Author: EchoAsiaNews

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly imposed 11 fresh conditions on Pakistan for the approval of the next $1.2 billion tranche under its ongoing financing programme, according to The News. Key requirements include reforms in public procurement rules to eliminate preferential treatment for state-owned enterprises in multi-billion-rupee contracts, alongside broader structural adjustments across fiscal and regulatory sectors. Under the agreed framework, Pakistan has committed to notify semi-annual gas tariff adjustments from July 2026 and annual electricity tariff adjustments from January 2027, signalling further price rationalisation in the energy sector during FY2026–27. The IMF has also required amendments to legislation…

Peshawar Zalmi bowling coach Azhar Mahmood has defended star batter Babar Azam, saying he was not used effectively during Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign and was pushed away from his natural playing style due to expectations of a higher strike rate. Azhar made the remarks after Zalmi’s dominant 118-run win over Quetta Gladiators at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday, a match highlighted by Babar Azam’s unbeaten 100 off 52 balls. The innings, featuring fluent stroke play, marked a return to form for the batter in the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he has crossed 400 runs at…

South Korea’s leading K-pop entertainment companies, HYBE, SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment, are in discussions to form a joint venture to launch a large-scale global music festival aimed at expanding Korean popular culture worldwide. In a joint statement, the companies said they are preparing to develop an event tentatively named “Fanomenon,” designed to bring together top K-pop artists in a festival format similar to major international events such as Coachella. The proposed festival, whose name combines “fan” and “phenomenon,” was first introduced last year by JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young, who also co-chairs South Korea’s Popular Culture Exchange…

The United States Air Force has extended the operational service life of its A-10 “Warthog” attack aircraft until 2030, amid ongoing concerns over fleet modernisation and combat readiness, according to Air Force officials. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced the decision, stating that the extension is intended to preserve combat capability while the defence industrial base increases production of newer aircraft. He said the move would help maintain operational readiness during the transition phase of the US air fleet modernisation programme. The announcement comes as the ageing aircraft continues to play a role in US military operations, including recent activity…

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Shafi Jan, has directed the establishment of five additional FM radio stations to expand radio coverage across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He issued the instructions while chairing a meeting of the Information and Public Relations Department held on Monday. The meeting was attended by Secretary Information Matiullah Khan and other relevant officials. Officials briefed the meeting on the performance, objectives, and operational scope of the existing FM radio stations, highlighting their role in promoting government initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and dissemination of official information. Shafi Jan also directed authorities to enhance…

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has confirmed that Pakistan received $1 billion from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday under a previously agreed financial arrangement. In an official statement, the central bank said the funds were transferred on the value date of 20 April 2026 from the Saudi Ministry of Finance. This disbursement represents the second tranche of a $3 billion deposit facility extended by Riyadh to Pakistan, with the first tranche of $2 billion received last week. The inflows come after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening diplomatic engagement and promoting…

US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Iran will eventually return to negotiations, warning that failure to do so would lead to severe consequences, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Speaking during a phone interview on The John Fredericks Show, Trump said: “Well, they’re going to negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before.” He added that any potential agreement would need to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons, emphasizing Washington’s position on non-proliferation. “Hopefully, they’ll make a fair deal, and they’ll build their country back up, but when they…

Several key motorways linking Islamabad with major cities have been closed for public transport as part of heightened security measures ahead of the anticipated second round of talks between United States and Iran in the federal capital. According to officials, the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M-2), along with routes connecting from Lahore and Faisalabad (M-1 and M-3), has been temporarily restricted for public transport. Authorities clarified that the closure applies only to public transport vehicles, while private vehicles are still permitted to use these routes. A spokesperson for the Lahore district administration stated that the decision was taken on directives from the…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to promoting dialogue and constructive international engagement, according to the Foreign Office. During the call, Wong appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, particularly its role in facilitating dialogue between Iran and the United States. She commended Islamabad’s continued emphasis on peaceful engagement and conflict resolution. The Foreign Office stated that Dar briefed his counterpart on the recent Islamabad Talks held on April 11–12, highlighting Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to encourage negotiations and reduce regional tensions. Both leaders also expressed concern over the…

The Kremlin has said it expects negotiations involving Iran to continue, warning that any breakdown could further destabilise the Gulf region and impact the global economy. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the situation in the Gulf as “fragile and unpredictable,” and said Russia hopes diplomatic efforts will prevent escalation into a military conflict. “We hope that the negotiation process will continue and that we will be able to avoid a further escalation towards a military scenario,” Peskov said, according to Reuters. He clarified that Russia is not currently serving as a mediator in the Iran…