KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday reduced its policy rate by 100 basis points to 12 per cent, effective from January 28, in response to moderating inflation and improving economic indicators. This marks the sixth rate cut since June 2024, bringing the cumulative reduction to 1,000 basis points. In a statement following the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) …
KARACHI: Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar on Monday expressed disapproval for a petition filed by six Chinese nationals in the high court against police harassment and restrictions on their movement, saying that the move was “against protocol”. Xu Hui, Deng Huan and four other Chinese nationals have petitioned the Sindh High Court through their counsel Peer Rehman Mehsud and …
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday rejected “baseless and unfounded” allegations targeting Pakistan’s commitment to China’s policies, stressing that Beijing continued to be Islamabad’s all-weather strategic partner. The statement came amid several social media as well as local and an Indian media reports claiming that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, during his recent visit to the United States, attended an …
ISLAMABAD: Two Supreme Court judges on Monday withdrew a contempt notice issued a week ago against a senior staff member for not fixing a case regarding the jurisdiction of regular benches. The decision came as a two-judge bench, comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, pronounced its verdict on contempt proceedings against Additional Registrar (Judicial) Nazar …
ISLAMABAD: Despite mixed signals from the PTI, the government on Sunday refused to budge from its position on talks with the opposition party, reiterating that it would present written replies to their charter of demands during the next meeting, scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday). Meanwhile, the opposition party has demanded the immediate appointment of a new chief election commissioner, as the …
QUETTA: At least one person was killed and seven injured in an explosion near a passenger bus traveling from Khuzdar to Rawalpindi on Sunday, officials said. The blast occurred on the M-8 Motorway when a passenger bus travelling from Khuzdar to Rawalpindi passed by an explosives-laden vehicle. Out of the 13 passengers onboard, eight sustained injuries, with one succumbing to …
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday refuted reports of him attending an event considered “anti-China” during his visit to the United States. His clarification comes after various posts on social media as well as a local and an Indian media report claimed that Naqvi attended an event hosted by a lobbying group that campaigns against the neighbour’s ruling Chinese …
ISLAMABAD: Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, highlighting numerous reservations of the PPP, has warned that the ruling PML-N would face the “biggest loss” if his party breaks off its alliance with the government. The differences between the PML-N-led coalition government and its key ally PPP have been simmering for a while. A meeting last month between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President …
ISLAMABAD: As an eight-judge constitutional bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, is set to commence hearing of challenges to the 26th Amendment from Monday, the PTI also instituted a petition seeking court declaration that the amendment violates salient features of the Constitution and affects the judiciary’s independence. Several petitioners, including high court bar associations, requested the Supreme Court to constitute …
PESHAWAR / KHYBER: A total of 30 terrorists, including two ringleaders, were killed and eight others injured in separate security operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday, according to the military’s media wing. In a separate development, four police personnel, who had been abducted from South Waziristan Upper three days ago, have been safely recovered. Security forces acting on intelligence effectively …