$32b deficit reflects policy failure

A picture showing $100 bills. SOURCE: REUTERS ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s external sector has once again sounded a loud alarm. The country’s trade deficit surged to $31.988 billion in the first 10 months of FY2026 and $4.074 billion in April 2026, a massive increase of 43.5% month-on-month and 20.28% year-on-year. Pakistan recorded goods imports of $6.553 billion,…

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Pakistan, US reaffirm commitment to ‘constructive engagement’

. ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has expressed Islamabad’s steadfast commitment to promoting conflict resolution through dialogue and constructive engagement following a meeting with US Congressman Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Republican caucus. Sheikh described the interaction as “broad-based and productive,” noting that both sides exchanged…

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The supplementary budget trap

Pakistan should not depend on foreign institutions for assessment of its budget. An Independent Fiscal Council with statutory authority will provide parliament with its own expert voice, independent of the executive’s fiscal claims. photo: file ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s fiscal strategy and productivity landscape have been marred by years of perpetual firefighting. Beyond the International Monetary Fund’s…

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Bilawal rejects street agitation, calls for dialogue

ISLAMABAD: As unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir continues to test the political temperature, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday linked internal stability with broader national cohesion. Linking the broader political environment to unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bilawal said protesters “cannot damage Pakistan or the Kashmir cause, nor would they be allowed to”…

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Aston Villa humble Liverpool

BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa secured Champions League football with a 4-2 win over Liverpool on Friday that leaves the Reds still at risk of missing out on Europe’s elite competition next season. Ollie Watkins struck twice as Villa boss Unai Emery was rewarded for naming a strong side just days before the Europa League final. “Champions…

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