Budget Delayed
The Government of Pakistan has decided to delay the presentation of the budget for fiscal year 2025-26 until June 10 after earlier announcing it would be presented on June 2. Officials say the decision is linked to upcoming Eid holidays as well as ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding expenditures.
Economic Offensive
After failing to intimidate Pakistan through military means, India has indicated it will seek to “punish” the country economically by seeking sanctions on it from the Financial Action Task Force and opposing funding from the World Bank for Islamabad. Officials in Delhi have told media India will pursue all possible measures to dent Pakistan economically in the coming weeks and months.
Extended Restrictions
Both Pakistan and India have extended airspace restrictions for each other’s aircraft by a month, till June 24, as tensions persist between the neighbors despite a ceasefire following a military conflict from earlier this month. The ban applies solely to flights operated by the rival country and does not impact international airlines.
Fake News
The IMF has pushed back on Indian claims Pakistan is using funds from its $7 billion Extended Fund Facility to finance its conflict with India. In a statement, a spokesperson for the global lender has clarified the funds are only utilized to support foreign exchange reserves and cannot be used to finance the budget, stressing safeguards exist to ensure the money is used for agreed purposes.
Zero Tolerance
Authorities have warned there will be zero tolerance for “India-sponsored” terrorism following a bombing targeting a school bus in Khuzdar that killed eight people, including six children. The military spokesman has said security forces will continue intelligence-based operations, adding a large-scale kinetic operation risks endangering the local populace and is a last resort.
Tentative Ceasefire
Former Pakistan-administered Kashmir president Sardar Masood Khan has warned that India can backtrack from an ongoing ceasefire with Pakistan, stressing the need to maintain vigilance. The declaration echoes similar warnings from Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and various political leaders, who have cautioned against complacency amidst Indian belligerence.
Penalizing Officials
The Federal Investigation Agency has charged 10 of its own officials for allegedly facilitating 41 Afghan nationals to travel to Saudi Arabia using forged Pakistani passports. All 41 Afghans traveled via Sialkot Airport, allegedly with the connivance of FIA personnel there, with the government vowing that it will not tolerate misuse of its official documents, as this risks damaging the country’s repute abroad.
Thanksgiving Tour
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit four friendly countries—Turkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan—from May 25-30 to thank them for their support to Pakistan during its recent conflict with India. The Foreign Office has said the premier will engage in wide-ranging discussions regarding bilateral ties during his visit, adding he will also attend the International Conference on Glaciers in Dushanbe.
Top Nation
The U.K. Home Office has announced that Pakistanis were the top nationality among asylum applicants to the United Kingdom in 2024-25, followed by Afghans. It said 11,048, or 10.1% of the 109,343 people who applied for asylum came from Pakistan. The previous year, 7,003 Pakistanis had applied for asylum. The British government has warned of stricter enforcement measures to deport illegal migrants.
Temporary Relief
A U.S. judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s ban on Harvard University enrolling foreign students, which the varsity has described as unconstitutional. The judicial order allows thousands of international students who were facing deportation to remain enrolled for at least two more weeks, with hearings to resume next week.