Dar returns to Islamabad after concluding Cairo visit, brief transit in Madinah
WEB DESK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar returned to the federal capital on Monday morning after concluding his official visit to Egypt and a brief overnight transit stop in Saudi Arabia, according to Foreign Office. The FO had earlier confirmed that the deputy prime minister departed Cairo on Sunday evening […]
NA begins voting on Rs1.24 trillion grants amid fierce opposition criticism
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Monday commenced voting on hefty demands for grants worth over Rs1.24 trillion for three federal ministries, triggering a fierce debate between the ruling coalition and the opposition over the country’s law and order situation and alleged political victimisation. The session, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, opened with Finance Minister Muhammad […]
Gold prices in Pakistan hit record high as global rally lifts bullion
KARACHI: Gold prices in Pakistan surged to historic highs on Monday, tracking an upward trend in international markets and a depreciating local currency, according to jewelers and market traders. The price of 24-karat gold jumped by Rs4,643 per tola (11.66 grams) to settle at an all-time high of Rs442,636, the All Pakistan Supreme Jewelers Association […]
Iran says procedures finalised for release of frozen assets
Iran said on Sunday that administrative procedures for the release of its frozen funds had been finalised, as technical talks with the United States in Switzerland focused on ending the war, sanctions relief and unfreezing Iranian assets. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the negotiations also covered relief from restrictions on Iranian oil exports, according to […]
Pakistan, Qatar broker 60-day roadmap as US-Iran Switzerland talks conclude first round
BUERGENSTOCK/DUBAI: Senior officials from the United States and Iran concluded an initial round of negotiations in Switzerland on Monday, with mediators announcing a framework aimed at securing a comprehensive agreement within 60 days. In a joint statement, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said both sides had endorsed a roadmap towards a final accord, while technical-level discussions would continue throughout the […]
UK PM Starmer announces resignation, to stay until successor chosen
LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, defending his political legacy and stating that he had steadied the United Kingdom’s economy and restored his party from the brink of ruin during his tenure. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer confirmed he had already updated the British monarch on his decision. “I […]
Mohsin Naqvi heads to Tehran to push forward US-Iran peace talks following Islamabad MoU
Islamabad : Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has departed for Tehran to hold high-level talks with senior Iranian officials, in a bid to advance ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, official sources confirmed on Saturday. The visit follows a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday, which […]
Islamabad MoU: Pakistan to facilitate US-Iran talks in Switzerland on June 21
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will facilitate technical-level talks between the United States and Iran in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on June 21 as part of efforts to advance understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding [MoU]. The discussions will bring together representatives of the United States and Iran, alongside mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, the Foreign Office (FO) said in […]
PPP, PML-N agree power-sharing formula for formation of GB govt
Islamabad : The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday announced a power-sharing arrangement with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to form a government in Gilgit-Baltistan. In a statement, the PPP said that both parties decided to form a government through political cooperation following mutual consensus. The organisations of both parties had finalised the proposed formula […]
Iran says Hormuz closed again after Israel strikes Lebanon
Iran said on Saturday that it was closing the Strait of Hormuz again over Israeli attacks in Lebanon, jolting a fragile US-Iran agreement just as negotiators headed to Switzerland to try to salvage efforts to end the Middle East war. Follow-up talks had been planned in Switzerland on Friday, but were postponed at the last […]