
Now Pakistanis Can Apply for Schengen Visas via Swedish Embassy
The resumption of services follows the 19th round of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) between Pakistan and Sweden, held in Stockholm on July 2. The discussions focused on enhancing diplomatic relations and deepening bilateral cooperation.
Effective July 7, Pakistani nationals can once again submit Schengen visa applications directly through the Swedish embassy in Pakistan.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Pakistan and US reach a trade deal to develop oil reserves and reduce tariffs
ISLAMABAD, July 31, (AP):The United States and Pakistan reached a trade agreement expected to allow Washington to help develop Pakistan's largely untapped oil reserves and lower tariffs for the South Asian country, officials from both nations said Thursday. Officials did not specify where the exploration would take place, but most of Pakistan's reserves are believed to be in the insurgency-hit southwestern province of Balochistan, where separatists say the province's natural resources are being exploited by the central government in Islamabad. "We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves,' U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership,' Trump added. "Who knows, maybe they'll be selling oil to India someday!' Total U.S. trade with Pakistan was an estimated $7.3 billion in 2024, according to the Office of the United States Representative, which said on its website that U.S. exports to Pakistan in 2024 were $2.1 billion, up 4.4% ($90.9 million) from 2023. U.S. imports from Pakistan totaled $5.1 billion in 2024, up 4.9% ($238.7 million) from 2023, it said. There was no immediate comment from the Baloch nationalists and separatist groups. Balochistan has long been the center of violence mostly blamed on groups including the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army, or BLA, which the U.S. designated a terrorist organization in 2019. Separatists in Balochistan have opposed the extraction of resources by Pakistani and foreign firms and have targeted Pakistani security forces and Chinese nationals working on multibillion-dollar projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Oil reserves are also thought to exist in the southern Sindh, eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the "long-awaited' deal and thanked Trump for playing a key role in finalizing it. Pakistan had been pursuing a trade agreement since May, when Trump mediated a ceasefire between Pakistan and India following an escalation triggered by Indian airstrikes on Pakistani territory in response to the killing of 26 tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan's Finance Ministry said in a statement early Thursday the agreement aims to boost bilateral trade, expand market access, attract investment and foster cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The breakthrough came during a meeting in Washington between Pakistani Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and senior U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer. The deal includes a reduction in reciprocal tariffs, particularly on Pakistani exports to the U.S., the statement from the ministry said. "The agreement enhances Pakistan's access to the U.S. market and vice versa,' it said. The agreement is also expected to spur increased U.S. investment in Pakistan's infrastructure and development projects, it added.


Kuwait News Agency
2 days ago
- Kuwait News Agency
European Commission sets Oct. 12 '25 to launch new Entry/Exit System
BRUSSELS, July 30 (KUNA) -- The European Commission announced on Wednesday that October 12, 2025 has been set as the official launch date for the progressive implementation of the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), a move aimed at strengthening external border security and modernizing the management of traveler movements. EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said in a press release, "the Entry/Exit System is a key tool to improve how we manage our external borders," adding that it will help "track who enters and leaves the European Union, identify overstayers, prevent irregular movements, and reduce document and identity fraud." He explained that the system would be rolled out gradually over a period of six months, allowing EU Member States, travelers, and businesses enough time to adapt to the new procedures. The Entry/Exit System is an advanced technological platform that will register the entry and exit of non-EU nationals visiting 29 European countries, including Schengen-associated states, for short stays. The system will collect biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial images, along with travel details, gradually replacing the current practice of passport stamping. According to the statement, the system will provide reliable data on border crossings, help detect cases of overstaying, and address attempts at identity fraud, thereby enhancing the security of EU citizens. It will also facilitate smoother travel through increased use of automated border controls, while ensuring the highest standards of data privacy and protection. The system will be introduced gradually starting on October 12, 2025, with border authorities in Member States progressively registering the data of third-country nationals crossing EU borders. Full deployment is expected by the end of the six-month implementation phase. The Commission, in coordination with the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems (EU-LISA), will continue to work closely with Member States in the coming months to ensure a smooth and effective rollout of the new system. The Entry/Exit System is part of the EU's broader Smart Borders package, which also includes the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) and the expanded use of Automated Border Control (ABC) systems. Together, these initiatives aim to enhance border management and ensure a safer, more efficient, and convenient travel experience. (end)

Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Kuwait Times
US says Trump has ‘final call' on China trade truce
STOCKHOLM: China and the United States agreed Tuesday to hold further talks on extending their tariff truce, but a top US trade official stressed that President Donald Trump would make any 'final call.' The world's top two economies met for a second day of negotiations in Stockholm, with both sides seeking to avert tariffs from returning to sky-high levels that had ground trade between the rivals to an effective standstill. The meeting in a Swedish government building, led on the Chinese side by Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for the Americans, ended without a resolution but with the US side voicing optimism. Neither government has made public any details from the talks, which started on Monday, although US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Trump would have the 'final call' on any extension in the truce. 'Nothing has been agreed until we speak with President Trump,' added Bessent, calling the tone of the talks 'very constructive'. The negotiations are taking place in the wake of a trade deal struck over the weekend that set US tariffs on most European Union imports at 15 percent, but none on American goods going to the EU. The truce between China and the United States has temporarily set fresh US duties on Chinese goods at 30 percent, while Chinese levies on trade in the other direction stand at 10 percent. That accord, reached in Geneva in May, brought down triple-digit tariffs each side had levelled at the other after a trade war sparked by Trump spiralled into a tit-for-tat bilateral escalation. The 90-day truce is meant to end on August 12. But there are indications both delegations want to use the Stockholm talks to push the date back further. The South China Morning Post, citing sources on both sides, reported on Sunday that Washington and Beijing are expected to extend their tariff pause by a further 90 days. Trump said he would be briefed again by Bessent on Wednesday. 'We'll either approve it or not,' he told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from Scotland. Separately, Trump has threatened to hit dozens of other countries with stiffer tariffs from Friday this week unless they reach trade deals with Washington. Among them are Brazil and India, with the South American giant facing a threat of 50 percent tariffs. Asked about Friday's deadline, Bessent told CNBC: 'It's not the end of the world if these snapback tariffs are on for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, as long as the countries are moving forward and trying to negotiate in good faith.' Trump has already announced deal outlines with five countries — Britain, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines — as well as the one with the 27-nation EU. Beijing says it wants to see 'reciprocity' in its trade with the United States. Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said dialogue was needed 'to reduce misunderstandings'. The previous round of China-US talks was held in London. Analysts said many of the trade deals Trump has been publicizing were leaning more on optics than on details. Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, a firm that advises on currency exchange and commodities, said an extension of the 90-day truce between China and the United States could reinforce that view. 'That truce could set the stage for a Trump – (President) Xi (Jinping) handshake later this year - another risk-on carrot for markets to chew,' he said. – AFP