Category: 1. Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s stock market maintained its bullish momentum on Monday, buoyed by reports of potential US investment in the energy sector and comments from the state finance minister that Islamabad and Washington would fine tune the details of a trade pact in the months ahead.

The KSE-100 Index climbed past the 147,000 points mark during intraday trading and closed at 146,929.84, up 1,547.05 points, or 1.06 percent, from Friday’s close of 145,382.79.

Positive investor sentiment has been underpinned by US President Donald Trump’s 19 percent tariffs on Pakistani imports announced last month, which officials say will pave the way for renewed investment by American firms and deepen economic ties between the two countries.

Topline Securities, a Karachi-based brokerage, said market giants like Mari Petroleum Company (MARI), Bank AL Habib Limited (BAHL), Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) and Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) dominated Monday’s rally, collectively adding 959 points to the index.

“Sentiment surged after reports of US firms gearing up to invest in Pakistan’s energy sector, further reinforced by better-than-expected corporate results that added to the market’s upbeat tone,” the report said.

The total traded volume reached 607 million shares with a trading value of Rs43.95 billion. Lotte Chemical Pakistan Limited (LOTCHEM) led the volumes chart, with 73 million shares changing hands.

Market analysts say the positive momentum reflects growing investor confidence in Pakistan’s economic prospects, helped by strengthened US ties that are expected to support further gains in the near term.

Pakistan’s State Minister for Finance, Bilal Azhar Kayani, described the US trade pact as a “landmark” deal, saying the 19 percent tariff was the lowest in the South Asian region.

“And the agreement with more details will be negotiated and discussed in the months ahead,” he said during an interview with Bloomberg.

“Which would include various aspects, rules of origin or market access or tariffs per specific lines reciprocally.”

Kayani noted that the US was Pakistan’s largest export destination, accounting for $6 billion of the country’s $32 billion in exports last fiscal year.

Pakistan’s exports to the US are dominated by textiles and garments, but also include leather goods, surgical instruments, sports equipment, chemicals, carpets and seafood, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The new trade agreement comes amid signs of a thaw in relations between Islamabad and Washington after years of friction over security and counterterrorism. The Biden administration maintained a cautious approach toward Pakistan, but Trump has spoken warmly of his interactions with Pakistani officials, including an unprecedented two-hour meeting in June with the Pakistan army chief. More recently, US officials have emphasized trade and investment cooperation, particularly in crypto, energy, textiles, and information technology sectors.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department on Monday announced that a three-day curfew was being imposed from today until August 14 (Thursday) amid an operation against militants in the areas.

At the end of July, security forces backed by gunship helicopters and artillery launched ‘Operation Sarbakaf’ against terrorists in Lowi Mamund tehsil and imposed a three-day curfew in the region.

The operation was paused after both sides agreed to a ceasefire until the conflict was completely resolved thro­ugh dialogue; however, peace talks between militant commanders and the Bajaur peace jirga fell through.

Today’s statement said that the curfew would be imposed from 11am today until 11am on August 14, in order to ensure the safety of the public during the anti-terror operation.

“A complete curfew will be imposed … in which movement on the roads and leaving houses will be prohibited,” the statement read.

It listed Laghari, Guati, Ghanam Shah, Bad Siya, Kamar, Amanta, Zagai, Gut, Gunde, Gadigal, Niag Kali, Rigi, Daag, Damadola, Sultan Beg, Chautra, Shenkot, Gang, Jeewar, Inam Khoro, Chengai, Anga, Safri, Bar Gatki, Kharki, Shukro and Bakro as areas in which the curfew would be in effect in Bajaur.

Khar Munda Road, Khar Navagi Road, Khar Pusht Salarzai Road and Khar Sadiqabad Inayat Kalay Road were also listed as off limits under the curfew.

“The public is requested to end their activities by 10:30am and return to their homes during the curfew; otherwise, they will be at risk of any untoward incident,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said in a statement that the curfew was limited only to Bajaur and Miranshah, rubbishing rumours that it had been imposed across KP.

“Rumours of a curfew across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are completely false,” the statement read. “Life in the province is going on as usual. There is no curfew except for specific areas in Bajaur and Miranshah.

“News of a curfew is political propaganda and an attempt to mislead the public,” Saif was quoted as saying. “The rumour-mongering mafia wants to spoil the province’s journey of peace and development.”

Saif urged people to avoid listening to rumours and implored them to only pay attention to information from official sources, reiterating that movement in the province was normal.

“Those who create fear by lying about the curfew are enemies of the people,” the statement read. “Action will be taken against those spreading false information on social media. The people of KP know that propaganda will fail.”

Meanwhile, according to Khar Assistant Commissioner Dr Sadiq Ali, people displaced by the operation have been housed in 100 government schools and colleges.

“Right now, we have 435 schools. More than 100 private schools are also vacant,” he told Dawn.com. “A form has been issued for the registration of victims, and it is also being done through Nadra (National Database and Registration Authority).

MPA calls for a stopping operation

In a speech in the KP assembly today, Awami National Party Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Nisar Baz Khan raised questions about whether the home department was under the control of the provincial government.

“At midnight, the provincial home department ordered that curfew be imposed across Bajaur. Is the home department under the provincial government or not? If so, who imposed this curfew and under what authority?” he asked.

“On the one hand, millions of people are homeless and on the streets, with no place to hide, and on the other hand, the government is blocking their routes by imposing a curfew. If there is no transport arrangement, how will people leave?”

Nisar said appeals were made and jirgas were held to halt the operation, but it started anyway.

“Now, it should be clarified whether this operation is being carried out with the permission of the chief minister or with the permission of the prime minister,” Nisar said. “I clearly say that the operation in Bajaur should be stopped and the curfew should be lifted immediately. Emergency relief should also be provided for IDPs (internally displaced persons).”

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Updated On: Mon, 11 Aug 2025

17:45:49 PKT

(Web Desk) – Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, had his valuable watch stolen while in Barcelona, leaving people stunned by its estimated worth.

The stolen watch was valued at 56,000 euros, equivalent to approximately Rs18.5 million.

Speaking to the media in Barcelona, he revealed that he had purchased the watch 12 or 13 years ago during a time when prices were lower, and its value had increased due to the rising price of gold.

He stated, “Although wearing gold is forbidden for men, it’s wise to carry gold during travel in case of an emergency where it can be sold. The watch was on my wrist, and both my host’s and my watch were snatched. We were with family, but thankfully, our lives were safe.”

Abdul Qadir Gilani, the son of Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, was in Barcelona on a leisure trip.

LAHORE: Several PTI leaders, including Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema have been handed 10-year prison sentences by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore in two May 9 cases.

PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi and some others were acquitted in the cases.

ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill, who conducted the hearings at a makeshift court in Kot Lakhpat Jail, announced the verdict on Monday.

The court had reserved its decision late last week after hearing arguments from both sides, saying it would be delivered on August 11.

In the Jinnah House vehicle torching case, the court sentenced Rashid, Cheema, Chaudhry, Rasheed, Ayesha Ali Bhutta, Muhammad Fahim, Niaz Ahmed, Ali Hasan, Zain Ali, Asad Ali, Bilal Wajahat, Bilal Bashir, Muhammad Qasim, and Zain ul Hassan to 10 years each.

Hafiz Muhammad Arshad was also handed the same sentence. Aliya Hamza and Sanam Javed were awarded five years each.

In the same case, Qureshi, Abrar, Amjad, Faisal, Jamil, Saadia, and Tasneem were acquitted.

In the Shadman Police Station torching case, out of 25 accused, the court acquitted 12, including Qureshi, Sohail Khan, Muhammad Owais, Rafiuddin, Farid Khan, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Qadir, Faizan, Tayyab Sultan, Shahid Baig, Majid Ali, and Bakht.

The court had earlier declared several suspects absconders in both cases.

No accused who had been released on bail, including Aliya and Sanam, was present in court when the verdict was announced. One suspect died during the course of the trial.

May 9 chaos

Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan stormed public property and military installations, including the Corps Commander House in Lahore, on May 9, 2023, in protest against the former premier’s arrest.

The riots — in which lives were lost — erupted after the PTI founder was taken into custody from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a graft case.

During the unrest, the supporters of Khan — the only prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be ousted via a no-confidence vote — targeted civil and military installations, including the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

Several PTI leaders and workers were released on bail after their arrests, while many remain behind bars. The deposed prime minister, incarcerated since August 2023, faces a slew of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism following his removal from office.