FO team will remain engaged with parties for technical-level talks for the remainder of the week in Switzerland: Dar Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. SCREENGRAB Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday welcomed what he described as “substantial progress” achieved during high-level talks in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, and said Pakistan…
ISLAMABAD: Not long ago, travellers venturing past Naran into Batakundi would find themselves surrounded by slopes of vibrant green, wide-open meadows, and mountains stretching endlessly into the sky. But that landscape was changing, and quickly. Hotels, guesthouses, and private villas were steadily spreading across the valley. Where green spaces once defined the character of the…
RAWALPINDI: The federal government’s proposed restructuring of Pakistan Post has sparked strong opposition from postal employees, with the Postal Workers Federation Pakistan announcing a nationwide protest movement and strike from July 1 if the reforms, which it says could pave the way for privatisation, downsizing and closure of post offices, are not withdrawn. The union…
As the federal government introduces another simplified tax system for retailers, skepticism grows over implementation LAHORE: The federal government has decided to introduce a fixed or simplified tax system for small traders and shopkeepers in the 2026-27 budget, aiming to bring more businesses into the tax net and generate additional revenue. However, previous experiences with…
Parties agree on creation of de-confliction cell involving Lebanon, facilitated by Pakistan and Qatar Iran and the United States agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement within 60 days after the conclusion of the first session of high-level talks held under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Switzerland, according to a…
Questions over motives grew stronger, particularly because of the govt’s push to have it approved by both houses ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee to review the Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill. The committee will be headed by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar, while the members include Senator Sherry Rehman,…
QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Sunday approved the provincial budget for the financial year 202627, amounting to Rs1,189 billion, after passing all 118 demands for grants and recording no cut motions from the opposition. The budget was passed during the closing sitting of the assembly, which met 40 minutes behind schedule under the chairmanship of…
ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt gathered in Cairo on Sunday for the fourth consultative meeting of the R-4 grouping, at a moment when Iran and the United States opened a fresh round of talks in Switzerland aimed at consolidating the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The meeting was…
Committee to review telecom right-of-way and private property, housing society operations before recommendations PM Shehbaz Sharif set a committee to review Telecommunication Reorganization (Amendment) Bill. PHOTO: APP Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday constituted a committee to review the Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill. The committee will be headed by Federal Minister for Law and…
Alert forecasts rain accompanied by thunderstorms, windstorms, and dust storms in most parts of country The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday issued a nationwide weather alert, warning that thunderstorms, strong winds, heavy rainfall, urban flooding, and glacier-related flood risks could affect several parts of Pakistan over the next 12 to 24 hours, with…