WASHINGTON: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is expected to arrive in Washington on Saturday for a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with officials on trade, finance and investment as Pakistan and the United States continue negotiations on a broader bilateral economic partnership, diplomatic sources told Dawn.

According to the sources, Aurangzeb is scheduled to meet officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the US Export-Import (Exim) Bank, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

A key focus of the visit will be discussions on the framework of a potential bilateral trade agreement aimed at expanding trade and investment between the two countries. The talks are expected to cover tariffs, market access, investment opportunities and broader economic cooperation.

Meetings with the Exim Bank and the DFC are also expected to explore avenues for financing infrastructure, energy and private-sector investment projects.

Aurangzeb’s visit comes as Pakistani and US officials continue negotiations that began in Washington last week over tariffs on Pakistani exports and a wider trade agreement.

The latest round of talks follows months of negotiations over the global tariff regime announced by US President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which initially imposed a 29 per cent tariff on Pakistani exports.

A Pakistani delegation that visited Washington in July 2025 succeeded in persuading US officials to reduce the proposed tariff from 29 per cent to 19pc.

The tariff landscape has since changed following a US Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that invalidated the IEEPA-based tariffs. In response, the Trump administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act to impose a temporary global tariff of 10pc, which is due to expire on July 24 after the statutory 150-day period.

Pakistan is also among nearly 60 countries facing USTR investigations under Section 301 over alleged forced labour and related trade practices. Islamabad has submitted detailed responses to the USTR, including an additional submission this week ahead of the latest negotiations.

Under the ongoing Section 301 process, Pakistan faces a proposed additional tariff of 10pc, while India and 53 other countries are subject to proposed tariffs of 12.5pc. Public hearings before the USTR are continuing.

Beyond tariffs, both sides are also expected to discuss measures to expand bilateral trade and investment.

Aurangzeb last visited Washington in April to attend the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, where he held more than 50 meetings with international financial institutions, investors and rating agencies to present Pakistan’s economic reform programme and efforts to restore macroeconomic stability.

During that visit, he briefed investors on Pakistan’s plans to return to international capital markets through Panda Bonds and Eurobonds after several years. He also met US Treasury officials and representatives of multilateral institutions to discuss Pakistan’s response to the economic impact of regional tensions and volatility in global energy markets caused by the conflict involving Iran.

ISLAMABAD   –   Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) issued a traffic advisory, announcing diversions on the Murree GT Road from 12:00 midnight on July 15 until July 20 due to road repair work.

An ITP official told on Thursday that traffic would be diverted from the 17-Mile Toll Plaza on Murree GT Road, and the route would remain closed to all types of traffic during the repair work.

He advised commuters traveling from Islamabad to Murree and Nathia Gali to use the Murree Expressway and other alternate routes to avoid inconvenience. The official urged citizens to check the latest road conditions before starting their journey towards Murree and cooperate with the traffic police to ensure smooth traffic management.

He added that further traffic updates and travel guidance would be available through the Islamabad Traffic Police’s official communication channels.

Peshawar  –  Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday inaugurated and launched several development projects worth more than Rs12 billion during a one-day visit to Swat, aimed at strengthening higher education, public infrastructure, social services and policing.

The projects inaugurated included the Rs9.9 billion University of Computing Sciences and Information Technology at Kabal, the newly constructed Badalai Bridge, completed at a cost of Rs395 million, a Special Children School and Special Children Teacher Training Centre built at a cost of Rs214 million, and the Kabal Police Facilitation Centre.

The Chief Minister also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Wainai-Gatt Road project, which is expected to be completed at an estimated cost of Rs1.437 billion.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the University of Computing Sciences and Information Technology, Mr Afridi described the institution as the fulfilment of a long-standing vision championed by Murad Saeed. He said the land earmarked for the university had previously been occupied by land grabbers but was later recovered, clearing the way for the establishment of the institution.

He also announced that the remaining development work at Shaheed Arshad Sharif University and its affiliated campuses would receive full funding to ensure their early completion and expand access to quality higher education for the province’s youth.

Referring to the recently imposed taxes on Malakand Division and the merged districts, the Chief Minister reiterated the provincial government’s opposition to the move, describing it as contrary to the interests of local residents. He recalled that in 2018, then prime minister Imran Khan had exempted Malakand Division and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from taxation through a single executive decision. He urged the federal government to restore the tax exemption without delay instead of engaging in political point-scoring.

He added that a consultative meeting of parliamentarians from Malakand Division and the merged districts, along with representatives of all political parties, would be held later on Thursday to develop a unified stance on the issue. He reaffirmed that the provincial government would resist any additional tax burden on the people of these areas.

The Chief Minister said the 2026-27 fiscal year would be one of peace, development and prosperity for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Paying tribute to the sacrifices made by the people of the province and the police during more than two decades of counterterrorism operations, he noted that despite the loss of more than 80,000 lives and enormous financial costs, the province had once again witnessed a resurgence of insecurity.

He argued that if peace had not been achieved despite sustained security operations, substantial public expenditure and immense sacrifices, the effectiveness of the prevailing counterterrorism strategy warranted a comprehensive review. He called for an immediate reassessment of existing policies to ensure durable peace and long-term stability in the province.

Mr Afridi said the provincial government would oppose any policy that undermined the interests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, maintaining that the current approach had failed to deliver sustainable peace. He added that the province would continue to be governed in accordance with the vision of Imran Khan and the democratic mandate of its people, emphasising that peace remained essential for economic growth and public prosperity.

He said many citizens who genuinely desired peace were becoming increasingly frustrated with existing policies, describing the situation as deeply concerning. Lasting peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he added, would ultimately depend on the resilience and sacrifices of the people, the provincial police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

The Chief Minister further asserted that if public policies were designed to serve vested interests rather than restore peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government would oppose them through all constitutional and democratic means. Provincial Ministers Meena Khan Afridi and Dr Amjad, elected representatives from Swat, the Commissioner of Malakand Division and other senior government officials also attended the ceremony.

ISLAMABAD  –  The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has approved The Netting of Financial Arrangements Bill, 2026. The committee met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. The committee considered the government Bill titled “The Netting of Financial Arrangements Bill, 2026,” which had been referred by the Senate in its sitting held on 15th May, 2026.

During the briefing, representatives of the Pakistan Banks Association informed the committee that netting laws are widely recognised internationally and facilitate financial transactions by providing legal certainty in cases of insolvency and by allowing settlement on a net basis under specified financial agreements. The representatives further informed the committee that the proposed legislation had been developed following consultations with the banking sector and the State Bank of Pakistan. They stated that the proposed framework would strengthen Pakistan’s financial sector and align it with internationally accepted practices.

Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb informed the committee that extensive consultations had been undertaken with all relevant stakeholders during the drafting process. Following detailed deliberations, the committee approved The Netting of Financial Arrangements Bill, 2026. During the discussion on the matter relating to sanctioned and vacant posts in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb informed the committee that the government is digitising all BISP payments to enhance transparency, efficiency, and service delivery.

He stated that financial assistance to beneficiaries would be disbursed through digital wallets as part of the ongoing digital transformation initiative. The minister further noted that the government is promoting the use of technology across public sector institutions, including BISP, and referred to an unfortunate incident that occurred during the disbursement of BISP payments last year, underscoring the importance of strengthening digital payment mechanisms. Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood supported the minister’s position and observed that public sector employment has increasingly become a sought-after opportunity. Chairperson BISP Senator Rubina Khalid informed the committee that BISP does not have its own permanent operational workforce and currently relies on officers serving on deputation.

She stated that while digital payments are being made through banking channels, the programme requires dedicated operational staff to effectively manage its expanding responsibilities. She also expressed concern at the suggestion that BISP does not require additional employees, emphasizing the operational needs of the programme.

The committee held a further discussion on the matter relating to the issuance of revised payslips for Directors Staff and Private Secretaries of the Senate Secretariat, as referred by the Senate Finance Committee. Officials of AGPR briefed the committee on the matter and requested additional time for implementation. The committee directed AGPR to resolve the issue within one week. The committee was informed that the matter would be reviewed again after the stipulated period in accordance with applicable procedures.

The committee also discussed the issue relating to salaries of faculty members and professors serving under the Tenure Track System (TTS). After hearing all stakeholders, the minister of state for finance acknowledged the importance of providing competitive salaries to faculty members in support of quality higher education while noting that certain issues required further examination. It was decided that the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the Higher Education Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Law and Justice would jointly undertake a comprehensive review of the matter and develop a consensus-based proposal.

The committee also reviewed the matter regarding the grant of an honorarium equivalent to five months’ basic pay for medical staff deputed at Parliament House during the Budget Session 2025. During the discussion, it was observed that the Ministry of National Health Services had included additional names of officers not specifically deputed for duty at Parliament House during the budget session. The committee directed the ministry to revise the list by excluding ineligible names to facilitate the early disbursement of the honorarium to the eligible officials.

The Committee received a briefing from the State Bank of Pakistan regarding a complaint submitted by Abdul Razzaq concerning the recovery of funds withdrawn from his UBL bank account through the bank’s mobile application. SBP officials informed the committee that the matter is currently pending before the Banking Court. After hearing both the complainant and the relevant authorities, the committee decided to defer further consideration until the judicial proceedings are concluded.

The ministry of finance also briefed the committee on the implementation status of recommendations made by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue during deliberations on the Federal Budget 2026-27. The committee was informed that approximately 43 percent of the recommendations relating to the Finance Bill had been incorporated into the Bill, while 21.6 percent of the committee’s consolidated recommendations had also been adopted.

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a major convenience for citizens wishing to apply for their Identity Cards online by launching an upgraded version of the Pak ID mobile application.

According to a statement issued by NADRA, the new version of the Pak ID mobile app (v5.6.6) features a “See the Card” option. This allows applicants to preview a digital copy of their ID card before submitting their application.

The statement advised citizens to thoroughly review their details within the app before finalizing their applications. In case of any errors, applicants can easily return to the respective fields to correct them.

Meanwhile, NADRA also announced that the registration of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces has officially commenced in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

The authority further explained that in the first phase, this registration facility is available across all village and neighborhood councils in the Peshawar district. The service will be expanded across the rest of the province in subsequent phases.