Mexico is co-hosting the biggest World Cup in history, along with the United States and Canada, from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Photo: AFP LOS ANGELE: FIFA on Thursday released an extra batch of World Cup tickets, just 14 days before the global soccer tournament kicks off in North America. “Tickets are available on…
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has flagged that Pakistan’s decision to privatise Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) could raise issues of access to credit for small farmers, as the bank has managed to reduce bad loans by one quarter to Rs50 billion to address governance concerns. Would the privatisation expose Pakistan’s 97% small-scale farmers…
US CENTCOM says all attacks failed and that US forces remained ready to repel ‘unwarranted Iranian aggression’ Smoke billows from southern Lebanon, following Israeli strikes, as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, June 2, 2026. PHOTO: REUTERS Gulf hostilities flared anew on Wednesday, with the US military saying Iranian missile attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and other regional targets were…
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: File ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Office has issued fresh instructions to finalise currency swap agreements with the European Union (EU), Russia and Iran, in a move that can lessen dollar dependency and integrate trade with regional economies. The agenda of currency swap agreements has been made part of the Ministry…
ISLAMABAD: The principal reason for low revenue collection in Pakistan is weak fiscal management and a policy framework designed to appease tax evaders while burdening the already documented sectors. In 2026, while the numbers have become astronomical, the underlying disease remains unchanged. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is still missing targets, relying excessively on…
Experts believe weak administration, political interference, and insufficient budgets are worsening the situation LAHORE: Despite Punjab being considered the educational hub of Pakistan, millions of children in the province are still out of school. Government and international reports show that poverty, inflation, shortage of teachers, lack of basic facilities, and financial difficulties faced by parents…
Informal dialogue brings together former officials, experts, and journalists to explore de-escalation pathways A meeting between delegations of Afghanistan and Pakistan for informal talks in Istanbul, Turkiye, April 29. — X PESHAWAR/ PAKISTAN: Informal Afghanistan–Pakistan talks aimed at dialling down tensions between Kabul and Islamabad have begun in Istanbul, with Qatar and Turkiye playing a…
LAHORE: The focus of Pakistan-China cooperation has evolved from infrastructure development to industrialisation, technological advancement, green energy, and sustainable economic growth, said Adeel Munawar, Commercial Ambassador of the Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI). In a statement, he emphasised that while the first phase of CPEC successfully addressed critical infrastructure and energy challenges,…
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday restored former prime minister Imran Khan’s right to defend himself in a long-running Rs10 billion defamation suit filed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, setting aside lower court orders that had barred him from contesting the case in a majority verdict. The apex court directed the trial court to provide…
‘The Founding Memory of a Nation’ exhibition marks the 150th anniversary of Jinnah’s birth ISTANBUL: An exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, opened in Istanbul on Tuesday. Titled “The Founding Memory of a Nation,” the exhibit was organized by the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara in cooperation with…