ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has downgraded the $400 million Pakistan Raises Revenue programme to “moderately satisfactory” due to slow progress towards achieving even the downwardly revised goals of enhancing revenues and simplifying the tax system. The Washington-based lender’s decision to downgrade the loan programme by a notch once again underscores that increasing taxes and facilitating…
Says illegal emigration bringing disrepute to Pakistan as several countries have raised issues with Islamabad Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Dr Usman Anwar on Tuesday revealed that as many as 10,000 Pakistanis travelled to the United Kingdom on student visas and subsequently applied for political asylum. The details were revealed during a…
Video dates to March 26, showing clashes outside US Consulate after assassination of Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Multiple pro-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and anti-state accounts on social media platform X were sharing a video since Monday, claiming it shows Pakistani security forces firing directly on unarmed protesters in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. However, the footage is from…
Energy minister says bilateral ties have evolved from ‘unfriendly country’ to ‘reliable friend’ over past two decades Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Leghari. PHOTO: FILE ISLAMABAD: Energy Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari on Tuesday said Pakistan and Russia had agreed to sign an Economic Cooperation Programme extending through 2030, while a recently signed readmission agreement was…
Health ministry says at least 978 Palestinians killed, 3,097 injured in Israeli attacks since ceasefire A Palestinian man inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a house whose residents were warned to evacuate before the attack, near a tent camp sheltering displaced people that was damaged in the strike, in Khan Younis in the…
Party chief says federal govt must take all parties into confidence, including on matters of law and order Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi speaking a joint press conference in Peshawar. SCREENGRAB PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday rejected the results of the recent…
Development of better varieties to boost production of crops, particularly cotton ISLAMABAD: Amid a record decline in cotton output, the government has approved the National Seed Policy 2025 aimed at introducing high-quality seeds to boost agricultural production. Pakistan’s cotton harvest plunged to just five million bales a few years ago, a 40-year low, compared to…
Multiple accounts on X, including pro-Iranians based on their past posts, have been sharing a video since Monday claiming to show massive Iranian strikes destroying two Israeli airbases and five military camps and eliminating several senior Israeli leaders. However, the video is old from March and no such targets were destroyed. The conflict began on…
LAHORE: The Punjab government is signalling a development strategy built around fiscal discipline, infrastructure expansion, social protection, climate resilience and economic empowerment as the provincial government prepares to unveil its budget for fiscal year 2026-27. Addressing representatives from industries, trade bodies, academia, media and civil society during a pre-budget consultation session on Monday, Punjab Finance…
KARACHI: Gold and silver prices rose on Tuesday in both global and local markets after a three-day pause. In the international bullion market, the price of gold per ounce increased by $28.29 to reach $4,326.27. According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of gold per tola rose by Rs2,830 to reach…