US strikes Iranian coastal sites after drone launches
DUBAI: The United States carried out strikes on Iranian coastal surveillance and radar sites on Saturday after intercepting drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, marking a fresh escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries. According to the US military, four Iranian drones were believed to be targeting maritime traffic in […]
Budget 2026-27: Federal proposals weigh tax net expansion, exporter relief, and major tariff reforms
The federal government is considering a comprehensive layout of fiscal measures for the upcoming budget 2026–27, balancing an aggressive expansion of the domestic tax net with targeted documentation rules and strategic import liberalisation, official sources revealed on Saturday. The upcoming fiscal plan is expected to place a heavy emphasis on broadening the tax base and […]
PDMA issues heatwave alert in Punjab for coming week
LAHORE: The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a heatwave alert for the coming week, warning of significantly rising temperatures across most districts of the province. According to a PDMA spokesperson, temperatures in Punjab are expected to remain 5 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal between 8 and 12 June, raising concerns of […]
G-B elections: PML-N and PPP supporters clash outside polling station as voting continues
GILGIT: Tensions flared outside a polling station in Gilgit on Sunday as supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) engaged in a heated exchange that escalated into a physical altercation, according to eyewitness accounts and local reports. The incident occurred outside the Sir Syed School polling station, where polling […]
Trump legal team withholds financial data in $10b BBC defamation case, FT reports
New York :The legal team of US President Donald Trump has reportedly refused to provide financial information sought by lawyers for the BBC in a $10b defamation lawsuit, according to a report by the Financial Times citing court filings. The dispute stems from Trump’s claim that the BBC defamed him by selectively editing a 2021 […]
AJK elections: polling set for July 27 under strict security, says CEC
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday issued the official schedule for the upcoming general elections, confirming that polling will be held on July 27 across the region. Polling date announced; political activity set to begin With the release of the election schedule, political and electoral activities are expected to […]
Sindh govt announces schedule for matric, intermediate results
KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced the dates for the release of annual matriculation and intermediate examination results across the province, with matric results due by July 10 and intermediate results by July 31. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Sindh Minister for Universities and Boards Muhammad Ismail Rahoo. The meeting was […]
Budget 2026-27: Pakistan signals end of key tax exemptions to meet IMF mandates
Islamabad :As the federal government finalises the Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27, sources indicate a major shift towards a unified tax regime, potentially ending decades of exemptions for key industries and consumer goods. Driven by the requirements of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the government is considering the withdrawal of General Sales Tax […]
Austerity Without Vision: A Reading of Pakistan’s Budget FY2025–26 and What FY2026–27 Must Answer
By Abdul Rafay Niazi On June 10, 2025, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the federal budget for FY2025–26 before a noisy National Assembly. It was passed on June 26 and signed into law on June 30. The government called it a budget for a “historic moment.” Critics called it more of the same. Both, in […]
Govt decides to extend closing hours of markets till 9 pm
Islamabad : Federal Government has decided to extend closing hours of shops, markets and malls till 9:00 pm. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad. The meeting reviewed ongoing austerity measures in context of market closing hours. It was decided that restaurants, cafés and eateries […]