Day: July 23, 2026

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued notices to former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas and other respondents on a petition seeking the transfer of two civil property cases to a single trial court.

Chief Justice, Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the petition filed by Muhammad Ilyas Khan, father of Sardar Tanveer Ilyas.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner submitted that two civil cases relating to the same property dispute were pending before different trial courts and requested that both matters be transferred to one court to ensure consistent adjudication.

The Chief Justice observed that notices would be issued to the respondents and that the court would examine the matter after receiving their replies and the relevant reports. The court directed the respondents to submit their replies within seven days and adjourned the hearing.

Islamabad: Pakistan has regained a B credit rating after nearly nine years, following an upgrade by SandP Global Ratings, Advisor to Finance Minister, Khurram Schehzad, said Wednesday.

In a post on X, Schehzad said the upgrade from ‘B-‘ to ‘B’ represented ‘another major vote of confidence in Pakistan’s economic turnaround,’ noting that the country had last held ‘B’ ratings in 2016-17.

He attributed the improvement to several factors highlighted by SandP, including strengthened institutional capacity, the implementation of key reforms, faster fiscal consolidation, improved foreign exchange reserves and greater macroeconomic stability.

Schehzad said the stable outlook assigned by SandP reflected confidence that Pakistan’s ongoing reform process would support sustained economic growth and continued fiscal discipline.

‘Stability strengthens. Reforms deliver. Confidence rises,’ he wrote, describing the rating action as a positive signal for Pakistan’s economic recovery efforts.

The upgrade comes as the government continues measures aimed at stabilising the economy, improving external finances and restoring investor confidence.

Islamabad: Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in a move aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s aviation industry through enhanced capacity building, consultancy support and long-term strategic collaboration.

The commitment was made during a meeting held at the Pakistan Airports Authority Headquarters in Karachi on Tuesday, where the Deputy Director General (Works and Development), Sumair Saeed, chaired discussions with a high-level IATA delegation.

The IATA team included Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific Sheldon Hee, Regional Manager for South Asia Azhar Azahari, and Country Manager for Pakistan Feroze Jamall.

The meeting focused on expanding institutional cooperation, developing professional expertise within the aviation sector, and shaping a future roadmap for the sustainable growth of Pakistan’s aviation industry. Both sides exchanged views on emerging challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in improving operational standards and enhancing the country’s aviation infrastructure.

During the discussions, PAA officials briefed the delegation on the authority’s ongoing development initiatives, infrastructure expansion projects, and recent operational achievements. The IATA representatives appreciated the progress made by the authority and acknowledged its efforts to modernize airport infrastructure and strengthen aviation services across the country.

The meeting concluded with both organizations reaffirming their shared resolve to work closely on initiatives that would promote innovation, improve operational efficiency, and support the long-term development of Pakistan’s aviation sector in line with international best practices.

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that a claim once rejected cannot be revived by filing repeated petitions, and that constitutional petitions filed after an extraordinary delay are not maintainable.

The court further held that the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), in its present corporate status, is not obligated to extend service benefits under Section 9-A of the Compulsory Military Service Ordinance, 1971.

A three-member bench of the Federal Constitutional Court, headed by Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, allowed the appeal filed by the Managing Director of OGDCL and others, and by a majority of 2-1 set aside the Sindh High Court’s judgment dated October 26, 2022. Justice Syed Arshad Hussain Shah authored a dissenting opinion.

In its judgment, the court observed that Dr Captain (Retd) Nusrat Hussain’s claim for counting his compulsory military service towards seniority and salary had already been rejected in 1994. Consequently, the filing of multiple subsequent representations did not create a fresh cause of action. The court held that the law does not permit rejected claims to be revived through repeated applications.

The judgment further stated that OGDCL’s legal status changed after it became a public limited company, and it therefore no longer falls within the category of institutions covered under Section 9-A of the Compulsory Military Service Ordinance, 1971.

The court also observed that under the Reorganisation Law, 2001, only those rights that were actually existing and legally recognized at the time of an institution’s reorganisation remain protected. Rejected or unenforceable claims do not survive the process of reorganisation.

The bench further held that constitutional jurisdiction is discretionary and founded on principles of equity. A person who fails to pursue legal remedies for years cannot claim relief after an inordinate delay. It concluded that the constitutional petition, filed nearly 17 years later, was also barred on the grounds of delay and laches, rendering it not maintainable.

Islamabad: Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday held a meeting with Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Yusuf Sharifzoda, to discuss the (Central Asia-South Asia) CASA-1000 energy project, the Wakhan Corridor, bilateral relations, trade, investment, tourism and other matters of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the Governor said the CASA-1000 project would not only help meet Pakistan’s electricity demand during the summer season but would also provide comparatively low-cost electricity.

Referring to the eighth session of the Pakistan-Tajikistan Joint Commission held in Dushanbe last month, Ambassador Sharifzoda said both countries had described the CASA-1000 project as vital for enhancing bilateral energy cooperation and strengthening regional connectivity.

He said the main reason behind the delay in completing the project was the slow pace of work in Afghanistan, adding that the project was now expected to be completed by the summer of 2027.

Governor Kundi said the establishment of a trade corridor through the Wakhan border would play a key role in connecting Pakistan with the Central Asian states and promoting regional trade.

He also stressed the need to enhance cooperation in the tourism sector, saying it would further strengthen bilateral ties while contributing to economic growth in both countries.

The Governor said direct passenger and cargo flights between Peshawar and Dushanbe would improve connectivity and facilitate stronger business-to-business relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Ambassador Sharifzoda invited Governor Kundi to visit Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, in September.