ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday challenged PTI founder Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s acquittals in the cipher case before the Supreme Court. The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) charge sheet alleges was never returned by then-PM Imran, who long held that the document contained a threat from the US to topple his government. A special …

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday presented his first federal budget with a total outlay of Rs18.9 trillion, which analysts say is broadly “in line with IMF guidelines”. Pakistan’s budget for the upcoming year aims for a modest 3.6 per cent GDP growth, and sets an ambitious Rs13tr tax collection target, raising taxes on salaried classes and removing tax …

ISLAMABAD: In an apparent U-turn from its earlier assertions that the former ruling party would only talk to ‘empowered’ stakeholders and not the ‘toothless ruling’ coalition, PTI founder Imran Khan on Tuesday ordered the party’s top brass to reach out to the government for a dialogue to end the political impasse. The change of heart came in light of remarks …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s economy failed to meet most of its targets set in the previous budget due to challenging conditions, but the agriculture sector achieved unprecedented growth, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced on Tuesday while unveiling the Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) 2023-24. The strong 6.25pc expansion in the agriculture sector — said by the report to be the highest in 19 years — drove Pakistan’s …

ISLAMABAD: In a rare display of harmony between the government and opposition, all 42 Senate standing committees have been notified within the stipulated period. This was unlike in the National Assembly — which held its first session 40 days before the upper house — where the process of notifying standing committees has been stalled. On Monday, notifications regarding all 42 …

SWAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed not to let the federal government impose any new tax on the province as long as he is in power. The CM made these remarks while addressing a gathering of the grand opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan in Mingora, Swat. In a fiery speech, the CM said the decisions of individuals are “destroying …