in a statement on Sunday after the agreement was reached with the Pakistan government.

"This reflects the legacy of uneven and procyclical economic policies in recent years aiming to boost growth, but at the expense of rising vulnerabilities and lingering structural and institutional weaknesses.&nbsp;

The authorities recognise the need to address these challenges, as well as to tackle the large informality in the economy, the low spending in human capital, and poverty," he said.

"The Pakistani authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies that could be supported by a 39-month Extended Fund Arrangement (EFF) for about $6 billion," Rigo said.&nbsp;

The agreement is subject to IMF management approval and to approval by the Executive Board, subject to the timely implementation of prior actions and confirmation of international partners' financial commitments.

He said the bailout programme aims to support the Pakistani authorities' strategy for stronger and more balanced growth by reducing domestic and external imbalances, improving the business environment, strengthening institutions, increasing transparency, and protecting social spending.

Pakistan has so far received a total of $9.1 billion in financial aid packages from friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the current fiscal year.&nbsp;

Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said the government could not have bridged the financing gap of $12 billion on its own that he said was created by a weak economy.

Asked to share the conditions that Pakistan has agreed to as part of the agreement, Shaikh said there were many things desired by the Fund that the government already saw as being in the country's interest; they include aligning expenditure with resources, improve the functioning of loss-making state-owned enterprises, curtail the subsidies available to the wealthy classes and tax the rich segments.

"These structural changes are in our interest if we want to take our people in the direction of prosperity and improve their quality of life," he was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.

He said because the government wants to send "a signal of financial discipline" and resolve fiscal challenges, the programme would entail raising prices in some areas in order to recover the costs.

"However the government is focused on not putting too much burden on the common man," Shaikh said.

The IMF statement said, the forthcoming budget for FY2019/20 would be a first critical step in the authorities' fiscal strategy.&nbsp;

The budget will aim for a primary deficit of 0.6 per cent of GDP supported by tax policy revenue mobilization measures to eliminate exemptions, curtail special treatments, and improve tax administration.&nbsp;

This will be accompanied by prudent spending growth aimed at preserving essential development spending, with the goal of protecting the most vulnerable segments of society.

The Imran Khan government on May 4 appointed Dr Reza Baqir a Pakistani economist working for the IMF as the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan after Tariq Bajwa resigned from the post of governor of Pakistan's central bank.

The government also appointed Ahmed Mujtaba Memon to the key post of Federal Board of Revenue chairman, which also fell vacant after the removal of Jahanzeb Khan, the chairman of the tax collection body.

The key appointments come weeks after Finance Minister Asad Umar was asked to step down amid bailout negotiations with the IMF, suggesting the government wants to overhaul its financial team amid weakening growth rates and soaring inflation.

Last month, Prime Minister Khan appointed Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as Adviser on Finance in place of Umar, as inflation rose to its highest in six years.

Pakistan is facing a "challenging" economic environment and "decisive" policies and reforms are needed to stabilise the economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned as it reached a deal with the cash-strapped government of Prime Minister Imran Khan on a $6 billion bailout to stave off a financial crisis.

Pakistan is facing a "challenging" economic environment and "decisive" policies and reforms are needed to stabilise the economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned as it reached a deal with the cash-strapped government of Prime Minister Imran Khan on a $6 billion bailout to stave off a financial crisis. The funding, which still needs approval from the IMF's management, would be provided over three years. The agreement comes after months of negotiations that saw the sacking of Pakistan's finance minister, the governor of the central bank as well as the top revenue officer. Pakistan has faced an economic crisis with short supplies of foreign currency reserves and stagnating growth. In February, the central bank had only $8 billion left in foreign reserves. "Pakistan is facing a challenging economic environment, with lacklustre growth, elevated inflation, high indebtedness, and a weak external position," IMF representative Ernesto Ramirez Rigo said in a statement on Sunday after the agreement was reached with the Pakistan government. "This reflects the legacy of uneven and procyclical economic policies in recent years aiming to boost growth, but at the expense of rising vulnerabilities and lingering structural and institutional weaknesses. The authorities recognise the need to address these challenges, as well as to tackle the large informality in the economy, the low spending in human capital, and poverty," he said. "The Pakistani authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on economic policies that could be supported by a 39-month Extended Fund Arrangement (EFF) for about $6 billion," Rigo said. The agreement is subject to IMF management approval and to approval by the Executive Board, subject to the timely implementation of prior actions and confirmation of international partners' financial commitments. He said the bailout programme aims to support the Pakistani authorities' strategy for stronger and more balanced growth by reducing domestic and external imbalances, improving the business environment, strengthening institutions, increasing transparency, and protecting social spending. Pakistan has so far received a total of $9.1 billion in financial aid packages from friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the current fiscal year. Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said the government could not have bridged the financing gap of $12 billion on its own that he said was created by a weak economy. Asked to share the conditions that Pakistan has agreed to as part of the agreement, Shaikh said there were many things desired by the Fund that the government already saw as being in the country's interest; they include aligning expenditure with resources, improve the functioning of loss-making state-owned enterprises, curtail the subsidies available to the wealthy classes and tax the rich segments. "These structural changes are in our interest if we want to take our people in the direction of prosperity and improve their quality of life," he was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper. He said because the government wants to send "a signal of financial discipline" and resolve fiscal challenges, the programme would entail raising prices in some areas in order to recover the costs. "However the government is focused on not putting too much burden on the common man," Shaikh said. The IMF statement said, the forthcoming budget for FY2019/20 would be a first critical step in the authorities' fiscal strategy. The budget will aim for a primary deficit of 0.6 per cent of GDP supported by tax policy revenue mobilization measures to eliminate exemptions, curtail special treatments, and improve tax administration. This will be accompanied by prudent spending growth aimed at preserving essential development spending, with the goal of protecting the most vulnerable segments of society. The Imran Khan government on May 4 appointed Dr Reza Baqir a Pakistani economist working for the IMF as the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan after Tariq Bajwa resigned from the post of governor of Pakistan's central bank. The government also appointed Ahmed Mujtaba Memon to the key post of Federal Board of Revenue chairman, which also fell vacant after the removal of Jahanzeb Khan, the chairman of the tax collection body. The key appointments come weeks after Finance Minister Asad Umar was asked to step down amid bailout negotiations with the IMF, suggesting the government wants to overhaul its financial team amid weakening growth rates and soaring inflation. Last month, Prime Minister Khan appointed Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as Adviser on Finance in place of Umar, as inflation rose to its highest in six years.

'Decisive' policies and reforms must for Pakistan's economic stability: IMF

The death toll in the suicide attack targeting one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/death-toll-rises-to-11-in-lahore-suicide-attack-outside-sufi-shrine-217175/amp">Sufi shrines in Lahore</a> has risen to 13 as another civilian succumbed to his injuries, a media report said Monday.

Tahir Aslam, 18, was working at a shop near the shrine. He was among the critically injured and was brought to the Mayo Hospital where he has succumbed to his injuries.

He was rushed to the hospital after the blast which has claimed the lives of six policemen and seven civilians, the Dawn newspaper reported.

A senior police official told the daily on condition of anonymity that security forces had yet to make any substantial progress in the investigations into the attack.

He said that although they had arrested a few suspects from Lahore, they were no big leads.

A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Data Darbar shrine, the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia on Wednesday, the second day of the fasting month of Ramzan. A CCTV footage showed a teenage boy wearing black shalwar kameez and a suicide vest coming closer to the vehicle of elite force before blowing himself up.

Punjab Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz has said it was a suicide attack as the target was the vehicle of the elite force that was stationed outside the shrine of Sufi saint Ali Hajvari commonly known as Data Darbar.

"Police was the target. 100 per cent," he said.

Lahore police spokesman Syed Mubashir has said the police have arrested four suspects with the help of CCTV cameras in the city.

The rickshaw used to transport the suicide bomber to the shrine has been identified, he added.

The CCTV footage shows the rickshaw driver approached the bomber as the latter emerged from Garhi Shahu area, some seven kilometres from the shrine.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-slams-hotel-attack-as-bid-to-damage-economy-218007">Prime Minister Imran Khan</a> condemned the attack and has directed the Punjab government to provide all assistance to the injured and families of victims.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered an inquiry into the attack.

The famous shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. In 2010, the heavily-guarded shrine was targeted in a suicide attack that killed more than 40 people.

Police also confirmed that Hizbul Ahrar had claimed responsibility for sending the teenage suicide bomber to the shrine.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab has examined the records of three terror groups, including the Ghazi Force and Jamaatul Ahrar.

Hizbul Ahrar is a splinter group of Jamaatul Ahrar headed by Muqarram Shah from Afghanistan. It separated from Jamaatul Ahrar due to internal rifts.

It started operating separately to target primarily the law enforcement agencies in various parts of Pakistan, the police said, adding the CTD is also following other leads, like the possibility of the involvement of Islamic State terror group.&nbsp;

The death toll in the suicide attack targeting one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered Sufi shrines in Lahore has risen to 13 as another civilian succumbed to his injuries, a media report said Monday.

The death toll in the suicide attack targeting one of Pakistan's oldest and most revered Sufi shrines in Lahore has risen to 13 as another civilian succumbed to his injuries, a media report said Monday. Tahir Aslam, 18, was working at a shop near the shrine. He was among the critically injured and was brought to the Mayo Hospital where he has succumbed to his injuries. He was rushed to the hospital after the blast which has claimed the lives of six policemen and seven civilians, the Dawn newspaper reported. A senior police official told the daily on condition of anonymity that security forces had yet to make any substantial progress in the investigations into the attack. He said that although they had arrested a few suspects from Lahore, they were no big leads. A suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Data Darbar shrine, the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia on Wednesday, the second day of the fasting month of Ramzan. A CCTV footage showed a teenage boy wearing black shalwar kameez and a suicide vest coming closer to the vehicle of elite force before blowing himself up. Punjab Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz has said it was a suicide attack as the target was the vehicle of the elite force that was stationed outside the shrine of Sufi saint Ali Hajvari commonly known as Data Darbar. "Police was the target. 100 per cent," he said. Lahore police spokesman Syed Mubashir has said the police have arrested four suspects with the help of CCTV cameras in the city. The rickshaw used to transport the suicide bomber to the shrine has been identified, he added. The CCTV footage shows the rickshaw driver approached the bomber as the latter emerged from Garhi Shahu area, some seven kilometres from the shrine. Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and has directed the Punjab government to provide all assistance to the injured and families of victims. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has ordered an inquiry into the attack. The famous shrine is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year. In 2010, the heavily-guarded shrine was targeted in a suicide attack that killed more than 40 people. Police also confirmed that Hizbul Ahrar had claimed responsibility for sending the teenage suicide bomber to the shrine. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab has examined the records of three terror groups, including the Ghazi Force and Jamaatul Ahrar. Hizbul Ahrar is a splinter group of Jamaatul Ahrar headed by Muqarram Shah from Afghanistan. It separated from Jamaatul Ahrar due to internal rifts. It started operating separately to target primarily the law enforcement agencies in various parts of Pakistan, the police said, adding the CTD is also following other leads, like the possibility of the involvement of Islamic State terror group.

Death toll rises to 13 in Lahore Sufi shrine suicide attack

Five people including a soldier were killed after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-slams-hotel-attack-as-bid-to-damage-economy-218007">gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the southwestern Pakistani city of Gwadar</a>, the centrepiece of a multi-billion dollar Chinese infrastructure project, the military said Sunday.&nbsp;

The soldier was among security forces who rushed to the five-star Pearl Continental Hotel after the attack on Saturday.

During the attack "5 individuals got Shaheed (martyred) including 4 hotel employees and a Pakistan Navy soldier," the military said in a statement. One of the hotel staff killed was a security guard shot at the entrance. &nbsp;

Six others were injured including four security service officers and two hotel staff members.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/4-killed-as-armed-militants-storm-5-star-hotel-in-pakistans-gwadar-port-city-police-217847">military said all three terrorists had been killed</a>. Local police had earlier claimed there had been four attackers.&nbsp;

A Baloch separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter.

Prime minister Imran Khan said the attack was a bid to "sabotage prosperity".

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/security-guard-killed-as-gunmen-attack-hotel-in-pakistans-gwadar-217851/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Such attempts, especially in Balochistan, are an effort to sabotage our economic projects and prosperity. We shall not allow these agendas to succeed," Khan said in a statement issued by his office.&nbsp;

The Chinese embassy in Islamabad also strongly condemned the incident.&nbsp;

'The next Dubai'

The Pearl Continental, part of Pakistan's largest five-star hotel chain, is the only luxury hotel in Gwadar, frequented by foreign and Pakistani business delegations as well as diplomats.

It sits isolated on a ridge overlooking the Arabian Sea port city that was formerly a small fishing village, but now touted by officials as "the next Dubai" thanks to the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Part of China's Belt and Road initiative, CPEC seeks to connect the western Chinese province of Xinjiang with Gwadar, with the development of the port as the plan's flagship project.

Gwadar will provide China with safer and more direct access to the oil-rich Middle East than the waterway trade route it currently uses through the narrow Malacca Straits.

But it has also drawn its share of attacks -- particularly from separatists who have long complained that residents of Pakistan's poorest and largest province do not receive a fair share of profits from its resources.

The BLA has targeted Chinese workers in Pakistan multiple times, including during a brazen daylight attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi which killed four people in November last year.

At the time, the BLA branded Beijing "an oppressor".

Balochistan is tightly guarded by the Pakistani military, who have been targeting insurgents there since 2004. The army has been repeatedly accused by international rights groups of abuses there, but denies all allegations.

The attack was the second deadly attack in a prominent Pakistan city this week, after a suicide blast claimed by the Pakistani Taliban at one of the country's oldest and most popular Sufi shrines killed at least 12 people in the eastern city of Lahore.

Five people including a soldier were killed after gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the southwestern Pakistani city of Gwadar, the centrepiece of a multi-billion dollar Chinese infrastructure project, the military said Sunday.

Five people including a soldier were killed after gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the southwestern Pakistani city of Gwadar, the centrepiece of a multi-billion dollar Chinese infrastructure project, the military said Sunday. The soldier was among security forces who rushed to the five-star Pearl Continental Hotel after the attack on Saturday. During the attack "5 individuals got Shaheed (martyred) including 4 hotel employees and a Pakistan Navy soldier," the military said in a statement. One of the hotel staff killed was a security guard shot at the entrance. Six others were injured including four security service officers and two hotel staff members. The military said all three terrorists had been killed. Local police had earlier claimed there had been four attackers. A Baloch separatist group, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter. Prime minister Imran Khan said the attack was a bid to "sabotage prosperity". "Such attempts, especially in Balochistan, are an effort to sabotage our economic projects and prosperity. We shall not allow these agendas to succeed," Khan said in a statement issued by his office. The Chinese embassy in Islamabad also strongly condemned the incident. 'The next Dubai' The Pearl Continental, part of Pakistan's largest five-star hotel chain, is the only luxury hotel in Gwadar, frequented by foreign and Pakistani business delegations as well as diplomats. It sits isolated on a ridge overlooking the Arabian Sea port city that was formerly a small fishing village, but now touted by officials as "the next Dubai" thanks to the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Part of China's Belt and Road initiative, CPEC seeks to connect the western Chinese province of Xinjiang with Gwadar, with the development of the port as the plan's flagship project. Gwadar will provide China with safer and more direct access to the oil-rich Middle East than the waterway trade route it currently uses through the narrow Malacca Straits. But it has also drawn its share of attacks -- particularly from separatists who have long complained that residents of Pakistan's poorest and largest province do not receive a fair share of profits from its resources. The BLA has targeted Chinese workers in Pakistan multiple times, including during a brazen daylight attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi which killed four people in November last year. At the time, the BLA branded Beijing "an oppressor". Balochistan is tightly guarded by the Pakistani military, who have been targeting insurgents there since 2004. The army has been repeatedly accused by international rights groups of abuses there, but denies all allegations. The attack was the second deadly attack in a prominent Pakistan city this week, after a suicide blast claimed by the Pakistani Taliban at one of the country's oldest and most popular Sufi shrines killed at least 12 people in the eastern city of Lahore.

Five dead in Pakistan luxury hotel attack: Military

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/live-lok-sabha-phase-6-elections-voting-begins-for-59-constituencies-across-seven-states-217872">Live Lok Sabha phase 6 elections: Despite violence, West Bengal stuns with over 80% turnout till 6pm</a>

AAP's South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha said on Sunday that voting in the city-state was a positive sign for his party but the BJP workers had done 'bogus votes' in Sangam Vihar during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election. He

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-review-re-opening-of-airspace-for-indian-flights-minister-says-no-change-in-status-quo-218098">Pakistan to review re-opening of airspace for Indian flights; minister says no change in status quo</a>

Pakistan will review re-opening of its airspace for Indian flights on May 15 amid heightened Indo-Pak military tensions, a civil aviation official said Sunday, but a senior minister indicated that the status quo will remain till the elections are over in India.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nation-says-rebel-pullout-from-yemen-ports-on-track-218105">United Nation says rebel pullout from Yemen ports on track</a>

The United Nations said Sunday that a Yemeni rebel withdrawal from key Red Sea ports was proceeding as planned after the government accused the insurgents of faking the pullout.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/hinduja-brothers-top-uk-rich-list-reuben-brothers-second-218062">Hinduja brothers top UK rich list, Reuben brothers second</a>

Indian-origin brothers dominate the annual rich list of Britain's wealthiest, with the Hinduja brothers ranked at No&nbsp;1 with a fortune of 22 billion pounds followed by Mumbai-born Reuben brothers in second place with 18.66 billion pounds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/a-year-after-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-where-do-things-stand-218080">A year after US embassy move to Jerusalem, where do things stand</a>

The United States moved its Israel embassy to Jerusalem nearly a year ago in the culmination of a diplomatic rupture that coincided with a bloodbath on the Gaza border.

As President Donald Trump's administration prepares to present its long-promised plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what has changed?

Live Lok Sabha phase 6 elections: Despite violence, West Bengal stuns with over 80% turnout till 6pm AAP's South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha said on Sunday that voting in the city-state was a positive sign for his party but the BJP workers had done 'bogus votes' in Sangam Vihar during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election.

Live Lok Sabha phase 6 elections: Despite violence, West Bengal stuns with over 80% turnout till 6pm AAP's South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha said on Sunday that voting in the city-state was a positive sign for his party but the BJP workers had done 'bogus votes' in Sangam Vihar during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election. He Pakistan to review re-opening of airspace for Indian flights; minister says no change in status quo Pakistan will review re-opening of its airspace for Indian flights on May 15 amid heightened Indo-Pak military tensions, a civil aviation official said Sunday, but a senior minister indicated that the status quo will remain till the elections are over in India. United Nation says rebel pullout from Yemen ports on track The United Nations said Sunday that a Yemeni rebel withdrawal from key Red Sea ports was proceeding as planned after the government accused the insurgents of faking the pullout. Hinduja brothers top UK rich list, Reuben brothers second Indian-origin brothers dominate the annual rich list of Britain's wealthiest, with the Hinduja brothers ranked at No 1 with a fortune of 22 billion pounds followed by Mumbai-born Reuben brothers in second place with 18.66 billion pounds. A year after US embassy move to Jerusalem, where do things stand The United States moved its Israel embassy to Jerusalem nearly a year ago in the culmination of a diplomatic rupture that coincided with a bloodbath on the Gaza border. As President Donald Trump's administration prepares to present its long-promised plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what has changed?

News brief: Big stories of the day

pakistan-0

Pakistan, News on Pakistan, stories on Pakistan, articles on Pakistan, Pakistan stories at Wion, Pakistan news, Pakistan latest news

pakistan 0

Pakistan planning to appoint NSA to resume back-channel talks with India

Pakistan Army to raise another division to protect CPEC projects, Chinese nationals

Pakistan stops much-celebrated offshore drilling as no oil and gas reserves found

Afghanistan seeks clarity from US on Pakistan's relationship with Taliban

'Emotional hundred': Jason Roy reveals baby daughter was hospitalised when he scored century

'Global terrorist’ tag on Masood Azhar is a major triumph for Indian strategic thinking and political sagacity

Gravitas; Watch Gravitas full show; 15th May, 2019

Gravitas: Abdul Rehman Makki's arrest: Is Pakistan hoodwinking the world?

Gravitas: LeT Second-in-Command arrested in Pak

Ex-Pakistan president Zardari secures interim bail in 6 corruption cases

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 16th 2019

Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif will return to jail on Tuesday

Pakistani girls being trafficked to China

Pakistani girls being trafficked to China

Protestors who opposed Asia Bibi's acquittal get bail

US imposes visa restrictions on three senior Pakistani officials

Pakistan's airspace to remain shut for Indian flights till May 30

Hafiz Saeed's brother in law Abdul Rehman Makki arrested in Pakistan

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning, May 14th 2019

Blast in Pakistani city Quetta kills four police

Indian Army to move air defence units closer to Pakistan border post-Balakot strikes

WION CHAT: Lawrence Sellin, Retd U.S Army Col on IMF bailout to Pakistan

We Want to live in India, says Pakistani women

Blast in Pakistani city Quetta kills four policemen