![Pakistan tables Digital Nation Bill 2024 to centralize citizen data amid VPN crackdowns, firewall plans, and 5G rollout. [Image via X/File]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/4555337-1196380466.webp "4555337-1196380466")
Pakistan tables Digital Nation Bill 2024 to centralize citizen data amid VPN crackdowns, firewall plans, and 5G rollout
![Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to marine cooperation and sustainable development at the China-Indian Ocean Forum. [Image via CPEC]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/President-Zardari-China-marine-768x429-1.webp "President-Zardari-China-marine-768×429-1")
Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to marine cooperation and sustainable development at the China-Indian Ocean Forum.
![Iftikhar Arif urges Pakistan's youth to stay and build a prosperous nation, inspired by the resilience of China, Japan, and Germany. [Image via Facebook@ACPKHI/File]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1262333_2256362_aae_akhbar.webp "1262333_2256362_aae_akhbar")
Iftikhar Arif urges Pakistan’s youth to stay and build a prosperous nation, inspired by the resilience of China, Japan, and Germany.
![US Embassy condemns IEA injustice against women in Afghanistan, warning it threatens global justice and human rights. [Image via Khaama]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Afghan-women.webp "Afghan-women")
US Embassy condemns IEA injustice against women in Afghanistan, warning it threatens global justice and human rights.
![India: UP Police arrests gang for kidnapping actor Mushtaq Khan; reveals they planned to abduct Shakti Kapoor but called it off. [Image via Hindustan Times/File]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cafe_5d23884e-5263-11e7-88ef-5a5d74cf2589_1734322214059.webp "cafe_5d23884e-5263-11e7-88ef-5a5d74cf2589_1734322214059")
India: UP Police arrests gang for kidnapping actor Mushtaq Khan; reveals they planned to abduct Shakti Kapoor but called it off.
![Sri Lankan President Dissanayake makes first overseas visit to India, pledging stronger economic ties and regional security. [Image via Reuters]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMF-SRI-LANKA-0_1734322802622_1734322833331.webp "IMF-SRI-LANKA–0_1734322802622_1734322833331")
Sri Lankan President Dissanayake makes first overseas visit to India, pledging stronger economic ties and regional security.
![Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain dies at 73 in San Francisco, leaving behind a global legacy in Indian classical music. [Photo Illustration: Swastik Sharma]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/9000-2024-12-16T123031.450.webp "9000-2024-12-16T123031.450")
Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain dies at 73 in San Francisco, leaving behind a global legacy in Indian classical music
![The Pakistan-Bangladesh Education Scholarship aims to strengthen ties through education, offering 300 scholarships at top universities. [Representational Image via Propakistani]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/pakistan-bangladesh-.jpg.webp "pakistan-bangladesh-.jpg")
Pakistan offers 300 fully funded scholarships for Bangladeshi students, fostering academic ties and regional cooperation.
![Explore how the tragedy of the APS attack shaped Pakistan's fight against terrorism and its connection to the resurgence of militant threats. [Image via Dawn]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/585266752df12-1600x738.webp "585266752df12")
Explore how the tragedy of the APS attack shaped Pakistan’s fight against terrorism and its connection to the resurgence of militant threats.
![Pakistan's remittances surge 34% amid a crackdown on illegal dollar trade, boosting reserves to a 2-year high. [Representational Image via Propakistani]](https://southasiatimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Pakistans-foreign-exchange-reserves-e1734335931440.webp "Pakistans-foreign-exchange-reserves-e1734335931440")
Pakistan’s remittances surge 34% amid a crackdown on illegal dollar trade, boosting reserves to a 2-year high.