ogood2054

Imaan, Chattha awarded with Ludovic prize

Prize is considered oldest, one of most prestigious international honours awarded to lawyer ISLAMABAD: Lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, have been awarded the esteemed Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize in recognition of their work for human rights and marginalised communities, it emerged on Tuesday. Imaan and Chattha are currently…

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Punjab allocates Rs91.9b for agriculture

LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated Rs91.9 billion for agriculture in its budget for fiscal year 2026-27, as part of a combined Rs132.54 billion set aside for development and non-development spending on the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors. Government officials describe these sectors as the backbone of the province’s economy, food security and export earnings….

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Centre to fund 100MW G-B solar project: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: X ISLAMABAD: The federal government would bear the cost of a 100-megawatt solar power project for Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday while chairing a review meeting in Islamabad on the initiative, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The prime minister directed…

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Beijing sees tougher US-Iran talks ahead

BEIJING: China’s top diplomat told his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday that the next phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran—which Pakistan has helped mediate—will be “more difficult”. In a phone conversation ahead of the planned signing on Friday of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding to end their war, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi…

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US lifts Iran blockade ahead of MoU signing

TEHRAN: Tehran announced on Tuesday that a two-month US naval blockade of Iranian ports had been lifted ahead of the formal signing of an agreement in Switzerland this Friday aimed at ending the recent Middle East conflict, as the two countries are set to begin two months of negotiations on a final settlement. Iranian Deputy…

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Punjab pairs austerity with growth

• Rs5.9tr surplus budget unveiled • Current spending reduced by 3.1% under fiscal consolidation push • Salaries up LAHORE: The Punjab government unveiled on Tuesday Rs5.903 trillion surplus budget for coming fiscal year, showing reduced current expenditures, despite a 7% increase in salaries and 3.5% hike in pension, while a substantial amount of Rs803.88 billion…

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Pakistan’s nimble strategy helped shape Iran-US deal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s quiet but intensive diplomatic efforts played a pivotal role in preventing a potentially devastating regional conflict among the Muslim countries, revealed security sources on Tuesday, as preparations enter the final phase for the signing of a landmark peace agreement between Iran and the United States in Switzerland later this week. At a background…

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Iran deal includes $300 billion fund

DUBAI: A $300 billion private fund designed to trigger investment into Iran is outlined in the U.S.-Iran framework agreement and more than half that sum has already been committed, a source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters. The fund is designed to give both sides an economic incentive to conclude a final deal,…

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