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 […]
Bilawal vows greater autonomy for Gilgit-Baltistan
SKARDU: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday called for greater political and administrative autonomy for Gilgit-Baltistan, saying decisions affecting the region should be made by its people rather than federal officials in Islamabad, as he campaigned ahead of upcoming regional elections. Addressing a public rally in Shigar constituency GBA-12 in support […]
New Mansehra–Chilas motorway announced at NHA meeting
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan announced a new Mansehra–Naran–Jhalakand–Chilas (MNJC) Motorway during a recent meeting of the National Highway Authority (NHA). The motorway will connect Mansehra, Kaghan, Naran, Jhalakand, and Chilas. During the meeting, the federal minister stated that the project will be completed in two phases. The first phase will involve the […]
Govt clears Rs4.3tr national development plan for FY2026-27
The federal government on Monday approved a Rs4.264tr national development programme for the fiscal year 2026-27, with provinces accounting for nearly three-quarters of the total allocation, while Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal described Rs87b earmarked for coalition partners’ projects as the “cost of a coalition government”. The Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC), chaired by Iqbal, recommended […]