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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PM Shehbaz orders five-year strategy to boost Pakistan’s agricultural exports
Islamabad, January 6, 2026 — Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the formulation of a comprehensive five-year strategy to enhance Pakistan’s agricultural exports. The announcement came during a high-level meeting with a Working Group of private sector experts tasked with aligning the country’s agriculture sector with international standards.
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Naqvi orders massive crackdown against money laundering, hawala–hundi networks
Islamabad, January 4, 2026 — Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday ordered a comprehensive and indiscriminate crackdown against the money-laundering mafia, directing law-enforcement agencies to take firm action against major operators involved in illegal financial activities across the country.
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Pakistan exports drop 8.7%, trade deficit widens 34.57% in 1HFY26
Islamabad, January 2, 2026 – Pakistan reported a 8.70% decline in exports, leading to a 34.57% increase in the trade deficit during the first half (July–December) of fiscal year 2025-26, compared to the same period last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.
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PM Shehbaz orders key measures to cut foreign exchange outflow on petroleum imports
Islamabad, January 1, 2026 — Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday issued important directives aimed at saving foreign exchange spent on petroleum imports, stressing the need to accelerate domestic oil and gas exploration and modernize the energy supply chain.
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