Afghanistan
Nuruddin Azizi Leads Delegation to Tashkent- Tolo News
A high-ranking delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by acting minister of industry and commerce, Nuruddin Azizi, departed for Uzbekistan today. With the aim of expanding economic and trade relations with Central Asian countries, the delegation, headed by Azizi, is visiting Uzbekistan. The purpose of the trip is to participate in the 4th International Investment Conference in Tashkent and to follow up on previous commitments between Kabul and Tashkent. Click here to read...
Zardari: US Withdrawal from Afghanistan Affected Pakistan- Tolo News
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, currently visiting Washington, stated that he plans to discuss Afghanistan-related issues with American officials. Zardari claimed that Pakistan has been affected by the manner in which the US withdrew from Afghanistan and by the military equipment left behind in the country. Click here to read...
Afghanistan Begins Border Marker Renewal with Neighbours- Tolo News
The Ministry of Borders, Ethnicities, and Tribal Affairs has announced efforts to rehabilitate border markers with countries that have official borders with Afghanistan. The ministry states that discussions are ongoing with neighbouring countries that share official borders with Afghanistan regarding the renewal and reconstruction of border markers. Haqqani added that the Islamic Emirate has allocated a budget to address the problems of Afghans living along the Durand Line with Pakistan. Click here to read...
Drug Trafficking from Afghanistan continues: Iran Official- The Khaama Press
An Iranian official confirmed that drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Iran continues despite ongoing efforts to control and prevent it. Mohammad Narimani, Director General of the International Relations Office of Iran’s Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, has stated that drug trafficking from Afghanistan warehouses to Iran and other countries continues unabated. According to Narimani, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Russia remain on the frontline in combating narcotics trafficking originating from Afghanistan. Click here to read...
Maldives
Minister Labels ‘Maldives 2.0’ as Crucial to Digitising Healthcare – PSM News
Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has described the ‘Maldives 2.0’ digital transformation effort as crucial to complimenting a long-term masterplan underway with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to digitise the healthcare system. Minister Nazim stressed the importance of the government's initiative to digitise the entire country, specifically identifying the health sector as one of the first priority areas under this project. According to the Minister, the swift implementation of this project will transform the healthcare system of the country, including access to patient and other health related records. "This will also significantly reduce costs. People will be able to get services much quicker and build confidence in the healthcare services,” he explained. Click here to read...
Maldives Seeks to Extend Tourist Stays, Attract High-End Visitors, Says Minister Thoriq – PSM News
The government is reinforcing its efforts not only to meet its ambitious target of 2.3 million tourist arrivals this year but also to extend the duration of stays and attract a greater number of high-end travellers, according to Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim. He outlined these priorities as the nation celebrated a historic milestone, welcoming one million visitors at an unprecedented pace. In an exclusive interview with PSM News, Minister Thoriq underscored the need to assess both overall arrival figures and the length of time tourists spend in the country. "The duration of stay in the Maldives must be extended," said Minister Thoriq. "To achieve this, further efforts are required. The length of time visitors remain in the country, the expenditure they contribute, and the sectors in which they invest all demand greater attention. Additionally, we are working to attract high-end tourists among those who choose to visit the Maldives." Click here to read...
Myanmar
UN hopes India could influence parties in Myanmar conflict to negotiate: Senior official – Telangana Today
The world organisation hopes that India could use its influence to get the Myanmar military regime, the National Unity Government and the ethnic groups to negotiate a peaceful solution to the conflict there, according to a senior UN official. “India is a nation of influence” in Myanmar, the official said on Monday, adding that the situation in the country is “diabolical” with the earthquake adding to the already dire political and insurgency crises. “The challenge with this conflict is that it’s multifaceted, it’s not one side and an opposition: There is the Myanmar military and numerous ethnic armed organisations, people’s defence forces, and, also a more organised opposition through the former NLD” [the National Liberal Democracy Party, whose civilian government was overthrown by the military junta]. Click here to read...
Noose Tightens Around Myanmar Junta Stronghold on Rakhine-Magwe Border – The Irrawaddy
The Arakan Army (AA) and allied forces are closing in on the last remaining junta position on the Ann-Padan road linking Rakhine State with neighboring Magwe Region, according to local sources. The strategic hilltop military base on Nat Yay Kan Mountain serves as a critical artillery and air defense hub for the regime. Resistance forces seized the final junta position guarding the base – the MPT telecoms tower outpost – on June 3. Nat Yay Kan Mountain rises to 1,587 meters and offers a commanding view over Padan Town in Magwe’s Ngape Township, making it a strategically crucial military position. According to locals and resistance sources, the base has been reinforced with around 500 soldiers, including those who fled the MPT Tower outpost. Click here to read...
Pakistan
Economic Survey 2024-25: Growth stumbles as key targets missed -Dawn
Reviewing the economy report card, the finance minister suggested that Pakistan’s performance should be evaluated in a global context rather than a historical one. He stated that while global economic growth has been on a declining trend, expanding 3.5pc in 2023, 3.3pc in 2024, and 2.8pc in 2025, Pakistan had progressed from a contraction of 0.2pc in 2023 to 2.5pc growth in 2024, with a further rise to almost 2.7pc this year. Click here to read...
Pakistan’s health spending below 1% of GDP, reveals Economic Survey 2024–25-The Express Tribune
Pakistan’s health expenditure remains alarmingly low, accounting for less than one percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 released on Monday. The report reveals that the total allocation for health during the current fiscal year stood at Rs. 925 billion, highlighting persistent underinvestment in the sector despite growing population needs. Click here to read...
After expanding the net, new budget will focus on increasing tax rates- Dawn
Facing limited room for fresh tax measures, the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government has resorted to rebranding taxation — shifting from “broadening the tax base” to pursuing “equity” — in an effort to justify higher taxes on lower-income segments. This transition comes as the government eyes a record revenue target of nearly Rs14 trillion for FY26, a 22 per cent increase over projections for the outgoing fiscal year. Tied to its commitments under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the government estimates autonomous revenue collection at Rs12.845tr, based on 4.2pc GDP growth and 7.5pc inflation. Click here to read...
Over one million Pakistanis went abroad for work in FY 2024–25: Economic Survey- The Express Tribune
More than one million Pakistanis left the country for overseas employment during the current fiscal year, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. The report highlights labour migration trends across the provinces and regions, with Punjab leading the way by a significant margin. A total of 404,345 individuals from Punjab went abroad for work, making it the largest contributor to the country’s overseas workforce. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed with 187,000 workers, while Sindh sent 60,424 individuals overseas for employment. Click here to read...
