ISLAMABAD: Clarity on a consensus over the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment is expected within two to three days, after which the legislation is likely to be tabled in parliament next week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday. Separately, the National Assembly was also assured that the 18th Amendment would not be rolled back through the new legislation. Speaking to …
By Areej Riaz The devastating floods of 2022, and now the ongoing 2025 floods, are not isolated events. They are a recurring reality of our changing climate — one that Pakistan cannot afford to keep confronting with only emergency relief and reconstruction. Each disaster displaces millions, wipes out livelihoods, destroys infrastructure, and sets back development by years. But what if …
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House Ishaq Dar assured the Senate on Tuesday that the proposed 27th constitutional amendment was a government’s initiative and it would be introduced only after thorough consultation with coalition partners. The House met with Senator Manzoor Ahmad in the chair, as Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani is currently acting as President, while …
ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday demanded that local governments (LGs) be given autonomy in the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment. After the PPP revealed key features of the proposed amendment for which the government sought its support, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said yesterday that the legislation for the tweaks will soon be tabled in Parliament. MQM-P leader …
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Wednesday issued a notification announcing that the deadline for taxpayers filing returns using manual forms rather than its web portal has been extended until November 30. According to the notification, the tax body stated that it is discontinuing the use of manual forms to file returns in favour of digitising all of …
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday termed population and climate change as “existential issues” that Pakistan must address to realise its potential. Pakistan is home to a vast population of over 251 million, according to the World Bank. The Bank states the annual population growth rate for 2024 at 1.5 per cent, with the government’s 2023 census showing that …
DOHA: President Asif Ali Zardari met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha on Wednesday and offered to expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence and defence production between Pakistan and Qatar, a statement issued by the Presidency said. According to the statement, the Qatari emir “responded positively” to the offer and said he would instruct …
ISLAMABAD: Google has begun local assembly of Chromebooks in Pakistan, a development the government says will spur digital hardware manufacturing, create jobs, and strengthen the country’s technology supply chain. Speaking at the launch event in Islamabad on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the initiative marks “an industrial milestone” as Pakistan deepens its shift from technology …
ISLAMABAD/DOHA: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday that the violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India could not and would not succeed, and warned against the weaponisation of water. India in April held the IWT in abeyance following the attack in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 — an incident New Delhi blamed on Islamabad without evidence. …
ISLAMABAD: PPP stalwart and former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani on Tuesday said the recently proposed changes to the Constitution, if passed, would amount to a rollback of the much-touted 18th Amendment. Yesterday, the ruling party PML-N’s coalition partner PPP revealed it had been approached by the government for its support in passing a 27th Constitutional Amendment. The key features were …