• Inflation drops to single-digit from 38% peak.
• Primary surpluses and reserves strengthen external buffers.
• Ratings agencies upgrade Pakistan’s outlook this year.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has that said Pakistan is shifting away from aid-based support towards trade and investment-led engagement, with a focus on deeper economic partnerships with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

In an interview with CNN Business Arabia, Aurangzeb said the strategic shift, which he said has been clearly articulated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reflects Pakistan’s renewed economic confidence and reform momentum, aimed at long-term economic sustainability.

He said Pakistan has remained on a comprehensive macroeconomic stabilisation programme over the past 18 months, delivering what he described as “tangible and measurable” results. Inflation, which he said had peaked at an unprecedented 38%, has declined to single-digit levels. 

Aurangzeb also pointed to primary surpluses, a current account deficit “well within” targeted limits, a stabilised exchange rate and foreign exchange reserves improving to around 2.5 months of import cover, which he said reflected strengthening external buffers.

The finance czar cited two external validations of Pakistan’s improving outlook. He said all three international credit rating agencies have upgraded Pakistan’s ratings and outlook this year, and that Pakistan has completed the second review under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF), with the IMF Executive Board granting its approval earlier this week, developments he said signalled growing international confidence in Pakistan’s economic management and reform trajectory.

The finance minister said macroeconomic stabilisation has been achieved through a coordinated approach combining disciplined monetary and fiscal policies with an ambitious structural reform agenda. He said reforms are being pursued across taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises, public financial management and privatisation to consolidate stability and lay the foundations for sustainable growth.

On taxation, the finance minister said Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio has improved from 8.8% at the start of the reform programme to 10.3% in the last fiscal year, with a clear path towards 11%. 

He said the government’s objective is to reach a level of tax collection that ensures fiscal sustainability over the medium to long term by widening the tax base and bringing previously undertaxed but economically significant sectors, including real estate, agriculture, and wholesale and retail trade, into the formal net.

He said the plan also includes deepening compliance by reducing leakages through production monitoring systems and AI-enabled technologies, alongside reforms in people, processes and technology to transform tax administration.

In the energy sector, Aurangzeb highlighted efforts to improve governance in distribution companies, bring in private-sector expertise, advance privatisation and reduce circular debt, which he said has long constrained the power sector. He said rationalising the tariff regime is essential to make energy more competitive for industry, supporting industrial revival and economic growth.

The senator acknowledged the longstanding support of GCC countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, noting their role in supporting Pakistan through financing, funding and cooperation at international financial institutions such as the IMF. He said the relationship is now evolving towards a new phase centred on trade expansion and investment flows.

He said remittances continue to play a vital role in supporting the current account, with inflows reaching about $38 billion last year and projected to rise to $41–42 billion this year, with more than half originating from GCC countries.

Looking ahead, Aurangzeb said Pakistan is engaging GCC partners to attract investment in priority sectors including energy, oil and gas, minerals and mining, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and agriculture. He also expressed optimism about progress on a Free Trade Agreement with the GCC, saying discussions are at an advanced stage.

Reiterating the government’s direction, the finance minister said Pakistan’s future lies in fostering trade and investment partnerships rather than reliance on aid, arguing that foreign direct investment into productive sectors would support higher GDP growth, generate employment and deliver shared economic benefits for Pakistan and its partners. 

He said the government is fully mobilised to translate the vision into reality.

Lewis Pullman, son of Bill Pullman the original Spaceballs star, made an unexpected admission about Mel Brooks.

Brooks is set to reprise his role as Yogurt and President Skroob, 40-years after the first film, meanwhile, Pullman will play a new role, Starbust, the son of Lone Starr and Queen Vespa.

In an interview on The View, the Testament of Ann Lee star was asked about wrapping up the production of Spaceballs 2.

“Spaceballs fans rejoiced when the legendary Mel Brooks announced that 40 years later, we’re finally getting Spaceballs 2,” asked the host Sara Haines adding, “Now, production is already wrapped. What was that like?”

The Thuderbolts actor confirmed that “we just wrapped last Tuesday” on production of the project.

When asked about meeting the legendry star, he admitted that, “Mel didn’t come out.”

“He’s a homebody, but he was definitely part of it. His spirit was there, he was part of the design of it,” Pullman replied.

He continued, “I still haven’t met him, but when he sent me the role, I got a voice note from him. I wish you could frame a voice note. I couldn’t believe it because I grew up watching that movie.”

Discussing about the significance of the film, Pullman added, “That was one of my dad’s movies I was allowed to watch growing up, and I remember seeing Star Wars, and I was like, ‘Why did they remake Spaceballs without all the jokes?'”

“The writing is so smart and so dumb at the same time in the best way,” he said of the sequel’s story. “It’s so intelligently designed!”

In addition to Brooks, Rick Moranis (Lord Dark Helmet), Daphne Zuniga (Queen Vespa) , George Wyner (Colonel Sandurz) and Bill Pullman (Lone Starr) will respire their roles. 

Meanwhile, Keke Palmer (Destiny), Josh Gad (role not revealed) and Anthony Carrigan (role not revealed) will be the new faces.

Spaceballs 2 will be released in 2027. 

Chris Martin added music to the wedding bells in a surprise performance at a superfan’s wedding in Rugeley.

The 48-year-old musician was asked by the groom’s mother to send a video message congratulating the newlyweds, but the Coldplay frontman went an extra mile and attended the wedding himself.

The Yellow hitmaker surprised fans by playing the piano for the bride and groom’s first dance on Saturday night at Blithfield Lakeside Barns, in Staffordshire.

While the newlyweds were performing their first dance, Martin made a quiet entrance and began performing the song, All My Love.

Following the ceremony, Blithfield Lakeside Barns co-owner, Alex Brown, told StokeonTrentLive, that the Fix You singer was asked to send a message, but “Chris got back and said he could go one better.”

He went on to share that Martin said, “I’m free that night, so I’ll come and play the first dance. He didn’t want any introduction, so we said it was the first dance, and he walked in and performed. The bride and groom did know he was coming. It was kept as a surprise for the guests. I don’t think they realised it was him until the end.”

The venue officer heaped on praises for the award-winning singer to make the grand gesture for his fan, without taking away the spotlight from the couple.

This comes after Martin went viral for something quite the opposite, when he made headlines after exposing a couple who were cheating on their spouses earlier this year.