Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who also serves as the Finance Minister, presented the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the Sindh Assembly on Friday. Addressing the budget session, CM Murad Ali Shah announced a total budget outlay of Rs3.056 trillion for the province. Key Highlights of the Budget: Salary Increases: 30% raise for Sindh government employees in grades 1 to 16 22% raise for employees in grades 17 to 22 15% increase in pensions Minimum wage raised from Rs35,550 to Rs37,000 Sector Allocations: Rs519 billion allocated for education Rs334 billion allocated for the health sector Rs56…
Author: Saifullah
In a tense rescue effort unfolding in Gilgit-Baltistan, army helicopters have pinpointed potential traces of two Japanese climbers who went missing during their ascent of the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak. Shigar Deputy Commissioner Waliullah Falahi confirmed the development, stating that although the climbers’ exact location remains unconfirmed, initial signs have been spotted around 5,500 meters, between Camp 2 and Camp 3. The climbers, Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi, were last seen at Camp 2, and concerns arose when they did not arrive as expected at subsequent checkpoints. The search operation, initiated early Thursday morning, involved multiple…
In a devastating incident south of Kuwait City, a deadly blaze engulfed a six-storey building housing immigrant workers, resulting in a tragic loss of life. According to Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, the death toll has risen to 50, with most of the victims being from India. Additionally, three Filipinos lost their lives in the fire, while many others sustained injuries. The fire broke out early Wednesday morning in Mangaf, causing black smoke to billow from the building that accommodated nearly 200 workers. The majority of Kuwait’s population consists of foreigners, mainly from South and Southeast Asia, employed in construction and service…
A tragic incident occurred in Hargusal village, Kharmang district of Gilgit-Baltistan, on Thursday when a toy-like bomb from the Kargil war exploded, resulting in the death of a child and injuries to two family members. The incident happened while the family was grazing goats in the area. According to local sources, a 14-year-old boy, whose identity has not been confirmed, discovered the explosive device and mistook it for a toy. While playing with it, the device detonated, killing the child instantly. His father, Asghar, and his sister were also injured in the blast. Hargusal village, located just a few kilometers…
Coca-Cola’s latest advertisement in Bangladesh is drawing widespread criticism for attempting to distance itself from perceived ties with Israel amid the ongoing assault on Gaza. Advertisement Criticized The 60-second commercial, aired on television and social media, has been called out for its insensitive response to the ongoing boycott in Bangladesh. Calls for boycotts of companies believed to have ties with the Israeli military or government have surged in many Muslim-majority countries since October 7, including Bangladesh. This has led to a significant decline in sales for Coca-Cola in these regions, with local media reporting a 23 percent drop in sales…
On Thursday, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the reopening of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Central Secretariat. However, the power to the office has been disconnected. Sources indicate that the electricity was cut off even before the office was sealed. PTI leader Shoaib Shaheen stated that all utility bills have been paid, and there are no outstanding amounts, alleging that this is a government ploy to harass the party. Earlier on Thursday, a bailiff appointed by Justice Ijaz Ishaq Khan of the IHC reopened the office. Over a week ago, the IHC had ordered the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to…
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened on a visibly positive note in the post-budget session, with the benchmark KSE-100 index crossing the 76,000 level to settle at a new record high on Thursday. At close, the benchmark index settled at 76,208.16, marking an increase of 3,410.73 points or 4.69 percent. This is the highest points gain in a single session, noted Arif Habib Limited (AHL).
Besham: In the Bisham area of Shangla district, a property dispute took a tragic turn when sons opened fire on their father, step-mother, and sister. The incident left father Sultanate Khan and his wife dead on the spot, while the step-sister sustained serious injuries. The accused fled the scene after the shooting Khyber News reported on Thursday. Local residents and Rescue 1122 officials quickly responded, transporting the bodies and the injured girl to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Bisham. The long-standing dispute over property division between the father and his sons had led to the sons leaving their ancestral home to live…
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman presented the provincial budget for 2024-25 in the Assembly on Wednesday. The Punjab Assembly session began one hour and 38 minutes late, with Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan presiding. During his address, the Finance Minister highlighted significant milestones. He noted that Punjab’s development has started, crediting Maryam Nawaz for taking revolutionary steps in just 100 days. He stated that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has reduced inflation to a record level in Punjab. Revolutionary measures are being implemented in the health sector. The first official tax-free budget is being presented, with the inflation rate brought down…
Amidst disruptions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, unveiled the government’s proposal for the Financial Year 2024-25, which includes a significant 33 percent increase in the levy on petrol and diesel. The proposal, presented to the National Assembly, suggests raising the levy on petrol and diesel from Rs60 to Rs80 per litre. The PML-N-led federal government emphasized the need for a raise in the petroleum levy on petroleum products. Additionally, the government has suggested augmenting import duties on luxury cars valued at over $50,000. Furthermore, the budget proposal calls for an…
