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PM FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PLAN TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY Tuesday, 29 July, 2025 | 3 Safar, 1447
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THE CORE OBJECTIVE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PLAN IS TO PROVIDE EASE, CONVENIENCE TO PUBLIC, SAYS PM
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DIRECTS ALL PROVINCIAL GOVTS TO FULLY COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL GOVT REGARDING DIGITALIZATION OF THE ECONOMY
SAYS MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD BE MADE A PERMANENT FEATURE OF THIS PLAN ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the federal government to hold meaningful consultations with provincial governments for effective and comprehensive implementation of the Digital Transformation Plan. Chairing a weekly review meeting on Cashless and Digital Economy here, the prime minister said digitalization of the economy will help promote transparency. The core objective of the Federal Government’s Digital Transformation Plan is to provide ease and convenience to the public without any additional cost, he said adding that the government was encouraging digital payments and digital transfer of funds through policy measures. All provincial governments, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, should fully cooperate with the federal government regarding the digital-
ization of the economy and cashless economy, the prime minister stressed adding that with the cooperation of provincial governments and institu-
Miftah Ismail wants probe into sugar crisis, denies corruption allegations KARACHI
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Former federal finance minister Miftah Ismail on Monday called for a thorough investigation into the country’s recent sugar export crisis alleging that the policy benefited only a select group of sugar mill owners and was driven by vested government interests. Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Ismail categorically rejected corruption allegations leveled against him by two senators from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), terming them “baseless and politically motivated.” He singled out PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, stating that the former minister had already apologised to him privately for making false accusations regarding the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). “I was in jail when the funds for this program were raised,” Mr Ismail said, insisting he had no involvement in the alleged mismanagement. “These allegations are being made simply because I speak the truth about the failures of this government,” he said, adding that if Mr Chaudhry or any other accuser has evidence, they should bring it forward. “Otherwise, apologise or be ready to face the court,” he added. Commenting on the sugar export policy, the former finance minister said the export was deliberately carried out to create an artificial price hike. “Sugar was exported to make it expensive. Only mill owners benefited, and the decision was taken in an organised way,” he alleged. In a surprising revelation, Mr Ismail said that the foreign minister was made the head of the committee overseeing sugar matters — a move he described as unprecedented and a reflection of the government’s conflict of interest. “This is not just about sugar; this is about the government’s priorities,” he said. Mr Ismail also criticised the federal government’s policies, especially in the agriculture and energy sectors. “The current government is not farmer-friendly. The farming community has been left to suffer while sugar barons thrive,” he said, expressing concern over rising input costs and a lack of subsidies. On the issue of power tariffs, Mr Ismail lamented the growing burden on the common citizen. “Electricity prices are increasing every other day. The poor are being crushed under the weight of overbilling and inefficiencies,” he said, referring to the recent Rs244 billion in electricity overbilling. “If you are honest, return this amount to the people.”
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tions, the federal government’s Digital Transformation Plan should be further streamlined to ensure targets are achieved within the set timelines.
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Meaningful consultation with all stakeholders should be made a permanent feature of this plan, the prime minister added. During the meeting, the prime minister was told that the National Digital Commission and the Pakistan Digital Authority had been established, and the necessary rules have been formulated. The appointment process of the Chairperson and Members of the Pakistan Digital Authority is in its final stages. Furthermore, it was informed that the Merchant Onboarding Framework for digital services was launched on July 25, 2025. The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Chief Secretaries of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory, and other senior government officials.
Aurangzeb departs for Washington to seal Pakistan–US trade agreement PROFIT
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Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has departed for the United States to lead final negotiations aimed at concluding the ongoing Pakistan US trade dialogue, the finance ministry confirmed in a statement on Monday. The visit follows several rounds of technical discussions launched in May when Aurangzeb and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer opened talks via a teleconference on reciprocal tariffs. The talks began after the United States proposed a 29 percent duty on Pakistani exports a move that was later temporarily suspended to allow for negotiations. By July, discussions in Washington had reached an advanced stage, with Aurangzeb calling the dialogue “very constructive” and highlighting both sides’ commitment to resolving pending issues and shaping a long-term economic partnership. During his visit, the finance minister is expected to hold high-
Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan vow to revive trade ties and expand cooperation across key sectors
Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan have signed multiple protocols and Memorandums of Understanding during the 5th Session of the Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, held in Islamabad on Monday. The session, cochaired by Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Edil Baisalov, marked a significant advancement in bilateral relations and reaffirmed a shared commitment to expand cooperation across a broad range of sectors. Despite a noticeable drop in trade volume—from $11.2 million in 2022–23 to $5.18 million in 2024–25—both sides agreed on the urgent need to revitalize commercial engagement. They set a new bilateral trade target of $100 million and emphasized the importance of diversifying import-export portfolios. In this context, discussions focused on reviving the Pakistan-Kyrgyz Joint Business Council, organizing sector-specific trade fairs, and encouraging business-to-business exchanges to generate momentum. The two countries signed a number of MoUs to formalize cooperation in key areas. One agreement was inked between the Center for Standardization and Metrology under Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Another MoU was signed between the National Investments Agency under the President of Kyrgyzstan and the Board of Investment of Pakistan, aimed at bolstering bilateral investment.
Ex-CJP Khawaja files contempt plea against PM Shehbaz ISLAMABAD
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level meetings with senior US officials, including Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Greer. “The aim is to formalise a comprehensive trade agreement expected to yield mutual economic benefits for both nations,” the finance ministry said. The ministry underscored that strong trade and economic relations remain the backbone of Pakistan–US ties. It noted that the United States continues to be Pakistan’s largest trading partner and expressed Islamabad’s interest in
expanding collaboration beyond traditional goods. “Pakistan is eager to expand cooperation into non-traditional sectors such as information technology, agriculture, and minerals all offering significant growth potential,” the ministry added. The statement concluded by emphasizing Pakistan’s push to attract US investment in critical sectors like energy and mining, as part of a broader effort to reshape bilateral economic engagement.
Former chief justice of Pakistan Jawad S Khawaja has filed a contempt petition before the Supreme Court against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for failing to implement the apex court’s May 7 order in the military courts case. The petition states that the apex court had directed the federal government to amend the law or legislate within 45 days to provide civilians convicted by military courts the right to appeal to a High Court. According to Khawaja, the government has not complied with the order. “This is a straightforward case. The Supreme Court gave a direction to the Federal Government to make necessary amendments/legislation to provide an independent appellate right to the High Court from decisions in court martial proceedings within 45 days. This direction has not been complied with,” the petition reads. It further claims that the federal government has disobeyed a binding order of the court and that the Prime Minister, as the respondent, is liable for this failure. “In cases of violation of fundamental rights, the Superior Courts are empowered to issue direction to the Federal Government or the Provincial Governments to bring the law in conformity with fundamental rights and/or enforce law and issue notification, in that regard,” the petition states.
Polio cases rise to 17 in Pakistan as new cases confirmed in KP and Sindh ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Three new polio cases have been confirmed in Pakistan, bringing the total number of cases for 2025 to 17. The new cases were reported from Takhtikhel in Lakki Marwat, Mir Ali in North Waziristan, both in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Chajro in Umerkot, Sindh. The children affected by the virus include a 15-month-old girl from Lakki Marwat, a six-month-old girl from North Waziristan, and a five-year-old boy from Umerkot. So far this year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 10 cases, Sindh five, and Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan have reported one each. The emergence of these new cases
highlights the continued threat posed by the virus, particularly in areas with low acceptance of the polio vaccine. Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause permanent paralysis. The only effective protection against it is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for all children under the age of five. Despite significant progress in eliminating the disease, vaccine refusals and the difficult security situation in certain areas continue to hamper efforts. A special vaccination campaign is currently underway in border regions, coordinated with Afghanistan’s own polio drive. Additionally, a fractional IPV-OPV vaccination campaign launched in Chaman district on July 21 will be extended to six more districts in
Balochistan starting July 28. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the highest number of cases has been reported from Bannu, with several cases also detected in Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan. However, efforts to curb vaccine refusals are showing signs of progress. Awareness campaigns have been vital in reducing vaccine rejection rates, but there are still challenges, particularly in tribal regions where security concerns remain a significant obstacle. The government, along with its partners, continues to push for the eradication of the virus. However, the fragile security situation in some tribal areas presents ongoing challenges that must be addressed to ensure the success of the national vaccination campaigns.
Pakistan, US reaffirm commitment to deeper economic cooperation amid reform push g
FINANCE MINISTER AURANGZEB, CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES HORST DISCUSS TRADE MOMENTUM, INVESTMENT POTENTIAL, AND UPCOMING GLOBAL BOND VENTURES PROFIT
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United States Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth Horst met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad on Monday to reaffirm the positive trajectory of economic ties between Pakistan and the United States, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance. The meeting was described as an opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and build on the growing collaboration between the two countries. Minister Aurangzeb thanked the United States for its long-standing economic support, particularly its role in stabilizing Pakistan’s macroeconomic framework over the last 18 months.
Recalling his recent visit to Washington, DC, Aurangzeb said he held productive meetings with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer. He noted that these engagements helped inject healthy momentum into bilateral relations and reaffirmed the United States’ position as Pakistan’s largest trading partner. The finance minister emphasized Pakistan’s intent to expand the scope of cooperation beyond traditional sectors. He highlighted emerging opportunities for investment in information technology, minerals, and agriculture, calling these areas critical for mutually beneficial growth. Aurangzeb also briefed the US envoy on Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic in-
dicators, which include recent upgrades in sovereign credit ratings and rising investor confidence. He underscored structural reforms being introduced in taxation and the energy sector as part of the government’s long-term economic growth strategy. In addition, the minister shared updates on Pakistan’s participation in Middle Eastern capital markets and outlined plans for future global financial engagement. These include the issuance of Pakistan’s first Panda bond and upcoming ventures into Eurobond and US dollar-denominated markets. The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening bilateral economic cooperation and building on recent progress across multiple sectors.