ISLAMABAD: The nation observed Youm-i-Tashakur on Friday across the country to honour the armed forces and the people for the victory in Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos — a part of Marka-i-Haq — against India, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. The military confrontation between India and Pakistan came as the former blamed Islamabad for the Pahalgam attack. On the night of May 6-7, New …
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has dismissed media reports claiming that its incarcerated founding chairman, Imran Khan, has agreed to initiate negotiations following an offer from the prime minister. “It is true that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, and the chairman later informed Imran Khan about it. However, the call was solely related …
ISLAMABAD: India is considering plans to dramatically increase the water it draws from a major river that feeds Pakistani farms downstream, as part of what it claims to be retaliatory action for a deadly April attack on tourists that New Delhi blames on Islamabad, according to four people familiar with the matter. Delhi suspended its participation in the Indus Waters …
ISLAMABAD: The government faced an embarrassing situation in the National Assembly on Thursday when the opposition cleverly blocked the passage of an important money bill in the middle of the process. It was after facing a 67-32 vote defeat on the motion tabled by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to present the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2024 for its passage that …
ISLAMABAD: In a major policy shift, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a comprehensive five-year tariff reform plan to be announced in the federal budget 2025-26, aiming to drastically reduce customs duties, additional customs duties, regulatory duties on raw materials and semi-finished goods, and a phased reduction in overall tariff protections for select industries. The first phase of the reform, …
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that Pakistan’s armed forces had shattered the ‘false hegemony’ of India and made the whole world realise that all states in the region are equal. The premier again asked India to sit at the table to resolve contentious issues, including Kashmir, through dialogue, without which there will be no guarantee of permanent …
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Thursday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and others in response to applications seeking suspension of sentences awarded to PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the £190 million corruption case. An IHC division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfaraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif directed the …
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Thursday that the militaries of India and Pakistan have agreed to extend last week’s ceasefire until Sunday, May 18. Addressing the Senate on Thursday, he said the extension paves the way for renewed political dialogue. “Now it [ceasefire] has been extended till [May] 18, so obviously, now ultimately, things will go to …
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has proposed a zero-tariff bilateral trade agreement with the United States aimed at expanding trade relations in multiple sectors, has learnt on the authority of credible sources. The development came after the US president expressed interest in enhancing trade with Pakistan, the sources said, adding that the Pakistani government has proposed a bilateral agreement based on mutual interests, …
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said the agriculture sector was being developed on modern lines to achieve self-reliance and directed the development of a comprehensive regulatory framework for the sector. During the second quarter of FY25, the agriculture sector experienced a significantly declined growth rate of 1.10pc compared to 5.80pc the previous year. The prime minister has previously …