KARACHI, June 02(ABC): The Pakistani rupee strengthened for a fifth straight day on Thursday on the back of US dollar selling from exporters, while hopes that Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would reach a staff-level agreement to resume the bailout this month also supported the local unit. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), …

SHANGLA, June 02(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday vowed to keep holding rallies and continue his anti-government campaign till general elections are announced. Addressing a jalsa in Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the former prime minister said that he is staying in the province for two more days to prepare everyone for the “Azadi March” anew. “I am strengthening all my organisations in …

SINGAPORE, June 02(ABC): Moody’s Investors Service Thursday downgraded the outlook on Pakistan’s rating to negative from stable and affirmed the ‘B3’ local and foreign currency long-term issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings. The decision to change the outlook to negative is driven by Pakistan’s heightened external vulnerability risk and uncertainty around the sovereign’s ability to secure additional external financing to …

ISLAMABAD, Jun 2 (ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday warned his predecessor Imran Khan not to cross limits by giving statements about split of the country. “Do your politics, but don’t dare to cross limits and talk about division of Pakistan,” he said in a tweet from Turkey, where he is on a three-day official visit. Former prime minister …

ISLAMABAD, May 02(ABC): Following the controversy surrounding the appointment of senior PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi as a special assistant to prime the minister, he tendered his resignation on Thursday. Confirming the news, Abbasi expressed gratitude to PM Shehbaz Sharif for instilling confidence in him. Last month, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah stopped Abbasi from working, saying that a …

UNITED NATIONS, June 02(ABC): Nearly 100 days of the war in Ukraine have devastated children at a scale and speed unseen since World War II, and on average over two children are killed a day, the UNICEF said Wednesday. Highlighting the devastating and lasting consequences of the war on millions of the country’s youngsters, The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, maintained …

PESHAWAR, June 02(ABC): PTI Chairman Imran Khan warned on Wednesday that if the establishment does not “take the right decision” then Pakistan would break into “three parts”. In an interview with a private television channel, the ousted prime minister said the country is on the brink of “suicide” if “right decisions” are not taken, as it might move towards default. …

ANKARA, June 02(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday renewed the pledge to boost the bilateral ties between the two countries to new heights. The prime minister is on a three-day visit to Turkey — his first since assuming office in April — where he will meet several Turkish officials and members of the business …

ANKARA, June 01(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday invited Turkish investors to explore Pakistan’s diverse sectors, particularly the energy sector, which offers immense opportunities and scope for development. The prime minister addressed the Pakistan-Turkey Business Council under the DEIK – Foreign Economic Relations Board, where he said Pakistan’s energy sector, with its vast potential in hydel, thermal, coal, wind, …

ISLAMABAD, June 01(ABC): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission for a second long march to Islamabad. The petition, filed by PTI Secretary-General Asad Umar, named the interior ministry, Islamabad inspector-general and others as respondents. PTI Chairman Imran Khan had abruptly announced the end of his ‘Azadi March’ on March 26 and had given …