Pakistan and the United Kingdom agreed on Tuesday to deepen and broaden their partnership in all areas of mutual interest. This understanding was reached during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and the UK’s Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations, and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad, in Amman, Jordan. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations. The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the rising trend of Islamophobia and emphasized the importance of promoting inter-faith dialogue and combating the defamation of religions. He also…
Author: Saifullah
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The federal government announced three holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha on Tuesday. Following the Cabinet Division’s approval, the notification for Eid-ul-Adha holidays has been issued. The holidays will be from Monday, June 17 to Wednesday, June 19. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the Cabinet Division’s summary. The notification stated that all public and private institutions will remain closed from June 17 to 19 for Eid-ul-Adha. Read More: SC Orders Permanent Closure of Monal, Other Restaurants in Margalla Hills It is pertinent to note that there had been speculation about extended holidays for Eid-ul-Adha from the federal and Punjab governments.
Eleven terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Lakki Marwat district, reported the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday. According to the ISPR, multiple terrorist hideouts were also destroyed. The operation was a response to the recent Improvised Explosive Device explosion that claimed the lives of seven soldiers, including Captain Muhammad Faraz Ilyas and Subedar Major Muhammad Nazir. A sanitization operation is underway to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area. The ISPR reaffirmed its determination to eradicate terrorism from the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for their effective action against terrorists in Lakki Marwat…
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, stated on Monday that he is leading the province based on the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. Speaking on the program “Upfront with Mona Alam,” Gandapur emphasized, “We have zero tolerance for corruption; we must stand on our own feet. Ovais Leghari is supporting big mafias; without WAPDA’s permission, electricity theft cannot happen.” He also highlighted, “Our party leaders are in jail on fabricated charges. We must address our province’s issues; people have given us a mandate to solve their problems. We will assert our province’s rights.” Gandapur praised…
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, on Monday termed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s China visit as historic and highly successful. He said it would positively impact the country’s economy. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, he expressed confidence in progress on agreements and projects. These include ML-1, Karachi Circular Railway, IT training for 200,000 Pakistani youth by a Chinese tech company, and the second phase of CPEC in the coming weeks. He said the upgraded version of CPEC would benefit both countries. The Information Minister said a new era has begun in Pakistan-China relations. He emphasized that this enduring…
Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider has voiced opposition to the new defamation law. He emphasized that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stands against it due to concerns over its impact on press freedom. The Punjab Defamation Act 2024 restricts press freedom. It was signed into law on Saturday by acting Governor Malik Ahmad Khan. Khan, a member of the PML-N, signed the law while Governor Sardar Saleem Haider was on leave in Dubai. Governor Saleem stated he had tried to block the ‘contentious’ bill. However, it became law 15 days after his refusal to sign it. PPP Punjab General Secretary…
ISLAMABAD: The lawyer of social worker Sarim Burney on Monday said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) made ‘baseless’ allegations against his client in a human trafficking case. Burney was taken into custody on June 5 after landing at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi following his visit to the United States. Judicial Magistrate Karachi East heard Sarim Burney’s plea for bail in the human trafficking case. Burney’s lawyer argued that the FIA made baseless allegations without a proper investigation. He explained that the toddler was left at the hospital by the parents themselves. Now, allegations of receiving Rs 3 million are…
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has instructed the federal government to pay Rs 3 million to the father of Haroon Muhammad, a missing person who disappeared from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 15 years ago. The case was presided over by IHC’s Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, who ordered the federal government to compensate the father, instructing that this payment must be made before the next court session. Additionally, the court directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General via the Home Secretary to ensure the compensation is provided. Read More: Pakistan Aims for IMF Bailout with Ambitious 2024/2025 Budget Targets During the proceedings, the…
Pakistan’s coalition government is set to outline ambitious fiscal targets in the 2024/2025 (July-June) budget on Wednesday, aiming to bolster its case for a new bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to officials and analysts. IMF Loan Negotiations Pakistan is negotiating with the IMF for a loan estimated between $6 billion and $8 billion to prevent a default. The country’s economy is currently growing at the slowest pace in the region. Budget Significance “The budget is crucial for Pakistan’s IMF program and must bridge the gap between revenue collection and total expenditure; it is likely to be…
In a surprising turn of events, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has invoiced the caretaker Punjab government for expenses related to Lahore’s artificial rain initiative, despite earlier claims of no associated costs. The groundbreaking endeavor, aimed at tackling the severe air pollution crisis in December 2023, utilized cloud seeding techniques with a specially acquired aircraft from Dubai. However, the revelation of the bill has ignited criticism, raising concerns about transparency and resource allocation. Despite this controversy, the successful induction of artificial rain marks a significant milestone in environmental management, offering hope in the ongoing battle against air pollution in Lahore and…
