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 […]
Electricity tariff set to rise by Rs1.74 per unit in June bills
The price of electricity is expected to increase by Rs1.74 per unit in next month’s bills as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) considers a request for higher fuel cost adjustment amid disruptions caused by the US-Iran conflict. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has sought an additional fuel cost recovery of Rs1.73 per […]
Trump says US, Iran close to peace deal as reports reveal ceasefire, sanctions relief proposals
US President Donald Trump has said that Washington and Tehran are close to finalising a major peace agreement, as international and Iranian media reports revealed details of a proposed framework involving ceasefire arrangements, sanctions relief and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement posted on Truth Social, president Trump said extensive consultations […]
Budget 2026-27: IMF pushes for further reduction in tax exemptions
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to further reduce tax exemptions in the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27 budget, with the government considering the withdrawal of several tax concessions as part of broader revenue-enhancement measures, sources said. According to sources, tax exemptions currently available to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and […]
PM orders swift conversion of Pak-China MoUs into formal agreements
ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed the immediate transformation of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the recent Pak-China Business-to-Business Conference in Hangzhou into formal agreements and joint ventures. Chairing a high-level review meeting in Islamabad on Monday, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for prompt follow-up on the outcomes of his […]
Pakistan warns UN Security Council of spillover risks from protracted Ukraine conflict
NEW YORK :Pakistan has warned the international community against the potential negative consequences of protracted conflicts, highlighting the growing risks of miscalculation, expansion, and dangerous spillover effects. The warning was delivered by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC).The session was […]
HKP, PAT reject proposed GST hike, demand relief for working class
Political leaders of the Haqooq-i-Khalq Party (HKP) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) have strongly opposed reported proposals to raise the General Sales Tax (GST) from 18pc to 19pc under IMF-linked reforms, warning it would intensify inflation and further burden low-income households. HKP chief Farooq Tariq said the move would hit workers, farmers and salaried classes […]