After a meeting held of the Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) in Lahore, Pakistan decided to export gemstones and jewellery to China as opportunities for improving bilateral trade were explored during the meeting. Pakistan possesses large untapped reserves of precious gemstones which can be exported to China as China is the biggest buyer of jewellery and gemstones.
Pakistan avoids The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist on Friday. FATF decided to keep Pakistan on the grey list as Islamabad failed to fully implement the 27-point Action plan. Pakistan’s efforts on the agreed five action points were appreciated but it’s position on other points were partially acknowledged or rejected by the global body, providing the country another four months to complete the remaining actions.
Foreign Office(FO) spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan had “exclusive rights” over three Western rivers. According to Times of India Modi said that his government would stop the water flowing to Pakistan as it belongs to their country. Dr Faisal put light on the current situation of Kashmir and some more statements coming from Indian leadership would be and example of India’s aggression and irresponsibility.
Prime Minister Imran Khan launched on Thursday the ‘Kamyab Jawan’ programme – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s initiative for the welfare and progress of the country’s youth. During the inauguration ceremony in Islamabad he announced Rs.100 billion loan being embarked as a part of this programme. Later, he promised the youth that all loans will be disbursed purely on merit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Pakistan, expected on 23rd October has been postponed. Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal confirmed the news, hours after a Turkish diplomat tweeted about the matter. The FO spokesperson added that a new date for the visit is yet to be determined but did not state any reasons for the postponement of the visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – Prince William and Kate Middleton – have arrived in Chitral to address issue of climate change in the country. The royal couple will visit the scenic valley and its surrounding Hindu Kush mountain range during remaining two days of their five-day visit to Pakistan. The royals are also expected to meet locals.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided in a meeting in Paris that Pakistan will remain on its grey list till February 2020, according to local news channel. The meeting on Tuesday reviewed Islamabad’s measures to control money laundering and terror financing but observed that further steps need to be taken. The FATF directed Islamabad to take ‘extra measures’ for ‘complete’ elimination.
Pakistan is aiming to export it’s JF-17 Thunder fighter planes to four countries, according to various reports. The country is looking for numerous perspective buyers across the globe including Myanmar, India’s neighbor and traditional defense partners of New Delhi i.e Nigeria. Myanmar has already bought four JF-17’s, furthermore, Pakistan hopes to sell them to Malaysia and Azerbaijan as well.
Pakistan’s Rabia Shahzad won a gold medal for the country in the Hampshire Weightlifting Championship. Rabia Shahzad, aged 21, IBA student and younger sister of the badminton sensation Mahnoor Shahzad emerged undefeated with 144.9 Sinclair points in her category. Earlier, she claimed the silver medal in the 49-kilogram female category in the Welsh Open Weightlifting Championships. Rabia beat eight other weightlifters in the competition.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is trying to recover $800 million from United Arab Emirates (UAE) telecom giant Etisalat on account of privatisation of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in a press conference said that a meeting was held with Etisilat for retrieval of the owed $800 million and also promised that the government is fully responsible for the recovery of the accrued money.