After the Elec­t­ion Commission of Pakistan (ECP) barred the caretaker government from moving ahead with its controversial plan to restructure the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), caretaker Finance Minis­ter Shamshad Akhtar said the restructuring roadmap approved by all stakeholders will be ‘operationalised’ by the elected government. The caretaker minister revea­led this plan during a televised address after the federal cabinet …

The European Union has raised concerns that Hong Kong’s plan for a new national security law may weaken the city’s freedoms, with business leaders calling for greater clarity. City leader John Lee on Tuesday unveiled a legislative proposal that would introduce new categories of security crimes — on top of an existing national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Lee said …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to ensure that former prime minister Imran Khan as well as the candidates of all political parties were given “free and unrestricted” access to media ahead of the forthcoming February 8 general elections. The order was passed by Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza on a petition …

ISLAMABAD: The special court on Thursday accepted the Federal Investigation Agency’s plea seeking an in-camera trial of former prime minister Imran Khan and ex-foreign minister Shah Mahmood in the cipher case. It began the cipher trial afresh at the Adiala district jail after the pair were indicted for a second time yesterday, according to reporters allowed to attend the hearing. The cipher case pertains …

LAHORE: Acting Ambassador of Palestine Nader Al Turk has lauded China for showing its readiness to play a constructive role in easing tensions between Palestine and Israel and promoting peace talks. Addressing a webinar titled, “War Crimes Gaza: The impact, consequences, and international response & responsibility”, the envoy called out the “double standards” of the so-called civilised world and international organisations responsible …

— Li, Kakar agree to further strengthen high-level engagement, deepen multiple ties — Both neighbours signed several MoUs and agreements in various sectors ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Wednesday signed the long-awaited multi-billion-dollar Mainline One (ML-I) railway project which would cost US$ 6.7 billion and would transform and replace the centuries-old existing railway track from Peshawar to Karachi. The agreement, among …

Trains loaded with Southeast Asian agricultural products such as durians and mangosteens are now frequently entering China through the Mohan railway port in southwest China’s Yunnan province, along the China-Laos Railway. Photo shows a container ship at the Piraeus Port, Greece. (People’s Daily/Meng Xianglin) Since the beginning of this year, the China-Laos Railway has transported over 14 million tons of …

DUBAI: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has described Israel’s assault on Gaza as a genocide of Palestinians and said it must stop immediately, state TV reported on Tuesday. A senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) also warned of further action by Tehran-backed militant groups against Israel if it did not cease its attacks. Israel has bombarded the Palestinian …

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday urged the world to counter all forms of terrorism without discrimination including Hindutva fascism in India. Addressing the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, he emphasised that the approach against terrorism should encompass addressing the growing menace posed by “far-right and fascist groups, including Hindutva-inspired extremists”. …

ISLAMABAD: Award-winning Miami design house Varabyeu is coming to Pakistan as partner of One Homes, a leading real estate development group, for its new Islamabad development. The collaboration will see Varabyeu as the lead design partners for One Homes’ recently acquired $180 million mega mixed-use development. The collaboration between One Homes and Varabyeu Partners represents a significant milestone in Pakistan’s real …