ISLAMABAD: Distribution companies (DISCOs) across Pakistan have introduced a redesigned electricity bill format, marking a significant step in the Ministry of Energy (Power Division)’s consumer-centric reform agenda. The new bill format has been developed with a clear focus on simplicity, readability and an improved consumer experience, presenting key billing information in a structured and accessible…
Stakeholders, mediators set to meet at Burgenstock for initial negotiations, says foreign ministry Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian (L) and US President Donald Trump. Photos: File Switzerland on Thursday welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, noting that the stakeholders and mediators are set to meet at the resort town…
Says budget move will discourage documentation, put pressure on labour-intensive sector LAHORE: The Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA) has expressed serious concern over the proposal in the Finance Bill 2026 to place the footwear sector under the Third Schedule, stating that the move may create acute practical difficulties for the industry, discourage documentation efforts and…
Addressing budget debate in NA, PPP chairman welcomes US-Iran agreement, renews call for constitutional rights for G-B Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari speaking on the floor of the National Assembly. SCREENGRAB ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday strongly defended the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), describing it as an…
Application will provide live location, image-sharing feature to help authorities respond quickly to security concerns Capital launches first-ever ‘Mehfooz Muharram’ app for digital security monitoring In a first for the federal capital, authorities have developed a special digital application, “Mehfooz Muharram” (Safe Muharram), as part of extensive security arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram, with complete geo-tagging of…
KARACHI: Gold and silver prices in Pakistan declined on Thursday following a fall in global bullion rates. In the international market, gold fell by $23 per ounce to $4,305, weighing on domestic prices. According to the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of gold per tola fell by Rs2,300 to Rs452,936, while…
FBR has set at Rs15.264 trillion, while provinces are expected to receive their share up to Rs13.35 trillion Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah speaks during a press conference on Wednesday. Photo: NNI KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said the province has formulated its fiscal framework in line with the…
ISLAMABAD: Electricity consumers across the country, including those in Karachi, may face a further increase in power bills as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) is set to consider a request seeking a Rs0.82 per unit hike under the monthly fuel cost adjustment mechanism. The proposed increase has been sought by the Central Power…
KARACHI: Pakistan’s current account surplus narrowed sharply in May 2026 as rising imports offset gains from remittances and services exports, signalling that external account pressures are beginning to re-emerge amid an economic recovery. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country recorded a current account surplus of $255 million in…
A worker walks past inside the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Manila. Photo: Reuters/ File The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday approved a $700 million policy-based loan to support reforms aimed at strengthening insurance in Pakistan. The program seeks to expand insurance coverage and reduce protection gaps. It will also help stimulate private…