ISLAMABAD: A total of 664 candidates have filed nomination papers for the Gilgit-Baltistan general elections scheduled for June 7, 2026. The candidates will contest elections on 24 constituencies across the region. Constituency Gilgit-2 has attracted the highest number of candidates, with 58 contenders, while Diamer-4 has the lowest, with 11 candidates in the race. In…
LAHORE: Every few years, Pakistan finds itself at the edge of an economic breakthrough that never actually arrives. The country has the geography, youth, market size and increasingly the geopolitical relevance, yet foreign investors remain hesitant, the domestic industry stays frustrated and growth continues to punch well below its potential. The question being asked more…
Russia receives a “highest level” invitation to the G20 in Miami, representative undecided An officer stands guard ahead of the G20 summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, November 13, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS Russia has been invited to participate in the G20 summit in the US, which will be held in December, according to a report…
PTA officials said the move is part of ongoing efforts to curb the illegal online sale of medicines ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked four websites involved in the sale of unregistered and banned medicines, officials said on Wednesday. The action was taken following a request from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan…
Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, during his visit to London, engaged in high-level interactions with global financial leaders and institutions, underscoring Pakistan's commitment to strengthening international investment partnerships and enhancing professional standards in the financial sector. The meeting, hosted at the headquarters of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI),…
A billboard about the Strait of Hormuz on a building, amid a ceasefire between U.S. and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 22, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz as it tightened its grip on the strategic waterway after US President Donald Trump announced he was indefinitely calling off attacks, with no sign of peace…
Meeting also decided to establish joint counters and introduce a unified checking system at a single point ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to install modern machinery at airports to improve the checking process and facilitate passengers through a one-window operation. This decision was made in a special meeting chaired by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi…
LAHORE: Prices of plastic products across Pakistan have surged sharply in recent weeks, driven by supply disruptions and volatility in petroleum-linked raw materials, affecting a broad range of everyday consumer goods. Industry representatives say the price of plastic resin, a key petroleum-derived raw material, has risen steeply following import constraints linked to geopolitical tensions, including…
Balcazar canceled a signing ceremony last Friday for the acquisition of Lockheed Martin F-16 jets LIMA: Peru’s defense minister and foreign minister resigned from their posts on Wednesday, amid growing speculation over the status of a multi-billion-dollar purchase of F-16 aircraft from the United States. Interim President Jose Balcazar, who leaves office in July, sought…
Energy costs, currency pressures drive price stickiness as food inflation remains vulnerable KARACHI: Inflation is expected to remain in double digits in April 2026 as underlying cost pressures continue to dominate the economic outlook. Despite some easing in food supply conditions, overall price dynamics remain elevated, driven by persistent energy costs, currency-related pressures and structural…