Fingers crossed as talks with IMF conclude – Pakistan
• Fund’s mission set to issue statement after getting clearance from headquarters• Finance minister shares Pakistan’s plans for three-year loan programme• Government finalises improved tax regime for real estate, retail sectors ISLAMABAD: The government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the staff-level talks on Tuesday for the final review of the short-term loan agreement, […]
Explosion in Balochistan coal mine kills 12 miners
QUETTA: At least 12 miners were killed and eight rescued after an explosion in a coal mine in Zardalo area of Balochistan’s Harnai district, officials said on Wednesday. “The rescue operation has been just completed,” said the provincial chief inspector of mines, Abdul Ghani Baloch. He said 20 miners were inside the mine when a methane […]
Interior minister calls for revisiting social media laws – Pakistan
• Naqvi stresses need to stem ‘false allegations’• Invokes recent US legislation on TikTok to justify disruption of X (formerly Twitter) in Pakistan• Someone should take responsibility for shutdown, says PTA chairman LAHORE: As disruption of social media platform X stretched into its fifth week, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Tuesday the country needed […]
Lu highlights poll irregularities in House testimony – Pakistan
WASHINGTON: Ahead of his appearance at a Congressional panel on Tuesday, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu submitted a written statement expressing Washington’s concerns about irregularities in the Feb 8 elections while also emphasising the need to stay engaged with Pakistan to help it navigate through the crises it is facing. Mr Lu is […]
IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level agreement for $1.1b loan tranche
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Wednesday a staff-level agreement for the release of the last loan tranche of $1.1 billion and said Pakistan’s economic and financial positions have improved. However, the global lender cautioned that economic growth remained modest and inflation was above target. The IMF also said Pakistan will further increase gas and […]
UN warns planet ‘on the brink’ after warmest decade on record – World
Global temperatures “smashed” heat records last year, as heatwaves stalked oceans and glaciers suffered record ice loss, the United Nations said on Tuesday — warning 2024 was likely to be even hotter. The annual State of the Climate report by the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) confirmed preliminary data showing that 2023 was by far […]
Palestinian flags fly at last in PSL 2024 final – Sport
After being snatched away from several fans at the entry gates and in the stands, Palestinian flags were finally waved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the symbol of protest against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza was carried freely at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Monday night. The flags were carried by the players of […]
SC concerned over IHC’s handling of FBR’s supertax recovery
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has expressed concerns regarding the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) move to issue a restraining order to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) concerning the recovery of supertax as per Section 4C of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, as amended by the Finance Act 2023. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, in a […]
China’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh state ‘absurd’: India – World
India’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that China was making “absurd claims” over Arunachal Pradesh, adding that the northeastern state which shares a border with China will always be an “integral and inalienable part of India”. China claims Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of southern Tibet. New Delhi rejects the claim, saying Arunachal Pradesh […]
FBR chairman’s salary frozen on PHC order
ISLAMABAD: The Peshawar High Court has frozen the salary of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana for not submitting reply to repeated reminders in a pending tax case. The PHC additional registrar issued instructions to the accountant general of Pakistan to implement the court order, following which the salary of Tiwana […]