ogood2054

Urea sales hit six-year low in 1QCY26

Discount rollback, advance buying in Dec 2025 triggered 24-quarter low of 1.04m tonnes KARACHI: Pakistan’s urea sales dropped sharply to a six-year low in the first quarter of calendar year 2026 (1QCY26), reflecting a significant slowdown after aggressive discount-led buying in the previous quarter, analysts and industry data show. “Urea sales have dropped to a…

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Oscar hopes for Pakistani films?

PUBLISHED April 19, 2026 LAHORE: It’s 1959, a black-and-white film about the suffering of fishermen in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) quietly crossed the ocean and landed on the Academy’s desk. The Day Shall Dawn, written by Faiz Ahmed Faiz and directed by AJ Kardar, was Pakistan’s very first submission for Oscar consideration. The film surrounded…

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Consumers to benefit from further fall in oil prices

State minister says changes will be in line with global trends, levies being rationalised Kerosene oil. KARACHI: Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani has said that petroleum prices are being reviewed on a regular basis, with any adjustments being aligned with global market trends. He noted that petroleum levies were being rationalised and…

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NZ defends military patrol flight near China

. AUCKLAND: New Zealand on Saturday defended the actions of a military patrol aircraft flight near China after Beijing said it had undermined its security interests. China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that a New Zealand P-8A patrol aircraft had “conducted continuous close-in reconnaissance and harassment in the airspace and waters of the Yellow Sea…

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‘IMF board nod awaited for next tranche’

Minister also noted that Pakistan had successfully repaid a $1.4 billion Eurobond earlier this month Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks during an interview at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group’s annual spring meetings in Washington DC, US, April 13, 2026, PHOTO: REUTERS ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Pakistan has reached a…

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Muslim states condemn Israel’s Somaliland posting

Ministers emphasise ‘such actions constitute a blatant violation of principles of int’l law’ ISLAMABAD: Twelve countries, including Pakistan, on Saturday issued their “strongest condemnation” of Israel’s decision to appoint a diplomatic representative to Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, according to a joint statement released by the Foreign Office. The statement was issued by the foreign…

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Libya recovers 17 ‘migrant’ bodies

. TRIPOLI: At least 17 bodies believed to be those of migrants have been recovered in recent days from the shore near a coastal town west of the Libyan capital, Tripoli-based medics said on Saturday. The Emergency Medicine and Support Center, which operates under the health ministry, said the bodies were recovered from the shores…

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