Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup and later led a reluctant Pakistan into aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, has died, officials said Sunday. He was 79.

05 Feb 2023; AA: Human chains, rallies, and protest demonstrations were held across Pakistan on Sunday to express solidarity with the pro-independence movement in Jammu and Kashmir.

The day, a national holiday, began with special prayers in the mosques for the liberation of Kashmir. A minute's silence was observed throughout the country at 10 a.m. local time (0600GMT).

Thousands of people formed human chains on roads connecting the capital Islamabad to Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of Pakistan has launched a mobile application for foreign currency declaration of international travelers, the board said on Saturday.

"The travelers can benefit from the PassTrack APP to keep record of the currency limits and promote culture of compliance for the country's progress," the FBR said in a statement.

HYDERABAD, Feb 03 (APP): Deputy Commissioner Matiari Syed Jawad Muzaffar has directed the staff to finalize arrangement in connection with the Kashmir Solidarity Day.

In this regard, banners and panaflexes were being fixed on all intersections and important buildings in the city, inscribing Kashmir-related slogans.

He also directed the education authorities to participate in the rallies and hold special programs in educational institutions to highlight the gross human rights violations and brutality of Indian forces in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday the International Monetary Fund was giving his country a "tough time" over unlocking stalled funding from a $6.5 billion bailout at a time of "unimaginable" economic crisis.

Hours after his remark, the Pakistani rupee hit a record low against the U.S. dollar in a steep slide since last week.

"Our economic situation is unimaginable," the premier said, adding the IMF visiting mission was giving Pakistan a "tough time."

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan coast guards seized 26.2 kg of narcotics from a 12-year-old boy in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, a statement said on Friday.

The coast guards were searching passenger vehicles at a check post when a passenger bus heading to the southern port city of Karachi arrived and its passengers were checked, the statement said.

The coast guards discovered narcotics worth 1.69 million U.S. dollars in international market from the boy disguised as a woman, it added.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's textile export suffered over 12 percent fall from a year earlier in January, said the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), a trade organization representing the country's textile.

Last month, textile exports of the country declined to 1.36 billion U.S. dollars, as compared to 1.55 billion dollars in January 2022, the APTMA said in a report on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested a prominent political figure in an overnight raid on his home near Islamabad days after he accused the former president of the country of plotting to kill ex-prime minister Imran Khan, officials said Thursday.

The latest government move is likely to deepen political turmoil at a time when the government is facing one of its worst economic crises and is in talks to convince the International Monetary Fund to revive a $6 billion bailout.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan’s Peshawar was once known as “the city of flowers,” surrounded by orchards of pear, quince and pomegranate trees. It was a trading city, situated at the gates of a key mountain valley connecting South and Central Asia.

But for the past four decades, it has borne the brunt of rising militancy in the region, fueled by the conflicts in neighboring Afghanistan and the geopolitical games of great powers.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bombing that struck inside a mosque at a police and government compound in northwest Pakistan reflects “security lapses,” current and former officials said as the death toll from the devastating blast climbed to 100 on Tuesday.