PM Shehbaz congratulates Trump as Iran ceasefire agreement nears finalisation

US, Iran near 60-day deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz, negotiate Tehran’s nuclear programme Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated United States President Donald Trump for actively engaging in peace prospects by having a “very useful” and “productive” telephone call on Saturday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan…

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PSX gains 2,248 points in mixed week

KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) extended gains during the outgoing week, when the benchmark KSE-100 index rose over 2,248 points amid easing geopolitical concerns linked to expected progress in US-Iran negotiations and improving investor confidence. On a day-on-day basis, the bourse commenced the week with a plunge of nearly 3,800 points, triggered by stalled US-Iran…

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BETWEEN SAFETY AND JUSTICE

PUBLISHED May 24, 2026 In Pakistan’s policing lexicon, few words carry as much controversy as “encounter.” While official accounts describe armed exchanges and the neutralisation of hardened criminals, grieving families speak of sons taken into custody and returned as bodies. Between these competing narratives lies a widening fault line in the country’s criminal justice system….

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Cabinet seeks checks on vaccine monopoly

ISLAMABAD: Some members of the federal cabinet have raised serious questions over the pricing of locally manufactured vaccines and monopolistic practices of pharmaceutical companies. The government has also agreed to give a buyback guarantee for the locally manufactured vaccines. During a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, the cabinet gave in-principle approval…

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Govt sticks to coal despite solar growth

Research says Pakistan on ‘front line’ of global struggle to exit coal agreements LAHORE: Pakistan’s rapid shift towards solar power is undermining the economics of coal-fired electricity generation, even as the government continues to back coal as a pillar of energy security, according to a new global report. The report, Boom and Bust 2026, released…

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SC restricts khula without wife’s consent

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ruled that when a wife seeks dissolution of marriage on the ground of cruelty, khula should not ordinarily be granted without her consent. “We hold that khula should not ordinarily be granted without the wife’s consent or clear election where she has sued on cruelty and valuable financial rights are…

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Tola budget proposes rupee at 250 per dollar

Rs10 remittance bonus could boost inflows, reduce inflation by up to 6%, economist says KARACHI: Reducing the value of the rupee to 250 per dollar could lower inflation by up to 6%, while offering a bonus of Rs10 per dollar for remittances sent through banking channels instead of hawala/informal hundi systems could increase inflows. These…

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From roar to whimper: opposition protest fizzles

ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: Only a couple of years ago, even a routine opposition protest call would send shockwaves through government circles. Authorities would often deploy containers, impose restrictions and seal roads long before demonstrators arrived, creating an atmosphere that itself projected the opposition’s strength. However, Friday’s protest call by opposition parties, including the grand alliance featuring…

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