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Thursday, 16 April, 2026 | 27 Shawwal, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 21 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
ARMy ChIeF vIsITs IRAn As Us-IRAn TAlks PoIsed FoR bReAkThRoUgh HIGH STAKES IRAN-US MEDIATION
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PM ARRIVES IN JEDDAH AS PAKISTAN TAKES ALLIES ON BOARD ON IRAN-US TALKS
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IRAN CONFIRMS ONGOING BACKCHANNEL EXCHANGES WITH US VIA ISLAMABAD
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TEHRAN STANDS FIRM ON NUCLEAR RIGHTS, SIGNALS FLEXIBILITY ON ENRICHMENT LEVELS
PM shehbAz lAnds In JeddAh FoR sTRATegIC ReseT wITh Mbs
TRUMP SIGNALS POSSIBLE BREAKTHROUGH, HINTS AT RETURN TO PAKISTAN FOR TALKS
JEDDAH
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TEHRAN
MiaN abrar
AKISTAN’S diplomatic push to bridge the divide between Iran and the United States intensified on Wednesday as Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir arrived in Tehran, signaling a renewed phase in ongoing mediation efforts. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Munir reached the Iranian capital accompanied by a high-level delegation that included
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The visit comes at a critical juncture, as backchannel diplomacy between Tehran and Washington continues despite the absence of a formal breakthrough in recent talks. Iran confirmed that indirect exchanges with the United States have persisted following negotiations held in Islamabad over the weekend. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei revealed that multiple messages had been relayed through Pakistan since the Iranian delegation returned home.
IMF lowers Pakistan growth outlook to 3.5% for next fiscal year ISLAMABAD News Desk
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised down Pakistan’s economic growth forecast for the next fiscal year to 3.5% and increased its inflation projection to 8.4%, citing the impact of the Middle East conflict, according to its latest World Economic Outlook released on Tuesday on the sidelines of the spring meetings. The report said Pakistan’s economy is expected to expand by 3.5% in fiscal year 2026-27, lower than the IMF’s earlier estimate of 4.1%. For the current fiscal year, however, the lender kept its growth forecast unchanged at 3.6%, a figure that the report said is in line with projections by the Asian Development Bank and Fitch. The IMF also raised its inflation estimate for the next fiscal year to 8.4%, up from 7% projected during the second review of the programme. For the ongoing fiscal year, it projected inflation at 7.2%, compared with an earlier estimate of 6.3%. According to the report, the IMF has also sharply increased its projection for Pakistan’s current account deficit for the next fiscal year to 0.9% of gross domestic product, or about $5 billion.
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bottlenecks to their implementation. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a long-standing strategic partnership rooted in economic cooperation, defense ties, and close people-to-people connections. With Pakistan facing economic challenges, Islamabad is expected to seek enhanced financial support, increased investment, and expanded employment opportunities for Pakistani workers in the Kingdom. Energy cooperation is also high on the agenda, with discussions likely to include long-term oil supply arrangements, potential joint ventures in refining and petrochemicals, and collaboration in renewable energy projects.
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Saudi Arabia announces $3b additional support, extends $5b deposit: Finance Minister ISLAMABAD
staff report
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Wednesday informed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has committed USD 3 billion in additional deposits, with disbursement expected in the coming week. The minister was talking to the media in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026. He said the existing USD 5 billion Saudi deposit would no longer remain subject to the earlier annual rollover arrangement and would instead be extended for a longer period. He shared important details regarding Saudi financial support for Pakistan and the government’s external financing strategy. Senator Aurangzeb said this support comes at a critical time for Pakistan’s external financing needs and would help reinforce foreign exchange reserves and strengthen the country’s external account. He reiterated the government’s commitment to
WASHINGTON ageNcies
staff report
Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday on a high-level official visit to the Saudi Arabia, aimed at reinvigorating bilateral ties and aligning positions on fast-evolving regional dynamics. The prime minister was accorded a warm reception at the airport by Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, alongside Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki and Ahmed Farooq, reflecting the significance Riyadh attaches to the visit. During his stay, Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to hold a pivotal bilateral meeting with Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom’s de facto leader. The talks are expected to cover a broad spectrum of issues, including economic cooperation, investment flows, energy security, and defense collaboration. Officials indicate that both sides will review progress on ongoing Saudi investment initiatives in Pakistan, particularly in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, mining, and information technology. The visit is also likely to focus on accelerating previously announced multi-billion-dollar Saudi investment commitments and removing
white house says discussing second round of Iran talks in Pakistan
maintaining reserves in line with its obligations to markets and under the IMF-supported programme, including the objective of achieving around USD 18 billion in reserves, equivalent to approximately 3.3 months of import cover, by the end of the fiscal year. The Finance Minister noted that Pakistan had successfully repaid its USD 1.4 billion Eurobond last week, describing it as a “non-event,” and reaffirmed that the government remained fully committed to meeting all upcoming external obligations and maturities on time. He emphasized that Pakistan’s external financing plan is clearly defined and being implemented in a responsible and disciplined manner. Referring to his engagements in Washington, Senator Aurangzeb said that he, along with the Governor, State Bank of Pakistan and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, had held a detailed meeting with Saudi Finance Minister, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan.
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The United States is discussing holding a second round of peace talks with Iran in Pakistan and is optimistic about reaching a deal, the White House said on Wednesday. "Those discussions are being had," and "we feel good about the prospects of a deal," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, adding that further talks "would very likely" be in Islamabad. Commenting on reports regarding a US request for an extension of the ceasefire, Leavitt called them “bad reporting,” saying they were not true at this time. “We remain very engaged in these negotiations, in these talks. You heard from the vice president directly and the president this week that these conversations are productive, and that’s where we are right now,” she said. The press secretary also hailed Pakistan and its leadership for their role in the mediation. “I just want to make one point that is important to the president: Pakistan has been an incredible mediator throughout this process, and we really appreciate their friendship and their efforts to bring this deal to a close. They are the only mediators in these negotiations,” she said.
China backs Iran peace push, pledges 'constructive role' after stalled Islamabad Talks
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BEIJING
staff report
Wang Yi has reaffirmed Beijing’s support for sustaining ceasefire efforts and advancing peace negotiations with Iran, stressing that diplomacy remains the only viable path forward in the Middle East. In a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Wang emphasized that maintaining the momentum of dialogue is crucial, describing ongoing peace efforts as being “in the fundamental interests of the Iranian people” and aligned with the broader aspirations of regional states and the international community, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry. The remarks come in the wake of the first round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States held in Islamabad, which concluded without a breakthrough. Despite the lack of agreement, Beijing signaled that the diplomatic process must continue rather than stall. Wang reiterated that China is prepared to play a “constructive role” in facilitating peace and stability in the region — a position consistent with Beijing’s growing diplomatic engagement in Middle Eastern affairs. He underscored that dialogue and negotiation, not confrontation, are key to resolving longstanding tensions. China’s outreach reflects its broader foreign policy approach of promoting political settlements to conflicts, particularly in regions marked by prolonged instability. By backing continued Iran-US engagement, Beijing is positioning itself as a stabilizing force and a potential mediator amid fragile ceasefire dynamics.