Washington, January 15, 2026 – The Trump administration has announced a suspension of all immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, effective January 21, according to reports citing a State Department memo. The pause affects visas for employment or family reunification, while non-immigrant visas, such as tourist and student visas, remain unaffected.
(more…)Category: Pakistan
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PM Shehbaz forms committee to review new currency note designs
Islamabad – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced the formation of a committee to review and deliberate on new designs for Pakistan’s currency notes. The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, which focused on key policy matters, including currency modernization, a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office stated.
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PM Shehbaz applauds Ericsson’s key role in Pakistan’s telecom growth
Islamabad, January 13, 2026 – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday lauded Ericsson for its long-standing contribution to the growth and modernization of Pakistan’s telecommunications sector, during a meeting with a high-level delegation of the global telecom company at the Prime Minister’s House.
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Pakistan Customs thwarts major arms smuggling bid at Torkham, seizes 21,000+ rounds
Islamabad, January 13, 2026 – Pakistan Customs officials at the Torkham border crossing successfully foiled a large-scale attempt to smuggle arms and ammunition into the country, recovering more than 21,000 rounds of submachine gun and rifle cartridges along with other weapons.
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Pakistan, UAE to sign pre-immigration clearance deal to ease travel
Islamabad, January 13, 2026 – Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to sign a pre-immigration clearance agreement aimed at simplifying travel for UAE-bound passengers by allowing them to complete immigration formalities before departure from Pakistan.
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Consumers face Rs2.2 trillion bills for unused electricity as lawmakers slam Nepra
Islamabad, January 11, 2026 — Senior lawmakers have strongly criticized Pakistan’s power regulator after revelations that consumers are being charged Rs2.2 trillion for electricity that was neither generated nor consumed, largely due to capacity payments to power producers.
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PM Shehbaz Approves National Framework to Reform Pakistan’s Gemstone Sector
Islamabad, January 9, 2026 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday granted in-principle approval to the National Policy Framework aimed at reforming Pakistan’s gemstone sector, aligning it with international standards, and creating an investor-friendly environment for both local and foreign stakeholders.
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PM Shehbaz orders strategy to boost rice exports and cut trade deficit
Islamabad, January 7, 2026 — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday emphasized the need to significantly increase rice exports and directed relevant authorities to prepare a comprehensive export strategy in close coordination with the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP).
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PM Shehbaz directs SBP to simplify credit for SMEs, farmers, startups
Islamabad, January 7, 2026 — Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday instructed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and commercial banks to simplify and expand credit mechanisms for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), new businesses, and small farmers. The prime minister emphasized that improving access to finance is a top government priority to boost economic growth and financial inclusion.
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Govt freezes gas prices for six months, announces major relief for consumers
Islamabad, January 6, 2026 — In a major relief for households and businesses, the federal government has decided not to increase gas prices for the next six months across all consumer categories. Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on Tuesday that the decision was taken on the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, ensuring price stability for the remainder of the current fiscal period.
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