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.
Preparations are in full swing for the Royal duo to touch down in the country, including some traditional rickshaws. The UK in Pakistan Twitter account shared a video with hashtag #RoyalVisitPakistan, depicting bright paints and men creating a work of art on the vehicles. This includes the flag of Britain and the flag of Pakistan side by side displayed on the beautifully decorated rickshaw.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a letter has called all members of the PML-N “to ensure that the Azadi March by Maulana Fazl ur Rehman is a success”. The letter, dated October 10, is addressed to his brother, PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif, and its contents were discussed with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. “This is the time to stand up,” he wrote.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed to share details of properties owned by 500 non-Iqama holder Pakistani nationals. The data will provide valuable information to the tax machinery as it remains unable to effectively utilise previous offshore information. Both countries also agreed to renegotiate Pak-UAE avoidance of double taxation treaty that would also help remove irritants in cooperation in areas of taxation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay an official visit to Pakistan on 23rd of this month to cement relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Imran Khan had telephoned the Turkish president and said that Mr Erdogan would visit Pakistan “later this month”. Erdogan will also extend full support to Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir issue.