Wheat import decision sparks farmer outcry

LAHORE: The federal government’s decision to import one million tonnes of wheat has revived a long-standing question: why does an agricultural country, with Punjab once known as the nation’s food basket, continue to rely on imported grain despite repeated official claims of bumper harvests? The move has sparked criticism from farmers and agricultural experts, who…

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Houthis attempting to emulate Iran’s Hormuz model in Red Sea: Yemeni official

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Photo: Reuters/ File Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi discussed issues related to the security of the Strait of Hormuz in separate phone calls with his Saudi and Omani counterparts on Monday evening, according to a statement published on his Telegram channel on Tuesday. The statement said he “discussed the latest bilateral…

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President sees M-9 as ideal for EV infra

President Zardari addressing World Summit for social development in Doha Novemeber 4, 2025. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting to review progress of various memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and other cooperation initiatives between the Government of Sindh and Chinese companies, directing that the agreed projects be advanced expeditiously and any…

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Govt picks exporters’ interest cost

There are apprehensions that some exporters keep part of their proceeds overseas by understating the value of their goods or bringing some as exports of services to avoid income tax, according to sources. photo:file ISLAMABAD: The government on Monday approved a subsidy of Rs98 billion to provide highly cheaper loans to exporters, including 10-year loans…

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PM to decide refinery policy fate today

PM Shehbaz Sharif set a committee to review Telecommunication Reorganization (Amendment) Bill. PHOTO: APP ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to remove long-standing bottlenecks in the Brownfield Refinery Policy as the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) meets on Tuesday to consider amendments that could determine the fate of billions of dollars in refinery upgrade…

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Fashion meets glamour at Karachi runway spectacle

Elegant, star-studded event features wide-ranging bridal, party wear collection; highlights creativity of Pakistani de KARACHI: A vibrant fashion showcase in Karachi brought together some of Pakistan’s leading designers, models, and celebrities as the latest bridal and party wear collections took centre stage in a glamorous runway event. Held under the title “Style Runway Fashion Show”…

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Policy rate unchanged at 11.5%

ECONOMIC EXPANSION: The MPC expects real GDP growth in the range of 3.5-4.5% during FY27. Risks from volatile global commodity prices amid renewed Middle East tensions and uncertain weather conditions, including evolving El Niño effects, could weigh on growth prospects. PHOTO:FILE KARACHI: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has…

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Aurangzeb chairs first Access to Finance meeting

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Photo: File ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the first meeting of the Access to Finance Steering Committee, established to provide strategic oversight for the Prime Minister’s Access to Finance Plan 2026-2028, according to an official statement issued on Monday. The meeting focused on advancing affordable access to finance for priority…

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