Agricultural tax notifications declared unlawful

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has declared recent government notifications revising agricultural income tax rates as unlawful and ordered an immediate halt to their enforcement, assessments and collections. The ruling came during the 41st session of the Punjab Assembly on a privilege motion moved by MPA Zulfiqar Ali Shah. The Speaker held…

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Work on Rohri-Karachi track to start in Sept

KARACHI: Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi announced on Monday that work on the 480km long Rohri-Karachi track will start in September with an estimated cost of $2 billion. The minister was addressing a ceremony held in Karachi to mark the initial commencement of The International School Pakistan Railways Campus Karachi aimed at delivering world class…

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Afridi eyes Lahore to revive PTI fortunes

ISLAMABAD: Lahore is back on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s radar, as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi plans a return to the province in a bid to revive the party’s fading political presence. The proposed visit, following a planned trip to Kashmir on April 25 to mark PTI’s foundation day, is scheduled for May 1 and comes…

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EU council chief hopes for US-Iran deal in call with PM

Expresses appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive role, says EU ready to support process in every possible manner Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L) and President of the European Council Antonio Costa. Photos: File European Council President Antonio Costa on Monday expressed hope for a US-Iran agreement during a call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying the “world is…

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Farmers struggle with climate shifts

Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and shifting seasons are severely impacting crop yields LAHORE: Punjab is called the food basket of Pakistan. Major crops such as wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize, and cotton are grown here. However, over the past 15 to 20 years, Punjab’s climate has changed rapidly. Rainfall patterns have become irregular, heat has intensified,…

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Daducha Dam expands into multi-utility project

RAWALPINDI: A feasibility study is being initiated for the proposed generation of electricity from the state-of-the-art Daducha Dam, which is being constructed at the junction of the Kallar Syedan and Kahuta tehsils of District Rawalpindi. In addition, instructions have been issued for the immediate preparation of a PC-I and a detailed study for laying new…

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Zakat crisis leaves thousands without aid

Crisis leaves thousands of widows, patients & poor families without financial support RAWALPINDI: Due to a severe economic and financial crisis, the Zakat Department in Rawalpindi has failed to provide financial assistance to deserving beneficiaries for the past 10 months. This year, no Eid gifts were distributed on Eidul Fitr, and there are fears that…

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Four arrested for leaking matric, inter board exam papers via WhatsApp

10-group network collected millions from over 1,300 students; suspect confesses to generating papers using AI KARACHI: The Karachi police on Monday arrested four members of an organised network involved in leaking Matric and Intermediate Board examination papers, collecting millions of rupees from students in exchange. The Karachi police chief had assigned the Special Investigation Unit…

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Pakistan role averted oil shock: Iqbal

NAROWAL: Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said that if the Iran-US war had continued, oil prices would have surged beyond Rs600 per litre and the economies of 193 countries would have collapsed. “Today, Pakistan’s leadership is not only a benefactor of Pakistan but of 193 countries,” Iqbal said on Sunday while addressing a ceremony…

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Dar, Australian FM discuss Islamabad talks, stress dialogue amid global economic concerns

Both sides express concern over broader implications on global economy, especially for developing countries Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Sunday, April 20th, 2026. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday praised Pakistan’s “constructive role” in facilitating dialogue between Iran and…

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