Oil extends decline on rising Middle East supply
BEIJING/SINGAPORE: Oil prices extended their decline on Thursday to near levels last seen before the start of the US-Israel war against Iran, as rising supply expectations from the Middle East outweighed demand concerns. Prompt-month Brent crude futures for August delivery fell $1.22, or 1.65%, to $72.52 a barrel as of 0337 GMT, while US West […]
Khawaja Asif defends comments on AJK unrest
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday defended remarks he made about the ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying his comments were “frank and honest” and accusing what he described as externally driven elements of trying to undermine Pakistan’s position on the disputed region. In a post on social media platform X, […]
Army chief meets Iranian president, discusses regional stability
RAWALPINDI: Army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir called on Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. Both sides exchanged views on regional developments and peace initiatives, the military’s media wing said. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations and maintaining close consultations on issues of mutual interest, with a shared […]
Islamabad H-9 market fire: Eight-member inquiry committee formed
ISLAMABAD: A preliminary report into the H-9 Sunday Bazaar fire has been completed, with initial findings pointing to a combination of administrative lapses and safety violations as key factors behind the blaze’s rapid spread. According to sources, the fire broke out at 9:50pm and within five minutes had spread extensively, ultimately affecting approximately 300 shops. […]
Diplomatic team deployed to Somalia as government vows safe return of hostages: FO
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dispatched a diplomatic team from Djibouti to Somalia as part of efforts to secure the release of Pakistani hostages, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Wednesday, stressing that the matter remained a top government priority. “The government of Pakistan’s foremost priority is the safe release of the hostages,” Andrabi told reporters […]
National Assembly approves Budget 2026-27 with revised duties
The National Assembly has approved Budget 2026-27, with the Finance Bill outlining revised duties on imported vehicles, stricter Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) compliance rules and electronic filing requirements. According to the Finance Bill 2026-27, from July 1, imported vehicles from 2,000cc to 3,000cc will face 86% duty, while 3,001cc imported vehicles will be subject […]
Oil falls further on hopes of smoother crude flows via Hormuz
Oil prices fell more than 1% on Wednesday, extending this week’s losses and trading near four-month lows, on signs that more oil tankers stranded in the Gulf are set to move out of the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures fell 78 cents, or 1.0%, at $76.30 a barrel as of 0350 GMT. US West […]
Pakistan to continue efforts for regional stability, Naqvi tells Iranian counterpart
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart, Dr Eskandar Momeni, on Wednesday, and vowed that Pakistan would continue its efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East. According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, the two sides held detailed discussions on Pakistan-Iran relations and the latest regional situation following the peace agreement. […]
US, Iran at odds on nuclear inspections, frozen assets in deal to end war
US President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into “infinity,” while Tehran said it had made no such concession in negotiations, raising questions about the viability of their fragile peace deal. The two countries, which ended a first round of negotiations in Switzerland on Monday, also offered conflicting accounts about financial […]
ATC sentences prominent Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment
QUETTA: An anti-terrorism court has sentenced prominent Baloch rights activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and her co-accused, Sibghatullah, to two concurrent life imprisonment terms over the killing of a security official during a 2024 protest. Muhammad Ali Mubeen, judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court-I in Quetta, found both leaders guilty of terrorism and the murder of Frontier […]